The First Incense Stick Of The New Year

The Chinese got very superstitious and strange beliefs sometimes.

One of them is that if you are the first person to offer the first incense stick of the new year to the gods you will be ensured good fortune of the new year.

I wonder who came up with such a superstitious yet logical sounding belief. Haha

Anyway, every chinese new year, thousands of people around the world (especially asia) would go to popular temples to try and offer the first incense. As everyone wants it, they would go to the temple gate at near midnight and then wait there until the stroke of midnight, after that rush in and put their joss sticks into the burner....

Oh My God, you can imagine if everyone goes, there would be competition and when there is competition, there would be a mad rush....

And there really is a mad rush. If you turn on the news on first day of new year you would see reports of human waves rushing into the temple. Its quite funny to see people rush and push and elbow and do whatever they do in that crowd.... but actually it is no joke when people get injured....

When I saw the news again yesterday, I was thinking that the gods are more popular than singapore idol or any idol on this day, haha.

My cousin commented that somebody should have done a statistical study of whether people who offered the first incense stick over the years really got lucky..... Haha

Anyway, as an afterthought, I always thought that the human wave looked very ride-able, meaning if you stand in the wave you wont have to actually walk but can just can moved by the wave....

One of these days I am going to try that.... Haha

PS: please read my entries below as this is not my only chinese new year entry. Thanks

The Good Returns of Ba Kwa

Let me a very sad story about Ba Kwa (sweet barbequed meat)

There was one boy once upon a time (haha)

Wat time? Dun noe.... Aiyah once upon a time means once upon a time lah, why ask so much....

Anyway this boy never get to eat ba kwa during Chinese New Year unlike the rest of us. His father say it is no good for health. So when people give ba kwa to his family, his father give it away....

When he want to eat ba kwa must go other people house and secretly eat....So Sad!

This is based on a true story, like Memoirs of a Geisha.... This is the story of Howie. (yes the Howie who brought me home when i injured myself)

Anyway, when I heard this story I almost teared. How can anyone not get to eat such wonderful food during Chinese New Year? It is almost unimaginable! So that day when i was eating ba kwa, I remember Howie's story and tears well up in eyes. I quickly cut up two big pieces of ba kwa and brought to school to give him during lecture.

I felt that I have done a good deed.... and perhaps God thought so too..... In the end, during mahjong sessions today and yesterday (Chinese New Year) I won wonderful amounts of money.

I think in the new year I must do more good deeds. Then maybe I can win more at mahjong.... or get an A for my Lab report.... If you all got anything that you want to eat but cannot one.... tell me.... I get for you. My house stock up alot of goodies and nobody eat.

Now I am stuffing myself silly with my favourite pineapple tarts... Haha

Don't Laugh At Me

This Chinese New Year, I will be wearing Giordano clothes

Yes people! Although I have repeatedly denounced their clothes, I chose to buy their clothes this year for new year..... If you see me during new year, dun ask me why. Dun laugh at me....

I got two reasons

1) No money

2) No time

I got no money so cannot get better jeans and clothes. A pair of levi's cost 109 dollars but a pair of giordano jeans only 50 something dollars. Much cheaper...

I know got cheap and good jeans but must go and shop and find and look. I got no time oredi so no choice. This year more busy.... 2 overlapping stage productions, schoolwork and other things....

I have to choose cheaper and convenient one.....So Giordano is the best (cannot stoop to Hang Ten level yet)

That day I saw GEKL buy a pair of sneakers from adiddas. He was very happy and was showing off. It cost him 100 over dollars. I hate to admit it but I thought it was quite nice. I was abit jealous. He got money to buy such nice sneakers yet I dun have..... This year i will be wearing my old sneakers. Dont laugh at me

Anyway, US economy got ups and downs. My economy also got down times. I put tuition class on hold because I wanted to do theatre production. Private tuition assignments never come in yet so now I am suffering from recession

But I received some good news though. My recruit from BMT (now NSPI) bought me a Hard Rock Cafe Shirt from Korea. I was damn happy when I heard the news. More happy than when I receive my exam results last semester.

Not everyone got people to buy things for them, especially from so far away.

To think on the bright side, GEKL have to buy his own things but I got nice gifts from other people. So I win.... Haha

Thanks James for the Seoul Hard Rock Shirt

Thanks WL for the Hong Kong Disney Shirt

This New Year is a warm one, although mixed with a tinge of sadness.

Haha

Serve Me Right

On Tue afternoon I started to feel sick.

Had a slight sore throat and also abit feverish....... The runny nose came along and it went blocked after awhile.....

My mother say this is a season for people to get sick....

Anyway, although i was sick i still went to watch 'Superhost' live show. Along the way I ate the pineapple tarts and sambal prawn rolls that WL bought to the show.....

