Yay, its my 21st birthday... finally. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!! I want to take this chance to clarify with all those who attended my bday party that my actual birthday is on the 8 January and not 5 Jan. Its just that I had the party earlier on a Saturday so everybody could make it.

Orh well, I must say this year's birthday somehow feels a little more different than previous years. In previous years, it feels like its just another year, you know. But this year i feel more emotional compared to before. i don't know whether emotional is the right word but it seems to capture a portion of the feelings I am having.

Emotional, not just because of the fact that I am turning 21, the official age of adulthood. No more acting childish and nonsense, as some have mentioned in their birthday cards for me. Emotional because I realised I have lived 21 years of my life in a safe and comfortable environment, with lots of love and warmth from my family and friends. There is really nothing better I can ask for over these 21 years of my life. And I am very thankful for all that has happened. Family, friends, my home, my room, its just great to be contented with all that I've got and I feel that I am truly blessed with luck and good fortune to be where I am.

Being one of the first amongst my peers to turn 21, and being at this point in my life, I must say it is quite stressful. There are so many things expected of you, so many decisions that can possibly change your fate, so many things you start learning about the outside world. It must be hard for people to cope with it and having to live with it for the rest of their life. And here I am trying to cope with all these feelings and experiences that are so strange and new yet sometimes unknown and scary.

Its quite a mixed feeling and it is weird. Having ord-ed more than 2 months ago, so much has changed and happened that at times I didn't realise that army was barely 60 days ago. Seeing the Band B guys for the first time at COG the day before, put me in a state of nostalgia as I recalled having marched down the same stretch of road, playing music, enjoying myself. It was quite an out-of-body experience and seemed like I was watching myself doing all that stuff that is going on. It so bizarre yet so interesting. And I believe the guys were quite shock to see the changes in me, not just physically but character wise. I think it is what you call ord that sort of shapes the attitude and perspective of a guy prior to his ord and post ord. I just realised that the sense of longing for freedom has since disappeared after I ord-ed and its feels like I'm a free person now. Hmm.

Anyway, going back to my birthday, I have to thank all my invited guests for showing up, with their generous and beautiful presents, courtesy of my wishlist. Ha. But I had a fun and tiring time hosting the entire event. I was panicking half the time prior to the party as it was raining and the food was not hot, the deliveries were earlier than expected. Everything felt like they were falling apart. But once the guests showed up at around 645ish (even though the thing was supposed to start at 6), everything just kind of take off and I just went with the flow. It was tiring having to run around the different groups of guests and I honestly think I may have neglected some more than others and I feel terribly sorry for that. But I am glad everyone found their own form of entertainment and stayed for quite a while till the cakes were being cut.

Most importantly, I need to thank Sunil, Dean, Farhan for their tremendous amount of help in setting up the place for the party. And I have to specially thank Sunil for being the event manager and listening to my nagging and endless worries about everything. And not forgetting Joel who graciously volunteered to make the cakes for me despite all the trouble and mess he has to go through. I couldn't ask for a better cake than the ones he made me. And those who missed my party or simply forgot that you guys were invited and expected to turn up, you guys owe me one (anyway the wishlist is still up for grabs, anyone?). Don't think you can skip my party and expect to go away safe and sound.

Lastly, I just want to thank everyone for the wonderful memories they've given me at the party (esp the birthday song, the loudest I've had in so many years, it nearly made me cry), and the beautiful presents that they have so generously bought for me. I couldn't ask for a better party, wait, except maybe the sucky food and chalet, everything else is perfect. So lesson to all turning 21 and intending to do a party, STAY AWAY FROM DOWNTOWN AND THEIR CATERER. Book Zouk, I think a party at a club is cool. Remember to invite me.


First blog entry of the year. It just dawned on me that I have been keeping up with this blog for over 4 years alr, and it is going into its 5th. Well, as many can tell, I have not been consistently updating the blog because I don't know what to say beside tell of my daily monotonous routines. But I guess I like it the way it is, cause I don't make a point to update it everyday, instead I pen in (or rather type in) what I have to say or have strong feelings about now and then. uh, whatever, what the hell am I saying.

