My Trusty Honda Died On Me Today

The ride to makan place after every soccer session on sunday mornings started off bad enough. I was riding straight into the storm clouds gathering at furious pace as I entered into the TPE-SLE from Pasir Ris.

The sky began to open up which started off with trickles at first before suddenly turning into peltering raindrops. I had to seek the comfort of shelter under the overhead bridge at Bedok North Flyover when I cannot take the rain any longer.

Already half soaking wet, I got down from my bike & waited for the rain to stop. It was a good 20mins wait and my dear friends already started having hot steamy chicken rice at Katong mall. Upon seeing the rain lighten up, I tried to start my bike and voila! Crank, sputter and died! The ignition just won't start! Siao liao, must be the battery flat. I should have heed the warning signs few weeks back earlier. I figured I must have spent about 10min trying to revive the bike, but to no avail. The other bikers who were stranded together with me left one by one. So no choice, I called the guys up to inform that my bike died on me and I can't join them for lunch already. So after that, I called "Bikebulance" - a towing service. Lucky I saved the number just in case. So it came in handy afterall. Hehe.

I was quoted S$35 for tow services which I reluctantly had to accept after I tried calling up other biker friends for alternatives, but to no success. The guy who picked up the call told me to wait another half an hour.

Wah sipeh sian, stuck on PIE in the cold shivering rain, stomach hungry and almost wanted to faint already. I called the gf to let her know also, and chat with her to kill time. I also called the guys up to ask them to ta-pao some chicken rice for me and wait together with me until the bikebulance comes. So nobody gave a shit about me. So damn sad, my dear friends then entertained me for a few minutes talking crap. Deep inside, I really hope someone would come to accompany me and maybe ta-pao that very nice chicken rice for me. Seems that I was asking too much. Hahaha...

Anyways, long story cut short. Bikebulance came, loaded my bike & off we go to the only (?) bike shop that was open on sundays. There, I had my battery replaced for S$70 before I hopped onto my revived bike to look for food. It was almost 3:30pm. Hungry like a wolf man. Gobbled up everything before heading home for a nice shower!

Here are some pictures below... I thought it was pretty funny to see me "carrying" the bike, and not the other way round!

Crossroads of life

Suddenly I'm standing at the crossroads of life again... The same feeling I had when I flunked my 'A's & had nowhere to go with that shitty piece of result.

Only difference now is, I had a job which I think I like & I can stay, but recent results show otherwise. Or maybe I'm not cut out for my current job afterall.

I have to say, it was not entirely due to her that I began to think like this. In fact, she is slowly coming to understand my career objectives. I don't blame her. I blame the society we live in.

To begin with, I think my pay is shitty but I think I can still bear with it for a year or two.

But when you think about the future, with all the financial burdens that comes along with it, something inside your head tells you it is high time to move. Because if you can't even fulfill your basic needs, how can you even perform for the company?

Having said that, finding a new job with "good" pay seems to be the next logical step. But finding a job that combines both elements of good pay & interest is like trying to locate a needle in the haystack. Sure you can get lucky sometimes, but I'm not that blessed. In fact, most people work to live, not live to work. Who am I to argue against convention?

I have lost the initial drive I had when I first started out, but I will still put in my best. Because the experience I gain, nobody can take that away from me.

Trust me when I say sales is not easy to do, especially in my line of work where technical knowledge I had to learn from scratch without much help. Being in sales expose you to a lot of things business management textbooks don't teach you. You end up being bruised, but I'm sure I can come out of this a lot more streetwise & business-savvy, and can learn faster than people who grow up in a comfortable working environment where the only instruction you get is the only instruction you follow. One is one, and two... is obviously two.

Just follow law, they say.

Anyways, I'm still torn between finding a job I like & finding a high paying job. What if the new job which pays me good money but I don't like? What if the new job which I like but doesn't pay me good money? Wah this really sucks man.

Right now, my head is telling me to conform by societal norms. Most people work to live afterall, using the money they earn to pursue a "happier" life & fill up the black hole that is sucking their very life away. I once heard this phrase which I find it very interesting: "You spend your youth chasing money, but once you found money, you will spend your money chasing youth". Which perfectly explains why filthy rich grey haired senior citizens are buying themselves posh feraris & harley davidsons.

But hor, have you ever thought, if you don't start to chase money when you are young, how are you even going to spend it when you don't have anything to begin with?? Unless you are born a fucking useless "ah sia kia", that one don't say lah...

