Humans live and die by memories and words ~

I always have this problem with spelling “diahorrea” correctly. See, the red ziggy line is underlining that word now. But screw it. You are smart enough to understand that word anyway, right? After all, everyone’s been through that before. Tsk.

I know. The paragraph above’s crap but hey, I realize I haven’t been writing here for a few months ! Gasp! What happened to the initial ambition to make this blog a daily one? Guess it didn’t happen and the question is WHY ?

If you expect some “oh…I don’t wanna write so that some people I hate won’t see what I have been thinking about” reasons, nah, you are wrong. It’s just because I have been too busy to sit down and reflect. Like you know, reflect? The only thing arts students are supposed to do when they read their readings, reflect? =D

Actually, I have no idea what I am busy with. Time just…(I am trying to find a word to replace ‘flies’ but screw it) FLIES ! 4 X tuition + Sunday radio program + classes + exercise + Korean Drama Queen Sandeok on Channel 55 every night = my average schedule every week. Throw in the 5 term papers + Interpretive Sociology Presentation + a mega gig at Zirca and (hopefully) a 5 day seminar with National Youth Council + ISM ….ok…now I know where my time is going to. Yea !

But lately, I have been reluctant to throw in my maximum effort into studies. Well actually, I have never done so. Studying smart has always been my strategy since Year 1 and shall remain to be so for the last 2 months of my career as an undergrad. Man, typing that phrase makes me shiver. I am finally graduating and if I started reminiscing the good time I have had in NUS since last semester, then this semester has been pretty intense in the memory and sweet recollections department.

I believe I am now afraid of the extra amount of time I will have at hand when I graduate on 6th May 2010. So afraid that I am now planning things ahead to keep me occupied. Gosh, I will miss the whole ‘critical thinking’ shit…not that it hasn’t empowered me for life…just that after spending 4 years of being critical, the mind simply gets used to thinking …well..critically ! So imagine it going ‘content-less’ upon graduation. Scary or a form of relief ?

Anyway, the future shines brightly ahead for me simply because I want it to be so and therefore, based on the law of attraction, it shall be so. Many things ahead of me, all exciting and refreshing attempts.

As of now, I can’t wait to graduate but at the same time, I am becoming increasingly sentimental about the school and my department, classmates etc. I hate this tension. Yet I enjoy the pain it brings.

Sadistic, eh?

与柯南一起畅游日本大阪

找寻初恋的地点——金阁寺  
    樱花飘落的院落，拍着皮球唱着儿歌的红衣女孩儿，微风带起的发与淡粉的花瓣纠缠。熟悉的场景，熟悉的画面，那是《迷宫的十字路口》中平次与和叶初恋的地点—金阁寺。其正式名称其实是鹿苑寺，但因为寺内主要核心建筑舍利殿的外墙以金箔装饰，遗世独立于镜湖池，迷人，华丽，不羁，因此又有金阁寺之称。住宅式的建筑，佛堂式的造型，吸收各种文化的格调与品位，海的象征，如船的结构；晴好天气，相互辉映的镜湖池池塘与金阁，还有倒映其中的蔚蓝天空与绵绵白云，勾勒出金阁寺的高雅深幽。池泉回游式庭院里风格别致的日式造景，沿袭藤原、镰仓、唐朝三个不同时代风格的殿宇，不动堂旁可供占卜的神签，写有祝福的纸符，找寻已久的初恋的人，悄悄地牵着手，在那微风缓缓吹过的坡道，一起走过。

天才侦探与天才怪盗的相遇——通天阁
    “黄昏的狮子一直到拂晓的少女，没有秒钟的时钟走道第12个字，从光亮的天空楼阁降临，收下回忆之卵”，来自KID的预告函，预示了天才侦探与天才怪盗亦敌亦友的开始。“从光亮的天空楼阁降临”，这是仿照巴黎艾菲尔铁塔制造塔、新世界的象征物，也就是通天阁，是怪盗基德现身的地点。从展望台可以眺望到脚下的新世界和天王寺公园、大阪市的景色、由此可见为什么基德没有选择大阪城而在通天阁了。而且在它的顶端安装了天气预测装置、基德在暗号中指的就是这个。到通天阁的交通工具是地铁的界筋线，从阪界电轨的惠美须町站徒步走2分钟即到。或者从地铁御堂筋线的界筋线动物园前站徒步走8分钟。又或者JR新今宫站徒步走8分钟。顺便一提，在通天阁祈求考试合格和良缘的“福神”非常灵验。

