in unsettled times, marathon man digs deep into his reserve to kick start his glands for some happy hormones....
issues after issues bogged him down, and he stood up and tried hard to fix them.
he has to take to his jogs to release all his pant-up anxieties in his cortisol-filled circulation system thru the rythemic steppings on the ground and the profuse sweating of his body.
and he needs a little humor to spice up his day. he dishes it up just like that, and here's one to humor himself and the readers:
today marathon man jogged from new loyang link, old tampines, into toh heights, toh crescent, toh ave, chin terrace.... the serenity of the place was evaporating into the sinching hot air, very quite and listless. the plants, big and small, mostly lush, and with the colorful bouganvillae impressed marathon man very much.
what impressed more was a small road, cosford rd, streching from upper changi north into the direction of the airport, with the police k9 units one side and the other was highly fenced, barb-wired,s ome kind of protected area. this is the first time marathon man stepped onto this road, did not have any idea where it led to. big and old trees could be seen insde the protect area at his left. big trees also can be found on his right. a couple of blue-back, black top, orange-beak, white under-belly birds darted from one branch to another..... brightening up his day. he thot he reached the end of the road, and had to turn back. but it led to another rd, abngdon rd, where it's also lined on both side, big and old trees with the trunks covered with golden, orange moss and canopies shaded the whole road surface. beside it was singapore airport run way, prison hq. then it led to singapore airline engine which was a very big building, and beside it, there was acovered walkway aptly named 'trent way', that led marathon man 'out-of-the-woods, into loyang ave......
this area was characterised by high fence topped with bar-wire rolls... the whole area used to use high-security prisons, and also army camp area.
when a man loses his freedom, solitude forces him to be a real man!
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
golf - chinese lesson
marathon man played golf with ah khoo, ah ah stephen and ah james, whose right knee was wrapped in guard-strap, because he had a cracked knee. he had been skipping the regular weekend golf for the past two weeks. but this week, he joined back the group, because he was feeling better on his knee, and they were playing in the new course where all golfers had to use buggy, so less walking needed.
james teed off the first hole and he hit a high ball, ah khoo said, "wow, you are hokkien, why hit a cantonese ball?"
then when it's time for marathon man to hit the ball, he pulled his ball. ah khoo said, "why you hit a teowchew ball, and yet you are a beijinese."
it's ah kkoo's turn. he drove the ball not that far, but it ran and ran....
ah stephen said, "what hokkien ball is that? "
they were having a lot of fun laughing at each others' balls...
after the first hole, ah khoo praised stephen for hitting a mandarin ball.
so what was that?
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- he got a birdie!
james teed off the first hole and he hit a high ball, ah khoo said, "wow, you are hokkien, why hit a cantonese ball?"
then when it's time for marathon man to hit the ball, he pulled his ball. ah khoo said, "why you hit a teowchew ball, and yet you are a beijinese."
it's ah kkoo's turn. he drove the ball not that far, but it ran and ran....
ah stephen said, "what hokkien ball is that? "
they were having a lot of fun laughing at each others' balls...
after the first hole, ah khoo praised stephen for hitting a mandarin ball.
so what was that?
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- he got a birdie!
clinic - attraction
inside the sex clinic, tiger was waiting for his turn. while his wife was beside him.
then came in a woman. tiger's eyes moved toward her.
his wife said, "didn't you remember what the doc said? must not be distracted by any woman. put all your sexual thots only in me?"
"oh..... yes. but i am not distracted by her. instead, i'm attracted by her."
then came in a woman. tiger's eyes moved toward her.
his wife said, "didn't you remember what the doc said? must not be distracted by any woman. put all your sexual thots only in me?"
"oh..... yes. but i am not distracted by her. instead, i'm attracted by her."
Friday, January 29, 2010
island - only the lonely
in a small island in the middle of the lake lives an old man, and his dog. they go fishing everyday in a small boat in the lake. and occasionally they come to land to buy some stuff.
one time when they were in the shop buying things, the shopkeeper asked the old man, "you live there alone, don't you feel lonely?"
"hahahaha.... yes very 'lonely' indeed.... i cannot fish the whole day."
"what do you do the rest of the day?"
"i talk to my dog."
"what do you say to your dog?"
"woolf, woolf...."
"what does it mean?"
"look, you are the one who is lonely..... you don't even understand dog talk!"
one time when they were in the shop buying things, the shopkeeper asked the old man, "you live there alone, don't you feel lonely?"
"hahahaha.... yes very 'lonely' indeed.... i cannot fish the whole day."
"what do you do the rest of the day?"
"i talk to my dog."
"what do you say to your dog?"
"woolf, woolf...."
"what does it mean?"
"look, you are the one who is lonely..... you don't even understand dog talk!"
Thursday, January 28, 2010
america - the OLD and NEW jokes
this is a joke by marathon man's american fren, peter. it goes....
when obama bumps his little obama into michelle's ovama, she screams when she reaches her ogasma, "omama, omama, ocama, ocama.....!"
before obama could take his little obama out of michelle's ovama, she spreads out her hands, demands, "owama, owama!"
after 3 times, obama says, "onama, onama!"
but michelle still wants some more...."owama, owama!"
obama really cannot take it any more, he screams for help, "osama, osama!"
do you have a joke? peter asks.
yes. marathon man says. a NEW joke.
and here it goes.....
when obama was the NEW man in the white house, the buttler showed the first couple to all the quarters and rooms.... and all the old things that could be replaced, were replaced with NEW ones as ordered by the NEW first lady.
but when they were in the study room next to the oval office, michelle noticed a a study table, stained with some whitish stuff....
"eee... what's that? that's an old table, i want a NEW one."
"that.... that's used by bill clinton when he was president..... it's NEW in a sense, that he had given the definition of DESKJOB a NEW meaning."
when obama bumps his little obama into michelle's ovama, she screams when she reaches her ogasma, "omama, omama, ocama, ocama.....!"
before obama could take his little obama out of michelle's ovama, she spreads out her hands, demands, "owama, owama!"
after 3 times, obama says, "onama, onama!"
but michelle still wants some more...."owama, owama!"
obama really cannot take it any more, he screams for help, "osama, osama!"
do you have a joke? peter asks.
yes. marathon man says. a NEW joke.
and here it goes.....
when obama was the NEW man in the white house, the buttler showed the first couple to all the quarters and rooms.... and all the old things that could be replaced, were replaced with NEW ones as ordered by the NEW first lady.
but when they were in the study room next to the oval office, michelle noticed a a study table, stained with some whitish stuff....
"eee... what's that? that's an old table, i want a NEW one."
"that.... that's used by bill clinton when he was president..... it's NEW in a sense, that he had given the definition of DESKJOB a NEW meaning."
