Friday, September 29, 2006

Hateful Cliffhangers
Now that Inuyasha is back on Arts Central, I no longer find fault with Mediacorp. But why?!
Why must Inuyasha always end with a terribly exciting cliffhanger, and of all days, on a FRIDAY?
I have to wait till next Wed before I can watch the second part of the show!

Cliffhangers ought to be banned.
Grrrr.


Back from Stone-age
I finally got my ATM card! Haha, while people my age are scrambling for debit cards, the clueless me just made my atm card. Sigh. Sarah got hers when she was merely 11 or 12 years old!
Yea yea. I think I was living in my own stone-age fantasy.




Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Little Miss Sunshine :)
Attention to those with the knack for quirky characters or dysfunctional families, go watch "Little Miss Sunshine"!
I am going to catch it for sure! Laughters guaranteed!

Somehow, this title of the movie evokes a sense of strange familiarity. It reminds me of my youngest cousin's fetish for her scary baby dolls (you know, those dolls that blink and have very rough, curly blonde hair?)! One of her dolls is called Sunshine which coincides with the movie's name. The other two are called Sweetheart and Sugar (or something like that?). This is highly parodoxical considering her dolls are kind of haunting.
Those dolls, lying on her bed, always seem to have that perpetual look of "I am going to come alive now!!"
Cue *Evil Laughter* track.


I caught "In America" the previous Saturday on TV, a movie I would recommend for those who wants to know more about the underclass of the American society. To many of us, we always think of the US as the paragon of high-life and affluence... But do you know how many of the Americans are struggling to keep up with their standards of living, especially the migrants?
The story unfolds through the subtle narration of the 10-year old daughter of this poor but young Irish family who just moved to Manhattan. They struggle to cope with the death of their youngest son/ brother as well as assimilate into the foreign and fast-paced new environment, which threaten to tear their bond apart. The raw and intense frustration of the adults juxtaposes the quiet and calm sensibility of the 10-year old child/narrator, making it a very real and bittersweet movie.



I am a conspiracy theorist in the making!
After starting my course in Sociology, it dawned on me that I tend to come up with conspiracy theories about the Singapore government. I better not say much here in my blog, in case the State intelligence check me out. Heh heh.
To you, Singapore Idol is just an entertaining talent show. But to me, it is the State's plan to engineer the mindset of certain racial groups here.
If you think what I am saying is too cheem, don't bother about this section then.
Hmm, am I thinking too much? Whichever way, it is a MERE SPECULATION.



Acronyms Singaporeans will love and laugh about
I was talking about such acronyms last night with some of my church friends and out pop these!
SDU = Single, Desperate, Unwanted
DHL= Deliver Halfway Lost
SGH = Sure Go Hell



Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Live @ Raffles City - Soup Spoon (waiting for people to appear...)
Hooray for HS 103 Midterm Quiz!
I scored 88/100 for this Quiz!
I prayed for this Quiz cos my previous quiz was terribly disappointing and disheartening.
Actually, it was my mom who reminded me to pray first before mugging for it. Put time to talk to God and leave everything in His big big hands. And I did well!


Anyways, I want to join Canon Photo Maranthon!!! Anyone interested to go?
It requires you to take pictures according to the theme the organisers give every few hours.
Exciting! Challenging!

I would like to share some of the pictures that i've taken around Singapore with my Nikon.










I love these gorgeous moments, all thanks to my little trusty,thick Nikon. haha!



Sunday, September 17, 2006

With the girls
We finally met up. Pris, Yue, Wan and Char and me. A long-awaited one.
Had a Soup Spoon lunch at Raffles City. The filling soups just made me feel like I am in an Enid Blyton storybook :) - slurping warm and comforting soups on that cold day that we were meeting in.
As usual, we talked about French, German, school, room mates, boys/men and the sorts. The familiarity with them feels good.
Trooped down to Bakerzin later for some sugar fix with the decadent cakes. By the way, Bakerzin does not provide warm water. They ONLY sell EVIAN. oh man. When I requested for warm water, the waitress said:
"Oh! We can warm up the Evian!" -_-"
Me: No thanks.

