you're such a BOLONGY!
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That little bit of awkward is still worth cherishing.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
in retrospect, at 6:44 PM
What day is it today, so many on the streets preaching away. Walking back home from NEX after a haircut today, this man in his early thirties approached me with an iPad. I waved him away (as usual) because, well - people who approach you like that usually asks for a minute of your time for a simple survey, but then takes five away and pesters you for your phone number. So yeah, he pestered, and being polite, I removed my earpieces and obliged him. Five surveys about religion - needless to guess, before I answered the first I could guess he was Christian. Somehow, maybe slightly disappointingly; Buddhists, Muslims and Catholics hardly ever come forward to you to talk about religion. But the thing was, he was preaching to me and explaining quotes from the Bible while I was getting confused by his high-level survey questions, and then I accidentally burst into laughter at a point in time when he was telling me about souls and all, asking me "you do know we all have a soul right?" and then telling me about how our soul is like and all that. Sorry, that was rude of me. I swapped two of my phone numbers around though. At least I answered his survey huh.
Coastal hook operations the whole of Saturday, at Pulau Seletar (offshore from Yishun) and we were all telling ourselves "oh look, a nice day at the beach with the platoon mates" because it was a weekend and they made us do capsizing drills with our LBVs and all, and it was doubly depressing that way. Got a slight sunburn on my face because we're wearing long-4 and all, so every other part of our body's covered good.
Today, I made a last minute decision to head down to SMU's Waikiki'12. Did I get it correct? Waikiki? It was primarily to support and play volleyball with the VJ team who signed up for Waikiki, but then it was much more eventful. Great to catch up with the team, which I've only half-been-with during the two years of VJ, but it's nice that the juniors call me up for such meet-ups. And then there was meeting all the friends I haven't seen for so long at the event. From meeting Shanna at Vivocity to all the random coincidences throughout the event, got to see a lot of people I've wanted to see for so long but hardly got the chance to.
I like it that we book out bitchin' early in the morning though - 7.30AM, meaning I can make full use of the entire day, even though there's only this precious Sunday this book-out. Probably booking in late tonight, though book-in timing's 8.00AM tomorrow. Then I could have a morning jog, prata and all. Otherwise my mother's gonna make my dad send me into camp tomorrow morning, and force me to take a ride from my dad. Yeah, she likes to control like that, but it's alright - we're all cool with it most of the time.
Written on ink, in the red and yellows of autumn.
Friday, February 03, 2012
in retrospect, at 10:26 AM
Thailand, Kanchanaburi, .185 objective
As I'm seated here, relaxed after climbing up and down several knolls to reach our objective, I realised - I finally have good time to reflect upon things going on in my head, alone. Now positioned in my enemy shell scrape for an assault phase of the platoon battle course, (thankfully, a break) I overlook the paddy fields of Kanchanaburi, with the warm morning sun basking onto my skin and the altitude breeze above the knoll.
The view here is spectacular. Right in front of me, a steep down-slope into the wide fields and cloudy mountains in the distance behind the bamboo shoots and thin, barren trees standing perfectly straight on the thick layers of dried leaves in red and yellow, masking over the ground. I guess this is why I enjoy overseas training experiences. It's a good change from all the thick, over-populated terrain you see all around Singapore. You can never feel such peace around in the nature of Singapore, I guess. Too much noise pollution around, too many lights, too many people. The trees, I realised, devoid of leaves, almost feel like those postcard sights of autumn you see in Japan with red leaves littering the ground.
It's only been five days into Thailand. I don't know if I am looking forward to the next two weeks, but so far it has been close to awesome. I remember that day when the few of us visited the school for underprivileged kids, set up jointly by the RTA and Sai Yok Camp. So this is considered my first OCIP I guess. The amazing thing was how much we were able to transcend the language barrier and communicated with the kids through actions. It was only a half-day carnival organized for them, but I'm sure if I stayed any longer, I'm probably going to end up (maybe slightly) emotional when we leave them. It was station games and mad giveaway of prizes, but after that turned into a chaotic but extremely fun piggy-back riding arena for the small kids. You could really see how the kids enjoyed it, innocent happiness glowing from their eyes. All of us who went enjoyed it as well. What was uncontrollable smiles on our faces immediately turned into silence and a solemn atmosphere once our 5-tonner drove out of the school, back into camp.
