Struggling with negative in the Diani Mini Lomo

Got hold of the relatively new Diana Mini Lomo camera and tried it with a roll of Kodak coloured film and mount-on flash.

I must say that the development from the trial roll of film was a little disappointing. And there were a few hiccups encountered as I used the Diana Mini.

1) The negative film got stuck quite frequently and easily inside the camera. When the manual film forwarder got stuck, I had no choice but to open the camera to reload the film which will lead to a high possibility of shots taken before the troubleshoot to get exposed during the reload.

2) Part of the negative was torn due to prior attempts to wind the stuck negative properly.

3) Effects of developed lomographs were very grainy. Some may feel that the effect is part of the beauty of Lomography. However, I personally feel that it was quite overdone and wasn’t artistically pleasant. (I might not have used the ideal type of film for the setting that I was in)

4) When switched to the 1/2 frame mode, there is a possibility of double-exposure if the negative is not wound tightly. The negative tends to “bounce” back after a 1/2 frame shot, thus leading to a double exposure with the next shot. (This could become a wonderful accident if the double exposures overlap each other nicely)

5) The new Color Splash strips for Diana Mini’s Flash are too small. They are very easily misplace or lost. (Probably a product gimmick to make users buy more of the replacements)

Unintentional double exposure. Taken using the Diana Mini with color splash flash.

Dessert monster encountered at Benten Café

Having a huge sweet tooth (which inadvertently leads to a lot of toothaches), I’ve always had a soft spot for desserts, especially the incredibly sinful kind filled with ice cream and other sugary ingredients.

Despite all my dessert-chomping experiences though, nothing prepared me for the monster I faced at Benten Café, which serves up gargantuan desserts that are definitely not for the faint-hearted (nor the diet-watchers).

The ambiry babiru (if I remember the name correctly) is a huge, fishbowl worth of sweet delights, with just about anything imaginable thrown in. Amongst the immense mess (and mass) of the dish you can find cakes, fruits (cut in amazingly intricate patterns), whipped cream, biscuits and pudding, topped off with a copious load of corn flakes and ice cream.

Although the babiru looked messy and kinda disgusting, it is a godsend for those who crave something sugary after a meal (and be sure to make it a light one to leave space for this!). The fruits are ripe, the cake is tasty, the biscuits add a more solid crunch to the bite and the mixture of ice cream and cereal (flooded with chocolate and strawberry fudge) is amazingly addictive.

Of course, this Godzilla of a dessert is only meant for about four to five people to share, a fact which is reflected in its price - S$40 for a bowl. Despite the fact that it would set each person back about $10 though, it does provide immense satisfaction (followed by immense guilt, of course) and holds it own against similarly-priced desserts at other restaurants.

For smaller groups, the cafe does offer smaller servings (with proportionately fewer ingredients), in beer jugs for three people and even in individual cups for those on a solo binge.

Although it might a few months before I’d even contemplate tackling such a huge bowl of fat again (and I had it with three other friends), it was definitely worth my $10. Perfect for the sweet-lovers.

Rating: 4 of 5

Benten Café, #03 -20/20A
Jurong Point Shopping Centre
Tel: 6791 0882
Opening Hours: 11.30am - 10.00pm

(There seems to be another outlet at Iluma at Bugis. The Web site is down so I can’t confirm)

Seven Chinese New Year greetings

Here’re seven positive greetings in Chinese that you can use in the coming Lunar New Year. They are just cant and don’t mean much, but like all greetings, are aimed at sending a warm glow to the hearer.

Use one greeting for each day of the New Year. After the Seventh Day, you can revert to your usual vacuous greetings, like “You’re looking great, man!”

Apple iPad is actually for ah peks

Phew! Tampon makers must have heaved a sigh of relief when Apple Computer’s Steve Jobs announced the iPad this morning.

No, Apple is not expanding its market to cover people who need to take care of their time-of-the-month unmentionable.

But as Jobs demonstrated Apple’s version of the tablet computer, I felt let down after following the frenzied rumours buzzing around on Twitter and other tech blog sites.

No, the iPad didn’t break new grounds in terms of user interface or applications. As one colleague pointed out, it’s basically the iPhone enlarged. All that Steve Jobs & Co. showed were pretty much things that you could either do on your iPhone or your laptop computer. Aside from the fact that you could cosy up with the tablet to work, there doesn’t seem to be an added advantage over a normal computer.

You know what? I think we are not Apple’s target this time—tech geeks, Apple fanatics and business-people out there, you’re not the people Apple wants to sell its iPad. The real targets are those who don’t already have an iPhone, laptop or desktop computer.

These people include my parents, grandparents, and all the ah peks and ah mmm in my family. Imagine my mother watching her favourite Hong Kong drama serials right on the iPad, while she sits down comfortably on the sofa. If she wants to, she can watch the videos while she cooks in the kitchen.

Instead of purchasing the day’s newspaper to read on the train, my uncle and his fellow ah peks could stream the latest news onto their iPad, and read it — no more fuss annoying fellow passengers on the crowded train just to flip the pages on the newspaper and letting out an air stream of printer dust into other people’s nostrils.

My aunt and her mahjong aunties could download vacation photos onto the device, and bring it over during Chinese New Year to inflict them on relatives and other unwary victims. They can just pop the iPad into their over-sized “marketing” bag that they lug on their shoulders to carry groceries and frozen chicken parts.

My kid cousin could bring along a 9-inch tablet to school in his school bag, instead of the gigantic text-books. He can scrawl notes on the e-textbook, and it would all be filed away. He can even highlight text while recording what his teachers are saying.

While some of the possible use for the iPad are not covered by Steve Jobs, the extensibility of the device means that some developer can do this in the near future, and get filthy rich. It’s like the iPhone app store gold rush all over again, this time for the cash-rich old foggies!

Real Madrid prepare £20m swoop for Man U’s Nemanja Vidic

Real Madrid are ready to raid Manchester United for the second time in a year by launching a bid for Nemanja Vidic next summer.

Having signed Cristiano Ronaldo in a record £80million deal in June, Real now want his former Old Trafford team-mate. Sources in Spain claim they will make a £20m offer for the Serbia defender at the end of the season.

Vidic’s future at United has been in doubt for some time. His wife Ana is said to be keen on moving to a warmer climate and he has been linked to top clubs in Europe, including AC Milan, Inter, Barcelona and Real.

United thought they had done well to keep Vidic last summer, with Sir Alex Ferguson adamant that he would not sell his central defender so soon after sanctioning the sale of Ronaldo.

The two players became close during their time together at United and it is no secret that they discussed the possibility of linking up abroad in future.

Although Vidic is under contract until 2012 and was honoured with a place in FIFA’s World XI last week, he has struggled to live up to the reputation he has built as one of the best central defenders since joining United for £7m from Spartak Moscow four years ago.

However, Real see the uncompromising Serb as an ideal partner for Pepe as they look to tighten up a team that is top-heavy with attacking players.

Manchester United are set to make a swoop for Real Madrid midfielder Mahamadou Diarra, according to reports from England.

The Mali international suffered a severe knee injury last season, putting him out of action for the majority of the campaign, and leading Los Blancos to swoop for his namesake, Lassana Diarra, from Portsmouth.

Since his arrival and the purchase of Xabi Alonso from Liverpool, the 28-year old has found himself isolated at the Santiago Bernabeu, and according to The Daily Star Sunday, Sir Alex Ferguson wants to add the enforcer to his ranks as he aims to defend the clubs’ Premier League crown.

The Red Devils had previously been linked with a move for Diarra when he was a Lyon player, but at the time he opted for a move to Spain, and any move to England relies on Real Madrid’s valuation of the player.

His agent has been quoted as saying, “For now, a move in January is possible but it will be very difficult. It depends how much money a club is willing to pay for the player, and how much the Real [Madrid] want for him.

“His contract finishes in 2011, so he still has time to run.”

Manchester Derby in Carling Cup Semi Finals

As the Carling Cup semi finals draws near, one question pops up in everyone’s mind.

Can Manchester United overcome the 2-1 deficit against Manchester City?

Well the good news is that now this match is going to be held at Old Trafford. And United has an away goal advantage. Manchester City has a goal advantage and hence I think they will be going for a defensive approach.  City manager Roberto Mancini has called on his side to “change history”, to beat their Manchester rivals for the spot at Wembley.

“We must change the history of this club,” said Mancini as City aim to make their first major cup final since 1981. United manager Sir Alex Ferguson however, is delighted with ace striker Wayne Rooney’s form, after witnessing four goals from him in the 4-0 demolition of Hull City in the Barclay’s Premier League. Moreover, Rooney has reiterated his desire to stay in Manchester United after Spanish club’s Read Madrid’s lure.

“Wayne is in such great form, there are not many matching him,” stated Ferguson.

