hi my name is elizabeth.

Occasionally

2012-01-17T00:36:00.003+08:00

At times, occasionally now, i just want to learn Thai so that i can speak in sentences that nobody can understand. So i possess the power to filter out people, just like Facebook can.

At times, occasionally now, i just want some attention. But when you have so much you need to give, yet so much you can only offer, asking a little borderlines absurdity.

At times, occasionally now, i just feel like too much of an attention whore.

It's all about perspectives at times.

New Order - Krafty [Live in Glasgow]

2011-12-27T16:40:00.000+08:00

ahhhh, old school music is the best. i found gold again.

Big Dee Irwin & Little Eva - Swingin' On A Star

2011-12-24T21:26:00.000+08:00

Listening to this and imagining myself sipping coffee by the countryside. Wanderlust. Again.

Something Dies

2011-11-28T17:03:00.001+08:00

Something, somewhere, somewhat, somehow the inside dies.

From the everyday battles fought and lost. The everyday battles that held the passion of following one's heart at stake.

The stake soon disappears,

into what resides in your heart now, an empty void which never says no.

New Assignment 1

2011-11-17T22:44:00.001+08:00

After critique session from tutorial 1 and various comments, these are my newly taken photos! :D

Deep Depth-of-field

Freeze Action

Motion Blur

Short Depth-of-field

Class Assignment: Photoshop

2011-11-17T22:31:00.001+08:00

Very simple photoshop techniques were taught in class although i dont remember being taught 3 techniques at all. Probably because my computer crashed on me that tutorial day and i couldnt remember much from then to now.

Anyway, these techniques used were the desaturation technique, the magic selection tool and the magnetic lasso tool. The boy's hair is still a little tricky though, i think that would take the skill of a more advanced user.

But overall, easy and fun stuff!

Final Project: "Still Life"

2011-11-17T15:37:00.001+08:00

Our group wanted this interactive piece to challenge the viewer’s attitude of everyday life. The concept is contextualized in modern capitalistic societies whereby people live fast-paced and goal-oriented lives. In their pursuit of wealth and happiness, many things such as objects, people, events are left unnoticed. Very often, these are the things, when reflected and appreciated upon, are actually beautiful and meaningful.

There are 10 scrolling scenes in the digital collage. These scenes would change from dull to colour upon mouse over. The sudden burst and activity symbolizes the beauty behind the monotonous, uninteresting, uneventful when one stops to take closer look at the objects in its absolute stillness. (Metaphorically represented by the freeze action upon mouse over)

The collage also plays in a loop after the 10 scenes, suggesting an infinity to the life cycle - that the end of an endeavour represents the start of the next.

Some of the thumbnails of different scenes include:

Living Room and Party scenes

Keitai Phenomenon: New & Improved!

2011-11-16T14:31:00.001+08:00

After a relatively nonchalant response from the ground w.r.t my assignment 2, i figured i should re-do and rethink the concept i wanted to portray.

I've decided on how the Keitai Phenomenon is able to elevate the mundane and objectify the mundane into artistic images. This is done through the unique framing of the objects or subjects that diverts and channels the viewer to start appreciating or noticing the object.For example, the following picture show the typically boring and mundane pictures. Sites in my homes that i walk past everyday but will never stop to take a second look.

For example,

Books on the bookshelf, left to rot unless you read them.

Random flower pot at home

Cutting fruits after dinner

Cooking with condiments

The fan ( i mean, how often to you walk with your head facing up)

And this was just a random experiment (:

My poor dog, looking so weird and fresh out of the salon.

So this is the result of my interpretation of what the Keitai Phenomenon means, noticed how if i hadn't give you the prior pictures, it wouldn't have been obvious that these objects were where they were originally - home!

The Ketitai injects artistic elements to everyday contexts.

PEOPLE

2011-10-21T00:11:00.001+08:00

I REALLY DO LOVE PEOPLE. SOME I LOVE MORE, SOME I LOVE LESS, SOME I LOVE TO HANG OUT WITH, SOME I LOVE TO AVOID, SOME I LOVE TO TALK TO, SOME I LOVE TO OOGLE AT, SOME I LOVE TO SCOLD, SOME I LOVE TO MOCK, SOME I LOVE TO ______________

YES YOU, I LOVE YOU, YES YOU, AND YOU, AND YOU, AND YOU.

KILLER DRESS

2011-10-20T20:47:00.001+08:00

"Untitled" 2011 collection from the Stolen Girlfriends Club. Initial reactions where how killer this dress it, or maybe i've been really into nebulose-themed prints lately! I just can't stop staring!

Assignment 3: Urban Fantasy

2011-10-17T14:41:00.004+08:00

So basically, i wanted to capture the concept of rapture in the picture.

Although there are many doctrines that define rapture differently, i have designed this collage according to what i know of rapture.

Rapture is the idea held by Christians that believers (even the dead) would be caught up in the air, followed on judgments on Earth. This would happen on Jesus' second coming. The bible in the book in Revelations describes this day as apocalyptic.

This is artist's Jan Luyken's depiction of what the day of rapture would be.
As catastrophic and ominous as it may look, rapture is actually the day looked forward by believers because it is the day whereby people who have received salvation return home to be with God forever, signifying the end of all suffering.

Well the point i am trying to make here is that rapture is a fantasy, a form of escapism from the stresses and burdens that the modern world brings. Something that liberates the soul from the modern distress.

I specifically chose the backdrop of Tokyo because i personally hated the fast-paced lifestyle of the Japanese urbanites. An extreme form of city hustle and bustle that i just could not get used - even as a Singaporean. And this to me, is the problem of modernity that has descended of us (subconsciously)

The picture of the "zombie boy" represent the dead, rising up into the air (metaphorically) as Jesus descends down onto Earth. The triangle in the middle then represent the trinity in Christianity - Father, Son & Holy Spirit. The smoke at the back is to illustrate the apocalyptic nature of Rapture.

Lastly, the orange warm tint of the image is meant to be a stimulant — stimulating the emotions. Orange is most often found in nature. I.e changing leaves of fall or the setting sun. It is meant to signify the coming of a new season, metaphorically, the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Assignment 3: Urban Fantasy

2011-10-12T19:54:00.009+08:00

Some of my Urban Fantasy inspirations.

Night lights of Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. Taken during my trip there in 2010. More can be found at my Flickr Tokyo, Japan Album.

My Urban fantasy assignment is embodied around the theme of rapture in Christianity. Naturally, the scene of Jesus Christ's crucifixion too.

I've always been intrigued and fascinated by nebulous, a small cluster of indistinct stars, or stars in a luminous haze. The word nebulous can also be used to describe a concept, meaning something that is unclear, vague or ill-defined, in line with theme of urban fantasy. Something that is ill-defined, to be discovered in each individual's mind's eye.

Rick Gernest is a Canadian artist and fashion model also known as Zombie Boy for being tattooed like a corpse across majority of his body. The artwork on his body is closely in line with the theme of the dead and rapture.

This picture is a scene demonstrating the chaos of Qaddafi's forces counterattacking Libya in March, 2011. The deep colors and intensity has seen this photo saturated all over photoblogs such as Tumblr.

Lecture: Appropriation

2011-10-12T19:50:00.001+08:00

1. Appropriation is the use of borrowed elements in the creation of a new work. Plagiarism is assuming the ownership of a part of or an entire original work (including close imitations) created by others - wrongful appropriation!

3. No. Every use of original work requires the students to credit the original artists through citations and bibliographies. Also, there is limit to the amount of content a student can use in a single work from his/her sources.

5. Yes. Creativity requires influence. Influence comes from different sources. Our future original works come from a build up of different influences. Hence, there is a need to use the strategy of Appropriation - subconsciously or deliberately.

Digital Art Lecture: Collages Vs Photomontage

2011-09-27T16:57:00.005+08:00

A collage is a composition of materials and objects pasted over a surface; a montage is a single composition created by juxtaposing a series of pieces of paper, photos or other media to create an artistic image.

These are some examples of a montage by polish photography Jan Kriwol. It is obvious that there are different aspects present in this photo because they are not feasible naturally. Nevertheless, the different aspects has been seamlessly incorporated into one image as a whole. He has many more on his website.

Enjoy.

>

Conceptualization: Finding the extraordinary out of the ordinary

2011-09-27T16:21:00.004+08:00

Tutorial 2 was pretty fun since we got to go out of the classroom to snap pictures with the theme as mentioned in the title.

As inconspicuous as i tried to be, I had to take the picture of this group of foreign students. haha. Very outstandingly sitting together in a group amongst all these asians, and not only that, eating indian food! (Look at their empty thali plates)
However, the picture was taken with the compromise of photographic aesthetics and basic principles such as lighting, exposure and framing.
Nonetheless,this was, to me at least, the most intriguing activity in the annoyingly bustling crowds at the Deck.

I had this picture taken too but had no chance to present it in class. But it was eye-catching to see how some of these flowers had blossomed into an orange hue amongst the sea of reds !

Keitai Phenomenon: Yawn

2011-09-21T13:02:00.003+08:00

unique visual presence, originally uploaded by rrrapture_.

A phone camera is extremely portable and compact. And especially to Singaporeans, a very important aspect of their lives. One never leaves the house without a phone, or maybe even never leave it at all.

This allow the ability of the phone camera to be ubiquitous in the everyday, opening up also, more photo opportunities since it can be whipped up so easily unlike a bulky DSLR.

This ubiquity allows the phone camera to capture moments that are spontaneous thus creating a special and unique visual presence.

Like here, I wouldnt have made it in time to grab my DSLR to snap this adorable picture of Sparky.

Sparky would have been fast asleep by then. (:

Keitai Phenomenon: Sleeping

2011-09-21T12:53:00.002+08:00

Keitai Phenomenon: sleeping, originally uploaded by rrrapture_.

Meet Sparky, the everyday subject captured by the non-artist, using a Keitai.

A free editing software was then used to highlight Sparky in order to divert focus onto him, making his everyday activity of "lazying around" as "attractive" as possible. (:

Keitai Phenomenon: MMS

2011-09-21T12:39:00.002+08:00

MMS, originally uploaded by rrrapture_.

The ability of the Keitai to MMS is one of the other many functions of the Keitai.

Many times, MMSes can eliminate the use for SMSing since a picture alone can help convey a message.

Here, the intended message is to show that Sparky's food has ran out and it's time to re-stock!

Sparky is hungry. (:

Keitai Phenomenon: Everyday subject

2011-09-21T12:33:00.002+08:00

Everyday subject, originally uploaded by rrrapture_.