The sounds of the GPMG test-fire in the distance shocks me a bit into reality. I'm supposed to be more or less in position, ready for a counter-attack but right now I'm in a relaxed, clean-fatigue facing Eastwards, away from the postulated attack direction. Anyway, thinking about the future after commissioning - I think I'm really going to miss the platoon mates. Is commissioning really such a good thing after all?
That little bit of awkward is still worth cherishing.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
in retrospect, at 6:44 PM
What day is it today, so many on the streets preaching away. Walking back home from NEX after a haircut today, this man in his early thirties approached me with an iPad. I waved him away (as usual) because, well - people who approach you like that usually asks for a minute of your time for a simple survey, but then takes five away and pesters you for your phone number. So yeah, he pestered, and being polite, I removed my earpieces and obliged him. Five surveys about religion - needless to guess, before I answered the first I could guess he was Christian. Somehow, maybe slightly disappointingly; Buddhists, Muslims and Catholics hardly ever come forward to you to talk about religion. But the thing was, he was preaching to me and explaining quotes from the Bible while I was getting confused by his high-level survey questions, and then I accidentally burst into laughter at a point in time when he was telling me about souls and all, asking me "you do know we all have a soul right?" and then telling me about how our soul is like and all that. Sorry, that was rude of me. I swapped two of my phone numbers around though. At least I answered his survey huh.
Coastal hook operations the whole of Saturday, at Pulau Seletar (offshore from Yishun) and we were all telling ourselves "oh look, a nice day at the beach with the platoon mates" because it was a weekend and they made us do capsizing drills with our LBVs and all, and it was doubly depressing that way. Got a slight sunburn on my face because we're wearing long-4 and all, so every other part of our body's covered good.
Today, I made a last minute decision to head down to SMU's Waikiki'12. Did I get it correct? Waikiki? It was primarily to support and play volleyball with the VJ team who signed up for Waikiki, but then it was much more eventful. Great to catch up with the team, which I've only half-been-with during the two years of VJ, but it's nice that the juniors call me up for such meet-ups. And then there was meeting all the friends I haven't seen for so long at the event. From meeting Shanna at Vivocity to all the random coincidences throughout the event, got to see a lot of people I've wanted to see for so long but hardly got the chance to.
I like it that we book out bitchin' early in the morning though - 7.30AM, meaning I can make full use of the entire day, even though there's only this precious Sunday this book-out. Probably booking in late tonight, though book-in timing's 8.00AM tomorrow. Then I could have a morning jog, prata and all. Otherwise my mother's gonna make my dad send me into camp tomorrow morning, and force me to take a ride from my dad. Yeah, she likes to control like that, but it's alright - we're all cool with it most of the time.
Written on ink, in the red and yellows of autumn.
Friday, February 03, 2012
in retrospect, at 10:26 AM
Thailand, Kanchanaburi, .185 objective
As I'm seated here, relaxed after climbing up and down several knolls to reach our objective, I realised - I finally have good time to reflect upon things going on in my head, alone. Now positioned in my enemy shell scrape for an assault phase of the platoon battle course, (thankfully, a break) I overlook the paddy fields of Kanchanaburi, with the warm morning sun basking onto my skin and the altitude breeze above the knoll.
The view here is spectacular. Right in front of me, a steep down-slope into the wide fields and cloudy mountains in the distance behind the bamboo shoots and thin, barren trees standing perfectly straight on the thick layers of dried leaves in red and yellow, masking over the ground. I guess this is why I enjoy overseas training experiences. It's a good change from all the thick, over-populated terrain you see all around Singapore. You can never feel such peace around in the nature of Singapore, I guess. Too much noise pollution around, too many lights, too many people. The trees, I realised, devoid of leaves, almost feel like those postcard sights of autumn you see in Japan with red leaves littering the ground.
It's only been five days into Thailand. I don't know if I am looking forward to the next two weeks, but so far it has been close to awesome. I remember that day when the few of us visited the school for underprivileged kids, set up jointly by the RTA and Sai Yok Camp. So this is considered my first OCIP I guess. The amazing thing was how much we were able to transcend the language barrier and communicated with the kids through actions. It was only a half-day carnival organized for them, but I'm sure if I stayed any longer, I'm probably going to end up (maybe slightly) emotional when we leave them. It was station games and mad giveaway of prizes, but after that turned into a chaotic but extremely fun piggy-back riding arena for the small kids. You could really see how the kids enjoyed it, innocent happiness glowing from their eyes. All of us who went enjoyed it as well. What was uncontrollable smiles on our faces immediately turned into silence and a solemn atmosphere once our 5-tonner drove out of the school, back into camp.
