T.H.E. (The Hardest Ever) by will.i.am ft. J.Lo & Mick Jagger

I'mma  recent.ly dev.eloped  a g.reat liking for da Hip Hop gen.re :)
The b.eats are awe.so.me but the lyrics are just so wrong... (rude, dumbed down)
not something that kids/teenagers should listen to...
Then again, I wouldn't have known what the lyrics are about if I hadn't looked it up online...
So I guess I can be for.give.n for liking the song before I knew what it's all about :p
My fav.our.ite Hip Hop song at the moment is T.H.E. (The Hardest Ever) by will.i.am ft. J.Lo & Mick Jagger...
yeah...you'd never have guessed that J.Lo's voice is in it too! :)
so I'mma share this vid.eo that I found on You.Tube... (uploaded by InterscopeGeffenAM)
and the lyrics (below)

(Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juVKpvYjb-8)

Lyrics:-
(Source: http://www.directlyrics.com/william-hard-lyrics.html)
Oh my goodness, this beat is so hard...
Oh my goodness, this beat is so hard...

[will.i.am]
I'mma go hard, hard to the core
Hard like moth* f*c*in liquid swords
Harder than worldwide stadium tours
I am the future, delorian doors

Will he survive? Never deceased
I don't think I'mma ever gonna rest in peace
I'mma kill the game, leave the rest in pieces
Now everybody want my recipe
Tell a jealous chicken I don't know what the beef is
I'm just making money for my grankids' nieces
I'mma work hard, that's my thesis
This beat is the sh*t, feces

Pardon me ma'am, I'mma go dumb
Smart.i.am, I'm complicated, hard.I.am
I end the beginning, then start it again

[Jennifer Lopez - Hook]
You can go hard or you can go home
You can go hard or you can go home
You can go hard or you can go home
You can go hard or you can go home

You can go hard or you can go home
You can go hard or you can go home
You can go hard or you can go home
You can go hard or you can go home

Oh my goodness, this beat is so hard...
Oh my goodness, this beat is so hard...

[will.i.am]
You can get that, or you can get this
You can call a demon, I'mma call Jesus
You can get a curse, you can get a cross
You can go to work, or you can be the boss
I'mma be the owner, be a thought donor
I'mma go hard, like a muthaf*c*in boner
I'mma make the beat put the people in a coma
You can be a geek or be a rolling stoner

I woke up in the morning,Hard like morning wood in the morning
Woke up thinking about microphonin'
E.t own the mic phone the homeland
Will.i.am The Hardest Ever lyrics found on http://www.directlyrics.com/william-hard-lyrics.html


I'm way out like NASA
I'm way over here I done past ya
I get stacks of cash, you get cashews, I go hard, statues

[Hook]
You can go hard or you can go home
You can go hard or you can go home
You can go hard or you can go home
You can go hard or you can go home

You can go hard or you can go home
You can go hard or you can go home
You can go hard or you can go home
You can go hard or you can go home

[Bridge]
Now let me take this time to say I don't wanna lead you on
You can go hard or you can go home Well I, I know it is a lot to take but I don't wanna lead you on
You can go hard or you can go home
You can go hard...

Wait a minute, I'mma make it a little harder
I'mma make it a little harder
Give it to you a little harder
THIS IS HARD....

[Mick Jagger]
Hard like a rock n roll
The time bomb's tickin', explode
Baby this is dynamo
Better move back now
It's bout to blow
Hard like Geometry, and Trigonometry
This is crazy
Psychology
Get it baby
I'm bout to win
Watch out now
I'm going in

You can go hard or you can go home
You can go hard
You can go hard or you can go home
You can go hard
You can go hard or you can go home
You can go hard
You can go hard or you can go home
You can go hard..

Working Holiday Scheme (New Zealand)

Hey peeps :) :)
Sorry for the long delayed blog posting about the NZ Working Holiday Scheme (for those who are interested). Just been swamped with work and AutoCAD classes over the past few months... I really enjoyed my time in NZ and for those of you who would like to experience working abroad...I'd recommend it :)
Application is instant (online)
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/workingholiday/

After the visa approval, you can start planning your trip to NZ :)
some of the sites that I found helpful were:-

1) http://www.trademe.co.nz/

yes, this is a very useful site for finding almost anything you'd need as a new traveler to NZ - from accommodation, household items, jobs, etc

2) http://auckland.gumtree.co.nz/

similar to TradeMe...
except that ad postings are free :)

The ideal travel time will be in Jan (when the weather is slightly warmer) - more opportunities to experience farm work.

