They say men's weakness or fear are women's tears. Women who weep, who shed tears of emotion would break most men apart. Truly, tears are the strength of women.

Melvin, I'm sure rank this as his number 1 fear.

For me, I have this fear as well but all along I know it's not my greatest nightmare. Somehow, I couldn't figure out what was my and most men or women's greatest fear.

Until today!

I was on train back home when I heard someone cried. It was a baby's cries.

I saw there was 3 women who took care of the baby cried.

(After the incident)

Lady in pink was seen fanning the baby, the lady in the middle was feeding and the lady in orange was trying to make face just to please the baby.

A baby's cry is louder than a chainsaw at arm's length and baby can cry for so long and make any adult nervous. The screaming siren sound coming from their whining-crying babies....ouch will make men and women go down on their knee to beg if necessary if this will make babies stop crying.

Once babies started screaming, your mind goes mind. You have no control whatsoever except to do what in your power to please. You can't talk back and basically their cries will wreck and tear down any mental strength you might have. The best part it applied to women as well.

Tell me, is this not men's greatest fear?

.

People will somehow make a significant improvement in their life in years to come. Whether owning a car in their later year or having a better model for laptop/mobile phone. Even can't have all this, but most people managed to make many other improvements in some other area.

Example
Bear recently upgraded his broadband to Maxonline wireless.
Roger recently brought a PC. (he never own one before)

Improvement can bring significant fulfillment to every area of your life.

The infamous Hock Soon is the only person I knew of never make any improvement in his life. During all this years if I had a dollar for every time he tells me his life sucked, I would be very rich.

(Treat him for beer & chicken wings)

He came over my place and whined the same kind of thing over and over again. I knew him since secondary school days it like 20 years now and during all this years just imagine. It's like same kind of shit but on different day.

(Treat him for a smoke as well)

I mentioned before, he's only a month and a half older than me but ...alas his thinking is worst than my little nephew. Now I know something else, he picked up useless hand out leaflets, I mean REALLY useless leaflets and put inside a plastic bag he was carrying.

Asked him why?
He said he keep for fun.

Goodness me my worst fear just confirm, he has become a garage collector.

I'm sure you guys read up news all the times about old men/old women collecting rubbish or garage, it's like a hobby to them. Further to my probed, I found his hobby match match those I mention!!!

What I found out.

He's been asking name cards from strangers because he like to collect them. Collect useless handout leaflets. Pick up spoils pen on the floor and keep it in his bag. Inside his bags got newspaper that are months back.

What do he mean he's keeping all these useless stuffs for fun?
I don't understand.

Come to think of it, how will I understand of a person afflicted with insanity?

.

(Sorry for the late update, been very busy & lazy lately)

Today is family day! My family always maintain in order to strengthen family relationships, we must have a sort of program once a month, whether it eating or outing.

I slept at 0500hrs because of work and woke up at 0800hrs, just 3 hours of sleep, my goodness. But nevermind, family day is just as crucial as sleeping if not even more important.

Reached Changi village with mum, sister & brother in-law at 0830hrs. After had our breakfast at nearby hawker centre we proceeded to the jetty.

(New jetty)

Yes, folks we are heading for Pulau Ubin; A place where time stood still.

Singapore runs like a well oiled machine: efficient, modern and spotless. But there is another side to Singapore that most people seem to have overlooked. Meet Pulau Ubin.

Pulau Ubin appears to be "birth defect" from modern Singapore and in fact, most of the inhabitants of Pulau Ubin have left for the 'rat race' in the city. The main occupants that remain in this hilly island are now mostly fishermen or subsistence farmers.

We are heading there with a mission, to try the local village's chicken.

Trip to Pulau Ubin is $2 per person and in order for his trip to be worth his while, the boatman wouldn’t leave until he had a minimum of 12 passengers. It took about just 1 minute of waiting before we all get in the launch.

(My work's launch is much better conditions than this)

My mum & sister were filled with enthusiasm I couldn't say the same for myself.
Just a couple of hours back, I was in a launch(work).

