Packed schedule arghh.....

From 5th March onwards, my schedule will be super packed with training for Half-ironman, dragon boating training and my courses. See my schedule here.

Chinese New Year

I had a fabulous time over the CNY period with my friends and family and most importantly with my partner. Come to think that it is not easy to be out to your family with your partner and it is either not easy for my parents to be extremely nice to your partner. Even now, I still do not know whether my mom knows about us. As the Zen buddhism tradition believes in "don't know" concept, it is better off that my mom remains as what she chooses to be.


Anyway i was looking at the website for the meditation course and i found one. It was offered every Saturday for 6 lessons on sitting meditation, walking meditation, Dharma talks, interview, Kong-an practice and Hua Tou practice. I have just emailed to that person-in-charge with some questions and I see how whether i can register for this mediation classes. Sometimes I need to reconnect with the Higher being to nurture my spiritual side. I also need a quiet moment to do my deep thinking about the Life itself. Anyway I will see how it goes.

A nice little cute video before CNY

I always like cats and penguins
See this youtube movie.
Awesomefully cute!!!

Today is Fridae and following will have a long week

Wow. We will have a long week including CNY holidays. I received an email from someone that she is looking for someone who can lead SMU students to Sikkim, India which is among my top favourite must-go places. Sikkim is the second smallest state of India. Sikkim is termed as the Switzerland of the east, a heavenly paradise on earth. Mt. Khangchendzonga, the third highest peak in the world at 8586 m, dominates the landscape and is revered as Sikkim's guardian deity. So i am quite excited about it but i could not confirm cos I am planning to look for a job. So, this year, I am asked to go to China for overseas dragon boat competition and Sikkim for overseas volunteerism work. But i must say that i really really miss the trekking experience in Nepal. Collin told me that he wanted to visit Nepal with me one of the day and it certainly makes me feel more excited about it. However, we need to be realistic sometimes. We cannot always apply for leave to go for holidays. So, sometimes, we have to hold back for a while. Lost opportunity does not mean it is lost forever. It may revisit one day provided we have lesser committment at that moment.

On top of that, I have 2 more trips that Collin and I plan to celebrate. I have to see how it goes first.

Valentine's day!

After work, I wanted to do some shopping for books as usual ...so I walked down to Raffles City SC which was more packed than usual with couples who want to spend their valentine's day. Flower business was very brisk and everywhere u can see couples holding bouqets of flowers or balloons, leaving other single green with envy. So, i went down to MPH but i could not find any books that interested me..so I wanted to go up to Sembawang MUSIC centre to browse thru some japanese drama...the drama that i wanted to watch "1 Litre of Tears". Unfortunately, the drama series were not out yet so I went downstairs. As I was walking downstairs, an oil painting caught my attention. It was really special to me...as it flooded me with an old memory of my time when I first took my art class at Parklane Shopping Centre.

I remembered the first time I drew was just a simple drawing paper and crayon. I was only 5 years old when my mom sent me for art classes in 1985. I was asked to draw according to the teacher's instruction. We were asked to draw a misty mountain and on its foot, a hut with the lonely river was drawn. A fisherman was walking towards the hut and it certainly made me feel nostalgic once more time. It was like walking down the memory lane when I was young once more time again...Reflecting on the present moment, I am already grown up adult, armed with University degree, beautiful partner, stable career and fun batches of my friends. It seemed that Time has stood still for me at that moment that I was transported to that day when I was just 1.4 metres standing in front of the stand with its huge white drawing paper. I remembered there were around 5 or 6 older students busily drawing. I peered out from my drawing board to take a look at my teacher's drawing and went back to draw the outline. I could remember that it was raining at that time and it was freezing cold to draw in an air-conditioned room. After 1 hour was up, we were to hand in the drawing paper and i handed in my paper, brimming with pride. That was my first art piece.

Coming back to the reality, I held up the oil painting and i fingered across the oil painting. Though the colours were totally different, the feeling that poured into painting was the same....it struck a chord in my heart, belting a little memory "Yesterday once more". I stood there for quite some time before i decided to buy a painting.

