Photo high!

Today, I took some pictures at WOMAD. I'm in the midst of editing day one. However, I'm really happy with them so much so that I'm on a photo high. It's so satisfying to see stuff you've done that makes you happy. Not all of it is great (and i'm sure there will be critics) but there are some nice ones. The bands were really good (check out Radio Mundial - foxy guitar player!) and hopefully I did them justice with the pictures. Will try and post some here once I'm done. Back to edit part two ;)

Licensed to thrill

After back-to-back evenings with some alcohol for insomnia research purposes, I decided to stay home and watch a movie. I thought what the hell, TGIFF, get some ice-cream and watch 'Goldfinger'.I have lost count of how many times I have seen each Bond movie except for On Her Majesty's Secret Service (great Bond girl Diana Rigg but crappy Bond George Lazenby - ugh!) at 3 times - familiarisation, boredom, waiting for CSI Vegas to start. Goldfinger, like all Bond movies, has some of the most classic lines...



James Bond: Do you expect me to talk?
Auric Goldfinger: No, Mr. Bond. I expect you to die.



Pussy Galore: My name is Pussy Galore.
James Bond: I must be dreaming.

Ha ha cracks me up everytime :)

Seeing things...

By now, you would have guessed I'm a huge music and photography fan. I'm really lucky to have the opportunity to look at/talk about/work with pictures. Some days when I look at pictures, I feel that I have a long way to go before I can actually achieve the standard that some of the really good photographers at work have as my technical know-how is not quite there. I feel that I can see potential shots in my mind but maybe with just a bit more time and practice (and a bit more access - get me closer to the frickin' stage people!! one day...), things might be ok. Here are some recent holiday snaps which I took during the recent O2 festival in London.








From top to bottom: Jack White during the Raconteurs set, the Strokes - check out Nick Valensi (miniature) rocking out on the guitar, Belle and Sebastian mid-shake tambourine moment, after a marriage proposal (around sunset) during the Flaming Lips set - confetti, smoke, love and 'do you realize?' equals one of the best concert finales ever, people rocking out amid the 'haze' of a Damian Marley set.

All taken with my faithful Canon Ixus aka Snappy II

Damn, I love rock n roll!

Interesting band - Bell X1

Check out this band Bell X1 - their lead singer used to be Damien Rice. Their myspace has a killer rendition of one of my all-time favourite songs, Depeche Mode's 'Enjoy the Silence'. Check out 'Eve, The Apple of My Eye' which is featured on an OC soundtrack. Ah, I sense the appeal already and a potential September purchase on the cards. Such sad, sweet romantic songs. Yes, I'm still a sucker for those!!

Death by chocolate

I never really understood this phrase until I went to the Max Brenner (http://www.maxbrenner.com/) chocolate bar at the Esplanade. For any chocolate lover, you would have thought you had died and gone to heaven. I had a suckao - though it sounds lewd, it was extremely pleasurable ;) - which is an intense shot of chocolate served with some milk (which is optional). The chocolate is served as chocolate chips and you put it into this contraption which melts in down. You can choose to add the milk or drink it neat.

I thought I was a dessert (but now think I'm more an ice cream) fiend but I have really met my match in Max Brenner. I could even turn down a brownie after the suckao as I was having a major sugar high. Any more higher and I would have been flying!

New Muse album seriously rocks!

THE NEW MUSE ALBUM IS SO GOOD IT ALMOST MADE ME CRY AT HMV! Shouting it from the mountain tops, 'Black Holes and Revelations' blew me away with its uplifting crescendos, intricate orchestrations, synth-pop angst (check out this track called Starlight) and their take on the rock opus in 'Knights of Cydonia'. I see this album being played and replayed for a while ;) Plus I heard that they might be coming to Singapore next year. I'm SO there!

In the meantime, here are the lyrics to a great political acoustic rock commentary on war. Think it's especially poignant in light on the current situation in the Middle East.

Soldier's Poem

Throw it all away
Lets lose ourselves
Cause theres no one left for us to blame
Its a shame we're all dying
And do you think you deserve your freedom

How could you send us all far away from home
When you know damn well that this is all
I would still lay down my life for you

And do you think you deserve your freedom
No I dont think you do

Theres no justice in the world

Theres no justice in the world

And there never was

Friends

Yeszir! Had a fantastic Saturday. Finished the nightshift and had my usual bout of insomnia. It's funny as I always can't sleep when approaching my days off work as I'm so excited to begin the weekend. Had favourite chicken rice with my parents at our usual joint then met up with some lovely folks (one alumni) from my workplace. Had a great afternoon sharing sh*ts and lots of giggles over a quick meal and coffee.

