Graduated!

I know I still owe an update from Taiwan... and I promise I will post more photos... but in the meantime...

with the AIESECers from NTU

Diana, me and Nicholas

Someone commented that the graduation robes make us look like wizards and witches from Harry Potter... I still have my robe... so perhaps will take one with a chopstick/make-do wand :)

Feels kind of cheated to spend 4 years of life working so hard to get this piece of paper... at least the transcript says "Completed the degree of Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) (First Class) with a Minor in Business" oh well...

Congratulations to class of 2007... at last we are out of university!

Fun in Taidong (East of Taiwan)

the very tasty 黑松羊肉炉 we had for lunch...

米台目- type of noodles... served with superb chilli sauce!

Road Trip with our own rented car

Admiring the wonders of nature at 小野柳

Breathtaking scenary at 三仙台

the view from about 100m above sea level.. while we attempted to climb the mountainside (via man-made steps) to see 八仙洞

Updates long overdue

Been a while since my last posting... major stuff that happened since then? definitely my trip to Taiwan. was chairing their SNCF followed by a short holiday in Taidong and Taipei...

I owe photos and a description of the entire experience.. but somehow I am finding it hard to organise everything into a blog posting...

you know... it's the kind of feeling where you know you've been through some really amazing experiences across 12 days... lots of memories and flashbacks of great moments, great conversations, great people.... learnt so much about myself and another country... admired so much scenary... enjoyed such great company of friends...

to type it all out... at this point... that somehow seems to be spoiling the moment... I think I wanna enjoy the moments, in their original random and chaotic order in my head for a while more before organising them into a post..

but till then, I am doing very well... back in Singapore and hyped up about what's more to come... :)

Nice picture...

I found this cute little picture on Heidi's blog... Don't you think it's so physics? hehehe....


Seems kind of apt though... thinking back about the many many weekends spent on AIESEC transition and planning... each weekend flying by so so fast...

now that the hustle and bustle is kind of slowing down slightly, it feels weird to be sitting back home, communicating not by voice but by words through MSN and gtalk and stuff like that...

guess it's times like this that one really appreciates the company of those around...

missing all of you guys... you know who you are :)

New Books!

Went to Borders bookstore today and finally used my book voucher...

and bought two books!


For One More Day by Mitch Albom

Mitch Albom was the author who brought us Tuesdays with Morries and The Five People You Meet in Heaven...

Both are very much about life's little lessons and appreciating life, so this one is not that different... but it's told from a very different perspective as compared to previous two...

But all in all, still a very heartwarming story with a message about relationships between a mother and a son...

(if you are wondering, yes I have finished the book. Couldn't help myself!)

Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

I haven't started on this book yet but I think it might be in similar style as The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell... The authors take different real life scenarios and explores the implications and cause and effects within these scenarios...

Read a few pages once some months back... and definitely looks interesting...

will update once I have finished the book!

The Tipping Point

Amidst all the busy-ness with AIESEC and all, I managed to take some time out to finish reading The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell.. this is the same guy who brought is Blink! and in similar fashion, he presents very thought-provoking way of looking at our environment and at changes...


The excerpt below is taken from http://www.gladwell.com/tippingpoint/

1. What is The Tipping Point about?

It's a book about change. In particular, it's a book that presents a new way of understanding why change so often happens as quickly and as unexpectedly as it does. For example, why did crime drop so dramatically in New York City in the mid-1990's? How does a novel written by an unknown author end up as national bestseller? Why do teens smoke in greater and greater numbers, when every single person in the country knows that cigarettes kill? Why is word-of-mouth so powerful? What makes TV shows like Sesame Street so good at teaching kids how to read? I think the answer to all those questions is the same. It's that ideas and behavior and messages and products sometimes behave just like outbreaks of infectious disease. They are social epidemics. The Tipping Point is an examination of the social epidemics that surround us.

I would definitely recommend this book! So much implication on how to do marketing, or to communicate with people, or to generate hype... not that it's meant to be taken as a guide book... but well.. if you're looking for something to challenge conventional thinking, THIS is the book to read...

Tagged by Shub

Shub tagged me some time back... haven't had the time to finish the whole list at one shot but after multiple attempts, it is now complete!

Three things that scare me:

• Cockroaches: the most disgusting and terrifying living things on Earth.. even worse when they fly
• Complacency: letting achievements get to my head can lead to complacency if one is not careful or aware… and complacency can easily lead to pride or too much ego which affects performance at the end
• Being very expressive: sounds kind of weird.. but being expressive is something that is not very part of me.. perhaps it is because my own true feelings scare me.. or I am scared of being rejected on my feelings
  

Three people who make me laugh:

• My brother: we talk all sorts of crap, and have the same quirky sense of humour…
• My AP Sisters: Can I group them all as “1 entity” in this case? They really do cheer me up.. love talking to them about everything and anything
• My dad: he’s funny, he’s quirky, he tries to be “lame” at times…

Three things I love:

• Music: soft rock, some instrumentals, I think I enjoy most music as long as they’re not too rap or too vulgar or too pop
• Company of good friends: nothing like the company of good friends… doesn’t matter where we go or wat we do.. the company is enough really..
• Traveling: AIESEC has gotten me hooked onto this! Can’t get enough of seeing all the amazing things and meeting all the amazing people in the amazing countries and sights of the world!

Three things I hate:

• Being ineffective: I think I kind of built my life and schedule around being as effective as possible.. yeah I get my lazy days and stuff but somehow it irks me off.. especially if I’m spending my time cooped up in a waiting line.. or in a class with a lousy tutor
• The rigidity of the Singapore education system: I suppose it happens with most education systems… but just can’t stand the one in Singapore… where things are all based on grades, on fulfilling processes and procedures and requirements… whatever happened to real learning?
• Cockroaches: I’m terrified of them.. so I hate them to bits…

Three things I don't understand:

• Myself: why am I who I am? Why do I find difficulty in being expressive? Why do I value these things more than others?
• Love: What is love? How do you know when it is love? Where does love stem from?
• Life: I don’t think I ever will.. and that’s where the wonder of life comes in… some things in life, you don’t need to understand.. just need to appreciate

Three things on my desk:

• My laptop: how else do you think I am typing this?
• My passport: was registering for AIESEC International Congress 2007 earlier today
  
• Lots of papers and notes from sAIESEC: have to confess.. haven’t started packing my things

Three things I am doing now:

• Listening to Class 95 on radio
• Replying AIESEC emails
• Chatting on MSN

Three things I want to do before I die:

• Fall in love
• Visit at least 1 country in each of the continents (Except Antarctica probably)
• Go hang gliding

Three things I can do:

• Chinese martial arts and Taichi
• Burp at will
• Think random thoughts

Three things you should listen to:

• Song: Nickleback’s “Far Away”
• Silence: in a far away village in northern Thailand, or in the forest of Arnhem, The Netherlands on a wintry Sunday morning
• You heart: don’t stop talking to your heart, don’t stop listening either… I think I listen… I just need to act more on what it says…

Three things you should never listen to:

• Too much praise: that gets you big-headed and inflates your ego.. and as I firmly believe, Pride comes just before a fall
• Words that are meant to put you down: you don’t want to get too ego.. but at the same time, there is worth in every single human being… who are you to put others down? Or put yourselves down? Who are they to put you down? Do they know you enough to determine and judge your self worth?
• Peer or societal pressure: they act as good feedback and good guidelines.. but sometimes, we can be strong enough to go beyond them and to break into our own realm, our own niche and pursue what we really believe in

Three things I'd like to learn:

• more Taichi
• Thai
• More about myself

Three Favourite Foods:

• Fried sambal ladies fingers cooked by my Grandma
• Seafood
• Tom Yam flavoured instant noodles from Thailand!

