Face it. It’s Inevitable. You can’t travel with your car forever.

Car’s in the workshop, you’re attending an event where roads will be blocked, carpark rates going at 3 pathetic bucks/ hr. You have absolutely no choice but to travel public. I did, and it’s bloody refreshing.

Time for preparation before you head out would usually take longer, you’re suddenly acquainted with the fact that people you travel along with will somehow lay an eye on you, checking you out when you step into a bus/train. Not because I’m hot, but because they’re so totally bored with the journey they will simply stare at you as if you’re one of their subject of forensic investigation. You’ve got more things to pack – iPod, a book, some water, sunnies & a whole load of rubbish just so you might be bored along the journey. You make sure the t-shirt you’re wearing is decent – no holes, no stretched collar, no smell. The perpetual “last-check” moment before you leave house, because you didn’t want to miss anything out.

Taking the train suddenly became a chore, looking at the ever-expanding network of stations. No longer the experience during secondary school days where only the straightforward N-S / E-W line exist. You suddenly find yourself relearning a whole lexicon of new MRT terminologies.

Getting an EZ-Link card:

‘Hello! Can I get a card from you?’, I said

‘What card?’

‘The train card, the one you use to scan’, explaining with a mind trying to remember the right name for the card.

‘Oh, you mean EZ-Link card ah? How come you don’t have?’, the lady replied with a WTF look on her face.

‘Cause I never needed one until today’

‘Zzzzzzzz…..’

Lady snatched the money, threw me the card and I walked off.

The whole Mass Rapid Transit system might be going on a perpetual evolution with time, but something strikingly didn’t – The idiotic manners & etiquette of Singaporeans. There I went into the train, 1st person i saw upon entering, was a pregnant lady standing up & holding on to her “what seems to be time to give birth” tummy. Struggling to stable herself. I instinctively looked across the priority seats, 2 old ladies (ok, pardonable), 1 sleeping beauty and 1 bloke who looked like he had never missed a match of world cup since it’s opening – painfully sleepy. Oh well, i’m none the better. Because I did what most Singaporean would – Couldn’t be bothered. Held on to the pole, took out my book and started reading.

Next station, came next to me, was a lady with a ponytail. Just when the train started moving, she leaned her whole body onto the pole, completely oblivious to my hand that was my only anchor to the train. Annoyed, I moved my hands upwards. And she can’t keep her head still, swerving left & right as if she was practicing for her impending dance lesson; and so, the brushing of her hair against my hand. FUCK ME. I shifted to the doors.

What better place than a train will you be able to see the most hideous fashion statements amongst commuters – Chinese lady with a trench coat & a furred hood. WTF? Malay bloke with a beanie & was perspiring so much the rim of the beanie was wet. WTF? 16-ish sheepish looking girl with red eye-shadow & red contact lenses. WTF? A gay with sleeveless t-shirt so tight his nipple might just be piercing thru the bloody wrap on him. WTF?

Of cause! What goes up, must come down. There’s always a flipside to things.

Bus trip to AMK MRT + Train Trip to City Hall + Train Trip back to AMK + Bus back home only cost me less than 5 bucks! If I had driven today to wherever I was suppose to. Petrol would have costed me 20bucks + the carparking fees. Damn I’m such a super saver, for today.

Anyhow! Gonna be a few more days of public transport before I’m back to status quo. Maybe I might get all used to public transport and go absolutely green without a car.

Nah. Not gonna happen

<3,

KinG!

I woke up today suddenly realizing I’m getting really old. So I took a good 30mins on my queen sized bed, co-sharing with 2 huge teddy bears, just feeding myself with the realities of aging.

I’m hitting 30 next year! That scares me. That’s largely because i’m confused if I’ve actually achieved anything much in life in my past 3 decades breathing air and eating junks. Lets see …

• Primary School: I hated primary school, life was sickening. Pointless tutions. Endless hours catching fighting spiders, trading street fighters/ world cup stickers, fighting world flags erasers (of cause, crying when i lost my first king -> the USA eraser). Joint lion dance, performed on stage as the pathetic cymbal player and got beng-lified. Never really studied for PSLE, achieved 174 points and grad from school. Period.
• Secondary School: Life started turning better. Parents no longer pressed you for good grades. Got into a military band, made real friends; performed gloriously infront of many crowds during X’mas as a Xylophone soloist; never fail to thrill my mom with my Wipe Out drum solo; took the royal school of music examinations for percussion and got a top scorer award (distinction); performed with elite music students from all walks of life; studied hard for ‘N’ levels, got 4th in the school; studied harder for ‘O’ but backfired. Got decent results, left for polytechnic.
• Polytechnic: 3 years of arty – farty life as a Industrial Design Student!! Made many many good friends, both students & lecturers. (actually tt’s about what i can remember about polytechnic)
• Turning point in life – The Army – Who would have known that i would start my career in an organization grounded with much professionalism & regimentation. Worked so hard in OCS, awarded the Platoon Best award in Service Term 1, Wing Best Award in Service Term 2 and the Sword of Honour in Professional Term. Awarded a Military Study Award, went overseas for degree in Industrial Design for 2 years and back shortly after to hone military and life skills ever since then. (Probably the highlight of my life goes to this phase of life, knowing that hard work really does pay off)
• University – 2 years in Sydney, Australia. Life was hard and lonely, constantly missing home, cash was always insufficient. Worked like a buffalo everyday with that aim in mind – Degree with Good Honours. I was glad I made it.
• Back to work – Graduated and started working professionally until now…

