Seven Wonders of the World
A group of students were asked to list what they thought were the present "Seven Wonders of the World." Though there were some disagreements, the following received the most votes:
1. Egypt's Great Pyramids
2. Taj Mahal
3. Grand Canyon
4. Panama Canal
5. Empire State Building
6. St. Peter's Basilica
7. China's Great Wall
..........
While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student had not finished her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list. The girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there were so many.
The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help."
The girl hesitated, then read, "I think the 'Seven Wonders of the World' are:
1. To See
2. To Hear
3. To Touch
4. To Taste
5. To Feel
6. To Laugh and
7. To Love
.........
The room was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop.
The things we overlook are simple and ordinary; and that we take for granted are truly wondrous!
A gentle reminder that the most precious things in life cannot be built by hand or bought by man.
(via email)
what a lovely reminder - to love and to laugh and to live life with our senses engaged.... :)
Monday, 14 February 2005
Mr Blobby Visits Botero 2005
brought Mr Blobby out on a visit of Botero's massive bronze sculptures as well as a fine collection of the Colombian artist's paintings at the Singapore Art Museum.
Blobby definitely had as much fun as I did. It was great!
see more pics of Blobby's arty day out.
(Who the !@#$^%&*%#% is Mr Blobby??)
ok ok.. he's my friend from way back in 1994 when i was in London... i think that was when he was still a great TV hit ... hahahaha... believe it or not, he used to be most commonly found as a huge inflatable doll (or balloon i think) outside this particular sex shop off Leicester Sq.. hahahaha..
brought Mr Blobby out on a visit of Botero's massive bronze sculptures as well as a fine collection of the Colombian artist's paintings at the Singapore Art Museum.
Blobby definitely had as much fun as I did. It was great!
see more pics of Blobby's arty day out.
(Who the !@#$^%&*%#% is Mr Blobby??)
ok ok.. he's my friend from way back in 1994 when i was in London... i think that was when he was still a great TV hit ... hahahaha... believe it or not, he used to be most commonly found as a huge inflatable doll (or balloon i think) outside this particular sex shop off Leicester Sq.. hahahaha..
Saturday, 5 February 2005
k.d.lang concert @ the esplanade
k d lang's concert was nothing short of amazing... although i paid a lot more than what i would normally pay for watching any 1 to 2 hour concert (and this supposedly being only 70mins long without intermission), i didn't quite expect it to be THIS good..
i was mesmerised...
from the moment she stepped onto stage (looking, i have to admit, a lot older and "wider" than i thought), through her repertoire of songs from past and present, her teasing of the crowd (she tried to get everyone of us to hold hands with the people next to us - which i just couldn't cos the slightly balding guy on my left was such an uptight middle-age figure who was obviously rather uncomfortable with the gender-bending allusions she sometimes made - he shouted out "This is Singapore!" when she urged us on a little more), and at moments, engaging the audience in some cheeky bantering (which clearly only certain "alternative" portions of the crowd could really catch and enjoy), she made it clear that she was going to make it well worth every cent we paid..
being not much of a k d lang fan myself, i found that i couldn't recognise most of the songs that were powerfully and very often playfully belted out (except for Constant Craving, of course :))... yet, her voice had this pure, ethereal quality that made it just impossible to not love..
her stage setup was simple. there were no costume changes halfway. and all she had with her was her great 4 piece band and a nice chamber orchestra of 22. on top of that, k d lang's occasional playful skipping was meant more to amuse than to impress us with her (or rather lack of) dancing talent.
yet, she had all of us fascinated.. enraptured by her music.. hypnotised by her magnetic stage presence..
and of course she got a standing ovation from me.
i am convinced she's one of the greatest performers of our time.
update: here's a picture of what she wore that night... and of course beneath that amazing shiny gown-suit and sly smile was a.. SKIRT! :p
see more reviews of the concert here.
k d lang's concert was nothing short of amazing... although i paid a lot more than what i would normally pay for watching any 1 to 2 hour concert (and this supposedly being only 70mins long without intermission), i didn't quite expect it to be THIS good..
i was mesmerised...