There is one City player to look out for certainly. Carlos Tevez turned to the United bench as he celebrated a double against his former club in the first leg, which sparked huge reaction from United captain Gary Neville and the duo’s news blasted everywhere after Tevez complained to the FA. The Argentine striker - along with former team-mate Neville - was warned by the FA about his future behaviour and English football’s governing body and the police have reminded both managers of their responsibilities ahead of the crunch clash. Neville appeared to make a one-fingered gesture from the touchline in the first leg after Tevez scored an equaliser from the penalty spot. Tevez then called the English defender a “boot-licker” and a “moron” in a radio interview following the defender’s comments about the former West Ham player before the first leg.

Here are the team news:

Rio Ferdinand will play after denying an FA charge of violent conduct.

Manchester City have Robinho available despite negotiations with two Brazilian clubs over him joining on loan.

Kolo Toure is back from the Africa Cup of Nations, while Emmanuel Adebayor could be on the bench after returning from compassionate leave.


I PREDICT MANCHESTER UNITED TO WIN 1-0!!!!!!!!!!!!

I’m going pole-dancing!

I got a phone call from one of my bffs this morning and was told that my gang-sters (or “gang-sisters") have decided to delight me with a sexy experience on my birthday celebration this weekend.  The full package is an erotic birthday gift that includes pole-dancing, she said.

Last year, they promised me an expensive birthday treat which turned out to be a $1,000 LV handbag present. 

It’s going to be another huge surprise this year. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for me this weekend! Yippee..

RustiRun 2010

The whole family woke up early in the morning for a family event - RustRun 2010. Brownie is participating!

We reached East Coast Park before 7pm and were greeted with many dog owners eagerly waiting for the run to start.  The turnout was encouraging.  It was a great place to meet dogs and dog lovers.  I was overwhelmed seeing so many dogs at one go!  It was a perfect chance for dogs to interact with each other, regardless of breed and background.

I have enrolled Brownie for the 1km Fun Paws Run which was scheduled to start at 7.15.  The first race to kickoff was the 5km Dog Lovers (runners without dogs), followed by 5km Doggy Athletes.  Check out the dogs who can’t wait for the race to start!

Teenie was there to support her elder sister Brownie, both waiting for the race to start.

Brownie is always easily distracted by big dogs. Consider her petite size (like me), its unbecoming of her to challenge big dogs.  We were worried that she might follow other dogs, start picking up fights and forget she has a race to complete! To our delight, our little Brownie did us proud.  She did better than her usual runs!  Occasional distractions were inevitable but nonetheless, she crossed the finishing line at an astonishing speed.  She totally exceeded our expectations.

Brownie and Teenie hydrating themselves and cooling down.

This athlete dog came first for the 5km segment.  Well done!

I do hope this event will continue next year and hopefully, Brownie and Teenie are both ready to do the 3km Intermediate Paws Run.

Queensway 328 Laksa: Hidden Treasure

I’m usually not a fan of spicy food. I have almost no threshold for anything remotely tongue-tingling and just am not a fan of the taste of chilli. Still, like every other Singaporean, I do enjoy an occasional bowl of laksa, of the strong-taste-but-no-spice variety, of course.

While many head to more established outlets across the island for their laksa fix, I get mine at a discreet little stall in the heart of Queensway Shopping Centre.

The first thing one would notice about the laksa sold here would be that it’s entire devoid of spiciness. Of course, you’re free to ask for scoops of sambal chilli (and even then, I’ve heard that it isn’t too much to handle), but the plain dish itself is totally chilli-free and leaves its real taste wide out in the open to experience.

And a fantastic taste it is.

The laksa noodles (or whatever they’re called) are cooked to just the right amount of softness and have a fantastic texture. The cockles, while sparsely distributed, are chewy and delicious, without having an overwhelming fishy taste (which was my gripe with several outlets I’ve tried). Of course, the main star of the dish would be the gravy, which is thick and creamy and packs a huge oomph that left me lapping it all up to the last drop after even I had polished off the ingredients.

At $3 for a small bowl, it’s slightly pricey and probably won’t be filling enough for a whole meal. Still, for a mid-shopping-trip snack (for those of you East-dwellers, Queensway Shopping Centre is a veritable treasure trove for affordable sportswear, most notably shoes), it is fantastic and, coupled with a glass of ice cold sugarcane juice, is the perfect note to end off a trip there with.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

ps. Just be sure to read the sign for the stall properly. There’re two competing laksa stalls on the first floor of Queensway Shopping Centre and the other’s offering is a pale offering of this one.

My rebellion

Like most Singaporeans my age, I usually don’t like to make a scene. I see inconsiderate jerks in the trains, and the only visible reaction on my face is a miffed expression as I fume silently at that annoying behaviour. I know I’m one of those passive types who don’t sound intimidating whenever they quarrel with any one.

But something happened to change my behaviour yesterday evening. It was right after a run in Toa Payoh stadium, when a woman attendant came around the stadium to clear everyone out so that she could lock the gates.

“GET OUT! GET OUT! You all don’t know the rules is it? What time already?” she yelled right in front of me.

Apart from the fact that I didn’t know that the stadium closed at 8pm, I realised she was probably sick of doing that same routine every day. Perhaps she really thought that I was being unreasonable staying past closing time. That thought annoyed me, as I got up and walked to the lockers.

As I grabbed my stuff, I noticed she was also shouting at the other users. She even continued railing at them even as they were leaving. It hit me. She believed that the users were deliberately making her life difficult by over-staying, and she was lashing out aggressively. If she didn’t want to behave professionally when dealing with the public, there was no reason for me to help her close-up earlier by rushing out of the stadium. So, I decided to take things easy.

As she came to the changing area, I strolled into the toilet, ignoring her, even as she shut off the lights. It’s just as well that I am used to the dark, because I intentionally took a long time to change and walk out of the stadium. She followed, exclaiming in exasperation, “I don’t know why you all don’t want to listen.”

World’s most desirable woman for wife / girlfriend

She is the world’s most desirable woman, according to 8 million guys who voted in Askmen.com portal. And she has a surname that I don’t even know how to pronounce. The 32-year-old Canadian actress Emmanuelle Chriqui, best known for the TV series Entourage, was named as the woman with the qualities most men would want in a girlfriend or wife.

Previous winners of the annual list of the world’s “Top 99 Most Desirable Women,” now in its 10th year, include Katherine Heigl, Beyonce, Jessica Alba, Adriana Lima, and last year’s winner Eva Mendes.

AskMen.com’s editor-in-chief James Bassil says Chriqui’s role in Entourage as a sweet, ideal girlfriend had helped her in the survey — but so had the fact that she is not over-exposed.

“A lot of the behaviour we see in the media is not the kind of behaviour that you want to see in a girlfriend or wife. You can get over-saturation and we don’t want to see their real and sometimes stained and depressed sides of their lives,” Bassil adds.

Chriqui has appeared in the movie Don’t Mess With The Zohan and TV series, The O.C. and Entourage.

The top 10 in the list of 99 are:

1. Emmanuelle Chriqui
2. Marisa Miller
3. Kate Beckinsale
4. Alessandra Ambrosio
5. Jessica Alba
6. Beyonce
7. Penelope Cruz
8. Cheryl Cole
9. Eva Mendes
10. Miranda Kerr

How to greet folks during Year of Tiger

If you want to receive ang pows stuffed with crimson-bright $10 notes, you must know the right kind of greetings to say to the generous folks handing out the red packets. Here’re some that you can practise before the New Year begins:

Best wishes for the year to come!
恭贺新禧！

Good luck in the year ahead!
祝吉星高照！

May you strike first prize in the lottery!
恭喜发财！

Live long and prosper!
多福多寿！

May fortune finds its way to your doorsteps (even if your door is shut)!
祝财运亨通！

Wishing you longevity and health!
愿你健康长寿！

Wishing you greater success now and in the days ahead.
祝你今后获得更大成就。

On this special New Year day, wishing you good fortune and hoping we will get together soon.
[Applicable only when greeting an attractive member of the opposite sex.]
在这特殊的日子，向你致以新年的祝福，希望不久我们能相聚在一起。

Wishing you a joyous New Year packed with happiness and good fortune.
祝新年快乐，并愿你幸福吉祥，前程似锦。

May the New Year bring many good things and rich blessings to you and all your loved ones (including your mother-in-law)!
愿新年带给你和你所爱的人许多美好的事物和无尽的祝福！

In the New Year, may you enjoy good health, long life and good fortune.
祝你在新的一年里身体健康，多福多寿。

Good luck, good health, good cheer to ferry you across the Tiger Year.
祝好运、健康、佳肴伴你度过一个快乐新年。

With best wishes for a Happy New Year!
祝新年快乐，并致以良好的祝福。

I hope you have a happy, prosperous New Year, maybe.
谨祝新年快乐幸福，大吉大利。

Wishing you good health, good fortune and much happiness throughout the year.
恭祝健康、幸运，新年快乐。

