Expricornis Reverie

Litter Free... almost!

2012-02-15T22:37:00.006+08:00

Mok Zai has finally reached the green stage of Litter Kwitter Potty Training.

He's a amazingly smart cat , so very proud of this kitten. Once the training is complete, he will be comfortable using the toilet bowl without the tray and litter. Now, all I have to do is flush the toilet bowl every morning instead of clearing cat poop! It's like having the best of both worlds; joys of having a cat without the hazzle of the cat litter.

Back from nursery!

2012-02-13T16:32:00.012+08:00

It was no accident that I bought many drought and pest resistant plants from my latest trip to the nursery. I quite tired of going on holidays and worrying about the state of my plants when I come home. In addition, my mom gave me a neem tree and a variety of basil. As western herbs are expensive in Singapore, I plan to add thyme, parsley and sage to my garden. Another plant I really want is the Lemon Myrtle plant. I saw it while bush walking in Brisbane and was attracted to it's lemony fragrance. Wonder if anyone is willing to donate a stalk to me?

Neem Tree

Curry Plant

Oregano

Euphoria Milli

Snake Weed

Cuphea

Chinese New year!

2012-01-31T15:35:00.004+08:00

Ok here I am. A new year ( after chinese new year). Countdown to the big 3O this year. At the threshold of youth, counting my days of freedom before surrendering my body to baby making. The inevitable life of domestication; juggling the roles of artist, businesswoman , writer, educator, dogcat owner, mountain climber... and later, housewife and mother.... the list goes on. Cherishing every bit of wine and coffee I'm allowed to drink. It's crazy busy, setting my business, churning out art for the new upcoming picturebook. Yeah, it's time to roll ! Things are finally getting interesting :)

Be quiet, so that life may speak.

2012-01-30T01:38:00.004+08:00

This is a beautiful article from zenhabits. Too many a time, we let noise overshadow our lives. The never-ending human chatter eclipses our mind from our purpose. Time to let go of our frustrations and agitations and stop the mind-chatter, especially each night before we go to bed :)

Creating Silence from Chaos

Post written by Leo Babauta.

We are often afraid of silence, because its emptiness feels idle, boring, unproductive, and scary. And so we fill our lives with chaos, noise, clutter.

But silence can be lovely, and therapeutic, and powerful.

It can be the remedy for our stress and the habits that crush us.

If we want quiet in our lives, how do we create it?

I’ve been exploring this myself. As a father of six kids, I have to admit that I don’t always have silence in my life. That’s not a complaint — I love the messy noise that my family brings — but silence can be a welcome refuge from that noise at times.

I create silence by subtracting, and not filling the resulting emptiness withe noise or clutter.

And so my life is a constant experimentation with subtracting. When I’ve subtracted, and learn to love the empty silence, I subtract some more. Subtraction is a beautiful process.

Prefer subtraction over addition.

Learn to be content with little, or nothing.

Realize that silence is beautiful.

Find yourself in the empty space that results.

Empty a room, and put almost nothing back except that which produces quiet.

Speak less, listen more, contemplate even more.

Walk in silence. Watch the leaves quiver, fall in silence, whisper in the wind.

Sit and do nothing. Listen to your mind make noise in the silence, allow it to subside.

Eschew video, iPods, books, the Internet, mobile devices, social networks, and other purveyors of noise.

Be quiet, so that life may speak.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T00:28:00.003+08:00

Merry Christmas ! I celebrated Christmas eve with the women I love. Though neither of us are Christians or Catholics nor do we live in a country where there is a winter solstice. we still enjoy the spirit of Christmas. Just love quality family time!

Youth!

2011-12-24T23:27:00.009+08:00

Flowers bloom and wither within a day. Caterpillars become Butterflies. Kittens grow up. We grow older everyday. Youth! Such a precious energy. Cherish it, hold on tight, enjoy it, enrich it, bathe in the warm glow of it, feel the energy and never ever let it go!

Life in Singapore

2011-12-08T11:03:00.007+08:00

Many people asked me about Life in Singapore. Well, my country is actually an small island so it's actually a island country. Though small in size, this commonwealth country is the finest land of South East Asia. Jim Rogers said Singapore is an Idot's Guide to Asia, it is so true.

It boasts a rainforest climate without the rainforest. It's streets are clean, the pavements are lined with carefully manicured trees and bushes .The housing estates are generally safe and follow a strict copy and paste design and the only way to differentiate each block is the Block Number at the side of each building. Unlike our neighboring countries, we actually maintain our buildings after building them ; repainting, upgrading and renovating.

Some of us, Singaporeans speak English and most of us speak Singlish, a local slang. Singaporeans are generally kind and charitable. Some foreigners call us naive and ignorant but we stand our ground as NICE people. Though we do not possess world class customer services or smile at strangers, we are generally genuinely genuine to people, even to foreigners.

Singapore has no mountains and our highest hill is only 166m. We have many parks and pockets of planned and unplanned nature trails. With 5 million people, these nature places can be crowded at times. Daring Singaporeans and foreigners venture to Truly Asia Malaysia to trek and do outdoor sports or even use the Malaysian highway to speed. Truly Asia Malaysia is not for the faint-hearted as it has many pickpockets, crooks, corrupted policemen and the classic; loosing passports cases . Thank goodness, Singapore is Truly Not Malaysia.

Like every classic asian city, shopping is a staple pastime. The low cost of living means more disposable income for expat foreigners. With so many types of people, our food is a melting pot of different cultures. As the Singapore food gets more and more systematic, I find myself liking Malaysia's food better. Not anyone can be a hawker or cook, just because they have a stall in a food court! Chilli crab is a must try!

If you intend to live in Singapore long term, you should consider putting your kids in a local school so he can better adjust to the Singapore culture and language. Local schools are very welcoming to foreign students. One important factor, Singapore education system is highly competitive, so the schools might want to test your child's level of "competency" before putting him/her in the school. I highly recommend United World College. I have seen them in debates, they clearly outshine the brightest students in the Singapore top elite schools.

Life in Singapore is not for everyone. It can be monotonous and boring.This imperfect island is like fully packed train that never stops. It has an efficient engine that actually works and is constantly moving, improving and reinventing. Passengers arrive and leave everyday, but there will always be some who will never step off the train.

Princess and the Frog

2011-11-15T16:15:00.001+08:00

Something fun !

Pinned!

2011-11-01T16:48:00.001+08:00

Manimals!

2011-10-22T23:44:00.001+08:00

A fun Self Potrait!

Harriet Potter!

2011-10-09T01:27:00.004+08:00

This is my Weekend Jam entry for Art Jammers in Facebook!

Topic : Choose a MALE character from the comicsverse and re-present him as a FEMALE pin-up.

Guess who!

Let the Spirit flow in

2011-10-06T22:53:00.006+08:00

I am awake finally.

Paralysed by the monotony of life, I lived comfortably from an office chair churning out artwork for mindless game after meaningless game. As time passed ,the offices changed, the work varied a little. It was good money, my parents were happy.

Fortunately, my hunger to be a good artist was still burning strong. So, for the pass few months, I went into this phrase of intense reflection and it drove me bat-shit crazy.

The brain went something like this...

Being technically good is not that great!
Using my mind to create art that has a purpose is awesome.
Being original is great despite the idea being just ok, bad or mad hat crazy.
Treating every obstacle like a challenge is bad...
Free will to choose which battle to fight is being smart!
Walking away from a stable job is not stupid!
Can I live without online shopping ? Of Course!
Dying now, doing what I do now, is regretful...
Dying now, at least trying to do what I am suppose to do is a relief...
Dying now, finally achieving what I am suppose to do is being real to myself.

And so, I quit my job. Took on a more meaningful job that pays me much less but will give me more time and help me fulfil my dream bucket list. It's funny how when I decided to put my foot down and make a change, the universe reinforced my decision by opening up new opportunities immediately.

Stray Cat Chronicles

2011-08-15T23:18:00.016+08:00

Max, the blind kitty is just beautiful. With a love and care from his new family and cat siblings, he transformed from a scratching and biting kitten to an affectionate and playful one. What a joy and relief to see him happy and adjusting so well. Janet and family will be keeping him permanently because they just love him too much !

Meantime, I been snooping around the place where I found Max. Indeed, I found a colony of cats! Inbreeding is prevalent. Determined to eradicate future unwanted kittens in my vicinity, I embark on a mission to earn their trust by feeding them. Eventually, I hope to sterilize the cats especially the roaming tomcats, which will breed with any female in heat regardless whether they are kin or not! It is important that this whole process is done humanely and smoothly.

