I remember

Snow and frozen fingers I remember.

Saying goodbye to loved ones at the airport, feeling a bit lost but very excited
on a long haul flight.
Fields of lavender I remember
Walking and dancing and jumping over in carefree spirit
And tall wood trees I walked around them
Up and down slopes we climb seeing different sights everywhere
It doesn't matter if we are lost
Friends surround us as we go

Sunset reflects off the canyon walls i remember
the sky turns darker in pinks and purples and orange and blues
I stood there thinking I remember
Trying to absorb everything I see and feel
Walking on steep slopes and peeking over an overhanging cliff I remember
And holding hands I remember

Complaints and homesickness I remember
Cheesy and strong meaty food i detested at first
Spiders and bees and wasps I remember
Strange stains on bedsheets and overchoked toilets
Throwing tons of towels to contain the gross excrete and toilet water I remember
and the latex gloves i wore to fling them away into a big bio hazard bag
Lousy internet connection I remember
And 5 hours van ride to a nearest civilization

But in all that seclusion something rings
I am finally and truly free!

Laughing and peeping over windows
Overlooking the beautiful and peaceful cliffs beyond
And chipmunks and squirrels frolicking in the sun I remember
Birds singing a happy tune
All types i've never seen but remembered from Enid Blyton books of English countryside
These childhood imaginations translate
Into something surreal i experienced

Making animal sounds from under the window to passerbys
To quell a boring work day I remember
Hiding from supervisors and guests I remember
Catching hidden naps and snacking in the rooms
Bolting doors and sleeping in
Helping friends who are a little behind I remember
and the morning rush for supplies and laundry bags.

That night i saw Jupitar with its rings and moons I remember
On a clear starry night over the telescope
It was so beautiful I remember
I am at peace with the world.

Rounds and turns I remember
On narrow twisting roads to Point Imperial
8000+ feet elevated from the sea
The highest point in the Canyon
Rushing back to the car before the sun sets
Because as nature is dark when the sun sets
And to get back on an hour's ride is dependent only on our vehicle light

San Francisco I remember
the breathtaking bay and cool night breeze lighted up by faint glows
I was truly in love for a moment
I didn't want to come back

Listening to Britney singing
There is no happy ending
but Summer love will keep us warm long after
an Autumn goodbye
Summer is a time we borrowed
Autumn arrives and we have to leave behind.

There are so many other things i can't express
in words or in the open
But this is a trip i will never regret
It is a once in a lifetime.

Political leaders and requirements?

This is quoted from an article in the Straits Times, 24 November whereby an ex NT*C Inc*me chi*f is looking towards standing for presidency.

While he has to respect his wife's wishes, it is his dream that Singapore has leaders who represent the people and their aspirations.

'They don't have to be very highly educated. They just need to be the voice of the people.'

In the paper, he seems to me like a humble person, taking mrts and buses instead of car to work until recently, and has held the position for 30 years. He has also led a few discussions at the speaker's corner regarding the failed bank products.

The above is a quote by him, who talks about what he thinks leader should possess. I don't agree fully with him though because i think a high, broad and deep education is important for leaders, who have travelled and read widely about the world and other systems, and can then bring in these perspectives to Singapore. Even if a person is not highly educated (does he mean Doctorate? or Masters? Or degree??), once he (sic) has decided on a political path, he needs to gain that higher education!

And while i agree that being the voice of the people is and sounds very good. It is in fact, but to what extent do the people themselves know what is good for them? Sometimes, and very often, people don't know. Behavioural geography have mentioned that people are not all rational, but aims for satisfaction, because information is not perfect. People are not perfect, (because of a lack of education - not necessary academic) they are unable to know what is best for them.

Example.

ERP is evil, why is it raised again? The govt should lower the ERP!@%!@ But while we hate it, we have to think about the reason behind it. If the traffic is not controlled and we get jams and inefficient transport systems, people will be late for work, for meetings, miss flights, pollution in the city etc etc, investors will not like to come to Singapore for MICE or invest because they can't even get to work on time.. etc. In the end, we lose our jobs, our economy will not do so well.

But if there are better ways to improve traffic efficiency without raising ERP or having ERP........ that will be the best! I really dislike them too.

But the thing is, we shouldn't complain blindly just because it affects us directly without thinking of how it may affect us even MORE indirectly otherwise. The fact is, many of us can't see the long term implications of certain things and only focus on the short run.

So while being the voice of the people is necessary, i can't help to say that i think the best type of leaders are forward-looking and wise, empathetic and caring to their people, highly educated with broad knowledge and very passionate about serving their country..and gives good convincing speeches, along with many things.

Then again, who decides if what is "best" is really the best? We need to be more discerning citizens , read more and think deeper because it will affect us.