 少年侦探友谊的延伸——箕面瀑布
    关东与关西的齐名侦探，从视为劲敌到调侃相惜的知己好友，东京的新一与大阪的平次，在多次协力破案后日渐深厚的友谊。本是悠闲的假日，最后柯南的现身还是带来了迷案重重，追踪嫌犯的提到大阪美景—箕面瀑布 。其高33公尺，春有樱花，秋有红叶，四季可观赏到各不相同的景色。瀑布的下游有府营箕面公园的昆虫馆，可观察放蝶园中的活蝴蝶，还可看到日本及世界的珍贵昆虫标本5000件。附近还有相传为修行者所建的泷安寺。这里佛如世外桃源，远离城市喧嚣，处处有着幽静之美。

圣诞香港旅游购物线路全攻略

名牌战略

名牌、名牌还是名牌，这是到香港的最大目的。因为不但一线品牌货新款多，价格比内地也便宜70%左右。

太古广场

香港本地人十分推荐的销金窟。一楼有ZARA、THEBODYSHOP，青春气息十足；二楼集中了时尚女性钟爱的品牌，三楼是太古广场的精华购物区，所有一线品牌、奢侈品在此都可找到。

置地广场

置地广场的LV旗舰店大概是香港的时尚地标；而亚太最具规模的GUCCI旗舰店也落地置地广场。因为云集国际级大师设计的最高档时尚品牌，许多明星名人都会到此来选购服饰，所以有许多秘密通道是直接可以通到停车场的，专门给想避开狗仔队的名人使用。

男人路线

香港大大小小的数码广场和专卖店出售的最新最酷最流行的科技数码产品足以让发烧友欣喜若狂。更便捷的选择是直接去旺角的仙达广场；如果你是超级买家，又熟谙讨价还价，那不妨去西洋菜街大显身手。

弥敦道

弥敦道西侧有几家电器商店，单反相机、数码相机、DV、手机、IPOD，行货水货包括国外厂家刚投放到市场上一两天的最新型号产品，这里都能弄到，只要你有足够的耐心与店家周旋。另外弥敦道附近香槟大厦B座的一层集中了专门出售二手相机和配件，是摄影爱好者必去的地方。

　　鸭寮街

卖二手电器、水货电器的基地，以手机为主，价格非常低。

另外鸭寮街有很多老式密纹唱片(LP)，都是旧货，10港元一张，成箱成箱摆在地上，是发烧友必去的地方。

西洋菜南街

旺角人流最多的地方，以影音器材、化妆品、书店为多，价格全港最低，再加上这是行人专用区，从早到晚都显得人山人海。而附近的友城商业中心更是影音店的集中地，发烧友们不可错过。

便宜角落

即使已经很便宜了，还是要更便宜！因为免税，香港一直是大家公认的亚洲较便宜的购物地点，因此之前的OUTLET并不走俏，随着激烈的市场竞争，名牌OUTLET开始受关注。东荟城名店仓网罗了名牌服饰、运动用品和时尚饰品，全年提供30%-70%的折扣优惠。

VIVIEN NETAM

由纽约时尚知名的香港首席设计师vivien netam创立的，她的服装融合了中国美学与西方审美观，剪裁方面相当考究。

vivien netam Outlet里折扣通常在2-3折。

FOLLI FOLLI

FOLLI FOLLI Outlet店的进货速度快，可以来此捞上一季热门商品，折扣大约从3折到5折，令人心动。

TIME+STYLE

这家店代理Emporio Armani、Burberry、Zodiac、D&G、Fossil、DKNY、Diesel等诸多品牌的手表，以时尚风格取胜，全年平均折扣在4-6折之间，店主表示卖得比较好的是DKNY和FOSSIL两个牌子。

铜锣湾

铜锣湾的购物点数不胜数，打算尽情购物的话，可以从时代广场或崇光百货开始，然后再到周边的商场及店铺，最后才到铜锣湾西面的名店坊。这里鱼龙混杂的热闹劲很容易让人迷路，依靠地铁是最好的办法。铜锣湾地铁范围覆盖了大部分主要街道与商场，可直接通过出口直达各个商场，比如位于A出口的时代广场，B出口的铜锣湾广场，D出口的崇光百货，十分方便。

