Awesome merlion ad

Brings back memories of working in the advertising industry. Really hits the agency-client relationship right on the nail. haha.




A hilarious ad involving the Merlion. Gotta love that.

The King who lost his crown

So recent news has been dominated by the death of MJ. I was kinda sad when i heard, no kidding. I was genuinely shocked to hear of it. i mean people die all the time, but what was different was that it was MJ man!!! i guess we expect our legends to live forever. Although his legend and godlike status have been ripped to shreds over the past decade by his child abuse charges. A tragic end for the king who ruled the stage for over 3 decades.

RIP.

Onion

The only news broadcast worth watching.

Toby Imada - Submission of the Year

Submission of the year on Bellator V. The new promotion putting on some good fghts. Inverted triangle, probly the forst time anyones ever pulled that move off in a professional MMA match, awesome to see.

Pacman gobbles up the Hitman

After all the trash talking is done, the big fight for once did not disappoint. Manny may just be the little big man to re-ignite interest in the sweet science of boxing. Beautiful one punch knockout on Hatton, whose star is fast fading.

Sigur Ros

I had the priviledge not too long ago of ticking off one of my life's list of things i need to do before i die. I finally attended a Sigur Ros concert in Sydney, having previously flown to Melbourne to watch their collaborative effort in an interpretive dance performance. It was very interesting, but no where close to the mesmerising performance they put on in sydney, where they played songs from their then upcoming album Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Enderlaust. The new Sigur Ros sound is amazing, as ever.

Having recently watched their gorgeous 2007 documentary Heima, I suddenly feel alive again. So i feel the need to post this documentary about the Heima documentary, which features accoustic performances of Njosnavelin, as well as Heima.

Part 1


Part 2


Part 3


here is also an amazing and rare live accoustic performance by the band, in a cafe in Paris, which is part of the la Blogotheque Takeaway series of on the move live performances in the streets and cafes of Paris. I think the word to describe their music and the setting of this performance is Personal. And thas the way music should be, pure and personal.

Vid Spilum Enderlaust

God awful singers

There are few things better in life than laughing at someone else making a fool of himself. Check out these amazing youtube legends.

Indo dude singing Numb by Linkin Park


Korean guy singin Tuts my Burreh by Mariah Carey

Fast and Furious Hokkien Drift

In keeping up with the latest Vin Diesel and Paul Walker bromance movie, here is the amazing Fast and Furious Hokkien Drift. along with some other hokkien classics. enjoy responsibly.

Hahaha. POTATOES!!!

Hit a snag

So I've kinda stagnated in my jits development. I can't seem to get to that next level. I've been working my ass off with work and training, and quite honestly its hard to push myself to grind out a win against usually larger opponents when as a chef you've just come from a grueling 10 hour shift which started at 6 in the morning.

But lets not start making excuses, the fact of the matter is, i dont have enough gas to keep pushing my body to its limits in training. As Liam put it, I was a lot better when i first joined his gym. Nowadays i just lie there and look like i'm getting raped. That is embarassing.

So i've decided to work on my conditioning. I believe my skills at my level are if not good, then at least decent. I can work with higher level or larger opponents, until i start to gas. So i've been looking up the internet for training videos and methodology for anaerobic exercise and muscular endurance, explosiveness and flexibility.

I also realise i'm starting to have problems with my guard. Where this used to be my happy place, i'm now finding people smashing their way through my guard, and i have no defence. Flexibility right now is my first hurdle to having an effective guard. Constant movment. With my current level of flexibility, my guard is limited. I need to make a change with my routine.

I'm gonna start with cardio, stretches and flexibility drills to get the ball rolling. Here are some videos I've been watching.

Eddie Bravo on flexibility and work ethic (Freaky flexibility)


The legend Rickson Gracie with his yoga and freaky breathing exercise


The Butterfly stretch

Apple of my eye

So I started listening to Tidal again. I still love it. It still amazes me and makes me wanna metaphorically slash my wrists. The most gorgeous music from a beautiful tortured soul.