10 beneficial things Artists should ask themselves By Bobby Chiu

2011-08-15T12:24:00.002+08:00

Here's 10 important questions to ask yourself. Read them constantly as a checklist to make sure your are heading in the right direction and using your artistic potential.

1. What motivates you to create art? Write down your answer and think about how you can use this very important information.

2. What kinds of information have you been putting on the internet? The internet is the new resume. If I can find dumb pics or comments from you then other people can too...

3. Does your art express something interesting? Great art means something to its viewers, not just its creator.

4. Does failure push you forward? How you deal with failure will determine how skillfull you will become.

5. Do you enjoy arguing or flaming people's work? If you are the type of person to hate on others, it will come back to you. Especially with the internet and all the social networking.

6. Do you try out new methods/materials/subjects that might be unconfortable at first? Success is inevitable if you always choose to believe "It is my obligation to try."

7. Do you have a strong purpose or goal? When you have a purpose, you stand by it. Something special happens when you show an undying drive to achieve a goal.

8. Are you open to meeting new people and hearing others opinions with an open mind? Your heart & mind are the gates to success & happiness. Keep them open or miss out on great opportunities.

9. You can either let your environment shape you or choose YOURSELF to be who you want to be. The body & mind can be shaped into almost any type of person you wish to be. You just have to train it through persistence & constant search for knowledge. (*I started to be "good" in art when I decided to be extremely serious about it.) What kind of person do you want to be?

10. Do you constantly think about your goals? The best way to accomplish a goal is to have it on your mind all the time. Keep thinking about it until you obtain your goal. I'm not the first to say this one but I can't emphasize it enough.

I think it's important to mention that I don't believe I been given any natural talent when it comes to art, I believe I'm PERSISTENT. Anyone can be persistent.

Now PUNCH that laziness in the FACE and have a great day!!

Sending positive vibes to you all.

Bobby Chiu

Blind Kitty, Max

2011-08-08T10:59:00.004+08:00

Blind kitten is safely with Janet, another fosterer now. It turns out to be a boy, not a girl. It was a rash decision on my part of thinking to surrender the kitten to SPCA, knowing that it will be put down. And I'm not a supporter of blind altruism. My husband, a practising Buddhist was very unsupportive of my adoption the blind kitten and initially insisted I give it to SPCA on the spot. Being the person that I am, my heart couldn't do it. My mind rationalise and calculated but my body refuse to follow. This will definitely haunt me forever if I choose death for the kitten. Now I know the capacity of compassion I have and my husband's.

Little Blind Sukie

2011-08-03T11:35:00.004+08:00

Last night was crazy. We came across a Jack Russel Terrier (JRT) running around YCK, almost got hit by car twice. A few passerbys including ourselves gather to try catching it but the JRT manage to outrun and outsmart us. It's impossible to catch a JRT ! Meantime, while everyone was running around looking for the JRT , I saw this little kitten sitting smack right in the middle of the road behind the hospital! On closer inspection, the kitten has no eyeballs. What am I to do but the right thing. So I bundled the fella and brought it home. SPCA came, they still couldn't locate the elusive JRT and SPCA left. I couldn't surrender the kitten without knowing that I have tried my very best.

Mok Zai,our teenage cat was totally unhappy and begin his territorial stalking wardance. He was quiet this morning because the kitten was meowing very loudly. What am I to do?

On a good note, I learn that the blind kitten knows how to use a little box! It doesn't play with toys but loves to explore and very hungry for touch. It will not stop meowing until I touch it. So far no reply from any potential adopters. Let's see what fate installs for this kitten.. . and yes, I'm hoping for a miracle.

Check out :

http://www.catwelfare.org/node/4953?post=6&age=0

The Temper

2011-08-01T16:23:00.005+08:00

I slammed the door and his head bumped roughly into my leg. He was furious. Immediately he turned around. With a short and sharp "Naowwww!", he shot across the hall and sank his claws into the sofa. The sunlight illuminated those cold blue eyes and they seems to glow with contempt. "Scratch, Scratch,Scratch " I could hear the threads of my sofa snapping one by one under those daggers of his. "MZ! Stop that at once!" I bellowed at him. He stopped mid-action and stared at me defiantly, silently challenging me to do better than that. I stared unrelentingly at him, giving him the fiercest face I should muster. As sudden as it started, he relaxed, undid his claws and "meowww" sweetly. My face simmered . He's just a kitten after all. How can anyone be angry with with a meow like that?

Overcoming Adversity

2011-07-25T10:36:00.006+08:00

Artist

It is important to maintain focus on personal goals when faced with adversity. Live the present moment surrounded by the creative energy and imagination. Always think; never give up, persistence, improvement, patience, practise.

Chart the steps to reach goals and establish habits that will favor the dream and empower the goal. Failure is a necessary teacher. If it's easy, it won't be fun. Test and Try, learn on your own time. Each try is a step nearer to the goal. Finally, when you'll reach a proficient stage, you will see that you'll already freed from the old life.

Dwelling in the swells of negativity will only give birth to hate and envy. Humans in this state will only suck the living dry. The light has to come from within and be shared wholesomely.

Always know that you can do it. The only thing you need to do is, not give up. Devout body, mind and soul to the mission and life will fall into place.

Despair

2011-07-20T14:35:00.003+08:00

Alex Grey

How much anaesthetic do a creative mind needs to be permanently put to sleep?

What happens when the creative mind finally wakes up from the pain-numbing dream and realise it cannot run away from the "imagination".

Is financial stability more important than sanity?

Character tutorials for cg artist

2011-07-14T17:40:00.003+08:00

I found some incredible tutorials for character artist.

Scott Eaton Undead Warrior Tutorials

http://pixelrapture.com/?page_id=241

Scott Eaton anatomy sculpture

http://www.pixologic.com/zclassroom/artistinaction/scotteaton/

A Walk In The Park

2011-07-10T16:00:00.014+08:00

Walking in a short route of Lamington National Park was a breath of fresh air from the quiet city of Brisbane. The rainforest is so beautiful, alive and dangerous! They have poisonous spiders and stinging trees along the walking path. Our self-depreciating guide, Damian, patiently explained to us that an unsuspecting traveler might grab a sting tree leaf accidentally and end up in the hospital ! Treacherous and interesting, Australians are truly lucky to have gems like these .

Bush walkers

Rainforest

Prison Farm for white-collar crimes

Tree Funnel Web Spider

Sting Tree Leaf

Lower Ballanjui Falls

Cedar tree

Lookout at Binna Burra Mountain Lodge

this is what life is about

Ser Meow-Alot

2011-06-24T11:15:00.008+08:00

牧仔 has been honourably meowed by lovable King Tommen as Ser Meow-Alot.

His impeccable breeding; street cat + siamese , this tom catling has the balls to kick ass and meow his way to people's hearts. Ser Meow-Alot is truely in a class of his own; saving granny chihuahua, attacking big monstrous sofas, this catling never shy away from any challenge.His latest endeavour is to take down Aunt Janet's castle while his lords travel to faraway lands to look for treasure.

Although, Ser Meow-Alot will be bounded by knight's law and will not be taking lands and fathering children, he will always be a knight in shining armor for all girls alike!

My job title is artist but I am not an artist , yet.

2011-06-17T17:14:00.005+08:00

It's a rude awakening. During a talk about Vincent Van Gogh, a friend makes an unintentional comment that it's not too late for me to do art. Taken aback, I told him I am already an artist, it's my job. He immediately clarified his comment and all is well.

Upon more reflection, being a computer graphics artist specialising in character modelling, am I considered an artist or just another "mouse pusher"? This highlights my initial frustration of my job, having nobody who really appreciates my art, the effort I use to lovingly create each character base on a rough concept. In an online game, art plays a secondary role to game design.

Being a character modeller is almost like a stone mason, hammering away to perfect a creation , designed by an architect. Or, a bricklayer building a part of a house. It is very nameless and tireless.

So, it boiled down to dissatisfaction and downright stupidity. What am I doing with my life ? I read so much, trained so hard as a character modeller and all these while, I didn't put my creativity to paper.

I am not looking for fame or money. Just a basic recognition of being an artist , not a mouse pusher or 3d operator or factory worker. Last month, I had joined Dominance War V and finished my first original concept painting complete with background and all. Perhaps, it's time to work with more intensity and do more "real" artist work.

Higher Pleasures and Lower Pleasures

2011-06-15T11:59:00.005+08:00

The Greatest-Happiness Principle, deals with doing the greatest good for the most amount of people.

