in a blink of an eye its fast approaching xmas. time really flies. i must say i really like this part of the year where the whole of orchard road is lighted up, feels really festive. what i enjoy doing is going around taking photos of xmas decorations unfortunately this year i dont really like the design. i dont know it just doesnt appeal to me however what i quite like is the ion xmas tree. me and my friends started snapping pictures in, out and around the tree.


we took many photos, i extracted out the best!


my friends and i... here's me in the middle:)we're trying to do some artistic shots

oh well, we got hungry after our intense phototaking and headed down to MOF for some quick dessert


i enjoy the desserts at MOF its not too expensive,unlike other places, and the best of all it taste good and the presentation looks fabulous! the service is great too! i cant say much about other dessert joints thou... wish i could post more pictures but unfortunately the decorations this year just didn't excite me

anyways xmas is also a great time to come up with creative names and artistic decorations for log cakes. take for example i came across some cakes from bakerzin, a whole load of cake names that sound so 'christmasy' i appreciate the creativity but i have no idea how each flavour will taste like!


and here is also an interesting cake given by one of my suppliers from work


log cake from delifrance. looks so good, dont know where to start!

here's all i have for today...merry xmas to all my friends out there!
this is my private blog but it just feels so good doing a shout out! hohoho!

manga, anime, cosplay, action!

I am not a big fan of anime nor do I know much about cosplay. However, watching a school video on how cosplay is also available in America was an eye opener for me. I begin to wonder: since US have a fair share of audience devoted to this ‘sport’, Japan would definitely make a bigger deal out of it – since it was originated from Japan.

It was by chance that I happened to be at Suntec Convention Centre on Sunday, where this event called ‘Anime Festival Asia 2009’ (AFA) was held. Pockets of young adults and teenagers streamed to level four where it was an outlet for all cosplay characters to parade and flaunt their well made costumes and heavily made up face. Some even carried weapons such as guns, sword, and even umbrella as props.


I was soon immersed by tons of anime characters, posing for the cameras in their anime groups. It was like they have just stepped out from an anime time machine, where every minute it churns out new anime characters. Many were so engrossed in bringing out their characters that they started role playing, using their weapons to fight against each other, the good imagined that they were sent to abolish the evil. It was really an exciting experience for me.


Singapore had a similar event last year. It was the first Anime Festival Asia, held in 2008 to celebrate and showcase a wide selection of Japanese Pop Culture. This year, it promises to be bigger, better and braver. Participants strive for one thing, which is to become the Regional Cosplay Champion and to win a pair of tickets to Tokyo! These characters are judged based on quality, difficulty and how accurate the costume looks from the actual anime character. There are also points for character skit, team effort and performance. There is also a special prize category where they can win Embroidery Sewing Machine. I guess with the sewing machine they can sew more outfits for the next costume?





Isn’t it great that we can see Japan’s pop culture without having to splurge on expensive air tickets? I look forward to this event again next year, and who knows I may be so inspired with an anime character that I may find myself cosplaying!

just flush it!

recently my left ear has some hearing some strange cracking sounds, so i decided to leverage on my company's excellent medical benefits where i can simply present my staff card and i am entitled to see the doc for free! so i went to the doc's last week to check out on whats going on with my ear.

when i went into the clinic, mr doc used a torch and pointed it into my ear. he was like 'OMG your ear is all jammed up!' me being worried since its my ear, asked him what is wrong and he explained that my left ear is jammed up with ear wax harden from God knows when. strangely, my right ear is clear. hmmm so it got me thinking yeah that is really strange, shouldnt two ears be as equally as jammed up? i was told to return 3 days later and drop wax solution into my ear to soften the wax so he can 'flush' it ('it' being the wax) out.

so i went home and did as told and went back to the doc 3 days later. when it was my turn, strangely the doc seemed more awake and excited when i told him i am here to flush my ears. he smiled and assured me it wasn't going to hurt. true enough it didnt hurt but as he placed the water into my ears to flush the wax, i felt as if water was running into my nose and up into my brain. it was the strangest weirdest feeling. i felt giddy after the process.

when he finally manage to get e wax out of my ears, he was like 'what the ...., it looks gross, is it an... an insect?' when he said insect, my head felt heavy. i looked at the wax and it did look a little bit like an insect with some lines across the wax. ewwwwwwww so gross! i felt like all of my hair stand on my arms stand, then he said 'maybe not insect la' and he used my wax and scare the receptionist at the counter, and the receptionist squeaked in disgust...

i was so embarrassed i dont think i will ever return to that clinic again... so much for not digging my ears!

are we more socialable?

