My look at the world today

Getting My PADI Certification

2008-11-27T18:47:00.000-08:00

One of the things I really wanted to do in life was to get certified for Scuba Diving and I have finally done it. I am now certified for open water diving. I really enjoyed it so much I am thinking of getting further certification and maybe making it my job.

More to come ... Oh and I just met a great bunch of people while getting certified. Talking of good things coming in pairs :)

Iron Man

2008-08-04T00:26:00.000-07:00

One of the best adaptations of a comic hero to big screen I have seen so far. Its truly an entertaining movie and a 100% techie favourite! I read somewhere that the entire movie had only 3 action scene – and it just struck me YEAH … and that was just what it needed ... for the rest of the movie you just sit back and enjoy the high tech stuff shown to you and even my non-nerdy friends enjoyed it.

IF you have not watch the movie … make sure you grab the DVD when its out and do wait for the original … believe me – this movie is worth it!

Yuwie! A great way to earn some money!

2008-03-24T21:20:00.000-07:00

I came across this site sometime last month and wanted to 'study' it a little more before introducing you to it. I am sure you have probably heard of sites like Facebook, Hi5, Myspace etc.

These sites basically allow friends to drop comments to each other - just keeping in touch with your friends and meeting new ones. Yuwie is one of the newest to hit the internet and is quickly growing.

The main difference Yuwie has over the rest of the sites mentioned above? Yuwie Pays you to surf and pays you when your referrals surf as well.

Meaning if you send a comment or write a blog they will count it as a count. Then at the end of each month they pay you for all the counts done! Not only you but your referrals as well and their referrals as well - up to 10 level downs.

This may start out small (I only got paid 2 cents for my first week) but as your referrals grows and their referrals grow ... hey you are looking good money for doing nothing more than keeping in touch with friends. ISNT THAT GREAT?

Click on the link below to take a look and join and the next time you use yuwie ... hey you are helping me make some money as well :)

Dont wait till its too late to care

2008-02-20T20:08:00.000-08:00

Came across this MTV in you tube. The story behind it reminds me of a quote I read a long time ago

The greatest weakness of most humans is their hesitancy to tell others how much they love them while they're still alive.

Orlando A. Battista

Think its so true ... remember to wake up each morning and tell the ones you love "I love you" dont wait until they are gone to do it.

and hey to the person who is reading this ... "I LOVE YOU"

Haika - Its driving me nuts!

2008-02-01T02:45:00.000-08:00

I was playing scrabble with a friend today and I was fooling around with my tiles and finally came up with a word that the computer accepted - Haika. I didnt know the meaning but it was worth 24 points as a starting word. So I played it.

I started thinking ... Haika a really beautiful sounding word, in fact it sounded Asian most likely Japanese. I got really curious about it and went to dictionary.com to do a check on the meaning. Guess what ... it was not to be found. No such word. I then googled on the word and guess what ... haika is not to be found anywhere except name of some famous person and a website for rubber stamps.

I then went to sites like http://www.morewords.com/ and http://www.chambersharrap.co.uk/ and both showed that its an allowable word in scrabble (US). However, in the link above http://www.chambersharrap.co.uk/ where there is a dictionary - it returned "Sorry, no entries for haika were found."

I guess I stumbled upon an allowable english word - HAIKA which has no meaning.

Since it has no meaning ... I shall give it a meaning myself -

Haika : To cause confusion in the english language. To drive someone nuts

Oh ... if you know the true meaning of the word ... leave me a comment. Its making me haika.

Ok? Hmmm Guess Not

2007-12-28T22:21:00.001-08:00

I went for a Thai Movie in Bangkok just about 2 weeks ago. It was a comedy about ghost haunting a Movie Theater. Great show and the sub-title was a load of help as I cannot speak the thai language that well.

Anyway there is this scene that was really great and I would like to share with you readers:

Lady A was walking down the corridor coming to her friends room.

"B ... open up, I can feel them (Ghost) again" A whispered.

Opening the door B peep out and replied "Come on in I think we will be safe inside here"

"Check first. Make sure there arent any spooks inside then let me know"

B closed the door and after a couple of minutes she open it and gave the "OK" sign (picture above)

A quickly went inside and started to lock the door.

"Dont lock up A ..." B said. A turned around after locking up and saw 3 ghost there.