May joy and happiness surround you today and always.
愿快乐幸福永伴你左右。

Please accept my sincere wishes for the New Year. I hope you will continue to enjoy good health (even if you don’t go for health screening).
请接受我诚挚的新年祝福，顺祝身体健康。

Allow me to congratulate you on the arrival of the New Year and to extend to you all my best wishes for your perfect health and lasting prosperity.
恭贺新禧，祝身体健康、事业发达。

With best wishes for your happiness in the New Year.
致以最良好的祝福，原你新年快乐幸福。

Please accept our wishes for you and yours for a Happy New Year.
请接受我们对你及你全家的美好祝福，祝你们新年快乐。

May the coming New Year bring you joy, love and peace.
愿新年为你带来快乐，友爱和宁静。

Wishing you happiness in the holidays and throughout the New Year.
祝节日快乐，新年幸福。

Season’s greetings and sincere wishes for a bright and happy New Year!
献上节日的问候与祝福,愿你拥有一个充满生机和欢乐的新年。

Offering you endless brand-new good wishes. Please accept them as a remembrance of our lasting friendship.
给你我无尽的新的祝福，让它们成为我们永恒友谊的新的纪念。

Good luck and great success in the coming New Year.
祝来年好运，并取得更大的成就。

On the occasion of the New Year, my wife and I extend our warmest greetings, wishing you a Happy New Year, greater success in your career and happiness in your home.
在此新年之际，我同夫人向你及你的家人致以节日的问候，并祝你们新年快乐、事业有成、家庭幸福。

May you not be devoured by financial predators in the Year of the Tiger!
(Not sure how to write this chim greeting in Chinese!)

Fleeting Dreams

I watched Up In the Air recently with my coursemates after a particularly tough exam, and was dozing off in the cinema as I didn’t get much sleep the night before. I woke up to one part where the protagonist was talking to this man about to be fired. The protagonist asked him to chase his dream to become a chef, which was written in his resume, instead of continuing on working in a dreary office, so his kids could look up to him as someone who follows his dreams.

“That’s nice”, I thought, “there’s something important there, and I should blog about that” and I fell asleep again, promptly forgetting about it.

However, I’ve finally recalled that moment in the cinema, and therefore am now blogging.

Chasing dreams, does that really make sense? I shall happily go off topic, because I admit, I have no idea what the film was about (but I consider it the best ₤5 ever spent for a good rest), so I will pose a question or two:

Are we ever too busy with life and work, ensuring other people are satisfied and happy, instead of taking time for ourselves to chase our dreams? Do we even know what our dreams are, know what we want, and how can we achieve them?

Interesting questions.

I shall give an example of this clerk who served with me during my NSF days, the same one who had some initial hiccups with his understudy. I had no idea what he was doing in his role, as every other day, I could see him helping out different superiors from S1 to S4, and even my RSM with work they have. Most nights, he would be in the office working, when the rest of the company were enjoying their Night’s Out. Even when his understudy came, he still ‘helped out’ his understudy when he refused to do the work (and if I could have stepped in, I would have asked his understudy to knock it down, but with ORD coming soon, I dislike to cause trouble), and my CSM even told him: “You are not indispensable - go take off and leave, and let your understudy handle it - he has to learn on his own.”

That is a classic example of someone busy with life and work (albeit SAF life), instead of taking time for himself to chase his dreams (but honestly speaking, what kind of dreams when you are in the army?)

I recently talked to him and was curious to how his University life was like (he got accepted into some prestigious University), and I asked how he was doing these days. Was he taking time off, enjoying life, or still hard at work trying to please people? After all, surely there are no Enciks or Sirs at University.

Apparently, and if he is to be believed, his University life is as hectic as his army life. Apart from normal assignments, he is also close friends to several year 1 and year 2 girls, and they confide all their problems to him. He said that sometimes he has to listen to them talk about their guy problems, and he tries to give advice, despite him never being in a relationship before (I think!). And I felt “hey, at least he is good friends with several girls”, and he told me that he doesn’t have much free time to himself because of that. Frankly, I think he is exaggerating, but I told him that if it bothered him that much, he could choose not to talk to them, and I got scolded again.

I shouldn’t actually be surprised. If he couldn’t even deal with his understudy back then, who was a guy, obviously he can’t deal with the girls at University.

I told him that, and he said that if he helped people, people will also help him one day, and I called him an idealistic fool. That didn’t work out in his army days, for I remembered not sleeping for one night when I helped him with his work, for the people whom he helped pangsehed him.

“At least do something like chase one of these girls or enjoy yourself. University is your last chance before working life to pursue your dreams. Are you going to be like how you were in the army and sacrifice your night’s out just to listen to them? At least I do something, like write revision guides for fun.”

“What about you? All I hear from you is mathematics and revision guides. You can easily shut yourself up in an ivory tower without interacting with people at all, isn’t that worse?”

And I have no answer to that.

Perhaps there is some element of truth there. Sure, I am passionate about mathematics. But even I realize mathematics isn’t everything. I am not that idealistic, and yet, I sometimes wonder how it would be like to be the President of an academic society, ensuring that all members get the support they needed for the modules. It’s a nice dream, it might even be achievable. But that will be ‘ultimate geekdom’. Is that what I want from University life? One last opportunity to do something different before working, and I waste it all on this? I admit, if my vision is achieved, the concept of ‘renewal’ with material and practice questions will benefit ALL statistics and mathematics students for quite some years to come. It also means I’d be working hard, and not receiving any ‘tangible’ benefits per se, except the ‘feel good’ factor when what I want to implement is is finally in place. Because you see, I do want to have fun at University. I suspect working life won’t be so fun.

Maybe after all, my clerk friend had the right idea. Who knows, maybe one day, when he’s listening to one of his close girl friends about relationship problems, sparks might just happen. Or it might not, since he’s probably viewed as friend material. I honestly think the chances of sparks happening is lower than me successfully running for President of a certain academic society.

And I’ve digressed again. But again, I’m thinking. Do I even know what my dreams are, and do I know how to achieve them?

Or, like a previous blog post, I’m just too afraid to venture off the beaten path, and sticking to what I know best, mathematics.

Botox Party: What’s going through those women’s minds?

We just heard from the news that more than 10 women had a ball of a time at a private party to *fix their faces*.

If you wonder how on earth these women could delight in being entertained by a party host who’s no more than a quack beautician repeating her 15min song & dance routine with the same set of *cheapskate props* comprising ‘imitation’ botox and crappy syringes, then my dear friends, you don’t understand WOMEN well enough.

Here’s a thing or two about them:

(1) Women in their 40s hit mid life crisis and do weird things.

(2) All women regardless of race, language or religion, from S’pore, JB or Batam are vain. period.

(3) Women can’t resist a good bargain (a $500-$600 treatment going for $250, I would make a beeline for it too even if it is at the remotest end of Tuas).

(4) Women would have loved Allegran botox like those Louis Vuitton bags. But beggars can’t really be choosers so they go for imitations from unknown sources.

(5) While foreign talents may not be welcome by the average Singaporeans, women still prefer a foreign brand, a foreigner specialist with foreign education & training.  And having grown up in HDB flats, we Singaporean women are especially neighbourly - how else do you explain why they went for an Indonesian beautician, not an ang moh.

Last but not least,

(6) Women would do anything with their BFFs (best friends forever), and everything for their BFs (boyfriends, including husbands).

Now that Siglap’s best kept secret is out of the bag, what do you think we women really want now?

Bingo! Answer with the perfect score:  We want your understanding and support, even when we indulge in such ridiculous & senseless pastime!

Have you done 1 million good deeds?

Did you do a good deed today? Did you remember doing something good yesterday, the day before, the month before, or a year ago?

You may have dropped coins into the mug of a blind busker, helped an old woman across the road, stroked a cat, showed your mum how to google-search a subject on the Web, given up your bus seat to another passenger or given way to the bus turning into your lane while you were driving. Whatever you have done, it was a good deed to show your respect and consideration to all your fellow human beings, strangers or friends.

But don’t forget what you’ve done. Write them down. Better still post them on Singapore’s Million Deeds Web site.

Small acts add up to big changes and everyone can make a difference. That’s what the Million Deeds Challenge is about. It’s about making a difference to those around you through acts of Excellence, Friendship or Respect in your daily life.

It’s about doing everyday things with a great spirit. It’s for everyone who embraces, embodies and expresses the Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect. 

A Little Bit about Me

I’m thrilled to be given this piece of *airing space on NS Portal. Heard there are a few thousand nsmen in Singapore. Boy!Is this prime real estate for a lonely girl whose love life has been as dry as the Sahara since my break-up with nerdy Leong last August.

