In about 5mins time, I’ll be leaving home, heading to Manado on a dive trip. It’s been a while since I gave myself a break (from 25th June to 2nd July 2008). But it won’t be a complete switch off from work. During my time there, I’ll be looking into ways to streamline the business among other things. I’ll be back, refreshed and ready for the 2nd half of the year.

During this period, I will not have access to internet and limited mobile access. Please leave an email should you have any enquiries.

Good luck, feldberyl.

I’m not very much a movie person, but when I like a movie, I’ll watch it over and over again. One of them is “The Beach”. I liked it so much I bought the book, the VCD (quite sometime ago) and the soundtrack. And I love the movie quotes. Somehow, they reflect what I feel about traveling.

“The only downer is everyones got the same idea, we all travel thousands of miles just to watch tv and check into somewhere with all the comforts of home , and you gotta ask yourself , whats the point of that? ”

“And as for traveling alone… fuck it. If that’s the way it has to be, then that’s the way it is.”

“i will not DIE today.”

Been gathering the bits and pieces of I-don’t-know-if-it’s functioning equipments from friends and my parent’s place. Last night, I found my wetsuit and my alien dive mask (I got a special one with ear caps because of my ear problems last time).  So I actually look like I’m wearing a huge headphone when I’m diving. My friends used to ask me, “which station are you listening to?”

Looking at all those equipments remind me of the days where diving was like my life. When I had a badly ruptured eardrum (warning: only if you don’t mind seeing how a eardrum looks like) and the doctor told me that I will have to stop diving FOREVER. I asked him, if I were to forgo hearing on my right ear, can I continue to dive? What followed next was a good lecture from him (alright, I know I deserve it). But I have to really thank him for the fantastic op that he did for my ear. I was able to dive a year after the operation.

The old saying is true, “live and dive another day” (sometimes I say, live and die another day).

And looking at the photo of the ruptured eardrum, I’ll be diving exactly the same day I put up that photo!:D

Good thing I was far enough, otherwise, I’d have looked like a fat barrel  

Yes! I just booked my air tickets to Manado (see how last minute I can get?). Woohoo! It’s a short trip… I think it’s really short. But I hope I get to relax a little before the busy months ahead. What better way to relax than diving. Everything is slow underwater… you can almost hear the turtles telling you “chill dude…”. *brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr* (I like it lame:P)

Anyway, I’ll be out of town from 25th Jun to 2nd Jul 2008. If you have any enquiries, please drop me an email. I’m sure they don’t have reception underwater, so email is best. I’ll get back to you as soon as I’m back.

Time to blow bubbles nitrogen addict! *blurb blurb… blurb blurb…*

谜-sterious couple.

You know how a typical Singapore wedding is like, the groom goes through that crap (I said crap because I won’t like it if I were in his shoes) when they pick up the bride. The bridesmaids will serve the groom and his groomsmen some really terrible tasting food in the name of of love (you know, that four letter word, depending which side of the gate you are standing… it may sound a little different).

Anyway, for the last 3 weddings, the guys got steamrolled  by the girls. Nothing, they didn’t even put up a fight. It’s so amazing. The guys are just tooooooooooo nice. And yes, no complaints, they seem to enjoy it. Oh oh… and the best part is, the bride always says she doesn’t have a part in the planning. That’s the last lie before you exchange vows:P

On the last wedding, I was a little hungry, so I took a decent bite on the biscuit laced with wasabi. And on my… these things taste REALLY good!! I’m going to buy biscuits and wasabi tomorrow and have them for breakfast. I think the guys are just playing along with the ladies… it’s actually nice.

Well, I know majority of the readers here are ladies and they probably won’t be happy knowing that wasabi give the boys nothing but pleasure:) Try Habanero (from the makers of Tabasco) sauce instead. This will shut the boys up for a while:D Alrite, make them eat it and do a tongue twister (Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers…).

*evil*

I think I’m enjoying the gatecrashing process more and more. It’s like food tasting. Whatever food means.

The other day, while I was driving around, I saw something familiar (to some folks, it looks like a talisman). It’s an ERP gantry. I think that’s where they build it!! I’m not suggesting anything:)

*Paging INFIDELS*

But seriously, I think road hoggers are the source. Man, if you drive so freaking slow, keep to the other lanes. The right lane is an OVERTAKING lane. OVERTAKING, you understand? Snails crawl in gardens, they don’t DRIVE on the roads. Good thing Singapore didn’t legalize firearms. Even if they did, they probably will tell you,

Don’t drive and shoot. Be a man, do the right thing.

So much for a Friday. Woohoo… my prints look good!:D

Another food recommendation. I met Chris and Pris again for one of our many foodie outings. This time we decided not to leave an arm or leg at the restaurant (unlike the last time round…:P), we headed for Paradiz center for some steamboat at Hey Hey Hotpot.

Heard it’s opened by one of the local celebrity. That aside, the food I say, it’s pretty good. I’m not usually into steamboat because I have the impression that the ingredients are always the same. But this place proved me wrong. The soup base is surprisingly delicious, unlike the usual MSG soup we get at other steamboat buffets. The must have in the menu will be the fried fish skin. Just a warning, it’s bloody addictive.

