Many big heartfelt thanks to everyone who took the time to come down for my 23rd birthday gathering last week, especially since it was sandwiched between a heavy work/school week and Valentine's Day!

Romance is overrated. Relationships are overrated. Chocolates and wines are overrated. Roses and plushies are overrated. Making out is overrated. (Okay, maybe not the last.) There are so many awesome things to do when you're single and ready to mingle on Valentine's Day!

…Things you would do any other day, basically. Let's face the truth. No matter how hard people try to insist that Valentine's Day can be celebrated and enjoyed just as much by singles with their friends and family (or themselves), it sucks not to be coupled on this particular day. I'm not saying that there are no perks to that but they are completely overshadowed. It doesn't matter what you do, everything on Valentine's Day will scream "You sad lonely soul!"

I wanted to write about how you can have the best Valentine's Day as a gleeful and contented bachelor/bachelorette (maybe your attached but apart?) but that will just be utter bullshit. I'm going to help you with something more useful. (It'll work for people in dissatisfactory relationships too.)

How To Survive Valentine's Day:

1. Lock away all your mobile phones and computers. Those incessant status and photo updates from obnoxious coupled friends and family are not good for you. You won't be happy for them (don't fake it) and you'll just be reminded of how nobody wants you.

2. Chances are, you won't heed Tip 1. You are all masochists. So be it. Log on to Tinder and swipe through Tinder and laugh at the many profiles of single (or attached or open or just confused?) in your vicinity who are just as sad. No harm boosting your ego with matches too.

3. Leave stink bombs along park pavements and watch in amusement as unsuspecting couples come through for a romantic walk.

4. Send a black rose to everyone who has ever broken your heart. This option is only for people with extra cash. Don't make yourself even sadder by being broke.

4.2 Alternatively, you can leave shade-throwing RuPaul's Drag Race GIFs on their Facebook profile.

5. Order pizza. Pizza will always love you.

6. When the delivery person arrives, ask if he/she will be working late. If so, order more pizza so you two can spend more quality time together.

6.2 If not, offer the pizza to anyone (especially complete strangers) who will eat it off your body.

7. Make out with anyone! A Tinder match? Pizza person? Complete stranger? Take advantage of each other's vulnerability.

8. Post a selfie on Instagram and caption "It's just like any other day, guys. Single and lovin' it!" Everyone will admire you and like your post. Maybe someone will be able to see through your facade and direct message you for a date.

9. Bake macarons. Proceed to throw them away. The macarons are a metaphor for your melancholy.

10. Bring your parents out for a meal. (Although I think that they wouldn't want you disturbing their moment…)

11. Rally your friends out to party! Just please don't end up by the side of the road sobbing and whining about how you are going to die alone with a dozen cats.

12. Go catch the 50 Shades of Grey movie by yourself. Scan the cinema for fellow singles and offer your popcorn. Things will get heated during the movie. Offer your body.

13. Take a vacation. Get out of here! It can't be Valentine's Day everywhere, right?!

You can survive 24 hours. Know that you'll be loved and touched. Eventually.

I absolutely hate that this has to be my first post of the year but this incident really creeped the living daylights out of me and I have to do what I do best to help myself get over it—bitch!

I was walking back from my neighbourhood mall when I saw someone at the corner of my eye edging closer and closer to me. I turned to look out of curiosity and (to my disappointment, really...) it was a stubby middle-aged man ominously staring right at me. He had them crazy eyes (The kind that cartoons portray as hypnotic swirls?). I was about to turn away when he started to twitch his eyes and make clicking noises with his tongue (this guy is so weird!). It didn't bother me much as I assumed he was just craving attention from random passers-by and continued heading towards the pedestrian crossing. I wasn't going to give him the pleasure.