"it is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied, And if the fool or the pig are of different opinion, it is because they only know their side of the question",

Mill touts the importance of being well brought up and knowledgeably curious about the world, and understanding higher pleasures such as art and music, than to be uneducated and complacent. One need not be personally satisfied with one's life to be able to contribute to the "total sum happiness" of a society.

By John Stuart Mill

Having pets and plants are a way of life

2011-06-14T11:38:00.005+08:00

Moonflower

An animal's life is so simple. As long the animal are eating well and produce beautiful healthy looking faeces, it means they are well and happy. Pets and Plants are living troves of earth's knowledge. They keep the six senses wide open and keep me in touch with nature when in the urban jungle. Gardening brings about a silence that is enjoyable and so addictive. The language of plants are so different, they don't speak with words, but they use their leaves, chemical messages, flowers to communicate. Pets allow me to understand myself better because they will mirror my energy. One thing, pets and plants have in common, they all respond to care and love. Once they are in sync with your energy, the rewards they give will be boundless.

牧仔 , the cat!

2011-06-10T23:27:00.007+08:00

My kitten is here! We adopted him through a foster-er, Janet from Cats Welfare Society.

Initially, we were there to look at his other brother who is extremely beautiful but we fallen in love with his shy and endearing demeanor instead.

A beautiful fawn coloured 2 months old local cat with a touch of Siamese genes.

He is confident enough to roam the house immediately after arriving at my house. After 2 hours of exploring and playing , he is finally sound asleep, to my relief !

Peoms

2011-06-09T16:09:00.003+08:00

I found an excellent site that teaches one to read and the meanings of chinese peoms.

Tang Dynasty Peoms

Cat Hunt ! Part I

2011-06-05T13:31:00.007+08:00

Cats are such beautiful creatures. I always love cats, maybe that's why my dog looks like a cat too Hahaha! So I went to SPCA again!

I saw this beautiful tortoiseshell cat called Pixie. No surprise about her name because she's so tiny for a 6 mth old.

She is also the exact temperament that Keat is looking for; mellow and submissive. She is the epitome of girly-ness. Jingle will be able to accept her more readily.

Well, if Pixie is still in SPCA by the end of June this month, we might get her.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Another cat, we are looking for is this 5 month old beautiful odd eye cat.

Unfortunately, Snowflake is deaf. Regardless, I am going to take a look at her and see if her temperament is suitable for our family. Uncle Francis has already contacted his friend who is able to take this cat in if no adopters are willing to adopt Snowflake.

Wedding Bliss in Vietnam

2011-06-01T20:36:00.002+08:00

Sean and Mae wedding in Hue, Vietnam!

Tears of joy overflowing! Although it was a very short trip for us, the company, coffee, French vegetarian cuisine and alcohol made this a real awesome whirlwind trip.

Stalking the Chihuahua

2011-05-31T10:40:00.006+08:00

Jingle enjoying herself in the garden; sunbathing, scratching her paws, eating soil, sniffing. Notice, the pots are bigger than her!

Dominance War V : Goddess of Nothingness

2011-05-25T20:59:00.004+08:00

First Dominance war entry!

I present you the Goddess of Nothingness.

She is the black hole. Her womb is the birthplace of galaxies. She sucks in all life into her warm silky blackness at the crux of her tentacles at every millennial cycle. Is she a nympho? The Goddess of Nothingness takes everything into her ; planets, gods, memories and light itself. She consumes everything and leave no bones. She is the mother. Her weapon is her ever-thirsty womb. Her beauty is her simplicity ; No wrong, no right, only hunger. No one knows when she will finally rest and give birth to the new galaxies,but till then, one can only pray that they won't be next.

I have learned so much about painting a scene;

perspective, lighting, atmosphere, layout, pose etc etc

The Colour Purple

2011-05-24T00:13:00.005+08:00

The garden shows a part of myself that I never knew. It's the colour, Purple... that is truly me.

Common Morning Glory

Butterfly Pea

Asagao / Japanese Morning Glory

A Visit to SPCA

2011-05-21T21:13:00.006+08:00

Dogs, man's best friends. SPCA has a ton of them. Beautiful pure breeds,

gorgeous Mongrels, cute puppies of all colours, dogs of all shapes,sizes and ages! Why would anyone purchase a pet from a pet shop or worse, an unscrupulous breeder?

Mongrels are made by nature! Their genes are chosen by nature. Theirs are genes of the best wits and brawn and occasionally, beauty too. Their puppies do not have bad habits like stepping over than own feces, or eating their own feces which is common in purebred puppies raise in overcrowded puppymills. They have a lower chance of having sensitive skin or genetic related diseases which are also common in purebreeds due to inbreeding.

Invest in obedience training and effort to train your dog and get years and years of pure joy and unconditional love in return.

Understand your Dog. Love your Dog. Make the effort.

Life is precious. Think carefully, Choose carefully.

Earth + Heart = Life

2011-05-16T10:08:00.003+08:00

Nothing really dies, with love by their side.

Hot Weather = Sleepy Dog

2011-05-09T11:34:00.003+08:00

Chilli Padi Flowers

2011-05-09T11:13:00.010+08:00

After 2.5 months, they flowered!

That's right, the chilli padi seeds that I germinated from a dog bowl :)

Now, patiently waiting for those red spicy little things to emerge ...

The Mountain by Terje Sorgjed

2011-04-18T11:03:00.000+08:00

The Mountain from Terje Sorgjerd on Vimeo.

Asagao flowers

2011-04-04T23:04:00.002+08:00

The white japanese morning glory blooms...

My newest buy!

2011-04-04T22:45:00.002+08:00

Oops I did it again!

2011-03-31T15:23:00.004+08:00

REI.com is a online shop for adventure fashionistas! I just ordered this gorgeous Brown Sugar Osprey Backpack at a very good price through Vpost. Can't wait for it to arrive !

A new hobby

2011-02-28T17:00:00.006+08:00

Oh I love Gardening ! Love the black fluffy soil, the incredibly long earth worms, the feel of the compost breaking in my grip, the way the dirt and stones crunch together under my feet, the daily attempts to predict the weather, the occasional big gust of wind that ruffles my hair, the warmth of the sun baking my skin, the washing of my tools ... I can go on and on.

Best of all, I love it when I see my seeds sprout roots and grow tiny leaves. Some seeds like the 4 -angle beans take a full month to germinate, some like the Japanese morning glory takes only a day. Patience is well-learned when it comes to my new hobby.

Everything is so alive! Dirt could produce such wonderous things. It's a journey just began. The earth has much to teach and I'm the ever willing student.

The walls

2011-02-15T21:56:00.003+08:00

Everyone so down lately. Why is everything so hard and they must tell everybody how hard is it.

Thankfully, I'm weird and not think like them.

Walls are there to keep the other people out !

Nepal Annapurna Base Camp

2011-02-15T20:58:00.004+08:00

Workplace

2011-01-17T10:40:00.004+08:00

gorgeous!

Gardening, the world of plants

2011-01-17T09:52:00.008+08:00

My garden is being invaded my alien species! The bermuda grass is fighting a losing battle against the weeds. On a good note, we got a new bamboo addition :) It's like a breath fresh air in our very bare garden. I have began growing some morning vines I found near my office in little pots, still don't know if they will root. I hope they do as I envision my fences to be covered in beautiful morning glory vines and butterfly peas vines. Not easy trying to start a garden from scratch. Also, managed to get some medicinal herbs from an uncle in Pualu Ubin, I transplanted the herbs into a big pot. Hopefully they will do well in the new environment at home. Still haven't finish my e-book on vegetable gardening, once I do, I will start farming my land !

Up Up Up

2011-01-12T22:49:00.002+08:00

I feel too alive to be working in office right now!
Bad news in office when I was gone, now there's a sad feeling throughout the office. I'm still having my awesome self and my positive attitude and my thoughts up up up, it's not easy to stay like that all the time, but I really do not want to be sad. Up Up Up!

Back in SG

2011-01-11T13:39:00.002+08:00

Back in sg and feeling so Alive! Had my first taste of trekking in snow while it snowed. It was the first winter snow on the way to abc. The weather is freezing cold but the mountains were spectacular. We were right in the middle of the peaks... I could almost touch them... It was low season so we had lodges to ourselves most of the time. Met the most interesting people at ABC.. literally at ABC. Phew... just glade to be home in one piece. Lost weight and I have amazingly powerful legs now :)

Nepal HoneyMoon

2010-12-23T14:22:00.001+08:00

Going Nepal Tomorrow!!! Fulfilling a dream ...

