Outside Punggol MRT, May 09, D80 70-200 2.8 FX

Life just isn't a mass rapid transport.
Don't get caught up with what everybody's doing and learn to take a step back.
Do take the time, sit back and enjoy an ice chilled beer.
Watching the world go by and taking the opportunity to learn as life tickles you with new riddles.

Cherish those who care and do not take those around you for granted.
Not everyone will be there for you forever.
Tell them and let them know while you have the chance.

In Memory, St Andrews Cathedral, Feb 09

i know you're finding it here. but its not here!

so near yet so farfetch'd

Singapore Zoological Gardens, March 08

My last post was made close to 4 months ago. Alot has happened, milestones in my life carved in stone, new opportunities opened and many new friends befriended!

Remember the post listing all the "fun & exciting" stuff that i wanna do when i get my freedom? haha Its the 5th week into my "freedom" and due to my pro procastination skills, i never got to accomplish 20% of them. My table got messier, my books/mags piled even higher and i'm in the most unfit state for this sat's sundown marathon.

---- lets take a step back into the last couple of months ----

1. Bintan "adventure" Camp (11-13th March)

okay i don't want to be a bitch or anything but the camp personels kinda suck big time. It's something that I'll never intro to my juniors or anything. But having signed up and going for the thing, might as well make the best out of it right? Yep I sure did. Sure the camp had its moments - the activities were fun but the instructors was such a turn off. What i enjoyed were the ATC trail drive where i got drenched in MUD, the ascent up Bintan Besar (the highest point on Bintan), the High Elements, Pyramid, paintball and not forgetting the swim in the resort's pool during our R&R time which the other groups didn't have. and sure being a grad student did have its advantages. But the greatest experience was the time spent with friends. I'm sure that this did bring the bunch of us from AT who went much closer. It sure was a good closure trip for the bunch of AT grad students who went.

Photos: one, two, three, four

2. Eurocopter

Eurocopter was such an enriching experience. It was more than an internship. It helped me grow all round both in well being and knowledge. Well 8 mths + have passed and it was time for me to leave the company. I must say that the emergency projects has made the Design Office tighter and we've learnt more from each other. The DO, ran by interns did have its moments! TEH man and the vietcong (NTU interns) and NORRMAAAN (NP ece) was a pleasure to work with. Our last day was quite a sad day. Vernon and I spent 270+ bucks worth of chocolates and gifts. But i guess its well spent as everyone of them taught us something. From the buttom of my heart i would like to say "thank you!" to everybody. Especially my Boss, Chek Hock. and to TEH man and Dr "vietcong" Pham all the best in all your endeavours. And to the current NP interns Marcian and Edwin! have fun! another 3 more mths!

Farewell Photos

3. NGEE ANN GRADUATION Class '09

Looking back, i remember saying "I just can't wait till i get out of this school" and truth to the matter is i kinda miss the school at times haha! After 3 years of waiting, I've finally graduated with a Diploma with Merit in Aerospace Technology. That day, i felt like a wizard from Harry Potter wearing that oversized robe. It was great seeing everybody dressed nicely in formal, something that you seldom see in a class which are usually dressed for the beach! haha. but comfortable is the new sexy ehh hahahah! Sadly that'ld be the last time I'll see some of them. To AT Class '09 all the best in all your endeavours!

Photos: one, two

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I'm glad that for the past 5 weeks, I haven't really spent the time just doing nothing bumming at home! I wanted to go all out on training to make up for the lack of training during my work phase. Waking up early in the morning to run, gym in the afternoon and another run in the evening. HHAA! but that never did happen. what a faiilllll! well. Sundown's this sat and its a gg! my ankle is hurting slightly. well. at least VIETNAM'S NEXT WEEK! 3-20JUNE! AND I'LL BE LIMPING THEM WOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! SAIGON HERE WE COME! i bet when i come back, with all the cheap beer and cheap food, i'll put on so much weight and be in such a unfit state that i'll be reduced to 4 from 8pacs hahahahaha. failll! okay i'll be dam sad if that happens. OH yea! at least i've been "training" recently. i joined NYP track as a crasher haha. shh they don't know what hit them just yet! hahahahaha. and i did graduate with from TP with a Diploma in Hospitality and Tourism Managment!!! hehe.

Oh wells. at the end of the day, i'm glad for all the people in my life who have been through all these things with me. 9th july, 1130 is the date which i give my life to the servitude of the nation. okay i'm bored alr.

i shall end with a quote ~ it is our humanity and all the potential within it that makes us beautiful

vint sunset, punggol

Yesterday, the smile on my face couldn't be wiped off no matter how tired, fustrated or sian i was. Everywhere I walked, i made sure that there was a big grin on my face, leaving others wondering what i was so happy about. But my cheery nature soon faded slow, now, a "sian" expression is all that is left on my face. Occasionally, that big grin returned and people began asking - whats wrong with you today? - hmm. i wonder. i guess being in a different environment drains the smile away from you. i won't say i'm very upset or unhappy about anything as i'm contented with what i have. its just that i don't know why anymore....

