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).

Jay Chou World Tour 2008 (Singapore)

2008-01-19T17:41:00.001+08:00

Jay Chou World Tour 2008
18-19 January
Singapore Indoor Stadium

Before moving to Singapore, chinese music equated only to both Aaron Kwok and Jacky Cheung who were the only chinese singers I knew in the early 90's.

I knew nothing about Jay Chou until around May 2007 when I heard one of his songs in a bar with a live band. I tried to learn the melody of "An Jing" until I reached a point that I can sing it with 80% confidence at KTV.

Since then, I have developed a higher interest and enthusiasm over chinese music. I would look around shops which sell chinese pop CDs. I would prefer Chinese (and Jap) albums while in the plane on overseas trips. And I guess the ultimate sign of my affinity to it -- purchasing a ticket to a concert which is 100% Mandarin. As a consolation, I was able to recognise "xìe xìe" / "thanks" which Jay Chou said after each song rendition.

As I've shared with a few friends, the concert was spectacular. It really felt like a concert, not just someone singing onstage. I caught Black Eyed Peas in October 2007 and though the audience were very receptive, I had never seen an audience so electrified while swaying a gadget with rapidly blinking lights that dotted the sold-out venue that night.

Jay Chou is a crowd pleaser, occasionally giving the impression that his fans are truly special (well, particularly the ones who paid around $178+ for seats close to the stage whom he waved to).

He sang a few tracks from his latest album, "On the Run", which after several rounds of playing on my MP3 player on long bus trips and idle time outdoors had already registered well in my mind.

Here are a few photos before my digicam died a natural death (my fault for assuming that the battery was fully charged).

For those who managed to catch the concert, I hope you agree with me that it was money well spent or worth more than what you had paid for.

On my way out, I noticed a long queue for some of his merchandise which included a Jay Chou doll (?!?).

Why do I bother listening to Mando/Canto-pop even if I only know English and Tagalog? Ask those who love Latin music even if they have no clue what the lyrics mean. :p

Beauty World

2008-01-05T21:00:00.000+08:00

After watching this musical, I have decided to invest more money into watching what's in theaters this year (not just the films at Golden Village!). This production has helped Dick Lee (I first knew him by watching Singapore Idol in 2006) gain more prominence in Singapore.

I loved the execution of what seemed to be a simple plot - a girl trying to find her biological father and in the process also finds herself. It has some local colour and I'm happy to have understood most of the "singlish".

The songs were so catchy that I had to buy the soundtrack as early as the intermission. This is the song that carried in my view the musical's theme.

"I Didn't Care"

If there was another way

I would not be here today

I'd be back where I belong

Somewhere in my past

I should be the first to know

Where the road I'm taking goes

If I fail then I suppose

Every road must be wrong

Now I'm here

Now that I've made it this far

I must try to find out

What I'm all about

Cos I lost the answers long ago

Felt I didn't need to know

I didn't care

Now I do

I should be the first to know

Where the road I'm taking goes

If I fail then I suppose

Every road must be wrong

Now it's time to be trong

It's what I wanted for so long

No mater how it turns out

I must stay to face the consequence

Once it made no difference

I didn't care

Now I do...

All These and More in 2008!

2007-12-31T02:24:00.000+08:00

After much thought, I have decided to pursue these personal goals in 2008.

1. Hit target weight and body fat % by end March and maintain these for the rest of the year; develop upper body strength
2. Join a swimming school and survive the water on your own when lessons are over
3. 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
4. Document your life - update blog more regularly, take more photos, track expenses, maintain various personal lists
5. Support independent artists ; develop a higher appreciation for the arts (music, film, theater, design)
6. Strengthen regular prayer and worship life
7. 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
8. 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
9. Take calculated risks in learning how to cook including the use of the oven
10. Volunteer time and effort each quarter to develop the youth or give happiness to the sick or elderly
11. Spend more time browsing business, finance and IT-related sites and be able to discuss basic/recent topics intelligently where appropriate
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

Triple Bypass Laptop Operation

2007-12-27T08:38:00.000+08:00

My laptop has undergone a triple bypass operation in my very capable hands.

http://directflightsonly.blogspot.com/2007/06/high-tech-birthday-gifts-for-myself.html

It has been acting extremely slow that I demoted it to second-class laptop in my house several weeks ago. Imagine, it took me around 15 minutes to print a single page document, even longer than my travel time from Vivo City to my home via bus (including stops)!

The HP PC tablet that came with the unit and was dedicated only to reserving condo facilities, activating the lift when guests arrive, and occasional browsing (for bus arrival time) had served me surprisingly well.

It's amazing when Customer Service Helpdesks actually work as in the case of HP which has seemingly built a capable team. I spent several minutes with the Customer Support officer who patiently took me through the steps in creating recovery disks and using them as appropriate. In the end, I took the easy route and reformated the Windows partitioned drive after a major backup using my external hard drive.

My rejuvenated laptop is now ready for active duty in 2008.

Let's Groove Tonight

2007-12-15T04:10:00.000+08:00

Before

After

Asian Films

2007-10-14T07:55:00.000+08:00

I spent a few good hours watching "The Home Song Stories" and "The Drummer" here in Singapore. Try to catch them if you have the chance.

The Home Song Stories

Synopsis from http://movies.msn.com/movies/movie.aspx?m=2115689&mp=syn

A combination of circumstance and poor life choices turn to young children into the caretakers for their unstable mother in writer/director Tony Ayres' semi-autobiographical family drama. As aging writer Tom (Darren Yap) sits down to pen a screenplay detailing his life story, memories quickly transport him to the Shanghai nightclub where his single mother Rose (Joan Chen) would captivate Western servicemen. A beautiful thrush with a magnificent voice, Rose eventually packed up children Tom (Joel Lok) and May (Irene Chen) and set off for Australia after accepting a marriage proposal from Melbourne sailor Bill (Steven Vidler). When the relationship between Rose and Bill withered after just one week, the mother set her sights on Sydney.

In the following seven years, Rose and her two young children would bounce between a series of "uncles" as stability continued to elude the trio. Though desperate Rose would eventually return to Melbourne with her children and attempt to rekindle her relationship with Bill, that too would eventually result in failure when the impulsive woman entered into a heated affair with local restaurant employee Joe (Qi Yuwu). Enraged when younger lover Joe takes note of May's blossoming beauty, Rose once again begs Bill's forgiveness though his generosity finally seems to have been exhausted. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

The Drummer

Synopsis from http://movies.ohgenki.com/2007/movies/786/the_drummer.html

The Drummer is an original and stylistic cinematic feast of sight and sound. It is the first feature film to combine an engaging character-driven story with dramatic action and the stunning art of Chinese zen drumming.

The compelling and emotional story follows Sid, a reckless youth raised in a Hong Kong triad family, who flees to Taiwan upon enraging a mob boss. Hiding out in the mountains of Taiwan, he encounters and joins a group of zen drummers whose mesmerizing art, rigorous physical training, and austere way of life eventually transform him into an extraordinary young man.

Sid's independence from the triad life is profoundly challenged, however, when a twist of fate awaits him back home in Hong Kong and forces him to choose between loyalty to his family and his new found faith in himself. . .

London

2007-09-18T23:33:00.000+08:00

I am back from a week in "lovely" (say it in British accent please)... London. It was primarily a business trip but had a few days to explore the place the third time around. The UK now occupies the 2nd spot in terms of frequency of visits due to business reasons (Australia takes the top spot).

My three month old Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ2 has redeemed itself. It took awesome photos with its automatic ISO feature regardless of lighting condition and movement. I have decided to live with its dismal video capability.

