Thai Karaoke

Was down with Flu and indigestion the past two days :( No appetite to eat also... first time falling sick in this country :( This evening, feeling a lot better, decided to accept the invitation to the 'Asian House' for dinner :) So-called the Asian House because so happened that the occupants are all from South East Asian Countries, we also have the Indonesian House, Japanese House, House of divers etc... :) Anyway, back to the dinner, we had steamboat tonight and the girls made some very nice desserts to go along...

After dinner, the guys gathered at the TV to watch Liverpool beat Arsenal 2 goals to 1 with a late goal in injury time. Well done Liverpool :) The gals were just sitting around having their girls' talk... and me being the only bachelor (out of the 6 guys) , was swarmed with questions from the Filipina/Thai/Malaysian gals how come I don't want to get married, maybe because men in their country marry at an early age, hence they were surprised to see me still unattached. Hehehe.. told them don't 'ka-jiao' me, I'm watching soccer, they were persistent for a while but in the end left me alone when I told them 'time not come' and that these kind of things cannot rush one, if I want to get married, long long time ago already done so... what am I waiting for? I don't know also, maybe waiting for the sky to drop me a wife :P What I do know is that if I were to settle down one day, it will be with a Singaporean girl. Ya I know, people complained about Singapore gals, but to me, communication is an important aspect, and somehow I find it easier and a lot more comfortable communicating with them as they will understand the things and terms we used. Just take for eg, when the gals here asked me what I did during my trip home, I told them nothing much, just stay at home and 'nua'... none of them understand what is 'nua'. Well, of course I can't expect them to know the slangs that we used, but communication have to come naturally and it would be really nice to know that someone whom you are going to spend the rest of your life with speak your language... Oops, did I whine too much... hehehe... wanted to delete what I written, no need for the whole world to know this but aiya... what the heck, it's a cyber world anyway, it's the 'me' in the real world that matters, so just leave it as it is... :)

Anyway, back to the evening, as the mood was still high, the few Thais decided to have a karaoke session. So the laptop was hooked up to the sound system and there we have the home-made karaoke :) Well, we sang all Thai songs, although I don't know any Thai but just sang along cos got English words to follow. All very beautiful sentimental Thai songs although they were mainly about broken hearts, and working away from home and missing the loved ones... The Thai guys can really sing very well, and of course I'm not too bad either :P

Had a very pleasant evening.... :) As I've slept for almost the whole of today (sick mah..), so still feeling very fresh, I came back to the office to pen this evening's events and thoughts as they were still fresh in my mind... After this, I'll probably go to the jetty to look at my 3 stars (still haven't name them yet) and talk to the Nepalese security guard... I like to talk to him, he's an 'old man', already a grandfather and has been working here since day one... Always got stories to tell me and I always tell him about my 'army' stories... Actually, if not for the 'army', I couldn't have survived here and I wouldn't have so much 'bullshit' to 'sian' the people here :P

最爱你的时候 – 周传雄

最爱你的时候 我学会了洒脱
如果你离开我 我也要好好的
最爱你的时候 你可能错过了
有什么重要呢 现在都分开了

仲夏夜的天空 看得到萤火虫
我一个人出游 我想要好好的
难道所谓的洒脱 只是另一种脆弱
想念带来的温柔 包住了整个天空

原来我依然爱着 原来爱没有尽头
萤火虫点亮旧梦 心痛已消失无踪
曾经害怕再重逢 如今信心满满的
我们将再次相见於我最爱你的时候

萤火虫小小火种 在我左肩上闪动
摸着温驯的伤口 这时有一阵感动
原来是这个时候 觉得自由的时候
是最爱你的时候

男人，海洋 - 周传雄

当我抱着你的时候
窗外风起， 黄叶飘落
以为是浪漫，原来只是
有心在飞走

不懂情人心里想的
爱就瞎了，也迷了路
想摸索什么，摸到了你
手心的沉默

最痴情的男人像海洋
爱在风暴里逞强
苦还是风平浪静的模样
卷起了依恋那么长
挥手目送你启航
到你觉得我给不了的天堂

温柔的男人像海洋
爱在关键时隐藏
而心酸汇集都敞开胸膛
做远远看护的月光
不做阻挡你的墙
我的爱是折下自己的翅膀
送给你飞翔

Back to paradise

I'm back to paradise... for work. Just touch down two hours ago and the workaholic in me immediately directed me to sit at the office to clear emails. Just finished replying to some 20 over emails and still feeling fresh, so decided to write some nonsense.. :P