Three beverages I drink regularly:

• Coffee: my MC teams will know this very well
• Plain water: not as much as my mom would like me to drink but well.. common beverage nonetheless
• Milo: lower caffeine intake than coffee… sometimes gets me high too!

Three TV shows I watched as a kid:

• Cartoons like Captain Planet, Ninja Turtles.. err.. transformers, He Man and all those stuff from that era…
• Earthvision Documentaries! I love them
• “funky” local chinese drama serials.. like The Invincibles (the gambling one) and one other series about Vampires whose english name I can’t remember

Three books I read as a kid:

• The Three Investigators
• Tin Tin and Asterisk comic series
• Osbourne Book series: stuff like Amazing Animals of the World, or Inventions of the World and geeky stuff like that.. hahah

Three people I would love to tag:

• Pui: because you have more time now to put something interesting on your blog
• Amy: I miss you AP sister!! Update update 
• Eeling: gosh we haven’t met up for lunch these days yet!!

Bye Bye University

Most people know anyway, that with the final year project and all that, I am in my final year of study of university...

so anyhow, the results for the last exams of my last semester of my last year in university finally came out last Friday...

All I can say is that I am very happy with the results and relieved as well that it's over for real... now... just waiting for the graduation ceremony in late July...

byebye university... hello to great big world out there, which has shrunk considerably actually thanks to AIESEC :)

My Current Laptop backdrop

Took this shot from our faci room while in Penang, Malaysia for the AP MC Transition Camp... Love the scenary... makes for a great backdrop too...

Another quick update

Lots to do these days... so here's another quick update

Got back from the 1st ever AP MC Transition Camp in Penang from 24th to 27th May. such an amazing experience, and so inspiring to see the future leaders of AIESEC in the AP being so committed to driving performance in their countries and leveraging on the APGN initiatives!
it was also great to see so many familiar faces.. Sandy, Beatrice, Cyrus, Geralynn, Ren Chang, Rina, Nadya and not to forget, my beloved AP sisters Anisha, Mindy and Pui! Got to meet so many new people as well.. 0708 is definitely a term to look forward to!

that aside, went for an interview yesterday afternoon for this Professional Engineers Board Gold Medal Award... enjoyed myself in the interview... they were asking questions about my involvement in AIESEC (as usual) and what impact did attending so many international conferences leave me with... one of the panelists even asked how AIESEC international conferences are rotated among countries and whether Singapore has hosted any before! when I told them that was in late 1970s, she then asked if we are intending to bring one to Singapore any time in the near future! haha.. definitely interesting... even if I didn't get it, at least it was an enjoyable experience... besides, my interview took about 15 mins while the guy before me was in and out in only about 5 mins! heheh

but yeah.. that's what been happening... that aside, it's the usual of transitioning, preparing for new term, and holding the fort for some current stuff like Incoming Exchange...

Just want to make a public note that I am very very proud of AIESEC in NTU, NUS and SMU for such drive and effort in raising exchanges with companies! Current numbers stand at an average of 5 realisations per LCs, with more in the pipeline... total LC driven ICX realisations stand at 14 at the moment, compared to 6 in the whole of 2005/2006! that's almost 150% growth, with another 1 month to go before July comes along!

Well done to the LCs!! You have proven that AIESEC in Singapore can and will leverage more on the external environment here in Singapore!!!!!!!!

Quick update

Been really busy these days... so not much time to update the blog...

but very quickly...

• having MC Transition this whole weekend
• preparing for sessions to be delivered at the AP MC Transition Camp next week
• Finish up the FINAL FINAL thesis report
• leaving for Penang on 23rd May for AP MC Transition Camp, reaching back in Singapore on 28th May
  
• getting ready for MC Consolidation and Planning, and of course National Planning
• getting transition from Suchith for AP Chair
• getting ready for my trip to Taiwan to chair their Nat Con and of course for some relaxation... reach Taipei on 3rd July, pre meeting in Kaoshiong from 5th to 6th July, Conference from 7th to 10th July, own travels from 11th till 15th July...

and beyond that... well we will see :)

Random Reflections...

Now that the school stuff is over... can take some time out to think about stuff...

so I thought hey why not reflect abit about the 0607 term so far... so what have I done/experienced since being elected in Jan 2006?

• Travelled to my first European country, the Netherlands, on my own for IPM


• Saw snow and hail for the first time there


• Felt lost, confused, in awe, excited and happy in the same time


• Learnt what it meant to be myself, to walk out of shadows


• Connected with amazing people across 2 weeks, people who have left an impression for the rest of my life


• "Bridged" ties with a neighbouring country


• Did AIESEC every weekend for 1.5 months in transition and planning with currents and elects team


• Bonded with a great team, one that I love and perhaps should have told them so more


• Ran sessions on AIESEC 2010, Balanced Scorecard and our new planning process


• Started my final year in university


• Did a speech at the NTU Welcome Tea, and had applicants quote me in their application forms


• Went through a crazy period in preparing the team for IC 2006


• Visited Amsterdam on stopover and met up with an old friend


• Visited Poland and had a great time experiencing the differences


• Travelled in Warsaw and Krakow with AIESECers from Malaysia, further bridging the ties


• Met up with more old friends at IC itself, noticed things about some people that I never noticed before


• Lost 2 kg after the whole IC experience


• Became part of a sisterhood (two actually if you count the AP one)


• Planned and conducted National Induction Conference in post-IC mode and timezone


• Juggled school work and AIESEC


• Missed my AIESEC friends like mad, made the most effort to keep in touch


• Felt my heart break for what a friend was going through


• Worked with an interesting facis team for NLDS 2006


• Had the past come back to haunt me at NLDS... felt attacked but having to be objective and move on


• Experienced the best NLDS I ever had... most number of local and international delegates, most number of international facis... most amazing sessions and feedback... most amazing closing plenary


• Started my final semester in university


• Made a decision that would change my life, simply because it wasn't a common decision


• Ran for MCP second term, full time


• Had "painful" sit down sessions with some of the MC members... resulting in tough decisions by the team to say "sorry" and "goodbye"


• Went through a whole lot of stress


• Felt happiness and excitement for a friend, only to feel sad and lost at the end


• Looked forward to Egypt, old friends and new friends


• Visited the Pyramids of Giza and strolled along the River Nile


• Loved my AP Family to bits, affirmed my love for Thai instand noodles, among the many other things and people I came to realise how much I love and miss


• Felt lost at IPM 07 closing plenary... goodbye to some and see you again for others


• Worked on pushing for exchange results, worked on ER Corporate Breakfast which was a great success


• Felt attacked, misunderstood, totally wrecked by what someone would say.. yet having to stay devoid, emotionless and objective...


