Happy New Year 2006

Around 30 minutes more and it will be 2006.

Just want to wish everyone there a Happy New Year! May the year 2006 be a more fruitful and productive year for everyone :)

Tags: Events

Medan Trip - Interesting Things

There are some interesting things that I found or had happened while I was there.



There's The Body Shop and Ya Kun Kaya Toast there. Didn't expect to see these two shops in Medan...haha.

But there was this shop that surprised me.


Bread Life! Lol...


Can you believe it? Ice cream at 1,000 Rp! That's like S$0.20! Cheap huh?


This happened when 2 of my family members went to see the doctor. The sign at the door says, "Perhatian, mohon jangan parkir mobil tepat didepan pintu ini. Terima kasih." In English it reads, "Notice: Please do not park your car right in front of this door. Thank you."


And I thought I never would see his face again...lol.


Found these books in a bookshop. Well, it only goes to show that schools there like the books we use here...haha.


Found this poster at a KFC restaurant in one of the plazas. It basically means that the Rice Meal consists of 1 Chicken, 1 Rice and 1 Reg Coke for just 9,000 Rp (it's about S$1.80). I found the "1 Rice" part weird. One rice?



Found a stray dog and cat on different days when I returned home. The dog reminded me of my days as a dog handler. As for the cat, my cousin took pity on it and decided to adopt it. However, my Grandmother said no. Sad huh?

Well, I guess that's all for my trip to Medan. Hopefully you've enjoyed the photos and the articles :)

Articles:
Medan Trip - Medan
Medan Trip - Family And Friends
Medan Trip - The Food

Tags: Happenings, Holidays, Indonesia

Medan Trip - Medan

Life in Medan is so different from that of Singapore. For example...


Look! No helmet on the streets!




The first photo shows the back of a man selling cigarettes and two boys selling newspapers for money. The second shows a man playing his guitar for money. The third shows another boy selling newspapers for money.You won't find these here in Singapore. Well, these are poor people who are asked by their parents to look for extra income by these means. Some of them like the one in the second photo can't find a proper job and has to use such means to earn an income. It's sad but this is the life of some people there.


The road conditions there...hmm...can be improved. It's no wonder to see holes here and there along the roads.



This was my school where I studied in. Methodist 3, the place where I had my kindergarten education. I would have looked like these children back then dressed in white shirt and red pants.


This is Normansen. It used to be one of the top universities in Medan. But recently, standards have dropped. It's no longer as impressive as it used to be. It looks like it's poorly maintained.



Live chickens and cows! You don't get to see farm animals such as these in Singapore man...but I saw them! Haha...they were walking about and eating. It was quite an experience. It's one thing to learn about them through books and another thing to learn by actually SEEING them LIVE!


Parking your car is not as safe as it is here. This car here was scratched. Scratches like these are common there. Some are done by juveniles while some are done by "tukang parkir" (parking attendants) who help drivers find a parking space. The reason? May be due to not receiving enough money or simply just for the "fun" of it.


This is called a "Becak" (Trishaw). It's very common in Medan. The one in the picture is used with a motorcycle. Traditional ones are used with a bicycle.


This is what some people do in their free time - playing chess. After this photo was taken, I realised that the advertisement behind the man on the right looks kinda awkward...lol. It was an advertisement for some massage cream.


This woman was smoking and sleeping at the same time! But by the time I got my camera ready, the cigarette was no longer there. How sad it is. But scenes like this is common where people will display their goods on the floor on top of a mat to sell to potential customers. Of course sleeping is not part of their job scope.




These are pictures of the market there. They even have a CD shop!

Articles:
Medan Trip - Interesting Things
Medan Trip - Family And Friends
Medan Trip - The Food

Tags: Happenings, Holidays, Indonesia

Medan Trip - Family And Friends

This post will show the people I mixed with during my trip to Medan. First of all, my family.