Well, since I’ve begun writing a blog and expect thousands of strangers to share my life, I guess it’s only common courtesy to give a short self introduction.

I’m three-quarter way into my 20s, swinging single, and featherweight. Most people I come across say I resemble Lin Dai, the 1950s movie star. In case you think I’m saying this to drum up attention, trust me - I don’t find this flattering at all – which 21st Century girl want to be saddled with an outdated 50s movie star look! In recent years, I’ve deliberately grown my hair long and trimmed my eyebrow to avoid any semblance of her!

On the home-front, I have a pair of devoted retired parents whom I’m still staying with, and one of the best ‘gor’ (elder brother) around. But God knows what went into his heart and head when he became bewitched and hooked up to mother earth’s vainest, laziest and most audacious woman - my sis-in-law. Her only saving grace is having given birth to “tweety bird” - my niece, the world’s most adorable little brat (according to her parents).

Well, now you know why I can’t exactly reveal my face. If I have to bare my soul and share how women really think and what we really want, I’ll die quite a horrible death (first and foremost) in the hands of my sis in law, and then many more disagreeing women … if they know who I am, where I live etc…  

Fear not the unknown sea

There are a whole load of uncertainties swimming in open water vs the swimming pool. But fear not! As long as you know what to expect and are well prepared, these uncertainties can be eliminated.

Before my Aquathlon, I did a couple of trial swims in the sea so that I can adjust myself before the actual race.

The pool is a far more controlled enviroment and there are lane markings to guide your swim. Also there are no sea creatures and unexpected currents. 

The sea is much colder.  If your tolerance for cold is low, I would suggest putting on rash guard or tights instead of swiming costume.  The cold will drain your energy quickly.

Sea water in Singapore is also murky, hence, you won’t be able to see clearly as you would in the pool.

The waves splashing on your face can cause you to accidentally gulp down sea water which can be unpleasant. Currents will push you away from the shore. Hence, do make sure you stay close to the shore line while swimming.

There are a couple of useful tips in this article which is beneficial to give it a read - Open Water Swim Tips.

Amidst all these tips, please remember, SAFETY FIRST!

Lusting after the iPhone

My mobile contract ends in April but I’m already dreaming of owning an iPhone. Each time when I get a chance to meddle around with my friends’ Apple iPhone sets, I would get the increasing longing and desire to possess that gadget. Even right now, I have a list of applications to install in my “future” iPhone and the accessories to beautify it. I’m so, so sucked into the craze, help!

Here’re some reasons I gave to convince myself to buy it:

- It’s a time-saver. I ride public transport daily. There are so many things that I can do productively during commuting time like: Checking and replying to e-mails, reading the news, watching my favorite Youtube channels, updating Facebook and blogging.

- It has so many useful applications. One is the bus guide application that automatically detects the nearest bus-stop and accurately estimates the arrival time of each bus.

- The big screen makes web surfing and other application activities comfortably clear.

- Since most of my friends own an iPhone, there’s no reason why I should be the exception.

Ok, enough is enough. Presenting my current favorite iPhone Application - MORELOMO. It is an iPhone camera application that Lomotise the photos taken. Check out the convincing Lomo effects!

My first attempt using MORELOMO - in the train.

By Flickr member jam343

By Flickr member koookie

By Flickr member yumesukeko

Speak good English by hook or by crook

Speak good English, by hook or by crook, even if it sounds longwinded, clumsy and moronic. Just because you feel paiseh to let on that you read PG Woodhouse and enjoy novels of literary value, is no excuse not to.

Doubtless, Singlish is more easily understood, more drama (die, die must speak) and can be pointedly sarcastic (you ask me, I ask who, leh?). It also expresses your cakesim mood much better (why you so like that). Nonetheless, you must speak “good” English, even if no one you know, does.

Have you heard anyone saying “doubtless”, “nonetheless” and “by hook or by crook”? Nobody, not even angmohs, use such phrases and outdated idioms any longer.

Goodness gracious, me, only pedantic schoolmarms think Singaporeans can’t tell the diff between “borrow” and “lend”. When Singaporeans are superbroke, they are not going to say, “You borrow me $5” which sounds confusing and stupid, even to uneducated ears. They won’t feel shy to ask you directly, “Can you lend me $50?” By the way, nobody, but nobody, ever borrows $5 nowadays. When Singaporeans borrow money, whether to buy 4D or to see their girlfriends in Batam, it’s always $50 or $100.

Hence, all these postcards printed by the Speak Good English Movement (people who got nothing better to do after a full meal or as the Hokkien-educated folk say, “Jiak par siew eng") are just meant for us to have a good laugh when we pick them up in a cafe while waiting for our java.

Hidden treasure at Khansama Tandoori Castle

Hidden in the farthest corner of Biopolis, which is a veritable maze of clean, futuristic buildings, Khansama Tandoori Castle is a relatively unknown, hard to reach eating place that serves up excellent food and great service at affordable prices.

Reaching the place at slightly after dinner time on a weekday, we were one of only two groups at the restaurant, a place that looked like it could sit a respectable crowd (which it could possibly get during lunch hour, attracting the office workers around who’re too lazy to take the 15 min hike out of Biopolis). Despite the lack of a crowd, however, we soldiered on, not only because we had read some very encouraging reviews online, but also because we had walked for over 20 minutes to get there and weren’t to be denied our treasure.

And treasure it was that we found.

While we were initially overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices in the menu, with some help from the service staff, we picked out a few dishes to share, choosing a selection of meats, vegetables and staple foods.

The aloo tikki chaat, which was a mashed potato patty filled with cottage cheese, green peas and gram daal was tasty, with loads of spices and a tangy zesty taste, and made for a terrific appetizer.

For meat, we shared a chicken tikka masala dish, which was boneless roasted chicken cooked with onion, tomatoes and simmered in a pan with light curry and tomato sauces. I liked the fact that the curry wasn’t spicy (in fact none of the dishes had me, a chilli-phobe, grasping for a drink at all). The chicken was not only soft and tender yet packing a strong punch, it also went well with the naan basket we ordered, which consisted of plain, butter, garlic and cheese and tandoori breads.

The naan were crispy and freshly baked and could, as the Gardenia tagline constantly, even have been eaten on their own. Unlike the cheap, tasteless naan I’ve eaten at other decidedly more hawker-styled eating places, the breads here weren’t greasy or oily and provided a satisfying and filling, but not overwhelming, staple.

The biggest surprise of the night came in the form of the navrattan korma, an assortment of fresh garden vegetables cooked in mild butter and cream sauce. While it didn’t look like much, the mixture had gastronomical oomph, with a thick, full, creamy taste infused with the essence of its ingredients. Upon tasting it, my friend commented that it was “glorious”.

The sole disappointment of the meal was the mutton kathi kebab, which had mutton slices and salad wrapped in roti. While not bad per se, it was unremarkable and turned cold (and consequently, tough) pretty fast.

My friends washed down their meal with mango and strawberry lassi (yoghurt drinks), which were lipsmacking and refreshing while I had a jal jeera, an odd concoction of cumin powder, tamarind, lime juice, mint, salt and sugar that my friend commented tasted like sprite with sour plum (which it really did). It was strange at first, but gradually grew on me.

For such a hugely satisfying meal (don’t let the small dishes fool you, the servings we had bloated us all up immensely), each of us only paid $20, which was a reasonable amount considering the quality of the food. Plus, the restaurant doesn’t charge the usual GST and service charge. (And for those looking for a hearty lunch time fix, apparently the restaurant offers a lunch buffet at around $10 per person)

With such great food, friendly service, low prices and an authentic ambience to the outlet, it’s no wonder that the restaurant garnered great reviews online (from the few people who’d been to it) and I’d definitely return with more friends. By far the best restaurant I’ve eaten at in months.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Khansama Tandoori Castle
8A Biomedical Grove
Immunos Building, Biopolis (opposite Buona Vista MRT station)
Tel: 6774 0300

Be kind to yourself

Resolve in the New Year to first, be kind to yourself, and then to others.

To be kind to yourself is to take care of yourself properly, to read, develop and enrich your mind, to give your body enough rest, and to show a measure of self-respect and not to look down on yourself. It’s only when you are kind and considerate to yourself that you have the capability to show kindness to others.

To be kind and nice to everyone—parents, siblings, spouse, children, neighbours, strangers and e-mail pals—simply means to be kind and nice. That’s it. There’s very little to do. There’s no stress involved, no sweat, in a word, kindness needs no effort or deliberation.

When you spontanouesly did an unexpected, unmotivated act of kindness to a stranger—going out of your way to point directions, giving up your seat in a train, putting cash into a donation box—you experience a shudder of goodness over your bodily frame. You feel so nervously good, you want to jump and shout for joy.

This proves that doing a kind act always brings you a wash of happiness—whether you want it or not.

