The new Poor?

I attended a wedding dinner yesterday at Clarke Quay. It was my ex colleauge's from StarHub and it had been about 5 years since I left StarHub. Wow....

We left the place pretty late and I realised that the groom's car has changed(yet again). This time it's a *gasp* Mini Cooper!

The couple also just moved in an EC at Pasir Ris.

Maybe my math is bad but I just can't seemed to make sense of how they can support these two big ticket items simultaneously. The Cooper itself does cost about the same as another EC.

In any case, this started our discussion and my friend who worked in a local bank saw the credit card record of a one TCS actor. Those bordering between 1st and 2nd line actor. His income declared was like $100,000 per annum and he maxed out his $5000 credit card. Limit left? $13.

Another case was a doctor who holds a $10,000 credit card. Also maxed out.

Both are so called revolver. I.e. they pay only the minimum per month to payoff the bank. And both are definitely capable of paying off in full but I reckon they have other committments that deter them from doing so.

Personally I would see this as very bad practise. I've read about an article on this and these people are termed as the new poor. People who are asset rich but cash poor.

My friend is someone who also could not tolerate himself being in such situation. Thus I was quite surprised that he also feels it is not entirely wrong for them to do so.

We feel that it is wrong as it is against our mindset. But these group of people just want to enjoy what they reaped and some wants to enjoy it in advance via credit.

You can't really say these kind of people are wrong.

The only "wrong" here is the credit amount gets out of control, banks begin to sue and you become bankrupt. Even then, they had already enjoyed material items that most people with my mindset won't even had the chance to.(I'm sure I won't get to own a Cooper in this lifetime)

So in living a life that I've always preached that we only lived once, is it entirely wrong that we MUST be financially prudent and have savings? Should we not let our urge take over once a while and make ourselves really really happy by getting, say a, EC?

Life is about happiness after all.


Post note: How to screw up your life.

Title	:	Credit counselling organisation helps Singaporeans restructure debts
By	:
Date	:	27 October 2005 1748 hrs (SST)
URL	:	http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/175597/1/.html

SINGAPORE : Not-for-profit organisation Credit Counselling Singapore has helped 471 Singaporeans restructure their debts amounting to some S$34 million.

But it said this could just be the tip of the iceberg, as rollover credit in Singapore has nearly doubled in five years to S$2.7 billion this year.

Forty-three-year-old "David" found himself drowning in debts amounting to S$200,000 five years ago, after his credit card bills snowballed.

He said, "My work involved a lot of traveling, so I spent it outside. My company does reimburse me, but my mistake was that I sometimes didn't pay promptly."

Not wanting to be declared bankrupt, he started driving a taxi part-time and with the help of credit counselling, restructured his debt with seven banks.

He now has some S$40,000 to repay and no longer carries a credit card.

David represents a typical debtor in Singapore -- male, between 35 and 45 years, with a family, and an average debt of S$72,500.

His average take-home pay is S$2,600, which means he would need 28 months to pay off his debt, at S$1,500, or nearly 60 percent of his income, monthly.

Besides ease of credit, car loans are an increasing problem, as they are cheaper to buy upfront but not cheap to maintain.

Credit counsellors call this group of debtors the "new poor" -- they earn more than the bottom 20 percent but after deducting their loan repayments, their little remaining disposable income sometimes puts them in dire situations.

Some can't downgrade their flats as they can't get another housing loan due to poor payment records.

Others have even pleaded with their banks not to deduct their loans directly from their salaries credited as they would not have enough to feed the family.

But while they acknowledge individuals are responsible for their debt, they say creditors should also go by an ethical code of conduct, and not make incessant calls.

Said Kuo How Nam of Credit Counselling Singapore, "The other practice we would like to see stopped would be letters from lawyers to the debtors' employers asking about particulars. This actually forces the debtor to reveal the state of his indebtedness to the company, and in many instances, companies are rather unhappy over that, and some people have been threatened with termination of employment."

A total of 940 people have been counselled since 2003, but some walk away with debts too huge to be restructured. - CNA /ct

Ben & Jerry back in Singapore and in Suntec

Personally I don't really fancy ice cream. Won't purposely have it after food or as a snack.

Which make me even more impressed with Ben & Jerry's ice cream. They are really heavenly delicious. Not too thick and doesn't make you feel bloated in anyway.

Really fabulicious.

Sakae Sushi...again

Consolation that I didn't have to travel all the way to sentosa for this.

This is meant as our company lunch. I proposed thai food since the weather is so cold but the ladies are all voting for sakae sushi.
Sakae sushi nice meh? Don't really understand why zhar-bor like to eat sushi so much. I guessed it's the small size and variety. But quantity also equally big. Haha. Just want to give themselves an excuse to feast!
See... got evidence one ok. 31 color plates and 4 red plates! Muhahaha.

Today raffles place also quite happening.

Got an event held by Kotex(yah, that kotex). They hired many male model to hold umbrellas and "escort" the lady passerbys to the coffeeclub nearby.
Inside they had like free eyebrow trimming, hand massage.
This remind me of the hen party held at Century Square last month I think.

Hmmm... is it clever marketing or are Singapore women more and more open minded now.

Maybe both.

The new coffee club

Me and my wife went to redeem a coupon (or ku-poon according to her) at city link. It's $10 and meant for TCC.

Wau, the place totally changed. The menu's changed and they added a lot more kind of coffee
variety.


































Check out the chair that they have. But super uncomfortable.















THE CHAIR!!

I had this














A bit gayish. Coffee also pink color.

I was super hungry and so look forward to the food.



















Yes, this is main course. The bee hoon I had in the morning larger than this.

Quote of the day

"who don't wanna own the thing/person they love the most"

by: annoynamous

Quite true hor. This really explains why some people are so possessive. It's not ego or idiosyncratic personality. It's because they are more in tune to what this quote is trying to bring across.

So many things to blog about

But I haven't got the time to do so. About 3 postings worth of pictures too. Check out this space again. Will try to get it all uploaded by today.

Men and diamond ring

Just gone thru this entry about a AU$50 lab made diamond and a brainless P.H.D student. BM also had her remark about this.

It's basically about this phd student. He wants to propose to her girlfriend but can't afford the real rock. Thus he got a diamond ring off ebay for 50 bucks and intend to pass it off as the real thing.

Here's a married man's perspective.

The lying part is definitely wrong. I totally agree with BM on this one. If you got her a 50 dollars ring, you are wrong to pass it off as a Tiffany.

Yes Mr P.H.D., your girl may not be able to accept you getting a 50 dollars ring as a proposal ring. So why do it in the 1st place? Moreover you said she is not materialistic.

