Have you ever tried to dry a soaking wet cloth? You must be twisting the cloth so hard that if the fabrics are not strong enough it will be torn into pieces. Yet there are still water dripping out of the poor cloth.
Imagine that happening to your stomach. On your birthday. In a deserted train coach. Now that is what I call an unforgetable birthday experience.
As you have read from my previous blog, I am 'celebrating' my birthday in Singapore. After the 11am appointment, I have decided to take a train to return to KL. That was almost a grave mistake.
After boarding the 3:30pm train, we left the station a little after 4pm. I looked around the cabin and was astonished to find that only two other passengers were in the same coach. Later, one lady got off at Kluang and not sure when the other passenger alighted the train.
I bought a can of soft drink and a tube of Pringles when the train stopped at the Segamat station for 10 minutes. I was very hungry as it was around 7pm that the train has arrived at Segamat, which is just a little more than halfway to the ultimate destination. I was also given a bottle of mineral water as a 'complimentary drink' from the railway company.
Then the 'fun' came almost half an hour later. First I felt the stomach ache, and I thought it was just a normal one. Headed to the washroom, did the business, but the ache would not leave. Things took a turn for the worst. I began to feel nauseous and soon I was throwing up. When I expect it to be over, the pain attacked again. This time it was more rhythmic and the pain gets progressively stronger. I was having cold sweat all over. I thought I was going to lose concious in the washroom. With all my remaining energy, I pulled myself together and managed to get back to the cabin, where no one was in sight. I just sat at the first available seat and tried to sleep off the pain. I am not really sure what happened between then and finally arriving at KL Sentral Station. I was drifting in and out of conciousness.
An hour before the end of my birthday, I finally got home and crashed on my bed instantly. I could not remember when the pain subdued but I could never forget the pain I have been through. On my birthday.
Happy Birthday to me.
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Monday, March 28, 2005
Happy Birthday I
Happy Birthday to me.
This is the first time I am ‘celebrating’ birthday on my own. I am in a country neither my motherland nor my hometown. (Well, there is a difference between my motherland and my hometown, if you know me well enough to tell.) I am all alone in Coffee Club, Raffles Place, Singapore. I just had my breakfast and waiting for my 11am appointment. The time now is 9:42am. Lots of time to kill.
And what a way to start my birthday. The first significant thing that happened to me today was that I broke my mother’s watch, or my watch I should say. I sort of ‘forcefully’ made the watch mine by saying that it will be my birthday present, and since I am my mum’s only child, I am sure I am the spoilt brat, heh heh.
This is my first trip to Singapore in almost a decade. It is a wonderful country, with beautiful people and a harmonic culture all around. Funnily enough, just after spending a day here, I have decided to spend a few years of my career here. Or maybe even setting up my family here. It only took Singapore one day to convince me to do so. Well, that is if I am comparing Melbourne and KL with Singapore.
I still consider myself a frog in the bottom of the well. I have never been out of the Asia-Pacific region, therefore I can only say that currently Singapore is the place I want to work and stay. Of course Melbourne will always come first, when I retire that is, but Singapore seems to be a more ideal place to stay, to work and to study. I was told that the crime rates here are quite low. People here does not live in the fear that they encounter hooligans or beggars or drug addicts easily on a main street like Orchard Road, unlike on Swanston Street. (and Bintang Walk?)
Even when the properties are expensive and it takes a millionaire to own a car, I still find Singapore desirable. All thanks to the good planning and development of the government, and more specifically their Minister Mentor. At least the food here is cheaper than in Melbourne. The prices are the almost comparable to those in KL, with the exchange rate not taken in account. If we work here and live here, it is affordable. The public transport are by far the best I have seen. We barely survive in KL without a car, do not even think about the messy public transport system, if there is actually one; the public transport system in Melbourne is very very unreliable and extremely expensive; by far, Singapore has the more reliable, punctual and affordable public transport system. Furthermore, since Singapore is a small country, the public transport coverage are supremely extensive.
The impression of the country so far has been a positive one. I would like to explore more of this place but I have limited time. Hopefully I will get to do this again in the near future, on a fully-paid business trip, heh heh. Anyway, I have to end my blog here and I will be back soon.
Ps. Thanks to those that have extended their birthday wishes to me, I was not able to respond to you all since my phone carrier does not allow me to send SMS while having registration-free global roaming.
This is the first time I am ‘celebrating’ birthday on my own. I am in a country neither my motherland nor my hometown. (Well, there is a difference between my motherland and my hometown, if you know me well enough to tell.) I am all alone in Coffee Club, Raffles Place, Singapore. I just had my breakfast and waiting for my 11am appointment. The time now is 9:42am. Lots of time to kill.
And what a way to start my birthday. The first significant thing that happened to me today was that I broke my mother’s watch, or my watch I should say. I sort of ‘forcefully’ made the watch mine by saying that it will be my birthday present, and since I am my mum’s only child, I am sure I am the spoilt brat, heh heh.
This is my first trip to Singapore in almost a decade. It is a wonderful country, with beautiful people and a harmonic culture all around. Funnily enough, just after spending a day here, I have decided to spend a few years of my career here. Or maybe even setting up my family here. It only took Singapore one day to convince me to do so. Well, that is if I am comparing Melbourne and KL with Singapore.
