More pictures of KTV

Ok... I was looking through the pictures taken at the KTv and decided this shall just be a blog on pictures! The pictures are just so funny and every time I looked at them, I just find myself laughing all over again. A pity I don't know how to post videos clips yet...

A few of my favourites....

The guys.... they are really bakkas... =)

The girls!! and all not payin much attention to the camera

Each of our stupid... crazy.. funny looks..

Jan and myself. Was freezing outside by then...

The guys putting up a really good performance. They were super high that night.

Now... the girls in action...

Shaggy and his solo debut. He was just singing in his own world...

That's taken by Owen of both of us!

STephy and me!

Shaggy, my all time favourite =)

Jan... he was cursing like mad when he saw this picture. Continue to curse Jan-kun..

It's fabulous, It's fantastic, It's class H at KTV!

WOoh.... I hadn't had such a great time relaxing for a long time. It was wooh....ahhhh, it was just laughing your heart out, it was singing and screaming till your lungs couldn't expand any larger, it was swaying your arms and body till it ached... it was simply going wild!

Ok... we had a test last thursday. We usually have a small celebration after test and so far it has been at someone's house for dinner. So thought it will be great to go for buffet together at the grill opposite my house. That was where we went last week , (with steph and casslyn). The food there is great! Variety... cooked and uncooked, sushi... grill beef!! I love it. The only little drawback was that we could only eat there for 90 mins.

Ok so 7 of us turn up... There is Steph, Reka (the girl from Hungary), Grace (Taiwanese) and the 3 guys, Owen, Jan and Shaggy. Of coure not forgetting yours truly... Dinner was a lot of laughter and taking pictures. Yeah.. it was kinda funny, all the girls had a camera with them and we were all just acting like typical japanese. Snapping pictures in all kinds of poses like there is no tomorrow. Oh well... the guys were also drinking beer like there is no tomorrow like they also do.

Ok.. 90 mins up. And the guys apparently haven't had enough fun. Perhaps just getting high from the beer. So they suggested going to KTV. Actually, we have been thinking about going to KTV together for some time since I always tell them that Steph and I go KTV very often...

Ok KTV... the first 10 mins or so was just settling down and getting our drinks...

And then the guys were mad... for a while I was just so amazed at how guys can get so high from singing. All of three were just jumping to and fro the sofas raving and ranting while the girls sat in a corner with our jaws half dropped from shock and laughter. For a moment, as I told Steph, I felt this was like a hen party. Like someone was getting married the next day and thus engaged some male g*****s to entertain them. Eh... sorry, don't think too far or deep. It was just a fleeting thought.

But of course, being seasoned KTV queens, ( as I discovered everyone is!!) we quickly recovered from our shock and join in the fun. There were moments of just plain laughing till your stomache aches to mass dance when singing the song Y.M.C.A. It was amazing. Everybody stood up, the guys still on the sofa and in unison, chorused the song with actions in perfect timing. Songs somehow I realised, has the ability to merged nations with even very different cultures. I was particularly amused at the song "Tonari No Totoro" (hey mengwei your fave anime!) The guys just mumbled thru the song when they got to the chorus, they were shouting the song like nobody's business.

Yeah... everyone truly had a good time. Even though the girls didn't drink at all, I would say all of us were also feeling high from having a good time just partying putting the books aside.

I think I can't say enough to describe what happened that night. But over all, had a good time. Finally, we left at 2am in the morning. It was sooo cold. My fingers turn purple because I forgot the gloves. But it was a fresh experience strolling in the streets of Japan in the wee hours of the morning. As Jan, Shaggy and I were going up the slop home together, both of them agreed too that they had not relaxed for a long while such like this. Perhaps the stress of taking JLPT soon...

Ok.. pictures speak a thousand words. No offence, it is just for fun =)

That's all of us at the restaurant.

I like this picture! Everyone's doing something different..

Ok... the guys going cranky and holding a live performance in the room.

That's us singing together ..

Ok.. finally a class picture with our "form teacher". Shaggy and Marlene is absent from the photo. It was taken the next day after our KTV

The battle lost...

Yes... I lost the battle against the icy cold empire. It happened in the wee hours in the morning... 2am to be exact. I was flipping in my bed for 2 hours before declaring surrender. Got up, in my half-sleeping mode, half frozen, scanned thru my drawer, got out the controller and...

switched on the heater for the first time....

I lost! Hey it is only autumn. This phrase ran through my mind at least a thousand times. I told myself that I must learn to tolerate or I will suffer in winter. Poor from paying electricity bills. But... when my beauty sleep is threaten, something is very wrong here. Sleeping is my greatest past time... can be a light sleeper at times but never lost sleep becus I was too cold. Except during XA days when we had to sleep on cold floors with a thin sleeping bag underneath.

