Direct Flights Only

New Blog Site!

2008-08-03T02:13:00.002+08:00

Time for a cool change.

Future entries will be posted at :

https://directflightsonly.wordpress.com/

Hope you continue to join me in my adventures within and beyond Singapore.

Congratulations to the New Miss Universe

2008-07-14T22:53:00.011+08:00

Another Miss Universe pageant is over and done with. This is my 21st consecutive year viewing the telecast (Donald Trump should award me a good seat in Vegas next year when MU is held there).

Among the Top 15, I found Miss Colombia the fairest of them all (Taliana Vargas)

It's really a shame Miss USA slipped during the evening gown competition. This is the 2nd consecutive year that this happened to a Miss USA candidate. Photo of what happened in 2007 here

I was still shaking my head so I could not join her in applauding herself for the stunt.

Top 5: Colombia, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Russia

Final Q&A -- try answering these :

1) If you can go back in time and change a moment in your past, what would that be and why?

2) Do you believe men or women have easier life and why?

3) What is the biggest sacrifice you had to make and how did you handle it?

4) When is a woman truly satisfied?

5) Is there still discrimination against women and what can be done about it?

Riyo Mori (Japan; Miss Universe 2007). I've never seen an outgoing winner do her farewell walk in such an attire. Start spreading the news, I'm leaving today... New York, New York.

Voice over: And the first runner-up is...

Miss Colombia (silently) : "Miss Venezuela"

Miss Venezuela (silently) : "Miss Colombia"

New Miss Universe - Dayana Mendoza (Venezuela)

Photo Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/vietnam/2300418/Miss-Venezuela-crowned-Miss-Universe-on-unlikely-Vietnam-stage.html

12 to 12

2008-07-06T23:40:00.004+08:00

I watched "12 to 12" this weekend with Fanni, Kristy, Vincent J, Wee Siong, and Vincent at the Esplanade.

From the PA website + official programme:

Soundwaves 2008 (12 to 12) is an evocative blend of dance, drama, music and songs and is jointly created by Cultural Medallion recipient Dick Lee and PA's resident artistic producer Fan Dong Kai.

It tells an intriguing tale of a lone traveller named Bryan, who returns to Singapore after a long time. Bryan encounters a beautiful muse named Bella who is trapped by a powerful spell. She can be freed if she regains three songs stolen from her, but only if she does it within 24 hours! Bella enlists Bryan's help for this quest. Mystery, adventure and romance unfold as they go through the streets of Singapore, chasing time in search of the songs of Singapore.

The concert features the PA Talents Dance Ensemble, Singapore Pop Orchestra and the best of professional and community artistes in Singapore.

Cast :

Bryan (George Chan)
Bella (Elena Wang)
Suri (Cara Whitehouse)
Ghost 1 (Chai Yao)
Ghost 2 (Lan Yu)

Random Bus Ride to the East

2008-07-06T14:44:00.009+08:00

I have officially resumed my random bus rides around Singapore.

This weekend, I decided to head over to the east (Pasir Ris). It's a scenic journey passing through Kallang, Eunos, Bedok, Tampines.

The journey took slightly over an hour from Novena so before I truly heated my bus seat, I alighted across Downtown East and took a cab to Changi Airport Terminal 3.

I've used this airport for a few times only so I thought I'd walk around as a non-passenger. While it's no match to the heaps of malls I've gone to, the area in Changi Terminal 3 that is accessible to the general public offers a wide range of choices for dining.

I grabbed a seat in the first restaurant I saw -- Crystal Jade Shanghai Restaurant on the 2nd level. Good food but small serving (but then I again I may just have been terribly hungry).

Seafood fried rice with XO sauce and shredded meat with vegetables

Glutinous rice balls with peanut. (I only finished 2 pieces)

I took the train back to the city.

Mid Year Review

2008-07-04T23:37:00.005+08:00

How far have I gone in meeting my goals for 2008?

