Author: Wilfrid

Categories
Silly Me

So I Attempted To Sun My Shoes

Just one day before we departed for Kota Kinabalu, I took Cynthia to AMK Hub to show her my love-at-first-sight Nike ACG (All Condition Gear) sport shoes. There is a lady version as well. Need not to say, upon seeing those beauties, Cynthia has chucked her idea of getting a pair of cheap sport shoes away. Those sport shoes were on 10% discount and through my charm and persistence in uncovering more discounts, the sale assistance gave in. You see, discounts are everywhere if you care to uncover them. If you recall my blog on my car insurance renewal, a 10% discount on your premium is just an email away. My friends find it hard to believe that we can bargain in the shops inside shopping malls. The truth is, it is as simple as the sale assistance overwriting the amounts of the goods at the till. I bought 7 items and he overwrote the price of each item to give me further discount. I gave the guy a hug before leaving the nicely renovated shop at AMK Hub.

After the trip, our beloved Nike ACG sport shoes were covered in mud. With an impressive determination, Cynthia said she would take care of those shoes in her authentic-sport-shoes-cleansing methodology dated back from her younger days in Bandung, Indonesia. Who am I to inject new ideas? After all, if I was to do it, I would have thrown those shoes into the washing machine and the dryer. Nothing beats hand wash (especially when it is not my hands!).

Armed with shampoo, toothbrush, and a wide bucket full of hot water, Cynthia has magically transformed our sport shoes into something sparkling clean, something that looked as though they were fresh from the store, something that looked totally brand new … except I have never seen sport shoes that felt so wet and smelled so full of shampoo in my life before. I tried drip-drying them outside my home but somehow for the lack of direct sunlight, our shoes were not drying as fast as I wished them to be.

So I took out my hair-dryer this morning and attempted to blow dry them. I had no clue why my right shoe smelled of shampoo while my left one has some musky smell (I actually have some idea but since I did not lift a single finger in cleaning those shoes, I better keep quiet). That was no good. What to do, what to do?

This morning I woke up with some nagging minor pain on my right knee. Concern over the slow recovery, I was thinking of ways to exercise my joint. People say that swimming is the best exercise for joints. I looked out of the window and saw a bright sunny day. I thought of my injured knee and our Nike ACG sport shoes. I connect all three together and decided to go for a swim while sunning our sport shoes! Brilliant idea it was!

I dashed down to my swimming pool with such an urgency not wanting to miss even a single moment of sunlight. I set down my towel on the bench by the pool, took out the shoes from a plastic bag, and lined them up nicely underneath a hot sun. Feeling triumphant, I dipped myself into the pool and started my laps. First lap, bright and sunny. Second lap, the clouds above me thickened. Third lap, the wind was getting stronger. Fourth lap, there was hardly any sun. Fifth lap, the sky was going to pour at any minute. I kept on swimming doing my laps hoping that the clouds above me would clear soon. Halfway before I could complete my last lap, it was raining cats and dogs. I swam as fast as I could, got out of the water, and ran around the pool trying to save my shoes but it was a little bit too late. I reckon they were wetter than before I attempted to sun them.

Then, the lyrics Alanis Morissette’s “Irony” rang in my head.

PS. Time now is 4pm and the sky looks clear. Shall I …

Categories
Songwriting

My 151st Song – Your Eyes

I have this dream that haunts me from time to time. These eyes that I cannot describe. At times illusions can be so real while reality can be so fake. I picked up my guitar wanting to write a mid tempo song. And there it is, a song that flows effortlessly. I am blessed with inspirations but yet inspirations haunt me. I wish there is peace in whatever I seek, whatever I believe.

If you wish to share this song with me, you have got to be up close and personal with me. For there will be years before I can master what I create.

