Photo – Butterfly (Macro)

This is one of the rare shots where I managed to capture a butterfly up close. Not sure what species this belong to, but the photo was taken at the butterfly enclosure at Korea’s Everland themepark.

Butterfly from Everland

GSS 2009

My daily habit, good or bad, of reading The Straits Times from cover to end has finally paid dividends in the form of spotting advertorials for warehouse sales held at the Expo.

While most Singaporeans thronged the main thoroughfare of Orhcard Road seeking the best offerings from the Great Singapore Sale (GSS) 2009, I took a less well trodden path to the Singapore Expo for my GSS shopping fix.

More specially, what attracted me to this godforsaken place to the ‘far east’ were the warehouse sales by Robinson’s and MPH.

Last I remember of the Expo was the jaunt there to scoop up handfuls of old library books during the NLB sale some years back. Since then, I have decided to give the place a miss since the time taken to travel there from my place just doesn’t make any economical sense.

I am still thankful for being one of the ‘early birds’ when I reach Hall 6 of Expo, the place where Robinson’s are hawking their fares. Being early meant shorter queues at the dismally inadequate number of fitting rooms as well as more elbow space to look around the rows and stacks of items on sale.

As I was looking for reasonably priced, well, just call it cheap, office and casual wear, I immediately made a beeline to the Men’s section. The countless stacks of clothing can easily overwhelm most people. The more notable brands worth a mention here are Ashworth, Thomas Smith and Daniel Hecther. Other common brands were available, but I didn’t take much notice since I don’t usually go for their stuff.

After shopping for close to 3 hours, I trudged with a satisfied smile to the cashier, with 2 polos tees, 2 office shirts, 2 pairs of shorts and a memory foam pillow all happily tucked in the ‘trolley’ shopping bag provided at the sale.

Forgot to mention that my wife also had a great shopping experience there. For the ladies, check out the ESPIRIT and FCUK sections. Worth a look since stuff are going for pretty low prices.

Writer’s Block

Have not been posting recently as I have been suffering from some form of writer’s block. Anyway, just to update my friends, I came back from a tour to Korea in in early May, then I got myself a new set of wheels (for the first time in my life) and now my wheels are guided by a spiffy GPS system, which only means…

• I still have three packs of 1kg kimchi in my fridge (woohoo!)
• Loads of Jeju chocolates in the fridge (bleh…)
• Friends are likely to see more of me now
• Gone are the days of furiously flipping the street director (Woot!)
• I still need to get my licence :P

Yeah, Life’s Good!

Pigs can fly

Temperatures around the world has risen a notch since the last weekend. I am not talking about the warmer weather due to climatic changes. Rather, I am referring to the number of people getting temperatures after being infected with the swine flu, if that’s the aapropriate name for it.

Perhaps it is fortuitous that the swine flu struck instead of the more fatal, unless proven otherwise later, H5N1 avian flu strain which the world has been preparing for over the last few years.

While deaths related to the swine variant of the flu is still contained to people in Mexico, the speed and extent of its spread is astounding. No thanks to the highly connected network of international air travel these days.

Since the time I first heard of the outbreak in Mexico, last Sunday, countries across the globe have started to report cases of infection. US, Canada, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, are just a handful of countries with ‘confirmed’ cases while a dozen others are awaiting results on tests conducted on suspected cases.

While I would normally be concerned with such adverse developments, this potential flu pandemic is more worrisome since I will be flying off to South Korea later today.

Well, there’s only so much one can do. Just need to ensure that my hands are properly washed before touching my eyes, nose and mouth. It’s surprising that one will unconsiously touch these body parts multiple times within an hour. I know since I have tried refraining such contact in preparation for the more stringent ‘efforts’ once I enter the airport and board the plane.

It’s gonna be a painful experience.

Well, my bags all packed. I am just looking forward to a nice holiday over the next couple of days.

Aware

Being a male, the ferocious catfight (pun intended) amongst the new and old Aware Ex-Co have little to no impact on me.

However, I still follow the Aware ruckus with some interest since there’s some hints of an underlying conspiracy in the ‘brazen’ power-grab by the ‘new team’.

Allegations that the coup was ochestrated by people belonging to a particular religion is of particular interest. While I am a Catholic, I always believe that some things are best left to secular decision-making and that the Church can always deliver its differing message or teachings through its own formal channels.

Thus, I find it rather inappropriate, and dangerous, if a group of persons with similar religious inclinations, not to mention, attending the same church, takes over a secular organisation, with the objective of imposing their religious values/beliefs on the organisation, if that’s proven to be true over time.

While the verdict is still out. I find myself drawn towards the arguments of the ousted so-called ‘old-guards’.

The new Ex-Co members have so far failed to account, unless simply worded replies are to be taken at face value, for some of their actions/deeds. Nor their allegations that Aware is turning into a single-issue organisation, read pro-homosexuality/lesbianism, is clearly elaborated nor justified in their latest press releases.

Aware’s in-fighting problems are unlikely to end quickly nor amicably.

 Despite many stating that the election process in Aware as democratic, I would liken the current situation to a country being suddenly flooded by foreign immigrants, whose enbloc voting powers unseats the government that welcomed them. Imagine Singapore being governed by ‘citizens’ who had entered the country for only months/or weeks.

The lesson for the old guards perhaps is to give new members a period of assimilation as a “PR” before deciding if these new member truly buy into the values of the organisation. Those that disagree should (a) voice their concerns, and (b) move on, i.e. get out, and form their own organisations if their views differ greatly from those of the organisation’s.

