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Today I reported work at 1.30pm, and left at 4pm to meet shaf, together with ken, for picnic at sentosa. We were supposed to go botangard but it was drizzling, so the grass will be wet, and I'm not going to wet my expensive jeans and soil my expensive shoes. Lol!
It has been a long time since my last visit to sentosa. Almost 5 months back with my and sh. Work, work and work in the beginning, now slack, slack and slack in the end. When there's beginning, there's an ending. This is life.
We had our wonderful mee siam goreng, soya bean milk and lemon barley at tanjong beach from 5pm onwards. After eating we played 5 rounds of UNO; but i kept winning in the first 2 rounds, till it wasn't fun at all. So I let the other 2 win in the end.
We left the place at 7pm, wanted to catch the musical fountain but it was full house. In the end we took bus no. 30 home.
Now I'm totally drained out. My expenditure for this week is so high. I shall go nowhere next week.
Today I calculated my pay for the month of July. After cpf, the company still has to pay me 1,309 bucks. I wonder how they are going to pay me. My expected pay for next month till 14 Aug after cpf is 490 bucks. Another headache for the company.
Yesterday after work I met up with al and wc for a movie at cineleisure. We watched nacho libre; it's hilarious. The show ended at 10 plus and I returned home.
How is it that compassion can be cultivated? Continued on my reading of Compassion; that the cultivation of compassion comes with accepting the reality as the first step. Fears, resistance, demands all must be embraced. It requires us to be present in all moments of events, be it a joy or sorrow.
What about the word 'impermanence?' All things around me are impermanent. How true could it be. My pc will spoil one day, relationship turns sour, life perishes; it's all impermanent. This means learning how to 'let go' is really important. Sigh. Why must life be full of impermanence? And why am I asking 'why' when I know I have no control over life?
Impermanence as it may be, but live strong, be more at peace. And I can do it...
Because I slept till 12nn yesterday, I couldn't get myself to fall asleep at night. I hate this kind of feeling. Till now sc and my are still waiting for their salary. I wonder when will it come. Christmas perhaps? Mine? Chinese New Year.
I'm starting to count down to resignation on 31 July 2006, 4th month at work on 7 July, and last day at work on 14 August, before I fly to Bangkok on 15 August on a solo trip for 3 nights.
Initially I planned to go on SuperStar Virgo for a 5-night cruise to Bangkok and Koh Samui with mum and sis if my Japan tour has been cancelled due to low subscription rate. But mum was saying many of her friends have been to fortune tellers, advising them not to go out to sea for fear of a tsunami relapse. Especially when the hungry ghost festival is around the corner. In that case, we shall go on 3 September instead to either central Japan or Hokkaido.
After work at 4 this afternoon, sc, ken and I went shopping at orchard. I am eyeing for a pair of lacoste casual footwear, after 10% discount it costs 99 bucks. Perhaps tomorrow I shall get it before it becomes the property of another owner.
Soon after all these holidays, it is enlistment time. I am really bothered by the following thoughts:-
- Shaving bald (what's the logic? I'm fine in my current hairstyle, even under the hot sun);
- Folding blankets after I wake up (what for do I have to fold blankets? At the end of the day I'm gonna use it again);
- Sweeping the floors (I hate the sight of brooms);
- Wiping dust (I'm allergic to it);
- Wiping windows (Will I fall from atop?);
- 7-hour sleep (I am used to 10-hour sleep, but I still feel lethargic after waking up);
- Marching (why the emphasis on uniformity when marching? In times of war I'll be running!);
and most fucking duty is to,
- Wash toilets (I just can't imagine myself doing it).
And oh, I hate to be commanded by others, because I have my own set of thinking.
I still have endless list of grievances. But now? Fuckcare.
Last day of work for the week tomorrow. Happy.
Upon reaching home at 9 the night before, I changed into my sports attire and did some warm up while waiting for second sis to return home. We jogged from our home to east coast park. On the way sis was panting like a dog. I wouldn't want to criticise but seriously her speed of running was my speed of brisk walking. And fancy her saying "I'm a girl mah! Stamina not as good as guy." That is just an excuse. See the privilege borne by girls?
Halfway running, my thought was at East Coast Food Village sipping coconut juice and eating under the dazzling starlight. When we were on the way up ECP, we called dad, asking him to drive us home from the food village.
As usual, sis' face turned black and unhappy for forcing her to run a long distance, and swore for the second time not to run with me.
