Last day of 2004

Should all acquantaince be forgot....lalala...

Yes, 2004 is ending in another 11 hrs...this year has been quite fruitful with my first YEP experience, taking up the role as leader for the Bhutan trip next year. I suppose it's more because of YEP that I've grown as a person. Richer experience and more open-minded to different culture and custom.

Nice experience also include my 21st birthday celebration with my family and friends. And I'm getting concious about health so signed up with California Fitness. Hopefully, in 2005, there'll be a slimmer and tonner me. I also went to China with my family in Dec. Nice scenery, unforgettable photos.

Nice shops include Sanrio in Suntec, Bodyshop everywhere, Kokon Tozai, Sushi Tei.

The best Chawanmushi I've tasted: the japanese restaurant in Takashimaya, think is Basement 1, besides Cold storage. Their other food I've tasted is the curryrice, quite tasty too...thinking about japanese food is making me hungry.

Here's wishing all reading this a smooth-sailing year ahead and take care!

Tribute

Went for a workout in the morning before meeting my classmates for presentation discussion. Had 3hr lesson before I went down to Settler's Cafe for the meeting. After the meeting played a few games like Oasis and 10 days in Africa with Amy and Dingli. Had quite a nice evening but feel really tired.

Just feel that I should pay a little tribute to the taxi drivers that ply our streets everytime of the day:

Moon glistening in the dark sky,
Stars shimmer in the dim light.
People sleeping in their warm beds,
Us driving under the street lights.

Know Singapore at the back of our hands.
Queue Changi Airport till the break of dawn.
Search customers at the side of the roads.
Race streets till the diesel runs dry.

Hard work every single day.
Overstrained muscles every single hour.
At other's beck and call every single minute.
Ticking metre every single seconds.

Meagre pay,
Little sleep.
Put kids through to uni.
Make use of time after retiring.

Current affairs
Politics
Karaoke
You name it, we know it.

World Vision

Went to Orchard to get the Bhutan travel guidebook from Kinokuniya with a 20% discount.

Saw a counter creating awareness about what World Vision do. Interested in child sponsoring but will have to wait till I get a job or else not financially stable. Think I'll choose the Mongolian kids then.

Met Dave and had coffee at Starbucks cos the movies were too late. Another friend that thinks that I'm leading a young tai-tai's life. Hey, if i don't pamper myself, who will? Thanks for the ride home, spare me from squeezing in the train.

Lesson and briefing

Returned back to NIE in the morning for a 2 and a half hour lesson and also a 2 hour Practicum briefing in the afternoon. By 11am, I was yawning away already...real tired...imagine, having to go back to the sch during the hols to attend lessons..real pathetic but not much of a choice...

Saw a poster regarding photo competition...maybe should try to enter and win some cash...first prize is $1000, second prize is $500 and third prize is $250. Wish me luck!

Sanrio shopping spree

Tutored today and found out that the tuition kid's aunt from Malaysia is coming to Singapore to work and can tutor the girl so I will just tutor once more on Friday and that's it. No more extra income for me...wonder how I will pay for my California Fitness Membership...anyone wanna hire a tutor? once a week? 2 hrs?

Went to Suntec's Sanrio shop and bought quite a number of Cinnamoroll stuff...feel like a little girl in her wonderland, looking at the amazingly adorable things. =P

Taufik Trivia

Received this through an sms and found it quite funny:

Taufik's family are:
Taupok (Father), Taufu (Mother), Taugua (Brother) & Tausuan (Sister). He has a dog called Taugay.

Though I'm also a Taufik fan but can't help but smile at this silly and lame sms. He's album is coming out soon! Will hear it out first before I decide I want to buy or otherwise.

My fave xmas song

Finally, I managed to find out the title for the Xmas song I like the most:

"As long as there's Christmas"
from Beauty and the Beast the Enchanted Story

Belle
There is more to this time of year
Than sleigh bells and holly, mistletoe and snow.
Those things come and go much deeper than snow,
Stronger than the strongest love we'll know, we'll ever know...
As long as there's Christmas, I truly believe
That hope is the greatest of the gifts we'll receive.
As long as there's Christmas, we'll all be just fine.
A star shines above us, lighting your way and mine.
Cogsworth
Just as long as there's Christmas, there will be Christmas pud!
Tons of turkey...
Mrs. Potts
And cranb'ry sauce, and mince pies, if we're good!
Lumiere
Loads of logs on the fire...Ornaments
Lots of gifts on the tree, all wrapped up in red ribbons...
Chip
Wonder if there's one for me!
Cogsworth
We're due for a party. Where on earth do we start?
Fifi
I may wear my tiara you bought me in Montmartre!
Cogsworth
All the silver will sparkle!
Mrs. Potts
And the china will gleam!
Lumiere
And we'll all be as shiny as a brand-new centime!
Chip
After dinner, we'll play games...
Mrs. Potts...
'Til the morning breaks through.
Lumiere
Then we'll meet in the garden. This is what we shall do!
Chip
We'll build a snowman that will reach to the sky!
Belle
It will stay up until July!
Angelique
What are you doing? Stop, stop, stop! Put me down! Put me down!
Oh, this is ridiculous! Everyone knows that the lights go on first!
I don't want to go all the way up there, to the top!
Belle and Chorus
As long as there's Christmas, I truly believe
That hope is the greatest of the gifts we'll receive.
Chorus
As long as our guiding star shines above...
Belle
As long as there's Christmas, we'll all be just fine...
Belle and Chorus
There'll always be Christmas...
Belle
So there always will be a time when the world is filled with peace and love.

