Divination

Today's post is about Fate. Fate is like Destiny which there are people who believe that Fate is predestined and an equal half which believes that you work for your own Destiny. Disregard on which is right or wrong, or the choice that one makes to believe in. If perhaps one day a 'higher being' comes and tell you that your Fate is to be poor man for your life, would you accept as it is without fighting for a better life? If somone tells you that you are not fated to be with the one you love, would you fight to be your loved one or would you leave it as it is? Regardless of what your path leads to I think a struggle and fight is needed, as even an ant put up resistance when you try to trample on it. Rather die fighting than die without trying. Things may be meant to be but it still requires some minimal effort to conclude it. If a $50 note falls from the sky, you still need the effort of bending down to pick up the money. Thus i say fight at least if you are unhappy and preserve or improve current state if you find it comfortable.

Did something for the first time in my life the other day, went down to Waterloo Street with my parents and accompanied them to the Guan Yin Temple for some prayers. I am not really a religion guy but I just accompanied my parents. My mum then asked to go pray and ask for a divination on an issue which has been troubling me. Decided that since was there and nothing much to do, half heartedly decided to give it a try as the temple was pretty famous for its divination. You actually shake this holder of bamboo sticks while praying the question or query in your mind till 1 of the sticks falls out and then you throw these 2 slabs of concaved wood to see if its the one you are supposed to receive. How to judge? By having 1 rounded side face up and a flat side face up. 2 half hearted attempts gave me 2 failed attempts by having either 2 rounded sides or 2 flats sides of the wooden slab. On the 3rd try I thinking since I was doing it might as well give it more sincerity and thought and wala it gotten me the right stick with a rounded and flat side each. Well these sticks individually has different markings and writing on it, I do not know how many sticks there are but after returning the stuff, the attendant will give you a slip like in the pic based on the stick, which is the answer to your prayer. You can then refer to a book which sorta helps you decipher it. To my suprise it was a good lot and it was answering to what i asked. Whether it was just sheer coincidence I do not know and whether if things will turn out like what it say I do not know as well but it has provided me some strength I supposed to seek the answer.

The slip I gotten

Bought some Star Wars toys, though we always complain and bitch about repaints I have to admit we are suckers for them. Well got a different Boba Fett under RAH series. quite nice can attached all the parts onto his body.

The 2 3.75" figures, Blue Arc Trooper and Clone Pilot

Wedding Dinner again

Respecting the title or respecting the person?
I have never believed in respecting someone because of his title like "Teacher", "Boss" or whatever so. Why should we respect someone just because of his title when he has no substance? I feel respect has to be earned not just because the person carries the title. When I was in school then, my Physcics teach can tell the class " I like Physics but I don't like teaching you all Physics. Teaching you all Physics is a hard thing." Im like WTF.. Why teach then? Go be a researcher or something. Best was in secondary school, an ex-HOD passed a statement "I'm a very practical person, I can call you Dad if have the money, don't believe you take out now I show you". What values to impart to a upgrowing teenager. Sighs.. Well hard to not respect your boss as he/she would be directly or indirectly be the one who is going to give you your pay check at the end of the day. Along with the title also comes along with power inevitably you have to give the minimal respect whether one likes it or not, unless you do not want job. There are many which do not have titles but their actions and great doings have gained respect. Teachers which go beyond their usual duties to teach and help students, people who take time out out to fight for a good cause or to help the aged and weak. These people really deserve respect from the bottom of my heart.

Attended another wedding dinner on Mon again.. This time round was at St Regis, located beside Tanglin Mall. Well supposedly it is the most expensive place where one can hold their wedding dinner. Arrived quite late but usual traditions of late start of wedding dinners remained. Table was filled with people whom I knew except for 2. It has been ages since some of us have met. Different commitments like the very common reasons of work and family have turned friends which were once your close listening pal to one which seemed so distant due perhaps to different beliefs or perhaps to the wide barrier created over time which seemed hard to close. Well despite so, there are still friends which you know from the bottom of the heart you treasure the friendship. Some things are hard to express but little gestures i believe means alot from simple wishes to simple words of encouragement. Must really thank one of my friend for her yearly birthday sms-es, never has she forgotten or mixed up the date ha.. Well the dinner was pretty nice, took some photos of it. Food was served in plates in reasonable small portions and fanciful chocolate and sugar coatings designs.

The ballroom

Flowers on the table

The food, forgot to take the 1st 2 dishes though..

