What a difference a week make....

This weekend felt particularly lethargic...and down..maybe its pms.
Ran so slow in the morning that I felt I was going nowhere. Can't remember when was the last time I encounter the same thing..maybe back in 2005?

Was thinking about checking with boss whether I can go back sg. But the chances that he will prompt is what I'm doing now. Either he will scout around work that need to be done ( which are many messy things) or he will think they no longer need me. I doubt the latter cause they still need someone to oversee the dealing desk portion of the new software but nothing much need to be done. .Its already near Aug..just 3 to 4 more months I will be free, not sure whether I should risk my bonus now. If I go back to sg without bonus or work waiting for me, I think there will be more bickering to come instead of less. Trading was ok..if talking of it as investment, I'm doing well. But not in terms if I want to live off it. It will be passable, but not ideal. *sigh*

I'm tired... not sure exactly what is it... just tired.

Fireworks...

Been back in Vietnam about 1 week...still remember how last Sunday we went to have prata for breakfast then went to petfarm to shop then Bedok to eat...so nice. It was a relatively more pleasant trip this time round. Finally to get to see mini fatty bom bom real life...so cute...especially the sound she made when she ran passed us. Haha...cant wait to play with her again.

Dango mentioned last night there was fireworks and it reminded that must be the NDP rehearsal. However , it was only this morning that i remember how we passed last year NDP period. I still remember we met after work at Marina Sq to watch fireworks and only missed 1 or 2 performances. Unfortunately, this year, I think probably we will missed many since I'm only back 7 Aug. *sigh*... but good thing is that I be back for about 6 days.

Work wise, I think July will be more eventful and maybe my benefactor have finally appeared. I have the possibility of running a small fund myself and if successfully impressed with the results, I will have the bargaining power to request to come back to Sg and still can trade for them. Trading have been relatively stable since I discovered the Map and hope things stay this way.

Busy week...

This week passed by fast. Everyday is wake 6am ,rush for the morning meeting..monitor sg trades. Analyse US trades. Do report. Go prop team meeting. Finish US research. Start SG analysis. Go home, no time for dinner, prepare for US trading. Finish up SG analysis. SLEEP.

This is why I love my weekends jus lazing at home. Sadly these two days haven't been sleeping well. Think its the silk bedsheets and over hyperactivity. Really miss going out with Dango and relaxing. The most is 6 more months to go. Can't wait to see cookie also...v fast 2 more weeks and I'm back in sg again....

Cookieeee

Its the 1st weekend after I came back from Singapore on monday..finally a time for me to catch a breather. So much happening....the markets going crazy; more work to be done in the office etc ...and of course Dango bought COOKIE! She is so adorable when I see her on webcam and cant wait to play with her real life but I think she will be very wary of me.

Its good that Dango now have cookie to entertain her and I think she won't miss me liao and everyday she will be missing cookie at home....*bleah* But the real thing is that now I know why people say long distance relationship is really hard, even with msn or skype , things are still hard cause nothing actually replace face to face conversation and physically togetherness. Many miscommuncation over msn cause one can't see the face or know the tone of words written.
But hopefully things will at least be better or maintain till I get back end of the year..6 more damn mths. Hmmm....too bad that I can't shop with dango for Cookie stuff ...but when I come back , we can bring our pet kid to jalan and patoh..haha....

The reminds me of.....

Watching the celebrity Journals show on Travel and living featuring Marisa Tomei..reminds me so much of Dango : long dark hair, fair fair skin and dark set features....just the type I like. Made me miss her ...miss her antics..miss the way she moves, the way she eats...especially the old times with her long hair...Hmm..guess next time when I go back..her hair will be longer ... =) ~~~

BIG rice cracker...

Saw this a few times but didn't really tempted to buy cause it looks plain to me till a colleague bought and let me try.It was clean and crunch cause its not fried but hot airpoped i think. They eat it with meal dishes sometimes too.

Another long time classic ....

Been sometimes since i posted classic things that you say ( on msn ) that make me laugh.....