As of 1st week July

On track
- Meet at least 80 new friends from diverse backgrounds within and outside of Singapore ; update contact list based on people you met over the past 3 years (Very satisfied with the friendships I've maintained and pleased with the new friendships I've formed since I thought about this target)
- Document your life - update blog more regularly, take more photos, track expenses, maintain various personal lists (Still need to track expenses, maintain various personal lists, and connect the scanner that I bought ages ago to get rid of paper in my house) - Support independent artists ; develop a higher appreciation for the arts (music, film, theater, design) (This is the bit I've spent the most time and money on. So far so good. I never run out of events to catch here in Singapore)
- Best effort to take the bus or MRT when traveling on your own but don't punish yourself for taking a cab on a need basis (Finally I began exerting effort to take the bus to and from work except when I'm carrying my heavy office bag and when my foldable umbrella won't be able to handle a sudden downpour. I could still get away with several cab rides but this year has been a big improvement vs last year)

- Decide what you want to happen in 2009 and 2010 and take drastic measures to ensure you have a clear view by October 2008 (While unpublished, disguised in this goal is my intention to apply for permanent residency in Singapore which fortunately was granted in May. This is the first step to having a clearer idea of what happens in the next few years.)

Likely to improve ; be pleased with the results by yearend
- Hit target weight and body fat % by end March and maintain these for the rest of the year; develop upper body strength (Hit my lowest weight in recent years in May. Pants are a bit loose and my belt has moved by one slot. This remains a priority. I really have to jog and lift weights sooner rather than later)
- Strengthen regular prayer and worship life (Have not been able to attend prayer meetings as often as I want to due to business travel, family/friend visits, and a goal mentioned above -- developing better appreciation for the arts. I joined a church choir though. This helps me to not only attend mass regularly but have a higher form of worship thru music)
- Continue to discover Singapore by checking out a new bar/restaurant/ food center per weekend and by exploring the vicinity of the MRT stations you haven't exited from during the past 1.5 years (I have not been tracking this but I need to be more conscious of MRT stations to exit from for the first time. Also need to re-establish my Sunday random bus rides around Singapore)

At risk or already behind (might spillover to 2009)
- Join a swimming school and survive the water on your own when lessons are over (If I dont look fit, I can't swim. If I cant find a good swimming instructor, I won't learn how to swim. I have the trunks/boardshorts and goggles though -- ready to be used; need to shake off the dust from the goggles).
- Take calculated risks in learning how to cook including the use of the oven (I really couldnt figure the degree equivalent of my oven whose controls are in watts! I've been watching cooking shows which have begun inspiring me to cook)
- Volunteer time and effort each quarter to develop the youth or give happiness to the sick or elderly (I havent been exerting much effort to find relevant information to realise this goal. Should do so very soon)
- Spend more time browsing business, finance and IT-related sites and be able to discuss basic/recent topics intelligently where appropriate (I spend more time looking at Straits Times and Facebook than Business, Finance, and IT sites)

New Gadget

2008-07-01T22:57:00.006+08:00

I bought a Panasonic DVD recorder on impulse last weekend. The roadshow in Vivo City was giving it at a discount of $150 so I felt it was a good deal. The Starhub cable box internal hard drive was getting full I needed a back up in time for the Beijing Olympics.

Only problem : I'm not good at connecting cables so I had to wait for additional help c/o one of electronic shop's staff who had to come over to my place tonight and check what gadgets I actually have. When he had sorted out the cable connection , I then had to familiarise myself with the operating instructions he gave me.

The configuration of my Starhub cable box does not promote easy installation of any DVD recorder. At least that's what the staff said.

What does he exactly mean? If I'm recording a program from a cable channel, I cannot watch another cable channel otherwise, the recording will go haywire. However, I can still watch Mediacorp channels via another remote control. It turned out to be very complex that I was nursing a headache after!

Anyway, the instructions are now written down on a sheet of paper for me to practice when I am more patient. The DVD recorder also doubles up as a DVD player so I will need to get rid of my extra DVD player over the coming weeks.

New Specs

2008-06-29T20:16:00.003+08:00

After 1.5 years, I decided to change my current Oakley specs to a new one. Still Oakley but for the first time since I began wearing specs (around 2000), I got a half frame.

Some of my friends wonder why I don't like wearing contact lenses. My standard answer: "Eyeglasses change the way I look. I will consider wearing contact lenses only when I need to go to Six Flags Magic Mountain"

Unfortunately, getting a branded pair results in the postponement of at least one overeas trip. But since I really don't have an overseas holiday planned for this year, the purchase didn't make me feel too guilty.

Let's do some math.

SGD 663 (cost of the new pair inclusive of lenses) / 547 days (1.5 years before the next replacement date) = SGD 1.21 per day

With the additional benefit of making me look different by wearing specs, that average daily cost is so justified. :p

My current pair which has traveled with me to several places goes on "reservist"; shall be activated when the need arises.