My family at Sulat Panjang. It's a place where there are many stalls lined along a small road. You can choose to eat from different stalls. I like the "mee pansit" there. Sadly there's none here in Singapore.


This is my family at the Exchange Club. As you can see, it's like a chinese restaurant with chinese tea and chopsticks.


These two are my cousins, Eunice and Hanniel. Cute aren't they? Haha.


Here are my cousins in the family car playing Uno. The girl in orange is my cousin Kardya.

Now for my friends...


Here's Kardya, Jinny and me at Papa Ron's Pizza.


Me and Sunarto. I met him while shopping with my friends at Sun Plaza. Coincidence?


Sunarto, Kartika and Hanniel outside the Church.


Susanti, Yokhebed and Shirley in the resting room.


Nancy, Yokhebed and Maia after Christmas Service in Church.


Hezkel (Guitarist), Ronald (Pro Drummer) and me (Drummer).

Now for some group photos that I have with MORE friends...haha.






Articles:
Medan Trip - Interesting Things
Medan Trip - Medan
Medan Trip - The Food

Tags: Friends, Holidays, Indonesia

Medan Trip - The Food

First of all I would write about the food there. Not all the food that I've eaten were captured into photos as I have a limited space in my memory stick. Well, the first food that I ate on my trip was...


So what's inside?


Well, it looks like some "popiah"...haha.

In Medan, they have Papa Ron's Pizza. It's something like Pizza Hut and Californian Pizza. But they have something interesting. They have an all-you-can-eat pizza buffet for just 12,000 Rp! That's just about...$2.00! Wow...it sounded attractive so I decided to try it out with my friends.


For that trip with my friends, I ate the most with a record of 8 slices (the most in the group). I ate another time with my Grandmother and broke my previous record with 10 slices! Lol...no wonder they don't have such things in Singapore...we'll eat the whole shop up...haha.

I also ate "chee chong fun" and "ak bihun" (Duck Bihun) there. The "ak bihun" is from this shop called "Bihun Bebek AMIN". It simply means "AMIN's Duck Bihun". Both the "chee chong fun" and "bihun" used are different from the ones in Singapore. The texture and tastes are different. I would say that it's unique. Both of them tasted way better than their Singapore counterparts...lol...




Then there's the "mee soto". It can only be found in Indonesia. It has a lot of coconut milk and can be spicy if you want. This "mee soto" was cooked by my cousin's auntie there. He said that when coming to Medan, I must try her "mee soto" as it was the best. So I tried and I must say that it tasted great.




At times, my uncle would bring the family to eat at restaurants as it's only in December do family members go to Medan to be with my Grandmother.


Well, that's roughly about it. There's also the "mee pansit" (wanton mee) and "nasi tim" (steamed rice) just to name a few. But I didn't manage to take their photos. Well the last food item that I had was...


Chicken puff and banana muffin with nuts.

Articles:
Medan Trip - Interesting Things
Medan Trip - Medan
Medan Trip - Family And Friends

Tags: Food, Holidays, Indonesia

Back From Holidays

Halo!! I am back and I must say that it was fun! Anyway, on my way back home, something interesting happened! I met the NJC Band in the airport!! How often do you get to meet with 100-or-so people from your Junior College in the airport? It was a surprise for both my section and me. I met my conductor Mr Ho also there. He is a nice guy who has helped me when I was a percussionist there.

Haha...took some photos with my section.



Well, you should know which one is me...it's so OBVIOUS...lol. I didn't look good in the picture though...must be tired from the trip...lol.

I will post some other pictures and stories later on :D

Tags: Friends, Junior College

Going On A Holiday!

I have decided to remove the video codec as it's no longer showing the music video. Instead it's showing ads by Yahoo about music.

Anyway, the aim of this post is to tell everyone (who happens to read my blog) that I will be on a holiday! I will be in Medan, Indonesia. Hopefully there won't be bombs and stuff like that. I will try to post some interesting photos and happenings there if there's an internet connection.

