Listen To The Ocean

The Davos Question

What one thing do you think that countries, companies or individual must do to make the world a better place in 2008?

http://www.youtube.com/davos

When we stop totally relying on oil for all our daily energy needs will there be a world with a better place in 2008. Just look around you, everything and I mean everything have something to do with the oil market as it foundation. A country should dedicate it resource for renewable energy than deploying troops to some middle eastern country...a company should stop wasting unnecessary energy and cutting waste, finally every individual should support the "Green" movement of their country or company.

Heavy morning fog set upon Dallas

I woke up early this morning for breakfast and when I step out of the door step to get to my vehicle. The atmosphere is weird today, everywhere is covered with smoke, I can hardly see the Apartment opposite the parking lot. No, there is no burning smell so I realize this is a heavy fog. Dallas and most of the North Texas area are covered with heavy fog today. Driving is especially hazardous when you can't even see beyond 200m of the road. I headed back to my apartment and sleep.

The last time I encounter such heavy fog was during a winter day driving towards base. 1 mile from the highway exit to Davis St/ Jefferson Blvd, my vehicle entered a heavy fog and all of a sudden I can hardly see the vehicle right in front of me. In this situation, always turn on the hazard light, low beam head light and fog light of the vehicle if it comes with a pair. Never know what you might hit in those fog.

Silent Hill 1...

Silent Hill 2



Silent Hill 3

Anyone remember who Joan Jett is? She is the female rock sensation of the 80s and I bet most of my friend have heard her song "I HATE MYSELF FOR LOVING YOU" on radio back in the primary school days. One fine day, I was humming the tune of the music and couldn't remember the lyrics and title...its like a very vivd childhood memory I got because I like to listen to the English radio channel when I was young when staying with my grandparents. The next day while heading to work, the radio was playing her song! What coincidence. Thats when I realize the tune that sometime came on my mind was Joan Jett & The Black Hearts - I Hate Myself For Loving You.

She looks like Ripley from the movie Aliens...

Ski Apache Photoblog

Finally after sorting through thousands of picture consolidated from all of us by Garfield, I have manage to create a photo blog for my Ski Apache vacation.

"This could easily be the last Vacation I'll have in USA before heading back to Singapore, the end of my first tour of duty in RSAF Peace Prairie Detachment. I guess Skiing is something not to be missed when you are living in a country with the 4 seasons and of course lots of snow. Riccardo (me lah!!), Garfield, Ah Chan, Ah Chiang, Danny and Danny's Wife Candy... We the gang of 6 headed of early morning on the 19th off Jan 2008 westward from Dallas, Texas towards Ruidoso, New Mexico where the nearest Snow Ski and Snow Boarding resort is located. Together in a spacious Cheverolet Suburban SUV laden with baggage, lots of snacks and full of excitement to explore another new place of USA, to engage in a new sports of skiing. This is, finally my last piece of vacation photo-blog made in the USA... Special thanks to Garfield for the majority of the picture contribution as usual."

Now Watching: Terminator, Sarah Connor Chronicles

I am watching this TV series right now. The series is base on the events after Terminator 2 where Sarah and John Connor is on the run from the government for their role in the destruction of Cyberdyne the company that create Skynet. John Connor have to survive under the protection of his mother to ensure that he will be able to lead the human resistance against the sentinel SkyNet robots in the future. As the story in episode 1 developed, John Connor was attacked by, as usual, a Terminator Assassin send back from the future but he survived thanks to a female Terminator send by his future self to protect himself (very paradox).

So far the story of Episode 1 ended with Sarah Connor, John Connor and the female Terminator (who look pretty hot) using a time machine to travel few years into the future to escape the pursuit of the Terminator Assassin.

I think its a pretty good series to watch especially for anyone who have watch the 3 Terminator movies. It fills up the story gap between the events of Terminator 2 and Terminator 3. The show is now broadcast on FOX TV Network but available for download from http://thepiratebay.org using the bittorrent software

Back from Ski Apache!!!

Full Battle Gear. Beanie, Ski Goggles, Jacket, Ski Pants, Ski Boots, Ski Poles, Ski and lots of butt cushioning for the fall. Thats all I need for skiing.

