Copy. Modify. Copy.

In order to sound jubilant and lighten my mood, I decided to show you some of the interesting photos that I've taken. These photos cracked me up, so yeah here it goes...

Alien-positioned eyes with a bulging head!

A young boy at heart.

What ever happened to this variation?

Now you know how I look like with manipulations on my face..

Perhaps, there's a limit..

I've always considered myself to be mature in terms of thinking and writing. I'm fully aware that I'm not an intelligent and a creative person.


That's why I worked hard for my Math. It didn't paid off. I felt so guilty because I let everyone down. My first year in Polytechnic was complete bullshit, because my drawing and painting screwed me up. I got 2 for my GPA.


Motivational and inspirational quotes are there for a reason. It keeps us alive and ongoing. But I'm starting to lose faith. I'm starting to falter. I'm starting to question.


It's just like the analogy of the wolf and the 3 little pigs. He huffed and puffed at the house. With all his utmost might, he huffed and puffed again. But he couldn't bring the house down. And he left.


I'm cognizant that my works are practically shit. But I kept telling myself: "I'm improving, bit by bit. It's the process that's important."

Then suddenly at the end of the day you realise that the finished product/results is what that matters, and here comes the reality:

"I cannot make it to local universities with this kind of GPA."


And now, here comes the conflicting views.


Angel: James, you should continue to work hard! Whether you get into university doesn't matter, as long as you know you've been working hard and can answer to yourself.

Demon: What were you even thinking? The fact is that you cannot get into local universities (unless you miraculously gets 4 for your GPA every semester, which doesn't happen). Why waste your precious money printing and buying materials when at the end of the day, you know that you can never make it to the university?



Although I'm able to comprehend the nature of this whole thing, I guess I'm still sticking my guns to the angelic side. I'll make a decision as time goes along.

What's wrong with me?

I wonder if it's the stress that is piling up, or troubled over some trivial stuff.

I feel no obligation, but for once...


I've lost the will to blog.

Hope about you..

This is a poem/lyrics that I wrote randomly, so I just wanna share it with you guys..







Hope About You

Poem/Lyrics by James Ho







The friends you make in life
They influence your mindset and thoughts
So they will impact the path you decide
When you never expect yourself to get caught





When your family saw you at the police station, they cried "please!"
Defiantly, you refused to see them
And they were already on their knees.



When you finally got out from prison and into the society
You got yourself in a gang fight
They said you showed no filial piety
And it was such an ugly sight.





They say a leopard never change its spots
I say you were incorrigible
Because you knew you shouldn't fought.
Yet you did the unthinkable.





Life is not a fairy tale
You need to overcome and turn over a new leaf
Otherwise you would simply falter and fail
Be prepared that you need to give



For we still harbour hope on you
And with the sun shining bright
Hurry up, finish your term which is due
You will soon feel and see the end of light

Some pictures..

Rebecca took some really nice shots for me from her Nikon DSLR so I decided to post it here.

These photos are nice in my opinion, although I didn't crop them out. Perhaps one or two will be used for my next template.

Wei Qi said I looked good in bangs, which I ultimately realise it means fringe. I had the preconceived idea that bangs are the term used for girls only. The hairstyle is an old one, because I wanted something different. So yeah, there you go..

No, I wasn't doing any punishment.

Something astonishing happened?

Smiling sheepishly..

In deep cerebration...

Rebecca, thanks for the pictures!

Photojournalism.

One of my biggest exposure to reality is by Photojournalism, whereby it is a form a journalism that uses photographs/images to tell a story. We had to choose our topics and take pictures of them. It sounds easy, but it was one of the most difficult things that I have to do.

My chosen topic:

"Old people who collects rubbish for a living."

It was a difficult and ambitious topic, as I have to rely on luck most of the time.

In order to take good photographs, there are only 2 ways you can do it: Ask the person for permission or secretly take it.

Asking for permission is extremely difficult, as you know some old people can be grumpy, and they doesn't look affable and friendly at all.

Anyway, with the help of my friend, I managed to locate the pickup point where these rubbish collectors sell their stuff to in Chinatown. Being rather polite and respectful, I asked the seller if I could take pictures of these rubbish collectors.

She said it was best that I ask their permission because of respect. I agreed.

When some of the rubbish collectors came to sell their stuff, they looked at me warily. I explained to them I was from an institution and am doing a project on this topic, and asked if they could allow me to take their photos.

They blatantly refused despite my insistence that I wasn't a reporter. They say they were being photographed secretly and was put into the local chinese newspaper, Lianhe ZaoBao. Some of the reporters even tailed them all the way to their houses and snap pictures of them.

As a result, they were subjected to condemnation from their children, and their children felt it was extremely humiliating for them.

One told me how poor she was, and she couldn't apply any welfare scheme because his son is 15 years old.

You could hear her voice trembling as if she's on the verge of crying. Her face had so many wrinkles, each probably represents the hardships she has been through.

