Phuket Trip 2

2nd day of Phuket was the Island tour. We made a tough choice between the Similan tour which is more expensive and the PhiPhi island tour. Similan is one of the top 10 island in the world with a rich breed of corals and beautiful crystal clear water, and it only opens between Nov- April. Considering all the facts, we chose Similan in the end. But I guess it was a wrong choice. Not because of the beauty of the island, is the tough travelling route. We woke up 5 plus to catch the 6am van to the jetty, land transfer already took 1 and half hour. Then, the worst thing was still behind, we still need to take another 1 and half hour of speedboat journey. That was the worst speedboat jourrney I ever had. It was bumping up and down for the 90 min journey, causing a big headache to all of us.

Finally after the terrible nearly 4 hrs journey, we reached Similan. The water is definitely clear and crystal clean. But all of us were too tired and shaggy to enjoy the beauty of the island. We sat at a corner chit chatting in the end. And worst still, worrying of another 4 hrs journey back to hotel for the return journey. After a long day travelling, we back to hotel near to 7pm. And because of the shaggy Similan trip, we cancelled the next day rafting trip, instead changed it to half day ATV motor biking. Partly I was bit disappointed of this Phuket Trip perhaps we chose the wrong option for ourselves. Similan is surely a beautiful island, one of the most beautiful and conserved I have seen. But I guess Phiphi island, which maynot be as beautiful and more commercial may serve more meanings to us and more suitable in this case. Anyway, at least we have seen the beauty of the conserved island =).

I shall shorten my travel journal for Phuket ;p. The next morning we went for a short adventure half day tour. That was where we seen the monkey show, I touched the little naughty monkey like ann, rode on the elephant and ATV, the 4 -wheels bike. Kinda proud of myself during the ATV riding. it was bit dangerous and we need to pass the uphill(like nearly 60 deg slope) and downhill as well, plus the scorching hot sun burning. All it worth well for a moment of satisfying in completing the ride

Phuket Trip 1

Well, if I were to rate my Phuket Trip with my Nie friends this time round.. shall be 50%. Instead of saying Phuket discovery trip, shall say it is more to NIE gathering trip. We spent most time in catching up with each other ... not really to the extend of exploring Phuket .. so, nvm.. 每个旅途都会有遗憾。但这些遗憾是为了让下一次的重游旧地更有满足感。

So, Phuket story shall start with my rushing off from my school Open House event that day. The Open House thing was a bit hiccup. Afternoon session before I rushed off to airport suddenly turn out to be only 1 student helper instead of 4 .. due to some miscommunication wit another teacher, the students thought they no need to come school. Desperately, I could only ask one of my morning session helpers to carry on the afternoon session. Feel terribly bad to ask her stay back for a while.. But couldnt find some other to replace.. Thank god on the way to airport, my fav student called up and asked whether I need any student helper.. so.. finally, could put down any work burden before going Phuket.

4 of us, me, CL, Johnson and Cwei are the first four to go Phuket.. another 2 friends will meet up with us the next day.. The first night basically was walking around Phuket , Patong area to explore the place.

2nd morning in Phuket, we have a relax morning while waiting for LT and YC ... Have a long breakfast at the rooftop restaurant in the hotel. The swimming pool is just beside the restaurant.. although is really quite small, but it is facing the vast blue sea of Phuket.. I do have the temptation to swim in the pool... hmm. After the breakfast, we went to the beach have a stroll there. That was the time we saw people swimming and playing with the wave .. It makes us so tempted that after standing beside the beach for few minutes, we decided to back hotel and change to our swimsuit. Despite the burning hot sun, playing with the great wave was such a fun thing, the wave was quite high and it is something like sailing except without the sailboat. Seriously, this is one of my fav activities among my phuket trip this time.

After LT and YC arrived, we went for our city half day tour.. Went to this Kata View Point where you can oversee the whole Kata beach view. Also to this Big Buddha statue in Phuket. Kind off similiar to Hong Kong one. Also on top of the hill ... Went to a few more places like the cashewnut factory. Weekend market. Actually the weekend market is the only attraction we voted to go for the city tour.. but in the end , I am the only one who bought stuff from there. Bought 1 dress, 1 skirt and a bag.. and that's also the reason why I left with such restricted budget after that...

One Day In JB

Was talking about going JB have a seafood treat since all our initial Batam or Bintan trip failed to carry out. Around noon time, without much hesitation and discussion, the three musketeers plus the Millady :p. Went for a bowling session. Gee, sometimes, I really felt that I’m those kind of people thought that I’m smart but actually not so. I dreamed I would score highest in the shooting few days ago, turned out I’m one of the lowest. I thought I could play well in bowling, turned out the score so terrible I feel like giving up halfway through the game. Hmm, and now my hand is aching. Hope it is fine by tmr camp.

So after bowling, Junping came to fetch us to go his place with this seafood restaurant called: Tian Lai.. It is not a shophouse restaurant, is situated in living house… those open concept eating place. The waiting is terrible. We waited outside like abt 30 min before getting a place to sit, and then another 1 hr waiting for the food to come. Ordered pepper crab, one steamed fish, one ‘drunk prawn’ (something like soup based + bit wine) prawn, a vege and a tofu. Total up RM188 for 5 pax. Hmm, the fish is fresh, but I would prefer if we choose the Techew steamed (added with salted vege& tomato) instead of Hongkong style steamed (added with soy sauce). I guess the techew steamed goes better with the fish. Pepper crab was quite spicy and still ok a. The drunk prawn, average, perhaps if the broth is thicker, it will taste nicer. Generally, it is quite good but probably too many people and plus the waiting time made me feel that it is not really worth to go all the way from Sg for it.. unless u got a car and unless the causeway is not jammed. I realize I’m getting more and more irritated of the crowded population here when going anywhere need to queue. Even when you just want to enjoy a simple nice dinner. You need to queue like 1 hr plus.

