Going Past Israeli Customs

In all my years of travelling, I have always gone past customs very smoothly. This time, going to Israel is a big hassle. Our travel agent already briefed us beforehand that before we board the plane, the customs officers will ask a lot of questions. I think because they are so afraid of terrorists that they make everyone's lives inconvenient.

In the first place, our luggage cannot be locked, as the customs officers will open at random and check. While transiting at Bangkok, we handed over our passports, and then the grilling started. We were asked questions like :

1. What is your purpose of going to Israel?

2. Do you know anyone there?

3. Did anyone give you anything to bring over?

4. Did you pack everything in your luggage on your own?

5. How long will you be staying?

This is the first time I came across customs officers asking so many questions! I do not think any other airlines or going to any other countries, is ever so troublesome. In the first place, even if we answer the questions in a politically correct way, who is to know? I may be a terrorist for all anyone cares, but still answer the questions in a politically correct way! No terrorist is going to blow the cover so easily!

But the main thing is we managed to make the plane and off to Israel we went! But our passports were not to be stamped, otherwise countries like Malaysia and Indonesia will never welcome us again! Hence, we had to specifically tell the guy at the counter not to stamp our passports, so he printed out a white immigration card on the spot for us and that would be our entry visa into Israel.

However, in Israel, due to the demarcation zones between the Israelis and the Palestines, there are border crossings to go through. Before we were due to go into Palestine territory, we were asked to bring along our passports. So we had to bring our passports to go to Bethlehem, which is in Palestine territory. Yet there was no checks that day.

On the last day before we were due to leave, we had to go deep into the West Bank, which is Palestine Muslim and Bedouin territory. We all had our passports with us and our luggages in the coach. Upon coming out from the West Bank on our way to Tel Aviv, two uniformed officers stopped our coach at the gantry and came up the coach to check our passports. For some reason, my passport was confiscated.

Besides me, three other ladies' passports were also confiscated. I wonder if it is due to the fact that I went Malaysia and Indonesia recently? In any case, the uniformed female said all those with their passports taken, had to take all their luggages down and go to the little room in the corner.

I had to leave the coach and take my passport. I got a real fright, as I thought could it be I had been going Malaysia and Indonesia quite frequently lately that I had to be detained in Israel? I could see my mum's face turning ashen.

We took our luggages and put it through the scanner. All our luggages were stopped. We were asked to open our luggage and let them see what was inside. My two bottles of wine were discovered and they took a look at the wine.

The other girls' were scanned for wine, Dead Sea products and water. As long as there is bottle, tube, jar and whatnot, we had to declare and let them check. Luckily they did not discover the tubes of Dead Sea Mud Masks I kept wrapped in between my clothes!

Afterthat, our hand luggages were being scanned. Mine was fine. But those that had iPads and laptops had to remove them, let them check, and scanned again. Finally, everything was in order, nothing was confiscated, our passports were returned, and we could board the coach again. Thank goodness! I was actually imagining how life in an Israeli prison would be like!

But the delay cost us our last venue of Jaffa Port. I would love to have gone there, but unfortunately, we already took so long at the social mission at West Bank, so even if there was no holdup, we were still running on tight schedule. My mum was especially angry, because she was upset that the person in charge of the social mission trip got carried away and took such a long time, hence holding up everyone else, which made us unable to go to Hebron Old City.

Yet when I and the other three got detained at customs and everyone in the coach were wondering what happened, that person took the opportunity to ask the rest of them to fill in the feedback form, just to "save time" while waiting! My mum kind of told her off for being insensitive!

When we went to the airport, very early just in case, again it was another round of questions. We were departing, not arriving, yet the customs officers again asked us if anyone gave us anything to bring out, or if we accepted any gifts from anyone. 

Hence all things that were given to us, like the bag and cap from the travel agent, the tour booklet, the wooden oil lamp from Nazareth and the olive wood communion cup from The Garden Tomb, had to be in our hand carry and declared at the customs.

After going through the customs, we had to bring our luggages to scan. Most of us did not pass the scanning and were asked to go for a luggage check. When I got to the counter, the lady asked if I had wine inside. I said yes. She then asked how many bottles? I said two. She asked me what kind? I said one white and one dessert iced. After that she was satisfied and let me go. Again, they did not notice the Dead Sea products I had in my luggage, whereas the rest were being asked and searched for those!

