let's learn some words

Voila! In view humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the vox populi now vacant, vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a bygone vexation stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin, van guarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition. The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. Verily this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that it’s my very good honour to meet you and you may call me V.

-V for Vendetta

a hammer and a heart of glass

This always happens: exams are just a few days away and there is a surge to blog absolute nonsense. How untimely. It is also probably due to my self-imposed facebook and msn messenger ban, which sort of helps, except that I just find alternative distractions, like www.last-words.com and searching for free air tickets to Miri on airasia's website. Heh.

I have been a big fan of John Mayer's music and his latest album merely reinforces my fondness for his music. Some of the song lyrics are pretty full of insight, but then you get a bubblegummy soppy one stuck in the middle somewhere which is weird. Like having Taylor Swift sing two lines in Half of my Heart. While I'm ranting, I think Who Says wasn't the greatest choice of a debut single. Neh. War of my Life and Perfectly Lonely are the good stuff. But it's true, life is pretty much a war...whichever way you see it.

War of my Life by John Mayer

Come out Angels
Come out Ghosts
Come out Darkness
Bring everyone you know

I'm not running
I'm not scared
I am waiting and well prepared

I'm in the war of my life
At the door of my life
Out of Time and there's no where to run away

I've got a hammer
And a heart of glass
I got to know right now
Which walls to smash

I got a pocket
Got no pill
If fear hasn't killed me yet
Than nothing will

All the suffering
And all the pain
Never liked to label

I'm in the war of my life
At the door of my life
Out of time and there's nowhere to run

I'm in the war of my life
At the core of my life
I've got no choice but to fight 'til it's done

No more suffering
No more pain
Never again

I'm in the war of my life
At the door of my life
Out of time and there's no where to run

I'm in the war of my life
I'm at the core of my life
Got no choice but to fight 'til it's done
So Fight on, fight on everyone, so fight on
Got no choice but to fight 'til it's done

I'm in the war of my life
I'm at the core of my life
I've got no choice but to fight 'til it's done

question

How do I find people with common interests when my interests aren't even common?

they call this Independant Livin'

Sg moments #1

my most embarrassing moment since this Malaysian arrived in Singapore:

I was about the leave the toilet cubicle when my foot slipped and when straight into the squat toilet bowl. My leg was wet with urgh about half a foot up.

untitled

This puny vessel,
Though able to receive bigger than itself,
is yanked with pain
for other puny hearts
who have lost the once known.

To despair, to loathe,
Finally, to shun.

Puny vessels, puny hearts,
Capable only of insignificance,
yet, Such is ours.
Remember, never forget.
For you once knew.

Resuscitation of my blog by Reflection of why i'm here

I've never been in Singapore long enough to observe the buzz that goes on the week or so before National Day. (I need not fret really, seeing that I will be here quite some years.) The many red and white flags hanging on the walls of flats and the TV advertisements announcing the National Day Parade caught my attention. Plus, tvmobile (mini TVs on the bus) constantly plays a music video of Singapore Idol contestants singing "This is home, truly, where I know I must be...".

On hearing that I would be doing my tertiary studies in Singapore, many have people have responded, "oh, we have lost another one". Well, 'tis true that I have to spend quite a few years here, even after I complete my studies, for purely legal reasons. But I honestly do not see myself staying on after that. At least that is what I say now. Reasons: not enough jungle; too many people; not-so-great food! But apparently, those aren't enough to warrant me to leave after I get used to the efficiency and pace of the system here. Now now, isn't there a word for that? Complacency ring a bell? If I refuse to leave because I cannot stand the mediocre system elsewhere then I should be spanked. Indeed. And let me just clarify that I write this so that I may be reminded of this myself, seven years later.

It is true, arguments like lack of jungle and too much crowd might vapourise after years of habit. And so in the end, the only reasoning that would stand strong is that we're called to serve our Lord and His people, not to grow complacent in an environment that solely benefits us.
That said, mind you I'm not claiming that God isn't doing any work here. He clearly is, but I believe that elsewhere requires more hands. Again, that said (hmm, many disclaimers here), as much as this is my "grand" plan, we're the ones who follow His will and not the contrary. So this plan is my way for setting down the target on Christ, and not to limit or draw boundaries on where or how He will use me.

So, here's to a new chapter, only possible by God's grace, so indeed it should be lived out with the full knowledge of it.

Kota Kinabalu: seafood and weird frog bags

Parrotfish (Scaridae family) being sold at the market



















Filipino Night Market
























the waterfront
























the local kids know how to have fun. and maybe rashes after that.
























what were they thinking? preserved frog skins turned into a bag, complete with zippers sewn at the lips. i made a mistake of touching it to see if it was real. urgh. i'd rather hug a live one any day.

Spotted: Rodin's The Thinker

at the Jesselton Point Jetty, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
I admit, there's a fisherman's modification to it. and he's wearing pants. nevermind.

Kinabalu Peak: 7 May 2009

Fudge & Ash - companions of a twenty year old

More Fauna at The Cleft

February 2009: Penang Island

Fauna at The Cleft: Archispirostreptus gigas

The giant millipede (Archispirostreptus gigas) are actually harmless invertebrates of the order Diplopoda (two pairs of legs per segment).

Ash and Fudge have gotten into a habit of killing them at The Cleft, which is sad, but we cannot really do anything about it as we never seem to catch them red-handed, we only find carcasses lying around.

Their bodies are a shiny black and are normally about a foot in length.

For Now

We've moved. And we don't have internet so it's quite unlikely I'll be blogging for the next few months, don't bother coming around here for now. Anyhow, I will check my email now and then, so drop me a note if anything. Or if it's urgent, text me on my mobile phone.

Goodbye, for now.