The Last Laugh

Heath Ledger totally rocks the new Batman movie.

I confess. I have never been a huge fan of superhero-type movies made with exorbitant budgets, much less Batman. But Heath Ledger stole the show, and was the movie's saving grace. This is arguably his best movie YET. Not even his performance in Brokeback Mountain can rival that. Apparently he isolated himself in a hotel room for a month to perfect his role, learning to move, think and behave like the freak he was playing. His commitment to the role is to be admired, but sadly it might have taken away part of his sanity and ability to sleep, resulting in him OD-ed on medication of all sorts.

Still, the movie excels. The plot reads more like a human drama, rather than a cliché hero-saves-the-day kinda plot. We are faced with Batman's shortcomings and flaws (after all he is just a human being with a cape), and the ending may not be all that happy ever after all. And one of Tinseltown's most intriguing villains is born. Too bad he passed on too soon. R.I.P.

Soul-less Shopping

I HATE shopping in Singapore.

Which is sad cos' I like to shop. But there is absolutely nothing appealing about 'Singapore's favourite activity' here to me, even when millions and billions of taxpayers' money gets pumped into building chilly air-conditioned shopping malls, where Singaporeans convene with their colder personalities.

You have the standard brand names, Mango, Zara, M'phosis, Topshop, Body Shop everywhere in almost every other mall. Don't be mistaken, I have bought things there but don't we all live in some sort of fear that we will bump into someone wearing the same outfit? People buy cos' everyone else is buying that same thing. That herd mentality that the government has inculcated in everyone- 'oh, she has it, so it must be nice/good/worth it.'

Which is why I have given up on shopping here. The government keeps going on and on like a broken record that it aims to have Singapore turn into a shoppers' paradise. But where is the paradise? You see the same layout everywhere, same shops and same look. Cookie cutter like us Singaporeans. It's sooo boring.

And people are such ugly shoppers. I mean literally. I can never for the life of me, understand why Singaporeans queue just to get into a branded boutique. The weekend before, I see queues outside almost every branded boutique, even when I doubt a sale is going on. I mean, if I am going to spend a fortune, why would I QUEUE to get in the store? When actually a huge part of what I am paying actually goes to the shopping experience! Why do reputed brands here want to turn themselves into a sale-period Mango? It doesn't help in the image when all these suckers queuing are wearing t-shirts with flip flops (!) waiting to enter Gucci. Where is the QC? Effing disgrace!

With this note, I am contributing to economies overseas.

Foreplay is Over

My fave four is back!

I don't care if it's all part of popular culture, but I love everything about the show. I mean, I have watched all 6 seasons like 3 times, and it just keeps me coming back for more. I like the fact, the show doesn't try to disguise us women as victims, but rather we are truthful and upfront about what we want, be it extravagant shoes, expensive labels and rich boyfriends. I think what really makes the show so popular is that it is so frank to the point that it makes you think. When Carrie keeps going back to Big, yah you think she's a sucker but aren't we all suckers at some point when you meet The One?

Back to the movie, it's a chick flick, everyone else appears, but I can't help but feel something is missing. True, you can't compare it to the series, cos' it's 2 hours cramped up together, but it's so glossified that you hardly recognise some of the characters anymore. The huge part of the fun was seeing all four of them, but with the focus very much on SJP, the essence was just somehow lost. Samantha lost her vibe, Miranda gets a new haircut, new wardrobe, the person she never quite was, well at least Charlotte stayed consistent.

Don't be mistaken, it's still quite fabulous, if not for the outfits.

Now it's back to re-runs.

Siena Bella

I felt like a proud mama yesterday!

