In 2017...

It's the dawn of the last day of 2017, and as usual it's a time for me to reflect and contemplate about the year. Hmm I'm not sure how to put 2017 into words to be honest. Although it is definitely a much better year than 2016 hahaha. Pretty sure 2016 has defeated lots of people heh. But then again, since 2014, I decided not to "label" my year! Good or bad, I'm pretty sure all of us have something to take home and bring into the new year. Lessons, experiences and more.

But well, 2017 was a pretty okay year. It was neither a good or bad year. But I'm definitely very thankful for the things that I went through in this year. I would say a lot of things happened in 2017. Both in my life, and also "internally" inside me. Things that happened like miracles, putting full-stops to stories filled with a seemingly endless uncertainty. Things that get the ball rolling forward, and I hope we can keep this momentum towards and forward in 2018.

The year began restlessly still. As if the dark and uncertain days of 2016 shadow themselves into the new year. But things begin to slowly change and move. They unravel into things that we both expected, and unexpected. Like I wrote on my previous post, it feels like things were finally falling into the right places. And now we're just trying to adjust the positions of these things, and also make sure that they are standing strong. And also standing long (sounds wrong hahaha, but you get it).

Internally, I've learned a lot about myself too. Following my journey of recognising the empty nature of things, I discovered more lessons about happiness too. And feeling "alive" about the things that happened to me is also one of the greatest lessons I've learned in 2017!

Now moving on to the lessons I've learned in 2017...

I'm sorry to begin this segment on a not-so-nice note. I've learned that there are many shitty people on this planet seriously. And let us all not be one. I've encountered a number of occurrences in this year that kinda made me lose faith in humanity haha. Like I couldn't believe such people exist. They really remind me to be on my guard always. And it's a bitter reminder to me that the world is dark and full of terror. Stop spreading them. Spread love and compassion instead.

Which brings me to my next point, the only person you should trust is yourself hah. Okay I'm not trying to say that you shouldn't trust anyone else. But trust yourself, and always remind yourself that we need to work hard, and the only person who can make things work is yourself and no body else. Other people can come and help you but at the end of the day, always make sure that you can do it too. Nobody else in this world can achieve your dreams but yourself!

Elaborating more on last year's lesson, about not being too overly ambitious, this year I just want to make sure that we must also enjoy the journey. Like what I feel this year:

"You can climb a thousand mountains in one day, or climb one mountain in a thousand days. As long as you enjoy the process. Because I see no point in reaching the summit, if you don't enjoy the climb"

And I also want to continue to define my definition of "living life to the fullest" like I said last year. I want to be here. To be present at every moment, be it times of joy and peace, or struggle and restlessness. I'd like to remind myself that being alive is an amazing feeling. To feel all of these plethora of feelings. It's a sign that we're still here! Cause one day all of us won't be.

Last but not least, I want to continue being "alive". I want to let myself experience a lot of things, and I want to grow from these experiences. To be a better human being, to be a better person.

I would say 2017 was kind of a year of "closures" for me? I feel like I'm just leaving the dark and uncertain days of 2016 behind. But as I closed many pages, and end lots of stories, empty pages start to appear in front of me waiting to be written. Should I take the pen and write? I sure will.

In this year... I kinda lost my purpose. I no longer know what my purpose and ambition is in a sense. But somehow I suddenly have an epiphany - that all of the things that I'm going through right now is actually leading me somewhere. A place that nobody knows but time. So although I seem to lose my purpose and stuff, it feels like life is reminding me to focus with what I have in the present moment. Let time and life lead me to a place, a place I am subconsciously preparing to arrive in.

2018 is going to be an exciting year for sure. It's time for me to hustle, and it's time for me to get a grip on my life. I do feel a tinge of regret to be honest. I wish I can give myself these closures earlier. I don't know why it took me 4 years to finally get a grip on myself. I suppose it's time. Time knows the best things, it knows things that we'll never know. Until everything is right.

Alright, that's all for this year I guess? Thank you 2017 for everything that you've given me. Like I always believe, every year is the best chance for us to be the best human being we can ever be, and to achieve and realise our goals and dreams. Also, every year that we went through, the things that we went through and lessons we learned, they are the reasons that will make the new year a better one! In this way, we're gonna have an awesome year every year mwahaha.

Ah well, another year come and go. I hope 2017 has been treating you well. Here's me wishing you a great and wonderful 2018 ahead. I hope you have achieved your resolutions and if you haven't there's always the new year! Cheers everyone, here's to an awesome and fabulous 2018 for us.

Alive

 Alive

It's the 3rd last day of 2017 can you believe it! I'm so so... Excited. Meh. Hahaha. Anyway I wanna talk about something today. One of the greatest err... Feelings? Lessons? That I have learned this year. I'm gonna start my reflection tomorrow night. As usual, on the dawn of the last day.

I'm not sure how to put it but in 2017, I felt really "alive" in a sense that I learned a lot from the things that happened in this year, and on 2016 as well. All of the things I experienced, both nice and not so nice things, they made me feel alive. It's a weird word to describe, I know.

I would say that 2016 was a really challenging and "dark" time of my life. And I'm pretty glad that I actually made out of it alive haha. So as I entered 2017, I was determined not to dwell in the darkness and get out of it. Even though the early months of the year, I was still feeling uncertain.

But things changed along the way I guess. I'd like to quote a saying I came across once. 

"When things seem to fall apart, they may be falling into the right places".

One of the greatest lessons I learned in 2017 is that well, all of the fears and confusions that we come across in life, and everything else that we went through, they're actually leading us to somewhere. We might not know the place exactly but yeah. Somewhere.

I've always hated uncertainties. Come to think of it, who does! They are very daunting to me. But then again I learned in this year that the only certain thing in life, is uncertainty itself. So I'm learning to embrace them. With the belief that they too, will lead me somewhere.

Which I would like to quote another saying I found on the Artidote page on Facebook,

"Everything that you're going through, is preparing you for what you asked for"

Although I wouldn't say that I'm asking for something. But I'd like to believe that whatever I'm going through now, is leading me somewhere, and preparing me for something big and great!

Anyway I would say the biggest difference I felt this year is that instead of falling into the depths of worries, and the vortex of uncertainties, I decided to make them like a friend of mine. I embrace them with open arms. Whatever I can learn from them, I will keep. Whatever I dislike, I throw away into the void. I am learning to see the emptiness of everything.

Although I'm still so so far from perfecting this practice, I am slowly learning to embrace uncertainties like an old friend. I still wish I can be fearless to face everything in life. And I think that's what I am doing this year. I let myself experience "everything".

And through this "everything", I feel alive.

Great Music of 2017

 Great Music of 2017! Thank you for the music.

Right! Is that time of the year again when I would sum up all the great music of the year. I would say 2017 is a fantastic year for music! Lots of great music released, my favourite artists released lots of great albums mwahaha. I'm pretty excited for 2018 as well, some of my other favourite artists have announced that they are releasing new music next year, or are in the process of making a new album! So yup pretty excited for the new year. Anyway here goes!

