Chicken Soup for the Soul

Some time back, i brought a group of marginalized individuals to an intellectually disabled home to do community service. I was heartened to see them turn up at 8.30AM on a Sunday morning to volunteer.

There was an old man who walks with a slight limp, he carries a cloth bag, he hardly understands English (which most of the briefing is done in), he knows no one there, and is disfigured with a cleft in his head from an accident. Even he, came to volunteer.



As I entered the home, i saw many elderly who were either abandoned because they were mentally ill or are without any family. What i witnessed was a group of 8 people selected to sit in a circle, they were "special" because they are more responsive than others. So they were privileged to sit in a circle and PASS A BALL AROUND. When we arrived, many were delighted to see visitors that are rare because of their plight. They kept asking if we're here to play with them. Some even did a little jiggle and danced with joy, literally. 

So we played games designed for three year olds with these adults. Some were capable of carrying somewhat intelligent conversations with you, telling you the history of Singapore, telling you their history.

Lining up this street in Buangkok, there are different homes for the destitute. I saw this old man in a wheelchair, sitting there looking forlorn and out at the main road. At that instant, i felt like running over and giving him a hug. I felt like telling him the world still cares. I feel ashamed that feelings like this is fleeting, i want to do more. I want to show the world i can love. 

Here's a clip from a sermon. It doesn't matter if you're not a Christ believer,it's pretty generic and the African pastor is cheeky. Also, it's in the context of Singapore. Continue on to Part 2 if you like it. 

It's a reminder about lessons in life.

Find a cause you feel passionate about. Volunteering is truly chicken soup for the soul.

Big Brother Watching..in the lift.

Moral of Video: Always have a clear conscience. Tee hee hee.

Review of a Different Kind

I do look into travel forums for information to help my holiday planning. I often rely on Trip Advisor for hotel reviews. This one caught my eye...

Again, another friend's friend's friend story. My friend swore it's true because the entire company knew about it. A colleague was due to present at a conference in Taipei and thus checked into Hyatt late one night. They told him they were full, but this colleague insisted there is something the hotel staff can do about. So they offered him a room on LEVEL 6. Apparently, all floors before 7 are "haunted". 

They repeated themselves countless times if the guest wanted a room on level SIX. The oblivious tired tourist said "for the last time, YES!"

So he slept, only to be awaken in the middle of the night. He felt some "thing" was beside him. He turned and came face to face with a lady illuminated with a greenish hue (like movie leh!!).

He freaked out, flipped over but this time felt something hanging above him. Looking up, he saw a baby with the same greenish hue crawling upside down.

He grabbed his passport, bolted out and took the first flight back to Singapore. 

Never did appear at the conference.

Inside Prison

If you

a) loathe going to school, dislike taking exams and doing homework

b) not satisfied with the amount you’re earning but want more and at an exponential rate

c) complain that your mum always cooks the same thing or that it’s very bland

d) curious what Prison life is like

You should read this. Annual reports are usually boring, but Singapore Prisons annual report is an interesting read. I’ve edited it to keep it short yet maintaining its essence, but you can read the whole book at http://www.prisons.gov.sg/publications.html

I took a wistful look at the cloudless blue sky above my shaven head. How did I ever end up sitting in the yard of a maximum security prison as a Long Sentence inmate? I was a high-flying white-collar accounts manager, someone who enjoyed fine dinging and the occasional Cuban cigar. I am a family man with no ex-con relatives or acquaintances.

My name is Tim, I was born the youngest to an odd-job labourer father and a seamstress mother. My life took a dramatic turn when my parents perished in a fire that consumed our Queenstown flat. My brothers and I were watching a TV show when suddenly we heard screams coming from the kitchen. We witnessed our parents being burned alive.

According to investigators, my father was pouring petrol into a jerry can as my mother lit the stove. The sparks probably caused the petrol to ignite. After that incident, our family split up. I was moving from one relative’s house to another. It was tiring and I felt sad most of the time.

Despite the odds stacked heavily against me, I did well to graduate from the local university with much funding from my Clan Association’s bursary. My first job was as an executive at a government agency. The salary was low, albeit stable. It was amazing then. In a space of 10 years in the civil sector, I got married and I worked hard to provide for my wife and kids. But there was also an innate hunger in me to see how far I could go. I do not know if the pressure from society, friends and family was real or imagined. But I knew I had to prove to everyone around me. I always wondered how they could afford their big cars, Italian furniture, ski holidays and material things like that. I knew it was shallow but I wanted all those things for my family and myself. I felt that I, too, could obtain them.

“Tim Chan,” a voice bellowed. I looked up, the voice belonged to Rehabilitation Officer Kok, a young officer who had joined the prison service upon graduation from University.