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
kallang river, sunset
"too many people too few good ones."
but when you find the good ones, you promote them. but hr said too many managers already.
sometimes, timing is everything.
ah jim, an occasional jogging partner with marathon man shrugged his shoulder, "i cannot discount luck in whatever we do." after telling marathon man how frustrated he was, with his hr.
marathon man said, "ah jim, look at it this way; you had done your part, if the timing was wrong, then think ahead, to see what could be done to salvage the situation, instead of sulking at the past."
"i'm not sulking at the past, but rather lost faith in the system. to the point, who knows, whatever i'm going to do will turn out as expected..... there's no way to tell what the hr is going to say next!"
"well.... do whatever you could and move on."
"companies are the most undemocratic organization in the world. profit is what they are after..... like politics is all about power."
"survival is what we are here for. and to do that, you have to take the shit along the way. you are old enough to retire. why don't you just quit and do something else?"
"do what?"
"be your own boss."
"and see how i manage to get by without putting making money as the number one priority?"
"you can if you tell yourself, i just would like to make enough to live on."
"but does anybody really take enough is enough? i remember, when i was an engineer, receiving a meagre monthly pay, living in an hdb 4-room, commuting in public transport, eat our meals at home, going sentosa, malaysia for holidays..... i was able to raised up 3 kids....and now a director, my kids are big..... we live in a condo, drive a car, holiday overseas..... whatever i earn barely enough to cover whatever we are spending..... but i feel not enough, i need more money to make my family secure in our needs, for our future.... and i bet those rich would also feel the same..... whether they are millionaires or billionaires..... money is never enough to make someone feel secured....."
as they cross the bridge across one of the branches of the kallang river, the sunset produced one of the most colorful paintings in the sky..... and the saying goes:
是非成败转头空，青山依就在，几度夕阳红(shi fei cheng bai zhuan tou kong, qing shan yi jiu zai, ji du xi yang hong)
translation :
rights and wrongs, success and failures,
vanish at the turn of the head
green mountain remains,
amidst all the sunsets....
click here to read more
but when you find the good ones, you promote them. but hr said too many managers already.
sometimes, timing is everything.
ah jim, an occasional jogging partner with marathon man shrugged his shoulder, "i cannot discount luck in whatever we do." after telling marathon man how frustrated he was, with his hr.
marathon man said, "ah jim, look at it this way; you had done your part, if the timing was wrong, then think ahead, to see what could be done to salvage the situation, instead of sulking at the past."
"i'm not sulking at the past, but rather lost faith in the system. to the point, who knows, whatever i'm going to do will turn out as expected..... there's no way to tell what the hr is going to say next!"
"well.... do whatever you could and move on."
"companies are the most undemocratic organization in the world. profit is what they are after..... like politics is all about power."
"survival is what we are here for. and to do that, you have to take the shit along the way. you are old enough to retire. why don't you just quit and do something else?"
"do what?"
"be your own boss."
"and see how i manage to get by without putting making money as the number one priority?"
"you can if you tell yourself, i just would like to make enough to live on."
"but does anybody really take enough is enough? i remember, when i was an engineer, receiving a meagre monthly pay, living in an hdb 4-room, commuting in public transport, eat our meals at home, going sentosa, malaysia for holidays..... i was able to raised up 3 kids....and now a director, my kids are big..... we live in a condo, drive a car, holiday overseas..... whatever i earn barely enough to cover whatever we are spending..... but i feel not enough, i need more money to make my family secure in our needs, for our future.... and i bet those rich would also feel the same..... whether they are millionaires or billionaires..... money is never enough to make someone feel secured....."
as they cross the bridge across one of the branches of the kallang river, the sunset produced one of the most colorful paintings in the sky..... and the saying goes:
是非成败转头空，青山依就在，几度夕阳红(shi fei cheng bai zhuan tou kong, qing shan yi jiu zai, ji du xi yang hong)
translation :
rights and wrongs, success and failures,
vanish at the turn of the head
green mountain remains,
amidst all the sunsets....
click here to read more
Monday, January 25, 2010
downtown east - romance
黄宾虹( huang bin-hong ) a chinese artist in chinese painting lived to the ripe old age of 92. and like many other chinese artists, and unlike many scientists whose quality of works after their twenties and thirties would slide to mediocre, day-to-day chores, had toiled all his life to achieve perfection in his arts. he made his turn-about in his painting style from the "pale" sin-ann style to the "dark" style in his sixties when most of us when reaching that age would have just let things be, not bothering to change any of our habits or style, be it in work or life.
you can see if you are into arts, like music, like painting, sculpturing, writing..... your production comes from your life. ie, whatever you experience, that's what's going to give you the inspiration and motivation to keep on doing what you like the most. to them, their work is their retirement, and vice versa.
what does that tell us?
for any working people, who is not in the artistic, or creative fields, retirement means getting away from what he has been doing all his life and into something that can keep him occupied. and what's more enriching and fulfilling than to indulge oneself in the artistic fields.... take up a pen, take up a brush, take up a guitar, a piano, take up a chisel......
you could be doing something that keeps your mind working in a progressive fashion whereby you feel the positive feedback of doing something that only you can claim the credit of doing it. that's in fact a very comforting advice.
the two older frens of marathon man were discussing their retirement stuff when 3 of them were taking their jog in the downtown east area...
marathon man's fren ah cheng, who has been retiring for almost a year now, said, "golf, not for me..... i have to find something that my wife is also willing to do.... like playing the guitar. we have to have common interest in our retirement."
another fren of marathon man ah mong who is going to retire soon, said, "i am still single. i used to have a gal fren in my younger days, since i parted from her, she has been single all this time..... i would look her up and tell her that, it's a mistake to part with her, and if she doesn't feel so much offended, we could resume our affair, and that would occupy all my time after i retire...."
"doing what?"
"romancing."
- like painting, music, dancing..... romance is an art, you can do it your whole life.
you can see if you are into arts, like music, like painting, sculpturing, writing..... your production comes from your life. ie, whatever you experience, that's what's going to give you the inspiration and motivation to keep on doing what you like the most. to them, their work is their retirement, and vice versa.
what does that tell us?
for any working people, who is not in the artistic, or creative fields, retirement means getting away from what he has been doing all his life and into something that can keep him occupied. and what's more enriching and fulfilling than to indulge oneself in the artistic fields.... take up a pen, take up a brush, take up a guitar, a piano, take up a chisel......
you could be doing something that keeps your mind working in a progressive fashion whereby you feel the positive feedback of doing something that only you can claim the credit of doing it. that's in fact a very comforting advice.
the two older frens of marathon man were discussing their retirement stuff when 3 of them were taking their jog in the downtown east area...
marathon man's fren ah cheng, who has been retiring for almost a year now, said, "golf, not for me..... i have to find something that my wife is also willing to do.... like playing the guitar. we have to have common interest in our retirement."
another fren of marathon man ah mong who is going to retire soon, said, "i am still single. i used to have a gal fren in my younger days, since i parted from her, she has been single all this time..... i would look her up and tell her that, it's a mistake to part with her, and if she doesn't feel so much offended, we could resume our affair, and that would occupy all my time after i retire...."
