A haircut
Carwash
Everton VS Liverpool
Trip to Singapore
Hari Raya Aidilfitri
Trip to Singapore???
Yeah, I've finally managed to get to travel overseas because of work, though it's only a 2 day trip and on really tight budget ( I offered to take the coach). At least I still make it to Singapore once a year and I have SGD 140 to spend away. Though with my current eating habits, I'm not sure if I should visit Burger King....yum....uh Oh....
The other problem would be that my return will be on the eve of Hari Raya, which means I'm putting myself at high risk of being part of the statistic. Since I'm not driving, I can't be blamed since I'm not in control. So if it's time to go, it's time to go, no?
Anyway, still need alot of work on my 4th finger on my right hand. No strength at all...Practice practice practice......
Oh, dunno why I've been getting this insane drive to actually hang out this Friday Night. It's driving me nuts. Luckily for me, I have no one to go out with..hehehe..
Friday, September 26, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Of long trips to find food you can get next door (almost)..
Warning...Non-Halal post ahead....hehehe
Before that, a quick update on class last weekend. Still the same teacher who I have to speak in Cantonese with. But this time it was better an communication wasn't as tough. So maybe I should give it a go for 2 months. I paid for it anyway, hahaha. It's funny she asked me to get a songbook of sorts which was aptly titled, "Piano for Adult Beginners". It it, voila! It had June by Tchaikovsky (which looks harder than it sounds...:-( ) as well as Moonlight Sonata 1st movement (which, if I was only required to play with my right hand, I would have breeze through easily, haha!)
In between are loads of songs and compositions, which, IMHO, some are simplified. But then again, it's not like I can play the originals anyway. I can't even play the actual Traumerei....Sigh...
Ok, so last weekend an much delayed trip to Klang to find some authentic Klang Bakuteh finally materialised. For those unfamiliar, Bak Kut Teh is hokkein for Spare Ribs and Tea. The meat is pork by the way. Though I'm not exactly a fan of spare ribs (unless you debone them for me, haha!) the meal has evolved to include a host of other goodies like lean meat, fatty meat, mushrooms, etc. and above all it's yummy yummy soup. So having sampled quite a lot of this, I figured surely the one in Klang, where Bakuteh is famous for, should be better, if not best?
It's nice to know people in far away places anyway..hehe. Klang isn't exactly far like Mars far, or Australia far, but 60KM of driving on a highway is far enough for me. Anyway, so this colleague of mine brought me to this renown Klang place which is suppose to be THE ONE for Klang people. The ones I went before are relative knock-offs.
So after picking him up from his home (which, on another side, is a pretty nice place and quiet too...) we had to drive another 15 minutes or so and the place is called Pandamaran Town area (he keeps on repeating "Sin Chuan" in mandarin but me and mandarin just don't mix, hehe). Then after confirming which stall it was (yes, despite it being such a renown eatery, it's actually just a stall beside the main road.) we sat down and he ordered. FYI, do not go there without a hokkien speaker. They will treat you like a nobody. Then my colleague explained that the owner would insist that the soup has to be at the right mix before he'll serve, so everyone will actually wait, even if it is for an hour, for this guy to serve. Luckily for me, we arrived in time for the first serve so we didn't have to wait too long.
Oh, did I mention that for Bakuteh the main thing for me isn't the meat and tea but the soup?? Well, you're not getting much of that here. They don't even give a bowl of soup. The bowl where they serve the meat consist of about 5-6 spoonful of the soup and that's it. You can't even ask for more soup. When your order more rice, they'll give you about 2-3 spoonful of soup..That's it, folks...
It was nice, in terms of taste. But I wouldn't go there if I want to drink Bakuteh soup....
I would go there again, if I find the right company. Going there on my own? 120KM of driving to have food I've already tried? Don't think so.
Ok, that's all I have got to say about Bak Kut Teh. Now I need to find motivation to practice what I'm taught. Somehow paying for it only motivates me to turn up to classes, which is not enough...
By the way, anyone want to donate me a piano???? :D
Before that, a quick update on class last weekend. Still the same teacher who I have to speak in Cantonese with. But this time it was better an communication wasn't as tough. So maybe I should give it a go for 2 months. I paid for it anyway, hahaha. It's funny she asked me to get a songbook of sorts which was aptly titled, "Piano for Adult Beginners". It it, voila! It had June by Tchaikovsky (which looks harder than it sounds...:-( ) as well as Moonlight Sonata 1st movement (which, if I was only required to play with my right hand, I would have breeze through easily, haha!)
