Flea Markets in Singapore

This guy lists 5 flea markets in Singapore.
Will go through them and decide.

http://www.angryangmo.com/2009/04/15/5-best-flea-markets-singapore/

"I think I will be less happy

if I didn't know you or talk to you. I don't know what this means or why I am telling you this. But that's how I feel."

"Haha. Cute. Me too."

"Good. And this is not flirting, just so you know."

"Ya I know. You confuse me sometimes but I get it."

He feeds me

with music that I will not easily discover on my own.

Wonderful music day and night; when I am walking around the house. When I am sleeping. Dreaming to the music he's playing in the other room.

And I love. I love them all. I love his unconventional choice of music. As old as 30 years ago and still going (Pink Floyd).

Once he heard Eric Johnston in my study and said, "You like this? I didn't know that. This is Joe Satriani taking a dump."

Another time he said, "I won't go with you to Oasis concert. But I will like to go for Dream Theater alone too because I don't want you to ruin it." And I comply.

We have our own musical world. But when these worlds collide, sometimes, we are grateful. I am grateful because ~

He feeds me with music.

(Currently I am also a contributor at heardontv.com because I always get quite obsessed with music I hear on tv too!)

Night massage / routine for face

I've always wondered if the way I put my serums and cream has been wrong... And I guess I was!

This is the right way to massage the serum on our face!

Say bye to Daul Kim

She always start her blog title with "Say hi..."
And I feel it's only appropriate. I read her blog. Because well, for one, she's quite funny and aware of herself and the situation she is in. Even though she's a supermodel.
And then she committed suicide. I can't even believe it. Why? Simple. She's just so aware.
I just hope her family stops editting or doing anything with her blog because that will really creep me out.

范玮琪 (Christine Fan) - 想知道现在你好不好 (I Want to Know How Have You Been?)

Tīng Jiàn Le Yì Shǒu Gē De Xuán Lǜ
听 见 了 一 首 歌 的 旋 律
Cái Xiǎng Qǐ Yǒu Guò Yí Duàn
才 想 起 有 过 一 段
Yù Jiàn Le Tài Zāo Gāo De Qíng Xù
遇 见 了 太 糟 糕 的 情 绪
Cái Xiǎng Qǐ Nǐ De Jiǎn Dān
才 想 起 你 的 简 单
Wǒ Yǐ Wéi Wǒ Yǐ Jīng Quán Bù Shì Huái
我 以 为 我 已 经 全 部 释 怀
Cái Liáo Jiě Yuán Lái Dōu Hái Zài Náo Hǎi
才 了 解 原 来 都 还 在 脑 海

Fan Fan Xiang Zhi Dao Xian Zai Ni Hao Bu Hao www.mandarin-chinese-pop-music.com

Zǒu Guò Le Yì Tiáo Jiē De Shú Xī
走 过 了 一 条 街 的 熟 悉
Cái Xiǎng Qǐ Nǐ De Péi Bàn
才 想 起 你 的 陪 伴
Xuǎn Zé Yí Jiàn Wài Tào Yán Sè
选 择 一 件 外 套 颜 色
Cái Xiǎng Qǐ Shì Nǐ De Xí Guàn
才 想 起 是 你 的 习 惯
Wǒ Yǐ Wéi Wǒ Huì Fàng Shēng De Kū Hǎn
我 以 为 我 会 放 声 的 哭喊
Cái Liáo Jiě Yuán Lái Shèng Yì Diǎn Yí Hàn Yí Hàn
才 了 解 原 来 剩 一 点 遗 憾 遗 憾

Fan Fan Xiang Zhi Dao Xian Zai Ni Hao Bu Hao www.mandarin-chinese-pop-music.com

Xiǎng Zhī Dào Xiàn Zài Nǐ Hǎo Bu Hǎo
想 知 道 现 在 你 好 不好
Nà Xiē Nǐ Gěi Wǒ De Huí Yì Kuài Lè Yě Bù Shǎo
那 些 你 给 我 的 回 忆 快 乐 也 不 少
Shǎo Le Nǐ De Wèi Lái Wǒ Hěn Hǎo
少 了 你 的 未 来 我 很 好
Zhǐ Shì Lí Kāi De Yuán Yīn Hǎo Xiàng Wǒ Hái Wàng Bù Liǎo
只 是 离 开 的 原 因 好 像 我 还 忘 不 了

Fan Fan Xiang Zhi Dao Xian Zai Ni Hao Bu Hao www.mandarin-chinese-pop-music.com

Zǒu Guò Le Yì Tiáo Jiē De Shú Xī
走 过 了 一 条 街 的 熟 悉
Cái Xiǎng Qǐ Nǐ De Péi Bàn
才 想 起 你 的 陪 伴
Xuǎn Zé Yí Jiàn Wài Tào Yán Sè
选 择 一 件 外 套 颜 色
Cái Xiǎng Qǐ Shì Nǐ De Xí Guàn
才 想 起 是 你 的 习 惯
Wǒ Yǐ Wéi Wǒ Huì Fàng Shēng De Kū Hǎn
我 以 为 我 会 放 声 的 哭喊
Cái Liáo Jiě Yuán Lái Shèng Yì Diǎn Yí Hàn Yí Hàn
才 了 解 原 来 剩 一 点 遗 憾 遗 憾

Fan Fan Xiang Zhi Dao Xian Zai Ni Hao Bu Hao www.mandarin-chinese-pop-music.com

Xiǎng Zhī Dào Xiàn Zài Nǐ Hǎo Bu Hǎo
想 知 道 现 在 你 好 不好
Nà Xiē Nǐ Gěi Wǒ De Huí Yì Kuài Lè Yě Bù Shǎo
那 些 你 给 我 的 回 忆 快 乐 也 不 少
Shǎo Le Nǐ De Wèi Lái Wǒ Hěn Hǎo
少 了 你 的 未 来 我 很 好
Zhǐ Shì Lí Kāi De Yuán Yīn Hǎo Xiàng Wǒ Hái Wàng Bù Liǎo
只 是 离 开 的 原 因 好 像 我 还 忘 不 了

Fan Fan Xiang Zhi Dao Xian Zai Ni Hao Bu Hao www.mandarin-chinese-pop-music.com

Xiǎng Zhī Dào Xiàn Zài Nǐ Hǎo Bu Hǎo
想 知 道 现 在 你 好 不 好
Xiǎng Wèn Nǐ Hái Xiāng Bu Xiāng Xìn Dāng Chū De Wán Xiào
想 问 你 还 相 不 相 信 当 初 的 玩 笑
Shǎo Le Nǐ De Wèi Lái Wǒ Hěn Hǎo
少 了 你 的 未 来 我 很 好
Zǎo Jiù Bú Zài Shāng Xīn Tā Bǐ Wǒ Gèng Zhòng Yào
早 就 不 在 伤 心 他 比 我 更 重 要

Fan Fan Xiang Zhi Dao Xian Zai Ni Hao Bu Hao www.mandarin-chinese-pop-music.com

Wèn Xiàn Zài Nǐ Hǎo Bu Hǎo
问 现 在 你 好 不 好
Wèn Xiàn Zài Nǐ Hǎo Bu Hǎo
问 现 在 你 好 不 好
Wèn Xiàn Zài Nǐ Hǎo Bu Hǎo
问 现 在 你 好 不 好

Fan Fan Xiang Zhi Dao Xian Zai Ni Hao Bu Hao www.mandarin-chinese-pop-music.com

Xiǎng Zhī Dào Xiàn Zài Nǐ Hǎo Bu Hǎo
想 知 道 现 在 你 好 不好
Nà Xiē Nǐ Gěi Wǒ De Huí Yì Kuài Lè Yě Bù Shǎo
那 些 你 给 我 的 回 忆 快 乐 也 不 少
Shǎo Le Nǐ De Wèi Lái Wǒ Hěn Hǎo
少 了 你 的 未 来 我 很 好
Zhǐ Shì Lí Kāi De Yuán Yīn Hǎo Xiàng Wǒ Hái Wàng Bù Liǎo
只 是 离 开 的 原 因 好 像 我 还 忘 不 了

Fan Fan Xiang Zhi Dao Xian Zai Ni Hao Bu Hao www.mandarin-chinese-pop-music.com

Xiǎng Zhī Dào Xiàn Zài Nǐ Hǎo Bu Hǎo
想 知 道 现 在 你 好 不 好
Xiǎng Wèn Nǐ Hái Xiāng Bu Xiāng Xìn Dāng Chū De Wán Xiào
想 问 你 还 相 不 相 信 当 初 的 玩 笑
Shǎo Le Nǐ De Wèi Lái Wǒ Hěn Hǎo
少 了 你 的 未 来 我 很 好
Zǎo Jiù Bú Zài Shāng Xīn Tā Bǐ Wǒ Gèng Zhòng Yào
早 就 不 在 伤 心 他 比 我 更 重 要







http://www.mandarin-chinese-pop-music.com/fan-fan-xiang-zhi-dao-xian-zai-ni-hao-bu-hao.html

Embedded with sound

Music plays a big part in me. Every episode of my life is accompanied with some kind of music. That I will play relentlessly during that time.

And now, revisiting some of the music reminds me ... less of what really happened but the emotions I was feeling then.

Discovering new music is a certain high that I cannot explain.
Like finding a new collar pin!

Chocolate Rain

So my mum thought I will benefit with some protein drink. And promptly bought me one from Herbalife.

This is not about the benefits of this drink even though I must say, this drink so far has been good to me. Not about losing weight but a more balanced diet.

Anyways, to drink it, you have to shake it in lukewarm water till it all dissolve. However, I found drinking the soy drink alone is quite nasty so I like to mix with chocolate. And unfortunately, I like my chocolate hot.

So yesterday night, I'd put in hot water, mixed chocolate and soya. Shake. In the dark, I just kept shaking, not realising that the hot water and vigorous shaking had caused a huge amount of energy built up in the tumbler. The next thing I know, it had exploded with a loud noise and I am covered in hot chocolate. Except... I was only wearing undies and my torso felt raw.

With that too, I discovered I'd proven the effectiveness of a certain pad from "Shop & Save" for weak bladder. Which I discovered only after this explosion.

The experiments I do to prove my case. Tsk tsk.

王菲 (Faye Wong) - 美錯 (Beautiful Mistake)

This is how I'm feeling now.




**

ben lai xiang yue ta
zai hai bian shan meng hai shi
que zhao cuo di fang lai dao
yi ge you yong chi
man yan shui lan de mei li
ni wo jiu cong na li kai shi
lan se de lian yi bu zhan yi duan hui yi

ni song wo ou ran cong tian er jiang
de yu shi
wo yi zhi wu hui na shi ke wan mei zhan shi
bu hui kan jian ta de xia chi
ba ta xiang zai wo de jie zhi
wo ye mai fa xian
you shen me sun shi

rang wo gan qing yong shi
li zhi wu bu yu shi
zhi shao wo jiu zhe yang kai xin
guo yi zhen zi
bu guan ta shi zhen de
ni shi jia de shui shi mu de di
neng zi yi wei shi ye shi ge en ci
bu shi lai de tai kuai
jiu shi lai de tai chi
mei li de cuo wu
wang wang zhi jie jin zhen shi
jin guan hun mi you shi
meng xing you shi bu jian chi
ren sheng zhui da de kuai le ye
bu guo ru shi
suo wei zhui sheng meng si
da gai jiu shi zhe ge yi si
suo wei tian yi jiu shi
zhe ge yi si

ENGLISH TRANSLATION :

Originally planned to swear by the ocean with him,
Yet mistakenly arrived to a swimming pool
Eyes filled with the ocean-blue beauty,
That is where you and I began,
The blue ripples laid forth a path of memories
You gave me a meteoroid rarely descending from above,
I continued to mistake it for a perfect diamond,
Never once seeing its defect,
Mounting it onto my ring,
I did not even realize,
What was there I had lost
*Allow me to have sensibility get the better of me,
Leaving sense to no avail,
At least then I would have had a moment of happiness
Who cares if you are real or fake, or whoever is my destination,
The ability of self-righteousness is nevertheless a blessing
It always happens either too early, or too late
A beautiful mistake often comes so close to the truth
Although sometimes I wake up from dreams, and sometimes I don't hold out
The greatest happiness in life is nothing more than this
The so-called dream life
Means precisely this

Repeat *

The so-called fate means this

本來相約他在海邊山盟海誓
卻找錯地方來到一個游泳池
滿眼湖水藍的美麗
你我就從那裡開始
藍色的漣漪鋪展一段回憶

你送我偶然從天而降的隕石
我一直誤會那是顆完美鑽石
不曾看見它的瑕疵
把它鑲在我的戒指
我也沒發現有甚麼損失

*讓我感情用事
理智無補於事
至少我就這樣開心過一陣子
不管他是真的　你是假的　誰是目的地
能自以為是　也是個恩賜

不是來得太快
就是來得太遲
美麗的錯誤往往最接近真實
儘管昏迷有時　夢醒有時　不堅持
人生最大的快樂也不過如是*

所謂醉生夢死
大概就是這個意思

重唱: *

所謂甜蜜
就是這個意思

From: http://www.songmeanings.net

Far East Plaza Directory

http://www.fareast-plaza.com/shopdir.asp?cate=9

I am always lost in Far East... Now I won't!

