Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Serial Monogamist

The National Library is having an exhibition, Aksara, which traces the script of the Malay language(s). It's pretty cool, especially for speakers of the Malay/Indonesian language(s), to see how Malay used to be written in little squiggly lines too. From Pallava to Sanskrit to Arabic and now Roman script, it's now a big pity to see that Malay is being squandered into the mangle of English it now is.

It's also time to do things that had been put off for so long. Like going to Mr. Bean's for tea with Nik. Like going to Marina Promenade to run together with all the hotties in full view of the Singapore River skyline. Now it feels like life as it should've been since I-forgot-when.

Monday, February 26, 2007

If He Wants Me

Mot and I meet up without anything in mind except to spend some time together. Soon we're doing the normal thing of going to beach while listening to Oasis with the windows wound down. We dont quite reach the sea this time as we end up at SAF Yacht Club but the music part is working out fine. Theres something about the seabreeze and Mot's look. Theres something about the way he's standing in front of me. Well, it doesnt matter to me anymore. He's gonna have to make the first move because I sure as hell am not gonna mess up the groove im in right now. Fucking pooftas...

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Sunday, February 25, 2007

Expositions

Okeiko and W6za come back from KL and are leaving for Darwin tonight. What I'd do to go with them! We pack spaghetti for them and it's so odd to be the host saying goodbye this time!

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After having been a Stage Club member for almost a year, and putting off doing anything at all for that duration, I finally go for an audition today. For Macbeth, no less. It's a cosy little affair in a clubhouse of which the same can be said. Everyone's prolly been in about, oh, seven productions. Me, I've just been G.A.R.B., which, something tells me, doesnt really count anyway. Hell, there's even Mr Mac as Macbeth. I'd be very lucky if I could get a role at all. We'll see.

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Saturday, February 24, 2007

Siao Ah...

Standing on the sidelines of Chingay, I spy Derrick and Min Zheng, two of my favourite boys from their year. Min Zheng says I've an accent now, which is a very frightening thing to be told, especially for me. Dharma, you reading this? I have an Accent.

The car's parked in Central, so I had to walk back to station after the parade ended. (On the way back is the Fort Canning Tunnel where the National Library used to be. They tore down a grand old red-brick treasure trove of memories to build a hole in the ground just so they could name it.) As I was about to leave, Eddy pulls up in the ambulance, arriving in base after a call. We end up talking 'till 2am, and I'm persuaded to join CDAU so we can ride around on ambulance calls.

Now, this is a tempting thought. Barely half of my life as a fireman was spent turning out for calls and if I can continue to do so, it doesnt matter even if I'm an officer riding around on an ambulance getting 2.80SGD an hour. All I want is the heady rush that comes with the coding from control room, the sliding pole, jumping in in various stages of dress, the sirens, beacon lights, beating traffic, helping people, finishing a call and returning to base with an unrivalled satisfaction. I want that, I want to be in a fire station again.

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Friday, February 23, 2007

1, 3, 5, 7, 11

Tonight's the much-anticipated salsa lesson for Surya and I. We're already dancing in the afternoon on the floor of CCSG so we're set for the night. For anyone who thinks salsa is difficult and/or boring, rest assured that if we can do it, so can you. A guy has come alone, which is all right, except that he seems to be handicapped in laughing at himself. Everyone is awkward for him, and when he leaves the studio on the pretext of answering a call, I dont expect him to come back. He doesnt, and how terrible, because somehow it feels like I could've been him. Check out Groove to find out how you can learn to, uh, meet lady friends. I go here because it's right outside the Outram NEL MRT Station, and if you know me well enough you'll know it's the truth.

After salsa class (I always wanted to say that), Surya brings me to GasHaus where her boyfriend Luke is running the house. It seems to be a proper enough place to go watch live bands, get a cup of tea and diss the PM, if you're in a band. The main point of going there though, is to meet Luke, and in a sense to obtain his blessings for us to go dancing together.

