Saturday, December 29, 2007
♥ 12:16 am
Freak this holiday has been fast.
it's seemed such a long time since i stepped out of the cold, freezing exam hall. my head flooded with worries about Maths P3. then i realised
shit i'm done.
it's scary, this new year. A year of uncertainties, a year of a new and changed routine, from the one i've been used to for 12 years. (Jan go to school, slack till apr, mug for mids, slack till sept, mug for finals, repeat)
Now it's BMT,army talk for 2 years. We'll bore everyone but ourselves...
no more textbooks, now it's SAR manuals. no more white and blue, now it's no. 4's.
well well. we've always been talking about moving on, moving to a new environment, a new situation.
But as i come to the doormat, i hesitate.
is this what i want?
unfortunately, i can't turn back time (or i'll vanish due to the theory of relativity... haha). so forward into the tunnel we go, with our faith in Christ our lamp...
haha it's 29th Dec! 2008 approaches. Need a good place to go party or something..
and mr kd, please, it's a chance to get out of the army routine, and you want to continue with it when you book out. oh come on..
haha...
Labels: Memories
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
♥ 1:18 pm
The ladies i know have a common weakness...
duty-free shopping
coach.burberry.ralph lauren.etc etc
well well..
ok its good that HK airport has free WiFi. it's so much easier to sign in that in Singapore
well so Christmas is over, and my holiday has passed! Looking forward to new year's (but not results! haha)
cheers!
Labels: Holidays
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
♥ 10:56 am
merry Christmas to all....
going back to sunny singapore tmr.. back to humidity
Monday, December 24, 2007
♥ 12:17 am
The time now is 0019, 241207
it has been a long time since i've been to Hong Kong, but this trip has taken many detours.
In this past week, i've realised the vastness, and the uniqueness of the vast Chinese Diaspora that spans across the globe. In a radius of 500 miles, we can observe 4 different types.
1) Chinese originating here: 中華民國（台灣省）
(For those who can't be bothered to find out, this translates to the Republic of China (Province of Taiwan))
Ironically, (and politically acceptable to the authorities across the strait), the government (in-exile) in Taipei claims sovereignty over all of China, as well as Mongolia, and parts of Russia, India etc. To that effect, the banknotes, although called by everyone as 台幣, states that the central bank originates for Nanjing.
The people here are quite unique in a way. firstly, their calendar doesn't say 2007, it says 96. To the uninformed (me included when i arrived), that means 中華民國 96 年, in which year one is 1912 (after the founding of the Republic in Mainland China).
Secondly, the accent is much clearer, less foggy and more friendly and delicate as compared to their neighbours to the west. When they say, for example, welcome, you can feel their warmth, albeit their slight over-expression of the 'cute-cute' expression (haha i know that's quite hard to say)
Unlike most Chinese, Taiwanese have not hatred for the Japanese up to the North. Occupied by Japan for 50 years till 1945, Japanese culture and infrastructure dominates Taiwan, and Taipei especially. Taiwanese fashion is closely modeled on Japanese fashions, and the stream of Japanese businesses and tourists fuels their economy. Heck, Takeshi Kanishiro is half Taiwanese, and grew up speaking Chinese.
Their society also contradicts itself in some ways. Although their buildings are awfully crammed, and their traffic shows a distinct lack of co-ordination, their citizens show a extremely high level of education and all-rounded civic education. In subway stations, they queue neatly in a line beside the door, not like in HK or Singapore in which everyone crams. Travelling the escalator is orderly, as those who want to ride along stand to the right, letting those in a hurry to move along. All bins (despite the lack of them) are recycling bins, and recycling is a major part of city life. Even in McDonalds, there are labels telling customers whether their burger boxes are recyclable, etc.
Freedom of speech is also respected. Apparently, you can say anything you want, just warn the intended party before hand.
Taiwan has given me a good impression, the people are a refreshing change, and their food is excellent. But i wouldn't go back to anywhere else but Taipei (and maybe Kaoshiung). The tour has given me a bad taste in the mouth.
2) People from 澳門特別行政區，中華人民共和國.
Holy crap, Portuguese egg tarts rock.
Firstly, you can't tell a Macauese (or whatever they're called). Macau is full of Mainland, HK, tourists.
From the looks of it, their life is quiet and relaxed. They reap the benefits of the casinos being operated. But they refuse to let the gambling corrupt their own culture. If only Singaporeans can resist gambling.
The place seems safe, but the generally relaxed pace of Macau completely differs from their neighbours up the Pearl Delta. However, i don't think it's a great place to live. The place seems too sleazy, with lap dances mixing with casinos. The only exception i saw was in the Venetian (which is one hell of a place.)
3) People from 香港特別行政區，中華人民共和國.
The most similar to us. No wonder we two are so closely compared.
Similarities include:
English-speaking, Loads of food, Packed with people, good shopping, the list goes on.
No where in the world, can you find a country in which across a river, people exonerate the greatness of a political entity (no prizes for guessing which one..), and on the other side, people protest like hell against it.
But HK is freaking too packed. Today, i think i saw like 100,000 Indon and Pinoy maids gathered around my hotel, having a picnic. The whole of Causeway Bay was packed with people.
But, all the more, that makes them like us Singaporeans.
and of course, there are the mainlanders from the mainland.
it's ironic that a pirated DVD store in Shenzhen can openly display a warning telling people not to buy 'DVDs sold from the roadside', as they are 'poor quality and they using the fake money'
talk about the pot calling the kettle black.
Shenzhen is a great example of China's growth. Many high-rise buildings, many designer stores. Yet at the same time, an equal number of fake stores, combined with a horrible air quality, and quite a mess of a traffic.
However, go anywhere in Greater China, there they are.