On reaching the food village, we settled down for a cup of orange juice (for sis) and coconut juice (for me). I ordered 2 packets of hokkien mee home for mum and I. All my efforts of running have been washed down the drain, with extra pound gained.
The day before after work I hurried to plaza singapura to catch pirates of the caribbean with nb at 8.30pm. The show lasted for 2.5 hours and surprisingly, I did not fall asleep. I liked the graphics of the movie; they were so colourful. But all in all, the first episode gave me a better impression.
Today is my off day and I am too tired to do anything. I woke up at 1pm, used the pc until 3.30pm and slept again till 6.45pm. And I'm still feeling tired now. Lazy to even go swimming, but I dreamt of meditating on the breakwaters of east coast park in the serenity of the night.
Another 2 weeks to resignation, 1 month to end of work and Bangkok, 1.5 months to Japan (if the tour is confirmed), exactly 2 months to enlistment.
A Pablo Neruda Poem
If we were not so single-minded
about keeping our lives moving,
and for once could do nothing,
perhaps a huge silence
might interrupt this sadness
of never understanding ourselves
and of threatening ourselves
with death.
Perhaps the earth can teach us
as when everything seems dead in winter
and late proves to be alive.
Now I’ll count up to twelve
and you keep quiet and I will go.
(Adapted from: Feldman C. (2005), Compassion: Listening to the cries of the world, Berkeley,
C.A.: Rodmell Press, p. 22).
I'm exhausted by the 5th day at work. Tomorrow's the 6th day before I off on tuesday again.
After work at 8pm, ken, sc and I went for dinner at newton circus. Never knew it would be so crowded, or I wouldn't have step into the vicinity.
We ordered stingray, squid, kangkong and bbq honey chicken wings. Each person paid only 12 bucks. And a 1.5 bucks for sugar cane drink.
We left at about 9.20pm, and I hitched a ride on dad's car home from plaza singapura with mum.
Big boss' coming tomorrow, and recently sales isn't good. I wonder what I should say when being asked that irritating 'why?'
I reported at work as usual, clearing all the papers that have to be done. Then came one customer who made me wanna laugh like no heaven and hell.
He (abit sissy) came to the counter and asked if he can board the coach. When siti said "yes," the guy asked "am I in a good condition to board the coach?" while sweeping his hair back. Why is there such a wierd person? But if only there are more of such kinds so as to keep us entertained.
Finally I've closed a company account. Gotta handle an idiotic HR Specialist called Doris from AP Communications, who bought over 30 seats on behalf of her company. The first time she talked to me and wanna find out who's the fellow who handle corporate sales, I asked her to call eddy. She said "why should I call eddy?!" Eddy was the corporate sales person, if not find him then find me ar? After I gave her eddy's number, she hung up on me without even saying thanks!
A moment later, eddy called asking me to handle her! Fuck him man! That was a corporate sales person's job! I wasn't sure why I didn't push the job back to eddy at that point of time. Nonetheless, I gotta wear extra layers of face so that I have thicker face to call that bitch! I politely started off my conversation "Hi Doris, I'm Melvin from Airebus Hotel Asia. I have been referred to you by eddy regarding corporate bookings. So how may I help you?"
Subsequently, that bitch talked politely and pleasantly with me. But when my colleagues picked up her phones, she talked rudely with them. This kinda person ought to be mutated. She asked if I can give out complimentary tickets, and I hadda negotiate with managment. Waste of my time. When I called to inform her that '1 coach ticket will be given for free for every 15 full-paying adults,' she became excited. I do not know why she has to be so excited because even if there aren't free tickets, it's her company that will be paying and not her. Maybe her company has set a budget? I do not know. I just know AP Communications has got very uncourteous staff, just not like me. Ahahahahahaha. If you're reading what I've typed and have been mocking or laughing at me, YOU BETTER STOP! Because I have been practising telephone etiquette, and have been courteous in answering phone calls.
That bitch has departed earlier this afternoon, and when I boarded the coach to find Hafiz - the crew, I was invited to a stench smell of shit from the lavatory. I was like "oh dear, doris' on the coach. Sure she's gonna complain. Thank god." Ahahahahaha.
Why shit smell? Yesterday got a passenger shitted in the lavatory on the way back from KL, when in actual fact, the lavatory is meant for light usage only. So now who's gonna clean it? Perhaps it's the boss' job.
Society has been unkind towards the human race. But we need to constantly find a channel of happiness. I say 'we,' meaning 'you,' because no one will.