Old pair

New pair

Miss Universe 2008

2008-06-29T00:05:00.006+08:00

I almost forgot that the Miss Universe pageant is just around the corner (never missed a telecast since 1997) so I thought I'd check the official website and see if there's anything interesting.

I'd like to generate additional publicity for some delegates by featuring them on my blog.

Philippines (Home Country)

Singapore (Current & Future Country of Residence)

Japan (Country of Last Year's Winner)

Vietnam (Pageant Host Country - likely to make it due to homecrowd advantage)

Other Countries that usually do well in the preliminary round and land in the semifinals.

India

Venezuela

Singapore's national costume drew some interest when it was first shown to the public several weeks ago (Merlion-inspired)

Philippines

Miss Universe 2008 finals

Sun, 13 July, 9pm (Eastern time)

Mon, 14 July, 9am (Singapore)

21

2008-06-28T18:26:00.002+08:00

A group of students from MIT learn the art of card counting and walk away from Las Vegas with millions of dollars.

Art in 24 Hours

2008-06-15T08:52:00.005+08:00

Music
Fri, 13 June
8.00 to 10.30 pm

Film
Saturday, 14 June
10.30am to 12.30pm

Me, Boo Junfeng (Director, center), Ann

Dance

Saturday, 14 June

3.00 to 4.30 pm

With two of the performers from Korea

A Year Older

2008-06-11T21:29:00.008+08:00

A big thank you to everyone who remembered to greet me on my birthday (or thereabouts!), from the US to Australia, via my online communities/ mobile/ email / MSN. It's such a blessing to have reached such not so young/not so old age. Looking back, the past few decades have been quite an adventure.

Several of you have asked what I ended up doing on my actual birthday (4 June) so let me share with you and the rest of those who visit this blog.

While my birthday did not generate as much publicity as the 700-pound Mexican who celebrated his birthday recently, I still think mine was an exciting one.

5.00... 5.15... (finally) 5.30 am
I woke up to prepare myself to hear mass. It's strange to wake up this early since I do this usually when I need to cram packing stuff for an overseas trip.

6.30 am
Reached the church only to find out that the 6.30 am mass is somewhere close by instead. As it was still dark, I opted not to risk getting lost so I took a cab and requested "uncle" to take me to Novena church.

700/715 am
Mass ended so I took a leisurely walk to Novena Square and Velocity. Had breakfast at Han's -- some sandwich (whose filling always came out due to my clumsy hands) + juice.

800 am
Decided to walk to the nearby Tan Tock Seng hospital for hepatitis A and B immunity shots. My previous health screenings showed that I was not protected from it so I decided to make the vaccination symbolic by doing it on my birthday.

845 am
Reached the city hall area hoping to find a copy center for documents I needed to give to my friend Daryl. Almost all the shops were closed so I decided to go home.

930 am
Arrived home, cleared my room desk, checked messages, cleaned selected parts of the house and prepared some documents.

1200 nn

Dropped by my favorite restaurant in Vivo City and ordered my favorite dish (Mongolian Spare Ribs) that went well with the Seafood Fried Rice with XO sauce. The ultimate lunch treat for myself.

[Too stuffed that I could not even bring out my digicam to take photos for the next few hours...]

100 pm

Paid the bill and went to Ben & Jerry's. Haven't really visited for a long time so it was good to hang out there for a bit and re-acquaint my taste buds with Strawberry Cheesecake (or was that Cookie Dough? I forgot!).

130 pm
Went around shopping for a birthday and Father's Day present for my dad. I had earlier found two wonderful greeting cards to go with the items.

200 pm
I then went to Singpost to have the package shipped. Queue was long so I had to stay for a bit after filling out forms etc.

300 pm
Arrived at Orchard Road and walked around, focusing my energy (but controlling my expenses) on a few malls I hardly enter on usual trips to that area (the buildings after Wheelock Place).

400 pm
Reached the Regent Hotel where I am scheduled to meet with Marlene for British high tea. I have to say that was the best high tea session I've done, coupled with an interesting chat with one of my favorite friends from church.

630 pm
Made my way to Tanjong Pagar to find Cork (wine and tapas place) which served as back up venue after a failed attempt to secure seats at Morton's Mandarin Oriental. Morton's is a popular steak place but since I decided to try steak only at the last minute, the earliest my friends and I could be accommodated was at 845pm. No way! Dinner must start at 730pm/800 pm instead.