"doing what?"
"romancing."
- like painting, music, dancing..... romance is an art, you can do it your whole life.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
bishan street 22 - salesmanship 101
there's been quite a lot of rainfall for the past few months, and yet the durian are superb in their taste, not soggy, not diluted in that pungentness, not a bit less of its full-body, ever-so-matured flavor. D24, big seeds, ample meat..... bitter, and creamy.
marathon man got them for 4 for $10 in the bishan street 22 market, after his jog in that area.
the durian seller was very polite, though he talked a lot and loudly.
"come, come, come..... $1 for 1....."
"how about these?" the sign said 1 for $3.
"for you, 4 for $10. you want, pick for you the best, guarantee one."
"ok.."
he opened up a good-looking durian. marathon man saw the pale yellowish, succulent flesh, touched it with his finger...."good."
"this one is a little bit bitter, if you don't like, i will choose a sweet one for you."
"i like bitter."
he opened up the second one, "this one no good." the threw it into a basket.
he opened another one, "check this one out."
"good."
he opened the forth one, "hmmm.... this is the king of durian..... motakting hah.."
"ya, very good." marathon man has not come across a durian seller as polite and approachable and most of all, as considerate as this one. the typical one he met used to be a guy wielding a fat cleaver, shouting ," want durian? how many?"
and if you wanted to pick one and asked him to open, he would give you one-kind-of-a-look, "you pick, no guarantee."
"why you so happy?"
"new year is coming.... more over, you know durian is a very weird fruit?"
"what? how weird?"
"you should know durian has eyes, so when it drops, it would not hit any man.... do you know why it's so smelly, and pricky yet so tasty?"
"why?"
"because it knows as a fruit, there's no point to put any effort to perk up its look or smell. it's touch is also very repulsive, even its name sounds obscene..... but it knows, taste is what other animals are looking for. and it puts all it has to make itself the king of the fruit in the world - it says, to be king, you just have to be the very best at what you do!"
"and what has that got to do with you being so happy and helpful?"
"me.... any body can be a salesman, to be a very good salesman, no need to cheat, no need to scheme, no need to boast, or patronizing..... just be happy and helpful.... so that you can gain the TRUST of your clients...."
now, that's salesman lesson 101.
marathon man got them for 4 for $10 in the bishan street 22 market, after his jog in that area.
the durian seller was very polite, though he talked a lot and loudly.
"come, come, come..... $1 for 1....."
"how about these?" the sign said 1 for $3.
"for you, 4 for $10. you want, pick for you the best, guarantee one."
"ok.."
he opened up a good-looking durian. marathon man saw the pale yellowish, succulent flesh, touched it with his finger...."good."
"this one is a little bit bitter, if you don't like, i will choose a sweet one for you."
"i like bitter."
he opened up the second one, "this one no good." the threw it into a basket.
he opened another one, "check this one out."
"good."
he opened the forth one, "hmmm.... this is the king of durian..... motakting hah.."
"ya, very good." marathon man has not come across a durian seller as polite and approachable and most of all, as considerate as this one. the typical one he met used to be a guy wielding a fat cleaver, shouting ," want durian? how many?"
and if you wanted to pick one and asked him to open, he would give you one-kind-of-a-look, "you pick, no guarantee."
"why you so happy?"
"new year is coming.... more over, you know durian is a very weird fruit?"
"what? how weird?"
"you should know durian has eyes, so when it drops, it would not hit any man.... do you know why it's so smelly, and pricky yet so tasty?"
"why?"
"because it knows as a fruit, there's no point to put any effort to perk up its look or smell. it's touch is also very repulsive, even its name sounds obscene..... but it knows, taste is what other animals are looking for. and it puts all it has to make itself the king of the fruit in the world - it says, to be king, you just have to be the very best at what you do!"
"and what has that got to do with you being so happy and helpful?"
"me.... any body can be a salesman, to be a very good salesman, no need to cheat, no need to scheme, no need to boast, or patronizing..... just be happy and helpful.... so that you can gain the TRUST of your clients...."
now, that's salesman lesson 101.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
tandoor - divinely match-made
she had poise and she had the substance he's been looking for. and she seemed to steal looks on him, as he did on her.
marathon man sat across the table where she sat. and that was the first time his attention was distracted by her exceptional beauty.
then there was this dinner last nite. he went in that exquisite indian restaurant famous for its northern indian cuisine, and she was already there, with the seat beside her not taken.
"is tis seat taken?"
"no."
"may i?"
"sure."
he sat down. not saying another word, until the dinner started. when he fetched over the dish to her, "you like some shrimps?"
"no, thanks. i'm a vegetarian, i won't mind to have some cauliflower."
"oh... sure." he took the chance of introducing himself and asking for her name.
"are you first time in singapore?"
"no. i used to stop over in singapore when flying back to delhi."
"you are from delhi?"
"hmm.... my parents are. i live in the states."
"so are you going back to delhi after the meetings?"
"yes."
"i haven't been to delhi before.... heard it's a big city."
"big and dirty. talking about dirty, i would like to have a glass of dirty martini."
"hi, give this lady a glass of dirty martini." he signaled to the serviceman, then said to her, "are you looking forward going back to delhi?"
"hmmm... i don't know. this time, i'm supposed to go back for a match making."
"on you?"
"yes...... you think it's weird?"
"not so.... but what do you think?"
"i don't know. that's our tradition, and i guess it's ok."
"can you say no, if you don't find any one you like?"
"i will."
"or can you say no, if you have already found the one you love outside your match making circle?"
"i will."
"then why not telling your parents to let you decide, instead of going thru match making?"
"what's wrong with match making - i think if you are divinely match-made with someone you least expect, isn't it beuatiful? and to think that it happened to me right here, right at this moment would make it most incredible. don't you think so?"
"....."
marathon man sat across the table where she sat. and that was the first time his attention was distracted by her exceptional beauty.
then there was this dinner last nite. he went in that exquisite indian restaurant famous for its northern indian cuisine, and she was already there, with the seat beside her not taken.
"is tis seat taken?"
"no."
"may i?"
"sure."
he sat down. not saying another word, until the dinner started. when he fetched over the dish to her, "you like some shrimps?"
"no, thanks. i'm a vegetarian, i won't mind to have some cauliflower."
"oh... sure." he took the chance of introducing himself and asking for her name.
"are you first time in singapore?"
"no. i used to stop over in singapore when flying back to delhi."
"you are from delhi?"
"hmm.... my parents are. i live in the states."
"so are you going back to delhi after the meetings?"
"yes."
"i haven't been to delhi before.... heard it's a big city."
