Wednesday, November 30, 2005
What do exam days and post exam days have in common?The lack of rest, at least for me.I have been rather frustrated, even thinking about the end of my examinations (tomorrow!). While I heave a sigh of relief that all the long hours just getting through a text or a stack of notes are over, I cringe at the thought of how tight my post exam schedule is. Pardon me, I need to write it out to get organized.There is, for one, moving out of my room. A logistical headache because of the shelves I brought in, and the lamps too.And second, there is the Ubin camp till Saturday. I hope I get a good tan, amongst other objectives.And before that, working at the Asian Television Awards show tomorrow evening. That should be fun but I am not exactly looking forward to the 4 hours of standing.Adding on to that would be the Singapore Marathon on Sunday, of which, I had just been notified by the organizers that the flag off has been brought forward to 6.30am. And I have to also squeeze some time to collect the race pack on Saturday afternoon at the race expo.Then, settling the admistrative portion of my check out from pgp on Monday. Just in time to pack my luggage and be at the airport at 5pm for my flight out of busyland.And I do hope there is rest in between everything ahead.* *I had a lovely idea for an entry on memory, place and time. But no time for that now. Check back tomorrow.
nimgnoy let the night fall at 1:11 PM
Monday, November 28, 2005
On public bathrooms.Seriously, I do not see how the modern day bathroom has helped improve our lives in any way at all.Toilet papers these days, it is not even one-ply anymore is it? It is a sheer suggestion of what toilet paper used to be. A ghost-like roll now, it is so damn thin. And because it is so thin, and it is on this cheese-wheel sized roll - it is like a spare tyre roll of toilet paper - so the heaviness of the roll, with the thiness of the paper, trying to move it alone is just cumbersome. Please, if only I could just get more than one piece of toilet paper before it breaks off again.And then they are making things easier that does not need to be made easier. Toilets that are flushing automatically now, seriously, it's like I'll decide when I'm done! Sometimes, they just go off randomly - I am just sitting there and way before I am done, they flush. How. Dare. You. And in the end, they do not go off when you want them to - you're standing up and you're just staring at the toilet bowl and nothing happens. Then perhaps, you will sit back down and fake it out again, or start waving your hands past the sensors, looking pretty much like a complete idiot.Then you go wash your hands, and you have no control over that either. Evident from the new taps at the Central Library. You go to the sink, and it has to see your hands underneath first. And it decides how much water you need also, it gives you a certain portion - and you do not know how much you're going to get, so you look like a racoon under there, trying to get as much out of that limited time possible.And then it decides it has given enough water but it is not, and you have to pull out and go pretend that new hands are going back in again.And there is the automatic dryer. And all these automation are to avoid germs - and then after you're done in the toilet you walk to that disease-ridden door handle and open it up.
nimgnoy let the night fall at 1:59 AM
Friday, November 25, 2005
The good thing about Junhan's photos is, because he is the photographer, there are many pictures of the rest of us. So, here's the That's Us! series of his pics.
Our first day, straight to the beach of course!
First meal, Hungry Jack's, which started our craving for fries with lots of salt. Seriously the cold weather makes us hungry..very quickly!
Surfer's Paradise, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Behind us, the Pacific Ocean.
Waiting for our 2plus hours bus ride to Sunshine Coast. We were plain tired after 5 days exploring and shopping and walking in Gold Coast.
Sunshine Coast. We walked from Mooloolaba to Maroochydore, and here you see us halfway there along the Alexendra Headlands. It was an hour's walk.
Finally at Maroochydore. Sunshine plaza was a shopping paradise and a whole concept by itself. It is a mall built on a river.
Yes, some old mall we walked into.
One of our homecooked dinners. We try to cook dinners as much as we can. Nightfall comes early, at 5pm, so when you have nothing to do at night, cook.
nimgnoy let the night fall at 6:05 PM
More Brissy pics, all from Junhan's cam.