“Sir,” I greeted him and stood up, hands firmly straightened by my sides. Whenever we spoke to officers, we had to be polite as this was part of the disciplinary process aimed at fostering respect fot the authorities. Every reply had to be ended with a “sir” or “sarge”, depending on the officer’s rank.

“I heard you’ve a request to make? What is it?” RO Kok asked.

“Yes Sir. I was wondering if I could change cell,” I replied.

“Change cell? Why? Someone is bullying you?” RO Kok asked, his brows furrowed with concern.

“No Sir. I was wondering if I could have some privacy.”

I knew the unspoken thought in RO Kok’s head was “Privacy? Are you kidding?” as he squinted back at me before asking if I knew why I am in Prison.

The cell was the place where we spent most of our time. A heavy metal door with a spy hole made sure we all remained securely within it.

Housing 3 to 4 inmates each, it meant a total loss of freedom for all inhabitants. We did everything in our humble abode, and I mean everything. We had our meals here, we read here, we wrote letters here, we slept and bathed here. Some of us also cried here, softly, in the dead of the night.

In my opinion, the biggest challenge was sharing the toilet, which was the squat type. It was situated at the end of the cell and our only reprieve from awkwardness while doing our business was a modesty wall measuring no more than half a metre in height. Till now, I still cringe whenever someone has to defecate urgently while we are having dinner. We also took turns to bathe, also at the toilet area, by pressing the shower button.

Today marked another typical day for me and the 85 residents of Housing Unit A. I knew it was Tuesday because they served the-O this morning. The prison served either kopi-O or the-O on alternative mornings. Strictly speaking, the day made no difference to me. Besides crossing the dates on the mini calendar Jean sent me during her last visit, everyday was the same. The same yard, the same officers, the same plastic food plates, the same taste of coffee or tea. It was the same routine, all day everyday.

Every morning, we were awoken by five knocks on a gong. Following that, we had to stand in a row in the cell for the officer to do his headcount. Breakfast comprising bread with spread was then served by the inmate assistants through the food hatch at the bottom of the cell door. For the next hour or so, we could carry on with our sleep or meditate until the heavy door opened for us to fall in along the corridor for our yard.

Before moving off, we had to be searched. The officers had to ensure we were not concealing any contraband or improvised weapons. In fact, movements from one location to another were accompanied by searches. Even though I had been subjected to this for 9 months, I could never get used to this procedure.

Yard time was a highly cherished time for inmates like us. Unlike the inmates working in workshops or inmate helpers, ‘lock up inmates’ (those not given work for various reasons) only had one hour of yard time daily.

And there were activities aplenty to squeeze into the one hour- shaving, trimming nails, exercising, watching pre-recorded television (kissing/ bed /violent scenes are removed), reading censored newspapers (news that depict violence, crimes and any other act deemed detrimental to the security of the prisons were blacked out), playing board games, having basketball etc.

The yard also provided incoming letters that many of us looked forward to with glee. Besides visits that took place twice a month, letters were our only other connection with our loved ones.

Visit days were the only days I woke up feeling elated. Being able to meet one’s loved ones always made me tear with joy before being led by an officer to the visit area. The raw emotions on display were heartbreaking: tears from an old mother, screams from an insecure wife, despondent stares from children who don’t know their fathers, the palm-to-palm touches across the transparent screen that separated us from our visitors- scenes reminiscent of a television tear jerker. Only difference? The actors wished they did not have their roles in the first place.

I left the civil service eventually after much deliberation. I wanted more. I wanted a lifestyle that others would envy. I joined a private firm as an accounts executive. The temptation soon proved too much for me. Over a period of one year, I embezzled thousands of dollars from company funds, it was so easy. The directors always pre-signed a stack of cheques for administrative convenience and since they did not have proper checks and balances, I exploited the loophole.

However, during that period, I lived in fear.

The spartan regime in Prisons gas taught me the difference between needs and wants. I managed to survive with nothing more than a plastic box, a plastic spoon, a mat for me to sleep on, a blanket, three sets of t-shirts and shorts, a tube of toothpaste, toothbrush and two rolls of toilet paper that were supposed to last a whole month. What can I not live without? I have also changed my perspective on material things. I must not want them. The desire to possess them causes misery because the want and the ability to afford cannot match sometimes.

The prison is not a place one should be in. The regime is tough but I guess we deserve it because of the harm we have done to society, and therefore we need to pay for our offences.

Right now, my only wish it to serve out my sentence and quickly return to my family to make up for many years of lost time. What wouldn’t I give for a simple dinner at the coffee shop with my family?

Laws of Attraction

I am not proclaiming to be a love guru, neither do I have many boyfriends to prove (having many boyfriends is actually NOT something to boast about). However, I do admit to keeping a little black book, or rather a coveted name list of the boys and men who courted and proposed to me once before.

