Rallen fashion sia...

Rallen's picture was featured in City News Style Book... Ooh.. Click on this link http://www.chc.org.sg/citynews/?p=9447 to find out what they said about his style. and guess who bought that nice bag and hat for him hahah.
Admirable nonchalance sia.

Valentines Day 2009 Pt 2

Ray emailed me one day before 14 Feb 2009:




In the end, guess what, we got each other matching gifts! ha. His was the real thing of course. The one I gave him was a brown pillow which I sewed Domokun's face on, with an extra hat by the side. =)

Valentines Day 2009 Pt 1

What I did on Vday this year...

1. Wakeboarding in the morning with colleagues.....

I barely managed to hold that for a few more seconds...unlike my colleague...
HOT Mama alert!

2. ZZZZZzZZzZ in the afternoon......




3. Dinner with Ray in the evening.... Yums

It was difficult to settle on a dinner place as it was crowded with queues everywhere! We were so famished, after going rounds after rounds in Central. We walked over to Liang Court and finally ordered our meal at 9:15pm at Tampopo, a japanese restaurant at Level 1. I was craving for sashimi. The sashimi at Tampopo was GGGGGGOOOOODDD! Thick, succulent fleshy salmon at only $6.50.

After dinner we walked around the Clarke Quay area and found something interesting. This young man was busking with an electronic instrument which we couldn't figure out what was... How about electronic guzheng?


This is one of my more memorable Vdays. Ha I can't remember what I did last year. Wakeboarding was really fun, despite the extremely salty water. Hope to try it again soon!

touched by the piano

Now that school's out, I've been feeling less uptight about hanging out with friends and doing things at a more leisurely rate.
Just the other day I was hanging out with my poly schoolmates, lounging on the open-air balcony at Vivo City, listening and discussing about music. One of them, Owen, a hyper creative talented guy who drums, sings, plays a bit of guitar, beatbox a bit..(goes on la), he mentioned sometimes he would just put on soft music in his room, lay back and close his eyes and enjoy.
That night, when I went home, I thought to myself, why not just do what he did?

I put on my earphones and put on the "Diva-ish" playlist folder on my mp3 player. This folder contains the slow, mellow songs which I consider Diva-ish, since the singers have a big emotional voices.

First song on the list was The Voice Within - Christina Aguilera. I listened intently to emotions put into singing by Aguilera. It is a very encouraging song. In the middle of the song, I moved my focus to the background music, predominantly piano, violin and drums. The mix of strong vocals and musicality moved me and raised a thankful thought, "People might thank Abba for the music, but I really God for the music. It is way beautiful that such creativity is placed in people to put instruments and vocals together to tell stories in such an amazing way."

Second song was Only Hope - Mandy Moore. Yes i know, what sia Mandy Moore, like I sold out right. This song was written by either by Switchfoot, or Switchfoot's singer Jonathan Foreman. The opening of this song was piano. Pure piano. I was immediately drawn to the piano tune, how it blended together with the stages of the song. The more I listened, the more I was impressed with how the piano could capture the mood of the song. I was touched to tears by the end of the song, involuntarily. (I know so emo right)

Next song was Can't take take away - Mariah Carey. Another encouraging song with piano arrangements. I realised, all these powerful songs have very beautiful piano arrangements. The piano builds the story up and presents the message of the songs in such versatile manner, sometimes agressive, sometimes subtle.

After that experience, my breath was taken away by the piano. I've always loved the drums and I never knew I could be so awed by any other instrument. The amazing part about piano, is that like drums, it is also considered a percussion instrument since the keys have to be hit to produce a sound. Yet at the same time, it has the anatomy of a stringed instrument, allowing it to produce such melodious tunes.

I guess this is what loving music all about, dismantling the elements behind music pieces and enjoy each element like a wine connoisseur, in order to appreciate the full beauty of a music piece.

Spot the similarity

Introducing Domo-Ray.........

DIY music video COOL

Was doing my assignment on new media when I chanced upon this really cool video.
This characters and props in the video was made with materials like paper and glue! Really cool stuff. Hard work and patience though!
Check it out:



Bubblicious from Rex The Dog on Vimeo.

