i had a really really really great time. even though in all essentiallity i was working and hence on the clock, i still enjoyed myself thorougly.
Okay i admit, i was really shagged out, only 3 and a half hours sleep and hardly time to prepare.
I was notified of the demand for my services at the very last minute- 38 hours before the wedding day to be exact. And though i was decently compensated for my services it was somewhat below the market rate (doing it for a mutual friend so i was being nice too haha) but im not complaining because i HONESTLY had a fantastic time- that's how much i love weddings!
despite all of this though, im still quite sceptical on the idea of true love. ;)
I did the photography for this particular couple- and the photos turned out pretty amazing. Gosh i really don't know what to specialize in! Hosting, Photography, Video Recording/Editing.. i do them all! hahaha blessed with talent!
and the thing is, i enjoy them all thoroughly, through and through!
They all have their pros and cons of course.
With hosting, the money's great, and it's a niche product of sorts. I enjoy talking to people and making them laugh, but it all depends on the audience to really soak in the atmosphere. You yourself, of course, are extremely important, but the audience plays a huge role, more than many people realize.
Photography's always been a passion for me. since my primary school days i've always had this thing with lugging a camera around and shooting whatever i see. from the handheld canon film camera ( i still have it!) to the polaroids and prosumer digicams to the professional full on dslr kit in my possession today...
it's been a long, somewhat ardous, but definately fun filled journey.
i guess my name card has to encompass them all then =)
oh gosh. decisions decisions.
Friday, July 10, 2009
i guess one of the few scant positivities that came out of it all was that i managed to develop a pretty decent taste for awesome Korean Pop =P
this song has been on my playlist on rewind over and over and over again. it's so addictively amazing haha.. the remix is equally, if not, heaps more happening.
it's funny how i dont even understand a word they're saying, and yet its really cool to blast them on the speakers... well actually if you really go and take time to translate the lyrics word for word, you'd realize that they're actually full of besotted meaning, full of heartbreak and melancholy. but that's all part of the fun isnt it?
i didnt even know that this particular song was really uncanny in terms of fittingness for whatever that's happening until i googled it . . .
funny how things have a way of speaking up to you =)
it's touching moments like these that i have neglected in the past... and I miss it ever so much now that it will never in this lifetime have a chance of happening again...
I was at the Singapore Sports School earlier this evening to cheer on my cousin at the Asian Youth Games. I was there to genuinely support him, whilst at the same time oogle at the sporty atheletic individuals on display. But the emotions and memories that came flooding out of me when I exited the stadium was entirely unexpected and unparalleled.
But first, who is my cousin?
Lionel Khoo- easily the most softspoken and gentle mummy's boy in the family, used to cry a ton when he was a child, bullied by many... okay bullied by cousin paul and myself =P...
the years soon passed and under the careful guidiance and nurturing by his ever watchful mummy and daddy, he has blossomed to be one of the brightest stars of today's local swimming scene. Not many people know this but he is a really talented swimmer, one of the TOP boys in the Singapore Pool, having broke national records for the boys 50m, 100m, and 200m Breastrokes. What can i say, he is a BREAST man... =)
The swimming events that he's been competing in are for 17 year olds and yet he's excelled in every single one of them, reaching the finals today and on saturday 2mrw he will be in another final... and he's still 13 going on 14!
He was swimming against boys 4 years older than himself, taller, huger, seemingly faster too... but none of them were as hungry and strong willed as he was, and boy did he piledrive his way through the lenghty pool. He came in 3rd at the end of the 200m pummel, an outstanding feat considering that the first and second were 17 year old china kids who were standing at 1.94-2plus metres! and my cousin is only 1.79m!
But the moment that i was talking about... the one that really hit me home... triggering an influx of emotional bearings... it just hit me in chords that i kind of forgot existed... those strings that were tucked in away at the far ends of my heart... locked up with keys thrown away... well they all came gushing out... and it felt wretchedly amazing.
my cousin had just swum against all odds to beat the others and he got an Asian Youth Games Medal. his mum was so proud.. and his dad... ecstactically over the bloody moon. he ran all the way down the steps to cheer for his son, and he ran all the way to the competitors washing down area to congratulate him. a superduperproudandhappy father he most certainly was. the big unending gynormous smile on his face, and that radiance of happiness that followed and caught on to many others around the facility just reminded me so much of my own dad. and how much i miss him ever so.
Having your fathers present at defining moments of your life is one of the most blessed things in life that one can experience... I remember... ever so dearly... the many different times that he's been there, just for me. I mean unlike Lionel, who's atheletic and sporty, i was a fat kid who was a TOP Member @ Taf Club during my younger days.. so there weren't that many sports events for him to turn up to. But the oldest memory i have of him being around was, rather ironically, a Sports event. It was SPORTS DAY at st stephens school in 1994 and i was in Primary One. I was the 2nd last runner of 4 runners at the Ball Relay Finals. We came in Fourth out of Six teams.. that was to be my very last competitive sports event for a loooong time (cue 2007-cross country open - 1st place!)
but i will always cherish that time... because he was there, cheering me on, screaming and shouting, and of course, as every father in his rather cliched demeanour does, he also recorded the moment on film. he was there taking photographs on the trusty daddy cam. =) i still have those old dusty photographs somewhere around...