Name list in a kungfu manual looking book. How cool right?

The counter starts clocking not when I receive Valentine’s presents, or flowers or simple love letters. It starts when they utter the EXACT words “Wanna be my STEAD?”

I always found it amusing how boy-girl relationships develop. It all starts with those 4 words. The words HAVE TO BE SPOKEN. As teenagers, those 4 words can be asked with gusto. As adults, we think it’s cheesy and so we progress silently and naturally into a relationship. However, some adults are not sure if they are in a BGR, simply because there was NO confirmation. If one night stands can happen, an innocent kiss might not mean we are now your boyfriend right? I remember with my first boyfriend, I was 19. We chatted on and off on MSN for a year, spoke on the phone for months, met and went out and kissed on Fort Canning. I SMSed him the next day to asked what the kiss meant. I remember asking “Er, are you my boyfriend now?” He was 20, and he replied, “ Er, I guess so.” GUESS SO LEH!!! It’s like two blur sotong getting hitched.

Anyway, I kept that list not because I was narcissistic (ok, I was a little) but I was demoralised because it is always the case whereby my crush ALWAYS falls for my best friend! So I had to make a note to myself, that hey, there’re people who like me too! Just that I didn’t like them back.

I’m not sure if I have a name list of suitors to boast about, but not counting the ones who definitely showed interest (but didn’t say the 4 magic words), I have 30 odd males who bravely proposed.

With that list and 2 long term relationships, I am confident to say I have qualities that attract and keep a man.

1) Have an Appetite

I always have to control my urge to slap skinny girls who say they’re fat. Or skinny girls who want to indulge in French fries, but take out their tissue paper and start blotting the oil away.

Girls who have a healthy appetite shows that they are body confident, vivacious and fun (imagine licking chocolate off the body). Girls who nibble at salads on dates are a turn-off. Even rabbits eat more than you, and they probably won’t get green bits in between their teeth too. Only benefit is your poo will smell nice and come out green, like a baby’s.

2) Be Colourful

It irks me to have Yes Man, same goes for girls. I know generally, girls play the submissive docile role. That is absolutely ok, since it strokes the man’s ego anyway. However, a girl MUST HAVE her own mind, her own interests and pursue something. If you don’t have any of the above, you’re just bland, a plain Jane to men. Topics are kept interesting, if you have something to share. I have heard countless male friends telling me the reason for their break-up is because they lost interest in their girlfriends simply because they had no ambitions and no interests except revolving around their boyfriends. Soon they found someone else more interesting, not because the other girl was hotter, but because she was bursting with energy and she gave new topics to discuss about.

Read a wide range of topics, learn something new, go out with your own friends and bring back something to share.

3) Be Yourself

I speak good English most of the time but my first boyfriend was ashamed of me because I spoke Singlish when I met a fellow Singaporean in an Australian supermarket. I was hurt that he didn’t like me for who I am.

One of my dates frowned at me when my chair squeaked when I got up at a high class very silent restaurant. He was ashamed of me, the tom boy.

It was stifling; lady-like was not a descriptive for me. I applaud the girls who maintain a perfect image with make-up and everything 24/7. I have a friend who at overnight camps is the first to get up and the last to sleep. So that no one sees her with unravelled hair and a bare face (with no eyebrows). I am proud that she is just as hard-working in her career.

Be yourself, and someone will love you for who you are. Be pretentious, and everyone can tell.

4) Be Cheerful
I smile a lot, so much that I am afraid I will get pre-mature wrinkles. I laugh so much that when I don’t, people ALWAYS assume something bad happened. A smiling face looks more appealing and beautiful. Be light-hearted; be able to laugh at yourself. It shows you have a big and open heart.

I can reach it!!

5) Be Positive

When you think positive thoughts, good things come to you. Be critical, you’ll be unhappy with almost everything. Never say “I told you so”, respect the man and he’ll come to you and tell you you’re right.

6) Be High Maintenance (on your own expense)


I took a day off from work and pampered myself from head to toe. It started with morning exercise, then a manicure then a facial and ending with a hair spa.

Phyto Hair Spa at Wheelock Place was expensive ($208) but Oh-So-Worth-It. I went for a diagnosis first, and they deduced that I get the occasional dandruff due to hormonal changes. They analyzed my scalp, and to my horror, some of my follicles only have 1 strand of hair when a healthy scalp have 3 or 4 strands growing out.

My hair is actually rather dry,even when it's virgin from dyes.