Junping sent us back to Sg custom after a short tea session at cafe. He drives to Sg everyday to work. When I see how he drives, it is really quite dangerous, he was driving like 140 km/hr on road. No wonder he just need like 1 hr to reach sg from his place. But well, unless u really enjoy such driving distance everyday, if not this will be quite tiring. We were talking about is it worth to do such thing like staying in JB and driving to n fro everyday. Middle of the conversation, all of us seemed to get to a point that our living quality in Singapore is not satisfying. You seemed to feel lost of yourself after a while working in Sg when this is not really your homeland (not saying we are patriotic), but when you dont really own a home for yourselves, a car for most Malaysian’ mind and when you are getting to age 30 but still haven get hold of any of these 2 things, something seems to be missing in your life. This is not my thought, but just speaking through a foreigner’s view. At the end of the day, most of us may still be wondering do we get the life quality we want even though you are working hard here. Singaporean been complaining the influx of foreign workers, but if imagine without the help of these workers in their countries, many things could not be done when they are too pampered to do only certain job and they forget how the lower class people help to support them. Instead of complaining, why not they look at the brighter side when they got to buy house at a lower price or rent houses to the foreigner and earning a few thousand bucks per mth.

Hmm. Going ubin tmr. Seriously, I dont really afraid of camp. Have lot of these in my Sec sch times. I just hope the monthly things be nice and come a few days later. =). Women are troublesome.

The Sick Society

I didn't go to see the video. The thought of it make me feel uncomfortable. There is something wrong in the society now...

http://storyful.com/stories/1000009859

A toddler is struck by a white van in a narrow market street, then crushed beneath its wheels. The driver fails to stop. As she lies prostrate, a line of pedestrians and motorists passes little Yue Yue (悦悦). Some look at her on the ground, but none stop. She is run over by a second van, her tiny arms flailing in pain. Eventually, a woman picks the youngster up and props her against a sack of rice. Yue Yue Chen Xian Mei’s mother arrives on the scene and her distraught parents are filmed in their moment of agony. This appalling tragedy took place on Thursday, October 13 in the southern Chinese city of Fushon, Guangdong province. Graphic CCTV footage of the incident (which some viewers may find disturbing) shows of a procession of passers-by ignoring Yue Yue. The video has shocked the nation and the world — prompting difficult questions about human nature, morality, and the law. --- taken from the net.

Malaysia, a safe place to stay?

Was on the bus back from kt to sg today. When I was about to read the book borrowed from library, there's a group of Indian boarded the bus. One of them took the seat beside me, and suddenly I was surrounded by groups of Indians or Blangadesh... I felt a sense of uneasiness soon, it made me feel so uncomfortable I had to put aside my book and clinched tight of my bags. The whole 1 hr journey was so miserable, and when I reached the custom bus stop FINALLY. I truly felt a sense of relief, but then I cancelled my initial plan of going to city square. Had already have a bad experience in the bus, I do not want to have another tension shopping trip there.

It is not racist for sure, I knew. I thought of putting myself in the same situation surrounded by groups of Indian/ Bangla or Indo in SBS bus... I will still feel safe and definitely playing my Iphone. Malaysia, my own country, but I myself as a citizen could not even have a safe bus journey back home. I feel so ashamed of my own country. And when I asked myself whether I trust the police here (the small police pondok situated at the custom bus stop in case anything happen, was sitting 2 'policewoman'.. and the few who looked more like gangster at the useless passport checkpoint), I knew the answer is 'NO'.

A recent survey report I read on news said Malaysia has a rise in international level as one of the safest country to stay in world. I doubt so much of this report and I wonder is it our government bribed this survey agency or they gave the wrong set of data...

Sigh.. this is how much I trust our country now...

'You've got to find what you love,' Jobs said

I am honored to be with you today at your commencement from one of the finest universities in the world. I never graduated from college. Truth be told, this is the closest I've ever gotten to a college graduation. Today I want to tell you three stories from my life. That's it. No big deal. Just three stories.

The first story is about connecting the dots.

I dropped out of Reed College after the first 6 months, but then stayed around as a drop-in for another 18 months or so before I really quit. So why did I drop out?

It started before I was born. My biological mother was a young, unwed college graduate student, and she decided to put me up for adoption. She felt very strongly that I should be adopted by college graduates, so everything was all set for me to be adopted at birth by a lawyer and his wife. Except that when I popped out they decided at the last minute that they really wanted a girl. So my parents, who were on a waiting list, got a call in the middle of the night asking: "We have an unexpected baby boy; do you want him?" They said: "Of course." My biological mother later found out that my mother had never graduated from college and that my father had never graduated from high school. She refused to sign the final adoption papers. She only relented a few months later when my parents promised that I would someday go to college.

And 17 years later I did go to college. But I naively chose a college that was almost as expensive as Stanford, and all of my working-class parents' savings were being spent on my college tuition. After six months, I couldn't see the value in it. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and no idea how college was going to help me figure it out. And here I was spending all of the money my parents had saved their entire life. So I decided to drop out and trust that it would all work out OK. It was pretty scary at the time, but looking back it was one of the best decisions I ever made. The minute I dropped out I could stop taking the required classes that didn't interest me, and begin dropping in on the ones that looked interesting.

