I know its abit unsual but there's another song that has really struck me recently. It's a very old song as well. Haha, kinda reflective of my age I think. This was a song bb send to me a few days back. Been playing it again and again. Enjoy.. video on the side as well.

至少还有你 by 林亿莲

我怕来不及我要抱着你
直到感觉你的皱纹有了岁月的痕迹
直到肯定你是真的直到失去力气
为了你我愿意
动也不能动也要看着你
直到感觉你的发线有了白雪的痕迹
直到视线变得模糊直到不能呼吸
让我们形影不离
如果全世界我也可以放弃
至少还有你值得我去珍惜
而你在这里就是生命的奇迹
也许全世界我也可以忘记
就是不愿意失去你的消息
你掌心的痣我总记得在那里
我怕来不及我要抱着你
直到感觉你的发线有了白雪的痕迹
直到视线变得模糊直到不能呼吸
让我们形影不离
如果全世界我也可以放弃
至少还有你值得我去珍惜
而你在这里就是生命的奇迹
也许全世界我也可以忘记
就是不愿意失去你的消息
你掌心的痣我总记得在那里
我们好不容易我们身不由已
我怕时间太快不够将你看仔细
我怕时间太慢日夜担心失去你
恨不得一夜之间白头永不分离
如果全世界我也可以放弃
至少还有你值得我去珍惜
而你在这里就是生命的奇迹
也许全世界我也可以忘记
就是不愿意失去你的消息
你掌心的痣我总记得在那里
在那里

Went to the gym just now and heard this in the weights room. Took me back to almost 8 years ago when I'm like 15? Can't remember when exactly it came out though. This is a cover that Pearl Jam did of a classic ballad. I could still remember that I was staying in a boarding house at RI then and every morning while we get ready for school, the radio will play this without FAIL man. Such a sad, melancholic song.

So let's take it away guys! 1.. 2... 3........

Last Kiss by Pearl Jam

Oh, where oh where can my baby be?
The Lord took her away from me
She's gone to heaven, so I got to be good
So I can see my baby when I leave this world.

We were out on a date in my daddy's car
We hadn't driven very far
There in the road, up straight ahead
A car was stalled, the engine was dead
I couldn't stop, so I swerved to the right
I'll never forget the sound that night
The screamin' tires, the bustin' glass
The painful scream that I heard last.

Oh, where oh where can my baby be?
The Lord took her away from me
She's gone to heaven, so I got to be good
So I can see my baby when I leave this world.

When I woke up, the rain was pourin' down
There were people standing all around
Something warm rollin' through my eyes
But somehow I found my baby that night
I lifted her head, she looked at me and said
"Hold me darling just a little while."
I held her close, I kissed her our last kiss
I found the love that I knew I would miss
But now she's gone, even though I hold her tight
I lost my love, my life that night.

Oh, where oh where can my baby be?
The Lord took her away from me
She's gone to heaven, so I got to be good
So I can see my baby when I leave this world.
Oooh~ ooooh~

Free tickets to The Producers! Winner of the most Tony Awards in Broadway History! Thats the good thing about being in Stern. There is always something free. Pizzas, umbrellas, cups and what not. This time there are free tickets for exchange students.

Sam and I chose The Producers over Jersey Boys as it won so many awards. Man and it was good. Like really good. Preferred it over Beauty and the Beast! I took some photos sneakily coz we were like on the third floor looking down man. Abit wasted but the ticket is free so shan't complain.

The sets were ok but the script was like witty and quite engaging. At least I could catch the joke. So thats 2 broadway down. 4 more to go. Will prob catch 1. Phantom of the Opera 2. Lion King 3. Wicked 4. Les Mis 1

After the show we went to this place called Roxy Deli. The cheesecakes were FAR OUT! Don't have a picture of them though as they're all in Zhenhong's Cam. Should go get it from him. Huge slices of melt in your mouth cheese and wonderful triple choc. Yummy. It's just at times square if anyone is interested!

We went to this pizza place called Grimaldi's. It's actually in Brooklyn. Just across from Manhattan and under the Brooklyn Bridge. Coal-fired Pizza. YUMMY. Voted like no.1 in NEW YORK! Can you imagine that! We got there roughly 12.30. Wah the queue is like snaking outside man. But it cleared pretty fast. You wont get to enjoy sitting inside chit-chatting. Once you are done out you go!

