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Name: Lim Fang Wei Benedict
Alias: MightyFlameboy
D.O.B: 22/10/1986
Likes: Japan, music, fashion, computer games, travelling

KC
Debbie
Janet
Jamie
Valerie
Vanessa
Victor
Elicia
Wendy
Adeline
Jonathan Lexing Tan
StudioForMan
Inchz Couture
Joyce's Fashion Shop

June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 December 2009 January 2010 February 2010 March 2010 April 2010 May 2010 June 2010 July 2010 August 2010 September 2010 October 2010 November 2010

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Module bidding rounds have started and I know this is a sign that yet another tedious semester of school is looming over my horizon. This CORS bidding system seriously sucks! I managed to get 2 out of 4 modules, while my friends who bidded similar modules alongside with me, managed to get 1 only! Well, my friends in NTU are always lamenting about their first-come-first-serve basis system. I guess every system has its pros and cons.

After a 2 months plus hiatus, I started chatting with my friend in SoC again cos' of module bidding. Initially, we were complaining about the stupid bidding system, then somehow, we arrived at the topic of friendship in university, for some reason *lol*. It's rather funny that she and I are in the same boat, whereby our good pals are all in NTU and we have little friends in NUS, and that she shares the same views about university friends as I do.

At this stage of our lives, we've already grown accustomed to our own friends which we're already comfortable with from our teenage years. Back then, we were little innocent kids seeking pure companionship. Now as we approach adulthood, it's almost impossible to befriend someone without an agenda in mind. After all, humans tend to grow selfish, whether subtly or otherwise, once they've learnt the ways of the world and know exactly what's best for their own good.

It might not be something bad, maybe something as simple as relying on a smarter friend for projects. But the fact remains that a simple agenda might hinder the path to a great
friendship ahead. I may be making a bold statement next but I feel that it's almost an insurmountable task to find ur next best friend in university.

For the past 1 year in university, I had attempted to invest time and effort into the lives of a few individuals, hoping that we'll be at least good friends on a comfortable basis. But it seemed that I was the only one taking the initiative most of the time, and they appeared to be taking my friendship for granted.

So, rather than making myself feel disappointed for not having my good intentions reciprocated time and time again, I just distanced myself away from them. Of cos' they're still my friends! It's just that at this stage of budding adulthood, I realized it might be better to give one other personal space.

Now, I meet them occasionally and find myself enjoying their friendship better. Even though my plans on finding my next best friend have failed terribly, at least by this way, my frustrations are dissipated and I feel myself happier in their friendship, albeit on a superficial level.

There's little room and space for good friendships to blossom in university, given the style of university education, where it's fairly common to find urself disengaging with dozens of acquaintances last semester and befriending another dozens of new people next semester and the vicious cycle repeats itself.

But no matter how tiny that glimmer of hope is, I'll continue to find trustworthy people that I'll be proud to call my friend even after I graduate from NUS. I hope and pray for my friend who's facing similar problems as I do, would find her best pal soon as well! =)

As u guys know, I had my third colonoscopy last Saturday, and to my surprise, my doctor revealed that the ulceration in my small colon has been healed fully. Back story: Over a month ago when I did my second colonoscopy, my doctor broke the news that I had ulceration in my small colon and it might be the onset of terrible diseases such as the Crohn's disease.

Subsequently 2 weeks later, I did an X-ray and the results showed that the ulceration was still present despite undergoing a period of antibiotic treatment prior to the X-ray. I guess it could only be God who worked this miracle. What the medicine could not accomplish, God's divine healing took over. =)

But I'm in a dilemma whether I should be happy or not. Now that the ulceration is gone, the possibility of other diseases are reduced significantly, so I'm back to square one on the indefinitive diagnosis of IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). I pray that God will further work his miracles in my life!

Anyway, I went back to the nostalgic yet dreaded Seletar Camp for my longgg overdue medical review today. I was hoping to get my PES status down so that I won't have to worry about the bothersome annual IPPT and reservice. Ehhh c'mon, dun call me a slacker, I have real problems going on. =P

But alas, the doctor remarked that my problem is gastrointestinal and shouldn't affect my muscle mobility and strength, so I should still be trying out the IPPT. Thus, he gave me a miserable 3 months excuse. If he was suffering from a lingering tummyache 24/7, and get diarrhoea runs at least twice a week, he wouldn't have made such an insensitive statement! =(

Oh well, I guess it's better than nothing. At least, I don't have to do IPPT this year, and if my unit doesn't try anything funny and call us back for reservice, I should be well-covered until my 23rd birthday.

