Tax Rebate from the Gahmen

Of all the thing I can forget in my life, forgetting that the Gahmen is giving me money today is really a shame. If my sis did not inform my Mum that she got S$100 GST rebate from the Gahmen, I could have easily forget about the extra money deposited into my bank account today. How in the world did I manage to forget the money the richest Gahmen in South East Asia is giving to its citizen?

The 7% GST, Income Tax, numerous vehicle trap named ERP, Property Tax, TV Tax, SC&C Charges... this are some of the way we the citizen of Singapore contribute to the national reserve/budget and indirectly to my Civil Servant payroll. In good times when our Gahmen have surplus, they give it back to the good citizen in the form of "tax rebates". I got S$200, not a big sum neither small. S$200 can easily feed me on a budget for one month with extras for a couple of movie or a few round of beer.

So for those who are as generous as me to forget about this "deal", please check your bank account today. Every Singaporean should get a fair share of the Tax Rebate.

Refrain from Killing and liberating lives.

Extracted from the book "The Stories of Refraining from Killing & Liberating Lives"

Upasaka Wang said, "There are bandits everywhere. People wage war all the time. May the Honoured One be kind and compassionate and help the living beings with your golden arms.: The High Sanghan laughed and said, "If people could liberate lives and refrain from killing, they would be Free from disasters and calamities." After saying that he closed his eyes and sat in meditation...

Today's world is a world of war, famine, epidemics, natural disasters and man-made calamities which occur one after another. The reason behind these happenings is the karmic effect of killing. They are not brought upon us by ghost, spirits or demon. The above incident was recorded to warn the worldly people to refrain from killing. If a man could refrain from killing, he would be free from disasters and calamities. If a family could refrain from killing, it would be free from disasters and calamities. If the practice of non-killing could be extended to a village, a county, a province and the whole country, the people therein would reap the reward of being free from disasters.
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If all man follow do the right thing, the right thing being those 2 paragraph extracted from the book. We will never have to spend so much of our national budget on military hardware to defend or to attack. Those money will goes to education or health and social welfare for the country. It could be also better spend on agriculture and the economic development of 3rd world countries eliminating famines that are causing unnecessary casualties. This is good karmic effects when killing stops and no one have to feel threaten of their existence.

Revoltech Series: Macross

Revoltech is a line of action figures made by Japanese company Kaiyodo. In its long series of action figures released so far, all of them are robots and Character from popular Japanese Anime like Macross, Patlabor, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Transformer... etc etc. The unique feature of all Revoltech action figures are the highly articulated or pose-able joints between every limbs, torso and head. This make it an ideal display figurines for Japanese toy fans like me. The highly articulated joints are thanks to Kaiyodo uniquely designed "Revolver Joint" which allow almost any form of character pose and unlike other action figures in the market, the joint locks in position thus action figures will hardly suffer from a drooping arm or leg. Sadly, Gundam are not found in the Revoltech series. This might be due to license issue but it will be nice to see Kaiyodo lay its hand on the Gundam series.

Revoltech toys can be found in most Toystore in Tokyo Japan especially at Kaiyodo Hobby Shop located at 4th level of Radio Kaikan, Akihabara. Most figures cost between 1900 yen to 3000 yen. Tonight Revoltech Series features two former rivals in the Macross Universe.

Zentradi Regult vs UN Spacey Valkyrie VF-1S

Without learning how to read those characters, every know its made in Japan. Btw, they did not use Organic material to produce the toy.

"Macross: Do You Remember Love?" a spin off movie from the original Macross series.

Sliding out from the box is a neatly package VF-1S "Skull Squadron" Valkyrie. In the Macross Anime, this color scheme Valkyrie is piloted by UN Spacey ace pilot, Roy Focker.

Besides the VF-1S figures and the FAST Pack(Navy blue parts),the package also comes with several different posture hands for customization.

VF-1S equipped with FAST Pack and a figure stand that shaft into its ass through a Revolver Joint.

This is the first time any company created the Zentradi Regult. Everyone thought this former bad guy robot is forgotten.

Shoot!

Shooting over a bottle of Chivas.

VF-1S vs Regult...Macross, Do You Remember Love?

Poor leadership.