YOUR EYES

If looks can kill, I want to know
If there is something, I need to know
Since you’ve been gone, this darkness falls
Since there is nothing that I can hold

You are a drug, I can’t rid of
I am a thug looming in your lawn
No I can’t trust how I feel no more
I can’t adjust and I need more

There is something about the look in your eyes
They pierce right through my helpless soul
There is something about the look in your eyes
They are making me to yearn for more
I cannot rest till I can feel The tears in your eyes
How you feel inside
If you were me crawling deep inside
To have that glimpse of your eyesThe tears in your eyes
How you feel inside
If you were me craving deep inside
To have that glimpse of your eyes

There isn’t much worth living for
I am doomed point of no return
I am nothing without you by my side
I can be someone if I can see your eyes

Your eyes, they pierce my soul
Your eyes, I am longing for
Your eyes, all that I dream of
Your eyes, I can’t see no more

Copyright © 2007 by Wilfrid K. F. Wong. All Rights Reserved.

Categories
Music Reviews Pop Rock & Alternative

Hilary Duff’s 4th Album “Dignity” – Her DVD Saved The Day

Before viewing the DVD that comes with the Deluxe Edition of Hilary Duff’s new album “Dignity”, the title of this blog would have been “Too Little Great Songs Too Late”. I like listening to (and writing about) artists who has a story to tell themselves. I can be both easy and difficult to satisfy. You don’t have to have a big voice like Celine Dion nor Mariah Carey (and so long as you don’t sing as repulsive as Lindsay Lohan). As long as I can hear an element of “you” inside your album, I am a happy audience.

I always enjoy listening to Hillary Duff’s music, especially her 2nd self-titled album. I like her Rock/Pop background. Though lacking of Avril Lavigne’s edge in terms of attitude and consistence song delivery within an album and even across albums, Hilary Duff does have something appealing underneath her good girl image. Something genuine. Something honest. Something that I could not pinpoint.

Then I sampled her DVD that by the way made the entire purchase worth it. The DVD came with 9 music videos that span across her career plus on top of that, an interview that lasted more than 30 minutes. It was that interview that changed my mind. Hilary is hands on with her singing career from songwriting to touring. In her mind, it is hard to relate to a song that is written by others. That, I agree totally. And in her interview, she talked about how she struggled in LA to become an artist and how she found her own manager without knowing the business at all. In a way, she has a great business mind. Leverage on her television success, she branched out into singing. Then subsequently having her own perfume and clothing line. With an earning of $15 million at the age of 18? What more do I need to say?

In her DVD, she stated that her new album is a deliberate move away from her Rock/Pop background and venture into the Pop/Dance genre. It took me a while to get used to. That is why songs like “Happy” (track 10) casts an immediate hook onto me because it is like her classic Rock/Pop genre. The last track “Play With Fire” is yet another outstanding title that I keep listening to. (Now you understand why the working title of this blog was as such).

Overall there are some good dance songs like the opening track “Stranger” (very Indian feel), “With Love” (featured below), and “Gypsy Woman”. Hilary Duff is only 20 this September and I have much faith in her.

Her 2nd single “With Love” that sums up what most of the tracks are like in “Dignity”.

Her 1st single “Play With Fire” was written before she has conceptualize “Dignity”. My 2nd favourite track from the album (my first being “Happy” that there is no video for that song). There is a remix edition on YouTube too but I prefer the original. The remix version may be appealing to some of you.

Categories
Movie Reviews Romance

Music And Lyrics – You Won’t Be Inspired To Be A Songwriter, But …

My take is that you probably won’t get much out of it from a songwriting perspective. I certainly don’t compose songs like they do (though the recording bits are pretty authentic). However you will be in for a good laugh as the center character is played by Hugh Grant. I love the script especially – witty and humorous. Drew Barrymore’s acting is adorable too. If Grant’s acting reminds me of “Four Weddings and a Funeral”, Drew Barrymore’s acting does remind me of her “50 First Dates”.

Coincidentally, after watching “Music and Lyrics”, I watched “Walk the Line” on cable. And “Coyote Ugly” afterwards. The common theme? All about songwriting. Pretty coincidental don’t you think? As though God was talking directly to me.