Why haven't they announce the selection yet?

Here I am biting my nails, feeling depressed.

Says here on the website. Announcement will be made in August. I so want to go for the conference. Please, please choose me! I will do anything. Actually I wish do be a carpenter. But I think that's done by professionals.

EDIT:
They did. I was not selected. Oh, well... I am still fine. Must be the lingering euphoria from Palawan.

"Stop being so emo about ~

work."

"I'm not emo about work. I'm emo about school."

Started crying. Can't stop.

"This is so unlike you. Do you have gay love for robot girl? You should tell her."

"No~~~ But yes. She's one of the reason I'm sad. She's my only friend in school."

"What about Zin?"

"Zin graduated. She's full-time and she finished everything except her dissertation."

"You can make other friends. Maybe you just need to cry. It's a cleansing ritual?"

"That's not it... I won't be depressed about work. Nope. I won't be depressed about school. No wait, I might because I love school. I'm definitely depressed about robot girl. And all of a sudden all three things hit me at the same time. I'm not made to take so much sadness. I am depressed."

Thomas' mom just died. So suddenly. All I could say to him was, "I can't take it." He said, "Neither can I."

Then I'd been reading Randy Pausch's Last Lecture. He reminded me of dad, and he is dead. I miss dad.

Southpaw

"Oh! You're leftie!"

Lefties are more aware of other lefties. Blame it on being minority in the world of rights.

For a long time, didn't hit me why:
Takes me such a long time to unlock the gate.
Blistering thumb whenever I use the scissors.
The can-opener doesn't do what it's supposed to.
Fighting elbows at the dinner table or lecture hall.
The saw was so hard to use during carpentering class.

On top of that, people don't really like you when they can't share your guitar, baseball mitt or hockey stick.

Lefties I've encountered are extremes. They either achieve greatness or are so totally useless they're better off dead. I guess, it's a matter of adapting to an opposite environment.
You either persevere or give up totally.

However, I should be grateful of the (primary & secondary) school I was in. Almost half the of them are lefties in one way or another.

I'm now living in a leftie apartment. Just want to put that on record because I know, once I moved away in a few years' time. I will forget.
Forgetfulness is my way of dealing.

Left-handed scholarship: http://schoolscholarships.org/scholarships-for-left-handed-students-free-education-at-hand

A graduate school survival guide: "So long, and thanks for the Ph.D.!"

Brief description

A computer science graduate school survival guide, intended for prospective or novice graduate students. This guide describes what I wish I had known at the start of graduate school but had to learn the hard way instead. It focuses on mental toughness and the skills a graduate student needs. The guide also discusses finding a job after completing the Ph.D. and points to many other related web pages.


"So long, and thanks for the Ph.D.!"

a.k.a.

"Everything I wanted to know about C.S. graduate school
at the beginning but didn't learn until later."

The 4th guide in the Hitchhiker's guide trilogy
(and if that doesn't make sense, you obviously have not read Douglas Adams)

by Ronald T. Azuma

v. 1.08

Original version 1997, last revised January 2003

http://www.cs.unc.edu/~azuma/hitch4.html

What's with the face?

He asked.

"Huh? I was just thinking about crowd simulation and collision detection."

Here's my new beer garden AUNTIE hair as ND will say.

Oh well... I'll live.

Laughed till we got tired

And teary and exhausted~!

What a fun day hanging out with ET and Stitch. Ha... Eat. Shop. Walk. Suanz. Shop.

Blah... All I got was a shiny, sequins (so getai!) black tights. Which is still very funny.

And I make ugly clothes look good... I know!

ET tried on a very low shirt in different colours. She asked, "Which colour better?" We said, "Same colour, ah." (staring at her cleavage).

With bitch buddy :)

Emo... On the beach in Seminyak right opposite the clubs.




Flying the kite in the middle of the night.




Kuta beach!

Sticky Candy

There's a reason to roll out of your bed, shower, wear clean underwear.
Because you might just see this and decide... I want to be a candy man too!

What's not to love? The adoration of your fans, little kids screaming "Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!". Young girls going "uuuoooh". Taking pictures of you like you're a celebrity. Hahaha.

At first I was a little confused with the guy who kept singing to apparently, his own mixtape of Green Day, Jamiroquai, NKOTB(!??!). Turns out he's the owner, Jamie.







He was using this lolly as the mic when singing!




http://www.sticky.com.sg/

The Central (exit Clarke Quay station, basement where all the foodies are!)
6 Eu Tong Sen Street
B1-54/55, Singapore 059817

One tall, one short, one fat, one thin

In a small, little organisation. With half of what it used to have.

"Yat kow, yat ngai, yat fei, yat sau"

Ha....

Indecent proposals

"I heard you used to have a boyfriend. What happened? No more? You know I am here."

-Err... I was playing with your kid last week.

"You really are a special girl..."

-And you really are married.

"You're cute, silly and smart! You're the perfect girl!"

-And your wife's...

"So... how many kids do you want?"

-I don't want to have your kids if that's your next question.

"What do you do after hours?"

-You're standing too close. Crap, are you sniffing me???

"Hey! So, I was thinking about you when..."

-We work together, and I've met your wife.


I will need some special powers to avoid these situations.
I think I'd like to stop time. So I can run away.
So grateful school's starting soon! Can start to ignore everyone.

Lego Arcade

"Oh! how I envy you!"

He said.

"You get to do what you want. You're studying something you love!"

Of course I am grateful.

"How do you do it?"

Hardly sleep. Lots of eye makeup to cover them dark circles. No weekends. No life. But then again, being the hermit that I am, this was easy.

"You will not waste this, right?"

When I graduate. Hopefully not. Even if I don't get be a cool FX engineer and work on Lord of the Rings, I will find a use for me.

"What do you want to do when you graduate?"

I am not sure. I really am not sure. I am lapping up the high of just being in the know. So I will ride this while I am at it.

"You've finished a full academic year? That's fast. You could've been idling the year or you could do this..."

Yes, ma. Now will you please say you will come for my convocation after I graduate next year?

Sometimes I sit in my study and I can't believe how surreal this is. One year ago, I was useless, putting too much energy into work, that don't love me back. Haha.
And now...

Small, Short and Not Handsome

"Yau sai, yau ngai, yau mu leng cai."

But oh so hot!

We were talking in the office and I had to ask if H got this trainer. H looked at me and said, "Yes. He is..."

"He looks strange, eh? Like Count Dracula. But when this small little man speaks... Oh baby! Where have you been all my life?"

H laughed so hard at my response.

But honestly, it's true. This proves that, you can be small, short and ugly... but if you have charisma~~~ Oh boy!

**This reminds me of something Nate said: I'd definitely like to go out with a taller girl. I will be honored! It's like, even with this height I can get a hot tall girl. Imagine if I'm taller"

Translate this

She said, "Girl, girl. I want to tell you this. My KAM tells me to imagine:

When you lose a sales, it's like you've lost your baby.

And when you win a sales, it's like an orgasm."

Amy Winehouse

without the tattooes.

I've finally managed to learn the liquid eyeliner cat eyes. And brave enough to do it. Well, I guess I don't have a choice due to my strange new hair.

Even thought I line my eyes these days, I rarely flick up. I just let the brush follow my eyes and make them round and somewhat droopy. But fear not! No more frumpy eyes!

I bought myself the brown eyeliner from Etude House with recommendations from the girl with the moustache. A very nice eyeliner by the way.

(Believe me, a good eyeliner comes with a thin brush. Tried the hard spongey ones, too messy).

Googled for how to apply eyeliner and found the video below:



Ah har! Practised a little. And voila! Look like cat now.

And I must say, Etude House has a lot of cute packaging. Can't vouch for the products though.

Amy Winehouse, behold! Here comes your asian wannabe.

And then, I watch the how to conceal dark circles. Which I think is great too:

You crack me up

She said:

"I like a wide array of men. I am fine with young (gestured low) or old (gestured tall). I am fine if they are skinny (puts her elbows in) or fat (sticks her elbows out). Heck, I don't even mind if they have belly (gestured a belly on herself). I just can't stand... (puts her palm on her head) if they are bald."

I laughed so hard I forgot to breathe.

If only I am a man. I'll be her perfect hot male.

Becareful of what you wish for

When Heroes first hit the tube, I was absolutely infatuated with Hiro Nakamura, the character and the actor himself.

So I read up on Masi Oka. It says under occupation: FX engineer. I can't quite imagine what he does. I mean I've seen enough FX on movies to know the end product. But how be a FX engineer? So I told myself, if I am given another chance, i want to know what a FX engineer do and perhaps be one.

Fast forward 3 years later. Here I am. Halfway through grad school. I am learning exactly what he is doing, loving it. I can be FX engineer when I graduate if I choose to be. That scares me. Grad school still scares me but I am doing it, and oh boy do I work hard at it. The madness, the workload and I still have my day job on top of that. 

So it really urks me when they say things like, "Oh if you keep this pace, pretty soon you can be Solution Architect."

I scratch  my head. What makes you think I care?

You wouldn't believe even if I tell you

the route I took just to have dinner with you.

Left office early. Hopped on the bus to the nearest train station. Stoned out on music. Reached Woodlands Customs.
Huh? Looked around. Ok... No way am I walking the expressway.
Can I find a staircase to detour? No.
Can I go up the escalator? Yes.

Now I am here at the Departure hall, can I turn back? Go through the tunnel to to Woodlands?
I walked egress to the crowd. The police officers stopped me.
"Where are you going?"
"Oh, I took the wrong bus, so I want to go back."
"Ok. Go to ST office in the building."

Ok... what's ST office?
I walked into the customs building. Went into the ST office.
"Hi, I took the wrong bus *smile*. I will like to get back the other side."
"Any identification?"
"Will my IC do? Here ya go."
"Where did you want to go in the first place?"
"Oh I wanted to go to Woodlands interchange, but I hopped onto the first bus that says Woodlands, turns out it was coming to the Woodlands customs."
"Ok. Becareful next time. This is a high security area. Alright, done. Now to through this door to the Arrival hall. Scan your bag as usual and you're good to go."

So just to have dinner with SH, I've took the wrong bus to Woodlands customs, got escorted, whizzed between Departure and Arrival hall in 10 minutes, scanned my notebook bag.

That's a great story to tell.

Ping Pong

Before I forget, here's what I think of HK.

Human rights' very high and less government oppression.

Having a conversation means being extremely alert at all times, even with the kids.

You can pee into a bowl of soup complete with vegetable leaves and it's still considered a clean place.

People are impatient and they show it. I like!

Hot, well dressed ching chong guys all around. Yippee.

Trams and ferries' very cheap! Yay!

Some parks... good.

Face paints' cheap!

Back issues of magazines... Haha.

Not reading chinese but speaking well, still gather stares.

I really like a naturally crazy place like that.

Pictures of Cervix

For the whole month. Scary and fascinating at the same time.

http://www.beautifulcervix.com/cervix-photo-galleries/photos-of-cervix/

We would've just jumped in

By accident (isn't everything on the net these day's an accident of some sorts?) I came across these videos of people dancing in public. Now I know that at least 99% of them know the choreography but I wonder, how many actually just jumped in?

