Someday

One Saturday Afternoon

I've been feeling pretty poetic these days. But having a busy mind is somehow making me forget the poems that I've written in my head. Sometimes it's there, all I need is paper and pen to write them down. When I'm about to write them, I forget. I guess the human mind works like that. Good ideas come in a blink, and go in a blink. So... Do take them when you think about them.

As a Saturday as it is, well... I've always made Saturday an off day. No studying, nothing. Just a day for me to enjoy myself. I went out today with my sis and a friend. Wait, not a friend. In fact it's our first time meeting! It's my brother's friend I suppose :P But yeah, it's quite a nice day. A platform for me to break out of my cancer shell. Cause I'm one introvert person.

Saturday would well I guess be a favourite day of the week, after Friday. It's quite funny to think back how I love Saturdays when I was young. When I was still in Indo, Saturday was the official last day of school (and not Friday). In primary school, Saturday was just enjoyable. Secondary school (before Os) was really good too, after a long weel. When it comes to Os and beyond, I can't escape from "work" even on Saturdays.

But well, I guess what Mr Kwok said was right. Nowadays there isn't a single moment where we can truly "take a break". Sure we think we do, but surely as well, we don't. We can be resting, on Facebook, writing, singing and eating, whatever. But we know at the back of our mind, that work is waiting for us. That we need to do something. That we think of the things we need to do next.

Except for travelling. For me, travelling is a great way to take my mind off somewhere. I guess being in a new place, we can't think of anything else but a sense of excitement, wonder, curiosity and joy. I guess all these distract us from the world, that well, helped us to forget life. As much as I love running and walking, cause they took my mind off somewhere, I can't escape the fact that well, I still have things to do after that.

I guess writing (or blogging) is another thing I enjoy. Took my mind off, but same thing happened. At times I feel writing as something therapeutic. It relaxes my mind cause well even though I'm thinking of what to write, words just pour out of my brain. Together with the feelings I have, the emotions I bear. Same with music as well. Whenever I play the piano or sing. Amazing no?

This is my 690th post. Reaching 700 soon. Really hope I can reach 1000 before I turn (say... 22?) Or if possible 21. I think I can, provided I can blog more often. Pretty sad how my blog posts are decreasing by the year. I guess as we grow older, we get busier. And this blog is right here, available for me to unwind and relax. Yet I sort of neglect it.

Ah well, that's human for you.

Alright~ Off to do something now. It's 1:32AM. And I ain't sleeping yet!

Part of us

Like the skyscape we change constantly

But like the skyscape, we're always a beauty

In our own unique ways

Today was a great Friday I suppose! Well I guess, with only like 4 hours of sleep last night, I managed to pull through everything today without falling asleep! :D Today's pathology is pretty interesting, how we can find ADMSC (adipose derived mesenchyal stem cells) from fats! OMG please I would love to donate my fat cells to save lives hahaha. But pretty interesting :)

And the rest of the day just went by pretty quickly. I've compiled the list of things we have to finish and well of course it's one long list. Seemingly endless, but it will come to an end pretty pretty soon. So yeah, how awesome isn't it? :) The next three weeks will be hell, we step into hell and one day we will emerge into paradise! Woohoo! :D

Anyway I was supposed to come for my last Sports Elective Programme training. But I ended up didn't. Anyway.... I've sort of missed the requirement to get the CCA point and the certificate as I've missed more than 2 lessons (I have reasons to miss them, not cause I purposely missed them!). One was my allergy, the other was KK briefing, then KK training, SPSB MD 35 and today. So alright I missed one today.

Nevertheless, I don't sign up for this for CCA points and certificate. My initial plan was to train for my SCMS 10K, but that was before I joined KK. When I joined the team, there were training and more events and hence I couldn't join some of the training. But no worries, I've enjoyed the sessions thus far, even though the people were a bit quiet and clique-ish (thankfully I have Doreen and Yuewei!).

I doubt they'll see this but to the trainers who had trained me for this programme, thank you so much cause even though I missed lots of lessons, I learned a lot from the lessons which I came to! All the running technique, training tips etc. Thanks a lot :) And to Fadzli? Fazli? Who's co-incidentally a PE teacher in TSS now, and who knows me thanks to my name on the banner -,- thank you for the encouragements! :)

So I've decided to meet pow and Jo straight away, and some changes made, we headed to Clementi straight away! :) Met Kelvin! OMG it's been like one year since we last met! He change a lot, his shoulder more broader. But it's good to know that there's still that part of him that never change - his jokes! Talking to him, Federick and the rest just brings me back to the sec 4 days we always had :)

Anyway wishing him all the best for his NS life! He'll be entering really soon so all the best! :D

Yep I guess that's all for today. Shall wake up early tomorrow to do work. They're waiting for me -.- alright people see you all!

