Happy 9th Anniversary

9 years ago today at 8.30am, i set foot on the grounds of Basic Rescue Training Centre (BRTC) to commence my National Slavery.. Good ridden.

The anticipated better 29...

More than a year has passed since the last entry and not without reasons. Reasons that had prompted subtle and insidious changes to my perceptions and had significantly altered my perspectives on Life as a whole.

It can be labelled as a holistic experience or rather it is. One thing is for certain, this blog is going to get interesting after over a year of slumber.

I see that the last post ended in somewhat a very negative tone. Now when i am finally able to sit and recall, i believe that post had cost me some valuable friendships. I had not anticipated the ramifications of that post and quite frankly there would have been no way i could have predicted its far and prolonged reach. But i live and learn. I hope that my new found wisdom allows me to re-establish the lost bonds.

29.... was surprisingly small... just the 6 of us. Although out of the norm, i am taking a liking to it. Hopefully, i would be able to arrive at a point that all it is just me, myself and i. I rather meet up everyone one on one. But then again this could be one of my spur of the moment thoughts. Besides, the PS3 has been keeping me busy... especially God of War3.

Anyway, so much has happened and its impossible to set a chronology to it. Greece is still fresh in my mind and thats where i am going to begin with...

Mobilisations.

I hate being on Mobilization duty. The bloody letter will simply say "....Mohidin, this is to notify you that your battallion and unit are being placed on standby for the month of March for the purpose of Mobilization and turnout exercise."

It doesn't take a genius to figure when exactly they are going to mobilize you.. They definitely will not call you over weekday, coz if they did, they would have to reimburse the lost daily wage and the commuting expenses. Then since the exercise will last through the night, they won't mobilize you on a Sunday as they would have to reimburse you for Monday. So its confirmed going to be a Saturday.Considering that the letter came in mid Feb, chances are they are not going to call you on the first week. AND March being the end of the financial year, they wouldn't want to activate you on the last week of the month which is also going to be the busiest week of the financial year. So there is only one Saturday left. Tomorrow.

Really.. this is getting to my nerve. I only hope that i can attend Arshad's wedding somehow.

The Passport Sized Photo

I am not even sure why they call it the passport "sized" photo when in reality it is slightly bigger than your thumb. But i am not complaining. I believe that everyone has a face suited for something.. I guess mine is criminal mugshots.. Now imagine if the photo was really passport sized..

The Royal Prata Cafe Pte Ltd

The Royal Prata Cafe Ptd Ltd
Refined Briyani ~ Perfect Prata ~ Charming Service
28 South Bouna Vista Road. 64755991.

After a long morning of hiking and car washing with the darling.. decided to head back home from Kent Ridge Park. Was really looking forward to get back home asap thanks to my headache as well.. but along the way, the Gf wanted to have a drink and insisted on the shop stated above as she passed by it but never tried. So what the hell.. decided to give it a shot.

Not really sure about the charming services... and quite frankly, i don't want them to charm my girlfriend. BUT the food was fantastic.

Both of us ate only a Plain thosai set and a Poori Set.. but it was really good. The chutneys were well done. The spicy chilly chutney was superb. The thosai was light and not very "floury" , went down smooth and easy, tender to touch and had a good fragrance.

The Poori set was steaming hot. We had fun making ventilation holes on its top. The masala was very nice as well.

The keyword to describe the food is balance... Food wasn't oily or heavy. The chutneys felt and tasted like how chutneys are supposed to and not watery or "gravyish". The thosai and the poori were tender through out. They were easy to tear and chew even after going cold. The tea was very nice and balanced. Not thick and bitter nor too watery and sweet. It was very refreshing to drink.

Only one word to describe the ambience. OLD SCHOOL. Really loved it. The entire row of shop houses and the lack of modern amenities within the "restaurant" brought back nostalgic memories. Heck event the Chilly chutney was bringing back nostalgic memories. I would have looked very weird panting and sweating after eating the chutney and still going back for more for saying its very shiok.