I never knew much about second life until recently where I did the reading and attended the lecture on social media. I found it somewhat strange yet interesting as there are actually many people around the world that engage in second life, maintaining an avatar and spending tons of money on it.

Fortunately, I am not a stranger to this form of social media. I enjoy creating avatars and my first experience was ‘The Sims’. This computer game allows you to create virtual characters, build houses and make friends. However, my participation was not limited only to ‘The Sims’. When I was much younger, I stumbled upon this site called ‘Habbo’. Like second life, it allowed users to create an avatar and allowed us to interact and make friends. Out of curiosity, I created an avatar to explore the site and realized that I could easily make friends as I entered several different rooms. I could dance, eat and chat with several other avatars and realized that it was very easy to create a different personality and lie about my actual life. It was rather interesting as avatars could date each other one day and break up the very next day. Unlike some hard cores, I didn’t want to use real money to buy Habbo dollars as I thought it was a waste of money. Habbo dollars allow users to buy and decorate rooms.

Habbo is still available today but I suppose it is not as popular as second life. I am rather amazed with the graphics of second life and how users can ‘fly’. I was shocked that sex shops are also available and how a MUD player was able to seize control of another player’s avatar and virtually rape her. With new communications technology, users that are located miles apart can meet together real time as avatars and experience ‘life’ together.

ding dong songs

just as i was walking past HMV the other day, i realized that it has been a long time since i have visited a CD shop and lately not many of these shops are sustaining. take for example the CD shop at Marina Sq, it has shifted from its premises.

In the past, it was a norm for one to visit the music store when they want to browse, buy or check out new arrivals. Now all these have changed with the internet. With just a few clicks on the mouse in the very comfort of your own home, you can browse music on the internet. This technology has also led to a massive number of people conveniently downloading music - illegally.

Embarrassed to say, I was tempted by this cheap and easy way of obtaining my favourite music without forking out a single cent. This all started in secondary school when my dad installed a CD rewriteable machine in his computer and copied a CD. I got excited with this new technology and borrowed a couple of CDs from my friends and made several copied CDs. The audio quality was exactly the same. During my poly days, it was probably due to peer influence, I started to learn how to download music illegally from several mp3 websites. I knew it was wrong but these methods of obtaining music were so easy and since no one I knew got caught then why not?

Nowadays obtaining illegal music is much easier than ever. Music from almost every artist can be found on you tube and can be easily shared just hours after it’s first release. Listeners can upload music onto their blogs and it’s available for download to anyone anywhere. File sharing has never been easier. Just Google the song title and artist and you can be brought to the downloading site. It is easier than purchasing it online. Music companies have tried putting anti copying softwares onto CDs, while government has spend tons of money on advertisements to educate the public to stop piracy but it is highly unlikely that we stop downloading illegally. It has been embedded into our daily lives. Whether we like it or not, we are all part of this illegal whirlpool of unauthorized downloading.

scrambled thots at noon

hmmm.. this would be a short blog entry. as you can see i am trying to keep up with time to publish things into my blog. its hard when you get busy. now is a good time to write as there is nothing to do at work while waiting for approvals and stuff. i notice things slow down when working for a bigger company. no i havent found a new job yet just bored at work doing the same promotions over and over again for the past 2 years. come december i would be working for 3 years. i know my new year's resolution is to find a new job but i have no time to find and also i am studying at the same time.

