The Rollercoaster Ride

Life is a whirling rollercoaster ride. When you thought that you're at the peak, you're coming down 70 degrees, 100 feet downwards. But would I even need to write if there are no such unpredictable events.

I felt awful for abandoning my baby for a month while I sorted out my unemployed status. Life was a total distress when you are going through sleepless nights and imagining counting pennies. But I am glad life is back to the start of the rollercoaster, however I still see the 70 degrees plunge just ahead of me.

And I wasn't wrong at all. As much as my life has took a turn into a new dimension altogether, it still very much contain mixed feelings. I guess the excitement never failed to fold in but at the same time the thought of what could unfold next still scares me.

However, this is life. I have learnt to move on from one step to the next no matter how big the step was. If it is the thunderstorm that I have and will go through, life has to go on. We should all make the best out of the situations that we have and we live in, treasure our love ones and the time with our closest family and friends because you will never want to look back, and think I shold have done that.

I think bumped into what I really want =)

The Dark Knight, duh!

I can't believe I took so long to write this when I waited almost forever for it to be released! I felt like I spent my entire life wondering when is 17 July 08 coming... It's the best movie event of the year. It was darker, and definitely awesome. I swooned when the batmobile unraveled into the Batpod. Isn't it like just the freaking coolest bat gadget you've ever seen? A totally unexpected moment. I saw 10 Things I Hate about you recently, again, and I missed him to pieces... *sobs*

I can't believed I saw Love Guru and thought it was fun. When I came back and checked on the reviews, it was so bad but Mike Myers is classic man... The twisted and wicked humour just got me rolling on the floor.

Life's been nudging at me. I'm sure things will fall in place in time, but in time. Sometimes it scares the shit out of me but I'm really excited. Quarter-life crisis? Maybe, but I never wished or want to look at it as a crisis. It's time for a change, good change =)

The best birthday bash i've ever had...

The Gang:

Introducing... (Clockwise from Top Left) Kuang Hau, Khairul, CJ, Kelvin, Regan, Xiao Wen, Moe Moe, Myself and Siew Voon.

I couldn't ask for a better company =) I had a fabulous, fabulous time with the hunks and babes that night.

Strawberries Time!

The Dinner, and The Cake:

We had the most sumptuous, yes, the BEST Indian food in town. I love Indian food because of its strong flavors and spices, and I have tried many Indian restaurants in town. Aangan Restaurant serves a variety of North Indian cuisine and we ordered various dishes from chicken tikka masala to mutton vindaloo (must try!) to malai methi fish. With the extensive variety and ambience fit for a king, we could never asked for a better dinner.

Aren't they beautiful?

Canele's Signature Cake is luxuriously rich with belgian chocolate and decorated with generous amount of strawberries and raspberries. its the best birthday cake I've ever had! I love you babes!

The Presents!
My girlfriends decided that since I am absolutely single, this could be just perfectly what I needed:
I love the cute little straw bag from Martina Pink and the smell of Crabtree and Evelyn's Summer Hill bath and shower kit too! Oh and the danglies! Mmmuacks!

The After-Party:
We partied like there was no tomorrow. The guys were amused by our dance moves and energy. The initial plan was Butter Factory but I forgot why we took a stroll to New Asia Bar instead. Yup, its the ultimate SPG place and no - I repeat, NO, I am not and neither of us are SPGs.

The extra in the picture is Kenneth, who couldn't join us for dinner because of his tennis tourney.

Top Left: Our first drink, strawberry magarita and Mojito.
Top right: We're all from of Taiping, and absolutely proud of it!

This is the best birthday bash I've ever had. Thank you all so much for coming =)

Happy Birthday to ME!

Yours truly has arrived at the quarter-life mark today.

I woke up, walked out to the balcony to the bluest skies, chilly breeze and warm sunlight. This is so not Singapore, I'm not sure if it's pouring in the other parts but it was just perfect where I was =) My precious peeps and I will be having a birthday dinner-clubbing party tonight.

I'm excited! The quarter-life mark signifies transitions, exciting turns and fabulous adventures. Of course uncertainties are up ahead, but I'm naturally always positive about life.

So there, happy 25th birthday to me!

The New King Of Wimbledon (Wimbledon Men's Final 2008)

For years, we all wondered who could possibly be the man who can stop Roger Federer, the king of Wimbledon. Last night's match tells it all.