Oh yes also no new music in the month of December except for Sam Smith's new album which I just received in early December! I love the album, it's like Adele's 25 - it makes me think of my ex, which only exists in the depth of my wonderful imagination HAHAHA.

Okay lets begin with the new artists/bands I discovered this year, as always in no particular order.

Great artists/bands I discovered in 2017:

[] Observer Drift [] Sleeping At Last [] Maggie Roggers [] Cafune [] Ryder [] Shallou []

[] Phum Vipurit [] Trevor Something [] Raleigh Ritchie [] Mesita [] Cigarette After Sex []

[] The Endorphins [] Bayonne [] Compuphonic [] Bottlesmoker []

Discovered most of these new artists from YouTube once again! It's such a wonderful place to discover new music seriously haha. Thank you once again to channels like Majestic Casual, Wave of Good Noise etc. Also some of my favourite bands share the music from these wonderful artists on their pages, and that's how I know them! I'm excited for more new music from these incredible people.

Breakthrough Artist of 2017 for me: Mesita and Maggie Roggers!

Great Albums of 2017:

[] Silhouette by Aquilo [] I See You by The XX [] About U by Muna [] Epoch by Tycho []

[] Now The Light is Fading EP by Maggie Roggers [] Afterglow by Asgeir [] Melodrama by Lorde []

[] The Days We Had by Daywave [] Hazel English double EP [] Revival by Vancouver Sleep Clinic []

[] Truth Is A Beautiful Thing by London Grammar [] Ultralife by Oh Wonder [] Ti Amo by Phoenix []

[] Kaleidoscope EP by Coldplay [] English Letters EP by Favela [] Dua Lipa by Dua Lipa []

[] Something To Tell You by Haim [] Mysterium by Hammock [] Lust for Life by Lana Del Rey []

[] Willowbank by Yumi Zouma [] Blurred EP by Kiasmos [] HMGNC by HMGNC [] 

[] Lintasan Waktu by Danilla [] Parakosmos by Bottlesmoker [] The Thrill of It All by Sam Smith []

[] Mall Music EP by Mesita [] Here's To Nowhere by Mesita [] Living/Breathing by Mesita []

Okay there are a lot of great albums in 2017! I'm going to list down by top 10 albums of the year:

1. Truth Is A Beautiful Thing by London Grammar

2. English Letters EP by Favela

3. Willowbank by Yumi Zouma

4. Afterglow by Asgeir

5. HMGNC by HMGNC

6. Revival by VCS

7. Dua Lipa by Dua Lipa

8. Kaleidoscope EP by Coldplay

9. About U by Muna

Favourite Album of 2017: Ultralife by Oh Wonder

I think Ultralife is a wonderfully crafted album! I really really love the album and their songs have been on my playlist ever since they are released haha. Maybe it's the fact that they described each song in a video and thus I can understand the album better. But well I've been a huge fan of Oh Wonder ever since the time when they released a song a month. I am still hoping that I can see them live one day. They're just so humble and so nice! Thanks for giving me Ultralife this year! :D

Great Songs of 2017:

[] Warm Waves by Observer Drift [] You Don't Know Where You Stand and Silhouette by Aquilo []

[] Say Something Loving and On Hold by The XX [] I Know A Place by Muna [] Division by Tycho []

[] Alaska by Maggie Roggers [] Nirvana by Ryder [] Unbound & Here Comes The Wave In by Asgeir []

[] Truth by Shallou [] Perfect Places by Lorde [] Miracles by Coldplay [] Ultralife by Oh Wonder []

[] High on Humans by Oh Wonder [] Big Picture and Non-Believer by London Grammar []

[] Be The One by Dua Lipa [] Nevermore My Temples Leave and English Letters by Favela []

[] Long Gone by Phum Vipurit [] Somewhere Else, Kihei and Spiraling by Mesita []

[] Persephone and Depths Pt 2 by Yumi Zouma [] Love and 13 Beaches by Lana Del Rey []

[] Apocalypse and Affection by Cigs After Sex [] Summer Days by Rhye [] I Know by Bayonne []

[] Ms Right Now by The Endorphins [] Mysterium by Hammock [] Metropolis by Compuphonic []

[] Pray and No Peace by Sam Smith [] Buka Hati Buka Kembali and Sedikit Waktu by HMGNC []

And many many more haha. Okay I'm going to list my top 10 songs of the year!

1. Nirvana by Ryder

2. I Know A Place by Muna

3. Buka Hati Buka Kembali by HMGNC

4. English Letters by Favela

5. Unbound by Asgeir

6. Say Something Loving by The XX

7. Big Picture by London Grammar

8. Kihei by Mesita

9. Persephone by Yumi Zouma

Favourite Song of 2017: Ultralife by Oh Wonder.... And Nevermore My Temples Leave by Favela

Once again I'm tied with two songs! Okay like seriously these two songs are my most played song of 2017! They are just so so good haha. I love Ultralife because it kinda reflects on how 2017 has been for me. As for Nevermore, it's just such a beautiful beautiful and melancholic song. I love the lyrics (although I don't quite understand it) and the instrumentation is just incredible. I am so excited for Favela's debut album next year. It's gonna be an incredible one for sure.

Right to close off this year's post, I'm going to tell you the acts that I look forward to in 2018! First Aid Kit will be releasing their new album Ruins in January, Chvrches has announced their CHV3 show in June! PREP is finishing their 2nd EP, so so excited for this one. Mesita will also be releasing a new album, and the vinyl for Here's To Nowhere and Living/Breathing yaaay. Years and Years is going to release a new album too I think (saw Olly's Insta Story).

And I am also excited for KOC, Troye Sivan, Shura, Sigur Ros and Maggie Roggers!

That's all for the great music of 2017! This is a fantastic year for music in my opinion. I can't wait for more discovery in 2018. Particularly most excited for PREP cause I love their first EP. Here's to more music discovery in 2018! Thank you for giving me colours in this year, and as always,

For keeping me sane. 

Merry Christmas!

First of all wishing you a merry merry Christmas! I hope you had a great day with your loved ones today. A pretty ordinary day for me, I don't celebrate Christmas anyway hah. Spent the afternoon at the factory (yes we still work) and then the evening with my parents. Nevertheless today was a beautiful clear day! We've been blessed with two clear days today and yesterday.

Christmas has always been both a sad and happy day for me? Okay not in a negative way. It's just a bittersweet reminder that time is flying quickly. Cause Christmas is just some sort of checkpoint that reminds me a year is ending. At the same time, although I don't celebrate it, Christmas is a day that gives me a warm fuzzy feeling of reminiscing and contemplation! 

Which reminds me, I need to start my reflection post of the year as usual haha. 

