I am now back in Singapore. Woopee!
After a nice meal at Ka-Soh Restaurant, a hot shower and a good dump, I'm all good for Singapore again.
The next few days will be filled with plenty of errands.
So for now, ad per the post before the last two, I proclaim this blog closed for the season, until the time again I feel the call of the Wanderfuss.
Race you back to my lair.
----------------
Now playing: Madonna - 4 Minutes [Ft. Justin Timberlake and Timbaland]
via FoxyTunes
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Pseudo-Gangsta Mumbaikers
Right now I'm in Wich Latte again, the only place where they've got free Wi-Fi available for people staying around the area. This is in Colaba, the touristy area. We attempted the other day to head out towards the supposed shopping area (Bandra), but it took us a 1 hour 15 minute long taxi ride through crazy traffic jams, insane searing heat and throngs of begging street children. It was expensive as hell as well (for Indian prices), and the guy wanted Rs. 200 more just for waiting 30 minutes then returning back to Colaba.
We walked down a bit and then realised it was CG Road (Ahmedabad) all over again, cars whizzing past barely-there walkways, leering men (I swear India's entire socio-economic issues can be boiled down to one thing: unequal sex ratio) and lousy shops. All the guides seem to point to this area as being the place to eat and shop, so I guess it's only if you go there with an A/C cab and have a ready guide to show you aroud, otherwise, plan first before you get here.
So we returned to Colaba, and have been nuahing around the area for the past 2 days. We've gone to virtually every restaurant/cafe listed in the LP guide for this area, and are a little hard-pressed now for things to see and do.
Apparently Marine Drive is just one stretch of walkway for people to admire the view of the city coastline. I think there should be some restaurants and shops in the area, but it seems like too wide an area for speculation.
But Colaba seems to have the best cafes and bakeries and stuff. So anyway, right now we're in this cafe, and I'm seated opposite Leigh who's using her laptop. Behind her there are five guys, all English-speaking late 20-somethings, and they're decked in a mish-mash of clothing, one has a khaki-coloured flat-top cap matched with a navy blue t-shirt and he's seated with his feet on the leather seats. There's one really talkative alpha-male sort who's got stringy long hair, and he's the most domineering one of the lot, constantly trying to impress the rest with his general knowledge.
So the funniest thing about this lot is that when BEP's Where Is the Love? came on over the speakers in this cafe, the lot of them began singing along to the chorus and talking about it as if it's the hippest song in their universe (probably). That song is a million years old, and it's not even entertaining anymore. But they were loving it like it just happened yesterday (for them probably). Then T.A.T.U.'s one-hit came on and Talkative Pseudo-Gangsta began to relate to his friends about the song and it's music video, like he was so cool for having seen it at all.
I have maintained that coming to India is like travelling 30 years into the past. This is true, although, their music is a little more advanced. One thing I've noticed is that in all their pseudo-international restaurants and cafes, their idea of English music is techno-beat infused songs. Or just plain techno. This is the strangest deduction anyone could have come to. Like all the places in Ahmedabad that want to pretend to cater to the up-market yuppie sorts play the exact same CD. It begins with a bit of old-school techno, Final Countdown or something like that, then moves on to some Shakira, then if it's kinda different, it might have a slow Bryan Adams' song. Only because Bryan Adams is still big in India (it's the Time-Lag).
Theory: If "India Standard Time" or IST as it is commonly known as, means that one IST minute is equivalent to 15 global minutes, imagine the sheer accumulation of all these 15 minute blocks. The implications are astounding. Which is why when we leave this place, we'll probably experience some disorientation due to the forward time-jumping.
And oh, if anyone of you are thinking about how much I seem to be bashing this place, it's not that I'm not enjoying myself, it's just that the whole need to be politically correct and praise things is just not in my nature. I'll take the good stuff, and I'll be aware of them and be happy with them, but going on and on about nice and good things isn't what I want to do today.
Another note is for people who like to claim that "Singapore is a country with no soul": You can take whatever city soul you want to claim other places have and go live there. I will not trade the sterile environment of Singapore, I will not trade the corporate bookstores and the nice cafes, I will not give all of it up, just so I can say, my city has a soul, it is in the quaint bookstores, the family-run rustic cafes, the street vendors and colonial architecture, but all these have to exist side-by-side with dusty streets, bad public transport, a sexually-repressed generation of men, and the entire milieu of problems facing the people of that country.
Give me a first-world city filled with shallow people trying to eke out meaningless ambitions from their eugenically-directed education, give me convenience and security. And I'm not being sarcastic. If you're stupid enough to think that.
