Broken Wings

Every step a challenge now

OC said 3 months

Waiting for specialist review

OOC never seemed so far away

(-__-'\\

One OK, Stick OK

1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, CHECK

How would you feel

If you were thrown out alive from a plane in motion

At 1000 ft

It felt great

Very much more than just 'great', awesome

It was a crazy thing to do maybe

But the Commandos are the crazy people in SAF

Crazy enough to jump out of a serviceable plane

Basic Airborne Course coming to an end soon

Upon delivering 3 more live descents

Silver wing or not

I just want to walk out of the drop zone with my two legs

Flying Days

How quickly has our leave comes to an end

Its back to reality, back to same old camp

Booking in by 2130 later

And I'd better do a quick update before logging off

It has been a wonderful week

Had karaoke sessions and steamboat dinners, both twice

Not forgetting the Sentosa trip yesterday

It was a fine, sunny Saturday

Played some beach volleyball, which I totally sucked at

But the most important was still to catch up with the lot of them

Out of expectation, many did not turn up

Could not careless for them, we decided to had our fun under that scorching sun

Bikini babes, hot bods, sunglasses and tanning lotion

Hendon camp

I am far away from home, singing with pride

Airborne course

Looking ahead

We shall conquer the sky

Combustion

Burn burn burn

Now something is misplaced

And the responsibility is back on us

Just when I thought we are going to enjoy this week's break

Suay suay kena recall back to camp

Brainless old souls

Stop wasting my TIME

First Month

Jayden is one month old

We decided to celebrate it earlier, yesterday

Many people were there, some I know some I don't

After which David, sheng, guo and I went for karaoke session

As usual, we challenged many difficult Jay Chou tunes

It was long since we last came together

And hence we sang till our lungs burst

Fetched ly from the airport on friday night

Met elaine after her paper for dinner before we headed down to Aljunied to hitch ws' ride

He was really excited of her return

After all it has been near four months since her departure to Sydney

We went to Geylang for 'dim sum' supper which ly has been craving for

Her primary school classmate, siying, came along as well

The hungry five people gorged down some steaming shrimp dumplings, chicken feets, spare ribs

However I was pretty against consuming those oily fares high in sodium content

Especially at that late timing

And I had diarrhoea the next day

I hate oily stuffs, I detest unhealthy food, and I avoid consumption at wrong hours

I shall pledge to

But I hungry leh... How?

Bookworm Club

Do you remember Smarty, Louie and Sam Seng

It has been a smoky and flaming week back in Pasir Ris camp

We spent two days removing old documents, sorting them out

Incinerating all of them

It was a desperate approach as we have only two days

And the shredder chose to go on strike after day one

But holidays have finally landed

Bunk mates decided to enjoy their leave in Malaysia

While I refused, knowing that I have to spend this short week wisely

To do some exercises, to be at home with Mum and Jayden

And not forgetting to catch up with my poly mates

Sentosa, I hope we can make it there this time

For a nice tan

My Little Wishes For The Little Him

Slowly you will roll, generate noise and grow some teeth

Be healthy, be curious, be appreciative

Remember your presence is because of love

We will watch you as you slowly grow up and nurtures into an adolescent

And then a responsible young adult

The road ahead may be long, may not be easy

By that time you reach my current age, I would have turned 40

It may seem faraway from now

Time past in a blink of an eye

Not too long ago I was wearing Huggies and piecing Lego bricks

Be bold, fight hard and strive on

For you

For me

For your parents

And the nation

"My OC is a Ranger

I want to be one too

Fight for my country

Fight for me and you

AIRBORNE ...

RANGER ... "