HOW MUNDANE MY FUCKING LIFE CAN BE! Now something more heart-warming…..

As predictable as most of my entry can get, I can’t help but to still mention one of my greatest milestone in life – To finally found the love of my life. As random and “by-chance” how we both met, I’m still thankful everyday to god I’ve got the opportunity to share my life with her. This amazing gal might not have realized it but she has lighted up my once a cold and dark life, to a life so blissful and worthy. I Love You, Sherrie Chua Weilin.

Now looking back, have i really achieved anything? Am i really happy with what I have right now? Any other aspiration?

I think I have. But I know I have many things I’ve yet to achieved. Until the time comes…..

<3,

KinG!

It’s been months since i’ve last wrote an entry properly. Life had been a roller coster-ing ride. However busy work can be, suck life had been, loss my mind had been – I think it’s apt i should stop what i’ve been doing, slow down and reconsolidate life.

Memories have been failing me – Short point forms on what flashed past my life the past months.

1. Countless hours of work.

2. Bidding farewell (The happy one) – To my dedicated bunch of old 3SGs within my company.

3. Bidding farewell (The heart wrenching one) – To my dearest Aunty who lost the brave fight against Breast Cancer. Rest in Peace my dear Aunty. You are greatly miss by all of us.

4. Taking over Command of Falcon Company – Life had since been really challenging, tiring, busy. Full of satisfaction nevertheless!

5. Ups and Downs in relationship – I love my relationship with Missus. I love her a lot. But i’m only bluffing myself if this relationship is nothing but a fairytale.

6. I lost weight! – 7kg in 2 months. Largely contributed to my poor state of health. I’ve been falling sick too easily. 3 episodes of fever in 4 months. The last episode being the worst. High fever during 41SAR first FTX. I had to take medication just to suppress the fever for the 4 days 3 nights mission. My heart was pumping like an overworked engine every step I took throughout the 4 excruciating days & 3 sleepless night. But i survived; I’m proud I did.

7. Everything suddenly seems unimportant – You know when your body starts failing. I’m currently experiencing it right now. You suddenly feel that health and happiness are all that matter in life. You only want to recover from whatever you’re suffering. Amidst the challenging quest to good health, you feel the dire need to contribute good to every single line connected to your life. I just want to spend my time with Missus like I might be dead the next day. Every hug I give to her, naturally comes with a peck on her. Every look into her eyes, naturally comes with an unspoken “I love you”. Everytime you reach home, your eyes glow with the sight of your family, everytime i see my mum, I have the urge to run to her, give her a hug like how we all did when we were young.

As morbid as my thoughts can be – I just want to live longer than I feel I can.

I’m afraid.

<3,

KinG!

This is life. As you procrastinate, you will continue to procrastinate further… and you will procrastinate further … and further….

Fuck , Y’all get the gist.

I’ve got so much things to talk about, but where do I being? I don’t even know where to start.

Or maybe I should everything from today? Or from where i think i should?

This is getting pointless.

I should just start, tomorrow.

I miss my baby.

<3,

KinG!

Busy  & turbulently weeks before…. can smell the air of springs coming~! Stay Tune~

<3,

KinG!

Went to my usual salon to get my hair cut, everything was mundane and predictable. Moments later the boss of the salon came in, not the usual cheery self. Hung around the salon in silence for a while and started talking to his staffs. Silence as can be in the salon, i’d got absolutely no choice but to overhear the whole conversation between all 4 of them. Here was what they were talking about…..

The salon boss went to Conrad Hotel for a birthday buffet lunch. Invitation came from a husband of a customer of his. The buffet cost 150 bucks per pax, the invitation was extended to almost 200 people. Among the invitation list, were the wife’s family, friends and even long lost secondary school friends. The birthday “party” was all planned and organised by the husband, single handedly & behind the back of his wife. He sent out every sms, e-mails to all possible contacts, painstakingly took attendance weeks back, got everyone to attend, without breathing a single thing to the wife. On the day itself, he asked his wife if he could take her to a hotel restaurant for a simple birthday meal. Simply dressed, they went along to the hotel….

As she took the first step into the hotel ballroom, everyone wishes her happy birthday. She teared….

