From Guang Zhou with Love

Surprise! Surprise! I know you have been waiting for this post for SO FREAKING LONG. I know that! thanks.. :D I arrived in Guang Zhou 2 days ago and this is my first time writing in my beloved blog... in an internet cafe full of people smoking although there are signs "No Smoking" everywhere.

I am freezing, it's FREAKING COLD here (people, whoever you are, who write in whatever space in this internet that Guang Zhou is hot all year long, I demand your explanation!). You won't believe that you are freezing at 12noon. But I like the weather here. People here have very good skin complexion generally because of this cold weather.


People, when you read something about China which is written by so-called experts, don't believe anything. The only way to experience the real China is by booking your air ticket now and Just Freaking Flying baby! After that, fake your accent so people think that you are a chinese, and dress like what a chinese usually dresses (which means, don't iron your clothes, never.)

First and foremost, China people are not rude like what people say. During 3 days in Guang Zhou, I met lots of friendly people, from a pretty customer service assistant at Bank of China to the auntie who sells "branded goods" for a living. And trust me, her Louis Vuitton, Burberry and such are good, at least good enough for what you pay for. Fifteen yuan for a "Burberry" passport wallet, well, what can you expect?

Second, Guang Zhou is not a cheap place to live at. Not at all. It is almost as expensive as Singapore. The food here is slightly better than Singapore. BUT. It's not HEAVENLY GOOD like what some people told me.

Third, is it just me or my chinese gets so good until I can't believe it myself. When I just arrived, and was going from airport to my university, I could chat with the taxi uncle and he seemed to understand most of what I told him. There are only two options: first, my chinese got better by a lot just by going to Guang Zhou airport toilet, and second, he is a superb actor. I hope the former is right.

Oh, what else should I write? Oh yes, Fourth, Guang Zhou Metro is like Singapore MRT. Sorry Singapore, but I must say, this Metro is almost as good as Singapore MRT and faster (comparing the fare, it's just 1/3 of what you pay in Singapore). It's much better and cleaner than the one in Kuala Lumpur, and just give this city a few more years, this city is going to be unbelievable.

And Fifth, don't believe when people say you should NEVER go to Guang Zhou if you want to learn Chinese because people there speak Cantonese. Guang Zhou people speak mostly chinese just with a slight accent, and there is no reason why it can't stand against Beijing or Shanghai as a place to learn chinese.

OK, when I get my internet application approved next Wednesday, I shall post some photos. A person beside me is smoking like hell and I can't stand it.

And Singapore, I miss you like crazy.

5 hours

Wohoo... I and my negotiation skill. I exchanged SGD to RMB today and a bit sweet talk (and some winks for course :D) could save me RMB300 - save that for a trip to Hong Kong for free :D

I know I am irresistible... *wink*

It's just over 5 hours before my flight...

13 Hours

Everything is ready. Clothes, books, toiletries, documents, shoes (Gosh, I don't know that I have 7 pairs of shoes). Total packing time: 5 hours.

When I go for a short few-days trip, I just need 2 hours max to pack up my stuffs, and to move from one country to another, yes, 5 hours - that's all I need :)

By this time tomorrow, I will be on the way from Bangkok to Guang Zhou, no sleep tonight. I hope the placement test doesn't take place tomorrow because that would mean I will perform way below my standard due to the lack of sleep (I mean, no sleep at all). However, if that's the case, I would rely on my trusted friend - Red Bull (don't know what they call it in China.)

This morning, I had a short walk around my house and felt that Singapore is very beautiful. I know I am being biased - we think something is so good when we are about to lose it or already lost it (Ever seen someone being accused and blamed at their funeral?)

This has been a wonderful 5 years, in a small country I now already call "home".

The Truth About Words

My dear friend,
It is sometimes hurtful to know the truth. However, not knowing the truth is even sadder (I would prefer to know that I am ugly like shit than thinking I am a Brad Pitt which is a self-delusion at its best.)

I believe that whatever comes out from our mouth is what we will be judged from. Just like when we are not to shit anywhere except inside toilets, it's just a common sense that we just say something positive and uplifting, not over-promise and under-deliver, ecetera ecetera.

I am well-known to be very straightforward and sometimes, extremely blunt. No, backstabbing people is not in my life's dictionary. I would rather stab them straight on their face, which is at least 1000 times more fun. So, if there are some words which are just too harsh to accept, I am terribly sorry.


Updates:
2 days to go, and it's just SO FUCKING HARD to leave this place with all its amazing people. I will definitely miss you guys so much!

P.S. I am writing this post inside NTU hall of residence 2's computer room. This place brings back lots of memories of my first year of university education. Yes, a cute, fat, happy, and naive me. I am now getting slimmer, even cuter (awww...), less happy, but still as naive as ever.

