mungyology since 1986

Childlike Innocence

2007-03-15T18:32:00.000+08:00

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked

"Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

He called a little child

And had him stand among them

And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children

You will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

-Matthew 18:1-3

So Exciting

2007-03-08T22:29:00.000+08:00

I'm going to get it back tomorrow, and it's such a great feeling altogether.

Wait, that was an understatement. I mean, who wouldn't be glad that they are gonna collect back their pink IC after two bloody years of slavery. But still, I must say that the feeling of having completed the ordeal is tremendous. I wouldn't exchange this feeling for anything else in the world.

Yes, we may say that we hate it. We may say that it's a total waste of time. We may curse and swear at it. But at the end of the day, we're simply happy that the journey is over. We're done with this rite of passage and we're looking into the future. Two years came and went by, and we've grown stronger.

Cheers to all for a job well done, and God bless to those who are still in it.

Finally, we can say that we've being there, done that.

It's Good To Be Away

2007-03-07T00:50:00.001+08:00

But it's even better to come back home once again. I've always liked the feeling of coming back to Changi Airport, and how you queue with at the immigration counter under the "Singapore Citizen" section. It's such a great feeling altogether!

But the best thing of all is that when you return home after a long trip, and you find that the number suddenly drops to four.

So exciting.

Thank God I Didn't Disappoint

2007-02-25T23:49:00.000+08:00

So many pairs of eyes were on us today, and one particular pair of eyes belonged to a one-star general.

And the feeling of shooting the missile was just so awesome. Well, if you do remember, it was "nothing short of magnificent". There probably won't be enough words that I can say to describe that feeling. You've got to go through it to really experience it. Nothing beats the real thing. Hours and hours of drill practices and simulation rounds won't do it. You've just got to go through it to really experience it.

It was pretty stressful that people were saying that we were the stars of the show. As if it was not enough, some said that if all else fails, it's just $40,000 down the drain, nothing much. Well, those words make me rather nervous. But still, I managed to stay calm and it was just so amazing to go through that five seconds or so. To see the warhead hit the target, smashing the target to bits and pieces, and to be able to shout "Impact"!

I was just so afraid things will screw up the moment I pressed the firing button. For a split second, nothing happened. And I was clueless on what to do next. Thankfully for me, the warhead flew out the next moment, and everyone heaved a collective sigh of relieve; PC, PS and almost everyone else in the team.

And I almost forgot to guide the missile to the target.

Still, nothing beats the feeling of seeing the target blown into bits and pieces.

I want to shoot it again!

Civilian Conversion Course

2007-02-20T22:22:00.001+08:00

I'm 18 days away from the completion of my civilian conversion course, and I can't wait for the day to come!

And Cheryl was naive enough to believe that there is really such a course for me to integrate back to society.

An All-Too-Familiar Sight

2007-02-18T23:08:00.000+08:00

That you'll only see once a year.

Yes, I was there, squeezing my way through the crowd, trying to find a way out. Sweaty I was, and tired I was. Yet, it was the only time of the year where people from all walks of life come down and squeeze with each other, simply just to soak in the festive atmosphere.

Oh, happy Chinese New Year.

For like the ten thousandth time, I don't actually like Chinese New Year.

Yes, I'm a Chinese and I'm supposed to enjoy all the festive traditions that we indulge ourselves in. I'm supposed to greet my elders and in turn receive a red packet. I'm supposed to like the house visiting sessions where we go from one house to another, to eat and engage in some catch-up conversations. And if we truly enjoy ourselves, it's a bonus.

Still, I don't really like Chinese New Year. For all the extra cash and extra food that I receive, I cannot lie. I hate it when we have to do house visits, and we have to meet up with folks, relatives and friends that we probably see only once a year. Twice, if there is matrimony joy in the family.

It's like we have to keep up our smiles, and behave. And sometimes, it is just so hard to break the ice. Conversation topics have been the same since forever. A little of "How are your grades?", a little of "Which university are you going to attend?", and a little of "So have you been catching up with so-and-so?".

Come on, guys! Don't you get tired of asking the same questions every year? Aren't you guys bored with how typical those conversation topics are?

And when you get the answer, you try and act like you're interested. You try to appear as though you know what is going on. But deep down inside, you're just hoping that time will tick by faster, and you can make some excuse to leave, and proceed to your next destination.

And the cycle continues.

But then again, what is there for me to do? Who wouldn't want to just earn some quick buck by just smiling and say some nice greetings?

Thankfully this year, I found a question that I like to answer.

"So, how long more before you finish your national service?"

My reply?

"Twenty days."

The Smile

2007-02-14T23:52:00.000+08:00

For the twenty-first time in my life, I was without a date for Valentine's Day. Oh well.

On the other hand, it was fun reflecting on the good old days and the smile.

The Great Nike Search

2007-02-05T00:31:00.000+08:00

So, the seven of us searched all the Nike stores along the Orchard Road belt, and found not a single Manchester United jersey. Well actually, we found one at Cineleisure but the size was wrong. Other than that, it was just walking from one place to another, trying to find the "promised land".

So much so that it has led someone to conclude that we were on the Great Nike Search.

Happy 21st Birthday, Ming Xuan.

Congratulations Lions, for bring home the ASEAN Cup once again!

Bring The Fattened Calf!

2007-01-28T01:52:00.000+08:00

And the prodigal son came home.

I've never seen Joy so happy before.

My First Friend In Army

2007-01-27T11:39:00.000+08:00

Alex reminisces about his first step in the army:

"I was then lead into a hallway, where they took my pink IC. There was no glorious ceremony, them taking away your IC and giving you a 11B. They just took it, like it was just another discount card for a shop. I didn't even have a last look at it. I waited, and waited. I had no friends there, not until I saw one. He sat next to me at the lecture hall, and smiled at me. I didn't know who he was, but smiled back nevertheless. I tried to start a conversation with him, simply by asking what school he was from. He looked at me, bewildered, and said, "We from the same school, la" He became my first friend in army."

Haha. I'm that person.

Forty-two more days and I'll be free.

Second To None

2007-01-26T00:25:00.000+08:00

2 SIR, 12th Mono Intake, Support Company
ORD Dinner

Simply Red

2007-01-21T19:07:00.000+08:00

So, we finally went down to visit Gabriel at work after talking about it for so long. It was rather unexpected though, as someone didn't want to hang out around her neighbourhood. Apparently, something changed her mind. And while we were there, he managed to clinch a deal. I guess we should visit him more often from now on.

There was a guy wearing the Chelsea jersey in church today, another couple walking on the streets, and one dozing off on the train. Each time I see them, I was tempted to walk up to them and extend my hand, and say, "Bro, so how does it feel losing two-nil to Liverpool?" But then, I decided against it. It was wiser to keep my mouth shut, and hold my head up high silently. Haha.

"For if Roman Abramovich had watched the abysmal performance his overpaid stars put up last night, he would be forgiven for snuggling up to the Dubai Investment Capital executives in the Liverpool directors' box and enquiring about a possible joint-venture to buy Liverpool...

Shevchenko went on to spend another 17 unproductive minutes on the pitch, as the Kop laughed at his inability to do the simplest of tasks like trapping a cross or taking a shot on target." - Stanley Ho, The New Paper On Sunday

Fifty

2007-01-19T00:48:00.000+08:00

"Old soldiers never die; they just fade away." - General Douglas MacArthur, WWII Supreme Allied Commander of the Southwest Pacific, Supreme United Nations Commander

I'm fading away.

The Secret Place

2007-01-14T23:52:00.000+08:00

I never knew the open area at Raffles City is a good place for sharing secrets.

And the project is now 92.465753424657534246575342465753% completed.

New Year, New Resolutions

2007-01-05T00:42:00.000+08:00

Miss Wee mentioned that my new year resolution should be for myself to become mean.

Oh well.

Goodbye 2006, Hello 2007

2006-12-31T19:04:00.000+08:00

So, today is the last day of the year 2006 and in a few hours' time, we're going to usher in the new year.

Time flies, doesn't it?

Thanks for 2006, guys. And have a blessed 2007!

It's Post-Christmas Time Again

2006-12-26T22:22:00.000+08:00

So, Christmas came and went by. And it's post-Christmas time once again.

As with previous years, the festive period was spent mostly with church people. And Deborah will certainly agree with me that it is the only time in the year specially reserved for people in the church. And I guess it's going to stay that way for quite some time.

The festive atmosphere kicked in early with the youth drama practice, and as with the practice the original bunch of us did, there were more chatting, laughing, and crapping around instead of actual practice. But it is down to all these that make Christmas a little more meaningful, right? And of course, there were some forgotten lines and slip-ups, making one wonder if all the practising is really effective. Oh well.

It didn't help that Christmas Service was on Christmas Eve instead, making all of us feel that 24th December was Christmas itself. It also didn't help that Christmas Eve was spent gathering overnight at Ben's place, playing mass games, and drinking water as the forfeit, and because of that, we were exhausted and slept the Christmas away. Well, almost.

Meeting up with the original bunch of them is always entertaining. Somehow, we would always find joy digging up all the ancient past and all the dumb things we did, and laughing together at how childish we were back then. And once every so often, one would get arrowed and the whole bunch would start laughing and laughing. Of course, the chief culprit would often be Asha. No doubts about that.

Time always past seemingly fast whenever the festive season is around the corner, when one is enjoying the company of close friends. Brace yourself for another round of gatherings and meet-ups during the New Year period!

Merry Christmas!

2006-12-25T19:36:00.000+08:00

"And man will live forever more, because of Christmas Day."

Landmark Occasion

2006-11-30T18:18:00.000+08:00

Today marks the day when my national slavery liability turns double digits instead of the usual three digits.

99 more days, and I'll be free!

I Would Be True

2006-10-24T20:43:00.000+08:00

"I would be true, for there are those who trust me;
I would be pure, for there are those who care.
I would be strong, for there is much to suffer;
I would be brave, for there is much to dare."
- Howard Arnold Walter, 1906

Selamat Hari Raya

2006-10-24T19:32:00.000+08:00

The holiday was spent on Sentosa with Naughty Boy.