"Why didnt you tell me there were ghost here" A asked,

"I did" B replied

"No you didnt ... you gave the OK sign when I asked if there were ghost"

"NO ... I didnt say ok ... I was trying to say 3 ghost not OK"

Hmmm not so funny when I write it out but it was truely very funny when I watch the movie :)

Medic Alert Tattoo

2007-12-22T21:40:00.000-08:00

YES!!! I have finally done it. Finally gotten my tattoo!

I have wanted to get a tattoo for the longest time and but didnt because of 2 reasons.

1 The pain - I do have a high tolerance to pain but not sure how bad tattoos can be.
2 I have Diabetes. Being Diabetic I do not heal well and am not sure if getting a tattoo is the smartest thing to do.

But just about 6 months ago I met up a new friend and I found out that not only is she diabetic as well (since birth) she also has close to 1/2 her body in beautiful tattoos. I went on to talk to her and ask her advice also went to the web to find out more and I realize that tattoos were ok for people with diabetes as well. They just have to control their sugar level so they heal properly.

I search high and low and found that some people have started tattoo-ing medical alert rather than wear bracelets, necklaces or ID tags. I then decided to get one done.

Firstly its gonna be small enough so if I cannot take the pain I would have told the artist to skip the logo and just tattoo the words "Medic Alert Diabetes" and if the pain was ok (and it was) I would continue to get the tattoo done.

I now realize that this is just gonna be the first of a few tattoos to come. The next one I am thinking of is a protrait of a Hawk on my chest or arm. Cant wait for that one :)

The Amazing Race

2007-12-18T23:46:00.000-08:00

I felt like I was in the CBS show The Amazing Race. I didnt know that so many things can go wrong in a day (travelwise). Didnt know that travelling from Bangkok to Singapore can take up to 19 hours. This much for sure ... it will make a great story to tell my children and my grandkids one day. But now, you guys (and gals) can hear it first.

0530hrs - "Gawd ... I am not going to be able to make it to the airport in time". I was still stoned with all the whisky in my blood and having slept only 2 hours didnt help at all. My flight was at 7am and the airport was about an hour away.

Ok ... a couple of hours more sleep and then I will book another ticket to get back to Singapore that afternoon ... anyway I have already paid for my room till checkout time which was 12. I went back to sleep.

1200hrs - Fresh from my shower and ready to go! I was already planning going out later that night in Singapore to meet up with friends and tell them about my trip as well as catching up on the latest gossip. I checked out of the hotel and flagged down the first taxi. "Pai Suvarnabhumi Krup" and off we went. Bangkok traffic has always been bad so I have taken that into consideration and felt that I would possibly be at the airport by 1330hrs latest. We were sitting in traffic for about 15min then suddenly the driver filtered to the side and got out of the car. He went out and talked to a fellow taxi driver for a couple of minute and then returned and told me the other taxi will take me to the airport. A little confuse but I went over to the other cab.

Finally we arrived at the airport ... a little after 2pm but it was fine with me. Travelling to Singapore would only take 3hours. I would still get home in time for dinner and after that still have plenty of time before I go out to club that nite ... or so I thought.

I walk to the ticketing counter of one of the airlines and was told that all flights from Bangkok to Singapore was fully booked and the earliest flight to Singapore was at 4pm the next day. I tried 4 other airlines -from budget airlines to SIA (even asked if business class had seats avaliable) but everything was bought up.

I decided to take a plane from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and then a bus from there to Singapore would be good. I ask the counter and found that there was a flight avaliable at 1700hrs that day. "Hmm leaving at 1700 arriving at 2000 ... then take a airport bus to the bus terminal 1 hour. After that a bus to Singapore 4hours. 0100hrs not too bad.". I got my tickets and went for lunch as I could only check in at 1500hrs.

1500hrs - I checked in and got my boarding pass. As I walked towards the checkin gate I glance at the screen showing the departure information and saw 5 very scary letters flagged against my flight number DELAY.

My flight was delayed till 1900hrs, I have 4 hours to kill in the airport. I decided to go to the lounge and kill some time there.

1900hrs - I am awfully tired but hey I am finally on my way. In 3 hours I will be in KL and then to Singapore.

2130hrs - Touch down! Yes ... almost home. Just a couple of hours more.

I went over to collect my bags and realize that baggage was not a very efficient thing here in the LCC-T Terminal in KL (Low Cost Terminal) After about an hour my luggage arrived and off I went.