When hair is long, hair gets heavy and therefore drops. Each follicle has the life span of 25 or 28. If your hair drops, it can grow back 28 times. Thereafter, it DIES = hair loss! If you think, “Nah, that won’t happen to me because hair still grows even after death!” A popular myth, scientists have proven that ain’t true. Fingernails and hair give the illusion of growth after death, that’s because the skin around shrinks.

Also, I was wrong to heed the advice of hair stylists to only shampoo my head every alternate day (to prevent drying). Phyto advised me to shampoo my hair daily, because I need to keep the scalp clean. Dry hair ends can be moisturized with the usual hair masks and conditioner, but getting a spoilt scalp back to its healthy state is VERY difficult.

The therapist at Phyto was a three-in-one. Not only is she very knowledgeable about hair tips, she gives a mind-blowing massage (it wasn’t just a 5 minute 捏一捏就算了 type), and she can also blow dry my hair to awesome-ness. What I like about Phyto is also that they combine active plant botanicals with modern science to encourage hair growth. It being a 2 hour treatment, you can order food from a Thai restaurant next door, eat and watch a movie while you get pampered by the therapist.

Take care of your physical body and grooming habits. This is what attracts men. Get the “high-maintenance” look without breaking the bank. Get your manicures at a neighbourhood shop instead of Orchard. There’s one in Ang Mo Kio, next to Jubilee that offers $35 for a manicure AND pedicure. The ones in town go at $60 and above. Home treatments can also be done at home, scrub your body twice a week (remember the armpits and crotch area to so these areas won’t discolour). Get a massage by the blind masseuses for $25 (30 mins) in the run-down mall (top floor) opposite Somerset 313. Look “high-maintenance” at your own expense, it makes you feel empowered. With that, you naturally attract because there is an aura that spells capability.

 7) Be Sporting

You don't have to be an athelete or medalist, but be a sport when it comes to trying new things together. I remember it was very tiring trying to convince or persuade someone to do something together, or try something new. I believe in lovers being best friends and best friends being lovers. Some girls hate to be out in the sun, immediately that warns the man of a princess. Slap on extra sunblock, and get some Vitamin D! Of course, do not compromise yourself and be someone you're really not but do try, at least once. So he recognises your effort that you tried to share his interest.


                                          
 8) Dress Different

Every girl you see on the street has the same flat straight rebonded hair. You can follow trends, but shake it up with a little bit of your own style. Not everyone has the guts to stand out like a sore thumb with neon tights in a crowd, i understand. Do discover what looks good on you and wear it with gusto. I wear my tattoo stockings on days i want to be absolutely different. On other days, i blend in. Have different moods, have different themes. That's the advantage of being a woman, we can have a different look everyday (other than the usual jeans and tee). I have a friend who is absolutely into ANY girl so long as she is in a dress. Play up your feminity, yet maintain spunk.

Photographed by Dominic Khoo,www.whatisthesight.com

                       
 9) Be Sensual
Plus sized girls as well as zero size girls can be sensual. Buy nice lingerie, wear matching sets. Feel good underneath, feel good within. Read up extensively on bedroom topics, collect knowledge, preparing for marriage. The perfect woman will be one who is nifty in the kitchen, fluent in the hall and good in bed. Sensual body languages can be displayed, like twirling your hair while speaking, casting your eyes downwards then upwards while speaking, roll your tongue about (JUST A LITTLE BIT) as you euniciate. Do remember, dress sensual and not like a slut. Showing the nape or the back is always nicer than cleavage.

                                         
10) All other Else

a) Be appreciative
b) Be respectful
c) Think of others before self
d) Live with no regrets
e) Its a blessing to give than to receive

Prostitution:Do they Have a Choice?

I judge prostitutes. I stare at them out of curiousity, i look at them with disdain thinking they're dirty, and i think they're cheap (although they can earn more than me by the hour). Then i picked up this book..

and learnt that the booming sex trade in Asian exists BECAUSE of the asian men (with demand, there is supply) and not ang mohs, mind you. And that many of these girls are in the sex trade to get out of poverty. I am apalled with the law that punishes the victims of sex trafficking, rather than the pimps. Increasingly, social escorts are abundant in Singapore. University students and even office girls are getting paid some $900 per hour to $20,000 a month to be a companion. A girl with cup Cs recently message me on Facebook as well, asking if i wanted to "take over" her sugar daddy. She said she wouldn't have given up this "job" if not that she was leaving for an overseas education. Perhaps with $20,000 a month, she saved up enough to pursue her dreams.

I always thought my friend's girlfriend looked suspiciously like a hooker. He is an American expat, she is a Vietnamese tanned petite woman. She is sweet, friendly and is studying English here in Singapore. However, we often don't have much to chat with her. They've broke up for awhile already, although it was ambigious if she is hooker-like or not, it was revealed that she used men's money for an education. She came from a poor family in Vietnam, and i got to give her credit for using her body not for a LV bag (like some Singaporean social escorts do) but for a Diploma in Marketing.

