Season Greetings

Merry Christmas and I hope everyone had a good ones; I know I did, having gorged myself with liters of alcoholic drinks, swallowed kilos of meat and indulged in delicious desserts. Well, it is a buffet and I tend to over chew when there is one-price-for-all meal. I must say the buffet in this restaurant (located in one of Singapore's hotels) is quite extravagant but it also comes with a premium price. Sadly, I didn't get to devour any of the seafood section in respect of the mummy seated opposite who should be avoiding seafood at all times; I can still visualize the exquisite-looking lobsters and prawns. What followed is a week of gourmet meals. As my brother and his significant other (shall address them as DOY & DOYGF respectively) are in Singapore, we have been venturing -from posh restaurants to street stalls- Thai, Chinese, fusion, local and international cuisines. Tonight, we will dine in a Thai-Chinese restaurant, wolfing down mouthwatering food at the same time flattening my wallet. Tomorrow, we will have a palatable feast at my very own home. Adequate data has me foresee an intense diet schedule will follow soon after. Without much nonsense, I wish everyone

Happy New Year!

I seriously hope that 2009 will be a better year, both at economic and personal level. I wish Singapore and the rest countries in the world will drag themselves out of recession a.s.a.p., enjoy higher GDP and (consequently) offer more opportunities to job seekers. Talking about bad timing, I will start looking for a professional job sometime after Chinese New Year. In addition, I wish my family abundance of health; my greatest hope is to see my family members well, healthy and strong.

Looking Back at 2008

Source: Dreamstime.com by Madelaide

The year 2008, on personal level, has been a difficult year. Thinking back of what happened for the past twelve months, I respond with mixed feelings but overall, it can be said that I have been physically, mentally and spiritually challenged most of the time.

Of 2008:

1. I had plenty of rest. I didn't get much rest for as long as I can remember (well, definitely for the last seven years). This is a year that I actually feel laid back (mostly because I didn't rush for deadlines), slowing down my pace of life and enjoying little things like drinking a cup of tea in the morning after waking up and reading few pages of a book before sleeping at night. Blissful, I tell you, simply blissful.

2. I had traveled extensively. I crossed several continents and countless countries in a span of four months. Tired? yes. Delighted? hell yes. Since young, I have a passion for traveling but due to education commitment, I didn't get to appreciate it until this year. I have learned new cultures, picked up new languages, enjoyed breathtaking scenery and even encountered natural disasters.

3. I acquired ample knowledge about health issues, from my own experiences as well as friends and family. I had been visiting the hospital so frequently this year that it is ridiculously not funny. I am not at the liberty to discuss this; therefore, i will not elaborate more.

Source: Colorcubic.com

Anyway, the world is experiencing such instability and who seriously know what 2009 will bring. Personally, in the coming year, I hope I will not receive depressing news too often. Finally, what's the best way to end the year other than new year's resolutions? My compiled list of new year's resolutions is below.

In 2009, I want to:

1. Plan a healthy lifestyle for myself and the family or at least to encourage the family to adopt a healthier lifestyle.With family members scattered around the globe, I know the previous resolution can be difficult to attain.

2. Find a job. Gaining an entry-level position (of my desired profession and suits my qualification) in an MNC. May I add, the 'desired profession' is believed to be operating in a niche market in Singapore arghh.

3. Be happy. I want to be more optimistic by thinking the bright sides of life. I will calm down, and not panic, every time I read or heard something unfavorable. Yes, I desperately in need of nerves management.

4. Take up volunteer work. Up till this moment, I use my parents' hard-earned money to donate as an act of charity. From next year, I would like to give back to the society by doing something more meaningful; I have been offered to attend a volunteering orientation in February.

That's all folks. Thank you(s) for reading my personal statement. If this blog survives another year, I will definitely review the above new year's resolutions.

Hello World

Afternoon, folks! Yes, I had been on unannounced hiatus. Am just going through a rough period at the moment. But I shall, for my own benefit, write on a frequent basis from now on.

A Mother's Love #1

Source: Google Official Website

I especially like the last Olympics banner (above picture) put up by Google titled as 'closing ceremonies'; a very merry, and definitely festive-looking banner. Gosh, talking about the Olympics fever, a giant pile of articles -find them in newspapers, magazines, forums, blogs etc- is discussing on Beijing Olympics (e.g. what have China done right/wrong? is one popular topic), so much that I am starting to flip away pages with the word 'Olympics'.

