Saturday, June 21, 2008

The Last Quiet Weekend

The past few weekends had been a quiet one for me.
This is due to the fact that exams are around the corner,
Rendering my mates, who are uni-bound, library-ing.
Thus, no parties or soirees or happenings for me.
Yet, those quiet times had been pretty enjoyable.

Firstly, I have been able to clean up my room.
Old clothes stored in my already ‘filled up’ room irritates me.
So, I have traded it for goodwill, to YMCA.
Giving away old and unused things lifted much of my burdens,
As I will be looking forward to getting new ones!!

Secondly, I am able to update myself on the trends.
Since I started working, I had not read much magazines,
Two months is light years in terms of trends!!
So, I spend my whole afternoon soaking in 15 magazines.
Vogue, Vogue Australia, Vogue Italia, Vogue Homme, GQ,
Haper’s Bazaar, Madison and the list went on.
I realised that after the 6th magazine,
All those different magazines were actually forecasting on the same things.
Same ad campaigns, same features and same same.

Thirdly, I did my finance recording and budgeting!!
Hehe, sounds boring but so important.
I set my goals for savings in the next 2 months.
Predict what my expenditure will be like.
And mapped out my ‘ability’ to buy the things that I want.
I sense a new LV bag in my wardrobe~~~ Mirage Porte Document Vertical!!

Fourthly, I finally go the time (and motivation) to hand wash some of my jackets
And bring three of them for drycleaning.
The three had been dirty for a while hehe.
And the rest must be handwashed and ironed of course.
So all’s good now, I feel like I have gained some new jackets!!
Hand-washing clothes is also very zen, as I have found.

Fifthly, I was able to gym a lot.
This is good as my weekdays had been very hectic recently
And the cold weather will make me NOT wanna hit the gym after a hard day work.
Now, I can gym at the weekend at anytime I want!

Sixthly, I was graced with the time to reflect…
I have always been someone whom believed that the future is always better.
And that tomorrow will always be better than today or yesterday.
Yet, I find it quite ironic that I can’t let go of the past.
Past failed relationships, friendships and challenges.
Perhaps time is the cure.

Lucky seventhly, I am able to plan my schedule for the next few months.
I like to do this as it gives me a sense of control.
I am beginning to believe that keeping busy is good for me!
So lemme see…

Mon 23 Jun, meeting with MSF. Can’t wait!
Sat 28 and Sun 29 Jun, hanging out with mates whom exams will be done!
That is why this is called the last quiet weekend.
Looking forward to shopping and lounging!!
Mon 30 Jun, celebration dinner with company for end of financial year!!
Sat 5 Jul to Tue 8 Jul, vay-kay out of Melbourne with mates!! Wheeeee.
Tue 8 Jul, commission day!$!$
Thu 17 Jul, dermatologist visit…
Fri 18 Jul, PAY DAY!$!$
Thu 24 Jul start design class!!!

Seemed like there is quite many things to look forward to!!
Can anyone believe that it is already mid of 2008?

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

No Lions in Africa

On a quiet Tuesday in a quiet neighbourhood, there I was, spending a quiet moment.

It wasn't just any other neighbourhood, it is one of concrete and glass. Money is not an issue here, time is.
The people wore black. Nothing was reflected from their glistering automobiles. There.
In front of me, they parked. A black BMW X4 beside a silver Maserati.
Premium rented office spaces brushing shoulders with premium apartments.
Advertising agency, law firms and cosmetic surgery clinics are situated right below $3 million lofts with spacious manicured gardens and well-equipped gym.
Welcome to my nightmare.

This is where I worked.
After spending 2 weeks at this area, I have gradually gotten used to it.
Well, it is not that cold and concrete a place.
Among chic cafes and al frescos where you can order organic chai latte and poached egg with hollandaise sauce,
you can find humanity such as a McDonald's and a Subway.
Among the rush hour people with lunch times do's and don't's typing on their Blackberry,
you can see an occasional wealthy retired couples walking their Chow Chow.
Among the strong cologne of suited men and perfumed women with 3 hours of meeting and scheduled block ahead,
you can find kids looking out of their balconies while being spoon fed by hired caretakers.
And you can find me, sipping my cappuccino as leisurely as I can, during my 30 minute break.

This is indeed a place of contradiction and opposites.
A stressed out guy who needs a flight to Dublin the next day for corporate reasons albeit paying $3500 for the ticket
May be the person whom will come in to book a flight to Bali with his family to relax after all that stress from work.
The jolly retired couple may want to book a tour to Europe for a luxury premium tour for 3 months today,
yet, they may be booking for a flight the next day to Toronto urgently, to attend a funeral or grandchildren's marriage.
A me, whom seemed to be working just like every other person,
yet is actually paying off his fees through fashion studies and saving up for his enrolment to a school in New York.

Still, despite the variety of people, careers, drams and lifestyle of the people here,
which varies from Japanese Lexus to German Benz that roam this neighbourhood,
they share one similarity.

They are working towards their dream.
The working class for a better future, better position in the company and better holidays with their families.
The retired couples making sure that they are reaping the benefits of what they've sown with their youth.
The me, whom is working for what I want...
The prize will always be there in this neighbourhood.
However, it will need the hands of the people to carve them into the shape and form they desire.
And then, they can rightfully claim them as theirs.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Three’s A Crowd- Le Genesis

And there was three.