I know I would. I know my dad and brother would. And we would've picked up the choreography fast enough.





Here's the making from antwerp central:



And love the freeze project. Must say NY Freeze is the best from what I've seen.



London Freeze, some creative people there...



And then, while I am at it, I thought what the heck, I will add the no pants improv. Some nice panties there Hmm.....

Herbal Chicken Soup Recipe

My favourite soup of the moment:

http://www.noobcook.com/2007/12/12/nourishing-chicken-soup-for-a-rainy-december/

My daughter

Too much candy from Capucha on Vimeo.

This is why you're fat

I was at this site:

http://thisiswhyyourefat.com/

Ugh... Now I only want to drink soup. And be skinny.

Marks my 30th vial of Fancl Tense Up EX

Today, I drank my 30th bottle. And that should be it for the time being.

Any difference, you ask? Well... I have a fantastic measuring method. You see, as a kid, teenager and then young adult, I never knew I had a dimple on my right cheek. I mean, my mum and brother, goodness... the dimples are so concave, they look like they sucked their cheeks in. But me? Nothing. Always with that fat cheeks.
(I wished so hard to have dimples and be part of the "gang".)

But... this year, the shy dimple decided to make her appearance. And wouldn't go away! So I know, my skin has sagged... Just smiled into the mirror. That darned dimple is still there.

Conclusion? Yes and no. Even though I don't see vast difference on my face, my skin feels smoother all over, especially on the more "saggy" areas.
Totally recommend this to everyone who wants to pump up their collagen.

Note: Drink more water as this can be heaty. I got pimples on my forehead.

http://www.fancl.com.sg/tenseup.asp

A Virgin In Any Other Name

"You need filling."
"Huh?"
"You have a cavity."
"What!?!?!"

You see, I've never had a filling done ever in my life. Up to this point in time, I've had fantastic teeth.

"Errr.... does it hurt?"
"No, lah. Just a very small hole. Stop fidgeting so I can take a picture for you to see."
"Oh...."
"You're still moving too much."
My tooth was on the tv monitor which was showing "Heroes" 5 seconds ago.
"See!"
"Oh... Does it hurt? How long will it take? I've never had a filling before... Does it hurt?"
"Just 5 minutes. Won't hurt."
"Ok. Then do it!"

So he did. And took an after picture on the tv screen. One moment I had a tiny hole on my tooth. The next, it's all smoothed out.

Then he proceeds to clean my teeth. Smells like fruity bubble gum. He's so gentle. And thorough. I like!

As I was gargling.
"We're done."
"Huh?" I was dazed. The reclining chair whirled from lying to sitting position.
"Come back in 6 months' time."
"Oh...." No cuddle? That was my first time....
"Bye."
"Smelt like bubblegum...." I tried hanging on to the moment.
He chuckled. "See ya. Bye."

You're my favourite dentist. I will never stray.


Call me?

I ♥ Laura Mercier

Ok... As it is, I'm already a big fan of Laura Mercier base makeup range.

I will only use LM's primer. Partly because this is one of the few (or only??) primer that is non silicone. I am also using the Eye Basics - eyelid primer.

Due to dark circles (and now fine lines), I am obsessed with my eyes before leaving the house. Now I love MAC. I think MAC has the best eye shadows: great pigments, does not fall off, does not crease. But I really need a more casual/cream eye colour for the days when I don't want to pick up my brushes and start painting my eyes.

I've tried a few drug store brands and they were a dismay. Either too cakey, dries too quickly to blend, hard to control the blending, creases, funny colours... you name it. Which is why I've stayed away from cream for the most part.

Then I read reviews of Laura Mercier Metallic Creme Eye Colour. Especially on this colour:
Rose Gold

Now I love gold. And earth tones. And some shades of purple. But nothing pink has ever really worked for me.
So I was piqued. If it works for me, then this can be my cream colour for the rest of my life! Haha.

Ordered it from StrawberryNet. Received the package in about 4 days. Woah impressive service.
Tried the colour....

I love it. The colour is great. The tube makes it easy to control the amount to use. The texture is smooth enough to blend properly. Love. Creasing does happen. But the colour is oh so naturally beautiful.
This tube makes me want to experiment more with cream colours!
Note to self: Must try MAC paint.

I must say, cream shadow saves me half the time to get my eyes prep in the morning, even the flow is cut by half. Or perhaps it's the colour. It's so pretty alone that all I need to do is highlight the brow bone and I am pretty much done. (Please blend with a cream brush. Very important to use the right brush!).

The colour is an unique darker-ish pink with gold. Just enough gold to take the dullness away but not so much that you can wear during day. Perfect casual/day eye colour!

Laura Mercier, I heart you.

You need to, sayang

My face fell when she said that. Here I am surrounded by big boobies filipino ladies.

I am again at the unfortunate Lucky Plaza because my tailor is there and I needed to get my jeans altered.

I was skipping and past the much talked about #04-88 that sells all kinda SEA beauty products. And that is one heck of a collection, I must say.

The varieties of mandi lulur, kojic soap, papaya soap alone is crazy. But the other stuff. Oh my! I can't help standing there and reading all the dodgy printing on the boxes with all sorts of female body parts (clothed, of course) printed on them.

There's one soap called Virginity that makes me laugh. It's actually a feminine soap but claims to also "tightens vaginal muscle". I thought ok... unless you've had 5 kids, you don't need that right? At the same time, the thought that the men might be just as crazy to make their women suffer. Read more about it here: http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=MTMxMzQ5MDIwMg==

Side tracked without actually going into my unfortunate incident. You see, as I was reading all the labels uuu-ing and aaah-ing at all the things I didn't know exists, the lady from the store came and talk to me in Tagalog. I smiled. I pointed to a bust enhancement soap and said, "How do you use this?"

"Oh sayang, this is soap only. Use at bath. But for you... need more. Use this cream. Massage at night. Many singapore girls buy. You should use this. You need. You massage around, don't touch nipple."

I had a look on my face. It was self-pity mix with embarrassment. I felt like a man for a moment and I thought my gut was sticking out too. Gosh... My tummy is sticking out further than my breasts??
I just nod, pay for the cream and dashed out. Now that I am in the right state of mind again, I've googled and found equally dodgy sites selling it at exorbitant prices!

http://www.kedaidewasa.com/g_bio_active_bust_cream.htm

I can't find much info on forums about the effectiveness of this. Or whether anyone's breasts fell off using it. For the time being, I will just sit here looking at the box wondering what will jump out if I ever open it.

Side note: while googling with keywords "bust cream" I came upon transvestite bust cream, bust pills, bras, hair depilator... I know now things I didn't 30 minutes ago. I cannot undo the knowledge...

Different shades

Sorry for people who rss or been waiting for the next beauty thingamie that I am going to post. Haiz... I am, after all, living the life of a superhero now. Studying and working.

Alright, recently, I've been noticing that my skin is of different shades. Well, I am sure it's been like this for a while now except that I never bothered to look at my own skin much. Anyways, that irks me. I love my tannish skin. I cannot imagine being too fair because I know I will look jaundiced, but I can't bear having so many different shades of colours!!! I want to be one shade.

So I've been searching around and here's what I found out:

BODY

Whitening soap
Silka / Likas Papaya soap - A lot of pinoy ladies swear by this. Popular on soompi & flowerpod. I've even rushed out to Lucky Plaza and bought myself 2 bars. Let me test it out and we shall see. From the forums, this soap sounds very drying. Please moisturise afterwards. Or oil yourself half an hour before showering (who so free? Siao). Some says Biolink is good too but have to be used along with their other products. Could be an effective product for cleaning off sunblock.
Let the lather stay on your skin for 5 minutes before washing off. That's the best method.
Price: $3.50
There are another brands "Miss White Princess" and "KSA Magic Whitening Soap" but I was not keen to dig at Lucky Plaza. Some says #04-88 has the most products. Ok. Will confirm this next time.

Whitening scrub
Mandi lulur - Any kind of mandi lulur (body scrub in bahasa) from any indonesian jamu shop. I buy mine from Kampung Melayu near Paya Lebar. Joo Chiat, or Tanjong Katong. Please avoid those labelled "Pradasari". That one has the coarsest beads. Scratch my skin like wanna bleed! But for those with tough skin. Be my guest. Some says pradasari works the best for them as the others are too mild....
Price: $2.50

Side note: Papaya enzyme anything has whitening effects. For mandi lulur; licorice, bengkoang, susu, mutiara are all ok.

Whitening lotion / cream
I have no idea about the whitening lotions because I just use whatever that's selling cheaper in watson's. However, having said that, I know some that seems to have whitening effects according to the forums.
Watson's Whitening Lotion - one huge bottle for about $6. I am not sure about the whitening effect but surely the price you pay for that is really ermm... ok lah?
Vaseline Intensive Care - Err... about $5 for a small jar? I am not sure about the whitening properties but smells like yogurt. Nice!


Whitening serum
Bio-oil - got mine in Watsons Malaysia. Costs about... RM33? Helps in improving uneven skin tone. Or so I heard. (I will never argue about beauty things with pinoy ladies!) Using it for stretch marks. Haiz... Let's see how it goes.
HABA White Lady - Ok this is for the face mostly but I LOVE this! I love HABA. Totally natural and suitable for all sensitive skin. And this really evens out my patchy skintone. However now that I am on doctor's perscriptions, I've stopped using it. About $80~ a bottle. HABA White Knight is for oil control.


Highly Rated Drug Store Brands
Olay White Radiance Night Cream
ZA Whitening range

Splurge
Haku Whitening Essence

[Yes, unfortunately, I am so vain I will use face products on my body]

Some people sing praises of Kate Jones' products. I am just too lazy to order online. I am not so needy... yet.
But the raves for:
1. kojic soap
2. luz cream
3. coco puro

Other says Yanko products (can get from Taiwan) works for them. Not sure....

I am watching you

Please don't belittle my technical skills. I know you've been coming to my site regularly. I have a more complex than normal tracker.

At least spoof your network or something. This is too easy for me. Come on!

I am still watching you....

Disappointed with e.l.f

I mean, let's be realistic here. What do you expect from something that sells for less than $10?

I am free enough to decide on experimenting with full e.l.f products this morning instead of mixing with MAC and my faithful Laura Mercier. And boy was I disappointed. I was only using the eye colour quad and yes, it was quite natural and pretty on first application. But by the time I reached office, the highlighter was sitting on my lid all streaky and ugly, and I am the kinda vain bitch that use primer. By dinner time, nothing's left of my eyelid colours except for the veins through my thin thin skin. So no, e.l.f! Not anymore. I am discarding you even though you have the most natural colours and I am able to use all 4 colours to create a really pretty pair of eyes... for the first 10 minutes.
I have similar colours in MAC, so I am going back to them.

Don't get me started on the eye brightener. It scratches like crazy! Ugh! I haven't tried any of the tools yet but I don't think I want to.

e.l.f, marjolica marjoca and sephora

Besides being makeup. These are brands that's not available in Singapore. Until now!

I was just at Ngee Ann and saw the sign showing a Sephora shop in renovation. Of course I had to tell Thomad. Who looked at me and said,"Does it matter to me?" Thank god he said that. He knows too much about being a woman than most of us...combined. So I am glad he didn't care too much.
(Ya right. I'll bet he wants us to go in with him to check out the products.)

And... today, I was just going to sasa to buy more brushes when I saw... e.l.f!!! I mean, no offence but Singapore has not been know to carry much mid to low range cosmetics. It's either high end like my mum's Estee Lauder and the likes, or sporadic American drugstore like Loreal, Maybelline. So I am glad Sasa brought in e.l.f and promptly bought the "brightening eye colour" in 2001, Buttermut. This is basically just a quad eyeshadow powder in the very safe earth tones that I use a lot. I've also gotten myself the "long wear lip liner" in 1904, natural blush. Ai... All those funny names. I'd rather just remember the numbers. Anyway... this long wear lip liner is a little too light for my lips but I wanted it for the nude effect. And it delivers!!!! Ok This is a keeper! And it comes complete with a little sharpener! Woohoo to the colour. Let's see about the long wear part tomorrow.