And when you have just performed an act of kindness, you will find it physically impossible to get angry with anyone, at least for the next hour.

Speak only good words and best wishes in January

January, the first month of the year, is named after two-faced Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and endings.

On New Year Day, the ancient Romans would bring to Janus honey, cakes, incense and wine to get favourable signs and a guarantee of good luck. Gold brought better results than copper.

Ovid the Roman poet provides an account of Janus and the benefits he conferred:

Janus said: “Whatever you see—sky, sea, clouds, earth—all things are closed and opened by my hand. The guardianship of this vast universe is in my hands alone. My office regulates the goings and the comings of Jupiter—the father of the gods—hence Janus is my name.

“Now learn the reason for my shape. Every door has two fronts: one faces the people and the other the house-god; and just as your human porter, seated at the threshold of the house-door, sees who goes out and in, so I, the porter of the heavenly court, behold at once both East and West.”

Ovid asked: “Why, Janus, when I placate other gods, do I bring incense and wine to you first?”

“So that you may gain entry to whatsoever gods you wish,” he replied, “through me, who guard the threshold.”

“But why are glad words spoken during your month? And why do we give and receive best wishes?”

Then the god, leaning on the staff in his right hand, said, “Omens are wont to reside in beginnings. You train your anxious ears on the first call, and the augur interprets the first bird he sees. The temples and ears of gods are open, no tongue intones wasted prayers, and words have weight.”

“What do your dates and wrinkled figs mean, or the gift of honey in a snow-white jar?”

Said he, “So that the sweetness replicates events, and so that the year should be sweet, following the course of its beginnings.”

“But tell me the reason for the gift of cash, that I may be sure of every point in thy festival.”

The god laughed: “Wealth is more valued now than in the years of old, when the people were poor. But now riches have grown and with them the frantic lust of wealth. They who have the most possessions still crave for more. They strive to gain that they may waste, and then to repair their wasted fortunes, and thus they feed their vices by ringing the changes on them.

“Nowadays nothing but money counts: fortune brings honours and friendships; the poor man everywhere lies low. And still you ask me, What is the use of omens drawn from cash, and why do ancient coppers tickle your palms!

“In the olden times the gifts were coppers, but now gold gives a better omen, and the old-fashioned coin has been vanquished and made way for the new.”

The author asked again: “But why hide in time of peace and open your gates when was is declared?”

“My fate, unbarred, stands open wide, that when the people hath gone forth to war, the road for their return may be open too. I bar the doors in time of peace, lest peace depart.”

Why we are restricting ourselves

Ever felt restricted by something? I’ll give two examples.

1) Think of some 2D platform game like Super Mario or Braid or Hocus Pocus. You control a tiny character that hops, walks, jumps along the gameworld. There is a high platform on one level, with the treasure/princess/star atop it. You cannot access it at all when you jump normally. The solution of course, is to run through the whole level, find the power-up that allows you to jump to that height, take the power-up, and jump up to that previously inaccessible platform, getting your object.

2) You are playing an adventure game in which you are blocked by five doors. You have to find the keys to each door. However, you are told these doors are “Disintegrator Doors”. If anything touches them, they disintegrate. You want to see how the game designer produces such an effect, so you save the game. You touch the door with an object. It disintegrates. You restore your game. You run into the door with your avatar, and you watch him decompose into tiny pixels. You restore your game again.

So you explore the vast and varied gameworld for the five keys. You find four of them, and see the fifth one ahead of you. You eagerly rush to pick it up, but a giant condor swoops down, picks it up in its beak, and flies away in the horizon. You become despondent and wander the gameworld aimlessly. You climb the perilous mountains, descend into the dangerous valleys, fly through the clouds, and find an old, battered chest. You bribe a giant to sit on it to smash it open for you. Inside, you find a note: “The fifth door is an ordinary door. You can break it down instead.” And so you could. You’ve wasted all that time aimlessly doing nothing, when you could just break the door down.

Are there any common threads linking the two examples? Perhaps.

The first example. You cannot accomplish your objective, until you’ve achieved something else.

The second example. You think you cannot accomplish your objective, until you’ve achieved something else. (Or worse, you think you may never achieve your objective at all.) In actual fact, you could. You just didn’t think of it, and needed something to happen to make you change your perception drastically.

University term has started, and well, my lecture notes now have become even more messier, sometimes leading into a scrawl. Usually, I try to keep neat notes, though they come at a cost. What caused the change? Am I starting to be a rebellious student?

Nope, it’s because I’m typesetting my notes. I typeset the notes for the module I’m being examined in January, and each time I wanted to refer to them, I open up the PDF file on my laptop, although I’ve also printed a set of what I’ve typeset.

So now in lectures, I take down everything, even points which may be irrelevant or too complex, because I would then consolidate them, and type them out neatly. The result? Professional-looking lecture notes, and happy coursemates because I’ve sent them readable notes, and maybe happy lecturers, because they’ve got only a handwritten set of notes, and are happy for students to type it up for them.

Because honestly speaking, I didn’t scribble much on my notes last year, because it was a pain to study scribbles, and I was too lazy to rewrite a new set after each lecture. This year is different. All because of LaTeX. Something which I’ve had on my laptop for a long time, but only recently did I use it intensively.

I realise that this anecdote can apply to many other things in life. An well-quoted example: “If you’re afraid to ask a girl out, because you think you’ll not have a chance, you obviously don’t have a chance.”

But there’s more. Assume you built on that previous statement, and thought a bit.

“Ok, if people say you should ask a girl out, this means they have a different point of view than you. Similarly, when you think you’ve exhausted all possibilities to solve/do something, ASK others. They’ll tell you what they think, and you can add on to your list of possible decisions and actions. One person cannot think of everything. Seek advice from others. And then choose the most reasonable option and go for it.”

Is it that simple? Yes.

Then why isn’t everyone succeeding in whatever they do, or trying new things?

Because..(I’ve think I’m digressing here but..)

- We do not want to stray from the known path, and afraid to try something new and
- We think our ways work best even if they do not and
- We are afraid to ask for help.

Choices (again!)

I’ll give some background information. Those people who know me in real life know I can be a bit anal about Mathematics, and I’ll do my utmost to help you if you have trouble understanding a concept (at least if I understand it myself!), and I’d tend to do stupid things like stay up to 4am in the morning finishing assignments or helping other people with mathematics, even if I severely need sleep.

Now, there are academic societies which offer their own version of Revision Guides, which I personally find are useless. Think of a guide which has all the main points densely summarized.

A person who has studied the material thoroughly will not find the guide helpful.

A person who has barely studied will flip through the guide, find that he or she cannot understand the material inside because the information is too technical.

An average person will find that he or she can read through the guide. But that’s it. It’s similar to me saying that I can read Goethe’s Faust in German, yet I can’t even write a simple summary in German about the book.

So I did. Since I help people with math, why not just write what I know and MAKE a revision guide that actually well, aids revision. So I did. For modules I write a Revision Guide for, I added in what I could “in layman’s terms”, so it was easier to understand, I added a section of “Key points/Summary” at the end of each chapter - similar to Science Textbooks at O level, and best of all, I added practice questions, taken from various books, my own JC S paper tutorials (surprisingly, some questions are still relevant), and where possible, previous exam papers.

In fact, it could be seen like a mini- Dummies Guide plus Ten Year Series.

With an exam looming up in January, I thought - hey, let’s put it to the test. I’ll do the Revision Guide for that module, make it look professional, give it to an academic society and let them distribute it to the members (but give me the credit), and we’ll see how it goes.

Anyone want to guess what happened next?

The guide was accepted, it went through a lot of revisions, half the material was removed, the practice questions were removed, the learning points/key summary bit was removed, until it looked like the traditional Revision Guides that academic societies produced, and it was distributed to my batch.

Understandably, I was quite peeved. More so than usual.

One facetious reason - I’m supposed to produce good stuff, and to borrow a term from the SAF, I don’t do half **** things. So yes, while I got the credit for the guide with my name on the front page, but oh my god, I don’t want to take credit for the horribly mangled piece of work that’s now floating around University.

The real reason why I was peeved. I had been talking to the President of that academic society. He felt that the ‘summarized’ Revision Guide was the best way to study, because “it worked for him”. I of course put forth my reasons why I thought my Guide was better, and even gave an alternative - the academic society could distribute two versions of the Guide, the simplified, summarized one, and the extremely detailed one, so the year 2s could have a choice. Because frankly, I felt that no one should be denied information when it is freely given, and it shouldn’t be locked away.

Well, a few minutes after I put forth my views, an email was sent out to the year 2s, with the simplified guide inside.

And you know, even until now, I can still hear people talking in lectures about how the guide is nothing special, and I am quite understandably annoyed.

