Capoeira Fitness

As usual, my dear "fly kite" friend flies me kite again... but I still continued my way to my exercise classes, not realizing that the FT kickboxing has cancelled today..

When i saw the schedule at the centre, it’s the Capoeira Fitness lesson. My angel and devil came out to have their conversation:

Devil: What is that Capoeira? Aiyah, no kickboxing today ah.. hmmm why don’t we go home?

Angel: Cannot... You must exercise! You come all the way from Jurong and you want to go back?

Devil: Very tiring leh. Why not come back another day? Can go back and rest early today.

Angel: You think you will REALLY go home and REST EARLY meh? Why not you exercise for 20 mins at the track mill, go to the class. See what’s the class all about. If u enjoy, then continue to stay on. If not, just leave the class. Anyway, by the time, u would have already worked out 30 mins or so...

Devil: Okay lor...

So what is Capoeira? It is a martial arts form that originated in Brazil over 500 years ago. Today it is also thought of as an exercise or a game. Usually two people will enter in a circle and begin to do sweeps, kicks, and other martial art moves.

Capoeira, the latest fitness trend, is new to many of us. It's a dance, it's a fight, it's a form of self-defence.

I find this fitness is fun. I’m glad that my angel lead me to the correct way. If not, I wouldn’t have discover such an interesting exercise today :)

Art Fest is here!

Me and my friend are back with enthusiasm in the art fest activities for this art fest season.

Here's some of my reviews on some of "arts on the move" events that i have seen so far...

The Invisible Men (UK)
They don’t speak but they will keep you entertained with their inimitably funny, fast-moving gags and visual trickery. Armed with water, popcorn and china plates, The Invisible Men will draw you into their marvellous world of mayhem and madness...

My thoughts: Two really funny guys that have lots of props and full of madness actions!!! Its a very interactive kind of performance.. i really enjoyed this performance although its only half an hr show. You cant help but to laugh, laugh and laugh :)
My likings:


Jon Hicks (UK)
Bigger
International Man of Artistry, Jon Hicks, delights and surprises with his outsized artworks executed with rapid-fire dexterity and comic flair. Witness art spring to life as this multi-talented artiste paints, draws, sculpts and creates origami to lively music.



My thoughts: A cool, artistic guy. He drew all 3 drawings within half an hour! His drawings captures my attention and yet cant figure out whats hes drawing until the last part of his artworks. He's a multi-talented guy indeed!
My likings:

Ecrans Tambours (Screen Drums)
Catch this unusual production that’s specially conceptualised and performed in water with ‘screen’ drums. It stars a group of musicians and actors together with members of a local community group.

Witness the unfolding of an original, contemporary tale that artfully combines rhythmic echoes, fluid movements and evolving reflections. Young and old will enjoy the universal language of percussion music.

My thoughts: I dont really enjoy this performance as their rhythmic sounds are quite monotonous.. nearly fall asleep until they jump into the water to get some of my attention :p
My likings:

These photos are extracted from my friend's blog and Art Fest website.

Look out for more reviews on my next week arts on the move :)
or you may want to go to Art Fest website.

Brain Dead

Wow so fast in stepping into month of June 06 le. My brain seems to went dormant.. if my friend hasnt been asking me to see her blog, i would have clearly forgotten about my own blog!

Doesnt have any inspirations to write recenly :p Maybe my "3min Degree" writing has timed up. Hopefully after going this month arts festival, will inspire me to write some creative articles :)

Will update my blog when my brain cell feels like working hahaha...

Monday Blues

The first request form of the day was given to me immediately when i stepped my left foot into my co. Was busy burning different kinds of cds contents, printing labels, designing edms, posters, printing slides, banners, replying tons of emails, doing some pc research etc, so busy busy busy... The worse part is i forgot to bring my mp3 player to soothen the anxiety in my work. Help, im out of oxygen!

I felt like im just like an octopus. If i have another 4 pair of hands, probably my colleagues will be even happier to give me more jobs. Im not saying my colleagues are not good, they are just doing their jobs too. Imagine if i cannot deliver, they will have to answer to their bosses. Yes everyone is doing their jobs..