Thanks to SingTel, we managed to get a free ride on the Sentosa Luge & Skyride.

It's quite interesting, go try it out for yourself some time soon!

Taipei 101

2006-10-13T21:46:00.000+08:00

After the visit to the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial, we stopped by at Taipei 101. Located at the Hsin-Yi District, Taipei 101 is presently the world's tallest building, surpassing the height of the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur in late August 2003.

Taipei 101 was opened to the public on the New Year's Eve of 2005

The first building in the world to break the half-kilometre mark in height

TAIPEI is mnemonic for Technology, Art, Innovation, People, Environment, and Identity while 101 represents the concept of striving for beyond perfection. With such an enterprising name, it is no wonder that Taipei 101 was chosen as one of the best new skyscrapers of the year 2004.

Entrance tickets

Entrance tickets were priced at 350NT each, which allowed access to the 89th storey where the indoor observatory area is located. An additional 100NT is required if one wants to gain access to the 91st storey where the outdoor observatory area is. Of course, being the adventurous bunch, we decided to go for the outdoor observatory!

With top speeds of 1010 m/min, visitors can whiz to the observatory level in 39 seconds

We went up to the 89th storey via the world's fastest elevator. There are 2 elevators which transport the visitors from the 5th storey to the 89th storey and they are installed by Toshiba!

Upon reaching the indoor observatory area, we were greeted by several tremendous view of the entire city area. The majestic view is unparalleled! We could see the mountains, the valleys, and the rivers.

Everything seemed very "Sim City"

Even the roads appear cute

Since it was such a magnificent structure, much construction expertise was essential. A gigantic mass damper was installed on the 87th storey to help stabilise the tower against typhoons and earthquakes.

The damper is available for public viewing on the 89th storey

The view of the top

All in all, the experience up there was fantastic. It was pleasant to go all the way via the world's fastest elevator. And ogling the entire city area of Taipei was tremendous, the view is excellent. Though it's quite a costly, I think the trip there was rather worthwhile.

At least, I can now say that I walked into the world's tallest building!

(More photos here)

Turning Twenty

2006-10-09T23:43:00.000+08:00

"Happy birthday to you
You're not twenty two
You have a marching forward
That is not blue"
- Cheryl Lee

Thanks guys for making the last couple of days so memorable and meaningful! Thank you very much for all the meet-ups, all the wonderful presents, all the heartfelt birthday greetings. I really appreciate them. You guys made 9 October 2006 precious.

Turning twenty, I've now reached the stage when I'm too old to be a kid and too young to be considered an adult.

Woah, so old already.

Not All Fun & Games

2006-10-07T11:31:00.000+08:00

After the excitement and enjoyment of the second day, we began the third day of our Taiwan trip on a sombre note. A visit to the historical memorial hall for Chiang Kai-Shek was on the cards.

The sign at the train station

This structure greeted us upon our arrival

Chiang Kai-Shek was a Chinese military and political leader who assumed the leadership of the KMT after the death of Sun Yat-Sen. He then served as the President of Taiwan before his passing on at the age of 87 in 1975.

The Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall

A family day carnival

There was a family carnival there when we visited, and the things they sell are just like any carnival, nothing special about them.

Changing of Guards ceremony

But what's special about the place is that there is a change of guards parade every hour of the day, and it was a rather elaborate process. We were fortunate to catch the first change of guards parade of the day.

A closer look at the guards

Check out their hand gestures. As they are marching up the steps, the soldiers perform some sophisticated movement of their hands.

Performing an act of respect

Upon reaching the hall, the soldiers pay respects to one of the founding fathers of Taiwan by doing some rifle salutes.

On sentry

Once the entire procession is over, the sentries take up their respective positions and there they remain for the rest of their shift. They are not allowed to move at all, not even an inch. It takes tremendous discipline!

Gosh, we were in slippers

I hope we weren't showing any disrespect when we turned up in slippers. It simply slipped our minds that we were wearing slippers on that day.

(More photos here)

Travelling Again Soon

2006-10-06T21:41:00.000+08:00

I know it has been just days since I came back from Taiwan. But I think I'm going to travel again some time soon.

The destination? Either Korea or Japan. Or maybe both.

And the haze situation is terrible. Very terrible.

Amusement Park, Anyone?

2006-10-01T19:52:00.000+08:00

On the second day of our trip in Taiwan, we visited Leofoo Village Theme Park. It wasn't exactly very fantastic, but it wasn't that bad either. The park consists of four different areas with a separate theme, but I guess they are better off if they concentrate all on a particular theme instead of trying to include everything.

South Pacific - one of the main themes

I thought this building has one of those classical looks

Another nice structure

The entire park has twenty over different kind of rides. Some are simply very thrilling while many others don't excite at all.

This is perhaps one of the most common rides around

Two of them participating on one of the better rides around

This one is not too bad either

One of the unique part about Leofoo Village Theme Park is that it also has a zoo within its compound. And it is quite an attraction, I must say.

Ostriches - large African birds with long legs, they run very quickly but cannot fly

We borrowed the 'zebra' from 'zebra crossing' from this animal

A couple of representatives from the bird family

Well, the theme park is not all fun and animals, you can also find some good scenery around, like the one below.

Very peaceful, isn't it?

All in all, we paid over 1,000NT each for the transportation back and forth, as well as the admission charges. It's rather costly for a theme park like this, but I guess at the end of the day, it's the fun that matters.

We enjoyed this ride so much, we went through it thrice and we got real wet

(More photos here)

Feeling Very Generous

2006-09-30T23:49:00.000+08:00

In about 9 days or so, yours truly will be celebrating twenty years of existence on Planet Earth.

Raymond texted me just now, asking what I want for my birthday. To which I replied:
"Erm, if I really don't know then what are you gonna buy for me?"

His response was:
"Haha. I also don't know. We are struggling to find what to buy for you and Caleb."

I told him:
"Haha. Struggle no more. Send me cash! I accept notes and cents and cheques of all nationalities and denominations."

And he decided on what to give me:
"10000 Rupiah can? We are feeling very generous this year. Haha."

Right.

And Ash, if you're reading this, you're definitely not forgotten! How could I ever forget someone like you!

Gone But Not Forgotten

2006-09-29T23:47:00.000+08:00

On 29 September 1981, the football world mourned the loss of a legend, Bill Shankly.

He passed on before I was even born, but I've heard so much about him. He did so much for Liverpool; the club would be different without him.

He made the people happy.

"In my time at Anfield we always said we had the best two teams on Merseyside - Liverpool and Liverpool reserves." - Shanks

Ticket To Taipei

2006-09-27T18:19:00.000+08:00

So, my short vacation to Taiwan was over on Monday, and now I'm settling back to my daily life. It has been a really refreshing time, a break from the mundane life that I have while I serve my freaking nation.

Much have been seen or heard about the political situation in Taiwan, and it wasn't exactly the best of times to pay them a visit. Or so we thought. I was rather surprised that throughout the five days that we've been there that it was very peaceful. We didn't see those ugly scenes we caught on the news, and on the way back, we joked that we can't be considered having been to Taiwan if we haven't seen any of the protests or things of the like.

But then again, if you ask me whether I really want to be stuck in an ugly situation like this, the answer would be a definite no. Thank God for the wonderful trip. The weather was cooling, except for occasion showers, but thankfully, the showers didn't hinder our trip much.

It was a much anticipated trip, since we've been talking about it since July. And it came at the back of a tough and long ATEC evaluation week, so it was heaven!

The three of us before we check in

This was taken on our way to the hotel

Another one of those shots

Hsimending was near our hotel

Three of us with Hsimending as the background

We ate our first meal here

We spent five days there, but it seemed like it was for a short while only. I guess time flies past really quickly when we're enjoying ourselves. When it was time to return home, we were kind of sad. The feeling of waking up and realising that you can relax because it's a vacation is hard to beat.

I think I'll travel again soon.

I want to travel as my occupation.

(More photos here)

Back From Taipei

2006-09-26T23:58:00.000+08:00

I'm home! Touched down at 11pm yesterday and I must say this trip has been a very entertaining and wonderful trip.

And no, I haven't seen protests or anything like that.

Martial Law In Thailand

2006-09-21T01:39:00.000+08:00

This probably isn't news anymore, but Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been swept aside in a bloodless coup on Tuesday night. And he wasn't even in Bangkok.

And if I'm not wrong, Uncle Thomas and a couple of the guys from the church are in Thailand now.

Please pray for them that nothing will harm them.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

2006-09-18T14:20:00.000+08:00

Come again another day.

I just hope that it doesn't rain when I'm in Taiwan.

Not A Saturday Night

2006-09-16T23:40:00.000+08:00

A Saturday night without any of the Big Four playing isn't a Saturday night.

How Time Flies

2006-09-15T23:39:00.000+08:00

Uncle Thomas was just commenting on how fast time flies, and how it seemed like yesterday when he prayed for me before I entered the army.

Well, yes and no. Yes, time does fly when you look back. With hindsight, everything that you've went through seems fun and amusing. Yet, if asked to go back in time and repeat those things, chances are that you won't want to. No, time doesn't fly when you're suffering. Instead, it slowly takes its time and crawl along.

I've always looked forward to travelling with Uncle Thomas, especially on trips to Thailand. Been with him on one trip and I enjoyed it thoroughly. And I'm looking forward to going to Thailand with him next February.

A Milestone In My Military Career

2006-09-10T18:34:00.000+08:00

For the uninformed and uninitiated, it gives me great pleasure to inform you that as of today, 10 September 2006, yours truly have exactly 180 days to freedom.

Six more months to go!

Excuse Me, I'm In A Hurry!

2006-09-09T11:08:00.000+08:00

I was ordering my usual Fillet-O-Fish meal at McDonald's yesterday when I overheard this old man barking at the waitress at the next counter.

"Excuse me, I'm in a hurry!" he shouted, a couple of decibels above the normal noise level.