The yesterday, I joined my ex-colleagues at Brotzeit at Vivocity for some german cuisine. What better way to have dinner, since most of us have at some time in our career travelled to Germany for work before. We weren’t really adventurous, so we stuck to the tradition, pork knuckles, sausages and good ol’ beer. What can I say? It’s as close as you can get to the real thing. For beer, I tried the Roggen… woooo… that thing is goooooooood:D

So, two places recommended this week, Hey Hey Hotpot and Brotzeit at Vivocity. Tune in to our next issue… if I don’t make it to Manado that is:P

Next time I’ll provide pictures… I try to promise:P

Heh, can’t imagine putting my thoughts on the Euro 2008 on this blog. Let me start by saying I was extremely happy when England didn’t make it:D Alright, throw rotten tomatoes at me… I don’t care, I just don’t like them:P

My usual support goes to Portugal, Spain, Czech Republic and Italy (oh… those cute boys:P LOL!!!). Expected Portugal to do well, so no surprises, they are into the QF. Although I was hoping that they’ll draw with Czech Rep rather than beat them 3-1. My heart broke when Czech crashed out after losing to Turkey in the final 3 minutes of the game. It’s one of the teams that I really like. Pavel Nedved (retired) was my hero man, he was like the OEM version of Zidane. Unfortunately, they can’t hold their nerves till the final minute.

Spain’s doing great as well. Italy is one of my favorite teams as well. And I hate don’t fancy the French (the football team). They appear stuck up to me and they have to beat all my favourite teams in the last 2 championships, Portugal (last minute penalty… remember?). While I wasn’t cheering when Zidane got sent off during the last World Cup final, I was pretty happy that Italy won:D That was SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEET! And what could turn out better last night? They did it again!!:D

I haven’t been watching all the matches, but of all my four fave teams, I really like how Italy and Czech played. Maybe they didn’t produce the best results, but I really love their style:) I don’t care if they don’t win, just stay long enough so I’ll get to watch them play.

oh oh… one more thing. Chris and Pris just told me that gays don’t play football!! Heng ah…BBLG:P woohoo!!:P

I first heard this song over the radio when I was still in school. And this was one of the first CDs I bought. Totally love it. Recently, while covering a wedding, the band started playing all the Brit pop which I was so familiar with (yes, I used to buy every single issue of Smash Hits magazine). They even played “Common people” by Pulp!! Now I’m going to find out where they are playing.

Speaking of bands, I’ll be doing another wedding at Grand Shanghai this weekend. I’m sure I’m going to know 90% of the songs they are going to sing. I’m such an oldie… goodness. Now I’m going to find out where I can get all these old tunes.

I’m gonna be – The Proclaimers

When I wake up, well I know i’m gonna be,
I’m gonna be the man who wakes up next you
When I go out, yeah I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who goes along with you
If I get drunk, well I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who gets drunk next to you
And if I haver, Yeah I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who’s havering to you

But I would walk 500 miles
And I would walk 500 more
Just to be the man who walks a thousand miles
To fall down at your door

When I’m working, yes I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who’s working hard for you
And when the money, comes in for the work I do
I’ll pass almost every penny on to you
When I come home(When I come home), well I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who comes back home to you
And if I grow-old,(When I grow-old) well I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who’s growing old with you

But I would walk 500 miles
And I would walk 500 more
Just to be the man who walks a thousand miles
To fall down at your door

da da da (da da da)
da da da (da da da)

Da Da Da Dun Diddle Un Diddle Un Diddle Uh Da

da da da (da da da)
da da da (da da da)

Da Da Da Dun Diddle Un Diddle Un Diddle Uh Da

When I’m lonely, well I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who’s lonely without you
And when I’m dreaming, well I know I’m gonna dream
I’m gonna Dream about the time when I’m with you
When I go out(When I go out), well I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who goes along with you
And when I come home(When I come home), yes I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who comes back home with you
I’m gonna be the man who’s coming home with you

But I would walk 500 miles
And I would walk 500 more
Just to be the man who walks a thousand miles
To fall down at your door

da da da (da da da)
da da da (da da da)

Da Da Da Dun Diddle Un Diddle Un Diddle Uh Da

da da da (da da da)
da da da (da da da)

Da Da Da Dun Diddle Un Diddle Un Diddle Uh Da

da da da (da da da)
da da da (da da da)

Da Da Da Dun Diddle Un Diddle Un Diddle Uh Da

da da da (da da da)
da da da (da da da)

Da Da Da Dun Diddle Un Diddle Un Diddle Uh Da

And I would walk 500 miles
And I would walk 500 more
Just to be the man who walked a thousand miles
To fall down at your door

Now the tune just kept going in my head… “when I wake up…”… “I hope it’s not by the stupid telemarketeer from “representatives” of Standard Chartered…”

Anyone interested to go diving in Manado next week? maybe 7-8 days.

Last Saturday, I met Cindy and Dennis and another couple friend of theirs for dinner at Eng Seng Coffeeshop. For those who don’t know, this is no ordinary coffeeshop. It’s where you will find the best (best is subjective) Black Pepper Crab in Singapore. We met at 5pm and were lucky to get a seat. In less than 15mins, there were more than 20 people in the queue.

I’ve only tried them once, when my friend packed it to his place. I remembered it tasting fantastic even though it was a little cold. This time round however, it’s served sizzling hot and it’s freaking amazing. It’s so good it’s almost a crime. How can someone make such sinful food taste so good. Damn!!

After that, we decided crabs aren’t enough, so we headed down to 717 at Highland center to get some durians before heading to their place for a durian feast. He he he! While the durians taste really good, but I have to say, the shell weighs alot more than the flesh!! Really wished we bought more.

After we had the fruits, Cindy said we can get rid of the smell on our hands by running water through the insides of the shell before washing our hands with the water. It doesn’t make sense to me, but I tried anyway. Now my question is… how did it happen?!?! The smell was gone!! I mean, gone!! no smell. No traces of durians on my fingers. Does anyone know why? Is there any scientific explanation to it? Or has it got something to do with Zheng He?:P