All said and done. I couldn't figure how to on the heater for a good 5 mins! When I finally did, I carried my pillow and blanket, one by one, still with both eyes close, "toasted" it hot under the heater becus settling back to bed again.

As you can expect, the next day in school was me the walking corpse. I was super sleepy.
After school, I promptly marched to Jusco without delay and bought a electric blanket. Yes, it is pink, matches my bedsheets.

Now... I sleep like a queen again. A queen in the sty that is. hee.. The blanket just works wonders! I put it just under myself and it warms my bed in an instant. No more sleepless, shivering nights. And yes... I decided to use the heater after all. heck winter or autumn. Right now I am bathing under the warm heat from it. Shiawase!

My super electric blanket. ..it's only so thin but it brings me warmth and comfort!

Brr... Brr....

The weather is getting colder and colder... Now I can't even sit on the floor with putting a fleece mat under my butt or walk around the room with my bed room slippers on. Going to the toilet is a torture as I have to sit on a cold toilet bowl. Yes... I shall buy a seat cover very very soon. In fact anytime I can go to the store tomorrow.

I am contemplating wearing my thick coat with my mufflers and gloves.. But each time, I only decide to wear either 1 or 2 out of the 3 things mention. Why? eehh... dun wanna suffer embarassment from the locals. It's only autumn!! and I am freezing already. Dun know how when winter comes. Especially in January when the weather is at its all time low. Suddenly at this junction I recall how one of my friends Alyssa from US will echo..."Poor Singaporeans" followed by her girlish giggles.. haaaa

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Have a conversation test tomorrow. As usual, have to memorise this script. But this time it is a little different, we don't know who our partners and also we can say things that are out of the script. Meaning, though we can memorise a set of information but eventually, our partners will probably ask something that is out of the script. And precisely because we don't know who our partners are, we cannot pre-empt them and tell them exactly what they should ask.

Sigh... I hate doing such exercises... and I am even more sianz at the thought of the compulsory speech competition next year. Yea.. I am already thinking of trying to siam it now.. hee.. any good suggestions?

Politcally Correct, Politically Incorrect and Eligible Candidates

Hmm... perhaps I should start another 2 blogs soon as suggested by the title. Why? Cus my dad reads my blog! "Hi Dad!" *winks innocently...*

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It all happened when I called home one day and I was chatting happily with my dad about my happenings here. Then, just as we are about the round up the call, he went, "By the way, you are still going to Karaoke?? Hey you better study hard and play less!" For a second I stoned there... I was thinking hard in my mind, "how on earth did he know that? I mean it is not like I want to keep it from my dad or what, but news spread so fast meh? I thought I only wrote it on my blog..." Oh yes... that is the answer. My dad replied yeah, I read you blog. He chuckled and was like if you don't want anyone to know, don't publish it. Bikuri shita. (i.e shocked) He actually took time to read my messy diary. Ok... I better watch my words...

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Forgot about that incident. I continue to be as truthful and as PIC as ever. Then I called home again last night... my dad again... same thing... talk talk talk and then he pops a question, "hey where was that you said you went the last weekend? You got out of your city?" Once again, the same situation, the same thoughts rush into my mind. How come he knows I went exploring the town?? This time he offered the answer quick and straight forward. " Oh I read your blog".

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Conclusion: My dad reads this blog pretty often and he takes everything I say so seriously. Better start to watch my words.

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Why eligible candidates? It is a request for many of you out there who are keen on having either Japanese or foreign boyfriends and girlfriends. Heh... the only condition being, I get to choose first. heeeeeeeeeeeeee

Pruning is done

Pruning is done! I got a new hair cut!

I got various comments from different regarding my new look. Some say it is not obvious because I still have my shoulder length hair, some say it is obvious cus my hair is very layered. Some say I look more Japanese now! Well well... I don't know about that myself. At first I thought it just looked about the same as before but then after observing myself in the mirror for a few days, I am beginning to notice some difference. In Okazaki ( I dun dare to claim it for the whole of Japan), the layered look is in the in look. It is not like what you see in Singapore but really very layered style. Usually, the stylist will cut the hair pretty short, leaving a moderate thickness trail of "tail" at the back of your hair. Hard to describe but in a nut shell, from the front, it looks as if my hair was shorter than shoulder length but actually, there is still another trail at the back of the head.

I am pretty surprised too that my hair is not as "qiao" (i.e curling outwards) as it used to be. So while I still have to blow it every morning, it is quite a easy job.