Its another 4 more days to my 21st birthday party, and I am just getting so excited about it. Its like I am panicking and freaking out at the thought of something going wrong up till the party. But I guess its normal, knowing that this is going to be a massive scale party that I've had for a long time. There are so many people I would like to put on my list and they keep popping up in my head but I really got to cap the guest list as my supply of food and drinks is limited. And I get people who want to go but now can't go, don't know whether to go so don't go and all that stuff, which is really confusing sometimes. And honestly speaking, I will be having a hard time hosting this 80-crowd party at such a congested place like downtown east. Damn those who booked up Aranda and Costa Sands. Well, I guess that is the whole idea of hosting a party, anyway its for my guests to have fun, chill up and take this chance to meet up, and give me presents. Ha. Lets hope this party will rock the year to a good start, well as least for me. Ha.

New year started on a beautiful display of fireworks and in the company of friends. I was feeling a little weird that I am celebrating someone else's birthday instead of Melvin's. Cause that is like the tradition of every year, we celebrate, we have fun and party till dawn. But this year I ended up celebrating Yi Ming's birthday who happens to fall on the same day as melvin. But I guess melvin had plans (which he wouldn't tell me but in the end I found out he was out buying my present, aw, how sweet) and we ended up not meeting at all. Nevermind, I will celebrate another day for him, belated.

So we were chilling out at FISH&Co. at the glass house and making lots of noise as usual. My throat was really hoarse and I hated it but still I talked a lot as usual. The highlight was the bday song FISH&Co had for Yi Ming and the ridiculous hat they made him wear. He stood on the chair, eyes were looking at our group, and the crew of FISH&Co broke into their birthday cheer and song. It was really cool although I wouldn't want to be in the birthday boy's shoe. But it was all fun.

And after dinner, we just walked to Esplanade, knowing the crowd was crazy and we would probably end up sweaty and hot and grumpy. And yes we did end up sweaty and we did so many crazy things that could have got us arrested like jay-walking and stuff. We had to do that as they blocked the path to One Fullerton which was our last hope, seeing that Marina, Esplanade, Padand, Sheares Bridge were all packed and people were almost spilling of the structures already. So we dashed the road, climbed the fences and hopped over. It was really amusing to see how desperate we were to see fireworks. But it paid off, after smelling armpits, rubbing sweat, breathing in fart in the crow, as the fireworks were directly in front of us. It was lovely to watch all the amazing effects they could do with those things.

The 8 minute (so they said) show came to its end signifying the dawn of the new year and it was time to make our way out of the madness to a densely populated zone. Whoever said Singapore has a small population, it hardly seem like it. It feels like the entire nation was out partying, adults with babies in prams, elders, foreigners, emo-kids, you name it la. We were just saying how there should be an age limit for people who out on such occassions which was damn mean of us but that was in 2007. Ha. I guess everyone just wants to get into the festive mood and celebrate. Seems like 2008 is off to a good start, lets hope it gets even better.


You know how people will always end their blog entry every year with a summary or resolution for the incoming year. Well, here is another one to the millions of new year resolutions that are flying everywhere online.

This year has been a pretty weird year. Especially towards the end. Of course I will not need to explain what happened the first half of the year, its just SAF Bands and more SAF Bands. Gosh, I miss those guys back there. I had the best time of my life hanging out with those bunch of crazy fools. They made life in army unlike army, and brought tons of fun to my life. I can't wait to see them again, gosh I really really miss those days in SAF Bands.

And in the blink of an eye, we cross the half-way mark of 2007, ORD was inevitably becoming more and more prominent. In terms of days, the kind of work we do and the amount of trouble we can get away as the senior "lao jiaos" were symbolic of the approaching ORD. I was in kinda in this state where I really wanted to leave and start life afresh but part of me tells me I am so going to miss all the fun I had back there. Funny. But nonetheless, my ORD I felt couldn't have ended better with the ORD video that, we, as a batch created. It was such a powerful clip that put a nice stop to everything we have been through.