Apparently, he ordered something and was asked to wait. Being not so patient, or rather impatient, he decided that he should raise his voice a little. Even when his food did came, he demanded that he wanted tartar sauce. So this waitress, being already very annoyed with his actions, pointed to him that the sauce packets are all at the bottom of the plastic bag.

"How come you put the sauces at the bottom and you didn't tell me?" was his immediate response. It was as though he wanted to create a more tense atmosphere.

Then he inspected the sauce packets, and exclaimed, "This is tartar sauce? I want the one in a box, not in a packet!"

The next thing he did was simply appalling. He took the sauce packet and threw it in the direction of the waitress. And he didn't do it once, he did it like twice or three times.

Who does this old man think he is? He is simply a customer like anyone of us. What right does he have to treat the waitress that way? Even if the waitress was slow or wrong, she didn't deserved to be treated that way.

Unreasonable and stubborn, this guy was.

You're in a hurry? Well, me too. And so is everyone else here!

A Totally Random Guy

2006-09-03T22:26:00.000+08:00

Miss Wee, myself and some totally random guy

This has got to be one of the most embarrassing thing one can do on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Oh, and we didn't do it once.

So Long, Asha!

2006-08-27T00:47:00.000+08:00

Come home soon!

Meanwhile, I'll take good care of 'forward' for you.

Aren't You Glad It's Over?

2006-08-26T10:51:00.000+08:00

ATEC's over!

I'm so glad it's all but over. Four days of outfield exercise under the gruelling heat, the lack of adequate sleep, countless insect bites all over the body, and the tortuous terrain that we had to negotiate, the stupid dump load we have to carry on our backs, it's all but over!

It's always never easy to go on a outfield exercise, let alone going on an ATEC evaluation. For the record, it is an exercise that is the closest we would ever get to a real war. The soldiers can be killed, and once they're killed, they have to be evacuated to the casualty collection site. There are enemies that will try to deny us from reaching our objectives, and we must be strong enough to overcome them.

Like how they always say, you study for six years to take the PSLE, and four years to take your O Levels, it is the same case in the army. You serve for two years, and at the end, you'll be evaluated as well. And I'm so glad the evaluation is over.

What redcon status our battalion is going to get isn't going to matter anymore, at least to us who are just serving because we have to. For now, I'm just going to soak in the satisfaction of completing one tough exercise.

Hooah!

I Can See Clearly Now

2006-08-19T01:19:00.000+08:00

The rain is gone.

Watched The Break-Up today. Starring Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston, The Break-Up is a movie about how a couple does things to spite each other after a minor bicker they had evolved into something much greater.

I thought this movie was rather meaningful. It teaches us to treasure people around us, and not to take them for granted.

Go watch it!

Victorious In Cardiff

2006-08-15T20:51:00.000+08:00

So, Liverpool lifted the Community Shield after a 2-1 narrow win over Jose Mourinho's expensively-assembled Chelsea. Goals from Riise and Crouch ensured the party belonged to the Reds. And Liverpool, under the stewardship of Rafael Benitez, have registered three important wins over Chelsea.

Carragher and Gerrard lifting the Shield

I was so happy with that victory that I texted James yesterday:

"My brother, did you see how Riise tear open Chelsea's defence? Or the way Peter Crouch cast a shadow of doubt on Terry's abilities? That's Liverpool Football Club - hallmark of the true and worthy champions! Sir Alex can keep smelling success, and Old Trafford can keep dreaming."

Maybe it sounded a little arrogant, but then again, I'm proud of Liverpool. I've been a Liverpool fan as long as I've watched football. I don't know why but this club connects to me more than the rest of the clubs in the world.

The Champions League in 2005, and the FA Cup in 2006. How about the English Premiership in 2007?

I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

That Night After Ultraviolet

2006-08-14T23:51:00.000+08:00

Guess who we met at 7-11 at Parkway Parade?

Somebody Get Your Praise On!

2006-08-12T11:52:00.000+08:00

I'm not gonna hold back now
I think its time to just get up
And jump around now

I Am Singaporean

2006-08-09T12:24:00.000+08:00

I was born on 9 October 1986 and raised as a child in a single-child family. Yet I spent most of my childhood days at my grandparents' home as both my parents were working.

When I was young, my ambition was to become a policeman or a doctor. I was rather impressed with what I saw on the television that I wanted to be a part of them.

I attended kindergarten at Radin Mas PAP Foundation, or something like that. I cannot really remember.

I grew up sing the National Anthem and reciting the pledge for 12 years running.

I grew up brushing my teeth with a mug in Primary school during recess time, once a week. And the teachers told me that I must brush each side of my teeth 10 times. And I still practice them now.

I hated learning spelling back then, as it was a torture memorizing the spelling of words which didn't make any sense. Then, there was mental sums to do. I hated them too. I wasn't quick enough most of the time, and I had to wait for the teacher to repeat it before I can embark on solving it.

My PSLE score was a 238, and I was very proud of it.

The first time I stepped into a Secondary school, I was overwhelmed. But then, slowly I got used to it.

I wore yellow shirts and navy blue shorts to school. Ties were only meant for chapel days.

Doing art in lower Secondary days was challenging, and I never achieved a score beyond 65 percent for any piece of my work. My colouring skills were so lousy that even a nursery kid would have done better.

My CCA was Red Cross Society, and I joined because my friends joined. I never liked wearing the white uniform but I had no choice anyway. I was in it, and there was no turning back.

I completed my four years with 11 points for my L1R5 and went to a junior college which they said was the "dream college" for every student. Behind our PE T-shirts was the word "Saints" and I didn't really liked that.

I took Chemistry, Biology, Economics and Math. But I dropped Biology after the first year because I couldn't understand mitosis and meiosis. I understood Supply and Demand better and got distinction for them.

I was enlisted into national service on 11 March 2005, and it was the worst day of my life. I was lonely and depressed. It was something that I didn't want to do but I had no choice anyway. Blame it on my XY chromosome.

I wore green but my heart was not with them. I thought that national service is important to serve as a deterrent. But it's a better place without me. I have slightly more than 200 more days to serve, and I can't wait for the day when I collect my pink IC to come.

Meanwhile, I have nothing much to do on the 41st National Day, so I did this.

I'm a Singaporean.

For Oral Use Only

2006-08-06T18:29:00.000+08:00

It doesn't sound too right, does it?

Here's To Fairfield, To Fairfield

2006-08-04T00:09:00.000+08:00

To every student here
To every happy fairsian
And to every teacher dear

Happy 118th Founder's Day!

4B'02 National Day Celebration 2002

Unfit For Duty

2006-07-26T00:18:00.000+08:00

So, I got out of jail, no thanks to my fever of 37.7 degree Celsius.

And I can't taste what I'm eating.

A World Has Opened For Us

2006-07-23T20:21:00.000+08:00

A world that's bright and gay...

So the Fairfield school song goes.

Suddenly, I'm beginning to miss Fairfield all over again. It did help when across the table at the food court last, four out of the seven of us were/are from Fairfield. And how the singing of "Bless this school, O Lord we pray" would evoke precious memories of Fairfield.

I still remember the days when I was still a student in the school. Donning the bright yellow shirt, and the naval blue shorts and the occasional blue tie littered with the school crest all over. Soon, the blue shorts became blue trousers and before we know it, we've already spent some two years in the school.

Yet, lower secondary days were fun, and sometimes innocent. I didn't particularly have any drive to study back then. All I did was to complete my homework on time, and spent the rest of the days being happy-go-lucky. I struggled in English Literature, Macbeth and the Merchant of Venice made no sense to me. All I remembered from those was that there was a line from Macbeth, "What bloody man is this?"

Geography lessons were another major headache. It was annoying to sit through lessons, wondering about how certain dumb stones were formed and why the Ring of Fire is called the Ring of Fire. The only humanities subject I liked was History. I don't know why but I enjoyed History. Maybe because it is the true study of humans? I wonder.

Don't tell anybody about this. But I only knew how to do algebra like in Secondary Two. Even then, I wasn't very sure about the multiplication and division of algebra terms. I didn't even know how to simplify algebraic fractions, for that matter.

Thank God I successfully made it into the top 2 classes in the level with my grades. Till this day, I'm still amazed at how I made in into Secondary Three. I still remember that my level ranking was 68th. I was like, "Wow!" I wanted triple science and double math because most of my friends wanted that as well. They said Biology was exclusive, and I wanted to be part of this "exclusive" bunch of people. Thinking back, I'm really foolish. Oh my.

True enough, I struggled with so many subjects. And yet, it wasn't my concern. I was more concerned about passing each and everyday. The only thing I looked forward to was the final ring of the school bell each day. Yes, my ears would be shut and no amount of the teachers' teachings would enter my brain.

Then came Secondary Four. Believe it or not. The first time our principal asked us what junior college we wanted after the O Levels, I said I wanted National Junior College. Yet as the days of my Secondary Four passes by, realism began to set in. And soon, SAJC became a more realistic choice. Besides, I won't like the environment in NJC. At least that was what I convinced myself.

And you know what? The first time ever I did my L1R5, it was a bloody 16! How in the world am I going to survive in this world with 16? No disrespect to those who did worse than 16, but I was rather disappointed with my grades. It wasn't what I wanted. I wanted something that was one digit. Haha, and till this day, I haven't managed to achieve that.

My preliminary results was a 13. And it was after much "squeezing of marks from the teachers". I managed A1s for my Chemistry and Biology. Things became a little brighter for me, and somehow I was convinced that with the same amount of hard work, I would be able to squeeze myself past the doors of SAJC.

And that I did. With my actual A Levels results, that is. I achieved an 11, and it was good news for me. I didn't achieve my initial target of 9 and below, but at least it was a grade I'm proud of. What else would you expect from a guy that spends most of his days happy-go-luckying?

And here's my favorite part of the school song:

Here's to Fairfield, to Fairfield
To every student here
To every happy fairsian
And to every teacher dear
Oh! It's Fairfield, at Fairfield
Where all the world is bright
Where love is in the sunshine
And all the world is bright

Yes, all the world is bright.

