Hermit mode --> activate.......

No, I'm not moving into the Naruto ninja universe.... Just need to stop meeting up with people at shopping centres..... Why? Read on.... *peeks into bank acct* This divejunkie is soon-to-be broke.... Class 3 lessons should be wrapping up within the next couple of months (hopefully with me passing my TP before my PDL expires), and that has already taken up a gd chunk of moolah.... Next step is to consider a 2nd hand car.... haven't really planned out how to squeeze out extra cash for this yet but it's in the works....

Also, LASIK soon, and even with the interest-free installment plan, still $$ bye bye TT_TT PLUS Bali trip in Aug, so will need money for that too....

So in conclusion, it's time for me to be antisocial and hide in my little hermit hole so that I would not be spending quite so much on dinners and outings..... (*dang* with all the nice movies coming out soon.... guess I'll hafta consider skipping a few meals to watch them....) No more meet-ups for me, unless they're at coffeeshops/food centres ;p

Click for the rambling...

Night spent re-visiting a childhood icon....

Last night marked my first visit to Marina Bays Sands, and it was to catch Thriller LIVE, a 2h 20min tribute concert to the music of Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5.


We got seated just in time for the start of the show. It started with a couple of familiar tunes, as well as a summary of MJ's hits and chart toppers... and then came the Jackson 5 songs. So tickled by the costumes and the amazing voice of 14-year-old Kieran Alleyne. Pity that the crowd was either not quite warmed up or were not quite as familiar with the songs... Felt like I was one of the few who were swaying n synching along to "ABC" :( First half covered hits until the 80s (I think. Not THAT huge a fan that I know which era the songs came from, just enough of a fan to sing along to the the chorus, at least, for most of the songs ;p)


After the intermission, we were treated to hits that I remember hearing over the radio or from my uncle's stash of music while growing up. Such nostalgia~~ To be treated to live rendition of "Smooth Criminal", "Dirty Diana", "Beat It", "They Don't Care About Us" etc. And as more and more familiar tunes came along, you could tell that the energy and excitement was spreading from the stage to the audience (*yay!*)


Ricko Baird's another name to remember from the cast, with his spot on performance of MJ's classic dance moves, and as one of the four main onstage "MJs". By the time they got to my #1 favorite, "Heal the World", everyone (onstage and off) were really enjoying themselves, and THAT'S when the HUGE faves came up! "Bad" and "Thriller"!! With the crowd grooving on their feet (and some of us joining in with the Thriller zombie moves ;p) the 2h 20min tribute concert came to a close :'( Thought it would feel long, but when it ended on such a high, I couldn't help but hope that it could go on for *just* a wheeeee bit longer....

Other little details that I liked about Thriller LIVE was the effects and vids on the display screens. The precise timing of what's on the screen and the real life dancers was really superb! Also, I love how they also remind us about the hardworking team doing all the jamming and fast fingerworks on the guitars when the screens part or the few times the guitarist(s) took centre stage for a while. *thumbs up* Certainly felt like a big party/jamming session that we were all part of, rather than *just* another stage performance ^_^

Here's what some of the audience at one of the earlier shows had to say about it:

I'm not a fan of MJ per se, not with the scandals and troubles that plagued the latter bit of his life, but I know I'll be digging out my collection of MJ's hits to listen to it all over again, in pure celebration of MJ's music ^_^ Just 'coz his music is still mighty amazing!

So, join in the fun and catch Thriller LIVE for yourself!

Click for the rambling...

Updates galore!

Apparently last year's blog reboot didn't quite make it. Coming up with new thoughts, stories etc to share needs some kinda inspiration I guess, and a special form of energy that seems to be absent in me right now.... On to some updates directly.... Actually, more like updates on how far I have gotten along in completing the goals I have set for 2011....

(1) *points to pic above* Life Saving 123 class is over and we have all passed! Thanks to Jeremy for bringing us through, and to the other ULC folks who have helped us all along the way! Half a 2011 goal done (marks with half a tick) Hope to see all the new friends I've made at BM class! ;p It has been an interesting semester that kinda started from here...

(2) After my second trip to the Similan Islands, have completed my Divemaster training ^_^ So that's another goal down for 2011.

(3) FINALLY started Class 3 lessons. Long overdue, considering my diving certifications and my damn white elephant PPCDL... Sucking out quite a bit of time and money but I WILL GET MY LICENSE BY THE END OF THE YEAR!! (anybody wanna contribute to my "Buy Juan a car fund"? ;p)

(4) LASIK.... 4+ years of putting in eyes and taking them out when I dive (and with the increasing kinda of water activities I'm doing) it makes sense to go burn my eyes... Target is to get this done in November, after BM and after MY dive season has closed... Bad news is that it's another hole in my pocket, good news is interest-free installment payment (meaning it'll be many little holes eating in my pocket instead)

Guess that's it for major updates. Need to get back into the groove of bloggin before this site is gonna make any semblance of sense again...

Click for the rambling...