WOOHOO!!!

+It's been so long since I last blogged! Hello everyone, do continue to support this blog! =)))

+So what have I been up to since I came back? Listening to good music of course! There have so many good albums recently and I must really recommend a few. Oh, before I continue, I must annouce to the world that I have moved over to the MAC side!


The new MacBook 13"! With the same(or even better) specs as the MBPro and costing about $500 cheaper, this notebook is a killer deal. So now I'm blogging from my mac and loving it!

+Alright, enough of that, the first album that I highly recommend is 林宥嘉's《感官／世界》.


+I had such a joy listening to this album, although many may find it too hard to swallow. This time, Yoga has stuck to his own music preferences and decides to do an alternative rock album.

+Does it rock?

+You bet it does. Yoga, in a recent interview about his album, said that he prefers this album much more than the previous one (神秘嘉宾). When listening to this album, he continued, one's senses would feel stimulated, by the flow of this album. Well, I don't really feel stimulated per se, but the songs in this album really touches you. Polished singing techniques aside, his raw emotions and passion sweep over you like a wave. I particularly love the music arrangement of this album, it's very Coldplay + Sodagreen, if you get what I mean. What joy to listen to, really.

+Here is the 2nd hit from this album “说谎”, take listen and be won over. (There's a reason why this song is the second hit - it's not as alternative as the rest.)


+Is it worth my $19?

With this album, it's make or break for him, as it will certainly test the patience of his fans. For those who like their sugar-rush, they will have no doubt migrated over to 萧雅轩 and her《钻石糖》. LOL. Don't get my wrong I love that album also, just that I like this one more. The packaging of this album is really special too. I have never seen anything like this. The "lyrics book" is made of a few posters folded into "album size" and then put together. The whole stack is then placed inside a Ziploc bag. It's hard to decribe, just go take a look. Hahaha storing this is going to such a pain.

+Recommended Tracks: 看见什么吃什么, 说谎, 心酸, 唐人街, 感同身受
Click here to buy now! From YESASIA.com, free international shipping.

+Okay the next album I'm recommending is Taylor Swift's Fearless! Okay I'm slow and everything, but until recently when I revisited her songs did I realize what spellbinding magic they contain!


+Such a sweet, talented and young singer-songwriter! Her songs are very unique, it's like telling a story: no hidden agenda, no lyrics that don't make sense; everything is written and sung honestly.

+Does it rock?

+Country rock, that is. There's a reason why this teenage girl is one of the biggest selling artiste in 2008/09. She's talented, honest, and has a squeaky clean image - something that many artistes her age is lacking. ( Think Miley Cyrus or Vanessa Hudgens.) Her songs are also easy to sing along to, easy on the ears and easy to relate with. These few reasons have garnered her millions of fans! Her voice is strong when it has to be, wispy and lilty in those quiet times. Her songs are really addictive and catchy.

+Here's the controversial award-winning video "You Belong With Me".


+Is it worth my $19?

+Definitely, since the Singapore version only costs $11.90! Buy it with any of the other CDs on promotion and it's 2 for $22. How worth it is it!

+Recommended Tracks: Fearless, Love Story, You Belong With Me, You're Not Sorry, Hey Stephen
Click here to buy now! From amazon.com, shipping costs apply.

WHAT'S NEXT?

+Okay that's all for now, in the meantime, we can all wait for Lady Gaga's new album, The Fame Monster, and Britney's Singles Collection, and also Rihanna's Rated R. In the mandopop scene we can expect Jam Hsiao's collection of female love songs (I'm really looking forward to this.)and 梁文音's 爱一直存在 - both in November, 杨丞琳's 雨爱 and 王心凌's brand new album in December.

+Also look out for my next entry where I decide who is The Real Dancing Diva in the Mandopop scene.

Goodbye Brunei! (Erm, forever?)

+It's my last night here in Brunei and I think I should blog about it!

+I'm so glad I'm leaving you, yet there are MANY MANY things that I am certain I will miss about you, namely your $1 Nasi-Katok, your pirated DVDs, buttermilk chicken fried rice, the friends I made here and...and...and...I guess that's about it. LOL!

+There's something else I'm certain about. I'M NEVER COMING BACK! =)))

19/10/09 Flight Details

+I heard that Monday, 19 October is a Public Holiday! That's when I come back from Brunei too!

Flight Details
Date: 19 October 2009
Flight No.: SQ 181
Terminal: 2
ETA: 1400

+You guys can come fetch me if you are free!! Can't wait to see all of you guys! =))) Thanks!

I'm a TV Junkie 2

+American TV Series are IRRESISTIBLE. Here are some of the DVDs that I have watched/bought but haven't watch/attempting to smuggle back to Singapore. Haha. I'm taking orders as well. Tag or email me if you want anything. Movies, TV series or anime. But it's illegal ah, I say first. LOL!

Gossip Girl


90210


FRINGE


Lie to me*


Dollhouse


True Blood


Dexter




Damages


The Mentalist


+Any other recommendations? LOL!

9 More Days

+I've just finished my last duty! It's definitely a load off my shoulder, when you know your remaining days (or nights, rather) left in SAF are totally free! =)))


+With the completion of my last duty, it seems like everything here in Brunei is coming to a closure. We're doing preservation work on our tanks, clearing offs and leaves, packing and taking stock of your belongings, and I'll be signing clearances next week! It's so surreal that the day you have been waiting for for so long is finally arriving. In 9 more days, I will bid farewell to Brunei forever. After I'm back in Singapore, I get 4 days of leave, then it's back to HQ Armour to await my ORD, which is on the 10 of November!