So, back in 2009 I quit a rather promising job to experience life in a remote part of the world (after much deliberation) and enjoyed every single moment of it :)

Being the ambitious type (career-wise), it was a tough decision - did I want to be a high-achiever, be a Public Relations Director by the age of 30, or did I want to experience working/living in a new place while I was still young? I chose the latter...

6 months went by very quickly...
There is, however, a down side to the NZ working holiday visa - you are only allowed to work up to 3 months with any company (yes, you need a new job every 3 months).
Then of course, it is also exciting to experience working in different organisations.
I would recommend signing up with recruitment agencies as a Temp staff :)
- this will give you the opportunity to assist in various projects for their clients (usually in the areas of Marketing, Customer Service, Data Entry)

Here is a list of recruitment agencies in Auckland:-
1) http://www.kellyservices.co.nz/
2) http://www.alphajobs.co.nz
3) http://www.quinnstaff.co.nz
4) http://www.adecco.co.nz
5) http://www.frogrecruitment.co.nz/


For those who are interested in work in the hospitality sector, check out
http://www.providore.co.nz

Fast forward 3 years - where I am now, working & traveling in the US. For those who are interested in exploring this part of the world, you may consider applying for the H1-B Visa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H-1B_visa)

Cute dogs in NYC :)

'Metrocard' art :)

I wonder how many Metrocards are thrown away in NY every month...
Here's a bicycle decorated with used Metrocards:)
It's a brilliant idea
it'd be interesting to see a Metrocard-themed shop/restaurant some day

The first time I came across "Babies R Us", I was quite amused:)

I was used to seeing "Toys R Us" stores in shopping malls, but I didn't know that "Babies R Us" stores exist...until 3 months ago

A poster found on NYC train...

"Please Don't Hold the Doors

You delay the train and everyone on it.

Help this train and the next one stay on schedule.

Thousands of trains are delayed every month due to customers holding doors."

Again...I found this amusing, because I used to be one of the culprits who delayed trains, lol:p

Free wi-fi @ JFK Airport, NY :)

The free wi-fi's only for 20 minutes...but still, it's free :)

The JFK Airport departure terminal is really quite nice

Lotss of restaurants...

Pleasant deco... (I like the poster of the fish :) )

Souvenir shops with the signature "I heart NY" t-shirts

A "caviar bar"
It's my first time seeing a caviar bar & it amazes me how a business model that's based entirely on serving caviar & wine survives (especially at an airport terminal)!
that place is so darn expensive
wouldn't people rather have a really nice meal at Haru's, Buddakan, or Maialino?
or purchase something with more "volume" -like, a nice tailor-made suit?

okay,..maybe those people were just sitting there having drinks & not eating caviar
well, then shouldn't "caviar bars" offer more food items on their menu?

I have a hard time understanding the rationale behind "caviar bars"
I know it's meant to be classy, sophisticated, etc etc
but eating caviar at a fine-dining restaurant is different!
you'll probably have caviar & then followed by entree
so, you needn't worry about having bits of black eggs sticking in between your teeth
I guess you're at a "caviar bar" with your family, then it really doesn't matter even if you coloured your tongue black
that caviar bar is no "family dining place"
no no no

oh...well, I digressed :p
what else is in JFK?
- CNN Newsstand

Funny NYC Subway ads :)

 

"Still a virgin? 

For help call 888-743-4335

Toll free"

(but...why would virgins need help?)

 

"PUBLIC B.O. NOTICE:

Persons emanating foul body odor in confined spaces may be reported and cited for olfactory violation"

(Olfactory violation? lol :) hehe)

The real NYC:)

I was pleasantly surprised to find colourful tulips along sidewalks/buildings in New York:)

I had always thought that the 'real' NYC is dusty, polluted... graffiti on walls, just like how it's portrayed in Flight of the Conchords- a popular comedy series in New Zealand


(Below: Flight of the Conchords cast)

(Image source: http://whatsontv.co.uk/blogs/tvspy/files/2008/12/flight460.jpg)
In Flight of the Conchords, the musicians depict the hardship of the artist community - NYC is fun if you have money & a job, but it can be depressing living in this big city if you're an unknown musician and you don't get any gigs. There are too many talented musicians/artistes!
__________
Another thing that is distinct to NY is the ubiquitous breakfast carts where you can get fresh muffins, bagels, donuts & other types of pastries:)

'American breakfast' = home fries, omelette with Swiss cheese or Americn cheese, & toasted bread

The portion's unbelievably huge

There are many things that's nice about NY...but I remember that I was quite shocked to find that there are no washing machines in apartments here.