It wasn't all romantic. I didn't have a dorm room, so I slept on the floor in friends' rooms, I returned coke bottles for the 5¢ deposits to buy food with, and I would walk the 7 miles across town every Sunday night to get one good meal a week at the Hare Krishna temple. I loved it. And much of what I stumbled into by following my curiosity and intuition turned out to be priceless later on. Let me give you one example:

Reed College at that time offered perhaps the best calligraphy instruction in the country. Throughout the campus every poster, every label on every drawer, was beautifully hand calligraphed. Because I had dropped out and didn't have to take the normal classes, I decided to take a calligraphy class to learn how to do this. I learned about serif and san serif typefaces, about varying the amount of space between different letter combinations, about what makes great typography great. It was beautiful, historical, artistically subtle in a way that science can't capture, and I found it fascinating.

None of this had even a hope of any practical application in my life. But ten years later, when we were designing the first Macintosh computer, it all came back to me. And we designed it all into the Mac. It was the first computer with beautiful typography. If I had never dropped in on that single course in college, the Mac would have never had multiple typefaces or proportionally spaced fonts. And since Windows just copied the Mac, it's likely that no personal computer would have them. If I had never dropped out, I would have never dropped in on this calligraphy class, and personal computers might not have the wonderful typography that they do. Of course it was impossible to connect the dots looking forward when I was in college. But it was very, very clear looking backwards ten years later.

Again, you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.

My second story is about love and loss.

I was lucky — I found what I loved to do early in life. Woz and I started Apple in my parents garage when I was 20. We worked hard, and in 10 years Apple had grown from just the two of us in a garage into a $2 billion company with over 4000 employees. We had just released our finest creation — the Macintosh — a year earlier, and I had just turned 30. And then I got fired. How can you get fired from a company you started? Well, as Apple grew we hired someone who I thought was very talented to run the company with me, and for the first year or so things went well. But then our visions of the future began to diverge and eventually we had a falling out. When we did, our Board of Directors sided with him. So at 30 I was out. And very publicly out. What had been the focus of my entire adult life was gone, and it was devastating.

I really didn't know what to do for a few months. I felt that I had let the previous generation of entrepreneurs down - that I had dropped the baton as it was being passed to me. I met with David Packard and Bob Noyce and tried to apologize for screwing up so badly. I was a very public failure, and I even thought about running away from the valley. But something slowly began to dawn on me — I still loved what I did. The turn of events at Apple had not changed that one bit. I had been rejected, but I was still in love. And so I decided to start over.

I didn't see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.

During the next five years, I started a company named NeXT, another company named Pixar, and fell in love with an amazing woman who would become my wife. Pixar went on to create the worlds first computer animated feature film, Toy Story, and is now the most successful animation studio in the world. In a remarkable turn of events, Apple bought NeXT, I returned to Apple, and the technology we developed at NeXT is at the heart of Apple's current renaissance. And Laurene and I have a wonderful family together.

I'm pretty sure none of this would have happened if I hadn't been fired from Apple. It was awful tasting medicine, but I guess the patient needed it. Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle.

My third story is about death.

When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: "If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right." It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.

Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

About a year ago I was diagnosed with cancer. I had a scan at 7:30 in the morning, and it clearly showed a tumor on my pancreas. I didn't even know what a pancreas was. The doctors told me this was almost certainly a type of cancer that is incurable, and that I should expect to live no longer than three to six months. My doctor advised me to go home and get my affairs in order, which is doctor's code for prepare to die. It means to try to tell your kids everything you thought you'd have the next 10 years to tell them in just a few months. It means to make sure everything is buttoned up so that it will be as easy as possible for your family. It means to say your goodbyes.

I lived with that diagnosis all day. Later that evening I had a biopsy, where they stuck an endoscope down my throat, through my stomach and into my intestines, put a needle into my pancreas and got a few cells from the tumor. I was sedated, but my wife, who was there, told me that when they viewed the cells under a microscope the doctors started crying because it turned out to be a very rare form of pancreatic cancer that is curable with surgery. I had the surgery and I'm fine now.

This was the closest I've been to facing death, and I hope it's the closest I get for a few more decades. Having lived through it, I can now say this to you with a bit more certainty than when death was a useful but purely intellectual concept:

No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

When I was young, there was an amazing publication called The Whole Earth Catalog, which was one of the bibles of my generation. It was created by a fellow named Stewart Brand not far from here in Menlo Park, and he brought it to life with his poetic touch. This was in the late 1960's, before personal computers and desktop publishing, so it was all made with typewriters, scissors, and polaroid cameras. It was sort of like Google in paperback form, 35 years before Google came along: it was idealistic, and overflowing with neat tools and great notions.

Stewart and his team put out several issues of The Whole Earth Catalog, and then when it had run its course, they put out a final issue. It was the mid-1970s, and I was your age. On the back cover of their final issue was a photograph of an early morning country road, the kind you might find yourself hitchhiking on if you were so adventurous. Beneath it were the words: "Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish." It was their farewell message as they signed off. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. And I have always wished that for myself. And now, as you graduate to begin anew, I wish that for you.

Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.

Thank you all very much.

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In memory of Steve Jobs, I salute him, as a legendary person, as an inspiring leader. RIP Steve Jobs.

'You've got to find what you love'.. I felt this sentence much deepen for me. As I know I haven't found what I like to do. Deep in my heart, I knew I'm not for teaching. For some reasons, I realize teaching requires some physical factors which I lack of. I'm still searching... for what I like to do.

I am always a stubborn person. I do not like to be looked down. From young, because of my physical appearance, many people doubt my ability. I remembered once a teacher commented to not let me lead a game (something like that), reason just being I'm small & short. From there on, I prove to them. Deep in my heart, I knew myself I do not want to take this activity up actually, I took up just to prove to them. When the age to learn driving approached. I disliked some said I looked small & couldnt drive.. so I proved to them again. When I did this again & again just to show people , I feel tired infact. So, my stubborness soften down when I entered uni. But now, looks like my teaching career is going to be a challenge to me once again... because I look like the easy target to bully by students. I hate to counter these when I really wanna focus on my teaching. Let's give myself another 2 years... if the situation is still not improving, let's go somewhere where I feel I could have been more appreciated.

