(A) MY OLD KOPI FRIENDS (AT KATONG)

(B) TRACY KARAOKE BIRTHDAY PARTY (AT MARINA)

(C) CELEBRATING AUNTIE AMY BIRTHDAY (AT MARINA)

I brought her back for my event this May. 3 of my clients came to me and sang her praises. I was very surprised – cos these are the "hard cookies" who don’t normally give good words. I was so proud of her and felt so happy for her. And last night, we had an informal "birthday drink" with Tracy and friends at Clarke Quay. I rewarded Tracy by participating in her birthday dare – "The Reversed Bungy!"

Last weekend – Scott, Joe and Harshad went to Southern China. I thought it will be another business-cum-drinking joy nights..but it turned out to be a very meaningful trip for me.

Harshad and I stayed over 1 more night in Guangzhou and we were told by a local friend that there is a RMB30/night hotel. It isn’t a love-motel, it was just some local 1-star hotel for those who just sleep and leave. Thus, we decided to explore this option – since it is only RMB30 per night!

It was an eye-opener for me. The stairs are dark, the walls are dirty and the hall stink badly. There is no reception table – just a man sleeping behind a caged room of bars (like a jail cell) – he opened the door and led us to our rooms. When he showed us the room, it reminded me of those kampong houses – cracked floor, decaying ceiling and lizards crawling around the room. No aircon, just a black dusty ceiling fan. I checked the toilet – it was dark and stuffy. It was one of those old untiled squat toilet holes (like those I saw in jail). Next to the hole is the shower area. Yeah, I bet there is no heater too. The bed is old and torn – I bet there must be a zillion bed bugs in there waiting for me! We politely rejected the hotel manager and left the hotel. My god, how could anyone live under such condition!

Later that evening, our friend invited us to her house. It was sad for me. Her house was as bad or if not, worse than the hotel room. It was deep inside the back alley – no street lamps – I have to turn on my iphone so that we have some decent light to lit the path. Her flat was on the 4th floor – the stairs were dark and narrow. This is one place where my imagination will run wild – I felt so unsafe and scared. It looks exactly like the scary movie "Dark Water" or if not "The Ring".

Once she opened her door, Harshad and I saw a couple of rats running across the room! Her room-mate had left the window open – the rats came in to look for food. It was really pathetic! I can’t help but felt so so sad for her. I looked out of the window – everyone in the neighbourhood is living almost in the same condition. It was the norm for them.. but for me – it was as good as staying out on the street (maybe Singapore street is cleaner and brighter too!)

On our way back to Hong Kong, I can’t erase what I saw the night before. It did affected me deeply somehow. It was a different type of world. A world that my grandparents had lived and never want us to revisit. In the harsh reality, there are still many people who are still living under such "norm". It is times like this that made me realise how fortunate I am. According to her, there are much more worse living conditions that we normally don’t get to see. For how many can we help?

For me, it doesn’t matter how many people I can help. I will start with one..and slowly move on to the next. The Guangzhou trip isn’t just a trip where we meet business friends and got drunk-happy. I saw a new chapter in my life – It was hardship that I never get to experience or see as a child. And I do appreciate my life a lot.

Ok… which f**king idiot call them "zebra"???? – that is so so so Hanson! (Nice coverage, Joanne & Ramesh on Straits Times today!)

1ST-8TH HOUR – Friday morning – Disneyland! Francis, Echo and Grey not only brought us their warmth and joys – they brought in the "Shanghai Rain" to Hong Kong. On Friday, Felicia and Elkan joined them at Disneyland. The weather wasn’t that bad – judging from their photos here.

23RD – 24TH HOUR – Sat Morning – The gang came and visit us at our house! Francis is CERTAINLY the 1st (and possibly the LAST) visitor who requested to see my carpark! Instead of enjoying himself at my beautiful clubhouse, he went to the carpark and snapped photos of those expensive cars. Mmm.. his love for cars have reached a "dangerous stage". More than just a "second wife"!

25TH – 36TH HOUR – Sat Afternoon – Francis hasn’t been on a double-decker bus since schooling days back in Singapore! So, today, we decided to give him a "refreshing bus ride" to Stanley Market.

36TH – 42ND HOUR – Sat Night – We had dinner (where Gareth recommended) at Temple Street and later late-night shopping at Mong Kok! I was looking for my lens and he was looking for his "guns". Very poisonous hobby. (Gosh! We reached home at 1am!)

54TH – 68TH HOUR – Sun Afternoon – It is the trio’s last day in HK. Time passed so quickly. In less than 4 hours’ time, we will bid farewell to our buddies. Francis woke up very early today and strolled around Mong Kok (Haaa.. and he ""kena" spotchecked by the local policemen! Can’t help launghing, he shouldn’t be doing that – cos all the shops aren’t open that early! No wonder he is a suspect!) Of course, he was looking for his poison – car parts!

69TH – 72ND HOUR – Sun Evening – Another teary goodbye for Elkan… Despite his "last horrific Mike Tyson experience" with Grey, Grey starts to adore Elkan a lot. Throughout this trip, Grey "monkey see & monkey do" Elkan. Like his idol, Grey wants to possess Elkan like his very own toy. He was following Elkan, grabbing him around. Of course, Elkan "disliked" that compelling attention from Grey. When it was time to say goodbye, Grey wanted to drag Elkan with them into the departure gate. Once the trio were at the gate, Elkan broke down by his mother’s side – "I want to go with Grey Grey…I like him…and his Disney Luggage too."

Another beautiful weekend. I am such a lucky bastard, said Joanne. Oh yes, Happy Birthday Hovman – if you are reading this.
Suddenly, I start to miss Shanghai again.

Thanks Joanne for the great photo-contribution! Man, you guys really had such a great fun back home! "

1) Juliana, you grew gracefully, so dun worry. (Duuk, is Juli getting nicer hormones? Less violent now?)
2) Kanena Heng Buddy, you did it again. Stop hugging my babies! (Gareth, come back! Yo…)
3) Yixi, what did you feed Jacob with? He looks so tall, strong and handsome! Like a real man now!
4) MC…your princess looks very hot and spicy!
5) Kal, just 2 changes – Red Inner + Jeans. Your red glasses and top look heng enough! If Hock is there, he will say the same thing!

Zachariah or Zechariah – it is a hebrew biblical name meaning "The Lord has Recalled". And yes, it is a boy’s name. (And I am sure many have problem calling this name. It is pronounced zak-a-RYE-ah). For new uncles and aunties, please click here to listen to the pronunication. Maybe a shorter nick would be good.. like Rayah, Zekah etc.

After more than 3 months of waiting, Duuk and Juli fulfilled the 1st 2009’s Want! Juli texted us the results yesterday! Urghh.. I lost SGD50! (Man, guess the old wives’ tales are wrong or Juli is certainly putting lots of fats around her waist!) Anyway, I am extremely happy for them! And yes, thanks for making your pregnancy so exciting and fun for the clan!