But you see, everything boils down to choice. I think I’ve mentioned this before in previous blog posts; I strongly believe that EVERYONE should be given a choice. Not just the above issue, but a choice in everything. It’s a very simple principle. The only person whose thoughts we know 100% is only ourselves. We cannot KNOW what another person thinks, feels, or would behave. Therefore, we cannot make choices for them. In day to day life, we interact with people, friends, acquaintances. More often than not, we are given the opportunity to affect them in some way, and in doing so, we might cut off or limit their options in ways we think we know better. True, sometimes you may not want to give people a choice, because they’ll (at least you think) choose the wrong one. But it’s up to the person to LEARN from their mistakes, if they make any, or even to succeed in their choice (even if you think they won’t - in fact, you might even learn something from that!)

Thankfully there is a happy ending to the story, I did send out the detailed version to several of my peers whom I knew, and they liked the guide. And I’ll probably not do such a thing again. I rather send out a detailed guide to close coursemates, rather than have my work horribly mangled. And also, I suppose, which is why I’m choosing to run for the President of that academic society this year. 

A preamble

I’ve been distracted for the past one month because I decided to do something new for a change - typesetting lecture notes and working on several Revision Guides for certain statistics modules at University. This takes up a lot of my free time. But the act of doing so (strangely) led to me thinking a bit more about how we perceive life. Here’s what I’ve discovered

1. The most obvious - I start to become a bit more proficient at LaTeX, and exploring how to draw diagrams efficiently using the program.

2. Choice.

3. New avenues of thought I’ve never considered.

In fact, I think I’ll just blog in two other separate blog posts.

If your life were a novel . . .

Imagine this. Your life is a story, and you’re the protagonist. This story revolves around you - your interactions with the people in it, your thoughts, dreams, goals, achievements, mistakes, joys and regrets.

How would you describe it? Is your life a routine? Or is it full of unexpected surprises?

Do you enjoy fulfilling relationships with the people you love? Or are your interactions with them too few and bland?

If you can use a colour to describe you and your life, what would it be? Why?

How do your thoughts influence or affect your life, and the people around you? Are they inspiring? Cheery? Or depressing? Moody?

What are you proud of? What are the things you regretted doing?

Does your story bring a smile to the readers? Tears of joy on their faces?

If your life were a novel, what kind of story would it be? Will it be a bestseller? Or not?

I think many of us live our lives as it is, as things happen. But do we stop, look back on the events and reflect? Do we analyse what has been good and bad?

Truth is, we usually don’t. That’s why we make the same mistakes more than twice, sometimes. And we’re blinded. We only see the things we want to see. We’re deaf. We only hear the words we want to hear.

So if we were to write about our lives, many of us might find it so hard to even begin to describe the characters in it. Yes, the most challenging person to write about is normally the one whom we should know like the back of our hands - ourselves. It’s not easy to acknowledge our faults and openly admit it in front of a crowd, is it? But when we’re able to do that, it can be so rewarding. And relieving.

And what roles do the others play and how they play them? How are the inter-relations influencing the dynamics and the development of the story?

If you were to write your story using more than one person’s point of view, how would that change the nature?

I think it would be fun writing this story. Because I’ll never know what experience I would get. What do you think?

An Expensive D&D

It was our 2nd wedding anniversary. Hubby and I went to our most loved Japanese restaurant Tatsuya for a night of pure, unrestrained and luxurious gourmet indulgence.

Used to locate at Park Hotel (formerly Crowne Prince), it now sits snugly in Goodwood Park Hotel beside the main entrance.

We called only in time to reserve a table at the outdoor area. Yes, business has been amazingly good at this watering hole. Fortunately, that night’s weather was cool and nice. With alluring jazz songs playing softly in the background, the ambience was set just right. 

Just right for couples to hold hands, lock gaze, whisper sweet nothings while waiting for the chef to decorate their little sushis.

Then, when the food is served, you look at these miniature rice dumplings for 3 seconds, admire the art of Jap cuisine for the next 5 seconds, and start eating. Once the first piece of sushi goes into your mouth, you forget about this person sitting opposite you. All the lovey-dovey stops. The food placed before you is the only thing you live for and you’d die for.

Is it really that good? Yes, I’m afraid it is.

We started with this appetiser - Crab Meat Tofu. Cleverly blended, the tofu had a textured feel when I bit into it. I could taste the strips of crab meat amidst the tofu’s softness. The preserved egg yolk added fragrance and a creamy sensation. My tongue was particularly delighted by the juice from those bits of salmon roe, which had just the right amount of crunchiness. This was just perfect.

Then we had the beef. Two half-palm thin slices of top grade matsusaka beef from Japan cooked in aburi style - half-broiled. A little crispy on the outside and tender inside. There was some fat which lubricated the chewing in my mouth. I didn’t quite appreciate this though as I’m not a fat lover. Given that it cost $20 per slice, I thought one slice nicely suffice!

Finally, the star of the night arrived: 8 pieces of sushi specially prepared by the chef. We wouldn’t know what would be on the plate until it arrives. The chef decides. Hence, there’s always the element of sweet surprise on top of the heavenly taste.

That’s it. The chef’s sushi was heavenly. You have to eat to know how great it is.

Our spirits and mood were lifted up after the sushi, and we were hungry for more. So we ordered one more special sushi that wasn’t on the menu - Salmon Roll.

It was a maki with a tempura prawn and avocado as the inner filling, and half-broiled salmon lying on top bathed in a special sauce. With some mayonnaise, it was simply lovely.

Tatsuya is truly a place for divine cuisine. If you want to celebrate a special occasion to dine and date, it’s a good choice.

The only reason you should reserve it for really special occasions is because the heavenly food comes with a rocket price. Unless you order from the menu, otherwise if you’re looking to taste the chef’s selections – which are the ones that separate them from the other Japanese restaurants – be prepared to part with a three-figure sum. Just to give you an idea, a plate of chef’s sushi (8 pieces) alone cost $110.

The price aside, it’s a good place to please your date, as could be seen from the many couples we saw that evening. 

Oh, if you’re lucky, you get to spot some celebrities too! And who are they, are you asking? Well, the likes of Fann Wong, Christopher Lee and Tay Ping Hui. An incentive to go or not, it’s up to you!

If you’re going, bon appétit!

African Nations Cup : Shockers!!!

As all the news and headlines of the Togo National Football Team’s deaths flood the world, the actual African Nation’s Cup is currently happening. We all know and feel for the Togo team, and some might even think that they are stupid enough to take the bus to Angola (the host country of the tournament), instead of flying there, the show must still go on!

The 2010 African Nation’s Cup, held in the nation of Angola, already three matches had been played. In the opening match of the tournament, host nation Angola led the game against Mali 4-0, only to lose their massive 4 goal lead in the final 15 minutes of the game! Extraordinary! Flavio gave the host the lead in the 36th minute, and doubled it with another one in the 42nd minute to take Angola to a 2-0 lead at half time. Gilberto added the third in the 67th minute from the penalty spot before being substituted, and Manucho made it a perfect fourth in the 74th minute, again from the spot. I guess being 4-0 up made the Angolan team complacent. Keita pulled one back for Mali on the 79th minute, and Kanoute made the score line slightly less embarrassing two mints before the 90th minute. When the referee gave four minutes of stoppage time played (perhaps due to the Angolan goal celebrations), Mali thought they had a chance. And they were absolutely right! Keita and Yatabare added their third and fourth goal of the game 3 and 4 minutes into the stoppage to ended the eight goal thriller with a final score of 4-4. I consider this as a loss for the host nation.

Elsewhere, Malawi, a nation little known for their footballing, manage to cause another upset in the tournament when they thrashed World Cup 2010 qualifiers Algeria 3-0 in the other Group A game! Ranked 73 places below Algeria, not even a football expert would have predicted this score line. In the first game of the group B campaign, hot favourites Ivory Coast failed to score in an easy game against Burkina Faso, a team also not known for their footballing. The game ended goaless.

From this first three games, I can only say to betters and punters out there. “DO NOT GO FOR THE FAVOURITES”.

Well, at least for the group stage.

Carlos Tevez hits the big three for the wrong Manchester team

Sir Alex Ferguson must be regretting this. The loss of Argentine superstar Carlos Tevez to arch and city rival Manchester City must be a hard pill to shallow. Especially when the striker place three goals pass Blackburn Rovers in the icy snow field, when all top teams like Manchester United and Arsenal lose points this weekend.

Roberto Mancini, a new Italian master manager had started with Carlos Tevez since he took over the Maine club, unlike former United player and City manager Mark Hughes, who only uses the Argentine as a substitute most of the first half of the season. Three years ago, Mancini (who was in charged Italian champions Inter Milan, attempted to lure Carlos Tevez from Manchester United to Serie A, only to be rejected by Ferguson himself! No doubt the Italian is, in hindsight, relieved he failed then.