Walking around City Hall area, we see hoards and hoards of IMF/World Bank delegates, smart in their corporate suits and pants. How I wish I can be a policymaker like them, creating changes in the world with the things they say and do.
haha. My secret fantasy.

Security around Singapore has been extremely tight, with many men-in-navy-blue,armed with rifles, all ready to shoot any terrorist who jumps out of the boot of the taxi.
Quipped Wanlin, these security men look more like the terrorists with their menacing and no-nonsense faces.
Yes, how right.


On Saturdays
Saturdays are the days when i recharge my energy and draw strength from God, with encouragement from the Bible and fellow brothers & sisters, so as to strengthen me to carry on with the following week.
I am grateful for my church :)

Last evening, the presence of God was with us, as I played the piano. The rest of my band mates, enjoying the whole process, played exceptionally well too!


Now let me tell you a story...
One lovely morning, a father and son decided to go fishing in the open sea. The son invited his good friend to join them as well.
The three of them got along very well. They talked about many things and both father and son, who are Christians, realised that the friend has yet to know Christ. So, they discussed more as they fish.
All a sudden, a huge, unexpected wave washed over the small boat and they all fell into the waters.
Both the son and his friend could not swim and were struggling helplessly but the shore was very far away. The father grabbed hold of both of them, but he knew he only had enough strength to save one of them to reach safely to shore. He was in a painful dilemma, he cried in anguish. In the end, he decided that he should save the friend because he did not know Jesus Christ yet.
He whispered to his son: If your friend dies, he will be condemned to eternal hell. You already know Christ, so you would be in the arms of God in heaven.
The son agreed and whispered back:
"Let me go."
So, the father reluctantly, painfully, lets his son go.


Now, this story tells us of God's sacrificial love. The father in the story represents God. In anguish and agony, God witnessed his only Son, Jesus' painful death on the cross, so that everyone can be saved. Only through Jesus' suffering and death, can we know God and that the whole of mankind's sins may be cleansed. Jesus was willing to die so that we may be saved.
Would you respond to such great love?




Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Let's play dress-up with Singapore!
Singapore sure knows how to be hospitable to the IMF and World Bank. Suddenly she's putting on make-up!
Out of the blue, there are more flowers and greeneries along the increasingly-boring Orchard Road, Wireless connection in City Hall area, art pieces from the Singapore Biennale hanging in town and temples (NOW, we show them that we are very art-conscious!), and instead of people sulking, we have more of them smiling (hint: 4million smiles)!

Hooray! Can the World Bank and IMF come every year? Then Singapore will dress up and we ordinary citizens will be very grateful.


Push the Boundaries
I followed the instructions given by my tutor very carefully for my essay. Font 12, one page. But the rest of my tutorial mates didn't!! They squeezed so much info into one page and they probably used Font 5!! Now, my work seems so easy and simple. I wanted to write more but I didn't manage to do it with the limitations.
Heck, I'm going to push the boundaries next time! Not going to be follow the rules! But worry not, I won't do it all the time, only appropriately. Still, i'll push it HARD if i can.


Conspiracy Theories
I read some mind-boggling conspiracy theories about the Sept 11. And apparently, the popular one goes like this.
Note: This is a conspiracy theory! It may not be real, just a speculation, alright?!!
The Sept 11 crash was actually a plan by the U.S and Saudi Arabia (if i remembered correctly), to stir up emotions and use this as a reason to attack Iraq. Attack Iraq and exploit its oil for their own.

Whoa! Quite far-fetched but creepily believable.


Monday, September 11, 2006

I was stopped by the Security at the train station on my way home!
The lady requested to check my bags (i was lugging my laptop carrier bag and my own brown bag).
WHAT NOW?
Do i look like a disillusioned suicide bomber?
Maybe my bags look too suspicious. But the thing is, i was at Boon Lay, where many NTU students are! Isn't it common to see students lugging 2 bags? One for laptop... one for books!
Hmm.
Perhaps I do look like a disenchanted suicide bomber, with my stressed-out face that spells: "ESSAYS NOT DONE".


I met up with Pris already! But she didn't bring any nougats for me... Perth didn't change much of her actually. She came to NTU to look for Zheng Xun as well. Now I've seen zhengxun in real person! He is so much more decent than Pat! That Pat is one petty beefcake. Quite aggressive too. Zhengxun is so much more better than Pat. More friendly, more trustworthy.
Pris, i give my vote to zhengxun!