730pm
Reached the resto and waited shortly for Ryan and Sean to arrive. Ryan and Sean are probably my first two local (non-work) friends in Singapore at the time of my relocation here. They helped me scout for houses as part of my transfer and have since then become my good buddies. Hard people to catch due to their busy sked so I am lucky they were available to join the celebration.

930 pm

Dinner ended. Ryan gave me a lift home.

1000 pm
Day comes to a close. Slept around 1100 pm

The celebrations continue for the next few weeks. Come to think of it, having mini-celebrations are better than have a major one in a noisy place. More time for conversation, better lighting for photos!

In Singapore For A Longer Time

2008-05-24T00:13:00.023+08:00

I had just been granted permanent residency status in Singapore.

First paragraph of the approval letter from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority:

I had been thinking of applying for PR since the day I relocated here and it was just a matter of time before I decided to go for it. I actually had this in mind when I decided on my plans for 2008...

12. Decide what you want to happen in 2009 and 2010 and take drastic measures to ensure you have a clear view by October 2008

Click to view the rest of my plans for 2008

One of the "drastic measures" was to apply for residency and see how it goes. I have to say this recent development is a life-changing one. Imagine, being given the right to stay in a country that you really like. No amount of money can match that.

I saw a book a few months back during my shopping rounds ("1000 Reasons Why Singapore"). I didn't want to buy it then because that would only make me miserable if my PR application is not approved. I happily bought the weekend after I passed my PR formalities and got my new IC (identification card) claim stub from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority.

However, this doesn't mean I don't have my own reasons for wanting to stay. I've trimmed down a rather long list and wish to share with you the following:

1) I have a sense of control in this place

- Public transport is reliable, easy to navigate through, and reasonably priced. I can deliberately get lost walking around and taking random buses and still have a way to go back home. Traveling can be measured in minutes (and not with a disclaimer, "depending on the traffic")

- Majority of the people speaks English (Believe it or not, Singlish is already music to my ears).

- Mail services and online transactions are stable. When I have completed a transaction, I am sure that I have less reason to worry whether something wrong will happen in the process.

- There are street signs everywhere and almost every corner is on the map.

- I feel confident about reaching home in one piece.

2) I have a high level of admiration and respect for the locals here. I am satisfied with the company of local friends I keep. I am excited to meet many more.

- I love how simple the locals are, which can probably be traced back to the country's humble beginnings. I don't sense any pretentions in this country when I go around or hit the bars/clubs opposed to what I witness in the many cities I travel to in other parts of the world. I see a lot of people in plain clothes and flip flops (well, also an indication of how clean this country is). I don't have an idea of who are rich or poor (or maybe the affluent here focus on more meaningful things rather than flaunt what they have).

- It is easy to make friends here. I don't know whether this can be attributed to me being a foreigner and the fact that locals are used to meeting and interacting with people from different countries. Or it could be that the locals are generally trusting people which should be reciprocated with honesty and sincerity as well.

- It will be a shame to leave good friends behind. I would like to build on friendships I've made and even create new ones.

3) I can access the world through Singapore.

- Singapore is a regional business hub which opens a lot of opportunities for work ranging from local to regional jobs.

- There are lot of direct flights from Singapore to popular destinations (the title of my blog suggests I don't like connecting flights too much). Other nearby countries are a bus or ferry ride away.

- The past few years that I've stayed in Singapore has opened my eyes (and ears) to international festivals, films, and music. I never imagined I would like Mandarin music even if I don't understand the language. I'm sure picking up Mandarin will be a less painful desire now that I will be here for a longer time.

- There is a wide selection of cuisines and dining/entertainment areas that I have to look at monthly/weekly event guides seriously to ensure I don't miss out on anything.

4) Singapore will even be better in the years to come.

- The government is not corrput and is already efficient as it is.

- However, there is more to come: Integrated resorts, better government reforms, additional MRT stations, a more extensive urban development plan.

One of the many construction projects (new MRT) in Singapore.

I really feel that I've made the right decision to call Singapore my new home. It is also a wonderful birthday gift that has resulted in a renewed passion for ensuring that the next decade will be more exciting than the previous one.

American Idol

2008-05-19T22:07:00.004+08:00

I initially said David Cook deserves to win but based on tonight's final competition, David Archuleta's performance was consistently strong. I was very impressed with the emotion he applied to each song and if that's an indication of how his future (original/remake) songs will be, then definitely, he deserves to win this year's American Idol.

