to all the lovely people who were concerned..

Dog will be absolutely fine. Took her to the vet today, turns out it was just a genetic skin disorder that was tiring her out cos she was scratching so much. The change in her demeanor was a shock to everyone. I just hope fatigue from scratching too much is really the cause.

Slow down Dog... Please don't get any older. I noticed its getting harder for you to sit and lie down. I will take you to the vet. You're only 7 years old. I don't know what i'd do without you.

driving test in 5 days *bites nails*

Friday's driving lesson was terrible. I decided to wear shoes on a whim cos I thought it wouldn't be good idea to go barefoot on my TP, and boy was that the biggest mistake ever. My familiarity with clutch was completely fucked. Killed my confidence completely. I shall redeem myself during my lesson tomorrow.

It's not the end of the world if I fail, but I will be VERY bitter about it. So on my test date, barefoot it is. The worst part is that my instructor's flying off to China for holiday 2 DAYS BEFORE MY TP, and I can't use his car for the test! So i'm gonna be using some other instructor's Vios instead for my test! I just hope the clutch sensitivity is similar.

Wah just thinking about it gets me nervous. I need to check my blindspots even if I don't need to, and shouldn't keep pressing the accelerator too hard. But anyway, I googled some test tips to see if any other Singaporeans had their experiences to share, and I came across the STOMP forums. Some replies are just hilarious la.

" my advice to would be drivers is to be composed, confident and control & feel the car and the driver as a single entity. Feel intigrated with the CAR!! "

" Only crash victims feel integrated with the car. "

" Drive it like u normally would in Daytona! Vrooom....and do a 180 degree turn....stun the instructor! " <--- I cracked up really bad at this.

" den those who takin bikel license nid to go both road and circuit ah,if road the how mus tompang the tester ah,will lk dam funny if nid to do tt "

Hahahah tumpang the tester.

I just caught the Last King of Scotland. Pretty good movie, and it's not meant to be a documentary. I decided to check it out at IMDB, and I found this pretty interesting article on one of the forum threads.


"

Don't cry for Africa



For quite a few years now, Africa has been the West's flavour of the month. Whether it's in Making Poverty History, or adopting wide-eyed babies from one of the continent's 53 countries, it is very hip to talk aid. And to talk Africa.

Darfur is finally getting some attention in the mainstream press, but as always, there looms that danger of the entire continent paying a price for one tragedy. The image of Africa has always been one of doom, gloom and despondency.

Celebrities and their causes, which are accessorised by over-the-top concerts have resulted in a definite increase in the number of words in the newspapers and air-time on TV.

But, more often than not, the news is bad. And Africa continues to suffer as a consequence of this repeated portrayal of its negative side.

Treated as a monolith instead of realising the potential within 53 countries, Africa is being "Darfurdised" in the mainstream media. The genocide in one part, leads to a negative perception of other parts that not only have enormous potential, but are also fairly prosperous.

The African continent has more than 900 million people and it is true that there are a few unnecessary deaths. However, it is the same in countries such as India and China.

As an example, malnutrition in children under five in India, is at about 46 per cent, making it worse off than sub-Saharan Africa. And yet, it is being endlessly courted as a yummy economy, with investment pouring in.

Of the 47 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, how many have active conflicts? At last count it was Sudan, Chad, Uganda, the DR Congo and Somalia.

According to economists, last year, Africa recorded its highest GDP in 20 years. Also, 16 African countries have positive sovereign credit ratings. It is reported - not widely of course - that Botswana's is higher than Japan's, but it still fails to realise its potential of foreign investment.

Change direction

For far too long, the voices of celebrities such as Bono and Bob Geldof have spat out figures of deaths by malaria, HIV and malnutrition.

It is, of course, thanks to them that the continent received some of TV's lights. However, it is high time that their rants changed direction and started talking of Africa's potential instead of its poverty.

Africa is not a continent of war-torn refugees, infected with HIV and living under a dollar a day.

Africa in the 21st century, is a continent that has doubled its mobile phone and internet use every year - for the last seven years. The amount of foreign capital entering it is higher than the amount of foreign aid.