Jayden Reporting

Baby is online

Welcome the arrival of my newborn nephew - Jayden

I missed the Kodomo baby powder fragrance

And I realised I favour it over my CK1

Powdering my own feet each morning

I thought of little Jayden cuddling up in his warm bassinet

The soft and mild sweet aroma freshens up my every day

As I tucked my own feet into that pair of Brooks

I just want to run home and touch his tiny hands

Long Weekend

So glad there is a long weekend

Hopefully I can meet them up this Sunday

We could hit the beach

Catch Tropic Thunder

And have sushi for dinner

Can't wait to see how Kb has progressed through his BMT training

Not forgetting Jason undergoing his diver unit course as well

Time flies

Combat phase is commencing next week

What does it takes to become a combat medic

We shall find out

Where Are You

The water runs

Rain continues to fall, and we didn't stop running

People change, many for the better, while some not

Friends and classmates we used to be

Now no more

Some of them seek for job, while many back to school

And a handful training hard to be the nation's men

Once a while, we meet up for a film or dinner

Many other times, we forget about the rest

To focus on our own studies or career

Not forgetting many little couples who came together

Side by side, they stood on and saw a future

I realised that I miss them

Maybe they will never know

While they stroll hand-in-hand in the mid autumn breeze

I folded my arms

And pondered so

Where is my destination

Nee Soon - My New School

Posted to SAF Medical Training Institute (SMTI) at Nee Soon Camp

This starts the next phase of my military life after the first 9 weeks BMT

To become a combat medic, this is my vocational training

At Nee Soon camp, where we will spend the next 9 weeks

Learning various new skills, to equip us with the ability to help

To help our fallen comrades in times of need

I wasn't satisfied being posted to this vocation

But this is yet another standing order, we could do nothing but to comply

Since I will not be train to have a pair of killing hands, why not use it to heal and save

When blood rains upon the land of upheaval

The ones with red crosses up their arm will rise to seek, to save, and to serve

New Headdress

Completed 24 Km route march

Passing-Out Parade Ceremony on Full Battle Order

Ceremonial march pass

Pandan ke-kanan pannnn DAN!

Performed war cry

More 'sai kang'

US Army Jungle Hat donned



With my rifle, my buddy and me

E.X.E.R.C.I.S.E T.H.U.N.D.E.R.S.T.O.R.M

The 8 days of field camp over at Pulau Tekong

Past in the blink of an eye

How fast, how sweaty, how we stink

Donning perspiration drenched long four

Drawing water from Jerry cans to fill our thirsty water bags

Sleeping in the midst of tall trees, insects infested vegetation

Wild boars alert some nights too

We gritted our teeth, put on camo cream, pluck vegetation to form up our concealment

It is not suffering, it is training, we all remembered

Route march was a norm

Heavy load on our back, aching feet, blisters and sore knees

We felt like giving up, why must we go through such pain

Looking back, everything we have done, there was effort, there was fun, there was a reason

And nothing beats the turn-out at 0130 on the last night

Thunderflashes boomed, GPMG blanks fired, it was smoky, blurry and noisy

Nothing in our mind comes clear in the mess

You can't see, you can't scream, you can only move and continue to move, take instructions and execute them

We crawl, we roll, we pump, we run

There was not a moment we are not in confusion

Stress induced, trying to break our mind, not just our body

Back from field camp, we had what we deserved, for we did what we were expected to

Now 11 more days to Passing Out Parade, will we all whom went through those stay together

For pride, for honour, for our red beret

Celebrate Singapore

I forgot National Day is today

I forgot to wish Chi her birthday one day after mine

I forgot to tell them how thankful I was

I forgot to buy myself presents

I forgot about the pain I went through

Because I know more of them are on their way

And I have to understand the importance of celebrating the nation's birthday

And who are the ones we stood behind of, relying on their strength and courage

To fulfill the possibility of celebrating today and so throughout the many years since independence

The nation's backbone and defence, the people, the civilian force, the armed forces

"Training to be soldier

To fight for our land

Once in our life

Two years of our time

Have you ever wondered

Why must we serve

Because we love our land

And we want it to be free

To be free YAH"

Outfield Soon

Met up with Jason, tkb and ws that Saturday afternoon

We watched the Mummy movie, Dragon Emperor or some nonsense

Which was obviously not very surprising, and not very pleasing

But I must thank them for taking time to catch up with ws and me

Not forgetting the presents as well, really liked the presents, thanks

Earlier this week, our company, led by OC sir, WSM and other staffs and sergeants

Headed off to Marsiling forest for a 2 days 1 night field training

The jungle experience was great, tough and dirty, sweaty and mud all over

It was indeed tiring and we were all exhausted after the trip

While the most unforgettable event was the 12 km route march on day 2

My buddy gave it up at 4 km, complaining back aches and breathless condition

While I strive on in pain, and slowly we completed the march under 4 hours

Near to 20 kg of additional load, tough and rough terrain, lack of rest and sleep