In between are loads of songs and compositions, which, IMHO, some are simplified. But then again, it's not like I can play the originals anyway. I can't even play the actual Traumerei....Sigh...
Ok, so last weekend an much delayed trip to Klang to find some authentic Klang Bakuteh finally materialised. For those unfamiliar, Bak Kut Teh is hokkein for Spare Ribs and Tea. The meat is pork by the way. Though I'm not exactly a fan of spare ribs (unless you debone them for me, haha!) the meal has evolved to include a host of other goodies like lean meat, fatty meat, mushrooms, etc. and above all it's yummy yummy soup. So having sampled quite a lot of this, I figured surely the one in Klang, where Bakuteh is famous for, should be better, if not best?
It's nice to know people in far away places anyway..hehe. Klang isn't exactly far like Mars far, or Australia far, but 60KM of driving on a highway is far enough for me. Anyway, so this colleague of mine brought me to this renown Klang place which is suppose to be THE ONE for Klang people. The ones I went before are relative knock-offs.
So after picking him up from his home (which, on another side, is a pretty nice place and quiet too...) we had to drive another 15 minutes or so and the place is called Pandamaran Town area (he keeps on repeating "Sin Chuan" in mandarin but me and mandarin just don't mix, hehe). Then after confirming which stall it was (yes, despite it being such a renown eatery, it's actually just a stall beside the main road.) we sat down and he ordered. FYI, do not go there without a hokkien speaker. They will treat you like a nobody. Then my colleague explained that the owner would insist that the soup has to be at the right mix before he'll serve, so everyone will actually wait, even if it is for an hour, for this guy to serve. Luckily for me, we arrived in time for the first serve so we didn't have to wait too long.
Oh, did I mention that for Bakuteh the main thing for me isn't the meat and tea but the soup?? Well, you're not getting much of that here. They don't even give a bowl of soup. The bowl where they serve the meat consist of about 5-6 spoonful of the soup and that's it. You can't even ask for more soup. When your order more rice, they'll give you about 2-3 spoonful of soup..That's it, folks...
It was nice, in terms of taste. But I wouldn't go there if I want to drink Bakuteh soup....
I would go there again, if I find the right company. Going there on my own? 120KM of driving to have food I've already tried? Don't think so.
Ok, that's all I have got to say about Bak Kut Teh. Now I need to find motivation to practice what I'm taught. Somehow paying for it only motivates me to turn up to classes, which is not enough...
By the way, anyone want to donate me a piano???? :D
Thursday, September 18, 2008
A jinx no more?
Interestingly, I sat through the entire Liverpool Man Utd match last weekend and it seems my jinx is over. Or is it?
I really wanted to leave the match actually, more so when in the 3rd minute, due to some non-existent defending from Javier Mascherano, Liverpool were a goal down. With me was Azmin and Andy and boy was Andy happy I stayed while Azmin was really wondering why I'm still around.
But somehow I watched on. Ok, I'll blame it on inertia. I do have a problem willing myself to do things when I'm not doing anything at all. So sitting down and having my eyes fixated on the TV was about as much I could do then.
But strangely enough, Edwin Van De Sar (the Man Utd keeper) decided to do what I've always hoped he'd do. Make a howler. From a deflected shot across his goalmouth, he decided to palm the ball onto an incoming Man Utd defender who could do nothing as the ball cannons off and rolled into the net. Liverpool 1 Man Utd 1. Things seem to be changing?
A long and ardous battle on the field later, Ryan Babel, who I couldn't understand why he didn't start, was substituted in. Before that, a Man Utd legend of sorts, as well as one of the few Man Utd players that I actually liked, was subbed in. He was Ryan Giggs. In his prime he was one of the most dangerous left wingers ever. On last weekend however, he wasn't exactly in his prime or playing all that well.
From a failed attempt to clear, Mascherano made something out of nothing of Gigg's insistent to let a ball run free, stole it, released it to Dirk Kuyt who happily passed it to an unmarked Babel and...!!!!
!!!!!GOAL!!!!!!
Liverpool 2 Man Utd 1!!!!!!
Everyone in the restaurant (bar silly Man Utd fans, ofcourse..:p) roared with approval (and for me, relief). That was in the 77th minute. The next 20 minutes or so was extremely anxious and I was actually telling myself that a draw would still be acceptable.
But in the end, the score stayed and Liverpool finally beat Man Utd after 9 meetings!!! Looks like we don't need Danny Murphy anymore!!!!
hahaha
That was fun, though I can't say so much about the rest of my weekend.