Xander n Gang Rocks it!

2010-12-22T16:32:00.000+08:00

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Zealot Christmas XD

2010-12-22T13:49:00.000+08:00

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-22T13:15:00.003+08:00

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Keatopia

2010-12-09T23:54:00.002+08:00

Singapore Toys, Games and Comic Convention

2010-12-08T10:53:00.007+08:00

Presenting Keatopia! Keat will be having a Art Booth at Singapore Toys, Games and Comic Convention, Artist Alley K8. This year is really big because it's run by New York Comic Con.

We've been busy preparing for this. Sleep deprived and overworked, not to mention the number of crops up such as computer crash! Thank goodness for last minutes backup and good thinking. The Sketchbooks are on their way here after getting printed in K.L. It is going to be awesome!

Kindle

2010-12-02T22:15:00.005+08:00

The latest KINDLE! Bought this with a lighted leather case all below USD 200 :)

Reading

2010-05-05T19:33:00.002+08:00

Unlike last year , the year of change, this year is the year of Action. Well let's start an update on my tasks for this year 2010. I have a house to renovate, a marriage to plan, a adventure trip to organize and save up for a Nepal trip. Unlike before, I am not tearing my hair out or going berserk. I'm just doing it one at a time :) Feels good.

Neil Gaiman's American Gods is finally off my reading list, it has been a real trip. I think he must be on crack when he writes these books. They utterly crazy and plausible at the same time. Crazy themes, so my thing. Today, I saw Amazon's Kindle. Great device! Every Book reader should get E-Reader like that.

This is the spec :

Display: 6" diagonal E-Ink® electronic paper display, 600 x 800 pixel resolution at 167 ppi, 4-level gray scale

Size (in inches): 7.5" x 5.3" x 0.7"

Weight: 10.3 ounces

System requirements: None, because it doesn't require a computer

link

Fuzzy Bun!

2010-02-10T13:48:00.004+08:00

It's been a long time since I updated. Yeah I have finally left Koei. It's a bittersweet farewell. After all, I have grown so much there. Definitely, have emerged a mentally strong person and better artist.

Now at 27, I'm clear about my goals like never before. Adventure has never left me. What I really really need now is to brush up my cg skills and drawing fundamentals.. to bring my art to new heights.

Yes, getting married and bought a house. 2009 was pretty amazing. So, 2010 is going to be a year of realizing all that I have planned in 2009... and more :)

Btw, the hamster is one of Qifen's babies... Mantou is her name !

2010

2010-01-06T16:52:00.000+08:00

“I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula of failure-which is to try to please everybody”
Herbert Swope- Pulitzer Prize Winner

It is a new year, a new start. This is a time to create new goals. Don’t worry about whether you are pleasing anyone around you, what other people may think of you, what they think about what you’re doing or how you are doing it. It is important to stand alone, at times, make decisions for yourself that you know will enhance the quality of your life. Dream big, constantly remind yourself of what it is you want in your life and follow through. Begin today, January 6, 2010, and write down what you want. Start your sentence with “ I want……..”

Soul Talk

2009-10-17T20:55:00.006+08:00

I'm 27 this year. In this age where people can lived up to 80 years old, I'm barely a full-fledged adult. Buying a house is just the first step towards independence. As I ascend to adulthood, I often look back my childhood dreams with a deep longing. When I look into the mirror, it is not a face I see, but the soul looking back at me. Should I put aside my day-dreams and ideals to face what the modern day adults call reality? I often hear them say ' it happens everywhere, it's part of life' I think they merely got used to it and let the cycle repeats. What if I take NO for an answer? This is not part of my life, I reject the notion of " it happens everywhere, it's part of life ". So... as I ascend to adulthood, my childhood dreams are coming with me, nothing is impossible. Paul Coelho's novel, The Alchemist is a great affirmation of my ideals, my soul talk. The most amazing thing is I began to see the omens through patterns of coincidences, people ... esp people. People who prove to me some impossible things can be done ! The pain, the sadness, the longing are there like a mountain to be scaled. The human game is unbelievably easy because all will pass in the end and remembering the human soul is all that is.

Running

2009-07-01T14:30:00.001+08:00

I ran 8km yesterday and couldn't sleep at night... AGAIN!!!

Star Trek Rocks!

2009-05-29T22:12:00.003+08:00

Best Movie of the year! The perfect cast indeed and the director is definitely A BIG FAN! Like me hahahaha

Omnivore's Dilemma

2009-03-14T22:40:00.004+08:00

Time flies. The past few months I been learning to cope with my torrent of emotions. Grasping the reality of this planet, trying to understand it from within. I am surrounded by a majority of indifference to the earth, animals and women. Is living cohesively with the environment so hard? Does mere convenience of not wasting your own plate worth another plastic plate being thrown away after one use? Viewing these wastefulness just adds to my everyday torrent of emotions. Can't we treat everything with a bit of respect? Living and non-living? The Earth is dead to many, but I feel her presence all the time.

Understanding this world is a hard journey. The acceptance is harder. I'm like a fish out of water all the time. After reading part of Michael Pollan's Omnivore's dilemma makes it even harder. We are growing the human population at the expense of other living species. Systematic killing and torture of animals for food. Youtube and Michael Pollan destroyed my little fairy world and showed me where my food really came from.

I now truely believe I will be damned for consuming anymore flesh of the tortured. Imagine calves being forced to grow into adults within a year of being born, castrated without painkillers, injected with antibiotics because it's holding pen is too filthy to be disease-free, slaugthered just before it dies of feed-poisoning. An animal can only eat unnatural animal feed for only few months. Singapore imports most of it's food... sadly.

I have nothing against eating meat, I just can't eat meat produce in such a unnatural manner. Indeed, I am having an Omnivore's Dilemma... a serious one.

Trekking in Nepal - Excercise

2009-01-19T08:59:00.008+08:00

2009 ! I'm 26 years old! I have no new resolutions!
Instead, I pulled out a few of my childrenhood dreams that has long been at the back of my mind.
1) To go trek Nepal
2) To go trek Nepal
3) To go trek Nepal
It has been pretty much the same dream since teenager years. So much to do with so little time ! I bought a Lonely planet book called Trekking in Nepal. The culture there is so foreign and it's just makes me even more excited. And so I started a little bit of planning and in the meantime, physically training my body, building up my muscles in preparation. My stamina has always been excellent, but there's always the strength issue, so I'm gonna pile on more muscle and reduce my fat. I talked to Lisa, my trekking veteran friend , she told me to be physically fit, because being weak and getting sick is the last thing you want to be in Nepal. The stronger you are, the more you will enjoy the trip. It's been a while since I did a trek in high altitude, this is gonna be exciting! So I gonna start out with yoga in the beginning of the week and weights in mid week , then some running in the weekends whenever I can.

Yokatta Jingle!

2008-11-18T00:54:00.003+08:00

Jingle got this ;

'Closed pyometra is a more serious condition than open pyometra not only because there is no outlet for the infection but also because a diagnosis of closed pyometra can easily be missed due to its insidious nature.'

Her symptoms are all of these ;

'Symptoms of both types include vomiting, loss of appetite, depression, and increased drinking and urinating.'

She's inside her 'ward' awaiting her operation.

Jingle peering at her coughing neighbour. She looked genuinely concern.

Her IV tube... ouch...
...
...
...

after 1.5 hours of operation...

TADA!
Jingle's womb!

She's such a brave girl!!! Hats off! She cried and tried to get up when she heard our voices after the operation.... must be so pain!!! No pictures after the op when she was in the ICU. I also tried to limit my time there, because I felt we were making her more stressed than she already was. Lucky she had a great doctor to comfort her, Dr Lucy Shum. I am going sent her a Thank-You card when Jingle gets well :) Yokatta Jingle!

2008-11-17T22:43:00.003+08:00

Jingle got Pyometra. Pray for a successful operation tomorrow.

My little Yoda, Jingle

2008-11-17T00:21:00.001+08:00

My dog , always looking like a dreamer. Her eyes are so dark and wise like deep pools of black mirroring her thoughts. So Yoda-ish...

2008-11-15T03:05:00.004+08:00

Let there be joy and harmony.
From the roof sky above to the deep blue sea.
All that we have under the sun.
Singing loud in unheard sounds.
Telling us that we are one.

- Bintan June 2008 -

Spizza For Friends

2008-11-01T15:34:00.004+08:00

I went Spizza for Friends @ Chinatown with my colleague. Since I came back from Australia,I haven't eaten a single good pizza until now. We ordered Elisa and Donna , yes, their pizzas have female names, so sinfully sexy ...

