happy happy birthday!

3 birthdays in a day. 2 celebrations to attend.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COLLIN, ZHEN and AZLAN!!!

Off to the 2nd round of celebration..

Will be back with photos (as usual). Wink*

nus: bidding and email.

Woke up early this morning to beat the crowd, getting ready to bid for Round 3A - GE modules!! - only to realise Round 3A starts on 1 August. Bah.

Bidding's so far been smooth. Got 3 of my modules at 1 point and another at 101 points, which is not alot. Just gonna show hand for my last module and pray hard I get it. And if nothing goes wrong, I shall get my 3 days week for this sem. Yippeee!!

(Hate to bid for GEM, where did all these people get their points from? Pfft.)

I hadn't been checking my NUSmail for a long time. Here's evidence:

(Click for larger image)

If the dear system administration stopped sending me your-mailbox-is-over-the-size-limit emails with every other email that comes along, maybe I wouldn't exceed my quota that soon. I have like 30 of those emails.

HELLOO!!?? WAKE UP YOUR IDEA.

(cue: echo)

Whatever.

new skin, new beginning.

NEW SKIN!!!

Outta StarHub, new beginning.

This time it only took me 4 hours to come up with this. I am getting better at this. *Grins. Then again, with a very good skin like this, all I have to do is some (minimal) tweaking to call it my own.

My hols barely begun. Hell, I am enjoying it to bits.

Cuppage: Thank you for the friendships.

I woke up this morning overcome with mild sadness. Instead of frantically rushing to work like I always do, intstead of dreading that tomorrow I'll have to work and thus gonna make full use of the off day today, I lie on my bed feeling rather aimless. All that despite the fact i have many events lined up for the next one week or so before my Year #2 starts in NUS which is enough to keep me busy - bbq, chalet, birthdays, driving lessons.

It's always sad to say goodbye.

As we stepped out of the KTV room the perms have arranged because Adrian, Daniel and Thersa are leaving as of next monday (coincidentally the four of us are leaving also), it felt pretty nostalgic. That familiar feeling which overwhelms you when it's time to say goodbye - separating from the tour group, leaving the band, leaving a school, leaving 26/02. As if we understand this might possibly be the last time we all gather here today, the last time we talk with ease like we are today.

Bah. I am making myself feel depressed by saying all the above. But as I say goodbye, I skimmed through the faces in the room - some I have gratitude for, some really nice people, some funny characters, some I dread - I realise the feeling i had is the same for all. I miss them. It's them who make Cuppage, Cuppage.

Conclusion

Human beings are such weird things. When you have it, you dread every moment of it, wanting out asap. When it is finally over, you secretly wish to have that experience all over again. What did I always say about treauring what you have now?

In any way, I have no regrets. The memories I got from this is as good as it last.

Remember our promise to always arrange the next meeting when we say goodbye SEEYA!!!

Super FF4.

I love them.. And all the crazy things we do.

Accompanied Xiang to Spotlight to look for lace and this is what happened:

Tropical babes. Woohoo~

Pink angel. Purple angel. White angel.

Poof. Godsent. 3 pink angels.

(Pardon the price tag. Bwah.)

Hats!!
Classy. Wild. Country.

Lovely bunches. Guess which's whose?

(answer - clockwise from top: xiang's, yiyi's, mine)

.. And all things stupid.

At the end of the day, we strive to look demure and honey-suckly sweet.

And because Dorcas is off today and missed this narcissim moment of ours, here's a piece of the hottest babe in town.

SUPER FF4.
We love our ***.

250th entry.

ilurvetoshop.blogspot.com - 250th entry.

According to my dashboard, this will be my 250th entry. I wonder how many of you followed through all my 250 mindless doodles, incessant whinings and emotional rides (oh oh.. and my many photo-whoring sessions).

Anyway, if you are still with me every now and then, I say Thank You.

3 days ago, I received an email from this person who happened to see me on my way to work. Apparently he reads this blog and recognises me. Although he didn't approach me (which I'll probably freak out and run away), it feels kind of weird to have someone drop you an email like that.

The point is while I always try to convince myself only people in my immediate community reads what I write here, it isn't really the case, evident from people I don't really know asking Collin if we are okay (the previous squabbles) and this. I still think blogging is a public yet private affair, but it doesn't stop me from blogging about personal issues.

