Cable Ski & Go Karting @ Batam 9th August 2006

Tibet Planning

For travellers, Tibet is said to be without doubt one of the most remarkable places to visit in Asia. It offers fabulous monastery sights, raw high-altitude valleys and troughs, stunning views of the world's highest mountains and apparently one of the most likeable peoples around. However, due to the reality of politics, it can sometimes be a sobering and saddening experience.





"For the Tibet trip, I am proposing that we travel between 16 Dec to 24 Dec. There are essentially two ways with which we can get to Tibet. One would be overland, where we take the bus from Kathmandu to Lhasa on the Nepal-Chinese Highway. This highway is 900km long and would involve us taking a plane to Kathmandu and then taking a bus to Lhasa.

Alternatively, it is possible to fly to Beijing and then take the Beijing-Lhasa train to our destination. The prices of a ticket would range from 800-1200 yuan (around 200-250 SGD) and the journey is 4064 km long. The journey will also take 48 hours. There are three trains leaving from Beijing to Lhasa per day.

For visas, it is necessary to get a separate visa for Tibet and one for China/Nepal. So that would involve applying for two visas for the trip."

Samsui Women - The Chinese Apha Breed

Wow , I didnt know that Samsui women managed to match the men in terms of heavy work, working alongside the men in contruction sites and fields. Sounds like the Amazonians! They were rugged, displayed true grit and resoluteness. One thing I didnt know was that they chose to stay single and independent, often taking a vow of celibacy! .. this little input was inspired by August's edition of Asian Geographic.

.. I caught the premiere of Cabaret over the weekend - boasting a stella cast of Fei Xiang, Emma Yong, Karen Tan, Mark Richmond, Celine Rosa Tan ... and a tight knit of dancers. Boy it was long, close to three hours! Can you believe a local musiclal lasting that long? SET in pre-Nazi Germany in the 1930s, Cabaret depicts the intertwining stories of a cabaret singer, Sally Bowles, her doomed relationship with American writer Clifford Bradshaw and the citizens of Berlin during the bedlam of a changing society. Sally sings in a decadent club called the Kit Kat Klub where the sinister and seemingly omnipresent Emcee holds court.

... Sure, director Beatrice Chia packed it choked full of mature jokes, which were subtlely in-your-face. (I cant describe it otherwise).
... Sure Emma Yong's bod and VOCALS never looked and sounded that good.
... Sure I couldnt tell that the REALLY tall German- was played by Mark Richmond
... Sure I could tell that Fei Xiang's role - good as he tweaked his voice skillfully, (but sounded muffled over the sound system - audience could hardly comprehend apart from the repetitive chorus), sadly it looked out of place with the whole production. It was as if he had rehearsed the parts by himself - it was not tightly reined in with flow of the show.
... Sister said that the original focussed more on the Cabaret scene, and the one we watched focussed more on romance between Frau Schneider(German) and Herr Schultz (German Jew). It brought out strains of political issues - and pre-world war I tensions
... In short, it was a great effort by Toy Factory, although it evidently suffered from the same woes as all productions do - having never enough rehearsal time. Plus the production seemed to want to tackle too many issues, and did not have a strong focus (Either presenting a entertaining set or a musical with a message to send)Nevertheless, I had enjoyed the laughs, I liked Celine Tan's raucously irreverent protrayal of a prostitute with a penchant for young Sailors boys! It had entertainment value for sure, and I think the well-heeled crowd lapped by the jokes, by the sounds of the appreciative laugher that peppered the show.

My kids in Speech & Drama are doing pieces from Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, The Horla by Guy De Maupassaunt, Vilette by Charlotte Bronte, Saint Joan by Bernard Shaw ... which means I have to read up more... argh.... quick, pass me the synopsis!

Ah Wow!

Top Six Happy List
1) From: Discovery Travel & Living Subject: We want to see more of you! =)
2) High on City Space's Govner's Smile with Antz - Unobscured view of Spore
3) Paula's Home Cooked Chicken Rice on a Friday night
4) Hip Hop under Dee Dee with Sam @ Wu Studio
5) Half Day Tuesday @ CGH for Dad's Checkup ~ finally!
6) Hitting 5 km on the runner! Woohoo!

Top Two Not-so-happy List
1) Mommy refuses to go for Checkup
2) Working on understanding Options

Besides the above - I am tired. Perpetually falling asleep in front of Computers - regardless if it's at the workplace or otherwise.