Im just a battery that is running low. NO more energy to think whether if the jobs are fleasible or how fast can i deliver. I just say "ok, alright, sure". I felt so drained out by my work. You might think i could "taichi" back rite? (Nowadays its a "must learned" skill) Sorry, doesnt apply to me for now.. cos im the only one person to do these jobs for the entire company!

I guess i have to stop here before i affect everyone with my super stressed monday blues... but feeling kinda of destress after i have written so much hahha.. sorry guys for making u to read it :p

Communication Skill

Yesterday was the 9th toastmaster chapter meeting. There was a girl, plain looking and couldn’t speak proper English. But her speech was inspiring at least she touched my heart. The speech title was how to improve on our communication skill. She narrated a blind boy who was holding a piece of paper "I'm Blind. Please help." and all the busy city dwellers just come and go without even bother to take a glance at the poor boy.

Then came across a gentleman, he walks up to him and turn that piece of paper and wrote a few words and walk off. Soon people starts to donate money to this poor boy. The boy could recognize the footstep of the gentleman the next day. He asked the man, "what did you write on my paper yesterday?" The man said, I just wrote "Today is a beautiful day but i cannot see."

If you were to donate, will u donate the 1st or 2nd wordings? I will choose the 2nd one too.

Many people think that communication is only how well you speak with your clients, your colleagues, your family and your friends. Actually its a Yes and No.

Communication skill is not totally skill on how well you speak. Its also ties in closely with the way you can write and how well you could deliver your message to the receiving party. It need not be a form of speaking, it could be written as well. Communication skill has a wide context.

Most of the time, I have to design artworks that my clients want if not there will be no more jobs for the next time. I can't design something that i like and forgetting about what the clients needs. I have to be sensitive to my surrounds. Creativity may be killed in the process. But its something, we have to compromise at certain times.

No doubt, this girl doesn’t portray a good image when she talks but Rome was not build within a day. I’m sure she can be the one she wants to be one day. Because, she would have mastered the skill of communication. :)

All is you

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Beautiful lyrics written by Guang Liang. He is a talented composer with feelings :)

Failures and Rewards

Sunday was a hot afternoon. I was dragging my feet to Braddell heights CC to attend International Speech & Table Topics Contest organised by S Division Toastmaster Club. There were 5 contestants and each speech was captivating and entertaining.

One of the speeches that caught my attention was the 1st speaker, Benjamin Cheng. He told a story about his nephew, had a fall, got up and continued to walk. Soon, he fell down again but this time he refused to get up. He said, "bum pain pain and why not you carry me?" No matter how much Ben asked or coax him to get up, he simply refused. Until, Benjamin gave in and finally says:"Alright, i will treat you ice-cream." The kid immediately said, "I want Haagen Dazs, cholocate chips ice-cream." and he got up immediately.

This gives me a room to ponder. Even a kid would ask for a reward. In our life, our rewards can be big or small. In the working environment, you could be asking for a promotion/pay increment or in life you could just win a lottery or even a free vacation to rest your feet.

No matter what the reward is. Have we ever think about: Everytime when we make a fall, how much time do we need to get up on our feet and move on? Are we waiting for our rewards to drop down before we can move on? What happens if the rewards never appear or not yet to appear, does that means that we could never move on?

Some people make a fall in their life and refuse to face it and thinkin that the problem will disappear or fade off one day. While others will choose to face the problem bravely and move on with their life. These are the people who see the sunlight in the tunnel and will shine brighter than others.

I find that his speech was inspiring. It teaches me to face my own fear and problems bravely in future. Not to run away from it as i know it will not go away. I know i just have to do something to tackle it :) Yes, and im glad that i dragged my feet to the CC that day.

10 mins of Glamour

"Cool... you have a nice smile". The focus was all on me. My face flushed up and i just knew that i got to make it! Was in my company photo shoot today. It was fun! Its the first time i take such professional shoot ;p The photographer was fun.. keep telling us funny jokes to make us smile naturally.

3 days back, my colleague send out an email to tell all of us that a few of us are selected to be in our annual report. Therefore, they will hire the photography agency to take professional photos for us. My hair was in the mess, got no choice!