These are the ingredients :

Donna
Item Description: Tomato, Mozzarella, Artichokes, Mushrooms, Cooked Ham, Olives

Elisa
Item Description: Basil Pesto, Mozzarella, Tomato, Black Olives, Pine Kernel, Parmesan

I have to say Elisa is really really good. Basil also happens to be one of my favorite herb. Definitely go back there again and it's definitely is one of the highlights of my Friday.

The Which Dota Hero Are You Test ?

2008-11-01T15:18:00.005+08:00

You tricky bastard-- you're the Phantom Lancer! You're a mystery to your foes, almost immune to attacks thanks to your numerous clones and disappearing acts. Fighting alone, your style is confusion-- it doesn't matter if your foe is stronger individually, if she thinks there are twenty of you.

I used phantom lancer less than 10 times, so surprised when I got him but seriously, i hate playing against this hero, his illusions are irritating! For sure, I gonna start training in this hero !

The Which Dota Hero Are You Test ?

My Moment, My Memories

2008-10-28T23:49:00.008+08:00

Realized that I haven't been blogging lately. Weeks flew by so fast and it scared me. It took me some time to realize that I am growing older by weeks.

Once in a while, I imagine myself stopping time and grabbing on to the moment in my palm and peer at the single moment of time from different angles and perspectives, evaluating every molecule of the moment, dissecting it and finally, reflect on my path that got me to this very moment in time. There are infinite chances in a lifetime that will lead to infinite paths. I am going to take my chances and make my destiny using my intuition and experiences from all my infinite paths that I have taken already

I'm going to blog more frequently, so I can keep track of my moments and weeks. So I won't grow old in a blink of an eye and not know what exactly have I done from week to week. If I lose my memories , at least I know I shared my memories with the world and also, I have a digital backup of my memories somewhere.

Probably blog on the most interesting things of the day and refrain from blogging on negative stuff unless it's about a lesson where there are some good that can be learned from.

There goes....

Today is Tuesday. It's a sunny and humid day. I think a ghost came out of my room this morning when I saw a part of my door curtain swung aside at an awkward angle in a split second. My room windows are shut tight, there's no wind, my dog confirmed what I sensed when she tried to destroy the ghost with her unwavering glare and growl. Well, it's interesting to know paranormal is all around us, even for a split second :) At the later part of the day, I listened to this speaker called Bill George @ Google Talks on youtube. He's a professor of management practice at Harvard, teaches leadership development and author of many successful books. Well, I enjoyed the talk and recommends it to all management people and bosses. During Lunch, I went to the gym , ran treadmill for 20 mins, stretching for 10 mins and had a hot steaming bathe for 15 mins , shiok! At night, I went for my japanese lessons. Nihon-go wa cho mutsukashi na! Oh man, I so want to learn a new language, so I have to persevere. Yes, so today is a full day indeed. I need to do more artwork websurfing , so my art knowledge will not be stagnant, got to work on that. I been too overwhelmed by googletalks and the obama campaign. And so, that concludes my day. Not a very artistic day, but quite an academic one with a tinge of sportiness in it.

You are the World

2008-09-25T13:57:00.001+08:00

You are the World

Completion, Good Reward.

The World is the final card of the Major Arcana, and as such represents saturnian energies, time, and completion.

The World card pictures a dancer in a Yoni (sometimes made of laurel leaves). The Yoni symbolizes the great Mother, the cervix through which everything is born, and also the doorway to the next life after death. It is indicative of a complete circle. Everything is finally coming together, successfully and at last. You will get that Ph.D. you've been working for years to complete, graduate at long last, marry after a long engagement, or finish that huge project. This card is not for little ends, but for big ones, important ones, ones that come with well earned cheers and acknowledgements. Your hard work, knowledge, wisdom, patience, etc, will absolutely pay-off; you've done everything right.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

America Votes!

2008-09-25T12:50:00.005+08:00

If the United States hasn't been screwing up so badly for the past 8 years, I wouldn't be even following their pesidential elections. Tired of seeing the Iraq war on the news non-stop, tired of the persucution of innocent Afghan people, tired of having the terrorism threats, tired of hearing which country U.S is going to 'protect' and spread their 'freedom' next, tired of having vacuum-headed George . W. Bush Junior talking nonsense. Americans think that having a war means that their sons and daugthers are going to give out candy and chocolates to poor 3rd world nations.... Rape and Plunder , that's what it is. What does a a country, America, which never been occupied before , knows about being victims of war.

So it's down to Barack Obama / Joe Biden and John Mccain / Sarah Palin.

I have to admit that I am an avid fan of Barack Obama. Got his 2 books, Audacity of Hope and Dreams from my father. This guy, Barack Obama is one special guy. Born to a African father and white mother, raised to manhood by his mother and Indonesian stepfather in Indonesia, supported through university by his white grandparents. He is the first african-american guy I heard about who knows what a 'kampung' is! Incredibly smart, articulate and charismatic. Not to mention he's excellent choice for vice president, Joe Biden. They compliment each other very well. Listen to their speeches on you tube.

John Mccain is good too, but he is too old. He can kick the bucket any moment! His choice of Sarah Palin is horrid. Her, as vice president or potential president is not acceptable. She cannot be compared to Hillary Clinton at all. Against Abortion, Against the environment, No clue about foreign polices!!!! What kind of politician is that? the red-neck kind. Enough said.

Time to move on.

2008-09-18T19:11:00.004+08:00

Time to move on. My time on this earth is limited.
I always believe in freedom of choices since very young. Though I have a very logical and realistic parents, I find myself always following my heart and instincts. Walls are there to prove how much you want something. Though I am not a lawyer or doctor, I am very happy being myself. Happy to wake up to do what I do everyday and lucky to be paid as a professional for the work I do. Creative self-expression is the best gifts I have been given, it's a god-given gift. To put it simply, follow your heart , happiness and money will follow, get it?

I don't have to constantly explain myself on my choices and use my achievements to prove how right my choices are. Just stop giving me hell , and be happy for me. Don't use money to measure my worth or my partner's worth. I see my future more clearly than anyone, I am rich , rich in everything and very HAPPY, thank you.

It's been so many years, they refuse to let me move on. I been told during a short meditation that this is part of my personal growth. My spirit guides always have the answer. I learned so much and improve so much in every aspect of my life, especially spiritually. This seems to be my last frontier, family. If I can get over the excess baggage my family gave me in the the past and present, I will move on to another level of conciousness. How can I find it in my heart to forgive ? Indeed, forgiveness is something I find very hard to learn. In the story of Jesus, I am not so inspired by him giving his life up for my sins, but this part "But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. " So it means, rather than contend and fight, we should take it patiently, and turn the other cheek. I have learn this an almost literal way :)

And so, with all the unhappy happenings, I will do what I am told by the guides. If it doesn't work, at least, I know, I tried.

Home sweet home?

2008-09-06T20:27:00.007+08:00

A home. A sacred place to me, where i escape from the dreadfulness of the world, where I source support from the unforgivingness of the working world, where I curb my loneliness and shyness.

Well, that's just a dream.

When the dreadful world out there seems to be a kinder place compared to the home, you know it's time to move out, to move on.

Perharps I'm a dreamer who loves too much, and hurts too easily. I thought I was used to it after 25 years, but, still, I am not, I cannot live in a home which is colder than the world outside it.

I thought I was being naive when I harbour thoughts about moving out of singapore. It is clear now, the reasons for my motivation. My cycle of pain repeats itself over and over and over again regardless how much effort and heart I put into it. I need to move on if I want to be the person I envision to be.

This sounds like a love story... but it's just a bittersweet story of me and my family. I am grateful for Jingle, the only one who loves me unconditionally throughout all the turmoil. She is my true family.

Freedom and Wisdom

2008-08-19T19:17:00.003+08:00

Freedom is a state of mind.
Use your mind to Question everything.

Your knowledge is your Wisdom.
Be wise ,not to be afraid of Trouble,

but also, never to invite trouble.

About Truth

2008-08-19T19:03:00.004+08:00

The only truth in this world is in You alone.

Everything else, is part of an elaborate, intricatly-woven Lie.

It's true ...

Knowledge is King

2008-07-10T12:27:00.006+08:00

These are some gems I found surfing the net and I love to share them with everyone :)

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

On September 18, 2007, computer science professor Randy Pausch stepped in front of an audience of 400 people at Carnegie Mellon University to deliver a last lecture called “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams.” With slides of his CT scans beaming out to the audience, Randy told his audience about the cancer that is devouring his pancreas and that will claim his life in a matter of months. On the stage that day, Randy was youthful, energetic, handsome, often cheerfully, darkly funny. He seemed invincible. But this was a brief moment, as he himself acknowledged.