I was rushing into Watson's to get my body lotion because I am so dry I can feel my hands cracking for the past few weeks. Then something magical (in the colour of gold and sparkles) caught my attention. I read it again. Yaaaay! Majolica Marjoca is in Watson's!!! Now no more waiting for the next trip to Japan to stock up. I personally like their Sky High Curl which actually curls and lengthen your lash before you put your mascara on it. You gotta, because it's white in colour! Don't want to walk out like ghost, right?
So I felt as I have to do them justice and support their launch in Singapore. Looked around. In then end bought the red eyeshadow; Shadow Customize, RD422. Anyone who knows Majolica Marjoca will know the cute packaging it comes in. Yesh! It's that lovely! Especially the eye colours. It's a little transparent square with a little gold plastic button on the top. I like picking it up with my thumb and index on the gold button. So cute, lah. So there. You deprived locals... You have the mid ranges now. Hmmm... Rimmel London should think about coming here too...


Huh? Huh? Cannot remember? Recap:

1. Sephora in Ngee Ann City
2. e.l.f in Sasa
3. Marjolica Marjoca in Watson's

My lesbian tendencies *gulp*

Oh I will be working on the robot project.

Really? Cool!

Ya, here! Let me show you isobot. I was playing with it so much.

I sat there watching all her robot videos. And her excitement. And her laugh. And her laugh! She is so cute. She really is so cute.
I looked at her tiny hands. So cute.
I just watch her talk. She really can talk and I don't mind. I don't mind at all.

Edit:
I have quite a few people asking for more information on isobot. Here ya go:



http://www.robotsrule.com/html/i-sobot.php

Ankle boots!

I blame Betty with her shoes and shoes and more shoes pictures.

Especially her ankle boots. Walked out of Pull & Bear with a pair of leathery ankle boots yesterday.

As if I don't dress odd enough.

But they are oh so comfortable and I have a feeling I won't fall so much in them.

Obsessed with slit eyes

I will say chinky but that's derogatory.

Hello Daul Kim. You are so cute I wish I am male.

I like you

Quark was asking me to contribute to MuxMag. So I went back and check my old blogs. And I found this...

Wrote this back in October 3rd, 2005. I didn't change much...

I would never be able to say that to you. I am outspoken. I am honest. I say what I think. But I can’t say that. I get tongue-tied. I feel my cheeks growing hot. I can’t look you in the eyes. Sigh… How would I be able to say anything? I froze whenever I’m around you.

When we were walking, I wanted to hold your hand. Mostly, because I am happy. I didn’t dare though. I just folded my arms. I wanted to hug you because you made me happy that day, but I didn’t dare. I hung my head and stare at the table.
I want to thank you for your brief appearance in my life. I am moving on. Thanks for all the fantasies. Maybe, just maybe, something might happen in the future. You never know.
I hope, I hope you like me too…

All Guilty

I should be working on my CG assignment but I ended up in Bangkok for 4 days. Guilty as hell. Bought tons of stuff to make up for the guilt. Didn't help.

One minute I was laughing very hard, the next I am almost in tears. I'm officially tired, overworked and getting no where with school. I should just give up and lead a normal life.

But we did take a lot of crazy pictures especially with the props and costume-y stuff I kept buying. Useless funny things. How I love thee.

Of course, I was really happy that I got my nerdy glasses, vintage-y clothes and lots of MAC eye colours. And oh, those home decor stuff. Hehe. So happy. And the earrings compartment. Anna Sui immitation. Don't you just love Thailand?

Little robotics girl

I work in the robotics lab.

Oooo... You sure you want to do this all? I can't let you have all the work load! This is really difficult for me. But I will still do it. Just tell me what you want me to do.

No. It's ok. I don't see how we can divide the work. I will do it all.

Really? No I can't let you do that.

No really. I think I can finish in 3 days. I just need the mathematical formula.

I wish I am you. No... I think I love you.

6 things

the very cute ashley has tagged me in this... crikey...

Well, I really like her (≧∇≦)/ So here goes.

Here are the simple rules:
Link to the person who tagged you.
Post the rules on your blog.
Write Six Random Things about yourself.
Tag six-or-so other people at the bottom of the post.
Leave comments on their blogs, letting them know they've been tagged!
Let the person who tagged you know when you've written the post.


Vuvie's 6 Random Things

I've decided I want 2 lists one lovely and the other not.

Pretty lovely list

1. My brother is 3 years younger than me. When we were little, I would act all big sister and tell him things like,"What are clouds made of? Cotton candy. Of course!" "Yes, there is fossil in that mound of earth. If we dig hard enough, we will find it!"
One day, while drinking a can of 7Up, he raised his hand to me for it. I put the can in his and said, "Don't shake it now. If you do, it'll all vanish." I've finished the whole can, by the way.
He took it. Shook it. Said, "Ooh... No more... Cause I shook it..."
He was about 2. I was most probably 5.
Even now, he thinks I am very clever (^_^)
(I would love to deny that incident but my dad caught the whole thing on tape)

2. I love being on stage performing or giving speeches but I am really shy (#^.^#) in reality and prefer if no one notices me.

3. My name means Gentle Clouds.

4. I thought that I would grow up to be a ninja. Apparently I didn't. My mum on the other hand, put me in ballet. Erp! I know... I know... wasn't too good at it. But years later, I did quite a few different kind of dances; latin ballroom, jazz, improv movement... and I was pretty good!
... Secretly, I still wish I can be a ninja (^_-)

5. Obsessed with sci-fi since little.

6. Vain to a fault. Love cutesy kawaii anything.

Not so lovely list

1. I hate inefficient people who waste time. Especially so if the time is mine. Time is extremely precious to me. Oh and illogical at that. Hate.

2. Don't like falling in love. Mess up my internal circuits.

3. Boys with curly hair always break my heart (u_u)

4. Don't want to... (¬_¬) get old...

5. I think I am suffering from hair loss, but I have too much hair to notice.

6. Trained in a few different martial arts. （⌒▽⌒) Dad had a little dojo corner back home with punching bag, nunchuk, bo, wrestling gloves, you name it.



I tag:
aaron
emily
nookie
hillary
geeta
lenorenevermore

You should check with your kid

I was looking through the calculators for exams.

"Hi, Are these calculators approved for exams?"

"Our's all approved by MOE. Not sure if this is in your kid's school list."

Ok. Fine. I won't be petty. "Ya. My fault. I forgot to print the list. Can I borrow your office computer to access my email? I want to check the calculator list."

"Eh? Cannot, lah. This is corporate use only. Not for everyone. You should've brought your kid's school list."

Grrr... "Fine. Fine. I should make a call."

"Ya! Go ahead and call your kid to ask. Should've called your kid in the first place."

"It's for me. Not my kid. No kid."

Melted Hershey Dark

I've left half a bar of dark Hershey on my study. Did the heat from the 2 notebooks melted it?

*Lick* Uuuu... Nice!
*Chocolate on lips* Eek!

tu.tu.blu

Supposed to be doing my work but ended up here...
Nice... very nice... Very, very nice!

http://pipeline.refinery29.com/on_the_verge/thread_count_tutublus_ss_09_lo.php

official tu.tu.blu site:
http://www.tutublu.com/

Who are you Polly Maggoo?

Haha. This is so shallow and funny. But so pretty........

http://pipeline.refinery29.com/screen_shot/who_are_you_polly_mcgoo_the_or.php

How does your nails taste like?

Mine taste like heaty, bland peanuts.
I hate peanuts.

I have to merge Zin and my GL codes today. We didn't want something too complicated so we didn't start a header file. Which I think now, we should? I am not sure.
Maybe we can each write our functions because she has sort of chosen to write the picking and I will be writing the Berzier algorithm. Damn... I am in for a nasty shock!

He remembers!

An email came today from Huawei. I read and re-read the sender's name.

"Oh my god!"
It's from cute punjabi boy!

We met during a short 2-days company training. We didn't know each other before that but boy did we click! I even walked into the glass door a few times because of him. Up till one point he gave up and opened the door for me because I am such a klutz.

And then there was the part where another car nearly crashed into his because he did a sudden de-tour just to ask me if I wanted to go to lunch with him. How can I say no?
*Truth is, I already had a huge lunch of rice, sandwich and coffee. But I still had lunch with him anyways hehe*

We talked a lot and I kept bumping into things because I was paying a little too much attention to him.

And he remembers me... *shy*

He said I am one of the very few people he keeps in touch with. Awww... Sure, I'll marry you and we can have punjabi-chinese babies who will grow up with identity crisis. Way to go!♥

Hand puppet, huge soft doggie and piglet storage box

Was having dinner with Missy SH today. Saw a toy fair.

Walked in and picked up:
1. A frog hand puppet that my housemate said looks more like a crocodile. Damn now he is going to have an inflated ego.
2. A huge soft doggie that will sit on my lap and study with me. Just like Mr Yappy back in undergrad. Where is Mr Yappy, by the way?
3. Pink piglet (From Winnie the Pooh) storage box.

Hehe. I should take pics of these totally useless things that I buy sometimes because I can get emotionally needy.

I wanted doggie to have cross eyes and searched through the whole bin for one but I guess the QC in Singapore is pretty good. They all have normal eyes. So I have to settle.

And I can't walk through the hand / finger puppets section and not buy anything! Missy asked, "Are you mad like that? You know, talk to yourself through the puppets?"

No, lah. But I love giving them personalities and talking in different voices. Oh... I have a least 20 finger puppets... Crap where are they? I even listed their personalities down.
No no. Stop playing! Study first! Will play with them during school holidays. Yay! So happy!

"Apparently nothing changed"

Huh?
"I thought you will be happier, but you're still the same."
"Do I seem unhappy?"
"Yes."
"You're wrong. I am neutral. If we are to draw it on a X and Y axis, I am at the point of origin (0,0)."

Met a friend/colleague/bitch buddy for a few hours. Some people, I blur the definition.

He said a lot and I felt bad for not having much input. Not because I don't want to but those are things I've thought about a while back and I've made up my mind.

I feel bad. My friend is here! And all I can think about is computer vision maths. Oops.

Partly... I've become somewhat quiet. I can sit in the office and not talk for the whole day. Except with ND and his O gang.

He told me some of the strangest things about himself but I am not judging. I don't agree but I am not judging. I will let him vent if he needs to but maybe he just doesn't know what's gonna happen so he couldn't say much.

Then he asked, "Do you think you're talented? Wait... that's not the right choice of word. Do you think you're gifted?"

"Not so much. But I am pretty hardworking. And quite clever. So that makes up for it. *smile* I love myself."

He started talking about himself and how he is grateful for everything. I get worried when anyone starts to talk like that. Means they've given up on something.

He had this hushed sadness in him that night and I don't know what to say. I am not exactly an explosion of cheerfulness myself.

I wished I had been a real bitch and punched him so he felt physical pain. That might have done him some good.

Need to shop!

Next month!

Shopping with the gang again.

Will like to get:
1. ankle boots (huh? weird, I know)
2. tailored kendo pants.
3. Big plastic NERD runway glasses like Luella or Yigal Azrouel... like this



4. Lots and lots of hair accessories.
5. ACCESSORIES!

And that darn kettle.

When he bought me a ring

Once, very long time ago, he bought me an unicorn ring.

But I kept saying phoenix even though the unicorn was staring straight at me from my thumb.

This post from paper cut heart reminded me of then.

Cutting my own hair

When I am poring of the lines of GL, I will start cutting the ends of my hair. I've a ziplock bag full of split ends.

Oh, and I am constantly hungry.

Emo

Not sleeping well. Not eating well.

Can make a person quite mad. Yesterday I got really depressed when I couldn't find my hair pin. One moment, I was holding it; the next, it just vanished into thin air.
I searched the whole house, couldn't find it, got so depressed, went to bed crying.

Today, again, I got teary. Out of respect, I've told him about the transfer. He said he will not allow it. I told him I am bored right now. He said I promised him to be here for a few years. I know I said that, but I am bored! I am so so so bored.

How fresh is fresh?

She said,"You look very fresh!"

I thought ok... what does that mean? Like some kinda vegetable?

She kept repeating it.

I don't understand at all. So I kept quiet.