I'm back!!! Suddenly there is something more to miss about USA from the long list to "I will miss USA for ***** (fill in the blanks)". Even after 2 days straight of morning to late afternoon snow skiing, couple of falls, eating a lot of snow and the exhausting moment of picking myself up from the snow... I grew to love this new sports I only got to know for less than 48 hours. I love skiing and I'm sure the next closes chance I have to a ski trip is either a second tour of duty here in USA or if I am rich enough to head to South Korea.

Its a wonderful winter activity which demand coordination and good leg strength and stamina. The most tiring part of the entire ski activity will go to picking myself up after a fall. With the air so thin up at Ski Apache which is 10 000 ft above sea level, I am almost breathless every time I pick myself up from a fall. But its all worth it... the frictionless gliding down the slope of snow, the hard turn left and right which I self learned and the fast sliding brakes (I call it a drift break) which I occasionally still overdo resulting in a tumbling cloud of snow.

Although snow skiing will be very much missed when I head back to the tropical sunshine island of Singapore, at less down the road when those bones are brittle, muscles weak and coordination impaired that I can look back and say "Heng Ah... I Ski Before Leh!!!"

Well, back to Dallas now which means work. Nowadays Dallas=Work . After unpacking all my stuff, doing some accounting on the entire trip expenses for our group of 6, taking a hot shower and writing that short summary thoughts of the trip above, I am gonna work on consolidating all the pictures taken from our cameras especially from Garfield's who took lots of photo as usual for the Ski Trip. Like to take the opportunity here to thanks Garfield, Ah Chan, Taiwanese Chiang, Danny and Candy for making this tour a memorable and fun one. Stay tune for the online Photo blog of our ski trip...

4 Tropical Island Boy of Singapore TIBS: (from Left) Korean Boy Ah Chan, Danny, Taiwanese Ah Chiang and Japanese Garfield.

Bye bye!!! Going Ski!!! Be back on Tuesday

Ciao my friends, I am heading to Ski Apache at New Mexico, Ruidoso tomorrow morning. It will be a 10 hours drive west from Dallas just to find the nearest place to ski, snowboard and play with snow. Be back on Tuesday with lots of pictures and videos. Planning to do another tour video montage just like the one I did for the Grand Canyon/ Las Vegas trip last year.

RT Section Cohesion Dinner

Today we have an unplanned RT section Cohesion Dinner. Morning shift got to stay in base longer and night shift get to start work later so everyone can have dinner together. Thanks to Garfield for buying the food, Maj Wong for sponsoring the dinner, 2 EOs for gracing the occasion and all RT man for working together to make today possible. It was a good mini get together around the dinner table and I'm sure this is the first time we all get to sit down to have dinner together in Base. Usually its a Hooters outing for farewell and welcome party. Pretty unique moment for the day I say.

Prime Ministar Loong making sure the rice are properly distributed while Garfield gave a cheeky smile to the camera. Baby getting impatient and Curry grabbing a seat.

The Cohesion Dinner gang. Chief, Cpt Commando, Cpt B are not in the picture. Encik "Max" had to head home to settle some family matters.

This photo shot remind me of something that got to do with my head last week...hmm...

Lets tuck in!!! A congregation of hungry workers, supervisors and mangers feasting on Roast Duck, Roast Pork, Vegetable with Mushroom, Marinated Chicken, Roast Chicken and finish up with a can of Coca-Cola each.

Prohibited from work

No Driving and no physical work for a week. That was the order from the Big Boss my "stupid bicycle kick, head concussion landed in the hospital and recovered" incident. So someone have to fetch me to and from work each day since Tuesday (I got a day off to rest on Monday) and I am not suppose to do any physical work in case some cock up happen to my head. However its been 3 days since the incident happen and I don't feel crazy or lost at all.

In fact I felt really tired at work not because of any PHD "Permenant Head Damage" or lack of sleep but more on lack of physical work. I guess my body thrive on physical activity and just 2 days of computer plus paperwork had made me pretty lethergic. Please!!! I need the sweat, the sunlight, physical exertion and exposure to the cold (due to work in winter)...anything but confinement of deskbound job!!!

I'm sure all this restriction are for my own good even though the doctor instruction is plenty of rest for 3 days and no driving for only the first 24hrs. I feel deprived of 4 wheels entertainment just 3 days into the 1 week driving prohibitation that I have to resort to playing Gran Turismo 4 at home after work to satisfy my "Need For Speed". I am confident I am in good condition to drive now in real life because I clock a good lap time on Laguna Seca race track. I felt more handicapped than actually losing a limb now.

