:: Live to Work, Work to Live ::

I came back from the movie "The Devil wears Prada". It was only a so-so film... But it makes me ponder something what he always preach. Do you work to live, or live to work??
How many of us fall into the category of "work to live" in Singapore? Is that good...or is that bad?

I look at my parents and i think to myself. If they can raise their three children up and see them to university just by being a hawker (which they have to work very very hard), I don't see why many of us who are earning probably 2500 to 3000 or higher can't....in fact, i think they can...with a certain level of comfort some more ~ meaning these people can afford to buy a house and a car.

He will beg to differ. "Yes they can afford but these people here HAVE to work...in order to pay for their mortgages, car loan, or whatever loans they get themselves into. They can't afford to lose their job!" Well, there seem to have a certain truth in them. People get themselves into many loans which they can afford...but they can't lose their job...they can't afford to stop working...And will they have enough savings for the future?

Of late, he and I have been discussing about buying a car. Come to think of it, between a car and house, I'll prefer to buy a house than a car since the car isn't really mine after 10 years...and with the increasing fuel prices, car park, road tax...is it still worthwhile even though u can jolly well afford. Not that I don't want a car..Not that i can't afford...I LOVE to have car...and often dream about the car i wanna buy. However, at this point in time, I would rather have a solid roof over my head, especially when i just step into the workforce. I guess i ought to save up first for my future....wedding...honeymoon...house...renovation...holidays...kids education...all these need MOOLA!!!! I wanna live comfortably with a certain level of savings of course, and without worrying about making both ends meet each month....even though when I'm outta job for some time. Now? Cash is KING.

Car?? Dun worry...I'm sure i'll get it one day with much ease.

The show also kinda reminds me of my previous job. He always complained that my working hours are long...unappreciative boss, deal with politics, and with all of these, it wasn't accompanied by a good pay. So perhaps my current job is not that bad after all. I'm sure if he is reading what i've just wrote, he would be smiling and thinking "AHhhh...finally she realised!" or... "See! See! I told you so! Your current job is a lifestyle job!"

Yes honey, i agree with you. But it doesn't mean its all that bad for an office job.

Well, it all depends on what you really want and your priorities. If a person love his/her job, it doesn't matter if he/she is slogging..coz to her, it ain't work anymore. He/she is enjoying it even though he/she might not be highly paid.

But of course, I think you shouldn't be so obsessed with you work till your own personal life is jeopardised. You still need your own time to unwind... catch up with family and friends. After all, life is very short! You can't just leave this world without enjoying life, without discovering the beauties of life, without exploring life! Please don't leave it till the last quarter of your life to realise this...else it would have been a wasted trip on earth. So go on! Go ahead enjoy the life you want it! You don't come to this world to become a work slave! You don't get a second chance, do you?

So..do you want to live to work, or work to live? :)

:: outings ::

Sunday trail at Nusajaya
Some time back, he finally brought me to trail, where he used to wander.
At last, i got to wear the suit he bought for me....like...erm........early this year?
It was fun as a pillion rider. But i think it would even be great if I'm the rider myself. Unfortunately, I dunno how to handle a bike. HEH.

Should i learn how to ride? Even though i don't intend to ride on road?
Or should i learn the tricks from him and ride off-road?



Malay Heritage Centre
Just a few days ago, we dropped by Malay Heritage Centre to have a look.
I always love museums. Love to know the history, love to know what shapes a country's culture, love to know how the people used to live. I'm always amazed by the interesting facts that I discovered in there.

The Malay Heritage Centre is still pretty new. The collections aren't as big as those in Asian Civilisation Museum...but its...good enough..its entrance fee is only $3!! The centre is used to be the palace of the Sultan of Singapore. They had restored it in a pretty good condition. Hmm... Learned a fair bit of what the different group of malays did in the past. Interesting!

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Next target? ------------> The old Ford Factory which have converted to another museum.

:: Roma ::

Back from Roma, Italy, a country I really adore!!
Love the culture, love the history, love the architects, love the food, love the people...
People are simply friendly and always willing to help when you looked puzzled.
Even when there is language problem, they don't just walk away...
In fact, i've been approached by two strangers. It's funny.

One of them is the secuirty personnel at the entrance of Musei Vaticani (Vatican Museum where it also leads to the famous Sistine Chapel). He looked and smiled at me as i walked thru the security check point. The he turned and said shyly..."You're beautiful." Hahhaaa....
I almost burst into laughter and rolled onto the floor. But i think i should maintain this "beautiful" image for him. Just for him. :)
Then as Louis went up to explore (since i had already been here 2 years ago), I sat there with two other gals. The Museum was about to close and security personnel were asking the people staying in the hall (where we were) to exit. So these 2 fellow came up and told us to leave in his broken english and very strong italian accent.

Security guy 1: Ex..suse me, Madam....the musei is closing....you....have to leave.....
Me: Ok...but where is the exit?
Security guy 1: Oh...my bro..ther, (pointing at the guy who made the "beautiful" comment), will show you the way.. *wink*
I saw the other guy blushing. I smiled and made my way thru on my own. Hahaha...
Damn! he's cute and I should have waited for him to lead me out instead.

