Joel

My Response to FadedHolySoldier

2011-12-16T22:43:00.000-08:00

"I'm Not Racist! I Love Asians!"

There has recently been a heated exchange online between YouTuber FadedHolySoldier and Singaporeans, as the former made some racist slurs against Asians and when the Asian community got offended, he went on a hate-filled rant against Singaporeans which worsened the entire situation.

Check out my video response below.

Wishing Sphere Project 2012

2011-12-14T12:07:00.000-08:00

"Be part of a celebration of collective dreams."

I'm really grateful that I've been given the privilege to be involved with the Marina Bay 2012 Countdown campaign as a featured blogger. I've been absent from the blogging scene for quite awhile now due to school work and such, so for me to be given this opportunity is just fantastic.

Since this is about the New Year, I thought that I'd try something 'new' as well - vlogging. I've never done a vlog before and lots of people who have done made it seem real fun and easy so I was definitely keen on making one - and of course this would be the perfect post for me to do so, with this 'new' experience being in line with the new opportunities that the New Year is supposed to bring.

As you can tell from certain parts of the video I was a little nervous with this being my first time, but hey, I did give my best shot given the circumstances I was in (try filming yourself in public with random strangers standing right in front of you and staring the entire time) so no matter what, and even though I know it may not compare with what others have done, I'm still proud of this one. It's like one of the those artworks you did when you were 5 - nothing fantastic when compared to the professionals, but holds great sentimental value.

So here's the video, and in it I talk about the Wishing Sphere Project which has become, I dare say, iconic when it comes to Singapore and her most recognizable features. By the way, check out the picture above - can you spot the wishing spheres? The New Year sure wouldn't look the same without the vivid and charming scene of the Marina Bay filled with thousands of these floating spheres - a modern day picturesque view. So what are my wishes for 2012? Watch the video to find out. Enjoy!

The list of wishing stations in Singapore can be found here. They've basically covered every single part of Singapore so you have no excuses now!

You can find out more about the Marina Bay Countdown at the website stated in the video, or simply by clicking the badge on the right. Do also 'like' the Marina Bay Singapore's Facebook Fan Page (http://www.facebook.com/marinabaysg ) to get the latest news on the countdown as well as the latest happenings around the Bay! MarinaBay2012

A huge thank you once again to the friendly people of Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and Omy for this opportunity, and you too, for taking the time to read this.

Haute Couture Exhibition by WFW 2011

2011-10-08T06:33:00.000-07:00

The Haute Couture Exhibition by Women's Fashion Week, running from 26 to 30 October 2011, is a selection of carefully chosen pieces from the designers who will be showcasing during the Haute Couture Week at Marina Bay Sands from 26 to 30 October 2011, including Anne Valerie Hash, Atelier Gustavolins, Christophe Josse, Stephane Rolland, Dominique Sirop, Alexis Mabille, Maxime Simoens and Eymeric Francois.

Following the immense success of Men’s Fashion Week 2011 (MFW 2011) Singapore, held in March/April this year, is the inaugural Women’s Fashion Week 2011 (WFW 2011) Singapore to be held at the Expo and Exhibition Centre, Marina Bay Sands once again, thanks to the event’s Title Sponsor, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands.

Organised by SENATUS and Fide Multimedia, WFW 2011 Singapore will present a season of exclusive shows which will showcase the Best of Haute Couture from 26th to 30th October.

Frank Cintamani, WFW 2011 Singapore’s Chairman and Founder of Fide Multimedia, says, “Throughout its rich history, both Haute Couture and the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture which regulates it, have been regarded as representing the most exceptional, refined and skilled fashion and couture in the world. With Singapore's evolving position as a sophisticated and affluent global centre for fashion, it is both timely and appropriate that Haute Couture, which is the epitome of fashion talent, expertise and craftsmanship, should be so extensively represented here at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore”.

I attended the private reception for the exclusive launch of the Haute Couture Exhibition at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands with a few friends and here are some of the pictures from the night. Picture credits to SENATUS, Tammi Tan via Fever Avenue, Seah HY and the CW.

VJ Utt and I

A beautiful piece by Maxime Simoens

Maxime Simoens' pieces have always been memorable (especially since hoards of the high profilers have been spotted wearing them) and the above dress too might seem familiar to you - it was the same number that music superstar Beyonce put on for the fabulous promotional photo shoot with Greg Gex for her latest album '4'. It is the same dress that is on the cover of the deluxe edition of the album. Gossip Girl star Leighton Meester (as the poor little rich girl Blair Waldorf) also donned the dress on the show.

We can clearly see that Blair Waldorf is a fan of Maxime Simoens. The above picture features Waldorf in Gossip Girl Season 4, Episode 1: "Belles De Jour".

Actor Benedict Goh and I

Alexis Mabille with his models showcasing his Spring 2011 Couture

(Haute couture is French for high fashion, and refers to exclusive, bespoke clothing boasting top-notch fabrics and workmanship.)

The Noodee Box by Lam's

2011-09-25T01:04:00.000-07:00

"The Noodee Box, is a brand new concept by Lam's Culinary, featuring Springy Dry Ramen Noodles packed in cute American-style takeaway boxes for easy carry outs. Have your noodles wherever you like, whenever you want!"

If you've been to Marina Square in the recent past you would probably have noticed the newly opened 'The Gallerie", located on the fourth floor. Even if you haven't you might want to do so soon especially since it's situated so close to the 2011 Formula 1 Night Race Singapore Grand Prix, and trust me the atmosphere there is mind-blowing.

An exciting new concept store that The Gallerie boasts is The Noodee Shop - and the (food) critics have been quick to lap it up. I think I pretty much smell the latest food craze in Singapore. Don't believe me? Well here's my receipt. And here and here and here and here and here. There are many more online and I'm sure after this post gets posted there'll be more to come but you get my point. It's a hit!

Since so many people have done in-detail reviews of the food available at The Noodee Shop, I won't be going down that path, especially since I'm not even a food critic to begin with. Let's spare ourselves the cringing from reading my failed attempt at being a food critic, shall we? I just know what's good and what's not. As long as what I put in my mouth is good, I'm good. Leave the fanciful technical terms to experts, I'm just here to share some good stuff.

Basically the first thing that caught my eye was the American-style takeaway boxes that the noodles are packed in. YES. Oh yes. Being an Asian, I've always wondered when watching the characters of American television shows who eat Chinese takeouts (appropriate termed 'The Chinese') what it would be like to actually eat what I usually eat, but from a box. Brooke Davis from One Tree Hill made it look cool. I wanted to be cool. And The Noodee Shop answered my prayers. I can finally be a cool kid. Call me superficial, but you just cannot deny that a pair of chopsticks and a paper box is cool. At least to this Asian it is.

It's ready for its close up.

I also love their branding - the little people that serve as their mascots are awesome. Butt-kicking little Asian people? Count me in. They even have their own comic strip. Awesomeness, double up! If I'm not wrong, each character is tied to a flavour of noodles.

Weapon of Choice: Chopsticks

Noodee Legend - Black

Noodee Chaisiu - Blue

Noodee Duck - Red

Noodee Emperor - Yellow

We're so cool we get our own comic strip. (Click to enlarge)

So awesome I just can't.

Just look at that! I need to be part of this family. Is there room for one more?

So The Noodee Shop, in the aesthetics department, has already won me over. Now for the actual quality of food. Let me first admit that before I did this post, I did Google instructions on how to write a food review. And WikiHow tells me to "describe with details about the texture, taste, smell, and feel to the food". Sure. Here goes. It feels good, smells great and tastes fantastic! Fair enough? To be honest I have no idea how to go about describing "in detail" - but since The Noodee Shop is by Lam's, which has been featured in countless news articles and reviews, and has been frequented by countless celebrities both local and regional, then you know that it's good. No doubt about it.

Famous people who have graced their outlets include Fann Wong, Nancy Sit, Wu Meng Da, Rui En, Sharon Au, Edmund Chen, Fiona Xie, Christopher Lee, and Asian megastar Jay Chou. Even our current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong patronized them. (Proof) I was there with Dan and Van (ah, they rhyme!) and they really liked their food as well so that's two more testimonials you can add to satisfy your need for justification.

Slightly blurry but you and I both will deal.

Hungry yet?

Just in case the previous picture didn't make you salivate. This should do the trick.

For all you salmon peel lovers. My friend Cat says this was really good.

That Green Drink. No seriously, that's its actual name.

For all you health junkies (half of you are in denial by the way), there's a great new way to detox - That Green Drink. That's right. What you see is what you get. The Noodee Shop says that it is an all natural drink that blends fresh fruits and vegetables.

Here's the thing. I'm a taste-over-nutritional-value kind of person, so as long as I hear any drink with "vegetable", I'm staying away from it. Keep that thing away from me. And then lock it up. Or lock me up, as long as it stays away from me. But after hearing so many people praising the drink I decided to take a sip and lo and behold That Green Drink actually tastes pretty good! I tasted more fruit than vegetable even though the drink was deserving of its name. I was also convinced that the "secret ingredient" that The Noodee Shop says is part of the recipe is in fact a few drops of pure magic; if you could make vegetable drinks taste good, you deserve a prize.

Full menu. (Click to enlarge)

The current promotion they're having.

Here's the answer to our never-ending search for good food at low prices.

