Thon-ing (read: overnight) at East Coast Park is not really a good idea some times especially when the next day happens to be a public holiday. While it’s nice to see that life hasn’t slowed down even though my watch says 3.30am, a few god-damn things still managed to mar the serenity of the night.

I don’t get the logic of Singaporeans. The gahmen declared a 1st May a public holiday. Yet somehow there would be some locals who’d go around getting drunk instead of getting ample rest. That’s fine with me but be drunk at your own peril please. Don’t go around shouting at the wee hours of the morning and disturb the many baby-making tents along the coastline.

Drink to wind down, not drink to get drunk. When you’re drunk, everything becomes helpless to you and that feeling sucks. When you trouble other people and end up sleeping nowhere, does that help to drown your sorrows away?

Then there’s a small hit-and-run session between a group of Indians and Malays. They didn’t fight - maybe they did - but they all ran different directions after being caught in a wrangle. I don’t know who radioed for 2 police cars and an ambulance but it sure did make 4.30am, looked like 4.30am.

I felt sad, disgusted, ashamed, angry at the Malay community especially the youth who do nothing good and everything else that’s bad. It’s so unfortunate that they happen to be in my generation.

Going around in their fancy little bicycles, being in the-larger-the-better groups, making hell of a noise and breaking loose in scuffles and fights. The funniest part is that there are Malay girls who like these macho and brave guys. *pukes at description* Not that’s not the funniest, they actually see a future with these guys. Hmm… still not funny. They actually carved a future with these guys! *Bang!* shotgun.

I can tell you that these Malay youths are big-time cowards. They thrive in numbers but when they go up alone, they shit in their pants. And that’s why I respect the Chinese and Indian gangsters. No denying that they’re lurking around right? One more thing that they deserve my respect - if you don’t disturb them, they won’t disturb you.

My watch beeped to indicate it’s 5am in the morning, and my friends and I resumed our game of Bluff. “Honesty will prevail,” says Wan. Yeah right, he was the biggest liar of us all.

Playing soccer at the Cage@ECP at midnight made me damn shagged. I slept through Labour Day. Now I’m wondering if I’ll be wide awake later at night.

After 1 hectic week, my Hari Raya celebrations is almost done. At most now, I wait for people to come over to my place and not vice versa. Some families take 2 weeks and more just to complete their OWN family visits. I’ve never heard of those who took the whole month though.

I felt that this year’s celebrations are quite toned down. Plus the fact that I’m a bit more matured (note: not old), I don’t really look forward to visits this time round. Never mind that I don’t get green packets as much as previous years. Apparently, my goatee is to be blamed. Bad goatee…

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Listening to: Eagle Eye Cherry - Save Tonight
via FoxyTunes

I finally have some time to blog! My gosh.. even though ICMT is now done and dusted, there’s still this one final hurdle to jump over - ICM!!! This is the life story of a student who has no exams for this semester and his study week marks the unofficial start of his holidays.

Anyway, it has been a topsy-turvy week for me! So many things happened in this turbulent week that I think will go down as one of the brightest spots in my very own history books.

First was the double date of Fitri-Sandy & Haikal-Faddy at East Coast Park. It was the first time we are organizing this and I must admit there were some uncertainty on whether or not we all can click together and blahblahblah. Well at least my side did feel that. But it was never meant to be that way, thank goodness!

The original plan was a Rollerblading 101 lesson for all of us (I need one too even though I do have some basics on blading) but in the end we all cycled in ECP. I can safely say we are semi-pro at it after that dreaded 20km cycling trip a few weeks back!

I think double or triple dates don’t work at times ’cause either couples don’t really know one another or neither party makes the effort to bond everyone together. But the double date that I had resulted in a new game formed (Let’s play AAAHHH!!!), to uncovering the secrets behind some stuff (ie Why Malay girls tend to melatar?) and of course the tightening of our relationships.

Go figure which type of yoga suits you best - the powerful, the crazy or the strong one?

This is the real Old Trafford. Now you know…

As we cycle to the left,
As we cycle to the right,
As we cycle, as we cycle, as we cycle all night.

With a heel and a toe,
And a half turn around.
With a heel and a toe,
And a new friend found.

When the monsters attack…

… you know who to call!