There was a counter selling tickets for buses travelling to various part of KL and I bought a ticket to Puduraya Bus Terminal. Was told the bus will leave at 2245hrs. So I went to grab a burger and then off to the bus.

2330hrs The bus has still not left the airport. They are waiting for 6 old ladies. Now normally I am quite patient but as the clock ticked away I started wondering if I would be able to catch a bus to Singapore at all that night. I started to wonder, what time the last bus was.

The 6 ladies finally arrived and were talking very loudly. "We are so important. See the bus waited for us. Told you we dont have to rush. 6 of us together equals power. We are the majority they will do what we want ..." I wanted to at that moment turn around and SLAPPED them!

0015hrs We arrived at Puduraya Bus Terminal. I quickly rush up to get a bus to Singapore from the many ticketing counters there. "Sorry, Sold out" "No more seats" "Nothing avaliable until 24th Dec" I nearly fainted there and then.

I needed to get back somehow. I asked if there were buses going to Johor rather than Singapore (Johor is just across the border) and after searching a while I finally found 1 company that has it but the bus was only sheduled to leave at 0130hrs. I have no choice and bought it. To my horror it was a forty seater and not theVIP 26 seater we have gotten use to now. Its gonna be a long cramped ride home.

0130hrs The bus arrived. We borded the bus but it didnt leave.

0200hrs The bus is still waiting for something ... no one knows what.

0230hrs We start moving off. Seems the delay had to do with a miscount of the number of people and number of tickets. In actual fact the missing bus ticket was kept by the 1st driver and he forgot about it.

0430hrs I was awaken by the start stop movement of the bus. Looking out of the window I realize we were not there yet but some road construction was being done and there was a bad traffic jam. A traffic jam at 0430 in the morning ... this can only happen in Malaysia.

0515hrs We finally arrive at laki-laki bus terminal in Johor. Another bus (SBS 170 a public bus) into Singapore and I will be home!

Finally got up the bus and thinking this would be a smooth ride home. Boy was I wrong ... 530 in the morning is the peak time for cars, motorcycles and buses going from Johor to Singapore. Its Peak Hour traffic.

I finally manage to get thru immigration at 0645 and catch a taxi (in Singapore) to go back to my home a short 10min ride away.

19 hours trip ... from the time I checked out of the hotel to the time I arrived home at 0700hrs. I started wondering ... would it be fasted if I had just taken a bus from Bangkok straight to Singapore? That would be another adventure for another day.

Finally hope for me?

2007-09-17T21:38:00.000-07:00

Being a Type 2 Diabetic patient for over 12 years now has not been pleasant. With daily pricks of the needle for both testing the glucose level and insulin shots I think the word unpleasant is an understatement.

I just came across an article from MSN today http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20824058/ about a system that may solve the problem of monitoring my sugar level. Its still in the testing stages now and I can tell you I will be the first one to jump unto the bandwagon when it becomes available.

The art of Steven Stahlberg

2007-08-05T23:35:00.000-07:00

Was surfing around for a nice pic of a girl with a phone for my previous blog and came across Steven's Site. I have to saw I am truely impress. Never thought that art could be so real and lifelike.

Go over to his site http://www.androidblues.com/ and take a look at some of his wonderful works.

My salute to you Setven Stahberg.

Technology Today

2007-08-05T23:26:00.000-07:00

Just reading some old Cartoons today and saw the following statement. Brought a smile to me. The world is evolving so fast with all the new techie stuff that sometimes we just step back away from technology and start with the good old days again.

“I sent you an e-mail and forwarded a copy to your PDA, cell phone and home computer. I also faxed a copy to your office, your assistant and laptop. Then I snail-mailed hard copies to you on paper, paper and CD. But in case you don’t receive it, I’ll just tell you what it said …”

7.7.7 Free Hugs Day

2007-06-25T01:58:00.000-07:00

Watch a video today on YouTube (Something I have been doing often as I still dont feel completely well) and I suddenly realize how a simple gesture like a hug can bring a sense of completeness to a person.

As I watch the video and see the smiles on each person leaving after getting their hugs I sat back and wondered how many smiles brought to strangers in my life - Just giving a hug and asking for nothing back, not for their names, number or a date. Just a real HUG.

On 7 July 2007 (international free hugs day) Just think about it ... go out there and give a free hug away. It will cost you nothing but am sure the person receiving it will appreciate it entirely.

