1 Out of 7 Billion

The world is getting smaller everyday but a lifetime is not enough to explore it. My adventure starts in Singapore.

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Gatherings

February 20, 2010

I’ve hosted at least 5 gatherings at my new place since I moved in mid-November.

I think I will continue to do this over the next 1.5 years such that the number of dinners/ mini-parties I host will be more than the ones held at Caribbean during my 3.5 years stay there.

It’s always awesome to have friends come and visit, chill out (without or without alcohol), sing a tune or two, and with reserved late night energy play Wii.

I guess I will have to find a better way of sorting out some logistical concerns like where to order sumptuous food (since I don’t cook) and having an amply supply of ice.

With the excitement of entertaining visitors, I occasionally forget to take photos. But here’s a party I hosted where I didn’t forget to bring out my digicam. Maybe because my guests are camwhores as well and inevitably I will be asked why I am not taking photos. Ha.

Welcome Julu, Ben, and Karl…

Julu belting out high notes on the Magic Sing with my sister

Mostly Philippine cuisine

Halloween 2009 in Casual Clothing

November 2, 2009 — 2 Comments

I don’t recall Halloween being so much fun until we had a mini gathering at Ken’s place on Saturday. As he had mentioned in his Facebook message to us closer to the party, it will be “cozy” — and it was.

The sudden downpour on a Halloween night left me competing for a cab around dinner time. For the first time in my not so many years in Singapore, the cab hotline service tested my patience. But that didn’t dampen my party mood. Sadly, I arrived late and delayed Ken, Julu, and Karl’s desire to nourish their bodies with food. (Sorry guys!)

Ken did not fail to impress us as a superb host — from his lovely home, to the Halloween accents, awesome desserts + liquor, and the Halloween MP3′s (which I think scared the hell out of Karl haha) — he really made sure all of us had a great time. Thanks Ken!

That was the roundest pumpkin I've ever seen in recent memory

Yummy - biryani, curry meats, western appetizers and desserts, Japanese skewers

I also bought two (2) boardgames to keep our minds active on a rainy night.

Instead of drawing on paper with clues on cards, you use whiteboard markers on the Pictionary Man and a few other objects. The mystery word is displayed electronically at the foot of the P-Man.

Ken's artistic impression of "Little Red Riding Hood". We were teammates and I blurted, "The Exorcist" Haha

"Eye Exam" by Julu. Quite clever huh.

For this game, two teams compete at the same time within 90 secs to get as many "letters" along such A-Z strip to their side by naming a person/item based on the category. Julu and Karl did well on "class subjects" ; Ken and I did well on "int'l hotel chains". Hmm, there goes the age difference.

Play the above boardgames + a few others next time you visit my place. But until then, Google these — they are very entertaining.

Other camwhoring photos, quality check done by Julu, the MBA camwhoring grad.

Ken, Karl, Julu's aerial shot

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Julu and Karl bullying Ken. Such ungrateful guests! :p

Ken and I and a 20+ year old man in a secondary school boy body.

Later that night, we stumbled upon Ben, Duncan, Jeremy, and other friends in their costumes.

I was telling Eugene and Veria, two friends I had lunch with earlier on Saturday, that I can’t stay up beyond 3am anymore. That’s why I couldn’t believe why I managed to last until 5am. Well, Halloween only happens once a year so I’m glad it was truly worth remembering… and I didn’t need to dress up so much for it.

Ben’s Party

April 5, 2009

I’ve attended several parties and gatherings since I moved to Singapore. However, I knew almost everyone in those events.

What makes Ben’s party last Saturday different from the rest? I only knew around 10 people out of the estimated 30-40 who turned up. It also had a catchy title/theme : “BENasty, BENaughty, BENice”. If Ben gets to read this entry, he should let me know which category he falls under. Haha.

Ken, one of Ben’s friends, hosted the party over at Icon condo in the Tanjong Pagar area. I’ve always been intrigued how that property looked like whenever my bus passed through TJP. I initially thought it was a hotel.

South of Singapore

This one leads to the Chinatown area

Party in the common area ended around 1130ish (to the delight of security). Spent a few minutes with some of Ben’s guests who moved to Ken’s unit shortly thereafter. As I had church the next day, I decided to head home around 1230am and did not attempt to go clubbing til the wee hours.

Happy birthday, Ben! May the Lord continue to shower you with His abundant blessings!

Cake greeting says, "Chocolate for our chocolatepistol"

Weekend in the East, South, & West

February 9, 2009

Saturday

130pm – Eugene and Veria’s hosted lunch with friends at their new place in Bedok. Their “major project” was truly worth the wait. I found their home bright, cozy, and modern — awesome environment for a newly-married couple.

Food was fanstastic — from the baked mushrooms, pasta, and chocolate dessert!

Also met new friends – Daryl, Shu Li, Rodin. Terence and Sze whom I had the chance to meet in December through Eugene and Veria were also there.