But anyway the visit to the salon was quite a funny one. Firstly, the stylist sat me down and tried to ask me what style I liked. And well, my Japanese is really mediocre so half of the time I don't know what he was saying. Plus... he used some hair terms here and there. Imagine saying layered in Chinese?? You get the point? It is just nothing I would have learnt in the textbooks.
So I told him that my Japanese is at the "cannot make it stage" so show me pictures... but he wasn't satisfied with any of the pictures he could find. Ok so after 10 mins of discussion, I got pretty fed up (with myself) so I told him "dozou, enryo shinai" literally meaning, "go ahead without any reservations". He thought that was a funny comment though cus he was laughing after that. Well, he said that I've got nice soft hair though. Haa.. all thanks to Steph and her recommendation of Ma Cherie super conditioner! (tt's under Shiseido btw)

Anyway, it is just a total different experience you get in Singapore. There are endless greetings they will say, eg, after the shampoo girl washed my hair, she was like "otsukare samadeshita" i.e you have been tired (i think...) and all the workers in the shop chorused after her. It is the same when someone enters or leaves the salon. I also got to try having my hair washed by a machine. Still prefer the human hands though, can get free massage.. haa..

Ok let me try this before and after thingie... Eh... my hair is not well blown cus it is sleeping time le...

Before...

The shorter part of my hair...



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A Busy Weekend

We had a test last wednesday so this weekend my friends and I decided that it is off-day for us. Off books and also perhaps some adventure and exploring...

Ok first we went to the eastern part of the city. We went to uni qlo first cus we decided that we needed some more clothes for the season. Uniqlo is something like Singapore's giordano. Cheap and good! A long sleeve turtle-neck can be as low as $15. It has a large variety of colours and sizes so really, a good place to shop for most people. Ok... did our shopping in a pretty fast pace. I would say we only took 45 mins! It was really a great improvement from the first time I went there.... I think took a hour plus.. or 2... not sure.

By then it was about 3 plus.... so we went to the cafe beside to have some rest and cakes. It was pretty nice place. Not too ex but looks pretty high-class... I ate a chocolate cake kind of cake. Yes.. it tastes chocolate but with other things too. And we decided we shan't go home! Another fren suggested going to the northern part of the city where there is another big departmental store.

We thought of trying to save money as well as to kill time so we walked down the road.( the bus comes at a half hourly interval) Every 1 bus stop can save you about 30-60 yen?! we walked a few stops and we ended up at the main terminal in east Okazaki. Great... tt's where we need to take the bus anyway, so hopped on the one that took us to the Apita store.

The supermarket was pretty big. Like the Jusco we have in our town but... Apita was really cheaper! and lots of food sampling! No wonder people always say if you are hungry and have no money to eat, just go a few rounds in the super market. We ate some "guo tie" thingie and it was Umai! Delicious! so bot 2 packs... (i figured we probably wun go back there so soon) There were so many things to eat, all kinds of timsum.. even the fried food. The next best thing we ate was the salad prawn. Really very tempted to buy. But then... the thought of taking everything home was a little intimidating. So we left it as it is...

Ok By the time we left it was about 5.30pm. Very early I know but it feels very late in Japan especially when the sunset that day was 4.48pm. So we caught a bus back and decided we wanted to go Kaiten Sushi. (i.e sushi on conveyor belt. 105 yen each plate). Ha... I really like that place actually cus I love the Zaru Soba and also the Ebi Fry... We ate till about 8+... chatting about things and we decided it was not enough. So each of us went back to our homes to put our things down and Steph and Casslyn.. (yes the other Singaporean) went to get some drinks and then came to my house...

Was drinking half way then suddenly Casslyn pointed to the direction of my Tv and she was like "hey hey hey!! look!" So Steph and I stared hard at the Tv and the TV's surroundings... Nothing wad.. what's up? Just then, I saw a face just right outside my room peering in. Wah! I got a shocked. Really. Just staring in right from the window.

Ok no worries. It wasn't any Hen Na Hito. (i.e weird person) It was Owen the big kid. Haa.. he came to look for Shaggy and saw our lights on so came over to disturb us. We wanted to get him to come in to join us but he had a marathon race today. Hope it was good!

Ok... so chatting and eating and drinking... all the night. I think we never toked so much about ourselves before... Haa... i think was the atmosphere. But it was great. It has been a long time since I have sat down to talk to someone so much about myself and I'm sure Steph and Cass can say the same thing too. We just talked about childhood...sec school...jc...Uni , our friends, our families, our relationships... and also about current happenings in Japan.

Thanks girls! Great time spent with u all! And also sorry to make u all come all the way to my room and then bear the cold back.. =) Mata Kon do!