This is soldier life, adapt it, or bear with it

And next week, the company is moving out to Pulau Tekong

To check out our fellow NSFs in training over there

No, we will be there for 8 days field camp, longer than those from BMTC

As time passes, we get stronger, we walk longer, sleep lesser, and fight harder

Like OC always say: Tough time don't last, Tough men do

The Second Book Out

On the second day of August, my birthday

We booked out last night from SOTAC Pasir Ris Camp

Packed into a very tight bus along with our field packs and were sent to Pasir Ris MRT station

The smell of freedom was in the air

That was my second book out ever since enlistment on 11/07

The feeling then was like

Was like tears welling up in your eyes but you have to swallow them back

And still bear a brave smile to your love ones as you wave them goodbye

But right now, those were over

But we have learnt to cherish things better, no matter how small it can be

Because when you are inside

There is no way to take anything, anything, for granted

Today is the second day of August, my birthday

And I am so going move my arse to town to meet up with Jason, tkb and ws

And I will move on now

The Day After Big Day

Woke up late to recover some lost sleep

Last night, the girls were gorgeous, even Mum looked at least 10 years younger

Spiky hair my style, matt-finished to lay off that grunge look

Along with my geek black frame spectacle, white linen jacket topping off the pair of white vintage denim and matching Goldlion belt

Sunny otaku eh

Went to elaine's 21st birthday party, over at her place, some ulu Yishun Ring road facing a field of nothing but grass

It was Neo Garden buffet, yet again, displeasing food, my taste buds were probably lethargic from the night of sumptuous treats at Noble House

The night was a bore, other than getting to catchup with my fellow mates from school

The food, the cake, the music, the heat, intolerable but tolerating because elaine is a good friend whom I respect ;)

And its her day, I've got no better reason to whine like a wimp and leave the party alone

After the party it was Karaoke time yeah

Headed back to Woodlands Civic Centre Party World KTV to spend another hour crooning familiar tunes and rapping the billboard hot favourites

This is definitely more appealing to me

The Big Day

Today, the big day, the big welcome and big big treats

Relatives and friends, neighbours and colleagues all coming together to celebrate

To commemorate Jie's wedding, a ritual to walk through with many flowers and blessings

Lol, although I am turning 20 this August, today is still when I could recall the days when I was young and nimble, and maybe tiny

Where I was tasked to be the 'Cow-boy', in Hokkien we call it 'Gu-Kia'

You will know when the photos are up =)

Spilled Soup

The empty bistro, the fallen leaves, numerous fire-rusted pans, and the oily sewers

Burnt crisp from the deep fried fish, smell of the rich buttery batter lingers on

Hot steam escaping from the vent, enshrouded the opening and the open ceiling

Filtering out the dim sun rays, casting a dimly lighted and hazy atmosphere

The wind blew and we sent farewell to the family beloved 'One and Only'

A family tradition, the perseverance, of providing good food

Waved goodbye to the blazing flame, the bubbling frying oil and the steaming hot soup

Chicken bones, fish skin, salted cabbages, formulated bowls and bowls of pure taste and essence

Fried bean curd skins, sauté mutton, tossed into a mixture of Chinese herbs and spices soup

To create the ever marvelous delicious and soothing potion for curing bitterness and chill

But now it's all gone

Near 10 years of hardwork and determination, sweat and blood, forsaking sleep hours

Withholding mental stress, price surge, low pay

In order to keep the family in one piece, having enough to feed their sons, daughters and themselves

The soup, this soup, is no ordinary soup, to me

It is the soup of life, of beliefs and many memories, both fond and those...

Wait Wait Wait... I Think I Spotted You

Chromes, I am adding all 3 of you into my shopping cart for further views and consideration

You are expensive, but I will forsake the cheaper Crumpler for you if you prove your worth

Man, $259

Seriously making me pace forth and back, scratching my wallet in my back pocket

Now, who's going shopping with me

But anyway, thanks vince for the recommendation, appreciate it

IKEA I can't wait to visit, an additional wardrobe is what I need

A big weight slash-off from my wallet

Want This Bag

I feel like I am getting nearer

The presence felt stronger and I could almost smell it

In vagueness, blurry images, I think I am touching it, tasting it

$183 away, Graduation day, next Tuesday, at Raffles City

Graduation? The ceremony for the top seeds

I am like, the worst out there if I attended, can bang wall die lol

That is why this bag - The Complete Seed

Suits me ;)