from the moment she stepped onto stage (looking, i have to admit, a lot older and "wider" than i thought), through her repertoire of songs from past and present, her teasing of the crowd (she tried to get everyone of us to hold hands with the people next to us - which i just couldn't cos the slightly balding guy on my left was such an uptight middle-age figure who was obviously rather uncomfortable with the gender-bending allusions she sometimes made - he shouted out "This is Singapore!" when she urged us on a little more), and at moments, engaging the audience in some cheeky bantering (which clearly only certain "alternative" portions of the crowd could really catch and enjoy), she made it clear that she was going to make it well worth every cent we paid..
being not much of a k d lang fan myself, i found that i couldn't recognise most of the songs that were powerfully and very often playfully belted out (except for Constant Craving, of course :))... yet, her voice had this pure, ethereal quality that made it just impossible to not love..
her stage setup was simple. there were no costume changes halfway. and all she had with her was her great 4 piece band and a nice chamber orchestra of 22. on top of that, k d lang's occasional playful skipping was meant more to amuse than to impress us with her (or rather lack of) dancing talent.
yet, she had all of us fascinated.. enraptured by her music.. hypnotised by her magnetic stage presence..
and of course she got a standing ovation from me.
i am convinced she's one of the greatest performers of our time.
update: here's a picture of what she wore that night... and of course beneath that amazing shiny gown-suit and sly smile was a.. SKIRT! :p
see more reviews of the concert here.
Wednesday, 26 January 2005
Monday, 24 January 2005
Saturday, 22 January 2005
Test Drive Galore!
went test driving a whole bunch of S$60k - S$70k cars yesterday... (clockwise from top-left) Peugeot 206, Suzuki Swift, Honda Jazz, Mazda 2 ... Can you see how incredibly similar all of them look??
even tried....
the ultimate ah-beng car.. the Subaru Impreza
and the (also very identical-looking here) Skoda Fabia from the Czech Republic, though i tried the Sedan version and not the hatchback..
but mom says I shouldn't buy Continental cars cos maintenance is difficult (hard to find parts) and costly (which unfortunately is true..).. I am also very resistant to buying the Toyota Vios and the Nissan Sunny (two admittedly very great value cars now @ $59k) cos they are so incredibly common on the road... think about it: what's the point of buying an expensive new dress and then finding everyone else on Orchard Road wearing the same thing?? you know what i mean?? :p (no offence to those driving Vios and Sunnies.. ha)
which do you think it will eventually be?? :) place your bets!
went test driving a whole bunch of S$60k - S$70k cars yesterday... (clockwise from top-left) Peugeot 206, Suzuki Swift, Honda Jazz, Mazda 2 ... Can you see how incredibly similar all of them look??
even tried....
the ultimate ah-beng car.. the Subaru Impreza
and the (also very identical-looking here) Skoda Fabia from the Czech Republic, though i tried the Sedan version and not the hatchback..
but mom says I shouldn't buy Continental cars cos maintenance is difficult (hard to find parts) and costly (which unfortunately is true..).. I am also very resistant to buying the Toyota Vios and the Nissan Sunny (two admittedly very great value cars now @ $59k) cos they are so incredibly common on the road... think about it: what's the point of buying an expensive new dress and then finding everyone else on Orchard Road wearing the same thing?? you know what i mean?? :p (no offence to those driving Vios and Sunnies.. ha)
which do you think it will eventually be?? :) place your bets!
Wednesday, 12 January 2005
Sunday, 9 January 2005
"Saudi cleric blames gays, sin for tsunamis"
"In comments that have angered gay rights groups and liberal Muslims across the world, a Saudi professor and Islamic cleric has drawn links between Indian Ocean tsunami disaster and what he terms "sexual perversion."......
"These great tragedies and collective punishments that are wiping out villages, towns, cities and even entire countries are Allah's punishments of the people of these countries, even if they are Muslims," the professor at Al-Imam University said.
He said that the timing of the disaster -- just a day after Christmas -- was a "sign from Allah."
read more of this "...... " (fill in your own adjective) article
..... more "religious explanations" on the tsunami for the curious and brave.... or maybe, as this article says, "Let our primary question in the wake of this tragedy be not "Why did it happen?" but rather "What can I do to help?"..
well said.
"In comments that have angered gay rights groups and liberal Muslims across the world, a Saudi professor and Islamic cleric has drawn links between Indian Ocean tsunami disaster and what he terms "sexual perversion."......
"These great tragedies and collective punishments that are wiping out villages, towns, cities and even entire countries are Allah's punishments of the people of these countries, even if they are Muslims," the professor at Al-Imam University said.