A cosy and cool place to hang out.

So that's about it. If you're looking for a new place to try out that is fuss-free and highly affordable, and yet serves food that tastes great, give The Noodee Shop a shot. It's value for money and I'm pretty sure you won't be disappointed.

6 Raffles Boulevard, Marina Square, #04-102C
+6563360848
Mon - Sun: 11:00 - 21:00
enquiries@lamskitchen.com
Lam's Singapore Culinary Enterprise Pte Ltd

Make sure you visit (and 'like') their Facebook page here!

Once you do so, check-in to their location to enjoy another 10% off your total bill!

If you were dissatisfied by the above 'review' by yours truly, then here's my saving grace - by blatantly ripping off the real deal. The following is an article on The Noodee Shop by Chen Jingwen via SoShiok:

In the Nineties, Mr John Yap Eng Lam created culinary waves in the food scene by adding slices of abalone to his humble prawn noodles and including premium Mexican abalones, lobster, shark's fins and bird's nest in his menu repertoire at a Race Course Road coffeeshop. His Ah Lam Abalone noodles with delicious soup presented in a mini wok became famous quickly and he expanded his business through franchise. He also opened outlets in Hainan, China and also developed a Chinese restaurant concept for his more upmarket restaurant-standard creations. Today he has at least eight outlets brandishing the reputable name of Ah Lam's. Inspired by the gastronomic daring and 40-year success of his father, son Vincent has launched The Noodee Box, a modern noodle cafe to cater to a new generation whose tastebuds are more cosmopolitan. While Vincent's noodles were not the same as his dad's, he showed the same flair for innovation that made John stand out from other noodle sellers.

Basically modern Chinese and Singaporean in terms of taste, the noodles and their co-starring ingredients were influenced by Taiwanese, Japanese and Western cooking methods and flavourings. Instead of the traditional Mee Pok and Mee Kia noodles, The Noodee Box's version was custom-made to taste close to Japanese Ramen which has been enjoying rising popularity here. Other Japanese-influenced items were the Char Siew, similar to the round thick ones served in Ramen, and the creamy pork-bone Tonkotsu soup which also flavoured his marinated Char Siew for three hours.Vincent even made a roux French style to create a creamy sauce as a flavouring for the tossed noodles. He also blended a few western vinegars to add a hint of sharpness instead of using his father's traditional Chinese vinegars.

The other flavourings included Kikkoman soy sauce, fish sauce and his father's hot sambal belachan. The traditional minced meat was a traditional touch too. But lard, not favoured by the young, was left out. If these mish mash items sound too experimental together, fret not. The fusion actually worked. And almost magically too. The blend of seasonings was expertly judicious and balanced. There was no heaviness of cream sauce or blatant sharpness of vinegar. The subtle nuances of ingredients all added up to one common factor: a local modern Chinese taste.

The recipes had obviously passed lab tests before Vincent's small collection of noodles dishes were rolled out at The Noodee Box. The delectable noodles were served in convenient take-out boxes, hence the shop's name. And Vincent called his creations Noodees, not noodles.Whether you think the idea is cutesy or bizarre, you can't fault his sincere attempts to give his food a distinctive branding to woo a generation who embraces uniqueness and creative twists that dominate their lifestyle pursuits. Even the names of several dishes were given a bent too. Also on the menu were interesting bites, from crispy chicken skins and salmon skins to a carrot cake stuffed with otah.

Tasting notes:

Noodee Legend, $5: This is Vincent's original dry ramen. It has a piece of fishcake, a piece of char siew and a Taiwan sausage. The latter should appeal to a kid more.

Noodee Chaisiu, $6.80: This has char siew slices (in place of the sausage), half an egg done ramen style as well as a piece of fishcake. The marinated char siew was decently done, cooked till tender in pork-bone broth, and not salty. I would prefer the yolk in the egg to be slightly runny and not overcooked.

Noodee Duck, $6.80: The hickory smoked duck tasted like it was from a commercial source but it was seared to enhance the flavour.

Noodee Emperor, $11.80: The noodles were also topped with a French-style abalone sauce to boost the shellfish taste. It also had a prawn, a scallop on shell and two slices of an abalone-like shellfish. There was also half an egg and a piece of Taiwan sausage.

Tonkotsu Fruit Soup, $2: Do order the lightly creamy pork-based soup to accompany the 'dry' noodles. There's hint of sweet fruit in it. Try guessing which one. We are not going to give away his trade secret.

Carro-tah Cake, $5.50: This fried carrot cake (picture above) had chunks of spicy fish otah in it. Surprisingly a good combination. A must-try. More flavourful than most carrot cakes because of the partnership with the rich fish paste.

The other small bites were less interesting though delicious, like the fried chicken and fried salmon skins. The cold marinated appetiser of Japanese squid tentacles was what you would find in an izakaya, like the smoked duck and char siew. A good thirst quencher and detox drink should surely be That Green Drink ($3.80), a concoction with fruit and caixin green and salted plum powder.

This old zesty-sweet-salty concoction of Ah Lam's is still popular at their eateries.

Alright, if you still aren't satisfied with that review then you sure have really high standards and must read the encyclopedia as a hobby. So we've come to the end of this little (who am I kidding, I know it's long) review of mine, and here's a picture that basically summarizes everything I've said.

Obviously more interested in eating the food than taking a picture. Thanks Dan.

Long story short, The Noodee Box is good stuff. Just look at the picture above. There you go. Priceless.

National Day Parade 2011

2011-08-29T02:45:00.000-07:00

"In A Heartbeat"

My friend Gloria was kind enough to bring me to this year's parade held at The Float@Marina Bay - and I've always been a big fan of fireworks so there was no way I was turning this opportunity down. Here are some pictures I snapped.

I've been to several parades over the years and each time it's been a different experience - here's hoping there'll be more to come in the future.

Photostory

2011-06-12T10:10:00.000-07:00

"It's the one thing I hold closest to me."

1972: This was taken when I was 9. Playing with my father's camera piqued my interest. The world of photography was an eye-opener.

1981: In my late teens, I got my first camera. While it was a second hand one, I still loved it just as much - it was my escape.

2011: Times (and cameras) may have changed, but my passion and love for photography remains the same - it is the one thing I hold closest to me.

Cheerleading 2011

2011-06-12T09:54:00.000-07:00

"Keep on dancing till the world ends."

So this is what I've been busy with lately. Don't worry I haven't forgotten about this space. I know I haven't been updating much, and people have told me either on Facebook or on Twitter (both of which I am heavily active on even though I'm not supposed to be) and I do hear you! Here's an update, finally!

I'm not in the video but I am still represented. Which means you have to watch it. The Britney Spears sequence (Hold It Against Me and Till The World Ends) was choreographed by me, inspired by Brian Friedman's interpretation of the song. You know I just had to, right?

Watching the video brings a smile to my face because it has always been a dream of mine to choreograph a Britney song and I got to do two. Amazing.

It's been so much fun. Take a look and tell me what you think. I personally thought they did a great job. Loved it.

I'll see you soon. Promise!

When I Grow Up

2011-05-02T10:17:00.000-07:00

"Sometimes I believe that I was smarter as kid than I am now."

I knew it. It's funny really, how accurate I was then as a 6 year old. I remember; it was sleeping time in kindergarten. I was, as usual, turning around in my mattress because I just couldn't sleep. It was one of those times where your mind just wanders off and you think about the most random of things.

I thought about how I'd be like when I'm older. I thought it'd be cool. But even then, I knew for a fact that at 18 I'd be looking back on my childhood in envy. I knew it. So I set out to make my childhood the best one possible. And look where I am now - envious, looking at back at my younger days. I really do think that I was way more mature as a kid than I am now. Recently I was packing my room and I found some of the essays I wrote in primary school - an eye opener, really. What happened to that kid? I miss that side of him.

Perhaps that is why I love photographing children so much - they remind me of the joys of my own childhood. I honestly can't believe that I'm actually in my late teens now. It's too fast really, time needs to slow down. I can't slow down; I'm not allowed to. So I can only pray that somehow I'd be able to find time.

Look at her, and her. And look at him. You can see it their eyes. It's genuine.

Perhaps I've got to learn from the much-wiser younger me. Maybe I should make the best out of my teenage years so that when I'm older I'm going to look back, and I'll be envious of what I was able to. Is it still possible?

Turning 18

2011-03-02T07:13:00.000-08:00

"We're all growing up too fast."

And just like that, my saggy ass turned 18. Didn't expect it to be so quick though. Honestly speaking, I don't feel like an 18 year old at all. People tell me I look older than eighteen (yeah I get it I age bad), but still, I don't feel that way. Perhaps it's due to school (see, I'm still in school. Don't feel liberated. At all.) Where's the pause button?!

Due to some bad planning on my part (and they say with age comes wisdom... bring on the head-shakes) I didn't manage to throw a bash this year which, of course, sucks, not gonna lie. But no birthday bash doesn't necessarily mean no celebration though, especially if you've got a bunch of pretty cool friends and a kick-ass family.

On the last few days of being seventeen I went to try out ice-skating for the first time ever (don't judge, I know everyone tried it out like what, when they were seven) as I thought it'd be really fun and cool. But when I was out there I sucked so bad. The girls were really good at it and the guys, and especially me, sucked. I was the worst one. Embarrassing, really. I did fall. On my butt. Thrice. But it was really fun and I can't wait to go again sometimes soon. And I'll be wearing butt pads the next time.