Finally I was able to check in at the counter. And I managed to get a window seat this time for an overnight flight! After going past the customs, things were smoother, and we did not have anymore hassle before boarding the plane. We could even have our dinner and shop at the duty free shop before boarding.

It was smooth all the way until the plane arrived at Bangkok for our transit, and then on the next flight back home. Finally I was home, and I so would not want to go through that again! I really will not mind going back to Israel, but oh, the customs itself is really a big hassle that it makes me think twice about going again!

Healing Cracked Lips ...

My lips have been chapping whenever I go overseas ever since I was ten. That year we went to Genting Highlands, and I went around with painful and red lips throughout. I thought nothing of it and continued my vacation happily.

Then when I was eleven and we went to Sydney, my lips started cracking again. My aunt gave me her pot of Vaseline to apply, and it healed quite fast, so I thought I could stop applying, but it started cracking again the moment I stopped.

That was when I realise I had this problem whenever I was away. My mum said because the air overseas is drier, as well as up in the mountains, so my lips would be the first to be chapped, hence I need to moisturise them very well.

When I was twelve, we went to Cameron Highlands. My mum allowed me to apply her lipstick throughout, and nothing went wrong. So I presumed applying something to my lips is the way to go.

Through the years, I started to realise that applying petroleum jelly on my lips help a lot in moisturising, much better than normal lip balms, lip glosses and lipsticks. Since then, my lips never went bare. I would always have at least a lip gloss or lip stick on my lips.

There was a period of time when I applied my lips with white soft paraffin, which could be found only in the Skin Center, and must be diagnosed by a specialist. I went there for treatment as my lips kept chapping for no reason and it was affecting the skin around my mouth. After that, I was discharged from the Skin Center, so I started using pots of Vaseline Petroleum Jelly, especially when I went overseas.

Through the years, I have tried lots of lip products, like lip balm, lip butter, and whatnot, but none actually work as well. Thank goodness that my lips do not chap as much anymore, so I can get by with any product now. Even when I went to the States two years back, I could apply normal lip gloss and my lips did not get chapped.

However, during this trip to Israel, I did not wish to take chances. Israel is in the middle east region, which means it is very hot and probably dry. I did not wish to end up with chapped lips. After trying so many products that I find average, I came across Kiehl's Lip Balm which I heard is pretty good. I was fortunate that I got a tube for Christmas and I bought a Cranberry-flavoured one on my own.

I brought these two to Israel, and applied them only when necessary, instead of every day and night and every few hours as before. In fact, I only applied the lip balm on the plane and in the mornings after breakfast. I did not even apply them when I sleep at night, except for the last two nights.

And I am pleasantly surprised that my lips did not chap! The balm glides on smoothly and I feel my lips very moisturised, so much so that I hardly need to re-apply. My lips remain smooth and moisturised throughout the trip, with no cracking or chapping! Great product!

So now that I have found my gateway to healing cracked lips, I am going to stock up on Kiehl's Lip Balm and use them for a very long time!

Braiding My Hair In Israel

I have had long hair since as long as I can remember, but during school days, I always had to tie it up into a ponytail. Due to my laziness, I never bothered to really master hairstyling, hence my hair is messy and I often let it loose instead of tying it up as I find it too much of a hassle.

However, I thought to have my hair tied up in Israel, since we were all wearing the same caps, and the weather was hot. Not humid, but just hot, so it was still bearable and not sticky. But after not having tied a ponytail for upmteen years, I made a mess out of my hair. Finally my mum offered to braid my hair for me.

Wow.. when was the last time I actually had my hair braided? I think it was before I even went to school! But my mum did a very good job, that I could slot my braid inside my cap and it would not blow off, and I could remain cool and neat at the same time.

So that was what we did. And she braided my hair everyday, until the day we transited in Bangkok and I removed the braid and just left my hair as it always is. I like braiding my hair, it makes my hair looks much neater and less floppy. And I also got to have good bonding with my mum, as it has been so long since she took care of me that way!

Back From Middle East

I am back! I touched down late last night and immediately went home to wash up and sleep. This trip has been really amazing, except for a few hiccups here and there. I guess it is more amazing for me because I can imagine how the stories in the Bible would have been written. Unfortunately, my mum did not appreciate the sites as much as I did, so she was overall not very impressed with the trip.