Traces of our merry-making session...

First Love...

How does it feel to meet your first love again after many years when you are married and happily settled down. Will you feel nostalgic especially when you realised that this person has never stopped loving you?

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Hmm... I wonder about this too.. What will it be like to meet "him" again after many years. Who is that "him"? I still don't know.. hee

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The tempting heart is one of my all time favourite soundtrack. The songs are all very soothing, nice and most of all. It is really a heart wrenching album. Every note, every tune draws your breath along with it and it is as if you could hear every word and see every scene with your own eyes. I love this last track especially. The last scene where the middle age Hao Jun sends the middle age Xiaorou off to the airport. You could hear the "yi yi bu she" in their conversation. Their dialogues that is though simple but containing much unwillingness to part and perhaps regret. Or maybe it is just simply wishing each other well...

The part where Xiaorou opens the box given by Hao Jun was especially touching cus it contains photos of the sky which was taken during the times he missed her. There were so many of them and each was clearly dated, right up till the recent years. That was when she realised he never forgotten about her.

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Dreamy dreamy dreamy... I love this show. Not for the storyline nor the cast. (yes I adore Takeshi Kaneshiro) but much more for how it just conveys so much emotions with its simple lines and actions. Life is just so funny. No matter how hard or how much you do, there are bound to be some people you try your whole life to forget. Quoting from the article from Serene's page. If you trying hard to forget someone, then sorry, you are at the same time remembering the person hard too.

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Ok... just my thoughts of the day. Listen to the whole song if ya have time ok? And then think of the somebody you are trying hard to forget... =)

Reality Check

Erm... in respond to the emails I got. Hey people I am ok! Fine! No Problems! =) Blogs are just some kind of diary u keep online and sometimes posts are written on the spur of the moment of whatever comes to your mind. It could be because of a sad song you heard, something you read or watched. or simply inspiration by someone? Well life can't be all that smooth and rosy... bound to have some rough patches and yes, a blog should well reflect that too. In fact, this blog, I read it myself most of the time. It reminds me of what I have done

Btw, it is me, Karen you are talking about. If you know me enough, I am someone who (literally translation) take the sky as a blanket when it falls down on me. I am highly boh chup to the things happening around me unless it concerns me big time. Of cus, I can be ba gua at times. That is if the news is juicy. But relax, I have my moods too, take it that I just got stung by a bee when strolling in the garden. It is painful yah, but just a small bee mah, I will get it treated then continue to stroll and enjoy the scenery...

Yeh in fact so far, I think I am considered very fortunate already. I have made quite a lot of friends and they are really nice. I mean it with all my heart. Just that day, I was feeling very tired from class and apparently quite quiet. And one of my classmates came up to me. He was like "hey karen are you alright? Can I do anything for you? Just tell me and I will do it." (Singaporeans guys: learn how gentle europeans guys can be! hee) I was a little surprised.. but anyway ok, I sent him to clear the spider web newly woven just outside my window. Hee... so mr superman went and it was done when I went home later that day. Thanks Jan!!

Same Song?

Ever wondered or think that Faye Wong's "Sky" sounds like Stefanie Sun's "Kite"? Or at least feel that there is a similar emotional thread running through them?

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It's November 7th 2004, 9.12am in Japan now. Oh is it Kit's Bday. Happy Birthday!

Subconciously... perhaps I know it so well at the back of my mind, I have been here for a month. Except for the frequent calls home and several mails from one or 2 friends, I think I have kinda lost touch with Singapore... the happenings, the people I know, the latest hits in town...

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I think I am learning to let go of things and just let them be. Let them happen. It's like that kite... I am going to let you go and if you ever bother to turn back. Tell me if it is beautiful up there in the sky.

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First birthday in Japan...

The first thing went I got to school was to be greeted by 2 staff of the school. They wanted to pass me some X-ray thing. And one of them was like "Ah Karen san! It's your birthday today isn't it? Happy Birthday!" I was not very shocked actually... Cus the staff at our school just seems to have fantastic memories. You can ask Steph. It's not just me and her. But anytime we stepped into the office to either collect our mail or to need some help in our rooms, we never had to say our names, they remember it! They even remember where we are staying... I am truly amazed. So I am not surprised either that they remember our birthdays.