For now, I feel that i've got no purpose in life. ~ a blatent lie to make it sound more dramatic~ the only remedy to this situation picking up the things that make me smile again which cannot be done at the present moment - photography, reading, friends, bumming, running, kayaking, rockclimbing.... the list goes on. and the countdown begins! and thus.

As the sun sets and rises, work resumes. life goes on. sigh.


ps: text was written as such to suit the mood of the pic.

Rehab

Fort Canning Park, Dance School. Shooting with lou, mel & xule. D80, Tamron 90mm F2.8

I'm in rehab now. Deprived from the virtual world that connects me to all my friends. for 10+ hours a day, I'm barred from Facebook, msn, FlickR, Gmail and the all essential news feeds. All because the wireless in my company has been password protected due to some legal suit for copyright infringment. dammnnn. So once again, I'm in REHAB. I've never thought of myself as someone who's so dependent on technology. Well, this shall be a test for me and I think i'm going to fail. 2nd day into work as a temp staff and I'm thinking of quitting. Never have i been so bored and restless at work, resorting to mass texting and walking around to disturb the other employees/interns.

and so the song by Amy Winehouse rings in my mind
~ they tried to make me go to rehab but i said no no no ~

damn i want my facebook and messenger! time's passing too slow at work now. instead of counting down the hours, i'm counting the seconds!!!!

new year, same old me

awaiting landing at Phuket, Thailand airport. June 07

2009 carried many global events like the economic crisis, Gaza strip conflict etc over from 2008. The future is indeed bleak at the moment. Soon, we will see how everyone will be affected by the crisis. Its already starting, job cuts, bank bailouts bla bla bla. gosh. I pray for better times ahead. But at the moment, all we can do is hold on to our jobs and hope we can ride this one out. From the looks of it, it might even be as bad as the previous financial crisis. %

2009 will be the year where I pick up my boots and put on that ugly green uniform as part of my citizen duty to serve the country via national service. I will be sheltered and blocked out from the outside world 5 days a week for 2 years. The thing is, I currently classified under PES D which is a temporary fitness status until I go for my specialist check up on 12 Feb. Hope all goes well and I will get back to normal pes status of an A or a B. C is gonna make my life in army darn boring with an office job.

I dont believe in making new year resolutions but there is one which i will make which can definitely keep - keep healthy and exercise regularly - yep how cliche is that. pfft.

I am currently serving my internship at EUROCOPTER SOUTH EAST ASIA and gosh I have been so busy lately that i have not noticed that its already FEBUARY! 1 more week to the end of me being an intern there! but the work doesnt stop there. In ONE week, I have got to complete my internship final report and presentation slides, study for my qsmm final exam (25%) and complete the urgent project that my boss just assigned to us within 3 days?!?? INSANE?!!!!!! well after this better times ahead!!!!!! (: (: (: omgosh and i am so freaking sick now. lost my voice for 3 days, there after, i had a fever and have been coughing non-stop since. and my threadmill test is just next thurs (12 feb)!!! hope i recover in time man.

Urg i hate work right now. I am finally free after next week! But... (wait for it) ... I extended my contract with them for 2 months. Hopefully this is just a phase i am going through. you know one of these sian phases which will pass after a while and stuff... My new job title will be Temporary Hangar Assistant. Oh please. My work scope as no relation to that lohh! I will continue working under my current boss in the design office a.

Things i want to maintain this year
1. maintain healthy, being sick sucks totally.
2. chill with friends, one of the most awesome things
3. improve my fitness
4. PHOTOGRAPYYYY!! <3 <3 <3 was viewing my holiday pictures just now and goshh how i miss my cam!!!

Things to do when I am out of my job
1. Train for sundown marathon
2. run more, work out more
3. CATCH UP ON MY READING!!!!! I think it has been like close to 6 months since i read a proper book.
4. hit the beach
5. go on holidays
6. rockclimb/boulder
7. kayaking expedition!!!
8. scuba diving open water course
9. BUM!!!!!
10. get back to wearing contacts.
11. learn to cook some stuff before army
12. get more involved with BB
13. NOT staying at home the whole day everyday until i enlist
14. already mentioned on my - to maintain list - SHOOT SHOOT SHOOT!!!!
15. get my long overdue SB 900 flash unit
16. BRAINROTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!
17. help friends with what they need
18. i dont know?! zomg i am so waiting for this day! *jumps around hysterically*

oh wells. nights all. to reach that stage, i must first get past the hardest part. which is going to start the moment i open my eyes tmr.

