Oh yeah, your skin and bones, Turn into something beautiful..

goodbye diamond, hello bold

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 07:20:58 GMT

had enough of a touchscreen phone!
i guess i prefer buttons. haha. and lets just say, touch screen phones are exactly easy to use in the cold!
the bold has been good so far, just a couple of days! i hope this last! made in canada cellphone by RIM.

anyway, if anyone out there is interested in getting my diamond, pls drop me a msg. i will PM u more details.
and don't worry, i will get someone to bring it back to Singapore! you don't have to pay shipping!

off to sleeeepp.. its soo cold.. i miss the heat!!!

-18 degrees right now/ with windchill its -25!
literally frozen!

2 0 0 9

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 21:04:08 GMT

Happy New Year everyone;)
Goodbye 2008 and hopefully, its gonna be a great year ahead!
Went for the countdown event at Nathan Phillips Square..
it was packed with more than 50,000 people and the weather was brtual.. just imagine counting down in the open with -14deg,and adding on to windchill, it was -20deg. freezing cold..
you cant feel ur toes/nose...lol

Folks went back Sunny Singapore yst and i guess i prob be back in the summer!
its only now that i kinda miss the heat back home. hahaha.

snow storm killed nyc!

Sat, 20 Dec 2008 00:38:25 GMT

We were so close to NYC.
about to board the plane and they announced that the flight was cancelled due to the bad weather.
First major snow storm of the year with up to 20cm of snow.
We spent the day at the airport, tryin to get on other flight out of pearson but there were none.. nothing available until monday or tues, which a second snow storm is about to hit us again! argh.
it was also the last day of exams for some..and they were canceled too..
school closed for the first time! (many more to come!)
Thankfully, due to the huge number of cancellation of flights, we got a full refund.
a total of 300 flights were cancelled thanks to the bad weather... it was massive and it was a mess everywhere.
Driving was difficult and everyone was crawling so slowly on the road!

Gotta change some plans now..
hopefully, im still gonna enjoy my break before school starts on5th jan!

exams no more! yay!

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 04:40:34 GMT

It was my last night at rez for 2008.
its been a great fall semester and i guess i'm pretty much settled in and adapted to this new environment.
As we were all cramming for the last paper today, it started with flurries, and then snow...
and this morning we had 10cm. wasn't that bad..considering its just a snow shower.

Weather Network forecast a snowstorm this weekend and 20cm snow fall on Fri.
i'm hoping this gets delayed since my flight to nyc is at noon on Fri!
The folks are finally here for the holidays and it's good seeing them!
Dad's getting fatter. lol.
i can't wait to see the big apple! and enjoy the holidays!

Anyway, here's wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!;)
probably the best year ever, getting over and done with national service and getting out of singapore!

peace!

such a crazy drop in temperature overnight

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 01:06:07 GMT

Snowed again last night, for the second time.
First time was on 19th nov.
Yst was about 3-4cm.. Nothing today, but its so cold!

first exam tmr! can't wait for 17th dec, 1900hours. thats when the folks arrive and when my christmas break officially starts.

first december - 3months

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:40:35 GMT

I keep myself up to date (about Singapore) by reading straitstimes online everyday.
This couple of days, I've been following the news about the first Singaporean getting killed in the Mumbai Terror Attack.
its tragic.. really sad...

Anyway, i saw this on youtube and just thought of sharing it with you guys!
Somewhat, watching this from Canada made me reflect.. is it the friends, the hangouts, the place or the people?
we should never take things for granted.
Enjoy the this clip. winner of tropfest2008

minus four

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 03:51:46 GMT

according to the weather network,
its minus 4 now, and it feels like minus 9.

snow has hit southern ontario with at least 20cm.
its clear for now at where i am..
how long more before we get it?

i'm cold.

Drop Fees Day!!

