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So farewell...
Bitched on: Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Time: 11/28/2007 10:43:00 PM
Linkin Park- Shadow of the DayTime: 11/28/2007 10:43:00 PM
...and the sun will set for youI just feel that this song is so befitting to dedicate to you guys.
the sun will set for you
and the shadow of the day
will embrace the world in grey
and the sun will set for you
in cards and flowers on your window
your friends all plead for you to stay
sometimes beginnings aren't so simple
sometimes goodbye's the only way...
Here's to the guys who have been truly inspirational to all of us.
As long as there is air in my lungs, vision in my eyes and a beat in my heart, I will always make each day count.
Thank you for inspiring me to seize every moment in life now...
Thank you.
Labels: dragonboat tragedy
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What now...
Time: 11/28/2007 09:20:00 PM
Dragon boat tragedy: Survivors back in S'pore
Dragon boat deaths: Shock, sorrow for family and friends
Dragon boat tragedy: Survivor speaks
Joint funeral service for rowers
More Pictures
Alternatively, see videos here.
-Links and picture courtesy of the Straits Times, Video News. 28th November 2007
The bodies of the 5 dragonboaters (sons, brothers, friends and inspiration) will be cremated at Mandai Crematorium Hall 4 tomorrow afternoon.
Labels: dragonboat tragedy
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What happened...
Bitched on: Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Time: 11/27/2007 04:53:00 PM
Time: 11/27/2007 04:53:00 PM
"... why the boat capsized. About 50 m away from where they were supposed to dock, their boat was passing by a pontoon when it swerved towards it and collided with a tugboat near the pontoon.
It also hit the pontoon, which is the size of a basketball court.
According to witnesses, a sudden swirling wave hit the boat and pushed it towards the pontoon. The boat tilted to the right.
The collision caused the 500kg boat to spin towards the pontoon. As it was about to hit the pontoon, the rowers tried to use their hands to push against it...
... But in doing so, they pushed the dragon boat downwards causing water to enter. That eventually made the boat sink...
... Some rowers (were) caught in strong undercurrent, (and) dragged under the pontoon...
... While family members have questioned why the rowers were not wearing life jackets, it appears that they might not have made a difference if the victims were dragged under the pontoon...
... It is understood the five victims were seated in front of the boat...
... A Cambodian official said that boats taking part in the Tonle Sap races had been warned about strong currents and swirling waters on one side of the river...
... said that the Singapore team had been warned not to approach a pontoon on that side of the river...
... the pontoon forces the water to flow sideways, making the area near the corners dangerous.
That was where the Singaporean team's dragon boat made the fatal spin."
-The New Paper, 27th Nov 2007
I am really disturbed and deeply saddened by this.
Not sure why, not that I knew any of them (well, two of the deceased dragon boaters were my friend's close friends...).
Just that, since my Dad's heart attack, I'm just suddenly feeling the realness and certainty of dying and death... Never thought of Death much but like all of the sudden, I just think its so real... you know?
Sounds ridiculous, I know...
The thought of losing a loved one, the thought of leaving your loved ones when you pass on... Its so tragic... and real... I mean, it will happen eventually, no? Just that you don't know when...
I was feeling all kinds of emotions when my Daddy was going through the surgery.
Fear. Misery. Hopelessness. Worry. And yes, regret...
The families and friends of the deceased must be feeling exactly the same emotional turmoil before rescuers found them...
And after they found the bodies, one by one pulled out from the waters, add to their whirlpool of emotions (pun honestly not intended), grief...
It must have been extremely hard to identify their bodies in the morgue, maybe not physically, but emotionally, it must have been really tormenting...
Doesn't matter how much you run or gym, or watch your diet, if a car knocks you down tomorrow or your plane crashes tonight (*touch wood*), you will be gone just like that...
Sigh...
I just feel so sorry for the families, the surviving dragon boaters and friends...
Other Links:
A blog in memory of Jeremy Goh
Reuben Kee's Friendster profile
Home to Reuben Kee's music
Reuben Kee’s blog
(so touching, I was close to tears...
though I don't know you guys personally, you are surely missed by your friends, bros...)
Labels: dragonboat tragedy
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A great tragedy...
