Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Stereophonics: My first 08 concert!


Fauzie messaged me on Sunday evening. "So are you free tomorrow?"

"Yeah, sure. Unless there's a last minute meeting." I was thinking more in the line of if I had a 4 pm meeting with Big Boss, then it's likely to go on beyond 6, 7 PM. But he's on leave this week so I'm pretty safe.

"So you're free for Sterephonics concert then?"

Woo hoo! "You mean you have tickets?" I had to make sure that she didn't mean for us to buy the more expensive last minute tickets.

Indeed, Fauzie's sis managed to wrestle some free tix from her employer AXN, which is one of the event's sponsors. So we rocked Monday night away at Fort Canning Park!

I'm not too familiar with Stereophonics' newer stuff, though I was constantly spinning their older albums on my older iPod. But once the music started, it didn't matter anymore if I knew any of their songs. They simply rocked!

The audience went wild. There were a lot of ang mohs who made a very happening albeit rowdy crowd. Everyone was dancing and hopping right from the opening act (Singapore's The Great Spy Experiment) and pushing against each other with our sweat-drenched bodies. Hmm ... I can't say that I didn't enjoy TGSE but their songs all sounded almost the same. Just continuous guitar drifts and sorta mangled noise ... in fact, most Singapore's homegrown alternative/rock bands are like this. With the exception of perhaps Electrico and one or two of the more established ones - they at least have melody to their music. Well, but that's just my opinion.

Yeah! The weather was terrible. I think even if we had stood still, we would still perspire till we dehydrate. I even felt faint at certain points but once Stereophonics got it going, the adrenalin rush kicked in and it was nothing but just ... RAAAAWWWWKKKKK!!!!!

We hung around for a bit after the concert to see if we could salvage anything from the stage as they dismantled it. Lucky Pauline and Aisyah got guitar picks (dunno if it's Kelly Jones'??) Some of the other girls got the setlist printouts which had been glued to the floor ... unrelenting, Fauzie and Aisyah stuck around near the caravan where the band was chilling after the show.

Pauline and I left the girls at about 11 PM and by midnight, we received a text from Fauzie, "I took a picture with him!" Damn, lucky girl! Kelly Jones was damn hot last night. Nothing to do with the leather jacket that he insisted on donning even in the heat of the night (for whatever reason) ... but his perspiration-drenched chiseled countenance was ... ahhhh ... hehe ... Fauzie, I'm jealous!!!! (^__^)

Okie, I've got some pix of the concert (I stopped snapping somewhere in the middle of the first song though) but they're still stuck in the camera. Will have them up when I have the mood to extract them, okie?

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Library Addiction?


Think I'm addicted to the National Library at Bras Basah (one of a million changes I notice are taking place in me. I never used to like libraries. Especially not spending long hours in them. But then, I'm changing as a person ... for better or for worse, we'll see ...)

So here I am again ... continuing the research I was doing last week, although it's not entirely necessary this week and I could have stayed home, perspiring in the intense afternoon heat (don't like the thought of contributing to global warming so refrain from air-con until I cannot tahan ... hehe ...)

So I've chosen to escape to the cool tranquility of the National Library (see, it's okay if others are contributing to global warming cuz with or without me, it's happening anyway right?)

Besides, where I am, it's the spot with a view. So why not?



Monday, April 21, 2008

世界上最遥远的距离


今天在朋友的博客上看到了这首情诗。觉得很感人,因为知己偶尔也有感受到这首诗所形容的心情。好难受啊!

还记得曾经在《凡间新仙人》电视剧里听过这首诗的一小段。当时就觉得它把牛郎织女的爱情形容的非常好--好惨哦!当然,我希望知己的爱情故事不会那么悲哀。但未来有谁知道呢 ...

世界上最遥远的距离
不是 生与死的距离
而是 我站在你面前 你不知道我爱你

世界上最遥远的距离
不是 我站在你面前 你不知道我爱你
而是 爱到痴迷 却不能说我爱你

世界上最遥远的距离
不是 我不能说我爱你
而是 想你痛彻心脾 却只能深埋心底

世界上最遥远的距离
不是 我不能说我想你
而是 彼此相爱 却不能够在一起

世界上最遥远的距离
不是 彼此相爱 却不能够在一起
而是 明知道真爱无敌 却装作毫不在意

世界上最遥远的距离
不是 树与树的距离
而是 同根生长的树枝 却无法在风中相依

世界上最遥远的距离
不是 树枝无法相依
而是 相互了望的星星 却没有交汇的轨迹

世界上最遥远的距离
不是 星星之间的轨迹
而是 纵然轨迹交汇 却在转瞬间无处寻觅

世界上最遥远的距离
不是 瞬间便无处寻觅
而是 尚未相遇 便注定无法相聚

世界上最遥远的距离
是鱼与飞鸟的距离
一个在天 一个却深潜海底

Saturday, April 19, 2008

手机


The mobile phone has become a formidable "secret" weapon for teenagers. I find this quote from the book I'm reading (about China's Gen Y) amusing.

