what can get better than this? XD
十二国記公式アニメガイド！
this ranks 1st. (thanks ling! thanks jonasan!)
next is my erhu, which is my 2001 birthday present from mum and ah ma and cost $290.
i got "ella enchanted" (from a book by Gail Carson Levine)(not sure about the order) from yume, and "Helen the baby fox" (子ぎつねヘレン) from my imouto. like cool! 've been wanting to watch them. xoule gave me the usual: a bar of toblerone. tradition, he says. mail from uncle gerd: a beautiful butterfly card with €30 tucked neatly inside a mini envelope on the cover. had a pink shirt from junie and a cute card with the grey bear (whatsitcalled?), there even a sticker on the envelope that reads "がんばったね" (ganbatta ne).
みんなさん、本当にありがとう！ (minna san, hontouni arigatou!)
been slacking the whole day. after leaving school, i popped down to bras brasah to get 千斤 for my 二胡. the inner string broke a few days ago, and the 千斤 has certainly seen better days. alighted at bugis, took a gander around bugis street(?) for hair accessories, and detoured to the library, before actually stepping through the doors of karl heng enterprise. i didn't know which to get; the softer one or the more durable 千斤, the person recommended the hardier one (which cost $2 more) and i erm, obliged. [soft=$1, hard=$3]
downstairs, at the ground floor of bras basah complex, i was accosted by this young lady trying to get me to donate to a certain "New Hope Community Services", and while she was babbling away in rapid mandarin why i should hand $10 to her, i was looking at the green card, eyes scanning it for all the information i need. oh well, when i walked away from bras basah, i was one ($10) note lighter, suddenly regreting my decision to part with my cash and hoping fervently that it wasn't just some bogus charity organisation.
父と母 started their char kway teow business downstairs that afternoon. it was totally weird seeing my parents inside the stall, tending to customers. just downright weird.
overall, it was a good day. but i forgot to make a wish. wonder if it's still valid. hm... world peace?
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Sunday, September 24, 2006
net force
If the earth were to stop spinning suddenly, would we be thrown off our current positions?
(just like when we jerk if a moving car stops suddenly)
(just like when we jerk if a moving car stops suddenly)
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Middle Kingdom
>> i have been like procrastinating forever on this post; i think i'm just gonna post it. incomplete, of course.
it has already been some time when i flew to the Middle Kingdom and back. the Middle Kingdom; just a more fancy name for zhong guo, china.
here are the details of my visit:
well, what can i say, i was so happy when i could read the japanese equivalent of "bon voyage" at changi airport; 楽しいご旅行をどうぞ [ありがとう!]
we boarded the plane, one of the Boeing 737 species. it was not as big as the name suggests though; it was only 6 abreast with an aisle down the middle. the stewardesses all go "早上好" as you enter. i wanted to say "好、好" in reply but nothing escaped my lips so i just smiledstupidly.
breakfast or lunch or brunch was beef, cauliflower, broccoli, mushroom, paprika and the other stuffs they usually give during flights: bread, salad, fruits. if you really want to know, the flight attendants have red and dark blue pinafores, with a white blouse beneath. it's... quite neat. my chinese is becoming a little too rusty. i needed 5 seconds to process their question ("yao he shen me yin liao?") Oh crap.
[you chang you chou][the chapter about how i was dissatisfied with the airport staff]
this must be the first time ever i yelled at someone i don't know in chinese. okaaaaaaaaaay. not yell exactly. more like "cried indignantly". i cleared the health authorities, the immigration officers (aka passport stampers){she didn't say a word to me, didn't smile at me, just scrutinized my face like as if i had "Princess Adeline Irisis Fercossa Audythien" for my name in my passport or i had 3 eyes and the photo of me in the passport didn't> and went ahead to pick our luggage from the belt. i waited what seemed like eternity, stealing a few glances at the immigration counters. my eyes couldn't register my parents but i thought that was probably due to my failing eyesight. at last i saw them seated on a bench outside the toilets atwixt the health authorities & immigration counters. i walked down the lane of one of the unmanned counters and called out to them. one of the airport staff tried to shoo me off but i pointed to my relatives and tried to explain what i was doing there. she told me to stand over at the baggage are. "我父母在等我！" I said. luckily i caught their attention.