We walked down a bit and then realised it was CG Road (Ahmedabad) all over again, cars whizzing past barely-there walkways, leering men (I swear India's entire socio-economic issues can be boiled down to one thing: unequal sex ratio) and lousy shops. All the guides seem to point to this area as being the place to eat and shop, so I guess it's only if you go there with an A/C cab and have a ready guide to show you aroud, otherwise, plan first before you get here.
So we returned to Colaba, and have been nuahing around the area for the past 2 days. We've gone to virtually every restaurant/cafe listed in the LP guide for this area, and are a little hard-pressed now for things to see and do.
Apparently Marine Drive is just one stretch of walkway for people to admire the view of the city coastline. I think there should be some restaurants and shops in the area, but it seems like too wide an area for speculation.
But Colaba seems to have the best cafes and bakeries and stuff. So anyway, right now we're in this cafe, and I'm seated opposite Leigh who's using her laptop. Behind her there are five guys, all English-speaking late 20-somethings, and they're decked in a mish-mash of clothing, one has a khaki-coloured flat-top cap matched with a navy blue t-shirt and he's seated with his feet on the leather seats. There's one really talkative alpha-male sort who's got stringy long hair, and he's the most domineering one of the lot, constantly trying to impress the rest with his general knowledge.
So the funniest thing about this lot is that when BEP's Where Is the Love? came on over the speakers in this cafe, the lot of them began singing along to the chorus and talking about it as if it's the hippest song in their universe (probably). That song is a million years old, and it's not even entertaining anymore. But they were loving it like it just happened yesterday (for them probably). Then T.A.T.U.'s one-hit came on and Talkative Pseudo-Gangsta began to relate to his friends about the song and it's music video, like he was so cool for having seen it at all.
I have maintained that coming to India is like travelling 30 years into the past. This is true, although, their music is a little more advanced. One thing I've noticed is that in all their pseudo-international restaurants and cafes, their idea of English music is techno-beat infused songs. Or just plain techno. This is the strangest deduction anyone could have come to. Like all the places in Ahmedabad that want to pretend to cater to the up-market yuppie sorts play the exact same CD. It begins with a bit of old-school techno, Final Countdown or something like that, then moves on to some Shakira, then if it's kinda different, it might have a slow Bryan Adams' song. Only because Bryan Adams is still big in India (it's the Time-Lag).
Theory: If "India Standard Time" or IST as it is commonly known as, means that one IST minute is equivalent to 15 global minutes, imagine the sheer accumulation of all these 15 minute blocks. The implications are astounding. Which is why when we leave this place, we'll probably experience some disorientation due to the forward time-jumping.
And oh, if anyone of you are thinking about how much I seem to be bashing this place, it's not that I'm not enjoying myself, it's just that the whole need to be politically correct and praise things is just not in my nature. I'll take the good stuff, and I'll be aware of them and be happy with them, but going on and on about nice and good things isn't what I want to do today.
Another note is for people who like to claim that "Singapore is a country with no soul": You can take whatever city soul you want to claim other places have and go live there. I will not trade the sterile environment of Singapore, I will not trade the corporate bookstores and the nice cafes, I will not give all of it up, just so I can say, my city has a soul, it is in the quaint bookstores, the family-run rustic cafes, the street vendors and colonial architecture, but all these have to exist side-by-side with dusty streets, bad public transport, a sexually-repressed generation of men, and the entire milieu of problems facing the people of that country.
Give me a first-world city filled with shallow people trying to eke out meaningless ambitions from their eugenically-directed education, give me convenience and security. And I'm not being sarcastic. If you're stupid enough to think that.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Report From Mumbai/Bombay
This is our second day here. We've done some shopping and will probably be doing more over the next few days.
We're checked into the Bentley's Hotel. It's a budget hotel that's really colonial looking. The interior of the room is somewhat like a scene out of In the Mood For Love, dressing table complete with three mirrors and other dark wood furnishing. Pretty cool writing table as well, except that it's kinda spoilt. It's one of those letter tables that has a fold-out writing space, the ones you see in colonial period dramas (where they write the letters and all).
We had a late, late lunch at Cafe Churchill, which is two minutes outside our hotel. We're in the main touristy area of Colaba. There are boutiques lining one end of the street, on the other end there are the same stalls selling fake sunglasses and curios. Plenty of people jostling for walkspace, and nice bookstalls.
We might be headed to Marine Drive later on. Right now we're in Wich Latte which is a very strange sandwich bar place.
Leigh just scolded me and told me to eat my sandwich so she can move her laptop. Right, this means the report's over.