On a side note, last Saturday's piano class had a new teacher, who spoke to me in Mandarin!! Eventually she got the notion I don't understand mandarin (me not responding to her question would have made it obvious, no? :p) and she used cantonese instead. Maybe I should ask for an English speaking teacher. Otherwise I will have communication issues....:-(
We shall see.
Oh, bad piano habits that I have.
1) Play without proper tempo, usually too fast.
2) Keep raising my fingers away from the keyboard.
3) Tense posture.
Better start practicing!!!
I really wanted to leave the match actually, more so when in the 3rd minute, due to some non-existent defending from Javier Mascherano, Liverpool were a goal down. With me was Azmin and Andy and boy was Andy happy I stayed while Azmin was really wondering why I'm still around.
But somehow I watched on. Ok, I'll blame it on inertia. I do have a problem willing myself to do things when I'm not doing anything at all. So sitting down and having my eyes fixated on the TV was about as much I could do then.
But strangely enough, Edwin Van De Sar (the Man Utd keeper) decided to do what I've always hoped he'd do. Make a howler. From a deflected shot across his goalmouth, he decided to palm the ball onto an incoming Man Utd defender who could do nothing as the ball cannons off and rolled into the net. Liverpool 1 Man Utd 1. Things seem to be changing?
A long and ardous battle on the field later, Ryan Babel, who I couldn't understand why he didn't start, was substituted in. Before that, a Man Utd legend of sorts, as well as one of the few Man Utd players that I actually liked, was subbed in. He was Ryan Giggs. In his prime he was one of the most dangerous left wingers ever. On last weekend however, he wasn't exactly in his prime or playing all that well.
From a failed attempt to clear, Mascherano made something out of nothing of Gigg's insistent to let a ball run free, stole it, released it to Dirk Kuyt who happily passed it to an unmarked Babel and...!!!!
!!!!!GOAL!!!!!!
Liverpool 2 Man Utd 1!!!!!!
Everyone in the restaurant (bar silly Man Utd fans, ofcourse..:p) roared with approval (and for me, relief). That was in the 77th minute. The next 20 minutes or so was extremely anxious and I was actually telling myself that a draw would still be acceptable.
But in the end, the score stayed and Liverpool finally beat Man Utd after 9 meetings!!! Looks like we don't need Danny Murphy anymore!!!!
hahaha
That was fun, though I can't say so much about the rest of my weekend.
On a side note, last Saturday's piano class had a new teacher, who spoke to me in Mandarin!! Eventually she got the notion I don't understand mandarin (me not responding to her question would have made it obvious, no? :p) and she used cantonese instead. Maybe I should ask for an English speaking teacher. Otherwise I will have communication issues....:-(
We shall see.
Oh, bad piano habits that I have.
1) Play without proper tempo, usually too fast.
2) Keep raising my fingers away from the keyboard.
3) Tense posture.
Better start practicing!!!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Run in on a crowded road...
Isn't exactly the nicest thing to happen in a jammed up road. I have to admit I wasn't the nicest driver yesterday and in no part faultless, but hey...
Anyway, I was at this jammed junction and I saw an opening on my right lane so I dived in. I got honked by the car behind, who decided he was having none of it and went parallel with me on my right. Now, me with a Viva (which is a small car) against his Wira, which is a crappy bigger car, as well as me having no mood to be nice, I just don't see how he can actually muscle his way. Yes, he's got the bigger car and in most circumstances, the bigger car wins. But in a jammed road, the small car thriumphs since I need much less room to make any manuevers.
At first we went head to head for several metres, eventually I overtook him and took the lane. He then proceeded to go to my left but still wanted to wrestle me out by overtaking me. Our side mirrors clashed and luckily for me my side mirror is retractable manually so a few hits just sends it out of position but does not dislodge it. I still kept the lane. Then he came at me from the left again, wound down his window and started to hit my side mirror again. Had a quick look and could see a rather angry driver shouting expletives. I decided to ignore him and he eventually overtook me from the left only to signal left again as he obviously needed to go onto the lanes on the left. There was a clear road up ahead so he was obviously just acting like a angry child..haha. Eventually I found enough room to overtake him and nid him adieu while he remains stuck at that part of the jam..:P
Funny thing was that it's fasting month and well....Which got me thinking. Since I have no religion, I cannot sin. Unlike him/other. Especially on this time of the year. Well, even if not at this time of the year, I cannot sin. I can however go against the law and feel bad thanks to my conscience.....So if anyone is on the road having a go at me, they're just wasting their time. And they've just lost a lot of brownie points with their gods..hahaha. Not that it matters really, since in most religion, repentance is more of a show than a mental decision. hmmph.
