Flesh and Thorns

I have a confession to make. I have patronized a prostitute in my early days of youth…

Are you reeling in disgust? Heartbeats paused for a moment? Or nodding in empathy, have your curiosity rising with increasing eagerness for mind-blowing details of my encounter?

No. It was not me who did. It was my friend. And when I managed to gain control of my retarded, wide-open mouth, he got me shrieking madly with extreme facial expressions with openly displayed repulsion and shooting questions at him like an interrogating prosecutor in the courtroom..

“You went looking for prostitute?!”

Such a young, promising and innocent looking guy…I can’t bring myself to imagine him in embrace with a scantily clad Philippines woman, having sex in a dingy room, on a sweat-stained mattress…

A friend said that I am naïve. This is such a common thing and many men did that. It could be anyone… Just anyone. I beg to differ cos I am plainly out-dated or rather conservative (guess someone gonna die of laughter at the thoughts of me being conservative). Sex with a stranger is not of an eyebrow-raising topic at all.

This palpable existence of flesh trade bothers me. The types of men who pay for sex too.

In my opinion, any self-respecting men will NOT fall for such flesh traps. They hold women in reverence and will forbid themselves from contributing to this degrading, foul trade. I have always thought that only those old dirty men will be the major part of the demand; not teenagers… not the NS men... not my friends.

Maybe I am a stick in the mud but I’m strongly against sex trade and will lose any amount of respect I have for you- should you have or going to partake in this revolting business.

Think about it. The basics of Microeconomics study~ the theory of demand and supply. Should the demand for paid sex decreases; the supply of girls will need to drop. Then there will be lesser child kidnapping cases. Young girls with hungry families will not be forced to prostitution or to earn money for their pimp boyfriends. Those girls will seek proper jobs, which allow them to hold their heads high for the rest of their life.

Why are we giving those evil traffickers a chance to tear children and women from their families and subject them to such hideous abuses? What rights do they possess to earn money by selling a human life? How can you even bear to buy a twelve years old girl’s body and dignity with money with the knowledge of the consequences.

If she is your child or sister, how will you feel about her servicing men’s dirty needs for survival?

Sex tourism is such a sickening financial aid in those third world countries. These poverty stricken countries need to capitalize on this bustling form of tourism to make ends meet. The tourists that came in the country for sex with their helpless citizens have helped to contribute to the different sectors’ earnings- hotels, food establishments etc. And of course to those damned pimps, brothels and kidnappers.

Those governments know that it is not a morally right boost to economy but they were holding on to it as a ‘temporary’, desperate measure. They said they are stamping out prostitutions but the actions that followed were so feeble and lackadaisically

Then again, if you visited a prostitute, you will have the greatest contributions to the medical sector. Treatments for your well-deserved sexually transmitted, INCURABLE disease are not going to be cheap as what you have paid for that girl’s night.

There isn’t much kindness you have given to this world- so you obviously do not deserve any too. God is ultimately fair.

Just those Days

Sunday night- It was a big farewell to the girls.
Wenting, Yuting and Jas have left for their degree in Brisbane last weekend. I held my tears back when they turned and walked towards the unsmiling officers at the departure gate. I was worried for them- 3 little girls in a foreign land. Well, thoughts of visiting them soon do cheered me up slightly…
Their departure brought back memories of the time when Ethan was leaving for Australia, some 2 years back. There were over 20 friends and relatives sending him off at the Airport. Beside the size of the farewell group, the mood was totally different from the girls’ departure. It was more like a family trip to the world renowned Airport and photo-taking opportunities for the young relatives. It was such a gay and merry sending-off occasion that one would thought that he was only leaving for a week or rather, he was a nuisance that all would not miss.. : p
And Ethan still ‘bitterly’ remembered how Gerald and Corrine left the Airport early for clubbing that night. And how cheerily we waved him good bye… heh heh…
Of course, it wasn’t that we don’t love him but the fact that he is a guy and will be strong enough to take care of himself- assured us of a reunion surely and soon. Don’t think Ethan knows this.. but we talked about him every now and then in Singapore, during that period… we did miss him terribly…

Monday- JB’s cheap contact lenses
Went to JB with Ethan, Gerald and Claudia (Gerald’s girlfriend) for a sole purpose of buying my 6 months supply of contact lenses at a half price as of Singapore.
Dinner was at my favorite makan place- Taman “Thebrown” which showcased again how extorting life in Singapore is.
We launched into a topic of Dogs, which Claudia shared the upsetting information that dogs usually could sense that they have come to their end and thus, before passing away, they will poo first- for some unknown reasons. I wonder should I put a stopper on Vodka’s ass, so that she will never go away….? : p
But seriously, I have no qualms about how hard it will be for me- if she ever leave us… : (

Tuesday- At my parents' stall
When a woman approached you and asked if you are interested in knowing her son- you probably will just give a polite smile and say no thanks.
But when 2 women (the mother and her friend) cornered you with their determined minds, I bet you will be squirming nervously and stammering- just like me.
They tried their best to prove that he was a good catch. Hard sell him. And gave a very
persuasive talk on “just being friends 1st loh”.
And all the time. I was thinking furiously in my head on how to end the conversation
without hurting their feelings. . Luckily, my mum walked past- they dispersed like
a mist.
However that was not the end of it. They took turns to near me and asked for contact
numbers. I thought things have settled and solved when I said no… Clearly, it wasn't, as one of the aunties (the friend) eventually sat down with my mum and told her what a great match it will be….
Sigh… What to do? I’ve always been an aunties-killer….