i guess all i can do now is to concentrate on my studies and hope to graduate next year. i cant wait. i predict things will be really different when i graduate like getting new job, seeing less of my class mates. talking bout classmates, dara's birthday is coming soon... what do u wish for your birthday dear? maybe this year u can write me a wishlist then its easier for me to choose your present... or perhaps we can go on a short trip somewhere? hmmm.... gotta get back to sucky work, cant wait to knock off!

king of pop ART

it has been a long time since i have blogged. really busy with school and work lately. its super tough to focus on one yet alone juggle two concurrently anyways here is another write up i would like to share: andy warhol. i really dig his designs and his other artistic capabilities anyways enough crap about me here is a short tribute to the legend:

“In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes” - Andy Warhol

One of the most influential artists of the 20th century, Andy Warhol is best known for discovering Pop Art, by mass producing images of mass produced objects. He made his first Pop paintings, based on comics and ads. I was first captivated by his work from the Campbell’s soup can series, which later I found out that the 32 Campbell’s Soup Cans was so popular, it was exhibited in an art gallery since 1962. Apart from being an artist, he experimented in other areas such as film, publishing, writing, television, and music.

In the 1960s, Warhol created several “mass-produced” images from photographs of celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe, Mao, Elvis Presley and Jackie Onassis. He experimented with the silkscreen technique as he wanted something stronger with more of an assembly line effect. His fascination with morbid concepts resulted with astonishingly beautiful and brilliantly coloured art works. I particularly like these series of work mainly for its depiction of bright colours and comic like effect. Other images from comic books and tabloid also reflected the world around him.

Soon after he began his series of “death and disaster” paintings – images of electric chairs, suicides, and car crashes were used. This series of work differ from this usual works. To me, these images are rather scary and disturbing. It was made during a difficult time in Warhol’s life as he condemned capital punishment and wanted to showcase the prisoner as a victim.

Apart from creating art, he had spent a large amount of time collecting ‘Time Capsules’. Started in 1974, He had created 612 Time Capsules which were an enormous record of his own life. Interestingly, he selected items from the daily flood of correspondence, magazines, newspapers, gifts, photographs, business records, and placed them into used cardboard boxes. It was an efficient method for dealing with all of his “stuff.”

Being multi-talented facet, his artworks drew influenced from pop culture and advertising. His exploration in film, publishing, writing, television, and music has made him a great achiever. Looking at his artworks, I am always greatly inspired by the Campbell's Soup cans, advertisements, comic book heroes and creative portraits of celebrities and politicians, how he was able to transformed these everyday objects and images into some of the most recognizable icons of the past century.
Indeed, Andy Warhol experienced much more than 15 minutes of fame. His is an icon and his legacy will continue to live on forever.

destination next: Taiwan!

recently i had to crack my brain to do some artwork designs for work.. my boss needed some representation of taiwan for atrium banners (in a shopping mall). i was wondering damn what to design? all i knew was they had a couople of hot sprintgs then stumble upon some information that taiwan is actually quite an interesting place and i would really like to visit it one day.

ok first things first. when you think of taiwan what is the first thing that pops into your head? hot springs? taipei 101? shihlin night market? alishan? or perhaps its mountainous landscapes?

one attraction that i didnt know exist until today was the Taiwan lantern festival. this is one attraction that attracted me. the Sky lantern aka Kung-ming lantern which happens only once a year in taiwan, where you can write your wishes and tuck it into the sky lantern and let it fly into the skies. apparently it was invented before han dynasty where prime minister Kung-Ming used these lanterns for military purpose.

up till today, taiwanese believe that by writing their wishes on the lantern, it will fly up into the heaven and the God of heaven will give them blessing.

i didnt know they had this festival until today. i shall start saving up for taiwan now i have always wanted to visit this country but just didnt have the time to do it when i am there i will light up the lanterns and write my wishes and dreams. the novelty of doing it is just so exciting! with hot springs, and scrumptious cheap food at shihlin nightmaket, Dara pack your bags we are saving up for taiwan next!

fishy fishy fishy!

time really flies... since its nearing CNY, one of my favourite holidays (cant wait), i did some research with my partner for our school project on singapore's Yu Sheng, here it goes...

