Damn look at that. I got nervous right away.

And so when our bowls arrived, the rules and regulations were stated to us. We even had to sign an indemnity form before that.

Pretty simple, standard rules if you asked me.

Finish everything including last drop of soup and condiments, don't throw up, not allowed to go anywhere until the timer stops.

It actually looked very appetizing to the hungry me at that time.

 The ready challengers before the timer starts.

And with the sound of a horn, the timer began! We gulped everything down as fast as I could.

But I started to strategize a little, by having soup on my left hand and noodles on my right, gobbling down alternately.

Soon after, I started to insert pieces of condiments into my mouth too. I figured it would be too sickening to finish up all the condiments only after I finished my noodles. 

By my 7th minute, I started to slow down already.

By my (approximately) 3rd bowl of ramen, I was feeling rather terrible.

But I think I really pushed myself at that time. I can't really remember much of what happened. I was focused.

All I remember are these bits and pieces of thoughts floating around:

"Strategize. Eat the egg now. Eat the meat now. Soup now."

"Wow if Chun Ming barely finishes it, what about me?"

"FINISH IT UP!!! You're almost there and if you falter, it's 30bucks flying out of your pocket!"

BAM! With my last ounce of struggle, I finished until the last drop of the soup, and completed the challenge with a mouth-check by the waitress.

I did it! I just couldn't believe it at the moment. I was feeling literally the fullest in my whole life.

And for a reason I still couldn't exactly figure out, my limbs went numb for a few minutes.

They just paralyzed and my fingers were stuck in this weird position for a while.

I believe it was just an after-effect of adrenaline overdose though. Haha.

For the highlights of what happened, here is a short clip taken by Kabin who gladly accompanied us despite not participating in the challenge himself.

Most of the photos are taken by him too.



Overall, a great experience I would say.
Although I doubt that I could ever do it again. Hahaha.
I think I was really under the influence of the Holy Spirit or something.
I never knew I could do all that.

Didn't initially plan to write about this,


That is, until this really great group of friends of mine from 10SH20 planned a surprise for me.
I was genuinely surprised. Especially since I apparently mentioned it to them before that I don't actually plan to celebrate my 21st.


Wah I was really touched at that time last Friday, simply because I did not expect so many of them to turn up suddenly since I was only supposed to be meeting 2 of them. And since I really, really did not expect myself, much less anyone else, to celebrate my 21st. Haha.





My parents has asked me about this a while ago too.
Usually, someone's 21st birthday is celebrated more.. heavily than other birthday years. Supposedly.
That was what I thought too, since very very long ago.
Back when I was still an elementary school kid, back when celebrating my own birthday party was very precious to me.
Gradually, year after year, I began to slowly move away from the idea of conducting a party to celebrate my own birthday.
After all, I feel that a birthday is just like any other day of the year. Of course, it is a slightly more special one, or people wouldn't have created commemoration for it.
But each day should be of equal importance (or equal unimportance). That includes birthdays and non-birthdays date too.


At first, I thought I was lazy to plan stuff.
I might be, I don't know.
But I figured that I would if I really wanted to.
I just realised that I don't really want it.


Another idea also came to my mind.
Since people put so much emphasis on celebrating a 21st birthday,
Maybe to make it most memorable for me is to do exactly the opposite of what I'm supposed to do instead.
Who knows, someday in the future I would look back on this day and remember it well because by doing nothing special, it became a special day indeed.






Anywho, some things change. Some things don't.
Although entering 21st birthday is often equated to entering adulthood,
Which then equates to taking more responsibility on your own, being independent, blah3x.
In short, be mature.
To be honest, I don't really feel like I'm 21 already.
My appearance can be a factor, but I'm not talking about that. Haha.
I still feel like how I am a few years ago;
Happy, loud, enjoy the company of friends, boisterous at times.

But I guess I too realise myself that some things have changed, for the better or for the worse, in me;
Starting to think about my financial future, striving to be independent, be more in control of my own emotions (YES, after all these years of futile attempts, FINALLY), thinking less inwardly and more outwardly, being more optimistic.
Yet I tend to get lazy at times, taking my body's immunity and vitality for granted.



And as I was typing this halfway, my 'terrible' (and mostly older) apartment mates suddenly barged into the apartment, turned off the lights, and surprised me with another birthday cake. Sweet! *no pun intended*



There are still a little more of others that I didn't manage to meet this time;
My bros from FTPSS, the YOLO gang, some peeps from 12F07, my friends in Indo, my parents.
Maybe instead of waiting to hear from them, I should use this time to reach out to them instead.
I'll see about that. Haha.






At the end of all this, I think I know now why I'd rather not celebrate my birthday with big parties.
The best way to have fun is with the small numbers of people you know you genuinely care about.
And birthdays are simple annual reminders for us to appreciate them, who are available to us on most days, that they may not be there anymore once we turn our back.
After all, what's a celebration without the right company right? ;)

10:06
Up, up, and away!

Something to produce?