And the worst event of the day? I was happily buying lunch at Jurong East, hoping to take it back home to eat, and I checked my coin purse and realized that I forgot to bring my house keys! I had to get the keys from my mum. So, I travelled all the way to Boon Lay, take a 20 minute bus ride to my mum's office at TUAS ROAD! Sheesh... Serious rotten luck today...

Anyhow, my mum advised me to have my packed lunch at her cafeteria before the food turns cold when I got back home. It's kinda heartwarming to feel my mother's concern, especially when I was so tired and worn out from all the travelling. =D And... the blardy bus for the return trip made me wait another 15-20 mins. I reckon that more than 4 hours are spent on travelling! -_-"

Just an update for friends who are truly concerned about me. =) I'll get back to my 'unconventional' posts from my next post on!

Peeps who have me on their MSN contact list would know what's on my mind lately. Seriously, what is there to do in Singapore? I'm terribly bored for these 3 months of school break! I feel kinda guilty that most of my friends took up part-time jobs, whereas I'm slacking at home. Maybe that's why I feel so bored cos' I've got nothing to occupy myself. =S

Ivan summed up the entertainment culture of Singapore in 4 simple categories: Food, shopping, sports and computer games. Food -- I'm not picky about food, neither am I a gourmet who chases for perfection in food. And anyway, there's only so much food that my stomach can take. Shopping -- I don't shop for real often, perhaps quarterly, when I need a new shirt or 2. Sports - Nah, not for me. I used to play basketball cos' it was the common factor for Team AY to bond with one another. Now, I just can't find any reason to continue doing so. Computer games - I seemed to have lost my passion which I had 8 years ago *shrugs*.

So there u have it... An utterly bored Benedict rotting at home *lol*! Maybe I should have tried finding a part-time job, but it would be hard to commit with my Japan trip smack in the middle of the holidays and having driving revision and test. Ok... I admit... I'm plain lazy. =P

Still!!! I wanna complain about Singapore's entertainment culture! I mean... In Japan, the Japanese are spoilt for choice. Disneyland and Universal Studios are tons more impressive than Escape. They can take day-trips to hot springs spa resort, beautiful lakes and temples. We can go to errr... Sentosa? Way out of league, man! Tho' I got no clue why foreigners love Sentosa so much when they can get much better back home. But I think it's unfair to put Singapore up for comparison with the world superpower of Japan. I guess I just have to be glad that I live in a country with low crime rates and free from natural disasters?

Luckily, I have online Japanese dramas to keep me occupied and for J-Dorama enthusiasts, here's some of the dramas which I watched recently and would like to recommend!

Kazuya may not be the best Japanese actor but his exuberance and exaggeration of his facial expressions and vocal tone would cause the most aloof viewer to crack up uncontrollably. The storyline is intriguing as well. A boxer loving a nun? Just by thinking about this love concept without watching the drama yet, u're bound to think of possible disastrous scenarios which the 2 star-crossed lovers would face! Haha, definitely worth watching!

Another funny, light-hearted drama would be Nobuta wo Produce. Kazuya assumes the role of the charismatic male lead again, but in my opinion, the real standout star in this drama is Yamashita Tomohisa, otherwise popularly nicknamed as Yamapi. He acts as the resident joker and buddy of Kazuya. He's so darn funny, even by my strict standards. If u fail to laugh at his antics, u must have lost ur funny bone along the streets. =D And Maki Horikita is still as kawaii as ever, even if she acts as an antisocial girl without fashion sense! ^^

Give J-Doramas a try if u find urself idling for hours in a day. It's a great outlet to kill time! Anyway, I'll be going for my third colonoscopy screening procedure again tomorrow. Oh God, I hope this problem of mine would be resolved before I go back to school. For my buddies in W429, please keep me in ur prayers! ^^

Wow, I'm discovering new surprises each and every day. I caught Superband on Channel U just now, and they had a short video of each band, introducing every member. I was multi-tasking, using the computer cos' I'm not the least bit interested in the lives of other bands besides DreamFactory, until I heard a familiar name and voice.

Elaine from Screamm... I turned my head abruptly to see a familiar face hogging my television screen. It's definitely Elaine whom I knew from my time at JC!

She's the girl 2nd from the right. Mulling over whether she's really the Elaine I know or whether it's mere coincidence, I was subconsciously brought back to those times in JC. The ever irksome friend of mine called Zhonglie tried to pair us up cos' he thought that we looked 'good' together.