Bitched on: Sunday, November 25, 2007
Time: 11/25/2007 07:51:00 PM
Time: 11/25/2007 07:51:00 PM
"Rescue workers have recovered the bodies of five Singaporean men who were killed in a dragon boat accident during Cambodia's annual water festival, police said Sunday.The boat carrying 22 men capsized late Friday as it tried to dock on Phnom Penh's Tonle Sap river after competing in a race during the festival.More than 200 Cambodian navy sailors and fishermen, joined by seven divers and a medic from Singapore, scoured the river over the weekend searching for the five."All the missing Singaporeans were found, and now the mission has ended," police chief Touch Naruth told reporters on Sunday.Seventeen Singaporeans were also injured in the accident, which happened on the first day of races. Millions of spectators, holiday-makers and participants flock to the capital Phnom Penh to watch the event.Nhim Vanda, from Cambodia's National Committee for Disaster Management, said the tragedy occurred because of currents in the river."There was a very strong whirlpool around the port area they were returning to, and it hit the boat," he said, adding that the men were not wearing life jackets.Singapore's foreign ministry said in a statement that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen had written to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to convey his "shock and sadness."Relatives of the dead visited the site of the accident late Saturday, with most unable to hold the tears back as they silently surveyed the river where their loved ones had been swept away.More than 440 boats, including a number of foreign crews, entered this year's races, which end Sunday evening. Ten nations in Southeast Asia have boats competing in the colourful event.Accidents are common during the boat races, which involve long, thin "dragon boats" crewed by as many as 70 rowers, which compete against each other in the sometimes choppy waters in front of Phnom Penh's royal palace. — AFP"Mr Mr Joey Paraiso, an eyewitness to the tragedy recounted what he saw:
A snippet from The Sunday Times:"What I witnessed was the Singaporean team had already finished the race and was starting back to the point......for them to disembark.
"Unfortunately, during the time team players (were) getting off from the boat, the boat suddenly shook off and overturned. It happened so quickly."
He added: "The remaining players, the Singapore rowers, one by one floated and saved themselves and there were some railings that they were able to hold on.....
"All the players, I guess, were a little over—fatigued so they were not able to swim normally, so they just looked for something to hang on and the current was so strong."— CNA/ir
"Instead of waiting for a boat to tow them back, the team had decided to row towards shore themselves.God giveth (life), God taketh (it) away...
When they were close to shore, a wave hit them, causing the boat to collide with a pontoon and overturn. Team members were sucked under the pontoon. Seventeen racers surfaced and five did not...
... It is believed that a combination of strong currents and fatigue after the race could play a part in the likely drowning of the five men. They could also have been knocked unconscious when the 500kg boat capsized in the 9m-deep water.
The racers were not wearing life jackets.
One survivor who declined to be named said the team panicked under water and the current was pushing them down, so they all kicked their way upwards. He was treated for bruises on his face." -TST
My deepest condolences to the families and friends of:
- Mr Stephen Loh Soon Ann, 31 (NJC PE teacher, 23rd SEA Games representative)
- Mr Jeremy Goh Tze Xiang, 24 (2nd-year student SIM, youngest of three children)
- Mr Poh Boon San, 27 (Engineer, youngest of three children)
- Mr Reuben Kee, 23 (Music composer, Mr Singapore 2007, only child)
- Mr Chee Wei Cheng, 20 (older of 2 sons)
More reports here:
Eyewitness account of Singapore dragon boat accident in Cambodia (Channel NewsAsia via Yahoo! Singapore News) SINGAPORE: A Channel NewsAsia viewer who was at the scene of the dragon boat accident in Cambodia on Friday evening gave an eyewitness account.
Dragon boat racers presumed drowned in Cambodia: police (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
Five Singaporeans who took part in a dragon boat race in Cambodia are presumed drowned when their boat capsized, police said on Saturday.
Search on for missing dragon boat racers (Gulf Times)
SINGAPORE: The military is deploying a team to help in the search for five Singaporeans missing and feared drowned after their dragon boat capsized during Cambodia's water festival river races, officials said yesterday.
Singapore to help search for five missing dragon-boat racers (EARTHtimes.org)
Singapore - The military is deploying a team to help in the search for five Singaporeans missing and feared drowned after their dragon boat capsized during Cambodia's water festival river races, officials said on Saturday. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Long...
Singaporeans found dead after Cambodia boat accident: police (AFP via Yahoo! News)
Rescue workers have recovered the bodies of five Singaporean men who were killed in a dragon boat accident during Cambodia's annual water festival, police said Sunday.
Bodies found after boat race accident in Cambodia (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Rescue workers have recovered the bodies of five Singaporean men who were killed in a dragon boat accident during Cambodia's annual water festival.
Bodies of two Singaporean rowers found after accident in Cambodia (Channel NewsAsia via Yahoo! Singapore News)
SINGAPORE: The bodies of two Singaporean rowers who went missing after their dragon boat capsized in an accident in Cambodia have been found.