Oh and one more thing ... if you see someone holding a sign that says "Free Hugs" go give them a hug too ... they deserve it as much as you.

Taken

2007-06-08T02:07:00.000-07:00

People move through their lives sometimes without really thinking about where they're going.

Days pile up, and they get sadder and lonelier without really knowing why they're so sad or how they got so lonely.

Then something happens...

They meet someone who looks a certain way or has something in their smile.

Maybe that's all that falling in love is;

finding someone who makes you feel a little less alone.

300 - A brief look at History?

2007-03-14T19:36:00.000-07:00

Caught the movie 300 just the other day with a friend. I found it quite a good male bonding movie with lots of graphical shots. If you have watch gladiator and thought it was bad ... this is worst.

Anyway, I like the movie so much I came home and check Wiki about the movie and I realise that this really happen in about 480BC. The story tell about the last stand of a small group of Spartan Army (300 men) against the Persian Empire - whose army was so vast their arrows blocks out the sky.

As I watch the movie it brings me to think a little more about myself ... maybe my last stand at my Battle of Thermopylae would be next week on the operating table.

Go watch the movie. An inspiration!

From the hospital bed

2007-03-01T22:22:00.000-08:00

Have been very quite since the last post and the body is really degenerating. I have been in hospital since just after chinese new year. Wanted to actually go to Malaysia to pay a visit to my baby's mother to thank her for everything she done for me in the past but couldnt. Wanted to call but didnt have the number.

I started coughing blood a couple of weeks ago. Went to the doctor and was told it just part of the symptoms of the end. Medication help me to ease a little but not fully. Just after reunion dinner I was hit so badly that I had to be admitted to the hospital. My mum and sister asked what happen and I refuse to tell them the truth just told them (and told the doctors to tell them) I had to be admitted for observation and nothing serious was at hand.

Baby ... not sure if you are still reading my blog but if you are ... I still love you but just cannot be with you. Am really sorry I wanted to go on a last trip with you but again my body would not make it possible. Hopefully we can watch Spiderman 3 together really looking forward to that. But if I cannot catch it in the movies maybe we can just get a DVD and watch it together - like we did when I visited you in hospital remember?

Take care and no matter what happens I will be with you forever.

Love you

When Death sends you an Invite

2006-12-01T20:00:00.000-08:00

I have been really depress over the last month, the world came crushing down on me and I just couldnt get myself over it.

A big question hit me during my depress state and I was wondering if you could help me by letting me know what you think below is a story that I would like you to read and give me your views :

If you know that you have just a few months to live ... what would you do?

Mr John Doe went to a doctor for what he thought was just a normal persistent headache. Just hoping to get some medicine/pain killers that would keep that pounding feeling at bay. After some examination the doctor asked John to go for a full medical examination. The results were shocking ...

John Doe was actually in the final stages of Liver Cancer. He has (base on 2nd and 3rd opinion) about 3 - 6 month to live before he dies like his father before him.

John wasnt a person that feared death, John was only worried about the people he loved. The most important person to him at that point was his girlfriend, Mary. They were in love and was thinking of getting married in 2 years time. However, John would not be around by then.

John made a decision(one that many people would not agree with), he decided that he would break up with Mary. Doing so, she would not know that he was dying and dont have to suffer his pain with him. She was also to continue with her life; find someone else that would take care of her have kids and basically have a chance in life that John wasnt given. In years to come, she would just remember John as her ex-boyfriend and the great times they had together, probably hate him for breaking up without a reason ... but a chance at having many happy years. Being a beautiful and intelligent woman on earth with a great passion for life - she has no lack of suitors, John could not drag her on when he know that death is already reaching his doorstep.

Time passes .... Mary is celebrating her birthday with her new boyfriend, John is now just a blured memory and she hardly thinks about him anymore. A knock on the door and a delivery man was there with a bunch of Tulips (Mary favourite flowers) and a letter sealed in an envolope.

"Dearest Mary,

I am so sorry for just dissappearing out of your life but I did not know how else to do it. By the time you read this letter I will no longer be around. I found out that I have liver cancer and it was in the last stages where there was nothing the doctors could do. I only wanted the best for you baby, and I do not want you to see me on my deathbed. I know how bad a person dying of cancer can look (my father died of liver cancer as well) and I do not want you to see me like that.