And seriously I feel you are throwing the face of all man. Yah student very poor, can't afford. Then obviously that is a sign to tell you that it is NOT the time.

These are things(esp marriage) which are very important to women. It's not about the cost of the ring. It's about how much you will sacrifice to get the ring. I.e. fasting(a sacrifice) so that money meant for food can be donated to your religion.

It may not be logical to you. She may seemed materialistic to you. But these are things we,men, would never be able to understand. The same goes for their obsession with shoes and, vice versa our obsession with breasts.

You don't have to understand. You don't have to decipher it logically like how you solve your homework. You just have to KNOW that it is important for a women so just go with the flow.

Ego blocking the flow? Then might as well get her 50 coke rings for her instead. Even to last her 50 lifetimes and you get 50 cans of coke. Make so much material sense!

I'm worthless!!.. Sob.. sob..

My blog is worth $0.00.
How much is your blog worth?

I am so suaku

Borned and raised in Singapore for the past 26 years, I not only just went to Jurong Birdpark for the 1st time last week but I have never ever been to the following places. Even people from Thailand had been there. I need to get this into my new year resolution.

Take a Walk on Singapore’s Green Side

By Cindy Drukier & Jan Jekielek Epoch Times Thailand Staff

Oct 20, 2005

RAINFOREST RETREAT: Vibrant Bird of Paradise flowers bloom in the original Rain Forest section of the Singapore Botanical Garden. Commercial rubber tree-growing was also first pioneered in Southeast Asia at The Botanical Garden, which then became one of the continent’s most important commercial crops. (Jan Jekielek/The Epoch Times)

High-resolution image (3072 x 2048 px, 0 dpi)

To most people, Singapore is the great urban experiment, a city-state known for its obsessive sterility and eclectic architecture. It’s the financial hub of Southeast Asia and a hot spot for shoppers. What many travelers miss, however, are Singapore’s glorious green respites; habitat havens worlds away from the dense city core where the population tops 6,430 people per square kilometer (16,654 per square mile). Here are three great and inexpensive ways to take a walk on Singapore’s little-known green side—a perfect way to get away while on a short trip to this island city.

MacRitchie Reservoir

Seemingly hidden, yet right in the heart of Singapore, are lush, rainforest trails, lakeside boardwalks, and the expansive parkland of the MacRitchie Reservoir. Part of the 2,000 hectare (4,923 acres) Central Catchment Nature Reserve, MacRitchie was first established in 1868 to save this important watershed region from the wholesale clearing that has occurred everywhere else on the island. As of the early to mid-19th century, Singapore has been stripped of 90% of its forest cover, but the reserve persists.

The highlight of MacRitchie is a moderate 10.5 km (6.5 mile) round trip hike to the Tree Top Walk—a 250 m long (820-foot) suspension bridge connecting the reserve’s two highest points. It offers a spectacular canopy-level contrast to the usual under-story view from the jungle floor.

If you’re not up for a full hike, try the gentle 3 km (1.9 mile) Nature Trail along the water’s edge, through primary and secondary forest. Even on this walk you’ll be sure to see red-eared slider turtles and plenty of long-tailed Macaque monkeys – resist feeding them, for your sake as well as theirs! With a cocked ear you can catch the calls of kingfishers, eagles and bulbuls. MacRitchie also offers kayak rentals and scenic picnic spots.

The location and construction method for the 25 m high Tree Top Walk at MacRitchie Reservoir were specially selected to avoid disturbing local plant and animal life. Thus, the free-standing suspension bridge’s has a capacity of 30 people which is strictly enforced through a system of one-way traffic. (Jan Jekielek/The Epoch Times)

High-resolution image (2048 x 3072 px, 180 dpi)

The reservoir is open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily, admission is free; the last entry to the Tree Top Walk is 4:30 p.m. and it’s closed on Mondays (unless it’s a holiday). It’s possible to take a taxi to another entrance near the Tree Top Walk, cutting the 10 km hike more than in half. Several buses service MacRitchie, but the local transit (MRT) does not.

Singapore Botanical Garden

Nearly a century and a half ago, the local Agri-Horticultural Society had the foresight to establish a leisure garden, which later blossomed into the Singapore Botanical Garden. It’s impressive 52 hectares (128 acres) are organized thematically with enough variety to keep even non-plant-oriented people entertained.

In the Marsh Garden’s ponds are clumps of Paper Plant, so named for their use by the Egyptians. Palm Valley has over 220 species of palm, and in the Sun Rockery you’ll find the plump, cartoon-like succulents, plants swollen with water to survive even the driest conditions. Kids will love the Swiss Ball Fountain—a 700 kg (1,543-pound) granite ball kept in a constant spin by water current—and the collection of miniature Bonsai trees. If you like to know how to grow what you eat, you’ll enjoy the Herbs and Spices garden, the Beverage Crops, and the Nut Trees and Medicinal Trees.

For a peek at pre-development Singapore, stroll through the Rain Forest, which even in 1889 was described in the Gardens’ guidebook as one of the only stands of “original jungle left on the island…. [giving] the visitors some idea of the wonderful richness of tropical vegetation.”

No visit would be complete without touring the famed National Orchid Garden where staff has been breeding orchids since 1928. The result is the world’s largest display of tropical orchids with over 1,000 species and 2,000 hybrids to admire.

The Orchid Garden is open from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and costs SG $5 (US $3) for adults, SG $1 (US $0.59) for seniors and students, and is free for children under 12. Otherwise entrance to the Botanical Gardens is free; general Garden hours are 5 a.m. to midnight and there are several bus options.

Pulau Ubin (Granite Island)

For a real treat, take the 10-minute bumboat ride from Changi Point Ferry Terminal, and visit Pulau Ubin, the only remaining holdout of rural Singapore. Roughly 100 villagers still live here, making their living from farming, and providing provisions to tourists. A small village surrounds the jetty where you’ll find a few shops, restaurants and ample bike rentals. From there, take off and enjoy the sounds, scenes, and wildlife of the island.

There’s no border crossing here, just a fence in the water separating Singapore and from Malaysia off the north shore of Pulau Ubin. (Jan Jekielek/The Epoch Times)

High-resolution image (3072 x 2048 px, 180 dpi)

None of the trails on the 4.1 square km (1.6-square mile) island are overly demanding, and there are helpful maps to guide you at every junction. Whether you bike or walk, there’s a lot to explore as you weave your way through the mangroves and the rainforest, past the wooden opera stage and temples, and the abandoned quarries and overgrown rubber plantations.

