Belgium in 4 days

Belgium is not a country where people talked about visiting. At least not in my circle of friends. When people say let's go to Europe, they will be thinking about the UK, Barcelona, Paris, Italy, Switzerland but not a mention of Belgium. And yet it is the de facto capital of Europe. So I was thrilled to have a chance to visit this tiny country this August. I loved it. Beautiful and clean. Nice, helpful people too.
The first city I visited was Ghent and I loved the buildings. The architectural designs were those that I cannot find in other European cities. Small and quaint, I can still remember the smell and yummylicious all-you-can-eat ribs in the restaurant near the square.
Brussels was interesting. There I was, finally in front of the world famous Manneken Pis - the emblem of the rebellious spirit of the city of Brussels. I had only seen it in pictures and didn't realise that it was so small. Less than 20 inches I believe. But hidden at the end of one of the narrow streets was a lesser known figure. Jeanneke Pis, the female counterpart of the centuries old symbol, was created in 1985 to better amuse strollers. Located on Fidelity Alley near the Manneken Pis.

On the third day we went sailing and it was wonderful. Was years ago when I got on a boat. We didn't sail too far though. Had no time. Bruges was another beautiful city I went next. It was beautiful. Did I say beautiful? Small, cobblestones streets laid on the ground and famous Belgian chocolate shops abound. It looked like a town in a fairy tale.
The last day we spent in Antwerp. Another big city filled with historic buildings, cafes, nice people. I cannot decide which I liked better - Antwerp or Brussels but I suspect I will pick Antwerp if I had a chance to spend more time in both cities.
One place I didn't get to go was the Atomium. By the time we arrived it was closed. Oh well, next time for sure.
Generally, a large part of Belgium was just like the rest of Western Europe but I could feel its old world charm and this mixed with all things modern set Belgium apart from the rest of the continent.

Barcelona in a month

I was in Barcelona for a month                        
Studying, visiting and having fun
I know the city quite well by now
Only the suburbs will raise my eyebrow

Paellas, tapas y bocadillas  por todas partes
Me impregne en la cultura y las artes
Aunque vi una huelga que se ha formado
En Las Ramblas, es un lugar hermoso

Barcelona tiene muchos lugares interesantes
He visitado casi todos 
Fui en trenes, en autobuses y a pie
Tengo que decir Barcelona tiene gente amable

Pase unas horas en Girona
Que esta mas de una hora de Barcelona
No lo suficiente para un sitio
Tan hermosa como su vecina 

Fue increible, La Sagrada Familia
Tanto en el diseno y la architectura
Lo mismo con la Casa Battlo
La Pedrera, el Parque Guell y eso no es todo

Un dia, por la playa estaba pasando
Vi a un hombre acostado desnudo
Caray! Hace frio en el otono
El debe estar loco

Montserrat es una montana hermosa
Es una monasterio significado religioso de mucha importancia
Me encanta haber estado alli
Quiza voy a volver algún dia, alli

La formation de las rocas de la cresta de la montana
Era mas inusual, de gran belleza
Me senti tan orgullosa y al mismo tiempo
Tan pequena, la naturaleza, es la mejor

Montjuic es una montana que esta en la ciudad
No es tan alta como Montserrat
Pero tiene una hermosa vista, sin embargo
De la ciudad y su alrededor

En Barcelona, me enamore
Solo pasamos juntos tres dias
Mi corazon tiene un ritmo solo para el
No puedo esperar a verle, bloqueada en un abrazo, con el.
Te amo, mi amor.