I hope our memories together can bring some joy to you once a while. Just remember that I really love you and want the best for you.

I do remember that I made a promised to you when we first dated and I told you then that I would do my utmost in making it happen. I have made a final will that upon my death all my assets would be transfered to a trust fund which will be use to set up your dream - music for everyone. That is my last gift for you on your birthday. My only regret in life is I am not able to see you perform on stage for me as I have dreamt of before.

Yours forever (forever is possible)
John Doe"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Do you think John made the right choice? or Should he just live he last days with Mary
I have thought about it and both ways I thought of John being insensitive and selfish. If he spend his last months with Mary, he would centainly love it but Mary would suffer. The choice he made was also selfish for not letting Mary choose.

Spiderman 3

2006-11-19T04:43:00.000-08:00

Just got hold of the new trailer of the Spiderman Movie that is coming up next year and if its anything to go by we are in for another great ride. The first was fantastic ... the second showed us that Sequels can be better than the original and the third ... what can I say with 3 great villians ... should be 3 times the fun!

Click Here to check the new trailer out!

Optical Illusions

2006-10-30T07:43:00.000-08:00

Just came across a cool site which show a couple of great illusions.

Do check them out. An example is below:

Oh if you are the Squeamish sort do not follow the link below (some pictures may be disturbing):

Get the code at www.winterrowd.com

Alone on a Holiday Eve

2006-10-22T23:55:00.000-07:00

Its the Eve of a public holiday today. Everyone is celebrating; Those with love ones would be glad to be able to spend precious time together as the normal hectic work life in this country make it difficult to be together.

Just having a quiet dinner, taking a nice walk or just holding each other's hands would be something most couple would love to do on a night like this. Some couples with friend's or even colleagues who want to go out would love the idea of doing it together as time is precious.
Time is really precious in a person lifetime and most of us do not have much of it. We do not know when it will end for each one of us; Thus to me spending time with someone I love take precedent over everything else.
I have someone I love a lot, someone that is part of me, someone that I have given up my entire life for. I found her (this part of me) a year ago never knowing that I had been living only half a life; upon finding her I became whole; You never really know how complete life can be until you found your other half. If I were to ever lose her I will never ever be complete again.

However tonight, I would spend the holiday eve alone because she is shameful to introduce me to her colleagues. She wouldnt want people in her workplace to know she has a boyfriend. I will probably end up at a pub alone tonight ... probably getting drunk ... I know too well that liquor cannot wash away the pain ... But when you get drunk enough you feel numb for awhile ... The pain will definately return tomorrow ... The pain wont ever leave you ... But at least tonight I can numb my senses despite feeling the most pain a man can ever feel.

No matter what ... my heart will always be with her forever ... forever is a long time I know - but I also know what I feel.

True meaning of Life

2006-10-14T05:02:00.000-07:00

Went to my friendster account and found one of the old blogs I wrote ... kinda like it so have moved it over ...

The Meaning of Life

Life has not been great over the last year ... my dad pass away, had some relationship problems, I was force into retirement, got myself into depression and just wishing life would end.But as always, life does find a way to pick up the pieces and things got better. During my depress state I kept thinking - there is a lesson to be learned from every situation that life throws at us.So for the past year I been trying to understand what it was ...

Wasting my time meditating (sometime falling asleep doing it)trying to be alone (causing hurt to a few close people)trying to get drunk and actually getting drunk - became really good at it (hoping that when you are high enough with alc in your blood a bright spark will let you know the meaning of life)and a lot of rather stupid things ....

I Finally Found IT!

I understood the true meaning ... I finally know why life throws bad things at us ...

"The Meaning of LIFE" like a bright spark (and I was sober) became clear to me.

The answer to the question : What is the meaning of life ...

There is no true meaning, there is not always something to learn from bad times, life is just a big blob of wire that has no real directions, life cannot be controlled and if you think life is going get better after a bad fall ... trust me, it may not. The only certainty in life is Death and even that is beyond your control.

Without a road map, yin and yang balances, directions, controls etc what should we do?
I believe that we should just live each day as if it were our last. Each day presents itself with opportunities and we must decide to play it safe or take a risk.

Play it safe and it still may not go your way, take the risk and you have more to gain.So I leave this BLOG with two words :

Carpe Diem - Seize the Day for nothing is gain without risk.