He began conjuring rumours that she probably liked me. Although I didn't fancy her at all, he was SOOO persistent and he kept harping for days and days on, until an extent that I'm actually inclined to open up my heart and try liking her! Luckily, I saw thru his ruse in timely fashion, and realize it was one of his many stupid attempts in making me a laughing stock. =)

Heh, on a side note, Ryan was darn funny today. He said... "When I was in school, I was in the school band. When I was in army, I was in the army band. Now, I'm in SUPERBAND!!!" in his trademark comical tone. Wahahaha! Keep up the good work, DreamFactory!

U guys still remember that KC and I sang Linkin Park - In the End in Indian style at a KTV sometime back? The girls took a video and even posted it up on Youtube! WTH!? Oh well, luckily I'm sitting further away. My poor buddy has full blown close-up LOL! Enjoy the video and peace out!~

Heh, our CG went to Chevrons for a time of karaoke yesterday with Danny. And boy, was it fun! :) As expected, my vocal techniques were darn rusty cos' I've not been practising my singing for the past year. But nevertheless, karaoke with friends isn't a battle of who has the best voice, but a time to enjoy each other's company, so I guess it's fine! The sound system was crappy. The bass was too intense that it hits on our eardrums. The song selection system is a tad bit inconvenient as well. But what can we expect out of a dirt-cheap KTV? (It was only about $6 per person. =D)

I think the highlight for the night was when KC and I sang Linkin Park's In the End... INDIAN STYLE! Inspired by a Youtube video of Singaporean Indians spoofing that very same song, we attempted to tickle the funnybone of our friends, and YEAH, it worked! =) Even I couldn't carry on at some parts, my sides were aching with laughter *rofl*! Just a word of caution to anyone who goes with us to KTV next time: Expect Dr Bombay's Calcutta and Linkin Park's In the End blasting up ur ears, accompanied by outrageous Indian accent sponsored by yours truly and my best buddy *lol*!

Oh yeah, if anybody's interested in the original video, it's at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8F0d77pajE, or type "Linkin Park Indian" under Search in Youtube. Huehuehue! :D

Speaking about music, recently I caught Superband on Channel U cos' I heard news from KC that DreamFactory is in it! Just a quick introduction in this band: Before they were finalists on Superband, they're our beloved musicians from Bravo zone, putting their soul in entertaining the youths in church such as me. :) I was really excited to see Ryan performing on live TV. He's my friend and in my opinion, he's still the best guitarist I've seen thus far! =)

Yep, these are the awesome men and women of God, shining brightly for him in the area of their talents! ^^ Careen (2nd from left) never fails to captivate her audience with her voice. Ryan (far right) is looking cool alright! I don't really know the rest but they look great as well! :) Keep the good job up, guys! I'll be rooting for u guys!

As for the rest of the show, how should I put it... It was simply... HORRENDOUS! Sorry if I come off sounding obnoxious in my words, not implying too that I can put up a better performance than the finalists, but as a viewing audience with certain expectations and the fact that this contest is professionally judged, I can't bring myself to believe these are the top 15 Chinese bands in Singapore. (Besides DreamFactory of cos'!)

There's a few teenybopper groups and one thing in common that runs in these groups is that they got completely no vocal prowess at all. I would cringe to hear them perform at a random school event, what's more, a stage which should be supposedly showcasing the best talents in Singapore!? Not to be rude to fans or the bands themselves, but they should be taking more vocal classes and tightening up their coordination within the band.

And there's a few cringe-worthy J-Rockers wannabes, following in the footsteps of Lucify, giving their best gothic impression. Can't Singaporeans create a flair and style of their own instead of emulating other cultures? J-Rock should remain in Japan. When Singaporeans try to act like a J-Rocker, the results are almost certain to be disastrous. -_-" And yeah, this season's J-Rock kinda bands suck as expected.

I find one certain band interesting tho'. Funny to say the least, its name is interesting as well. Called 'Soap' or 'FeiZao', the lead singer is a Malay and inevitably, he drew similar criticism as Juz-B last season. "Do u understand what u're singing?" is one of the common criticisms around *lol*! But his vocal quality is unique and quite not bad at all! The funniest thing would be that he cracked at a high note, and the judges commented that it adds on to his vocal flavour and after committing this mistake several times in the contest, the judges declared it as his trademark *rofl*!

I'll be catching future episodes to keep up with the progress of DreamFactory. I pray to God they'll be the winners! Until then, I'm hoping to sing "IN THE ENDDD-DEEE" again! LOL! =D

Alright, coming up with another 'unconventional' post, Janet! (Ok, this seriously has to stop somewhere =P) School's starting real soon, and recently when Kristal told me some stories about how her girlfriends are pestered by guys in school, I've been thinking about some funny aspects of the social culture in NUS. In fact, we both have a few mutual friends in NUS who are pretty good-looking and have charming personalities as well. And they never fail to entertain us with their amusing stories of hopeful but dawgy guys who tried their luck chasing them *lol*!

