Mahler's Third

One night after La Traviata I was back at the Esplanade for Mahler's 3rd Symphony. It has always been my favourite symphony, what with everything thrown in and a monumental choir , I have 5 versions of it on CDs. The first time I heard it live, about 14 years ago, I cried. This time round, I'm sturdier, but it was still an exhilarating, moving concert! Playing it on CD later, Lin asked me to turn off the "funeral music". It's a rather apt description of the first movement but I should've skipped to the sublime 6th movement to begin with. I thought I saw L Seah tearing as she played that. The SSO was in top form. Sigh.

Chup

La Traviata

CAST

Violetta Valery: Nancy Yuen, Hong Kong/Singapore

Alfredo Germont: Lee Jae Wook, South Korea

Germont Giorgio: Song Kee Chang, South Korea

Gastone: Lemuel dela Cruz, Philippines

Barone Douphol: Saran Suebsantiwongse, Thailand

Marchese D’Obigny: Ronald Villaruel, Philippines

Dottore Grenvil : Lawrence Jatanya, Philippines

Flora Bervoix: Clarissa Ocamp, Philippines

Annina: Denise Tan, Singapore/Malaysia

Went for this at the Esplanade on 25 Jan. Great first act and not so hot thereafter. I was amused that we now have a predominantly white audience listening to an almost wholly Asian cast handling an Italian opera. I'm ashamed to confess I left just as Violetta was dying... Not Nancy Yuen's fault. I just got bored at the end. Blame Verdi. Or perhaps not, What could he do to musicalise an entire act devoted to a woman dying of consumption?

Chup

Chinatown

Can't believe it's already the end of January! It was only like new year's day yesterday! Anyways, walked around Chinatown with Lin and family on 23 Jan. Here are some shots, taken with the school's Canon 400D, set to different ISOs. I've finally sold my Nikon D70, and am now I'm in-between cameras. Hope to handle the Nikon D300 as soon as I've time to visit the shops again. Too busy marking papers now...

Chup

Totoro Forest

Would you believe me if I say I have a Totoro Forest view from the bedroom windows of my new place? Well, you better believe me if you don't, cos it's true!!

Remember this scene from the famous animated Japanese cartoon - Totoro? If you still have not watched it yet, you better go get it now. This movie is SOoooooooo BIG, especially in Japan. They even have a museum dedicated for Totoro in Tokyo.



















Now if I crop this red rectangle and compare it to the view from my window, don't they look so similar??? I can already imagine Totoro hiding inside that deep tall woods!





































Here's a fuller view from the same window




This is the view from the master bedroom

And last but not least, the view from the Balcony of the living room. Gorgeous, isn't it?

... the one who is starting to adore the new house, although still missing the old house a little. One consolation is, I can walk from the new house, head towards Kent Ridge Park, and reach my old house in about 20 minutes :) Chup can reach it in 10 minutes! That's faster than driving there!

Memory of 6 years

Remember the blog on 730 square feet? 12 days later, we were out of there. Missing the place quite a bit though. Although it is just a little studio apartment, it has been a very enjoyable and memorable stay for Chup and me. It's 6 years for me and I think, 12 years for Chup. Many memories would be etched in my heart as I pack my boxes to move to a bigger place. Being such a tiny and compact apartment, the whole house can be cleaned in a mere half hour. I think my mom could do it in less than 15 minutes! It will be a different story altogether in the new place.

Whenever we have visiting relatives, either Chup and I would give up our bed for the den, or the visitors can opt to sleep in the den instead. As there is only 1 toilet, sometimes the other party may have to resort to a quick dash to the toilet by the swimming pool during urgent needs. I also remember when we had 8 people packed into this 730 square feet for a few nights. And also not forgetting Ash who also spent an unforgettable few nights with us. Lots of scrumptious good food have been produced at this very place too.

My mom had missed this home so much, even after we moved to our bigger unit with 3 bedrooms, she still dragged her mattress to sleep in the den of the new house.

























Tiny this little house may be, but it managed to store A LOT of things. We had at least 90 cartons! That's a lot of cartons for just 2 people!! But I must put a disclaimer that most of the cartons belong to Chup. He has got sooooooooo many books I think he can open a library! The following few photos will show how the house was 'transformed' after the packing. Credits must go to my mom and my 5th Uncle who did most of the packing. All because of the procrastinating disease that Chup and I have. My mom lost a few kilos doing packing and later unpacking for us!











... the one who too misses the old home

27 Dresses

Hey, I am the 1st to write on the Blog for Year 2008. Chup concluded 2007 and I started 2008. Nice! :)

Ok, I digressed... Now back to business

Rating: ***

Cast: Katherine Heigl, James Marsden, Edward Burns

Genre: Romance

Watched on 26 Jan 2008 at Great World City with Vony, Maru, Lina, Cousin Shui, Diana, Titin, Gita, Avat and Denny (the whole kampung!) Yet another predictable but enjoyable girlie movie.