I'm Adorable

2006-07-23T18:23:00.000+08:00

I'm feeling rather bored now, so here's a random photo of myself:

Oh my, I'm adorable.

"Life in itself is already very difficult. No point making your life more difficult. Appreciate life whenever you can." - KS

Two More To Go

2006-07-22T00:52:00.000+08:00

The word came through to us this evening while we were having dinner at Marina Bay. We achieved Redcon 1 for our ATEC stage one! So, all our efforts weren't wasted. Good job, guys!

There is now only two more major exercises to go. And that's all we have to worry about. But more on that another time. The least we should do is to enjoy the moment, and soak in the wonderful atmosphere. Haha, we belong to a Redcon 1 battalion, for stage one that is.

Back to dinner. We had steamboat dinner at Marina Bay, and the turnout was, well, not so good. There were only five of us, nonetheless, it was a wonderful dinner. Many of the guys couldn't turn up because of one reason or another, and I had half a mind to postpone this dinner. But thankfully, I didn't. We should have some fun before another major exercise.

Exercise Pegasus, they called it. But to me, it'll be another four days of longsuffering. Another four days of torture, another four days of useless stuff. Exercises are always like that.

Things are always pretty much disorganised. No one really knows what's happening. And you can never trust the weather, or rather, what the weather will do to you. Under the sweltering heat, there is no solace, no place to hide, no room for comfort. There's only pain, fatigue, tiredness and discomfort. Alas, we cannot run and we cannot hide. We need to live through this. I hope I can.

Oh, this reminds me. I need to buy some food to bring outfield again. If not, I would be starving. No one really eats combat ration nowadays. Civilisation food are a boon, a real comfort, and a real homely feeling. They are the only things that can distract us from the boring exercises.

Let's just get this over and done with.

Another Weekend Gone

2006-07-16T21:20:00.000+08:00

And we're fast approaching ATEC.

So, we watched Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest yesterday at Marina Square. The movie was at 2.10pm and we only got the tickets at like 2.30pm. It was quite dumb as we eventually had to sit in the first row. Mind you, it was tough having to look up the whole time. It was actually the first time ever I sat at the first row!

Sam commented that it was not such a bad time to be seated on the first row after all, since we can get a better view of Keira Knightley's boobs. Oh my goodness, this is all she's thinking about! And I didn't even know Knightley was one year older than me, until like much later. 21 years old only, and she's so power!

This show is about how Captain Jack Sparrow repays a certain blood debt he owes Davey Jones, and how Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann are roped into his quest. I thought this movie was rather impressive, with the effects very well done. It was also funny, and I liked how the folks replied when Will Turner asked them where Jack was. Singapore? Singapore? The only disappointing part was the ending, which many believed the ending should have been better. Oh well, I await the third part.

This afternoon was spent at Sam's place, and we watched several dumb movies. What's new? It's like becoming a tradition that we bump around on such a lazy Sunday afternoon. We've done this for three weeks already, but I still think we need better quality movies. I actually wanted The Sisters, but instead they didn't, so we had to settle for The Face. And I doubt it was that scary.

It's almost time for me to leave home and serve my country. Oh wait, here is something Amelia said which I simply don't understand:

"You just simply amuse me when you said you have to serve your freaking nation. Its funny. Its just really funny. Never heard any other army boys say it." - Amelia Tay, 16 July 2006

I don't think its very funny.

And I'm still waiting to watch Superman Returns.

Shame On You, Zizou

2006-07-10T17:17:00.000+08:00

Zizou scored an header up Materazzi's chest.

And France lost the World Cup.

Half-Time Italy 1 France 1

2006-07-10T03:15:00.000+08:00

It's half-time in the World Cup final 2006, and Italy and France are locked at 1-1. It has been a rather exciting first half, with both teams playing attacking football. Yet it's interesting to note that both goals of the half came from set pieces, a penalty kick from Zidane, and then a header from a corner from the Italians.

I'm crossing my fingers that France will win this.

Yesterday was the second Sunday in a row that we crashed Joy's place after church. And the movies that we're watching is becoming more and more atrocious. Pleasantville, whereby almost three-quarters of the film is in black and white, made me fall asleep. I didn't really understand what they were saying most of the time. Oh well, one scene was really exaggerating where this lady was in the bathtub, doing the big M, and then the tree caught fire. That was pretty lame.

Big Momma's House 2 wasn't as funny as many expected, and I don't think I'm wrong if I say that all the funnier scenes were on the trailer, which means the movie really sucked. The next time we crash Joy's place, I must be the one renting the movies. We really need some quality control for that, you know.

Dinner on Saturday was fun too. The waiter at the Thai Express thought he was funny when he included himself in the head count, and Amelia was fooled. That guy's really being lame here, and I wonder how many people he does this do.

Well, at least the food was pretty decent and five out of the six of us had this pineapple fried rice. Only Sam ate something else, and it was not without much effort that we had to force her to eat. And the Thai Iced Tea was nothing special, and I'm never ever going to order that again. It's like a total waste of money.

Oh well, the match's restarted. And I'm going end here. Wait, here is a funny quotation that got all of us laughing yesterday. Sam speaking to her dad:

"I don't want to be the first one to leave. Nobody else is leaving yet. Do you know how gay that is? Do you even know what cool is?"
- Sam Lee, 9 July 2006

My fingers are still crossed. Please God, let France win.

World Cup All-Star Squad

2006-07-07T23:54:00.000+08:00

FIFA's technical study group selected the following 23 players to form the all-star squad of this tournament.

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Jens Lehmann (Germany), Ricardo (Portugal).

Defenders: Roberto Ayala (Argentina), John Terry (England), Lilian Thuram (France), Philipp Lahm (Germany), Fabio Cannavaro (Italy), Gianluca Zambrotta (Italy), Ricardo Carvalho (Portugal)

Midfielders: Ze Roberto (Brazil), Patrick Vieira (France), Zinedine Zidane (France), Michael Ballack (Germany), Andrea Pirlo (Italy), Gennaro Gattuso (Italy), Luis Figo (Portugal), Maniche (Portugal)

Strikers: Hernan Crespo (Argentina), Thierry Henry (France), Miroslav Klose (Germany), Francesco Totti (Italy), Luca Toni (Italy)

But for me, I prefer to select an eleven-man squad in a 4-4-2 formation. So here it goes.

Gianluigi Buffon

Roberto Ayala
Lilian Thuram
Fabio Cannavaro
Gianluca Zambrotta

Andrea Pirlo
Zinedine Zidane
Ze Roberto
Gennaro Gattuso

Hernan Crespo
Luca Toni

So, France versus Italy for the final on Sunday. And I still can't believe I told Miss Wee to skip school for the week if France don't make it.

Don't Watch In Her Shoes!

2006-07-05T20:02:00.000+08:00

We were supposed to watch Superman Returns after church on Sunday, but as it turned out, we didn't. Instead, we spent possibly over half an hour deciding where we should head after lunch.

A couple of choices were tossed up. A few of us insisted that we go catch the movie at Cineleisure while Amelia decided that she wants to pay Haw Par Villa a visit. I was like what the hell. It was exactly that interesting a place to visit, and it was certainly not fun doing that under the scorching weather in jeans.

Eventually, we headed down to 96 Fernhill, and rented a couple of DVDs. Well, we didn't exactly do the DVD selection, Sam and the rest did. And boy, it was rather dumb. The Doll Master, In Her Shoes, and another show which I can't remember. Oh wait, if I'm not wrong, it's Death Becomes Her.

The Doll Master was a Korean horror movie but it was by not means scary. Okay, certain parts were shocking but that's as good as it gets. I'm not going to say anymore about this show. If you're interested, you can find out more here. I didn't really like that show but I guess it was at least a way to kill time.

We also watched In Her Shoes. At least this show had a familiar cast. And that was all. The movie was boring, and boring. About half an hour in the movie, I still couldn't exactly understand the plot and it was dumb! Everyone else was watching the movie for the sake of watching it, and no one sincerely was enjoying the movie!

That's about all for now. France versus Portugal tonight. And I sincerely hope France will lift the World Cup. I don't like Portugal.

Good Bye, Argentina

2006-07-01T22:11:00.000+08:00

The whole world should already know this by now. Argentina lost 4-2 on penalties to host nation Germany. After 120 minutes of open play, it is sad that a winner has to be decided on the lottery of penalty kicks. It's an unfair way to end the game, and much depends on luck.

I never liked penalty kicks. Of course if your team is on the winning side, then you would say that the penalty kicks are good. But if your team is on the losing side, then it will be simple very sad. Istanbul 2005 and Cardiff 2006 were settled on penalty kicks. On both occasions, Liverpool were on the winning side so it didn't really affect me. But this time round, Argentina going out on penalty kicks is so stupid. Maybe I'm just plain disappointed that Argentina got knocked out.

Bizarre strategies and substitutions, together with some suspect refereeing contributed to Argentina's downfall. First, it was really strange for Pekerman to totally leave Messi, Saviola and Aimar out of the game altogether. Had two out of the three been involved in one way or another, the goals would have come, and the game would have been settled. But it was not to be.

And I simply don't understand how come Riquelme and Crespo were substituted out. They were the most outstanding players on the pitch and without them, there was no way Argentina could move forward. In fact, it was a miracle that the game went into penalty kicks. Perhaps Pekerman wanted to Germany to go through? I don't know.

Next, suspect refereeing. I sincerely, deeply, and truly believe that the referee wanted Germany to proceed. Maybe he was worried that if Argentina went through, the Germans would whack him up or something. Or maybe he placed a bet with William Hills that Germany will go through. I don't know but many decisions were biased and Argentina were the victims.

Or maybe Argentina were victims of their own success. Having been too explosive in the earlier stages, could it be a case of them becoming too complacent? Or maybe opponent teams have analysed and studied their tactics and found the perfect cure to counter? Or maybe their wins in the group stages were so resounding that they find it hard to reproduce their excellent display? I don't know but these are the possibilities.

