Starting Work Again

So it is confirmed I am starting work tomorrow. I am back to working in a law firm, back to doing Corporate work, which I hate, but then the prospects are better than Litigation work. Thus I am now back to being part of the Raffles Place and Shenton Way crowd, working in the Central Business District, back to a formal environment of stuffy executive suits and long lunch crowds.

A job is just a job, so if the company is willing to take me on, I am willing to give my best to them. Of course I would love to do something I really love, but at times one has to be realistic, especially if one is in desperate need of a full-time job. All the more so if what I love cannot feed me, and what I do not really have a passion for is the thing that can give me an income. Conflict of interests, but at times that is needed in order to continue surviving.

I cannot believe what is happening to me. I thought it was just a normal toothache or ulcer on my gums, when I realise that I am actually growing another tooth, at the top right side, next to my wisdom tooth. Now how can I be growing another tooth at this age? I thought all my teeth are fully formed ever since my last molar dropped out and my wisdom teeth sprouted out.

And it is really painful, as now my gums up there are swollen, with an inkling of the surface of a tooth, with the rest inside, which explains the swelling. I really have to get myself to a dentist soon! Wonder if this means my wisdom teeth have to be extracted?

I met up with an old friend yesterday. He is a teacher, and I met him when we were attending the in-house course for teaching Science effectively to kids. He brought along a colleague, who is in his mid-thirties and looking around for someone to settle down with, since his sister is three years younger and already have three children.

So I promised I will look around if any of my girlfriends are interested, although from what I gather, my female friends are those who go for high-flying guys, and not teachers. Wonder why actually, male graduate trained teachers are actually being paid higher than normal executives of the same qualifications.

Then I went to the Hair For Hope Charity. I looked around and noticed most participants were guys. There were a few ladies who got their heads shaved, and I really salute them for it! Somehow the crowd was not as big as the one the previous week. I hung around for a while, made a little donation and then continued amusing myself before proceeding to the Esplanade for the Cabaret performance.

At times I wonder why I am so weird? So abnormal that no one shares my interests. Just like I went to watch Cabaret on my own. And I will be watching Forbidden City on my own as well, as none of my friends are interested in musicals. It gets really lonely at times to be different, as I think it is better to have company when going to a theatre.

Maybe because I was not born naturally. Perhaps Caesarian birth does affect, since the natural way is still the best. Perhaps that explains why all three of us have our own quirks and peculiarities, more than most normal people.

Cabaret!

Cabaret just ended its run last night, and I managed to catch the last performance. Kudos to the performers that they can last two weeks! The performances I was involved in were only for two to three days, yet the entire process made me feel like dying.

Sex. Illusions. Idealism. Politics. Innuendos. Threesomes. Semi-nudity. That is the essence of the show. The plot was during 1930s Germany where the Nazis just came into power. And already the tension was building up on the extermination of "all those that are not German", ie the Jews, Communists, Gypsies, etc.

Through these, a cabaret in Berlin known as the Kit Kat Klub continuied functioning despite the political tension surmounting outside, performing show after show, with the main star Sally Bowles and her relationship with the Amerian writer Clifford Bradshaw.

The first half was good, nice songs with good singers. The main character is the Emcee, played by Kris Fei Xiang, distintive due to his rich baritone voice. He was the observer of everyone, from the dancers in the Kit Kat Klub to the star-crossed lovers in the streets of Berlin.

Sally Bowles (Mezzo-Soprano Emma Yong) and Clifford Bradshaw (Jason Chan) fell in love, but when Hitler's army started branding "those that are not German", he wanted to escape back to America. However, she wanted to remain in the Kit Kat Klub to enjoy fame and glory, and refused to go back with him.

Clifford's landlady Fraulein Schneider (Karen Tan with her rich Alto voice) was supposed to marry Herr Schultz, a German Jew who owns a fruit stall in a market, but the engagement was called off and he had to move away in order not to cause her trouble.

The bad guy of all is one Ernst Ludwig, an officer in the Nazi army, played by Mark Richmond, who made Clifford smuggle things for him from Paris. He was the one that threatened Fraulein Schneider that her life would be in a turmoil if she allowed the marriage to take place.

The other supporting character is Fraulein Kost, a prostitute who has a thing for young sailors. She could not get along with the landlady (Schneider) due to her "work", but in the end, it was she who helped Schneider and Schultz on their engagement night by mocking Ludwig.

The second part was a bit abrupt. Somehow I feel the ending is not that good. The first half was long, about an hour, but the second half was only about half an hour, thus it probably explains why the ending was so abrupt. The final words was sung by Fei Xiang, but I feel the finale itself should be more spectacular.

The message is clear and simple. Life is like a cabaret indeed.

What If ....

She messages him more often, and his "Good morning" messages are no longer coming, does it mean anything?

She is the one asking him out more often, and he does not ask her out anymore, but he is not enthusiastic to meet her when she asked, does it mean anything?

She is the one who wants to hold his hand and kisses him, but he is not responding and not as affectionate as before, does it mean anything?

He tells her he will not do anything because of her, but only if he wants to do it and feels ready enough to do it, then how much does he really love her?

He seems so distant lately, and the dates throughout the weekdays are no longer forthcoming, does it mean anything?

She is the one that always initiates to go out and contact him, and he seems to just wait for her to do that, does it mean anything?

He says he is afraid of trusting her when she trusts him completely, wholeheartedly and explicitly, does it mean anything?

He says she has not proved that she truly love him when all along she is the one taking the initiative to contact him, ask him out and be affectionate, has she not done enough or should she do more?

He does not share in her activities, or meet her friends, or introduces his friends to her, does it mean anything?

Is he having a change of heart? Or is she just being too sensitive?

The Lake House

The storyline is similar to Jane Austen's "Persuasion", which probably explains why the book is featured in the movie. The plot is on two people who falls in love through correspondence, like pen-pals, except they live two years apart.

The house on the lake is the central part of their relationship, as he was the previous tenant, and she was the new tenant, but when she moved out, she put a letter in the mailbox for the "new" tenant, yet somehow he received the letter two years in the past when he was about to move in. Since then, they started corresponding through the mailbox.

Since he was living in the past and she the future, she managed to make him aware of things that could happen, like being sick after a particularly big snowstorm, and the accident he was about to be in. He, on the other hand, wrote things on the walls of places he would like her to visit so she could see it in her time. And he was able to turn up at the time and place she was two years ago and meet up with her without her knowing.

Finally, after four years, they met up with each other for real. And the place of meeting was at the glass house by the lake where they first started corresponding. The message of the show is probably a reflection on whether time really matters if both parties are truly in love.

In reality, people split because they meet each other at the wrong time. Practically, it is better to stop waiting and move on. But in that case, is the love really strong if they are unwilling to wait for each other? I am not referring to unrequited love. Maybe that should not wait. But what about couples who are really in love but through circumstances cannot be together? Is it worth waiting then?

If I am not mistaken, I think this is Keanu Reeve's and Sandra Bullock's first show together ever since "Speed". And although this show does not have the high-speed chase or excitement in "Speed", it does teach me a valuable lesson on love and happiness.

Love means never having to say goodbye. And love means waiting, no matter what time.

Adapting A Healthier Lifestyle

Our slimming consultant advised us to get the book "Fit For Life" so that we can make adjustments to our lifestyle. Since we have not exercised for so long and indulged in good food all these while, the treatments are to help us get rid of all the fats and cellulite and give us a shapelier figure. How we maintain after that is due to our diet, lifestyle and exercise routine.