Haiz....felt so stupid to do that stupid stunt at the field last Sunday. Now I am feeling guilty for giving my dear WO (recently nicknamed Mr Max) something extra to worry about on top of all the heavy laden aircraft maintenance and office politics he got to handle. He fell sick today and I hope I am not the triggering factor of it since he just gave me a heavy lecturing about been responsible for my own safety and the people around me.

Temperature gonna drop to minus 3 degree celsius tonight and there is a chance of rain thus road icing. Everyone I talk to is praying for a stand down at work due to poor road condition. Last year winter is marked with numerous unplanned "holiday" for us, tomorrow morning will be the closes first chance we ever have for this winter.

Head Concussion and a 1 hour lost of chapter in my life

It was the regular Sunday soccer games we always played at Andy Brown Park in Coppell City. I am still learning the game and getting my soccer foundation right in the game. Have to improve on my passing, situation awareness and of course ball control. The day turn out to be an out of the ordinary experience though...

I can only vaguely recall a cross coming from the left and it was floating so very slowly towards me and there was like 2 defenders around me. I think I attempted a very amateur style bicycle kick but did not missed the ball. Next thing I could only remember lying on the ground, opening my eyes and counting the finger of the oldest player on the field, Afta. Again I couldn't remember what happen after that...I think i stood up and than was told to lied down again by another player who was a Chiropractic. He exercised my head and neck snapping it left and right thats when I felt a flush or blood circulation back to my head. I remember standing up and saying "Woah, I feel the blood circulation coming back".

What happen next is the weirdest lost of memory in my life for I found myself walking to the MPV with Wong not remembering why I was there that day and what happen to me that I am heading to the Hospital ER.

Along the way to the Hospital, I slowly regain back some memory of what happen and recalled only playing soccer, the foolish bicycle kick, the "Afta" finger counting and the head and neck exercise. Its like a Sunday morning chapter of my life with lots of missing pages here and there. Broken pieces here and there. Wong told me I fell down but I continue playing after the fall and after awhile walk to the sideline feeling lost. Ok, seriously I can't remember a single episode of the fall and the soccer playing after that. But that is not a concern right now for now my left neck hurts and the back of my head got a strange sensation. Along the way to the Hospital, Wong kept on asking me question about the what, who, why and when of things just to make sure I did not go into Amnesia. Well of course not, else I won't even be writing blog now. I did however ask alot of question and repeating it, as observed by him.

Check in to the Emergency Department of Las Colinas Hospital...gave them my Driver License and Insurance Card. Was ask a few question by the staff nurse before putting me into a bed for observation. I feel pretty alright now except for no remembering the events leading to "this". No sense of urgency in the nurse and doctor because I waited like 15 minutes before the doctor first came and check me out. I guess I am not seriously hurt or something.

After what seems like more than an hour, I was rolled to the Radiology section to have a CatScan of my head and neck just to make sure there is no internal bleeding or blood clot that could be life threatening. I was roll back to the room again, this time lying there watching the football game between San Diego Charger and Indianapolis Colts while patiently waiting for the results of the early examination by the doctor and CatScan. Hospital scene in TV shows and movies always like to film the patient been roll around the hospital corridor with the camera showing a first person view of the ceilings light, can't believe I am experiencing that kind of moments live this time round.

Since we all got to wait for the doctor again (me, Wong and Wong's wife Sylvia ), we decided to take some pictures for memory (haha, in case I lost memory again?) and for fun.

I blew my head!!!

Watching the NFL games while waiting for the doctor again

Doc came back almost an hour later with the medical reports. As written on it, I suffered a Head Injury, Concussion and Cervical Paraspinal Muscular Strain (fancy medical word for neck muscle strain). Instructed to stay at home with my house mate Ricky for the first 24 hours, under close observation for warning signs like,

1. Throwing up
2. Confusion, Drowsiness or any change in alertness
3. Loss of Memory
4. Dizziness or fainting
5. Trouble walking or staggering
6. Slurred Speech
7. Headache got worst.
8. Seizures
9. Change in the size of one pupil
10. Weakness or numbness of an arm or leg
11. stiff neck or fever
12. Vision problem
13. Bleeding or clear liquid drainage from ears or nose
14. Very Sleepy
15. Anything else that worries me.
    

