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“life will be better in spring”

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I was pretty emotional when i spoke to my cousin, Jaime on the phone.

7 days ago, she came back from USA to take a look at her home and my granny, whom she couldnt bear to put it down. She's been away since September; she quit her high salary marketing job just to learn baking and be with her boyfriend(i bet thats her main reason for leaving!) who stations in the US.

I called her just now, just to reconfirm that she's going back tomorrow(cos i kinda forgot about it, haha). she left me a whole lot of instructions on household and traveling matters. i offered to send her tomorrow, but she refused, since her flight is like 8.30am in the morning and that i would be able to see her soon.

Even though i am flying to the states in december to see her, i still miss her. Despite being much older than me(i think about a decade older), we get along very well and taught me many stuffs.

I felt a little upset when she told me that she's engaged to her boyfriend. because i know she's going to leave Singapore once her boyfriend gets his green card.



I know i am very selfish, but i dont really want my loved ones to leave me :(


sentosa with my cousins tomorrow!

we went for the NVPC orientation in the morning and joined MJ for lunch at fisherman's wharf. since the day is still early, we decided to explore some places like Ann Siang street, Far East Central and Meritus Mandrin Observation lounge. defying the blazing sun, we walked and walked like nobody's business to explore some less known spots of Singapore.

I really love Ann Siang street very much, thanks to Ruby for her damn good recommendation. that street is so nostalgic, seems like you walking down a memory lane, where you can see old architecture and design of narrow shophouses, combine with modern elements of today's visual arts and merchandise.


Camwhoring @ Meritus Mandrin Observation Lounge:

let's start!

(photo credits to Joyce and Uncle Kenneth)

Meritus Mandrin Observation Lounge allows you to view Singapore in a 360 degrees scope; a great place for taking some photos and a place to bring your date for some private moments.



CBD; seriously Singapore is overly congested with buildings!


Cute shot!

With Ruby trying to pose like the American's next top model, Sarah taking the supporting role of the cute abrupt background, and kenneth with his bo-chap attitude.



I took this shot with Joyce's camera! hahaha. like this shot very much, just makes me laugh when i see this photo :D


Uncle Kenneth acting angelic.. OMGOMGOMG


taking a shot in the lift! hahahaha. kenneth's really good at taking self-whore shots.



Public holiday tomorrow but having Christmas carols practice!

for the past few days i've been thinking of how to enrich my holidays, rather than idling around and spent on unplanned purchases.

today is 23rd November, that means i only have 18 days to make my break more fulfilling before i go on a holiday.

and that means i have less than 3 weeks.
this indicates 432 hours to learn;
which is 25920 minutes,
or 1555200 seconds.

(yes i am too free to press my calculator and tabulate these figures out!)

What am i going to learn?

1. Music theory

How to read notes(fast rather than reading slowly), beating, all the majors and minors etc, since i'm singing now, so it will be useful for me. I would love to learn sight-reading but i think its way too advanced level for me.

right now i can only read notes very very slowly, know the time signature and basic meanings of some latin music language and symbols. other than that, i still need to rely on my choirmates who are musically inclined.

2. Fashion Design

Ahemm, a little ambitious though. but this had been my ambition since the age of 11. I used to get As for fashion design for art! hahaha. i used to have a sketch book for my drawings. unfortunately, i didnt continue to do art after i entered science stream when i was 15. since then, my inspirations and artistic 'feel' have diminished. :( Really envious of those who could draw though.

frankly speaking, i dont have any foundation for fashion design and fabrics. i learnt by watching TV programs, reading magazines, observe how people draw and imagery from my mind to draw out skeletons of clothes.

i actually found out a leisure course that commences this week. sadly i couldnt take up because i'm traveling in December and the course ends in January. :( well, another alternative is to learn from the internet and blogs, and read books from the library. hopefully, if there is a chance, i would really love to pursue my old passion.





Learning is never-ending.

Just now i had a Karaoke session with my choirmates. thanks to our Queen of K-tv, Lim Pei Pei.

it was really a weird experience singing with them. Really, I swear!