If possible, I may be getting the book tomorrow. It will be a busy weekend for me. In the morning, I will be going to the law firm as the lawyer I will be working for wishes to speak to me. I have not signed any letter of offer whatsoever, but if I go, they may deem I accept the job. Which means I start work on Tuesday. But in that case, if throughout the week a better offer comes along, will I be playing them out if I suddenly accept the better offer?

On Sunday, my family will be having Japanese food for lunch to celebrate my brother's eighteenth birthday. After which, I will be going down to support the Hair For Hope Charity of the Children's Cancer Foundation. I will also be meeting a teaching friend of mine. At night, I hope to be able to watch "Cabaret".

I have looked through some resources and found more diet plans for us. The very first endorsement is water. Every book and journal preaches about drinking two litres of water everyday. Which is never a problem as I do drink about that amount of water daily.

Apparently, having a sensible diet not only keeps one slim and healthy, it also gives one a clear and beautiful complexion and silky hair. So to be beautiful, one must eat right, but then, this is all common knowledge, only that some people choose to ignore and continue indulging.

The book I looked through recommends the following as a good typical day's diet:

Breakfast - A glass of unsweetened fruit juice, a bowl of unsweetened whole grain cereal, topped with a chopped banana and semi-skimmed milk, two slices of whole wheat toast with a scraping of low-fat spread.

Lunch - Baked potato, fillied with low-fat cottage cheese and plenty of fresh raw salad, one low-fat yoghurt.

Dinner - Grilled or broiled fish or chicken, with boiled brown rice and plenty of steamed vegetables. Fresh fruit salad, topped with natural yoghurt and nuts.

Why do none of the menus mention red meat? And all resources do not recommend eating after eight in the evening. At times, it is hard to adapt healthy eating habits into our current lifestyle. Considering the yuppie way of life, we work until late, and go out and socialise or entertain after working hours. Is it possible to have three balanced meals a day at certain times?

A New Audition

I just heard news that due to the takeover of the Opera Chorus by a new choral director, the entire chorus is going to be revamped. So now I have to re-audition. Ever since I gave up the performance last month, I have not sang for quite a while.

The audition is going to be on Tuesday. We are supposed to prepare an opera aria and a song from any other musical. I am thinking of the part from "Marriage Of Figaro" which I was singing before I pulled out, as well as "Think Of Me" from "Phantom Of The Opera". It was the latter that enabled me to pass the first audition and join the chorus in the first place.

However, I am not that confident I can pass the audition this time round. Our new choral director is pretty reputable in the choral circle, and I have heard that his expectations are pretty high. Perhaps someone like me do not stand a chance this time, when compared to the rest who are much better singers than me.

I admit I am feeling rather nervous about the whole thing. It was a stroke of luck (and desperation on the part of the former Artistic Director) that got me performing, but I may not be as lucky this time round. If the pool of singers come from those who already have professional training, then what will become of me?

Waiting for Tuesday. Wonder what the outcome will be like.

Grooming To Be A Model ....

I have been chosen to be a model! Actually it is nothing to be that happy about, because I am going to be a model for one of the slimming centres here. My mum finally got fed up over her failed attempts at losing weight, so she dragged me along and signed up a slimming package for both of us. There goes my birthday and Christmas gifts for the next two years!

But it is a good thing I went, as I realised I am suddenly overweight. Just ten years ago, I was 44 kg, five years back I went up to 48 kg, and now...... So we will be having intensive slimming treatments by burning away our stubborn fats, especially around my tummy and the cellulite around my thighs. After that, I will be paid cash and vouchers for being their spokesperson.

The consultant guaranteed that by Christmas, my mum will lose her flabs and for me, I will go back to my relatively hourglass figure with a flat tummy, toned thighs and a twenty-three inch waist! And after the amount we spent, the guarantee better be 100% effective!

The treatment seems rather comprehensive. We are given a booklet to fill in our food and drink intake for the day. First thing, we have to start eating a normal three meals daily, instead of just one or two meals and snacks in between. And we are given a menu to follow.

Breakfast

Menu A - 1 slice of wholemeal bread with lean ham and lots of fresh lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber. No mayonaisse, butter, jam or margarine (I cannot even spread anything on my bread?!), 1 piece of fruit or juice, a cup of coffee or tea with no sugar or creamer (how am I going to drink tea with no sugar?!). No Milo, Horlicks or Ovaltine.

Menu B - 1 small bowl of cereal with skimmed milk or 1 cup of lowfat yogurt, 1 piece of fruit (all except longan, lychee, avocado, durian, rambutan and banana), 1 cup of coffee or tea with no sugar and creamer.

Menu C - 1 slice of pandan chiffon cake or 1 nonya cake with green bean paste, 1 cup of skimmed milk or soyabean, 1 piece of fruit

Lunch

Menu A - 1 small bowl of rice, lots of boiled or steamed vegetables (all kinds except potatoes, yam, sweet potato and tapioca), 1 palm size of chicken, fish prawn or beancurd (steamed, baked or boiled). Remove any skin and visible fat.

Menu B - 1 bowl of fish porridge or noodle soup (no fried choices), 1 piece of fruit

Menu C - 1 bowl of seafood soup or fish slice soup or winter melon soup with half a bowl of rice, 1 piece of fruit

Dinner

Menu A - 1 big bowl of salad with a teaspoon of dressing or steamed or boiled vegetables, 2 pieces of fruit

Menu B - 1 small square of beancurd served chilled or steamed with oyster sauce, 2 pieces of fruit or steamed or boiled vegetables

This menu means torture and hunger for me! People who know me know I crave for good food. How can I survive without red meat or chocolates or soft drinks? But since my mum has specially spend so much to "groom" me, I guess the least I can do is to try my best to adapt.

After all, looking good is also being svelt and slim, and it is for my own benefit more than anyone else. I also want to look better for him! And if I can drop a couple of dress sizes and go back to being 44 kg, that is a very good deal indeed.

Insights Into My Soul ....

Got this from Angie. And I should think some parts are pretty true, so I really should reflect and change for the better.

What Your Soul Really Looks Like

You are very passionate and quite temperamental. While you can be moody, you always crave comfort. You are a very grounded, responsible, and realistic person. People may not want to hear the truth from you, but they're going to get it. You believe that people see you as larger than life and important. While this is true, they also think you're a bit full of yourself. Your near future is a lot like the present, and as far as you're concerned, that's a very good thing. For you, love is all about caring and comfort. You couldn't fall in love with someone you didn't trust.

Inside the Room of Your Soul

Being Like A Child ....

I popped by the Autism Association a few days back, as I was in between interviews. I was sitting in for one therapy session for autistic people. There are people ranging from six to thirty, some with mild autism, and some with extreme, and some with Asperger's Syndrome.

I was chatting with a thirty year old guy who has the mentality of a fifteen year old. Hmmm.... come to think of it, most thirty year old guys I know seem to have the mentality of a fifteen year old.... (keyword : MOST, in case I offend some thirty year old guys). But for an autistic person, it is a genuine case of simple-mindedness, whereas for a normal person, he probably just chooses not to grow up.

The chatting session was really good. I was so enriched after that. Seems like the simple-minded can see things from a sharp point of view. Perhaps the innocence and naivety is still there, so they tell it like it is, whereas once we gain knowledge and lose our innocence, we start thinking too much about unnecessary things.

He asked if I am married, so I said no. Then he said someone so pretty like me, how come I am not married? So I said I have not found someone willing to marry me. And he said if the guy really loves me, he will want to marry me, why wait? He feels that being a man should be responsible to the girl, and if he loves her, he will not hesitate.