ST Life ran a cover story on Tuscany, with Siena as the focus. I actually gasped when I saw the cover photo with Palazzo Repubblica. The thing is, yeah everyone knows where Tuscany is but not all would know about Siena. The typical tourist would head straight for Florence and Pisa, full stop. I especially cannot understand why people would spend a huge amount of time getting to a place only because it just seems like the right thing to do. Like visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa for instance. No offence, but seriously, Pisa is nothing much to shout about apart from the Piazza. Plus you really waste at least half a day, simply taking touristy photos like everyone else. Don't be mistaken, I have been there. But only the second time round, when I was actually living in Italy, and not there for a quickie one week holiday, trying to cramp every state in. What I am trying to say is, be adventurous, explore the beaten track, head to little enclaves, speak to the locals, try the food. The beauty of Italy lies not in the cities, but the quaint, little towns. And no prizes for guessing, Siena is one of them. The thing that sucks is, to really appreciate a country, you have to live there. And not being there as a tourist, doing oh-so-boring tourist things. I remember I went a trip to Trentino Alto Adige and me and my Japanese friend were the only Asian people there. Now how cool is that.

I was happy to see that article but oh so afraid for Siena to turn into one of those Romes or Venices. It still felt like home and somehow a selfish part of me doesn't want too many people to know about it. Maybe that has got to do with the prospect of seeing truckloads of Singaporeans setting foot there. Not exactly appealing.

Working Girl

I couldn't resist writing this post.

Me, the quintessential bummer, is now part of our workforce, working towards productivity and progress of our ever-growing economy. It's so weird, waking up at ungodly hours – I wake up at 6.45am these days, hell it's not even seven!; taking the MRT, jostling for space with salarymen and working girls. What's even more interesting was this conversation I had with a friend recently. She was lamenting about her work, or rather, the lack of. What was even more bewildering was that somehow everyone around were all really busy, only because everyone made it known. Fact is, everyone was just busy acting busy. In Singapore, it is almost a crime when you tell people that 'Oh, work's fine!', 'Yeah, everything is going really well!' and when you knock off on time, simply because yes, you are efficient. Why? Why do people (esp Singaporeans) always want to portray negativities when it comes to work? Is it true when people say 'I am very busy leh!' and stay in the office till wee hours even? (I remember one boss of mine who camped in the office with a toothbrush), when sometimes really things can wait. Or time is just simply wasted in long, meaningless meetings that drag for eons? Maybe that's the reason why people all look miserable in trains. They look like they would rather jump off cliffs in fact.

I am glad I am in a place that places a lot of emphasis on work-life quality. The corporation encourages everyone to engage in sporting activity from 4.30pm onwards. Of course, whether or not people actually participate is beside the point, but it's important when it starts from the top. Negative qi simply does not encourage productivity, Singapore.

Drink to Health

Remember that foul tasting 'ji jing' that is essence of chicken? That thing our mums forced down our throats?

Well, it's funny how I ended up working for them, but that's beside the point. The thing I discovered recently is that it actually works to a great extent. People who have worked with me would know that I am practically dead in the morning, even with power caffeine. But this stuff had me. I am not launching into PR fluff but if even the least impressed and cynical person like me thinks that it actually means something, but perhaps it is worth a try. I have it every morning, but beware though. It is quite heaty so down lots of water, or you will end up constipated like myself. Ok, too much information.

I guess I am at the age where I will pretty give anything a try if it does something for my health. So why not?

Boo Bunions

Made a trip to the podiatrist yesterday.

Its my second time, the first being an ingrown toe nail, completely gross.

I am now experiencing the bane of vanity, bunions. If you do a search, the images are pretty grotesque, though thankfully mine is still pretty contained. Here’s what I found – ‘More than half the women in America have bunions, a common deformity often blamed on wearing tight, narrow shoes, and high heels. Bunions may occur in families, but many are from wearing tight shoes. Nine out of ten bunions happen to women. Nine out of ten women wear shoes that are too small.’

Why do women subject themselves to pain and discomfort in the name of beauty? Needless to say, I am one of them. The thing is you are seeking pretty shoes, would you exactly go for wide, big-foot style shoes? Or perhaps companies should implement a policy where sneakers or Birkies are acceptable, when you don't have to face clients?

Anyway, my podiatrist has advised an x-ray and diagnosed me with really w--i--d--e feet and an inward pointing walking style, so I should really cut down on heels and narrow fitting shoes…now is there anyone who can tell where the hell to find pretty, wide, roomy heels?