While waiting for the green man to flash, I heard what I never thought I'd be so frightened to hear—clicks. I looked back and saw the man behind, just inches away from me! I gave him an irritated look and tried to ignore his presence but his clicking noise did not fade even as I was crossing the road with a large crowd of people. I was flipping out, big time. All I could think of was how he wanted to bathe in my pool of blood! I ain't down with that. What did I ever do to him? I picked up my pace to try and lose him but I could still feel his disturbing aura tailing me all the way to my block (why is he so adamant?!). I made detours in hopes that he'll just get bored and go away but no, he actually ran after me! I entered the gate and quickly slammed it shut on his face! He actually attempted to get in! This man is crazy! He stood outside and continued with his eye twitching (it is so not cute, dude…) and tongue clicking. His stare was so uncomfortable that it gave me goosebumps. I hurried to the security guard on duty and informed him of the dubious intent of the man before looking back to give a cold stare. Not today, not ever, goodbye!

I have not a single clue to why I was even being tailed! Do I have gold nuggets hanging around my neck? Do I have a genie lamp in my bag? Do I have pizza wrapped around my body? Do I look like a supermodel from the pages of a magazine? No, right?! Now that I think of it, maybe all he wanted was to give me a million dollars (that I so very well deserve). In that case, hello there, strange but generous man. If you are reading this, please stop and email me for my bank account details.

To be honest, I don't know what came over me because Keefe would have just turned, confronted and, if all else failed, spat on his face. Perhaps it was because of the annoyingly eerie click noises that he was making… It sounded an awful like the crocodile from the Peter Pan movie! What was it even supposed to signify?


Anyways, as I am feeling very benevolent recently (I just donated S$2 to a group of girls selling handcrafted items for charity and did not take the souvenir!), I shall take time off my precious sleep to give some valuable tips to help aspiring (or existing and failing) stalkers out with their craft. I am not for it, but I strongly believe that the "stalkee" should have a pleasant experience during the stalking. Being a victim of a 10-minute stalking incident and having majored in Stalking Sciences back on planet Kayvan, I'd say that I'm qualified to share these tips.


Before all else, find a suitable target to stalk. What good is a stalker without a "stalkee"? Next, establish a motive. You have to have an idea of what you want from the process. Money? Food? Sex? Love? Revenge? Gratitude? (A fan photo?) All of the mentioned? Stalking someone without a (good enough) purpose is such a waste of time and you'd be better off watching 2 Broke Girls at home (so addicted to it currently!).


1. Look presentable.

Chances are, since you're in this specific line of career, you don't look presentable. (If you are, kudos to you! Your rate of success should be already passable, even if you are not very skilled at it.) It's something that you'll have to work on as it pretty much determines if you are going to get a coy "Oh my god, I think that person is stalking me…*chuckles*" or a panicky "Oh my god! I think that creep is stalking me! *breaks a cold sweat*" which basically means you accomplishing your goal or you behind bars (unless, well… that is your goal?). You have to make your "stalkee" feel flattered. Cosmetic surgery is a popular option, but I would suggest a trip to a nearby beauty parlor for starters. Your dressing play will a big part as well! How to dress? That leads us on to…


2. Be resourceful.

Nothing of your "stalkee's" is trash. Every sweet wrapper, every used tissue, every single slip of receipt that is tossed could be your key to success! (Notice that I only mentioned disposed items? Stealing is another craft altogether and I do not condone it.) That crumpled trash might jolly well give you knowledge of the one food/song/phrase that will pave the way to his/her heart. Also, their public social networking sites are like detailed dairies written especially for your viewing and learning pleasure. Make the most of it! Remember to support their need for attention by liking and commenting (no creepy stuff!) on their posts. Score points!


3. Get to know your "stalkee's" schedule.

As a stalker, you have to know where to be at and at what timing to be just ahead of their arrival. You need exact coordinates and seconds to boost efficiency. Time wasted waiting could be better used for other things, like your day job (I hope you have one because stalking doesn't pay well, at least not all the time…) and personal grooming. Do not ask for their schedules! Take the initiative (read above pointer), and source it out from public domains (read above pointer as well!).


4. Be articulate.

The thing about my stalker (why does it sound like a term of endearment? Geez…) was that he did not utter a single word! That, and the horrendous clicking noise he kept making made him scary. If you wanna succeed (in whatever you want to succeed in), speak clearly and friendlily. Do not give your "stalkee" any reason to think that you're a creep because then it will be game over for you. You will be black-listed and it isn't going to be easy redeeming yourself. If you are facing difficulty with speech, write poems and letters! Most people might dismiss them as cheesy tactics but (in my humble personal opinion) their hearts yearn for such a sweet gesture. Real life is sad and bitter.