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:29:08 GMT

The day started out at the student centre. It was drop fees day/ day of action.
most classes were either cancelled or you will not be penalised if you don't go for it (since its Nov 5th, Day of Action)
About 8 to 10 school buses sent all of us (clad in V for Vendetta Mask, Drop Fees T-shirt and Signages) to downtown Toronto for the protest!
Its my first protest afterall since you can't do this back home..lol.
its perfectly alright for a rally here.
I would give it a 7/10.
Pretty organised! Police were everywhere in their bicycles and there's was jus simply no room for motorbikes or police cars. I guessed about 200 to 300 officers were present to ensure there's safety!? Some of them looked really weird in shorts.haha, old schoool.
Walked from OCAD to UT St George, then to Baystreet (where the govt buildings are) and then we all sat down at the cross junction of Queens Park, causing a huge traffic pileup and finally protesting infront of the main govt building at Queens Park. I believed we had about 2000 of us there, students from the GTA universities.
We had good weather today, 16deg, and I actually thought it was too hot. Haha, I'm getting used to the cold;)
The folks might be dropping by in dec, and maybe a short holiday in the US!
and speaking of the US, i'm so glad Obama won!! finally, after two long years.. Kinda glad we had so many Obama fans here and everyone was running around shouting "Obama!!" "Obama!!" at 11pm yesterday.
Daylight saving started on Sunday, 2am. So now i 'sorta' have one extra hour.
Hope everyone's doing well back home;)

Pre - Snow

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 04:09:14 GMT

Yesterday's weather was 12-ish deg.
the weather network predicted 6deg this morning..
but it went down drastically to 2! With the wind, it felt like -6deg

Reports that it started snowing in downtown, richmond hill, scarborough!
guess the shit is about to land here soon.. i saw a mix of rain and snow.
WIth the wind coming in at 30-50km/h, the wind chill factor is something to look out for.

Goodbye sunny days!
shorter days, longer nights.
Hello Winter!

One & a half months in Canada

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:10:38 GMT

Time to update. I know this has been long way overdue.

Been in Canada for about 1.5 months.
Everything's been good so far, i'm settling well and adapting to the different lifestyle.
In the past month or so, these are the things i have learnt or know...

- the 5cent coin is bigger than the 10cent
- we rarely use cash here, its a foreign term to cashiers. its always debit!
- when you eat in a restaurant, it is common knowledge to give a 10% tip
- you check your bus schedule (like what time the bus will arrive) before u go the bus stop..
U don't go there and wait blindly for it cuz you will freeze.
- we have to push open the doors on buses to get out. If you don't, the doors will slam on you and squash you!
- we open doors (of buildings) for everyone and say Thank You like a million times
- Always remember to add 13% tax (PST+GST) to the price of sth that you want to buy. (no tax on food thou)
- we don't say good bye to pple, its always 'later' even thou i will see him or her the following day/week
- you don't flag for cabs, you have to call them
- ALWAYS go out with a jacket, you never know when the weather changes
- we don't say $1500, one thousand five hundred $. its fifteenth hundred $
- If you cant reach a person on the cellphone, no worries, just leave a message. nothing is urgent here.
- you can wait up to 15mins for a cup of coffee. pple take it slow, no rush at all
- Classes start 10mins after the hour and end 2mins before the nxt hour.
- You can walk out at anytime of the lecture, nobody is going to question you
- You address your lecturer PROF. and in tutorial, we call the teaching assistants by their names! cut away all that MR,MISS,MDM.
- Tim Hortons is the monopoly here but i prefer Starbucks
- I download movies/shows here in one minute. its TOO fast. haha..
- An 8yr old Porsche Boxster cost you $19k CDN
- People talk and email more, as compared to SMSing.
- I know of people who can survive with a cellphone. its amazing
- we recycle a whole load of shit here.
- Pub night on thursdays / house parties on fridays
- The rice we have here is known as Uncle Ben's rice and it taste like crap.
- School supplies are a big business here. one rim of paper cost u $5+CDN.
- When you cross the roads here and you see a car coming, the car will stop for you WITHOUT HORNING or SHOWING you the finger
- Cellphone contracts here are all three years. Blackberry rules the world here.
- The minimum wage in Ontario, Canada is $8.75 CDN an hour.
- Lastly, the conservatives won the election here in Canada. its pretty much back to square one AGAIN. noluck for the liberals.

