Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday grandma!

Visitors

Having lived in Bukit Batok for almost 2 years, we have seen plenty of weird bugs. Living near a nature reserve does have its perks!

There are green looking insects that love hanging around the kitchen windows, there are a lot of moths and little golden beetles - those are really common. We do have the occasional lady bug dropping by, but they are pretty rare. There was once this grasshopper that was singing so loudly in the bathroom, the husband got so irritated, drowned the poor bug(ger), since then, there are no more singing grasshoppers.

One of the more interesting ones was this 20cm long stick insect. I have a picture of it somewhere, dunno where the photo went. Just two mornings ago, I saw this HUGE beetle on my window ledge. I have never seen one so big that isn't in some enclosure!

We also get a lot of bugs flying in in the evening, only to discover a lot of them dead the next morning. I see them dead bodies on the floor all the time. At least once a week. I used to have ants doing the undertaking, but somehow, the ants are gone.

Happiness

is getting a favourable exchange rate.

Some of My Favourite Movies

Lock Stock and 2 Smoking Barrels
Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain
The Graduate
In the Mood for Love
Chungking Express
The Godfather
Lord of the Rings
Paris Je t' aime
Finding Nemo
The Incredibles
Donnie Darko
Goodbye Lenin!
Little Miss Sunshine
Memento
Singing in the Rain
Yamakasi
Moulin Rouge
The Shawshank Redemption
Mystic River
The Matrix
The Hours
AI
Out of Africa
Mars Attack
Fargo
No Country for Old Men
The Host
Love Actually
American Beauty
Blade Runner
28 Days Later
City of God
Before Sunrise
Before Sunset
Portrait of a Lady
Boogie Nights
Kill Bill
The Usual Suspects
The Elephant Man
The Crucible
In the Name of the Father
Dangerous Liasions
Dog Day Afternoon
Juno
4 Months 3 Weeks and 2 Days
The Sea Inside
The Lives of Others
3 Colours
Half Nelson

Singapore Biennale - City Hall

Hypocrisy

There was this certain episode of the F Word that showed Gordon Ramsey eating a fresh, raw puffin's heart. He caught the bird himself too, risking his life and almost falling off the cliff when sky fishing. The gross part of the whole thing was breaking the bird's neck, and then going on to tearing the gut out of the dead bird. It is pretty graphic and that episode had outraged so many viewers. Some reckon that the killing was too cruel, some think that eating a raw heart was offensive.

Does that smells like hypocrisy to you? It certainly does to me.

The puffin eating was done in Iceland, where it is pretty popular. I look at as a cultural difference. I certainly will not eat a puffin, not because it is cruel, but because it is said to taste a little gamey. The birds died a quick death, pretty painless. Why are we react so strongly to stuff like that? Is breaking the neck of a puffin more cruel than leading a cow into the slaughter house and then killing it by nailing it with a metal bolt into its brain? Yes, that thing that Javier Bardem used in No Country for Old Men! I have seen the video in school, it is as disturbing as breaking the neck of the puffin. Which to me, isn't that much of a big deal.

And what's up with protesting against dog eating? It is JUST ANOTHER MEAT! Goodness, just because you love dogs and have them as pets doesn't mean others do. If I own a pig like George Clooney, does that mean it will offend me that people around me are eating it? There are so many fish keepers out there? So we stop eating fish? I am a tree hugger, then I cannot eat fruits and vegetables lah?

You can eat whatever the hell you fancy, as long as the animal that you are eating is didn't suffer too much or at the brink of extinction. I certainly do not want the whales to go the way of the Dodo (no more Moby Dick) nor do I want to see sharks with their fins cut off and thrown back to the ocean. Anyway, I wonder what is the big deal about sharks' fins. They are pretty tasteless things with not much nutritional value. Oh and there is foie gras. Poor geese being force fed to get grossly fat. Those poor things, but I love foie gras! I know, it is bad, and I am so ashamed of myself for enjoying something like that. I don't eat it often, maybe once a year? Clogged arteries anyone?