"big and dirty. talking about dirty, i would like to have a glass of dirty martini."
"hi, give this lady a glass of dirty martini." he signaled to the serviceman, then said to her, "are you looking forward going back to delhi?"
"hmmm... i don't know. this time, i'm supposed to go back for a match making."
"on you?"
"yes...... you think it's weird?"
"not so.... but what do you think?"
"i don't know. that's our tradition, and i guess it's ok."
"can you say no, if you don't find any one you like?"
"i will."
"or can you say no, if you have already found the one you love outside your match making circle?"
"i will."
"then why not telling your parents to let you decide, instead of going thru match making?"
"what's wrong with match making - i think if you are divinely match-made with someone you least expect, isn't it beuatiful? and to think that it happened to me right here, right at this moment would make it most incredible. don't you think so?"
"....."
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
hundred island - selfishness and camaraderie
Hundred islands - only a small number compared with the 7000 plus islands of the philippines.
Up at 5am. drive up to pangasinan - a land of plenty
watch video here
first pass thru Tarlac city, stop over in manaog,Our Lady of Manaog church. then stop over in Rosales Mc donald for breakfast. Vilasis fruit wholesale pass by.
Dagupan, lingayen, sual, alaminoes, at 11am
pack 75 peso per pax food. first island stop, Governor island,have lunch there. then dock at children's island. quezon island last hop. Swim near the shore.
Back at 2.30pm. rough sea. see a small boat stall in the middle of the sea. boat man decide to head toward the stalled boat. marathon man a bit impatient, thinking that it would waste their time. but boat man not care, the camaraderie among the boatmen very commendable. and marathon man's selfishness totally abhorable. finally rescue two swiss and a local lady, and head back to shore. already 4pm.
lose the way, trying to look for shoemart to do shopping. finally stop over in shoemart carmen, rosales, pangasinan. arrive capas at 10pm. check in jason inn.
what's a few hours late if you can save 4 lives! watch video here
Up at 5am. drive up to pangasinan - a land of plenty
watch video here
first pass thru Tarlac city, stop over in manaog,Our Lady of Manaog church. then stop over in Rosales Mc donald for breakfast. Vilasis fruit wholesale pass by.
Dagupan, lingayen, sual, alaminoes, at 11am
pack 75 peso per pax food. first island stop, Governor island,have lunch there. then dock at children's island. quezon island last hop. Swim near the shore.
Back at 2.30pm. rough sea. see a small boat stall in the middle of the sea. boat man decide to head toward the stalled boat. marathon man a bit impatient, thinking that it would waste their time. but boat man not care, the camaraderie among the boatmen very commendable. and marathon man's selfishness totally abhorable. finally rescue two swiss and a local lady, and head back to shore. already 4pm.
lose the way, trying to look for shoemart to do shopping. finally stop over in shoemart carmen, rosales, pangasinan. arrive capas at 10pm. check in jason inn.
what's a few hours late if you can save 4 lives! watch video here
Monday, January 11, 2010
Mt Pinatubo - a rocker-coaster
Pinatubo,a volcanic mountain dormant for More than 400 years,erupted in 1991.This time it.shook not only the Philippines, it rocked the world. Its prowess could still be witnessed by a thick layer of lahar laid over many miles across the surrounding provinces.
Marathon man and his gal fren woke up this morning, both from the wrong side of the hotel bed, and couldn't agree on almost everything. He wanted eat breakfast in the hotel, she prefer ed mc donald. He was happy with shower facilities. she complained the water was not hot enough. but one thing they did agree on and did not renegade on their earlier agreement - to pay the supreme Mt Pinatubo a visit.
They arrived in tarlac and checked in jason inn, the 600 peso per nite(12hr) basic motel. And they booked the trip in a privately-run agency in barangay sta juliana, each 2000 peso. And 250 peso for the boat ride in the crater lake. marathon man thot it expensive, because the local guy told them It cost 2800 peso for a 4-person 4-wheel drive to take tourists up the crater. Maybe the guy's info is out of date, or perhaps it was for locals only. Anyway since they were already here, what's 2000 peso to miss the chance to the notoriously famous volcano.
The next morning, Marathon man and his gal fren woke up to a rocky start of the day; both from the wrong side of the hotel bed, and couldn't agree on almost everything. He wanted eat breakfast in the hotel, she preferred mc donald. He was happy with the shower facilities she complained the water was not hot. but one thing they did agree on and did not renegade on their earlier agreement - to pay the supreme Mt Pinatubo a visit.
They started at around 8.45am. There's a driver and another man, the tracking guide, sitting beside him.after about 10 minutes ride, they reached the police check point where all vehicles that are allowed to go into the mountain(with a sticker issued by the authority) had to stop for checking.
A short distance from the check point, the view widened up to a wide stretch of almost flat land, surrounded by mountains and hills. Though the land was flat in a macro sense, micro features of pot holes, ups and downs, strewn with stones, big and small, originated from the volcanic rocks. The place was covered with a thick layer of lahar. Where the wheels of the jeep rolled over, plumes of fine dust exploded into the air. They had to put on their masks. At some points in their journey, they had to tell the driver to slow down or pull over, because they were tailing too close to another vehicle. The landscape was spotted with sometimes a small creek flowing across the wide, grayish plain, sometimes a criss-crossing network of water streams.
One thing you take away from the journey - it's a rocker coaster ride.
The jeep rocked so much that marathon man's gal fren, being a reasonably endowed lady, couldn't help to cross her arms tight to lessen the impact of the rocking on her bouncing assets. sport bras are definitely recommended. Marathon man's wallet dropped from his back pocket, without him knowing, giving him some scare, though he found it later on the jeep. At one pointed he felt his backbone nearly cracked when it hit against the back of the seat so hard. The rockings were so violent, that marathon man's eye-balls nearly fell out from their sockets. They had to hold on to the seats in the driver row, real tight.
But to the guide who was is the front seat - he just closed his eyes and slept like a baby.... rock a by baby....
The grey lahar looked like cement. When in powder form, it's very fine. When in clumps, it's still amorphous, though. Accordingly, this stuff is good for the crops. But, in this lahar plain, hardly any plant grew. Perhaps not so fast. Perhaps after twenty more years, when the acidity wears off some more, then it's good for the plants to grow. And for now, its a no-man's land.
When you think no man would ever want to live in a hostile environ like this, they did see a family or two of the native peopel(dark and skinny, bared bodies) actually had their homes near the tracks. These must be the Aeta, who had lived on the slopes of the volcano and in surrounding areas for several centuries, having fled the lowlands to escape persecution by the Spanish. They were a hunter-gatherer people who were extremely successful in surviving in the dense jungles of the area. These people also grew some staple crops such as wheat, barley, and rice.