Bodies of two S'porean rowers found after accident in Cambodia (Channel NewsAsia)
SINGAPORE: The bodies of two Singaporean rowers who went missing after their dragon boat capsized in an accident in Cambodia have been found. Three more Singaporean rowers remain missing.
Singaporeans found dead after Cambodia boat accident: police (TODAYonline)
A traditional dragon boat. Rescue workers have recovered the bodies of five Singaporean men who were killed in a dragon boat accident during Cambodia's annual water festival, police said Sunday.
Five bodies found in Cambodia after boating accident (Channel NewsAsia via Yahoo! Singapore News)
SINGAPORE: Five bodies were recovered from the Tonle Sap River in Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh on Sunday morning, following an accident involving a Singapore dragon boat team.
Labels: dragonboat tragedy
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Making a move...
Time: 11/25/2007 01:04:00 PM
Should I move this blog to wordpress?Wordpress looks so much more 'grown-up' and professional...
Plus it has many more functions...
I guess I will just give Blogger.com a dateline to improve its functions and stuff by the end of the year...
Otherwise, it would be adios 'hebitch.blogspot.com' and hola 'hebitch.wordpress.com'.
See lah, even the blog address sounds more pro...
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Its all in the genes...
Time: 11/25/2007 12:33:00 AM
To all those who messaged me words of encouragement, I thank you all.My Daddy's fine. He has been resting at home for a few days now. And will continue to do so for a month or so.
It was one hell of a scare I can tell you that.
And boy, are the after-effects still here.
Its like suddenly everyone is walking on eggshells now.
Though I optimistically believe that my Dad would overcome this, changes are still inevitable. Daddy can't do strenuous activities for the next month, anything that might get his heart palpitating any faster... even watching action-packed 'excitable' movies...
And the most evident and, might I add, permanent change, other than him going completely cold-turkey on smoking, has to be his low-cholesterol, low-oil, low-carbo, low-sugar and especially low-taste diet.
I revolted in horror and disgust when I accidentally drank Daddy's Milo one morning. I swear to God I almost spit out the vile nauseatingly bitter drink... it damn sure jolted me from my early-morning stupor...
Sigh... Poor Daddy...
But who's to say right, that I would not be in his shoes ultimately?
Its all in the genes, no?
All my Dad's brothers had heart attacks; and obesity runs in the family like bulls in a Spanish bull chase.
I have to really watch my diet too.
So no fatty oily food from now on.
No more eating after 8pm.
And eat less carbs and more meat.
Not to steal 'thunder' from my Daddy, but the night when he got back from the hospital, I had chest pains myself.
I was definitely not imagining the pains and no... I am sure it was not 'sympathy pains'. It was real, and it was mostly on the left side...
Of course I was panicking... but it can't be, can it?
Mustn't be paranoid...
So I ran the next day... Completely the reverse of what-to-do to check if the night before's episode was a cardiac attack.
So I didn't have a cardiac arrest after the 30-min run thankfully.
But I'm still not cleared, I suppose.
Like the recent report of the 20-something guy, who was in the prime of his life and described as super-fit and intelligent under one breath, dying under mysterious circumstances in a pool in China, anything is possible right?
God giveth (life), God taketh (it) away...
PS: After almost a week of careful dieting and exercising, moi lost another 2 kg. I'm back to my last year's weight! Yahoo!!!
Labels: health
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The day my Superman fell.
Bitched on: Sunday, November 18, 2007
Time: 11/18/2007 11:15:00 PM
Around this time, Friday night...Time: 11/18/2007 11:15:00 PM
My Daddy had a heart attack.
At first we thought nothing of it. At least I thought so.
Instead, while waiting at the waiting area of the Accident & Emergency area, I was feeling sorry for this guy I saw (around my age) whose father was involved in the 3-vehicles-accident near my place. And all along I was thinking that nothing was wrong with my Daddy.
"He has to be fine. He is strong... like Superman."
And I held back my emotions when the doctor told us the bad news.
Words like "collapsing", "critical" and "emergency" were ringing in my head after he was done.
"How could it be? Why so severe? He has never shown any... "
Then it all made sense; he might have had his first attack in Mecca. He has been having breathless episodes since.
But that didn't stop him from smoking... very heavily.
The doctor said that 3 of his major arteries were blocked. Two of them completely and one of them caused the heart attack.
The doctor had to put in a balloon thingy to clear that one problematic blockage.
Complications with horrible consequences were there; the risk of him collapsing was there too...
"Collapsing?"
I had never been so scared in my life...
That one hour operation felt like a whole night had passed.
When I finally saw him I held back my tears. There he was, with tubes coming out from his arms, a mask over his face and a machine to help his heart pump.