上梁不正，下梁歪。 Thats what I would describe the kind of atmosphere I am working in right now. First its a lack of knowledge and management skill from the top of within, than it a lack of professionalism and really fuck up attitude by the middle man and finally the rest who remain silence in this hell of a mess. Sometime I analogy this situation as watching a great car like Ferrari been badly maintain. I got to admit I am the silence one, I wish I have the power to voice out but I guess its not appropriate now.

Couple of new guys who just join our little section, a honey comb of this Empire. I sure hope they are properly groomed for the future, be it a challenge, an opportunity or most of all the "Shit work". Currently, I wonder how their OJT program are going for them. I hope those who have constructive knowledge or experience to share with them openly while those who are just hanging on and wasting a Master Sergent slot to keep quiet and don't disturb them. Cannot tahan this kind of people, bloody unprofessional, no leadership and no empathy. I really wonder how the hell they are offered to stay on in the Empire. Will be fired in the outside world.

One of my guy will be leaving soon and that leave a rather big void to fill up. He is suppose to be the best and I think he got potential too. However I suspect he is poorly appreciated and isolated. Just work and no human touch, one cannot endure that long.

What happen in US stay in US. In my heart, I really hope to see "Justice Bao" coming back to head our section when his tour of duty ends in November. To me, he is a prime example of Leadership+Knowledge+Discipline+ Fighting Spirit. For now, I just gonna endure this mess oblivious to some and find my way out of it.

Its a complicated route to get a SAR66 certification

Soon I will have to learn how to juggle between work in theEmpire and part-studies either by myself through ATTC ( Air Transportation Training College). After 6 years of absence from the academic scene, soon I will be hitting the books of dry subjects regularly to prepare for whatever examination that I will be registering for to get a A1 License for the SAR 66 certification.

What the hell is SAR 66? Nothing but a name for a collection of license that allow one to be a qualified Aviation Technician or Engineer in Singapore. Its one of those paper qualification employer expect to see from job-seeker in the aviation maintenance industry which of course is booming and booming right now. I hope you guys catch the hint some how of whats my intention. My goal is to obtain the A1 License this year which at less secure a brighter future when I leave the Empire or even if I decided to stay in the Empire in the future, its a good bargaining chip at the interview table for PP2.

Now the problem is taking the course at ATTC. Its Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 7pm to 10pm. Money is not a problem, Transportation is not a problem and finally time is not a problem for I am single, no kids and have only myself to worry about (my future obviously is a headache). Big issue here is the work commitment at the Empire. Its 1 week day and 1 week night. Was intending to request for permanent morning shift until studies are completed in a year but someone in my section is already do permanent morning due to studies so I guess the management will not relent to my request. The only option left is the path of self discipline, the path of self study.

Thats when I regret not buying all those great publication on Aviation maintenance subject when I was still staying in the States. I could have brought it and got it ship back with the rest of my barang barang from USA. Now I have to resort to E-bay or friends from the States to get my study materials. Alternatively I can get my books from Mil-Com Aerospace Group Singapore but it will cost almost 2 times the price of what I can get from States, postage included.

At less I started doing some preparation for my self study materials. Today is Monday, today I am doing night shift and I expect to go home early. Have to wake up early on Tuesday morning so I will be able to buy black carrot cake from my favorite carrot cake stall which close at 11am. Miss it this morning and have to settle for bread.

Organizing the drawers

The room is newly renovated but whats hidden inside the drawers is a hideous mess of charging cables, USB cables, bluetooth headset, keys, stereo head set and god know what else. I have to work through a web of cables entanglement each time I try taking out any stuff from the drawer.

Spider man recently visits my drawer.

Yesterday, I was at Plaza Singapura waiting to watch movie again for second time in 2 weeks (nothing to do in Singapore, bored...). Went in to this store name "Daiso Japan" where everything is make in Japan and sell for S$2. Lots of useful everyday household stuff sold in the store and I found this thing call "Partition", 3 pieces of plastic per package use to make compartment within a drawer.

Instruction in Japanese and English plus pictures for the illiterate.

For $2, I found a simple and space customizable solution to sort our the mess in my drawer. After a hard day of work, the last thing that anyone will ever wanna do is ruffling for minutes through the mess of an unorganized drawer looking for a USB cables. Sometime an hour spend organizing your life or a desktop drawer save countless inconvenience in the future.

30min of measuring and cutting later, life is in order.