Randy’s lecture has become a phenomenon, celebrating the dreams we all strive to make realities. And now, in his book based on the now-famous lecture, Randy goes even deeper to inspire us all.

.....................................................................................................

Noam Chomsky Interview with Charlie Rose

On Power, Dissent and Racism-Noam Chomsky

Noam Chomsky, Professor, Linguistics and Philosophy, MIT / Author, "Hegemony or Survival: America's Quest for Global Dominance"

This MIT guy amazes me with his intellect and his treasure trove of knowledge. He puts everything I believe into real words and with believable explanations... and he's still alive to tell the tale .

.....................................................................................................

"FREAKONOMICS" Interview by Charlie Rose

How is abortion linked to crime rates?
How does sumo wrestles and school teachers cheat?
How does real estate agents cheat you?
How was the Ku Klux Klan taken down?

Answer : Numbers!

The no. 1 book for economics-idots like me. This must be the most fun book to read about economics. Try it!

What Kind Of Intelligence Do You Have?

2008-06-05T15:12:00.001+08:00

What Kind Of Intelligence Do You Have?

The Rogers Indicator of Multiple Intelligences
created with QuizFarm.com

Quiz results:

The Rogers Indicator of Multiple Intelligences

You scored as a Visual/Spatial

You probably feel at home with the visual arts, maps, charts, and diagrams. You tend to think in images and pictures. You learn best by looking at pictures and slides, watching videos or movies, and visualizing. People like you include sculptors, painters, surgeons and engineers.

Visual/Spatial

86%

Musical/Rhythmic

75%

Intrapersonal

71%

Verbal/Linguistic

71%

Bodily/Kinesthetic

61%

Interpersonal

61%

Logical/Mathematical

46%

!@#$%^&*()_+

2008-05-30T00:18:00.004+08:00

Many happenings in the company makes me feel a certain uncertainty. A good friend of mine left Koei in a not-so-beautiful manner. I guess everyone has a goal in life and once your time in point of your life is up, nothing can prevent the heart and mind from moving on.

I feel somewhat responsible because again , I'm too logical for my own good that I have failed in detecting emotions early. As a friend, if I were more sensitive, things might be different now. Maybe, I shouldn't have interfered at all... maybe things would turn out better. In the end , it's all about communication.

From now, I will see no evil, say no evil but I will keep my ears open wide. I will try to be a better friend by paying more attention to everything. Along the way , I came to realize that dealing with people is the most difficult to do. And people must realize that dealing with themselves can be difficult too. So it's better if everyone humble themselves,not compare themselves with others and treat everyone with respect. When appreciation and respect is not present in the hierarchies of the company, there is going to be many unhappy people. Unhappiness is a disease, it will spread!

It's easy for me to say but I am reminding myself everyday about things I need to change and one day, I can fully practice what I preach. We are lucky to be in an artistic field and not being trap in some boring office job... haha and at least we are getting paid to do what we love. Most of the good artists I know are the most humble people around. They compete with themselves more than they compete with others. I hope I can be as good as them one day and have their brilliant attitude to boot.

Happy times to remember :)

2008-05-29T23:45:00.003+08:00

This is a happy moment that I had... 2008 Valentines day!!! Yah believe it or not, he was my first valentine date! Never had one till I met him ! When I first met him, I was quite plump and was an absolute nerd O.O Wah seriously, dunno what he saw in me back then ! See how much I changed since 2004!

Art of Acting Adorable

2008-05-29T23:25:00.003+08:00

The Masterclass Art of Acting Adorable!
Sensei Jingle de Chihuahua

2008-03-27T22:44:00.001+08:00

This is a story of me .

My name is Eunice.

I am a 25 year old artist, CG artist.

My long –time boyfriend is an animator.

My daughter is a girl-Chihuahua, which makes me the mother of a bitch. I love bitches.

My job title, Computer Graphics Artist, says many things about me.

The Computer. I have been using the computer since I was 13 years old. Computer Games has been part of my life since I was 10 years old. I was a Multimedia Club member in Secondary school. I even represented my school for a Virtual Reality Competition. Yes, I’m a geek.

Graphics. I love pictures. I love the story behind every picture. Creation is my passion. Imagination is my joy. My fascination with women is unwavering. Women’s bodies are a constant visual feast for my eyes. Fat ,thin, tall, short, black , white, copper, pink. Different parts have different shades of colours too. Men’s bodies are nice too, but not as nice as women’s.

Artist. What can I say? Freedom of Expression? Idealist? Love and peace? Phew!

I know I will be doing art for a living since I was what?? 4 years old? When the kindergarten teacher only let her favorite students use the brushes and easel most of the time, I was so pissed. That was when I decide to be artist. It’s a choice that made my life so difficult because being a Singaporean… doing art or sports is a definite career suicide. Strangely, I am too logical for my own good because this whole world is crazy. Surviving this madness and yet, maintaining my integrity and my core values seem like a nobel peace prize effort. Yes I am an artist. God made me one so I can see the world and people without a veil over my eyes.

I am not a Doctor or Lawyer. This is my job. LIVE WITH IT!

Japan 3rd Day

2007-10-30T21:26:00.002+08:00

It`s Gilbli Studio Day! I feel I have been lost in this world until the day I discovered Miyazaki and Totoro. Hehehehe One of the best film directors and animator alive. I woke up at 7 am and on my way to Mitaka station by 8 am. The Gilbli Museum ticket stated that I have to be there by 10 am.

Unfortunately, that was also the time when the work rush hour is! I had unwittingly joined into the rush hour. I think it must be my guardian angel , who told me to alight immediately after the train left my station. So, I quickly alighted at the next stop! Almost instantly, as I left the train , a torrent of suits and ties rush in and the train looks like it was packed with black and white sandines. I stood there for a while, a little dazed from drama I had such witness. If I had not alighted , I could be squeeshed ,squashed and sandwiched right in the middle by those people ! Orgy of people! And all this HAPPENS everyday???? My GOD!
So I strolled for awhile, comtemplating my next move. As I moved towards the front of the train, I saw something interesting. All women! I mean almost All women! A big sigh of relief. I think it is an unwritten rule that the front of the trains are for women, maybe. hahaha The women squeeshed and squashed and I squeesh and squashed. After Alighting, I changed to the Mitaka train !

The museum is great. Beyond words. I love it. There is Laputa Castle Robot, Neko Busu, Miyasaki Workshop and lots and lots animation stuff with clay models. The short film I watched is about a a girl looking for a new house. It is awefully creative. The children in the theatre were so crazy about it because it is so funny! I even bought the watch of the film as soveneir because the flim is only showing exclusively for the museum. The muesum even shows the influences of Miyasaki, mostly french influences. I got the Gilblie Museum book too. It is really worth it!

By time I reached the hostel , it is 6 pm already. I had spent the whole day at Gilbli !

Tokyo , 2nd Day ... Asakusa !

2007-10-29T18:51:00.000+08:00

Sunday. I met up with Fukuyamasan, Alan and some other colleagues at Asakusa-Bashi station in the morning. It was pretty cool seeing them again. Thanks to them for bringing me around Asakusa and Edo-Museum. Asakusa has this huge temple with many shops nearby. Strangely enough, it reminds me of Chinatown in Singapore. After that, we went to eat pancakes!! We have to make it ourselves and it`s delicious!

Edo Museum... it`s good place to understand Japanese history. Interesting to know how our war-time enemies lived. The Japanese lived very stressed lives from the very beginning. The exhibits are very detailed and the museum is very well-exhibited.

Photos will be posted soon :)

Tokyo , First day.

2007-10-29T18:41:00.000+08:00

First day in Tokyo! I have dragged myself and my luggages through one of the nastiest rain I have ever encountered and arrived safely at my the youth hostel. It was grueling mainly because I have no idea where I was or if I was in the right direction , making things worst was all these have to happen amidst a typhoon! Luckily, alot of luck , instincts and a map , everything went well at this point of time!

Rent me a Life and Growing up

2007-09-30T23:31:00.000+08:00

Work, sleep, work, work, sleep , play, work, sleep.

The repetition of living a life. I remembered someone saying Life is like Rent. Everyone lives life, but not many can call their lives ... their own. It always marvel me to see everyday people being happy. Coffeeshops uncles and aunties in the heartlands never fail to brighten the day with their rough and amiable attitude. The Indian man without legs having livid conversations with friends at the void deck. He is a proud man, I know, for I have seen him selling tissues along the street sitting his wheelchair complete with his leg prosthetics on. Even the dogs look happy ,especially when their owners rushed to clean up their poo poo ... who's the master now?