After that, they said there would be a steamboat party at Yunying(contestant/ GEKL friend /now my friend) house. I thought that it would be fun and despite on the verge of fever, I went for the party.

The party was fun because there is so much to play and see and eat and drink.... GEKL act clown to keep us happy somemore.... I didnt reach home after 5pm and slept at 5.30

When I woke up i had a terrible sore throat, a raging fever of 39 degrees and headache...I didnt tell my mother because she then would nag at me for going home so late. Took medication and went to sleep...

When I woke up again at 5pm there was nobody at home. I am still sick and wanted to eat something before I take medication again. But there was nothing to eat at home and I was too sick to go market buy.... In the end I just ate a mandrin orange and took my medication.

Just when I was lying on the couch watching TV, i thought 'serve me right'

I was also thinking maybe next time old and lonely that time, when I sick it would be like my situation today.... Sick, lonely, nothing to eat.

I was wondering if next time old that time I can differentiate my Pedac (anti -inflammation medicine) from my Ceflex (antibiotics) or not

When my mother come home, I finally told her. But she never nag at me. She just bought barley water for me and cook porridge.

Wonder who will do all these things for me when I am old... Haha

Two Roles for Sale

Hello people.

I am 70% confirmed writing and directing a theatre production in July/ August

I need an actor and actress.

The guy must have the qualities stated below:

1) Speak proper Chinese.

2) Mature

3) Can potray emotions through your face without a constipated look (aka Julian Hee/Allan Wu)

4) Look convincing as a student when dressed in school uniform

5) Not too bad looking.

If you have all or most of the qualities and is interested, can contact me through msn or handphone.

Thank you

Out of Hand Scrabblers

Today went to play scrabble with GEKL and WL and BS at 'White Tangerine'

Lost all three games and realise scrabble is a game of luck. Anyway still prefer mahjong.

While playing scrabble, GEKL say something that is new and abit shocking to me. To me, I thought it was a small matter but it seems that it was blown out of hand.

Anyway, this is the whole story:

In Superhost competition got one male contestant called Ng Zhen Tao. Last week he was interviewed in a mock interview to test his wits and articulation. One of the questions posted to him was whether he was a gay. The basis for that question being posted to him is because he is twenty six, quite good looking, career-established but never had a girlfirend....

The way he answered the question left people doubting about alot of things. First of all he never really admit or deny that he is gay. Then after that, of all things he had to add that he watches porn....

At first i thought the answer is quite ambiguious. The first thought that flash to my mind after watching his interview was that porn can also be 'gay porn'. But i scolded myself for being so complex minded. 'How can Singapore have such exciting thing happening? We very clean and boring one okae. The most exciting thing is the Joo Chiat neighbours fighting. With that I convinced myself that i thought too much about it.

That is why I was abit shocked that the gay thing blew until so big everyone is talking about it.

But I also find it abit ridiculous because so what if twenty six dun hav girlfriend? Not gay means must find girlfren to prove it meh? Maybe he haven found suitable one yet leh? Buy toilet bowl also must find a suitable one what..... Maybe he got other priorities leh? Like being famous or making alot of money?

If he is really gay den I feel sad for him. NOT BECAUSE HE IS OF THE OTHER SIDE but because his secret is being just splashed into the public like that due to a simple suspicion. The question I believe is at the most a mischievious one not intended to cost malice.... what if it really dug up too much dirt that was not the original intention

Are dark secrets that easily exposed? I must say people have rich imaginations.

I think it is red alert.....

People, from now on, be careful with what you say, do or think.....

The walls have ears. The doors have eyes and the windows have mouths.....

If you are not careful, your secrets will be blown out into the open without you even knowing it.

Sugianto, Stefanie and Me

Hello.

Long time never write because that day somebody call me specially to say something about my blog. Pissed me off and I stopped writing in protest. It has been two weeks since the incident and till now, got people tell me this person is still making comments on my blog....

I said enough and those who want to know what happen can call me or ask me on MSN. But I wont say to anybody involved in the incident because i think alot of people are innocent...

For the person, in case you are still reading, I cant be bothered to argue with you. But cant be bothered doesnt mean I agree with what you said or I am scared of anything. When I am REALLY pissed, nothing stops me from saying anything I want to say or feel like saying.

Anyway last Sat I went to watch Stefanie Sun's concert.

I realise that alot of people that sit at the sides of the stage cannot hear her sing due to the band and the spoilt mikes. But I can hear every minute of the singing because I sit near the speakers.

Guess how much were the tickets. Yeah I bought the $198 one.

I think I am quite lucky liao so I am not going to complain about only able to see FIR and Tanta's backsides or spoilt mikes or horrible programming (thanks to Mediacorp. I think they can only organise good charity shows)

I only got one thing to say: How I wished the whole concert was unplugged as in Tanya + Stefanie segment. I pay 300 dollars if like that.

