Touch of pink
Recently, this song for a Lacoste ad caught my attention. Good easy listening. It's "Save your kisses for me" by
Natasha Thomas. She is 19 this year and hails from Denmark but is signed to a German company. She is relatively unknown in this part of the world but this international ad is sure to shoot her to fame. The song was used for the Lacoste "touch of pink" fragrance commercial- Natasha is also the model prancing around looking pretty in pink in the ad. Liked the song, so I uploaded it for sampling. （
REMOVED )
Lacoste- Touch of pink
There had always been a trend of songs tying up with commercials. Songs become popular due to high exposure and commercials are more easily remembered due to the catchy songs. It's a good platform for singers to be exposed to an international market. Some examples that I can remember are:
Shaggy "Mr Boombastic"- Levi's
U2 "Vertigo"- i pod
The Caesers "Jerk it out"- i pod shuffle D'Sound "Talking Talk"- Nokia
and countless Moby tracks tied in with commercials
Recently, there has been a trend of using songs of new acts or relatively unknown artistes in advertisements. For example, by tying in with i pod shuffle, The Caesers managed to gain fame in a very short time. "Jerk it out" became an international smash hit. By does fame gained through such a strategy last? Do acts end up as one hit wonders? Well, if they do, they can always collaborate with Eminem or Missy Elliot- the passports to fame.
Small, small Kermit.
I missed my 1st lecture today. Lecture starts at 10am and I woke up at 11.40am. Didn't even hear my alarm and don't even recall shutting off the alarm even though I did. Woke up from a series of ridiculous dreams.
I headed straight for Media Writing class. Today, the comittee members for the class newsletter was announced. Initially, I told myself maybe I don't want to be in the commitee at all because I didn't really have the technical abilities needed for the job. It's a stupid job anyways. But when the names of the committee members were announced and I wasn't one of them, I got really upset. Only then did I realise how much I wanted to be in it. Maybe it wasn't about playing a part in the committee but more about personal pride. I felt dejected, belittled and small. Was I worse off than any one of them standing in front of me? Am I the less equal among the equal ones? What you want don't always match what you get. But why is it constantly a mismatch for me?
Headed off to the library to photocopy notes. Bloody RBR books. Had to get 4 RBR books. The librarians can never get my name right, not even the Chinese ones- " Ng Jin Ho", "Ng Jin Ho". Maybe it's time to get an Ang Moh name. Ppl always remember Ang Moh names and pronounce them better. After getting my first book, I headed to the photocopy room. The room was packed with expressionless, pale-looking people going through the same mechanical motion. They were like zombies. After 50 pages, I became a zombie like them. There is this cold, freaky atmosphere abt the photocopy room. It does something to people who enters it. It sucks away your Yang Qi (Yang energy).
I discovered a bloody pimple growing on my left butt cheek. How did the pimple get there? I had half the mind to post a pic of it on this post. But after much deliberation, I decided that it's best to keep my butt to myself. Anyone out there who ever had pimples on their butt- Do they heal fast?
Al-Azhar... Pratas for the soul.
I really shouldn't be blogging now. I have a lecture at 10 am and I still have to prepare for EL 3221- Literary Stylistics tutorial. This really is my most sucidal module to date. I'm just so lost in this mod, dunno what the hell the lecturer talking abt siah. Read the Qns for tomorrow's tutorial and still havent got a clue. Fuck it, I'll just go throw some smoke grenades tomorrow. When you can't give intelligent answers, just confuse everybody.
Had supper with the guys at Al-Azhar. Kinda like a post-birthday celebration for Mingster. Shrek was in a hyper BitchFiT mode due to the Macbeth's mother-in-law incident. Synopsis of incident- a ridiculous Pot and a Almost full baggage. There were updates on Ray as well.
To Ray: Sorry to hear about you but don't fret, there just might be greener pastures out there for your itchy J Lo ass.There was also excessive Teh-Pengs. Kumwei was just high on Teh-Pengs. I never understand the system they use at some prata shops. Can't they just keep the slips they take orders on and charge according to those slips? Do they have to come over and recount all the stuff we ordered? Where's the BRAINS people? Great that we meet up b4 everyone starts flying off.
