Poem of the Beach Ball

"A life in the law was what I saw
All day and night through books I pore
An endless stream of words that flow
Into the deep dark nights so cold
Behind closed doors I read and wonder,
What goes on with those sounds of laughter
The songs of summer that plays in the breeze
The nights of parties, and booze I wish
Then comes along a tempting offer,
The Beaches' Ball that happens beyond here
The biggest party of the year they say,
A night of magic, of wonder and play
The temptress tempts, the tempted wanders
into the forest of dance and laughter..."

(The Poem that won me a ticket to the Beach Ball =D)

Bad Hair = Bad Day

Went for a haircut yesterday. Didn't like it. Poor hairdresser was trying to figure my hair out. Its not easy to cut my hair as the left side grows towards the right and the right side grows towards the left ending up in crisscrosses. Hate hair cuts coz you're stuck there under the mercy of the hair dresser and u can't run away till its complete.

The hair cut was bad enough. And my friend's continuous comments and mockery only added to my irateness. Felt trapped and insulted... totally spoilt my day...

Laughter at the expense of another's suffering will never bring true joy to the heart...

Save me from the shadow

I walk in the silent forest, and look up to the trees,
The gentle giants standing, and swaying in the breeze.
I searched for a beam of light, that which i can't live without,
But all I see are shadows, the canopies keeping it out.
How long have I been wandering, in this darkness all alone,
Life seems to be at a standstill, yet Death never condones.
I feel the light fading, from my eyes and from my soul,
Every second is escaping, Time never stops it's flow.
I need to find an opening, to see the great bright sky,
To let the eye of heaven, bless me with its light.
To wash the shadows of the past, and awaken the spirit within,
And remind me of the reasons that led me so deep in.
Into the darkened forest where my journey first began,
Its time for me to wake up from this ever dreamy land.
I called out into the darkness, and listened for an answer,
I hear the bounds of echoes, leading to different corners.
I close my eyes and listen, to hear the many hellos,
And try to pick the right one, that will save me from the shadows....

Life should be like this

Met up with my mom, Fel and Anne to watch Avatar again. Even though its our second time watching it, Pandora still fills us up with Awe... Jovan was supposed to join but couldn't get up in time. After the movie, mom went back and the rest of us went to get our pets to bring them to the stable gallops at pasir ris to feed ponies and walk our dogs. We borrowed Fel's dad's car - a seven seater and all the humans, dogs and cat squeezed into one car.

Went to the dog farm as well and to my dad's farm at night before dropping the pets off at Jovan's place while we headed to Changi Village for supper.

Travelling together like this just felt like a road trip. The best we can do in Singapore I guess. Its been a fun day!

Great End, Great Beginnings

The year 2009 ended with a string of parties, and so did the year 2010 begin with a string of parties.


31st Dec 09: New Years Eve, went to the Night Safari with Felicia and Aneurin, then we went to Nee Soon for the count down and met Weyman there. Then went to Beauty World for supper and Jovan came to join us, and then went to Adrian's house and I got to play the Wii and Guitar Hero for the first time! Been about a decade since i touch games of this kind. Finally sent Fel and Ann home at about 6am before heading to the Temple for the Offerings to a hunderd sanghas Ceremony. I think this is the busiest NYE i ever had, traveling halfway across Singapore and back... Lolz. But its also one of the best!


1st Jan 10: New Years Day: I had 100 small packets of rice ready for the offering ceremony and as the monks walked by with their bowls, I would drop a packet in. And every now and then a familiar face pops up with that surprised look to see me in the line giving the offerings. Lolz. It was not just an offering of rice, but of friendship and smiles =)

2nd Jan 10: Went partying with a group of friends, club hopping to 3 different clubs, then supper finally at 4am before getting home at 5am.


3rd Jan 10: Brunch at Mimolette with Jovan, Julius and Gary before heading over to Mei Qi's Yacht Party at Sentosa Cove! I was the unofficial photographer for the event and with the band playing on the top deck, the sound of waves in the background and the sounds of laughter from great company, it was the perfect combo! Really enjoyed this party!



5th Jan 10: Lunch with Jennifer and Dad at Annalakshmi. Great Ambiance, great food, and what's best is that the restaurant is a pay whatever amount you like restaurant. You decide how much the bill comes up to.

Avatar

Just watched the movie "Avatar" in 3D mode. One of the best movies or perhaps the best movie ever made so far! Although the plot may be a little predictable, its still amazing. James Cameron not only created a whole other world, he managed to amplify the life in mother nature, show the beauty of life and the importance of connection back to the world...

The movie really reminded me of a dream I had a year back while i was in Narrogin. When I told my friends about that dream I just got laughed at... So sad... But sometimes I feel that the world of dreams is such a wonderful place. People always tell me to come back to earth and stop day dreaming. But earth has become so dead - study, work, grow old and die... If there was a population of Navis on Earth like in the movie, I'll definitely join them. For they will understand my heart.

