Haven't been updating my blog for this week. Well, nothing really interesting has happened...ha ha! Been a lazy week. Just trying to keep up with the running and diet plan of not eating too much while I still can. Next week, will be Christmas and stuff and I can just imagine all the feasting that will be going on. Anyway, Marian got me a one off job today. She's working at an events company and wanted my help to be a mime artist. It's a company's dinner and dance at the Hyatt Hotel. So I said I'll do it. So yeah, my first employment since I got back. The pay is not too bad for an hour's work. I'm supposed to paint my face white and go around during the cocktail pre-dinner and do funny actions and disturb and irritate the guest as well as take pictures with them...ha ha! Never did this kinda stuff before. But it worked out all right. Did it and hanged in there for an hour taking photos and doing funny actions...ha ha! At least I'm hiding behind a painted face so people won't know my identity...ha ha! It helps lah...ha ha!
After that, went down to Bishan to meet up with the church youths for BBQ. Can't join them earlier for their event so can only join them for the BBQ part. Does ok for me as I was really hungry...ha ha! Just a normal Singaporean BBQ. Sausages, prawns, sotong (squid) balls, bee hoon, satay. But yeah, was really full after that...ha ha! Good to see everyone again!!!
JOEL living for ETERNITY
11:59 PM
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After church today, met up with Weijie and Huiqian today for lunch. Gabriel came along as well. The coffee buddies unite...ha ha! FYI... coffee buddies is Weijie, Gabriel, Joel. Anyway, had lunch at Din Tai Feng in Paragon. Yeah... Din Tai Feng again, it was good. The Xiao Long Bao is still exceptional. I had Fried Rice, it wasn't too bad but I still would say go for the noodles there. After this, I must go to Crystal Jade already. Start to miss the noodles and porridge from there. It's really good as well...ha ha! After that, met up with my mum and we shopped around Orchard to find a Christmas tree. But alas, the one that we want (4 feet ones) are all sold out. So we will just have to put up the old one for 1 more year and change a new one next year round...ha ha! Orchard Road is just so packed with people now. I call it the December crowd. Now, no matter weekday or weekend, morning, noon or night or midnight, Orchard is just filled with people to the brim. From Lucky Plaza to Takashimaya, everywhere is filled with people soaking in the Christmas atmosphere and doing Christmas shopping. There are 4 million people in Singapore, and currently there are 2 million people in Orchard Road, 1 million people in the City Hall area and 1 million people in Vivo City...ha ha!
Met up with dad in the evening and we headed away from the crowded Orcahard road to Marina Square for dinner. Went to Secret Recipe to have Ceasar Salad, Tom Yum spaghetti, Cordon Bleu Chicken and Oxtail stew. Very yummy. Oxtail, Lamb shanks and all forms of stew are my favourite. Don't forget the bread to go along with it as well...ha ha!
JOEL living for ETERNITY
11:59 PM
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Went down to church today to have a look at Children's Camp...ha ha! Wow... it just brought back some nostalgic feeling of last year's Children's camp. I remember going down to see them the next day after I got back from ozzie...ha ha! Anyway, they always seem to be doing the same thing everytime I go. That is art an craft...ha ha! Well, I guess is one of the things you can't leave out of a children's camp...ha ha! They were painting picture frames and making magnets out of pebbles (I thought they were better off being paper weights)...ha ha! I was invited to be like the judge for their final product as well...ha ha! The kids were adorable. A pity I wasn't with them from the start to know them better...ha ha! They even have a parents' night where they show off their talent. I wasn't there to watch it though. Had to go home for dinner.
Late at night, met up with Moses, Cynthia, Jacob with my brother at our favourite hang out... Lorong 5...ha ha! Caught up with them while Jacob fills us in with all the funny stuff that happened in his Army Life...ha ha! The way he speaks is still the same...ha ha! Makes people laugh no matter how bad his situation may be. Anyway, I'm proud to say he is in Officer Cadet School. Tranining hard and looking really good. I'm saying a good bod and fine muscles...ha ha ha!