Sentosa

2008-05-01T20:30:00.000+08:00

I had an exciting Labour Day today, spent mostly with new friends who are part of the same church choir.

I initially met up with Evelyn at Bukit Purmei coffee shop and around 20 minutes later her husband Ben came over. It was then decided to head over Benson and Jeannie's place at Telok Blangah Rise after a brief stop to buy mee pok (noodles with minced meat).

We then made our way to Tanjong beach at Sentosa around noon and stayed there until late afternoon (I left around 4pm). That's the longest time I've ever been on a beach since 2004 (Thailand). I got a bit darker but still unnoticeable. It was also the first time I played frisbee c/o Andrew who also joined us that day.

Photos to follow.

Almost an Emergency

2008-04-30T23:45:00.001+08:00

I decided to stay home on the eve of the public holiday and I'm glad I did.

The apartment one level below mine almost burned due to an unattended incense.

Around 10.30pm
At first I thought it was my unit that was on the brink of danger. The reason is that there was a thin layer of smoke that welcomed me at the living and dining room minutes after I had turned on the centralised aircon. I thought it was a case of the aircon overheating which was quite unusual but I turned it off immediately anyway and opened the kitchen door. It was from the laundry area that I saw some mean on the opposite site, one floor lower looking somewhere which turned out to be the unit below mine.

I hurried down to their area and saw the tenant whom I had met previously. It was there I saw some cloud of smoke coming out and minutes after some members of the Singapore Civil Defense Unit came to the scene to help out.

Property security and Singapore Police then attempted to inform nearby tenants to get ready to evacuate as per standard operating procedure. I didn't know what to get but in the end I thew the following into one of my weekend bags:

- passport
- portable hard drives (which contain photos taken over the past two years)
- MP3 player (yes, it took me hours to rip my CDs and label them accordingly)
- digicam
- some reading materials (in case I could not go back to my unit for a few hours)

I would have brought my office bag with me but glad I left it in the office (secured of course).

Turned out that we didn't need to evacuate at all. The property manager and the official property electrician went around to check if the tenants were ok and to suggest not to turn on the centralised aircon as some smoke would still go through the vent and the unit will smell like smoke.

11.15pm
Situation back to normal. I finally got to watch my recorded programs over the past week and munch on some snacks. I should re-think of my "evacuation item" list next time.

Sing a New Song

2008-04-13T16:23:00.005+08:00

Apart from the shower and at KBox/Partyworld, people will now hear me singing in church.

This is probably one of the most exciting things I've done to be more active in the parish. I've been an altar boy before but never been part of a singing group.

For about two weeks, I tried to decide whether to join or not since I just don't want to join and disappear without a trace. I feel it is something I can truly commit to even if I anticipate skipping a few Sundays either due to essential business travel or "essential" personal holiday.

Joining my church's choir was easier than I had expected. I asked one of the choir heads if the choir were open for membership and he simply said, "Yeah. We usually rehearse after the mass for half an hour. Why don't you join us for the mass now?" Sometimes, life does not need to be complicated.

And the rest is history.

The choir members are warm and welcoming ; I'm sure I will get to know them better. Quite a good mix of single and married people either in their mid-20's or early 30's.

File photo from one of my several KTV sessions (this one was in May 2007)

Taipei

2008-03-23T21:38:00.007+08:00

First time in Taiwan. I traveled with Fanni, Daniel, and Angie.

Some observations:

1) Taiwan (called Formosa before) still has strong Japanese influence, based on how people dress up and the shops that line the streets.

2) Taipei is known for its night markets but sadly, they didn't impress me. I'm really a mall person.

3) Lots of mountain ranges -- never seen a city like that

4) Much cleaner than Shanghai and Hong Kong.

5) Public transport -- highly intuitive (referring to the MRT); there are priority seats for the disabled, elderly, and pregnant women (they treat this spot seriously so stay away from the blue seats or be kicked out)

Taipei 101 (the highest building in the world so far)

Front page of local newspaper - general elections were happening on the weekend we visited. The two opposing political parties had green and blue as their official colors so I had to change my travel wardrobe to white, yellow, and black!