Sunday, September 10, 2006

I was munching stale fries in McDonald's today when I heard 2 Malay parents singing The Birthday Song. It was absolutely TUNELESS. Realising that the tune was getting nowhere, the father awkwardly stopped singing while the mother sang a few more tuneless lines before stopping as well. Despite the song being tuneless, I found it very heartwarming as they sang it so earnestly to their son. Very moving.


Ahhhh!! i am very very afraid and frustrated because i have many essays to complete but I've yet to even start some of them. The deadlines are coming soon :--(
I suddenly feel very uncomfortable. I feel like puking.

Pray: Surely Lord, You are "my refuge and my fortress; my God in whom I trust".


Thursday, September 07, 2006

THANK YOU ALL :)
Appreciate those birthday blessings. Thank you all for remembering (or if someone told you...) ;P
Oh yes, thanks angie, sihui and sarah for having dinner with me as celebration. Ichiban Sushi is definitely better than Seoul Garden - well, besides the food, the people there are better too! *nudge nudge sihui*


Little Britain
I've got to say Little Britain is one of the best TV shows I've ever watched. Smart and witty, it makes you laugh because of unexpected things the God-like-sounding narrator says. A few examples... (now imagine it is being said mock seriously, with a God-like tone)
1) Unlike other countries, Britain has people of 2 genders: male and female.
2) Britain... We've had running water for over 10 years.
3) Christianity is a popular religion in Britain, with over 80 people.

David Williams and Matt Lucas are geniuses! They write the scripts for Little Britain and they act in them.


Emily and Florence- the "rubbish transvestites" who tries very very hard to be ladies.


Marjorie Daws - the leader of FatFighters who believes in the diet of dust because there is zero fats


Lou and Andy.



Sept 11
Sept 11 will be coming soon and it marks the 5th annivesary of the collapse of the World Trade Centre in NY. When it happened, i was only 14. Ignorant and naive. So, to get a better sense of the whole tragedy, i went to YouTube to view the devastating crash. It was terribly disturbing when I see the man jumping off from one of the Towers, his arms flinging wildly, as gravity pulls him mercilessly down to the ground. I cannot imagine what his emotions were. It is too painful...

I heart the brave men who went into the humongous debris to find survivors, putting their lives in the frontline.

Some mothers don't deserve to be mothers
Nowadays, I have been seeing bad mothers around. On the trains, mothers will take the seat and their children will be the ones standing up. These mothers will ask their children to buy food for them while they sit comfortably at the table.
What happened to the sacrificial spirit all mothers are supposed to have?

My mom is not like that. Thank God! She gives the best to me and my sis and I will definitely reciprocate...



Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Family gathering on Sunday
Just this Sunday, we went down to Godma's place for family dinner. Godma makes the best mee siam and Dau Suan! They are must-trys. The purpose of the gathering was to view a video where my little cousin, Lydia in Thailand tried to re-enact how my grandma fell in her recent trip there. She made all of us laugh heartily over her exaggerated actions! Lydia reminds me alot of Sarah. Drama queens.
I appreciate family gatherings and it is truly a pity when some of my cousins didn't turn up.


Men behaving badly
For 2 consecutive days, immense tolerance is what I've cultivated after 3 middle-aged men disgusted me with their behaviour and smell on the train.

On Monday, 2 men went straight to sit on the floor of the train (like typical teenagers), when obviously, there are many seats around. They sat down, oblivious to everyone, and talked as if nothing was wrong! They are grown men!! I glanced at one of them, hoping they will realise their folly, but he glared back menancingly. Hrmmpphh.

Earlier this morning, this man sat beside me on the train. And WHAM! The pungent smell of garlic whacked me. It seems like he has rubbed himself up and down with millions of garlic because it was very strong! He smelt like stale chicken rice chilli. Yucks!
Now I think I understand how hell feels like. Hell is worse because those who do not accept Christ as their personal Saviour from sins, will bathe in sulphur and fire for eternity. Sulphur smells 1000 times worse than garlic, I am sure!