I'm not sure why but hmm I can't really describe 2017 into words. I wouldn't say it's a good one, nor a bad one. It's pretty hard to put this year into words. Although it is a year that I learned a lot, and a year that pushes me forward in some sort. I discovered some sides of myself that I haven't met. And it challenges me to be a better person in a way? See, I can't describe it hah.

Oh well I'm already starting on my journal! In the meantime I'm going to start with my great music of the year post teehee. It's really a lot of music. I don't know where to start! Alright see you tomorrow I guess. Once again Merry Christmas and I hope you had a great day today! :)

Happy Winter Solstice!

 Happy Belated Birthday Stefan!

Presenting my handsome nephews and cute niece

It's the 22nd of December today which means it's Winter Solstice! So happy winter solstice everyone, I hope you had some tang yuans today! I had some myself and they taste really good. I'll talk more about my creation for 2k17 later on haha. I feel quite sad this year because yesterday I didn't have the chance to help my mum make the tang yuans! Had lots of work to do so.. Yes.

Also yesterday was Stefan's birthday so happy belated birthday to you! Had a mini celebration for him with my parents and aunt. Can't believe he's one now. Feels like he's just born 3 months ago or something heh. I hope you grow into a healthy and wise young man! :D

Anyway yes as I was saying, I didn't have the chance to make tang yuans with my mum yesterday. I wanted to but there was calculations to be done. And it was rather late so I went ahead to do them. Although I did manage to make some for myself later that night after dinner.

I was just talking with my parents about two nights ago regarding how long more will people uphold this tradition of making tang yuans. I mean even nowadays lesser and lesser people are making them. They just simply buy pre-made ones where they can just boil and eat. There's nothing wrong with that of course, I mean they're still celebrating the winter solstice right.

My parents were saying they're not sure if my generation will continue this hahaha. Well for me, I will. Because I am someone who believes in upholding traditions and its importance! I think traditions are something that gives us human, an identity. So if we don't uphold them, we're going to lose our identity slowly and slowly. And then it's just going to quietly disappear.

I can't help but feel guilty yesterday for not helping my mum. I hope to do so next year!

Anyway now let me show you about my tang yuan creation 2k17!

This year I made two version. One is tang yuan with honey butter almonds filling haha. And the other is the most expensive one I've made - tang yuan with royce chocolate filling mwahaha. It is so so good oh my goodness. I think I'm going to consider making chocolate-filled tang yuan from now onwards haha. They both taste really good! Stay tuned for 2k18 one heh.

Alright this is just a random post in this rather chilly winter solstice day! Hope you had a great one too. And oh my goodness it's just 9 more days to the end of 2017. Gonna blog a lot about my thoughts regarding this year! I have a lot to talk about. Alright see ya soon :)

Education

Honestly speaking, I'm pretty sensitive when people talk about my "education" in Singapore. Especially when people say things like "Oh you went so far to Singapore to study only to come back to Indonesia". Or "Oh you studied something that has no relationship with what you're doing now". And so on and so forth. I mean seriously, do we have to talk about this, when we're already here now? What do you want me to do? Turn back time and not return?

See the thing is that I made the decision to go back. Sure, if I know how life will turn out back ten years ago, I would do something more relatable or at least made some changes to some of the decisions I made. But what's so fun about life if we know our future right?

Well you see... The thing is I'm not proud of my diploma. And I don't think anyone else is. I am, however, deeply proud of one thing - my education. The whole 3 years of my Poly life, the 4 years in Tanglin and the 3 years back in Pei Tong. Of course the 4 years when I was still in Indonesia too. I am proud and forever grateful for the opportunity to receive an education. 

Something which millions of people around the world don't have access to.

I am proud and grateful to cross paths with some of the most amazing people in life - my teachers. People who imparted me with their knowledge and skills. Who guided and gave me advice on life outside of school. People who trained me to be disciplined and prepared me for the world once I stepped out of school. For showing me love and care, taught me responsibility and initiative.

I am thankful for the friendships I've made and forged with my friends. For sharing pieces of my life with me, through joy and happiness, struggle and hardships. For writing so many memories together, that our lack of communication and distances doesn't seem to matter.

Last but not least, my experiences. For opening my mind to the world out there. For making me brave to step outside of my comfort zone, and for showing me the beauty of this planet. The independence I gained from my ten years in Singapore. The skills I've gained from living away from my parents and so on. These are things that can never be easily replaced with.

My "study" in Singapore is more than just "going to school". The teachers I have crossed-paths with. The friendships I have made. The experiences that I went through and felt.

They are more than just a diploma and certificates.

And I would never want to trade all of these away with anything.

Earthquake

Super random post but I just experienced probably the biggest quake I felt! Was doing work with my dad at 11:45 PM just now when I felt myself shaking. We both knew that it was an earthquake but we just ignored it. Then it grew bigger and I had to wake my mum up and we both ran out of the house heh. It was 6.5 on the Richter Scale! Although the epicentre is very far from my hometown, the shaking was long and pretty huge. Kinda terrifying to experience that.

Well we live on a terrifyingly beautiful planet. Quakes happen everywhere around the world everyday. Sometimes it's huge like today. I'm hoping that there won't be huge damages done in towns near the epicentre. And also thankfully the tsunami warning was lifted just now.

Indonesia lies on the pacific ring of fire. So we're kinda prone to quakes. I was just worried because the 2004 earthquake at Aceh is very terrifying. Although we were not affected here, the videos showing the devastation of the quake and tsunami is very very terrifying. I wish it won't happen anywhere else again. Earth is an amazing planet. But a powerful one too.

Anicca

  Impermanence

Hello! Alright I'm going to talk about my tattoo today. Sorry for taking so long to write about this! I was waiting for the tattoo to heal up so that I can take a proper picture of it heh

I've always wanted to get a tattoo since I'm in Polytechnic. I was just unsure about what to get! Although I grew up in a family that is pretty conservative about tattoos, I also grew up watching shows like Miami Ink and LA Ink (Shoutout to Ami James and Kat Von D). I watched these shows and I'm awed by two things - the stories to why people get tattoos, and how talented the tattoo artists are to deliver the design that the clients requested. They are so so creative and amazing!

Like I remember watching episodes of people getting tattoos in the memory of loved ones who passed away, and in particular I also remember an episode of a lady getting a tattoo to commemorate her last chemotherapy session. So yes despite of the conservative thoughts I had since young, I also learned another side of tattoos. And this really opened up my mind I guess.

So I knew that I wanted to get a tattoo one day when I grow up. I used to have crazy ideas, like I wanted to have a tattoo of a music score on my back. Or even that idea of having a world map and then shading each country that you have visited. And I was hoping to have every country shaded as I lay on my deathbed hahaha. But yes these are a bit over the top now that I think of it.

Also fun fact: I almost got myself a tattoo of the map of Iceland on my back while in Reykjavik.