(they looked excited, no doubt)

We arrived at this island after a 15-minute boat ride. Here got sea, got beach, got sun.....but what's missing?
Ah......how nice if they got baywatch like girls as lifeguards.

(First thing that greeted you once arrived)

(Cars number plate in green)

The only luxuries here are shops and rundown cars. The island locals here are quite friendly and the place appeared that time has frozen here. The two-storey shop-houses are the tallest buildings around here.

(like back the olden days)

It's a strange sensation to be in these surroundings. There are a few provision shops and seafood shops at the entrance of the island. Adventure seekers like my family wanted to explore untouched areas of the island first. The best way around is on a bicycle, which we rent a mere $5 for the whole day.

(at least 6 bicycles shops)

Slept for only 3 hours and under hot sun go ridding on a bicycle?
I must be crazy to agreed to this idea.

(I keep reminded my mum not to speed, she can go up to 100km per hour.)

Yes, I'm crazy.
Since I'm here, I am prepared to use those beautiful muscles of mine(do they exist in the first place?) and sweat it out a little.

(my mum)

We started panting our lungs out.

(Endless track, endless sunray)

(Tour de france team)

We made a pit-stop at this fairly well-kept kampong houses for some cold water. They sell $1 per can (Coke, 100 plus & etc)

(I love kampong house)

As we pedalled along, I was the last..........of the pack.

(Everybody waiting for me)

(Pedalled=energy=food)

Before we knew, it was lunch time. The purpose of coming all the way here is to try their chicken. Ride back to the village and we decided to try this village's seafood shops.

(First stop, what a sign)

We were informed that most of the seafood here, chicken & duck were local reared. First dish, “live” sea water prawns farmed in Pulau Ubin.

(My god, it was heavenly delicious)
Damage: $20

I had eaten fair share of “live' prawns over the years, this I must say it really good.

Next on the dish belong to wild life.
(wild boar meat)
Damage: $10

Fat? No fat, unlike pig. It's taste like pig meat except without much fat. It taste really good and if you guys happen to be in Ubin next time...must order.

As for the next dish....
(Veg)
Damage: $5

A meat lover like myself, I have no knowledge what kind of vegetable is this.

The objective to organise this trip is for our kampong chicken. Why? Well, just the other day we were having dinner, talking about Pulau Ubin's village chicken taste so much better the ones sold in supermarket and that why we're here now.

Here comes the leading actor/actress.
(Village's chicken)
Damage: $15

What's so special about this chicken?
I find that it's not so oily and definitely less meat. Actually nothing special.

(A picture tells a thousand words, yummy)

(Make it yummy part2)

After lunch, we decided to explore more of this small island.
Here some photos taken along the way.

(Old abandoned houses)
There are many old house along the way. It can for sure pass off any ghost houses.
You wouldn't want to spend a night here, I assure you.

(Rusty car)
I could see a least 5 vehicles in this kind of conditions along the road.

(Control flow of the water)
There were many abandoned quarries, I'm not sure why they built so many of them in the first place.

(Opportunities local vilagers)
There are stalls selling from local coconuts plucked from Ubin, I was told.

(Rest place for the dead)

Really, I'm not aware of cemetery being existed in Ubin.

(largest temple in Ubin)
This is the famous temple in Ubin however I can't read chinese, I don't know what was the temple's name.

We made our way to the jetty about 3:00pm and I felt that the experience going back to nature was fun and seeing that life in Ubin was really simple, really nice.

.

It's confirmed.

Received memo that my company will be shifting to Temasek Tower located at Shenton way on the 1st of June. This is because our Korean principal company is going to public listed (IPO to be release in June) in Singapore this year and currently office space too small.

You know how I feel working in Shenton way?

It's full of minions/executives rushing out to work in the morning and under the harsh noon sun surprisingly come full of life only for lunch. Everybody's busy, everybody's rushing and most of all mankind looks like a robot with no expression only to focus on what’s ahead and nothing else.