- Roxanne, Jesslyn, Fabian, Terry, Weixuan and Megan -

- Bumped into Onggo -

- With F after being a terrible failure on ice. -

- Group shot! -

On the actual day itself, my parents brought me out to my favourite restaurant for a simple and quiet but really, really nice lunch. I like that alot. When it comes to family time, I like things peaceful and quiet. Don't get me wrong, I do love a loud and crazy environment but there are times when I just need a break. Wait, is this how it feels like to be... old?

- Life would be meaningless without good soup, really. -

- Mmhmmm. -

- Jerold's -

Random thought. Is it just me or do virtually all children order Fish n Chips when they eat out? I swear, it's either Fish n Chips or a Happy Meal. And I only feel this way because that's pretty much my diet when I was a kid. Okay crap, I'm no longer a kid. Let's not go there.

- Dad's -

- Mum's -

- Mine -

- My brother -

- Really awesome stuff right here. -

So the day continued (thanks Mum and Dad!) and I met up with my friends later in the day for dinner and then to try out something really crazy which I had been wanting to do for a really long time and I just thought it'd be fun to do so on a day like this.

- Dinner at TCC -

- Desert. Oh boy. -

- Heaven on a plate. Right there. -

I've been recently addicted to ice-cream. I know, I know it's sinful and all, but I just can't. Dave, if you're reading this (do you even come here anymore?), don't judge me. Fat jokes are so 2010. Who needs stupid drugs when you have ice-hellfreakingyeah-cream to send you to heaven right away. This feels like paradise and I need a vacaytion tonight.

- Love love love. -

The staff at Häagen-Dazs® were really nice and sweet. (I forgot your name I'm sorry! I think it's ... Paris?) Thank you for being so fantastic and sorry that you had deal with my nonsense. Someone forward this to the manager and give Paris(?) a pay raise already.

- Cat, Lia, Fabian, Gloria and I -

- Awesome shizzle. -

So the crazy thing that I was talking about was to take a ride on G-Max Reverse Bungy. So bad ass. I've been talking about wanting to take a ride on it for months and when things finally settled I was excited as hell. And then the day came and the excitement just went overboard.

- F, L and C just before the ride. See the nervousness on F's face. -

- S and JQ getting ready to take the ride. -

- WY, Myself and F getting ready -

- All smiles and ready to launch. -

The experience, to say the least, was crazy, fun, really fast and definitely amazing. I loved it. It was every buck well spent for sure. Definitely one of the craziest things I've tried (hopefully there'll be more to come in the future). When you're up there in mid-air suspended by two ropes, that's one hell of an exhilarating experience. Check out the video below (even though nothing can beat trying the ride itself):

- The aftermath -

It was chill time after that (I guess following the day's very chill feel) where we headed out to relax and cool down for a little bit (the ride was intense) and got some drinks.

- For the lousy guy. Me. -

- Pussyfoot -

- G's. -

- WY -

- Group Photo -

I said this before and I'll say this again. I really do have awesome friends. They were nice enough to throw me birthday surprises and I swear, it was really, really sweet of them. Very nice. What would I do without these people, seriously.

- They made this for me. Sweet! -

- Love these people. -

- Trying my best to look young and failing terribly. -

- Family. -

Once again proving my point that I've got the best friends in the world, they threw another surprise in school, this time with a video to go along with it. I loved the video. Really touching. No tears, but seriously, I appreciate it so so much and no prizes for guessing which video I'll be watching now whenever I'm down.

Here's a big thank you to the people for making my birthday a special one and having to sacrifice their time and effort in making me feel so loved and blessed and also to everyone who did wish me as well, you guys are too nice so thank you for even bothering to do so. It made my day. Thank you for those who gave gifts and cards as well - I got them safely kept and I really do appreciate them alot. Each and everyone of them.

Also, to you, for still sticking by this old and rusty place and giving me the hits that I don't deserve. To be honest I no longer see myself being a regular blogger like I used to be (oh those were the days) but I will still update this space every once in awhile so do check them out when I do.

I'll see you soon. Hopefully, really soon.

Don't Give Up, Just Stand Up

2011-02-14T06:13:00.000-08:00

"If you fall, dust it off. Don't let up."

Things get better, through whatever.

Through it all just stand up.

The idea for this picture came about when I was packing my room and my mind just wandered off to certain things and I found this Lego set that belonged to my younger brother and at that moment I just wanted to take it (my camera was just next to me at that time) and within minutes here it is. I hope you like it because it's one of my favourites.

We're Cool Like That

2011-02-12T10:01:00.000-08:00

"The Coolest People You'll Ever Meet."

Life is Good

2011-01-21T08:34:00.000-08:00

"It Was.. AWESOME!"

I never thought that filming videos would be this fun. I'm loving it. Check the above video for my latest project. (If you haven't watched Mean Girls you probably wouldn't get a bulk of the jokes.)

Life has been much more interesting ever since I got my camera. I can actually feel like a winner now. People who used to laugh at me now bow down to me because of Camme Underwood (that's the name of my camera). So here's my advice: If you're a loser, get a camera. More specifically, a Canon 550D.

But hey, if you're still a loser after that, then you must really suck.

Mighty Morphin' Batam Rangers

2011-01-06T12:57:00.001-08:00

"It's Morphin' Time!"

This is what you get when you have a group of teenagers on an overseas trip without parents. CHILDHOOD INSPIRED MOVIE FILMING!

Batam Trip 2010

2010-12-31T12:03:00.000-08:00

"For Narnia!"

I did it. I finally did it. Going overseas with my friends that is. I've been dreaming about this for a really long time and it finally happened. Best of all? It's exactly how I pictured it to be. Watch the above video if you can't already feel how content I am with this trip.

And so the year 2010 ends with a bang. Which is appropriate really, considering this year has been an epic year - in both good and bad ways. But something inside me tells me that the next year.. It's going to be even more epic, but this time mostly on the good side.

I can't wait, that's for sure.

Meanwhile, thank you for still sticking with me despite my inefficient self not updating this site regularly. Too much real life issues to handle right now.

Happy New Year!

Project Work: Oncore

2010-11-12T19:02:00.000-08:00

"Oncore, Onboard, Onwards!"

I have been a really busy man lately. But that is only because of Project Work (which is an 'A' level subject in case you don't already know). Check out the video above to see what I've been busy about over the last few months.

Our project was on depression. Depression is not only a very pertinent problem in Singapore today, it is also a very pervasive one. According to the ministry of health, 20% of Singaporeans may get affected by depression in their lifetimes. In 2001, over 20,000 children received treatment as a result of school-related stress. If that hasn't shocked you enough, get this, 22% of Singapore children think about or want to kill themselves. That's one in five. Not surprisingly, the suicide rate in Singapore increased to 9.35 per 100,000 residents last year. This is precisely why our group, Oncore, wants to tackle this issue. Depression can affect anyone of us. Something needs to be done.

So over the past few months we did extensive research, studies and interviews with the real McCoys to develop our alternative treatments to Depression (because the conventional ways of treatment bring out many side effects which may be counter-effective).

I'm really thankful that it's almost over because it is real hard work, although I did enjoy myself most of the time (because of the people I'm surrounded by). I think everyone put in lots of hard work for their projects as well and let's hope that we all do well, especially my awesome groupmates.

A Whole New World

2010-10-04T10:48:00.000-07:00

"Ride The Movies!"

It's a weekend day / night out! A great place to hang out with a great bunch of friends - everything I needed for a perfect night out. 'Perfect nights out' don't just happen anymore, so I really got to treasure them even more now and make sure that each one is well spent. No way am I going to risk having my time ruined. Of course the only place that can guarantee smiles and a great time from start to finish would have to be - you guessed it - Universal Studios Singapore. The last time I visited my favourite playground in Singapore, I didn't manage to catch any of the rides and actually left before night fell, so this time around I was determined to explore and experience everything that I could. Let me just say that it was so worth it - a whole new experience altogether.

So before we continue with this post, here's the thing - do not continue if you do not respond well to awesomeness. And I'm serious. Universal Studios Singapore is made up of nothing but awesome. Which also means the rest of this post will be filled with awesome. And if you don't do awesome (which also means you aren't awesome), then do not continue. But if, of course, you are awesome, you've come to right place, because that's exactly what you're going to get. One plate of awesome coming right up.

- Hold Your Breath -

- Beautiful? Wait Till Night Falls. -

The day began with me immediately trying out the rides that I missed out previously. That was my main objective. I told myself that I was not leaving until I tried the rides. No regrets on that one.

- Who Doesn't Love Ancient Egypt? -

Ancient pyramids and obelisks stand fast against the sands of time as you are transported to 1930’s Egypt, the Golden Age of Egyptian Exploration. Travel to an era when entire Pharaohs tombs were discovered- and their terrible curses unleashed.

- Look Who's Entertaining The Crowds -

- Revenge of the Mummy -

This is me inside 'Revenge of the Mummy', 'a high-speed psychological thrill ride through sharp turns, full rotation and fast reverse, you’ll be fighting against fiery fireballs, flesh-eating scarab beetles and an army of merciless warrior mummies — all in total darkness.' Let me just say that this ride was so mind-blowing hot - it was epic. Very mysterious and definitely catches you by surprise. Definitely one of my favourites! Make sure you take the ride with people who scream alot too, to add to the creepy atmosphere.