NO SCHOOL NO MORE

I just officially attended my last day at school.
No more books and readings, no more exams that I have to cram for
No more jittery presentations, no more long long long train rides
No more boring lectures, no more memorizing theories
No more no more


No more!


I feel such relief - I feel I can do anything I want now (Except that I still have two assignments to submit by Feb)

I am so gonna work towards the things I believed in for so long.
Starting with drumming. Jam session on Thursday! Wooh.

No Doubt is back no doubt about it!

It's been awhile since I heard new songs or new album from No Doubt. I thought they disbanded since Gwen went solo and I wondered what Adrian Young, Tony and Tom were busy with. And not forgetting their wacky energetic touring keyboardist/trumpeter/trombonist Stephen Bradley & Gabrial Mcnair. Of course, Gwen also has her sons and fashion labels (L.A.M.B & Harajuku Lovers) to keep herself occupied. But no, they are gonna be back in action this summer and headlining New Yorks largest music festival, The Bamboozle. Wish I could be there too.
At the same time right now, they are working on new music.


More of No Doubt to come in 2009!

2009

2008 was good. 2009 shall be greater. It is time to realign myself with God's purpose for my life. It is time to stop whining about the could haves and what ifs. Now is the time to breathe faith and live bold, to exercise discipline and remain faithful to the dreams I've so imagined.

Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize.

I look at my surroundings, my situation. Everything seemed impossible. But I know God looks at me and says we'll get there, a step each time, a little change everyday.

21st Birthday Party Invite by Ray

This concept was by Rallen, i just tweaked the colours and added the words. Isn't this so pretty?
All secondary school ex-classmates, teammates, CMM close friends, cellgroup/zone friends, Strikeforce are invited =) Have sent out the invite via facebook/sms. If YOU KNOW AND YOU KNOW I MISSED YOU OUT, please forgive me and tell me I did. Hope I didn't!

Dress theme is Plaid, Checks and Stripes. (If you wonder what Plaid is, it is the checkered-like background in my invite. Think Burberry & Scottish kilts.)

Alright, See you there then! Can't wait.

Cutest Music Video ever - for those in love

This is like the cutest music video ever! Dedicated to all the sweet-loving couples out there, I'm sure you can identify with the playful sarcasms and you will love it. I first saw this video when a friend sang to it at a KTV session - first time watching this video already warmed my heart. Cheers & Enjoy!