And then we come to post-ORD, where I felt as though a piece of me had been sliced off (NOT LITERALLY, HOW I WISH I COULD CUT THOSE MEAT OFF ME..!!). Anyway, it felt very different having not to report to camp, having no instructions to follow, everyday was just unplanned and disorganised. But fortunately, or rather unfortunately, I found a job early, but not one that I would say I enjoyed myself. I was excited working at the Airport, you know all the mystery that lies beyond those immigration gates and grossly cheap duty-free things that are everywhere within reach. And I did like my job at the airport for quite a while, but that stopped after I realise how irregular and taxing the job required of me. So I guess I kinda gave up and complained and things really hit rock bottom, as in one misunderstanding followed by anger and all that stuff. Then I sort of just backed off and things did improved but shortly after that I had to resign due to many commitments I have outside and the events that I will be attending and planning.

One of the major ones being my 21st Birthday Party, coming early next year, in fact just the first week. Its one hell of a planning to do. Feels like planning for a wedding or something but not that I would know anyway. Nonetheless, I am very very excited by the idea because I will get to see many many of my friends, all at once, and it will be cool. I hope. I know I will be very tired entertaining all of them but can't help it if I am the host, I don't wanna have complains that I suck as a host. Everything is kinda falling into place well, and I hope it goes this way till the actual day.

And as you can see, I have posted up a birthday wishlist, courtesy of Joel and Sunil who prompted me to do it. (By the way they are my floor-managers, look for them if you need any help on that day, Joel is Joel and Sunil is Indian, not hard to recognise them i hope) Well, I mean its not compulsory that I get these presents, but it would be nice, and I will be very happy. But I will not bite off your head if your present defers from the ones I have posted. I am just glad people are bothered to take time off and attend my birthday. Anyway, hope this list will give you a rough idea of what to get for me in the new year. I just hope there are not too many repetitions of the same gifts. Here's just a little suggestion from Zen, he told me maybe to get my friends to tag the board anonymously to sort of mark the gift as taken and everyone can just take note of it. But I don't, its all personal preference really. So I hope to see everyone who has replied to the invitation on the day and let's have fun.

Happy New Year to everyone and have a blast in the year 2008...!!


alright... here I go, I am blogging from the airport cause that is where i hang out these days due to my work. I can't say that I am enjoying my work especially after the whole sms-fiasco with my manager this morning. Long story, hard to explain, just know that it was unpleasant. I have no freaking idea what about my message provoked her. Maybe she was just having a bad day, or so I want to believe. Currently I am at the internet station just beside my counter and it is getting reall tiring and sleepy for me having slogged midnight shifts for the past few nights. Joel and Melvin would know since I just whined to them over the phone before I started work at 11pm. Sigh. I need something better to do.

Although the work knowing hasn't been all that great over here, I've made quite some good friends over here at the airport. Some are my colleagues while others work here for quite some time. Its nice talking to them since I have nothing better to do than walk around, or stone somewhere like statue. Actually the truth of the matter is after I started work in the airport, it doesn't feel so glamourous anymore to be working here as compared to the first few days or prior to this job. I am starting to drag my days here. But I guess it is partly the distance and long hours that I spent here that is really putting me off. Other than that I really enjoy meeting new people everyday. Tourists from various countries, people from different backgrounds. Its very interesting just observing them.

Alright I am really running out of things to say. I guess I am feeling cold and tired now. Shall leave it as it is. 6hours before I get off work. sigh.


30 Oct - 3 more days till ORD and I can't wait. It is so near I could almost taste it. This freedom that was taken from me a year ago is finally returning, and I am so excited over it I can't stop thinking about it.

Well, having said that, the past one year or so has been very meaningful and memorable. All the good and bad times spent in SAF Bands, I have not regret a moment of it. Its always funny when you're parting with someone or something that you start finding it beautiful and personal to you as opposed to the dreadful, same damn place when you're still in possession them. The last few days spent in SAF Bands before I started clearing my leaves and offs days were weird in the sense that I knew that that could be the last time I was looking at that particular scenary or object or even person. Or at least for a long time to come before we encounter each other again.

Its always hard to say goodbye when you've just started to feel like you're part of this big family of interesting personalities and that was the same for me. But nonetheless, I'm glad the whole SAF Bands experience ended on a perfect note - The Batch 67 ORD Video. I suggested the idea and created the final product with the help of Joel and Sunil, and videos and photos contribution by various people of the batch. The short clip (not really, cause it is about 40 mins long) aired during the ORD function on 19 Oct 2007 and put a nice end to our experience in SAF Bands and NS on the whole.