Tevez now has 11 goals under his name from only nine games, and now has helped Manchester City move up to the Champions League spot of fourth place.

“When I was in Italy I would watch him on TV,” Mancini said. “It was clear he was a good player. I wanted him at Inter. I asked about him three years ago but it was impossible. He was at United and he would not have changed teams. Am I surprised he is at Manchester City after playing for United? I do not know the whole situation, just that he is a good player.” Roberto Mancini’s words after the game.

Certainly he does!

Love is the answer in Avatar

Love is the answer.

That was the conclusion I got while craning my neck backward to watch the humans and Na’vi slaying one another in a bloody painful battle in Avatar.

There were no sides to be taken, because I’m sure nobody likes to see so many lives dead, homes destroyed, natural habitats demolished and trees that contain more interactive cells than the neurons in our brains razed to the ground.

Yet, the war did happen because of human greed. For greed, they’re willing to attack and invade a territory that doesn’t belong to them.

On the other side, trust, comradeship and love bond the Na’vi fiercely and closely. They fight to protect the planet, the people and the animals they love. Yes, even those strange creatures are loved by them.

What do the humans fight for? One person’s ambition? Another’s greed? Do these bond them for life, or only as long as they share the same goal?

Once a Na’vi couple is mated, they mate for life. There are no betrayals in the world they live in.

But betrayed they were.

And amidst the fiery bombings and heartbreaking betrayals, it is love that makes forgiving possible. It is love that heals the emotional wounds, reunite hearts and create miracles.

Love forges alliances and creates trust. Violence and greed, on the other hand, burns bridges and creates mistrust.

It is love that propels one human being to discard his real body and identity to be completely infused into his avatar. The figure that was supposed to represent him. Yet it eventually became him.

Love is the answer.

Think Big Start Small

It’s the beginning of a new year. Looking back at the year that has just passed and realised you have goals and resolutions unfulfilled?

Last year, one of my goal is to complete a multi-discipline sports. I wanted to push myself a little further by doing something more than just marathon. 

It all started way back in 2008, I witnessed a friend completed Tribob Aquathlon Sprint in 2008 - 750m swim and 5km run.  I was inspired but had doubts of myself completing it.  It was something I hoped to do but knew I couldn’t.  I knew swimming was something I was not confident with and hence II might need to give this a miss.  However in late 2008, Tribob Sprint Series advertised for their Aquathlon Mini for 2009 - 200m swim and 2.5km run.  The distance for swimming is shorter, it is perfect for a beginner like me.  I cast my worries and doubts aside, took the challenge and registered for the event. 

I used to be a girl who could swim simple breast strokes.  I barely swim and even if I do, I chose to swim at the sides of the pool.  I could not complete one length of the pool at any one time, and hence.  Whenever I need to stop, I know I could hold on the sides to catch a breath.  That was how weak a swimmer I was. 

It took much thought and great courage for me to sign up for Mini Aquathlon.  I had alot of doubts about my capabilities especially the 200m swim segment . Knowing Aquathlon Mini requires swimming in the open sea, I need to be confident of swimming.  I would not be able to fulfil my goal with the swimming skills I had then.

Think Big Start Small.
Think Big: I had a big goal - swimming 200m in the sea. 
Start small - The first thing I did was to get a new swimming costume.  The one I had could not be worn! The elastic was loose and the costume was stained from many years of lying in the wardrobe untouched.  Can you imagine the number of years I had not swam! Next, I started looking for personal swimming instructor. I need to master front crawl and brush up my swimming skills.  I found a female personal instructor and started to have lessons every weekend.  Swimming pool was full of kids learning how to swim but that does not bother me.  It is never too old to acquire a new skill.  Within 2 months, My breast strokes were improved, I learnt how to swim front crawl and able to swim comfortably in the pool.  I do not need to hold on to the sides of the pool anymore to catch my breath. I am a swimmer! I am so proud of myself.  The goal I set actually helped me acquired a new skill.

If you have a big dream, pursue it. Don’t let your doubts stop you from fulfilling your dream.

Remember… THINK BIG START SMALL.  If I can do it, so can you. 

Rubber chicken at the Handburger

There are some restaurants which you just want so much for it to be good. It could be the promising menu, interesting ambience, friendly staff or even just the photos of yummy dishes. Whatever it is, you just wish for the outlet to live up to expectations.

The Handburger, at the newly-opened 313@Somerset, was one of those for me. The cheerful, spunky staff, interesting menu and the fact that their burger buns were freshly made in their own bakery, got me psyched up even before I took my seat.

I had the chicken caesar burger, which came with an unbelievably large chicken patty, bacon strips, mozzarella cheese and their home-baked buns. While the first few bites were tasty, the toughness of the patty eventually got to me. It took me way longer to cut it than to actually eat the whole thing.

Plus, since I never know how to eat huge burgers at swanky outlets (well...swankier than your neighbourhood MacDonalds) and just copied what everyone else seemed to be doing (eating the parts separately with utensils as though it was steak instead of just grabbing the entire burger with the hands), finishing the burger proved to be a messy affair.

The meal came with square cut fries which, while made from distinctly higher-quality potatoes than thosee of fast food joints and had a more solid, less greasy taste, were unremarkable.

My friends’ burgers - The Works (basically a mashup of onion rings, patties and other assorted meat cuts lumped together into a sinfully oily pile) and the tandoori chicken burger - were also disappointing, with a lack of cohesion in the ingredients and providing an underwhelming gastronomical experience.

To top it off, our shared plate of calamari didn’t live up to standards too. While less greasy than those in some other restaurants, they were utterly forgettable and nothing to write about.

It wasn’t all bad though. The sweet potato fries (which you can order instead of the usual potatoes) were grease-free and tasty and the nutella marshmallow milkshake (with three roasted marshmallows) was delightful.

Still, for all the promise the outlet showed, not to mention their impressive food presentation and cozy ambience (with bench seats, no less), The Handburger faltered at the most important part - the patty in the burger.

Eating at The Handburger was disappointing and, for the price we paid ($25 per person), I’m sure we would have gotten better at one of the many other burger outlets popping up all over Orchard Road.

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

The Handburger, 313@Somerset, B2-17/18/19
Tel: 65096214

Opening hours: Daily 11.30am - 10pm

Loudly Made in China, Product of Singapore

The X-Mini capsule speaker is built for music lovers who hate earphones (and probably the general public enough to subject the latter to their music choices). It’s really small but pumps out better quality and louder sound than some speaker docks do.

The $40 speaker system would be perfect for picnics and barbecue gatherings, especially to cover up all the awkward moments that come up when your friends (after a long display of public affection to their partners) ask about your non-existent girlfriend.

Now, if only somebody could tell me how this product can be labelled “Made in China” but still be a “Product of Singapore”:

Have lots of rules but apply them with sense and sensibility

I think it is better to have too many rules than too few because then the staff or officials can have the flexibility to enforce a particular rule or not.

Suppose there’s a private study room in a University campus meant for only students of a discipline, say Statistics. Usually you can apply two simple rules in the use of the room: No food, drinks and audio devices allowed; and only Statistics students are allowed in.

Naturally, many students will complain.

“Why can’t I bring food in? I won’t spill food or make a mess!”

“Why can’t I study in here? There’s a lot of space for students, why does it have to be restricted to Statistics students?”

“Remove the rules, they’re part of an outmoded bureaucratic system!”

Here’s the fun part though: It is a choice whether you want to enforce the rules. Because frankly, even the administrative staff turn a blind eye.

I believe the rules are meant for situations like the one below.

Suppose you come into the Statistics room to study for an important exam. Then an Economics student walks in, bringing a McDonalds meal, causing the entire place to stink of fries. He sits down, turns on his ipod and blasts music loudly, causing everyone to be distracted. If there were no rules, he can stay there forever (or at least, until his food/batteries run out). But if there were the above rules, well, enforce them! Kick him out ; the rules are meant for people like him.

But if say, you have a Law student quietly studying there, bothering no one, well, no one is really going to enforce these rules, except for some smart-ass who follows the book blindly and rigidly. And then that will be ridiculous ; following the rules just because they are written.

It may seem absurd that some rules should be enforced and some are ignored. The trick is for the top management to instruct the frontline staff that rules need not be enforced rigidly, and that the staff have the discretion to relax them, depending on the situation. So, if the room is empty except for the Law student studying quietly and minding her own business, then let the student continue studying there. Good sense and thoughtful evaluation of the situation should apply.

Doodling with light

On the last day of 2009, I was at a countdown party at the Pasir Ris Downtown East chalet. My friends bought boxes of sparklers which were lighted at the stroke of midnight. We were all adults but behaving like teenagers, waving and even spinning the sparklers around. Some of us started “drawing” them in the air and capturing the images with our cameras.

