The plate that I use. It costs $12.50 ok!!!!


It's no longer rainy. This is not good.

Oh well, I am almost going to leave the house already. A bit too early for an 8 PM book-in, but I prefer to hitch a ride on my Dad's car to suffer the indignity of visual rape by fellow communters on the train.

Good bye. The next time I blog, it will be results day (probably). And I would be a happy man. A very happy man (certainly).

So long.

Rainy days

Wow, its raining now. Has been quite some time since that happen eh? I hope it keeps up because the SAF don't have many contingency plans for bad weather. Haha.

Maybe that will wash away the haze? I didn't even know there was a haze until I came to mainland. Oh! How out of touch I am with this world.

Lightning is streaking everywhere across the skies...Lovely.

"If I can see further it is because I am standing on the shoulders of giants" -Sir Isaac Newton

I saw this on the advertisement for the phyiscs DVD guidebooks. How modest.

Thomas Cheong saw fit to give his own quote at the bottom of it. Yucks.

Haphazard shooting

Currently using my brother's laptop to blog because my computer is under repairs. It has mysteriously accumulated quite a bit of spyware. Weird since I haven't been using it for quite sometime. Hmmmm....

Anyway, I went out to take a walk around Jurong, going further to IMM this time instead of just staying around the central area. Bought a WHOPPER meal at Burger King while window shopping at IMM. Bk really do great burgers. Definitely better than KFC and McDonalds...not too sure about MOS Burger since I haven't been there in a long time. Apparently, BK still gives discounts to students because the guy at the counter asked whether I was schooling. Part of me wanted to say 'YES!' since it would have saved me a couple of dollars off the $6.30 meal. But I guess I did a good job upholding the image of the SAF.

'I train integrity soldiers here.' In his bad english, that's what my platoon sergeant harps about day in day out. At least I can figure out what he means....(Hopefully my english is better than his. Really.)

Almost forget to add that eating the fries was a chore since I am starting to get sick of having fries for every single darn meal at a fast food restaurant. Or Fish and Co. for that matter. I went there for a section dinner last book out on the 21st this month. The only difference between both places is Fish and Co. calls 'fries' as 'chips'. I wonder why?

Got another issue of THE PEAK to read. It is really a sinful magazine. The contents are very tai tai-ish, spare for the odd article about business and stuff. Most of it is actually advetisments of luxury goods. Guess you can call that indulgence.

Went to Popular Bookstore as well. I catch sight of a new series of DVD guidebooks by Thomas Cheong (I think). It is a really novel way of selling stuff...by using a certain amount of sexuality on the covers. Each cover introduces a certain high flier (proabably some 20 something scholar) who co-written the particular topic. This is quite distasteful. I would have gotten a picture of it if the old grumpy lady would moved away. ARGH!

I think I can written too! But I don't have the high-flier tag leh. You tell me how?

Yawn...only 1.5 hours more to slack. Argh. Enjoy the lousy pictures. Not in the photographic mood today.

One of the new shops that opened in Jurong Central. Quite a weird shop since it only sold stuff used for baking. Wonder when it will close down...HAHAHA. Don't sue me please!


That's Jurong Regional Library for you seconds before it opens. The darn place is like a market attracting so many unsavoury characters (read flies). Probably can never ever study in a place like this.


This photo is really bad because I was trying to hide from the fricking secruity guard who was patrolling the area. He actually stopped me once already. What an ass. Anyway, this is a audio post in the library...it's uber cool.


Close up of the audio dome. I am not sure if it was there all along, but this is the first time I noticed. Looks really space age eh? Very chic in my opinion. When I get rich, I would get one of these in my house....=). Check the website out man!

I just woke up. Oh man, that means I have to book-in today. Very fast eh?

I should really start planning my day already. Hopefully TB gives me a speedy reply as to whether there would be a T.T.C gathering...kinda want to meet my old buddies.

Life has changed.

Minor update: Even the Sunday Times doesn't hold any magic anymore. A brief glance was all I took. Will have to start packing up at 5 PM today...which means I only have 8 hours more to burn. Hiaz.

Minor update: Boots have been polished. Can hardly believe that I am FORCED to do a commander's appraisal for 7 people that I preferred to have not met in my life.

I need to heal

After so many days spent in the jungle, my body has been badly abused by the elements. Thank god my mental well-being isn't affected in anyway.

