Post Graduate?

My parents are thinking of sending me abroad for a master’s degree before i even completed my bachelors!

See how it goes… I am only graduating next year… it will be quite some time before anything happens.

The Voiceless Nation

The future of Singapore is bleak, it is coming to a dawn… to an end. The reasons are clear and simple; most Singaporeans do not have the basic knowledge of forming an opinion. They seem to have no opinions on whatever happens. They just take it without questioning, accepting it is (good) for them. It is frightening to know this occurring in a democratic country. They do not know their basic rights, their freedom to exercise free speech… and even a free will of thinking. With a nation that does not think, the future does not look rosy for it either.

After reading a post on Mr Wang’s blog about “More than half of workers in S’pore regret choice of study” i feel compelled to write an essay on this topic. Everyday we are bombarded with propaganda on trains, buses and streets. Recently, the government have been promoting the food and beverage industry as a lucrative career to be in. Needless to say, people in the f&b industry are probably work the most hours and the are the most lowly paid workers around. With so many false images implanted into our minds, no wonder we are the most disillusioned people in the world, studying for the sake of studying, working for the sake of working… not liking any bit of it and probably regretting our choice of careers and studies (as indicated by a survey by Kelly Services)

It all starts at 12 years old, we are streamed into different classes depending on our academic ability at that age, to be classified as “special” “express” or “normal”. Those who are streamed into “normal” are frowned upon as being “stupid”. They carry this label in their whole lives and it determines their destiny in the working world. Those who are “smarter” and “hardworking” will try to climb out of this label and try to excel with their “smarter” peers - with a longer route to take.

Singapore is probably the most regulated country in the world with every rule set in paper for people to follow - without much say in how things should be run in reality. There is a determined set of routes to take to succeed in life - to be an engineer, doctor or lawyer. To be an artist is seen as absurd…. the primitive nation does not seem to appreciate art… or even take a second glance at it… after all.. it does not bring them any pragmatic value.

A nation that does not think is certainty a dead nation. Like the vegetable state of a person lost in coma, he thinks he is alive but he isn’t in reality. He cannot control what happens to his body, the external world determines what they do with it - to put him to sleep or to put him on the life support machine. If there is no financial resources in doing so, they will put him to sleep like the animals in shelters - unwanted outcasts of the society. If he holds the knowledge to eternal life, they will keep him alive as much as possible - for the day he would “contribute” his knowledge to the society.

I hope one day the nation does wake up and realizes that he can take control of his life instead of letting others decide what to do with him. He will be playing in his own dreamland for now…

Meta Physical

Breaking physical reality apart
Into a million small molecules
The power of the mind, to create to manipulate
Forms of perceptions, what is real and false.

The dance of sinister laughter
Of smiling faces and evil intentions
Of goodwill and tender loving care
Break reality apart, and hear the vibrations

The music of trees singing
The unspoken voices of spirits
The angels that hold us in their arms protecting us from harm.

Let reality reveal its true forms…
Fade, fade with the distance

There are no colours… only a white binding light
All else are illusionary.

Winding Pathways

I used to live in a big estate by the reservoir. There was huge gardens with endless cycling tracks amidst the lush greenery and botanical life. I would cycle up and down the hill for the thrill of feeling the wind gushing pass my hair and landing safety at the bottom right in front of my home.

Bedok Reservoir

I remember my childhood as it is, like the wind, winding along the pathways like a ray of light. I could vildly recall that i made “cycling” buddies in my neighborhood as we rode bikes together. We would travel to the reservoir nearby and race to see who is faster ( I lost most of the time due to my gender ). The winding paths of green is a fond memory of my childhood, and i am reliving it all over again with my new bicycle.

The New Estate Development

When my previous estate got thrown down and apart to make way for new developments due to limited land on this island, I knew that we would not ever find a place this spacious again. The house I am living currently is situated in the middle of the traffic junction, full of cars, noise and pollution. Fortunately, East Coast is a stone throw away from my new home. With the remaining memory of my childhood, i decided to pick up cycling on a regular basis.

East Coast Park

My new bicycle felt identical to the bicycle i used during my childhood. It is small, sleek and fast. The wheels are 20 inches in size, maybe that is why i feel so comfortable with it. It navigates smoothly on the pavements, it is too dangerous to ride on the roads in this end of town. I do hope they will look into developing bicycle tracks around the city in near future. It is one of the most energy efficient way of commuting without any carbon emissions.

Go Green With Bicycles

I took my Dahon D7 Speed for a test ride and it never felt so good to feel “alive”. The waves of the sea and paths of green led my way through memory lane. It felt like never before, the days whereby my father would bring my cousin and I to cycle at the beach on weekends when we were little kids. We would cycle till the skies were dark and head backwards towards home.

Being a nature loving person, cycling is one of the ways whereby I can connect with nature at a leisurely private pace, admiring the forests and its sounds. Everyday, it feels different to cycle the same stretch of forest, they always have new surprises to look out for; a flower has bloomed, a twig has dropped or a new sprout has grown.

I am finally at ease with nature once again.

