Day One: Arrival (14 August 2005)

Day One: Arrival (14 August 2005)

I couldn't sleep the night preceding the flight, whether that is due to my excitement at air travel, or the jitters filling my stomach with acid on a warm night. Studying physics hasn't been a sufficient relief: I don't really get comforted at the idea of a piece of aluminium floating in the air purely on Bernoulli's effect alone, and the fact remains that August is open season for typhoons. But I get over it... almost.

The icing on it all was when I was tasked to fuss over twenty people due to board the same plane, ensuring their punctuality on board the plane and taking care of all the mudane administrative stuff before the flight. So I laid on my bed, simultaneous thinking about nothing, while fiddling with the cell phone by my bedside every few minutes to check the time. There went most of the late evening of August 13, and a little of the morning of August 14.

At the airport, my mind was unusually numb and switched off, as I went through the task of passing out the boarding passes and immigration cards to the people under my charge (that's an egoistic way to put it, but you get the idea). Also thrown into the bundle are t-shirts, which we would wear to the battalion's activities during our stay in the-country-that-must-not-be-named. I took a lesson in FAQs when I had to field multiple repeat queries from 20 people: it pays to get everybody together before commencing upon one major verbose brief.

Anyway, the flight took off as planned, and we touched down in a city in the-country-that-must-not-be-named smack in the throes of the afternoon heat. Clearing the immigration building, I immediately reeled as memories of the same place ran head-on with this new experience, and went immediately for the air-conditioned coaches that would make the trip down south.

While I alternated between snoozing and watching the scenery, I took pictures of the destruction that the previous storm had laid upon the island. (I don't have them now, details will be revealed in later posts...) As the bus purred down the main road, I could see the roiling seas mixing around, framing a perfect picture of a veiled threat to the coast. I wish I could show you the pictures, but... never mind. (It still breaks my heart now just to think about it...)

We reached camp around 2 in the afternoon, upon which I left the bus with my luggage, and leaving my precious disembarkation card (for use when departing the country-that-must-not-be-named), and a copy of The Sunday Times in an envelope snugged into the netting on the seat in front of me. It was only the bus drove off that I realised my mistake. The matter reached S1, who boiled over and demanded my head served up on a chopping board. I can't say what happened to me, for it would breach confidentiality agreement, but I must say that it is a huge lesson I have learnt. For some time, I was paranoid that I would be a permanent resident here. I fretted that my parents would disagree with that arrangement.

Anyway, unpacking took up most of the day, and I hit the sack early, as the spring inside unwound. I had some driving to do the next day. On the wrong side of the road.

Long overdue meme...

Here's a long overdue meme K.C. cast to me while I was overseas. I sure hope that given my current state (I sure identify with plenty of jet-setting executives right now), I am able to carry out this sacred mission:


THREE NAMES YOU GO BY:


1. Gunny Sack
An endearment by my primary school mates, inspired when we won the fun race during one of the school's sports day. I was involved in hopping in that sack for the relay.


2. Pikapi
My nickname needs no explanation if you have watched Pokemon. Otherwise, please Google Pokemon! I embroided this on my jungle hat.


3. Gun
It sounds exactly like my surname, so there it goes...



THREE SCREEN NAMES YOU HAVE HAD:


1. Pikapi/Pkchukiss


2. MakePeace


3. (Censored)



THREE PHYSICAL THINGS YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF:


1. My natural optimism


2. A sense for the dramatic, though it is severely dulled these days. Either I am losing it, or I am gripped by the tentacles of cynicism.


3. Responsibility. I dare say that nobody cares more about his own work than I do. Or has cynicism consumed me?



THREE PHYSICAL THINGS YOU DON'T LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF:


1. My need to be alone for stretches at a time


2. I can't tolerate irresponsible people


3. I hate overtly arrogant fools.



THREE PARTS OF YOUR HERITAGE:
(I assume this is talking about my culture)


1. Food. We are very mad about food. Cornerstone to every important festival in our country is the very stuff we put inside our mouths.


2. Queues. We automatically go to the longest queue, because we think that the best stuff is where most people would be.


3. Rants. A product of the unrelenting pressures of life here, we rant a lot. Plus the lack of a true outlet causes mini holes to explode here and there...