- Shawty's Love Is Like A Pyramid (Ooh) -

- Me and My Twin Brothers -

- Will Never Stop Loving This Sign -

Movie stars, talking donkeys.…the land of Far Far Away showcases lifestyles of the rich and fairy taled. See how successful fantasy characters live within tall, graceful walls sweeping over a pavilion-covered courtyard.

Far far away still stands as my favourite part of Universal Studios (although I believe that it might get some tough competition, as you shall come to know of later). I just love everything about it. You'll know what I mean if you've been there. And of course being a huge fan of the Shrek series contributed to my love for this place.

- Level 6, Room 14: That's My Room -

- My Neighbour's House (Yes I'm a Resident) -

- It's Gingy-Mania -

- Shrek 4-D Adventure™ -

Help save Princess Fiona® in a totally in-your-face fairy tale adventure. Through the miracle of OgreVision you’ll see, hear, and actually FEEL the action right from your seat!

I absolutely loved this short film. For us fans who are still reeling from the fact that the Shrek series has ended, this is definitely a consolation that served as more than just. Perfection. The plot, the crazy effects, and of course the crazy laughter - no one should give this a miss. Nobody.

- Jurassic Park! -

The last time I was here I didn't manage to explore this side of the park so I was so excited upon entering. It was like a kid entering his first circus show. No wait, actually the first time I entered a circus I was more excited about the cotton candy than the actual show. Never mind.

- Waiting In Line at the Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure™ -

It’s lunch time at Jurassic Park™ and you’re on the menu. Featuring a white water raft system with state-of-the-art animatronics and a thrilling white water drop, thrill-seekers on circular rafts will be tossed on waterways within the Jurassic Park compound, where prehistoric creatures roam free.

I swear this ride is just breath-taking. The set-up actually seems really real and I had this little fantasy going on about how I was actually in the movie and played along with the plot developments and I think I kind of scared the people beside me. Hmmm. It was still crazy fun, no less. And as you can see I've got my poncho on because it was indeed a wet ride ending with a spectacular splash. It wasn't just water all the way though. I won't spoil the ride for you - try it out for yourself and and be amazed.

- All Smiles! -

- Can You Sense My Jealousy? -

I really liked this when I first saw it. I just knew I had to take a picture. Is it just me or does it actually resemble the shape of a dinosaur? No, don't give me that face. Look.

- Canopy Flyer™! -

Board your dino-proof flying vehicle as you enjoy a prehistoric bird’s eye view of Jurassic Park™.

- Check Out The Popularity of This Ride! -

- Trying To Be All Cool About It -

I was really excited yet nervous before the ride because as much as I love the thrill, I do get freaked out sometimes. Thankfully the experience was great. It was almost as if I was this cool pilot zooming around the place. The wind in your hair and the rest of the world just flying past you (it's actually the other way around, really) - it was just super fun.

- Souvenirs! -

- Classic -

- Check These Out! How Bad-Ass! -

After a fun-filled daytime at Universal Studios, the sun started to set and that only meant one thing: Hollywood After Hours!

Step onto Hollywood Boulevard framed by dynamic architecture, palm trees and the famous Walk of Fame, you will feel as if you have landed in the center of the entertainment universe.

I swear, the place is so different at night. I think it's only when the night falls that we really get to appreciate the beauty of the place with the really mesmerizing mix of lights and ambience. I can't even describe it. You just have to be there to experience it yourself.

- Everybody Comes To Hollywood -

- I Need This Sign. I Need It! -

- Adam Lambert Was Here -

- Very Da Vinci Code-ish -

- Dazzle, Hollywood! -

- Mel's! The Food Here Is Great! -

- Taking A Break! -

- So Glamourous -

- We're Cool Like That. -

The place really had this cool edgy vibe so we started taking all these edgy shots (there's more below) and for a bunch of amateurs, I think we did great. Can somebody hire these people already?

- This Makes Me Want To Fly To Hollywood. Now. -

- Run, Joey, Run! -

- An Apple A Day -

I really like this picture. It's personally one of my favourites of the night.

- Group Picture Number Ten Thousand And Four -

- And Stare -

This is another one of my favourites. The hilarious thing about these shots were that a group of people would actually gather to watch us take these. I'm not even joking. These people were so believable that ~~groupies~~ girls started requesting to take pictures and the shy ones started taking their own pictures at the side. Kudos to my friends for having the guts to face that. Not alot of people are brave enough.

- What. Is. This. I. Don't. Even. -

- What. Is. This. I. Don't. Even. #2-

By this time we started to get really hungry so we rushed down to Louie's Pizza & Pasta - known for their authentic Italian cuisine and recipes passed down from the Coppelo family of Italy. It was one of the best dinners I've had this year. We also got to try their famous 20" pizzas loaded with homemade ingredients.

Louie's Pizza & Pasta

- Orange Juice! In A Potion Bottle! -

- Fabian, Samuel, Raymond and Royal -

- Chicken Wings! -

Hands down the best salad I've ever eaten. This coming from someone who hates salad. But this was just so good within minutes the plate was cleared. The garlic bread was pretty good too!

- Check Out The Huge Pizza! -

As you can tell right now, the pizza is HUGE. So huge that I had to repeat that five times. Make that six. Have I mentioned that the pizza was huge? Check out the huge pizza! And yes, of course it tasted awesome too.

- Gerald, Zhi Jian and Soon Lai -

- Great Ambience -

- Satisfied Customer! -

After dinner was just chilling so we headed down to the stores to check out the merchandise they had on sale and who knew souvenir-buying could actually be so fun?

- Puss In Boots Being The Cutest Thing -

- They're Mine! -

- Who Doesn't Rock Out To Chocolate?! -

- Chocolate Makes Me Happy. -

- What. Is. This. I. Don't. Even. #3 -

Every Friday and Saturday, we’ll also get to watch the Lake Hollywood Spectacular… an incredible new pyrotechnics show set to a brilliant musical score that will burst across the night sky right in front of you!

- Waiting Anxiously For The Show To Begin -

- What Did I Say? Simply Stunning. -

- The Huge Crowd -

- And It Begins! -

That was definitely hands down the highlight of the night. It was just so amazing and watching it up-close just makes it that much better and so surreal. It was also a really generous display that just left my jaw on the floor from start to finish. It was... magical. It was so good. I was literally speechless after the display.

With that, our fantastic night came to end. I'm never going to forget this night ever. The company I had, the wonderful location and the amazing people that made this possible - I was so thankful for. You know what the great news is? You too can experience this. You can dine and shop at Universal Studios Singapore®'s Hollywood zone from 7:00pm to 10:00pm every Friday and Saturday for only $5 per entry (Same-day park guests, Annual Pass holders enter for FREE).

So after taking so many cool pictures I decided to have some fun with a few of them. I think that being in Hollywood gave me the crazy inspiration to do these. I thought it'd be really hilarious to do so too. I just love the wacky ideas that come to my mind. And they actually turned out pretty cool and a little convincing, no?

- Prison Break -

- Ghost Whisperer -

Of course, how can I forget the local productions, right? I mean, we need to support our local acts! So here's a toast to one of Singapore's favourite alternatives to CSI, the legendary, the one and only...

- Crime Watch! -

EPIC.

- The Greatest Co. -

Lambert Glams Up Singapore

2010-09-26T06:31:00.000-07:00

"You Make Me Want To Listen To Music Again."

- F1 Rocks Singapore 2010 -

His Majesty Adam Lambert has descended among us Glambert mortals, generously gracing us with his charming presence for the 2010 Formula 1 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix. And I was there with my equally cool cousin (thanks for the wonderful experience Brandon!) to soak up the electrifying experience. Adam Lambert re-introduced my jaw to the floor with his performances. Who knew that the man himself would be even better live in person? Watching this man on YouTube serves no justice to him; it is nothing compared to watching him in real life. It makes the experience that much better. His stage presence is just amazing and the entire time I was in awe. Do we even need to discuss his vocal abilities?

- Performing 'Sure Fire Winners' (Watch in HD) -

- Looking Good -

- Oops!... He Did It Again. -

Remember the chaos that took unfolded after Lambert's little stunt at American Music Awards? Looks like he isn't fazed by it one bit. Kudos to him for having the balls to attempt this again in a conservative country. That's Adam Lambert for us. And judging by the cheers he got, it seems like the fans don't mind either.

- Werq, Adam, Werq! -

- Partners In Crime -

- Stage Setup -

- Hey, Slow It Down -

- Rock Out -

- Having A Great Time -

- Glam Nation: I Need A Passport -

Maybe it's time for miracles. Adam, if you're reading this, you need to come back with a full-fledge concert. That would be the only thing I ever need. And money, fame and fortune never could compete. Alright so maybe they can, but you still need to come back. This is not a request. This is a demand. If Singapore had you, life would be a party, it'd be ecstasy.

Meridian's Next Top Model - Cycle 2

2010-08-16T04:46:00.000-07:00

"Wanna Be On Top?"