As I grow up I am more drawn into minimalistic tattoos? So I knew that I wanted to get a text-tattoo as my first. Or maybe a very simple design or symbol. I was reading up about getting your first tattoos etc and one of the important points that a lot of people covered is that the tattoo must have a meaning to you (obviously!). There's an article I read that if you really can't decided on a tattoo, have the design/word of the tattoo in front of you every day. If in 3 months you decided to change your mind, or you're still hesitant, then it's not it! Well in my case, I have an idea or concept for years.

And that idea is impermanence. One of my life's motto is, as you know it, "impermanence keeps me going". So I was torn between two choices. Either I have that sentence, or just a simple "anicca" for my first tattoo. After thinking about it for a while, I decided to just get Anicca.

So I met up with Ash, whom I got recommended by Vithya, when I was in Singapore. I did contact her two weeks before the trip to ask questions and her opinions. We set up an appointment (sorry for being late again!) and yup! After choosing the font, size etc, it was time to get inked!

 Time to get inked!

To be honest yes there is pain, but the pain is way less painful than I imagined it to be. In fact sometimes it feels ticklish more than pain hah. But of course, different parts of our body will take pain differently. The bonier the body part, the more painful it is. Also when you have lots of nerves like your palm etc. Okay won't go so much into this, just research it hah.

Now to why I decided to go with anicca. I have a really serendipitous and funny encounter with this word. It was back in 2012, during my Internship period back in year three. Basically I had a shitty week and I was just feeling so horrible. 2012 was the year that I spent alone in Singapore. FYP and Internship wasn't going well and something upsetting happened at work.

It was the second week in which I decided going to the temple (Mangala Vihara) every Sunday. I was hoping to seek some solace and peace by going to the temple for the Sunday Puja, after having that shitty week. So in Mangala Vihara, the parita (Buddhist texts) is shown on a screen where we can read together in front. There's the Pali text on the left, and the translation on the right. As someone who's been reciting Parita since primary school when I was still in Indonesia, I don't really read the screen.

But on that fateful day I just looked up on the screen and it was shown "Contemplation of Impermanence". I just looked up on the word impermanence and I remember I couldn't stop thinking about this word that whole Sunday. I've always regarded myself as a bad Buddhist, because back then (and now still) I didn't know a lot about Buddhism deeply. So on that night, I researched lots of Buddhist texts about impermanence and... I felt very relieved in a very weird way.

That was when I came up with my motto, impermanence keeps me going.

Anicca (impermanence) is one of the three marks of existence in Buddhism. Together with Anatta (non-self) and Dukkha (suffering). Basically, everything in life is impermanent and doesn't have a solid "self". And everything with these two characteristics, causes suffering (Dukkha). But once you realised this fact, you will begin your journey to liberate yourself from suffering.

To me impermanence is the most important of the three marks of existence. If we cannot accept this fact, we'll forever be unhappy. Like I always believe, we are all craving for permanence in this impermanent world. We always want things to always be good. We don't like suffering. We want to be happy. But when we come to a time where all the good things come to an end, we feel horrible like as if everything is the end for us. Because we love permanence.

Impermanence doesn't just refer to the fact that "everything comes to an end". It doesn't just refer to a time-point from A to B. So when people ask me what's the meaning of Anicca, and I replied with impermanence, they will reply me with "Oh you're referring to mortality right?". Yes, and there's more to that. Everything in life is impermanent. Not just our body, not just life itself.

Our thoughts, feelings, actions, words etc. They are all impermanent. And in this case, impermanent also refers to the idea that they are in constant change (hence not permanent). So you can feel happy about a movie now but maybe in the future you learn horrible things about the movie and you change the way you feel about it. And so on. So yes, impermanence doesn't just refer to time.

It also refers to a wave of constant change in life.

And this is why it keeps me going. The idea that good things will come to an end and so do bad things. The idea that you will leave everything behind, or things will leave you behind. Impermanence keeps me going because it teaches me to enjoy the good days before they say goodbye, and to keep on going during tough times because they won't last either.

And the idea that I will one day leave everything behind is very comforting to me.

Impermanence also taught me to live in the moment. Because the present moment is the peak of impermanence. Where the past has come to an end and the future is about to start.

But I'm not a perfect human being, nor am I a perfect Buddhist. It is VERY difficult to practise this. Because it is the nature of our mind to not be in the present heh. Our minds love going to places it shouldn't be in. It loves to wander anywhere, but here. But it is not impossible to do it. That's all I know. We can train our mind through meditation, and I've been doing that for three years now.

So yes. My serendipitous encounter with the word Anicca on that fateful Sunday at Mangala Vihara has opened up a huge window in my mind. It really changes the way I see life. 2012 wasn't exactly an awesome year for me. 2013 was coming up, and it was the year of big change for me. Upon realising this mark of existence, I felt better facing changes and uncertainties. And as life kept going, I'm always reminded again and again to why impermanence keeps me going.

And that's how I decided to get myself something permanent on this impermanent body of mine, that will forever remind me that everything is impermanent. Just like my body.

Anyway special thanks to Ash for getting my first tattoo! I love this tattoo and I'm looking forward to "completing" it by having Anatta on my right wrist. Also thanks Vithya for accompanying me to get it! I've been talking to her about getting tattoos and I finally have it! :)

As always, impermanence keeps me going. Thanks for reading!

Transient Wind

Two nights ago, I received a call from one of our workers, telling me that he needed to go back home (out of town) because his son just passed away. I was feeling really shocked to hear the news, because it was all too sudden. I mean we were just talking normally before this and then a few hours later, I received that news from him. I sent him our condolences and he left for his home.

I used to feel "scared" when I hear the news of someone's passing. And I always feel shocked and sad too. But now that I kinda learned about life, I also felt a bit of closure to the passing individual. And realised there's no need to feel scared. After all, death is our destination. We are all heading there.

Of course like I said once, I don't feel the same when it comes to murders and wars. Because I will never understand the reason why people hurt and kill one another.

So nowadays, when I received the news of someone's passing, yes I will feel sad. But I also accept it, and let it go, reminding myself that this is what life is. A very short moment that seems to last an eternity. Or like the Buddha said, it's as transient as the autumn wind.

May you rest in peace.

Broken

 Yesterday I broke my phone and my heart :(

Well yes I dropped my phone and it landed right on the sharp edge of a table at the office. Argghhh. And I broke the screen! There's actually a hole on the screen where you can see the inside of the phone meeooww. I have no idea how I dropped it. Well I was actually calling someone and was talking to someone else at the same time and I stumbled and... Yes.

 Look at that crack tho!

Yes I'm heart broken, cause my phone is only 1 year and 6 months old! Still functioning pretty well with no problems. But well shit happens and I already got myself a new phone. I got the iPhone X! So so excited. Wait I forgot two more letters. I got the iPhone six HAHAHA.

I know I used to be an Android fanboy. But I'm actually loving Apple after using it for a year. It's really a phone for me. It has everything I need and it's simple to use. Although I seriously feel the new phones are so expensive so I decided to get another iPhone six instead. The price of the iPhone 6s is double of the 6! So so expensive. Besides I love iPhone 6 actually. It's good enough.