Keitai has the ability to capture the everyday mundane subject and elevate an uneventful occasion to something that is artistic and tasteful through the aesthetics of editing and framing.

Here, an un-intrusive keitai allowed the up-close shot of Sparky to be taken whilst he was resting.

Keitai Phenomenon: Facebook

2011-09-21T12:23:00.002+08:00

Facebook, originally uploaded by rrrapture_.

Social media platforms such as FB changes the aesthetics of how people upload the share their photos online.
People want photos of their daily lives to be as aesthetically appealing as possible to the other viewers since there is a vast network connected through FB.

And camera phones help to facilitate this process through easy phone editing softwares.

Non-artists are now able to enhance and edit their pictures easily through a single device - Keitai

Baguette

2011-09-10T00:11:00.002+08:00

Baguette, originally uploaded by rrrapture_.

Short depth of field

A pretty straightforward and commonly used technique!
I guess the only criticism left would be colours, composition, etc etc.

Local Park of La Rochelle

2011-09-10T00:04:00.003+08:00

Local Park of La Rochelle, originally uploaded by rrrapture_.

Motion Blur
What constituted a good motion blur was highly debated in class today.
My takeaway was that motion blur involved the blurring of the subject and the focusing of the other entities in the photo. Evidently then, my photo is not acceptable. This is in despite of its aesthetic appeal. haha

Maize @ Mont St Michel

2011-09-10T00:03:00.002+08:00

Maize @ Mont St Michel, originally uploaded by rrrapture_.

Deep depth of Field (DDOF)
I really love this picture, the colours and the composition. Tragically, it does not fully demonstrate the definitions of DDOF. Besides being in focus, a good picture showing DDOF should be contrasted with 3 layers (foreground, middleground and background) so that they can be compared with one another and subsequently, determined as being "of correct focus".

This has only 2 layers. Sky and maize.

Jardin @ La Rochelle

2011-09-10T00:01:00.002+08:00

Jardin @ La Rochelle, originally uploaded by rrrapture_.

Freeze Action
The definition of this technique is pretty straightforward.

2011-06-02T16:32:00.003+08:00

Hi India,

Nice to meet you.

I don't mean to be rude but i hate all your pollution and disorder.

Nonetheless, it's really comforting to know that there is a peace i can find in this storm.

You're quite the stunner,

Actually.

a first time for everything

2011-05-09T22:42:00.002+08:00

Something about late April and early May has been really strange. I call it my time of "first times".

It was,

The first time i felt someone's baby bump.

The first time i had severe rashes on my leg.

The first time i did a wheel pose.

The first time i am moving house.

The first time i went for a GE rally.

The first time i actually thought critically about my country.

The first time i got molested in public.

The first time i was on a daily shitting spree for 4 days.

The first time i would actually admit, that i enjoyed attention from the opposite sex.

and

The first time in my whole 20 years on earth, i am actually starting to feel like a working adult.

Can't wait for all the challenges India is going to bring. I am so up for it.

WWEEEEEEE

2011-05-05T18:39:00.003+08:00

Omg, i cant believe i did this pose today. I swear i almost blacked out half way during the pose, but it was so fulfilling after it all! Im so happy happy happy happy :D

Best part of the day is, exams are over!!!!

WP rally next!

It's in the genes

2011-04-30T11:43:00.002+08:00

Everyone knows i work out like mad hard trying to keep fit and tone. But there's just something about the lower tummy fats of my body. It loves me way too much.

So last night someone said that "oh, lower tummy fats are genetic."

And so, this morning, i woke up, looked at my lower tummy fats and went, "It's in the genes". I looked at the bulging mass in the mirror, and was absolutely fine with it.

You see, the power of the mind is so amazing right. You can believe absolutely what your mind tells you to believe, baseless or not.

hahaahahahahah

The apple of God's eye

2011-04-27T18:43:00.002+08:00

The apple of God's eye, originally uploaded by rrrapture_.

Just wanted to say that i am so happy for this girl right here because she is finally baptized!

It's not like the i'm so happy i could jump around like a lunatic happy, or a im so relieved kind of happy, but rather, a kind of, you deserve it, heartwarming kind of happy.

Thank you for being the best and worst thing to happen in my life. Thank you for always hearing me out and thank you for just being there all the time for me. (Even if its just in spirit) Thank you for being my gossip buddy and bringing out my inner bitchiness. (Or else, it'll manifest somewhere else) Thank you for being my bangkok buddy. (You know how much i love Thailand) Thank you for being, just simply someone that i can look up to, and someone that i can just, simply, have comfortable silence with.

I love you very much! (:

(P.S im sorry Derrick if youre reading this blog, im sorry i took an unglam shot of you. What can a photographer do when subject become uncontrollable? hee)

The wanderlust effect

2011-04-26T00:37:00.005+08:00

So, exams are coming up really soon, but my preparations hasn't yet come up to par. My mind tells me to be anxious, i feel anxious. But i can't translate them into actions.

No this is not the classic case of procrastination, nor is it laziness, or sloppiness, or nonchalance, but rather the classic case of what i have newly theorized as "The wanderlust effect".

Had dinner with my China travel buds over a nice dinner at a Korean restaurant today when i told them about how unmotivated i was to even hit the books. And when i actually do, my attention span pretty much rivals the time when i was 12 or something.

So then what everyone said in reply was ->>> must be the travelling.

And outta all the people i know, these are the bunch of friends whom i know would understand all of my travelling woes and desires the most. You see, one is going to turkey next week, the other to san franciso and the other one, to calcutta to volunteer in a Mother Teresa shelter.

Well, they also happen to graduate with an arts degree, without any honours, and happen to love travelling to China as much as i do.

Before i start to side-track, i just wanted to pen down (virtually) my thoughts about this and why this could possibly be true to explaining my bizarre studying pattern.

As a communications student, i study about culture, about media, about globalization, and all its effects and impacts on the society, on politics, on the state, etc. While i must admit, that many of the theories and content have enlightened me to pressing world issues and shocking ailments of economies, it is actually painfully true that a few hundred university students, trying to cram out some essay in 2 hours about GLOBAL issues is not going to be of any value and use.

It may sound here that i think going to school is useless, but in contrary i think that in fact, education is extremely extremely important. Rather, my point is to say that examinations as such do not serve any purpose in creating a creative environment. On the contrary, discussion sessions are great. They lead to critical thinking, and possibly creative outputs and solutions.

But what do examinations do. (Test your knowledge on the subject. Yeah uh-huh, so what's next?)

Of course, i do not refer to all types of academic genres. Maybe just communication and media studies, or any others that can be placed in the same context as this.

I mean, how do these examinations even help students to develop research skills? Isn't going to university all about research and innovative thinking?

Well, the big picture i am trying to paint right now is that studying for exams make me feel like there is no progression and no ultimate goal to aim for. Because what i study, i don't experience, and therefore, i don't learn.

While, I cannot compare this to travelling because i naturally like travelling. I know for sure that travelling has taught me to read and relate, to read and act upon, to read and experience,

most importantly, to read and feel.

2011-04-22T00:32:00.001+08:00

it's easy to make me happy. more actions, less words.

i think im a happy camper tonight. (:

Cant wait for easter service tomorrow, Sunday mass with the Quintet and spruce. (:

2011-04-21T00:42:00.005+08:00

I always try to avoid posting something more "serious" after a "serious" post, because i always feel that people get bored reading this. And one thing also because im writing "this", for people to see "this". (Oh Goodness, this whole communications degree is getting a hold of me)

But here i am, about to write another reflective post.

Well, i shall just attribute this course of action to the fact it was because Meiryl just posted up this verse on her blog.

"Ecc 3:

There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

…

He has made everything beautiful in its time."

I love how the last part comforts me when it says that God has made everything beautiful in its time. So i just really want to thank him for all the beautiful memories He has blessed me with the Quintet. And at that point in time, help me to find such wonderful people that can behave together and do things together like a family. But like my blood family, i know i havent been much of that "committed" family member. Still, i look forward everyday to being rude to my family members, scolding them, ignoring them, being sarcastic to them, making fun of them.

All because it's my way of loving them.

I know God has made everything happen for a reason, He has given different gifts to each and everyone of us and given us all opportunities to grow that gift and make it into something big for his Kingdom.

So when it is time for a family member to leave to find their dreams, follow that calling,

I guess all i can do is to keep the faith, be brave and say goodbye.

<3 Quintet

OM

2011-04-12T21:46:00.004+08:00

I dont know if you've ever been in a situation where your emotions and what you're feel inside is being stretched in bipolar directions. Metaphorically speaking, it's like practicing yoga. There is awareness in stretching your muscles from the tip of your fingers all the way to the balls of your feet in opposite directions.

Only this time, intangible.

While i try to celebrate my 3-month job offer to the Himalayas, i try to reflect on how i could have possibly disappointed someone who trusted me so much. It embarrasses me to tears.

Well, most people would have known by now that i was offered an internship to India. But what most people dont know is that the company that i'm dying to go to is still pending my resume.

The company is called Ecosphere Spiti, a social enterprise focused on developing eco-tourism, organics, culture and conservation for the community in Himalayas. The scenery looks amazing and the organization looks like something i would totally support.

But with my departure date arriving soon, i have been increasing pessimistic about my confirmation. Till today i received my letter of acceptance into the organization. Straight up, without even an interview.

For sure, this is definitely something worth rejoicing.

Only if i didnt have to feel this disappointment and guilt, while feeling this joy at the same time.

Its like there is this void, this blackhole, this vacuum that you dont know what to feel, but your mind is racing and sending out neurons to tell you what you should feel (albeit the inconsistent signals). Like a pralayzed person who cant move, but can think and want to react, but simply cannot.

So what now. So what now.

Sometimes, I think people like me are better off having a heart of stone.

Or maybe i already do.

Haider Ackermann SS 2011

2011-04-03T20:16:00.003+08:00

I THINK THIS DRESS IS KILLER.
Well it could borderline slut if it were worn by someone big breasted but this is what i call ultimate high fashion. Lovin the sexiness at the shoulders, the grunge at the waist, and the classiness of the bottom drape.
Like what Rachel Zoe always says, " i died, i died!"
GAHHHHHHHH

Haider Ackermann

"Gie, what's for dinner tonight" (Part II)

2011-03-29T23:39:00.003+08:00

No, it's not another stranger that i'm fooling around with.
But another funny joke that happened.

Something came in the mail just the other day and this is what is looked like.

For those who know me, you'll probably be gawking right now.
(For those who know me, but not gawking right now, YOU'RE NO FRIEND OF MINE. MUAHAHAHAH)
For those who don't, you might want to know that i have an annoying fat little (oxymoron) poodle by the name of 'lucky'. Well, we call her luck sometimes.