Co-Pay US$75 bucks for admission to Emergency ward. Thanks to our company insurance, otherwise the fee will cost a bomb. Thank god I am not warded than I will have to CO-Pay another US$250 for staying in.

Its Day two post injury. I am having my day-off at home playing Command and Conquer Tiberium Wars, Baking a Cake, blogging, watching Anime and just getting lots of rest. Pretty routine Monday but still feeling a bit of a headache and neck strain. I guess I am feeling alright and Korean Boy (Ah Chan) have been checking out on me every single hour to make sure I am fine. Nothing worrying is gonna developed from here and I should be back to work on Tuesday morning.

Ski trip coming on this weekend. I hope to fully recover by than...

Morning Dim Sum and Maxim Restaurant

Andy organized a Dim Sum session this morning at Maxim Restaurant in Richardson City. The turn-out was pretty good although a large percentage of the guys present are from RT section. A great get-together session out of work for all of us and an opportunity to have photographic moments with the Babies of the Peace Prairie Detachment family. They are our future isn't it? Oh by the way, Encik Sin just came back from Singapore yesterday so this is like a little welcome back session for him.

Realized that Chief look really really 'Chio' or stunning in the photograph, a rating of 8.5/10. She should really go for a glamor shot at those professional photo studios.

Come and join me for Dim Sum!!!

Our senior management guys. SMO, Ah Teng wife and Ah Teng, Encik Ronnie, Encik Ong, Encik Ang and Encik Neo.


RT man Sen Loong, Encik Sin, Ah Bao, Andy, Chip Chip, Chief and Garfield


The Cat, The Dragon and the Char Siew Bao.


Our EOs and Wife, Cpt Bertrand, Baby Seraphine, Joanne, Helen, Ryan and Cpt Seah.


Huat Ah!!!!

Made In Hiroshima, Japan

The Mazda Miata MX-5 is made in Hiroshima, Japan. Hiroshima is also the first city in the world to be subjected to a nuclear warfare from an atomic bomb dropped towards the end of World War II.

I love American football

I love to American Football! Beneath all the frenzy, push and collision is a game of tactics, deception, good ball throwing skill, receiving and running. Before I came to USA, I just think that its a rough game that just involve ball throwing, running the line and lots of violent body contact. Well, after playing a few rounds with my colleague and American counter part in base today plus watching the game and learning the rules, I start to appreciate American Football to the point of total Enjoyment every time a live game is telecast on TV during most Sunday. I cheered when the team I support ( any team that have the uniform colors I like in each game) score a touch down or gain yard to earn a 1st down.

Just today, instead of working, we have a morning game of American Football in the base. Instead of all the body contact we saw on TV, we played the "Flag" version instead. So every player will wear a belt with flag on the left and right side of the waist. The objective of the offense team is to bring the ball to the touch down line while the defense team just have to stop them by pulling off the flag from the guy holding and running with the ball. Its a safe but as enjoyable as the actual American football since no one is gonna get hurt from a "take down" from the opponent team. Though I do have some skin deep abrasion to my legs and hands from falling and sliding on the dry winter grass.

Long before I even start playing today game, together with a couple of guys we will learn to pass the oval shape football to each other. A throw is not just a throw, since the ball is oval a spinning throw with a ball flying in streamline with air can travel further and more accurate than a ball tumbling in the air. We guys in the base have a lot of practice and mini game of 2 v 2 and 3 v 3 just to hone our passing and running skills. Thanks to the more experience guys in the base, I am finally able to throw a pass properly although most throw looks like an artillery shell lob. Its not easy actually, must know how to grip the ball correctly to ensure that a throw will cause the ball to go straight and spin. Take practice.

Where I stay is Dallas, Texas and Dallas have its own Football Team, the DALLAS COWBOYS. The other football team in the state of Texas will be the HOUSTON TEXAN. Here is the team logo for DALLAS COWBOYS...

A 5 point star that is also a popular symbol of the State of Texas. I'm intending to watch at less a single Dallas Cowboy games here in Texas before I head back to Singapore in May. The tickets are almost always sold out and most of the guys from base got their tickets off E-Bay. Hmm... so far the 2 most interesting culture I learn and experienced is the poker game 'Texas Hold Em" and "American Football".

