Three 6s

Just came back from the most awesome BBQ I'd had in recent times.

The advantage of a strong wind during a BBQ is that the charcoal gets up and burning very easily; the downside is that it dies down faster as well - the 4kg of charcoal we'd bought were used up before 7.

Thanks to 师母，we'd wonderful and generous servings of home-made japchae and kimchi, kalbi and samgyeopsal, plus the appetising home-made gochujang-mixed-with-miso-flavouring sauce - it was a BBQ that no one need to worry that there's not enough yummy food to go along, which is how all BBQs should be. The truth is, I've NEVER EVER eaten so much pork belly in one shot in my entire life! Think I'm gonna stay away from it for awhile...

Somehow, the idle talk drifted on as usual to the near-future topic, but we did chat about other stuff as well - politics, racism...

This BBQ had been real fun.

-----------------

Sometimes face value is all that is.

An early extrication might save alot.

-----------------

It'd been the darkest day before, but it won't be now.

Signing off................. BPL starts in a little over a week's time.............
RC

What transpired on 17th July...

Signing off............ They had a party?!...............
RC

Winds of Change

Great beginnings are grandeur illusions of greater falls ahead.

The false sense of security, like the awakened Durin's Bane, presents a formidable enemy.

Signing off............ Get the A** movin'...........
RC

(PS: Catch Karen Cheng Doing the Karen Cheng for the Red Cross @ Indochine Clarke Quay tomorrow, 3pm. Bring your cameras and $10!)

启程

Yes, I've started writing. FINALLY.

三万。

Signing off............. 虽然我愿意。。。。。。
RC

Of Kimchi and Samgyeopsal

To mark the end of the semester for Contact Languages, and under the initiation of K, we decided to treat Prof. B to dinner. The class suggested Korean food, and K arranged for us to eat at this Korean BBQ restaurant at Pasir Panjang Rd, opposite the former Haw Par Villa.

The weekly session before that was pretty forgettable for me though; pre-verbal base-generation doesn't seem to work...

Let's say it was a pretty good eye-opener on Korean cuisine, though it probably doesn't reflect what Koreans normally eat day in, day out. K said he visits the restaurant on a yearly basis, as its too expensive. Which I kinda agree, after seeing the bill.

The place. (Had to revert to using the Nokia for photos - forgot to charge the camera and bring it out on Thurs...)

We got one of these private rooms.

One thing I'd learnt - there are several 'types' of Kimchi. Here's two types - we had at least like 3 types, and several more side dishes like bean sprouts, some radish/carrot mashed up and shaped like ice-cream...

Some salad.

Huge plate of assorted veggies - supposed used for wrapping the Samgyeopsal before one eats them.

K did the ordering - in the end we had a serving of mushrooms ($10+), 3 servings of pork belly ($22+), 2 servings of marinated pork ($22+, which doesn't really match up to the pork belly IMHO), one serving of prawns (8 @ $??+), and we shared a Spicy Seafood steamboat which came up to $50+. Interestingly, the 1st round of sides apparently came together if you order the BBQ; some of them, the portions are small, but the Kimchi-s came in pretty huge portions, and we didn't really finish them in the end.

The sides that came with the BBQ. The ice-cream-like radish/potato mixture is the orangey thing near bottom right.

The SPREAD. It was pretty scary to see the waiters and waitresses coming in with HUGE trays laden with plates and plates of sides and mains...

PORK BELLY. If you believe that Seoul Garden is Korean cuisine, you are in for a mini surprise. For this meal, we had a "designated" waitress who was at hand to cook our stuff, cut them up and serve them onto small dishes for us. Even our steamboat, we had them portioned and served to us, without us having to go near the grill or steamboat. Nonetheless, we smelt like we came out of a barbeque or Seoul Garden.

Marinated pork. The waitress was cutting it up as I was taking the photo.

The carnage that was left after the dust had settled...

The steamboat broth was pretty gao, and it got so spicy that most of us didn't really finish it. Had fruits and some ginger-with-something-else drink for dessert.

Came up to like $260+ for 9 ppl, with K paying abit more than the rest.

After that, Jeremy, Div and myself headed to Holland V for MORE desserts (Cold Rock - Expensive!) and coffee (for myself). Ended the day extremely full (but probably cos of the veggies) and sticky (warm weather).

-------------

大概不会看到吧。。。

祝考试顺利 。

大家都加油。

Signing off............... 结束的开始的结束。。。。。
RC

"Only good-looking people can be gays."

If everyday couild be like last night - eat, chat, laught, eat, chat, laugh.

So, instead of KL, Dragon King earned ourselves a shot at Seoul.

Due for a(nother) presentation on Singlish Wh- for Contact Lang next Tues.

Blew $111 too - it's gonna be worth it, methinks.

SIFF, anyone?

Signing off............... Céline Dion performs in KL, but not SG................
RC

我（应该还）很好

Seems like SEALS XVIII is a no-go.

"...very sorry to inform you that the abstract committees have declined your abstract. You have written a very good abstract but you didn’t match to our conference theme...."