Federer was dethroned in the longest match ever in history, thanks to two breaks for rain, in 5 sets, 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-7 (8-10), 9-7. It was a perfect dream match for all tennis fans, with two players changing strategies frequently to yield the game from Nadal attacking Federer's backhand to Federer counter-attacking by net-rushing. It was as if Federer was mentally burdened by the shadow of the Roland Garros loss.

Deuces after deuces, I cannot imagine if Rafa did not win the championship after breezing off to a fantastic start. After the second break, it was gruelling, as it was getting darker and the players were tired. Rafa shed a tear upon approaching the net, this was the most important game in his professional life and the prize was more glittery than the four French Open titles he had already won. I shed a tear too, because nobody deserves it more than he do.

The Documentary Weekend

I love good documentaries as much as superhero movies. I had been following Nat Geo's Top 30 like a kid following Boomerang's cartoons. The documentaries had been enlightening, and great cinematography too.

My Sunday was full with documentaries (Top 5)and I managed to finish Perfect Match by Jodi Picoult, for the second time. Inside the Forbidden City was voted number 1, last night, although that wasn't exactly my top favourite. I flinched when I heard that men, except the army, were forced (some even volunteered?) to be castrated in order to be a staff in the Forbidden City. And yes, both the penis and scrotum, and not everyone survived...

I loved Undercover In The North Korea, I think it was very brave of the crew to even get into such reclusive state. It was an eye-opener, the dictatorship ruling is overbearing and dehumanizing. I Didn't Know That never failed to amuse me as well.

Always remember, in between black and white, there are a thousand shades of gray.

The king of clay rules again! (Roland Garros - 2008 French Open Finals)

Armed with an unbelievable forehand and unmistakable grunt, Rafael Nadal powered his way through to beat Roger Federer to a stunning win of his fourth consecutive French Open title in three sets 6-1, 6-3, 6-0.

Yes, it was a massacre. No more short balls. There was just slaying. I was overexcited when Rafa yielded the second set, although there were intense moments when Federer broke even 3-3 in the second set. Taking sneak peeks in between my revision on Corporate Finance exam this week (sigh), I was hyperventilating when Federer's indecisive strategies fell all over the place and Rafa blasted his strokes through to win a 6-0.

Of course its not surprising, although I expected more of Federer (not out of sympathy but just for prolonged suspense) but we all know Rafa is invincible on clay and Federer did not play his best tennis this time round. The champion who floats around the court with slick tennis moves doesn't look like he's got his mind on the game. Looks like Federer's got to work for another title to complete his career Grand Slam.

A Beautiful Lie (Re-release 2007)

Did I mention since early this year the latest album from 30 Seconds to Mars has been my favourite? I loved their music, instrumentally, the dynamic and complex guitar tunes. I loved their dramatic videos, a couple directed by Jared Leto himself (You might remember him from Urban Legend). And I loved their lyrics (especially From Yesterday, A Beautiful Lie), the reflective lyrics with Jared Leto's notable expressive wail. Their alternative rock music is amazing.

I recommend of course, A Beautiful Lie, The Kill and From Yesterday. Also, from their first album, Capricorn. I was amazed by the dedication and inspiration of the band to highlight the issues of global warming affecting the life of the beautiful people and nature of the Artic Circle (www.abeautifullie.org).

Though I agree A Beautiful Lie is not an album for everyone as the album builds upon a story of frustration and pain, 30 Seconds to Mars will always be on my alternative rock hit list.

More from the alternative rock scene: Poets of the Fall - Carnival of Rust. The video is freaking awesome! (thanks, Anil =)). Check it out here.

Janice's 25th Birthday Masquerade

Happy birthday, Princess Janice!

We had a fabulous time meeting new friends, cam-whoring with our masks (pictures courtesy of Xiao Wen) to watching Mr. G performing a little striptease for the little princess in a game that resembles 'spin the bottle'. I doubt I should reveal his identity since he's a school teacher and it wouldn't be exactly very pleasant if parents find out *grin*

The Ferrero Rocher-dark chocolate birthday cake was heavenly...

Sex and the City (The Movie)

I can't remember many TV series which pulled off very well to the big screen but to me, this was a pretty successful one. It translated well for all girls and women of all ages and it definitely has to be on every Girls Night Out agenda.

Let me tell you why:
The galore of beautiful dresses, shoes, Louis Vuitton bags. Relationship dramas. Weddings. Adorable babies. And, did I mention hot male nudity?