A Birthday dinner at OCC Beer Garden

Last Monday, 16 June 2008 was Aijuan's Birthday. I actually didn't know about it in the first place and was only intending to meet up with Peicong and Weisheng for a simple dinner gathering after work. Only realized when Peicong mention it was his wife Birthday today and he like to wait for his wife to come back from work to have dinner together.

So this special occasion for a career women with 2 kids and one great hubby, we decided to head down to Orchid Country Club Beer Garden Restaurant for dinner. The featured item on the menu and one that Peicong highly recommend was the Lobster Porridge, second on the list was Steven's Chicken. I will highly recommend the Lobster Porridge, a delicacy mix of porridge which actually resemble "Mue Fan" and whole lobsters (cut into half for easy devouring). Depending on the number of diner, 1 lobster per pax is more than enough. The gravy/soup of the porridge is absolutely "Tok Kong" or Delicious, highly flavored and not oily for the health conscience. The lobster itself is so so so succulent and juicy that I felt like eating more of it. Its cooked with live lobster and not the frozen dead ones.

As for the venue, the restaurant is open air and located right at the corner of the golf driving range. Its quiet and peaceful during weekdays with a nice view of golfer teeing off a few meters away. Parking is free for non OCC member but you will have to walk a short distance to the restaurant. Do not park right infront of the restaurant for its for members only and unauthorized vehicle will be wheel clamped.

I like to recommend you guys/gal to this blog by molemole. She blog about the Lobster Porridge at Orchid Beer Garden. This blog will give you more details of the food in the restaurant.

MOLEMOLE: LOBSTER PORRIDGE REVIEW

A picture taken during New Year Eve 2008

They got a room at a 4 or maybe 5 star hotel in Singapore for New Year Day 2008 celebration. They set up the laptop and the web cam so I could join in the celebration even though I was far away in United States. I still remember I was alone and it was a cold night in Dallas on New Year eve and I was wearing long sleeve. It was a very unique experience to share the joy of the occasion through a video cam. Suddenly the world becomes smaller on that day. Got to thank all my brother show in the picture above and also Joanne, Cat and Jorene for their presence too.

Kimon, Japanese for Demon Gate.

During my short tour in Japan, I visited Ueno Park located right behind Ueno Train Station in Tokyo. Its a huge park fill with trees, large walking path, many temples and Statue. Lots of local Japanese comes to the park in the morning for exercise and in the evening for a stroll after dinner. Its a park to escape from the tightly pack concrete jungle and flashy neon sign of Tokyo, a place to get fresh air. There is a small lake within the park where you can rent a 3 man row boat for 600yen per hour.

Dayong Sampan...Dayong Dayong Sampan...

Now I met this old Japanese grandpa riding a bicycle towards the Kyomizu Kannon Temple (Kuan Yin temple) and he suddenly stopped and talk to us. From him, I learn about "Kimon" Japanese word for the Demon Gate. According to him, Kimon is located at the North East direction of every house and building. As such, Japanese will plant evergreen trees or simply plants in that corner of the house to block the Demon Gate and prevent calamity in the household. Building of restroom in the North East position of any home or building is no desirable because restroom is where visitor shit and Demon will be anger when shit goes on their head.

Wonder how true his words is. He even state that in the Imperial Palace, no restroom will be found in the North East side of the Palace and in the North East direction is Ueno Park. So thats why there are numerous temple and lots of tree in this area, to ward off evil. Not to mention a pond full of water lotus plant.

Beside the Guan Yin temple is a lake full of Water Lotus plant.


A really cute poster of Guan Yin and devotees.

The Cup, The Cat and The Mosaic.

Photo taken at Ghibli Museum, Mitaka

If you notice, my Tokyo Tour photo blog was uncompleted when I posted on my blog previously. Just too many picture and to be honest, I am getting a bit tired sorting out all the picture from 5 different camera. So many pictures but I find this one attractive. Simple, good low angle perspective shot, nice color contrast and finally a good looking photo from my camera. I am a poor photographer I admit and this ones a saving grace by sheer coincidence. Beauty in the eye of the beholder, so whats gold to me might be crap to some. Please comment on this picture...

Sunday evening right now and since Friday evening, its been a weekend pack full of activity.

Friday: Went out for KungFu Panda with Joanne and Catherine at Cineleisure than Supper. Highly recommended movie and lots of humor value in it. Its really nice to be remembered by my two former Secondary School Junior who I only met last Christmas.

