If the signage is correct....

.... I'm going on an "Orgasm tour"!



That's because in Langkawi, I get the chance to do snorkelling, watching sunset, sight-seeing...

All of which culminates in this ageless saying for all holiday - "Have fun!"

Totally awed - New species discovery

Totally awed by the read from this website. Somehow feel extremely estacstic that the world is still so beautiful.... but sadly, disappearing fast.

From:
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/*:newspecies&template=new_species

How many species are there?
There are approximately 4,500 species of mammals, 5,500 of amphibians, 8,000 reptiles, 10,000 birds and 30,000 marine species currently recognised by science, and that doesn’t include the untold numbers of invertebrates, bacteria and smaller beings (it is believed that there are 15000-20000 species of butterfly).

On average, 2 new species of fish are found every week, and it is thought that the jungles of the world contain many more amphibians and reptiles than have yet been named. Even now we still get a few new bird species discovered every year, and, amazingly, new species of mammal are still found occasionally.

New discoveries
Recent finds include a new Genus of monkey in Tanzania, a new parrot and forest mouse on a small Philippine island, a 'hairy' lobster (This was a whole new family, not species), a new snake in Vietnam, 5 new frogs and a new newt in Laos, a new stingray in Thailand, a new monkey in India, an unusual spitting spider in Madagascar that lives in family groups, and new sharks off Mexico and Indonesia. Borneo is a hotspot for new discoveries; from 1994-2004 361 new species were found there: 260 insects, 50 plants, 30 fish, 7 frogs, 6 lizards, 5 crabs, 2 snakes and a toad.

Sharing with you one of the links from this website:

Extinct bird, not seen for 100 years, photographed and eaten in The Philippines
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/worcesters-buttonquail.html

March 2009. A rare bird that was believed to be extinct as it had not been seen for more than 100 years has turned up in the Philippines and been photographed for the first time, the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines (WBCP) has reported.

Unfortunately, the bird was eaten shortly after being photographed as no one at the time realised the bird's importance.

The bird, known as Worcester's buttonquail (Turnix worcesteri), was recorded on both video and still photography by a TV documentary team at Dalton Pass in Nueva Vizcaya in January before it was cooked and eaten.

The WBCP hailed the discovery of the Worcester's buttonquail. "We are ecstatic that this rarely seen species was photographed by accident. What if this was the last of its species?" WBCP president Mike Lu said.

Jill Lowe and her killer cookie!

Not that I would have given up by weekend Phuket trip over watching Jill's guest appearance in S Factor, but missing this episode was a tad disappointing. Thanks to You-tube, I can see how Jill killed her participants with her "nice cookie". Hey, was she inspired by Hansel and Gretel?

S Factor

Under the intoxicating influence of SL LLG who has wheedled me into catching S Factor on Sunday night through his colourful illustrations of certain participants, I have decided to do just that.

The late hour of 10 pm and being at Tampines in the comfort of Goodest Friend's home did not dampen any possibility of spotting and crowning the most bimbotic participants of S Factor.

To say that SL LLG's initial introduction of key characters to look out for is minimally helpful is not doing justice to him, for when the screen lept alive, I have in as much brevity as possible, briefed Goodest Friend that in decreasing order of priority - Kris, Sonia, Holly, Michelle and Kay Kay would be my target sights.

Not that Kris is a gorgeous babe; on the contrary, she has been the most infamous underdog as yet to be voted out. No it's not the supraseeding look she possesses (well.. relative to the other participants), but her vacuous retort in the previous debate round has caught the delight of the TV audience by storm. Nor was the fact that she had been a common hate target (and this was made known very publicly) of other girls, but her most blurry lost countenance she exhibited when she answered questions - all of which had been fleshed out by SL LLG's actions in mockery.

Despite that, I do enjoy watching underdogs... and supporting them. So it was to my great dismay that the Holly InaneSense (not Holy Innocents which all the S factor participants clearly lack) of Holly and Kris respectively were to be voted out!
Sonia the pusher came back with a vengeance and she, being the least muzzled of all, will be my next watch!

Susan Boyle The Singer

Haha... Just loved the way Susan wiggled when being patronised by Simon before holding on her own "And that's just one side of me".

A clear slap to the face of age-ist and "look-ist".

Country Road... Take me Home...

..to the place.... I belong..

And long did the journey back to the land of sense and sensibility it took me.

Not yet quite drowned in the sea of work and (mainly) countless tuitions, moments of occassional indulgence did come in the weekends. Summing up a few key fond memories over the past 2 months, not in chronological order nor in order of preference:

(1) Sunset Grill.
We finally decided to hunt down this superbly ulu place in Seletar for the famed buffalo wings and chilling out at the corner of the world. Going with Goodest Friend, and my cousin and his goodest friend (basic math tells you it's 2 pairs for good reason), we cabbed down with instructions at hand to the driver, who understandably would take this assignment with a gulp in his throat at every wrong turn. We made it.

(2) Abi's visit
Another highlight where Abi came to Singapore from New Zealand where she is doing her PhD. My Ox classmate, my right and left hand man and woman (SL LLG and Goodest Friend) had been most accomodating, and had offered to accompany Abi either with me or alone to ensure she has the most enjoyable moment in Sing. That without saying earned Goodest Friend the comment that "I like WH.She's just so easy to talk to. Perfectly the type of girl for me.", and "SL is a very funny guy. It's always fun to have him around". From Goodest Friend who feedbacked "Abi is the most friendlyAng Moh I have ever met. I'm glad she said this is the most enjoyable trip she ever had"
Guess it's the case of all's well ends well.

