Backblog time.
16 Dec - 20 Dec: Went for adventure trip in Chiangmai with Grace. Nice cool weather, almost cloudless skies, never rained. Programme consisted of trekking, elephant-ride as transport for part of the journey (not those 5-minute zoo kind of ride), bamboo-rafting, with 2 nights stay in 2 different hill-tribe villages. The elephant ride and bamboo-rafting were the highlight of the journey. Managed to buy 2 tees (Jeep & US Marines) and trebark camouflage waist-bag from the bazaars in the city too. Worthwhile trip!
20 Dec: Tired from the trip, but of course, must rush down to Phuture for LTJ Bukem and MC Conrad. Found out that PJ and Kevin + gf will be there before 9pm too. Left house at 8.05pm and hence the dilemma-- should I take a cab to Phuture so that I can reach before 9pm for the $12 ticket price (but savings will be somewhat negated by cab fare) OR try MRT and bus no 16 and risk getting there just after 9pm which meant a ticket price of $28 (in that case, no point getting there so early!)... either way, I was likely to spend more than the ideal outcome-- reach Phuture before 9pm by MRT/bus. Decided to take my chances with public transport, sprinted towards Zouk and reached at 9.05pm! Alas, but wait... I saw a long queue at Phuture! There's hope, maybe they will let everyone in the queue in for $12. Better still, saw PJ, Kevin + gf ahead in the queue! So, my chances with public transport had a happy outcome. Just $12 to see one of the pioneers of drum 'n bass, can you imagine that (and you get 2 drinks free too).
Gig was a bit of a disappointment, although just being present in front of these 2 drum 'n bass heroes more than made up for it, I was so star-struck. Sound system was too loud in the beginning (some sonic distortion and people were sticking fingers into ears); couldn't really hear MC Conrad. Phuture was too packed, they must have broken some fire safety law. But as it progressed, the sound got slightly better, and I could hear the soulful rapping of MC Conrad. Managed to get their autographs on my CD covers too :)
21 Dec: Desmond told me about a round-island ride on that night with Ryan, Ah Lai, Jason, the fast-cycling trio, hehe. Met up with Desmond and decided to check out the Togoparts BBQ first. Saw Dolphie in person, she's sooo young! Erm, and slightly chubby too. Zaskargal was the only other girl there. Yup, the gal-count was rather bad, but then this is an interest-group, not SDU.
The round-island group consisted mainly of uncles on MTBs with slick tyres. Start-point at bike shop in Sims Drive (the Tiger beer-maid at the coffeeshop where we had dinner is NOT an auntie-- the first cute Tiger beer-maid I've seen so far). Route: Sims Drive, Ubi, Hougang, Jln Kayu, Yishun Dam, Mandai, Kranji dam, Lim Chu Kang Rd, Boon Lay, follow MRT track to Alexandra Rd, Bugis, Geylang, back to Sims Drive. But from Geylang, Desmond and I decided to go East Coast to try our luck; maybe there will be leftovers from the BBQ. Unfortunately, everyone had left. Desmond crashed directly into my rear wheel from behind at the part after the hawker centre, luckily the impact wasn't too great. Crash occurred because I slowed down in front and we were both looking at a crowd. Desmond sent an apology by sms the next day, which was only right, since in this kind of event, it's always the one behind who's at fault. Kinda reminded me of the hoo-hah (cum soap opera) in the forum regarding Togoparts Mass Ride 4 (Butterfingers crashed into diseaseKelly from behind, both were injured rather badly and dKelly assigned blame to 'the guy with the red GT and red SID fork' in front of him, saying he was too slow in going down the hill).... rather uncalled for.
24 Dec: Dinner at home was really satisfying, with chicken wings, Sheperd's pie, ham slices, sotong balls, fish fingers, green peas. Finally watched Shallow Hal on rented VCD; the movie raised serious issues of how we worship the cult of beauty. There was a Chinese funeral wake at my void deck, and I could hear the chanting of monks the whole evening. Some bizarre Christmas Eve the people at the wake must be having (they probably don't celebrate it). Then later on, heard about Dorine's 'bizarre' Christmas Eve when I saw her on ICQ. SHE LEFT MY SOUR COKE-BOTTLES AT HER SISTER'S HOUSE IN MELBOURNE, UGH.
25 Dec: Reverend John Ting's Christmas message at Expo was particularly touching, long time a Christmas message has touched me like that! Gist: 1) A man was helping out at a food-queue for the poor and needy in winter. Then he went back home to his central heating and roast turkey. When the Lord Jesus came down to Earth and became Man, it was unlike the above. He fully experienced all the weaknesses and suffering of being human, without the chance of going back to nice Heaven after a few hours. 2) Superman giving up his powers due to his love for Lois Lane in Superman II was deftly used to illustrate the depth of the sacrifice Jesus had made due to his love for us. 3) When we sing Christmas carols and hymns, do we just sing the words and enjoy the tune without really understanding? So John Ting ended with this story:
A church hired a stage actor to sing carols and read Bible verses which he did to good effect. Then a challenge was made between him and an old, sickly pastor to read Psalms 23, and see who can move the congregation more. The actor summoned all his acting skills and read the psalm with much emotion and expression, to loud applause and approval from the congregation. Then the old, sickly pastor stepped up to take his turn (some people were rather embarrassed). He read the psalm in a weak voice. When he ended, there was silence... and tears were rolling down from some of the ladies in the congregation. The actor witnessed all this, and said to the pastor: "Father, I know the Psalm, but you know the Sheperd".