Treats:
For a
Paris Hilton delight: visit
http://boreme.com/boreme/funny-2005/paris-hilton-banned-ad-p1.php (not a link to the infamous One Night in Paris clip. but that one is easily downloadable)
For a spoof of that: visit
http://boreme.com/boreme/funny-2005/rethink-recruiting-p1.php?fromrelated=1To know more abt the dubious relationship bet Bush and Blair, see George Bush and Tony Blair's rendition of GAy BAr:
http://boreme.com/boreme/funny-2003/f_gay_bar-p1.phpBoreme.com is a really good remedy for Bo Liao moments.
(Everybody's) leaving on a jet plane, who knows when (everybody) will be back again...
Toking cock liao, time to sleep liao, too much Teh in my system liao.
Enough
I was scanning through and deleting messages in my handphone inbox when I chance upon this message:
"From XXX
Hey i'm back :) meet up sometime for coffee or sth k. "
It dated 06/07/2005.
She's back for vacation from Australia. I remember I replied her: "Sure." She never called or messaged me after this message. What happened to meet up for coffee or sth? It's been nearly 2 months and I don't even know if she's back in Australia. I didn't initiate any meetings with her because I was tired of being the one making her feel important when in fact I don't really mean much to her. Nothing more than a PR event she could choose whether or not to attend to (attending to only when she had spare time). I'm tired of being the one asking. I'm sick of feeling like shit and giving without any returns. I won't be a sucker anymore.
Get out of my mouth, get out of my head, get out of my mind, stop putting words in my head.
TLC- Dear Lie
冷笑话s...
冷死我了！
1.
一天， 面条和包子打架，面条不敌逃跑了。
包子追到到一个小巷子里看到快熟面在那里，冲上去把快熟面爆打了一顿。
走时丢下一句话：“不要以为你把头发烫卷了我就不认识你了！”
2.
Q：Tuna sushi 和 salmon sushi 经常碰面， 但是从不打招呼。 为十么？
A： 因为他们不“熟”。
3.
有个人, 他肠胃不好.一天,他来到胃病医院看病, 对医生说: "我吃什么拉什么, 吃西瓜拉西瓜, 吃黄瓜拉黄瓜! "
医生想了想, 对他说: "我看你只有吃屎了! "
4.
Q：世界上什么鸡跑的最慢？
A：妮可基， 因为妮可基曼（慢）
5.
小狗， 小猫 和小羊一同到7－11 买东西。 这间7－11 的店员是出了名的恶霸， 经常毒打顾客。
小狗鼓起勇气说： “我才不怕他！”， 便走进店里。 不到一会儿， 小狗便被打得鼻青脸肿。
小猫不怕死的说：“我才不怕他！”， 便走进店里。 不到一会儿， 小猫也被打得鼻青脸肿。
小羊跟着也进了店里， 但是却没被打。 为什么？
因为7－11 24小时不打烊 （羊）
6.
Q：刘德华的忘情水是谁给的？
A：Ah- Ha. 因为， Ah-Ha~..., 给我一杯忘情水。。。
7.
Q:郑秀文最舍不得的是谁？
A：爷爷。 因为， 我舍不得你... Ye~Ye~... (爷爷)
Just think about it.
Hunger
Poverty
Starvation
Survival
It's another day for you and me in paradise.
美女大对决！
I am the epitome of beauty...
你过时了。 我才是超级无敌大美女， 如花是也。。。
大家好， 哦 是许纯美， Chunmei Xu.
哦 才是美女。 大家要学佛哦。。。
Mmm... 讨厌， 人家才是大美女。。。
Please leh. 你们这些贱货滚开 la。 I am Singapore's flower ohkay.
Li Ma Si Gan Na Sai
Huh? 白素贞？。。。？
Please Ladies...
Boring Life, Boring Post
Wanted to wake up at 9.30 today, so I could have breakfast b4 school. Set my alarm to 9.30. When the alarm rang at 9.30, I simply shut the damn thing off and went back to sleep. Woke up at 10.15 in the end. Lesson starts at 11. As usual, I'm going to be late. Another mad rush to the bus stop. Fortunately, the bus stop wasn't packed with NUS freaks like me. The other day, by the time I got there, the bus stop was polluted with NUS students, overcrowding the place like ants. It was an exodus. And this was the stop before the MRT stop. This was supposed to be the uncrowded stop. Go to the other bus stop, Freaks. Stop polluting the air around me.