Apart from work, I kept busy by:

1) testing how far my shopping money will go -- battle of the currencies (Singapore dollar vs Sterling pounds). SGD falls on the 3rd round.

2) opening my adult senses to the wit and humor of Avenue Q (if this musical is being shown in your country, I suggest you see it)

3) realising I am not cut out for royalty, old paintings, and elaborate ceilings (though enjoyed being one with history at the Buckingham Palace) ; glad to be back in my IKEA filled condo unit

4) admiring the picturesque view of Blackfriars and Victoria Embankment ; our office is around the area

5) feeling fortunate that dinosaurs have become extinct and that I am not at risk of drowning in their dung (still prefer to drown in swimming pool water as a non-swimmer)

6) seeing the Rosetta Stone, the superstar of the British Museum, among a cast of mummies, Greek statues (some with tiny fig leaves), jewelry, and weapons

7) walking around Covent Garden and to Leicester Square (ooh "Lester" square as they say it) and witnessing the average alcohol consumption level rise among the citizenry as early as 3pm

8) forming a better image of what looks "above" ground (you can actually walk from one station to another in minutes)

and last but not the least

9) still resisting the temptation to exercise after multiple "potato" meals

More photos from my London trip on

http://leocab.zenfolio.com/

Facebook

2007-08-26T10:58:00.000+08:00

Facebook, one of the newest online communities, is amazingly intrusive. It tells you every move that you and your friends make within the site. I love it. It's like watching "Big Brother" but an online version of it.

Imagine... I updated my profile a few weeks ago (I left it blank as I was lazy to do anything with it upon sign-up) and when I selected "single", the summary that appeared on all my friend's welcome page showed that I have changed my status to "single". So everyone thought I secretly got married and decided to divorce. Haha.

I haven't gotten around to all the organised chaos of the site (i.e. features such as stripper name and answering wacky surveys) ; will attempt to join in the fun at some point. I just hope they don't make it as complicated as MySpace which is now becoming to be a platform for budding artists.

Join Facebook and make sure you upload a photo on your profile! Your face looks much better than a question mark which they place as default for blank albums.

Rain Rain Go Away

2007-08-25T14:37:00.000+08:00

I went on a business trip to Manila in mid-August and fortunately escaped a strong typhoon that hit central Luzon (the largest archipelago) which led to a few flights being cancelled. While the weather in Singapore last weekend was not really worth jumping for, I was still glad to have just chilled out at home and met up with a few friends.

Here are some photos from the tropical cyclone that hit the Caribbean (around the same time as the weather chaos in Asia). Scary.

This was meant to be a horizontal road barrier (similar to a security checkpoint).

I was really moved with pity when I saw this photo. Please make sure you look after your pets especially during a storm.

When is the Next Boardgame Afternoon Party

2007-08-18T12:15:00.000+08:00

It is only here in Singapore that I have developed an interest in boardgames. It started when I was invited by a few local friends to check out this cafe that has a lot of boardgames that customers can borrow and play there.

I've played Taboo and Pictionary in recent years and Scrabble, Chess, Boggle, Bingo and Games of the General when I was still even younger but in this day and age, boardgames have become more sophisticated and more catered to the party crowd.

So when I went to London in August last year, I visited Hamley's, a popular toy shop (yes, to explore my inner child) and got exposed to heaps of such stuff. I bought "Get a Letter" and "Humm Bug" and a battery operated card shuffler!

This month I ordered a few more boardgames online and the items have already arrived.

Taboo
http://www.boardgames.com/taboo.html

Pictionary (20th anniv edition)
http://www.boardgames.com/piga20aned.html

Zobmondo "Would You Rather" - Classic
http://www.boardgames.com/zocl.html

Zobmondo "Would You Rather" - Twisted, Sick, and Wrong version
http://www.boardgames.com/zobmondo.html

Cranium Turbo Edition
http://www.boardgames.com/crtued.html

Singapore Lands in the Top 20 of the World's Most Liveable Cities

2007-07-01T12:40:00.000+08:00

Excerpts from The Straits Times (World Section, 23 June 2007, page 40)

The 20 most liveable cites in the world, according to Monocle (European-based lifestyle magazine)

Top 10 : (1) Munich, (2) Copenhagen, (3) Zurich, (4) Tokyo, (5) Vienna, (6) Helsinki, (7) Sydney, (8) Stockholm, (9) Honolulu, (10) Madrid

Next 10: (11) Melbourne, (12) Montreal, (13) Barcelona, (14) Kyoto, (15) Vancouver, (16) Auckland, (17) SINGAPORE, (18) Hamburg, (19) Paris, (20) Geneva

Blue = Visited
Red = Lived in ; all caps (current location)

What makes a great city?
- International long-haul connections with a well-managed, thoughtfully designed airport
- Low crime rates in relation to murders and domestic burglaries
- Quality of education and health care
- Hours of sunshine and average temperature
- Availability of communications and connectivity
- Level of social tolerance, which includes a positive climate for ethnic diversity
- Ease of getting a drink at 1am
- Cost and quality of public transport
- Strength and availability of the local media
- Access to nature, and key environmental initiatives in urban planning

Why Singapore?

One of my best digicam shots of the Esplanade

- Singapore is well connected to the world through Changi Airport, which reportedly handles more than 4,000 flights a week from 80 airlines, traveling to 180 cities in 57 countries

- The country has a comprehensive mobile and communications network.

- Singapore has a low crime rate, all of the 17 murders that occured here last year had been solved

- Singapore's policy of social and racial integration has created a harmonious society

- Living in Singapore is "extremely affordable, despite the country's First World living standards

- The country has one of the world's highest literacy rates, and excellent public housing and transportation systems. Its regulatory and financial systems are also said to be "transparent and efficient"

- The city-state's urban and cultural landscape is said to be "blossoming"

Review of Personal Targets 2007

2007-07-01T09:08:00.000+08:00

We're now midway into 2007 ; a great time to review what I've set to do at the beginning of the year.

On track
- "Singapore Saturday" - be a "tourist" on such day at least twice a month
- Increase interest in high-tech stuff and soccer (i.e. various leagues) -- on track for high-tech stuff only
- Be more active in church through a relevant community
- Exert effort to meet people from South America, Eastern Europe, and Scandinavia -- given a decrease in the number of people I host, I have shifted priority to meeting locals
- Visit friends in Canada; include the US (California as a priority) if time permits -- Canada trip postponed ; US trip in December
- Explore countries within Asia on (extended) weekends where practical

Must act now
- Regularly visit the gym (average rate per visit by yearend should be lower than SG$25).

- Healthy lifestyle - be more conscious of what you eat, get some decent rest

- Join a professional and social organisation within Singapore

- Learn survival swimming!

Dropped from the list due to time constraints (to be replaced by something else in due course)
- Attend another Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan, Thailand

- Learn a foreign language (Spanish, French, or Japanese) at a basic level

Insane Trash Bidders

2007-06-30T23:51:00.000+08:00

I cannot believe an empty gourmet dog food can from Parish Hilton's rubbish is on eBay and has fetched around US$1.5 M.

Other items up for bid (still owned by Paris) are a used toothbrush, an autographed postcard and a fan letter to the celebrity heiress. The highest bid as of 30 June 2007 was for the used toothbrush -- US$285.

There has been so much drama surrounding the life of this woman. Why does everyone want a piece of her? Let us give her and the world a much needed break.

In the mean time, I will continue to use my old toothbrushes to clean my sneakers. Any takers? My old toothbrushes rub bristles with branded shoes...

Paris Hilton raises the global standard for mug shots. Where are the pouty lips, baby?