The Price of Intolerance

I love eating, it's good for the soul and the body
I eat when I'm hungry, drink when I'm thirsty
It's  fundamental to social gatherings
It's a good lead in to merry making

The search for food includes
when we are in hot pursuit
of all things business or pleasure
And desserts for good measure

The other day I felt a little sick in the gut
After consuming dinner in my cozy hut
It was the usual fare that I ate everyday
With fresh ingredients and dessert by the way

All kinds of whys popped into my thinking
Then I realized it could be what I had been eating
I had been a habitual eater of certain foods
Cos they were easy to cook and they tasted good

Not eating mushrooms would allay my discomfort
Don't eat grapes, to myself I need to assert
My stomach heaved a sigh of relief and contentment
I'm giving it a break from food intolerance

I'm not sure how long  I should stay away
Mushrooms and grapes were a mainstay
I think two months would be a good start
Before they get back on my supermarket cart

For now I'll have to vary my food consumption
Perhaps button mushrooms and green grapes for locomotion
At this moment I felt my stomach yelled at me
"I'll make you pay if you don't let me be."  :)

Ugly habits of Singaporeans 2

Today I went to watch the Adventures of Tintin

He was one of my favorite comic characters
Every single title that's in my collection bin

Had been read and re-read over the years

I didn't mind the munching and slurping noise

The boys next to me were  making

One even asked his friends in a loud voice

If they wanted more snacks cos he was buying 

I enjoyed the movie thoroughly
I was happy and relaxed, I must confess

When the lights came on eventually

Oh my, rubbish on the isles, what a mess

Paper bags, empty containers, unfinished food

Bottled water, soda cans were everywhere

Why are Singaporeans such an ugly brood

Well, not all of them, to be fair

Should schools here incorporate a social behavior class

Just so the young can learn and to be inculcated

What the value of common courtesy can amass

Then, perhaps a gracious society can be cultivated

I left the cinema feeling quite disgusted

Under their breath the cleaners mouthing off expletives

I don't blame them but had to make haste when I heard

The Hokkien and Malay swear words I found so offensive

What makes a good couple?

My rules for what makes a good couple. Not in any particular order.
1. Chemistry - It's all about PH balance
2. The ability to learn to give and take
3. Don't talk about the past unless absolutely necessary
4. Communicate - not just talk but listen well
5. Trust
6. Respect
7. Consideration

Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2011

Wow, what can I say
I was there all over the place
Edinburgh Fringe everyday
Hundreds of performers in front of my face

Livingston

Our show was well received
Reviews declared it a 'must see'
I don't care much for that as I only perceived
The audience's delight : that was enough guarantee


For many, the Fringe was a good platform
Performers of every kind converged in one city
Some professionals, many amateurs but all conformed
To the highest standard, as best as they can be


No one was a diva, everyone paid their dues
Directors, writers, choreographers, actors, comedians, singers
All did their part to promote their shows and to be in the news
All took turns to give out flyers

The Royal Mile

The Royal Mile was a great place to start any adventure
from the Edinburgh Castle one should wander
Shops, buskers, cafes were a common feature
And you'll wrestle for a walking spot with thousands of people


The highlands, Glencoe and Loch Ness was the only tour
we took on Sunday when we had no show
T'was breathtaking- the rolling hills and the valleys, for sure
made the journey awesome although Nessie was a no show :)

Princes Street

Highlands/Glencoe/LochNess tour

I loved the weather despite the lack of sunshine
12 degrees was the average temperature
Worked till noon everyday then exercised my legs and behind
I roamed the streets looking for nothing in particular


For me, the food wasn't really the usual fare
Not used to the oily fish and soggy fries
Meat sandwiches, meat pies were more than I can bear
Chinese, Japanese and Indian eateries were my only highs


Having said that, the booze were plenty and cheap
Scottish whiskies cost a little less than bottled water
Got my first one at the Library bar some 2 stories deep
Then Simon came along and my highs were free forever


Forever was a short 30 days at the Fringe Festival
I was happy to have covered many places of interest
The Botanic Gardens, the Zoo and Deep Sea World
And finally I climbed Arthur's Seat at 250 metres

Urquhart Castle

Atop Arthur's Seat

Such a fantastic time I have had in Edinburgh
Every year the quiet city was turned completely around
To allow creativity and imaginations to unfurl
All are welcomed and all kinds of shows can be found.

