to touch and to feel, to love and be loved

R.I.P.

2010-03-31T03:25:00.000+08:00

the second phase is ending...

2010-03-13T01:38:00.005+08:00

... and i'm all packed and ready for the third. guess what i'm gonna miss most is the big space i have here, living in a house. i got the master bedroom, with enough space to skip rope and do work-outs with my gym ball. plus, i got the biggest and nicest washroom.

did a quick recollection, and realized most of the fun stuff was done in the first half. seems like after all that, we gotten into a slow spiral of repetitive boredom. guess the best thing i did was to buy my bike. it re-sparked my interest in cycling, and i'm starting to get my fitness and shape back. Second best is probably the long road-trip during the Thanksgiving Holiday. We went to Manhattan and D.C plus a few stops in between. The highlights included visits to USNA, Fort Bragg, MOMA, Times Square, Ground Zero, running in Central Park (I now believe it when pple say it's the best place to run in the world), running up the steps to Lincoln Memorial, paying respects to the Kennedy brothers at Arlington National Cemetery, driving past the White House, Capitol Hill, among others.

Oh, another wonderful memory is driving to Clearwater to watch the Ironman World Championship 70.3 in Nov. it was such an inspiration just being able to watch and cheer these world-class triathletes. i even managed to squeeze in to the sidelines near the finish line, and high-fived some of the winners, haha...

Florida is a really beautiful place, with diverse wildlife everywhere. even in the man-made lake within our estate, there are turtles, birds of different kinds, fishes, etc. And check this out, took a shot of a man walking his dog:

Huge dog, right?? amazing.. wonder what he feeds his dog with...

Photo shoot 22 Jan 10

2010-01-25T12:38:00.007+08:00

Here are some highlights from the photo shoot:

A sequence shot:

Executing a high-speed turn:

Happy riders after the shoot:

So those are the nice shots. Now i need to choose the best one for submission.

New year, new me!!

2010-01-19T14:47:00.002+08:00

It's nice to finally have the sun back, after a few weeks of winter cold. went cycling ytd for a short while, did only one lap and came back to run cos of the strong wind conditions. as i opened my front door after my ride, an old gentleman came up to ask me abt my bike, haha.. turns out my neighbour knows i ride a Felt, and told his friend abt it. Oh, my neighbour rented a balloon sculpture thing, and most of the kids in the neighbourhood came by to jump and play in it. Guess my neighbour's friend is a parent. Anyway, he's really impressed by my bike. He told me he's considering getting a Felt bike too, so i told him abt the plus points of my model =)

oh, and i gained 10lbs! i'm now 145lbs. last yr i was 135, and the yr b4 i was 130... i knew i was gaining weight, but i didn't expect it to be so much so fast. Well, at least some of the weight is due to muscle, as i've been working out in my room. But there's excess fat in my thigh and butt area, been sitting around at home lazing for too long.. haha....

My new ride

2009-12-09T08:59:00.007+08:00

Well, I should blog about my New York trip first, since i collected my bike only after i returned, but i just can't resist =)

Proud owner of a spankingly-beautiful Felt AR4:

Demonstrating how light it is:

And off i go!!!

Post-ride comments: it felt really smooth and responsive. Carbon fiber is the way to go, good balance of stiffness and comfort. The Ultegra drivetrain shifts accurately. And the bike is well-fitted to suit me =)

I bought a new bike!!

2009-11-19T07:37:00.003+08:00

Went for my bike fitting appointment ytd. it was rather professional, with sensors and image capturing. we started off by a simple Q&A to find out my biking needs, usual distance covered, race goals etc. Then it's up onto the static bike for image capturing. after taking my measurements and observing the way i pedal, the fitter then went to do up some formula to see which bike can accomodate me. reason being, i'm quite weirdly structured: i have a long upper body and arms, and shorter-than-normal legs, for a person of my height. the fitter actually made me go onto the static bike again after he done up his formula just to confirm it. I neglected to tell him this before we started the fitting.

So, the usual sequence is that the fitter comes up with at least 2 recommendations according to the formula he done up. For my case, he took much longer than CJ, as my body shape will mean that i have to use a medium frame, but my short legs means my seat post will be rather low. according to the fitter, this will make the bike less able to take shock from potholes or bumpy roads. But i figured i won't be riding on such rough conditions anyway. one of the choices included the one i had already made up my mind to get. I did think through the merits of the second option (Ridley Excalibur, a Belgium maker), but the Felt AR4 '09 version was going at a clear-out price as the '10 bikes are already available, so i just couldn't give it up.

Here's a pic from the website:

A summary: full carbon fiber bike, aerodynamically shaped frame, internal cable routing, Shimano Ultegra SL drivetrain, and Felt AeroR3 wheels to complete it. it doesn't come with pedals, so i'll have to install that at the bike shop, together with a cyclometer, decided to go with the Cateye Strada Wireless. was up till 2am last night to do online shopping, managed to find Giro Ionos helmet (one of the best out there) and Sidi T2.6 carbon tri shoes (one of the best out there), both at half price off or better!! i'm so proud of myself =)

my first week (cont'd)

2009-11-07T08:52:00.007+08:00

As promised, a photo of my license plate:

Funny thing is, i realised i haven't taken any pics with this car. maybe cos i find it boring...

Anyway, we went to the beach on sat, and it was my first encounter with the Atlantic Ocean. So now i have the privilege to say that I've seen 2 different oceans, the other being the Pacific.

Trying to be artistic, and capture how clear the water is. failing miserably...

and this is the first meal we cooked together!

