Sunday, December 30, 2007

Please help!

On behalf of nikeez, here's a plea to all cat and animal lovers out there...there's still time! please do what you can to help :)

Hi Peifen,

It took me some time before I decide to write this to you.

You see, I am writing in to you on behalf of the many homeless stray animals which are currently staying in a shelter at Pasir Ris.

These stray dogs and cats were rescued off the streets by volunteers and housed in this shelter called A.L.L (Animal Lovers League).

This shelter is a no-profit organisation and received no support from the government and they raised their own expenses through fund-raisings and/or received kind donations from the public just to keep the place runnng.

A.L.L is currently having a sale of it's own 2008 calendar featuring the animals from the shelter. There are not many days left till 2008 hence the shelter is in a hurry to sell off these calendars to raise funds for their day-to-day operations.

As you know, the calendars will be un-sellable after 2008 and will become a liability for the shelter.

My plea is this:

Would you be so kind as to blog about this? Animals have no voice of thier own so it's up to us to help them! (It would be best if you could persuade any other artistes to blog about this too!)

The calendars are priced at $10 each which is roughly the price of a meal or a movie ticket.

This is the season to be jolly so please spread some love this Christmas and brighten up some happy tails!

Animal Lovers League is located at:
Pets Villa
Unit 61
Pasir Ris Farmway 3

Their website is www.animalloversleague.com. For mass order, you may email to general@animalloversleague.com for any special arrangements.

*I am NOT a spokesperson for this shelter and I am not related to them in any way. I just feel sorry for these poor animals and hope to help them spread the awareness in whatever ways I could.

You could read about my plea at my blog www.xanga.com/dead_cockroach (December 12 entry).

Regards,
William

Saturday, December 22, 2007

第一次亲密接触

改编自网络小说家蔡智恒的《第一次亲密接触》。

他们从网络相识。痞子蔡和轻舞飞扬像所有现代的年轻人一样,沉迷于网上交友。抱着好玩心情的他们开始了两人之间的友情。但一种无形的默契却让他们开始向往每个夜晚的交谈。

他们终于决定见面了。

是惊喜、是遗憾、是错愕、是后悔,抑或这一切将化为灰烬?

期盼着的第一次亲密接触。。。


First Intimate Contact
(an adaptation from Cai Zhi Heng’s “First Intimate Contact”)

Usually shy and reserved when it comes to love and relationships, ‘Pizi Cai’ meets a mysterious and intriguing young girl nicknamed ‘Flying Dance’ on the Internet.

What started out as something just for fun developed into frequent late-night online chats, and eventually a decision to finally meet up personally.

Will this first meeting turn out to be a pleasant surprise, an everlasting regret, or perhaps…?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
如果你曾经因为爱一个人而

1)失眠
2)傻笑
3)掉眼泪
4)打扮
5)等待

那你一定会被这出舞台剧感动。

第一次亲密接触
周崇庆独角戏
林佩芬、佘逸涵友情客串
12月19日到22日,Raffles Hotel Jubilee Hall,晚上8点浪漫上演

有意购票,请浏览sistic网站

Monday, December 03, 2007

tokyo. brisbane. SRA.

heya!

long time no post.

no time so no post.

(excuses, excuses)

anyway, thanks to all who came to support us at both the Singapore Radio Awards on 30 nov n 933's charity event at Ngee Ann City on 1 dec. Thank you for all the encouraging compliments for my humble chocolate fondants and peanut butter choco cookies.

a pity tho, i didn't take any pictures at the charity sale. but i do haf this one and only pic from SRA...(thank u eve)



as for tokyo n brisbane, wanna thank dearest mian and our camera man goh for all the nice pictures. here's a sneak peak behind the scenes of So Simple 2, 简单就是美2...













简单就是美2 debuts 22nd jan 2008, channel U.