Most of us buy our meat in clean sterile supermarkets or the not too clean wet markets. We usually do not see the whole carcass, just chunks of meat that do not resemble anything like the animal anymore. That said, I used to walk past a dead pig every morning when I was going to school. The whole hog. Some mornings I will see the butcher using the blow torch to remove the hair on the pig, and that certainly didn't smell very pleasant. Do you know the plight of battery hens? They are crammed together with hardly any space to move. All they do is eat and sleep in the same spot, sometimes (or most times in their own poop). Seriously, it is hard to buy free range all the time, it cost a bomb!

Just because we do not kill does not make us any less sinful or guilty than the ones that do. I do admit, I am a hypocrite, I do not think I am able to raise my own pigs and hens and then killing them myself. Now, can you imagine stick a knife into a cow??? I can't!

Walkabout

I walk around a little yesterday on my way to City Hall to peek at the Biennale's exhibits. This year's Biennale seem more organised, having most of the stuff situated in the same area. Two years ago, all the exhibits were scattered all over the place, a little piece here, and a little piece there. Pure madness, trying to view them all, I gave up after 2 weekends, and I didn't see like half the stuff. That said, it was pretty interesting too, going to all the little spots all over the island. I need to take another photo of St Andrew's. I took just one, didn't really review it too much (I can't see the screen too well anyway, being blinded by the sun), since I was almost having a headache, standing under the hot sun. Next time, I will take sure the roof is not covered.

I was in City Hall for more than 2 hours, the South Beach Development will have to wait. I was tired from all the viewing and also, it was a bleeding hot day. Hot days have the knack of zapping all the energy out of me. And I was carrying so many things! Try carring a camera, and a haversack, and also the audio kit that I borrowed from the Biennale people. On top of that, I had the guide and map of the exhibits in my hand. Good thing I had my cargos on. I retreated to the comfort of an air conditioned mall which is Raffles City. How Singaporean. I was glad that I went on a weekday. Not too many people - I think I saw 20 different faces. So, if you are interested, go on a weekday. Unemployment rules!

Wordling

The SIngapore Biennale 2008

I need to plan a day and go around some of the locations. Most of the exhibits are around town, mainly the Marina Bay area. I think that will take about 2 days, depending on how interesting the exhibits are. I will head down to City Hall first, then make my way down to the South Beach Development. After if I am still interested, I will go down to the bay area. Might be a little too much, I will see how it goes.

And I thought I have enough....

I said I will not be buying anymore lenses for a while. But I also said that having a DSLR breeds wants. I need to get my hands on the Lensbaby 3G! I do I do I do want it! I think I can wait til next year. I need to make sure it isn't an impulsive buy. It is selling at around $380 here. I can get it cheaper online. Buying stuff like this, would I want to risk getting it damaged?

I need to strike Toto soon, the wish list just keeps growing.

The Difference

I didn't know how much difference 8mm can be! The top photo taken at 10mm, the one below that, taken at 18mm. I am loving my new lens!

Beware!

I didn't know pedestrians can be this dangerous. Maybe just in Bukit Batok.

Henderson Waves

The More Loving One

I love this poem by W H Auden. It spoke to me so clearly the first time I read it I can't help myself but cry. I was going through a bad, no not bad, rather, a relationship that wasn't going anywhere. Til this day, everytime I come across this poem, I will feel a tinge of sadness. Not that sadness is a bad thing totally. I always feel that we need sadness, or any other kinds of emotion for that matter, in our lives to really fully appreciate happiness. Then again, someone once told me that I liked indulging in sadness or misery. Anyway, here is the poem

The More Loving One

Looking up at the stars, I know quite well
That, for all they care, I can go to hell,
But on earth indifference is the least
We have to dread from man or beast.
How should we like it were stars to burn
With a passion for us we could not return?
If equal affection cannot be,
Let the more loving one be me.
Admirer as I think I am
Of stars that do not give a damn,
I cannot, now I see them, say
I missed one terribly all day.
Were all stars to disappear or die,
I should learn to look at an empty sky
And feel its total dark sublime,
Though this might take me a little time

The Pope and the Sikh

Got this from Elaine a long ago....