He said that the timing of the disaster -- just a day after Christmas -- was a "sign from Allah."
read more of this "...... " (fill in your own adjective) article
..... more "religious explanations" on the tsunami for the curious and brave.... or maybe, as this article says, "Let our primary question in the wake of this tragedy be not "Why did it happen?" but rather "What can I do to help?"..
well said.
Women who matter
Women who impressed, inspired and/or amused me recently:
Margaret Cho and her article "Why must I bleed alone?" (via Otterman)
Dr Jane Goodall and the Roots and Shoots program (at the Jane Goodall Institute) to inspire youths of all ages to make a difference by becoming involved in their communities.
Miranda Mimi Kuo and her photographs of women in China (her exhibition is now on at the linkway to the Esplanade - go see it! it's fantastic!)
Women who impressed, inspired and/or amused me recently:
Margaret Cho and her article "Why must I bleed alone?" (via Otterman)
Dr Jane Goodall and the Roots and Shoots program (at the Jane Goodall Institute) to inspire youths of all ages to make a difference by becoming involved in their communities.
Miranda Mimi Kuo and her photographs of women in China (her exhibition is now on at the linkway to the Esplanade - go see it! it's fantastic!)
Happy Birthday To Me and A Letter From Singapore
Happy Birthday to me
Happy Birthday to me
Happy Birthday to me-e
Happy Birthday to me
finally, i've hit the big 3.. to another great decade of adventure and learning! kai says it best - read here ..
anyway, someone just forwarded me this personal account of the relief efforts going on now in Singapore, which I can only describe as wonderfully truthful, appropriately emotional, fantastically insightful and definitely a good read, no less, capturing perfectly the mood, excitement, tears and joys of a moment (in history) such as this one.. I'll put it here to share it with you all..
"I started smoking again, and am living off of whatever scraps of tidbits I had hoarded at my desk and cans of expired beer I find in corners. We are all beginning to stumble and slur from exhaustion.
But somehow we can still manage to get things done. Yesterday, we just delivered a mobile air traffic control tower to Banda Aceh. A MOBILE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER - who even knew there were such things?
Banda Aceh Airport was badly hit, and they've been trying to control air traffic out of tents! Now, with this tower (worth millions, but I can't disclose), the airport will have all-weather capability and we will have essentially established another link from the world into Indonesia.
I say another, because over the last week, we established TWO landing sites off the coast of Meulaboh. This is pretty fucking phenomenal. Until then, the worst hit parts of Indonesia were inaccesible to the world. You couldn't reach it by air, sea, or land. With great difficulty and danger, we beached two Helicopter Landing Ships off the coast, and half or more of our national strength of Chinooks and Super Pumas are ferrying supplies and people non-stop into the place. This is not counting the C-130s that have already been deployed to fly supplies over to Indonesia and Thailand. I think we also loaned two landing craft to the TNI Navy. Among the things we bring in are ambulances, tracked vehicles (for riding straight over debris which cant be cleared), medical supplies, water bags, etc. Around now, a portable water desalination plant is being delivered to the Maldives. It will produce enough water every day to feed 1/3 of the population of the Maldives. More desalination and purification plants are on their way to the Maldives and Indonesia. Holy mother, isn't this incredible? And that's just the Singapore side of things - the mind reels when thinking about the global aggregate of action going on.
And people. We are supplying people. What people! We have disaster assistance and relief teams, medical teams, forensic teams, consular teams, disaster victim identification teams, counselling teams. We even set up a field hospital with surgical capability. As I watched a video yesterday of our boys in blue saluting the Commissioner of the Singapore Civil Defence Force before they went off to Aceh, I choked. We are now sending 2nd and 3rd waves of people to relieve the 1st teams, but the 1st teams don't want to come back.
Back home, we all wish we could be there clearing rubble with our boys, but there is work that needs to be done too. Like manning the consular lines for next of kin who are panicking and distraught. And trying desperately to piece together a big picture of all that's happening. Receiving and trying to meet the requests for relief pouring in from the different countries, and also trying to make the logistics work for the dozens of companies and individuals who want to fly/ship out millions of dollars' worth of relief to the affected countries. So our air and sea ports are waiving all charges related to moving relief supplies, which will soon rack up to millions of dollars, I'm sure. Our air and naval bases have been opened to the world, and crafts from all over the world are stopping over for refuelling, etc. And our national carrier is stocked to spilling carrying supplies for free to tsunami-hit places. And every so often we will get millionaires telling us their private jets and staff are at our disposal.
