Twas a fine evening...

Had Sushi King (my 1st since it opened in GP new wing) for dinner and only had to pay 3.65 for a 70bucks meal, thanx to HSBC vouchers :P

Managed to snap these two pix before my hp went flat...

Look closely (click to enlarge the pic) and you can actually see a fainter rainbow on the right making this my first time seeing a double rainbow..cool :D

Further along and I realized wow the rainbow was in its full glory! Hmm..would there have been gold pots at each end? lol.

-View from Gurney Plaza & Cantonment Rd @ 090314 ~1929

It was a fine evening indeed...

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until MU lost 1-4 to Liv! grrrrr...

oh well, creates more excitement blasting the title race wide open I guess. Fingers cross, the dream for five is still alive :)

Change @ Work

Change at work begins tomorrow.
How ironic that the rubber heel of my sandal came off and one of the straps broke today.
Guess change wants new shoes to go in with tomorrow as well.

Anyhows, Wish me luck.. :)

How it all happened

Saw this on Mindy's blog. Very interesting and well explained so thought I should post it up as well :)

Here's how the whole economic crisis thingy started in the US:

http://vimeo.com/3261363

Slumdog Millionaire

Just finished watching Slumdog Millionaire and I now know why this movie is getting so much hype, even getting 10 Oscars nominations. It is really as good as it gets!

The protagonist of the story, 18-year old Jamal Malik, comes from the slums of Mumbai and is just 1 question away from winning 20million rupees on India's version of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" Times up, the show breaks for the night and on his way out, Jamal is arrested (and tortured) on suspicion of cheating. Why so? Because no one believes that a kid from the slums with no education and who is working as a tea server in a call center can know so much!

To prove his innoncence, Jamal tells the story of his life; as a kid living in the slums with his brother Salim, of their adventures and encounters on the road, their brush with local gangsters using orphanage as a means of getting abandoned children to beg, and of the girl Latika whom he loved. She is the main reason he came on the show in the first place; it was never about the money. And interestingly, each chapter of his life justifies each correct answer.

The storyline is not just good, it also touched me. It really serves as a good reminder to all of us why we need to be thankful of how good our lives are. Imagine yourself living in a run-down, garbage strewn and densely populated slums where your (and everyone else's) big/small businesses just drop into the river knowing that that same river is also the source for your water and washing needs. Not to mention how Jamal had to jump into a pool of that same crap just so he could get Amitabh Bachan's autograph!

Also how lucky for us with parents to provide us with lots of TLC. There's no way I can forgive those ppl who make use of little kids to go begging and live on those free money. Not just that, they know very well how to pull the strings in good people's hearts. Little kids that can sing earns, BLIND kids that can sing earns double! And mind you, not necessarily from birth...

As the saying goes "Learning is a lifelong experience". Every success and failures, every sweet and bitter moments, every twists and turns in life are lessons waiting to be taught. And we can only come out stronger and wiser :)

So what else did I learn?

Don't drink mineral waters even from seemingly high-end restaurants! And always have a pair of the oldest, most worn-off shoes with you just in case you ever need to go to places of interest where you need to take off your shoes :P

My Rating:

P/S: On another note, being a film set in India, Slumdog Millionaire also ended with a scene typical in Indian movies - big group of crowds coming together to dance ala bollywood style lol.

Change

Change is coming - big time.

ReC!Pe: Omelettes

Omelettes

Omelettes are tasty and super easy to make, be it a simple omelette or combined with other ingredients. Also they can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even supper; whenever you just want to whip up something quick yet yummy.

I usually have them for brunch with grilled pineapples, capsicums and toasted bread to go with :)

What You Need:

1-2 eggs per omelette

Salt and pepper

A knob of butter or a tablespoon of olive oil

Grated cheddar cheese (optional)

Suggested ingredients that can be added to your omelette:

Smoked salmon

Bacon crisps

Mushrooms

Or for the cny mood, bak kua can be used as well ;)

What To Do:

1. Crack the eggs into a mixing bowl and add a pinch of salt and pepper. Beat well with a fork.


2. Depending on the ingredient used, fry them in a hot non-stick frying pan with a tiny drizzle of olive oil/butter for a few minutes. Skip this step if just making simple omelette.