Meridian's Next Top Model Cycle II took place not too long ago and being part of the organizing team was really an eye-opener. It was crazy, it was fun, and it was worth it. I swear, the people in Photography Club are the best. Couldn't have asked for a better group of people to work with. Of course there would be disagreements but at the end of the day everyone was just really supportive of one another and we were cohesive and without them, the show couldn't have happened.

This was a project that I took really seriously that my obsession for its success was on the brink of being unhealthy. I think that it the end, everything turned out pretty well and it was indeed an experience that i would treasure. In fact, because of this competition, I managed to become closer to a few people and they are who I consider to be my close friends now. That's cool. Of course there were also my close buddies who were really supportive every step of the way and they are the ones who I really love. Each and every one of them. Sometimes I don't even know where I got to find such fantastic friends.

Congratulations to all the winners - you guys deserved it. You people redefined hot.

Work it.

- Publicity Poster -

- Acting All Cool -

- Triton -

- Atlas -

- Callisto -

- Miranda -

- Phobos -

- Agnes. We're Cool. -

- Dynamic Duo -

- Holy Trinity of Cool Eyewear -

- Awesome Overexposed Group Shot -

- Workin' It -

- Terry Poon! -

- Top Models In The Making -

- Epic. Hotness. -

It Makes Me Smile

2010-08-06T21:55:00.000-07:00

"I'm just trying to be happy."

Even in the craziest of times, the busiest of schedules, and the most depressing of situations, friends are just what I need to keep me sane. I'm definitely tired out lately, but I think that the much needed joy of being around friends is all I need as an antidote. It's not going to stop, so I might as well give it my best, albeit with a few rest-stops along the way. That's what friends are for, and I'm so thankful for them.

- Zhi Jian's Birthday -

- Wei Xuan's Birthday -

- Joey's Birthday -

- Post-Meridian's Next Top Model -

- Kay Hian and Ming Zheng -

- Guo Hao -

- Soon Lai and Owen -

- Wei Yang and Vincent -

Voyage De La Vie

2010-06-19T09:01:00.000-07:00

"Love. Temptation. Conflict. Life. Death."

It's been months since school started, and also since I left my first official job at Resorts World Sentosa, which was probably the best first job experience I could have asked for. So imagine how excited I was when Cynthia (my ex-colleague) informed me that she got me tickets (worth $108) to watch Voyage De La Vie, the resident theatrical rock circus spectacular at RWS. Ain't she the best?

Enter the fantasy world of the mysterious Lantern Keeper, the charming Crystal Cat and the mesmerizing Diva along with extraordinary inhabitants and explore the journey of a boy on an adventurous search to discover his destiny. An unforgettable experience of magnificent sets, glamorous costumes and amazing circus feats awaits…

Proudly presented by Resorts World Sentosa, Voyage de la VieTM is its first resident show. The first circus theatre spectacular ever to be created in Singapore premieres an international cast of circus stars brought together from 16 countries.

- Cynthia, Myself, Fabian and Huifen -

I'm personally a huge fan of live shows and I can say that this is the best show I've been to so far, hands down. It was a thrilling ride from start to finish, and my only rife with it is that it seemed too short - I didn't want the awe to end so soon.

Singapore Idol alum Jonathan Leong was cast as the show's lead. It was nice to see that a local was for once the main character, and while Jon's singing abilities have improved tremendously since Idol days, one can't help but notice that he was overshadowed by the rest of the cast (even though you could really tell that he was giving his best), whether it was the contortionist or the juggler altogether. It wasn't really his fault really, their performances blew me away. I only wish that the main character would have stood out more. Other than that, the show was truly spectacular and it was better than any 3-D movie that I have watched. Mesmerizing, honestly. The music, the diverse sets, the performances, the costumes, the dancing, the 'stunning exhibitions of grace, agility and speed and death-defying feats, some which have never been seen before anywhere in the world', and the amazing cast made the show fabulous. Definitely a recommendation.

In fact, I believe that this local production is world-class, and that's saying alot, especially with the local arts scene in question.

- Curtain Call -

- Festive Grand -

- Billboard Featuring Some of the Cast -

- The Main Cast -

- One More With The Homies -

I miss working life. But that was the past and I have examinations to look forward to in the weeks to come, so I think that I'm going to end off right here to hit the books.

To find out more about the show, click here.

Cheerleading

2010-06-14T01:01:00.000-07:00

"We're Phobos, We're Cool, We Dominate The School."

It's nice to watch cheerleaders do their thing on television shows. (Hello, One Tree Hill Ravens) But you know what, nothing beats being a cheerleader and doing my thing in real life. You got that right, I am (or was) a cheerleader, and proud of it. It's quite fun really. Not as bitchy or slutty as what the media put it out to be. (Well, there was one but let's not go there.)

I really enjoyed all the trainings. They're basically learning dance moves and I love to dance - not the professional-upload-cool-videos-on-youtube kind but the ones that can move (in awkward motion?) when a dancey song comes on. Heck, I can even start dancing when there isn't music. You see, cheerleading's perfect for this hyperactive loser here.

The whole experience was just awesome fun really, to keep things short. Though there were times, of course, that were really worrying when one of the choreographers bailed and stuff and everything seemed to be in a mess, but thank goodness we managed to work together with two awesome seniors and everything else just fell into place.

What matters most was the friendships made and the hilarious fun we had. It was cool. Gotta love it.

- One Family -

- With My Dance Partner, Wei Ting -

- The Guys -

- With the Awesome Namira -

- Lia Giamuli -

- My Homie, Shruthi A. -

- Family Shot -

-Ben, Jing Qun, Dallas, Jun Kai, Soon Lai and Myself -

- Pamela! -

- Si Hui and Wendy! -

- The Girls -

- Group Shot! -

- For The Slut -

- Another One for the Beloved Slut. PINCH. -

- For Namira and Soleil Who Helped Us ALOT -

- For Macho People -

- Soon Lai, Myself, Ben, Dallas, JK, JQ, Lia, Wendy and Sherry! -

- We're Camwhores and We Love It -

- We're All About Love -

- My Buddies Dallas and Soon Lai -

I don't think I'll ever forget the experiences of cheerleading. Hell it was tiring and even frustrating at times, but damn was it fun in the end. To my awesome cheerleading mates, you guys are fantastic and I couldn't have asked for a better bunch of teammates. And to the other cheerleaders of the other houses (Callisto, Miranda Triton and Atlas), you guys were all amazing too and I said this before and I'll say it again, ALL the cheerleaders from the 5 houses deserve a hugeass round of applause because it definitely ain't an easy thing. What's most important is that we didn't quit when the going got tough, and that itself makes all of us pretty damn awesome.

Now who's up for some slutty cheerleader moves? Kidding.

Do Blue 2010

2010-05-30T09:18:00.000-07:00

"I Do. Do You?"

Just a year ago, someone who was really close to me passed away. She was diabetic. Because of that, she did not have an easy time, and it certainly wasn't so having to witness that either.

That was when I wanted to do something for the diabetic people. For the next few months, tons of light bulbs went off in my head but only a few managed to stay lit. I'm thankful for the people I had around me because as tough as it was, looking back now, everything seems to fall nicely to place - as if someone up there was guiding me all along. Without these people, I would have never had gone far with my ideas. You know who you are, thank you so much for even bothering to listen to my ideas and believing in me when many others did not. Thank you for contributing your talents and your help, which really did motivate me to push harder, to not give up. Thank you for believing (and shaping) Do Blue.

A few months on, an entirely new environment. I got to learn more about Citibank - Youth for Causes and in my class I found three other individuals who were passionate and interested about the project as well, and together we signed up for it. We got selected after going through interviews and more. I still remember the day when I got the call. It's ironic, really, considering that I learned about the very person's passing through the phone back then as well. Funny how the highs and lows of life do have plenty in common.

So here we are - at the start of Do Blue 2010. Months and months of ideas (and rejected ones) that resulted in what we have today. I'd probably write about the process of creating this project sometime soon, because every single part is that much interesting - especially so with the people involved (some of whom are still working actively in pushing for the project).

- YFC Do Blue Team -

Do Blue is a charity project aimed to raise funds for the Diabetic Society of Singapore, as well as to complement their mission statement of providing diabetes awareness to people with diabetes, their family members and the public, and striving to remove prejudice and ignorance concerning diabetes.

Do support it. Do Blue.

The amazingly talented local singer MJ Kuok also specially penned a song for Do Blue, entitled ‘No Worries’. In line with the Diabetic Society of Singapore's aims to remove prejudice and ignorance concerning diabetes, 'No Worries' is a song that calls on people with diabetes, their family members and the public to live life to the fullest, to love one another and to discard the social stigma associated with diabetes.

http://doblueproject.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/doblue
http://www.mjkuok.com/

Photography Club: Camp Exposure 2010

2010-04-29T12:48:00.000-07:00

"Your Moments, Our Calling."
.

I'm having so much fun in the Photography Club and it's been a blast so far! Recently, the seniors organized a photography camp for us newbies, in order to familiarize ourselves with the different cameras, techniques and equipments, and also to bond with fellow photographers. You know how much I love camps, and boy did I love this one.

Thank goodness they held this camp. I NEEDED it. Photography is something still really new to me and there are some, okay fine a lot, of things that I'm totally foreign to. It is kind of embarrassing (and ego-bashing) when you see your friends (who are supposedly the same calibre as you) catching up so quickly and already knowing so much. The first few days made me cringe. All the technicalities and photography lingo freaked me out. And it seemed like as if I was the only one who didn't grasp what was going on.