Anyway Stefanie's live singing improve alot.

Today was watching 'Campus Superstar'. For those who dunnoe, it is a reality singing competition for students. Sugianto is the host together with Hong Junyang and Dasmond Koh

I notice something surprising.

Why does Sugianto always seem to be overwhelmed by screaming kids? i know it is not easy to hold your calm during live shows especially when there is so much noise. But still... I thought he could do it because he was quite good in Superfunkies.

In fact i think he is the best male host in superfunkies

But not only he seem overwhelmed but also his tempo very weird and sometimes he will forget some things or what he want to say. Like abit constipated.

On the contary Junyang seems to be getting better. His energy level is enough for the live show. Seems calm and composed. Maybe because he is a block of wood and sometimes being wooden can be mistaken as calm and composed. Anyway his rythmn is okae and can talk properly.

Tomorrow watching Superhost. Wednesday watching American Idol. Hopefully got more things to laugh at....

Okae protest period over. Can start writing again. Thanks for your support

A Beautiful Dream: Buorong From My Point of View

Yesterday was watching 'Superhost'

For those who dunno what 'Superhost' is, it is one of many talent search competitions held by Mediacorp. It is looking for a good chinese host.

One of my acquaintances, Gerald Huang Buorong is (or should I say 'was') in the competition. He is only seventeen plus, but got into the competition. It started during his holidays.

Yesterday school started, he got eliminated in yesterday's 'live show'.

Being in the competition must be quite fun, refreshing and exciting. You get to do things that you dont do in normal life. Go on television, hang out with older brothers (fellow competitors) from all walks of life, see famous TV artistes like Quan Yifeng or Guo Liang or Xu Nailin very often, walk in and out of MediaCorp....

But yesterday it all ended for him. Not only it ended, he must come back to Earth, where he must do boring things that normal people do: Go to school, study, go home, do homework. It is indeed a sharp contrast from what he gets to do in the holidays.

I can say I understand what he must be feeling right not. I think only 'Fucked Up' can describe it. Not because he was eliminated (maybe abit) but more because he can no longer have the fun that he had in the holidays. He now comes back to a reality drastically different from what it is like being in the competition

Many many years ago when I am still a student, I love acting in performances the best. You play with friends, go eat in high class expensive places, act in shows, receive applause that you wont get normally, gossip about people.... All these takes place usually in the March holidays when it is performances' peak period.

After the show, which ends on the sunday before school starts, I would be feeling depressed because I have to go back to school, be with people that I dont like and do normal boring stuff that I dont like to do...

It is like a very very beautiful dream......then suddenly you come back to earth, waking up to the harsh reality, and the only presence of the dream is in your memory.... A bit like the final hours of the little matchgirl before her death

I always cry after shows ended for me. I miss being with all the fun people and fun things. I feel sad when the music ends and the audience leaves.

So for once, I wont condemn Buorong if he crys today. In fact I am sure he will.

I perfectly understand

See You Later, God

Welcome to my 2006 choronicles.

It will be as interesting and as exciting as 'choronicles of narnia' so do continue to support my blog. To side track a little, I always forget to mention on my blog that I always think that 'narnia' sounds like some hokkien bad word that ah bengs use when they want to scold their bad luck at mahjong. Try saying it real slowly and pulling the last part: ' naaaaaa-niiiiii-arh' See, I never bluff you right...

Today is the second day of the new year. It began quite uneventfully and I thought it is going to pass quite uneventfully.

In the end, GEKL call me go play mahjong with him, Runshan and WY.

To update you all on my records, I had three successive wins at mahjong before today. Before christmas at WL house, christmas at GEKL friend's house and new year eve at WL house.

For the past two weeks from before christmas till now, God was with me. I am not a Christian nor a Catholic. But i like to think God is with me. It makes people think twice before bullying me. Besides, out of so many supreme beings, God has the shortest name so it is easier to imagine him being with me. Imagine me going: 'Supreme Jade Emperor of the Nine Heavens is with me for the past two weeks before christmas'

You see all the wise sayings I have been quoting lately and you would know what religion I am of. Yes.... I am a Hindu. (GEKL: Duh!)

Anyway my point is that when God was with me the past two weeks, I won mahjong. I had company for christmas and new year. Things went quite well for me.

But i think today, God left for his Heaven already. Whenever I am doing something important he does that to me. So in the end I lost 30 dollars today. I think He is very..... humorous. (Trying very hard not to use narnia in my vocab) Always play jokes with me. The black comedy type somemore.

Hopefully He can be with me abit more times this year. If not I think must quit mahjong already. Even I just receive alot of money from my mom today also cannot lose money like that.

Don't stay too long in your Heaven, God. See you later, God