There's part of us, that never change.

Blessing in disguise

Disappointments are part and parcels of life
that we ought to enjoy, we ought to savour

Might be a bitter hard to taste

But a sweet one to swallow

Hello! Today was an alright day I guess! Kind of an ordinary Thursday with Haematology and so on, but well not so great day for me cause I receive a disappointing and sad news. But no worries, I'm feeling fine now even though I was kind of emo the whole afternoon today. But oh well, it's life, Part and parcel of it we ought to enjoy and to learn :)

Anyway yes, today I received the news that I will no longer go to Stanford for my OITP. But instead I'm posted to SP's Biofactory! Of course I'm disappointed and sad, I mean I've been really rooting and looking forward to my OITP cause I know it will be one great experience. But hey I've always told myself to look on the brighter side of things, and to take this as a blessing in disguise. We never know.

Actually... I sort of expected or foresee that I won't be going for an OITP. First was the long wait, which I suspect why, cause the settling of visa and etc. And two... It's just my instinct. But anyway Dr Tan said he just got the confirmation so can't be helped either. That explains the long wait I suppose. But hey no worries really, be it in Stanford, be it in SP, I really don't mind.

I always believe that things happen for a reason. If they don't then they wouldn't have happened at all. So many things happened - which I learnt this. Well in life everything has its place and has its time. We all flow in this river of time, we reach a certain point of the journey where things happen and where things don't. So this time round, my OITP doesn't happen. And so yeah, that's life isn't it?

Okay honestly it'll be a lie to say I'm not sad. But at the same time, I'm not devastated of this outcome. I've been dreaming to go for an OITP since year one, seeing the many possibilities and opportunities I can come from my seniors. When I know we only have 3 placings for OITP, I was both excited and nervous and well hopeful that I can get in. I did get in, but eventually I don't.

Nevertheless on the bright side, I can look forward to the things I'll be having for going for a local ITP instead. I'll be seeing Vithya around, hence I've a friend here. Going to Stanford alone would be an awesome experience though heh. I'll save money, hence less burden for my parents (and myself). I'll be able to do things I would have missed, like Sundown 10K (Signed up! :D), HFH 2012, and so many more.

Truthfully, every ITP be it local or overseas, is one truly unique experience we all will get in our poly life. I guess the only edge we'll have for having an OITP is the extra experience and fun we can get. Travelling overseas, who wouldn't want to do that? Exploring new places, unforgettable experience surely it will be. But at the same time, you'll also have an unforgettable experience in local. Not everyone can get the same opportunity as you - to work locally while you are studying.

So yeah... I'm sad and disappointed, but most importantly I'm excited for my ITP! 6 months of no study but pure research and work. Sounds challenging but lets go, I'm accepting the challenge :)

Be it a blessing in disguise, remember that things do happen for a reason

Year of the dragon

My awesome family

That made CNYs awesome

Hello! Once again I'm currently at Jakarta Airport's Starbucks, which I was last here 22 days ago! And yes today we came too early again. But oh well, it's VERY early! Believe it or not we reached here 4 hours before our flight. That's mega early right. Anyway we went to have lunch and just waste our time there talking and chatting. Then we decided to go into the check in desk. Now we're just waiting for time to fly again.

Oh yes! I forgot to wish you....

Happy Chinese New Year! Year of the dragon FTW


Hahaha, yep. May the sorrows of the year of the rabbit be drowned in this year of the water dragon, while keeping those great lessons learnt and awesome moments spent afloat and flowing! Very cheesy I know, but poetic too right (Y).

Anyway my CNY celebrations back in my hometown was really awesome with my cousins around. Except the fact that on the first day it was really quiet. Cause some of my cousins left in the morning, leaving only a few others in the afternoon (as they left today). And in the afternoon it was just spent with some guests arriving and a few of my relatives for house visits. Was kinda busy serving cakes and more heh.