Saturday: Head down to Bedok to meet my Sis. Have lunch with her before going to Benjamin (my sis colleague) house to fix PC. Spend the later part of the afternoon at brother Eddie new apartment before heading to Bedok Blk416 for dinner with Shirlene, MK, Ah Chan, Jardine, Ricky and his soon to be wife, Sharon. After dinner we headed down to IKEA at Tampines to get chairs for my apartment's mahjong table and a desk chair for my sis.

Sunday: Went Orchard Paragon and Takashimaya with Mum, Dad and Sis. Sis got a new mobile phone. I brought raw honey. Mum got two cooking utensil even though she have not cooked for a long time. Is this a sign she is going into the Kitchen soon? Headed to pick up Grandma at her Bendemeer Rd apartment before driving down to Toa Payoh for dinner at Oasis. Q is too long there so switch to dinner at the restaurant next to Grandma apartment block named "Li Hua". Father Day dinner this time round and food was great.

Monday: Tomorrow is working day, again...

Japan Tokyo Tour photo blog.

A brief photo blog of my tour in Tokyo, Japan. From the beginning and ending after my tour at Studio Ghibli Museum.

The new Apple 3G IPhone at US$199.

Some time ago I brought Qty:03 Apple IPhone from United States and ship it back to Singapore to a Friend's friend. The IPhone cost US$399 each and the UPS shipping charge was US$120++. To the guy receiving the item on the other end of the shipping process, its still consider a steal because the local Ebayer are selling IPhone at almost S$1000. Some VIP from our Empire came to USA just last month and brought an Apple IPhone at US$399. A colleague of mine brought almost 5 IPhone back to Singapore and sold it to friends at a profit 3 months ago.

This week came the news that excites people who haven't own an IPhone but also gave an ugly shock to those who got their IPhone recently...


Apple will be releasing the 2nd generation 3G Apple IPhone to the market on 11th of July. Not only is it faster since its operating on the 3G cellular network, it also comes with built in assisted GPS navigation system something the old IPhone comes without. The final icing to the cake is consumer get all the extra features plus whatever the 1st generation IPhone offers at a slashed price of US$199. The price tag difference of US$200 dealt a painful blow to buyer who recently just got their 2G IPhone. For further reading, click the link below.

1st Generation V.S 2nd Generation

One can only wonder what Apple is up to again. This is not the first time Apple attempted price murder on their own product lines. They did it once in 2007 with the IPhone three months after its launch by slashing the price down from US$599 to US$399.

IPhone's Smart Price Slash

Obviously back than and right now anyone trying to capitalize on the selling the IPhone in countries where it was officially not on sale (like Singapore) were in for an unpleasant surprise.

Kiss the wall at Multi Storey Carpark

I must tune my driving mode to the narrow road and tight spaces of Singapore. Driving in US gave me so much breathing room that I came back with a "Spacious" mindset of roads and parking lot. That false sense of comfort and a left hand drive mindset cause a minor episode yesterday evening at a multi storey car park near Sun Plaza, Sembawang. What an irony when just two days ago my dad was telling me to watch out for the walls of Singapore's multi-storey parking lot when entering or exiting.

Hit the left rear passenger door causing a small little dent and a series of wall scratches made worst from my reversing of the car to salvage the situation. I could easily cause a car park traffic jam at the moment but good thing this car park is pretty deserted, saving me from certain embarrassment. Earlier on, I was having Lor Mee at the nearby kopi tiam with Eddie and Alfred, the next moment...fender bender my car. Wah lau...that Lor Mee sure cost a lot.

Totally lost on which paint shop to go without getting "chop" in the pocket. Sis got her friend, Bran ( a former soldier of the Empire) to bring me to a paint/body shop at Yio Chu Kang tomorrow afternoon. Been a total foreigner to the car workshop scene in Singapore, its better to heed the advise of the locals.

My wounded Lancer on the left, My sis Lexus on the right.

Wound of a lousy driver.