• Poured my heart out to friends who would listen...


• Forged a much closer friendship with someone from Thailand


• Worried over completing the MC team


• Had a great time catching up with Ryan, listening to his plans for the future, eating cheap and delicious Nasi Lemak after company meetings


• Got through final exams of university... felt shitty after some and good after others...


• Finished my thesis report, and in the process killed so many trees


• Finished my thesis presentation, and wondered how I would fare


• Went down to the LCs during their transition sessions, and realised how much I miss being in the LCs and how amazing and fun these new EBs are


• Felt happy for my friends who were moving on to a next stage of their @ XP... yet felt sad knowing that they won't be that close by physically for some time


• Felt scared and uncertain at some points about what was to come and how I was to cope


• Felt RESPECT for a friend who had the guts to speak her mind, something that I haven't been able to bring myself to do... and that I am still pondering

and here I am today.. thinking back about all these things...

what an experience it has been...

Almost entirely over!

Just finished my thesis presentation today... summarised in less than 30 mins what I spend almost the past one year doing...

and exams were over since last Friday... so it's just making final changes to the thesis report before submission by end of this month...

and then.. officially over with school! wow... feels kind of weird..

but otherwise, busy with AIESEC stuff as usual... but looking forward to end of May to be spent in Penang and perhaps Taiwan in July??

and then there's Turkey in August.. and who knows what else might come up? :)

Some English is more English than others...

Presented by Ruby Pan at Talking Cock in Parliament

Talking Cock in Parliament

Part of the IndigNation "campaign"...

This series of talks by various names in Singapore addressing pertinent issues in Singapore in a tongue-in-cheek and often hilarious way.. featuring people like Ruby Pan (joking about accents!), Hossan Leong (great entertainer on all fronts! stand up comedy, acting, cross dressing in plays.. lol), Dr. Kirpal Singh (who lectures at SMU by the way), Mr Brown and Mr. Miyagi (famous bloggers in Singapore), and Alex Au (otherwise know as Yawning Bread, another famous blogger and local gay activist)

and the best thing is that they secured the Parliament House for this!

So I present.. Talking Cock in Parliament!!

Check them out here!!

and if you wanna find out more, check out http://www.talkingcock.com/ for more local insights and local perspectives! Be forewarned that the site contains a fair amount of Singlish.. but worry not.. they have a Coxford dictionary for you to use!!

p.s. it is set up by Colin Goh, who wrote a very meaningful article once.. will be posting that in future

The world today...

I remember posting up the article itself some weeks back... nicely made into a video with good pictures.. notice that Singapore is actually one of them...

p.s. If I had the time, I would edit out the front and back to make this look less like an advertisement for AIESEC. But I don't have the time.. besides... you can find out more about AIESEC anyway now =)

Another time

I FEEL SO HAPPY AGAIN!!!

HAHAHAHAHAH =)

Reflecting...

I seem to remember hearing this read to all of us then elects... in a cosy room in an old chapel building in the Netherlands....

and I remember the voices of those who read it... deep and robust...

Found it on Jorien's blog...

Brings back a lot of memories...

and instigates lots of thought as well...


It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing. It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain! I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it or fade it, or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own, if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, to be realistic, to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself; if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul; if you can be faithlessand therefore trustworthy.I want to know if you can see beauty even when it's not pretty, every day,and if you can source your own life from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand on the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, “Yes!”

It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up, after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what needs to be done to feed the children.

It doesn't interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back.It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you, from the inside, when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.

I AM SO HAPPY TODAY!

Just needed to post something like that...

hahahahahhaha....

If Everyone Cared

"Never doubt that a small group of committed people can
change the world.
Indeed it is the only thing that ever has"
Margaret Mead

What are YOU doing today
to change the world and make it a better place?

If Everyone Cared
Lyrics - All The Right Reasons :.

From underneath the trees, we watch the sky
Confusing stars for satellites
I never dreamed that you'd be mine
But here we are, we're here tonight

Singing Amen, I'm alive
Singing Amen, I'm alive

If everyone cared and nobody cried
If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride
We'd see the day when nobody died
And I'm singing

Amen I, I'm alive
Amen I, I'm alive

And in the air the fireflies
Our only light in paradise
We'll show the world they were wrong
And teach them all to sing along

Singing Amen I'm alive
Singing Amen I'm alive

If everyone cared and nobody cried
If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride
We'd see the day when nobody died
If everyone cared and nobody cried
If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride
We'd see the day when nobody died

And as we lie beneath the stars
We realize how small we are
If they could love like you and me
Imagine what the world could be

If everyone cared and nobody cried
If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride
We'd see the day when nobody died

We'd see the day, we'd see the day
When nobody died
We'd see the day, we'd see the day
When nobody died
We'd see the day when nobody died

Save the Trees! Save the Environment!

perhaps what the world needs are children who see the graveness of the matter and the simplicity of the solutions...

perhaps the diplomats and government officials should really be made to visit the villages in Africa, or the ice caps in the Artic, or the dying coral reefs and rainforests around the world...

I am thinking about it... what I can possibly do...

updates on this soon...

I know I'm morbid because...

I find this amusing...


Attention: The picture you are about to view may be disturbing. Not suitable for young children, pregnant ladies and people with weak hearts (or weak stomachs for bloody stuff)

perhaps that is you playing your WoW?
or trying to break your record for typing speed?
or trying to ensure that your Final Year Project report is properly aligned across all 100 plus pages?
or trying to reconfigure/set up/format (and everything else related to the messing around with the internal runnings of) your computer?

Thank you for the note...

I won't give up... I am sure you guys know that... but sometimes... one just needs that space to doubt, to question and to refind some answers...

Have you ever...

Have you ever felt like you dunno who you are anymore?

especially when you are challenged for being who you are, for what you believed that you believe in and value for most of your life?

and that because of who you are and the way you are, the consequences are such that even those around you get hurt in some way?

and because of that, you question yourself on who you are and you wonder if it really is about YOU being what they say you are - emotionless...

I don't know if I have found the answer...

but I think I can say that I have moved on... perhaps grown a bit stronger...

but I just somehow feel that in moving on and beyond the experience and the feelings, I have lost some part of myself... or is just a mechanism for escaping, that the best way to move on is to become more emotionless so that it doesn't hurt anymore in that way? and in moving on, one would chose to move on from other stuff as well...

why the mellow posting you ask...

