Mere Allocations They Are
A conversations with my friend Zul sparked off an interest to find out the meaning of my name.
Apparently, it means "love of the sea". I'm not sure if they actually meant "love FOR the sea". In any case, I thought that was just not fitting. I tried to picture myself building a house on a kelong, living off the fish and sotong that I gather each day, and it hit me. I can't drink the salt water! I'd die! Hence, if I were to live literally on the sea, then I'd have to perform distillation every day. Now that's really something that I'm not interested in doing. It's an arduous process that doesn't yield the type of satisfaction arduous processes should.
For example, tattoos. You go through a fair amount of pain, physical and mental trauma, as well as the loss of a substantial amount of blood. However, that's something worth doing, because the end result is self-satisfying. Of course, I'm not saying that all those sea people do not enjoy the process of distillation. I'm sure that some of them definitely do. However, I cannot picture myself as truly the love of the sea. I love lounging at the beach, checking out people, getting a tan, things normal people do. That's about it. However, I still love my name, because it's unique, relatively, and because ultimately it's me. I'm the one who has this name, with these tattoos, with this amount of body fat, this dick, this ugly hairdo, these fat fingers, this flat nose, and this open heart.
This brings to mind a report about Zoe Tay's son being named Brayden. They were explaining the origins of the name, and she was explaining why she chose that name. She wanted her son to grow up brave and strong. I've heard from both camps, and the supporters seem to pale in comparison.
Let the woman call her son what she wants. Ultimately, we all know that whatever name you're given is just for aesthetic value in most cases. How will a name ever decide the kind of person you become? Granted, coincidences do happen. Few and far between.
Our names, ultimately, are collars around our necks, tags that we wear to attempt a differentiation from the rest. However, look at things from a bigger perspective. We have so much more to offer each other. We can build on our character, do things for others, treat others a certain way, treat ourselves a certain way. We can adorn our bodies with beautiful clothes and more than ever beautiful tattoos.
So in future, when the blissful moment of naming your child comes along, remember to give him or her a pretty name, but more importantly, remember to bless the child with all the goodness you can offer. If or when the child gets tattooed, then you know that there's nothing more you can do. The child has grown.
Till next time, goodbye world.
Where Has Everyone Gone To?
All my friends are gone. They're all over the globe, being busy. I miss my friends. I miss my brothers. It sucks feeling so alone sometimes.
At least I know they'll be back.
Till next time, goodbye world.
My nest
I'm on my third day of MC, and I just woke up. It feels like I've had a good rest, but at the same time it feels like I've wasted time sleeping. Half the day's already gone, and I still have so much material to cover.
Plus, I'm supposed to go to the gym.
However, it did strike me that I spent the whole of yesterday in my room apart from the occasions of relieving myself, and looking for food. It's comfy and nice in here. I can smoke, wank, study, watch the telly, EAT IN FRONT OF THE COMPUTER, and I'm comfortable. This is my domain.
Hmmm, I think I shall go rent the room from my parents. Once I do that, I'll feel like I've accomplished something, like I have a certain sense of freedom. However, I do know that I'd just be wasting my money, because they're still gonna knock on my door to see if I'm alive, they're still gonna nag, they're still gonna ask me not to put my tattoos, and I'm still gonna eat their food.
Alas, my not-so-perfect nest after all, but a perfect domain for as long as it lasts.
Till next time, goodbye world.
My predicament
I've been studying for my SAT I. Well not exactly studying per se. More like just revising through what I've learnt previously, since I'm actually just doing the practice tests.
Last night, I was cruising through all of the first 7 sections. I was on top of the world. "Dang I'm smart!" I said to myself and Bagel, Le Pooch. Then Section 8 hit me. It was the grammar section.
By the time I got done checking the answers, I said to myself and Bagel, Le Pooch, "Dang, this fucking answer key's wrong, Le Pooch!" Then I went over the questions, and I realised that I'm bad at grammar. Either that, or I was really tired since it was 2am. Depending on my mood, it will be either choice.
