The gypsy diaries: March 2006

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Moving so fast, going nowhere.

Moving so fast, going nowhere.

Well, I've got my placement in FASS in NUS. Kinda makes me wonder why I spent three years pursuing my Hospitality diploma instead of pulling my hair out attempting Mathematics Intended For Geniuses in a JC. Hah! The answer's obvious ain't it.

I miss TP so much. Never once in my entire three year school life have I ever complained about the distance or the long bus rides that take me to school and back day after day. (Then again, maybe once or twice when I had to be up before those pesky school kids for Saffron...) Funny why I am using the distance from my place to NTU as an excuse then. Truth is, I'm not so sure about what I want anymore. I wonder where the passion that drove me to get my place in Hospitality three years ago went. Out of the window and far far away.

So I'll be going to school in August, though I don't know where school is yet. I thought receiving a placement would provide me with some direction in life but no, I don't feel anymore anchored than I was before I ripped open the acceptance letter.

Packed schedules and being constantly busy has become a part of me over the past three years. Time out for pure fun and relaxation were then a luxury. Funny how the tables turn when I am now relaxed 24/7. Kinda takes the fun out of it.

It's barely over a month but this extended vacation seems like forever. I kinda expect poly classes to start in a couple of weeks. To my delusional mind, my last semester in poly never happened. I'm desperate to do something apart from living my days like a lady-of-leisure, like I've been doing ever since 21 February. While I'm eternally grateful to my dad for letting me live off him, I'm not comfortable doing so. Then again, I don't want to jump into the first job opening available, even if it is only for the next three months. I want that writing internship damn it.

Six minutes till the American Idol rerun starts on Starworld. Will you believe me if I told you I half ran-half briskwalked my way back from the bus-stop to catch the live broadcast, only to miss the first three contestants? Here's where having cable comes in real handy. Hah! Off to snuggle on the couch with the show's next biggest fan after me - my dad. Four minutes to go. My other rambling thoughts will have to wait.

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Prying eyes.

Prying eyes.

"You're blocking me," I whispered quietly to Jason, whose right shoulder was blocking my view. I craned my neck further, hoping to satisfy my relentless need to know the title of the book this lady behind him was reading.

"Aiyo, don't be so kaypo can," he muttered and shifted so his shoulder now unapologetically occupied my entire vision.

I was drawn into yet another of Nora Roberts' novels on the bus ride home and when I finally looked up to check if it was time to alight, I realized that the man on my left was peering shamelessly over my arm, too caught up in the plot to notice my narrowed eyes I assume. He got the hint when I snapped the book shut and we spent the remaining journey (only four bus stops thank God) avoiding each others' eyes. Karma or not, you tell me, but I was on the other side of the fence for once. Thank goodness I wasn't reading some love scene or worse, a pornographic novel. Haha.

Closure Part Two.

Closure Part Two.

Just had an enlightening convo about closure with my FOS babe. You know what's the greatest thing about closure? You stop wondering about the what-ifs and move on.

Almost done with the much talked-about PS I Love You. The book had me holding my breath to prevent my almost silent giggles from morphing into roaring laughter on a crowded bus and also rapidly blinking my eyes at a speed of 1000 blinks per minute to stop the heartwrenching pain in my eh, heart and to prevent the tears from falling.

It's scary. Love inevitably leads to leading a life revolving around your loved one, and it is always a terrifying thought that he/she will pass on (donkey years from now if you're lucky) one day.

So my expectations for the novel weren't met. But still, it was moving enough to make me run (okay la, brisk walk) from the bus-stop to Jason's place just to give him a tight tight hug.

Monday, March 27, 2006

Closure.

Closure.

Some time through our msn convo, after a long pause.

Jane: Sorry was plastered to the telly.
Me: Scotch tape or double sided?
Jane: Super glue la.. hahaha you like very lame today hor?
Me: You know what I am imagining?
Me: You are GLUED to the tv set, going COCKEYED trying to see the screen and frantically trying to UNGLUE yourself.

-conversation goes on. contents undisclosed-
After yet another long pause...

Jane: Watching Scrubs now.
Me: You need to unglue yourself from the telly.
Me: You should get XXX brand superglue-ungluer. Only $99999999, worth every dollar!
Jane: I don't think so, I think I am happy being cross eyed.

ROFL!

I've missed such nonsensical chit-chats. I can't remember when and why I deprived myself of them to be honest. And I miss the rubbish-spewing me.

Anyway, if the hilarious snippet up there isn't clue enough, tonight's a rare msn night where I am actually TALKING to people. Apart from the FOS (full of shit) chat with Jane, there's also quite a bit of catching up with people I've neglected or simply failed to keep in touch with. Time and procrastination is one lethal combination. At times like these, I feel like I'm the worst friend in the world but also the luckiest for still being loved unconditionally.