Scenario :

Been chatting about my trading and the market going down.....

She says:hmm...... then u better stop playing for a while...
She says:if not i think i will have to cut up moo and meh for us to eat liao..
Finque says:eat wat?
finque says: cottom balls ah?
She says:eat the furs...

My bedside table....

Was just lazing on the bed on a lazy Sun afternoon and with my hp handy , just thought I take a pic of my junky bedside table.

Hmm...my "timing" can't be more "auspicious" hor...

A Wonderful start to a Sunday....

Had a very nice sleep last night...one of the rarer ones cause usually I will wake around 6am due to the bright sun and noise. But I had a very restful sleep last night and only rouse around 9.30am and nice to lie in the bed awhile before I head our for a run. Weather was nice too..not too sunny and not raining cause it has been raining the whole day yesterday.
The greatest part is that I fried bacon for breakfast...heavenly smell. Glad I changed my mind about cooking tastless mifen again. The next best thing is to watch my favourite show on Travel & Living introducing Perth while having my nice breakfast and siping iced coffee. Hmm... I didn't know Perth suburban actually had some very good beach. Nice...will make our way there...will enjoy the long drive with Dango... Hmm..miss Dango particularly this weekend though...hmmmm

Need to clear my jagged thoughts....

Finally Friday is here. It is so sad to live this way to keep looking forward to weekends...alone.

Been thru a traumatic day..cant imagine the panic that kept gripping me today from night till lunch till end. And I simply don't understand the people here.. It is so messed up..maybe only for me. Cause I like things to be predictable and certain.

But there are nice people here....but I am just not in the mood for anything but to get my trading on track. It is right in concept but needs fine tuning execution wise. I see people and I wonder why I can't enjoy life as they do. .,...

Miss dango...but she is out dating The Phantom. Hmmm....

Cooling day ..surprising

Been back since weds after spending 1 week with Dango...Time really flies after last friday..weekend just zoom by...everyday with Dango was great...had all my fave food while i was back ...think i gained a few pounds.

Sentosa was ok and the Luge was fun cause I WIN DANGO...haha...even when I stopped to wait for her, I STILL win her. *bleh*


Office was as dreadful as before..but at least I make it to another week.
Good old weekend..lucky for me today was a cooling day as it rained abit in the morning...but before that it was as scorching as ever when I did my run.

Hmm...watch a nice show on tv and slowing doing my analysis...peace.

ELLE

Just read an article in ELLE May copy called "Skinny Fat" and its says when the fats began to form at your waist and cause you to have a thick waist is because you are stressed. No wonder I have a pot belly although I'm generally slender. It says for normal weight gain, fats will go to the bum and arms but for me, its always the belly. And to make things worse, when stressed, people ( me included) tends to go for fatty food which made things worse. And the solution, to chill out. Yes, to simply relax. No wonder when I'm more relaxed, I tend to eat less of those snacks at night. Hmmmmm.....

Then, it says laughing , sleep , hugging and kissing will reduce stress...hmm...hvn't had much of those since I was here. Hmmmmmmmm....no wonder Dango also complains that she seem to be have thicker waist..we are suffering the same symptoms. With Dango initally....was relaxed no matter what...but stress builds up when one grows older it seems....Hmm...have to think of ways to chill out.

A cafe called Peaches

In a cafe near my apt called Peaches. Heard that it was opened by a Singaporean and it sells Chilli crab. A set of Chilli crab with watermelon juice is only $5 SGD. Maybe I will try it later.

Was intending to have a quiet day at home till my landlord says he is coming home with some friends to cook. Didn't feel very comfortable so I came out but to see them talking so lively in the living room, bitching about another friend of theirs and little things make me long for such gathering. I have almost forgottern how its like to hang out with people. There are ABC gal and an chinese australian guy. They looked cool people with foreign accents and all and somehow I feel I can't fit into them. Been feeling this way since I arrived here. Last night dinner with the huge bunch of people are the same. There are singaporeans, americans, and many viet kieus but to me its more like business networking. I just feel that I might not have change my mindset to fit into the upper class living here. Actually if work is somehow to my liking as well as leave me alone to do my things, the living here is actually good when you are an expats. That is what i suspect what draws those expats here. *sigh* There are really many opportunities here cause things are quite lacking in terms of talented skills. I could easy set up a website doing stocks..if not you have the right people. The locals do not have the skills which is where the viet kieus come into the picture. Its a slow process. To live here and use their cheap resources is good, to work with them is another thing.

