keera

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Had BBQ on Monday. Maybe it ain’t the same coz I think it to be? Anyhow, I was thinking of bringing a torchlight and my notebook so I can write while sitting near the sea. Ditched the idea anyway. Maybe one day I shall try. Haha. Nad, maybe one night if you’re free, we go to the beach and sit there and talk?

Thanks to Paul all the same for the food, cooking, etc…

*stretch*

Accompanied Sis to Eastpoint to go get her trial pair of lenses. Told her to reconsider when it turned out she has astigmatism.

Met Per at TM coz she wanted to get her slippers from OP. OP has a storewide 20% sale now. But must get minimum 2 items and above. So I got a skirt. YES! Finally they have A-line skirts. They should have more. Per also thought the skirt is pretty. So she might get it too. Yay.

Went to Per’s house to get back my boardgames. It’s been parking in her house since last New Year’s eve. Anyway, Sis wanted to see Keera too.

Per had fun playing with Keera. Hmmm…but I think Keera’s the best looking cat I’ve seen so far. He doesn’t have dirty yellow or green eyes. He’s got this cute inquisitive look. Haha…Per must be smiling from end to end now. But Keera’s a little on the “pui pui” side.

finding the good ol’ memories

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Seems everyone is clearing out their cupboards and finding stuff that brings back the good ol’ memories.

I need a bigger book cupboard. My books are spilling everywhere. There’s already 2 piles on my bed.

I should have done that yonks ago. Everything is piling up everywhere. On the table, under the table, beside the bed etc.

Mum keeps scaring both of us about the roaches living among our stuff. Nad…stop laughing. I don’t want to get tormented by one crawling among my stuff. That happened a few days ago and once is enough.

WWJD?

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[edited at 12.18am]
Wahahahaha…I finished watching “Winter Sonata” liaoz. What shall I “conquer” next? Actually I haven’t finished watching “Antique Cake Shop”. But the vcds are quite screwed up…or maybe it’s the player. I think I really regret not buying “Kizarazu Cat’s Eye” or “Pika*Nchi”. Okie dokie…need to get out of the room coz Sis is sleeping.
[edited]

Can one person alone make a difference? Can one person alone bring the truth to light? If it isn’t possible, wouldn’t be walking away the only way? But what if your heart doesn’t want to?

Reading a blog, staring at the title of an Ayu song. Oh, how the title stands out at this point of time. I think I’m way past anger now. More like the disappointment is settling in. I realise I’ve changed. I would no longer do some things which would be considered as childish and rash.

If there’s one thing I learnt from my transition of being an 18 year old to a 19 year old *although it really doesn’t matter now since they are just numbers*, that would be “acceptance”. I vaguely remember a verse from the bible which said something like “help me lord, to accept the things I cannot change”.

But really, WWJD? “WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?”

spirits up up up

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[edited at 2.49am]
Was looking for the lyrics for some time already. Sis recommended this song of Shin’s that has meaningful lyrics. It’s “Hai Kuo Tian Kong”. I particularly like this line.

“冷漠的人　謝謝你們曾經看輕我　讓我不低頭　更精采的活”
(English translation: To those people who leave/ignore me, thanks for looking down on me, for it has made me not give up but continue living a better life.)
[edited]

Wahahahaha…stupid game. *zip* Not so stupid game after all. Since I’m the one playing it. Wahahahaha… Bor lahz…it’s one of those brainless games on neopets. Yesssssssss…*make sure you drag the “s”* I do play neopets now and then ok. Got nothing better to do your problem huh.

Soffie, you better help me with this one. I started really watching Buffy only around the third or fourth season. So maybe it’s connected to something before that. What’s the first evil? That vampire…is he the master? Whoa…means it’s already about the middle of the season I guess. Coz something big and bad always arrives around the middle of the season.

Met up with Per and Nad. Had dinner at Milenia’s Yoshinoya. Thanks for having dinner with me. Thanks for being there. Better now…

Yesterday night I almost died when my computer started this whole 60 seconds system shutdown thingy on me. Wah liew…I meant to reformat my computer but I haven’t totally backed up all my stuff. I thought I got that virus. But it’ll be quite ridiculous coz I downloaded the update already. Well…seems fine when I restarted the computer. *phew* Nahz…I think occasionally, my computer just likes to be a little cranky and scare me.