Still, it was a good trip, making new friends and bonding with my mum. I will give more details of the trip soon, after I have sorted out all the photos! Meanwhile, stay tuned for more updates about my trip to the Holy Land!

A "Lost" Opportunity?

Just when I am moving, another headhunter called me, this time with a very exciting opportunity on a sole legal role in a listed company. That company is in the property development business and it develops beach resorts around. The role is a direct counsel role, so I do not even need to be at associate level anymore, and I am basically my own boss and own assistant.

The best perk is that I get to go to the beach resorts for meetings and travel and enjoy for free! Wow.. that sounds so great! Why must this come just after I have accepted the other great offer? Some people may want to retract the appointment, but I have already signed the letter of offer, plus gone for the medical checkup and whatnot. I cannot just retract like that, especially since the headhunter who got me the job has been so nice to me all along.

Sometimes opportunities do come at the wrong time, but since we have made a choice, we should just stick with it, is it not? The world does not revolve around me alone, and since other people are involved, I should not play them out like that, even though goodness knows how many times people have played me out.

Maybe it is just meant, or not meant, to be. Lost opportunities will come back one day as something even better, as from what I have already experienced so far in my relatively short life.

Not A Housekeeper Be ...

My maid is back, finally! And there is a difference when she is away and when she is back. Now that she is back, the house went back to its spic and span condition, no trace of dust, floors waxed properly, no stickiness. We really cannot do without her!

I think I really do not make a good housekeeper. Or perhaps I have taken for granted that there will always be domestic help. This period of time when my maid was away and I had to work and clean the house really took a toil on me. I seriously wonder how do other women do it?

Perhaps if I stay home full time I can do a better job. If this is what makes a woman prove her capability, ie work, clean the house, take charge of the household, look after kids, then I must say I am really useless in this respect because I find I am not able to juggle that very well.

Kudos to all my cousins and friends who are able to work and juggle the housework and whatnot at the same time! Really take my so many hats off to you! Which is why the men better appreciate your women more as they still have to work, cook, clean, raise kids and whatnot to ensure you have a more comfortable and carefree life without complaints!

My New Suit ...

My new swimsuit came today! It is a blue printed tankini halter top, with matching boyleg shorts, and even a matching scrunchie to tie up my hair! Perfect for a beach vacation! This is the sixth swimsuit I own currently, even though I hardly swim, or rather, I hardly swim here.

I am not much a water person, as can be attested to the fact that I have not swum in ten years. In fact, my recent trip to Redang, I swam more in two days then ten years combined! This is how long I have not swam, but then I am not someone who likes going to swimming pools in the first place. 

I always find swimming a more troublesome sport than anything else, because one has to bring gear, goggles, cap, and then shower materials, plus a change of clothing, unlike other kind of sports where you can just wear any old thing and run or jog or cycle instead of bringing so many things to change.

However, I do enjoy beach holidays. Walking by the beach, wading in the water, seeing the sunset and enjoying the peace and tranquility ... I only wish I can have this kind of getaway ever so often!

Of course, a beach holiday is not a beach holiday if one does not pack a swimsuit. I remember the last swimsuit I had that my mum bought me when I was twelve. It was a one-piece suit and I used it for the compulsory swimming lessons my school made us take when I was in lower secondary. Since then I used it for years, all the way until I was in my early twenties! That proves that I stopped growing since secondary school!

My first beach holiday was three days in Bintan. Needless to say, I wanted to pack swimsuits as I thought we would be swimming for all days. I thought since I was already an adult, I ought to pick my own swimsuit, so I went searching for a bikini. I managed to find one set of olive green bikini and one set of pink bikini. By a stroke of luck, one of the female magazines that time gave away a free set of bikini, so I also got a set of green bikini. Unfortunately, I ended up with that time of the month the day before the holiday, so I could not show off my new bikinis.

Later on I discovered I no longer had the body for bikinis, and a guy I was dating then invited me for a swim. So I decided to get another swimsuit. I did not like those one-piece swimsuits as I wanted one that could flatter whatever figure I had yet still hid all my flabs. Hence I settled on a blue tankini, with floral prints. The spaghetti strap top covered my tummy and the matching bottom covered my bum so it was perfect! The set also came with a free matching wraparound skirt.