LEARN THE GAME AT WIKIPEDIA.COM

Blood bond

I wonder if a parent and children blood bond could make one feel each other happiness and sorrow? Could a person feel a sense of familiarity or soul bonding when they meet someone who is his/her long lost brother/sister? Can a person feel the lost of the siblings or parent even when he is distance away? I wonder if there is some kind of spiritual energy connecting everyone together.

Things you never knew about your Cell Phone

There are a few things that can be done in times of grave emergencies.

Your mobile phone can actually be a life saver or an emergency tool for
survival. Check out the things that you can do with it:

~~Dial Emergency Number anywhere,anytime~~

* The Emergency Number worldwide for **Mobile** is112.* If you find
yourself out of coverage area of your mobile network and there is an
emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to
establish the emergency number for you,and interestingly this number 112
can be dialed even if the keypad is locked. **Try it out.**


~~Honey!!! I locked my car keys in the car!!!~~

* Subject:Have you locked your keys in the car? Does you car have remote
keys?*
This may come in handy someday. Good reason to own a cell phone:
If you lock your keys in the car and the spare keys are at home, call
someone at home on their cell phone from your cell phone.
Hold your cell phone about a foot from your car door and have the person
at your home press the unlock button, holding it near the mobile phone on
their en! d. Your car will unlock. Saves someone from having to drive your
keys to you. Distance is no object. You could be hundreds of miles away,
and if you can reach someone who has the other "remote" for your car, you
can unlock the doors (or the trunk).


~~I ran out of juice~~

Imagine your cell battery is very low , you are expecting an important call
and you don't have a charger. Nokia instrument comes with a reserve
battery. To activate, press the keys *3370#Your cell will restart with
this reserve and the instrument will show a 50%increase in battery. This
reserve will get charged when you charge your cell next time.



~~Access Denied, self destruct in 5 secs?~~

How to disable a STOLEN mobile phone?
To check your Mobile phone's serial number, key in the following digits on
your phone:
* # 0 6 #
A 15 digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your
handset. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe. when your phone get
stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They
will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief changes the
SIM card, your phone will be totally useless.
You probably won't get your phone back, but at least you know that whoever
stole it can't use/sell it either.
If everybody does this, there would be no point in people stealing mobile
phones.

Battlefield Control Terminated...

Long long months ago in a colony not so far away lives the green, the blue and the plain clothes human colonist. One fine day the colony only contact with the earthling were lost, the whole communication network was wipe out. Not only do the colonist lost all contacts with their love one on Earth but also their only avenue of shopping online on Buy.com, Woot.com, Amazon.com and Spoofee.com.

It was the worst case of colony sabotage that ever happen, robbing the human colonist their vital communication line with all the sinful indulgence on Earth. For the colony was still new and Mars is bare and there is absolutely nothing on this barren craters filled land within an artificial bubble canopy other than lots of work, overtime and pestering from Colony HQ. Initial investigation points fingers to the bug-eyed Aliens encounter who crash landed dead decades ago in a little city of Roswell on Earth and speculation of space pirate hackers holding the colony at ransom with a dead coms line.

Finally the truth was unveil after a week of repair initiated by a resourceful colonist who send a message in a bottle back to earth (a bottle that never burn up in the atmospheric re-entry of earth) requesting a technical team for help. The results of the findings were startling...

This is what happen when you play with electricity. Life began with a spark and end with a spark.

A little reptilian like Alien! Little critter creep into a communication network box with suicidal intention. No little bomb bag strapped for explosive effect, just a very good knowledge of Electrical and Electronic foundation of "Short Circuit". A Kamikaze mission on an unwelcome guest? Suddenly scientific community everywhere on Earth finally found a living (now dead) proof that life do exist on the Mars!

Dear reader, this obviously was a very metaphorical way of writing. Thanks to Joe from XO Communication FST Dallas Texas for providing this very interesting picture. Maybe this is what it means by even the smallest creature can make a big impact. Hmm...remind me of the animation "Ratatouille"

MSN Virus Reporting

If you see this message on MSN,

http://tinypic.static.net/IMG72369.jpg-tinypic.com Why do you keep sending me this picture seriously..I know that is you on the left!

Do not click on the hyperlink!!! Its obviously a virus. My housemate Ricky Laptop send this MSN message to me. Our room is just 10m apart and anyone with common sense will know that any message should be send verbally instead. He also respond that he did not send this message out to me. So watch out guys, this is another of those MSN worms.

