Testing one two three
Monday, October 26, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Post Holiday blues again......but Yunnan was great!
Just back from another holiday...this time Yunnan, China!
Finally my mum get to see the place of her dreams...haha....it is indeed very beautiful. I have sort of lost interest in china cuz everywhere in china now is so commercialised, so similar.....but the amazing scenery and culture in Yunnan is worth a visit.
so sian to work now. work is still the same old things. really wonder how long shld i do this? but if i dun do this, what shld i do? still am in the holiday mood and a bit spaced out. thanks to the late late flights by China Eastern Airlines. We left Spore at 4am...! (45mins delayed) and left Kunming back home at 10.30pm (30mins delayed). reached Spore at 2.10am. But glad to say that the airline have improved with food and the plane.
It was another rather enjoyable tour with SA. People in my tour group were mainly english speaking, no kids but a few old folks and OLs. its funny how destiny brings us together. 2 pairs of OLs clicked v well. all of them were married with kids but still went on holiday on their own. wow...is this like the new generation of ladies in spore? they said they desperate housewives. perhaps.
The rest were snr citizens but all spoke eng. and also a group from HK. some of them came from Vancouver. i noticed SA tour members are usually pple from eng speaking background. i have met some Chan Brothers members while on tour with SA to Hokkaido and this time Yunnan, they were more chinese speaking and heartlander type. talk v loud. but i guess different type of "fun".
The tour was packed with activities since touch down. Lots of parks, scenic places and of course shopping stops. this is what irks me for china tours. but what to do, they operate like that. Many things are sold in an overpriced manner but they throw in freebies and stuff.
Kunming is bascially a thriving city. i was shocked that its almost looking like Shanghai or Beijing. So many many new buildings, malls, restaurant...and all oh so new. By 2015, there will be a direct rail link between Spore and Kunming, passing Msia, Thailand and Vietnam. Kunming will be the gateway to China for SEA.....wow! can u believe what will happen then? more sporeans will definitely be travelling north for business opportunities! how exciting.
I was sooo happy to find JNBY .....er i think spelling is like that at Parkson mall! its retails in China for like 1/3 of the price in Spore!! aiyo!! what a BIG difference! not fair man.......i was getting all excited to buy 2 jackets but then....they dun accept intl credit cards!! boo! sob! i tried to use my ATM to draw cash ....but no cirrus facilties ....and it was nearly closing...aiyah.....so can only buy one. 500rmb. of well what to do. next time, must bring more cash!
partically memorable is Lijiang and Shangri-la. Yulong mountain which surrounds Lijiang is oh so magnificent! i was totally mesmorised by it. there was a bit of snow on the peak which makes it looks even nicer. sun set glow on it was particularly pretty. Lijiang is now filled with tourists and visitors and shops. a bit over crowded i feel. but what to do, its beauty is to share with eveyone. Dali, Lijiang and Shangrila all had old ancient towns turned into shopping mecca for tourists. Lots of cute bed and breakfasts and theme restaurants to capture the anymoh travellers.
Also saw the Zhang Yimou show - Impressions of Lijiang. wow the setting was very nice! and the show was impressive with a 500 cast. its really so clever of them to us Yulong as the backdrop. just with that mountain, the show is alreay a 80% guaranteed success. The photos taken were amazing. we are so blessed with good weather a a clear view of the mountain. It was a tad bit cold in the morning for the 9am show but hey....highly recommended that the 2pm show! you will prob melt in the sun after lunch! The temperature rose quickly as the morning went by.
some parts of the show was v touching. and the music was great.
One of my tour members got so mesmorised by one of the actors.....keep saying that he was soooo handsome! haha...not bad lah.
after Lijiang, we were off to Shangri-la. another 4 hrs away. the temperature got colder as we travelled around the mountains up to 3000m above sea level. First stop was a nice tibetian hot pot lunch. the soup was great. saw many tibet style houses on the way. each house is 3 levels. 1 level for ......animals! yes. second level was the big hall and rooms, and 3rd level a small attic. the animals on the first level is actually to keep the house warm. quite clever eh.
The scenery for shangri-la was simple but breathtaking. Mainly because of the blue skies and wonderful and glorious looking clouds. lots of animals like horses, goats, sheep on the grassland and mountains surround every corner.
it wasnt like Lijiang, that glamourous....but there was indeed a certain special charm.
the old town came alive at about 7pm with locals doing their dance at the centre square. we joined in for some evening exercise! it was great. later we checked out a cool looking bar/pub....really beautiful with the biggest prayer wheel just above its roof. the owner was a cool looking chinese gal from Shenzhen. Her husband is an artist and the drawings and art pieces in the pub were all done by him. We had wine (280rmb a bottle) there. yunnan wine! haha...it was ok ....atmosphere was great. many chinese film stars have also been here before - like zhang yimou himself.
can tell that she did this out of her passion.....not sure how they make ends meet but its cool u know when u are living a life out of yr passion. i am quite sure her pub is prob one the of prettiest one around shangri-la. The temperature outside she said was zero 0! but we didnt feel it cuz of the indoor heater. wow...zero......
took a walk back to the hotel ....it wasnt that freezing, in fact just nice.
some parts of the show was v touching. and the music was great.
One of my tour members got so mesmorised by one of the actors.....keep saying that he was soooo handsome! haha...not bad lah.
after Lijiang, we were off to Shangri-la. another 4 hrs away. the temperature got colder as we travelled around the mountains up to 3000m above sea level. First stop was a nice tibetian hot pot lunch. the soup was great. saw many tibet style houses on the way. each house is 3 levels. 1 level for ......animals! yes. second level was the big hall and rooms, and 3rd level a small attic. the animals on the first level is actually to keep the house warm. quite clever eh.
The scenery for shangri-la was simple but breathtaking. Mainly because of the blue skies and wonderful and glorious looking clouds. lots of animals like horses, goats, sheep on the grassland and mountains surround every corner.
it wasnt like Lijiang, that glamourous....but there was indeed a certain special charm.
the old town came alive at about 7pm with locals doing their dance at the centre square. we joined in for some evening exercise! it was great. later we checked out a cool looking bar/pub....really beautiful with the biggest prayer wheel just above its roof. the owner was a cool looking chinese gal from Shenzhen. Her husband is an artist and the drawings and art pieces in the pub were all done by him. We had wine (280rmb a bottle) there. yunnan wine! haha...it was ok ....atmosphere was great. many chinese film stars have also been here before - like zhang yimou himself.
can tell that she did this out of her passion.....not sure how they make ends meet but its cool u know when u are living a life out of yr passion. i am quite sure her pub is prob one the of prettiest one around shangri-la. The temperature outside she said was zero 0! but we didnt feel it cuz of the indoor heater. wow...zero......
took a walk back to the hotel ....it wasnt that freezing, in fact just nice.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Meeting...well sort of.....haha ... Lewis Hamilton
So fast, and the F1 race in Spore is over! no more block roads and zoom zoom noises in the city.
Its actually kinda a weird feeling that everything happen so fast. Just last week i was feeling all rave-y about the whole thing and now its over...just like that in a weekend.
Its amazing that one moment i was whining how how i was not a part of all the exciting activities, stars and glamour and then suddenly i was actually quite a part of it and right even to the chance of entering the Paddock and seeing Lewis Hamilton in person!!! WOW!! all thanks to leo.......maybe my thoughts were heard and haha....it was decided..yes indeed you shall feel the F1 excitement in Spore! haha
F1 is definitely all about glamour, fast cars, young dashing drivers, pretty gals and for the first time pop stars! F1 Rocks! first time in a Grand prix......and spore is the first country to launch this concept which is extremely good i feel. the whole F1 wasnt just the racing but it was a whole party concept, u can say an event .....a festival even. so many many stars came to Spore just for this and it was like...WOW....we never seen anything like this! suddenly the west seem not that far to reach after all.
I even got to see Gwen Stephanie and her new baby boy ! now that was a little surreal cuz i only see these in the US gossip mags! and now they are in front of me!
My whole experience last week started on Thurs - at the first night of F1 Rocks at Fort Canning. Being just across, i was really excited by the boom boom noises from the afternoon rehersals. i decided i had to somehow wait till the perf and hear the stars for myself. i went there at about 7pm + . To my Surprise! i could completely view the whole stage from the side steps of the lawn! Yay..free concert! haha..... it was such a cheap thrill.
Soda green was just about to come on, great. The lead vocalist - the soft one with the whiny voice wasnt as whiny as i thought. in fact i was rather inpressed with his vocals. he did fast alt rock tracks and wonderful ballads effortlessly. nice clean clear voice. The audience i felt could be a tad bit more excited. but then again mando pop fans arent exactly the expressive sort. Haha. Weather was really humid and perhaps they waited since 5pm until feel like fainting in sticky sweat liao. a rather embaressing thing happened for Soda Green thought, halfway thru a fast happy track, speakers when kaput! no sound! and that awkward silence went on for 5 mins or so. aiyah, i think the singer wanted to kill the sound people. some ang mo invited him and the band backstage for a while. and soon the sound was back on.....with intro from the cheesy 933 Djs....(really cant stand that cruz teng's english, its so chinese..twang...eee) luckily the mood sort of came back on. but if were paying for this concert....i will be real mad. its like $185 ! how can this happen?
A-mei was next and same lousy sound .......but he vocals also er.....not good lah. never appreciated her vocals, its kinda blur and raspy. and she looks real FAT. wonder why. image ---some odd looking bird wig.......tw stars image a bit obiang lah.
i left halfway. glad that i caught soda green. They are really good.