Living a life is easier than I thought. But growing up is a hard thing to do. I don't know how to grow into a real adult, only pretend to be one. Most adults are downright boring, has peremptory manners, reticent attitudes and when they get married , the conjugal bliss seems almost hypocritical. Sometimes, especially in Asian society , it's always seem to be a crime to have fun. Growing up is hard when unrealistic expectations escalate almost as fast as the property prices. Rent will always go up , never down.

Very Pessimistic view of life, I know . Maybe it's my job. I am the only girl left in the department, now the bull's eye is on me totally. The callous indifference to the suffering of the employees is hereditary, starting from the very top of the ladder. The last advise of the girl who left is to be patient.

I wonder if it's time to rent another life or maybe, be patient... we'll see what god has installed for me.

To end on a more constructive note, the dog painting as shown above is an effort by me to bring the plight of the many ABANDON pets to light. Animals are part of this world and god's creation, think humanly, before buying a pet, Pleaseee!

Mirror Mirror On The Wall

2007-08-02T23:40:00.000+08:00

Mirror Mirror on the wall... who is the fairest of them all? Witch ,I am not but just a girl living in fairy tales. Princess, I am not but can't I be loved like one? Mirror mirror on the wall, are you my reflection or my illusion ? Fairy tales are true and reality is friction. Insanity, the best medicine for broken heart. Mirror Mirror on the wall, will you love me all .... and all?

Counselor Idealist .. iNFJ?

2007-08-02T00:25:00.000+08:00

Many people tried this personality test, http://keirsey.com/. They said it's quite accurate, so out of curiosity, I took it as well. The results says that I belong to the class of INFJ! Immediately , I thought of Harry Potter and the sorting Hat! Slytherin or Gryffindor?... or maybe Ravenclaw... but not Hufflepuff... sounds very uncool wahahahaha Yeah anyway, the desciption of INFJ is quite an interesting read... hmm.. but I'm not sure if it's really what I'm made of... because judging my own personality through myself seems .... a little unrealistic, infact, weird too. Well, who knows... one might be Gryffindor now, but could change to a Slytherin in 10 years time too !

The Portrait of the Counselor Idealist (iNFj)

The Counselor Idealists are abstract in thought and speech, cooperative in reaching their goals, and enterprising and attentive in their interpersonal roles. Counselors focus on human potentials, think in terms of ethical values, and come easily to decisions. The small number of this type (little more than 2 percent) is regrettable, since Counselors have an unusually strong desire to contribute to the welfare of others and genuinely enjoy helping their companions. Although Counsleors tend to be private, sensitive people, and are not generally visible leaders, they nevertheless work quite intensely with those close to them, quietly exerting their influence behind the scenes with their families, friends, and colleagues. This type has great depth of personality; they are themselves complicated, and can understand and deal with complex issues and people.
Counselors can be hard to get to know. They have an unusually rich inner life, but they are reserved and tend not to share their reactions except with those they trust. With their loved ones, certainly, Counselors are not reluctant to express their feelings, their face lighting up with the positive emotions, but darkening like a thunderhead with the negative. Indeed, because of their strong ability to take into themselves the feelings of others, Counselors can be hurt rather easily by those around them, which, perhaps, is one reason why they tend to be private people, mutely withdrawing from human contact. At the same time, friends who have known a Counselor for years may find sides emerging which come as a surprise. Not that they are inconsistent; Counselors value their integrity a great deal, but they have intricately woven, mysterious personalities which sometimes puzzle even them.
Counselors have strong empathic abilities and can become aware of another's emotions or intentions -- good or evil -- even before that person is conscious of them. This "mind-reading" can take the form of feeling the hidden distress or illnesses of others to an extent which is difficult for other types to comprehend. Even Counselors can seldom tell how they came to penetrate others' feelings so keenly. Furthermore, the Counselor is most likely of all the types to demonstrate an ability to understand psychic phenomena and to have visions of human events, past, present, or future. What is known as ESP may well be exceptional intuitive ability-in both its forms, projection and introjection. Such supernormal intuition is found frequently in the Counselor, and can extend to people, things, and often events, taking the form of visions, episodes of foreknowledge, premonitions, auditory and visual images of things to come, as well as uncanny communications with certain individuals at a distance.
Mohandas Gandhi and Eleanor Roosevelt are examples of the Counselor Idealist (INFJ).

Transformers!

2007-07-03T23:48:00.000+08:00

I started out bitching about office life, then i decided what the heck.. . Writing about Transformers will be more fun!

Transformers is so coooool.

Decided to give my review O levels style or rather lazy man style.

Picture
A1
Actors/Actresses
B3
Director
B3
Adapted Screenplay
B3
Art Direction
A2
Sound Effects
A1
Visual Effects
Beyond Distinction!

Aiyah what the heck!

Humor
So darn funny when mojo pees on one of the Autobots. And urine is called lubricant !!! wahahaha
Scariness
It's scary in the beginning when the decepticons attacked. After a while, it's just ... 'oh ok, cool! '

Jaw- drop factor
The first appearance of a transformer is priceless. Everyone just held their breath!
Weep factor
They tried to invoke sadness when Bumblebee got caught. But sorry, I'm too lost in the loose storyline to be sad.

Lameness

Lame. No cool show-down between Megatron and Optimus Prime. The autobots look like losers. Megatron lost to the Optimus in the most disapponting way.

Basically, the story is more lame than smart. They put things into the story just for the sake of putting it in. Like they want to show the Autobots defending Sam against the Decepticons, so they make Sam run around the city to get to the top of a building just to pass the cube to soldier in a helicoptor which got blasted away in the end. And that scene where 2 autobots use an ice-cream truck to shield themselves from Star-Scream! HAHAHAHA

However, it's one of the coolest movie I ever watched. I didn't realized robots can be so entertaining XD

2007-06-15T20:59:00.000+08:00

I got a Level 1 Rock-Climbing Certificate! Now I can rock-climb and belay :) I also bought a fujitsu laptop at a low price, thanks to Qifen. Guess my camera, my DS lite, my Wii have to wait!
Been reading Conversations with God, it answered many of my questions and gave affirmation to many of my beliefs. It's truly an eye-opening experience. It gave me useful insights on how to experience happiness without getting caught up by the daily dramas. It gave me the confidence to live in the truth again... I was hurt many times when people tell lies and twist facts so to fufill their need to be the 'right' one and maybe, to hurt me. I don't know why. So, I make a resolution not to pay any attention to the little dramas . Because, only through myself , can I turn every experience into love and happiness . This is the truth I choose to live in.

I got stricts orders from the vet to change Jingle's diet. I paid a total of $160 to cure Jingle never-ending skin problems. Apparently, he said her diet must be free of red-meat and I must incorporate fruits and vegetables in her diet. He gave Jingle a jab , creams for her skin, and medicine to temporarily relief her discomfort. So, I became meticulous on Jingle's food intake , bathe her religously, groom her and take action the moment she scratches herself. Now, Jingle has recovered and is the prettiest chihuahua in Singapore! What is to learn from all these??? Food. It's a perfect example of the phrase 'You are what you eat!' or what I prefer to say ' Care about what you eat'!

My pimples are cured!!!!!!!!!! Thanks to my mum who found this amazing doctor who specialize in acne. Punggol Clinic! My first trip is $70 , subsequent trips $50 . So cheap. So good. For a woman, having an pimple free face is happiness for sure !

I just watched a documentary on olden days Rome. Those romans have running water at home and city long before time. They built this giant 5-storey high shopping centre with marble walls and gorgeous architectual...which reminds me of Vivo city . They even bulit a Olympic- size Bath in a Bath house complete with a gym! Really know how to enjoy life... But then again... Romans are in love with violence... They build colosseums so they can see men, women, prisoners fight beasts! They throw the jews, christians ... whoever is different into the pits ... ... so they can see them being tore apart by lions . A part of me wants to see what kind of world is that like. Violence and Blood... can be beautiful too...

Games ... Toys ....

2007-06-12T12:37:00.000+08:00

This is the game I am working on : Romance of the Three Kingdom Online. It 's on the cover of a Japanese Game Magazine!

Drop -Dead Gorgeous Cammy

Street Fighter's Cammy from Keat for my Birthday last year. This is good stuff.

The cast is done by Mitumasa Yoshizawa. This is his website http://www.mitumasa.com/ .

