Ionic Splendour

The evidence is glaringly and unabashedly displayed. The carefully selected mix of tenants. The posh- and sleek-looking architectural designs. Metallic finishes. Big Brand Names; bold, eye-catching messages. Escalators that fill the space. Huge sexy posters, luscious pictures. Warm, ambient atmospherics. Helpful stools and chairs all over the place.

A breath of fresh air, or old wine in a new bottle?


And divides your attention








Spacious Ascendance




Prologue: Where I will return












Sins on the edge


Red-tro industrial chic comes to BK


Not good enough for today's tai-tais


If Bread Society sounds atas, it is supposed to be.
High Society, rings any bell?

Transporters

Weekend Brunches = Good Weekend

Youth. 2010.

Youth is the prime of one's life, so it has been said. If you ever feel old and world-weary, perhaps you should feel the energy, the spontaneity, and the fun fun fun that emanates from our young.

One year to go, Singapore 2010.

Dearly Missed

1. Reading the Economist! Geeky it may be, but I sure miss the Economist articles, reading about politics and other serious stuff that I barely comprehend. HaHA.

2. Reading a good novel. I still can't bear to start One Hundred Years of Solitude, for I know once i start there's no putting down and it will all end before i know it. I wish to delay savouring the cherry. Now, am reading other books.

3. Long runs at ECP with Jon and YB followed by dinner/supper at Bedok 85. No running buddies this year means no long running at ECP where water is available the whole stretch. And all the jokes!

4. Afternoon naps. Seriously, naps should be incorporated into our daily routine. Like brushing your teeth when you wake up.

5. Pancakes with honey syrup for weekend breakfast/brunch.

6. Yoshinoya. I love its beefy bowls!

7. My Bike. And cycling. :(

8. Cold beer after work. Has to be a nice place.

9. Chilling at a non-crowded cafe, chatting or reading stuff, whiling time away.

10. Being struck by capricious inspiration to write away. Wish I have a laptop that I can flip out anytime when thoughts hold my mind ransom and putting them into words is the only perfect redemption.

11. Taking useless but nice pictures. More is never enough; Beauty is never begrudged.


Cast Away


Perfect Chemistry


Poetic Geometry


Bak-Chor Mee, Slurrrp.


Yoshinoya Woo La La


After Eight


Wedges and Beer = Wedgebeer


Bright Ideas

Blockage

To Be or Not To Be

Revolution

Weekend Beckons.

Wistful Idyll. Yearning. Childplay. Restlessness and Sweet-nothingness.

Weekend Beckons.

Me and Doggie

Besides the fact that I was born in the year of dog, gou, Mr doggie and I also have something in common: We like to nuah. We really do. And we can be oblivious to social stirrings; incorrigibly oblivious. Just as long as we get to nuah.

Do not disturb us.

(Ed: Nuah is a hokkien term that denotes flaccidity, a languorous state; slack.)

Shiok

The word 'shiok' in singlish has no comparable equal in the English language. Yet it is such a wonderfully economical and succint word that vividly expresses the idea of relish and great delight, words which, even as I explain now, do not quite fully convey the flavour of the term 'shiok'.

I spent this Saturday lounging at home, doing nothing save lying in bed for most part of the day, drifting in and out of semi-sleep whilst reading parts of my books and magazines.

The local word which aptly describes what all these activities amount to is this: Nuah-ing. It was simply, absolutely, Shiok! (Saying 'wonderful' doesn't quite do it, for it does not capture the tinge of gleefulness and the intensity of the feeling. Ditto for words like 'awesome' and 'great'; and even if one were to add intensifiers like 'absolutely' or 'superbly' to the words, it still doesn't cut it.)

I've had too many packed weekends for the past two months and this was the first time I had nothing on my weekend agenda. Just doing nothing and having no plans is a luxury these days. Like I told R and KT the day before, I don't like to go through my weekend engaging in many activities and feeling at the end of it, on Monday, drained and not having had a good rest. A weekend can have activities, but it should be restful and recuperative too.

My Saturday ended with a trip to the nearby mall. I wouldn't have gone there had I not have to run an errand. It turned out to be a pleasant affair, for I wasn't met with the mad crowds that are a feature of the said mall. After buying the necessary, I decided to enjoy some tea and toast bread. Thankfully there was no queue and there were seats. I made a wrong order and had twice the number of slices of bread than usual. But this being such a SHIOK Saturday, it didn't bother me and I quite happily finished all of them.

Shiok!

Blue sky city

Sometimes, all it takes is for a blue sky and a beautiful image to make me happy.

charmed wedding

So it was that night when we sat down over coffee, and stories of friends' wedding, friends' friends' wedding and other heard stories of wedding were shared. You will have to excuse us because we are at the age where people around us are either getting married or going to tie the knot soon - including one of us at the table. We shared about some of the fun and touching weddings that we've attended or heard about. We laughed a fair bit at the antics and jovial fun some couples had. Tradition and filial obligations aside, I think a wedding is as meaningful only as the wedded couple would like it to be. It's your wedding and yours alone, and you should decide how it should take place.

Anyway, much as weddings have become sterotypical affairs and often referred to by many as 'this is the Xth wedding I'm attending (implying the parting of ang pows)', there will always be some which we treasure and enjoy. I am of course referring to the weddings of our close friends and loved ones. These weddings are a joy simply because you are witnessing an important and joyous occasion in the life of your loved ones. You are happy for them.

I managed to find two of the weddings that Canuf spoke about on YouTube. And of the first, I am so loving it. It is neither of the soapy sentimental sort or of the run of the mill type. Others have probably done it in other ways, but it's the spontaneity, the wholesome fun and awesome atmostphere that makes it so charming.

Lovely stuff. Makes me want to get married too - almost. :)