Photoshoot in Taiwan

Leaving on a jet plane on 19 September 2013, the feeling back then hides a little tiredness, probably due to the lack of sleep just because the flight at 7 plus in the morning and we had to make our way there at around 5 plus. For a night owl like me, that’s not easy to take. But somehow, that tiredness feeling was comforted by the presence of my wife-to-be, knowing the fact that we are about to go through what we have been waiting for, while at the same time, worried for the uncertainty such as the typhoon.

8 days trip can be very briefly summarized into one word, memorable. Of course, being our bridal shoot trip, we had expectations, especially after our first trip to Taiwan around 2 years ago. Flight, as usual, on a budget airplane, time would be more well spent sleeping. And we literally slept through our 4 hour plus journey enroute to Taipei.

Reaching Taipei brought us a tint of familiarity. The trip 2 years ago must have brought alive these imaginary anticipation that literally keeps me even more upbeat for my trip. Bought our prepaid SIM card (we definitely couldn’t live without one nowadays) and off we went to our long High Speed Rail to Kaoh Siung, where we were slated to have our wedding shoot done there/nearby.

The rail ride was like a scene plucked off from a Taiwanese romance movie, as I’m sitting by the window, sipping on my hot tea while the train zooms past the wide varieties of farms and scenery.  And in no time, we arrived Kaoh Siung. It was nothing like Taipei, much quieter, more serene and definitely less crowded. With my bulky luggage and her not so bulky luggage, we dragged them all the way to our hotel, Hotel Dua. 

With much expectation, we checked in like eagered kids, excited to know if the hotel room is indeed what we have seen from photos all around the website. And true enough, the hotel room feels luxurious. Dim lightings with nice room décor made us the only king and queen in our room for the next 2 nights. 

Blame it on our planning, we were rushing literally the entire day, just to make sure we had enough time for HER gown choosing and fitting. Of course, as you would have expected it, that wasn’t done in minutes but hours, especially when the one choosing is my wife-to-be. As we continued with our attire choosing and discussions with the photographer, the news of an expected typhoon continued to weigh in on us, leaving having to prayed the entire night and checking in the news channels even until wee hours of the night. I swear to god that I have never checked the weather forecast so often like how I was doing, every few minutes!

The DAY finally arrived and we rushed to the bridal studio. Sky’s dark but it’s not raining. We were given a crossroad decision and in the end, we decided to go ‘SAFE THAN SORRY’. Photoshoot was tiring, and it definitely didn’t help when my nose suddenly decided to pull a prank on me. My fiancée of course, look gorgeous. I have never seen her in such THICK makeup before and to be very honest, I loved it. After all, makeup is created for WOMEN for a reason, isn’t it. Deep down inside, I’m saying to myself ‘You should have put more make up more often right?’, even though I know she’s beautiful the way she likes it to me. Poor on her, the sun shone brightly that day and her hair and perspiration was her enemy while I struggled with my nose. And at last, we shot our last scene in the studio and off we went for a great feast at the nearest night market.

There is just something amazing about night market that always make me feel so excited like a boy to go roam around and tasting food very freely. That night, was the first night we slept real well and nice. A much needed one in fact because after this, we were going to Tai Chung!

Sadly, the typhoon arrived and disrupted some of our plans. Before the trip, I was struggling whether to bring the girl to Sun Moon Lake or Cing Jing Farm but now, god has plans for us, NEITHER. Typhoon made us worried about our plans to rent a car for some good driving time. In the end, guts told me I should not waste the International Driving Permit I registered prior to the trip. We rented, checked in Beacon Hotel much to her disappointment. Somehow, the hotel room I stayed is a vast difference from what I had stayed with my parents 1 year ago. But, I’m glad Tai Chung night market made up for it. More shopping was done here and this is definitely the place to shop and eat at night, no wonder this is my favorite night market in Taiwan.

Driving in Taiwan or specifically Tai Chung is indeed an experience. Taiwanese are generally nice, well-mannered and gentle people but drivers there sucks big time. They reminded me Singapore drivers, which unknowingly made me, drive like how I drove in Singapore. We visited the hometown of Sun Cakes and bought boxes back for families and friends. Seriously, don’t leave Tai Chung without buying them.

