Life was a blast last weekend. Never mind the heat, never mind If I sweat a lot like hell at my German Bro’ Richard’s place while bbq’ing for everyone. What makes it better – the home made beers by Richie! He’s got various taps, very creative! Beside it is a freezer with all the beer barrels. Various flavours to enjoy, thick, light, wheaty, black, bubbly! Fabulous! What compliments the night are the variety of meats, sausages, seafood that we have.

I’m on a high when I cook, marinate meat/fish, etc! It’s my Matriarchal/Patriarchal side inherited from both my parents and grandparents, well include my Aunts as well, they’re a bunch of FOODies!

In my younger days, I enjoyed going to the wet market with my Mum. We buy various stuff in the market, fish, meat, pork, live chicken (my Dad’s picky when it comes to that!), eggs, prawn paste, salt, sugar, lard, vegetable oil, anything! Not known to many, I sold fish in the wet market during my teens, I also sold lady’s fingers, eggplant, cabbage, etc. Life was full of surprises when I was much younger and making money and bringing it home when I can makes me happy. Mum? She’d pretend she’s not that happy but, Mums are like that sometimes.

The highlight of the night are friends and buddies who I haven’t met for sometime. BBQ & home made beers – 2 great reasons to remind yourself “Life is good!”

P.S. I just got a haircut – the hairdresser’s still alive:)

Halloween is just around the corner. The picture you see above was taken from Plaza Singapura near the GV cinemas coz of some movie about funeral or something like that, the coffin you see was from a funeral parlour. You can probably see the name of their company in the photo. I’ve never seen anything like it in Singapore, not in a mall, so to me this really was surprising! I wanted to do a stint like this in a coffin but my Seniors won’t let me, I’m still pushing for it I’ve got an idea for that but it’s at the moment – A SECRET!  

My family and relatives used to rejoice during this month when I was still a young boy coz that’s the time we also make extra cash.

We sell all kinds of snacks, you name it we have it and we sell it right inside the cemetery. If you’re aware most Hispanic influenced or Hispanic Christians do practice a more vibrant Halloween or in my lingo we call it “UNDAS”, “ARAW NG MGA PATAY”, or “Todos Los Santos or All Saints Day” in many ways it is almost one and the same or at least related.

Filipino Chinese and well-off Pinoys do have big tombs or mausoleums for their dead, some own properties in the cemeteries that can be as big as a 3-room HDB flat. Other spots are even much bigger! I kid you not. I used to frequent the cemeteries during Halloween collecting wax falling from the tombs. When we were in primary school, we’re encouraged to recycle and turn the collected wax into floor polishing wax!  

Where I come from, it’s not just about remembering the dead, it’s also about catching up with people you meet at least once a year at the cemetery. It’s busy, it’s crowded, it’s colourful!  I miss “Todos Los Santos” and I miss the friends I’ve known during All Soul’s Day. We technically celebrate it on 1st November, the same stretch during Halloween. Naturally there are Halloween parties in the hood, costume parties everywhere, but nothing beats the celebration at the cemetery where families gather and spread blankets, mattresses, and big umbrellas, spending a day at the cemetery isn’t a bad idea at all with friends around you and your chance to visit them  – to be with their families both alive and yeah – the ones who’ve left them behind. To teens and the ones looking for love, it’s a sure hit! You get to see the most beautiful girls who you don’t always see but only during observances like Todos Los Santos.  My girl pals react similarly “WE GET TO SEE THE HUNKS AND CHAT ‘EM UP TOO!” So, it’s all good!

Happy Todos Los Santos! Happy Halloween!

(Thanks to Vissia Cochon for the picture above big Vampire Hugs to you gal!)

My buddy Nelson from Soulkool band who lived in Vietnam told me that Filipinos aren’t the only people who enjoy this exotic delicacy – BALUT.  With energetic gusto he said, “Vietnamese people take much pleasure in BALUT more than us Pinoys, they serve it ala-fine cuisine style, with a teaspoon and placed on a cup! No sucking, you must scoop one!”

As a young entrepreneur, selling eggs was one of my forte.  I sold salted and freshh eggs. My best friend from another village has a friend who operates a Balut poultry and supply house behind his own home.  Contrary to the belief of many that Baluts are horrible and feathery, got eyes blinking right in front of your face! Well, here’s a primer for ya If you get the chance to buy or some of your Pinoy friends try to “sabo” you with some baluts. 1) Make sure it’s not the cheap kind and not that big of an egg, the balut that is! Or it’s probably an old one already! 2) Make sure it’s warm and the egg’s not soft on the outside, if it’s soft naturally it’s not new nor fresh from the wok where it was boiled for some time! 3) Make sure there aren’t cracks on any side of the Balut, very important! In reality, it’s like the essence of chicken, the taste of the soupy liquid in this balut. It’s like your Granny’s double boiled soup – seriously!  Balut, i like!

 

Lih Fen from EMI, Germaine from LIME & me:)

I’ve been meeting a couple of people who are still fairly new to Singapore.  Most of them have got a really terrible perception of the party life here and where to go. As you know, the smart and outgoing ones will survive, the timid ones will probably one day just pack their bags and go.  Unless they get to know the same kind of folks who’ve introduced me to the good stuff here in Singapore and there are plenty of places to go to.  It seems really small to a lot of people because within a 45minute drive, you could club/bar – hop easily!  To me that’s one of my big Singapore bonus! I mean, why travel for 2 hours or more just to reach a party spot when you can cab there for 5 to 15 mins max?! That’s where Singapore rules! Everything and every party spot is just close by – party around River Valley/Clarke Quay area and you’re already surrounded by hundreds of nightspots! Gals more often than not get free flow of drinks from pubs/bars! Life is unfair, guys gotta always pay! Never mind, just make sure you gals always look smashing, that’s our only comfort and reward when we guys go out…just being honest here! 