Now that's the oxymoron in life.

A walk in the clouds

The gf & I finally had a chance to go on a trip abroad. Okay not that far, Genting in Malaysia to be precise. Nonetheless, it was a first for us to travel abroad with each other.

The day started out with both of us waiting for the coach beady-eyed at 6am, most probably due to lack of sleep from the excitement of going overseas together.

As we reached Tuas 2nd link, was shocked to see the long, I mean really long line of trucks queuing to go into JB. Lucky for us, it didn't affect travellers like us on social visits. Customs (or Kastam, like my mum & dad always say) was a breeze despite all the big fuss about letting mas selamat got away (with a limp in his feet somemore) but maybe because it was not even 7am when we reached. But bloody big joke it was, I tell you. Wong will surely kenna kan seng. LOL.

First stop was Ayer Hitam. Different from the usual stop point at Yong Peng other bus companies would stop tourists for a break of half an hour to have their meals. The food there sucks, I mean really cannot make it type. Somemore damn expensive. I had prata that costs twice as much compared to Singapore but didn't taste half as nice, and the gf had noodle soup which was so bland that I have to literally empty the soy sauce to get some taste. Disappointed, we went back to the coach clutching some comfort food from the mini-mart to tide us through another 4 hrs of journey. The gf couldn't sleep on the coach, or so she claims. But heck, I could sleep anywhere. Heh.

Just before ascent into Genting highlands, we were let out for a pee break. Due to the long queue of women waiting to go relieve themselves, some very daring Chinese aunties I must say, cheong into the guy's toilet to do their business. Wah muslim country still dare do such a thing, I thought to myself. I was thinking what might happen if they get caught by religious polis? Actually in the first place, is it a crime or not? As I was about to enter the toilet after them, I was half expecting to see them peeing against the wall like Bridget Jones in the similar titled movie "Bridget Jones' diary". When I found out otherwise, I don't know whether to be disappointed or relieved. Haha.

Mr.Energizer does a Borat thumbs up!

As we meandered round the nice roads of genting, we finally reached the peak. Ok lah, not that cold. Maybe still can "tong" in the open air wearing singlet & burms. We proceed to the reception to get our room keys. "Deluxe" room we remembered. "Deluxe" room we did not get. It was on the first floor. About the size of normal NTUC, I mean now is called downtown east chalets. Worse thing is, our outside view was staring opposite a rust-filled ventilator located in a narrow alleyway with scant light scampering in. Wah look already is really sian half. So the gf pulls a long face & worked up a storm, we went back to complain... & we got an "upgraded" room which was really the same room but located on 16th floor with a much better view of the vegetation that surrounds genting city! Better than nothing lah.

Me looking very happy with my hotel (First World Hotel;background)

So first day was spent walking around the vicinity of First World hotel. Followed by free buffet dinner at the hotel cafe. Not bad actually, the spread of food. Or maybe was it due to the sucky food back in Ayer Hitam? Anyways... wanted to go casino after dinner one. But who was to know a short rest back in hotel room turned out to be a satisfying sleep well into 9 the next morning? Crap, people go holiday is make full use of time one, but we go holiday is go sleep like pigs. How can??

Day 2 thus began with a flurry of activities, started with hearty breakfast of I-forgot-what. I went to Starbucks to work with my laptop for about an hour and the gf was very obedient to stay there and read magazines quietly. After that, we bought a day pass to the amusement park to try to relieve our childhood memories. Took on some challenging rides and in some instances, either the ride was too scary (the free drop) or they have a weight restriction (not more than 70kgs). Tamade! Discrimination against fat, I mean big boned people like me!

Ah kiat was screaming like a little girl playing this.

After all the excitement & exhilaration, we tested our guts further by taking the scary cable car ride down to Genting midway point.

The auntie behind us just stared intently in front of her, too scared to even make a sound that might rattle the cable car that would send us plunging 400m into the ravines below.