I realised my blogging can never catch up with what i'm doing, cos i'm always doing research on online shopping instead of blogging. and i haven't been taking enough nice pics to put up anyway. but i'll try. This weekend i'm doing a road trip on my own. Going to the National Navy UDT-SEALS Museum for the open house and listen to this talk, and hopefully get some nice souvenirs. After that i'll be visiting St Augustine for some shopping and sight-seeing, followed by Jacksonville to meet Jessica's sister. There's a Sea & Sky Spectacular at Jacksonville, but i'll only go if time permits, cos i guess it'll be the same as the Miramar Airshow i went to last yr, with the Blue Angels performance and the static displays. I'll blog abt my road trip next week, and also abt all the stuff i bought so far =)

My first week here

2009-10-30T08:02:00.008+08:00

Been wanting to do up this entry since tues (hence the title), but was down with a cold the past few days.. Well, things are quite ok now, after all the silly things that happened to the group before i got here. to cut a long story short, the house we are renting is apparently in the process of foreclosure. After talking to the landlord and checking the relevant legislation, we concluded we are safe to stay here for the next 4 months, and won't be forced to evict by the bank. it was quite weird when i arrived without knowing all these, cos i found the house to be sparse, and the guys didn't buy crockery and cutlery etc. but now the house is more equipped, though with only basic items.

before departure:

Never seen Changi Airport this empty and quiet before.

At Narita Airport:

At Atlanta Int'l. Ipods are actually sold at vending machines here!

Finally touched down at PBI, after more than 24 hours!

missed my connecting flight from Atlanta as the flight was changed to a different concourse, and i just missed the airplane by minutes. The service staff managed to put me on the next flight which was 1.5 hrs later, but that flight got delayed by a good 45 mins. well, at least my luggage was still waiting for my at PBI, was so worried that someone else might have taken it away...

My room (with an attached bathroom and balcony):

The attached bathroom:

My room, after getting a bedsheet set and a floor lamp. the bedsheet set is made of 400 thread count, 100% egyptian cotton =)

I bought a foldable table and a gym ball which doubles up as a chair a few days after. The room still look a bit sparse due to the size, thinking of getting a nice picture frame and plastic flowers to decorate it up a bit.

Update: bought a car, a '02 Honda Accord 4dr EX. registered it 2 days later and got a rather nice car plate. I'll upload a pic of it soon.

What i got for my birthday this yr

2009-07-09T14:28:00.011+08:00

well well, what a year... I received some birthday cards, including one from my brother in Florida and one which is a cute stitched-on card. Not to forget the many well-wishes over sms, msn and facebook. Singtel gave me a pleasant surprise, 200 extra free minutes for the month. Maybank gave me 50% discount on tr'eats redemption, which i'm using to get Krisflyer points.

SAF gave me a 5 year good service medal:

just a coincidence that it's awarded this month, nothing to do with my birthday. i bought a watch for myself: Sinn 356 Flieger from the Hour Glass.

look at the fine detail. simply elegant and yet quietly rugged.
it hase a sapphire crystal case back, to provide a peek into its movement.

it looks good with the rest of my flight equipment =)
and not to forget the most special one...... YOU!!

i'll miss you...

2009-04-21T00:15:00.007+08:00

my cousin left for japan, and now i'm one close fren less to hang out with... haiz... though we only became really close after i was in nus, i treasure all the advice you had given me at times when what i needed was an honest opinion, when no one else would have gotten through to me. now i'm glad you found your happiness =)

your fav polariod!! i think it's becos of the colour combi (not the photographer's skills...)

at the wedding:

my cousins in a tight embrace:well, i hope to see u real soon. haven't blogged for a long time, just wanted to keep these photos and feelings somewhere =)

unpredictable weather

2009-01-11T12:10:00.006+08:00

Foggy one day...

... and at night...
... sunny the next.

my new year's resolutions

2009-01-01T13:11:00.002+08:00

3 more hours to 2009, and here are my resolutions:

1) eat well (that includes breakfast)

2) be more tolerant to mistakes

3) 2 hr half-marathon PB

4) 22 min 5K PB

5) IPPT gold

6) ride more

7) spend quality time with others

8) finish all my books

84th day

2008-12-24T09:13:00.007+08:00

We had a mini x'mas dinner together, with turkey and ham and julian apple pie. There was a fireworks display along the bay, which we caught a bit. followed by a sailpast of beautifully decorated sailboats and pleasure crafts, manned by enthusiastic merry-makers.

A view of the bay, and also the Coronado bay bridge:

2008-12-21T06:55:00.002+08:00

feels almost surreal running here. though the cold air gives me a little problem with my left shin, i'm starting to cope with it by keeping warm. but the feeling is great! the air is clear, the view is beautiful, and endurox here is cheap! not to mention the magazines which are discounted when bought in base. i picked up every issue of Runner's World since i got here, and i still find it hard to believe that i'm right here reading all these, being so close to those events or places the articles talk abt, and doing all the training tips on how to cope with the cold fall/winter weather. i even visited some of the shops that Bicycling magazine showcased in the Oct issue. like i said, surreal!!

Gears of War 2

2008-12-20T00:54:00.003+08:00

Kona, the mythical place

2008-12-14T04:59:00.002+08:00

I just watched a show abt the 2008 Ford Ironman Championship. boy, was it inspiring... watching it is so different from reading abt it on website coverage. witnessing the endurance, determination, pain, fear, anxiety, hardship, and then the relief and exuberance at the finish, is really amazing... and to listen to the stories of how the individuals arrived at the starting point. like how a person survived cancer and decided to try out for Kona. how a disabled motorcross rider wanted a new challenge. like how David Goggins, the navy seal, wanted another event to raise funds for families who lost breadwinners in the war. like how the oldest starter, at 72, also became the oldest finisher many hours later. and so many others who sacrificed so much to achieve that elusive dream.

More updates on the crash

2008-12-10T14:14:00.002+08:00

From Foxnews.com:

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

SAN DIEGO — Both engines of a military jet fighter failed before the aircraft crashed and burned in a residential area, killing three people on the ground as it destroyed two houses, a congressional aide said Tuesday.

Investigators resumed the search for a missing child, believed to be 15 months old, in the wreckage of one house. Neighbors were in shock at the tragedy that befell the South Korean child's family Monday, hours after the father kissed his wife and baby goodbye in the driveway.

The twin-engine F/A-18D Hornet went down about two miles from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.

No official initial finding of the cause of the crash was given, but a congressional aide who had been briefed on the crash said the pilot had been attempting to land at Miramar after his right engine malfunctioned. The aide spoke on condition of anonymity because the information was not yet public.

While the pilot was on final approach to the runway the aircraft also lost thrust from its left engine, and the pilot ejected, the aide said Tuesday.