(With the exception of Taiwan, of course they're not allowed there).
China is indeed a weird place.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
♥ 7:10 pm
Tomorrow will mark 9 days in Taiwan, including 4 in Taipei.
notes from an isolated (politically), but not in anything else, island..
1) Taiwan isn't that big, but bus rides can seem an eternity, going up and down those mountains.
2) There is a difference between Mainland Chinese, Taiwanese Chinese, Singaporean Chinese, Malaysian Chinese, HK Chinese, etc.
3) Do not call Taiwanese Chinese, they are '台湾人'
4) Taiwanese seem to have a comment for anything and everything. 100% more friendly than Mainlanders.
5) TAIWANESE OVERDOSE OF TV!!! ARGHH!!
6) Food is good, arranged food at 'tourist restaurants' are rubbish
7) Taipei, one of the best cities for shopping in Asia. (Better than any Mainland city)
8) In Singapore we have 4 languages in MRT announcements, so do Taiwanese (Chinese, Hokkien, Hakka, English)
9) Please seperate your trash into recyclable stuff and non. (Even in Macs)
10) Please line up on the right of escalators, and on the right of the door at 'jie-yun' (MRT) stations. 捷运 just seems so much nicer than 地铁.
11) Taiwanese politicians all wear weird vests with their name and party insignia, all with pumped-fists actions trying to win votes.
12) There is a real lack of souvenir shops here in Taiwan, but an excess of women's fashion shops, and shoe shops. A pair of Onitsuka Tiger (by Asics) for NT990. Damn cheap man.
13) For every 'lah' Singaporeans use, Taiwanese says 'awwww' and elongate their last word..
ok i'm going for dinner now, last night in taipei, but i've walked everywhere and i'm tired from the first run/gym in ages.
haha lucky guys got 2 big and 1 small pub hol before 1/1.
Labels: Holidays, NS
Saturday, December 15, 2007
♥ 10:01 pm
I love this hotel!
so i've been in taiwan for 4 days. been to a hell lot of different cities...
taoyuan.yehliu.chiufen.hualien.taitung.kaohsiung.tainan
haven't even got into taipei yet, oh well...
so far, the arranged meals (i.e breakfast, lunch and dinner) have been better than OEP food, but not anywhere near the great and excellent food sold in every taiwanese night market or food centre...
and i've just realised that taiwan loves their japanese food/designs etc.
nippon-go!
well driving up and down, and up the mountains is not a very pleasant thing, especially when you are going at 40kmh..
it's boring and slow in equal measure...
and iPod batteries can last only one day under intense usage..
haha will blog more when i reach Fullerton Taipei, where there is internet!
sayonara..
Labels: Holidays
Friday, December 14, 2007
♥ 10:02 pm
It's interesting that i'm now using a computer which internet runs on NT10 coins..
haha so i'll be fast..
so far it's been long distance bus rides, not very good food, but ok scenery and fun
i'm going to eat my fill in Taipei and HK
haha to all those going in tmr, good luck!
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
♥ 6:58 am
Ok it's boring at 6.58am at the 24-hr Food Market.
Food is either chao ex, or too light to fill my empty stomach..
well i'm off! hope to have a good time...
Labels: Holidays
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
♥ 1:40 am
anyone knows of a good non-camera handphone?
haha for obvious reasons...
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
♥ 1:43 am
I think i'm getting more and more emo, as christmas draws near, and as 16/12/07 draws near.
So at 1.45am, waiting for Man U v Fulham to begin in 2 hrs, hoping that Tevez and Rooney kick the lights out of Mr Sanchez's team, i think of things gone by. memories still fresh, but painful every time i dip into my pensive.
so i listen to this song. i think music portrays the feelings of men the best. so go figure.
Augustana - Boston
(piano solo. just learnt how to play that part)
In the light of the sun,
Is there anyone? Oh it has begun.
Oh dear, you look so lost
Eyes are red, tears are shed
This world you must have crossed.
You said
You don't know me, and you don't even care
Oh yeah
She said
You don't know me, and you don't wear my chains
Oh yeah
Essential yet appealed,
Carry all your thoughts
Across an open field,
When flowers gaze at you,
They're not the only ones
Who cry when they see you
They say
You don't know me, and you don't even care.
Oh yeah
She said
You don't know me, and you don't wear my chains,
Oh yeah
She said I think I'll go to Boston. I think I'll start a new life. I think I'll start it over, where no one knows my name. I'll get out of California, I'm tired of the weather, I think I'll get a lover and fly 'em out to Spain. I think I'll go to Boston. I think that I'm just tired. I think I need a new town, to leave this all behind. I think I need a sunrise, I'm tired of Sunset, I hear it's nice in the summer, some snow would be nice, oh yeah.
You don't know me, And you don't even care, oh yeah, Boston, where no one knows my name Where no one knows my name Where no one knows my name Boston, where no one knows my name.
Je t'aime. et j'espère que vous savez
Sunday, December 02, 2007
♥ 12:24 am
It's December already!
the last month, number 12 of 12, the last 31 days of the year MMVII
and what a fast paced year it has been!
but not without regrets and all.
It really should not be like that. One failure doesn't mean permanent disaster. But the way it can take away your confidence, or make you too enthusiastic and willing to put caution to the wind.
(as i'm trying to piece together what i'm going to say, David Bentley has just scored a beauty for Blackburn against Newcastle)
but i don't know how and don't know why.
meeting the band people ytd was weird. never really connected with anyone of them except two, and one was in japan. Trying to talk to one only would give the wrong impression.
on a completely irrelevant sidenote, i should start learning how to drive.
see that's me. i'm random, i don't really concentrate on one thing, i employ a stream-of-consciousness kind of writing. i must be roddy doyle.
Labels: English A1, Relationships
