• Kindness Goes A Long Way

    I have taken a long long break since my last employment. With more time on hand, there were so much things I did during the break, be it good or bad. There are always two sides to a coin.

    I had more time to clean up my room since I moved to this apartment 2 years ago. I found some old memories and threw away some. I learnt the ugly sides of some I used to call “friends” and found new close friends. Most importantly, I stopped and take a good look around me. So often, we are hurrying to somewhere for something. Like rushing through the horrendous traffic and arrived at the office to reply an important email. When it’s time to go home, I even rushed home so I could sink into the comfortable bed and rest my aching muscles. I passed through every day patting myself on the back for having survived yet another long day. When I finally paused in my steps, I wonder, what have I really accomplished?

    Nothing.

    If we are looking at the superficial records, then you might say I have just gotten my part time degree certificate. I travelled to so many countries, Vietnam, Phuket, Bangkok, Korea, Malaysia and China, over the past 2 years. Despite the numerous healing trips, I still feel myself growing more and more hollow. Knock on any part of me, I could hear echos. The more hallow I get, the urge of not thinking just gets stronger. I just want to sink into my comfort zone and pass through every single day. I didn’t know what was digging into me, but I could sense myself losing motivation in life, in everything.

    I turned to books again, recently.

    My recent new reads: How to stop sabotaging your carrer, On not knowing what to do.

    I lost my library card many years ago, in face more than 10 years ago. This didn’t stop me from reading. I have been using my family member’s library card to borrow books until I realized I misplace the card after the most recent house move. I reluctantly brace myself to the idea of having to pay for a new library card.

    To my surprise at my second return to the library, a very kind librarian gave me a brand new library card free of charge. Weeeee~ I saved $5 for not having to pay for a new card. It is not the amount I saved that delights me. Rather, the acts of kindness bestowed to me. I suddenly feel warm and fuzzy, happy that I’m no longer seen upon as a vulnerable soul for everyone to step on. I feel treasured.

    The amazing feelings a simple act of kindness can give me. (Smiles)

    Now, back to indulging in my new reads. Laters peeps.

  • ClearLab Contact Lens

    I was trying to take pictures using my less than 1 year old camera and it simply shuts down the moment it activated. I was panicking and thoughts of bringing it to the service centre were already running through my head. I decided to change to my back up battery pack and tried it out. To my horror, the same thing happened! I was ready to break down to tears because it means my few hundred dollars will be gone on a new camera soon.

    I told myself to calm down and charge my batteries. I haven’t been using my camera for some time, and it is highly possible the batteries were drained. After charging, the camera starts up perfectly normal and I could take pictures again. Yay! (Embrace camera in arms and turn 3 rounds with long skirt)

    Now that my camera is back up and running, I could take pictures for blog! <3

    I have been using black tinted contact lenses since I bought them in Bangkok last year. I went to attend Super Show 4 and there were deals outside the concert venue. The contact lenses from Maxim were endorsed by our very own Lee Donghae. Other than Donghae imprinted contact lens cases, there were also posters to be given away. I couldn’t resist myself and bought a lot because they are quite half price compared to the black tinted contact lenses sold in Singapore.

    It has been some time since I last went Bangkok and my contact lens stock was running low. I was looking for alternatives when I chance upon ClearLab. I bought a pair of mystic black and like the comfort of the lenses. The contact lenses doesn’t dry my eyes! I used to put eye drips in my office due to my long hours of usage. Yes, I know no matter what brand of lenses I wear, I shouldn’t be wearing long hours. Bleah! The diameters of the contact lens make my pupil bigger and I look more innocent! (No?) At least I look more awake.


    Both pictures were taken on different days and I finally got a haircut! Weeee~ Can you see the difference in hair length? The above picture with my fringe I repeatedly trimmed on my own over the months, and below is the art of my hair stylist. It is so hard to trim your own fringe when they are not flat straight. Anyway after taking the second picture, I decided to wear an additional camisole before going out. The top is too transparent and I’m not brave enough to go around showing everyone my bra on the streets. >//////<

    Did I drifted off the topic? (Coughs) I followed ClearLab facebook page and chanced upon a contest: write a review on their contact lens and get your friends to like the page. It was this simple! I won the contest with the help of my friends, and I got a year supply of free contact lenses. Teehee!

    2 months after winning the contest, the organiser finally sent me my contact lens. The contact lens I won are non-tinted and diameter not as big. It looks as though you’re not wearing contact lenses at all.  They are perfect for daily wear to work! If anyone is interested, you can visit ClearLab Facebook page for the stores selling their contact lenses.

    Thank you ClearLab!

  • Dream Dream Dream

    My dream last night started off with swimming free style in a big pool. I am starting to think it is because I didn’t get a dip in the pool with slide when I was in Kuala Lumpur Hilton Hotel in February earlier this year. I want to go swimming!!!! (Pouts)

    Dream suggests that you are exploring aspects of your subconscious mind and emotions. It may be a sign that you are seeking some sort of emotional support. It is a common dream image for people going through therapy.

    But… I am not going through any kinds of therapy! (Gasp)

    In my dream, I was taking selca with 3 close friends in my dream. I was having short hair in my dream! Nooooo~~~~ I have intention to grow my hair these 2 years!

    To dream that you have short hair implies that you need to downsize your lifestyle.

    Ok… I guess my expenditure is a little over-busted recently. Perhaps it is an indication to stop my extravagant lifestyle.

    To dream that you are taking a picture suggests that you need to focus more attention on some situation or relationship. Perhaps, you feel that you need to recapture some past moments in a relationship. Alternatively, taking a picture refers to your desires to hold onto a certain moment in your life.

    I guess I am subconsciously reminding myself to treasure these friends around me.