Why is it that alot of guys in universities are so desperate for a girlfriend? Sometimes, I wonder if they go to school each and every day to study, or they're mistaking the initials of NUS for SDU? There's this guy who's wooing my friend, and the amazing thing is that, he confessed to her and asked her out for a date after just their first meeting! How can anyone be so irresponsible and barge into someone's life when he can't guarantee that they'll be blissful together? Esp. not after the first meeting cos' he wouldn't know 99% of her life!

I shan't deny that the motivation for me to wake up early each morning and drag myself to school would be the chance to see bevies of beauties (tho' I've been disappointed on many occasions, esp. in Computing faculty *opsss!*) but I know when and where to draw the line. This juz isn't the time to look for a girlfriend. Maybe when I settled down and get a respectable CAP by Year 3? =) But I'll be sure not to be shallow as those guys who chased my friends, blinded by their lustful infatuations, rather than letting nature and time take their course for them to progress as friends normally.

Group projects seem to be the perfect situation for guys to hand-pick their next 'target' if they happen to get lucky and pretty girls accept them into their groups. I've already heard countless stories of guys trying to hit on my friends whilst in the midst of their projects. And I'll admit as well, that I bear a glimmer of hope each time I have to join a project group, there'll be babes, and with great personality to boot! But I'll always stop short of taking the next step cos' the short time spent doing the project together is seriously insufficient for me to know the person well enough. Thus, it really amazes me how guys can hit on their project group mates. They probably want a quick fling and don't have any long-term plans to stay together with them. =S

Loving someone wholeheartedly takes time to nurture, takes mutual understanding and forgiveness for each other's shortcomings and character flaws. Why even bother delving deep into a relationship if u know it'll be over one fine day? Is it worth the tears and heartbreak for that single moment of folly? It might sound cliched, but I'm hoping my first girlfriend would be my last as well. Alot of my friends are surprised I've not have any girlfriend before, but I tell them each and every time, that I do not see a need to, if I feel that the right girl hasn't come along.

Love at first sight? Don't make me laugh! I don't believe in that crap. =D Lust or infatuation, maybe yes. Love relationships in schools seem to be a game played only by good-looking people, even at a tertiary level in NUS where maturing young adults such as us SHOULD understand that love isn't just about the face. Sour grapes? Maybe. Disgusted by the shallowness? Absolutely.

I've many juniors in NS right now who'll matriculate next year. So, if u guys are reading this, just a word of advice to concentrate on ur studies, at least for the first year. Absolutely crucial to set ur CAP (or GPA in NTU) on a good platform within the first year. Love can wait, unless u're dead sure the woman of ur life is already waiting for u! =)

There's still plenty of intriguing issues in NUS. That'll fuel the ideas for my upcoming blog posts!

OH YEAH! If those guys whom I've subtly mentioned in my post, for some reason, happen to read my blog post, STOP HARASSING MY FRIENDS! =D

So, Janet, has my blog been unconventional so far? Sry ah, I juz like niao-ing u so much! :P I juz find it that ppl who blog tend to focus too much on themselves, posting up tons of their 'zi-pai' photos, almost borderline narcissistic. Blogging can be used to appreciate ur friends and families too! Say some words of encouragement, make them feel good reading ur blog. Which is what I'm abt to do in a moment's time... =)

Friends form the backbone of our existence. Without friends, I bet we wouldn't be able to cope in life ourselves. They're the ones around to support us when we're down and out. They're the ones who lend a helping hand when we're in need. Are ur friends close and dependable, willing to lend a listening ear or helping hand? Or are ur friends those who juz live for the fun, and leave once the fun ceases?

Everyone has a mental list of the top few friends whom they would like to meet often. I'm juz putting it out in words to let them know that I appreciate their friendship! :) Without further ado, let's roll out the list! In no particular order...

