Jogging

This morning I went to jog again (finally :p).... after so many weeks of 'resting'. I think this is my only 3rd jogging after so many weeks (since early March). Well, I suppose I have to rebuild my stamina all over again..... :p ...

This morning was also my 1st time jogging along with my MP3 player. I had always resist from plugging music into my ear while jogging because the motivation to jog may come from the music and not from oneself. But last night I told myself to try it. Well, I go along with it.

Go. I ran. I had started to run. And .... I found myself trying to fit the earpiece into my ear. After a few stride, the left earpiece dropped off. I put it back. The right earpiece dropped off. I put it back. The left earpiece dropped off again and again ...... Ohh, it was rather distracting and I couldn't jog properly :(. But at the same time, I find myself running with greater stride than my last jogging (few days ago) :). Well, is it that my stamina had increased? Or the music had motivate me to run better? Or is it the earpiece had distracted me so much that I had forgotten to pace myself? Well, in the end I decided to plug just 1 earpiece into my right ear and hold the MP3 player with the left earpiece on my left hand. In the process, although I had ran better, I found myself arn't really enjoying my music and my jog. Maybe I am not use to the earpiece while jogging. I would prefer to jog with music 'out-from-the speaker' or without music at all. And it could be quite dangerous to jog with earpiece as I may not be able to hear vechicles (and bicycles) from behind.

Well, for the time being, I would jog without any earpiece :). I would continue to enjoy my jog in my usual style.

Many years ago, whenever I told people that I enjoy jogging, they would always find it 'strange'. They were thinking "who would like to JOG?", "who would like to puff and huff all the way" or "Jogging is a boring activity". I jog to stay healthy (hopefully), it is a great feeling to run (especially when you have the power and stamina... you would love to run 5km or 10km.... and more and more...), a kinda 'freedom' feeling when you run:), and I just like to jog :). Well, jogging is still 1 of my favorite leisure activity.

iCon

Few days ago, I had finally finished reading iCon-Steve Jobs, The Greatest Second Act In The History Of Business. As I am a slow-reader, I took 2 weeks to complete this book. This book is rather absorbing! It told us the history of Apple Computer, how did 2 young guys (Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak) got together to evolve the computer industry. Once I had started off with the pages, I couldn't stop. I couldn't resist reading and flipping the pages. I would keep thinking ... how did they start their business.. where was their 1st BIG break.. what problems had they encountered and resolved them.. the idea of iMac.. iPod.. ......

Steve Jobs is an great visionary guy with a figther attitude. A man who could captivate anybody with his words and he was famous for giving great speeches. He is an able leader who could led an small army to victories, with style.

Apple Computer. Pixar. iMac, iPod, iTunes, iWorks, iMovies.. . iPhone.

"The Journey Is The Reward."
"Let's Be Pirates!"
- Steve Jobs

3 Semi-Finals In 4 Years

Liverpool had beaten Arsenal to progress into the Champion League semi-final against Chelsea. Liverpool had achieved a remarkable three semi-final in four years.

The Kops had win 5-3 aggregate over the Gunners.

Goals from Hypia, Torres, Gerrard and Babel had made it 4-2 on the final whistle.

Great job from the whole Liverpool team!

:)

The Survey

Yesterday I had taken an interesting survey.

Before the survey, I thought it would just be a list of questionaires for me to sit down and answer it. But never did I expected it to turn up to be a surprise for me. When I had been urshered into a conference room, I was been caught off-guard! I saw a lanky Cucasian guy, a laptop, video recorder. It turn out to be a one-to-one sit down session with a Dutch guy with video camera pointing at me! And 'there would be some people' standing behind the 'see-through' mirror observing us ... .. erm me. hee ..... ..

During the survey, the Dutch guy would ask "Where do you press?", "What are you thinking?" ... etc .... . Oh, I could sense that he was very curious .. on what the guy sitting beside him is going through his mind. I feel a bit of privacy intruding, but I could understanding his position, hence, I was more than willing to him my thoughts (and I am suppose to give him 'my answer', if not I shouldn't be here). At the same time, his manner and tone of this whole experince reminds me of those Hong Kong or Hollywood film - where the investigator/psychologist would ask the criminal why and how he commit the crime/the victim on what and how the crime had happen and taken place.

It is a fun survey ... .. with great 'rewards' :)
(Thank you ... .. Princess .. )

The Last Boat People

The last batch of the Vietnamese refugees, the boat people, in Philippines are about to leave. The boat people would be accepted by the Canada government. A new beginning for them. A new hope for them.

