The earthquake and its resulting tsunamis have taken many many lives and property. We mourn and pray for all those who have lost their families, homes and livelyhoods. You are in my heart and may God bring you comfort and peace.
Looking at the TV reports and seeing the devastation, it brings tears to my eyes. I walked on those streets in Phuket, mingled with its people, bargained hard for their ware. Most of you who read this blog will have similar memories of your own. Lets make it a point to remember them fondly, and to put the people you have met in the top of your thoughts.
We may be safe in our homes... but we have all been effected by the tragedy.
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
Yo Ho Ho..
This must have been the most carollling I have ever done in one season. Lets see.. I must have sung White Christmas more than 10 times! It was quite good fun going to rehearsals again and then on to perform, albeit singing with a different group meant that I had to be slowly accepted by its members. I knew them, some of them very well, but as a group, barriers still needed to be overcome. I was very glad when they did... They are a remarkable bunch and I had a great time.
Thanks guys!!
Thanks guys!!
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
Chui's Birthday!
No.. don't ask me how old she is.. but all I can say is, she hasn't aged a bit to me since we've met. (Not to mention she is sitting right behind me as I write this). We had a little impromptu get together for cake and "candle" (ahem.. in this case lighter, since the person in charge didn't bring it.. strange considering they bake cakes for a living!).
It was a really short gathering, but still quite good fun. Just click on the photo to see the rest of the set.
It was a really short gathering, but still quite good fun. Just click on the photo to see the rest of the set.
Monday, December 13, 2004
La Residence - Bangkok
Chui and I stayed in a neat little hotel in Bangkok, called LaResidence. Comprising of only 24 uniquely appointed rooms approximately 10 minutes walk to the BTS Skytrain near Patpong. Like a complete spaz am, I forgot to take pictures of the room itself, but here is a quick peek at their library.
Friday, December 10, 2004
Eventful Year
2004 is coming to a close, which leaves me to reflect a rather eventful year. I sit here in relative isolation. Working at home leaves me with many many hours all by myself, and it does sometimes leads to melancholy. So, I sit here and ponder the things that has happened in the past 12 months or so. And wow.. did I do and experience a lot, and it surprises even me.
This year saw me becoming a contractor of sorts. Took me the first four months of the year to supervise the renovation to my current abode. It was difficult. But well worth the effort. Chui and I now have a place we call home, and I hope some of our friends also feel like it is their home away from home. We have had more social visits in the past 6 months than ALL the social visits I had in my old condo. Excellent. To borrow Hannibal.. "I love it when a plan comes together!"
We have also become fast friends with CM. Unfortunately, we may now lose him to his grand master plan next year, but that is another story. But for what its worth, we have become pretty good friends and do load of stuff together. Its been a treat.
Holidays. What can I say. Somehow, I have managed to squeeze out quite a few trips this year. Lets see.. went to Phuket with the boys. Great fun as usual. Its funny how familiarity can be part of the fun. Considering we have been to Phuket at least 4 times now as a group, there must be something to be said about being familiar with the going ons that keeps us coming back. Ah.. and then there were the two excellent dive trips. We did Perhentian early in the year. It was good to return to the island where I got certified on being able to discover new things about the island, having been restricted to lessons the last time. And off course, we capped the year with another excellent week in Mabul's Sipadan Water Village. Again, there is something to be said about the famialirity of the destination. This time round, the place felt even better, and the people friendlier! Even managed to get invited to my only badminton game this year on the island. What can I say, but it was bliss. Would I return. A resounding YES.
Then there was Shanghai. I wrote a little about it in an earlier blog entry. The best thing about this holiday, is that it wasn't! Huh? Well.. it was a sponsored junket by Honda. Another friend of mine who is the editor of a big motoring magazine, sent me as his writer as he was unable to go. So.. here I went to one of the most expensive cities to visit in Asia, flew business class, was given money to spend, and was feted at every meal. What else could a guy want. Oh.. and off course I got to watch the inaugural F1 race there live, walked the paddocks and visited the BAR garage.