I did wonder for a moment if it's like what Somu meant about the hooker in Geylang being fresh. Long story, that one.

My roomie, Emily.

I've only ever had one roomie.
Her name is Emily.
I've never shared a room before,
But she is so good to me, I don't think I deserve her.
I have to sleep in total darkness.
So she would turn off the lights and go to the common room to study.
Just so I have a good night's sleep.

I get bored sometimes. I will put on a show.
The bed is my stage and my toys' the actors.
She will put her book down and be my number one fan.

She says the funniest things sometimes.
But she said I bring out the honesty in her.

She is quite sentimental, so she couldn't understand how I am so cold sometimes.

I wish she is happier.
To work so hard and yet never quite getting what you want yet; that must be so frustrating.

I don't know what to do, Emily. I can keep listening to you curse and scream. But what can I do for you?

Today, I realised, there's just so much I can do for everyone. Massive headache.
I tried. I really tried. I've pulled all my strings. I've used all my trump cards.
I tried.

All about the ass

Embarassing as it might be, this is something I do quite naturally.

I check out the ass. Guy's ass. Especially if I meet them for the first time.

And if I see a good one?

Justin Timberlake's "Sexy back" will play in my head. But I've, of course, mastered the pokerface not to let my thoughts show.

So imagine how I feel when I saw the video of Madonna's 4 minutes. Ya, take 5. Imagine...

I mean really, Justin Timberlake! You've got great ass even though you still look like a kiddo.
And Madonna's seriously scary... with her ah-mah underwears... I remember only really fat people wear those things. To lose weight... NOT for dancing or whatever... What is he thinking???

SO here is the video as critiqued by Video On Trial:




Oh yes! This guy said it right when he said, "I am a booty connoisseur."

The impossibly high killer red heels

Sometimes we do stupid things. The female species. Today I wore the impossibly high killer red heels. Killer not because it is red and guys might go weak seeing it. Killer because it is lethal!

I kicked myself accidentally on the left foot and blood started gushing out from below my arch. But I persevered. I stuck a handyplast on the wound and kept on walking, 4 inches too much. Whenever I walk, I imagine fresh blood oozing out with every step. But I kept them on.

Why? I have no idea. Just another stupid day with a pair of impossibly high, impossibly sharp, red killer heels.

Falling down the stairs in Mango Orchard

Aaah... the mad rush of Mango sales. I didn't plan to go or buy anything from Mango because I am still suffering from that big hole in my pocket from shopping in tky and bkk.

But I past Mango on the way to get my jeans from the seamstress. So I went in. And walked out $250 poorer. You see, I have a weakness for dresses. And now, vest. Got meself 3 vests, 2 dresses and 2 camisoles. (Also have a bad habit for layering even though I live in the tropics).
I just couldn't resist getting the blue polka dot dress that looks like the one tokyobanhboa has. The only other one I've seen was from Naf Naf which I thought was really cute too. I even wanted to wear it with long spats like tokyobanhboa. But stop short of that. Spats and me... we don't have good relationship.
Ok, just googled and found that only in Japan does spats mean leggings. Yes, I meant leggings.

Anyways, armed with my oh-so-fabulous finds; I proceeded to walk down the impossibly shiny black stairs. Oh no, slipped on one of the black step and fell forward! Luckily, it's sales period and there's a lot of people. I fell on a sales assistant who was coming up with two handful of clothes. I grabbed onto her to stop my face from kissing the ground. I apologised profusely but deep inside, I thanked her for being so strong because she managed to support this heavy girl. Now I have this redness on my shin. Tomorrow, it will turn blue. Oh well, I guess there is no avoiding the leggings now.

Who says female engineers have to be...

ugly?

I've always been technical. I can hold my own when it comes to any technical discussion or customer meetings.

I love sci-fi. I love telco. I love being challenged. I love dresses. I love makeup. I love cutesy-pretty things. I love ribbons. I love digital photography. I love talking nonsense. I love linux. I love whacky earrings. I love sitting for hours writing complicated scripts. I love high heels. I love exploring new technology. I don't even like sappy chick flicks.

So I do NOT believe that good female engineers have to be ugly or dress like male. The mind does not deteriorate just because you wear dresses and your legs might feel kind of cold. It's all in your head!

So here are videos from 女人我最大; on how to apply eyeliner for 3 different asian eyes.








Personally, normally I will line my eyes like below to get the chinky look:

Sighing: Scary Peeps

Seriously, I didn't want to say this but I have to.

My colleagues are quite creepy.

Firstly, they are all like dead autumn leaves. Then even the ladies walk around with scowls on their faces. I've been screamed at for no apparent reasons and even ND stand witness to this.
Worst part? They all look similar to me!!! I am great at remembering faces and even better at reading them.
Now, I just couldn't be bothered.
I'd rather just look out of the window and watch the clouds go by.

My boss asked me, "You don't have any friends?"
Well, Yeah...
But I call it generation gap.

*Where is that sexyback I saw more than a year ago?

Edit: Emily drew it out here:

Sighing: My work hard drive DIED

3 hours ago... As if I am not sad enough already.

Some of my photos' most probably gone.

BUT my work stuff. Which isn't all that important when I really think about it...
BUT it's my work STUFF. The stuff I've had to go down on my knees to beg people for. Things I discover on my own.

MY PHOTOS! Damn it. I want to kill myself now. But I live on the 7th floor and I am not 100% sure I will die if I jump. So I didn't.

I think... I am genuinely sad. I actually cried for 6 seconds. With tears. Tears! Haven't seen them in a long time.

Half the time, I am not sure what I feel. I didn't get hysterical but to one extend, I actually thought out loud, "Can anyone help me, please?"

Stupid PointSec has to encrypt it. Now what? Now what?

Desire to be the perfect housewife

No, actually I don't.

But ever since I was a kid, besides liking the boy's stuff; photography, robots, bonzai gardening, martial arts, yada yada, I like girls stuff too. Secretly, of course.

Shhh... truth is... I like to bake. No, seriously, I do. My mum is great at baking, cooking, sewing... you name it. All the traits of a perfect housewife. I like them all except cooking. I can't cook. AT ALL. My brother is a great cook, he got that. I did not.

But I like the rest of them baking and sewing. I used to help her bake and even bake quite a lot on my own. I was in Shibuya, waiting for Afiza when I saw this fabric shop run by a few old men... Gosh such BEAUTIFUL cloths!



Me: Sumimasen. This... one metre, please.
Old Man: Ichi metre, des ka?
Me: Eeer...
Old Man: Ichi metre... Wan metre?
Me: Yes, yes. Haik. Ichi metre, but make it two? Ichi metre, Ne.
Old Man: Aah... Haik! *points to pink fabric* Kawaii.
Me: *laughs* Hai! Thank you, arigato.

And oooh do I love sewing. I love picking fabrics. She will always tell me to choose something I like. One pattern can come in 3 different colours! How exciting! Then we will pop over to the haberdashery next door to pick the right buttons, piping, ribbons... Putting them against the fabrics to see if they match. Oh I love that so much.
I love watching her measure me, draw and cut the patterns. She will discuss with me, telling me why she is cutting the pattern a certain way. Make sure you cut a little more generously for the inseams. Just like Pa likes to lay out all the photographs he took on an outing and discuss them, I soak it all in. So imagine how excited I am to discover this free pattern site: Burdastyle.

Go there! Go there quick to get the free pattern and whip up some pretty things for yourself.

PS: I think nobody sews in Singapore. I just can't seems to find anything!!!


Singapore Fabric shops:

Cottons & Linens

Lists of fabric stores in Singapore and in Yellow Pages

http://www.shoppingguide.sg

http://www.fashioninfohub.com/frame.aspx?type=3

Edit: I am so going to use those fabrics to make this apron bag!

Personal life is picking up!

Everything is spinning so fast!

Personal TO DO:

1. Study - Class starts on tri-mester 2008, approx Aug. Registration & tuition fee$ on 2nd July. Time-table?

2. Tennis - the gang has graduated, so they are kinda free now. They are going to take tennis lessons. I will go with them too. Need to exercise & be in shape. Borrow racquet from Andy/Siong Boon/Steve. Approx June. After that, will book the tennis court through company Rec Club. [http://www.racquetresearch.com/]

3. Learn music - Yamaha standard flute is on sale!!! Wanted to take lessons since early this year. Hmmmm.... comtemplating.... $600 for beginner's YFL221... Tentatively June/July.



Yoriyos - The Pied Piper

Pondering: I left my soul in Tokyo

Had so much fun.
Met so many new people, I forgot how exhilarating that can be.

Now that I've been single for some years, I found being alone is quite relaxing. Walked alot. Love it. Took some nice photos. Love it again. Got lost a few times. Quite like it too. I think I am fine alone now.

I found this website too late, but vowed to do everything he recommends:
http://www.hellodamage.com/tdr/travelguide.htm

On my next trip... I will do them all. Especially the architecture one. Gotta get me that darn map he is talking about from that GA shop.

Shopping and more shopping

Been browsing around the shops in Singapore before heading to Tokyo and Bangkok for a well deserved shopping trip.

Shops I will definitely check out when I come back:

1. Pretty Fit
-the new stocks: summer sandals, pumps are to die for. A little too expensive but seriously cute!

2. Charles & Keith
-one particular sandals, approx $35.

3. Hynopsis
-cute functional dresses but too expensive in my opinion. Gotta wait for sales.

4. Miss Selfridge
-cute 60s frocks. I covet!

5. Dorothy Perkins & Topshop
-definitely gotta look at their stocks close up. Very very me! Should check out Mango too when I am back.

6. Bysi
-Frilly blouses and impossibly soft material. Hmmm... And that Miu Miu inspired skirt!

7. GG>5
A local brand with one of the best stitching I've ever seen. Great buys.
Got my favourite green/white floral dress here!

Fashionably Never

Sent a black silk "rock" skinny tie to Aaron, my fashionable, rude and mean cousin who's studying in India. Sadly, it never arrives.

We think the mailman's stolen it.
Damn. Watch out for it. Put a sack over his head and beat him up, Aaron!

Your hair is immaculate as ever. And no, blue contacts just doesn't do it for ya.

My boss said, "Maybe you are wearing the wrong perfume"

I've an unfortunate love for fragrances and yet never be able to tell what I like even if I read the top, middle and base notes crap time and time again.

So here is my review on what I've tried and the reaction to my chemistry.

1. Christian Dior Addict 2
I don't really like this smell personally.
I am so not in love with it but I bought it anyway because... Thomas, my not-gay-but-act-gay fashion advisor took a whiff with me and said, "That is a gorgeous smell". I said, "You think?" He nodded vigorously.
I bought it.
Everytime I wear this, I get a different reaction from guys.
1st case, Kelvin said, "Hey... nice smell! You are doing something right with yourself this time."
2nd case, JN, aggagerated sniffing, acts like he is swooning, "SOMETHING smells really good! Is it your hair? New shampoo??"
All positive! (though, I got a little scared of JN and his whiffing around me)
So what can I say? This is a smell to get some guy hooked and dizzy for you, and most probably couldn't see the fat pimple on your face.
Notes: Bergamot, Grapefruit, Orange, Freesia, Lily of the Valley, Lotus Flower, Pineapple, Watermelon, Grenadine, Sandalwood, White Musk.

2. CK IN2U
Got this sample from the launch. Smells like insecticide mixed with alcohol. After 10 minutes, I still smell like insectide. The kind that is NOT meant to be sprayed on your skin. I wanted so much for this to be CK One. Too bad, lah. An insectide in any other name will still kill you.

3. Clinique Happy for Men
Sadly, I used to wear men's perfumes. Yes. And managed to attract quite a lot of girls. So kudos to Clinique. This is one happy perfume. I remember stealing my friend's sister's Happy for Women back in college. I remember it was a nice, sweet smell. Have to try again to confirm.

4. Christian Dior Forever and Ever
I heard this perfume is really light and spring/summer. So I went out and tested it. Now the inside of my right elbow smelt like a really annoyed spinster teacher. So musky! Yucks. Too stern for the tropics. Hate it. And the ugly pink bottle didn't help much. It looks like those liquor bottle that you see these old English men stealing a sip from when no one's looking, then slip it quickly back in their jacket.