败给你

S: 明明讲冷笑话象冻到北极
还要我陪你吃冰
恋爱是什麼逻辑
算算星座和命理 到底谁在你心里
你这麼惊天地 就要一路证明
谁在乎我有的比
当我一遇上你 却那麼情不自禁
甘愿被你蹂躏
你什麼时候 要回去你们火星
我越来越介意 做梦也梦到你 就像是我的天敌
E: 你爱罗嗦又爱生气
喜欢我还嘴硬
好面子要加三级
S: 好像被你吃定
败给你 说话的眼睛
败给你 微笑的魔力
不知不觉 想每天跟你在一起
WOO BABY BABY WOO BABY BABY WOO LOVE
败给你 少一根神经
爱上你 这是我的命
我们世界 连斗嘴都有默契
WOO BABY BABY WOO BABY BABY WOO
E: 请问何必把我抓得那麼紧
只是穿得性感些而已 明明你很自恋
绕了那后照镜
我心中你是第一名 耐心还有爱心
爱不是有帅气就可以
拜托你别一直耍嘴皮
OH MY OH MY OH MY OH MY
S: 什麼时候 要回去你们火星
我越来越介意 做梦也梦到你
就像是我的天敌
E:很奇怪只要看到你就变得好开心 (S: 有吗)
我已不能判你出局
S: 好想把你吃定
败给你 说话的眼睛
败给你 微笑的魔力
不知不觉 想每天跟你在一起
WOO BABY BABY WOO BABY BABY WOO LOVE
败给你 少一根神经
爱上你 这是我的命
我们世界 连斗嘴都有默契
WOO BABY BABY WOO BABY BABY WOO
S:败给你 爱上了你 看到小狗就蹲下去
一直亲 你一定充满 我没发现的爱心
E: 败给你 爱上你 看不见你会生病
原来我也有 害怕你 突然不见的危机
S: 你也有 温柔的时候
害我抬起头 以为天上下著红雨
不然就是我还没有睡醒
这样一个我乘以这样一个你
竟然等于我爱你
爱上你一天又一天又一天
我败给你 说话的眼睛 (E:我败给你)
败给你 微笑的魔力 (E: 我爱上你)
不知不觉 想每天跟你在一起 (E: 想每天跟你在一起)
WOO BABY BABY WOO BABY BABY WOO LOVE
败给你 少一根神经 (S: 我败给你)
爱上你 这是我的命 (S: 我爱上你)
我们世界 连斗嘴都有默契
WOO BABY BABY WOO BABY BABY WOO
败给你 说话的眼睛(E: WOO 败给你)
败给你 微笑的魔力 (S: YEAH YEAH YEAH)
不知不觉 想每天跟你在一起
WOO BABY BABY WOO BABY BABY WOO LOVE
败给你 少一根神经 (E: WOO 败给你)
爱上你 这是我的命 (S: 我败给你 E: 爱上你)
我们世界 连斗嘴都有默契
WOO BABY BABY WOO BABY BABY WOO
MY GOD MY GOD MY GOD MY GOD
MY GOD MY GOD 真的败给你
MY GOD MY GOD MY GOD MY GOD

Believing in God's Providence

I usually don't, but I woke up real early today. I got to church by 8am to wait for Shona. I felt great honour to be able to attend Asia Conference, even though it was only two sessions. The first session that I attended today, changed my life and mindset.

Following to my previous post, I guess a sweet little birdie must have been praying for me because God gave me the rhema answer to all my worries and rants through Dr. A.R.Bernard's preaching today.

Dr. A.R.Bernard started talking about Obama's win in the American Presidency Election and mentioned God was in the midst of all these, drawing reference to Nebuchadnezzar's reign as king during babylonian times. (Daniel 2:20-23) Nebu was not the natural choice, but God placed him in power. In the US, McCain was the preferred choice for most Christian believers. However, Obama's winning reflected God's intervention - it was not because he was God's special ordained one, but it was a result of a perfect storm (financial crisis, US policies..etc); so God stepped in providentially to interrupt the natural sequence of things.

I look at my situation.. It seemed pretty stuck and I'm pretty unhappy. This message really encouraged me to believe that God can, and HAS started moving in my life providentially when I started feeling unhappy and wanting CHANGE in my life! I am now just waiting for the kairos moment for a meaningful change to take place so that the course of my life can go towards for God had meant for.

What I am going through now, being broke, unhappy with overworking and lack of time, frustrations and exhaustion, it is the perfect storm that will eventually subside to unveil God's providential favour in my life.

I speak this. into existence.

Amen.

rat race

It's the time of the month again. The time when I put on a thick skin going to my mom, sister and boyfriend for money. It's approaching the time of the month for school fees to get deducted from my account and I panic because I have barely enough to last the week. It is the time the ATM tells me that withdrawing $30 is impossible because amount exceeds the balance. It is the time when I cross my fingers in withdrawing $20 so that I can pay the cab uncle who's still waiting for me at the taxi stand when i'm running office errands.

Now, go ahead and judge me. I barely shop, and barely do wild and lavish hangouts. I tried bringing home-cooked leftovers to work for lunch for awhile (until I got sick of it, sorry mom). And I'm still broke.

Mid-months are usually gloomy for me - and this cycle never stops.
I'm beginning to feel like I'm stuck in the rat race. And this makes me even sadder.

There's only going to be more bills and loans to pay, soon enough. People barely get out of the rat race do they? Study loans, Car loans, Housing loans, Utilities bills, Phone bills.... the list goes on.