Houston, we have a problem. We have landed before take-off.
Till next time, goodbye world.
Download more!!!!!!
I'm on a downloading rampage! I shall not say what kind of files.. lest the MUSIC INDUSTRY decides to bombard me with scummy lawyer letters.
Oh by the way, I'm on a 3-day MC... from AMK polyclinic. How cool am I?
Way cool....
Till next time, goodbye world.
Lulu's Heineken Refrigerator
On the 16th of April the few of us left in little sunny island made our way down to KM8 at Sentosa. My purpose in going there was to sleep, have fun with my buds, have a few drinks, and of course hopefully get some cool snaps.
As it turned out, I got quite a few nice shots, this one being one of the coolest ones.
The Heineken cooler is a real hit at KM8 right now. Don't miss it!
Till next time, goodbye world.
Stratton Walk's Barkula
Saturday morning began as peaceful as most other weekend mornings. A blanket of silent sleep warmed the house at Stratton Wallk, not evena pindrop to be heard.
Then it was broken. It began as a low rumbling sound, seemingly emanating from the bottom of a world unknown to the sweet sounds of silence. Slowly, the rumbling emerged from its depths, culminating in a bark of fury.
Le Pooch needed to pee very badly.
Scaling down my loft reluctantly, I grumbled and snapped at Le Pooch. He returned my sentiments. It was clear that eventually I had to be the one to give in.
I wrapped my hand around the cold brass doorknob. With a turn, a click of the lock, and finally the presentation of the portal, Le Pooch rushed down the stairs, slipping, sliding, crashing. He scratched at the main door furiously, awaiting for the moment of bladder relief.
Sigh. Why did he have to wake me up so early? I let Le Pooch out of the house. He merrily picked his objects of worship, and let fly. The whole ordeal was over in two minutes. Leaving him in the living room, I made my way upstairs, and climbed back into bed.
When I woke up two hours later, Mum was screaming and nagging at me, asking me what had happened to the poor pooch. After deciphering the high decibel messages screaming out from her throat, I found out that Le Pooch had muddled around the house, chanced upon some rat poison, and had happily ingested it. He is no genius, I assure you, dear reader.
Then Mum did the most amazing thing. She prepared two cups of liquids. In one of them, she mixed up a detoxification substance of anti-oxidants and amino acids. In the other, she poured the blessings of the newly sworn-in Pope Benedict. Yes, dear reader, holy water. Le Pooch was made to drink both concoctions.
An hour later, I had to redeem myself for leaving Le Pooch unattended, and so I brought him for a walk. Actually, I brought him for a shit. Assuming the universal crapping position for all dogs, Le Pooch showed no mercy, and churned out a pile of green shit.
Le Pooch is alive and well, but this experience will go down in my personal history as the first time I've seen a pooch shit green. It is truly a wonderful world.
Till next time, goodbye world.
Bzzzzzzz.... And We're Off!
Time : 1655 hrs
Venue : Dreamscape Tattoo Studios, Far East Plaza, Singapore
Artist : Sam
Subject : ME!!!
Tattoo session number 4 began. From the beginning it was excruciating. I never knew how sensitive my collar-bone and shoulder area was until then.
Colours were being added to the lotus on my shoulder. Contrasting base of pink with green/yellow highlights on the inside of the petals jumpstarted my pain and brought me almost to the threshold. Light colours tended to show less visibly. Add to that the fact that I started spilling out blood in a "it's-raining-cats-and-dogs" fashion, Sam had no choice but to really dig into my shoulder.
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As I was a quarter way done, a guy walked in with his girl. Stop. The girl was this little pretty thing with an admirable tattoo on her breastplate, albeit having barely a handful of breast (Quote from Terrence "More than a handful's a waste"). Proceed. He wanted a piece done on his rib area. I scanned over his little skinny bod and it was his first torso piece (There were some words on his pubic region, hardly appealing). Finally there was someone there to add to the build-up of atmospheric pain.