I'm sure most of you would have followed the news.
Recession in the US. its affecting everyone, including Singapore I believe?
Hasn't exactly hit Canada yet, but there is a saying, If US catches a cold, Canada will get pneumonia.
I have been busy with school, lots of readings to do, and I have been procrastinating since forever.
Time to get started since Mid Terms are at the end of the month.

Thanksgiving just over and I'm looking forward to Halloween;)
til then for another update!

hello Toronto;)

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 05:46:28 GMT

It's been about a week since i left Singapore!
A whole new chapter in my life, an entire new experience..
so far so good..

the weather pretty much suck cuz during the day, it reaches a high of 30deg/ and at night its 18deg!
i cant wait for the cold to start..prob in the next couple of weeks!
Still in the midst of settling down, getting all that necessary stuff for the room..
i've a pretty cool roomate who's from IRAN, half italian and some funny blood in him...
feels like army all over again meeting people from everywhere, but this is definitely better.. (ok, i dun think i can compare army with this) lol.

anyway, guys, my new cellphone number is +1 (647) 893 8347
..
..
.

later!upload photos soon on fb.

goodbye Singapore!

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 14:54:44 GMT

flight details confirmed.

it's finally here. I'm leaving for Toronto on 28th August. 0715.
Goodbye Singapore, Hello Canada!
No more hot, sunny weather... it's gonna be freezing cold until april..

12 more days to be exact, too little time.
Things are moving way too fast.

Keep in touch people!;)

it's over! finally

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 16:26:20 GMT

Two years ago this day, i was on penguin express or (speedy gonzalez) to tekong.
Time flies and i'm finally out of it.
no more liabilities.
no more regimentation.
there's no need to rush to wait / wait to rush. and the list goes on.
Getting back the identification card nvr felt so good before, even though its jus a pink card to some..
It looked so good in your hands and you know now that you are a civilian AGAIN.
the word is relieved. not happy. ;)

the office guys were just great.
a surprise birthday cake.. and lights off / they sang.
the ic was probably the best present this year!

Thank You to all for the wishes/phone calls. the diamond is looking so good too.best buy of the year to date/ after my lappie.
First couple of hours of my bday was at playground with PTCO. random photos n timer shots all in facebook! i only got home at 3;)
simple yet lots of love.
prob the last birthday outing since i'm leaving real soon.

Good dinner with the family at blue lobster and i would strongly recommend a good nights out there, prob with a couple of close frens who are willing to splurge! Canele's Gateaux Chocolat was heavenly too:) sinful but owell! chocolate makes u happy!
Dinner treat at riders cafe, feels like ya in the country side. for once, you won! HAHA.. and well done *pats on the back*:) its one of those hidden finds in singapore.

Hongkong in the talks for end of this month.shopping again and hello godma+pa
Lots of packing to do/ selling of stuff/ uni admin stuff. its gonna be a busy month ahead before i leave.

Goodbye singapore come late august.
will update again as to the exact date.

no more wisdom

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 07:35:32 GMT

Finally had my two lower wisdom tooth removed yesterday, after a long contemplation for months!
Lets just say no pain during the op but after that it was HELLISH..

soft diet for this couple of days and hopefully it gets all healed up before BKK nxt week.
the office guys are coming tmr for house visit, since my mc is more than 7days.
I've not ORD-ed yet, but it feels like I have..
not stepping into office for the past week has been sweet..

bleeding

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:05:15 GMT

It's gonna be week of loosing blood.
not once but thrice.

Medical checkup later for Uni.
Wisdom Op tmr.
followed by
Medical FFI for army on thursday.

I was reading the papers yst and saw the article of aspiring young chefs.
what do you think of becoming a chef?
Always love good food but is that what you really want to do?
working on New Yr's eve, Christmas. special occasions, slogging it out... hopefully this remains a thought?

did you know?