One guy was going on and on about something called 'aperture' and everyone nodded along like they already knew what that was since about the time they knew who Humpty-dumpty was. I stared at them with the what-is-wrong-with-you-people look and they stared right back at me with the what-is-wrong-with-you look. All of the photographer professionals are probably laughing at me right now for my lack of knowledge. Whatever. Never heard of it. I admit, I got owned on that one, but at least I know what aperture is now. I think.

Anyway, the awesome thing about the club that I really like is the positive vibe that one can get from the people! Trust me, it is something so easily forgotten yet so, so important. It just makes the whole experience that much more enjoyable. I can already foresee the next two years with these people being really fun and pleasing! Gotta love 'em.

So yeah, check out these pictures snapped during the camp. You see, this is the cool thing about being in the photography club - you are armed with a camera most of the time and you'll get to take loads of pictures without being termed a cam-whore. Not that we are, really. Just sayin'.

- My Awesome Camp Group! -

- Jun Xian, Farhan, Rebecca, Anisah, Myself and Tiffany -

- Myself, Atikah, Sharon and Jensen -

- One of My Favourite Shots -

- Jun Yi, Jana, Sharon, Atikah, Myself, Jensen and Chester -

- Fun Shot -

- 'Buddy Shot' with Soon Hao -

- Group Photo with Yi Min and Karin -

- One, Two, THREE -

- See The Light -

All smiles, even after being sticky and sweaty towards the end of the camp! I have so much pride in being a photographer that I might just burst into a cheer halfway during lecture (wouldn't that be cool). Photography meetings and outings are what I look forward to because I know that a good time's in store. Did I mention how awesome the people are? In fact, most of the photographers are on the list of reasons why I enjoy school.

That's all for today. For now it's back to reading 'Complete Idiot's Guide to Photography'!

Meridian Junior College

2010-04-13T09:50:00.000-07:00

"Courage. Purpose. Character."

- Meridian Junior College -

For the first time in 10 years, I would be in a co-ed school environment. Call for celebration or consolation? I'll get back to you on that one!

Another chapter of my life. Meridian Junior College, which is, as of 2010, one of the top Junior Colleges in Singapore (Based on 2009's 'A' Level Results). Here's three words to describe the junior college lifestyle - tiring but awesome! Life in junior college takes some time to settle into and get comfortable with. So far so good, except for the occasional boo-boos here and there, but the overall experience, although tiring, is very much appealing. Phew!

I do (once in awhile) wish that my friends from secondary school were still with me (good times, good times) but it's alright, because I still do meet up with them once in awhile. Thank goodness I have really nice school mates who are really funny. No losers in my class (maybe except for me) so praise the sky!

The reason why I say that junior college life takes getting used to is because girls and guys operate very differently. Very, very differently. Trust me on that one! The dynamics of school have definitely changed for me. What was accepted back then is now frowned upon in junior college. A lot of certain aspects come into play when dealing with the opposite gender. Sigh, it's all so foreign to me. I need to keep a notebook of the Do's and Don'ts because I'm struggling to keep up. You're such a failure, Joel, gee!

However, the atmosphere here in Meridian Junior College is much more cheerful and there's a heavy emphasis placed on a serious work attitude, which is something that I like. Work hard, play hard. The playing part's been easy, though the working part, well let's just say it needs working on. (Gotta love word play!)

Another reason to pop some champagne would be that I managed to find some people that I can get along pretty well with so here's a huge sigh of relief! I'm pretty lucky, I must say. Of course there'll be people I will might not hit it off well with, but as long as there are those who keep that smile of mine fixed on my face, I'm a happy man.

Meanwhile, before I work on being a studious student, here's some pictures taken over the course of the past few months all thrown in together for your visual delight (or for some, disgust). You're probably going to be seeing these people alot, considering the fact that they are way too nice not to blog about. (Oh god, I'm such a bootlicker. Somebody shoot me.)

For now, it's back to hitting the books again. Oh and yes, thank you for bothering to read this space because I'm pretty sure a lot of people have lost their interest in my life (or the lack thereof) since I stopped having time to update as much. Sincere apologies, and I will try my best to squeeze in time to update as much as I can. Hope to see you around here again soon!

- My Class, 10A301! -

We're a really small class with only two guys, but that's what makes us special. From left to right: Rebecca, Rachel, Catherine, Tiffany, Myself, Ayeshah, Khairul, Lia, Deniisha, Jesslyn, Megan, Joey and Wei Xuan!

- Orientation Group! -

- Jesslyn, Joey, Terry, Myself and Wei Xuan -

- Do Blue Team! -

- Fabian, Zhi Jian, Deniisha, Lia, Cat, Ayeshah and Myself -

- Fabian, Raymond, Dallas, Soon Lai, Samuel, Royal and Myself -

- Zhi Jian and I-

- Fabian, Zhi Jian, Raymond, Soon Lai and Myself -

- Rebecca, Sharon, D, Adibah, Ayeshah, Lia, Cat and Tiffany -

- Gloria, Fabian, Abigail and Myself -

- Cat, Ayeshah, D, Rachel, Lia, Megan and Myself -

- 10A301 With Mrs. Chong, Reaching Out -

- Myself, Joey and Wei Xuan-

- Economics Groupmates! -

- Being Goofy -

- Ayeshah, Myself, Cat, D and Khairul -

Before I end of this post, check out this goofy video we made for our Economics project on the MP3 Market. Hope you enjoy watching it as much as we did filming it, though the entire process was really tough!

Snap Snap

2010-04-06T02:36:00.000-07:00

“Photography has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.”- Elliott Erwitt

It's official. I'm addicted to photography! It's my new hobby, apart from collecting music albums, of course. My friends all call me a photographer wannabe, but hey, everyone starts small before they become somebodies, unless of course you're the granddaughter of the owner of Hilton hotel. Oh hello, Paris. Nice smile.

Thank goodness I've joined the photography club in school. The club is cool, the people in it are cool and even the teachers are cool! The seniors are beyond awesome too. Don't regret joining it one bit. Have I told you how much I love my school's Photography Club? I. Love. It.

Also, photography is a skill too, that could come in handy in the future. Imagine if I became one of those famous brooding photographers that shoot famous people. I'm already bouncing on my chair just thinking about it. (The thought of a fat man jiggling uncontrollably comes to mind, so I shall stop.) "Work it, great smile. Now tilt your head slightly to the left... Gorgeous." Just imagine that. How exciting!

Anyway, check out these pictures that I took while on photography outings that are so tiring yet so worth it. I'm incredibly proud of them considering I'm still an amateur. But one day, I'm telling you, one day, I will be a pro! ONE DAY! I'll show you!

Universal Studios Singapore

2010-02-11T06:01:00.000-08:00

"Bringing The Universe To Life."

I've been saying this ever since I got to visit Universal Studios Singapore and I will say this again. The world is going to be blown away. This is what is going to put Singapore on the world map. Forget Tiger Beer. Forget Creative. Forget NEWater. Universal Studios Singapore is going to be hottest thing that Singapore has ever produced.

From the spectacular sets of Far Far Away to the breath-taking land of Egypt, Universal Studios Singapore is bound to make your jaws drop in awe. Don't believe me? Take a look for yourself. Buckle up, people. I'm taking you on a fantasy trip to Universal Studios Singapore, your exclusive first look at Singapore's next biggest attraction. Tell me, do I have the best job or what?

- Stairway to Heaven -

Right at the entrance of Universal Studios Singapore, we were already greeted by three very familiar characters that instantly lit my eyes up the second I saw them. I already loved Universal Studios Singapore and it's just two steps in.

- Cynthia, Po, Woody Woodpecker, Myself, Frankenstein and Fabian -

- We're Best Friends -

- Po From Kung Fu Panda -

Next up was the land of Far Far Away, styled after the hit movie 'Shrek'. It was so surreal and the moment I stepped in there, I knew, I belonged there. No I'm serious. Princess Fiona, make some space, I'm moving in with you!

- The Sign That Made Me Grin -

- My Future Home -

- Puss In Boots, Cynthia, Princess Fiona, Myself , Shrek and Fabian -

- Which One's The Frog Prince? -

- Ben&Jerry's! Rejoice! -

- Burger From Mel's -

- Fabian, Myself and Cynthia -

- Beautiful Artwork -

- Love The Chandelier -

- Interesting Artwork of the Shrek Family -

- Move Over, Prince Charming -

- Souvenir Store -

- Do You Recognize This? -

- For All Your Happily Ever Afters -

- Now You Know Where Princess Fiona Shops -

- Reminds Me of Narnia -

- Gingerbread Man and the Donkey Twins -

- Light The Torch -

- Fountain -

- Candy Shop! -

- Thumbs Up -

- Farewell, Far Far Away! -

Next stop was Hollywood Boulevard and New York Street. The Hollywood Boulevard is reflective of the the classical 1940's Hollywood while New York Street is the replica of well, New York!