Another interesting thing is that in the story of “Music and Lyrics”, there is a teenage pop megastar “Cora” who is supposed to be bigger than Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera combined. Cora’s music direction is more towards Buddhism or Indian-ish trance. I bought the new Hilary Duff CD and when I played it on my Hi-fi (on the same night), I got shocked by the first track. Exactly the same influence as some of the songs in “Music and Lyrics”. Buddhism or Indian-ish trance/pop music must be the new frontier these days.

Categories
Memorable Events

Mount Kinabalu – WE DID IT !!

Hooooraaaay!

On March 28, 2007, Tong Kiat (far left), Cynthia, and I have made it to the top of Mount Kinabalu – the tallest mountain in Malaysia that is 4095.2m above sea level – admiring the magical moment of sunrise. Just before sunrise, the temperature was 2 degrees Celsius and the wind speed was about 40 km/h. The climb and subsequent descend was challenging to the three of us who have no experience nor enough training for mountains of that scale. Quite a number of steps were at our knee level, some stretch was muddy and slippery, night climbing was tough as our visions were limited, rope climbing along the danger zone in the dark was hard, the air got thinner as we gained altitude, any mistake near the top could be nasty, and the descend itself hurt our knees big time.

Amidst all the challenges we faced, we achieved our mission through teamwork and undying support to one another throughout the various tough moments each individual encountered. Not only that, we had a wonderful and experienced mountain guide and thanks to all our friends and families’ support, tips, and prayers, we reached our finishing line safe and sound. We lost count in how many muscles of ours were (and still are) sore after the climb, Tong Kiat suffered from knee injury at the beginning of the ascend and I on both knees during the descend. It was pain but it was definitely worth it.

We will post our individual journals in a few days’ time. All three of us feel that if you do wish to climb Mount Kinabalu one day, set a date today because being young is definitely an advantage.

Related Article: Our Mount Kinabalu Experience

Categories
Misc Hobbies My Hobbies My YouTube

A Proud Owner Of My Curl Bar Set

After acquiring my dumbbell set back in January, I needed something more. There are muscles that cannot be effectively trained by dumbbells. So I consulted my buddy Kwang Fei and he strongly recommended me to get a barbell or a curl bar set. One day he called me up as he was going to get more plates for his curl bar and asked if I was ready to get my own set. On! I said in an impulsive way and simple as that, I got my curl bar set.

Part of the deal was for him to teach me how to utilize this new investment of mine and for me to film him working out in his home. I have made two videos and uploaded them to YouTube for sharing (not director status so I can’t upload anything that is longer than 10 mins). If you are into weightlifting, I hope that these two videos are of value to you.

Weightlifting for Beginners: Part 1 of 2

Weightlifting for Beginners: Part 2 of 2

Categories
Diary

My Scorecard Results for Mar 2007

For the first time, I foresee that I have hit the exercise target. In actual fact, I have only clocked in 4 hours so far but since I am heading to Mount Kinabalu for the last week of March, I am almost certain that it will surpass the 10 hours mark. Also nothing to worry about in the habitual category. However, for the first time, I missed my home cook meal target.

I put half of my savings into fixed deposit and it is definitely not hitting the 3% target. Perhaps I need to rethink the strategy. As for public performance, my guitarist and I have set a new date in June. To be fair, when I first set this quarterly target, I have not consulted him. Hopefully I get to perform at least an open-mic this coming June. Some of you may be curious over what “extraordinary project” I have partaken. I have picked up oil painting as a new hobby and it is extraordinary to me because I have always wanted to do that. My dream is to paint a nice oil painting in canvas for my mother because she has so much faith in my painting talent even way before I think I can paint.

March is not over as yet I know but I don’t foresee anything I do from now (written on March 23) till I depart for my Mount Kinabalu trip will make a difference. My scorecard has quite a number of red indicators. Time to call for action.