Xiamen International Airport isn't far from Changi International Airport in terms of cleanliness and design of the interior. we're only short of carpets and aircon. don't forget the (free usage of the) telephone & internet.
the toilet was most memorable. you press a green button at the back, the plastic enveloping the seat frame slides clockwise and becomes stationary after one oscillation. hence, each patron's posterior comes into contact with only his/her particular region of plastic. totally cool. wonder what sort of toilets kikawa is using over at iwate.
our guide received us at the airport. a chinese guy who looks to be in his late twenties; "小張", he calls himself. our luggage went into the trunk of minDB1330.
>> haven't even gotten to the actual tour yet, long winded standalone prologue =P
it has already been some time when i flew to the Middle Kingdom and back. the Middle Kingdom; just a more fancy name for zhong guo, china.
here are the details of my visit:
well, what can i say, i was so happy when i could read the japanese equivalent of "bon voyage" at changi airport; 楽しいご旅行をどうぞ [ありがとう!]
we boarded the plane, one of the Boeing 737 species. it was not as big as the name suggests though; it was only 6 abreast with an aisle down the middle. the stewardesses all go "早上好" as you enter. i wanted to say "好、好" in reply but nothing escaped my lips so i just smiled
breakfast or lunch or brunch was beef, cauliflower, broccoli, mushroom, paprika and the other stuffs they usually give during flights: bread, salad, fruits. if you really want to know, the flight attendants have red and dark blue pinafores, with a white blouse beneath. it's... quite neat. my chinese is becoming a little too rusty. i needed 5 seconds to process their question ("yao he shen me yin liao?") Oh crap.
[you chang you chou][the chapter about how i was dissatisfied with the airport staff]
this must be the first time ever i yelled at someone i don't know in chinese. okaaaaaaaaaay. not yell exactly. more like "cried indignantly". i cleared the health authorities, the immigration officers (aka passport stampers){she didn't say a word to me, didn't smile at me, just scrutinized my face like as if i had "Princess Adeline Irisis Fercossa Audythien" for my name in my passport or i had 3 eyes and the photo of me in the passport didn't> and went ahead to pick our luggage from the belt. i waited what seemed like eternity, stealing a few glances at the immigration counters. my eyes couldn't register my parents but i thought that was probably due to my failing eyesight. at last i saw them seated on a bench outside the toilets atwixt the health authorities & immigration counters. i walked down the lane of one of the unmanned counters and called out to them. one of the airport staff tried to shoo me off but i pointed to my relatives and tried to explain what i was doing there. she told me to stand over at the baggage are. "我父母在等我！" I said. luckily i caught their attention.
Xiamen International Airport isn't far from Changi International Airport in terms of cleanliness and design of the interior. we're only short of carpets and aircon. don't forget the (free usage of the) telephone & internet.
the toilet was most memorable. you press a green button at the back, the plastic enveloping the seat frame slides clockwise and becomes stationary after one oscillation. hence, each patron's posterior comes into contact with only his/her particular region of plastic. totally cool. wonder what sort of toilets kikawa is using over at iwate.
our guide received us at the airport. a chinese guy who looks to be in his late twenties; "小張", he calls himself. our luggage went into the trunk of minDB1330.
>> haven't even gotten to the actual tour yet, long winded standalone prologue =P
gay
why are male homosexuals called "gay"? is it because they are merrier than solely heterosexuals?
musashi no hanashi
i just dug out one of my exercise books, and inserted within were several pieces of A4 paper: short (and incomplete) stories it turned out.
this one was supposed to be the "answer" to an o level question:
5(a) "But you promised!" she cried. "I will never trust you again."
Passersby stared quizically at the lampost she was yelling at, but to Myrdith Noden, as the woman was called, she was not yelling at the unresponsive structure by the road as the others had thought.