3. Turn the heat down, add you eggs and move the pan around to spread them out evenly.


4. When the omelette begins to cook and firm up, sprinkle over the cheese.


5. Using a spatula, ease around the edges of the omelette and fold it in half.


6. When it starst to turn golden brown, remove from heat and slide omelette onto a plate.

Time to dig in! ^_^

Pai Ti Kong

The corner lot neighbour one floor below just set off a long string of firecrackers. The temple nearby has at least a dozen strings of firecrackers going off almost at once. All around fireworks light up the dark skies. Cracklings, boomings and hissings are the music of the night.

- View from home @ 090203 ~0000

(Ok, time to go to bed..ciao)

Fortune

This year's fortune cookies taste good. Crispy with an orangey flavor. And the fortune reading looks good too :P

Happy Chinese New Year, everyone!

GONG XI FA CAI

Gotta Be Somebody with Patience

Two catchy songs in my playlist.

P/S: By the way, this is my 100th post..wow, I din know I had written so much in a year+ until I saw the number of posts in my dashboard. So just wanna thank all of u out there who had been patiently following this blog. Thank you. ;)

This time,
I wonder what it feels like
To find the one in this life,
The one we all dream of
But dreams just aren't enough

So I'll be waiting for the real thing,
I'll know it by the feeling
The moment when we're meeting,
Will play out like a scene straight off the silver screen

So I'll be holding my own breath,
Right up 'til the end
Until that moment when,
I find the one that I'll spend forever with

Cause nobody wants to be the last one there
Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares
Someone to love with my life in their hands
There's gotta be somebody for me like that

Cause nobody wants to do it on their own
And everyone wants to know they're not alone
There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere
There's gotta be somebody for me out there

Tonight,
Out on the street, out in the moonlight
And dammit this feels too right,
It's just like deja vu
Me standing here with you

So I'll be holding my own breath,
Could this be the end?
Is it that moment when,
I find the one that I'll spend forever with?

Cause nobody wants to be the last one there
Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares
Someone to love with my life in their hands
There's gotta be somebody for me like that

Cause nobody wants to do it on their own
And everyone wants to know they're not alone
There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere
There's gotta be somebody for me out there

Ooh, You can't give up,
When you're lookin' for a diamond in the rough
Because you'll never know when it shows up,
Make sure you're holding on
Cause it could be the one, the one you're waiting on

Cause nobody wants to be the last one there
And everyone wants to feel like someone cares
Someone to love with my life in their hands
There's gotta be somebody for me, ohhh

Nobody wants to do it on their own
And everyone wants to know their not alone
There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere
There's gotta be somebody for me out there

Nobody wants to be the last one there
Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares
There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere
There's gotta be somebody for me out there

Just have a little patience
I'm still hurting from a love I lost
I'm feeling your frustration
Any minute all the pain will stop.

Just hold me close
inside your arms tonight
Don't be too hard on my emotions.

'Cause I need time
My heart is numb, has no feeling
So while I'm still healing
Just try and have a little patience.

I really wanna start over again
I know you wanna be my salvation
The one that I can always depend.

I'll try to be strong
Believe me I'm trying to move on
It's complicated but understand me.

'Cause I need time
My heart is numb, has no feeling
So while I'm still healing
Just try and have a little patience yeah
Have a little patience yeah

'Cause the scars run so deep
It's been hard but I have to believe
Have a little patience [x2]

'Cause I, I just need time
My heart is numb, has no feeling
So while I'm still healing
Just try and have a little patience
Have a little patience

My heart is numb, has no feeling
So while I’m still healing
Just try and have a little patience
Have a little patience

Ip Man

I don't always go to cinemas for Chinese movies coz to me, they're not really worth it; lower budget, shorter duration, etc. It may not be so though jst kinda stereotyped by me d. However there is one type of chinese movie that I will definitely watch in cinemas - anything with Takeshi Kaneshiro in it :P

That aside, I do watch selected historical-kungfu-action-war-epic chinese movies the likes of Red Cliff, Warlords - both coincidentally had Takeshi in it which was like an extra bonus - Fok Yun Kap, etc. The most recent that I watched was Ip Man. Pronounced as Ip Mon with similar sound as 'Y-ip' and 'Mon-day', NOT I-P MAN lol (one fren was wondering how come so many "man-man-man" shows nowadays ar, we have Yes, Man and now I-P Man...)