I come to realise how vague certain things can be, how pretentious one can be, but the most important thing is the word 'ourselves.' We have been through a lot of unhappiness, desires which would never be be realised, or saying 'why others are so fortunate than me?' and so on. Haven't you know that each of us is different? Which means that every individual has his/her own uniqueness?You may be unhappy about things you couldn't get, but they are parts and parcels of life. We have little or can never control the external forces (other party's thinking or watsover), but we can control the internal forces. These internal forces lie within us, which I refer to as our own mentality.
Some of us have been bestowed with a stronger mentality than the others, while some requires much more motivation (from friends or self-help groups) in order to achieve that similar level of mentality. We must be able to achieve a level which we are able to convince ourselves that "life is worth living."
Life changes every hour, every minute, every second. One moment you may be rich, the other moment you may meet a downfall due to investment failures. One moment you may be happy with your partner, the other moment he/she has left you forever without a word. I have been unhappy over the way I lead my life - so routinal and stressful. But afterall, this is wat I have chosen to be. I can quit my job, slack at home, go out less often, cut on my holiday trips and so on. However, I do not want this kind of life either. Even though work is routinal, at least I know I am contributing to the society after years of painstaking education.
Life isn't all about love or desires or wateva u are yearning for now. Look at the brighter side of life. Cherish the little things you have - your clothes, your food in front of you and give them all a smile. You will come to think how fortunate we really are sometimes. Disregard what others say. No matter wat, thank them for their kind or crude remarks. Almost always remains true to others even if they are not. Cherish doubly those who have been motivating you. Cherish those who left you behind in times of difficulty, because they make you truly understand the meaning of 'lost' so that you'll cherish your loved ones even more.
Happiness lies in your own hands. You decide.
While I was on the train from city hall to newton for work, there were two notorious school boys around pri 3 on board. They threw their bags on the floor right at the entrance, and kept saying the word 'soccer' and 'suck.'
I was like kinda shocked to encounter that, yet at the same time feel like slapping their face till it becomes like a baboon's red butt. Ahahahaha. Lost my sleep on the train for goodness sake.
Finally I was able to drag myself to the pool and swam for more than 30 minutes, before basking myself under the hot sun. It's been over a month since I last did that, because I have been drowned with work, work and more work.
On reaching home, dad showed me an advertisement by Northwest Airlines with a promotional airfare to Tokyo for only 621 bucks, with taxes included. What's better is that CTC is offering a 7 days central Japan tours for only 1,824 bucks, inclusive of taxes as well. CTC has a new branch opening, that is why they are having promotion. Sis wasn't really keen on going Japan because it's summer, and suggested new places, including Tibet and Greece.
If Tibet, mum surely can't take it because of the thin oxygen level at an altitude of 3,500m. Greece? It's akin to Turkey and I remembered how mum detested Turkey when we were there in 2002.
No matter what now I am firm on going Japan because there will be a geisha accompanying our tour.
I thought we could go free and easy, but mum is afraid of losing ourselves in a country which isn't proficient in English or Chinese language.
Maybe it's my fate; at least I do not have to carry a backpack. The porters will do the job.
Just returned home from dinner with family and roy; yesterday was dad's birthday, but no one is free to celebrate for him yesterday. Since I am under financial constraint, I treated them all to 'zi char' at a coffeeshop near my place for only 68 bucks. That comes with sparerib, asam fish, dunno what veggie, fried you tiao and black pepper crabs.
So where now?
Mum wans Japan, yet sis wans switzerland cos Japan is scorching hot in summer in august. I wan south africa. But I got no money.
Dog! The night before I fell asleep, I told mum again that I wanna buy a dog. But she said she isn't free to look after. But I said I'm free, and she asked me to dream on.
She said she'll throw the dog out of the window, down from the 9th floor; flush the dog into the toilet bowl or swirl and drown the dog in washing machine. How pitiful my dog will be if I were to buy one. It's simply throwing my money down, flushed into the toilet or soak it in washing machine.
And she fancily advised me not to dare her.
Ocean Terminal - akin to Harbourfront Centre
Our twin hostel - room no. 87
Old Clock Tower 
Andy Lau's handprint
Action!
I'm the camera man
Night view of Victoria Harbour 
Hong Kong Island Tram - we took this bloody tram for more than an hour!
Stupid dolphin show at Ocean Park (see the flying man?)
Star Ferry - one of the world's oldest cross-harbour ferry
Onboard Star Ferry from Tsim Sha Tsui to Central 
Cable car ride
Hold tight
The Observatory Tower
Journey to hell. 