And so, we leave Tai Chung bound for Tai Pei in a much heavier luggage. By then, fiancée’s luggage is already almost full and of course, regretting not getting a bigger luggage which I DID advised her. And of course, you guessed it, I was mocking her throughout the trip about the luggage. Tai Pei was a much familiar place to us. Went to our facourite parts of Tai Pei such as Hu Xu Zhang (the always so yummy braised pork rice), Shi Da, Shi Lin night market etc, and of course, not forgetting new places this time, such as the Villa 32 for some nice hot spring, themed restaurant (A380 themed restaurant) and Wu Lao Guo after some recommendations by my colleagues.

We bade goodbye to Taiwan with a familiar sad goodbye because each and every vacation to us meant to much. Every vacation to us, never fails and always bonds us together. It reminded us why we were together, and the time spent together always allows us to care for each other in a different way as how we do it back in Singapore. So one could really understand the post syndrome we faced when we are back in Singapore and it will usually take us days and sometimes weeks to face reality.

It's month since we are back, and definitely, we acknowledge the reality now and we are definitely on route to our dream, our future, as husband and wife.

Food for Thought

Yea, it's been awhile since I last pen something in this remote space. 

As usual, I have been busy with work, and basically preparing for my big day. 

Nothing has ever been placed with such huge importance as compared to this. 

Yes it is fun, but definitely tiring. Thanks to my beloved fiancee, she does most of the work and I must say I am lucky that she's doing most of it because she simply enjoys doing them.

And so, life has been nothing short of fun, and as I'm typing away happily in my cost hotel room in Abu Dhabi, it's wee hours in Singapore while it's a mere late night over here.

心血来潮, which probably explains why I'm penning this post at such hour.

As I took the 'full of turbulence' plane just now, something hit me. I pretty much enjoy the turbulence just now because it feels like a 'rocking chair' especially when I'm cramped in such a narrow economy class seat surrounded by noisy kids. 

Something dawned on me. What if that flight was the last place I took my last breathe? What will I left behind? How many people will weep? What happen to the many happy things I have yet to do? Precisely, that's how precious life is, not just mine.

It is very true when people say cherish your loved ones while they are still around. I reminded myself from time to time how I should be nicer to my loved ones, especially my mum after what she has gone through since young. I don't want to wait until the day when I stand beside that unwanted scene I imagine now and regretting the many things I FAILED to do. I don't want to bring my regret and guilt along with me as I continue to live my life.

To me, life is all about now, and near future. I get to embrace this fact more, day by day. As I grew older, commitments increase and I definitely feel the need for me to harness the role I'm expected of, to love people around me the way they should be love.

Just in case, for whatever reasons, I just want to share with my loved one who might or might not be reading this that I love you guys more than I can express and I hope with time, I can close that gap between my thoughts and my actions just to make sure life continues to be wonderful than how it is now.

Good Men Gone Early

Many people said, that good men always died earlier, of course, in comparison with the bad ones. 

Take the case of the recent departure (death) of local long time actor, Huang Wen Yong. A humble guy and definitely a very dedicated actor who dedicated his entire life to his second home. His death, mourned by many, came as a sudden news, an unexpected one yet, it sent a tinging message on how fragile life can be, how uncertain the future can be. 

His case of course, is a common case. A common case of cancer, which by no means, departure would mean a much easy path to take, one that could prove a relief.

But what about those who have to depart this wonderful world with a choice. A choice but forced. Here I chanced upon something my brother shared with me, and greatly felt by myself when I read it. It wrote..

"On Nov 10, 2009, German international goalkeeper Robert Enke said goodbye to his wife Teresa and gave his 10-month-old daughter a kiss on the forehead. He left the house, saying he was going to train with his club, Hannover 96. It was a lie.

There was no training that day. Instead, he drove around in his car for eight hours. Finally, he came to a railway crossing – and stepped out in front of an express train. 

His suicide, at the age of 32, was the culmination of a long struggle with depression – a trajectory described in a new and moving book, A Life Too Short: The Tragedy of Robert Enke, by Ronald Reng (Yellow Jersey, £16.99), which is published this week.

Enke had intended to collaborate on a biography with Reng; after his death, the writer realised why: “When his career was over, he would finally be able to talk about his illness. 

"In our achievement-oriented society a goalkeeper, the last bastion in defence, can’t be a depressive. So Robert summoned up a huge amount of strength to keep his depression secret. He locked himself away in his illness.” 

Statistically, depression affects one in 10 adults at any one time, and severe or clinical depression will probably hold one in 20 people in its grip."

This is the best example of what I meant by a forced choice. 

