Aquarama Day 4 - Lelong! Lelong!

Last Day of Aquarama. We had a farm visit and I was assigned the task of emcee and tour guide. Most of it was impromptu and I forgot alot of details but I'd say it's not as bad as I thought. It was an international crowd of about a hundred people hailing from:

USA, Canada, Australia, UK, Japan, Taiwan, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Norway, Kuwait, Russia, Italy, Greece, Rome and South Africa.

We even had dragon dance performance, and provided food and drinks. The most popular spot was still the air conditioned fish packing room due to the hot weather. Many people left happy and I got lots of business inquiries. Good start!

After the farm tour, I rushed back to the exhibition hall and started packing and selling our display items. It was crazy... $50 fishes were sold for as low as $5 - $10. Its just too troublesome to pack everything home. And even thou it was going at such low prices, people still wanted to bargain for lower! Gheez.... oh wellz... Our 4 day exhibition is finally over but business is still ongoing. Many of them have requested for private farm visits over the next few days and I guess we'll be busy with that and email correspondences. I'm happy to be busy. Always better than staring at the 4 walls. =)

Aquarama Day 3

Day 3 was open to the public and we had an influx of Singaporeans and kids who also brought lots of retail business to the stand. Some bought tanks, some bought fishes, some came for bargains, and some just came to look and ask questions. We had pretty interesting tank designs. Like the tank in the 1st pic that looks like some wall painting, or the ones in the 2nd pic that acts as a night light as well. Extremely busy day, but fun. Really doesn't seem as if the recession is going on. People are still buying buying buying. Finally got home at 12 midnight again. Tomorrow's the scary one.... our fish farm is open for visit and so far about 100 people from 20 different countries have signed up for the tour! And I am assigned as the tour guide!!! Stress stress stress!!!

Aquarama Day 2

Its been 2 consecutive days of sleeping at 1am, waking at 7am and continuously working between the 18 waking hours. Tired... but we still had to go. Dad was busy today so I represented him in bringing the Japanese customers for lunch.

My sister suggested Muthu's Curry and all of them ate till their entire face was covered in sweat! Lolz... It was so funny! I guess without the boss around, conversation over lunch was much more relaxed and fun as well. We talked about animes, talked about our travels, and even talked about our fears! Both Tetsuya and I agreed on it being heights, but Takashi said for him, its his wife. Lolz

It was also their last day here in Singapore and so when it came time to part, everyone was very sad. Takashi said that instead of being business contacts, we've become more than that... we've become good friends! And that amongst all their oversea trips, although this is a work trip, it is still the best. And they kept repeating that its a must that I go look for them in Japan. Looks like a trip to Japan soon is inevitable! Lolz...

That's the thing about me. I don't think I'm a good businessman because I turn all my business contacts into good friends. Lolz... Oh wellz...

Aquarama 2009 - Day 1

Day 1 of Aquarama was bascially busy busy busy. Met with fellow fish enthusiasts and business people from all over the world. We had a rare fish that was extremely popular with the crowd and attracted alot of attention to the stand. An entire day of standing and talking. Extremely tiring. However, our japanese clients came over to help at our stand and made the experience really fun. But my ERP came up to another $20 dollars...


At night, we were invited to dinner at Labrador park! Extremely beautiful place. Expensive too. Dinner was filling. There were lots of activities and even a jackpot game for all the guests with the final prize amounting to $1700. Unfortunately none in our group won. Finally got home past midnight again.

I Miss Japan!

Brought Mr. Kobayashi and Ms Nakagaki to Sentosa today, and because they're both offical magazine photographers, we were given free entry to Underwater World and the Pink Dolphin Lagoon! We even had the manager personally bring us around! How cool is that! However, driving around was horrible. ERP alone took out almost $20 from my pitiful cash card. The government is simply just too cruel...

At night, met up another group of my dad's customers form Japan. And I thought they were gonna be some old businessmen as well, but was surprised to meet a bunch of guys all of the same age as me! Really cool chatting with them. And I found out that it was Tetsuya's birthday as well. He thought that it was gonna be another birthday without celebration, but i collaborated with the waitress in Chinese and the restaurant got a last minute cake order. We then managed to do a surprise Birthday party for him! It was really fun. The advantages of knowing another language. And getting to use my Japanese again just felt so great! I miss Japan!! Lolz. Aquarama 2009 begins tomorrow!