Chinese Wedding

Below is a photo of a Chinese wedding taken by Scottish photographer John Thomson sometime in the 19th century. I think it is a beautifully taken shot. It captures an era when it is actually improper for the man, in this case, the husband, to even look directly at a woman, his wife.

The photos are being exhibited in Beijing’s Art World Museum till 18 May. Would be great if the exhibition makes a stopover in Singapore. Check out the rest of the photos on BBC.

Photo: Courtesy of Wellcome Library, London

Nightmare

Something must be bugging my subconscious mind. There has to be a reason for the rather tiring and stressful dream I had last night.

In that nightmare, I was in a perpetual state of rushing for work, which mystifies the me, since I detest my job. I can still recall the vivid sensation of stress and pressure as I rushed madly to iron my office attire, only to see that the shirt is in tatters. Then trying in vain to get on some transport to get me to office.

What is the source of the nightmare? I am not particularly stressed at work. Nor do I have any outstanding personal or official issues that need to be dealt with urgently.

Perhaps it’s my subconsious mind telling me that I am rushing to nowhere as I hit the middle age slump, and that I should really look for a new direction in life – professionally.

But like many Singaporeans, my options are restricted since I still have a sizeable housing loan over my head. I would be more convinced to take action if my subconsious mind penned a resignation letter while I am asleep rather than triggering energy sapping nightmares like that one I had.

Jokes aside, I really feel a mid-life crisis up the next alley. The sense that I am letting my life pass me by is getting stronger. Problem is, I have yet to fully understand what I want with the limited time I have on earth.

Now, it’s my turn to fret.

Best turtle soup

In my opinion, the Ser Seng turtle soup restaurant in Macpherson, Tai Thong Crescent to be exact, can lay claims to serving the most delicious dish in the country.

Its soup is heavenly.

At $13 a bowl, for the cheapest set, the soup comes with generous amounts of turtle meat and ’skin’. The turtle meat is well prepared since it is tender although it retains the uniquely soft yet chewy texture we have come to expect from the flesh of a turtle. The soup is simply savoury. I am not sure what herbs or spices Ser Seng puts into it, but whatever the stuff is, it works well on the taste buds.

Having the soup together with a bowl of yam rice is a must! Don’t skimp on the cost with white rice cos Ser Seng’s yam rice has just a high ‘delicious quotient’ as its turtle soup.

Having tried it’s turtle soup a few times, I am looking forward to trying it’s black chicken soup on my next visit.

Till then, here’s a memory of the great meal I had yesterday.

Best turtle soup in Singapore

Flight

Yesterday I flew on the Singapore Flyer. How’s the experience? Well, I can only say “so-so, lah”. Having flown on the London Eye, the ride on the Flyer pales in stark comparison.

The rather ugly soda can capsules, compared the ‘antiquated’  2001 London Eye’s futuristic egg-shaped capsules, together with Singapore’s uninspired downtown skyline will disappoint all, but the most patriotic Singaporeans.

Adding to the rather characterless view is a layer of haze, smog, whatever, that casts a greyish sickly pall over the landscape.

On hingsight, the architects of the Flyer  should have positioned it in such a way that passengers can look at the full ‘glory’ of the Marina Bay Sands integrated resort when it comes into operation at the end of this year. Passengers are instead treated to a boring side-profile view of the hotel towers.

It is highly recommended that trips on the Flyer should be made in the evening when the CBD skyline is litted up, which makes for more interesting viewing. The best time would be in Sept when all the buildings are afire with spotlight as the Formula One circus hits town.

I would at most make another trip on the Flyer. It’s not that I loved the experience, but only to have at least one flight with my wife.

All in all, the flight is, unsuprisingly, a letdown when compared to the wonderful panoramic views of London on the Eye. Even taking away that comparison doesn’t add much to the experience. The flight is strictly a once in a lifetime experience. Well, make that two for me.

Check out some of the shots I took.

Soda Cans in the air!

Findings show that promotion is ‘bad for mental health’

Read in the BBC article below that getting a promotion may not be necessarily be better for us. This is perhaps another reason why we should all take a more laid back approach to work and career.

 We have always assumed that Promotion = More Money = More Happiness.

In reality, Promotion = More Money ≠More Happiness

More correctly put, Promotion = More Money = More Responsibility = More Stress = Bad Mental Health.

 

Promotion ‘bad for mental health’

Getting promoted at work may be bad for a person’s mental health, a study suggests. Warwick University researchers quizzed 1,000 workers who had been promoted into supervisory or management roles in the past five years.

They were asked about about their health, mental well-being and use of health services.

The study found that after promotion the quality of an individual’s mental health deteriorated by 10% on average.

Experts said being given extra responsibility could lead to more stress, anxiety and depression. “ People given senior positions need to be given the proper support and training to handle the extra responsibility ” Chris Boyce, lead researcher.

They said the problems could be exacerbated by workers who were promoted having less time to access health services.

GP visits fell by 20% to less than two a year after promotion, the study found.

It has long been assumed that a person’s job status directly results in better health.

While the study found no effect on a person’s physical health over the period, researchers warned the mental strain could lead to serious problems.

Lead researcher Chris Boyce said: “Getting promoted at work is not as great as people think.

“Our research finds that the mental health of managers typically deteriorates after a job promotion and in a way that goes beyond merely a short-term change.

“People given senior positions need to be given the proper support and training to handle the extra responsibility.”

 The research will be presented at the Royal Economic Society’s conference later this month.