It was a good trip home, basically do nothing but just 'nua' at home most of the time... Rested quite a bit and had kinda regain some strength and energy to go on for another few months. Almost tasted all my favourite food, the ones that I missed were the beef hor fun at Geylang, Tau Huay at Geylang, Chong Pang Nasi Lemak and most important - Katong Laksa!!! How could I miss that!!?? Haizz... bo bian, anybody want to DHL one packet over to me... :P

Before I left the house in the evening, my mum specifically 'ordered' that I MUST come back for reunion dinner next year. A little bit difficult cos during that time is a busy period for me, but I guess I'll work things out somehow. Haven't seen my mum for 4 months and realised she's aged a lot. I seldom look at my parents so closely, and when I do this time round, I realise that age is catching up with both of them, lines are showing and the hair is greying. Perhaps I have not been a filial enough son for them although they have always been supportive. I know they wanted me to be by their side all the time especially after my sis got married but I chose to work in another place. :( I know they are not too keen about me working overseas but I told them I have to go :( I know they wanted very much for me to settle down but yet I chose to ignore their wishes. :( Haizz... bad boy? I don't know, all I know is I will promise to do whatever I can to ensure that they will be happy always. I got an email once which tells the meaning of 'family':

Father
And
Mother
I
Love
You

Sounds logical? :)

妈妈，我一定回来吃团圆饭。

Life is like a box of chocolates...

This morning went for sunrise kayak with 6 guests, a Russian couple, a Japanese couple and an Australian couple (both Doctors). The Russian gentlemen was a BIG man and he had problems getting in and out of the kayak, and I've to help him everytime. After watching the sunrise, on the return trip I pulled the kayak closer to the waters for him to get on, I thought it would be a little easier for him and me. I did not noticed that the water was still quite shallow (mistake no.1), and once he settled into the kayak, I did not notice that the kayak sank into the sand (mistake no.2). After I helped his wife settled in and tried to get the kayaks moving, to my horror, because it got stuck in the sands, it didn't move an inch!! Although I could have asked the gentlemen to get off the kayak which will make things A LOT easier but being service oriented , I didn't (not nice mah!!). So I pull and pull and pull, ran to the back to push and push and push. Eventually, after exhausting almost all my energy, I managed to get the kayaks into the water... yeah, happines!! But I was totally drained, took a minute to recover and quickly catch up with the other guests!!

The Australian couple was really nice and very friendly, the Japanese, as usual lor - chicken and duck, with my half-past six Japanese, I don't understand what they say, and they don't understand what I say. Although the Russian couple spoke little English, but still we could somewhat understood each other, and I guess he also 'pai seh' because of the 'kayak got stuck' incident and insisted that I take the USD20 tips from him :) Just yesterday I was complaining about the drop in exchange rates making me lose out on salary and this morning I 'recovered' the losses... Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you gonna get :)

But I did not take the tips lah... cos Management staff not allowed to :(

So I'm still complaining 'money no enough'... :P

Crazy thing to do in the water

3 more day and I'll be on my way home :)

So sad, cos USD is weakening against the SGD, that means I'm losing out on the exchange rate on my salary :( Although may not be much, but the exchange difference can be used to watch a movie, eat Laksa, ba chor mee, char kway teow, hokkien mee, prawn noodles... etc. Anybody watched 'Shark Tale' yet, seems interesting from the trailers but according to the reviews, it wasn't that good. How about '2046', 'Taxi' ? Hmmm... it's movie time when I get back home... ;)

This morning I gave a short history lesson to my staff. Out of the blue, they asked me whether 'Singapore' has got any meaning. So I told them the story about Sang Nila Utama, how his ship was caught in the storm and he had to throw his crown into the water to calm the storms and then when he saw the lion in the jungle and named the fishing village 'Singapura'. Not bad ya, at least I got something to tell people about the history of our country and can 'smoke' them a bit about the 'rich history' of Singapura - the Lion City :) We all know 'Singa' means 'lion' in Malay, I was just wondering if that time, our dear Sang Nila Utama saw a tiger and named it as 'Tiger City', our country will be called 'Harimau-pura' :P And perhaps we won't be having Tiger beer liao, maybe call Lion beer :P

The Count Down

Just came back from the bar after a nice chat with my colleagues and played a few rounds of pool. We got a new dive instructor and guess where he came from? Mauritius!! Wow, it's a country on one of my 'die die must visit' list!! Will try to get more info from him about his home country and probably I'll visit Mauritius someday when I'm still in this part of the world :) Lots of places I want to go, already plan out my itinery for next year and the year after, on where I want to go and where I can stay, just hope that the plans can become a reality.