Next day, leo called in morning and asked "hey u wanna go for F1?! got an extra space for one..."
Of course! quickly i had to decide the next course of action as it was a working day! ggggrrrr......
but how can i miss this fabulous VIP opportunity experience such a high profile event?!! paddock ah! who in the world can get access....and of course seeing F1 pretty boy (or PCD's nicole toy boy as some say....) - Lewis Hamilton!? aiyo...take leave ah!!!
Luckily leave was approved and zooooooooooooooommmmm! i went down to city hall at 2pm to meet leo.
he was definitely a big star, when he came into the special living room, cameras just went clicking non stop! and i thot every who is in the paddock area wudnt be star strucked by him. but wrong lor.
afterall like my dad said, of the millions of cars/drivers on the roads in the world, this guy is one of the fastest... in the whole wide world. ......ok i gettit. haha true.
he didnt look much diff from that in ads and media but not as short as i thot. about 1.74m. very young and boyish and of course slim and fit. he was friendly (media friendly perhaps) and entertained any questions the kids asked. he answered with sincerity as well......and not dead scripted answers. typical capricon? haha
later we went to watch the Practice race.......cool....the spore evening skyline at Marina Bay area was beautiful! and the F1 cars looked shiny and cute zooming away under the lights....
Hope the F1 event in spore will get better and more happening every year!
Its actually kinda a weird feeling that everything happen so fast. Just last week i was feeling all rave-y about the whole thing and now its over...just like that in a weekend.
Its amazing that one moment i was whining how how i was not a part of all the exciting activities, stars and glamour and then suddenly i was actually quite a part of it and right even to the chance of entering the Paddock and seeing Lewis Hamilton in person!!! WOW!! all thanks to leo.......maybe my thoughts were heard and haha....it was decided..yes indeed you shall feel the F1 excitement in Spore! haha
F1 is definitely all about glamour, fast cars, young dashing drivers, pretty gals and for the first time pop stars! F1 Rocks! first time in a Grand prix......and spore is the first country to launch this concept which is extremely good i feel. the whole F1 wasnt just the racing but it was a whole party concept, u can say an event .....a festival even. so many many stars came to Spore just for this and it was like...WOW....we never seen anything like this! suddenly the west seem not that far to reach after all.
I even got to see Gwen Stephanie and her new baby boy ! now that was a little surreal cuz i only see these in the US gossip mags! and now they are in front of me!
My whole experience last week started on Thurs - at the first night of F1 Rocks at Fort Canning. Being just across, i was really excited by the boom boom noises from the afternoon rehersals. i decided i had to somehow wait till the perf and hear the stars for myself. i went there at about 7pm + . To my Surprise! i could completely view the whole stage from the side steps of the lawn! Yay..free concert! haha..... it was such a cheap thrill.
Soda green was just about to come on, great. The lead vocalist - the soft one with the whiny voice wasnt as whiny as i thought. in fact i was rather inpressed with his vocals. he did fast alt rock tracks and wonderful ballads effortlessly. nice clean clear voice. The audience i felt could be a tad bit more excited. but then again mando pop fans arent exactly the expressive sort. Haha. Weather was really humid and perhaps they waited since 5pm until feel like fainting in sticky sweat liao. a rather embaressing thing happened for Soda Green thought, halfway thru a fast happy track, speakers when kaput! no sound! and that awkward silence went on for 5 mins or so. aiyah, i think the singer wanted to kill the sound people. some ang mo invited him and the band backstage for a while. and soon the sound was back on.....with intro from the cheesy 933 Djs....(really cant stand that cruz teng's english, its so chinese..twang...eee) luckily the mood sort of came back on. but if were paying for this concert....i will be real mad. its like $185 ! how can this happen?
A-mei was next and same lousy sound .......but he vocals also er.....not good lah. never appreciated her vocals, its kinda blur and raspy. and she looks real FAT. wonder why. image ---some odd looking bird wig.......tw stars image a bit obiang lah.
i left halfway. glad that i caught soda green. They are really good.
Next day, leo called in morning and asked "hey u wanna go for F1?! got an extra space for one..."
Of course! quickly i had to decide the next course of action as it was a working day! ggggrrrr......
but how can i miss this fabulous VIP opportunity experience such a high profile event?!! paddock ah! who in the world can get access....and of course seeing F1 pretty boy (or PCD's nicole toy boy as some say....) - Lewis Hamilton!? aiyo...take leave ah!!!
Luckily leave was approved and zooooooooooooooommmmm! i went down to city hall at 2pm to meet leo.
he was definitely a big star, when he came into the special living room, cameras just went clicking non stop! and i thot every who is in the paddock area wudnt be star strucked by him. but wrong lor.
afterall like my dad said, of the millions of cars/drivers on the roads in the world, this guy is one of the fastest... in the whole wide world. ......ok i gettit. haha true.
he didnt look much diff from that in ads and media but not as short as i thot. about 1.74m. very young and boyish and of course slim and fit. he was friendly (media friendly perhaps) and entertained any questions the kids asked. he answered with sincerity as well......and not dead scripted answers. typical capricon? haha
later we went to watch the Practice race.......cool....the spore evening skyline at Marina Bay area was beautiful! and the F1 cars looked shiny and cute zooming away under the lights....
Hope the F1 event in spore will get better and more happening every year!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
F1 Excitement
Its another Thurs and hey! its F1 weekend in Spore!! yay...lots of cool stuff happening around town....F1 Rocks! yeah.....big names like Black Eye Peas, Beyonce, Jacky Cheung.....and even ZZ Top! i am no fan of zz top but i do remember them v well cuz of their image. they do have a unique sound too. and No Doubt......
There is also a cool DJ party happening at the National Museum with DJs like Samantha Ronson! linsey lohan's close gal pal....haha....ok i know we read the Gossip mags ....
but u have to admit, all these dun come easy.....the amount of work and effort put in to gather these big names to a small little island in the far east. Good job to all those involve! Spore suddenly looks cool u know....and we are beamed to the WHOLE WORLD on TV for F1...our nite scene...and all. yes we are v westernised and stuff and we can appreciate cool stuff but deep down when u come to spore, all everyday is that happening cuz basically we are a mix of many different people.
the skies cleared from this morning's gloomy rainy weather...its now such a beautiful gorgeous day with blue clear skies and a warm afternoon glow. I was in Tuas earlier and the clouds were fluffy and happy. haha..
look at the magnificent scenery around me, cant help but to feel excited about F1 happening and all the cool events along with it. But alas i am not a part of it......was smsing van its a pity there isnt a cool bf to follow around to these events. i like happening urban stuff but hmmm... none of my frens are keen or i would think wanna spend such $$$ on things they are not exactly like a fan of.
i am also not a fan per se, but its fun u know to be a part of all the excitement, further more its really quality events we r talking about here! its so hard to find a soul mate honestly. i really envy pple who have a big group of like minded friends. but i must admit the fun does not last forever as everyone changes and eventually have their own commitments and stuff.
Anyway STILL, Spore is a very diverse place with just too many different cultures but in small piece of land. a bit of lost identity sometimes. at least in HK, majority speak cantonese and like canto music. but here gosh!, u may have 101 types of chinese people who like different things. but how to complain all the time....life is not perfect right?
JC's been updating his blog rather frequently, its a good thing. although some may say its for promotion of the play "Lulu" but then i feel he is still writing from his heart. this kind of thing how can be done so intentionally? Its nice for a change to see his deeper thoughts and also he keep saying he is trying to express himself more. thats great...perhaps at this age, he is more appreciative of people around him. He has a new song called "Shoulder" which well means like ''a shoulder to cry on" kinda thing. its a simple song but rather warm and fuzzy feel.......
reading his blog about this song sort of made me feel a bit dreamy
again....aiyah....haha...
actually 2 days after my trip to HK, actually dream that he put his head on my shoulder in some scenario, like he needed some kind of support and comfort, i was a little shocked even. i seldom dream of my idol actually (i seldom even dream!) but the dream felt kinda like that song....Haha! hmmm...if only dreams come true ....esp sweet ones but arrgggh...sweet ones like what most pple say are only dreams. friction, fantasy ...just like winning lottery in dreams.
He is also expressing himself a lot on communication these days. noting that communication is the essence of keeping relationships going. that is so true but its has to be good communication. not everyone can do that. so maybe hard work is required. some things can be lost without good communication but can we regret? sigh....i always wonder how to pple say they regret over something? i mean dun say doing evil things and stuff, maybe more simple day to day things or relationship stuff....i mean at that point in time, u are totally not aware what is the right thing to do or say....its really not yr fault u know. so i can only say one can just learn from experience and apply it for the better in future situations.
舞台剧《露露．听我说》主题曲:张信哲—肩膀
http://musicwangfeng.6621.cn/music/7e30fd79f625ffeb.html
There is also a cool DJ party happening at the National Museum with DJs like Samantha Ronson! linsey lohan's close gal pal....haha....ok i know we read the Gossip mags ....
but u have to admit, all these dun come easy.....the amount of work and effort put in to gather these big names to a small little island in the far east. Good job to all those involve! Spore suddenly looks cool u know....and we are beamed to the WHOLE WORLD on TV for F1...our nite scene...and all. yes we are v westernised and stuff and we can appreciate cool stuff but deep down when u come to spore, all everyday is that happening cuz basically we are a mix of many different people.
the skies cleared from this morning's gloomy rainy weather...its now such a beautiful gorgeous day with blue clear skies and a warm afternoon glow. I was in Tuas earlier and the clouds were fluffy and happy. haha..
look at the magnificent scenery around me, cant help but to feel excited about F1 happening and all the cool events along with it. But alas i am not a part of it......was smsing van its a pity there isnt a cool bf to follow around to these events. i like happening urban stuff but hmmm... none of my frens are keen or i would think wanna spend such $$$ on things they are not exactly like a fan of.
i am also not a fan per se, but its fun u know to be a part of all the excitement, further more its really quality events we r talking about here! its so hard to find a soul mate honestly. i really envy pple who have a big group of like minded friends. but i must admit the fun does not last forever as everyone changes and eventually have their own commitments and stuff.