Lessons were boring, boring, boring... Tutorial- Lunch break- Tutorial- Lecture- Screening. During lecture today, I asked R: "Which slot are you in?" (She was in a different tutorial from me) She replied: "Well, that sounded crude." Crude? WTF? How is that crude? I'm kinda getting irritated by her uppety, correctly pronounced English. But OK lah, the ppl in lit tutorial quite nice and friendly.
Headed home after screening, then blah.. blah.. blah... Asked a few friends if they wanted to go KTV tomorrow. I still have the voucher from our previous trip. All not very gian- have to work, do homework, no money... Sianz. So I sang to myself in my birthday suit (in the shower).
Trivia:
I googled my blog and found out I am actually linked by
Disorder Resource: the biggest disorder resource on the internet. I'm the number 1. search for
Receeding Hand Nails, based on my nail and LKY posts. Haha... what crap! So much for reliable and efficient search engines. If only it happened for,
Beaumonde, the eating disorder website my team made last semester.
Sign
Kermit, the frog with 2 faces
Still the angry blogger
Mr Lonely
Lonely... I'm Mr Lonely... I have nobody... but on my own...
Another day at home on a Saturday. In the morning, I sent my Grandma to the Chinese physician. In the afternoon, I head down to Video EZ and borrowed Casablanca- need it for my film module. After watching 2 hours of black and white film, I fell asleep. Woke up for dinner at my Grandma's place. Taught my cousin Pri 4 math after dinner... nearly didn't know how to solve one for the questions:
1/4 of the yellow balls equals to 1/2 the blue balls. What is the fraction of blue balls? (Give your answer in the smallest term)
I came up with an answer but not positively sure if it's correct. haha... I know I was never good with math, but PRI 4 math?!!? WTF! At least I managed to score A2 for E math and B3 for A Math. If you think you know the answer, pls leave your answer in Comments, so I can tally with my answer. haha...
Caught the Man U vs Aston Villa match at Grandma's place. Glad that Man U is on track and Van Nistelrooy is starting to look sharp again. (Mostly Man U fans in my family). Hope Arsenal and Chelsea draws, Henry and Crespo break their legs...
Came back home after the match. Lazed around as usual. Planned my finalized timetable for the week. Made a list of what to do tomorrow. Got on the net. Sometimes it is just irritating to log on to MSN and see no one online. Only ten people were online and most were Away. It's Saturday night and everyone is out having fun. Everyone is too busy and preoccupied with their own lifes, their new lifes. New dates, new friends, new social circles. Who cares anymore? I used to care but now I try not to. The more you care, the more irritated you get when people simply don't appreciate it. I have done many stupid things b4, and they were simply not appreciated. Made me feel like a fool. Sianzz...
Bloody no more lab assistant job liao. I was temporarily allocated Wed duties until the finalization of timetable. Then, we were supposed to sort it out later. I didn't ask for Wed. Now that timetable is finalized and I don't want to do it on Wed as Wed is my free day, the guy tells me that "Sorry, nobody wants to exchange duty". WTF!!! He found a replacement for me liao. I've been begging people since last week to exchange duty with me. But who cares? Sianz... Ok lah, I lazy lah. Wed can do one, just that I don't want to go back school on my free day just to do duty- Stupid and Bo Liao right? Fuck it lah.
Lonely... I'm Mr Lonely... I have nobody... but on my own...
Akon- Lonely
Sign
Kermit, the frog with 2 faces...
Flying Object
Flying object outside the window.
Gardenia Bread (*pic taken off gardenia.com.sg)
I was at the front of my computer when I saw, with the corner of my eye, a flying object outside the window. I turned around and saw something ridiculous. It was a Gardenia bread plastic wrapper. I live on the 8th floor and it flew all the way up. Siao Bo...
Here we go again... S R Nathan again...