Here’s how you can do it: Place your camera on a tripod; if one is not available, hold the camera with a steady pair of hands, with arms resting on a chair.

Take a couple of test shots in regular shutter speed to ensure the area that the camera will be taking is in focus

Set the shutter speed to a long exposure, say, 30 seconds

Set the shot on timer of the approximate time taken for you to walk from the camera to the spot after clicking the button.

Get your torch, lighter, light sticks or whatever possible light source out and turn off the lights!

Feel your way back to the camera and press the capture button

Run to the location where the camera is focusing on and turn on your light source.

Start weaving the sparkler as if you’re drawing the picture or writing letters in the air.

Wee! I’m old and happy!

The verdict was out. I stared at the screen in dismay as two digits splayed out in a big, loud fashion – 73. How could it be? How could I have degenerated so fast over the last few days?

According to the screen, I was 73 years old. But, barely a week ago was I only 63! So, what happened?

I couldn’t accept this fact. Depression overcame me as I slumped in the couch, pressing my knuckles and letting them sink deeply into the plush leather seat – my comfort zone – and reflected upon my own misery.

I can’t be that old, I thought. I had breezed through the tennis, smashed the bowling pins and almost had the pitcher flown away from the strong gush of wind created by the intensity of the ball I had hit!

So, how could I have aged 10 years in four days?

I sighed, and wallowed in misery even further.

But, deep, deep inside me, I know. Truth of the matter is, I’m not a sporty person. I mean, tennis? The ball isn’t even in my court! Bowling? That’s not up my alley. And baseball? Gosh! This, I should have scored since I do most of my running at home. 

“It’s okay, you’ll do better the next round,” Stuart consoled me with a sly grin. Of course, he was at least 20 years younger!

A few rounds of self-reflection (those games aren’t my favourite and I’ve yet to find my forte) and self-motivation (at least I’m not a centenarian, there’s still room to go!).

Keeping fit has always been an elusive challenge for me. The minute I think of doing exercise, something would crop up and prevent me taking action. So, when this little white thing appeared in my life a week ago, and looked very promising to sort out my existing exercise regime, I decided to just give it a go. The selections available were tempting, and they were screaming and yelling to me to be pally with them. So I did! And very quickly, I was hooked.

Tennis, boxing, baseball, bowling. You name it, I’m game! Because all I have to do is press a button and I can play standing up, sitting down or even lying down on that soft, plush couch. 

Welcome to Wii Sports. I bet you’d known what I was talking about if you already had one fixed in your home.

What’s the beauty of this game? Well, according to my observation and some active participation, it can be concluded that Wii Sports (or some other games) can be a pretty good tool for family and friends bonding. It lets two people who can be 50 years apart in age become the best of friends in just two seconds.

It lets two people who are in love to be either more in love, or to hate each other’s guts so much that they swear never to see their partner. Stuart had the cheek to beat me in boxing, so you can only guess how well-treated he was after that.

It lets parents step into the world of their computer-games addict children and learn to appreciate the fun of playing together as a family.

There was so much laughter, bantering and teasing going on while Stuart and I were playing with our niece and nephew. Later, when their mother joined us, we had our chance to tease back at her.

Now, if you were to add all our ages up, it would be more than a hundred. But still, we all behaved as if we were only 15. So there you go. We’ve easily and effortlessly closed the huge and ugly generation gap with just a touch of a button. 

Mis-Adventures In Taiwan

When you think of a national park, what picture comes into your mind? Do you see a beautiful garden with blooming flowers dancing in the air, happy and fruitful bees decorating the horizon and possibly a sparkling lake radiating serenity and happiness to every visitor?

Well, I saw that in my mind, and it drew me like Winnie the Pooh to honey. I was hopelessly seduced and tempted to the idea of lunching by the lake. It would be idyllic and so romantic, I thought.

Without further consideration, I changed the day’s itinerary to include this event. I turned to Stuart and excitedly announced the decision: “Let’s go and have lunch beside the lake at Yang Ming Shan National Park tomorrow, ok?”

With his eyes still staring straight at the TV, he nodded his head and answered “Ok” robotically. I thought with glee about the romantic surprise he would get when we got there the next day.

He didn’t get his romantic surprise, but I got a rude shock instead.

Having told Stuart at least twice that I wouldn’t be going to Yang Ming Shan because I wasn’t dressed appropriately (in heels and dress, I think not!), it somehow didn’t seem to register in his head that we would be heading to exactly where I didn’t want to go!

By the time we realised, or rather I, realised, we were already half-way up the winding road uphill. Yes, we were going to Yang Ming Shan after all. This was Day 2 of my Taipei trip. Welcome to my first misadventure.

As my mistake continued to stare at me blatantly in the face as we meandered our way up the mountain in the taxi, I began to sulk. I felt so indignant! How could I make such an error, when I’d specifically told the hotel receptionist that I didn’t want to go to Yang Ming Shan, but the national park? Yet, nobody pointed out to me the obvious – that the national park was situated in the hill itself. Gosh! What was I thinking of when I saw the name?

We could smell the strong sulphur aroma wafting into our noses even when the windows were all winded up. Wanting to make the best out of this dire situation, I grabbed at every opportunity to take photos. Can you see the hot spring at the background?

Upon reaching our destination – which by now I wasn’t entirely sure where exactly it should be – at the taxi driver’s recommendation, we alighted at one of the more popular restaurants there. By this time, our stomachs were growling.

The soup cheered us up, since it warmed our stomachs pretty well. It tasted good too! And we treated ourselves to a hearty serving of hot, steaming buns – a Yang Ming Shan specialty.

Their specialty soup - Pineapple Bittergourd Chicken soup. Was very tasty, especially in cold weather!

Our lunch venue - the entrance, alfresco and indoor dining areas.

With our stomachs full, warm and happy, we – or rather I – were finally game enough to explore the place. Though the road ahead didn’t look very promising, we decided to walk uphill instead of down since that was where we came from. A short walk and I was in for a very pleasant surprise. Guess what greeted us?

Ta-dah! Windmills! Lots and lots of them! See, aren’t they cheery and cute?

My excitement evaporated shortly as we continued our trekking while looking out for the one and only transportation that could send us out – the public minibus – without seeing any in sight. The wind was blowing stronger by now and I grabbed onto my thin sweater desperately, swearing under my breath about this wrong decision.

Finally, after walking for another yard, or kilometre, or metre, or god-knows-how-long-it-was, we stopped. The road ahead was a very steep and windy road lined only by trees and nothing else. So, we had to stand there and wait for the bus. Now that would have been fine if the weather was cool and nice. But when it was chilly and windy and the only piece of clothing that could provide that one ounce of warmth was just a tiny cardigan, standing in the open would be the last place you want to be.

That was when I started to pray: “Oh Lord, please, please send us the bus now, before I freeze to death here. Please Lord, please. Amen!”

Lo and behold! The bus appeared! Talk about a speedy answer from God!

I couldn’t have scrambled onto a bus any faster in my entire life, truly! And we sped away from my first misadventure in Taiwan and went back to the city.

As I sat on the bus I couldn’t help reflecting upon this incident. In life, we like to make plans. But how many times do our plans turn out to be exactly how we envision and like them to be? More often than not, they don’t. So how do we deal with these irregularities? Sulk? Throw a tantrum? Stamp your feet with regret?

You can do all that, but you also know as well as I do that doing all these won’t help a bit.

The only thing we can do is to go with the flow and think of the next best alternative, with a positive attitude and can-do spirit. 

Resolutions for 2010

Happy new year, everyone!

As always, it’s come the time to start laying down resolutions for the new year. While I’ll agree with most people that resolutions are mostly forgotten by April and that they’re notoriously hard to keep, I’ve always felt that, even if we don’t follow the letter, we can follow the spirit of the resolutions.

After all, even if we don’t achieve exactly what we said we would by the end of the year, at least we would have used them (when we remembered) as motivators and guides throughout the months.

My main resolution for 2010 would be to get a silver for my IPPT.

Ask any ORD-ed NSman and he’d tell you that health and fitness mostly goes down after leaving national service. Studies, work and other aspects of life often clog up our time and, without enforced and disciplined exercise, we wouldn’t have time to keep fit.

Thus, I’m going to set that goal for myself, not only so I can fulfill my IPPT requirement of the year and not have to go for remedial training (not to mention the cash incentive, which would be lovely to a poor student like me), but so that I would force myself to consistently exercise throughout my school term and try to keep fit.

Why not gold, then, you ask? Well, I know my limits and, after all, resolutions have to be tough but achievable right? I was never even close to getting a gold during my full-time NS and, now that I’m in school and have less time to train, I’d be glad to be able to hit my silver requirements.

Of course, being a university student, I’d also resolve to do well in my studies and try to get on the Dean’s List, which seems an increasingly phenomenal task.

What are your resolutions for 2010?