View of Aberdeen - Typhoon Shelter Bay
Overview of Ocean Park from the Observatory Tower
Cable Car to Ocean Park Lowland
Tl and I 
Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island
Atop Big Buddha
Big Buddha - World's largest seated Buddha
Ferry to Central
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
Bank of China (right)
Victoria Peak
Night view from Victoria Peak
Bank of China
Evening view from Victoria Peak
Mongkok at night
Day 5 19 Jun 2006: Hong Kong - Guangzhou
On the road to Guangzhou
In Guangzhou
Day 6 20 Jun 2006: Guangzhou
Ropeway at Baiyun Mountain
Ropeway up to Baiyun Moutain
Baiyun Mountain
Baiyun Mountain - 'First Mountain under Southern Sky'
View from Baiyun MountainDay 7 21 Jun 2006: Back in Hong Kong
Airport Express
Dim sum at Pioneer Centre, Prince Edward Finally I've gotten my photos taken in Hong Kong from hz, who got it from wc. Thanks hz btw, if not I think I wouldn't get them even after my death lol. Today is rainy, and I had the intention of excusing myself from the ceremony. Nevertheless, I attended with the accompainment of second sis.
We reached SP by taxi at 1pm sharp in just 30 minutes. The ceremony started only at 2pm. So I rushed my way to school of business general office to collect my certificate of commendation before rushing back to the convention centre again. My seat was D31, directly behind alvin seated at C31. I got a diploma in BA with merit, 1 BKK hotel voucher worth THB3,700, 1 HKG hotel voucher worth HKD700 and valuair voucher worth SGD200.
After the ceremony, we took some photographs after having reception which was awful. After that I went home.
Supposed to walk to ecp with sis as a form of exercising but till now she's still not back. Think she got a phobia after I made her run all the way to bedok camp.
For the whole day, it has been the same, old routine - checking out travel hotspots, Japan. It's 3 July, and I have not yet receive my pay, which is supposed to be had on 1 July! Fuck the boss. I am giving until 7 July allowance under MOM law; if the boss fails to pay me by then, I will write in to MOM without hesitation. Sr told me the day before that so long as I've worked for 3 months or more after probation, I am entitled to claim on the dental and medical expenses. It's so delightful to hear that! Most probably I'll visit the dentist before I quit in Aug?
Later in the evening, my jaw dropped all the way down. Never in these few months have I seen my providing such good service. Certainly there was a reason behind this. After the customer left, my turned to me and said "that ang moh very cute hor??????"
It is no wonder that the usual sucky customer service style of her has been put at bay temporarily. Before the coach hostess leave for kl, my even asked her to "treat passenger seated at 10C better," almost grinning like "hua chi."
While my was leaving the counter heading to the restroom, she said she's "gonna urinate out."
I remarked cheekily that she should "urinate into that ang moh's mouth," and my said she "doesn't mind."
Oh dear, I've still gotta endure two more working days. If I attend graduation ceremony, aren't my off day washed down the drain? Considering I have only an off day per week. Still contemplating whether I should really attend. God, should I attend?
20 minutes to knocking off, 2 hours to sitting in front of the tv.
Gone by is yet another day soon. Mum is trying to get 7 off days because she would like to go Tokyo instead of Hanoi. But I am more keen on going Hanoi. Nevertheless, I do not object to Tokyo either, but it's a little further from Singapore.
For the whole of today at work, I have been planning my trip to Tokyo. The train lines are immeasurable. How would we be able to make it free and easy? At least Hanoi would be easier to navigate.
Big sis will be going with us too. But what if, in the event mum cannot get to go, where shall I go? Most probably at home sleeping.
But if I'm going, I will have to work until 15 August, just so to earn that extra pocket money for use in Tokyo. If Hanoi? I'll work till 31 July.
For the rest of the months before I get conscripted, I will sleep, eat, slack and perhaps take up a course or two - language or yoga?
Now? Ending my third day of work.
Oh and yes! To the lazy pig hz: the pics on wc's camera were not wholly taken by him. There were some taken by me as well. So perhaps the 'really nice' photos were in fact taken by me? But god knows. Just kidding anyway. Ahaha. Up till now I've yet gotten my photos taken in Hong Kong. I'll most probably get it from hz on graduation day.
Just remembered a pornography site popped up at my's desk earlier this afternoon. So one can easily accuse her of browsing such indecent sites at work. But own up my! We're an open-minded lot.