Extract from
Channelnewsasia ( article dates 17th August 2005)
SINGAPORE : Singapore President SR Nathan has been re-elected to a second six-year term in office. Returning officer Tan Boon Huat announced this when nomination for the Elected Presidency closed at noon on Wednesday.
Mr Tan said, "At the close of Nomination at 12 noon today, I accepted only one set of Nomination papers -- that of Mr SR Nathan. No valid objection to the nomination paper was made by, or to me. Mr Nathan therefore is the sole candidate at the close of nomination. I hereby declare the President of the Republic of Singapore, Mr SR Nathan." Delivering a short speech in the four official languages, Mr Nathan thanked all his supporters, most of whom hailed from the labour movement.
Mr Nathan filed his nomination papers at about 11.20am, shortly after he arrived at the Nomination Centre set up at the People's Association in Stadium Link. He was accompanied by his proposer, seconder and four assentors. Eighty-one-year-old Mr Nathan was the only candidate qualified to stand for election, having been issued the Certificate of Eligibility by the Presidential Elections Committee.
Three others who filed for the certificate were rejected. One of them was former Group Chief Financial Officer of JTC Corporation, Andrew Kuan. The other two were former tutor and realtor Ooi Boon Ewe, and Ramachandran Govindasamy Naidu, a retired senior storekeeper from the Commonwealth Forces. The Presidential Elections Committee, in rejecting them, said their career history showed they did not have the comparable responsibility necessary for the office of the Presidency.
Please refer to the
"PRESS STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS COMMITTEE ON APPLICATIONS FOR CERTIFICATES OF ELIGIBILITY" and see the committee's justification for their rejection of the other candidates.
I had been looking forward to my first legal vote in an election. But today, it is yet another walkover. The only time we had a "true" democratic presidential election was in 1993, 12 years ago. Mr Ong Teng Cheong's became our 1st elected president. And sadly, at least from my standpoint, he was the last. So much for the democracy that we pledge for. Do we really lack talented (old) man who can represent, unit and symbolise the spirit of the nation? Is it true that Singaporeans just can't be bothered with politics? Or is it just that we can't be bothered with
Singapore politics? Sometimes, you can't blame Singaporeans for reactly coldly to local politics. Look at the way the game is played here. Politics here bring fear, not democracy. Most Singaporeans have "politicile dysfunction"(PD). Most of us are political dummies.
Look at how the media blatantly portray President S R Nathan vs. the way they present Andrew Kuan. Does the opposition parties ever get media coverage? Yes they do - mostly on their way to court or jail. OK, credit must be given to the peace and stability provided by the Singaporean style of "democracy". But isn't it time we moved on? We can't keep on acting like a democracy, we have to start becoming one.
Ting Cor(s)
CORS broke down again during tutorial balloting. What's wrong with this world class institution?
NUS finally decided to do something about it. Just follow the instructions below for troubleshooting:
Click on pic to view content. (funny)
绝对SUPERSTAR。 有我，哪有他
4th year NUS Econs Major VS 盲侠
Click on pic to read content
*
Photo courtesy of hardwarezone forum (EDMW).
绝对SUPERSTAR Part 2
绝对SUPERSTAR, 有你就有他...
Finally, we are allowed to enter the premise proper and we made our way to the theatre. We reached this carpark place, and had to wait there again for the theatre to be ready. Finally, we were given the green light. Then we had to walk a few flights down into the basement area to reach the theatre. Mafan siah...
Xinhui supporters with banners outside theatre.
We were lined up according to F1 and F2 supporters outside the theatre. Xinhui supporters were clearly the more enthu ones. They looked as though they were holding an election campaign. They started cheering outside the theatre. Our side did counter back when an enthu auntie from our side led the more enthu Kelly supporters into cheering. (I wasn't one of the enthu ones). I can't believe, for today, I was one of those xiao ginna (crazy kids) that my Ah Ma like to complain about when she sees them on TV. She can't understand why kids get so crazy. But I heard back in those days, she and many aunties were just as crazy over her fav teochew opera singer, Tan Chor Hwee. They used to give her GOLD (genuine stuff) as present. Talk abt crazy.