My dream of a Brazil-Argentina final is gone. But still, the matches are getting more and more interesting to watch. Germany is through to the semi-finals. Italy made it too. Only two more teams will join them.

England or Portugal? France or Brazil? After tonight, we'll all know.

Calendar Boys

2006-06-24T21:58:00.000+08:00

Shamelessly copied from www.guang-gy.blogspot.com

Woah, don't play play. Yours truly so famous until appear on calendar leh. For the month of August somemore.

From left to right:
Jon, Qin Yuan, Wei Lun, Yours Truly, Xuan Zhan

Notice a certain guy isn't doing anything except using his eye power.

Saturday Morning At The Gym

2006-06-24T16:13:00.000+08:00

After not exercising for such an awfully long time, I've finally hit the gym.

Yep, finally.

Ghana's In, Czech's Out

2006-06-23T22:26:00.000+08:00

I saw this on the New Paper on Wednesday:

"Teams who show everything in the initial round-robin matches usually burn themselves out when the crux of the competition arrives. In this case, Argentina and Spain are probably going to be the victims. They showed all their bags of tricks and skills which will be filmed and studied by opponents." - Prabha Gopal

Hmm, this is a rather interesting perspective. I never saw it this way. But it sure make some sense.

After tonight's fixtures, the knockout round of sixteen of the World Cup 2006 will commence. Traditional powerhouses like Argentina, Spain, Holland and Italy have all qualified. Defending champion Brazil is also in. A couple of dark horses, including Ecuador and Ghana will also be joining the party of the big boys.

The Czechs are rather useless without Koller, as the game against Italy highlighted their flaws in attacking. Even the top soccer of Euro 2004 Baros didn't deliver the goods. Sure, the Czechs had former European Footballer of the Year in Pavel Nedved but he alone was not enough to beat the world's most expensive goalkeeper Buffon. The game could almost be renamed the "Nedved versus Buffon" game.

And Ghana are the beneficiaries of that result. They'll be playing Brazil next. Talking about Brazil, they were ruthless in front of goal last night. Japanese keeper Kawaguchi had to pick the ball out of his net 4 times, and 2 of those were goals from Ronaldo.

After two games without goals, Ronaldo finally opened his goal-scoring account in this World Cup. And with those two goals, he equalled the all-time World Cup record of 14 goals by Gerd Muller. Maybe the media will be less harsh on Fat Boy now. Brazil can now realistically be called favorites of this tournament after two one-nil victories.

Another talking point will be the English. Well, not the English national team we are talking about here. Instead, it will be a certain referee by the name of Graham Poll. He caused some major confusion when he showed the yellow card to Croatian Simunic 3 times. Yes, three bloody times. Maybe he was dreaming, maybe he doesn't know what he's doing. Or perhaps he didn't recognise the player? Only God knows.

And only God knows who will be lifting the famous World Cup come July.

Owen In Sorry State

2006-06-21T20:41:00.000+08:00

So, England managed a 2-2 draw with Sweden and avoided host nation Germany in the knockout round of 16. They should be happy, or should they?

Michael Owen, otherwise known to the Kop as St Michael, is in a sorry state. Started the game against Sweden but was injured as early as the fourth minute. Not his fault that he got injured, yet his performance in the previous two matches was nothing special. A virtual spectator, he looked nothing like the teenage prodigy who shocked Argentina in the 1998 World Cup. His World Cup adventure is over.

England's number 9 Wayne Rooney didn't play that well with Peter Crouch. Yes, his runs managed to stretch the Swedish defence but it was useless when the chances are not converted. Or should we say that the midfield didn't do enough to supply the ball?

Joe Cole played well. Training under Jose Mourinho has done him some good, and he certainly deserved his Man of the Match award. His goal and his cross that led to Gerrard's goal should bear some testimony of his worth to the English team. But still, I thought some of his dribblings were more fanciful than effective.

England haven't lived up to their reputation so far, and if they don't sort of some pressing issues before Sunday, it is unlikely that they'll advance.

Tonight's game between Holland and Argentina is not decisive. Both have already amassed 6 points from their first two games, and many feel they won't be doing their best tonight. Yet we should see some goals between these two teams as both play attacking football. It should still be a match to watch, and I hope Argentina will prevail. Crespo, Saviola and company are so powerful in going forward that Holland's defence might just collapse.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Argentina will win this one. Not that it matters much, except who finishes top, but it will be more of a morale issue here. Finishing top will definitely improve the already-high morale of the team, and it will put the team in good stead.

Another game to look out for is the game between Jack Republic and Italy. Every single team in Group E still has a chance of advancing. But it will be harder for the United States. But I suppose the fate of Italy and Czech Republic rests very much on the game between Ghana and the United States. So, both sides will be playing their hearts out.

Italy haven't been really convincing, and if they don't start scoring more, then they won't be joining the big boys' party. Ditto for the Czechs. They surprisingly lost 2-nil to Ghana but the world's second best team will want to prove their Euro endeavors back in 2004 were no fluke.

No wonder they say the World Cup is the best.

Chocolate Challenge

2006-06-17T23:21:00.000+08:00

This afternoon, it was high tea and table for two at Spinelli Coffee.

Yours truly proudly presents the unofficial spokesmen for Spinelli Coffee!

Okay, that was crap. Let's talk serious business.

De Guang and myself helped ourselves to excellent yet sinful delights! We picked the Chocolate Rumba Cake, the Ebony & Ivory Cheese Cake and the Mocha Lava Bundlet. The drink was the Mocha Spin.

Glorious food.

Jack Republic

2006-06-17T22:49:00.000+08:00

Since this is the World Cup period, and World Cup is only here once every four years, I always try to make it a point to keep myself abreast of which matches are being played, and what are the most up-to-date scores, regardless of what I'm doing.

So just now while I was out, I texted Jun De, asking him what match was to be played at 9pm.

And he replied the following:

"Jack Republic."

I didn't know such a country existed. And it was playing in the World Cup!

Well, he meant Czech Republic. And it was wrong. It should have been Portugal versus Iran.

Breathtaking Argentina

2006-06-17T10:38:00.000+08:00

Argentina played magical football against Serbia & Montenegro last night, resulting in a fantastic result of 6-0.

First, it was a 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast. And now, this. Hopefully, the final game of the group stage against the Netherlands will be a brilliant match to watch.

The World Cup beckons.

Dark Forces Behind World Cup

2006-06-16T17:13:00.000+08:00

Knowing that Rachel likes a certain player in the Japanese team, I texted her the following message after Japan lost 3-1 to Australia despite leading for over 83 minutes:

"You must have been very sad."

To which she replied moments later:

"Very. I wanna cry but my dad is behind. I've gotta refrain from crying. Later he think I crazy then cancel my channel. Can't believe it but 3 goals in 6 minutes is satanic."

Hmm, what's so satanic about 3 goals in 6 minutes? Get thee behind me, Satan!

Day Off At Suki Sushi

2006-06-12T20:18:00.000+08:00

Two idiots looking very confused

So, it does feel different not booking in on Sunday nights. And, of course, it pays to keep your student pass with you, even when you're no longer a student.

In case you're wondering, this photo was taken with my N80's secondary VGA camera. Adriel always make me feel bad about my phone. But like what Andee says, when you like something, you won't care what others say. That's right. I shall adopt that mentality.

A Fishy Lunch

2006-06-11T21:45:00.000+08:00

Lunch today was at The Manhattan Fish Market, and once again it was table for four. Located at the sixth storey of Plaza Singapura, the restaurant emits a certain yet distinct fishy smell. Looks like they really want to imitate the fish market environment.

None of us have eaten there before, but we decided to give it a try anyway. According to Bryan, the restaurant is rather new, just opened its doors probably about six months ago. So much for being new.

Bryan and Wesley had the Manhattan Fish & Chips while Raymond and I shared the Grilled Gala Platter for two. Apparently, the food that they serve is quite similar to another seafood restaurant which is known as Fish & Co. Haha, copycat eh?

Price wise, it is cheaper here than in Fish & Co. But if you're really observant enough, you would have noticed that the serving is also smaller than those in Fish & Co. Add a couple of fries, and a large slice of fish fillet and maybe a bit more rice, and it should cost as much as those in Fish & Co. See, I'm so analytical.

But analytical stuff or whatsoever aside, you should really give The Manhattan Fish Market a try. At least there, the service is better. And when I pay my ten percent service charge, I feel happier. There are also a couple of others who think the service there is good too.

Good food.

Singapore Referee At World Cup

2006-06-11T01:11:00.000+08:00

In case you don't know, the Group B match between Trinidad & Tobago and Sweden was officiated by a Singaporean referee by the name of Shamsul Maidin.

This is the second time a Singaporean is taking the role of an official referee in the World Cup finals. The first one to do so was George Suppiah and it was in 1974. The venue? West Germany.

However for him, life hasn't always been a bed of roses. He was made a sporting scapegoat in the Australian media because of what he did in a Confederations Cup match.

Said Shamsul, "I hope to do my very best and we take one thing at one time. Let say I go to the quarter finals or semi finals, even the final - it really is a great achievement for myself, country as well as everyone in Asia."

Take Care, Bea

2006-06-11T00:54:00.000+08:00

Just reached home after barbecue at Beatrice's place. It was sort of like a farewell gathering for her before she leaves for studies in Melbourne. Thankfully she'll be leaving on Saturday. At least I will be able to make it.

The barbecue was fun, and more people turned up than expected. I guess they're all there to send their regards and best wishes to Bea. Oh, Jamie and company did a video recording for her which we screened for her at the end of the barbecue. It was hilarious and touching. And they're gonna upload it on youtube. Maybe when it's up, I'll post it here.

I guess I'm gonna miss those times when we talked about all stuff under the sun. Stuff like the disappearing acts of a certain someone, and "Erm, check out that face!" She's been a really great friend, someone good to hang out with. And of course, not to forget, we've known each other for almost half our lives.

Let's hope she'll do well in Melbourne, and come back with tremendous results.

