Are you an optimist or a pessimist?

At times, I'm not sure which one I'm belong to. I think of myself as being an optimist person most of the times. But at the same time, I do whine a lot or thinking things will fail.

I mean for example, how can an optimist while falling from a 50th storey building says to himself, “ I am still ok, no problem.”

You get the picture?
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Received sms from Melvin at 8:00pm sharp. It say, “Tune to channel 5 now, Fiona Xie is on TV. Slurp...slurp”. Then following by more sms, by this time I sensed my long time friend was very excited of what he sees.

I figured his body must be collapsed to the floor intoxication with happiness.

So I switched to Channel 5 to see what is the story. Regrettably I watched for 10 min before switching back to my news channel.

Here what I saw. You guys be the judges.













I have no idea what is this show all about, really.

It look to me like some women to show off their cleavage on TV while recommend some food or is it about breast cancer? I absolutely have no idea and wanted to call Melvin to clarify the matter.

But I stopped because until I saw this....



Ah,......doing what Zoe Tay do best; swallow.

My guess is Melvin is too high to know his own family even I call him now. So I gave up the idea.

I concluded this is a boobs competion or Zoe Tay's swallow challenge of some sort.
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I'm giving Bear a treat on food, washing hair and earwax as his birthday gift.

Meet him at Temasak tower after work at 5pm and brought him my old neighborhood at Jalan Kukoh . I love this place although it kind of old but it has this warm feeling just like a family which you cannot get a newer estate

As we meeting Lam at 6:30am, I don't want to eat too full as we're going to dinner together. So I ordered something light which were fried fish, veg and a soup to fill our hungar first.

When the fish arriving at our table, it is hot and crispy with a light soy sauce on it.

In less than ten minutes,.......



What you see Bear holding the bone of the fish. He practically stripped the fish to bare. It good to see him enjoying his food.

Pick up Lam at 6:30pm and off we go for our “main course”; washing hair.

What's good about washing of hair in the saloon? This is no ordinary saloon. Washing with added back massage costs SGD15.00. Don't want to go into details maybe I do it in my next entry together with some pictures.

Like I said, it's my treat to Bear plus his ear waxing services.

As for dinner was at marine south under Lam's account and I paid for the beer.



You know the Marine south steamboat is not everyone liking.

First of all, I do find that eating steamboat is a fuss. Like tossing raw meat and vegetables into a slowly simmering pot while the poor, starving diners are forced to drool longingly over the cooking pot. The smoke rises engulf us all like a fog. Then barbecue of the meat....oohhh the smell!

In fact, I hate it.

But sometimes, we look at the larger picture in life. So long everybody is happy, who cares about the smell on our clothes or the food quality.



We're having a good time despite food really bad and offensive smell on our clothes. This is what really matter.
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These days my memory are like a goldfish. I need to write down some friend's birthday on my blog.

Today Bear is 34 years old.

Time it can seem like yesterday or a lifetime. In this instances, times flew by so fast it just like a rocket rocket blasting toward space. Knew Bear since 1991 when we join NS as recruit, then ORD and came out to work and now it 15 years on,......anyway damn fast.

Happy birthday, Bear

Happy birthday song for bear (Click)



(Here's a Birthday gift kit just for you)

An eraser, so you can make all your troubles disappear.
A penny, so you never need to say you are broke.
A marble, in case someone says you've lost all of yours.
A rubber band, to stretch yourself beyond your limits.
A string, to tie things together when everything falls apart.
And friendship to remind you that someone, somewhere, cares.

Have a wonderful birthday, Bear!
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I noticed something.

Hairy men tend to unbutton one or two button on his shirt. Purpose to show off his hair chest. Do girls like hairy guys? I asked a few girls and to be surprise........yes.

Why?

More manly, can run their fingers across their hairy chest lor, was the answer given to me.

I watched a documentary on discovery channel about lioness choosing her mate. Apparently she favors the lion with mane is not only spectacular, but also unusual. Male lion's mane is like carry an extravagant ornament on them.

I guess the male lion's manes function was to attract females just like hairy men.

Also thousand years ago, usually tall and good hunters are hairy males, they able able to protect the tribe or family and bring valuable meat back. To the women mating with a hairy man would increase the chances her offspring would survive.

Ladies, I'm proud to announce that I have so much hair, you ladies not only just to run your fingers through and also able to comb and style it with hair products.

You girls ready?

My naked picture as show below.













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I have tons of weird stuffs about myself but I'm only lists 12. Why twelve? I don't know, it nice number to begin with I guess. Like 12 disciples / apostles of Jesus Christ or 12 months in a year perhaps?

Here goes,....

12 weird things about me

1) I have never played rollerskate / rollerblade in my life before. - You know during the 80s; pac man game, breakdance and of course roller skate were very popular then. All my friends knew how to skate. Back then I was poor and no money to buy like they said, the rest is history.