I wonder what is the life of these Vietnamese. Sometimes I would wonder how is the life of a poverty family, in Singapore or oversea. Sometimes I would also wonder if these people could grow up and make a name for themself, it would be very inspiring for others and for this world. Their story would then be just like a film. A touching fairy tale movie.

What ever lies ahead of the boat people, wish them good luck and good life :) .

Chris Ho

Yesterday, while walking past Raffles City, I heard some chill-out music from some live-boardcasting over the air. I looked around and saw a guy (wearing the sunglass) behind the DJ set-equipment (probably having the Lush promotion). He looked familiar. Oh, he's Chris Ho. Yeah.

I remember when I was young (probably in secondary days) I had always look forward to read his music review. The music man whom I could kinda look up or relate to.

`

He listen to a wide array of music. He really know his stuff. But his music appetite is so huge that lots of times I couldn't catch with him.. .. haa haaaa .... . His knowledge of artists and music flair blow me away, before I could even catch with that particular artist that he had reviewed, he had already given another tons of artist review. hee .... heee..... I had enjoyed and miss his music column.

Greek Masterpieces From The Louvre

Few days ago, I had went to see the Greek Masterpieces From The Louvre at the National Museum of Singapore.

Yeah! Catch these great exhibition before 16 March 2008!

Olivia's Performance

Olivia Ong will be performing at The Living Room@The Concourse, The Esplanade on next Friday 9.00-9.45pm.

Admission FREE!!!!!

I had just learnt that she would stay and play music in Singapore for the time being :) .

http://www.oliviaong.com/

Lamy White Mechanical Pencil

Lamy White Mech. Pencil say, "Hey u, dun bullie my s.... Pucci." ... ..

:P .. hee... ..

Meet The Spartans

Wana have a laugh? Go and catch Meet The Spartans, it is a spoof of 300!

Meet The Spartans seems to enjoy shooting celebrity look-alike on American Idols' judges (Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Fuller), Britney Spear, Paris Hilton, Happy Feet, commercial advertiesments and of course 300 - a manly version become the gay version.

Oh, do stay put after the show... as half way through the credits there are some snippets!

Also catch the look-alike George Bush, Donald Trump, Spiderman, Ellen Degeneres, hip hop culture and the cover of I Will Survive. Ooh.. one thing that they did a real spin-off from 300 is the great body-bulit of the brave 300 Spartans!

:)

http://www.meetthespartans.com/

Vocation 11-29 Feb

Last month I had went for a 'Vocation', from 11th - 29th Feb.

Overall, the whole 'vocation' had turned up better than I had expected. The budding and the atmosphere.

Every night, I couldn't sleep well. I had been waking up around 4-6 times in the middle of the night. Gosssh, it could be quite taxing at times. Maybe it was that my brain wana wake up on time at 6.30am, the 'Symphony Orchestra' or the 'opera singing' every night that had woke me up.

Well, the most important for the trip was to come back safe and sound :) .

Oh, come November/December, another 'Vocation" awaiting us again.

Penang Trip

Last weekend, my Princess and I went to Penang ... for a short trip. :)

Well, it is a rather relaxing trip. We had kinda enjoy this short visit. We had set off with her colleague, which we had stayed over at her house, to JB Checkpoint. From there, we hailed a cab to the JB's airport. And we proceed to take a plane to Penang, which was less than an hour of flight.

Penang, Penang.
There we are in Penang within a few hours from Singapore. :)

Her colleague's brother picked us up at the Penang's airport. And we went to fetch the colleague's little boy and mum. After that, we went to a coffee shop to have our lunch. We sit in an open area and under a big tree. We eat some simple fried Ban Mian. From there, we are driven to a Queensway shopping mall, aka the longest and biggest shopping mall. From there, Dear and I wonder around the mall. The mall was rather low-in-traffic. There isn't many people in the mall. But I like it. Not so noisy. Not so crowded. We could just feel free to wander around in and out of the shop without shoving and pushing around. :) I like the relaxing feeling. I kinda put everything behind my mind and just walk around.