Then I headed back home and changed quickly. I popped in the "March of the penguins" and it was really a good documentary. It won a best Oscar award and it described the march of the Emperor penguin to the place of origin where they found love, nursed their chicks and finally marched back to the sea. The cycle of life repeats all over for the next winter. It was definitely worth to be watched!Then i slept for a while and i suddenly felt a gust of wind brushing aside my face. I woke up and walked out to get water. I saw Collin busily preparing meal for us and I was happy to see him again. Today was a Valentine's day...and we prepared meals together. We had a quiet moment sharing interesting topics.

What a beautiful day for me..what can I ask for more since everyday is a learning lesson for all of us. A powerful and simple message reminds me that 'just being alive is one of the most beautiful gift from God.' No one will know what will happen the next day.

My cupcake won a prize!

Done some simple decoration for my cupcakes yesterday.

Enable Masterplan 2007-2011

I was invited to work on the disabled issues pertaining to Disabled Sports and Volunteerism with the disabled. I am glad to know that the recommendations which I have brought up has been published and has already been circulated to the public.
Enabling Masterplan 2007-2011

Secondly, the Deaf Boleh committee has some concern about the ENABLE Fund. The current practice is that if the companies want to hire disabled, the companies must ensure that they MUST hire the minimum of 4 disabled people. It will be difficult for the companies to obtain the funds even if they are willing to give chance to the disabled people. We felt that it could be counterproductive and therefore, they suggested that it is best to do away with the criteria. Instead of abiding the minimum of 4 criteria, the companies can hire 1 disabled and they are still qualified to tap on the ENABLE Fund.

So, I conveyed their concern to the one of the Steering Committee members to do away with the minimum of 4 disabled people. See the newspaper articile extracts from CNA.

Companies adopt ways to help disabled workers fit in
By Satish Cheney, Channel NewsAsia Posted: 13 February 2007 1936 hrs

SINGAPORE: Better job opportunities for the disabled is part of the masterplan for the disability sector for the next five years.

It has even been recommended that funding be extended to companies that employ just one disabled person.

Currently, the Enable Fund offers grants to firms employing at least four disabled persons.

One of these workers is 32-year-old Priscilla Wong, who was born deaf and mute.

Despite her disabilities, she has been groomed to be a production line leader to help disabled workers joining the company, Natural Cool Holdings.

She said a case of low-self esteem often discourages disabled people from seeking employment.

"Chances of getting a job are hard these days. But also, many disabled people have low confidence and feel inferior. I was simple-minded during my school days, but now I have accepted the reality of my environment. I am a little bit happy here," said Ms Wong.

Natural Cool Holdings, which produces electrical switch gears, currently employs five disabled workers who earn the same salary and benefits as other employees.

It is currently tapping into the Enable Fund to train existing workers to cope with disabled workers.

But the company said it is not hiring them out of pity, but because it has trouble finding enough manpower to work on its production lines.

It also suggested another way to encourage companies to hire disabled people.

"Instead of funding, I think the tax rebate method will be better for the company. As long as the workers work well and the company grows, we may not even need the funding," said Steven Chen, CEO.

The company will be taking in three more disabled workers next week and said it is keeping its doors open to others keen for a job. - CNA/so

Half Ironman 2007

Yesterday I went for the talk organised by Australia’s long time long distance organisers, X-Tri Australia P/L, and Singapore’s dynamic HiVelocity, with assistance from the Triathlon Family of Singapore. And this talk is only for the disabled athletes who are interested in signing up for the Half Ironman 2007 in Singapore. I am quite tempted to participate in such a high profile sporting event and even much better when it is free for the disabled athletes. The normal price for those who want to participate is really exorbitant i.e. SG$300 for one person to take part in 1.9km swim, 90km cycling and 21km run (70.3 miles in total). However, if we decide to participate in this race, we have to show our committment to do serious training which could be up to 5 times a week with 2 days rest. We will probably start our training at the end of February till August and from August, we will step up the intensity of training before the race day. I was kinda excited about it cos not only this race brings an international profile to Singapore and it certainly looks good on those who participate in the international event but also it brought me a similar feeling that I have experienced when i took part in Xixabangma Expedition 2002, OJIP Expedition 2002, Around the World Clipper Race 05/06 and this Half Ironman 2007. It is like repeating the same process which I am very much fond of..to prepare for such a big event before embarking on the actual event.