We're checked into the Bentley's Hotel. It's a budget hotel that's really colonial looking. The interior of the room is somewhat like a scene out of In the Mood For Love, dressing table complete with three mirrors and other dark wood furnishing. Pretty cool writing table as well, except that it's kinda spoilt. It's one of those letter tables that has a fold-out writing space, the ones you see in colonial period dramas (where they write the letters and all).
We had a late, late lunch at Cafe Churchill, which is two minutes outside our hotel. We're in the main touristy area of Colaba. There are boutiques lining one end of the street, on the other end there are the same stalls selling fake sunglasses and curios. Plenty of people jostling for walkspace, and nice bookstalls.
We might be headed to Marine Drive later on. Right now we're in Wich Latte which is a very strange sandwich bar place.
Leigh just scolded me and told me to eat my sandwich so she can move her laptop. Right, this means the report's over.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Afternoon Photoshop Practice
Did this earlier for Gavin's camp thingy. He hasn't gotten back to me. The female officers said that an earlier design wasn't cute enough. I thought that boys being boys they might like something more edgy. But the girls in charge of the camp didn't pass it. So this is the Kawaii Knight, complete with pseudo-Japanese Engrish back story.
Cause I've been catching season 4 of Battlestar, and I was bored this afternoon. There are Hybrid Cylon babies all ove the place now, shouldn't they have a Protector. Yes, I've also been catching Terminator, so as you can see the influence of two TV serials based on a future man-machine war.Tonight we have dinner with the Director of the school. Small talk, ah, such a lovely function of social functions.
Two more days here.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Feedback Loop
manifesto.jpg)
Here are two more pages I've done for the guide I spoke of earlier. The only reason why I've been able to do that is cause I've got some time to myself now that classes have more or less ended. I just noticed that the second auto doesn't seem to have handles.
My Blueberry Nights
Leigh and I have kept ourselves entertained for 2 days now with plenty of shows. We go for Prof. Mathew's class and watch hours of films, mostly world cinema, then have philosophy, sociology and ethics trussed upon our heads, fighting back all the inane questions that get asked with little or not thought actually put into them before they're fired to the prof.
Then we head back to Silveroak, then begin again with Friends, and more movies.
Last night was 27 Dresses, which Leigh found terribly disappointing cause she's been looking forward to it so much, and it was more like a typical romance story minus a lot of the romance that's supposed to make one feel all nice and warm and fuzzy inside (I think that's for her). I didn't expect anything from it, so it passed me by like all the rest.
Same formula, girl has some quirky thing about her (from Disneyland, is a Man-With-Mom-Shifter, etc.) and then has a huge crush on someone who doesn't love her, and the best friend that's always been there becomes the one in the end.
And this afternoon we watched My Blueberry Nights, which I have to say I expected to suck based on the reviews it's garnered so far and the supposed final edit by Weinstein. But it was good. It was great. It was tasty.
And it was lovely.
----------------
Now playing: Brandi Carlile - The Story
via FoxyTunes
Then we head back to Silveroak, then begin again with Friends, and more movies.
Last night was 27 Dresses, which Leigh found terribly disappointing cause she's been looking forward to it so much, and it was more like a typical romance story minus a lot of the romance that's supposed to make one feel all nice and warm and fuzzy inside (I think that's for her). I didn't expect anything from it, so it passed me by like all the rest.
Same formula, girl has some quirky thing about her (from Disneyland, is a Man-With-Mom-Shifter, etc.) and then has a huge crush on someone who doesn't love her, and the best friend that's always been there becomes the one in the end.
And this afternoon we watched My Blueberry Nights, which I have to say I expected to suck based on the reviews it's garnered so far and the supposed final edit by Weinstein. But it was good. It was great. It was tasty.
And it was lovely.
----------------
Now playing: Brandi Carlile - The Story
via FoxyTunes
Thursday, April 17, 2008
The End of An Era
So Nuria's got about 42 minutes left before her flight leaves for Singapore. She should be at the Ahmedabad airport right now, or maybe she's already boarded the plane back.
The Singapore Airlines flight back. We didn't go through the usual motions of saying goodbye, just a cake party held for her by the nice CCC people yesterday night and that was that. Leigh and I said our goodbyes to her during snacks today, and then we headed off for class.
So now all that's left is a pair of slippers she left outside her door for disposal and a mess of a room now vacant.
It's "the end of an era" as Monica so aptly put to Rachel in Friends.
This afternoon we had to do our presentations to the Director and Harleen. All I can say here is that I think it went down alright. Not as vitriolic as the French I suppose, but we got our message through I hope.
