Sad Chinese New Year

Every since I could remember, Chinese New Year has always been one of my most favorite holiday/celebration. It’s the occasion with the biggest pay out (Hong baos). Although I may not look the part, my paternal grandma is actually Chinese. So every eve we gather for a reunion dinner. I call it the red packet session. But as age is catching up with my granny, she decided to cancel the dinner. I was heart broken. Not only about the lost of income but also at fact that I didn’t get to meet my paternal relatives whom I very seldom get together with.

Once a year or twice at most (mother’s day) do I get to rub shoulders with my dad’s side. And boy are we a sight to behold. Like a multi-racial campaign, my dad and his siblings decided to marry into every race. My dad married Sikh (duh), first uncle married Malay, Second Chinese, first aunty Australian (Caucasian), another aunty Eurasian and so on. I’m guessing we are the ultimate Singapore family. We reflect Singapore best if you know what I mean (Regardless of race, language or religion).


Too make an already depressing CNY worst, lady luck decided to dump me at the gambling table. Losing heavily on 3 different occasions, I’ve now been reduced to eating grass and drinking toilet water. So much for new shoes, I’m on the verge of selling the ones I have. Sigh. I should have paid more attention to those gambling ads on TV. Ah well, live and learn right? Besides losing the shirt on my back I was also robbed of all the CNY goodies. Have not eaten even a slice of bak kwa yet. Its not Chinese New Year till you have had bak kwa.

Went for steamboat at Jalan Bahar though. It sucked!! Never thought I would miss Marina south this much. Oh yea, at the steamboat an elder cousin of mine chided me for not wishing her happy new year. She is a maternal cousin but she married a half Chinese (half Indian) guy. I was stumped, if anything I’m the one with real Chinese roots. But hei if it makes her happy right. So I just wished and boy I didn’t regret it. Was rewarded with a red packet for playing along. : P I’m not really sure what the whole fuss is about.

One thing is for sure, my maternal side will never receive a red packet from me on CNY. Firstly its my grandma who is Chinese not me. And secondly Sikhs have their own new year. They will get their “red packets” then. Even if I were to marry a Chinese woman, the rules will still apply. If the missus decides to play Santa Claus then that her choice. I would die if I decided to shower “red packets” on every occasion. Remember the multi-racial family thing. Its financial suicide. Even if its once a year. Hari Raya, CNY, Baisakhi, Diwali, Christmas etc. Catch my drift. ; P

Almost there

Last Thursday, was a huge day in my poly life. It was the day where I show cased what I have learnt, in my 3 years at the school, through my final year project. The open house attracted different people from all over. Other students, families, friends, investors, lecturers, etc. Both local and abroad. It also marked the fact that it is almost over. Our Ngee Ann journey that is.


As I tried to charm people with my 3D vision videos (that’s my project). I couldn’t help but feel over the moon with the compliments of good it was. And yes, I love attention and blowing my own trumpet. But this time I mean it. A big ‘kahuna’ who was being showed around by the DIRECTOR OF ME DIVISION IN NGEE ANN was so impressed by the project he asked if I would consider doing something for him. He was going Houston for some fair and said he would like to exhibit my work. My jaws dropped and all I could muster was a faint ‘huh’ and an award winning “blur like sotong” look. Seeing drool forming in the corner of my lips, the director decided to step in and save me any more embarrassment.


My mind was a little fuzzy by the offer and I don’t remember what the director said but I remembered before the “kahuna” left he smiled and said, “If you are interested, just tell the director”. Again, the only thing that came out was ‘huh’. That aside I also spoke to my dream gal for the first time (since the first day of school). I say dream because I know nothing about her, so everything I think she is, are all made up. Like her love for helping the needy, her support for Liverpool, her bad taste (I wouldn’t have got her if it was good right?), etc. She will never guess how breath taking she is to me. How I can see myself holding her in my arms night after night. That smile. I would climb mountains for that smile.



I didn’t invite anyone for the open house. Truth is I’m not sure anyone would have come. And this being an important event for me (and how proud I am of what we have achieved), I was not prepared to be turned down with things like “so far” or “must I go”. But for what its worth, Samuel’s parents and Lance girlfriend came. Lol, sad man. ; p
At the end we had a great dinner, KFC, pizza and all. My diet went out the window for that evening. It was time to celebrate. The feeling was surreal. It felt like yesterday I was walking into the school for the first time. And with the curtains closed on the FYP, I can’t help but feel so bitter sweet. What has life install for me next? What is my next destination or adventure? Only time will tell. For now I need to concentrate on my final 2 module. Happy new year everyone. May this be the best one yet.