The pricing is very good.. Its cheap. One set Poori, 2 large thosais, one tea, 2 ice lemon teas and a mineral water... all cost about $9.50... Definitely going back for more to try out the many other varieties of dishes. Oh yeah.. i must also thank the darling girlfriend for insisting and bringing me to the "restaurant". Its really an ancient treasure house.

The dancer in me....

The one dance that i can do so effortlessly and he had to steal it from me...

That Japanese place in Harbour Front.

Finally had some time to catch up with some good old buddies over dinner. My unbelievably hectic schedule has kept me isolated from the major transitions occurring in the lives of my friends.

Looks like there is a new common theme in my social network..... Marriage. Met up with the group for a catch up session at some Japanese restaurant in Harbourfront and considering that Raj is flying off, it can be a form of a sweet farewell dinner as well.

For once i was clueless as to how to join in the conversation for i had no freaking idea what they were talking about. Everyone was like caught up in a fever leading to a frenzy.. "Better plan early", "i am still hunting for this.. or that" , "You have to wait for the right time" , "make the move" , "did you search here? Did you try there?" etc.. All i had to do was add some heavy metal background score and it would have looked like they were planning all the way to World War 4.

At this juncture, i would like to take some time off to thank Sanjeev for sympathizing with me and for explaining to me what was going on. Once i grasped the content of all the commotion that was going on, I, in my infinite wisdom that spans across the insides of an empty coconut shell.... suggested holding the wedding at their respective homes as it would save them all the logistic nightmare issues. All i got in return was a very puzzled look that lasted a second before bloody hell, they resumed on their planning.

My inability to contribute to the conversation, allowed me to take a step back and reflect a bit. We have come a long way.. The topics governing our conversations have dramatically changed from 5 years back. I was actually able to see the transition in progress..

Life was slowly injecting different roles and responsibilities into all of us. I could see the seriousness on everyone's face. I could see contemplations on Raj's face as his London trip drew closer. I could see anxiety on Shan's face maybe coz its separation anxiety .. I could see solemness on Indhu's face as she was telling me about her engagement... I could see sheer astonishment on Sha's face as her food arrived in the largest bowl that i probably have seen. I saw tenacity on Sanjeev's face as i saw him filling up a registration form to redeem car parking benefits.

Here i was planning to organize a block catching event... I just hope that all of us don't lose the inner child as Life continuosly pounds us with hard choices and difficult times... but i was happy to see the entire group after a long time.. got a chance to realize what i was missing.

the hell weeks

The past three weeks have been torturous to say the least.. Long working days, long daily lectures and CCAs, kinda zapped me completely.
Motor Programming Module has been damn dry and very condensed thanks to a lecturer who can only make it to singapore for a mere 2 weeks out of the entire 6 week module..
Really tired.. Really tired.. Will start with the interesting posts once I am done with lessons this week.
On a lighter note.. Arshad's geting MARRIED!!!! Can't wait for it..

The day of Eid

Raya seems to be coming to a close, at least for me. Somehow Life is going to return to its mundane state from Tuesday onwards. 11 months and 2 weeks more to go.

Something is amiss this Raya. The usual excitement , fanfare and lights seem to be missing. Its very quiet. Too quiet in fact. There is not much extravagant dressing and needless to say, not much babes in rather provocative baju kurungs. No eye wash this year. Mood seems rather sombre. Not sure if its the economic crisis.

Won't be surprised if that really is the reason. Saw a family at the NTUC, the father holding a calculator, crunching numbers to see if he could bring purchases down to within budget. To a certain extent it was rather a sad and heart wrenching sight to behold. Telling the kids to put the chocolates back as it would blow the budget.

On the other hand, very frankly, I believe that current economic crisis is a much needed shakeup for us Singaporeans to realign our jaded and taken for granted attitudes. To scratch beneath the superficial and materialistic facade of an existence and to understand what that really matters.. Bond.

Eid Mubarak

As we welcome Eid with much joy and happiness, let us not forget those, less fortunate than us for HE gave us wealth and strength to protect and provide for those whom are in need of it. Especially in these difficult times.

Here's wishing you a very sincere and blessed Eid Mubarak.