Life :: Traveling Budget Utilised :: Half-yearly :: S$2,000 :: S$3,000 :: n/a :: n/a
Life :: No. of Extraordinary Projects :: Quarterly :: 1 :: 2 :: 1 ::5
Health :: Exercise Hours :: Monthly :: 8 :: 10 :: 4+ :: 10
Health :: No. of Home Cooked Meals :: Monthly :: 15 :: 20 :: 11 :: 0
Money :: Return of Total Savings :: Quarterly :: 3% p.a. :: 5% p.a. :: Missed :: 0
Hobby :: No. of Public Performance :: Quarterly :: 1 :: 2 :: 0 :: 0
Hobby :: No. of Books Published :: Yearly :: 1 :: 2 :: n/a :: n/a
Habit :: No. of Hangover :: Monthly :: 2 :: 0 :: 0 :: 10
Habit :: No. of Gaming Hours :: Monthly:: 40 :: 30 :: 16 :: 10

Categories
J Pop Music Reviews

Yuna Ito’s Heart

Afterwords: I wrote this blog 2 to 3 weeks ago (have to space out blogs of similar category or to give way to blogs with higher priority). Had it not for Ayumi Hamasaki’s double “Black” and “White” best albums that took up the 1st and 2nd position in the Singapore HMV chart, Yuna Ito’s album would have topped the chart as predicted.

Okay, let’s see how well you know my blogs. If I say “Nana” … you say …

Japanese movie would be correct. Mika Nakashima would also be correct. Previously, Mika Nakashima released an album inspired by the Japanese movies “Nana” and “Nana 2”. Inside the Nana soundtrack, there is another singer who has contributed to one track. She has acted in the movie as well. And her name is …

Yuna Ito is correct. I knew you are smart. Still very young in the music scene, Yuna Ito is a half-Japanese and half-Korean American citizen. That explains why in her debut album “Heart”, the English pronunciation is unlike any of her Japanese peers. In fact that is one of the reasons that got me interested in her music. Singing-wise, her voice tends to be thin (I remember Cynthia screamed from the bedroom one day saying: Oh My God, her voice is so thin … how she “loves” J-Pop). Song-wise, all commercial stuffs that can easily keep you delighted with repeated listens. With the limited Japanese music exposure here in Singapore, I am almost certain that Yuna Ito’s Heart will stay in our local HMV chart for a while. Do note that this album does not come with a Chinese translated lyrics like many do.

Related blog entry: Wish By Yuna Ito – Of Moon Rabbit, Urban Mermaid, And A Titanic Theme Song

Categories
Diary

This Is Oh So Last Minute

Time is a peculiar thing. It is like a storeroom or a common bedroom. Regardless how much space we have, we always manage to fill it up in no time. Like my 120GB disk space that has grown to 360GB and now more than 600GB over a couple of years. But yet, my disks are now close to full packed with the pictures I have taken, videos I am working on, songs I have recorded, games I have installed, and etc. And like my disk space, my time is so filled up with actions that one day, my buddy RC joked that I am busier than him – who is working and I am not.

And because of all these activities that occupied all my free time, my preparation to my next week’s expedition to Mount Kinabalu was closed to non-existence. I have lots of stuffs to buy and if that is not enough, my Canon camera has (once again) broken down on me in the second most untimely fashion. The most untimely fashion would have been having it to break down on me after I proudly plant the little Singapore flag on top of the mountain of course.

Two nights ago, I woke up in the middle of the night and realized that I needed to renew my road tax before my trip. Guess what? I have not even renewed my car insurance (it is a prerequisite here)! I searched through my pile of junk mails and could not find the renewal notice. Called up the car insurance company and they referred me back to the agent I got the insurance from. I did not know that it was through an agency (I bought the car with the insurance as a package). No wonder I missed their mail. Called up my insurance agent and she gave me a quotation. If I had more time, I would have shopped around for new car insurance like I always do. So I asked for a discount and she said she would email to the car insurance company for one. Sweet. I did not know that it was as simple as that.