The next day, i have to rush down the hair salon to do something about it. I told my hairstylist i got a photo shoot on fri. Just want cut and a hair highlight.. She just recommend if i want to try the spa perm.. As i have been thinking about perming for 2 years.. so im easily convince to give it a try since i want a new look, new change.

The waiting and sitting time is the killer. Start from washing hair, dry, cut, perm, treatment, wash, highlight and color and treatment again, wash and finally dry! I feel like i was some freaks when they roll up my hair and connect some rubber tubes with my hair for perming. Not only that... my hairstylist seems like spreading some "grape jam" on my hair and cover with alumnium foil and wait to be steam:p yah I just help but keep yawning and tearing.. 6 hours of "torture"!

When i go back to office, the next day, all my colleagues say its a nice perm keke... and yes.. the glamor, which i always dream about :)

Eight Below

Was hopping to shop at rebuilt Cathay. But who knows, none of the shops was opened only the cinema. Looking through the shows, and my friend only wanted to watch "Eight Below", I was half unwilling to watch with her... spending 10 bucks to watch dogs movie.. no thanks man.. but then walking all the way from the mrt to cathay and not watching any show is also not right.

To my surprise its a heartwarming show. Its about 3 members of a scientific expedition who are forced to leave their team of 8 beloved sled dogs behind in Antarctica for six months due to a sudden accident and perilous weather conditions.

There's one scene, the man went back to look for the scientist, who turn down previously to helped him to look for his dogs. The man said to the scientist:"Im sorry that i have made my problem yours. Like what you have said.. In your life, this is something that you care for and you will do it and thats what im going to do for mine."

I was inspired by the words he said. I believed everyone of us must have something/person you really care for and is willing to go all the way for it. Sometimes other people do not think the same way as you, people may throw you cold water and discouragement. I feel that you must do it. If you doesnt, probably it is not what you really care about. OR if you dont do it, you will just probably leave with regrets..

Its a truely inspired movie :) Just 3 words: I Love it!

PS: sorry to a friend that i did not watch with her.

What Does Your Future Hold?

Yesterday, my colleague told us he went to see a fortune teller. He was told that he needs to slog until when he's 30. His life will change. Normally i don't believe in fortune teller but and I was too bored and so coincidently, my friend send me this PALMISTRY TEST so i decided to play. (btw, play it only when u have time because its a 10 pages of questions haha)


And here i got this result:
"The shape of your hand reveals that you are especially good at Listening to your heart Based on the signs in your palm, you have much to gain by listening to your intuition when making decisions — even if it doesn't seem rational. By putting directed energy toward the wisdom of your heart, your efforts will be returned multi-fold."

True, most of the time, i follow my heart, as it does not fail me. Sometimes my mind will procrastinate, quarrels with my heart and refuse to hear anything and that's where the things start to go haywire :p And what can i do? Just have to bear the consequences.. And move on!

Why do people want to go to fortune tellers, take up such tests? It's the sign of lack of confidence and faith in themselves. They are unsure what they want and hoping that the fortune tellers tell them what to do.

My colleague told me the palm lines will change every 5 years. If what she say is true, then your future lies in your hands, not the hands of the fortune tellers or the god. Every decisions you make, will lead to what you will be in the future...

Maple Addict

Angel and Devil in me had a chat yesterday.

Devil: Yeh, Im level 42!!! I can level up 1 level per day in maplestory.

Angel: Hmmm, so what you can level up per day? Did you do the things that you suppose to plan or have you neglect your friends, family or your work?

Devil: Aiyah, not all things are urgent now mah. Now i want to quickly level up my skills so that i can be a great mage.

Angel: A Great Mage? You cant even handle yourself well in real life so what if you are a great mage..

Devil: ...............

Oh Gosh.. i think i have become a maple addict! Yah its true that the first thing to do when i got home is to train my character, edspiral. Even weekends, when im outside, i will want to quickly get home. This game is so addictive and this is so unhealthy!

There are so many things waiting for me to do in real life. My work, my family & friends and myself. What happened to my great plans i have in mind for the past few months. Hmmm all have pushed away and procastinate, for just 3 weeks.

I shall put this to a halt. I will pull myself out of this maple island for time being.