While the intentions of aid are noble, the results have shown the creation of lazy governance and bad bureaucracies that are neither responsible nor accountable.

Like India and China, whose people immigrated westward but returned, the same trend is observed in Africa. Africans are now returning to what they see and believe as a land and time of opportunity. Brimming with ideas and enthusiasm, they're singing the same song as Bono and Geldof. But, the lyrics are different.

They don't want to Make Poverty History. They want to Make Africans Rich.

The people of Africa are slowly gaining a voice on the international stage. For quite a while, there has been a growing distaste at the manner in which their people have been represented. It has generated charitable donations.

However, at a recent African conference, Ugandan journalist Andrew Mwenda, best summed it up when he asked: "What man or nation has ever become rich by holding out a begging bowl?"

Africa today, needs trade. Fair trade. Why not for instance, campaign for letting African cotton farmers compete fairly in Western markets instead of asking for aid?

As another example, the African film industry is at an interesting crossroads. Young filmmakers and talent are desperate and bursting to tell stories that aren't about starvation and genital mutilation.

Their stories are set in real Africa and are told in an honest way without stereotyping and showing the promise of a people that want to move on. And away from the poverty tag.

However, when it comes to financing from Western powerhouses, it is the films that conform to a pre-determined notion of what Africa is about that are smiled at and blessed with capital.

The Other Africa is quite different from the one we're used to reading about and seeing on TV. Its children are sprightly and not sick with flies sticking to their faces. Its men and women are resourceful and not refugees. And its landscapes are quite simply, stunning.

It is this Africa that needs to be celebrated. Not the way we want to. But the way it really is.




By Vinita Bharadwaj, Special to Gulf News

Published: August 02, 2007, 23:15. Vinita Bharadwaj is an independent writer based in Dubai.


"
source

I love to read articles that teach a different perspective and makes you question them. I'm starting to sound like a GP teacher, but i've always been known to disagree with a lot of things. But of course you can't disagree out of your ass, it has to be backed up by facts. And of course, consider the other point of view. There's a pro with every con.

This is partially the reason why my body clock is royally fucked. I can read till I fall asleep, with my mouth hanging open and my hands still on the keyboard of my Fujitsu.

merry smelly xmas!

Its 6.42am and we just got done.

Everything went really well, went a bit overboard with the quantity of BBQ food though. Just family and friends close to my heart. After the grand carving of the turkey (Ordered from Giant) by Ma, we finished dinner and played taboo till 12am. Opened presents, everyone got something. Bought special things for everyone, just to get a laugh out of it and stuff they'd (hopefully) definitely have a use for.

Ma bought me a Kipling bag! It's really really nice, the kind you can carry anywhere and it's the perfect size i've been looking for. I can finally return her imitation Coach bag (I don't use it cos it's 'Coach', I just like the size la). 2009 Spongebob calender from Ash, fancy Aladdin pants from Raksha that she bought from India <3

Played some Wario Ware on the Wii for awhile. Talked nonsense, sat down and played Blackjack for HOURS till about.... 4am. Bought more ciggs, bitched and talked till we heard the 6am bird, and finally called it a night.

Didn't drink at ALL surprisingly, despite the many bottles of wine and Bailey's from Raushan! Who might've been a tad disappointed we didn't drink, sorry sweetie! This weekend okay.

Really had a lovely time. Espesh Yigang helping me with the BBQ and all, what i'd do without you! Enjoyed all the warm happy moments too, it means a lot to me for those who came.

Pa spent the entire day on Ash's present. What he did basically was fix up police lights, the red and blue ones with a police siren in the centre, to a stand with switches for the two so he could turn his room into a scene out of Cops whenever he feels like it.

This year's Christmas was... Quaint. The sky's getting brighter now. Hope everyone has an awesome Christmas! :D

less than perfect christmas

Hmm, this year's end looks a bit blah. We only put up the tree and everything about 2 days ago, house is still in a mess, Mom is still a mess. But we'll still go ahead with the annual Christmas partay for shor.

Purple is the colour of the season for me. Got my eyebrows and nails done. Next up.... Purple highlights! Yeah...

Due to Christmas shopping money's been running like water out of the bank. On the flipside i've been spending time with lovely people.