THE POPE and THE SIKH

About a century or two ago, the Pope decided that all the Sikhs had to leave Italy. Naturally there was a big uproar from the Sikh community. So the Pope made a deal. He would have a religious debate with a member of the Sikh community. If the Sikh won, the Sikhs could stay. If the Pope won, the Sikhs would leave.

The Sikhs realized that they had no choice. So they picked a middle-agedman named Harbinder Singh to represent them. Harbinder asked for one addition to the debate. To make it more interesting, neither side would be allowed to talk. The Pope agreed. The day of the great debate came. Harbinder Singh and the Pope sat opposite each other for a full minute.

Then the Pope raised his hand and showed three fingers. Harbinder looked back at him and raised one finger.

The Pope waved his fingers in a circle around his head. Harbinder pointed to the ground where he sat.

The Pope pulled out a wafer and a glass of wine. Harbinder pulled out an apple.

The Pope stood up and said, "I give up. This man is too good. The Sikhs can stay."An hour later, the cardinals were all around the Pope asking him what had happened.The Pope said,

"First I held up three fingers to represent the holy trinity.He responded by holding up one finger to remind me that there was still one God common to both our religions.

""Then I waved my finger around me to show him that God was all around us. He responded by pointing to the ground and showing that God was also right here with us."

" I pulled out the wine and wafer to show that God absolves us from our sins. He pulled out an apple to remind me of original sin. He had an answer for everything. What could I do?"

Meanwhile, the Sikh community had crowded around Harbinder Singh."What happened?" they asked. "Well," said Harbinder,

"First he said to me that the Sikhs had three days to get out of here. I told him to p *@ s-off and not one of us was leaving.

""Then he told me that this whole city would be cleared of Sikhs. I let him know that we were staying right here.""Yes, and then???" asked the crowd.

"I don't know", said Harbinder,"He took out his lunch, and I took out mine!!!

"Question: Why are we given two eyes, two ears and one mouth? Answer: God wants us to observe and listen more and speak less.

Selegie

Things to do before I Die

Be a nicer and kinder person.

Be true and good to myself and my loved ones.

Learn tap dancing and pretend to be Ginger Rogers.

Try growing my own herbs or even vegetables. I have no green fingers unfortunately.

Say goodbye to the inner control freak.
Bake the perfect Madelaine.

Witness the aurora borealis.

Go to a major sporting event (no, the F1 in Singapore doesn't count).

Pick up a musical instrument.

Be able to make my own clothes.

Be fluent in a 3rd language.

To have a holiday home in Japan, a loft in London and a penthouse in New York.

To have more than amateur photography skills. Then I would hold my own pretend gallery at home.

Visit Dublin on Bloom's Day.

Be able to cook way way better than I can presently.

To worry less, be less paranoid and learn to chill.

Knit effortlessly.

To be in a helicopter and hot air balloon.
Be a positive influence in someone's life.

Be more eco friendly.
Get my driving license and test drive an Aston Martin.

Drive along Route 66.

Read all the books on my must-read list. It is a very long list. I shall post that list up soon.

Visit Paris with my husband. (I think the trip will coincide with the Paris Motor Show)
Eat and live healthier.

Exercise more regularly.

Take part in a marathon.

Watch a WRC race.

Volunteer.

Visit the MET, the MoMA and the State Hermitage.

To have more patience.

To be more confident.

Be a good mother when I have children (or child) next time. A good wife to my husband. A better daughter to my parents, a great elder sister to my siblings.

Own a nice small bookstore and cafe.

Go on the Trans Siberian Railway.