Professional Vs Monetary Goals

There's an interesting debate on air FM83.8, choosing between professional goals and monetary goals. Which one is more important? One says monetary is important because we work because of money, while the other says if we do not have professional goals, it will be meaningless in life to move on. Its a chicken and the egg debate again :p

Let me share an incident with you:
My sister's friend was previously working in a building industry (Its a very stressful job). So she changed to a banking industry. It’s a 9-5pm job and is highly paid. For the first 3 months, it was wonderful because she can go back on time and no stress. After 1 year later, she's feel a bit bored with a job but still alright for her. After 2 years later, she felt lifeless in the job. Unfortunately, she could not go back to the building industry anymore. So, she's stuck with her high paid and yet monotonous job now.

For my 2cents worth of thoughts, I agreed that professional goal is more important than monetary. When you have passion in your work, there’s something to look forward everyday. You will not mind whether you are working, 8 or even 12 long hours. You will still feel energize, doing something that you really passion about.. When people know you are good, they will keep coming back to you. And of course, your monetary will be rewarded too..

So don’t keep thinking "I want a high paid job", rather think what do u want to achieve and working towards that goal in your life.

Porfolio Interview

It's time for me to recharge! Had Porfolio Interviews with the 2 ARTs School that i had in mind.

1ST Interview
Went to the first interview was so intimidating. 3 experienced lecturers were bombard me with questions.. And one lecturers were saying my work is too commercialise. (C'mon we are in commericalise world, must deliver something that your clients or the target audiences like, rite?)

Cant remember the exact qns they ask, but i find their qns are quite redundant haha

Qn: if you were accepted by the school, will you able to do something different from what you have been doing all the while?
Ans: I come here to learn new things, new concepts and hope that the school is able to inspires me. Of course i will want to do something different that i did in the past. And also to push my skills to another level.

Qn: If we give you a 8000 words disseration to write. Could you write and how well do you think you can write?
Ans:(Thinking to myself again: How am i suppose to know if i write well?) Well, I wont know as i never write reports or disseration before...

and all lecturers just keep quiet... !@#$%%

Qn: Well, you got yourself a diploma in multimedia. Why you did not continue to get a degree in multimedia?
Ans: I start work as a web designer. I have slowly build my passion in doing web and print media and non of my portfolios are from multimedia. So i feel that its inappropriate to continue my multmedia studies.

(Guess what the lecturer says? Lecturer A says "I think you should try and apply for multimedia degree." Have i not explain myself clearly? or they have not been listening...)

Qn: What do think about "Contemporary Arts" today?
Ans: (Thinking to myself: Is this a must ask qn) I feel that art is very subjective and these days, designs are recycled or reproduced. To create new concepts and ideas, you will have to experiments and reseach, at the same time meeting your clients tight deadline.

Good ideas are hard, great ideas are even harder.


2ND Interview
The 2nd interview was short and sweet. The 2 lecturers actually listen to what i want to say and response accordingly. At least i felt comfortable with them during the interview. I showed them my work and they did not have much issue with that.

After listen to what i say, they recommend me to consider a 2 year degree instead of one year. Reason is, the extra one year allow me to develop my thinkin skills and not to rush through it just to get a degree. Although its 2 year degree programme, i have no big issues with that as i could always work freelance at the same time, to stay in touch with the industry.

Have been thinking and thinking all over again.. but after these 2 interviews.. Yes! I have decided which school i want to go..

Wedding Dinner

Attended a friend's wedding dinner. Nothing much to talk about actually except.. last night photo session, whereby the groom and the bride have to go round every table to take photos, it was quite a hipcup.

First, the photo session was almost completed and somehow they realised that missed out our table.. never mind, then when we about to take the photo, the banquet just went out of light. It took 5-10 mins or so to get the light back.. and when i was just standing beside my friend (bridegroom), his wife suddenly asked him to swap places. She says would be better if she stands next to me.. why does she means better? I really don’t know.. and our photo is finally taken!

This reminds me of "sex and the city", i remembered that’s one part it says something like why married woman can never allow her hubby to be good friends with single woman.. is it because they are so conscious and worried that their hubbys or bfs will be snatch or stray? They should have much more faith in their the other half right? if its so easily snatch, then it will never be theirs in the first place..