Anyway STILL, Spore is a very diverse place with just too many different cultures but in small piece of land. a bit of lost identity sometimes. at least in HK, majority speak cantonese and like canto music. but here gosh!, u may have 101 types of chinese people who like different things. but how to complain all the time....life is not perfect right?
JC's been updating his blog rather frequently, its a good thing. although some may say its for promotion of the play "Lulu" but then i feel he is still writing from his heart. this kind of thing how can be done so intentionally? Its nice for a change to see his deeper thoughts and also he keep saying he is trying to express himself more. thats great...perhaps at this age, he is more appreciative of people around him. He has a new song called "Shoulder" which well means like ''a shoulder to cry on" kinda thing. its a simple song but rather warm and fuzzy feel.......
reading his blog about this song sort of made me feel a bit dreamy
again....aiyah....haha...
actually 2 days after my trip to HK, actually dream that he put his head on my shoulder in some scenario, like he needed some kind of support and comfort, i was a little shocked even. i seldom dream of my idol actually (i seldom even dream!) but the dream felt kinda like that song....Haha! hmmm...if only dreams come true ....esp sweet ones but arrgggh...sweet ones like what most pple say are only dreams. friction, fantasy ...just like winning lottery in dreams.
He is also expressing himself a lot on communication these days. noting that communication is the essence of keeping relationships going. that is so true but its has to be good communication. not everyone can do that. so maybe hard work is required. some things can be lost without good communication but can we regret? sigh....i always wonder how to pple say they regret over something? i mean dun say doing evil things and stuff, maybe more simple day to day things or relationship stuff....i mean at that point in time, u are totally not aware what is the right thing to do or say....its really not yr fault u know. so i can only say one can just learn from experience and apply it for the better in future situations.
舞台剧《露露．听我说》主题曲:张信哲—肩膀
http://musicwangfeng.6621.cn/music/7e30fd79f625ffeb.html
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Thursday
Thursday - supposed to be one of my better days in the week. perhaps used to be but now everyday seem to be a bore at office. Fridays also never felt good.
Not sure why, it this some sort of mid-30s crisis? or what?...
HAHA..Ok Now, its Monday..... i didnt finish the Thurs blog last week.
Monday again, one week after another. Feels scary. not sure if people felt like this back then, maybe like 20-30yrs ago. do they feel time is passing so fast and that every second of time must be made useful? do they get bored all the time because of routines?
Life is definitely a set of routines, unless u are a pop start or have some glamourous job....or whatever but stil why now people always feel so discontented? Shld really stop knowing too much and comparing too much. This will drive us crazy one day.
Just got a call from The Interlace sales agent....aiyo!! got 20 pple give him blank cheque liao! so what recession man? but honestly, this project is quite desirable, or choice because its really near nice greenery and also Sentosa and the IR. Beats any other location in many ways. and its modern architecture! i am not sure if i can even smell of buying any unit, but hey, have to find out. the price aint cheap if the demand is so high.....sigh....dunno lah, nowadays aiya....the market here is a big crazy also. pple are too bored i think, and everyone have the same brain.
I also went view the latest Hotel photos by this hotel addict indonesian on Flickr...he dont seem to have any good impression of Spore calling the service bad, typical and orchard road overated, out of date etc....i dunno what is he comparing to actually. HK?
its weird, Spore is a modern place ....perhaps its too predicatable, pple want disorganised chaos and surprises like HK. China is going to be another Spore soon cuz every new town looks pretty much alike. organised, new buidlings, similar looking buildings, town planning etc! yeah spore is too organised and structured and lack of new buildings and stuff......lots of things need permits and i think most obviously, sporeans dun take risks. a lot of decisions are calculated and people of scared of failure.
BUT then, there are lots of dynamic and happening Sporeans OVERSEAS!.....no wonder they left? haha....hmmmmm...perhaps....only when they are they they feel liberated and expressive.
Its not a bad thing that Spore is the way it is now, life is peaceful and things done efficiently. in fact its a good place for kids to grow up. family life. pros and cons.
Maybe one thing to really start with is for Sporeans to smile more and be more happy. i dunnno why everyone likes to complain and look serious. including myself sometimes. I feel our service staff here really dun feel happy at all to serve customers. why? why is it like that? is being a sales or retail person such a low class job? why did they apply for the job in the first place?
just not people oriented...its the whole culture perhaps, so what is it that most people wanna do in order to be happy? nothing?....
in HK, the retail people are v dynamic, not exactly all are very nice or whatever, but they are hungry for business. however they are not pushy, they know when to stop. perhaps the sales and target structure is designed well to motivate the sales team to work together. and Plus, they have good merchandise and things that perhaps the sales person like themselves too.
Our place is too rojak, many different races, diff taste, communication barriers and closed up mind. how can Spore be a more smiley, happy place?
Not sure why, it this some sort of mid-30s crisis? or what?...
HAHA..Ok Now, its Monday..... i didnt finish the Thurs blog last week.
Monday again, one week after another. Feels scary. not sure if people felt like this back then, maybe like 20-30yrs ago. do they feel time is passing so fast and that every second of time must be made useful? do they get bored all the time because of routines?
Life is definitely a set of routines, unless u are a pop start or have some glamourous job....or whatever but stil why now people always feel so discontented? Shld really stop knowing too much and comparing too much. This will drive us crazy one day.
Just got a call from The Interlace sales agent....aiyo!! got 20 pple give him blank cheque liao! so what recession man? but honestly, this project is quite desirable, or choice because its really near nice greenery and also Sentosa and the IR. Beats any other location in many ways. and its modern architecture! i am not sure if i can even smell of buying any unit, but hey, have to find out. the price aint cheap if the demand is so high.....sigh....dunno lah, nowadays aiya....the market here is a big crazy also. pple are too bored i think, and everyone have the same brain.
I also went view the latest Hotel photos by this hotel addict indonesian on Flickr...he dont seem to have any good impression of Spore calling the service bad, typical and orchard road overated, out of date etc....i dunno what is he comparing to actually. HK?
its weird, Spore is a modern place ....perhaps its too predicatable, pple want disorganised chaos and surprises like HK. China is going to be another Spore soon cuz every new town looks pretty much alike. organised, new buidlings, similar looking buildings, town planning etc! yeah spore is too organised and structured and lack of new buildings and stuff......lots of things need permits and i think most obviously, sporeans dun take risks. a lot of decisions are calculated and people of scared of failure.
BUT then, there are lots of dynamic and happening Sporeans OVERSEAS!.....no wonder they left? haha....hmmmmm...perhaps....only when they are they they feel liberated and expressive.
Its not a bad thing that Spore is the way it is now, life is peaceful and things done efficiently. in fact its a good place for kids to grow up. family life. pros and cons.
Maybe one thing to really start with is for Sporeans to smile more and be more happy. i dunnno why everyone likes to complain and look serious. including myself sometimes. I feel our service staff here really dun feel happy at all to serve customers. why? why is it like that? is being a sales or retail person such a low class job? why did they apply for the job in the first place?
just not people oriented...its the whole culture perhaps, so what is it that most people wanna do in order to be happy? nothing?....
in HK, the retail people are v dynamic, not exactly all are very nice or whatever, but they are hungry for business. however they are not pushy, they know when to stop. perhaps the sales and target structure is designed well to motivate the sales team to work together. and Plus, they have good merchandise and things that perhaps the sales person like themselves too.
Our place is too rojak, many different races, diff taste, communication barriers and closed up mind. how can Spore be a more smiley, happy place?
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
I Miss My HOLIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ah....just back from Hong Kong on mon.....and i am really feeling the Post-Holiday blues.....it was a fun trip!....summer, shopping, sales, food, friends and of course Jeff.
This is actually my 11th trip to HK, 12 if i count the one when i was in pri sch. And quite frankly, i never ever get sick of HK, well at least the shopping, trendy merchandise and oh so vibrant city life!! HK is indeed organised chaos, its lively ...sort of transport u from "sian" spore to somewhere more happening instantly! haha....
Well, Spore does have its good points too like cleaner air and more peace BUT, once in while u need to recharge and feel excited, wake up yr senses! and HK is a place to do that! Thank goodness its 3hrs plus away :)
Was a bit tired from packing and stuff, waking up early to the airport, thinking of the logistics, but once we landed....wow...everything is nice. in fact even on the CX flight, people started shopping already ...haha...in flight sales.
The have a rather good selection of stuff. Recd Lori to get the Marc Jacobs perfume flower pendent for Wendy, it looks cute.....ah wished someone could give me that too.
We took the airport bus to TST, it was pretty fast actually, just 40mins maybe and stopped right outside Cameron Rd, now thats convenient! Went to look out for our hotel - Hotel Benito......and great! it was just 3mins away from where we were. MTR station also just at the junction.
The hotel was new and clean, a boutique concept. very nice i must say and LOCATION - the best!check in was also smooth. they also gave fresh fruits (we r talking about big apples and oranges!) and the water pressure in the toilet - power...! haha..v important huh this type of things. ha...