Since then, I took the tankini set everywhere I went, to New Zealand for the hot spring, to Phuket for the snorkelling, and the bikinis I had were just packed as extra just in case. In fact, I hardly ever utilise the bikinis now because I am too ashamed to go out in a full bikini with my burgeoning figure.

Last year I happened to come across swimdresses. Apparently swimsuits are so sophisticated now that one can wear from the pool or a beach direct to a party after that! Hence the swimdress. It is made of swimsuit material, yet at the same time one can wear it as a dress without any extra cover up. It is casual enough to walk on the beach, yet chic enough to go to a beach party with it. 

What does a swimdress look like? It is a one-piece swimsuit with a short skirt attached. Some of these come with detachable skirts. In fact, swimdress looks more like a dress than a swimsuit. One would not think it is a swimsuit unless we see one swimming in it. 

I thought it was a good idea to wear that on vacations, so I bought one white and yellow swimdress, which I have worn to Sarawak and Redang. The material is good, soft, comfortable and dries up fast after being in the water.

For my upcoming Israel trip, I would have the chance to dip in the Dead Sea. After all the reviews I read about colour fading off from the clothes due to the high salt content, as well as certain clothes cannot be worn because of the religion there, I started racking my brains on what I can or cannot wear.

Definitely I would not be able to wear a bikini. My next option is the tankini, but the bottom part is not allowed on the basis the shorts are too short. If I wear the swimdress, what if I spoil the material and the colour runs, especially since it is a white background? The swimdress is one item I intend to own for a long time, so I do not wish for anything to happen to it.

In the end, the perfect solution is to wear a swimsuit that is not only conservative, and I need not worry about the colour running out. So I started searching, and finally came across a perfect swimsuit - the blue halter tankini top with half-covered back, and boyleg shorts for the bottom. It also comes with a free matching scrunchie! Conservative swimsuit, dark colour so even if the colour runs it is hardly noticeable, and good material, plus a scrunchie to tie up my hair while soaking in the Dead Sea! And the price does not hurt too!

So now that I have more swimsuits, perhaps it is an excuse that I can plan more beach holidays and getaways from now on!

"Bimbotic" Moment ...

One of my greatest "bimbotic" moment - I bought several new outfits online recently. I even ensured they were to my exact measurements, with a little leeway here and there. When they arrived, I tried them on and realised I could not fit into them! I started panicking, because I was not able to return them, and if I could not wear, then unless I shrink miraculously, otherwise they will be wasted money and become white elephants. Worse is I may have to give them away before I even started wearing!

Suddenly this morning, I had a flash of "inspiration". I took out the outfits and checked them out thoroughly, and guess what? There were zippers at the side! No wonder I could not fit into them, because for some reason, I did not think of checking whether there was any zip and just tried them on! When I unzipped them, I found that the outfits really fit me like a glove, and I was still able to zip them up perfectly!

The thing is, this kind of thing should not happen, is it not? What made me think there would not be any zippers? All my outfits have zippers, be it at the side or behind! So what happened to my common sense at that point in time?!

Times like this I really feel like kicking myself for being so idiotic!

My New "Shoe" ...

I bought a new shoe today! Yes, shoe, as in one shoe, not a pair of shoes.

 

Why only one shoe? Because I could not resist buying that shoe! I came across this darling shoe today while at one of our local hypermarts :

Pardon the image but I had to do some editing to capture only the shoe. Other than the "jagged" edges, the shoe is pretty lovely, is it not?

 



Except the shoe cannot be worn! Because it is actually ...

Yes, it is a Scotch Tape dispenser! Disappointed? Or intrigued? I fell in love with this the moment I saw it! The Shoe Tape dispenser also comes with four refillable tapes! Pretty worth buying!

 

There is also a small write-up at the back of the box :

 

This is the cutest stationery I ever saw, and makes a really wonderful display on my own study desk!

Tribute To International Youth Service

Recently, I came across a Facebook group called "People Who Used International Youth Service To Find Penpals". This brought me back to my secondary school days where I used this service to find penpals around the world. Even though I have lost touch with most of them, it was a pretty fun hobby. The excitement of receiving a letter, sending a letter, awaiting the pretty envelope and the stamps, these are things that we do not do nowadays.