So, life is fragile. Cherish it while you STILL can. Live it to the fullest, even if it means going through the bad times because you never know, when is rainbow going to come. 

PS: For my loved ones, I LOVE YOU (you know who you are).

Just For Laughs

A guy calls a company and orders their 5-day, 10 lb. weight loss program.The next day, there's a knock on the door and there stands before him a voluptuous, athletic, 19 year old babe dressed in nothing but a pair of Nike running shoes and a sign around her neck. She introduces herself as a representative of the weight loss company. 

The sign reads, "If you can catch me, you can have me."Without a second thought, he takes off after her. A few miles later huffing and puffing, he finally gives up. The same girl shows up for the next four days and the same thing happens. On the fifth day, he weighs himself and is delighted to find he has lost 10 lbs. as promised.He calls the company and orders their 5-day/20 pound program. 

The next day there's a knock at the door and there stands the most stunning, beautiful, sexy woman he has ever seen in his life. She is wearing nothing but Reebok running shoes and a sign around her neck that reads, "If you catch me you can have me". Well, he's out the door after her like a shot. This girl is in excellent shape and he does his best, but no such luck. So for the next four days, the same routine happens with him gradually getting in better and better shape.Much to his delight on the fifth day when he weighs himself, he discovers that he has lost another 20 lbs. as promised. 

He decides to go for broke and calls the company to order the 7-day/50 pound program"Are you sure?" asks the representative on the phone. "This is our most rigorous program.""Absolutely," he replies, "I haven't felt this good in years."The next day there's a knock at the door; and when he opens it he finds a huge muscular guy standing there wearing nothing but pink running shoes and a sign around his neck that reads, "If I catch you, your ass is mine.

"He lost 63 pounds that week."

Gone Were The Days

As I began preparing for the most important day of my life, I can't help but venture my mind a little bit forward, beyond that, to imagine starting a family. The thought of having my own child makes me smile. Imagining how I would play with him or her, how I would shower him or her with tons of pecks and hugs or even getting him or her to sleep on top of me, that's definitely something that is heart-warming.

With that in mind, I yearn to give the best of everything in my best ability. But at times, I got discouraged. And it is such times that smashed my heart-warming thoughts away. 

I remember growing up in an environment where growing up is fun.I remember taking bus from Bukit Panjang to Singapore General Hospital on bus service 190, which is still operating the similar route now. Back then, seats were never an issue, and my father did not have to worry about my safety as I would be seated on the inside with him beside me. 

Reality hit me hard as I grew older. I see more and more foreign people. I see more and more accidents everyday. I witness how my favorite waffles increase its price by nearly 100%. Singapore now is no longer the Singapore I knew when I was young. When I was young, my teacher taught me about racial harmony, about the harmonious relationships we should keep among the 4 races. But now, I wonder what the school will teach my child/children in future. Is it going to be nationalist harmony, about having harmonious relationships with people from all over the world, like maintaining a good friendship with people from 8-10 countries?

That's beside the point. The point is, Singapore is no longer suitable for Singaporeans. In fact, anyone can be SINGAPOREAN now. So what if you are not a valid pure Singapore Citizen? As long as you managed to get pass that customs, you get to enjoy full fledged daily necessities at the same cost Singaporeans all pay. As such, the non-stringent 'checks' on potential visitors causes unnecessary troubles to our home land, resulting in gradual diminishing sense of belonging I once held dearly. 

Never mind if I'm suffering. Daily rants from me being late because of the inconsistent traffic conditions caused by numerous motorized vehicles on the road. Being a driver myself, I felt that this whole tax scheme placed via various methods on us drivers are indeed scheming. These schemes were never meant to be solutions but just a facade with hidden agenda. Working in the automotive industry makes me further realized how unfair the car purchase system is in Singapore.

What I am worried about is the uncertainty that future holds. Migration, which seems the most convenient way out of this deep well prove difficult because there are simply just too much at stake. Asking me to share with my foreign counterparts on how great Singapore is, how awesome the food here are, is like asking me to join a debate that supports the notion "Fried food is healthy". 

This uncertainty caused me to fear that my child/children will not longer to be able to enjoy the childhood I was enjoyed. Already technology has taken away a huge chunk of their supposed livelihood, and now, those uncalled for policies just further add to the wreath of their childhood. I just hope some day, some one or even some group is able to twist this whole idea, and make Singapore how we once hope and wish for.