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2 more hours of pain passed. It was 1945hrs, and finally the lotus was coloured. Whether or not the colour would stay well would depend on how much more I bled and leaked out over the next few days. I hoped that the colour would just stick. I love the pain of tattooing, but that's only after I'm long done with the piece. Obviously the human memory for pain isn't that amazing. I'm no longer intrigued by how great, allegedly, our memory is.
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I was supposed to go back for the seond lotus after dinner. Happily leaking and bleeding, I met Cheryl for dinner. A nice time I had, especially since I hadn't seen this working woman in such a long while.
By the time I finally made my ass bring me back to the studio, Sam was way stuffed and almost fast asleep. We talked about the colours for the second lotus for a while, then I left.
Outside, the dude with the titty-less hot girl was being treated like a hero amongst all his friends. It was well-deserved. I can't imagine what a piece on my ribs would feel like. Of course, the amount of fat that I have there is still not enough to absorb any pain. It would be an experience.
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Till next time, goodbye world.
Rapture In The Weaved Web Of Grey
I promised some photos!!
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Session number three began at 1620 hrs this afternoon. It was a great feeling.
After three hours, my background is finally done. The whole piece is coming together, with the empty spaces that looked so awkward at the beginning finally brought to life. Black, fade black, grey all coming together to create that much-desired depth. The lotuses are blooming and swaying, the waves are crashing. It's alive I tell you!
Apart from finishing up the background shading, two lotus petals were added to the underside of my arm. Sam wrecked his brains on that one. The result is beautiful.
At a certain point of time I was in a rather awkward position, lying forward and using only my right arm as a support. As the needle went over my elbow, I questioned myself as to why I was putting myself through all this pain. However, when we broke for a cigarette, the answer came crashing at me as it so often does. And it's worth the pain and all the effort.
The next session is next Friday, 22nd April 2005. I doubt we'll be able to get it finished anyway. Moreover, there's a part of me that doesn't want it to be over. I know that my next tattoo's gonna be some time away, so it would be nice to prolong the experience. It's really a good feeling. Anyone who has an avid interest in tattoos will tell you the same thing. I can't wait!
Had dinner with J and his girl after the session and made our way down to Yishun Dam to check out some cars. There, I met a shih-tzu. A while fluffy little fella. And he was just lying there, falling fast asleep. At that moment I asked myself why Bagel couldn't be as cute as him. What an annoying brat of a dog. Well, I'm not asking myself that now, since Bagel's in my room chasing his tail again. There's a different quality to this grey bag of fur.
Tomorrow's gonna be beach day, but no tanning or swimming for me though. Just chilling.
Till next time, goodbye world.
Of Hurdles And Trip-Me-Overs
For those of you who know me, my academic experience has been anything but successful. However, I've been presented with a half-chance. I applied to SMU last month, and received a reply from them a couple of weeks ago. I've been granted an interview!
My bro HJ says that it's a big step towards getting my posterior in the door, so obviously I should be delighted that somehow somewhere the Office of Admissions saw something in my application that aroused their interest. However, the negative bitch in me has to turn back and declare that I probably got the interview via a sympathy vote.
Alas, the little voice returns. This little voice of mine is so perennial that I've decided to give it a name. I shall call it Lil B. Lil B thinks that I should enjoy the fact that I managed to get the interview. However, Lil B also thinks that I was just plain lucky, and that now the real challenge begins, because during the interview the committee will realise that I'm an imbecile. Thus, Lil B tells me that I'm just there to make up the numbers. A statistic.
Another hurdle to leap over would be the looming SAT I. The last time I took the test was in 1997. What were you doing in 1997? Where were you in 1997? Ahhh memories. Well, Lil B says, "1997 is way over, my biggie! People have moved on with their lives and careers. But baby look at you now, caught in your own little vortex."