Most may think that people who are into Choir likes to K. then you are absolutely wrong.

my friends would have realised the above statement is so untrue; you dont really see me fighting for the microphone, or choosing a song for myself to sing.


it is so so weird singing Karaoke with my choirmates, even though singing together with them for carols and other pieces is so common. because the way we sing during practices and the way we sing for K are very very different. i think we sounded so different too.


when i first sang a song, i feel so embarrassed. and i sang much softer than my usual singing voice. I have another choirmate who was as embarrassed as i was, since he doesnt like to K too. but at least i just whacked my way at the Halo bar, no matter how awful i sounded. Pei zhen as usual was so enthusiastic; she even cancelled her date with her friends just to sing! I was pretty taken aback by one of my choirmates who sang pretty well for karaoke; i mean he sounded so different!

after the karaoke session, we brought them to Ah-la-min(i duno how to spell) near my school for dinner/supper and chatted further.

after this karaoke incident, we realised we know each other better, though we knew each other since JC1. sometimes you know this person for such a long time and yet, you dont really understand this person at all.


but i am still glad, and really contented, that we are bonded together despite being in different schools/activities.




<3 you guys much!


Recently, i watched the movie '2012' with my SIM friends at Illuma.


According to the Mayan Calendar, on the 21st December 2012, a global cataclysm will bring an end to the world. Jackson Curtis(John Cusack),a writer who is a part time limousine driver of the Russian Billionaire, Yuri Karpov. He started to notice something was amiss when he took his children for Yellowstone National Park for a camping trip. They met Charlie, a weirdo theorist who suggested that the world would come to an end, and mentioned that the government has built a 'spaceship'. When Yuri's twin sons told Jackson that they have the tickets to the 'spaceship', he became suspicious and hurriedly rent a private plane to save his family.

during the first part of the movie, the geologists in the movie started discussing about the movements of plate tectonics, the crust, and other geological theories that suddenly triggered a ring in my head. I suddenly recalled those funny geological theories like the 'ring of fire' and others that i have vague memories that were taught by my physical geography teacher, Mr Osman during my JC days. I used to hate physical geography so much because to me it doesnt make any sense. who cares about the rivers, and the mountains and the terrains and the caves? i dont give a damn how those plates move, or how limestones are created. and ya, that is why my grade is not that fantastic. okay, this paragraph is absolutely out-of-point.

Coming back to the movie, i felt that some parts of the movie are pretty exaggerating. how could a driver drive so well and that the car could avoid all the fire blasts and could even crossed over a large crack?!? I would prefer if the script included a little explanation of some geological theories so that the movement of the plates and the end of 2012 would make more sense.

overall, i find this movie pretty emotional, with a some hints of humour and a hidden reminder of conservation of our mother nature, or perhaps, to treasure people around us more. I almost teared when Mr President has decided to announce the 'bad' news to his people.

'at least everyone can bid their goodbyes to their loved ones, and a father can ask for forgiveness from his daughter.' --- my tears almost flowed out when he said this to his daughter.

i was pretty emotional when the geologist, Adrian spoke to his father who is a jazz musician. standing in Adrian's shoes, i believe that Adrian must be feeling helpless by the fact that he couldnt save his father's life and that he couldnt go anything about it.

i like one funny part was when everyone were really anxious about starting the car because the plane's engine wasnt working. When everyone was panicking, the Russian millionaire just asked everyone to shut up and used his typical monotonous voice to command his car, 'Engine. Start.' that moment was a nerve-racking climax initially, but with the sudden introduction of that bass voice, it creates a cushion for the audience to laugh out that tension.


well, the only way to survive is:
1. 1 billion euros for the price of the spaceship tickets
2. your driving skills must be EXCELLENT
3. you must be able to swim

a little unrealistic huh?


Imagine yourself approaching 21st Dec 2012, helplessly waiting to die-- be flushed by tsunamis, apocalyptic earthquakes worldwide, volcano eruption, and all the unavoidable disasters appearing before your eyes, what would you do?






do watch it, if you have not done so.

would you be willing to pay $18 for a swiss roll???











some would be saying that i am absolutely insane to already eat shangri-la hi-tea buffet at a price of 42 bucks, which perhaps could eat up to 4 meals.

and a mere swiss roll could cost up to 18bucks?!

well to me, i just love eating, and tasting good food all over Singapore. though i dont have big stomach like some of my friends, i just have the desire to want to try out yummy delicacies/dishes/desserts/whatever.







this caramel salt roll really has an edgy taste; it's sweet and yet salty. the combination is just, perfect.

the Japanese-styled swiss roll coated with overloading caramel sauce is so soft and light... its just melt in you mouth unknowingly and the next moment you realised you are scooping another mouthful of swiss roll. i love the sweetness of the caramel, its not too sweet, just nice for your tastebuds; you wont be complaining that you are sick of the sweetness. the cream is really smooth and fresh; one taste and you will know the baker doesnt use cheap ingredients when making the cream.

i got to know about this caramel salt roll from the newspaper, when the food journalist was recommending some food in the life! section.





the softest swiss roll i have tasted :)


i believe it's okay to indulge once in a while, so if you wanna pamper yourself at least for ONCE, why not try it?


at least you know you wont have any postpurchase dissonance after eating it :)


Arinco King
ION Orchard Turn
2, Orchard Turn
#B4-60, Singapore 238801

just now went to visit my granduncle and distant uncle.