Shot & Saved

Ok, managed to secure a digital copy of the news cutting featuring my photo - credit goes to Jeffrey Ho. My first publication on Straits Times. Hopefully I can win the free ticket! Then I'll head straight back to Cali! Lolz

Got to chat with my lil bro and sis from Cali on skype today! Miss you guys lots!!!

where's the luck??!!

So I submitted a photo to the Singapore News Paper about a month ago and basically received no news from them and just today found out that it got published and I choose not to buy the Straits Times only for yesterday and today!!! Argh!!! Stupid me!!!

And my Lottery number won but I bought it in the wrong system!!! ARgh! Stupid Stupid Stupid!!!

OCS

Met up with Tungtat today, my fellow OCS vegetarian platoon mate. And he brought me and some of his other friends to a veggie gathering organized by his parents! How cool. Then we went to hang out at northpoint and actually wanted to watch Night at the Museum 2.

Unfortunately Tungtat had to go back to camp for some training. So we left and at the bus interchange, I met Royston! Another OCS mate. And he's going to Australia next year as well. So we exchanged contacts again just in case we didn't have it.

At night, Jon Lim, my other OCS platoon mate asked if I wanted to catch Night at the Museum tml. Lolz... Wow... today's OCS day... hmmz... I hope its not a sign that I'm gonna have to start army again soon....

Spontaneity

Went out early to a TESL (Teaching English as a 2nd Language) class preview to see if I want to be a TESL teacher. 3 hours class where I assisted the students with pronunciation. Seems fun, but I'm not sure if I will want this as a career. I mean, $4000 for a course to become a teacher is a lil expensive... I'm reconsidering...

After the preview, called up Kenny to see if he was at work and to ask him out for lunch since I was in town. Totally spontaneous. Yes, I'm one of those clients who calls up their banker even on weekends. Lolz. But seriously, its good to have a friend who works in town whom I can call up anytime for lunch! What would I have done without you... Lolz.

Went over to Borders later, and I just have this really bad habit which I got from my University days... I love to read books in book stores. Can't do it in libraries, can't do it at home. Something about the book store makes me want to stay and read. So basically sat there for 5 hours and finished reading 2 books. Yeah, I'm a fast reader... so it really doesn't make sense for me to buy books coz I finish them in hours.

While reading, this couple beside me was counseling their 21 year old son on his career choice, and so I just asked for their opinion as well. Ended chatting with them for about half an hour. Lolz. Very friendly people. I know... I'm spontaneous. I hope I didn't scare them. Hahahaz

Went to East Coast for dinner with my family after which I think the vegetarian dish was not very vegetarian. Think they used oyster sauce or something... my stomach feels weird now... ouchie...

The Life of No Life...

The video says it all...

Random rumblings

In the "Best place in the world to live in" ranking, Singapore got ranked 26. The only asian country in the top 30. Not bad... But i guess it doesn't consider the fact that out of the 30 top countries, its the only one with national service... booo... Lolz... Oh wellz, I have my carte blanche k... SF surprisingly was ranked 30th. Sydney got 10th! Maybe I should consider going for that law course... lolz. Oh well.... Yes, I'm still rocking back and forth as to what to do with my future...

With regards to the present, well, met a friend for a drink, then on my way home on the train, this baby kept wanting to play with me despite his parents telling him to not disturb others. So I started playing with him too! Lolz... Yes... I never grow up. =)

Wisdom

Just thought that this passage from the Bible shares very similar meaning to Buddhist philosophy.

"1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world, or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is the world - the desires of the flesh and desires of the eyes, and pride in possesions - is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever"

Never Land Never

Why do people have to grow up?
Why must people make decisions?
About what to study, what to take as a career, who to love, who to settle down with, where to settle down, who to bring up, how many to bring up, who to die with, how to live, how to make money, how to enjoy life, how to retire, how to grow old, how to die...
Why must people grow old?
I'm so tired of growing up... so tired of making choices...
That's it!....
I'm transferring to Never never land to be with peter pan and gang!