To cut the long story short, I got a 10% discount on premium and in return, I nearly missed all the operating hours of outlets that renew road tax (the agency is from Potong Pasir and where on earth is Pontong Pasir?!). I ended up renewing my road tax at a vehicle inspection center at Ayer Rajah. I knew that all those days of lunching with Mark at his out-of-nowhere client place that reads “Ayer Rajah” will pay off one day. I knew the way to the inspection center at the back of my head.

Back to the preparation to Mount Kinabalu, since our mountaineering buddy Tong Kiat is not going to get himself a camera, I have to find one to replace my Canon camera. Since an easy-to-use budget camera has been in Cynthia’s wish list for as long as … we are together? … it is a high time to get one. The catch is that I have less than an hour to research for one. To be fair, I have been looking out for a camera for Cynthia. Weeks ago, my buddy Mark and his buddy F have bought a Canon PowerShot G7 and a Nikon D80 respectively. How envious I was (too expensive for the poor me)! On the next day, my buddy Kwang Fei – after accompanying us for that camera shopping trip – has bought a Canon PowerShot G7 as well. A few days later, another friend of mine from my ex-company has gotten himself a DSLR. What has the world become? Everyone needs a camera these days?

Since I vow not to buy another Canon product (and I do keep my words!), since my buddy AT has been telling me how good Fijifilm is, I made a decision after placing a call to AT. Okay, I wa sold. He pointed me to one of the shops in AMK Hub that runs a promotion on Fijifilm cameras. From S$499, I got it down to S$490. I took the offer to Sim Lim (that initially quoted me the same with no free gifts) and they matched it for S$485 and then S$480. Had the negotiation process been shorten by a mere 15 minutes, SingPost at Orchard would still be open and I would not have to drive to Ayer Rajah to renew my road tax. Sigh.

Getting gears for Mount Kinabalu can be really scary. There I was inside this pretty nice shop selling items for outdoor activities and the only thing I can afford inside is a freeze dried package of food (serves two) selling at S$18. The jacket is like S$800. The cheapest pair of pants is like S$98. A pair of scandals that they have casually packed inside the brown paper boxes chucked at the back of the shop is selling at S$185 a pair. S$185 for a pair of scandals?! Even a hat is like S$100 each. I am telling you, outdoor activities are not cheap hobbies. They are for the riches.

Tong Kiat, Cynthia and I walked from shops to shops and in the end gotten something cheap and basic. We still have stuffs we need to buy but we were too tired to continue. I do hope that when the time comes, we will be able to summon the stamina we need and conquer that mountain. The best set of people who has the highest chance to reach the top of the mountain are the Singapore shoppers who can spend the whole day Saturday and Sunday “trekking” Orchard. I am not kidding you.

Categories
Reflection

How Rocky Inspires Me

Few friends of mine know that I am a huge fan of the Rocky movie series. Some whom I have talked to discount Rocky movies as bad acting or what-so-interesting-about-boxing. Rocky is written by Sylvester Stallone himself that mirrors his own struggle to stardom and is a celebration of his entire acting career (including the recent sixth installment “Rocky Balboa”). The first Rocky movie was made in 1976 with a budget of a little over $1 million and a box office result of over $100 million. Rocky was nominated for all 10 categories in the Academy Award and took home three.

I am inspired by the Rocky movies because of the invariant themes: always fight with your heart, training is the key to success, friends around you are your best support, and endorsement from your loved ones is all that matter. Whenever I feel down or wanting to give up, the scene of Rocky taking in 5 raw eggs in one go before his training has always been my inspiration.

I wanted to watch all the five movies before catching his latest “Rocky Balboa”. Initially I wanted to do it with my own Movie Review Squad. Sad to say I have made the wrong assumption that what I adore maybe what others adore and somehow they are not that keen in this marathon exercise. In the end, Tong Kiat was knocked out in round 3 (the third installment) after two visits at my home and Cynthia has painstakingly followed through the journey though in the end, she admitted that she has grown to like the series. Unfortunately, by the time we completed the movie marathon, “Rocky Balboa” is no longer showing in local cinemas. Guess I will have to watch it on DVD.