In the late afternoon, the colleague's brother came and drove us around to visit the various 'places of interest' of Penang. One of the place we went to was Kek Lok Si, which was situated on a hill. We stop by along the way and went to eat Penang laksa along the street. After we finished our meal, we walked back to our car. Upon getting into the car, I saw a middle-age man walk up to the colleague's brother. He say something to him. Then the colleague's brother gave him some money. After getting into the car, I was curious and asked him what was the man doing? And he told me that guy say "CNY is coming soon... ", hence, he gave the man money. Well, he say the man might be from the area-thugs. After that, we stop at a place and walk up the slope and past some shops. Dear and I made some 'hurried-purchase' as the Kek Lok Si was closing soon, as I do not want to disappoint the colleague's mum who also wanted to pay a visit to monastery.

Well, after the visit... we also went to a beach. And from there, we travelled to the 'mainland', where their house is located. The colleague's brother told us that every day the Penang's people would made a trip and cross the bridge, for 1 hour journey, to the 'mainland' to work and the 'mainland''s people would vice-versa. hee... .. So I ask, "Why?". He also do not why is it so. Hee.... ..

When we had reached the 'mainland', we stop at a coffeeshop to have our dinner. Oohhh... it was a hearty meal. Large serving of sambal kang kong, hot plate tofu, braised pork, herbal chicken and a mixed vegetable soup, with rice, for 5 adults and 1 kid. And the whole meal was less than Ringgit $60.00.

The next day, I suppose I may have made a mistake by not going back to Penang, as I thought we may have wasted the time spent on the journey to and back to the mainland again. I thought it might be a bit rush to go there in the afternoon and back by evening and the time spent was not worth it. So the next day, my dear and I practically 'stick' to them the whole day, I kinda felt 'embaressed'. We were not their relatives and didn't pay them, yet we were 'with' them the whole day. :p In the afternoon, we went to a supermarket to walk around. Yeah, walk around the supermarket and the surrounding area. Haa.... coz 'there isn't much to move around to visit'. Haa.... It would be a bit boring for some people, but I had made the wrong choice to stay in the mainland.. so what to do? We just walk around then.... .. take it as a form of relaxing and cut off from your usual stuff. After that, we went over to the colleage's grandpa house. It was in a rural area. And I got to see the process of making the assam (a kind of food ingredient) from the fruit to the shredded pieces. Haa... A man was shaving the assam from a beach-like-shaver, then left the shredded assam to dry in the open air, under the sunny sun. Haa.... ..Ohhh, they have rambutan trees in their land. Oh yes, they have land! Real land, big piece of land. After plucking the rambutan from the tree, de-shell the rambutan, eat it... and throw the seed into/around the stream (at the back of their house)! Haa.... De-shell, eat and throw. :) I wonder if one were to taste the stream's water, would it have a rambutan favour taste?

At night, we went to a place of pasar malam and hawker centre. At the hawker centre we order some food, char kuey tiao and satay... good price :) and the food is tasty. The colleague recommend us a drink. She say it is called 'buay-long-long'. Huh? I thought what an interesting name. Haa... So I go up to the drink counter and told the man... (hestitately, coz I dunno if it is the 'true' name of the drink and the name sound weird)

I say, "2 buay-long-long drink"

The man look at me, "What?"

I repeat, "2 buay-long-long"

The look hard and frown at me, "What??!"

Gosssh... I thought I must have say the wrong drink name. Luckily, the colleague's brother came to my rescue and told them the correct name. Which I couldn't remember. It turn out that "buay-long-long" is the drink name in JB, but over there, they used a different name. :P So same drink, but under different name at different places.

Hee... but the drink is great and refreshing!!! So next time when going to JB.. coffee shop, I might wana try to order "Can I have buay-long-long drink".... hee...

The next day, before we take the flight back from Penang to JB, we visited the Snake Temple. After that we set off to the airport. And off we fly to JB .. ... .....

The whole trip was relaxing.. ... .. it is great. Although there isn't lots of very exciting moments, but I still enjoy very much of it. Spending the time together... walking around... ... put everything behind... ... lots of stuffs are cheap... .. looking at other people's lifestlye.. .. I didn't buy lots of stuffs for myself.. ... My gifts are the photographs and the moment that my Dear n I spent together. :)

Eastern Promises

Recently just watched an American gangster film, American Gangster. And yesterday, I watched a Russian mafia film, Eastern Promises. Hmmm... . kinda like good film on gangster.

Eastern Promises is a film by David Cronenberg, starring Viggo Mortensen (Nikolai Luzhin), Naomi Watts (Anna Khitrova) and Vincent Cassel (Kirill).