In Singapore, we have a dish that is only available during the Chinese New Year period. It is traditionally served on Ren Ri (Everyone’s Birthday), the 7th day of the Chinese New Year due to the Chinese superstitions and beliefs that humans were created on that day. Some of you may have already guessed it, yes, it is none other than the popular -Yu Sheng.
There are several symbolic meanings behind this dish. Its name, Yu Sheng means ‘raw fish’ and with homophones and some enunciation, it is often interpreted as ‘abundance of wealth and long life’. The tossing action, known as Lo Hei, means to ‘rise’ in reference to a thriving business. Therefore it is also very popular with businessmen.

The original dish originated from Guangdong, China wasn’t very ‘colourful’ as it consisted of only turnip, fish and carrot strips and was served with oil, vinegar and sugar.

In the 60s, part of a promotional gimmick for their restaurants, Singapore’s very own four ‘Heavenly Kings’ of the restaurant scene - Lau Yoke Pui, Than Yu Kai, Sin Leong and Hooi Kok Wai improvised the dish and added more ‘colour’. Hence, the Yu Sheng we eat today is filled with variety of colours.

The ingredients are arranged on a large plate include raw fish, shredded green and white radish, carrots, pickled ginger, crushed nuts and pomelo. These ingredients are topped with deep-fried flour crisps, crushed peanuts, sesame seeds, cinnamon, pepper and other spices. When all the ingredients are added together, all will stand where they begin the ritual of ‘Lo Hei’ by mixing all these ingredients while shouting auspicious greetings for a prosperous new year

Here are some of the prosperous greetings while mixing the salad or better known as ‘Lo Hei’:
Gong Xi Fa Cai - Wishing you a big windfall (striking lottery)
Wan Shi Ru Yi – May success comes your way
Nian Nian You Yu – Prosperity and abundance
Da Ji Da Li – Victory in whatever you do
Zao Cai Jin Bao – Good fortune and wealth to you
Cai Yuan Guang Jing - May wealth comes your way.
Hong Yun Dang Tou – May the lady luck shines on you.
Bu Bu Gao Sheng - May you rise in status

Yusheng as an International Cuisine

The restaurants in other countries such as Vietnam, New York, Australia Indonesia and London, have also developed an appetite for Yu Sheng and created different varieties to suit their taste buds and food culture. In Thailand, Yu Sheng is made using fish, vegetables, pomelo, lemongrass, papaya, mango and Thai herbs.

For people who missed eating Yu Sheng, you can get it in Duty Free Shop in Changi Airports as they are available in packets for tourists to buy as gifts.

Happy Chinese New Year!

lets blast!

HAPPY new year!! 2009! i emphasized happy. here is making one of my new year's resolution come true! my first blog!
i have been pushing this back for a couple of years now but i guess its about time i embrace social media. my first blog!

what also inspired me to start a blog is also partly due to school. we are required to post up blog post that are also homework. its an interesting concept. i will also be publishing a couple of my work and stuff that i like on this blog.. em to make it more interesting maybe a couple of juicy gossips?

my new year resolution is and not limited to the following:

1) travel. i would really love to go to japan again since i went last year with my parents. it was a blast a totally different culture. i need to embrace it

2) learn a new language. currently i am well versed in english and mandarin. i have always wanted to learn japanese and lately a strong desire to pick up korean. partly its due to the korean wave. its sweeping me up as well. oh well cant help it i'm light.. haha

3) find a new job. i have been stayin on in my job for close to 2 years plus now. its about time. i my context, its not healthy to stay in job for so long. things start to get too safe, you start to get lazy, you procrastinate more, you think you know your work and start to wiggle your way out of things. NO. i dont wanna end up like those people! so since i am going to finish my part time studies in 2010, its high time i start to find a job before i become over dued.

well, they say three's a crowd. i shall not be so ambitious to post like a whole long list of resolutions and look back at the end of the year thinking damn! i didnt do this i didnt do that. well its keep it short and last but not least, hopefully i can keep up posting on my blog