Time flies huh...

A Life Without Regret

Because we only live once, why not make it a great one?

Why can't we seize each and everyday as if It were our last? Loving and expressing our love to someone we really love as if we don't have another chance? And working hard and playing hard as if we were in a reality show called "How Interesting is Your Life?"?

Sure we have lots of regrets. I have so many regrets in life that I can write a book on it. However, I choose to live my life as a glass half-full instead of half-empty, and this is my life, the best I could give, and the best God could ever think of.

Even if I die tomorrow in a plane crash, I can proudly tell God in heaven.. "God, I am done, no regret." ... and if I were to choose, I would choose a great 23 years than an average 93 years.

Updates

Tomorrow might be my last match (or probably was it last week?). With my 0-2 record, I don't expect too much that I will be playing.

However, if the captain asks me to play, I will definitely give my everything (I always say, maybe my best is not good enough, but who bloody cares baby???). Anyways, there's not much difference between 0-2 and 0-3 record, so I have nothing to lose. It's like playing against Manchester United. If you lose, that's okay. If you win, wow, that's something. And I always play very well without any expectation whatsoever, so... expect a masterpiece tomorrow! hehe... :D

I will be also preparing as emcee for IG closing ceremony tomorrow. With such a good respond from people I met after Opening Ceremony, there will be high expectation towards me. So, it's not easy to be better than something which is already quite great. I must think outside the box and exceed people's expectation one more time.

OK, 4 days to go. I am learning Chinese all the time now, and I can smell Guang Zhou 1600 miles away.

Small note, my body fat percentage reaches the lowest point in 2 years, 14.3% from 15.7% last month with body muscle increases slightly from 80.5% last month to 81.5%. According to the experts, it's quite good, but if I remember correctly, last time I could reach 12% or around there. I know I am older now, but if I could achieve it last time, there's no reason for me not to be able to achieve it this time.

Haha... now going to shower. Cya!!!

6 days

Oh My God, by this time 6 days from now, I will be transiting in Bangkok while waiting for the next day's flight to Guang Zhou. It's hard to leave Singapore, a place which I have called "home" for the past 5 years. It's indeed very very hard.

However, as Brad Pitt said in his movie, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, our life is defined by its opportunities, including the ones we missed. I don't want 15 years from now, looking back at this opportunity and regretting not to take it up.

People call it "culture shock" not without reasons. There will be lots of differences between Singapore and Guang Zhou, and someone like me who speaks limited Mandarin will need to struggle to survive, but well, I know myself too well. If a newspaper commissions me to go to The Middle East to report a war there, I can fly there as early as tonight. That's how fearless I am.

OK, wish me all the best and miss me like crazy :D

Kids These Days...

First Kid

When I read my Mandarin book on the way back home, trying to memorize some chinese characters from a book titled "Fun With Chinese Characters", a small boy aged around 10 or 11 started to read from my book as well. And it seems that he could memorize those chinese characters faster than me.

If there were only two of us, I would find that boy cute. However, because the boy looked so excited looking at my book and there were so many people there, EVERYONE then started to look at my book as if there's a lucky number to win lottery or such. Oh, totally paiseh.

Second Kid

When I walked from Bukit Batok MRT to my home, I met a kid near the vending machine. OK, nothing strange... until I saw what he bought. He bought a RED BULL!!! Oh My Gosh, he is just 10 years old at most, and he already consumed something that I started drinking only when I was 18. I couldn't remember when was the first time I consumed coffee to help me stay awake, I think I was at least 15 or 16.

Oh, kids these days are totally different from when I was a kid. *sorry to sound so old =P*

My Second Loss

First of all, for some friends who expressed their concerns toward me after I blogged about my disappointment yesterday, thanks so much, really appreciate that (this is not sarcasm, zhen de zhen de :)). People say, the true test for friendship is when one or all the parties are in their life's lowest point. Thanks for showing your true colours :)

Just a minor concern: When you promise that you will be coming for something, you better make sure you come, or give a valid reason. It's a small thing, but that decides whether you are trustworthy or not.

Well, I lost again for the second time out of two matches I did, that makes me in the tie-worst position in my team with 0-2 record, despite our team advanced to the semifinal and will be facing a mountain-high task against Malaysia. But this is sport and anything can happen in the court, so keep our fingers crossed ;)

I am not a politician, but I think for someone who can negotiate anything and persuade anyone to do whatever I want, I will just provide some explanations for my loss.

1. My eyesight is getting worse everyday. I think I am not ready to wear specs when playing bcoz my specs is not designed for sports. However, playing without a specs is indeed a disadvantage for me. I can't even look at the back of the opponent's court!