Nothing much to say since its a habit not to write army stuff here. I will probably go plan my day tomorrow so that I can thoroughly enjoy myself before heading back to prison again. It's sad most of my classmates ain't online...and my friends are either being confined or not bothering to reply.

Yawn.

I will probably vomit a crap lot here tomorrow. Watch out!

Book-out: 260205 1945H
Book-in: 270205 2000H

Freedom is precious. The common man can sit at a bus stop and wait for whichever bus he wants. I can't.

[I wrote that because I saw a man just chilling out at a bus stop along one of the lanes in Pasir Ris while I was packed in a TIBS bus with tens of stupid recruits on my way to the interchange.]

Crap. No time for a last post because I foolishly decided to take an afternoon nap, burning 2 hours of my book-out time.

Got to run. Catch me at moblog!

As

They say life is not a bed of roses,
and that I know very well.
Soon, the time will come.
Another life changing day,
just like the many I had in the past.

Life did change.
Just that it wasn't the way I wanted it to.
For the better or worse,
It will soon be known.

Under the tent at night,
We talked and I cried.
Whatever for?

[I really need/want good results. Please. I have been reduced to going on fours and begging the heavens.]

The Peak

Food log update: Lunch was home cooked food (Stir fried beansprouts, prawn omelette and black pepper sliced beef, washed off with Yakult)

Then I went for a walk around Jurong Central again...it seems to be my book out routine. I had Long John Silver's combo 1 (2 Pc chicken, fries and 10oz Coke). To tell you the truth, I am getting sick of eating fries everywhere I go. I must stay off those dang potatoes for a while....at least. And for once LJS had pretty OK service. The counter girl gave me 3 pieces of chicken instead of the usual 2 because the 2 were small....just that she had a flu and was sneezing. YUCKS!

Bought a Magnolia Ripple (think it's strawberry swirls with vanilla) from the ice cream man as well, something I haven't done since the RJC days at Ghim Moh Greem.

**********

Went to the library to borrow THE PEAK. I read about this magazine from the cocaine bust article today in STimes. The Peak is for the rich and powerful...so I decided since that's what I will be in the future, might as well start reading now. Hahaha. Don't think it's so super boring business stuff...from what little stuff I know, it's more of a 'high life' magazine. And gosh, bloody sinful the things rich people do. Go ahead and borrow one today! I was actually so engrossed in the magazine that my LJS combo meal took about 40 mins to finish.

NTUC was relatively interesting as well :S. As I wandered about, trying to finish my ice cream, I saw this RJC girl walk home (presumably). She made me think of school, school made me think of my life a couple of months ago, and that made me think of results, which made me didn't wanna think and more, and caused a sudden urge to head my to BMTC for mindless, mind numbling army crap.

I am scared of lousy results. Really scared....It is like a sinking, sucking kinda scary feeling. Worse than being caught red handed for murder. SERIOUS. Help me please. Save me.

Horrors!

Just ate a char shao pao and a homemade brownie (made by my aunt and tastes horrible) and drank milo. Hardly an appetizing breakfast...ARGH!

I am probably going to ahead outside to pick up some junk food before my lunch, which will be CONSUMED at home. I have been discussing this with my section mates recently. Why on earth must SAF use the word 'consume' instead of like 'have your lunch' or 'eat your lunch'. How odd.

Read the newspapers for the first time in a week as well. Discovered to my delight/horror that a maid is paid around the same wages or even lesser than a recruit. Apparently, maids from different countries command different sort of pays. I wonder if recruits from different schools can do the same too...GUESS NOT! WTH! Right now, I am torn between whether life as a maid or recruit is better since the money factor is out of the way...still pondering...Hmmm.

Nanyang Poly has started a digital entertainment course as well. Missed the boat since I already have finished JC...considering doing a part time course with them if it is possible. But right now, going into the gaming line is no longer top priority anymore.

Will be a busy day. Booking in at 9 PM, but will have to leave the house at 5 30 PM...This is far too early.

Just a short note about the A Level results.

It's coming soon, maybe like 4th March. I still haven't decide whether to stay sane or remain insane, whether to worry or just let it go. Give me some time.

HAHAHAHA!

I don't like disappointing people.

The reason for the title is something private. =).

