All a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.

Christel's Birthday

(I love these people!)

It was Christel's birthday two weeks back, and we decided to meet up for dinner at the Japanese restaurant Watami, located at Woodlands Causeway Point! Obviously someone (me) didn't get the memo, because both of them showed up with the same pink color tops!

(Surprise success!)

Surprised her with a cake from Chateraise, and it was a success! Thankfully, the birthday girl was late because she came from school (and I was early for once)! While Amanda and I were busy setting up/preparing the cake in a hurry, we accidentally tore the box - in an ugly manner. Oops! The crepe cake was nice by the way~

(Beef Udon in Hotpot Set)

Christel's udon was served first, and it was funny because it took super long to cook the food. I tried the soup base, and it tasted delicious! Just that it really took suppeeerrrr long to cook it x.x I have little patience LOL!

(Wagyu Nikomi Rice)

(Close-up)

I thought my beef bowl was quite delicious also! 

(Pepper Beef Rice in Stone Pot Set)

Amanda ordered this stone pot dish that in my opinion, tasted like an atas Pepper Lunch, and it is way nicer (less salty) than Pepper Lunch! Overall, I think the prices at Watami is quite reasonable. Used to think that they are quite expensive, but not sure if there were promotions or what, but generally we paid around $10 each after all the taxes which is quite reasonable considering that it is a restaurant!

(We made a birthday board for Christel as a gift!)

Sincerity 10/10. Friendship 10/10. Accompany 10/10.

(Yole)

After which, we headed over to Yole for desserts! They had a promotion (not sure until when) whereby the medium cup costs only $5.30! I regretted buying an individual cup for myself, because I was way too stuffed. The three of us should have shared two cups or something LOL!

(I really love iPhone filters!)

Another year has passed and it is your birthday again. Special friends are a rare find, but I am glad that you are one of mine! Happy birthday Christel, a friend whom I will never forget!

I hope,

no matter what darkness you're dragged into,

you will never lose sight of your brilliance.

Because if you don't feel your heartbeat,

it's drumming in your chest.

Even if you don't think you can push through,

you can - one step, one breath at a time.

But here we are jumping in without no safety net. And I don't know what ropes would break this fall.

Warning: This is a super throwback post. LOL!

AJC x SRJC Open House

(I love these lighted up blocks!)

Backstory: Anderson Junior College has merged with Serangoon Junior College recently. As a alumna, I am not very keen on the merger but ohwell, at least my school compound is still around. x.x It was super crowded during the open house, and they ran out of goodie bags so I only managed to get two packets of biscuits omg.

(Loving the lights)

I cannot remember the theme of the open house, but I love it overall! There are so many pretty lights everywhere, and this was the first time that I actually thought that the school looked decent LOL (y'know how it usually looked damn old and historic, and like everything is going to fall apart anytime T.T).

(Pavilion with blinking lights)

It is so instaworthy hahaha! Everyone is just taking photos of themselves non-stop, but I have to admit that the sight was really breathtaking. The lights were blinking, and it just felt very magical hehehes! :D

(The Choir's booth)

I think the white performing costume that they hanged there looked so ghostly?! Anyways, I cannot find the Chinese Orchestra booth LOL, not sure if it's just me but it indeed was very crowded and I lost my patience finding hahahaha!

(Pathway leading to the field)

After walking around aimlessly, it was time for some performance, and we were shoo-ed towards the field/stage area. I got a shock of my life, I didn't believe that this was AJC. LOL!! My school really changed a lot after the merger huh!

(Real-life concert)

The performances were great! The performers wore bright neon shirts; they sang popular songs and dance to Kpop music. It was drizzling, but it didn't dampen the mood. Everyone just sang along, and we were so high! For a moment, I forgot that this was my school's open house, because it really felt like I'm attending some pop star concert! Great job, kudos to them!

(All 'dem changing lights)

My parents complained that it made them dizzy hahahaha! I think it's because of the rain, the loud music, the crowd and that we stood for quite some time already.

(Lights, lights everywhere!)

We used to walk along the street
When the porch lights were shining bright
Before I had somewhere to be
Back when we had all night
And we were happy

Your love was handmade for somebody like me.

Did my first presentation for the semester yesterday, and it went horribly wrong T.T We put in a lot of effort in doing up the slides, and the delivering of the presentation was fine. BUT it was pure unluckiness that the annoying clique of friends decided to attack my group, and wah we were quite dumbfounded during the Q&A help. It was so bad that the Professor had to step in to hint us, but even so, we still died a horrible death. >.<

I hope karma strikes them for being so mean.