Then first lesson in class, the teacher passed me a card from all the teachers teaching our class. Hmm... ok expected that too cus Steph got one from them on her birthday last week. But... the teachers are really very "ba gua". 2 out of the 4 teachers wrote something like who am I going to spend my birthday with... and of course I know they are specifically referring to someone. But pls lor...sighzz

At night, went for a gathering at my friend's house and some of my classmates came along. It was party night that day cus the next day was a public holiday. Everyone was out partying somewhere and we too! Had a steamboat party. Was pretty fun with all the people around.. Steph, Ying- Jie (another singaporean), Cindy and Alyssa and from my class, Owen, Shaggy and Reka. But then, really feel a little guilty towards Ying -jie cus her electricity kept tripping. It must be becus we were using too much power at one go. (We had 2 pots at first) It was just so relaxing and fun sitting around with Owen entertaining us with his endless antics.

Then came the cake! Well... I kinda knew there was going to be a cake cus well it was a birthday after all. But still, it was pretty a surprise when Steph and some of the girls suddenly came thru the door with the lights off and a lit cake. It was a delicious cake! I love it cus it had so many strawberries on it! And well Mr Owen went a little crazy when he came over to give me a hug. Ahh... I couldn't shrug him off ( and truly I wanted to cus I couldn't breathe le!) Typical American Boy as Alyssa puts it. He tried to plant a kiss on my cheek too, to which I was quick enough to dodge. It was so funny when he was mumbling to himself after that, " I thought it was just the perfect thing to do at that moment.." Haa... sorry Owen, it is a conservative Asian you are talking about. =)

Thanks to all who made the effort for the party! Especially Steph and Cindy who had to cycle on one bicycle only up and down the slope. Hope ya guys had fun too!

Anyway, I walked with Reka back to the student village and yes as expected there was a party going on. The senseis were there too. Apparently this same grp of senseis are also teaching another few classes. They saw me and suddenly I was greeted by a chorus of Happy Birthday by the senseis and the students. Ok this is a bit shocking... I just stood there and was a little dumbfounded. Miki sensei was then asking me who was at my party so I was like ehh... Reka San, Theodoru san... and that sparked the ba gua-ness in her. She was like wahhhh!!! Then I had to explain it wasn't just him, a lot of others was around. But she just kept giving me that "hee, I know something is going on look." See, the senseis are so ba gua. And then met another male sensei or ours and apparently he is a little high from drinking. That's the culture here. In class we are students and teacher relationship. After class, everyone can come together to drink and play.

Party at Ying Jie's Place

The Cute Girls

Owen the Crazy Guy in Action

Birthday Surprises

Wanted to write this on my birthday itself but due to some virus attack, I couldn't post any thing here. But now it's fine, I had just formatted my lappie.

Firstly, I was really really delighted to receive a phone call from one of my best buds in Singapore. Thanks chunz! I was really glad to hear your voice! It's like so refreshing and comforting especially when you are away in a foreign place on your birthday. Though we only spoke for near an hour, I already felt like I was pouring all about my life here to her and the only regret is if only you are here, to let me show you personally my live and the people I have been telling you about. It's really one of the best thing I receive and I am so blessed by it! =)

After that I went online and saw another good friend of mine. I haven't spoke to her in ages. Yes it felt like ages because for the whole month I was here, we didn't get to email or meet online. I was so glad to see you, especially after what you shared with me and reminded me of God's goodness. Thanks Peiling! I will remember that in my heart and seek to pursue a more intimate relationship with God. I know I am not alone here! Thanks for the timely reminder!

Yet another new skin

Seems like I am changing and still changing skins for the past few days... Hmm this one should be the final one till the mood to change comes again. I am rather sick of fanciful skins that doesn't allow space for tag boards or allow one to read my blogs properly. so here's it. simple and easy. But wait a min, this time is my first attempt at editing the whole blog by myself... adding in the songs and stuff. Wooh steph, u better be proud of me. (tho I am really super slow in this stuff)...

Frustrated... Fan ah

Yeh.. I writing this blog now when I should be sitting at my desk studying for tommorrow's lesson or even to revise what has been taught today. I don't know too... Just a unknown source of frustration inside me now. It is strange. I should be feeling happy and anticipating tomorrow to come cus it is my birthday after all. No I am not the least excited...

Maybe cus I am looking to cards many cards! to come from home? But none so far, except one of 2 from a friend. Hiazz... It is so true that once a person is physically out of sight, he/she is also mentally out of sight? Perhaps so... I began to really believe that all that is said about keeping in contact close touch etc is really just words. It is so hard to actually carry it out. I think perhaps even I can't really live up to it too... Of course each of us have and is leading our own lives, is busy with surviving the harsh world. MW told me not to have too much expectations. I hope he doesn't mean I have to interprete it as don't expect anything.

Ok I am better stop before this becomes a complain forum. I think I am a pretty demanding person... I shared this with some people before and I guess I still can't shake that part of me off.