I do have a few more pointers in mind but I'm not that benevolent to spare more of my sleeping time on this (unless I get paid!). I really do hope that stalkers will be more mindful of the people that they are stalking and try to make the experience a pleasant one for both parties. Okay, goodnight.

How often have you heard the phrase, “Boys will be boys”?
We have different expectations for boys and girls, men and women. These expectations have pervasive consequences, affecting our relationships with one another, extending into spheres such as the workplace and the home.
Boys Will be Boys is a Theatre-in-Education programe presented in partnership with the We Can! Campaign, Singapore. Scripted in the often overlooked male perspective, BWBB portrays commonly seen gender stereotypes and the various types of impact—including violence against women—in the local community. It is designed to explore the role of males in violence against women, empowering them to be more responsible for their thoughts and actions.

Remember the mini-production I mentioned previously? This was it.

I was hesitant to participate as an actor when my friend called out for help as I did not have any sort of prior theatre experience. It was only after much contemplation did I decide to put myself up for the challenge. It was an opportunity to learn new skills and make new friends after all. I'm down for that!

The first segment: "Dev & Emily", where I played the role of Caius, Dev's pal.

The second segment: "Runaway Sam", where I played the role of Stephen, Sam's hot-tempered father.

The third segment: "What Does It Mean To Be A Man?", where I played the role of Zack, Amir's party-goer pal.

The play was divided into 3 segments: "Dev & Emily", "Runaway Sam" and "What Does It Mean To Be A Man?" where I played the role of Caius, Dev's quiet pal; Stephen, Sam's ill-tempered father; and Zack, Amir's party-goer best friend; respectively.

Needless to say, I struggled with the portrayal of my characters. This was especially so with Stephen, a chauvinistic middle-aged father with a violent temper—the polar opposite of me. It was a problem that dragged on for quite awhile with little progress until a fellow actress worked with me to create and act out a backstory for the character. With much practice and inspiration I drew from similar characters on TV series that I follow, I was able to solidify and understand Stephen better, stepping into character and acting him out more convincingly.

For the second segment of the play where I'm playing Stephen, Shoes Theatre decided to introduce the audience (and me, that's for sure) to something called "Forum Theatre"—the audience members can stop a performance whereby a character is being oppressed in one way or another (Stephen's son, Sam) and suggest different actions for the actors (in our case, the audience member him/herself as Sam) to carry out on-stage in an attempt to change the outcome of what they are viewing.

This process definitely put my improvisational skills to the test… And because it was only implemented a week before our performance, I had to try and cramp all the possible scenarios that the audience member could dish on me to prepare for a suitable reaction. I got pretty lucky during the forum theatre as most of the participating audience members acted out expected scenarios, to which I had rough mental models to guide my improvisation. I was completely thrown off on 2 occasions though, by this one kid who wrapped apron around me in the midst of my lecture (Stephen was disgusted at Sam wearing a pink apron) and a lady who calmly justified her career choice despite my constant aggressive tone (Sam aspires to become a social worker, which Stephen obviously disapproves of). Both times I broke out in laughter… How professional, uh? Haha!

A wefie with the team after our performance.

I felt so accomplished (pretty sure all of my Shoes Theatre friends are as well) that the performance was so well-received by the audience. Those Monday evenings spend rehearsing with them were indeed draining and at times frustrating, but definitely full of laughter and enriching experiences. I am so thankful for all the acting skills and tips I picked up from my fellow actors and all the fun that we had bringing this production to life. Here's to more such opportunities!

Visit Shoes Theatre's website here for booking, enquires and/or feedbacks.

On the runway during the Teenage Mission: Gorgeous You Finals.

I came to know about the competition after their auditions were over through a friend, and decided to try my luck by sending them an email submission. It was quite a long while before I got a reply and oh boy, how happy was I to find out that I was selected to be part of their 23 finalists!

Selfie on the day of the Teenage Mission: Gorgeous You magazine shoot.