Their sole purpose in life seem to be moving from point A to point B. As soon as lunch over, in the blink of an eye, some then fading back to their air conditioned cells.

In Parkway Parade is total different, I dare to say.

I always want to be a great procrastinator but I never got the chance of doing so but next month I got many opportunity when working in Shenton way. This is because I'm like a man afflicted with Alzheimer's disease, I don't know where should I have my lunch.
(One of the many examples)

Scenario A

Me: Shall I go here?
(After seeing so many people, I change my mind)

Me: Hmm...I think I'll better over there to eat.
(Walking over......chey, the queue so long one)

Me: Ok, I walk over that side for I can see quite a number of empty seats

(After walking over there)
Me: Wah lao eh, I really buey tah han. So many tissues occupying the seats one eh?
Like this also can? Fuck Shit.

Me: Nick, you must be strong. Keep searching & you will find.

(After half an hour gone)
Me: Where should I eat, ah???

.

You know how I was whining about people ruining my day, example a certain 'siew ren' maybe attending a weekend ship. Or it could be my inconsiderate neighbor to the very Ah Beng, salesman trying sell you some useless stuff in order to gain some commission.

Even my gaming Internet friend for just a simple game, his own selfishness was revealed. Frankly, I long slammed my book of dreams of finding any beautiful individual that sees with one heart and not with one mind.

What to do in Singapore, for it a jungle out there, it's every man for himself.

But today, someone actually brighten my day! There is hope after all.

You know me, how I like to portray my playful behavior to “disturb' females or actual term for it is flirt, I believe. By the way, flirting is not all bad. Everybody flirts in one way or another way whether is conscious or subconscious. Smile to opposite sex is also part of flirting what.

Anyway, today I was having my lunch at Jack's place (once every 2 weeks) at Parkway and there was this waitress called, Ch_r_l which I often flirt with and today she came over with a glass of coke with a slice of lime. She told me it hers treat. (Normal, asked for ice-water).

The funny thing about this, suddenly I'm loss of any words as if someone struck me on the head. All I say was, “thank you “ while nodded my head like a dummies.

Damn, where my flirting power when I need one.

But the moral of the story is about when someone shows little gestures such as this, it's really brighten my day. (Refer to my free coke)

PS: Shall asked for her mobile phone next time before my office move to new location.

.

Over the years, somehow we would lose all contacts with old classmates which means we probably never will meet up again or see each other again. How often do you bump into them on the street?
Probability 1% or maybe NEVER in your entire life.

The last time I saw "rabbit" a nickname given him when in my secondary was in 1987 and didn't see him again until by chance last year in Orchard road. Wow, after 17 years finally bump into him. After exchanging phones numbers we actually met up for dinner some weeks later.

The weird thing is that I happen to bump into him yet again, one in Suntec and the other, today.

(He's losing his hair)

The thing about this issue was that I didn't see him for 17 years and met him by chance only last year and after that, I ran into him twice again. How weird can it get?

Come to think of it, I never met people Bear, Roger or Melvin on the street before?

.

My office in Parkway Parade has almost everything under one roof (4 banks/restaurants/shops/fastfoods). People like Melvin whom in years haven't visit this place still think this is Pearl Centre lookalike building. How uninformed of him.

This place by far is my best working environment (outside office) ever. But all this is going change, dammit!

Unofficial news (90% reliable), we are shifting to Temasek Tower located at Shenton Way by the end of May this year.

Hearing this, like a recurring nightmare I saw myself walking along Shenton Way, dragging one foot ahead of the other in order to keep pace, feeling like a robot like everybody else, only to focus on what’s ahead of me and nothing else.

Just one word, sian.

Mevlin, I can jio you for lunch next month liao.

.