At the north end of Pulau Ubin, you can easily see the Malaysian coast, as well as a curious fence demarking the border. There are a couple of beaches for swimming, and if you forget to pack snacks, not to worry: practically every home that dots the island has a stand selling cold drinks, and the island’s home grown delights—fresh young coconut to sip, durian fruit (creamy and tasty if you can get past the putrid smell) and jackfruit. Most people make the island a day trip, but there’s also a reasonably priced resort that offers a long list of recreational activities.

A bike for the day, or part of the day, costs between SG $2 (US $1.19) for a completely adequate vehicle (keep walking till you round the bend to find these) and SG $12 (US $7.18) for a brand new mountain bike, which is hardly necessary. There are also tandem bikes and bikes with training wheels for little people. The bumboat fare is just SG $2 each way and it leaves frequently, as soon as there are 12 passengers to ferry over. To get to Changi Point take the MRT to Tanah Merah then bus No. 2, about an hour from the city center.

Channel 8's fetish with incurable disease

I turned on channel 8 for my niece and almost got brain damage.

IT'S ANOTHER BLOODY SOMEONE IN THE SHOW GOT AN INCURABLE DISEASE AND EVERYONE WHO DIDN'T GET IT SOMEHOW GOT SUPER GOOD KNOWLEDGE ON THIS DISEASE!!!

Oh man. How much of this can a person take?

This really make me so freaking glad that I have SCV.

What is wrong with Channel 8???

You can't afford to do your own show that you need to get sponsers that's fine. But could you PLEASE get some organization that isn't preaching about health prevention???

Do you really need a 20 episodes to get the point across??? with lame storyline??? and RUI-EN??? and SPIDERMAN (Si Pai De Nan Ren???). Oh my god.. I'm lamed to death

More of this, I think I can't live to see tomorrow.

A Promise For Tomorrow
From Oct 10, every Mon-Fri @ 9pm

Rui En stars as a young lady who has to take care of the children borne by her Casanova father with different women, among them a child stricken with epilepsy and cancer.

Cast: Huang Wenyong, Rui En, Qi Yuwu, Chen Xiuhuan, Mark Lee, Ix Shen, Constance Song, Nick Shen, Guo Huiwen, Chen Tianwen, Lin Meijiao

Twenty-one-year-old Fang Fang (Rui En) has a heavy burden on her shoulders. Her youthful father Fang Zhen (Huang Wenyong) married her mother Huang Hui Yin (Chen Xiuhuan) at the young age of 18. But his luck with ladies did not end there and the family finally totaled up to three kids from three different mothers. Fang Fang’s mother thus left the family in despair.

Fang Zhen has a small stall selling a dual-use wet and dry floor cleaner, which he seldom opens for business. Thus the responsibility falls on Fang Fang to keep the stall running.

Initially, Fang Fang can still manage to get by with her income. However, the neighbouring stall owner, Spiderman (Qi Yuwu), sells everything under the sun and this greatly affects Fang Fang’s sales. The fact that Fang Fang has the misconstrued idea that he has underworld connections further confirms her negative opinion of Spiderman.

Fang Fang’s younger brother Fang Lin develops feelings for his female classmate, Lin Wei An, who is struck with a severe case of liver disease. He even considers marrying her so he can donate his liver to her. This is met with strong objections from Fang Fang and puts their strong sibling bond to test.

Fang Fang is already wrecked with fatigue, running around trying to provide for the family. Unexpectedly, a fourth daughter turns up at their doorstep to acknowledge Fang Lin. Fang Fang can no longer tolerate the situation and declares that she will not support the family. She tells her father off and demands that he bears his own responsibility towards caring for Fang Xiang. Unfortunately Fang Xiang is a child ravaged by illnesses. Not only is she an epileptic, she has also contracted cancer. This causes Fang Lin no end of troubles.

Fang Lin and Fang Hua try to care for Fang Xiang out of empathy but things also end up in a mess. Fang Fang finally agrees to look after Fang Xiang. However, both girls often clash with one another.

Through Fang Xiang’s illness, Fang Fang finds out that Spiderman is actually a volunteer with the NKF and has helped and counseled many sick children and worried parents. Spiderman is also a hare-lipped baby who had a sad past. The compassionate Spiderman works hard to save up for an overseas education to become a psychologist for sick and unfortunate children like himself.

Fang Fang takes the initiative to resolve their enmity. Spiderman also teaches her how to work at improving the bond between her and Fang Xiang. He further introduces her to apply for CMF so that she need not worry about Fang Xiang’s medical bills anymore.

Faced with a lack of suitable donors for a liver, Wei An’s condition deteriorates. As Fang Lin is about to go for a test for transplant suitability, he recalls the words his family said to him and hesitates. At this point, Wei An’s brother, Wei Kang, whom they have always thought to care little for his sister, suddenly turns up at the hospital to donate his liver to his sister despite their grandmother’s objections. Wei An is thus able to pull through the danger. Wei Kang advises Fang Lin that siblings should take care of each other.

Fang Zhen has a girlfriend who tests positive for AIDS, and thus he believes that he has been infected too. In his despair and fright, Hui Yin comes forward to care for him wholeheartedly and this touches Fang Zhen deeply, who once again feels the sparks lighting up between them. Unfortunately, Hui Yin is now dating Fang Zhen’s buddy, Wilson (Mark Lee).

Fang Fang begins to fall for Spiderman but Hui Yin vehemently objects to the relationship as she, like most people, judges others by their appearances. Spiderman is simply unable to ignore the jeers and sarcasms of Hui Yin and the others, who term the pair ‘Beauty and The Beast’, and tries to run from the relationship.

Just as Fang Fang is feeling very low because of her love life, a guilt-stricken Dai Dai (Constance Song) comes back for Fang Xiang, who is in fact not Fang Zhen’s true flesh and blood. However, everyone in the family has already accepted Fang Xiang as one of them and this strong family bond moves Dai Dai greatly. Nonetheless, all good things must come to an end and the family says their goodbyes to Fang Xiang.

As Hui Yin finds herself caught between Fang Zhen and Wilson, an undergrad Ah Hong (Nick Shen), who has been nursing a crush on her for a long time decide to declare his love for her by using violence. Wilson is seriously hurt in the process.

Spiderman tries to stop the mother of a retarded young girl from committing suicide and suffers a heavy blow to the head and slips into coma. . .

Yummy yummy

This will be one of my new year resolution. Sample all the dishes stated here.. Hahaha.

Oh yah, and to lose weight too.