Thursday, November 08, 2007

MIA?

no!

i'm still around...

just haven't been able to sit down and gather my thoughts coz 24 hours seem so short and there's just not enough time and space to do everything i have to and everything i want to.

if only one day can be just a tad bit longer.

am in tokyo now filming So Simple 2 (jian dan jiu shi mei). will be gg to brisbane on the 13th for more filming. this trip is turning out to be a great journey of fun and discovery...love it. ;)

tell u more when i'm back!

p.s. saw some questions about chocolate fondant. important points to note: baking time is 6 min. dun bake for too long or the centre will not be liquid but cake-like...and make sure the oven is hot enough. ganbatte ne!

p.s.s. if u have some time, please do visit http://www.mediacorpradio.sg/sra2007/vote.htm to find out how u can vote for ur favourite radio personality. arigatou gozaimasu!

Monday, August 27, 2007

Chocolate Fondant Batch No. 001

i love to bake. but being passionate about something doesn't necessarily make me good at it.

after quite a number of failed attempts, i finally tasted sweet success today. literally.

thanks to a dear friend who introduced the recipe to me, i was inspired to make use of some free time (what a rare luxury!) to bake this afternoon.

and this is the result:

i can make heavenly chocolatey oozy yummy warm cakes with my own hands! such a sense of satisfaction...

so far, my mum and 6 friends have tasted Chocolate Fondant Batch No. 001. 100% positive comments. *gleeful beam*

(if i can do it, u can do it too! check out this recipe and others at http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-make-chocolate-fondant)

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

好介绍

A friend of mine has started an online shop with some friends. it's pink and very pretty!

do check it out :)

Monday, August 20, 2007

Both Sides, Now





最近在台北买了两张 Ann Sally 的专辑,她在其中一张专辑里翻唱了这首歌。她的歌声,很迷人,很美。

现在开车时、独处时、脑海里不停重播的,就是这首很美丽的歌。

Rows and flows of angel's hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feathered canyons everywhere
I've looked at clouds that way

But now they only block the sun
They rain and they snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
But clouds got in my way.

I've looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down, but still somehow
It's cloud illusions I recall
I really don't know clouds at all.

Moon and Junes and Ferris wheels
That dizzy dancing way you feel
As every fairy tale comes real
I've looked at love that way.

But now it's just another show
You leave them laughing when you go
And if you care, don't let them know
Don't give yourself away.

I've looked at love from both sides now
From give and take, but still somehow
It's love's illusions I recall
I really don't know love at all.

Tears and fears and feeling proud
To say "I love you" right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
I've looked at life that way

But now old friends are acting strange
They shake their heads, they say I've changed
Well something's lost, but something's gained
In living every day.

I've looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose, but still somehow
It's life's illusions I recall
I really don't know life at all.

-- Joni Mitchell

P.S. 谢谢你们的关心。其实,写上一篇日记时心情不算太低落,只是有点小感触,灵感来了,就写了一段文字抒发心情。那段文字也不会很忧郁啊...其实还蛮乐观的,不是吗?

Thursday, August 16, 2007

放弃。放下。

放弃是懦弱;放下需要勇气

累了,想卸下一些包袱,放慢脚步

读一读云的故事,闻一闻雨的味道

是放弃?还是放下?

纵然暂且不愿退缩,不能洒脱

抱着这样的梦想

也得以释然

Friday, August 03, 2007

taipei-ing

.
..
...

it's so so so hot here.

never experienced such intense heat. never understood the true meaning of "scorching sun".

but now i know.

in taipei now, filming. very happie to do it, but these few days have reallie tested my perseverence limits. long hours, intolerable heat, direct sunlight, lack of rest n water...a very bad combi. the skin on my face has decided to stage a protest: redness n pimples all over.

so depressing now to look at the mirror. hope it gets better soon...it has to!

but.

despite the hardships, am glad to have a reallie caring team and especially a wonderful friend taking good care of me.

very grateful for this experience. it will make me a better, stronger person. :)

Sunday, June 24, 2007

Q&A

i see some questions...time for some answers!

how much did i spend for my 2 wk trip?

about 3k++ on air ticket, rail pass and (decent enough) accomodation. if inclusive of shopping expenses...then...hmm...let's not go there. :P

actually, it's possible to tour europe cheaply. hostels r usu comfy enough, and if there's a kitchen u can save on food by cooking your own meals (either bring instant noodles n canned food from home or buy from supermart there). from personal experience, 4 is the best number of pple to travel together, coz 1stly, can save on accomodation, and 2ndly can play card games on long train rides. :) also the 4 of u can implement a buddy system to take care of each other (and belongings). 4 is not too big a group, so moving around is not difficult; neither is it too small a group - hanging out together in a foreign land is much safer with 3 friends than with 2 or 1.

