American Idol Season 7 - David Archuleta

Such power and his rendition of "Imagine" really touched me.

He's only singer other then Chen Wei Lian who could move me with his singing voice

Taiwan Celebrities Criticise Singaporean English

Huh!

That's my first reaction when I first viewed that clip. Who are they to mock us?

However I must say there was another episode where they did criticize themselves and point out their own mistakes amongst themselves.

Actually the issue here is not who is superior than who in what.

The issue here is : Is it alright to mock others - on national TV - about what they perceive as 'weird' and 'funny' without having a good understanding of the culture and background of the country in question.

Do we do that on our national TV?

And well, after some 1,000 over netizens's complaints later / they did apologise.....or did they really (considering that only a few posted the apology in their personal blogs) ?

Maybe if and when that (like to dress like pregnant) teacher next visits SG, our customs officer can invite her to spend half a day or more if necessary to teach us her way of pronouncing PREGNANT before clearing her to enter SG. Maybe we throw in complimentary hearing check for her since she admitted that her hearing got problem.

Maybe we should - like what Mr Brown suggested - learn their English like their reporter below

Pineapple Tarts anyone?

Just baked another batch of pineapple tarts today.

Baked a few batches already. This is the last batch and decided to experiment with a few shapes....hahaa.

Bought a few of the earlier batch for a colleague to try and she gave me 98 marks! wow! She's known for her cooking and cookies and so to receive so high marks from her.....haha made all the hard work worth the while!

Long time no post

It's been so long since I last posted........I think facebook.com is taking up much of my time.

Much has came and gone......my birthday, Chritmas, saying adios to 2007. Soon we'll be saying hello to the year of the RAT. That also means I'll be 36 soon. Unbelievable.

《当我老了》 — 写给孩子的一封信

Saw this posting at both Ah Kiong and Esteemm's blogs.

Reading it brings me to tears....

当我老了，不再是原来的我。
请理解我，对我有一点耐心。

当我把菜汤洒到自己的衣服上时，
当我忘记怎样系鞋带时，
请想一想当初我是如何手把手地教你。

当我一遍又一遍地重复你早已听腻的话语，
请耐心地听我说，不要打断我。
你小的时候，我不得不重复那个讲过千 百遍的故事，直到你进入梦乡。

当我需要你帮我洗澡时，
请不要责备我。
还记得小时候我千方百计哄你洗澡的情形吗？

当我对新科技和新事物不知所措时，
请不要嘲笑我。
想一想当初我怎样耐心地回答你的每一个「为什 么」。

当我由于双腿疲劳而无法行走时，
请伸出你年轻有力的手搀扶我。
就像你小时候学习走路时，我扶你那样。

当我忽然忘记我们谈话的主题，
请给我一些时间让我回想。
其实对我来说，谈论什么并不重要，
只要你能在一旁听 我说，我就很满足。

当你看着老去的我，请不要悲伤。
理解我，支持我，
就像你刚才开始学习如何生活时我对你那样。

当初我引导你走上人生路，如今请陪伴我走完最后的路。
给我你的爱和耐心，我会抱以感激的微笑，
这微笑中凝结着我对你无限的爱。

Time After Time

Originally sang by Cyndi Lauper......nice song that brings back memories.....

They don't write songs like that anymore.......

Respect but never Expect?

有时候你对人家好
人家未必会对你好
有时候人家对你不好
你可能要看他的用意在哪
但是人家对你不好时
你该如何对待那个人呢?
是不是要像人家说的
Respect but never Expect?

但是要别人Respect 是comes naturally 的?
还是要earn the respect from people?

我觉得要我respect you as a fellow human being 没有问题
如果你能earn my respect, 我会加倍的respect 你

就好像在公司里的一些主任/经理
我会打从心里的respect 他们

但也有一小撮的人仗着有靠山
就作威作虎, 其实不过是空城一座罢了
不要说是Respect, 我反而看不起那些人!

Smokers irrational, like animals: M'sia cleric

Saw the following from Asiaone website:-

KUALA LUMPUR - SMOKERS are like animals that do not think rationally, a Malaysian hardline Islamist cleric said at the weekend.

Islam discourages the faithful from smoking, just as it bars them from alcohol, said Mr Nik Aziz Nik Mat, spiritual leader of the Parti Islam se-Malaysia, which seeks to turn the country into an Islamic state that punishes thieves by lopping off their hands.

Smokers did not use their brains because they continued to let themselves be addicted to the habit, despite knowing it was bad for their health, the Star newspaper quoted Mr Nik Aziz as saying.

