fresh ink

for the longest time i've wanted to get a tattoo on my forearm.

something personal.
special.
simple.

a friend suggested getting a band.
i just thought it would look like a black rubber band on my arm.
so i said No.

then i thought how about something different.
scripture from the bible...
but what?

anyway i was going to Israel so maybe i'd find something there.

as i was falling in love with Israel,
i was also falling in love with God's people.
and their worship for God.

Shema Yisrael (or Sh'ma Yisrael or just Shema) (Hebrew: שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל‎; "Hear, [O] Israel") are the first two words of a section of the Torah (Hebrew Bible) that is a centerpiece of the morning and evening Jewish prayer services.

it continues in Deuteronomy Chapter 6;
'' ⁴ Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
⁵ Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.
⁷ Impress them on your children.
Talk about them when you sit at home and
when you walk along the road,
when you lie down and when you get up.
⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ''


today, Jewish men still bind their arm and forehead with Tefillin during worship.
i wanted to bring home a bit of a Israel. and i did.

''Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Eḥad"

Dream Big

almost a month into the new year and already there are
like a 1o2 reality competition shows on TV.

from the new season of ''American Idol"' to the brand new
Paula Abdul's "Live to Dance" & Australia's "Junior Master Chef",
it's all about someone's Big Dreams.

with the coming 2nd season of ''GLEE'',
i'm sure we'll see The New Directions wanting to proof they've got
what it takes to Make it Big.

even Oprah.
yes, Oprah has Big Plans.
with her Oprah Winfrey Network,
OWN is set to take over the world of television.
& if you asked me, if anybody can, Oprah can.

so what's my point?

i believe it's a year of Big Dreams. Big Plans. Making it Big.
not just for TV people, but for everybody!

i know i have some Big Ideas.
but that's where they start.
as an idea. a thought. the passion.

so go! do it!
you know you want to.
you know you can.
go ahead and Dream Big.

the truth?

i know some people who feel this way.
then there are many who feel this way too.
whether its your friend, family, lover or colleague.
we all have felt this way.

"i am tired.
tired from trying."

"i don't need this...
seriously.
please."
stop.''

"be responsible.
if not for others least for yourself.''

''get out!
leave!
go!''

''stop trying if you're not interested...
it doesn't make it any easier.''

''pls stop asking me to see it from your side...
for once, stop and see it from my side.''

''i'm not asking you to understand.
just listen."

it doesn't mean we don't love, treasure or respect you any less...

we just tend to keep it to ourselves.
wanna know the truth?

what's next?

the most exciting thing happened today!

i didn't trust the guy at first...
couldn't really understand what he was saying...
''possible damage... not sure if permanent..''
seriously, who's this dude!?!?!!

so i decided not to have my wisdom tooth touched.

then after 1 phone call it all changed!
i went back in,
asked all the right questions,
knew what everyone was doing and then made an informed decision.

i had my 2 upper wisdom teeth extracted at one GO!
never did i think i'd ever go thru something as gory as that,
but i did!

its only the 2nd week of 2011 but excitement is just gushing in!!!
what's next?

but for now i have to decide if i wanna remove the lower sets too?

do i have to???

go Israel.

i started 2011 with a holiday,
from 18 Dec 2010 to 2nd Jan 2011.
i know. i'm a typical singaporean.
must do everything 1st. even the new year.

17 days.
16 nights.
3 countries.
6 cities.
7 hotels.
the list goes on. trust me.

but the treasure of all this would be the 9 days i spent in Israel.

the sites, people, cities, food, culture and... His love.
its amazing cos you really see His words come alive in this land.

even now, writing this... its just overwhelming.

an awesome awesome experience. that's all i can say.
go Israel.

the 2010 discovery list

another year has almost slipped by...
and it's like just yesterday that all the bitching was going on.

so, what did we discover this year?

