much to my horror, i discovered that the friendly neighbourhood barber was CLOSED. for good, i mean. the whole place was all boarded up and sealed shut, it was almost as if they had been evicted from the place. well, you know me, i don't get a haircut that often (cause i simply HATE getting my hair cut, even though i detest long and thick hair even more) and after having reluctantly dragged myself all the way to bukit panjang plaza after a gruelling day of training (with surprise PT -_-), there was NO WAY i was gonna go back home without getting my hair cut. so i roamed around bpp, looking for a hairdresser/barber or something of that sort, and i stumbled into 'EC House'. lol. i was pretty apprehensive at first. i hate new and unfamiliar surroundings (how i miss the cosy seats in the neighbourhood barber shop), and this one was definitely very alien. everything was so high-tech. first, you have to insert a $10 note into this machine, to redeem a ticket. and then, you have to proceed to the waiting area, and sit on the seat specified by your ticket, and wait for your turn. after awhile, i was ushered to the hairdressing area by this lady (middle-aged, late 30s?). at that point of time i was even more nervous, cause i've never had my hair cut by a female hairdresser. it was always by those uncles in the nieghbourhood barbers,LOL. but, her resourcefulness impressed me. she studied my hair for a few seconds, and then spouted out a few sentences about my hair "hard...natural curls..thick" (what's new? i know my hair sucks) and then came her diagnosis: "and so i'll cut high slope for you, ok?" who would have known? 90% of barbers who assess my hair always attempt to cut a "slope" style for me, and not "high slope" style, which is what i want. turns out, it was the most worthwhile haircut i had in months. $10 well spent. great customer service, friendly hairdressers, state-of-the-art equipment (electronic razors specially for shaving sideburns; vacuum pump to suck away all stray hairs after the haircut, leaving you looking clean and fresh).
in other news, jia yi lent me his voyage CDs today. ah, the bliss! it feels so good to listen to new age music, after so long. i have yet to coax him to lend me his sarah brightman CD collection, or at least her latest, harem. and, i have yet to buy my bjork CDs. this weekend i shall get someone to accompany me to gramophone at Specialists' Shopping Centre.
bah, seamanship exam on friday.. the most crucial examination in the maritime policing course. basically it assesses whether you're skilled in the way of the seafarer..zzzzz. wish me luck!