Zhng your car this festive season

You got to give the guy credit.

Not only did he managed to blend in this car into the CNY festive tastefully, he also got an extra pair of eyes to monitor road conditions.

No more blind spots.

恭喜发财!!!

Sentosa Flowers 2007

How I spent my Satuday...with sheeps..

Sentosa Flower 2007

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Best way to start a (Chinese) New Year

I think there is something about me and new year. It wasn't pleasant the first round, it sure ain't any better this morning.

It began when I start to hear a repetitive flipping sound. Oh dear. Problem with the car on the day I needed to use it the most(Btw, my original itinerary consists of Tampines -> Hougang -> Choa Chu Kang -> Woodlands -> West Coast -> Tampines)

It turn out to be a puncture of my tire.

2nd day of CNY. Where the hell could I get help.

Went to Ubi and made rounds and rounds before very luckily chanced upon a half-open workshop that actually do tires.



I had read Mr Brown's blog about this punctured tire and was thinking that it be at most another $20 for me.

Unfortunately things were never so simple for me.



So how, mysteriously, the entire metal portion of a brand new screwdriver got pierced into my tire. The damage was so huge that a patch can't do the trick. I gotta change the entire tire.

$100...

Not only the tire got screwed, I got screwed too...



Still I'm grateful that the uncle at Ban Seng Tyre Services was opened when I needed them the most. Or maybe I should thank his friend who made him open his shop in the first place due to two punctured tires.

1 week break!

My office will be closed for the entire week from 17th all the way till 24th.

As much as I worry about the things that are needed to be done, I am really looking forward to it.

I haven't had a real break since my Hong Kong trip last July. It had been work work work since then. And with my new house coming up, the task list accumulated in my head seems to get longer and longer. I can feel it at the rate I keep forgetting things recently.

I still don't have much idea how I would spend the days as my wife would be working(Poor Annie).

I'll just take it slow. Wake up late, go for a brunch while sipping a hot cup of kopi-c. Reading the newspaper from page to page. Watching the pile of vcds and dvds I'd bought ages ago. Playing my xbox till the wee hours

This is life!

Renovation update 2

My meet up with all the interior designers is finally coming to an end.

From a list of 8, we shortlisted to 2. Aranus & Barang Barang Interior. Right now is more on the price really as I believe both of them could do an equally good job. Tomorrow I should know who I want.

And before I even signed on the dotted line, we had kiasuly bought some items in advance.

We got ourself a King Coil mattress (It was going at $500+, original price is close to $1k I think)

And for those who really like those cool designer furniture but allergic to the price tag, check this place out. They profess to imitate from the more expensive design and reproduce them on the cheap.

We chanced OM Home when we left. This place got some pretty cool stuff too. They have a showroom at Liang Court. We got one metallic lamp there for $120. I find it real cool as it is touch activated and each touch would escalate through 4 levels of brightness.



But the last one gotta be the best.



Oh yeah. My very first Osim massage chair. This chair is really self-convincing. Just sit on it and you won't wanna leave without one. Got it at a $300 discount at $3588. Instalment payment over 3 years at about $98 per month.

I can't wait!

Best name award

After much deliberation, the panel has decided to award the following company for having the best name for an organization.

The criteria for our selection is very simple. It takes a lot of guts and balls to name yourself like they did. The torment suffered at the registration office is more than enough for them to win this award.

Loosely translated, the best name is: "Hundred steps chase soul gym, Yin Yang five types qigong"

Pay to suffer

I just read in Today newspaper that in due course, Singaporeans who drive in needs to pay RM 20 per entrance.

So now beside exposing yourself to snatch theft, horrible floods, pit holes roads, having your car stolen, you gotta pay the Malaysia government to bestow you with that opportunity.

I can't wait.

The RM20 barrier




KL wants S'porean vehicles to pay more to enter M'sia, but JB fears loss of business

Wednesday • January 31, 2007

Lee U-Wen

u-wen@mediacorp.com.sg

THE gantries are up, the equipment is in place and the testing is in full swing. At the Causeway and at the Second Link, they are just waiting for a date to be announced.

Once that happens, prepare to add RM20 ($8.70) to your shopping budget each
time you drive into Johor Baru (JB) to pick up some groceries or top up your petrol.

Kuala Lumpur has decided that all Singapore vehicles entering Malaysia will soon have to pay this new entrance levy over and above existing toll charges.