It was really nice to look back at the things we have done together and experiences we've shared captured in photographs and showing some final thoughts and words by individuals of the batch. Some of the moments were hilarious while others were heart-wrenching and almost sent tears welling out of our eyes.

For me, I was glad this video idea still came through after much hesitation resulting in a severe shortage of time. We dropped the idea, simplified it, changed it and finally decided the week before the function to go ahead and create the video. And I am very thankful for people who came forward to offer help, contributions and are so enthusiastic in the video segment and made it really meaningful to our batch and people whom we have come to know through this experience. Thank you Batch 67 and everyone in SAF Bands!

I failed to blog about this earlier as the next day I was flying off to Thailand with a few good friends in SAF Bands and Iw as so caught up with what to and not to bring for the trip. In the end I just packed barely 1/4 full of the stuff into the luggage as I told myself anything i needed, clothes, I will buy from there since it is like "CHEAP, CHeap, cheap"!! And true enough, a 6kg luggage at departure came back weighing close to 14kg and you just imagine the things I manage to squeeze into the puny little luggage of mine.

I must say I enjoyed myself a lot on this trip, especially with the company I had. Sunil, Dean, Joel, Khairul and Faizal, bunch of crazy people with lots of love for fun and laughter. Sometimes it is so contagious to be with them you can't stop smiling. Bangkok in short was like shopping therapy. Everything was nice, just like that in Singapore, but 5 times cheaper which makes it even nicer. We just kept buying and buying, not a single day pass by without shopping. I bought lots and lots of clothes, shoes, shades, boxers some snacks and a DS LITE (Please refer to my wish chart on the side, it is a special US import that would cost easily $420 in Singapore for the console alone and plus the memory card and stuff, it will amount to $500 maybe.). And I got it for $340, everything included.. cheap cheap cheap. Yay. I'm so glad I got it otherwise I will be like whining and whining now. I spent about $700 on expenditure in all and $465 on airfare and accomodation, you do the sum.

First day, after arrival and checking into the hotel, we went to the pasa malam street below our hotel and got some shirts which we subsequently changed into to go clubbing. Gosh. That was when the drama began. Cheap alcohol, nice and loud music, nice place to dance, god even newbie Joel got into the groove. I say we almost had 10 different kinds of drinks in different volumes passing around the 6 of us but they cost barely exceed $100. The alcohol is dirt cheap there and very potent compared the water-based vodka further diluted in coke you would find in Singapore.

Of course, you can guess the endng, we got tipsy, some drunk, filthy and disgustingly drunk. At least we had Sunil sober enough to guard our passports and our sanity to stop us grabbing the fellow clubber next to us and making out with them. At the end of it, Sunil, Dean, Khairul and I were still quite sober, no prizes for guessing who got drunk. Back at the hotel, Dean and I took a bath, separately, and decided to turn in early for the next day as we have a long day of bargaining in Chatuchak weekend market ahead but no, we were startled by the commotion happening next door, Joel and Sunil's room.

Apparently Sunil was having a hard time getting Joel to keep still in bed and not vomit. It was pretty ugly, not sexy at all. And to top it off, Sunil's luggage which we put a code to it at the airport just reset itself and refuse to open. We had to pry open the luggage to get his things, while making sure Joel wasn't drowning in his own puke. Gosh, It was one hell of a night. Funny though but I wasn't feeling too good about the next day. Surprisingly, we didn't suffer any hangovers except Joel who went back shortly after we arrived at Chatuchak.

The rest of the trip went fine, lots of shopping still, till the end we were still buying at the airport. Ha. Gross. And Joel was bringing boxes of Dunkin Donuts back to Singapore. So unglam, typical Singaporeans sia. Lucky we didn't have to queue 3 hrs over there. Bangkok has officially made my number one place to shop for cheap stuff. Haha. I would go back again once i get sick of my clothes and stuff. Go back get more. keekee...

For now, I need a job!! real quick.. need to replenish the money I busted in Thailand so I can spend somemore. Ha. Tomorrow I am meeting this Michelle girl who is offering a job at the airport. Justin and Zhen Hua are in on this so I hope it will be something fun. At least it is temporary until I finish my driving lessons and test coming nov. Wish me luck..