One thing memorable also, their TV had this cantonese movie channel, they show mainly action movies from the 90s...damm cheesy stuff but funny! we had a good laugh watching thoes. haha!! the movie editing back then was AWFUL and so were the special effects! haha....once scene i saw a toy aeroplane with eyes flying around the main actor, trying to kill him! wah ha ha!!!
The clear highlight of course gotta be Jeff! The concert was great, i was surprised to see actually lots of dancing and fast beat stuff. rather unlike the typical Jeff image u would expect. Although he is the Prince of Love Ballads, he to me is actually different from his public persona. Over the years, i learnt that Jeff does like a lot of western pop, dance music, jazz, modern cool stuff u know as well as fusion, brit pop etc. Of course he does his mando love songs the best but tat is what u call - his job and livelihood.
He did a great amount of dancing, and re-arrangement of the songs to a club beat. very daring and different for the mando mkt, but hey a person must change and improve rite? so good job!
The dancers that night were all very hot, they looked good and had perfect figures. the top quality type of dancers. my fren said jeff got distracted by one female dancer as she was walking towards him - he forgot the lyrics! aiyo!...haha...ok to me that is a good thing (*wink*).
He came down near the audience twice to shake hands, the crowd went crazy lah. and there was a lucky gal who gave him a scarf and kissed him! no wonder lah, she was the gf of VIP in HK. haha...anyway lucky gal.
The jazz segment of the concert was particularly good. and i was also surprised that Chet Lam was his guest. cool.They have similar voices and Chet sang one of my faves - By My Side.
Only er....downside was our flowers. It was a beautiful bouquet we bought at The Flower Mkt in Prince Edward. With orchids. Lori called it "Susan". By the end of the concert, Susan was still with us but all drenched as Lori/Kim tried a few times to give the flowers to Jeff but security was too restrictive. and also too many fans running towards the barricades! Jeff didnt collect many of the flowers that night....now we know...four side concert can forget about giving flowers. haha.
but no sweat, we gave it to his assistant later at the hotel. So he prob spent a day with "Susan" : )
The gathering next day was also our highlight! We got first row seats, so happy!
And jeff sat just at our corner like 1m away! so near and wow he was so gorgeous in a simple black t-shirt and ripped jeans, and sneakers.
Jeff didnt look at all like a 42 yr old....he has really good skin ...like fair and clear skin, he can sure pass off as a guy in is 30s. and funnily although most pple feel he has gained weight, he look fine in person. a bit buff but not fat.
he was relaxed and played along to all the games, took photos with enthusiasm with the 100+ of us! wow...made everyone happy. usually after concert day, he would be tired or sleepy or rushing to get home etc...but this time he seem really happy.
he made some small talk with my fren....and i also told him he was ok at the concert....everything he replied in english...haha...its funny just when u try to speak in mandarin to him, he tries to speak to u in english. : )
after the gat, i went for a drink with 2 long time frens - Phoebe and Joe. So happy to see them! They still look good and they dun seem to age! Joe was funny and said she brought her kindergarten student with her to the concert!! haha..btw the student now is like almost 20. amazing. Phoebe is also doing well in her job, going to Florida on work soon. Good for her. its been 10 yrs since i known them, at the 99 Xmas eve party. really a good feeling to catch up with them.
They were very nice and bought me a present, really nice of them.
after that, i met the gang at Times Sq and we went to the Peak for the spectacular view. i been here again on countless times but still love it. and find it v romantic.
we took the steep tram ride up and also had a drink at Bubba Gump! Yes thats the one in NYC. Service wasnt as high as in the US (quite artificial actually) but decent enough, afterall we are asians :P the food was alright but the price is higher than that in the US perhaps of the franchise fee.
We asked a guy to help us take a pic on the peak, so funny he took a long long time to take the PERFECT picture! he even used his camera tripod and stuff! oh well he was nice to wanna take a good shot of us. the shot turn out well. he was from China i think. and his assistant/ of gf also took one of us with her camera.
took a bus down, again roller coaster ride! haha...2 aunties/or high pitch voice uncles were sitting at the back talking loudly about what they cooked for dinner! the conversation was funny cuz one said she/he cooked pasta......blah blah with truffle oil! (wow) and herbs like Basil...haha...very Pally. cool.
Went back to TST and back to our hotel. Its funny now we go back to hotel so early. Age catching up or ...? i dunno, used to shop till 1am all the time in the past. maybe the economy isnt that good kinda feeling. but its ok, rest is good. look younger. heh heh
next day check out time.....ah...last day in HK. we knew jeff was catching a 2pm flight...and went down to the lobby at 12pm to try our luck. wow! our lift doors opened almost at the same time! lucky my fren spotted him immediately and called him...i could even recognise him with the cap.....he said bye and usual asked when we are heading home. ha. a mini bus was waiting for him outside, there we saw his taiwan kampong! haha...there were a whole group of taiwanese likely his relatives and frens and we also saw his parents. they were thanking the hotel manager. PR and everyone in HK....we waved each other once again good bye via the windows.
ok, next stop! Mongkok! last min shopping! we went to ladies market and then i zoomed to langham place to H&M. nice accesories but not really the clothes. aiya, shopping time why always no enough!!??! gggrrrr.......i could easily spend a few more days in HK.....
5pm, time to get to the Airport. We had popeyes at the airport and went in the transit rather late at about 7.30pm. only to find out our gate have been change!! somehow the PA system annoucement didnt work on us...we zoomed all the way to the other side of the airport to the right gate!!! i was like No man! i dun wanna be that crazy woman going to San Francisco
luckily we got onto the plane in time, it was already last call. many singaporeans were still walking slowly...aiyo! they think they own the plane ah!
On the flight, one of my frens had a small little crush on the air steward...haha....he was alright looking and when we were collecting our baggage, he appeared! wah haha! i sort of suggest she take a photo of him...and man! she really went up to him and ask for a photo! haha.....true guts...v good. he wasnt that good looking in photo though. funnily. he turned out to be sporean (or msian) as he took a cab home.
and that marks the end of our HK trip....loved it.
This is actually my 11th trip to HK, 12 if i count the one when i was in pri sch. And quite frankly, i never ever get sick of HK, well at least the shopping, trendy merchandise and oh so vibrant city life!! HK is indeed organised chaos, its lively ...sort of transport u from "sian" spore to somewhere more happening instantly! haha....
Well, Spore does have its good points too like cleaner air and more peace BUT, once in while u need to recharge and feel excited, wake up yr senses! and HK is a place to do that! Thank goodness its 3hrs plus away :)
Was a bit tired from packing and stuff, waking up early to the airport, thinking of the logistics, but once we landed....wow...everything is nice. in fact even on the CX flight, people started shopping already ...haha...in flight sales.
The have a rather good selection of stuff. Recd Lori to get the Marc Jacobs perfume flower pendent for Wendy, it looks cute.....ah wished someone could give me that too.
We took the airport bus to TST, it was pretty fast actually, just 40mins maybe and stopped right outside Cameron Rd, now thats convenient! Went to look out for our hotel - Hotel Benito......and great! it was just 3mins away from where we were. MTR station also just at the junction.
The hotel was new and clean, a boutique concept. very nice i must say and LOCATION - the best!check in was also smooth. they also gave fresh fruits (we r talking about big apples and oranges!) and the water pressure in the toilet - power...! haha..v important huh this type of things. ha...
One thing memorable also, their TV had this cantonese movie channel, they show mainly action movies from the 90s...damm cheesy stuff but funny! we had a good laugh watching thoes. haha!! the movie editing back then was AWFUL and so were the special effects! haha....once scene i saw a toy aeroplane with eyes flying around the main actor, trying to kill him! wah ha ha!!!
The clear highlight of course gotta be Jeff! The concert was great, i was surprised to see actually lots of dancing and fast beat stuff. rather unlike the typical Jeff image u would expect. Although he is the Prince of Love Ballads, he to me is actually different from his public persona. Over the years, i learnt that Jeff does like a lot of western pop, dance music, jazz, modern cool stuff u know as well as fusion, brit pop etc. Of course he does his mando love songs the best but tat is what u call - his job and livelihood.
He did a great amount of dancing, and re-arrangement of the songs to a club beat. very daring and different for the mando mkt, but hey a person must change and improve rite? so good job!
The dancers that night were all very hot, they looked good and had perfect figures. the top quality type of dancers. my fren said jeff got distracted by one female dancer as she was walking towards him - he forgot the lyrics! aiyo!...haha...ok to me that is a good thing (*wink*).
He came down near the audience twice to shake hands, the crowd went crazy lah. and there was a lucky gal who gave him a scarf and kissed him! no wonder lah, she was the gf of VIP in HK. haha...anyway lucky gal.
The jazz segment of the concert was particularly good. and i was also surprised that Chet Lam was his guest. cool.They have similar voices and Chet sang one of my faves - By My Side.
Only er....downside was our flowers. It was a beautiful bouquet we bought at The Flower Mkt in Prince Edward. With orchids. Lori called it "Susan". By the end of the concert, Susan was still with us but all drenched as Lori/Kim tried a few times to give the flowers to Jeff but security was too restrictive. and also too many fans running towards the barricades! Jeff didnt collect many of the flowers that night....now we know...four side concert can forget about giving flowers. haha.
but no sweat, we gave it to his assistant later at the hotel. So he prob spent a day with "Susan" : )
The gathering next day was also our highlight! We got first row seats, so happy!