Then about half way into the journey, the jeep started the climb. Some slopes were so steep(up n down)that marathon man thot the jeep could not make it when it's roaring hard, ascending, and they could have fallen into the bottom when it was descending. The view changed to mountian tracks, with plants lining both sides, and hills and mountains close by. Streams flowing thru ravines, birds chirping, though still hardly meeting any people.
Then finally after more than an hour of journey on the moon, they arrived at the base station. They have to start tracking up to the crater from here. The driver after having his arms wrecked by the rocking wheel, deservedly took his rest and it's the guide;s turn to lead them in the tracking. He took them thru streams, rocky paths, shady tracks, not so much of any steep climbing. It was an enjoyable climb; placid surroundings, goggling sounds of the flowing water against the pebbles and rocks, birds' tweetings, fresh air.
After 20 plus minutes of tracking, they stepped onto the final steps which were man-made concrete steps, climbing over them opened up the view. They had arrived!
The lake was not very big. But it worthed every minute of the journey. The turquoise-blue surface of the lake, surrounded by the crater walls, the blue sky with cotton-white clouds above, the mildly cooling air, the greeneries and the serenity of that all immediately calmed the wretched souls. They took some pictures went down to the shoreline, took a boot to ride in the lake. The oar man, marvin was a cheerful, helpful and easy-talking guy. Not many tourists for today, he said, though dec to feb was the peak season. Weekends should see many more.
The lifeless lake not only supported the boat willingly, it also wrapped round marathon man's being in layers of warm and soothing liquid shrouds. Taal in tagaytay was beautiful, and more activties to engage oneself in, Pinatubo lake is ever so serene, ever so pristine and so sacrosanct, one could hardly help not to instinctly put it up there that deserves the utmost cherish, like walking into paradise.
The boat took them to the shore on the other side of the lake after 15 minute ride. There were small puddles of hot springs near the shore, making the near-by lake water quite warm. Dark brown sand paved the shore. Above it strewn piles of stones and rocks, of different colors, grey, black, red and yellow, purples and shades of them. Behind all, the vertical, folding, wrinkled crater walls, jutted into the blue skies starkly. trees and shrubs grew on most the surfaces of these walls,and some parts were exposed with bare, ash-grey lahar.
They relaxed on the shore for 30 minutes, picking out some interesting stones, Taking some pictures, frolicking with the lake water and just gazed at the whole masterpiece of God's creation. They left the shore with lots of reverence for the beauty that's found in nature.
They left pinatubo at 1.30pm. the return journey was as rocking. But marathon man and his gal has made their day; starting with rocky feelings towards each other, went thru the rocky journey, and finally ended up rocking each like mad in the hotel bed.
Like they say, a couple"s life is rocker-coaster, learn how to reach the Pinatubo together, that's how you build a rock-hard relationship.watch video here
Marathon man and his gal fren woke up this morning, both from the wrong side of the hotel bed, and couldn't agree on almost everything. He wanted eat breakfast in the hotel, she prefer ed mc donald. He was happy with shower facilities. she complained the water was not hot enough. but one thing they did agree on and did not renegade on their earlier agreement - to pay the supreme Mt Pinatubo a visit.
They arrived in tarlac and checked in jason inn, the 600 peso per nite(12hr) basic motel. And they booked the trip in a privately-run agency in barangay sta juliana, each 2000 peso. And 250 peso for the boat ride in the crater lake. marathon man thot it expensive, because the local guy told them It cost 2800 peso for a 4-person 4-wheel drive to take tourists up the crater. Maybe the guy's info is out of date, or perhaps it was for locals only. Anyway since they were already here, what's 2000 peso to miss the chance to the notoriously famous volcano.
The next morning, Marathon man and his gal fren woke up to a rocky start of the day; both from the wrong side of the hotel bed, and couldn't agree on almost everything. He wanted eat breakfast in the hotel, she preferred mc donald. He was happy with the shower facilities she complained the water was not hot. but one thing they did agree on and did not renegade on their earlier agreement - to pay the supreme Mt Pinatubo a visit.
They started at around 8.45am. There's a driver and another man, the tracking guide, sitting beside him.after about 10 minutes ride, they reached the police check point where all vehicles that are allowed to go into the mountain(with a sticker issued by the authority) had to stop for checking.
A short distance from the check point, the view widened up to a wide stretch of almost flat land, surrounded by mountains and hills. Though the land was flat in a macro sense, micro features of pot holes, ups and downs, strewn with stones, big and small, originated from the volcanic rocks. The place was covered with a thick layer of lahar. Where the wheels of the jeep rolled over, plumes of fine dust exploded into the air. They had to put on their masks. At some points in their journey, they had to tell the driver to slow down or pull over, because they were tailing too close to another vehicle. The landscape was spotted with sometimes a small creek flowing across the wide, grayish plain, sometimes a criss-crossing network of water streams.
One thing you take away from the journey - it's a rocker coaster ride.
The jeep rocked so much that marathon man's gal fren, being a reasonably endowed lady, couldn't help to cross her arms tight to lessen the impact of the rocking on her bouncing assets. sport bras are definitely recommended. Marathon man's wallet dropped from his back pocket, without him knowing, giving him some scare, though he found it later on the jeep. At one pointed he felt his backbone nearly cracked when it hit against the back of the seat so hard. The rockings were so violent, that marathon man's eye-balls nearly fell out from their sockets. They had to hold on to the seats in the driver row, real tight.
But to the guide who was is the front seat - he just closed his eyes and slept like a baby.... rock a by baby....
The grey lahar looked like cement. When in powder form, it's very fine. When in clumps, it's still amorphous, though. Accordingly, this stuff is good for the crops. But, in this lahar plain, hardly any plant grew. Perhaps not so fast. Perhaps after twenty more years, when the acidity wears off some more, then it's good for the plants to grow. And for now, its a no-man's land.
When you think no man would ever want to live in a hostile environ like this, they did see a family or two of the native peopel(dark and skinny, bared bodies) actually had their homes near the tracks. These must be the Aeta, who had lived on the slopes of the volcano and in surrounding areas for several centuries, having fled the lowlands to escape persecution by the Spanish. They were a hunter-gatherer people who were extremely successful in surviving in the dense jungles of the area. These people also grew some staple crops such as wheat, barley, and rice.
Then about half way into the journey, the jeep started the climb. Some slopes were so steep(up n down)that marathon man thot the jeep could not make it when it's roaring hard, ascending, and they could have fallen into the bottom when it was descending. The view changed to mountian tracks, with plants lining both sides, and hills and mountains close by. Streams flowing thru ravines, birds chirping, though still hardly meeting any people.
Then finally after more than an hour of journey on the moon, they arrived at the base station. They have to start tracking up to the crater from here. The driver after having his arms wrecked by the rocking wheel, deservedly took his rest and it's the guide;s turn to lead them in the tracking. He took them thru streams, rocky paths, shady tracks, not so much of any steep climbing. It was an enjoyable climb; placid surroundings, goggling sounds of the flowing water against the pebbles and rocks, birds' tweetings, fresh air.