Another gift from Keat on Valentine's Day. I think the mouse beside the girl is supposed to be Jingle!

A change of view

2007-05-01T12:06:00.000+08:00

I have come to terms that life is a journey I chosen to take. It's the only game in town so I have play it, so I'm determine to play it well! What kind of journey I take depends on my creativity and my free will. Without all this pointlessness, mandane-ness, madness of life, it's impossible to see the beauty of life, not to mention the answer to the ONE big question 'Da Meaning of Life'.

In other words, I have found the reason to live. I know what I want to be, what I am already. I just have to BE it. Be the person that I envision myself to be everyday. Stick to it. Remember it every waking moment, in every breath i take, in every snore I make, in every kopi I make, in every war that is created, in every hero I pawned in DOTA ! I feel LIKE God when I say this... so GOD-LIKE hehe

It's a relief to get all these words out. Feels like a huge obstacle has been kicked out of the way. Now, I can truly love life.

Anger beyond words

2007-04-10T12:32:00.000+08:00

Last 2 months, I been terribly frustrated and angry at everything. Although I am having a job related to what I love, loving boyfriend, the best dog in the world and family, I was angry.

Why was I so angry? Because what's the point of all this? Do I really have to slog my whole life? Work and work to buy a house? Slog to achieve the little sucesses ? Why my parents are never satisfied with the choices I make? Choices I made following my heart ignoring the prejudices of the society? How long do I have to do all these? Neverending cycle of pointless work resulting in nothing at the end of my time on earth.
I blamed God for letting poverty thrive, failing to stop man from destroying our planet, for exploited women and children, for the people who created wars in his name, for everything now happening in my life. I told him why must it be this way... why must all this suffering go on ? Is it fun for him to watch all these unfold? Is it a game to him? a game of life where he is the audience?

tobecontiuned.... ....

U.N aid workers sex scandals!!!!!

2007-04-06T19:31:00.000+08:00

Today, I came across a peice of news that really disgusted me. Bloody Hell.... UN Aid workers, supposely peace keepers , raping children . KAO! They are supposed to help, but they are commiting crimes themselves! These people call themselves peacekeepers, when in fact all they want is a long holiday and a chance to fool around. What made it worst, the U.S goverment is indirectly supporting the child sex trade by contiuning contracting companies involve in buying and selling women and children! This is how U.S goverment reward companies that traffic in women and little girls!

READ THIS Horrifying ARTICLE!!!!!!!
http://infowars.net/articles/january2007/030107UN_Sex.htm

'The UN is to investigate itself again after it was revealed by the London Telegraph today that more than twenty different cases of child sex slavery involving UN staff have been reported in southern Sudan more...

It cited lack of regulation and an absence of international staff as possible contributing factors. But it said that poverty was the principle cause, with parents feeling compelled to offer their children to aid workers for sex in order to survive. more...

One senior aid worker said ending the sexual exploitation of under age refugees would be an uphill task because gender discrimination was deeply rooted in many cultures, not only here in West Africa but all over the world.

WHAT THE HELL HAS HAPPEN TO THE WORLD?????????? I wonder now ... Is Poverty, slavery of women and children actually supported by govements of developed nations? The things these superpower goverments endorse make Singapore goverment look like angels. U.N sex scandals make NKF $$$ scandal look like like like NOTHING.

Arrrrrggghhhhhhh I wish I am a Superhero sometimes! These so-called " peacekeepers" need a bloody spanking.

Beautiful Macau....

2007-03-26T23:07:00.000+08:00

Macau is beautiful. A mix of old architectual and beautiful casinos! Amazingly clean... people throw their rubbish into bins, Ojisans throw their cigarettes into ashtrays on top of bins, people clean up after their dogs!
Their Pizza Huts look like high class restaurants and the food is exquisite! Macau has a good mix of old and new, past and present, cleanliness and dirtiness, posh and run-down. Gambling, good portugese egg tarts, gorgeous casinos, simply beautiful... Wow.. Totally just not what I have expected. A very special place.

KaoSiung, Taiwan

2007-03-26T22:29:00.000+08:00

Pictures of in KaoSiung, 2nd biggest city in Taiwan! Food is very cheap, clothes and shoes are cheap and food is so good... ... Bubble tea is sooooo delicious.
There are more scooters than cars on the streets. Everyone wears cute helmets and colourful mouth masks. However the air is really bad. There seems be a haze in the city all the time. Taiwanese people are very friendly and amiable. They are also crazy about Japanese culture. Taiwanese loves Japan for sure.

I love the supermarket there, the food selection drives me mad with choices ! The Japanese food is so fresh and so cheap... $1.50 per plate for everything in the conveyer belt sushi... $1.50 includes raw fresh salmon sashimi a plate! Shiok.
Keat and me took a ferry to a nearby island near Kao siung. I was surprised to see the water so clean... no plastics, so cigarettes buds, no floating cans and bottles...
hahaha I guess Different Country , different people, different habits... that's why I love travelling...small things really amazes me XD

A Bus -Stop

Macau, here I come!

2007-03-17T00:03:00.000+08:00

Holiday!

I am going to Macau next saturday... don't ask me why! Never been there before, only heard of Macau in Hong Kong gangster movies. I imagine gangsters, pimps, mistresses, casinos, chaos and ageing perverted ojisans ! Yuck X(

Ok, that's just a combination of my impression and abit of my wild imagination!
Luckily, I still have the internet to put my mind at ease. I found these wonderful photos from Macau travel sites.

Thinking of buying a camera now. It will be a good opportunity for me to hone my camera skills!

Loving

2007-03-11T23:52:00.000+08:00

How to love Someone you love...

Be yourself and honor your partner's right to do the same

Don't expect your partner to act or be a certain way

Try to avoid wants, needs and jealousies;
they weaken the bond of love

At all times, try to be honest and truthful with your partner

Do your best to create an atmosphere where
feelings are shared openly and
without fear of retribution

Take full responsibility for your actions;
resolve, forgive and heal each other's hurts without delay

Nurture communication at the soul level;
intimacy creates lasting oneness

From time to time, ask one another,
"How are we doing?"

Try not to limit or control your partner;
you do not own one another

Your partner should be your best friend;
if not, something is out of balance

Use sexuality to celebrate your love,
not to satisfy your basic desires

Ask Spirit to bless your union with
unconditional love, patience, tolerance,
and understanding, in place of ego and fear.

04032007 updates

2007-03-05T01:07:00.000+08:00

Guess what ??? I am official staff of Koei now XD
I'm trying my best to make myself a better artist so I can finish my work faster and go home earlier. It's not easy working in Koei... if I can work through this, I can work through anything!
Many weird people works in Koei hehe I guess I'm one of them too :p

Keat is now overseas now, so we are having like a semi-long distance relationship. Skpe has really made the distance between us seems smaller, now that we talked on internet phone every night. Technology still amazes me !

My nomadic instinct has been bugging me to fly out of here again. Makes me so sad that I can't see the stars outside my window anymore. Only buildings are surround my view... it's an urban jungle out there. I need my 'Stability' bug to bite again.... fast!

2007 : I know you don't care, but please...

2007-01-01T21:15:00.000+08:00

Happy 2007 ! I pray this coming year , there will be more people interested and concern with our planet's environment , the war-torn situations of the third-world countries and all our endangered fellow animal friends .

STILL HAPPENING...
Our 2004, 2005, 2006 year has been rocked with severe and weird weather patterns and disasters. This is the Earth's way of calling for help. Everyone, please do your tiny but extremely important part for Earth like to stop using plastic bags, wooden chopsticks, wasting power. Stop wasting the limited resources Earth has. Before it's too late...

The third world countries like Africa is rotting from within. Please help by donating money or your strength to organisations that are helping these countries. Do it regardless of race and religon. As long as a child has a chance to grow up with education and given a chance to be useful to the society, there will 1 less robber or 1 less beggar or 1 less terrorist roaming the streets. Look at the bigger picture.

Norway and Japan is still hunting whales. Whales are dying out. Enough said.

++++++++++

My resolutions for 2007

+ Do my job very well
+ Improve my art more than before
+ Bring Happiness to people around me.
+ Block out people out to take happiness out of me

++++++++++

New love I have.

Jay Chou
Jay is directing his own mtvs now. He took chinese music to new heights. Brings new meaning to the word ' talent'. I love him XD

Please watch CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER. It's magnificent. Truly Utterly Beautiful.

Wedding photos

2006-12-26T22:01:00.000+08:00

Wedding of Eeming and Shufen!