Long time coming....

Its been a very long while and quite honestly I really don't know where or rather how to begin. I would like to update as chronologically accurate as possible but the truth is I really can't remember anything in order these days.

There has been a lot of changes occuring in the recent months. Too many and too fast to list all. To start off with a few...

Yeah, there is a change to my availability status. In true cliche, I never thought it would happen to me, but it did. Thus the explanantion to my "completion". It feels great to actually be happy.

As for work, well lets just say that it wasn't all as smooth sailing as i thought it would be, had to go through some reality checks. Got reminded that i cannot let my guards down and to always cover my back. Not going to go into details. Sometimes its really no point talking about things that cannot be changed.

Studies. Its kind of getting hectic. All the modules are very condensed. Therefore alot of effort has to be put in. Kind of getting sick and tired of getting credits..Would love to see some distinctions for a change. It would be a good morale booster as well.

Family. What can i say, just when i thought i got them all figured, they never fail to suprise me.

Friends. Its been a wild roller coaster ride. With the lack of time and other pre-occupations, can see that the dynamics are shifting ... Sometimes the shift is subtle and other times, mostly shocking.

Myself. I am but a fraction of myself. So much things to do and so little time... what to do .. life.

These are the general updates. Just to break the curse of procrastination.

The inevitable

I am complete... i know that there are going to be changes. Change is inevitable.
I just hope Life has made me stronger and wiser to buffer it.. I am riding the tiger. Hope it doesn't consume me along the way.

Summoning myself.

Caution's thrown to the winds;
It's just me and her...
It's now or it's never...

randomness

1. I wonder why when i have to go through just a pile of shit... i always end up with a mountain of it.

2. I hope that my students lose their fascination with my hair ( the one on my head as well as the body). If not i got no choice but to wax.... * this can be added to my mountain of shit

3. I want to go back to my Primary 6 days.. If I'd known that this is how being grown up feels, i would have given the hardest kick that i had ever felt to myself.

4. Do not open any mails that has your name on its cover. Its most probably a bill.... or a bloody barger of a letter from the hucking Reservist Unit informing you of your blaady IPPT which is a week away.

5. In life, YOU will come across many bridges, bridges that you cross... and bridges that you burn.. I am the one that you should burn now.

Too many adjustments to consider...but the heart desires.

It's very difficult to make incisive decisions. It's even more difficult to contemplate possibilities that are not within my control and at the same time, accept my inability to control and throw caution to the wind. What my heart desires, my mind disdains....how like that?

Confessions from the first massage...

Went for my first massage in Batam ( and no.. i didn't go for any "specials" or "raba raba" or even "boom booms" ) nothing sleazy in nature. Just a regular massage to iron out 27 years of crank.

I did have my apprehensions about going to a parlour and getting (wo)manhandled into pulp, but the company of a friend eased me in to the idea.

To be honest, it can be quite harrowing if you do not know what to expect. So let me list it out from a novice's point of view.

Points to note when going for your first massage:

1) When the masseuse puts a small trough of water infront of you. Don't be an eager beaver and wash your face in it. You put your feet in it.. There is nothing more embarrassing than a indon masseuse giggling at you.

2) Don't gasp like a wuss when she touches your feet. She is a masseuse and its her job. Again, there is nothing more embarrassing then an Indon masseuse giggling at you.

3) When she asks you if you would like to use some "oil" ... don't show the typical Singaporean in you and ask if there is extra charge for it..

4) She is an Indonesian, therefore she will ask the previous question in a weird way because of her accent... You don't get too excited or too scared.

5) Don't bother asking "So , do you want me to lie down?" when you are already doing so...

6) "Dia ada banya bulu" means that you have plenty of hair.. It also means that you are gonna need more than one bottle of oil. Oh yeah... it also means its gonna hurt like hell...

7) Its alright to spring up and stick against the wall when the masseuse pulls your shorts down to a half butt position. Alternatively you can hold on to your shorts with your dear life and shout "Tak mau" or something to that effect.