I don't know either.. haha

Latest Fave Song

Far Away
by Nickelback

This time, This place
Misused, Mistakes
Too long, Too late
Who was I to make you wait
Just one chance
Just one breath
Just in case there's just one left
'Cause you know,
you know, you know

[CHORUS]
That I love you
I have loved you all along
And I miss you
Been far away for far too long
I keep dreaming you'll be with me
and you'll never go
Stop breathing if
I don't see you anymore

On my knees, I'll ask
Last chance for one last dance
'Cause with you, I'd withstand
All of hell to hold your hand
I'd give it all
I'd give for us
Give anything but I won't give up
'Cause you know,
you know, you know

[CHORUS]

So far away
Been far away for far too long
So far away
Been far away for far too long
But you know, you know, you know

I wanted
I wanted you to stay
'Cause I needed
I need to hear you say
That I love you
I have loved you all along
And I forgive you
For being away for far too long
So keep breathing
'Cause I'm not leaving
Hold on to me and, never let me go

__________________

I know I know it sounds so sappy.. but soft rock... always liked the band... you can check out the music video HERE
(click List and select Far Away... gotta wait for it to stream though)

and if you have the time, watch "If Everyone Cared"... very good song and video...

The Dating Game

(Found this in the papers today... some excerpts from the full article titled "Getting to the of the dating game")

But, she says, it all boils down to her deep personal belief that everybody wants to find that special someone.

'Is that a lot to demand? No and yes. We have so many problems, it is mind-boggling. We live in such a densely populated space and yet we find it so difficult to find the right person. Sociologically, I find that question so challenging,'' she says.

Dr Straughan heads the Social Development Unit's (SDU) regulatory arm which will look into the accreditation of dating agencies now that the Government's matchmaking arm for graduates has decided to take a back-seat role.

(funny isn't it? there used to be a specialised service for graduates.. just goes to show how much they need it.. hahaha)

Research figures support Dr Straughan's belief that everybody wants to settle down.

According to an SDU/Social Development Service Perception Survey in 2005, more than 90 per cent of the 1,500 single respondents said they would certainly or most probably get married one day.

This bears out the findings of the Survey of Social Attitudes of Singaporeans commissioned in 2001 by the then-Ministry of Community Development and Sports which showed that eight in 10 out of the 1,481 Singaporeans polled felt it is better to get married than to stay single.

(didn't realise that many Singaporeans want to get married...)

Between 2000 and 2005, the number of marriages here remained fairly constant - from 22,561 in 2000 to 22,992 in 2005 - while a relatively high proportion of men and women in their 30s were single in 2005.

Among those aged 30-34 years, 34 per cent of men and 22 per cent of women were not married.

Also, the proportion of older singles in the population increased between 1995 and 2005. Among those aged 40-44 years, some 14-15 per cent of men and women were single in 2005. This is higher than the 12-13 per cent in 1995.

There are currently 600,000 singles over the age of 20 in Singapore.

(now that's a big difference between the ideal and the actual reality)

'Before people can start a family, they must first have the freedom and time to enter into a courtship,' says Dr Straughan.

'And it's not just going out for a movie when you are free. It's a sustained commitment.

'If you go out with a guy to whom you are clearly second fiddle to his work and other commitments, you are not going to think seriously about him.'

Ms Chiang agrees.

'There needs to be a balance. So when you cannot switch on that emotional time, to be emotionally prepared to connect, to savour that two hours after work, then all is lost.'

(hear hear... some of the other parts of the article are quite funny... especially about some disasters at matchmaking sessions.. haha)

More from MM Lee Kuan Yew

(continued from previous posting. This is an interview by a reporter by the way.. :P)

I want to ask about ministerial salaries. Your view on how well the system has worked to bring in talent?

Every time there is a pay revision to catch up with benchmarks, this debate will come up again.

But you ask yourself: Do you want the present system where it's completely above board?

And while we are not recruiting all of the very best, we are recruiting some of the very best, because quite a few of the very best do not want to give up their private lifestyle and their family life.

Yes, you can get a person to give up and make a sacrifice for one term.

But will you get a man or woman to serve successive terms, gain experience, become a really competent person, a very competent minister and sacrifice his family, their welfare, their comforts and their children's future and education, going abroad etc? It's not possible.

They're at the top of their cohort. We talent spot. We headhunt for people who not only have just academic qualifications but track records of performance.

How did I learn this? Because in the early days, looking for talent, I put in bright PhDs. Didn't work. We even had a Rhodes scholar.

We found that we needed other qualities: character, motivation, judgment, stability, temperament, ability to connect with people.

So, finally, we worked out a system where we looked at a person in totality: How does he perform in real life, whether as a businessman, as a CEO, as a doctor, as a lawyer, whatever?

Supposing I had served just one term. Would I have known this? No. Because I've served since 1959, and successive elections we fine-tuned and learned in the process.

You go back to a revolving-door government: the first two years you learn how to do your job; next two, three years, you begin to do the job. Before you know where you are, you're out. Next government comes in.

And that's what's happening in many parts of the world.

Carefully consider.

You know, the cure for all this talk is really a good dose of incompetent government.

You get that alternative and you'll never put Singapore together again: Humpty Dumpty cannot be put together again... and your asset values will disappear, your apartment will be worth a fraction of what it is, your jobs will be in peril, your security will be at risk and our women will become maids in other people's countries, foreign workers.

Just think. We have a population of three-point-something (million) and we are carrying and able to give jobs to another 1.3 million people.

How does that happen? Why can't the 1.3 million people get jobs in their own countries?

It must be something that we're doing which is right, that creates economic prosperity, that creates growth, that requires talented people to join us, to help us produce all these extra goods and services.

You know the absurdity of all this?

The total cost of ministers' salaries, of all office holders, the present cost is 0.13 per cent of government expenditure (and 0.022 per cent of GDP).

It amounts to $46 million. We are quarrelling about whether we should pay them $46 million or $36 million, or better still $26 million. So you save $20 million and jeopardise an economy of $210 billion? (This was the size of Singapore's GDP in 2006.)

What are we talking about?

You know fund managers? I'm chairman of the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) and we put $5 billion, $10 billion with top fund managers, just to benchmark how we are performing against the best in the market.

We have about three or four top US investors and we track what they do and we compare what we are doing.

And you have to pay them not 0.13 per cent. Win or lose, whether the stocks go up or down, they take their cut. You ask GIC employees; I'm the chairman of GIC. I'm being paid as Minister Mentor, the Senior Minister before that, and even as Prime Minister before that, a fraction of what the top managers in GIC earn.

But they are handling over US$100 billion (S$151 billion). They make a mistake, we lose $10, $20, $30 billion overnight when the stock market collapses.

So for the average family earning $1,500, $3,000, we are talking of astronomical figures.

But for people in government like me, having to deal with these sums of money which we have accumulated through the sweat of our brow over the last 40 years, you have to pay the market rate or the man will up stakes and join Morgan Stanley or Lehman Brothers or Goldman Sachs. And then you've got an incompetent man and you've lost money, by the billions.

So get a sense of proportion.

Would you like to share how much you are paid?

It's in the Budget. I'm paid $2.7 million. A top lawyer, which I could easily have become, today earns $4 million. And he doesn't have to carry this responsibility. All he's got to do is advise his client. Win or lose, that's the client's loss or gain.

But there are top people in other countries who don't get paid as much but who are also corruption-free, who have also done a good job.