2) I am typically pretty organized and neat. - Whether about my files in my PC or little things in my house. Even when I came back home, I will put my wallet, keys and watch in a neat row. My shoes will arrange neatly in order with the rest.

3) I don't drink plain water unless necessary – On the morning I drink coffee. In office mostly milo or soya bean and lunch will be coke. If I'm outside working on board ship probably will be 100 plus to make up for my loss of sweat. At home, green tea.

4) I love cats and dogs – But can't stand living with me because I'm afraid of them.

5) Those who likes to shake leg – Simply drives me crazy until I freak out and cry….“just stop it!” I don't comprehend what they trying to do, they would shake and shake their legs as if trying to get something off of it.

6) I talk to myself - I don’t know about you, but I find sometimes I have the most incredible conversations with myself. Not about any one thing in particular just well everything. I do sometimes think they are the most quality communication I have. At times I wonder if I really want should have an intelligent conversation, I just talk to myself.

7) I wear my spectacles during bathing – Yes, even washing my hair.

8) I have a bad memory - Once I even forgotten how to write my Chinese name.

9) All my fishes die before their time – I play with my fishes when I got back home, like redecorate the tank, or even catch them in a pail and putting them back. I convinced they all died of stress. Now I have an empty fish tank.

10) I have a vivid imagination - Sometimes I spend too much time thinking about the worst thing that can possibly happen in any given situation even when I'm walking or driving.

11) I am generally not superstitious - But I do feel compelled to say “excuse me” whenever I need to pee under a tree for instant.

12) Fantasize while going to sleep - I always follow the same routine, like imagine myself on a trip through space on my spaceship or exploring the deep sea. If not, I visualize myself back to the past like in the movie "New Dragon Gate Inn" (Xin long men ke zhan).

I feel so weird at times.
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Ooi, you think you're pretty smart, don't you ZOE? You heard me. I'm talking to you in front of my pc. Still trying acting cute with that good friend of your?

Yes you, the one wearing cap machiam Tiger Wood. Wipe off that tikou smile from your face, you SOB. I'm not your types.

Back to you Zoe, nice try however no matter how you act cute, you're ugly. Not that I'm giving you attention, in fact you are the one who is giving out attention. I think that a name to it......oh yes attention seeker.

Let me ask you, what is your favorite bird? No need to tell me, I know. It's swallow, tio boh? You really pissed me off. Let me list out some of your “crime”

1) Your voice is like toad and still tried to sing.

2) You can't act in period dramas, you looks like a transvestite, really.

3) No overseas exposure are you are the Ah Jie of Medicorp? You must be kidding me.

4) Your status in medicorp is Queen, cannot be justified.

5) You're old and and haggard for her age, wrinkles are clearly visible. Your photos in adverts, magazines were all touched up with photoshop.

6)Your Ex trim-X "cha cha cha" advertisement were was downright disgusting.

7) At the Star Awards 2005, forcing Christopher Lee to propose on national TV, snatching the stage from Chen Hanwei,and dominating the attention from Christy Chung.

8) Your new advert had her proudly proclaiming that her secret to good skin is to "swallow".

9) You talk about breastfeeding, how much milk you had. Honestly, who fuck cares?

If this is not attention seeker, what is?



Look at you....auntie status liao, expired like a can of old vegetable. You still don't want to give up the throne? You should retire gracefully instead hanging to that small crown of your.

You are one of the reason why I gave up watching medicorp Chinese serial years back.



So, my message to you, retired gracefully. Don't be a sore eye on TV, please. I mean look at you,...there's nothing wrong with being old and ugly. A lot of guys will still find you attractive.

But for Christ's sake, keep it real. Don't try to be hot if you're not.

Because we can tell. And it turns us off.
Men might be stupid, but we're not dumb.
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Spain/Portugal day 13

At 10.00am sharp, we left Spain travel to Helsinki via Stockholm. Our plane touch down at 4pm. Flight to Singapore is at 11:35pm(LT) and our tour leader strongly advise us remain at the airport and not to wander out of the airport.

Siao boh?

This tour leader is freaking crazy. Remain in the airport until check in?

Hello, it so happen the “How” family is very adventurous and gung-ho.

Mum, sister and myself tell ourselves die die, must go to the city since we're at Finland. Take this opportunity to see how is Finland all about, tio boh?

(By the way, only us and a couple went out, the rest of the group stay in the airport transits lounge. They all very obedient.)

We went off and check the taxi fare to city and was told that 3 of us would cost 35 Euro ($70). Journey take only 15min.

Siao! So expensive.

After asking around, bus is the best option. Bus costs each person Euro 5.2 ($10.4). Wau lau, more than $10 (Sin) for half hour bus journey. Very expensive.

Reached city area and this is Helsinki, capital of Finland.


(We're on our own, sweet!)


(Behind me was railway railway station)

I noticed this city is very different from the rest of the cities I been in Spain and Portugal. Building are very modern, there's no graffiti anywhere, street are clean and most of the people here understand and speak English.