The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari

I have just finish this excellent book on life improvement and the wisdom of personal change. It was a Christmas gift from a good brother of mine. This books teaches reader the 7 steps, procedures, theory, action or whatever you might term it that will lead us to a life of fulfillment, happiness, love for and from people around, achievement, learn to appreciate the little thing in life, live for the present and enjoy the moment. This book is about the real story of how a career rich but life poor lawyer who gave up everything to seek the true meaning of life, the pursuit of happiness and the discovery of his own destiny. Rich with inspiring and motivating lines which now I am gonna randomly turn the page and pick up some of it...

1- "Pressure is not a bad thing. Pressure can inspire you to achieve great ends"

2-"Reality is first created in your minds by thoughts and next manifest in real life"

3- "Self Mastery is the DNA of Life Mastery"

4-"The best time to plant a tree is 40 years ago, the second best time is today. Don't waste even one minute of your day, develop a deathbed mentality"

5- "All success in life, whether material or spiritual starts with the 12 pounds mass between your shoulder."

6-"The most precious commodity is "Time", its non-renewable"

7- "All mistake make by human beings have already being documented in books. A wiser man learn from others mistake, a wiser man reads."

If you could just spend a week to chew on and digest this book, I am sure your life will have a definite improvement in the next few weeks to come. Most importantly, realize the full potential of knowledge in books by not only reading it but practicing it in life.

这个冬天不寒冷。。。奇怪，今天是 23 degree. 觉得我们的地球有点问题咯！！！

A Night at Tokyo One and a note on customer service.

Just came back from a Japanese buffet dinner at Tokyo One with Ah Bao, Xiao Long, Owyang, Ricky, Garfield and Andy. It was a pricey buffet at US$35 inclusive of tips but the food, atmosphere and most of all the customer service was excellent! Tokyo One have been a long standing establishment in Addison City, Dallas county for many years and its located at the junction of Midway Rd and East/West Beltline Rd. Boss is a Taiwanese, not Japanese as many might assume.

We have a server/waiter taking our drink orders and making sure our tables are cleared of used plates while we all just enjoy the food and liberally pick a new plate each time we head off for another serving. The waiter name is Jeffery and he make sure our evening at the restaurant was a comfortable experience for he consistently came back to the tables and check out if we need any help and if there is anything that he could do. I saw the female manager walking around the restaurant making sure customers are taken care as the crowd grows larger and larger. She even pop by to our tables and strike a chat with us about the food and about the lonely single oyster sitting on the table. Wonder if our guys are regular customer at Tokyo One as she immediately identify us as the Air Force guys. This was a wonderful dinner outing and kudos to Ah Bao for initiating it and Andy for coming even though his stomach is half filled with Cheesecake from lunch.

Oh, this is the first time I tried Japanese rice wine, Sake. Sake is strong in Alcohol content but felt really refreshing and cooling when you get it down the throat. I bet its a good medication to clear blocked nose for the coolness extend up and out the nostrils.

Kore Wa Sake Desu... Ichiban Neh!

Ah Bao startled by the flashlight and almost choke on his food

Attendance marking. Modern man are easily distracted by a pretty girl walking past.

Garfield, Cat and Garfield's Owner...hahaha

This dinner remind me of two unpleasant incident with established restaurant in Singapore during my home trip...

"A Reservation with Sakura still required you to Q up"

I have made a reservation for table of 10 four hours before hand and was assured that tables will be available at 8pm and I need not make a reservation at all. To play safe since its an important dinner gathering with my brothers with their wife or girlfriend, I insist on a reservation at 8pm. Name and contact number is taken down...

7.50pm, we are 10 mins early and all geared up for a great dinner gathering. A significant human line is already forming up outside the restaurant. I thank myself for making the reservation and not having to join the Q now. So the waitress was wrong isn't she? Thats strike 1. We walk up to the waitress at the door and was surprise to hear that we have to join a separate Q exclusively for people who have made reservation. WHAT??? A reservation means we should have our table at the time stipulated in advance? Now we have to join a Q that is at less 15 people long. So whats the point of a reservation when there is no tables for us at all? Strike 2... Last Strike for Sakura when I realise the guy at the front of the reservation Q have waited 20mins. We changed dinner location in the end pretty pissed of with Sakura for not honoring the customer's reservation. I will gladly paid for the reservation if asked for but thank god I did not at all.