And jeff sat just at our corner like 1m away! so near and wow he was so gorgeous in a simple black t-shirt and ripped jeans, and sneakers.
Jeff didnt look at all like a 42 yr old....he has really good skin ...like fair and clear skin, he can sure pass off as a guy in is 30s. and funnily although most pple feel he has gained weight, he look fine in person. a bit buff but not fat.
he was relaxed and played along to all the games, took photos with enthusiasm with the 100+ of us! wow...made everyone happy. usually after concert day, he would be tired or sleepy or rushing to get home etc...but this time he seem really happy.
he made some small talk with my fren....and i also told him he was ok at the concert....everything he replied in english...haha...its funny just when u try to speak in mandarin to him, he tries to speak to u in english. : )
after the gat, i went for a drink with 2 long time frens - Phoebe and Joe. So happy to see them! They still look good and they dun seem to age! Joe was funny and said she brought her kindergarten student with her to the concert!! haha..btw the student now is like almost 20. amazing. Phoebe is also doing well in her job, going to Florida on work soon. Good for her. its been 10 yrs since i known them, at the 99 Xmas eve party. really a good feeling to catch up with them.
They were very nice and bought me a present, really nice of them.
after that, i met the gang at Times Sq and we went to the Peak for the spectacular view. i been here again on countless times but still love it. and find it v romantic.
we took the steep tram ride up and also had a drink at Bubba Gump! Yes thats the one in NYC. Service wasnt as high as in the US (quite artificial actually) but decent enough, afterall we are asians :P the food was alright but the price is higher than that in the US perhaps of the franchise fee.
We asked a guy to help us take a pic on the peak, so funny he took a long long time to take the PERFECT picture! he even used his camera tripod and stuff! oh well he was nice to wanna take a good shot of us. the shot turn out well. he was from China i think. and his assistant/ of gf also took one of us with her camera.
took a bus down, again roller coaster ride! haha...2 aunties/or high pitch voice uncles were sitting at the back talking loudly about what they cooked for dinner! the conversation was funny cuz one said she/he cooked pasta......blah blah with truffle oil! (wow) and herbs like Basil...haha...very Pally. cool.
Went back to TST and back to our hotel. Its funny now we go back to hotel so early. Age catching up or ...? i dunno, used to shop till 1am all the time in the past. maybe the economy isnt that good kinda feeling. but its ok, rest is good. look younger. heh heh
next day check out time.....ah...last day in HK. we knew jeff was catching a 2pm flight...and went down to the lobby at 12pm to try our luck. wow! our lift doors opened almost at the same time! lucky my fren spotted him immediately and called him...i could even recognise him with the cap.....he said bye and usual asked when we are heading home. ha. a mini bus was waiting for him outside, there we saw his taiwan kampong! haha...there were a whole group of taiwanese likely his relatives and frens and we also saw his parents. they were thanking the hotel manager. PR and everyone in HK....we waved each other once again good bye via the windows.
ok, next stop! Mongkok! last min shopping! we went to ladies market and then i zoomed to langham place to H&M. nice accesories but not really the clothes. aiya, shopping time why always no enough!!??! gggrrrr.......i could easily spend a few more days in HK.....
5pm, time to get to the Airport. We had popeyes at the airport and went in the transit rather late at about 7.30pm. only to find out our gate have been change!! somehow the PA system annoucement didnt work on us...we zoomed all the way to the other side of the airport to the right gate!!! i was like No man! i dun wanna be that crazy woman going to San Francisco
luckily we got onto the plane in time, it was already last call. many singaporeans were still walking slowly...aiyo! they think they own the plane ah!
On the flight, one of my frens had a small little crush on the air steward...haha....he was alright looking and when we were collecting our baggage, he appeared! wah haha! i sort of suggest she take a photo of him...and man! she really went up to him and ask for a photo! haha.....true guts...v good. he wasnt that good looking in photo though. funnily. he turned out to be sporean (or msian) as he took a cab home.
and that marks the end of our HK trip....loved it.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
SMILE
What a crummy day......woke up to beautiful cozy rainy weather but......have to report of work!.....
just what i need - SMILE.....(inspired by Michael Jackson)
Smile, though your heart is aching
Smile, even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by...
If you smile
With your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just...
Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just...
Smile, though your heart is aching
Smile, even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by...
If you smile
Through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile...
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile
just what i need - SMILE.....(inspired by Michael Jackson)
Smile, though your heart is aching
Smile, even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by...
If you smile
With your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just...
Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just...
Smile, though your heart is aching
Smile, even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by...
If you smile
Through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile...
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Soul Mate
What is a Soul Mate?
As the world gets increasing globalised....time is moving faster than ever....in big cities around the world, young people are getting married later or dun even see any reason to get married.
There is no real push or desire to get hicthed unless u find the one or just plain eager to start a family etc..... in the UK, they did a study and predicted that single folks will outnumber married folks in 20yrs time!
of course who doesnt want to find their ideal partner and live happily ever after...but in this day and time, is that possible? being financially indenpendent, leading a lifestyle u want, and then suddenly realise u have to get married cuz you r at marriageble age? especially for ladies, it just suddenly dwell on u if yr r in yr 30s, single...your time is running out. is that how we are supposed to feel?
by the time we are out of UNI, say early 20s, work a while, get promotions, enjoy life a little, go for holidays..before u know it time passes real fast! and u r 30!
so how? no thanks to technology and rather "waste of time" things like youtube, blogging, twitter, Facebook to make our lives even faster.
its really sick when u see all these dating agencies start sprouting up, events done by money crazy pple for single pple who think they shld try such things to be normal. and sometimes these organisers are nerdy and pathetic. Nothing like somebody who knows how to match make, they just wanna earn a fast buck from people who are seriously wanting to meet some like minded people!
Most of the times at these events, you find a pool of people that are NOT filtered at all. its really disappointing. whats the point of wasting time and money like that. Its really energy draining too.
i guess perhaps i am still a hard core romantic at heart.
As the world gets increasing globalised....time is moving faster than ever....in big cities around the world, young people are getting married later or dun even see any reason to get married.
There is no real push or desire to get hicthed unless u find the one or just plain eager to start a family etc..... in the UK, they did a study and predicted that single folks will outnumber married folks in 20yrs time!
of course who doesnt want to find their ideal partner and live happily ever after...but in this day and time, is that possible? being financially indenpendent, leading a lifestyle u want, and then suddenly realise u have to get married cuz you r at marriageble age? especially for ladies, it just suddenly dwell on u if yr r in yr 30s, single...your time is running out. is that how we are supposed to feel?
by the time we are out of UNI, say early 20s, work a while, get promotions, enjoy life a little, go for holidays..before u know it time passes real fast! and u r 30!
so how? no thanks to technology and rather "waste of time" things like youtube, blogging, twitter, Facebook to make our lives even faster.
its really sick when u see all these dating agencies start sprouting up, events done by money crazy pple for single pple who think they shld try such things to be normal. and sometimes these organisers are nerdy and pathetic. Nothing like somebody who knows how to match make, they just wanna earn a fast buck from people who are seriously wanting to meet some like minded people!
Most of the times at these events, you find a pool of people that are NOT filtered at all. its really disappointing. whats the point of wasting time and money like that. Its really energy draining too.
i guess perhaps i am still a hard core romantic at heart.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Britpop
Ah....Britpop.....those short lived days in 95....MTV Pub in Zouk.....
those days were so fun, the music was just as good as ''drugs''...haha
I remembered hanging out at Tower Records in Pacific Plaza, buying and waiting for the latest British music mags like Q ...... bands like Blur, Suede, Pulp were just oh sooooo cool!
you could just listen to their songs and feel high and happy (when actually some of the lyrics are bitter and sad...haha) Alternative music rules! it was so surreal and nice and dreamy.
AND NOW.....what?!!! these bands are like having nostalgic tours? has it really be 15 years passed? i really hope not cuz the music back then was a mix of their youth energy, vibe, image......i was also young. for them now to jump around singing Girls and Boys.....just not quite the same.
Thats the thing, alternative music cant really last thru the decades can they? Lots of 80s pop songs can but sadly for pop music now, no many hardly stay around for 3 mths.
Tower Records have also closed, and HMV down sized. oh whats next? death of the CD? Death Album art? everything JUST download! how are humans going to look forward to anything anymore?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturecritics/neilmccormick/5561905/Why-there-will-never-be-another-Britpop.html
Why there will never be another Britpop
With its witty, parochial lyrics, Britpop was a stimulating commentary on British life .
By Neil McCormickPublished: 6:54PM BST 17 Jun 2009
IS IT TOO EARLY for Britpop nostalgia? It is nearly 15 years since its peak moment – the Blur-vs-Oasis chart battle in 1995. This week, Blur have been playing secret reunion gigs in the run-up to their official comeback at Glastonbury, while Oasis (who never broke up, but went through more hirings and firings than a series of The Apprentice) are in the middle of a UK tour.
While they may have been its headline acts, Britpop did not just belong to Oasis and Blur, and in some ways their North/South, working class/middle class, art school/plebeian rivalry has created an unfair stereotype of what was the last truly cohesive and all-encompassing scene in British music.
Presumably because they are more expensive to license than their shorter-lived contemporaries, along with Radiohead and the Verve they are pretty much the only major Britpop artists missing from Common People, the first real attempt at a definitive compilation. Released by Universal next week, it gathers together tracks from an impressive 54 acts, in an attempt to frame the scene in as wide a context as possible. Nostalgia is often viewed suspiciously by critics, but it can allow for a kind of re-evaluation, when the listening experience is liberated from the contemporary influence of trends, rivalries, tribal camps and other pop-cultural contextualisation, and you can just celebrate the spirit of some good tunes.