We're sposed to visit Am at his home after this but I've to go on my own now. This is a very tall order - I've not been in Tampines in years and also have a special knack for gettting lost in HDB estates. Avenues, Streets, Lorongs, Roads, Drives apparently have some kind of hierarchy and order that is completely lost on me. Little wonder then my shock and awe at people who can even tell the directions based on blocks ("Orh.. blok 267 ah.. near 153 lo.."). Dont get me wrong, I'm great at directions. I know my King George's Ave from St. George's Rd but I cant decipher the numbering of various Hougang Neighbourhoods. While some estates seem to have themes like nuts (Cashew, Walnut..) or operas (Figaro, Fidelio..), there doesnt seem to be any rationale in making Avenue 3 turn into Street 52, except maybe five less two is three.

So there I was, alighted from bus 28 opposite Tampines N2 Shopping Street, thinking I might as well have been in a Bangkok soi. It takes another half-hour and a few frantic/raging calls to Michelle before I get there, at which time they say we're all going to the kopitiam. Singapore, land of #04-7890 and sipping teh-o-kosong-bao-peng with roti john special at the 24 hour kopitiam.

Thursday, February 22, 2007

POW, wow

Harith Bizarro calls me out and after much bitching we decide to meet in our old haunt, Little India. As is very typical, I get there early and he late so I'm hanging out alone at POW for about two hours. Our theme for tonight is "I Remember When I Was a Backpacker Last Month", but Harith states plainly, "So, slippers and shorts right?"

It's been a bit more than a half-year since we last met and it starts out a little awkward but things begin to warm up. His pint of Hoegaarden and my stubby of VB lubricates things just enough, and the tension in me eases somewhat. We're speaking fondly like old ns kakis again.

On the walk back to catch the last train, our conversation turns to what exactly happened in the last few days. But really, who knows and who cares why things turned sour? Nothing much matters now, we're mates again. The placid night holds in it some kind of expectancy, the kind that makes it placid, not still, not calm, the kind that brings with it some kind of tremulous sensation in each ticking of the second hand.

It is trying to say something, though it was not apparent then. But now, putting thoughts down, sketching a mind map, it is clear. This new independence, confidence and willingness to be with myself, seems to have put a rest to the unresolved feelings towards abandonment, perceived or otherwise. More specifically, the benefit of hindsight made it clear how badly Harith must have wanted to get away from Jurong. It felt so real then, it still does, the silver sharpness still glistening in the back of my mind. But I understand it enough now, enough to shine a little bit of light in that corner, and know it for what it is, know that it itsnt a threat anymore.

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Sunday, February 18, 2007

Open Eyes

We go to Wild Wild Wet in the morning and again, it's a first for all of us. Man, was I even alive in the past year? It's a CNY crowd, which means that of course it's packed, but with MIO's only. The place is pretty small and the rides arent even scary at all except perhaps for this one ride. In any case, it's a chance to swim and get some sun and exercise, not to mention that they're paying.

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I have to go visiting after that while they wisely decide to go to Bukit Timah. This is the year that the aunties start asking for me about my girlfriend, of which there is none. For that matter, boy or girl, whatev, maybe I dont want anything now because it's great as it is and I dont want to spoil it. (But if twas R, I take that back.) Cue awkward smile, pretend to be the asexual boy I was a decade ago and keep stuffing my face so I dont have to talk. Ugh.. Chinese New Year will never be the same again. Not after puberty, NS, leaving the country and studying overseas. Now I am almost the adult son who needs to carry on the family name (which name?), challenge my father for the patriarchy (what from whom?), and be able to discuss cheerfully When I Will Come To Be Filial To You Too (when? where?).

Is it any wonder then, any wrong, that I dont want to have to be here anymore?

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Saturday, February 17, 2007

Money and You Get Rich

Chinese New Year this year raises the spectre, as it does every year, of horrible Hokkien Chinese songs extolling the importance of money and getting rich and/or the its direct link to the happiness in the coming year. Well. And too many relatives in a too small, cramped HDB flat with too oily food. Here's hoping that the two Estonians will provide much needed company, or if the need arises, sufficient distraction.