So why on earth is my dog going about some human businesses that my family are unaware of? Why is she having mail???

Well, one possible theory is that while the family is out on holidays, or when no one is around the house, she climbs up the dining table, jumps to the side wall, snatches the key with her big mouth, pushes the chair to the door, and then unlocks the door, and then goes out shopping.

When interrogated about the source of this highly suspicious subscription mail, all luck could do was

THIS

while my sister and maid were freaking about whether to open the mail. Both of them pacing up and down the hallway, trying to think of whether it was a smoke bomb, a radiation pack, drugs, or some compressed poisonous gas.

Till i opened the mail myself.

Seriously, life is way too mysterious. Lucky, where have you been shopping?

2011-03-28T00:25:00.003+08:00

how long more would it take before people see the efforts that i put?

how long more before i just phase into this horrible personality?

how long more would it take to make you see where i'm coming from?

how long more before i'd need to draw a fine line between being charitable and being taken advantage of?

God, how long more would it take before you tell me that i've survived your test?

"Gie, what's for dinner tonight"

2011-03-21T21:48:00.005+08:00

Something really funny happened to me today. I thought I'd share it with everyone.

Well my maid, Gie, has always been more tech-saavy than i am. She owns 2 phones, 2 laptops and is a much more avid user of facebook than i am. That aside, i messaged her this afternoon to ask her what was up for dinner. And since she has two phones, i always message the 2 numbers because i never know which payphone card of hers runs out of value.

Me: "Gie, what's for dinner tonight"

Gie: "human organs dipped in sauce!"

The first reply is the typical kind of things my sister would say. (As my friends would have already known from my twitter account being viciously hacked by THE SISTER)

So i figured, since my sister wants to play, ill play along too

I was happily playing till the word "buldged" made me very suspicious as to who the other side of the party was. Again, typically, my sister is such an English snob, she'll never use a word of broken english.

I went home and ask my maid whether she was still using that number 82XX XXXX, and whether my sister was messing around with her phone.

Again typically, in the life of Elizabeth, where people always surprise her,

The answer was a BIG FAT NO.

So,

I only have a few things to say.

To the user of 82XX XXXX, thanks for making my day. :D

p.s. bulged is spelled w/o a D

what does "there are sucks and there are sucks!!!" even mean?

Life is truly one great mystery

ฉันรักประเทศไทย

2011-03-16T23:01:00.004+08:00

(I love thailand)

Really. All i want to do is to speak thai everyday, learn to speak more thai everyday and become more thai.

I just found out today that my thai teacher is the wife of a German and that she has french degree, with 2 kids at the young age of 30. People surprise me all the time, i really am starting to feel the effects from all these mini heart attacks people give me.

Another thing i realize is that people all around me are having inter-racial babies or relationships. My best friend, my 2 cousins, my patients at the clinic, and now my thai teacher. I want one too.

Before i stop my rant and get back to writing my essay on culture industries, i must add on that this is my all time favourite thai song from one of my all time favourite thai shows, Hello Stranger.

And no, thai guys are not gay.

i think im going to burst

2011-03-15T23:34:00.003+08:00

i might be experiencing this vulnerability; finally

i dont know what this is, it could be real or those darn accutane pills

words

2011-03-15T00:48:00.004+08:00

Everyone should just keep words for face-value linguistic interpretations or for academic analysis.

People really shouldnt fall for sweet talk or listen to someone talk with feelings involved, unless there is affirmation in actions no?

It makes things complicated and risky.

Nice words just dont buy me totally,

but,

please dont be fooled yourself if i say nothing but mean things,

you should know that my bitchiness is actually my deepest love.

*winks at clara*

2011-03-09T00:10:00.002+08:00

Her song, her voice, her harmonizing, her harmonica, her guitar and even the technology. I get chills just watching this video. I see so much technique in this video but i dont feel any of it in her singing or her expressions.

I am in absolute awe right now. This is so beautiful.

Lord,

2011-03-08T22:46:00.003+08:00

I've always hated your timing and how much it messes with my whole being but i know your timing is always perfect for me and you will never fail to show me that at the end of that struggle, what you have for me, is what is most perfect for me.

Liz

Streets of Ginza, Tokyo

2011-03-03T20:28:00.002+08:00

Streets of Ginza, Tokyo, originally uploaded by rrrapture_.

i cant seem to get over thinking about my Japan trip.
It's like i just checked out of this reality for 2 weeks,
now being forcefully thrown back into the REAL world.

This is going to be a very whiny process.

My idea of a romance

2011-03-01T14:36:00.002+08:00

Best valentine's card ever and the best definition of romance

Traffic at Roppongi, Tokyo

2011-02-28T18:49:00.002+08:00

Traffic at Roppongi, Tokyo, originally uploaded by rrrapture_.

Its like in a place of fast cars, bright lights, people walk too fast, eat too fast, talk too fast, breathe too fast, they cannot function anymore once they stop to stare at their surrounding beauty.

People build stand-up noodles bars, single seating fast food restaurants, take-out restaurants, focus so much on efficiency and productivity, it becomes such a lonely place. Yet contradicting enough, such a vibrant and exciting place at the same time.

Its like you constantly bounce in and out of this utopia and dystopia. (An exaggerated analogy here) But nevertheless, its something i feel the people juggle with.

While i can never understand being in their shoes, i can always take a step back.
Breathe a little.
And,
eat as much sushi and soba as i can.

I love you Japan

Sushi Yum Yum

2011-02-28T16:08:00.002+08:00

Sushi Yum Yum, originally uploaded by rrrapture_.

Although this meal was ingested a little too early in the morn at 8.30am, it was all worth it. One of the best sushi meals of my life, after a morning stroll at the Tsujiki Market, Tokyo Japan.

Future plans to 2012

2011-02-08T16:05:00.007+08:00

i dont know why but lately all i think about is what i am going to do after school is over. In fact, i do see that long-awaited finishing line. Since i'll be heading over to India from May to July. Heading to France in August, by the time i return to start a new semester, i would be looking forward to 2011's year end. And by time 2012 starts, i'll be looking forward to enter the School of Theology 2012 (SOT)! Which means, it would be time for convocation!

For all those who don't already know, the School of Theology is a full-time bible college that last for about 4-5 months.

SOT 2011 poster

And by the time SOT is over, ill be looking forward to get my yoga license at a yoga teaching training college. I've yet to find a yoga college, but if anyone has any recommendations on where i should get my RYS 200 certification, give a shout out!

For those who know me well enough, you might also know that other than tennis, the other sport that i love is yoga. But it's only recently that i've decided to take yoga past this level of just being merely a hobby. I mean, who knows what open doors this license could bring right?

These are some poses that i do during my hot yoga class in a heated room of 40C.

It's a bit of a conflict i know since yoga is religiously known as having that spiritual element. But what religious aspect of Hinduism, im not sure. All i know is, what i'm pursuing in my spiritual being is Christianity and what i'm pursuing in my physical body is perfecting yoga as a sport. And solely as a sport. So all else doesn't matter.

What's bothering me more in fact is the financial aspect of it all. SOT costs about $3k and my yoga teaching license costs about $4-7k and my business is going to cost way more. Thus, i've decided to stop this constant urge to travel, work more, save more, and just stay at home more.

Meanwhile, anyone is free to donate some money to me, come for a free yoga class with me, or even, drop by my place for a free dinner. (:

Second Life

2011-01-26T01:51:00.003+08:00

I know, i havent been blogging as much as i know i should.
I cant deny that i did have some time to blog about my trips but procrastinated instead.
If i have the motivation, i may actually start blogging again.
We shall see, but first, let me introduce to you my second life.
Phet Addens, her name.
And Alphakitty bellflower you see her, is her first friend in second life.

Now this is me. (in second life) Standing tall, muscular, and boobfull, with my tattoos and my red superman cape, saying hi.

Now here i am blowing a kiss to you.

Isnt my ultra big boobs, ultra excessive love handles and huge tummy sexy to you?

hahaa
Now i am not crazy and have nothing else to do. In fact, i am too busy trying to keep up with my life. Thank goodness this was in one of my school modules. Now i have a second life quest to conquer. Dont mind me. You can call me Phet Addens from now on.
Cheers.

Phet Addens/Elizabeth

Before i leave

2010-11-30T01:20:00.004+08:00

i just thought i should post up something that i have been wanting to post up for the past week.

And the reasons why i didnt was evidence of my procrastination.

And partly because i really want to do because i cooked every single one of the dish as shown below! tee hee.

Cooking really does make me feel happy. Brainstorming about how i can use my limited home ingredients to create something different can me therapeutic for me. i really do love cooking!

Even if i may not be an expert at all.

So the first dish below is what i did with the remaining tofu i saw gleaming in the fridge.

I was then inspired by the prawn fritters my sister ate from mos burger then, and decided to crush some biscuit, make em' coat the tofu for some deep-frying. :D

Plus, the Japanese mayo available at home that day just made the dish all the more satisfying.

This is what i decided to do when i was craving for eggs, yet craving for something healthy at the same time. These baby tomatoes were going to spoil soon anyway. And it would be such a pity if no one had the time to eat those plum red babies.

During the cooking process, i realized that adding butter makes a MUCH BETTER TEXTURED scramble egg. Of course, you must add the usual milk, but butter. It was just magic.
This is french toast with maple syrup! i like my bread crispy, like biscuit. As you can probably tell by now, all the bread below and above, does look a little burnt. But only because i like it that way!

I probably be back updating more about food. Probably about myanmese food! Can't wait! Pray for my stomach please...

IM OFF. AGAIN.

2010-11-30T00:28:00.002+08:00

hi guys,

i dont think i will be blogging much for the next month because i am busy travelling.

But please keep those comments coming? :)

Flying off to myanmar in about 4 hours time and i haven't finished packing at all.

Plus, i am getting the jitters about myanmar which i never get about going overseas at all.

It's going to be tough i know.

Sometime i ask myself why i even sign up for all this hassle and even spend my hard earn money on this.

But who knows what will come out of this! So we shall see.

I'll be back on the 9th of Dec and flying off to Japan on the 11th to the 19th.

Will be back for Christmas but missing out on my best friend's birthday. Plus another 2 of my good friend's birthday.

(Really dont know how to react to this)

Taiwan will come a week after i am back from Japan on the 27th. I am nuts am I?

Why do i do the things i do?

Seriously, i am crazy.

Someone needs to drag me down back to earth.

2010-11-26T00:13:00.001+08:00

This is some music for the late nights.