Eye opener

This is written by a 17 year old mass com student from ngee ann poly.. A real thought provoking read.. Enjoy..

Awaiting Singapore’s moment of change
Thursday, 6 November 2008, 8:50 am 251 views
Dhevarajan Devadas / Guest Writer

On November 4, we all witnessed history being made. The US elected its first ever black president. A nation that once regarded its black citizens as slaves has elected an African American to the nation’s highest office. I salute Mr Obama for his inclusive and positive campaign that has invigorated the normally apathetic youth voters to come out in droves to exercise their democratic right to vote.


His victory speech in Grant Park, Chicago, struck a chord in me with its message of inclusiveness and bipartisanship. I find this severely lacking in Singapore. PAP leaders don’t really bother with campaigning really hard and fighting for votes. They appeal to Singaporeans to support them during campaigning and then spend the next five years talking down to us, making important decisions without meaningful consultation (remember the casino issue?) and chiding us for expecting the government to help when we are in a crisis (minibonds and high notes issue).
While Obama vows that “to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn - I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too”, former PM Goh Chok Tong openly threatened constituencies that voted for the opposition that their HDB estates would “become slums”. His exact words were, “Your [housing development] through your own choice will be left behind. They become slums. That’s my message”.
He said this on Nomination Day in 1996. He had the audacity to threaten Singaporeans because he was confident that Singaporeans would not complain too aggressively against such blatant discrimination and would vote for the PAP anyway.


Obama also graciously thanked his opponent John McCain for his congratulations and promised to work together with him in the future. I can only dream that PM Lee can thank his opponents for a worthy and challenging campaign. He is highly unlikely to stand in a rally and say, “I thank my worthy opponents from [insert political party] and promise to work closely with the opposition to ensure the progress and prosperity of this nation which we all call home”. PAP leaders are never really gracious anyway.


The PAP titled its 2006 election manifesto “Staying Together, Moving Ahead”. But it has failed to live up to this promise.
1. It has denied our gay community the right to equality.
2. It has failed to ensure that the rights of all Singaporeans to freedom of speech, assembly and association are protected.
3. It has failed to keep the population informed by not disclosing information such as GIC and Temasek Holdings’ full financial records, the breakdown of HDB flat costs and even the financial statements of town councils that invest our money.
4. It has denied the rights of Potong Pasir and Hougang residents to public housing upgrades available to PAP constituencies, violating their right to equality.
5. It has prevented non-PAP politicians from playing a decisive role in Singapore politics by trying to create and maintain political hegemony. This denies Singaporeans our right to take part in public affairs and isolates us from the political space and process.


PAP leaders, especially MM Lee, love to claim that the Western model of democracy is bad for Singapore as it is too individualistic and that Singapore’s model safeguards the welfare of society as a whole ahead of the individual. Barack Obama has shattered this lie. He has shown that when the situation demands it, Americans can and will elect a president who promotes the welfare of society as a whole while at the same time protects their fundamental liberties.
Obama is promising to do in America what the PAP has consistently failed or refused to do in Singapore. As a Singaporean youth who will be eligible to vote in 4 years time, a message of hope, inclusiveness and change appeals to me more than the message of political restrictions, blatant discrimination and threats.


I await Singapore’s Obama and our moment of change.

My all time favourite Japanese song

High and Mighty color..

Ichirin No hara(single/one flower)

You are the only "you".
There is no such thing as your replacement.

Don't wilt away, single flower

You are like a flower.

That bloomed in a dark shadow.

Even though you're in a place you didn't wish to be,

You can't move because of your roots

Just spit out your closed-up feelings

I'll accept all of your pain and suffering.

So please don't cry.

Please smile, single flower

I wanted to see your innocent figure.

That looked as if it were about to wilt, one more time.

I want to become your strength.

Even if there comes a time,

When the whole world becomes our enemy.

I'll protect you

YOU SHOULD NOTCIE THAT THERE IS NO OTHER.

YOU SHOULD NOTICE THAT THERE IS NO NEXT TIME.

YOU SHOULD NOTICE THAT THERE IS NO OTHER.

YOU SHOULD NOTICE THAT THERE IS NO NEXT...