Light of Enlightenment

Yesterday was Vesak Day

And I am still working

Work work work

For my new Crumpler and spectacle

Before the dawn of botak-hood, before the start of National Service life

Buddha needs no new clothes, needs no new bag

But humans never yearn for less, we ask for more and more

Close your eyes and breathe deeply

What we truly need are not always what we wanted



That is why I hate impulsive shopping

Seriously

Pray and believe

Trust your instincts

May Buddha shows mercy

Short Update At Work

It's getting bored in here, so logged in for a short post

Been reading 'One Piece' all day long



I guess I probably have to smile like him when I tend to my customers

It is not that hard anyway

We all know customers can be rude and demanding

But we always forgot the lot that thank you and sincerely appreciate your help or guidance

Time flies and I am with Starhub for some three months

Have helped more than a few hundreds of customers

So who are the ones that are real thankful, and who are the ones that could give you pain

Life is never easy, and working may not significantly improve it

Earthquake shook the grounds of Sichuan province, China

People died and many cried

We are safe here in Singapore, yet all we saw were dispute calls

I do not understand

Let's wait and see when Singapore sinks

Singaporeans have yet to cry, hence they have never learned

What is life

Bad Hair No More

After that jog under the terribly hot sun, after that nice cool dip in school's new pool

We came to Clementi central, again, but for a different purpose

Today, I decided I need a haircut, and I needed it badly

We walked into this little hair salon, by the name 'Etc'

I smoked the receptionist through with my Ez-link card, to get my student price discount

I believe students have their privileges, and I don't look too old to claim them, sweet

Don't laugh at me, you probably have flashed your student card at Cinemas or Sushi bars too, =p

Was tend by this young man, recognised through his accent, a Malaysian Chinese

I know I look indeed kum-ed with unstyled hair, a good prove that I needed some guidance to look good

But what he basically mentioned, I already had them inside me

Can I pick a discount for the hair clay or wax in exchange of keeping him quiet

You are telling me things I already learnt dude

But anyway, I look refreshed, finally

Next stop, to fix my geek-look black frame spectacle

If This Is The Time To Say Goodbye, Say It

A long day.

We had a jog, we had a dip in the pool, and our meal at Clementi.

Trading goodies, tasting each others' food, chatting on life and events that took place.

How long, how long have it passed.

Since we sat down on a table for four for a decent dinner.

We checked out this infamous Botak Jones Clementi branch, puke.

Is this American food? Maybe 'American-style', and 'cheap' eh.

If you've been to the States you simply know that they are trying hard to.

Botak? Yes definitely, after consuming that amount of sodium, the salt.

Tiring and tanned.

As with being botak, another one and a half month or so to go, off to botak-hood.

With the head shaved, squeezed into a camouflaged suit, getting shouted at relentlessly.

After then, may we have the chance again, to settle down on a small round table, to dig on the faved Merlionster that everybody loves.

As the ice-cream melts, the vision slowly dissipates, our heads get dizzy a little bit.

While we wake up from the mirage, we realise we are still standing on the same spot we said goodbye then.

How much have changed? How much have we grew? And the answers still shrouded in heavy mist.