High Tech Birthday Gifts for Myself

2007-06-03T19:47:00.000+08:00

With approx 115,000 people checking out this year's IT Show at Suntec Convention Centre and around SG$2m sales on Day 1, I can't help but be part of the action last Saturday.

For the 2nd straight year, I got myself a laptop, again as a birthday present.

My Acer Aspire goes on semi-retirement (still figuring out what to do with it) while a Compaq Presario V3000 receives my preferential treatment. I'm tired of having to deal with the slowness of my current laptop and its inability to provide me all of Windows Vista's features so I will do a major repair on it after I set up my new unit.

I'm publishing the specs so I can refer to it in case I need to resell my Compaq next time. Don't ask me what they mean, I hardly have a clue. Haha.

AMD Turion 64 X2 Mobile Technology TL-56 and 512kb+512kb L2 Cache (1.8 Ghz)
14.1" WXGA High-Definition BrightView Widescreen Display (1280x800)
160 GB (5400 RPM) Hard Drive
1024MB DDR2 SDRAM (2 Dimm)
nVidia GeForce Go 6150 with shared graphics memory
LightScribe Super Multi 8x DVD+/-RW with Double Layer Support
802.11 a/b/g WLAN & Bluetooth
5-in-1 Digital Media Reader
ExpressCard/54 PC Card Slot
Expansion Port 3
6-Cell Lithium-Ion battery
Windows Vista Home Premium
Altec Lansing Internal Speaker

I got it for about SGD1,600 inclusive of extended warranty. Not bad.

I opened the package and burst in laughter when I saw the warning on the plastic. Yes, yes, I will not do that.

I also purchased an HP iPAQ Travel Companion rx5700 so I can keep busy while I'm traveling.

I end this entry with a photo showing greeting cards I got from Singapore Airlines PPS Club and Esprit. Esprit is giving me 20% discount on my birthday month. Unfortunately, no free flights from SQ (but still fortunate to still be in PPS until September 2008).

Miss Universe 2007

2007-06-02T01:26:00.000+08:00

Borrowing some of the lyrics of Chumbawamba's "Tubthumping"...

I get knocked down

But I get up again

You're never gonna

Keep me down

Miss USA's embarrassing slip during the evening gown competition of Miss Universe 2007

She landed in the Top 5.

The predominantly Mexican audience were rather unforgiving. Blame it on US-Mexico border tensions and radical immigration reforms by the US. Against American policies or America in general?

I never expected Miss Japan (Riyo Mori) to win. I guess she felt the same way too.

Riyo Mori's mouth opened 25% wider than usual.

But I'm glad this year's winner came from Asia. We should really have good representation for our region in the top 15 every year.

Recent Overseas Trips

2007-05-17T01:19:00.000+08:00

This entry should have been posted much earlier.

I found myself being visiting a different country for a few days for the past three months. More info to come (when I have time)

London , UK (business trip), late March

Sydney, Australia (holiday) - late March

Brisbane, Australia (holiday) - early April

Hong Kong (holiday) - early May

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

My 2nd Oakley in One Year

2007-05-01T22:56:00.000+08:00

Impulse shopping continues to be a personal weakness especially when you live very near a shopping mall.

I've always wanted to get a pair of sunnies after my previous one cracked for some unknown reason (hopefully not due to my driver trying it one too many times; I couldn't care less as he no longer works for me). I knew I will end up purchasing Oakley again after having bought the same brand for my everyday specs. This one comes with the usual magnification (yeah, clip-on lenses scare the hell out of me) and glare free coating (so the digicam flash won't reflect and result in a 2nd take).

In case you are wondering, this new pair also protects my eyes from UV rays -- 100%.

You need to look at the sunnies , not the highlights.

ASEAN Football Final 2007

2007-02-04T18:14:00.000+08:00

Photos from the 1st leg of the ASEAN Football Championship final 2007 between Singapore and Thailand held at the National Stadium (Kallang, Singapore).

Microsoft Windows Vista

2007-02-04T17:36:00.000+08:00

There has been so much hype about Windows Vista, the new Microsoft operating system (to replace Windows XP) that I decided to try the upgrade kit. Also bought Microsoft Office Home & Student and Windows Live One Care (antivirus and anti-spyware).

The installation was rather painful. I had to look up a few stuff over Google which I haven't heard before (i.e. NTFS formatting for hard drive, DEP, etc) that I was relieved to see the Windows Vista logo after a few hours. I was also disappointed that there seemed to be a conflict between the new OS and (read this) Microsoft Live Messenger which occupies at least 50% of my online time.

After spending almost an entire afternoon viewing around 50 pages worth of links, I gave up before I decide to turn the software DVDs into mini flying saucers.

On the positive side, I am beginning to enjoy the new look and feel of Windows Vista. I prefer not to complicate my life just yet so will work my way through the features in the coming days.

My contribution to Microsoft's turnover this year is equivalent to a roundtrip Economy ticket somewhere at least 3.5 hrs away from Singapore so this set of new programs has to deliver as promised. Otherwise, I will impose that Bill Gates send me a set of roundtrip Business Class ticket to the US (which can be truly afford) as payment for wasted time and energy.

All These and More in 2007!

2007-01-01T21:56:00.000+08:00

1. Regularly visit the gym (average rate per visit by yearend should be lower than SG$25).
2. Healthy lifestyle - be more conscious of what you eat, get some decent rest
3. Explore at least 3 countries within Asia on (extended) weekends where practical
4. Attend another Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan, Thailand
5. "Singapore Saturday" - be a "tourist" on such day at least once a month
6. Visit friends in Canada; include the US (California as a priority) if time permits
7. Exert effort to meet people from South America, Eastern Europe, and Scandinavia
8. Increase interest in high-tech stuff and soccer (i.e. various leagues)
9. Learn a foreign language (Spanish, French, or Japanese) at a basic level
10. Learn survival swimming (dependent on results of regular gym visits)!
11. Be more active in church through a relevant community
12. Join a professional and social organisation within Singapore

NYE in Singapore

2007-01-01T02:30:00.000+08:00

I celebrated the crossover to 2007 in Siloso beach in Sentosa via an MTV collabo party. First time to be away from home on NYE and first time to jump up and down the sand while shaking coins in my pocket.

I left the cabinet doors open and some lights turned on (as per family tradition every New Year) but couldn't complete the 12 round fruits plus pineapple on my dining table.

I face 2007 with joyful anticipation. Happy New Year to all !

Foam that beats the one I see when I take a shower everyday.

MTV VJ's Denise and Utt

Welcome 2007 !

The ladies working their way thru the bubbles.

Showdown in Little Tokyo

2006-12-21T21:44:00.000+08:00

On board a flight from Tokyo to Singapore (William M - yeah, Mile High Club for nerds).

Had a great time in Tokyo. Sad to leave but excited to come back. Let me tell you why:

1) It experiences the four seasons with winter as my most favorite one
2) Fashion is high on the priority list for people here. If it isn't, then why do women wear mini skirts in winter?
3) Japanese are potentially a friendly bunch of people, if only I knew how to speak their language.
4) It is a perfect example of organised chaos -- hundreds of people crossing the intersection at any given time; you lose a few pounds being squeezed in the train
5) Japan has retained its culture in spite of rapid growth and development

Just outside the Imperial Palace grounds

Extremely busy intersection at Shibuya (Tokyo)

Leaves during winter

Claim to fame shot (you just need to guess who will become more famous after this shot). Random Jap girls at Harajuku. Thanks Tomoko for getting them to pose.

Check out my Fotopage soon for more photos.

Zouk Out 2006

2006-12-10T04:47:00.000+08:00

More photos to be uploaded on my Fotopages soon.

Never an Out of Bed Look

2006-11-30T23:56:00.000+08:00

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?