Post Birthday blues

2010-11-25T19:40:00.004+08:00

I know, my birthday is long over. But who says i cant blog about it still right?
I want to tell the whole world how awesome my family is.

My female cousins, including my sister, from my Dad's side. Well, we are all born in the same week of Nov!
So in celebration of that, we decided to head over to THE MERRY MEN for a short chill out session. For the first time, without all the other adults of the whole family, eavesdropping on our conversation , or nagging at us.

The restaurant is actually more of a pub, located at robertson quay, by the river. Awesome part is, there is no GST or service charge! Yahoo!

(Whether i left tips in the end, it up to you to figure. hee)

So this is one of the dishes that we got that i actually remembered to take a picture. It's very special, because it is actually escargots! Packed into a ritz-look alike pastry, which is very cute and aesthetically pleasing i must say.

But unfortunately, it was a bit too salty for my liking.
Never tried this before, but the cousins wanted to order it, so i had no choice. these mini cans came in a bucket of 10!

I was surprised in fact, beer can actually taste reasonable! Plus, these mini cans were too cute to resist not drinking out of them.

So these are the cousins! :D

This one is going to have mix hong-kong singapore kids.

And this one is going to have french-singaporean kids.

And me of course, am not going to have any kids!

To all the november babies, you guys are the coolest people on planet earth.

And maybe the universe.

盧廣仲 - 啊！大岩壁 MV

2010-11-25T00:24:00.002+08:00

I have a new favourite!!!!!!!!!!!

Please listen!!!!!!!

Hee

不要　睜著大大眼睛

不要　屏住你的呼吸

不要　一直耍壞脾氣

不要　裝的假猩猩

每一次見面　都像是夢境

不記得你所說的　點點滴滴

這些東西今天都還給你

變成一場無止盡的逃命

不要放棄　還缺個證明

到底行不行　是誰在決定

山窮水盡　是你找毛病

我只問　可不可不可不可以　再讓我重新

(給個機會　有什麼問題)

I do believe 　就一鼓作氣

攤開雙手　有夠髒兮兮

到底行不行　是我來決定

卻只問

可不可不可不可以　再讓我重新

我要　創造台灣奇蹟

我要　總是討你歡心

不要　今年被延畢

我不要　我不要　我不要　我不要

sigh

2010-11-24T13:43:00.004+08:00

Dont you feel like this sometimes? Where all else in the world that is human, disappoints you, frustrates you, angers you, upsets you, and you just simply cannot do anything about it. Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Well, i mean you can do something about it. Pray right?

And then go back to waiting of course.

Well, by then, i go back and try to seek comfort in things of the world that are constant.

Food.

So this is me right now, (and maybe later as well), slouching on my couch, staring into space, frowning, and spamming some comforting junk food into this physical being of mine when i have an exam coming up.

2010-11-23T20:54:00.001+08:00

i dont know why people find this game so addictive, but this video is really funny! tee hee

30th Nov-9th Dec

2010-11-22T20:37:00.005+08:00

I had two exam papers today so i am officially too tired to think and am extremely brain dead. Too much talk and writing about the world systems, world innovations, globalization and its impacts just makes me feel so detached from my own "micro" world. Especially since i am such a critical structuralists, everything just sound so depressing and bleak.

But that's alright, i shall blog about my impending Myanmar trip to excite myself! This trip is very interesting because i am going to Nujiang, a village that actually borders China and Burma. So even though i have a Myanmmese Visa, i am visiting a village that actually speaks Chinese!

Nujiang is actually known for the Salween River that is a river, about 2,815 kilometres (1,749 mi) long, that flows from the Tibetan Plateau into the Andaman Sea in Southeast Asia. It drains a narrow and mountainous watershed of 324,000 square kilometres (125,000 sq mi) that extends into the countries China, Burma and Thailand.

SO AMAZING DONT YOU THINK! Imagine all the possible border conflicts and politics. I think i have a friend who would go crazy about studying this place. Political geographers. haha.

But before i reach Nujiang, i must first fly to Yangon and take a domestic flight to Mandalay Airport.

The famous Shwedagon Pagoda. Apparently the lower stupa is plated with 8,688 solid gold bars, an upper part with another 13,153. The tip of the stupa, far too high for the human eye to discern in any detail, is set with 5448 diamonds, 2317 rubies, sapphires, and other gems, 1065 golden bells and, at the very top, a single 76-carat diamond. All donated by the kings and queens throughout Myanmar's history.

And of course, those who know me know that i love street food as well. Something about eating like this, on a stool, eating with simple utensils in a humble setting. It's very enchanting to me.

This is the Mandalay Airport which looks like a very sad airport as compared to Changi Airport!

So these are some of the activities that we have planned.

School outreach

Visit village elders

Children’s afternoon program

Night stories for children

Pack and send medicine to village at Division 10

Thanksgiving Day

Christmas Party.

I really hope to come back sharing some my experiences and photos!

Nevertheless i am still quite scared because Myanmar is untouched land and unfamiliar cultural for me. Afterall it is a third-world developing country. There is bound to be some kind of fear and anticipation.

Fingers crossed!

盧廣仲/蚊子

2010-11-20T01:55:00.004+08:00

I'm sorry for those of you who are sick of posts about my lover. But this song is too cute!!!! hahaha

Talented and humorous and down-to-earth, HOW TO FIND!!!

And i totally agree with what he is saying about mosquitoes!!! tee hee

終於你還是靠了過來
早知道你會在夏天回來
但到了冬天你怎麼還會在
還要我接受這霸道的愛
毅然決然

拜託你不要不要再來
真的覺得你有夠煩
你從來沒問過我
我也從來沒答應過你的愛
拜託你不要不要再來
世界和平不應該有傷害
請你走開除非你改過向善

我說~ du lu lu
你說~ 嗯~~~~~~
我說~ du lu lu
你說~ 嗯~~~~~~

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIS!

2010-11-18T00:00:00.005+08:00

Well, Well, although i know my sister will never see this. I'll still wish her happy birthday. Because i am too shy and awkward to wish her face to face. tee hee.

Anyway, My sister decided she wanted to dine at The White Rabbit for her birthday dinner. And coincidentally, this is the palce where my dearest Clara wants to hold her wedding at. Or was it wedding dinner?

I must say, it really is a very nice place. But not so much to chill, but rather a nice place to go dating. It was quite disappointing because i thought the night lightings were a little bit too dark, seats were a little uncomfortable, which reminded me why the place is more ideal to go for a date!

This picture looks deceivingly impressive. Too bad i went at night.
Sorry for the grainy texture, the place was seriously so dark, i couldnt see what was in my food.

Let me start with desserts first

This is their creme brulee with summer berries. I like that the portion was big. Now you dont normally see creme brulee served in such big portions do you? But it was sad because i didnt really fancy the texture of the creme brulee. I dont know what the "standard" texture of creme brulee is, but i always preferred mine more "pudding" like, a texture that would slip off your spoon when you tipped it over. Well this one was a tad bit over runny i must say. But in my own opinion, i think i was just expecting too much because the settings was too nice, the food had pressure to live up to the same level of expectation too!
This is what the french call, profiteroles. They are basically a popular choux pastry. Choux paste is baked into small round puffs that are served cold with a sweet filling and sometimes a topping. A profiterole has a filling of whipped cream or pastry cream, but this one had ice cream in it!

I dont really know how to judge good profiteroles, but it was indeed satisfying, and looked so cute that it just made me happy.

Now, this is my starter, i did not have a main course because i knew someone was bound to over-order. This is steak tartare, meat dish made from finely chopped or minced raw beef. Tartare can also be made by thinly slicing a high grade of meat such as strip steak, marinating it in wine or other spirits, spicing it to taste, and then chilling it. It is often served with onions, capers and seasonings (the latter typically incorporating fresh ground pepper and Worcestershire sauce), sometimes with a raw egg, and often on rye bread.

Now honestly, i did not know what was steak tartare but it just sounded really good on the menu. But when it came, i just felt like i was eating canned dog food. i am so sorry! I guess i am not much of a fine food connoisseur. I do not have the bourgeoisie taste! D':

But the only consolation was of course, the very awesome french fries. (oh, fast food and globalizaton be the death of me!) and of course, the two raw quail eggs hidden inside that was a nice surprise!

A surprise also because i could fool my mum and dad that it was eyeballs. ho ho ho.
Anyway, i still feel like The White Rabbit is worth a try because it is the whole experience itself. Plus, the waiter (his name was Azi as he introduced himself) and waitresses there were all really friendly and lovely. :D

Dearest Clara, i am still giving you a thumbs up to go ahead getting married at The White Rabbit! :D

I WANT!

2010-11-17T14:57:00.003+08:00

Hmmm, this is very temptingggggg.

( i meant the tattoo)

i was thinking, maybe lower back or side tummy? tee hee.

But of course, this will only come once i have $$$ again.

HAPPY YONG TAU FOO FRIENDS

2010-11-14T04:37:00.009+08:00

So being the "birthday girl", and having to "celebrate my birthday", I decided for the quintet that we should go and have some yong tau foo at 12midnight. And where else can we be at but Shun Li Yong Tau Foo at Bukit Merah View.

Now after much raves from Chevy, this stall has truly made an impression because the whole experience of eating there was very special. From the setting, to the hawker centre toilet, to the waiting, to the queueing, to the shoving, to the paying, and to the over-eating. It was all very special.

If you didnt know, this stall only opens from 12MN to 4am. (So arrogant right) And now i realize how far Singaporeans would inconvenience themselves just to have a bowl of "famous" Yong Tau Foo. Its amazing. It really is.

This is how the stall looks like.

This is how the battle for food looked like. And of course, who else but an "NSman" to be tasked "uncivilized" job. tee hee.

This is how our food looked like.

When i began to actually think to myself how i truly wanted to rate the food at the stall, I agree to myself first and foremost that this was all novelty. (Now i always talk to myself, yes)

I couldnt seem to seperate myself and objectively rate the food, exclusive of the other experiences. For example, the queueing versus the actual eating process.

THE QUEUEING WAS WAYYYYYYY TOO LONG AND RIDICULOUS.

The soup was delicious, albeit a little too salty. But i really like how they added in chilli padi to just kick up the spiciness level. I really like this idea because chilli padi does not explicitly choke you with the spiciness, plus, the soup did not look so pretentiously spicy. So i must say that was a nice touch.

Also, the way the served the yong tau foo was very "untraditional" of the "contemporary" Yong Tau Foo served up anywhere else in Singapore. As you can see from the pictures, we ate out of big, clumsy metal tins which i really liked again, because it just made the setting so much more humble. A place where i can throw away all table manners, social norms of behaviour, so called "eating etiquettes", come to a place of no self-regulation and restriction.