海港城

如果你时间有限，建议走百家不如逛一家。在这家香港最大的购物中心里，基本品牌都已包罗。最好在咨询台拿一张海港城地图，找到你准备光顾的品牌店所在的楼层和大致位置。穿梭在长得不得了的通道里，见到中意的要当机立断，千万别指望着“待会回头再来买”，因为你多半会因为迷路，或“走不动了”等原因和它们失之交臂。

置办干货补身体

香港人的养生之道非常出名，他们出售的干货通常货真价实。从中环、上环到西营盘一带，几乎都是干货店，除了最普通的干鲍、鱼翅、干贝、香菇和各式中药材行之外，燕窝、蛇干也能在这里找到便宜的好货色。若是懒人一族，可直接把店家配好的汤底材料带回家烹煮。

买点金饰讨彩头

周大福、JUSTGOLD等香港老字号金店每年都比大陆早推出生肖挂件，而且款式时尚别致，再加上金价相比大陆便宜，圣诞节期间又通常有7折左右的优惠，实在不可错过。

TIPS

到香港购物之前一定要做好各种攻略，向朋友们收集各种品牌的VIP卡号也是省钱的一大高招。

在机场取一张标明了地铁站点的地图，这样就可以直接送你到你想去的任何一个商场。打的费时又费钱，最不合算。

铜锣湾不能放过

铜锣湾以售卖中高档品牌著名，是年轻人购物的首选之地。不仅有时代广场、嘉兰中心、世贸中心、利园、利舞台广场及金百利等大型商场，还有露天市场渣甸坊售卖大众化时装成衣及时髦饰物，另有已形成时新势力的百德新街、霎东街。到铜锣湾购物，锁定专卖店集中的商场是节省时间和体力的好办法。

身处铜锣湾腹地的时代广场从外形设计到经营理念都极富国际风范。它是铜锣湾最大的购物中心，相当于铜锣湾的地标，门口的大时钟大电视更是香港人相约聚会的聚集点。广场内的消费设施及停车场共16层，商店超过300家，每一楼层各有一个主题商品，好比网络搜索的关键词一样，方便寻找。地下是日式大型百货、便利商铺和食店，一楼是名牌百货公司，二至九楼是不同主题的购物廊。越往上行，商品价格越低，香港本地品牌越多。逛累了可到十至十三楼的“食通天”一饱口福，美馔鲜点尽在其中。

时代广场背面的利舞台广场三楼的“无印良品”专卖店，是日本的一个lifestyle专门店。在这里，从沐浴露、笔记本、袜子到枕头套都能找到，设计简约、温暖。

楼高7层的利园，面积不算大，宽敞清静，跟铜锣湾熙攘的氛围有点格格不入。有约40家顶级精品名店罗列其中，包括LV、HERMES、Bally、Prada、 Chloe、 Cartier、Chanel、CD……还有名贵家饰品牌，如Wedgwood、Swarovski等。货色齐、格调高是其特色，更有多家高级餐厅，走的也是精致优雅的路线。

金百利商场有百余家特色店，是香港时装设计师生力军的实力展销地，也有来自欧洲与日本的进口货，多家专营60—70年代二手衣的店铺相当具有嬉皮特色，熟悉门路的时尚追寻者，喜爱到这里来寻找风格独特、数量有限的稀有货色。

尖沙咀不要错过

尖沙咀集中了中、高档消费的各式购物中心，包括海运大厦、香港酒店商场、港威大厦、太阳广场、名店城、新世界中心、半岛酒店商场及柏丽购物大道等，皆是时尚精品及名牌连锁店云集之地；有出口店集中地——加连威老道，本地时装新贵——金巴利道，街头时装热点——百利商场等。

尖沙咀地铁站口的半岛酒店商场，分布在酒店地下2、1楼和地面1楼，共计3层，有百来间名品店。既有老牌名店的Louis Viutton、Christian Dior、Chanel、Currete、Hermes、Celine等，也有近年来大受欢迎的Etro、Polo、Tiffany、Ferragamo、Genni以及特别精选的Joyce、The Swank Shop和餐具综合店Hunter’s等。给人细致、典雅、高贵的感觉。