2006-11-11T16:23:00.000+08:00

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

2006-11-11T16:05:00.000+08:00

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

2006-11-05T15:33:00.000+08:00

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

2006-11-05T15:00:00.000+08:00

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

2006-11-05T14:48:00.000+08:00

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.

It's Beginning to Feel a Lot Like Christmas

2006-10-29T21:20:00.000+08:00

I almost forgot that Christmas is just around the corner! I took this photo at Vivo City (Singapore's newest and biggest shopping mall). Tangs, a department store, had a Christmas booth and it kinda got me into the groove.

Not sure where I will spend Christmas yet. I prefer not to go back to Manila.

Up in the Sky

2006-10-10T13:01:00.000+08:00

For the first time ever, I am using internet on board a flight. So consider this post extra special.

I just came from Sydney and apart from work (which I really came there for), I also spent time with new and old friends. Checked out the usual places but explored a few new ones.

Now I am traveling to Singapore to catch a late afternoon flight that takes me to Bangkok. I'll be there for 1.5 weeks to attend a Leadership Course. It's sad to leave Sydney (cut the trip short by 3 days) but hey, it's a training program I'm attending with colleagues from other countries in a very decent hotel so can't complain.

Hopefully I can schedule a return trip to Sydney in March to attend a friend's wedding.

Friends I hung out with at least twice in this trip :

The boys from Bondi - Ben and David.

Naomi two years after the Full Moon Party at Koh Phangan, Thailand

[Update 5 Nov 06: More photos on Australia here]

Lots of Walking this Weekend

2006-10-01T23:01:00.000+08:00

North America or Europe?

I went to the NATAS travel fair at the Singapore Expo and spent around 3 hours collecting leaflets and brochures to prepare for a major holiday in 2007.

The travel fair happens twice a year (March and September), with each attempting to cover packages for the next two quarters. Unfortunately, Oct to Mar are busy months for work so I will have to leisurely go through all the stuff I collected (equivalent in weight to my weekly groceries!).

Also saw a model of the A380, the largest plane on the planet. Can't figure out how big it is?

- From conceptualisation to assembly about 6,000 engineers and technicians have worked on the A380 programme development

- Each wingspan has an area of 845sq meters that can shelter 2800 people

- It has a total volume of 1570 cubic meters, enough to accommodate 4.5 million tennis balls

- It has the height of 24.1 meters (approximately the height of 5 giraffes)

- A length of 72.6 meters (2 times the length of a blue whale)

Singapore Airlines : the first to fly A380

Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival

I also checked out the lantern festival at the Chinese Garden with friends. First time in the area. Very impressive lanterns. More photos to be uploaded on Fotopages soon.

Zouk

2006-09-30T13:06:00.000+08:00

Aaron (visiting from the US) and I checked out Zouk on Friday night. Haven't been there for a year and though I am beginning to be a convert of Ministry of Sound, I think I'll be heading back to Zouk at some point.

BT was the guest DJ. Didn't know who he was 'til I checked this site. Turns out he is ranked 23 in the world. The place was packed with cool people who contrary to my previous observation (see post below on Double O) know how to dance.

Number of casualties seen: 2 (wondering why their friends really didn't look out after them)

Evidence of alcohol trauma: 1 (the janitor was busy cleaning the stairs)
Number of people who landed on their ass due to the slippery stairs: 2

I remain to be an advocate of responsible, moderate drinking.

Typhoon Milenyo (Philippines)

2006-09-30T03:35:00.000+08:00

Very sorry to hear about the destructive typhoon that hit the Philippines, particularly Manila. Hope you guys are keeping safe and staying out of trouble.

The profile name of those who uploaded these on Flickr is in parentheses.

Unusual colors before the storm. (danielliao)

Flying metal sheet (erico06)

Bus pinned down by the billboard. (jiformales)

Gusty winds tear Philippine flag along the bay. (Acermate433)

The New Singapore Idol

2006-09-26T21:13:00.000+08:00

Singapore Idol is the 2nd show I've seen from start to finish this year (the other one was Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition). I'm glad my bet, Hady Mirza, won. We have the same vocal style but he has more fans and a much wider vocal range. Not sure if you got that. Haha.

Photo taken from the Singapore Idol website

Now that Singapore Idol is over, I'll try to catch some episodes of the "Amazing Race".

Same Same But Different

2006-09-26T19:30:00.000+08:00

Bangkok and Manila clubbing at its finest ... with a lot of second-hand smoke to endure.

Clicking each link below takes you to the relevant set of travel photos in my other webpage.

Bed Supperclub (Bangkok, Thailand) - 2 Sept 06

Embassy (Manila, Philippines) - 23 Sept 06

Big Brother is Watching

2006-09-17T14:11:00.000+08:00

I created a new blog today, "Big Brother is Watching". In such space, I will assume the role of Big Brother (cf Big Brother reality TV show).

Drawing inspiration from "Stream of Consciousness", a literary device used by James Joyce, such blog will contain random questions I will ask about the world. Communication will likely be one-way, i.e. I will do all the talking and will not be expecting any reply (though comments are welcome).

And since it's random, it should be fairly easy to type a one-liner whenever I feel like posting a question.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.

"Wild" Nights

2006-09-17T11:32:00.000+08:00

Night Safari

I started my week with a trip to the Night Safari with colleagues from work. The last time I went there was in 2001, the year when I first visited Singapore en route to the Philippines from Australia. It was amazing how they were able to simulate moonlight in various areas, more thrilling was the fact that the animals really didn't mind that humans were entering their "personal space".

We also caught one of the shows where some trained animals were showcased. I didn't muster enough courage to volunteer for the segment where they called on someone to carry a python on his/her shoulders for a few minutes. There goes my macho-man image! I realise that I do not exist to please strangers. Well I could... if the price is right.

Fr. Goh's talk

I also attended a talk on "Exorcism and Deliverance" by a Catholic Charismatic priest over at Waterloo St. There were about 170 people who attended it. Knowledge is power. Main takeout is that we need to be aware that the evil one exists and that we always should have control of our mind and spirit. Renouncing one's sins and strengthening one's prayer life will surely help battle the evil one.

Singapore Dreaming

I caught "Singapore Dreaming" this weekend. The movie helped me understand various aspects of Singapore's culture (parent's desire to send kids abroad to study, the car as a status symbol, aspiration to move out of government housing to a condo) -- not sure if all these are true though. I feel it didn't have enough production values to be featured in an international filmfest. The ending was rather weird and left me wanting more substance.

Double O

My best night in Singapore was spent at Double O with a few friends. Double O is a bar located at the corner of Unity St and River Valley Road.

Fridays and Saturdays are wild nights -- they played retro (80's) so the place was packed with teens (living off their parent's allowance) and adults in their 20' / early 30's (who were reminiscing their younger years). I can't believe most of the drinks were tagged at S$3 ! We got a table at 9pm since we knew it was going to be a busy night.

I was also amused with what my friends call "synchronized dancing", a phenomenon I only saw here. It's when people dancing on the ledge (or platform) have the same moves as if they had rehearsed it previously. It is similar to literal song interpretation. I was impressed with how much teens knew the lyrics of almost every song that was played. Wonder how much time they spend doing their homework!!

My top 3 hits for the night:
- We Built this City (on Rock and Roll) by Jefferson Starship
- (Together in) Electric Dreams by Human League
- Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley

I guess I should have worn my retro shirt on Sat night instead of Friday!

Shirt from one of my trips to Bangkok; background: other shirts in my closet (there are still a lot in my other room that have not been ironed!)

Weekend in Sing

2006-09-10T12:55:00.000+08:00

Just Here

After two weekends of being overseas (Philippines then Thailand), I am spending a relaxing weekend in Singapore.