After I finally reached home I assessed that my car wasn't damaged except for the mirror, which was already damaged in the past anyway. No point keeping the car in tip top exterior since that would just make it a car dying to get scratched.
In conclusion, don't mess with me as I can do what most people without sinning, cannot do. Doesn't make me a better person, just one with less worries about my afterlife. :P
Anyway, I was at this jammed junction and I saw an opening on my right lane so I dived in. I got honked by the car behind, who decided he was having none of it and went parallel with me on my right. Now, me with a Viva (which is a small car) against his Wira, which is a crappy bigger car, as well as me having no mood to be nice, I just don't see how he can actually muscle his way. Yes, he's got the bigger car and in most circumstances, the bigger car wins. But in a jammed road, the small car thriumphs since I need much less room to make any manuevers.
At first we went head to head for several metres, eventually I overtook him and took the lane. He then proceeded to go to my left but still wanted to wrestle me out by overtaking me. Our side mirrors clashed and luckily for me my side mirror is retractable manually so a few hits just sends it out of position but does not dislodge it. I still kept the lane. Then he came at me from the left again, wound down his window and started to hit my side mirror again. Had a quick look and could see a rather angry driver shouting expletives. I decided to ignore him and he eventually overtook me from the left only to signal left again as he obviously needed to go onto the lanes on the left. There was a clear road up ahead so he was obviously just acting like a angry child..haha. Eventually I found enough room to overtake him and nid him adieu while he remains stuck at that part of the jam..:P
Funny thing was that it's fasting month and well....Which got me thinking. Since I have no religion, I cannot sin. Unlike him/other. Especially on this time of the year. Well, even if not at this time of the year, I cannot sin. I can however go against the law and feel bad thanks to my conscience.....So if anyone is on the road having a go at me, they're just wasting their time. And they've just lost a lot of brownie points with their gods..hahaha. Not that it matters really, since in most religion, repentance is more of a show than a mental decision. hmmph.
After I finally reached home I assessed that my car wasn't damaged except for the mirror, which was already damaged in the past anyway. No point keeping the car in tip top exterior since that would just make it a car dying to get scratched.
In conclusion, don't mess with me as I can do what most people without sinning, cannot do. Doesn't make me a better person, just one with less worries about my afterlife. :P
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
And the weekend went....
Ok...
Class was only for 30 minutes and the temp teacher (seems they've asssigned me a teacher but she no-show) taught me the ultimate basics in piano playing. Before I knew the 30 minutes was up.. Disappointed.
Now I just need to practice playing with both hands on my run-down el-cheapo keyboard.
Otherwise weekend was a miss mostly. Didn't do much of what I should be doing, mostly because I was, well, afflicted. haha.
Hopefully this weekend the real teacher shows up and I can get going on learning how to play properly.
Targets/Goals - Traumerei 1st. Moonlight 1st and 2nd. It'll probably take me eons before I can play the 3rd piece because it's just so so fast..
Another Target/goal - Find myself an affordable piano.
This is going to take awhile.....
Class was only for 30 minutes and the temp teacher (seems they've asssigned me a teacher but she no-show) taught me the ultimate basics in piano playing. Before I knew the 30 minutes was up.. Disappointed.
Now I just need to practice playing with both hands on my run-down el-cheapo keyboard.
Otherwise weekend was a miss mostly. Didn't do much of what I should be doing, mostly because I was, well, afflicted. haha.
Hopefully this weekend the real teacher shows up and I can get going on learning how to play properly.
Targets/Goals - Traumerei 1st. Moonlight 1st and 2nd. It'll probably take me eons before I can play the 3rd piece because it's just so so fast..
Another Target/goal - Find myself an affordable piano.
This is going to take awhile.....
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Epiphany
Now, I'm not saying some extra-terrestial came to me and gave me a good hiding. Though I'm pretty sure that'll be what I get if indeed any one of them were to visit me. Yes, I haven't been a good boy. Why do you think I get no love during Christmas? (Because you don't celebrate it you dungu!) Oops.
So what did happen?
Well, in an effort to understand my chances as well as improve my odds in one of my recent pursuits of the fairer sex (Ok, I can't be in denial all the time, right? :p Though worry not, by the time I write this I'm back to being me..haha) I decided to speak to one long time friend and 'master of sweeping feets of the ground'. In our conversation he made light to me something that, in truth, is blatantly obvious. But you know how at times you just need to be told what you already know? It's an intricate and delicate timing and more often than not the timing is off. However, this time around the same old tune struck a very loud chord and voila! Eyes opened.