And that obviously, gave us validity to do what we could do in the video below. tee hee

Now dont get all political on me now.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

2010-11-13T00:16:00.006+08:00

I am really thankful for the small little things in life. Especially during this week, that i realized how immensely blessed i am. My friends and family are all so wonderful that something i feel very underserving of their love. Small things like having cinnamon melts from Macdonalds as my birthday cake, not singing me a birthday song, etc etc, i really really appreciate so much. More importantly, i want to appreciate my friends and acknowledge how much they have done for me. I really feel so loved, i cannot understand why.

Huimin bought me Earyl Grey buddha tea from a high-end boutique restaurant that specializes in tea called TWG. i still remember the first time we went there, it wasnt an famous as it was now. But i bet it was Hui min and I, our magic visit to that place, that seen it grown so much more in popularity now.
Anyway, i just wanted to say that i love tea and even more, earl grey, and even MOST, earl grey buddha tea. Firstly because it smells so foral that everytime i drink it, i feel like i am in a heaven full of flowers and pretty butterflies. Trust me, the smell is extremely extremely addictive. SO THANK YOU HUIMIN, I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH!

Now look at this awesome handsome looking figurine here! if you know how much i love lu guang zhong, clara knows best. she even made me a felt figurine of him for me, FROM SCRATCH! how cute is that right? i am so so so so touched at even the idea, let alone the final product itself!

and thank you Guang for making the cute little red guitar, if you are reading this! :D

i love you guys!

And i also figured out why LGZ's lips are red now.....
it's because of my red sexy lipstick right?! :D

tee hee

And finally i wanna thank the cell group members for all their touching messages in the card. But not only that, i want to thank Ariel for making this card. Although i know that she could whip this up within like 15 minutes, i still appreciate the effort that went in because she made it "Kirath Ghundoo" inspired. Kirath Ghundoo, like i previously mentioned, is a designer from Leeds which i blogged about, about how much i admire her geometric prints.

So thank you Ariel for the customization effort, really really! :D
And of course, to all the people that wrote all the touching little messages in there, i love you guys too. Thank you for making me feel like the luckiest girl alive, just by the small little things that you say and do. :)

2010-11-09T23:44:00.000+08:00

So freaking awesome! life needs more dance moves really.

hahaha he is sooooo cuteeeeeeeeeeeee

2010-11-09T22:13:00.002+08:00

hi everyone!

Can I ask of a favour from everybody? Or anybody that reads this blog?

If you are Singaporean, i'd like you to fill in this survey HERE.

It's a very fun survey so please dont be hesistant

The survey is about graphic prints and design. You'll be helping me and my research by doing the survey!

To all those who have already done it! Thank you so much!!!

If you love me, you can also ask your siblings and parents to do them as well!

There is no age limitation to who can do the survey! :D

Thank you all!

Once again, here is the link!!!!

Today,

2010-11-09T00:38:00.002+08:00

Well today has been a very memorable day. Because i met up with the CJ clan again to celebrate my birthday. To start off the dinner, we went to one of my favourite restaurants --->>> Sushi Tei! And of course, i got to see jen again after so long!

Secondly, i managed to do some window shopping around town, which i hadnt done for at least i think a year! (Travelling too much and shopping too much in Thailand) It felt so good, like some sort of rekindled love for your old flame. I really tried hard to resist buying something. I know now that shopaholic characteristic is an innate nature of mine. And they say a leopard never changes its spots? Its true.

Thirdly, i was really happy that they celebrated my birthday in a very simple manner. Just a simple slice of cake and a few "Happy Birthday Liz!" with no birthday song whatsoever. As i always say, the simple things in life make me very happy. It really does make me very happy. Because very often, in my own personal quest for the biggest success in life, i want to always be constantly reminded of the little things and not get swept away by the hurricane of life. Okay, drifting off now.

And lastly, the Sushi Tei waiter, named Jacky actually sang me a birthday song himself! Yeah he was indeed a very weird guy that everyone kept laughing at, but it was really sweet of him actually. The song was in Cantonese, i could not understand nuts but he said it was something about wishing me happiness as high as the heavens. And deep down i was like awwwwwwwwwww.

Hhahaha

But of course, i loved the fellowship we had even more. It was the icing of the cake, an end to a not so perfect morning, but a perfect night. :D

SHOULD I

2010-11-07T14:35:00.005+08:00

Cut my fringe this way?

i love how the fringe curl inward and looks so luscious. How come?!
i am very tempted to, but then again, i am blinded to the fact that they are models and they always look good!

That aside, i have been very happy lately because many good things have happened!

First and foremost, i am so thankful that Kirath Ghundoo actually read my blog and even left a comment on my blog! Kirath is a designer that i blogged about quite recently. It feels absolutely comforting and amazing to know that someone out there is reading my blog at least. Afterall, i am only but a small little girl from the smallest country in the world, blogging about such random topics!

Others things include the friends and family that God has blessed in my life. I am very thankful that there hasnt been any formal celebrations which i am extremely extremely thankful for. Although there has been minor surprises here and there, i am truly truly thankful and touched for everything.

Plus the amazing anointing at Pst Phil's service to start of my birthday week simply made the icing on the cake!

Now i am so happy that i dont even feel like studying anymore! :D

THANK YOU GUYS!

2010-11-06T02:36:00.003+08:00

Upon much force and verbal abuse, i have relented and told my friends what i wanted for my birthday. Honestly, i have many things that i want. And they are nothing fancy really. Just some books, some air fresheners for my car. So as insignificant and normal as the present may be, i am really genuinely very happy. Books really make me happy.

You see, i am a very nerdy person. Although it may take very long for me to complete these books due to my responsibilities as a STUDENT to read academic books instead D: , i will someday.
Basically, the freaking awesome friends that got me this present go by names of

MERISA MERSA CHEONG

JENNIFER IP MAN
JORDAN DUMB DUMB TAN
PERRY AH BENG KOH
AND
INEZ FACEBOOKLESS CHEW !!!!!!!!!!!

They got me the whole five series of the HItchHiker's Guide to the galaxy books by Douglas Adams!

I know i know i am in store for a good humorous read. Can't wait!

THANK YOU GUYS, LOVE YOU ALL TO BITS.

Cyber art holds a mirror to the modern world

2010-11-05T21:06:00.002+08:00

BBC NEWS: "Cyber art holds a mirror to the modern world"

i find this video and article extremely enriching and thought-provoking. If you are free and have nothing to do right now, spend some time clicking on the link, waiting for your page to load, watching the video, and processing your thoughts afterward! (If any :D)

这里的风景有些改变

2010-11-05T19:29:00.002+08:00

Now this is Chinese Swimming Club, the club where i grew up swimming. The club has two sections, one section where they have upgraded it to become upclass modern chic. Whereas this section, as you see in the above picture, has been left alone, merely maintained.

I dont know what triggered me to go back and swim at the older section, (i normally go to the new one), but it felt good going back there. It has been at least 5 years since i actually swam in that pool, and when i did, it brought back a lot of memories.

Lately, i have been in my thinking mode, where i tend to be thinking in whatever i am doing, walking, eating, bathing, exercising, sleeping, etc etc, cutting off the whole world to just Me, myself and my brain. It hurts sometimes, to be thinking too much and to find out how much the reality is changing so fast, i cant keep up.

Well, the pool looks exactly the same, everything in that section of the club does, but the surroundings certainly has not. I am now faced by the panoramic view of high-rise premium condominiums. I dont see the sky as much now, dont feel the leaves of the surrounding trees floating on the pool anymore, dont feel the sunshine as much now, so much has changed, yet so much remains the same.

Needless to say, i am helpless but this place still holds the same meaning for me, and it will be even if one day it gets destroyed to whatever economic upgrading that the Singaporean landscape is bound to.
Well no matter what happens, and what changes, at least i can still have that remembrance that i can appreciate and hold on to.

But of course, this post is an analogy to all my other experiences and relationships in life.

" 我还在淡水河的旁边

这里的风景有些改变

但我还是沿著河边走

才发现我们认识那么久

天知道我有多爱淡水

除了雨下不停的冬天

不管未来会在哪一边

都还是会想念 "

DEREK SIVERS: Keep Your goals to yourself

2010-11-02T03:17:00.002+08:00

i find this video very interesting because i have so much that i can agree and so much that i can disagree on. Yet, i dont really know which side i am on. There can be so many research that contradict one another honestly i really think its about how you contextualize each research finding to your personal life. In this case, a company cant keep their goals to themselves.
But then again, we hear the phrase: speaking out your goals can be a self affirmation for motivation as well rather than a self gratifying process. So i dont know. I cant see a clear winner for this tug-o-war here. But nonetheless this video is worth watching.

NO NAME RECIPE

2010-11-01T17:22:00.003+08:00

Somehow, i always think of new recipes when i am bored or when i am extremely angry. So today, i diverted my anger, immense anger into creating this new recipe.
I know i know, there are so many things that can go wrong with cooking. Overcooked/Undercooked. Too dry/watery. Too much salt/too little salt, etc etc etc. But its the fact that everything can be controlled by you, the cook. And in any case, whatever imperfections in the dish, you know and you know that it is your own human inability. And that it was solely and solely your mistake, because everything was in your control. How many things in life can make you feel like that?

Anyway, i havent thought of what name I should give to this dish. So help me if you feel like.

Ingredients needed:

Olive oil

Baby Tomatoes

Prawns

Minced pork

2 Eggs

Milk

Cheese

Steps:

Beat the eggs, milk together.

Add in sliced tomatoes, prawn and pork.

Fry it in a pan till semi-cooked.

Sprinkle cheese above the pan

Put in oven for 5-7 mins!

(Make sure pork and prawns are cooked!)

Lastly, add some garnish for some colours.

And wha-la wha-la! An awesome healthy meal!

(I feel less angry already)
(:

稀游记

2010-10-31T15:40:00.004+08:00

I got this from Olive's blog and i think i must share this with everybody because it brought back so much memories and experiences about Yunnan for me.

This video is about a Singaporean lady called Fang Fang who has been staying alone in Yunnan for 3-6 years to help improve the lives of the villagers. The show is also available in a book form that collates all the amazing things that Singaporeans are doing all over the world. The host Belinda Lee covers places such as Iceland, China, India and many others.

I think Siew Lee has the book and i remember her telling me how amazing it was. After watching the video, i really have renewed admiration for not only Belinda Lee as a host, the tv crew, and the Singaporeans who are actually featured in the show.