Then it was lunch and Prof. Mathew's class for the rest of the day. I will never see film studies in the same light ever again. And the films he shows us in this module is, how can I put it, eye-opening is a little mild, but you get my drift. But it's a fantastic class.
So...
Goodbye MICA Nuria, I'll see you around in Singapore. Thanks for the times, dear Kitchen Towel, Pantless Friend Who Befriends the Weirdos. I shall miss all the times we've had instant noodles in the corridor (all of once).
----------------
Now playing: Jem - Missing You
via FoxyTunes
p.s. the song is a coincidence, please don't read too much into it, thanks.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Concept Art for Cover of Guide
Cause we're supposed to make a presentation to the director of the MICA tomorrow, in which we'll have a throwdown of sorts regarding various issues, I decided that I shall attempt to help future students who might be coming to MICA by making a guide, whether I actually go through with this or if it's one of my many undeveloped ideas lying around the computer, I don't know at this point, but I think I've got a few chapters to discuss already.
Preview:
Chapter 1 - Reasons Why You Might Have Chosen MICA
Chapter 2 - Reasons You Never Knew To Have Chosen MICA
PRE-DEPARTURE
Chapter 3 - Pre-Departure: Activities For Self
Chapter 4 - Pre-Departure: Activities With Friends
Chapter 5 - Pre-Departure Purchases
Chapter 6 - Pre-Departure Foods To Consume
Chapter 7 - Pre-Departure Things To Settle (Visa, Internet Banking, Contact numbers, travel mates, ticketing, etc.)
PACKING
Chapter 8 - Things To Bring (And Infernal Deadweight Not To)
Chapter 9 - Food To Bring
BOARDING
Chapter 10 - Airport Sendoffs
Chapter 11 - Getting Free Upgrades To Business Class (concept)
Chapter 12 - Time-travelling Back 30 Years (Or Entry Into India and Sighting the AMD Airport For the First Time)
Chapter 13 - First Impressions Count (Or Students Who Volunteer To Collect the Exchange Students May Be Nice...)
Chapter 14 - The Road Is Long (and Dark)
Chapter 15 - The Shower Requires Some Fiddling With
Chapter 16 - Maps of Ahmedabad, of MICA, of India (So As To Better Plan Escape Routes)
Chapter 17 - Mess Food Timings, MICAfe Timings
Chapter 18 - Food Improvisation (How To Order In MICA, And How To Make Butter Sugar Toast)
Chapter 19 - Functions of Administration Staff
Chapter 20 - Meeting the "International Department" For the First Time (Or What You Need To Know Beforehand)
Chapter 21 - Meeting MICA Students (or How Singaporeans Should Behave Overseas)
Chapter 22 - Meeting Students From Other Countries (or How to Recognise French Swear Words)
Chapter 23 - Campus Activities
Chapter 24 - Admin Stuff To Get Over, SIM Cards, etc. (And How To Lend Your Things And Get It Back On Time)
Chapter 25 - Getting Out of MICA (Getting around in Ahmedabad, And BEYOND!)
SHOPPING
Chapter 25.5 - Bargaining in India (by Leigh Khoo and Romain des Courieres)
Chapter 26 - Shopping @ Reliance
Chapter 27 - Shopping @ Iscon
Chapter 28 - Shopping @ Landmark
Chapter 29 - Shopping @ CG Road
Chapter 30 - Shopping Elsewhere
EATING OUT
Chapter 31 - Non-vegetarian Places to Eat Real Food
Chapter 32 - Getting Back to MICA (because you just have to sometimes)
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Facebook Addiction
I think I'm addicted to Facebook.
How I know this is relevant, which is the only reason why I'm going to continue talking about it. I've not been able to view Facebook in all its proper blue and white glory for two days now. And it's bugging the hell out of me to see that static HTML page. It's blue and white as well, but for completely different reasons.
So I trawl the net to find out what the hell is going on, and no one seems to have an idea. This campus is officially Facebook-dead.
And I keep searching for some kind of loophole, using Safari instead of Firefox, clearing my caches, trying to find a temporary Internet files folder on a Mac (which they don't have in that name, I think), and looking for all other methods for the sake of avoiding that HTML page.
And then when all fails, I blog about it.
This is how I know I'm addicted to Facebook. And this is bad.
(But seriously, I'm really kidding, read this entire thing with like a smirk and loads of pinches of salt).
----------------
Now playing: Goldfrapp - Monster Love
via FoxyTunes
How I know this is relevant, which is the only reason why I'm going to continue talking about it. I've not been able to view Facebook in all its proper blue and white glory for two days now. And it's bugging the hell out of me to see that static HTML page. It's blue and white as well, but for completely different reasons.
