Woah … I have just posted 2 writeups to my webite. Kind of feeling exhausted. Especially the one on the year 2004 reflection. Took me quite a while to type them out. Next, I really wish to showcase the photos I have taken in 2004. Just something to share …
My original plan of a Chinese New Year holiday was as such: take 3 days leave and enjoy a 9 days holiday in Hong Kong. Didn’t work out because my work prevents me from doing so; my wife’s work prevents her from doing so.
Then I was thinking of spending Chinese New Year in Bangkok. After much consideration, between trying to kill 3 days on my own in Bangkok while my wife is working and me having 2 days of public holiday in Singapore, I kind of more leaning towards the second option. Afterall, I have been to Bangkok too many times. The greyness and the foreign land in a Chinese New Year … not quite my kind of celebration.
So, I am going to spend Chinese New Year alone at home. That, is new to me. Like I said, it’s going to be an interesting holiday for me.
I know this is long overdued. January is almost over and I am looking back in year 2004? Well, believe it or not, I have written all these down on a piece of paper back during the new year period. Hopefully it is not the age that is catching up on me. Kind of felt that I am behind time all the time. Perhaps, it’s just that I have got more and more wild ideas and things-to-do as I get wiser.
Note: Photo taken in Malacca, Malaysia on Jun 5, 2004. A kite flying high up at the sky has always been what I wanted for the photo of my 2004 reflection.
Highlights of 2004
Let’s begin my reflection with my highlights. First and foremost has to be the forming of my new band No Eye Candy. It is like a dream comes true for me ever since I started working in 1995. I still remember my then-manager WN asked me if I should form a band with my colleague back in 95/96 at the bowling alley near the Stadium. Having Jason as the guitarist is a gift from heaven. And with my wife as the bassist and part-time vocalist? What more can I say? All thanks to Jeremy who started the very first jamming session. Oh, did I say that my song output for the year 2004 was fantastic? More than 20 songs were written in that year.
Next and not the lesser is my friend Mark who hosts the website for me. Having WilfridWong.com up and running is, again, like a dream comes true to me. I couldn’t have done it without Mark’s help – someone whom has patiently led me through my learning period with the site. Do visit his business site here and his personal site as well.
And my colleagues at work are fantastic. Never thought that I could have added so many friends into my friend-list in one year. I am pretty new to Singapore and more friends are always welcome. The drink sessions and the parties and all the cool things we have done … man …
Exciting Trips I Have Made
Bangkok trip at the end of April and beginning of May was fun. First time stepping into the Grand Palace and first time trying out my new camcorder and digital camera.
As for my wife’s birthday, we have decided to drive up to Malacca. It was during June 6 and we did have some great photos.
The most fun of all I have got to say was the road trip to the Highlands. First we went to Fraser Hill and stayed at the Smoke House. Beautiful hotel and beautiful scenaries (and the dinner was first class – very English tradition). Wish I could just rent one of the house and use it for jamming and recording for our new album. Second, we went to Genting. My friend SW told me that Genting is great. My honest opinion? It’s okay. And we didn’t go to Cameron Highland – supposed to be our third highland destination – as I was quite tired driving all the time. Next time round, I shall consider visiting Fraser Hill and Cameron Highland instead.
Family-wise …
I have visited Hong Kong (my family) during the Chinese New Year in the beginning of the year and have visited Bandung, Indonesia (my wife’s family) during Christmas. I just love both occasions. I have got to see the dog that my family is so fond of and I have got to see my future sister-in-law-in-law (my brother-in-law’s fiance). What more can I say?
Something To Ponder
Many business ideas have crossed my mind during year 2004 but unfortunately, none of them has come through. Perhaps timing wasn’t right yet.
Not going to church regularly is bad. Wife not around (business trips) and need to eat out all the time (compares to cooking at home) is also bad.
Common room desperately needs some addition of cabinets and still as empty as ever is bad. Having a growing number of backlogs in books is equally bad (because all these new books just ended up in the common room).
My Frustrations
This stupid PC tops the list of my frustration of year 2004. Ever since my PC has come to my place, I have reinstalled the operating system (OS) so many times that I have totally lost track of time. The OS just got corrupted so easily that I have been wondering why Microsoft let this happen at all. Mr. Gate?! Help here please?!
Of course, second to the list is my voice. Both Cynthia and Jason are vey gifted in the voice department while I have just got to go through the hard way. I have almost practice everyday with the scales and all but still, can’t be as good. My voice is definitely one of my frustrations.
And last by not the least is my 12-string guitar. I really need lots of practice to bring out the best from the guitar.
My New Year Resolutions?
And my new year resolutions? Plenty. In no particular order I have listed them all out.
With the lyrics all created, composing the song seems to be pretty easy. Based on the chord progression I have created last night, I spent less than 2 hours to finish composing this song.