And by the way did I mentioned I bought a new ipod shuffle on yahoo auction at a shockingly disgusting price of $30.. its like cheap Cheap CHeap CHEap CHEAP!@!@ This is probably one of the best 'giam peng' deals I have gotten in a long while. (Happy?!) Retailed at $138 for 1gb, mine cost me close to 4 times less and the condition I must say is pretty acceptable, well actually very good. I must really thank the guy for his honesty and professionalism in selling his product online. He was very straight-forward with the pricing and meeting up and so I was very pleased to hand over the money for the good. It was a win-win situation.

So how did I come across this deal? It was the day I sold my ipod video 30gb. Why? Because I am crazy, stupid and disgustingly attracted to new products. So seeing Apple launch their new ipod series, namely and Ipod classics and iTouch (which I am still contemplating which to buy), I was desperate to sell my ipod so I could get the new ones. And it had to be gone before the new products arrive in Singapore or even before news of it spread to anyone. I know its disgusting but don't blame me for trying to catch up with modern technology, such stuff waits for no man and you gotta get it or be be stuck with outdated technology for the rest of your life, or at least till the damn thing spoils. And yes I sold it the minute there was a buyer offering 300 bucks for my ipod video, not exactly a good deal since I gave away most of my accessories that easily cost me another $100 when I bought them (friend friend mah). So I needed another mp3 to last me for a while before I transit to my new ipod product. So there I was at yahoo auction searching for a shuffle which incidently I have been thinking of getting one for quite some time so I could jog and exercise while listening to it. And I was so lucky to come across the deal which I contacted the person immediately and met up with him the next day and got the product. End of story.

Well, they say you have lose something before you gain another and I guess this was meant to be. I didn't say it, 'They' did.


With less than a month left to ORD, I am desperately preparing myself for civilian lifestyle, excited at the same time lost as to what and how I will be spending my time on. There are so many things that I want to do after I ord but I just can't get my hands on which I want to do. From taking up courses related to my future course of study in university, picking up a full-time job to learning a skill (ain't sure what skills I would pursue though), there are simply too many things I can think of that I want to do.

By the end of next week after changing of guard parade, my last time marching down orchard road, I will be starting to clear my offs and leaves, going back to camp occassionally for medical appointments and stuff. Boy, I can't wait any longer. Part of me feels this excitement that is ready to burst of of my body as I embrace civilian lifestyle once again. It is the relief that the 2 years of my NS life which i have been dreading for so long since young is finally over. Whereas I also feel on the other hand that I was treated well during ym NS days and I am very fortunate and lucky to have been posted to SAF bands. This comfort and ease that I have enjoyed over the last year or two has made me very complacent and reluctant to venture into more treacherous grounds. I guess that is partly the reason why people sign on to the saf, regardless of the vocation, because one gets so comfortable and in touch with what they are or have been doing all their life that they find it hard to leave and step out of this comfort zone. Well, I certainly wish I can overcome this feeling soon and get ready for any adventures life has installed for me.

This week is the last that I will be giving any more tuition because once the exams are over, kids will need a break before school starts next year. And besides, 2 of my kids are already moving on to secondary 3 which I am not comfortable handling and teaching. So I will not be following them onto upper secondary and another tutor will have to take my place. By next year, I would only be left with my cousin who is studying sec 1 this year. And god knows whether I still wanna teach him with the time commitment that I will have to give in to my studies and other things next year. We will see. And I guess this will also be the time for me to prepare my publicity stunts for my tuition agency and draw in many clients seeking tuition for themselves or their children next year.

And I will also be looking forward to going Thailand with my saf friends during the end of October. We have been planning for this for quite some time, many many drastic changes have been made along the way but at least we're still going somewhere. And I believe with the company that I am going with, it is going to be superb fun. Meanwhile I will just have to contain all these excitement within me and wait for each of them to explode when the time comes.

Christopher Low Jun Yang

ORD lor! Lookin for Job!!

Soon-to-be SMU Undergraduate

SONY Ericsson W960i

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Happy Birthday to...

08 Jan '2008 (Jun Yang)

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