All this is incredibly human work. You want to break down in tears, you are exploding with adrenalin. For example, someone might call and ask you what they should do with the body of their baby which they just found. Or beg you to search such and such an island for their missing relative. And you need to translate that desperation into the deployment of helicopters and armed forces personnel - if we had the time to stop and reflect on it, we would be struck dumb by what we are all doing. We would probably be paralysed.
Of course, the next generation of work must already be underway even as the emergency relief continues. By that, I mean things like the Regional Coordination Centre - everyone can see that the recovery and reconstruction work will take over a decade and billions of dollars, AND the combined effort of the world. Things like getting a UN Special Rep appointed to oversee this. Like banging down bureaucratic and political doors to make agencies and governments work together. Or even little lackeys like me quickly figuring out a way to stay alive, coherent, and useful on this amount of sleep.
Of course, Singapore is just one of many countries, all of whom are doing fantastic work. I can only tell you what Singapore is doing, because that's where I am. But everyone, everyone is in overdrive. I am always told I make a lousy diplomat because I get moved by such things, but I can't help it. You should be here. You should feel this. There is, expectedly, politics going on when so many countries are involved.
But there is also marvellous humanity and generosity at work. For an innocent like me, I only hope that the latter do not get too corrupted by dark clouds which are already beginning to gather, like the actions of terrorists and separatists, tussles between governments, games of hollow one-up-manship.
If you can't be here, find a way to do something.
Lobby your politicians to drop the games, put the news out there that what we need is regional and international coordination (whatever modalities work best, we should take them, this is not the time to split hairs), speak up for a long-term sustained commitment (I dread the next natural disaster or celebrity lawsuit, when all eyes will turn from tsunami-hit Asia), don't let people continue to talk along artificial lines like the UN vs the US (the buggers have been working together since Day 1, you can believe it), correct this unfair notion that Indonesia is not doing well in getting the supplies out to the people (understand that the roads are inaccessible, and practically the whole of the freaking health and administrative service in Aceh are wiped out), and all kinds of things.
You may not hear from me again in a while. I have a feeling I may descend further in stupour. But at a time like this, I think and miss you. I hope you all take care of yourselves and do something to help the poor and the vulnerable. If anyone knows someone who will build a home for orphans, I will run it."
Happy Birthday to me
Happy Birthday to me
Happy Birthday to me-e
Happy Birthday to me
finally, i've hit the big 3.. to another great decade of adventure and learning! kai says it best - read here ..
anyway, someone just forwarded me this personal account of the relief efforts going on now in Singapore, which I can only describe as wonderfully truthful, appropriately emotional, fantastically insightful and definitely a good read, no less, capturing perfectly the mood, excitement, tears and joys of a moment (in history) such as this one.. I'll put it here to share it with you all..
"I started smoking again, and am living off of whatever scraps of tidbits I had hoarded at my desk and cans of expired beer I find in corners. We are all beginning to stumble and slur from exhaustion.
But somehow we can still manage to get things done. Yesterday, we just delivered a mobile air traffic control tower to Banda Aceh. A MOBILE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER - who even knew there were such things?
Banda Aceh Airport was badly hit, and they've been trying to control air traffic out of tents! Now, with this tower (worth millions, but I can't disclose), the airport will have all-weather capability and we will have essentially established another link from the world into Indonesia.
I say another, because over the last week, we established TWO landing sites off the coast of Meulaboh. This is pretty fucking phenomenal. Until then, the worst hit parts of Indonesia were inaccesible to the world. You couldn't reach it by air, sea, or land. With great difficulty and danger, we beached two Helicopter Landing Ships off the coast, and half or more of our national strength of Chinooks and Super Pumas are ferrying supplies and people non-stop into the place. This is not counting the C-130s that have already been deployed to fly supplies over to Indonesia and Thailand. I think we also loaned two landing craft to the TNI Navy. Among the things we bring in are ambulances, tracked vehicles (for riding straight over debris which cant be cleared), medical supplies, water bags, etc. Around now, a portable water desalination plant is being delivered to the Maldives. It will produce enough water every day to feed 1/3 of the population of the Maldives. More desalination and purification plants are on their way to the Maldives and Indonesia. Holy mother, isn't this incredible? And that's just the Singapore side of things - the mind reels when thinking about the global aggregate of action going on.