<<不要肥牛仔>>

沙漠地帶﹐ 惡劣的陽光狠狠地把地面烤得一片金黃

一波一波的熱氣從地底散熱到表面﹐ 臉上凗流著的汗珠不停地滴落

四十攝氏度的高溫並沒有影響冷酷的牛仔﹐ 一臉沉靜與穩重

皮夾克胳窩兩端都夾著擦得銀亮的左輪手槍﹐ 在強烈的陽光下反射刺眼的反照

穿得高高的那雙牛皮靴子﹐ 抬高腳尖﹐ 仿彿掛上一副瞧不起人的樣子


腳下被烤燋的干草皮﹐ 仍然硬著頭皮﹐ 努力爭奪著每一滴滴潮濕的滋潤

累積多年的脂肪﹐ 來自每一片厚厚的煎牛排和無數量被倒光的啤酒瓶

滑圓圓的大肚皮被緊繃的蛇皮腰帶和身上穿的皮夾克擠得悶不透風

臉蛋漸漸下垂的跡象﹐ 兩眼旁的魚尾紋多了不少﹐ 雙鬢已慢慢翻白

知道自己已不是當年每個小弟所揮杯敬酒的老大﹐ 可威風的回憶他無法捨棄


眼前站著一位服飾差不多同等﹐ 壯碩高大﹐ 干乾淨淨的臉孔﹐ 嘴角還叼著香煙

他手中握著的麻繩在風吹中輕輕地揮動﹐ 頭頂上的牛仔帽前縫上了個星形的印章

鐵銀色的印章反射那強眼的陽光﹐ 老牛仔一眼就了解這位陌生人的來歷與輩份

這陌生人來頭並不小﹐ 拘捕落難牛仔的使命﹐ 就掛在他們牛仔警衛的榮譽上

不允許失敗﹐ 不允准任何錯誤﹐ 乾淨利落地把嫌疑犯扣留是他們的任務


老牛仔把握在手中酒瓶扔向警衛﹐ 設法把兩支夾在胳窩下的手槍拔出

但遲鈍的反應﹐ 加上酒後的影響﹐ 腦筋所想的並不和身體做的共和唯一

不過三秒﹐ 警衛的麻繩已牢牢地套著老牛仔﹐ 緊緊的被勒著﹐ 他動彈不得

更不用說是使力擺脫﹐ 警衛猛力拉這麻繩的另一端﹐ 老牛仔失去平衡而摔倒在地

警衛瀟灑地走近牛仔﹐ 彎下腰﹐ 伸長了身影﹐ 貼近牛仔的耳旁說到:

“你會有今天是因為你的過去。。。”

The Far West - Departure

Last day, last spur to tour around this magnificent city before entering the gantry to fly back to kiasu-land.

A lazy Saturday, we started late, had a light breakfast, and got ready to set off for Space Center, Houston.

I don't think I have to spell what NASA means right? Space shuttle, you know?

The trip was plain boring, all we saw were buildings, facilities, building and more facilities.

I wouldn't dare to say much and comment on this top-marked and highest costing agency that explores the what-seem-to-be-empty Space around our mother earth.

Since it is not empty, then there must be something, where are my aliens? 'I come in peace...'

Big and bold and ambitious dreams I would say, lets all sit back and see our fellow earthlings defy gravity while they set up outpost on Moon, and even Mars.

拿沙 --> Is this what they literally do over on moon and other planets, I see that was why it is named 'NASA', collecting soil and stone/rock samples for tests and experiments.

Finally, it is time to wake my conscious up, while we endure the dry and stale flight back to transit at Moscow, and after which to Singapore - something we never wanted to look forward to, however it was clear we stood no chances to resist life, and we clearly understand our dejection could do nothing to improve the situation.

Back to the wet, hot, tropics season of Singapore, so hot! I am sweating, liao.

The Far West - Day Seven

One more day to go.

Started the day just as usual, pondering on where to go today as we have went to most of the mega and famous shopping malls, what shall we do today then?

For lunch today, it was an exciting one as we visited a Mexican restaurant, I'd love the foods, they are fantastic. The flavours are well-blended and very tasty, satisfying not just my curiosity but my taste-buds as well.

I had BBQ pork chop with rice that comes with a thick, brown gravy filled with beans. The pork was bit tough to slice, kind of hard on the surface however it was pretty tender right in the middle, the meat juice just spew out and fill your mouth as you land them in between your jaws and chew them bit by bit, sweet!

After lunch we went back to the hotel to pack our barang barang, bought too many foodstuffs, too many clothings, just couldn't stop shopping and purchasing lol.

To sum up the day, we had a hot porridge dinner at Tian Tian restaurant, it was great, oysters the size of a small mobile phone, I doubt many of you have ever seen it to have even tasted it.

True enough, the big fat oyster stir-fried with peppers, capsicum and fresh onions served on a sizzling hotplate, was IMBA-ly good, the juices just can't stop oozing out as we send it straight into our mouth. The feeling is just indescribable. Readers discretion advised.

The Far West - Day Six

It is THURSDAY today, a thirst-day, whoa, 2 more days before we depart and return to peasant-hood.

Since it is a thirsty day, we will go for more shopping today to quench the thirst and lust for more cheap branded apparel.