Then we walked past a horse ranch searching for hot pippin' steamboat but ended up smelling horse shit & urine. It was nowhere to be found, so damn far down the road lor!!! We made a U-turn back to the cable car terminal for the return back to the peak. On the way, I told the gf that a stallion's penis is damn long & only the elephant can beat that. The elephant's penis when erect, is so damn bloody long that it has to literally drag that schlong along. I saw it on discovery channel. :D

Nightime came, we do not want to miss the chance to try our luck at the gambling dens. After observing a few tables, we settle down for the roulette. I paid for 100 ringgit in chips, followed by the gf who followed me. In the end, I coughed out another 100 trying to recoup my losses, but the gf got lucky and won 140. After that, she went shopping big time. A skirt & a top at Mango, plus a handbag at Padini's. She was very kind to even offer to treat me supper. Bah!

Ahhh... we realised it was getting late, and was the last night before we need to make our way back to Singapore. It is exactly the same feeling you get on sunday night. Haha. But lucky still got sunday to go before its back to the drudgery of work!

Last day in Genting was spent with buffet breakfast at hotel cafe. The food I must say, is pretty good, with a wide selection of stuffs. The 2 uncles sitting behind us, attacked the steam buns (tao sar paos) by the dozens. The gf & I figured, those plates they carry can hold enough paos to fill my stomach for the rest of the day. And the funny thing is, all they had on their table was paos, paos, and more paos!!! WTF?! And there was this fat bastard who stole an entire plate of omelette right under my nose, then he gave me a cheeky smile before he retreated happily with his spoils of war. Nabeh, so fat also don't wanna give me some. These bloody kiasu people, behaving like hungry ghosts, dunno whether they know the word "paiseh" or not.

As the time nears to 3pm, we reluctantly made our way down to the bus terminal. Posed for some more pictures before we headed back to Singapore with a heavy heart.

Malaysia conquered for her, on to the next! Bintan or Bali? Hmmm...

Money can buy you love?

Why is it when everytime people talk about my pay, she must compare me with other people?

Am I not earning a decent salary, albeit lower than others?

Am I not actively searching for a new job, albeit giving up what I do well to start all over again, just because I want to settle down with her faster?

Am I not doing all this for her? If not, who else?

How do you judge whether a person is always on a road to self progression?

How do you judge whether how successful a person is?

And finally, how do you judge love?

By how much you earn.

Yes ladies & gentlemen, the cold hard truth is out.

Die-hard romantics do not have a place in today's society.

At times like this, I just wanna take my bike on a loonnngg ride to nowhere. Just me & my trusty honda-kun.

So there you go, it's a materialistic world out there & if J.Lo is saying love don't cost a thing... she can suck my chocolate salty balls man!!! It costs everything!!!

IPPT results 2007/2008

Wah piang! This Corporal Khoo K K is damn unfit now, he just took his IPPT today at the bedok FCC... just look at his fcuked up results...

Sit Up: 39
Broad Jump: 189cm
Chin Up: 3
Shuttle Run: 10.6 secs
2.4km Run: 13:17 min

This is definitely one of the worst IPPT results since ORD days. Things have really taken a tumble since I started to "pak tor". So that means love & fitness cannot exist together for me issit? NO! I'm determined to prove that wrong! I'm sooo gonna work my ass off to clear the stupid RTs (remedial training), maybe try to "siam" them at first, so that when I go for my first IPPT during RT phase, I can pass it without breaking into a sweat!

WOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooo!!!!

Anyway, don't worry about it too much. Let's tuck in for dinner first. My mouth watering roasted chicken is waiting for me. And also not to mention the no. of gatherings & dinners coming up this & next week. Hehehehe....

Oh shitty virus!

Wah damn shitty man, it started last sunday. What was then a itchy nose escalated into a fever and aching joints, plus a very runny nose!!! I must have killed many trees when I reach out for the tissue box in office. Today I woke up at 7am as usual, though I'm on MC today. Your body sort of tune by itself already. Amazing. Even though I'm feeling feverish, I'm don't feel as shitty as the other time round where I couldn't even crawl out of bed. Seems like I'm getting sick too easily nowadays. And to make things worse, IPPT is this thursday! And I have until 17th Feb to clear it! Wah siao liao...

Anyways, OneRepublic's "Dreaming out loud" album is nice! I just bought the CD last weekend so everyone should go grab it! Hehehe... Hmmm... if I feel well enough later, may go collect my oakley frames & do up my windshield at nearby motorworld. Time for a nap, feeling sleepy already!

I'll leave you with a MV of OneRepublic's "Apologize"...

Good start to 2008!

Hola peeps, haven't been updating for quite some time already.

Just to let y'all know everything's been great.

