Never an Out of Bed Look

I managed to change two things about my get-up towards the end of the year -- a shorter hairstyle and a new pair of specs.

I average two (4) hairstyle changes and roughly ten (10) haircuts per year. I'm not a fugitive nor a criminal on the loose but there is always something good about looking different, at least that's my view.

As I prepare for another style change in the coming year, I thought I'd sport a shorter hair look, thanks to a nearby place that's 3x cheaper than Toni & Guy. I've had mixed reviews based on the friends I caught up with in Manila.

I also got myself a new pair of spectacles. My DKNY glasses go on semi-retirement after two or three years of traveling and night-outs. I didn't think twice when I saw this pair of Oakley.

New Eyeglasses before the Haircut

New Hairstyle

What Have I Done This Year?

Personal Targets 2006 - Updated mid-November

1. Learn German. [Postponed]
2. Travel outside Asia. [Done - South Africa, London, and Sydney]
3. Host at least ten (10) overseas travellers for free. [Done -- As of end-August: 11]
4. Meet people from North and South America (of course, make friends with everyone else!). [Around 10-15 from North and South America]
5. Maintain a blog. [On-going]
6. Head back to the gym. Walk fast. Lift weights. [No hope this year!]

7. Buy a new digicam with zoom (conversion) lens. [Done 07 Jan 06 - Panasonic Lumix 6.0 mp with Image Stabilizer ; opted not to get one that's conversion lens compatible]
8. Further increase your involvement in Church. [Slow movement after Singles Apostolate in Manila; need to look harder in 2007]
9. Invest more on oral and skin care. [Already had a trip to the dentist in April; no major problems this year]
10. Move into a new job/role (hopefully still within the same company). [Done and enjoying every minute of it]
11. Revamp line-up of gimmick and gym clothes. [Set of night out clothes getting better in terms of quantity and style; no significant increase in gym clothes since I havent really been going]
12. Save for the rainy day. [On-going]

Holiday Destination Up in the Air

For the first time, I am spending Christmas away from home. The only problem is that I haven't decided where in Asia I'd like to go.

A few friends from Finland and South Africa are heading to Thailand to spend the holidays and I'm thinking of meeting up with them.

I may likely spend the New Year in Singapore as I havent done so before. Let's see where my travels will take me.

45 Minutes Apart

Singapore and Malaysia are approximately 45 minutes apart by plane. Faster than the trip to the office and back home while I was still in Manila. But then again, given the transit to the airport and the waiting time to board, I guess they would be comparable.

I visited Malaysia last week for a meeting then found myself back in the office before the weekend which included a trip to the Ministry of Sound and another tour of Vivo City.

The first time I went up the Petronas Towers was in 2002.

Welcome to 54 - one of the rooms in the Ministry of Sound at Clarke Quay, Singapore

My sister playing around with the digicam and I was her obedient subject.

One Too Many (Fill in the Blanks) in Thailand

It's always an adventure to visit a place where using English entails utmost creativity and sheer patience. On cab rides, I had no idea if I would reach my destination or if I would have more than one baht at the end of my journey. But all is well, I arrived back in Singapore in one piece with wonderful memories of an awesome 1.5 weeks in Bangkok.

I met new friends and found really cool clothes in Siam Paragon and Central Dept store that would be a welcome addition to a room closet that needs some "reviewing" at yearend.

Highly recommended - Conrad Hotel Bangkok. Ooh, is that a see-through bathroom?

New friends in Bangkok

We had some fun awards at the leadership program and guess what I won. I should endorse jeans in my next life.

More Bangkok photos here

Milo Dinosaur

So this is what they call in Singapore as Milo Dinosaur - Milo with ice topped with Milo powder. Deliciously sinful. I hope I dont fancy drinking this too often.