It's cool to just chill out at home and have the right of first refusal to head out.

My home is back to its orderly state as I spent at least an hour keeping it tidy. And to get rid of all the unwanted clutter, I got myself a paper shredder! I am fairly easy to please sometimes.

My soon-to-be-overused paper shredder ...

I finished the shoot with ten fingers intact.

Blogger Set Up

Done adding the usual items on the sidebar (links, website counter, update subscription box) but lost my profile photo as the software which has a link with Blogger still does not support the beta version.

Back to IKEA

I intentionally did not visit IKEA for a few weeks because I dropped by the store almost everyday from mid-June to mid-July because of my permanent accommodation transfer. I ended the hiatus and added more points to my IKEA Friends card today with my SGD217 purchase.

Farewell Disco Template

2006-09-06T00:27:00.000+08:00

A fresh new look for my blog. Work in progress - you will see the final layout in the coming days.

Pluto No Longer a Planet !

2006-08-24T23:59:00.000+08:00

And then there were 8.

Today, leading astronomers (International Astronomical Union) declared that Pluto is no longer a planet after its initial discovery in 1930. The debate which involved looking at four separate proposals lasted for 8 days.

The Cast:

Planets: The eight worlds from Mercury to Neptune.

Dwarf Planets: Pluto and any other round object that "has not cleared the neighborhood around its orbit, and is not a satellite." Dwarf planets are not planets in the definition.

Small Solar System Bodies: All other objects orbiting the Sun.

And I thought demotion applied only in the workplace! I'm sure future generations will miss out on such an interesting planet. At least they will still know another Pluto (the Disney character).

Nothing is really permanent in this world... well, solar system.

London

2006-08-16T03:46:00.000+08:00

My adventures in almost sunny London (9-15 August 06). More text to follow.

I like taking this type of photo on long hauls. This is a journey across 6,000 miles. Now convert that to km !! Haha.

British Airways London Eye. The posh ferris wheel that provides you a decent view of the city for GBP 12.

The Big Ben and the House of Parliament. Lots of debates happen here. Which came first - the chicken or the egg?

Believe it when they sing "London Bridge is falling down (falling down), London Bridge is falling down... my fair lady".

Financial District. Need I say the nearest station is called "Bank".

Topshop & Topman (Oxford St) -- opens at 11.30am but begins serving customers at the counter only at noon. They probably exercise their hands and arms first prior to all-day action.

Storm Chasing

2006-08-01T22:56:00.000+08:00

Ever since I watched "Twister", I have become interested in going on a storm chasing tour, with seeing a tornado as a primary objective.

From Wikipedia:

Most tornadoes follow a recognizable life cycle. The cycle begins when a strong thunderstorm develops a rotating mesocyclone a few miles up in the atmosphere, becoming a supercell. As rainfall in the storm increases, it drags with it an area of quickly descending air known as the rear flank downdraft (RFD). This downdraft accelerates as it approaches the ground, and drags the rotating mesocyclone towards the ground with it.

As the mesocyclone approaches the ground, a visible condensation funnel appears to descend from the base of the storm, often from a rotating wall cloud. As the funnel decends, the RFD also reaches the ground, creating a gust front that can cause damage a good distance from the tornado. Usually, the funnel cloud begins causing damage on the ground (becoming a tornado) within minutes of the RFD reaching the ground.

Initially, the tornado has a good source of warm, moist inflow to power it, so it grows until it reaches the mature stage. During its mature stage, which can last anywhere from a few minutes to more than an hour, a tornado often causes the most damage, and can in rare instances be more than one mile across.

Ok, ok. I also like to see and touch snow at some point in my life but everytime I watch Discovery Channel, I can't help but look up info on the internet.

Tonight, I did a Google search and came across two sites which I first viewed a few years ago. Still up and running and still running after their lives when they are close to the action.

http://www.stormchasing.com

http://www.tempesttours.com/index.html

For approximately US$ 2,500 (S$ 4,000), one can go on a six-day tour to catch supercell-type thunderstorms capable of producing severe weather, including tornadoes. The tours originate from Oklahoma and Colorado during the months of May, June, and July. This year, 6 tornadoes have caused damage along the Tornado Alley.

The Fujita scale is the official classification scale for tornado damage (note: it's the impact, not the size that matters).

The scale ranges from F0 (Gale tornado -- 40-72 mph; Some damage to chimneys; breaks branches off trees; pushes over shallow-rooted trees; damages sign boards) to F6 (Inconceivable -- 319-379 mph; cannot be identified thru engineering studies). Because F6's are rare, I guess it is better to place the max at F5 (Incredible tornado -- 261-318 mph; Strong frame houses lifted off foundation, automobile size missiles fly through the air in excess of 100 meters). Scary.

I'm giving myself 10 years to prepare for an encounter with nature's dark side. Need to practice smiling in front of the digicam in stressful situations.

Two and a Half Months Old in Singapore

2006-07-30T01:41:00.000+08:00

(More text to follow).

Mounting frames on the wall was the last piece of work to be done in my month long "home building" personal project.

After 5 years, I've highlighted my hair again. I even appointed a Color Technician and a Sylist here. More structure means better styling.

I had several visitors during the past few months (including my family). I had to discover creative ways to entertain them (and myself like in this photo).

Look for me on the upper left side of this screen capture of a Singapore Idol telecast. Stategic seating at its finest.

Figuring out how to shape the tube balloon properly. National Day Parade 2006 Preview show , Sat 30 July 2006.

The Idol Song

2006-07-08T00:21:00.000+08:00

The end of an Idol season brings forth not only a new artist but a song describing his or her journey. Here's one of them, a fast-becoming fave of mine.

You should listen to the track.

Do I Make You Proud?
Taylor Hicks , American Idol 2006

I've never been the one to raise my hand
That was not me, and now that's who I am
Because of you, I am standing tall
My heart is full of endless gratitude
You were the one, the one to guide me through
Now I can see and I believe
It's only just beginning

This is what we dream about
But the only question with me now
Is do I make you proud?
Stronger than I've ever been now
Never been afraid of standing out
But do I make you proud?

I guess I've learned to question is to grow
That you still have faith is all I need to know
I've learned to love myself in spite of me
And I've learned to walk the road that I believe

This is what we dream about
But the only question with me now
Is do I make you proud?
Stronger than I've ever been now
Never been afraid of standing out
But do I make you proud?

Everybody needs to rise up
Everybody needs to be loved
To be loved

This is what we dream about
But the only question with me now
Is do I make you, do I make you proud?

This is what we dream about
But the only question with me now
Is do I make you, do I make you proud?
Stronger than I've ever been now
Never been afraid of standing out
But do I make you proud?
Do I make you proud?

This is what we dream about
But the only question with me now
Is do I make you, do I make you proud?

World Cup

2006-06-13T22:55:00.000+08:00

Believe it or not, I have begun following the World Cup ... from checking out the FIFA site for official results to catching the matches on the widescreen with everyone else who averages 4 bottles of beer in 2 hours (I try to lower such figure by limiting myself to 2 in 2 days).

I have never been interested in such high class sport than now. It even came to a point when I wanted to buy a book about soccer just to make sure I know what is happening on the turf. All I found were books on how to coach kiddie teams. Hey, I'd rather learn how to swim than kick balls! That doesn't sound right...

This whole World Cup excitement is complemented by my return to the gym. It was a painful return to the place I had long neglected due to work and relocation. My muscles still ache three (3) days after I made them realise their existence. I'm sure it can only be exciting from this point forward.

I end this entry with some interesting photos from the FIFA World Cup website.