My granduncle had a car accident during the period when i was having my exams. its was a terrible hit for him and that he has been hospitalised since the day he got into the hospital. just now i visited him and he was in a semi-conscious state. my another distant uncle came to the room with me to 'wake' him up. he could open half of his right eye, and could lift his hand when his son called him.

My distant uncle recently had a bypass surgery and is now recuperating at home. he's too distant until i dun even realise, or notice that i have so many distant uncles. he has similar symptoms as my uncle- breathless when walking only for a short distance, chest pain etc. furthermore, he smokes. after this horrifying incident, he decided to stop smoking, because smoking blocks 95% of his aorta(your main artery), and his lungs has water in them(omg).

so ya, my friends who smoke, you know whats the moral of the story now? :P



after both visits, i realise that we need to treasure each other more. sometimes, we tend to take each other for granted, because we always exists around each other. its always a natural tendency for people to treasure items/loved ones only, when they are gone.

its just like my uncle who passed away 3 years ago, i didnt bother to tell him that he cooks yummy dishes. and when he passed away, there is no point telling anymore.

It makes me treasure my granny who is currently have difficulties moving, and is 75 years old now.

for those who have elderly at home, and one who actually spends more time outside than giving some time to interact with them, think of this: how long can you actually see them?



let's make an effort and show our love to our loved ones now. a simple smile, or thank-you could brighten one's day. :)

Having 2 buffets consecutively for 2 days!

omg. i really need to go for some fitness program.

Here's some pictures from Shangri-la Dessert Buffet:

(photos from Linnet)


Me with Portuguese egg tart, fruit tart, cake of the day and creme brulee


Tai tais in making: Yun Jun and Pei Zhen


from clockwise: creme brulee, fruit tart and strawberry mousse(?)(i didnt eat that! :(


durian cake, butter cake and layered chocolate cake

Durian cake is so so so fantastic!



soft peach drank by Linnet.

i ordered Soft Kiss (fusion of strawberry and pineapple) and some white tea with melon.


Feminine ladies: Cheryl and Linnet

Worth to try the dessert buffet?

Well, if you need a place for friends to gather and share intimate conversations, then Rose Veranda is a good place for such a elegant and quiet ambiance. love the decorations and the tea set.

other than that, i would rate the food(including the hi-tea buffet) overall 3.5 upon 5. love the bread and butter pudding, durian cake, creme brulee and chocolate mousse, but i believe the tiramisu and Portuguese egg tarts could be improved.

overall, its a good place to indulge yourself once in a while.

today had a 2nd thai buffet with my choir mates.

more photos up!

oh btw, i think i can announce here;

I'M PERFORMING FOR DECEMBER.

thats right, performing for the entire december. will be doing christmas carols.

hope you guys can come and support me and pei pei!

more updates will be done soon after everything has been finalised.

went shopping with pei zhen today to get 2 guys' presents. it's really a headache to get guys present sometimes, especially when you dont really know what the person needs/likes.

did some unplanned purchases today. hahahaha.

bought:

1. Parka jacket from Uniqlo (bought dull red, while pei pei bought off white)
2. Plimsoll shoe from New Look( i bought probably the largest kids size)
3. MUJI food-sweet potato marble cake & plum and apple fruit juice(to try)
4. hairband from Aries(okay, thats from my place)
5. friend's gift


i'm trying not to spend too much since i am saving up for my trip.

my hair is okay now. previously was in ICU before i managed to salvage my hair. hahaha. its has become much shorter.



I'm really glad that it's holidays right now; all those burning midnight oils are now over! and i can finally go back to my usual routine.

for this holiday, besides learning(or already) enjoying, i wanna learn new knowledge, or skills, at least to make me either smarter or a better person. but i haven thought of it yet.



Fri for shangri-la dessert buffet ~