Someone's real pissed.

Now the abstract floats in limbo.

---------------

我很好 - 刘若英
词：阿信
曲：陈忠义


昨夜我哭泣
我哭泣
因为，成为女人的过程，是很辛苦的
我哭泣
因为，我不再是一个女孩
我不再有女孩的盲性和天真
我哭泣
因为从现在开始
我将不再哭泣了
我很好。。。 我很好。。。

我很好。

沙发上睡着 孤单冷醒的破晓
冷的面条 热的泪痕 啤酒在苦笑

当时的煎熬 当时的心痛如绞
天 终于亮了 遗憾终于退潮

终于能够恨不再疯 泪不再掉 心不逃
一定会有一个人 一段新的美好

谁让我拥抱 谁让我再一次心跳
就算爱情 让我再次的跌倒
伤痕也要 是一种骄傲
谁让我拥抱 谁让我疯狂的心跳
就算明天 整个城市要倾倒
也让我爱到 最后一秒

丢掉电影票 删掉信件跟合照
洗了床单 剪了头发 清空了烦恼
恨可以很小 小到眼泪能冲掉
我 现在很好 可以重新起跑

终于能够恨不再疯 泪不再掉 心不逃
一定会有一个人 一段新的美好

谁让我拥抱谁 让我再一次心跳
就算爱情 让我再次的跌倒
伤痕也要 是一种骄傲
谁让我拥抱 谁让我疯狂的心跳
就算明天 整个城市要倾倒
也让我爱到 最后一秒

地铁涌出了人潮 幸福涌出了预兆
我会找回 当初对爱天真的霸道

谁让我拥抱 谁让我再一次心跳
就算爱情 让我再次的跌倒
伤痕也要 是一种骄傲
谁让我拥抱 谁让我疯狂的心跳
就算明天 整个城市要倾倒
也让我爱到 最后一秒

谁让我拥抱 谁让我疯狂的心跳
就算明天 整个城市要倾倒
也让我爱到 最后一秒。。。

我很好。
我很好。
我很好！

读了两三个对于“奶茶”新专辑的评价，而这些写评人都似乎对这张《我很好》专辑有所失望。

我觉得，这首第一波主打至少够“赞”- 曲够酸，词够伤，歌够痛。

而且，只有失败的人才体会得到，自我安慰也只能帮助这么多。音乐电影所强调的“我很好”或许也只是外表上的好，内心好了没，只有自己知道。

（想请问女生: 阿信仿佛把自己化为女生，尝试从女生的角度来作词，你说，有够准确吗？）

Signing off............. 爱到最后一分一秒。。。。。。
RC

Pretty...

...down in the dumps.

It was a pretty ugly Friday session. Gotten shot down with the shite I churned out. Argh.

Not feeling sorted out a lil' bit even though we'd pretty much have a story on the wh-, in particular PM. Somehow, I feel I'd been lost long long ago.

Band prac didn't help - made a big hoo-haa over entrance; the pedal didn't come out when it mattered; the work meant I had to scoot off (all I caught was a red clip) and had to miss a supper promise.

It's gonna be a trying time, this 2008.

Perhaps, there is really no good time to start. Sitting in the darkness, I'm silently relieved that my guts had failed me before. It would have turned out real ugly and uncomfortable.

Perhaps, that's why that hour during Tues/Wed was probably one of the best-est times this week.

Perhaps, it's not that it's not meant to be; instead, it's meant to be something else...

“Don't say Goodbye 我还不想离开
Don't say Goodbye 能不能从头再来
Don't say Goodbye 这一切开始的太快
让我静静一个在这发呆

Don't say Goodbye 我还不想离开
Don't say Goodbye 能不能从头再来
Don't say Goodbye 请不要忘记我的爱
让我静静一个在这发呆
不想离开。。。”

离别前，再笑一个，好吗？

Signing off.............. Timed Out.............
RC

Crash! Boom! Bang!

The weekly session went well - seemed like there's quite some breakthrough done. Gonna double-up the effort.

Damn paiseh for the intrusion though.

---------------

Left school early, by Friday's standards - estrogen invasion of the grad room.

Wanted to catch Stardust @ West Mall, but it seemed like everytime something promising was gonna happen, I would always do the worst things, like dig myself a grave and fling myself into it.

Grabbed a coffee instead and headed for home.

---------------

下了车，开始抬起步伐往家走。

在马路交叉口那儿看到了一辆辆准备开往西马的旅行巴士。

在那刹那的一瞬间，真想跑到其中一辆巴士前拦阻它，挟持司机，然后要他把我带到一个远离这冷酷的城市。

去那儿都行，反正就是要暂时摆脱阴影，摆脱失败。。。

最后，双脚还是把我带回家了。

---------------

*Spoilers to the movie Stardust*

"A philosopher once asked: 'Are we human because we gaze at the stars, or do we gaze at them because we are human?'...

Pointless, really...

'Do the stars gaze back?'...

Now that's a question..."