- I Belong Here -

- Elton John's Hollywood Star! -

- Everybody Comes To Hollywood -

- Looks So Genuine -

- It's Glamorous Alright -

- I'm Staying Here Until Britney Shows Up -

- Merchandise, Anyone? -

- Just Like Hollywood! -

- Ca Ching! -

- Gorgeous, Don't You Think? -

- For All You Hat Lovers! -

- They Serve Awesome Hot Dogs -

- One of My Favourite Shots -

- It's Betty Boop! -

- Hollywood China Bistro -

By this time we were all pretty hungry so we decided to dine in Hollywood China Bistro, where guests can feast on traditional Cantonese cuisine with a modern twist in an art deco Chinese restaurant setting straight out of a Hollywood movie set.

- Gotta Have Them Dragons -

- They Sure Love Dragons -

- Totally Asian -

- Lovely Dining Experience -

- Fried Rice -

- Fabian's Choice of Food -

- My Choice of Food -

- Cynthia's Choice of Food -

- Really Delicious Roasted Pork -

- Love The Chinese Setting -

- Satisfied Customers -

After lunch was a trip to the Lost World as well as to the land of Egypt, where you'll be blown away by how detailed the attraction is to emulate the beauty of ancient Egypt.

- Jurassic Park at the Lost World -

- Cynthia Likes Dinosaurs -

- For Your Fossil Needs -

- Entrance to Egypt -

- These Figures Were Real Huge -

- Posing for the Camera -

- Egyptians Are So Cool -

- Egyptians Are So Scary -

Last on our to go list was to the world of Madagascar themed after the hilarious animated movie of the same name.

- Welcome to Madagascar! -

- Check That Out -

- Sexy Gloria's Snack Shack -

- Refreshment Stalls -

- Madagascar Penguins -

- Shipwreck! -

- Can't Wait To Ride This -

- Gloria Has A Crush On Me -

I didn't have the time to queue up for the rides and not all the rides were open at that time so I'm definitely going back for the rides when Universal Studios officially opens. The one ride that I cannot wait to ride is the Battlestar Galactica

- Battlestar Galactica -

Before I end off this post, here are a couple more random shots of Universal Studios Singapore that you'll see when it opens.

- Love This -

- Universal Studios Store -

I would say that Universal Studios is a MUST-GO destination if one is planning to come to Singapore for a holiday and even for Singaporeans as well. It may be slightly expensive but all in all, it's an experience that is definitely worth every cent spent.

I absolutely cannot wait for Universal Studios Singapore to officially open, and when it does, you can be sure to see me in the line queuing up for entrance tickets.

Boys Like Girls: Live In Singapore

2010-01-30T05:04:00.000-08:00

"Hot Sweat and Blurry Eyes"

The phenomenon that is American pop rock band Boys Like Girls was in town recently to perform at the newly-built Compass Ballroom at Resorts World Sentosa and I was among the crazy crowd who rocked out at the amazing concert. Loved the atmosphere. Loved the music. Loved the band. Boys Like Girls was great live and lead singer Martin Johnson was very much as charismatic as he was in interviews. Did I mention that he sounded really fantastic live too? Paul DiGiovanni was commendable on his guitar and so was John Keefe on the drums. On the bass was Bryan Donahue and he was cool as well. All in all, it was a fantastic concert by Boys Like Girls.

- Boys Like Girls Live In Singapore -

The band teased the Singaporean crowd playfully, switching the lyrics of some of their songs (like Hero/Heroine) to include the word"Singapore". I love it when artists make the effort to personally interact with the crowd. Kudos to Boys Like Girls for doing so!

The band also played their other hit songs like "The Great Escape", "Thunder", "Love Drunk" and my personal favourite, "Two Is Better Than One". I never had so much fun jumping up and down on the same spot and swaying my arms for two hours.

Check out the pictures taken at the concert, courtesy of my friend Jeremy Wong, who was there with me along with my other awesome buddies Wee Keong, Yik Boon, John Tim and Isaac Tan. They were a crazy bunch and definitely the best people to go crazy with.

- Yik Boon, Wee Keong, John, Jeremy, Myself and Isaac -

- Boys Like Girls -

- Martin Johnson -

- Rocking Out at the Compass Ballroom -

- Performing Two Is Better Than One -

- They Like Girls -

- Check Out The Crazy Crowd -

- Boys Like Girls Trademark -

- The Awesome Bunch -

- Boys Like Girls Goodies -

It was a crazy night and one hell of a concert, that's for sure. Boys Like Girls just cemented a fan in me. For now, it's back to recovering from my post-concert withdrawal by singing out loud to "Two Is Better Than One" blasting on the stereo.

Resorts World at Sentosa

2010-01-22T23:02:00.000-08:00

"One Million Moments. One World."

2010 is already such an amazingly good year, and it's just one month in. Move aside, 2009, no one likes you! Over the past month, I had the privilege of working at Singapore's soon-to-be biggest attraction - Resorts World at Sentosa. Working life was a fantastic experience and I cannot wait to share it with you.

The people, the place, the job - they all made life so enjoyable for the past month. Just as I hoped to, I made some really close friends during my stint there. It was really bittersweet on the last day - excited that a new chapter was about to begin but sad that this one had to end.

The job I had probably had a million and two staff benefits, discounts and much, much more, among which included stays at the hotels, restaurant meals, lots of shopping and visits to Universal Studios Singapore. On a side note, I feel really, really blessed to have gotten this job. Thank you to those who made it possible! I thank my lucky stars every morning when I go to work.

Nevertheless, the best way to preserve memories would be taking pictures, and boy did I work that camera of mine. I've never spent this much time sorting through pictures. And here they are today, the first batch of photographs (I had so many that I have to split them up into two posts), for your entertainment.

The following pictures were taken at two of the hotels, Hard Rock Hotel and Festive Hotel. It was a spectacular experience for both hotels and I would definitely love to stay there again when I have the opportunity to.

Hard Rock Hotel

This is Singapore's first Hard Rock Hotel, so you can already imagine the excitement I had when I was told that I would be spending the night at the hotel with my awesome friends. Can you hear me squealing already?

- Hard Rock Hotel Singapore -

Rock and roll attitude meets four-star service at the Hard Rock Hotel Singapore. Breathtaking design, fashionable dining options, and the legendary entertainment experience only Hard Rock can offer make this the obvious choice for those looking for a stay that is beyond the ordinary.

- Pool Side -

If unique networking venues are what you need, the hotel is home to some of the resort's best meeting and conference facilities, and indoor exhibition space. This includes 26 meeting rooms and one of Asia's largest ballrooms with seating for 7,300 guests. All at the doorstep of Universal Studios Singapore ®, the world's largest oceanarium and Asia's newest casino resort.

- Rock Hard -

I absolutely absolutely ABSOLUTELY love love love the music theme of the entire hotel. If heaven was on earth, it would be named Hard Rock Hotel. Damn it, someone buy me a room here already! I. NEED. TO. LIVE. HERE.

- Elvis Presley Wore This -

- Can You Recognize These Items on Display? -

- The Lobby -

By this time, we couldn't wait any longer and just had to check in into our rooms to unload before continuing with exploring the hotel and its amenities.

- Here We Come! -

"Hard Rock Hotel Singapore’s deluxe rooms feature unique, modern furnishings and dramatic ambient lighting. Decked out with a state-of-the-art entertainment system, you won't want to sleep. That is until you lay down on one of our soporific beds."

- Screw Dogs. Diamonds Are Man's Best Friend. -

I'm taking pictures in an elevator. AN ELEVATOR. What is wrong with me?! But with an elevator like that, I'd be more than glad to have it break down. Come on, break down already!

- One Step At A Time -

Are you ready? Take a deep, deep breath. Alright, check out the room! Now you see why I said this experience was amazing?

- The Beds -

- The Chandelier -

A chandelier in each room. Need I say more? Close this crappy blog right now, head down to the website and book a room already. What are you waiting for?

- The Art -

- Best Buddies: Cynthia, Hui Fen, Joel and Fabian -

- The Toilet -

- The Two Hundred Bucks Stool -

- Toiletries -

- Smell My Socks -

Enough with the fantastic room, it's ours! Leave it alone! Now time to check out the rest of the hotel!

- Starz Starz Starz -

- Love The Design -

- Love This Too -

- Starz Restaurant -

The food here was really, really good. Gotta love international buffets. Hands down one of the best out there. And remember, it's always cooler to say something with a "z". Starz is boomz.

- The Bar -

- Moon-Tanning, Anyone? -

- The Lounge -

- The Bar -

- Toilet -

- The Gym -

- M is for Male -

- The Rock Shop -

- Myself, Fabian and The Awesome Staff Of Rock Shop! -

- It's Eminem! -

- It's P. Diddy! -

Hard Rock Hotel left a really good impression on me. Love the people, love the place. Let's see how Festive Hotel measures up!

Festive Hotel

- The Room -

"Exuberant yet relaxing, Festive Hotel is ideal for vacationers seeking a welcoming and relaxing island stay. Other than the luxurious king-sized bed or twin beds, there’s also a bonus sofa bed that folds out to a double bed in all rooms and loft beds to cater to the children in most rooms, so it’s the perfect getaway hotel for families travelling with their kids.

Conveniently located beside the bustling FestiveWalk, non-stop entertainment and facilities are just a stone’s throw away. Children-friendly amenities are key highlights, such as the assortment of candies at the reception that will put a smile on any kid’s face. Welcome novelty packs and tailored bathrobes are also catered specially for the little ones. For parents with babies, we offer cribs, baby food, wet wipes, nappies and bibs. Should parents wish to have private time alone, babysitting service is available at a fee.