天星码头对面的海运大厦、海洋中心、海港新城、香港酒店商场组成了海港城，有700多家店铺一共分为4个相互连接的购物区，经营的商品从日用品到各色美食到珠宝首饰，琳琅满目。底楼多是名店和个性小店，如Dolce&Gabbana、Versace等，对面地库及底楼还有DKNY、Agnes及本地品牌店，非常适合前卫人士。除此之外，海港城还有50家餐厅、2家戏院、3家酒店。

全道均为两层白色建筑的柏丽大道是香港有名的购物大道，全长200公尺，多售卖各大名牌货物，如MEXX、BENETTON、NIKE、ESPIRIT、CHEVIGNON等。而且邻近九龙公园，区内还有很多饮食、娱乐场所及小型商场，售卖潮流服饰，较贴合年轻人的潮流喜好。如贯通尖沙嘴东部与弥敦道的加连威老道，布满大大小小的出口店和时尚少女服饰店，从日本原宿到美国街头风格均可见到。人气最旺的利时商场位于加连威老道的嘉兰围，最流行的和即将流行的都集中于此。

尖沙咀沿弥敦道有很多面向游客的服装店、名牌商品直销店、出口成衣店。与金马伦道交叉的加拿芬道周围有很多外国商店。

往北，佐敦中心与柯士甸道沿线及东边的金巴利道，有不少很现代化的时髦商店，香港名设计师的品牌时装店一家接一家。

電臺1003八嵗了。

不知不覺意在這家電台服務了兩年多。閒中除了學了很多關於音樂和廣播的知識外，也學會了很多人生的道理。 其實老師說，我並不是做DJ的料。我還記得剛剛加入的時候，老大曾經對我說過這句話：“你是屬於那種準備型的廣播員。如果要你在沒有準備節目的情況低下，你肯定不行”。那時候，聼了之後，我沒覺得怎樣。能夠進入電臺，高興還來不及，誰管我是那種DJ啊？

不過，“打劫星期天” 開播的那段日子，的確是給很多聽衆嗎得狗血淋頭。因爲那個時候講話不順，也不知道該從什麽地方找資料，連節目預告也做得很爛。被聽衆罵，是應該的。 可我這個人偏偏就是不服輸的那中。因此，節目的前一天，我都會回到公司準備節目内容。放假的時候更是做好幾天的準備。聽衆不喜歡、繼續罵，沒關係。再找更好的資料便是。很多時候在交班之後，我都會留下來自己慢慢摸索Adobe Audtion 2，研究節目預告該怎麽做才會得到最好的效果。老大也曾下令，叫我先把節目預錄，之後在星期天早班人在現場把錄好的片段播出去。

那個時候，真得很苦。

不過，就因爲如此，我實現了少年時期所許下的心願。那段苦的日子提升了我對事物的忍耐力；人際關係的處理方式也提升了許多。這些所學到的東西，將來在職場上必定有很大的用處。如此看來，我在過去的四年除了是在大專學府念社會學、增加自己知識外，1003想是第二閒大學，教的是EQ和人生觀。

謝謝過去兩年多幫助我成長的人：老大、梅姐、Ken、小豬、堅文和Margaret. 因爲你們的指點，才有今天（我覺得啦）還算不錯的順傑 =P

沒有辦法出席今年的慶生派對，是有遺憾的。必竟我又不是全職，能夠見到聽衆的機會少之又少。不過也沒關係啦。我只希望節目做得順利就好，因爲節目對我來說還是排在第一位。如果明年還在的話（誰會知道明年會怎樣？），還是會有機會合大家一起慶生的。

那些常聼我節目的聽衆，謝謝你的支持。那些討厭我的人，你們也應該不會看到這篇文章，所以也沒所謂。哈哈。 1003,生日快樂。=）

I believe many of you guys are like me, giving tuitions to kids to up our spending capacities as ‘soon-to-be-working-adults’. In fact, many of us already live like one by giving don’t know how many tuitions every week. I personally give tuition 6 times every week.

Wow ! 6 times’ a lot ! Yeaz, but that’s in the context that my Secondary 4 kid will graduate after his O Levels in mid November, my Sec 2 girl will take a 2 months’ break starting mid October, leaving me with only 1 kid for the month of December. Therefore, better earn more for reserves =D

But how is your relationship with your kid? Does he/she listen to whatever you tell them to do? Or do they fight back and pretend to be smarter than you?