Dahon Speed D7 (Best Value Foldable)

I was thinking about getting a bicycle to cycle to my student’s place at East Coast for some time. After much considering the pros and cons, the lack of exercise ( my laziness to go to gym! ) and drooling over bicycle pictures over the past few days… i made up my mind on the most practical and economical decision of my life.

Video On Bicycle Mobility On Our Lifestyles

I stumbled upon reading a review on Dahon Speed D7:

The Business week best value folder - Speed D7 features a robust and sporty frame with Deluxe components that make it such an unbelievable value. The frame is hand-welded from custom-drawn 4130 chromoly Sonus tubing, making it possibly the stiffest folding bike frame on the market. The D7 features our new Dahon Neos rear derailleur, a revolutionary new design that has an ultra short cage for improved ground clearance and super fast shifting. We’ve paired the Neos with an 11-30T freewheel, which, when compared with a 14-28T freewheel, represents a 37% increase in gear range. Sleek, simple and excellent value - just what most people want in a folding bike.

I fell instantly in love with it and used my first paycheck to buy it home from the nearest dealer:

Dahon Speed D7 sitting outside my home

Reasons why i brought a foldable bicycle:
1 ) To hop on the bus or train when it rains
2 ) For easy storage (there are too many things in the house!)
3 ) To exercise and save money on transport
4 ) I am too lazy to go to the gym or exercise
5 ) I realized i have been gaining pounds ever since i met Jeri
6 ) I love the colour and sleekness, it is just so me!
7 ) I fell in love with it instantly and and i know it would be mine!
8 ) It is affordable, cost savings in the long run from not taking bus.

( Looks like most of the reasons are emotionally driven than practically driven, oh well. )

The idea of a foldable bicycle is fairly new, before i brought it i had to ask them to demonstrate how to fold it… which is relatively simple in a few steps. I am still taking quite some time to fold it although.

How to Fold a Bicycle Video

This is the contact of the dealer i got it from, be sure to make sure you get it from an authorized dealer! There is a 5 year international warranty which is an added bonus.

SpeedMatrix Pte Ltd ( The dealer at Joo Chiat is really nice and friendly, they guided me on how to get to their place without hassle. They will let you try out all their bicycles and choose which fits you best, no pressure to buy. )

Cycling at East Coast anyone? ^^

Melbourne - The Most Livable City in the World

Lessons we can learn:

1) Reclaim our streets from cars
2) People need open spaces to enjoy and appreciate the city
3) Bicycle lanes will reduce the traffic on roads, it is eco friendly and a convenient way of commuting.
4) Vehicles causes stress and pollution to the people living in the city, steps should be taken for alternative modes of transportation such as shared buses, walking, cycling and maybe the skies should be utilized as well with aviation cars? (lol!)

I enjoy walking around the city, particularly City Hall in Singapore. There are many landmarks in the central area for us to appreciate the history and architectural of the buildings. However, the vast number of cars destroys the breath taking views into a industrialized warehouse. Setting up more ERP granties will not solve the problem of traffic, increasing the frequency of buses and mrt routes will improve commuting. Steps should be taken into expanding public transport routes.

The national environmental council has taken a great step in connecting our parks together to make cycling on the shorelines enjoyable. They should look into developing cycling lanes in the city to facilitate the usage of bicycles as a environmental friendly form of transportation.

Love

Love is unconditional, the willingness to share care and concern for others
It withstands hardships, suffering… it is pure and full of goodness
It embraces a person with a ray of light, encasing him in a soft blanket
No worries… no fear… no nothings… just a energy of light.

It is the light that shines upon the world
Spreading the love far and wide across barriers
Saving lost souls from the darkness, offering an open arm
a warm hug, a gentle touch, a kiss.

Dissolving the pain, sorrow, agony, anger, frustration
Into kindness, sincerity, compassion, charity.
A peaceful and tranquil ocean undisturbed by waves
The light drifts into the heavens and beyond imaginary.

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Thank you to Jeri for his kind and loving support, this poem dedicated to him, from your dearest Aver.

Reflection

Every night, I lie on my bed and think
If i used the best of my abilities today
If i fail to do so, i feel disappointed
Even if did try my best, i feel insufficient.

I feel i could do more, achieve more
Aim higher, aim across the skies into the galaxies

Everyday i strive to push myself, sometimes i feel old
because i have pushed my biological barriers of understanding
the abstract shapes and words that forms a known “language”

I try to achieve the impossible, of what known limits
or conventional ways of thought and behaviour

I can do more.
I still feel i achieved nothing.

I am just so tiny,
a tiny person in the universe.

What can i do to change the world?

Evolution

There is a thin line between the sane and insane

A cross of a retard and a genius

A evolution of the human race.

The Demon

An evil demon resides in me
It battles for superiority, for domination

It kills and thrist for blood
Struggling to break free
From the chains of love

It fills my void with
Nightmares, torture, bloodshed

When i try to wake up from
this horrifying place I
struggle against the demon

Who pulls me back
and feeds on my sorrows

A limping creature
A prey of predators
Bleeds. To. Death.