This got me thinking about friends I have made through work and I feel very lucky to have gotten to know some really cool people through workplaces past and present. Plus, I know, despite the different countries, time zones and work schedules, we will all continue to stay in touch. The travels, adventures, laffs and special moments that we have shared mean a lot to me and are firmly etched in my mind. These people are pillars of strength who make (and have made) difficult situations more bearable and work fun.

Be it old friends, new friends and work friends, I feel so blessed to have all you lovely people in my life. Here's to you all - cheers :)

Learning to fall

Yesterday, I finally made it to East Coast Park to practice rollerblading. Though my thighs feel like jelly at the moment, I feel satisfied that I exercised this week. One of the things that struck me is that how afraid I was initially to fall. Despite the knee guards, elbow guards, wrist guards and helmet, I still was afraid to fall. Looking back to my youth, I was much more gung-ho than now - holding snakes, riding horses, jet skis, skateboarding, go-karting without a helmet. However, yesterday, though I fell whilst trying to attempt a turn, I was happy that I had grown more confident in accepting that falling is a natural part of the process. Guess falling can be a metaphor to life, don't strive to fall but at the same time don't be afraid if you fall. Just treat it like a natural thing, brush off the dirt and get on your skates again! Hmm... maybe I can be the next Deepak Chopra while I'm at it :)?

Insomnia

Damn it's 9.50am and I can't sleep! Plus, just as I was about to try getting under the covers, this song popped and is now repeating itself in my head. So much so that I had to open up iTunes and listen to it. It's definitely one of my favourite and one of the most beautiful Beatles songs. However, I read the history behind it and apparently at the time Lennon wrote it, his relationship with his wife (non-Yoko) was falling apart. So its history is far from tranquil. There's also the reference to meditation 'Jai guru deva om' but it's ironic as it's followed by 'Nothing's gonna change my world".

Across the Universe
Words are flying out like
endless rain into a paper cup
They slither while they pass
They slip away across the universe
Pools of sorrow waves of joy
are drifting thorough my open mind
Possessing and caressing me

Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world

Images of broken light which
dance before me like a million eyes
That call me on and on across the universe
Thoughts meander like a
restless wind inside a letter box
they tumble blindly as
they make their way across the universe

Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world

Sounds of laughter shades of life
are ringing through my open ears
exciting and inviting me
Limitless undying love which
shines around me like a million suns
It calls me on and on across the universe

Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Jai guru deva
Jai guru deva

Attempt no 2, jai guru deva om, nothing's gonna to change my world? Nite folks!

Almost there...

Bless him! 2 more days to go!

Midweek retail lust

In the tradition of midweek gratification, I am now planning a coup on HMV. My mission? 3 CDs which I treat myself to each month. As I just got back from a fantastic (and budget-blowing) holiday in June, I decided to forego the July cd retail lust. Now August has arrived and it's not going to be pretty mwahahaha...

My selection for the month (this may change once I start browsing):
Muse - Black Holes & Revelations
Pharrell - In My Mind (how such a scrawny little dude can have so much rhythm, charisma, tattoos and a sexay falsetto is truly beyond me!)
Razorlight - Razorlight (i love their easy-going ol skool sounds, 'In the Morning' is such a cool song)

As fiddy cent said, "I'm a window shopper". Minus the tattoos, hos and gun possession charge, sneaker hunt is back on again. The choice is sneakers has grown phenomenally in this country. Initially, i thought i wanted to get Onitsukas but now that has changed. Adidas is looking good again and I love the adidas store in Raffles City. All I can say is WOW. My only gripe is that there is no LUSH (www.lush.co.uk) here! Since my trip to London, I have been in lust with Lush. Their shampoo bars gave my hair this fantastic almost celeb-like sheen for weeks. Awesome stuff. Swoon...

Movies - I can't believe I've missed Superman Returns and Nacho Libre!! Where is the love??? However, there's still hope for My Super Ex-Girlfriend, Hard Candy and The Beat that My Heart Skipped.

Movie-stress over, I still love Wednesdays.