"TIS ONLY IN THEIR DREAMS THAT MEN TRULY BE FREE,'TWAS ALWAYS THUS, AND ALWAYS THUS WILL BE. -KEATING.!"

Stress - State of the mind?

2006-10-12T13:38:00.000-07:00

Found this article interesting and thought the rest of you might be interested in it .... Gawd I am stress

Is Stress Imaginary or "All in Your Head?”

By Nicky Vanvalkenburgh

Sometimes stress strikes when you least expect it. John Torcelli, a veteran of the Gulf War, found himself stressed out on his wedding day.

John could hardly wait to get married. He was in love with a beautiful woman. Professionally, he was all set. John enjoyed working as an electronics engineer for well-known corporation. Getting married was icing on the cake. Life couldn’t be better.

John had served in military for seven years. He was glad the Gulf War was behind him. Or was it?

On his wedding day, John’s brother would be his Best Man. They planned to drive to the church together. However, something unusual happened. When John’s brother pulled up in his yellow Honda, the muffler backfired. John dove into the bushes.

John’s thoughts flashed back to the Gulf War. Emotionally, he was back on the battlefield. Only John wasn’t wearing camouflage gear. He wore a black tuxedo, and this was his wedding day. The loud noise triggered John’s “fight or flight” response. Evidently, diving into the bushes was a stress reaction.

Given John’s background and experience, his response is understandable. Some researchers call this Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PSD. It is something that can be overcome by releasing painful memories, and letting go of the past. To recover, PSD sufferers must also learn to think and respond differently. It is also healthy for them to cultivate a calm and relaxed manner.

You don’t have to be a military veteran to experience a physical response to stress. Doctors and researchers used to think that all stress was imaginary, or “in the head.” Now researchers know that stress occurs in the body as well.

When we encounter stress, our body reacts by producing adrenaline and cortisol. These powerful hormones are good for the body. Cortisol improves our memory. Adrenaline gives us energy and strengthens our immune system. In prehistoric times, adrenaline helped people survive by giving them a burst of energy to run away faster or fight harder. This is what is commonly known as the "fight or flight" response.

Stress becomes harmful when it builds up. That is why we must find ways to get rid of stress, or at least, reduce it. Excercise and relaxation helps us to reduce stress.

Is stress reduction really that important? Absolutely. When stress has no place to go, the hormones build up in our body and become toxic. When cortisone builds up it causes brain cells to shrink. We become jittery, anxious and forgetful. Unused adrenaline makes us depressed and lethargic. Left untreated, stress makes us vulnerable to illness, disease and mental breakdown.

The healthy way to deal with stress is to use up the adrenaline that your body produces. The best way to do this is by relaxation and exercise.

For deep relaxation that reduces stress, try Dr Leonard Coldwell’s U-Cure Power Break System. It is a series of progressive relaxation cds that reconditions the mind to fight for health. By listening to the cds for just 20 minutes a day, you will arouse, stimulate and awaken your brain to function at an elevated capacity. As you let go of emotional and mental stress, you will begin to feel incredibly energized. This energy will help you become aware of the root cause of your life and health issues. Ultimately, deep relaxation will restore the balance in your life, so that you feel like yourself again.

Tired .. so why am I blogging?

2006-10-12T13:16:00.000-07:00

Gawd am I tired. Been up since 5am this morning working non stop until now. Just got back to my hotel and was thinking of just falling into bed sleeping but alas ... I just cannot. The numbers and codes are still running around in my head. If I were a cartoon I would look like a cat that just had a 100 ton weight drop unto his head but rather than having little birdies ... I have computer codes spinning around.

The only great part of the day was when my baby called me. Thanks darling you made my day.

Love you always ... hope to see you real soon.

Birthday Celebration

2006-10-09T03:30:00.000-07:00

October 7 2006 - My 39th Birthday and I had to spend it alone because I was in India on a project. Sad isnt it? Do you know what made it worst?

I got an sms from my love the day before wishing me a wonderful Mid Autumn Festival (it was one of those sms that was for everyone) and I was really awaiting for one to wish me a happy birthday. I waited and waited ... nothing came. Past midnight Singapore Time and no sms came. I really could not sleep at all. Early next morning an sms came - I was truely excited ... it wasnt her ... it was some birthday wish from my insurance company, an hour later another sms came ... again some advertisment message. I was truely depress ... I thought she forgot.