JOEL living for ETERNITY
11:59 PM
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Today is another lazy day. Been going out a bit the past few days so thought that I should stay home today. Woke up late but at least got my enrolment done for next sem. Next sem will be exciting although looking at the units I'll be a really busy. Clifford... we have to team up again next sem man...ha ha! My mum cooked curry for dinner, it was just so good lah! We cooked together so now at least I have some tips on cooking a better curry when I return to Ozzz...ha ha! Coming back, my mum's food is still really good. After eating all the hawker food, the most delicious and healthiest stuff is still what my mum cook. Although there are no MSG, not an overdose of salt, yet it still tastes so good. All the real flavours...ha ha! Definitely to eat more of mum goodies when I'm back...ha ha! Nothing much happen today but at least there is something that made me glad...ha ha! Hope tomorrow will bring more pleasant surprises!!!
JOEL living for ETERNITY
11:59 PM
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Just came back from Orchard Swensen's...ha ha! First time eating Swensen's since I got back. Was supposed to meet up with the church peeps to farewell Xiang (cos he's going NS), alas, it ended earlier than expected. In the end, Ian, Suzanne, my bro (Matthew) and me ended up in Orchard's Swensen's. Since we're out, we should make the most of it...ha ha! Also, called Huiqian out as well. Although it was last minute, yet she was a real sport to come...ha ha! Anyway, she's my housemate in Perth. Every time we talking, she always talks about Swensen's at Crown Prince Hotel. I called it her favourite hang out place...ha ha! So remembered her and gave her call. We shared Swensen's famous US Hot Fries with dips as well as the Giant Earthquake...ha ha! Out of all the flavours, my favourite is still the Sticky Chewy Chocolate...ha ha! That is really good... yeah!
I always like having suppers...ha ha! Although it is like the most unhealthy thing to do... eating before sleeping. Well, believe me or not, supper is never about the food. You can't really eat eat food unless you skipped dinner altogether...ha ha! That's a different story altogether. Supper for me is just a time to relax and chill out with friends. You get to talk to each other about the day or anything. The night that is coming into the midnight holds just a different mood from dinner. Dinner time still seems to have the rushing crowd and heavy traffic. Supper is just so different, the world around you seems to slow down. Everyone around you is relax. Especially in a place like Swensen's. Al Fresco dining, Orchard road all lit up with the Christmas mood. Little traffic, people slow down their footsteps, soft music in the background with the cooling night weather (even in Singapore), it's just great to have a coffee or a drink with some friends and just hang out a little. Don't you agree? If there was a live jazz band, that would definitely be the cherry on the Sundae...ha ha!
JOEL living for ETERNITY
11:59 PM
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Weijie (Ian) and me met up with our favourite pilot and friend Andy and his wife, Siew Kuan. We all had dinner at Rice Table, Indonesian Food. The food wasn't too bad. Buffet ala carte style (see been eating too much, gotta go run tomorrow), great to have some nice rendang, chili and curry related food...ha ha! Never thought I miss Tahu Goreng so much. Tahu Goreng is a Malay dish. Basically it is Beancurd and egg mixed together and deep fried. The ones from the hawker centres are best. Golden brown and crispy on the outside, Tender on the inside.
Anyway, had a good catch up with Andy and he gave me and Ian lots of insights into our future career path. He is 100% behind Ian on him doing law as he feels that it will benefit him next time. Having both Econs and Law degree will make him more competative in the market next time. He being a pilot really makes me envy sometimes. Being able to fly from country to country on a regular basis! Man.. this is what I so wanna do. I was telling my friend the other day, if I wasn't so fortunate, I would have become an Air Steward and travel the world. Now, my parents have spent so much money sending me to Ozz to study, I guess I must have greater dreams now...ha ha! I would have become an over qualified air steward(from an academic point of view)...ha ha! But, that will always be at the back of my head. I guess coming back to Singapore this time has led me to realise that I'm a traveller or a nomad. I love travelling and changes in surroundings. I yearn for adventures! I yearn to see the world. I yearn for a jet set life! Let me have breakfast in Singapore and dinner in paris. Let me see the Taj Mahal at sunrise and shop at Hollywood Boulevard in the evening! A bowl of La Mian in Beijing and Fish and Chips in London! Ha ha ha... That will be what I call an exciting life. I'm not sure if I'll ever get tired of it. But at least now still at my youthful age, let me fly..... fly........ fly!