Time for my daily dose of “Winter Sonata”. I’m almost done watching it. The most stupid thing is Mr Bae Yong Jun has to get into an accident twice just to get back his memory?! How can one’s life be so miserable? Gawd…I’d rather die in my second or third accident. Unless the big guy up there says it’s not time and won’t let me through his pearly gates.

And you know what, some people just disgust me.

mood-less

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I wanted to blog but then I really don’t have the mood right now.

Wanted to blog about the episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer I just watched.

Well, perhaps tomorrow. Yea…

Maybe I’ll just go watch “Winter Sonata” till the wee hours of morning again. Haha.

hikki’s single collection

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We won’t be going to Shizuoka, Japan after all. At first it was coz Sis had a SIP briefing on the 22nd. Anyway, Mum said that uncle Inada emailed to say that ends up, he only has 10 minutes for his presentation at the ceremony so it’s not worth for us to travel all the way to Japan again.

I bought Utada Hikaru’s “Single Collection 1” yesterday. And I’m listening to it now.

The list of songs…
1. Time Will Tell

2. Automatic
*Kelly Chen Hui Lin sang this in mandarin*

3. Movin’ On Without You

4. First Love
*Theme song for drama “Mo Nu De Tiao Jian” starring Nanako Matsushima and Hideaki Takizawa. It’s also the only Utada song that I can sing fully. Of course, I had to read the romanji lyrics, my Japanese is not that power.*

5. Addicted To You

6. Wait & See ~Risk~
*I love the PV (Promotional Video) for this song. Utada looks best in this PV.*

7. For You
8. (HELP! The title’s in katakana and I can’t read katakana!)

9. Can You Keep A Secret?
*Ok song…*

10. FINAL DISTANCE
*There’s a faster paced version titled “Distance”. Lyrics slightly changed. This song was in memory of those killed in some shooting in a school. Apparently, the girl who died was a huge fan of Utada Hikaru. Very emotional song…at least the tune is emotional.*

11. Traveling
*Cute and happy song. UFM 100.3 used the beginning part for their report on news on the road.*

12. Hikari
*I think this is the only song, gamers who aren’t Jpop fans will find familiar. *nudges sensei* It’s supposed to be the theme song for the game “Kingdom Hearts” I think.*

13. Sakura Drops
*I like this song from her “Deep River” album.*

14. Letters

15. Colors
*Hehe…I can only say, after listening to this song, you’ll know how to name a few colours in Japanese.*

Alrighty, I would have bought this cd earlier had I not mistaken it for some classical album. The cover really looks like for some classical album and MJ put it on the bottom row of the shelf so yea…

Lastly, quoting from Ling’s blog. For those who are dying to get a laptop, add this reason to your list of reasons why you should get one.

“Can hit molesters/stalkers with it”

Good one huh?

trains and mrts

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The previous posts have been archived so for those who haven’t read about my Japan trip and want to, go to the archives.

Since I’ve tagged a fair bit about trains and MRTs, let’s talk about that.

Like I tagged, in Japan, the train service has normal, fast and rapid. Normal, the train stops at every stop. Fast, the train stops at certain stops. Rapid, the train stops at only major stops. There is no difference in train fare for normal and fast trains. However for rapid trains, there is a need to pay 500 yen more.

Mum and Dad travelled by train to some place. They didn’t know about the extra fee for the rapid trains. So they happily got on one. That was until the train master came round checking tickets and asked them to pay 500 yen more.

If you’re thinking that perhaps the train master is trying to con my parents, I don’t think so. I believe that generally, all Japanese are honest people. Everything is done in the open so there can be no accusations of cheating and whatsoever.

At the shops, you do not put the money for payment on the table or hand it to the salesperson. There is a tray on the counter to leave the money there.

Every item scanned, the salesperson will announce how much it cost. He/she will also announce the total cost, how much you pay and the change if any. If you pay in a big note *10000 yen and above* for something that cost very little. The salesperson will count the notes for the change one by one.

Ok ok…I have strayed from the main topic.

So maybe our MRT can adopt the normal and fast train method? But then again, I think they better not mess around with the system anymore.

Look at what trouble has been caused coz of the circle line. First it was Nicoll Highway. Then it was AYE. I haven’t exactly read about what happened to the AYE. It was reported by Desmond when we came back to Singapore.

I say, if more stuff happens that’s related to the circle line, perhaps the circle line is not meant to exist.