"So there are some things that you can talk to your parents about, and some things that you can't. So what can you talk to your parents about?"

"My cellphone fee."

And the cellphone is used to talk about things that he cannot tell his parents. The irony of things.

At the Bras Basah Library ...


Am doing some research work at the library. Interesting subject for this project we're planning for this year on Asian youth.

As I'm reading up on China's Generation Y, 3 girls to my diagonal right are in intense discussion (quite loudly) on some serious subject ... something about dissecting ... medical students? And this guy next to me had been pounding furiously on his laptop. Now he's taking a break.

I need a break too. Can feel a dull throb creeping into the usual cranny of my skull. I'm getting distracted.

Friday, April 18, 2008

00:00 11:11 22:22


... there're only three such occasions everyday. And they last only but a minute.

Isn't it amazing that on such rare occasions that your eyes choose to look at the digital clock - on your PC, your mobile, your desktop ... - at that very exact moment of 00:00 and 11:11 and 22:22.

For one minute (perhaps less), I held my gaze. 22:22. And I thought of nothing. Absolute nothing for a minute. Emptiness for a minute. It was wonderful.

And if I could only have 3 minutes of nothingness everyday, perhaps I shall regain my sanity.

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Random thot


"Love is ... when I don't know why I like you."

Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Return of Jordan the Sexy Knight!


Haha ... I thought I'd never get the chance to see them in concert ever ...

But the New Kids On The Block are reuniting for a tour! Of course they're not gonna come to Singapore (they did in 1992) but I'd be seriously thinking about attending one in the US. After all, they are my favouritest band ... and didn't I go see NSYNC in America too and they're also my favouritest band? ^_^

(L-R) Joe McIntyre, Jonathan Knight, Donnie Wahlberg, Jordan Knight, Danny Wood

Visit the NKOTB official website: http://www.nkotb.com

Saturday, April 05, 2008

Love poem from Ono no Komachi


[Original]

夢ぢには

あしもやすめず

かよへども

うつつにひとめ

見しごとはあらず

[English translation]

Though I go to you

ceaselessly along dream paths

The sum of those trysts

is less than a single glimpse

granted in the waking world.

[Meaning]

I go often to you in my dreams, but I never see you in the real world.

ハチミツとクローバー Hachimitsu to Kurōbā


I'm deeply moved by the final episode.

The sculpture of an angel that Morita makes for Hagumi before leaving for his round-the-world trip, holding a scroll with words of encouragement for her to pick up the paint brush again after a bad accident damages the nerves in her right hand.

How Takemoto uses what is closest to Hagu's heart - art - for her rehab to get those nerves working again.

The happiness that Mayama deserves for being so generously and selflessly in love with Rika, and finally being accepted by her.

How Takemoto almost misses the precious gift that Hagu, whom he has secretly been in love with for 2 years, has packed for him - a farewell gift, a good luck charm - as he boards the bus for a career with the Miedai carpenters.

As Takemoto lifts up slice after slice of white bread to find stuck onto sweet honey, a four-leaf clover, then two, then three, and more ...

"There are so many four-leaf clovers inside although I could only find one of them after searching for an entire day." -- Takemoto

... and he sobs (I did too. Who wouldn't?)

I've never thought much of the Hagumi character. She bears a fragile appearance, and her quiet disposition and pensiveness sometimes make her scenes dull and colourless (ironically, since she's a painter).

But Hagumi's strong willpower shines in this last scene. And I finally see, in reflection, how much bearing she has had on shaping Takemoto as a person, whose character is pivotal to this story, and who is aptly so, the narrator.

It's a cool show. Brings me all the way back to school.
"The day when everything turns into memories will eventually come. However, I will probably remember the precious time we spent together." -- Takemoto

Besides, Mukai Osamu (Mayama-kun) is the BEST! So 帅! Haha ... Go watch.

Friday, April 04, 2008

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Last day in Bombay


Sianz!
Our flight leaves at midnight ... this wanderer's heart does not wish to leave but leave it must.
Sighz ...