So I trawl the net to find out what the hell is going on, and no one seems to have an idea. This campus is officially Facebook-dead.
And I keep searching for some kind of loophole, using Safari instead of Firefox, clearing my caches, trying to find a temporary Internet files folder on a Mac (which they don't have in that name, I think), and looking for all other methods for the sake of avoiding that HTML page.
And then when all fails, I blog about it.
This is how I know I'm addicted to Facebook. And this is bad.
(But seriously, I'm really kidding, read this entire thing with like a smirk and loads of pinches of salt).
----------------
Now playing: Goldfrapp - Monster Love
via FoxyTunes
Friday, April 11, 2008
Homecoming & Hiatus
So we're going to leave MICA. On the 24th we leave here for Mumbai, and then we'll be back on Singaporean soil on the 30th.
And then that would be the end of, dare I say it, 126 wonderful days in India. And no, for all of you who still can't grasp the notion of when I'm joking, being sarcastic or just musing, I have actually enjoyed my time here. And will do so again in the far future.
But for now, it's time to begin the drowsy end of a long work day, close the register, stack the chairs, clean the place up, and savour the moments as night gives way to day. Then turn the closing sign to show, leave the shop and close the door with a heavy heart.
Another day ends, with people met, a few regrets and tired feet. Step into the cold, breathe the chilled air, bask in the orange glow of the city and wait for the demons to drag you back to your reality.
You have been the best companion all this time, but sadly dear blog as I leave India I will have to leave you for a time, till next I find myself wandefussing across the globe, thinking to myself that perennial question:
What the hell am I doing here?
I bid you adieu, for now, for tonight, for today.
Because I still have 18 more days here in India. 12 more in MICA, 4 more till I have to make a presentation to the Director of the school regarding my experience here, and 1 more till we head to Pride Hotel for breakfast.
Goodnight, goodnight.
----------------
Now playing: Fort Minor - Where'd You Go (feat. Holly Brook and Jonah Matranga)
via FoxyTunes
Thursday, April 10, 2008
News Reports Coming In
From various fronts that war is inevitable in the substate of Ntuwkwsci, as several factions sprung from the recent power vacuum left by the Mainstream Party gear up for battle. They have already begun territorial skirmishes in most modular regions of the school. The Mainstream Party had left on a diplomatic mission to other parts of the world, and more prominent members were included on this journey.
Factions from the Peripherals and the Invisibles have taken the chance to overthrow the former government, and those remaining Mainstream have been unable to cope with the coup d'etat. The initial fallout was not widely known, but as the new financial semester draws to a close, fresh skirmishes have broken out. Hundreds have been hurt in the latest attack, involving Peripherals, Invisibles and Mainstream.
Those Mainstreams who were not slated to join the foreign mission have taken shelter away from the city center, seeking instead to hole up in their houses and await for better news. Some Mainstreams have taken up arms to stem the tide of Peripherals and Invisibles. So far this has proven futile as the Ps & Is have begun a hostile takeover of the Power Structure. Several of them have almost obtained enough power to move into the inner circles of the former Mainstream.
Witnesses also report that the political powerplay in the substate has mainly been orchestrated by a single person, but no real news has emerged to prove the existence of such a King (or Queen?) Bee. Some witnesses also report that overseas Mainstream personalities have attempted to interfere in the new local political scene.
We request that you pray for a swift return of Order. Goodnight, and good luck.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
GO AND COMMENT TO SUPPORT THEM! THANKS!
This was done by Shixiong, Fiona, Ting Yi, Jun Jie, Vivienne, Jal and Phoebe. I might have forgotten to mention Phoebe in one of these many posts.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Leave Everyone Else Be.
CLASS ACTIVITY
The teacher wants us to write a limerick
And I tried writing something really sick
But the theme in question is education in MICA
Which in India can supposedly get one really far
But seriously I much rather be in Singapore lah.
FIRST LINE INSPIRATION FROM THE TEACH
I feel like a schoolbus driver
But honestly I'm just a skiver
I come late to class
Then keep making a fuss
When people aren't so fast.
HELPING ANOTHER CLASSMATE WITH HIS LAST LINE
There were 8 men in MICA
Who used to live in champar
they used to have fun at night
but coming to class was always a fight
especially if they had had drinks in a bar.
ON A PERSON IN CLASS
Nuria likes butter toast and tea for snacks
Because they give her little joyful whacks
I know that after her daily dose of toast
She likes to avoid the afternoon sun's roast
Rushing back to sleep in her sack.