Like promised, I am back. It's the 20th, oh or 21st morning, which is also my book-in day. HIAZ! Field camp wasn't as terrrible as some people made it out to be. Of course, I can fill up a hundred posts on what happened during the 7 days...but I guess those memories are better left floating around in the mind.

My body is physically damaged with bruises, cuts, bites and open wounds...ouch! Hoping that the wounds will heal quickly so that the next 16 days will be a breeze and I will be recruit no more! =). What a pleasant thought!

The army is really good and making you worry over the slightest detail...yawn...I still have to go plan some army stuff to do both at home and in camp tomrrow!!!

On to happier things! I have a little project that I wanna do this book-out. Hehe. I am gonna record down every single thing I ate. So far, in chronological order, Old Chang Kee ( Fried squid and Fishballs), Filet-O-Fish Extra value meal, chicken rice from GIANT, sushi from some supermarket and CNY goodies (fried spring rolls and pineapple tarts).

BTW, for hardcore CNY freaks, its still CNY...the 13th day if I am not wrong.

There really isn't much to write about because for the past 7 days, I was TOTALLY cut off from the outside world. A very different experience...cya later.

Quirks

I don't like using the term 'ex-classmates'. 'Classmates' sounds better.
I blog incessantly.
I hate using the 24 hour clock in everyday life. (Army excluded)
I hate losing stuff and get mad when I do so.
I like to write even though I can't spell.
I am a nervous wreck with a compulsive disorder.
I like to list down everything I have to do. (Even though I think I have quite a good memory)

Time to go shower...!

Born in Jan

Worried about somethings now. I will know when I get back.

Going to Army for field camp.

The initial excitement of going for field camp has died down considerably. That is because today is book-in day. It's amazing how fast good times just pass you by, however cliche it might sound.

I was out of jail on the 8th Tuesday. Then CNY on Wednesday was great with the visiting and all, Thursday was spent exploring Jurong, went for sorta a walking tour and TTC outing on Friday, yesterday was spent with classmates and here I am now.

Enjoyable. I had fun, but one can't have fun all the time right? Even in school there were sucky days. I guess it's just 7 days of outfield training. I will be back on the 20th...=).

Sudden impulse to write this...

Just the last book-in, I was a scholar wannabe,
Going for my interview the next day.
Full of hopes and apsirations of a future settled just at 19.
Disruption granted and off I go
To study in a famous university.
Back as a high flier,
Or so they say.

This book -in,
Everything has changed.
Disruption granted and off they go,
To study in a famous university.

Where will I be,
at the end of this all?
That, even I cannot answer you.

[This is no song, let alone a poem. Ain't that good with words. I just felt like writing it in such a way.]

To be honest, I am terribly afraid of my A Level results. I don't even talk about anything remotely academic these days just to shut the fears away. I am afraid...it would be the last nail in the coffin, sealing my fate.

It probably will. But that's for another day to worry.

I am just a lost and confuse person now. I guess if there was such a way, a way to live a mediocre life without disappointing and depending on anyone (parents, brother, teachers, friends, relatives...). I would be happy to do so. Being forgotten would suite me nicely now.

BTW, it's not 自暴自弃. But a sad realization that my time has come. Too early I would say...but better now than later. We will talk about this when the results are released. Until then, adios amigos.

Class gathering.

My handphone pouch! $5 leh!


Yup, I finally got my handphone pouch and expectedly got 'chopped' by the unscrupulous salesman who decided to be nice and discounted the price from $6 to $5. He even had the cheek to tell me the pouch I was buying is branded. HPM brand. If I weren't trying so hard not to swear...

Posted my second letter in as many days, went to Guardian to buy some anti-inflammatory drug before going to CityHall to meet up with my JC classmates. I now consider myself a regular at all Guardian outlets. In fact, the amount of drugs I stock in my plastic bag in my bunk in Tekong is incredible. Even the medical centre will have to take a backseat...LOL!

That's my dinner. Most of my classmates all had this combo...:S


People really have a problem with being punctual. It's kinda an accepted thing to be late already. Yucks! Walked the whole Fountain of Wealth figuring where to dine...Country Mana, Swensens, Kenny Rogers, the food court, some Indo place, some noodle bar (not NOOCH) and many more. We finally settled on Kenny Rogers. It's definitely cheaper than the BIG O and the good thing is you get to pay separately after you order your food, which saves a lot of trouble at the end of the meal. Servings are quite ok, but still lesser than Cartel, the price is cheap and the taste is just about average. Hmmm, not a bad dinner I would say.