1) KC bro
My best pal, nuff' said. 14 yrs of friendship and still running strong! Jajaja! =D

2) Debbie, KC's GF (cos' I know more than 1 Debbie :D)
U nv fail to brighten up the lives of us W429 peeps with ur cheerfulness! Saturdays are enjoyable and fun with u around! :)

3) Ms Chan a.k.a Kristal =)
Ms Chan, how's the mischievous kids at school? :D In a way, we're forced to become good friends cos' we'll be seeing each other almost everyday besides the holidays *lol*! But, I hope u've enjoyed my friendship, as much as I've enjoyed ur funny antics. :D

4) Ivan the BFG
The kindest big dude I've encountered in my life thus far. He gets along well with everyone, is easy-going and helps out friends alot. What more do I need to ask in a friend? =)

5) Sam, Mr Geeko
I know u hate to be called Mr Geeko, but dun worry, none of my friends know u anyway lol. I hate ur MTG preaching sometimes, but I gotta admit geeking will nv be the same without u. Enjoy ur sweet innocence while it lasts! (It's an insider joke, so dun try to probe too deep =D)

6) Clement the g... (nevermind)
Ufooo! Saysaysay! ... In all seriousness, I really appreciate this guy for his friendship. In the local arena of MTG, superficial friendships are aplenty, true friendships are rare. To be able to befriend this guy randomly and chat abt stuff beyond MTG, it's really rare.

7) Yong Loong a.k.a Lao Da
We call him lao da cos' he has the charismatic and commandeering looks of a triad boss, but really, he's a gentle and friendly guy, who nv fails to keep a lookout for me. Really grateful for his friendship and guidance in JC. Meet up soon, man!

8) Eric-kia
I nv met this stupid guy even once after our Japan trip in Dec 2005. That's like... what? 2 1/2 years already!? Always dun wanna turn up for our gatherings hmph... Got GF now, confirm harder to get him to meet up. I've always considered u as my best friend in JC. Meet up leh!

9) Ben Pua a.k.a Big Ben
Ehhh, u gotta share with me what crazy stuff u did, or is doing now, in Japan for ur current 1 month long trip! :D

10) Diana, CG da jie
I may sound abit trying to be politically correct *lol*, but without u each Saturday, our CG will sink into chaos, playing and joking most of the time, instead of focusing on attending to spiritual matters in church! Thanks for ur guidance!

For those who're not on the list, do know that I also appreciate u, juz that there's a limitation to this list! =S It's not an indication of who's my best friends, but rather, these are the ppl I look forward to meet currently at the moment. This list may be totally different the following month! But I'm guessing at least 5 on this list are mainstays. :)

Show ur appreciation to ur friends today! :D

Why are all guys expected to love watching soccer? Why does everyone have to try drinking and clubbing when they hit 18 years of age? Why does everyone go "wowww" when they see a Lamborghini whizzing past the streets? Why must someone who likes Japan alot, also assumed to like anime alot? Why do all girls in NUS own a "Little Miss" shirt? (Ok, the last one was a joke. Dun wanna incur the wrath of girls! >.<)

I frequently overhear many guys exclaiming that if a guy doesn't watch soccer, he's not a man. And who are they to determine whether I'm a man or not? I have friends who gave in to peer pressure and started watching soccer. Some liked it eventually, but the fact remains that the initial intentions to start watching soccer weren't out of pure love for the sport. Dun be swayed by ppl's opinions. Watching soccer is NOT mandatory for a man. In fact, I'm glad I'm slping soundly each night rather then staying up during unearthly hours to catch Euro 2008 and become a panda the next day. :D

Clubbing seems to be another societal trend that every youth must follow once they hit 18 years of age. The popular thought going around would be that "if u dun club, u must be a boring person". I juz dun get it. It's as if they're saying clubbing is the only recreation that exists on the face of this Earth. If u have pure intentions such as enjoying socializing and dancing with ur friends, I guess it's alright. But if u're thinking of hooking up a babe or go there to do some 'grinding', I'll say this straight to ur face. U're plain shallow. I've not even clubbed once and I'm proud of it. Boozing is a bad habit too. I dun get it when guys wanna prove their 'manliness' according to the amt of liquor they can take. Pls dun harm ur health over trivial, petty issues like this. =)

Everyone loves to be kaypoh abt what type of house we live in, what type of car our fathers drive. Why do human beings love to compare so much? Having a happy family is bliss, living in landed property is secondary. If we live comfortably enough to get by in life, it's better to stop comparing or else even the simple, happy family life may be broken when we chase after branded goods, or attempt to pay off the hefty installments for the luxurious car or condo. So, why go 'wowww!' when u see a Lamborghini? I personally do not see a need to. That's precisely the reaction the driver wants us to get! Why should u then fuel his ego? Shrug it off, and juz be contented with a perfectly functional saloon car, comfortable enough for ur family.

Singapore's youth culture is fast becoming homogeneous. Everyone is expected to dress a certain style, act a certain way, talk a certain way. If u get caught into this flow, u'll be insignificant and dispensable. If u have differing beliefs, stick to it closely and dun be swayed by public opinion! Afterall, this is who u really are. So, are u contented being juz urself today? =D

... And it's final... I gotta go thru another round of colonoscopy on the 26th this mth... And YET ANOTHER round of irksome preparation of drinking those horrendous liquids to clear my bowels. My doctor suspects that it's Crohn's disease (for reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crohn%27s_disease), an auto-immune gastrointestinal condition that will stay with me for life.