You see, a very obvious explanation to why I fail to attract any female of my liking is that I obviously go for the uncommon ones. However, despite my higher/different (I'd like to say lower, but then again, who am I kidding?) expectations, I have nothing to offer. How my friend put it; I am not good looking (to say I'm average looking would be a bonus but that doesn't help either), I am not rich nor aspire to be (and won't ever be, haha!), I am not intelligent to an extent it radiates around me (you know like how really smart people really smarten people kind of thing..), I'm not funny (Ok, as much as I disagree on this point, as I do believe I am, until I realise the only person laughing at my jokes are myself and my family. That basically means I AM NOT FUNNY..), I'm not good in bed (well, no one really knows that yet, but.....Well, no one will probably even know...haha!) and I have nothing exceptional/impressive to attract the uncommon types.
So in order words, I AM NOT GOOD ENOUGH. While I don't feel as though I was stabbed a thousands times over when that dawn on me, it did hurt. In addition, my lack of any ambition basically means that neither of those traits above would be enhanced in the furthest of future.
Lastly, all the things I do now can only be enjoyed by myself. I have no activities that require another person to participate to make it fun.
With all the inputs to the formula the resulting end product is......I am doomed alone.
Oh well, that doesn't even surprises me or anyone else I'd think.
So..........You don't call it an epiphany unless you do something about it, or something good comes from it right? (Well.....There is that thing about me being in denial.....)
So, barring from blogspot deciding to get hit by viruses and losing all my post, including this one, let me state what I am going to do with myself.
1) I will lose weight
2) I will learn how to play the piano
3) I will finish writing the pieces in my head
I haven't got a plan yet, but I am getting details very soon (yeah right..) and hopefully I will have new stuff to write here. Kind of a checklist where myself and everyone that reads here get to keep track of how I'm doing.
Must not lose sight of the destination. Even if I chose to drift in the ocean, I shall drift to the sound of music.
So what did happen?
Well, in an effort to understand my chances as well as improve my odds in one of my recent pursuits of the fairer sex (Ok, I can't be in denial all the time, right? :p Though worry not, by the time I write this I'm back to being me..haha) I decided to speak to one long time friend and 'master of sweeping feets of the ground'. In our conversation he made light to me something that, in truth, is blatantly obvious. But you know how at times you just need to be told what you already know? It's an intricate and delicate timing and more often than not the timing is off. However, this time around the same old tune struck a very loud chord and voila! Eyes opened.
You see, a very obvious explanation to why I fail to attract any female of my liking is that I obviously go for the uncommon ones. However, despite my higher/different (I'd like to say lower, but then again, who am I kidding?) expectations, I have nothing to offer. How my friend put it; I am not good looking (to say I'm average looking would be a bonus but that doesn't help either), I am not rich nor aspire to be (and won't ever be, haha!), I am not intelligent to an extent it radiates around me (you know like how really smart people really smarten people kind of thing..), I'm not funny (Ok, as much as I disagree on this point, as I do believe I am, until I realise the only person laughing at my jokes are myself and my family. That basically means I AM NOT FUNNY..), I'm not good in bed (well, no one really knows that yet, but.....Well, no one will probably even know...haha!) and I have nothing exceptional/impressive to attract the uncommon types.
So in order words, I AM NOT GOOD ENOUGH. While I don't feel as though I was stabbed a thousands times over when that dawn on me, it did hurt. In addition, my lack of any ambition basically means that neither of those traits above would be enhanced in the furthest of future.
Lastly, all the things I do now can only be enjoyed by myself. I have no activities that require another person to participate to make it fun.
With all the inputs to the formula the resulting end product is......I am doomed alone.
Oh well, that doesn't even surprises me or anyone else I'd think.
So..........You don't call it an epiphany unless you do something about it, or something good comes from it right? (Well.....There is that thing about me being in denial.....)
So, barring from blogspot deciding to get hit by viruses and losing all my post, including this one, let me state what I am going to do with myself.
1) I will lose weight
2) I will learn how to play the piano
3) I will finish writing the pieces in my head
I haven't got a plan yet, but I am getting details very soon (yeah right..) and hopefully I will have new stuff to write here. Kind of a checklist where myself and everyone that reads here get to keep track of how I'm doing.
Must not lose sight of the destination. Even if I chose to drift in the ocean, I shall drift to the sound of music.
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