  • Bigger Heart

    With my love in Taiwan music, I happen to know a lot of friends from Taiwan over the years. Some of them we have gotten so close that they know me better than Singaporean friends. I would even stay over at their houses whenever I visit Taiwan for vacation. At the same time, I also get to know fellow Singaporeans who share the same love for Taiwan music as me. My love for Taiwan music has widen my circle of friends somehow and I totally enjoyed company of these friends.

    As I get to know more about KPop Culture and develop my love for Super Junior, it seems that an invisible wall is gradually growing between me and my friends from Taiwan.  My Taiwan friends would share their hatred for Koreans generously on Facebook and most of the time I chose to ignore. After all, we can’t see eye to eye for every single matter. Being friends means having to embrace our differences too.

    I’ll give an example of activities that can antagonize my friends. They got angry when they heard Donghae from Super Junior opened up a cafe called “The Grand Palace” in Taipei. My Taiwan friends wished the government would stop allowing Koreans to open stores and shops in Taiwan because they ended up employing fellow Koreans as employees and it didn’t help improve Taiwan local labour market employment rate. I do feel it is true in the sense that it doesn’t help improve the labour market rate. However, it boosts the economy because Koreans bring money into Taiwan for investment. They need to see that this helps in the economy flow of Taiwan on the overall.

    The spark off point came when this event happened and the Taiwanese became more united then ever hating Koreans. In short, the Korean referee disqualified the Taiwanese sportsman for cheating in the Olympics game when she was already on a winning strike. In all the games be it Taekwondo or Soccer,  it relies highly on the referee discretion at the point in time. Even though we have cameras filming and displays of slow motion video of the chain of events, the referees do not have the luxury of pausing the game and replay the videos before making any decisions such as disqualification or sending the sportsmen off the field. In most of the games, we rely heavily on the referees being impartial and having an eye for detail. If later found out that there was wrong being done to the sportsmen, we can only shrug our shoulders and say “too bad”. There is no way of turning back time, or even asking for a re-match. The only way to move forward, is to wait for the next game in a few years.

    I understand how angry my Taiwan friends were and they felt wronged. At the same time, I wonder if it is really necessary to carry out extreme measures of hating the entire nation and their culture for a man’s (the referee) fault? Isn’t it a little too far to be throwing eggs at  the Korean Elementary School in Taipei? Did the children do anything to deserve this behavior towards them? Do you need to boycott the entire range of Korea products and food just because of one person?

    To add on to how ridicule the event has snowballed even months after the Olympics, my Singaporean friend tweeted this late last night.

    I get it when my Taiwanese friends are too blinded by their own surging emotions of hatred to look at the facts, but why can’t a Singaporean residing in the sunny land of Singapore see through all this and instead blindly join in the hating?

    If you feel so strongly for the Koreans, reading this article, do you also feel so strongly for Mark Clattenburg and also extend the hatred to the entire United Kingdom? Reading this, do you hate Tim Donaghy and extend the hatred to United States and the entire US population?

    If you are, I can only advice you to put down the hatred. Else you might be left with not much choices on Earth for vacation plans, and not much brands you can buy for clothing and apparels. If you are not so angry at the people I mentioned, then perhaps you are just being racist to a particular country.

    Which one are you?

    I only hope for myself and the people around me to have a bigger heart.

  • Awful Customer Service: Beats by Dr Dre

    I have been in a mean mode since my Beats by Dr Dre Tour earpiece were spoilt within a half a year purchase. My friend bought it for me in Hong Kong as a birthday present last August. Some time in December last year, I started experiencing muffled music and sometimes no sound at all. I have already registered the product under warranty and thought it would be an easy process to fix my spoilt earpiece since it was spoilt within half a year.

    I was wrong.

    The customer service staff that attended to me via email insisted that I sent them the proof of purchase. As it was a present, of course there was no receipt. They then told me to send a credit card transaction record as proof of purchase. I thought it is very sensitive asking my friend to pass me his entire credit card bill and wished there were other ways.

    I suggested to send in pictures of my earpiece, as well as the entire box with barcode on it for them to verify my product is truly authentic. I even called in their customer service hotline. The person who spoke to me over the phone agreed and I sent in the email immediately. However the same person who has responded to me via email told me below.

    Yes, this basically meant that I have no idea who talked to you and don’t care. I will not warrant what my other colleagues say.

    After multiple angry emails I sent, the person Brandi simply refuse to budge. I could only apologetically ask for the credit card statement from my friend and sent it out on 5th February. I got reply 2 days later.

    It seems that all I need to do is to wait for 5 weeks and I will be able to receive the replacement set. So on the 4th week, I sent another email in to check whether shipment has already been made. I got a reply below.

    At this point, I was actually thinking whether I should get a pair of Audio Technica earphones during the IT Show at a deal, to tide me over this period of no earpiece. So I replied:


    I even bold, underlined my questions. Yet, the reply I got again is this:

    Yes! He refuses to answer my questions!

    I patiently waited for another 2 weeks and decided to mail them again.

    I got a reply from another person this time:

    This is so ridiculousssssssssss! How could I enjoy the rest of my week when the replacement they promised me to send me are still with them after 2 months?!

    I made a typo back there. It was promised 3 weeks of processing but we’re already at the 6th week and they were still processing. I think I have given up hope at this time and really just want to see how long more they were trying to drag me on.

    And finally the earpiece arrived on the 6th week. (Sobs) I wish I never have to deal with Beats by Dr. Dre customer support ever again! For everyone who’s considering to buy their products, please re-consider. What is the point of spending so much money on a product that spoils easily with lousy customer service that is not the least apologetic, and drags on the product replacement process? Pfft!