And people. We are supplying people. What people! We have disaster assistance and relief teams, medical teams, forensic teams, consular teams, disaster victim identification teams, counselling teams. We even set up a field hospital with surgical capability. As I watched a video yesterday of our boys in blue saluting the Commissioner of the Singapore Civil Defence Force before they went off to Aceh, I choked. We are now sending 2nd and 3rd waves of people to relieve the 1st teams, but the 1st teams don't want to come back.
Back home, we all wish we could be there clearing rubble with our boys, but there is work that needs to be done too. Like manning the consular lines for next of kin who are panicking and distraught. And trying desperately to piece together a big picture of all that's happening. Receiving and trying to meet the requests for relief pouring in from the different countries, and also trying to make the logistics work for the dozens of companies and individuals who want to fly/ship out millions of dollars' worth of relief to the affected countries. So our air and sea ports are waiving all charges related to moving relief supplies, which will soon rack up to millions of dollars, I'm sure. Our air and naval bases have been opened to the world, and crafts from all over the world are stopping over for refuelling, etc. And our national carrier is stocked to spilling carrying supplies for free to tsunami-hit places. And every so often we will get millionaires telling us their private jets and staff are at our disposal.
All this is incredibly human work. You want to break down in tears, you are exploding with adrenalin. For example, someone might call and ask you what they should do with the body of their baby which they just found. Or beg you to search such and such an island for their missing relative. And you need to translate that desperation into the deployment of helicopters and armed forces personnel - if we had the time to stop and reflect on it, we would be struck dumb by what we are all doing. We would probably be paralysed.
Of course, the next generation of work must already be underway even as the emergency relief continues. By that, I mean things like the Regional Coordination Centre - everyone can see that the recovery and reconstruction work will take over a decade and billions of dollars, AND the combined effort of the world. Things like getting a UN Special Rep appointed to oversee this. Like banging down bureaucratic and political doors to make agencies and governments work together. Or even little lackeys like me quickly figuring out a way to stay alive, coherent, and useful on this amount of sleep.
Of course, Singapore is just one of many countries, all of whom are doing fantastic work. I can only tell you what Singapore is doing, because that's where I am. But everyone, everyone is in overdrive. I am always told I make a lousy diplomat because I get moved by such things, but I can't help it. You should be here. You should feel this. There is, expectedly, politics going on when so many countries are involved.
But there is also marvellous humanity and generosity at work. For an innocent like me, I only hope that the latter do not get too corrupted by dark clouds which are already beginning to gather, like the actions of terrorists and separatists, tussles between governments, games of hollow one-up-manship.
If you can't be here, find a way to do something.
Lobby your politicians to drop the games, put the news out there that what we need is regional and international coordination (whatever modalities work best, we should take them, this is not the time to split hairs), speak up for a long-term sustained commitment (I dread the next natural disaster or celebrity lawsuit, when all eyes will turn from tsunami-hit Asia), don't let people continue to talk along artificial lines like the UN vs the US (the buggers have been working together since Day 1, you can believe it), correct this unfair notion that Indonesia is not doing well in getting the supplies out to the people (understand that the roads are inaccessible, and practically the whole of the freaking health and administrative service in Aceh are wiped out), and all kinds of things.
You may not hear from me again in a while. I have a feeling I may descend further in stupour. But at a time like this, I think and miss you. I hope you all take care of yourselves and do something to help the poor and the vulnerable. If anyone knows someone who will build a home for orphans, I will run it."
Wednesday, 5 January 2005
Two places not mentioned much in the news...
More than 400 could be dead in Burma
More than 400 people could be killed in Burma by the earthquake and subsequent tsunamis which struck the coasts surrounding the Indian Ocean on 26 December, according to reliable reports received by DVB.
read more
50,000 need assistance in Somalia
NAIROBI, Kenya - At least 50,000 people in Somalia urgently need food, water, shelter and medical care a week after deadly tsunamis slammed African shores, officials said Monday.
Some 24 countries, including the United States, have pledged to send relief supplies to Somalia, but nothing has arrived on the ground, said Somali presidential spokesman Yusuf Mohamed Ismail. He said survivors urgently need help after losing their homes and livelihoods.
read more
More than 400 could be dead in Burma
More than 400 people could be killed in Burma by the earthquake and subsequent tsunamis which struck the coasts surrounding the Indian Ocean on 26 December, according to reliable reports received by DVB.
read more
50,000 need assistance in Somalia
NAIROBI, Kenya - At least 50,000 people in Somalia urgently need food, water, shelter and medical care a week after deadly tsunamis slammed African shores, officials said Monday.