It doesn't help that the waitress is all smile and apology when cornered with demand and explanation. This single bad experience is enough for demerit points.

"Boo to Boon Tong Kee for rejecting customer over employee dinner time"

I doubt they have the best Chicken rice in Singapore and a branded chicken rice come strangely branded policy when it comes to employee dinner time. Maybe they are so famous that they can start rejecting customer.

It was the first day, the day I touched down in Singapore. My family spend the whole day from places to places and its finally dinner time. We headed to Boon Tong Kee for Chicken rice because its popular. Have a hard time finding a parking place and even a harder time to get into the restaurant. The manager told us to come back at 5.30pm because the employee were having dinner and no customer will be serve during this period. Its 4.50pm at that moment. The second option is to get a table, sit down and over-hydrate ourselves with drinks until 5.30pm or when the chicken land on the chopping board. Option 1= No Chicken Rice, Option 2=No Chicken Rice...What the f***? My father commented that got money also no Chicken Rice to eat.

Isn't customer first or is it just the money and quantity of customer that counts? Maybe feeding the employee first before customer is mandatory in the Singapore labor laws? We feel so alienated by the restaurant policy and so we walked away disappointed with Boon Tong Kee. Headed to another Chicken Rice restaurant near Novena Square, got our seats, got a great waitress serving us and recommending dishes and while we are having our dinner, their employee are taking turn to have their dinner. Yes...take turn to have their dinner, a "No Name" restaurant, the famous Boon Tong Kee have much to learn.

Sleep Disorder? Cannot sleep... whats wrong? So Blog lor...

Damn, I can't fall asleep. Yesterday night I struggle to sleep at 1am but the tossing and turning only stop when I last saw the time as 3am. I suppose to go for a Saturday morning run with Tony at 9am in the morning, its almost 3am now and sometime just kept me awake.

Not even playing Nintendo DS Lite in bed makes me tired and fall asleep. So I have just resorted to 2 glasses of wine hopping the alcohol will induce some sleepiness in me. Hate to say this but shift work is really detrimental to health. Since I am changing shift every week, I always have to readjust my circadian rhythm. If I have a choice, I wish work in one shift only.

Alas, thats the price for taking Ah Gong money in USA. For the ultimate goal of National Defense and Security, sacrificial of creature comfort and sleep routine is necessary.

Ok lah, since I have a hard time sleeping now...might as well talk cock abit. Work is fine this week because I started work on Wednesday and end my work on Friday evening. Its a short week and I cleared lots of outstanding paper work on the last day of the work week. I observe my section colleague are in pretty good mood this few days... can joke...can sing song and can even fool around at work however we still get the job done in the end. It was a mellow and cheerful work for everyone this week. The exception was Wednesday when our Encik gave us a good lecture about discipline and the difference between the SAF term "Stand By" and "Stand Down". "Stand By" = No need to go to base at the moment but be ready to be activated for duty anytime. So Stay at home. "Stand Down"= Officially Off-Duty. I kanna lectured by him for planning the New Year Eve evening firework party when I am suppose to Stand By at home. I guess I got carried away from the festive mood after coming back from my 1 week home trip in Singapore. Well, it was really embaressing... when he called to check on us I even invited him for the firework which ended with a invitation of reprimand from him. So paiseh.

2 weeks more and I will be heading to my first skiing trip at Ski Apache New Mexico!!! Pretty excited over it and the ski trip will be from 19th Jan to 22nd Jan. This will most likely be my last holiday in USA. Joining me will be Ah Chiang, Garfield, Ah Chan, Danny and Candy and lastly probably Boss who will be ending his tour of duty in February. Never try skiing before (and snow boarding) and for someone who always excited about trying new things, this tour will surely be the highlight of my US Tour.

Finally can use my Oakley Ski goggles brought last year. I have a snow cap, a winter boots and winter gloves. Next week, I will be heading down to Oakley Store to get a water proof jacket and pants for the ski trip. Currently Ah Chiang is sourcing for the lodging facilities and I guess I will be tasking Ah Chan with the Car rental. Garfield obviously will be our camera man once again. I suppose I am the overall in-charge for this tour so will be the trip planner, admin officer and financial officer for the trip.