(Taicheong Bakery)

(Egg Tarts)

It's okay, at least I have delicious egg tarts to cheer me up. The sister dropped by Orchard and got us these sweet little things! Taicheong Bakery is still one of my favourite shops from Hong Kong because their pastries are really quite nice!

These days I was feeling quite stressed because every single person I met kept asking me about my job-hunting status ohgosh. Just let me live my life in peace LOL, I am stressed enough without you adding to it x.x Tsktsk.

(Table of food)

(Claypot Tofu)

(Pork Ribs)

(Sambal stingray)

Headed to Alexandra Village Food Centre for some tzechar, I love tzechar! Not sure if it is me because I haven't had stingray in a long while, or that the cost of seafood increased?! They charged me an exorbitant price of $60 for the entire table of food T.T

And maybe today was just about

survival for you. And maybe it was

holding on with just your fingernails till

they were broken and bruised and blue.

And maybe this is all that you have come to.

But hey, at least you can say that the hero

who saved you, was no one else but you.

If grass can grow through cement, love can find you at any time of your life.

I love having so many free days during school time. No wonder people often say last semester, best semester. Here's what I do during my five hours break yesterday:

(Matcha Latte)

Headed to Coffee Roaster, NUS for a cuppa while 'doing my work'. But the cup is not enough to last me for five hours omg, too torturous why can't my evening lessons start earlier?!

Mummy took leave on Monday and we decided to head down to Pho Street, Westgate to eat Vietnamese cuisine for lunch! No time and no money to travel to Vietnam, but this will suffice for now. LOL! The only thing that I like about this eatery is the coffee, hmm x.x 

(Roasted Lemongrass Chicken with Fragrant Rice)

(Fresh Summer Rolls)

(Pho Beef)

(Vietnam coffee)

And also a throwback to the McDonald supper I had a few weeks back with my mother. I thought it was quite worth it because it was $10 for the burger, criss-cut fries, drinks and two drumlets! The meal was super filling but it was a tad too oily and I don't really like eating supper. But this was an exception because I skipped dinner and was really hungry x.x

(Ha Cheong Gai burger)

Sighs, back to doing my projects. Sometimes I wish that my groupmates can buck up and make themselves useful T.T

The moment you accept that
imperfect is more beautiful and
full of joy than perfect
is a very good moment

One day these 5am's will make you a legend.

Happy Convocation, Vivian!

(So proud of this woman here!)

My bestie finally grew up hahaha! Thanks for inviting me to your graduation ceremony, hehehes so happy to share in the excitement of your graduation day! 8 years of friendship and still counting, thanks for always being around for me. From signing up for Econs tuition together to collecting our A's results, to university and internships and finally to you graduating. Omg, we really came a long way!

(Someone so popular, so many flowers!)

Hope you enjoy your first job, no more overtime work and bless you with high pay and fast promotions so you can treat me for meals hahaha! Speaking of this, where's my sushi treat?

(Sunflowers)

Gave her a super big bouquet that I wrapped myself! Beautiful isn't it? I used sunflowers and peonies for the bouquet! Okay, actually my sister did most of the job, and I am just acting as her assistant. LOL, spent like 2-3 hours doing this up because we have #noskills #noexperience but I thought that wrapping myself will make it a more sincere and thoughtful gift. The bouquet is filled with all best wishes for her! :D What a nice girl am I. Hahahas!

Her heart wears wisdom skin

and wit warmed splendor,

the echoes of a war cry holding

its four chambers together.

She rises like Athena

on a night of victory dancing.

She rises like the blood moon

in a sky of a thousand stars bursting.

He started listening when she had nothing left to say.

Since school started five week ago, I have visited the doctor once because I had a fever, flu and cough. Shortly after, I suffered from back aches for many days and it was super uncomfortable because I could not sit properly, stand properly, or even sleep properly. No matter what I do, it was super painful. I ended up buying a whole packet of Salonpas and pasting them on my back for a few days, geeez (guess who finished the entire packet). Really signs of aging lehs T.T

Roamed around Sembawang Park with Junhao on a Saturday evening and it was quite nice to see people hanging around there together. I see fathers playing ball games with their children, I see fathers teaching their children fishing, I see mothers reading books to their children. I also see children walking their dogs, I see friends having picnics, I see families gathering together for a BBQ session. It was really a heartwarming scene.

The weather was scorching unfortunately, and there wasn't any breeze at all even though we walked all the way to the seaside. But still, it was a good day to relax.

