Simon's Bachelor Night

At St.James

Doomed

Like a black hole of the earth, I think this the worst calamity ever in the world history (well, considering it is caused due to human greed, negligence, lack of education, triggering natural diseaster). And where else but in Indonesia, that' it's happening. Right next door as we speak.
The "toxic mud volcano" pours out some 165,000 cubic yards of mud every day -- enough to cover a football field about 75 feet deep.

And it shows no signs of stopping.
http://www.rsi.sg/english/podcasts/view/20060715170722/1/.html

Naturally, the sheer volume of the mud can swallow the whole Singapore in a little more than 2 months.
(At where its started, mud's been spewing for 7 months and still going.)
Can Singapore use the mud for reclamation? Turn toxic into non toxic and create more land before it is engulfed?

X'mas 2006

The annual X'mas party was held at my parent's again, this time was special, with Dai-chan officially joining our dysfunctional family.
We now have Daisei Takeya.

Many Japanese friends and fewer relatives came to the party. I guess it's going to be like that for a Japanese Manadonese family having a Japanese son in law.
But really thanks to Dai-chan, a little order has been restored in our family........ NOT!

Many of our close friends' father passed away this year and they all have a tight knit family. Can't help to think it can happen to us anytime too.
Also with the divorce rate soaring and birth rate dropping, despite of the dysfunctionality, which all families seem to have, I am grateful that we are still healthy and still keeping it together.

me & Yumi looking like a twin!

The Chill Factor

Went to Diaz's flat which is also being renovated. Nevertheless, there was all the chill factors in the living room.
Ruth joined, chatted some more, got really hungry so we went to eat at a Lebanese diner at Cikini.

It's a Saturday night, friends asking to party but we stayed in. We wonder how the growing up process is really starting to sink in.... Looks like no matter where we are, we are still rocking the same boat.

Took Bruno to a vet for regular check up. Bruno's father is Dai-chan's Pug 'Shin' and mother is Toko-chan's Mini Pinscher 'Choko' which makes Bruno a Pugin.

Back to Djakarta!

Finally made my way home.

The last time I was in Jakarta it was beginning of the year.

Now it is the end of the year, and so many has happened in between.

I guess life is at its most complicated at this age, trying to make things happen.

I always like the feeling of going back to Jakarta, even though it is a chaotic city with polution level highest in the world, with all the (politically, morally, environmentally etc) wrong things the world can criticize, it still gives me a sense of comfort.

Anyway, in my agenda of this trip back, one of the hightest priority was to check out DON, Dai-chan's newly opened high end Japanese cuisine Kappo style restaurant . So I had dinner with Kohori-san & Emi. The line up was just exquisite. As far as i remember, there was....oh never mind...anyway it's all the 'expensive' ingredients you can name, served generously and prepared to minimal perfection.

It was my 1st time to see Fugu being sliced in front of my eyes. A little cruel (to see the cute blown up fish being sliced to pieces) but whatever. FUGU ME! It was truely a rare luxury for me, I was spoilt to last til next year.

2weeks since moving.... it's getting better each day....

Living Room Before



Living Room After


Kitchen Before


Kitchen After











Bedroom Before


Bedroom After


And the touch up continues...

LONG ISLAND TEA has way more calorie than BIG MAC

and the combi of the two is a guilty pleasure...)

Happy Holidays! Here are some tips to avoid the extra weight gain and still enjoy the "spirts" of the holiday season.

Long Island Iced Tea - 780 calories, 44 grams of carbohydrates

Margarita - 740 calories, 56 grams of carbohydrates

Mai Tai - 350 calories, 30 grams of carbohydrates

Champagne Cocktail - 250 calories, 13 grams of carbohydrates

Gin/Vodka Tonic - 200 calories, 14 grams of carbohydrates

Mojito - 160 calories, 12 grams of carbohydrates

Cosmopolitan - 150 calories, 10 grams of carbohydrates

Instead of these high calorie drinks try a wine (90 -100 calories) or indulge in cocktails made from fresh-squeezed juices. Vodka with a splash of juice or a better alternative is vodka on the rocks or with soda water!

Graciously Jaded

KILL BILL

Attended my first Co. D&D with Citigroup. Theme was Agents from Movie...
The event was hosted by Glen Ong & Jamie Yeo, as Mr. & Mrs Smith.