Garden Street Kway Chap Stall 21, Serangoon Garden Market
Opens: 8am to 3pm, closed on Mondays

After arching over his chopping board for half a century, 67-year-old Koh
Ah Soon is now hunchbacked. He started selling kway chap with his father
when he was just 12, in the now non-existent Garden Street in the Beach
Road area. After he moved the stall to Blanco Court in 1980, it became
commonly, but erroneously, called 'Blanco Court kway chap'. It attracted
30-minute queues and spawned copycat stalls. Many have tried, but few have
achieved, his cleaning and stewing techniques. Pork innards are stripped of
their offensive odour and coaxed into a super smooth and tender
consistency. He took a short hiatus in 2002 and re-opened in Serangoon
Gardens food centre in 2003. His son, Jason, 32, helps out.

Nam Sing Hokkien Fried Mee
Block 51 Old Airport Road, #01-155J
Opens: 11.30am to 8pm daily

Ng Hock Wah learnt his skills from his father when he was 12 and set up his own stall in Hougang when he was 17. Now 58, he says the secret to his noodle dish is the attention he pays to the stock and his control over the fire. Ingredients like prawn shells, ikan bilis, clams and garlic are added one by one at accorded times. The result is a taste so rich that he does not need lard, the short cut used by lesser hawkers.

Ah Chuan Oyster Omelette
TWO IN ONE: Ah Chuan Oyster Omelette boasts both crispy and mushy textures
in one fabulous dish
Block 22 Toa Payoh 7 #01-25
Opens: 3 to 9pm, closed on Tuesdays

Tan Hun Chua, 59, is the hawker whom other oyster omelette sellers admit is the one to beat. Since learning the recipe from his brother more than 30 years ago, he has perfected a dish that boasts both crispy and mushy textures in one fabulous dish. He laces his sweet potato flour mixture with a secret ingredient. He also uses only fat, juicy Korean oysters, and makes his own chilli sauce.

Hai Sing Ah Balling
Block 335 Smith Street, #02-90
Opens: Noon to 6pm, closed on Sundays

Loh Yeow Seng, 59, started helping at his father's stall in the now-demo-lished Ellenborough market, near Clarke Quay, more than 30 years ago. The average waiting time was one hour because every glutinous rice ball was hand-made upon each order. Eschewing machine-made convenience, he still makes them by hand today, and the difference is clear. The texture of the rice ball is so smooth that your lips could clamp down on one and it wouldn't stick to you.

Ah Kow Mushroom Minced Pork Mee
Block 531A Upper Cross Street, #02-43
Opens: 9am to 7pm daily

Cher Hang Peng, 59, has helped his father dish out this Teochew recipe
since he was 10. His expertise in noodle-blanching is awe- inspiring. It's
so perfectly cooked that even if you let the bowl sit for a few minutes,
the noodles would not clump up. Dig them up with your chopsticks and they
will unravel beautifully. Unlike other stalls that go heavy with the
vinegar, he dashes just enough - he uses the same brand from China's
Tianjin which his father used - for a balanced taste of savoury, spicy and
sour.

Haji Kadir & M Baharudeen Sup Tulang
#B1-13/15 Golden Mile Food Centre
Opens: 12.30pm to 1.30am, closed on alternate Wednesdays

The father of 44-year-old Mohd Iqbal is said to have invented sup tulang - mutton bone with marrow stewed in an explosive sauce of chillies, tomatoes and mutton stock - in the early 1950s. In those days, his father threw in a free mutton bone with every order of mee kuah (spicy noodles). Slowly, customers started asking for only the mutton bone - and the dish was born. This Indian-Muslim stall stands out from other tulang vendors for serving big bones packed with marrow and meat.

Hill Street Fried Kway Teow
Block 16 Bedok South Road, #01-187
Opens: 10.30am to 7.30pm, closed on Mondays

Along with his sister, Ng Chang Siang, 60, helped his father run the stall
when he was 16. After moving from Hill Street hawker centre to Bedok South
a few years ago, he still draws huge crowds every day with delicious
noodles that boast an impeccable consistency that is neither too moist nor
too dry. It is achieved through his mastery over the flame. Using a
custom-made flat wok which distributes heat evenly to the noodles, he is
able to inject all the flavours of Chinese sausages, lard and chives into
the noodles.

Leng Heng BBQ Seafood & Claypot Deluxe
Stall 6, East Coast Food Village
Opens: 2pm to 1am, closed on alternate Thursdays

Started in 1979, this stall has done what many consider impossible - offer over 100 items of restaurant-quality dishes from a tiny hawker unit. Lee Jim Kim, 55, counts among his signature dishes the duck and salted vegetable soup ($8 or $16). Stewed for at least 45 minutes, the duck meat practically falls off the bone.



Mattar Road Seafood Barbecue
Block 51 Old Airport Road, #01-131G
Opens: 3 to 11pm, closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Ng Hung Leng, 58, started out 14 years ago in Mattar Road, the location
that spawned another famous chilli crab name - No Signboard Seafood. But
while the latter had gone on to open swanky restaurants in the city, he has
stayed put in a hawker centre, selling his deliciously robust chilli crabs
at $28 per kg. He takes two days off - Tuesdays and Wednesdays - just to
make his own chilli paste, a fiery concoction of chillies, dried shrimps,
garlic and shallots.

Meng Kee Satay Bee Hoon
KEE SECRET: Meng Kee's satay bee hoon boasts more than 30 herbs and spices.
Stall 17 East Coast Food Village
Opens: 6 to 11.30pm, closed on Tuesdays

Ng Siaw Meng, 57, and his brother took over a business which their father founded in 1961. No other stall comes close to offering a satay gravy that
is as smooth or tasty - it boasts more than 30 herbs and spices and takes three hours to cook. Accompanying ingredients like pork, prawns,
cuttlefish, kangkong and beansprouts are also perfectly prepared and presented. To locate this stall in East Coast Food Village, just look out for the perpetually long queue.

Lau Hong Ser Rojak
#02-14 Dunman Food Centre
Opens: 4.30pm to 1.30am, closed on Sundays

Expect to wait for at least 30 minutes for your dish to be ready. Lim Khai Ngee, 45, who started learning his craft from his father 32 years ago, painstakingly prepares every ingredient upon each order. This includes cutting vegetables, grilling taupok and cuttlefish and mixing the gravy with top-grade shrimp paste from Penang. Nothing is prepared beforehand.