*Food programmes are the No.1 show on TV

*No one shops @ Orchard Central

*There are no local actors on Channel 5

*Fashion Shows are strictly by Invitation only

*Husbands cheat

*STELLAR @ 1 Altitude is the place to dine on top of Singapore

*U can look HOT at 40

*Bromance is the new Gay

*All movies are now in 3D

*Marc Jacobs is King

what did u discover in 2010?

hate what you do?

its actually the time of the year where people are

considering a change of company

in regards to the work or work place.

i've been hearing non stop complains about how unhappy

many of my friends & acquaintances are.

bad hours. ungrateful employers. awful colleges.

the list goes on and on and on and on. you get the picture.

but rarely do i hear any one of them complaining about

how much they hate what they do!

so the question is: do you hate work or do you hate what you do?

hint: being good will take you far. being passionate will take you further.

quick. you only have 2 weeks before the new year.

being friends

what do you when just being friends is not enough?

i have friends.
friends whom i share with.
friends whom i treasure.
friends whom i respect.
and friends who drive me crazy.

well, i am also friends with my Ex'es.
sometimes my other friends don't understand why or even get it.

my question is, what's wrong in being friends

even after you break up?

is it to still be in touch with them?
or is it harder to move on with them totally out of your life?
or are you secretly hoping that by being friends

you might get back together again?

whatever the reason, i'm not judging.

just as long as you are being honest to yourself.

and please don't ever say that your friends

are not there for you...

it takes 2 for any relationship to work.

2011 Plans

there's a lot happening.
well, not necessarily to me or with me for that matter...
but there's a lot happening.

everyone i know is busy.
work. dateline. wedding. holidays. something is always coming up.

i'm still waiting.
waiting for great, no... GREATER things to happen.

i already have a 2011 Plans Book.
wanna know?

Mm... u have to wait.
its only November 30th, 2010.

The BIG BAD SHOT.

over the last 12 months i have not been too busy with work.
seriously... i haven't.
but i have been involved in a number of ''Reality TV"shows.
like... SuperModel Me. HP Space. Dance Star Asia & Ice Star Asia.
Clean & Clear's Top Model Best Friends.
as Creative Stylist, Head Stylist, Head Makeup Artiste, Mentor, Judge and Friend.
i know. that's a lot of roles.

don't get me wrong... I heart REALITY SHOWS.
be it working or watching one.

but did does irks me when i watch a really bad one.
fine... there are a few.
but when a local network feels its good enough to produce and air a photography contest / reality show... that takes the cake.

The BIG Shot.
the local reality show where photogs get a chance to win S$20,000/-
10 contestants who would look better on radio but shouldn't speak.
1 host who wasn't even introduced... sad.
3 judges... yawn.
30mins waste of TV time.

were they too lazy to cast or audition more people?!
good looking people?!!!
2 out of 10 is not a good number!!!

i know its a local production but does it have to look CHEAP & AMATEUR?!!
and what's with the AKA?!! who cares about AKA!
no effort was made to up the bar people. no effort.

one word. FIRE THE PRODUCER!
ok, that's 3.

and that's only from the 1st episode...
can't wait to see how much worse it can get next week!

Family.

have you met my family?
let me introduce them to you.

my mom & dad have been married for 44 years.
the inspiration in my life.
supportive. understanding. giving.
they taught me love.

and they have 4 kids. i know , they still call us Kids.
2 boys and 2 girls.
it was a trend in the late 60s to start a big family.
then the government said, "2 is Enough".

my late brother would be 43 this year but he passed away when he was 19.
car accident.
then there's me and my 2 younger sisters. 39 and 38.
i'm not married. as u would know by now.
but my sisters were. are. yes.
both were married and then divorced their 1st husband.
the older one remarried and now has a daughter. she's 9.
the younger one's divorce was finalized 4 years ago
and she has 1 boy, 19 and 1 girl, 15.
i love my sisters. my pillars.

i am not close to the relatives from my dad's side of the family.
they kinda suck.
nuff said.

but i am super close to my mom's side.
she has an elder brother who married to a malay wife.
3 younger sisters whom all married indian men and
a younger brother who married a chinese.
talk about multi-racial family upbringing.

funny thing is the 2 boys truly married into their wives' family.
the only 2 sons my grandmother has literally disappeared from her live for over 30 years.
i know i have cousins. we played together when we were younger but if i ever pass them in the street today, i wouldn't know tom from dick.
sad isn't it, not knowing your family.

but my 3 aunts are precious to me. and to each other.
they are constantly in each others life.
growing together as a family. always there thru thick & thin.
and not just for each other but also for their nephews and nieces.
they call us their own Kids.
that's nice, to know that your family is always there for you.

and of course there's my grandmother. she's Vietnamese FYI.
Mdm Nguyen Ti Yew. she's the best.
i learnt to speak dialects from her.
she's 78 and is a fighter!

and she taught me that you get your strength for life & love from
your Family.