There were few girls in colored wigs & trench coat ala Alias, Big boss was in Austin Powers, a guy in long black coat like in Matrix that looked like Missionary and whole bunch of James Bond i mistook for waiters. Some thought that was an ice breaker.... sigh

I wish everyone will be more more creative and supportive with the dress up culture.

hardlanders

Concerned friends visited me to see the before of the "before & after" of the house.
Possibly the first and the last visit.
It didn't take long for us to head to the kopi tiam for beers.

GOOD BYE CARIBBEAN, HELLO TAMPINES

Some good things have to come to an end.
But I weigh the pros & cons....

Caribbean was a pretty condo, great facilities, fantastic view etc. But I can't do anything to the interior.

Tampines.... I am allowed to do anything, and they mean anything to the house as long as I keep the aircondition intact.
Actually I have to do everything to make it a livable place. So the work begins....

Drunk shameless Japanese 'salary' men syndrome happening to Desmond.

IT IS BERY DANGEROUS...

あかねちゃん

Mamoru's baby girl.

MOVING AGAIN - GO EAST!

With the increase of rent at Caribbean & costly transportation cost to work, I've decided to move residence to Tampines this weekend.
I will be saving the taxi fare to work, but will I spend more on the taxi fare to town? hm....
Address: Tampines St.82 Blk842

Went to Pasta Brava with David. So yummy i'm addicted to them.
After the meal we bar hopped around Tanjong Pagar.
He found a sign board to warn what I'm getting myself into...

http://www.pastabrava.com.sg/index.html

Portsdown

Going to Keith's house on weekend is like a short getaway stay at the Banyan Tree, except it's never about relaxing & healing.

When he moved in early last year, there were hardly anybody anywhere. Now the black & white colonial buildings are all fully booked, even the one that we thought is haunted.

The fact that only PRs & Foreigners are eligible to rent, most residents are Wwesterners or exotic looking Easterners. But at Keith's you'll find dried fish hanging, the sound of mahjong shuffling common in the hardland HDBs, and oh, I've also ever dyed his hair with Bigen at the back yard.
We are definitely spoiling the name of Portsdown.

MY SISTER

http://06sydneytrip.blogspot.com/

My sister Emi decided she wants to have a baby with her partner Dai-chan, just about 2-3 weeks ago. It was a blow for all who know her because she hated children. Hate is a very lenient word. She was disgusted by the thought of kids. Appearantly she got a lot of "Are you (mentally) ok?" when she broke the news.
Yesterday I heard she is positively Pregnant...

AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! /(>O<)\

CALLUM is getting MARRIED!

Callum is getting married to Linda in Melbourne on Nov 19.
And I only got to know it the day before the wedding. He said it is happening so fast... like yeah~!
So while I wait for his photos, he asked me to spread the news to those who know him, so here it is... HE GOT MARREID to Linda (a sweet Indonesain girl who used to work for Callum's dad and quit when they started going out. )

VIVO CITY trip

http://www.vivocity.com.sg/page.php?id=24
Try this Virtual Tour in & around vivo city. Now you don't even have to go there!
It's like one of my flying dreams...
Style wins over substance still, however definitely a fresh new breeze to the down hill retail scene of Singapore. It's a pity I will be moving to Tampines just when they opened at a door step distance, but well, IKEA is opening in Tampines in NOV 30, 2006, bigger & better than their flagship store in Alexandra. Uh, now i'm totally sounding like the mall dwelling local chic. But well, I do share the part - love for food.

Went to "Brotzeit German Bier Bar& Restaurant" with Des and met Keith & Toshiko-san, later David joined. What a coincidence but no surprise. coz it's the best looking place along that stretch. German chef came out and told us how he came straight from Germany and about the German pizza.... ?
"Go India" was also good. Met up with Jeff. The food's good, the place is too bight though. Went to "Modesto's" with David & Keith. They had a UOB credit card promo 1 for 1 but we didn't know so we paid the full price. doh!

Haizal & Amanda's Glam Rock Wedding at Fort Canning.
Love was all around....
True to the Rock'n Roll theme, it was all 'emo' and rolling good time.
David.... my sweet sexy date :)
Boys reunited.