Turkish Fright

I've had, for several months, a Turkish delight
Last night, I received a call with fright
The girlfriend called asking me to stop
Fucking her man round the clock

Should I know the hell about your man?
Well, he's tall, Turkish and not so tan
How rude of her to yell stop, I thought
I don't give a damn, that was my retort

Moments later, that bitch of a girlfriend calmed down
When I was about to hang up, she sensed my frown
Quietly she told me she loved the man 
And asked me to leave him alone if I can

Take him any way you want, I said
I'll have no lying scumbag in my bed
She knows of his philandering ways she confessed
Then ditch the bloody idiot, I professed

I was stunned, I was shocked, I didn't know
My fuck budd had a woman on hold
I asked at the beginning if he was seeing anyone
Negative, said he, so we started having fun

Often, a night cap at my place he'll be
Slowly he had developed feelings for me
Surely I knew that was a fact
Because of the food he would pack

Now at last his secret's out
I stopped talking to the bastard, gave him the boot
His text messages fell on deaf ears
I have no remorse I have no fears
It wasn't my fault my conscience was clear

( written in 2005 )

The small red dot

Singapore is a great place to be

No matter how small we are

There are always things to see

You'll know this if you have travelled far

Complaints about the country will never go away

No doubt they stemmed from dissatisfaction of every kind

But if one allows some gratitude to parlay

This can be endemic, creating ties that bind

No government in the world can compromise

To please every single member of its society

They do the best they can, I surmise

For people have characters of a great variety

But I do know one thing from observation

Of the 70 cities around the world I had been to

Singapore is definitely one of the top 5 nations

That offers security, comfort, health and education too

War-faring countries are starting revolutions

Some countries are trying to rewrite weapons' laws

Yet others succumbing to natural disasters

Poverty and civil wars adding to the horror and gore

Look around this little 'Kingdom'

We live without fear of our lives

So don't take for granted this freedom

That precedes everything for which we strive

I don't claim to disrespect anyone

Nor persuade others' opinions my way

In fact, it was a casual rebuttal

To too many complaints I heard a stone's throw away

So people, don't complain too much, don't make a fuss

We are lucky to be living here in Singapore

The government is doing its best, just trust

Things aren't as good elsewhere once you walk out that door.

Zombies in the morning

Morning rush hours on the trains are a sight for sore eyes

Whenever I commuted by trains I always found amusement

The myriad of expressions on the people would suffice

For me, that's reality TV, that's pure entertainment

Zombies in the morning

Oblivious  to the surrounding

Zombies in the morning

Neither seeing nor hearing anything

Some were sleeping with a big gap in the face

Their totally relaxed bodies spread out both sides

Then one let out a snore that jerked him up in a haste

Awakening yet another who was prepared to fight

Sleep was calling in on someone standing

Eyes closed, he was nodding gently, then lo and behold

His leg muscles couldn't carry his weight, his grip was loosening

I knew he had it coming when he knocked his head on the grab pole

A woman answered a call about five feet away

What a pong,  bad breath rushed past me with such might

The sea of heads was not enough of a deterrent, damn suay

And I thought nothing could travel faster than light

In such an enclosed area such as on the train

Body odor can be quite an epidemic I tell you

The bacteria permeated the air and cannot be constrained

ooh, help I am starting to have a migraine

By now I can't breathe, I can't move and oh, the pain

All these zomboids attacking my senses

I hope there won't be any delays of the train

Or I'll have to scream and suffer in silence

What did those zombies do the night before

Drinking, getting wasted or partying like there's no tomorrow

People often say live like there's no tomorrow

Well, I say live like there IS A TOMORROW.

I wondered if those zombies ever felt frazzled

Before the day began, they were already sleeping

But train journeys are still the fastest, despite the hazards

Just have to brave those zombies in the morning.

