Blossom in Spring

The bulbs that I’ve planted this winter have sprouted. Beautiful tulips in reds and pink. I should have ignored the producers’ instructions and have planted them more closely together so that they are compact like bouquets of flowers.

I am still waiting for the garlic flower to bloom. I have never seen one but have heard that they are magnificent. Just give me a couple of weeks to see a photo of it.

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My heart is with Japan

I have no words nor comments about the devastating situation in Japan. What can I say, what should I say except to grief. Losing life is emotional shattering. This is not a Hollywood film. This is real. Many people in other countries started fund raising campaigns. Initial it seems stupid because money does not grant much comfort to the victims. On the other hand, what can people from abroad do? How much can be done from such a distance away?

Human’s memory is short. Already news broadcast on the status is diminishing. Reports on the nuclear leakage and radiation are confusing. Some declare it has successfully been stopped. Some announce that it has spread across even to UK.

Knowing Japan and the Japanese, I believe that this tragedy will eventually end up well and soon.

Awfully Chocolate

So much have been heard about it. The unique shop display, their marketing concept, their specially imported chocolate, their success story and of course their chocolate cake.

My friend said : “Whenever we celebrate any occasion in the office, my boss insists that I order cakes only from ‘Awfully Chocolate’.” So there it goes, the ultimate chocolate cake in town.

Happily and carefully, I fetched it back with both hands, like a precious thin foil of gold. I even invited 2 friends for a cake appreciation ceremony. One bite into it and there was silence……..

For 5 seconds….

Before the cursing began. Whoever hailed it as the best chocolate cake ever has obviously never eaten enough chocolate cakes in his life. (or was being paid to broadcast it) Surely there is a taste of chocolate but where is the intense aroma? The explosion of sharp bliss? The sinful luscious flavor ? the complex layers of the unique nuttiness? The velvety texture? The lingering after taste? And concerning the sponge cake which the chocolates covered, It was dry and stale. In another words, this is just a honest, ordinary chocolate cake. Honest because the chocolate content is real and not artificially flavored. That’s all.

High expectation comes with high delusion. And it is costly.

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Vanity is an inborn thing

If you call me stupid, I’ll admit it. If you say I am ugly, I’ll shrug it off. But if you mention about the dark pigment on my face, I will go for the kill. Well, everyone has his Achilles heel.

Each day when I look myself in the mirror, all that appear to my eyes are melasma patches and nothing else. Pathetic right? I am not someone who will let things bother me without doing nothing. However IPL, laser treatment, creams, mountain tribes’ formula all just don’t work. At this stage if swimming in bleach water is a proven remedy, I’ll jump into the pool in half a heart beat.

Today, this doctor prescribed me a night cream that contains hydroquinone and tretinoin. For a modest price. I’ll let you know if it works.

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Uniquely Singaporean

Comparing to neighboring Asian cities like Tokyo, Hong Kong, Taipei, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, Singapore wins by a mile, perhaps even two. In every train at any time of the day, any day of the week, more than a quarter of the seated commuters will be found sleeping on their seat. (another 50% will be either sending short messages or playing with their mobile phone) Although oblivious to the surrounding especially the presence of elder weak passengers, these commuters are so well trained, they never fail to wake up in time to alight at their desired destination. That is quite a ninja skill.

People rarely sleeps in the train, not even in hot cities like Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. So what makes it so special in Singapore? Do the people in Singapore work harder, that makes them more easily tired? Are there some toxic gas in the air conditional system? Is everyone practicing some kind of special Qi Gong? Is social etiquette an alien thing in this country? Well for whatever reason it is, I rather drink acid than be caught on photo like this :

        or this :

Batu Caves

I’ve seen the photos. I’ve heard about the trip. But visiting the actual site is something else. Looking up at the 272 steps of stairs, I wondered if I was overly ambitious. As I prayed that vertigo will not take over me, I made my first step. Overcoming the fright of height was not difficult actually, as long as I don’t look back. Meeting descending visitors was slightly challenging. I had to fake a nonchalance expression while I battled sideways in order to give way to them. They must have thought that I was brave. Oh, they will never know the truth. The last few steps were particularly strenuous as I was reminded by my jelly-like trembling legs that I should have taken my step classes more seriously.

Entering the cave was nothing short of magical. It makes every effort worthwhile. There is a surreal peace and tranquility in the air, mixed with a faint incense. From far away came a soft chanting accompanied by an occasional strike of gong and bells. The world become so beautiful and simple. Thank you for giving me an opportunity to visit.

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My future business

If I have enough money, I would start a new business specialized in massage. No, not foot massage or body massage. These are so déjà vu and so common. Okay, I agree to share my vision with you without any copyright fee. Just include my name in your will.


Well, it is finger massage. Hey, don’t shut me out so soon. I have a logic to back me up.

Haven’t you notice that everyone is busy texting messages or chatting in msn? In the bus stop, in the trains, in the lift, in the supermarket queue, in the cinema, in dance clubs, in the toilet. (For your information, I did not peep in the cubicle, I just recognize the tabbing sound of the mobile phone) A girl at the bus stop this afternoon was writing her message so fast, I almost thought she was scratching her mobile phone, easing it from a mosquitoes bite.

With overworked fingers like that, certainly they will get fatigue by the end of the day. Swollen, stiff and inflexible are the common complains. Although the fingers will eventually become more developed than the mouth or brain, they will also degenerate sooner. So here comes the benefit of fingers massage! We use fingers to massage fingers. No tool or electronic device will be used. There is a choice of hot oil, essential oil or the normal cheap sticky oil. Traditional Thai style or Swedish style? It is up to you. Customers can choose the course of 20 minutes or 40 minutes or 60 minutes. (Provided that their finger is able to point correctly at the sign board to indicate what they want)

Junk mails

Honestly if I could, I would light a match and burn all these mails away. I didn’t do it merely because that would mean cleaning up the place and painting the wall afterwards. 2 weeks away from home and look what a pile of letters I got when I returned. There are enough papers to open a book store! Well, not exactly but we are nearly there.


Is it possible that they don’t understand that I have no plan to sell the only house I am living in? What is the use of sending me flyers about the price of HDB apartments? Oh, the insurance company is worth a mention too. If I have half of their persistence, I would have moved the mount faber, alone. No joke. Then the unit trust who delivers stacks and stacks of their financial reports. Who can understand those figures? If I do, do you think would I be foolish enough to buy them in the first lace? So far, for what I have invested, I received no returns, just trash papers that are too hard to wipe my ass.

For the sake of the poor post man, please stop posting out nonsense. Also for the sake of the environment, avoid chopping unnecessary trees for paper making.

PS : if I ignore the bills, it is obvious that I have no intention to pay it. Isn’t it redundant to drop me continuous reminders?

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