Anyhoo, chill-out, give yourself a break, live the life!

Here are 100 REASONS TO PARTY! Pass it on!

1. Because it’s Friday.2. Because your dentist canceled your appointment.3. Because you can’t think of anything boring to do.4. Because it’s daytime.5. Because it’s nighttime.6. Because it’s exactly one week later than it was this time last week.7. Because you like to make ice.8. Because you want to annoy your neighbors.9. Because you’re dying to wear your new light shade.10. Because you’re tired of playing ‘Charades’ with yourself.11. Because you’re carrying a party gene.12. Because you found the perfect shoes.13. Because you’re afraid your lifestyle is too healthy.14. Because you never know…15. Because your place could use a good mess.16. Because your mother needs something to be upset about.17. Because you have a sudden urge to limbo.18. Because your inhibitions are out of town.19. Because the bank made an error in your favor.20. Because it’s there.21. Because you need more bean dip in your diet.22. Because the fun content of your blood is too low.23. Because you look good doing it.24. Because you’re considering it as a career.25. Because your yo-yo stock went up a point.26. Because someone’s got to do it.27. Because you have a bad reputation to uphold.28. Because your plants want to meet new people.29. Because fun is a terrible thing to waste.30. Because you want to try out your new jokes.31. Because it’s your patriotic duty.32. Because you’re going for the party record.33. Because your roommate got rid of his scorpion farm.34. Because you need the practice.35. Because you’re not getting any younger.36. Because the vet says your hamster will pull through.37. Because you’ve got it coming to you.38. Because your life is starting to grow moss.39. Because your brain needs a night off.40. Because you never met a party you didn’t like.41. Because the fate of the free world depends on it.42. Because the universe is expanding.43. Because your dog is finally housebroken.44. Because it’s the only exercise you get.45. Because maturity is overrated.46. Because a party demon has possessed your body.47. Because it hurts too much when you stop.48. Because these are your “party years!”49. Because you’re too polite to turn down an invitation.50. Because you can’t boogie to a book.51. Because you have an overactive party gland.52. Because the moon is in a party phase.53. Because otherwise the police would have nothing to do.54. Because curfew has been lifted.55. Because the phone company lost your Internet bill.56. Because you won the lottery and feel reckless.57. Because life seems so dull without it.58. Because that’s how the dinosaurs would have wanted to go.59. Because you haven’t eaten a million corn chips yet.60. Because you’re suffering from popcorn deficiency.61. Because you’re supposed to be the irresponsible one.62. Because how else are you going to learn to juggle chainsaws?63. Because your bank manager finally lifted that death threat.64. Because you need to get to know more riot police.65. Because your budgie ate your concert tickets and you need to let the party feeling out somehow.66. Because the voices tell you to.67. Because if not you, who else?68. Because it’s time.69. Because the local committee like you too much.70. Because you need to cultivate a bad impression.71. Because if you don’t you’ll explode.72. Because you got your coursework in on time.73. Because your lecturer forgot to set work for the weekend.74. Because you suspect you’re too uptight.75. Because you need to get ready for New Year’s.76. Because THEY don’t want you to.77. Because it’s a long way till midnight, and you’ve got ten crates to get through.78. Because you want to finish all the food in your house before dawn.79. Because someone bet you to.80. Because the dice tell you to. (see Luke Rhinehart)81. Because you haven’t heard a police megaphone for a whole week.82. Because you want to meet new alcohol.83. Because that’s the last thing they’ll expect.84. Because it’s down to you.85. Because you spend too much time on the Net and you don’t want to develop keyboard withdrawal. 87. Because how else are you going to rebel?88. Because you just want to, alright, ALRIGHT?! 89. Because you’re too tense.90. Because everyone you know needs convincing you’re insane.91. Because your parrot accused you of being boring.92. Because you know at least “30 things to do before you’re 30″ that you haven’t done.93. Because you need good reference material.94. Because you want to create a false identity.95. Because you want to prove you can.96. Because you feel like everyone’s ignoring you.97. Because you want to improve your crime sheet.98. Because you have a very evil punch recipe.99. Because because because because… because of the wonderful things it does! (see Wizard of Oz)100. Because you need to work on your purity test score. 

It was another almost wonderful night for me last Saturday – freeflow of M & C champagne, nice friends to groove with, and the music at the Gallery Bar was fab – well it made us dance til it almost hurts! Almost all my Facebook friends were there! Except for one group who shoved the drinks I bought for my friends, wet my pants and my favourite leather shoes! They didn’t even say sorry! And no, they didn’t replace the drinks they slammed on the floor!  They broke 2 of our glasses! These people are horrible! I mean, I’ve accidentally done that before to a stranger and being a sensitive bloke I asked the man what’s his drink and bought him another one. My face would’ve been really long the whole night except for good friends who stood by me and said “never mind, easy!” What angered me more was knowing that that group who shoved our drinks have a bottle of champagne in a bucket. Our drinks were also champagne drinks and it wasn’t from the freeflow, I bought ‘em for my buddies!!! 

Well, it’s a good thing I’m with wonderful folks that night. It ended good for me, we washed the night down with Teh Tarik and some prata at the Kitchen Station. Bumped to Nelson of Soulkool and from there more happy chats took place. All in all, it was a good night.  Oh, yeah, I bumped into Fiona Xie – she gave me a p.r. “hi” better than no “hi” right?