Some 24 countries, including the United States, have pledged to send relief supplies to Somalia, but nothing has arrived on the ground, said Somali presidential spokesman Yusuf Mohamed Ismail. He said survivors urgently need help after losing their homes and livelihoods.
read more
Tuesday, 4 January 2005
Tsunami SMS hoax
wicked and/or gullible individuals are passing around sms hoaxes trying to destroy the credibility of Mercy Relief's fund raising efforts for the Tsunami victims..
one of these poorly-worded messages reads: "Please Do not call this 2 no. 19009111110 to donate $10 or 1900-9111150($50)This is a cheated money calls, confirmed by SRCS Pls help 2 pass e msg"
Mercy Relief is genuinely helping the Singapore Red Cross Society (SRCS) to raise funds. I've checked with the Red Cross directly on the phone and they're aware of this hoax going around.
it's so unfortunate and unbelieveable that certain individuals out there can see this as an opportunity for a childish prank, capitalising on the fears of others out there.
wicked and/or gullible individuals are passing around sms hoaxes trying to destroy the credibility of Mercy Relief's fund raising efforts for the Tsunami victims..
one of these poorly-worded messages reads: "Please Do not call this 2 no. 19009111110 to donate $10 or 1900-9111150($50)This is a cheated money calls, confirmed by SRCS Pls help 2 pass e msg"
Mercy Relief is genuinely helping the Singapore Red Cross Society (SRCS) to raise funds. I've checked with the Red Cross directly on the phone and they're aware of this hoax going around.
it's so unfortunate and unbelieveable that certain individuals out there can see this as an opportunity for a childish prank, capitalising on the fears of others out there.
Wednesday, 29 December 2004
Bali Montage (*warning - rather large image file - 155.22 KB)
the wonderful feelings from my very recent trip to Bali (I arrived back only on the 26th Dec evening!) are sadly marred by the devastating news of the (still hard to believe) huge natural disaster that has befallen a large part of the region that I come from..
although fortunate to have chosen my holiday in a safe part of the region (thanks be to God*), my heart still wrenches continually from watching the updated reports on TV and reading of it on the Internet and in the newspapers...
:(
via email: Let's Help... (Full List)
A list of emergency items needed for the survivors of the recent disaster.
1. Tents
2. Food (Pre-cooked or ready-to-eat meal packs)
3. Water Purification Tablets
4. Wheat Flour, rice, other staples
5. Drugs: Paracetamol, anti-biotics, wound dressing, suture material, disposable syringes, vitamins, and vaccinations for diarrhea, cholera and malaria.
6. Intravenous infusion (saline and dextrose)
7. Portable generators
For small parcels/items, please have them sent to the Sri Lankan Airlines office at
133 Cecil Street, Keck Seng Tower #13-02 Singapore 069535. Tel : 6223-6353
For medium-sized and large donations, contact Sri Lankan Airlines at 62236353 and a staff member will make arrangements to collect items from your office either with their personal vehicles or with a logistics operator.
* in Oct this year, i was planning to go on an end of the year dive trip to the Maldives. then in mid Nov, my supposed dive buddy became too overwhelmed with work and we considered changing our trip to a week long Sri Lanka trip instead, though eventually, that also fell through. Then in mid Dec, another friend returned from abroad and we excitedly set out to plan a week long liveaboard trip to the Similans, off Phuket, where the end of the year normally corresponds with the peak diving season. We were even in the midst of arranging our air tickets. Then his grandma fell ill and we decided to shorten that to either a diving weekend off Langkawi or Batam instead. We settled for the latter for novelty reasons. The disappointment from the missed Sri Lanka trip was also more than made up for by another opportunity, to go to Bali (possibly with free accommodation on someone's time share voucher) over Christmas. And hence, it was Bintan and Bali I went to eventually and (yes, in case u haven't realised, i've just listed all the hard hit places above in my entry) and I am safe... I believe i am watched by angels..
the wonderful feelings from my very recent trip to Bali (I arrived back only on the 26th Dec evening!) are sadly marred by the devastating news of the (still hard to believe) huge natural disaster that has befallen a large part of the region that I come from..
although fortunate to have chosen my holiday in a safe part of the region (thanks be to God*), my heart still wrenches continually from watching the updated reports on TV and reading of it on the Internet and in the newspapers...