It's funny. The people you least expect to feel close to are the ones you end up having mind-bogglingly good conversations with. And conversations with people whom you were hoping to pick up where you left off are surprisingly cold and distant. What a night.

Sunday, March 26, 2006

Snippets before the new world.

Snippets before the new world.

The urge to blog hits me at the weirdest (and usually most inappropriate) times. In the shower a couple of minutes ago, I was overwhelmed by the need to blog about what Marc said when we met up for a swim and some food last Friday.

If I remember correctly, we were on the topic on how much of a good thing (female friends) can be bad.
Marc: Having too many girl best friends makes a guy -does wacko sign-. You and Jane. Two is enough.
Me: ROFL. (I couldn't help it. He looked positively terrified at the thought of Jane and I. Haha!)
Jane, are you reading this?!?!?!

Off to watch The New World at the new The Cathay. So many 'the's. Ecks.

I could get used to life like this.

I could get used to life like this.

I've missed running along Sentosa's beaches. The rather even terrain and fantastic scenery (nature, not bare-bodied hunks mind you) makes running quite a breeze. The slightly overcast skies this lazy Sunday morning probably kept the crowds away and almost recreated the serenity of evenings I ran whilst still on my internship.

As Ceci and I sat outside the shower to cool down, I thought to myself that I could get used to my Sundays being like this. A good run, refreshing shower, then a nice leisure breakfast. Then, I wondered if there was someone who appreciates and shares this whim of mine. Once in awhile's probably fine for most, but trust me, not many will happily get up early for a run every Sunday morning.) That's how the rather intense missing hit me in the gut. Ouch.

leighsonhome

leighsonhome
Originally uploaded by sarongskirts.

One of our stay-home weekend.

central(ceci)

central(ceci)
Originally uploaded by sarongskirts.

One of our Friday night dinners. This was at Central in Taka. Love the peanut toast.

chme-starbucks

chme-starbucks
Originally uploaded by sarongskirts.

Post-dinner coffee.

cecime-running1

cecime-running1
Originally uploaded by sarongskirts.

Just this morning, before our run.

sentosa-breakfast

sentosa-breakfast
Originally uploaded by sarongskirts.

Breakfast at beachfront Coffeebean.

Thursday, March 23, 2006

Splash of turquoise.

Splash of turquoise.
Feeling: Inspired and uninspired
Reading: Nora Roberts - Table for Two
Spinning: Shakira - Hips Don't Lie

I can't help feeling that the frequency of my entries should be higher, seeing that I barely have anything better to do anyway. Then again, the fat yellow couch in my living room's so alluring my ass can't seem to say no. (Things will probably be different if I had a laptop instead of a desktop.) This Sunday will merely mark yet another week of my slackerdom.

I hate having so much time on my hands. It makes my mind wander and I find myself thinking about anything and everything, from my eyebrows to my university education (which until Saturday I thought I had sorted). My hyperactive mind's such a huge contrast to my couch potato-ed being, I sorta feel like I'm having an out-of-body experience.

Enough of anticipating American Idol, North Shore and the outcome my yet another chick lit novel. I need a new purpose in life. Now excuse me while I dive back into Nora Roberts...

Monday, March 20, 2006

Bits and pieces.

The web of life.
Feeling: Lazy
Reading: Totto-chan, the little girl by the window
Spinning: Lifehouse - Blind

My time post-Bangkok has been rather void of excitement. Then again, there was the NTU SCI interview on Saturday. Intuition tells me it didn't go well... and I'm suddenly having second thoughts about it all. For now, I think it's best I leave the thinking till judgement day.

I've sorta had it with bumming around, yet I have unknowingly slipped into the couch-potato rut that I reckon will take quite a bit of effort to get out of. At least I've been doing alot of reading, polishing off book after book. Oh, and did I mention I applied for relief teaching? Hah!

I went for a run last week. Now, the intervals between my runs are increasing while my motivation is decreasing, along with my stamina. While it used to be a great mood-lifter, I can't seem to find the passion in the sport anymore.

People often say that the world is small. I like to think it is because bits and pieces of our lives are unknowingly interlinked with others and each time a discovery of one bit is made, it makes us feel that the world is just that little bit smaller. Like the intricate weavings of a delicately spun cobweb, this is the web of life.

zoosmall

zoosmall
Originally uploaded by sarongskirts.

Our trip to the zoo last Sunday. Trivia (as and when I can remember) are provided below the relevant pictures!

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1
Originally uploaded by sarongskirts.

They're life-sized figurines by the way.

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2s
Originally uploaded by sarongskirts.

Dubai, part 2. Haha!

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4s
Originally uploaded by sarongskirts.

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5s
Originally uploaded by sarongskirts.

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7s
Originally uploaded by sarongskirts.