Be back two weeks later :D

Tags: Blog, Indonesia

Video Codec

Just installed a new video in my blog. It's Josh Groban's "You Raise Me Up". Tell me what you think of it and I will see if I will keep it :D

Tags: Blog

Shuai Ge

I was alighting from Bus 157 today, walking towards the traffic light. There were three girls in some basketball uniform. Yuhua Secondary School if I remember correctly.


A:

I was behind them walking towards the traffic light .

B:

I overtook them when I heard the one on the right said to the one on the left.

Right: Aiya...ni wei she me...eh...ni kan! You shuai ge leh!

I was like "Huh?". I was the only one there other than the three girls. Are they talking about me? I can't believe that I was complimented on the streets just like that. Haha. Guess what I did? I just dao-ed (ignored) them. Cool huh? Anyway, that isn't the point. The point is am I shuai (handsome)? Lol...was it a compliment? Was it me or was it just the Air Force uniform? Anyway, I continued my journey back home.

C:

This is where the story ends :)

(Maybe they were talking about the guy behind me whom I didn't notice)

Tags: Happenings, Singapore

A Christmas Card

Well, now that my mother is healthy, I guess my mood to blog has come back. Recently, I got a card from a friend. In case you are wondering, this friend is a female. It's quite rare to receive cards these days (this applies to me, not sure about the rest of you). I guess it's because people are too busy to take note of nitty-gritty things such as sending cards. But sending cards is still a nice thing to do. The effort in choosing one, writing it and posting it is really quite a lot. I've tried once to send a Christmas card and I know how hard it is...some may say that it is "ma fan" (troublesome).

So who is this card from? It's from my JC (Junior College) friend Ee Min. I still remember that we were part of the new batch of students that entered 03S21 after the first three months in JC. Then Mrs Geetha Nair allocated us to our own PW (Project Work) Groups. Well, she happens to be in my group. Or is it I that happened to be in her group? Anyway, my point is that we were both in the same group along with Priscilla, Krithika and Yan Lam. The five of us had a lot of fun during the Project Group Work as we had a lamer and four hardworking girls. I may joke a lot but hey...I work also.

(Well, thanks for the card Ee Min. And thanks for your well-wishes for my mother. The chess set may soon be a marketable item. Who knows? It might be a hit in the future.)

She's also as lame as me. It was her that thought me this sentence:

"Lameness is a form of art" ~ Ho Ee Min

What profoundness in five words!! Wait...it's six words. Sorry. I agree with it as many people think that lame jokes are "lame", dead jokes that give you stares from people around. But it takes a certain point of perception at that particular joke for people to enjoy it. At times, lame jokes are actually quite witty. An example:

Le Chatelier's Principle ~ A Chemistry principle.
Le Chatelier's Principal ~ His school principal.

Isn't it witty?

Anyway, her card ended with this:

"Dun lose your lameness or the art will lose one good missionary!"

Wow...I didn't know that I was some missionary for the cause of lameness! So what's the job scope? Making people lame? Telling lame jokes? (Lol...no offence Ee Min). I've tried to be lame and only received some verbal abuse and ostracism...lol. Sad huh?

Anyway, thanks for the card. It's nice to know that your friends still remember you.

Tags: Christmas, Friends, Singapore

NS...

The 10th of December 2004...my enlistment date. Today, 10th December 2005, marks the halfway point of my journey through NS.

One more year to go to my ORD loh!!

(Went out with my family just now. Good thing that my mother is back to her old self. I am glad that she is healthy :D)

Tags: Family, Health, National Service, Singapore

Urinary Calculus - Kidney Stones 3

I thought my mum had recovered from the pain in her abdomen. She went for a CT scan and they found out that there were kidney stones inside. Knowing this, she went for treatment, Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL), where shockwaves are applied to the stones to break them to smaller pieces. She went through that and it was successful. However...