(3) Breaking the Phuket News
Completely suffocated with swallowing this piece of news for the past 5 months, I decided to do myself a GREAT favour by announcing to the keen listener that she is going on a Phuket tour with me over the little weekend getaway for her birthday!
Speechless was the response.
Then came another sharing that we are going to spend our Saturday at this newly established hotel (http://www.capesienna.com/) where there is a jacuzzi in the room, which overlooks the beach. We decided we are just going to nuah on the beach and be totally incommunicado to the outside world.
The plan all came when Tiger airways had a promotion last year, and I snapped up two tickets to Phuket in November with good faith that Goodest Friend and I still remain bestest all the way up to her birthday. Same plan goes for the Cape Sienna accomodation. Go check out the hotel. Damn coolzzz siah.

(4) Undercover job.
Was really excited at the prospect of helping an organization to nap this guy who has been going around selling endangered animal parts. So was out on certain places and putting on my most trustworthy all-auntie-beguiling face. The moment I see the bugger, I am supposed to appear totally interested in an avuncular manner and slowly coaxing the unsuspecting one to flash out whatever he has. Alas, he did not come on that day. Wasted.

(5) Rock wall climbing
Totally freaked me out when I was doing it with my students for the CCA. Never climbed that far up and it was indeed an "eye opener" - eyes widened upon realising how my fear of heights have prevented me from progressing.
Solid fear.

Some days just don't have recessions

One day, someone by the name of Saint Valentine decided that it would be a most wonderful business model and to public service, to find a day that shall boost the economy irregardless of whether there is a bull run or a bear day. So thanks to him, all of us decades down to road continue to splurge and try to outdo other alpha males in ways more than one to see who can single-handedly boost the economy.

Pathetically, I am one of them. If Daniel Kahneman and Vernon Smith hadn't won the 2002 Nobel economics prize for their studies on irrational decision making behaviour, I would have been well on my way to publish something to that effect. Look, it doesn't make sense to buy flowers and book restaurants at a premium price on every 14th of Feb, but that just happens.

I bit the bait willingly, knowingly and most hopefully. Calling in Pietrasanta Italian Restaurant at Portsdown Road (at Wessex estate), I was told, almost unusually that I should arrive either at 6 pm or 8.15 pm, but not in between. I decided for the former anyway.

It all didn't seem to start off well even before the dinner. I suggested to Goodest Fren that we meet at Clementi and take a taxi to Labrador Park since the street directory says it's close nearby and I wasn't sure if the taxi driver know where Portsdown Road is. The taxi driver was still not clear of where Labrador Park was and made such a huge roundabout that by the time I realised it's not going to work and that perhaps I should try giving him the exact address instead, Lo and Behold! He knew where Portsdown Road was! Saying that it's near Buona Vista, he drove us there. I must have kicked myself because I shouldn't have been so presumptuous and should have told him the exact address before being a smart aleck. Never mind. Treat it as Lesson Numero Uno.

When I arrived promptly with goodest friend at 6, we discovered we were the first to arrive (You know about my occupation hazard that stresses on punctuality). As it turned out, the usual menu didn't apply. They had a standard V Day menu, so it's across the board. Not that we mind, but I just find it disconcerting that they should have two time slots. But being the first to arrive may not necessary means we would be rewarded. You know how the system works. The more efficient one gets penalized.

For some strange reason or so, we were not allowed to change tables despite my request. C'mon, no other guests know about it. Second, other tables with guests who arrived later were served first. What vexed me was when we had to wait 45 min between the appetizer and the main course!! All because they tried to synchronize everybody as late comers were served late, AND we were one of the last to be served.

This was consistent for the coffee and the dessert, to the extent that I had to personally request the waitress time and again (did I mention that we were sitting at the entrance which was not what we wanted and they just couldn't have missed our empty table). Roling my eyes, Goodest Friend was trying to be more assuring but clearly we were on the peripheral.

Goodest Fren even said once she saw this guy behind me raising his hand and telling waitress 1 something about the food. When waitress 1 went to tell Waitress 2, Goodest Fren overheard her murmured "Alamak" with a most sian look.

And yes, we were the last to leave. Thank you very much.

This despite that like the Nan Hwa Ching fish head steamboat, serving the bill was impeccably fast within 20 sec. And all this shit for $130.

Overall, the experience was mediocre at best because the waitresses there were just so inattentive and unorganized. The only thing that cheered me up if only slightly was when Goodest Fren said she quite like the food and the rustic surroundings. But I felt that they have squandered away the good endowment of what the black and white houses and greeneries have on this restaurant. We agree that in future V Day, we would be better off going to have buffet at a typical downtown restaurant and at least we can eat to our hearts content. For picturesque and remote expriences, leave it to non-V Day. Leson Numero Dos.

Still feeling peckish, Goodest Fren and I decided to go to Clarke Quay TCC to have our drinks and some fried calamari. Chatting through the remaining of the evening, we finally agreed that despite all that had happened, it was still quite a memorable one.

And oh, should you decide to patronise the restaurant and the nearby Cicada (which I think is even more fantastic) during non-peak hours, take to Buona Vista MRT, and then take 191. Cicada and another one up the hill are great watering holes, ut take note, the last bus leaves on the early side of 8, so be prepared to cab.

P.S. Incidentally, Sunday Times page 14 just clarified that it should be Saint Raphael whom singles should be praying to and not Saint Valentine, who is more of a patron for attached/married couples. St Raphael was the one credited for solving the crisis of lonely hearts.