Well well... why do I not get this from any other guys' lips? It is that simple, is it not? Yet why must we make things so difficult for ourselves? Why must we love and then lost? Spend our time giving our love and get nothing back in return?

But this guy is really cute. I find his innocence charming actually. He told me that if no one wants to marry me, he will, as he cannot imagine any guy ever giving me up. I wanted to tell him I am not that good in the first place, I made so many mistakes in my life, I probably do not know how to take care of a guy, but then I doubt he can understand the complexity of life.

I was there for only an hour since I had to go for my next interviews, but it was a real enriching experience for me. Perhaps talking to the simple-minded can really make us rekindle the lost innocence of youth and realise that life is that simple, yet we make things so complicated.

The simple-minded is sincere as they are nice and true to everyone. Not hypocritical or selfish. The people there share everything with me. When they eat, they offer me half. I was so touched. Never has anyone ever willingly shared anything with me before without asking.

At times like this, I get disillusioned with the modern society. We are educated and knowledgeable people, yet why do we do things that harm others? Why do we always want things to go our way or be so self-centred and think the whole world cater to us?

Why can we not be more simple-minded and not crave for material things, but intangible things like happiness and simplicity? The simple-minded are those that can really give a spark to one's life, yet they are the ones that can never get a decent job or fend for themselves, and still have to be subjected to being bullied. Has education, wisdom and knowledge corrupt our minds that we do not know how to care for others anymore?

No wonder only the child-minded can enter the kingdom of God. The innocence and naivety of a child is really pure, not corrupted by knowledge and evil.

Men = Trouble?

I have been reflecting on whether it is a good or bad thing to be born a female. Some people say it is good because women are naturally more gorgeous, they have natual charm and beauty, more intelligent, and males flock to them like bees to honey.

Right now, I wonder what is so good being a woman if one has to be subjected to the mind games of men? People may say women court trouble on their own, but most troubles occur because of men. Men know women are emotionally weaker, so they have no qualms cheating the women of their love, and some money.

If no men exist, perhaps women may be happier. Most of my troubles in the past were because of men. Shallow men, childish men, unfaithful men. My mum's troubles are mostly because of my dad and my brother.

My friend's troubles are mostly because of the guy she likes, and who does not like her but yet played along with her until she saw him acting intimately with another girl whom she claims as plainer looking and older, when all along the guy declared he is single.

Sometimes I wonder, can guys not make a decision what they want? If he does not like her and prefers someone else, can he not tell her straight instead of playing along with her feelings? Do not say he does not want to hurt her, the truth hurts but keeping mum hurts even more. I know too well that feeling.

If the guy wants to end the relationship, can he not tell the girl instead of still holding on and letting the girl make the decision, then go around saying that the girl dumped him when it was he who wanted out in the first place? Do guys really thrive on making the girl feel so unhappy and miserable?

Perhaps guys know girls are more emotional, and when they fall in love, they really give their all. In most cases, the girl ended up giving 110%, but the guy gives only 80% or less. Is that fair to her? Why must she be the one giving so much when he is not even wholeheartedly in love with her?

Must the girl ask the boyfriend out or call him all the time when he does not even do anything and just sit around waiting for her to ask him out? Can he not take the initiative instead of taking for granted the girlfriend will do everything?

No doubt in a relationship there should be give and take, but from my experience if the girl is the one that starts giving more, then it is just a matter of time when the relationship ends because the guy is no longer that interested or into the girl anymore. What is the use of holding on and making herself more miserable?

And I think it does the guy's ego good to have a girl so madly and deeply in love with him. Afterall, he can always say she throws herself at him without him doing anything, and will go around boasting to his pals. Even more so if he is married and has a fling with someone much younger.

I quarrelled with my dad the other day. If I do confirm my acceptance of the job at the law firm I went to interview for, I may be sent for either a law degree or a course from the Singapore Association of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, then I can be better equipped in my job and in the indutry.

I do not mind furthering my law degree. My dad was so against it. He said what is the use of having such a high degree, not as if I can find a well-paying job and earn lots of money, and besides, he does not think I can ever cut out to be a lawyer, so even if I take law he does not think I can make it.

Yes, I gave up a law degree in the past, but I was young and I had other interests. And having a law degree does not necessary mean I must be a barrister, there are so many other areas I can go into. If he thinks I am a useless good-for-nothing in his eyes, then disown me! Save everyone the trouble of me being an embarrassment and a black sheep!

At times I also wonder what type of girls do guys prefer? Will those tough, independent high-flying career women scare guys off, especially if she is much capable than most guys? Or will guys like girls to make them feel needed, to make them feel like the girls need them for protection?

I always try to be more independent, to not be so needy, but when times like these happen when I still lapse into depression, I seriously really wish I have someone around. I heard the news of that young girl whose sex video was shown on the net, about her attempting suicide, and I can finally understand why.

I used to think that things should not get to such a state where people have to kill themselves, but rumours, gossip and people's unkindness can really get to you. In the first place, she lost her phone, and no doubt she did something very personal on her phone, but that is her business, so must the person who picked up her phone show off those images?

And must the person who post that on the net really deem it necessary? What was he trying to do? Somehow I have the gut feeling that person is a male. Showing off a free porn show, with all the faces uncovered? Has that fellow any idea the effect it will have on the two kids?

Now they becamse a sort of mini-celebrity, and fingers started pointing at them, frowning at their actions. I know that too well. Gossip and rumours and being ostracised by people can drive people to do crazy things, especially if these people are driven into despair and depression that no one cares for them, everyone is being so judgmental and unkind over what they did.

A person, no matter how weak the spirit is, will never attempt suicide unless it is something they feel is no longer worth living for. Nowadays, I am wondering whether it is still worthy for me to continue living, since no one is ever there for me when I am most down, when I am most depressed, and the person I so much want to be with never offers any comfort and solace during my deepest moments.

A relationship is not built when the couple is happy and loving, It is built through trials and tests, and whether they can be with each other during the darkest and deepest times. Somehow no one has ever done that for me.

Just A Thought ....

If A said something to B which caused A to get scolded by B because of C, then how much does A really mean to B? In which case, is it safe to assume that B cares more for C than A? Shall A then give up and give B and C complete blessings, or shall A continue to fight to get B?

I have no idea how to answer this when asked. I only know that to love someone is really hard at times, especially if the love is not reciprocated, or worse, to see the loved one actually telling you off because of someone else. So is love just an illusion then?

Shall people always seek perfection? Then just how perfect is perfect? Would it not be better to be with someone you can get along, someone you like but who likes you back in return? That someone may not be that perfect in terms of looks or qualifications or what not, but what if the person's character is just perfect for you?

If it is me, I will tell A to fight for B if B is unattached and if C has no feelings for B. That is, if B is really the perfect one for A.

Updates For The Week

I have gone blonde! Which synonymously means "dumb". But then, certain people have already come to the conclusion that I am dumb, so it does not make any difference what my hair colour is. After five hours, now my hair is significantly shorter, with SPA perm (ringlets and curls around the ends) and a colour job, so now I have curly dark blonde hair.

After a series of interviews, finally I landed a job again. At least one confirmed, another one under consideration. I am now waiting to see if either of the two big organisations I went to interview for will take me in. If not, then I will stick with the one that is confirmed.

My first brother is finally back! Needless to say, he has been hogging the computer for the past few days. And I received a record breaking 150 spam comments! Wow! That is quite something actually, that the spammer has nothing better to do than to wreck havoc in others' webpages, or that the spammer manages to post his comment a hundred and fifty times?