Although it's also shocking how the price of the iPhone 6 is almost half of its price when I got it last year. Bad market value I guess. Also Apple is releasing lots of new phones. The iPhone 7 was being released last year when I got this phone so the price is dropping quick I guess.

I'm not sure if I will stick with Apple in the future. But with easy usability and interface, I'm giving it another chance for now! Alright, just a random but sad and depressing update.

Uncomfortable Silence

 Silence

The weather in the past week has been really crazy. There was a cyclone on the Indian ocean, south of Java, bringing in strong winds and torrential rains in the past 5 days or so. And just as the cyclone was ending, another one was forming southwest of Sumatra. So it was continuing again. Thankfully the rain has stopped since Friday. So did the strong scary winds! They were really strong and loud.

The past few days have been a pretty restless ones thanks to the crazy weather. I was thinking of the greenhouses (which some were damaged by the wind -.-), and also I was worried of landslides because non-stop rains would usually cause landslide in parts of my hometown. The winds were really strong so it was pretty noise outside with the sounds of the gushing winds.

Yesterday it didn't rain at all. Neither did the strong winds blow. Yet the silence felt both comforting and scary to me somehow. It's weird isn't it. After days of strong winds and loud noises, the idea of having a quiet day seems very un-comforting for me. When it should be the opposite.

It reminds me of our minds, in a way too. 

Just like our minds, we are too used to being bombarded with thoughts and emotions. And when everything settled, we are uncomfortable with the silence that we hunger forever. 

And the only way we can be comfortable with it is to me, through the process of meditation. I think this is from Sogyal Rinpoche's book The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying - he once mentioned that the reason to why we are very restless when we begin to meditate, is because we are uncomfortable with the idea of spending time alone with ourselves. Like... Who are we? 

We are uncomfortable with the idea of spending time alone with our "mind". Because we don't recognise it fully yet. Our ego, the constant flow of thoughts and emotions, and so on, they kinda block our mind. And we don't know what's inside it. So as we sit down, keep quiet and be still, we feel very uncomfortable to be with this "stranger" we've actually been living with forever!

So yeah. On one hand, we are seeking for this quiet. This silence that would bring us peace and calm. Yet at the same time, we are uncomfortable with it. I'm not sure why either. But after three years of meditation, I am learning how to bring my mind to this quiet place together.

Where Did You Go

It's the last day of November and... I can't believe it's December tomorrow. Like I mentioned in my previous post, the past three years just keep going faster and faster. It's so crazy to think and see how fast time is moving as I grow older. It's just a weird feeling to be honest. I don't think that time is flying as fast as this when I was still in Poly and Secondary School. Hmm.

Nevertheless we're entering the last month of the year. Where I will automatically go into reflective mode haha. I've been thinking a lot about the year and its ups and downs. I must say 2017 has been a very weird year. But it unfolded into something more comprehensible I guess?

I realised I haven't been doing my TIL series in this blog for a few months. I might save it for next month haha. I hope to do more blogging and reflecting in December. And talking about that, I'm not sure if I should do what I did in 2016! Which was blogging everyday in December haha. Although to be honest I didn't really enjoy the process because I feel very "forced" to do it.

But anyway I didn't break my promise and goal of blogging ten posts a month. And even if I did break it in June, that was when I went to Cambodia, I made up for it in July. I hope I can keep this up next year cause I'm pretty sure I'll get busier too. Hopefully not! :P

Well well let us all end this year beautifully. Wishing you a delightful December ahead. It's the most wonderful time of the year~ And get your reflective hat on guys mwahaha.

Today and Forever

My goodness it's the 2nd last day of November already. One more month till the end of 2017! I swear the year keeps on going faster and faster the past three years heh. Alright anyway lets talk about some great music I discovered in this month! Lots and lots of them, so hooked to them now.

Great Music of November:

- Shed by Kiasmos

- Jarred by Kiasmos

- Buka Hati Buka Kembali by HMGNC

- Sedikit Waktu by HMGNC

- Today and Forever by HMGNC

- Entah Ingin Ke Mana by Danilla

- Ikatan Waktu Lampau by Danilla

- Kihei by Mesita

- Ms Right Now by The Endorphins

- I Know by Bayonne

- Going Down Slow by Exmag

Song of The Month: Kihei, Buka Hati Buka Kembali, Ms Right Now (I can't decide!)

Alright there are lots of albums I got this month! They're actually released like in October but only got the chance to get them this month heh. Let's start with Kiasmos! I think the new EP by Kiasmos "Blurred" is an awesome EP! I just love Kiasmos music because they're really unique. I think Olafur and Janus share an awesome chemistry and you can feel it in their music.

Next we have two wonderful Indonesian albums! The self-titled album by HMGNC is such a fantastic album to be honest. They are one of Indonesia's finest electronic musicians really. Been following them back in 2013 and I'm always eager to hear their music! This album is just a really wonderful album. From the lyrics, the music and the beats. I am obsessed haha. Buka Hati Buka Kembali is my favourite song from the album followed by Sedikit Waktu.

And we also have Danilla who released her second album. Danilla is one of my favourite female singers! She has such a unique voice that's both heavy and soft at the same time. It really compliments her jazz music. Her first album Telisik is a wonderful album too. I still haven't had the chance to see her live. I hope to do so one day! She's a really talented singer.

I also discovered a couple of new music thanks to Majestic and Wave of Good Noise on YouTube. Ms Right Now by The Endorphins is such a wonderful song! Love the vibe of the music so much, I wish I discovered the song earlier. Such an awesome summer song. And then we have Going Down Slow by Exmag, which is a wonderful synth-pop song. Love the feel of the song and the 80s vibe from it. Also another perfect summer song really.

Discovered Bayonne from WOGN and he's an incredible artist too! Love how he uses different instruments and sounds to form a cohesive song that's just so catchy and so nice. It's really like a nice craft that he creates in the form of music. Last but not least Mesita released his new song Kihei! I am in love with this song. Such a feel good song and I just wish I can see him live one day and sing my heart out to this song with the rest of the audience. Must be so good!

Alright that's all for this month's wonderful music discovery. One more month to go! It feels like yesterday when I'm sharing the great music of January. Now here we are in December. I feel 2017 has been a great year for music. Lots of wonderful albums and music. Although I think I didn't discover much artists as compared to last year. Well I'm already excited for some albums in 2018!

See you soon in the 2017 review mwahaha.

Buka Hati Buka Kembali

Really random post but I'm currently hooked to this new song by one of my favourite Indonesian bands, HMGNC! Very meaningful lyrics and really nice theme about impermanence? Hope you like it!