2011

The first two weeks of year 2011 are past
I jumped at the chance of going somewhere near
Broadway Beng at Genting Highland is a must
I'm so taking this first project of the year

Next comes Gingerbread Man the musical
I'm looking forward to more goofy choreography
I really enjoy all things theatrical
For the mental and physical creativity

It's been said "another year older, another year wiser"
The person who said this lived in antiquity
I like to think that another year older makes me wiser and bolder
To take on different challenges and responsibility

More to do and write in the coming days
For now I'm getting ready to pack my suitcase
To go to yonder mountain across the causeway
To mix business and pleasure as always

Aesop's Fables

I'm back in Geylang this morning

In my hands a ham sandwich I'm having

Two cups of tea later my eyelids are heavy

Before long I'm getting sleepy

Rehearsal didn't lift my mood

The actors are still acting like fools

The musical is only three quarters through

It's not funny, not even cool

Let's not waste time to waste time

Now lunch is on my mind

The actors can't remember how to rhyme

Or how to assemble the puppets on time

Hatta's lying on the carpet roly poly

Cos his ass has an open wound

Seri is trying to look busy

Julian and I are looking like goons

Aesop's fables, oh how well they tell

Humans and animals co-exist so well

Aesop's fables, oh how well they fell

On deaf ears, should I ring the bell?

Time is ticking away

Ticking towards eternity

Ah, did I just hear a donkey bray

No, it's just Julian hitting a note

Oh the build up of heat 

from my seat

I need to stand up

to fan my butt

Getting a cuppa is what I need

Three steps from the door I heard some chatter

Ah finally some action indeed

Rehearsal is progressing further

Now I see the puppets coming alive

The actors' competence is coming into play

I'm no longer sleepy and I shall strife

To adjust my choreo and call it a day.

The rainbow in my heart

At the moment, here I sit mulling
peering at cyberspace three feet away
pondering the subject I'm not sure of writing
for this time, myself, I have betrayed.

It started off as innocent as can be
Just a drink here and a meal there
Six months later I was beginning to see
Inadvertently, love was in the air

A year later I thought I should confess
I had hoped for mutual feelings at least
We had something good, one of the best
I hadn't expected him to flee, the beast

The rainbow in my heart is gone
The colors fading as each day rolls around
The dull ache I feel, can it be pawned
for material possessions that abound

I should think not, I'm not the kind
To tussle emotional issues of the heart
With mental struggles of the mind
But now the thin line I cannot set apart.

My love is honest, sincere and pure
I demanded nothing and cared for everything
Apparently it wasn't enough, it wasn't the cure
For the very thing he was seeking

Dare I dream of a continuance
Knowing his cowardice and his paranoia
Please excuse my parlance
I'm afraid I wouldn't know the answer

The rainbow in my heart is gone
But I must achieve the solace I seek
I cannot and I would not abscond
From the next rainbow that I shall inherit.

Simple things..

.. mean a lot to me
Simple things only children can see
Simple things like horses running free
And easy acceptance of life

Simple things never compromise
All things have a rhythm I can realize
I feel content in my freedom
And I feel that my freedom is right

I never want to stop being a child
I used to see the flowers growing wild
To see the sun rise in the morning
Sunlight growing filling the skies

Simple things of the earth don't die
They just grow and change as time goes by
There are no questions without answers
I found my answer to life is living
The secret to living is life.

The poem above was written by an unknown author but I just felt that I have to share it with everyone reading my blog. It's beautiful, poignant and something I totally believe in.

YOG in Maori Land

It was a big deal that Singapore,
became the country to host on its shores
The very first Youth Olympic Games,
elevating this tiny island to fame.

The journey of the Youth Olympic flame
generated great interest to its name
It started in Greece where the torch was lit
Then it traveled to six countries without a hitch


Berlin, Dakar, Mexico, Auckland, Seoul and Singapore
celebrated its arrival with festivities and more
Its goal is to unite people from every continent
with the spirit of the Olympic Movement.

I joined the festivities in New Zealand
Promoted the Singapore culture in Auckland
The Kiwis were warm and welcoming
They enjoyed the show through all the cheering.