Chui and I finally made a trip (all by ourselves) to Bangkok. Had to plan early for this trip. Bought the tickets a few months earlier at the Matta fair and basically waited as the days counted down till we got to go. The trip was a little like the happenings over the past year. HECTIC! How we managed to cram in 3 massages, one spa treatment, meals, sightseeing, hours and hours of shopping and commuting into 3 and a half days is beyond me.
Ahh and then there was the whole episode with my partners at work. What can I do but heave a big huge sigh, and say, "it is finished". It wasn't a very good year at all when it came to my business. However, I believe the story is not yet finished. Things all happen for a reason, and the reason willl soon reveal itself..... I hope. But seriously folks, it is for the better, the wallet may be empty, but the resolve is still there. With the support from Chui, its still been a pretty good year despite the setback.
Off course there is much more that happened over the year. There is things that has happened with Chui, my extended family has become bigger with the inclusion of Darrel, and a smaller part James (Asha, my ex wife's new baby), hobbies, new people I met, stuff I bought... Many many things... but I shall not bore you any further.
This year saw me becoming a contractor of sorts. Took me the first four months of the year to supervise the renovation to my current abode. It was difficult. But well worth the effort. Chui and I now have a place we call home, and I hope some of our friends also feel like it is their home away from home. We have had more social visits in the past 6 months than ALL the social visits I had in my old condo. Excellent. To borrow Hannibal.. "I love it when a plan comes together!"
We have also become fast friends with CM. Unfortunately, we may now lose him to his grand master plan next year, but that is another story. But for what its worth, we have become pretty good friends and do load of stuff together. Its been a treat.
Holidays. What can I say. Somehow, I have managed to squeeze out quite a few trips this year. Lets see.. went to Phuket with the boys. Great fun as usual. Its funny how familiarity can be part of the fun. Considering we have been to Phuket at least 4 times now as a group, there must be something to be said about being familiar with the going ons that keeps us coming back. Ah.. and then there were the two excellent dive trips. We did Perhentian early in the year. It was good to return to the island where I got certified on being able to discover new things about the island, having been restricted to lessons the last time. And off course, we capped the year with another excellent week in Mabul's Sipadan Water Village. Again, there is something to be said about the famialirity of the destination. This time round, the place felt even better, and the people friendlier! Even managed to get invited to my only badminton game this year on the island. What can I say, but it was bliss. Would I return. A resounding YES.
Then there was Shanghai. I wrote a little about it in an earlier blog entry. The best thing about this holiday, is that it wasn't! Huh? Well.. it was a sponsored junket by Honda. Another friend of mine who is the editor of a big motoring magazine, sent me as his writer as he was unable to go. So.. here I went to one of the most expensive cities to visit in Asia, flew business class, was given money to spend, and was feted at every meal. What else could a guy want. Oh.. and off course I got to watch the inaugural F1 race there live, walked the paddocks and visited the BAR garage.
Chui and I finally made a trip (all by ourselves) to Bangkok. Had to plan early for this trip. Bought the tickets a few months earlier at the Matta fair and basically waited as the days counted down till we got to go. The trip was a little like the happenings over the past year. HECTIC! How we managed to cram in 3 massages, one spa treatment, meals, sightseeing, hours and hours of shopping and commuting into 3 and a half days is beyond me.
Ahh and then there was the whole episode with my partners at work. What can I do but heave a big huge sigh, and say, "it is finished". It wasn't a very good year at all when it came to my business. However, I believe the story is not yet finished. Things all happen for a reason, and the reason willl soon reveal itself..... I hope. But seriously folks, it is for the better, the wallet may be empty, but the resolve is still there. With the support from Chui, its still been a pretty good year despite the setback.
Off course there is much more that happened over the year. There is things that has happened with Chui, my extended family has become bigger with the inclusion of Darrel, and a smaller part James (Asha, my ex wife's new baby), hobbies, new people I met, stuff I bought... Many many things... but I shall not bore you any further.
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
Humbled in Bangkok
We must have walked for hundreds of miles.. OK.. I exaggerate, but we sure put in quite a few hours a day on our feet. Bangkok is a shoppers paradise. Its retail industry is quite literally a few heads above ours in good ole' KL. It’s all there in Bangkok, from the very quaint and cheap, and the hyper expensive, lies many many shades of retail experiences that needs to be experienced to understand. Chui and I spent literally hours browsing through hundreds of shops. Like pirahnas on a blood trail, we blitzed Bangkok.