Sounds like a simple birthday plan? but read on….

The husband wanted the wife to have a most memorable birthday, because the wife hasn’t got much time to live. She was diagnosed with cancer few months back. She went for chemotherapy and hair started to fall. Both were living a tough time going thru the ordeal, but the husband didn’t want to spend the time left with his partner lament over the harsh fact.

Music filled the ballroom, the couple hugged each other and whispered to each other throughout the whole song. Thank you speech followed. Part of the speech by the wife was to thank her husband for the sweetest thing a man can do for the lady. She ended with, “Find a good lady, and carry on with life. Please let me go and continue to pursue your happiness for the next part of your life without me..” The husband immediately interrupted her speech ,”Both of us, together have taken the wedding vow in front of the lord, pledged to take care of each other for as long as both shall live. I will do just that.”

Ballroom was solemn and teary.

I left the salon deep in thoughts….

What a Hectic week. So worn out I really don’t know what to say.

Thankful Missus’s DXB-IST roster happen to coincide with my busy week, else i will feel really bad not able to spend time with her.

Poor baby’s feeling so down these few days because Mark (Her beloved brother) left for Brisbane for studies again. Feeling so bad being so helpless towards such moments. Hope i can make her feel better when she’s back. Maybe i can bring her to Brisbane to visit Mark.

And what’s with the freaking heat in Singapore! Live Firing yesterday felt totally scotching. Drank a record 8 bottle (liters) of water and I was still dehydrated. Face was totally lobsterized as well.

Got my new laptop on Friday. Felt like such a waste of money. But to be really honest to myself, I really need this laptop. Been given a mammoth task of being the “Wedding Planner” for a really important event. Task is simple – Essentially the overall in charge of the dinner itself a.k.a “If-Things-Go-Wrong-Your-Balls-Will-Drop”. So i need the laptop for my presentation to my boss; bring the laptop to the event location for all the meeting & co-ords with the hotel liaison officer; using the laptop for all meeting minuting & using it on the night for the projection of video’s and pictures. Now i’ve list it down, maybe it isn’t such a waste of money after all.

Random! -> The bag (Crumpler’s Part & Parcel) I thought will be purrrrfect for me to bring my laptop around.

1 more day, Missus’s coming home! Planned for a good dinner date with her to cheer her up. *Blessed*

<3,

KinG

And i gotta sleep early. Good Night World.

I miss you Baby.

<3,

KinG!

I have never own a watch more than SGD 200 bucks. Never fancy a pretty watch, lets not even mention an expensive watch. Watches like Tag Heuer typically worth more than 5000 bucks might appreciate in value overtime. This watch? Highly likely not. But to me, this watch epitomizes the perfect amalgamation of Art, Science & Engineering Ingenuity, pillared by the strong heritage of fine Swiss watchmaking.

Presenting to you, The Oakley Time Bomb II.

Titanium Case Body. Impact Forged, High-Precision CNC Machining.

Titanium bracelet with deployant clasp and mirco-adjustment

Composite molded links with articulating Unobtainium Rubber (The material you find in most Oakley Sunglasses Grip)

Multi Layered Carbon Fiber Bezel. CNC to perfect fitment.

Titanium case back with Sapphire Window.

Anti-reflective coating that helps reveal the Swiss-made masterpiece that translates movements into energy that fuel a fully mechanical 25-Jewel design

The Bomb Package.

Desires Are Irrational.

<3,

KinG!

It might be repetitive for people who have already seen these pictures from my Facebook. For those who do not have my Facebook account, here to share photos of glorious Lombok with y’all.

Beach by the Lombok Sea. Clear Blue waters. You can actually see corals without even getting wet! The blacks are actually volcanic residues.

View of the Villa from the Lombok Sea.

Our Private 1 Bedroom Villa at nightfall

Our very own private pool!

Villa Common Sun Tanning Deck for Guest

Nothing Spells Paradise Better Than C.O.C.O.N.U.T T.R.E.E.S

Villa Own Open Rain Shower Bathroom

Open Air, Literally. We had to shower in the rain 1 particular night. =D

Boo! My Cute Missus

My Personal Favorite Shot of the Trip. Missus Sun Tanning

Dip by the Common Pool!

Walk by the Lombok Sea

Doesn’t she look fantastic with the Oakley Gretchen Bleiler Restless Sunnies I bought for her?

There you go~! More Photos can be found at Facebook. (benjamink_1981@hotmail.com)

Lombok is the place to go if you’re really looking to escape from the hustle and bustle city life of Singapore. Pace is slow. Environment smells serenity. Lifestyle is Zen. Really different from places like Bali. Absolutely Zero Night Life. Great place for making babies if you’re married.

I will definitely  visit Lombok again. This time something much better. But like before, will keep our next Lombok Residence a secret.

<3,

KinG!