5. L'eau Par Kenzo pour Homme
A somewhat spicy scent that I finished one whole 100ml bottle and absolutely loved. Didn't know why. I cannot imagine wearing this smell now. Must be my butch days. Grr. Anyways, it is a decent homme scent. I will most probably want to neck a guy wearing this. Or not. Depends on how it reacts to his chemistry.

6. Christian Dior J'adore
I had to spray a lot of this at the Suvarnabhumi Airport because I was sweating so much then. I also remember talking to this nice thai man about life, the universe and everything. The airport was new, we were transported by shuttle and we had to go out on the tarmac. I thought it was quite funny. And the fact that my armpit were two pools of sweat. So I ran to the nearest duty free and douched myself with the prettiest bottle in sight. It is such a pretty bottle... sigh...
I must say, the smell is quite alright. Mature, sophisticated, quite apt for the season then, autumn. Staying power is quite fantastic too.

7. Davidoff Echo for Men
Got this for him. I really liked this smell but I wasn't thinking about anyone when I smelt it.
I just thought, "How nice. How fresh. I want this. Oh wait, men's perfume? Ok, let me get this for him."
In retrospect, this is a bad perfume for a man. Any man. It is the kind worn by sensitive, fashion-conscious, low-self esteemed early twenties boy. Or those stuck in twenties mentality. Or gay men.
*Sorry if you like this kind of men. Not me. I like men who doesn't carry a manpurse/manbag or whatever it's called.*

8. Kenzo Amour
Oh god... I don't even know why I tolerated this. It must be the bottle. What a beautiful bottle. In 3 fantastic colours!
But the smell. Gag. Smells ancient, in a bad way. Like curry powder that had gone bad at least a decade ago. Oh... wait, it says here some of the notes are dark wood - thanaka and incense. No wonder! Double whammy of sandalwood-ish smell. Ugh. Maybe when I turn 45. Maybe never.

8. Gucci Envy Me
Tried this at Sasa. Mmmm! Really nice! Smells fresh, summer and light. Unfortunately too light. After a few hours, I can hardly smell it much. Then again, I do really like it and how it reacts to my body. Will buy!
Notes: Pink Peony, Water Jasmine, Pink Pepper, Lychee, Pomegranate, Pineapple, Pink Musk, Seringa, White Tea, Sandalwood, Teakwood and Musk.

.
.
.


And my all time favourite summer scent is: Burberry Brit Sheer.

Can't help the pink font. I've never thought that Burberry will be my scent. I've always thought it is Christian Dior, YSL or Estee Lauder, which is why I am always hovering around their counters. Not one other Burberry perfumes have me going "mmmmmmmmmmmmMm". Most of them just got me wrinkling my nose in disgust. So when I saw this with a magazine, I thought I will have to discard it too. But I gave it a try anyway. And it was euphoria.
It was so light, so ethereal.

Picture this:

Running across the field in white cotton dress, catching butterflies or grasshoppers (if that is what you fancy). Beatles music at the background. Sepia tone, soft-focused edges. Everything is so pretty, young and carefree. Satisfy my inner hippie instinct.
I went crazy. I wanted to own it. The biggest bottle of it. I went all over Singapore looking for it. I want to find a place that will supply me for the rest of my life.
The bottle is still the same shape as it's predecessor but the checks in frosted pink. The glass feels heavy and well-made in your hands. Unlike some pink plasticky one I've mentioned above. When I smell this, I wish I can stuff the nozzle permanently in my nose. That is how much I like it. I have to spray it everyday and I am quite sure I over-do it for work. I don't want to spray the air and walk through the scent. I want to wash all my clothes with this.

So for all the guys who love the way I smell and couldn't wait to undress me, hehehe; here's what's making you stupid:~
Notes: yuzu, mandarin, pineapple leaves, lychee, grapes, peony, peach blossom, sweet pea, nashi pear, white musk and amyris wood.

*might add more to this list whenever.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Found some links but haven't gone through it yet. Will do a digest on this after trying them out.

http://www.herbalshop.com/tea/chinese-herbtea-formula.htm
http://www.naturalbloom.com/articles/herbal-medicine-59/

Some says, red dates drink is good for healthy pink glow but others get heaty drinking that.

Dermatitis

My skin's been acting up again. So I have to be extremely careful with how I treat my life.
Why do I say so?
Well eating the wrong food could cause allergy. Not sleeping enough could cause eczema (at least for me).
Dirty environment could cause eczema...
Hair products could cause eczema...
Eer... Emily will say I have the glass child syndrome. Have to be in an extremely sterile room.

Having said that, I still managed to get allergy reaction twice in 10 days.

The first was because I couldn't fall asleep for 2-3 weeks. Or is it the new liquid foundation? My face started itching and there were bumps but I thought it was just pimples. Then it started to get really itchy and weeping. Believe me, I didn't make that word up. I was searching for skin allergy this syndrome is called weeping. Basically, small blisters start to appear on skin. Ruptures after a few days and keeps watering. Sometimes it dries up but the watery part will come back.
This kind of allergy is called: Dermatitis.
The syndrome is the exact opposite of eczema but the itching, which after you scratch will result in scaling; pretty much put it up there for me with eczema.

I was treated by the doctor with steroid and hydrocortisone and one month's worth of tetracycline/doxycycline. Har? same treatment as eczema? I could've diagnosed myself.

I kept at the doxycycline but the syndrome persists on another area of my skin. So I went to another doctor in Chinatown. Apparently, he has a reputation of healing these problems really fast. Ugh...
The clinic is right at the corner of Smith Road. The whole shop looks like... an old pawnshop! The dispensary has metal bars, which I am sure has a dozen coats of paints underneath, but at this moment, is white. The nurse is an old dude; shiny head with a laurel of greys.
Old Male Nurse: What you want?
Me: Eeer... to see the doctor? *uncertain grin*
Old Male Nurse: Been here before? Any allergies, ah? *Stood up and reached for a patient's card*
Me: Here is my IC. First time here. Allergic to aspirin.

*Old Male Nurse wrote my details out.*

Old Male Nurse: Go in to the 2nd door, lah.

3 metres to the left, I can see the back of the shop. It looks exactly like an old chinese coffeeshop, complete with the usual mess that comes with the back kitchen.

I looked uncertainly at the 2nd door he had indicated. "Come in!", a voice bellowed from behind the door.
I knocked hesistantly. Pushed the rickety door, with a dozen under paints but currently white.

The doctor is as old as his male nurse, a head of white hair, hands behind is head; chairs on 2 legs.

I went in, sat on the chair and grinned.

"So... are you married?"

"Huh?"

"Just a question."

Sickening deja-vu.

"No. Eeerr... doctor, see I have this allergy here. "

"Ooohh... bad bad. The other side?"

"Don't have."

"Oh, you're here because of your husband?"

Grrrr... "No."

"Hmmm... Studying?"

"Nope"

"Oh... Planning to get married here?"

"Ya. *whatever* the plan is there"

"Ok. I am prescribing you one week's worth of medicine. Come back next week. Good luck with your marriage"

"Eerr... thanks, I guess."

I didn't know what he prescribed me because the male nurse didn't say. But it works wonder! I was healed in 2 days.


***********************************

Thong Teck Clinic
72, Smith Street
S058969

Phone: 62236946

***********************************

Lusting: Unexpected damages

Kinokuniya has 20% discount for the past 3 days. Went with Kelly. I did not intend to buy anything but walked out with these magazines...

Damage: $90 plus.


Woah! These mags really bring out the nerd in me.

Necessity:
1. Academic Adobe Photoshop CS 3 Extended ($529).
2. Wide(r) angle lens.
3. Bigger portable harddrive.
Got meself a nice 250Gig Maxtor at the PC Fair. And a really cool Garskin to boot. I am in heaven! Hehehe.
4. Nikon SB 600... Sto-fen Omni Bounce(?)
Was in Gotemba with Afiza... Oh man, you guys should've seen the Nikon shop there! It's like heaven for Nikon lovers. I bought it! I BOUGHT IT! Hahaha
5. GOOD tripod.

Hmm....

Stalking the girl of your dreams

How one thing leads to another.

As some people might know, I am so darn infatuated with Yuki Isoya. I listen to her songs everyday. And today, I searched for her images and came to Vimeo, where the co-founder of that project, Zach Klein was trying to dance to the video in his office.

I looked at his video thumbnails and gosh, the colours! It's all so beautiful. Then I saw this:
Patrick discusses the girl of his dreams...

What struck me was the colour scheme and lighting. Don't you all agree that this is the most gorgeous colour scheme ever? I want a green wall! And that red wall behind that girl too!



[By the way, I just realised you can see my view progression from the tabs in Firefox]

SO I had to watch the video. When I watched the video for the first time, I was admiring the cool green backdrop and great strobe on the right, how it creates such nice shadows, vignette etc... The video editing is quite simple but beautiful at the same time.

Then I went, "Huh?" at the part where he said he should've talked to the girl in the subway.
Wait, what is he talking about?

REWIND.

Ok. Apparently he saw this dream girl in the train and started a witch hunt for her. Eer, I would definitely be crept out! o_O
Well, somewhat... ^_^ I am just jealous. No, it's really sweeter than my projection.

He saw her in the train, didn't have the guts to talk to her. Bought a domain and setup a website with just one picture that he drew (everybody go aaaww, now), describing the encounter and what they were wearing/doing.

Patrick Moberg's illustration from his website: www.nygirlofmydream.com
Deja vu? Yes, because this is quite similar to Daniel Powter's Bad Day. And Amelie from Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain. Life immitating art, huh?

So anyway, boy find girl with the help of NY-ers. Everything is well chronicled in laughing squid.

Well well well. So what is the moral of the story?

1. Take the subway/train instead of cabbing.
2. Watch people in the train instead of reading your book/tech documents.
3. See someone you fancy, setup a website and draw the whole thing out. Provided you can draw in the first place.
4. For the girls, wear flowers in your hair but try to make it elegant/sweet and not look like crazy hippie woman.

Hmm... I like flowers in my hair but, but, but I doubt I can achieve any of that.

One a more serious note though, I really think the problem is in Singapore, we just don't go out.
I, for one, love to stay in. I cab most of the time. I work the rest of the time. I try to shop after work so I don't need to go out on Sundays. I do my laundry lovingly over the weekend. I hardly meet anyone. Sounds familiar? It is mine and everyone else's story.

Hmm.... I have no idea how to make it better. But I guess... we should take things slower. Go out over the weekends, take the train, dress pretty.
The works...

My hair stylist was telling me to get my hair done for Doreen's wedding but I was skeptical.
He said, "Come on! You really should take this opportunity to doll up. Do you want to look like this all the time?"
By this he meant casual even in dresses, or I hope that is what he meant. After this story, I think I will take him up on it.

Ok. Off to drop my recycling stuff at Salvation Army.

The dead cat

Was on the way home. Feeling good about my hair treatment. Look at my hair bounce!

At the crossing one block from my home.
An insane bag lady wanted to cross too. A dead cat is in the middle of the road. Wait a minute. A DEAD cat is in the middle of the road!! He is fully intact.

Cars were zooming past it. They're always inches from squashing him. Every time a car fly past him, I scream. I've decided, I want to move him. But how? As I was trying to call my housemate for reinforcement, another lady (sane, very sane) came to my side of the road and asked aloud, "Is that cat dead? Oh my! Do you want to move it?"

I replied in high-pitched voice quickly,"Oh my god! I am so glad. I really want to move it but I don't know how!"

I forgot to breathe.

The nice, very sane lady started rummaging her bag for something to wrap the cat in, while I frantically punched at the knob to turn the traffic light red. Every time another car sped by, both of us shrieked.

Finally, the light turned yellow for cars traffic. We ran to the middle of the road, knelt down but I didn't know what to do. You see, I don't like cats. I don't touch live cats, let alone dead ones. So I put the plastic bag the very sane lady gave me over his head, while she shove the cat into the bag. The bag was too small! Oh no. A young guy was crossing from opposite the road. We looked up at him helplessly, trying to tell him the whole situation in our Minnie Mouse voices. He came over, saw the situation, knelt down and said reassuringly to us, "It's ok..." picked the cat up with both hands and brought it over to the side of the road.