Not too bad the pizza. The pie was really nice but the ingredients abit mis-matched i think. or maybe i jus that anchovies. Too salty for my liking. But you get to choose and match your toppings and cheese and what not. Then wash it down with a coke! Not bad really. Think it was pretty worth it. You can only get the whole pizza, they dont sell by slices!

WARNING: UPDATED! This is going to be one mega-super-long post which maybe updated periodically!

This trip started a few weeks back when Clare (UNSW exchange student) sounded the rest of us out abt gg on a trip to Washington as her friend (Joyce) was coming up from Emory Uni to explore arnd NY and its areas.

Clare checked out a few tours and found this one which covers like so many places! Although I don't really like those short planned tours but this one is really economical! In the sense that it covers so many places in 3 days. Let's see, 1000 Islands, Niagara Falls, Corning, Washington and Philadelphia. I actually had plans to visit either Washington OR Philly OR Niagara but since this trip covers all of it and all for only $110 (hotel plus transport), it's super worth it. Although it's only touch and go but well I can't complain!

We had to go Chinatown catch the bus so early man! It was a 8.45 bus but knowing us, we took our time (well at least I did haha). Reached Chinatown and boarded the bus when it came. By right we had assigned seats but we were told to just sit randomly UNTIL this Indian guy complained I think. Ok, I'm not racist but it was such a pain in the ass man. After like 30 mins of attempted sorrting out by the tour guide, it was just too troublesome to change so they said we'll just change tomorrow! Haha dumb.





First stop: 1000 Islands. What does the name remind you of? No prizes for guessing it but yeap the salad dressing. I was like what? BUT apparently it really orginated from there! 1000 Islands like its name suggested has many many islands (some idiot counted and apparently there are 1700ish). Any rock with 2 trees on it counts as an ISLAND! So the area was the playground of the rich and famous. They all have their summer houses on the island. So I cant remember Mr. X had a party and his chefs couldnt find ingredients to do salad dressing and came up with one using materials from arnd the area and created the 1000 Island Dressing!

The main point of travelling almost 6 hours by bus there is to take this hour boat ride. The river actually splits between Ontario (Canada) and New York (America) so I'll be crossing the border! Basically it's just to see the islands and the huge and beautiful houses. The main attraction of the trip was Boldt's Castle (the set of 3 pictures on the right). It has such a beautiful love story to it. The guy bought the island, used explosive to blast the rocks so it resembled a heart shape and built the castle for his wife who unfortunately died before he could complete it. In summary, it was a beautiful and relaxing cruise but tourists being tourists, I probably spent too much time snapping away rather than sit back and enjoy the scenary. I really wished that there was some way to take photos with my eyes or smthing. So i can relax and just enjoy the trip! Happened all 3 days man!


Stop 2: Niagara Falls. Oh did i mention that it's fall now? Since I was small I really wanted to catch the leafs changing color and falling. You know like in the movie and stuff. This trip sort of managed to coincide with the "color-changing" season or whatever you call it. Some shots for your enjoyment. It really is so pretty (man thats a gay term, but i like haha). Just check out the photos on the left which I took at Goat's Island (Niagara Falls). Well it's now day 2 and stop no. 2. The eagerly anticipated Niagara Falls. "Must-Go!" or so everyone who preceded me told me. Words don't do it justice so i'll just bombard everyone with more photos!




Niagara Falls is actually made up of 3 falls - Horseshoe, American, Bridal Veils Falls. They came about as Goat's Island actually splits the river into 3 separate parts. Top collage shows the Horseshoe Falls which is the largest and in the shape of a horseshoe. But the view sucks from the American side. Yilin prob has a zai shot. Next collage are the 2 falls on the American side. But well not to despair! We went on a boat ride (Maids of the Mist) which brings us right up to the 3 falls!

The shots are quite bad coz the power at which the water thunders down creates a perpetual mist around the area! Which makes for super super nice rainbow! Even a double rainbow like above! We had to don blue raincoats for this so we'll not get wet. BUT looking at the picture, you can just imagine how useful it was. Like the wet-look? Haha. The whole experience was quite magical! Plus I had my oakleys so I could stare right into the falls when the boat passed it! The power was quite astonishing (to a mountain tortoise like me)!