For this World Cup, I'm keeping a close watch on England, Australia, South Africa, and Germany.

To my German friends, it's a shame I am unable to travel there at this time!

Exciting to see women like her in the stadium. Also made me realise that Miss Universe will be held in July.

Can't Wait to Reach 30 Years Old

2006-06-04T09:55:00.000+08:00

I turned 29 years old today. Yey, I kept awake until the birthday crossover at midnight then slept until 630 am.

This is only the 3rd time I'm spending it away from the Philippines.

1st - US , 2001
2nd - Australia, 2003
3rd - Singapore, 2006

So that leaves me with a few more continents to cover for next time.

Last night while watching the finals night of a reality TV show on cable, I thought of several things to do on my birthday:

- Visit the Sir Raffles Landing site
- Ride the DHL hot air balloon near Suntec so I can see a panoramic view of Singapore
- Eat Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream

These activities mean something when it comes to how I want to make my two year assignment here meaningful and memorable.

- Appreciate history and create a good sense of history for those who will come after me
- Always have an overall view of things before you get into the details.
- Gain some guilt free calories. Haha. Seriously though, have fun even in simple ways.

I never got around to doing what I had planned to do for today but those lessons are what I will keep in mind from 29th year onwards.

In another symbolic moment, I finally got myself a laptop. I had been wanting to purchase one since university days but why buy a laptop if you can spend it on other important things? But I can't live by myself and not have internet access anytime I want it. I'll go insane or probably memorize all the shows on local and cable TV. The challenging part now is how I will be able to discipline myself and not spend too much time in front of my new toy. Should be easier to manage now than back home.

So what did I do today? I set up my laptop so I can get it up and running soonest ; got some stuff from the supermarket for the week ahead ; met up with Nick and Jen, friends from Scotland who are heading back home this Monday; made another big purchase (see next paragraph); and spent dinner with colleagues who found time off their busy weekend sked to chill out on my birthday (Thanks Sandy for organising it).

The photo below was my last purchase from the 16th Singapore PC Show held at Suntec from 1st to 4th June. I spent 5 hours yesterday trying to buy the laptop and other peripherals that I needed to go back for the printer. It's amazing that they even give away a stroller to make things easier. I suddenly felt like I'm back in my early school days with my gigantic bag.

There's much to discover about myself in this new place, hopefully with no heavy baggage to take with me when I move to the next one.

The First 90 Days

2006-05-14T14:07:00.000+08:00

Just arrived and settling in quite well.

The First 90 Days:
- Scout stuff for the home, including kitchen items
- Basic level cooking (wonder what that means haha)
- Execute work plan for new role
- Begin a skill development training / course
- Find a good parish to regularly attend Sunday mass
- Explore a singles community (could be parish-based)
- Master Singapore's public transport system
- Familiarize myself with Singapore's districts (relative proximity to each other)
- Ensure sound financial transactions in-country and overseas
- Find a gym which you will actually go to
- (More to come)

First set of groceries

Poetic Justice

2006-04-27T00:16:00.000+08:00

From About.com

Poetic justice is a literary outcome in which bad characters are punished and good characters are rewarded. Think: "What comes around goes around." In its purest form, poetic justice is when one character plots to undermine another and then ends up caught in his own trap.

From Answers.com

An outcome in which virtue is rewarded and evil punished, often in an especially appropriate or ironic manner. For example, It was poetic justice for the known thief to go to jail for the one crime he didn't commit. [Early 1700s]

I am thinking of real-life examples...

Sydney Surfer Wannabee

2006-04-23T17:37:00.000+08:00

Today, Australia braces itself for yet another season of Big Brother. It's now on its 6th straight year.

This means I had finished my three-month overseas assignment in Sydney five years ago (1st season was in 2000). Time flies so quickly indeed.

My "physical presence" (ahem, weight) has also seen tremendous growth. A trip to our company clinic last Friday for the first phase of my exit physical examination revealed that my weight over the past 6.5 years had increased by 20% ! I can already see the treadmill running over me (and not the other way around) in sheer disgust. That will change soon. Haha.

It's always nice to come across stuff that help you remember the good ole days.

2001 - Sporting the "about to head to school look" . I miss Sydney big time.

2006 - The 5-years of practicing my smile on cam have hopefully helped.

The past half decade has also been a witness to my transformation into a more sociable, international man of mystery (such nick from Oli and Pao, two of my good buddies from school) where strangers can become friends, where amazing places can be just a plane ride away.

Singapore Stopover

2006-04-14T23:10:00.000+08:00

This is the longest stay I've had in Singapore. Been here several times for different reasons -- work, holiday, both. But this trip is meant to plan a transition -- into my new role and into a new phase in my life.

I have accepted the invitation to take up an appointment outside the Philippines starting 15 May 2006. It may not be the best time to move given all the changes but I must admit there is really no such thing as a perfect time. I feel that I am ready to move on to another role after having been in a local job for three years. My new job will help me develop a wider perspective of my company and a deeper understanding of my Expertise area. Should be challenging , just as I had wanted it to be.

Apart from a much needed work-related change, I have been praying for a change in lifestyle. I have no complaints about my life in Manila -- generally fast-paced but surprisingly controlled (by myself haha). I am actively involved in Church, I get to meet people who can carry on a conversation in my "sporadic" clubbing, and I believe I live a balanced life. But why stay in Manila if you can try it out in another country, at least for a short period of time?

Singapore is the closest I can get to Australia, US, UK in Asia, probably even better. Nope, I do not consider Singapore as a country occupying consolation place as I am unable to secure a job in those three countries at this time. I like Singapore -- it is well-run; people are warm & disciplined; it is multi-cultural. And the prospect of finding my own place (literally and figuratively) is all the more exciting.

This week, I tried to keep it simple / low-key. No bar hopping nor clubbing. Only a lot of walking and catching up with friends. I attempted to get as much sleep as I can and had been quite successful... only after decent rest time following "I can't breathe coz I'm so full" meals. Also managed to : (1) insert a trip to IKEA, my most favorite place in Singapore, so I can scout for possible furniture; (2) buy two scoops of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream (made me recall my first taste of it way back June 2001) ; (3) book a Gold Class seat at the cinema for the first time to watch "Inside Man"; and (4) meet a few new friends.

I am excited to try things for the first time when I relocate to Singapore. But as always, the good things should have a repeat act.

"Close to You" Premiere

2006-02-18T17:51:00.000+08:00

I spent a number of hours at SM Megamall on Valentine's Day... evening. For those who know me quite well, I don't find extreme pleasure in hanging out in crowded areas that attract various types of people -- from jologs to small-time thieves, except when I am overseas.

But there I was walking in a sea of humanity trying to kill time after having arrived rather early for a 7pm movie premiere.

My company was co-sponsoring a film , "Close to You" , to further provide mileage to the #1 tootpaste brand , Close-Up.

Synopsis here : http://www.abs-cbn.com/close2u/story.aspx

Trailer below (Overseas friends -- Sorry could not offer any translation to the Tagalog lines!) :

I am not an avid fan of the local film industry but sometimes I change my inclination and feel proud of what we have to offer to the world. Okay, that's me being nationalistic for a few seconds.

Why spend evening of Valentine's in a theater watching a Tagalog film? I had good reasons to go :

1) My company was involved in organising the event.

Not only was I guaranteed decent seats , it was also my way of showing support to my colleagues. I've always expressed interest in attending brand activities, especially Close-Up's so it was not difficult for me to find time for this one. I lost my mobile phone during the finals of "Close-Up to Fame", a reality TV show we co-sponsored in September ; all possessions intact this time round!

2) Sam's film debut.