Last night as I came back from work (National Service), she complained about pain from her abdomen, saying that it was much worse than before. It was 10.30 pm already and the pain is there, much worse than before. It was then that my father decided to bring her to NUH A&E (National University Hospital, Accident & Emergency). I followed while my little brother stayed at home as my parents wanted him to study for his examination a few days later. So I went with my father and mother to NUH A&E.

Upon reaching, my mum showed a referral letter from the polyclinic to the nurse attendant. She said that the pain was too much and unbearable, and wanted to sit. The nurse brought her to the Observation Bay.

There, we waited for the doctor to come, while she was struggling in pain. It was a painful sight to bear. Your mother being in pain with tears in her eyes and you just standing there not knowing what to do. I could see that my father was very worried. I've never seen him so worried before.

The wait was too long for my mother to bear. So my father decided to bring her to Mount Elizabeth Hospital A&E. As she went there for treatment, we started to talk in the car.

Father: This reminded me of your grandmother who used to have the same sickness. She had abdominal pain and suddenly fainted. When she woke up, she told me to take care of your mother not knowing when she may leave.

My mother started to tear. I guess marriage is for life. Through thick and thin. In sickness and in health. It was a very touching scene. I really respect my father for being such an exemplary father and husband.

Upon reaching, it was already midnight. We rushed my mum to see the doctor. The doctor asked her to lie on the bed. After a few minutes, the doctor told us that she was having a fever. It was due to some infection inside her body. The pain is caused by the infection. The doctor, told us that they will observe her for another 45 minutes. So we waited.

While waiting, I fell asleep. Waking up occasionally as it was not easy sleeping while sitting. At times, when I woke up, I could see my father beside my mum on her bed. Can't really hear what they are talking but I thought that that was so touching.

After the 45 minutes, the doctor told us that we could go back home. Upon reaching home, my mother felt much better and we all slept.

When I woke up this morning ("this morning" = now as I am writing this post), my father told me that my mother woke up halfway and vomitted a lot of stuff. After that she felt much better. I guess it's the "wind" inside. They slept at about 4.30 am.

My father played the biggest role in this whole event. He drove us to the different places and contacted nurses and doctors while I just helped and supported my mother as she walked.

From here I can see that when one family member is sick, the whole family is affected. It may be inconvenient but family bonds are, I believe, stronger. The family is a source of strength and support for the sick member. So I guess that's why people call their family "My Home".

Hopefully she will recover soon...God Bless...

Previous happenings:
Urinary Calculus - Kidney Stones
Urinary Calculus - Kidney Stones 2

Tags: Family, Health, Singapore

In The Bus - "Do I Know Him?"

I was on the bus standing. It was then that three guys (I think from Poly) in front of me started talking.

A: Ta hen xiang leh
B: Shi meh? Lian kan qi lai hen xiang, ke shi..
C: Tou fa ye shi hen xiang ta de.

The three of them looked at me. I looked out of the window.

B: Ni ken ding si ta ma?
C: Bu dong leh. Ta kan qi lai hen jing.
A: Ni bu ru gen ta jiang hua?
B: Wo? Bu yao lah...kan ta name jing.

I just listened...

I knew they were talking about me. But do I know them? It seems that they know me as evident from their conversation, but do I know them?

I looked at the three of them as they were talking...but there wasn't any bell ringing. I don't recognise them. Then one of them alighted while the other two went behind to sit. I continued standing there. I think they are still discussing about me. But do they know me? Or was it all just some prank by the three of them?

Well, I am not too sure.

Tags: Happenings, Singapore

Urinary Calculus - Kidney Stones 2

So far it's good news. My mum went for the treatment with my dad accompanying her. The result? It was a successful treatment!! However, she is still recovering. It's gonna take awhile before she can start work again...