I am horrendous

I love this asymmetrical top so much that i just have got to get it.
From Korea. :)
I hope it is not out of stock when the spree organizer orders it.

Along with that very interesting top, i got myself a baseball cap that's slightly rugged, and a plain very soft silky white long sleeve basic top. Total damage? $45 altogether. And i'm really so very broke, i'm mad.

But some things are hard to resist.. i can only hope the applications i send out for tuition jobs in the vicinity gets accepted!! I'm such a material girl, but it's self-love really. The chinese pop ballad singer, Su Yong Kang said so in the Nu Ren Wo Zhui Da show yesterday... the only difference between me and him? He can afford it.

Contributing to the South Korea economy when times are so bad.

xoxo, principessa

The economy is very bad

I realise i blog alot more when i have papers and exams due, it's like a form of destress. I am so glad writing is free, because the economy is very baddd. :( I am not exactly affected yet because i am not earning my own keep, and my dad is a civil servant while my siblings are working in sectors that deals with education in one way or another. My whole family is working in the 'education' sector, though my brother's case is a bit far fetched.

This means that my family is relatively secure (if they don't invest in High Notes and Pinnacles and those) and i still get my constant, usual allowance. However, this is not for long because i'll have to find a job from May next year and i can forsee the difficulties that will face me, harsh realities!!

• DBS axed a thousand jobs.
• Citigroup - a mega conglomerate that deals with finance and banking is axing 52,000 jobs globally.
• Even NOL, a Singapore owned MEGA shipping company (6th or 8th largest in the world) is axing 1,000 jobs. (There, my shipping dream is gone too for now. I had thought about being a ship broker before or going into the maritime industry...)
• SIA is swimming in the waters and faced with declining yields on the passenger and air freight sector because of the global economic slowdown. SIA Cargo is one of the largest air freight carrier and they earn their revenues from carrying passengers as well as cargo they carry at the belly of the plane.
  (This affects me too because i have thought of trying for an air stewardess position to see the world before i go on to more serious stuff, i have also thought about working in the management sector)
• Just today, i read that the 3 major automobile firms (General Motors, Ford, Chrysler) in US are begging for help.

Enough depressing news. Maybe i'll also become a civil servant when i graduate. It is not exactly a depressing thing because i have considered it seriously and it is rather fulfilling to be serving the country, doing something purposeful for our future.

It's just that i really want to try out private firms, with dreams of working in beauty brands like Lo'real, Shiseido and such, as well as in the marketing, merchandising etc department of luxury firms like LVMH.

:I principessa

Dreaming

When times are bad, i always turn to dreaming for a good cure. Dreaming of what to shop for if i have all the abilities in the world is a really enjoyable thing too.. Fantasy :)

If i can, here's what i want to buy.. and if you notice, they're all MM's stuff!! :D I'm a fan of all things Japanese and korean because i believe the best makeup for Asian skin is Asian products, especially for makeup. I'm less particular about skincare but cosmetics? Asian brands are more knowledgeable of what suits Asian skintones because they primarily cater to us..

Majolica Marjorca stuff, can be found in Ngee Ann City's Watsons :D

Lash Gorgeous Wings for feathery lashes (i hope it is waterproof though)

And the mascara base, heard it is good!

Neo-automatic eyeliner in Jet Black

Rouge Majex, i want BOTH!

I love these pretty Spring colors

And the autumn ones, i want Love Pursue

And these cute nail colors! Procelain, Nightgown, Delicate, Possibility, China red, maybe i should try New Crush...

So many pretty things!! But so little resources, but if you think about it, that's why they're so nice.

Because they're not always attainable.

And Macdonalds IS CRAZY. People who buy mega Macs is crazy as well. The big macs have enough artery clogging terrible fats and salts and so on inside already, now you want a Mega Mac? My goodness, one of these and u don't need to eat for one day...


They even have mega-macgriddles too.. my favourite macgriddles are implicated too in this eat-more-more so we can earn your moolahh culture, who cares about your health...

Look, they are so pretty on its own with ONE meat patty. It has 400+ to 500 calories like that. Imagine eating TWO meat patties.. I won't even think of it because the meat patty will be way too salty.

But really, Macgriddles tops my list for being the yummiest Macdonalds burger (ever)


I thought this is so cute. Maybe that's how they tried to come our with the shape on the Macgriddles pancake. Experiment and have loads of fun throwing pancakes around..

Craving for a macgriddles now :( I'll love to bite into the very cute M sign pancake..

Anyway, i got to go. Really BAD, cos i can't focus at all when my exams are exactly a week later.

xoxo, principessa

A special day

Yesterday was a special day for my bf and I, before my exams and after he got a temporary job at a UK research company. So we spent the whole day together thinking of what to do and feasting on not too expensive food. The worsening global economy is making me more conscious of what i spend on, although sometimes it's really hard because shopping does make me happy!