Zonghan once said, "Blogging is a self glorification process."

I don't know how the existence of this blog glorifies me. In fact, blogging makes me feel I got really bad english and limited vocabulary. Ok.. That's aside the point.

I guess in this bloggersphere, consciously or not, we reveal a portion of ourselves which we want people to see. Some of us more truthful, some tend to be more fictitious. For me, this blog's a outlet for pent up frustrations, a shout-out space for those words i never say to the ones I really treasure, a channel for you guys to update yourselves about my life (and possibly a rich source for your bitching sessions), a place to manifest my love for myself (bwah)... In a way, it marks my growth.

From a blogder's point of view, following a blog makes one feel as if he/she is able to relate to the blogger's emotions, even if it is someone you don't know. At least that's how I feel and I marvel at how it makes someone so strange(r) feels so close, as if you are knowing the person at a personal level. You watch that stranger grow.

Maybe this explains the draw of blogging and reading blogs.

(I don't like to tell people how they should think, but I can tell you how you can think. We shouldn't undermine how people choose to lead their lives. I won't argue with you 'cause I'll be undermining how you think life should be lead, right? I think we can all try to be more receptive.)

If you don't understand what I have been saying, it's ok. Just some random thoughts which I hadn't make complete sense outta as yet.

Some updates:

The possibility is there that I MIGHT GO BANGKOK AGAIN!!! with the Starhub babes in mid-August (?). That's Xiang, Dorkie and Yiyi. Right now, we are frantically trying to slot a weekend getaway (so that we can go Chatuchak, or how ever it is spelt). We are so desperate the current plan is to leave on a Friday evening (after Yiyi and my afternoon lessons) and come back on Monday morning (before Yiyi's afternoon lessons). I just hope Yiyi can convince his pop 'cause we ain't going if it's not all the four of us. Our motto: Leave no one behind. =)

To my SUPER FF4 (or ZZ4 if you like --> pack trolleys quick! wahahahaha), please pray we can go, get the cheapest and relatively okay airline and hotel and shop till we really drop (like how the emoticon would, right xiang?). *Squeeze my eyes tight and pray doubly hard.. mumbles on*

I survived 5 consecutive days of hubbing with my spirits high mostly. Maybe 'cause the end is indeed NEAR (my last day is on the 28h). Or that I might really love hubbing, which I don't think so. But I do love my babes and some of the people there are really nice. We kind of rule the place now, like how we do in Tampines. We sing and shout at each other and dance and do all sorts of unglam stuff (like Dorcas and her swearing, clutching boobs and squeezing butts), regardless how the rest think of us. And it's pretty much the same - our boisterousness finds no company. Maybe 'cept for Sam who is a joker himself and Irene who is really corny and quirky.

What we loveeee to do at work:

Irene's baby is due on 1st Nov. We love to touch her tummy, waiting for dear Ernest (whom we affectionately name him KuKuJiao) to do a little kick.

Introducing our 2nd pastime - gobbling up all the snacks and tidbits in the pantry.

Me and Yiyi - from the prestigious SuperFF4 (NUS).
(Don't pangsei MKT hokay!! I tell ya'!)

So I decided Xiang and Dork, you guys be the SuperFF4 (SMU) such that we sound like those major corporations that have many little branches though it is still the four of us. I think we are so crappy. Omg.. Out.

(See that white tee we are wearing. We fought hard to wear it. So proud of ourselves..)

Retrospection: Childhood.

It's probably narcisstic to be putting up this entry. But heck! Since I said I will put up my childhood pictures and whilst looking for my primary school photos, more childhood photos popped up than I have expected.

Where did I stop? Ooh.. I mention I think I am irresistably cute. Bwah. But like every swan, I was an ugly duckling.

If you think I am the one on the left with the most adorable bo-gay smile, you are wrong. That's Mei. I am the one on the right, unglamly chewing on some paper mask, sitting on the sofa pretty much like a lump of.. shit (?). Haha. I really look like a boy.

My aunt (with her very retro looking specs) and me with the '80s signature pose - poke your finger really hard into your chubby little cheeks so the whole world can know how much excess fats you have on your cheeks.