I had a dream, that one day I could be an outstanding drummer, one who is an entertaining performer. But now I just don't see how being stuck in a rat race like this can help me get there. Stuck and struggling to keep up with paying bills and daily necessities.

I want to be able to work and have enough money and energy and time to work on my dreams. This is so hard.

At this point, I feel like I'm living a life that is lack of purpose and direction. We were young and so full of faith that we could pursue any dream. Now I'm veering off and away, further from that dream more and more each day..

I just hope things would get better after I finish my degree studies. Then again, that would mean full force into the rat race and more bills to pay.

--------------------------------


For a long time, I've been sad
For a long time, I've not felt the sense of destiny & purpose that I had
For a long time, I've been living on the things that were considered good by the world
For the longest time, I've not found fulfillment in the things I do
A long time should end now, if You tell me how.


--------------------------------

Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Philippians 2:13
For it is God who works in you to will
and to act according to his good purpose.

--------------------------------

Onitsuka Tigers vending machine

While doing my essay research on Japanese vending machines (jidoohanbaiki), I found this:

ONITSUKA TIGERS VENDING MACHINE!

Onitsukas are my favourite sneakers apart from Vans. Love them for their innovativeness in design plus comfort! Too bad this vending machine is only available on Newburgh Street in London.

Find out more here: http://www.sneakerfreaker.com/newsflash/Worlds-First-Vending-Machine-For-Trainers-/


Can't Singapore see more interesting vending machines? So far in Singapore I've seen & heard of yoghurt, ice-cream, tidbits, sandwiches, cut fruits and of course drinks. Any other interesting types?

The Harem pants

Gucci has it this Fall/Winter '08, YSL has it this season and the trend spills to Spring/Summer '09, LV also has it in the current collection.
I would never imagine myself seeing anybody wearing it on the streets though.

The harem pants, also what Singaporeans call "Ali baba pants", are cut VERY loosely from the butt down to thigh area and depending on the length of pants, it is usually tapered at the end, fitted at either the calves or ankles.

Like I said, I would never expect any usual girl on the street to don these pants, unless they had the height of Elle Macpherson or the waif figure of Kate Moss.

Two of my friends proved me wrong.

The first friend, was Irenaus, an interior designer. She had on a pair which was three-quarter long, with a basic tee and sneakers. Totally casual, and none of that OTT -ness like what you see on the YSL FW'08 runway. She carried it off real well and she's the average Singaporean girl size! Not too skinny, not too big, not too tall or short and definitely not Supermodel! Very cool. She was going for the comfy, yet unconventional look.

She got them at Tiong Bahru Plaza apparently - I didn't think I could find another friend wearing harem pants after that.

I was so wrong.

Alex bowled me over, leaving my eyes glued to her bottom when I met her for lunch on Friday. I couldn't take my eyes off her pants and I finally convinced her for a picture!

See her shoes! Perfect for the pants

Even the Uncle looking la..

She's shy.. The pants are not just the usual lycra, it has this shimmery sheen, a nice touch to the look.
From afar, I thought she was wearing really a nice long skirt.

I was quite surprised when Alex said she got those pants from Zara at $39 last season. Overall, her look was like a mystic fashion rebel with great taste. After all, she IS a fashion marketing student from La Salle.


So I wonder now, when's the next time I'll spot another daring soul sporting these Alibaba pants. Incidentally, both Irenaus and Alex are from design colleges. Maybe it is an arty-farty thing to carry it off, so the next time it might be some bold arts student or professionals in the creative field wearing these quirky pants.

Taipei - 26 - 30 Oct

Finally got myself settled down since I came back from Taiwan and now I'm ready to blog about it!
Been busy out with birthdays and a matrimony last few days after I came back I felt kinda sick today.. Oh well. Here goes. I left for Taiwan last Sunday, 26 October with NT 9600 in my pocket on an SQ flight! *whee

Since nobody bothered to plan the itinerary, I took on the responsibility and came up with a plan supported by several visits to the library over the past months. However, the bulk of my final plan would be based on this book called the Taiwan Metro. Anyway the person planning has its perks, you get to go where you want first, and make sure that your time will be well spent somewhere that is not boring.