Suddenly ... the phone rang !!! She called and her voice was heavenly. I was so happy ... it didnt matter the rest of the world forgotten ... no one called or sms me including my mum and sis. My best friend also forgot but she remembered and it was all that mattered.

She told me to get myself a good dinner and a cake ... but no ... I will go back to singapore to have the cake with her ... Baby - if you are reading this ... I LOVE YOU

The rest of the day was spend with a big smile across my face.

I had a nice chinese dinner that night and spend the whole day thinking of her and just to give myself a break from work (since it was my birthday) I took out my hard disk that had some movies in it and watch FRIENDS season 1 all over again.

Could my birthday be better ? Sure ... if she was here. But in life we do not get to choose what we want so making do ... I was really pleased and when I get back to Singapore .... Baby I wanna just spend the night with you in bed :)

All alone ...

2006-10-04T18:40:00.000-07:00

I just read a blog by pinkginger (the picture above) and somehow it made me think so much more of the person that I am missing now. I am currently away on a project that has overrun (expected to be here for only a week - now it seems like at least another week is in order).

I just feel so alone in my hotel wishing that she was here to just give me a hug and some kisses. I really miss the warmth of her body next to mine when I sleep, the scent of her in the morning when I wake up really energize my day. The lovely perfume that emits from just below her lovely nose. When we go on our own way to work each day ... I cant wait to go back home just to hug her again and again. Taste her sweet lips and the nectar within.

Guess I can only rush thru my work and rush home to her again. My sweet Baby ... I miss and love you always, wait for my return MUAKS

New Car Problems

2006-09-29T20:51:00.000-07:00

The biggest problem I have today is having a car and the trouble is I cannot sell it. Here is my problem:

1 - I bought the car when the price was really high so I took a bank loan to slowly repay the car. Now the price of the car has fallen so much it makes it not worthwhile to keep it. Am currently paying close to $1500 a month just on installments.

2 - Selling the car is not an option as well ... with the outstanding loan and the currently value of my car now even selling the car would not cover my loan ... I would have to top up close to 20K just to sell my car

3 - My car gear box has gone bonkers ... a check with the auto shop tells me that I have to pay close to $12K for a new one and $5k to repair the old one.

Sometimes life throw terrible stuff at you *sigh*

IMF - World Bank

2006-09-19T07:13:00.000-07:00

Was doing some work in Orchard Road Singapore about a week ago and came across some bill boards that were showing some interesting pictures ... it suddenly woke me up to what is really happening around the world and made me glad to be in my country - Singapore. Tear rolled down my eyes as I walk down the shopping district.

"Imagine Asia without Provety

What can you buy with one dollar?

300 Millions africans live on one dollar a day"

"Imagine a world without poverty

Have you called home laterly?

In Yemen, 92 out of 1000 people have phones

In Singapore 978 out of 1000 people have mobile phones"

"Imagine a world without poverty

Can you count to 30?

Every 30 seconds an african child dies of Malaria"

"Imagine a world without poverty

How long do you expect to live?

In Zambia life expectancy is only 36 years of age

In Singapore life expectancy is 79 years"

I guess we should really look around us as we live each day and really count our blessings for what we have.

Good Service Bad Service

2006-09-12T03:48:00.000-07:00

With the IMF happening soon, Singapore has been emphasizing on good service and just a couple of day ago I saw the difference of service between two establishments.

Bad Service – Café Cartel in Raffles City Singapore.
We had a goodbye dinner for one of our friend who was going back to her country after doing her studies here. We decided on the little chain of Café which was quite well known and establish. Upon entering we were greeted by a nice waitress who help us get a table and still allowed us to have some outside snacks as our entire party wasn’t there yet. Great service – but that was where it stopped! All the way during dinner it was going to down slope all the way. First, we requested for water and as our friends were arriving one at a time … we had to request for a glass for each of them – no initiative on the staff side to bring the water over. We placed our orders and were told about 15 min later that some of the stuff we ordered was not available and we changed them. We waited for quite some time even after repeated request for our drinks to be served first, the drinks never arrived until much later. When the food arrived, the order was wrong and no one even made and attempt to apologies for the mistake. What was worst was that we ordered a seafood platter to be shared by all five of us – the platter arrived without any serving plates or cutleries – were we expected to eat fish and chips with our hands? We requested for some cutleries and were told that they ran out! When we asked for more BBQ sauce, it came half filled and we had to request for more. 2 more plates of BBQ sauce were handled to us and you guessed it … half full as well.