 

International Youth Service finally closed down for good in around 2007 or thereabouts. From a very popular service where every youth in the world utilised, it was no match to globalisation, technology and social media, where one can contact someone instantly through a click of a mouse. Hence, writing letters started to phase out.

 

It is unfortunate that this service is no longer around. Kids nowadays have no patience to write letters on beautiful stationery, slip into cutesy envelopes and attach a nice stamp. People want convenience and instant communication nowadays.

 

The days of writing letters are gone. What a pity, as those were one of the most fun things I did during my younger years!

A Day Of Errands

Today I took the day off as I had things to do. First up, I met a friend from my Friday Woman's Prayer group for lunch. After that, I went for the second of third facial treatments from my Groupon voucher. Finally I went to meet up with a psychotherapist at Clarity, a Catholic counselling centre for the mentally disturbed.

 

To clarify (clarifying Clarity??) again, I am NOT mentally disturbed. I am a normal, working adult female. Maybe I am quirky and "wired" wrongly somewhat, and with "Hannibalistic" tendencies, but otherwise I am just as normal as everyone else.

 

However, I know of someone who is likely suffering from mental illness and needs help, hence I went there to see how help can be given, which I will eleborate more on my next post.

 

By the time I reached home, it was close to eight. At least I have had a fulfilling day. How I wish I can afford to take more time off just for myself and to do my own things!

Yearning For Motherhood

For the past two days, I would drop by the hospital next to my office to visit my friend who just gave birth. Her baby is so adorable! I can look at her for the whole day and not get tired! Today, I had the priviledge of seeing the nurse teaching the parents how to shower the baby. Tender loving care needs to be taken into account when handling a baby. It is really not easy taking care of a baby, besides carrying the baby for all those months.

 

After seeing this, I can finally understand my mum a lot more, on how much she did for us, how she took care of us, how much she had to put up with. Imagine you give birth to a child, take care of the child, raise the child, and the child later turns around and be rebellious and upset you. As a parent, it can really be very hurtful.

 

As a parent, one really gives the best to the child, especially in terms of education, religion, values. It makes me wonder why did some people give birth only to abandon their own children, or neglect the children? If I have my own child, I would want to spend all my time looking at him, teaching him, taking care of him, and worry about him.

 

Seeing the new parents with the adorable baby, it really makes me yearn to have my own child. Now that our government is finally letting single, unmarried women who got pregnant for whatever reason and who wants to keep the baby, go on maternity leave, I am just so tempted to have a child of my own. So even if I do not get married or if I get married and for some reason he is not able to give me children, I can still have a child of my own.

 

But who am I kidding? My mum will kill me if I even think about having a kid out of wedlock. Our society (as in this country) will turn its nose up at me. I will be judged and ostracised because it is still taboo for an unmarried woman to have a child out of wedlock, even though this is so pronounced in a lot of other countries. Not to mention it is against my religious values.

 

I guess I have to wait until I am married then. But by then can I still conceive? As in will I still be biologically able to conceive since I am close to the age of higher risk? I really do hope so, because I really want so much to be a wife and mother, and I truly hope and pray that God can at least grant me this wish!

My New PAssion ...

It is here! The PAssion Card I signed up for few weeks back has arrived, with my name, card number, expiry date and the nearest community centre I would be affiliated to. Since this is also a transport card, I can use the card on public transport as well as to pay for purchases at various places.

 

 

This card functions similar to the Hong Kong Octopus Card, but I think the Octopus Card has much better functions. Hopefully there comes a time when everyone here goes cashless and we need not have the hassle of having to withdraw cash all the time!

Great Adventure Deals!

I am getting so obsessed with Groupon that I have to stop looking at the fantastic deals! What to do, since the prices there are so low that your eyes literally pop out when you see them! Nevertheless, I bought some more great deals which will make my life more "colourful".

 

After many months of literally doing nothing during the weekends (save for the movies I watched), I thought I wanted to be more adventurous this year and do some exploring. Just as well that Groupon has recently come up with lots of deals for day trips and getaways, so I bought all those that are going at very good prices!