Too messy. Grr.
nimgnoy let the night fall at 1:16 AM
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
More never before seen photos from Surfer's Paradise
I promise to do a better job next time. This was a product of boredom after studying 13 hours at YIH.
nimgnoy let the night fall at 9:42 PM
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
They say that when people are stressed, they cut their hair. And that was what I did exactly, all by myself. I took quite a bit off my top, with a certain inspiration in mind, and made quite a mess in my room. But the thing is, I am not feeling stressed.Stress is an overrated word that has been worn out and if I may add, abused by undergrads all over our sunny island these weeks, and it is simply annoying, really. The way I see it, it is perhaps the perfect excuse and solace these people find themselves in, to satisfy the self. It is such a huge fallacy to place stress and better academic grades on one continuum, these both entities are located on different planes to start off with. Downright distressing. Stress is the point when you wet your pants because your little puppy is held hostage (gagged up, blindfolded and all the formalities) and is about to be shot dead unless you help Mr Kidnapper decode the password to the vault of Bank Cicero, of which you are not able to, because you are simply not equipped with that knowledge. Okay, bad example.And too bad I have not got a camera with me, I left my digicam at home over the weekend. But I feel liberated (strangely, I see no link) after the haircut and I think I look better and less of a mop-head. Anyone who had seen me recently would attest that I look quite like a mess myself. And besides, Yvonne would start ranting on how narcissistic I am (and very surprisingly I spelt that word correctly on the first attempt).Yet another mindless entry.
nimgnoy let the night fall at 11:34 PM
Monday, November 21, 2005
I just had a weirdest dream, weird not because it was incoherent but weird because it is so real so true so poignant. This dream could happen anyday and it would have fitted in so seamlessly into my life.I was transported back to RV, as a senior now. Okay, this is the illogical part, I was in the West Coast campus, though it does not exist now.But yes, in RV as a visiting senior to a council event. And like any council event, the councillors put in their heart and soul and their very best, like we did in the past. And for me, I felt detached from the whole event, I clearly had left the institution a long time ago and had no attachment for the council anymore.Which was sad. And at that point, I saw Yingzhen, my closest friend and senior I had back in my days in SC. We talked about how PB (that was our committee in SC) used to be our life and solace, and now it has become only but a memory of the past.* *I woke up and memories of the council filled and indundated my mind. Yingzhen, of course, has moved on in her own life, and so have I. And if there was any regret in our friendship, it would be the failure on my part to keep up with her more often, because indeed, we had been through so much back in those days.I was a reluctant president, I loved PB and never wanted to be in the central committee. I still keep the letters between Yingzhen and I, days before I knew I was president. I said I never want to leave PB, she eventually even said sorry for letting me go.For the uninitiated, this was how I grew in the council. I started off as a class secretary in Sec 1, and only got into the council by sheer luck because they opened up last minute interviews and called me down. I got into PB in Sec 2, the committee I had the most interest in, and became a councillor. I loved it there, did my best and was eventually heading that committee the following year in Sec 3. And I was honoured of course, and working with YZ, it was great. I was looking forward to my last year in council heading PB again, but I was chosen to head the council instead. That was when things started to fall apart for me.I did not think I made or was a good council president for my term in office, I loved 4K more. Besides, I had the most capable vice president, and the most dedicated team of ex-cos: Huishan, Weifa, Waisiong, Nana, Lijun and Wan Xuan. I believed I only looked good because of them holding me up. When teachers and students gave me credit for running an event well, I never felt it was mine, not once - my team did a spendid job. I never wanted to give my best (which on hindsight was stupid) because I never wanted to be president. It was only in JC when I realised there was so much I could have done to make a difference in RV. Oh well. That was a lesson in itself.I remember the simpler days in PB that stretched into evenings over painted banners, stinging thinners and the eventual Mountain Dew at JEC. I remember Talentime and the scaffoldings. I remember long ex-co meetings, and Yingzhen and I scribbling on our notebooks how hungry we were.And as much as I disliked how RV was ran, it gave me two most dearest experiences in my life - the Student's Council and 4K.* *Very strangely, my dream ended with us singing a song, and I can still remember part of the lyrics. It is so freaky because it is a never-heard-before song and we sang as if it were ingrained in our minds forever. And it ended very vaguely like that:"And if I should ever fall one dayWould you turn around and say:My friend, I'll be by your side,By your side."And I woke up the very moment the song ended. Surreal. Almost like the movies.