Does earning for an education with prostitution make the job more acceptable then? I worked as a waitress, a chef assistant and receiptionist in an estate firm while i was studying in Australia. To support my annual $10,000 living expenses and $28,000 school fees. But i am more fortunate and blessed to have a father who can provide comfortably, although not luxuriously.

Here's a diary of a 16-year old girl forced into prostitution by her parents.

(From Netease) September 15, the police cracked down on a hidden brothel in Changzhou and arrested a couple named Mao who organized prostitution and three female prostitutes. Surprisingly, one of the prostitutes was only 16 years old, and this under-aged girl was actually the daughter of the couple, the other two were Mao’s nieces. The police seized three accounting books which recorded the number of times each girl had served guests in the past year, a total of over 400,000 yuan in profit. Also, a locked diary was found, which recorded how the daughter got into prostitution, her resentment of the parents and her love story with one of her client “Baby”.

When the police searched the foot massage shop, they found a hidden secret door. A double bed was behind the door with the bed sheets in a mess. The night stand was full of condoms and tissue paper. The police found three accounting books in a hidden drawer. One recorded the monthly incomes; one recorded the money paid to the girls; and the third book recorded each prostitute’s daily number of guests and income received.

In the police station, Mao couple faced the hard evidences and had to confess their criminal acts. The woman said, in their home town people don’t laugh at prostitution but at being poor, therefore they brought their 16-year-old daughter and two nieces (aged 20 and 22) out to make money. “Let them make more money when they are young, then return home to find a man to get married.” Sometimes guests would want a virgin; she would push her daughter to them and said that her daughter is a virgin. For this, she keeps a lookout for “virgin membrane repair” advertisements, and takes her daughter to get the operation done.

In the drawer full of cosmetics, condoms and toilet paper, the police also found a diary with a lock. This diary kept by Jiao recorded sporadic about her life as a prostitute and her resentment of her destiny. In addition, the diary revealed in details the love story between Jiao and a client nick named “Baby”. At the end of each entry, she always wrote, “I wish the business is booming, Go Go! (加油) ”. She said she wants to switch job soon and become “Baby’s” bride.

1.1.2010 (fake date that i make up, easier to read)
“Baby” got paid today; he used the money to come see me. “Baby” and I have met for almost three months now, he spent a quite a bit of money on me. True love is an angel in disguise, but a cursed fate is a joke by the evil. Is “Baby” and I true love or a cursed fate?

10.1.2010
I am very tired today; those construction workers on the site all got their end of the year bonuses and rushed here. I serviced more than 20 guests, made 2000 yuan. One guest was drunk and gave me 1000 yuan, I was really happy. It was 1 am already after work. I really don’t know why I live like this, for money? Is it worth it?

15.1.2010
You still vow solemnly and say it doesn’t matter, now we are fighting because of this, it’s really sad. Can the perfect girl in my dear’s heart go shopping with you every day, and go see movies? I am not that girl. You only think about yourself and do not think for me, I really wish you can understand me. Your support is my greatest strength! I am already changing for you now. I hope our love can take on any challenges!

20.1.2010
No matter what, I believe him. I believe “Baby” loves me, he will be responsible. Today, he told me, we save money together and work hard for the future. This is a very good suggestion, I have to work hard.

I told him not to come anymore, there is no meaning spending money here, but he would not listen and comes here every two or three days. Looking at him giving his hard-earned money to my parents, I am so bitter. My parents have been suspicious of us, my dad suspects me giving “big back knocks” (full intercourse) and only charge him for “small back knocks” (hand jobs or blow jobs), he yelled at me harshly.

30.1.2010
He heard that I have never had pizza before, “Baby” went to Pizza Hut after work and bought me a 9-inch pizza. I was so touched. Two of my big sisters told me to be careful, do not have real feelings for him. So just because we are doing this job, we can’t have feelings?

18.2.2010
Sometimes, I often think, why my fate is like this. If it wasn’t, “Baby” can joke and laugh with me every day! Sigh, forget it, there are plenty of other troubling things. Work hard to make money now! Mom said I can go home after two more years. Go, Jiao! I believe my fate will not play a joke on me again, go forward for my dreams! Go Go!

25.2.2010
Today was really scary, almost got caught. When I heard the secret sign by my parents, I pushed the guest out from the back door. Didn’t even get his money, forget it, it’s good that nothing happened. I read the newspaper and it said Beijing “Heaven on Earth” (Passion Club) was shut down. It is more strictly controlled recently even here. The neighbor stores are all closed, only we are still open.

