irreversible

dropped by the bookstore today to pick out something for a friend’s birthday gift, and somehow ended up spending more time among the shelves than originally expected (read: until store closing) hello, self-control?


some interesting reads i spotted:

screenplay of the Mummy which comes with japanese translations, meant for english learners.

having the book would really come in handy in situations such as:
- when you want to make an excuse to leave early, you say “This place… is cursed.”
- when describing someone who has just gotten botox, you say, “He’s fully rejuvenated.”
- when expressing gratitude on behalf of a transplant recipient, you say “[He] thanks you for your hospitality. And for your eyes, and for your tongue.”
mmm nifty.



singapore recipe book – co-written by a group of japanese, endorsed by a french
authenticity is obvious from what is written in the preface “hainanese chicken rice, national dish of singapore originates in hainan, china…”


what really alarmed me was the extent Twilight merchandise dominated the shelves.
(picture coming soon)
we can now safely deduce the sanity level of girls in japan.
im just really appreciative of the fact that noone in my social circle has tried to preach Twilight to me.

if you’ve dropped by to read something cheery and heartwarming, sorry but im going to disappoint. discontent has always been a far more effective source of literary inspiration for me than happiness. but thats also because ive got a whole lot more of the former going for me than the latter.
i’ve been trying hard to replace that hard bitter cynic in me with something a bit… more positive less depressing. believe me i really am trying. hell, i make it my new year resolution every year to stay positive and tone down on that self-doubt. speaking of which. frightful yes, but 2009 is verily coming to an end in 12 days. so i guess, maybe not this year then. maybe… next year.


these days i find it almost impossible to extricate self from the covers.
tis the season, i tell myself. and the wonky radiator that churns out heat disproportionate to the electricity bill definitely isnt helping. but hey, i cant exactly see myself as the sort to bound excitedly out of bed, pull back the curtains, open the windows, and let the sun shine in! fa la la! anyhow im practising drinking a glass of red wine daily to keep the extremities from turning into popsicles. i hope that one day i’ll be able to actually swallow without wincing (like a true adult), and henceforth sweet oblivion, i shall embrace thee with open arms.


(more…)

somewhere between the time i arrived in japan and now,
i developed the habit of making flippant remarks when foreigners comment about the size of Singapore, such as
“it’s smaller than (insert whichever city convo is currently taking place in)”
“you probably dont even need a day, you can tour the entire place on a stopover”
“it only takes a half hour to travel from one end of the island to the other”


being underestimated works to your advantage, most strategists will tell you
but ive realised now that it is only responsible to get the facts straight before making any statement, even when it’s just some sarcastic answer offhand.


so ive been a good girl (do you hear me, santa!), and done some much overdue homework.

singapore is approximately…
9 times smaller than shanghai
3.5 times smaller than taipei
3 times smaller than tokyo
2.5 times smaller than london
2 times smaller than los angeles
2 times smaller than new york city
2 times smaller than bangkok
1.5 times smaller than hong kong
(and holy moly! 1.2 times larger than seoul!)




complimentary reading for today
Why We Needn’t Feel Insulted by That Insult
i think it is a rare joy to be able to laugh at someone’s expense when they’re supposedly making fun of you

the writing one, not the layout one unfortunately.

so im back in action, having fully embraced and overcome the Writer’s Block, hopefully bringing you more updates of my latest run-ins with the enormity called Life, boring you to tears in the meanwhile. if not, i guess i’ll have to settle for just seeing you guys hanging around here some more.

when inspiration and priorities align, i will work with the universe to make that layout happen.LAYOUT DONE!



(more…)

#465 kimchi
#466 kimchi chigae
#467 sweet potato

#432 gelato

i used to be a free thinker, but today i made a major life decision to convert my religion to Gelato-ism. hopefully its not too late to seek repentance.

#430 onigiri (tuna mayo)
#431 taiyaki

these are not recent, but i only dare to let them surface now because i will be making it home in less than 2 weeks and thinking about them earlier would have just made me more depressed. im fortunate they have decent singaporean restaurants here so i wouldnt have to be nursing two of my fickle and very demanding appetites.