Malaysia's Tourism Minister Adnan Mansor, currently in Singapore for the Association of South-east Asian Nations' Tourism Ministers Meeting, said that the
details were being ironed out. "It has yet to be approved but when it is implemented, I am sure Singaporeans will get used to paying it," he said.

Singapore has been charging Malaysian motorists $20 to enter Singapore and "we don't grumble", said Tengku Adnan. "What is RM20? Singaporeans come to JB to buy food and petrol at subsidised prices.

"Besides, we have lots more roads for Singaporeans to travel on. Singapore has less road."

To Kuala Lumpur, the levy makes financial sense. It was first mooted last
April, Malaysia's High Commissioner to Singapore N Parameswaran told
Today. The logic is that Malaysia should not be giving away its subsidised fuel to Singaporeans without getting anything in return.

But already there are murmurs of protest — not from Singapore but from JB.

The Malaysian city, whose retail sector thrives on Singaporean spending,
doesn't want its government to scare its big buyers away.


Former Kampar MP James Wong said the justification for the levy was "simply not strong enough".

He told Today: "There has to be some extraordinary circumstance before you
do something like this. They cannot assume that just because Singapore
is rich, they can impose this fee."

The economic benefits of the Singaporean market — especially in Johor — are compelling.

Last year, Singaporeans spent a whopping RM1.83 billion on food, shopping
and entertainment in Johor, with most hoteliers, shops and restaurants
heavily dependant on the powerful Singapore dollar to remain profitable.

In all, Singaporeans went to Malaysia an estimated total of 9 million
times last year, and this number is expected to rise to 10 million with
the Visit Malaysia Year 2007 tourism drive.

What's more, statistics from the Tourism Ministry show that six in 10 Asian tourists to Malaysia hail from Singapore.

When contacted, Johor MP Shahrir Samad admitted that there was "a lot of unhappiness among Johoreans".

"Many have asked me for the need to have such a measure. Collect the money for what? Who will benefit?" he wondered.

Ms Jenny Chan, general manager for Johor Bahru City Square shopping
centre, said that the levy could keep some Singaporeans from crossing
the Causeway.

With more than 300 stores, Johor Bahru City Square is one of the most popular shopping centres in the state, with 20 per cent of its customers coming from Singapore.

"Johor and other states like Malacca rely on Singaporeans, so we really should welcome them with open arms. We've not heard of a fixed date for the levy yet,
but we hope that the government will delay it, at least until Chinese New Year is over. That is one of the busiest times of the year for us," she said.

On the flip side, Malaysian cars currently pay $20 to enter Singapore, with motorcyclists having to fork out $4. This amount is valid from 2am to 5pm on weekdays; entry is free on weekends and public holidays.

Tengku Adnan said he had not heard complaints from Malaysian drivers even though the amount was huge when converted into ringgit.

Observers, however, note that Malaysian car-owners do not pay Certificate of Entitlement (COE) costs as Singaporeans do. Without the fee, someone living in JB could simply sidestep the COE cost by driving his Malaysian car in Singapore.

In contrast, most Singaporeans drive to JB to shop and spend. Would the new levy deter them?

Said business consultant Angelina Lim, 32: "Of course it will discourage me. First there was a toll increase, and now this."

Sales manager Roland Ang, 34, on the other hand, said he would continue to
visit Johor at least once a month to eat at his his favourite seafood joint.

"Yes, it will soon be a bit more expensive, but if a family of four sits in one car, it works out to just RM5 per person. It's quite affordable," he said.

Kuala Lumpur believes — and JB deeply hopes — that more will think like him.

Renovation update

Ok the pool table is out. With my skills, I stand high chances of breaking a few things when some of the balls fly off the table.



We were toying with the idea of using red extensively for our house.... until I came upon this:







I don't think I want my house to bear any resemblance to Geylang or a temple.



More or less the idea should be firmed. By next week I should have like 8 quotations on hand. It is so tiring going to one after another explaining the same thing over and over again.



I sure hope it's all worth it. By this week I would be submitting my finalized requirements back to all 8 IDs and see who can gives me the offer that I can't refused.

I PASSED MY IPPT~~!

YEAH!!!



And I rewarded myself with KFC. Muhahahah..



Best is I don't have to worry about my next test until close to November 2008!



Who's keen on All-You-Can-Eat Buffet??!!

Renovation update

On top of my very busy schedule lately, I still had to make time to meet up with a number of interior designers. So far I had met up with 7 IDs with a couple more than once.