One word - Bloated.

I've always been a scaredy cat. I remember crying like hell 'cause I was damn afraid of those plaster figurines.

TADAH!!

I began to look better and less boyish as I grow older. A photo I really like of my brother and I. I think we were at Butterfly Park or something.

My sister kinda ballooned during this period. Haha. Btw, she is a SIA flight stewardess now - tall and slim. Lala~ Collin likes this photo the best. Dunno why.

My poppi, yet another aunt (centre), my mommi and the 3 of us.

Ronald Macdonald's copying me!! Haha.. I love to pose. Absolutely adore.

If you think I only love to snap photos now, ya majorly WRONG. Such narcissism predates the (current) beloved Casio cammie days.

The two person I'll always love and respect - My (late) granny and my auntie who took care of me before I left for kindergarten.

This photo basically sums up who I grew up with. =)

-Bi, Shan, Mei, Zhen, me and Bernard-
I had the time of my life. Real glad.

Magdalene Kindergarten where birthday boy/girl gets to wear home clothes on their birthdays. Remember in kindergarten, we are to hold hand with a partner, often one of opposite sex? The guy on the extreme right was my partner... And I really treated him like he's mine! Wahaha.

Possibly the last shot we had together - Taken on our graduation ceremony. Look how unwilling he seemed to look here. But I was really bad like I will pull his ear and make him play with me during our playtime. (Watch too much SBC shows. Bwah.) If I don't remember wrongly, his name is Samuel. (You know what, I am really sorry. Hope I hadn't cause you any phobia of girls/women. Urps.)

To prove that I wasn't at all fierce and undesirable, there is this guy (4th guy from right) who actually like me and ask me one fine day, if I would go computer lessons with him. I don't know why I remember this or if it is a fragment of my imagination.. Haha. Sadly, I don't remember his name.

I am the one in red with 2 red ribbons on my shoulder. Taken on the 1st day of kindergarten. =)

Anyway, you seen the primary school photos. So I guess after kindergarten, I stopped being irresistably cute and regressed into what I look like today. Boohoo.. (Grabs my bottle of Olay Total Effects - anti ageing it says - and slathers excessively all over.)

Fairy tales always tell you .. and they live happily ever after. It's FALLACY I tell you. You were an ugly duckling, then you became a swan. One fine day, you zapped back to being an ugly duckling, and a doubly ugly one that is. Sigh.

At least, I was once cute. Irresistably. Haha. (Did I warn you my skin is damn thick? Urps.. Now you know.)

Chilhood pics up next.

Does everyone think they are irresistably cute when they are young?

'Fess up.. I'm sure 99% of you do.

Since I'm at it, I decided to post my younger days' photos as well. But not now, gonna go prepare to meet the boyfriend.

Btw, I do think I am irresistably cute when I am young. Lalala~

Retrospection: Canossa Convent Primary School.

3 days ago, I finally caught up with an old old friend of mine. Cheryl Tee I remember, think we were classmates in primary 5 and 6. But because CCPS (Canossa Convent Primary School for your info) is such a small school, we had 4 classes of about 40 students each in my cohort, everyone knows everyone.

This school is so little known, I have my own little piece to recite when people ask about my primary school. It goes..

You know SAC (St Anthony's Convent)? *yes/no
We are affiliated to it, together with St Anthony's Primary School.

If you say no to the 1st question, I'll probably not be bothered with feeding you with the 2nd sentence. Then again, this little piece of info ain't too helpful in letting you know more about my primary school anyway. I guess it's just my way of telling you my school's not any ulu pandan primary school.

Fact is it probably is. Fwah. But I embrace its ulu pandan-ness. It is where I learn and accustom to sitting at the edge of chairs and with my back straight. It is also where I learn to be prim and proper and highly naive/innocent until TKSS come along but that's another story all together.

Anyway, I've digressed. Back to the chat i had after Cheryl found me through friendster and we managed to exchange contacts. (We are having a primary school gathering at Sentosa in Sept 04, 2005. CCPS people! Please come!!) And she brought many good old memories I left behind over these years. A good 8 years ago.