The pilot ended up suspended by his parachute in a tree. He was being treated at a hospital.

Three people — a mother, her baby and a grandmother — were killed in one house and officials said a fourth person, believed to be a small child, was in the house and had not been found. The search for the child had been suspended during the night.

One other home was destroyed and three were damaged.

The San Diego County medical examiner's office has not officially released the names of the victims. The Rev. Kevin Lee of the Korean United Methodist Church identified those killed as Young Mi Yoon, who was in her mid-30s; her 2-month-old daughter, Rachel; and her mother, Suk Im Kim, who had recently arrived from South Korea to help care for her daughter's newborn.

He identified the missing child as 15-month-old Grace Yoon.

Neighbors said the family of Korean immigrants moved into the area about three months ago.

Resident Choko McConnell, 85, a widow who lives down the street, said she often saw the grandmother pushing a child in a stroller.

"I cried all night," McConnell said. "A family perished, a young family."

Michael Rose, 44, said he often spoke with the family and had seen the father kiss his wife and baby goodbye in the driveway just hours before the crash.

"I thought, what a beautiful sight. And then later in the day, they were gone," Rose said.

Amy Hegy, a spokeswoman for the American Red Cross, San Diego, said she spoke to the father of the children when he returned to the gutted home Monday night. Hegy said he was "calm" and stayed with friends. She also said the man had extended family in San Diego but would not reveal further details.

Military aircraft frequently streak over the neighborhood, but residents said the imperiled aircraft was flying extremely low.

The pilot, who ended up hanging by his parachute from a tree in a canyon beneath the neighborhood, was in stable condition at a Navy hospital, said 1st Lt. Katheryn Putnam, a Miramar spokeswoman. He had been returning from training on the carrier USS Abraham Lincoln off the coast, she said.

Investigators will review information from a flight data recorder. There was no indication the pilot was using alcohol or drugs, Putnam said.

Dawn Lyons spoke to the pilot just after he landed in the tree.

"I saw an incredibly composed person," Lyons said. "He didn't have any scrapes or bruises. He was very lucid."

There was little sign of the plane in the smoking ruins, but a piece of cockpit sat on the roof of one home, and a charred jet engine lay on the street. Authorities said the smoking wreckage was toxic and about 20 homes were evacuated.

The Navy recently inspected hundreds of F/A-18 Hornets, built by Boeing Co., after discovering "fatigue cracks" on more than a dozen of them. The inspections looked for cracks in a hinge that connects the aileron — a flap that helps stabilize the jet in flight — to the wing.

The Navy announced last month it had grounded 10 of the $57 million fighters and placed flight restrictions on 20 more until repairs could be made.

The supersonic jet is widely used by the Marine Corps and Navy and by the stunt-flying Blue Angels. An F-18 crashed at Miramar — the setting for the movie "Top Gun" — in November 2006, and that pilot ejected safely.

Other news articles here, with comments from the public.

F/A-18 jetplane crash

2008-12-09T07:57:00.002+08:00

Was watching the news while having lunch and saw this horrific story. A F18 pilot experienced difficulties and had to ditch his plane abt 2 miles west of Miramar. At least 2 houses were completely destroyed, with a few more in the neighbourhood severely damaged. Latest update is that 2 are confirmed dead, with 2 still missing.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/12/08/national/main4655894.shtml
http://www.abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=6419464&page=1

A post on CNA:
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/395041/1/.html

F/A-18 jetplane crash (click on the thumbnails)

2008-12-09T07:56:00.002+08:00

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the ultimate multi-tool

2008-12-08T13:29:00.009+08:00

Leatherman Skeletool CX.
Made of only premium materials, it is a mere 5 ounces light. the blade is made of 154CM stainless steel which is outside-accessible, very smart design. the stainless steel handle has a layer of tungsten DLC scratch-resistant coating, and even has a carbon-fiber (carbon-fiber!!) insert for the finger grip. nice...
It brags having only "everything you need and nothing you don't". a plier with wire-cutter inside, a stainless steel combo knife, a carabiner/bottle opener, a bit driver with interchangeable philip/flathead screwdriver, and a removable pocket clip.

8.5cm when folded. make for a real compact and convenient tool for all occasions and situations.

so that is the third Leatherman i bought. and all these over the past 2 months. i'm such a spendthrift, haiz...

there's the 16-in-1 full sized multi-tool, Leatherman Blast:
and then i bought the e303 folding knife on a slight impulse...Guess i have all the tools i ever need in a lifetime =)

more updates

2008-12-04T01:23:00.000+08:00

here and here.

i witnessed a suicide attempt today

2008-12-03T15:33:00.006+08:00

We wanted to go for jap buffet, and so I was drove out of base when we met a huge jam leading to the Coronado Bay Bridge, the one that links north island to mainland. A little background on this bridge: it has a max height of 200 ft to allow aircraft carriers to pass underneath it, and it is a really beautiful bridge which gives a wonderful view of downtown as we drive out, and of the pacific ocean as we drive in. Sometimes if we are lucky, we can spot seahawks going up and down the bay doing training sorties. It also happens to be the third deadliest suicide bridge in USA according to wiki.

So we were stuck in the long jam, wondering what's happening in front. then i spotted a guy standing on the bridge on the opposite side of where i was driving, as if he's gonna do a bungee jump or something. as i drove past, it became apparent what was going on, cos there were non-uniformed negotiators trying to talk to him. (i saw 1 main negotiator talking to him, with 1 more on standby just a few metres away.) and as i drove further down, i saw that the police had closed the other side of the bridge, and that there was abt 50 cars stuck with no where they can go. it was abt 2pm when i finally got onto the freeway. so we had lunch and walked around a bit, hoping that the situation would have defused by the time we head back. alas, there was still a huge jam along the freeway nearing the area, and the bridge was still "closed due to police activities", as heard over the radio station.

anyway, the incident made me wonder what it takes to drive a man to such a drastic step. this is the second time i witnessed such a thing. the other time was in uni, i was back in my room after a paper when i noticed through my window some commotion in the driveway near the engin fac. there were civil defence quick-response vehicles and police patrol cars, then i saw them running up the building to the rooftop. it was a 4-storey high laboratory building, so i could see all the proceedings from my 8th-floor hostel room. so i saw some staff and police officers talking to him, and there were some SCDF personnel deploying an air cushion on the ground (rather slowly i must add), when suddenly some guys grabbed the student and pulled him away from the edge. rather uneventful conclusion, but at least the guy get to live another day, and reflect on it.

