Yes you read that title right. Restaurants are over-booked, cinemas are filled with dumbass ‘romantic’ comedies and couples are walking everywhere showing off their significant others.

Okay, maybe it’s because I’m always single this time of year.

You see, usually me and my friends would hang out for Singles Awareness Day. Like 2 years ago, I watched Brokeback Mountain with Farah. How romantic. I don’t even remember what I did last year.

My favorite valentines was when me and my girlfriend sat at home, ordered pizza and watched her favorite movie. Call me cheap, but it took me ages to find that movie! See, that’s why I hate valentines day too, it totally reminds you of the good old days.

Why do people choose a single day to show their love for one another ? What about the rest of the fucking 364 days of the year. Why do people have to dress up and buy expensive stuff. Why am I such a grouch ?

Well, this year I particularly hate valentines day.

Because I cannot spend it with you.

About 2 months ago, I went for a circumcision. This is the ceremonial flushing of the foreskin.

flusher: Jason Phoon
camera/female laughter: Farah
lazy guy: James

I nearly forgot it was the Chinese New Year, if Michelle didn’t mention it. I even wanted to blog about something totally different today! Perhaps it’s because I’m here in Brisbane, and I certainly don’t feel festive at all. It’s also the first time I’m away from home during this period.

Every Chinese New Year, me and my family would travel to my hometown in Negeri Sembilan, to celebrate with my extended family. My father has 14 brothers and sisters, so it’s quite a huge occasion. We’d eat all the best food, gamble and catch up with each other.

Yet, I’d always resent going back to my hometown.

You see, there’s really nothing to do there. There’s no Internet, and only recently there was mobile phone coverage. Furthermore, I can’t speak Cantonese, which kinda creates a gap between me and my cousins. Then there’s that problem I have with my dad (a whole different story).

Now that I’m away from home, I don’t know how to feel about it. On one hand, I’m glad I don’t have to deal with all that resentment, yet I still feel like something’s missing.

Well, tomorrow me and my friends are going for a chinese banquet, which includes a lion dance and maybe fireworks. Perhaps there’s a little festive cheer then.

Well, Happy Chinese New Year everyone !

On my travels, I’ve kept a little book about the people I meet. They’re what I call 5 minute friends. Here’s some of their stories:

1. A middle aged man on the way to Bangkok. He said he was going to a conference and he was M.B.A (Married But Available). He said I should go enjoy life in Bangkok, and made that hip thrusting movement. I wish I don’t have to do that when I’m middle aged.
2. An Austrian I met in the youth hostel in Bangkok. He looked like he has been backpacking a month too many. Like he has weed in his beard or something.
3. Two Brazilian chicks I met in the youth hostel in Bangkok. They taught me many naughty Portugese words. We even talked philosophy! (So happen I was reading Nietzsche at the time)
4. An off-duty air stewardess I met on a flight to Melbourne. She was also an ex-circus performer. Later on we met for a coffee in Melbourne. She’s probably my first Australian friend.
5. Some guy at the bank. Just came out of jail because his own brother ripped off his money. He even showed me the scars on his hands from when he tried to kill himself. Yes, they were vertical scars.
6. Some kid beside me on my flight back from Brisbane. He gave me chocolate cookies and let me read his Lao Fu Zhi comics. I showed him some of my comics as well. Perhaps he’s too young to be reading them, but he laughed anyways.
7. A cab driver who told me about how he lost his old job. His boss’s daughter was hitting on him, and the boss’s wife schemed a plan to get him fired.
8. A school teacher on the flight back to Brisbane. She was visiting her sister, who opened a restaurant in Brisbane. She said my hand-writing looked like cakar ayam (literally chicken scratches).

Maybe I have a kind face, and people just open up to me. Sometimes they tell their life stories. Sometimes they give me chocolates. Sometimes I even make a new friend.

Most times, I feel like I’ve learnt something new and that puts a smile on my face.