In the end, I caught the midnight screening of Stardust @ JP.

Since the Body is unable to escape, might as well let the Mind take flight into the stars.

The enchanting fling that led to an unexpected offspring.

The boy-next-door that wholeheartedly, yet foolishly yearned for the heart of the village beau.

The old guard at the Wall, who is reminiscent of the school jaga in those days.

The naive yet independent evening star, Yvaine, that came crashing from the heavens.

The sinister, power-hungry potential heirs to the throne of Stormhold that died because of their ambitions.

The three witch sisters that lusted after the heart of the fallen star to rejuvenate their youth and magic.

The tough-as-a-cookie-on-the-outside-but-actually-is-a-closet-whoopsie thunder pirate Captain Shakespeare, with his motley crew of seemingly evil but courageous men.

The Babylon Candle that could bring anyone to anywhere instantly when lighted up.

The fantasy of it all.

And the search for the object for the true love that ended up as the search for True Love itself.

Felt light hearted after the show, the first in close to 3 weeks.

At the same time, the heavy-hearted feeling sank in.

Yvaine, Yvaine....

Go catch it. Better still, catch it with your Star, and be immersed in 2 hours of fantasy stardust.



You light the skies, up above me
A star, so bright, you blind me, yeah
Don’t close your eyes
Don’t fade away, don’t fade away...
Oh.....

Yeah you and me we can ride on a star
If you stay with me girl
We can rule the world...
Yeah you and me we can light up the sky
If you stay by my side
We can rule the world...

If walls break down, I will comfort you
If angels cry, oh I’ll be there for you
You've saved my soul
Don’t leave me now, don’t leave me now...
Oh...

Yeah you and me we can ride on a star
If you stay with me girl
We can rule the world...
Yeah you and me, we can light up the sky
If you stay by my side
We can rule the world...

Ooooooooh...

All the stars are coming out tonight
They're lighting up the sky tonight
For you, for you
All the stars are coming out tonight
They’re lighting up the sky tonight
For you, for you

Ooooooooh

Yeah you and me we can ride on a star
If you stay with me girl
We can rule the world
Yeah you and me, we can light up the sky
If you stay by my side
We can rule the world

All the stars are coming out tonight (oooooooh)
They’re lighting up the sky tonight
For you, for you
All the stars are coming out tonight
They're lighting up the sky tonight
For you,for you
All the stars, are coming out tonight
They're lighting up the sky tonight
For you, for you
All the stars, are coming out tonight
They're lighting up the sky tonight
For you,for you...

"Rule the World", Take That

在此停笔。。。。。找到你那颗星星没？。。。。。
RC

喜忧参半

"Subject: Accepted: ARF 2007 abstract (for international presenters)

Dear Colleague,

I'm happy to tell you that your abstract for ARF2007 is accepted for presentation. Pls. note the following for your necessary action in order to facilitate our preparatory work.

1) Pls. indicate whether or not you will come to HKG to present in ARF 2007 by Nov 9, 2007 the latest. If I do not hear from you after that date, your paper will be automatically withdrawn.

2) Should you need an official letter for visa / travel grant application, pls. let me know as soon as you can so that the document will be emailed to you in time.

3) ARF is a forum for only LSHK members to share ideas. If you are not yet an LSHK member, pls. fill in the LSHK membership form (in .pdf file) and fax it to me (Attn: Vicky Man) at 1-852-3411-7590 by Nov 9, 2007 . If you are a student, a copy of your valid student card should also be faxed. The .pdf form can be downloaded from http://lc.hkbu.edu.hk/arf/registration.php .

4) Accommodation information can be found from the ARF2007 website (http://lc.hkbu.edu.hk/arf/accommodation.php). I'm sorry that you are responsible for booking a room yourself. Pls. make your booking as soon as you can because room availability is not guaranteed. The Guesthouse of the Chinese University of HKG will only keep the rooms till Nov 2. If you'd like
to stay there, pls. contact Prof. YAP Foongha direct by email foong_ha_yap@cuhk.edu.hk.

5) A full paper is not required before ARF2007. Should the session chair and committee decide to include your paper in the Forum Proceedings after your presentation, you'll be informed by a separate email *after* ARF2007.

I hope the information is clear. Should you have further inquiries, pls. feel free to contact me.

On behalf of the ARF Organizing Committee, I thank you for your interest in presenting in ARF2007. We all look forward to meeting you in Hong Kong!!

best, Vicky (http://lc.hkbu.edu.hk/arf)"

This smells of both good and bad tidings.

IF ONLY I personally knew the Chief-of-Army.

Otherwise, it might take me more than a miracle to be there.

Signing off.................. Academically academic.............
RC

Preparation

Can't believe it - I have to draw inspiration from The Roy Noble Show itself to get into the groove of drafting my points for Friday.

Gonna kick-ass for an ungraded discussion - underlining my determination/desparation to get that money.

Gottaa endure another hand-by-mouth month ahead.

And work awaits me - practice gotta wait, I guess.........

Signing off............... S.S.D.D. ......................
RC