when travelling in france (or anywhere for that matter), if u do buy train tickets, check your tickets at the counter when u buy them. check that the ticket is for the correct number of adults, to the correct destination. it's better to be extra sure (and endure the stares of impatient counter crew and people queueing behind), than find out just before boarding the train that there's something wrong with your ticket (which happened to me, and that was NOT a wonderful experience).

just thot i'd share some tips with ya...if u have any, feel free to share them with me and the other visitors of this blog k? always a pleasure to chat about travel... ;)

What camera did i use?

my pics are taken with Panasonic Lumix FX01...i'm no guru at photography, just pick up tips and skills along the way from experience and by (secretly) learning from the professionals. but i must say this camera can reallie capture the rich colours of beautiful scenaries, and the best thing about it is it's wide angle lens, which allows u to take more into a picture. this feature is especially useful when u wanna take a panoramic picture or one of a big monument or building.

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

final chapter: paris

there are many words to describe her. and no words that can really describe her. that's paris. i can't bring myself to fall head over heels in love with her, neither can i say for sure that i hate her so much i never wanna see her again. it's a city full of contradictions. rich people with branded bags and beggars on the streets. bright city lights and dark dingy alleys. snobbish sales people and helpful passers-by. paris...is a mystery.


ah, yes, i am but a tourist. of course i'll pay the obligatory pilgrimage to one of the most easily recognisable landmarks in the world. the queues there were much too long to entice me to go up the tower tho...


this is a very nice covered arcade along boulevard montmarte. it's lined with many interesting shops that look like they haven't changed much since decades ago...


a shop selling miniature handicrafts!! aah!





one thing i absolutely loved about paris: laduree macaroons. so light yet rich...heavenly. pop one into your mouth, and u'll forget that u paid 1.30 euros (or SGD 2.60) for that fraction-of-a-second satisfaction. check out their official website.





if u do go to paris, a nice place to visit is the montmartre area (accessible via metro station Blanche or Abbesses), where the movie Amelie was shot. this cafe is the one where Amelie worked.



well well...these entries pretty much sum up (in a very summarized manner) my 2 wk trip to switzerland and france.


*dreams* where to next.......?

cont'd from previous post

chapter 4: lyon


lyon's famous Basilique Notre Dame de Fourviere


this is what i like best about lyon. everything u see on this huge wall is not real. yep, it's a painting! so cool right. the people standing on balconies are famous lyonnaise who've done the city proud. check out the little prince and his author...




ah, the bouchon. a bouchon is a restaurant that serves traditional lyonnaise cuisine, which, to the uninitiated taste bud, may not be the most delectable meal. but it is a very interesting and unique experience. the one we went to is called Chez Paul, quite famous i think. our meal began with starterS, with a capital S coz there were so many starters and i didn't quite know what i was eating, cept that there were beans and sweetened beetroot and salad and lots of stuff made from pork. the main course i chose was this dark brownish pork dish that resembled chinese food...tasted much better than it looked. and then there were a whole lot of after meal desserts, including a cheese that tasted so bad i almost threw up after taking one small bite. i remember this sourish apple thingy that was pretty good, but the most memorable dessert was this whole jar of sugar cubes soaked in greenish hard liquor.


looks harmless? well...i thought so too. so i popped one into my mouth, and in an instant started to tear coz the liquor burnt my tongue and the heat rushed down my throat and up onto my cheeks. the sensation was...agonizingly addictive. haha. so i took one more. according to a swiss couple sitting beside us, this little snack aids digestion, which is especially useful after a heavy meal. the kind man advised me not to take too many, in case i, erm, LS.

chapter 5: annecy

my most most favourite place in france. away from the complexities of big cities, alive with nostalgic charm. enchanting.