Friday, November 12, 2004
Excellent Reading!
A friend sent me this link.. I found it a nice read!
Fcuk The South
Enjoy...
And on a separate note:
For all my Muslim friends... Selamat Hari Raya!!
Fcuk The South
Enjoy...
And on a separate note:
For all my Muslim friends... Selamat Hari Raya!!
Monday, October 25, 2004
Wedding Photographer.. Anyone?
Just bought meself a spanking new.. well.. spanking almost new digital SLR. I know.. I know.. I can already see eyes rolling. But heck, I love taking photographs, and I am pretty decent at it, so this digital camera is going to be an investment. I mean, I love music, have loads of CDs and such.. but I cannot say that an iPod I so greatly lust for, is an investment. Maybe I have not found an angle yet, but that is another story.
How do I pay for this camera then?
Wedding photography. So.. all you readers out there (yes all 10 of you!). I offer my services as a back-up wedding photographer. Don't want to commit myself to much... yet. My services are affordable, so please keep me in mind.
How do I pay for this camera then?
Wedding photography. So.. all you readers out there (yes all 10 of you!). I offer my services as a back-up wedding photographer. Don't want to commit myself to much... yet. My services are affordable, so please keep me in mind.
Saturday, October 09, 2004
The hype about skype
Here is my unabashed plug for an internet telephony service called Skype. Here is a really cool way to stay connected. Skpe offers the user telephony over the internet across platfoms. In the past, mac user for instance could talk to one another using Apple's proprietory iChat software. Cool and as revolutionary as it is, only Mac users can use it.
Skpe, allows you to talk to one another regardless of operating system. Mac users, Windows 2000 or XP or Linux users can simply download the app (in beta form at the moment), and start chatting. Actually even Pocket PC users can use sype turning almost all Windows based palm devices as handphones! One can even make calls using the computer to normal land based or mobile phone lines. You just have to buy some skype credit (in units of 10 or 25 euro), and the service becomes available to you. The best thing about this is, the cost of the calls you make is actually cheaper than even a local call. Eg: it costs only 0.022 euros per minute to call from anywhere in the world to a Malaysian land line.
One need not be on broadband. Skype apparently works with a 33.6 internet connection.
So go to www.skype.com and get online today..
If you want to add meto your contact list, my skype id is dyap38.
See ya all
Skpe, allows you to talk to one another regardless of operating system. Mac users, Windows 2000 or XP or Linux users can simply download the app (in beta form at the moment), and start chatting. Actually even Pocket PC users can use sype turning almost all Windows based palm devices as handphones! One can even make calls using the computer to normal land based or mobile phone lines. You just have to buy some skype credit (in units of 10 or 25 euro), and the service becomes available to you. The best thing about this is, the cost of the calls you make is actually cheaper than even a local call. Eg: it costs only 0.022 euros per minute to call from anywhere in the world to a Malaysian land line.
One need not be on broadband. Skype apparently works with a 33.6 internet connection.
So go to www.skype.com and get online today..
If you want to add meto your contact list, my skype id is dyap38.
See ya all
Wednesday, September 29, 2004
Shanghaied
Touching down in Pudong International Airport in Shanghai did not really make much of an impression on me. It a normal airport, with basic facilities, nothing to grand about it. My impression of Shanghai really started to develop between the airport and the hotel. Arriving smack into rush hour, we had lots of time to experience first hand what a traffic jam is like in a mega city of 17 million citizens. I was to find out later that rush hour would last most of the day. The highways are impressive structures, weaving around the city like giant ribbons, leaving the ground in two or three levels as high as 10 stories. It scares me to think what will happen when even a quarter of Shanghainese own their own cars. They will need highways with their combined levels taller than most buildings.
Despite the traffic, the trip showed me the beauty of Shanghai. The city council has really made a tremendous effort in landscapping the entire highway with lush trees and beautiful flowering plants. I would later discover, much of Shanghai the same. It may be a sprawling concrete jungle, but it is also quite a green one.