No matter how much I'm laughed at, no matter how much I'm put down.... as far as I can, I'll hold on to the end... believing in my dream.... that someday I too will be one with the world....

Busiest Xmas Ever

This is probably the busiest holiday season I've ever had. Starting with the Water, Earth, Air ceremony which lasted from 20th Dec to 26th Dec. I attended the ceremony daily, squeezing time in between for all the other parties:

22nd Dec: Dong Zhi celebration with the monks
24th Dec: SLP X'mas lunch, AusEd X'mas lunch, Xmas dinner with Family, Felicia's Xmas Count down Party.
25th Dec: Grandma's Xmas dinner, Cousin's Birthday party, Party at Pan Pacific.
26th Dec: End of Water, Earth, Air Ceremony Dinner at Bright Hill Temple, Uncle Stan's Xmas dinner, Ed's Xmas Dinner/Supper.
27th Dec: Dinner with monks at Singapore River, Tawan's Xmas Dinner
28th Dec: Movies with friends, Star Horizon Xmas BBQ
31st Dec: New Year's Count Down Party
1st Jan: Offering to a hundred sanghas ceremony
3rd Jan: Mei Qi's birthday celebration at Sentosa Cove!

Been a seriously crazy end of the year... Guess its been an extremely good way to end the year and receive the new one - Spent in prayers and celebration!

水陸空‘09

Totally forgot about the 水陸空法會 this year until I received a call from 覺聞師, one of the monk friends I made during last year's ceremony. They were once again in the Shurangama hall and while reciting on day 1, felt that something was missing, and realize it was me... so they called me up. I've become part of the Shurangama group! Lolz. Its so nice to have such great friends... they're really my 善知識 in Singapore.

Day 2, I got there and they decided to start from Scroll 1 again, so I didn't miss anything. It took awhile before I got into the flow. Been a while since I did sutra recitations, and they go really fast coz in the room, I was the only layperson, the rest were all monks.

Day 3 was 冬至. The day where we eat 湯圓 in Singapore, Glutinous rice balls in sweet soup. One of my favourite dishes. Got up early again to head to the monastery and continued with our recitation. It is only the 2nd day of recitation and we're already on the 7th scroll. During the break, the monks were talking about a trip to Myanmar in January and they invited me to go along. Soon the rest of them were saying: "I'll go too if Jonathan is going!" the initial group of 5 will grow to about a size of 8 - 10 provided if I go.... Peer Pressure from the monks... Lolz.

During the afternoon, there was also a 3 hour break and I was just hanging around aimlessly when I received a call from one of the monks to head over to the monks quarters. I went there and they prepared a bed for me to rest! It was really really sweet of them. Although it was just a wooden board and a wooden pillow, I had the best sleep ever! Really needed the rest to last me for the afternoon session.

At the end of the entire day's recitation, I was told to stay back for awhile, and 覺聞師 personally cooked vegetarian dumplings to share! He said in China, 冬至 is not celebrated with 湯圓 but with 餃子! As 覺聞師 started cooking, more and more of the other monks came in to help prepare - cutting the veggies, preparing the sauce, setting the table. Then as we sat around the table having our meal, it felt so much like a family... We drank tea after that and chatted the night away till I had to leave before the temple gates close (I got locked in once and they also prepared a bed for me then Lolz). And before leaving, they gave me a packet of the dumplings to give to my grandmother. Its been a really really good day spent with good friends in a spiritual setting. 真的是法喜充滿！

Sometimes, the smallest gesture can mean so much to another. If you can find beauty in the smallest actions, you will see that this world is filled with many beautiful people...

India

My India trip has been a trying yet fulfilling one. It started off with me getting a fever the night before my flight. Surprisingly by the time I arrived India, my fever was gone and I didn't get quarantined in some Indian hospital.

It was then an 8 hour drive to Chaitanyajothi, the ashram of Swami Atma Chaitanya who was kind enough to host us. High in the mountains, the ashram had fruit trees of every kind and our daily meals were all from the ashram grounds - organic food! The water which we drink and bath was all from the well, natural spring water. And breakfast milk was from the ashram cow - Nandi! Really fresh....

Swami Atma is a great cook! Everyday he'd cook the daily meals for us. Really tasty, but everything is curry in some form or another. Really spicy and not that helpful to my recovery... My cough and sore throat got worst, and my stomach got bigger... Lolz. Other than eating, we had our daily meditation sessions and chat sessions. Pretty fun.

Stayed there for about 3 days before embarking on another 8 hour journey to Mookambika Temple - the 1200 year temple of three goddesses. The story behind this temple is pretty amazing as well. I'll reserve it for another time else my post will be too long. We arrived just in time before the temple gates shut for the final ceremony of the day. It was almost as if the goddess had waited for our arrival and the moment the last person of our group stepped in, the gates closed to all others. At that temple, the dinner, you have to receive 3 rounds of servings of rice and curry to represent each goddess giving you food. That's 3 rounds of dinner for u... extremely filling.