Death Valley National Park (day 1)

2008-11-14T14:53:00.015+08:00

Beautiful!!

After paying our entrance fee at the visitor centre, we headed to Badwater Basin, which has an elevation of 282 feet below sealevel, making it the lowest point in North America. it's also the venue of the "world's toughest foot race", a 135 mile course held during the hottest period of summer.
and here we are, ready to weather the desert trail!Next we went to Devil's Golf Course.
then we wandered around, just taking in the wonderful scenery as the sun starts to set.
Beautiful, isn't it?

2008-10-24T12:25:00.002+08:00

gosh, there are fireworks going off right now!! and i can see it from my building!! this is the 3rd time it happened and i can't think of any occasion or reason why. hmm.... oh well, i'll just enjoy the display all the same =)

2008-10-24T12:10:00.002+08:00

"What if something goes wrong?"

A key SAF phrase which ensures the clockwork running of the organization. Playing an impt role in the deterrence function against ingenuity and free-spiritedness, it never fails to strike fear among all. Capable of stopping even the hardened warriors from stepping out of line, it's a line which doesn't need to be used sparingly. Suitable for all scenarios, best applied by scholars.

on a sidenote, we did our EKGs today in the medical centre. and my result was slightly astonishing. mine showed a very thin and high spike, which the corpsman said indicated a very strong heart. in fact, he had never seen such a result before. i asked for a copy of it, and had it signed by the doctor. gonna paste it up on my wall here. happy happy...

it's been 3 weeks here...

2008-10-20T13:30:00.010+08:00

... and i'm slowly getting settled in. the days have been getting more chilly, so i'm glad i bought a nice-looking nike jacket last week. it was difficult getting to sleep at the beginning, being affected by jet lag plus the noise of planes taking off (the americans like to train at night). but i'm enjoying the personal space i get over here. tried to decorate my room with a few posters, but i think i'll do better once i can get my hands on some bluetack. which is really hard to find here! we haven't been sightseeing as much as i wanted to. went to la jolla to enjoy the view of the beautiful pacific ocean, and went to the Balboa Park today to appreciate the historic architecture. there's even a gigantic fig tree in the middle of the park.and for 3 weeks, i thought i did a good job in packing for this trip. until i went to do some research abt diving here in california, did i realise i forgot an item: my dive logbook! haiz.. next time then...
oh, and i bought a new bag. hmm, i bought 3 bags actually. 1 nike sports duffel bag, 1 black military helmet bag from the marine corps base, and this beautful camelbak octane 8+ hydration backpack. designed for adventure racing, trail running, or speed hiking, it carries a 2L reservoir and abt 8-12L cargo space. I really love this bag!!

first outlet mall shopping

2008-10-12T16:22:00.007+08:00

wonderful day of shopping! look at the full trunk after we got back. (half of it is probably mine)
4 shopping bags...
contains so many items!
there's 3 guess teeshirts, 2 banana republic shirts and 2 pants, 2 CK teeshirts, 3 nike teeshirts, 1 nike shorts, thermal beanie, a pair of running gloves, a gym bag, and a duffel bag... all mine!!!

and it's only my second week here, hee...

2000 Ford Mustang convertible

2008-10-04T15:27:00.002+08:00

2008-10-04T13:38:00.001+08:00

yesterday i bought a pair of ray bans. today i bought a car.

me in my new Ray Bans!!

2008-10-04T04:46:00.001+08:00

the first few days

2008-10-03T13:34:00.007+08:00

didn't have much time nor energy to blog these few days. there were occasions which were really frustrating, and i probably behaved in a way i shouldn't have. but there were some nice moments, which are truly amazing. like this morning, i did my first run here. after i reached the crest of a hill, i realised it overlooked a nearby airfield. and there was a long line of pple doing FOD sweep. and when it was a really long line.. reminds me of "Top Gun" the movie, hee... was really comfortable running in the morning here cos the air is so cool. and even though i heard the songs on my mp3 player so many times b4, it felt different when i was listening to Aerosmith right here in America =)

most of the time though, was spent inefficiently waiting and discussing what to do, and not achieving anything substantial. the big issue now is trying to get cheap and suitable cars, which is not easy cos as foreigners we can only pay by cash. so we went around looking for used cars, and today we even went to someplace less than 2 miles from the border! kinda exciting, thought one of us was kinda jittery abt it...

oh, i did some shopping today, more than the previous days combined. i bought a pair of ray bans for only us$30!! it's probably the best buy i have so far. so happy abt it =D

and here i am, finally

2008-09-30T15:51:00.001+08:00

and the grass is truly greener...

North Island, Naval Air Station

2008-09-30T15:33:00.009+08:00

This is where i'll be for the next 4 months.
and here we where, at my accomodation. this is the living room, which comes with a full set of sofa and a tv.
the cooking area, which links the living room to the bedroom.
and this is my room!
my toilet. on the left is a bath-tub, on the right is a hidden medicine closet.

singapore looks so different when seen from up in the air!

2008-09-23T02:03:00.003+08:00

from 1000 ft up, in fact =)

things i'll miss

2008-09-21T13:07:00.003+08:00

you.

roti prata.

playing COH with derek.

hanging out with my cousin.

my car.

chilling out at timbre.

complaining abt work to/with yanjie.

long rides to nowhere in particular.

you.

2008-09-20T21:00:00.001+08:00

funny, i can't recall the day i stopped being myself anymore.

Helicopters of the RSAF

2008-08-31T23:10:00.010+08:00

from the 70s...

then there's the Huey (UH-1H):

and the Super Pumas:

CH-47SD (Chinook) came along:

then the AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters:

and in 2010......

The Seahawks!!!!

Above All

2008-08-30T23:37:00.002+08:00

Panasonic DMC-FX38

2008-08-30T23:34:00.001+08:00

Tag number 0795258

2008-08-28T21:02:00.004+08:00

look here.