Grounded

Seems like all my various plans to escape are gonna be foiled and I mite end up staying on in Sg instead ... Boooo....

Started frantically applying for jobs... no response... then i started searching for schools to attend... went for preview sessions after preview sessions at different schools... one thing interesting was that in all the preview sessions, i was the only guy... the rest of the class were all girls! Wow... lady luck... lolz... either all the guys in singapore are so smart that they already have jobs, they dun need to attend school, or... they're just plain lazy and bumming around pretty much like what i'm doing right now... yeah... I'm a typical singaporean guy now... sigh, i've lost my title of temporary singaporean...

廢物

有時候，錢不能解決一切的問題。
沒有了目的的我，就想一堆垃圾擺在地上，毫無用處
真希望能夠有個指點者，作為我的指南針
讓我了解這世存在有何意義

Sometimes, money cannot solve everything.
The self without a purpose, is like a piece of rubbish placed on the ground... totally useless.
How I wish there can be a guide to be my compass.
To understand what's the purpose of existance...

The sea

You can collect the waters all you want, but in that way you'll always be on the shore...
Its only when you take a dive into the water yourself, then will you know that the sea is actually salty...
~jozhade

Mother's Day

My sister made sandwiches and baked cookies for my mom today, and I cooked spaghetti. When I was almost done, my grand mother came in and said my fried noodles looked really good and suggested that I add tofu and soy sauce! =.=.... mission failure.... I created spaghetti that looked like char mee... Is my cooking really that bad?

Steering aimlessly

A mist brews up ahead, my vision starts to blur...
The lonesome ship in the ocean slowly begins to stir...
A different wind blows, the compass spins around...
The journey that I set out for, is now again no more...
I searched for a land to anchor, a land to set ashore...
But searched the seas forever, alas I found no shore...
Where is my peaceful harbor? The fruit of all my labor?
I've spent nights upon nights, staring up in wonder...
I steer my lonesome ship, into the great blue sea...
Steering aimlessly, searching a path for me...
~jozhade

Vesak Day

Went to my men's ORD function last night. This marks the completion of their 2 years of military training. This also marks 2 years of loafing around for me. Seriously...

There was a strong thunderstorm in the middle of the night. And I don't know why but I always get supercharged during storms... didn't sleep till 3am. Thoughts running all over. What am I doing with my life? What direction to go? Ideas surfaced one by one like the rain drops falling from the sky.

7am... with about 4 hours of sleep, I went to Yishun to meet up with Tungtat and his friends for a run. Not bad, managed to do 6km without breaking a sweat, but knees still hurt from the injury during NS. Then we went for a vegetarian breakfast! Yep, Tungtat's my veggie buddy throughout officer training school. And that's our bond-Veggies! Lolz

Crashed at home for a while before brining my grandma to the nearby temple to pray as Singapore celebrates Vesak day today on the 15th day of the 4th lunar month. Then brought my sis to buy ingredients to cook for our mom for Mother's Day tml. Rather than buying objects, I personally think the best gifts are always made with the heart.

Fetching my grandma out for dinner later to celebrate mother's day with her. Busy busy day. But I like being busy =)

一天的電影

剛看完一部台灣的影片：巧克力重擊（Chocolate Rap）。台灣嘻哈的文化還是蠻盛的喔。看了真想去學嘻哈舞。 真可惜現在已經太老了。在學可能會把身體內所有的骨頭都跳碎。接下來又看了另一部在台灣公視播放的戲劇：艾草。我覺得這部戲拍得很好。因為它不只顯示了我們現在社會上人與人之間不同複雜的關係，但也提示了年輕老少一家四代的傳統價值觀和個人主義的對抗。真是一個非常現代化的戲劇，也包含了很多近代的看法。很值得一看。真可惜新加坡公視是不可能播放這些戲劇的。他們只會重複以前所播過的影片。

Such a pity Singapore's media authority doesn't really bring in much international independent films into the local TV or theaters. Instead they keep repeating films that have been shown hundreds of times on tv.

As for the local dramas, I don't know... seems like it lacks a certain individuality, a specialty, culture, passion or something like that... take for example the hip hop in Chocolate Rap - its about the hip hop culture in Taiwan. Singapore's drama mostly show about family life which you experience everyday... it doesn't take you away into fantasy land like those Korean or Jap love stories... rather, it makes you face what you already face everyday - the sad truth about your mundane life.