Of course, lyrics has to be altered to suit the melody. A very dark song that if I like it, I will add it into the Eternally Thankful song collection. Meanwhile, I have added this new song into my daily practicing song list.
FEATHER
I am as light as a feather
Floating in mid-air
Not aware of what’s around me
And that’s fine
Just the way I like it
I am as pure as a feather
White and fair
Not give a damn to all but me
And that’s my life
Just the way I like it
All these restrictions
All these chains and disciplines
All these bullshits
Talks are cheapAll these routines
All these rules making me thin
All these talks
Spare me please
I am relax as a feather
Falling with no fear
Music plays around me
Reminds me of my kind
I am just a feather
In a world of tears
No one lives around me
Do you call it fine?
Do you call it fine?
Do you call it fine?
Perhaps … that’s the way I like it
Copyright © 2005 by Wilfrid K. F. Wong. All Rights Reserved.
A Ton Image can be – from my distant memory – translated to “Splitting Image”. It is a movie about a sterile wife and her obstetrician husband going in great length in having a child of their own. Against his belief and without telling his wife, he has cloned his wife as their daughter.
I have not watched any movie that addresses the reality of cloning as good as this one … more.
The possibility that the clone is connected as the original one like the way twins are connected to each other, the possibility that the clone shared some part of the original one’s memory, and the possibility that the clone is, just a clone, a replica that defies God’s will … all these possibilities that are addressed by the film in about 90 minutes.
And the for for cloning? Elimination of gene inequality. Think about it. There may be an element of truth here. Think about all future generation are born free of defects; all look beautiful and attractive; all are smart. Imagine how human species can push the frontier of science and technology and art alike.
Imagine the possiblities … rather than getting so hung up on the religious and ethic issues.
Imagine the unimaginable …
Met up with Jason for lunch and I was inspired to come out with a couple of new songs with titles such as “Not Connected”, “Feather”, “Into The Loop”, and “Pulling The Plug”. For now, I have come up with the lyrics for the song “Feather”.
FEATHER
I am as light as a feather
Floating in mid-air
Not aware of what’s around me
And that is fine
Just the way I like it
I am as pure as a feather
White and fair
Not giving a damn to all but me
And that’s my life
Just the way I like it
All these restrictions
All these chains and disciplines
All these bullshits
Talks are cheap
All these routines
All these rules making me thin
All these talks
Spare me please
I am relax as a feather
Falling with no fear
Music played around me
Remind me of my kind
Just the way I like it
I am just a feather
Living in a world of tears
No one care about me but me
Do you call it fine?
Perhaps … this is the way I like it
Copyright © 2005 by Wilfrid K. F. Wong. All Rights Reserved.
Do I buy CD by a cover? Hell yes. Lately I have been quite desperately looking for new Japanese artists rather than my usual Ayumi Hamasaki, Love Psychedelico, Mika Nakashima, Aamie Amuro, Aikawa Nanase, Utada Hikaru … (now you know my favourite J-Pop artists). I was pleasantly stopped by a new single collection by Eriko Imai. I certainly haven’t heard of SPEED although according to one of my friends, SPEED was the big thing before Ayumi Hamasaki.
First thing first, the record company is Avex Trax – same as Ayumi’s recording company – so it can’t go wrong right? Upbeat music with very nice melody. Well, in terms of singing. Eriko Imai does exhibits the typical Japanese style – high pitch at certain point. But if you can look beyond this, the CD is pretty entertaining. There are a total of 12 songs and I do enjoy most of the songs in this collection. Believe it or not, I listen to this album more than Ayumi’s new album.
And if anyone want to know, Eriko was born in September 22, 1983 and will be 22 years old this year. Currently weights at 48kg with a height of 1.60m. Enough bio-statistics … (where did the research come from??)
Together with the CD, there is a DVD with 3 music videos and the off-shot videos – seems like the trend nowadays for those who can’t get enough of the artist.
I have translated one of the songs in her album Stairway from the Chinese translation that comes with the CD. It is roughly as such:
Stairway
Please put your hand on my chest and feel my heartbeats
It’s going to be broken into piece
Before dawn, please be by my side.