I have to ace the test. Motivation comes and goes. It's hard enough that I have to delve into the abyss of knowledge past, I also have to do it quick and hard. Lil B feels that it's a lost cause, and manages to invoke the spirit of laziness. Granted, Lil B is a bud, but Lil B's not me. Lil B's just a little voice, with no arms, no legs, and no sexual anatomy. Hence, I will make it. Lil B, go screw yourself.
On the brighter side of things, the healing of my tattoo's coming along just fine. It's past the disgusting stage of scaly coloured skin that sheds when I take a bath or work out. The outline has healed perfectly, and it's setting in nicely. The shading, on the other hand, needs to be touched up. With that much shading and layers involved, it's hard to get it perfect the first time. I'm hoping to see more depth in the background by the time it gets done. I hope to be able to see the wind swirl the lotuses, to see the waves rule the wind.
I'm two days away from the next session. I went down to Sam's studio today, and met Nick, another artist. Nicckkuhori is from Galaxy as well, and is well-known for his Japanese designs. He's been tattooed by the best, Horiyoshi III, and has picked up some skills from the Grand Master as well. I can't wait for the next tattoo. I've decided to go under Nick's needle for my next project.
Getting inked is always a new experience. One good thing about the human body is that tattooing has to stop when there's no more space, hence you'll never be able to experience all the talented artists. How different from the elephants we used to pop. Getting inked is a trip to remember.
It's Juve VS Pool tonight. I wish upon a star that the Mighty Reds will march on.
Till next time, goodbye world.
Episode 1
So much for the previous post. Issues have been sorted out, and basically we're no longer talking. For the time being. Anyway, time to move on to more important things. BIG SIGH first. Alright. Here we go.
On the 15th of March I embarked on my most recent tattoo. Previous pieces a tribal scorpion on my back, and a Hannya on my left chest.
Both of these earlier pieces were done by Derrick from Galaxy Tattoos, Singapore. A light blue colour was used for the face of the Hannya, while red was used for its mouth, and its eyes are of a 3-tone yellow, brown and a little dark red. It has a hood over its head, coloured with olive green and patterned with light green.
I must say that I was very impressed with the standard of colouring done. However, I wasn't too impressed with the overall planning of the design. There's an element of fire in the background. Fire red of course! It's bold and striking in itself. However, it makes adding on to the design difficult, as it takes up too much space, but at the same time doesn't fill in the background well enough. However, it's the part of the design that really brings it to life, that adds character, and that's why I like it.
The new design that I'm getting is of a samurai head-dress, with the mempo (face mask). This piece will be done by Sam of Dreamscape Tatoo Studios, Singapore.
Essentially, it's another mask piece; a half sleeve this time round. Two blooming lotuses are added, one just below the samurai, and another above it, on my shoulder. Background elements of water and wind swirls. The water element isn't used extensively, but used to tie in to the fluidity of the lotus. The main background that ties the chest piece and the half sleeve together is the wind swirls. I'm a little apprehensive about how the piece will look completed, especially because of the fire from the chest piece. I hope it won't look too weird. However, at the same time, I kinda expected this due to the fact that I'm trying to join the work of two different artists together. Each will have his own style, plans, and art, hence it will come out a little different than if one person were to complete the whole design. However, it's a decision I made consciously, and so no regrets! Blame it on my urge to try out a different artist. But it's all good.
At this stage, only the outline and some of the wind swirls have been completed. Will post some pics up soon enough. However, a word of advice: it is very unethical, unprofessional, and downright annoying and despicable to lift a design. Drawing an inspiration from somewhere is good, but plagiarism is just horrible. Ultimately, this is something that's gonna be on your body for the rest of your life. Would you want someone else to have it? Moreover, the main reason for body modification is so that you will be unique, so why copy?
This coming Friday, 15 April 2005, will be the next session. Will probably be finishing up the background, as well as adding some of the colour. Gotta remember to discuss the colours with Sam again. I want the colours and shading to work with the wind to really bring this piece alive. The samurai should give off an air of determination, grit, and instill a nice amount of fear as well. That's what we have to look for.
I can't wait for this Friday.
Till then, goodbye world.