My Australian cousin is getting married next year, on a very special day. The seventh day of July. His fiancee comes from Malta, so we have to go up to Malta to attend the wedding. Hopefully from there, if I can take time off, I can see if I am able to tour Europe as well after that.

The contractors have finally wrecked havoc at my house. Besides the smell of paint, all of them smoke, and I actually told them off the other day. If they want to smoke, do it outside, not within the premises of my house! They smoke in the driveway, blow their smoke into the house, and leave their ashes all about. It is so dangerous, what if the car is parked in there and may accidentally explode?

Sometimes I feel ashamed of myself. I was debating whether should I risk behaving in a haughty way and ask the contractors not to smoke since the smoke is affecting us, or to be nice and just bear with it? Afterall, my parents are the ones paying for the contractors, if they do not say anything, what right do I have to say anything?

Come to think of it, the simplest people (simple in character, not mind) are those who come from humble families and live in humble abodes. The haughtiest and most arrogant ones are those that deem themselves as rich. People who think they know everything and look down on everyone else.

The type of person which I never ever want to become, and I live in constant fear that I may end up becoming like this, so I try my best to always watch myself and what I do so as not to end up making a big ass out of myself and others.

Mastering A Foreign Tongue ....

I have always wanted to master a foreign language. Being proficient in just one or two languages is not adequate at all. In fact, I signed up for Japanese and French lessons as extra-curricular subjects after my PSLE, but at that point in time, I was too lazy to go for classes. :-p So now I am paying the price. :-(

I wish I did attend though, as my friend who took up Japanese as a third language was offered a scholarship to Tokyo University, where he studied all the way to his Masters, and is now the foreign diplomat in Japan. Perhaps if I have mastered another language, I will not be so linguistically inadequate right now.

Most of my friends know at least Japanese or French, not just at beginner’s level, but proficient enough to do translation. Not much of a problem if they go travelling, especially to certain French-speaking countries or to Japan. I will so like to go Japan again, but was afraid of my lack of linguistic ability to communicate properly.

My British pen-pal is a linguist. He majored in languages at Cambridge University, so he is proficient in French, Spanish, Latin, Russian, Italian, German and English of course! Ironically he scored ‘A’s for all the languages yet ‘B’ in his own native tongue.

I wish our education system can incorporate a foreign language into the school’s curriculum, like some countries, where the students can take up to two foreign languages besides the mainstream language(s). If we want to take up a foreign language here, we have to pay and go to private schools.

Not that the language schools here are that bad. My friends who attended some of those language courses rave about them, saying that the syllabus is structured, and the schools hire native teachers to teach the language.

Unlike the language elective courses in the university, where the students can choose which language to do a crash course in, students of those language schools complete the course really knowing how to speak the language.

If time and chance allows, I will want to take up formal lessons in Bahasa Indonesia, Japanese, French and Korean. I plan to start with Bahasa first as I think that is the easiest. At least now, after the crash course my friend gave me, with a little help from my Indonesian relative, I can understand a bit of what people say if they speak Bahasa to me.

I want to be able to go up to the level where I can at least read books or watch the shows in the native form of the language, instead of the translated version!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

To a significant extent, “reduce, reuse, recycle” is the solution to our environmental woes as it encompasses many methods of environmental conservation. This method is quite useful but it requires the unity of different levels of societies to enforce it before it can succeed.

There are other methods towards the preservation of our environment, but the “reduce, reuse, recycle” method has the higher possibility of being a success.

Reduce can refer to the reduction in the emissions of greenhouse gases and poisonous vapours which could lead to global warming and various respiratory diseases. The most basic level at which it can be kick-started is by the individual.

The individual would have to agree that environmental degradation, especially in developed cities, is a serious problem. Through this propogation, the various individuals can form the next level, which is the unification of religious groups, environmentalists, “green” advocates, ordinary citizens and media workers, among others, to rally to state authorities so as to initiate change.

The state then has to come up with some environmental policies, like heavier taxes and duties levied on firms with heavy industries, subsidies to cut down on the utilization of oil and burning cleaner alternatives like natural gas or fines for corporations which simply refuse to abide by the new laws set.

This would eventually cut down the pollution and global warming from firms, the chief source of the emissions. This could be effective but the society as a whole must be committed to implementing these measures so as to ensure a certain level of efficiency.

The governments would probably have to prioritise and place environmental policies at the top of their list, and the firms must also accept that by polluting the environment to gain profits, they would have to sacrifice and return some of them so as to restore the environment to its original pristine state.

An example would be the Western European states in the 1970s, where the society came together as a whole and forced their government to rethink, if not reverse, their environmental policies.

After having to cut through some bureaucratic red tape, a system where pollution quotas for firms was set was born. By means of their legislative powers, laws were put in place so as to reduce emissions. This would not have been possible without society and media workers applying pressure to their government so as to alter their mentalities.

Reusing can refer to the reusing of certain polluting goods like plastics and other organic materials. They cause pollution as they release poisonous gases like carbon monoxide and hydrogen chloride if incinerated, and at the same time would not decompose for a few centuries at least if buried underground in landfills.

Through education of the public and messages displayed in the mass media, some countries have sufficiently fostered a culture of their own consumers reusing their paper or plastic shopping bags, which reduces the need for production of these bags, which can potentially cause irreparable environmental damage through the liberation of poisonous gases.

From young, schoolchildren were taught that they had to reuse their plastic bags by their parents or teachers. As the state would have made it one of their top priorities to educate the children, these children were inculcated with positive environmental conservation values throughout their formative years.

With the parents’ help, they realised the vulnerabilities of the Earth’s environment and the consequences of simply ignoring them. With the right systems and values, they learnt how to love and protect the environment, which they are dependent on, and thus cut down on their utilization of plastic bags.

This is especially true in Western Europe, where consumers have to pay for the usage of plastic bags. This measure was effective in encouraging consumers to bring along their own more environmentally-friendly paper bags.

In addition, firms which produced plastic bags came up with innovative alternatives of producing plastic bags, like plastic bags which would self-decompose if exposed to too much direct light, thereby reducing environmental damage.

Governments also utilized the mass media to discourage the use of plastic bags through the various forms of the mass media like television, advertising billboards and newspapers. Once again, by chipping in together, Western European societies unified and decided to salvage the environment, leading to the reward of better air quality and fewer respiratory diseases.

Recycle refers mainly to paper products and water. This means that waste paper could be reused as environmentally-friendly companies chose to reproduce clean paper from the waste paper by bleaching them. This means that fewer trees were required to produce paper as the same piece of paper can be reused by consumers in their daily lives.

By cutting down fewer trees, the trees would absorb more carbon dioxide and produce more oxygen, leading to cleaner and fresher air, and also reduce carbon dioxide emissions as cutting down on trees would release the carbon dioxide they trap.

Water recycling refers to more stringent and careful, not profligate, use of water. For example, the consumers could reduce their showering time, brushing teeth time and cooking and so on. These measures to conserve water can ensure that lakes and rivers are at high levels, which generates more rain in the water cycle, allowing the process of water renewal to be continued.

One such country is Singapore, whose government urged and encouraged the citizens to save water by basically turning off their taps if there was no absolute or essential need to, like tooth brushing and taking showers instead of baths.

In a water-scarce country like Singapore, these measures helped to ensure that citizens were able to continue to obtain their supply of water straight from the taps through desalination and the process of reverse osmosis, rather than having to ration or end up with chronic shortages.

Another way to solve environmental woes is if countries cooperate with each other. The Key to Protocol, ratified in 1992 by some of the leaders of the world’s most heavily industrialized countries like Japan, Russia and Western Europe is one way.