"The landlord increased my rental from $33 to $110 per month! Tell me how am I going to survive?! My son is only 15 years old and he still needs to study! The government kept saying there is growth in economy, but how come people like us aren't able to enjoy?"

I was stunned. I didn't know what to reply her. An old woman telling me her sad plight, and all I could do is to offer her my listening ear. I'm not a goverment official or some welfare officer. I'm just only a student.

I mean, Singapore is one of the top cities in the world to live in, and I find it hard to believe that such plights exists in Singapore.

The only thing I could do was to console her, and wished her all the best. Then, she went to elsewhere to collect her stuff again..


I was emotionally in a turmoil and in a dilemma as well.

My purpose was to take photographs to highlight their plight. And they didn't allow me to because of their phobia of reporters and condemnation from their children. But yet if I secretly take their pictures, then I'm not showing any empathy at all.

If I don't practise what I preach, who am I to tell people what to do?

I was simply torn apart.

Thankfully, I managed to go other places and there were 2 whom allowed me to take photos.

Usually when I asked these old people for permission, I usually say if I can treat them lunch or a drink, given by their plight.

But there was this old lady who comes to this particular block from 5.30am onwards to collect rubbish told me:

"Little boy, I don't want your 5 cents or 10 cents. I only spend money that I earn myself."

At that point, I was dumbstruck and speechless. Her strong-willingness is something that I'll never learn, and I will never be able to possess. The only thing I did was to carry some styrofoam boxes and plastic bags for her from the garbage bin.

I think after all these experiences, I really mellowed. I used to take things for granted every now and then. But now, I appreciates the things I have, although I still take things for granted once in a while.

These images and words will etched in my memory, and it will serve as a reminder of how lucky I am.

But I pray and wish that these old folks will no longer do such jobs anymore, and may they get out of poverty. These old folks deserve a good life after experiencing so much in life.

And I hope they know that when there's a will, there's a way. They will be able to see and experience light at the end of the tunnel.

My birthday celebrations..

Ahhh.. this year's celebrations are pretty much simple yet meaningful. I'm really thankful for all the birthday wishes and greetings, and also the dedications.

Also, a big thank-you for all the presents that each and everyone of you guys have given! I appreciates it!

This is also the first time I celebrated my birthday with my polytechnic friends and it was fun. It was rather an impromptu thing, because we went to Vivocity to catch REC after the school excursion at Southern Ridges.

And thanks a lot to Shirley, Fazal and Becky!

Wishing for my birthday..

They were rather amazed that my shoes can glow. It can reflect light only when there's flash!

Fazal, Shirley and myself..

I'm having my cake!

Fazal, Becky and myself!

With Becky!

Really meaningful time spent with them.. Thanks guys!

Birthday celebrations at Xin Wang HK Cafe.



Force-fed birthday cake!

WeiChong, Vincent and myself.



Ivan and I.

Wah?!

Feng Wei, Wei Chong, Vincent, Jun Ping and Koon Xian..

Yingying and Jia Yi..



What is Koon Xiang doing?!

Such a simple dinner with friends around me, and we went slacking after that. I just feel fortunate and thankful for all the friends that I have.

Thanks a lot everyone!

Happy birthday to me...

First and foremost, I would like to wish Joyce and Rusydi a very happy birthday!

It's 7-11. And it stands for 7 November, it's a store and more!


Jokes aside, many things have happened recently, and to be perfectly honest, I am not really looking forward to my birthday. Not really excited. Yes, I'm finally 19. And it's a perfect reminder that I'm turning into the "20" range soon.

My birthday wish(es) for this year is that every single family member, relatives, friends, teachers, acquaintances and everyone I know to be safe and sound. I also hope that my granduncle has finally moved on peacefully to his afterlife.

I'm thankful and blessed that I've known such nice people!


Happy Birthday to Joyce, Rusydi and me!

Granduncle's cremated.

First and foremost, thanks for everyone's concern. I appreciates it.

We all know that death is part and parcel of life. It's an end to a life cycle. But since we know that it is inevitable, why do we still mourn and cry?

During the last day of the funeral, my aunts whom I respect a lot, was crying and wailing. It was so heart-wrenching, and I could really sympathise with them.

When we were about to cremate the body, we saw a red dragonfly on the wall. And it was believed that it was my granduncle. In Taoism, a dead person can come back as insects such as butterflies and dragonflies. 

When I was in the bus heading towards the crematorium, I was listening to my mp3. I suddenly found my tear glands on the verge of bursting when I heard really sad songs that relates to death. 

I forced myself not to cry, but I saw my body contorted, and my eyes started to be blinded by tears. And suddenly, I found myself weeping silently.

Come to think about it, why should I even hold back my tears in the first place? I mean, masculinity is one thing but aren't mourning in funerals usually accompanies tears?

Anyway, tears have dried and body's been cremated. Wei Chong's right, I should move on.