2. I was against the best player in the other team. If a club like Manchester City can have Robinho, I think there is no reason for any team not to have a star player, and sadly, that player was playing against me. My opponent also won against a star player from China, so well...

3. I was nervous. I think this is totally sad. Everytime I play badminton for fun, I play well.. but sadly, everytime I play in a competition, I play way below my standard.

4. 11-point rally really tortured me. I always feel that 21-point system is way better. I usually play not so well in the beginning of the set and improve as the game progresses when the opponent starts to get tired. However, 11-point system puts players like me into a disadvantage position (Taufik Hidayat also felt the same way, so this is a global concern). When I make 3 or 4 mistakes, that's almost half the set. Unbelievable.


However, despite all the explanations, I didn't escape from my responsibility although I played better today compared to yesterday. If yesterday I was at 50% of my maximum ability, today I rate myself at 75%. Hopefully next week if I play again, I can be at my 100%. Even if I lose (and that makes my record 0-3), I can be satisfied that I have given my best. Maybe my best is not good enough, but who bloody cares??

Oh well, it's over. It should be.

I've learnt in life... we shouldn't cry over what's passed. When we are able to take lessons from our past mistakes, that's good enough. Noone is perfect (although I always say that I am noone).

Take a deep breath, curse and shout "FUCKKKKKK" as loud as you can, close your eyes... and *shuh* your sin is forgiven. Not successful? Run on a treadmill at 13km/hour, and run and run and run until you are out of breath and full of sweat (it's best if your knee is bleeding because of too much run, the feeling is SO FREAKING AWESOME). For me, it helps, a lot.

I never know it's that easy.

Where were you when I expected you to be there?

Actually I wanted to make this post private, but I guess the purpose of this blog is to represent me, as the way I am - no make-up, no photoshop, no mask.

Well, my first badminton match this year after last year we grabbed 3 gold medals and 2 silver medals. This year is probably my last year playing, and that's why this is very important for me.

To make the long story short, I lost the match. Quite close, but losing is losing, and that's just sad.

Thanks for those who reminded me again and again that it was my fault that our team lost. Without you reminding me, I already felt very guilty, so thanks for pouring some salt on my wound, really appreciate your kind heart.

But what makes me even sadder is that... some people whom I expected to watch me playing were not there.

When I did emcee, noone was there among the audiences. Noone. I know it's 9 in the morning, but we usually get up before 7 when we work or have class, so to say that 9am is too early is just another excuse not to see, and that's just sad. I had been waiting and hoped that at least one of the people I expect to come showed up, but yes, I was left disappointed despite the great success. People I met said that we (my partner and I) did a great job emceeing, but yeah, some success are simply meaningless when there is noone to share with.

When we put so much emphasis on Saying Goodbye, why is it that during probably our last days together (I say "probably", who know my plane crashes, we will never know), some people are just not here?

I thought friends are to support each other in terms of happiness and sadness. Not just hanging out watching movies together, wasting money shopping, going to some stupid cafes, eating out, gossiping. Yes, those are fun, but hey, I can meet someone today and tomorrow we can watch movie or eating out together, so what's special?

Yes, and when I lost my match, some people were not there. Yes, two people showed up and I won't forget those for the rest of my life. For the rest, maybe it's not important for you, I don't know. Maybe you had something else to do like for example sleeping or such, I don't know. Or maybe watching people playing badminton is not fun, although for me, this was probably my last match and that's definitely very very important. And maybe this was my last two chance emceeing, and that's very very important. And I was left disappointed when some people just weren't there to support me.

OK, maybe this is 21st century, and friendship is just about watching movies together, shopping, gossiping totally useless stuffs like who marry who or who are gays, who are straight. Maybe I expect too high and therefore, disappointed.

I can't say if those people I expect to come really did come I would win the match. I will never know. I understand perfectly well that I am not Taufik Hidayat or Lin Dan. But when someone so ordinary like me playing for probably my last matches, and probably one of the last times emceeing, can't I expect some people who are so special in my life to be coming and cheer me even if I lost the match?

ANYWAYS, thanks for being so kind, and understanding, and attentive.

P.S. I am okay, it's over. No worries ;)

Addicted to Sports

I don't smoke at all (no offence to smokers, but I have been trying so hard to find a reason why people say smoking is cool, but I really can't find any, gomen...).

The only addictions I have are luckily relatively good ones. I used to be addicted to work, and felt so panic when I have nothing to do. And I have just realized one thing.. that I am addicted to playing sports.