I think Auckland is a pleasant place to be
I managed to go to Parnell village near the city
Asian eateries and specialty shops abound
Whatever desires can be found

I wished I had more time to explore
Close by are the mountains and the shores
I wished I had more time to navigate
the hilly roads and Victoria Park market

Auckland reminded me of Melbourne
Most shops closed before sundown so people can adjourn
to spend time with friends or families
For in life, there's no hurry.

That's all the impression I have gleaned
from the 3 short days in Maori land
Maybe I'll have the chance to see, in the future
the museums, the Maori culture and join in the adventures.


NZ$1.000 = SGD$0.996

2009 ..

What else can I say

Another year coming to an end

Whatever I write, it's still cliche

To have resolutions and then make amends

I won't conform to make promises

When I know things can change

But as each year comes and goes

I'll commit to memory its passage

I have choreographed 8 musicals

Worked with kids from 9 to 65 years

Glad to have seen many happy faces

The audience were entertained far and near

My life was enriched on many levels

I understood more and more

No need to be disheveled

That's what I am thankful for

Looking at bygone years in their entireties

I have traveled to many destinations

Experienced diversity and in my journeys

Discovered I have lived my life in good conscience

So, year 2010 won't be any different

I shall continue to endeavor

Towards the same path time has taken

Fast and forward I shall persevere

Errr, not too fast as forward I hope

cos I am feeling the effects of gravity

On the other hand I know I can cope

Just adjust my thoughts psychologically :)

Bring it on ... 2010

I shall have no fear

Live it , I can

All in good cheer..

" A conclusion is simply the place where someone got tired of thinking."

Christmas in Cambodia...

... is not like the usual fare
running lights were scarce
a few Christmas trees here and there
nothing more, nothing less

Having said that, the hotel we stayed at
Was excellent in every regard
Wooden furniture used to decorate
Clean and comfortable rooms for a start

The many temples scattered around Siem Reap
Were significantly ruined and truly ancient
It was amazing, some from the 11th century
Those cold sand stones, forever a sign of divine revelation

She is trying to pick herself up, Cambodia
After years of colonization and further oppression
By some of her own leaders that inflicted terror
As evidenced by a trip to the land mine museum

It's a funny thing driving in that country
The vehicles have right and left hand drive
But traffic flows on the right side slowly
Not unlike the pace of life



One of the seven wonders is Angkor Wat ( Hindu )
Personally I preferred another one called Bayon ( Buddhist )
Inside the gateway of Angkor Thom, it's a part
Also the intricate stone carvings under giant trees called Ta Phrom

Tonle Sap lake was big and it was a parking lot
For floating houses that come and go with its ebb and flow
The strange thing was, Cambodians the inhabitants they were not
Mostly Vietnamese, it was surprising to know

The night markets were full of stalls
Selling the same kinds of things
US dollars and Cambodian riels were used by all
Products were cheap and nobody was complaining

I hadn't seen any discos or clubs around
But the Pub Street has a few pubs ( how apt )
That stretch looked so much like Patpong
Difference is the locals don't meet Caucasians at the hub

I think Cambodians as a people are humbled by poverty
To make ends meet, the peaceful majority farm
I was astonished they spoke English fluently
I hope their future will be more certain in years to come
USD 1 = 3900 riels

Bintan

Tetra Pak Jurong is a company
that manufactures carton boxes
the staff are like one big family
from the newbies to the bosses

I choreographed their staff performance
which was held in Bintan, Indonesia
It started with corporate workshops
team building, games and more
it ended in a treat for the entire company
in Bintan..

The highlight of the night was a lavish buffet dinner
the staff were divided into groups to perform
After stuffing their guts with food they each prefer
the entertainment started and the night was transformed

The more they drank the 'better' they became
Everyone was cheering and many were encouraging
their colleagues on - no excuses were lame
Even the big boss was seen prancing

I hadn't witnessed a company retreat that was so full of laughter and fun in a while now. I'm glad I was there.