I mused loudly,"Where do you bury cats here in Singapore?" The very sane lady replied,"It's ok, we can put him here at the road side." So the young guy did. We started gushing our gratitude to him but he just smiled and waved us off, like he save dead cats from the middle of the road everyday.

We started crossing the road, the very sane lady and I. The whole time we were playing out that drama, the insane bag lady didn't cross. She crossed at the same time as us.
I suppose, in her insane, dysfunctional brain; she wanted to save the cat from having it's brain crushed post-mortem but all she could do was imagine it in her head, silently.

I talked to the sane lady. I think I am in love!
She is so funny, eloquent and kind!
We talked about all sorts of things. I told her our neighbourhood is full of kind people, relating the yellow umbrella story to her.
She said,"Well you are a young, pretty girl. I am sure that is the reason!"
I laughed, "You are mean! I will just hold on to the belief that he is kind."
She said,"Oh come on, now!"

She walks really fast, though. I told her I hope to see more of her. I hope it didn't sound like I am hitting on her or anything. She replied gleefully,"I am sure we will! We are in the same neighbourhood"
I wanted to ask for her number but I am too shy.

Oh kind, funny, eloquent and very, very sane lady. I miss you, already! (^ω^)

Kind man with yellow brolly

Went for a nice dinner with Susan. We were bored. She made fun of the my tan. I did not tan, ok. It's the genes. If only she knew, how I wish I have chinese skintone and chinky eyes. She said,"You will look really funny with those eyes." I said,"Well, like Lucy Liu, eh?"

People watching... as usual. She said I dress odd. Har? Don't make fun of my comfy kappa casuals ok. They are way cool! I love sneakers! White sneakers especially.

"No no, you are wearing skirt, you should wear shoes like mine. See. Let's exchange".

And we did.

"Your jeans look better with my kappas, dammit!"

"Ah! I told ya!"





"Ok. Fine. I am walking around with mismatch shoes for the time being. Let's see if anyone notice."

Went to the toilet. Unfortunately, people did notice because the toilet is on the level of "tatami" seats of tcc. One guy actually pointed my shoes to his girlfriend.
I just act like I really wanna pee.


How funny. We are both the same shoe size even though she is 170cms at least.

I wish I have her height. But I only have her shoe size...

On the way home, I clenched my butt like she taught me to. She says it will make me bootylicious and cellulite-free. I like the sound of that!
Ouch! Butt cramps...

As I walked out of the station to my home, it was already drizzling. Dang. Do I protect my notebook or my hair?
I decided to go with my notebook. Hunched over, notebook in my chest, I walked swiftly. My mind wondered, to that time in Tokyo, when Afiza and I were walking under the drizzle. I sighed.

As I walked, I thought to myself, where are the kind people when you need them? I always share my umbrella.

Crossing the road silently. The guy in front of me turned twice. Is he wondering if we should cross? The green man has only just started blinking.

He said,"Hey, you want to share my umbrella?"

As I skipped up to him, I thought to myself, Yellow brolly! I love yellow brolly!

We crossed the road and came to a junction. I had to ask first.

"Are you going to the right?"
"Well, do you have to?"
"No, I am going left."
"Great! So am I. Stopping there to pick up coffee."
"Yay!"

We talked. I said normally I am the one to offer the umbrella. This is really good karma! Yay! Thank you, karma.

We chat away. I told him I will write about this on my blog. Maybe he regretted sharing his umbrella with me. I talked about everything except how much I really love yellow umbrella at the moment.

We parted ways at the coffeeshop. I pat him on the back and thanked him.

Thank you, kind man with yellow brolly.

As I paced, sheltered from the rain; I thought to myself, there are kind people here.
And it was a yellow brolly.

In the absence of a shopping list

I realised I love shopping. Oops.

I love shopping alone, I mean. I will go out alone, with my shopping list and find them as cheaply as I can.

But... what do you do when you don't have a shopping list? Where do we go??

Nathan with Tokko hachimaki
I wish they have Uniqlo here. I always call it Uni-glow. Afiza have to constantly correct me. Ah, that and hachimaki. When I finally got the pronunciation correct, she squealed. Hahaha. I love you, Afiza. Oh my... you will soon be Dr. Afiza. Sungguh bangga!

Oh ya, Afiza, remember when we were reading the Uniqlo newsletter and they say they are opening in NY? I took a pic of it for you.





So what do I do if:
1. there is no sales.
2. I don't have something specific to buy?
3. I can't go to the bookstore because I always end up buying books for all the wrong reasons. Even my brother got into this trend.





I go to.... Daiso! Where everything is $2. Yippee! What a fantastic place to go. There's 3 Daiso here; IMM Building, Plaza Singapura and Vivo City. Paper art, kitchen stuff, household things... yay yay!

Or if I want to be fascinated with clever organic things... Muji! Love the clever storage designs. The clean, muted, organic colours. The grape vinegar! Love the packaging, love the drink! I can spend the whole day there, looking at the things, trying to figure out what each does.... Especially at the new big one in Marina Square. So beautiful. Because everything is so expensive, I can only look... But wow! How interesting. Turns out, their products are innovative and have won a lot of awards for product design.

Many a times, I stood outside skinfood admiring the quaint, organic feel of their shop design. Then I go in and squeal like a girly girl (which everyone knows I am not) at the very quaint, very organic packaging. I will buy the products because of their packaging alone. It's that pretty.
One of my favourite things to do back in Melaka was to walk around the town admiring the quaint buildings there. Oh, did you know? Once I even went into the sikh temple near Bukit China during one of their celebrations? I was the only chinese there. I was curious. I wanted to know more. I was only 15. The sikhs in their gorgeous sarees and exquisite shirts, turban gave me rice and curry. Long story that one...

So when I am broke and without a shopping list, I shop. But for an entirely different reason. I feast my eyes on visually pleasing shops. I feed my curiosity with innovative, earthy, organic products. I make sure the hole in my pocket's not any bigger with cheap, good japanese things from Daiso. I end it all, happy that I spent it indulged in loving myself.

^_^

Drug Allergy

On Friday night, I had my first drug allergy ever. To... aspirin! Of all things.

I remembered Julia has allergy to paraceptamol.

I don't know what to do... What an interesting thing to happen to me. Half of the time, I just chuckle and can't believe it happened to me.

I knew something wasn't right when half an hour after taking aspirin, my left eye swell up but I didn't care. I should've induced vomitting but I was so tired and lazy. I thought it will all be well after I slept. Then comes the next morning.

I can't open my left eye. I can't open my left eye!! My face is swollen! Sleeping didn't help at all!

Went to see the doctor.
The clinic attendant yelped when she saw me. Called for the doctor. Both of them looked at me with urgency, Shooed all the other patients out, made me go into the consultation room and gave me an antihistamine jab on the hip.
I sat there for a while to confirm that I am not allergic to this antihistamine. They said I should be drowsy by then but I was not until 8 hours later.
Evidently, it will take a much longer time for me to heal.

My aunt saw me on the 3rd day, when I could open both eyes. She thought I looked really bad. Both my eyes were bruised and droopy like tare panda.... If only she saw the first 2 days.


Kekeke. Now normal liao!

Now what are the symptoms of aspirin allergy?

A true aspirin allergy — in which your immune system overreacts to the drug — is rare. Signs and symptoms of aspirin allergy or sensitivity range from mild to serious and may include:

Hives
Itchy skin
Itchy, watery eyes
Swelling of the lips, tongue or face
Breathing difficulty or wheezing

These signs and symptoms usually occur within a few hours of taking the medication.
[http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/aspirin-allergy/AN01467]

Face swelling is considered severe already, ok? So don't be like me, stood outside the clinic, cracking stupid jokes to mum.

So we ask the usual question, why am I allergic to this now but it was fine before?

In most cases, allergies are inherited. Not to a specific allergen but the tendencies to develop allergies is much higher.

Antibodies (also known as immunoglobulins) are proteins that are found in blood or other bodily fluids of vertebrates, and are used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects, such as bacteria and viruses.

There are five types of mammalian Ig heavy chain denoted by the Greek letters: α, δ, ε, γ, and μ. The type of heavy chain present defines the class of antibody; these chains are found in IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM antibodies, respectively. Distinct heavy chains differ in size and composition; α and γ contain approximately 450 amino acids, while μ and ε have approximately 550 amino acids.
(from Wikipedia)

Our major concern is here IgE. Basically, we develop allergy reaction because IgE mistaken that particular innocuous allergen as harmful to our body.

How many times do we say, "But I was fine with this drug before!".
Truth is, we never were fine with it. Our body was making a decision about the foreign addition. After a few exposure, the antibodies increase until allergic symptoms begin to show. Which is why it seems to take a few encounters to the drug/food for the allergy to develop. Fantastic Voyage by Isaac Asimov has a very interesting take on this.

Well... it is not the end of everything I suppose. Just no more aspirin for mentrual cramps, headaches, colds... Hmm...

Living with it:

1. Update your medical records with your company and family doctors.
2. Update the medical card that you carry with you. (Some people think I am a little crazy like that but I don't care!)
3. Another alternative to your medical card is a dog-tag or wrist-tag specifying your allergy. Wilson used to wear one on his wrist, with the medic sign (caduceus entwined on the staff of Hermes) because he is of blood type A negative.
4. Watch what you eat. Less milk. More eggs.


I've decided to go the holistic ways. But still learning. Will update on another post about this.



Bibliography:

http://www.webmd.com/allergies/guide/salicylate-allergy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antibody#Immunoglobulin_domains

http://www.aaoaf.org/patients/allergy_qa.asp


How to live with allergy to aspirin

http://www.ehow.com/how_5273_live-with-allergy.html

Benefits of Tea Tree

Someone asked me recently: How to treat acne on extremely sensitive skin? Honestly, I wouldn't know unless I see your friend's condition, Somu, but in general I will like to talk about this almost miraculous thing called tea tree, which is suitable for acned, sensitive skin... in moderation.


NOTE: TEA TREE CAN TEND TO BE DRYING. Do monitor your condition for a week at least and tune the usage accordingly.



The best and most useful is to get the pure tea tree oil or Melaleuca alternifolia. Actually tea tree is native to Australia and used for medicinal purposes by the Aborigines.
I used to get Thursday Plantation but a lot of pharmacies' not carrying this anymore.


So how and when can we use tea tree? Believe it or not, tea tree is extremely versatile.

Here are some of the benefits of tea tree:

Antiseptic/ Bacterial Properties:	A general disinfectant that fights bacteria in all kinds of wounds and infections.
Anti-Fungal Properties:	Treats fungal diseases affecting humans and animals.
Anti-Viral Properties:	Fights may common infectious diseases.
Anti-Inflammatory Properties:	Good skin penetration capabilities.
Antimicrobial Properties:	Extremely low potential for skin irritation or sensitisation.
Immuno-Stimulant:	Helps the body to fight off all kinds of infections. This is especially important if the body is weakened already.
Cleans Wounds:	Tea tree oil dissolves pus and cleans the surface of wounds without damage to the tissue.
Repairs Skin:	Tea tree oil helps skin to heal by by encouraging the formation of new scar tissue.

Excerpt from http://www.teatreeoiluses.com/


Basically tea tree oil can be used on skin, vaporised, inhaled, drip into nose or mouth... Well if you know you can take something orally, it certainly can do no greater harm applied in any other ways at all.

I will concentrate on it's benefits for the skin.
For bites, inflamation, cuts, acne or (the reason I got this tea tree oil) paintball wounds; dab tea tree on the spots.
Dilute it with a little water.

In my case, I spritz a layer of facial mist, then lightly massage the tea tree oil on the problem areas. I said, LIGHTLY massage. I feel tea tree oil works best when mixed with a little moisture. Too pure and it just doesn't seems to work much, in my opinion anyway.


So what about products with tea tree ingredients? Simply brilliant, I'll say!





T3 Pimple Gel by HOE Pharmaceuticals

For people who are too sensitive for prolonged use of benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, this is the perfect topical treatment for your stubborn acne.