Never is a promise (I love this song n Fiona is too hot to feel so low. I feel sad)


Not About Love


I Want You (Live with Elvis Costello)


Criminal (Live at Universal Amphitheatre 1997)

I used to be cute

So its been awhile since my last post, I've been on holiday back home in my beloved Singapore. While home I dug up some old photos of my dear self from way back when (i used to be cute). Here are some choice ones. hahaha

Favourite quotation

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

This is a favourite quote of mine, and in the past few years I've strived to live my life by its words. It was taken from a speech given by Theodore Roosevelt, and i was just reminded of it while watching the Renzo Gracie documentary "Legacy".

Totoya

So I took Hae Kyoung for a haircut today at Hera in Chatswood, which is currently my Korean hair salon of choice. Maria who always cuts my hair did HK's today. As aways, the outcome was really good, as I would expect, after learning today that she has 11 years of experience. For a $22 haircut, thats a pretty sweet deal.

We went for dinner after at a Japanese Izakaya style restaurant in Neutral Bay called Totoya.

I love izakaya style informal dining with small dishes and ice cold beer. We ordered seaweed salad, entree sashimi, pickle fried rice, deep fried flounder and an assortment of skewers. The food was good, though in my opinion a little over-priced. I was also surprised that they charged me $1 for a small saucer of mayo!!!

Photo Credits

So as to avoid a law suit, I have to credit the big and beautiful header pic of myself to Geraldine Wee.

It was taken during her New Years holiday to Sydney, on a particularly drunken and scandalous night out on the town. I have to say I really like that pic, Ive been using it everywhere. hahaha.

Sigh...

Today was a crazy day at work. Bad weather meant that guests mostly stayed in their rooms and ordered room service, which meant I had orders coming out my nose. After surviving the ordeal and coming out on top, i was prety pleased with my days efforts. So i came home happily only to realise at my doorstep that i had dropped my keys. :( fukitol!!!

Fukitol

Work the line

Haha. Anthony Bourdain and the legendary Eric Ripert working the line. F***in hilarious.

La Blogotheque on Youtube

I recently discovered this Youtube channel called La Blogotheque, and I'm addicted. Some of todays most interesting bands playing their music out on the streets, on the move. Watching these videos I just cant help but smile. Here are some of my favourites.

Beirut - Nantes




Bon Iver - For Emma




Architecture in Helsinki - Heart it races



Priscilla Ahn - Dream

Yellow Bistro

I've heard alot about ex-Rockpool pastry chef Lorraine Godsmark and the perfect pastries and tarts she makes at Yellow Bistro in Potts Point, so I decided to check it out. I went at about 4pm on a Friday, as they were getting setup for dinner service.

Unfortunately I missed out on her famous date tarts, but this very pretty tart caught my eye.
For $8 (if I remember correctly) a slice, it was fairly pricey, but it was a very good tart, and worth the price. A beautiful crisp puff pastry with almond frangipane filling topped with poached pears, cherries, almond flakes and dusted with icing sugar. It was served with rich double cream and was awesome.

one.

I've been thinking alot recently about my life here in Sydney; all the decisions, sacrifices and opportunities that have transpired to put me here. While I think now that my decision to uproot and seek a new life in Sydney was a tad hasty, I still believe it was the right decision.

My career was going nowhere, and my love life was a joke. I needed a way out. While I would have prefered to have been able to support my move, I knew never to turn down an offer to help. Coming to Sydney allowed me the opportunity to venture on my own and seek a better life for myself. I feel sad sometimes that I don't get to see my family and life back home has moved on without me. I have missed important dates and events, friends have gotten married, some have children, while I regret my not being there, I am also happy that things have turned out well for them.

I have settled here. Work is hard and tiring, but I am happy. I see a purpose for all the hard work, and I have a dream that I want to pursue.

Never give up, never surrender.