She told me things i never remember about myself, like I was a smart gal since a lil gal and i was the very sporty type who will everytime self-volunteer to be PE rep. I was, according to her, a very happy-go-lucky...always running ard and were a maths pro then who taught me (her) maths till u (I'm) fed up.

All I can manage is a oohh.. haha... or is it? omg.. that's embarrassing. At one point, i blurted "oh dear.. u noe wat? my memory really fails me. i have very lil memory of the past.. pri sch days.. all the lil details." And it's true. Sometimes I wonder whats wrong with me, either I have a pea-sized brain or my mind is cluttered with too many unnecessary things.

Anyway, in an effort to recall my failing (sigh) memory, I went to dig for photos and I really meant I had to DIG for them. (cue: breathes heavily)

1st and foremost, the photo in my primary school record book - Tadah!

I had really thick bangs until I was about primary 4 and my mum's the hairstylist throughout this period. Haha. Our hair are not supposed to touch the collar so I must have look pretty much the same in that 4 years. Only ballarinas get to keep long hair in my school - Gosh! Stupid girls' school rules.

This is my primary 2 class photo.

Spot my bangs? Haha.

My 1st performance in school. The lyrics goes: pretty little baby. yeah yeah. pretty little baby. yeah yeah. pretty little lady, i'm so in love with you.

We went through rather "rigorous" selection, among all 4 classes. Haha. I remember being rather proud to be in it. I'm in yellow tube in the last row - still pretty much a slouchy girl then (eeks).

My primary 3 or 4 class photo.

It's Teachers' Day and we really shower our teachers with presents every year without fail.

It's bestie Mandy's birhday. (3rd girl from the left) Remember her to be really smart and loves to read. Sad though we kinda lose contact after leaving primary school. Fact is I never really remain in contact with my primary school friends after graduation.

I am at the pinnacle of thinness at this time if I don't recall wrongly. So much so my mum feeds me with a brown powder that claims to be able to increase appetite. Maybe it works - 'cause I love to EAT now.

I am kinda sad when i see this photo. It's my primary 6 class photo. In those days, no one informs you that there will be photo taking the next day so Elaine, Xueli and I so happened to miss school that day. Bah* I guess we probably pon school together.

Juvine's birthday.

My hair. Still as short ('cause can't touch collar) but I have long fringe now. Still i get into trouble with the really fierce looking discipline mistress (Cheryl reminded me she always have red nose. wahaha~) for not pinning my fringe up.

Some good friends of mine.

Just some pics - there are many more good friends I had in all that 6 years. Just that we didn't have digital camera back then and we don't take photos alot unless there's an excursion or something. Haha.

Possibly one of the very last photo we took to round up our primary school life. Many people were there that day when Jaime held a celebration at her house which is directly opposite our school.

I can't wait to see these people on Sept 04. Please come, peepx. =)

My Great Pooh. =)

That day when we quarrelled, Collin got me a Pooh bear to make up for his misdeed. Of course I didn't buy it. This will be what people call bribery. Hmph.

I hated the stupid wide grin it has on its face permanently and it is practically weighing on me. Not convince?

Lala~ See how big it is. It occupies one eight of my bed when sitting up and one fourth when it decides to lie down. FFFAT!!! Pfft..

Now that I am appeased.. Whee!! We love taking photos together. La Lah Dum Da Dum~ Muak!!

HUGS* We love each other alot now!!

So Collin and I are okay now. Please don't ask either of us what happened 'cause it's over. If we want, we will tell you.

Thank you.

the storm is over. almost.

One moment my arms are around him. The next moment, I shove his arms off me and wanted to strangle him to death. While my mood fluctuates between being forgiving and anger, I settled for the former eventually. It is always easier to forgive and I know with my dory-like memory, I will soon forget.

In the 1st place, I want to forget since I have chosen to let it go. There is no point really in holding any grudges against him. It is a stupid thing to lie about and I suppose he realise his folly.

Am I being soft hearted, you ask? I am only being rational and practical about the situation. Afterall, what done cannot be undone.

Like I said, I ain't angry with the incident itself. I am angry 'cause he had to lie to me for something as minor as this. I was so angry I felt like crying (I did shed a tear or two), mixed with utmost disappointment and sadness that this has to happen.