The conversation was darn boring though. The guys had to be blamed for rattling on about the ARMY. Yawn. It was a good thing that we leave Kenny Roger's to wander about in Suntec...or else it would just go on and on and on...Eventually we ended up at Marina Square to chill out at the food court's veranda. It was there that my cough got seriously BAD. I think it might be the cigarette smoke...its damn bad now.

I wonder if inside, anyone has really changed? Or are we always longing for the past?

Got home at 11 PM plus all shagged out. Remind me to send a CNY greeting to my CT tomorrow. I owe him a great deal.

Past and present. The photo doesn't really show a thing. But I somehow like it. 

European winter evening. That's where I wanna be. 

Last night...=(

I found out my memory isn't that bad after all.

Things that I would wanna do today/in the near future.

1. Invest ALL my money in my bank account. I figured the interest isn't going to make me a billionaire.
2. Get a handphone pouch.
3. Recover from my cough...and feel 100% good.
4. Think a bit more...
5. Write the NS book as well as the reflection thingy on the sergeants (The latter is enforced upon me)
6. Learn how to cook really well
7. Get a tripod and snap away.

That's all for now. Currently thinking of how to spend the day.

A pleasant misadventure

3 things first.

I am having a fricking headache.
There are many pretty girls and recruits (ex-schoolmates) in town.
I snapped only a few photos and even fewer are presentable.

Got out of the house at around 1 PM and went to the library to return a book before posting my letter. SingPost is ridiculous. They gave me 7 cents change in postage lables. What am I suppose to do with them since the minimum cost of a label is 23 cents?!?!

Then hopped onto the train for Lavender. I took flu medicine as usual so I was kinda knocked out on the train ride despite having a punk blast rock music beside me. Was feeling a bit neurotic...everyone looked like they were about to steal my stuff. Haha.

I wonder how to hawkers at the army market calculate prices. I bet I was ripped off. $11 for a couple of field camp items is definitely too expensive. Hello! I don't plan on spending all my measly allowance on buy insect repellant and gutters OK!

So after getting 'chopped' by the scheming fellas, I decided to travel by foot all the way. I walked to Bugis, which actually is very very near. On the way, there were so really cool rustic looking shophouses and alleys...I did snap a few photos...mostly around the Canadian Pizza stall =)...

Since I got a new phone, I decided to go shop for a handphone pouch. But even the stuff at the Bugis street market was way way above my budget. I mean its just a little bit of cloth and I was expecting a price tag of $2-$3. What I saw was $4-$5....so I didn't get myself a pouch. And Bugis was really packed with people. A chore to navigate the streets there...

I tried to retrace the path Eddie and Co. took me to get to Plaza Singapura. I guess my memory isn't that good because I ended up getting quite lost. I walked from Middle St, to Victoria St, Queen St, passing by Shaw Towers, CHJIMES, Bras Brash complex, Raffles Hotel etc etc. I probably looked like some tourist...with the camera in hand. Somehow, I came to this Japanese-Zen style building which looked ultra chic. Wiped out the Canon A80, with rechargeables fully charged the night before only to see a 'Change battery pack' warning. WTH! And from then on I couldn't take anymore photos. I still am puzzled as to why the batteries died on me...weird!

Reached the City Hall area. Brought back some memories that I'm still thinking whether I should keep. As I was passing Funan, I decided to send my camera for a service check. Amazingly, the Canon service centre was open, unlike many other shops, and the service was really good. I just handed over the A80 and the guy asked no questions about the warrenty or stuff like that. After some testing, it turned out to be the batteries fault (most probably). I give the service 4 out of 5 stars. It would have been full score had the guy given me free batteries...Hahaha.

I was utterly lost and had to ring Eddie up for directions. Then I went on to the Singapore River...I think its the Singapore River before crossing over to Fort Canning Park. The place was really deserted except for a few couples doing their own stuff. I wasn't really intend on observing what they were doing....ya so make do with the lousy description. But it was quite tranquil in there....would have definitely take a few photographs if I could...After cutting through the whole fricking park and climbing countless flights of stairs...I saw an Angmoh rushing to go visit THE BATTLE BOX. That's really a stupid thing to do...for very obvious reasons. But maybe that's why tourists are often scorned by locals....LOL!

