Why you don't have a Smartphone?

This question was naturally posed to me for the past many years by many people who just got to know me. 

And the previous question people liked to ask was why I don't have a handphone...

The first question I wanted to ask them is why should someone get a smartphone? Why a person need a smartphone in the first place? If the answer is because a lot of people are using it, and it would be outdated not to use it. Or is because it would be harder to contact me without it. I would gladly bang that person's head on the wall.

One simple reason that one person doesn't hold one because he could not simply afford it. They don't have wealthy parents to buy them a phone, let alone to pay their phone bills every month. And being a student, is just simply impossible to get one. 

If that person is paying their own phone bill, then I keep my mouth shut. Otherwise, that person should just keep their mouth shut.

A person should just ask why they need a smartphone. In the past, when handphone began to be popularized, many people who got it said it was really convenient and people are more connected and contactable. Yes, that is without any doubt. However, when smartphone began to rage in like a storm, some smartphone users began to criticise handphone users uncontactable. What is this bullshit. Just because someone can't whatsapp or line is uncontactable? Seriously they should just ask themselves since when they are uncontactable when they are holding a phone? 

Yes. Many people got used to the convenience and the benefits of group messenger service. But can't some form of compromise be done to those not in whatsapp group? Seriously. 

And yes. With the introduction of mobile internet roaming, people are spoilt with convenience. And the benefits seem limitless. But do spare a thought for those who do not feel a need or simply can't afford to use one. They are still less well off people out there. Smartphone seriously is not everything.

The Pride of Singaporean

Recently, there was a controversial topic of this 21 years old girl, who entered the Kpop Search, made a comment of her not proud to be a Singaporean. Which of course made a lot of people unhappy with her attitude. She then decided to make a vlog to justify her idealism.

She made several points that I actually agree with her. Of course, not totally.

She said that Singapore has no creative talents. But she did not specifically mentioned talents in showbiz. I agree. Singapore has no such showbiz material talents around. I do see people trying to rebut by saying famous singers from Singapore such Stefanie Sun, Tanya Chua, Kit Chan. But it has been so many years and Singapore can only manage to produce a few talents. Even star search programmes in Mediacorp, the programme that captured many Singaporeans attention was the Superstar. It actually has many singer talents such as Kelly Poon and Kelvin Tan. And they had many supporters during the time of the competition. However, after they emerged victorious, the light of fame just extinguished immediately. The albums they subsequently released did not managed to garner a lot of support at all.

So what is the difference of Kelly Poon and Stefanie Sun? One reason is the latter had support in Taiwan before she actually became famous in Singapore, while Kelly is solely made in Singapore. And the harsh truth is Singaporeans do not really support Singaporean Singers. And that is why I totally agree, if a Singaporean wants to be a singer, better venture outside.

I totally can feel the struggle when I was finding game company to enter. Because the market in Singapore is so bloody small. And many game makers in Singapore are really struggling to raise. Seriously, in this kind of creative industries, it is really better to venture outside Singapore. The country is still too young to support creative industry. I guess the government decided to focus on Math and Science, which probably is the best for this is small island to develop first.

Several rebuts followed to talk about Sports school and Arts school that emerged in the country a few years ago. However, these schools are still not enough to produce sports or creative talents at the current stage. But I would say that the country is slowly making its way, and I really hope more of these schools will emerge and eventually make a new name for Singapore.

Another point the young kid mentioned was Singaporeans are not happy people. Yes, I agree to that too.

Singaporeans are essentially keep complaining about their life, their jobs, the public transport... Haha. After visiting countries like Taiwan and Japan, I surely think something wrong with Singapore service industry. Because 19 out of 20 shops I have patronized just pissed me off. The attitude of the aunties, the foreign workers really can't deliver a good service. When they were busy serving many people, their mood will be greatly affected, and their tone will start to get a bit agitated. Perhaps they are just trying not to be hypocrite, and just want to be themselves. I do believe some Japanese and Taiwanese might be hypocritical, but they still made my day. I seriously think Singapore should consider giving free training to newbie who wants to be cashier or waiter. Giving a bright service to a customer might be able to keep them patronizing, but once a bad service is offered, you will be forever blacklisted.

New Year at Hokkaido

2013 was a blast.

January - Took a cruise to Phuket.
June - JENESYS2.0 Japan Trip
June - Taiwan Graduation Trip
September - Japan Vacation Trip
December - Another Japan Vacation Trip.

It is my second time experience with snowfall in foreign country.
And the third time to Japan in a single year.

For a person who have never been to a foreign country for a proper vacation on a proper commercialized plane, I really went all out to go out of the country as many as possible. So much of complaining as a poor kid heh.

The previous snow experience was in Shandong, China. It was 2005, the JC Exchange Trip with the students in Shandong High School. It was a really unforgettable moment of my life. I remember that the locals over there said that the snowfall that time was one of the heaviest since 40 years. However, after been to Hokkaido, the snowfall was really not comparable. The one in Hokkaido is really thick and deep snow everywhere. And I could really just literally do a snow spa.

I could really make a large snowman! It was really fun. But while snow-noobies like us were enjoying the snow, most Japanese really prefer hide themselves in the shelter. The snow city in Sapporo is truly amazing sight. Just by looking at it, you will feel so calm and peaceful.

The other purpose of this trip is basically a foodhunt. To hunt down the more famous food you can find in Hokkaido. The butter corn ramen, the Hokkaido milk ramen, the various seafood sushi and especially in winter, the snow crab! Too bad I'm not a fan of seafood, but most of the food found over there is still as nice as all the Japanese food you can find in Singapore.