Reunion dinner is a boring steamboat affair (again) and we proceed to eat until we are too stuffed or sweaty or in pain from all the chilli. Already the ploy to save my sanity by using the Estonians is paying off. After a little resting and dozing off, we go to River Hongbao, which, once again, will be the first for all of us.

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We park the car at Central and then walk down most parts of the Civic District towards the river. I'm beginning to like the city the way I did when I was still in Central.
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Fireworks this time round arent such a massive affair, but was still breathtaking nonetheless.
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River Hongbao is an orgy of sights and sounds that abuse the senses with red, horrid, tacky, jarring statuettes and songs. This can only be the work of a group of Chinese organisations, at the instigation of the STB, to draw people from all over to usher in the Spring Festival in the traditional Chinese way. Oh, for godssakes. Okeiko and W6za know immediately when they see this that it is, unfortunately, a literal and figurative money tree.
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Away from the madding crowd, we visit a temple

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Friday, February 16, 2007

Estonia Coming

With the prodigal son coming home, the family has also entered a new phase as hosts to travellers from around the world. Today a couple from Estonia will be coming from Chennai and Mum has cleaned, baked and cooked, and my sister has, well, just cleaned herself. As for me, the room just needs a little packing and it's habitable once again.

Vilmar (W6za) and Annika (Okeiko) have their backs turned to me, facing the canal as I go to pick them up at Kembangan MRT Station. They have very little stuff and seem to be tired and dirty, how typical. They're fed and cleaned and rested, by which time we're pretty cool with each other so Chinatown seems like a good place to go to, even for me, it'll be our first time there.

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A crazy rude man shouts at Okeiko, "No photo, no photo! You want, you buy!"
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Mmmuah chee.. after so long
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The way Hon describes this elephant, I just HAD to come see it
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It's noisy, red, commercial, packed, hot and sultry. It isnt so bad, at least not as tacky as the day I was shopping at Giant for the BBQ stuff

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Thursday, February 15, 2007

You're The Bitch

The party at Central two days ago was to celebrate LTA Zen's completion of his two year RC stint. This must have been sweet relief for him because being a Central RC must feel like being the Jurong OC, what with the workload. He was there the first day I stepped into station, he was the one who picked me for the rota and he was there for my first call, he was there for my first fire. His name was the one I'd listen out for when 16th was the supporting contingent for the 33rd POP, he was The One who was also from RJC. He made me drop the LTA after I completed BOC, and he always seemed to be someone great to confide in, to joke with. I could only hope to be as good an RC as him. So here's to you Zen, you must be glad it's over.

And today when I go to the War Memorial Park, just being a tourist, he's there, doing his job as 1st Div infocomms officer. Haha! I go over to him and we chat fondly, how great to be an infocomms officer.

Night time is meeting Fariz, and he's driving because he just passed his Class 3. As usual he's being a fucker and makes me pay for oil. I refuse to pump the oil and pay the 8.60SGD we can muster up and he goes on a hissy fit! Haha! Fucker brings me to Lower Pierce Reservoir and we have a picnic of Gardenia bread and plain water. He makes me piss on my own waterbottle, we piss ourselves silly because of the reservoir, and chat with two Bangladeshi workers on their CNY break. The night ends with fucking around in his room as blokes do (really, pisser) and Feyaze never did finished his stupid stockcheck, dammit.

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Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Great Valentine Aussie Barbie

Back in Alice, I realise I'll be back just in time for Valentine's Day and I have none. But, why, just call the Love Club over!

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This card comes free from Cold Storage Siglap Centre while we're buying the beef. It just "happens" to be in all our pictures
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Blender is for the banana smoothies - bananas, icecream, ice cubes and milk
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Sweet potatoes are to be mashed with butter
boys
Food - sausages and steak with burnt onions, grilled capsicums and tomatoes
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Just lick the back of the card a little...
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Everyone says I'm so very dark now
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We right little Valentine messages on the back of the cards
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On you get your message by picking the card out of the green bag
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Ah.. poor single fuckers.