Cafe @ the Quad
Finally! I found a treasure trove amidst bad canteen food in NTU. I am proud to present Cafe @ the Quad! They sell fantastic, lip-smacking and generous portions of food, with the comforts of air-conditioners. The price may be slightly steeper than the canteens but I would rather pay more for MUCH MORE BETTER FOOD and good environment. It is near the SAC too, so we can just pop by and hang out after lunch together.
As we were trying to study, Eileen suddenly wanted bubble tea. haha! But yea, they don't have it in NTU. So Baoyue suggested that we open our own bubble tea shop in NTU. We will each have 20% stake in it. WHOAA! I got pretty excited about it, fantasizing and visualising our own shop.



Priscilla's back
Yay! Pris is back! We are going to meet up and she told she bought lots of nougats! Sweet treats everyone :)


Sunday, September 03, 2006

The Laptop
I am enjoying my laptop tremendously, which i think is BAD NEWS. Pleasure is guilt to me. Urgh.
There is also this nagging paranoia that my lappie will break down on me. Double Urgh!!! Urgh Urgh.
Technology is so irritating.



How to qualify as Esther's favourite people

1) Has to have a sharp wit

2) Has to understand my slight sarcasm in conversations, and LAUGH about it.
3) Has to respect my relationship with God.
4) Must love to eat and appreciate good food.
5) Understand what I am referring towhen I say: "Little Britain", "Cold Cut Trio", "My Name is Earl", "U2", "John Mayer" and "C.S Lewis" If you don't, we probably don't have the same interests and that makes you WEIRD.
6) Must NOT be short-tempered because I am (only when I just woke up or had a horrible day).
7) MUST NOT complain that you are fat every other minute. It highly irritates me because i don't know what to say next.


If you fit the list, PLEASE DO NOT ENDANGER YOURSELF.
But of course, I do make exceptions...



Anyways, I suddenly thought of my pre-u seminar friend, Wai Leong! He makes fantastic and oh-so-yummy tiramisu. He made one for me last year. Hmm I wonder how he is now. Feel quite bad for not keeping in contact. I am such an ingrate sometimes.
That's something I need to change about myself!
I need to be more appreciative about other people's efforts, especially efforts from my family and cell group members. Yes, I must take action.




Friday, September 01, 2006

WAH. Being silly.

While surfing the net, they look at people piercing their own bodies





PHWOAR. this is daphne.




Blogging live in NUS

I am at daphne's Eusoff Hall's hostel room now!! Wheeeeeeee~
Crashed NUS' philosophy lect this afternoon with yue. And here is something interesting to think about from the lect:
Are the things holy because the gods love them or is it because the things are holy, that's why the gods love them?

HUh?!

Anyway, Yue and Daph are using their Macs to talk to SJ in California now. All their faces are showing. OOoOooOO. Their Macbooks are gorgeous but fragile-looking and HEAVY, like tons of bricks :P, which makes it not too appealing. My Acer is only 1.5kg light!



Life in NTU
I was having some in-depth talk with my tutorial mate early this week about uni life. She felt that it is very difficult in uni cos there are not many firm friends she can have, exactly the same thoughts i had last week! She was very tempted to quit her uni studies but she didnt want to disappoint her parents. She's a really sweet girl, really.
Sigh. I feel for her.
I'll be a good friend to her :)


HS103 Tutorial
We had a discussion about homesexuality in class just yesterday. Some of my tutorial mates are saying how the GAH-ment this, how the GAH-ment that. How the GAH-ment refuse to take a stand because there are just too much pink dollars to be earned from these homosexuals.
They pronounce GOVERNMENT as GAAAAH-ment.
WAHAHAHAHAHA. I was laughing silently.
Is it really difficult to pronounce GOVERNMENT?
Oh wells, maybe sometimes.

Oh oh,while on the train, i told my tamil tutorial mate about the gospel. But she told me she knows it already because she goes to a church. But wait, you may think:
Ya, so what's wrong?
Thing is, she goes to the church, the chinese temples and Hindu temples to pray. She believes that all the different gods are all the same and they are just manifestations of merely one source - the Ultimate God.
Interesting. But I don't know how to explain to her further...



Ok, I'm signing off now cos Yue wants to bug my lappie now!


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