wootsome

Very neat. Thankyouverymuch, E.

At the entrance to the restaurant was a sign that boasts of singaporean food at its most authentic. I'm wary already, and it turns out my hesitation was not unfounded. Perhaps it would have been better if the sign wasn't erected at all because our expectations were raised, then duly shattered by our waiter who claimed earnestly that green chilli slices (literally that, not even authentically preserved in vinegar) are supposed to go with sliced fish bee hoon. Uh, do we look like gullible shanghainese (no offence) who wouldn't know the difference between mee soto and mee rebus? Speaking of which, there was a noticeable absence of malay food on the menu - how could singaporean food be complete without that? Argh I swear none of these singaporean restaurants around has yet to grasp the concept right. M A L A Y F O O D the formula's not that hard yeah and I'm positive there's some other singaporeans/malaysians out in the middle kingdom who would agree likewise too. Besides I'm sure there are malays around here, no? By the way, the food is just alright nothing to go wild over, my soy chicken hor fun was in too small a serving and overpriced of course, not to mention barely as good as it made itself out to be.

Elena's ghost town narrative 

Twenty years (and one day) since and it is hardly any less depressing. Read on if you must, I did.

I'm bored out of my mind today. Work is uneventful, think: the attempt to edit someone's oddly-phrased translations of legislation (yes those confusing self-important sentences looping here there from articles to articles - lawyers out there, I so hear you) failed miserably and currently I'm on plan b, essentially re-doing it myself. On happier thoughts, I think 母亲牛肉棒(辣味) is so very yummy, the packaging/branding is great i.e. vintagy old school and the beef jerky sure is as spicy as it claims itself to be, unlike the lame imitation of spice usually found around here. Note to self: will bring sufficient quantities for long and possibly hard journey on train, glico pejoy notwithstanding. Also what more, my baby is back - good as new and I'm glad to have him back a day earlier than expected, we're on to exciting stuff in a few days yopes!!

In dire reality, the day is dragging its feet, and I am dragging mine. Tick, tock, tick... for dramatic effect since there is no clock but the sound of my looping mp3s rather. So I think boys will continue to plague the state of my emotional well-being till the end of my life. Hur hur, where are all those lying buggers who told me it was a phase during the teens? It only just takes on a more adult-like facade, the evolution being non-existent - flirts, smses, calls, kisses, more waiting - only difference is that this time it is the boys with proper jobs and driver's licenses we're looking at and not boys from the swim team serving national service awaiting to enter college. I feel better already, haha. Can't wait for the party laters.

I like your brand of quirk, you're my kind of guys woot!. Ok now pray tell me where can I get more of you guys? By the way I dig the poster hur hur thieves' market, to think I'd never been there in the four years I went past on my bus. Another point to add to "why school life could have been so eventful yet I never really made full use of it". Insert melancholic sigh.

Let's just say I was more than mildly disappointed the last time round when they started playing upbeat 60s/70s pop i.e. retro, whoever knew retro could be so sneaky. It'll get better this time, come on it's rock how bad can it get? Weeeee, can't wait. Oh and that too, yippee I'm flattered, M.

First I just discovered that one of the coolest shops/design agencies back home stocks onitsuka tigers, then I spied upon this article in their current newsletter (in full text below). Guess you'll know where to find me in the next coupla weeks if I'm m.i.a, yeap.

Get ready for a 13-hour marathon event featuring local music, music videos and a photo exhibition. Fans can also bid for a dinner date with linda ong (lunarin) or ginette chittick (astreal) in a special charity auction. Finally dance the night away as indie disco takes centre-stage.

By the way (thanks to A who'd helped to check) admission isn't really free but almost - Entry to the electric and hiphop areas cost SGD 10 and SGD 5 respectively, other areas are for free as long as you buy SGD 10 worth of coupons, which can be used to buy drinks, merchandise and entries. See how good a deal that is, go all you people who are in town, go show some love and support.

Sunday mornings are meant to be slept in, not to be spent navigating the maze of roads/park towards the deceptively near butnotsonear jinmao tower at 8.35am. So I was a little late but all's good finally meeting J once again (has it been 9 months already?). How time flies - he had to remind me, I can't believe we've known each other for over three years already. I refuse to believe that age has caught up with me before I bah! even realize. I don't look like a student anymore? Looks more mature instead? Eeks I don't know. Return me my youth. 

No time to ponder much though, my trusty camera has been in a&e-worthy state not long after I'd parted ways with J, I'll need to send it to the canon repair center asap sob cos the screen is not working properly i.e. goes completely blank for all modes minus four (incl. video and paranoma) when I try to take pictures. The oldschool viewfinder is vastly inaccurate and I'm planned for a getaway come next week! Argh what bad luck I hope the camera repair guy from that seedy corner in the mall had given the wrong diagnosis, I need my little weatherbeaten friend for the long march ahead sob sob.

Since the repair hotline wasn't open today and there was nothing I could do, I ended up mulling over the surprise malfunction let's hope it can be fixed I don't have extra cash for a fancy new camera I just want this one as it is and spending much of the day in quality alone time - sat by huangpu river for over two hours then took a long and slow stroll from shaanxi south metro station to xujiahui metro station en route passing random shops, stopping at a xinjiang eatery for a late lunch and trying to find traditional chinese herbs for sale (disappointingly none). It's not that far to walk, and I had done it in my pair of goldie flats so more people ought try it too. Ok I see sore red areas on my soles where there's been too much friction from walking, but hey thankfully they didn't become fullblown blisters I'm glad for that at least.