This episode on Yunnan is especially meaningful for me. Although it gladdens my heart to know of Fang Fang and what she is doing there, it is heartbreaking for me to also know how much more help she needs there, and to know how cowardly i am as a person because i will never be as bold as Fang Fang, to re-locate and dedicate my life to another group other than my own community.

Nevertheless, i think it is worth watching this episode and reflect upon our own lives and how much we have given to serve the people around us and how far we are willing to go to serve them.

If you want to know about the other places that the show covers, you can find it at their website here.

MY SUPER GRANNY

2010-10-31T02:17:00.005+08:00

For those who know, i have been busy working on this visual communications module called NM2208. The final project requires our group to come out with our own storybook. Written for children aged 6-9, to teach them about parenting their aging grandparents.

The design work here is actually done by my very talented group mate called He Xuan. And this is a sneak preview of we have done!

You may look the rest of the book (although still unfinished) here!
Do comment please?
Much appreciated! : D

I AM SO INSPIRED BY...

2010-10-30T01:03:00.006+08:00

I am so inspired by Siew Peng!!!!!
Firstly, she is now a cell group leader, a fresh graduate of NUS, a gorgeous looking lady, and now, a co-owner of an awesome business ->>> TRAVELLER.

More than that, I am most inspired by the fact that the time period of her business conceptualization to the materialization only took SIX MONTHS!
And that six months was during her last semester in NUS, during the period when she was moving house, and when she was a leader as well!
She is such a super-woman. I am so inspired!

Basically, her business is a exotic travel agency that specializes eco-luxury tours to the Himalayas, Bhutan, Nepal. I have seen many of the company itineraries, and they are all so breathtaking.

This is one of my favourite tour package of theirs!

If you guys are interested in the other itineraries, just drop me an email and ill send you over the rest of the itineraries!
The company also customizes tours because all their tours are private and capped at a small number of people.

I know people always associate the HImalayas with backpacking, rough and tough, but this is really luxury and nature at its best combination!
I know Singaporeans all want to be pampered at a holiday. And trust me, the accommodation and mode of transport offered in their itineraries is way better than any of my accommodation choices in Bangkok, or wherever i travel to!

I cant wait for their Bhutan itinerary to be up! :D

Thank God for such friends to always inspire and push me closer and closer to my dreams and visions!

PRAWN CHIPS

2010-10-30T00:24:00.002+08:00

It's 12MN, im up on my laptop and a stomach full of delicious food like curry chicken, apples, noodles and ice lemon tea.
Till i opened my kitchen cupboard and THIS, this packet of chips, FOUND me.
Dont be surprised, but i actually finished this whole packet of chips. And this is the only brand of chips, (prawn crackers) that i actually can finish by myself!

Its amazing how delicious it can get! I shall share the love the next time HAPPYPEOPLE comes over!

And plus, i have a fetish with my photobooth and i cant stop taking pictures of random things and cover my whole ugly face with it!

But back to the crackers, i cant stop raving about it.

sigh, one moment of indulgence, one step closer to eternal fatness!

OHHHHHHHH YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

2010-10-29T01:16:00.002+08:00

Look at my early birthday gift!!!!!!
I am over the moon, the stars, the earth, the galaxy, the universe!!!!!!!!!!

gahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh; i now have a piece of LU GUANG ZHONG WITH ME.

Hee heee.

I HAVE THE BEST FRIEND IN THE WORLDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!

THANK YOU CLARAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA,

i know you have been mistreated by Popular bookstore and over-the-phone service providers just to get this gift.

I am really so grateful to you, sometimes i feel so bad, like i dont deserve this you know!!!!!!!!

LOVE YOU VERY MUCH MUCH MUCH

REALLY

!!!

p.s im ssssssssssssssssoooooooooooo bbbbbbbbbbbboooooooooorrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggg

YUNNAN,CHINA

2010-10-26T22:10:00.005+08:00

Times like these, i always look back to my China photos and submit myself to absolute adoration of how

amazingly gorgeous nature is.
Yet can be so terribly ferocious at the same time.
But at the end of the day, will always calm your senses.
There are some experiences in life that will always remind me how God is so great, of how He could create something so magnificent. That He is bigger than anything in life, bigger than all the troubles i am personally facing, bigger than all the trials and tribulations life may bring.

Because if you believe that this God can create something so glorious and amazing, just sit back and relax, submit yourself, and know that He is bigger than all that. Really.

KIRATH GHUNDOO

2010-10-26T15:01:00.005+08:00

Havent been blogging about print patterns for really long now, i think its time again to escape from the stress of reality into some colour euphoria and stress relief therapy.

What i found here today is a designer called KIRATH GHUNDOO. She is a gorgeous looking designer hailing from leeds, specializing in screen prints and digital prints.

The first time i saw these prints, the only word ringing in my head was "Fashion, Fashion, Fashion!"

These beautiful geometry looks as if it would be a perfect match with a pretty blouse, or a sundress or something. Dont you think?

Apparently, Designer Kirath Ghundoo is working with Urban Outfitters on some fashion design. Cant wait to see what will be released! i'd imagine, graphic prints, geometry, strong neon colours. mmmmhhhmmmmm.

She specially more on surface pattern design and illustrations. But i am totally imagine her prints on products such as clothings, stationary, ceramics, household products!

Side note: Is it possible that we can buy her prints and print in on ceramics, fabrics, and other items seperately and individually? Whatever we want? I am in love with her latest prints.

GOOGLE

2010-10-25T20:23:00.002+08:00

Is google maps ever wrong?

Or is the supernatural manifesting itself in the natural?

This is really ermmmmm, unbelievable.

Go to Google Maps, type in the address code: 47.110579,9.227568

and then go to street view and look at the sky.

Hmmmmmmmm

What is that?

Anyone?

I LOVE YOU!

2010-10-24T12:58:00.003+08:00

Stupid things that people do for me really make me happy.
As meaningless and lame as this video looks, it actually carries a lot of meaning and sentimental value to me.
Not because i love lGZ and the video so happens to be the dance moves of one of his songs, but because clara actually made an effort to make this video and embarrass herself! (although, she very frequently does already)

But i just want to say Clara, thank you for everything that youve done for me! Ill watch this video everytime i am down, or everytime i get closer to realizing how and why am i not attached or married to LU GUANG ZHONG!!!!!
I love you very very very much!!!!

Oh, forgot to thank WW, the faithful BF of Clara's that actually agreed to dance along. : D
I love how yr zipper got stuck like LGZ's. : D

THISGETSMEHIGH.TUMBLR.COM

2010-10-24T12:57:00.004+08:00

I want to thank God for giving me such talented friends that are always producing works that constantly inspire me! : D

SUSHI TEI

2010-10-24T12:46:00.005+08:00

Yes, my sushi tei card is finally here! Now i dont have to feel AS GUILTY each time i enter that restaurant. (:
So as previously mentioned, i talked about how i will blog the next time i eat at Sushi Tei to update you on whether my parents actually get the same kind of food?
Truth be told: They did not.
BUT, BUT, they did not, only because i told them to order something different. And what did they order? Or the typical "safe", "unadventurous" Japanese food.

CHA SOBA: MY FAV FAV

PLAIN UDON WITH EGG(BACKGROUND)

UNAGI FRIED TOFU (FOREGROUND)

SOFT-SHELLED CRAB ROLL (BACKGROUND)

MASSIVE LOADS OF GINGER (BACKGROUND)

CHAWANMUSHI (FOREGROUND)

Well, its true that these dishes are not normally what my parents would order when they go there (normally, my dad demands something meaty or full of protein), but its all dishes that EVERYONE has tried before. Not that this is a bad thing, it only means ill be going back more often to try out the other dishes that are still untasted by the Tan clan!

Anyways, for people who love sushi tei as well, (and i know many), please do feel free to call me out for a date there so we can try new things. Or feel safe and eat the usual. : D

PS: the unagi fried tofu we had was something new, and it actually tastes awesome, somewhat decadent even.

even though, its just ...... tofu. fried tofu.

BUBBLE TEA OH BUBBLE TEA

2010-10-24T03:41:00.002+08:00

In the lights of big names such as "KOI", "GONG CHA", "ESKIMO", i really dont know if people have heard of "CUP WALKER".
Its been around longer than the big names, but is probably not as famous as those.
I think its probably because these "CUP WALKER" branches pop put only in the northern, northeastern areas of Singapore, and thus overshadowed by the rest.
BUT BUT, why! i think CUP WALKER is probably as good if not better. Although they do have have such wide varieties in terms of bubble tea flavours and bubble tea toppings, their prices are wayyyyyyy cheaper and is probably as good!
They do not have mini pearls, but their pearls are often chewy, not undercooked or overcooked.
They only have standard sizes, so you dont go crazy with choices, and you dont have to fear that you would look timidating carrying such HUGE CUP of bubble tea in your hands. (*ahem* KOI)
OR, they dont have large size so you dont subconsciously get overloaded with sugar! (*ahem* KOI)
So this below here is the longan ice blended with pearls. (My second favourite besides red tea, less sugar)

And another thing about bubble tea that amazes me is bubble tea food trends in Singapore.
UP DOWN UP DOWN UP DOWN UP DOWN etc etc etc
First it was sweet talk, each-a-cup, happy cup 5 years ago. (All the one dollar bubble tea competition)
Now, its the battle of the ($10 bubble tea competition seriously)
I wonder when the trends will die out, just like how Singaporeans got sick of queueing up for donuts.
But of course, till then, till the next time this bubble tea trend hits a DOWN, ill still be buying CUP WALKER.

hopeful that its still there.
: /

THANK YOU ARIEL!

2010-10-20T21:50:00.002+08:00

Now Ariel is my very lovely friend, who bought me this pretty work surface board for me.
It is actually designed as a cutting board for the kitchen, but of course, work surface can mean anything?
I just want to look at these pretty cupcakes and colours all day. Makes me so happy.

In case you were wondering where you can find this awesome products or something like tt, im afraid you'd have to go to London.
Im so happy Ariel came back with a new perspective and found a new love for traveling. (:

The designer is actually Katie Alice. But you can find a whole collection of co-ordinated products including; tablemats, coasters, trays, mugs, dinner sets, gift sets, textiles, kitchen accessories and much more at Creative Tops!

The picture below are just some of the amazing porcelain design that they stock.
I know, it may be quite ridiculous and impractical to get the whole set, but dont you think just having one of those gorgeous cups or whatever porcelain in your kitchen can make life a tad bit prettier and delightful?

I definitely think so.