12:20 am, suddenly I feel degrading. Clearly I have a boyfriend that loves me, cares for me and always lets me to have my ways. Why am I still like this? I feel really ashamed! The more he treats me well, the more guilt I feel…

28.2.2010
Recently, business is not so good; I only have two customers a day, total 80 yuan. Parents are moaning and groaning, but I am very happy secretly. Today “Baby” came before my second client had left. Because of that old pervert, “Baby” was jealous and he went away in anger. He later text messaged me to pick a fight with me.

03.03.2010
“Thinking of you during meals, thinking of you at work”, I will always keep this message in my cell phone. “Baby” sent me this message at noon. I believe him, wait till we save enough money I would switch job.

I want to be his bride.

绝后岛

Sentosa was once known as Pulau Blakang Mati (Chinese: 绝后岛) ,which in Malay means the "Island (pulau) of Death (mati) from Behind (blakang)". Don’t ask me why you get death from behind. I am thinking dirty but I shan’t elaborate :P

The island has gone through several name changes. Up to 1830, it was called Pulau Panjang ("long island"). In an 1828 sketch of Singapore Island, the island is referred to as Po. Panjang. According to Bennett (1834), the name Blakang Mati was only given to the hill on the island by the Malay villagers on the island. The Malay name for this island is literally translated as "dead back" or "behind the dead"; blakang means "at the back" or "behind"; mati means "dead". It is also called the dead island or the island of the dead.

Different versions of how the island came to acquire such an unpropitious name abound. One account attributed the ominous name to murder and piracy in the island's past. A second claimed that the island is the material paradise of warrior spirits buried at Pulau Brani.

A third account claims that an outbreak of disease on the island in the late 1840s almost wiped out the original Bugis settlers on the island. Dr Robert Little, a British coroner investigating the deaths, stumbled upon what was called Blakang Mati Fever, purportedly a type of fever caused by miasmastic fumes arising from decaying leaves and swampy water on the island. This event led to a controversy in medical circles at that time as to the causes of what was later recognised in 1898 as malaria spread by the Anopheles mosquito. The government's malaria research station was originally located here.

A fourth interpretation is that "dead back island" was so-called because of the lack of fertile soil on the hills. However, since the island creates an area of dead water behind it with no wind (hence "still behind" - still or stopped being an alternative translation of mati) it may be as simple as this — less romantic perhaps, but believable from a nautical viewpoint.

That explains why Sentosa’s beaches are artificial, reclaimed using sand bought from Indonesia and Malaysia. You hardly see any water sport happening in those waters too, and I never understood why the waters have yellowish foam all around.

In a 1972 contest organised by the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board, the island was renamed Sentosa, a Malay word meaning "peace and tranquillity".

Through the 1980s and 1990s, a number of pay-to-get-in tourist designations were built on the island, most of which the local people found uninteresting (But Fantasy Island shouldn’t have closed!! It was the best. Asian Village was second best, although after awhile the Viking was no longer thrilling). Consequently, there was a joke that the name Sentosa stood for "So Expensive and Nothing to See Also".

The above is extracted from Wikipedia.

Bet you didn’t know that about Sentosa, did you? Now it makes sense why I have encountered “The Others” before many years ago on Sentosa.

When I was 15, my school sent me as a representative to participate in an international youth Science camp. We stayed on Sentosa, it was an awesome camp. The toilets were a distance away from our sleeping quarters and late one night, we girls had to go.

I vaguely remember me and Heather made our way to the toilets near The Merlion. After completing what we went there for, as we exited, we heard a faint cry of a baby. I looked at Heather, and she looked at me. We looked around, but it was pitch dark around. We went back towards the toilet, the cries didn’t get louder, but we were somehow certain it came from within. We stopped outside; the air was still, the night was silent except for the baby’s cry. I asked Heather if we should check the cubicles. We hesitated, we were terrified. We decided to turn around and head back to camp. I turned around with a heavy heart, I felt guilty for not having the guts to check the toilets. I was afraid it is a REAL baby who needed help, and we two cowards might have cost a life.

As we walk further and further away from the toilet, the cries soon stopped. We approached the giant white steps that lead up to camp. This time, it was only me who saw. I saw a teenage boy in white sitting on the ledge right on top. It was faceless. It was gone the next second, and I didn’t mention this to Heather.

We had such a fun time in camp. It was international, so we had people from all walks of life, people from different nations. It was an elaborate camp, every activity was planned large-scale.