(White Beehoon)

When in Sembawang, the first thing that I thought of was the White Beehoon. Thanks Junhao for the treat! :D

(Genki Sushi)

Met up with Bernice and Cassandra for a good dinner at Genki Sushi. I think I have been visiting the place way too often omg. It was a good catch up session and we talked about a lot of things, ranging from studies to working to gossips. LOL, Bernice also shared her travel experience to China, whereby she was nearly scammed. T.T Gosh important lesson of the day: don't fall asleep in taxi!

Speaking of this, there was once I had to travel to another location for work. I just changed my phone then, so I haven't install all my applications and all. So my colleague helped me call a Grab. I was travelling alone, and I dozed off in the Grab because I was really too exhausted. Halfway through the journey, I woke up and the driver asked me "I hope you had a good sleep, and I look at you but you don't look like a Malay lehs".

LOLOL, I died laughing. He must have been dying to ask me but I fell asleep so he couldn't ask. I explained to him that the ride was booked by my Malay colleague LOL. And he finally 'ohhhhh' hahahaha!

(Souvenirs)

Thanks Cass for the nice tea from Taiwan, and Bernice for the goodies from Korea! I am super excited about to try the Etude House lip tint holy!

We all have a room within us,

in which we keep the things

we have loved deeply, intensely,

passionately but lost forever.

My room is full of you. Just you.

The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together.

Learning Journey to Google

Prof Elmie took all of us to Google three months back, and I am so impressed by the workplace?! It doesn't even look like a workplace, it looks so cosy like a cafe. I hope my future workplace will be something similar to this, or would Google like to hire me? LOLOL!

(Mandatory Shot)

This is a super interesting signboard. If you see the board on this side, it reads 'Google'. However, if you see the board on the other side, it reads 'Welcome'. Cool ehs!

I like how they have this hot desking system, whereby employees can choose to sit wherever they want. Sometimes I feel suffocated sitting in the same place for too long (also because your colleagues know where you are sitting, so they can often come over to give you more work zzz), so I thought that it was great if we can sit anywhere. A change in environment can help to spark that creativity in us also, allowing us to be more efficient and produce better works. LOL #excusesIcomeupwith

(Pantry)

This is their so-called pantry. And they have pantries at all levels. There is also a buffet counter for you to take food whenever you feel hungry working. The best part? There is even a barista who can make you beverages!! Feels pampered yet? In their fridge, they have everything from mineral waters to soft drinks and alcohol omg.

(More pantries)

Google even have this cool place to play games. They have some arcade machines, table tennis table and all. It is either Google's good intentions to allow employees to relieve stress, or it is because the employees were under tremendous stress that they have to come up with something like that for employees to vent their stress. LOL!

Licheng was saying that he want to work here as his retirement job, LOL. So Chermin and I jokingly said that he can work here as a cleaner or security guard. I mean he can still go around telling people he works here, just don't divulge what he is working as hahahaha!

(Floating plant)

We are just so fascinated by this floating plant. Apparently, someone (Chermin) itchy finger go and touch it and the plant quickly dropped back onto the table. We were busy trying to find back the exact point for the repulsion, in the end we gave up and this security guard came to rescue us LOL.

And so Licheng said: "Wah work here as security guard also need to know how magnetic fields work?! Tough job lehs"

HAHAHAHA, there goes his retirement plans at Google. Hmmm...

If you develop the habit of smiling often,

You’re going to feel better.

Be more optimistic and gain the

cooperation of others. It’s well worth the effort.

Weathering life's storms with you.

Happy Birthday, daddy! :D

On your special day, I would like to pray that you stay healthy and wealthy in life.

(Birthday Cake)

It was rather a simple celebration, as he wanted. (: We went hiking in the morning, headed off to eat tzechar for lunch, before celebrating with a birthday cake! And we brought his favourite Blackforest cake from Bengawan Solo!

(Spinach)

(排骨王)

(Hotplate Tofu)

(Ginger onion chicken)

I may not say it, but words are not enough to express the gratitude that you deserve for all that you have done for me. Thanks for being my compass, showing me the right path and guiding me in the right direction. Thank you for being such an inspiration, and for believing in my dreams!

Happy birthday to you, once again!

In your eyes, I'm alive.

Inside you are beautiful.

Something so unusual in your eyes.

I know I'm home.

The people who are meant to be in your life, will always gravitate back towards you. No matter how far they wander.