绝对SUPERSTAR stage
When I got into the theatre, it was much smaller than expected. It was about the size of my secondary school's performing arts centre- Disappointing. We were seated according to who we supported. Kelly supporters on the right, Xinhui supporters on the left. The line was split in the middle. I got this lousy seat, right behing the main camera, but OK lah, still can see. This host came out. He said he was a 93.3fm deejay, Weixiong I think. He was like a crowd warmer and instructed the audience on conduct and seating plan. He kept repeating himself that he got quite irritating. He was kinda lame too, but he did a good job I guess. I dunno how long we had to wait, but I was falling asleep b4 they finally began filming. They started filming all the Wayang stuff. Telling us to look excited and clap/holding up our banners. We were given a giant Kelly banner to hold. Good, I can hide my face behind the banner... They filmed all that and were going to edit all this "excitement" into the program. Did a few round of that and finally the hosts were invited onto the stage. We were warned against taking pictures during filming. Therefore, being a good boi, I do not have any pics of the performances. Anyway the stage was too far away for my N7610.
ZM and Mingster with giant Kelly banner!
*Pics taken off Channel U websiteF1
Kelly VS XinhuiF2 
It was the Tiger Cup of chinese pop music. Kelly (sg) vs Xinhui (mas). They were asked to sing 3 songs... blah blah blah. All that you will see on TV on Thursday night, 18/08/05, 8.30pm on Channel U. It was childish but fun. We blended in with the teens and acted like one. Xinhui fans are really enthu. They even brought pompons and their spirits were high. I feel that the contestants sound better live, than on TV. You can really hear their Power! The judges comments were damn long lah, nearly fall asleep. Fang Zhong Hua is really lame lah, like he always is with all his weird analogies. Today, he came up with a Soon Kuey analogy. Quite funny and embarrassing to see myself caught on screen, with all the eye bags. Hope nobody notices me on TV, esp my Ah Ma. (Low chance,- she don't watch Superstar). I thought Mediacorp might have paid extras to act as fans but I'm surprised that most of them are really fans from the public (路人s). The past contestants were invited to watch the show.Seeing them in real life- All of them much shorter than I thought. Whenever the chance arise, fans went mad, screaming the names of their fav idols. Derrick is clearly the fav among young girls. The girls were crazy over him. Really siao! Most shiok part is I got to know the results b4 anyone else.
*
Spoiler: Kelly scored lower points than Xinhui for all 3 songs. Damn. But Xinhui was good lah!
Mingster damn sad bec his fav is Kelly. ZM was like "Die Liao, Must call many 电话 liao." But I just got this feeling that all the phonecall rubbish is just a hoax. Just a marketing strategy and profitable biz.
The filming finally comes to a close. Contestants and judges went up the stage to congratulate the 2 female contestants.
Kelly and Xinhui getting hugged...
The 93.3fm deejay host guy came out again and told us that there is a possibility of us staying to watch the male contestants compete. ZM and Mingster didn't want to stay as it was late and they were supposedly sad that Kelly输了 and lost interest. I didn't mind staying back to watch. ZM's friends decided to stay to watch. As I was hitching a ride from Zm and I didn't know his friends well, I left with him. Yah lah, it was kinda late liao. It was approaching 10pm when we left. By the time the male contestants finished competing, it would be past midnight liao.
We headed to Thomson for prata. I tried the Bomb prata. Quite nice- Honey and Margarine in prata. But quite sweet. So just order one is enough. Order other type of prata if still not full. WL on diet bec Mingster said she was getting fat. haha... Finish Makan liao, we made our way home. I became a teen again (and a 追星族) for a day.
绝对SUPERSTAR Part 1
绝对SUPERSTAR， 有你就有他...All thanks to ZM, I had a chance to attend the recording of 绝对SUPERSTAR. My first real visit to Caldecott Hill. Tonight, they recorded the final battle between the 2 remaining female contestants, Kelly vs Xinhui.
Met up with Mingster and shared a cab to Mediacorp. Being the typical suaku Singaporean, I took some pics at the main entrance. My sis lent her digicam to her friend, so I had to make do with my N7610 camera phone . So a bit pixelated. Sianzz...
Mediacorp RADAR!
SUPERSTAR banner at entrance
Mr X. with the "famous" Mediacorp logo.