Home Indulgences

I must confess, I dislike ironing my bedsheets. I used to hate it, now I just dislike it, only because I can iron them faster now. As much as I hate it, I can never have them go unironed, because I love to lie on well-ironed sheets. It is pure luxury. I love the way the bed looks with nicely ironed sheets, I even love how the sheets look nicely folded after ironing and how they smell of lavender scented linen water. This experience can only be better if the sheets are pure Egyptian cotton with a thread count of at least 300. Alas, I only have a set of those right now. I strike Toto or 4D, I will change all my bed linen to Egyptian cotton! Utter heaven! We are going to spend a third of our lives in bed, I would spend some dear money on it. Nice mattress, with a nice sturdy bed frame, with clean sheets that are nicely ironed. Sometimes I wish I can send them to the cleaners, but I am super picky with the house chores, a control freak when it comes to cleaning, I would rather do it myself, knowing that they are really clean rather than them looking clean. God knows what other stuff they got mixed in with in the machine. I shudder at that thought. Perhaps nothing, but I sure as hell not going to risk that. In some twisted way, I do find self-ironed more satisfying then those that are done professionally. As much as I hate it, it comes with some form of satisfaction lying on sheets that you are ironed yourself.

I hate cleaning toilets, and the Husband has suggested so many times that we get a helper. Yes, a cleaner will be a home indulgence. Not only clean the toilets, but the windows as well! I wish I can! I just can't seem to allow that now. I need to know that it is really cleaned properly, MY WAY. I am anal like that, if I have a maid, she will hate me. I scrub with a little toothbrush around the tap, behind the pipes, and those little corners that you can't reach without a toothbrush. usually takes me about an hour to clean a toilet. Can you beat that? Most people I know, take just half and hour. I wonder what I can do to attain that kinda speed. (CUT DOWN ON THE TOOTHBRUSH BRUSHING!) Note how the Husband suggests getting a cleaner and not offer to clean the toilets for me?

Other indulgences will be a KitchenAid mixer. I have been thinking about one for a while already! It needs to be white, no matter how the Husband says the how fantastic the dark grey one looks. That and a Cuisinart food processor. I don't even have a pestle and mortar let alone a food processor.

I have a fear of knives, I am getting better now, when I was younger, I will get nervous holding a kitchen knife. I would be imagining morbid things like how it would feel like if I sliced off my finger by accident or how it would hurt to have it plunge into my body. I hate it when I see my Home Economics teacher walking and talking and talking at the same time, with the knife in her hand. I always felt that an accident was going to happen soon. That said, I am now hankering for a set of Wusthof knives. I really have no clue why a less than average cook like me needs an expensive set of knives like that.

A fine bone china tea set will be a fabulous thing to have. I am really happy with my Hario teapot, but sometimes, you want to a girly looking set to make having tea more pleasurable. I want the Nursery Rhymes set from Whittard! It is CUTE! TOO CUTE!

At the jetty

Stuff around the house

RSAF Open House

We were at the RSAF Open House last Sunday. We ran out of ideas on where to go after lunch, and since we both have not been to one, so why not? It is free anyway, and we wanted to stay outdoors.

It wasn't really very interesting, but it was fun to just hang out, walk for a little, and be out in the sun. There isn't a lot of sun for the past few Sundays, since it has been raining quite a lot. At least we do not have to hide in malls for this Sunday!

Seasons

A friend gave me 5 photos of the 4 different seasons that he took in Edinburgh. He took all those in the same year. There are 2 photos taken in fall and I guess it is because he loves autumn. I can't recall what he said precisely, but he loves it because it was moody and melancholic in some way. I have those 5 photos framed and now, the frame is hanging just above my study table, albeit a little crooked.

Right here in Singapore, we don't have the 4 seasons, just 2. Rainy and sunny. When it rains in Singapore it pours. The weather is getting a little too unpredictable lately. The sky would be sunny and then turned a marvelous shade of bluish grey next. I said marvelous because I love the colour grey so much now... anyway, back to the story. I would always expect it to rain after that, but no, it decides to hold all the rain in. On sunny days, it just pours down unexpectedly. There are times when it rain for days, that usually happens in December.