These lyrics © 1997 Wonderland Music Company, Inc. (BMI). Music by Rachel Portman. Lyrics by Don Black. Originally performed by Paige O'Hara, Jerry Orbach, David Ogden Stiers, Fifi, Andrew Keenan Bolger, Angela Lansbury, the Ornaments, and Chorus.

Xmas eve

Geez...it's Xmas eve and guess what? I've fallen sick! Didn't even eat any heaty food and I've fallen prey to the nasty virus.

Suffering from sore throat and flu...had a splitting headache last night and felt quite nauseous...thought I was going to throw up my dinner but luckily didn't.

Now that I'm sick, I can't go tutor...gotta postpone the session...feel quite bad that I always postpone the tuition. Hope the child's mother understands and don't hold it against me...I wouldn't want to spread the virus to her daughter who just got well...

Movie

Met Celina for lunch at Sakae Sushi then went for my piano lesson in Plaza Sg...after my lesson, I was walking to Paragon when I met Celina on my way so we went there together cos she's meeting her friend there too.

I went for the Vitamin C Cold Compress facial and bought the Jojoba starter kit for $18.90, suppose to cost around $30+ and a Xmas gift for a friend from Bodyshop.

Went for a movie at Plaza Sg in the evening. Wanted to catch "Meet the Frockers" or "Phantom of the Opera" but both are not showing yet...so ended up watching "The Incredibles"...quite a cute movie and Jack jack is so adorable!

Updates

Hehe...I've bought the pumps that I like from Far East but my mum doesn't know yet...cos my room is quite a mess so can hide the bag away.

Went for a training session at Raffles' California today and gained abit of knowledge on how to train...especially for the arms...but decline the trainer from engaging him for monthly payments of $40+...am really quite broke already..how to afford a personal trainer?

Met up with Celina and checked out Cafe Rosso at Holland Village...quite a nice, clean cafe but not sure how the cakes taste as yet cos they look too pretty to be eaten! We headed to Sushi Tei for high tea then headed to Orchard's Borders...managed to get the cute postcards with animals. Couldn't resist spending money at the capsule machines again...but at least I limited myself to only 3...could have spent more but luckily no more coins...hehe...gotta start packing my room tomorrow or I'll never get started...tornado sweeping through tml...better stay clear!

Nice song

Just heard this S.H.E song and found the lyrics pretty meaningful.

《别说对不起》

望远镜 看不见你 你的心 飞去哪里 无声飞行 享受黑夜的静溢 别说对不起
别让我伤了心才说 不是故意 我却无法怪你 别说对不起 别让我的爱情变成廉价物品 我却只能爱你 闭上眼睛 却看不见你 想你的好 代替无力 我相信你
却开始不信任自己 别说对不起 别让我灰了心才说 不是故意 我却无法怪你
别说对不起 别让我的爱情变得小心翼翼 我却只能爱你 用行动来证明 你的决心 不要说说而已 我想要的不只是Sorry.

Quite touching isn't it? A sense of loss and not being able to control how things turn out. So sad...

Back from trip

Hi all! Yup, I'm back from the Yunnan trip...the scenery there was simply breath-taking but the stairs-climbing was torturous!!! It's like physical training there! But come on, even the elderly people were there to rough it out just cos of the fantastic scenery.

The great part of the trip was the nice scenery and cheap books and cds. However, the negative part was having to bear with irritating, cannot-sit-still kids during flights (had to scold 2 boys for knocking constantly at the back of my seat making me irritable and unable to rest during the flights) and the constant need to look out for spittings on the ground. The Chinese still do not have any idea of hygiene in public places. Quite disgusted by the way they spit anywhere and everywhere. Really spoils the whole experience. Another negative point is that they do not know how to queue up. Always cutting queues and pushing and shoving to get their way. Haiz...I figure they still need some time to learn some social conduct in order to be able to compete with other nations for a gracious society.

I don't mean to criticise them but it really creates quite a bad image. Just give them some time to change. Another sad sight was to see beggars on the streets. Some of them were young kids who were disabled and did not even have proper clothing to wear in the cold weather. It's winter there now and even though there's no snowing but the chilly wind can really make one feel uncomfortable if you do not have enough warm clothing. Some of the beggars are mothers with their kids strapped on their backs or carried in their arms...my parents did donate some money to them but I couldn't cos i was penniless...didn't need to bring any money along since my parents will be.