Shukor Stall
Stall 30, Serangoon Garden Market
Opens: 9.30am to 9.30pm, closed once a month on Thursday

Norhayati Shukor's father invented roti john in 1975 when the stall was
located in Taman Serasi hawker centre, opposite the Botanic Gardens. The
idea was to attract expatriates who lived in the nearby Cluny Road area, by
pan-frying slices of French loaf with eggs and onions. But locals grew to
love it instead. Since then, Norhayati, 37, and her brother have introduced
chicken, beef and cheese to the dish to make it a more satisfying bite.

Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice
Stall 10, Maxwell Food Centre
Opens: 11am to 8pm, closed on Mondays

This is the stall that had American TV chef Anthony Bourdain and Australian celebrity chef Tetsuya Wakuda raving. Madam Foo Kui Lian, 56, learnt to cook from her late brother, a hawker who had perfected the recipe over many years. She is fussy about the type of grain she uses, insisting on the same grade and batch of Thai fragrant rice every time. As a result, her rice is plump, velvety and not too oily. She only uses chickens heavier than 2kg, to ensure the texture is smooth and tender.

Inspirasi Stall
Block 207 New Upper Changi Road, #01-11 Opens: 12.30 to 9pm daily

Sermi Karjiwalawi, 75, has been selling soto ayam for several decades, using her late husband's Indonesian-style recipe. There is no stinting of ingredients. The deliciously rich soup is made with bones, coconut milk and secret spices. The chicken pieces are hand-shredded - not cut - to retain their juicy texture. And the sambal chilli is made fresh at the stall.
Every day, a queue forms at her stall even before she raises the shutters at 12.30pm.

Warong Sudir Mampir
Block 14 Haig Road, #01-19
Opens: 10am to 7pm (weekdays), 10am to 5pm (weekends); closed on Wednesdays
and Thursdays

Gunawan Baajoan, 49, and his four siblings uphold a family recipe that has been passed down from their grandfather, a street hawker in the 1940s. Their satay follows the Indonesian style, which has bigger chunks of meat than the average variety. The meats are carefully chosen, which contributes to their juicy texture. They are grilled over charcoal to a perfect charred-ness. Their peanut gravy is robust, nutty and wonderfully thick. When you dig a stick in, the sauce stays on top of the meat and doesn't drip.

Article and pics by Makansutra

Btw, I had the chicken rice almost every other week as my office is nearby. Seriously nothing to shout about. There was once the meat I ordered was actually cold.

My virgin trip to the birdpark

DSCF0020
Originally uploaded by @drian.

And that is how I spent my saturday. I should have been here when I was much younger. Would have much more fun then. My niece was having plenty of it.

The wedding was pretty cool. During the solemnization, a parrot actually flew and pass the ring to the couple.

Check out the pics here.

Ka-boom in Singapore?

So sometime next month and most likely when you just wake up & steam steam sleep-walk to take the MRT to work, the "bombing" will take place.

Can don't involve Tampines please. My acting juice at the lowest during the morning.

But if it does, which part should I play? A terrorist, victim or should I bring a SCDF uniform with me to work?

Without warning, next month, there will be explosions

Weekend • October 1, 2005

SOME time in November or December, bomb blasts will be heard in as many as four MRT stations here. The Ministry of Home Affairs wants to know how well- prepared Singaporeans are if terrorists strike and, unlike other SCDF exercises, Singaporeans won't have a choice as to whether or not they want to take part.

There will be no warning, no schedule. If you happen to be a commuter at the selected stations — and the exercise is likely to take place during peak hours — Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng is waiting to see how ready you are.

"Please cooperate with us, please carry on as normal, but at the same time please play a part. But as to when it will happen, we will not say — there is no warning by terrorists before they bomb a station," said Mr Wong in an exclusive interview with Today.

In fact, when he heard about the July 7 terror attacks on London's subway trains, his thoughts turned naturally to Singapore.

"I thought, despite all the preparations they've made, it has happened to them. Which means, despite all the preparations that we're making, or have made, it can happen to us," said Mr Wong, who is also the Home Affairs Minister.

He commended the London authorities and Londoners for the way in which they dealt with the attacks. Would Singaporeans be as brave? "I hope they would respond the same way," said Mr Wong.

The exercise in November may offer some clues, though officials here started taking notes much earlier.

Soon after the London blasts, a team of police officers from Singapore visited London to see what lessons could be drawn from the tragedy.

Mr Wong was coy about sharing details. "The last thing you want to do is to let the enemy know what you're doing."

But he added: "We've learned a lot. And in time, we'll share that with others … But looking at how Londoners reacted to the bombing, and how they went about their normal lives, I think that is something Singaporeans should learn."

His greatest fear is that if, or when, terrorists succeed in hitting Singapore, its citizens will flee. "We have to make sure that we can't be defeated by this," he said. "If a bomb explodes and (people) run away, I think the terrorists will have won. We cannot let ourselves be defeated by our own doing; we have to stand up and say: 'No, we must persist and we must carry on.'" — Teo Hwee Nak

My 2005 to date

I’m trying to do a pre-review of how I spent my 2005. It’s already Oct and in no time, it’s gonna be 2006.

I didn’t make any New Year resolution for this year as I’ll only end up breaking it. Flipping through my table calendar, these seem to be the only events of my life that I can recall:

January – RT
February - Nil
March – Got married / Honeymoon
April – Reservist
May – Nil
June – Nil
July – Bangkok holiday
August – Nil
September – Nil
October – wedding/birthday dinner consider???

So basically I led quite a mundane life for the past 10 months, which is maybe why I don’t have much interesting postings to speak of. If I didn’t have NS, it would be more kosong. So far no notice for any NS programs next year.

Marriage also only once so I will have a blank March.

It’s time like this that I look forward to the new year as I tell myself it’s gonna be different. I’m already drawing up plans in my mind on what to do but still lack some inspirations.

Any suggestions?

My Ah Gongz hairdo

This cannot be lah. How come people take pics always look so nice. But When I take pics sure to something go wrong? Pimples get magnified, one eye big one eye small, crooked smile and in this one I look like I'm wearing my grand farder hairstyle.


I must start banning cameras around me. Starting to develope saycheesiphobic.

Birdy wedding

Was invited by my cousin to Jurong Birdpark this saturday. She is holding her solemnization there.

So interesting. And this happens to be my FIRST time going there.

Yah, I never join any school excursion to Jurong Bird Park before. The closest I've been to that place was when I visited the Jurong Reptile farm during Pri 6. That place happens to be next door.

The solemnization's outdoor so I was thinking if all their birds there are toilet trained. A major turnoff if you get additional seasoning
from the sky.

