Posts from — May 2006

Imagine an asian driving in busy Brussels.

The roads are so narrow and there are many loading and unloading trucks standing in the way. So I had a tough time manouvering myself around, keeping in mind that now I am sitting on the left side and that junctions are not how it used to be.

After a while driving in the craziness of the morning hour, I lost myself. In fact, I just kept going and going and finally realised that I am going in the wrong direction.

But I kept going because I did not know how or where to make a u-turn.

Then I did the asian thingy – went up the tram lanes, cut across, held up my hands with a big smile and stopped the next car coming along.

And so I got my u-turn and arrived in a piece to my workplace.

On top of that, every moment I was also praying that I will not stall (mati engin) the car – malu la!!! :-S

Leaving on a jet plane…

Me been missing? Yea, am on a holiday!

No, in fact, everything has been great so far except for a couple of hiccups. First thing is that my charger for my mobile phone is broken (it didnt survive the long flight!) and the wireless router at my home was acting stubborn for the first couple of days.

So, that explained my disconnection from the world for the first 3 days.

Apart from my missing luggage (and found 6 hours later) and broken window and stolen GPS from our car and the unstoppable rain, otherwise, it was a good welcome to cold cold Belgium, the heart of Europe.

I’ve begun to like my new home, the art donning of layers and layers of summer clothes to shield the chilly wind, got use to wearing shoes indoors, eating cheese and sitting on stingy cold toilet seat. (I should get a heated and multi-function one from Japan – with the powder option, aha) Ah, and also responding to people speaking to me in Flemish.

Went to the town hall to get meself registered and thruout the entire process, the lady refused to speak to me in English. I still think she understands english though. But anyway, I managed somehow… using my telepathy skills hahaha.

Admist all this, I can already imagine a beautiful summer coming up. I see flowers sprouting at every corners at gardens of homes, flowers on trees along the highway with unusual shapes and colors, beaming faces of people when the sun appears for a tempting moment and a vast sky view which I longed to see it in an entire bluishness.

Ma new home!

The Hall to laze.

The TV to stare.

Eating eating eating.

Not my cup of tea. But I’ll try some chinese dishes soon.

First drink – Welcome Jaymy to Belgium

This is just the right song that sings my current feelings.

There is always a both sides in life and it’s up to us to see whichever.

Last 10 years, there were countless ups and downs, but all the memories lingers. Bittersweets. And now to the new chapter, I do look forward to everything that life will bring to me.

Both Sides Now – Joni Mitchell

Rows and floes of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons ev’rywhere
I’ve looked at clouds that way

I’ve looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
It’s life’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know life at all
I’ve looked at life from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
It’s life’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know life at all

Books again!

1) Night

Author : Elie Wiesel

I am half way through the book and it is really a captivating but disturbing read. It is indeed important for us to know the other extreme opposite of humanity that could be inherent in us depending on choices and consciences.

2) The World Is Flat

Author : Thomas L. Friedman

I have not started on it yet. Bought this book because it is the bestseller now. I am really quite a sucker for these marketing antics. But wait, let me have a read and we shall know.

Well, on the second reason that spurred me to buy this book cuz I really thought I should read it. Its about Globalisation. And I think I will soon be zaboomed in a way into globalisation with my moving.

Well, it could also be just an excuse to fill up my bookcase with intelligent looking books or to give me more ideas so that I can continue my charade to converse intelligently like an adult.

I can’t help to suspect that I am always a 18-year-old, unfortunately trapped in a growing and aging body.

Still as contradictory as ever…

And damn, I can’t find the picture of the bookcover to beautify my blog.

Ma last 10 days in Singapore.

Of course, I will come back again someday for visits, holidays, business etc. But its different… Feels like an end of a chapter in a book.

Spent the last 10 years here. These days, I get pretty nostalgic looking at everything around me, listening to ma friends and even smelling the warm moisted air.

The 10 years had passed me by like a breeze. Thinking back – there were so many memories kept, friendships formed, lessons learnt. So much, so much that I couldn’t put them all in words.

I mean, I could but it will take ages. Hehehe. Lazy bum like me!

Still remember clearly the first day I arrived here. A blur 17 year old kiddo.

It was an adventure.

2 big bags, a bus ride and a cousin to keep me company for the first 2 weeks.

Here I was, to start a life in Singapore that lasted 10 years.

And I would say, it was a good 10 years indeed!

These last 10 days feels just like an epilogue of a good book.

Au revoir, Singapour!