I like Ip Man. The storyline, the actions, the slight humor blended in very well. Donnie Yen was awesome in his role as Ip Man. I was a little taken aback at the violence in one of the scenes but I know it was a must for the movie. I was a tad disappointed that there wasn't a really, really nasty fight to end things - sth along the lines of good guy fought bad guy, bad guy beat up good guy but good guy triumphed over bad guy - typical I know but just to make it more intriguing. But it's ok, its very, very minor and overall I still found the movie ichiban..duration was kinda short too nevertheless it was an exciting and interesting 1.5hrs ride.

Looking forward to Red Cliff II and more Takeshi ;)

My Rating:

Finally.

Bee, managed to korek a pic of you lol..an old scanned photo of our CPT heydays. Too bad Peen wasn't in the pic..dunno mana she hilang-ed then. keke, but no worries I have her face in as well. Our skool-days cannot not have her, rite :P

Breakfast.

The first meal of the day.

Except weekends it's called brunch.

Storm

A storm brewing in the horizon. Dark clouds loomed and strong winds howled. Torrential rain slashed down without mercy. In the distance, police sirens screamed.







-View from home @ 090101 ~1649

New Year Resolutions

Made any in 2008? Resolved any?

Making any for 2009?

I, for one, had never made one...dun think it'll be any different nxt year. But maybe I should; To read all the books in my long Q line by this day next year (added 2 more when I was at Kinokuniya last week) *crosses fingers*

Nevertheless,

Happy New Year 2009!!

Christmas e-Card

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!

Christmas is in the air

*Takes a deep breath..yes, I can almost smell christmas so naturally the pages are xmas-inspired. Some of the pages are dedicated to my frens..just a personal way of saying Merry Christmas!! Yaya, a lot of faces are missing still..slowly-ler have to go dig up photos :P

After I made the 2nd and 3rd, I find the 1st one a bit cacat-ed d but lazy to redo kekek..maybe will relook later on.

Meanwhile Merry 'advanced' Christmas to all!

(click pic to enlarge)

Note: Kits and elements are thanx to the following, in no particular order

'Another Xmas' by Stephinette

'Skyla' by Stephinette

'Another Xmas' by Droopette

'Another Xmas' by Angelique

'Another Xmas' by pitchouk82
'NuitMagique' addon by Digiscrap.ch

'Cherry Moka 3' by happy-scrap

'Ambience Feutree' by Tinette, patou, Nini-lolo, Gwenn

'HappyBirthdayPartie4' papier by kafrounette, New Life Dreams, Sylvie, Tinette

'Juste-une-etincelle' by Bellisa

'Line' by Skyla

'Flowers Dream' addon by Mycrevette

'Mathias' add by Ninie

'Cherry Moka 2' by Gwenn

'Plaisir d'hiver' by Ninie, Loloden designs, Kalanice, Droopette, Cecile, Ptitesouris, thaliris

Twilight

Twilight, the latest craze in almost every part of the world. First the novel, now the movie. It has a romantic-fantasy theme about a teenage girl who falls in love with a vampire, played by Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattison respectively. And that is cool really just that I find the tempo of the film a bit too slow for my liking. Plus we only really see some action action after almost 3 quarters into the show. Not to mentioned the actings are a bit wooden (maybe that is how the characters are potrayed in the books as well). But I think I know why Robert Pattison is suddenly the sexiest guy around. He isn't good looking but glimpses of his mischievious smile throughout the movie can make girls swoon...and of course when his super pale makeup and super red lips are not that apparent. Still, I'll stick to loving a certain vampire slayer and her vampire boyfriend with a soul anytime.