Listening again to blasts from the still quite recent past by such short-lived pop sensations as Gene, Kenickie, Catatonia, Sleeper and Longpigs, you do get a sense of the common factors that bound this music together.
As much as Britpop turned back to the primary musical elements of Sixties beat music, there was also a kind of gleeful appropriation of modern pop, which resulted in music of instant attraction and DayGlo colourfulness.
There is nothing glum, overly self-regarding or pretentious about this music. With a preference for witty, parochial lyrics, it actually seemed to provide a fresh and stimulating commentary on the lives that people lived in modern Britain.
Brett Anderson of Suede, one of the groups who first opened the Britpop floodgate, told Melody Maker in 1992: “All great British pop artists from the Beatles to the Fall have celebrated Britain in some way. I’m not remotely attracted by New York. I mean, all the streets are laid out in a grid. Doesn’t that say everything?”
It is always hard to be sure of these things when you are in the thick of it, but listening back it becomes clear that Britpop coalesced around 1993, peaked in ’95, before a final and rather reductive third wave (defined by the dadrock of Ocean Colour Scene and Stereophonics) ran it into the ground by 1977.
Oasis soldiered on, but there is a dourness to their post-Nineties output only compensated for by charisma, residual affection and Noel Gallagher’s way with a melody. Blur essentially turned inward with a more arty direction, and were losing mass popular support before they effectively disintegrated in 2003.
The fate of so many of the more eccentric and flavoursome Britpop bands suggests the instant appeal and parochial perspective of the genre had inbuilt limitations. Ironically, Britpop probably foundered on its failure to crack the all-important international market of America, leaving that to a new generation of bands (Coldplay, Snow Patrol) more influenced by the art-rock of Radiohead and stadium dynamics of U2.
Of the 54 bands featured on the CD, only a handful still exist (the Bluetones, Gomez, a re-formed James and Shed Seven) and only a couple of those have commercially and artistically functioning careers (arguably Stereophonics, Placebo and Paul Weller, the punk Modfather who was reinvigorated by Britpop).
THE INTEREST in Blur and the current vogue for reunions surely means we will see many Britpop also-rans getting back together. In another 10 years, there will be Britpop-themed tours, featuring Space, Embrace and Gay Dad.
But can revived attention on the last cohesive movement in British pop culture pave the way for a new British band scene? I certainly hear the shadow of Britpop’s witty, hook-laden mix-and-match of pure pop with Beat-group craft and socially connected lyrics in forthcoming albums from Reverend and the Makers and the Twang.
But, like the return of Blur and the everlasting appeal of Oasis, they seem more like throwbacks than the green shoots of pop recovery. This, I suppose, is the ultimate fate of all pop scenes: from urgent contemporary relevance to the fuzzy warmth of nostalgia in under two decades.
those days were so fun, the music was just as good as ''drugs''...haha
I remembered hanging out at Tower Records in Pacific Plaza, buying and waiting for the latest British music mags like Q ...... bands like Blur, Suede, Pulp were just oh sooooo cool!
you could just listen to their songs and feel high and happy (when actually some of the lyrics are bitter and sad...haha) Alternative music rules! it was so surreal and nice and dreamy.
AND NOW.....what?!!! these bands are like having nostalgic tours? has it really be 15 years passed? i really hope not cuz the music back then was a mix of their youth energy, vibe, image......i was also young. for them now to jump around singing Girls and Boys.....just not quite the same.
Thats the thing, alternative music cant really last thru the decades can they? Lots of 80s pop songs can but sadly for pop music now, no many hardly stay around for 3 mths.
Tower Records have also closed, and HMV down sized. oh whats next? death of the CD? Death Album art? everything JUST download! how are humans going to look forward to anything anymore?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturecritics/neilmccormick/5561905/Why-there-will-never-be-another-Britpop.html
Why there will never be another Britpop
With its witty, parochial lyrics, Britpop was a stimulating commentary on British life .
By Neil McCormickPublished: 6:54PM BST 17 Jun 2009
IS IT TOO EARLY for Britpop nostalgia? It is nearly 15 years since its peak moment – the Blur-vs-Oasis chart battle in 1995. This week, Blur have been playing secret reunion gigs in the run-up to their official comeback at Glastonbury, while Oasis (who never broke up, but went through more hirings and firings than a series of The Apprentice) are in the middle of a UK tour.
While they may have been its headline acts, Britpop did not just belong to Oasis and Blur, and in some ways their North/South, working class/middle class, art school/plebeian rivalry has created an unfair stereotype of what was the last truly cohesive and all-encompassing scene in British music.
Presumably because they are more expensive to license than their shorter-lived contemporaries, along with Radiohead and the Verve they are pretty much the only major Britpop artists missing from Common People, the first real attempt at a definitive compilation. Released by Universal next week, it gathers together tracks from an impressive 54 acts, in an attempt to frame the scene in as wide a context as possible. Nostalgia is often viewed suspiciously by critics, but it can allow for a kind of re-evaluation, when the listening experience is liberated from the contemporary influence of trends, rivalries, tribal camps and other pop-cultural contextualisation, and you can just celebrate the spirit of some good tunes.
Listening again to blasts from the still quite recent past by such short-lived pop sensations as Gene, Kenickie, Catatonia, Sleeper and Longpigs, you do get a sense of the common factors that bound this music together.
As much as Britpop turned back to the primary musical elements of Sixties beat music, there was also a kind of gleeful appropriation of modern pop, which resulted in music of instant attraction and DayGlo colourfulness.
There is nothing glum, overly self-regarding or pretentious about this music. With a preference for witty, parochial lyrics, it actually seemed to provide a fresh and stimulating commentary on the lives that people lived in modern Britain.
Brett Anderson of Suede, one of the groups who first opened the Britpop floodgate, told Melody Maker in 1992: “All great British pop artists from the Beatles to the Fall have celebrated Britain in some way. I’m not remotely attracted by New York. I mean, all the streets are laid out in a grid. Doesn’t that say everything?”
It is always hard to be sure of these things when you are in the thick of it, but listening back it becomes clear that Britpop coalesced around 1993, peaked in ’95, before a final and rather reductive third wave (defined by the dadrock of Ocean Colour Scene and Stereophonics) ran it into the ground by 1977.
Oasis soldiered on, but there is a dourness to their post-Nineties output only compensated for by charisma, residual affection and Noel Gallagher’s way with a melody. Blur essentially turned inward with a more arty direction, and were losing mass popular support before they effectively disintegrated in 2003.
The fate of so many of the more eccentric and flavoursome Britpop bands suggests the instant appeal and parochial perspective of the genre had inbuilt limitations. Ironically, Britpop probably foundered on its failure to crack the all-important international market of America, leaving that to a new generation of bands (Coldplay, Snow Patrol) more influenced by the art-rock of Radiohead and stadium dynamics of U2.
Of the 54 bands featured on the CD, only a handful still exist (the Bluetones, Gomez, a re-formed James and Shed Seven) and only a couple of those have commercially and artistically functioning careers (arguably Stereophonics, Placebo and Paul Weller, the punk Modfather who was reinvigorated by Britpop).
THE INTEREST in Blur and the current vogue for reunions surely means we will see many Britpop also-rans getting back together. In another 10 years, there will be Britpop-themed tours, featuring Space, Embrace and Gay Dad.
But can revived attention on the last cohesive movement in British pop culture pave the way for a new British band scene? I certainly hear the shadow of Britpop’s witty, hook-laden mix-and-match of pure pop with Beat-group craft and socially connected lyrics in forthcoming albums from Reverend and the Makers and the Twang.
But, like the return of Blur and the everlasting appeal of Oasis, they seem more like throwbacks than the green shoots of pop recovery. This, I suppose, is the ultimate fate of all pop scenes: from urgent contemporary relevance to the fuzzy warmth of nostalgia in under two decades.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Girls and Boys
"Girls will like boys to be boys to be girls......always should be someone you reaaaalleeee loooovvvve!!................"
Yeah thats tha Blur song.....and its so true isnt it?
Was reading Asiaone's forum headlines, its getting bad to worse with slezy low class topis like Spore girls sleeping with ang moh men, wife affair with some men, SG girls all bad and materialistic, SG girls demanding and fierce.....and the list goes on....
I really wonder who are the loser guys writing all these stuff?? are they being dumped or just plain insecure and low self esteem? Sigh....we always complain that the reason we are single is sometimes SG guys being hopeless - no drive, no looks, no ambition, not expressive...etc..sometimes i take a step back and think "hey maybe we are too demanding cuz not all guys are perfect...." but with postings like that! boy! i think we are right. sad to say.
most of those still available are as also searching for gold when they are just er s***. i would think most of us girls here are ok, are we demanding? i think most of us just want simple sincere guys. dont think we need someone who is v v rich or good looking. but most of these guys feel we want the moon. hmmm...those better ones are really taken huh........
are pple really happy in their marriage? all to do with expectations. and the expectations are definitely mis matched at the moment.
Yeah thats tha Blur song.....and its so true isnt it?
Was reading Asiaone's forum headlines, its getting bad to worse with slezy low class topis like Spore girls sleeping with ang moh men, wife affair with some men, SG girls all bad and materialistic, SG girls demanding and fierce.....and the list goes on....