The empty slot is nuts which i finished lol..

Venison (deer meat) with Fried prawn

Cod fish with roasted chicken

Fried rice with vege, mushroom and sea cucumber

Fav: dessert! Mango saga and chocolate cake

Bought some cute toys recently. Ha for you my friend who I know loves cute stuff.. Poison you.. Mini Vinyl Collectible Doll (VCD) Darth Vader. Looks really nice and cute ha. Sad to say I wanted to get Darth Maul end up gotten wrong thing and ended with Vader argh..



The Chogokin To-Fu family. Saw this very long ago and didnt purchase it due to some issues end up saw it again and bought it. Its really cute as you can open the head and put the mini ones in. Well the intention of buying it was for a feeling more than wanting to really own it but well..

Wedding Dinner of ZH and LF

Deliver visible physical changes or non-physical changes unseen by the naked eye?

Recently a talk with my friends left me astounded, perhaps not as much but it dawned upon me over a statement he said "I think if I touch my heart and and say I'll say I think there isnt much a change in you." Perhaps it is true, perhaps its not. What kind of changes are we looking at? A physical or a change in mindset or thinking? Both ways perhaps but if friends hang around me cant see any changes even to the extend that they think it might have worsened, I may not have anything to present and argue for. I have always thought things are done not to be eye candy to people and changes need not come in visible physical changes but more of non-physical ones like mental and thoughts. Perhaps the changes are not strong enough or significant enough to some or to those whom matter to me most. We are humans afterall and perhaps we believe in things that we can see, despite the facade behind the truth.. Alas the faith is getting weak within me, I have doubts on making the move, as I feel pairs of hands gripping me like a vice deeper into the murky marshes.

Well this post is for you my friend, congratulations to you and LF, although ROM for about a year the Chinese wedding dinner finally draw a closure to everything. Maybe at this point in time, to your parents you are finally husband and wife despite the fact in the eyes of the law, LF is entitled to half of wad you possess now (including your toys) lol. Anyway great place with great view at Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant from UOB Plaza's 60th floor ha. Hope to see you with a baby/babies soon to take over your Macross and 3A stuff if not we are always here =p Glad that you marry the person you love and also loving the person u marry. LF looked really different, for the better of course, well perhaps you should spend more time in dolling yourself to add points to yourself and ZH.

Not much pics but well..
Our table's bowl of flowers

The menu cover

The sumptuous 9 dish menu

and our little souvenir

The wedding dinner brought about a lingering feeling within as I opened one of my favourite figures, Ignis the Black. This beauty is done by Orchird Seed with 3 different variants, White the normal version, Black the magazine mailaway exclusive and Red the Wonderfest Exclusive. The wedding gown really is a beauty, beautiful and elegant and it looks really detailed. Only gotten the Black version for a very good price, missed out the White but more keen on the Red but the Red is really expensive and rare due to it being Wonderfest Exclusive but never know, might get it if it comes along at the right price. Took some pics in conjunction for my wedding dinner post. Enjoy..

I do not possess 2 out of the 3 available versions sadly, firstly is the normal version of Ignis the White

secondly Ignis the Red, which is a Wonderfest Exclusive

my Ignis the Black which I own



















Respecting the title or respecting the person?

Star Wars lelong day

Are parents obligated to raise their children and are children obligated to take care of parents when they are old?
When parents give birth to their children, they raise and teach them most of the time with utmost love, care and concern. Raising a child is no easy task, in fact a tidious one. Yet with no grumbles, they try to give the very best to children. Is there such a need for the best? Minimum requirements is required I believe as they give life to the children but the best? I do not think so. However parents still give the best to the extend if they have only 1 drumstick for food they will go hungry and give the child the whole drumstick. What do they ask for in return for such actions of unselfish and wholesome love and care? Not nothing I believe but at the very least the hope that their children will grow up well and are filial to them.