Will miss the young children there cos they are simply adorable! They have such rosy and chubby cheeks and they will smile or laugh when u just look at them. There were quite a few instances where the young child smiled or laughed when I look at him or her. Was very tempted to take a photo of them but my parents did not allow cos they are afraid that the parents will ask for money if I did. Hopefully the Bhutanese kids are as adorable so I can take more pictures with them when we are there for YEP.

Little Miracles' Gathering

Went to the gym with Jiahui today to attend the Bodybalance and Street Jazz class. The instructor for Bodybalance was a pregnant lady named Elizabeth...she's really beautiful...envy her...=)

Met up with Dave at Somerset MRT then took the train to Cityhall with him. Luckily, he was willing to help keep the photo albums for me, too heavy for me to lug along to Saz's place in Clementi.

Met the regular Little Miraclers at Saz's place for the Hari Raya potluck...watched "Nang Nak" the thai horror movie but didn't find it as scary as "The Shutter". Had fun playing with Mohd and taking photos with him...he's got such a pouty mouth...so adorable!

Flying off to China for the holiday with my family tml, blog when I'm back!

Art exhibition

Went to the gym alone today for some workout...was alighting from the bus just outside Heeren when the teenage girl in front of me tripped on the heels of the lady in front of her that she fell totally flat on the ground...so totally embaressing, luckily she's not badly hurt...but she was really sprawled flat on the ground...even her shoes fell off...

Had lunch at Marche then headed to Specialists' Centre where I got Dave's call that he's already outside my house, to pass me something...my sis got it from him. I went down to Cityhall to meet Siti and the rest to go to Esplanade for Rosman's art exhibition with 12 other Malay artists. He used the YEP journal to draw and made the pages into transparency kind...quite cool...we had dinner at Colors of the Bay and went for a horror movie at Marina.

"The Shutter" (Thai horror film) is quite well filmed...the female ghost was scary enough and the live sound effects were great...we were in the first row and the teenage gals who were in the theatre really know how to scream...Suz who was seated beside me was jumping in her seat due to the screams...and Nora who was on my right was hiding behind her bag. I just couldn't stand the loud, ear-peircing screams...please lah, if you're scared then don't watch a horror film...choose something else. Like the part where the female ghost was climbing down the stairs to reach the guy and also the part where she took photos of herself seated on the guy's shoulder...the ending was also quite smart. The guy became insane and the female ghost was still seated on his shoulder when the guy's last gf went to the asylum to visit him. I suppose the film is teaching us not to do things u'll regret and to not commit stuff that u'll feel guilty about or u'll be haunted by it all your life.

Workout

Met Celina to do some workout at Orchard's California Fitness. Had tea at Coffee club just outside the gym. Went to Heeren to get Bubbletea...had a craving for that...managed to help my sis get the white musk gift set with dinner bag and the mango body butter with shower gel at the Scotts Bodyshop outlet...some branches don't have the bag anymore...spent yesterday afternoon trying to find out if the orchard road outlets have them but some of the sales assistants really wasn't of much help...quite disappointed by their poor telephone service...i suppose they figure that u're just enquiring and not really intent on buying...still thinking about that pair of pumps i saw in far east ($29.90)...should i get it? Been spending quite abit lately already...haiz...can't decide! How???

Membership

Went to California Fitness in Raffles Place yesterday and ended up signing a 2 year programme and it's like a Diners' Club credit card promotion where I sign up for 18 months and get another 4 months free...

I will have to pay my dad about $95 each month...so my tuition earnings will all go to this membership already...but at least it's for something healthy...gotta make use of the facilities and attend the classes as much as possible, or else, it'll be a waste of money...

Heard from the consultant that a new outlet will be open next year soon, and should be in town area...hopefully, it's much bigger, with more interesting classes. At least, have a cafe like the one in Raffles, more convenient for those working out to get some food before heading back for more exercise.

Cos I signed up for the membership, my friend managed to get a 1 month free membership but he can only visit the Raffles branch, hope he don't mind though...and I still have the 7-day pass...any takers?

Singapore Idol

Waited the whole day for a friend to drop by but in the end, he was too busy...just hang around at home, playing the piano and going online.

Went to the airport to fetch my dad and reached home in time for the Singapore Idol results show...felt that the fans were really fantastic...being so supportive and screaming throughout the show...think M'sians can hear them...haha

Decided to vote for Taufik Batisah cos felt that he has improved the most out of all the Idols and his effort and hardwork should be supported. Quite worried that Sylvester will win the title cos really think that he still needs to do quite a bit of work to improve his English (not that my English is that perfect but he's gonna represent Singapore someday and it won't look good...).

Luckily, Taufik won the title and is our very first Singapore Idol...so happy for him...he deserves it! At least my 1 pathetic vote counted and the money spent has not gone to waste.