One of the nights, we played “Haunted Barracks”. The facilitators dressed up in black, brought us on a “spooky tour” and made our groups venture into an abandoned house and emerge as brave souls. The facilitators plant themselves within this empty house, covered themselves with garbage bags or canvas sheets and were positioned to scare the adventurers. course we were frightened, but after the “game”, we heard what the facilitators went through waiting alone, dark and silent in the abandoned house were even more frightening. One of them gave us an account where he was peeping out from under his canvas sheet, prepared to give the oncoming group a scary surprise, later on changed his mind when he saw a lingering blur figure following the said group. It was pretty comical as he told his story how he peeped out of his canvas, saw and decided to pull the canvas back over his head, hoping he was unnoticed.

Sentosa Spooktacular takes place this month, and frankly, I am SO TEMPTED! It’s a fantastic idea by the Temasek Poly tourism students, especially when they play up on Asian horror (Frankenstein is cute, and not scary).

1 ticket to 4 horror trails. Co-incidentally or not, The Merlion is one of the stops ( Me and Heather weren't hallucinating about the cries!).

Cursed Island

The Merlion

Journey towards the cursed island where death traps and mystical creatures lurk. Many have tried and failed, will you be next?

The Haunted Asylum

Images of Singapore

Infected by a virus, the villagers have all lost their sanity. Will you dare step into the dark abyss of the Mad Village?

Dead Or Alive Wax Museum

Images of Singapore

Uncover the truth about the disfigured wax artist that turns dead bodies into wax figures and unleashes horrors to haunt humanity.

Tower of Fear

Tiger Sky Tower

Rise to the sky in the Tower of Fear as you take in a truly haunting experience of sight, sound and light.

Should we or should we not participate? I heard a baby cry in the late hours near The Merlion. “They” say that if you hear a weak “baby’s” cry, the Pontianak is near (or right beside you), if the cry is loud and clear, the Pontianak is far (but still can fly to you in a flash). Don’t say you weren’t warned. Purchase your tickets here http://www.spooktacular.com.sg/

Verdict of the Rock Melon.

While shopping for my Nu Bra, the Auntie mentioned that my left is bigger than the right. For a moment, i wondered was it because i only used the left ear phone and kept the right free for human speeches in the office?

Of course not. That was a joke. I all along knew left will be slightly bigger than the right, because our heart is on the left, thus more muscle=more pumped up. After listening to the MP3 for 10 days straight, it was training for my determination and perserverance. I wanted to give up many times.

I can tell you now, that IT DOESN'T WORK. Although i think it does have some effects on my hormones, because i felt nauseous and giddy (signs of a pregnant woman?). It felt like my breasts were swelling too, filling up with milk for the imaginary baby. But all that could just be in my brain, Rock Melon seem to have the same mechanics of Satanic music.

If Rock Melon does work, i doubt you can stop after 10 days. You will have to listen to it FOR LIFE. How else will your body keep thinking that your breasts will need milk then? Once you stop listening to a baby's cry, your body will stop producing milk. Once a baby stops feeding, the mother stops producing.

50% of me wasn't convinced that this is a hoax. Perhaps i heard it wrongly. Perhaps i shouldn't take breaks in between the head splitting ringtone. Perhaps i should put in on loop 20 times instead of 10.

With strict measurements, my bust didn't increase. However, visually in the mirror, it looked like it did.

Oh, but maybe that's because of my tan. That's right, a tan line gives you an illusion of a cleavage.

The B(r)e(a)st Job

Although I like my lean figure with “don’t look sleazy” size breasts, sometimes creating the illusion of having big jugs is gratifying. Just look at the reactions of these men.




There are bras with cleavage enhancing functions. Women should know to maximize its uses, men should know them to be aware so as not to be tricked that you’re getting a larger portion.

Do you know how to wear your bras appropriately? First, you bend over so that your breasts are hanging down. Slightly will do, you don’t have to be 90 degrees.

Slip on your bra, stand tall and use your hands to push (push! Push!) your fats (breasts) from the side all the way into the bra cup.

1) The U-shaped bra

This is an awesome invention because it has always been a problem in finding a bra to wear when you have super low v-necks. I bought mine in Australia, but I saw that the lingerie shop at Ion (near Mango) has it. Alas, it doesn’t come as a halter neck strap, but the usual shoulder strap, so you can only wear a V-neck dress that doesn’t expose the shoulders or back. Because of its unique cups, it gives you coverage yet at the same time pushes your breasts from the side to the front (provided you did the earlier step of pushing our fats to the middle).
This is how I wear mine.

2) The Original Nu Bra
There are MANY kinds of Nu Bra (adhesive bras) in the market. Personally, I bought my first one from OG at $49.90. It lasted for 3-4 years with minimal usage. It takes getting used to because it feels awkward not having a clasp at the back, not having straps but just 2 stick-ons that you slap onto your fats. It is very useful for dresses like this. The back is exposed, and so is the front.