DAY 1


So I was there for five days.. First day we reached, I sought Junlong's advice - to visit Shilin Night Market first instead of my initial plan, to stay in Ximending (near my hotel) for dinner. We got there and first thing we saw was this:

See the translation "Admire" = Ai de mei ya

Excited, we went around to find food, but found ourselves swarmed with clothes and clothes and shoes! But our stomachs were determined not to be distracted - I went to find my chicken cutlet. Amidst the crowds and apparel stores, there were some little stores for food, but definitely not enough to fill our hunger.

We walked and walked, finally found the only sit down place we could eat at, Ah Zong Mian Xian. Not that I was complaining, but my dad is a sit down and eat kinda person.
(Only after we left, then would we realise we missed out the main food market.)

And then we shopped and along the way nibbled on other street eats! The shopping part, prices were really cheaper for clothes and shoes - I went crazy. I felt like I was in a shopping haven for Rallen cos I saw many stuff that he would like! There I bought a pair of shorts, leggings for myself and a pair of jeans covered with badges for Ray. I only regretted after I came back to Singapore - that pair of jeans was actually $80! not cheap at all! I just comforted myself it was a Levi's after all.

We shopped and shopped, but my dad started complaining he was tired. So we went back.... and the next day we started the day catered for him.

I ended the day tired, with a bad neckache. However, I couldn't sleep at all the whole night, with all the noises I could hear.

DAY 2

• Sun Yat Sen Memorial
• Metro mall (Underground between Zhongxiao Dunhua and Zhongxiao Fuxing station)
• Ximending

Sun Yat Sen Memorial was kinda boring for me.. and I was really famished since i didn't eat much at breakfast. (The hotel breakfast sucked big time) In the end, we had lunch buffet right at the Memorial museum. The buffet was good, international style.


Next stop was Metro mall at the metro station, just one stop away from Sun Yat Sen Memorial. It was just like shopping at any other heartland mall..

And then, my long awaited destination - Ximending. My sole purpose (literally) was to come here to get Onitsuka Tigers and Vans. I even got down the addresses of the outlets nearer to my hotel. I went online to check out the shoes I wanted weeks before my trip. When I finally got to both the shops (they were nearby), I was darn disappointed. The hi-cut that I wanted from Onitsuka was from past season and they only carry the latest models. Damn. My eyes lit up when I saw Vans the next street down.. they didnt have any of the plaid slip ons!!! MANNN. Isn't plaid in season this Fall/Winter '08??

So I walked away, disappointed, since my "sole" purpose to Taiwan could not be fulfilled.

Why did I take photo of these sanitary pads? Because these were actually marshmallows sold in a candy shop!

That night I knocked out, my sis bought a bottle of Plum wine at only $29, i down it with some Heineken. I went to sleep like a baby.

DAY 3

• Yang Ming Shan
• Shilin Night Market (again)
• Riverside Music Cafe
  

According to the guidebooks, one of the must go places is Yang Ming Shan. In the books, they make the place look so beautiful.....and the waterfall so bigg.... actually it wasn't that big.
Best part about the trip there was waiting for the bus for one hour, and it never came. Thanks to "Wu Lin Mi Ji" from Mervin. It mentioned we could take a bus from XiMenDing, which was where our hotel was... we waited and waited. and decided to take a metro down to the nearest station instead.

Another of my personal agenda for this trip (which also left me disappointed), was to visit a happening nightspot with local bands playing. After getting some tips from Mr Q (Jay Chou's drummer who came to Singapore for Drumfest), I decided to check out Riverside Music Cafe.

I reached the place at 10:30pm - and the set was left with the last song! I went in anyways.
It was a small little place, entrance by an alley, even smaller than Jazz@southbridge.

Guess what, the next morning we walked around Ximending and I found a WAY LARGER version of Riverside music - It was called the live house!
Anyway, thanks to the Vodka Lime that came with cover charge for entrance into Riverside Music Cafe, I slept well again.