After 20 plus minutes of tracking, they stepped onto the final steps which were man-made concrete steps, climbing over them opened up the view. They had arrived!
The lake was not very big. But it worthed every minute of the journey. The turquoise-blue surface of the lake, surrounded by the crater walls, the blue sky with cotton-white clouds above, the mildly cooling air, the greeneries and the serenity of that all immediately calmed the wretched souls. They took some pictures went down to the shoreline, took a boot to ride in the lake. The oar man, marvin was a cheerful, helpful and easy-talking guy. Not many tourists for today, he said, though dec to feb was the peak season. Weekends should see many more.
The lifeless lake not only supported the boat willingly, it also wrapped round marathon man's being in layers of warm and soothing liquid shrouds. Taal in tagaytay was beautiful, and more activties to engage oneself in, Pinatubo lake is ever so serene, ever so pristine and so sacrosanct, one could hardly help not to instinctly put it up there that deserves the utmost cherish, like walking into paradise.
The boat took them to the shore on the other side of the lake after 15 minute ride. There were small puddles of hot springs near the shore, making the near-by lake water quite warm. Dark brown sand paved the shore. Above it strewn piles of stones and rocks, of different colors, grey, black, red and yellow, purples and shades of them. Behind all, the vertical, folding, wrinkled crater walls, jutted into the blue skies starkly. trees and shrubs grew on most the surfaces of these walls,and some parts were exposed with bare, ash-grey lahar.
They relaxed on the shore for 30 minutes, picking out some interesting stones, Taking some pictures, frolicking with the lake water and just gazed at the whole masterpiece of God's creation. They left the shore with lots of reverence for the beauty that's found in nature.
They left pinatubo at 1.30pm. the return journey was as rocking. But marathon man and his gal has made their day; starting with rocky feelings towards each other, went thru the rocky journey, and finally ended up rocking each like mad in the hotel bed.
Like they say, a couple"s life is rocker-coaster, learn how to reach the Pinatubo together, that's how you build a rock-hard relationship.watch video here
Saturday, January 9, 2010
tarlac - fate in your hand
Aguinaldo shrine is in kawit, small town in cavite, one hour from south of manila. He is considered the 1st president of the Philippines republic.
The romance of the Filipino politics is so much to discern, the who's who's of the political arena, who's the bad guy who's the good, the gangsters' drama played out on the top rated minds, the assassinations, the winner-take-all terms, the wretched, the common people and the most wealthy and powerful honchos.....
Marathon man had a dream...there's this big bang, it blew away everything thing in total annihilation, the uptightness, the nervousness, the hyperness, the uneasiness, the discomfort, the blocked nose, the running nose, the watery eyes, the achy bones,the sour eyes, all that made marathon like going thru a big torment(without knowing whether it would ever get back to normal). The nite came with a one-theme dream - very much into the mood of sleep. Wake up a few times, and went back to the same dream.
The next morning came and off to tarlac they went after a hearty breakfast in mc donald in baclaran where the market place was ever so busy - there were a lot of fond memories of this humanly active, lively place.
Tarlac is the home town of the aquinoes. They dropped by the Virgin Mary grotto in bamban, climbing up many steeply step and when they reached the grotto, the view of the surrounding was breath taking, dominated by the bamban bridge and mt arayat.
Then they pulled over along the road for a all-u-can-eat 99 peso buffet. After filling their stomachs, the continued on into tarlac city to San Sebastian church, the provincial capitol, the ninoy aquino sitting statue in the around-about island beside the Filipino army camp.
Then they visited the capas national shrine which was built to commemorate thousands of filipino men and women who died during the WWII.
They visited his fren's brother's house in the navy camp. Instead of lodging in angeles city, they decided to check in jason's inn near by, which cost 600 peso per half day.....
And marathon man was happy that, the day passed by as roughly planned..... anytime when the plan turns into reality, though not perfect, it gives the planner the satisfaction of being in control of his own fate......
But how can some one control his own fate? if it's his fate, it's his fate!watch video here
The romance of the Filipino politics is so much to discern, the who's who's of the political arena, who's the bad guy who's the good, the gangsters' drama played out on the top rated minds, the assassinations, the winner-take-all terms, the wretched, the common people and the most wealthy and powerful honchos.....
Marathon man had a dream...there's this big bang, it blew away everything thing in total annihilation, the uptightness, the nervousness, the hyperness, the uneasiness, the discomfort, the blocked nose, the running nose, the watery eyes, the achy bones,the sour eyes, all that made marathon like going thru a big torment(without knowing whether it would ever get back to normal). The nite came with a one-theme dream - very much into the mood of sleep. Wake up a few times, and went back to the same dream.
The next morning came and off to tarlac they went after a hearty breakfast in mc donald in baclaran where the market place was ever so busy - there were a lot of fond memories of this humanly active, lively place.
Tarlac is the home town of the aquinoes. They dropped by the Virgin Mary grotto in bamban, climbing up many steeply step and when they reached the grotto, the view of the surrounding was breath taking, dominated by the bamban bridge and mt arayat.
Then they pulled over along the road for a all-u-can-eat 99 peso buffet. After filling their stomachs, the continued on into tarlac city to San Sebastian church, the provincial capitol, the ninoy aquino sitting statue in the around-about island beside the Filipino army camp.
Then they visited the capas national shrine which was built to commemorate thousands of filipino men and women who died during the WWII.
They visited his fren's brother's house in the navy camp. Instead of lodging in angeles city, they decided to check in jason's inn near by, which cost 600 peso per half day.....
And marathon man was happy that, the day passed by as roughly planned..... anytime when the plan turns into reality, though not perfect, it gives the planner the satisfaction of being in control of his own fate......
But how can some one control his own fate? if it's his fate, it's his fate!watch video here
Friday, January 8, 2010
manila - beauty n the bobo (or bodoh)
The late nite took its toll.the hyper mind squized the heart so hard that, something had to give way.
The 3.5 hour flight did not help, the second nite in a row of non-restful sleep made the day worst. But life had to go on.
seeing manila from the 25th floor did lift up his spirit, just like the pasig river which maintained its coolness amidst the sound and air pollutions from the surroundings and the pollutants in its water it had to take, meandering thru the city ever so sluggishly, like nothing ever mattered. The morning sun did some bathing on his wary face. The sky was not so clear in a clear-sky day.the project manager said, "we can't help it. The pollution is getting worse."
The beautiful marketing lady, pulled him aside and said, " sir, once the rain comes, its gone."
Everywhere you go you see beautiful girls. That's one thing good about the philippines.they are so abundant that you think that beauty is the natural order of the day. Mind you, apart from the special beautiful features of their faces and body regardlesss whther they are natives negritoes or spanish, chinese, japansese, korean...mestizoes, the way they carry themsselves counts as much.