When we reached, I realised we were overaged. Surrounding us were supporters in their teens. I felt like an Ah Peh(Uncle). ZM arrived with his gf, WL and we made out way in to meet up with ZM's friends. There were 7 of us altogether. When we went in, I was glad to see quite a few "auntie" fans- Cool, I'm not the oldest. The entrance was packed with supporters, mainly in their teens. Xinhui's camp was to be in red. Kelly's camp was to be in blue. Since my friends were Kelly supporters, all 7 of us wore blue. I don't really have a fave and don't really chase after them, but I do watch lah. To me, the guys competition like more exciting. I guess I support Derrick, but he out liao. I thought that Kelly's supporters were not very ON. Very few wore blue. Xinhui's camp on the other hand was damn enthu. Nearly all wore red, like national day- most of them wearing I Love Singapore T-shirts.- must be recycle from National Day (No wonder so many of them wear). We had to first write our name, IC and contact no. on the admission ticket. I and Mingster proceeded to the reception counter to borrow pen. Then the stupid Malay auntie give us attitude and Bo Hiu/ Bo Chap us when we ask her for pen. Luckily, got this kind gentleman lent us his pen. The Malay auntie must be stay at Mediacorp too long liao- think she diva. Now, had to queue up at the entrance to get in. Sianzz...
Crowded entrance/reception/waiting area
Group of teenage fans waiting
Mingster posing with admission ticket.
Pulau Ubin Stories
Last week, November, a writer for Ubin Stories, chanced upon my blog and saw the entry on Ubin.
November liked some of the pictures and wrote an article on depleting Kelongs around the Ubin area. So now, I'm kinda featured on
Pulau Ubin Stories. However, I had made a mistake and it turns out that the "Kelong" I went to, was most probably a fish farm. (My apologies to
November for the mess up.) Hence, the change in heading from "Kelong" to "fish farm" on my
ubin entry. Do visit
Pulau Ubin Stories- provides really good info, articles and pictures on Ubin life.
上学啦。。。
A new school semester starts today and this song rings in my head.
小嘛。小儿郎。。。背着那书包上学堂.
不怕那太阳晒， 也不怕风雨挡。
Lyrics a bit unsure, but something like that.
Sunset- the happy side
Went jogging yesterday because I was too bored at home. Stamina now quite telok. Only run 2km already feel bei tahan. Need to get back my stamina. Used to run 10km without feeling the strain. There's a running track just below my block that links to Sunset area. It isn't the stadium kind of track, but rather a track that runs beside a huge water canal that links to sunset area. There are some really enthu people who run there everyday without fail. Also, there are maids who work in the Mt Sinai area who walk their dogs there as an excuse to meet up and gossip. Towards the end of the running track, I saw Donut doing stretching excerises (Donut from TCS8 last time... the short stumpy guy.) I didn't wish to turn back so early as I was bored of staying at home and my mum just came back home from an unpleasant day at work. This means endless nag, nag, nag. So I decided to venture into the Sunset area(there was another running track there). I was tired and lazy, so I decided to walk.
As I approached Sunset, it was around 6 plus and the sun was setting. How lame, sunset at Sunset. But Sunset does look more beautiful at sunset. I don't know why but the people over that side looked happier. I saw this couple holding hands and walking down the track. They were happy and all smiles, the smile of love. I could hear birds returning to their nests and were "cooing" away.
(Luckily, there weren't so many trees and birds. Otherwise, the picturesque scene would become a nightmare. I would be trying hard to avoid birdshit. There's this stretch of road near my block that is infested by nesting birds. You become the target board if you pass by at the wrong time. The birds rain down birdshit like machine guns and there are shit stains all over the cement floor.)
Back to beautiful sunset... I could smell freshly cut grass. The grass by the side of the tracks had just been trimmed and the air was filled with the smell of fresh grass. In my mind, I could hear the sound of the "grass-cutter" slicing away at the grass. I could imagine the blades rotating at such a high speed that you could no longer make out the shape of the blade. I don't know why, but since young, "Banglas"(no offence) cutting grass had always left a deep impression on me.