I met Sam a few weeks before he entered the Pinoy Big Brother house. Hung out with him and few overseas friends a couple of times. It's cool that he has remained humble in spite of the instant stardom his stint in the show has brought him. Now I know why it was impossible to catch him via SMS or mobile call during the past few months, though I managed to chat with him a few times before seeing him at the premiere.

Sam : good start, man! Can't wait to hear you speak fluent Tagalog in future films. Now that the series of shootings is over, go get some decent rest.

Sam on the extreme left ; with the cast of "Close to You".

3) It's a showbiz event.

A local movie premiere won't be complete without industry personalities. As my friend and I walked along the red carpet leading to the (better) theater entrance, I can't help but wonder if the fans waiting by the metal barriers thought I was some bit player in some so-so film. Managed to chat with JB, a buddy of mine who was formerly a Pinoy Big Brother housemate ; meet a few people from the PBB show, the winners of "Close Up to Fame" (Reyson and Carine), Erick (Sam's manager) , some members of the film production team, and of course the main cast.

Three Ateneans: With "honorary" Unilever family members, Reyson Yap and Carine Cabebe.

With Bea Alonzo, female lead.

4) Guilt-free party night.

I filed a vacation leave on 15 Feb as I expected a long night. Last time I did this "don't-go-to- work-the-following-day" approach was when Paul van Dyk, a famous DJ, visited Manila in December 2004 (warehouse party was a Thursday).

Verdict on the film:

Pardon my review (I'm no expert !)...

Good. No hard-selling of the brand. Acting was very natural. Brilliant storytelling and attention to details. Surprise, surprise, film managed to bring out positive values as well.

Fantastic theme song (obviously, "Close to You") . Lyrics here:

http://pinoypundit.blogspot.com/2006/01/close-to-you-by-sam-milby-mp3-lyrics.html

Inside the theater, I did not manage to track the number of times the fans shrieked everytime their idol's face was focused onscreen and whenever the characters would have "kilig" moments. What an amazing experience to be in a theater filled with an animated and receptive audience (close to the thrill of watching an Ateneo or Ginebra game with the team winning).

Some realisations on V-Day after having been exposed to a semi-showbiz gathering:

1) Celebrities strive to be as simple as they can. A lot of people notice them big time but probably celebrities prefer that such is not the case so they can just carry on having meaningful and normal conversations with the people around them just as non-celebrities do.

2) Assuming I had more decent looks and possess a higher level of talent in acting/singing/dancing/flame-throwing hehe) , the only reason why I would only like to be popular is to get preferential treatment from people in the service industry -- e.g. waiters, salespeople in shops, security, even the traffic enforcers! So far, I haven't had any truly undesirable experience with service people but sometimes I feel they could be more responsive to customer requests. However, I don't want to be too popular that people will be interested to know what I pick up in the supermarket or who I hang out with.

3) People in showbiz could pass to be genuine friends. Same view for those in the modeling profession. It is easy to sense if a person is pretending to be nice (worst if pretending to be smart) , whether showbiz or non-showbiz. No matter how popular they can be, some celebrities don't change their attitude towards meeting and interacting with people. I pity individuals who behave negatively when fame kicks in. I declare war against people around celebrities who pretend they are more admired than the people they assist.

4) I can consider working in media at some point. Some friends have asked if I wanted to join the overseas MBA / post-grad bandwagon. My standard reply : "Maybe but the course should be media-related". Havent changed such thought. If I were to work for a local television network or film outfit, I predict a great deal of adjustment. I need to get along with everyone and consider how diverse their backgrounds could be. Politics in media should be exciting. Not to mention the increased level of expense during Christmas time -- need to give gifts to the entire world.

5) Will I consider Pinoy Big Brother as a way to get into the industry? Certainly not. I've been a fan of Big Brother Australia for half a decade now and can claim to be able to discuss "intelligently" the in's and out's of the program. However, I prefer to maintain my current lifestyle and expose my life to the entire country. With a creative productive team behind Pinoy Big Brother, one can be assured that trying to withhold further information is non-sense. I also find it uncool to cry on national TV (especially if I don't get the type of hair styling product I need). Hehe. Maybe I can try out as an anchor or segment host someday.

So with the above sharing, I feel that you are now "Closer to Me" , rightly or wrongly...

South Africa

2006-01-21T23:27:00.000+08:00

Finally managed to get broadband connection here at the Westcliff Hotel in Johannesburg!! Maybe my room LAN connection during my previous stay was defective. Bummer.

My hotel is sooo upper class I could not sleep properly : http://www.westcliff.co.za/web/ojnb/ojnb_a1a_splash.jsp

Here's what I did in South Africa :

Sat, 14 Jan
Welcomed at the airport by my good buddy Nolan. Met his fiancee Tina at their home in Pretoria. Fantastic couple. They really made my stay very special.

With Nolan and Tina at the South African Administrative Building in Pretoria

Chatted for a few minutes then they took me around for the "admin stuff" (exchange money, buy prepaid mobile, etc). Checked out some really cool spots within the Pretoria and neighboring areas. Had my first taste of African cuisine and my first exposure to souvenir bargaining.

Dinner at Menlyn Mall in a resto called "Baobab" (named after a massive local tree) with Tina, Heinrich, Frank. Wayne (formerly online buddy) followed shortly after we checked out the menu. Coffee at Nolan's home.

With Tina, Frank, and Wayne (Heinrich missing in the photo). Had to ask the waiter to take a few shots to get the perfect clarity... to no avail !

Sun, 15 Jan
After visiting a garden expo, Nolan, Tina and I went to the Univ of Pretoria for "braai" , Afrikaans for "BBQ" . Great food, grilled the Afrikaans way. Met De Clercq and Madel (De Clercq is Nolan's buddy from high school).

Assorted meat during our "braai". That long thing circling the grill is the local sausage.

Coffee at Nolan's home, nap, then dinner at a coffee shop. Wonderful pizza and dessert.

I then prepared for my transfer to Jo'burg the following day.

Mon, 16 Jan
Nolan and Tina arranged a private car (can't take the cabs here as they say) which took me from Pretoria to Johannesburg. While waiting for the official check-in time, a shuttle took me and a few colleagues to a nearby mall (Sandton City). Walked around in a "let's get lost while in the mall" manner until I got so tired I treated myself to a movie "Brothers Grimm". Guess how much I paid... PHP 360 (equivalent to two Dolby Digital movies in Manila).

Jason and his GF Nicole met me at the hotel and took me out to a nice resto (forgot the name) at Rosebank Mall. Also had the chance to check out his office for a few minutes to view his party and travel photos in his laptop.

With Nicole and Jason in the latter's office in Rosebank Mall.

Tue, 17 Jan
Work officially started. We talked about how we can transform HR and add value to the company within the next several years. Good stuff but the jargon might not interest you.

Company dinner at Moyo at Melrose Arch. Initially briefed to serve South African food, I learned later that night that it could have been Morrocan that we munched on. Nice native atmosphere but service was rather slow. Anything free is great though!

Lamb and chicken curry. I was terribly hungry when these arrived.

Wed, 18 Jan
Day 2 of work.

De Clercq and Madel, whom I met from the Sunday braai, picked me up from the hotel and brought me to a great Italian resto. I also met Leon, De Clercq's flatmate. Interesting man who has a passion for the movies. After dinner, we had coffee at Melville, a street lined up with cool bars and restaurants.

With De Clercq, Madel, Leon. Turns out that the resto experienced power failure earlier that night so they had candles all around.

Thu, 19 Jan
Day 3 of work (final).

Denis (online buddy for about 3 years) and his friend Jean picked me up from the hotel and brought me to a Portugese resto in Melville. They are both originally from Ukraine so my interest in visiting their country increased. We hit a few bars/clubs in nearby areas and ended around 1 am.