Pagi kan terbenam, gelap kan menerang // Selama dunia berputar, jangan berhenti berharap

Rain and Epiphany

It's been raining really hard for the past two days. In fact it was raining for almost 14 hours (from 4 PM on Sunday to 6 AM on Monday) yesterday! Well I love it when it rains at night, especially when I'm about to sleep because it really helps me sleep haha. The sound of the rain, the cold temperature and just the whole cozy feeling of being on a rainy night. Although ironically, if it rains heavily, I find it more difficult to sleep. Slow rains are my kind of rainy nights. Not too noisy, not too quiet.

And now, it's been raining since 9 PM last night till now! (It's 4 AM currently)

I was blogging last night when the song Epiphany by Pixel Apartment played on shuffle. This is one of my favourite writing songs ever. Although it's kinda short and I wish it can be longer. I usually put this on repeat when I'm in the mood of writing haha. And this song really reminds me of my nights in Singapore. Especially rainy nights like last night! I was feeling really sentimental last night.

Last night reminds me of rainy Sunday nights in Singapore. When I would be blogging at night, with a dreaded feeling of Monday blues coming my way. Those rainy nights where I would hear the sound of rain outside of my window. The rustling of the leaves of the trees outside my block. And the sound of wind pushing against the windows. Coupled by the same song, Epiphany.

It reminds me of how I would snuggle on my bed under my blanket listening to the same sounds, noticing them as I try to fall asleep. Usually with the TV still on, as its sound always helps me to sleep. I would dread Monday which was coming in a few hours time. And I would fall asleep, only to find myself feeling groggy and annoyed as I struggled to get out of my bed.

It's very funny house memories like these, from 5 years ago, are still fresh on my mind. The feelings, the sounds and everything else. And I can't help but to wonder if I would still remember this rainy night 5 years later. And what will I be doing 5 years later that would remind me of tonight.

No one knows.

Words and Speeches

About a few weeks ago, my dad's friend (who's also one of our suppliers) came and we had a chat. He commented on how people of my generation speaks less words than we type on our phones. Which is a very interesting statement to make, and also I think that this applies to me as well. Although he meant it in a more negative way, by referring to how we don't talk as much to other people, and that we're too engrossed on our phones. Either on WhatsApp or social media.

I'm not gonna lie but yes I spent a lot of time on my phone. But I only look at it when I'm doing nothing. When I'm occupied with things to do, I get my phone away from me. Either in my pocket or on my table etc. Basically if I'm not interacting with people. Because... Well it's the only thing that I can do other than staring into blank space right haha. Also I hate it when people are on their phones when they are talking to me. Like seriously just use your phone first I won't mind.

My dad also made a comment once about how people nowadays prefer communicating via text/Whatsapp/email rather than by calling them directly. Personally, I prefer this too. Because I feel that text is a more accurate and safer way to deliver your information to the other party? There are a lot of times where I call someone, and they interpret my message wrongly and boomz.

I remember back when I started helping out at the farm, I would call my customers to ask them for their orders. And then I would call them to reconfirm their orders. And then I realised there are a lot of wrong information conveyed either to me, or to them. So I started texting them from then on. It's clearer and also easier for me to convey the message to other people if I need to!

Words and texts are visible and easy to understand. Speeches on the other hands, are not so easy. Unless you have a super duper good pronunciation and articulation. Also I'm cadel (AKA I can't roll my Rs) which makes speaking Indonesian a bit incomprehensible to me.

I do feel the same sentiment as the two of them above though. As we progress, the human touch is getting lesser and lesser. I remember when I was in secondary school, I would still call my friends to ask about homework and tests. Which sometimes would evolve into an hour conversation about the most random things we can talk about. Or how we would even teach each other about topics that we're unsure about, before a test! All done on a phone call.

But as I got myself a smartphone, I ditch the calls away and just text my friends. And I feel it's more convenient this way actually. Also to be honest I'm more of a words than speech guy. It's easier for me to convey my feelings through written words than to just talk to people. When I went to Tibet, I gave everyone a card before we all bid farewell. I don't know, it's easier for me than just talk to each of them, thanking them of the wonderful days we had in Tibet!

Well, technology has its perks and also its disadvantages. We lose some, we gain some. I think all in all the most important thing about this whole issue is to never forget being a human hah. Our phone may make our life easier, but we should always remember that in the end, we, humans, are the ones operating and using them. So don't forget that we are all a human being after all!

Our Bodies

Hello, it's a lovely Saturday night and I'm currently spinning Coldplay's Kaleidoscope EP on the turntable and sipping earl grey tea mmhmm. My kind of Saturday definitely. Anyway I wanna talk about something today, it's about taking care of our bodies, this only place we have to live in.

One of my favourite quotes is by Jim Rohn, which says take care of your body, it's the only place you have to live. I think this quote really makes us think about our bodies and health in general. Cause it's true, this is the only body that we are given in this life. This is the body that lets us do many things. Chase our dreams, and do the things that we want to do before time runs out.

As someone who spends a lot of time with people who are older than me (like in their 30s-50s), I realised many people are kind of ignorant of their own health? I know people who are in their 30s and they have high cholesterol/triglyceride levels, high blood pressure and so on. Most of this are caused by their diet (nasi padang ftw!) and of course lack of exercise. But the funny thing is, they just brush it off easily. Or they would just say there's medicines I can take!

Or the most classic reason is "I'm still young and I think I still have time to enjoy my food"

Well a few weeks ago I came with the thought, do we need like 50 years to finally learn how to take care and love our bodies? Okay I'm not a perfect young man either. I haven't been exercising, and sometimes I eat a lot of junk food (like chocolates and sweet drinks). Thankfully being a vegetarian doesn't leave me with a lot of junk food options hahaha. But yeah I am becoming more conscious of my health and my body. This is one of the reasons why I decided to become a vegetarian.

Although like I said above, I'm far from being a "perfect" vegetarian.

My idea is that do we have to wait till we're old to start taking care of our bodies and health? Like okay we need to start eating healthily when we hit 40 or so. I think we should start young hmm. Well recently I realised I've been gaining weight as well haha. Okay don't blame my diet, blame it on my lack of exercise and eating too much rice heh. Which I've been limiting now.

So far my blood test levels are doing very fine. I haven't done any test this year though but I'm thinking of doing it every year to see how I progress. The last time I checked I even asked to have my iron levels checked and it's doing okay too. I want to try to live healthily from now till I grow old. Hoping that my health won't be so miserable when I'm old heh.

And not only about health-wise, but injury wise too! Small things like being aware of our surroundings, and to be aware of our actions so that we don't hurt ourselves. Similar thing to the above point, a lot of people only started to be "more careful" when they are old. Okay this is true because as we grow older, it takes harder for us to recover and heal.

So perhaps we should all start becoming more alert and aware of the things that we are doing to ourselves as well, so that we can avoid getting injuries when we grow old. I once watched a documentary about this man who does this - he trains himself to become more agile and alert by doing exercises every day, and he even made an "obstacle course" that trains his cognitive alertness and skills. In the documentary he was 60 years old. And he's very fit and agile!