Three weeks of school has passed, but all I have been doing is watching movies/shows. LOL, what a chill life. Here's some reviews of the recent movies that I have watched:

#1 Crazy Rich Asians

(Ripped from East West Bank)

Caught this Crazy Rich Asians movie with Junhao. I was quite excited to watch it, given the hype over it and all. But perhaps the higher the expectations, the greater the disappointment. The plot was quite predictable, and a little unrealistic? Like wth, it only takes one mahjong session to change the (rich) guy's mother's mind and allow her son to marry the (poor) girl. But I must say the wedding that took place at CHIJMES was very dreamy and nice, but yet again unrealistic LOL. Which bride will want to tread on waters in the wedding gown?!? Okay, maybe there are girls who wanted to do this, but not me. LOL.

(Ripped from The Straits Times)

I was talking about this particular scene where the bride was getting married. The bride was walking on waters. LOL, freaking on waters. T.T I feel that the movie is not very representative of Singaporeans as well, but what's nice about the movie is that it was shot in many nice and grand places in Singapore like CHIJMES, Gardens by the Bay and the Marina Bay Sands hotel. :D It was a good 'promotional' film for Singapore LOLOL!

#2 Mission Impossible - Fallout 

(Ripped from imdb.com)

Didn't wanted to watch Mission Impossible initially, but Amanda dragged me along so... But no regrets, it was a very good action-packed movie! From car chasing and motorbike racing, to helicopter flying and climbing on cliffs, the way he put himself in danger made me totally absorbed in the film as I fear for his safety. There were also many twists and turns in the movie plot, which makes it super exciting! PS. Tom Cruise is like 50 years old already, but his fitness is so darn good! I think Henry Cavill is super good looking as well!

#3 Skyscraper

(Ripped from freemom.com)

Clement wanted to watch Mission Impossible but I refused to watch it a second time, so we decided on Skyscraper instead. I think that Skyscraper is quite a good movie as well, in fact I thought that it was slightly nicer than Mission Impossible. The story plot was quite ridiculous - 'terrorists' wanted to steal some flash drive so they set the tall building on fire, and they threatened Dwayne (protagonist) to get the flash drive in order to exchange for his daughter.

But what really draws me to the film is the strong theme of 'family' - Dwayne's commitment to protecting his family. In the movie, he was seen walking on the tall buildings with just ropes and err duct tapes. It was freaking dangerous, but he was risking his life to protect his family. If you have a fear of heights, then maybe throughout the entire movie you will find yourself biting your fingers. Hahaha!

#4 Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings

(Ripped from 3g.163.com)

Hui Qi always jio me to watch Detective Dee movies because she is so into mysteries and action-packed movies, so even before the movie was released, she already asked to watch together LOL.

Because I watched Mission Impossible and Skyscraper first, when I watched this movie, I thought that the movie characters were going to pull out guns when they started fighting, but I had a shock when I saw that they pull out swords instead. LOL, what is wrong with me. This is a historical China show omg hahahaha.

The movie talked about Detective Dee, the Tang dynasty official who headed the 'Bureau of Investigations'. He is like the China's version of Sherlock Holmes, hehes. The movie was okay, but I felt that it was less exciting because the mysteries and his deduction methods were less brain-teasing than before.

Okay, that's all for movie reviews! Don't think I will be watching anymore movies any time soon, so yay to saving money hahahas!

In the aftermath of

tongue lashings and tears,

can you fall back in love

with the same soul

who stripped yours?

You cannot change your destination overnight, but you can change your direction overnight.

(Souvenirs)

YAY! Super blessed again - Weina got me a Etude House lippie from Korea; Regine brought back many snacks from Taiwan! Didn't get to travel this holidays, but I'm always happy that people think of me when they travel :D Thanks y'all!

(Biannual meetup with the JC friends)

Finally meeting them for dinner with desserts again after so long! It always feel nice to see them again, and nothing much has changed. Moehan is still being an ass as always. Who the hell pronounce Yole as "有了"? On second thoughts, he is not wrong LOL. Really hope that Yangfan can join us again for our next outing x.x We really missed him and his jokes a lot!

(记得吃 Desserts)

It was Hari Raya two Wednesdays ago, so the parents are not working. Headed to IMM but surprisingly, there were not a lot of shoppers given that it is a public holiday?! The queue for White Beehoon is still long though, LOL. There was an elderly who approached me while I’m queueing, asking me what is the restaurant selling. I answered him that it is white beehoon but he pressed on and asked what is white beehoon omg. And he thinks I’m the restaurant owner or something, walao still come and ask me how much is the small one, how much is the medium, how much is the large. T.T

(White Beehoon)

(Kai Lan)

(Claypot Tofu with prawns)

(Ginger Pork)

Been here countless times, but I'm still loving the food here though! 

It is the time that you have wasted
for your rose that makes your rose
so important.