pass the tissues- DVD review

I hate to admit. I did enjoy this tear-jerker of a movie. It would probably go into my list of films with an engaging screenplay. (No....i did not initially rent it because there were Japanese chicks in there). It was the top grossing film in Japan in 2004 apparently.

2 thumbs up if you wanna have a good cry. ( yea yea yea...It's so gay...but i'm 'manly' enough to admit, and not many films have the qualities to....)

2006- The year in retrospect

2006...A year filled with ups and downs, twists and turns and unforseen outcomes both positive and not so positive. With 2007 only a couple days away...I felt it would be ideal to reflect on 2006...

Ahh...yes. 2006 is definitely a year filled with many exciting and unexpected turning points.

The year that saw my return to the motherland. And mother.

The year that saw my uphill challenges with adjusting back to life in the motherland.

The year that made me realise I'm a different person with a whole new outlook in life. Asian society views it as arrogance. Western society views it as open-mindedness.

The year that I realised why the family matters greatly. They love you no matter what happens. I thank them.

The year that saw me wanting to be a better son.

The year that made me realise the importance of continuos learning.

The year that saw me making some bad decisions leaving a cushy well-paying job with a buch of fun loving associates

The year that saw a period of unemployment.

The year that saw secured employment that I've had been wanting to pursue.

The year that saw many people settling down with their loved ones

The year that saw some people seperating from their loved ones.

The year that saw me dealing with a crushing blow to the heart from a loved one.

The year that saw me broadened my social and professional horizons.

The year that I returned to the people whom I missed or catch up with while away.

The year that I finally got my first ICT-reservist.

The year that saw me unwillingly sell away my souped up sexy red moped.

The year I left wonderful Walmart, coming back to practical IKEA

The year where I quit, cut-down, picked up, quit, cut-downed, picked up fuckin Marlboro Lights

The year that I left dingy bars in one island, coming back to visit more dingy bars in another.

The year that I learned to appreciate the simpler things in life

The year that I realised I'm only a year...ok as of now 4 months away from the big 3-0

The year that I finally utilised my condominium facilities.

The year I discovered many new restaurants

The year that saw me finally not pay rent.

The year that saw me washing the car in a drive through in Singapore.

The year that saw me educating, and imparting skills and experiences to the masses.

The year that just seemed to go by so fast.

2007. Ready when you are....towards a better one. Live and let live.

Christmas Eve at the New Majestic

Merry Christmas to everyone. The Eve was spent rather splendidly at the New Majestic Restaurant at the Hotel with the same namesake. Still feeling the effects of a little too much wine and joyous merry-making...I'm just leaving you to the enjoy the pics.

Salmon Tartare with a Japanese touch- in a zesty yuzu, wasabi dressing. 2 thumbs up.

A sampler featuring hong kong style char siu over some marinated jellyfish, wasabi mayo jumbo shrimp on watermelon, and curried crab claw. I was particularly impressed with the claw which came out hot.

2 variations....this one with the oysters

One cannot leave a 'chinese' restaurant' without the shark's fins. Double boiled whole fin with crabmeat in a light flavorful broth. 2 thumbs up!

Yes...drool over the abalone. Came with some freshly made delicate soft tofu.

Mum had the perch...superb. Very fresh...I glanced over the open concept kitchen to see aquariums filled with swimming live fish. Perch-not too good to look at, but definitely tasty to the palate.

The men had their lamb, with the interesting twist to it. Served with carrot cake.

An array of desserts. Yam paste, Fried Durian ice-cream, Pureed avocado with ice-cream.

Dad checking out some cute waitress...

Not a clear pic. But this was the tasty stewed beef shank with noodles. Didn't care too much for the noodle, wasn't too al dente(par-cooked) enough for me.

Of course the nite was still fairly young, met up with the Noniss' ...We knew Orchard was packed silly but no....still had to go there to soak in the christmassy atmosphere. Some place called Rouge(former Papa Joes-SPG hangout). Molina plays there along with Krueger, the bugger still rocks. And then more wine...burp.

Buon Natale.

What's for lunch?

Was around the Orchard area for a negotiation of sorts.(and xmas browsing on company time :P). Had some grub at Yoshinoya. Last time I ate there was prob. 2-3 years back and the original stuff in Japan. Hate to compare but the ones in SG is a far cry! It was a sucky lunch. The Gyu was tasteless and limp. The veggies(they dun come with veggies in Nippon) were drastically overcooked, with the melt in your mouth feeling which is utterly unappropriate for veggies. The Robatayaki Chicken sticks tasted plasticky, and smeared in some instant noodle seasoning 'black pepper sauce'.