I think their behinds are wet

40 year old virgin

I went to catch this show yesterday, thinking it would be another american pie. It wasn't. It was more like a mushy love story so I was left pretty disappointed in the cinema.

But there are hints of gags peppered throughout the show but surely ain't worth the price of 2 movie tixs.

Go get the disc instead.

I did however break a record in smuggling record amount of "illegal" food into the cinema! We got in a can of barley, a MOS cheeseburger and half a dozens of sushi.

Yeah not a lot but my wife's handbag got limited space. Next time I'll try to squeeze a kfc family feast in.

Immune to coffee

It started with one cuppa in the morning, then one more after lunch and one more during teabreaks.

And suddenly there are a lot of teabreaks.

I still need to drink coffee but finds it to be more of a formality or a standard procedures because it can't seemed to keep me awake at the right time anymore.

I'm having my 3rd cup today anddddd.........Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz......

Frustration!

Is it so hard to find a pragmatic and nice skin for blogger? So many skins are made with attempts to squeeze everything into a small window and has no indications of where to click.

Come on people. Be practical. Your 17 inches monitor is already so limited, you still want to make it into a 7 inches view?

And the buttons that nobody will ever know. Geez... It's not a mobile phone you know. People won't be bothered to explore to find out.

Words more powerful than writing?

I find it very interesting that while the people from JTC, Hyflux and UTAC were unanimously verbally condemning Andrew Kuan's credential, Andrew seems to have all the written evidence to prove them otherwise. Written evidence that doesn't get much press space in newspapers.

MP defends what he said about Kuan

In court papers, he says views about ex-presidential hopeful were true

By Aaron Low
Oct 15, 2005
The Straits Times

BUSINESSMAN and MP Inderjit Singh says statements he made about former presidential hopeful Andrew Kuan's employment record and work performance were both true and amounted to fair comment.

Mr Singh made this point in his response to a defamation suit launched by Mr Kuan against him.

In his documents filed at the High Court last Friday, the People's Action Party MP also said that he had made his views about Mr Kuan known as there was public interest in the matter.

Mr Kuan, who is not represented by a lawyer, filed his defamation lawsuit on Sept 13, alleging Mr Singh defamed him in a statement to the press on his employment record and work performance when he worked at United Test & Assembly Centre. The company, founded by Mr Singh, hired Mr Kuan as a consultant for several months in 1998. Mr Singh was then its president.

Mr Kuan claimed Mr Singh's comments, which were published in newspapers on Aug 13 and 14, were meant to be understood that he was not competent and therefore fired from his position.

He also alleged that the remarks by the MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC implied that he was not reliable. Mr Singh responded to the suit and his lawyers filed his defence at the High Court last Friday.

The Straits Times applied to the High Court legal registry to view the document. In it, Mr Singh said his remarks provided a 'balanced account' of his experience with Mr Kuan.

Mr Singh, who is represented by Senior Counsel Davinder Singh and Mr Adrian Tan of Drew & Napier, added that he made his views known because they were a matter of public interest at the time.

Mr Kuan was applying for an eligibility certificate to contest the presidential election.

The remarks were meant to mean that Mr Kuan did not have the requisite qualities to become the president of Singapore, stated Mr Singh.

He added that he had a 'moral and social duty to publish the statement' to the public and that Singaporeans 'had a corresponding interest in receiving the information'.

On Aug 11, JTC Corporation commented on Mr Kuan's employment record. The statutory board said he was asked to leave as it was not satisfied with his performance. His application for a certificate of eligibility was eventually rejected by the Presidential Elections Committee on the grounds that he 'could not have the experience and ability in administering and managing financial affairs as to effectively discharge' the duties of president.

Mr Kuan is seeking damages and legal costs from Mr Singh.

But Mr Kuan is also facing a defamation suit himself. Lawyer Chia Boon Teck, a former management council member of the condominium where they both live, is suing him for remarks he made to newspapers soon after he announced his presidential bid.

When contacted yesterday, Mr Kuan said he did not wish to comment, as the case was already before the courts. Mr Singh and his lawyers likewise also declined comment.

Why would they want to extend him for another 2 months if he's really that bad? So that they fire him then and not earlier???:

RESPONSE TO UTAC (MR INDERJIT SINGH’S) PRESS STATEMENT IN ST 13 AUGUST 2005 (By Andrew Kuan Yoke Loon on 13 August 2005)

The details of my contributions are set out in my 5-page Employment Highlights already released to the press previously. A copy of the Employment Highlights are available on my personal website www.andrewkuan.com. I was invited by Mr Inderjit Singh, President of United Test Center Singapore Pte Ltd (UTAC) to join as Consultant in July 1998. I never intended or sought to be a CFO in his organization. I was merely a Consultant through my company Blue Arrow International Pte Ltd, to set up his finance department and to advise on financial management matters. My letter of appointment dated 6 Augus t 1998, issued by Mr Inderjit Singh makes this clear: “We are pleased to appoint you as consultant with effect from 1st July 1998. This appointment is for a period of six months from the effective date. Both parties may terminate this appointment with a one month notice in writing.” “Your appointment is on a part time basis and you are expected to work on United Test Center Singapore Pte Ltd (“the Company”) business for a period of 2.5 days a week. You will report directly to the President and be responsible for the task assigned by the Company.” I was never terminated by Mr Inderjit Singh “after some five months”. On the contrary, after I completed my initial six months, Mr Inderjit Singh extended my appointment as Consultant for another two months. By a letter dated 28 December 1998, Mr Inderjit wrote: “We are pleased to ext end your appointment as consultant for another two months from 1 January 1999 to 28 February 1999.” My working style at UTAC had been open and inclusive, even though I reported directly to the President, Mr Inderjit Singh. Typically, I would conduct an open briefing at management meetings. Copies of agenda, including attachments for discussion are given to the President, Mr Inderjit Singh, and all senior management as well as the two financial managers. One example would be the Financial Meeting on 1 September 1998. I hope the above clarifies and corrects the factual errors in Mr Inderjit Singh’s press statement. I ask the members of the press to please publicize this response in full for the benefit of transparency and complete information to all Singaporeans for their informed choice. Thank you.

My answer

I chanced upon this interesting blog today called "orgasmic hansters" and this particular posting caught my attention:-

=======================================================
A question to all boyfriends/husbands out there...

Would you mind if you other half sneezes really loudly at home?

I've suppressed my sneeze from such a young age that it sounds like a squeak now but i like it when i'm alone at home and i would force myself to roar with such vigor when i sneeze that it resonates throughout the house.

It sorta de-stresses i guess.