Well to be honest, my parents are such people heh. My mum for example, she gets stomachache whenever she eats spicy food. So I always told her not to eat chili and other spicy food but well, beyond my control, she always eats them (and get stomachache later). My dad likes brave himself to go to places that are dangerous to go to, even though he's 60. And when things go wrong, he'll regret it. But a few weeks later he'll do it again. Ah well, like I once said, 

Your parents will one day be your children. 

I can't understand why people always constantly do things that damages their health. And I always land on the question, do we need 50 years to finally learn how to take care of our own health, and to love our bodies? Even though our bodies have been showing signs of things that they like and do not like. Do we constantly do things that our bodies don't like? Until one day our bodies say "enough" and things start to go really wrong. When, will we learn to love this place we live in?

Alright that's all for this really random post. Just a random thought that came to my mind. November is coming to an end really soon. I hope it has been treating you well! Let's end 2017 beautifully.

Solitude On Sunday

 Run, music, sky, wind

After the lunch and drinks that I had with Vithya two Saturdays ago, I went to the bus stop opposite of Star Vista to catch 106 back to the hotel. We passed by the running track along the Pandan canal. It was the running track that I used to run along every Sunday for my weekly run! Also it is the route that I take if I decided to walk home from SP. That place brought so many memories!

But the memory of my Sunday runs is the most vivid one for me. Because it reminds me of something I missed the most about my life in Singapore - Solitude.

How every Sunday evening I would change to my running shirt, put on my shoes, play some music and just run. To be honest I really miss running haha. It feels pretty awesome to just start running to wherever I choose to go then. I would either go all the way to the end of Ulu Pandan Road, turn left, and then into the track and run about 5 KM. Or I would run along the houses and condos near Pandan Valley and then into the track, which would start on the 500m mark.

Or I would run to Ngee Ann Poly and then back. Sometimes I would run all the way to Holland V and back again. I don't like this route cause there's red lights and I hate stopping haha. The craziest route I've done is to Ngee Ann, then sixth avenue and back home! There was also once where I tried running to Sixth Avenue but then it started raining so I stopped halfway. Also the route is quite steep and it really made me feel breathless and lazy hahaha. Those were the days.

One of the things I loved a lot about running is the idea of being left "alone". It's just me and music, and the evening sky. I just run till I feel like it, but usually I have a certain distance I am determined to cover. And then also I really enjoyed the walk home after the run. Just me, the evening breeze and music. It's a moment for me to just contemplate and sort of calm down before another week begins. 

If there is anything I miss about my life in Singapore, it would be solitude. The ability to be alone whenever and wherever I want. It feels like a time where I can not care about the world for a little while? I know it sounds selfish but I kinda miss how good it felt. I remember that day where I just decided to go to Labrador Park and stare towards the sea until the sun sets and it was dark. It felt so blissful. Okay it was also depressing because I messed up my data calculations for FYP haha.

But yeah. I miss that ability. I mean I can do this here too, I just don't know where I should go. Sometimes I have that crazy idea of just driving all the way to the beach alone on Saturday or something but that would be really crazy. I'm not a good driver either so yeah.

Those were the good old days.

Musical Delights

 Memories

The 16th of November has always been a bittersweet day for me. Since 5 years ago that is. 16/11/2012 was probably the last band concert that I'll ever perform in. Although I always hold on to the hope that it won't be my last, looking at the rate my life is going right now, it's probably gonna be my last! Haha. Well no one knows how our lives will go, but you know what I mean right.

Well joining a band has been a childhood dream of mine. I wanted to be in an orchestra but there isn't one in Tanglin so band was it! And also band is also a wonderful platform to share my love for music with other music-loving bunch of people. I'm very glad that I decided to join band again in SP. And I'm ever thankful to have the opportunity to perform in Esplenade. It's a dream come true!

Nothing can ever describe the feeling of playing music. Or to be more exact, performing music in front of an audience. Concerts/performances are really a platform which we show our passion for music to other people. It's an amazing feeling to just play your heart out to other people, especially after months of practices and rehearsals. Just for a 2-hour concert! Music taught me a lot about discipline.

I will never forget MD36. The sight of the grand Esplenade concert hall in front of you. The sound of people clapping after the concert. And a sound I will never forget in my life will be the sound of bells ringing through the concert hall during Overture 1812. It's one of the most incredible sounds I will ever hear. It feels like a proper send-off for me 7 years band journey.

Well I don't know when I'm going to perform again. I still play my ukulele and the piano sometimes. Though I'm finding it more difficult now cause I'm getting really busy. But when I grow up and have my own house, I'll definitely buy a piano and play my heart out more often. Till then, I'm just going to enjoy music by listening to them! Spinning my records, sipping my tea.

I can never imagine life without music. Happy November 16th everyone. Special mention to my wonderful clariboe section. I hope one day we can all play together again! :)

11.11

So apparently today is Single's day? Well in China only I think haha but I remember seeing an article once that it is celebrated because the date, 11-11 looks like singular people together. Anyway, happy single's day to all the single people out there. Including me! HAHAHA.

Which makes me want to talk about something today. Something I rarely talk about - love.

I have a confession to make. Maybe most of my friends know this. I'm 25 now, and I've never been in a relationship. Zero, none haha. I've never even tried to sort of "try" to go into one? I do have crushes, but that's all heh. And especially after I returned home, it's even more difficult for me to find my significant others. Also I'm working now, and thus I'm less free as compared to when I was still in school, as a student. And hmm. I feel okay with it to be honest.

I do have a conversation with a few of my friends about this issue. Okay back when I was young (like in secondary school/early poly era), I always have the thought that I need to find someone else who will be my significant other. I want to get married, live together etc etc. But as I grow older, the thought of leading a solitary life seems to be okay with me. Don't get me wrong, I still am open with the idea of finding that someone. Just that if I don't, I'm okay with it too.

A few of my friends were telling me that maybe we have entered that comfort zone of being alone? So comforted that we are "against" the idea of being attached. I'm not sure, it maybe is; since I've lived a majority of my life alone when I was in Singapore. Hence I'm totally used to, and I'm okay with doing things alone. I mean I eat out alone, I watch movies/concerts alone, I cool alone etc. 

So in all honesty, I can see myself growing old alone too hah. Okay in this context, what I mean by alone is without a partner. I'm pretty sure I won't be -totally- alone when I'm old.

Also I have this belief that you'll never find true happiness until you've learned how to create it by yourself. Many of us have this idea that like our partner is a source of our happiness. Yes I believe in that too, that couples should be able to "complete" one another. Be a source of comfort and happiness when times are rough and so on. But we should never solely rely on them to be happy.

I kind of realised that there are two kinds of people in this world. There are people who are in their 30s, single, and they are feeling okay. And there are people who got stressed and worried because they are not married/attached. See what I mean? Some people have that belief that they need their other half to be happy to have a lesser stressful life. But can they?