Thank youuu Dorcas 'da BOMB for being there to comfort me. The guilty one, in his bid to be honest with me, told me what you did. (He did ask me not to tell you. Wahaha. Nvm. Now there is no secrets.) And I appreciate it, even though I asked you NOT to! Haha. I still love you for this. I shall keep in mind - INTENTION!! *smile. Of 'cause, thankies to Xiang and Daniel for their listening ears. And those SMSes and tags I received - A big thank you really.

A few msged me and asked me not to give up 'cause we've been through so much after all. I think it is not the number of storms we braved that determines our togetherness. Neither is it determine by the length of the relationship. We are together simply because we still have love for each other.

Should we not be together one day, I hope to look back and see this as a meaningful experience. I mean how many people get to spend such large amount of quality time with another in a lifetime.

As we lie in each other's arms, I said just hope it wouldn't hurt so much. He nods.

I think we are moving on the right track.

Anything more, it's called a pleasant surprise.

hurting.

doubts. deceit. anger. lies. excuses. reasons. doubts. anger. disappointment. sadness. truth. forgiving. anger. confusion. doubts. more doubts.

that's too much emotional roller coaster to take in one day. i don't know how we go on from here..

the storm is over. the scars remain.

......................

FACT IS YOU FREAKING LIE TO ME. AND I DON'T CARE WHY YOU HAD TO LIE TO ME 'CAUSE THE POINT IS YOU DID. AND YOUR VERY 1ST INSTINCT WAS TO KEEP IT FROM ME (DON'T YOU DARE DENY THIS). SHALL I SAY IF I NEVER HAD FIND OUT, YOU WILL KEEP ME IN THE DARK. IN THE 1ST PLACE, I NEVER MEANT TO PROBE - IT WAS ALL BY CHANCE. AND IT SUCKS BIG TIME I HAVE TO FIND OUT THIS WAY. NOTHING MAY HAVE HAPPENED BUT BY NOT BEING HONEST ABOUT IT, WHAT ARE YOU GUILTY OF? WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO HIDE? YOU THINK YOU DID IT TO SAVE ME FROM THINKING TOO MUCH. WHY DON'T YOU SAY YOU DID IT TO SAVE YOURSELF THE TROUBLE OF EXPLAINING. I AM ANGRY 'CAUSE YOU ASSUME I WILL OVER THINK THE SITUATION. I AM ANGERED FURTHER BY THE FACT YOU CHOOSE TO KEEP ME IN THE DARK RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING. 'CAUSE IN THE 1ST PLACE, IF YOU WERE HAVE TOLD ME WHO KNOWS I WILL BE OK WITH IT. NOT AS IF YOU DID SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO HIDE. WHAT DO I HAVE AGAINST A HI? OR MAYBE YOU HAD TO HIDE COS THERE WAS MORE. SEE? I AM MAKING GUESSES. 'CAUSE RIGHT NOW YOU ARE MAKING ME FEEL YOU PROLLY HADN'T BEEN HONEST AT ALL. FACT IS I AM OKAY IF YOU TOLD ME THE TRUTH. I WILL BE OKAY 'CAUSE I WILL BELIEVE WHAT YOU TOLD ME, AND I TRUSTED YOU (YOU WANTED ME TO TRUST YOU BUT YOU AIN'T BEING HONEST. WHAT IRONY.). I AM NOT UNHAPPY WITH THE SITUATION ITSELF. (SWEAR MY BLOODY HEART OUT. DON'T ASSUME I WILL.) IN FACT I BELIEVE WHAT YOU SAID TO ME JUST NOW AND I AM NOT OVER THINKING THE SITUATION. WHAT I AM INDIGNANT ABOUT NOW IS THE FACT YOU LIED TO ME. ("NOT SAYING THE RIGHT THING?" PLEASE REPEAT THAT TO URSELF A DOZEN TIMES AND YOU WILL PROLLY START LUFFING AT YOURSELF. YES, IT MEANS YOU ARE LYING.) I AIN'T OK NOW 'CAUSE I WANTED TO TRUST YOU, I WANTED TO GIVE YOU THE BENEFIT OF DOUBT AND YOU FREAKING THROW IT ALL DOWN THE DRAIN. THANKS FOR BREACHING IT ALL 'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO BELIEVE ANYMORE. SO MUCH TALK ABOUT TRUST.. WHEN YOU AIN'T EVEN HONEST ENOUGH. I SAID MY PIECE.

p.s.: i don't mean to rake up the past but when you mentioned you think it is 'nothing' it just reminds me of the Topshop guy incident. i thought it was nothing and i told you and you got angry with me. this time round, you thought it was nothing and you choose not to tell me. wells.. tell me who make a bigger boo boo here. i think i really said enough.