Grandma 83 years old birthday

Today we celebrate Grandma 83 years old birthday. Born in the year 1925, she only have the year of birth on her IC so I have no idea her exact birth date. My dad only know her Birthday base on the Chinese Lunar Calender. Nowadays, she have to walk with a stick due to weak leg muscles but her arms are still mighty strong and mind is sharp thanks to here pass time mahjong and some chinese poker game she indulge in frequently. Its a nice coincidence for we are having my home coming dinner tonight while also celebrating Grandma birthday. Dinner was held at 老北京食堂 "Old Beijing Chinese restaurant" located at Novena Square. Great food and excellent customer service from the waitress all the way to the Supervisor (Mr Ivan Tan) who came to our table for feedback and making sure we have a great dining experience. Learning that it was Grandma's birthday tonight, the restaurant Supervisor gave Grandma a plate of Longevity Peach which is a Chinese traditional dish a Peach shaped bun containing 豆沙 (bean paste) presented to elderly during their birthday. Ivan, the supervisor, gave us both his name card so we could contact him directly the next time to make table reservation for dinner and in return he ask for both me and my sis name card. Obviously I don't have one and got to tell him I am a civil servant. Does civil servant have a name card??? Felt flattered when he ask for a name card though. Maybe in the future when I make it big out there...

Anyway, the dinner experience was great and I grade the place 8/10 base on food quality, customer service and cleanliness. Could have been a 9 if not for the noise of people and utensil during table clearing in the restaurant but its could just be my preference for a much quiet dining. Been told by the manager that this is how the atmosphere is like in most Beijing restaurant.

Kung Fu Scroll, 武林密集。This is the menu...

Sis Rachel and Grandma

Me and Grandma

Mum and Grandma

Mother and Son. Don't they look alike???

Summer Cleaning of my room

Two years plus of absent, my bed room becomes a warehouse. Have been clearing out my bedroom to the way I like it. Sorting out whats of value and what becomes garbage, putting unwanted stuff in boxes to be sold online, setting up my work station and cable management. Good thing those 23 boxes from United States will only arrive 1 month later so I still got time to shift things around.

This morning, I finally got my mobile phone line up after 4 phone call to Singtel mobile since yesterday. Shouldn't have taken that many number of phone call if they could just get it connected with 24 hours. Alas, they were late... Started mass SMSing my friends telling them I am back to the little dot and got a few replies from unknown numbers. It seems that most of them have changed mobile numbers and all my SMS was forwarded. They replied through their new number that makes me unable to figure out who is who.

Yesterday evening, I dropped by Alfred & April apartment at Sembawang for a visit. Randall was already there doing something to Alfred's PC. We sat down, have a can of Tiger Beer, my first since coming back to Singapore, and Alfred recalls the accident he had at NDU. His burn wounds are healing well and thank God the oxygenated flame did not kanna his "brother" and face (pretty good looking guy). Looking at the pictures of the fresh wound he took at the Hospital remind me of uncooked luncheon meat...yucks. Eddie was late but thats understandable for he have to spend time with his wife after work. Appreciate his effort to drop by and catch up with me. I missed Alfred customary wedding but he got all the photos and video to show me that night. Sigh....I miss the fun and missed catching up with some former class mate from primary schools and secondary schools. Come to think of it, I haven't check out Eechyi and Shiyan wedding pictures yet. Gonna call them sometime next week. AHAHAHAHAHAAH...soon I will be God-Father for their children. Sound really Mafia...

Heading downtown for dinner with Randall and Joachim later on and a nights out at Gotham Penthouse. Some new hangout in Singapore I never heard off. Last one I been to is St James power house.

Back home, in Singapore

Not really the Jepun school mei mei we were looking for but still a nice photo shoot.

Back from Japan and thats my favorite picture of the trip taken outside Senoji Temple at Asakusa. Its 4am right now and I have just finish unpacking my two big luggage, took a early morning shower while recalling all the highlights and tragedy of my 2 years in USA. A fresh new start back home in Singapore now and the first business of the day is sorting out my 11th floor apartment and next is adapting back to a Singaporean lifestyle of the heat and humidity, makan at kopitiam with jargons (Tiger beer, "Kick Ball", Kopi Konsong, Teh See, Mee Pok Tah..etc), no Walmart but NTUC, PAP, crowded shopping center, paid parking and finally work life.

Need to get my mobile phone back online later on in the day since its currently suspended. My number is still 91392381 in case anyone need to contact me on any issue other than work which can wait till the 11th.


Time to contact my good friends in Singapore again. Hmm...thinking of a Karaoke session to exercise my throat.