The second incident happend as I was looking for a shop that sells mask for my bro and sis-in-law. At the corner of my eye, I saw this guy walking beside me and kept looking at my direction...I walked several steps more and he maintained the same pace. Finally, i turned and he quickly smiled and asked where I am from, blah blah blah...And his name is Antonio! (He's cute too....Ooooh how i love italian guys!!) Unfortunately, his english is really poor...and i know nothing about italian. I think he tried to ask me where I'm going or whatever....I just can't answer him. In the end, we shook hands and off I went into the shop. What a waste!! I wanna learn italian!!! Hahahhaa... Anne would have encouraged me to since her boyfriend is an italian!
Hmm...Probably if Jenn is around, she would've gotten his email, his number or even a dinner date...:'( Where is she when i needed her??!?!?!?

This place is overwhelmed by tourist everyday!!
No matter where i go (in the town of course other than our secluded hotel!!!) i see tourist.
And its PACKED, even on a weekday! I wonder how much revenue does tourism industry in italy generate in each year.

I just love Italy. I hope to go there again. But this time round, i hope to get the Milan flight so I'm able to visit Venice again! Hmm...i don't mind Rome...Perhaps then i can drive down to the beautiful Firenze (Florence)!
(ooooh, i've made a wish at the Trevi fountain so i shld be going back again!)

Ciao~

The Roman Colosseum (or Flavian Amphitheater )

Outside St Basillica at Vaitcan city...where the pope is!


Fontana Di Trevi.

Supposedly if you make wish here (accompanied by the tossing of a coin into the fountain), you'll come back to Italy again. 2 years ago, i did that, and here I am 2 years later. :)


Hmm..a lamppost(with a missing lamp) at Fontona Di Trevi

At Palentine near Colosseum

The famous Spanish Steps

:: The break-up ::

Finally, the show, The break-up started screening! i just went to watch the movie, which i have been waiting for months!!

It was kinda nice....not exactly the light-hearted romance comedy that you are hoping to see. Instead, you will experience lotsa squabbling and non-stop quarrels....almost everything....and little things. And somehow it kinda resembles the relationship i had with him in the first 2 years of our relationship. While Brooke sacrificed her time and made effort beyond her own expectations to please Gary, Gary took those for granted unknowingly and never had cared for her. They do things together..Oops...They do things according to what GARY wants and never had Gary offer to bring her to ballet, which is what she likes. So one day it got out of hand, and Brooke decided to call it quits. But they were still staying together in the same condo. So lotsa things happened and Gary realised how important Brooke is to him. So he tried to win her back.

While i was watching the show, i can't help but to relate it to myself. It was so similar! The issues between me and him, Brooke and Gary. It was good that in the end, both him and Gary realised the importance of the gal in their lives, showed their regrets and made an effort to make things better. hahaha.

There is this particular phrase by Brooke (Jennifer Ainston) to Gary (Vince Vaugh) that caught my attention: "I want you to want to do the dishes!" Then Gary replied "Why do i want to do the dishes!?!?" Sigh.. You see..Men don't see BEYOND the surface!! There are many times women hope their men can take their initiative to do things for them. But they can never get the hint! So often, he will say "i believe in communicating...just tell us what to do." BUT come on!!! If we were to tell u this and that, it wouldn't be the same anymore right? And that's what women hates. It should be come from your own willingness, from your own heart...coz then it showed that you bloody care enough to WANT to do the dishes or share any things! Sigh! Men just don't get it...do they?

Anyway, throughout the show, it just reminded me of those rough times we had together and the time when i really felt enough was enough. I even cried when Brooke broke down...when she had given up hope on Gary. I felt so much for her.

However, what was comforting is that...the man that sat next to me throughout, is still the same man who had gone thru all these shits together. Ooops, I beg your pardon, he's now a changed man.


Thank you, honey. Muacks.


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All rightey, gonna prepare for flight to Rome...Yay! love to be in Rome once again!
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It seems like many things happen to my friends lately...
Darren..please take care of yourself.
And Jenn, hope your injury is getting better and looking beautiful with each passing day.
Jacob...Forget about the bitches and think of Jenn and I, the beautiful princesses in your heart. If you can't find them, search harder and deeper in your heart!! Everything will be all right, all right???

Ciao!

:: just feel like.... ::

Just feel like I'm in love again...
With the same person of course.
Sweet.

:: Christchurch, New Zealand adventure.::

FrankFurt Pics:

Christchurch, New Zealand:
We took the TansAlpine train ride to a small town. The main attraction is the 9 hours scenic train ride (round trip). We passed by a lot of lovely scenery...the alps...the river...and valley....It was simply awesome. However, the cold was extremely unbearable. To take a good picture, you gotta go to the last cabin where there's no windows... Tell me, with a weather of about 10degrees and the constant wind blowing onto your face....how to take a pic??!?Especially when my hands turned numb once i took them out. Sigh...

We took another tour the next day. To a little town named Akaroa...if i'm not wrong i heard there're only about 800 or less residents. It was a lovely and a much worthwhile trip. Just 30bucks! We took a coach there. On our way to Akaroa, there were several attaction stops... The beach and the little workshop.
Went to the top of the mountain, overlooking the valley.
Then to Akaroa town.

Once upon a time, a man came to live on this island near the beach. He picked up a stone and ponder what he can do with it. By chance, he discovered he can polish them and sell. From then on, it has become his passion, his work, his life. The second picture showed this man and what he had picked up...the jaw of a whale!! He, ingeniously, made a wall out of these stones...

Some random pics...

At the top of the mountain, we had some complimentary warm wine...had a cup of coffee, mushroom pie and scone. Imagine...the cold weather...sitting inside a cafe on top of the mountain with a magnificent view over the valley...with clear blue skies....the aromatic smell of coffee and fresh air...delicious pie and scone. Nice.