Show me the light.

Today is one of those days I have a dozen thoughts running berserk in my mind. Yet, despite how preoccupied I am with feeling bothered by these dozen issues, I have no idea what exactly is troubling me. (Oh.. the irony.)

I am just not at peace with myself. Feeling utmost dissatisfied with myself when I shouldn't. What did brought a smile to my face was when I thought of the really nice blue skirt I got from M)phosis 2 days back. Pfft.. What have I become?

(Smacks myself hard on the face.)

I bought a book for myself - something worth mentioning since it's been eons that I last do so. The book is Tuesdays with Morrie, under the recommendation of Dorcas 'da babe. Something like an inspiration book that shares the insight to life itself.

(Till this point, I suddenly recall Daniel, my shop manager at Cuppage, saying, "everything is an illusion. You have no life, that's why you need to read about LIFE!!!" Bah* He is really crappy at times. Gosh. Haha.)

Anyway, back to the book. Just wanna share with you guys a few snippets that made me think..

tension of opposites

life is a series of pulls back and forth. You want to do one thing, but you are bound to do something else. Something hurts you, yet you know it shouldn't. You take certain things for granted, even when you know you should never take anything for granted.

A tension of opposites, like a pull on a rubber band. And most of us live somewhere in the middle.

meaning of life

So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devoting yourself to the community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.

Can't wait to finish the book, though I am savouring it bit by bit. I forsee there is much I can learn.. Maybe it can show me life from an unique angle I never imagined.

Like a lost sheep, I hope there is someone or something that can guide me along, or out. Right now, it feels as if I'm grappling with my heart, a heart that's constantly at war with itself.

hub at PS.

I was summoned to work at PS (Plaza Singapura) barely midway through a very slack day at Cuppage resort/garden/hotel/spa/beach/chalet. But because life as a temp is cheap, I can whimper and yammer for all I care as long as I be where I am needed. Wells..

As much as they claimed many people's on MC at PS and they are shorthanded today, I found myself more of a liability since i don't know (where to put my bag/where to sit/how their queue system works/how to operate the photocopier/where the forms are/where to call DHL/where to draw demo phones and sim cards/where the brochures are/who the perms staff were/etc etc).

However, this short stint at PS didn't turn out to be too bad 'cause there are always people in queue and it keeps you busy, there's no time to feel bored really (read: Cuppage). I even spent almost 3 hours serving this customer who needs to do some data transfer from his horrendous Sony Ericsson phone (hate SE's platform). Thank goodness he's pretty okay to talk to.

Met quite alot of people at PS - Fang, Meng, John from my Jap Studies class and Jossie (ex Tampines colleague).

Weird as it may sound (sound ridiculous to me), I actually don't mind seeing him. No rhyme or reason - Just a piece of the past that makes me wonder. It will be good to know he is leading life well now. No romantic feelings or anyhow. Dead sure.

----------------------------------

Sometimes we trap ourselves in the games we play, the rules we set.
While it sucks to have to second guess people's actions and thoughts,
human relationships are never straight forward.
It's the journey we go through that make what we have in the end all the more precious and dear.

Someday we will all look back and muse at the complications we encounter
to attain something so clear, so simple.

Peeps, keep smiling.
There is so much more in store for us - so much more to unravel and for us marvel at life's little moments. Hey, what's so difficult about life anyway?

hubbing and school.

I have been very occupied with my Thailand entry (040705).. So occupied with filling you guys with what I did for that 5 days that I ain't blogging about any other things now. Yawn.. If you ain't getting bored, I am already.

I think i will continue to blog as per normal and try my very best to upload photos for the last 3 days by the end of this week(?). (Ok Sindy babe, i'll try to put up more photos instead of collaging them all.) Then again, how many of you out there are really interested in what i did, where i go and who i was with? Bah* 'Cause frankly speaking, I don't find it too erm.. interesting.