'People who do not want to think are like animals,' Mr Nik Aziz told the launch of an anti-smoking campaign in Kota Baru, the capital of Malaysia's north-eastern state of Kelantan, which is his party's last remaining bastion.

Mr Nik Aziz, himself a non-smoker, has earlier said smokers would not be included among his party's candidates at Malaysia's next general elections, widely expected to be called as soon as early next year. -- REUTERS

The following not directed at anyone.

Once on a mrt train I saw a man boarded the mrt train at the Novena station.......carrying those brown envelopes, those carrying x-ray type. His eyes were bloodshot like he just cried his heart out. Tho he is a total stranger but somehow I feel an immediate heartache for him.

I thought about what must be going thru his mind now.........

"do I tell them?"
"what will they do if one day I lost this battle....."
"If only I've listened....."

Death At A Funeral

If you only have time for a movie this week and comedy gets you going......I would recommend you to catch Death At A Funeral.

It's proof of Murphy's Law - right from the start of the movie when the funeral director brings in the wrong body. It is hilariously funny from start to end. A bit of dark humour at play with a very cleverly thought out plot.

Polling time

但愿人长久 千里共婵娟

但愿人长久
词 苏轼
曲 梁弘志

明月几时有
把酒问青天
不知天上宫闕
今夕是何年

我欲乘风归去
唯恐琼楼玉宇
高处不胜寒
起舞弄清影
何似在人间

转朱阁低绮户照 无眠
不应有恨何事长向别 时圆
人有悲欢离合
月有阴晴圆缺
此事古难全

但愿人长久
千里共婵娟

我欲乘风归去
唯恐琼楼玉宇
高处不胜寒起
舞弄清影
何似在人间

转朱阁低绮户照 无眠
不应有恨何事长向别 时圆
人有悲欢离合
月有阴晴圆缺
此事古难全

但愿人长久千里共婵娟

Mid-Autumn or Mooncake Festival

This year is sort of like the 2nd time I'm making my own snow skin mooncake. The first attempt was last year but that was like all the ingredients were ready made by my friend and a few of us just go over to his house do the final step of wrapping the 'ready' snowskin to around the filling and casting it inside the mould.

This year, with exception from the mint-flavored 'lian rong' paste, the snowskin was prepared by 'ahemmmm' me, myself and I (oh ok lah, I bought the ready-mixed pack....heehee but still must follow the recipe to add the right amount of water and shortening to make the dough)

Brought the end-product to a gathering on Sat night and it was pretty well received.....hehee (hope they really liked it and not cos of the need to be polite for it's the first time I'm meeting them) ......tonight there will be another gathering and will be bringing it there too.....hope the response will be good too.

Due credit must also be given to JWorld for supplying the mint-flavour lian rong and the moulds.

康熙來了

张惠妹-如果你也听说

张惠妹-如果你也听说
作曲:周杰伦填词:李焯雄
监制:崔炎德, evi yang
编曲:adrian chan

突然发现站了好久
不知道要往哪走
还不想回家的我
再多人陪只会更寂寞

许多话题关于我
就连我也有听过
我的快乐要被认可
委屈却没有人诉说

夜把心洋葱般剥落
拿掉防卫剩下什么
为什么脆弱时候
想你更多

如果你也听说
有没有想过我
想普通交朋友
还是你依然会心疼我

好多好多的话想对你说
悬着一颗心没着落
要怎么附和
舍不得又无可奈何

如果你也听说
会不会相信我
对流言会附和
还是你知道我还是我

跌跌撞撞才明白了许多
懂我的人就你一个
想到你想起我
胸口依然温柔


许多话题关于我
就连我也有听过
我想我宁可都沉默
其实反而显得做作

夜把心洋葱般剥落
拿掉防卫剩下什么
为什么脆弱时候
想你更多

如果你也听说
有没有想过我
想普通交朋友
还是你依然会心疼我

好多好多的话想对你说
悬着一颗心没着落
要怎么附和
舍不得又无可奈何

如果你也听说
会不会相信我
对流言会附和
还是你知道我还是我

跌跌撞撞才明白了许多
懂我的人就你一个
想到你想起我
胸口依然温柔

如果你也听说
有没有想过我
想普通交朋友
还是你依然会心疼我

跌跌撞撞才明白了许多
冷漠的人就你一个
想到你想起我
胸口依然温柔

如果你想起我
你会想到什么

Just to share another nice song not a reflection of my situation....haha....... Heard it over the radio and a friend introduced that song to me.....so just dedicating this song back to him.