2009

simplicity + heavy orton effect on skies

I've been waiting to post a proper 09 post for quite sometime but have been putting it off all these times. Now its feb and still no new year post?! hahaha and yea this ain't the post which i've been wanting to post for such a long. in fact its just another boring post of mine. maybe this is why i don't really like clubbing and other stuff ... hmm okay that was abit irrelavent. moving on...

this picture depicts the simple life of mine and of many others like mine. Simplicity and down to earth i'ld say is one of the many philosophies that i follow. However like many others, i aim to succeed in life, get a pretty decent payroll, enjoy doing what i do, stay healthy, love my family and of course friends. But even if i get rich someday, i will not forget my roots. I will still continue to lead a simple life even if i'm surrounded by the riches. I will not splurge on luxuries and in the future even if I make it rich, I will just get a Green car over the sports and glamourous cars.

This global crisis has shown us the mess that greed and many other factors has brought about. It has brought many people back to the basics of simple living and made people more humble. Soon, gone will be the time where these well off-ed people gloat about their wealth and achievements. I think people living simple lives will be happier than these morons caught in their web of success and wealth. Whenever this crisis ends, I hope people will learn to see where how a simple way of life is so much "...." and not to go back to being too materialistic and get sucked into that endless vortex of whatever shit that comes along with that.

Ultimately, in my opinion being truely happy cannot be quantified by wealth or success but by the things you do and whom you do it with. Eventually.... okay i think i'm typing rubbish and shall end here. Thirty to forty years down the road, i hope i will not be too engrossed in my work to be there for my loved ones. I will look back into the days of my youth and remember that philosophy that i once mentioned and go "oh i'm glad I havent forgotten it"

ps: i know that there are many errors in the form of words used, expressions phrased, sentence strucutre and stuff. but yea its 12 30am, i'm sick, i've lost my voice for the 3rd consecutive day and i'm having another fever attack. But overall this is what i feel right now.

party da funk

after covering a few parties, i realized, i suck! please do not hire nor ask me to cover your events unless you want lousy pictures. period.

and the year's ending, and i'm too busy to be nostalgic. what rubbish is that!

AWESOMMMME!

Asics GT1120 - HDR after Salomon X Trail

The inaugural Salomon X Trail race was awsome! And these shoes were the aftermath of the race. Jumping around, initial avoiding muddy puddles, threatening to devour your shoes when you sink into it, trying not to trip on the thick roots of the overgrowth and rocks, i thought to myself - OMGOSH THIS IS GONNA BE HELL LOTTA FUN! and hell it was! I think this might be the run that would inspire me to run trails in the future. At first i was afraid to bash through the puddles of mud but 5mins into the race, i was like what the heck just freaking bash through it's gonna get dirty by the end anyways! and so it began! while others were still running out of their way to avoid the i just ran through them and overtook many of them! After the jungle route it a series of hills awaited me! up down up down for the next 30mins and it exhausted most of the participants whereas, i kept my own slow pace and overtook most of them at the upslope. Towards the 7k mark, my pacer - Mr Lim Zheng Ping Eugene fell off and much to my "not wanting to run on without him feeling" , i had to run ahead to get a faster timing. But after a while, i felt bored and started greeting and shaking hands with the volunteers "cheering" the racers on - but only to those cheerful volunteers who weren't trying to "act cool" and not doing their job properly". Haha yea i know i'm choosy. Later, i developed a tatic to overtake people and it was to sprint up the hills and to let gravity pull me down for the slope. It was rather effective and me being the chirpy little runner i am, i clapped and cheered other runners on who were abt to give up at the slopes. The only part that totally killed me was this rather steep and rocky slope which caused me to jog slowly for the straights after that. Met gerald and sam chong on the other side of the straights too. I must say, the signs towards the end was kind of confusing as when i saw the 300m mark i thought it meant 300m to the next drink point, so i thought i must be another 1k from finish "sian" and decided to slow my pace down abit but just after the drinks station, i saw 100m and i was like omgosh its to the finish line and there, i started sprinting to the finish.

All in all, i enjoyed myself tremendously althought my shoes were sooo darn dirty. but i guess that's the momento from the race!

Here's my results for the race. Thought i could have done better but it's still pretty decent considering, this is my first trail run and i was still recovering from a flu hence no prior training for it ): Oh yea, i bet some of the participants thought i was kinda retarded for carrying tissue in my pockets and blowing my nose while running. some even avoided me! Arse-os! i owned your asses alright!


ps: my shoe is now clean and white again! (:



- pictures of the race are on my fb
- flickr pictures on the race