16 Dec - 20 Dec: Went for adventure trip in Chiangmai with Grace. Nice cool weather, almost cloudless skies, never rained. Programme consisted of trekking, elephant-ride as transport for part of the journey (not those 5-minute zoo kind of ride), bamboo-rafting, with 2 nights stay in 2 different hill-tribe villages. The elephant ride and bamboo-rafting were the highlight of the journey. Managed to buy 2 tees (Jeep & US Marines) and trebark camouflage waist-bag from the bazaars in the city too. Worthwhile trip!
20 Dec: Tired from the trip, but of course, must rush down to Phuture for LTJ Bukem and MC Conrad. Found out that PJ and Kevin + gf will be there before 9pm too. Left house at 8.05pm and hence the dilemma-- should I take a cab to Phuture so that I can reach before 9pm for the $12 ticket price (but savings will be somewhat negated by cab fare) OR try MRT and bus no 16 and risk getting there just after 9pm which meant a ticket price of $28 (in that case, no point getting there so early!)... either way, I was likely to spend more than the ideal outcome-- reach Phuture before 9pm by MRT/bus. Decided to take my chances with public transport, sprinted towards Zouk and reached at 9.05pm! Alas, but wait... I saw a long queue at Phuture! There's hope, maybe they will let everyone in the queue in for $12. Better still, saw PJ, Kevin + gf ahead in the queue! So, my chances with public transport had a happy outcome. Just $12 to see one of the pioneers of drum 'n bass, can you imagine that (and you get 2 drinks free too).
Gig was a bit of a disappointment, although just being present in front of these 2 drum 'n bass heroes more than made up for it, I was so star-struck. Sound system was too loud in the beginning (some sonic distortion and people were sticking fingers into ears); couldn't really hear MC Conrad. Phuture was too packed, they must have broken some fire safety law. But as it progressed, the sound got slightly better, and I could hear the soulful rapping of MC Conrad. Managed to get their autographs on my CD covers too :)
21 Dec: Desmond told me about a round-island ride on that night with Ryan, Ah Lai, Jason, the fast-cycling trio, hehe. Met up with Desmond and decided to check out the Togoparts BBQ first. Saw Dolphie in person, she's sooo young! Erm, and slightly chubby too. Zaskargal was the only other girl there. Yup, the gal-count was rather bad, but then this is an interest-group, not SDU.
The round-island group consisted mainly of uncles on MTBs with slick tyres. Start-point at bike shop in Sims Drive (the Tiger beer-maid at the coffeeshop where we had dinner is NOT an auntie-- the first cute Tiger beer-maid I've seen so far). Route: Sims Drive, Ubi, Hougang, Jln Kayu, Yishun Dam, Mandai, Kranji dam, Lim Chu Kang Rd, Boon Lay, follow MRT track to Alexandra Rd, Bugis, Geylang, back to Sims Drive. But from Geylang, Desmond and I decided to go East Coast to try our luck; maybe there will be leftovers from the BBQ. Unfortunately, everyone had left. Desmond crashed directly into my rear wheel from behind at the part after the hawker centre, luckily the impact wasn't too great. Crash occurred because I slowed down in front and we were both looking at a crowd. Desmond sent an apology by sms the next day, which was only right, since in this kind of event, it's always the one behind who's at fault. Kinda reminded me of the hoo-hah (cum soap opera) in the forum regarding Togoparts Mass Ride 4 (Butterfingers crashed into diseaseKelly from behind, both were injured rather badly and dKelly assigned blame to 'the guy with the red GT and red SID fork' in front of him, saying he was too slow in going down the hill).... rather uncalled for.
24 Dec: Dinner at home was really satisfying, with chicken wings, Sheperd's pie, ham slices, sotong balls, fish fingers, green peas. Finally watched Shallow Hal on rented VCD; the movie raised serious issues of how we worship the cult of beauty. There was a Chinese funeral wake at my void deck, and I could hear the chanting of monks the whole evening. Some bizarre Christmas Eve the people at the wake must be having (they probably don't celebrate it). Then later on, heard about Dorine's 'bizarre' Christmas Eve when I saw her on ICQ. SHE LEFT MY SOUR COKE-BOTTLES AT HER SISTER'S HOUSE IN MELBOURNE, UGH.
25 Dec: Reverend John Ting's Christmas message at Expo was particularly touching, long time a Christmas message has touched me like that! Gist: 1) A man was helping out at a food-queue for the poor and needy in winter. Then he went back home to his central heating and roast turkey. When the Lord Jesus came down to Earth and became Man, it was unlike the above. He fully experienced all the weaknesses and suffering of being human, without the chance of going back to nice Heaven after a few hours. 2) Superman giving up his powers due to his love for Lois Lane in Superman II was deftly used to illustrate the depth of the sacrifice Jesus had made due to his love for us. 3) When we sing Christmas carols and hymns, do we just sing the words and enjoy the tune without really understanding? So John Ting ended with this story:
A church hired a stage actor to sing carols and read Bible verses which he did to good effect. Then a challenge was made between him and an old, sickly pastor to read Psalms 23, and see who can move the congregation more. The actor summoned all his acting skills and read the psalm with much emotion and expression, to loud applause and approval from the congregation. Then the old, sickly pastor stepped up to take his turn (some people were rather embarrassed). He read the psalm in a weak voice. When he ended, there was silence... and tears were rolling down from some of the ladies in the congregation. The actor witnessed all this, and said to the pastor: "Father, I know the Psalm, but you know the Sheperd".