 

After the bird trip, there will be visits to the newly renovated Underwater World as well as the new oceanarium. Why there are two aquariums in close proximity on the same island, I really cannot fathom, but I just hope with two competitors, the massive aquariums will only be better.

 

The voucher for the Underwater World also entitles a trip to Gardens By The Bay, since the voucher was put up by the same vendor. Ever since this massive garden opened, I have not been there, so I hope to go and see what the hype that is all about!

 

After that there is also a visit to Universal Studios. Okay, this is not from Groupon, but a friend managed to get it from her company and we will be going soon before the vouchers expire in April. I have been to Universal Studios twice, once at night where there is nothing much to see, and another time during a Family Day with my previous company, but it was crowded so we did not manage to take a lot of rides. Hopefully this time I can take more rides and explore the place more thoroughly.

 

I also bought a package for a stay in a resort in Johor Bahru, together with a day trip to Legoland, as well as a day trip to Hello Kitty Town with return transfers, together with a dinner thrown in. These deals are going for a steal, if the Groupon voucher is still available.

 

The one thing that I feel is most adventurous and most worth it, will be a diving package I bought. The amount of S$299.00 covers a theory class, an open water class, plus a weekend diving trip to Tioman with accommodation, land transfers, return ferries, and diving packages thrown in. At the end of it all, we will be able to get our Open Water certification. That is why I think this amount is very good because a similar course will cost S$600.00 to S$700.00 at least.

 

Hopefully with all these adventures, this year will be much more fulfilling than last year!

"Milking" Dry ...

This year is a year of new rulings, especially in terms of heavy ticket items like car and housing. For a country who charges exorbitant prices for cars and housing, the news is definitely not welcomed by the general population.

 

Just imagine this. The salaries we make is barely sufficient to make ends meet. I am not even talking about luxurious lifestyle like fine dining, going first class, staying in a mansion and driving fancy cars. I am talking about a mere small two-bedroom apartment, small hatchback car, and grocery shopping or eating at hawker centres. Yet most people still struggle with dual incomes.

 

For instance, the cheapest car around, a Suzuki Swift, cost around S$68,000.00 or thereabouts. I am quoting the estimated price because I have no idea how much the cars cost nowadays. This is for a new car. But in order to own this car, one needs to have the certificate of entitlement of say S$10,000.00. So in total, a small car like this can cost S$78,000.00 or thereabouts. I believe with this price, one can own a fancy car or even two cars overseas already!

 

It was still bearable in the past because you just need to purchase the car with a loan and then pay off as much as possible after that. However, with the new ruling, those who intend to buy a car needs to have a forty percent downpayment first before the bank loans can start. Which means one now needs to pay S$27,200.00 plus S$10,000 of the entitlement to even own a car, making it a flat payment of S$37,200.00 before the loans can start taking into effect.

 

S$37,200.00 to own a car! And this is only the downpayment! This amount probably equates to a full car ownership in some other countries! How many people can come up with this amount first hand? Unless you are the rich and famous, otherwise this amount equates to many people's yearly income.

 

This also includes buying second hand cars, which means even if the car is older, one also needs to pay the full flat fee of forty percent downpayment before being able to own a car. Looks like the government's efforts of restricting cars on the roads are finally going to succeed, to the uproar of the public.

 

It may still not be that bad if one does not have a house to pay off. However, if one needs to pay off housing loans as well, then it is really practically impossible to own a car now. Living expenses are really getting more and more difficult to sustain in the near future. Housing prices will only increase, despite the flats getting smaller and smaller, and location getting more and more inconvenient. No longer do we have the luxury of owning a big flat in a good location, because the newer estates are all in the undeveloped areas that is so far off from everywhere, with hardly any transport and amenities, and yet the flats are being built with smaller spaces.

 

Now comes the new ruling for flat ownership. It used to be that singles who have reached the age of thirty-five, are not able to buy new flats on their own. They can only buy resale or old flats, and only limited to three-room flats, which means two-bedrooms and one living room. Why? Because new flats are exclusively reserved for those with families. Why are we being punished just because we happen to marry late, or do not get married for whatever reason? It is as if it is a sin being single and unmarried.

 

With the new ruling, singles who have reached thirty-five and earning a maximum of S$5,000.00 a month can apply for new flats. However, the catch is that the new flats must be in non-mature estates, which means developing estates, which means somewhere out of the way from everywhere else. And they are only restricted to two-room flats. Which means the bigger flats are reserved for those with families.