+There's so many things I wanna do when I get back to Singapore! And these include revamping my room, getting a new hp and laptop, learn driving, travel, start singing and composing lessons, get a music related job...and so on! There's just so many possibilities! If there's one thing that Brunei has taught me, it's to not procrastinate and take things for granted. When I was in Singapore, I had all these ideas in my head too, but I just wasn't motivated enough to bring them into action. But now, I've learned that you have to just follow your heart and do whatever you want to do! Live your life!

+And for my friends who will still be in Brunei after I leave, take care, good luck and don't think so much. Your time will come soon. Treat Brunei like a train ride, people get on, people get off. For now, the train has reached my station and I'm getting off. The next stop, will, hopefully be yours. =)

+Oh yes, with much irony, seeing as how much I despise SAF, I have been presented with the "BEST SOLDIER AWARD" at the monthly Commandant Parade! LOL! So I'm best soldier for the month of September and my picture is shown in the cookhouse for the entire month of October. Hahaha! Just goes to show that hard work pays off! =)))

Don't write yourself off yet

+I've been playing Rock Band Unplugged on PSP, and it's really addictive! This song came up, and it really connected with me.

The Middle
Jimmy Eat World

Hey,
Don't write yourself off yet
It's only in your head you feel left out
Or looked down on
Just try your best
Try everything you can
And don't you worry what they tell themselves
When you're away

It just takes some time
little girl, you're in the middle of the ride
Everything, everything will be just fine
Everything, everything will be alright (alright)

Hey
You know they're all the same
You know you're doing better on your own (on your own)
So don't buy in
Live right now
Yeah, just be yourself
It doesn't matter if it's good enough (good enough)
For someone else

Hey, don't write yourself off yet
It's only in your head you feel left out (feel left out)
Or looked down on
Just do your best (just do your best)
Do everything you can (do everything you can)
And don't you worry what their bitter hearts (bitter hearts)
Are gonna say

+Back in 15 days! =)))

I'm The Joker

+Imagine preparing for a stand down parade of your detachment.

+For those of you who have been in the army/are in the army, you would know how hard it is. For my part, I had to paint a 10m banner (all by myself, mind you - last time, there were more manpower, we could do 10, no problem), clean the interior of the tanks (a bitch to do, due to all the small parts and the confined space of the tank, not to mention no one has actually consistently cleaned the inside), paint and diesel the exterior of the tanks and change the tracks (oh the horror of this). Other preparations included preparing a drive thru stand, a brand new saluting dias, setting up tentages, moving chairs, doing up invitation cards, creating momentos for the camp, doing a video montage, etc etc etc.

+ALL that to waste. 2 months worth of effort, gone down the drain in 3o seconds.

+"What would you guys say if we changed the parade to an indoor function?"he asked, just 3 hours before the parade. We were in the midst of setting up the parade, and was 80% done. All of us, in the sweltering heat, thought we had heard wrong.

+"Ask the armour guys to gather round please, I would like to ask them something,"he said. We put down everything we were doing, and gestured for everyone to gather. We were all perspiring while we walked over, what with setting up the banner, PA system and everything else.

+"Due to certain reasons, let's say - for our purpose here - that the tanks are not roadworthy...what would you all say that we cancel the parade, and make it an indoor function instead?"he asked, when we were all there.

+What? I thought to myself. You can't be serious. My jaw literally dropped. I looked round to see if the others thought the same but I was disappointed that most of my platoon was actually smiling and grinning. With overwhelming votes for the indoor function, the parade was cancelled and shifted to the function hall.

+No pride.

+I knew that many of them were hoping for the wet weather program. And that offer was much more than they could have hoped for. The parade was cancelled without the weather being wet. I know many of them hate this place, hate armour, hate army. So do I. But can't you have a little pride in whatever you do, even in doing things that you don't like? I've seen people being so selfish here, it makes me want to throw up. I've seen people here who are so indifferent to everything else other than themselves, that it spreads like a disease. They didn't even care that their hard work were all gone to waste. Yeah, you can claim that you are not like this outside of army, but I regret to tell you that army is where you show your true colours - if you are not like this outside of army, then I feel sorry for your friends outside as they do not even know the real you. That is truly pathetic and sad.

+And for the management who made this change, congratulations; for you have made a joke out of the camp, yourselves and the armour detachment. The heli-detachment even moved all their helicopters away from the helipad to allow us to parade there. This whole parade thing, right from the very beginning, was ONE WHOLE COLOSSAL JOKE. The reason for the change was kept from us, because "we're not supposed to know". Can you believe they said that? I think we have ALL the right to know, since we were the ones who put in the most effort, and then see it wrenched from our hands and flushed down the drain, while we stood by and watched. So, yeah, I think we have the right to know.

+The indoor function went okay, until the end when there was this unexpected twist - armour was to wash all the cutlery, serving trays and to clean up the function hall. The blatant injustice of this, when (put in his words) this was supposed to be "our day". Well, for your info, the day couldn't have ended more demoralizing with the whole detachment washing the cutlery and trays for the whole camp, in our parade coveralls and boots.

+But then again, I don't really care anymore, since no one else seem to put this on their minds, or feel sad about it, or ponder over it, well that is - except me. I don't care anymore because I'm leaving this godforsaken place in 19 days, and the army in 40 days. So there. Throw whatever arrows you want at me, I'll be the one having the last laugh, for -