Thanks Steve Jobs for the encouraging quotes... I believe it inspires alot of people.

Yoga~

I have a phobia of yoga initially. Because of my inflexible waist n back... that's why I never take up yoga in uni. Recently, wanted to try out this so called yoga lesson with Shirlin.

Went to the first lesson & the feeling is good =). Although some poses are quite difficult to reach and needs more practice, but the feeling of all ur muscles seemed to coordinate, engage at the same time feel nice.

Writing this now cox just read an article about yoga in Cleo... it mentioned some benefits of yoga and how it helps to shape your body.. woooooo... good. Let see how my body shape will be like after the 10 sessions and of course if I am diligent enough to practice at home... I said so for my piano but never do so.. Yoga should be better since it doesn't need instrument. I got the yoga mat ald... ;)

And I saw this interesting comment on that article: 57% of those who do not currently practise yoga believe that it requires mantras or chanting related to a form of worship that against their religion'.

Well, is true yoga origins from some kind of worship/believe from India. But their practices dont really crash with other religions believes. Why cant people look at the benefit side which is not at all correlate with the religion? If only people could put away their narrow mindset to open to more possible learning. You just take away yourself from something beneficial to you. I guess all religions' purpose is to bring out the gd characters of their followers. If the practice can so easily affect your devote level to ur religion, there's should be something you have to reflect on your own.

Random Scribbling

I kinda lead a healthy lifestyle now. Tuesday going for my piano lesson. Thursday my Yoga lesson. Regular cycling around the neighbourhood. Hmm... My aim is to gain weight to 45 kg by the time you back.. Hee..

Happy tomorrow because initial my 8-consecutive lessons is cancelled due to their EOY exams. I know is bad to feel that way, but I secretly feeling relieve. Argh, 8 lessons straight is no joke, it always make my Friday less fulfilling. Why? I was so tired physically and mentally after the day, and when I went home, dun ve extra energy for me to enjoy the Fri nite, by the time the Happy Hour approaching, I just want to have a good sleep. So, I'm so looking forward to these 2 Fridays. And of course because of that reason too, I'm sleeping late tonight ;)

My Yoga teacher is nice. Look like a very experience one and she wont force us to do any pose we cant reach, she will just say try it. For my side, I realise my waist part couldn't bend 'at all', or somehow it cant coordinate with my spinal back. When the two ' not ngam' leading to my inflexible problem, those like bending, stretching ur arm fully to touch ur leg, I cant do it ;p. Will practice make perfect? Let's see how.

It seems like I have better rapport with my colleagues now as in they will 'jio' me for events to join. It is a good thing =). But always it crashes with some of my other events. Well, I wanna maintain this relationship at work.

Keeping u in mind all the times make things work too ;). A small hint to you. Next week u will get a surprise !

New Bike =)

Wanted a bike long ago when I started to work, but delay delay... Until recently, have an urge to get a bike. Was browsing through internet to find any nearby bike shop and then suddenly remember my sis has a bike (which she has abandoned at her place long long ago). I shall get hers .. hehe;p

So yesterday, spent $30 get a cab to fetch the bike from my sis's place ;). My bike looks like this!

Still need to fix it here and there to make it a perfect bike =). A sidenote from my bike's story, bought a cheap small pump, the cons of buying cheap pump, I need to pump like 100 times to fully inflate the tayar... And you know what, while I was gasping pumping air this morning, none of the guys in my house helped me out, not even asking me do I need any help, only my sis who was busy preparing lunch helped me out. They were playing dota, seriously, I suddenly feel that women in our house are much more useful... Haiz...

Anyway, my Phuket trip is on =) November with my NIE coursemates.. hee.. time to have a break!

Wanted to write something about work life but forgot the main point.. Nvm, next post.

Deardear is at London now. Have a great time there =). Add on, when I was pumping air to my bike just now, I feel that I am lucky to have u.

Go Privacy

It was already raining when I woke up this morning... so nice to sleep sia... I really really feel like going back to sleep. And this weather continues the whole day, Singapore finally has it so called winter time as the temperature maintains at 25 deg.. nice~

Further explain on the question of the day you asked: what superpower would I like to have, I got this imaginary scene some times ago that if I could have this invincible power which I love to have an item, how nice is it if I am invincible and just go in and take the item. I dont really think more than that, not like some others who wanted to conquer the world, save the world, change the world bla bla... I'm small woman, the main reason why I like to have superpower perhaps just so that I could get the way I want. I just need to have you ;))

Received my first electronic love letter from you~! Hee, I understand it is hard to make promise nowadays.. but when you said it, I do trust you and I really feel blessed ;). I'm still amazed at how fast we both get together and doing perfectly fine, although the wooing period seems short and err... simple? Hee, but I guess it is not important at all.. Mutual love does make a different, and I appreciate all the things we do together so far. As what you said, the after process is more impt.

Emm.. the weather looks so tempting to sleep early although I already have an hr nap late evening just now... Sooo tempting.

Floorball Gogogo

I have never played floorball before, and with just one session of practice, we were up there at the basketball court. Frankly speaking, I'm just a vase ;p.. hee, be

cause they state must have 2 girls in a team.. so no matter what they have to put me in the game.