Anyways, I kena scolding by Ee Lyn today because apparently she thinks I don't understand the movie because I have not read the book. She said "you MUST understand the book then u will definitely be OBSESSED over the book and the movie both"..just like how she is. She watched the movie F-O-U-R times already and still loving it. Read and reread the books for countless of times and still wants to read it over again (She's forcing herself to finish her current book so that she can drown herself in Twilight once more). Yes, she is that OBSESSED. She even has the whole Twilight book series (4 books in total) in both paperback and hardcover sets not to mention a movie poster.

Perhaps I should read the books too but she wouldn't lend me hers. They're already nicely wrapped in plastics to preserve the new-ness. And mostly coz she cannot part with them for even one day. Hmmm..so who doesn't mind lending me their copies?

My Rating:

Dangerous Deceptions by Lynn Kerstan

Come to think about it, I'd rarely read any romance novel other than those by Judith McNaught. But I'm glad I picked up this book during one of the book sales in Island Plaza for a mere 10 bucks. The story picks up right at the start and rarely slows down for so much as a breather.

The protagonists of the story are Jarrett, Lord Dering, a family outcast and who lives by his gambling skills, and Kate Falshaw, an actress with a scandalous past. Both of them find themselves working for the secretive Black Phoenix organization that seeks to right wrongs in Regency England. Their mission: to infilrate Paradise, the most exlusive gentlemen's resort, where "whatever you fancy can be had, for a price". Jarrett comes up with a plan in which the two of them will begin a tumultuous public "affair" as a cover for their real mission. And for them to be believed, they must become that which they are pretending to be.

So begins a journey full of exciting, suspenseful even humorous twist and turns, with their real feelings and self discoveries thrown in. Romance wise, Lynn Kerstan certainly did not disappoint but the mission part though rather intriguing may be a bit under developed and ended a bit too simply. Oh well, this is afterall a romance novel not a thriller. Add a plus point too that the story takes place in the 1800s, the Regency period, an era disctinct for its architeture, literature, fashions, and aristocrates :)


My Rating:

The Uninvited by Geling Yan

The Uninvited centers around Dan Dong, an emigrant from rural China who now lives in Beijing with his wife, Little Plum. Dan Dong was recently laid off as a factory worker and now like many others, is living in an unused part of the factory while surviving on canned food that have passed their expiration dates. To some of us, this is probably unacceptable but to him, it's considerably better than eating tree barks with roasted grasshoppers, which they'd lived on in the past. Anyway it's still pretty miserable so when Dan Dong is mistaken as a reporter while he was looking for a job at a posh hotel, he goes with the flow and is ushered into a press banquet where he enjoys a gourmet meal.

He soon learns that with just a business card saying he is a reporter, he can crash any number of lavish banquets where journalists are wined and dined for listening to presentations by corporations and charities promoting a cause or a product. Better still, the journalists are presented with "a little fee for your troubles" at the end of each banquet - to write favourable reviews. Dan Dong also learns about the word "free-lance" which means he doesn't necessary have to be tied to any particular press outlets yet allows him access to the banquets. And who cares if his articles ever appear or not.

However, it soon dawns that the banquent bug business isn't exactly a bed of roses. Through his newly established 'career', Dan Dong meets a new variety of people, some of whom beg him to listen to their tales of woe and injustice, hoping that he will write about them to help address the wrongs done to them or their families. There are also those who have connections with high places as well as those with money, fame and power. Dan Dong feels everyone wants a piece of him and then he begins to suspect that some one is watching him.

This book depicts the contradictions in today's China, the obvious excess of the cities compared to the oppressed and poverty-strickened rural areas. It's almost bizarre to read about the sumptuous banquets with exotic dishes - minced pigeon breasts with mashed tofu molded into tiny snowballs; a dish made of a thousand crab claw tips; huge sea snails mix with veal and wild mushrooms; peacock meat. There's even a nudity banquet where bodies of naked maidens are covered with abalones, scallops, prawns and other varities of seafood sashimi. And yes, you pick your food off their bodies.

Overall, it's not a bad read plus it's an eye opener to life in modern China. Not that I have not read my fair share of the scandals going on in China in the newspapers though :P

My Rating:

Scrap Page : Is Bigger Better?

Updated: LOL yeah, dun think bigger is better here actually. Anyway was just a confusion of the comments :P
Hmm..received a comment to post larger image so let's give it a try :P

Is bigger better?