And some of my relatives came with their children whom I've never met before (Y). They're really cute cause they're so young haha. You know what, CNY always makes me feel old. One because I feel that we have all grown up. Just being surrounded with my grown-up cousins already tells me how fast time has flown. And two, because yesterday I found out I'm now officially an uncle! :D My nephew is really cute. Even though he's shy, he doesn't mind me playing and carrying him haha (he's only 2 btw). And he was sitting on my lap. Even though he's pretty shy.

I'll be a great uncle oh yeah! (Y)

And then in the evening we went to my grandma's house again. Good to see she's still in good health! Yesterday was REALLY cold I tell you. At night the temperature dips to 18 degrees! And in the afternoon it was 24. The win was really strong, and it was raining in the morning and late afternoon. Very very cold. The wind was really scary though. Pretty strong.

Yup, that's how my CNY went by. Pretty fast huh? I reached here back in Saturday, three days ago. And now I'm going back to Singapore once again. Oh well as the saying goes, one forgets time when they're having fun. And sure I did have fun when I'm back there.

I guess CNY is something that I truly enjoy and look forward to. Not the ang paos, not the new shirts etc. But the fact that all of my family gather together for that one night, or at least that few days. Thankfully this year's CNY falls on a Monday so my cousin could come on the Saturday and so we have more days to spend together with. And I'm even more thankful with the fact that I can go back for CNY for the past 6 or 7 years. Since primary 6 I remember. Or sec one.

As we all grow up, we realise we're growing away from the thing we all start from - our family. This is a fact we all can't escape from. One day we'll all get married and have our own partner, and live away from our family (except for a few handfuls whom parents live with them still). Even before our marriage, sometimes we get busy with school, friends, work, and so many more things.

And we realise as we grow up, we look for our family more. It's like it is something that we always seek and we always return to when we go back. Just look at it this way, honestly speaking, when I was young, the thing that makes me so hyped up for CNY is the red packet, the fact that I'll get a new shirt, and of course my cousins coming here.

As I grow up, like now, the thing I really look forward to for CNY is less of the two things but more of the fact that my cousins, aunts and uncles are coming together back in my hometown, back in my grandmother's house. All the laughters, the chatters and the food brought us closer together, make everything seems so fun and warm. It's something that may not occur once every 6 months or so.

I guess we all agree that it's pretty hard for one's family to gather all as one. Everyone, together, in any event. Sometimes we have people busy with work, or maybe busy with other things. Thankfully none of this happen in my family heh. I guess I must also thank the date at which CNY fall on this year. It's a long weekend!

So yeah, that's why CNY is really something I look forward to. And why do I look forward to it. I can't imagine a CNY without my whole family around. It's not CNY at all, if that happens.

Funny how when we grow up, we miss on the things, the usual things that we always have when we're young. I guess as we grow up, we start to realise the values we hold in life. What should we treasure and what should we always hold on to. So I guess, don't think of these too late. Time if flying at a rate no one can comprehend. One snap, and well you might miss those things in life, which you might have wanted and loved the most.

Alright I guess that's all for now. I should start heading to my gate now. See ya back in Singapore! And once again happy Chinese New Year! :)

Someday...

Growing

The best thing about CNY is not the ang paos

But how the family gather together

Hello! Finally I got the chance to blog :) I'm now back in my hometown, in my room hehe. Waiting for time to pass by, for the clock to strike 12 and it'll be year of the dragon already! Hehe. Time flies huh, another CNY comes another goes. Well unlike the new year, CNY falls on either February or January. This year it falls on a really fast date. 23rd Jan! :)

Anyway yesterday I took a flight at 9.30AM and reached Jakarta at 1020 I think. The journey back was really good, not many jams and stuff. Reached my hometown at about 330! Met with my cousins and we were making a cake haha. Really fun and nice, proud of our work mwahaha. And then we had a cream fight! Oh my it was really fun, but at times I do feel that I'm old too. Cause doing all these remind me of being young again. And I'm turning 20 soon damn it! :P

Today was alright, we had our prayers as usual, one day before the new year. So lots of food! And sadly I woke up late so didn't get the chance to roll the "gim zhua" AKA hell's bank notes into this flower like shape before it'll be burned. But we had fun playing around and talking and chatting with my aunts and cousins. And we have food of course, one of the best parts of the celebration :P

And in the afternoon the boys went to play futsal! OMG it's been such a long time since I play soccer, let alone futsal, so I feel really "unseasoned"! Haha, well it's kind of obvious that I such at it anyway :P But nevertheless I had fun with all my cousins! Pretty nice :) Nothing beat the joy of playing sports anyway :D Then went to my dad's garden for the evening, it was really cold there but I was enjoying every moment of it. Not really everyday I can enjoy such cold and refreshing weather.

