Kerr’s Universe

Slowly, but surely, it is happening. I can sense it, feel it coming. I guess its just inevitable…

Yet another week has started. A rather uneventful past week it has been, and a dreadful friday (where a sinus turned into a flu) untill the weekend. A wonderful piece of news was announced over the news on saturday as I was happily watching a charity concert put up by SPACES inside Esplanade Concert Hall. "WALKOVER FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2005", which means that there wouldn’t be rallying or polling day! Yeah!

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okay, okay. I’am sorry, especially for those who have not voted before and those who are looking forward to one extra day of holidays, i’am really sorry. But please, think about me and the thousands of police officers who would have a hell of a deployment should elections be called upon. Put yourself in our shoes and i’am pretty sure that you would also be praying, perhaps even harder (like what I did last friday, and my boss who was a free thinking also prayed for the first time and it was as if his prayers were answer instantly. Ha, what luck) for a walkover.

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There were a lot of well wishes and messages of congrats flooding my phone after I stepped out of the concert hall that day, still oblivious to the significant event that has taken place during my 2 hours absence from the real world. I only managed to return all the calls and messages by Sunday as I was rushing off for salsa on 2 class.

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Okay, a bit more on the charity concert which I attended. It was a really interesting musical sort of theater performance put up by volunteers and participants from various schools and institutions for the disabled. The story is about a community of insects and the importance of helping one another. Story apart, there are many interesting dances and bands performance in between the theatrics. One more notable dance was a cha cha danced on wheelchairs. The gracefulness of these dancers can really be compared with their able bodied counterparts. As one who is into dancing as well, I find that particularly intriguing. The control of their wheelchair is superb and simply amazing. Then, there is this band formed by 6 visually impaired person. Their mastery over their individual instruments is really commendable. I must say that it far surpass some of those who can see properly. Oh ya, not forgetting the fact that the lead singer has a great voice. (Christine has already agreed on this, so I do have a seconder on it. yeah, believe me…its good) Altogether, the show, coupled with the funny theatrics, it was great, really great show. I have enjoyed every single bit of it. Well done! (oh ya, applause for my sis who was involved in the organising of this event. Way to go, sis!)

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It was the first on 2 class for me and it was seriously no easy. The requirements for starting on 2 class is pretty unique. Either you are already pretty comfortable in doing salsa on 1, or you have totally no prior experience in salsa should you attempt to take up salsa on 2. Sounds strange? Not really actually. The reason is to ensure that you dun mess your own brains up, trying to reconcile the 2 same dance which starts on different beats. Still confuse?

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Well, every music has a different set of counts. For example, waltz is the well-known 3 beat per bar kinda music and for salsa, it is counted into 8 beat per bar. Usually, a dance would start on the 1st beat of a bar, or the emphasis or certain significant would be place on the 1st beat of a bar. However, for salsa on 2, though you still start dancing on the 1st beat, the significant beat would be 2 and 6, instead of the usual 1 and 5 should you dance on 1. Still consfused or getting more confuse? Well, go take up salsa on 2 and you would understand. haha.

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Nearly got lost in Tanjong Pagar area trying to find my way to the dance studio which my instructor has recently moved into. Luckily for the directions given by Joyce who were affirmative that the studio was located along Neil Road did I managed to get there in time. In fact, I nearly walked into Keong Siak Street. Luckily it was still in the start of an evening when I was in the area.

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After dinner, it was a night of uneventful cheonging. The entire team decided that for a change, they would not go union square for salsa. Instead, they headed down for Club Momo. Well, wasn’t too bad an idea since I had wanted to check out that location a week ago when I was celebrating my birthday, though it did not materialise back then.

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The exterior lightings of Club Momo would probably remind you of zouk. The familiar neon backlightings projected onto the white walls of the club which changes colour every few seconds. (Heard from Rachael that there’s only so many lightings company around that does this type of building lightings, thus there isn’t much variation…hmm..wonder how true it is..but seriously, it really looks like the lightings are from the same company as the one that does zouk…well..)