It is mild enough for a big splat to be applied on the problem area. But pointless, really. It is kinda watery and will slip. Just use a good amount and it shall do the trick. Also this does not cause scarring. Very nice. But do not get the red T3 Pimple Gel+. Contrary to the name, it does not contain tea tree oil at all. Can get at any local pharmacies for less than $6, I think.




Derma E Tea Tree & E Antiseptic Creme

What an interesting product. It is cream base but not oily because of the 5% tea tree oil property. I will say this is one of the best tea tree cream I've ever used. Does not clog and yet not too drying. Good as a moisturiser. I use it as a night moisturiser. Can be purchased from Nature's Farm pharmacy for about $20+.









Enfuselle Acne Clarifying Complex by Shaklee

If you have sporadic smallish bumps and pimples on the whole face, this is quite a good product for that. It contains my favourite, favourite tea tree oil and a very small amount (0.5%) salicylic acid. So it won't aggravate sensitive skin. Mild enough to be used on the whole face. But gives off a white-ish matte mask. Best used at night. Can be purchased at any Guardian pharmacies that carry Shaklee products. I think this cost about $20... Can't remember, but definitely less than $30.











Caron DepilSpa After Wax Soothing Lotion

Hehehe... Eerrr... I like this :P Bought it after my first brazillian wax. Yes it is an experience worthy of a post in itself. Anyway, I think aftercare lotion is extremely important to prevent ingrown hair and rashes. This really does it well. And it has tea tree oil. I am a sucker for things tea tree. No rash, no sore, no ingrown. Bought this from the spa for about $28. Easily available in Australia or from Australian websites for AUD25 and below.







Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Blackhead Minimising Mask

One of my absolute favourite tea tree peel off mask. It is meant for nose really, and should never, never be used on the whole face.
But some creativity on the use is definitely allowed. On days when I have big breakout, I will put a dot of this on the inflamed area, let it dry out, peel off and viola! The oil's been sucked dry, the inflamation's gone down. It really hasten the healing of big breakouts. Costs about $20.

On a side note, tried the tea tree facial wash. Too drying for my skin. I felt like my skin's going to crack after that. Baaad!



T3 Acne Body Wash

If you have acne or tiny bumps on the back, this is one product that my mum swears by. I have the occasional bumps or two and this has helped in so far. I will say for the price, $6, it is definitely a keeper.
I will like to stress one thing though, DO NOT SCRUB your back. It will make the problem worse. So it's best to just wash it well and let it heal nicely.

If the problem is chronic, I will think Body Shop's tea tree wash is more suitable. But beware, that is only recommended for people with oily skin.

This on the other hand, is gentle for daily use and doesn't dry the skin out unnecessarily.





These are some of the products I've personally tried that contains tea tree.

There are a lot of products with tea tree oil like Kiehl, Aesop.

Always try to get a sample product, find out if it contains other ingredients like sulfur, benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, AHA, esorcinol etc.

Personally, benzoyl peroxide (main ingredient of Oxy) is not my favourite way of treating pimples and salicylic acid burnt my skin 3 months ago. I will go with tea tree all the time unless it is totally unavailable.

On a side note:

Tea tree's smell is really an acquired smell. Hahaha. It smells quite awful really and to put it on your face and bear with it... A real feat. Once you get familiar with the smell and come to love the benefits of it though, you will like the smell, I assure you.

Poor you

Poor people who came to this site...

I'm going through an episode of depression right now. Which if you know my other personal site, would've read about it, in abstract.

Let me sort this out. I hate myself too, so if you're beating me up about this, I beat myself up three times more. :(

No update for this week

I am sick.

Life got a little too exciting.

I got pimples breakout.

It's my birthday...

Have you guys seen the new ipod nano?? OMG. I so want it! Red one, please.


Click here to read more.

You don't even know I exist...

http://www.thepiemaker.com/

BEAUTY DIY/ Knowledge -Hair: How to maintain curls

Some one said my posts too wordy... Ah then? Word's the only thing I know, mah.

So for a $500 head, how do you maintain the curls with your oh-so-fantastic leave in moisturiser that also curls and defrizz ah?

Oh.... very easy... Knowing me... Lagi easy! Follow the steps below, lah.







I am using the U one instead of the chopsticky-ish bun holder. This is easier for me. Some say, to maintain equal curls, make 2 buns and curl them in. Eeerrr.... To me, got curls, happy enough!

女人我最大

This is a fantastic beauty talk show from Taiwan.

Search on youtube ba.

BEAUTY DIY/ Knowledge -Hair: Caring

Anyway now you have your pretty, fake, distressed hair... So how do we take care of the poor poor head after that?

Well, these days treatments very outdated liao. Not like last time our mothers, wrap in hot towel. Now there's stuff to apply on the hair that cares, styles and doesn't need to be washed out.

Again.... my skin very sensitive one. So I can't anyhow take the leave-in styling/treatment products. Which is a good thing really because I don't believe in putting too much crap on my head everyday. My face already needs too much of my attention (this will be a beauty blog for another day, patience!).

Let me explain how sensitive my skin is to hair products. I've had cases where the first day I put the styling product, I get breakout and rashes on the part where the hair touches my skin; which is back and cheeks...

(Face cheeks hor! My hair not so long lah, siao! You think Yoko Ono meh?).

Sooooo.... always do a patch test of any product behind your ear or on your wrist. Basically styling products' no good lah. Don't use unless it's your own wedding then boh pian....

The 2 products I will like introduce for sensitive skin:

1. REDKEN: Fresh Curls Curl Refiner leave-in anti-frizz detangler for unruly curls

Fresh curls is a leave-in moisturiser, that curls and anti-frizz. SO GOOD HAR? Ah then? Price also very good. $35 plus from chinatown. If get it in salon will cost about $50 plus. I lied to the nice stylist that I want to do 24 hours patch test. Then went to chinatown to get it cheaper.

2. Phytologie: Phyto Defrisant Relaxing Hair Balm

HOWever... I still feel Phytodefrisant is a better defrissing balm. All natural vegetable thingie..

Aiya anyway these days all natural liao, if you see behind the tube and there's a flammable sign, put it back on the rack and run far far away.

Remember the "America's funniest home video" where the auntie's hair caught fire? Use those flammable products loh. I kid you not.

Anyway for our tropical, humid weather; almost everyone have frizz so having a good defrizz is extremely handy.


Well, if it's too expensive for you, then you can use macadamia oil (the highest ingredient in Phyto 9; helmed by Jennifer Aniston) or coconut oil.
Where to get? Don't know yet. Still in my searchlist.

Anyway, try to go natural. If you don't need styling products, then don't!

Now we know how and what to use to care for the curly, frizzy hair... what about the shampoo and conditioner?

Aaahh... Very tricky one. For me, I curled the ends (wavy hair want to keep long... plus vain!), and now it's coloured.

But I have oily, sensitive scalp

~~why always so sensitive one!?!?! Better live in bubble like bubble boy!~~

with dry ends... HOW!!??!?!

Fret not! Chio Bu Wannabe is here to help!

Firstly, get a shampoo for oily scalp like teatree or peppermint. Sure can find. These days shampoo's like the new age kuih lapis / "chiu chen kau" = 9 layered kuih. Very varied, very colourful, very assorted!

-By the way, I really don't like the new kuih lapis. Very colourful, eat already scared get cancer!

Also remember to check your shampoo properties as indicated in the picture below. Try to avoid shampoos with either of the first 2 properties. Too harsh! My current shampoo is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate which is still not good enough.

The best pick will be TEA Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate!

Then get the appropriate conditioner for your hair. If you permed, then get the perm conditioner. If coloured, then get coloured conditioner. If like me... Err, since I got the curls leave-in, I opted for the coloured conditioner.

***************************************************

CORRECT METHOD FOR WASHING AND CONDITIONING HAIR

1. Shampoo the roots of your hair only. Also make sure you scrub & massage the hairline on forehead, behind ears and above nape. This will prevent pimples and breakout on this area.
2. Condition from 2/3 of your hair to ends.
3. Make sure you wash your back clean clean or else can get pimples one hor.
4. Rinse thoroughly.

***************************************************

Unless you do home hair treatment, then you can shampoo all your hair.

Oh what is that I hear??

You all screaming,"DO what treatment!?!?! Just now say no need to do home treatment why suddenly talk about this!?!?"

Aiya... still vain. If got time, do loh... After all, watch tv already wasted 2 hours, why not just put the stuff on the head before watching right?

Ok... also got "mi zhue" to hair treatment one.

***************************************************

EASY HOME HAIR TREATMENT

Ingredients:
Olive oil
Aluminum foil cap (can get from Daiso for $2, traps heat that's emitted from the head)

Methods:
1. Microwave the oilive oil for 15-20 seconds. Depends on how hot you want.
2. Pour it over the end of the hair. Massage your head abit if you like.
3. Put the aluminum cap over your head.





***************************************************

Watch tv............................. As long as you like. Till you wash your hair later. But please wash from roots to ends this time as olive oil is very oily. Depends lah you want to use conditioner or not this time.

Later, will feel your hair's very soft and smooth. Can do once a week. Sometimes, I will mix with other hair treatment to make it more potent. Cheap stuff you get from Watson's home brand is good enough.

BEAUTY DIY/ Knowledge -Hair: Permanent treatment

Very long story about how suddenly I become the hair expert now.

Let me start by saying, I am very cheapskate and lazy. My method's not the best but most suitable for lazy, cheapskates like myself. So there!

~Sunday (1st Sept) went to this salon (HairPlus in Serangoon), highly recommended by my friendsssssssssssss....

Anyway the stylist gave me orangey-blonde highlights on black hair. When she toweled my hair, I was so distressed, I told her, "I don't like this at all. I don't want tiger hair".

But she didn't do much besides saying,"Oh you so conservative, har? Not adventurous?" What??? My fringe alone has 4 parts of black and orangey-blonde!

That was about it. So that marked the day I became tigerlily for 3 days before I get it fixed at Chapter 2, Marina Square.

Also, the fact that I look like mee hoon kway auntie/ 7th month getai singer. On a side note: very old ah peks from the hawker stall seems to like that hair. Thomas stand witness to that. ~




Ok what I want to say here is:

1. In the event of a botched dye job, get it fixed in 48-72 hours. Can be fixed one, not to worry. A lot of experts believe that this is the window period before the hair dye lock into your cuticle.

In my case, I think so lah, hor?

2. Do not try to do it yourself because you might end up damaging your hair more. Get an expert to do it. Because now your hair will need a treatments too. Cannot save on that. Serious! You want hair like hay??

Gross, nobody will sayang and pet your hair. Except for your own mother, but that is out of pity I am sure.

3. There are colour removal for permanent dye or just dye a darker shade. I think for us, black hair ppl, the best bet is to darken the shade. Which is what I did.

BUT remember, not to use heating whatever to get the dye in. Hair was already damaged in the first dye so let time do the work instead. Make sure your hair stylist is not using those heat stuff on your head the 2nd time.

4. Treatments! Very important. For me, I have sensitive skin. So I told the 2nd stylist that. He mixed a very mild dark dye for me.

Opt for Loreal or anything else instead of Wella. Wella's products are very strong with very high chemical composition and not suitable for sensitive skin.

And there's no pain or itchiness. Aiya... how women suffer, right? Anyway there are 2 very important treatments during hair augmenting process.

a - scalp treatment. Very important, hor! Our scalp very kesian.

Kena tortured like nobody's business but we give so much attention to the dead (hair is basically dead once it leaves your scalp) but none to the living skin. Wah Lau!

So this scalp treatment is a must!It helps to soothe and care for your scalp while ridding all the chemicals that might've fell onto your scalp.

b - hair treatment. Hair dead already why still wanna take care?

Well problem is, we mess with the hair so much, that it looks "dry". Dry texture is caused by raised cuticles on the hair shaft.

See any marketing for shampoo will understand what I am saying. So this treatment is to flatten the cuticles, soften the hair for a nice shiny sheen.

AND lastly keep the moisture in (not sure about this la, so I read on google).

Ok lah, want to sleep already. If anybody needs anything, just comment lah, hor? For those difficult steps, I will include pictorial guide but the model is most probably me. So tahan only lah hor.

Love,
Chio Bu Wannabe