Need to finish a bit more maybe today. Dessert and shopping with Asri yesterday was hilarious. I realized a really bitchy side of myself that doesn't rear its head too often.

Oh and turns out... I will be leaving MID-FEB. I need to be in school 19th February, and then 26th for orientation. So by the 17th would be good. This might mean i'd have to miss Valentine's Day, but I don't want to! :(

So it's either Vday and I leave on a weekday, or no Vday and I leave on the weekend. UGH

Leave on weekday - can celebrate Vday.
Leave on weekend - more people can come say bye, including NS goons.

Sigh.

Stalin yet again tried to escape. This time he got stuck halfway, and started squeaking his ratty butt off. I got a shock and tried to pull him out or push him back through but he just started squeaking and thrashing around more (but didn't try to bite me despite the pain and discomfort). He wiggled around and squeaked a bit more, before giving in and just slumped hanging down halfway out the cage.

I yelled out in shock and grabbed a couple of towels from the cupboard so I could grip him better, and slowly pulled him out through the bars. I chucked him back in the cage and just sat there.... dazed. The ordeal made me tear up, I just couldn't imagine if anything happened to him at that moment with me right there.

Gah. What a week, and it's only just begun. I hope our Christmas dinner lightens everything up.

chiang mai part 2! yay!

Okay, I know. Finally it's done in one huge goddamn post. These are the rest of the photos from Chiangmai, again quite summarised. I might upload more on Facebook, I might not. Anyway, from what I can remember - our first day at the Resort had us trooping down a mountain that had spectacular view that was in part 1, so this is just a continuation of that.


Golden buddha right at the top of the mountain! It was damn beautiful.


Mountains and a pagoda on the same ridge, as the sun sets.


Long roller coaster-like walk down. Seriously.


At the pick up point. I thought the walk was never gonna end.


Temple facing the river. Was getting pretty dark by this time.

Next day we headed to the school, most of the photos were with students so here's... two. The school i'd think is pretty well off, despite it being in 'no man's land' (area between Myanmar and Thailand, and the people that occupy this area are called Shans). On average they get 4 schools a month painting, donating and teaching if i'm not wrong.

I was very disappointed with the level of interaction between the students and the kids. Took a lot of direction from me, even though it wasn't really my job to do that. I figured i'd help out anyway.


I think they were copying lyrics for Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.


One of the students leading a class.

Next morning the group was split in two - one would head to the river, the other would head to an orange plantation, an agroforest and rice harvesting. There were only 3 teachers, so I let them assign themselves and join whoever was alone. I thought the next day i'd be going to the river cos we'd be switching BUT NOOO!


The view at breakfast.


Thanaton Orange Plantation uh.. Boat.


Driving past row after row of orange trees.


And then some.


Orange trees grow on slopes, so we headed up the slope to the highest point of the plantation for a spectacular view.


Cos these shoes have been everywhere.

Next up... the agroforest. It's basically a forest put together from scratch cos previously the land was very badly utilized. So people came in and planted all sorts of proper foresty plants to restore it back to what it was many moons ago.


Bryan (one of the owners of the resort) took us through the forest.


I thought this was interesting to shoot - bamboo harvesting.


Chopping away all the little branches for one smooth bamboo pole.


My favourite stop along the agroforest - the pigsty! Cos they were really cute. And they didn't smell at all. This sty used the 'Korean method' if i'm not wrong, using grain husks as bedding as it absorbs the pee and poop and smell very effectively and is much cleaner and healthier for the piggies.


Damnnn cute. Their faces are full of expression, like people, I swear.


Emo-looking black pig.


They get really excited when people come to visit too.

This particular pig had a world of personality. I wanted to take it home.





Huge-ass lactating momma pig.

Went back for lunch, and prepped for rice harvesting after. Our translator and guide, Q (for short, it's a nickname), had already bought the sickles and gloves. There weren't any song taews at the resort carpark but there was this...


Huge refugee truck used to transport.. refugees.


Just had to.


Freshly harvested rice.

The next day was the 2nd and last day at the school. Turns out they were having sports day! So it was a huge celebration with everyone dressing up. The school even has a marching band, although small.