I love the rain, so I am not complaining too much. I like the smell of rain, how cool it feels and how it cools downs the place. I love the pitter patter on the window panes and when the cars go swishing past a wet road.

If there is anything that I do not like about the rain (apart from it being a pain to do laundry), it would be being in a car. It gets me nervous, especially when it pours down heavily. You have got to concentrate a lot harder and be extra careful. So tiring! Yah, I don't drive, but I still do look out for the driver, who usually happens to be my husband. The stupidity of some drivers is beyond me. Why do drivers speed in the wet? Why do people tailgate in the wet? Why do drivers cut out of their lanes unexpectedly in the wet? Why do some drivers not have their headlights on in a storm? Why do all these drivers have their brains stuck up their asses?
When it gets hot in Singapore, it burns! Hot and humid, the eco warrior in us will be conveniently forgotten for a while as we crank up the air conditioning. We would run into malls like bats to caves never to come out till the sun is down.I must admit, I cannot live without my air conditioning when it comes to my bedtime. We had only sIept without it turned on just once. It was raining and twas pretty cool, so it wasn't so uncomfortable, but still, I was a little bothered and warm. I don't fancy having it on in the day when I am home, I still prefer my good old ceiling fans and a good cold shower will bring instant relief!

I love spring, tis my favourite season. It is the beginning of new life with vibrant colours. I would think of walking in gardens in nice nice dresses and bare feet. It is as if you can even smell the dew too!

I like autumn too. It seems to be a winding down season after a harsh hot summer. The trees will be in its full autumn colours glory. red, brown, orange, yellow and gold. There is a tinge of beautiful sadness always accompanying fall. Maybe with all that colours, it reminds me too, of the end of some things. Like what my friend said, the melancholy of fall is what makes it beautiful.

Summer. I think of watermelon eating competition, I think of the nice late afternoon sun on my face, and how relentlessly long the days can be. Everything seems to be so nice and cheery. How we can all take a chill pill, relax and dress down!

Winter. Ah, I don't like the cold so much. As much as I can't stand the heat in Singapore, I would rather it be warm than cold. Have you ever thought about SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)? I have a feeling that I am pretty susceptible to that. There are things I like about it though. Like snuggling up on a nice comfy couch with a book and hot cocoa, how everything looks when it is covered with a blanket of snow. Winter's got to be my least favourite season. And I really do hate piling on the clothes and besides wearing fur will get you splattered with blood or get a dead animal corpse thrown at you by the good old folks from PETA!

Sigma

I finally bought my Sigma 10-20mm wide angle lens! I have been thinking about it for months! Reading reviews after reviews, comparing with other brands, and still I am back to this baby.


Another Canon lens is not going to be too possible now, with them costing so much. I am now pretty much happy, with a zoom lens and a wide angle lens. The next possible one that I may consider might be a fast prime lens like a sigma 50mm f2.8 or a Canon EF 50mm f1.8 since I like taking portraits. That will come when I feel the itch to but another lens again. Next year perhaps.

Now I need to buy ND filters! What I really do need now is a dry cabinet. I need to for my lenses, my other cameras and video camera.

Photography is an expensive hobby. Having a DSLR breeds want. You want zoom lens, and then wide angle lens, then macro lens and prime lens. You want UV filters for all your lenses, then polarisers and then ND filters. You want extra batteries.You want extra memory cards. You want flashgun. You want diffuser. (actually, you can make one with the Meiji milk carton) You want tripod. You want a smaller tripod with the bendy legs because it looks so cute. You want a wireless controller when sometimes the timer just will not do. You want reflectors.

After having it all, you want a new DSLR.

I tried the lens the day I bought it. With the dynamic perspective that you can achieve with this lens, everything seems more dramatic. It is quiet and fast, focuses better than the Sigma telephoto that I have as well. It will be great for landscapes! I took this photo with the lens, it is hard to see the difference with nothing to compare it with.