I dunno what to say, but Adidas is cheap, Bebe is cheap, Calvin Klein is cheap, Coach is cheap, Ecko is cheap, Fossil is cheap, GAP is cheap, GUESS is cheap, Kenneth Cole is cheap, Levi's is cheap, New Balance is cheap, Nike is cheap, Nine West is cheap, Van's is cheap, what did I miss out?

You name it, they have it, and it is cheap, and cheap, and more cheap.

It is so cheap we felt that we are not buying branded goods, we are just cheap-pos, looking for the best deal at the lowest price possible.

This place shall be the 'chirping-land' for Singaporeans soon, as they go around and cheap-cheap, cheap-cheap, see this cheap buy this cheap, see that cheap and buy that cheap too.

The Far West - Day Five

Today is day five, time flies fast.

Lunch was at Sobai Thai, a small and cosy thai restaurant, that offers a variety of authentic thai fares, not far away from the First Colony Mall.

I had 'Pad Woon Sen', some stir-fried rice vermicelli, very tasty, fragrant and oily, I believe we call it beehoon or danghoon here while they refer it as 'glass noodles'.

This restaurant is operated by thais, the waitresses looked like thais themselves, but I did not catch them saying 'Sawaadikup' or what kup-kup-kup.

Maybe I have to show them my 'lotus flower fingers' or what known as 'lianhua zhi' lol, before they 'Sawaadeekah' with you.

Back to the First Colony Mall, oh my, the Levi's here are cheap, I got myself 3 pairs, and it costs me not more than USD70.

I've never bought one in Singapore yet, but I know a pair here can cost more than S$100, god grace, that's simply overpriced. And I am greatly overjoyed =)

The Far West - Day Four

Happy Tuesday starts off with a nutritious and filling breakfast.

Over here, it's American-styled breakfast everyday, hearty and delicious, we especially liked the scrambled eggs, self-made waffles and cereals with fresh milk.

As it is another weekday, we have to send the folks to the workplace after breakfast before starting our new day.

We had lunch today at Cafe Express, a quick meal of pasta and sandwiches, foods were tasty, place is clean and pretty packed with hungry commuters and shopping mothers whom brought their little kids along. Angmoh kias are so cute.

In Cafe Express, they do not offer number card or tag, like what we would expect local Macdonald's to provide when you have placed the order and wait while your food is being prepared.

They gave this buzzer-like thingy, works exactly like a pager, just that it does not flashes a number for you to dial.

It will vibrate and the red LEDs will light up and blink when your food is done as the counter pages you for collection.

Cool eh? Though it operates on simple mechanism, it just entice us to no end.

The Far West - Day Three

Today is Monday, a driving day, not for me, but for my sister.

After sending the folks to the workplace, we drove down to Wal*Mart to check out the groceries.

Continued to drive down the freeway, to a mega store called Castro, it is a huge warehouse that sells almost anything ranging from foods to furniture, maybe this is what you could get here - when we merge Carrefour, IKEA and Sheng Siong, -_-!

The beating sun is casting some negative spells on us, felt like it was striking our head with a spike and hammer, and drawing the living daylights out of us, we felt simply lethargic.

For lunch, it was Indian-styled buffet at Bombay House, serving curries of all kind that came with chicken, mutton and vegetables, what no pork? Uh-huh?!

And for dinner, we settled it at Kim Son, a Chinese-Vietnamese restaurant, spicy, oily and very salty, not something we would like to frequent in Singapore, the so-called healthy lifestyle of locals.

The Far West - Day Two

Day two, cold too.

It was more than just a mere cold night.

Just back from a late dinner at Tian Tian restaurant, a Chinese restaurant that offers not just a variety of mainland dishes, but comprises of Hong Kong cantonese-styled dishes as well.

Well, a long day today, we went to the Sea World, allocated at San Antonio, another major city in Texas, near 200 miles away from where we live, and took us about 6 hours to and fro.

There were a lot of sun, babes and sea animals, duh, however I'd realise that there was not a single piece of white cloud hung on the sky.

It was simply a majestic blue sky, beautiful as it is, but utterly no sign of shielding from the merciless beat down from the sun.

My chapped lips alongside with a runny nose had me no interest in the foods.

You know, foods here are just..., to put it simple, BIG!

The Far West - Touchdown

After 22 hours of long and gruelling flight, we have finally touchdown and disembark at the Intercontinental Airport of Houston.