Sometimes I feel annoyed when people are questioning why I'm still single, or why I don't seem to find interest to find someone else. Because personally I don't feel the need and rush to do this. I mean I'm only 25, and also I strongly believe that love shouldn't be forced? Especially if you are not ready! And I really see nothing wrong with not being attached yet. Like why are we rushing to be attached? 

I don't get some people to be honest.

All in all, I just wanna say that I see nothing wrong with being single. Because really, there's more to life than just "rushing" to find that special someone in your life. But at the same time yes, it's alright to have someone too. I guess one of the good things about being single is that you'll have more freedom? And one of the bad things about being single all your life is that you can't relate to the myriads of heartbreaking songs out there hahaha. Unless we're talking about our crushes.

Well happy single's day to everyone out there. Don't rush things, I hope we'll all find someone. And if not, I hope you'll find happiness and a peace of mind by yourself too.

Reunions

Alright let me blog about my trip to Singapore last weekend! Though I went for three days, it really felt like I only went for one. It was an awesome weekend after all, meeting people I haven't seen in ages. And definitely a fun one too, everyday seems to be packed. Alright here goes!

So I went to Singapore on Friday, my flight got delayed! I just realised this fact after seeing the clock at Changi when I left the plane. It was 3 PM, when I was supposed to land at 2. So I rushed to the hotel, checked in and rushed back out to meet Vithya! Gosh it's so long since I've seen her, almost two years! So good to see her again :) And we headed out to.....

Get myself a tattoo. More about this in another post!

So because of my flight delay, everything on Friday got pushed back too. Felt guilty to the people I met on Friday. Firstly to Ash, the tattoo artist who did my tattoo for being late for my appointment, and to Candy, whom we're meeting for dinner! So sorry guys, should have planned my time better and calculated my delays and stuff hah. But yup then we went to Holland to meet Candy!

Had an awesome dinner at Fat Boys burger restaurant. Thank the vegetarian god cause they serve portobello burger haha. Felt awesome being reunited with Candy and Vithya again. Kai couldn't join us as she had plans at work. Really reminds me of our poly days where we would hang out at Holland for drinks on weekends. Back then we were complaining about FYP and now we're talking about work and being adults. Crazy, time flies so quickly.

 Trying to fill their glasses ahaha

After dinner we went to Three Crowns for more drinks. It is out go-to place at Holland, even after all these years haha. Had an enjoyable night with them, trying to pour more beers from the tower to their glasses haha. It was all fun until... It was pouring hard. Bleah, what a way to ruin our night! So we went to call it a night. Despite the rain, it was still an awesome Friday evening!

Went back to my hotel and got knocked out right away cause I only had about 2 hours of sleep throughout the day? Didn't get much sleep on the plane sadly!

Woke up pretty late the next day. Did some work before leaving to meet Vithya for lunch. We were also out to get some stuff for my parents and grandma. And before we left, we had more drinks! Haha. Oh goodness sorry to my liver for overworking you last weekend haha. But it was such a pleasant Saturday afternoon spent with Vithya, talking about a lot a lot of things over pints of beer and a wonderful lunch. I'm gonna miss her, for I don't know when we'll meet again :/

 Gonna miss this woman :( Hope to see you again Vithya!

Oh well all the best in your new chapter ahead Vithya! We'll meet again for sure :)

Went back to the hotel to drop my stuff. Got changed, and then headed out again to meet the GT for dinner! I met with Candy and Kai first for dinner, followed by Vivian! And then we went over to Scapre for drinks as recommended by Azmi. Azmi came and then Jess! Oh and Candy's boyfriend hi Hong (is that how you spell it?) joined us too. Went for a drink at Al-Capone and wow the price of the booze was so so affordable. Got myself Guinness and some Heineken mwahaha. 

And then, Kai suggested we should go... Club! Okay I am very open to any suggestions, after all this is like a "proper weekend" that I had in a very long long time. Also all of us are here in Singapore so lets do it! So yup, we head over to Attica to end a night. Okay first of all it's been almost two years since I last clubbed (last time was Zouk with Brenda and Jeslyn in.. 2015?). It was a crazy night. Couldn't really remember what happened LOL. I knew we went for supper after that.

 Thanks for the great night! <3

But nevertheless, thank you Candy, Kai, Vivian, Jesslyn, Azmi and Zhi Hong for the awesome night! Like I said above, it's been so long since I last enjoyed a proper weekend. Thank you so much for meeting up, and for the awesome night. Special mention to Vjie's brother and mum for sending me back to the hotel. Which I knocked out right away after that. Whew.

Woke up the next morning to a really bad hangover. It was so bad. And also my fault cause I didn't have any water after reaching back. I should have flushed all the alcohol away but I didn't! So I was just bearing with it till noon. Packed my luggage and bag, checked out and met Brenda for lunch! Jeslyn was supposed to join us but she was down with fever :( Hope you're ok now!

 Awesome bandung popsicle!

Felt really bad to Brenda cause I was really feeling out of the radar in that lunch. But felt so much better as the day progresses. Had a great lunch with her, talking and catching up with out lives. Crazy to think we've known each other for 11 years now, and are still keeping in touch <3 Headed over to a place nearby to get some popsicles. We got the bandung and lychee one which was really good! And then it was time for me to go to the airport. Man, what a great weekend!

Thanks Brenda for the lunch! <3

Yup. That was all for my short but crazy good weekend in Singapore! Felt really happy to see a lot of people that I haven't met in a long long time. It's insane to think how much we've all grown up now. I mean, we are now proper working adults haha. Felt like yesterday when we were all still in poly. Well I'm happy to see all of you again, and I wish all the best in your careers!

To be honest I don't know when I'm going back to Singapore again. But whatever the case is, I'm always looking forward to the day that I'll be on the sunny island again, meeting all my friends. Thank you once again to everyone I met, I hope we can meet again one day! :)

Back Again

Hello! Haven't been blogging since November began and yes, cause there were so many things happening in the past 6 days! I just got back from my trip to Singapore like last night haha so yep. Returned to Singapore on Friday till Sunday to catch up with some people! Especially Vithya who's returning to Australia in January, so seized the chance to see her before we're so far apart again. 

It's been almost 2 years since I last saw her can you believe it!

And I was just catching up with work in the past 2 days. I even brought my laptop to Singapore to do work there hahaha. Busy busy man I've become. But it helps, at least I don't have to rush to finish them once I'm back eh. Also I managed to squeeze some time to do them. While waiting at the hotel, and even while waiting to board my plane at the airport yesterday. 

Well just wanna say it was an awesome weekend meeting some people I haven't met in years. Also it was a good short break, the past 4 months have been pretty intense. And the last break I had was my trip to Cambodia so yep. I deserve this I suppose? :P 

Okay just a quick update before I blog about the whole trip. Hopefully tomorrow! Here's me wishing you a neat November ahead! See you soon :)