:(
via email: Let's Help... (Full List)
A list of emergency items needed for the survivors of the recent disaster.
1. Tents
2. Food (Pre-cooked or ready-to-eat meal packs)
3. Water Purification Tablets
4. Wheat Flour, rice, other staples
5. Drugs: Paracetamol, anti-biotics, wound dressing, suture material, disposable syringes, vitamins, and vaccinations for diarrhea, cholera and malaria.
6. Intravenous infusion (saline and dextrose)
7. Portable generators
For small parcels/items, please have them sent to the Sri Lankan Airlines office at
133 Cecil Street, Keck Seng Tower #13-02 Singapore 069535. Tel : 6223-6353
For medium-sized and large donations, contact Sri Lankan Airlines at 62236353 and a staff member will make arrangements to collect items from your office either with their personal vehicles or with a logistics operator.
* in Oct this year, i was planning to go on an end of the year dive trip to the Maldives. then in mid Nov, my supposed dive buddy became too overwhelmed with work and we considered changing our trip to a week long Sri Lanka trip instead, though eventually, that also fell through. Then in mid Dec, another friend returned from abroad and we excitedly set out to plan a week long liveaboard trip to the Similans, off Phuket, where the end of the year normally corresponds with the peak diving season. We were even in the midst of arranging our air tickets. Then his grandma fell ill and we decided to shorten that to either a diving weekend off Langkawi or Batam instead. We settled for the latter for novelty reasons. The disappointment from the missed Sri Lanka trip was also more than made up for by another opportunity, to go to Bali (possibly with free accommodation on someone's time share voucher) over Christmas. And hence, it was Bintan and Bali I went to eventually and (yes, in case u haven't realised, i've just listed all the hard hit places above in my entry) and I am safe... I believe i am watched by angels..
Tuesday, 21 December 2004
Thursday, 16 December 2004
diving!
looks like i'm going to be doing not just one dive trip, but two! :)
this weekend, i'm diving Riau! just off Batam! (see site)
while in Bali, i'll dive Tulamben! (see site)
see nauseating Tulamben wreck underwater panorama - Full Screen QTVR from panoramas.dk..
cool! DIVING! :D
looks like i'm going to be doing not just one dive trip, but two! :)
this weekend, i'm diving Riau! just off Batam! (see site)
while in Bali, i'll dive Tulamben! (see site)
see nauseating Tulamben wreck underwater panorama - Full Screen QTVR from panoramas.dk..
cool! DIVING! :D
All Look Same
hahaha... check out this ALL LOOK SAME test i just took (courtesy of my good friend Lynn)
these are my results:
I suck!!! way below average!! hahaha... Chinese, Japs and Koreans really all look the same to me!!
I'm so ang moh...:p
hahaha... check out this ALL LOOK SAME test i just took (courtesy of my good friend Lynn)
these are my results:
I suck!!! way below average!! hahaha... Chinese, Japs and Koreans really all look the same to me!!
I'm so ang moh...:p
Wednesday, 15 December 2004
The Incredibles..
Edna Mode in the show is doubtlessly my favourite character...
appears that she had many people wondering, after the show, which real life person she was modelled after...
taken from The Disney Blog: "Edna Mode is Edith Head - Don't click on this link until you've already seen The Incredibles. However, once you have, you need to see how similar Edna Mode is to Edith Head" .. wow!
or could it be..
taken from this site.. "based on diminutive actress Linda Hunt's portrayal of fashionista Regina Krumm in Robert Altman's Prêt-à-Porter. " .. guess we'll never know..
- see extreme left
see also the Incredibles "TV Spot 7 Edna Mode" Movie Trailer .. very funny..
Edna Mode in the show is doubtlessly my favourite character...
appears that she had many people wondering, after the show, which real life person she was modelled after...
taken from The Disney Blog: "Edna Mode is Edith Head - Don't click on this link until you've already seen The Incredibles. However, once you have, you need to see how similar Edna Mode is to Edith Head" .. wow!
or could it be..
taken from this site.. "based on diminutive actress Linda Hunt's portrayal of fashionista Regina Krumm in Robert Altman's Prêt-à-Porter. " .. guess we'll never know..
- see extreme left
see also the Incredibles "TV Spot 7 Edna Mode" Movie Trailer .. very funny..
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