8) If you are someone wearing specs, leave them on. The dim lights and the red curtains already will you an uncomfrotable feeling... having to add blurred vision reminds you of the movie "Hostel".

9) Pay very close attention to phonetics even when you are screaming out in pain... Screaming "Sakit sakit sakit" in pain just might give ambiguous ideas.

10) its good to have a friend proned just beside you.. Somehow there is an unfathomable pleasure when seeing your friend going through the same pain as what you just did a few minutes earlier....

My Defiance

Noun : a daring or bold resistance to authority or to any opposing force.

A necessary evil to break the mindless conformism to the expectations of ethnicity and society. An invaluable trait of character that shatters all limitations set upon one's self by that one himself. The one true liberation....

It took the skies, the trails and a wicked set of wheels, to enlighten the deluded conformist in me to the existence of my other side .... My Defiance.

Me... and my procrastinations....

Was in the bus on my way back home when i received a message from a dear old friend...
"...... I'll be leaving tonight with my wife and kid to Australia.. It will be 2 years or more before we return......"

It stung me very badly. I always wanted to organise a reunion lunch or a dinner where by all the seniors from the Masjid Al-Amin religious class can congregate once before he flew off. He was one of the key people who defined my learning journey... maybe journey is too strong a word ... lets call it learning experience then.. He made if fun and enjoyable when every other factor scared me off.

He told me that he would be flying off in Feb '09 back in December. I told him that i will be organising a meet up tomorrow.. Somehow, tomorrow never came. The message fuelled nothing but regret for not having the meet up sooner.

I am not someone who believes that all will be normal when he returns.. 2 years later. Time changes everyone and everything. Anything can happen in a short span of time. When constant contact is absent... even a good friend becomes a stranger and all you have is just the memories to remember by... when a little more effort could have achieved other wise.

An uncertain year ahead...

A lot of things seem rather uncertain at this point of time in my life. There are so many things that i wanted to achieve in this new year but judging from the way i am struggling to manage my scarcely available free time, i doubt i would even get through half of my list.

I badly wanted to sign up for guitar classes but my fickle course time table eliminated all possibilities. I believe i won't learn much if all i can commit is about an hour a month can i?... and yeah, I am no Mozart... to pick up music that fast.

I need to buy a new camera... Current one got fried big time thanks to a AC/DC conversion cock-up. Somehow, buying a cheap substandard camera to tide the times by doesn't appeal to me.. I rather spend the money on good, durable and sustainable quality... But my pocket seems to be bleeding right now. So i shall review this in about 6 months.. God knows how i am going to survive when it comes to doing task and stuff....

As mentioned in my earlier entry...circumstances forced me to buy a new phone and as mentioned in my earlier paragraph, my poor pocket is vomitting blood now.. yet i decided to buy a Blackberry Bold...Did my research on the phone seems very sustainable and relative for the next 3 years.. Somehow all my phones lasted a long time... 4 yrs on average. Starting from my Nokia 3310 to 7610 then to the grand daddy... the Sony P910... and now to the BBB...

Anyway i was initially planning to write a very sombre entry about the contemplations of my ( and my surrounding social circle's ) future but somehow, for once( and very rarely) my materialistic aspects took precedence...What i possessed never mattered to me that much .. I simply relish its existence initially then i always temper down. What i have is all attributed to HIM only... I wanted to comment about the way the world is going.. but i am no world leader to effect any change nor do i wish to get shoe-ed on stage.. Guess i am getting sleepy.. so i am just logging off.

The farewell...

I bid thee farewell my friend... You saw me through my times of joy, sadness and the entire spectrum of human emotions for the past 4 and half years. You have endured all the punishment i dealt you, and you served me with the utmost loyalty... Though your skin bears the many battle scars, you fought like a warrior with brandishing armour.. But like with everything else... Change has to occur. Its about time i relieve you of your duties... and give you your due retirement.. so , good bye my friend. I have reserved a sport for you in my "life in a shoe box".

Sony Ericcson P910, 2004 - 2009

On this sombre event, i would like to introduce to you ... your successor ( who is going to have a difficult time filling in your shoes... )

BlackBerry Bold 9000......