No washing machines, no clothes dryer

But the laundry services here is far more affordable compared to most other cities :)

It's quite easy to find $1 per pound laundry services

...and they wrap your clothes nicely into a litlle parcel

Neatly folded too :)

"Bagels" are the new (Dunkin) "Donuts"?

In Malaysia, Dunkin Donuts sells donuts

In Australia, New Zealand, Singapore + anywhere else, I bet DD sells donuts

But in the US, Dunkin Donuts no longer sells donuts as much as it used to

Walk into a Dunkin Donut shop in New York 

- you'll see...

more "bagels" than donuts

"flatbread sandwich with eggwhites" 

(very healthy, I'm not complaining :) I hardly eat donuts. I'm glad DD has other healthier items on the menu, but the egg whites taste 'weird' - spongy. I hope they're real eggs;p)

Malaysian Organ Donor Card :)

I'm lucky to have very liberal parents.
I signed up as an organ donor back in 2006, and I still carry the Malaysian Organ Donor Card with me wherever I go.
Organ donation is against my parents' religious practices, but they didn't stop me from wanting to be an organ donor.
Of course, I wouldn't dream of donating parts of my kidney as long as I'm alive :p
I'm not that selfless...
but when I'm gone from this planet, I'd like the idea of being able to have my body parts reused to save other people's lives - eyeballs, teeth, heart, lungs, intestines ;p anything - rather than letting them go to waste

That's a very radical thing for a Chinese to do.
Chinese culture believe in burying or cremating bodies of dead people.
When it's my turn to leave this planet some day, I wouldn't want a funeral.
I'm supposed to want a funeral, shouldn't I?
After all, people that I know of who passed away - relatives, neighbours, etc - all of them had funerals.

When I was in school, I used to be more religious (I think ;p). For instance, I'd burn incense during exam period because Mum told me that I'd get better grades;p ;p lol

I stopped doing it when I was 14 and an avid reader of the Environment column in The Star newspaper - I came across an article about how incense-burning cause pollution & cancer.
 

Fake "breakfast seafood" in Manhattan :p

I'd consider myself as quite the seafood connoisseur, but even then I was fooled :p

For weeks, I had been dying to try the breakfast 'lobsters' served only at one Japanese-owned cafe that I pass by quite often in midtown Manhattan.

When I finally tried the "lobsters", I realised that they're actually 'lobster cakes' : MSG-laden flour + artificial colouring & loads of other chemicals

They look like real lobsters, don't they?

But that fake stuff taste disgusting. They should be banned (at least, from the breakfast menu)!
Silly me, I was craving so much for seafood that I bought 3 of the fake lobs

Other food items at the Old Bridge Gourmet Deli are probably okay

The ambiance is good

Free water for diners

But at the moment I'm still very traumatized by the "fake seafood experience", I don't thimk I'm likely to revisit that deli anytime soon

Thanks, Old Bridge
From now on I'll stick to bagels & eggs for breakfast
I miss New Zealand yogurt ;p
NZ's got the best yogurt in the whole world

American "Tuk-Tuk"s?

Wasn't expecting to find "Tuk-tuk" carriages in New York :)
I was taking a walk in Central Park and saw these!-

 

There you have it :) It's the American version of Tuk-tuks

 

This reminds me of the New Zealand BAXIs

"Curried Goat"..."Jerk Chicken": A taste of Jamaican cuisine

In New York, there's more to fast food than just burger & fries
- and if you know how to choose the "right" food, it's easy to eat healthily, even when you're at fast food joints.
I'd recommend "Curried Goat" and "Jerk Chicken" - available at a Jamaican fast food joint -Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery & Grill

Whatever your choice of meat is, be it Goat, Beef, Chicken or Fish (yes, they do serve fish :) real fish. Not McD stuff) - they come served with vegetable + bean & rice

The best part of it all - they're all MSG-free
The gravies are flavoured using natural ingredients - spices (cardamoms, anise, ginger, fennel, etc)

I went to the Golden Krust outlet nearby 135 St. station
The ambience is nice
It's quite spacious for a fast food joint
Oil paintings of Jamaica on the walls...

Clean chairs & tables

Why is "Jerk Chicken" called Jerk Chicken?
Well, I don't really know
but from what I found out,..."Jerk" means "spicy"
Jerk Chicken = Spicy Chicken