All the various house colours assembled.


School principal and the admins.




This kid wanted to show me a little attitude.


Until his friend told him to smile. Pretty evil-looking though. Haha.

Adorable cheerleaders, dancing to the Thai version of a Vengaboys song.





While the kids went off for their various track events, the students finally had a chance to finish painting the school. I was really hoping there'd be enough time for them.





The next day, the geography groups switched. But sadly I didn't get to go to the river even though the students said it was beautiful, cos a teacher insisted on going again :(


Super spider webs.


These were freaky, hanging into the path here and there. It hooked on one of the student's pants so I helped her get it off, only to get nicked by one of the spikes.


This was my first strange cow encounter. Thailand has the friendliest cows! This one walked right up to me and tried licking my hand. I decided to give it a good scratch behind its ears. As I was walking off I heard a strange sound and hooves, turns out she had pulled herself free from being tied to a pole and was following me. I ran to tell Bryan about the roaming cow and he told me not to worry cos it probably couldn't get very far anyway. Hmm.


This dog was a real trooper. He followed us through the entire trail.


Again, 2nd stop at the pigsty.



And another round of rice-harvesting. I decided not to join them on the field again, cos this time around their field was surrounded by a moat, which had no bridge. It was shallow... but hella muddy.






Because everyone was so filthy and I was the only clean one, Q let me sit in front! Yay!


The path was so bumpy it was damn difficult to take this.


Q brought them to the Maekok river bank in the town area so they could wash off the mud.





After this they continued to splash around, until Q had to start flicking dog poo into the river. There was dog poo just by the bank, so he took a stick and started flicking it in. It would float downstream in their direction. They all started screaming and clambering out of the river. It was hilarious.

On our 2nd last day, it was soil studies with Rhys (geog instructor) followed by a visit to the nearby Shan village with Bryan


The King's Royal Agricultural Project. Students did their soil studies here.




It was really beautiful. And the weather was fantastic!


I stepped in a muddy puddle. And the colour of it resembled poo.


A small stream where students collected water.

After lunch we headed to the Shan village. Now THIS village was poor. Very much like Kok Daung village in Battambang, Cambodia.

Handmade Shan scarves, shawls, tablecloths, shirts. I bought a pretty bluish silver scarf for 300 baht. Which is about SGD15? That is CHEAP.




Traditional looms used to make the various items.








There were chicks running all over the place.


My other strange cow encounter. As I was approaching her, she walked right up to me and moo-ed. She looks like she's saying something here.

The village was filled with free-roaming animals and children climbing trees. It was beautiful, but sadly they were living in destitution. The income gaps are pretty huge here too, just a short ride away there were much bigger houses. But one important thing was that... the people looked happy.

It was the last night that i'd be around. And during my stay I made some awesome friends. We decided to head across the road to At Sally's for drinks.


Love the roof and lights.


Sangsom - Thailand's very own rum that tasted like pure ethanol.


Charlotte - a 23 year old graduate who works as a instructor at the resort. Her sense of humour is amazing, and I love how blunt she is.


Neelum, a half indian half english girl taking a gap year before she starts university. Interesting thing is, Rosie (Bryan's wife) thought we were related cos she lives in Wokingham (where my aunt lives if you can remember), but was born in Singapore. We're not, but we have a lot in common. She's got all sorts of family in Singapore, and she's finished in Chiang Mai so I think she's already here.


Charlotte took this. I gained a bit of weight by this time. :P


Rhys, the geography instructor. Didn't really hang out much with him tho.


Taking one of herself.


Pretty lamps in the hut we got to sit in.

Our last day..


One last look at the awesome resort.


Before we left we had an hour long boat ride on the Maekok River.




Low-lying cloud beyond the mountain.


The bridge in town.




We headed as far in as we could go, till we reached a string that said no entry. Because beyond that is Burmese territory.


So we turn around and I got this shot of trainee buddhist monks getting on boats to go somewhere. In Chiang Mai apparently boys have to go through a compulsory year of being a monk. Something like national service maybe? I'd better look it up tho.




One last look at the mountains in the distance...


Just had to get a shot with Q, who's a cutie. :D