Based on traditional Asian cultural teachings of Confucius, filial piety is a must. It is in fact the most important trait or virtue in Chinese culture. Well what is filial piety? Returning the act of taking care of your parents when they are old? This I feel is the minimum one is obligated to especially if they gave and done their best to provide the very best for you. A more Asian and traditional thinking is a must for filial piety without questioning as parents had a hard time giving birth to you, but perhaps a more Westernised thinking would be who was enjoying during the process before having the child? Regardless some roles and duties still would have to be played. Sad to say many fail to do the bare minimum today and perhaps more parents today do not hope their children would take care of them when they are old. Perhaps having more cash beside them when they retire is a safer and more secure option. As I look at my parents working at a age which many would have perhaps retired, I cant help but to feel how much have I done as a son or what have I done to increase or decrease their burden. At this age I believe they have done their part and is no longer obligated to take care children's trivial matters but they still do with and try to help in every way they can. Even if you do not give them the utmost respect and love, they still give all their love to you. Some things you may never be able to return throughout the journey of your life, as so at least do the minimum as one is obligated to do the bare minimum, although insignificant but at least something is done.

Another toy hunt day as I went to buy my Star Wars figures at OG. Went for an early breakfast with my dad and headed to the shopping centre. Reached 5 mins after the opening hours and I was already the 3rd person in there lol. An interesting thing happened which an ex-staff, lets name her Jane, was ame back to pick up her stuff. One of my friends a Star Wars collector as well (lets name Jack), has a crush for Jane. I was then talking to Jane which Jack suddenly popped his head behind Jane's back and joined in the converstation. That gave Jane a big shock, but very quickly Jack said "Hi its been long since I saw you, so heard you no longer working here? Oh by the way Im Jack, what's your name?" upon hearing this I cant control my laughter by his actions and his approach and as Jane introduced herself she asked why was I laughing. Then I just stared at Jack who then continued "Oh no la, they think that I am going after you." Jane then giggled and Jack continued "But well, I really do have the intention of going after you, what do you think of it? Do i stand a chance?" That left everyone including the other staff nearby, me and Jane dumbfounded and I cant help to burst out laughing. Well in the end Jack did went up to ask for Jane's number and he did got it. Upon what circumstances she gave her number I do not know, fear of embarrassment to Jack she has a thing for Jack? Well Jack was clearly on cloud nine as he obtained his objective of getting her number. Some view Jack's actions as an act of foolishness, some feel it is an act of frankness and bravery, whichever so hope it goes well for him although I feel some things should be tackled in a more tactiful way especially speeches of declaration of one's feelings.
On the sidenote though, Jack thought all this is fate that Jane appeared on the day which he came down as well. Little does he know that "fate" was actually arranged by Jane's ex-supervisor, which she asked Jane to come on the day which she knew James would definitely come back to purchase the Star Wars stuff.

Stuff I bought which left me a poor man
Star Wars battle packs




Clone Wars AT-TE Assault Squad
although I stopped Clone Wars stuff but this pack with troopers and arsenal of big bad-ass guns & rifles at such a good price is too good to resist, check out what each of em is carrying


Clone Wars B' Omarr Monastery Assault and Legacy Collection Jedi vs Darth Sidious
B' Omarr Monastery Assault with Anakin on Stap with droid from the Clone Wars which he hops on and off one another Stap
Legacy Collection Jedi vs Darth Sidious, a repack from the older TAC series featuring the stupid scene from Star Wars Episode 3 which Darth Sidious kills 3 Jedi from the Council, Agen Kolar with Saesee Tiin and Kit Fisto, in one move, only Mace Windu survived, wth they are supposed to be very powerful but zZZ.



Clone Attack On Coruscant, another repack battlepack from TAC but with 5 troopers and a nice gunship background and nice price why hold back?



Hoth Recon Patrol, not bad with the 2 droids and the patrol thingy


Star Wars Comics pack








Darth Talon & Cade Skywalker from Legacy series
Cade Skywalker is actually descendant of Skywalker family with stepping close to the Dark side and the ability to bring someone back to life


Grand Admiral Thrawn & Talon Karrde from Heir to the Empire, some bad guys left who kill the good guys after 2nd Death Star got destroyed


Clone Emperor & Luke Skywalker from the Dark Empire, which there is a clone of the dead Palpatine reborned.


Leia Organa & Prince Xizor from Shadows of the Empire, which Leia meets Prince Xizor, leader of the Black Sun who has weird powers


Darth Vader & Princess Leia from Infinities - Return of the Jedi, based on What If Vader fights along the side of Leia and Luke. A white Vader, looks like he inspired by Michael Jackson.


Quinlan Vos & Commander Faie from Republic, Quinlan Vos is one of the coolest Jedi around though he did not appear in the movie, here with Commander Faie with Kashyyk armour.







Deliver visible visual changes or non-physical changes unseen by the naked eye?