A Coin on the Road

A few days ago while I was waiting to cross the road in hustling and bustling Taiwan, I saw a coin of face value NT$1 (SG$0.05)lying on the road. Without much hesistation, I bent over, pick it up, clean it and put into my pocket.

My fellow travel mate looked at me in disbelief and asked me why I did that, as if it was a embarrassing thing to do and disapprovingly.

Its not the first time I've gotten such a reaction, and I reckon most friends would do the same thing.

Some would look at me weirdly when I try to strike up a conversation with a foreigner or a stranger, or even shunned me when they felt like they are embarrassed when I made some open-minded comments.

It seems like the norm in Singapore is to be low profiled and to fit in with the general behavior and it seriously made me ponder if thats the same elsewhere.

I don't know if you heard before of a story of HK Tycoon Mr Li Kar Sheng.
He is the one who donated $1m to NUS and a good friend of Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

It so happened that one day when Mr Li accidently dropped HK$1 (SG$0.20) into an open drain when he was coming out of his car. Immediately he bent over, picked it up, cleaned it and put it back into his pocket. His chauffeur was bewildered and asked him why he did that when it is of such inconsiderable value compared to who he was.

Mr Li replied, "For all my millions and billions of fortune, they are all built on a base made up by all these small units."

Well, the main point here is not picking up that coin. The main idea is how you dare to venture into the unknown and ignore all the "No" in life.

That is, unless all you want is a simple life.

As a saying goes, a sparrow will never knows the aspirations of an eagle.
An eagle soars high and aim high into the great unknown.
You might say the higher you go, the harder you fall.

But you will never know what you see from a much higher ground.
Thats the reason why, a sparrow never knows the aspirations of an eagle.

So dream my friend, aim high, because you will never know what is missing until you venture into the great unknown.

Mankind's Dream is Never Ending !!! (From "One Piece")

Anyway I know I am naggy.

On a side note, I saw so many things in Taiwan!!!
So many youngsters are working SO HARD, manning food stalls, manning fashion stalls, showing such great smiles and services !!!
It reminds me that there are much more people in the outside work that are working much harder and holds much better attitudes than me.

Wah I have to work much harder and strive much harder if I wannt to make my mark.

But first, let me sip on my bubble tea as I write this.

Cotton Pink Rose

You know something ?

Cotton Pink Rose symbolises Gentleness, Grace and Sweetness.

Happy Valentine's Day !

12 Hours

You cannot imagine how disappointed my heart felt 12 hours after this picture was taken.

Yesturday was our ODAC Fishing Gang first offshore Fishing Trip, something which I had looked forward for a long time, after all failed attempts at Singapore Shores fishing, Kelong, etc.

It was a refreshing combination of company this time, Jovin, Chengzhi, Weisi, plus some seniors whom I rarely got chance to talk to, Shun Zhang, Eugene & Shuhong. As usual, I am surprised that after ODAC Main Comm I still manage to retain a common interest and friendship with them, very happy about that.

Anyway back to the topic. The atmostphere was great, the boat ride was great, the company, the food, the view were all great. I am not one who usually look forward to a catch for a fishing trip, but this time round I was serious about it because it was a paid and offshore trip.

I do not know what went wrong ... the hooks? The baits? The sea? or just plain luck.

Time ticks away like a continuous stream of water as I desperately tried all kinds of rig-up and bait ... Time just passed and passed until 0635, the boatman ended all desperate attempts to score the last minute goals.

Everyone was totally "sian diao" .

Concluding the experience, it was a mere 12 hours, but a great change in our great anticipation of the trip to one of downright disappointment.

I need some time to heal my broken heart and fishing drive.
It was the first time I really felt very dishearted about fishing.

10th SGDF Nationals, 3rd NTU Latin Nationals

Haha another period of silence lingers in the air before this post, so well, here goes.

It has been quite a while before I felt rather happy and satisfied, that is, on last Sunday 24 Jan 2010, my first Singapore National Latin Dance Competition !

Really could not have imagined myself competiting on a national level with Ngee Ann Poly, Singapore Poly and our own NTU couples. It was a very hyped event, lots of planning from our side (I did mainly logistics, haha), and of course full of very energetic ladies and suave gentlemen.

YES ! The results were satisfying !

We managed to clinch

Tertiary Category (Rumba) : 4th

Open Category (Cha Cha) : 3rd

I got a MEDAL ! and I am happy about it !

I think it is because it is something which I put in my heart and sweat to achieve.

Of course most of all I got to thank my partner, Elaine !

Her performance was really amazing!

Given much lesser time than me to practice, in terms of techniques, drama, showmanship, she really surpassed me in it. Haha but I think I win her in feeling the beat of the music... Ok lar just joking.

Thanks to FAIZ !!! Great captain who motivates us ! (not going into details due to reasons)

Haha also thanks to Ethan and Sukyee who were so patience to give us important pointers.

Not forgetting my supporters ! Thank you all !

I was very very happy ! Course they actually came down to watch me !

It may seem nothing, but it shows that they cared, and it shows that I exist.

I really appreciated that deep down.

I may have neglected some of my friends in the past, but I will definitely do much better in future !

Sky, Ms Goh, Eileen Zhang Ai Mei !

Power right ??!! I bet my "蛇腰" totally rock you guys out ! Haha I was'nt joking when I said I'm good right??? Hor ??? hor ???!!! Anyway I have to mentioned it but next outing we are really going JB to eat Ba Gu Teh.