This afternoon, I had no choice but to pamper myself with intensive nail treatment which includes having my hands and feet scrubbed, masked and moisturised as well as the usual manicure and pedicure; the whole session used up my precious three hours. I dread patronising nail salons partially because the manicurists (that I happened to be assigned to) are fond of making small talk with their clients and I am not a smooth operator when it comes to strangers (oh yes, I am an awkward soul). But what I found out from today's assigned manicurist (who happened to be mommy's favourite manicurist) that mommy spent almost two thousand dollars on nail products and services ... just for my convenience to get my nails done when I return Singapore for holidays.

Country-hopping

My whole body, that is virtually from top to toe, is aching probably due to intensive travelling these few months. I now realise that I have never stayed at home for more than a week consecutively. Worse still, my planned itineraries have been confirmed and I am scheduled to travel several more countries starting next week to late October. Guess what I really need right now is a freaking good massage.

On a different note, I love the banners that have been put up by Google during the Olympics season. Many, and definitely more in total, that I have saved:

Source: Google Official Website

I find the above banners pretty appealing; my favourite is the happy (digested from its smile) swimming snake sporting a swimming cap and goggle. Notice all the animals above can be found in the Chinese astrology (twelve zodiac animals).

Seriously, I Wasn't Serious

Had dinner with a bunch of people (of which one person is my friend). This friend, lets call her AY, is one weird person. Every time she asked me out (at least five times, as I remember), she brought shitload of other friends to dine/shop/catch a movie with us. While some people may get excited on the opportunity to know new friends, I felt uncomfortable during every meetings as I am a socially awkward soul. Worse thing is that she continues to ask me out ever so often and I presume she will keep on bringing strangers to our future day-outs.

It may due to the uncomfortable-ness (when encountering strangers) or it is of my nature that I have a serious look. I was casually calling -he didn't pick up, therefore i was hearing the calling tone instead- the brother and many of these friends asked "has something happened?" with concerns. And that isn't the first time to be asked in that way...

On the news:

• A step closer to develop invisible cloak. Scientists in the US have developed a material that can bend light arond 3D objects making them invisible. Wow, I shall start planning what to do with the invisible cloak.
• Singapore is to join its Asian neighbours in signaling a deeper slowdown. Singapore's economy has expanded at the slowest pace in five years and predicts exports will decline for the first time since 2001.
• Chinese economy is set to stabilise, after seeing a fall in growth in the first half year. Its growth has slowed down due to sagging global demand and government measures to rein in excessive credit. The economy has also faced rising inflation driven by higher food prices.
• China has been attacked, again. Seven militants and a security guard have been killed after a series of bombing in the region Xinjiang. China has spoken in the past of what it calls a terrorist threat from Muslim militants in Xinjiang, but it has provided little evidence to back up its claims.
• US court blocks MIT students from showing subway hack. A federal judge ordered three college students to cancel a presentation at a computer hackers' conference, where they planned to show security flaws in the automated fare system used by Boston's subway, to maintain the security and integrity of the Fare Media systems.
• A freaky accident in Australia. Three sailors who dissapeared from a yatch later found empty and drifting off the coast. The vessel was found with its engine running, food on the table and its full complement of lifebelts.
• Prophet Muhammad novel scrapped. US publishers have scrapped plans to release a novel about Prophet Muhammad's child bride A'isha, for fear it could spark violence. The book was condemned by the Islamic world because its perceived blasphemous depiction of the Prophet.

Pick-up lines #2

The brother was craving for durians so off we went, home-attired without make-up and sporting a bad hair day, to find a Thai stall assistant said hello and mumbled to himself sui mak mak while opening up a durian. Reached home googled for those words and surprisingly, my day has been made.

On the news:

• Obama isn't too keen on Britney Spears or Paris Hilton, and so are her two daughters, Malia and Sahsa.
• A six-year-old Texas girl returned home after having half of her brain removed in June.
• Hackers are increasing aiming at iPhones and Macintosh computers as the Apple devices gain popularity worldwide.
• UK's largest employers' organisation has warned that UK economy is deteriorating faster than it previously thought. What a gloomy world...