The story started with Anna, the midwife, delivered a baby for a teenager in London. And when the teenager had die, Anna is determine to know the details of her diary in Russian. When she finally get to know the truth behind the diary, things started to get messy. The film focus on the scene behind the world of the girl's diary, the Russian mafia. It also let the audience catch a glimpse on the symbolic tattoo on the body of a Russian gangster. Beside the diary and tattoo, Easter Promises had added a twist into the story as well.

The Canadian director had shot the film coolly with Nikolai getting rid of evidences on a dead man. The fighting scene of Nikolai with the thugs would let one miss a breathe. Eastern Promises may started off slowly to some, but when the story gradually pick-up, it made one sit up.

Well, I wonder which is the next gangster film I would be watching next .... hee... ..

Well, to date, I had watched gangster films on American, Russian, Italian, Brazilian, Hong Konger, Japanese, Korean and Singaporean... .. :)

American Gangster

Just watched the film American Gangster, by Ridley Scott, starring Denzel Washington (Oscar winner) and Russell Crowe (Oscar winner).

It is a must-watch film! To release a great film, it needs a great story, great script, great director and great actors, etc. Well, this is an incredible and amazing movie! Not to be missed! I suppose this film is up for Oscar nominations. And look out for their retro style costume, sunglass, hairdo! hee... ..

American Gangster tell the story of a black guy building his brand. A story on the drug world during the Vietnam war and Mohammad Ali period. Denzel is Frank Lucas. A man who is fillial, cunning, go-getter and fearless. A rag-to-riches business man. A man who bring his mother to church on every Sunday. A man who handed out a truck of turkeys to strangers on Thanksgiving Day, just like his mentor. Russell is Ritchie Roberts. A man who hold high moral compass and daring. A cop who turn in piles of money, which can last him a luxury life, to the police.

The main focus on the story is of course Frank. An enterprise man (it amuse me that this film show Frank how to run a business and talk like a successful businessman, something which I didn't really see much in a drug film before) who made a name by himself. A black guy who had break into the Italian mafia drug stronghold. A guy on top of the game. A story on how he run his operation. His trips to the Golden Triangle, how he smuggle the opium to US, then to their process 'factory', and finally, to his 'distribution centres'. Oh, his operations remind me of the Hong Kong film, by Derek Yee, starring Andy Lau, Daniel Wu and Louis Khoo in The Protege. A story on how Frank work his way to become a godfather and his downfall. Btw, look at Denzel! He is incredible.

American Gangster also tell us on how Ritchie remain a righteous cop in a corrupting police force. Ritchie is an ex-Marine, who later join the Israel police force. And return to US to become a detective in New Jersey. A story on how he eventually head a team of anti-drug team. A team that consist of good cops, nothing less. Well, it also show his other side of story, that he is not a good husband and father. Oh, btw, Ritchie love potato chips, don't he? He made himself sandwich with potato chips in them! hee... .

Ritchie eventually caught Frank, who was sentence to 70yrs behind the bar. Ritchie become a Prosecutor Attorney and later become a Defence Attorney. As a Defence Attorney, he reduce Frank sentence to 15yrs, who was released in 1981. Ritchie choose to become a Defence Attorney, because he could choose to protect those who are in need. Well, I had to say, both Frank and Ritchie led an eventful life.

There are lots of interesting quotes in this film:
"Most important thing in business is honesty, integrity and hard work" - Frank's enterprise spirit.
"Never forget where we came from" - Frank's fillial and family spirit.
"Do what? Run? Hide? This is my home, my business, my wife, my mother, this is my country. I arn't going nowhere" - Frank's fearless attitdue.
"Either you're somebody, or you arn't nobody" - Frank's go-getter spirit.

This is a true story. Top grade.

What is a good guy? And what is a bad guy?
A guy who sold drugs, but a fillial son. Is he a bad or good guy?
A guy who stand by the law, but not a good father. Is he a good or bad guy?

A father who steal food for his son, is he a good guy?

Lots of times, what is usual stuff to you, is not usual stuff to me.
Seeing people poking needles is common to some. But not to some.
What is right, and what is not?
Many times, good and bad is just divided by a fine line.
Many times, we led a grey live.

Well, I wonder how are Frank and Ritchie doing now. Drop me a line if you know. :)

I admire them.

Talk Less, Win More

"When we do not win, manty times people have questioned the way we play,
when you want to play a different style,
first they fight,
then they accept it and,
if you win, they love it.

But out style has to be convincing efficiently-wise,
because if you don't win,
then people will always question you.

The best thing for us to do is not talk too much and win games."