Finallt after an hour of delay, I set foot on PS. Went to Spotlight to get some cloth...I wanted to sew my own handphone pouch. Alas, the people shopping there, mostly girls and women, were too darn distracting. I left with my hands empty and eyes filled. =). Went up to Times, hoping to spend my $20 book voucher, something I won 2 years ago. Since then, everything has changed. How saddening. It seems the publishers release softcover version of a book only 6 months after the hardcover copy. I wanted to buy 'State of Fear' by Michael (can't spell his last name)....but there ain't any softcover ones. I was suppose to meet Julian as well...he was at Times, but I managed to miss him in the crowd. Hahaha. Browsed through the books there....Anthony Bourdian and Jamie Oliver are really quite popular...I don't mind having a job like theirs. Why the heck did I study so much...if I become a cook, I would be letting myself down man. SERIOUSLY.

Went on to Orchard, searched Hereen for a handphone pouch again to no avail. Things there were even more expensive. As usual, I opted to go to a bookshop. This time it was Borders. Harry Pottor Book 5 is going at $8 there. Oh man, I feel cheated. I meet quite a lot of people there as well...fellow recruits like me, hoping to give their brain some intellectual boost. Dinner was suppose to be at NYDC, but we decided to go next door to BIG O to avoid the crowd. It was a bad mistake. The BIG O people not only refused to let me photograph their logo, they served us pathetic portions. The food was only average and the price was above average. On the whole, a terrible dining experience. I doubt you will ever find me there. We left the place and the NYDC queue was even longer than before. There must be a reason why BIG O didn't have a queue.

The TTC decided to have round 2 at Coffee Bean. Of course, I excluded myself from the cake eating feast. I still have an irritating cough to cure! ARGH! I hate coughing. Oh, I had a, rather I wanted a large Mocha Vanilla. So they were brewing the thing while I raped the entire place with my camera. Then 5 mintues later when I went to collect my hot hot brew...they gave me a slight warm regular Mocha Vanilla. 'Sorry, we only have enough coffee for a regular.' I got 40 cents back. If I were in the States, I would have sued their asses off. Remind me to try the Coffee Bean Triple Decker and the Mud Pie. They looked sinful. I still have to do my 17 chin-ups. Grrrrrrrr. Knn.

After round 2, we went back to PS, with lanning in mind. But upon reaching, no onw had the mood. We ended up getting some drinks from the supermarket and sat down talking cock. Much of the cock was army cock. I am absolutely bored when I hear such conversation...some is fine, but I have been getting an overdose of it. We did pass by some lion dance competition...I tried and failed to capture the action. I guess I will study the A80 manual a bit more. LOL!

The journey home really stank. Literally. I spent close to $50 today...what a day!

$188. So expensive. I wouldn't ever lose a phone again. 

Ironic

I am wondering where are my basha sticks now.

But that is not why I decided to blog.

I was blogsurfing a minute ago and I came across a site. The author used the same words as I did---life changing. And of course, he got a different decision.

What should I feel now?

The 60s series

I really like the clock in MRT stations. Retro looking..! 


Chinese Gardens MRT... 


So very American 60s 


I think that's a jukebook in the middle. But since I wasn't dining in the shop, I am not sure. Haha.. 


Ironic. 

Touring the Chinese Gardens

Entrance of the Chinese Gardens


An exhausting climb to the top (7th story). I almost died man. Must be the drug I took before going out...


The view from the pagoda. Phewww.


Wah biang! No wonder the Chinese Gardens don't make money. Whoever did the paint job was terrible. Really terrible.


There are actually very meaning inscriptions on the sides of the stone base. Contact me if you want them...LOL!


There was this fat guy doing sketches...he makes money by beautifying people. JI JIAN!


Another pagoda. It's a really windy day. Nice!


I never wished! Damn!


The wishing cards...read a couple of them. 

What should I do today?

I need my handphone back real bad. The only problem is I can only get it tomorrow. I might consider making a trip down to Lavander to buy some of the things I need for field camp. So sianzzzz.

And there is a present to buy as well for a friend's birthday. There is this little voice telling me to just forget it and write a nice letter instead....I am just too lazy!

Wonder if the shops are open today...hmmm. Lunch looks horrible.

Doing spring cleaning for my system!