 

Does it mean just because one is a single, one is not entitled to a bigger flat? What if someone likes to live in a bigger place with more rooms? What can one do with just one room? What if they have guests coming to stay? Afterall, if we are going to pay so much for a flat, are we not entitled to choose where we want to stay? A flat, like marriage, is supposedly a once-in-a-lifetime affair, and if we buy a good place and build our dream home, would it not be much better than to shift again if there is any change in status or family?

 

Sometimes I really wonder if our government is milking us dry. Where else is there such restrictions on things like housing and cars? I have never heard of anywhere else that singles cannot buy their own place until thirty-five. Does it mean once you reach thirty-five, you are certified left on the shelf and no hope for a family anymore? Then I should start panicking, is it not, since I am close reaching that age and still will not be married by then.

Image Of Success?

This sounds to be another narcissistic post. I seem to be focusing a lot on myself lately. It is me against the world, as always. People may wonder why am I always rambling on about myself and my own vanity? Why not rave about intelligent world news?

 

Good point actually. But then world news is public, whereas personal news, well, not so public. Whatever I want to say about any current affairs, people would have already said, and many a times, they have much stronger opinions than me on those issues. So what is one more or less opinion, when all are the same anyway?

 

Hence I chose to rave about myself. Whatever I do is not news of course, but at least to me, it is an avenue to let out what I feel. Whether people read or not or appreciate or not, that does not really matter to me.

 

Of course, I do know that as long as the information is shared on the internet, it is no longer private. Which is why many a time, especially in this internet rampant age where whatever people do are being scrutinised with millions of eyes, one must be especially careful on what to disclose and what not to disclose.

 

That is why I can only disclose about myself, because I do not mind sharing, well, some aspects of my life and ongoings, no matter how trivial and boring my existence is. It is not polite nor appropriate to disclose others' affairs, hence I refrain from talking about others, be it my family, loved ones, friends, co-workers and so on, although during times of frustration and bewilderment, I do start raving and ranting on just to let off steam.

 

Two months into the new year, what exactly have I achieved? Nothing extraordinary I guess, as usual. Actually I wanted to get a lot of things done by 2010, but turned out nothing was done. Maybe if I should have pushed more, or done more, or made more effort. But whatever it is, many things are beyond my control.

 

The only thing I can control is myself, and how I do things. External factors are beyond me. So for now, I just want to improve my own self-image. Image is important, especially for self-confidence and impression. You never know when you will get noticed to do better things.

 

In order to do that, first off, I went to do a wardrobe overhaul. I got rid of some old clothes, and bought some new ones. While clearing stuff, I realise that actually my dressing style and taste is a lot like Princess Kate - we both like straight, simple cuts that look classic yet elegant. I do not like clothes with lots of prints and patterns. The other kind of style I like is flowy dress or skirt, where one can wear anywhere be it on a casual date or on the beach or on vacation.

 

The next thing is an image overhaul. With the new masks I bought, coupled with my existing skincare routine and some new makeup, I think I can make myself look years younger. Not to mention the hair stylers I have, that can give me wavy, curly, straight, sleek or even crimpy hair!

 

Vanity calls. But only with vanity that one can look good, and when one looks good, somehow their lives will be better? I do not know if there is any basis in that theory, but so far those people who are pretty successful are those who not only have a positive image, but they look very good for their ages too!

 

After all, I cannot keep griping that I am not successful if I do not wish to take the first step right?

Card Of Passion

I have been thinking of applying for a PAssion Card for quite some time, but never got down to doing that because I am just too darn lazy to go down personally to a community centre, queue up and sign up for the card. Besides, the PAssion Card does not make any difference to my lifestyle, except it can be used on public transport, tapping and paying for small purchases at selected stores, and gives great discounts to courses held by community centres, which incidentally I have never participated.

 

However, when I heard that there is a closed-door sale at selected pharmacies yesterday for PAssion Card members, and that we can sign up for the card on the spot, I went down to take a look. Essentially there are half prices with another five percent off for selected toiletries and products for card members.