As I walked further, I approached a nicely designed (nice for Singapore HDB design standards) overhead bridge that linked HDBs flat over the canal. I walked up the bridge. On my right was where I came from. On my left, I could see the abandoned raliway of Sunset. I remember being there years ago. Nicholas stayed at Sunset and he brought me there once. I can't remember who else was there, but I think there were 3 or 4 of us. It felt rebellious and anti-establishment standing on an abandoned railway at the age of 15/16. I felt like James Dean, a rebel without a cause. There were scribbles in liquid paper all over the black steel structure of the railway. Scribbles of eternal love- "B loves C forever." and the self-gratifying "B was here on ...". I think I'd pay a visit there again someday. But certainly not during this month, and certainly not at night. Haha... Somehow, at sunset, the side with the railway could pass off as a European countryside. I guess the rustic abandoned railway, the canal water running under it and the colour of sunset light combine to create an illusion.
It was getting late and I decided to head back home. As I walked back, I saw this woman probably in her 40s, feeding a stray cat. She hadn't noticed me. But when she knew I saw her feedling the cat, she gave me a hostile yet guilty glare. That's the kind of glare that I usually get from "stray cat feeders". I have one SCF feeding cats living in the void decks of my block. She ususlly feeds at midnight. When she sees me noticing her, she would give me the same glare. I read that expression as: "So what? I like cats and I'm feeding them. Even if they are stray. I don't care what you think. There's nothing wrong with what I'm doing." I guess some people object to feeding of stray cats because by doing that, you attract more cats into that area and they might "make friends" and expand their colony. But I'm OK with it. I think it's really humane to care for stray animals.
As I head back home, I thought to myself how simple life could be. I felt light and refreshed. We often neglect what we have around us and often seek things that we don't have. Once in a while we should all take time to reflect on the simple happiness around us. But I guess it is just human nature to strive for what we don't have, to neglect what we already have. Human beings can never be happy until we give everything up- Too Nirvana and 阿弥陀佛。 Getting too philosophical here. All these years, I have been living on the unhappy side. Am I ready to cross over to the happy side?
鬼门开。。。
Wanted to type this post in Chinese but it would take too much effort and time with Chinese Star. It is officially the 7th month on the Lunar Calendar, the start of the Hungry Ghost Festival. Albeit an inappropriate comparison, you can see it as Chinese Halloween. At the stroke of midnight when 31th of the sixth month and 1st of the seventh month cross path, the gates of hell opens and our good brothers from beneath are given a holiday on this mortal world. A grand procession and a giant burning ceremony takes place. The good brothers will linger among us for the entire 7th month before they return down under. In contrast to all the fun, partying and playing dress up of Halloween, the Hungry Ghost Festival is all about respect. To ensure harmony in existence, mortals have to pay respects to our good brothers. All this involves a little bit of "bribing". Buying their hearts to prevent them from creating havoc. People also take the chance to pay respects to loved ones who had passed away. This would mean burning of incense, which symbolises money and wealth that could be used in the underworld/afterlife. Some people also offered food. I guess materialism is in the very core of Chinese culture, even after we die.
As time progresses, the nature of Hungry Ghost has evolved. The fundamentals are basically the same but the "tools" and "hardware" have changed tremendously. For the 80+% of us leaving in HDB flats, these pictures would be a familiar sight.
Metal containers for incense burning
Metal containers are placed at common areas so as to avoid people burning directly on grass on concrete floor. I was helping my Ah Ma pay respects. The smoke from burning can be choking and suffocating. I really pity those who live on the 2nd floor.
Resident on the 2nd Floor
The windows were intially open. But after 2 mins of intense fuming, the windows were shut tight.
The essential "tools" needed for paying respect are red candles (must be red), incense (stick), and hell notes (incense paper). Food is also offered sometimes.
Incense (stick) and Red candles/ Traditional Incense Paper
Incense paper is supposed to represent olden hell notes that good brothers can spend when they return down under. I learnt to fold them into this round, "lotus" layer kind of "pattern" from my Ah Ma. It makes separating the notes and burning easier. When burning for loved ones, remember to include your loved ones name on a piece of red paper. This is to ensure your loved one gets the "package" and prevent other good brothers from looting. Burning for loved ones and good brothers in general is held separately.
With modernity come new inventions.