In it, they set 1990 emission levels of carbon dioxide and other pollutants as a base, in a bid to combat global warming and air pollution as they attempted to reduce those emission levels by up to 15%, which would pave the way for the easing of the world’s growing global warming.

This has met with relative success, mainly due to a drastic reduction in Russia’s emissions due to the collapse of Soviet industries after the fall of communism in the early 1990s.

Another way is by imposing carbon credits for the industrialized countries. This was a system where each country was given a particular carbon level. If some countries (usually those developing ones) had a surplus, they would be able to sell all these credits to the countries facing a shortage of credits.

Overall, the effect would see countries being able to control the amount of emissions they produced, or at least encouraged to, while at the same time, other countries would be able to earn sizeable profits from it.

Thus, the method of “reduce, reuse, recycle” is one of the best solutions because it encompasses various levels of society to work together so as to protect the Earth for all its current and future inhabitants.

Other collaborations like international cooperations are also possible, but their effect across societies is more limited as societies may feel they are not involved enough.

Trying To Be Active ....

Earthquake again, in Indonesia, followed by a tsunami. Wonder what the extent of the damage will be this time? I really pity the people there, and having known a few Indonesians, I can understand their concerns too, since I am sure they feel the pain much more intense than me.

I was at my cousin's place earlier on when I saw the news. My cousin-in-law then remarked about a possible volcanic eruption in Indonesia, as there have been reports that one of the active volcanoes is spewing. Apparently, if this volcano really erupts, Singapore itself may be in danger.

I went over to my cousin's place to find out how she is doing now that she is almost four months pregnant, and helped to dog-sit at the same time. I shared with her my photos from my recent trip, as well as the trip we went together in Australia last year.

She showed me her photos from Nepal, where she and her husband went for a second honeymoon early last year. The Himalayas are really beautiful at close range! I am sure it is so much better for real as compared to in the photos! Perhaps Nepal will be the next place I go to, after it is finally politically stable again.

My job search is progressing at a slow rate. I have sent in resumes, but so far no news, except for the interview I am going to on Wednesday, by one of the listed companies, incidentally owned by one of the female Nominated Members of Parliament. The company is in the hotel and resort business, with resorts in Bali, Bintan and Maldives. Perhaps if I do land the job, I can finally get to go relaxing in Maldives!

Actually there are three positions I really wish to land. One is that of an Education Consultant, another is Supervisor for the Children's Aid Society, and the third is an Educational Guidance Officer of the Asian Women's Welfare Association.

I still enjoy it most working with and around kids. It is still more meaningful to make a difference in the lives of the younger generation, than to work in a company and generate more profits for an already-wealthy organisation. But my parents just do not see it this way.

When I first left mainstream teaching, I actually landed a job as a music supervisor in a Catholic kindergarten. The job suits me to a tee, even the Principal of the kindergarten said so, as it has a Catholic background, most of the kids are from Catholic families, and the job is to oversee music pedagogy and developing kids' minds and movements using music. Ad-hoc jobs require playing the piano for mass and religious sessions.

The job is made for me, so to speak. I will have really loved it there. The only catch is the salary. My salary was cut down by half. Childcare teachers do not earn a lot. So my parents made me turn it down, and told me to be practical, get a job elsewhere that could pay me the same or not much difference, and with prospects for growth.

I am not saying they are wrong, but for me, I always prefer a job which I really love doing. To me, money is not everything. I can work for free as long as I like my job. If I hate my job, even if I am paid a six-figure sum per month, I will still not like it.

My cousin told my to cut my hair. So I told her maybe I will get a shave for charity. And she was totally horrified. On the other hand, her husband said to go ahead. She said it does not matter to a guy, but what will a woman look like if she goes bald? She told me perhaps a new hairstyle is the only way to get out of the depression and move on with my life. Meanwhile, get a new hair colour too.

She has a point there. I cut my hair really short the very first time I broke up. And I felt like a new person after that. My hair is due for a trim anyway. I just have to decide which colour I want to use this time. Maybe I will take pink! I can just foresee my parents' faces if I come home with pink hair!

So tomorrow will be the day I change my hair colour. And to snip off my locks at the same time. The rest of the week will see me going down to SPCA to volunteer my services. Plus, I will be helping the contractors repaint the house. My parents decided to use white on the outside, and whisper green (of all colours!) on the inside.

My mum says whisper green is very pale green, almost like white. In that case, why not use white? Now I am at the stage where my parents try to accommodate me in as many ways possible (they actually told my brother to let me watch the television last night even though he was in the middle of a show, something that never happened before!), wonder if they will allow me to paint my room baby pink or peach?

Being active is a good idea. It keeps my mind occupied, and I can start focusing on other things. Wonder if there will be a donation drive for the poor victims of the latest earthquake? If I could, I would want to go right to the site and do what I can. But right now, the only way I can help is through monetary and material contributions.

Charitable Outreach ....

I had been praying for a sign to atone my sins, find peace and get out of my depression. And I think I have found it. Coincidentally, after I came back, I start seeing signs everywhere for outreach and donations to developing countries and charitable organisations.

I cannot say I have been that actively involved in charitable works, and I certainly am not a philanthropist since I do not have the finances to qualify as one. However, I have volunteered my services to various fund-raising events.

For instance, back in university, a few mates and I set up booths at the covered walkway around Bugis Junction, where we sold T-shirts, magnets which we designed ourselves, postcards and stickers for SPCA and the Nature Society of Singapore.

It was the time when these two organsations need the most finances to cater for the growing number of strays and the various conservation and recycling projects going to be undertaken. It was a three-day event, but we had lots of fun, and being a weekend, we attracted quite a big crowd.

In the end, the money we raised was not that much, since we have to split between both organisations, but I felt happy to have contributed something.

And being the Treasurer of the Catholic Students' Apostolate at the same time, we donated whatever excess amount at the end of the year to the Spastic Children's Association. That I felt happier about as Catholics are generous givers, so we had a four-figure sum left over.

RIght now I am trying to be involved in three charitable events. The first one I came across was actually recommended by my friend. She is collecting the tabs off drink cans to exchange for food, medical supplies and money for developing countries, so for the past few days, I have been collecting the tabs, ready to pass to her when I meet her again.

The second one involves cash. It is to help the children of Timor Leste. If I could, I would have flown there to see for myself, but I do not think I am allowed on another trip at such short notice, and especially not to a new developing country.

So the only thing I could do is to draw out a cheque of S$100.00. Cheapskate, I know. I wanted to give more, like S$500,00 or even S$1,000.00, but after my recent heavy expenditure and considering the fact that I am still jobless, S$100.00 is as much as I can afford right now. Besides, I believe my local currency goes a long way there.

The third one I am considering is Hair For Hope for the Children's Cancer Foundation. Normally if it involves fund-raising or donations, I will not have hesitated, except this time round, it involves shaving of the head t0 make a difference. And my self-centred vanity still takes over my pity for the cancer patients.

I am trying to think of the children, hoping I can be motivated enough. And all I could see was a vision of my late cousin, in the advanced stages of leukaemia, undergoing chemotherapy, with her head bald, and crying everyday as she lost her beautiful hair. And in her moments of consciousness, she used to joke with me that on no account must I lose my hair for any reason.

I know it is really bad to say that and I should help in every way I can. After all, if Sonic is brave enough to go hairless, so can I. But after the time, money and hours invested in making my hair look this nice, I do not think I can bear to shave the whole thing off, and if I do that, I will probably be a recluse for the next decade until I grow my hair back to this length again.

