NOBODY - By The Wonder Girls

This song was introduced to me by my colleague yesterday.

K-Pop is soo cool.

English Version released in the US



Korean Version

Historic Success

It was just in March when my colleagues and me were at the airport in the wee hours of the morning to send the NATAS Singapore Women's Everest Team off (Jane, Lihui, Yihui, Esther, Joanne and Peh Gee). They were leaving Singapore for the start of an incredible journey that could placed them to be the first Singaporean Women to reach the world's tallest mountain.





While we were all excited and looking forward to great victory and achievement when they come back, there was a sense of worry too. I remember the mom of one of the gals tearing. It was rather emotional. Well, which parent wouldn’t worry right. Climbing Mount Everest is not an easy task. After all, it is the highest peak on earth which stands at 8850m.You can’t deny that it’s dangerous. Furthermore, there are no ‘real’ mountains in Singapore to practice and train with for a start. While we have always believed that they could do it, well whatever it is, safety always comes first.



I had my one and only so called mountain climbing experience a couple of years back when I was in Vietnam with two of my pals, David & Lisan plus a couple of others. By nature, I am definedly not an outdoor person. I hate the heat as it gives me a bad migrane and a whole lot of after-effects. It was tough for me as I didn’t ‘train’ for it at all. But my friends helped and encouraged me along the way. I would say there was a great sense of achievement when you reach the peak. You are rewarded with spectacular views when you reach the top. It was an awesome feeling but well, certainly lots of hard work and sweat too. I would say that team-work is really important. Thanks to Dave & Lisan for cheering me on.

So when I first got news that the first team comprising Lihui, Esther and Jane had successfully reached the summit, I was overjoyed. In fact, both my colleague and me were still asleep at that time when the sms came in. We were in Tashkent at that time. It doesn’t matter that the sms actually woke the both of us up as it was certainly good news. I guess I was really happy for them because I know them personally. 48 hours later, Joanne and Peh Gee also reached the world’s highest peak.

So on monday, i was at the airport to welcome the six gals back together with everyone from my office. It has been a wonderful journey, climbing new heights with them. It has been a historic feat for Singaporeans. They are a great inspiration and they have proven that dreams can indeed turn into reality. Well, with much hard work, tears, joy, sweat and sacrifices of course.

感想

今天是 Uncle Henry 的 funeral。 我还是很不相信他已经不在了。心里还是很伤心难过，应为他走的太突然了。我心里有个遗憾，就是在新年的时候,从房里听到他的声音，却没下楼跟他拜年。这是应为 Uncle Henry 这一两年都是很早来我家和 Grandma 拜年。通常都是自己来，应为朋友会到他家打麻将。今年，我有听Mom 说他有 complain 他的脚痛。Haizz ... 想起来觉得很没有礼貌。

今天，Raymond 和 Ricky 分享了他们对父亲的感言。非常感动。我心里在想，如果 .... 如果 ... 是我，
我会说什么呢。我真的不知道。

Raymond 说这段日子，有三个奇迹。

(一)就是他父亲遇到了他母亲，所以才会他们三兄妹
(二)他和弟弟 Edwin 小时候是在 St. Paul's Kindergarden 上学的。Raymond 就是从哪儿开始认识了耶稣。当时父亲还没接受主。奇妙的是父亲在 2006 年在 St. Paul's Church 接受了主，过后就在St. Paul's 教会崇拜。
(三)就是 Uncle Henry 的姐姐，妹妹和他的 reconciliation just before he passed on。 A prayer of reconciliation was prayed just before he passed on.

真的是非常奇妙。

Raymond 也读了孙子想对爷爷说的话。我听了眼泪不知不觉都流了下来。Coffin 里面也放了好多孙子的drawings.

今天 Auntie Tina问我为什么 Ricky 会穿SAF的军服出席父亲的 funeral。原来是给爸爸一个salute，感谢他。

回家的途中，Mom 说 她觉得很 surprised Auntie Wah 会这么坚强。我对 Mom 说，这是应为她和家人都信主的原因。主赐给她力量，平安和勇气。Auntie Wah 也知道 Uncle Henry 上了天当.他们一家人还是会相遇.