San Diego, CA

2008-08-18T19:24:00.001+08:00

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six, and counting...

2007-12-10T17:53:00.000+08:00

it is finally in singapore!!

2007-11-29T00:05:00.000+08:00

the audi R8. born of our most powerful ideas.

i'm going to watch Federer next month!!!

2007-10-17T21:50:00.000+08:00

my leave has finally been approved! though it's only verbal so far, cos i forgot to log on the system today.. but my XO finally gave me the go-ahead. It's at KL, billed as the "Clash of the Times", it's an exhibition match between Pete Sampras and Roger Federer. so exciting!!!

here's the article and weblink. anyone wanna go?

the original

2007-10-10T22:26:00.001+08:00

the nike spoof -- very funny!

2007-10-10T22:24:00.000+08:00

Roger Federer -- Highlights of the Saison 2006

2007-09-22T12:01:00.000+08:00

Rugby World Cup is here again

2007-09-14T21:20:00.000+08:00

bebel gilberto in singapore!!

2007-09-12T20:56:00.000+08:00

anyone interested in watching? 2nd oct at the esplanade. one night only.

here's a sample of her latest album.

the (K) Factor

2007-08-06T22:57:00.000+08:00

this is the K SIX.ONE 95.
- THE #1RACKET CHOICE OF TOURING PROFESSIONALS

- IMPROVED PRECISION THROUGH INTEGRATION OF [K]AROPHITE BLACK

- THE IDEAL WEAPON FOR THE PLAYERS IN [K]OMMAND OF THEIR GAME

2007-08-01T00:02:00.000+08:00

after struggling and see-sawing for a few days, i decided to do the stanchart again this yr. still the 21km run, but i'm gonna better my timing of 2hr28mins from last yr. gonna aim for below 2hrs. so i better start training now!! =)

2007-07-31T23:58:00.000+08:00

i thought it was swim-bike-run-repeat. i was wrong. it should be swim-bike-run-recover-repeat. that's the most impt component of training, for any sport.

time and tide waits for no man

2007-07-25T20:03:00.000+08:00

i bought a new timex watch! didn't really have the need to, since the old one is working perfectly fine, just that the strap broke yet again.. but i saw a 20% off discount coupon in the chervons magazine while checking my email at the ships' office in the morning. and after that i went to collect my race kit at holiday inn for this sat's tri, aand there was 30% off for all the timex watches there. thinking that it costs me $10-20 to replace my strap, and that a updated cool-looking watch with 50-lap count instead of 30-lap costs only $80 after discount.. and it has a better strap.. i didn't really hesitate...

it looks like the one in this. looking at it now in my hands, i recall the genuine happiness i felt when i bought the previous one.. though it's just a simple digital watch. and i remember that my ex-gf didn't understand why.. haha, feel really young and naive then.. haiz..

oh, i bought a new phone. HTC touch!! haha.. it's really cool. a PDA phone really makes life easier. though the ringtone is really soft.. gonna disable the camera after a few weeks, then i'll use it full time. meanwhile, remember to get me to take a pic of u when i see u, so i can put as a contact pic. b4 i disable my camera! =)

2007-07-04T12:09:00.000+08:00

it's been a quarter of a century.. but it seems that i have no impact on the world, nor on anyone.. and i haven't learnt anything at all, no achievements whatsoever.. so depressing... =(

the sea ensign flies ever so proudly

2007-06-03T20:48:00.000+08:00

2007-05-23T20:59:00.000+08:00

yippee!! we came in 15 out of 30 relay teams!! we did better than expected, haha.. i did my bike leg in 1hr 30mins 5sec, which is the 17th among the bikers..

and my passion for cycling has once again been rekindled.. went cycling today after coming home early after work. and i'm gonna start training on my swim soon, once i figure out the best time and place to train.. =)

open house is this weekend. was hoping for my frens to take a look at my working environment, and to see what i'm passionate abt. but it seems that the venue is a bit of a turn-off, and it seems too "propaganda-ish" for some pple.. haiz...

Oakley City Duathlon 2007

2007-05-20T20:57:00.000+08:00

what a race! the many bends turned out to be an advantage for me. being on a road bike, i have a better turning radius than tri-bikes, haha.. 40km was easier than expected, though i would have enjoyed the race better if i had been well prepared for it. i could say that i'm busy at work etc etc.. but i know it's all excuses, i'm just plain lazy and ill-disciplined.. oh well, hope it won't be the same on 28th jul..

and there's no goodie bag! was hoping for some discount vouchers for oakley sunglasses. but there isn't anything at all.. hmm, thank God my cousin is going US next week. i need a pair that can stick to my head better than my current one. and just in time for my next race =)

p.s. my fren says we could have finished in the top 30, hee..

2007-05-15T19:18:00.000+08:00

what a wonderful day.. was being a runner at the opening ceremony of IMDEX Asia, at singapore expo. put in charge of seating plan.. was rather uneventful, untill i was assigned to follow an entourage as they tour the exhibition hall. didn't expect that i would be going in, so i was rather excited, hee.. and there were only 2 entourage, i followed the minister of state. at the beginning it was rather messy, so i was left with CDS while my senior officer went to look for the rest. he was a rather surprisingly humorous person, delightful to be with. hit off quite well with him, so i followed him most of the time after that. also partly becos he likes to roam around to talk to pple and collect brouchures, so i have to make sure he's not left behind.. and i'm glad he discussed the exhibits with me, rather than just treat me as a junior officer. maybe my humble opinions will be of use when he's planning for the future of the navy, or even the armed forces, hehe..

i do something dangerous almost everyday

2007-05-08T23:01:00.001+08:00

i drive to work.