Every relationship needs commitments, chemistry and understanding. If one of them fails, the relationship will simply just fall apart, even there's no 3rd party..

Hunk on my blog

Have become 2 days fan of bryan wong, whos the finalist from Mediacrop's "Star Idol". I hardly watch star idol, only watch it when im at home on wed nite. I heard he was back in the competition, after he gets out from one of the rounds. And now, hes one of the last two finalist that is vying for the Star Idol title!

I never know who he really is until yesterday i was asked to do his posters, banners, publicity in the website and make t-shirts. Have to write supportive text like "You are our star idol", "We are behind You" haha! Really done a fair bit in his publicity hehe.. Mediacorp just give us his hunkie photo.. beach boy look.. wow must admit that hes really a hunk!

First time doing designs for an idol(although he's not my idol), it's really fun experience but also a very tiring one.. have been OT for 2days because of him!

Ohh no.. gonna missed this final star idol show on sunday cos i got to attend my friend's wedding! Too bad.. Friends over rulez Hunk yah..

20 years of friendship

Everytime when people says "Wow, You knew each other since primary school?" yah yah yah.. to many people its amazing to have a friendship for so long.

19, 20, or 21 Years of Friendship huh?! Two of us cannot even count the years right ourselves, let alone other people.. always have this problem counting it right, even after so many years later, that we are giving up counting!

So how did we achieve it? I guess we just simply put ourselves in each other life. Sharing our happiness and sadness together.. tolerate each other bad habits and learning each other good habits.. sometimes taking each other for granted and before we know it.. its 20 years!!! Time really flies.. (yes i know its such a cliche statement haha...)

20 years of friendship is never enough! I wished to continue this friendship for life. This year, going back to the old school, makes us bring back some of the good, old memories. Lets us celebrate such a meaningful year together, shall we?

Walking down memory lane

Walking along the pathway of sidewalk, as the wind blew onto my face, i could feel that breeze and the rustling of the leaves on the trees seems to welcome me back to the old school :)

My friends and I were so excited as we set our first foot on the school's concrete. It has been so many years since we went back. Everything is so new and fresh. It's like going back to a new playground. There are so many new things in the school. New building extension, new chapel, extended field etc. of cos there are familiar places like the roof garden, having mirrors and wind chimes around the school and sisters bridge!

Everything seems to reduced in size and length!
Walk from pri block to sec block, seems much faster.
The railling in the spectators stand seems so much lower.
The classroom seems smaller then it used to be..

Many places have been renovated and improved. However, i felt that the school has lost some "X" factors from these changes. The classrooms no longer have plants deco in the balcony and teacher room has partitions, there were some chalk scribbling on the walls, metal railing on some of the staircases. Somehow i feel that it makes the school a "colder" place to study in.

The school still retains a fountain "Ying Shui Si Yuan". It means when u are happy, never forget how your happiness come from.

"We must never forget our root and we must love one another" - That's what my principal always says.

I will never forget how my teachers have taught me with all their hearts esp. my Pri 2 Chinese teacher. She has taught me how to appreciate mandarin which i have a strong Chinese foundation background now. I felt guilty for not being appreciative for what they have taught. Of cos, there’s no way to revert the past. I could only make myself a more useful and a better person.

My friends and I were so enthusiastic this whole trip, we were chatting nonstop. Discussing about what naughty things we have done in the past and the school myths that were passed down from batches by batches.

I really enjoyed myself on Saturday. Despite i was sick and tired, i felt that it was very fulfilling and fruitful trip and these good memories will always stay in my heart.

Donate or not?

Feeling:

Yesterday, I was sick. Had a bad sore throat so went to see my doctor. After the consultation, I walked to the nearby hawker to take my "brunch" (Breakfast cum Lunch).

While waiting for my food, a 40+ year old man came over and asked me to buy some donations coupons. Some of his coupons looked worn and crumble. As there are too many donations fraud cases going around, i do not wish to become another victim. He said that he got license to sell these tickets. I shook my head and despite im having a bad sore throat, i still told him nicely that I did not want to buy any of his coupons.