I know last time I played badminton to the extreme, playing 6 straight hours from 9 at night to 3 o'clock in the morning, and skipped the 9am class (don't blame me, blame the alarm clock, it didn't shout louder =P).

However, as I get older, fatter, and weaker (Gosh, those three words give me nightmare, can anyone please eliminate those words from English language?), I thought my addiction to playing sports has disappeared. Until today....

I went to gym at 10.30, had a gym session from 10.30 to 12.30 (no gossiping session, as there were only two persons in the gym and the other party was listening to ipod). After that as if I didn't exercise enough, I went to the treadmill machine and started running. I planned to run for 15 minutes, but then I felt SO FREAKING GOOD and decided I would run for another 10 minutes. I got addicted in running and couldn't stop it! Finally I ran for almost 1 hour straight.... and btw, that's after 2 hour of gym session. If my body fat percentage doesn't go down by 2%, God is really being unfair to me.

I almost wanted to take a shower, but the swimming pool outside gym was simply irresistible. I finally decided to swim for some laps, and at the end, I swam for about 1/2 hour. Well, I couldn't say that I am good at swimming. But at least in case of emergency, I can swim for 1/2 hour before some people notice that I am too cute to be left sunk. *wink*

Btw, talking about sports, if you are NTU students or alumni.. or simply anyone (can't find person who doesn't belong to this category =D), don't forget to come to NTU International Games 2009 Opening ceremony tomorrow (7th Feb 2009). There will be two cute emcees (one of those is me =P), lucky draw, and most importantly, lots and lots and lots of fun. The venue is NTU Sports and Recreation Centre (SRC), at 830am sharp.

See you there!

To Hell all the Latecomers!

I hate people who like to be late without valid reason and without prior notice, they deserve a cozy place in hell - yes, hell with a view.

When I make appointment at 5 o'clock, I really mean 5, not 5.10 or 5.20. I always plan to come earlier, and I can wait because I always bring a book to read inside my bag. Nevertheless, I get very angry everytime someone is late even if he is late by 1 minute. I don't show it in my face because as I always said, I can act very well. But in heart, please rest assured I curse you like hell.

Come on, you are not the only one who is busy. Everyone is busy, so if I can make an effort to be on-time, why can't you?

I know people who have different background have their own standard regarding lateness. Some people feel that being late by 15 minutes is so-called "okay", and for some, being late by 1 hour is considered acceptable. Rubbish! That's one of the most stupid things I have ever heard. And let me tell you, if I were you, I would be terribly ashamed to be born in a society which tolerates lateness. Super terribly ashamed.

If someone is late, that means he doesn't value my precious time. And if someone doesn't value my precious time, he can't value me as an individual. I know it's just simple thing but in this world, we are continuously judged by every simple thing, and for some people, they have failed long time ago.

My 2 Talented Brothers

My elder brother from US visited me in Singapore and that's the first time we met after a freaking 4 1/2 years!

I have just realized that here in my apartment, I don't have any plate, bowl, glass, fork, not to mention knife and frying pan. I only have one big cup and one spoon... and that's enough for me to survive! Gosh.

I always feel that I don't have any talent in cooking. Most of the times, lacking of talent is just a very nice way to express laziness. Well, I don't expect to be good in cooking if what I have are just one big cup and one spoon. The best I can make with those two items is cereal drink. Oh well...


My younger brother is getting more and more admirable everyday. He got a perfect GPA last semester - I am not surprised. He has got one of the finest natural talent in arts and design I have ever seen. However, what I feel most proud about him is that he has grown so much these years. I still remember a few years ago when he consulted me regarding his further education and now he is the one who gives me advices on my further education.

To be sandwiched by two very talented brothers makes me even more determined to achieve the very best in life. I am determined to be a millionaire before 30 years old, and willing to do anything to reach that. Anything that is legal, moral, and ethical.

It's about Friendship

Friends, I know I am not the nicest person of earth (and never make it to New Year's resolution or any resolution whatsoever.)

I may throw sarcastic jokes like "I know I am fat but I can diet, while you are ugly and that's eternal... well, until you do a plastic surgery, but I guess they will need at least 1 litre of plastic to get a reasonably good product... oh wait, that's not environmentally friendly... well, just like your face which gives people a nightmare or two"

Ouch ouch ouch.



I know I may not be the best person to give any form of encouragement although I always try hard (sometimes too hard) to make anyone who comes to me feel better after he meets me.


However friends,

You know too well how important you are in my life. You know that you have a super VIP room in my heart that is so exclusive that other people can't afford to rent it, not to mention buy it. And you know that whenever you feel you need a listening ear (or a busybody to solve your problems forever, oh that's my speciality! =D), I am here.




God bless you all just like how He bless Barack Obama.