The weather was quite wonderful. It is nearing autumn, and we were blessed with sunny and clear blue skies and a nice cool breeze, which made walking about the city a really wonderful experience. Shanghai is actually more European than Chinese, being a port of some importance in the region to the British, French and the Portugese. It actually felt like I was walking down some parts of Sydney, Australia. The only thing that gives it away are the 17 million Chinese citizens! So walking around proved the best way to see the city. The Chinese must also walk a heck of a lot, because I could not find a fat person if my life depended on it. All that walking must do them good.
Women in China are also quite tall. Many I had the pleasure to gawk at were taller than me. SO believe me when I say I had my eyes full.
Despite the traffic, the trip showed me the beauty of Shanghai. The city council has really made a tremendous effort in landscapping the entire highway with lush trees and beautiful flowering plants. I would later discover, much of Shanghai the same. It may be a sprawling concrete jungle, but it is also quite a green one.
The weather was quite wonderful. It is nearing autumn, and we were blessed with sunny and clear blue skies and a nice cool breeze, which made walking about the city a really wonderful experience. Shanghai is actually more European than Chinese, being a port of some importance in the region to the British, French and the Portugese. It actually felt like I was walking down some parts of Sydney, Australia. The only thing that gives it away are the 17 million Chinese citizens! So walking around proved the best way to see the city. The Chinese must also walk a heck of a lot, because I could not find a fat person if my life depended on it. All that walking must do them good.
Women in China are also quite tall. Many I had the pleasure to gawk at were taller than me. SO believe me when I say I had my eyes full.
Friday, September 03, 2004
34
What does it mean to be thirty four? Not much really. Life as I know it has not really changed very much to be honest. The birthday was a really pleasant affair. Chui woke me up... we had a lovely breakfast, and went for a nice walk. We bought grocheries for dinner. Allan, Nigel and Chris came over. They whipped up a sumptious meal, we had good fellowship, my son called from SA, sang me happy birthday, in tune.. so.. despite all the calamities that have befallen me over the past year, life is good, and I thank GOD.
Monday, August 23, 2004
Generous soul!
Last weekend a good friend contributed our home with a working DVD player! Finally! A working DVD player besides my laptop that reads all discs fed to it without temperament. My old DVD player was a temperamental beast! At first, it would only play original DVDs and only a few "pasar-malam" editions. It got progressively worse, when it would reject even my original discs. The sometimes-works-sometimes-not syndrom plays havoc to some dull evenings, when one buys a movie expecting to eliviate the boredom, only to end up smacking the DVD player as it constantly rejects the discs. At least it works up a sweat...
So thank you to that kind and generous soul. Now I will have to pay you back and raid your DVD collection! hahaha...
So thank you to that kind and generous soul. Now I will have to pay you back and raid your DVD collection! hahaha...
Friday, August 20, 2004
Going SoHo
Being ousted from my company may not be such a bad thing. A little dented pride perhaps, but I vowed very early on in my life that I will not be detered by such set-backs! Funny how things work out actually. I have set up office at home. I have new clients and new projects to do. And I am also looking forward to new challenges in a new industry. I actually feel the outlook to be really good! Thanks Nige and Allan for the support, your kind words mean a lot to me.. and thanks to Chui for being right next to me, for without your support, I could have forgotten that vow.. and wallowed in self pity.
I am calling my new company SiGil Works. (unless the ROC rejects it)
I am calling my new company SiGil Works. (unless the ROC rejects it)
Wednesday, July 28, 2004
BROADSIDED
You are walking down a street, minding your own business, wary of what is going around you. But all of a sudden, you are broadsided by a bus! This did not really happen to me, but I very recently suffered a similar fate. No broken bones, but I definately feel the pain.
Let me explain.
It began only last Friday. I had basically just started to get back into the groove after a brilliant break scuba diving in Sipadan when I had lunch with my business partner. Ed, I consider more of a friend than business partner, but what happened next has rocked my rose coloured sun glasses of my round face! I visited him at his house renovation site, which naturally followed with lunch, which was when he out of the blue announced that he had bad news for me. The exact words still resonate in my head. "I have bad news for you."
He went on to explain that our other partner, and I quote; "KY wants you to sign over directorship". I was quite taken aback by that as you can imagine. There was absolutly no clue as to what lead to the situation, as far as I am concerned. What had gone on behind my back, went on without my knowledge.