So the only alternative is to donate, however much I can. Perhaps I can also squeeze in a hospital visit as well? That is, if I have finally fully recovered enough to be allowed into the terminal ward of the hospital. Maybe if I do go, I can get my bone marrow donated too, that is, if I do get over my traumatic surgery experience and can take calmly all the needles poking into me again.

Of Pregnancy ....

Now that my cousin is pregnant, I have been doing a little research on pregnancy in general. And I found out that out of a hundred women, about eighty of them will have a failed first pregnancy. These women either miscarry or there is some abnormality where the foetus is concerned so the gynaecologist has to remove the whole thing.

The reason being when a woman first gets pregnant, the body is not used to a new thing, especially a new life. Those lucky ones will suffer terrible morning sickness (or whole day sickness), those really really lucky ones will go by with a smooth pregnancy with no symptoms whatsoever, but those unlucky ones may lose their babies.

The abnormalities can range from many things, from no heartbeat to deformity to being stuck in the fallopian tube. The worst thing is that half the women with failed first pregnancies find it hard to get pregnant again. I have no idea what the exact complication is, but apparently, when some of the women miscarry, their fallopian tubes or uterus got damaged, so they find it hard to conceive again.

Which makes me feel sad for them. There are some couples who want children so badly but can never have as some women may have weaker wombs and constant miscarriages, then there are others who do not want any children but can conceive so easily, and in the end have the child but neglect the child.

I do not know the reason why some women can conceive so easily, and others find it so hard. During my whole body checkup two weeks ago, the doctor told me that everything is alright. My condition will not affect me in anyway, because some women after operation finds it hard to conceive.

However, the doctor told me that I seem to be very fertile, I can get pregnant easily (so if I do not, that means the problem lies with my partner), so my chances at conceiving are very high, which incidentally may cause me problems next time if I do not plan properly. My mum then says that I am lucky, because not many women will be told that.

Strange, I thought normally women in general can conceive easily. After all, that is the fundamental trait of what being a woman is all about. But I have seen the different pregnancies in my own family. I have aunts and cousins who got pregnant within months of their marriage, have successful first pregnancies and their subsequent children came one after another.

I have also seen cousins who miscarried their first child, but luckily they are still able to conceive normally after that. Then I have a cousin who had a problem conceiving, so her first two kids came about by in-vitro fertilisation, but suddenly her third child was conceived in the natural way.

There are also women who successfully gave birth to their first child, but after that somehow or other the womb became damaged, or infected whatsoever, and they find they can never have another child ever again. I wonder what caused that?

Still, being able to get pregnant should be a great thing. What is a marriage without kids to make the family whole and complete? It is sad indeed to be married and not have any kids, not by choice. However, if there is really something wrong with either party, and their chances of having children is totally zilch, then so be it I guess.

Can always consider adoption. Afterall, a marriage should be life-long companionship for the couple, and not focused mainly on having children.

The Path To True Love Never Did Run Smooth

There is an adage that says "The path to true love never did run smooth". Very true! Perhaps because men and women are structured differently. Perhaps being born a female, we spend our lives suffering for what we want, for who we love.

Women are more emotional beings, especially someone like me. When I fall in love, I really really fall deep. Men are more practical. They can take things easy and move on, which sometimes make women wonder just how deep is their love if they can let go so easily just like that.

My dad told me that women want love, whereas men only want sex. My parents feel that he is too nice to me, that by being so nice to me, he is only trying to get me in bed with him. But the thing is, if you truly love someone, will you not be nice to him / her and treat him / her well? So if I treat my guy very well, does that mean I want to bed him?

My mum says that if the guy is really serious with me, he will comment on me and make me a better person. He comments on me too. He did tell me that he does not like me wearing mini skirts, or that to stop assiociating with guys whom he view as sex maniacs.

So what does my mum want? Someone who puts me down, insults me and criticises me all the time? Someone like my first ex? Or someone like my second ex who throws his temper around and tries to control what I do? I always feel that if one really loves someone, he / she should take the partner as a whole.

Which is why I am so appreciative of him, because he really accepts me for who and what I am. And it is so hard for me to find someone who really takes me for what I am, because goodness knows I have put a lot of people off with my weirdness and whining.

The thing is, everytime I hook up with someone, they have things to say. My mum would say that this guy is this, and that guy is that, and whatnot. It is like no one is ever good enough for me. But can she not see that it is my choice, not hers?

She found the most fault with my current guy. The reason we are still together is because we have promised each other not to let go, but he was really pissed off with my parents' attitude. My mum did not have much in contact with him, but my aunt spoke to him that day when he visited me in the hospital after my surgery, and according to her, he did not seem sincere enough.

Then my dad spoke to him a few days back. And my dad sort of tested him, saying that if he cannot commit to me now, why not just leave me? According to my guy, my dad's attitude was really threatening, so to prevent trouble, he said he would leave me.

I do not know the exact situation of the exchange, but when I came back last night, my dad told me to stop seeing him, as he said the guy is not committed at all, that if he really loves me, he would not agree to leave me so readily. I was too bewildered and upset to do anything.

I was so upset that I sent out some random messages, which incidentally incurred the wrath of someone for showing inconsideration. My sincerest apologies if I disturbed you from your sleep, and sorry if I got too carried away by my emotions.

My mum told me if he is willing to show his commitment to me, she will let us be together wholeheartedly without any complaints. Why must he say to wait a few years before deciding whether to be with me? But then we have only been together for half a year the most, is it not too fast to commit?

My parents as much as said they forbid me from seeing him. My dad even said he would take action if we still continue seeing each other. But I am already an adult. Legally, I am no longer under their control. So even if I choose to love him and be so devoted, even if I suffer for love, that is my choice. They cannot just ground me or take me to court for defying them.

My mum said the reason she feels he is not committed is because I continue to see him. Since he has me with him, there is no necessity for him to make a commitment. She told me to stop seeing him until he makes a commitment. If he truly loves me like he and I both claim, he will quickly make up his mind and come back to me.

But I thought precisely because I am with him, that is why he can be committed. Perhaps he just needs time. Guys are like that, they take time to commit. If I break things off, then why would he still need to be committed to me?

She said she does not understand my logic. In her opinion, if I give the guy what he wants, he will take advantage, whereas if the guy loses me, if I really mean a lot to him, he will start to panic.

My guy did a lot of things for me. When I told him about the trip and what I needed, he helped me look immediately. When I wanted to watch a certain television series, he went to find and bought for me. I have never had someone who treated me so well before. He protected me every way he could, well... almost at least. If this is not commitment, if this is not sincerity, then I do not know what it is.

I told my parents all these, yet they told me how would I know he is not treating me well so he could cheat me? Oh please, do they have to doubt everything? He took the special effort to meet my parents even though he knows they are very difficult people, and got himself scolded, insulted and whatnot. Which guy would be able to stand it?

Now even he says he does not feel like meeting them anymore, as he wants to avoid confrontation. My exs all told me they could not stand my parents, and sometimes being with me was very stressful since my parents always insist on what they want.

But no more. This time I am not giving in withoout a fight. Juliet is not going to die with her Romeo, she is going to stand up to her parents. Ophelia is not going to give up Hamlet so easily. Celia is going to get her Orlando this time, at all costs.

Scenic Hokkaido Summer Sensation

So here I am, back from the Land of the Rising Sun. I have learnt a lot during the trip, like Japanese culture, a few words, and tasted authentic Japanese dishes. Although after eating raw salmon for so many days, I am a bit put off by salmon now.

We took the night flight on Friday, and arrived at Tokyo Narita Airport (for International) on Saturday morning, proceeded to Haneda Airport (for domestic) and then took a connecting flight to Chitose Airport in Hokkaido. After which, the tour guide brought us on a coach ride to Sapporo, the capital city of Hokkaido.

