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Life

So here goes nothing. ( This will be my last post hope you guys enjoyed reading the previous posts or not just read this one.)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/07/Lifetitle.jpg
 http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/07/Lifetitle.jpg

Many people say that we Singaporeans "KiaSee" meaning afraid of dying in dialect. But lets be frank, we all share one thing in common as humanity which is being afraid to die. Although death is a natural process that every living creature on this planet Earth will have to go through eventually and to experience it, there is still the essence of fear that exist in every one of us including animals, insects, whatever. You name it.

From the moment we are born on this planet Earth be it in Singapore, the states or any other countries, our lives have started in fact, we have started to connect the dots in our lives. There are 2 dots in common for every one of us which is the start - (birth) and the end - (death). But what is in between these 2 dots is up to us to fulfill in the future, to connect. With different occasions that is happening in our lives. Leaving behind memories of joy, pain, suffering, sadness, anger this is how we as humans grow as time goes by. Growing to become adults and from adults turning to become the elderly, maturing every single day until the day where death came knocking upon our doorsteps cherishing that very last moment of our lives, realizing that everything have come to an end.

http://www.lajollaassociation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/connect-the-dots.jpg
http://www.lajollaassociation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/connect-the-dots.jpg

“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.” by Steve Jobs

We do not know what will happen in the future,in fact no one knows because life is full of changes we simply cannot predict what will happen in the future. We can only backtrack memories of occasions that happened in the past few years of our lives and learn from it. That is why education of history exist, that is why, what we do today will be what we will become in the future. What we dream of may happen in reality depending on how hard we have tried. How much we are willing to give, to sacrifice at any moment of our lives to accomplish our goals. Dreams WILL COME TRUE, "if we want to succeed as bad as we want to breathe then we will be successful" - Eric Thomas.

http://www.iwantcovers.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Explore1.jpg

You may be the world's wealthiest or healthiest person on the planet, 24/7 working to earn money, 24/7 keeping healthy all day, months or even years long. I don't care. Because at the end of the day we are still going to die. Life is not about how long we can live or how wealthy we can get but it is about how we can live life to the fullest extent and live life with no regrets, living our lives in every way possible. The key is to explore, YES EXPLORE. The world is so wide for us to explore and I guarantee you more than half of the population on this planet Earth have not manage to do so. That is life, my definition of life.

http://pic.raise5.com/service_pictures/raise5-1337045617-Finding-The-Purpose-Of-Life.jpg
http://pic.raise5.com/service_pictures/raise5-1337045617-Finding-The-Purpose-Of-Life.jpg

So let me pose this sensitive question to those who have been staying healthy all year round and are very concern about your health which leads you to the tab health in this blog. What is your purpose of doing so? Is it because to ensure that you live to a hundred? Living for the sake of being healthy just so to prolong death? Forgetting who you are and what you enjoy- your habits, your ice creams, candies, things that you used to crave for and the person you used to be, being happier. Or is it because you want to live longer in order to fulfill your goals, your dreams, to stay by your friends, family and to explore?

Setting aside the common cycle of life. Which is to study in primary school, again in secondary, college, universities, afterwards get a decent job, get married, have a family and lastly experience death. What do YOU actually YEARN for in life?

Whenever you realize that you do not actually know why and what you live for, ask yourself these questions:
1) Who you are
2) What are you doing currently(occupation)
3) Why did you do it
4) How do you affect your country you are staying in or the world

Bare this in mind, be it your a low class, middle class or upper class person in economic status in terms of job and wealthiness everyone on our planet have a role to play.
-If there are no hawkers traditional delicacies would have extinct.
-If there are no cleaners our planet will be filled with rats and roaches.
-If there are no employees of lower position that are working under companies, the company cannot operate vice versa (employers).
-Most importantly IF there is no leader, no one to guide us, guide our countries , the world would not have been constantly advancing forward

http://captionwit.com/wp-content/caption/life-long-friends-penguin_SlsEf_r.jpg
http://captionwit.com/wp-content/caption/life-long-friends-penguin_SlsEf_r.jpg

People say life is a long journey. However, life is short and we cannot re-act the scenes like what television shows, dramas, movies do. So treasure and cherish your very own life given by your parents, live every single day like your last one.

Last for not least, I wish you guys luck in finding your very unique way of living life and to succeed in every prospect of life regardless of education, monetary, relationship. And may your dreams come true within the next few years of your life.

Thank you for your precious time reading my blog.

Leave your comments below and share with me your thoughts. 

By: Jack Tan / Tan Zhi Ping


 


  





Why Basketball?

When do you ever find time in Singapore to have some fun and relax? The answer is: RARELY!!! Why is that so? Singapore is a fast paced country to live in. One moment we are 15, and the next moment, our O levels(national exam which most people take at 16) are over. The homework from school piles up on us students everyday. When we start polytechnic and university, projects are thrown at us from all corners.

credit: http://outsourcingmadness.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/not-the-right-time.jpg

WHERE GOT TIME FOR BASKETBALL??


For those who do not know, for the majority of Singaporean students, at the age of 16, we take our O level national exams. After that, many of us will go to different schools. Some of us had forged really deep and strong friendships during our “13 to 16 year old days”. Wouldn’t it be too much of a pity if we allow our tight schedule to slowly wither away our friendships?

Basketball sessions with friends are a very good way to keep in touch with each other, getting updates of our new lives in our new schools. After every basketball session with my friends, we go to the nearby mall to dine and share our recent happenings in life with each other.