One of my students (not the ones above) just sent me an ‘insulting’ SMS just now:

“Tmr no tuition right cause last time you message my mum you say following week right? ok.see you next week”

Nothing offensive here. Merely a kid assuming that there’s no tuition tommorrow, which is false :

“Huh? No. Your mom told me last sunday that you had medical appointment the next day, which was this monday 14th sept. So of course i told her tuition the following monday, which is tommorrow 21st Sept. So tommorrow still have tuition”

That was my reply. To which he gave the disrespectful sms:

“You should say coming you say following. following is 2 weeks later”

Uh huh. What’s wrong with using the following week when my reply to the mother LAST sunday? Last Sunday belonged to last week. This week is this week. Next week is then TWO weeks from last week, isn’t it?

I checked with my collegue from Radio 913 and she said I used it the correct way. So obviously that kid was wrong. And yet he dared ‘correct’ my English, when I am the one tutoring him English and Science.

Perhaps some context should be given so that you can understand the situation better. This kid totally has no interest in studying. Delayed and unfinished homework every time. Listlessness best describes him. I actually hate this type of student (not him as a person) and told his mom that I will try and continue tutoring him, in attempt to arouse his interest in the subjects. But if he doesn’t buck up, off I go.

Yes, I fire students unworthy of my time. There are so many kids out there with a much higher level of enthusiasm for learning.  

Unfortunately, 4 months on, he simply refused to follow instructions. And mind you, his mother asked me to play games (online and board) so that he won’t get bored in the mere 2 hours we have each week.

Wow.

I think I tried my best. For (whatever amount of money you charge per kid every month), parents expect us tutors to be moral transformers, transforming an ill-performing kid into a bright flame in life. 

No chance.

I always believe that the tutor’s job is to give his best in tutoring the kid on the curriculum in school and nothing else. The tutor’s effort amounts to 50% of the total effort needed for the kid to improve. The other 50% comes from the kid. And whether the kid gives that full 50% depends a lot on his/her school’s education and as well as the kind of socialization he gets at home.

Many parents fire tutors when their kids’ failed to perform in exams. Well I think they should examine their roles as parents and perhaps also blame the schools for providing substandard education? This kid’s school for one doesn’t issue textbooks for Science. He receives notes with no pictures instead. How to learn what the heart and small intestine looks like when you aren’t given pictures?

I am really on the verge of firing this student. Term paper deadlines are coming up and I rather earn lesser than sacrificing the quality of my papers for someone who can’t even be bothered.

It’s really like a love affair then. If the person can’t be bothered, why continue with the relationship? Better to walk off, isn’t it?

저는 한국문화을 좋아헤요~

That means “I love Korean Culture”. Well, not a surprise. It’s expected of Judson what.

What I didn’t expect is my interest in things Korean is influencing my decisions about my future.

I am seriously contemplating about doing my Masters in Korea itself. Doing sociology or anthropology.

I don’t know whether it’s a good idea, but don’t you think being tri-lingual is so cool? Nowadays, to be a true cosmopolitan, travelling and knowing more than 2 languages is a must. And the best way to learn a new language well is to totally throw yourself into that native environment.

Learn to speak and write it, or die.

Someone in my Qualitative Data Collection class made a somewhat offensive and bimbotic comment: “Europeans make intellectual conversations all the time. Like, you know, ‘Are you a Nationalist’ type of conversations, unlike Singaporeans. Local people are like…you know…don’t engage in such conversations.”

I was like, what the fuck.

She went to talk about her experiences in talking with the Dutch Ambassador and whatever elite class people she hung out with when she was in Europe.

Like, ok. Define what’s so un-intellectual we Singaporeans talk about that validates your prejudice towards the quality of intellectual conversations we should not have.

That lady later went off to have a burger at Burger King during break time, ALONE.

Aww.

But that got me thinking. IF what she said had a modicum of truth, then I think we should all get out of this small country. 20 years down the road, when the IRs get expended and there’s nothing more in this place to be exacavated for economic progress, we are going to regret for not choosing to be cosmopolitan when we were younger. And we would be stuck in the whatever jobs we would be holding then.