Marathon man said, "the smog pollutes the air, but your smile cleans it up in my heart."
"Sir, you like my smile?"
"I can't help but fall in love with it."
"I'm glad you like my smile. Certainly hope that you like the unit as much."
"You presence has brightened it up so much, I can't wait to move in ...."he was thnking of moving in with a beaty like her.
"So, if you have no problem with the terms, pls sign here, and put the 10percent deposit."
"Ah.... Only one small problem. I have already bought one just before I came here."
He was regretting why he had decided so early before he even saw what the next offer would be....and next he had to go another viewing... Who knows how beautiful this one would be...well, the sales lady, that is.
Beauty pollutes the mind to make any rational decision
The 3.5 hour flight did not help, the second nite in a row of non-restful sleep made the day worst. But life had to go on.
seeing manila from the 25th floor did lift up his spirit, just like the pasig river which maintained its coolness amidst the sound and air pollutions from the surroundings and the pollutants in its water it had to take, meandering thru the city ever so sluggishly, like nothing ever mattered. The morning sun did some bathing on his wary face. The sky was not so clear in a clear-sky day.the project manager said, "we can't help it. The pollution is getting worse."
The beautiful marketing lady, pulled him aside and said, " sir, once the rain comes, its gone."
Everywhere you go you see beautiful girls. That's one thing good about the philippines.they are so abundant that you think that beauty is the natural order of the day. Mind you, apart from the special beautiful features of their faces and body regardlesss whther they are natives negritoes or spanish, chinese, japansese, korean...mestizoes, the way they carry themsselves counts as much.
Marathon man said, "the smog pollutes the air, but your smile cleans it up in my heart."
"Sir, you like my smile?"
"I can't help but fall in love with it."
"I'm glad you like my smile. Certainly hope that you like the unit as much."
"You presence has brightened it up so much, I can't wait to move in ...."he was thnking of moving in with a beaty like her.
"So, if you have no problem with the terms, pls sign here, and put the 10percent deposit."
"Ah.... Only one small problem. I have already bought one just before I came here."
He was regretting why he had decided so early before he even saw what the next offer would be....and next he had to go another viewing... Who knows how beautiful this one would be...well, the sales lady, that is.
Beauty pollutes the mind to make any rational decision
Monday, January 4, 2010
kallang river - dog eat dog
"have you finished your annual review?" ah lian asked marathon man.
"going to. i have to write quite a few..... until my vocab ran out..."
"oh, i used the review assistance to help me."
"i tried, it ran out of vocab also."
"why must use so many vocabs?"
"if not, it doesn't sound professional lah."
"come on lah, we not professional review writer, let's admit."
"this year got increment, so must write properly. last year, no increment, chin-chai also can lah."
"only the big shots got a lot of bonus, we small fries, just suck up the remnants."
"no fish, prawns also can lah.... cannot complain too much, nowadays. the business cycle is so short, who can tell next qtr won't be another recession?"
as they made their turn into kallang riverbank, towards suntec city, from boon keng road, marathon man wanted to stop for a drink in a kopitiam.
"you work so long already, thinking of retiring or not?" marathon man asked.
"retire? what to do with the money?"
"invest lah?"
"how? buy shares like gambling, buy bonds, kena lehman bro, buy property, low yields.... whole life working to earn money, now want to retire also have to worry about where to put the money.... "
"do some small business lah!"
"what business?"
"kopi is the best business, though it's bitter, many people are hooked on it. when i retire i want to open a small kopi tiam."
"many people also open fnb outlets...... very soon, the whole of singapore will become a dog-eat-dog society, and everybody has to eat himself... chiak kaki..."
"going to. i have to write quite a few..... until my vocab ran out..."
"oh, i used the review assistance to help me."
"i tried, it ran out of vocab also."
"why must use so many vocabs?"
"if not, it doesn't sound professional lah."
"come on lah, we not professional review writer, let's admit."
"this year got increment, so must write properly. last year, no increment, chin-chai also can lah."
"only the big shots got a lot of bonus, we small fries, just suck up the remnants."
"no fish, prawns also can lah.... cannot complain too much, nowadays. the business cycle is so short, who can tell next qtr won't be another recession?"
as they made their turn into kallang riverbank, towards suntec city, from boon keng road, marathon man wanted to stop for a drink in a kopitiam.
"you work so long already, thinking of retiring or not?" marathon man asked.
"retire? what to do with the money?"
"invest lah?"
"how? buy shares like gambling, buy bonds, kena lehman bro, buy property, low yields.... whole life working to earn money, now want to retire also have to worry about where to put the money.... "
"do some small business lah!"
"what business?"
"kopi is the best business, though it's bitter, many people are hooked on it. when i retire i want to open a small kopi tiam."
"many people also open fnb outlets...... very soon, the whole of singapore will become a dog-eat-dog society, and everybody has to eat himself... chiak kaki..."
Sunday, January 3, 2010
east coast - democracy
east coast - to a singaporean, it's like new york's central park to a new yorker.
the sun half exposed from some grey and some dark clouds. people came out in hoards, malay, chinese, indian, caucasian, filipino, mainland chinese, hongkongi, indonesian, thai, burmese, sri lankan, pakistan, japanese, korean, malaysian, taiwanese.... like the un.
the wind quite strong, making wind surfing, para-skiing, boat sailing a breeze for a lot fo peole. fishing also quite a sport. swimming - not to many people though. camping, people liked it.
marathon man's fren, ah nancy said, "sooner or later, singaporeans will be a minority in their own country."
"so does democracy still valid, then?"
"you mean, the minority is controlling the majority, and that's not democratic?"
"what do you think?"
"well, if it's the case then, democracy is eating its own tail. the gahmen, which is elected democratically by the people, allows the foreigners to come in until the locals are outnumbered, and turns democracy on its head..."
"there's no such thing as true democracy, in the first place..... even if the majority rules, within the ruling circle, a minority few and most probably, only one person is calling the shot."
"but, if that person calls the wrong shots, he could be booted out the next election."
"not necessary, if he knows how to play his card."
"how?"
"many ways - one of which is to give voting rights and other rights that the citizens have to the foreigners."
"in fact, democracy is not good. if its good, then there'll be no corporations in this world. do you see any corporation in this world runs according to any democratic proncipal, where the management is voted in by the employees? if a place as small as a company cannot be run democratically, much more not so for something like a nation."
"you are saying democracy is just an empty slogan?"