As for me, i've still got to pray and work very hard on my whole family. Doesn't help that time passes by so fast. But one thing for sure, i'm perservering.

Saying Goodbye Is The Hardest Thing

Goodbye Uncle Henry.

I guess i am probably still in shock after i heard that Uncle Henry passed away this afternoon. That probably explains why i am really tired and a little unwell but just can't go to bed.

It was just earler this week when i heard that Uncle Henry had a high fever and wasn't feeling very well. He went to see our long time family doctor and was asked to be admitted to the hospital right away. Well, some of us were still guessing that it's probably due to dengue or he couldn't take the cold weather in Taiwan. Mom has been calling his wife, Auntie Wah for updates fathfully every night after dinner. All mom could say was bad, bad, bad. I wonder how bad is bad until yesterday afternoon when i was driving mom to grandma's place, mom told me that it was bone cancer / leukemia. I was still telling mom that there is nothing much we can do but to pray for him.

Yes, that explains why i am in a big shock now. I think mom and dad are quite affected by it. I can understand why.

愛是不保留

Luv this fabulous cantonese christian song that is often used in weddings.



常聽說世界愛沒長久，哪裡會有愛無盡頭？
塵俗的愛只在乎曾擁有，一刻燦爛便要走！

而我卻確信愛是恆久，碰到了你已無別求：
無從解釋、不可說明的愛，千秋過後仍長存不朽！

誰人受痛苦被懸掛在木頭？至高的愛盡見於刺穿的手；
看！血在流反映愛沒保留，持續不死的愛到萬世不休！
惟求奉上生命全歸主所有，要將一切盡獻於我主的手；
我已決定今生再沒所求，惟望得主稱讚已足夠！

[ Unreserved Love ]
I've always been told love won't endure.
Nowhere can one find love long and true.
The world just thinks love comes and passes through.
"Don't make promise" is the rule...

But I still believe love can last long.
Your unfailing love has made me strong.
You are the one I can depend upon.
Come what may, you'll love me all along!

Who died on the cross and took away my curse?
Great is your love, I don't think I should deserve.
Your bleeding hands proved your love unreserved.
You're my only joy and treasure on the earth...

Giving everything to you is all I pray.
Use my life to serve you truly every day.
I'll hold your hands and give you all my praise.
Let the whole world know your love and grace!

Obama On Talk Show

Another interesting clip which i just viewed a couple of days back was the one by US President Obama who appeared on Jay Leno's talk show.

SIGNS

I love this clip. It's very well done. It's a simple short film on communication. It's created by Publicis Mojo and RadicalMedia. This is an innovative and refreshing campaign created in New Zealand for Schweppes Europe and has now achieved a worldwide following on the internet.

Directed by Patrick Hughes, Signs is an 11-minute romantic comedy about an unhappy office worker looking for love. He eventually realises that the signs were there all along, in the neighbouring office.Told with very little dialogue, the film appeals to an international audience and has now become a viral success, achieving almost one million views on YouTube alone.



Enjoy!

Jai Ho

I watched SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE recently. In fact, it's on the eve of the Oscars. So i was plesantly pleased that the movie which i watched was actually the Best Film. As i was rather busy during that period, i went to watch the film with a couple of friends without actually knowing what the whole show was about. Only managed to goggle search to some background information an hour prior to show on my BB.

This movie is beautifully filmed and acting is magnificent too, particularly by the kids. Oh ... i love the song 'Jai-Ho'too. Check it out! Love the choreographed dance sequence. Reminds me on the good old days when i was at Adelind's place for dinner and ended up watching an Indian movie which i kinda like on television.

The T-Mobile Dance

This is just so cool!

T Mobile full advert made in Liverpool Street Station.

Satchi & Statchi created “Dance”, a spot for T-Mobile UK where 350 dancers spontaneously took over Liverpool Street Station in London to the joy and glee of all involved. The interesting part is that the spot, filmed entirely with hidden cameras, was shot on January 15th and aired on the 17th, giving it a bit of vitality and life in the spirit of the spot itself.

Embracing 2009

I have not been writing for a month. Not that i didn't want to but well, either there were too much to write or i didn't know how to start.