The sounds of the GPMG test-fire in the distance shocks me a bit into reality. I'm supposed to be more or less in position, ready for a counter-attack but right now I'm in a relaxed, clean-fatigue facing Eastwards, away from the postulated attack direction. Anyway, thinking about the future after commissioning - I think I'm really going to miss the platoon mates. Is commissioning really such a good thing after all?
Before you read this,
This blog is not going to be about cheery encounters, sizzling gossips or interesting current affairs.
So if you're looking for any of the above three, do 'x' this page. That was a warning - before you waste your time here.
The author of this blog is pretty much a narcissist, and most of the posts here would be constantly lamenting about tiny things in his head which wouldn't concern you, nor the world.
Instead, the further he serves his two-years compulsory bond of being born a Singaporean son - National Service - the more tiresome and self-absorbed his posts will get.
The only intended audience for the blog is the author himself, and perhaps those who care enough.
Take this as a warning, so if you're looking for entertainment, this really isn't the right place. I've warned you...
P.S. I know this blog template's absolutely narcissistic.
More About Me
Chew Bolong, Singaporean. Would have to emphasize on that point at times cause you're not exactly the first one thinking that my name's PRC.
Oh, yes, my name's a Mandarin translation. Get on with life already.
I graduated from Dunman High School, then Victoria Junior College and I'm currently spending the next year and a half of my life (brainless), in National Service.
I have interests in designing and art [note: interest doesn't mean ability], (indie rock / folk) music, nature, long walks at night and making friends - sounds like a weird combination to say but those are things I associate myself to.
I'm an
ENTP but at times an introvert. I love deep conversations with people.
I'm always in a dilemma deciding whether or not to change this description about myself, so I've decided that additional details shall be listed under.
27 Random Facts you HAVE to know about me
1. I used to suffer from insomnia cause annoying tunes would be stuck in my head or I tend to think through every event that's happened in the day, so I wouldn't be able to fall asleep. But in NS that doesn't apply anymore, cause I'm always tired. Don't think that's a good thing.
2. I like long walks alone at night, because it gives me a good opportunity to reflect, let my mind wander into deep stuff and just immerse in nature and the surroundings. That's provided the place I'm at is quiet and green. Yeah that's parks, garden, and most of Serangoon. Unfortunately, since NS, my mind's been pretty empty most of the time.
3. I told myself that by 37 years old I must have a (big) house complete with a billard table, a home-theatre system, a cosy round table and 4 armchairs in a corner of my (huge) living room, a secret hideout with natural lighting to chill and read books, a tiny bartender corner, a walk-in wardrobe and a useable kitchen amongst all other things. But my definition of future success only encompasses one thing - happiness. Yeah, it's a cliche but there must be a reason why it's a cliche right?
4. I enjoy people-watching. Behavioral science. You can actually tell a lot from that.
5. A part of my body I hate the most? My calves for sure. If you're a consistent reader of my blog I'm sure you would have heard of it already. But yeah, I'm standing at merely 165+ but I'd rather have thinner calves than be taller.
6. I (secretly) detest the Secondary 1, 2 me cause I was way too childish and immature. Not that secretive anymore, but I could have better spent that 2 years doing something else rather than doing lame things and attracting attention. I don't exactly like to mention this cause it's unglamorous, so lucky you.
7. I'm extremely afraid of cats. Like as if you don't know that already.
8. I can't take plain white bread. Nor powder formulated (warm) milk. They really make me wanna puke, cause they've that gooey feeling and they get stuck between or under your teeth. Which is disgusting. That's probably one of the reasons why I'm so short. I didn't know fresh milk existed when I was young, so I didn't drink milk for around a decade.
9. I find people who have good fashion sense and natural leadership emanating from them incredibly sexy.
10. I like girls with slightly reddish long hair and colourful sun dresses.
11. I have an inevitably heavy breathing, and it always gets worse when I start to notice it. Instead, I just reminded myself of it and am having a hard time trying to regulate my breathing right now. Plus I only breathe through my mouth. Although I've a big nose, my nostrils are probably small cause I have a blocked nose 24/7. BUT somehow when I fall asleep my body will force myself to breathe through my nose. Which is the reason why I snore in lectures. It's not even a snore actually - just heavy breathing sounds. I know I sound defensive right now. But no. True story.
12. I think the first gush of air from the air-conditioning system of a car is extremely addictive and pleasant. I'm pretty surprised some of my friends thought so too.