Treadmill a go go!

Wow, this is a routine and a half! I know I'm not the only one in cyberspace harbouring rockstar fantasies / future band thoughts - you know who you are... Here's some inspiration for our next vid!

I smoke therefore I am?

Check out this little dude... He might have the right concept to achieving success in life or at least in the workplace. Don't get me wrong, I'm not slagging off or being judgemental to smokers - hell, even i've indulged in the odd shisha! Seriously, I'm contemplating smoking so that I too can be super at work.

From what I've noticed, smoking seems to be good for corporate survival - it brings networking opportunities i.e "Can I have a light?" "Can I have a raise?", breaks the ice, ups your cool factor so thereby you become an instant confidante (and privy to all the latest news) and provides mandatory break opportunities in otherwise a non break-friendly enviroment. This coming from someone who has just recovered from bronchitis! Unfortunately, I don't think my lungs can cope with constant influx of nicotine. So, someone please invent shigarettes for the shisha lover on the go. Otherwise I may be forced to consider other hotdesking (remote - you dirty dirty fiends) opportunities...

Career advice

From blogthings! Woke up this morning feeling fine, did a blogthing to ease my mind haha! With lyrics like that it's no wonder they didn't suggest writer hey? When I first did it, I thought it might state that I was the next Lichtenstein, Dali but no, the oracle o' blog has decreed that I should be an act-oooooooorrrr. I think I prefer to be someone in the background, perhaps a stuntwoman. Yes, maybe I should apply to be a Bond stuntwoman. Get to leap out of planes, off bridges etc like a holiday but with increased insurance. Since Hong Kong is nearby, maybe I can be a crony dressed in black who meets his doom in a gang shootout (Internal Affairs) or a gangster moll (Kung Fu Hustle?). Need to brush up on my Cantonese! Mmm-goy! No worries! Then again, there are foreign films - perhaps Korean revenge drama, an Asian Uma Thurman a la Kill Bill - but then foreign film reality may hit and I might have to get nekkid. Perish the thought! A few more trips round the island on me skates methinks! Anyhows, something tells me I'm into something good :)

You Should Be an Actor

You have a flair for the dramatic, and you probably already do a lot of acting in your day to day life, just to entertain yourself. No need to steal the spotlight from your friends... You'll get plenty of attention once you start acting professionally!

What Sort of Artist Should You Be?

Rock on!

I heart blogthings

You Are an Indie Rocker!

You are in it for the love of the music... And you couldn't care less about being signed by a big label. You're all about loving and supporting music - not commercial success. You may not have the fame and glory, but you have complete control of your career.

What Kind of Rocker Are You?

Holy Bratwursts Batman!

B for boredom and B for bronchitis put them together you get B for Blog! Guess the combination of drugs, delirium and sheer ego have inspired this blog. So yes, I have jump on the Blog bandwagon. However, I am finding this whole anonymity thing quite refreshing and therapeutic too. I feel like a superhero already. Oooh brave new world here i come. Of course, for those of you who know me, the real me (chuckle), this will not apply - guess that makes up 95% of the audience haha. On the plus side, if I do decide to bitch about you, you know who you are!

What's been happening? I fell ill - bronchitis. Didn't help that I could not take medical leave for a few days as the team was short-staffed. In the words of one of my favourite Killers song, "I got soul but I'm not a soldier", so I'm now on medical leave. I feel like a star that has lost its twinkle as I can't go rollerblading. Boo! I will make it to the rollerdisco someday! However, I have now more time on my hands to figure out how I am going to conquer oops i meant save (mwahahahaha) the world one click at a time.

Other happenings - I got published in the local papers. I wrote a mini rant as this dude wrote a writeup on B movies but the movies he cited weren't B at all. What is the world coming to? So my rant got published with a title 'B is also for Blaxploitation' and a Hammer Horror pic to boot. Yeah baby! However, I got censored as the cut they bits about Russ Meyer. Those are B-movies too - sexploitation my friends! I don't think they like the word 'nudie'. Damn, what's wrong with the word 'nudie'? I think it's cute. Think I've got a great essay for my essay loving friends - "We are being sexploited in today's workplace. Discuss".

That said, I'm quite happy looking at pics for now. I'm just going to be a happy little vegemite and hang in there. The big kahuna of toasts with dripping golden butter will come one day.