But Bintan isn't what it used to be. We stayed at the Bintan Lagoon Resort and the prices were so steep. The food was expensive and the menu was in Singapore dollars. Fried noodles cost the same as what they would charge in Hyatt or Marriott in Singapore. Everything else they sell from souvenirs to services like massage were listed in Singapore dollars. The was nothing much to see and although they offered seasports, the prices were just too high. To rent a car would cost $50 onwards for 2 hours. Is this daylight robbery, highway robbery or just plain robbery a la Robin Hood? The poor in Indonesia certainly don't exist in Bintan.

Bintan is only about an hour from Singapore by ferry and the island just didn't feel like another country. Maybe I'll try Batam next time.....

Phuket, a decade later

There was so much change in Phuket

Remember the sights and sounds, I hardly can

But the ever unchanging night life

Was a testament that I was in Thailand

No one talked about the tsunami

Business as usual at every corner

This was where the human spirit

Rose high above the waves and adversity,conquered

Hotel Burasari was really up to standard

It wasn't picture perfect, not quite

Its proximity to the places that mattered

Sealed my decision to buy three nights

A trip to Le Meridien Hotel brought back memories

For four months I mixed work and play

Amidst fun, laughter and romantic stories

Now, 20 years on, it felt so surreal

I'm glad Phuket isn't developing as fast as one would expect

For me, something new meant there is no going back

Depending on situations, that can be good or bad

In time there might not be anything to reflect

Phuket Fantasea was quite a good show

The performers' skills were not that great

But I applauded their efforts to entertain

Only wished the animals weren't harmed in anyway

Down Under

Melbourne was a nice city to visit
A cross between Frisco and Vancouver
There were many places to visit
Which was better, which one do I prefer?

Our place at Kyneton was featured
It was almost at the edge of the wilderness
A possum and a few kangaroos gathered
While we were having breakfast

We decided to stay at Uncle Vincent's
Nearer to the city made a huge difference
Add the average temperature of 10 degrees
Made this a great summer in the winter land

We had fun on Mount Buller, the snow was beautiful
I went shopping, bought and lost a zip pull
All too soon it got dark, we had to descend
Winter in June felt weird, I simply must append

Mom, Mike and Cherry went to Ballarat
After panning for gold they headed to Bendigo
Uncle Vincent, the tourist guide took them places
I was glad they had fun that filled their senses

Australia serves the best cappuccinos
Urban Melbourne has cute chicos
The public transport wasn't that bad
About the fashion, it was never a fad

The Melbourne Museum was really interesting
I was engrossed and stayed there till closing
The Art Museum had Dali's works on display
Keith and I arrived after I led us astray

It's hard to put a final opinion on Melbourne
So many things made it a little different
Queen Victoria's market, Federation Square
And the aquarium offered a unique fare
It's an amalgamation of livelihood
It speaks of people's diverse moods

I'll surely return one day soon.......

Ugly habits of Singaporeans

It has almost been a tradition

The bad habits of Singaporeans

Were passed down through the generations

Heaven forbids that they should be broken

Aside from the refusal to behave courteously

Peak hours at train stations are a nightmare, literally

What happened to campaigns that educate properly

The need to impart good values to society?

Another example was at a hawker centre

During lunch after Wizard of Oz rehearsal

Ben bought a packet of tissue paper

"Seat Reserved" was printed on the plastic liner

I had noticed the habit that Singaporeans deployed

to put a little something on the table of choice

While they carried on to buy a meal they would enjoy

And denied others carrying food a decent place to eat, oh joy

At first, the little something was a bag

Then it was tissue paper in a pack

Now you can even buy them ready to claim

that the seat belongs to someone, what a shame

Manufacturers shouldn't print that on the liner

It just shows lack of consideration in this manner

Why not just let first come first serve be the mediator

I'm sure everyone will be happier

If I ever came across that pack of tissue on an empty table

I would take it and give it to the cleaner

Put my ass on the seat and relieve the heavy bag off my shoulder

So my friends can go get their meals ordered