So far, its been a good start to the new year.
Last week, I finally got my class 2 motorbike license. Now every make/cc of bike I can ride also!!! Much as I'm dying to upgrade to a higher cc bike, I don't think will be changing anytime soon. Different priorities in life now. Hehe.

Also, the new year has seen me negotiate for a better pay (and gotten it... partially... but still shitty though). Doesn't hurt to look around right?

Chinese New year is just round the corner, can you feel it? The smell of bak kwa, of new clothes, of seeing your pesky relatives all over again. Damn exciting man. Or not.

SBF signature!

Wah... my new SBF profile signature. Chio bo? =P

Merry X'mas 2007 to all!!!

Hohoho!!!

Today's Christmas eve. I hope everyone's in the festive mood!
I wanna take this opportunity to thank all the people who took that effort, no matter how small they may seem, to wish me merry x'mas. I would prefer to think: small on action but big on significance - Its the thought that counts afterall!

To all my wonderful friends whom I've made in my 26 years of earthly existence, and still keeping regular contact & strong bonds, may the friendship continue to grow by leaps & bounds! You guys made me the person I am today, and I hope my antics will continue to keep you entertained for years to come (at the expense of my dignity). HAHA.

Crap, why am I even writing all these sappy stuffs? Damn gay lah!!!

On a side note, got my gf a LV namecard holder for this x'mas. I must say I simply cannot comprehend how f***ing expensive this shit is, and why all girls go gaga-goo-ga over it. Give me my Nike or Adidas anytime loh! When I took out my card to pay for it, I think I felt a tear rolled down my cheek. Guess I had to eat grass for the next few months. HAHA.

And then when I handed it over to her, I said something to the extent of "Okay now you got the LV, don't care you must marry me now". Something hard hit me (I think it was her Coach bag) on my head, and I forgot everything I said. Yeah right.

Conclusion? I don't think my gf is so stupid afterall! OOPPSSS! :P

Malaysia BOLEH!!!!

Read the ST and couldn't help but chuckle at how the Malaysian legal team contesting for the right to claim back Pedra Branca from Singapore actually made a fool out of themselves. They had to resort to absolutely laughable trickeries like enlarging the mountain at the backdrop of the island to subtly convince the judge into believing it is really at the backyard of Malaysia. Somemore, they take from a doubtful random source also. Waahh champion lah, how to win the case like that? Even local malaysian bloggers also smacked their forehead in disgust at how amateur their legal team is, and how they can commit such a glaring error.

Malaysia BOLEH!!! But I still love Malaysia nonetheless. =P

Wearing my no.4 again!

If you guys have not already know, I'm currently back in camp for my ICT. Actually it already started since 5th Nov, and it will end tomorrow on the 23rd Nov. And then, it is back to the drudgery of work. Ahhh... how I wish it won't end so soon. Life's dammnn good man. Hehehe. On a sidenote, I took my IPPT yesterday, and man! it was damn siong lah!

But, just to share my results with you guys... hehe

Situps: 38
SBJ: 207
Pull-ups: 4
Shuttlerun: 10.4 secs
2.4km run: 12:48mins

Yah lah, I failed (again) running by a miserly 8 secs. Not bad for someone who piled on 7kgs since last year liao hor! I can still run faster than some people lor... *hint hint*

Looking on the bright side of things, failing IPPT means I just have to train more regularly before my window closes next year on my birthday. Which means no excuse not to jog to keep fit, as opposed to if I were to pass my IPPT this time round!

On the first year of couplehood

Yeah, happy first year anniversary! hope there are many more anniversaries to come!

Looking back, of cos there are ups & downs in this relationship.

It's all part of growing up, entering a new phase in your life.

I'm still learning... learning how to accept another person in my life after being single for so long.

I've also learnt never to change someone, you accept her for who she is.

Likewise, she must accept me for who I am.

Because by changing that person, it makes him/her less of the person whom you have fallen in love with from the start.

So, there is only compromise in a relationship, nothing else.

But, will I be practising what I preach?

Hmmm.... Good question.

On couplehood...

Happy 10th month anniversary!

And what a way to spend it...

Cameron Highlands pics UP!

Heh heh heh. Finally the Cameron pics are up. You can find them all in my flickr account here. Or see the link on your right.