Whatever it is, 2008 has gone and it has PASSED. Perhaps, i am glad that 2009 is here for a brand new year brings new hopes, beginnings and a start to a chapter. What can i say but i hope i will be able to embrace the new year with much courage and confidence to work on the things which i did not achieve last year. Wish me good luck. Hee :)

FaceBook Is Sooooo Cool!

Hurray! One good thing about Facebook is that i managed to trace back many university friends whom i've not been in touch with since i graduated.

The group has been éxpanding' and the 'alumni' is growing. So nice to be in touch with them again after so many years.

The good old days in Building 6, RMIT in Melbourne. I miss my school days! Thanks to mom & dad for giving me the opportunity to study overseas. The experience has been very valuable and priceless.

Ain't No Mountain High

SWET stands for Singapore's Women Everest Team.

I had the opportunity to get to know the gals recently because my company is the title sponsor.There's Jane, Esther, Joanne, Lihui, Peh Gee and Yi Hui. They are all in their 20s or 30s and are attempting the summit (Mt. Everest) in march. If they succeed, they will earn themselves a Guiness Book of Records entry.

These gals are truly inspiring and motivate me alot. Their passion, excitement and dedication for the sport is remarkable. It's alot of hardwork to reach where they are right now. The amount of training and exercising is beyond me. For a start, they climb stairs daily and whenever they can instead of taking the lift or escalator. Sounds easy ... but it's not. And weekend means serious training. Hmm .. i wonder if they ever get some rest. But then, it's Mount Everest and not Bukit Timah Hill though. Ha:)

Thinking back, i ought to thank them for motivating me, and helping me to achieve my first personal breakthrough this year. I really don't know how i managed to do it but i did complete my 40km of cycling. The amazing thing is that i have not cycled since i was a little girl and i was telling my friend that i may have already forgotton how to cycle. But then, there's just so much truth in the statement. Once you know how to cycle, you'll never forget it. It's a skill. And trust me, this is so true.

As i was cycling and enjoying the cool breeze of the east and scenery of the coast, i thought of the gals. At that point, i was thinking to myself .. well, if they can climb the everest and train hard for it, what is this mere 40km. I guess that kept me going and it wasn't that tough after all.

And let me see ... maybe they will do me some good too. I hate trekking because i can't handle the sun. And i hate steps which is a real hindrance to climbing. But maybe after knowing them, mountain-climbing could be my next new found interest. Never say never. But till now, it's nowhere near my radar. Ha ha!

Media Conference @ A Unique Venue - Campus Corner.



It's interesting to read about their past expeditions. Not easy. I'll never be able to do it.



That's me .. the first well-wisher to sign on the board.



My new colleague, Rina and me with Mr All Wrapped Up aka Mr Mountain Climber. Check out his attire.



We'll behind the SWET Team. All the best!

If Tommorrow Never Comes

It was a saturday morning.

I flipped through TODAY papers and had the greatest shock of my life. Totally stunned. The headlines stated that the Singaporean hostage has been killed.

I was in total disbelief and took me awhile to sink in the fact that hope was gone and reality is here. And yes, i have never really felt the nearness of danger and the closeness, reality and threat of terrorism until now.

I guess being a Singaporean, i have been too complacent about safety. Afterall, most things & situations always turn out well and fine. Perhaps that also explains why i always look at the positive side of things. It was something which my faith has taught and moulded me too. But this time, it has hit me hard and showed me that life is really unpredictable.

Even when i was in Vientiane in 2004/2005 working on ASEAN projects which involves the ASEAN leaders, there were rumours of bombs. Indeed, there were several bombs that went off, but away from where all the actions took place. At that time, i wasn't afraid because somehow, i knew i would be safe. I was with my colleagues and local counterparts and we were mainly at the Don Chan Palace hotel or the Lao Exhibition Centre. But now, even hotels seems to be so unsafe. But really, nobody would have thought that terrorism would have striked in this manner.

After this incident, my views have changed. It has really reminded me to always keep our guard, to be vigilant, especially when we are overseas, be it for holiday or work.