Yes, we may had separated, we may not see each other as much as we did before every day in school in the past, but never have I felt more closer to my basketball friends than ever. I feel that one reason could be due to the fact that basketball is a team sport. We need to work together, sync with one another to play properly.

Credit: http://duringtheseason.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/basketball-1.jpg

Let me use myself as an example. I am a 17 year old student living in Singapore. I play basketball. I study at a polytechnic. Despite the work thrown at us everyday, I still want to try my best to make time for basketball with my friends. People say that one of the best way to bond with each other is through fun. And basketball IS FUN! :D Weekends would be the best time to play a game or two together :)

Why not other sports? why basketball?

Basketball is a team sport. It is a sport able to be enjoyed by many people at a time. Like I mentioned before, it is also convenient to play Basketball in Singapore. It is also not a difficult sport to pick up, and not to mention basketball helps you to grow taller :D Soccer works too, however there isn't that many soccer courts out there as compared to basketball courts. There is the void deck of some high rise buildings, but it isn't as ideal as a proper court to play in :)

Credit: http://www.streetdirectory.com/stock_images/travel/show_resize_image.php?imageId=12514523310128&pos=landscape

Overall, this sport in Singapore is very ideal as a way to grow taller, get physically fitter, bond with your friends and catch up with them, relieve stress and to make new friends.

What do you think about basketball now? Maybe you're not that convinced yet. I'm guessing that without trying it out for yourself, you'll never be able to really feel the fun in it. So I urge you, if you haven't played it before, to get out there and play some basketball! Call your friends to teach you and have some fun!

For those who already know how to bball, please invite your friends out for some shooting in the hoops :D I once started out disliking bball a little too. But now, I LOVE IT! :D

Leave a comment below on your thoughts on playing basketball! And if you've recently tried it after reading this post, please do share your thoughts about it too!

End of part 2 of 2 of Basketball in Singapore~

Thanks :D
Written by: Neville Lee

Dessert Paste

Today i came across a dessert shop called Mei Heong Yuen Dessert. Since i heard rumors that this shop is renown for its dessert paste, i decided to order all three flavors of the  pastes which are peanut, black sesame and almond.

First, I decided to give the peanut paste dessert a try. After a mouth full of the peanut paste dessert, i have been convinced that this dessert shop is serve amazing desserts. Just by smelling the aroma of the peanut paste makes my mouth water, having a taste of the sweet peanut dessert makes me feel like I am in cloud nine. The texture of the paste is just perfect, it doesn't taste as grainy as I thought and also not that watery. It is has texture of a thick creamy soup.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdIRXFQpxT_CO8lP9K_FpjeC0-DAUtsvkwCLrGCM42sQOhRJ2Wd21faZQHqWREvLM7r5K0e5lUYmHLQmFKUYxqV5aH1fAN-0JVgMzipykrjEOhbLyVsHPa8fvj5OX4v5W6uYQIkIYmDg/s1600/IMG_3718.jpg
                                                                   Fig 1.1 Peanut Paste

The second dessert i tried was the black sesame paste. From afar, I could smell the fragrance of the black sesame. I used to dislike black sesame but after I gave the dessert a try, I am now a fan of it , even though you will have a bitter aftertaste.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6vwbng255yz744aeEBSPzbymwHysYeZ1n2-9KLcLUUYX7BKEqHqsYqwkcDprZwwJsM5WEu7ib73s-WRxLMlVjGEbS5C236OXM_QCym7OeF4W9WmqexP6U2Y5ENK2R4Qbs2tWF0VgayPi/s1600/mhblacksesame.jpg
                                                                    Fig 1.2 Black Sesame paste
 
Last but not least, I tried the almond paste. Almond itself is a very healthy food as it helps prevent diseases, making it into a sweet paste is like makes healthy living much more easier. However unlike the peanut and black sesame paste, the almond paste has much watery texture and thickness. Although the aroma of the almond was not as strong as the peanut paste dessert, the flavor of the almond is still perfect, not too overwhelming and not too diluted.
http://img.21food.com/20110609/product/1306581607120.jpg 
Fig 1.3 Almond paste
 
In the end, the peanut paste dessert in my opinion is the best dessert compared to the other two as the rich peanut taste in the paste is the flavor I like the most. Although the other two are not my favorite, I still strongly recommend all of you to pay the shop a visit and give it a try.

Although the paste desserts usually are served warm and it is not really ideal to eat warm dessert in Singapore but after eating the dessert, you will definitely feel cooling especially for the black sesame and almond paste. Since eating peanut is very heaty, I recommend everyone to drink plenty of water after eating the peanut paste.

The address of the shop is '67 Temple Street'  in Chinatown. 

In the future, if any of you happen to be in Chinatown, be sure not to miss out on this incredible dessert. Feel free to take a photo of the dessert and share with us!

Credits:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdIRXFQpxT_CO8lP9K_FpjeC0-DAUtsvkwCLrGCM42sQOhRJ2Wd21faZQHqWREvLM7r5K0e5lUYmHLQmFKUYxqV5aH1fAN-0JVgMzipykrjEOhbLyVsHPa8fvj5OX4v5W6uYQIkIYmDg/s1600/IMG_3718.jpg
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6vwbng255yz744aeEBSPzbymwHysYeZ1n2-9KLcLUUYX7BKEqHqsYqwkcDprZwwJsM5WEu7ib73s-WRxLMlVjGEbS5C236OXM_QCym7OeF4W9WmqexP6U2Y5ENK2R4Qbs2tWF0VgayPi/s1600/mhblacksesame.jpg
http://img.21food.com/20110609/product/1306581607120.jpg