Shu Li and Daryl

Terence and Sze

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This is really yummy - great food presentation too

I think this is called molten chocolate cake. Hotel quality, even better!

Our wonderful hosts - caught in the act - Eugene and Veria

430pm (ish) – Met up with Julu in Vivo to prepare for the biggest cookout of his life (which I was hosting). In a few hours, he will be sharing his culinary talent with several of our friends through his signature creations. Learned a fair bit though my contribution was limited to ingredient preparation (peeling skin off the garlic and passing plates/bowls etc) haha.

Fun night – drinks, KTV, and boardgames. Ended around midnight.

Believe it or not, Julu didn't like the first shot so needed a re-take!

Posh Pierre - cutting bacon into decent size - with matching blue kitchen scissors

One of the two pasta sauces created by Julu. This one's was made form scratch (tomato base)

L-R : Julu, Pierre, Jeremy, me ; Back L-R: Desmond, Peiru

Gorgeous women at the Caribbean - Peiru and Valerie

With Desmond and Duncan

Chipmunks haha - Ben, Jeremy, Duncan

Sunday

430pm – KTV with my church choir. Always great to be at KTV with friends who not only love to sing but can also sing really well.

Venue was at Marina Country Club which was somewhere near Boon Lay. Selection was good; likely to go back there if I have extra minutes to travel to the west. Stayed for around 3 hrs before taking a one-hour bus journey from Boon Lay to Harbourfront.

A few photos

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Kylie Minogue – Live in Singapore

November 30, 2008 — 4 Comments

It’s really awesome that international artists include Singapore as a stop in their concert tours. Why wouldn’t they?

Finally, I get to see Kylie Minogue perform. First time I heard about Kylie was in primary schooland over the past several years, I’ve grown to love her music.

She performed most of the songs I knew except for “Locomotion” and “Especially for You” but that wasn’t a reason for disappointment.

Overall it was a great show with a creative concept over two hours.

I guess the only thing I could suggest is to minimize the 20-30 second blackouts during costume changes — maybe continue playing music or having dancers onstage.

Me, Daryl, Ben, Jeremy, Peiru. We should have done a Kylie spelling for this shot.

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Updates from Previous Weekends

November 9, 2008

Several friends have been asking what I’ve been up to for the past few weekends. Here’s a quick rundown.

1) FINA/Arena Swimming World Cup 2008 (Singapore Sports School)

The FINA/Area Swimming World Cup happens every year in a few countries (just like the F1). It’s an international meet whose participants have either competed in regional/world championships or just about to get into them (hence, the preparation).

I first caught it last year and learned a few things about swimming (unfortunately, still haven’t picked up the skill), i.e. flags are placed above the pool shortly before the backstroke event so swimmers know that they are a few meters away from turning over; that the swimming assistants (the ones that carry clothes basket) enter after the swimmers have gone to the pool.

This year, I watched with Auleine and Vincent. Lots of events but the longest one was the 1500m race which lasted for 20 mins or so.

Vincent, Auleine, and me

Tao Li (Singapore)

2) Dinner at Project Shop Cafe

Had dinner with Ben, Jeremy, Duncan, Desmond at Project Shop Cafe. With this visit, I can say that I’ve tried all PS Cafe’s in Singapore. Good food and chat ; ended around 1130pm.

PS Cafe (Palais) with Ben, Jeremy, Duncan, Desmond

3) Theater Weekend

I spent several hours in the theater during the weekend of 8-9 November.

“Gemuk Girls”

The Necessary Stage

Synopsis

Kartini and Juliana are not your typical mother-daughter pair — one loud and overbearing, the other straitlaced and on the threshold of entering politics. Together, they are Gemuk Girls and proud of it (Gemuk = fat)

One day, they receive shocking news about Kartini’s father who had been arrested and detained in the 1960′s. Suddenly the floodgates of the family’s emotional past are thrown open. Can a family survive as they struggle to reconcile the past with the present? Will Kartini and Juliana continue to be Gemuk Girls?

Gemuk Girls is a bold and often darkly humorous look at family politics and the politics of the day.

I was amazed with the execution of this production, including the production design and multimedia effect. The performers were effective in their respective roles and I would say very witty in delivery.

I went with Pierre who had acted in several productions including at least one at The Necessary Stage theater over at Marine Parade Community Center.

Pierre knew the people in Gemuk Girls.

Najib Soiman, Alin Mosbit, Siti Khalijah

“Avenue Q”

Esplanade Theater

Synopsis (from www.allmusicals.com)

Avenue Q is about real life. It’s about finding a job, losing a job, learning about racism, getting an apartment, getting kicked out of your apartment, being different, falling in love, promiscuity, avoiding commitment, hangovers, internet porn, and discovering the world.

Here’s a video from a live performance/promo at the West End (length 6 mins 30 sec)