DAY 4

• Di Hua Street (Traditional Dried goods)
• Wu Fen Pu
• Rao He Night Market

Breakfast was good! Their version of Cai Tau Kuay

Herb shopping. Look like alien hands!

I was searching for this like crazy! They didn't have it in Shilin Night Market. And then when I finally found it, I came across three stores that have this. But nothing beats the original 216 Fen Yuan Da Wang (at Zhong Xiao area). It was really chewy and sweet!

At the Raohe night market, my brother said those black things were nice and asked if I wanted to eat that. In bewilderment, I looked hard at the "rats" and swallowed a lump in my throat.

Back at the hotel, he offered me some. Those were not rats at all! They were part of the lotus plants and this was how the flesh looked like. They tasted like fried chestnuts, just less sweet.


And check this out! this the cutest thing I've ever seen in my life:

That night I had beer again. Slept like a pig. DAY 5

• Ximending
• Leave for Taoyuan Airport

My sis and I slept till late morning, just enough time to prepare and check out of our hotel rooms. While waiting, there was this IQ programme on MTV Taiwan. Audiences had to count the total number of squares and triangles on the puzzle on screen and call in to give their answers. We tried counting and decided to call in... but the line was so busy we couldn't get through. And the people just couldn't get it right! We were certain our answer was correct since nobody guessed it. Dang, and they increased their prize money every 15 mins.

(Can't flip the image around)

our last meal in Taipei was at this shop. Very nice porkchop & chicken!
It was at the basement of this place called Wan Nian Da Lou (look like Peninsula Plaza)

And then we were headed for Taoyuan airport.. back to Singapore. Taipei has been good. I just wished I had planned my finances better so that I could have spent more on clothes for myself! Would definitely make another trip down in near future.

I hope to live like this song sings

Switchfoot - Burn out bright

Does it have to start with a broken heart
Broken dreams and bleeding parts
We were young and world was clear
Young ambition disappears
I swore it would never come to this
The average, the obvious

I'm still discontented down here
I'm so discontented

If we only got one try
If we only got one life
If time was never on our side
Before I die I want to burn out bright

So a spark ignites
In time and space
To make it through this human race
You fight and crawl your way back home
But you're running the wrong way

The future is a question mark
With kerosene electric sparks
There's still fire in you yet
Yeah there's still fire in you

If we only got one try
If we've only got one life
If time was never on our side
Before I die I want to burn out bright

I can't clean up the mess I've made
I can't clean up the mess I've made

I can't sleep in the bed I've made
I can't sleep in the bed I've made

If we only got one try
If we only got one life
If time was never on our side
But before I die I wanna burn out
Before I die I wanna burn out
Before I die I wanna burn out
Before I die I wanna burn out bright

If time was never on our side
But before i die i wanna burn out bright

10,000 hours away

I came across this article today : Malcolm Gladwell says that if you want to shine, put in 10,000 hours

In it, a line says, "The best way to achieve international stardom is to spend 10,000 hours honing your skills".

His study cites cases from tennis players (Williams sisters), Tiger Woods, the Beatles and Bill Gates.
I think to myself - I have an average of 16 waking hours daily. If I take away 8 hours at work, 3 hours for meals/travelling/waiting, I would have 5 hours left. Opps, I forgot, I'm a girl so I have to factor one hour for facial stuff/makeup/hair. That leaves me with 4 hours. 1 hour is for praying and 1 hour is factored in for miscellaneous stuff like surfing the net, lazing around, being on the phone.

And if I have 2 hours everyday to practice my drum strokes.. IF I have. It will take 13.sth years for me to be a master in drums. I'm 21 years old. By then I would be 34 and taking way more responsibilities than I am now.

Damn, I shouda started earlier.

love the beach

Life has been all about the same things for some time, the usual things, work, school...bla. And then I realised a part of me was missing something when I saw a few people cycling past me one day.
THE BEACH!

I know people that absolutely hate the beach, but I also know people that adore the beach. One of my old classmates told me he hated the beach because he thinks it was full of hidden dangers. I don't quite like the idea of lounging on dirty, littered sand and soaking in murky grease-covered waters, but being able to be out in the sun roller-blading/cycling and then idling the day hearing and watching the waves definitely perks me up!