Wednesday- Opportunities and illness
Woke up early to spend some time doing research on degree programs in Australia.
Yeah, I might be going away this year to study- if situation permits… With my darling
Lynn! (And she better don’t fly me plane hoh!)
One of my ex-colleagues called for my help to bring an incentive group to Beijing in
April.. I was overjoyed with the prospects of another overseas assignment… Better
stocked up on my winter clothes while CK Tang is still having sale. Shopping, anyone?
I have just heard from Ben about his heart condition. Am pretty sad to know about it~
Such an energizer bunny like him…. I hope he will not be plagued down by it and
continues to be that chirpy cheerleader and great entertainer in Uber Dupers, like always.
Dear Ben, do live positive and think strong. You know that we’ll always be here for you.

The Sound of Music

Ever heard a song played on the radio, which stop you dead in your tracks, evoke trains of thoughts of someone or unforgettable times, whom/which have touched your life in a way or another?

Don’t they get you smiling at the delightful recollections of good times, sometimes tugged tightly strings of heart pains when melancholic reminiscences of that certain person surfaced?

And there must be a particular song or two that you will have, play and replayed, over and over again- just to hold that memories of a special someone whom you lost along the way, to grieve about an unrequited love or to comfort yourself with the feeling of his much-needed presence.

Have bought Craig David’s The story goes for over a month and it was holding a near-permanent place in my CD player slot. There’s a specific track, which was terribly tortured and abused for 3 weeks where Craig has to sing that same old song again and again and again ~ Just makes to me feel you.

Can’t imagine how the world will be like without music. For me, I will wither away like a tree without its sunlight, lifeless like a drum set without its drumsticks. It bonds people together ever so effortlessly- concert goers waving their hands in unison to the electrifying rhythms of the music, soldiers’ morale elevated with that loud, motivating military song and children clapping their little hands to the cheery tune of London Bridge.

Music brought me together with Az. We have the same music preferences, which led to endless conversations. I remembered how delighted I am to finally know someone who loves those old hits that I adored; it felt like finding that long lost pea that should be rightfully belongs to the pod I am in.

He knows that I like to sing along to songs and will always listen attentively- teased and chuckled loudly when he caught me making up my own lyrics. The truth is, I am never good at remembering lyrics yet I can’t resist singing along. Yes. I am that kinda idiot who hummed or make up own words to fill in the spaces of forgotten lyrics. It becomes a favorite pastime of his to spot the blunders and a challenge for me to conceal them from being exposed. : )

I heard Des’rees - Kissing you yesterday over the radio.

Like magic, it brought me back to that little dim attic of Blue Ginger where a long table was set up, sweetly furnished with a centerpiece of flowers potpourri and tealights.
There, Alan, Reena, Dan and I were drinking to our heart’s content, listening to that mesmerizing tune in appreciative quietness. It was rather a brief yet comfortable silence shared- each of us deep in our own world of thoughts. I wish I could tell what were going through their minds right at that moment...
At the end of the song, we came to conclude that there wasn’t any lyrics except that 2 words~ kissing you. Well, I discovered that there is, in fact, touching and beautiful lyrics.

Penguins, this is for you guys.

Des’rees - Kissing you
Leo, faces many trials,
but holds his head up high.
He won't allow the hatred to
make his spirit die.
Leo looks up to the moon,
sitting in its silver spoon.
Maybe I should change my job,
be an astronaut instead.

'Cos I'll be better, I'll be stronger.
For the truth, I know takes longer.
I've the cunning of the tiger and the wisdom of the trees. I won't be sad,
refuse the sorrow.
I look forward to tomorrow.
I'll release my anger,
'cos I'm proud to be a dread.

'Cos I'll be better, I'll be stronger.
For the truth, I know takes longer.
I've cunning of the tiger and the wisdom of the trees. In my dealings,
I'll be honest. To myself I make this promise.
I'll release my anger,
'cos I'm proud to be a dread.

I'm kissing you

Pride can stand a thousand trials
The strong will never fall,
But watching stars without you,
My soul cried. Heaving heart is full of pain,
Oh, oh, the aching.

'Cos I'm kissing you

Pride can stand a thousand trials
the strong will never fall,
But watching stars without you,My soul cried. Heaving heart is full of pain,
Oh, oh, the aching.

'Cos I'm kissing you, oh.
I'm kissing you, oh.

Touch me deep, pure and true...
Gift to me forever.
'Cos I'm kissing you, oh.
I'm kissing you.

Where are you now?
Where are you now?

'Cos I'm, oh I'm kissing you.
I'm kissing you, oh, ohhhh

1st impression?

What Your Face Says

At first glance, people see you as driven and ambitious. Overall, your true self is passionate and physical. With friends, you seem dramatic, lively, and quick to react. In love, you seem mysterious and interesting. In stressful situations, you seem selfish and moody.

What Do People Think Of Your Face?