Grand Hotel , the first (and/or only?) ancient Chinese looking hotel in Taiwan

Gigantic breaded chicken cutlet - I finished most of the piece I bought. 300x bigger than the Shihlin Taiwanese street snacks they sell here in Singapore

Night market featuring Fanni's long hair.

Angie, me, Daniel, Fanni with the lover's bridge at the background

Interesting. How come we don't have this sign in Singapore MRT stations?

These are the priority seats I was referring to in my entry above. If a passenger sitting in this area pretended not to see, he/she will be an outcast. :-)

More photos : http://leocab.zenfolio.com/p616871095/

Sunday Singapore Tour

2008-03-16T21:23:00.012+08:00

Quite a busy Sunday.

After sleeping for around 9 hrs, I caught the 11am screening of "Step Up 2 : The Streets". I love morning screenings -- my attention span is extremely high and there is still much time left in the day to do other things.

"Step Up 2" is really a notch higher than the previous one. Here's the trailer:

I also bought the soundtrack.

After the movie, I went to Cedele to grab a sandwich, a cake, and a drink called... (drumroll please)

(read the label) and continue singing "... such a lonely word. Everyone is so untrue..."

They should give me free samples for advertising their product on my blog.

I resumed my "tour Singapore by taking random buses" activity today. I started it last year to enjoy my Sunday afternoon whenever I'm in town. I took the first bus from one of the stops near City Hall. Such journey brought me to Bukit Batok which is somewhere west. After an hour of warming the bus seat, I settled for a snack at McDonalds only to discover that there is a nearby shopping mall that offered more options. *sigh*

Bukit Batok bus interchange taken at an angle I use when taking photos at airports.

Had extra time so also decided to take the MRT to nearby Chou Chu Kang. It was also an interchange so I knew there was an easy way to get back home. What struck me about this part of the country is the number of people who jog, especially at the Bukit Batok area. I've never seen this many people jog on a weekend.

Saw around 10-12 joggers in a span of 10 mins, mostly in the proper running attire.

I should join the bandwagon soon (without the shorty shorts).

Time spent exploring new places : 4 hrs

Malls visited : 2

Unplanned purchases : SGD 60

Types of songs played in my MP3 player : Chinese pop and other English songs that make you cry

My survival pack (stuff in my bag) : Bus guide, street directory, foldable umbrella, MP3 player, digicam, toiletry bag, Time Out magazine, sunglasses, water spray.

Wonder What the 11th Is

2008-03-15T22:12:00.004+08:00

The last time I bought Time magazine was when Italy won the 2006 World Cup. I thought the value of such edition will appreciate and I can make money out of it hehe.

I got attracted to this edition though while I was trying to force myself to buy something intellectually stimulating at Page One.

Vol 171, No. 11, 2008 (March 24, 2008)

Excerpts based on sub-headings

1. Common Wealth - National interests aren't what they used to be. Our survival requires global solutions.

2. The End of Customer Service - With self-serve technology, you'll never have to see a clerk again.

3. The Post-Move-Star Era - Get ready for more films in which the leading man is not "he" but "who?"

4. Reverse Radicalism - Want to stop terrorism? Start talking to terrorists who stop themselves.

5. Kitchen Chemistry - Why the squishy art of cooking is giving way to cold, hard science.

6. Geoengineering - Messing with nature caused global warming. Messing with it more might fix it.

7. Aging Gracefully - Forget conventional wisdom; gray-haired societies aren't a problem.

8. Curing the "Dutch Disease" - How resource-rich nations can unravel the paradox of reality.

9. Women's Work - Tapping the female entrepreneurial spirit can pay big dividends.

10. Beyond the Olympics - Coming : constant TV coverage of global sporting events.

Wonder which spot "blogging" occupies further down the list.

Dandelion's Promise

2008-03-10T23:32:00.002+08:00

For the benefit of my local friends during KTV sessions, I will learn this song. This will bring the number of Mandarin songs I know to three (3) since 2007.

"Dandelion's Promise"
Jay Chou
featured in the movie "The Secret"

IT Show

2008-03-09T19:24:00.006+08:00

After my long journey to Woodlands where the Singapore Sports School is located (seriously, Woodlands is quite a far away place from where I stay, $20 cab fare with booking fee), I endured yet another long trip though less costly via the MRT to City Hall.

Upon exiting City Hall station, I had a glimpse of what was to come -- the sea of humanity that would welcome me at the IT Show over at Suntec Convention Centre. Hundreds of people were walking towards Suntec, getting ready to splurge or collect heaps of brochures.