Sometimes I feel so doomed. Like why can't I like other people. I seem to avoid people. To totally shut them out. I was thinking was I always like this? In secondary school? In JC? I seem to be suddenly so withdrawn.. Is it normal that I don't feel the need to be in the company of people? Or is it at my age , its norm to not being able to make friends easily. Or maybe I so used to be alone that I'm more happy being alone. But yet on 1 hand, I know its not good but maybe I have lost the skills to talk with people. Or maybe its the price to pay to be able to strike gold. With my trading, it really enables me to make a very good living without depending on anyone at all. Maybe my personality seeks out a vocation like trading or is it trading that make me a hermit...hmmmm...

THE SAHARA DESERT

This is taken on my way back. See those tall buildings? My apt is ard there...that's how far I walked from this afternoon under the scorching sun. Lucky I waited till sun set to walk back or else I think I will be cooked halfway on the highway back.

Lazy sweaty saturaday.....

Woke up and had my run as usual....it was nice to finally have a nice cup of coffee while watching Tavel & Living introducing Best Beaches... *daydream* Then while channel surfing, a movie caught my eye and lucky I continue watching as its the movie CASINO..it was good..capitavate me that I delay going out of the house to the cafe even though it is damn hot in the apt. Got a msg that I will be alone till night anyway, so no hurry to go to the internet cafe. The show is kind of like showing how a mafia group who actually have a good thing going with so much money coming in but everything just fall apart when greed and idlness come into the picture. I was more interested in how the mafia boss treated his wife , a ex hooker so nice with so much money and jewelleries but still she want to hang around another useless man. Hmm...

I heard there was a Highland coffee at dist 7 where I lived and I was curious to where is it as it could save me from going downtown everytime. So I asked around and people point me to a direction, giving me the impression that its not far. Yeah right, I am in that cafe right now and I felt I just cross the SAHARA DESERT! Really...I think they feel its very near cause they are all refering to scootering. Hmm..anyway, I thought the cafe will be deserted since on the way I don't see many people but I'm wrong. Its so strange that people will find their way to civilizationh some how some way. It is not as crowded as in the downtown where I have to wait for a table. Well, like me, I think many people would kill for some airconditioning.

I was thinking that exactly a week ago, I was still with Dango ...and we had breakfast at Boon Keng ..carrot cake and chwee kueh...hmm..so fast...but in another 10 days, I'm going back again. But I worried that after April, it might not feel as fast. Haiz...

Think I will take my super slow speed and do my things...

Can't help it...

About 1 hr to knocking off in the office, but I have been having wandering thoughts since afternoon. Usually I will blog only during the weekend cause that’s when I have plenty of time to kill.
Anyway…I keep thinking times when I am with you… like going places during the weekend.. then I also think about last weekend when I came back.. and I remember how we kissed … and kissed. Hmm… hope to have more of that soon.
( ) ___ ( )
( ^ oo ^ )
---->! <-- Saliva

Yay yay...counting down to HOME

Tml taking a morning flight back to SG to be with Dango for 3 days!! So happy...looking so forward to it.

Was at a clinic doing medical checkup when it reminds me of times in sg...whenever, whichever is it...be it a man by a lorry..it will remind me times in sg when i see such scene. Cause maybe the clinic has angmo, japanese etc and they all communicate thru English as if its very normal. It is a comforting scene I suppose, so much so as it reminds me of SG.

While walking back, I passed Rex Hotel. Remembered that time when Dango came with me and she told me her dreams about Rex Hotel. Hmmm...can't wait to cuddle with her while watching DVDs I bought here...it will be like old times. Ahhhhh.....can't wait! CAN"T WAIT!