I had took a 1-day leave to make it a super long weekend last week. That enabled me to make the ass-numbing ride 640km up north to Cameron highlands. And back. Total: ~1,280km. *faints*

Just to document my historic moment (furthest I've ever rode up north), here are the milestones:

9th Aug 2007 (Thursday):
05:30 Set off from home
06:30 Arrive Gelang Patah ESSO (meetup with James)
07:30 Finally set off after quick briefing
09:30 Ayer Keroh R&R (breakfast-nasi goreng)
11:00 Sungei Buloh R&R (Lunch-Dunkin' donuts)
13:00 Tapah R&R (Rest+Refuel)
15:30 Reach Brinchang town, Cameron highlands.
16:30 Settled into Chua Gin hotel
18:00 Steamboat dinner at OK TUCK restaurant
Evening: Retired for early night.

10th Aug 2007 (Friday):
08:30 Push motorbike out from hotel
09:00 Breakfast at Tanah Ratta town (Indian naan & curry)
10:00 Bharat tea plantation
11:00 "BOH" tea plantation
13:30 Healthy Strawberry Farm (strawberries & popsicles)
14:30 Rose Valley
16:00 Tea-break at Raju restaurant (Tea & Scones)
16:30 Walking & eating junk food at entrance of Rose Valley
17:00 Ascent Gunung Brinchang, highest summit in Cameron highlands
19:30 Descent back to Brinchang town
21:00 Pasar Malam (dinner/supper)
23:00 Retire for the day

11th Aug 2007 (Saturday):
08:30 Push motorbike out of hotel
09:00 Breakfast at local kopithiam (curry chicken noodles + roti canai)
11:00 Set off back to Singapore from Brinchang
11:30 Parted ways with James at Simpang pulai exit
12:30 Tapah R&R (refuel)
14:30 Sungei Buloh R&R (refuel)
16:30 Ayer Keroh R&R (refuel)
17:30 JB causeway Caltex (refuel)
17:45 U-turn for not registering with BIKES at customs (fcuk!)
18:30 Woodlands checkpoint
19:00 HOME! finally! (just in time for dad's birthday dinner!)

Enjoyed myself plenty during this trip, especially with all the corners and nice winding roads of Cameron highlands! Also had a few scares, especially during the ascent up Gunung Brinchang. But it was all worth it once you see the view up there...















It was fcukin' awesome.

But I'm not gonna go back there again until somebody does something about the treacherous roads up there.

Touring long distance on my bike gives me a different feeling one cannot get just by driving in a car. True, it has its inherent risks but I would say there are just as much risk in driving a car. In the words of Burt Munro: "...You live more in 5 minutes on a bike like this going flat out than some people live in a lifetime"

Respect da' man.

Thailand next, anyone? =P

Fireworks into Singaporean's asses

Damn fed-up just now. When I was driving back to office after dinner, there was like a super huge jam leading into church street (near raffles place). And so after reaching collyer quay road, the jam cumulated into one big fucking orgy of cars. Yes, I finally realised what the fuck was going on.

Fireworks display at Marina bay area.

And yes, the fucking jam is caused by fucking inconsiderate Stinkaporeans who bloody cheebye selfishly park their shiny 4 wheelers (some with entire family in tow) along 2 lanes of the 4 laned road! and poor folks like us who have no fucking interest in some lameass display of fireworks had to wait fucking 45min just to clear the 200m stretch of road leading into my office!!!

The more I wait, the more dulan I felt. And questions flooded my mind.

Are we Stinkaporeans that fucking no-life? That just a display of fireworks and you have to drive all the way from Jurong just to join in the fucking madness and to catch that 15min display of pop- pop-poop-whatever?! Also bring your ah gong and ah ma in their pyjamas and pillows??!

No shit.

It's like gypsy style caravan. Next thing you know, you see them cooking instant noodles on their car bonnet. Total idiocracy. I cannot fucking understand. If you want to see the fireworks, go park properly, and walk to get a nice view! and for fuck's sake, don't ever step out in your pjs. PUHLEASE! You'll save yourself plenty of embarassment in the eyes of the ang moh from abroad.

Actually it all boils down to the fact Singaporeans are a bloody inconsiderate lot. Only care for themselves... at the expense of others. Still can wow wow wee wee with a fucking great wall of cars behind you waiting to go back home to rest. Smelly cheebye! Fuck! I cannot stop swearing!

Ok I feel much better now.

Shall post the cameron pictures soon! =D