there are of course, many other times when he was just there... not because it was a great event or there was good food, but because i was there... performing or whatever not... he was there for me. and that's what fathers do. they go to crappy stupid events because they love their children and want to support them. to be the proud father of that kid who's on stage or on the field or in the pool or on the track. doesnt matter if the food isnt good or there arent any hot chicks around to stare at (of course it'll be a plus point la haha)
He was there when I performed in my very first drama production at the school's anniversary dinner. When I went up on stage to collect prizes on countless occasions =) haha (okay maybe three times) He attended events that my mum didnt wish to go to... He was just always there... and i love him with all my heart for that.
and this is where my memories of him culminates in... this very one song that rings true to the man in my heart.
my father has a plethora of songs attributed just to him... Elvis Presley's Fool's Rush In was his absolute favourite- his theme song so to speak.. everyone who knew him connected the song to him... friends, family, employees, the works. Vincent Ko= Elvis Presley Fool's Rush In... if you know the man and you heard the song, you would instantaneously think of my father... Curly Elvis Hair, Sideburns, Swagger and Style, striking an uncanny pose, with mic in hand...
WISEEEEE MAAANNN SAAYSSS...
But for me, the ONE song that triggers untold memories of him is none other than the one that was played on his 43rd birthday in 2002.
My dad, My stepmum, My stepdad, my mum, and myself... we were THAT amicable a family =) We were at the TOP of the M @ Mandarin Hotel, one of the Top Restaurants in Singapore at the time and it featured stunningly exquisite French Cuisine.
But no, it wasn't the food that impressed me or anything gastronomic that caused this celebratory event to be embedded in my memory for life.
I still remember that moment very clearly, up till this day... we were just finishing our dinner- nothing fantastic mind you, and the mood was just right... the lighting- dimmed down and fitting, the ambience- perfect, the floor- revolving with breathtaking sights of birdeye singapore and then came this trio of musicians who were making their rounds, with two acoustic guitars and a cello in hand. And they played two songs for us...
now trust me when i say that i can't remember the other song... for some reason or another i just cannot... perhaps it's due to the fact that it was this other SONG that has taken full control and responsibility for the overall embededness of memory. It was beautiful, it was touching, it was perfect. the smile on his face when that song was sung, with the strings being strummed... melancholically beautiful.
the lyrics just fell into place... and i can still recall myself rushing to the computer to download the song the moment i reached home.
but anyway yes, he was smiling... and that is how i will always see and remember him... a happy man.
even though he is not here... he will always be around. for eternity.
don't ever neglect the people around you. papa, i miss you ever so.
"Eternity"
Close your eyes so you don't fear them They don't need to see you cry I can't promise I will heal you But if you want to I will try
I'll sing this somber serenade The past is done We've been betrayed It's true Someone said the truth will out I believe without a doubt, in you
You were there for summer dreaming And you gave me what I need And I hope you find your freedom For eternity... For eternity
Yesterday when you were walking We talked about your mum and dad What they did that made you happy What they did that made you sad We sat and watched the sun go down Picked a star before we lost the moon Youth is wasted on the young Before you know it's come and gone to soon
You were there for summer dreaming And you gave me what I need And I hope you find your freedom For eternity... For eternity
For eternity I'll sing this somber serenade The past is done We've been betrayed It's true Youth is wasted on the young Before you know it's come and gone to soon
You were there for summer dreaming And you are a friend indeed And I hope you find your freedom For eternity
You were there for summer dreaming And you are a friend indeed And I know you'll find your freedom Eventually For eternity For eternity
Thursday, July 02, 2009
it took awhile...
but i finally understood the true meaning behind the song.
=)
it's really not about heartbreak or any of that romantic mambo jambo. i mean SURE of course there's hurt... i mean... what do you expect when feelings, emotions, and two perfectly functioning people are involved?
what's the point of being angry, sad, or, heartbroken? it's all a waste of energy and time... mourn, go ahead, but don't harp on it for too much or for too long.
because we shouldn't look too much into these things... for the reason being that it's always these self induced complications that's driving us away from the main focal point.
which is... simply...
about the beautiful and often underpracticed art of letting go.
we should all learn how to someday.
every single one of us.
because we shouldn't be shackled or held back by our past... ever.
and to never ever let our often obfuscated feelings get in the way of our better judgement.
and to be amicable. that's important.
i believe that one should never burn bridges.
the communication lines can be closed without a shout of a doubt, it does help with the moving on.
but the bridges should never ever be burnt.
EVER.
i mean... who knows what the future holds for us?
=)
xoxo
When I get to Warwick Avenue Meet me by the entrance of the tube We can talk things over a little time Promise me you won't stand by the light
When I get to Warwick Avenue Please drop the past and be true Don't think we're okay just because I'm here You hurt me bad but I won't shed a tear
I'm leaving you for the last time baby You think you're loving but you don't love me I've been confused, out of my mind lately You think you're loving but I want to be free Baby, you've hurt me
When I get to Warwick Avenue We'll spend an hour but no more than two Our only chance to speak once more I showed you the answers, now here's the door
When I get to Warwick Avenue I'll tell you baby that we're through
I'm leaving you for the last time baby You think you're loving but you don't love me I've been confused, out of my mind lately You think you're loving but you don't love me I want to be free, baby, you've hurt me
All the days spent together, I wished for better But I didn't want the train to come Now it's departed, I'am broken hearted Seems like we never started
All those days spent together when I wished for better And I didn't want the train to come! Oh, oh
You think you're loving but you don't love me I want to be free, baby, you hurt me You don't love me, I want to be free Baby, you've hurt me
