Thursday, December 23, 2010
In recent years I find myself not enjoying christmas like I used to when I was a kid. There were no more santa (outgrew that after a while), no more xmas trees with lightings at home, no more christmas presents to be recieved.
I realised that christmas has become much too commercialised. There is the 'sharing and giving' and 'exchanging of presents', not only at home but among friends and between colleagues. Lucky (or maybe not) that my family have never believed in wasting money to buy unnecessary things for each other or that my friends never seem to have any xmas parties to exchange presents. There are never sales weeks before xmas, who would have one if the shops can capitalise on people paying marked up prices to get gifts. After xmas, there is the post-xmas sales, to continue attracting fools like me to stimulate the economy.
Then there is an extra strong presence of christmas-y feel with the extravagant decos along orchard and playing of xmas songs, even in supermarkets. And somehow, people start going to church or pulling people to go to church and a greater awareness of how Christ came to earth. But waht about Easter then? Why is there not as much celebration that Jesus died for us and got resurrected? The whole dying thing probably doesnt appeal to consumers eh. Just like humans celebrate the birth of a baby and not the death of an old one.
Christmas also makes me realise that the year is coming to an end. And I will: 'Wow! What have i been doing the past year? Didnt the year just start?' It also signals the end of the holidays, the start a new year, both english and chinese one. Time flies eh. Babies grow up, kids become adults, parents grow old, suddenly everything changes; roles are swopped.
Heh perhaps my reflection for the year came too early, by a week.
Just The Girl @
10:54 PM
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
After eons of not updating my blog which is commented by family and friends, I decided to perhaps do one of the last few posts in 2010. And since I'm in singapore already, although its a short 8 weeks compared to 3.5 months the past 2 years, I think i have done almost (but not quite) all the things i wanna do this holidays.
1. My very first (and probably the last) marathon i have ever done. The half marathon that i did with oi last year seem like chicken feet compared to this one. The excruciating pain during the run/walk and the almost delirium state we were both in under the scorching sun was a one of a kind experience. I can now understand what real pain is and perhaps understand a fraction of what patients with chronic pain experience. And what about the aftermath? The sweet taste of crossing the finishing line after 7.5hours and collecting the tshirt that reads 'finisher of 42.195km' (although only size XL were left when i was done) was awesome, but not the knee and ankle pain (still lingers abit till now) which was relieved by using osteoarthritic plaster used by my mum. ha what a joke.
2. Visits to singapore's new playgrounds: the casino, from the outside. Together with my equally swa gu parents and sister, we went for a walk at the atas Marina Bay Sands via the helix bridge. To see the inside of the casino without paying any levy, there's a hidden way via the restaurants which overlooks the entire casino. ITS FREAKING BIG! Just counting the tables there were about 140. It may look empty but it's a visual thing. i bet there are alot of pple inside feeding taxes to our government. And being a 'fine' city, there is nothing more i would expected this from the government:
I have been to casinos and of course there is such regulations but these statements are usually in smaller prints without having to pay fines. So typical singapore
3. The other playground: RWS. Sentosa is so much nicer and more developed. With so many freaking tourists!!!!!! Singapore has definitely achieved its goal of attracting tourists from neighbouring countries, ie, ah tiongs. Even singaporeans are paying 400++, a price that is worth a 5* hotel just to have a stay-cation (a new word i learnt)
4. Bubble tea craze is back AGAIN. I really loved the cheapo 1.20/ bubble tea when bubble tea seemed to be almost dead with perhaps sweet talk and other random hdb shops still surviving. Now its back and more expensive!!!!! almost 3 bucks a cup!! So i came back and tried to find all those gong cha and koi tea that everyone seemed to be dying for. 50% less sugar? still as sweet like eating candy. Just more sucrose man. 1.20 was dirt cheap. 1.50 gets u reasonable tea. 2.50 is back to the first craze that swept singapore 8 years ago. 2.90 for less sugar and high quality tea is riding on singapore's booming economy and ripping fad-crazy people like my peers. Having sydney's easyway (aust's bubble tea version) when it has one for one promotion is almost comparable to having one koi here. Im going back to finding cheapo 1.50 sweet talk if i need a bubble tea fix
5. Studying is the love of my life. That statement is so not true, especially during stress ful periods which is right before the exam and when it hinders me from fully enjoying my holidays. But come to think of it, all through my schooling years there is always a little bit of studying going on during the holidays, be it project, assingment, reading some chinese classic or completing holiday. So yes, i have been going out to study this couple of weeks. Sad to say that i dont think i have retained much of the things whcih i read through 5 weeks ago. So i really have my doubts that i can suddenly and spontaneously remember a truckload of stuff come mar 2011.
And yes, even airport viewing gallery can be a studying place.
I realise that once i start blogging, there's actually alot of things that i want to blog about. But alas, its late and i have to wake up early to go out to study. Yes yes, im a nerd
Just The Girl @
12:15 AM