Okie…here comes the pics…

This is a one-day ticket. Single trips cost around 200-300 yen. So if you’re making more than 4 trips a day, it is cheaper to get this. With this ticket that costs 850 yen (around S$13.60), it allows you to make unlimited trips in a day. I wanted to buy a single trip ticket, the cheapest one to keep as a souvenir but I forgot. Single trip tickets get “eaten” up.

Yes yes…Aiba-kun! Kakkoii ne~ The uchiwas I bought from the Johnny’s shop. The left one is from the 2003 Summer concert. The right one is from the 2003-2004 Winter concert. Ok ok…Per, your Sho-kun is also kakkoii. Hehe…

This is my yukata~~~ *sings* Had to take this pic while Mum was out. She folded it nicely and put it in a box already. If she knew I took it out just to take a pic, she’ll kill me. *points* The main yukata. The yellow piece is the obi *the one that goes around the waist*. The strings to tie. Then the pink “bao bao” *bag*. Hee…

japan trip part four

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The final part of my trip to Japan.

2 May. First of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY XIANGLIN!!! *throws confetti and dances around* I’m so sorry I’m not there to celebrate with you, babe. May God bless ya. May all your dreams come true.

We travelled to Kyoto. Stopped at Arashiyama, Kyoto. The whole street’s bustling with people coz it’s a holiday. So there’s like international tourists and their own internal tourists.

After lunch, Sis and I went to the Johnny’s shop in Kyoto. Bought a few photos, 2003 meikan and an uchiwa. Of course, it’s kakkoii Aiba-kun lahz. *I bet Per will say her Sho-kun is more kakkoii…heehee* Didn’t forget to get a little something for Per. 2 photos. One of M.A. and the other of her Sho-kun from Arashi.

Checked out the other shops. Bought small bags to go with our yukatas. It was like 1050 yen for 3. So, one for me, one for Sis and one for Mum.

Went to this traditional handicraft shop.

Sis was complaining when we went back to Osaka that she didn’t get to eat her matcha soft cream (green tea ice-cream that’s like our 7-Eleven Mr Softee). Coz the queues for soft cream were really long. I wanted to try the sakura soft cream.

3 May. Went with Sis to Tsurumi Hanaport Blossom. It’s supposedly a flower wholesale market plus there’s Snoopy Town there.

Snoopy Town. We expected it to be an amusement park. Turns out it’s just a shop and restaurant with a Snoopy theme. Bleargh.

And talk about flower wholesale market. I think it USED to be one. Coz a shopping mall stands in it’s place.

Ate ramen. My favourite!!! Oishii!

4 May. Sis and Mum shopped in the mall near the house. Dad and I went to Expoland. Thought it was a whole amusement area for Sanrio stuff. I love My Melody. If I’m filthy rich, I wouldn’t mind decorating my whole house with Melody stuff…like You Lan Lan in Xi Jie Shao Nian, except hers is everything Hello Kitty. Too bad I’m not. So I only buy small stuff.

The weather’s not too good. Raining.

Turns out Expoland is just an amusement park. The so-called Sanrio part is just an exhibition to celebrate Sanrio’s 30th Anniversary. But I still bought some Melody stuff…hehe…

I was still “bu gan yuan” about not being able to find the Johnny’s shop in Osaka. So went back to Shinsaibashi. HA HA HA. The biggest fools are Sis and I. We read the map wrongly. Well, can’t help it if the map in the meikan wasn’t detailed enough. We assumed the road on the map was a main road and not one of those small side roads.

Found the shop. Since I still had quite a bit to spend, I bought another uchiwa.

Went to Shin and Ken’s grandma’s house for dinner. Aunty Mari was away in Tokyo for something so she wasn’t there to eat dinner with us. Shinichi and Kenichi were the main cooks. Okonomiyaki was the main course. Yummy!

Uncle Inada informed us of him getting an award for his landscaping projects in Singapore. The ceremony will be held on 22 May in Shizouka…which is near Tokyo. He expressed that he would like us to be present at the ceremony. So yea…will be away in Japan again for a few days.

5 May. Woke up early to check out the mall near the house before leaving since I didn’t have the chance to yesterday. Had a good Mac breakfast. Although upon conversion of currency, the Mac meals here are more expensive than Singapore, you can choose what kind of side and drink you want at no extra cost. So if you don’t want french fries, you can opt for a salad or 5 piece McNuggets. If you don’t want coke, you can choose any other hot or cold drink. Quite flexible.