The first round against the NUS team, wow... they look like super on top position. All tall, built, even the woman ==". We lack by 2 points for the first game plus the opponent team was playing rather rough. 2nd game, we regain our energy and hope, the Principal even join in the game... guess to boost our spirit up, and for 2nd game, we won... same to the 3rd game which brough us to the semi and finally the final game.

I actually felt nice after the game, partly because everyone was so high as we never expect we can win. But now, my muscles are calling a rest, can start to feel the aching comes in. Grr, and cant take MC tmr cox then everyone will know I ponteng school.

And there's a new vice principal coming to our sch. At first, I thought he is the 50-60 yrs old guy.. the picture of p or vp must be old... turn out, he looks just 30 plus. And he joined the floorball match today too... Conclusion, at first sight, he looks like the gentle, mild type of guy, but after seeing him playing the match today, can conclude that .. emm... this guy not simple... Nvm, workplace politics is never my game, quoted what my colleagues said, ' you are just working for the few thousand bucks per mth and still playing these kind of politics game??' Count me out... I enjoy my position now. ;p

I know the effort you put in to make our long-distance relationship works.. thanks deardear.. it just makes me miss you even more ;)..

Photo of the day

I love this~ The sky blends in well...

Monday - cloudy

I walked out of the staff room today smiling, because the Monday battle with 24 has ended. Phew, I don't think many people can take this kind of environment when half of the class are not even listening to you. With my loudspeaker, they said they cant hear, which is true just because of some hurricane spoiler in the class.

Nvm, at the moment of giving up, I heard your support deardear... "Don't let the downs run you down "... I endure, for the few more weeks.

While writing these, my housemates are still playing dota. Just don't understand why they din get bored of this game even after years...

The one-day-one-question make me excited sia... hee..

Emm... counted wrongly last time..Let's take it as 20 weeks (aiming you back by early of Feb next year ) hee... left with 18 more weeks ;)

The Playground

~Photo of the day~

It signifies the place where we agree on the miracle day.

Tried to make the bench look more blended in the picture but cant, emm.... nvm, the meaning is there :). I spent my Sat mainly for resting, is like sleep and sleep. Woke up 8 plus in the morg, sleep back 12 plus while having my eye mask, 2 plus nap awhile, at night, 11 plus sleep again... Emm.... so today shall not do that, gonna do something more meaningful that sleeping.

I shall start the day by doing some school work. Then go IMM shop abit.. then design my own hair treatment. Maybe go exercise abit during evening. Thinking of going lib to read some books or go cycling... Emm... In fact, I'm thinking of getting a bike.. that's is my initial item to get when I said where my first few months salary will go... Shall I?

Alright, I need to stop writing now.... gg for bfast before the work comes in and before greeting you at 2pm later... :p

♥ A James & Yin Creation ♥

On request to write a post a day :p

First, let's start with the photo of the day !

Received this today? Let's guess... a Mac ? Hee.... It is our 6-month photoalbum, a gift from deardear :DD I was so thrilled to open up the parcel when it was on my hand... haha... Although I have seen the soft copy.. emm... but it still feels so nice to look at it, touch it physically .. haha... still, touch is a very important sense... Thanks deardear! Thanks for everything you have done for me :p... ♥♥

Have an urge to read back my old blog posts since you said u read some of them and sense a change in me... so I read, and read... and then I saw this in one of my old post, when I was about to graduate from NTU, I wrote a post on 南大情怀 (一） and I saw this part where I wrote

" ...... . Let me kindly remember who appeared in my first year life: First of all, Kuan Seong, the 大三脚 guy, Keyeng, the Kulai 仔, Ghean, the one living below our floor, Tchin, the Malacca smart one, Jp, the small and witty guy, Ah giap, another bamboo stick like me n others . and of course, my SBS dear frens, Jenny, the Sibu gal, my soulmate in SBS, James,my night jogging partner, Hanchi etc etc. I will never forget the dinner time at can 9, the night suppers, the night jogging, the small and big talks.""

Haha, yeap, I did remember the night jogging although you said I din realise some of our 交流 interaction at the past... but when the memories came back, it was such a nice one. I remembered the night jogging at Nanyang House.. hee :) . Ok, now from night jogging partner, you have upgraded to my life partner :p happy??

And dun worry, we have more nice memories to come, the past shall be our life lessons so we can have a better future :D

♥ WhatsApp ♥

~Picture of the day ~

Never realise WhatsApp can be such useful.. hee, I think it only left with the video call function to be perfect..

Ooohoo, 1 more day to weekend... I'm gonna enjoy it fully.

Hmm, nothing much to update recently. Dont really like to touch about school work, have enough for it. Gonna totally out of school world once I back home. Need some work life balance.

Read this article in AsiaOne about a China boy who suffered from severe burn and is required to wear the surgical mask for at least 10 years. Couldn't help but felt pity of this little boy who needs to suffer physically and mentally. We should really cherish life and what we have.... I love my life now, I have all my dearest ppl around me... who I can trust, believe and love them forever.

Pictures released of him playing with his puppy while wearing his gray-white elastic headgear, which prevents his scars from becoming infected, touched hearts nationwide. -- Beijing

原来..

原来相思是这样。。

原来想念也是一种动力。。

It has been just one week passed you back to Sweden but just like what you have said, it seems like weeks. Emm.. if you will be coming back after 6 mths.. which means left with 23 weeks. Well, it seems shorter to count by week. :p

Teaching seems to be tougher in last term. Instead of worrying of their end of year exams, students are like getting rowdier, I have lost control of them. Sometimes, I did have the feeling of quitting teaching after my 3 yrs bonds.. and maybe switch to private tutoring which I feel I am more appreciated. Nvm, I need to stuck at teaching for 2 more yrs.. perhaps it will be better by that time.