I'm holding on to a glimmer of hope that he's wrong, and hopefully, by the grace of God, my condition will be fully diagnosed after this latest test and undergo corrective treatment before I go back to school, free from troubles to concentrate in school better. It's sure to be depressing that I'm having so many health problems recently. :( But anyhow, I'll be moving to my first unconventional blog post, which Janet anticipated for so long. :D

Juz caught the 9 PM show on Ch 8, and juz to make things clear, I dun watch it juz to see bikini-clad actresses. It's juz a habit of mine and my mum to watch the 7 and 9 PM shows together. I'm not lying! =D There was a scene involving touchy issues like foreign talents and nationalistic views. I was surprised Mediacorp tackled it, despite its track record of making feel-good and politically safe family shows which bore me to tears. And with the premiere of the 10 PM show abt women undergoing liposuction to impress their mates, I'm glad Mediacorp is stepping out of its comfort zone and pushes for engaging dramas once again!

That particular scene involves a China badminton talent and a local aspiring badminton athlete. Naturally, the China guy beat the local soundly, and he vented his frustrations by ranting abt the implications of all these foreign talents coming to Singapore. Stealing our rice bowls, they'll never fit in the Singaporean society etc. I think that voices the sentiments of many Singaporean university undergraduates, who have to battle with the throngs of foreign students for top honours. I think esp. the Engineering and Computing faculties would have more issues with foreign students. Peeps in the same boat as me in Computing would know perfectly what I mean. ;)

Is it fair to us locals? I mean, I dun really mind foreigners. Not that I'll develop a serious grudge against them. Alot of Singaporeans travel to Australia to further their studies too, so I'd have to put myself in other ppl's shoes. But seriously, aren't the numbers too OVERWHELMING? I remembered stepping into a lecture theatre and found only 40% Singaporeans, and I was surrounded by Indian nationals and Vietnamese scholars. I do ponder at times whether the foreign intake is controlled or limited, or whether they simply take in every brainy scholar, inspite of the hundreds of locals getting rejected by universities each year.

Singapore doesn't really feel 'Uniquely Singapore' anymore. Juz a simple illustration: Whenever I board the MRT, I'll see at least 3-4 Malaysian or Hong Kong blue-collared workers, 4-6 Bangladeshi construction workers who always carry big bags of Mustafa goods, 1-2 Western expatriates, 2-3 tourists, and lotsa China peeps. I think for every 2 locals I see on the streets, I'll see a foreigner next. As I said, I've got nth against them, but I juz find that our unique Singaporean culture will be diminished if we allow so many foreigners in our midst.

We can only rely on foreign talents that much. They serve their bonds, make enough money, and return to their homeland. In my opinion, nurturing and cultivating the local talent pool is a much more viable long-term solution. Many Singaporeans are afraid to innovate and be creative, or take on risks, cos' they know the challenges they face from foreign talents vying for similar spots. If the trend continues, Singapore will always be known as a strong independent country, but lacks remarkable, world-shaking achievements. Yeah, our airport is No. 1, but so what?

So, are u under alot of pressure from foreign competition today, be it work or school? Hehe, I guess we juz gotta live with it! I've got an inkling for another 'unconventional' blog post tml, so stay tuned, esp. u Janet! :D

Argh, I've got a pretty bad diarrhoea today. Couldn't resist the temptations to eat laksa despite my stomach ailment. Oh well, I juz have myself to blame *lol*! Had so much trouble concentrating in Japanese class today cos' of the frequent aches. So, to Amanda and Zeng Ting, who doubted that I had a legitimate excuse from IPPT this year, my problem is as real as it gets. Haha! In fact, I'm doing a stomach X-ray tml, and may need to do a THIRD colonoscopy if my doctor sees a need... My dearest W429 buddies in Christ, pls do keep me in ur prayers. :) Awww shucks, I hate it when I get into an emo mood cos' of my illness, so let's move on to brighter stuff!