Anyway, updates!

I am back hubbing on Tuesday. Things at work don't seems so bad anymore. Getting away was indeed a wise move. I'll be quitting on the 24th July, ie about 2 more weeks of work. Thereafter, I'll be free as a bird! So feel free to ask me out.. My pleasure. (And yours too. Hee.)

As much as I complained all day long about hubbing, I think I'll still miss these days. This hols will prolly be the last time I'll be working for StarHub since for the following hols, Dorkie, Xiang and Yiyi will be having attachment. No reason for me to go back. (Yes, not even for the money.) A change of environment will be good anyway - perhaps i can find out where my interests really lie which at this moment, i am sure, doesn't lie in StarHub.

SMU. I think I'm appealing, keeping in mind - Don't live in REGRETS. Whether I get it or not in the end, at least I gave it a go and that is more than an answer for me. Either way, I am fine with it 'cause I kind of already found my comfort zone in NUS. The point is getting out of your comfort zone. I am gamed for that. Come what may.. =)

.. loving myself all over again.

Bangkok/Pattaya.. Fly me back pls.

*Day 03 updated.. and more to come. Scroll down to read!

I promised to blog yesterday night but I'm totally burnt out by the time I reached home at 11pm. So I slept.. And woke up at 1:30pm today. Woah! Quality sleep - something I did not have for the last 5 days or so.

Everyday at Thailand, I am sleeping after 12am (latest being 2am) and waking up around 6am, which may sound alright to you, but I definitely need more sleep than that.

First thing first..

Friends (people like Meng esp.. haha), sorry I probably didn't get gifts for you guys 'cause there wasn't much shopping time since, much to my agony/disappointment, my parents signed us up for some package tour. WTHHH...

So if you ain't getting angry with me for not buying you gifts, feel free to read on.. hee.

(Meng.. You reading on? I'm sure you are. fwah.)

Day 01

Nice weather on the way to the airport.. where I'll soon be airborne.

At the departure hall - they have the nicest chairs..

My brother and mommy.

And the most interesting cigarette packings.

On board Valuair.. the miserable lunchbox.

I'm just glad it is warm. We had Carrot Cake.

This is taken from Singapore skies.. Rainbow! Can you see?

My dad.. The overall sponsor of this trip! Hurray*

Artistic impression. Ok.. Narcissism.

Reaching the Land of Smiles..

Meanders.. Woohoo*

The 1st thing that draws me to Bangkok.. Billboards!

And they have so many, it is all over the place. =)

Lobby of our hotel - Narai Hotel.

My brother and I don't seem to look vaguely alike.

After this, it is a mad blur of getting to places and shopping since the 1st day was free and easy. I missed Pratunam, MBK, Siam District and Silom. Sigh. Anyway, I should have gotten the presents on this day, instead of waiting to get it on the last second day (which of 'cause never happened.. read on to find out).

(Click here for a larger view.)
The picture on the top of the pile left a strong impression on me. Little kids who look as young as 3 years old are selling flowers on a flat basket balance on the top of their heads.

Dinner at Chinatown. Me and Momma.

I'm said to look like my mum. We beg to differ.

Slurping 100 Bahts bird nest at Chinatown, that is approximately 4 dollars.

Back at the suite, trying out my new FAKE Hollister tee.

I love it! Regretted only buying one, should have bought at least a dozen. It only costs me a freaking 50 bahts!! A little over S$2. Fly me back to Bangkok, anyone!

Day 02

Because my dad forgotten to adjust his hp's time back by 1 hour, we had a very early breakfast at 7am SGT, that is 6am in Thailand. By the time we realised it, we were all down at the dining area. (Thank goodness breakfast starts at 6am.)

Looking lethargic already but the fab scrambled egg and pancakes Narai serves are enough to perk me up.

The view from my suite.

This day we headed to Pattaya, which is a 2 hours ride away.
En route we visited..

1. A Buddhist temple (whose name i can't recall)..

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We have Singlish. They have Thai-lish.

-_-" Thanks, I think i will stick with Singlish (lah)!

2. The floating market.

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Sucha pretty little thing (taken near the Temple of Dawn).