So.. I have a new hairstyle, the perm :). Finally set my mind to do my hair but too bad is after you back Sweden... Hmm, nvm, urs will be the improving version haha.. I like my hairstyle now, hee...I look more mature and feminine?? As what my colleague said. Well, it takes effort and sacrifice in order to be beautiful. I stay longer in bathroom now in order to wash my hair.. and all sorts of hair cream, nourishing spray bla bla..

I miss the midnight talk and playfulness.. although I fell asleep easily :p hmm...

Alright, 3 more hectic days before the weekend.... Hard work and endurance for 2 more months before I officially call it a break... Awaiting

♥Love it ♥

I love our album :D Truly... Thanks for the wonderful gift. :))

School Term 4 starting tmr. 1 more term to go before this amazing year ends... My first permanent year of teaching, with all the bits sweet and sour and bitter feeling. In fact, I hope it ends soon.. haha.. Yearning for the long hols ald. Alright, endure, 1 more month of hard work before I truly get a good rest.

Sept break is a false break, I woke up early for almost the whole week, no diff from normal working days. Just that it changed to work from home, back from invigilation and working on the EOY papers. Just have some private time on Fri to go temple for a revisit... Still remember last year visit was after the break-up, and I got a good 'Qian' saying ' Every good thing comes naturally'. Yup, I would agree... it has been good to me... really good :)

Got a good 'qian' this time too. Was actually praying for family and you of course :). It says ' all the thing you are praying will go well. Keep on the right way. Bla bla' :D.. Happy !!

I really feel that there must be some reason for some things to happen. Emm

Miss You

Take care Dearrr !!!
Work hard there and eat well, sleep well and play well as well :)))

♥ Macau June 2011 ♫♪

Third time going to Macau, this time with my dearrr ;) Although the excitement of trip mainly coming from the people going with... The thrill is still there. ;) Macau doesn't change lot, compared to 1 and a half year ago, except for the huge casino statue right beside Venetian, called Galaxy (look totally like a palace).

My aim in Macau is food hunting... :)..So we tried the famous wantan mee 黃枝記,then the Portugese Egg Tart, one special dessert to recommend, 木糠布甸 from Restaurant Platao九如坊 , it tasted like soft cheese cake with ice cream, biscuit coated in layers..Just one word to describe 'NICE' =)) although is quite ex but it really worth a try. Egg tart from Margaret Cafe never fails us and the Macau signature almond cookies.

My first visit to Macau in year 2009, I describe it a city of Angel & Demon. As a historical city, it blends in the Portugese and Asian cultures in their varities of food and lifestyle. Walking on the path to Ruins of Paul and the Parado where old beautiful European style buildings located, it felt like you were in some european countries... if you could ignore the people around you. Well it still better to walk these paths during the winter time when the cold breeze welcoming you. Now with 32 cel degree during the summer time, it seemed contrast.

So how about the demon side of view... At night, Macau transformed to a City of Seduction.. With casinos all around the city, you couldnt avoid it. This is also the first time out of my 3 visits to Macau, I'm able to finish the touring of casinos (almost). We visited Venetian of course, starworld, Wynn, MGM, 凯旋门,Galaxy etc....

It is a special place of mixture of lifestyle and definitely worth a visit...

The Arriving of June Good Times

Overheard a teacher said this when I went for invigilation few days ago - finally a time for us to breath. Yes! The arriving of June holidays. A time which I look forward so much.

Haven been much time to update recently. All the last minute work before sch holidays. Shall write more about my half a year school experience more in the next post.

Anyway, June indicates a time I will be spending alot. With the GSS, Hongkong trip (opps I haven told my parents).. I got a list of shopping list but yet to achieve. Emm, and with the financial planning coming on the way, this June shall be a good time for me to look into my future financial plans.

Quite a few friends asked

me the same question: Have your holidays started?How long? So, the official answer I gave,"Students one already start. 1 month. Mine starting next week. around 2 weeks in total. But the 2 weeks including the hidden time for lesson preparation" But I guess they only hear the first statement, 1 mth holiday. Emm, perhaps just let me clarify here to vent my disagreement. Although students' hol last for 1 mth, it doesnt mean I no need to work for 1 mth, teachers' hol is different from the private sector. Our work is ongoing. Just that the 2 weeks mean I no need to go sch. But lesson planning is still on. In fact, my actual holiday is the 1 week taken for Hongkong trip.

A sidenote of the post of recent happenings :The art of asking people for help: Be sincere. Be considerate. Shall not elaborate here but this is just what I feel. Sometimes, if you require people help to get some stuff or something done, might be good if you be more considerate. And if you make the need of help from 'may you' to 'must you', it doesnt look nice although the person you ask help from is more willing to offer it.

Hee... our rings

Mad at/about you

Different preposition brings different meanings.

Two days ago when you said you could stay up late to skype with me. But in the end, you fell asleep. Was not that mad that day, trying to be more understandable you might be tired. But when the night you give it another bet to stay up late.. and next morning you still break the promise., I was really mad at you. Not taking into account how early I need to wake up , plus the stomach discomfort and rushing hour in the bathroom. It did make me to think about did u take promises seriously. Decided to offline for the day to cool myself down. And my poor sis became the scapegoat for the day as I'm obviously showing an unreasonable and moody face.

解铃还需系铃人。The message in msn, the wall and the next morning conversation don't know why suddenly ease the anger I have on you.. and as the time goes by the day, instead of still mad of you... it is changing into another preposition to mad about you to counting down the time you will appear 'physically' in front of me.

You will be arriving in 6 more hours..

