The Technician's Tools

Yo Mat Riders,



From left to right

a. Bach Stradivarius 37 Bb Trumpet (stock from Elkhart, Indiana)

b. Bach Stradivarius C Trumpet - 229 Bell with 25H Leadpipe

c. Schilke E3L Eb/D Trumpet

d. Kanstul 1520 Bb/A/G Piccolo Trumpet

YESSAH,
Mat Love

Quote of the day: E.B. White

I am pessimistic about the human race because it is too ingenious for its own good. Our approach to nature is to beat it into submission. We would stand a better chance of survival if we accommodated ourselves to this planet and viewed it appreciatively instead of skeptically and dictatorially.


YESSAH!
Mat Love

PISS: Geylang

Yo Mat Riders,

Question: Wat is the first thing you think when someone says Geylang?

Ahhhh.....Admit it....sleazy bastards....

Geylang, the place of Mat's childhood, where Mat first rided a tri-shaw, where Mat makan chendol, is more famously known for a happy ending.


The History of Geylang Serai

There are many versions of Geylang Serai's history. Why? Why got so many? Because no one gives a shit about what the real history is and no one wants to set it right. All we know is this bloody ang moh called Raffles.

Version Lumber 1 : Gaylang River

The history of Geylang Serai begins wih a small settlement consisting of Orang Laut and the Malays on the banks of Gaylang River. In the 1840s, the British Government dispersed the Malay floating village at the mouth of the Singapore River because of its obstruction to port traffic. The Malay inhabitants thus moved inland, with some setting up home in Geylang.

This new settlement at Geylang was known as 'Geylang Kelapa'. 'Kelapa' meaning coconut in Malay suggesting the presence of coconut plantaions. However, since the beginning of the 20th century, the settlement has been known as 'Geylang Serai', 'Serai' in Malay is 'Lemon grass' indicating the growth or cultivation of lemon grass in the area.



Version Lumber 2: Orang Gallang

Another possible origin to Geylang is the early presence of the fierce orang gallang tribe, one of the many orang laut tribal groups that lived along the coasts and rivers of Singapore island. The orang gallang were well-known for their piracy and pillaging of helpless craft in seas around Singapore island.

Version Lumber 3: Kilang Serai

The word Geylang is found early in Singapore's history. On Franklin and Jackson's plan, reproduced in John Crawfurd's 1828 book, Geylang appears as a river, referred to in the map as R. Gilang. The word Geylang is of Malay origin, and likely to be a corruption of the word kilang, meaning "press", "mill" or "factory". This may be due to the large number of processing factories for the coconut and lemongrass plantations in the area, and it could be that mills or presses operated on the coconut plantations to produce oil from copra.

So originally, Geylang was called Kilang Kelapa ( Coconut Factory ) and then Kilang Serai ( Lemongrass Factory ) and the word Kilang corrupted to Geylang.

Well Mat Riders, how now brown cow? We are Singaporeans right? So we should go out and find out the meanings and history of our Singapore man.

YESSAH,
Mat Love

Fall Semester

Yo Mat Riders,

The fall semesters sudah started man. Super busy this week. 1st day of class already kena read a lot. Nak mampus man. So maybe the updates will be more relac now. Mat will try his bestest!

YESSAH,
Mat Love

Msn

Yo Mat Riders,

Back in Bawston finally man. Actually ah, the flight not bad one. Mat got exit row and then met a kawan on the flight. He from Mat's army unit and now he flight attendent.

Anyway, wat is the deal with Msn man. Ok, Mat already boleh jalan with the shortforng words like "b4", "gr8" etc. But now ah, got all the highlighted, brinking text lah, then subsitution the words with pics lah. Wah liao. Mat's brain chibaboom man.

Rant over!
Mat Love

Tribute to the Crocodile Hunter

Yo Mat Riders,

Crikey! Steve Irwin dah mampus man. So jialat! THIS IS CONFIRNG REAL NEWS! Check out the link here http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20349888-2,00.html

Mat feel super sad today. Steve is an enigma and one of Mat's idol. Just last week, Mat try to go up close and personal with a buaya, the real buaya lah, not the chee hong one.



Steve, hope you are ok man. Relac one corner man!

EDIT: Steve was barbed by a stingray in the chest. But Stingrays actually very relac creatures. They only attack you if you make it tu lan man. So remember to be smart and not spread tupid rumors.

YESSAH,
Mat Love

Flying off

Yo Mat Riders,

Whoa....SBS (shag but shiok) weekend man. Fun max in Singapore. Now is the time to step up the intensialty in Bawston. So take care, heartlanders. Look out for more updates.

YESSAH!
Mat Love