The modern Hell Bank Notes that come in denominations of google zillions
(ie. 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,...)
At present, you can burn whatever you fancy. You name it, they have it. They are paper aeroplanes, credit cards, cars, TV, houses (mansions)... You can even burn a paper maid. Also, during this period, there would be performances staged to entertain the good brothers. Traditionally, these are Chinese Wayang shows but have now evolved into Getai shows featuring skimpily dressed girls singing and dancing to the beat of Mandarin/Cantonese/Hokkien remixes and "less well-known" singers singing Hokkien favourites.
Daily Necessities
This is something that looked interesting. Diagrams of clothes, shoes, socks and all daily necessities are drawn on these paper. They are like the all-in-one that would cater to all daily "living" needs.
Although I don't believe in the afterlife, a part of me is still very Pantan and would rather be safe than sorry. So I already asked for the good brothers for understanding and forgiveness after taking pictures of their offerings. I seek forgiveness for any offence committed.
Lunar 7th month code of conductDo not return home after 12 midnight.
Do not step on burnt incense- If you do, apologise straight away.
Do not say anything if you smell the scent of frangipani.
Do not say you do not believe in such things, or else...
Behave and Beware. Good Luck...
眼不见为净。 宁可信其有。
For more interesting facts on Hungry Ghost, you can visit
Chinatownboy's blog.
Where have all the Kermits gone~ Oh Huh...
Just finished reading through all my archives. Suddenly realised how colourful (metaphorically speaking) my initial blogs are. They were so much more positive. So much more meaningful. Makes more sense. So much more fun. I have become such a dark, angry blogger. I need to find back my old self...
My mind is a storm
The bidding system is just pissing me off. They expect us to sit in front of the computer, round the clock, to monitor the CORS system? A self-proclaimed world class institution can't even provide a server that can handle the bidding of Round 2A? The server/ CORS malfunctioned during the last hour of close bidding. What's wrong with those idiots who dump 1000 points into bidding a module? The lowest bid for one of the modules I wanted was 1000 points. I only have 120 points. I am giving up on bidding and pinning my hopes on appeals. Think I will just be a good boy and attend the lectures. Act pathetic, Get down on my knees, Hug the lecturer's feet, Beg him/her, Cry and lick the lecturer's toes if I have to. Haha... I'm a little mentally unsound now.
I am so bored at home. Nothing to do. Too lazy to do anything. Nobody to do anything with me. Sleep twice a day. At times like this, my mind just goes crazy, sink into self pity and think of all the nonsense. I 'm the sort that needs a goal, something to keep me occupied. All my friends seem so preoccupied with their own lifes. Sometimes I just feel like the man that wasn't there. It has always been. I want to know what's going on. But often, I'm the one that nobody tells anything to. I'm like this passing shadow that can be done without. Always the crowd filler, never the essential brew. Always the 2nd, 3rd, 4th fiddle... I know my personality plays in part in how people perceive me and make people relate to me in a certain way. It's hard to relate to me or feel really close to me. I know that and I hate that. But that's just the way I am. Perhaps bad experiences in the past may have made me what I am today.
I like people who are true. "Fake" people just serve to entertain me. I want true feelings from people. I need it honest. I don't want sympathy. I'm too proud for that. I don't want friends who read this blog to suddenly see that I need attention and start showing me attention. That's just too fake. Not that people are reading my blog anyways. Yet, at the same time, I need to feel and know that I am important. Ironic, huh? I just want the impossible. That's harsh. Maybe it's just near impossible but not impossible. Just very very rare. I just feel that what's unsaid is more important than what's said. But not saying anything makes it hard for people to know how you feel. Maybe I should learn to speak up more, but that won't be my true self. Maybe I belong to the ancient times in the Chinese Martial World (Wu Lin). haha... Is there anyone out there?- Oh Eh Eh Oh!!!... When will that special someone appear for me? Am I the one blocking everyone out? I just need to start accepting myself first.
Storms in the microcosm are reflected in the macrocosm. My room probably reflects the state of my mind. I am plenty of free time but I can't be bothered to pack up my room.
All the above blabbering is a result of extreme boredom. It's time to do something.
Like the Nike ad says: Reincarnate.Time to get a new life.
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