I really didn't have anything in mind to buy but in the end I got :

- a cooling fan for my laptop (the best looking one among all the cheapo fans I've seen in computer shops)

- Norton Internet Security 2008 software

Grand total of approx $150

Multi-tasking

Models with a vengeance.

39th Singapore National Age Group Swimming Championships

2008-03-09T19:04:00.002+08:00

I woke up early today after a night of partying to catch the 39th Singapore National Age Group Swimming Championships 2008 sponsored by Manulife. This serves as the selection trials for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and the 32nd Age Group Swimming Championships 2008 in Thailand, each with its own qualification details.

This is the 2nd swimming competition I've caught at the Singapore Sports School, one of the venues for the 2010 Youth Olympic Games which the country will host. (The first one was the FINA/Arena Swimming World Cup which had Singapore as one of its stops).

Since there were younger people in this event, the venue was packed with parents. I can just imagine how pressured these kids felt to perform according to their parents' expectations. Well, I hope they did well.

After my company's pay review which I am very much involved in, I will resume my attempt to learn swimming. Yes, this has consistently been on my annual list of personal targets and almost got replaced by tennis last year which also didn't happen. *sigh*

Sad

2008-02-13T23:07:00.003+08:00

From Straits Times online (13 Feb)

Baby orang utan dies in a freak accident at the zoo

TRAGEDY struck the zoo's orang utans a second time in a week, when a young female orang utan died of a dislocated neck in a freak accident on Wednesday.

At mid-day, Atina, aged 2 1/2, caught her neck in a hanging noose, which was part of a hammock in the apes' enclosure.

Her mother Anita and other orang utans, in their haste to free her, tugged at her neck, dislocating it.

She died instantly, said a zoo spokesman.

----
NB
The first tragedy was when Ah Meng, Singapore's most beloved orang utan died during CNY period.

Gong Xi Fa Cai

2008-02-07T13:20:00.000+08:00

Chinatown

Harbourfront mall display

I love seeing how Chinese New Year shapes up and eventually gets celebrated here in Singapore. I was overseas last year and really didn't pay much attention to it. This year though, I have anticipated it as much as the locals -- from buying CNY snacks to watching the CNY countdown.

The more I stay here, the more I realise how enriching Chinese culture is. Maybe I was Chinese in my past life.

The emperor's new clothes and love letters (egg roll popular during CNY)

There are a few interesting things about CNY that I picked up from Chinese friends over the past several weeks:

1) The 1st day is usually spent with the family; the 2nd day with friends

2) You should wear new clothes on CNY.

3) Families have steamboat meals (and I assume with unlimited supply of ingredients) so they don't need to prepare food extensively for visitors

4) Red packets are handed out to children and unmarried people for good luck.

5) Pineapple tarts are a favorite snack commonly sold during this time.

6) Waiting in a queue for several minutes to buy BBQ pork is worth it.

7) You cannot sweep during the 1st day; otherwise, it is like sweeping luck and good fortune away.

8) Two (2) pieces of mandarin oranges are given to the host during your visit. (I learned from a lady at the supermarket that the heavier the mandarin orange, the better as it has more water).

9) You can't buy books (the word for "book" is a homonym to the word "lose) and shoes (word "shoes" is a homophone for the word for "evil" in Mandarin).

10) There is actually a set of "Chinese New Year" songs that people are familiar with. These are played in shopping malls and in households. I won't be surprised if I can find them at KTV.

I guess the only drawback during CNY is that most of the establishments are closed. However, there is still hope that some shops are open. I will check when I go out of the house later.

I leave you with a photo of a "lo hei" where people would toss ingredients of raw fish salad after reciting some Chinese good luck chants.

Yusheng (raw fish salad)
Typical ingredients: fresh salmon , daikon (white radish), carrot, red pepper (capsicum), ginger, daun limau nipis (leaves from lime tree), Chinese parsley, chopped peanuts , toasted sesame seeds , Chinese shrimp crackers (or fried dried shrimp), five spice powder. The dressing is made primarily from plum sauce

Beatbox Asia Championship

2008-02-03T10:51:00.000+08:00

First time to attend a beatbox championship. Beyond extending my sympathy for all the soaked microphones that night, I have to say those contestants are one of a kind. I don't think I can ever rap or perform a beatbox stunt (hmm, maybe I can consider trying rap to expand my KTV repertoire).