TIME NOTICE THAT YOU SHOULD NOTICE THAT

NOTICE THAT THERE'S NO OTHER

You are the only "you"

Till now and from now on

Even if there comes a time

When the whole world becomes our enemy

I'll protect you

So don't give up, single flower

YOU SHOULD NOTICE THAT THERE IS NO OTHER

YOU SHOULD NOTICE THAT THERE IS NO NEXT TIME

YOU SHOULD NOTICE THAT THERE IS NO OTHER

YOU SHOULD NOTICE THAT THERE IS NO NEXT...

TIME NOTICE THAT YOU SHOULD NOTICE THAT

NOTICE THAT THERE'S NO OTHER

The music is also really catchy, worth hearing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuxIckRJNJE&eurl=http://www.getalyric.com/listen/kuxIckRJNJE/bleach_ichirin_no_hara_full_with_lyrics_

Horror movie gone wrong

After a few week of confining myself to school and home. I decided to take some time off. It must have been around mid-night when I asked a very sweet young lady out to the movies. Being the sweetheart that she is, she obliged to my untimely request. Get this, I asked her how long she would need to get ready. And she said half an hour. Yes I kid you not. A lady getting ready in half an hour is unheard of in my world(even I take longer). But that was just a beginning to a night full of "suprises" for me.

At the cinema after what felt like a month's worth of journey(she stays in Jurong). Ass aching and all, we reached into the lift. Just as the door were about to close, Someone from the outside press the open button. To my astonishment it was a skinny chinese guy holding a red bling bling handbag. I couldn't help but stare. That was till Mr "metrosexual"(gay if you ask me) decided to open his mouth. Still standing on the outside, he gave me this superior look(the 1 that my ex's bestfriend always gives me) and said, "atas?". My awe turned to rage. What the hell?! Suddenly dark people cannot speak english?! I was so ready to give him a taste of what little chinese(ok hokkien in this instance) I knew. All the knn, nnb, pcb,ccb etc... But I bit my tongue and let it slide.

At the ticketing counter, we couldn't decide what movie to watch. It was a toss up between the chiwawa show or quarantine. I chose the latter. For 3 reason, she made me choose, her sis said it was good and lastly it meant a lesser chance to bump into any red hand bags. And boy did I regret it. Any horror film that can cause a lady to fall asleep is shitty with a capital S. Thats right. Lavinia(the gal I brought) was fast asleep half way into the movie. Couldn't blame her, I was barely awake myself. After the movie I went to the washroom in the basement. Again, more "suprises". The lights were all out, and to make it even more creepy there was puke in the 1 of a sink(In the movie, the undead were puking). As stupid as it may sound that trip to the wash room scared the pants out of me in more ways than the movie ever did. Guess it must have been the cinema's way of making it up to us.

And to end this beautiful night, god(the government) decided to throw me another curve ball. I got a ticket for parking without a coupon. Some crazy ticket guy decided to walk around town at 3.17 am to fine me. What are the chances of that?! Gay beng speaking malay, horror movie that puts people to bed, washroom that looked like it came out of the movie and a ticket at 3:17 in the morning for parking without a coupon. How's that for adventure.

Football, life's gift to man..

For the past few days, I've been agonising over this post. I started this post after my favourite football(soccer if you are American) club Liverpool won an extremely strong rival(Chelsea). See the beauty of this win was we(yes I said we) won them at their home ground where they have been undefeated in 4 season. Thats a very very long time if u wondering what that stat meant. The picture?? Thats just something for the boys(if there are any that reads my blog that is).

But by procrastinating(my favourite pastime by the way), I have successfully missed my chance of being able to lament about our(liverpool) undefeated record this season. It just pass 4 on the clock in my hall. I reached home barely 20 minutes ago. All torn and dishearten, after watching my beloved club crash 2-1 to Spurs. There were no tears but plenty of heartache(and profanities). Sigh, the life of a football fan. Plenty has asked , whats with this football craze. And those who know me knows that I love my dose of football. Let me try to explain what this game means to me. Every match is like a blind date. You have a squad of 20 odd "1st team" players. From there the manager chooses 11 players he believe are the best suited for that particular game they playing. So the "date" starts there. As the players walk out into the field we regular football fans use our trained eyes to spot all 11 thus being able to guess what type of game plan the manager has. Be it offensive, defensive, counter- attack or etc. And just like that, a smile or frown will appear. Just like in a date. We like what we see, we give our best smile and nod in approval. If we don't, we look disappointed and start to pray that the evening ends without any casualties.


