November 11, 2001: Parrot, Thoughts on Relationships

Hi,

How was your weekend? As I mentioned last week, I went biking on Pulau
Ubin, an island to the north of Singapore, just south of Malaysia. My
friend Wei Hsien Chan, Mark Tan and I took a ferry from Changi Ferry
terminal. The 10 minute ride cost S$2. Bike rental was only S$4. The
island has mostly paved roads that people bike on, and some unpaved trails.
It was quite nice, with a good shade and breeze.

We biked to Noordin beach and saw the coast line of Johor, Malaysia. Wei
knew some secret trails that led us to one of the abandoned stone quarries,
which is now filled up with water. It actually reminded me of Lake Taal,
which is a lake in the middle of a volcano near Manila.

After biking around the island, we had dinner at one of the restaurants
near the docks. We had a huge fresh fish, frog legs with scallions, tofu
with vegetables, seafood soup, rice, and soft drinks. The total price per
person was only S$16.50! (Less then $10 U.S.) What a deal!

Here are some pictures of the ferry ride, the island, trails, and stone
quarry:

Pulau Ubin, Singapore
http://community.webshots.com/album/24885972FmDqMzvjvR

Here are some pictures of Wei, Mark and I:

Biking on Pulau Ubin - Friends

http://community.webshots.com/album/24885877FHbvvQtpNP

This weekend, I hung out with friends here in Singapore. I watched a play
called "Barefoot in the Park", by Neil Simon. It was very funny! It's
sort of like the TV show, "Dharma and Gregg". If you like the TV show,
you'll like this romantic comedy. I also watched "Legally Blonde", which
was absolutely hilarious.

I'll be back in Boston the week before Christmas (for some work related
meetings) and spend Christmas to New Years in New York City. I look
forward to catching up with you guys out in the East Coast! I'm just
worried that I won't be used to the bitter cold.

Before I head back to the U.S. for good, some friends and I are thinking of
visiting Angkor Wat in Cambodia for a weekend. This trip should be awesome.

This week's thought provoking question is, "If you could have given one
speech in history, which one would you pick?"

This week's humor and inspirational pieces was forwarded by Elaine Low and
Jennifer Deniega, respectively.

Enjoy!

-Josh.
_________________________________

Parrot

Ben received a parrot for his birthday. It was full grown and although very
beautiful, had a nasty attitude and an even worse vocabulary. Every other
word it uttered was an expletive. Ben tried diligently to change the bird's
attitude. He always used polite words, played soft music, did anything he
could think of, but nothing seemed to work.

He yelled at the bird, but the bird got worse. He shook the bird, but that
only made him worse too. Finally, in a moment of desperation, he put the
parrot in the freezer. For a few moments he was able to hear the bird
squawking, swearing, kicking and screaming. Then, suddenly, there was
absolute quiet. Afraid that he had actually caused harm to the parrot, Ben
quickly opened the freezer door.

The parrot calmly stepped out onto Ben's extended arm and said, "I deeply
apologize if I offended you with my language and my actions and beg your
forgiveness. I promise that I shall endeavor to correct my behavior."

Astounded by the changes in the bird's attitude, Ben was just about to ask
him what had changed him when the parrot continued... "If I may ask, what
did the chicken do?"
_________________________________

Thoughts on relationships

1. I care for you not because of who you are, but because of who I am when
I am with you.

2. No man is worth your tears, and the one who is, won't make you cry.

3. Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't
mean they don't love you with
all they have.

4. A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your
heart.

5. The worst way to miss someone is to be sitting right beside them knowing
you can't have them.

6. Never frown, even when your are sad, because you never know who is
falling in love with your smile.

7. To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the
world.

8. Don't waste your time on a man/woman, who isn't willing to waste their
time on you.

9. Maybe God wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right
one, so that when we finally
meet the person, we will know how to be grateful.

10. Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened.

11. There's always going to be people that hurt you so what you have to do
is keep on trusting and just be more careful about who you trust next time
around

12. Make yourself a better person and know who you are before you try and
know someone else and expect them to know you.

13. Don't try so hard, the best things come when you least expect them to.

REMEMBER: WHATEVER HAPPENS, HAPPENS FOR A REASON.