Our first stop was the Sapporo Beer Factory Museum. Apparently Sapporo beer is very famous since almost a century ago. This museum was the old beer factory, and it is now a historical landmark.

The sign outside the factory

Beer barrels with Japanese words

Beer cans in different sizes

Our next stop is Sapporo's Odori Park. The park itself is built on a large underground shopping mall, next to the Sapporo TV Tower. We did some window shopping while enjoying the nice sights of the park. I daresay in winter when everything was snowy the sight would be really nice.

The beautiful flowers of Odori Park

The fountain of Odori Park

Sapporo TV Tower

We had dinner at a restaurant next to the Park. It was a tempura dinner, consisting of rice, ramen (noodles), deep fried prawns and cabbages. Honestly, I prefer the tempura back here. The Japanese eat healthily, so I guess there is not much seasoning in their food, thus the food tastes more bland as compared to the one here.

After dinner, we went up to Mount Moiwa for an evening view of the entire Sapporo city. When the lights were on after the sky was dark, it was a very spectacular sight indeed! As it was summer, we had to wait until almost night for the sun to fully set. We went to the Sapporo APA Hotel after that to rest for the night.

Mount Moiwa Observation Deck

This was actually part of the fence, specially taken and dedicated for someone I miss so much.
(Look at the heart-shape!)

Night scene of the city. Could be more spectacular, but I guess my photography skills are not that good.

Me in a Yukata provided by the hotel room

The next morning, we had a buffet breakfast, then proceeded to the Salmon Aquarium. According to the tour guide, the salmons have swam to Alaska and will not be back until Winter, so we were not able to go to the underground panel to see all the salmon swimming around.

However, we learnt about the breeding, feeding and habits of salmon during the different seasons. Apparently, thousands of eggs were laid by the female salmon, then covered with gravel. When the eggs were hatched into baby salmon, the fish would start swimming against the current at a very young age, as by the age of one, they have to cross the Pacific halfway.

Salmon mating (fake fish!)

The entrance of the Salmon Aquarium

We proceeded to Furano after that, to visit the Lavendar Farm. Lavendars are in season now, next month it will be Sunflowers. My mum was really happy as she missed the Lavendar season in Tasmania last year, so she is making up for it. After that, we went to Biei for a buffet lunch. It was a typical Japanese buffet consisting of Japanese food.

Horsing around at a pit-stop

Close-up of Lavendar flowers

Part of the Lavendar Farm

Lavendar dolls at the souvenir shop

My Lavendar Boy
The one and only boy doll on display, which I bought

After lunch, we went on a long coach ride up to Mount Daisetsu-zan National Park (literally translated as Big Snow Mountain). The entire mountain will have snow storms in Winter, and I foresee it will be an even more beautiful sight when the whole mountain is covered with snow!

We took a cable car ride up to this place called Sounkyo Gorge, so called because of the many layers of cloud settling on the mountain tops. It is more spectacular at dusk, since the clouds will settle down at that time and drift into the mountain tops.

We checked into a hotel next to the gorge called the Choyo Resort Hotel, where we had a natural hot spring bath. The hotel is like a traditional Japanese resort, as we sleep on Tatamis on the floor. My mum and I tried the outdoor hotspring. We bathed in the water filled with sulphur, and took in the sights of the mountain at the same time.

A little clarification : the outdoor hotspring is so-called because the bathing area is outside the enclosed area. But it is blocked by the mountain, so no one can look in and we cannot look out except at the mountain. We had a buffet dinner after that.

View of part of the mountain from the cable car

Sounkyo Gorge - where many layers of cloud settle on the mountain tops

Did u see the sun rays beaming down?

Poster of a sleeping fox at the exit of the visitor centre of Sounkyo Gorge
I could not resist taking this picture! It reminds me so much of my dog when he is sleeping!

Practising a traditional Japanese ceremony
This scene was taken in the hotel room, where there was a traditional Japanese setting with the Yukata

The next day, after a buffet breakfast, we set off to the other part of the mountain, to view the two waterfalls - the Shooting Star Falls and the Silver River Falls. The tour guide said the falls are more gushing in the Spring, as the snow from the mountains melt and the falls carry the melted snow down into the river.

The Shooting Star Falls

The white water that carries the water from both waterfalls

The Silver River Falls

After the waterfalls, we proceeded to the Ice Pavilion. There are many ice sculptures inside. The temperature inside ranges from -20 degree celsius to -41 degree celsius, the lowest temperature range in Hokkaido. Seems like the temperature can go that low in Winter too.

Luckily I wore something thicker that day, with a jacket, and a long thick jacket was provided at the entrance too. We also brought along black leather gloves. However the temperature was so cold that my nose and mouth were totally numb, and my fingers also became numb despite the gloves!

Thank goodness after the trip to the Ice Pavilion, we could proceed to the tea shop next door and drink hot tea, over warm toasting fire! And hence, I was defrosted.

Ice stalactitites

Cute snowmen!

Another pair of cute snowmen!

A model of the Hokkaido Brown Bear at the souvenir shop

After the "frosting", we took an hour's coach ride to Asahikawa, to the Otoyama Sake Brewery. The sake was brewed from January to June, so for this half of the year, the factory was not opened. Despite that, we got to see the entire history of sake brewing in Hokkaido. The Otoyama Sake has been imported to all parts of Japan and won various gold awards for excellence.

The grains of rice used to make sake

An old sake earthen jar

It was said the water here could give longevity and long life

Attempting to drink the water
Wonder how long I can live?

The garden outside the Sake Brewery

Me as a coolie! This was how sake was sold in the past

We then had lunch at this place called Lavendar Hills. It was a mini hot pot with scallop rice. Then we proceeded to the Ishiya Chocolate Factory! YES! Finally I can visit a chocolate factory!

And this chocolate factory is beyond my wildest dreams! Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory does not even come close! The entire factory is built in the model of an old English castle, with the extension wing built in the model of Tudor House.

There are big flowers and fairy tale houses in the grounds. I saw the houses where the three little pigs lived, as well as a miniature version of the glass shed in "Sound of Music", and little doll houses, with a pond and a bridge. What a pity my camera ran out of battery so I was not able to take in all the shots of the magnificent garden!

But it is even better inside! On the first floor, someone handed out sample bits of the chocolate. Apparently this Ishiya Chocolate can only be found in Hokkaido. It means "White Beloved", and the chocolate comes in dairy milk and white, squashed in between two pieces of cookies. The chocolate is absolutely delicious! The best chocolate I have ever partaken. Now that I am back, I do not think any of our local chocolate can match up to it.

When we went in, there is a big chandelier, and a fountain, with wall paintings and a big ceiling mural. We went up to the second floor, where there is a quaint collection of antique teacups used specially for drinking chocolate. In the past, chocolate was only for royalty, and only the middle-upper-class could afford the luxury of chocolate.

The third floor consisted of information on the chocolate-making process. A pity it was all in Japanese, with English vocal translation, but I could hardly understand a word. Otherwise I would have taken note of the entire process and hopefully make my own chocolate!

There was also a glass panel where we could look into the factory where workers were diligently making and packaging the chocolate cookies into the various packaging. Dark green packaging is for white chocolate, the light blue packaging is for the milk chocolate.

The fourth floor consists of a restaurant and a toy factory. I saw Pinocchios made of chocolate, and the restaurant served hot chocolate and chocolate cake and ice cream. The ice-cream is absolutely delicious! Creamy and strong. I wonder what the Japanese cows eat? The beef is so delicious and sweet, and the milk is so creamy, better than other countries.