nimgnoy let the night fall at 9:25 AM
Friday, November 18, 2005
In latest news, our parcel landed safely in Melbourne. Surreal now that whenever I turn over to look at the shelf (where I left the present to rest pending its journey to the post office), I have to be reminded that it is in Australia now. Jess: I see you have put up curtains to separate your living and dining room! It is looking great. I miss the apartment. The toilet door that cannot be locked because it has no locking device.
In other news, Alexis Bledel is, without doubt, the most has-it-all beauty to walk this earth. nimgnoy let the night fall at 12:43 PM
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Okay, its past midnight now in Melbourne so I can do this
The story of your gift, Jess..
Hani and I met up
shopped for materials
started a creative storm
which left a mess in my room
and finished it off by writing your card
We hope you like the little craft we made
air-mailed with love from Singapore
to you thousands of miles away
but never-the-very-less
a happy & blessed
twenty-first
jess
nimgnoy let the night fall at 9:27 PM
What we did was, we took over LT25 and made it our own studying place. And I am proud to say we managed to clock 14 hours of work and the occasional goofing around. 9am - 11pm! We managed to project Vic's laptop to the big screen and watched some stupid videos, played great music through the sound system to keep us company as well. It is condusive, productive and definitely fun.
Left to right, from top:Vic and her work mess. Me doing a scarecrow. Vic. Our messes, 3 of us.Vic and I rejoicing over nothing. Vic doing a Chicken Little. Vic doing a Chicken Little. Our karaoke break.Me creeping up to vic's desk. Junhan and I. Vic and I. Junhan disturbing Vic. 
Left to right, from top:Vic and I. Vic showing off Mischa on the big screen. Vic and I doing a spastic smile.Junhan at his best - disturbing Vic. Vic and I. Vic doing a Chicken Little.Okay, so we were silly.
nimgnoy let the night fall at 12:42 AM
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
nimgnoy let the night fall at 10:20 AM
Monday, November 14, 2005
Do you love me now and still?For the tea has gone cold,and the room a little darker sinceyour light dimmed upon us.Do you love me now and still,when all I can recollect arememories of us lostin sealed pockets of antiquity?Do you love me now and stilllove as you did then in summer?Days were ours, spent in shadesaway from the sun, the world.Do you love me now and still,for it is never enough.But the tea has gone too cold now,and us in winter rain, slow dying.* *The whole idea of this came as I was falling asleep last night. And I even dreamt about it, how freaky, how affirming. And this morning, I pen my thoughts.
nimgnoy let the night fall at 10:53 AM
Sunday, November 13, 2005
The sun is begging me to go out and busk in all it has to offer.It is one of those lazy Sunday afternoons where I wished I was doing something better, something I really enjoy, like lazing by the pool, tanning at Palawan or lying on the cool grass of the Botanic greens.And maybe I should really get out of my house and do that. Right. Adios!* *Edited to add @ 2313hLesson for today is, walk the talk! I had a great swim and now I am rejuvenated, sun drenched and happy.
nimgnoy let the night fall at 3:40 PM
Saturday, November 12, 2005
nimgnoy let the night fall at 7:00 PM
Friday, November 11, 2005
Almost every Thursday, and almost religiously, I make my way to a dimly lit bar along Holland Village. Located on top of a bustling restaurant populated mainly by expatriates, I could climb the dark narrow stairs with my eyes closed now.In this room, no bigger than half the size of a basketball court, one cannot see too clearly through the cigarette smoke that almost consumes all the senses. Besides the dingy light, the only other source of light comes from the glow of a smoker inhaling the breath of ecstacy. The air conditioner spews out smoke, not air.An eclectic collection of people fills this place. Yuppies mostly."Find a seat and I'll bring your drinks to you," the waitress always says, in a fairly detached yet familiar tone. She is a nice girl, really. I like her. And soon enough, an ice cold pint of Hoegaarden.Then, Shirlyn and her band takes the stage. And she belts out magic. She looks over to my side of the bar. I smiled at her, she smiled back. The thing about live music is not how well it mimics the original, but the electricity that rushes through when everything comes together live. And Shirlyn's almost commanding attitude rocks. Nothing like cold beer and good music for a Thursday night.That's Wala Wala for you.