Therapeutic for stressed students like me :D

So.. What say you ? No politically correct answers like "I sneeze loudly too so i don't mind her sneezing as loudly as me" because thats complete bollocks as we know guys tend to sneeze in a more hearty manner anyway."
=======================================================

Let me try to address that.

Why men like women? I read somewhere about this boy who thinks that girls don't fart. Naive but it very much form the basis of why men like women.

Women are supposed to be feminine. That is why we like them. Definition: Fine, intricate and delicate. Or you can take Xiaxue's definition: Shu Nu

Sneezing loudly is one of the many biological actions that does not belong to the feminine category. The same goes for farting loudly, snorting loudly(due to running nose), talking loudly, yawning loudly.

See the similiarities? High decibel.

Maybe that is why I don't find women who smoke a turn-off. How loud can one smoke? A smoker myself, smoking is a good time to take a break and think about stuff. Maybe that's why smokers at smoking point always click. They all bear the same characteristics. They are either thinkers or addicts or both.

But I'd digressed. Why high decibel? Because those are things associated with men's behaviours.

Unfair as it is but that is men's expectations of women. Vice versa, who would want a sissy or super hiao boyfriend/husband? Who can tahan their man to visit spas and salons more times in a month than women does in a year? Who can tahan their man to have better skin than them, have better figure than them?

So there, that's my answer.

So chweet..!!!

Anniversary 14th Feb, Valentine 14th Feb, Wedding 14th Feb...

Women : Sooooooo chweeeeeEEtt!!!

Men: 1 stone kills 3 birds present!

Yes chweet chweet ladies, that is why it all happen on the same day.

US envoy comments about the Singapore system

Look at the contrasting headers between local and foreign reports. News sensationalizing or the brutal truth? I could only say different phrasing = different impacts.

US envoy slaps Singapore over freedom of speech
MSNBC - 22 hours ago
By John Burton in Singapore. The outgoing US ambassador to Singapore has criticised the city-state's restrictions on free speech ...

US envoy slams Singapore's political curbs Reuters.uk, UK - Oct 11, 2005 SINGAPORE (Reuters) - The outgoing US envoy to Singapore criticised the city-state's limits on political expression, saying governments will pay an increasing ...

More can be done to boost Singapore-US ties: Outgoing Ambassador ... Channel News Asia, Singapore - Oct 11, 2005 By Farah Abdul Rahim, Channel NewsAsia. SINGAPORE : Singapore and the United States are the "good guys" - like-minded countries with ...

20th century political model won't do for S'pore: Lavin TODAYonline, Singapore - Oct 11, 2005 DESPITE its economic success, Singapore's political system faces a tough transition as its citizens demand greater participation, outgoing United States ...

US envoy in rare criticism of Singapore
MSN Money - 21 hours ago
The outgoing US ambassador to Singapore has criticised the city-state's restrictions on free speech in a rare public rebuke by a US official of one of ...

RELAX !!!

He looked like he just attained orgasm.

Honesty isn't the best policy. Silent is.

I just realized that a 4th blogger may be charged under the Sedition Act.

As much as I believe in freedom of speech, there are certain things that is better kept inside your head. Yes, I thought I could also be honest annoynomously on the Internet. You are behind a veil afterall.

But that's life. There will always be certain things you won't voice out due to possible dire consequences. I found out the hard way when I was much younger.

Being curt and straightforward was what I deemed to be my characteristics. I would just say things based on how I feel and how I see it. Hurt your feelings? That's your own problem.

Just like all causes, there is an effect. People started to ostracize me and in turn, I started to keep things to myself.

But it was good training though as I went into NS as a super low profile person coz I seldom talk. Of course, the low morale of being in-camp helps too.

Joining to become a Customer Service Officer after army forced me to talk, a job that I'm grateful for as otherwise, I would continue to be that muted boy.

One thing lead to another and soon I seemed to be ostracized again. For my actions and my big mouth, which also earned me a nickname that is the same as my real initial T.C.K (Tua Chwee Keong)

People who knew me from then til now would probably realise I had mellowed down, talked much less. It a precaution. Don't talk, most likely I can't possibly offend anyone.

Good or bad? I don't know.

What I know is telling the truth requires the listener to possess an uncanny ability to accept the truth. Of course phrasing can also have differing effects. But that's so much work. It's like writing a report for submission. You write the draft, you proofread, you re-do it, you show others for comments, then you come out with the final drafts and then make minor adjustments. By then the topic would already be stale and rotten

If these bloggers had kept to themselves, they wouldn't be in the spotlight now. Freedom of speech or a bad consequence? The choice is quite simple.

Everything also must Zhng!!

Wahaha. I can foresee this is goin to be the new buzzword in the blogging scene, ZHNG.

mb's podcast on this about car zhnging is simply hilarious. Reminds me of the Jack Neo's cassettes I used to buy and listen to.

But let me choose I think zhng face more impt. zhng car nice nice come out the driver face like kanna lorry drive over before also pointless right. haha

Interactive Car Wash??

I am trying SssooooooOO hard not to imagine what that means. The background of the flyer sure doesn't help.

Honey, I be going out this Friday. Er... to watch Arm Wrestling.

LTA's sincerity and foresight

I actually thought this was authentic the very first time I got it. I was hoping it is because it would really be interesting.

Anyway it turn out to be a hoax. Not an intended one. Just happen that there was this Sec school kid who is very into this kind of stuff. Using his creativity, he extended our current MRT tracks layout. Very neat if you were to ask me.


LTA is also very sincere in their view about this. They are pleased to know about his keen interest in an interesting area such as land transport. Should he want to pursue a career, go and take a look at their job ad.

Riiiigght. Remember people. You could impress many people but you still gotta take a queue number. You can't expect to jump queue with just your interest and talent?!?!

Also highly educated Singaporeans can be easily misled. You almost made me consider an immediate house moving to somewhere near the future Temasek MRT Station. Now imagine realizing only long after that is just a hoax. People are going to get pissed and start rioting. Unrest everywhere. The horrors!!

And when you do need to use material as a basis for your creativity or school work, remember citations are not enough. Permission is also required. Don't worry, our gahmen agency very efficient one. You can expect overnight responses from them.

Excerpts:

"Said an LTA spokesman: 'We are pleased to hear that the school student has strong interests in the land transport system in Singapore.'

And the spokesman added: 'Should this student wish to pursue a career in land transport, he can apply to LTA when we put out our job advertisements.'

However, LTA does not approve of his work because the circulation of such unauthorised maps may be misleading. Also, its official map cannot be reproduced without permission because it is protected by copyright laws."

