The date has been set for 12 of June 2009. It has been time as most man will say, 'Your turn will come!".

Well, I didn't really expect it to come, however when Wombat called me to inform that he had received. I thought I should go and check my mailbox too as I had a strong feeling about my enlistment date. Well, true to the point and based on my gut feeling, it came true. I'm not really sure to be excited or to fear it. However, I do know that I have to go through it one way or another.

Like what Raging Bat said, "For the country"... but more accurately, I believe it's for protecting your love ones and your homeland. The country is not a country without the people you love or care for... or the feeling to be at home.

For the past two weeks, I have been spending time with Marlinne... hmm... like a family? Haha. Going out with her and her brother. Eating dinner with her parents. I am really fortunate to experience this. People may call me crazy to do such things... however the feeling of forming such a family and experiencing it first-hand... is truly inspirational. Thank you dear.

Yesterday night, I met up with some secondary school classmates! Even though, it has been about a year or so, when we last met each other... I do feel the bond and the friendship among us (taking away the teasing and making-fun moments). Of coz, there was sharing of old memories, like some ass-grabbing stories, and jokes about ourselves. It was truly memorable, despite the early departure. Thank you girls and brother! Here are the people that made my day too!

(Brenda, Eileen, Rebecca (she slim down alot!!), Maureen and Mei mei)

(A rare picture of Marlinne and Mei mei)

(Dong Hao, Maureen and Rebecca)

(My bro - Moses)

Today was an awesome day, not for the fact that the Thai Princess was around only, but also due to the experience and satisfaction of being in the team of the following people for the dragon boat training and race.

Our timing for training: 1.51 minutes

Our timing for 25 Apr Race: 1.41 minutes

Our timing for today's Race: 1.36 minutes

I'm glad we broke through our timings! And more importantly, I can see the effort and teamwork of making it through! Well, even though we didn't win anything, at least we experience it together! Thank you to:

1. Mr Basheer

2. Mdm Siti

3. Wisdom Keeper

4. Star Seeker

5. Flaming Arrow

6. Kar Mun

7. Fish

8. Jasper

9. Shi Chng

10. Caring Cottontail

11. Wombat

12. White Shield

13. My brother - Ah Kai

14. Andrew

You guys did great and don't worry! Coz... We gonna fight, fight, fight and win the war!

Graduation is coming... and I'm so excited for the meet-the-parents session! or more like... meet-the-in-laws sessions! haha

STOMP also known as Straits Times Online Mobile Print, is a well-known phenomenon in Singapore and a widely used platform for news readers to communicate their thoughts about the public perception of certain matters.

Well, so what's my point here?

I do wonder at times if STOMP has been a place to 'flame' people's actions or to make these actions known to the public to know about. Certainly, at the way things are going at now... I do wonder the purpose of STOMP. In the initial stage, when I saw STOMP, I thought it was a platform where youths and young adults can gather to discuss useful matters about Singapore's culture and activities...

However, recently, there are photos emerging reports after reports on the negative ethnics of certain people. And in the end, these small cases riles splinter groups to munch on the matter. And who are the losers? I feel that the losers are those who had their photo taken by SINGAPOREANS. Either the people got fired or having to face disciplinary actions from the companies...

I mean ... isn't there a more discreet platform to inform the right organization of the unethical behaviour of their staff instead of 'flaming' them? Or informing the school of the student's behaviour instead of the newspaper? Or does people get the joy of blowing the whistle so publicly?

After all, Singapore is suppose to be a Global City and a graceful one... but the way that some of those 'black sheep' are acting... perhaps like what Minister Mentor Lee mentioned, that Singapore can't achieve the level of gracefulness, respect and harmony among each other.

Have you ever wonder when do people bond together irregardless of their race, language or even religion? Thus far, the only situation that I can think of, for such things to happen, is during the case of natural disasters. Whenever a natural disaster strikes, regardless of which country that suffers, people from all walks of life would contribute and help one another.

Can the World be such a place without the need of suffering, but for peace only?

Who knows? Perhaps, some idealist were right... the World maybe destroyed, not by natural catastrophe, but by Humans themselves...

Pastor commented in his book: "If your behaviour is wrong, it is because there is something wrong with your beliefs."

I wonder how true is it?

What are beliefs?
1. The mental act, condition, or habit of placing trust or confidence in another
2. Mental acceptance of and conviction in the truth, actuality, or validity of something
3. Something believed or accepted as true, especially a particular tenet or a body of tenets accepted by a group of persons

So how do we know what are our beliefs?
We can generally gauge that by our principles, and how we look into things. Perhaps, on a more sensitive note, religion. We tend to follow our religious beliefs in our lives.