I'm not sure how my love for the beach happened, but it started even when I was a kid - I put together a gathering at the beach for my birthday when I was only twelve! When I went to secondary school, I remember having beach outings many many times.

Over the years, I had lesser time to go to the beach. Before I started working, I had a few opportunities to jog to East Coast Park from my home and then sunbathe for awhile. That got a little lonely and I had lesser motivation to do that again.

Thank God for last Saturday's gig at Sentosa, I had a chance to visit the beach again! The gig was in the evening, I was so excited I woke up real early for a run before heading over to Sentosa. And the visit to the beach, was GOOD! I am definitely looking forward to more beach outings.

real excited on the tram to Sentosa. checkout the cool effect in the background (No DI involved!)


We start by cycling. Mr Sunflower has improved in his cycling!

and then the beach!

Basking in the sun...

And it rained for a while.

and then we're off to Summer Party for the gig. In the pic is EIC playing.

Now I'm dreaming of a holiday on Waikiki beach....hmmm

the last time I heard

If you once had a best friend but lost contact over the years, wouldn't you be elated when you hear from him/her again? Wouldn't you want to get hold of each other for a catch up session?

I had a best friend once, we hung out together often. Something changed, and we drifted apart.

The last time I hung out with him - probably somewhere in Orchard in early 2004
and we never hung out ever again.

The last time I walked with him - between 12 - 1am Christmas 2004, we happened to meet at the train station and he walked me to my block.

The last time we talked face to face - met by chance at Somerset station Feb 2005/6, while I was topping up my card and got all jittery with my words.

The last time I heard from him - Weekend of the F1 race on 28 Sep '08, around 5pm. While waiting to enter the F1 gate at Millenia Walk, I received a call from an unknown number with +66 prefix. I picked up the call to hear his voice. It was strange, yet familiar. He introduced himself and asked if I remembered him. Taken by surprise, I was rather monotonous in my reply. He told me he got into a bike accident and was in trouble in Thailand and needed some help, though he couldn't talk for long. He lost his passport and needed me to wire some cash over.

I know. This sounds like a hoax right?

But I decided to say yes first, though I mentioned I couldn't lend him much. I copied down him mobile number as well as POSB savings number. He also said that he was AWOL from the army due to this trouble, as he couldn't come home in time. So I asked if he needed help in informing the army. He said he had settled that. I asked him to take care and I put down the phone, bewildered.

One one hand, that was my friend that I missed so much and I couldn't believe that I just heard from him. One the other hand, I couldn't decide if that strange, yet familiar voice was that believable. I was also worried that he might be injured, kidnapped or was in other trouble. This matter continued to bother for the entire evening in-between performance breaks and dinner break. I don't know if it was because I was falling sick, but I actually lost appetite that night.

I thought and thought, and considered and considered, made a few calls. I decided that the person who called was really him and I would transfer the money over. Even if he didn't return it, I would have helped a friend. So I did, thanks to the clever management which decided to have makeshift ATMs at the F1 sites, I managed to transfer a sum to him.

Tried calling him back at the Thailand number and mobile, but to no avail. After I went home that night, my worries about him kept me awake. I msged him at 2am and he finally replied to say he lost his ATM card. I decided not to bother him anymore with smses as I figured he must be in much dilemma then.

The next few days I tried calling, just to check if he managed to come home.

He came home on Wednesday and I was elated to see him online that night. He explained that he managed to recover his passport after paying off the bike damages with his ipod and mobile phone. And then he called his mom reluctantly to arrange for a ticket home. He told me he was trying to catch me on MSN the entire day so that we could meet, but I didn't go online. I asked if we could meet the next day. He agreed and said he would call late in the afternoon to confirm. I was so darn excited, I couldn't stop thinking about it though I was supposed to studying for my exams.

So instead of studying seriously, I waited, and waited. and waited. He didn't call.

I went online, he wasn't there

I haven't heard from him since

I wonder why