DIY

its been 2 months.
yet nothing.
so i realize that when u need something done,
u have to do it yourself.

this is what happens when u leave things in others' hands.

u have to follow up. check on them. chase them even.
sometimes, u even have to babysit them.
it doesn't mean u don't trust them... just that I DON'T.

so i have learnt my lesson.
if u can't depend on others to get the job done... FIRE them!

start the support to stop the bullying.

is bullying the IN thing now?

teen gays are getting a huge amount of attention in the states recently
but not in a healthy way.

recently the number of gay teens or
teens believed to gay committing suicide is rising.
they hang themselves. shoot themselves in the head. jump off a bridge.
because they were bullied.

bullies who tell them that they are a waste of life.
bullies who are their classmates.
bullies who see them differently.
bullies who want to be nowhere near them.
bullies who are afraid.

i believe this is nothing new.
i believe this is even happening in asia,
we just don't know about it. and i believe that we can change this.
i believe we can stop the bullying.

it starts with educating.
gays. black. colored. fat. anorexia. midgets. etc.
we, are still a person. an individual.
no different from anyone else.
with the same desire. challenges. ambition. needs & wants as the next person.

when we witness the discrimination, we need to stand up and speak out.
and when we do that, we educate the bully. and we support the bullied.

we need to start the support to stop the bullying.

i don't want to wait till it happens to someone i know.
are u?

need to be 1st.

ever wondered why the CHINESE are good at almost anything?

today i was in the train heading from woodlands to town.
sunday. 1.30pm. super packed mrt.
and yet, the CHINESE Nationals who rushed in were able to
grap, steal, barged their way to a single seat that was free
for like 2 seconds!

their eyes prowl the cabins, praying for a free seat.
no mercy to the 6yrs old kid that was standing alone or
the uncle who needed help coming into the train,
or even the blue signs that pictures the "RESERVED SEAT"
for the more deserving passengers.

the CHINESE need to be 1st.

it explains why they perform so well at the Olympics.
why they talk LOUDLY.
why they think everyone understands their language.
why they are the largest populated country.

it also means that they have a lot of sex.

time to say NO.

ever get tired of doing ''favors''?

over the last 12 months "friends" have been asking me for "favors".
don't get me wrong!
i'm all out to help a friend and sometimes i go all out.

its just that being in an industry where
PR, CONTACTS & CONNECTIONS
play a strong role, its tough to say No.

worst still when you are expected to do "favors"
like its part of your job!

''.... hey can u check with Ms So&So if she's free to blah blah blah...."
"... oh! u must do this!!! we must support each other!"
"...... think u free for whatever whatever....?"

People Use People! so don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
but its how its done that matters.
there's a healthy why and an unhealthy way to it.

healthy is when both of you are aware and its friendly.
unhealthy is when only 1 of you is aware of it!

when its 1 person, that's just taking advantage
and its plain USING.

i'm tired of doing "favors".
enough of it already.

think its about time to say NO.

my advise...
Want something? Do it yourself.

TELL ME!

something is wrong somewhere...

my usual routine is wake up, check emails, facebook, outlook emails
and then gym. like almost everyday... cos that's free i am.

and i've had 2 personal training sessions over the past 2 years.
from a 62kg to a whopping 69kg!

of course along the way i ate,
so to shed the FATS, i started my cardio routine.
a minimum 1hr cardio session every time i hit the gym.
feels really good burning those calories.
and then i eat some more.

but now... my weight is dropping.

each time i go to the gym i seem to weigh lighter and lighter.

from 69 to 67.
then from 67 to 66.
now its 65.6kg.
no. seriously. dude.

i need to put no the weight but without the FAT!!!
if any of you know how pls TELL ME!!!

should i stop my cardio?
eat more rice?
Mm... maybe just sleep?
try Weight Gainer?

i don't know!?!!
how?
i don't wanna end up like Kumar...

just one weekend!

never in my life have i've been to this many parties
and events in just one weekend!

the singapore grand prix season that ran
from 17th-26th september was so loaded with activities
that it was almost impossible to do them all.

i was blessed to be involved in this year's events as STB wanted
to cover and document the SGP festivites.
so i had the honor & pleasure of working with Channel V/ Star TV
in the production where i styled
and worked with their hosts VJs Lisa S & Alvy.

never did i expect this.
it was 1 party after another, 1 concert after another!
how many? well, here's where i went...