Don't know why, the thought of being able to go home soon kinda makes me wanna finish my work even faster :) 12 midnight here, but I don't feel tired or sleepy at all, just wanted to quickly finish the month-end closing and enjoy the rest of next week counting down :)

Okay, enough nonsense, back to work!! Target to finish at 2am, sleep and be ready for another war tomorrow.

Have a good weekend ahead!!

Current favourite song

Eyes on me - Faye Wong (Theme song from Final Fantasy VIII)

Whenever sang my songs
On the stage, on my own
Whenever said my words
Wishing they would be heard
I saw you smiling at me
Was it real or just my fantasy
You'd always be there in the corner
Of this tiny little bar

My last night here for you
Same old songs, just once more
My last night here with you?
Maybe yes, maybe no
I kind of liked it that way
How you shyly placed your eyes on me
Oh, did you ever know?
That I had mine on you

*Darling, so there you are
With that look on your face
As if you're never hurt
As if you're never down
Shall I be the one for you
Who pinches you softly but sure
If frown is shown then
I will know that you are no dreamer

So let me come to you
Close as I wanted to be
Close enough for me
To feel your heart beating fast
And stay there as I whisper
How I loved your peaceful eyes on me
Did you ever know
That I had mine on you

Darling, so share with me
Your love if you have enough
Your tears if you're holding back
Or pain if that's what it is
How can I let you know
I'm more than the dress and the voice
Just reach me out then
You will know that you're not dreaming

我愿是你最温柔的风

词，曲 ：莫凡

是你带来莫名的愁
想你的心何时能罢休
我想做你夜里最暖的火
渴望有你的梦
能朝夕相从
就已足够

我愿是你最温柔的风
拂掠过你的发梢匆匆
用深情编织我的温柔
无怨无尤

我愿是你最温柔的风
想吻着你的发香入梦
这一生只愿陪你渡过
已无所求

Message in a bottle

On my way back to Kuda Huraa from Rihiveli, I suddenly had a crazy idea! I finished my bottle of mineral water, got a piece of paper and wrote something on it. Put it into the bottle, seal it and when no one was looking, I dropped it into the ocean :)

Sorry lah, don't scold me, I also know this is so environmental unfriendly but at that point in time I just wanted to do it. Maybe because after living Robinson Crusoe style makes me do silly things...kekeke... :P

Anyway, I'm not going to tell anybody what I wrote on that piece of paper. If one day, anyone of you find a message in a bottle signed off by 'The Bounty Hunter', you'll know what I wrote... :)

Rihiveli Beach Resort

Spent two days at Rihiveli Beach Resort, which is in the Southern part of Maldives and an hour speedboat ride from the Airport. Although the beaches are beautiful and the water is crsytal clear, and sealife aplenty, Rihiveli is not your typical luxury resort, the resort is run Robinson Crusoe style and so are the rooms. There's no swimming pool in the resort, no TV, no radio, no phone, no aircon, no hot water in the room! Notice the tree trunk 'growing' in the middle of the room? Facilities are bare minimum and they only serve Maldivian food and you eat with your hands. :) Really machiam Castaway!!



The guests (mainly ang mohs) that I've met and spoke to seems to like it as it really brings them back to 'kampong style', walking around barefooted, swimming and sunbathing topless or not wearing anything... ahem.. (but I kept my eyes to myself lah)!!! For me, no hot water to bath, I already sian half :( But I still managed to enjoyed myself a little and had a nice tan :)

The bad experience here was when I was threading through the waters to go to the other deserted island, some white kingfishers tried to attacked me. Although the 'attack' lasted only a while and they retreated after I kept splashing the sea waters at them but one of them scratched my arm. Not really serious injuries but is enough to make me return to seek medical attention. I later learnt from the locals that the kingfishers rarely attack humans, hmmm... maybe the kingfishers didn't like my face :(


This is the island I was trying to explore and the stupid kingfishers scratched my arm :( #%*&$@ 王八蛋！！

So for those who want an adventurous holiday and wants to live Robinson Crusoe style, can try Rihiveli :P But if you're looking for a nice relaxing, holiday in the Maldives, Rihiveli Beach Resort is not the place.

More photos at
http://community.webshots.com/user/kokwhee