In some weeks time, I shall be having a getaway with some of my inner-cirled gal pals, weeeee. Excited excited.

I have officially taken my leave and gotten it approved, booked them flights and just waiting to book the accommodation and for the date to arrive. 5th July!!!

Let’s name it Location X.

I had been there three times already, yet I can’t get enough of Location X. The next thing that enthrals me is the mates I am going with. Who could ask for a more perfect travelling companions. Us three has been has known each other for quite sometime. We are open to each other, have no hidden agendas and are in the best of terms. Best of all, we are able to commit to each other at times like this. This may be the beginning of the Travelling-Trio-Trilogy!!!!

Our next destination, Seoul and Tokyo… My plan is that I book Korean Air for all of us to Tokyo. The plane will always transit in Seoul, so we can be there for 4 days, and then head to Tokyo for a week. Easy easy easy.. of course my sis will be joining us, becoming Travelling-Trio+ One sista sidekick… The best time will be next year March/ April as you can do Hanami (Cherry Blossom viewing) and the weather is parfait as you know, the Far East has cold and miserable winter and humid and hot summers… Finally, I can be a cast of Hana Yori Dango or Stairway to Heaven, ruwwing around like a mad-lovelorn-man against the beautiful skyline constraste of modern and old. For sure I am the main actor….

For sure there will be drama, ups and downs but it’s not the destination but the journey as well. We shall prove that we are no psycho single guys with nothing better to do but travel around whenever we get the chance to!!!!! Hehe.

The previous plan was that 4, instead of three will be travelling. This limits the accommodation we can have as most single room fit a maximum of 3 patrons, if more, an extra room will be required, which will cost a bomb. Being smart, I hooked up a two bedroom hotel. However, now that only Three of us will be there, SO MANY hotels options are available for a cheaper price.

I am having eyes on the 4 and a half star property, Sebel or Holiday Inn by the Harbour, 4 star. Since it’s only a standard room now, it’s cheaper than ever!! OMG I am soo smart. Hehe, the perks of being in the travel industry. Lemme tempt you. The Sebel is 4.5 Star for a good reason. Albeit not smack bang in the city, it is close enough to the city to get a quiet atmosphere yet convenience of popping into the city without much trouble. It has a GOLF COURSE Compound, pool, spa, sauna, gym facilities. Holiday Inn has all those too without the Golf course but it has the glorious harbour view.
Can’t wait.

Having travelling buddies is definitely one of the best things in life. AS we grow up, we no longer can go travelling with our parents as we seek adventure and they seek relaxation. Having peers to go travelling around has always been a dream of mine. Imagine yourself in a cold winter at Frankfurt or a gang of mad-ass gal pals eating a sausage in Frankfurt… I will take the latter.

Moreover, if we happen to do a ‘TRAVEL EUROPE’ tour, it is usually the third person travel for free or discount of 30% off the tour price if three people register (Usually 2 adults and a children case). This will mean that we are not only travelling, but saving our mandatory dull travelling tour and spending the remaining balance on LV bags in Europe!!!! Hawtness-de-ultimateness…

Drools drools… if only I have all the $$$ in the world to be jet-setting around. Still, I am contented with working hard, earning my own $$$ and then spending it in a way I deem fit! Travelling = new experiences = shopping madness = taking whore pix with whore friends = ultimate fun-ness.

Do you want the ultimate fun-ness??

Sunday, June 08, 2008

Blue Album

These days have been cold, quiet, reflective and good.
I am once again found in between the door of my past and the gateway to my future.
Yet, I am still stuck in the present, refusing to budge.

My past has caught up with me, at least more so than I felt comfortable in.
I always dream during the night.
It is like sitting down in my bed watching a film about me and my life.
People that were in my life played those characters in my dreams.
Events and places that are either new or old occurred.
I woke up with those dreams still fresh in my mind.
And I have to be reminded of things I have stored deep in my sub-conscious.
I was being reminded and reminded that I grew nostalgic.
I felt an urge, a tug in my heart and a longing.

I don’t like those dreams.
Why do they have to come at night?

My future is the one that I have to steer on.
I see many challenges, possibilities and tasks ahead.
I may be a young and fresh 22 year old now.
But I know that I will come out of it an older,
Stronger, tried and tested person.
I understand that now is not a time of reaping,
But a time of sowing, working and striving.
Yet, I am saddened at the possibly that I may have to start
At step 1 again if I were to move to another place.
The search for a new ‘home’ will have to happen again.
The time of finding my place in the new place.
More heartbreaks, more regrets and more sighs.
Why can’t I have the best of both worlds.

Looking at my old posts at the old blog,
I felt like I am face to face to my old self.
All my past mistakes, my past forgives and aspirations.
Everything has been fine.
If I see my future self, I will not ask if everything will be ok.
As I know that it will be.

What about yourself?
Have you wished to amend something?
Have you wished to forgive someone?
Do you wish you have the courage to do what you want to?
Do you want to just fly high and soar above yourself?
I know there are many things that I wish…
There is a SuperDidi in me, when I feel weak,
When the EvilDidi is eating me up,
I open the Blue Album,
And becomes SuperDidi,
And everything will be fine.

Although my heart still bears the scars of my previous errs.
I still shiver at the sight of people whom had hurt me.
I will put those into the Blue Album,
So that they will not harm me anymore.