The Festive Hotel experience begins at the guest floor corridors, where giant orchid motifs on the carpet lead you to the fun and colourful chambers waiting behind the doors."

"Nowhere else in the world would you be able to find a hotel room which caters to both parents and children. Adults can relax on a king-sized bed, while kids can hop into the loft bed designed just for them.

There is also a sofa bed which folds out to become a double bed, so extra sleeping space is created."

- Samuel, Fabian and I -

- Art -

- The Sink -

- The Sofa Bed -

- The Ceiling -

- Dave and I -

- The Lamp -

- Fiesta: Experience Latin American Warmth -

A fun and colourful dining destination for the whole family, feast on flame-grilled quality meats and seafood at Fiesta, where the key attraction is the Brazilian style of cooking called ‘churrasco’. Watch as your food sizzles over open fire at the live cooking station by our chefs, and served by our passadors.

Boulangerie- The Ultimate Dessert Haven

Boulangerie is a modern patisserie showcasing Pastry Chef Alain Herber’s stunning Pastry creations from Europe & Asia with a twist and special show case for novelty selection for Kids. Boulangerie will be supported with Artisan breads from well renowned Baker Michael Lim who returns to Singapore.

- Lovely Ambience -

- Ice Cream Always Makes My Day -

- Myself, Cynthia and Fabian -

-Macarons -

- Brownies -

- Favourite Shot of The Day -

- Underground Walkway -

This links Festive Hotel to Festive Grand, and the Casino. Convenient or what? The way down is so enchanting and mystical and I love it. You have got to experience it yourself to know what I'm talking about.

- I'm Lovin' It -

- Date Fail, But Love The Place -

- Casino -

- Truly Rewarding Indeed -

- Festive Grand -

- Elephant Sculpture -

- More Chandeliers! -

-Fabian and I -

Both Festive Hotel and Hard Rock Hotel blew me away with their respective themes. Both were extravagant, classy and delights to stay in. However, I would choose Hard Rock Hotel over Festive Hotel, only because I'm that big of a music lover. Oh screw that, I'm going to beg my parents to book BOTH hotels for the next holidays!

That concludes my hotel stay experiences, but rest assured, there's more to come!

Till next time, I'll see you when I see you!

Carrie Underwood: Live in Singapore

2009-11-21T18:01:00.000-08:00

"Not only will you win this competition (American Idol), but you will sell more records than any other previous Idol winner." - Simon Cowell
.

- All American Queen of Country -

Still on the topic on the drop-dead gorgeous country princess, I had the privilege of being in the front row at Carrie Underwood's showcase here in Singapore on 16th October 2009. Because I had to suffer a nerve-wracking week trying to get my hands on those invite-only passes and almost pulled out my hair in the midst of it, I shall milk whatever its still worth and share with you the wonderful experience that one can never put a price tag on. Oh and by the way, I only managed to get those tickets on the concert day itself thanks to a really kind person and a bucketful of luck. In fact, I'm still thanking my lucky stars till this day.

About 2 weeks before the concert, I received a call from a close buddy who informed me that Carrie Underwood would be performing in Singapore on 16 October 2009 at the newly-minted Ion Orchard, who wanted to thank the people and their investors for their support by treating everyone to a free concert by the popular American country singer. Oh, you're welcome!

You see, there are three ladies in this world that I am openly obsessed over. Britney Spears, Carrie Underwood and Lady Gaga. Ignore the fact that they're all blonde. I love them for their music.

Since winning American Idol (which is already no mean feat by itself), Carrie Underwood has gone on to win 4 Gammy Awards, 5 American Music Awards, 5 People's Choice Awards, 8 Academy of Country Music Awards, 5 Country Music Awards and 14 Billboard Music Awards, along with a string of many other accolades and record-breaking feats under her belt. Are you gasping yet? Adding on to that, Singapore will also be her first ever public appearance in an Asian country.

The concert was due to start in the evening, so fellow Carrie-fan Fabian and I decided to head down 8 hours early to the mall to try our luck with the tickets. The stage was already set up by then, but (obviously) Carrie wasn't in sight. (Dang it.) The organizers and staff were still setting up the barricades and stuff. We approached one of them and asked if he would be able to get us tickets. No luck. His reply was the same as the million phone calls to the Ion Orchard reception - the tickets available for fans were all taken up and there was absolutely no chance to get them anymore.

Not defeated, we carried on (pun not intended) having some faith and believing that someone would help us. We went into the mall (the stage was set up outside the mall, along the walkway of Orchard Road), and approached the service counter. While she gave us the same answer as everyone else, she did tell us that Ion Orchard would be setting aside an area for a limited number of fans to watch the concert - from afar. Great, we thought, we have a Plan B, but neither of us wanted to settle for watching Carrie from a distance; we wanted a clearer view of the living legend in person.

It was in the afternoon by now and boy was the sun shining hot. We slugged it out under the heat and approached every single person whom we thought could help us. No luck. Then, from afar, we saw this cool looking dude wearing, like everyone else, a black shirt, but unlike everyone else, was wearing a collared one. "Let's approach that guy," said Fabian. Turns out, the dude is some big shot and after pleading like desperate losers, he agreed to get us tickets for the concert later.

Mission Accomplished. Can you believe our luck? Inside the mall, other Carrie fans are still trying to get those tickets (we eavesdropped) and we sort of already had them. With a few more hours to spare, and by few I mean 6, we decided to study (the exams were coming), have lunch, study more, and then head back down to Ion Orchard to remain in the know.

We got the tickets from the cool dude and when Dave finally turned up, the 3 of us joined the queue of people with those tickets, making a couple of cool friends along the way. Shout-out, Dinesh and Leandra and the pretty lady whose name I didn't get!

As we entered the place, Carrie's band mates were setting up the sound system. The stage looked fantastic. We were right in front of the stage and the thought of the Carrie Underwood being so close to us made us all excited and fluffy on the inside.

- The Spectacular Stage -

As the sun set, it meant only one thing - the concert was about to start.

- Looking Beautiful Even On Gigantic Screens -

- Utt Introducing Carrie Underwood -

MTV VJ Utt was the real host of the night and after teasing the crowd a little, finally introduced Carrie Underwood onstage, much to the joy of the crowd.

- Young and Beautiful -

As expected, Carrie was flawless in her delivery. She also looked much skinnier in person, but still as beautiful as always. Her presence itself was breath-taking. Clad in a sparkling singlet that seemed to complement her glow and knee-high killer boots, Carrie Underwood impressed the awe-struck crowd with her powerlungs.

Kicking off the concert with powerhouse song Flat On The Floor, she got the audience clapping and singing along to her songs, which included crowd-favourites Before He Cheats, So Small, Last Name, All-American Girl, and lead single Cowboy Casanova off her latest album.

Highlights of the night had to be when she debuted a new song, Mama's Song, from new album Play On. It was the first time ever that she performed the song live. How proud am I to be Singaporean! She also did a cover of Guns 'N' Roses', doing a standing ovation-worthy rendition of Paradise City, proving that she can effortlessly cruise through different genres of music.

- Her Band Was Awesome Too-

She also interacted quite a bit with the audience, introducing songs and joking that she wished that someone would turn lower down the temperature because the weather was so hot and humid. Sounds like Singapore to me!

Oh and when the crowds went silent while waiting for Carrie to take a sip of water, I screamed, really loudly, "I LOVE YOU CARRIE!", to which my future wife replied with a sheepish "Thank you." Love her. She also smiled and waved at me while singing onstage, after my hardcore attempt at waving at her the entire time she was near us. I admit - I was a total dork, a goofball if you may. But who cares? I had a one-line conversation with Carrie, you didn't. There was definitely chemistry between the two of us, you know, love at first sight. So Carrie, just email me if you're reading this okay. Besides, Asian husbands are the new thing.

Jokes aside, the concert was phenomenal. There was no question as to why millions of Americans chose this lady to be their Amercan Idol. It was 45 minutes too short a showcase. I wanted more Carrie. She wrapped up the concert promising to return to Singapore after being presented with a bouquet of flowers from Ion Orchard and thanking everyone in Singapore for the wonderful experience.

No Carrie, thank you.

At the press conference after the concert, Carrie expressed her wishes to return to Singapore.

"I would love to! It was so much fun. People were singing along with me and I was surprised! I mean, country music I know is not that big outside the US, so coming here and seeing people singing along was a real treat! I think if we do come back here, it'll be in the fall. I don't know what the weather's like here though. It's always hot? Okay. Gotcha. I never thought I'd be in Singapore. I guarantee I'm the only person from my hometown who's been to Singapore! I'd never been on a plane before and we took the longest plane ride ever to get here. It's a lot of fun."

You can be almost certain that we will be there when you return, Carrie!

The three of us actually appeared in the local newspaper the next day, grabbing the headlines with our story as well. Awesome. I found out about it after waking up to a message from a friend who informed me that I was in the papers. It took me a couple of seconds before I started freaking out and running to the nearest convenience store to buy a copy of it. Small article, but still pretty cool.

- The New Paper, October 17 -

Now that both Carrie Underwood and Lady Gaga have performed in Singapore, I wonder out loud when Britney Spears would be coming...