 

When I reached one of the stores, it was pretty crowded. Afterall, everyone who is anyone would want to utilise a sale, is it not? Those who did not hold a PAssion Card or who did not bring theirs were not allowed in. So I signed up for the card on the spot, by paying for a five-year membership (in case anyone of you think it is expensive, bear in mind that the five-year membership averages to only S$2.40 per year). My card will be delivered to me in about six weeks.

 

After that I took the receipt and went into the store. Since it was crowded I did not wish to linger around much. The awecome discounts did not affect me as well since I still do not hold the card as of now. But since I was already there, I might as well look around more, and luckily I did as I managed to find the sunscreen I was looking for!

 

Now I just have to sit back, relax and wait for my card to arrive! Once that has come, I can officially retire my old worn out public transport card and start using this to travel on public transport with a PAssion!

Crushing Candy!

After recommendations from a few people, I started on the game Candy Crush Saga to take a look. I am never a game person. People find it boring to play games with me, because I always prefer to play intelligent and educational games like word games, puzzles, trivial, hidden objects that actually tell a story, or whodunits. Which is why I never took to Angry Birds as I find the game so meaningless, hence I can never understand the hype about this game.

 

After playing Candy Crush, I realise it is just like Bejewelled, another game that I used to play and quite like it, except instead of gems, it is pieces of candy. The trick is to bring down as much candy as you can, otherwise the time will run out and we have to start over.

 

I can understand the hype about this because this game can be rather addictive. However, as with all games and me, the hype will probably die down after a while. Still, the adrenalin rush when playing the game and knowing that you manage to go through another round is exhilarating indeed!

 

The other game I am playing now is Scramble. I know, sounds boring to most people. But Scramble is really a good game to help improve one's vocabulary and trains you to think quick, because we only have two minutes to form as many words as possible and score as high as possible. Needless to say I always lose because I can never think that quickly, and many a times, I only managed to see the words at the last moment but it was too late to form the words. :-( I hope I can score better in Scramble!

More Groupons ...

I am really starting to like Groupon. After the first time I used and there are really no hidden costs and the services rendered are really good, I decided to use Groupon as much as possible from now on, especially when it comes to great deals.

 

So today I bought a spa session for myself, consisting of full body massage, face spa, foot bath and steam room. I also bought an all-in-one manicure set, a session of macaron baking lesson and a meal at Charly T's.

 

Since everyone in the world is trying to save as much money as possible, Groupon is really a good way to cut down on expenses. For instance, the spa session will cost a few hundred, but under this Groupon deal, it is only less than fifty. Talk about great savings! Of course the rest of the deals have great savings too!

 

I really cannot wait to try out all these deals and see if the merchants really do honour their words and not just another scam! At least from the first batch it is not a scam, it is really too good to be true, but I shall see for this second batch.

Wandering Opposite The Prison

Last Saturday I received an email asking me to collect the Coach bag today. The address given is at a condominium development opposite the prison. Earlier on when I went to collect it, I had to drop directly opposite the prison. Now the prison is a place that everyone tends to avoid. When I dropped opposite the place, it was already dusk, and the whole place looks forbidding, dark and scary. One wonders why people want to do things to get themselves in prison in the first place, because one look at that place scares people off. I think I will turn mad being confined in there!

 

In any case, I found the condominium development. However, because it is opposite the prison, the part facing the prison is the back gate, which has high walls and a tight security. No one can go in without authorisation. Hence, I have to make my way to the main entrance, which is to walk all the way down, veer left, walk another stretch and finally reaching the main entrance.

 

But it is not enough. The whole development is built on a hill, so after I reached the guard house, I have to go up a small hill and walk all the way to the end. I still could not find the place. Later on I found out the lady was living at the block all the way up the hill, further up from the multi-story carpark and the tennis courts, right next to the prison. All these hassle for nothing!

 

I called her and told her I have reached, so she came down. But turned out that the lobby, or rather the main lobby where the cars come in and drop people off, is on the second floor and not the first floor, which was the pedestrian entrance where I entered. So there was another confusion.

 

In any case, everything turned out well. She was apologetic about making me walk so far, as she said if I told her I was walking in, she would have just opened the back gate and met me there opposite the prison instead. How nice of her!

 

Anyway this is a place that I will probably not consider staying, because firstly it is in quite a far off area, and secondly, it is opposite the prison! It would be a rather depressing place to stay in for me at least!