But pretty much like a blind date, sometimes the hot babe turns out to be a bore and the nerdy gal with the braces seems to have so much more depth. I swear the rules apply in football. When your team wins, its like getting a goodnight kiss. Top of the world baby. But if they lose, it feels like a date you really like finding you a bore. For some people who may not know what this feeling is like. Let me explain. Its like being stab in the heart. REPEATEDLY. And unless you look like someone from the cover page of some magazine(I don't mean animal planet), chances are you ain't gonna have such a vibrant social life where every weekend is a date with someone new. Thus my twice a week dose of EPL fills the dating void in my life.


Yes ladies, thats the truth. We(most men not all) have discovered how to entertain ourselves without you. I'm sorry gals, as much as we need you for reproduction,laundry, and cooking. Watching football is just so much more cheaper and relaxing. A) They don't expect anything(we the fans expect things from them). B) They are cheaper(a cup of tea at the kopitiam will give you a front row seat). C) There is no need for 'C'. 'A' and 'B' are reasons enough. And before any lady reading this post chew my head off. Remember this, our(again most man but not all) love affair with our football team is 1 which is so dear to us that its sacred. And any sacrilegious person who comes between a man and his football beware, the footballing gods are watching. You have been warned.

Confession of a dreamer

As I sat on the stands of my school's stadium, watching the flurry of activities, I smiled to myself. I'm pretty sure those that caught it, must have thought I was a few screws short. But it didn't matter. Cause in my mind, I was far far away.

I've started working out again(hopefully this time I will see it through). And after each fat burning, lung busting session, I would buy a drink and take a seat in the stands of my school's sports complex. I love to watch all the other students(especially the gals in the really really short shorts) buzzing around doing their stuff. Be it CCAs, a friendly ball game between friends or even a simple jog. I would sit there wondering what type of people they are. How things might have been if we were friends and once in a while when I spot an eye candy I really like, I would wonder how life would be holding her hands. Although I suffer from something second only to leprosy(I have sweaty palms). For those that are squirming in their seats right now. I forgive you, hell even my bestfriend doesn't like me touching her. Sigh, another name on my shortcomings list.

Still, things let this doesn't stop me from doing what I love best. Dreaming. I have an image or an idea of how I want my life to be. And I plan to make it come true. I want a family, not just the normal type but the types you see in commercials. The ones where everyone is so happy and in love with one and other. I know I know. Right now you must be thinking that this guy is crazy, thinking something like that is possible. But that is exactly what I am. Its on number 103 on my shortcomings list. CRAZY. I want a simple yet beautiful life. I dream of holding my wife's hand while we watch our kids sleep. Or rubbing her shoulders after a long day. In my dreams, I learn how to make cuisines. Cuisines that would make her fall in love with me over and over again. All this while wearing my kiss the chef apron. I wanna meet a lady, who could make feel lost just looking in her eyes yet comfortable and close enough that I could call her my friend. A companion, a friend, a lover.

I wanna have kids. Daughters!!! 2,3 I don't care. A man's home is his castle. And I for 1 plan to dedicate my life to the service of my queen and princess(S). I shall accept a male heir but only because I will need to pass down my liverpool fetish to someone.In my dreams I protect them with the same intensity of a lioness protecting her cubs. I spoil them rotten, yet instill in them respect, love and kindness. I would bring them to do stuff like community service and later spoil them with gifts and kind words. I would cover them in cotton and allow them the childhood that I was rob of. People have told me I cannot hide them from the real world. I say bullshit. What is the real world? A world like mine or the world in some fancy condo or the houses on sixth ave. I believe that its up to me to make my own world. And I'm sure there will be hard times but my soul be damn to hell if I let it ruin my life. Screw "harsh reality" I'm the captain of my life. And if I say I want my life to resemble a UOB commercial then too bad for the statistics that say it cannot.

I also want a job where I can help people. But it has to be office hours. I wanna spent the bulk of my life where it matters most. With my family. In my dreams, I wanna do things with my family. Camping, bbq, fishing, shopping etc. Oh yea, I also dream of my family vacations like in the movies. Every year during the holidays we fly off to see new places. It doesn't matter if I'm not rich but I wanna be comfortable. This post can go forever as I'm one who dreams as much as I breath. Thus it has become my life's mission to make it all come true. Till that day comes, I will just be sitting somewhere, looking at people pass me by, dreaming. Why I call my goals and ambition dreams. Cause one day as I hold my queen's hand while watching our kids sleep. I shall kiss her on the forehead and say, thank you. I'm living my dream......