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If you have been to Mohammed Sultan or more commonly known as MS to many, you would have realised the pathetic number of people that hang around MS these days. Well, with everything constant, so where did all those people disappeared to? The answer - Club Momo.

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Reached the club just after 10 and all thanks to Hendra and company, we didn’t had to queue at all. We simply join those who have already one cab earlier and proceeded into the club just a couple minutes later. It wasn’t so bad at first, but people just keep streaming in and by 11 plus, it started to get a bit too cramp to be able to dance and by midnight, its a chore even to stand as tons of people just keep going in and out and there’s just isn’t enough space to house everyone. Then it starts to get a bit difficult to breath properly and that’s when I got out of the club. Well, maybe I wasn’t born of a pure cheonging blood, but seriously, unless you like to constantly rub against people and for people to constantly rub at you (while just standing straight), you might want to consider some other places. Though its also definitely the hottest place in town currently without doubt, I have my reservations. Its your choice, but don’t say I didn’t warn you before.

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Guess most of us had the same feeling as I did back then and by the time I was out of the club, Suman, Rachael and the rest were already comfortably settled down outside a nearby pub named "Hush Hush", helping themselves to mugs of beer and steaming hot potato wedges. Though it was alfresco and not exactly a cool night that particular day, I guess it was still much better than inside the stuffy club. (Seriously they should do something about the head count…hmm…)

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The night didn’t just end there with potato wedges. In fact, there seem to be plans already to proceed down to Arab street for supper and "shisha". For those who doesn’t know what "shisha" is, it could either be that you really doesn’t know anything about it or simply, I have spelt the word wrongly. So what exactly is a shisha anyway? Hmm…I am no expert in this, but its basically fumes that is fragrance by a scent and filtered through water and can be smoke through a rubberised pipe.

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We came to this shop named "Ambrosia", which was nicely decor in a middle eastern style and got ourselves settled onto the second floor. Those who have arrived earlier has chosen the "best seats", those which they could lean against the walls. However, due to the huge number (I think there were about 16) of us who went, we had to re-located to another table and it was a mad rush for the wall. Ha…what a sight. Well, anyway, I got myself a "wall" seat without much jostling and hustling though.

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When everyone was cosyly settled in, the waiter came and took the order. The recommended drink that night was ice mint tea and according to Sebastian, the ice mint tea in this shop is supposed to be pretty good. Well, most people took the recommendation and ordered that. There wasn’t much selection for finger food (about 8 if I didn’t remember wrongly) and it is definitely not cheap (min dish was price at $5.50 and that’s for pita bread). But I guess, for a shop that’s still open at 2am in the morning, the price pretty reasonable. Anyway, there was so many of us that it took about 10 - 15minutes just to get everybody’s order and by then, most of us are already crying out in thirst.

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So the ice mint tea came in jugs with a lot of ice in the jugs as well as a lot of ice in the cups. (Well, was telling Rachael, you don’t call them ice mint tea for nothing). Amazingly, just 2 jugs managed to fill all the cups (well, I guess that’s the ice). I must say, the mint tea is really minty and definitely a thirst quencher.

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Then came the food, we had pita bread, honey mustard chicken tenders, chicken wings in thick curry sauce and calamari. Everything taste good and definitely worth the money EXCEPT the calamari. It was nothing special and just 8 calamari would cost you 6 bucks. That’s about 65 cent per calamari, definitely a no no if I were to go there again. On the whole, a good experience and a nice place to just sit down and relax.

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Reached home at nearly 4 am, not exactly totally exhausted as I still have time to whip out Harry Potter and read a couple of chapters before I decided to call it a night. Oh ya, did I mention that I bought the first 3 Harry Potter books last friday? Yup, took my sis "Goblet of fire" to read about a week ago and I was totally immersed in the story and that, prompted me to buy the first 3 books (sis already has books 4, 5 & 6). I guess I just enjoy reading adventures story, the same way I prefer RPG (role playing game) as compared to the other genres (strategy, action, simulation etc). The thing being, with adventure story, anime or games, once you immerse yourself into the story, you become part of the story. It really feels like you are taking an adventure with the rest of the characters and far away from the reality. The more you work your imagination, the further you are from the real world. I guess that’s how I came to like "one piece" as well. (Once again, for those who doesn’t watch anime, one piece is an anime about a group of pirates).