"empty in fact, only used as a excuse to try to rein in the developing nations by the western developed nations, just like what human right is used as an excuse for the west to remind the east that they are still the king of the world."
the sun half exposed from some grey and some dark clouds. people came out in hoards, malay, chinese, indian, caucasian, filipino, mainland chinese, hongkongi, indonesian, thai, burmese, sri lankan, pakistan, japanese, korean, malaysian, taiwanese.... like the un.
the wind quite strong, making wind surfing, para-skiing, boat sailing a breeze for a lot fo peole. fishing also quite a sport. swimming - not to many people though. camping, people liked it.
marathon man's fren, ah nancy said, "sooner or later, singaporeans will be a minority in their own country."
"so does democracy still valid, then?"
"you mean, the minority is controlling the majority, and that's not democratic?"
"what do you think?"
"well, if it's the case then, democracy is eating its own tail. the gahmen, which is elected democratically by the people, allows the foreigners to come in until the locals are outnumbered, and turns democracy on its head..."
"there's no such thing as true democracy, in the first place..... even if the majority rules, within the ruling circle, a minority few and most probably, only one person is calling the shot."
"but, if that person calls the wrong shots, he could be booted out the next election."
"not necessary, if he knows how to play his card."
"how?"
"many ways - one of which is to give voting rights and other rights that the citizens have to the foreigners."
"in fact, democracy is not good. if its good, then there'll be no corporations in this world. do you see any corporation in this world runs according to any democratic proncipal, where the management is voted in by the employees? if a place as small as a company cannot be run democratically, much more not so for something like a nation."
"you are saying democracy is just an empty slogan?"
"empty in fact, only used as a excuse to try to rein in the developing nations by the western developed nations, just like what human right is used as an excuse for the west to remind the east that they are still the king of the world."
Friday, January 1, 2010
yishun park - what problem?
binary 010110 is 20 in decimal.
there's 20 things for this year marathon man wants to do...
1. listen to more music
2. don't force your swing - relax, slow back swing, swing thru
3. eat what you like, less nite munching, no salt, much less sugar.
4. drink little
5. make as frequent humps
6. give more
7. sleep when time is ripe, don't force open the eyes to indulge in writing, watching tv, surfing
8. get a memory up
9. get memory device
10. get memory assist
11. get memory herbs
12. get memory enhancer course
13. get memory reminder calender
14. get memory supplements
15. get memory expert visit
16. get memory help book
17. get memory enhancement juice
18. get memory retention methods
19. get memory enhancement tape
20. get out of here! my memory got problem meh? no lah. if yes, how come i don't know one?
he could only remember 7 things to do, and the rest he really needed a lot of help to remember. meanwhile, he made sure he fixed his problem before he became senile, and useless.
just as he was quite confident about his memory, since he has been trying to improve his memory, by taking many memory supplements this morning, he got lost in middle of yishun town.
he visited north-point. was surprised to see that it had expanded quite a lot at the back of the building. as other shopping malls, food shops made up almost half of the tenants. why not? look at the people crowding aorund the food shops, as if there's no tomorrow.
there was this new concept on the third floor where at end of the floor, the whole space was dedicated to sell japanese food like what you find in the street in shinchaibashi in osaka, where different stalls selling different street food.
then there this new chinese restaurant yasim which looks more modern than dingtaifung, and serve food in western utensils, and portions, like fusion presentation.
he bot a bottle of 'lou hna kuo', then a bowl of 'snow-fungus' dessert, as his lunch. then he came out to yishun central road, somehow went into yihsun ave 11, saw the lake, and was curious to see a small hill infront. so he went up to check out. it was yishun park.... that's where he got confused. he thot he had come here before, infact, this was the first time he visited the park. the last times, he visited yishun town garden, and the small park on the hill at teh junction of yishun ave 7 and yishun ave 2. he thot it was the latter that he's stepping on..... and got lost in the surrounding trying to find ave 6. the park had its own character in that, some trees were tagged with their names, and there's a lot of tall trees, even durian trees. and many small tree-lets were planted in the empty spaces......
finally after some back and forth circling the area, he found it and ran toward ave 7. along the way in ave 6, he met a lot of foreign worker, mostly indian workers, before he came to their dormitory along ave 6 before the ave 9.
he went to yishun industry park a, just to see what had changed after so many years he left his last company located in this place. it had expanded, added on one smaller building beside the bigger one.
he went toward ave 7, to the east, trying to explore the un-explored forest, but was blocked by a gate, with the sign saying that, this' a protected area.
there's 20 things for this year marathon man wants to do...
1. listen to more music
2. don't force your swing - relax, slow back swing, swing thru
3. eat what you like, less nite munching, no salt, much less sugar.
4. drink little
5. make as frequent humps
6. give more
7. sleep when time is ripe, don't force open the eyes to indulge in writing, watching tv, surfing
8. get a memory up
9. get memory device
10. get memory assist
11. get memory herbs
12. get memory enhancer course
13. get memory reminder calender
14. get memory supplements
15. get memory expert visit
16. get memory help book
17. get memory enhancement juice
18. get memory retention methods
19. get memory enhancement tape
20. get out of here! my memory got problem meh? no lah. if yes, how come i don't know one?
he could only remember 7 things to do, and the rest he really needed a lot of help to remember. meanwhile, he made sure he fixed his problem before he became senile, and useless.
just as he was quite confident about his memory, since he has been trying to improve his memory, by taking many memory supplements this morning, he got lost in middle of yishun town.
he visited north-point. was surprised to see that it had expanded quite a lot at the back of the building. as other shopping malls, food shops made up almost half of the tenants. why not? look at the people crowding aorund the food shops, as if there's no tomorrow.
there was this new concept on the third floor where at end of the floor, the whole space was dedicated to sell japanese food like what you find in the street in shinchaibashi in osaka, where different stalls selling different street food.
then there this new chinese restaurant yasim which looks more modern than dingtaifung, and serve food in western utensils, and portions, like fusion presentation.
he bot a bottle of 'lou hna kuo', then a bowl of 'snow-fungus' dessert, as his lunch. then he came out to yishun central road, somehow went into yihsun ave 11, saw the lake, and was curious to see a small hill infront. so he went up to check out. it was yishun park.... that's where he got confused. he thot he had come here before, infact, this was the first time he visited the park. the last times, he visited yishun town garden, and the small park on the hill at teh junction of yishun ave 7 and yishun ave 2. he thot it was the latter that he's stepping on..... and got lost in the surrounding trying to find ave 6. the park had its own character in that, some trees were tagged with their names, and there's a lot of tall trees, even durian trees. and many small tree-lets were planted in the empty spaces......
finally after some back and forth circling the area, he found it and ran toward ave 7. along the way in ave 6, he met a lot of foreign worker, mostly indian workers, before he came to their dormitory along ave 6 before the ave 9.
he went to yishun industry park a, just to see what had changed after so many years he left his last company located in this place. it had expanded, added on one smaller building beside the bigger one.
he went toward ave 7, to the east, trying to explore the un-explored forest, but was blocked by a gate, with the sign saying that, this' a protected area.
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