My hobby is to play mah-jong

I met my ex classmates a week ago for a reunion dinner. We were talking about how we kinda missed school. Missed it in a sense that it occupied our non working hours meaningfully.

And because you paid for it very expensively, you will force yourself to participate in all scheduled lessons, tutorials, projects meet-ups, etc.

We graduated last Dec after two years of part-time studies. Most of us yearn for a break, to take a short breather before planning the next step. It is now Oct and we are still planning. Or rather, we are trying to start planning.

Also it's rather hard to get a buddy to participate in the recreation that you want to embark on.

I wanted to try diving but find it expensive and keep procrastinating.

Ideas were tossed across on what could we may do and enjoy together.

It seems mahjong is one thing.

This is something that had kept me occupied for quite a number of weeks for the past few months. Not a cheap time-burner if you suck at it and I do suck at it.

Is life in Singapore really so limited???

Ti-Ki(stubborn) women

It came to my attention quite some time ago that there is a segment of Singaporean women who are very obnoxious. I call them ti-ki women, some of them even attain the Super ti-ki women status.

How do I tell if they are? Oh, it's vveeerry obvious. They are the kind of people who must do things THEIR way but the kind of things are really so mundane and minute that typical human beings will not even be bothered by.

They are the kind of people who frequently wrote to ST Forum complaining about every single show that Mediacorp is busting their butt to come up with. They are the ones who would complain about the sexual theme, the single mother theme, the children play game don't want to go to sleep theme. Basically they are the ones who feel that TV(esp Channel 8 shows) can seriously brainwash a lot of people.

They are also the ones who would sign off with not only their name, but also the fact that they are (Ms) or (Mdm).

They are also the ones that complain about WWE being shown on TV on late nights and bearing a negative influence on their children when these group of children should have been made to go to bed.

They are the group of people who over react over the slightest possible issues. They would use words like outrageous, ridicule their intelligence, shocked, disgusted. These are also normally the same group of people who would earn a spinster title in their later life.

Personally I am also disgusted(hey, I'm using their lingo) by these kind of people. But as with all things, if you don't irrirate me, I won't reciprocate.

But today, one of their kind step on my toe. The fact that I wasn't in a pleasant mood at that point in time didn't help. Basically I had over-calculated her salary and over paid her. It came to my attention only today. Thus I told her we will do the appropriate deduction in her next pay.

Not a big deal to me. I didn't underpay her or delay her pay.

She retorted that she is shocked to know about it and feel that it is outrageous(???). She quoted e.g about her ex comp whose payroll made such mistake today and over paid someone's claim. Ooookaaay.

I don't know. Maybe throughout her life, she never made a mistake before. I made one, apologize and told her what could be done at her least inconvenience. I could have asked her to draw out the amount and return it to us but that would be so stupid and troublesome.

Thus I was appalled to witness her reaction. Seriously, what is the deal here? If you look at it from another angle, I am basically paying her a portion of her NEXT salary earlier.

I am not indemnifying myself from the mistake but to react in such manner is a bit too over for me.

Coming back, such people are also mostly well-educated, sufficient enough to know their rights and probably won't have a huge network of friends. They would also be the same kind of people who would scrutinize every single word of a terms and conditions, super paranoid about every policy and services did not address their exact demands.

These kind of people, please stay away from me.

A Meaningless Life

What is this life I live? Everything seems like an illusion.
Every day passes like a haze in utter confusion
I crave to discover the mysteries that lie beyond
The comprehension of an ordinary human mind
Like the stretch of shimmering sand on a lonely beach,
My mind wanders aimlessly to the places where my body can't reach.
My desperate dreams lie suppressed,
Within the cavity of my heart waiting to be fulfilled
This is endless wait I know deep in my heart
But still this restlessness tears me apart.
From this excruciating mental pain I want to be free.
Why the mystery still continues to elude me?
Hopeless I longingly wait for that day,
As of now, it seems so very far, far away.

Author: Kavitha
Kavitha, 18, lives in Calcutta, India and likes bird-watching and playing her guitar.

A new phone, a new option, a new dilemma

Just as I thought I would settle and get the Sony Ericsson K750i, this came along. At this rate, I think I be sticking with my O2 XDA II for some time to come.

Retail therapy

O....Mi....God... This is considered my lifetime budget for expensive apparals. The feeling was good, it was reeeeaaal good. I haven't had so much fun buying stuff since I can't even remember!

No I didn't strike 4D or win soccer(Fuck U CHELSEA!!). I just happen to go out shopping when my salary is still sitting in my bank.

Of course I need to thank my wife for paying for half of it (my face was white during the whole shopping trip).

I used to think G2000 shirts were good, at least enough for someone like me you know. Just wear it for work. Yah, 7 out of 10 working men wears them but who really gives a shit. Men's shirt are the same. Color change a bit, stiching change a bit and you have a new design.

As if most people can noticed. Thus, I live by those rules and stayed faithful to G2000.

But think about it. You spend almost 10 hours a day at work(I'm counting in transit timing) and you do it 5 days a week, some even 5.5 or 6. That is enough to really suck and you could sulk in your everyone also have G2000.....

Or you could bask in your NEW RAOUL shirt! Woo Wee...

Yup ladies and gentlemen, the one on the left is a Raoul (how to pronouce anyway?) shirt. It cost a bloody, heart-aching $119!!! But damn, it feels so good. It just seemed to give me that extra bit of confidence. I feel that I just look so... different.

The one on the right is from Crocodile. Not cheap too, it cost $79(Argh, my heart!) before discount. Lucky I got SAFRA card and gained a 10% off.

Guys, trust me on this one. Shirts with cuff links really make a world of difference. Don't ask me why but give it a try. Drop by Raoul boutique and just try it on. No obligations(Beginning to sound like their sales person)

Not just cuff but also shirts that are not plain. I'm not referring to those checkered, heavy material, some even woolly shirts that those from your IT dept people would normally wear(add in a haversack that you would carry to school, perfect!). I'm talking about shirt with 2-ply, fine-woven cotten, with collars to match the shape of your face and with vertical or horizontal strips design to match.

So much to write about the shirts that I have not even touch on the shoes yet!

Ok, that's it. I'm going to put it on again.

*things that can trigger a men's heart attack*

My new perfume!

Yeah!!! I came back home from soccer session and realised I got a present.

A CK perfume. My ex-colls in Starhub had given it to me before as parting gift. Many commented it is very nice. I think it complemented the smell of my clothes softener.

I only told my wife once about it and she remembers. So good memory leh. Thanks ah but I can't really remember that you want a Gucci bag in return. haha.