Ah Long, Xiuwen, Helen

Thanks man my HC 203 Casualties Gang ! I hope you guys enjoyed the show ! Eh I never disappoint you all with my promise of a sexy costume and dance right ??!!

Foot '08

Wah you all are so steady ! Thanks for coming too !!! I really cherish our friendship !

Foot'09 + Whee WHee WHEE

Haha as usual , Ms Loh and gang are always so happy people ! Having Hafizah, Joel and Ms Loh smiles are really inspiring to me when I dance! Thanks !

Wah it was actually to my surprise that I topped the "DSA Ticket Seller" chart with 12 tickets sold.

Friends prescence really helped, because it excites me to be more dramatic during the dance !

Random

Been quite sometime since I last blog again.

In life, we always need some time to just slow down, stand still, blank out ...

Only then our heart and mind will be able to think deeper into the everyday things that we see and do.

Anyway would like to recommend one of my Air Force friend, Weilong's blog for all
http://rileon-is-a-freethinker.blogspot.com/
It is a very well written english blog whom shows the author's literacy, and his random thoughts on everyday life.

Weilong is a very very interesting person.
He has one of the characteristics which I admire very much, and is found only in certain people whom I have met in life.
He is able to attract friends around him and wanting to be friend with him.
It might be due to the fact that he is a easy going person, very humourous as a fact.

One particular inspiring comment on his blog

"I can easily buy a present for a girl whom I don't like... but why do I think so much on whether or not to buy a present for a girl whom I like?"

Do you also know that one should never, never, reject a child's present to you?
No matter how small it is, it represents their innocence and want to get closer to you.

There is a child in everyone too.

NTU DSA Camp 2009

Hey hey~ just ended a 3-day NTU Dancesport Academy Camp 2009.
It was an interesting camp where we got to know dancesport better, brush up abit on our techniques, "nua" around studio and "talk cock".

It was also the first official event where me, as a main comm of the club, helped in some aspects of the event, really enjoyed it. Although I am the Event manager, but most of the time I still got back to do what I am best at, being a Logistic Officer.

Had a chance at driving a manual van on the 3rd day, very fun.
The fun reached it climax when ... it broke down right in front of the traffic light. Great.
Turns out that the diesel ran out, and upon trying to reignite, the battery went flat.

So Ethan and I just sit outside the van, while trying to get help.

Mama Daph came to the rescue. Geez.

Being part of the event committee really got me thinking.
I was once a logistics, became a event chair, and now, I'm back at being a logistics.
It made me seen more stuffs, and a great chance to reflect upon myself.

Have to take my hat off to Ethan whom really got things worked out, managing things in a smooth and harmonious manner, learnt alot.

The highlight of the camp was the NTU DSA 1st Close Competition.
It is also the first time my partner, Elaine, and I give it a go at the dance floor.

Haha I don't know if I was too shagged out from the transportation of tables and chairs, so I was relatively tired to feel nervous compared to Elain.
She wore a worried face, and had some tight hand squeeze before the dance.
Cute.

We got into the finals, 7 out of 10 couples.
At the final round, we got 4th placing.

It may seems lacking that we only managed to clinched a 4th placing, but considering that the top 3 were all seniors whom got at least a year experience, I guess we hit it off well as rookies.

Not to be boastful, but I must give credits to ourselves that we are quite talented in a way, considering we merely started out 2 -3 mths back.
Elaine is really a talented female dancer, not only me, but many seniors whom observed.
Of course, not forgetting the extra effort we put in during practices.

Alas, I do not really care about the results ...
What I care about, is the synchronization we have on the dance floor, and the satisfaction of dancing.
In terms of timing, movement smoothiness, techniques, I must say much more effort is needed.

1 mth to the Nationals.

Ok, I'm serious now.

Another Memory of Me

Ok this fat guy in the picture is our ACS(I) softball coach for the 10th year running.
His catch phrase is "The more you are afraid of the ball, the more the ball will come towards you"

That was a warning for all us softballers when we are afraid of the ball during fielding.

It was a pleasant ACS(I) Softballers Gathering at Madm Yoon's House, our teacher in charge, also in her 10th year running. Its amusing to look back at how Mrs Yoon made an announcement after Chapel in Auditorium, making known of a new CCA in school during the end of year 1.

I was among the first few people to walk up and signed up on the spot.

The time frame passes as we trained our guts out during holidays, whether in Hwa Chong JC or Nanyang Girl's High, with Sihowe and Ri Dong so as to mentioned. Interesting matches and girl talks were still vivid in our memories as we recalled last night, how a Double Play was a near success, how I sprain my arm, blah blah.

There was also something which still remains a topic over the years, which was why did I quitted the team at the end of sec 3, when everything was fine and we were a great team.

Its not constructive to say that its a mistake now, although it is.
I reckon the mindset was the changed factor.

I still remembered the exact train of thoughts at the moment when I decided to quit, sitting down in the ACS(I) Library. I flunked my A Maths and grades are in critical levels, Ri Dong was away for a holiday, and there was this cocky guy whom my coached used to threaten to replace me if I underperformed.

Snapped. Don't Care. Quit.

Not easy to give up something which I liked.
Not something which I can face afterwards too.
Maybe thinking and worrying too much makes you feel like sitting on a rocking chair, you keep moving but it gets you nowhere.