Now think think of script...
Backdrop: Raffles Place Mert.
Why? The FACE of Singapore. At the Crux of the Matter. Breakneck Speed. The Quest to Reach the Top. Congestion at The Escalator. Singlemind shuffling. To the LEFT. Determination. Kock kock plick pliak. Whiff.
People. Women, many women. Backbone of a Patriachal society. The mother of hogging orange mert seats. V-P-L.
Me: I. Third Person. Faceless in the sea of orderliness. Tall. Taller than everyone else. Uniform. Love Hate Struggle. Live, Rules. Who I Am.

Where: Rock Wall. Boulder. Mattress. Fall. High. Colours. Determination. Challenge. Live.

Sleepy. Blackout.

Fruitful Weekend?

I look at my hands , calloused, blisterd, corned. But my heart is singing.

1. Learnt the difference between top rope and lead climbing in terms of risk and physics of it
2. Learnt how to belay a lead climb , climb a lead climb, communication required

3. Knots learnt: Double Figure of Eight, Clove Hitch or Mickey Mouse Knot, Prussik & Crab, Tape Knot, Munter Hitch
4. Rappeling / Abseiling - a system of lowering oneself using rope





5. Self Equalising and Isolated Anchors - if there are only bolts available
6. Got an idea of what Multi-pitching is
7. Coach taught me how to Flag and Back Step more effectively!

In short, I was introduced to the joys and risks of lead climbing. I fell three times today because I couldnt carry myself up the overhang. Scrapped my elbows, knees and shin. But not serious. A bit scary up there - gonna work on it come Tuesday.

New term learnt - Sewing machine: Used to refer to the visible uncontrollable trembling of the leg when climbing.

That was a very lovely Sunday spent. Saturday, however, i was played out big time. Ended up getting bored over TV, and decided that washing clothes was a better way to spend my time.

What doesnt kill u makes u stronger

I was at Ice Cold Beer yesterday. Birthday drinks with Chris. A bit happy a bit sad that he was leaving. Seriously ever since he stopped working, crazy emails stopped coming.. from him of course. How I was nicknamed Big Bird. How his mom teased about him and his bright yellow bike. And him being a crybaby. Abve all, I remember Chris's delicious apple crumble, and Lasagne.... and his penchant for drinking loads. And how he totally trashed me at squash - I shld admit I suck at it. And sometime back, the BKK Rock Festival, and how he introduced me to Snow Patrol when nobody in Singapore knew them. But worse was how he ridiculed me especially when drunk, hurling verbal abuse at me...which made me understand how the term English bastards came about. Strange he wasnt too happy to go home - its just like how the honeymoon period ceases and real living starts.

Students are so much more carefree - and not so bounded by the disgusting boundaries of Work Environment. Then again Boundaries are fixed by oneself. I hate my workplace, but how can I make it better? It is lonely, but like climbing, there is always an easier way out.

Wed - dance class

Thurs - either squash game or home for a jog

Fri - home early

Sat - morning climbing training, drama, blade, movie? *hands up for those who are game!*

Sunday - lead climbing part two, home for dinner

Falling!

Fall I did! Seems like I have backache now. Kinda scary - I had to let go of the rock grips and just kick off the wall - and fall, till I hit my next Runner Stop... I wonder how Bungee Jump will be like then! Why am I talking about all this? I started my first Lead Climbing lesson today! Hit the Sports Hall at SMU by 9am - and man there was no turning back. I was looking for Adrenalin Rush - and yes I had it. *Big smile*




This is a picture of what Lead Climbing is about - Monique Forestier is one of Austrailia's strongest woman - check out those discreet back and arm muscles. So there is someone at the bottom supporting the rope to break her fall. She just climbs upwards. It is physically - but definitely a high when u reach the top amidst trembling arms. The feeling upon ascension is like reaching the top of a mountain - except that our wall is only 11 metres high! =p

Anyhow, I am all excited again - hee .. so glad Jessene made me sign up for this!!! And kuods to dear sister for buying me all the Equipment from the U.S!!! Now i know, i need something extreme and edgy to keep me on the go - that is why I am not as excited about Blading and Squash - not that I am brilliant at it, and not that I have short attention span - it is more like I have conquered the fear and succeeded in picking up something new. And so the kick in indulging in that sport is not there anymore. But I still want to work on my Right Cross Turn! Ruby - I can do the left cross turn and kick off already .. a bit wobbly but better!

Am looking to catch tonites Italy France Match - I say Italy will win on Penalty Shootouts. If not a 1-0. Wait and see!