I am planning to buy a new racer for this event and think that I may have to cut down on other activities to focus on Half Iron Man 2007.

Jane has helped me to sign up for the NUS Biathlon on 2nd March and it will be 10km and 1.5km swim at East Coast Park.

Sentimental Japanese songs.

Romanji

Kanashimi no mukou kishi ni
Hohoemi ga aru toiu yo

Kanashimi no mukou kishi ni
Hohoemi ga aru to iu yo
Tadori tsuku sono saki ni wa
Nani ga bokura wo matteru?

Nigeru tame ja naku yume ou tame ni
Tabi ni deta hazusa tooi natsu no ano hi

Ashi.ta sae mieta nara tame iki mo nai kedo
Nagare ni sakarau fune no you ni
Ima wa mae he susume

Kurushimi no tsukita basho ni
Shiawase ga matsu toiu yo
Boku wa mada sagashi.te iru
Kisetsu hazure no himawari

Kobushi nigirishime asahi wo mateba
Akai tsume ato ni namida kirari ochiru

Kodoku ni mo nareta nara
Tsuki akari tayori ni
Hane naki tsubasa de tobi tatou
Motto mae he susume

Amagumo ga kireta nara
Nureta michi kagayaku
Yami dake ga oshiete kureru
Tsuyoi tsuyoi hikari
Tsuyoku mae he susume


English

They say there's a smile waiting on the other side of sadness

They say there's a smile waiting on the other side of sadness
What awaits us when we arrive there?

When I started on this journey on that far away summer day
It was supposed to be to chase my dreams, not to run away

If I could only see tomorrow, there'd be no more sighs
Like a boat struggling against the flow
Right now I've got to keep going

They say happiness awaits at the end of pain
I'm still searching for an out-of-season sunflower

With my hands balled into fists, I wait for the dawn
With red fingernail marks and shining tears falling

If I've become used to the loneliness, I'll use the moonlight
And fly with featherless wings
I've got to keep going further

If the rain clouds have parted, the wet road will be shining
Only the darkness can teach us
About the strong, strong light
I've got to keep going stronger

konayuki mau kisetsu wa itsumo surechigai
hitogomi ni magiretemo onaji sora miteru noni
kaze ni fukarete nitayou ni kogoeru noni

boku wa kimi no subete nado shittewa inai darou
soredemo ichiokunin kara kimi wo mitsuketayo
konkyo wa naikedo honki de omotterunda

sasai na iiai mo nakute onaji jikan wo ikitenado ikenai
sunao ni narenai nara yorokobi mo kanashimi mo munashiidake

konayuki nee kokoro made shiroku somerareta nara
futari no kodoku wo wakeau koto ga dekitano kai?

boku wa kimi no kokoro ni mimi wo oshiatete
sono koe no suru hou e sutto fukaku made
orite yukitai soko de mou ichido aou

wakari aitai nante uwabe
wo nadeteita nowa boku no hou
kimi no kajikanda te mo nigiri
shimeru koto dakede tsunagatteitanoni

konayuki nee eien wo mae ni amarini moroku
zaratsuku asufaruto no ue shimi ni natte yukuyo

konayuki nee toki ni tayori naku kokoro wa yureru
soredemo boku wa kimi no koto mamori tsuzuketai

konayuki nee kokoro made shiroku somerareta nara
futari no kodoku wo tsutsunde sora ni kaesu kara

My meaningful weekend

Last Sat, Collin and I went to Chinatown to do some simple CNY shopping and we bought some CNY ornaments. Then we headed back to our place and did some quick decoration at our places before we slept.