But the day nearly went bad when I found out that I had lost both my handphone and wallet. I searched my bag thoroughly but it was never there. Babe called my handphone but there was no dial tone. I am soooo dead. That was when I called off all search and rescue operations.

Babe suggested to go back to McDonald’s since I am pretty confident that I left my valuables in the toilet there when I was changing my bottom. But c’mon! Through experience, personal or not, a dead tone means the phone has been switched off! And I kept picturing that my phone is in the midst of some buying and selling process between an Ah Beng and a handphone dealer.

Furthermore, it was already 3 hours since I last saw both my phone and wallet.

So with a heavy heart and hopes all lost, I dragged my feet and reported to the Manager on duty on that day. She came back and asked for my name, and whipped out 2 familiar items as she said, “Why are you so careless! Lucky our staff found it. Next time take care of your things ok?”

OMG. I was speechless. I heard what she said but I kept staring at my phone and wallet. It was just unbelievable! To think my muted ‘thank yous’ to them were replied with smiles and supportive words is just amazing. A big thank you to the McDonald’s staff at ECP! Next time I shall buy more fries from you guys, aite?

Then came Monday, the day of my ICMT presentation where I am proud to be was officially appointed to take on the role of RADM Teo Chee Hean, the Minister of Defence. I never felt so stressed up before! Not even when I’m taking my O level results. But being a phlegmatic-melancholy, or rather, myself… I can only keep a cool head as my group walked into SB’s Media Conference Room.

Going different directions, with hearts still intact.

The reporters in disguise were already in a serious mood - Mr Wong, Mr Ang, Ms Ng, Ms Nga, Ms Kwa plus a huge spotlight and a video camera on stanby. Not forgetting the imposing figure of Ms Low by the sides and to-a-lesser-extent-but-still-imposing figure of a microphone in front of me. PHWAARRR!!! Looks like an actual press conference that I always see on TV, just that I’m in the whole thing right now.

I hope we did decent enough; my group thinks we did awesomely well; my grades will speak for itself.

But I simply can’t get the image of Mr Wong appearing right in front of me and blatantly asking me, “So Minister, will you resign?” while we all were packing our stuff and thought hell was over. After I had finished saying my piece, I heard a *click* saw a slight jerking movement of Mr Wong’s hands.

Damn. My statement was recorded.

“Thank you, Minister,” said Mr Wong.

“Thank YOU!” But of course I didn’t say that. I just offered smile and walk off. And Ms Low still had the cheek to say, “Okay, that’s all. There will be no more surprises for you. Thanks!”

I’m just glad that ICMT is done and dusted with. I can finally breathe out a sincere sigh of relief. That’s right from the bottom of my heart.

Then Faddy called, “Eh Fit Fit! Go and buy Berita Harian today! They have our article about the NDP blog thingy! And they even translated everything to Malay lah!”

WHOA!!! I was so excited! Actually a Berita Harian reporter called me a few days back and asked about some stuff regarding my participation in the NDP Blog Battle. And I really though she was just getting quotes from me. I don’t mind anyway ’cause I, or any part of me, have never appeared in newspaper before. So I thought being quoted is delightful enough.

But as I browsed through the Malay paper, I saw a column dedicated to me! My name! It is physically there! And this is soooooooo gonna be kept nicely in my archives. They actually translated my whole English post into Malay and I’m impressed!

I was so excited I jumped and hugged Babe on the spot! Plus Faddy’s article is there too! It’s like one whole page dedicated to the both of us lah! WAHHH!!! Super-duper excited man! I’m gonna frame that page up and hang it on my wall! And to think that Faddy and I just met each other only months ago simply left me beyond words.

Btw, it’s on the Tuesday edition of Berita Harian on page 9. If you don’t have it, you can also use Factiva and search for it. I think. Hee. And you can read Faddy’s account of the whole drama-mama event here.

I’m just happy to put a smile on my Mum’s face.

So in this few days, I have been through a double-date, a near misplacement of my valuables (in fact I did), became the Minister of Defence for Singapore and had my one page of fame in the Malay papers. I felt a warm glow in my heart as I recalled back these wonderful days.

But of course I will never forget the people that made these things come true. My friends and family, and you Babe.:)

ps I’m so happy that I realised I have 3 smileys in one post.

pss Haikal, you were with us on the day that we went out to Botanic Gardens with Faddy. And you were the photographer in the picture that appeared in the papers. Even though your name or self was not visible, it was credit to you that both events are possible. Thanks bro!