Back home in Singapore both mine and Sis bedroom will be undergoing major renovation. I think we both have grown up and facing stress and mental pollution at work. So both of us agree on a Zen design for both our bedroom to have some peace and serenity at home. Of course we don't have so much money although sis is a 5 figure salary earner thus we are doing a "progressive renovation" for our 18 years old apartment starting with both our bed room and renovate the rest of apartment over the next 3 years. We stay in a 5 room 80s style HDB flat and it feature large floor area and spacious rooms hardly found in today's HDB flat thus I'm sure we won't be planning to move out. Maybe if I am married, I will get a apartment myself and rent it out.

Wah...alcohol effect kicking in...time to sleep. Hmm share with you guys a picture...

Air Force School Year 2003

New Year 2008 Fireworks picture and video

That night, it was -2 degree Celsius... we are seriously not dress for the occasion and got carried away with the fun and forgetting about the cold.

Happy New Year 2008!!!

Yet another year have passed and we all have grown older but may not be wiser than before. Last year new year resolution got rolled over to this year, or revised or maybe even totally forgotten. Somehow new year resolution making is just one of those motion people go through just to tell themself, "Ok, this is a new year which means new goals, new objectives, new branding, new ambition...blar blar blar". Just how many of this new year resolution are ever fulfilled?

Just like the fireworks of new year day midnight that goes up in the skies, blew up and sparkles brilliantly but shortly so do the same goes for new year resolution...made in the passion and emotion of a new year moment thanks to too much endorphins and alcohol party but soon forgotten in the short months of work and poor lifestyle ahead.

I almost laugh at myself for the 3 big resolution made during New Year of 2007 which 2 was tried but not achieved. RC Helicopter might sound fun in the beginning but after a couple of crash and pocket burning part replacement, the Helicopter have since been sitting in a corner collecting dust and spider web.

FAA certification. Is it an excuse I have no time to study for it? Just too lazy? Plain bored about the subject? Or I am just too pre-occupied with holidays, shopping and watching movie in USA? I know myself as someone who love the technical and engineering stuff of aerospace but I blame myself for distracting my focus with all the entertainment and coach potato lifestyle of America. Getting an FAA certification will still be a far fetch goal even in 2008 for I will be going back in May and the heart is not really into it anymore. However I still plan to pick up the books once again in 2008. The field of rotor track and balance is still a very very intriguing subject to me.

The Science of living form by a triangle of Love, Compassion and Wisdom. Thats the study of Buddhism. After many month of absence from study I found myself getting back to the discipline during my home trip. I can't really said that this new year resolution of improving my life through Buddhism have not been successful because its something that have to be practice daily and a year is just not enough to fully grasp all the knowledge in the several books I was given. Buddhism to improve relationship, social life and work life is my focus for the year 2008 and that encompass the same basic of giving love, showing compassion and exhibiting wisdom.

For the year 2008 so no resolution is gonna be made but important action to be taken (action speaks louder and appear louder than words). First is planning a holiday trip to Taiwan with my Mum, Dad and Sis. We have not gone for a holiday as one family for so so long and I bet Mum and Dad is getting really really bored with their routine life. I just pray that my tour of duty in USA will exactly end in 4th May 2008 with no extension so I can plan a 5 days 4 night holiday in Taiwan with my family. Parents are getting old and I sure don't want them to miss out the nice places overseas as much as me and sis could afford it.

Second plan for 2008. To complete the annual Standard Chartered Marathon if it held after June or else I will participate the event in 2009. I think after numerous half marathon, I should be ready physically for it if not mentally. This means regular training on weekdays and at less once a weekend long distance run at Mac Ritchie. I hope to rope in season runner Mr Wu PC to join my cause and also Mr Lee M.K who have expressed interest in completing a Marathon.

Finally for 2008, it will be a time of getting back life with my friends and good friends. I like to organize more gathering for all my dear brothers who are now married and busy with work and family life. I think my house will be a very nice venue for weekend movies, causal game of Texas Hold Em and video games. I will learn to be a good host.

Thats all for my plans for 2008. Wishing everyone a Happy New Year and may all your goals be achieved. Wish you good Health and Fortune ahead too! Oh...by the way, I just came back from playing Fireworks in Sub Zero condition...cold and shiok. I will miss the chance to have that kind of fire power in my hand.