I really wonder who are the loser guys writing all these stuff?? are they being dumped or just plain insecure and low self esteem? Sigh....we always complain that the reason we are single is sometimes SG guys being hopeless - no drive, no looks, no ambition, not expressive...etc..sometimes i take a step back and think "hey maybe we are too demanding cuz not all guys are perfect...." but with postings like that! boy! i think we are right. sad to say.
most of those still available are as also searching for gold when they are just er s***. i would think most of us girls here are ok, are we demanding? i think most of us just want simple sincere guys. dont think we need someone who is v v rich or good looking. but most of these guys feel we want the moon. hmmm...those better ones are really taken huh........
are pple really happy in their marriage? all to do with expectations. and the expectations are definitely mis matched at the moment.
2 years
another time flies entry.....haiz!.....so fast its been 2 years since my short stint in Zhangjiagang. Going to China and work was exciting.....i felt finally something different, honestly i wasnt really scared of the environment and stuff in china, perhaps cuz i will be there with colleagues from spore and stuff. little was know about ZJG...in fact its such a small chinese town!...but just to show the world is actually quite huge..... ZJG was a really clean town with nice people, reallu unlike what most people will think of China - dirty, polluted, unsafe, backwards....3rd world country.
In fact in ZJG, it was just like any middle class town. housewives going for evening walks and jobs, convenience stores, supermarket with pre packed food. hair salons. My hotel - Jiangnan Hotel was nice. wasnt 5 star but cosy and clean enough. the staff were friendly esp the housekeeping lady. definitely more sincere and professional than spore service staff.
sure it was sleepy but it was adequate. maybe not so for me cuz i still need glitzy orchard rd type shops and images.
in fact, there were lots of rich people in ZJG too....i actually saw a lady drive a Bentley!!! no joke.
its weird, u see some odd people around that seems very well to do in this sleepy town. they make their appearance now and then.
I miss the canteen food, well some dishes. the cold dishes esp. and the Blue + White Deli. yup.....deli china style. a great selection of cold side dishes too. And the rather good public bus system. announcement at every stop! and also annoncement to tell u its turning left and right, to hold on. wow.
but alas, most people in ZJG were locals, they did not have same lifestyle as me. it was boring after a while. Shanghai was a better place to stay for me that is. and my boss was kinda creepy sometimes. so farewell after 3mths.
came back to spore, felt good and fresh but after a while, back to square one.
jurong island sucks. so glad i got out of that place. it was soul-less grey and cold. empty. sad.
sometimes i wonder how did i get into this? i am totally dis-interested in all the technical stuff and have no desire to craft out any career out of it. i am in the wrong place.
sometimes i wonder how did i get into this? i am totally dis-interested in all the technical stuff and have no desire to craft out any career out of it. i am in the wrong place.
starting out in gas was alright, it was sales after all so it was bearable, furthermore colleagues were ok. it was fun. but to excel in this org means you have to prob do some island stuff. dont think its my cup of tea. so what the hell i am doing here? sigh..... stupid lawyer just sent stupid email.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
A bit of refreshment.......
Just found out that the wonderful Japanese casual dining chain - Watami is heading its way to Spore!! Yay! It will opening its first outlet here in ION Orchard. finally! i first tried Watami in HK in 2003, the food is really rather excellent and ambience great. more importantly its very affordable. the famous Watami Salad is a MUST TRY! dunno what they put in there but it taste magical.
now just hope its the same mgt from HK cuz the food is definitely better that the watami i tried in japan! yes can u believe it? HK better than the orginator in Japan. they also have all these wonderful cocktails and dessert at like HK$10 each. ah......please please be the same in spore too.
more often than not, things get watered down when arrive in spore. like concerts u know.
ok, thats one fresh piece of news that sounds exciting...other than that, life is becoming very grey and stale. perhaps cuz i am also not feeling well. same ol stupid question of mid 30s crisis....ah....i dunno if its just me or what. times have changed, so i guess our expectations get higher and higher, things move faster and faster.
read Stomp....its a really disgusting website now.....not stomp alone but all the forums on Asiaone. lots of slezey topics. and also topics on SG girls and ang moh men??? i really dun get it? why are local guys so bitter about things like that? its not even half true......its worrying how insecure these pple are. the more they act like this, the more local gals are just gonna look else where. sigh......
now just hope its the same mgt from HK cuz the food is definitely better that the watami i tried in japan! yes can u believe it? HK better than the orginator in Japan. they also have all these wonderful cocktails and dessert at like HK$10 each. ah......please please be the same in spore too.
more often than not, things get watered down when arrive in spore. like concerts u know.
ok, thats one fresh piece of news that sounds exciting...other than that, life is becoming very grey and stale. perhaps cuz i am also not feeling well. same ol stupid question of mid 30s crisis....ah....i dunno if its just me or what. times have changed, so i guess our expectations get higher and higher, things move faster and faster.
read Stomp....its a really disgusting website now.....not stomp alone but all the forums on Asiaone. lots of slezey topics. and also topics on SG girls and ang moh men??? i really dun get it? why are local guys so bitter about things like that? its not even half true......its worrying how insecure these pple are. the more they act like this, the more local gals are just gonna look else where. sigh......
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Spring has arrived!
first time seeing a cherry blossom tree in my life! you would think its just a tree with flowers......white flowers but its nothing like that. seeing it bloom in the splendid spring air is something rather breathtaking. its really beautiful!
Friday, April 17, 2009
Korea! Seoul Good!
After nearly a span of 10yrs....i finally decided to visit the Land of The Morning Calm or Clam...oops..dunno leh..haha
After my trip in 99, never really had the urge to visit Korea again. and no Thanks to the korean drama wave in 02......with sappy dramas like Winter Sonata! aiyo.......Bae Yong Jun looking men with wavy hair and cheesy specs not exactly enticing. haha.
The only time which made me interested in Korea again was the drama Kim Sam Soon. it was a really cool show and the places which they filmed at make korea look modern and nice. BUT but...still not enough a push factor....until ......the WON DROPPED AGAINST THE SING$$$$$!!! hahaha....ok...sad but its all about economics.....but hey recessison now leh.
From 600won to $1 ....and 950won to $1.....i decided ITS TIME!
So thank goodness there are cheap CX flights at $550nett (ah HK stopover... ^^) and the cherry blossom season.........so excited!
The trip was GREAT!! SK have evolved in a rather big way, i think partly thanks to the 2002 World Cup, the country is definitely more cosmopolitan and in a sense westernised. their culture is still rather deeply rooted but looking at the young people, the lifestyle, Seoul is just like any other globalised nation. tons of cafes everywhere, starbucks, dunkin donuts is almost at every corner and happily - Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf too. in fact seoul is prob a city i have seen the MOST cafes so far.
And what a difference 10yrs make........u now see korean domestic pdts sold proudly everywhere! and trusted and loved by the tourist and vistors from everywhere. ok maybe for their skin care, asian ladies only.....but its amazing, would u even think of buying any korean brand cosmetics 10 yrs ago??? i think NOT. but now, i can say if they keep '"fighting' their brand names can also give the Japan names a run for their money!!
about 75% of the tourist in seoul city were LADIES from Japan, Thailand, HK, China, Taiwan and our small country Spore!!! and everyone was shopping like there is no tomorrow. HAHA!! the reason? the price of the domestic pdts are way way lower than if they were exported! and now with the currency depreciation, u guessed it, ladies are just grabbing and fulfiling every inch of their retail satisfaction. i remember the Etude House store in Dongdaemun - aiyo! one group of thai tourists wiped the whole shop OUT!!!!! i am not kidding. the shelves were empty. and every one was taking like mutiples of the pdts. doesnt help when one of the Thai princesses used the Lip Gloss. most of the korean cosmetics are below S$15, thus making it extremely affordable and the quality is acceptable.
Only thing is the packaging....it is still somehow less superior than Japan.
After my trip in 99, never really had the urge to visit Korea again. and no Thanks to the korean drama wave in 02......with sappy dramas like Winter Sonata! aiyo.......Bae Yong Jun looking men with wavy hair and cheesy specs not exactly enticing. haha.
The only time which made me interested in Korea again was the drama Kim Sam Soon. it was a really cool show and the places which they filmed at make korea look modern and nice. BUT but...still not enough a push factor....until ......the WON DROPPED AGAINST THE SING$$$$$!!! hahaha....ok...sad but its all about economics.....but hey recessison now leh.
From 600won to $1 ....and 950won to $1.....i decided ITS TIME!
So thank goodness there are cheap CX flights at $550nett (ah HK stopover... ^^) and the cherry blossom season.........so excited!
The trip was GREAT!! SK have evolved in a rather big way, i think partly thanks to the 2002 World Cup, the country is definitely more cosmopolitan and in a sense westernised. their culture is still rather deeply rooted but looking at the young people, the lifestyle, Seoul is just like any other globalised nation. tons of cafes everywhere, starbucks, dunkin donuts is almost at every corner and happily - Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf too. in fact seoul is prob a city i have seen the MOST cafes so far.
And what a difference 10yrs make........u now see korean domestic pdts sold proudly everywhere! and trusted and loved by the tourist and vistors from everywhere. ok maybe for their skin care, asian ladies only.....but its amazing, would u even think of buying any korean brand cosmetics 10 yrs ago??? i think NOT. but now, i can say if they keep '"fighting' their brand names can also give the Japan names a run for their money!!
about 75% of the tourist in seoul city were LADIES from Japan, Thailand, HK, China, Taiwan and our small country Spore!!! and everyone was shopping like there is no tomorrow. HAHA!! the reason? the price of the domestic pdts are way way lower than if they were exported! and now with the currency depreciation, u guessed it, ladies are just grabbing and fulfiling every inch of their retail satisfaction. i remember the Etude House store in Dongdaemun - aiyo! one group of thai tourists wiped the whole shop OUT!!!!! i am not kidding. the shelves were empty. and every one was taking like mutiples of the pdts. doesnt help when one of the Thai princesses used the Lip Gloss. most of the korean cosmetics are below S$15, thus making it extremely affordable and the quality is acceptable.