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Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Another Great Beginning

The first day back home is packed chockful with a visit to the hawker centre (not market), grocery shopping at Giant (not Cole's), working at CCSG (not the farm) and visiting the fire station (my own Central!). It feels as if the trip hasnt ended, so maybe being home isnt that bad after all.

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Monday, February 12, 2007

Dividends

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Morning is just a rehash of last night except we're dirtier because there hasnt been a real shower for either. I'm sitting topless in the passenger seat as Daryl brings us home. The wind is passing us by and I want to scream, which I do. We stop for three spots fishing for barra but fail quite miserably. Well, at least money buys us barra at Fisherman's Wharf again, just like the first time, but here we bump into Teddy and Ayumi, my trainmates who inspire laughter in between their Japanese-Korean attempts at English.

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It's time to say goodbye, and this is the final entry On the Southern Road. But I know, when the police pulls us over on the way to the airport, there is no need to say goodbye, because, well, too many things can happen. You just gotta have faith, faith, faith.

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Sunday, February 11, 2007

Lords of the Flies

It's my last day on the trains and I've fallen into a sleepy routine. The seats in front turn around to form the most comfortable bed I've ever had on the trains. Meal times and movie times are scheduled finely. Meals are simple affairs, consisting of yesterday's leftovers, Home Brand canned food and one orange. The staff know that I'll be interested in the expired chips special and I am, so I buy two (it's a treat)! Reading, listening to Max Kingsley Jr, sleeping and spacing out at the window take turns like they're learning to waltz.

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Darly picks me up and we head straight for Lichfield National Park. It's a one hour drive on the road and another hour off it. Daryl's 4WD goes over rocks, crosses streams and breaks stumps like only a man's car can. We arrive at the campsite and set up camp but immediately the mudflies attack, so we hurry up and jump into the waterhole. up here in darwin, the waterhole is surrounded by familiar tropical trees, a much welcome sight. The water is sparkling clear, crystal cold and there are a series of falls so we sit under them, letting the water wash everything away.

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Saturday, February 10, 2007

Sick!

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Kristie and Erin from back in the IP pick me up at Todd Mall after farewells with Dan. They've prepped a picnic and we're going to the West MacDonnell Ranges today. We try to channel Peter McDouall Stuart's spirit for a little bit at Serpentine Gorge but fail miserably. Ellery Creek Big Hole is the most beautiful place I never thought Alice Springs could have. There's so much fun to be had swimming and we're eating for too long so by the time we've left we're already late for my train. There's no point stressing about missing the train though, it'd just be oddly funny at this point of a trip in which nothing bad has happened. So we sing to The Audreys, play with stuffed toys, and poke our heads out of the window screaming bloody murder. By the time we fly into the railway station, the train doors have already been locked but I'm just in time so they let me in anyway. As Kristy puts it so well when I sms the girls goodbye, "I bet no one else on the train was swimming in a waterhole an hour ago."

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Friday, February 09, 2007

Warmer Weather

They climb to the top of King's Canyon in drag and at the top, they wonder at all the space that doesnt seem to end. Where do they want to go now? Home. Maybe that is the purpose of travel, to go to the ends of the world in order to appreciate the place where you came from, to understand your relationship with your origins,because, perhaps, proximity breeds contempt.

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Mercury reads 47. Yes, it's celsius.

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Queen of the Desert

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Our favourite tree, the ghost gum. It can decide to drop leaves or even certain branches if the going gets tough
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This morning only four of us from the tour group want to go for the King's Canyon Rim Walk, presumably because of a segment called Heart Attack Hill. When the guide, Matt, comes, I realise he was the one behind the bar last night at dinner. We strike up an instant friendship and go on the jolly way.

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I'm naked in the waterhole
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She's a cool French lady who even did the Marrakech marathon last year
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Matt is, very surprisingly, a qualified airline pilot

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