Finally moving to apt...

Just checked out of the hotel and I'm going to move into the apt I'm sharing with a colleague's friend later on. Meanwhile in a cafe, killing time.

Got some photos to post for this week as usual.





My sandal seem like giving way any moment so lucky I remember I saw this pair of shoe near the Russian Market. The Russian market is actually just a floor of few shops in a 3 storey high Lucky Plaza. They sell mostly sports wear that are mainly fakes i think as well a shop selling thick winter wear. I bought this pair not at the Russian market, but just 2nd floor the plaza. There seem more things..and wow, I saw a very nice Bugalri watch that I think I can get it at about $40SGD..really cool but I don't know whether I should buy anot hmm.....something wrong with my Bygalri spelling I know. Wait for Dango to correct me ...




Saw this pack of sugar cane at the supermarket one night after work and bought it cause its a long long time since i chew on sugar cane! I think it was the last time I went to China with my mum in 1993... Anyway, I finished the whole pack at one go and felt like sugar overdose like that..not a good feeling though. 20 cents of cheap thrill.






This is the packet of something that looked like small tomatoes but they are not. Kinda nice..never ate b4 and it came with a small pack of their usual dip w fruits- salt+ chilli+sugar .









I also had a swell time opening up a coconut with my trusty Daiso knife in my hotel toliet sink! It was good though but after finishing the whole coconut I was pretty dizzy..... It cost 60cents only.











Hmm..but overall this week is not good. Don't know why..just feel very bad, like depressing like that. I'm no longer feeling cheery about things even though I try. I just feel very sian and sickening. At office is like the locals can't seem to be able to carry a decent mutually understandable conversation. So much so that I don't try to talk often. No doubt they feel I'm anti-social but I find that I don't care. Not that they are not important but I find that I too tired to care. I was supposed to go Hanoi for 5 days training but cause I'm coming back to SG next fri , I can't go and the boss seem not too happy about it. Just too bad. But I also don't know whether I should go. It have nothing to do with my present job BUT if I intend to join the other company in 2 months, then the training will be good for me.But now I don't even know where will I be then.



Was thinking in bed after being rudely woken up by the music in the hotel this morning whether it was a right decision to come vietnam anot. If given a chance, I think I would think or at least plan things abit differently. 1st of all , the bonus I gave up is only worth it if I hang in vietnam till year end, if not, I would have been better off to hang in there in my old company for 1 more mth plus then quit and shake leg. I should have asked for a signup bonus and at least things didn't work out, I can go back without regret. But I thought the exposure would be good, as I'm stagnating in sg. And the money is matching providing I get the bonus at the end of the year. But if I don't find a way to see things differently, weekdays are going to kill me. On the other hand, I try to imagine will I be happier in SG if I go back without a job...hmm..

Even though I'm 1 week closer to meeting Dango after 1 month of separation, I don't feel as cheerio as last week. Maybe I'm pmsing. I also think coming down with something. But of cos I'm happy to see her, I think I'm just blogged down by current state of things.

A short entry in e middle of the day

Just feel so stale. Not that there is nothing here to interest , but I just feel dead. No interesting conversation here. Either with people who don’t understand what you talking about , if not, its about work culture and ambitious. I miss the talking about rubbish and nonsense with Dango. Like what she said , a nice chat. A nice chat about anything at all is a nice chat. Just watching tv is nice with Dango. Now? Got many shows on cable here, but its just so boring to me. Just to get by another day to me. I feeling more and more tired day by day, by the idiocracies here and a lack of intelligent conversations. And very soon, my isolation will be taken as a sign of weakness and to be mocked at. Seriously I think Vietnamese are persistent people…in a way stubborn and impatient but they do want to get things done fast. However, the irony is that they are impatient when they don’t know what you are trying to do or say – especially when you are trying to tell them their mistakes. When they finally realized it, they will just laugh. Well, nobody is laughing with them though.

So tired......and doggies galore!!!