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking, we will be crusing at 30,000 ft at 800km/h. We hope you will sit back, relax and enjoy your flight!"
JOEL living for ETERNITY
11:59 PM
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Just came back from Marian's place. Went there with Clarence. Met up with them and Nona for a late night drink (Clarence had chicken rice for supper) before ending up at Marian's house playing with her dogs. She has four dogs and they are the cutest and funniest bunch of dogs I seen. They are called Muffin, Munchkin, Panda and Tigger. All of them are mongrels which she adopted. Anyway, she doesn't believe in buying pure breeds and these mixed breeds does well for her. Muffin is an old folk (10 years old) and she seem to be the only normal one. Panda, is super active and is always running around. While munchkin is this little cute dog that I like to carry...ha ha! She is just so cute and adorable. I should abduct it and bring it home...ha ha! The weirdest one is the one called Tigger. I guess is because of her tiger-like stripes that she got her name. Anyway, she is this dog that is actually so shy and scared of people. She would like stand behind a wall like a little kid and peep and spy on us at the living room. Marian had to carry her to come see us. Marian had to hold her and when we were looking at her, she was just super still with her big almost teary eyes looking at us. She just looked really cute and funny at the same time. When you tell her to "Paw", she would lift up her front paw and give you a hand shake... really cute...ha ha! Next time, think I'm gonna keep a dog myself...ha ha! Hmm.. what is a good dog name? Anyone?
Before that, had dinner with my parents, my bro and Suzanne(bro's gf) at Kuishin Bo. This Jap Gourmet buffet that lives up to its name. With Alaskan Snow crab and slipper lobster on the buffet menu, it was really good. It was not a sushi buffet but every other Jap dish you can think about. From Tempuras to the Japanese Paper Steamboat, they have it all. All complete with a Jap dessert spread not forgetting the Green Tea ice cream and cotton candy. Anyway, FYI, I once told a Jap friend about this place called "Kuishin Bo" and she told me it means "People Who Like To Eat". What a good name for a restaurant like this...ha ha!
Went for a jog with Jingyi and Huiyu in the afternoon. We jogged around the stadium 7 rounds under the afternoon scorching sun. Wow... it was totally unberable for me. The sun was so hot and never have I sweat so much in such a long time. Hot and humid, feels like you are steaming lah. Was a good run, I need it, but next time I'll still choose to run around the estate where there are trees around so I won't be exposed totally to the Singapore Sun!
JOEL living for ETERNITY
11:59 PM
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Went to church today for the second time and got to meet more people whom I missed last week...ha ha! Anyway, after church, went to have lunch with the usual gang. We shared a roast meat combination with rice together with some other dishes. Kang Kong seems to be the favourite and my most missed vegetable...ha ha! Kang Kong and chili sambal is the best...ha ha! had it at this eatery at Toa Payoh which is supposed to be a trusted brand from Chinatown. It was good, what was even better was that we met Gabriel's parents there and they treated all of us to the meal. Thank you uncle!!! After that, caught with Huimin and Melissa. So much stuff to catch after missing from Singapore for the past year...ha ha! Hopefully to get to catch up with more friends as well. In the evening, went Christmas Tree shopping with my parents. Went to concourse to check out the trees. But was unsuccessful in getting one as they were all out of the 4 feet ones. Mum wants a small Christmas tree as she thought that ours is too big. After that, had dinner at Din Tai Feng. For those that don't know, it is a Chinese restaurant that is supposed to be one of the top restaurants in the world. I would say the food isn't too bad but a special mention to the Xiao Long Bao! They are seriously good. Skin isn't too thick, just right with lots of soup inside. Be sure to eat it gently and not breaking the skin. Put it in your mouth and it just melts succulently in your mouth. The best I've eaten so far. Another misconception, many people think Din Tai Feng is expensive, the truth is, it is more or less like Crystal Jade. So for the Xiao Long Bao, it's worth a try.