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Come to think of which, nowadays, if I am home, I’am either reading a Harry Potter book or i’am on the comp playing "maplesea". For those who like a MOORPG which is free, you can try www.maplesea.com. Cute 2D characters with a 3D background. The game can get a bit repetitive, but it offers space for friends to interact and go fight monsters together. Sounds childish? it probably is, but that doesn’t stop me…:) Oh ya, for those who are keen, please go and level up fast. I’am still short of 1 player for party quest.

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Sunday wasn’t much, but its always the good old sunday where I lazed at home, reading my books and playing my games and totally not thinking about anything (now that elections are over, the only thing I can think about is how to spend my september holidays - ONE MONTH LEAVE! yeah! Dun be envious, you probably had yours this year already. Its my turn now).

A friend of mine asked me yesterday, "what happened to your blog?" I was pretty puzzled and asked her "What do you mean what happened to my blog?" However, she didn’t reply, so I don’t exactly know what the freak happened to my blog.

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So, despite the very lousy schedule I have in front of me, due to the impending presidential election, I decided to log in and take a look @ my blog just in case it is vandalised or somehow someone has managed to change some of the content without my knowledge.

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Okay, it seems that everything’s pretty normal to me. On second thoughts, I guess she meant why haven’t I been updating my blog. Well, this is a more probable meaning to her statement now that I know my blog is fine.

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Well, quite a bit has taken place over the past 1 week since I last blogged. Seriously didn’t had much time to blog, but now, in brief, let’s ee. I had my birthday celebration over the weekend, it was pretty good, but I only managed to meet up with 2 groups of my friend and 1 day immediately after it, I was rostered for deployment duties at the Istana due to an open house. Oh yesh, for those who has missed it, you would have to wait a while. I believe there’s still 1 to 2 more open house @ the Istana this year. Quite a great place for pinic, I supposed. Just don’t get too near to the swan at the pond. It belongs to someone very important and you seriously DO NOT want to try anything farnie over there.

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Pretty much after that was a rush on Monday to tie up all possible loose ends for the major deployment on Tuesday - NDP. One whole day of deployment while the whole of SIngapore is having a holiday is not exactly very exciting to me. Well, at least Boss gave us a treat after the deployment @ Boon Tong ki chicken rice. It was good while it lasted, but somehow, I kena a bad case of diarrhoea the next day. I shall not comment further for fear of a defamation suit. Anyway, hasn’t been feeling too well since Wed and has only recovered this morning.

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Too brief this blog is, but at least its an update thus far. Probably the blogs would be this way till I go on my leave in September and that’s when the fun would start. Likely to go diving and a trip to Bali during that period. Yoga should be starting then as well. Definitely more thing to write about. So, stay tuned.

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Ya, I guess I probably wouldn’t continue the previous blog, so let’s just leave it as it is ah…:) hahaha….

Yesterday session @ Union wasn’t such a bad one, of course, aside with the usual non-creative way that I dance, which is my constant nemesis. Somehow, a couple of friends whom I have not seen in ages was in the house last night. Guess these days, going to Union is not solely about dancing, but also meeting up with friends. That perhaps, is the essense of social dancing, which is more about socialising through dancing rather than focusing on the dance aspect alone.

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One of them apparently had given up on salsa for a while, went for a holidays, got tied up in work, but somehow found interest in the dance once again and decide to head back to the club. Well, that explains her disapperance and her reappearance. I believe she was missing for a couple of months from the club.

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The other one is what I called mismatch of timings. She would usually be down at the club on days which I would usually not go down. Haven’t seen her like nearly half a year liao and wow, I must say she has improved tremendously. Now besides looking great, she looks great dancing as well. Well done! Heard from her that she would be going down regularly on thursday now which is indeed great news as I would have one more regular friend which I can dance with when I hit the club on Thursday. Great!

