My Singapore trip

The day finally came last Saturday for the Phantom of The Opera. Thanks to Mr Tony Fernandez, "Now Everyone Can Wait" "Now Everyone Can Fly", gf & I boarded the earliest flight to Senai, Johor, before taking the bus, first to JB, then to Singapore.

I can fly!

The show was on Sunday afternoon 2pm, so we spent most of Saturday walking around Orchard Road and meeting up with gf's colleague and ex-colleague. Leslie, our new SIA trainee steward was also around there and we met up and eventually went to Tampines Mall for a walk before having a late dinner with him.

Next day, we had our breakfast at the hotel in Little India before Alex, a former colleague from Padini & Giordano, came to fetch us. He came with his gf Karen, but she had an appointment with her friends. Alex dropped her somewhere before driving us to the Durian.

Singapore's Durian

Woo hoo!

We had lunch there and update each other with what we've been up to. The last time I saw him was my last trip here with Giordano in 2001. Among the interesting things I learnt from him was Singapore now has Hooter's in Clark Quay.

The show was good, but maybe it's because my second time watching, some of the visual effects were not as fascinating was it was 11 years ago.

@ Outside the theartre

After the show, we walked around Suntec City before going to Boat Quay for dinner - I had mistakenly thought Hooter's was in Boat Quay.

On the way to Boat Quay, we walked passed the Parliament House, the symbol of Singapore Democracy, if it really exists.

Couldn't find Hooter's there, but took some nice pictures.

Boat Quay

the vibrant city
After realising we were at the wrong quay, we decided not to try going to Clark Quay. Instead we headed to CityLink Mall to a restaurant we saw earlier for dinner.

2B continued....

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday to Daddy

Happy Birthday to you!

(1933 - 2002)

Singapore & me

As a secondary student in the school band(trumpet), I've played the score. As a uni student, I've watched Australian production in Sydney. This weekend, I'm taking a trip down south to watch it again with gf. The show? Phantom of the Opera.



Somehow as the day draws near, I just started to think about my connection with Singapore. Not that I have any relatives living in there, just that if I were to think of Singapore, I can say what I remember most from Singapore were a couple of unpleasant & painful experience- one work related and the other personal. Today I just feel like expressing one of them.

Last Friday while driving back from Leisure Mall, this song that was played reminded me of someone I used to know.

I hate the world today

You're so good to me

I know but I can't change

Tried to tell you

But you look at me like maybe

I'm an angel underneath

Innocent and sweet

Yesterday I cried

Must have been relieved to see

The softer side

I can understand how you'd be so confused

I don't envy you

I'm a little bit of everything

All rolled into one

I'm a bitch, I'm a lover

I'm a child, I'm a mother

I'm a sinner, I'm a saint

I do not feel ashamed

I'm your hell, I'm your dream

I'm nothing in between

You know you wouldn't want it any other way

So take me as I am

This may mean

You'll have to be a stronger man

Rest assured that

When I start to make you nervous

And I'm going to extremes

Tomorrow I will change

And today won't mean a thing

Just when you think, you got me figured out

The season's already changing

I think it's cool, you do what you do

And don't try to save me

I'm a bitch, I'm a tease

I'm a goddess on my knees

When you hurt, when you suffer

I'm your angel undercover

I've been numb, I'm revived

Can't say I'm not alive

You know I wouldn't want it any other way

It's funny how the title of this song is changed here in Malaysia. The title was originally "BITCH" but here it's known as "Nothing in between" and the words "bitch" were censored -might as well just ban the song.

Anyway, back to this song. I was reminded of my ex from Singapore whom I met in Sydney. It wasn't the "Oh I miss her" or "I still think of her" crap but I thought of how bad I was burnt by that relationship, the painful experience that brought some reality into my life. I don't think I've shared much of it with anyone- sure gf knows about it but not the complete details of how it ended(or rather, how I wanted it to end).

But first, let me clarify that I'm not saying that she's a bitch(I wouldn't use that kind of word on anyone). Just that one of the CDs she asked me to get for her while I was on holiday in Malaysia was Meredith Brooks's CD which featured that song.

It's kinda painful when one puts so much hope in a relationship that when it turns sour, nothing (at that point) could really make one feel good about oneself. The worst kind of breakups are those that happened over the phone. She completed her studies and left Sydney in March 1998 while I still had one more year to go. Less than a month, over the phone she told me it was over. In retrospect though, some of the stuff on the lyrics do describe her, the part about I need to be a stronger man, her being ever changing, etc.



