so long, suckers!
vendredi, mai 07, 2010
dimanche, mai 02, 2010
life and death
today i saw a super long and elaborate funeral procession, stretching like about 1km+ end to end and replete with banners, costumed paraders, stilt-walkers and hearse bearers.
and oh, did i mention the super huge and intricate coffin which was carried by at least 8 people?
in ultra-modern singapore, seeing such a elaborate and traditional ritual is bigger than winning 4D. in our rush to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our nation, most of us have had no choice but to leave our roots, identity and ancestry behind. because change waits for no man; and because the very notion of being singaporean is to change. and change quickly.
in the 50s, we were still a fishing village. in the 60s, industrialisation set in. by the 70s and 80s, we were part of the asian dragons club, poised to take over the world. the rest, as you know, is history.
today, transformation is everywhere. just compare orchard road circa 2009 vs 2010. sleepy seletar? ditto. even the SAF is not spared as the winds of change howls mercilessly into the soul of the everyday man. everyday we strive to hit the benchmark, just to find that when we get there, the goalpost has been shifted. yet again.
and so yusof ishak is now what defines us. or rather, the national identity is the constant struggle to meet new government initiatives and economic targets. currently, as what our manpower minister said, we have to be "faster, cheaper, better". what next - "arbeit macht frei"?
there is a saying that it is better to die than to fall sick in singapore. because of the constant emphasis to be economically productive and rising cost of living, one can barely afford an extended stay at the hospital, or worse, afford not to work due to illness.
at today's funeral, nobody was thinking about these issues. but one thing is for sure: they would have, if they could, all paid a king's ransom just to see their dearly departed one more time. but what use is of money at the end?
and oh, did i mention the super huge and intricate coffin which was carried by at least 8 people?
in ultra-modern singapore, seeing such a elaborate and traditional ritual is bigger than winning 4D. in our rush to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our nation, most of us have had no choice but to leave our roots, identity and ancestry behind. because change waits for no man; and because the very notion of being singaporean is to change. and change quickly.
in the 50s, we were still a fishing village. in the 60s, industrialisation set in. by the 70s and 80s, we were part of the asian dragons club, poised to take over the world. the rest, as you know, is history.
today, transformation is everywhere. just compare orchard road circa 2009 vs 2010. sleepy seletar? ditto. even the SAF is not spared as the winds of change howls mercilessly into the soul of the everyday man. everyday we strive to hit the benchmark, just to find that when we get there, the goalpost has been shifted. yet again.
and so yusof ishak is now what defines us. or rather, the national identity is the constant struggle to meet new government initiatives and economic targets. currently, as what our manpower minister said, we have to be "faster, cheaper, better". what next - "arbeit macht frei"?
there is a saying that it is better to die than to fall sick in singapore. because of the constant emphasis to be economically productive and rising cost of living, one can barely afford an extended stay at the hospital, or worse, afford not to work due to illness.
at today's funeral, nobody was thinking about these issues. but one thing is for sure: they would have, if they could, all paid a king's ransom just to see their dearly departed one more time. but what use is of money at the end?
lundi, avril 26, 2010
to xxxxx
just sent a very good friend of mine to the airport again. its the nth time she has come back to singapore since she "moved" to germany 2 years ago to stay with her boyfriend.
looking back, it is amazing how time flies. there we were, at the airport reminiscing about all the crazy things which we did in the past. if you had asked me then, i would never have guess that our lives would turn out this way.
we met in the most unusual of circumstances: at a bus stop on a bike ride. i had agreed to meet some friends there and she was also waiting for some other friends. somehow we started talking and something clicked. we met more regularly for training after that as we were training for our virgin IMs then (she somehow had persuaded me to sign up for langkawi 07). she was cool and spunky and independent and had a great sense of humour and that was where i guess we sort of fit together like two odd-cutting pieces of a puzzle.
swim bike run and many trips up north for races later, i went to france for my studies. during that time, she went through many difficult periods in life, but still continued training. and in the most extraordinary of situations too, she met her now-boyfriend.
fast forward two years later, she has been all over the world; no longer the same girl whom i used to pick up at pasir laba camp after work nor the housemate whom i used to watch monty python with. while i used to be the one making the overseas phone calls at noon, now we have switched places.
and now she's trying for a baby. amazing. as i said, i would never have imagined this two years ago. another IM? definitely. german boyfriend? maybe. getting married and starting a family? hell no! haha.
anyway you go girl and all the best. show them what ironwomen are made of. =)
looking back, it is amazing how time flies. there we were, at the airport reminiscing about all the crazy things which we did in the past. if you had asked me then, i would never have guess that our lives would turn out this way.
we met in the most unusual of circumstances: at a bus stop on a bike ride. i had agreed to meet some friends there and she was also waiting for some other friends. somehow we started talking and something clicked. we met more regularly for training after that as we were training for our virgin IMs then (she somehow had persuaded me to sign up for langkawi 07). she was cool and spunky and independent and had a great sense of humour and that was where i guess we sort of fit together like two odd-cutting pieces of a puzzle.
swim bike run and many trips up north for races later, i went to france for my studies. during that time, she went through many difficult periods in life, but still continued training. and in the most extraordinary of situations too, she met her now-boyfriend.
fast forward two years later, she has been all over the world; no longer the same girl whom i used to pick up at pasir laba camp after work nor the housemate whom i used to watch monty python with. while i used to be the one making the overseas phone calls at noon, now we have switched places.
and now she's trying for a baby. amazing. as i said, i would never have imagined this two years ago. another IM? definitely. german boyfriend? maybe. getting married and starting a family? hell no! haha.
anyway you go girl and all the best. show them what ironwomen are made of. =)
dimanche, avril 25, 2010
like father like son
mom's birthday today and guess what - both my dad and me bought her the same gift!
she had been hinting that she wanted a foot massager for some time and i guess both of us took the easy and unimaginative way out. and we even got exactly the same brand same model. only the date and outlet of purchase was different.
so anyway now we have two foot massagers at home. time to set up a foot reflexology shop perhaps?
she had been hinting that she wanted a foot massager for some time and i guess both of us took the easy and unimaginative way out. and we even got exactly the same brand same model. only the date and outlet of purchase was different.
so anyway now we have two foot massagers at home. time to set up a foot reflexology shop perhaps?
jeudi, avril 22, 2010
thinking soldier
i am a motivated soldier who gives 100% at work.
20% on monday
20% on tuesday
20% on wednesday
20% on thursday
20% on friday
TGIF!
20% on monday
20% on tuesday
20% on wednesday
20% on thursday
20% on friday
TGIF!
dimanche, avril 18, 2010
clay king
after 11 long months, the king of clay is back!
bravo to rafael nadal, who today reminded us again of his technical superiority, his athletic capabilities, and his thirst for victory. it doesn't get any better than 6-0 6-1. vamos rafa!
bravo to rafael nadal, who today reminded us again of his technical superiority, his athletic capabilities, and his thirst for victory. it doesn't get any better than 6-0 6-1. vamos rafa!
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