Let me put the American system and then you will understand why if we ran that system, we're in trouble.

If you become President of the United States like Bill Clinton was, or George W. Bush, you earn about less than a million dollars. But you have the White House, you have Airforce One...When you leave office, you write your memoirs, you're paid by the tens of millions. And Bill Clinton, for every speech he makes, it's at least a million or half a million or he doesn't go. And he starts a foundation. They all do this.

You take Alan Greenspan. He sacrificed his earnings as a very expert financial specialist and he took on as a job as chairman of the Federal Reserve, at a pittance. As Paul Volker did.

But he's already got a huge sum of money and when he leaves, he can increase the huge sum of money because of the standing that he has.

He makes a statement and says there could be a recession in the second half of this year and the world stock market goes down.

Can we afford a revolving-door government? Suppose after five years, I go out and say 'OK, I write my memoirs, I become a lobbyist'. How does that get the country going?

I say this is a system we worked out. It's above board, it's working. And if you're going to quarrel about $46 million, up or down another $10 or $20 million, I say you have no sense of proportion; you don't know what life is about. And just think, what would your apartment be worth with a poor government and the economy down?

We talk about the Government as fu mu guan (a Chinese phrase that refers to public officials as parents who care for their children). So people hope that leaders are not there for the money, that they are willing to make that extra sacrifice.

Those are admirable sentiments, but we live in the real world. It took a lot of persuasion to get Ng Eng Hen, Vivian Balakrishnan, Balaji Sadasivan to give up their lucrative practices and become ministers and ministers of state, and no guarantee they would succeed.

Ng Eng Hen six years ago, when he first entered politics, was making $4.5 million and he came in and took a job that paid him about $600,000.

Balaji was earning also in the same category. He was a top brain surgeon with very high skills. He took a chance. When he was not made a minister in the selection process, Goh Chok Tong, then Prime Minister, said 'Would you like to go back to your private practice?'

He says 'No, I'm going to do this as a senior minister of state'. But he's made sufficient to look after his family and children, and his wife is a doctor. So I think that's a sacrifice.

I started off as a socialist, believing that all men should be given equal opportunities and equal rewards. I know that doesn't work.

You have competition and reward the winner.

You look at golf, tennis, swimming, badminton, anything you like. The first prize is an enormous sum. And to get that first prize, you start spending your life, sweating your guts out to master a certain skill which (is) admired and supported by hundreds, if not thousands of millions of people watching you.

It is a competitive world in which we live and if we can't compete, we're not going to live well.

In an interview with Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew...

(This is an interview by a reporter with Lee Kuan Yew, and was published in the Straits Times)

Following up on protests at the Australian National University (ANU). In the context of the global contest for talent, how much does it matter that some people see Singapore as a place that restricts individual freedoms?

MM Lee: Let me first challenge the assumption that people see Singapore as a place that restricts individual freedom. This is the stereotype that the Western media purveys of Singapore. But businessmen and talented people who work for these companies are better informed; otherwise we wouldn't have attracted the talent we have.

The ANU knew they would get flak from the human-rights people for offering me an honorary degree. So too the Imperial College London for making me a Fellow just a few years ago; so too Melbourne University.

So what does it prove? These are people who understand what's happening in the real world and understand the real Singapore.

The press works up a storyline that Warwick University finds Singapore's academic freedom restricted, so they don't come.

I think the real reason is they worked out their sums and they found it was not economical.

You've got some of the top names from America, and even Australia has got the University of New South Wales setting up a campus.

So let's not ourselves be drawn in to purvey this line.

What is the individual freedom that you are deprived of? Are you prevented from saying what you want? Are you prevented from exercising your rights as a citizen?

___________________________________________________________

Question: Since we are trying to attract talent, does it matter that they see us in this light?

No. The people that have the talent will have the wit to investigate, to know what they are in for.

You know the number of unsolicited mails that I get and PM gets from people completely without motive? They've come, they know the old Singapore.

And what they are saying is, it's a very good place - safe, wholesome, everything works - and they wish they could have the basics we have established.

And if you allow this to be degraded, you'll never put the present Singapore together again.

If we didn't have more self-confidence in what we are doing and we listened to what is prescribed for us, we wouldn't be here.

You cannot bring Singapore from where it was to where it now is without long periods of stable government and experienced ministers.

You watch the development of Taiwan or South Korea.

The period of transformation took place when they had governments that stayed for a long time, ministers and civil servants who acquired experience and expertise and improved the system and got it to a high state.

And once they liberalised, like they did in Taiwan, you look at the growth rates. You look at their stability, you look at what their future promises.

I meet their journalists; they come to Singapore. If you read Tian Xia and several other very reputable papers, they are full of admiration for what we have achieved.

Now how does Taiwan get back to stability and growth and sanity?

It's facing a very difficult future in which China is growing bigger and bigger year by year, stronger and stronger.

And they are not in a position to go independent because the Americans will not support them because it means war.

So what is the rational thing to do? Is the rational thing to say 'I change the Constitution' and provoke the Chinese into a clash?

That's what the present President is attempting to do because then he thinks he will be able to rally votes. I mean, you are now into mass manipulation of attitudes in order to win votes by deceiving people that this is a way forward, when there is, in fact, no way forward.

You look at South Korea. They are now with a generation that voted in a new government completely at variance with US policies.

Without the US, South Korea is in dire difficulties with the North. But you have a younger generation that says, out with the Americans.

So does it make sense?

________________________________________________

all I get is a sense of how weak certain parties around the world are in the areas of transition.... they should case-study AIESEC... hahaha...

but always interesting to read the views of Mr. Lee Kuan Yew... his brain is amazing... =)

(will post the rest of his responses in a bit)

What a day of hope!

Yesterday (since it is 12.44am now on a 5th April) was such a day... =)

Started off not too good.. overslept my alarms and woke up at 12 noon (after sleeping at 3am plus doing stuff for my final year project)... checked through emails, replying people etc...

and then things started to pick up...

saw the email from SHRI... offering package for AIESEC stakeholders to participate in the Singapore HR Forum in early May... what a benefit to offer those who work with us!

got a call from IHG... they've opened a job position and ask if AIESEC can help! had to do some explaining but she sounds open.. got the JD from her via email and man what a super attractive role to work as! starting to wonder if I can apply for such positions in future even if I do graduate from engineering...

anyway, finished sending IHG more information and went off for company meeting with Ker Ying and Wanxin... great meeting that lasted almost 1 hour... training company that works with DHL interns already... looking to take interns from us, and willing to collaborate in outgoing exchange processes! Huge potential!

got back home... watched a documentary called "Planet Earth" on Arts Central... brought back lots of memory from primary school watching documentaries, especially in hearing David Attenborough as narrator again (I sound like such a nerd don't I? documentaries in primary school haha).. anyway.. great show, looking forward to next week's episode (it's a series)...

came back to my laptop and got news from our PBOX OC about an Arab Asian Dialogue Forum end of the month... msned my contact from UAE to learn that they have contact with the organiser! sent her an email to see if we can somehow get AIESEC into the forum... *crosses fingers*

aside from that, things like consolidating exchange performance so far and feeling quite proud of the LCs... having friends from other countries msn saying they received news about the project we are looking to run and how they see the potential in collaborating it into execution... getting news of SNs being matched... seeing emails from companies asking for meetings or exchange (PwC!! TCS!!)...

ahhh... 4th April... what a day! =)

Report, assignment, notes, books, followups, emails...

just some of the stuff that seems to be "governing" my life for now..

nonetheless, so so looking forward to catching the The Phantom of the Opera this coming Sunday... at the Esplanade somemore! the place is supposed to be one of the best investments that Singapore has ever made in developing the arts scene... I've never been in its theatre halls before so definitely looking forward to that...

and of course, definitely looking forward to the company with which I will be watching the musical...

nothing like a sunday evening/night out with good friends, good musical, good seats (I hope!) and good sound system.. not to mention good view along the river for some chilling out perhaps after the musical... too bad the good drinks near the Esplanade are so expensive...

