The Greatest Power. . .

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Like the title says, what do you think is the greatest power in the world? If you think this whole post is about cheesy stuffs like "the power of love", please, go sit at that corner there and cry yourself to sleep. Cause I'm not talking about that. Started off my day with a little discussion of "the value of money" with a friend over a Facebook photo. The photo reads, "Don't educate your children to be rich, educate them to be happy. So that when they grow up, they'll know the value of things, not the price".

What'd you think? For me, I completely disagree with the saying. In fact, I think if you want your kids to know the value of things, educate them to be rich! Only when they realized that money are hard to come by, they'll see the true value of things. Personally, I believe that everything has a price tag on it. Everything. Everything we have in this world can be translated to some monetary value, and that's the price tag on it. So probably whoever's reading this will think that I would vouch for "money" to be the greatest power in the world? Well, honestly, I thought so too, not until a few minutes ago. I sat and thought, and I realized something.

The greatest power in the world is knowledge, not money. I'm not talking about academic knowledge, I'm talking about the fact that you know or you don't. Humans are afraid of things that they don't know about. Humans fear uncertainties, and unpredictabilities of things around us creates qualms and worries. The whole idea of health/life insurance feeds on this fact. You're not afraid of the dark, you're just afraid of what you can't see. You're not afraid of being poor, you're just scared because you don't know how to live without money. Knowledge, or the lack thereof, is the greatest power in the world. It drives you crazy for not being able to know. There's not one person who is not curious about anything at all in the world. The urge of needing to know, drives research and discoveries, but at the same time, kills. The saying "ignorance is bliss" is a fiction. It is because you that you KNOW that you choose to ignore, which means that you're just afraid of knowing.

Knowledge rules over all emotions known to men. The lack of it causes insecurities and fear, while the presence of knowledge drives greed and desires. It is truly, the most terrifying power in the world. Last but not least, this whole post, was written because of my own lack of knowledge. Because of the things I don't know, I feel insecure, I'm scared, and I finally realized the power of knowledge.

Ticking Time Bomb. . .

Monday, January 7, 2013

So Jia Pin told me the other day, "Bro, your blog is dead, the last post is in October 2012!" I was like, wow, now that you remind me, that's true! Nonetheless, I have not been in the writing mood since that time, until today! I took the bus to work in the morning today, and it was very quiet. Probably because it was off peak hour, and there are not many people boarding the same bus. You see, quiet is bad, quiet makes me think, not to say that thoughts are bad, but yours truly here sometimes think too much.

Well anyway, the die is cast, and those thoughts that ran through my head on my way to work, already happened. So here it is. A few paragraphs of writing to myself(and to whoever who's still reading this), hopefully I'll be better.

You see, it's 2013 now. Of course, what's fascinating is not the fact that it's the new year, everybody knows that. Even people who don't own any form of calendars will know that it's a new year from all the fireworks and celebrations going around. As usual, it's a weird culture we live in that we're celebrating the transition of time. Time, as I've mentioned to me, is continuous, not discrete. It doesn't make sense that we're celebrating one particular instant of time. It's weird that new year is the only time of the year that we're making resolutions, so what, does it mean that by the second half of the year we get to slack off the remaining time of the years and wait till it's the new year before we start making resolutions again? Peculiar culture indeed. I don't share the sentiments of having to make a big hype of new years, but at the same time, with all the extravagance going around, it kinda slaps me in the face and make me think, so let me arrange my thoughts properly.

The last event I attended in the year 2012 was a blast. My buddy in Ipoh, Ros Nea, got married. Here's a picture:

 

Of course, we're invited to be his gang of "brothers" in the whole "kidnap the bride from her house" ceremony during the wedding day. Chinese traditions. I don't think I'll talk much about the details of the weddings, and photos can be found on Facebook. Not gonna share here.

Ros Nea's wedding was a great reunion to us all, and it also made me realized something. Time and time again, I have been telling my friends that I'm actually feeling more homey in Singapore now than in Ipoh. I'm not saying that it's a good/bad thing, it is what it is, that's all. Even though I do have my parents in Ipoh, life there without a career or social life is mundane. Home to me is a place where you turn to after a tough day at work, the place you start everyday before going off to work. By that definition, Ipoh is more like a boring vacation place to me now. I go back to Ipoh without much to do, especially when my friends are not around. I spent most of the day holed up at home doing nothing, and the internet is pathetic. I can't get anything done in Ipoh, at the same time, it's not like there's anything fun to do when I'm back in town alone. It's, empty. Sure my parents are there, but they're working, and I get to see them at night only. Which is why to me, Ipoh feels less homey compared to Singapore now. However, during Ros Nea's wedding, when all my friends are back, and we've got so much to do for the wedding, Ipoh feels like an entirely different town to me.