Myrdith Noden was screaming down the ear of a man she had just met weeks ago, a man whom others could not see. He was a towering figure, clad in a crisp formal suit with a perfectly positioned tie and stiff pants, complete with a pair of polished classic leather shoes. The man had a kind, good-natured but weathered face, a little pale, where wrinkles ran across his forehead and a welcoming smile on his on his upturned lips. What Myrdith did not notice was his feet, both about a hand's length above the ground.
"You. Broke. Your. Promise!" she said through gritted teeth, emphasizing every word.
The man drifted backwards, as if her words had driving force.
"I WANT..." Myrdith cried but felt a hand over her mouth.
"Brind her in," someone said.
Her mind faintly registered the shutting of doors before darkness enveloped her thoughts.
The room smelt like the rest of the hospital - medicine, sterilising solution and latex gloves. Everything looked cheery, bright flowers in the vase, curtains imprinted with fluffy clouds even the doctor sitting behind the desk appeared merry. The only thing that was not cheerful was Myrdith. Her head spun and she had difficulty focusing her vision.
"So... you're Myrdith Noden," the doctor said with a smile.
Myrdith nodded. "Yes...," she murmured.
"Feeling ok?"
"Better...," she managed to reply.
After a moment of silence, the doctor asked, "Can you tell me if anything significant happened to you recently?"
She seemed hesitant, but nodded. "Yes. There was an old man. Simply followed me all the way home. Couldn't get rid of him, it seemed..."
The doctor's smile never left his face. "And then?"
>> it stops there, there was another "answer" to the same question.
5(a) "But you promised!" she cried. "I will never trust you again."
General Zhou Yuan clasped his cloak on, wondering what on earth his daughter was ranting about. The general had a reputation for being forgetful, so on occasions, his daughter would remind him of promises he never made. He wondered if this was one of them.
"What promise, Zhou Ling?" he asked wearily.
There was still a fair bit of time before dawn so the hall was lit with a dozen or so lanterns, their dim flickery light casting shadows in the hushed hall.
"You said you will not go to war," Zhou Ling replied.
Her father patted her head tenderly. "I'm sorry. This is the emperor's order."
"I won't allow you," the ten-year-old girl clutched his hand adamantly.
Zhou Yuan smiled wistfully, wondering if that was the last time he will set eyes on his daughter. Insolent, mischievous, rebellious: only child. He beckoned his wife, who had been standing in the shadows.
"Escort this little rascal back to her room."
"No!" she yelled her head off. "You'll be leading millions of people to their deaths..."
Zhou Ling's voice trailed off as her mother dragged her across the hall and pass the courtyard.
"Dad..."
Heaving a sigh, General Zhou Yuan picked up his sword and left the Zhou Manor.
"Would you believe it general? Your daughter followed you and your army all the way to Kuang Feng Valley."
Zhou Ling was handed over to the leader. Smirking, he continued. "I must admit that she is rather strong-willed, but of course, in seconds my able scouts had her under control."
"For heaven's sake, she's only ten," cried Zhou Yuan.
"Yes, ten only but so very useful..."
At this, Zhou Ling bit the hand that held her, her teeth clamping hard on the fingers of the person who had taken advantage of her father's love for her.
He wrenched his hand out, blood and saliva dripping, much to the horror of the audience.
"So?" he asked with amazing phlegm.
In answer, the general drew his sword.
With a smug smile, the leader did likewise.
The atmosphere became tensed as all eyes fixed upon them.
It was, however, not the general nor his opponent who broke the silence but Zhou Ling, having been momentarily forgotten.
"Stop," she asserted, positioning herself between them, her back to her father. "Don't fight."
"Move aside," the chief growled, he raised his sword till the tip pointed towards Zhou Ling's chest.
"Zhou Ling! Don't!" General Zhou cried.
She stood firmly on the ground, not budging an inch.
The sword flashed and in that fateful second, impaled the body of Zhou Ling.
this one was supposed to be the "answer" to an o level question:
5(a) "But you promised!" she cried. "I will never trust you again."