The peacocks at the zoo are prouder and bigger showoffs than those over at Sentosa.

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8s
Originally uploaded by sarongskirts.

Eh, I don't remember what these are called.

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9s
Originally uploaded by sarongskirts.

See the mother feeding the young? And if you don't know what these are, shame on you. They're zebras!

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10spart2
Originally uploaded by sarongskirts.

Pity it didn't stand tall.

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11s
Originally uploaded by sarongskirts.

The king's asleep.

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12s
Originally uploaded by sarongskirts.

Hissing cockroaches. Will you scream and run for your life if one (or more!!!) flew towards you? I would.

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13s
Originally uploaded by sarongskirts.

Quack. The last time I saw a real duck up-close was at the now-defunct Duck Restaurant at Meritus Negara. Can you even imagine how long ago that was?

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14s
Originally uploaded by sarongskirts.

Dig the colours.

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15s
Originally uploaded by sarongskirts.

That's a monkey and a bat feeding on fruit.

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Originally uploaded by sarongskirts.

I love this saying.

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Originally uploaded by sarongskirts.

Lambs! How docile.

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19s
Originally uploaded by sarongskirts.

Specially for you Jazzy!

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20s
Originally uploaded by sarongskirts.

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21s
Originally uploaded by sarongskirts.

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22s
Originally uploaded by sarongskirts.

Attracted to Jason's foot. Hmm...

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23s
Originally uploaded by sarongskirts.

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24s
Originally uploaded by sarongskirts.

I spy... a cobweb!

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25s
Originally uploaded by sarongskirts.

The hungry monkey raiding the trash can. (Not sure what breed!)

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26s
Originally uploaded by sarongskirts.

Penguins are agile in the water, but not on land, as seen by the way they waddle.

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27s
Originally uploaded by sarongskirts.

Notice those black dots? They're actually ants!

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28s
Originally uploaded by sarongskirts.

Hoppity hop.

us2

us2
Originally uploaded by sarongskirts.

Pretending we're at the outback ha ha.

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29s
Originally uploaded by sarongskirts.

Do you know there are NO white tigers in the wild? The first white tiger was bred in captivity.

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Tahiti.

Tahiti.

A friend posted up a gorgeous picture titled Bora Bora in her online diary. I have concidentally finished The Paradise Room by Belinda Jones just two days ago. Not unlike Jones' other novels, the exotic setting this time around was in Tahiti and the lead spent most of her days in Bora Bora Lagoon Resort. Assuming that the Bora Bora in the picture is the Bora Bora in the novel, then Bora Bora is indeed paradise. (Am I confusing you yet?)

Anyways, do check out www.theparadiseroom.com for the scoop on Jones' novel and the island that inspired her. "Anecdotes from my trip to Tahiti for research for my new novel..." I can't believe she said that. I am so envious. If I ever had the shot (and moola) at becoming a bestselling author like Jones, then I would most likely spend a month of two in Bali soaking up the local culture (and sun) in preparation for my novel, haha!

This post won't be long. I think my lemon cookie dough's done chilling in the fridge. Time to bring out the cookie cutter! Cross your fingers that my latest baking endeavour will be a success.

I was tagged. Scroll down to see if I tagged you.

The Final Five (remove the top and add your blog to the bottom)
Shahruddin.com: Project Sha
Asmaradiana.com
x.tutyfruitty.com
www.emo-zions.blogspot.com
sarongskirts.blogspot.com

What were you doing ten years ago?
Flirting with the boys in my Pri 4 class ha ha!

Five Songs Which You Know All The Lyrics Right Off Your Head Now
Wish I - Jem
Sway - Bic Runga
Chances Are - Robert Downey Jr feat Vonda Shepard
Again - Lenny Krevitz
Mr. Beasley - Corrinne May

Five Things You Would Do If You Were A Millionaire
Fund my university education
Travel - Bali, Australia, Cambodia, Thailand, States, Europe, in that order
Buy a car
Buy a house
Buy a genie and wish for another million

Five Bad Habits
Quick-tempered
Shooting my mouth off too quickly
Tanning
Messiness
Impatience

Five Things You Like Doing
Reading chick lit
Watching chick flicks
Soaking up the sunshine
Cafe hopping with girlfriend(s)
Reading tabloids haha.

Five Things You Will Never Wear, Buy Or Get New Again?
Veet hair removal mousse
Cai fan from the coffeeshop across Jason's place
High-cut sneakers
Baggy FUBU jeans (I sure remember when they were THE CRAZE back during my Sec 1 days...)
Can't think of the last!

Five Favourite Toys/Things
My auntie
Jason (so sad, they're under the toys/things category haha)
My blog
My handphone

You're IT
Faggy
Kelly C
Jasmine
Sarah
My bitch

Monday, March 13, 2006

workout2

An accidental peek into the crystal ball.