It really is a very tiring process, explaining to them exactly how we want it to be and at the same time, trying to keep an open mind to their suggestions. And going through the exact same thing 7 times!



Really beginning to take a toll on me. And I still have to meet up with another one this coming Saturday.



Hopefully all these efforts would pay off handsomely in the form of MAJOR!! savings.



Sufficient enough for me to get a......







YEAH~~!!

My recent (no-life) schedule

Mon: Remedial Training @ Bedok Camp (6pm - 10pm)

Tue: Class @ PSB (7pm - 10pm)

Wed: Remedial Training @ Bedok Camp (6pm - 10pm)

Thur: Class @ PSB (7pm - 10pm)

Fri: Nothing but too tired to go anywhere

Sat: Remedial Training @ Bedok Camp (4pm - 8pm)

Sun: Dead...

Renovation Costs

My wife and I went to Rezt n Relax yesterday for a discussion on our flat's renovation.



I was pretty much impressed with what the designer had proposed. Her creativity in space planning is greatly admired.



Price tag? $63k. And this doesn't even include the electrical, windows and furnitures.



Our budget for renovation had been $30k. But more research = more wants. So slowly the budget starts to inflate to $40k then $50k.



And now, $63k.



I don't know man. $63k costs more than my car. Do I really wanna(or need to) spend so much?

Something meaning from Singapore Dreaming

I just finished the DVD of this show. For those who has yet to catch the show, please do. Especially if you are Singaporean. The stories, the characters, the settings are really something everyone can relate to.

The highlight of the movie for me must be the conversation at a coffeeshop between the character that Lim Yu Beng plays and a China women.

(Loosely translated)

China women(CW): What did you want to become when you were young?

Lim Yu Beng(LYB): I wanted to be a musician.

CW: So why didn't you become one?

(pause)

LYB: What about you?

CW: I wanted to be a Fashion Designer.

LYB: Then you and I are the same!(relating to both inability to become what they want)

CW: It's different! You gave up your dream because of money. I can't achieve my dream because I don't have money. That is why what I'm doing what I am doing now. To earn enough money to realize my dream.

Staying near the Casino (or IR)

Could someone please tell me why the hell are people rushing to buy apartments near to the developing Casinos?

I seriously could not understand. I mean you don't see people rushing to buy condos near to Singapore Pools HQ do you?

So what could be the reason for properties around the IR to hit a ridiculous $2000 psf? Sure, there will be crowd there. But how is that going to affect the people who stays around there?

I would wanna stay near to Tampines Interchange because of the shopping and close proximity to the MRT. The IR may be near a MRT station but one don't need to pay bombs to live near Bedok MRT.

Shopping? I think we have enough shopping centres islandwide.

Maybe these group of people really loves to gamble? Which also doesn't make much sense. Just like one who loves to go Geylang doesn't need to stay there, why does a gambler need to live near the doorstep of the IR? Be the first customer of the day?

So why the hell is everyone rushing to live near the IR?? I really do not understand.

No check-and-balance

No more dirty laundry for T.T. Durai.

I guess I speak on behalf of many when I say that I'm pretty disappointed that the whole thing lasted like only 3 days. No more juicy news to read about.

From another perspective, I really wonder what is he gonna do with his life from now on. He is like public enemy No. 1 now. Emigration seemed to be the only way out.

And I'm sure he could well afford it.

This entire matter also got me thinking how it all got started. Surely it gotta begin from something small, say claiming from company a personal expensive dinner. Someone may knew but just kept quiet. And it grew from there.

But you still gotta admit that Durai is one intelligent and capable man. If he couldn't raise so much donation, there is no way he could have the option of paying himself so much.

So the ball in the court of the Directors who completely failed to carry out their fiduciary duty of putting the company interest's in the very first place.

Just like how a fire can be your master or your slave. It all depends on how you control it.

To have succeeded in life

I got this from a post of a friend, I read, re-read and re-read it again. Such happens to me when I chanced upon very meaningful stuff. Just like how I would remain in my seat and ponder when the credits of a meaningful movie starts rolling.

Anyway it's by someone by the name of Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882), an American essayist, poet.

• To laugh often and much;
• To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
• To earn the approbation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
• To appreciate beauty;
• To find the best in others;
• To give of one's self;
• To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;
• To have played and laugh with enthusiasm and sung with exultation;
• To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived;
• this is to have succeeded.