2007-05-08T22:47:00.000+08:00

finally, i'm not several steps behind everyone else anymore.. i remember getting a camera phone many yrs after pple have grown tired of clicking and snapping around.. asking around how to use bluetooth.. starting a blog when the fad is dying.. and i actually bought a second-hand discman last yr!! haha..

vista is super cool!! and i love my workspace at home!! took me a bit of time and effort to build it up. but now i have a proper table to work on. it was so fun assembling the furniture together. my table, cpu holder, my drawer unit, etc etc.. my old lamp from hostel complements perfectly the matching magazine holder and paper organizer. and my black LCD monitor looks so sleek and deadly. not to forget the mini-flag to showcase my patriotism.. =)

2007-05-03T00:15:00.001+08:00

i knew it! as predicted, it will be the dream final this season!!

and it's so cool watching the video stream on soccernet.espn.go.com with my new comp.. no lag whatsoever, and the picture quality is so crisp!! love my new desktop! hee..

finally, my own personal workspace at home!!

2007-05-03T00:15:00.000+08:00

took me 3 trips to ikea, 1 trip to IMM, 1 trip to v.hive, and many days of pondering.. b4 i finally settled on a white table top with adjustable legs.. no particular reason for the adjustable legs, just that this model allows for some add-ons. i put a CPU holder under the table, and bought a drawer with casters. though i haven't assembled that yet, quite worn out from assembling the table, haha.. bought matching file holder and paper organiser, and dusted my old table lamp, which happens to fit into the overall colour coordination.. hee...

hmm, but i'm still lacking in some stuff.. i have my mini singapore flag, and a calendar from subaru. but i still need a stationery holder, a writing top, a better chair, and maybe a magnetic board/notice board.. gotta make another trip soon.. hee...

the shopping mall of the month is...

2007-05-02T11:17:00.000+08:00

...any capitaland mall!! cos i have 3hrs free parking.. hee... these include plaza sing, funan, tamp mall, IMM, junction 8, clarke quay, etc etc.. valid for the whole month of may. happy happy =)

2007-04-29T22:26:00.000+08:00

feels wonderful to know that someone is genuinely happy to see me today...

my dream final: AC Milan vs Liverpool

2007-04-27T19:52:00.000+08:00

steven gerrard vs kaka.. the best midfielders in the world, finally playing against each other.

so much for my off-season training..

2007-04-17T21:57:00.000+08:00

had a short run in the evening. wasn't productive at all for these 2 days i've spent slacking at home.. all i did: got my car serviced, collected my citibank cards, met up with my SOTO, and then a 3km run.. hmm hope i have the willpower to do more for my next off-day..

and i need the discipline to train!! gonna take part in the city duathlon with derek and chris as a relay team, hopefully i won't disappoint them too much. but first, i gotta overcome my fear of cycling.. ever since i started driving, i realise the margin is too close for comfort. guess i'll cycle only at deserted roads, and during odd hours.. and really put more faith in my helmet! realised after my run that my fitness is nowhere near ready.. didn't do much for the past few months. though it still feels good to put on my shoes. (oh, i bought a adidas cap, the first item i used my citibank card for, hee.. hopefully can motivate to run more)

and i finally have synthetic oil in my car! after 10,000km, haha.. now the drive is smooth, acceleration is better, and i can rev higher than b4.. real cool..

work is kinda cool, much better than i expected. talk to me if you want to know more =)

2007-04-17T21:55:00.000+08:00

i yearn to see what's inside of me, but i'm scared of what i'll find...

we will rule!!

2007-03-14T20:37:00.000+08:00

some updates.

12 march:
feels good to be back in uniform (not to mention that my new watch matches my uniform perfectly, hee..), but it was really great to see the batch together again for possibly the last time b4 we go to our respective ships.. the emo feeling only came at the end of the day, when i realised that this marks the end of our course. a wonderful 4 mths spent at safti.

got posted to my first choice. 185 here i come!! but will still be in tuas, attached to my previous ship RSS Sovereignty to get my BWC and Nav C b4 i go to one of the MGBs.. hope to be in team 1, where hongchuan is slated to take over the NO position.

the briefings by Hd MNTS and 194 SQN CO ended at 3plus. got to go home right after that, as sovy is out sailing. and i thought that would be the earliest i get to go home for months to come..

13 march
went onboard sovy for abt 15 mins today, and met comms o, xo 2, lek and some of the ship crew. the ship was back to change crew b4 going out for another sailing. i didn't sail as i had to collect a chart for a training sortie on thurs. comms o was her usual self when we came onboard, but after the AOs had a quick chat with CO 2, she gave me a pat on my shoulder and said "welcome back". hee.. =)

the ship slipped off at 11plus. i got the chart at abt 1pm, did my chartwork on it only to find out i didn't really have much to do. so i did the most natural thing: i went home. haha.. got home and changed out of my uniform, then went out to have sushi buffet with my fren. bought a nice silver pen to put in my uniform, browsed some magazines at borders while waiting for jason to come over from tuas, then went to amk hub for the first time. koolook is having an opening sale, and jason bought a pair of ray bans last week there. i wanted to go look for casual sunglasses too, only to see that it sells rudy project sunglasses, so i looked at the rydon and other models. the assistant manager then took the m frame for me to compare, and somehow that seems the better choice based on price and comfort.. hmm i'm still considering if i need to spend $250 on a pair of sports sunglasses..

14 march
met team 1's CO and XO today. they seem quite friendly to me, and hoped that i'll guide the other inexperienced (in terms of PV experience) AOs around. i requested to CO that i'll be put in team 1, though nothing is confirmed yet.

2 patrols next week plus 1 duty. not too bad actually. positive thinking!!!

2007-03-11T20:34:00.000+08:00

letters from iwo jima. ghost rider. dreamgirls. music and lyrics. paris je t'aime. the pursuit of happyness. rocky balboa. 300.

it ain't over 'til it's over

2007-03-09T00:22:00.000+08:00

"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done. Now, if you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hit, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you are because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain't you. You're better than that!" -- Rocky Balboa

That's the most lines i heard from stallone in one shot.. haha..

2007-03-04T22:10:00.000+08:00

i wanna be like rocky!!!