The next day, we had to wake up early as I had a dragon boat training at 9:30am while Collin has his client's PT training at 8:30am. At there, I met some of SCDF training mates and we did some weight-lifting for a few hours. We did not do any rowing since few people turned up for this training regime. The team leader told me that this team may consider to participate in international dragon boat competition in China in June and I may be selected to participate. Anyway, I gave him my contact details.

After this training, I sms-ed Jane to come over to chat before the next training for MY Silent Dragon commenced. I took a quite nap at the canteen nearby until Jane came over. We chatted for a while before I took another quick nap. I did not realise that I was so exhausted after the morning training. Then Jane woke me up and we got ready for the intensive training at 2:30pm. We started off with 10 sets of 3-10-10 power strokes and I was sitting in front to lead the team. However our coach, Junhong, felt that we could not deliver good result as what he expected from us and we needed to put in extra effort to perform better for MR500.

After the training, Jane and I went to our place for a quick shower and wanted to show her the CNY decoration at our place. After that, we went over to Suntec City to have a quick dinner and Collin was having his reunion dinner with his family at 8pm.I told him that I needed to go home to rest cos I was really beat.

Then I opened my email last night and saw my fried's email titled "1 litre of tears, 「一リットルの涙」" that caught my attention.

Catch this if u can. This drama is about a girl who
was diagnosed with a disease called Spinocerebellar
Degeneration when she was 15 years old, and was able
to continue her life until her death at the age of 25
years old.

The plot is based on the true story of a Japanese girl
named Kito Aya, who had the same disease. She kept
writing in her diary to remember her experiences until
she could no longer hold a pen. Aya simply wished to
live until the end of her life, and the purpose of
writing in the diary was to remind herself to not give
up. She shed tears many times, at the same time
encompassed by the rich love and support from her
family, friends, and boyfriend. Her diary “1 Litre of
Tears” was published after her death, because of its
inspiring and courageous message of, “Just being alive
is such a lovely and wonderful thing.” So far, over

18,000,000 copies of her diary have been sold.

A full catalogue of movie clips with english subtitles here. Pls click on "1 Lire of Tears". And I hope that Collin and I could watch them all together. It was definitetly a moving story that evokes the human feeling and the mother's strength to cope with heart-wrenching news of her daughter's condition. To give you a little preview of this drama, pls click on it and see whether u may want to continue with the rest of the episodes. It is definitely worth to watch!

鏡のドレス （日本語の歌）

突然泣(とつぜんな)き出(だ)して
あなたを困らせた
抱(だ)いてくれるのに
おびえていた

ショーウインドーの中の
笑わないマネキン
本当の私に
早く気づいて

明日の分の涙を
今日流してしまえばいい
虹(にじ)の河(かわ)を作(つく)りげて
あなたがたどり着くように

生まれがわっても
あなたを探(さが)せるわ
暗幕(あんまく)の星星(ほしぼし)が教えている。
裸(はだか)の私に雪が舞い降りる
ただそれが私の鏡のドレス
明日の分の思いは
今日伝えてしまえばいい
泣いて泣いてずっと泣いて
あなたがたどり着くように

幾千(いくせん)の祈(いの)り

明日の分の涙を
今日流してしまえばいい
小船(こぶね)に乗ったなたが
私にたどり着くように

明日の分の思いは
今日伝えてしまえばいい
泣いて泣いてずっと泣いて
あなたがたどり着くように

Yesterday ...

Yesterday as usual, I went for the photography course and it was quite an interesting with different instructor. Not so boring but engaging. We were briefed on what we needed to bring for the outing on 4th March in Botanical Garden. We were told that we needed to cover major part of the lecture that we had learnt for example, exposure, framing, etc..I was kinda excited about it as I was on the path to improve my skills in photography. I always made it a point to go for self-improvement course or useful course that equipped me with new knowledge and add to my new dimension in seeing different things for example Japanese course. I guess Life-learning process/education is ultra important to me. No matter how busy I am, i always believe in devoting a little time to re-educate my mind and to keep my mind constantly refreshed and stay abreast of the latest development. It is all pointing to my great desire to learn new things non-stop everyday.