But hey, the circumstances in which Hwei Yen lost her life is too unbelivable, too unimaginable, too inhumane. There are many very unfortuante ones who shared similar fate as hers. What wrong have they done? What wrong have she done? Sadly, it was the case of being at the wrong place, at the wrong time. What more can i say but it's really not our timing, God's timing.

Even though i do not know Hwei Yen personally, she felt like a friend to me, someone whom i could relate to. She had led a vibrant life, marked by many similar things which many of us could relate to.

Her love for musicals, good food, wine, shopping, travelling. These are the things that i like & enjoy too. She has many people that loves her, friends, colleagues, family, neighbours and a bright young life to enjoy. There were so many things to look forward to.

And just like her and many others, i travel overseas to work too. A brief stay is not supposed to turn into a fatal one. We always know that we are coming home and there's family and friends waiting for us, and maybe even deadlines at work to meet, emails to clear, errands to run or functions to attend. There were things to look forward to.

But this incident has waken me up. I could be in her shoes. Anyone of us could have because we all travel. Now, i really treasure my family and friends more. Never live a life of regrets. Enjoy everyday of your life coz. you never know if tommorrow comes. Like what my senior director always tell us .. If there's good food, enjoy it. If you can go for holidays, just go and relax. And yes, always spend meaningful time with your loved ones too. Life is just too unpredictable.

Media Ministry Gathering

The media ministry gathered on sat afternoon for a great time over lunch and board games at the MiND's CAFE.

Look who's having fun.

Back To School

I attended a seminar yesterday morning at Ngee Ann Poly. It felt great to be back on school-ground. Suddenly, i miss my student days very much. I wish i could get back to studies but well, realistically .. i need a banker and a sponsor for that.

Had lunch with my colleagues at the school canteen and the prices were so affordable. Around us were all the poly students, mainly in groups and just having a good time with their friends and peers over lunch. Yeah .. even at poly, i bump into someone from church. Can't remember her name but two years back, we were singing in the same choir group for some church events. Ha ha .. she must have wondered why i am at poly.

Anyway, the canteen food is pretty reasonable and yes, it's definedly somewhere you can go if you want something cheap and decent. Where else can u find 40 cents tea and coffee and 60 cents desert. Yeah .. the more reason why i miss school, and school day prices too.

Grandma Turns 90

Just received the photos from KY, my cousin-in-law.

Celebrated Po Po's 90th birthday abt 1 - 1.5mths back at Uncle Roy's place. As usual, it's always difficult to get everyone present. This time, 3 person were missing. Shen was outstation to Italy, Wu Quang studying for her O-levels at home and my uncle is working. But still, it was a pretty good turn-out.

And yes, grandma has two birthday cakes. Heard that it was due to some mis-communication. But still, the cakes were yummy. And yes, at 90yrs .. grandma is still strong and healthy as ever. Her favourite activity ... hee hee ... majong. I call her the 'MAJONG QUEEN'.

SKY ERP

I've seen the one at the flats, the light-house, the roads ... and now up in the SKY!

Sexy Jazzy Bossa Nova

This cd is one of my latest puchase and i love it alot. Check it out. I love the sexy jazzy bossa nova style. It's really relaxing and sets the mood rite.




BACK TO LOVE in BOSSA MOMENTS
New Interpretation of Latest Hits & Classic Love Songs

Back To Love | In Bossa Moments Track Lists:
01. Bleeding Love Bossa Nova - Rachelle Spring
02. You’re Beautiful - Marcela Mangabeira
03. Back To Black - Monique Kessous
04. Your Song - Marcelo Rezende
05. Don’t Stop The Music - Marcela Mangabeira
06. Bizarre Love Triangles - Marcelo Rezende
07. You Raise Me Up - Cris Delanno
08. I Should Be So Lucky - Tahta Menezes
09. Lovin’ You - Marcela Mangabeira
10. Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words) - Bob Tostes
11. Let’s Stay Together - Liz Menezes
12. Just The Way You Are - Marcela Mangabeira
13. As Time Goes By - Cecilia Dale
14. I Say A Little Prayer For You - Taryn Szpilman
15. Over The Rainbow - Pery Ribeiro
16. The Look Of Love - Patty Ascher