THREE THINGS THAT SCARE YOU:


1. Being ignored by my friends.


2. Being bored and deprived of entertainment.


3. The pain of losing loved ones.



THREE OF YOUR EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS:


1. My computer


2. Cash


3. Cell phone.



THINGS YOU ARE WEARING RIGHT NOW:


1. Nothing?


2. Underwear?


3. Shorts? I don't know.



THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE BANDS OR MUSICAL ARTISTS:


1. Michael Jackson
I know he is an eccentric person, but that doesn't affect my admiration for his music. Some of my favourite songs are humanitarian in nature.


2. F.I.R.
The new-comer to the chinese music scene has managed to capture my attention with their innovative tracks.


3. (none)
Some may mention Jay Chou or David Tao as their favourite artiste, but I don't identify enough with their music to justify their listing...



THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE SONGS:


1. Heal the world - Michael Jackson


2. A chinese song by F.I.R


3. Another piece by F.I.R



THREE THINGS YOU WANT IN A RELATIONSHIP:


1. To be understood


2. To be able to build a happy life together with a partner


3. To understand



TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE (in no particular order):


1. We all die eventually.


2. My identity card puts me down as a male.


3. My identity card puts me down as a female.
(I am getting quite bored about this... I frankly don't like to indulge in such trivia about myself, it feels egoistic. But then again, I am slightly narcissistic.)



THREE PHYSICAL THINGS ABOUT THE PREFERRED SEX THAT APPEAL TO YOU:


1. The ability to listen


2. The ability to understand


3. (none)



THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE HOBBIES:


1. The Internet


2. Cycling/Swimming/Running


3. DotA
A custom map for WarCraft III played like a mini-RPG where players try to kill each other with one hero each.



THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO REALLY BADLY RIGHT NOW:


1. Sleep
The jet lag is really annoying, but I prefer to wait for my normal bed time to sleep it off. No use wasting my up time tomorrow morning.


2. Eat


3. (none)



THREE CAREERS YOU'RE CONSIDERING/YOU'VE CONSIDERED:


1. Journalist for an independent newspaper


2. Catalyst for political betterment


3. Multi-billionaire with at least 3 charities in my name...



THREE PLACES YOU WANT TO GO ON VACATION:


1. The States
Experience life in the champion for democracy. I might plan a visit to the lesser affluent communities, which appear on television as majority asian and hispianic poverty pockets. Life isn't a bed roses for many people.


2. Japan
I am curious about the controversial WWII shrine that has gotten Japan's neighbouring countries' ire. Has the hurt gone so deep that 60 years down the road, resentment stil breeds in the place of forgiveness? I have also heard that the shopping is great there - if you have the money, that is.


3. Tasmania
To truly get away from it all, I would dump my cell phone at home, and get there just to swim all day in the famous reefs, and experience the life Down Under.



THREE KIDS' NAMES YOU LIKE:


What good would answering this do?



THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE:


1. Properly arrange my financial succession, and take care of my personal affairs.


2. Reflect on my life, and be proud that I have lead a meaningful life.


3. Be with my loved ones.



THREE WAYS THAT YOU ARE STEREOTYPICALLY A BOY:


1. I commit most of the unspeakable private things a boy does.


2. The wall is the target of my anger: the shoe prints are testament to my wrath.


3. I love Pikachu.



THREE WAYS THAT YOU ARE STEREOTYPICALLY A GIRL:


1. I have absolutely no idea.



THREE FEMALE CELEB CRUSHES:


1. None
Crushes are a tad bit hard on the body. Certain parts of the anatomy might get crushed out of shape, or require extensive calcium replenishment to repair.



THREE PEOPLE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE TAKE THIS QUIZ NOW:


1. Desmond


2. Kester


3. (none)
I don't think Badaunt bothers herself with such aimless memes, since all the ones she has done so far are things worthy of discussion...

Back in Singapore...

After a 4 hour flight with a cowboy pilot, I find myself back in Singapore.


Technically, I lost myself instead.