Terrible Outfield Experience

2006-06-09T17:49:00.000+08:00

I didn't know eating warm instant noodles in the comfort of my bunk in camp was a form of welfare until the recent outfield experience.

The five-day outfield exercise concluded yesterday evening, and with that came terrible experiences that I hope I'll never go through ever again. And I'm keeping my fingers crossed on that one. Then again, i'm just plain thankful that it's over. At least for now.

The five-day exercise was both mentally and physically demanding. Concentration was as usual, boring and meaningless. We had to find ways to kill time, of which only two were foolproof and effective. The first way, to sleep. Sleep regardless the time or the hour, regardless the weather, in whatever position you can. The second way, to eat. Eating is a sure way to kill time. Before you know it, half the day is gone and you're happy that your stomach is filled.

Two days out of five were spent walking in the rain with rain-soaked Number 4 and boots. It was demoralizing and tough to walk around in wet uniforms but then again, we didn't really have a choice. It was do it, or do it. Nothing else matters. Just do it. Carrying all sorts of funny equipment was, needless to say, dumb. It simply adds on to the weight that we're already carrying. That's really dumb.

The insects didn't do us any favour too. They simply enjoyed themselves by feasting on our skins. They were irritating, and almost omnipresent. And there is no place they dare not bite. Bottoms included. Insect repellent, as usual, didn't help and we just had to resign to fate that we're simply being enjoyed, by something that is smaller than one percent of us.

Coordination and organisation at division level were alarming. Things simply looked disorganised and I guess it's safe to say that no one really knew what was happening. Maybe except for a couple of guys up there. And when I say that, I'm already being very tactful. Haha, must be careful, if not end up getting charged.

I've been through many outfield experiences, and I'm certain to say that nothing beats this in terms of toughness and dreadfulness. I'm not talking about the distance that we walked, but the whole exercise in general. It has been rather unpleasant, and I'm really don't want to go through it again.

Looking on the bright side, at least the World Cup has arrived.

Budget For Food

2006-06-02T23:52:00.000+08:00

Come Sunday, I'll be playing a minor role in a major division level five-day outfield exercise. And it will be no joke. It's going to be tough and I hate that.

Imagine the rest of the world enjoying and relaxing their Sunday away, while you're stuck outfield with poor living conditions. And that's just the start. Add to that, the agony of a face covered with camouflage cream and sweat, and the company of insects you never thought existed.

Not only that, you have to deal with the problem of locating a decent rest area under the sweltering heat that doesn't seem to know what compromise is. And how the time seem to travel at snail-speed whenever we try to kill time. And of course, how the burden of the weapon you carry seem to become heavier with each time you take.

Outfield is hell, and hell doesn't give a damn about how others feel.

Thankfully, there is still some comfort in knowing that we can nourish ourselves with tremendous food.

Spend a total of $30.19 on food for the outfield exercise. Whenever such exercise are round the corner, the expenses on food always increase. We need to feed ourselves outfield too, you know.

Oh did I mention that the new accessory packs on the combat ration are rather appealing? They've taken away some of the redundant stuff and added in more interesting items like the Milo drink and the Pokka coffee. M&Ms are also found, I was surprised.

Someone must have told the Ministry of Defence that the key to a soldier's loyalty is to whet his appetite.

Knock It Down

2006-05-29T21:19:00.000+08:00

Knock it down,
Knock it down,
Get your hands on the ground and
Knock it down!

Fantastic, I cannot help but laugh.

Act Cute Naughty Boy

2006-05-28T21:13:00.000+08:00

Remember Naughty Boy?

Well, here's a random shot of him acting cute.

Taken with my new Nokia N80, a 3 megapixel camera phone with a 2 megapixel lens. Or so Adriel said. But then again, I guess he's jealous because he eyed that phone too.

That's just too bad.

Anyway, today happens to be Miss Wee's birthday. Happy birthday Joy!

Apple's The Word

2006-05-27T11:17:00.000+08:00

The Holy Grail 'neath ancient Roslin waits.
The blade and chalice guarding o'er Her gates.
Adorned in masters' loving art, She lies.
She rests at last beneath the starry skies.

So, I've finally watched The da Vinci Code yesterday evening. And it's quite well done, I must say.

This Blog Is Clean

2006-05-24T20:17:00.000+08:00

Since I started blogging, I've written on a wide range of topics. So, it is no wonder that once in a while when I check my referrers, that I find all kinds of referrers.

And yet, I was shocked when my blog came in third in a yahoo search of "sexy lady who like to fuck". I was totally shocked. I'm not lying, here is the evidence.

I write clean things, okay?

Back After So Long

2006-05-21T01:24:00.000+08:00

Well, I'm finally back after so long. Yes, I know I haven't been updating for 2 months now. But that's because I'm lazy. I'm damn lazy and I'm not going to deny that. It's my nature and you just have to accept it. Haha.

Remember the phone Joy introduced to me? The N80? Well, after such a long wait, I've finally got my hands on it last Thursday. It was $738 with a two-year subscription but I managed to reduce the price by another $150 by trading in my Nokia 6230. So eventually, I paid $588. Still quite costly, but I guess I couldn't resist it.

Well, it has so much functions that I actually had to read the user manual to understand how to use it. I don't recall reading the manual previously. I'm still having difficulties trying to type my messages and so on, but I guess it's something that I have to get use to. Especially after such a long wait. Haha. Almost four months, you know. And Joy, I know you're not jealous. Haha, you shouldn't be. Thanks anyway.

Dinner was simple fare of wanton noodles at Raffles City. Boon Teck suggested the place after deciding that Funan's Food Court was too boring. So for lack of a better alternative, Raffles City became the next best option.

After dinner, we headed down for coffee. Across the table, the conversation topics were of a wide range, a very wide one. Topics including Boon Teck's preferred choice of partner and the fast paced lifestyle in Singapore. Topics including why Economics students don't understand poems and why sian jit pua is more sian than sian because it has more syllabus and you can drag the "pua". Okay, I didn't really believe that, it was all Bea's stupid theory.

It's like 01:24 now and I guess it's about time I head for bed. I miss my bed.

A Fine Sign

2006-03-19T18:55:00.000+08:00

Spotted this sign yesterday, was on the way to Fort Canning Park.

Fine: $000

Right.

One More Year

2006-03-11T12:09:00.000+08:00

Thank you for your one year in service, I salute you!

Yes, the helmet and SBO belong to me.

Day Out At Pasir Ris

2006-03-07T20:54:00.000+08:00

Taken with Andy's SGH-E730.

A Close Shave

2006-03-06T20:03:00.000+08:00

Ever heard of the saying that the most dangerous place is the safest place?

Well, a phone in a shoe made me realised that it's true. Very true.

I told you I'm very blessed!

Cast Off Restraint

2006-03-05T20:45:00.000+08:00

A vision excites.

A vision ignites.

A vision unites.

Hey There, Have Fun!

2006-03-04T23:22:00.000+08:00

Recently, I've started to take note of what people say to one another when they bid farewell. In essence, when one wishes another farewell, it is a wish of happiness or welfare at parting. It is also better known as the parting compliment or simply adieu, if you're looking for the word that perfectly describes that.

Of course, when one thinks about this, the more common expressions come to mind. Expressions like "Bye, take care!", and "See you around soon!" are conventional yet never obsolete. Then again, such expressions are used so frequently that there's nothing special about them. When one hears this parting compliment, it would just be another of those compliment chucked in an unwanted corner of his mind. No one would pay special attention to it, or even render more attention than it actually warrants.

On the other hand, it would be foolish to regard all parting compliments as a waste of time. Of the millions of words in the English language, there has got to be some words and phrases that are deemed as pleasant and lovely parting compliments. And it is rightly so.

Ever since the day I was enlisted into national slavery, I've heard more parting compliments than ever. Be it from family members, friends or even plain acquaintences. Why do I pay so much attention to parting compliments, you may wonder. I can't really put a finger to it, but I reckon it's because I'm leaving each day as it comes, especially since I don't know what will happen to me in the near future.

I could vividly recall what happened on the day I was enlisted when I parted company with my parents, and was about to be confined for the next two weeks or so. It was the fear of not knowing what to expect that will highlight one's need for compliments, no matter how small a role they play. In circumstances like these, words of encouragement and meaningful parting compliments do much to calm the mind, and relaxes the tension that one feels.

In this respect, a simple "God bless you, take care!" does more help than a casual "See you around soon!". And it is truly so. And so when I heard "Enjoy yourself!" last Wednesday when I was leaving for camp, I thought much about it. In fact, it was one of the more noteworthy parting compliments I've received. Nothing's special about that two words. It's only when certain words are applied to certain circumstances that will make the compliment more meaningful.

So, have fun!

Recollections Of Thailand

2006-03-02T20:43:00.000+08:00

So, the Thailand mission team left on Sunday and began their seven-day trip up north in the remote mountains of Maesot. This was one trip I really wished I could go along, but alas, because of national slavery, I had no choice but give it a miss.

I could vividly remember my first mission trip to Thailand. It was late February last year when I was idling, awhile to be enlisted into the army. I had nothing much to do, and I was too lazy a bum to look for a temporary job anyway.

And so it was one fine day when Uncle Thomas approached me, asking me if I was interested in going along with him to the remote mountains and villages of Thailand. My immediate reaction was, "Why not? Since I had plenty of time to spare. And I've always wanted to go for a mission trip. Maybe now is the time for me to go."

With that, I embarked on the trip, not knowing what to expect at all. Other members of the team were the real "seasoned" ones who go for mission trips every now and then. And there I was, a newbie who haven't been on any mission trip. I've heard some of them telling me that I should go with a sense of expectation. But that aside, I really didn't know what to expect. Seriously. I just saw that trip as a means out of my mundane idling life.

Thankfully for me, the real "seasoned" ones were tremendously nice to me. I was able to learn much from them, and it was a real joy talking to them. Whatever things I did, they were there to guide me and take care of me. Whatever things I didn't know, they were patient enough to teach and correct me.