He’s quite persistent to ask me to buy. But I still turned him down flatly. He got no choice and took back the coupons and to my horror, this old man said: "Only 2 Dollar what.. What so big deal of buying two dollar coupon? Don’t buy, don’t buy lah."

I was shocked by his words. Yes, its no big deal of buying 2 dollar donation coupons. It’s way how he behaved. He was doing charity work. Shouldn’t he be humble or should not force anyone else to buy or even making such remarks. He should try to make the public understand that he or the charity organisation are truly and genuinely wants to give the donation to the needy.

I always believe that charity should always come from the sincere heart and not do it with any special motive.

PS. I cant find the Charity Organisation logo on the coupon and he did not show me his proper identification too.

Magic Numbers

What does it takes to become a millionaire? What is your magic number?

“It doesn't matter whether you earn ten thousand dollars a year or a million dollars a year as long as you've done the best you can. The essence of life is growth. It is doing the best you possibly can. Here's what is interesting: humans are the only life form that will do less than they possibly can. Humans are the only life form that will settle for less. All other life forms except human beings strive to their maximum capacity.” Jim Rohn, the world's leading motivational speaker, philosopher and entrepreneur.

In November 2005, MSN Money published a poll about how much it took to consider yourself rich, and 11,459 people responded. Here are the results:

3% $100,000
8% $500,000
19% $1,000,000
19% $2,000,000
25% $5,000,000
26% more than $5,000,000

More than half of the respondents thought it takes at least $5,000,000 to be rich. Some one ever said that if you ever get $5,000 in the bank you would be rich.

Jim Rohn says we should earn all we can (and give away all we can). How much are you going for, and what are you doing to get it? And, the big question, why?

It’s Not Really “How Much?” But “What For?”

A book on my “must read” list is “The Number: A Completely Different Way To Think About The Rest Of Your Life” by Lee Eisenberg. I came across it at www.corecharacter.com. It has many great philosophy and interesting articles.

The idea behind the book is that our financial planning should produce a magic number – a dollar amount that would make us “feel financially secure and not worry about running out of money.” But, Eisenberg says, that’s “only half of the story.” Before determining a dollar amount, we need to know why we want it.

“It’s not really ‘how much?’ but ‘what for?’" Eisenberg says. “And if you can’t ask the two questions at the same time, first ask ‘what for?’ Then worry about finding how you need to get there.”

Perhaps that principle applies equally to all aspects of what we do, every goal we have, and not just money. “What do I need and what do I need it for?”

I want to be rich!

Theres a young man who has been complaining why he cant be rich and always blamed god for not helping him to become a rich man.

One day he was at the beach. As usual, hes complaining again. An old man heard him and tells him:"Young Man, i can make you rich within a short time but you need to give something precious from you".

This young man was thinking "This old man has nothing precious to take away from me" Of course this young man has agreed readily.

The old man starts to say: "If i give you $50,000, in exchange for your fingers, would you want?" the young man shake his head.

The old man continues to say: "If i give you $100,000, in exchange for your leg, would you want?" the young man shake his head even harder.

This time the old man says: "If i give you $1,000,000, in exchange for the other side of your legs and arms, would you want?" the young man shake his head profusely.

So the old man says "With such a gift of healthy hands and legs, You have already gained more than $100,000. If you willing to work hard. You will succeed."

With the old man words, this young man has truely understand that complaining and self-pity will not solved any problems. Only strive to work hard will lead to success!

They say there are five ways to become rich:
1. Work hard
2. Get lucky
3. Inherit it
4. Marry into it
5. Illegal activities (hey you still gotta work hard and to make sure the police do not catch you)

I'll try to stick with #1 but I'm making no guarantees.

I felt that some of us may tend to envy rich people. Dont envy them as they might have gone through lots of hardships before getting rich. If you havent succeed, you havent try hard enough..

Here's my work philosophy. Be Sensitive, Diligent and Flexible.

Sensitive - Sensitive to the market and demand
Diligent - Diligent in your work. Meet deadlines and willing to give an extra mile.
Flexible - Flexible to change yourself to suit the environment

So dont give up!