We were called down for a series of photo shoots at Key Editions, but not before getting our hair styled at one of their partnering salons. We had our make-up done first before proceeding to their wardrobe room to get our outfits. I only borrowed a shirt and an accessory to complement the outfit that I already had. I was grouped together with two other female finalists and was brought to the site of our magazine photo shoot. While at it, I took a selfie that I would later submit for one of the competition's subsidiary awards, SelfieKing. Photos taken from the day's shoot were published in the September 2014 Issue of Teenage Magazine… So, get a copy if you haven't yet already!

Selfie on the day of the Teenage Mission: Gorgeous You Finals.

A wefie before we hit the runway.

On the runway during the first segment.

On the runway during the second segment.

It was an expeditious day on the Finals. We reported pretty early to rehearse for the show from scratch with the Teenage crew. We were divided into 5 groups for both segments of the show and I fell into the middle one, which I was a little nervous for as we had to walk solo. After hours of practice, we went for a quick lunch break before changing into our outfits for the first half of the finals and started on preparations. That took a while for me, because well, I pay excessive attention to my hair. We were escorted backstage to kick-start the show soon after, but not before I took a selfie, of course. I did make a ton of mistakes with my runway walk, missing cues and posing awkwardly, but I was glad that my group did well overall. There was chaos backstage during the intermission. Everyone was speedily changing into their second attire and the Teenage crew were running errands all over. Yet still I stand in the changing room, missing my pair of shorts that I left back in the preparation room… Story of my life, really. I was so helpless. A crew member had to run back to search for it on my behalf but time waits for no man.

The show resumed. I had no choice but to put on the same pair of pants I wore for the earlier segment and worked with it. Although my choreography was spot on this time around, I didn't feel all that confident. The whole outfit was a mess. After the final segment, we went backstage and anxiously waited for the announcement of the Top 10. I wasn't expecting myself to be chosen, but my heart still did sank when my name was not called for.

Recipients of the Teenage Choice Award.

After the final leg of the show, all finalists were called up on stage for the crowning of the 2 winners of the competition. It was then the subsidiary awards were given. I am truly honoured and humbled to have been chosen to receive the Teenage Choice award.

Group photo after Teenage Mission: Gorgeous You Finals.

The whole experience was such a thrilling and delightful one. I've gained much valuable exposure and met many new talented friends, one of whom I'm currently working on a mini production with, but I'll save that for a later time. I would like to thank the entire Teenage team for their hospitality and capability in making Teenage Mission: Gorgeous You 2014 such an enjoyable and successful event. And of course, all my lovely family and friends who came down to support me during the Finals and relentlessly helped by liking my SelfieKing photo entry!

There are many things that I want to change about myself externally. No matter how much my friends and family reassure me of my decent looks, I always seem to find myself yearning for improvements. I'm well aware that such thoughts can turn really toxic but I just can't put a stop to them.

Good-looking people tend to be taken more seriously, at least initially. They do not have to put in that extra effort to be recognised amongst others, and get a better chance to show their personality (for better or for worse) in early interpersonal interactions. People are also more receptive and tolerant to their opinions and blunders. Character and charisma, along with other essential qualities that retain adoration are often overlooked once a person is deemed unattractive.

This is really embarrassing for me to share, but I have been fired from a part-time job as a waiter years ago. The reason given by my superior—I “have an unfriendly face that gives the patrons a bad impression of our attitude (at work).” My self-esteem plunged into depths I cannot even begin to describe! There were many (and still are) similar incidences and it took me quite a while to strengthen my confidence and sanitise myself to critics on my physical appearance.

The current me won’t be so easily fazed by such a comment. I’ve learnt to accept my imperfections and the best way I found to do so is to laugh at them. Not taking them seriously lightens the severity and burden on me. That's not to say that I do not feel inferior at times, especially so when I am around really attractive people.

The thing is, I have this mentality that one should always seek to better oneself, in all aspects of life really. I am contented with my looks, but given the opportunities I would definitely try to enhance it. Why be mediocre?

I am trying hard not to let thoughts like these become obsessive but motivational.

Confidence gets you to the top, vulnerability keeps you there.