Kenichi and Aunty Mari arrives to see us off.

Living around 10 days in their small apartment, I’ve learnt that most living around here keep small dogs as pets. They bring their dogs out for a walk early in the morning then rush off to work.

The trains and subways are very convenient. Shortens travelling time. To travel to Kyoto and Kobe from Osaka, sounds like a long trip but it is shortened by a train ride which lasts around 45 minutes. The subways have around 4 marked carriages strictly for females from the time of the first train till 9.30am. Well, I realised that in the morning, the subways will be packed with people going to work. To minimise any complaints of molestation or any molesters who think they can get away with it.

Sis has concluded that maybe all the shuai and cute guys have gone to Tokyo. None seems to exist in Osaka. The only guy whom we have rated “can make it” is the one cooking Takoyaki (Octopus balls) every night in the shop on the way back to the apartment. The shops along the street close quite late. Some close at midnight or one in the morning. There’s a supermarket that closes at one in the morning too.

We have gotten used to the cool air in Osaka that the minute we reach Singapore, we complained that it’s so hot. But it really is. I never perspired in Osaka. I had to put on a jacket most of the time. Now, THAT’S the difference.

mother’s day

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So there. The whole of my Japan trip. Will be putting up some pics soon.

Met Per on Saturday to pass her some stuff. Had lunch with her at Fish & Co. Met Jasmine there. Had a good chat with Per.

Had dinner with Cas, Xiu Wei, Paul, Jaclyn and Chee Wee at Blk 85. Manz…I never knew THAT hawker centre was Blk 85. I’ve gone there so many times during my SAC days. It was only when Cas told me a few months ago that I finally realised that the famous Blk 85 is THAT hawker centre.

Shared an “Earthquake” with Cas, Xiu Wei and Paul at Tampines Swensens after dinner.

Today…well…it’s past midnight but anyway, HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY! To all the mummies. And to my wonderful wonderful mum. Thanks for always being there for me. Guiding me through life’s journey. I love you.

Just printed out my results. I think the people in my course didn’t do too well? Coz I don’t have any As. Just a mixture of Bs and C+s and I belong to the Top 1 to 25%? Hmmm…

I’ve removed the link to my old blog coz Upsaid has removed my blog already. So bye bye to all my old entries.

Oh yea…Per mentioned something worth thinking about. If our MRT system is meant to serve as a faster way of getting around the country, how come *according to her* travelling to Jurong by MRT takes around 45 minutes but by car is faster. MRT lines are like all in a straight line whereas roads are like here, there and everywhere. So, by right, it’ll be faster by MRT? No?

japan trip part three

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Sunday 2 May 8.30am (S)/9.30am (J)

30 April. Kobe wasn’t too bad. Except we went there a little late. Managed to only go to a coffee musuem. Mum wanted to go to the Pearl musuem but by the time we completed the tour of the coffee musuem, it was too late.

Went to the Kobe Port Tower. A lookout point. Nightscape of Kobe.

1 May. I’m starting to appreciate the Japanese language CDS I took. All menus in restaurants are in Japanese. The only thing is I can read only hiragana so I still rely on Sis alot since she learnt katakana and a little kanji. The people don’t speak much of English. So it’s really tough when asking for something or directions. But the people are much more helpful. They really take you to the place if they can’t give directions in English unless the place you wanna go is really far. They’re all out to help.

Went to Kinokuniya. Bought a magazine and the Arashi Pika**nchi book. It’s much cheaper to get stuff here. Ermz…only magazines and books. Everything else is expensive.

Went to this electronic megastore. Yodobashi mall. Had a fun time collecting those product booklets. Ayumi endorses Panasonic products so the product booklets has her on the cover. Got a whole stack. Until our bags were so heavy.

Looked for this shopping mall called “The Loft”. Had trouble finding it so asked for directions. These two girls were so nice to lead us to the mall. I wanted to go there to look for any nice handphone accessories. Shinichi brought us to the one in Shinsaibashi the other time. People here never leave their handphones “bare”. That’s why they sell alot of handphone accessories.

Did I mention about the handphones? The craze or in-thing I guess are flip phones. Almost all handphones on sale are flip phones. And all have cameras. Although it’s a little big…around the size of the Panasonic GD88 but they come in different colours. So many different types…WITH CAMERA AND COLOUR SCREEN. So tempted to buy one but it’s useless coz of the frequency difference in Singapore.