Before we headed to our next stop, I managed to grab my first ever krispy kreme! Heard so much about it. And it was well ok la haha. Soft but maybe not very fresh coz it's not a bakery kind. But well my very first one!

Stop 3: Corning Glass Museum. Erm it's where like Corning Ware is made? The thing that pple use to cook casserole in. Pretty boring place so just some pictures. Lazy to describe this place.



Stop 4: Washington DC. The highlight of the trip. It's really just to see the sights! White House, etc etc etc. So first up were the Vietnam War and Korean War Memorials. The Vietnam War memorial was designed by a Chinese! Cool man. So many features to it. It must blend in with the surroundings, have the names of all the soldiers. It was deisnged in a V-shape to signify Vietnam or Victory, cant remember already. Kinda sobering and disgusted to know so many lives were wasted just like that. Kinda like Iraq War man. But nobody can say if its right or wrong i guess. Salute the soldiers for the spirit! Maybe coz i served 2 years before thats why i feel it so much. Imagine the men under you man. Sheesh.


After the 2 war memorials, went to the Lincoln Memorial. One comment that I must make is that the memorials are really grand here. The Lincoln Memorial is like WOAH. The scale and size and the aura. Really inspiring. 36 columns to represent the initial 36 states in the US. And across from the Memorial and the long pond (which always appears in the movies) is the Washington Memorial. It's the needle like structure in the photos! It's as magical as in the movies.

Next next, WHITE HOUSE. There is like a lady protesting outside man. What's more comical is that while we were taking photos outside, there was this lady jogger gg past.. AND she was pointing her middle finger the whole time she jogged past it. That's SPIRIT!

Off to the jefferson memorial. Oh its surrounded by this Huge lake.. HUGE! And with Sakura trees flanking it on the side as well. But too bad its not the season yet. Heard its beautiful man when the sakura blooms. Have several arty farty shots of this place haha check out my middle finger shot.

After lunch we went over to Capitol Building, another touristy photo-taking spot. I started taking photo of the reflection of the building over the pond and then everyone came over and wow wah wah seh.. and copied.. I thot that was hilarious. Arty Daniel!

Last stop in DC! We went to visit the hope diamond at the National Museum of History. Largest Blue Diamond in the world. It was part of a larger blue diamond which was eventually cut into 2 and the other was the one that supposedly sank in the titanic! It's amazing how light reflects of it man. Man one expensive piece of carbon there.

Stop 5: Philadelphia. Last stop of this whirlwind tour! This i must really complain. The trip was reversed arnd right at the stop so we thought ok no problem. BUT when we reached philly we couldnt see the Liberty Bell. WTH! It's like highlight la. Did everyone watch "National Treasure"? That is the same bell and the smae place man. We only got to see the stinky Independence Hall, from afar no less.

And this concludes my trip! Wow super super long post. Thanks to all those who tagged along. Really enjoyed the trip. Bonding in a sense I guess. Like one person remarked, "It moved beyond the normal living on the same floor relationship"!

Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol

We'll do it all
Everything
On our own

We don't need
Anything
Or anyone

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

I don't quite know
How to say
How I feel

Those three words
Are said too much
They're not enough

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life

Let's waste time
Chasing cars
Around our heads

I need your grace
To remind me
To find my own

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life

All that I am
All that I ever was
Is here in your perfect eyes, they're all I can see

I don't know where
Confused about how as well
Just know that these things will never change for us at all

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

Went for my second baseball match in NY! This time was the New York Yankees vs Toronto Blue Jays. Of course before we went we hoped that it will go much much better than the Mets game! That's coz im a Yankees Fan! So I took out my newly bought yankee cap and off we go!


The ticket cost 10 bucks (4 x the price of Mets) but I am willing to pay man! Heh. When we reached we saw them doing batting practice. Wah homeruns like nobody's business man. So freaking strong. Some of you maybe wondering, eh isn't Toronto like Canada? Well it is.. it is sort of like Singapore playing in Malaysia League last time. Something like that la! So they played like 2 national anthems before the game. The Canadian Anthem and the US one.

Overall let's say it's about 3.5 out of 5. Why leh? Well there are a number of reasons:

1. Yankees WON
2. We saw 3 home-runs
3. I had a beer. (See the photo which i took through the beer cup haha)
4. The pitching was excellent!