My favourite characters in the movie has always been Samantha Jones and Carrie Bradshaw. Samantha - for her crazy sexual antics and lines. And I always feel I can relate myself to Carrie in certain ways.

So.. Which SATC character are you?

Which Sex and the City Character Are You?
	You are Carrie. You know what you want out of a relationship and you're not afraid to keep moving until you get it. Wit and charm are your biggest turn-ons, and you like guys who appreciate you for your mind as much as your body. You have fun playing the dating game, but secretly you just can't wait to find the guy who sweeps you off your feet and carries you into the sunset.
Find Your Character @ BrainFall.com

A place call home

I love Taiping. The comforting lifestyle that I indulge in my hometown - dim sum in the mornings, lazy drive around the lake gardens, the hustle and bustle of the night markets and supper hangouts, my mum's assam laksa and a jogging session with my dad.

I recently pondered upon this question. Where is home? Its a strange, divided thought I have never had.

I used to fight my mind to not believe that I could live in and call this country a place called home. But perhaps, living in this urban jungle cluttered with endless responsibilities and commitments (i.e work and studies) and juggling them like a clown, I'm just tired of that now and let myself be absorbed into the fact that it doesn't even matter anymore.

Iron Man

I dig superhero movies *geeky grin*. The new superhero in town doesn't climb buildings like Spidey, nor does he see through walls (or everything else ;)) like Superman but he's totally freakin' awesome!

Robert Downey Jr. is the bomb! He's surprisingly perfect as Tony Stark, the ingenious industrialist and every other way. Iron Man is prolly the best superhero movie up to date (after Batman). It was amazingly funny and realistic, compared to the others, had good balance of action, well-written humour and drama, yet managed to sustain the superhero feel.

And I bet his ride just made everyone in the cinema delirious. Its not a Lamborghini or Aston Martin but, she's totally hot and the sound she made just sent shudders down my spine. Presenting the Audi R8...


"The truth is.. I'm Iron Man." I hated the fact that it ended there but I can't deny I love that punch line.

Burgers, Anyone?

Burgers are my one of my favourite temptation on the American menu because its awfully sinful. And since I have not had a good one for the longest time, I have decided to make my first beef patty for Sunday lunch, plus I've got the two usual guinea pigs in the house for my little experiment *grin*. And the final product..
I'm glad it turned out alright and Ken said it was the best 'Quarter Pounder' he ever had! *grin* I made 4 HUGE patties and just for sharing, these are the ingredients for the patties:

1. Dried basil
   
2. Oregano
   
3. Mixed herbs
   
4. Black pepper
   
5. One Egg
   
6. Cornstarch
   
7. Onions
   
8. Salt
   
9. Minced beef
   

Its really not as complicated as I thought it would be. Yours truly had a contented Sunday lunch :)

E-X-A-M

I hate that word, don't you? But nothing can describe better than what is looking four days ahead (to mayday).

Maybe I should check when was the last time I blogged on exams. I was under the impression that exams were the only thing that is happening in my life (social life at stake?) especially with my buddies going - "Exams again?" and "I thought you just...".

Sometimes it just seemed so absurd that a person's performance and success in her career and life is judged based on the ability to remember what is written on page 22 of my lecturer's journal on Financing Export Activities and Exploring Constraints. My two cents on examinations.

International business strategy had been one of my favourite modules since the previous one last year. I enjoy reading actual case studies and articles about cross-border M&As and adaptation of strategies due to dynamics of the international environment.

Yours truly was low on energy again, until last week when the results on the IHRM exam was released. That was certainly a good boost and drive to survive the following week of massive indigestion of articles and textbook. And not to mention a relaxing pool session and lunch last Saturday with the girls, Xiao Wen and Moe Moe.

I'm starving.. and craving for Soup Spoon's clam chowder and smoked salmon sandwich.

ROM - Kelin and Tomkel (7 April 2008)

Wedding bells, wedding bells! Congratulations to my dear friend.. Kelin and Tomkel tied the knot yesterday at the Registrar of Marriages, the event followed by a sumptuous and delicious high-tea buffet at Shangri-La Hotel.

The bride just looked stunning! I loved her short champagne gold tube dress from Daniel Yam. It was sexy, girlish yet classy at the same time.

Wishing you everlasting marital bliss :)