Don’t want to lose to that unbridgeable distance
One day, we shall be together
Stairway, I am approaching you
Even though it is far but I won’t give up
Stairway, the road the leads to you
No matter how far, I will continue to climb
Because I was used to be hugged by your warm embrace
This love that is accumulated through these years
If I was never discover it, I would have regret a great deal
You better love her well
I said that because I was forced to …
Stairway, cast away all the fear of mistakes
I only want to go over the obstacles with you
Stairway, each step is leading into my heart
Let us two to be as one
Stairway, I am approach you
Even though it is far but I won’t give up
Stairway, the road the leads to you
No matter how far, I will continue to climb
Stairway, cast away all the fear of mistakes
I only want to go over the obstacles with you
Stairway, each step is leading into my heart
Let us two to be as one
was just sharing with my friend TK tonight that it is hard to be vocalist. To be able to sing well on any particular day if you are not as gifted as my band members, you’ve got to …
See, it’s not easy to be a vocalist. Not to forget to mention that some day your voice sounds worse than others and you will feel quite down because of that (again, if you are as gifted as …)
Note (2009.11.20) – For some strange reason, the search engines really like this post. Well, if you are looking for information on the sex industry in Singapore, this post is not the one. More like a comic relief. But since you are here, prostitution is legalized in Singapore, only within designated areas. Please practice safe sex. Cheers!
My wife is on business trip again so what do I do? I called up my friend for a trip down to Geylang, the red-light district in Singapore. Ya! Geylang, the paradise for some of us! On the way out of my home, I was contemplating to wear or not to wear my wedding ring. Nah. This sort of things don’t mix. Too messy. All geared up I was, I picked up my friend at his home and heading to Geylang we went.
As we were walking along the streets of Geylang, we were debating which place to go. Familiar places we have a few in mind. In the end, we have decided not to go for the expensive ones, nor the cheap ones, just the mid-range ones would do.
Couple of months ago, there was used to have plenty in stock. This time round, the choices are significantly lesser. Perhaps it was the timing. We could be too early and they just haven’t arrived. It couldn’t be that so many got taken so early, right?
Made do with what was left, we were pondering to go for the Thai ones or the Malaysia ones or the God-knows-where ones. My friend asked me how “hungry” I was. Hungry of course I was! The last time I had any was back one or two months ago! At first he suggested one each and I counter-suggested to have three to be shared amongst both of us. He gamed for it and so three we have!
Staring at one after the other, it was so hard to make a choice. You really don’t know what’s underneath and they all kind of look the same to me. In the end, we asked the boss to make the choice for us. Just bring us three would do! And of course, we specified the price range and the nation they came from.
I have totally lost track of time. It must have been a half-an-hour session (although the boss would be happier if we stayed longer and have more) and me and my friend seldom talked. All action. He was having a good time with his and I with mine. Time must have flown when you are having fun. Number one was nice. Not too big, not too small. I just loved it. So soft and just melt into you. Then again, perhaps not fair because according to the law of diminishing margin of returns, the first one is always the best. Number two was relatively more “meaty” while number three was a very petit size – hardly a hand-full.
After the act, we both agreed that number two was the best and the most satisfying out of all and number three was just too small. I commented that next time we shall make the choice ourselves – have all like the number two type.
I actually wanted more but my friend couldn’t take it anymore. Okay then, some other days return we shall! I am sure we both stink like crazy but who cares! It was pure indulgence, the price was right and I have hell of a good time. Value for money.
* * * * *
It’s a pity that my wife doesn’t like durian (a tropical fruit in Asia), which in my opinion is one of the best fruit that God has created. S$20 for 3, what more can I ask for? Looking forward to the next feast. And dare I say the durians in Geylang are the best in Singapore.
When I left Hong Kong to study in UK, my uncle has given me a golden necklace and my mother given me a piece of jade to go along with the necklace. According to Chinese belief, jade is a good indicator of the wearer’s health as well as taking the damage for the wearer. (Now you know why granies give jade wrist bands for new born babies).
I have been wearing this necklace since 18 and for the past 8 years, I had no idea where it has gone.
And today, as I packed the blankets that my mother and sister used during their visit in my home into the wardrobe, I have spotted two wooden treasure boxes that I bought in Jakarta (and I have spotted a new bolster that has been hidden for the past 4 years too together with two very nice little clay jars!). My necklace was in one of the boxes.
Surprisingly, the gold was as shiny as ever. I thought it was be tarnish like silver. Now, I see the value of gold. As for the piece of jade, I brushed it using toothpaste and old toothbrush. It works!
When I left Hong Kong to study in UK, my uncle has given me a golden necklace and my mother given me a piece of jade to go along with the necklace. According to Chinese belief, jade is a good indicator of the wearer’s health as well as taking the damage for the wearer. (Now you know why granies give jade wrist bands for new born babies).
I have been wearing this necklace since 18 and for the past 8 years, I had no idea where it has gone.
And today, as I packed the blankets that my mother and sister used during their visit in my home into the wardrobe, I have spotted two wooden treasure boxes that I bought in Jakarta (and I have spotted a new bolster that has been hidden for the past 4 years too together with two very nice little clay jars!). My necklace was in one of the boxes.
Surprisingly, the gold was as shiny as ever. I thought it was be tarnish like silver. Now, I see the value of gold. As for the piece of jade, I brushed it using toothpaste and old toothbrush. It works!