13. Crocs look ugly, but they smell really awesome to me. That fresh smell of sweet rubber. Everytime I walk past a Crocs outlet my heart melts a bit. No one seems to agree with me on this though.
14. The standard pen I use is a Pilot G2 0.5 ballpoint, and I write with such force on paper that Mr Ken Leong once commented on my essay: "braille?". The problem's so severe I need to use a cardboard piece (or a stack of paper of at least 5 pieces) as padding whenever I'm writing on paper. I switched to Uniball 0.38s in JC2. I am now using the Uniball to sketch as well.
15. I'm fully equipped in the skills of martial arts: junior black belt in Taekwondo as well as 6 years of Wushu. But I haven't even so much as laid a punch or slap on anyone. Okay I think I've slapped my brother a couple of times but that doesn't count cause I don't use my full force on him. One day I'd really like to try and punch someone. See if he even feel it hurts.
16. I'm guilty of judging people by a first impression (or just a quick scan). Don't everyone do?
17. Though I do say that, I find that my first 'evaluation' of someone is always pretty accurate. If I don't like someone, after time others will find it the same too.
18. I really like to whine and complain. I've been trying to tone it down recently because I realised that I feel better after I let it all out, but yet it only spreads the gloominess to my friends. I'd hate it if my friends were always whiney too, so I'll tone it down. I'll try.
19. I don't know why but I'm much more expressive online. I spill out secrets more often. I blog about things I don't even tell my close friends. So yeah, do read more when you still have the chance to. :D I suppose I'll stop blogging once I'm off the "student" label. Once I enter the workforce, when things are really so much more political and shit.
20. I've a weird habit of munching off the circumference of my burgers before I savour the centre of it. Don't laugh.
21. I have slight lisps. I wouldn't exactly call it that really, cause I refuse to admit it as a flaw, but pronouncing things with "esses" usually results in my tongue sticking out between my teeth and what comes out really sounds more like a "th". Yes, you can mock me about it for all your eternity of a boring, insipid life because I've came to terms with it. Booyah.
22. I believe that if someone isn't vain, he/she probably doesn't look good either. So yeah, come join me in being vain.
23. I'm quite a perfectionist about my companion, love and relationships, so I don't date easily.
24. I'm a huge nature lover. I want to walk Singapore's city at night with my friends. I want to camp under the stars with my friends. I want to live in the mountains without civilization. With a close friend or alone. My future half would probably have to love nature as well. Not like hiking-nature or climbing-nature, but really just the nature all around you. Even in the city.
25. My friend once said that I like to "fix broken dolls" as a boyfriend. In some ways it sounds apt, cause I think that girls with... a bit of emotional damage are deep and... more exciting to be with. I sound like I've dated before, but no, I've always been single. Evergreen, if you play that 'traffic light' game in University. Don't be weirded-out by me please.
25(ii). So yeah, if you're someone (or you know someone) who likes nature, likes long walks at night, likes folk / indie music, slightly emo / reflective at times but friendly otherwise, call me.
26. I listen to folk, alternative rock and indie music. I hate it when the artists I like gets famous and extremely mainstream. And that's not just a childish thought. It's because I think there's this special bond shared between you and the artist (and his / her music), and when it gets mainstream, the bond you had gets shared with all the other millions of people in the world, and it's no longer special. Kinda like what you'd say with relationships.
27. Finally, I fancy a good laugh everyday. My friends have given me that, and that's why I love them so much.
Not your usual Bucket-list
Yes, in order of 'want'.
1. 1 month backpacking trip to Europe / cold climate areas with a close pal (or two). The less civilization the better.
2. Is wanting something illegal illegal in itself? Yes, drugs - at least once. LSD, to be exact.
3. Making (good) friends with someone insane. I mean, mental. But I don't want to make it sound derogatory. There's something strikingly beautiful about insanity, like experiencing another dimension of some sorts.
4. The Killers' concert.
5. A folk / acoustic concert - say Iron & Wine, Bombay Bicycle Club, Inch Chua or Zee Avi.
6. Camping under the stars in the city (Padang?) and listening to acoustic sounds.
7. Experience the Glastonbury / Lollapalooza / Woodstock / Coachella festivals.
8. Bungee-jumping.
9. Scuba-diving.
10. Going for a real Broadway production.
I know - I'm weird, right?
emails: chew.bolong.2009@vjc.sg (main) / bolong02@hotmail.com (dominated by junk mail)
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bolong
mobile phone: yeah you wish.
Friends and Connections –fellow bloggers.
Archives –the past entries.