ON THE VIRGIN GROUP
There once was a very large Virgin
That had tentacles in everythin'
It fed off rich Branson celebrity bread
Had Victoria's Secrets on a flying bed
And gave everyone cause to sin.
The teacher wants us to write a limerick
And I tried writing something really sick
But the theme in question is education in MICA
Which in India can supposedly get one really far
But seriously I much rather be in Singapore lah.
FIRST LINE INSPIRATION FROM THE TEACH
I feel like a schoolbus driver
But honestly I'm just a skiver
I come late to class
Then keep making a fuss
When people aren't so fast.
HELPING ANOTHER CLASSMATE WITH HIS LAST LINE
There were 8 men in MICA
Who used to live in champar
they used to have fun at night
but coming to class was always a fight
especially if they had had drinks in a bar.
ON A PERSON IN CLASS
Nuria likes butter toast and tea for snacks
Because they give her little joyful whacks
I know that after her daily dose of toast
She likes to avoid the afternoon sun's roast
Rushing back to sleep in her sack.
ON THE VIRGIN GROUP
There once was a very large Virgin
That had tentacles in everythin'
It fed off rich Branson celebrity bread
Had Victoria's Secrets on a flying bed
And gave everyone cause to sin.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Himanshu's Birthday @ Champar
It begins with a dark (because it's nighttime) and stormy (okay, more like rainy) night.
A dark corridor along which empty hostels line, that cursed of the dark powers - frogs, roam with impunity all over the campus.
And then you get this. This is what a camera with a flash catches. Everyone is actually sitting in the dark. Plastic cups adorn each palm, a offering to lips of lukewarm mixers laced with spirits.
Summon the birthday boy, and there he is. Preceded by his entourage of Hairband Boy and The Philosopher (no, we don't really call him Hairband Boy, but yes, we really do call him The Philosopher).
Angeleigh Khoo unable to say no to a drink. Here she attempts to smile at the camera and make me take the drink off her hands.
She realises this is futile and pulls Bat-face on me. This unfortunately for her does not work as well. She's stuck with the drink that was thrust upon her. It's only Sprite and Smirnoff. Sproff. Haha, I'm so funny. Oh damn it.
This is the Horse. The Horse is so called because that's what one could term his animus. The Horse is from Ahmedabad which is a dry state and this would explain a lot about the rest of the night. And also explain the constant handshaking, and the shirt-disappearances.
Not to mention self-loathing and falling down.
Our favourite barkeep (who provided the alcohol but stayed away from it the entire night). This is where we let it all hang loose after a long arduous day of hard work in CCC class. Yes, we head to our favourite pub, affectionately known as The Champar-Makeshift-Hostel-Room-Pub.
I brought nuts to complete the atmosphere. What's a makeshift pub without nuts eh?
Artsy photography to reflect what most of the drunks were seeing last night. If you must know though, that is Mehul. I don't really have a nickname for him, one could call him curly by the mountain of curly, floppy hair that he's got. Speaking about floppy hair, Yaqin, you'll love his hair.
Birthday Boy, his girlfriend, RCM girls, The Silence.
The Silence: He is busy playing Need For Speed here, but later on in the night he'll be completely intoxicated and entertaining Leigh by merely completing entire sentences. On a daily basis he's really really quiet, but add alcohol and cigarettes, well, it becomes a very good night.
The night progresses. The lineup changes as people move around to get drinks, Kah Shin constantly shrieks next to me and people begin handshaking.
This photo should demonstrate a lot. The Horse was literally having a spinning head, and Robin (next to him on the right) who didn't have a drop was completely sober and entertaining him.
Shadowy people. This was earlier in the night when Nuria was around. Deepak the Giant is next to her.
This is when Ritu came with Kah Shin. Or followed, or whatever.
A very blur picture of Sumona (?), one of the RCM ladies.
This is at Chhota, that is Simon the Cat. No, that is not an affectionate term, as you can see, he's really a cat. And no, I don't have any idea why he's called Simon, I call him Limpy, cause he's got a major limp from an angry bleeding injury he had months ago.
This is Nuria. That is all.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Frak! Is That A Battlestar (Recap)?
For all of you who've heard me make mention of Battlestar Galactica and how much of a fantastic series it is, here's a quick recap that's full of gems like:
"Cause Starbuck is badass, so she escapes."
"There's a bun in the toaster."
It's hilarious, watch even if you don't understand. After that you're free to watch the final season.