Sudden Thought...

Was reading someone else's blog about attending a wake of someone who had committed suicide... reminded me of when I heard similar news regarding a senior...

and then I suddenly thought of what I read in the book titled "Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom... the story is a very simple and inspiring one about Morrie's experiences in dealing with the incurable disease eating him up day by day...

and I remembered this chapter... where the author talked about Morrie holding a "funeral" while he was still alive... he did this because he had attended the funeral of a friend... As he listened to the deceased's friends and relative speak fondly about him while he was still alive, he thought it was such a pity that his friend would never hear or know that he was so loved by those around him... and because Morrie didn't want to die not hearing all these valuable words, because he didn't want those around him to regret not having said the things they meant to say all along but they never did simply because they were too late, he held one while he was alive...

And in that small cosy session, friends and relatives gathered to share their eulogies of Morrie... they said all they had meant to so there was no regret.. and Morrie heard all of these and was able to enjoy the love and friendship while he was alive so there was no regret...

too often... we are often guilty of falling into the trap... of not saying what we really want to say to those around us... I'm guilty of that also...

I guess it really is hard... but I guess that's also why when it is said, it's really really precious...

just a sudden thought...

Go The Distance by Michael Bolton

I have often dreamed, of a far off place
Where a hero's welcome, would be waiting for me
Where the crowds will cheer, when they see my face
And a voice keeps saying, this is where I'm meant to be

I'll be there someday, I can go the distance
I will find my way, if I can be strong
I know every mile, will be worth my while
When I go the distance, I'll be right where I belong

Down an unknown road, to embrace my fate
Though that road may wander, it will lead me to you
And a thousand years, would be worth the wait
It might take a lifetime, but somehow I'll see it through

And I won't look back, I can go the distance
And I'll stay on track, no, I won't accept defeat
It's an uphill slope, but I won't lose hope
Till I go the distance, and my journey is complete

But to look beyond the glory is the hardest part
For a hero's strength is measured by his heart

Like a shooting star, I will go the distance
I will search the world, I will face its' harms
I don't care how far, I can go the distance
Till I find my hero's welcome, waiting in your arms

I will search the world, I will face its harms
Till I find my hero's welcome, waiting in your arms

since everyone is doing it...

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

and yes I feel better now...

I am human too...

as much as sometimes I am constrained by the roles I play...

why can't people see that...

Report writing...

According to A. W. Leissa in Vibration of shells, a shell is “a three-dimensional body, which is bounded by two closely spaced curved surfaces, the distance between the surfaces being small in comparison with the other dimensions” [1].

Adding on to this from the Encyclopedia Brittanica [ ], the shape of the curved surfaces allows for the transmission of applied loads to supports in more than two directions. These loads are carried by the development of compressive, tensile and shear stresses that act in the plane of the surface. Where efficiency means that for the same cross sectional area subjected to the same loading conditions, a beam undergoes the least deflection, it is found theoretically and experimentally that the cylindrical shell is the most efficient structure for bending in any direction. Given this, there is a huge potential for the uses of cylindrical shells and the need for further understanding of the structure in response to various loading conditions has led to an extensive study into the structure itself.

More specifically in the context of present day mechanical and civil engineering, the phenomenon of vibrating thin cylindrical shells is a particular area that has received much attention. This is due to the prevalent use of shafts in modern rotating machinery and the need for higher operating speeds of such machinery.

Vibration is the periodic back and forth motion of an object under dynamic excitation in mechanics. It usually becomes a problem when it is excessive or when the natural frequency of the vibrating structure coincides with that of the exciting source, resulting in resonance.

Shell theories are usually used to study the vibration characteristics of rotating cylindrical shells, all of which are affected by factors such as anisotropy, initial stresses, variable thickness, surrounding media (e.g., water, air), large (nonlinear) deflections, shear deformation, rotary inertia, and non-homogeneity (including laminated composites) just to name a few. This presents a huge scope for research studies.
The first published work on a rotating cylindrical shell was by Bryan [ ], where the rotating ring was considered and the phenomena of traveling modes was discovered. Later works include that of DiTaranto and Lessen [ ], which investigated the effects of Coriolis forces on an infinitely long and isotropic cylindrical shell, and that of Srinivasan and Lauterbach [ ], which looked into the effects of both Coriolis forces and travelling modes in rotating isotropic cylindrical shells. Till this point, these papers mainly dealt with the analysis of the natural frequency of vibration.

However, one vibration characteristic that is also crucial and relevant in the study of cylindrical shells is the critical speed of the rotating shell. Zinberg and Symonds [ ] were the firsts to obtain, through experiments, critical speed results for rotating shells. The results obtained also proved the advantages of using shells made of orthotropic materials over aluminium alloy shells. The results of Zinberg and Symonds were further build on by dos Reis et al. [ ] where a finite element approach was used to obtain the critical speeds of the shell. Following that, a paper by Kim and Bert [ ] presented a simplified theory for analysing the first critical speed of a composite cylindrical shell. Results obtained using different shell theories were compared.

_______________________________________________________________________

and so the report writing continues...

Thought Provoking Thoughts...

This sounds so familiar... I feel as if I have watched it on TV before... where the scenes flicker from one to another as the narrator speaks.. in a deep, rich voice... perhaps something like that from Anthony Hopkins or Morgan Freeman...

The following comes from a letter that George Carlin wrote for his deceased wife


The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less
wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive to fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up tired, read too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to our life not life to our years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are times of fast food and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Remember, to say, " I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Feast at the Pyramids?

Ok so they're doing it for charity... and I suppose it is quite a novelty thing to dine around the Pyramids...

but honestly, you would think the Pyramids have suffered enough from modernisation, what with all the tourists, tour buses, souvenirs shops, locals selling souvenirs and ripping off tourists... what with the homes and shops that have sprouted around it and that are so dependent on the Pyramids being a famous tourist site for survival... what with that music and light show at the Sphinx...