2007-03-04T21:44:00.000+08:00

Risin' up, back on the street
Did my time, took my chances
Went the distance, now I'm back on my feet
Just a man and his will to survive

what an inspiring movie.. can't believe it's written and directed by stallone, haha.. i'm referring to rocky II, just watched it at home. bought the dvd of rocky I and II a few weeks ago, in anticipation of the theatre release of "Rocky Bolboa". need to get updated with the previous movies first.. and how i was blown away by the old movies! the simple story of the underdog fighting hard for pride, for glory, for everything they believe in.. plus the genuine love between rocky and adrian.. and firmly believing in God, no matter what happens.. it's such a wonderful film.. i was actually crying and laughing at the same time when i was watching rocky II.. so emo, haha..

waking up early to train, doing one-handed pushups in the dark, running up the steps to the Philadelphia Museum of Art as the sun rises.. what a scene..

oh, my course ended on fri.. got mixed feelings abt the grad ceremony. received my cert from Coscom Commander, whom i admire greatly as a senior officer. but the sad thing is, not everyone was there at the ceremony. well, a fren colin got into a really bad car accident on wed, and is still in hospital right now. brought a sombre note to the whole day. pray for him, yah?

2007-02-26T00:02:00.000+08:00

the nus arts fest is here again!! click here to find out more..

and i definitely will be going for the observatory concert!! anyone wants to join me? http://www.nus.edu.sg/cfa/artsfest/observatory.html

there are other good performances too, like this japan-based singaporean girl who sings bossa nova.. heard her doing an interview on lush 99.5, and she sounds real good. then there are the dance performances by the various nus dance groups etc etc..

cafe del mar anyone? first week of march...

2007-02-21T20:10:00.000+08:00

i love cohesion day!!

thanks to the equatorial counter current

2007-02-14T22:53:00.000+08:00

Yippee!! my presentation is over, and we did better than expected!! though we didn't have a lot of bells and whistles, our presentation was sufficiently clear and concise, with just the right amount of information. and we were not wordy either, with enough relevant pictures and animation to show movement of wind and tidal streams, etc etc.. =)

this is where we plan to go. from maldives to darwin in australia.
and this is an aerial view of port darwin, which i did the planning for.
this shows the approach of port darwin, as circled on the chart. the pilot will be boarded at the Outer Pilot Boarding Place before we enter the DW route known as the Middle Pass. this will take us right between the main shallow patches of water, the Charles Point Patches and the Middle Ground. as u can see, there are quite a few good spots to take radar fixes from.

and these are the impt navigation marks along the route.

so glad that the presentation part is over. now we have to complete the report, which is still in a rough draft. and of course we need to finish all the chartwork. that will take up all of my CNY hols.. oh well..

where do you want to go today?

2007-02-13T21:35:00.000+08:00

another big day tmr.. OPP presentation!! been busy with this project for the past few weeks. it's just a passage planning, to test our navigation planning skills. sihao is my group partner, and we are doing a passage from maldives to darwin. actually, we did most of the work within these past few days. kinda last min, haha.. i pity sihao for having me as his partner, cos i'm always busy with the logistics stuff for the class. well, i hope we get a decent enough grade..

and after this is done, and the report handed in next week after CNY, there's only two weeks left in the course. sad.. though the course can be quite tiring at times, being on course here in safti is definitely a better life than back onboard ship.. having lessons together and asking good questions, staying back to do chartwork or study hard for tests, playing soccer at the end of the day, these are the things i will definitely miss.. just hanging out with fellow junior officers, with our unique lingo and culture.. saying something that i know only these group of pple can understand and appreciate, it's really something..

oh well, no matter how difficult it is, i have to stay positive about going back to ship.. =)

2007-02-12T23:16:00.000+08:00

gosh, how much more lucky can i get.. for 2 days in a row, i saw the parking warden inspecting cars in a different sector from where i parked.. but i can tell that i was only minutes away from another parking fine.. oh man.. phew!!

2007-02-11T19:16:00.000+08:00

2007-02-03T21:41:00.000+08:00

sedated.. losing muscle mass.. can't think, can't study at all.. i hate all these.. why now?

2007-02-02T10:34:00.000+08:00

i want to be a better person for you..

the learning pyramid

2007-01-24T20:37:00.000+08:00

just another learning model among the many existing right now. it was shown briefly at a masters intro talk i went last week, with the purpose of highlighting the fact that learning can and should be self-directed. students should be active participants in the learning process, not passive recipients of information. you can read more abt it by googling "learning pyramid" on the web.

think abt how it can be applied in your life. =)

2007-01-21T23:30:00.000+08:00

it's so refreshing to see wonderful pple so humble in their ways and mannerisms.. i know that a lot of times, pple around me have been rather put off by the way i fuss over minor details. grammer, typo errors, what route to take, where to eat, etc etc.. but all josh said was a simple "thanks".. he was sharing with me what he experienced at service, and told me he blogged abt it. so i went to his blog and read it. of course, i did understand the message he was trying to put across, but i only replied him with one word: "definition". i saw a typo error and instinctively i had to let him know.. a short while after that i wondered why i did that.. i'm sure he wanted to talk abt the sermon, and perhaps tell me something. (gosh, i lost my train of thought... shall continue this when i recall my point)

Onitsuka Tiger

2007-01-21T22:22:00.000+08:00

300

2007-01-14T22:09:00.000+08:00

Set in the midst of the Persian-Greco war during the Battle of Thermopylae, where Spartan king Leonidas led his army of 300 soldiers into battle against the invading Persian army. According to legend, their valor and sacrifice inspired all of Greece to unite against their Persian foe, leading to the origins of democracy.

will be out on 8th Mar 07

An Irish Airman Forsees His Death -- W. B. Yeats

2007-01-14T19:48:00.000+08:00

I know that I shall meet my fate
Somewhere among the clouds above:
Those that I fight I do not hate,
Those that I guard I do not love:
My country is Kiltartan Cross,
My countrymen Kiltartan's poor,
No likely end could bring them loss
Or leave them happier than before.
Nor law, nor duty bade me fight,
Nor public men, nor cheering crowds,
A lonely impulse of delight
Drove to this tumult in the clouds;
I balanced all, brought all to mind,
The years to come seemed waste of breath,
A waste of breath the years behind
In balance with this life, this death.

2007-01-08T23:08:00.000+08:00

feel so so drained.. huge nav test last week. feeling the pressure of OPP and other stuff we need to do. plus the running around doing logistics stuff. haiz.. was really hoping that 2007 will be much better than last yr, but i started it with a fatigued body and a downcast heart..