Arsene Wenger

Truth Or Dare: 6th Floor Rear Flat

I had finally watched Truth Or Dare: 6th Floor Rear Flat, a Hong Kong movie. This film is made a few years back, around Yr 2003. It is a story revolving around 6 youth. 4 guys and 2 gals. They live together under 1 roof and often party and play hard. One day, while playing Truth Or Dare, they had dare with each other that they would each achieve something worthwhile within a year. The loser will have a penalty, which they are all disguised with..... ..

Of course, it is story about their friendship, love life, and they personnal goal in life. Actually, the story centre more on 1 of the gal, a writer, whose goal is to publish a book, her book. Along the way with her book, there is a love journey about her. Well, in the end she had fulfilled her dream. Her book could be found in bookstore's shelf.

It is a simple story. But it really tell the facts on what is going on through some youth. And of coz, it is a fantastic feeling to see your workpiece up there. Well, she must be overjoyed. Wish her all the luck in her future project :)

In the film, 1 of the guy's mum sing a cover on Beyond song. Well, I have to say.. . she sing it greatly and able to convey the 'touching' emotion in the song. Well, the guy sum it up "actually my mum know music more than I do".

It is a true story.

Oh, my friend, Adrian, is going to have his art exhibition with his other friends next week. Good luck to him as well :) .. ..

.. . and good luck to people who are in the process of showcasing their work to the world :)

Mr Chicken Rice

Do you love to eat Singapore chicken rice?

Would you pay S$25.00 for a plate of delicious chicken rice?

Haaa... I had always been tempted to try out the famous S$25.00 chicken rice at Chatterbox. But luckily I didn't. Well, the original S$25.00 chicken rice cook had been retrenched from the hotel and here he is.. started his very own chicken rice stall at Downtown East .. Heee... and recently I had try his S$5.00 version with my Princess!!! When I know that he had open his new stall at this place, I had always feel like going there to try it. But that day, we happened to go there for a chalet, so I thought we should go and eat it! Well, ... the rice is tasty with great aroma. But I feel the chicken is 'so-so' standard. The chilli sauce is good but it is too spicy, well, I feel that it would be better if it is less spicy. Ohh. The deep fried tofu is absolutely fantastic. The tofu inside simply melt into your mouth. Wowww. One must order the chicken rice set and enjoy the 'melting tofu'!

Well, after tasting the chicken rice set, I find that it is great, but I am quite disappointed as I had expected it to be so really really fantastic as I had set a high standard for it. I would probably try it again.. when I am around the area. I doubt I will travel all the from my nothern home.

Well, I wonder how do the S$25.00 regular customers kept going back? Don't they think that there are also some other great chicken rice around Singapore? Those stalls may not taste as great as they feel it (different people, different taste), but with S$25.00, I could enjoy great S$4.00 Hokkien Mee, S$4.00 Char Kway Tiao, S$5.00 Chicken Rice and S$3.00 coffee, toast bread and boiled egg set and 1 movie ticket.

:)

Love Actually

"Love actually is all around"

Love Actually

Get Pump Up For Year 2008!!!

Hey guys!
Let's get ready to pump up for the brand NEW YEAR 2008!

Well, I suppose the coming year would be more busy for me. More stuffs for me to get going. Well, it is always to have HOPE. And from HOPE, move to positive ACTION. And action leds to results. From results leds to SATISFACTION and MEANING in life. What ever results, at least we must try. Never try, never know. Give it a good try. Give it a good shot. :)

Wana fulfill my many new year 2008 RESOLUTIONS. Well, I suppose the coming year 2008 is one of the year in my life to have so many real resolutions. More interesting and challenging.

A very Happy New Year.. to you :)

36

Feeling kinda bored. I had watched I AM LEGEND by Will Smith. Well, actually I don't like Smith. But he is a very popular star. I am feeling too bored, and there are no other better films, that's why in the end I had watched Legend. It is another virus-attack-and wipe-out-almost-all-humankind story.

Well, after watching the film. I still feel kinda bored. In the end I watched 36, a french film. A police film. I like the story. I like the language. I like it. :) Well, I had make the right choice to buy this CD at S$3.95 from HMV, long ago.

Sometimes, if time permit. I would love to enjoy movie-marathon (of coz must be good films) .. ..with nachos, chocolates and coffee. Woww. It's great. :)

Now, I gona watch Love Actually, which I had recorded from RecordTV. It is a great romantic, warm and humourous film. So far, this is one of the best Christmas-theme film I had ever watched.