Being in the recruitment industry, the sentence in brown(or maroon) hold special significance for me. That the decision(to go into recruitment) and contribution have invariably helped someone to lead a better life, to breath easier.

And it serves as a good reminder too since I'm in this for 3 years already. Things got stale sometimes but when I start counting how many people may be living a better life because of ua, everything seems to make sense again...

Best way to start a New Year

By attempting to drive out of Singapore for the very first time!



It sure was exciting, felt very much like the first time I drove on the road without an instructor beside me.

Our first stop(or almost every Singaporean's first stop), City Square.

Malaysia is also crazy over the HK cafe concept and this is a new one if I'm not wrong. Watch out for it at Vivocity soon too. It's called Kim Gary.



The food is pretty standard HK cafe style. Not bad lah.

But they sure uses very cool utensils, like this mug-jug to hold the honey-lemon drink.



Having been at City Square for the umpteen times, we breezed through it in less than 30 mins. Next stop supposed to be Holiday Inn but we opted for some Adventure and drove to Jusco Shopping Centre, a place neither of us had been before.



The drive took about 20 mins I think but it seemed to take forever to me. Malaysian drivers are actually quite ok but in an unfamiliar surroundings, it sure scare the shit out of me.

The place is huge from the outside. Within, each boutiques are huge but still it wouldn't take you more than 30 mins to stroll past of 3 levels of them. Some of them do have some pretty cool stuffs and brands that one couldn't find in Singapore.

Soon it was 9+pm. We began to make our way to our car and back to Singapore. And this about concludes the happier part of our trip.

Because while I was trying to figure out how to use the petrol pump at a Shell station, my wife who is walking to the cashier got her handbag snatch-theft!!

The start of an overwhelming feeling that I myself can't comprehend. Panic+shock+angry+tired+regret all mixed in a blender and downed in a single attempt.

The best part is our passports are in her handbag *smack forehead*

So we continue the drive to custom(11.30pm), directed to the police station to make a report(12.30am), submit the report to immigration for clearance over to Singapore(1.00am), make another report over at Singapore custom(1.30am) and we reached home at around 3 bloody am!!

And all the while my mind was if the fresh milk we bought and left in the trunk might turn sour.

A little lame but at least I'm not crying over spilled milk....

So to all Singapore ladies out there, these Snatch-Thieves target handbags holder only. And location would typically be petrol kiosk or open car parks, places that are next to the highway that they could sped off to. Bottom line: leave your handbags at home.

You really do not wanna go through what we did

One of my 2007 resolution

I just got this pair of running shoes, spurred by the fact that I had,ONCE AGAIN, failed by IPPT test.

With this I hope it will help me to mark the end of this horrible ritual soon and prevent all future ones.

Also this pair of shoes will accompany me to undertake my most hatred, running... a 42km marathon in 2007.

I hope I'll survive to write a posting on it. ;)

First Chilli Crab.. then Steam Boat

And that is our non main stream christmas eve dinner. The place?

Song Ji Chilli Crab & Steamboat at Geylang Lorong 13. I'd passed by this place many times but this is my virgin attempt on the food.

The place is not as small as it seems as they have tables on the 2nd storey too.

But it sure makes you feel like you are some where in China as almost everyone around us seemed to be.

We ordered the famous Chilli Crab, a mixed steamboat with many other side dishe



Their chilli crab is very different from those Zher Cha stall. It is relatively dry and it's actually cooked with Nian Gao, a sticky paste that is used to make chinese cakes.

But still, it tastes awesome despite the irritating shell debris that kept getting stuck between your teeth. Despite how full I was eventually, I still forced all the remaining crab down my tummy.



The steamboat is slightly different from the typical one I had. The chilli soup base is really not for the faint-hearted. We ordered too many side items but the main ones that fancy are the mutton and the straw mushrooms.

The meat ball is pretty interesting as it comes in paste. They would offer to roll them into balls on the spot or you could be like wife, struggling to roll them up while I watch in amusement.



A nice difference from the standard chilli crab and steam boat. And a nice arrangement to have both of them at the same time. Must TRY!!

New house planning

Now that I have the floorplan to my new home, so much thoughts enter my head. What kind of theme should I have? Should I have a bar counter? Walk-in wardrobe?


And of course the burning question. Where can I put the altar that is hidden yet not objectionable?

But the process of research is sure enlightening. And I can't wait to show how it would look like in computer generated 3D images.

Here is something I have in mind. Not sure where I could squeeze this into though.



Add a little fishes into the small pond. Steady right!