GONG XI FA CAI

恭喜发财！
身体健康！
生活美满！

牛年行大运！

Rules of Life

As I'm enjoying my current read, I learned some great lessons from it at the same time. It is a wake-up call to all the city dwellers, like us. I'm intrigued to be more sensitive to the smallest details of my everyday, and enjoying the moments of life. As I rush from places to places, race through crowds and 'living' my days, I somehow forgotten the basic things in life such as "The first rule of life is to have a good time. There is no second rule." How miserable is it to live life not being happy? No matter what, have fun in whatever we do everyday and remember to smile! It does make a difference!

I like these lines from the book.

"The bell has rung. I was in the ring. It was time to get involved in minute-by-minute efforts rather than heavy contemplation. I had to give up spending too much time thinking about the past and what I had lost. It was going to be a big challenge just to keep up with this present." Michael Gates Gill (How Starbucks Saved My Life)

Chasing Pavement

Should i give up, Or should i just keep chasing pavements?
Even if it leads nowhere, Or would it be a waste?
Even If i knew my place should i leave it there?
Should i give up, Or should i just keep chasing pavements?
Even if it leads nowhere

An 'Overseas' Trip: Pulau Ubin

If there is a tagline for this year, I suppose that "Times are bad!" would be highly voted. My friend Mr. Backache uses this tagline in almost every time when we talked about the gloomy situation of the economy, quieting streets that are usually buzzing etc.

I've to agree with the tagline. I read an article on the papers yesterday about a financial adviser in the States planned to fake his death by plotting a plane crash to 'bail out' himself from his debts. He flew his Piper Malibu towards his 'death', and secretly parachuting to the ground and escaping on a escape motorcycle he had stashed earlier. I'm impressed (not exactly in a good way) by the idea and the extent this American had went to plan a James Bond movie sort escape from his debts. Unfortunately, the authorities caught up ‘Mr. James Bond’ 3 days later! Looking at his desperation to escape from the authorities and also at the unforgiving chase by the authorities, my conclusion is 'Mr. James Bond' must have owed a SUBSTANTIAL sum of money! Times are really bad!

Well, anyway what I initially plan to blog on is my Pulau Ubin. Here's a little advice to share. If you are not in a situation like 'Mr. James Bond', keep your saving plans simple. You can simply downsize your spending on expensive lunch, luxurious holiday etc. If you are stuck in Singapore, must as well do the best out of it. Go on a Discovery Trip in Singapore! I went to Pulau Ubin (For those unsure ones. Nope. You don't need your passport!) with my friends on a one-day trip to this little island to get a some air away from Singapore (mainland). Comparably, this can't match up to trips to Paris, Hokkaido etc. however it could be a perfect getaway with the right group of people. At least it is something interestingly different and also cheap!

Jack the wild boar

Lunar New Year Trailer Shoot

Just some pictures to share...
(I dislike taking pictures in the dark. I just can't keep my eyes wide for the photos!)

P.S. Thanks for the photos, Joanne!

When Night Fa11s

When Night Fa11s. It's not a typo error. Yes, the two L's in 'Falls' are deliberately replaced with 11 (or eleven). The 11 represents an important time in the story of this short film.

This is my short film, which also took away my many 'first-times'. My first short film, first time smoking, first time revealing too much skin for the camera, first time driving on a trailer, first time acting without lines, first time driving a taxi and more. This short film has taken my many first-times but I believe it is all worth it! The entire shooting process was an awesome experience. The enjoyment of exploring new things, given opportunities to explore craft of acting and bonding with the team like a 'family' were the best takeaways for this project. And not to missed out another takeaway, which is to work with my dearest 'laopo' (wife) for the film, gorgeous Jessica Tan.

These still shots are taken by our dear 'botak' photographer, Brian Ho. An talented photographer which surprised me by the fact that he only believes in using film for his shoot.

2009

Happy 2009! I hope the beginning of 2009 is awesome for you so far. You know.. It hasn't been too good for me. I'm having a hard time burning off the accumulated additional pounds from the holiday season, and still trying to kick the holiday season eating habit as well. Just look at the calender and you will see another 'disaster' around the corner. Lunar New Year will be 'hitting' us in 2 weeks! More ba-kuah, more feast, more tidbits etc. It's time for intensive 'Fight Club' training programme! It's such an irony, isn't it? Human beings love to look good (come on. let's be honest. don't say you don't. just admit it! That's the way!) and at the same time most of us love to indulge on our favourite food. Sometimes when I think about it, human beings are seriously 'programmed' in a such weird way. Well, perhaps it's true that there is always a price to pay for every desire.

Anyway, I realized that it has been 'a while' since updated this blog religiously and my 1st proper entry for the new year after such a long time is all my whining. I've got to apologise for that again. As I reflect upon 2008, I won't say that it was an eventful year for me in a personal level because I was just busy with school and work. However, it felt like the shortest year just zoomed past. I guess it was because it was an eventful year in perspective of a global level. We had so many 'gi-nomous' events one after another, like the Olympics, F1 event, financial crunch, food scare, US election etc. 2008 was fast-paced. All those events kept our mind so occupied that we didn't even realised that time had just sneaked past us quietly.

Everyone or at least most people of the world could be right that the year would most likely be a gloomy one. BUT it doesn't mean that it would be a bad year. It's all up to us to create good time for ourselves or others. I believe we can spend less money yet enjoy the simplest thing in life; say spend more time at home with your family and support our local TV, like watching Channel 8, 9pm Drama 'Reunion Dinner' which I'm acting in. Haha! Jokes aside, you know what I mean. Just keep your head up even at most difficult time alright.

Remember this 'The darkest hour of the night came just before the dawn.' - Paulo Coehlo.

PS. I know I know. I will try to update more.

When Night Fa11s - a Derrick Lui Film

This is my first short film and it took away many of my 'first times' as well. Seriously! There was a bath tub scene and guess what...