So why do people still go wrong in their behaviour?
In the Chinese tradition, they believed in "Yin and Yang" The opposites of good and evil. I believe that when a person become too extreme, they tend to follow their beliefs blindly and end up doing more wrong than good. Take for example on the current situation in Thailand... the country can be so divided due to the different beliefs in what is wrong and what is right, when it comes to the party governing the country. Sometimes, I would just wonder why can't they just settle down on a party to allow the country to grow. But otherwise, there are deeper conflicts that others cannot imagine.

Youth Olympic Games (YOG) is going to happen sometime in August 2010. I'm impress that the Youth Council is taking a proactive stand to promote, reach out and to the different walks of life to participate and contribute to this event. So who says that volunteerism is dead in Singapore?

As long as the person who is volunteering, does so with his or her heart, it matters more than just monetary gifts. The heart of the person determines the kinda actions that will be put through. As the heart is the most pure and fundamental in driving the body, without it, the person can never all do his or her best when it comes to challenges or tasks.

Heart... The Earth needs lots and lots of people with their heart so as to live a better place.

2 trips to Genting Highlands - one with the SandS Rovers and Oneida Ventures, and the other Marlinne's family.

2 different objectives... 2 different environment. However, one thing in common... that's me! Haha ok just being lame.

It's been really tiring travelling by bus, to and fro from Singapore to Genting and back to Singapore. However, the satisfaction of being with your love ones, it's really really good. I can't ask for more than to be with the people I care and love during this period of time. This is especially so when the letter for call-up looms nearer and nearer.

I must say, I have a mixed feeling about this. I am excited yet nervous about entering the National Service. I guess I just got to hang on there a little longer. A little reflection about myself for the couple of months. I guess I am in the period of misguided or so called 'lost in transition'. I figured that due to the uncertainty ahead, I didn't really take much action to push on my life. I just waited and waited. I guess it's in my nature too, to take low risk or at least a certain degree of calculated risk.

I am truly leading a bum's life, as I have been bumming away for the last 2 months. Not that I didn't do anything much, however, after these few days of intense reflection. I see certain points in my life crashing hard... especially my expectations. However, at the same time, my mind is working non-stop to think of remedies and cures for these problems:

1. Training schedule, method and practice for the scout unit... It's rather disappointing yet expected to hear from certain members that they had not learnt anything since the beginning of the year. No one to blame except myself for coming up with this kinda training method. Yet, in my mind... another form took place with the integration of other unit's training method. I hope I am not just a thinker now... I hope to get it done. and get it done fast!

2. Rover Training... I'm really taking a stroll in the park for this matter. However, thanks to my fellow Rovers like Wombat, Wisdom Keeper and Cottontail. I managed to continue to push on and do up my logbook and share. The most rewarding moment spent together was during the Genting Highlands trip so far. 4 different people from different units, culture and personalities... we were once strangers to each other, yet we forge a friendship, now so strong that we care and share with each other. Thank you for this bond!.

3. My relationship. Whenever I thought back or people telling me about getting into a relationship with someone unexpected is not quite possible... I thought again... that's not true! It happened to me... It started with a seed (hint) which slowly grew its roots into me. I guess now it's a big tree sheltering my heart. I am thankful for who she is and what she has been doing for me. I can't ask for more than the love, care and concern that she provided so far... Thank you Marlinne!

4. Am I thinking too deep, too simple, doing practical or non-practical matters? I do not know. At times, I can really think really deep down and touch the hearts of others, yet at times, I just can't and ended up upsetting others. I wonder if my observation skills and listening skills have taken a dip through this past few months. The secondary school teacher once commented that I am an observant student. I felt that was true however, now I don't get that feeling anymore. Why? ... Am I just being too ambitious again with my own ideas? Am I just ignoring the facts of life? Am I fighting against something?

5. What's my talent? I told my Rovers that I am able to be a neutral element. Why did I say that? Perhaps, I feel that I can stand at a viewpoint of a neutral party whenever situations approaches. I learnt this during my first few years of leadering... this wasn't easy as I tend to mixed my emotions and my ideas into what's wrong and right. For now, I tend to think both sides before commenting. I don't know... maybe that's my only talent for now.

What's my belief in life? I haven't really thought about this deeply before, even though I did tried a couple of years ago. There were weird ideas coming up like 'protecting the poor, woman and children', or 'protecting my loves with the ability that I have' or 'educating the next generation the proper values and the meaning of their lives'... I guess, the main focus is about those who are around me. Those that I kept true to my heart and also who I tried to help out.

Well... one's belief may change at one point or even many points in life... however, as long as you stick to your beliefs and principles in life. I guess, you should be happy and joyful.

Happiness... why do I feel emptiness instead for these couple of days. What's missing in my life?