Finally, I got to meet my Singtel friends again yesterday! It's been a long time since I've met them and I'm kinda anxious abt meeting them again, with maybe the exceptions of Ivan and Kristal cos' I still meet them frequently *lol*. I reached on the dot and waited for Ivan at the control station. Seems like everyone was late *rofl*! But I met Amanda 5 mins after I arrived and we had a little convo abt sch life before the big man himself arrived. :D

The whole gang arrived soon after and we made our way to Fish & Co. at Glasshouse for dinner. The food seemed to have lost its magical taste when I went there for the first time, but nevertheless, it was still good and filling. =) The live band was alright, but the vocalist picked some rather weird song choices for his vocal range. He was almost killing his throat when he attempted Jason Mraz's 'You and I' and Chris Daughtry's 'Home' at their original keys. Then, Q really felt we had to go somewhere else quieter to have a good chat properly *rofl*!
We headed down to Starbucks at Plaza Singapura and yep, it was much better than having music blasting up ur ears. =D Maz unraveled her Creative MP4 player and showed us her vast collection of Japanese dramas and MVs. OMG, I didn't know she likes Japanese stuff so much *lol*! Common interests really draw ppl closer, and I started talking to Maz abt the latest Japanese dramas and who's the latest hottie haha! If only HY didn't get sick, or Mich and Hasan weren't socializing with their juniors, the gang would be complete...

Juz some one-liners for everyone who turned up!

Ivan: Dun be so sian, juz look fer more hotties in sch to cheer up! :D

Kristal: Ms Chan!!! Errr nope... Ms Sponge!!! :P

Amanda: Hope u get the coveted 4.5 CAP nxt sem!

Zeng Ting: Hope u do well in school too!

Maz: Eh, let's stay in contact and u can be my one-stop information centre abt the latest J-Dramas! :D

Shafiah: Stay pretty always!

Alright... Gotta go rest up for an early day tml... Cya guys soon!

Now that I'm back in Singapore, reality set in and I'm back to my mundane lifestyle. And the blazing hot weather in Singapore. :( Given a chance, I would really wish to experience a long-term stay at Japan, be it for my future job or the upcoming SEP (hopefully I'll get in!). Now, I gotta save up a ton if I wanna return to Japan soon! >.<

It's my first attempt going free and easy, but it wasn't even easy at all! Looking back at the successes and failures of this trip, I got some advice for the aspiring independent traveler! As I mentioned before, a good companion is of utmost importance. It's probably wiser to go in groups of 3-5 if u aren't exactly the best of friends with each of them. My friend and I didn't really had a close relationship, besides meeting each other once a week for class. So, we found it hard to adapt to each other's lifestyles and this could be a major stumbling block to enjoying the trip wholeheartedly! If u have to go with juz another friend, try ur best to foster the relationship way before the trip.

Plan ur route well! U may think that jotting down the relevant subway lines and transit stations is sufficient, as in my case. But I realized it's even more difficult than I thought! Having ur companions share the homework of planning the schedule would help greatly too. My friend had to work and neglected the planning totally and I had to bear the entire burden of planning the entire schedule. If we get lost, it's entirely my fault too. Terribly stressful... =S

Learn their societal norms and customs! I remembered in Hakone, we went to a traditional onsen and when we travelled from place to place, we didn't have our bits covered *lol*! A few Japanese youths gave us quizzical looks and passed by us, muttering to themselves "gaijin", a rude term to describe foreigners. Juz be conscious of what u're doing each and every min in public! Even ur little habits might stand out in the Japanese crowd.

Be prepared for cranky weather! Japan has 4 seasons unlike Singapore, so it might get even hotter than Singapore, esp. in July/August! But one thing's for sure, it isn't as humid as Singapore. I hate being sticky all over on a hot sunny day in Singapore. :( Dun forget ur umbrella during June, and ur big winter coat from November onwards. :)

I gotta say the conventional tourist destinations of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka have run its course, and I'll probably head to Hokkaido or Kyushu the next time. Anybody wishes to join me? =) Sigh, for my future blog posts, it'll be back to my mundane lifestyle so I probably wouldn't have much to talk abt. I'll be true to my word and make this an unconventional blog! Probably have my say on some touchy societal issues in Singapore. Gotta go church tml, so I'll rest up now! Cya guys!~

Another uneventful day of MTG geeking today... Darn, I hate being a geek... =D But I guess it's better than rotting at home, and my geek pals really crack me up *lol*. I thought KC had something planned for his bday, so I was waiting for his msg. Turns out that he was celebrating with his family. Hope u had a great bday, bro!

