Untitled

[pkyon]

I Want to Ride My Bicycle

I Want to Ride My Bicycle

Many years ago, when I was in Fukuoka, Japan, doing my student exchange programme, my favourite travelling companion was my trusty bicycle, Pinkie. Back then, cycling was not a hobby or a sport, but a way of life. (more…)

View On WordPress

[pkyon]

Four Treasures in a Clear Sweet Soup And a Tribute to My Mum

Four Treasures in a Clear Sweet Soup And a Tribute to My Mum

I’ve been rifling through some old stuff and found a few pieces of work that I wrote and published with the library back in the day. It was for a library publication called “Read by Adults” or Rby(A). We were targeting working adult readers from 20 – 39 or so, and the acronym was meant to be a play on the ol’ Restricted (Artistic) a.k.a. R(A) rating. To attract this particular group of readers,…

View On WordPress

[pkyon]

Looking for "Kafka", finding "Jolly Shandy on BEAUTY"

Looking for “Kafka”, finding “Jolly Shandy on BEAUTY”

ILLUSTRATION BY SAM BOSMA via The New Yorker. Click on picture to visit source. “Heya, you got the tickets for Kafka?” The girl asked me last Saturday morning. We were watching a play by the Ninagawa Company, based on Murakami Haruki’s novel, Kafka on the Shore, that night and the girl realised she didn’t have the tickets with her. She’s usually the one in charge of admin in our relationship, so…

View On WordPress

[pkyon]

Bashful

“Bashful” by Tay Bak Chiang. Image via Hakaren Art Gallery. A poem inspired by a series of paintings I saw a while ago. (more…)

View On WordPress

[pkyon]

21 Random Thoughts on Crimson Peak

21 Random Thoughts on Crimson Peak

Crimson Peak poster via IMDB Spoilers. Beware. (more…)

View On WordPress

[pkyon]

Book Review: "Warm Nights, Deathless Days: The Life of Georgette Chen" by Sonny Liew

Book Review: “Warm Nights, Deathless Days: The Life of Georgette Chen” by Sonny Liew

“Warm Nights, Deathless Days: The Life of Georgette Chen” by Sonny Liew Warm Nights, Deathless Days is a lovely introduction to the life, loves and beliefs of Georgette Chen, pioneer Singapore artist. (more…)

View On WordPress

[pkyon]

Conversations in Taipei: "The Bus Goes Tsum-Tsum By!"

Conversations in Taipei: “The Bus Goes Tsum-Tsum By!”

Not an actual long-distance bus in Taipei. At a bus stop outside Yehliu Geo Park. Me, on long-distance buses in Taipei: “Wow, these buses go by really fast! Must be alert and make ourselves visible so we can wave them down quickly. Can’t afford to Tsum Tsum while waiting for the bus like in Singapore.” The girl: “Yah, or else the bus will zoom-zoom by!”  

View On WordPress

[pkyon]

Thoughts on The Martian

Thoughts on The Martian

I really enjoyed The Martian (the movie). For a survival movie, it was surprisingly funny. The Project Elrond scene (which was in the book) turned out to be a great inside joke, thanks to the presence of Sean “Boromir” Bean. I’m glad Mr. Bean’s character didn’t die, but got to retire in style instead. Matt Damon had a good outing in…

View On WordPress

[pkyon]

Conversations in Taipei: "What's at Tamsui ah?"

Conversations in Taipei: “What’s at Tamsui ah?”

Over-filtered. At a cafe. Me: “Hey, anything you wanna do in the afternoon?” The girl: (thinks)”…Hmm, no, nothing.” Me: “I thought you wanted to go check out the Chiang Kai Sek Memorial Hall or something?” The girl: (thinks) “…Nah, not really.” Me: “Then wanna go Tamsui (淡水)?” The girl: “Hmm, okay. What’s at Tamsui ah?” Me: “Plain water*.” The girl: (-_-) Haha. A really lame joke, even by my…

View On WordPress

[pkyon]

A Thought On The Way To Changi Airport

Packing is easy. It’s deciding which books to bring that trips me. And yes, I do mean books with a “s”.

View On WordPress

[pkyon]

Book Review: "Cooling-Off Day" by Alfian Sa'at

Book Review: “Cooling-Off Day” by Alfian Sa’at

Available from public libraries. Call No.: SING S822 ALF  (Gosh, I’m back to being a librarian!) Alfian Sa’at’s “Cooling-Off Day” vividly captures the mood of a people on the cusp of a political awakening. (more…)

View On WordPress

[pkyon]

转捩点 － Turning Point

转捩点 － Turning Point

Fandi’s goal was the turning point in this match. (?) A couple of weeks ago, I heard the Prime Minister use the Chinese phrase “转捩点” on TV to describe this recent General Elections. Immediately, I understood that he meant this elections was a “turning point” for the ruling party. Man, this phrase brings back memories. (more…)

View On WordPress

[pkyon]

Bye-bye, Osaka

A nice day to sleep in tomorrow. A favourite pic of mine from the Osaka trip to end the series. Fun fact: The lights on the Tempozan Ferris Wheel also function as a weather forecast for the next day: Orange means it will be sunny, green means a cloudy day, and blue means rain is in the offing. Here’s the tag page to all our adventures in Osaka.

View On WordPress

[pkyon]

Eating Osaka Special (2/2): Manyoshi - Or, "Is it wrong to eat fried rice right after tempura udon?!"

Eating Osaka Special (2/2): Manyoshi – Or, “Is it wrong to eat fried rice right after tempura udon?!”

One of the papers pinned on the wall. Manyoshi was voted as best place for lunch in 2012 by users of Tabelog (a Japanese website like Yelp). No, it isn’t. Not when the fried rice is this good. (more…)

View On WordPress

[pkyon]

Eating Osaka Special (1/2): Manyoshi - Our Favourite Eat: Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Tempura Udon)

Eating Osaka Special (1/2): Manyoshi – Our Favourite Eat: Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Tempura Udon)

Quiet place, big flavours. An encounter with a restaurant might be a once-in-a-lifetime moment. This is also destiny. – The Solitary Gourmet (more…)

View On WordPress

[pkyon]

Eating Osaka (8/8): Hittobe (ひっとべ) - Satsuma Chicken Yakitori

Eating Osaka (8/8): Hittobe (ひっとべ) – Satsuma Chicken Yakitori

A perfect end to an exquisite meal. Yakking at the yakitori. (more…)

View On WordPress

[pkyon]

Eating Osaka (7/8): Hinaya (火菜屋)

Eating Osaka (7/8): Hinaya (火菜屋)

No doubt a horrible pic, but it’s all I got. Fried food on sticks, just not at lunch. (more…)

View On WordPress