Nature's Fury

Guess the world's turning upside down. First it was all the tsunami attacks around asia, then the fires in South California, then Australia just had their biggest fire and water tragedy with fires in Melbourne and Adelaide, and 60% of Queensland being flooded. Now it seems that Mother Nature has shifted her concentration back the the USA again - Fires along the West in Santa Barbara, California, and severe hailstorms in Texas. Lightning storms and tornadoes sweeping across the South, Heatwaves in the East in New York... Its a wild world...

US 1st Face transplant

Was watching the news about the US first face transplant patient and its really amazing how she survived and what those doctors and nurses did for her. And something she said was really meaningful as well:

"you never know what might happen. You might get in a car wreck and think you're beautiful one day... so don't judge people who don't look the same as you do because you never know one day it might be all taken away from you."

Flowers

Anyone needs flower arrangements for mother's day? My mom's making them...
For the Heart Shaped one, its $50
For the table arrangements and bouquets, its $60++
Self Collection - less $15

Chinese Swimming Club

Brought my younger sis to the club to swim today. Been ages since I've been there. Buildings have changed. But the people have not. Uncle Swee Leng is still pretty much the head coach there. Remember suffering with my swim mates then, some of them moved on to become olympic swimmers - mark chay, desmond... and look at me.. sigh...

Met Aunty Josephine there as well! Its funny how I always run into her. Once in bouna vista when I was crossing the road, then last year in USA, and now..

Cooking experiments

Experimented on cooking Bung Rieu (Vietnamese noodles) today for my grandmother and sis! It didn't come the same as what I tasted from Aunt Guo Juan's cooking. So I thought it was a total failure and told them not to eat it. I told them I'll come up with something else soon. But after tasting it, both of them said it was pretty good and there were no leftovers! I'm not sure if they did it just to console me... Lolz

In the afternoon, heard my grandmother coughing pretty badly again, and I was back to my Tcm experimentations. Did a concoction and it was successful! Her cough stopped immediately! Yesh! Muahahaz.

Went out to celebrate Jeff's bday at holland V after that. Ate at a Lebanese restuarnant. The vegetarian dish had so much onions! and his meat dish looked so weird... But the company is always good.

Came across an interesting video on how to survive in college, might need it once I start school again lolz:

Birthdays

Just came back from my god sister's birthday party. Knew her since birth but i think this is one of the few times i've been to her birthday. I know... I'm a bad god brother. I'm trying to be better. Lolz. Lots of birthdays this week staring with aunt aileen on 26th april, eddee and my sis's on 27th, andrew's on the 28th, my god sis on the 29th, and tml, gonna celebrate with Jeffrey. Lolz... I know alot of Tauruses. Happy Birthday to you all!

Other than my god dad, god mum and god siblings, alot of gods lolz, the rest were pretty much strangers to me but soon after the Risk board game was taken out, we started forming alliances and became mutual war commanders! Lolz. It was really fun and our game continued for 3 and a half hours before a victor finally emerged. That's how my god-family's place is always like. Gaming through the night. Board games for the younger ones and mahjong for the adults. The entire night was filled with laughter and chatter.

My British Accent

Alrite, dun laugh, but here's my fake british accent whenever I wear my braces... Lolz... Just talking some random rubbish about my horrible hair now. And dun laugh at my hair too!

Random streak of insanity

守株待兔兔不來
反而遇到狀元才
狀元問我實何在
我笑狀元不實在

I am just a loafer, sitting by a tree.
Waiting for something to just come to me.
The thing I waited for didn't come, a scholar came instead.
The scholar asked me where does truth lies?
I laughed at the scholar for impracticality.

Hair cut

Got another hair cut last night. Thought it would make me more mature and presentable if I ever get any job interviews. But the guy cut it so short!!! Now I look like i'm back to my military days again =.=... This is a comment from one of my friend when we met up today:

Friend: "Wait, how old are you this year?"
Me: "25"
Friend: "Disgusting.... you don't look your age..."

Hahahaz. Oh wellz... instead of looking more mature, I became a 18 year old army boi again...