I see people driving on the right side of their vehicles, and now on the left side of the road, just when I was accepting the rebellious as the norm, people start spewing forth Singlish, and taxi drivers show off their erractic city driving in their manual clutch releases.


And the weather. No typhoons here.


More when I get over this strange desire to sleep (I heard that it is called "jet-lag").

Towards the land directly south of Japan

Metaphorically, I have butterflies in my stomach.


In reality, I am tossing and turning in my bed.


Less than 9 hours from now, I will find myself on board a plane bound for the land of Jacky Wu, Nono and Kang Kang. No, not to see them, of course, but I would be in their country/province (antagonists in that famous debate may pick your word) for a whole month.


Cheap milk tea makes me salivate, but the thought of scaling the mountains there has only given me more butterflies.


You see, they like to start small. Disguising themselves as easily dismissable feelings, they hide in your stomach. Then as the departure date rolls nearer, they start to get big — exponentially.


So here I am trying hard to keep the butterflies inside my stomach. (I won't want them out, though, it kind of messes up the floor tiles.)


For one month, I will miss my family, my computer, my favourite hang outs, my favourite food, and most important of all: my room. I like the mess, it has made my mother nag, but it is the only place which I am legally permitted to let loose without prosecution.


But don't worry about updates. The computers in the camp are outfitted with speedy access to U.S. servers, so much so that the only limitation stopping me from updating this blog is my lack of time. I have no doubt that I would be busy, and the 3rd biggest boss has already given an indication of the things to come.


There they go again. Them butterflies really begin to annoy.


Let's see: I will miss the strict traffic order, especially driving on the correct side of the road, the reassurance that I won't get lost...


Well, now that has come, let's see what I would have one full month of:
Betel nuts (reddish stuff that people chew and spit out), cheap milk tea, interesting toys, huge dildos (I saw one on my last trip there), mountains, ninja vans, mountains, photos (I have learnt my lesson: my camera is coming with me this time around)... Have I mentioned mountains?


I am sure that things would turn out just fine, and I would probably just come back a very happy person, since that should be the last of my outfields.


Yup, it would turn out fine...


Till the next post!

Of Crave and Greed

What is exactly the driving force of the world, Crave or Greed?


To me, Crave is a want for something. Greed is the desire for more. In such a context, that makes "insatiable greed" a repetition. To others, the lines between the two lexicons are blurred.


That is not inferring the incompetence of ordinary folks per se, but I question the strength of their convictions, on the risk of being labelled a lingual purist.


In everyday life, the two terms are used interchangeably, without regards to their degree of severity. Hardly surprising, but there comes a time to draw a line between fair use interchangeability, and wrong use.


It is like "red" and "maroon".


But then again, word contexts change over time, so I probably am an alarmist with nothing better to do with his time, and should just shut up.


Yet again, subtleties are what makes up the finely defined world of Language, and should be dealt with absolute care to avoid a dull future where everything is black to the same degree.


You are good.


You are... good.


Erm, whatever. I haven't got anybody to proof this, so my argument's probably nonsense. Please don't lam-blast me, I am just a poor "A" level holder, forced to serve the nation's army.


What do you think?

Post National Day

I tried calling the forum host a few times yesterday, but nobody answered, strangely.


So there hangs precariously on the precipice all the previous comments made in that forum host. I won't be surprised if it has gone over the cliff already.


Meanwhile, my bad cough is improving somewhat: my throat no longer launches into an obstructed fit thanks to the cough medicine, but I can still feel the phelgm clustering in a choke point in the wind pipe.


My pen pal from the U.S. suggests that I try a cigarette or two, to induce those slimey invaders into my mouth. As arcane theories of using "poison to counter poison" filled my mind, I had to say, thanks for the suggestion, but no thanks, John. I really don't need more stuff clogging my airway now.


For those who have missed the National Day parade which was broadcast over all the free-to-air channels yesterday can watch the repeat telecast on Saturday, 1pm. If you would like to catch the exciting repetition on demand, [:::> Internet streaming has made it possible <:::].


Fireworks enthusiasts may take a look at the nitrate display repeated over and over again, [:::> courtesy of a blogger lucky enough to be invited to the view from Southeast Asia's tallest hotel <:::].