Thank God she's fine :)

Tags: Family, Health, Singapore

Urinary Calculus - Kidney Stones

Urinary Calculus: A stone in the urinary tract. The word "calculus" in Latin means "a pebble." Pebbles were once used for counting, from which came the mathematical field of calculus. A urinary calculus is a pebble in the urinary system.

(Taken from: http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=11859)

Well, recently, my mum felt some pain in her abdomen. It was so pain that she couldn't sleep at night and frequently woke up. She went to the doctor with my father the next day. The diagnosis? She has urinary calculus. It is worrying for the whole family that my mum has such a condition.

I guess this may be the reason why I've made so many blunders at work recently. I guess I am very worried for her condition. Hopefully nothing bad happens...

Tomorrow she will be going for treatment, undergoing Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL), a non-invasive treatment for kidney stones.

God Bless...

Tags: Family, Health, Singapore

Melvyn Tan: The Aftermath

Mr Melvyn Tan has decided to withdraw himself from the Singapore arts scene. However, there are still people who are still unhappy, feeling that he still got off too lightly.

In today's (6th December 2005) TODAY, forumner Mr Lim Boon Hee stated that Melvyn Tan did not "mention how he felt about dodging conscription". Should he feel sad? Should he feel relieved? Should he feel happy? What are his feelings amidst the whole "Defaulting-NS" scene? I guess that's what Mr Lim wanted to know. Did he feel remorsful or was he just emotionless? It is of no doubt that he was disappointed and sad as he was unable to perform due to society's unacceptance. But the question is not on how he felt about performing but about his past actions - the act of defaulting.

In the same page, forumner Mr Jimmy Chan mentioned that "we have lost the contribution of a very talented, internationally-accomplished musician born in Singapore" which was because of "the criticism of a few close-minded people". Mr Chan viewed Melvyn Tan as someone who has contributed to Singapore in the arts scene and not as a defaulter. Likewise, society should see the good side of Melvyn Tan and not the bad side. He ended by saying: "Melvyn, you are always welcome back to Singapore!".

Was it a coincidence that these two letters were put side by side in the newspaper? Or was it just pure irony? Whatever it is, we can see that there are still people who are unwilling to forgive and forget what Melvyn Tan has done. You can say that it's understandable as NS is a great sacrifice for many Singaporeans. You can say that it's not understandable as these people are narrow-hearted and could not find the space inside to forgive him. For me, I will say that it takes time for society to accept Melvyn Tan as he has done something unaccepted in the eyes of male Singaporeans. It may take a few days, or weeks, or even months before this issue dies out.

Previous articles,
Controversial Pianist : Melvyn Tan
Controversial Pianist Melvyn Tan Cancels Concert

Tags: Melvyn Tan, National Service, Singapore

Tuhan Peduli

BANYAK PERKARA
YANG TAK DAPAT KUMENGERTI
MENGAPAKAH HARUS TERJADI
DI DALAM KEHIDUPAN INI

SATU PERKARA
YANG KUSIMPAN DALAM HATI
TIADA SATU PUN 'KAN TERJADI
TANPA TUHAN PEDULI

TUHAN MENGERTI, TUHAN PEDULI
SEGALA PERSOALAN YANG KITA HADAPI
TAK AKAN PERNAH DIBIARKANNYA
KUBERGUMUL SENDIRI
S'BAB TUHAN MENGERTI

Tags: Christianity, Indonesia

Controversial Pianist Melvyn Tan Cancels Concert

Today's papers (Sunday, 04 Dec 2005) stated that renowned pianist Mr Melvyn Tan has cancelled his Esplanade concert and will not judge a national piano and violin competition. Many Singaporeans were unsupportive of him as shown in their comments in the local forums and decided that he should face a harsher punishment. One of such punishments are the cancellation of the concert and the position of a judge in a national competition.

Mr Melvyn Tan went to Sussex to study in the Yehudi Menuhin School at the age of 12. After that he went to stay in England to study at the prestigious Royal College of Music instead of serving his National Service (NS) in Singapore in 1977. He renounced his Singaporean citizenship in 1978 and did not return to Singapore until April 2005 for fear of being charged.