Nice to meet you

2010-10-20T21:38:00.003+08:00

To all my beloved friends, this song goes out to you.
Please read the lyrics okayyy, it is so meaningful.
And the tune is too awesome.
Seriously, everyone should use this as a graduation song!

我就在淡水河的旁边
我看着太阳慢慢不见
每天一到了这个时候
我会在回家的公车上面
就快要爱上了淡水

除了雨下不停的冬天
不管未来会在哪一边
都还是会想念

不能忘记的有
大一开始的那天
还有一起吹过的海边
你说人生要疯狂几遍
我都懂只是习惯比较早点睡

绕著操场一圈圈
时间过了一年又一年
我要忍着眼泪得说
很高兴能认识你耶
我最亲爱亲爱的同学

我还在淡水河的旁边
这里的风景有些改变
但我还是沿著河边走
才发现我们认识那么久

天知道我有多爱淡水
除了雨下不停的冬天
不管未来会在哪一边
都还是会想念

不能忘记的有
遇见你的那一天
还有熬夜到天亮的冒险
人生就是要疯狂几遍
我都懂但是能不能健康一点

绕著操场一圈圈
时间过了一年又一年
我要忍着眼泪得说
很高兴能认识你耶
我最亲爱亲爱的同学

不能忘记的有
大一开始的那天
还有一起吹过的海边
你说人生要疯狂几遍
我都懂只是习惯比较早睡

绕著操场一圈圈
时间过了一年又一年
我要忍着眼泪得说
很高兴能认识你耶
我最亲爱亲爱的同学
时间能不能永远停在这边

ZAI JIAN GOU GOU

2010-10-17T21:31:00.005+08:00

oh yeahhhhh!!!!!

i managed to convince two other friends how talented and awkwardly cute LGZ is. (Mersa, Clara, you guys have awesome awesome taste!)
I will continue posting many of my favourite songs of his so that i can continue to let people know how awesome he is!
Im such a fan girl, sometimes i think of like going to taiwan, in search of LGZ, getting to know him, telling him that i love his smile, and marrying him!

Seriously,
Seriously,
Seriously.
Dead serious.

Anyway,
This song is called ZAI JIAN GOU GOU. (zai jian = bye , gou gou = pinky)
This video is not the official music video, but this is the official dance moves of this song.
Can someone learn it with me so we can dance together, make a video, register many youtube hits so lgz might get to see it?????

note: pls read the chinese commentary, its really funny! haha

COOKING TUT! : D

2010-10-17T20:57:00.003+08:00

Cooking tutorial was a little bit of a hassle but it turned out to be extremely fun.
My group decided to be a little ambitous and cook curry chicken!
Thanks to Lisa who opened up her wonderful house for us!
As you can tell from the picture, we bought baguettes for a dip and made a yoghurt fruit salad as well!

However, i personally do not have desserts after my meals. Somehow it just seemed as though dessert was a mandatory to complete a "meal".
I think this alone says a lot about how we have become so accustomed to "eating out", whereby the choices presented to us, are always packaged as with a "starter", "main" and then "desserts"

This picture below is of us in the cooking process.
I really love the colours of curry actually. Even the raw pinkish colour of the uncooked chicken.
I always love being in the kitchen, so it comes for naturally for me to be more daring in chores such as touching the chicken, removing the fats, cutting slimy vegetables like lady;s fingers, and chopping onions.

I know many of my group mates, or rather, i think the rest of them, dont cook at home very often. So it was very fun to watch them work themselves and orientate themselves around the kitchen actually. ahha
It was a pretty cute sight, so they needed to many plates and bowl and plastic bags, etc etc. And how there were so many hands at once, all trying to stir fry the chicken.
We used the paste to make the gravy, yet we took about 40 minutes in total.
I think my maid is superwoman now. Thinking of how she can magically cook so many dishes within such a short period of time, single-handedly, without a recipe, and yet make it still so delicious.

Funny, all the people that i know can cook, do not go to university. Or hate studying.
So can i say education has caused the de-skilling of food preparation? Or am i too ambitious? haha

THURSDAY

2010-10-14T22:40:00.004+08:00

So today was pretty insignificant, except for the fact that i went swimming, got my starbucks rewards card, rushed a 500 word essay in 20 minutes, finished my art and technology innovators thesis paper, AND BOUGHT MY LU GUANG ZHONG ALBUM!
oh yeah. : D
And of course, stumbled upon this amazing video of LGZ performing live in Paris. He is so cute. Look at how he plays till his finger bleeds, stops to drink water, head bobs, plays that small little guitar of his, drops his guitar pick and tries to widen his almost "non-existent" eyes. He is so talented. I am starstruck! Hee, First time, over a person who actually looks the way he is. ahaha : X

HOME MADE LAKSA

2010-10-13T17:48:00.004+08:00

Dont you think instant noodles is such an amazing creative invention?
A dish that, in my opinion, can only be cooked under a slow meticulous boil, under the guidance of a cook working up a sweat in the kitchen. Smelling tasting adding, perfecting the taste of LAKSA!

What you see in the picture below is my own homemade laksa! (i know it doesnt look like the real laksa)
But it really does taste like the real thing. Of course, not as good, as thick and creamy and properly spiced, but it is a fair grade for laksa.

As you can see, i added in my own parsley, vegetables and tofu!

(Instant Noodle Laksa)

What if all the world's gourmet dishes could all be boiled down to a packet of instant noodles using the latest air-dried/freeze technology?
Honestly, what will the world become to?
I'd imagine more "alien" babies, more substance poisoning, more product recalling, more crazy food politics, BUT BUT BUT , despite all this, i'd predict that the level of instant noodle consumption would remain the same.
It's funny how everyone know how bad instant noodles is for your health, but somehow, no one seems to really care. Do informed consumers even bother?

Do i even bother?
I still eat my instant noodles whenever i feel like it, whenever its convenient.
In fact, very unapologetically.

盧廣仲

2010-10-13T00:50:00.003+08:00

LOVE HIM, HIS VERY SHY WIDE SMILE, AND HIS BEATLES HAIRCUT ! :D

i really think i have something for guys with spectacles.

Anybody has his album? Can i have a copy plsssssssssss? hee

This song is pretty upbeat, uplighting, but the singer, songwriter really talks about how this song is meant to represent a "hundred types of lives" you can lead, and you can choose from after your degree, where the crossroads in life seem to be overwhelming.

整个世界　停止　不转动　很寂寞
走在海边　数着　萤火虫　好困惑
想要的生活怎麽有一百种
不想掉进这深深漩涡

整个海洋　摆动　柔软地　举起我
孤单给我　自由　犹豫得　好感动
想要的生活怎麽有一百种
该怎麽走　谁来告诉我 wow

每当我背对星空
抱着地球
发现自己其实脆弱　不敢说

当我背对星空
孤独摸索
爱情渐渐萎缩　我猜不透

无边的宇宙
哪里有我(想)要的生活

整个海洋　摆动　柔软地　举起我
孤单给我　自由　犹豫得　好感动
想要的生活怎麽有一百种
该怎麽走　谁来告诉我 wow

每当我背对星空
抱着地球
发现自己其实脆弱　不敢说

当我背对星空
孤独摸索
爱情渐渐萎缩　我猜不透

无边的宇宙
哪里有我(想)要的生活

每当我背对星空
抱着地球
发现自己其实脆弱　不敢说

当我背对星空
不断孤独摸索
爱情渐渐萎缩　我猜不透

无边的宇宙
哪里有我(想)要的生活
原来100种要在很久很久以后才会懂
我的100种生活

Damien Rice

2010-10-12T22:46:00.004+08:00

I really love how poetic this song is. This duo is so amazingly talented.

"Grey Room"

Well I've been here before
Sat on the floor in a grey grey room
Where I stay in all day
I don't eat, but I play with this grey grey food

Desole, if someone is prayin' then I might break out,
Desole, even if I scream I can't scream that loud

I'm all alone again
Crawling back home again
Stuck by the phone again

Well I've been here before
Sat on a floor in a grey grey mood
Where I stay up all night
And all that I write is a grey grey tune

So pray for me child, just for a while
That I might break out yeah
Pray for me child
Even a smile would do for now

'Cause I'm all alone again
Crawling back home again
Stuck by the phone again

Have I still got you to be my open door
Have I still got you to be my sandy shore
Have I still got you to cross my bridge in this storm
Have I still got you to keep me warm

If I squeeze my grape and I drink my wine
Coz if I squeeze my grape and I drink my wine
Oh coz nothing is lost, it's just frozen in frost,
And it's opening time, there's no-one in line

But I've still got me to be your open door,
I've still got me to be your sandy shore
I've still got me to cross your bridge in this storm
And I've still got me to keep you warm

Warmer than warm, yeah
Warmer than warm, yeah
Warmer than warm, yeah
Warmer than warm, yeah

Ah Mei Cafe

2010-10-12T21:58:00.007+08:00

With intention to get Perry's 21st birthday gift, Jen & I met up at Ang Mo Kio Hub first to get some dinner at our favourite haunt : Ah Mei Cafe

Well, as innocently as "Ah Mei Cafe" may sound, it does not sell chinese food, as it's name suggest.

It is actually a very unsuspecting little cafe in the middle of Ang Mo Kio Hub then serves up darn good Nasi Briyani and Roti Prata.

I did not take picture of the prata that we ate. But trust me, you would not want to miss out on that crispy goodness that seems to be oil-free, unlike the other prata stall like RK eating house at Serangoon Gardens, or the Prata House at Thomson.

And another thing i love about this stall is that, it really brings back good memories. Dont mind me if i get a little emotional when talking about this food experience.

But everytime i go to Ang mo kio, it seems that i will naturally, or would be incline to choose to eat at Ah Mei Cafe, and specifically order the same thing each time.

It really does bring back some memories of my "uniform-clad" days, coming to eat Nasi briyani in our light blue uniforms, white shoes, tidily tucked in blouses, and neatly tied back hair. And of course, memories of the guys with their backpacks, still with their "pre-army haircut", their pre-maturity mindset, their funny "un-gentlemanliness" and whiny stories of their girlfriends. All with no modern worries of resume planning, module planning, or whatever that adults have to think of.

Oh the CJC (Catholic Junior College0 days, how i miss you very much.

My Favourite Girls

And of course, my two favourite punks in school

But of course, now that i go back to Ah Mei Cafe, the context changes, but the symbol still retains its significance for me.

That aside, the food is really really awesome stuff. So please do go try it! (:

Funny how a simple Nasi Briyani can bring back so much memories. hah.

A letter to the heavens

2010-10-12T21:43:00.003+08:00

To: The angels on earth
Subject: THANK YOU Jesus!