[:::> Badaunt <:::] has gone travelling again! This time, she brings us updates to her travels in Budapest.

Budapest in August is full. At the airport informatzion desk we started bz asking about the place we had originallz wanted, then moved down the price list until we found one that had rooms available. This means that we are now stazing at the cheapest place in Budapest, a zouth hostel. It is prettz rough, but clean. It is also incrediblz noisz as the zouth stazing there are apparentlz into partzing all night.

How I wish I could travel on my own free will, on my own time, without nonsensical restrictions! Each time I go abroad on training trips with the SAF, they like to impose weird rules on our R&R, which sometimes mar the experience. Here are a few of the sillier ones:

• NO entering any water body:
  That automatically excludes the beach from the itinerary.
  
• NO rental and driving of local transportation
  What is the use of your licence if you cannot drive? How many attractions can we visit without a vehicle?
  

My final trip with the SAF is Exercise StarLight. I am forbidden to say where it is located. Anyway, I really would love to meet the nice girls in Taipei :-P. After my ATEC there, my battalion would be standing down soon. Most of the guys would end their full time national service in December, while the rest of Support Company would leave for the civilian world in March/April.


I would save the farewell speech in another post, but I would just like to mention that it was nice knowing everybody here. All those whom I had quarrels with, I totally enjoyed bickering with all of you :-). It really adds flavour to life. Nice to fight ATEC with you all, and Towards Greater Heights.

National Day

It is that time of the year again.


Boring introduction suits cliched event that happens every year with the same monotony of brushing a teeth.


However, as far as the MCs of the National Day parade are concerned, National Day is the most exciting event to happen to Singapore since eons. They bounce around like a fevered bunny on steroids, marching the spectators and home viewers through the same menu of events year after year.


As if things were not bad enough, we have an organising committee which switch-a-roos between the armed formations each year. While I agree with the over-stressed point on how fresh hands are willing to try new stuff, I question their rationale: what is the use of having new people on the job when the same inefficiencies are repeated year after year? Sure, these people try new stuff, which are in essence the old mistakes made by their predecessors.


Definitely innovative.


I could list the events for the day:

1. Pre-parade Segment:
   
   Teenagers from the ITE would bound around (think rabbits) in a song that embodies "joy", "youth", and "hope" (smaller than usual capitalisation intentional). Choir bursts into a national day song.
   


2. Parade marches in:
   
   A few commercial entities, in addition to the armed forces, march in military formation, to symbolise the five facets of Total Defence. Choir bursts into a national day song.
   


3. MPs arrive. Choir bursts into a national day song.
   


4. Prime Minister arrives. Parade does a salute. Choir bursts into a national day song.
   


5. President arrives. Parades does a salute. Colours salute. Choir bursts into a... (you get the idea)
   


6. Show One/Two/Three: Themes can range from "unity" to "prosperity", etc... provided that it is a cornerstone of the current national thrust. Choir bursts into a national day song every now and then. A video show, or two of proud Singaporeans...
   


7. Fireworks go off to the tune of a national day song sung by - you-know-who.


8. Everybody present says the National pledge


9. President goes off


10. Spectators find themselves being ushered out

It is the same thing over and over again. It is akin to a salesman peddling his wares on the street. He does the same thing, only difference is the variety of his wares year after year.


I was at the National Day parade last year as a serviceman on usher duty. I was there too the year previous as a civilian. Before those two, I was witness to the same cookie-cutter for 18 years.


Given that I have seen the same show repackaged in the same box every year, I feel justified in doing anything other than watch the National Day parade. It should have sounded stale to everybody 38 years ago (Singapore celebrates Her 40th Independence day tomorrow), and I find it a curious social phenomenon that Singaporeans continue to find inspirational value in it.


Happy National Day! (And for the umpteenth time, Singapore does NOT celebrate a birthday. It is our Independence day we are celebrating!)


P.S.: I have no idea why I sound so cynical today, but the fact remains that I am peeved. Whether my medicine has any links with my fits today is still an untested theory.


P.S.S: I am still feeling drowsy from all the medicine I am taking. My doctor has advised me to get a chest ray done if my bad cough still persist.


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