In this large state, packed fully with westerners, we found a cosy corner to rest our tiring feet, it is in an authentic Chinese restaurant, called Cafe 101.

May the name suggests, this restaurant is operated by Taiwanese, with beautiful Mandarin speaking waitresses and good-looking waiters catering to our needs.

Enjoying, sipping away flavoured bubble teas, and traditional herbal drinks - brewed with red dates and wolfberries.

The sweetness from my honey green tea warmed and sweetly moisturised not solely my dried lips, but soothed the spirit.

Somewhere deep down in my core, I knew something still belongs to my homeland, where my roots are, no matter how far am I from home, there still lives the shadow of me.

That is where my origins are, where my culture flourishes.

A LCD monitor hung overhead, casting loud Mandopop music videos.

Behind every beat of the music, our hearts, that were long rooted to the rich and diverse Chinese culture, followed the tune and groove along.

The noisy and rowdy background topped the ambience off in this small restaurant, here we are, Cafe 101, right here from Houston, Texas.

Pre-Trip post

You may be informed, you may not have been.

Nonetheless, this post came real late, however right in time.

Just as the sun rises and wakes this island tomorrow, I would be vacuum-packed, Nitrogen treated, deep freeze and UV-sterilised, ready to be air-lifted to the far west, Texas, the USA.

Never did I foresee the possibility of this trip, and outta nowhere, *poof*, off to fly tomorrow.

This land, a place that may be renowned of cowboy rodeos, gunslingers, revolvers, high-arched hats and leather boots.

Man, probably those are a bit too Wild West.

Hell yeah, work life may not be simple, take a trip, of many shopping, of many feasting.

Taste the bitter-sweet of plain, bland, overworked yet underpaid life.

More Work? Yes Mi' Lord

Work, work, work, work, work.

Blinding myself, drowning my conscious.

Burying my head into nine hours of mental strain, vocal stress and weight gain.

Chinese New Year flashed past so swiftly, leaving almost no trace behind.

The entire office floor, packed with monitors and agents.

With uncountable mouse clicks and customers' Internet glitches.

Verbal abuses, quick temper, the smack of a palm on a clenched fist.

It would probably be very difficult to stay in this environment without developing short temper and becoming fat.

With your original self slowly erroding away, what's taking over is also slowly consuming into the awaken mind.

It could probably be the time, your other face, a side that has yet to be awaken, the side that has been hidden and lying dormant all the while, be aroused to open its eyes and see this world.

發現原來的我已遭到侵襲﹐ 遭到腐敗﹐ 慢慢的被外在主力腐蝕

依然戴著的面具已經阻擋不住那強大的誘惑﹐ 努力的反抗思維

漸漸地寡人也會失去自我﹐ 失去方向﹐ 被惡魔吞到肚子里

如果有一天你發現某人已不是他自己﹐ 記得拍一拍他的肩膀

讓他知道他的肉身還屬于在個現實的社會上﹐ 不由得惡魔放縱

Goodbye Loves, Goodbye Mates

30th January 2008.

Marks the end of polytechnic life (for some nia, I still have my last pathetic paper - Adv. Physical Chemistry).

How do I feel?

The extinguished sun has boomed.

Sending million and million tonnes of white-hot and radioactive fragments.

From the core, towards the chromospheres, across the limitless universe with no boundaries.

The explosion, immeasurably huge, devastating, powerful and blinding, was however all silent.

In a matter of seconds, the star once fiery and constantly burning, was utterly and completely shattered.

The explosion, brought along an enormous aftershock that ripples through the blank space at the speed of sound.

Meteorites, comets and solar debris littered the once thought to be empty and dark vacuum.

Giant meteorites, smashed their path through, crushing into neighbouring planets and smaller stars.

Leaving a trail of ultimate destruction and falling all means of lifeforms, banishing them to their tormented nether world.

Never be able to face the light, never be allowed to reincarnate, doomed and hated for eternity.

Though our paths may never come to a junction, though our life may never intersect once more.

I still want you to be remembered, deep down within me.

Your everything, came to me like specks of star dust, glitters for a moment, vanquished in another.

But at least for that very moment, the impression you gave, had long been imprinted in my memory.

That pair of eyes that sparkled under the light, beaming with grace and brilliance, allured me to look beyond them.

However this is a venture that would never be trekked and explored, for we do not even know each other.