Recently I was chatting with a friend who was a Christian and I told her I was a free thinker. Upon hearing this, she instantaneously deemed me to be satanic and offered to “rescue” me that is........to attend her church.
(Alice, not refering to you)

Hmm.......me evil?
I think she is discriminating me. (Just kidding)

Speaking of church, when I was just a child, I used to attend church services together with my mum and sibling. The church, St Andrew Cathedral is just situate opposite of Cityhall and it's a traditional kind of church.

During my secondary school days, I was approached by 2 females christian then and subsequently followed them to their church, the new kind for ONE session.

What's followed was unforgettable event which I never forget in my life.

Their church services was just a room inside a building near Outram road and once inside I could see drums, guitars and all kinds of music instrument. They kicked off their service by playing drums/guitar & singing. They sang on the stage as if they were like rock group, Boni Jovi.

After the mini concert, they started their ritual, the praying session and guess what?

All of them began shaking and speak like some chopping French languages I do not understand. For a moment I thought they suddenly lost the ability to move their tongue, speak, and swallow properly. Can this be possible for everybody have have speech disorders at the same time?
(Later I found out it this is “speak in tongue”)

I was staring at them with disbelief and avoid the odd one out (I'm the only person in the room with no movement) I tried to speak their alien language as well. I thought nothing could be worst than this and boy was I wrong.

Some of them started dropping like flies, fell to the ground with epilepsy like condition minus white foam coming out their mouth. I could see some are in agony and some even loss of consciousness.

Folks, at that time I am under great distress.

Although would like to mingle with them to crease any detection I'm the “odd man out” but I cannot bring myself acting like a person having a fit. I'm just too cool for doing that. Hahah

So this my only encounter with other church apart of St Andrew Cathedral.

.

Whenever there a earthquake occurred in Sumatra, some Singaporean could experience tremors here. At times, I feel so jealous because I never get to “participate” in this kind of events.

I remember when I was in New Zealand, I was in this exhibition where they have earthquake as part of the show. I went to this room to 'experience' earthquake, the room shook as if end of the world but it was I wasn't too thrilled as it was so faked.

And tonight, I actually FELT it and it scare the shit out of me.
No kidding.

I was at home installing all my programs on my new hard disk (pc) and about 7:10pm I noticed myself seem to sway for side to side. My first reflex, ignore it (what kind of reflex is that, by the way?). Still it persists and getting stronger and then I touched my table to confirm and yes it was a tremors.

Holy earthquake, it was alarming intimidating. To think just few days back, I would laughing at chaps for calling police. I was about to call 999 myself. I ought to be ashamed. Hahaha

The thought of, "What if my flat collapse?"

If I die immediately that's a relieved for me. But if I were to survive and trap under tons of rubbles that prove even worst than death itself. In total darkness with no food or water, can't move an inch and waiting to die? Holy shit, scare me so much I can't bear on writing this anymore.

The collapse of HDB flats will not happen?
Think again

Let' see.....first of all on theory, Singapore is geographically impossible to be hit by earthquake.
But can you be sure? Nothing is impossible with mother nature.

As for our HBD flats, all I can say is basically no building in the world is earthquake proof. I know we are having just small tremor and it's not earthquake right? But many shock after shock or rather small tremors does it takes to loosen the foundation/soils? With lands constantly disturbed, I'm sure it will have an effect of the stability of the land. We may reach a point at which even small scale tremors may be catastrophic.

Last point, never in my life would I want to experience tremors of any kind, be small or big scale. It sure scared the living hell out of me.

.

When I can't find something, it really pisses me. If something as personal as my underwear, it's suck!

It's no ordinary underwear which I lost, it has a name sewn on it, “CK”. Hey, do not mistake it as a stand for “Chee Keong” and it don't sells for 3 pieces for $10. By the way, who's the hell is Chee Keong anyway? You think I'm a gay?

Calvin Klein was the brand costs me $45 a piece. Damn!

I couldn't figure how my underwear could get lost. I mean if Bear or Mevlin visited my place recently I could have easily blame them on my loss.