Bad i know. And it is all but temporary. But what beats making a boring day slightly more exciting? It's consumption. Shopping does not just merely refer to clothes and shoes and whatever is in your mind, it includes food too. As long as something is provided for and consumed commercially, YOU ARE SHOPPING. Doesn't take a smartie to figure that out... but yes, eating out is part of 'shopping' for food if you think about it. Looking and thinking of what you want to eat from shop to shop, doesn't that sound like window shopping to you?

So we had a Jack's place set lunch (YUM. approx $12 inclu misc charges), and went to Vivo to collect my altered work pants. We were supposed to bake gingerbread men cookies in the afternoon but we didn't have the mould, wanted to go to Vivo's Daisio to get it but in the end, i wasn't in the mood to bake. :D We went to Zara and a few shops and i pointed out some REALLY COOL clothes that he could wear, and they look great on him, but well as we are brokies..we could only admire.

You know, i have always always wanted to bake gingerbread man cookies because of my fascination with them. I love the taste of those cookies and imagine chomping on a very very cute gingerman.. it's like reenacting my childhood imaginary world of gollywogs, enid blyton, candy houses and ginger people.. Heheheh :D

Hellos! I am your friendly ginger friend, please don't eat me!
LOOK, i have clothes and pretty eyebrows (they are blue) and i can even sit.

Uh oh, shes is not eating the colorful ginger man.. :I
(Look at these!! AHHHHH UMMM. So cute and smiling although i prefer the
colorful man, but he looks so real i'll be so guilty after i eat him.)

A completely cute and bite-able card.
I love ginger-people and teddy bears and chocolate toy poodles!

And if you notice, they share close similarities!!

They are all brown! With button like eyes. :D

Anyway, as we didn't grab any baking supplies, we went to Giants instead to get some snacks and water for some sight seeing at the Marina Barrage. Completely budget.

Tomato Twisties (my ultimate favourite) - $1.02
Watson's Distilled Water - $1.25

It was our first time there, and it opened just a while ago on November 1 this year. The place is truly beautiful because i love the feeling of wind in my hair, great views of the city and the flyer (Singapore nightscape is really wonderful).. colored fountains and roof top garden concept so the pathway up has great sights, great wind, and the nice smell of nature with grass beside you. Besides, you could hear the sound of water rushing down the flood gates into the sea. ;)

Visit PUB Marina Barrage for more info

Lots of families there, i want to take my wedding photo there too in future, with the sun setting and the night looming.. I love the city lights. It is always romantic to me.

There's even a gallery there for viewing, quite fascinating and they even have a mock model of the reservoir and how it operates. You can even take pictures and pledge yourself to conserve and love water and it can be sent to your email. There's those little shaded pavilions where u can sit in the middle of the reservoir and the sea and have a picnic, chat with friends and all that. I even saw a group of people playing percussions there!!

So we grabbed our Twisties and water, and walked and ate at this lovely outpost that's built on the sea. :D

And what's for a late dinner? Our very very favourite budget dining spot - Nihon Mura 99cents sushi place at YCK Stadium ($10.50 altogether).

xoxo, principessa

Why have i not been blogging?

Yea, beats me. I haven't written much for a long long time! Maybe it's because i'm so tired and busy with something to worry about each day, whether it is school work and projects, exams, weight, clothing decisions, bf and so on.. there's always something to be stressed over! Seriously, this is the most stressful uni semester ever.

I think i am lacking sleep because i seem to fall asleep even on short bus rides that last 15 minutes. I even feel sleepy on the train, basically everywhere. And i have never been so late so many times in my whole life. I perpetually always late for all lessons, don't turn up, and late for projects, late for this and that. WHY? To the point that even Jingyang tells me that i seem to have a chronic lateness nowadays and i need to change or else working life will be affected!

SIGH. this is traumatic. and i go to school everyday feeling tired, dreading what is to come and this and that. It's all in the attitude, i need to be more positive!!!! But why is it so hard to achieve? Year 4 really makes me a more cynical and unhappy person. I never felt like that before.

But so fast so soon, this is the last week of school. Exams are in two weeks time and i still have a project left with a presentation due on Friday. I need to get my thesis/individual research proposal ready for consultation with my supervisor tml and i havent done anything yet...Tennis lessons start tml so i'm glad for this bit of exercise to take my mind away from school...

I bought a cool military style jacket too, from Pull and Bear. So excited to wear it cos it somehow reminds me of Domyoji (heh heh).

I've been meaning to write a few reviews of the stuff i've bought too but never got the chance. like the mavala eyelash treatment, palmer's cocoa butter, majolica marjorca eye shadow......

maybe another time. yet another sleepless night.
xoxo

New favourite music