 

We visited both the bustling city of Sapporo and the quiet small town in Biei. The town is so small and the people are so friendly. Is totally like a typical town setting in some RPG that you can explore by walking around. However, due to the heavy snowfall, it was advised to stay indoor. We took a bus ride to the neighbouring area of Biei, Shirogane. We stayed one night in the Onsen Inn. It is my first time staying in Japanese Traditional Style Hotel. The room was really typically Japanese. Futon, Tatami, Sliding Doors, etc... It was so cosy. The Futon (Japanese Style Floor Mattress) was unexpectedly comfortable and warm. I could just go into my dreamland immediately. So comfy~

We went back the Kyoto to get a feel of the Japanese New Year... and it was so so so so chaotic!!! The night of new year's eve, there are already so many people crowding outside the various shrine and temple! 30 mins before 12am. A huge batch of police has to be deployed to seal off parts of the road so that people can make their way to their destinations to pray for their new year resolution.

In the end, we could not really have the feel of the real atmosphere of the Japanese New Year at that exact moment. We leave it till the next morning. Surprisingly, it seemed like the queue has not been stopping everywhere. In every shrine or temple you see in Kyoto, there was a literal long queue. No joking.

The last 2 days in Kyoto was to continue the food hunt. Cliff wanted to hunt for the legendary looking Omu Rice. Ever since I shared with him the video I found, he decided to look for the shop. When we finally found the shop, it was rather a small shop. And could only have only 8 people at a time. It was a bar and open kitchen and customers can gladly chat with the chef and the bartender. It was a really great concept. The service was great. However, due to the location of the place. It was located along the street of high class and pricey bar and restaurants. Hence, the food there was damn expensive. But trust me. The food really comes with a justifiable price. It was a heavenly food. Kichikichi. Look for this name.

So that was my third time in Japan in just 6 months! I was damn amazed with myself. Japan, really a pleasant country to visit for holiday. It is the culture I like to be in. The culturely good service in every shops and eateries just brightened up your day. You definitely can't find that in Singapore in every corner. While you may find good services in some small shops, still cannot beat Japan. Really just want to visit Japan every year...

Junior Designer

UPDATE (25 Oct 2015)*****
This job is a scam. I was fired from the company after 9 months due to my competence. YES, is my competence.The half-ass bosses were totally delusional about the netizens in the world, I told them their idea could not work. But thanks to this lesson, I have seen a lot more about the IT industry in Singapore and made me learned the harsh truth about IT job-seeking, and the meaning of life in Singapore. And I was right, the company is not picking up at all since a year I had left. They revamped the website and appeared they are going nowhere in the industry.
*************************

Never thought someone will appreciate my amateurish drawings to be used in a business.

It was a fateful moment when I sent my application to JobsCentral, along with my unqualified and amateurish drawing and design. I was spotted. The Director called me from Australia and had a small chat with me. It was then he decided for me to be call in for a test an interview on 5th December 2013.

The test was a digital drawing test. So I need to bring in my laptop. However, it was a bad choice not to bring my laptop AC adaptor along with me. I did not think that my laptop battery life is not so sustainable anymore since it was just a few months old. But it did. So I need to use the office one and without the Wacom driver installed. It was damn difficult to draw under those circumstances. But I still did my best to churn out the last drawing.

The interview process was quite difficult. Because I was asked many questions not regarding to design and drawing, but it about business motivation. As I was an idiot about business, I can't answer it. But the other boss was kind enough to explain a brief concept behind his company ideals.

My drawings received good comments. And I was straightaway accepted on that night from a call from The Director again.

Finally. I signed the papers on 13 December 2013, Friday. It was a Friday 13th. The same day and number when I was born on 13 May 1988, Friday. I also remembered my aggregate score for my 'O' Level, replaced L1 with Higher Chinese or not, it was still 13. Perhaps my lucky number was still 13 afterall. No matter how bad luck the number might be. Perhaps is also my unlucky number, because I received quite a number of criticism about the paper I have signed. But I don't really care. I need this job more than anybody else. I might be unsure about the people I will be working with. But I am just nobody. I need the experience to upgrade myself. I really hope I can eventually grow along with the company. I seriously don't care about the benefit or the welfare.

I just need to improve myself.

Still the Ignorant Me

Jack of All Trades but Master of None!

Familiar phrase, isn't it?

That is the precise phrase that DOESN'T describes me. I may know a lot of things at the surface, but really that "a lot of things" is just a small significance compared to the every little thing in the world.

Even my current knowledge of my passion, drawing and design, are just little hobbies. Because the world of designing are really way bigger than what I think. I never existence of so many helpful sources of designing until yesterday when I was introduced to a website. It was so many designing tips and sources and freebies for designers! I spent literally hours to look through... Only some of them. I took like a lot of times to study them carefully each of them. I really wanted to execute some of the tutorials and tips given, but there are so many and I was lost as to what to start with first.

The world is always big. But when I tried to go deeper, I will feel like my brain cannot take it. What is wrong with me?! I want to be a Master! Not Pokémon Master! Sometimes my brain always deluded me in thinking I might be a leader quality, because most leaders are really just Jack of All Trades but Master of None. But the thing is I am a person who lacks confidence. I have doubts in my execution of command. Always have doubts. Always scared something will screw up. Always fear something negative will happen. That's why most of the time I rather taking people's command. Probably that is just a way to protect myself from any responsibility. During secondary school, I remembered many teachers gave me the role to exercise my leadership. But in the end, I was always too scared and shrugged the responsibility away... If I seized the opportunity right, maybe I would be a different person... Oh wells, taking about regrets...

Hope I will really become a Master. I shall study and train myself! But at home is just not the conducive environment for me to change myself... By travelling needs so much money... Oh wells, talking about being poor. I must really find a way to break the poverty.

Otherwise, it is just the ignorant Me.
The same old me.