The Irony

Have been slacking for a week plus. May is a good month. Starting with the labour day off, followed by Polling day off. I have been enjoying the long weekends that makes me keep on procrastinating my work. And last two weeks was the exam period which even make the day in school better. Sound so irony, students' exam period becomes one of the slackest period for me. I just need to go for invigilation , marking and marking and no one will come and disturb me (because all teachers are busy marking also). Life suddenly turns better.

But then, slacking for too long, it needs some momentum to make me work hard again for two weeks before the real holiday :) Next week will be the checking scripts week. Followed by 1 week plus of teaching then the June Holiday. My 1C math was not doing good with half of class failed the Paper 1, wonder is my teaching or their problems. But I cant tell their parents is their child problem... so, was kinda have a mental preparation my Math head and parents will confront me of the lousy result they get. Suddenly got the stress of being a teacher, when I always said I am more focus on their character development but no doubt the academic based system is still the main reason in determining whether u are a good teacher.

I wonder what my colleagues have been saying behind me, abt my teaching and etc.... Normally new teacher will be the focus of the school, no matter how hard you try to deny, from the moment you step in this school, people will put an eye on you. So whether you have the 'potential' or not, is really just depends on the first few years. I know some teachers have been watching me secretly behind... hee, how I knew it? From some conversation, like the English department head, I don't even talk to him or even look at his face clearly before, but surprisingly he knew my name.. gee.. Sometimes, it makes you curious what they have been thinking about you. Honestly, I just want to enjoy my teaching career peacefully, not aiming for good promotion stuff. I know my potential, just want to do my own things. Haiz, but sometimes, is not up to you to decide when you don't have the power and position to do so.

People relationship, the most difficult issue in the society. You may be amazed how the surrounding people react.

Count downing count downing... Hee... I just love the idea of betting but I still haven thought of the prize for winning. :D...

Rest In Peace Aunt

Aunt suffered from cancer near to 3 years. After much struggling, determination to get well, she still lost to the illness. My aunt was a strong woman, although I didn't get to know her very well, but she was always there when anyone from the family need help.

It really get me to think about the purpose of life for a moment. What do you want to do, live life to the fullest. That night, wjian asked me out for a quick ice-cream therapy. He was working day and night for a few consecutive days. With a dazed look, working seems like making his life miserable despite the seductive salary.

Learn to cherish what you have. Learn to enjoy your life. Shall be my motto from now onwards. I'm getting to learn how to better manage my work-life, to achieve a balance work life. Although it means i may put in less effort in work, but for me, the personal time is equally important.

The busy workload finally going to soften down for a moment. Followed by should be a period where I will be seen marking papers like an automated machine. Then, another moment checking mountain of files. Then... will be at least 2 weeks of resting moment, which includes our honeymoon trip :)

I yearn for your return :)

~ My Skin Care Routine ~

Well, the first thing before choosing a skin care product, is to ask yourself these few questions.

1) What skin type you are. Dry? Oily? or Combi? For my case, I am more to oily skin.

2) What skin problems are you targeting on? Acne, whitening, moisturizing, oil or shine reducing etc etc. For me, I mostly target on whitening and oil-reducing. You can't expect one product to solve all the above problems. So target on the most crucial one first.

3) Your budget!! This is kinda an important part. Well, I'm now looking into those comfortable price range yet effectively products.

Okie, now I'm using the Za True White series - cleansing form, toner and lotion. Partly the reason choosing Za is because of the reasonable price. The 3 items add up is less than $50. So far, about the finish the first bottle.


The cleansing form is added with some microbead granule, so it gives you a bit of light scrubing effect. Not very strong hence is kinda suitable for all skin type. The purpose of using cleansing form is to remove dirt, impurities and light make up. So, as long as the cleansing product has the above function, should be alrite. No need to go for expensive cleansing form.

For the toner or what they call the prismizer, it is to further remove the impurities, smoothen and prepare the skin for the next step. If you have sensitive skin, then avoid using those toner with alcohol. Previously, was using Neutrogena toner series, it actually gives a cooler sensation then this Za series, but added with alcohol. Too much alcohol usage will dry up your skin, hence, for long term consideration, choose the toner without alcohol.

The last basic step is for moisturizing. To keep the skin moisture and depends on the kind of effec you want. This is where you either choose hydro-moisture(if you target more on dry skin problem), whitening, translucent skin etc...

Well, these are the 3 basic step of daily skin care routines. Cleanse, tone and moisture.

Tap on with some extra procedures; eg: I will use the Skin Food black sugar mask twice a week, I find this mask quite effective in smoothing pores and get rid of dull skin. Now, I am trying The Face Shop overnight White Snow Gel mask. It helps to better prevent melanin production that causes dark skin.

Shall continue next time....

Your Dreams...

During the IT course training the day, this senior teacher asked me a question, what is your dream? I have many dreams.. but for today's post, just wanna tap on these little dreams..

Remember I told you about my imaginary invention and ideas? When I was in Pri 3, sometimes my mum would prepare some syrup drinks for us to drink in school. But the thing is when we wanted to drink it, it was a warm syrup. That was when my dream of making a water bottle with ice-cubes came out, when you need cold drink, just press a button and the ice cube will be released from below. Yeah, I was just in Pri 3, so the technology I could think of is the ice cube, when I get older, the ice-cube idea was replaced by automated warm-cold sensor :D... Sound like I know how to do it -_-".