This is also where I got my 1st garland of flowers (symbolises welcome)..

.. Fed fishes..

.. And got cheated of 100 Bahts for taking 2 shots with some cardboards.

After these 2 shots WITH OUR OWN CAMERA, this woman promptly came up to us pointing at an inconspicuous part of the cardboard (smacked right at the bottom), asking us to pay her 160 Bahts (40 Bahts each). My dad just threw her a hundred and walked away. It is not alot of money but we just felt cheated. I mean where in the world you pay to take photos with freaking cardboards. Well, Thailand that is. Pfft..

3. Next stop.. Leather factory.

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Evil place. I can't help but think of all the animals they must have killed and how the animals were kill. You name it, they probably have it - ostrich, horse tail, crocodile, snake, lamb, ray, elephant and so many more. =(

I visited their toilet and for the 1st time in Bangkok, I see toilet that comes with no flush system. (Reminds me of rural China, which is worse 'cause it is just a hole in the ground.)

4. Leaving the evil place, we visited Sriracha Tiger Zoo!

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What's really interesting here is that tigers, pigs and golden retrievers live together. Tigers are brought up by pigs and vice versa.

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Very heartwarming sight isn't it? =)

The pigs are really cute. They take part in pig racing..

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.. And can do mathematics.

Someone said 6 minus 4, and the pig picked up 2. Who say pigs are stupid?

5. We finally reached Pattaya and went for the famous Alcazar Cabaret Show after dinner. That is the Ah Gua Show if you ain't familiar.

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The performance that impressed me the most!

Bringing out the male and female character solo. Freaking cool*

I was expecting something more big scale, more enticing, less cloth - something like what i see in Moulin Rouge. Fell short of what i expected and it got pretty boring draggy at some parts but overall, it was great! Some of them look so good, they make half the female population ashamed of themselves.

Zero shopping accomplished on the 2nd day, 'cept i got to try out this Thai dessert - mango with glutinous rice. Yummy! Love Thai mangoes!!! Anyway, the hotel (SunBeam Hotel) we stayed in was located at this very sleazy area - somewhat like living in the middle of Geylang. It is an eye opener though!! Outta 10 Caucasians, 9 are hugging on to at least one Thai lady. Can't trust guys really. Wells.. It is sad but sex trade really flourish in Pattaya.

Day 03

Woke up early to set off to Coral Island which is located offshore Pattaya. As the name suggest, it got its name 'cause of clear waters and the presence of corals on its sea bed.

Great weather. Waiting for the boat to fetch us over.

En route Coral Island, my brother and I tried para-sailing!!!
.. I'm on the top of the world looking down on creation
And the only explanation I can find..

It's a great feeling looking down on this Earth. For a moment, I can fly. woah* Divine experience. =)

Finally reached Coral Island. Whee*
Absolutely adore the beach!!

Look! Clear waters!!

According to my momma, it used to be much clearer. Wait till she sees Sentosa.. -_-"

This lil boy in red is so adorable - keep wanting to return to dry land. Fwah.

Bah~ The bumpy ride back. Almost died.
Good thing i was tired enough to fall asleep almost throughout the ride.

More photo-whoring on the way to Nong Nooch Village..

Lalala~ I love my Ovalteenies!

Chheckk outt my new FAKE A&F tee. Whee* Urps.

We got so bored during the bus ride, i forced my brother to do a coupling shot of our faces.

TADAH!

Freaking gross.. Now i am glad we don't look vaguely alike.

Cultural performance at Nong Nooch Village.

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Elephant Show!!! I like!!!

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These elephants play darts, draw, play soccer, play basketball, twirl ribbons, play hula-hoops, bowl, massage and seems to have a huge sense of humour. So cute!!

This chimp looks really sad. =(

Closer view. =(

It wasn't captured but one of its legs is chained to the wall behind.

Info: Nong Nooch Village belongs to the 3rd richest person in Pattaya. Nong Nooch is the name of the woman who established this "village". The whole property has been passed on to the 2nd generation already - Nong Nooch's son. According to the tour guide, the whole place is 1700 li (?) and employs 1500 people.

Typical scene - Thailand has lotsa fruit stalls.

All cheap cheap and succulent. Slurp* Missing their mangoes.

[to be continued..]