nimgnoy let the night fall at 3:10 PM
Thursday, November 10, 2005
It is 12.30 am and I am seated quite comfortably at KAP's Mac.And I am blogging not because I want to, but because I can.My main point is, the internet connection here is good. I am downloading at speeds almost ten times faster than I would have on campus.I am here with Vic and she's mugging hard. She does a wicked impersonation of Chicken Little, she looks like one anyway. And I just mentioned to her how it is worrying that I am not worried about my exams yet.I like the peacein the backseat,I don't have to drive,I don't have to speak,I can watch the country side,and I can fall asleep.
nimgnoy let the night fall at 12:28 AM
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
In my last General Biology assignment, one question asked how would we advertise the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research.I never knew we had a museum like that in NUS. But it was a horrific experience. It seemed like a trip to a mad scientist's lab, with carcasses suspended in clear liquid and specimens of dead animals all over. Every corner I turn, a dead phython, a dead monkey, a dead bird. Well, all dead and staring back at me.I digress.So, back to the question. The advertisng question tickled me and reminded me of my 3 month stint in the Tourism Board a few months back, where I had a rare glimpse into the world of advertising and designing and branding and creativity.With these experiences, I made my own advert (well the format was purely taken and credit should be given to the Singapore Education Division of the STB):
Cool huh.
And I do need to qualify, I do not love General Bio, but rather, I love designing.
* *
In other news, Esplanade is organising a thank you bash for all its staff at DXO on the 28th, smack in between my exams. And I'm wondering if I should go.
nimgnoy let the night fall at 10:52 AM
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
nimgnoy let the night fall at 11:24 PM
You arrive and wait.At the platform you wait. The train station, a mere centre where people transit. They come, we go. All transient, you watch these people pass you by. No one stays for long.You continue to wait. A destination in mind. And in the far distance, darkness and no sign of any coming train. At the platform, we wait. The train station bustling with people in evanescence. Always crowded, but never the same people. They come, they go.The train is late? You look at your watch.Then the crowd starts to die. Anxiety grips. You realise all is temporal at the train station. You need to get away from this place. There is somewhere else awaiting your presence."But sir..", you look down and see him tugging your shirt."..The train goes in the other direction."* *Have you ever in life, think you've known something, only to realise that all you've known is wrong?The train station is life.The platform is our world.The destination is paradise.The train is your means to realising the destination.The boy is God.
nimgnoy let the night fall at 5:31 PM
In signs that point me towards majoring in Philosophy, I did well for my second term paper! Woohoo! 23/25 again. I need to say this without sounding condescending, but I am really proud of myself.Okay, end of brag time.
nimgnoy let the night fall at 5:04 PM
Monday, November 07, 2005
With the completion of my essay on the Bhagavad Gita, I finally finish the gargantuan task of the readings, the late nights, the academic language, the glaring screen, the hours in the central library, the solitude, the suppers, the soaking up of information, the seemingly endless words, the coffees, the joys, the frustrations of four essays this semester.Then, you realise that exams start next Friday.Beat.Back to readings, the late nights, the academic language, the glaring screen, the hours in the central library, the solitude, the suppers, the soaking up of information, the seemingly endless words, the coffees, the joy, the frustrations of exams.Haha. I am enjoying this.