We stayed a night at Mookambika before heading on to Puttarparthi, a 13 hour bus ride through mountain roads. We even had to cross the Indian Muslim border and at that point Swami was telling us how some vehicles are stoned or bombed along this road. That explains why all other roads in India are crowded but that particular one was deserted. He told me to prepare my camera just in case anything happens and told the group to have faith in God that everything will be fine! Really a test of your faith this time...

Finally arrived at Puttarparthi in the wee hours of the morning - the Ashram of Sathya Sai Baba. Been 10 years since I've visited this place. Much have changed. We were fortunate to bump into another Singapore group there who were organizing a short play for the silver jubilee of the Schools and thus got special sitting. There were about 400 Singaporeans there altogether, and thousands of other people from all around the world. I even got to make a very good friend who was from East Africa. We would help out at the dining hall together, serving food, washing dishes, and go for morning prayers together. Really fun. This trip, I also managed to get into the inner meditation chambers twice, which is really rare coz among the thousands of people, only about 100 is able to get in to do their meditation in that room per day.

We spend 5 days in Puttarparthi before finally heading back to Singapore. On the last day, we got caught in the Andral Pradash riots while having breakfast in the city and the store owners were rushing to shut their gates as the mob came through the streets. We were trapped inbetween. Exciting. Lolz. After the streets were cleared, then were we released and we packed our luggages and headed to the airport. We got to take a propeller plane during our domestic flight from Bengalaru to Cochin! How fun! Then finally it was back to Singapore.

Had lots of amazing experiences this trip. Too much to write here... but I'd say despite my cough and fever... Its been a great trip.

Anime Fest Asia 09

Went to Anime Fest Asia 09 over the weekend and both Fel and I decided to cosplay!! Lolz. It made the experience soooo much more fun! But extremely tiring as well. Everywhere we walked, people would stop us and ask if they could take a picture. And the moment we pose, a few dozen other cameras appear and before u know it, you're stuck there as a model...

Lunch hour was really embarressing as well. We'd be eating at the food court in a shopping mall and by passers would just like stare... Lolz! But occasionally you'd hear the "Hey! Its naruto and sasuke!" Hahahz. So fun! Lolz...

But for me, I guess the best part was when you see the eyes of kids just glow with excitement when they see you, and they keep tugging at their parents clothes and then the parents will come and ask if their children can take a picture with you... Its like fulfilling a part of their dream...

The most beautiful meteor shower ever...

Met up with some friends last night to catch dinner and the lenoid meteor shower together, but we were met instead with showers and thunderstorm... And when that finally cleared, we were left with a sky lit orange by the city lights. It was an empty dream to wish to see stars in the cosmopolitan city of Singapore... Going home, I went to bed dissapointed in the wee hours of the morning... and that was when it started... the most beautiful meteor shower ever....

I dreamt that i returned home sad about not seeing the meteor shower, and there in the house was all my loved ones, my family and friends. They are the real stars in my life. And when i made that realization, suddenly the skies lit up with ten million shooting stars, streaking through the heavens. It was the most beautiful sight ever, like fireworks lighting up the night... Then it even started to snow, coating the forest like iceing on a cake. The view was breath-taking. And with my loved ones there with me, it made is so much more wonderful. Just then my grand mother called me over and gave me a gift and said it was nothing but that was all she had. I was so touched that tears welled up within me. I woke up from the dream and felt that I have seen the best meteor shower anyone can ever see....

Sometimes we just don't realize, that the most wonderful miracle in our lives, are the people around us. Never take others for granted and treasure every moment in life.

Reflections

In the blink of an eye, its been almost 5 months since i started work at the law firm. Last night, we had a pre-farewell party at Hans and later the Screening room with some of the perm staff and interns. A night of gossips, recollections and laughter.

We were granted an off day today, and being so used to the routine, i was suddenly left with an empty day to fill. The day went by slowly. Tried calling friends out, but everyone already had other plans... it is only then that u realize that we are really alone in this world.

Went out myself, bumped into many familiar faces. People grown old, moving on in life. Mere acquaintances i realize... The only thing permanent in life, is impermanence itself. Life... is but a fleeting moment of time. We go out, we laugh, we cry. We go home, we sleep, and the next day, its all over again.

The path i tread on, sometimes its pebbles, sometimes its stone, sometimes its water, sometimes its snow... which will be the road that i finally take?

Updates

Been a long time since i blogged... Basically that's what working life does to you - suck out all energy so that u have none left to do anything else. Other than that, think everything else is going fine.