Only thing is the packaging....it is still somehow less superior than Japan.
There wasnt a particular highlight of the trip but all i can say everything was pleasant and nice. transport is efficient, places clean and people well groomed. ah yes! the Flea market on Sat near Hongik Uni was really good! the students sold really nice creative things and the happening buzz was there. i would most definitely go back for this. we nearly missed this cuz it was a staircase away from the main road.
Nami Island was also great. simple place with tall trees but the feel was so nice and relaxing. was kinda shocked that 2 sporean couples were there taking wedding photos! wah! they like didnt even meet there man.....hmmmmmm....
Others would be meeting my long time friend Ray! its been 10 yrs since we know each other. and we have only met each other twice before! but seems we know each other pretty well. she brought us to an authenic rice cake place. it was really small but the sauce was great! best!
and oooh...Park Hyatt ...the room..wow! Sanchon Temple food, Nanta show.......Hyundai Supermarket....love it!
hope to be back!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Is a deal better than no deal? Cerdit Cards!!! Arrgg!
Yesterday, my colleague asked me if i had OCBC credit card for some ticket discount. I checked my titanium card, and in turn realised there were promos for Hyatt! So went thru the hassle of checking for details.....and so crappy!! no one at OCBC knew the promo code for it and hyatt side also never heard of this promo!! OCBC said check with Hyatt, Hyatt said ask OCBC for the promo code!! aiyo!!! so is this like a special deal or privilege? more like a gimmick.
anyway after a few emails, routing even all the way to India and Korea's hyatt service line...i finally got the code. but up till then, i wasnt hungry for that stupid 3000 upgrade points for the Gold Passport anymore...ggggrrrr!!!!
anyway after a few emails, routing even all the way to India and Korea's hyatt service line...i finally got the code. but up till then, i wasnt hungry for that stupid 3000 upgrade points for the Gold Passport anymore...ggggrrrr!!!!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Too much? - New Computer!
The world moves at lightning speed nowadays. its scary.
How come weeks are becoming shorter, memories are lesser? Everything is always new?
Aiyah...thanks to Technology! As i am here blogging...i am also a victim of T.
Do we need to publish everything online? Do we need to answer every mobile phone call? Reply to every email?
What to do? Have to keep up with times. But i guess one day people will realise its too much info overload.
Maybe we can start with closing down Facebook?
My dear old computer finally gave way a month ago. Ok after all its 8 yrs old and went through one upgrade. The power pack exploded due to dunno what....but actually the motherboard and stuff is still working.
So new Computer...searched high and low, compared dozens of flyers, squeezed in IT show, went to Funan 3 million times! haha.....just to get the best deal that can last for another 8 yrs? :P..hmmm...
at first "hey i just need a simple computer for surfing and some photos, documents..." ah now very cheap $900 to $1100 for a decent Intel Core Duo processor....as time went by....no must get something nice, Vaio? NEC Powermater - all in one! so cool......$2K! ...its ok price.
ram 2mb, processor 8600....ah very good ah.
then went further....no Quad Core better! faster somemore can last longer. 4 processors working at the same time! blu-ray drive yes can watch HD stuff.....ah new monitor...oooh 22" looks so beautiful! ah grahic card good good 768mb!! yes photo will be fast!....ah wirlessless, TV tuner (whatever that is.....) .....hope i can use whatever i paid for.
Cant wait... :P heh heh...
How come weeks are becoming shorter, memories are lesser? Everything is always new?
Aiyah...thanks to Technology! As i am here blogging...i am also a victim of T.
Do we need to publish everything online? Do we need to answer every mobile phone call? Reply to every email?
What to do? Have to keep up with times. But i guess one day people will realise its too much info overload.
Maybe we can start with closing down Facebook?
My dear old computer finally gave way a month ago. Ok after all its 8 yrs old and went through one upgrade. The power pack exploded due to dunno what....but actually the motherboard and stuff is still working.
So new Computer...searched high and low, compared dozens of flyers, squeezed in IT show, went to Funan 3 million times! haha.....just to get the best deal that can last for another 8 yrs? :P..hmmm...
at first "hey i just need a simple computer for surfing and some photos, documents..." ah now very cheap $900 to $1100 for a decent Intel Core Duo processor....as time went by....no must get something nice, Vaio? NEC Powermater - all in one! so cool......$2K! ...its ok price.
ram 2mb, processor 8600....ah very good ah.
then went further....no Quad Core better! faster somemore can last longer. 4 processors working at the same time! blu-ray drive yes can watch HD stuff.....ah new monitor...oooh 22" looks so beautiful! ah grahic card good good 768mb!! yes photo will be fast!....ah wirlessless, TV tuner (whatever that is.....) .....hope i can use whatever i paid for.
Cant wait... :P heh heh...
Friday, February 06, 2009
Heshe Jeans
Suddenly recalled this hot brand in the 80s...Heshe...wow it was D place to shop for basic apparrels! something like your Uniqlo now but in a more multi colour format.
my first cool adult like item was this red tight skirt from Heshe. heh heh. they had many 80s like colours for their jeans, demin skirts...like fushia(spelling), tuquiose, purple, yellow! indigo etc....and the boutiques were 80s disco cool too! haha....iron grids, dark walls, warm lightning....and of course 80s music.
things were definitely more groovy then. now retail is big, bright, massive assortment, multi items...and gimmicky promotions. nothing special if u ask me. one store from the other, most gives u the same feeling.
perhaps its the lack of creativity in the ID of the shop. everything is about the SALES. of course sales is impt for the survivial but most shops tend to lack any form of identity.
u can say its so corporate in some ways.
just went for a retail course preview. it was at NYP. the course sounds great with luxury retailing and retail Biz Dev inside...aims to also raise the level of Service Quality in Spore. but when i called to check if my registration is confirmed and if the preview is still on....the retail lecturer answer the phone and said " yah?! whos that!?......"well its has to be confirmed right!!?".......so much for our service standard vision....sigh!.....
my first cool adult like item was this red tight skirt from Heshe. heh heh. they had many 80s like colours for their jeans, demin skirts...like fushia(spelling), tuquiose, purple, yellow! indigo etc....and the boutiques were 80s disco cool too! haha....iron grids, dark walls, warm lightning....and of course 80s music.
things were definitely more groovy then. now retail is big, bright, massive assortment, multi items...and gimmicky promotions. nothing special if u ask me. one store from the other, most gives u the same feeling.
perhaps its the lack of creativity in the ID of the shop. everything is about the SALES. of course sales is impt for the survivial but most shops tend to lack any form of identity.
u can say its so corporate in some ways.
just went for a retail course preview. it was at NYP. the course sounds great with luxury retailing and retail Biz Dev inside...aims to also raise the level of Service Quality in Spore. but when i called to check if my registration is confirmed and if the preview is still on....the retail lecturer answer the phone and said " yah?! whos that!?......"well its has to be confirmed right!!?".......so much for our service standard vision....sigh!.....
Friday, January 30, 2009
First Trip To Japan
Gong Xi!! Gong Xi!!! Yay!! Happy New (Niu) Year!!
Start of a brand new year! the lunar new year that is! hope this is a better one for all.
if not economically, at least a more peaceful one for the whole world ^^
Its funny this year we could use some puns like Niu Year and Ox-picious year etc...haha....looks like tat the cow/ox is indeed a simple and grounded animal.
Realised that this Japan photo taking contest is ending 31 Jan 09. while clearing room, came across an old photo taken from my very first trip to Japan! thot it would be perfect for that photo contest! its a beautiful and serene pic of Mt. Fuji. heh heh...quite amazed that i actually caught a photo like that.
after scanning and touch up a little....didnt feel like submitting over. just felt aiyo....the rules said photo will be their property!! no good. how can i give away something i took on this wonderous trip? still recalled, we couldnt go up to Mt Fuji due to heavy traffic!!! it was too dark. thus the next day or something, we watched it from afar. Tour guide console us, see from afar better. actually true leh! haha!!
its such a perfect looking mountain.....and this pic shows different tones in the sky and light. no better way to remember Japan......
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Korean Hotel
The whole world is in a financial mess! but hey there are some benefits too.....the British Pound!! now 2.08!!! wah lau!!! hey everything in UK now is just times 2!!! now how often does that happen? Seriously this is a cheap time to visit London. the airfares are also cheap like $1198nett on BA or SQ...but you cant help but to also doubt yr decision to spend a few $K for a Europe trip at this time..... ah.......
Was also checking on Korea.....lots of Japanese have been flocking to Korea due to the devaluation of the Won.....so i went to check......i chance upon this hotel --- Best Western...they have a Ladies Floor!! and get this :
OXYGEN supply!! Wah HAHA!!! i was laughing at the thot that seems we gals are so weak tat we need special oxygen care!! also shows how beauty crazy these east asian countries can be!!! aiyo.... hmmmmm...... so there are oxygen tubes beside each bed?
but the room is sweet and cosy. perhaps hotels around the world can think about this and cater to the increasing independent female travellers!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Parapara - cheesy but fun leh..
yes its cheesy with the euro disco track and costumes but ah...if only i could dance with the disney characters....so cool!
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