JOEL living for ETERNITY
11:59 PM
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Alright guys... I'm back again faithfully blogging my entry and keeping this thing as updated as possible. Ha ha... my 2ns Saturday back in Singapore. Today, I went down to church to see the Youth group having their "after-exams" water bomb games...ha ha! Looking them play let me think of my younger days where water bombs were the in things man (and they still are). Ha ha.... Just get a group of friends and have fun throwing water bomb at each other. Of course, it is not just throwing around lah. It is always an organised event. Like today, there were 3 teams each eith their own base. In their own base, they have sort of a stick structure which they will have to protect. While on the other hand, they have to use water bombs to topple their opponent group's structure. I can see all of them were very wet but were having so much fun...ha ha! Church is fun lah...ha ha! For me, had a chance to catch up with some of my friends which I have not really seen since I got back. Wow... so many of the youths have like grown up since like I last saw them... amazing. But yeah, it was fun catching up with all of them.
Then in the evening, met up with Cynthia, Jian Li and Moses for dinner. We were contemplating what to eat and I told them I feel like western today. So we went to this Seah Street Deli at Raffles Hotel. It was a really comfy and nice American Cafe...ha ha! Although in Raffles Hotel, the food was quite affordable. I had the Elvis Burger, Jian Li had a fried steak and Moese and Cynthia shared a huge Texas burger. We all shared Nachos. I must say the food was really good. A place I would recommend. Good burgers and they are quite filling too. A nice place to just hang out with friends...ha ha! Then, we went Rochor road to grab the famous beeancurd and the egg tarts were so great lah...ha ha! Talking to Moses make me wanna get a Digital SLR camera lah. He's always promoting to me to get one...ha ha! And I'm just that close to getting one. Ha ha.. like what he said, " A day not buying the camera is a day loss of a good shot".
The night was not over yet. Joined Ian, Tommie, Jingyi, Huiyu, Gina and Xiang at Chomp Chomp for some good old Singapore hawker food supper. Didn't really eat a lot but just some here and there. Been eating quite a bit today liao...ha ha! Anyway, we had carrot cake (black and superb), Hokkien Mee, Rojak, Kang Kong and Sting Ray(for Steve Irwin). I have to control and not eat too much when i'm back man. And have to go running too.
JOEL living for ETERNITY
10:09 AM
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Tuesday, August 22, 2006. The date that some have kept reminding me. The day I put in my last entry for this blog. Man oh man, to think about it, was really sometime ago. And now, I'm into 2 December 2006 and I finally managed to pull myself together to put in another entry for my blog. Sorry guys and gals, for all those that have been checking in and out, thanks for you effort and support. Ha ha... it has been sometime and so many stuff have happened. But no worries, this time I won't bore you guys will all the day to day details from August. It would be a bore right? Let me start over again and see if I can keep this blog entry going... ha ha! Land Of Ozz and I'm currently back in Singapore, so nothing Ozzie to report but maybe I would just fill you all in with my daily happening and some of my thoughts througout this period of time as well. Hmm... maybe I'll just throw in some pictures too to brighten up this place.
Anyway, lots of stuff has happened over the past 3 or so months. Happy and sad, time passes and Wow... somehow I'm glad that I'm in December. Another year has almost gone by. Just remembering the times me running around school rushing projects and finishing assignments, it feels really good and relaxed now just sitting and typing out my blog. Yeah... results will be out soon and I hope everything will be well as well...ha ha!
Back in Singapore now, got some personal accomplishments to do. Hopefully can get a job to fill me in for the summer holidays. Be looking forward to meeting up with all my friends that I have yet to meet up with. So if you're free do give me a buzz and we can arrange for a coffee or something...ha ha! And hopefully, there will be some really REALLY pleasant surprises that will drop into my life this summer and exciting things to fill my time as well...ha ha! Feeling a little lost every morning I wake up...ha ha! In the meantime, you guys take care and I'll be watching my "Return of the Condor Heroes" which my dad just bought...ha ha! Cheers!
JOEL living for ETERNITY
1:02 AM
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Good Day!
JOEL in OZZZ
"Someday Someday, I will be the one Babe!"
lBonnie lGermaine lGina lHuimin lHuiyu lIanz lJacob lJialing lKanghui lLouisa lLydia lSarah lShallene lSonglee lTeresa lTiffany lYanchang lHana