I'll stick to Pepper lunch, at the expense of me smelling like grilled food....

lost in some unknown folder

I finally got down to cleaning out my notebook. It amazes me all the time what I can actually dig up from the unknown abyssmal depths of the 100GB hard drive. So....talk about digging up the past or dirt eh...some pics couple years back, at a gay bar, and a few drunk buggers.

Get your hands off my baby sister!!!*guy in back*
Sorry ladies, they are ABSOLUTELY not interested in ladies.
yes...in Hawaii...you can get away with slippers as a dress code in a club
ummm....think he pinched my arse...therefore the look

What's for lunch?

Yong Chow Style Fried Noodles with burning hot Chilli Padi.

I'll squeeze in a DVD review this time round as well. Caught 'Hard Candy' on DVD last night....I'm compelled to say it's probably one of the BEST movies with an excellent storyline and plot in a long time. Talks about Paedophiles and the WWW and interestingly enough, the usual lolita luvin' storyline was nowhere to be found, but instead, another take on the situation. Enuff said, don't wanna give the entire movie away, so go watch it. In the meantime, I'm hanging on to my 'balls'

What's for lunch?

mp3 players , notebooks, cell phones all getting stylish and smaller....so is today's lunch(I prefer to call it a snack) From Kim Choo's Kueh Chang Shop, a combo of nonya chang, one black rice and the other the normal one.

What's for lunch?

No fanciful bentos or lunchboxes on Mondays...boooo! Normally my eat and go days due to a packed schedule....

3 Sardine Puffs, still piping hot when i bought them...mmmm

After 15 years....

After 15 long years...

What's for lunch?

Half Spring Black Pepper Chicken, Fresh Tomatoe Slices and Egg Omellet with shallots(hidden) on Jasmine Rice...

And....alos looking forward to a facial today....yes. FACIAL. One of the many new found metrosexual activities which I will be endulging in. Especially when the facial is being done by a really hot....er mum.

what's for lunch?

Stir Fried Green beans with Fish Cake, Back bacon on white jasmine rice.

How's my weekend? Awesome.

The boss is somewhere in Kuala Lumpur, and like any other office, the standard practise and nicessities would be a simple " How's my weekend?"

One word: Awesome. Couldn't ask for more. (ok...maybe that's more than one word)

Starting of with Friday night, a chill out session at the Crew Room, finishing up the bottle of McCallan's 18yr. Met up with the owner of the place by chance, while all I noticed was the blink blink on her wrist(diamond studded Cartier)...Mid 30s' but definitely hot....one of em' hot mamas....along with the one too many eye candies....ok enuff said. the rest is up to your imagination. Finished around 2....went down for some Geylang action(nope, not what you think), revisitation of Song He Taiwan Tau Hway and oily doughsticks...mmmmm....Amazed at how much 'foreign talent' there are right now....even Spanish....darn. No Hablo Espanole. Guess Singaporeans are indeed getting quite international in their tastes....

Sat- Siti's and Im's wedding- cool. Another one bites the dust. Loaded up with the usual beef rendang and achar and such. Met up with long lost SHATEC peeps....J+ J . Great to see everyone again. Hung out at Piper's Pies for abit with Ho-man and missus. Met up with super nice and down to earth owner of the place. Potential business contacts for sure....10+ , met up with missydevious at Prinsep. Had a round of kaiten crap sushi, did not realised there were places opened till 2am....cool...now i know where to go for a late night crap sushi craving. Headed down to Coffee Club after which for a decadent chocolate fondue. Digestion overdrive....

Sun- chilled out around the house till an unexpected spa treatment came along. Location: Aranda at Paragon...posh, classy....and damn....I feel like a million bucks today. Dips into the hot(extremely hot) and cold whirpools, had a little grooming action, and finally some shiatsu neck cracking sessions....ouch. Some pain is gain. Best of all....all paid for. "Let's just say it's nice to know people in high places?" Lounging around in the armchairs and finally catching I- ROBOT....along with more chocolate fondue and a little fou fou snadwiches....mmmm

So....I've finally come to the realisation I've been missing out on all the good stuff bachelorhood has to offer....and you can be darn sure I'm looking forward to more.

Awesome.