For those who have yet to be enlightened, I've given up hardcore tanning as of the start of 2006. However, while I used to be really tanned in phases (depending on when I hit the beach), I am now, to the dismay of my parents, perpetually tanned due to my thrice-a-week swims. And in the mornings mind you. Being a faithful fan of the breast stroke (because that's the only one I know ha ha), I have still yet to figure how my tummy gets tanned. Now that's food for thought.

It might seem like I am having my cake and eating it, but no! In exchange for getting a tan while splashing around in the pool getting a workout, the chlorine has robbed me of m-o-i-s-t-u-r-e. I never knew it was even hereditarily possible for me to get dry skin till I got into the swing of my pool workouts. Don't even get me started on the state of my hair. Everybody's at my back, trying to get me to wear a swimming cap, but I look like the lead in The Revenge of the Alien Mushroom Head in one, trust me. Don't wanna go around freaking out the Delta users now do I?

Being in the sun has morphed from me being vain to a lifestyle. I love the pool, I love the beach and I love the feel of sunshine on my bare skin. However, the worry of getting skin cancer when I'm older creeps me out once in awhile. I do take the necessary precautions like applying sunscreen and avoiding the sun at its strongest, but there's always a 'but' ain't there? The best prevention of all naturally would be to avoid the sun, but that's proved futile. We were at Ikea today when I saw a Caucasian lady with her husband and toddler in tow. She was gorgeous but her skin was quite a wreck! It was kinda like Lindsay Lohan's freckles X 1000 + peeling tan. While it could be due to her genes, it got that niggling worry at the back of my mind surfacing again. What do you guys know about oral sunscreen?

Enough about the sun. I've been finding a little hard getting back into the swing of daily life here in Singapore ever since my return. I don't know if I'm being lazy or if my legs have lost their will to hold my weight. (Must be the extreme shopping I've done over in Bangkok.) I've now taken to shuffling and getting Jason and whoever else volunteers to drag me along. What's with me?!

My lazy legs remind me of something a friend once told me about workout performance. "Your performance has its peaks and valleys," he said. This is what I imagine him to be talking about:

However, the peaks and valleys of my performance seems to resemble this more:

5 days in Bangkok and I've seemingly lost the ability to swim 30 laps at once. I've taken to doing 20 laps each of the three times I was at the pool since my return. Is it all really in the mind?

Thursday, March 09, 2006

Back from the land of smiles.

Back from the land of smiles.

Food for thought: Why is Thailand called the land of smiles? The locals in Bangkok weren't quite the friendly bunch I'd expected.

Though this trip was more of a shopping trip more than anything else, I've returned with new ideals, dreams and questions. This is how I am - every trip out of Singapore gets the wheels in my head turning. I haven't gone into full post-trip reflection mode yet, but here's a huge realization I made about myself:

I don't quite fancy city holidays. Sure, Bangkok was a haven for shopaholics like myself but as we were all busy trying to cram the many shopping spots into our limited time there, it was barely the relaxing and rejuvenating getaway I had visualized. Thinking back on my past vacations, I've concluded that unless I'm at a resort where I have absolutely no itinerary.. where I can wake up when I please, splash around in the waters and soak up the sun... then a holiday ain't quite a holiday for me. So shopping ain't as important to me as I had thought it to be.

Shopping and reflections aside, the food was lip smacking delicious. Basil pork. Beef noodles. Wanton mee. Red ruby. Thailand is quite the foodie haven! In fact, I am inspired to pick up Thai cooking! I even went to Borders today to get myself a Thai cookbook. That's how serious I am baby. Haha! Can't be too long a post. Meeting the gals at the pool tomorrow morning. 5 days of pigging out and virtually no exercise... I feel unhealthy. In the meantime, here are two excerpts from my travel diary. Enjoy.

"Bangkok Day 3
Bkk time: 1900 hrs

The day was winding down was we weaved our way through Pratunam Market. As the scorching heat of the day slowly slipped into the humid coolness of evening, the throngs of people ironically dwindled.

As families gather in the front of shops, the kids playing and the adults curiously eyeing the passers-by; shopkeepers go just a little more slack with their haggling. Despite the chaotic and shabby living conditions uncommonly seen by us city slickers, the warmth of family life permeated the sticky stillness of the air into my heart.

Though the pace of life is different, we have such evenings back in hectic Singapore too. Who will be there with me to kick off our shoes and flop onto the couch after a busy work day?

Bangkok Day 5
Bkk time: 0130 hrs

Silky noodles in a simple but flavourful beef broth - though devoured in a crowded and noisy foodcourt and not a Zen-inspired Thai restaurant, it still hit the spot. I should have picked up the Thai cookbook from Borders last Saturday. I'm gonna make my future hubby a very lucky man!"