Do what the locals do

Posted on Sunday August 1, 2010 in Photography., Travel.

On most of the business trips, I tend to ‘window-shop’ and ‘sight-see’ from a moving vehicle between the office and the hotel. The routine and simplicity do not bother me. It is still going to work except in a different currency.

When I am done soaking up the quiet, I like to venture into the crowds and listen to the conversations of the local. It is my little way to taste the life of what it can be. Of what it might have been, perhaps. Then when I get lost in the massive underground train system or be rejected by cab drivers who do not like reading maps, I will just pretend to be a contestant in the amazing race.

Of sensing and relaxing; busy night street / sedated lounge

Stuff from random shopping in Seoul and Taipei; lego pendants / earphone winder / pencil case

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Wireless@SG, the regular way

Posted on Saturday July 10, 2010 in Technology.

If you are not me, you are probably using Wireless@SG SSA. Regardless of what I do or what I don’t pretend to know how to do, my credentials simply cannot be authenticated. And on both Windows Mobile and Snow Leopard. It is a small thing but so frustrating and frankly, feels a little discriminating.

The promise of automatic, login-less access to wifi hotspots could have been the solution to my quiet resent for my 20MB data plan. Alas, it is not meant to be.

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None shall sleep

Posted on Sunday June 20, 2010 in Entertainment., Interest., Music.

“People’s reactions to opera the first time they see it is very dramatic; they either love it or they hate it. If they love it, they will always love it. If they don’t, they may learn to appreciate it, but it will never become part of their soul.”
– Edward Lewis, Pretty Woman

Opera in the (Botanic) Park

The turnout for Opera in the Park was so much bigger than that seen for Fall in love with Warsaw last July. Well, most were there for the free entertainment for their picnic and/or social networking. For the few, we held back rising to our feet when the emotions were elevated high on the B note.

I don’t know if I like Opera. I know I am in love with the emotions conveyed. I love how my goosebumps and breath foretell my reactions before I can sense it. I love the way I gaze at the performer with such detailed imagery in my head when I don’t know what he is singing about.

Dilegua, o notte! Tramontate, stelle! Tramontate, stelle! All’alba vincero!

It was a splendid evening. It was even greeted with our dear SAF pilots (i.e. NDP rehearsals).

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CHAT, you and youth in mind

Posted on Wednesday June 9, 2010 in Health, Interest.

Sometimes I wish I do more meaningful things. Well not that I am discontented with hours of sitcoms and coffee-lounging.

Anyway.

A friend has embarked on a great project for the youth. In the field of psychological practice, I cannot be prouder. Though secretly wished she had worked on this project few years ago, a friend could have used the assistance.

CHAT (Community Health Assessment Team) aims to promote awareness of mental health and to destigmatise mental illness. It is about providing “professional help when [one has] difficulty coping” with the daily stresses. So if you know of someone who can use some support (note: it is about the support and not just medical treatments) or you want to volunteer for the cause, visit Chat @ Facebook or YouthInMind.sg for more information.

They are having a launch event at the new and beautiful *SCAPE on 26th June 2010. Bet there will much chattering! Heh corny, I know.

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Sinkholes, work of nature or greed?

Posted on Wednesday June 2, 2010 in Nature., News.

I turned the papers up, down, left, and right when I read the news. The image seems so incredible. Certainly the work of an overzealous photoshopper, I thought.

Apparently, such sinkholes are common where the rock below the land surface is limestone, carbonate rock, salt beds or rocks that can naturally be dissolved by ground water circulating through them (source: U.S. Geological Survey). The pictures of such ‘formation‘ on Wiki are pretty in the natural setting but absolutely devastating when it happens in the middle of downtown.

The storm did not do this to Guatemala. It simply tightened the dead knot, fastened by some people.

I don’t know about the bed of Singapore. I really won’t want to see a HDB flat disappearing into the earth. There must be more accountability in the parties who are responsible for construction and drainage. Don’t forget what happened in Qinghai and Sichuan, China. Painful lessons (for the people) are everywhere.

Has sex left the city?

Posted on Sunday May 30, 2010 in Entertainment.

When Sex and the city launched the movie 2 years ago, I was excited. I looked forward to the reunion of the 4 distinct personalities and the big wedding. Expectations were half-met. There were about 2 scenes that were exceptional. Other than that, there was mediocrity.

This year, the trailer for the sequel confirmed my fears. The show seems to have taken the unfortunate trek away from the original roots – 4 women with 4 perspectives, 4 varied strings of related-able problems, and 4 sets of fashion sense. Now, except for the hair colour, they dress and walk the same.

I adore the series for the writing. Character development is deliberated crafted. Dialogue and chemistry came first. Skirts and background furniture are secondary. Perhaps it is the nature of a feature film – distract the audience with glitz and a sad lack of realism for 146 minutes. Afterall, that’s all you have. 146 minutes opposed to six seasons.

Granted, I have not watched the sequel1. I do not have the the urge to run to the theaters because all the PR ra-ra is focused on the exotic set, trendsetting fashion, and brief appearance of Aiden. I wish they haven’t.

One can’t help but wonder – are they trying to recapture the magic or their youth?

  1. waiting for KrisWorld to screen [↩]
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Long term (professional) relationships

Posted on Wednesday May 19, 2010 in Notes.

I am not known to be big on social norms. Not challenged but my default preference to keep things short makes it tough to keep to a solid group of professional pals. Most of my friends have good (and close) relationships with their service providers. And they seem so well-adjusted, pampered, and understood. Totally envious.

Today I visited one person whom I wish to develop such a long term relationship with. In the past 12 months, I have visited him three times. We don’t really talk. I will sit still while he works the scissors. Few questions and answers will be exchanged and sometimes, we laugh. He blends into my system very well. Think his assistant likes me too. Good sign. All these despite my innate dislike for salons. I am proud of myself.

This is tough work and I have many more to engage and enroll into my life. I admire everyone who works it so effortlessly.