God pls grant me strength and courage

2007-01-02T11:45:00.000+08:00

"My eager desire and hope being that i may never feel ashamed, but that now as ever I may do honour to Christ in my own person by fearless courage." -- Philippians 1:20

what kind of person are you?

2006-12-31T11:11:00.000+08:00

no, this is not a personality test that you find in a mass email, where u answer a few simple qns, then i predict what kind of person u are. i don't believe in that nonsense anyway. but i do have one question for you: do you do things right, or do u do the right thing? think abt it.

up till now, i'm still pretty amazed whenever pple tell me "you can do anything, just don't get caught." it's a common refrain within SAF, a "suitable" excuse for pple when they need to get things done along the way of achieving an objective. and i heard it from a civil defence officer ytd, haha.. thing is, so what if you don't get caught? there's a chinese saying that says even if no one else knows abt it, heaven will know, the earth will know, and you yourself will know. and if u are a christian, i'm sure Jesus will know! well, of course there are some things that are not so significant, like consuming alcohol when u are still below 18. but where is the line drawn? do we decide for ourselves? why would it be ok to drink if you do it hidden from other underaged pple? maybe i'm just such a stuck-up, one who goes by the book.. like when josh's beer wasn't included in the bill, i know i wouldn't feel good if i didn't let the waitress know. or when i just can't join in the crowd and throw pple into the pool, when the security guard is already there giving us repeated warnings, and with kenny's relatives and frens watching us. (i wonder what was going through their minds.. were they worried abt kenny's safety? or did they want to throw kenny in too? haha..)

but i'm sure Jesus didn't mean for us to choose when and how to live by rules. how can we be effective witnesses then?

back to the qn. doing things right, or doing the right thing? sometimes i give in to the temptation of going the shortcut when doing things. once in a while, things turn out better than i would expect, but there were times when there were dire consequences, and i have to brace myself to bear them. even as i'm now recalling these instances, my heart aches.. and i really regret that i didn't choose to do the right thing at that time.. haiz.. well, our actions are what defines us, and not just our thoughts and intentions. it could be a very simple thing, liking parking at a convenient place, cos u thought u will only be there for a few hours, and u are too lazy to go down further. i'm sure kenny's fren didn't expect that his car will be clamped up, and that he will be involved in a heated argument with a resident just becos of that..

hope that after you read this, you would reflect abt what the things you have done this year. ultimately the choice is yours. and being able to choose is one of the biggest privilege a person can get.

2006-12-30T13:38:00.000+08:00

i would sail to the ends of the world for You.

question is, do i travel by rhumb line? is it a great circle track, or can i just follow a single course? will there be polar navigation involved? then my gyro and magnetic compass will not work.. and what are the exact lat and long of the "ends of the world"? i need to know...

2006-12-24T00:26:00.000+08:00

my baby gleaming proudly after its first wash..

2006-12-19T21:04:00.000+08:00

YES!! i am the TIME Magazine Person of The Year 2006!!!

one of my dreams for this year was to be on the cover of a magazine. seriously.. was hoping to bulk up and tone my body nicely, and try to be a cover boy for men's health.. haha.. i know it sounds crazy. anyway, now one of my dreams is fulfilled! even though it's only TIME magazine instead of men's health.. :P

my first taste of command

2006-12-16T12:33:00.000+08:00

and it's really bitter.. wonder if i can really make it up there...

coming soon!!

2006-12-13T22:02:00.000+08:00

All The King's Men -- 28 Dec 06
Borat -- 28 Dec 06
Sin City 2 -- 4 Jan 07
Letters From Iwo Jima -- 1 Feb 07
Rocky Bolboa -- 1 Mar 07

i know it was Your act of grace

2006-12-10T22:11:00.000+08:00

what a beautiful sight..

2006-12-03T20:46:00.000+08:00

dream. believe. achieve.

2006-12-02T21:19:00.000+08:00

Tmr is one of the 3 "big days" of the week.. standard chartered half marathon. a challenge i've been wanting to take up for years. will be the longest distance i would have run in my life, exceeding the 10km of the new balance real run in august. my number tag is 15849, so watch out for me if u happen to be there.

then on tues, i'll be collecting my car. yippe!!This is just a display car. mine is almost the same, except that mine is a darker shade of gray.

on wed will be the soccer match btwn NWOC and WNC. playing two separate teams over the two halves, i'll be sort-of in charge of the first team. then my soccer boots had to give way last week. the sole on the right side detached slightly. could probably still use it for a while more, but i didn't want to take the risk. and it gives me a good reason to get a new one!! nice??hee.. what an exciting week ahead..

2006-12-01T17:49:00.000+08:00

"Nobody is born a warrior, in exactly the same way that nobody is born an average man. We make ourselves into one or the other." -- Carlos Castaneda, American writer (Dec 1925 - April 1998)

2006-11-30T21:31:00.000+08:00

zhenchang is now a qualified first aider!! (again!!)

up, up and away..

2006-11-26T20:47:00.000+08:00

not that i want to sound like a whiner, neither do i want to run the risk of being seen as leaning towards the opposition, but it is getting quite ridiculous.. i still believe that the white party is the best one to govern, but it seems that the tried and tested form (whatever it is called) doesn't value the welfare of the common pple.

let us look back at the past six months since the general elections, where the white party won "big".. the opposition's campaign strategy touched a bit on rising standards of living in singapore, which the incumbent didn't bother to rebuke. then, after the elections, (in chronological order) utility fees went up.. taxi fares went up.. ERP fees went up.. public transport fees are announced to increase starting 1st Oct.. GST is going to rise to 7%.. even local postage fees will rise, up from 23 cents to 25 cents starting Dec.. hmm...

well of course, in this period of time, the fairly-new Parliament House has to conveniently undergo some minor but time-consuming renovations, which means that all these fee hikes couldn't be debated. these included the public transport fees and uni fees. hmm...

oh hmm, i recall that almost 1/3 of voters voted for the opposition, but we only have 2 opposition MPs in the Parliament (not counting the NCMP).. weird system, hor?

p.s. apparently, the GST and public transport fares went up soon after the 2001 elections.. hmm...

2006-11-24T23:10:00.000+08:00