Sun, 15 Jun 2008 13:55:53 GMT

My friend just got a summon from the police for JAYWALKING.

how many of you out there know that you can get a ticket for that?
20 bucks for not using the pedestrian crossing..

owell, this is Singapore for you.

sidetrack:no more duties / its gonna be random off n leave for now ;)

Sat, 31 May 2008 17:37:49 GMT

Gosh, its been long since i last updated.
Been really busy with work/uni applications/ and thinking about the future..
seems like everything is coming into place..

To sum up this couple of days (tiring but enjoyable)
Irritating PTE "hushpuppy" who doesn't even have the basic courtesy to ASK
Authentic peranakan lunch at IVINS @ Binjai Park
Ever rising petrol prices which are making me consider riding the bicycle
Aggressive driving: Cutting into my fren's lane @ Rochor which resulted in him swearing at me "KNN terry what are you doing" / with the finger / and flash-flash high beam
Walking in circles at HajiLane / Arab Street
Fantabulous better than "1twentysixkinda" desserts @ Pierside 11
RedStar dim sum dollie
Party @ Springleaf Ave /choking the road with 8 cars

47 days to ORD.
Gonna be the best birthday present ever!

and
about 13 weeks before i leave Singapore for my studies in Toronto;)
i don't know when will i be back, so don't ask..

hope everyones doing good.
;)

til then for another random update.

a day to remember

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:08:23 GMT

I regretted not visiting my grandma last sat, two days ago...

and now, she's gone, forever..
030308
Received a phone call from mom at about 1000 and that was it. she's gone... she didn't wake up from her sleep.

Rest in Peace grandma and goodbye...

John 11:25-26
Jesus said, " I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he ies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die."

you are remembered grandma....

Sun, 17 Feb 2008 14:39:58 GMT

Try too hard to please the world and you end up pleasing n one.
Be yourself and the world will be your friend - or at least the people who matter will

are you worth it..

first for 2008

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 18:09:03 GMT

this is totally random update.. it's my first update of 2008. i guess no one's keeping track of this space anymore.haha.
many changes in this new year. a new ride. a new job tor. a new routine..
its all about adapting!

Here's wishing everyone a happy lunar new year! it's been a hectic two days, lotsa visting to do. I hate it for the fact that my dad and mom are the youngest and this means we have to visit the elder ones. argh! I kinda miss the days when my grandparents were around.. the whole family would come knocking on my door at eight am on the first day of new year and we would have like three tables of steamboat, all the way to the car porch. Those were the days, the 90s.

Anyway, this year, I would call my CNY a 'seafood CNY' for me because the dinners we had so far were all at seafood restaurants. something different for the rat year;) Seafood International was particularly nice, newly renovated at its big splash location and of cuz a nice VIP room to dine in!

This Chinese New Year feels a little different, because its the first year without tess and its probably the last year that i will be celebrating CNY in Singapore. I need to make the best out of it! more ang pows/yushengs/chinese new year goodies etc!

Somehow, i have mixed feelings on that but owell, certain sacrifices have to be made..
For now, some decisions are still hanging.. idunno..
Til then, we shall see...

once again,
Happy New Year friends;)
from sunny Singapore

Tue, 25 Dec 2007 21:07:51 GMT

Here i am blogging from Ruth's place, in her basement to be exact, its really cosy but at the same time its freezing.
i know i've been complaining about how cold it is..com'on, an average of minus two degrees..excluding the wind/flurries/sometimes rain.
anyway, here's wishing everyone a

MERRY CHRISTMAS ;)

Everything's closed today and its almost like CNY over here.. sorta like visiting day!
anyway, went for Brunch @ Grace's place earlier.. i love the basements over here! they make u wanna stay at home the whole day!
Later, we are going for some chinese dinner! Owell, the chinese are the only ones who open 365 days a year.. ahahah. thankfully, both the kids store and flower store are closed until after boxing day, which is tmr.