Passersby stared quizically at the lampost she was yelling at, but to Myrdith Noden, as the woman was called, she was not yelling at the unresponsive structure by the road as the others had thought.
Myrdith Noden was screaming down the ear of a man she had just met weeks ago, a man whom others could not see. He was a towering figure, clad in a crisp formal suit with a perfectly positioned tie and stiff pants, complete with a pair of polished classic leather shoes. The man had a kind, good-natured but weathered face, a little pale, where wrinkles ran across his forehead and a welcoming smile on his on his upturned lips. What Myrdith did not notice was his feet, both about a hand's length above the ground.
"You. Broke. Your. Promise!" she said through gritted teeth, emphasizing every word.
The man drifted backwards, as if her words had driving force.
"I WANT..." Myrdith cried but felt a hand over her mouth.
"Brind her in," someone said.
Her mind faintly registered the shutting of doors before darkness enveloped her thoughts.
The room smelt like the rest of the hospital - medicine, sterilising solution and latex gloves. Everything looked cheery, bright flowers in the vase, curtains imprinted with fluffy clouds even the doctor sitting behind the desk appeared merry. The only thing that was not cheerful was Myrdith. Her head spun and she had difficulty focusing her vision.
"So... you're Myrdith Noden," the doctor said with a smile.
Myrdith nodded. "Yes...," she murmured.
"Feeling ok?"
"Better...," she managed to reply.
After a moment of silence, the doctor asked, "Can you tell me if anything significant happened to you recently?"
She seemed hesitant, but nodded. "Yes. There was an old man. Simply followed me all the way home. Couldn't get rid of him, it seemed..."
The doctor's smile never left his face. "And then?"
>> it stops there, there was another "answer" to the same question.
5(a) "But you promised!" she cried. "I will never trust you again."
General Zhou Yuan clasped his cloak on, wondering what on earth his daughter was ranting about. The general had a reputation for being forgetful, so on occasions, his daughter would remind him of promises he never made. He wondered if this was one of them.
"What promise, Zhou Ling?" he asked wearily.
There was still a fair bit of time before dawn so the hall was lit with a dozen or so lanterns, their dim flickery light casting shadows in the hushed hall.
"You said you will not go to war," Zhou Ling replied.
Her father patted her head tenderly. "I'm sorry. This is the emperor's order."
"I won't allow you," the ten-year-old girl clutched his hand adamantly.
Zhou Yuan smiled wistfully, wondering if that was the last time he will set eyes on his daughter. Insolent, mischievous, rebellious: only child. He beckoned his wife, who had been standing in the shadows.
"Escort this little rascal back to her room."
"No!" she yelled her head off. "You'll be leading millions of people to their deaths..."
Zhou Ling's voice trailed off as her mother dragged her across the hall and pass the courtyard.
"Dad..."
Heaving a sigh, General Zhou Yuan picked up his sword and left the Zhou Manor.
"Would you believe it general? Your daughter followed you and your army all the way to Kuang Feng Valley."
Zhou Ling was handed over to the leader. Smirking, he continued. "I must admit that she is rather strong-willed, but of course, in seconds my able scouts had her under control."
"For heaven's sake, she's only ten," cried Zhou Yuan.
"Yes, ten only but so very useful..."
At this, Zhou Ling bit the hand that held her, her teeth clamping hard on the fingers of the person who had taken advantage of her father's love for her.
He wrenched his hand out, blood and saliva dripping, much to the horror of the audience.
"So?" he asked with amazing phlegm.
In answer, the general drew his sword.
With a smug smile, the leader did likewise.
The atmosphere became tensed as all eyes fixed upon them.
It was, however, not the general nor his opponent who broke the silence but Zhou Ling, having been momentarily forgotten.
"Stop," she asserted, positioning herself between them, her back to her father. "Don't fight."
"Move aside," the chief growled, he raised his sword till the tip pointed towards Zhou Ling's chest.
"Zhou Ling! Don't!" General Zhou cried.
She stood firmly on the ground, not budging an inch.
The sword flashed and in that fateful second, impaled the body of Zhou Ling.
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