Why them?
Well, there was this rumor circulating since 1995 claims that both of them like to smell stained underwear. Whahaha! What's a stange nauseating hobby do they have.

Ah......that make me feel much better.

So the mystery of my lost underwear remain unsolved and if I keep losing my underwear, I swear I'll go bare next time.

.

Since the beginning of this year, I'll been scouting a phone to replace my K700i. Yeah, I can't stand using phone more than a year, it's kind of bother me. Don't ask me why for I have no answer to it myself.

When O2 mini came out, I was like wow......., my prefer kind of phone. PDA, small and most of all equip with a 1.3 mega-pixel VGA camera. After some research I found out the phone camera suck.

So had to give up the idea.

When Mitsubishi M900 came out, it support miniSD memory cards and it was review by many users that the M900 2.0 mega-pixel camera was sooo clear that even the mighty Sony Ericsson S700i was no match.

Ok......that my phone, I thought. But later on I found out the phone has no bluetooth.
Huh? No Bluetooth mean no buy?

And now I found this! K750 (click on it)

S.E K750 came with 2 megapixel camera with auto focus. Memory stick duo slot up to 1 GB. Preview here

This may be my next phone.

.

A company invited us (operation dept) for lunch and just week we had lunch with another company. How come I can still remain incredibly slim?

So what we had for lunch this time? It's get so bored everytimes I write about food. This time, I do a new format.

Riddles

Q: I lives in Bejing and all my friends are in a farm. When I get 2.5kgs, I will send to the kitchen which I don't like.
What am I?

(Bejing roast duck)

This dish nothing extraordinary, nothing to shout about.

Q: I am a misunderstood creature of the sea as people always like to eat me. Hey what the hack, I like to eat them too. After some chaps took something from me, they throw me back to the sea. What I hate most is human thought that I could swim away finless. How silly of them.
What am I?

(Shark fin soup)

I had shark fin soup an average of 5 times a year since 1993. Rating is better than those in wedding no doubt but nothing to shout about really.

Q: I like to swim in the seabed. But I'm bored and frustrated for I wish I was a shark, then I wouldn't have constantly being harassed and threatened.
What am I?

(Prawns cook with wasabi)

This dish I never try before. Prawns fried & covered in wasabi but it not to my liking though.

Q: Do a goggle search “Soon Hock” you will have Tan Soon Hock, Ng Soon Hock, Lim Soon Hock & etc. I have the same name as human for I am called Soon Hock too! During important event such as the Chinese New Year, many Chinese would love to invite me to their dinner table. I feel soooo honored.
What am I?

(Deep-fried Soon Hock fish)

The meat was very crispy and this dish is simply fabulous.

Q: I'm neither appealing nor repelling. Either you love me or hate me.
What am I?

(Some sort of vegetable)

Seriously, I have no idea what it was for I did not consume.

.

I was in for a big surprise when I go back for my reservist for a day. How I wish sometimes they would recalled us for a 2 weeks training instead just a day. How I missed that good old days. What fun!

Just one day back camp and what are we supposed to do, I wonder.

After in-processing, we were at the hall, our CO (Commanding Officer) was addressing us as usual I was talking with my platoon friends not paying any attention at all. When CO announced this is our LAST IN CAMP, I was somehow shocked.

I do a quick count, let see.........I finished my National Services in Jan 93 and now is year 2005! After 12 years of reservists..........oh my goodness, time really flies.

This is it! This is the time we all have been waiting for!

We had a simple parade, a final one of course and we were handed over our Certificate of Appreciation by OC.



It too small to you to read, I will type it out

(My precioussss)

On the certificate, it says

In recognition of your contribution towards national Defense through the faithful discharge of your national Services duties for the security of our nation.

Finally, no more reservist, however for mobilizations recall we still have.
Not too sure about IPPT though, I think it no more liao.

In the Army, there a term called, “lao cheow” literally an 'old bird', meaning an experienced individual.
This time, I really feel like a “lao cheow”

Hmmm....why do I feel like an old man suddenly?

.