I still consider myself a frog in the bottom of the well. I have never been out of the Asia-Pacific region, therefore I can only say that currently Singapore is the place I want to work and stay. Of course Melbourne will always come first, when I retire that is, but Singapore seems to be a more ideal place to stay, to work and to study. I was told that the crime rates here are quite low. People here does not live in the fear that they encounter hooligans or beggars or drug addicts easily on a main street like Orchard Road, unlike on Swanston Street. (and Bintang Walk?)
Even when the properties are expensive and it takes a millionaire to own a car, I still find Singapore desirable. All thanks to the good planning and development of the government, and more specifically their Minister Mentor. At least the food here is cheaper than in Melbourne. The prices are the almost comparable to those in KL, with the exchange rate not taken in account. If we work here and live here, it is affordable. The public transport are by far the best I have seen. We barely survive in KL without a car, do not even think about the messy public transport system, if there is actually one; the public transport system in Melbourne is very very unreliable and extremely expensive; by far, Singapore has the more reliable, punctual and affordable public transport system. Furthermore, since Singapore is a small country, the public transport coverage are supremely extensive.
The impression of the country so far has been a positive one. I would like to explore more of this place but I have limited time. Hopefully I will get to do this again in the near future, on a fully-paid business trip, heh heh. Anyway, I have to end my blog here and I will be back soon.
Ps. Thanks to those that have extended their birthday wishes to me, I was not able to respond to you all since my phone carrier does not allow me to send SMS while having registration-free global roaming.
Thursday, March 10, 2005
Where's the Love?
I have lost touch with the feeling. That feeling. The feeling of Love.
When I see my other half, I no longer feel my heart beating faster. Nor I can feel my palm sweating. Nor breathing heavier. The magic of love just disappeared. Do I, or do I not, love her? Tough one for me to answer. I felt that I have lost the ability to love.
Looking back at those days and those heartbreaking moments that she had to endure, did she not suffer enough to show her love for me? Should I love her back more than the pain that she had to suffer because she loved me too much? Do I have to love her back just because of the responbility that I bear, or do I love her just because I really do? I seriously do not know.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Is that true? Why do I not feel that way? Why do I feel that she does not miss me? And if she does, why is she not showing? Is it because I love her that I am feeling anxious? Or is it because of my pride that I do no want to lose her? Why would I get unhappy when not getting any messages or phone calls from her? Why did I not call her or message her instead? Are we both moving towards opposite ends?
I have decided that she will be the ONE. The ONE I want to marry, the ONE to bear my children and the ONE to be my companion for the rest of my life. The decision is not based purely on love. Other considerations have been taken into account to reach the conclusion. Yes, Love plays a role in the decision too. But not the most important one. Come to think of it, am I the ONE for her?
Is it true that we do not usually get to be with the one we love most? Maybe, maybe not. Some people spend their whole life looking for the one they love the most, yet they have passed by a lot of chances that might eventually blossom into a colourful relationship. In the end, they might prefer being alone, or be with someone not of their choice. And they tend to say that everything is fated.
Some decided to settle down with one that meets most of their criteria, even though their characteristics might not match nor compatible. They will try hard to work things around and compromise on the relationship. Usually this will work if both parties are agreeable and have a high level of tolerance. But where is the love? Hardly existing, is it not? Perhaps as the times go by they will slowly develop feelings for each other, but never the sparkling feelings like couples who fall deeply in love.
Anyway, there will hardly be a perfect ending to a relationship. Do not even bother dreaming of a happily ever after fairy tale. After all, those are just fairy tales. In real life, think of the term 'trade-offs', and we are almost there.
When I see my other half, I no longer feel my heart beating faster. Nor I can feel my palm sweating. Nor breathing heavier. The magic of love just disappeared. Do I, or do I not, love her? Tough one for me to answer. I felt that I have lost the ability to love.
Looking back at those days and those heartbreaking moments that she had to endure, did she not suffer enough to show her love for me? Should I love her back more than the pain that she had to suffer because she loved me too much? Do I have to love her back just because of the responbility that I bear, or do I love her just because I really do? I seriously do not know.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Is that true? Why do I not feel that way? Why do I feel that she does not miss me? And if she does, why is she not showing? Is it because I love her that I am feeling anxious? Or is it because of my pride that I do no want to lose her? Why would I get unhappy when not getting any messages or phone calls from her? Why did I not call her or message her instead? Are we both moving towards opposite ends?
I have decided that she will be the ONE. The ONE I want to marry, the ONE to bear my children and the ONE to be my companion for the rest of my life. The decision is not based purely on love. Other considerations have been taken into account to reach the conclusion. Yes, Love plays a role in the decision too. But not the most important one. Come to think of it, am I the ONE for her?
Is it true that we do not usually get to be with the one we love most? Maybe, maybe not. Some people spend their whole life looking for the one they love the most, yet they have passed by a lot of chances that might eventually blossom into a colourful relationship. In the end, they might prefer being alone, or be with someone not of their choice. And they tend to say that everything is fated.
Some decided to settle down with one that meets most of their criteria, even though their characteristics might not match nor compatible. They will try hard to work things around and compromise on the relationship. Usually this will work if both parties are agreeable and have a high level of tolerance. But where is the love? Hardly existing, is it not? Perhaps as the times go by they will slowly develop feelings for each other, but never the sparkling feelings like couples who fall deeply in love.
Anyway, there will hardly be a perfect ending to a relationship. Do not even bother dreaming of a happily ever after fairy tale. After all, those are just fairy tales. In real life, think of the term 'trade-offs', and we are almost there.
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