Marina Bay Sands Sky Garden to shoot the opening.
the view is spectacular but still they shouldn't allow the public
up there just to earn the extra $20 and 'spoil' the atmosphere.

Dinner at KU DE TA @ MBS.
Vinny the manager is such a darling. sincere VIP treatment.

The Ferrari Party at KU DE TA Lounge.
one red hot party where people really
wouldn't stop taking pictures with Lisa S.

RedBull Party with International Grid Girls at ATTICA.
one word.
Seriously?!

The AVALON Party with international DJs & FloRida.
best rave party but FloRida is such a D.I.V.A.

Back to the Hotel.
driving 45minutes around in the carpark was no fun
with all the EXITS closed for F1.

Drunken Dumb Ass.
never give a drunk a lift... it will bite u in the ass.

The Digital Life Experience in Orchard.
Mm... ok la.

BCBG for Lisa S' wardrobe rescue.
this was where i played my Super Stylist Card & saved the day!

Red in my Head Party @ Keppel Bay.
Awesome. Awesome. Awesome.

Butter Factory with Bobby & Ritz.
the crazy Kidz pulled a GaGa on Lisa S!

ZOUK.
one world. one party.

Got my ''ALL ZONE'' pass for F1.
FINALLY!!!

Saw Adam Lambert during his 1 on 1 interview with Alvy.
it was my OMG moment.

Singapore Flyer & Bubble Tea.
simply put, high & refreshing.

Resort World Sentosa with the Miss Universe 2009 Ladies.
Mm... yah.

The new Tanjong Beach Cafe with Tracy Phillips & gang.
chilling on the beach with champagne was the best.

Amber Lounge Fashion Show.
27 models.
Sheila Sim & Junita Simon 2were the only 2 worth watching.
the rest kinda sucked.
Oh... free drinks.

Hung out with the E!News Asia Gang.
my long lost tv/programme/production/ family.

Photo with Jay Park.
the former lead of K-Pop, 2PM, is HOT!
and shy.

and back at KU DE TA for closing links.
its a wrap!

frankly, it was simply one amazing weekend,
especially with all the highlights thrown in.

but even better still were the amazing people i met.
thank u guys for everything.
thank u STB.
thank u Star TV.
thank u F1.

and thank u Daddy God!

oh... Ferrari won.

2 cents

sometimes when people share how they feel, i'm tempted to share my 2 cents.

that's the thing, when people share, they are just asking to be heard.
trust me, i know.
cos when i share, i hate it when someone starts comparing it the something they have been thru and how 'much more worst OR better it was' for them!

seriously. i know u know who i'm talking about.
they are everywhere.
the office. bus-stops. next table. family reunions.

is it really hard to find someone to just lend a ear?

now, i always carry coins with me.

hidden rules

there are hidden rules in life.
here are some.

always move in to the rear of a bus.

clean shirts leave a better first impression.

no standing on the right side of escalators.

speak well if you wanna be understood.

hold the elevator door for people coming in.

no one can do your job better than you.

don't sip from someone else's drink.
cheers!

sucks

a few blog post ago i mentioned that i'll be starting on my braces.
well, many have u have since then been asking me why i'm doing it,
and why now?

Mm... i don't like how my teeth looks?
and i'm free?
maybe?

well, did u know the pre-process is just as long?
u'll need to consult with the Dentist.
he goes thru the entire process.
x-rays are taken. moulds are made.
u come back a week later for see if u can start on the braces.

i had no such luck.
long story short,
my gum was not healthy enough for the braces.
i needed to 'fix' them first.
and that takes another 3 months of treatment before going further.
and all this because of SMOKING.

SMOKING weakens the gum.
even with the regular visits to the dentist's chair,
the problem is hard to spot.
'POCKETS' is what they are called.
the POCKET space between your tooth and your gum.
they collect food particle, germs, etc that causes the gum to weaken.
and SMOKING is a major culprit!
an x-ray is the only way to see the problem.

so now, after 2 sessions of treatment and 20years of SMOKING,
i'm waiting for my gum to improve so i can start on my braces.

sucks.
i miss my reds.