By the way, Oscar Peterson died on Sunday! iheard from my cousin that his wife is a regular at his flower store since they live in the area..

I'm off to Montreal tmr to visit Nattie and perhaps, boxing day/wk sale BEGINS.
til then,

HAPPY TWO ZERO ZERO EIGHT everyone;)

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 05:09:13 GMT

So here i am in Toronto, after more than 24hours..
Singapore to Tokyo was fine, except that i couldn't really sleep.
Tokyo to Detroit was LONG. it was a bumpy ride thanks to turbulence, the food suck and it was full house, so bloody packed.
Thankfully, i made frens with this doctor (who was sitting nxt to me). He's of swiss-japanese parentage and he works in Okinawa, Japan. We were talking and he told me about his Japanese doctor wife and guess the no. of kids they have?

SEVEN. (i was thinking, wad a cow she is)hahaa

Well, the oldest is 12, youngest is 1. he has to work many many many more years mann.
We went separate ways in detroit and the US Customs were a pain in the ass. i guess they are just super anal about anyone coming in, even if ya on transit like me. I bump into the dr again cuz he missed his flight, thanks to the delay in the screwed up customs.

Anyway, Detroit to Toronto was quick one!
Ruth was at the airport with Yee Min and their mega huge MPV that could fit cows..its nt that kinda car that you could drive in our carparks!
it was cold, it is still cold right now.. As i'm typing now, the overnight temperature is -5 degress!
it's -6 deg tmr and i pray hard that there's no snow storm this wkend!
last sunday, 2 days before i arrived, there was a huge one which caused many closure in roads and stranded pple.

Off to Hamilton tmr!
til then!;)

*sidetrack - i think christmas came a lil early for dad this year, n indirectly affects me!
i'm all SMILES.

Happy Holidays

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 14:53:09 GMT

Back to back duties are definitely a terrible thing to do.
Two duties this wk, both times we had a blackout and it was so hard trying to even rest!
Anyway, today's effectively the last workday year for me!
Survived a two hour meeting with Prof Hum from NUS yst and finally completed the project today..
I'm all glad that I've done my part and things are much neater n tighter!

Four more days before i fly off for my holidays. i'm kinda excited as its my first time flying ALONE.
12 days to Christmas in Toronto;)
All geared up for minus ten degrees! or maybe even lower..
gonna visit nattie in Montreal too;)
Twenty days before i go back to work
no flight delays pls and snow storms!

//sidetrack
i'm fcking annoyed with my neighbours dog/dogs.. the barking has been nonstop since this evening. bitch! it happened two days ago too! argh.

For now, its Happy Holidays everyone;)

Happy DimSum-vali!

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 14:24:24 GMT

finally a public holiday on a weekday!;)
the last PH was on a sat.

Deepavali home alone cuz the folks went to mlysia
i decided to not to go since its such a hassle calling back and informing all the relevant parties.

lunch with koh n nick.
place: ah yat abalone forum rest @ Allson Hotel
we ate: twenty 'longs' of dim sum in total and one plate of beef/chicken horfun
cost: 113.00+++ (i had a $50 voucher)
we only realized we ate twenty 'longs' after we walked out of that place. its quite a scary number since there were only three of us!
oh ya, and nick's name sounds like a dragon. since u said tessa sounds like snake. HAHA.

Watched the gameplan after that..so gayy.. haha. (but it was not too bad.. the Rock should have more of such shows!) since we were unable to get the two R21 shows we wanted plus nick is not even 21 yet!! As we were heading to the carpark, we saw this group of uncles going to the cinemas.. i guess they were heading for pleasure factory! haha..

hokkien prawn mee for dinner followed by desserts at missucafe! i'm so fullllll now.. it has been a day of eating..
the same for tmr since there's no work. its cohesion/lasermania. time to kill mofo and mofo's fren.

the world tinest car!

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 08:46:54 GMT

thanks to deven for this link..
guys, pls check it out!

imagine yourself in this vehicle on the PIE or CTE.
i think u will be blown away..HAHA