At the end of 4 years, the silicon started cracking (breaking up) so I thrashed it and found another pair for $20 in Vietnam! I was so happy that I got it so cheap (thinking that Nu Bras is all the rage now, therefore the price went down). When I bought it at $49.90, I believe I was one of the first few in Singapore who thought its worthwhile investing in a Nu Bra.$49.90 for a bra was a lot to a 16 year old.
But girls, I’m telling you now, forget about all other brands. The original authentic Nu Bra is the one you should really invest in, not the other brands of nu bra. The problem with all other nu bras that I have bought before, the ONE BIG problem with them is they NEVER STAY STUCK! Once you perspire the slightest bit, or even not perspiring at all, it won’t last on your fats for more than 2 hours. So throughout the night, you’ll try to inconspicuously pretend to be cold, wrap your arms around your chest and PRESS HARD. So as to make the nu bra stick back on.

I chanced upon the Nu Bra shop in Sunshine Plaza (near SMU), I walked in and reeled in the prices staring back at me. $69.90, $89.90, $169 etc. For 2 silicon stick on that you slap on fats, really? I am close to giving up on wearing nu bras because of the detachment problem after an hour, yet I am reluctant to give up because I don’t want to give up wearing pretty sexy dresses. So I decided to try it one last time. After all, this is THE ORGINAL of nu bras right? The adhesive is from USA, the Auntie assured me she wears them everyday and it stays on 24/7. She even pulled open her neckline, so I could peep in. Well, seeing IS believing right?

So I went into the changing room, AND SHE INVITED HERSELF IN. Be prepared for very personal service, literally. She man-handled my fats. Poking, prodding and showing me HOW TO PUSH. I could not try the adhesive, for hygiene reasons but I was prepared to take the risk of purchase. They also have nu bras cut for bikinis, so you can have that cleavage you desire at the beach!

I once had a photo shoot with many other girls on the beach. All of them had their nu bras stuck on (don’t know which brands). The photographer asked us to do a jump so he can capture us mid-shot. Guess what happened when we jumped? I saw silicon pads FALLING OUT. I was silently snickering to myself, thankfully I was smart and real enough to not wear any silicon pads but pad the bikini with its own sponge pad in its pocket. It’s as embarrassing as going into the water and seeing your silicon pads floating out (maybe it’ll sink instead).
Bras are meant to enhance a look, but don’t fake it too much. Be body confident, and not become another person when the silicon takes over.

I eagerly tried out my Nu Bra when I got home, I need to know if my $69.90 just went down the drain. I jumped, I stretched, I jiggled. It stayed glued to my chest. What took my breath away was….I never knew the existence of the Nu Bra was to create an astounding cleavage! You see, how it is MEANT to work (the whole reason of using adhesive) was to push all your fats up, stick it on somewhat close to your ribs, so whatever fats you’ve pushed up will stay up because the bra is stuck beneath. THEN because it’s 2 separate pieces stuck apart, there is a clasp which you clasp on in front. The objective is to bring your 2 lumps of fat closer to each other and if the adhesive is really good, it will naturally PULL both lumps of fat, creating a drool worthy cleavage.

The other nu bras I have bought could NEVER achieve it. They do come with clasps too (all of them do) but the adhesive was never strong enough to pull the fats together. So I wear them just so I can wear backless dress and not be flat in front (still see 2 mounds) but now with the authentic Nu Bras, not only can I wear backless dresses, I can EVEN show a cleavage (if I want to).
3) Maximizer

Victoria Secrets call theirs the Miracle Push-Up bra. Quite aptly put, it really does create a temporary miracle. I buy Triumph’s padded and even their water bras (which my mum insists it will cause rheumatism but the Triumph marketing says it’s cooler in hot weather). Wear them on occasions when you need it with that special dress and not everyday. We shall try not to disappoint the boys too much when they un-wrap the package. Ha ha ha.

My dad says I suck at packing my luggage, so he does it for me when we travel. He is VERY good at it, only problem is….he uses my bras to CUSHION OTHER THINGS. My expensive bras, dad!! Maybe because the bras are padded, he bunches it up, rolls it up, folds it up and stuff it in the corners of the luggage. THE MEN JUST DON’T GET IT.

So imagine the delight when I found the bra bag at http://www.smoocholito.wordpress.com/ It is a little bulky to pack into the luggage, but that means you can store many bras in there. I suppose my dad now can’t use my bras for the four corners of the luggage! He’ll have to try socks.
The secret of sensuality?

Remember, it's from within.

Stripping in 7 Seconds

Remember I said I don’t have much of a talent? If you also feel you don’t have a talent, maybe this is something easy to master. Very useful if you’re in Army (only 5 minutes to bathe) or if you want to impress your bed partner and show your enthusiasm.