I can tell you, my final year in uni was probably the worst time of my life. Maybe it's because I was away studying overseas, unable to gain access to support from my family & friends back home. I still remember how hard it was for me then to sleep at night. To be more precise, it was the fear of going to bed feeling alone- the chilling nights of Sydney wasn't helping as well(perhaps not that cold but I sure felt cold then). The future I was planning for was destroyed in an instance. My ego took a huge beating and I lost whatever meagre amount of self-esteem & security I had, all because I placed my security on the wrong thing/person.

The worst part was how I tried to end it. I couldn't bear the thought loneliness so I told my dad then that I wanted to come back to Penang for the mid-year break. Since she had left her electric guitar in Sydney, I thought maybe I could fly to Singapore first to return the guitar and let her know what I was going through. I wanted a proper a closure on the relationship. I wanted a break in person, not over the phone.

So I flew to Singapore with the guitar. Tried to get her on the phone to make arrangements to hand it back to her and close this painful chapter in my life. In the end, it was her mother who came and met with me- the ex was avoiding me by not returning home that night before. I didn't get my closure that I was desperately looking for. And it took me almost 3 years to stand up again emotionally. I did get some comforting words from her mom though- I think she felt bad for what happened to me. She took me around Singapore for half a day. In a way it's kinda weird but I appreciate what she did. One of the things she told me was when she heard that her daughter was seeing me, she asked ex's elder bro(who's also studying in Sydney then) if I ever bully my ex. His response? "You should be thankful your daughter is not bullying him..." That trip ended nowhere....

I really want to have a wonderful experience in Singapore. Too bad the other experience which is work related made my memories of Singapore worse. Nothing against the people there(Ben Tang, I'm cool with you!), it's just that I can't really talk fondly of my trips to Singapore. All other good childhood Singaporean experiences prior to that were totally destroyed.

I optimistically look forward to my trip this weekend. I want something sweet and wonderful, that I can look back and tell people, "Hey, I had a great time in Singapore!"

New Schedule WEF April 2007

CLASS UPDATES!!!!

Unlike some instructors who have legions of fans following them from one club to another, I have promote myself here in my own blog. among the changes you will see in April:

1) Mon I'm going back to Axis!
2) More classes for me in IOI!
3) More BC classes overall!
4) More time to sleep! (Dropped Tuesday 7.15am BP)

Join my classes - It will be FUN FUN FUN!!! Don't believe me? Just ask gf and she'll tell you it's the absolute truth.

Guys, please don't just follow your gf to wherever she goes just because she likes this particular instructor. if you are a regular Fitness First member who doesn't have any particular favourite instructor, please join my class, ok? Tell your friends about it, bring your mother & father and let's have a ball!!

Post CNY thoughts

I actually thought of a lot of things to blog lately..... starting from my preparation for CNY to what actually happened during the festive season. Somehow, the opportunity to blog didn't come since I was transferred to IOI Mall.

Anyhow, among the more interesting things that happened during CNY was many news of weddings coming up among my relatives & friends. Come this July, a cousin of mine is marrying this BODYJAM instructor from Island Plaza(yeah, Penang is that small). Year end, there will be another wedding dinner in KL as another cousin(mom's side) is also the tying the noose knot. Then, there's another wedding in the pipeline as Danny & Su Lin prepares for theirs next year, hopefully not clashing with Euro 2008 football matches.

Naturally, the question of my sexuality wedding plan came up as well. Actually even if they didn't mention it, I also kind of felt the urge to finally settle down. So what's holding me back?

Fear of commitment? Naahhh....

I have already thought of how I would propose to her. In fact, I have 2 plans in mind, just in case I need options. When I do propose to her, it's my hope to make it the 2nd best day of her life, the best being the day we get married.

So.... what am I waiting for?

Can you help?

BODYCOMBAT® 31 Launch

Last night was the beginning of the 3-day Les Mills launch in Fitness First. IOI Mall was given the opportunity to launch RPMtm 34 and BODYCOMBAT® 31.


Here's the attire for BODYCOMBAT®:

Swee and I launched together for the first time. It's one of the rare occasions that I didn't dwarf my partner on stage. I stood out when I launched with Crystal, Renee, Terence and Calvin.... for the wrong reasons.

I have to say that BODYCOMBAT® keeps getting tougher by the release. I had some difficulty coaching track 4 - no wonder Dan Cohen only said, "Freeze.... Fire! Freeze.... Fire!" Could hardly say anything when executing the evasive side kick-jump kick combo.

Swee & I both made a couple of errors but it was a hot class - FULL HOUSE with 60 members sweating it out.

Tonight there's one more at my old club Damansara Uptown & tomorrow Wisma SPK. I'm done with the BODYCOMBAT® launch and tomorrow I will be launching BODYPUMP® 61 instead with Jackson at Cheras Leisure Mall.