And it really broke my heart to see my Daddy suffering.
"Please God, don't take him away. Give him strength. Let me suffer in his place."
I broke down when I left my sleeping Daddy the first night. I sobbed at the quiet corner near the staircase, alone...
Day two, I broke down the second time when I was alone with my sleeping Daddy in his room. He still had tubes all around him. It was very hard to see him suffering. Painful. Heart wrenching.
"My Superman..."
Today's the third day, and he has all the tubes removed from his arms.
He is his old-self again. Chatting and even joking.
He can be shifted out from the ICU in a day or so...
"I just want my Daddy back home, safe and healthy, as soon as possible."
I am extremely grateful...
"Thank. You. God."
Two more operations to go.
"sigh..."
Labels: personal
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Indo Emo Rock...
Bitched on: Thursday, November 15, 2007
Time: 11/15/2007 10:02:00 PM
Feeling suddenly in love with Indo rock music right now...Time: 11/15/2007 10:02:00 PM
The more emo the better.
Is it just a phase? Maybe...
What is it with this Indo music that makes it more appealing (at least to me) than Malay music (especially those from across the Causeway... cause what do we have in the first place, right)?
The lyrics... Yes... Its so much more meaningful. Haiz... So emotional...
And the rhythm... Slow rock (ala Nickelback or Creed) as opposed to the backward hard rock crap you get listening to the 'current' Malay music...
Like harlow? Stuck in the 80s are we?
My favourite songs so far:
Samson - Kenangan Terindah
Peter Pan - Ku Katakan Dengan Indah
Ungu - Kekasih Gelapku
I know these songs are quite old but hey, I'm a late blooming Malay-language-songs-appreciator, okay?
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Lose weight in less than five days!!!
Bitched on: Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Time: 11/14/2007 07:43:00 PM
I went to gym today and measured myself on the weighing scale. I lost 3 kg!!!Time: 11/14/2007 07:43:00 PM
Yes!!!
I can just imagine the commercial ad...
"If you wanna lose weight fast and in less than five days, forget taking diet pills and exercising!
Join the architecture course!!!
You will lose inches off your waist instantly, especially during the days leading up to submission!
Here's what a satisfied costumer has to say, "I was so worried to wear my notoriously tight khaki pants for my crit on Monday but it fit perfectly on the big day... with a little room to spare, might I add".
Say goodbye to love-handles and the "pangea" on your tummy will miraculously show signs of 'separation' almost immediately.
It really works.
What are you waiting for?
Join us now!
Side effects: The most stressful 4-40 years of your life, major break-outs and countless sleepless nights. May eventually result in premature death."
Labels: architecture, school
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if you're comfortable...
Time: 11/14/2007 02:03:00 PM
Hah... I almost died laughing reading that SMS."We can have lunch together if you're comfortable..."OMG, you think I am that egoistical? (well... 'petty' maybe..)
I have so gotten over you...
Go figure out why I'm so cold. I can't be bothered to waste my SMSes.
I'm glad you rejected me. You have somehow proven that you were not that good a friend to begin with.
Don't let this bother you, cause its not bothering me too.
PS: I'm not saying this to spite you, really, I'm not. In fact this entry has been in my draft for days so it was not a response to your blog entry.
Cause really, I don't give a damn anymore...
So yeah, good luck with your final year. And remember the good times we had, so long and goodbye...
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Goodbye good buddy...
Bitched on: Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Time: 11/13/2007 07:21:00 PM
Finally... keeping this secret has been killing me!!!Time: 11/13/2007 07:21:00 PM
You know how big my mouth is!!! Lol...
*hugs*
Hazwan, you will be missed.
Thanks for being there whenever I need you (I'm so needy!!!). We went through a lot together: FOC, Istana, RAG, from studio 5 to Chinese lessons...
And we had planned a lot for the future too. Alaska...
Unfortunately, it is not to be...
*hugs*
Thanks for being a great friend. Good luck in your future en devours.
PS: Please keep in touch.
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Busy busy...
Bitched on: Monday, November 12, 2007
Time: 11/12/2007 08:05:00 PM
Hey sorry guys, I had been busy for my submission (which was today; and my crit was today too!).Time: 11/12/2007 08:05:00 PM
Been freaking busy. Haven't slept for days.
I have a freakin huge pimple in between my eyes, on my nose bridge. What the *beep*.
Cause I have been working at home these few days and was wearing glasses the whole time.
Working at home is wonderful man... So many 'manpower' to help out in my models...
Thanks Mummy and Daddy, Kakak Ya and Kakak In. You guys have been a fantastic help!!!
Post pictures of my models soon... :)
Labels: architecture, school
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