I'm almost coming to a close for my Japan trip. Time flies quickly when u're having fun! Before I knew it, the 9th day has arrived, and it was the last day for me and my friend to have fun in Japan. To end our trip on a high note, we went to Universal Studios in Osaka! It's a place u're bound to have fun, unless u hate theme parks with a passion. =P

The Amazing Spiderman ride! It's a must-try attraction cos' it's really really fun. It incorporates holographic effects with its CGI simulator, and the ride itself is full of turns and twists! It breaks the norm from conventional roller-coaster or simulator rides. The nearby Spiderman merchandise store is also a great place to buy souvenirs for all ur guy pals!
That's cute, a T-rex drinking Coke *rofl*. Another popular attraction vying for top spots with Spiderman would be Jurassic Park. The ride brings u thru the scenic and peaceful views of the tame dinosaurs, before things go haywire and the dangerous dinosaurs take over. The ride accumulates into a 6 storey plunge! Unlike the US version which is a direct vertical drop, the Japan version is a steep slope instead, so it wouldn't be as frightening as the US counterpart. But this could actually be a good thing, cos' old men like me can't take as much thrill as in the past! =P

Lol, we took plenty of photos with the Snoopy cartoon characters. My friend has rather bad photography skills, but this shot turned out alright, I guess *rofl*. We took our time to relax after going for so many thrilling rides. As we grow older, rides like these would take a toll on us *lol*!

The show attractions are also comparable to the ride attractions! Terminator 3 features CGI as well as human actors, and the effect of the blend is awesome! Shrek 4D makes u feel as if u're right in the movie, as ur chair shakes as the horse gallops, or when u feel water squirting at u when the character sneezes ewww! If u want to see crazy human stunts, look no further, Waterworld is the place!

These actors are professionally trained, and they handle their sea vehicles with such precision to maneuver in that tight stage area. Villains simulate their on-stage deaths by somersaulting from a tall height into the waters below. Heroes swing around the place as if the place's a playground to them. A truly great show to catch if u happen to drop by Universal Studios!

There's a new area which I've not seen before, and it's dedicated to the theme of Wizard of Oz. But it seems the attractions are closed and not many ppl were around either. So, we juz took some photos and moved on.

Heh, those guys are cute! Before we knew it, evening came and we had to head out for dinner. Sigh, and that's the last event of our tour. Nevertheless, it was all good! We had our fun and we can't expect fun things to last for eternity. =) I'll probably do some brief recap on my tour tml. Thanks for reading!

Whew, tired from a day of geeking with my MTG geek pals and of cos', my usual Japanese lessons at Orchard. My Japanese is really lousy. >.< I can't even carry a simple conversation with my sensei properly! I'm in desperate need of a proster to help me out. Pls lemme know if u're willing to coach me! Heh! ^^

Alright, back to my trip to Japan, Himeji is up next! My JR Rail Pass had expired and I had to buy single-trip tickets on the ever-expensive Shinkansen. We had a little misunderstanding and ended up paying additional fee for super-express benefits, which we didn't need at all! Jeffrey-san, so sorry for the cock-up! >.< Nevertheless, it was worth the trip to Himeji, juz for Himeji Castle alone, which was filmed in some James Bond movie, and is a UNESCO world heritage site.

I purposely coincided my itinerary with the Yukata Matsuri, ongoing in Himeji, expecting to experience the vibrancy of the town, as well as to see pretty girls dressed in yukata. ^^ However, I was rather disappointed cos' the streets weren't as lively as I thought, and there were so few ladies dressed in yukata! Even those I saw were mostly obasans, and the few youngsters I bumped into weren't exactly stunning as well. Sigh...~ I can't seem to get a good shot of the castle. This seems to be my only decent shot! >.< The exterior of the castle is definitely a sight to behold but if u decide to explore the interior, it can be quite a challenge! It consists of 7-8 storeys of extremely steep flight of stairs, and a single misstep would mean that u would be rolling back down to the previous level. =P

Despite learning a little on Japanese history for one of my modules last semester, I was clueless abt the history behind Himeji Castle, and I was more interested in the armor & weapon exhibits, rather than the enriching historical exhibits. Lol! Samurai is so cool!
After the visit at the castle, we headed back down and looked for a respectable restaurant to rest our legs and have our lunch. It may not be as lively as the main cities of Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto etc., but the town has a homely feel and we felt much more relaxed at this place. Heh, my friend helped me take a random photo of me with the cute cartoon dudes eating ice-cream! ^^

Enjoyable yet slightly disappointing. I was expecting Yukata Matsuri to be much much more... I scheduled the entire day to linger in Himeji, but we ran out of things to do by 3 PM, so we headed back to Osaka to do more shopping. Himeji is definitely worthwhile visiting once, but whether or not, u wish to return for subsequent visits, it all depends if u feel anything for the place! =)

Another time of geeking early tml morning... Gtg rest up early so that I'll have enough energy tml... Oh yeah, KC bro, happy bday!!! Pls lemme know if wanna do anything on ur bday! ^^ Ciao guys!~