With Denis and Jean at a Portugese resto. First time to meet Ukrainians.

Fri, 20 Jan
Shopping at the African Crafts center near Rosebank Mall. It's amusing that the store assistants wouldn't give up. Wonder how many "first customers" they've had that morning! Lunch in the area with Willy, a colleague from work.

Checked out from the hotel and hit the road for Pilanesberg National Park, a game reserve where visitors can see Africa's "Big 5" : lion, elephant, leopard, rhino, and buffalo. Stayed at the Bakubang Lodge ("Bakubang" = People of the Hippo) with Rupert, Van, and Willy.

Did an evening game drive (430-800 pm) aboard a Nissan truck specially designed for safaris. Saw heaps of animals including lions (too far away though), elephants, giraffes, hippos, deers, and a hyena -- thanks to Peter (ranger) who had excellent vision! Also met Ken and Tamsin from the UK, Neil from Canada.

Good ole mini-tripod at work for this evening game drive group photo. L-R: Ken, Tamsin, Van, Neil, Willy, me, Rupert ; kneeling : Peter (ranger)

Sumptuous buffet dinner which I did not do much justice to. Then off to bed.

Sat, 21 Jan (updated Mon, 23 Jan)
Woke up at 430 am to prepare for a morning game drive (530-830 am). Saw a lot of rhinos, zebras, and gazelles. Also spotted a jackal (I almost blurted out "jackass" when I saw it!) Ended the drive with a sighting of a leopard sitting majestically on a rock. Glad we didnt look too attractive for breakfast.

Look at the center of the photo (leopard). We saw this a few minutes before we hit the exit. Amazing.

In this morning drive, I met a lady named Jenny from Cape Town and Rentia (ranger).

Travelled 400 km, dropped off Willy, Rupert, and Van at the airport then booked again at the Westcliff. Did some shopping at Hyde Park Mall and met Xander a guy who works for a bookshop there. He originally comes from Holland but has been based in Joburg for several years. He gave me some tips on which clubs to visit. Cool guy, will probably keep in touch with him (just like all the friends I met in this trip).

I was supposed to meet up with Grey and Scott for dinner for that did not push through. So I chilled out in the hotel until I got picked up by Jean (my Ukrainian buddy) at around 10pm.

Met up with Denis and his two other friends Daniel and Yuliya (both from Russia) at News Bar in Rivonia. Had a few drinks including a flaming one which almost killed me (but not quite hehe). We were supposed to hit a club but decided it was a rip off (Rand70 = PHP360) for a one-hour scan.

Sun, 22 Jan
Nolan and I had complete Continental and English combo breakfast at the Westcliff (Unfortunately, Tina could not make it as her mom was in town). Good convo as usual then he drove me to the airport for my flight to Singapore.

It is cool that the person who met me at the airport almost a week ago was the same person who sent me off. Complete cycle indeed.

Here's a breakdown of the people I personally met in South Africa (non-work):

Initally met online (well, I've finally met them!) : 5
Formally introduced: 8
By chance / random friendly chat : 6
Online friends whom I was hoping to meet but didn't get to : 3

South Africa is like Australia in many ways. It is a country worth visiting again -- for sights unseen and for the wonderful friends I met the first time around. Hopefully, I will attempt to obtian my VISA long before my flight next time!

More photos on my Fotopages site (link on the left side) in the coming days!

Back in the Driver's Seat

2006-01-08T13:05:00.000+08:00

Turn on the Engine

Our driver decided on his own to take an extended leave without due notice so in my family's view, he has put an end to his employment. This is the last behavioral issue we could tolerate so we were happy to let him go. And with such half-expected exit, a few adjustments had to take place. What an unusual way of welcoming the new year.

So I am back in the driver's seat (literally) now having a heightened awareness of what needs to be checked in the car regularly, which roads shall get me to my destination in the least possible time, and yes my dreaded driver-related task, strategically finding the right parking slot and battling it out with individuals who have great peripheral vision for cars backing out of the parking area!

It's a cool situation. Believe it or not, I am beginning to love driving. Praise God for cars on automatic transmission! If only I could get the undisciplined pedestrians and bus drivers off the streets...

Now that I have full control of the wheels, there are two (2) 2006 goals at risk : (1) heading back to the gym (though the accelerator-brake combo in driving to Makati + parking slot hunt shall be my warm-up) and (2) my newly-discovered passion : hosting overseas travellers. Too early in the year to worry about these; I should find a remedy at some point.

The Pseudo-Backpacker

Friday night... Pao and Shelly, one of my most favorite couple friends from uni, are heading back to the US this weekend so they invited us to a gimmick at Metrowalk. Go figure what was on my mind when I got their SMS. Wide gap between work and gimmick time, long drive to the north and back home, sleepy or tipsy or both.

In a posh moment, I decided to book myself at one of the popular condo-hotels in Ortigas for the night. I've never paid for accommodation beyond my home while in Manila (only when overseas). No violent reaction from my ever-conservative family (what's a guy to do when sleeping on his own in a booked place overnight).

My room was similar to the 4-star hotels I've stayed in Singapore. Comfy bed, good entertainment system, though cramped T&B. Had dinner there and the food was nothing great (still better though than driving to El Pueblo). Slept for a while then prepared myself for a night of catching up. The irony of it all : Never even had a sip that night.

Stayed here until 1030 am / Sat, 7 Jan 06

2006 - Last Reviewed 23 April 2006

2006-01-01T01:47:00.000+08:00

Learn German. [to be done in Singapore; could be replaced by another skill]
Travel outside Asia. [Done 14-22 Jan 06 , South Africa ; though I still plan to go to North America this year]
Host at least ten (10) overseas travellers for free. [As of end-Feb 2006 : 3]
Meet people from North and South America (of course, make friends with everyone else!). [As of March 2006 : 3]
Maintain a blog. [On-going]
Head back to the gym. Walk fast. Lift weights. [to be done in Singapore]
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]
Further increase your involvement in Church.
Invest more on oral and skin care. [Already had a trip to the dentist in April]
Move into a new job/role (hopefully still within the same company). [Moving to Singapore, still same company, in mid-May]
Revamp line-up of gimmick and gym clothes. [to be done in Singapore]
Save for the rainy day. [On-going]

We Didn't Start the Fire

2005-12-31T11:37:00.000+08:00

Leo's Docs Through the Fire

Fire has helped me let go of the clutter I've kept in my room the past year. Yeah, it is wrong to pollute the air but that's what happens when there's no paper shredder around. The bookshelves are now in order. I've managed to make the open shelf contain all my travel books, "Culture Shock" series, German language audio CDs, and magazines that will keep me busy next year (Men's Health as I hit the gym anew) and Metro Him (which is a fashion guide more practical than the foreign ones). After an hour of burning stuff and (oh) taking artistic fire shots with my digicam, I felt relieved to have started and finished my annual "spring cleaning".

New Year, New Hairstyle

2005-12-30T01:47:00.000+08:00

Until 29 December 2005 , 2.45 pm

From 29 December 2005, 6.30 pm

I welcome 2006 with a new hairstyle, probably the best and most expensive one I've had in ages. I wanted to have a messy look and my stylist at Toni & Guy sorted it out. Guess I shall be going back to 6750 next time round.

Takeoff

2005-12-25T03:32:00.000+08:00

After much thought, I have finally decided to fill up this space with my random thoughts on the world. I remember writing journals in high school, rating each day from a scale of 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest). Nah, won't be doing that type of scoring anymore. I'm keeping my Fotopages site as that will contain most of the photos of my activities here in the Philippines and outside the country.