(There's no Asian people around here)


(As usual, photograph session)




(Yes, it cold)




(We wondered to ourselves, where we should goes next)


(Can see the plce is big. Don't one to lose our way)




(How nice if we have time to travel on the train behind mum and sister)


(I'm been to Spain, Portugal, Gibraltar and now Finland. Wooohaa!)




(Oh ya, the some of the people dress very loud. Able to capture one picture only like the gal in front of me.)




(Had our lunch at some fast food restaurant, the cheapest we could find.)

Finland is more expensive than Spain or Portugal.

A McDonald burger, I mean just a burger alone cost EURO 6.50 and that's SGD13.00!!! Kanina.

From drink, food, cigarettes to beer everything is more expensive than Spain.

Going to the toilet cost 1 Euro and that's SGD1.00. Yes.....we pay SGD0.20 for the use of toilet back home, we'll crying as if it is the end of the world liao.

Oh yes, there are food court here no doubt and I saw they have steak too. Check out the price and it cost Euro35.00 (SGD70.00).

**Faint**


(Continue after out walk/tour after lunch)


(Inside the train station)


(Train very advance, not like the train we had from Keppel to JB)














(Molly Malone...we had one back home too)


(As I wander around, I check the price. It is highway robbery here)


(The standard of living is outrageous high)


(Trust me, don't ever come to Finland. The price here are preposterous)


(Hey, found a good deal)


(At 8:30pm, we took bus back to airport. Don't be fool by the bright sun. Sunset here very late.)

Plane took off at 11:35pm (6:35pm-Singapore time) to Singapore via Bangkok. After 3 cities, 24hrs later we landed at Changi airport at 6:30pm (Singapore time)

Home sweet home! Man, I miss my bed.
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Spain/Portugal day 12

(Do a fast one.....really very late in my blog.
Kanina, been more than 3 months liao)

Slept well last night and for good hotel, breakfast also good.

First stop was Christopher Columbus's monuments and was weather was surprisely cold.


(Street in Madrid, taken in the coach)


(Water fountains stand in a gracious setting with formal gardens & sparkling)


(Madrid monuments, Christopher Columbus's)

Nothing interesting, really. Been seeing monuments and church day in, day out.
Wau lau en.


(Temp today is 16C, cold)

Next stop is the The Royal Palace in Madrid

The Royal Palace in Madrid is actually used (but not owned) by the King of Spain. The Palace was built on the site of a former Alcazar that burned down in 1734, and it took 26 years to complete.

A visitor to the Palace today gets to see 50 of its 2800 rooms.


(Outside the Palace)


(After paying entrance fees one enters the Parade ground.)


(Inside the palace)




(See the green sticker on my shoulder?)


(After paying they given u sticker to paste on yr clothes.)














(While the Palace is impressive in size alone I was really amazed by the broad range of styles used to decorate the rooms. No two rooms appear to have been done in the same manner.)

















Time: Lunch
Food: Suckling pig

They roasted the pig and before they serve, they set fire on the pig. Then using a ceramics plate, they make it into small pieces.

When done, they smash the plate on the floor.
It their traditional way to serve.


(My suckling pig was incredible - the meat was really tender and the crisp roasted skin which cracks when cut and tastes simply delicious. Oh ya, the beer was good too)

I told you guys before that on the first day in Spain I wrote that of the places visited for the next 10 days, there were 2 places I was really impressed which Sagrada Familia was one of them.

Well, the other place is here.
In fact I am freaking impressed!!!

It is the AQUEDUCT!


(Behind me was the aqueduct)



What is aqueduct?

An aqueduct is a man-made channel that is constructed in order to control the flow of water in a city. Aqueducts were originally developed in the Middle East by the Babylonians several thousand years ago as an early form of plumbing.

Aqueducts are famously associated with the Romans, who built several throughout their empire. Most of them were above ground, and were quite architectural in their appearance. The term aqueduct comes from the Latin for "aqua" water.


(The aqueduct was built and been here since Roman times. Yes,...thousands of years)


(I think it was build before Christ and this structure was still standing. Amazing)


(We came, we saw, we touch the wall of aqueduct. U know which hand is mine lah...holding cigarettes)






(It was so long until my eye could no longer see where it end)






(Really impressive. U guys had to come here to sense it yourself.)


(What a experience to be here)












(Of course now the aqueduct is not in use anymore)



After this amazing visit, we walked around the small town.




(Buzzing with life, mainly all is tourists)
















(Mum loves to touch everything she sees..haha)


(After waiting for a few second, I join her - Check it out)


















(Alot of castle around Europe)










(I decided to become kid once again, to climb)












(The ground below was at least 10m high)





The coach brought us back to hotel but on the way we drop off as we want to walk back to our hotel as to see around Madrid as well.






(Typical Madrid restaurant)

This is our last day in Spain, tomorrow we are flying back to Singapore. BTW, going take us 24hrs to reach Singapore
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