there was a street market on my 1st day in annecy, and i told myself, this place is so beautiful, i simply must buy something to bring home! so glad i found this hand-made miniature tea set for 6 euros:



chapter 6: Nice (and Cannes and Monaco)

how nice was Nice? well, the beach was nice, so was the old town. but there's a lot of construction going on in the main streets, making them very dusty and messy, which was a huge disappointment. apparently they're building a tram system in the city, but (according to the lady at our hotel) they stumbled upon some archaeological findings in the process, and construction had to be put on hold indefinitely. so, if u're planning to head to Nice, maybe u should wait till the construction works are completed.






never knew the sea can really be so blue...


visited cannes the day after the last day of film fest 07...hoped to catch a glimpse of some stars but didn't...


monaco. perfect holiday destination for the rich and filthy rich. for the non-rich like myself, could only afford a day trip there. grand prix was 2 days ago when i was there...a walk along the narrow and winding race track and it was obvious why monaco is one of the toughest places to race.



something interesting about monaco: because the city is built on a hilly region, lifts are a mode of transport. for example, step into this public lift and it'll take u to a street called boulevard de belgique. so fun! almost like something in a futuristic sci-fi flick.



last chapter: paris.

to be cont'd...

Sunday, June 10, 2007

zurich. luzern. interlaken. lyon. annecy. nice. paris.

had no idea so much happened while i was away. nevertheless, am happy that everything seems to be getting back on track...

thanks to some of you for your interest in my holiday photos! :) haha i took so many...think there're about 700 plus pics? quite impossible to post all of them here, so spent a bit of time selecting my favourite few to share...

as described in my last post, switzerland and france are beautiful in very different ways. switzerland's beauty is natural, breathtaking, refreshing, welcoming. alpine peaks, pristine snow, green hills, blue blue skies, peaceful lakes...the picture postcards aren't lying, switzerland IS that beautiful, if not more beautiful when you see her with your own eyes.

france, to me, is stunningly and proudly beautiful, her beauty very much historical and man-made (lavish churches, magnificent monuments, well-groomed gardens etc). of course, she possesses natural beauty too, like the pebble beaches and blue blue seas of Nice, and the picturesque Lake Annecy.

personally, extravagance is less appealing. i prefer beauty that is unpretentious and amiable. like a girl-next-door. but who am i to pass judgements? i'm just an insignificant passer-by... :)

oh well. picture time!

chapter 1: zurich

being the 1st stop, zurich wasn't as boring as some people described...in fact, i love every bit of it! :) lake zurich was lovely, the streets were adorable, churches were splendid...and even the weather was wonderful!






took a cruise on Lake Zurich and went to a quaint little town called Rapperswil (pronounced "rappers-vil"). it's known as the town of roses, and there's a pretty rose garden which, i can imagine, will be glorious when all the roses are in full bloom. unfortunately, when i was there only some roses have blossomed...


haha...just had to try and take some artistic pics when the setting is so perfect.


had a taste of some serious cheese fondue on the 1st nite in zurich. hmm...not quite the scrumptious fare i had expected, but still pretty good! fresh bread dipped in hot melted cheese on a cold breezy nite...heavenly!


if u do visit zurich, check out cafe conditorei schober. it's a beautiful place that serves REAL hot chocolate. one of the best i've ever tasted. which is why i didn't feel the pinch even tho one cup costs CHF7.50 (which is 8 plus SGD).



chapter 2: luzern

out of the 3 places i went to in switzerland, luzern has to be my favourite.






dinner by the river...

from luzern, took a day trip to mount titlis (thank u evelyn for recommending it). being surrounded by swiss alpine splendour is not just a feast for the eyes, it's an emotionally moving and unforgettable experience...






our very own Mr Snowman! made with snow, coins and 2 pens! haha...other tourists asked if they could take pics with him...so honoured.

chapter 3: interlaken

day trip from interlaken to the world renowned jungfraujoch. how the swiss actually built a railway track to the highest peak in europe is something that impresses and amazes and puzzles me.


taking the train up to jungfraujoch was a reminder of one of life's important lessons: sometimes, it's not just the goal that matters, the journey there is just as valuable.






sent a postcard each to Mr Snuggie and Yuanyuan to tell them "wish you were here..."


on the way back to interlaken, went on a little adventure of our own to find the huskies...

next stop, lyon, france.