So here I am, in limbo, unsure of my future.
Let me explain.
It began only last Friday. I had basically just started to get back into the groove after a brilliant break scuba diving in Sipadan when I had lunch with my business partner. Ed, I consider more of a friend than business partner, but what happened next has rocked my rose coloured sun glasses of my round face! I visited him at his house renovation site, which naturally followed with lunch, which was when he out of the blue announced that he had bad news for me. The exact words still resonate in my head. "I have bad news for you."
He went on to explain that our other partner, and I quote; "KY wants you to sign over directorship". I was quite taken aback by that as you can imagine. There was absolutly no clue as to what lead to the situation, as far as I am concerned. What had gone on behind my back, went on without my knowledge.
So here I am, in limbo, unsure of my future.
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
We just returned from another glorious dive trip to Sipadan Water Village. This time around, i managed to get a lot more aquanted with the people there. Made new friends in Leonard and Alex, both work with SWV and are genuinely nice fellows. Leonard is a bit of a sportsman, and invited me to a friendly game of badminton. It was great fun, especially since Richard and I beat the local boys!
Managed to borrow a strobe for my underwater camera, which resulted in better pictures than last time. However, my set-up is still quite basic. Convinced now, I need a better camera. Haha..
This was the first holiday that I had in a long time on which I really did not feel like coming home. What is there to miss anyway? With fantastic weather, clean fresh air, lovely friendly people, great food and much more, it was difficult to leave. Oh well.
Managed to borrow a strobe for my underwater camera, which resulted in better pictures than last time. However, my set-up is still quite basic. Convinced now, I need a better camera. Haha..
This was the first holiday that I had in a long time on which I really did not feel like coming home. What is there to miss anyway? With fantastic weather, clean fresh air, lovely friendly people, great food and much more, it was difficult to leave. Oh well.
Tuesday, July 06, 2004
His name is Darell
My first nephew. About time to! He is very adorable and by the time he is old enough, Benjamin will be able to teach him a thing or three!
Go check out Darell.
Go check out Darell.
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
Momentous Day
Today is a great day.
Firstly, I am officially an uncle. Little Colmart (not his real name), arrived this evening weighing in at 6.2lbs. Both mother and son are well.
I also went for a job interview today and it went really well. Interviewed over a nice Japanese lunch and impressed the interviewer enough for him to make a call to his MD to meet with me immediately after lunch. The MD and I also had a nice chat and he sounded pleasant enough. From what I have gathered, he is quite a good boss and a quick decision maker. Time will tell.
Firstly, I am officially an uncle. Little Colmart (not his real name), arrived this evening weighing in at 6.2lbs. Both mother and son are well.
I also went for a job interview today and it went really well. Interviewed over a nice Japanese lunch and impressed the interviewer enough for him to make a call to his MD to meet with me immediately after lunch. The MD and I also had a nice chat and he sounded pleasant enough. From what I have gathered, he is quite a good boss and a quick decision maker. Time will tell.
Monday, June 28, 2004
Brand New Nephew..
..on the way!
My sister experienced the first signs of childbirth yesterday afternoon and she has since checked into the Chinese Maternity hospital. Her doctor expects my new nephew sometime tonight. I pray both mother and child to be in good health and that God looks over them.
My sister experienced the first signs of childbirth yesterday afternoon and she has since checked into the Chinese Maternity hospital. Her doctor expects my new nephew sometime tonight. I pray both mother and child to be in good health and that God looks over them.
Thursday, June 24, 2004
2 More Weeks
Ahhh.. a blink of an eye and another fabulous trip to Mabul and Sipadan is looming. Yay! Besides the regular suspects, we have a few uniniated Sipadan divers! A friend has even signed up to do her Open Water course there.
I pray for better visibility. For some reason or another, I have not experienced the crystal clear vis, Sipadan is fabled for despite having logged around 30 dives there. So maybe we will be rewarded this time round.
I pray for better visibility. For some reason or another, I have not experienced the crystal clear vis, Sipadan is fabled for despite having logged around 30 dives there. So maybe we will be rewarded this time round.
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