Shouldn't the last standing Wonder of the Ancient World be left to be admired in its natural grandeur, set against the darkness and mystery of the vast desert? And not have the silence of the desert be interrupted by the clink of wine glasses, the chatter and laughter at such epicurean feasts? And not have the natural waft of the desert wind and that of camels be interrupted by the smells of exotic foods or highly expensive perfumes?


Millionaires to Feast at Pyramids
Monday March 19, 11:19 am ET
By Jocelyn Gecker, Associated Press Writer
Chefs to Prepare Gourmet Feast for Millionaires at the Pyramids in Egypt

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- From the creators of the $25,000 dinner, there's another pricey gourmet feast on the horizon.

Wealthy foodies can mark their calendars for Dec. 12, 2008, when top chefs from around the world will be flown to Egypt to cook a dinner in front of the ancient Pyramids of Giza, organizer Deepak Ohri said Monday.

This dinner will be a bargain, at least compared to the one in Bangkok last month that was billed as the meal of a lifetime and cooked by six 3-star Michelin chefs for $25,000 a head. High-rolling food lovers flew in from the United States, Europe, the Middle East and across Asia for the 40-seat dinner.

The price for dining beside the pyramids has not yet been set, but it will cost less than $10,000 per person, said Ohri, the managing director of Bangkok's luxury Lebua hotel, the event planner behind the dinners that are boldly titled "Epicurean Masters of the World."

Though cheaper, the upcoming feast is intended to be even grander than its predecessor.

"It will still be for millionaires, but this dinner will be for a lot of millionaires," Ohri told The Associated Press.

Some 500 tickets will be sold for the dinner to be cooked by 30 3-star Michelin chefs.

About a third of the chefs already have confirmed their attendance; each chef will prepare a meal for roughly 17 diners.

A kitchen half a mile long will be set up against the backdrop of the pyramids with equipment and the best ingredients jetted in from around the world.

Unlike the $25,000 dinner, which featured rare French wines and mostly French food, the next meal will be culturally diverse and paired with fine wines from around the world, Ohri said.

Just how close diners will be to the pyramids depends upon the Egyptian government and the U.N.'s cultural body UNESCO, since the pyramids are a World Heritage site.

Talks are under way with authorities, Ohri said, noting that organizers are "considering" giving profits from the dinner to an organization or charity that deals with conserving the Seven Wonders of the World. The pyramids are the only surviving structure from the traditional list of architectural marvels.

All profits from the $25,000 dinner are going to two charities -- Medecins Sans Frontieres, which will be sent a check for $15,000, and the Chaipattana Foundation, a rural development program set up by the king of Thailand, which will receive $46,000, Ohri said.

Randomness

Some of these blogthings things are quite fun and funny... hahahaha

You Are 50% Boyish and 50% Girlish

You are pretty evenly split down the middle - a total eunuch. Okay, kidding about the eunuch part. But you do get along with both sexes. You reject traditional gender roles. However, you don't actively fight them. You're just you. You don't try to be what people expect you to be.

How Boyish or Girlish Are You?

Your Aura is Violet

Idealistic and thoughtful, you have the mind and ideas to change the world. And you have the charisma of a great leader, even if you don't always use it! The purpose of your life: saying truths that other people dare not say Famous purples include: Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Susan B. Anthony Careers for you to try: Political Activist, Inventor, Life Coach

What Color Is Your Aura?

My 5 top strengths

Did this in IPM 2006 in the Netherlands... and for some reason just wanted to put it up...

Your Top Strength

Industry, diligence, and perseverance You work hard to finish what you start. No matter the project, you "get it out the door" in timely fashion. You do not get distracted when you work, and you take satisfaction in completing tasks.

Your Second Strength

Forgiveness and mercy You forgive those who have done you wrong. You always give people a second chance. Your guiding principle is mercy and not revenge.

Your Third Strength

Honesty, authenticity, and genuineness You are an honest person, not only by speaking the truth but by living your life in a genuine and authentic way. You are down to earth and without pretense; you are a "real" person.

Your Fourth Strength

Self-control and self-regulation You self-consciously regulate what you feel and what you do. You are a disciplined person. You are in control of your appetites and your emotions, not vice versa.

Your Fifth Strength

Curiosity and interest in the world You are curious about everything. You are always asking questions, and you find all subjects and topics fascinating. You like exploration and discovery. What do you think? Sounds like me?

Some of my better shots over the years

I've always liked taking photos... was looking at some stuff on the internet and just felt like going through my own photo galleries again...

Here are some of my better shots from over the years... notice that they start from 2003, because that was when I got my first digital camera...

Sea of clouds over Poland

(taken from the plane on the flight back from IC 2006 in Poland)

In the streets of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
(taken after IPM 2006)

Sun Set in Bangkok, Thailand
(taken in 2003)

View from Jiu Fen, Taipei, Taiwan
(Taken during trip in 2005)

Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
(Taken during visit to KL for OCSEA and for fun, 2005)

Central Business District, Singapore
(taken during AIESEC Amazing Race, 2005)

A bird, a dying tree, a new moon
(taken near Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore, 2005)

Merlion, Singapore River, Singapore Skyline
(taken during class assignment to Singapore River, 2005)

Singapore Skyline at night
(taken from a cruise, 2005)

I like this photo

Have you ever seen something like that?
Seen how the sea and the sky seem to blend into each other?
I have...

So much to do...

With school term coming to an end soon (exams in 5 weeks! gosh!), and AIESEC terms coming to and end and coming to a start, things are getting busy...

So much to do... so much to do...

Sometimes I wonder how I manage...

this like a targeted-at-self ego booster... yeah so much to do... but I'm doing it....

Taking a Break... in Singapore

Yup.. back in Singapore.. it's been 6 days since I came back...

been really busy since getting back...

I landed at 10am (one hour later than supposed because of flight delay), grabbed breakfast with my Dad and Bro at the airport and headed home... unpacked somewhat, showered and went off for an AIESEC event... after that event (which was fantastic by the way), I headed off for a Chinese New Year reunion dinner with my Junior College Wushu (chinese martial arts) society... of course I was feeling super tired at the end of that day because of the travelling as well so that meant a good night's sleep, which really helped in countering jet lag...

Sunday was a day of more unpacking, clearing emails, consolidating stuff from IPM, writing report and tidying documents... I figured I should clear the stuff from IPM first before I move on to other stuff...

Monday was supposed to be back to school again but I overslept and ended up at home, clearing AIESEC stuff still, sorting out my lecture notes, downloading notes that I need to print and catch up on... looking at my Final Year Project (FYP) stuff again...

Tuesday I went back to school! spent most of the time in the library printing my notes and sorting them out... suddenly saw an email from my FYP supervisor asking for a meeting that same day and so went to meet him, without much progress since the last time unfortunately... but fortunately, he's quite nice and after a quick update from my side and quick refreshment from his side on what I still need to do, it was back to the library to finish up on the printing... then I headed back home (yes I went to school but didn't attend classes... my theory is that priority then is not to learn new stuff in the middle of nowhere but to clear the urgent school stuff first).. once home, it was back to the laptop to work on my FYP... working out equations, tweaking my programme.. and finally getting proper results at 3am... YAY!! it works!