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By now, you are probably wondering, what does all that I have written gotta do with the title? Absolutely nothing. I was on another thought thread that I wanted to blog when I came up with the title. But now, after looking at what I have written thus far, I seriously can’t think of a title for it. "Reunion @ club"? "Rare occasion"? Nah…I guess I just chunk it here lar. My brain getting a bit tired. Guess what, I seriously don’t feel like writing any further. So, the title would mean absolutely nothing to the text should I end it here…hmm…

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okay…I know…

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to be continued… …

It is becoming more and more apparent that besides the good fortune I have in my studies and work wise thus far, I don’t have much luck in most other areas.

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Talk about game of chance, which would include stuffs like your usual donation draw tickets, lucky draws from various merchandise stores, 4D, toto, scratch and win tickets etc. Believe me, I have not once won anything from any of the above stated and many others. It would appear that Lady luck does not believe I should indulge myself in such areas and thus totally kept me out from the winning circle.

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I mean, seriously, some people are way more lucky than others on a general note. They buy a car and win a trip, buy a camera and win another camera, go to a company D&D and win enough beddings and furniture vouchers to furnish their new home. And somehow, for those who will win are those who win on a frequent basis. The theory about the rich get richer seems to also work for them…"the lucky gets luckier". Well, thus logically, the reverse is also happening. The poor gets poorer and the not so lucky ones get less luck even. Think of everything in the world as a constant, one man’s gain is another man’s loss.

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Well, nonetheless, life has taught me to count my blessings as indeed, things could have been much worse and I guess I seriously do not have anything drastically negative to complain about at the moment. Cheers.

After months of preparation and waiting. It has finally arrived.

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SINGAPORE : Singaporeans will go to the polls on August 27 to choose their next Elected President.

The Writ of Election, naming August 17 as Nomination Day, was issued by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Wednesday.

The Nomination Centre will be at the People’s Association at Stadium Link.

President SR Nathan, who has announced his bid for a second six-year term in office, submitted his application for a Certificate of Eligibility to contest the election on July 12.

His was one of three applications submitted so far, out of 19 forms given out.

But more candidates could still come forward, as those interested have another three days till August 6 to submit their application forms.

The Presidential Elections Committee will assess their applications and issue certificates to those it judges to be of integrity, good character and reputation, with the necessary experience for the post of Elected President.

This includes executive and financial experience in government or a statutory board or a company worth at least S$100 million, for at least three years.

President Nathan was uncontested in the 1999 Presidential Election, after two other applications for the certificates - by private tutor Ooi Boon Ewe, and an independent candidate in a previous General Election, Mr Tan Soo Phuan - were rejected for not meeting the criteria set.

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Well, everyone’s gonna get jumpy real soon. Guess things are starting to heat up once again. Oh ya, one funny thing to note. Singapore’s soon running out of acroynms. Certificate of Eligibility, COE in short. Hmm…very very familiar.

Once again, a totally non-creative way of determining the title for this blog. For those who are in-sync with the box office, you would find the title very familiar.

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Well, basically a show about racial discrimination in the US. Giving us an in-sight on how the different diverse groups in US viewed one another, their values, ideals and perspective about things and about life, which often than not, leads to much conflicts and strained relationships within the community that, at times are life threatening. Especially in a location where gun ownership is legalised.

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Me, for one who lives an extremely sheltered life in sunny island Singapore, has definitely find the show disturbing. In fact, if I were to be put in such an environment, without the prior acclimatization, I would probably be living in the jitters from day to day, fearing for my life and wondering when I might be shot at.

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As I exited from the theater, there were some who commented that the movie has been too exaggerated and blown out of proportion. I wondered. Have these people stayed in those environment before, or have they stayed in those environment long enough to be able to make such a comment. Is it really true that the film was overly exaggerated or is it simply b’cos we have been too protected that has led us to feel that way?