nimgnoy let the night fall at 12:38 PM
Sunday, November 06, 2005
Just a lazy sunday afternoon with my laptop, my ipod and me.Lying on my bed of course, sunday breeze streaming in from the windows, while my lifebook rests precariously on my lap, knees perched up.You can't exactly visualise that can you?My essay on the Bhagavad Gita is not done and due in over 24 hours. But it will get done somehow, it always does. Doing this essay is downright challenging because I have to read up from scratch on what people would have taken centuries to debate over. The Bhagavad Gita. I feel good just telling people I am doing an essay on the Bhagavad Gita. I feel enlightened already.This week was jammed packed, with issues. Nights filled with thoughts that keep me awake till the unearthly hours. Quiet hours spent at the Botanic Gardens reading, or lying on the lawn. Bus rides now filled with songs in my ears. Halloween with weirdos. Dinner at Food Republic.This week, I did more things than I would have normally done, tried out many new things, new places, new lifestyles. And I realised that I am quite comfortable alone. Just me and my consciousness.I miss Shirlyn already.I don't make sense anymore.
nimgnoy let the night fall at 2:25 PM
Friday, November 04, 2005
I fall victim to certain movies that allow me to live the life of someone else for a mere few seconds, then come suddenly to the realisation that I have a life of my own to lead.It is scary, ain't it?Surreal how a movie comes to the point it consumes the senses totally, and the subconscious thought of you sitting in a theatre becomes totally disregarded, giving way to a new found life you feel comfortably living for the past ten seconds. Then it snaps. Consciousness grips and you are drawn back and sucked into the wormhole of what is reality.I am still unclear if it is conclusive to say that there is an inadequacy of life I am uncontented with, afterall these movies were made to idealise. And it is not anyone's fault that life is not naturally piped in with smooth jazz in the background, with all the ugly and mundane parts edited out of it.And I wonder why it is disturbing me. It well should not.On hindsight, everything strips down to the core of my struggle. My struggle with existence, with life, with who I am and everything I find angst against. The wounds I inflict upon myself and those that I allow others to still remain open and susceptible to more pain. This paragraph is harder to write than I thought it would be. And if I am unhappy, it is only because I allow myself to. This struggle, of course, has no end.And naturally, I am revealing too much once again. If only you could read the thoughts through my head, I am quite sure you will be startled.And if you are going to leave any are-you-okay comments, my reply to you would be a big fat fuck you. Only true friends know why.
nimgnoy let the night fall at 12:37 AM
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
So this is how I look when I am drunk. I go all white and lose my nose. Cool huh. nimgnoy let the night fall at 11:50 PM
I am contemplating blogging before or after dinner and I chose the former. Mulling over a post is bad enough, but mulling over a post over half eaten dinner is worse.For the first time, I wanted to say hello to my neighbours in my cluster whom I have not seen in my three months here. I get this crazy surge of energy to get up and open my door whenever I hear someone leaving their room, you know, like pop my head into the corridor and say "hi how are you?!", which of course never materialised because I am always languid about almost everything, and rather be sluggishly plonked into the bedly comforts.Which is why I cannot comprehend myself. Are we not supposed to know ourselves best? But certainly, we are thrown into this world with already preconceived assumptions on how we should lead our lives. Am I then accountable for my actions and are consequences truly mine to bear, since I am sculpted by society's presumptions?I woke up this morning with the least willingness to do so.
nimgnoy let the night fall at 6:47 PM
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
I am simply drawn to a blank now. Which is ironical, if you know what I mean.Half my mind thinking of you. The other half, things other than you.Are you substitutable?Thoughts of you could never cease. You do not even know it.You give your hand to me
Then you say hello
And I can hardly speak
My heart is beating so
And anyone can tell
You think you know me well
But you don't know me
Ooh no
You don't know the one
Who dreams of you at night
And longs to kiss your lips
Longs to hold you tight
I'm just a friend
That's all I've ever been
Cause you don't know me
For I never knew the art of making love
Though my heart aches with love for you
Afraid and shy I let my chance go by
The chance that you might love me too
You give your hand to me
Then you say goodbye
I watch you walk away beside the lucky guy
You'll never never know
The one who loves you so
Well you don't know me
nimgnoy let the night fall at 2:36 AM
![136759250ELfguj_ph[1]](http://static.flickr.com/25/61267577_0cea01f54e_m.jpg)