------------------------------------------------
On another note, Jack and Jill vs The World is marketing itself to be a lovestory for cynics, but it's got a killer soundtrack for the trailer and I can't help but hope that beyond the not-so-slick film style and the overly-trying dialogue, there's something worth me watching it.
Besides the soundtrack which has both Deathcab AND Stars. And Stars.
------------------------------------------------
Another update @ 4.57 pm here.
I think I'll return to Singapore and will convert this into a Food Blog. Considering the catching up I'll need to do with my favourite foods, this will most likely be a reality.
"Cause Starbuck is badass, so she escapes."
"There's a bun in the toaster."
It's hilarious, watch even if you don't understand. After that you're free to watch the final season.
------------------------------------------------
On another note, Jack and Jill vs The World is marketing itself to be a lovestory for cynics, but it's got a killer soundtrack for the trailer and I can't help but hope that beyond the not-so-slick film style and the overly-trying dialogue, there's something worth me watching it.
Besides the soundtrack which has both Deathcab AND Stars. And Stars.
------------------------------------------------
Another update @ 4.57 pm here.
I think I'll return to Singapore and will convert this into a Food Blog. Considering the catching up I'll need to do with my favourite foods, this will most likely be a reality.
Finally Managed To
Get my hands on Missy Higgins' On A Clear Night, and Where I Stood is now the on-loop track of the week, occasionally accompanied by Peachy and Going North. Ah, auditory bliss.
"Where I Stood" by Missy Higgins
I don't know what I've done
Or if I like what I've begun
But something told me to run
And honey you know me it's all or none
There were sounds in my head
LIttle voices whispering
That I should go and this should end
Oh and I found myself listening
'Cos I dont know who I am, who I am without you
All I know is that I should
And I don't know if I could stand another hand upon you
All I know is that I should
'Cos she will love you more than I could
She who dares to stand where I stood
See I thought love was black and white
That it was wrong or it was right
But you ain't leaving without a fight
And I think I am just as torn inside
'Cos I dont know who I am, who I am without you
All I know is that I should
And I don't know if I could stand another hand upon you
All I know is that I should
'Cos she will love you more than I could
She who dares to stand where I stood
And I won't be far from where you are if ever you should call
You meant more to me than anyone I ever loved at all
But you taught me how to trust myself and so I say to you
This is what I have to do
"Where I Stood" by Missy Higgins
I don't know what I've done
Or if I like what I've begun
But something told me to run
And honey you know me it's all or none
There were sounds in my head
LIttle voices whispering
That I should go and this should end
Oh and I found myself listening
'Cos I dont know who I am, who I am without you
All I know is that I should
And I don't know if I could stand another hand upon you
All I know is that I should
'Cos she will love you more than I could
She who dares to stand where I stood
See I thought love was black and white
That it was wrong or it was right
But you ain't leaving without a fight
And I think I am just as torn inside
'Cos I dont know who I am, who I am without you
All I know is that I should
And I don't know if I could stand another hand upon you
All I know is that I should
'Cos she will love you more than I could
She who dares to stand where I stood
And I won't be far from where you are if ever you should call
You meant more to me than anyone I ever loved at all
But you taught me how to trust myself and so I say to you
This is what I have to do
Friday, April 4, 2008
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Hope Represented In Imagery
I was a little confused with what the assignment really entailed, so just before class I wrote another and this is the other one.What I Really Think About Hope
It is the wishing that she would never stop dancing before your eyes the memory of her fleeting like a candleflame flickering in the wind, ever to tenuous its hold on reality, darkness beckons and the warmth of her is gone to be replaced by hard grey dreams of mourning. Yet in the morning you awake to sunlight burning your skin, a reminder that the cold wintry nights were a welcome numbing bliss, to the inevitable "hope springing eternal in the human breast", like a gushing fire hydrant from a slick 80s dance film, drenching you in unwanted desire to live through another day of eternity, waiting once again for that tiny chance to watch her spinning and twirling round and round, in a made-up memory of innocent love and beauty.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Songs & Poetry Class
We're supposed to write a script based on a line from Pink Floyd's song, and this is what I came up with. If you ever need an existential play, don't hesitate to use this one.
The Fish's Lot
It's a big transparent fishbowl, the kind you find in films, one transluscent fish with the face of a man swims aimlessly with soulless eyes.
There is a plop sound out of screen. He does not register at first, then his eyes narrow and he turns suspiciously, he does not want to believe that something might have changed.
POV shot, we see another ectoplasmic fish, with a female face equally bewildered.
Fish 1 swims furiously to greet Fish 2, but does not dare to approach too closely.
Fish 1: Are you real?