 

When everyone is back in town, this place is the best home. For the 2 days of Ros Nea's wedding, there were so many things to look forward to, so many plans to be fulfilled, so much to do with the best company that I've ever known. So here you have, in this picture, according to Jia Pin, from left to right, is The Hulk, Thor, Ironman, Captain America and Hawkeye. There's an inside joke to each and every one of them XD

Now, back to 2013. The year started of quite well, I'd say? During Ros Nea's wedding I get to meet some new friends, new people and new interesting possibilities. But again, it's an alarm clock to me. I'm living in a ticking time bomb of decision. With all the new possibilities, come all the new challenges and trials, which calls for decisions. I have 1.5 years left to decide, and even if I do decide, will I succeed? If I don't, where will it lead me to, and if I do, will it come with some precious sacrifices? So much uncertainties, so many possibilities, so much risk and so many conditions. What will be of my 2013? Time will tell, based on the things I do, but I don't know what I should do. I guess I'm starting off the year feeling a bit lost, hopefully it'll get better.

Too much to handle. . .

Monday, October 15, 2012

So, from the title, I'm betting that some of you would think that, "Oh gosh, here we go again, another post about his work". Fortunately, not today! Well, actually, today is a very very bad day to be blogging. I have work piled up on my desk that I have yet to finish, but really, at least for today, I wanna stop working and head home, as soon as I steal some time to blog. It is, after all, one of the very few moments where I have interesting stories to tell.

For starters, one of the days last week was my birthday. And honestly, I couldn't be more grateful with my friends who took their time to have lunch or dinner with me, and some of them even threw in some surprises, one being my housemates with the cake in my last post.

 Chong Yen and Kok Xian brought me out to dinner in Tony Roma's, and what's more, Chong Yen bought me some gay ass Hokkaido cakes as birthday cake. Why gay ass you mean? It's strawberry flavored. Nonetheless, they were very very nice and I appreciate them taking the time for dinner with me. It's dinner with Mr July from NTU after all =P

 

And on my birthday, I actually broke my "fast" from alcohol. It's not really anything official or special, just that, the last time I drank before my birthday, was in February or March, which was 6 months ago. It has really been very long since I last drank, which is why it tasted so damn good that day when I drank again for the first time in 6 months. I almost forgot how therapeutic is it to have a drink once in a while and talk with your friends for the night. Of course, we didn't really talk until very late, it was a working day the next day after all, but still, a very enjoyable dinner.

  

Of course, who could forget the cute birthday card made by some of my students. A big thank you for Chin Ying, Chen Han, Xiu Yi, Jocelyn, Kun Hao and Fiona. Despite a few of them not being in my class, I still appreciate the effort. 

And finally, we came to last Sunday. Last Sunday I became the photographer for Su Yun and gang for their graduation photoshoot around NTU campus. If you must know, this is actually what the title "too much to handle" is referring to. But before we go there, a little story. 

When we got to ADM in NTU, the girls all went on with their make-ups and preparation. Hence, I was with 2 of them on the rooftop of ADM testing my flash and lighting before I start shooting. All of a sudden, Carmen shouted, "Ehh guys, come down please, Su Yun fell down! She needs help" We were all worried when we heard that, hence we started running down the stairs to go down. As I was running, Carmen was very panic and she was saying "Whei Yeap faster, Su Yun needs help to get up, she fell down!" Hence I made my way down the stairs as quickly as possible and ran towards the side of ADM building that Carmen was pointing at, just to find Su Yun holding a cake in her hands and everyone started singing the birthday song for me. I was stunned speechless. I really never expected this from them, and for a second, they really had me worried. Best birthday celebration ever. With the cake, a huge surprise and 7 beautiful ladies, what more could I ask for? Seriously, thanks girls!

Anyway, back to the photoshoot.

  

Why too much too handle you ask? There were 7 beautiful ladies, but one amateur photographer! I was under a lot of stress to deliver! I really hope that all the photos turned out nice, else I would really feel guilty for wasting their time! I have not finished editing the photos yet, but I'm sharing a few that I like best and that I have edited.

   

 

One of the best thing they enjoyed, was my ultra wide angle lens, which made their legs so long! These girls are loving them long legs!

  

This one was one of my favourite shot. I tried putting a little bit of a Sephia filter on the photo, hope they like it.

 

And of course, the star shape formed by their gowns.

On and all, I am really happy for all my friends did for me. Of course, not forgetting Yuen Yee, Vui Kiat and Yow who brought me and Siew Loong out for lunch on Saturday. Thanks for coming all the way from all around Singapore for lunch with us! Which is why, I have to take a break from work to write all these down. Till next post!