And it was with that mission trip that my friendship and trust with many of them grew and became better. The seven days came and went, and I was disappointed it didn't last any longer. It was something like what people would call a bittersweet emotion when I touched down at the Changi Airport. I was glad I came back safely into the arms of my family members. But I was also frustrated that it was a little too short for my liking. Nonetheless, I promised them that I would be back for more the next time round, if I could.

Sadly, the "next time round" happened to be last Sunday. I missed it. But I hope to join them again next year. When my national slavery no longer bothers me. When I'm a free man once again.

Oranges, Meatballs & Cold Storage

2006-02-26T19:51:00.000+08:00

Saturday afternoon was spent at High Street Centre. We were due to meet promptly at two, but because of the road closure for the state funeral at the city area, a couple of us were late.

As a waited for the rest of them to arrive, Terence and I decided to kill some time by flinging a couple of oranges down the building. Oh, and that was supposed to be illegal. He wanted to fling the orange down into the Singapore river, but because of the dumb wind forces, the orange landed straight onto the pavement. And just as the orange landed, a couple of people were in the proximity. And from the 30th storey, we could almost guessed their reactions! Oranges from heaven!

Can you imagine their faces? As they looked up into utter astonishment, they would probably be wondering what kind of a joke that was. Where in the world would you find oranges from heaven? That was thoroughly amusing. And from now on, every time I drop by at High Street, I'm going to bring some oranges along. Do remind me on that.

The service concluded rather smoothly, save a brace of bloopers during the worship. And Pastor Dennis also got us to share about our views, and our vision for the ministry. And I was rather unprepared for that.

Dinner was at the usual hangout, and it's fast becoming our favourite hangout for Saturday evenings. I had minced pork noodles with both fishballs and meatballs for the third week running! And the funny thing is that each time I pay the stall a visit, the presentation of the noodles would be different. It's just as though they have a new presentation every week!

After dinner, Asha, Deb and I embarked on a long walk to, well, nowhere. At least it was like that initially. We walked past City Hall to Raffles City, and finally ending up at Suntec City Mall.

Along the way were some lame jokes, as well as some questions as food for thought. Like this one: "Where do cool people hang out?" The answer? "Cold Storage!" Alright, that was lame. But on a more sombre note, there were some philosophical stuff. Like, "What do you want people to say at your funeral?" Are they going to say, "Finally, there is some world peace" or "Thank God she's died"? Think about it.

Ultimately, we settled at McCafe and chilled out for the night.

Two Goals, Two Wins

2006-02-19T19:50:00.000+08:00

On Tuesday, Liverpool defeated Arsenal by a one-goal margin, courtesy of a goal from Luis Garcia.

Then on Saturday, Liverpool emerged victorious over Manchester United with a goal from Peter Crouch.

Finally, things are moving in the right direction. Back-to-back wins against Arsenal and Manchester United are by no means, a mean feat. Only a team with class will manage that. Only a team like Liverpool.

Incredibly Crappy Combat Training

2006-02-11T12:21:00.000+08:00

Ever since we bade farewell to the month of January, the training schedule in camp has been packed with hours after hours of incredibly crappy combat training, otherwise known throughout the army as ICCT.

Having completed the fundamental module of the course during our basic military training, the next step would naturally be for us to participate in the intermediate module of the course. It was a requirement that infantry men had to meet, and we were no different.

Almost every other day, we would be inside the multi-purpose hall, doing the various techniques and stunts like the break-falls and the arm-locks. The first couple of lessons were rather unexciting and monotonous, but as we proceed, it became more interesting as we execute the various moves taught to us by the instructors.

Interesting it may be, but after several rounds of executing the steps, it soon translated into fatigue as the whole tiresome business of implementing and repeating the moves set in.

So far, we're almost halfway through. But it's still going to take some time. And our aching bodies are crying out, "Save us!"

Trust And Delight

2006-02-08T20:00:00.000+08:00

"Trust in the LORD and do good;
Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

Delight yourself in the LORD
And he will give you the desires of your heart."

Psalm 37:3, 4

Long Way To Go

2006-02-03T20:53:00.000+08:00

A visit over to Alex's blog reminded me of my days in slavery.

399 more days till liberty.

Never thought I'll come so far, but still there is a long way to go.

Summing Up The Festive Mood

2006-02-01T19:10:00.000+08:00

So, the long Lunar New Year break is officially over, and today is already the fourth day of the Lunar New Year. Time really flies.

But if I'm totally honest to myself, I don't really like festive seasons like this, save the extra cash that I suddenly find myself counting after each visit. For a number of years now, I find myself dreading this so-called important and happy occasion of the Chinese people. Not the break away from all the work and studies per se, but the thought of meeting relatives and friends that we would otherwise not meet in the year, despite the "greatness" of the small island that we all build our lives on.

But then again, it's not too bad an idea to meet up, catch up on what's been happening in each others' lives, and reminisce about the good old days. And it's not too bad an idea to have six days of undisturbed and peaceful rest, away from the worries of national slavery. I just love long breaks like this!

On the eve of the Lunar New Year, we sat down together as a family and had our reunion dinner. It was nothing special, just a dinner together with loved ones, and family members. It was just a meal of steamboat, but the festive mood was in the air. Nothing beats coming together as a family on the last day of the year, to remember the trials and ordeals that everybody went through. A couple of them later headed down to Chinatown to experience the festive atmosphere, and catch some live fireworks.

The earlier part of the first day of the Lunar New Year was spent in church. At High Street Centre, it was. Pastor Benny Ho was the speaker, and he spoke on, well, something that I couldn't recall. Blame it on Asha, and Desmond! Haha. They were telling lame jokes half the time that I couldn't concentrate. And by the way, Desiree and Denise made guest appearances. Haha. Haven't seen them around for quite some time, and I was rather surprised when I saw them.

After church, we headed home and awaited for people to visit. Yes, we are that important that people visit us and not the other way round. Or rather, that's the way things have been throughout the years, as long as I can remember. And that has been the way for the next couple of days.

A few things have changed over the year, and suddenly you find your cousins giving you red packets, only to recall that they got married over the year, and some even became parents. Other than that, things, by and large, remained the same way it was.

Then of course, there are still some places we had to pay visits to. I like paying visits to people's home. And it's something that I seldom get the chance to, considering the seniority of my grandparents in the family, so people have to come and visit us. I don't know what is so fun and interesting about visiting people's home, but sometimes I like that feeling. Strange thing, isn't it?

Just yesterday, we had a new year gathering for the cell. There was tremendous food and I guessed I must have put on a couple of pounds for those! Looks like I need to exercise more now. But the highlight was, no doubt, the six-month old Silas of the Poons. He's one cheerful and adorable baby. I simply love pinching those chubby cheeks of his.

Time really flies. Before I know it, the festive mood is close to an end. It's now back to school, back to work, and for me, back to national slavery. At least, it's a short work week of two days for me. I wonder when is the next time I can get such a long break.

Oh by the way, hope you've had a wonderful Lunar New Year!

Love You So Much

2006-01-27T17:47:00.000+08:00

Joy introduced this dear phone to me.

And I fell in love with it instantly.

I must get my hands on it no matter what.

Of Incoherent Speech & Tear Gas

2006-01-24T20:29:00.000+08:00

The following conversation took place this afternoon during the chemical and biological defence exercise at the smoke chambers:

Instructor: Report your rank and name.

KS: S863.....

Instructor: Report your NRIC.

KS: Private Siew Kwok Siong

Instructor: What's the sixth letter of the alphabet?

KS: E!

Oh well, the devastating effects of tear gas on a wise being.

Hunting For Clothes

2006-01-22T20:22:00.000+08:00

Was supposed to get some new clothes today, but since I didn't see anything that caught my eye, I went home empty-handed. Looks like I will have to go hunt for clothes again, some time soon.

Had an interesting conversation with Josh about the eccentricity of polo tees. Have you ever wondered why those really expensive and branded polo tees have horrible designs, while those relatively cheap polo tees have nice designs.

Yet when I want to buy those relatively cheap polo tees, I will think twice because it seems inevitable that some part of the nice design is ruined by the brand logo or some other designs at the wrong places.

Then again, if I want to get a good and decent polo tee, Ralph Lauren is something that is too expensive for my liking.

Oh well, I guess I will stick to T-shirts instead.

And Lunar New Chinese is just next Sunday.

Table For Four

2006-01-15T01:15:00.000+08:00

Dinner today was at n.y.d.c Heeren, and this time round it was table for four. Only Bryan, Ming Xuan, Raymond and myself turned up, and the rest couldn't make it.

Across the dining table, there were plenty of conversation topics, ranging from university studies to military life. And of course, how Bryan and Raymond are now officially "second-year" soldiers, while yours truly is still an infant in the army.

Oh well.

And Ming Xuan shared briefly about his ATEC in Australia in the month of December, and how tough and demanding it was. It was a totally new experience for him, as he saw that the environment there was nothing like what he has been through in tropical Singapore. I wonder what will my ATEC be like.

Then by chance, I found out that Bryan was at Seletar Camp yesterday too. He saw people in boats, with their weapons pointing out, while he was on an exercise drill there. Ah, one of those guys he saw must have been me.

And of course, not forgetting Raymond, who spent his New Year's Day guarding the island of Tekong, ensuring that all is safe and peaceful and the terrorists could not prevail. With them safeguarding Singapore, we can enjoy our days without having to worry about security threats. Very noble indeed!

See what you get when you place a bunch of soldiers together? You get nothing but army stories. Sometimes, those stories are really interesting. But most of the time, the stories depict the miserable life we have.

Indeed, miserable life.

A Little Quiz

2006-01-10T18:00:00.000+08:00

Spent the afternoon at the departmental stores today, and in particular, visited the toys section with Naughty Boy.

He was rather fascinated by the kiddy rifles, pistols and things of the like. So we were looking at the different sets on display, and he really liked one of them.

"This is the rifle, this is the baton, and this is the badge," he introduced, pointing to them one by one.

Then I noticed he left out one particular piece of equipment in the kiddy set. So I decided to throw him a little quiz.

"Erm, so what is this?" I asked.