Just who are you? Just who is so attractive to me, that I must mention so often.

This feeling is familiar and near, but the distance that stood in between us stretches miles apart.

I am afraid that what's left for us are simply reminiscence, faint faint memories trace back to the flag day 3 years ago.

From what I've seen, you have yet to change a bit.

Still looks so sweet, so caring, so soft that I yearn to grab you into my warm hug.

Time flies and it has come for us to say goodbye.

Throughout these few days of examinations, you were there, just there, right in the same classroom as I was.

Together, we spent 2 hours cracking our neck and brain to complete each paper.

And all I could afford was to steal a few glances of you and looked away, fear that you might notice me.

All I want for you is to be blessed and satisfied in life, this simple, this short.

No girl I had came across in SP was as special as you, so simply delivered yet brought many thoughts to my mind, still lingering still positive.

Maybe the image I portrayed of you was too virtual too perfect, but I am happy that this image has not been stained.

As the shockwaves forced their way through the universe, planets were literally stripped off their surface, giving way to the hot and demolished under layer.

Slowly, back at the latitude of explosion, a mass of black started to nucleate and within seconds expanded into the size twice larger then the original star.

A black hole so strong, so majestic, that gravity seemed to be nullified as everything before it was sucked right into it - a portal that leads to a place no man has ever stepped into.

This is for you, the special girl that made it into my fond memories of polytechnic life.

Thank you, DCP food tech girl.

我只想說出我對你的一片痴心﹐ 你或許不會接受或領情

愛一個人是否不開口才珍貴﹐ 也許吧

只能怪我自己﹐ 無法提起勇氣

就算我們之間只允許擦肩而過

那我也只能獨自唱到:

“期待你將我忘了吧﹐期待你將我忘了吧﹐你說你會哭不是因為在乎”

狠角色

我想說對不起﹐ 不是對不起你

而是對不起我們之間的友情

我對我們這近三年的友情

感到眷戀﹐ 感到無奈

這三年過得快﹐ 但之間也發生了不少的不愉快

點點滴滴的都堆成了好多座小火山

等待著爆發的那一天

老實說﹐ 我早已經想放棄這份沒有理想的友情

你的稚氣﹐ 你的天真﹐ 你的愚昧無知

我真的沒法子再去忍受﹐ 沒耐心再去聽和接受

對﹐ 你可以說是我的錯﹐ 是我的不好﹐ 是我的損失

我不會狡辯﹐ 因為我不會再理會

在我的生命里﹐ 你是第一位我最不熟卻維持了最久的友人

這三年以來﹐ 這份友情已受過了不少的折騰與波折

但為何它依然沒有被折斷

那可說是因為我們都付出了多多的時間和包涵

但是我們一直默默守著的橋樑

早已被腐蝕﹐ 也失去了維持的理由﹐ 因為它無法看到明天的太陽

讓我先謝謝你的忍耐力與堅持性﹐ 把這份本來不可能的友情實現

另外我還要恭賀你在你的人生中發掘了更有趣的目標 -- 初戀

希望你能陶醉于戀情的甜蜜與伴侶﹐ 不再感到寂寞

再來﹐ 也期望你能完全地把我拋到後腦﹐ 別讓這無畏的友情影響你的情緒

很忠心的祝福你們﹐ 清秀與他某某

Post Spinnovex Buffet Lunch

After one short yet dreadful semester, our FYP have finally came to a full stop.

Spinnovex was held in conjuction with SP Open House on the 10th to 12th last week.

Many secondary school-goers and finishers awaiting their results dropped by our humble abode.

To check out the many innovation projects and inventions proposed and submitted by our fellow SP students.

I always come to think that Spinnovex literally meant 'keep spinning around and get vexed about it'.

Now that I have gone through it.

It wasn't that bad afterall.

I love talking to adults, because they like to treat us as kids, maybe overgrown children.

But nevertheless, the experience we exchanged and thoughts we shared were simply things that does not come by everyday.

Learning from people around us.

Putting them as mirrors for ourselves.

And you will get to see more of yourself through them.

Today, Mr. Kwok treated us to buffet lunch at the Staff Centre.

Indeed a very generous treat from a man whom you would never be able to squeeze much free treats out from.

We appreciate his once in the blue moon act of tab pick-up. Weeee...