So yes. Better use the youth we have now wisely and venture out into the world. See, smell, look, learn, remember and be smarter. It’s the best way to up your self-worth, spiritually and economically.

The more languages you know, the more markets you can access. Learning new languages is such a powerful investment, yet many people fail to see that, thinking investment only involves money.

Wrong

It means I am feeling nostalgic. I hope I am not using the wrong expression, less my Korean speaking friends will laugh their heads off.

Nostalgic about what ? About NUS.

“Huh? But you have not graduated yet, Judson!”

I know. But I have less than a year left in this place. Shouldn’t I start feeling nostalgic?

I remember exactly one year ago, I told Ling that I am starting to feel nostalgic about NUS. And Ling being a friend who has seen and experienced all sorts of weird people states of mind, did not even bat an eyelid. “I completely understand where you are coming from.”

Where am I coming from? Well, many people graduate either one of these three responses:

a) Great ! Good riddance of this god-forsaken place!
b) Gosh. I will miss everything here =(
c) Nothing

I am very certain that I will fall into b). And because of that, I don’t wanna wait till I graduate then start reminiscing the past. Better start early. After all, recalling the sweet and bitter times tastes the best when you do it slowly, at your own pace. I believe that once I graduate, I will be sucked into capitalism (I am already in it, just not as deep) and soon will totally forget about even having to reminisce. So it’s good to start now.

But what and who will I miss? More importantly, who and what have I started missing ?

I think I am starting to miss Sociology of Tourism and Education. Those are my 2 most favourtie subjects so far. I already miss freshman orientation programs and camps. Man, those crazy (and youthful) times! I am very afraid of missing the stuff I have been doing in Voices for the past 3 years plus, because I still wanna continue doing them. Man, that’s a very long time to be in a CCA. But hey, when you really and truly love a thing, it sticks there in your life for a very long time.

Hopefully it’s the same for human relationships. So far, I have been dissappointed.

I am starting to miss my friends over at Science. After all, I started my life here with them. How are you guys ? Maybe you people even forgot that I exist in Arts still. Haha. I am starting to miss the people I have mixed with during my early years in Voices. After all, those were the ones who went through tough times with me and Yipei during Emerge 2007. I wish all of you can come back this instant and relive the happy times once through. No, many times through.

What about people from Sociology? Well, it’s only Ling, Tiffany and Joey. I am not sure about the rest for the rest of my Honors year. But my gut feeling says….

“Hmmm….”

So yes, this shall be my very first post. Prior to this, I have absolutely no idea on what Tumblr is, until my internet savvy sister told me that this is THE BLOGGING THING around to watch out for. “Forget about LiveJournal, Blogger and WordPress, bro. They suck.” said my sister. And so here I am trying to test the validity of her statement.

I used to blog on Taiwanese Mandarin blog service provider, Wretch. Unfortunately, they disabled embedding music on blogs, something which will irritate the hell out of music lovers around the world. And hence, my other reason to switching to Tumblr, for I hear this cool thing allows sharing of music through blogs. Cool stuff !

Anyway, what’s up with my title today ? The Smart Ones. I believe all of us with some form of education would have encountered this group of intellectuals during our academic career. Well, considering that I am in my Honors Class for Sociology, doesn’t that make me one of them ?

Technically, yes, if we are comparing with the rest who did not qualify for Honors. But as the saying goes : 人外有人，天外有天。There are always gonna be people better than you. That sucks , huh ?

And so I just finished Social Memory class and it’s one hell of an interesting perspective of society. But it gets challenging when you try to match yourself with the few smart ones in class who can see things from perspectives that elude you. And you go “Damn, why didn’t I see that?” Or “Wow. They are good”.

When I was younger, I hated The Smart Ones. I thought they were showing off their intelligence and insensitive to the ones less smart. But now, I don’t know. Because the class in a seminar, contributing ideas to the class is a big deal. It is the driving force that turns academia, that makes academia relevant.

So, the question is:If you have The Smart Ones in your class, would you see them as showing off to the professor that “Hey, look here dude. I know something that they don’t! Better give me some more credits, aight?” or should we see them as truly, sincerely wanting to contribute to the class for the advancement of academia and therefore mankind ?

Hmmmm.

What will happen to them years after graduation? Will The Smart Ones become The Successful Ones? Or will The Less Smart Ones be the The Eventually Admired Ones?

I am thinking too much.