Wednesday was spent at home again... this entire day was devoted to studying for the quiz on Thursday... I got mixed up and almost studied 3 of the 4 parts of the module... which was why I was quite panicked about finishing all that materials.. in the end, I realised my mistake and things turned out alright, since I had overbudgeted for studying time and now had more time to get the information in my head... so.. reading reading and studying... getting good news once in a while via email about FYP or other stuff... and so the day goes by..

Thursday I met my FYP supervisor again and he's happy with the results... gave me a set of new conditions to run on my programme... pretty much finalised the scope of what should be in my report (the draft of which is due next Tuesday) so at least there is clear direction now.. and that feeling of closeness to finishing with the project... after that, it was off to the library to revise for the quiz but somehow midway through that, I distracted myself by turning on my laptop.. haha.. anyway the quiz was... just alright.. could have done better I am sure.. especially if someone had told me I could bring a summary card into the room... oh well.. that's for missing lectures I guess (at least I had good learning time in Egypt nonetheless)... after that, went for a catch-up dinner with Diana and Phoebe... great to be back and hearing their stories, while sharing mine...

so yes for those of you who have been asking how has it been since getting back, I hope this answers your questions...

It's hot and humid here, the streets are suddenly very structured, the air suddenly quite clean, the people still as "unfriendly" and things seem the way they were 3 weeks back... but well.. it's good to be back...

and now.. I'm just chilling in my room.. radio on with DJ-less music again.. enjoying the moment...

cheers... =)

Support Entrepreneurship!

I am always for such entrepreneurial acts...

Visit http://bitsbobsandotherthings.blogspot.com/

This is a site set up by my good buddy, who has a passion for handicraft and such... check it out and who knows, you just might find something suitable for you or your friends!

Photos... some of it anyway

Finally managed to upload all my photos from my pre conference trip (12th to 15th Feb)

Adventures in Egypt (1)

Adventures in Egypt (2)

Order is a bit jumbled up cos my connection gets cranky sometimes and I have to re-upload...

Those after IPM will come later...

A promise is a promise

As I promised before IPM, I will harness the power of some MCPs to attempt to part the Red Sea...

as a refresher... this is the Red Sea before...


and this is our attempt


and the result


some slight receding of the shore line there... but definitely not enough to be considered as a parting...

time for some evaluation...

perhaps we should have worn shoes... or maybe it has something to do with the sand... Tabbee as photographer looks totally disappointed...

but well... it's alright that nothing happened to sea... otherwise... we won't be able to enjoy scenes like this...

Photos from AP Road Trip - Cairo, Egypt

View from our hotel room with Pyramids clearly visible in the distance

Khan Al Khalili Bazaar

Receipt after our short break in Khan Al Khalili Restaurant

Our Nile Cruise Boat

Travel mates part 1

Travel mates part 2 (missing Amzad)

Photos from AP Road Trip - Luxor, Egypt

One of those rare photos in my camera with me inside... thanks to Sandy for forcing me to do this... hahaha...

Valley of the Kings

AP gang hanging around at Karnak Temple

Ruins of Karnak Temple in Luxor, Egypt

Our trusty guide... the Lonely Planet!

Our home for 2 days

Road trip after IPM

IPM is over! but it doesn't yet mean that we don't get to see some of the people anymore...

and that is thanks to... the AP Road Trip!

14 of us (Beatrice and Mindy from Hong Kong, Amy from New Zealand, Anisha and Sandy from Malaysia, Sheana and Jessica from Taiwan, Sahan and Suchith from Sri Lanka, Satoshi from Japan, Amzad from Bangladesh, Aidy from Indonesia, Pui from Thailand and me from Singapore) made a self-arranged tour to travel around Egypt and spend some quality time together...

Armed with loads of left over snacks and drinks from IPM and Lonely Planets that speak different languages, we embarked on an amazing journey...

Now that I am sitting back in Singapore, I suddenly find it hard to describe those 3 days (I left earlier than the rest)...

but highlights definitely include

- a driver that speaks and understands limited english, who keeps asking for tips, and whom most of us find scary... oh and who seems to like Amzad, who is otherwise known as Mohammad in Egypt
- spending 2 nights sleeping in the van (we travelled from the resort to Luxor overnight, and then from Luxor to Cairo overnight also)... kind of like sleeping on the plane but with less leg room... not to mention lending my shoulder to become a pillow at some point while using other people's shoulders as pillow at other points...
- "gossiping" and discussing interesting stuff at the back of the van (me, Sheana, Mindy and Amy) were sitting together, and that was quite a good place for some interesting conversations
- getting to Luxor and having the driver refuse to drive us to the Valley of the Kings without us paying extra money... in the end, Amzad took him to the policeman on the streets and after long conversation, he had no choice but to bring us there...
- "borrowing" a hotel's showers so we could take a shower (3 days without showering!)... we paid 15 Egyptian Pounds, which is less than 5 SGD each.. not too bad an extra flexible service the hotel offered...
- feeling so relieved to reach Cairo and check into a decent hotel along the Nile..
- wandering the streets of Cairo and chilling out at a Cafe with Amy while the rest visited the Pyramids
- finally visiting the Tourist Bazaar, bumping into @ers here and there, watching in amusement as Amy haggles her way through her purchases...
- meeting up with some of the rest in a small cosy cafe that serves huge sandwiches
- getting back to the hotel to freshen up before our Nile Cruise
- finding ourselves sitting in the same dining hall as an Egyptian Wedding (we figured we were part of the entertainment, considering how diverse and exotic we look)
- enjoying an Eat All You Can buffet where guests only queue once.. enjoying dance performances, belly dancing performances, and special appearances by Pui and Amzad, and short un-noticed ones by Beatrice and Amy
- taking photos of the Nile scenary on the deck of the cruise boat and having our fingers nearly frozen off
- Surprise celebration for Anisha's birthday, complete with huge cake that was a combination of chocolate on one part and fruit cake on another part
- drinking games with Amy's vodka, 42 Below from New Zealand... watching people turn red and conk out...
- truth or drink punishment turning into truth or truth and then truth AND drink...
- those of us currents who were still awake and sober having sharing session till 4 or 5 am
- me taking a nap before getting breakfast and starting packing... going to rooms to hug and say goodbye to everyone else... feeling such a mix of emotions knowing that some of them I will see again for sure at IC and that some, I know we will meet again but just don't know when...
- taking a cab with Pui, Anisha and Sandy to the airport, saying goodbye to the Malaysians first (different terminal) and then to Pui...
- finding myself in a most busy check in hall... finding that my flight would be delayed by 1 hour plus, meeting the Kate and Ralph from Austra, John from Bahrain (Australian working there) and Nadia from Hong Kong (Ukrainian working there) in the waiting hall to find that we were on the same flight to Bahrain
- finally getting out at Changi Airport in Singapore and thinking to myself what an amazing experience it has been... and knowing that post conference nostalgia will be hitting soon.. but well.. it's worth it...

thanks to all of the AP family for being such great people... I love our trip, I love each of you, and I can't wait to see you all again some day some time...