Brought some non-veggie friends to a vegetarian restaurant last week and they were surprised by the kind of food they found there. Can you believe it? Vegetarian KFC that tastes just like the real thing? Lolz... Well... there's my explanation for being able to stay a vegetarian. You get all the same flavours minus the killing =).

Went to the Night Safari over the weekend, there were holding some halloween event with a scary night trail filled with monsters hiding in the bushes waiting to pounce on you. A fun frightful night! Lolz

Wednesday, was supposed to celebrate a friend's birthday but i decided to accompany my mom instead and got to have home cooked food! Its been sooo long since i had home cooked food from mum... so to those out there who get it everyday, pls pls pls appreciate it. Anyway, had lots of fun cooking together and then eating. Simple yet tasty.

Work wise, seriously... i think i should consider acting instead. Most ppl don't even realize that i have not even started law school yet. Just today, the opposite side sent an associate director, and my side sends... Me. Lolz... Oh well... Interesting.... Till the end of the meeting, they still didn't realize i'm just an intern...

Family

Was invited to keith's party today with his family and close friends. And sitting round the dinner table, it really felt like one big family! Home cooked food is always the best, especially when eaten with family. Then we played computer games in the room till late before his mom came in to say good night and told us not to play too late. That feeling is soooo nice.. the feeling of family.......

A simple video to let u all ponder about... Treasure family...

Lost in dreams

I close my eyes and dream,
a life thats on the brink,
people cheering on with drinks,
with laughter and songs to sing.
I ask them what it means?
They just continue to sing.
Amongst the songs and screams,
I can't comprehend the links.
I open my eyes and find,
a blank computer screen.
No one online it seems
I continue on with my dream.
~jozhade

Hello and Good Byes

Met up with Meiqi and Edwin for dinner on Wednesday night. My fellow interns at the law firm. They're done with their internship and preparing to leave for the UK. Soon everyone will be going on their own ways and we took a picture with Meiqi's polaroid camera. It came out really nice.

Thursday, I met up with an old friend. My primary 1 classmate. It weird how we got back in contact. He sent a msg to the wrong number and thats how we found each other. Lol. Then another time, we bump into each other in a bus, and the 3rd time in the train so we said we should meet up and catch up. 18 years man.... We've known each other for 18 years and this is the first time we're going out of supper together. Pretty cool. Lol

Its the year two thousand and nine,
I'm turning to twenty five,
in less than a month's time,
one quarter of my life,
time passes by,
soon its out of sight,
blink of an eye,
its happening in the mind,
should I try and get high,
dance, dance thru the night,
or take off to the skies,
go, go, outside,
or look inside, living on hindsight
I'm moving like a mime,
humming out a rhyme,
breaking out of line,
no, its not a crime,
looking out for signs,
picking up a dime,
trying to live life,
I think I'll turn out fine.

I need sleep

Met up with DM Tsung after work today for a game of badminton. About time I get some exercise as well. All day cooping up in the office cubicle is bad...

WEek's been pretty crazy. Sleep schedule turned upside down beginning with Butter Factory last friday lasting till 4am, then meeting up with my fellow OCS friends who graduated from the US as well on Sunday till about 1am. Then celebrating Kenny's Birthday on monday till 3am, watching movie with dad on wednesday till 2am... and on top of all those, waking up at 6am everyday for work...

I seriously need sleep.......

Butter Factory

Brought some of my colleagues to Butter Factory on Friday, currently the hippest club in Singapore. And I managed to get VIP entrance. So we could avoid the 2-3 hour long wait outside. Learnt how to play the drinking game, and because I didn't drink alcohol, basically downed 4 entire cans of red bull. Super hyped up after that. Danced till 3am before leaving, and couldn't sleep once I was home.

Saturday, met up with Wendi and Sunny at 2pm, went to catch the movie "The Proposal." Really Good Movie! Really funny. Lol. Definitely recommend. Love all the Sandra Bullocks's movie. Then we walked along the Singapore river before splitting ways as I had to go for dinner with my family.
Had dinner at a Belgium restaurant - Brussel Sprouts. Expensive place man. And not much for me to eat, so basically I had salad, fries, and cheese, cheese and more cheese. So fattening...

Ooh and today, I found out that Fiona Xie went all the way to USA to film my grandmother and our family there! Argh, why did I come back to Singapore early! Lol. I think they're doing some documentaries about Singapore families living overseas, and ours was one of the big ones.

Fun after Trial

Had a wonderful dinner at Goodwood Park Hotel last night with clients and the lawyers. We were celebrating the end of our 4 weeks trial. The conversation still hovered over the trial subject, however it was filled with laughter from discussing the various personalities, various peculiarities, the blunders and the scoring points. Individual's facial expressions and "quotes of the day" were the most laughed about. It was a very interesting trial for me, especially being the first trial I am ever involved in. The long hours of hard work was all worth it.