Dear Jesus,
Thank you for this gift that you have given me.

God is indeed so true to my life, and i am so thankful of what he has given me, will be giving me and more.

I cannot believe you let me get accepted into the very competitive NUS NOC INDIA SUMMER PROGRAMME!!!

God is so good really. I am not even a business major, neither am i a person which much business experience. But i am so thankful for the strength and grace he has given to me, for me to excel so well in the 2 grueling interviews.

India is not an easy place to be, but i believe that the challenges ahead can only make me better and closer to God.

So THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for the father!!!!!!!!!!!

PS Thank the angels that sent this msg up to you as well.

Love you very much.

Liz

ASSIGNMENT 6 CRITIQUE

2010-10-12T11:37:00.002+08:00

So there are basic changes i need to make to my assignment. (Which i kinda figured out initially already on my own, hah)

Basically, there is no embodying, unifying theme that encapsulates the whole assignment tgt.

So i need to change the two outliers, (yellow backgrounds of "how i wonder what you are" & "up above the world so high") to fit the theme of dark blue and of the dark sky.

Would be working on it this Wednesday and posting up some new adjustment to previous assignments as well!

Geez, now that all the project due dates are approaching, i feel that i am somehow superwoman!

Another new try-out!

2010-10-11T22:13:00.006+08:00

Recently, My CG (cell group) and i went to *scape to have dinner after church service.
It was my first time at the XIN WANG TAIWAN CAFE.
So this is what i got, albeit very hesitantly, this is the set dinner of "chai po" rice (i have no idea what this is called, but it is the same stuff on chwee kueh, (picture below))
The sides come together with anchovy salad, pan fried dumplings and a bubble tea drink.

(picture of chwee kueh)

Now the set dinner costs about $11, i can't remember exactly. But it was a pretty good deal eh?

However, as much as i try to stay away from buffets, i try to stay away from set meals as well.
Maybe its just me, but since i love Anthony Bourdain so much, i pretty much believe what he says.

He said before in his book Kitchen Confidential (A MUST READ), that buffets and set meals are merely but marketing gimmicks to make people eat all the crap leftover in the kitchen that they could not sell. If not, its just a sign that the business is about to close down.

Of course, in Anthony's book, its much more crude and explicit. What makes it a more absorbing read is that he is really a no-nonense writer, that writes in a cut-throat manner.

He also talks about his theory about not eating fish on mondays, which is very credible. (HAH, me and Anthony, ahhhhhhh)

Anyway, back to my meal.

I honestly do think that this really emphasize the social pressures of "eating out".
Since my cell group had common consensus that they wanted to dine at the restaurant, i did not see a point in trying to "challenge" the group for other places. (Asians and their collectivism. haha)

There will always be a kind of restraint, constraint, or norm for behaviour in eating out, in whatever social institution that you may belong to, which then MAY OR MAY NOT affect your dining experience.

Well, for me, it certainly did not, because i really enjoyed the company of my cell group members as always. (:

But i do want to talk more about set meals in restaurants.
Very often, we see this "promotions" in restaurants. And sometimes, it is very true that they are marketing gimmicks set up by owners to earn as much money out of either "almost-perishing" ingredients, or to make as much money out of a dish, a product, that is simply not good, or not "up to standard".

What happen to serving up good food because you simply want people to have a taste of good food, cooked with fresh ingredients?
Let's simply put it this way; that no lunatic would do that unless they have one billion alreayd in a Swiss bank accounts.

I mean, these days, it would simply NOT be economically sustaining to continue running the food business in the long run.

As for side of the very blinded consumer who do not have this knowledge, it seems to me that in time to come, our human palettes change, our diets change, because we simply "buy in" to all these marketing gimmicks and not look behind it, to see the food as "itself".

(Jamie Oliver had been a big big advocate for this, and he has had many other programmes emphasizing the use of fresh ingredients, and organic poultry)

i dont know how many people i lost there, but i really do find it sad that some restaurants owners, or restaurant chains serve up such distasteful food and are still able to survive and earn $$$.
I.E cafe cartel. (Dont get me started on this)

Either way, i have come to understand that only the upper class, the "bourgeoisie" can afford to survive on the "upper class" food and avoid all these "distasteful" food. Somehow, the common people simply have to suck it all up, and eat whatever food that is economically reasoning for their expenses.

ASSIGNMENT 6

2010-10-10T23:06:00.004+08:00

Assignment 6! The final assignment!
So this assignment involves the use of typography as mentioned previously.
You can see that there are literal Twinkles in the word "Twinkle" here.
And the literal shape of a star is also embedded into the word STAR.
I also put it against a "sky" and "moon" background to emphasize stars.

How i wonder what you are, is basically driven by the sign of the question mark.

The word up here has an arrow added to it, pointing upwards.

notice how the up above is seperated with a line, apart from "the world so high"

This is to represent, literally, ABOVE the words.

The world can be told from the globe shape there.

The word high can be intepreted against the background of clouds and sun, (symbolizing the sky, which is high high above!)

The diamond is incorporated into the font, whereas sky is emphasized by the blue background, and the people pointing towards the sky.

You can see that there are literal Twinkles in the word "Twinkle" here.
And the literal shape of a star is also embedded into the word STAR again.
I also put it against a galaxy background to emphasize stars the presence of stars. The word little is emphasized by making it a smaller font than the others.

PEASANT FOOD

2010-10-10T16:12:00.003+08:00

i know it be hard to define what is peasant food, but i believe that the popular masses "commoners", "working class", "middle class" or even the "upper middle class" people, would know what peasant food is. although the definitions can be very subjective.

But to me, this is peasant food.

Food such as porridge, sweet potatoes, cabbage soup. Those food that our ancestors, working under the British rule, working as coolies, labourers, etc etc were constraint to take.
Simple straightforward food, cooked with cheap methods and cheap ingredients.

Of course, in today's food cultures, these food can hardly be found if you were to eat out. Because very obviously, it would not be economically sustaining!

Unless of course, you sell porridge for $10 per bowl, or sell porridge at a local hawker centre.

It is interesting to me that sometimes i crave for peasant food, such as porridge.
It is rare, but sometimes i crave for just porridge, biscuits, etc.
Simple food, but good for the soul.

So as i was ingesting this bowl of porridge, thinking about what to blog for this SC2215 posts, i was wondering how many people actually crave all these peasant food, and what is peasant food for the upper class? what do they define as their peasant food? Is the term peasant food comprehensible to them at all?

And again of course, as i asks these questions, i am undergoing a process of stereotyping. Stereotyping that the upper class would have no idea what the lower class people eat, and that they only eat "upper class" food. And of course, stereotyping the kinds of food into their "different classes".

The word "social construct" is ringing in my head right now, but i really really hate myself now for typing this out. haha.
Such loose terms.

DESIGN PROCESS II Assignment 5

2010-10-10T15:52:00.002+08:00

So this is my design process for Assignment 5: Postcard design
As you can tell, i originally wanted the snow men to be strewn around postcard.
I also wanted the postcard to be portrait.

But as with any design assignment, it seems like ideas keep evolving from yr actual drawing!

Of course, the final piece,you have already seen.

Cant wait for Christmas to come, seriously.

TGIF

2010-10-10T01:05:00.005+08:00

I have many things to be thankful for on a Friday.
1. Cell group day!
2. No school day!
3. No work day!
4. And particularly for this friday, it was "TRY NEW FOOD" day!

This is a picture taken at a fast food chain Wendy's. Joyce, my very awesome CGL was raving about their juicy quarter pounder burger.
Each set meal costs abt $7.50.

Well, I am not a fan of western food or burgers particularly, but their burgers are a lot better than Macdonalds for sure. I guess nothing really did impress me? (Sorry Joyce D:)

BUT, i did noticed how they placed a lot of advertising space on their salads!
Also, they serve whole potatoes with different flavoured toppings. I saw one with TRIPLE CHEESE.
Imagine the CARB+CALORIE overload. wooo hooo.

Food aside, this eating experience did leave me thinking about other many interesting things.
Well, in case you didnt know what Wendy's is, It is a very popular fast food chain that was in brought by the food service company, KOPITIAM, from America to Singapore.

The very funny thing is that, Wendy's actually had its presence here in Singapore back 10 years ago!
What had changed since then, to allow Wendy's to be so prosperous and successful now? And not during the 1990s?

To me, it really says a lot about our increasingly globalised diets, and how we have changed our food consumption patterns to become increasingly "convenient" and "eat out".
Supporting evidence?
Look at the boom of fast food chains from America, such as Wendy's, TGIF, and Chillis.
What is it about these fast food restaurants that people love so much?
And how can it compete itself against Giants like MacDonalds?

Well apparently, Kopitiam plans to open another 35 Wendy's branches in Singapore over the next decade.
And i get really nervous reading this. 35 branches? Most probably in place of small private businesses such as small quaint cafes, serving up slow food.

Sigh, all these giants bullying the smaller giants. Dont you think?

Another interesting fact is that when Wendy's first opened another of its chain at the basement of Wheelock Building. There was a flood that destroyed the whole place not long after!
I find this really funny.
That sometimes, business can be about luck as well.
Poor insurance company too!!! haha

NEW TWITTER

2010-10-08T01:13:00.005+08:00

Very weirdly, this gives me inspiration.

Dont you think its amazing, how technology is facilitating so much creativity of the human kind?
Look at what twitter is snowballing into, it is going to conquer the world.
I mean, look at the amount of information an individual twitter account is intertwined with, or, can be intertwined with?!
A few clicks here and there, and i am swimming in the digital web, literally connected to the world.
its so amazing to know how these modern technologies allow one to so easily access the vastness and intensity of web knowledge.

Plus, i love the creativity and style, music, proportion, movement of the video. Its just so, everyday. so plain, so relatable, so impressive.
What do you think?

CRAVINGS BE THE DEATH OF ME

2010-10-08T00:58:00.003+08:00

Sometimes, i really hate myself for failing to practice some self control.
But then i thought to myself, since when has indulging in your cravings become a bad thing? Why to i need to practice self-control if the cravings are so overwhelming.
What am i controlling myself from?
Becoming fat? Or is it that this form of hedonism associates itself with a certain inappropriateness?

Do people in the subsistence farming days have cravings or some sort? i believe they do, because i do not believe that the human body and nature has changed in anyway at all. if so, what did they do to satisfy or to tame that craving?

you see, satisfying these cravings will be the death of me, but thinking about the logic behind these cravings will ALSO be the death of me.

I need to eat slower, these 2 tubs were gone in a week. ALL BY ME.
sigh?
yipee?
IDK.