Just a quick shout out to Herwan, who affectionately calls himself Juan Roman Riquelme…

Have a happy and blessed 19th!

For once, and I think for the record too, I’ll be having more than 5 pictures in one entry. Not quite a feat for some serious bloggers but this entry will be my milestone! So bear with the loading time aite?

This was still on Thursday when the OOPS! magazine was to be launched. We had to carry the whole load down and that includes 1000-odd magazines which weighs an elephant. Those NUM bags are so deceiving. I laughed my heads off when I saw what’s in it. Nice move to attract people though. Heh!

 This has got to be one of my favourite photos taken on that day. It is shot by an DSLR, which explains its nice-ness (I’m lazy to describe the technical stuff.) Oh man.. it’s these kinda photos that makes me wanna own a DSLR of my own. But I guess my money is better put for other important stuff. At least for now.

Timo spent a freaking $2,600 up till now on his DLSR! How can I cough out that humongous amount!

Moving on to the next day, the actual launch day@ZOUK, Babe and I were supposed to reach the club by 12pm but alas we weren’t needed there at such an early timing. So Trung Ngyuen it was to cool ourselves from the sweltering heat outside. Yes it’s a supposedly a Vietnamese cafe but of all authentic things, their Iced Lemon Tea is a must-try.

I was so tired that I dozed off on the couch. Truthfully, I haven’t recovered from the fatigue gained in the Poly 50 run just 2 days back. Plus all the lactic acid still swirling in my thigh muscles.

And a few hours later, we stepped into ZOUK. My virgin visit there and I thought I wouldn’t wanna compare it to MOS till the end of the night. Funny thing is, we took a train to Tiong Bahru and didn’t know how to get to ZOUK either by bus or legs.

So we took a cab and eventually the fare was just $3.40. Now that’s $1 worth of ride. I find it amusingly puzzled that the cab driver actually took us and didn’t even question why we going to ZOUK at such an early time! He must be thinking, “Haiyah.. kids nowadays. So kiasu….”

See the common denominator for both pictures? Tch tch tch.

Rehearsals were ongoing and there was nothing to do for the few of us who were indirectly involved! Seriously, the waiting time was a killer. Somehow the clock was inching its way to 7.30pm, where the place is officially open to SP students.

We went exploring ZOUK and its premises. Phuture was closed, Velvet was guarded. Damn! It’s so mundane in there that we went out of the club and to the nearby neighbourhood.

I was wondering if it was nice to have an apartment there. ZOUK’s nearby, Tiong Bahru Central is not as ulu as what I thought it was and Great World City is just a street away. That means town is chucked at some corner, somewhere. But on the downside, it was a damn old estate. Not upgraded or renovated. And just that overwrites every other benefit.

The clock somehow ticked faster now and I was expecting a throng of crowd rushing in like overflowing water. Meanwhile snaps of Kimmy and Zhao Jie, with the latter identifying himself as my best friend for the night! I still don’t get it why but I think he was high.

AND after much anticipation… it was only the fashion show that was the main attraction of the night. Maybe only ’cause of familiar faces. Sad leh! From the second level, this was the only decent picture shoot-able.

In a nutshell: the crowd was so-so; I still can’t believe it they play spelling bee in a club; the music was literally music with little remix.

On the rarity of a club, there was free flow of drinks. Coke, Spite and Mountain Dew that is. Well, I’m not complaining since I don’t drink. Save for a few spontaneous faces in the crowd, I think the event would be a rather mundane one. People are actually just standing along the isles making conversations of their own!

But nevertheless, credit to the team who organised this whole event. They worked their socks off, went through major glitches and yet the party still went on. Now THAT, I was impressed.

The whole party ended at 10pm but I decided not to stay to club even though it’s a free entry on a Saturday night. I guess not all good things comes for free in life, eh?

After a major reshuffle of plans here and there with Babe, we ended up eating dinner at Tiong Bahru Plaza where I realised that indeed it was a good decision not to continue clubbing after all. Anyway, I think after that night I’ll prefer Smoove@MOS. Hahaha!

I also realise something which totally shocked the hell outta me. Something which made me think twice about things. Make that three. In fact I am still thinking about it right now.

As said earlier, never judge a book by its cover.