Then.... in secondary school, forgot which year. I told my friend if we could connect computer to tv, then we can watch movies in large screen with good sound effect. That was the time when we all tend to download movies from internet. Not long after that, my idea came true.. Someone invented the type of tv that can connect to your cpu. So, I kinda feel that my idea was stolen :(

Some time ago, I though of this simple idea. Partly because I really like to research on skin care products. I have an idea of creating a website, gather reviews and comment from users regarding the skin care products on market. It serves as a guideline to people who wants to invest on skin care products but don't know which to choose from such a vast varieties. And probably I could approach some skin care companies for some samples for the users to test on. Hee, then I myself can try also. And I will be working mostly by rating and organizing the products to their price range and effectiveness on different skin types. :)... Emm, but same thing, not long after that, found a website which has almost the same idea as mine... Again, I am one step slower.

Well, anyway to partly realized my small little dream on the skin care website (which is the only one that appear easier to work on), my next post will be based on my daily routines on skin care cycle. :)

Money- The Root To Happiness?

Attended a Web 2.0 IT Tool course today. Actually it is more like a short time-off from school to me. Attending courses, unless is the really really boring type, did help me to take a short break then back to the busy work again. In fact, sometimes it turns out to be a 'professional' sharing session. Was chatting with this senior teacher and she shared quite alot of her experiences in life, I prefer to use the word 'life' because she understands how hard beginning teachers is. And what she shared with us are not only school stuff, more to the purpose of life. I couldn't agree more of what she mentioned: Work is work. Don't bring work to your personal quality time. If you suffer because of work and was forced to stop your work, there are always someone to replace your position. You are not the most important person. Take it easy. It is a few simple sentences. But it brings out the meaning.

Back to my title of today post. Just went to my student's dad wake. Her dad died of sudden heart attack. Leaving behind 3 children and wife. As the sole breadwinner of the family, the sudden gone of the pillar of the house brought a lot of unseen upcoming problems to my student, that she has yet to realise. Suddenly felt that although we keep on saying money does not buy happiness but now looking at my student's situation, I realise the financial stability becomes a vital part in a family, in turns, contributing to the happiness in a family. It was actually quite heartening to me as during the conversation with my student's family members and relatives, the lost of a family member was not the main topic discussed but the financial issue of the family. The mum of my student, has no time to grief upon the lost, but to face the cruel challenge of the root of money.

Good Friday :)

I have a nice mood last thus partly because the 3 days off, yearn for it so long. Well, initial plan to back home on Fri morg was replaced by an impromptu Universal Studio visit.

Eventful long weekend started with a Geylang supper gathering on thus nite... Guess is either my stamina is not good as before or my biological clock is so rigid that when the clock strikes 12, I will become Cinderella, calling from my sweet cozy bed at home. I almost dozed off during the supper, it shows how tired I am. It was a nice gathering as it brings back the long ago memories of university supper time and how much I miss the dou jiang you tiao there. But but, the ''dou hua' tried in Vietnam is still the best so far I have tasted. Let's try together next time, I know you like dou jiang you tiao :D

Slept around 2am, aimed to wake up at 5.30 to chat with you but was sleeping like a log that I missed the alarm clock. Jumped up ard 6.45 and quickly get a fast wash up to meet up with students going to USS. Hee, always wanted to visit USS but is either hurdled by the ex tic and bad timing. So, now got a free ticket in exchange, why not? Actually went tgt with some of my form class students. It is fun to see another side of the students. Listen to how they describe the rides using perfectly good English and vocab, it can be a good learning journey in fact. And they actually show how to be considerate, waiting for one another to be ready (as we are in a group, so it takes a longer time to gather everyone or wait for each other for washroom slot). I was forced to take some rides with them, grr...need to act cool although I almost got cold feet and even head spin after the rides. Yup, well, my overall comment of USS: Not really worth of the value, partly because of the hot weather and the crowds.

My Sat and Sun mostly spent on getting rest aka sleep and sleep. And of course, some skyping time with you :)... Glad to hear that you enjoy your trip!! It is good to explore places when you are young and able to. Rem to take good food and and some time off from your busy weeks in follows. Support you fully :). I realise one important key to be success is to be focused. I can be very focused when doing the stuff I like, when i totally indulge in the process. Most of the time it helps me to get things done fast and efficient. Although recently I'm getting a bit downhill in my career, no worries.. shall get back the momentum after the break. I just need some time to have a good rest and a reflecting period.

You keep me moving too :)

The Vicious Cycle

I always have a bad Monday. Is like a vicious cycle. It starts bad and ends worse.

Was doing my work review today, basically is some kind of resume telling your boss, or people how well you have done in your work. I'm not a person who knows how to boost myself. So, if you want me to write how well I have developed my pupils cognitive development, is kinda hypocrite... But another thing, that's what my colleague said: people, especially those at upper level don't really know how hard you work. So, they look at your work review. And if you can't write well what have you done so far, what did you do for your school, too bad, your promotion is far away from you. Hmm.. the reality.

I need a break for god sake. And my motivation to drag my feet to work now is thinking about my future, the survival needs and also anticipating your return :) and of course our first honeymoon :D... You know, my leisure activity, when I have some free time and I do not want to do anything about work is to source for Hongkong Macao details, although I have been there twice...

Life still goes on although I complain here and there. Must use the holiday to fully recharge and reflect on my work life balance. I can't continue this like few yrs more. If I work for the sake of the salary now, it won't sustain my passion in teaching, and more importantly, should make money work for you, not you working for money.

This friday is good friday. Ok, I don't really know the meaning of Good Friday. To me, is a precious public holiday :DDD.. What's more Friday is my busy day.... :p.... I just want to slack now... Emm...I would really like to join the Broga Hill trip, but physically not allowed, too tired to go for excursion trip now, need to conserve my energy for 2 more crazy weeks and I wanna go home, it's been 1 mth plus I didn't back to my sweet dear home. Sorry guys, will join next time when have more free time.

Oh ya, add on.. my 2nd piano lesson today:)