The merchandise there was damn expensive though. Sheeesh. But nm, I'll buy it at Modell's (like world of sports) in town later. Cheaper by quite abit! Actually right. Watching on TV is more fun I guess with the commentary. At the game mostly its boring except when the teams make a great play or some spectacular hit. But its sort of our seats also la.. So super duper high up. Thats y the atmosphere is kind of lacking also.

Wah havent updated in so long so I shall split this into many many parts! So part 1 is about my Boston Trip from the 22nd to 24th Sept.

So what's there in Boston besides their famous baseball team (ie Red Sox for the ignorant ones)? Well MIT and Harvard are both in the boston area!

from the others around it. It's sorta like a city campus as well with no boundaries. What you may see are just MIT symbols at the doors and they do not have like flags hanging off the buildings like say NYU. If I can say, it's quite a boring place! Haha, but from what i gather, the academic pressure is super high. Like the school just declared a holiday coz they are afraid that the students are too stressed. Like studentMIT or Massachusetts Institute of Technology. No need to introduce at all right. All the smart engineering people go there. We actually booked this pretty late so what happened was that the hostel for the first night was booked out! Luckily Kah Keng is studying at MIT so I managed to get him and he actually let us stay over at his Hostel! Damn heng man. Actually MIT covers quite a big area but the buildings are not distinguishable suicides are not a joking matter there. Scary!

After walking around MIT, we went up to Harvard Square i.e. where Harvard University is. Its a very old square with lots and lots of history. Harvard Square is where part of Harvard University surrounds. It's sorta like a Holland Village with restaurants, delis, cd shops, book-stores etc. On the right, you see me taking a photo with Mr. John Harvard. The fact is that nobody really knows how John Harvard looks like and the statue was just based on someone else haha. Harvard Square is such a nice place to like hang out with the student residences on one side. The residences are like old buildings with lawns in front. Very relac jack can just picnic there haha. Beside it are all the stores etc etc. School buildings and churches and what not. The middle two pictures are of two of the churches there while the one on the right is their library. One mega huge and nice library man but too bad we can't go in coz its out of bounds to the public! There was even an adidas original shop there haha. There was this cool shop like ig's heaven which sells cool stuff. They even had astronaut food. Imagine this, a packet which is like a energy bar but once you add water, you get ice-cream haha. If it's not so expensive I would have bought one!


On the second day, we walked the Freedom Trail. This is like a collection of all the historical and significant buildings around the Boston area. It basically revolves around prominent churches and people like Paul Revere (who alarmed everyone to the advance of the British). Lots of pictures so do go take a look! As we were walking along the trail though, we came across this magnificent monument to the holocaust. There are like huge rectangular slabs or rocks lining the pathway leading up to tall glass structures which you can walk through. As you walk through the glass structures, there is the effecto of a mist coming out from the ground. This is meant to remind everyone of the gas chambers which millions of lifes were lost to. On the structures are like numbers of the prisoners and quotes from survivors of the purging by Hitler. Remember all those history classes you sat through. None of it has the effect and impact of this man. Further along the trail, we came across this bakery called Mike's Pastry. Everyone is like going in and coming out with a box! So being a kiasu singaporean I went in and bought something to try. Wow! Haha, wonderful pastries and cakes and desserts man. No wonder everyone is like dropping in along the way to get something. After like 5 hours of walking along the trail we went to Cheers bar for dinner. Cheers bar is famous for appearing on the tv serial called "Cheers" haha. It's quite cozy but probably over-hyped as it apparently was a very popular series in the states and americas many many years ago. Food was ok. But just go in if you are arnd to experience it!

Being the baseball fan that I am, I'll definitely not miss going down to Fenway Park! The home of the Boston Red Sox and the oldest baseball stadium in USA! Aiya but we could only walk around outside as we did not want to join the paid tour plus we were rushing back to NY anyway. But could see it's quite old haha. But the statue outside was really nice. This is a statue in recognition of the work Ted Williams has done with children. Ted Williams is like a superstar baseball player who does alot of charity work with children and of course was a Red Sox player. This statue is quite inspiring though. At least to me la! Haha. Well that sorta concludes the Boston trip as we just dropped by Filene's Basement (Designer Bargain Store) and caught the bus back to NYC Chinatown!