Back in a internet cafe after a hiatus of 2 weeks. Thought my time in internet cafe are over once I moved into a apt but who knows Im on the move again barely after 10 days of stay cause my roomate didn't manage to continue the lease on time ....Don't think she knows what she wants. But it could be a blessing in disguise cause if not, I think I need to put up with her even longer! Can't stand the stinking sink with all her unwashed dishes as well as needing to fight with her for internet. And with the maid only coming once in a week, the place is actually pretty messy and unkept.

Anyway, I found a room at Phu My Hung today sharing with the guy owner recommended by a colleague. It's cheap and good considering he is hardly home plus there is no lease involved, thats what I like best. BUT the room is only available after 6th April, so meanwhile I have to find some place to stay temporaily. I went to the backpacker district where I stayed with Dango during out last trip. I thought I could make it. But after looking at a few, climbing the forever endless stairs, my legs are actually wobbly already. The cheapest I can find with what I need decently is $13 USD a day. Considering I need to stay 10 days, its $130USD. However, the environment kind of put me off. It like walking with a $#!@ target on my forehead with biketaxi drivers harrassing non-stop. The only good things is that the food options there are endlless as well as cheap laundry. Laundry is one of my main concern but if I can put up with 15 days of no laundry serivice previously, I'm sure I can put up with 10 days. Oh yah, surprising is that the lady at theYellow House Hotel remembered me as I stayed there 4 mths ago! I thought she won't remember me but she did. I still like her English..it is so hard to come by. Sometimes I readlly can't stand their English. My other option is the hotel near my present apt now. It's $15 USD a day but the environment and condition are better with wireless internet so I don't need to fret over internet everynight. It's quieter also as it is an expat district. And when I moved to the guy's place, it will also be more convenient. I think I will move into that, and I will take a look at their rooms when I get back today.

Ok, back to what I wanted to post which I can't cause the neighbour wireless seem to anti blogger.com.

This is their "Bao" , I scout for 1 for my lunch one day and it cost $1 sgd but it's huge. Not bad..with a salted egg inside with the meat somemore.

One day, another colleague gave out these around our dept..Hmm..those brown "big peanut" lookalike is actually tamarind. Its nice. They are sold in SG too but they would have taken the flesh inside out and packaged them instead of the raw form. This is the 1st time I see how Tamarind looks like. The green "dumpling" is actually meat w gluttonious rice but it taste quite horrible. Hm btw when they say with meat, it usually mean meat fats. Horrible again.

I also saw how dragon fruit plant is grown. Have you even though is dragonfruit grown on a tree or wat. It is a strange looking plant but too bad I don't have the picture.

This is one of the grocery trip result. Guess how much for all these - half a pineapple and 3 yogurts? $1.20 sgd.

The pug in e cage is at one of the aquarium shop near my apartment. Its quite cute actually when you go near it cause it's wagging its tail nonstop. Dango says his eyes too bulging..hmm..I thought all pugs got bulging eyes...

I encountered the white dog during my early morning runs. I guess it belongs to local cause it looks unkept and it was running around freely. When it 1st saw me, it was wary as I stop to take a picture of him. The funny thing was that when I did my 2nd run throught the same street, he saw me from afar and ran towards me. We are like running towards each other like a lovers like that...but when it gets near me, he stopped and wait...haha. The 3rd picture is just of a owner walking 2 dogs in the morning. One is a chihuahua which I think too small in the picture, the other looks like a spaniel mixed.

ok, that it for all pictures at the moment.

I quite like the current cafe as its very normal for a single person to plong down and suft net and no one would raise an eyebrown. In sg, I think they would look at you when you come in alone and sit for long.

OH yah, I also bought our favourite "carrot cake" when I passed Ben Thanh market today. the shop now is like quite popular with tourists stopping for a taste. I haven't eat it yet, I'm going to bring back and add an extra egg and heat up in the microwave. Yum yum!!

I went into the Ben Thanh market as I try to see if I can get a pair of pumps but its too hot and I was so tired so I gave up after awhile...

Hmm...hope to be able to chat with Dango tonight...