just something interesting i found out going through the special sneaks of UP the movie after getting e DVD. its really worth it. besides finally getting to enjoy the movie after missing it due to reasons of national service, there was this short explanatory flick of the movie makers' adventures visiting angel falls. it was really awesome and breathtaking for something that was just shot on a camcorder just to illustrate their forays in exploring the terrain in south america. and having just gone through JCC in brunei, it was like... gee. why can't we conduct army exercises or do JCC there?!

there's this real sweet part about photography (kandace should check this out like i said) but besides that, the movie was really amazing in the sense that after seeing what the producers went through u'd be convinced they did everything possible to make the movie an amazing success: the visualization and painting of an imagery that is the dream of the main character, the playing of the main character's idol in the former's story and how they phased him out. and this isn't just some movie based on the good looks and character play of some hollywood hotshot or any story that was written by an award winning novelist, its really from scratch which makes it even more awesome. the genius of disney + pixar.

the short teaser films especially the one about dug the dog added an extra interesting dimension to the story.

so yeah i finally managed to get my fill about UP the movie right before scrambling to church for another thanksgiving dinner with the TP ward singles. there was some gooooooooooood apple crumble. topped with ice cream of course. yummmmmy. anyway... the food's always the thing that graces the event. Elder Anderson and Sister Anderson were there with a lesson on 'balancing life' which they shared certain key ideas of having our own lives' personal mission statements. hmmm.... mission statements... seems like sth distant i recall from writing orders in the organization i'm in. anyway... that aside there was critical importance on how we centre our lives on different aspects of our life depending on what we place importance on and how success is determined. it was quite a refreshing lesson on helping create a firmer direction in planning how this game of life is played. it ain't hasbro or monopoly simple. which is why it really brought out a real admiration for the makers of UP for what they do. yeah sure they sacrifice a great deal... but success ain't the box office hits and stuff. its really in how the movie was finally moulded.

Life is not always easy; it was not meant to be so. It's a time of testing and proving.
We learn to handle disappointment and sorrow, which in turn builds character and increases our compassion for others.
(thanks kandace)

this probably summed up the 3 weeks (and especially a long 9 days) spent in brewnai of how just grabbing ur gear and surviving after climbing mountain after mountain and living through hellish weather that makes u think 'no thanks. this ain't my cup of tea.' JCC was simply described as an exercise to test the physical and mental endurance of the participant, and definitely the team's cohesion too. the first 3 days were so demoralizing having failed to achieve the targets expected of us, but dang we cried when we planted our own 'flag' on the end of the 5th day. i'd say i was lucky to be part of the team of 8 (it was 10, but no thanks to some insects which we cannot identify and name - they were too fast too furious - and a freak accident involving rambutans) during and throughout this whole experience of 9 days. coming back in 1st, the camp (and changi airport after stepping off the plane) never looked more beautiful.

however, i still harbor thoughts that i might not really have deserved the recognition of going through and passing the course. sure its pretty awesome to say 'been there. done that.' but whatever the case is... i'm not forgetting the lessons i learned from this trip no matter how they may have scarred me (mozzies, sandflies, hornets, freak accidents, feet looking like they belong to a 99-year old and more). that's a better takeaway than a badge. i've definitely learned how much i need to lean on the Lord's strength and that i could have done better had i not listened to all those thoughts of 'u know ure just gonna be a burden.'

first i would like to thank the two awesome pple whom i spent most of today with - them being marion and han. they always bring a smile and never fail to make a day worth remembering. yeah. i was feeling a little downtrodden here and there over i don't know what. but the talk given by Elder Tan today reminded me of how we become so much more productive when we dwell on the bright side of life. heaven's loft was really relaxing at orchard central, and the roof terrace was something worth going up for. pop doh donuts were pretty awesome too. and of course i can't forget all who have wished me over this day.

but the two pple whom i can never forget are mom and dad who i am a part of the family with.

even brewnai for all its darkness at last light around 6 or 7 doesn't seem so dark after yesterday and today even tho i have yet to experience it. so yes. what a difference a day made (:

happy birthday again to my fellow 7-11ers marie and samantha! :D

Come to think of it, i was probably not deserving of that IPPT Gold today. yeah. finally got one last chance after missing so many due to reasons. and i did hit it. but it really was thanks to samuel who really pushed me all the way for at least a good 4 laps. he could have just given up and not even stick on my heels to give me that rush that numbed my feet in the later stages into running. he could have just said... ah heck! i can't get gold because of chin ups and sbj. but dang. this dude helped me reach the finish line in good time. can't thank him enough. so mission from here: get all those left with their tests undone get done. it really is just like... 'if u think ure having a hard time, look for someone who's having a harder time and help him/her. couldn't have said it better than none other than the leaders.' i guess i'm just thinking i really need to earn it rather than just getting it. no excuses. no complaints. thank you varun, sam and yi he.

just came back a few hours ago having met tina and wei qi. its really nice to see them alive and well despite all their heavy loads of coursework in uni. caught up over waffles at the daily scoop down near sunset way. its somewhere in btw clementi and ngee ann poly if ure interested. pretty awesome stuff.

brew nai (make milk) is in 24 hours. well... almost... gahh. in that time... take care in those 3 weeks (:

i really feel like smacking myself sometimes. being so short sighted or thinking too far to even consider another's circumstance and not at least helping. maybe it was just that these things come when u least expect it when u just wanted to rest and it comes prodding u at ur side. maybe it was just that but i think i was being e former at that moment when i just wanted to just rest and chill off and air the foot rot.

brew-nai's in a few days time. flight's in the wee wee hours of sunday. does eating salt get u high? everything that seems processed seems so much brighter against the back drop of the gloom of not enough food with insufficient flavor (ration packs seem to have little difference in taste nowadays) and drinking brown/black water.