A Whiter Shade of Pale

synopsis (from sistic website)

A provocative, high-adrenaline performance inspired by the interaction between the heart, breathing and muscles.

On a small table, dancer Takao Kawaguchi, a member of the artist collective Dumb Type, ties and unties "body knots" with his limbs, neck and torso, and repeats movements to the point of physical exhaustion. Alongside him, champion khoomei (Tuvan double-throat singing) performer Fuyuki Yamakawa amplifies the sound of his heartbeat with a stethoscope, the sound triggering the lighting of lightbulbs. He controls the pace of his heartbeat with the rhythm of his khoomei.

Together, they explore the origins of life by foreseeing its end.

I came across this in the latest issue of TIME magazine:

"4 students will be grouped together to perform the waltz and they will change partners regularly as soon as 1 song finishes. This way, the risk of young love will be lowered." - Yin GuoChen, a Chinese official. Apparently, they implemented compulsory dance lessons to curb rising rates of childhood obesity in China. Then, they added funny rules such as the above to hinder puppy love, with the assumption that dancing partners will surely fall in love. (Okayyyy.)

Gamers in China's Internet cafes will have to stop after 3 hours of gaming and be reminded to "do suitable physical exercise" by a software installed by the Chinese government on July 16. If gamers continue for more than 5 hours, the programme will wipe out their points. (HAHA.)

Talk about intrusive government policy. And you thought the smoking ban was bad???

Since we are on the topic of smoking, I beseech Chris to stop smoking. PLEASE. Just because some girl screwed up your life, its so not worth it trying to screw up your own. :(

Friday was slow-paced and enjoyable. I had a lovely time at ECP, cycling leisurely with WH, enjoying the sea breeze and bitching about fellow park-users. Haha. Mad & ZK showed up SOON after and joined us in our journey to the ends of the park & back. The two chicken nehs nehs cant BRAKE, although they have about 1 year of experience. WTH. Anyway, the 'highlight' of the trip was probably Mad's spectacular face-first fall from rollerblading. WH & I werent around to witness her fall, but it was another of those no-reason accidents. That poor girl got a BIG Bruise with Bloody abrasions on her forehead, as well as other scrapes on her elbows, knees & palms. AIYOHHHHHH. I had some Aloe Vera Gel to the rescue, I hope she gets better asap.

Then, Brent drove us to ADAM ROAD Food Centre to meet our beloved Sweeny & Huiting for dinner. Charlotte & Sally joined us soon enough. Ivy & Nissa, as usual MIA-ed. Haha, nevertheless it was cool having those BBQed Stingrays & Crayfishes. Satays, Nasi Lemak & Hokkien Mee, with gelato at Island Creamery to top it all off. FYI, the boss there is rather mean & unfriendly. Plus, Im soooo overwhelmed by the popularity of the place. It was literally OVERFLOWING with people under 20(especially uniformed ones) on a Friday night. Gosh...

Well, I showed up at Le Meridien for Saturday's JB Durian & shopping trip. It was hardcore makaning alright. Lemme recall what I've ingested within a day.

Breakfast: 1 slice of papaya, 1 kiwi fruit, 1 square of redbean pancake, 1 packet of Hersey's candied kisses, 1 plate of some assorted Yong Tau Foo pieces
Lunch: random durians pieces from many many many different durians, total amount would be approximately equal to 2 whole Durians? Plus about 10 mangosteens & copious amount of water after that.
Tea: 1 can of this top-selling canned Liang Teh & 1 Crunchy Chocolate Donut from Dunkin` Donuts!
Dinner: Rice with watercress soup, 2 plates of chinese mixed vegetable dishes, roast chicken, sweet & sour fish, oat-prawns, a pathetic-looking chilli crab & finally a platter of fruit.
Our table ate like a swarm of hungry ghosts & I still think its an understatement. Haha.

FYI, I really hate getting on the bus, getting off the bus, going through the customs TIMES 4. Grr. It's a big inconvenience. But the weather didnt help, it was really wet, and we didnt bring umbrellas. At the same time, we were all tired and hungry. We finally had some fishball noodles for breakfast, which was overpriced & mediocre. I had my fill of TAU SAR PIAH after breaksfast though. I looove itttt!!! So after that, we browsed Mr Sotong for sotong products (duh), & headed towards the Durian Plantation in Perkannas.

Now I'm finally feeling HAPPY in a looonnnggg while. I've been in a sore mood since Friday evening, been brawling my eyes out & moping around the house. Though it steadily progressed through the week, nothing makes me happier than meeting my girlfriends, catching up with them & just having silly girl talk. :D I'm so glad sweenyyyy is back in town! Woohoo.

We went to Al Azhar for supper- chicken & mutton murtabaks. Then they trooped over to my place to hang out & talk cock.

Today is like a foodie's trail around Bukit Timah! In fact, I went to 6th ave with Kevin for lunch. I was looking forward to visiting Corduroy & Finch, but i only had a sad 10 dollar bill in my wallet. So nah, we ended up in Piper's Pies instead. Piping hot savory puff pastries! & a cold Custard tart to top it off. After that it was a short walk to venezia for some old school gelato. Sat in there for a long while people-watching and thinking about times when we still wore school uniforms.

After getting blood clots in our legs, we got off our asses & went browsing in Cold Storage. It became a full-time shopping session instead & we needed a basket to throw in all our buys. My most extravagant buy today -

To whom it may concern:

Im tired of asking you out all the time when you hardly ever ask me.
Im upset by the fact that I want to call you & tell you all my sob stories, but I cant.
Im convinced that you treat me as sweetly as you treat your dear little sister and that you merely humour me like you do to your cat.
Im saddened by the thought that im probably JUST a friend.

I wished I could fall asleep on your shoulder and you'd carry me home when I K.O. like you said you would.
I wished you'll always entertain me and make me laugh with your lousy jokes.
I wished you would play that guitar and sing that particular song for me.
And that maybe, just maybe, you might turn out to be my quirky Jack Sparrow.
Maybe? Maybe not.

I need a father who actually speaks the same language as I am. I dont know what my image is, in his eyes. I dont think I exist physically, nor do I look like i have a mind and feelings to go with it. All i am to him seems to be potent synthesis of his idealised remnants of my O & A level grades, combined with the ugly grades which Ive gleefully accumulated in SMU.

This probably all I am to him- a self indulgent college girl who isnt willing to get good grades, thus she's well on the way to ruining her life. While everyone else- diligent, shrewd & armed with accolades and portfolios of sparking 'A's will be comfortably eased into the cushy CEO armchairs in 3 years time.

While with all this shit brewing like a tornado, making my head throb really painfully and stirring up tremendous resentment in me, misery & frustration engulfs me completely today. Im not even being EMO. I'm merely reacting to a situation in a way most kiddos would. And i think the only thing which might make me feel better would be having your shoulder to cry on... But where are you?