Fish 2: I think so. Are YOU real?
Fish 1: I was here before you, so I guess so. Where'd you come from?
Fish 2: I don't know. I'd been swimming as usual in a similar looking bowl to this one, but there was a strange whoosh and I couldn't breathe for awhile and then I was here.
Fish 1: What happened?
Fish 2: I don't know. I don't know if I want to know.
Fish 1: What were you before this?
Fish 2: Oh yes. There was a before this wasn't there? It's been so very long, and I've been stuck in this whiteness for awhile now. I think I was like you...
Fish 1: Human? Like with limbs and all that? With cities, and trees and music and leaves and not this infernal absolute whiteness?
Fish 2: And fishbowl, don't forget the fishbowl. Yeah, I think I was like you. Ah. This reminds me of a song I once heard, Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here. The exact line describes this ever so nicely...
Fish 1: What was it?
Fish 2: Don't interrupt me, I'm thinking.. It was "We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year,"
Fish 1: Oh my god, is that what's happening here, the bastard.
Fish 2: I don't know about that, but it'd been so lonely I wished for some company.
Fish 1 is distracted.
Fish 1: Oh sorry, did you say something, I was thinking. Do you think we're real? Cause this could be some sick joke created by some kid in a songs and poetry class writing about that song?
Fish 2: That's would suck.
The Fish's Lot
It's a big transparent fishbowl, the kind you find in films, one transluscent fish with the face of a man swims aimlessly with soulless eyes.
There is a plop sound out of screen. He does not register at first, then his eyes narrow and he turns suspiciously, he does not want to believe that something might have changed.
POV shot, we see another ectoplasmic fish, with a female face equally bewildered.
Fish 1 swims furiously to greet Fish 2, but does not dare to approach too closely.
Fish 1: Are you real?
Fish 2: I think so. Are YOU real?
Fish 1: I was here before you, so I guess so. Where'd you come from?
Fish 2: I don't know. I'd been swimming as usual in a similar looking bowl to this one, but there was a strange whoosh and I couldn't breathe for awhile and then I was here.
Fish 1: What happened?
Fish 2: I don't know. I don't know if I want to know.
Fish 1: What were you before this?
Fish 2: Oh yes. There was a before this wasn't there? It's been so very long, and I've been stuck in this whiteness for awhile now. I think I was like you...
Fish 1: Human? Like with limbs and all that? With cities, and trees and music and leaves and not this infernal absolute whiteness?
Fish 2: And fishbowl, don't forget the fishbowl. Yeah, I think I was like you. Ah. This reminds me of a song I once heard, Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here. The exact line describes this ever so nicely...
Fish 1: What was it?
Fish 2: Don't interrupt me, I'm thinking.. It was "We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year,"
Fish 1: Oh my god, is that what's happening here, the bastard.
Fish 2: I don't know about that, but it'd been so lonely I wished for some company.
Fish 1 is distracted.
Fish 1: Oh sorry, did you say something, I was thinking. Do you think we're real? Cause this could be some sick joke created by some kid in a songs and poetry class writing about that song?
Fish 2: That's would suck.
Everyone's Flown The Coop.
Ditto to Nuria's post.
We met him at Pride Hotel, and were then whisked away (in a CAR) to a revolving restaurant, whereupon the discovery was made that it wasn't a non-veg restuarant, and that Dr. Ang was experiencing some health trouble with vegetarian food. So we left the nice expensive looking place, and headed for the Le Meridien hotel across the river.
And we enjoyed the food, and he was an excellent host and company. Because he's totally Singaporean. I shall explain more when I can, this blog might be misconstrued in its meaning and I'm not going to risk my compliment coming out all wrong.
Back in school, we realised just how quiet the campus has gotten. Everyone's left the place, and my lovely Pretty Girl has gone as well, leaving me feeling kinda silly for not getting off my lazy ass and actually done something. But nonetheless.
Harshal left earlier today, and it was a tearless goodbye (for Nuria), but it was sad all the same. We actually set our alarms to wake up earlier to see him off at his stipulated time of 1000, but instead he came over only at about 1215. And we spoke a little before he had to leave. Passed him a copy of Go To Goa, as well as Nuria's shots from the convocation, and that was that. Another presence gone from this place, another empty hole in what we've come to call home.
I've not ever been one to dwell too much on leaving friends and acquaintances, but it is a little unnerving to know that the faces and sounds that have made this place so familiar to us will no longer be the same.
And the saddest thing of all is that as I look to the future, I know for a fact that relationships change constantly and there won't ever be a time like the time we've all spent here.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
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