Plus there were... FOOD! No idea why but food there always taste better. Better. Better. Like really better. We ate this glutinous rice with coconut shavings and oncoms (not sure what to call it in English) but really good! Headed to town after that cause some of my cousins have not gotten their CNY shirt yet. Everyone was feeling tired after that already. It's been a long day I guess.

Yup I guess that's all for today! Still waiting for time to fly pass now. We have about one more hour so... Getting pretty excited! Hehe. I wanted to bathe now but I guess I'll just wash my hair. Cause as the belief goes, we can't wash our hair during CNY day right haha. So I'll wash my hair now and then bathe later, even after the clock strikes 12.

Yes that's how superstitious I can be, but that's me! :)

Hope you all had a great CNY eve! :)

SPSB Musical Delights XXXV

Thank you SPSB for the musical delights!

I just got back from SPSB 35th Musical Delight! Really fantastic night for me and everyone else. But well I'm not a performer there. Just a photographer who help them capture theur MD 35 memories. Sigh, you know it's two totally different feel when you're on the stage playing, and on the audience seat watching? Totally different. And it feels really sad. I miss the feeling of performing. Really miss playing in a band.

Hence I make a promise...

I'll return ASAP and perform at SPSB 36th Musical Delights! I will graduate with the band. It's a promise I make to myself and others.


Anyway it's been my plan to return to the band anyway. I'm just taking a break from this semester. I hope I can return ASAP! But with ITP... Damn, I'll miss a few months of band again :(

But anyway whatever it is, returning back to band is a must. And is a yes, and is a plan for me. I'm not gonna change it :)

Just a short post tonight, cause I'll be fling off tomorrow morning back to Indo for CNY (Y)! Have not packed my stuff but soon! Alright see ya :D

I guess music is like oxygen to me. I can't live without it.

They say regrets always come too late

Flow the wind, follow where it goes

We can never go against how time flows

Move on, don't dwell in sadness, in regrets

Cause in life, things happen for a reason

I'm sure all of you agree with my title above. I mean if regrets were to come early, I'm sure we all live a life that is so smooth, so easy, so peaceful and there's no challenge at all. Well, what's life without challenges right? I guess regrets are one of the best teachers we can have. Just like experience. It teaches us how to move on, how to not grudge on the decision we have made, and to turn a "bad" decision into something positive.

Many times we regret, we curse ourselves and well, we just.. Regret. And of course we learn from this experience and make sure we don't repeat it again. But also at times, regretting is different from just simply "learning from experience". At times, regretting, makes you miss a moment you'll never have again in your life. Like the most common one, I should have....

I've always told myself to do things without regret. But since the saying goes it always comes too late. And also at times in life, we gotta weigh the "future". Some times we miss things because we know it's better to miss it. Or well, we just know that we gotta miss it or we'll "regret" not missing it. The most important thing is, don't dwell in regrets. We can never turn back time and well, so we just move on.

Why am I talking about this?

Well I was making my presents for some of my band friends for their 35th MD. I'll be their photographer this Friday. I won't be sitting down on the stage of Esplenade playing my heart out. It's a decision I've made back in October. And well at times, these days, that regret is pinching my heart bit by bit. It's a decision I've made so I'll bear the consequence. That feeling of wanting to play is there, after all, I'm still a band-it.

And I'll always remind myself that well, I'm trading this off for something, for an experience of a lifetime. And that is climbing Mount Kinabalu. I've summited, I've climbed it and well, I did it basically. If I were to mix band and KK together, it's a great recipe for disaster. Cause I'm really not sure if I can cope my studies and my trainings well. Can you imagine? Mon, Wed, Fri KK, Tue and Thur band. Wow huh.

I guess it's pretty normal. I'm a music lover, and who doesn't want to perform in Esplenade? Of course I do. But the decision is made and now I can't turn back time.

Nevertheless, I'm really looking forward to a great music-filled evening this Friday, and I hope I can pull it off with my photography skills. It's another dream of mine, to cover a concert in a grandeur hall. So I'm pretty much looking forward to it :)

Alright let's not dwell in sadness and regret. I know that I will graduate with the band. And I'll perform in MD 36! :)

Good night people.