The fountain at the entrance of the Chocolate Factory

The quaint teacup collection, specially used for drinking chocolate

Pieces of white chocolate cookies

The complete packaging ready to be sent out

My dream wedding cake

The main entrance of the Chocolate Factory

The side entrance of the Chocolate Factory

"You are sixteen, going-on seventeen...."

After the fantastic chocolate factory tour, we proceeded to the hotel. We checked in at the Josankei Sankeien Hotel. My mum and I took a hot spring bath, but the hot spring was not as good as the previous one. It was more artificial, with just hot water and hot spring powder.

Dinner was a set meal consisting of sashimi, miso soup, rice, crabs, and salad. That was a real big meal! So big that I was full just by the look of it! After dinner, the tour guide brought us out into the field just outside the hotel where we played with some fireworks.

Do I pass as a Japanese girl?
A traditional Tatami setting

Classic Japanese slippers

Fireworks display!

Playing with fire

After a traditional breakfast the next morning, we proceeded to the Otaru Canal. Otaru was an European harbour town, modelled after the Dutch. There were European-like converted warehouses next to the canal, something like our own Boat Quay.

We went to the Otaru Music Box Museum (wow, I salivate at the display of quaint and nice music boxes!), went into a cafe to drink hot tea and we could keep the small porcelain teacup that came with our tea, then into a shop selling all kinds of animal soft toys, proceeded to a glassware shop, and then we had lunch at a live seafood restaurant.

View of Otaru Canal

The Otaru Music Box Museum

The various music boxes on display

The music box I got

My mum chose it for me, since the design is of a mother horse with her child horse. She took it based on my zodiac, and also to cheer me up and let me remember the trip. I know she means well, but somehow this music box makes my heart ache..... I guess I take this as a tribute .....

Me with Pooh!

Me with Snoopy!

Me with Hello Kitty!

Disney's Music Boxes

At the entrance of the soft toy shop, with two deer

In a "safari"

With panda!

Nemo Nemo!

My favourite pic - with an Olde English Sheepdog, one of my favourite dog breeds
(I have a miniature version on my bed, bought from Watsons many years back)

A bear and an owl saying goodbye

What a big crab! (Actual size)

After lunch, we proceeded to Noboribetsu, to visit the Shiraoi Ainu Village. The Ainus are Japanese minorities, but they were supposedly the first inhabitants of Japan, something like the Australian Aboriginals, New Zealand Maoris and America's Indians.

The big statue at the entrance of the village

An Ainu dance

An Ainu man (Does he look like Takeshi Kaneshiro?)

The lake surrounding the village

Replicas of authentic Ainu huts

An Ainu dog

He looks so poor thing, being caged up like that! I wanted so much to set him free!

After that, we went up another mountain to Jigokudani, also known as Hell Valley. It is actually an active volcano, and there is steam coming out from the crater, and sulphur running into the stream which provides the hot spring waters for the hotels around the area.

The entrance of Hell Valley

Steam coming out of the volcanic crater

Sulphur flowing into the stream

A well, with boiling water of 60 degree celsius

More steam coming out

We checked into the Noboribetsu Sekisui Tei Hotel after that, just a short walk away from the crater. Again, it was another traditional Japanese setting hotel room, except besides the Tatami, there were also two beds. That night, we slept on the beds, after two days of sleeping on Tatamis.

We went to the hot spring bath again, then went for a buffet dinner. This hot spring seems better than the second one, as it was real stream water and sulphur from the volcanic area itself.

Another Japanese lady?

The set-up of the hotel room

The next day was our last day in Japan. So it was more shopping than anything else. We went back to Sapporo and stopped first at the Nijo Seafood Market. Then we proceeded to the Tanukikoji Shopping Arcade and Susukino Ramen Alley for shopping and lunch.

The shop the tour guide recommended was one that was tucked in a corner. It was a cheap sale, everything was tax-free with a discount of 15%. So we bought lots of souvenirs, Ishiya chocolates and Royce chocolates as well. And we proceeded to the ramen place recommended for lunch.

The shop was in a Japanese setting, with bamboo poles. Even the bathroom was so quaint! There are owls on display, and a bamboo washing area where you step on a pedal and water spouts out for you to wash your hands. I have never seen a bathroom like this! Simple, yet elegant, and classic.

We went shopping at the shopping arcade after lunch. The shopping arcade is a whole row of shops, ranging seven streets. Beyond the shopping arcade, there is a 100 Yen shop (something like our now-defunct 1.99 shop), and a Robinsons. We walked so much until my legs ached!

Nijo Fresh Seafood Market

Finally, I found Doraemon!

The "trademarks" of Japan - Doraemon and Hello Kitty

The entrance of the Ramen restaurant

The owl display in the bathroom of the ramen place

Water spouting out of the bamboo "sink"

The decorations on the ceiling of the ramen place

Part of the Tanukikoji Shopping Arcade

I could not believe I found this! Right smack outside a shop in the shopping arcade.

I could not believe I found this too! Orlando.... where are you?

Outside a chilli shop

After a whole afternoon of shopping, the tour guide brought us to the Hokkaido Jingu Shrine, where during the New Year, many locals go to pray for fortune and good tidings.

The big drum at the entrance of the Shrine

The donation boxes to "get" your fortune reading

Another donation box for tithes (or tokens)

The entrance of the Shrine

Since there was still some time left, the tour guide gave us a bonus tour. He brought us up Mount Okaru, to see the Okaruyama Ski Stadium, the site of the 2007 Winter Olympic Games. I can only imagine what the entire ski slide looks like in Winter when all the snow is covering it.

The front of the Stadium

The ski slope from the bottom

Something that will never happen to me - to be number one, in anything

The big scoreboard of the ski stadium

Close-up of the ski slope while up the ski lift

Up the ski lift to the top

A view of the ski slope from the top

The sign of the ski stadium

A view of Sapporo city from the top of the ski stadium

Ski slope from the front

We went for dinner after that. It was a teppanyaki dinner, and we cooked all the food. We ordered abalone and Kobe beef as extras, but both did not taste that well. My mum complained that the quality was not there judging from the amount we paid.

Sapporo beer was on the house, so I drank two glasses. I was so depressed and worried that I did not care if I got drunk! In fact, I wanted to get drunk so I could just conk out and forget about everything.

Our dinner place

We checked into the Susukino Green II Hotel in Sapporo after dinner. I was feeling so drunk that I was not in the mood to wander around the Susukino area, the red light district. I just went straight to bed after reaching the hotel room. Even then I did not get a good night's sleep as there was simply too many things on my mind.

We checked out very early the next morning as we had to catch a flight back. After a buffet breakfast, we arrived at Chitose Airport, then took a domestic flight to Haneda Airport in Tokyo, and took a coach ride to Narita Airport. Since there was ample time before the next flight, my mum and I went for lunch at the food court, then went shopping around.

There was a supermarket giving samples of chocolate cake. The chocolate cake is really delicious and rich! We ate so much that I think we must have eaten the entire packet! Anyway there was only five cakes per packet, and the samples were cut into small pieces of four each, so we ended up eating all the pieces on display!

After that we wandered around the airport. My mum bought herself a lavendar brooch and a pair of lavendar earrings for me. There were lots of nice things on display in the airport itself. We entered the departure hall with fifteen minutes to spare but realised the queue was so long!

We were worried we could not reach the gate on time, but luckily we managed to reach the gate on time, and hence took the plane back, where now I have to return to the grind of life and solve some problems which have been put away for a while.

What a giant Hello Kitty! (At the Narita Airport)