那年夏天宁静的海

那年夏天宁静的海 - 王心凌

那时我们天天在一起
太幸福到不需要距离
很贪心要全世界注意
只是太年轻
快乐和伤心
都像在演戏
一碰就惊天动地
今天看你
昨天的你去了哪里
那年夏天我和你躲在
这一大片宁静的海
直到后来我们都还在
对这个世界充满期待
今年冬天你已经不在
我的心空出了一块
很高兴遇见你
让我终究明白
回忆你真是精彩
还记得一起努力
还有那些一言为定
现在我就当过去是种学习
虽然好不容易

U probably won't be reading this. But I think it's better for me to write it out.
They say it's better to write it out as seemingly may be better able to release stress and letting go.

Now I wonder.....
When the train reaches that familiar station - do I hope to see your face...
When I go Soup Spoon, should I have the Velvety Mushroom Soup...
When I go Sentosa, should I go to our favourite spot...
Should I cycle there? should I tan? Should I even go at all...

陳奕迅 - 淘汰

When you gone past the 'you're so cute/adorable', 'miss you already' stage, next comes the I wonder if I just said something stupid stage. Then there's so many guess work on who's the one calling you now.....who sms you on what. Very tiring.

Not a new song,but I think one of his best songs that I like most.

歌手：王力宏 专辑：盖世英雄

baby不要再哭泣
这一幕多么熟悉
紧握着你的手彼此都舍不得分离
每一次想开口但不如保持安静
给我一分钟专心
好好欣赏你的美
幸福搭配悲伤
同时在我心交叉
挫折的眼泪不能测试爱的重量
付出的爱收不回
还欠你的我不能给
别把我心也带走
去跟随
每一次和你分开
深深的被你打败
每一次放弃你的温柔
痛苦难以释怀
每一次和你分开
每一次kiss you goodbye
爱情的滋味此刻我终于最明白
----
但欠你的我不能给
我才明白爱最真实的滋味
我终于明白

BKK again...haha

Yup I went to BKK again over the weekend (04-07 Aug 07).....yes again.....nope not that got mistress there or anything......this trip was to bring a friend who is in between jobs and whom have never been to BKK to relax, sightseeing and shopping of course.

This time we stayed at Citadines (Apartment + Hotel). A rather nice and cozy Apt that is walking distance to one of the Skytrain station 'Asoke' (which is also an interchange with their MRT station 'Sukhumvit').

It's relatively new as it only opened in Jan 2007. It is also under the Ascott group of service apts. Only thing that wasn't ready yet was the swimming pool. They do have a gym that I got to use every morning.

The breakfast provided was very simple. And so we only took it one morning and for the subsequent 2 mornings, we went to a nearby supermarket-cum-eatery known as Foodland that serves a simple American breakfast for 58baht.....what a bargain. You get 2 eggs (choice to have it scrambled or fried), Ham/Bacon/Sausage (choose Sausage as one morning I opt for Bacon and all I got was a strip of bacon......) Coffee or Tea, Pineapple or Orange Juice plus 2 pieces of toast with butter and jam.

The TV console can slide across the wall to be in front of the bed or the living area.

Pic of me at Chatuchak Weekend Market......

In the Grand Palace in front of the Monkeys that supports the Golden Chedi.

Depositing the coins into the 108 bowls at Wat Pho for good luck and blessings.

When you enter Wat Pho, remember to go to the ticketing counter to get your entrance tickets - it's 50baht per person. At the entrance, there's usually no guard, no barriers, no arrows to tell you where to get your ticket (depending on which entrance you enter by). After paying for the entrance, remember to ask for a receipt if you're not issued any as there isn't any tickets being issued and the receipt serves as the ticket.

This trip I travelled via JetStar and was quite surprised and happy that they actually allows you to select your seats online. But there's some facilitation charge of $6 per pax which they did not explain what that was for - seats selection?

However to my disappointment, when I checked in on my departure morning, I was dismayed to be informed by the check in staff that there are no more seats side by side for me and my friend. Upon my querying about my seats selection online, which he could not provide any explanation. except that he mumbled that there weren't any seats allocated beforehand - then he verified with us if we're ok to seat at the rows at the emergency exits.

We obliged but when we board the plane, we then realised we were both allocated aisle seats! That wasn't very nice.

Imagine the plane's seats are

Window A B C [ aisle ] D E F Window

and we were given seats C and D.

The funny thing is, when we check in for our flight back to Singapore from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi's Int'l Airport, we did not have such problems. The staff promptly inform us that the seats has already been pre-selected and allocated us the seats. I've drafted a letter to JetStar to ask for an explanation why this is so.