So what were his punishments so far?
He was fined $3000,
lost a $30000 security bond which his parents had to pay when he went overseas to study,
lost his concert due to society's comments on him,
lost the chance of being a judge at a national competition and
fame and reputation in society as a pianist.

Is it still harsh or lenient? Previously the "thought" fine of $5000 (which was $3000 actually), was deemed to lenient for a defaulter who skipped what was known as the "rite that all males need to go through" - National Service.

Personally, I find that Mr Melvyn Tan has gone through a lot and that he has acted in a mature way, knowing his faults and withdrawing himself from the concert and competition. I guess, it's the withdrawal that made me sympathise with him. For a renowned pianist to do that, it really takes a lot of thought. In Singapore we would call it bo bin or no-face.

In his letter, he stated that he"was afforded no special treatment, nor were concessions given [to him] because of [his] profession". This was what many forumners assumed, that he had received special treatment due to his status. He came back to Singapore only because of two things. They are "[his] desire to contribute to the growth of the arts here, and [his] overwhelming need to see [his] parents, who are old and have missed [him]". It's true that he will be charged in court upon return but nevertheless he still returned. In the end he was charged with a fine of $3000.

So is the punishment still lenient? Personally, as a NSF (National Service Full-time) myself, I think that he has gone through a lot and society should show compassion on him and not criticise him anymore. I have been through field camps, live range, IPPT tests, SOC, BAC, BCCT, weekend duties...etc. I know that the 2 years (previously 2 1/2 years) of NS can't be bought with $3000 or even $33000. The tears, blood and sweat are all priceless, not to mention the time spent. However, I feel that society should be lenient and more forgiving to him as he's already 49 and will not be able to do NS in his current age. Going to DB (Detention Barracks) would be pointless as he had paid for his defaulting according to the court with a fine of $3000. Since he has already been punished by the law, we should just accept him and see him as one who has helped Singapore in the arts scene and not someone who has defaulted his NS.

(Previous article on Melvyn Tan)

Tags: Melvyn Tan, National Service, Singapore

Basic Theory Test (BTT)

Yay!! I passed my Basic Theory Test at Bukit Batok Driving Centre (BBDC). And it was my first attempt at it. Now for the Advanced Theory Test (ATT).

The test consists of 50 questions. They are to be done in 50 minutes. The method of doing the test is somewhat cool. It's a touch-screen method. Meaning that you touch the answers that appear on the screen before going to the next question. I was shocked when there was no keyboard and mouse at the test room as I expected a click-the-answer kind of test.

Oh...it was last Saturday that I passed. I forgot to blog about it until now...lol.

Tags: Driving, Singapore

In The Bus...Again

I went to West Mall to have dinner by myself (sad right?). This is so as my parents were out and my brother need to study. So I went by myself. I took 157 to go there.

In the bus I sat on one side of the parallel seats (the type where after seating, you will face the sides of the bus and not the front). After a few stops, there was this old man who boarded the bus. After a while, he started to dig his ears. I wonder if all old men like to dig their ears as this is not my first time seeing such a scene.

What I saw in his hand gave me a shock of my life. It was a matchstick! I was like, "Did he just use that to dig his ears?" So I decided to pay more attention to him.

He reached into his pocket and took out...a matchbox! (Oh man, he's going to do IT again!) He took out one matchstick and a used tissue paper. He wrapped the tissue paper around the head of the matchstick and rolled it over several times. Then he proceeded on to dig his ears. After that, he used his fingers and digged his ears...lol...what was the matchstick for then? For "finer" digging? After digging, he flicked his ear wax into the air just like that. How unhygienic.

I was in front of him the whole time...it was gross. I didn't bother to change seat as I was paying attention to this guy, knowing that there's a blog post coming up.

Tags: Singapore