When we decided to leave and ask for the bill, it took forever to process and we ask for some of the food to be put into a bag and some (yes again) BBQ sauce and Black Pepper Sauce and you wouldn’t believe this – they put both into the same container! Taking about bad service.

Good … no Great Service – A small establishment call Lai Lai Family Restaurant at 20A/B Liang Seah Street.
We had dinner there on the very next day after the bad experience at Café Cartel and the service was a world of difference. We were well greeted at the door by a staff that showed us to our seats. We ordered drinks and side dishes and shared the food as we were quite full. The food came and the attendant actually repeated our special request – less sugar in the bubble tea. We were pleasantly surprise. Then the food came and without asking a serving dish was placed in front of us. We could see this being done at all the rest of the tables even when the table beside us was served without a dish … it was quickly brought over when the next dish was served! We saw the next table having some fried egg plant and wanted to try but the normal serving look really huge and two of us cannot finish it. We ask the supervisor if she could specially prepare a smaller plate for us and guess what they did saying that it’s the first time they are doing that … they even charged us half the price for it. The staff were attentive and great! Not to mention the food was fabulous as well.

See Great Service can be found in Singapore as well … what shocked me was it wasn’t a five star restaurant in a hotel just a normal street side eatery – much smaller then an establishment like Café Catel but much Bigger in HEART.
Thanks Lai Lai for that wonderful night.

PS if you wanna go to Lai Lai for a wonderful mean and experience their business hours are 11.30am – 3am (last order 2:30am) daily except Monday when they rest. For Reservation you can call 6837 1556 – This information I stole from a name card I found at the cashier … good service and good food need to be shared.

Gout! Ouch!

2006-09-10T06:05:00.000-07:00

Wanted to post earlier but … you guess it I forgot my password and login (age is catching up). Lucky for me first post I am still able to maintain this blog. If not it will start to become another one of the floating dead blog taking space in the internet. Anyway back to today’s blog – Gout.

If you have never experience an attack you wouldn’t understand how much pain your body can give you. Gout has been compared to childbirth and yes … it won in the pain level criteria.

Gout is basically the swelling of a joint – usually the right big toe because of the way the blood flow and gravity etc. The deposit of crystals becomes razor sharp and basically the slightest touch is like have a thousands knifes cut you from the inside.

I just got an attack about 2 days ago – onset of eating some Durians (very nice ones) in Malaysia about a week back. The toe started numbing 3 days ago and I knew it was coming, took lots of water to flush it out but it wasn’t good enough. Yesterday, the toe swelled up and the pain poured in … not too bad as I could still walk and even go to work this morning. Came lunch time and the pain was so bad I could leave to grab lunch and couldn’t wear my shoe as well. I just got back from the doc, (another time if I remember I will write a blog on driving with my left leg) got a big needle stuck into me and about 4 different type of medication. But experience have shown me – the medication just help with the healing which will still take another 3 – 4 day *sigh*

Class

2006-08-27T07:41:00.000-07:00

Just came back from my class. Really learned a lot today. The class was on massage - Yes the kind that you press on another person body and try to give them comfort - I say try because if done incorrectly, PAIN is resulted.

Today we did the arms and the body (front) massage which included slimming massage as well. Really wished I could have stayed for the entire course but I had to rush off to catch a plane. So my next blog may be a while as I have to work :( *sigh*

A new start ...

2006-08-26T21:23:00.000-07:00

Welcome everyone to my new blog.

I have decided to start a new blog and will attemp to update this one more often then the rest of the blogs that I have already created. I found that in the past, when I start writting a blog I get really excited but as time goes on ... the blog slowly dies. To the point that I dont really remember my password or sometime my login name there as well. So in order for that not to happen with this blog ... TADA!!! - my login name is myname - lastname first first name last and password is .... my usual one!! hahaha

That is for personal memory.

A little about myself - like all relationship we should start with the intros - I was born in Oct 7 1967 on a little island country call Singapore. I use to work in the IT industry as a consultant but have recently semi-retired and hope to make a living writting blogs :) - if you are interested please drop me a mail and I can share with you more.

Guess thats a short little intro ... will write a bit more as I have to rush off to a class now (more about that later)

Cheers ... do come back :)