"Orh. This one I know. It's a rhinoceros!"

And I laughed. "No, it isn't a rhinoceros. It's a pair of binoculars."

"Yes, I know. It is a pair of rhinoceros."

A Wet Weekend

2006-01-08T18:41:00.000+08:00

Yet, another rainy day.

"Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving;
make music to our God on the harp.

He covers the sky with clouds;
he supplies the earth with rain
and makes grass grow on the hills.

He provides food for the cattle
and for the young ravens when they call."

- Psalm 147:7-9

Lest I Forget

2006-01-02T18:32:00.000+08:00

So the old year is gone, and the new year has began. Hello, 2006!

Lest I forget, here are some highlights of New Year's Eve:

1. Enjoying the splendid fireworks at High Street, and how some of the fireworks display look strangely like ferrero rochers according to Joce.

2. Walking down Orchard Road slightly past midnight, and wondering how come suddenly it seems there were more foreign workers than locals, and how come some people simply love aerosol foam sprays.

While we are at this, you may want to take a look at this, a petition appealing for the ban of aerosol foam sprays.

3. Visiting Swensen's at Crown Hotel, and sharing the wonderful Earthquake. Oh, did I also mention that Swensen's serve brilliant calamari rings as well? That was a rather sinful way of starting the brand new year. Then again, we should always eat first, repent later.

4. Going over the Ben's place, and playing cards in a desperate attempt not to fall asleep. Had we fallen asleep, there was no way for us to make it on time to church. And of course, I will never forget how my shirt is infested with Ben's smell after all that.

Well, that's about all for New Year's Eve celebrations and stuff. Now the festive period is coming to an end, it's time for us to work hard for the year ahead. And try not to break our new year resolutions.

New Year Resolutions

2006-01-01T19:44:00.000+08:00

Here are my new year resolutions for 2006.

1. To be a better soldier.

2. To be a better soldier.

3. To be a better soldier.

4. To be a better soldier.

5. To be a better soldier.

Oh wait, didn't they say that resolutions are meant to be broken?

The Year In Retrospect

2005-12-31T15:12:00.000+08:00

It is the time of the year again, when we reflect back on the events that shaped the year, and wonder if the year would be the same if certain events didn't happen the way they did.

The following are some of the events that shaped my 2005:

1. I Need A Friend
11 January 2005, Tuesday

"Half the world is trapped on this bloody island called Tekong, where they claim that they will train you to be ready to serve your country. When in reality, they torture you, and make you suffer big time...The other half of the world happens to be working. Either as some secretary, tuition teacher, or administrative worker. Their lifestyles are shaped around a nine to five schedule, and this absolutely makes no sense. Because there's no one to go out with me for the better part of the day."

Oh well, I'm glad those days were over now. Indeed, very glad. But then again, I'm disappointed that the army is taking away my time, my precious time.

2. The Replacement Tutor
27 January 2005, Thursday

"It was Chrystal. When I heard her voice, I was like, "Oh God, what happened to her voice?" I could barely hear what she was saying. Then she started asking me if I was free later on in the evening. She's sick and needed someone to replace her at the tuition centre. And she wanted to know if I could help her.

At first, I was kind of reluctant. Cause I don't know what to expect. Don't know what to do in a tuition.

Then again, I thought since I was so free, might as well go down and give her a hand. So I agreed. But even as I agreed, I was wondering and imagining what kind of a scene I could expect."

Hmm, perhaps I can give tuition to earn some extra cash next time?

3. My Greatest Secret
6 February 2005, Sunday

"On Thursday, I was at my computer, reading through a couple of blogs. Then my greatest fear struck me. I heard this weird yet familiar sound. It was the sound of a cockroach flying and landing. Yes, the stupid little monster landed on my bookshelf and was making its way up to the top.

So the smart KwokSiong decided to grab a stack of newspapers and bundled it up like a rod. And then I started to hit the stupid cockroach. But, the cockroach flew. And for a moment, I ran."

Actually, I haven't quite master that fear. Shh. Don't tell anybody okay?

4. One Day Before Enlistment
10 March 2005, Thursday

"Having seen so many of my friends going into the army before, I really wonder what they do one day before enlistment. Do they stay at home and sleep? Or do they go out and paint the town red? Or do they spend it with their family, doing the things they like?

So when it came to this fateful day of 10 March 2005, this question got its answer. Actually I wanted to keep this day free, so that I could rest at home and do what I want. Like sleeping, blogging and watching television. But that was not to be."

Looking back, I can't help but laugh at myself for being so silly. After all, it was only two years of slavery.

5. Juventus Bows Out
16 April 2005, Saturday

"I can still remember that scene in the class that day, when Su Peng predicted a 5-nil victory of Juventus over Liverpool. But that was not to be. Haha. I'm so so proud of Liverpool. And whatever the result is against Chelsea, I'll forever be proud of Liverpool."

Forever proud of Liverpool? Indeed, they'll never walk alone!

6. SMU? Or NTU?
30 April 2005, Saturday

"Now I really wonder which course should I go for? Should I go for the SMU one? Or should I go for the NTU one? And by the way, I'm still waiting for a reply from NUS."

For the record, my final decision was SMU's Business Management. Many people told me it's going to be tough, but then again, I will survive!

7. Grenade In The Ditch!
28 May 2005, Saturday

"On Wednesday 25 May 2005, we had our handgrenade live throw. It was a pretty wonderful experience for all of us as it was our first time doing such an exciting and yet scary thing. And most probably our last live throw unless, of course, some country decides to attack Singapore and we are activated."

This is no doubt one of the more memorable events. Mind you, I was throwing a live grenade!

8. Campioni Liverpool
28 May 2005, Saturday

"It was, by no way, an easy battle. After conceding an early goal for Maldini, Liverpool was left wondering how many goals they would be beaten by. Especially when they were 3 nil down at half time. Even the most sincere and devoted Liverpool fan would have wondered what the hell went wrong.

But no. Kudos to Benitez for shaping his team, and shaping his team well. After the half-time talk, the Reds emerged stronger than before. In a brief six minutes spell, Milan's 3 goal advantage was gone. It was gone."

Five-times European Champions! No wonder I love Liverpool!

9. Training To Be Soldiers
8 June 2005, Wednesday

POP loh!

10. Six Months Down
11 September 2005, Sunday

"Six months down, eighteen more to go."

Time flies? Or do they?

11. Public Speaking
27 October 2005, Thursday

"Just yesterday, PC dropped a bombshell on me and gave me a great shock when he told me that I was selected to represent my course, and deliver a course reflection. My initial reaction was "You must be kidding, PC! Are you sure you want me to do it?"

But reality began to sink in, and soon I embarked on something I've never done in my life. Write a speech and deliver it."

Tell you a secret okay. I just found out a paragraph of the speech was published in the Lion's Roar. Haha.

12. On Straws And Needles
26 November 2005, Saturday

"Without any doubt, the highlight of our course has got to be the live intravenous infusion that we had to do on our buddies. And of course, our buddies had to do their live infusion on us as well.

It was no joke, and many of us were fearful and worried about what to expect. Seeing the instructor medic performing the infusion on the dummy arm alone was enough to send shivers down our spines. And for us to perform the infusion was too much a task to ask of us. Then the bad news was this: If the initial pierce was not good enough, we would have to pierce again."

It wasn't the pain that we were afraid of. Rather, it was the lack of confidence on our part that were our greatest enemy.

13. Meaningless Routines
15 December 2005, Thursday

"The dumb thing was that we had to be prepared at all times of the day in the event of a turnout, meaning that we had to be on standby, not knowing when we had to fall in. Our only indication was the alarm, nothing else. When the alarm rings, everyone of us would have to rush down the stairs, and form up at the centre of the parade square and lay out the items. This means that we could not even rest peacefully in our bunks, and have to be on the lookout at all times."

Now, we have officially turned operational. Alas!

14. Thanks For The Gift, Santa
30 December 2005, Friday

"No words could express my sincere and heartfelt gratitude to you, and your gift for me this festive season. You answered my Christmas wish in the best way possible. For that, I'm eternally grateful."

How about another holiday, Santa?

15. New Year's Eve
31 December 2005, Saturday

A million other bloggers are doing their reflections as well as new year resolutions. Here are some interesting ones:

A Gonzo Journal

Asking For The Sky

When Zhe Bin Can Be Interesting. Sometimes.

Ahdokboy

To conclude the year 2005, let us hear the words of the wise one.

"Life in itself is already very difficult. No point making your life more difficult. Appreciate life whenever you can." - KS

Have a blessed 2006.

Thanks For The Gift, Santa

2005-12-30T17:42:00.000+08:00

Dear Santa,

No words could express my sincere and heartfelt gratitude to you, and your gift for me this festive season. You answered my Christmas wish in the best way possible. For that, I'm eternally grateful.

Instead of granting my wish of phones, iPods and whatever else I asked for, you gave me a trip up to Hong Kong with my family. Along with that trip, I managed to spend some quality time with my family, something that I haven't really been doing since I was enlisted into national slavery. Once again, thank you very much!

The trip to Hong Kong was great no less, and there is this burning desire in my heart to share with you what happened over the five days there. Visit me some time soon! Meanwhile, I have attached some photographs for your viewing pleasure.

The street near our hotel

From another angle

Night view from the Victoria Peak

View from the Repulse Bay Beach

Leaving my mark

The fishing village

Floating restaurant Jumbo

Ocean Park's Cable Cars

One of the rides

The show

USA Main Street, Disneyland

Tomorrowland, Disneyland

Magnificent fireworks

One last shot before we head home

Well, I certainly hope you enjoyed viewing the pictures as much as I enjoyed myself there. Santa, you've been wonderful this festive season, and I really love you! Hope to hear from you soon!

In the mean time, have a belated Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays!

Your Loyal Supporter,
KS

Away For Christmas

2005-12-24T17:11:00.000+08:00

Heading to Hong Kong tomorrow.

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

And check this out: 12 Days of Christmas.

The Week Before Christmas

2005-12-18T19:33:00.000+08:00