So, I sms-ed Gilbert whether he has such a camera that met the course requirement. I could not contain my excitement to tinker with the DSLR and hope that one day I could save enough money at least $2k to buy my very own DSLR. I am targetting a Nikon D80 which is very well-advanced and versatile. I can't wait to grab my DSLR whenever I go on travels with Collin maybe Shangri-La, Okinawa, Norway, Saudi Arabia, South America, Maldives, South Pole, Iceland, Alaska, Pakistan, Nepal, Turkey, Israel and all kinds of exotic places. Imagine myself as a travel photographer really keeps me going as I am so passionate and fanatic of seeing the world..The world out there is so big that it really takes at least 10 lifetimes to cover every single puzzle of the globe.

And I was taking a look at the Objectifs website which also teaches Photography and Film-making course. I sign up for the Film-making seminar in March to get a new feel of how the film-making is all about. I always want to share my idea with the audience or anyone through specific medium and i feel that through film, it could effectively convey my innermost thoughts and feelings. Yesterday, I read about intrepid women who became female documentarists who directed award-winning films for example East Timor, etc...It is kinda exciting to visualise yourself to direct a film on documentary subjects for example, transmigration of Hakka people, history of Japan, Korea or China, to chronicle the lives of terminally-ill people to the point they pass away, to film the untold suffering of victims be it aftermath of 911 Sept bombing, etc... I always like to go for the theme based on human suffering and I do not know why I have a strong affinity for that kind of theme. Perhaps, it makes me more human in this way and helps to make myself more symathetic towards those people who suffer worse than us.

Then I went over to Raffles Gym to meet Collin as yesterday, he managed to get a new car! It was really absolutely beautiful white car with huge pumpkin-sized body. We all fell in love with our new baby. I joked with Collin that we were feeling like a Cinderalla in the pumpkin coach on the way to the ballroom to meet the handsome prince. The drive was very comfortable and we all loved the interior of the car.


A redesigned CR-V was launched for the 2007 model year.

The third generation CR-V is powered by the latest version of Honda's standard 2.4 L 4-cylinder engine. A 2.4 L engine upgraded to 166 hp is used in the North American market. A 2.2 L i-CTDI diesel is offered in the European and Asian markets. The European market Honda CR-V offers a new R20A 2.0 L engine, based on the Honda R-series i-VTEC SOHC engine found in the Honda Civic, as opposed to the previous CR-V offering the K20A.

Previously, all CR-Vs produced for the North American market are imported from Honda's plants in Japan and the UK, where production will continue for those respective regions.

The 2007 CR-V features a real liftgate, unlike previous models. There is no longer a spare wheel attached to the back door. The new CR-V is lower, wider and shorter than the previous models; the length decrease stems mostly from the fact that the spare wheel no longer adds length to the back of the vehicle. A lowering of the center of gravity is another benefit of the spare wheel being located underneath the vehicle.

Make-up Photography course

I went for the make-up photography course and it was quite interesting though. It was definitely better than last week lecture which was so dry and uninteresting. This time, there would be more lively examples to show how we could take better shots of certain objects or subjects.

In the lecture, we were taught that it would be better if we took a photo of a place where there is a straight line or curve. Our eyes tend to follow the curve or line running towards the object. Sometimes, it is better to frame the subject with tree branches, or archway to make the photo more appealing. He further shared that picture with the sunset is awesomefully striking. And it is not necessary to make the subject to be in a dead centre. He points out that 4 points of intersection would be the best place for the main subject. See the HK Skyline with sunset below.

Heaven on Earth

Done a bit homework on my preparation for Shangri-la. Collin and I are planning to travel to Shangri-la, a mystical place steeped among the hostile mountains, affording a cool respite from bustle of the city. It is certainly an interesting and must-go lists on those people who have a big desire to travel. Collin and I have already booked 4 days and 3 nights' hotel stay at Banyan Tree Ringha. Thanks Gilbert for giving the free hotel stay voucher. You could see beautiful and tastefully-furnished suite which certainly make you feel that you are living in the heaven above 3000 metres. Shangri-la was evolved after James Hilton wrote his novel "Lost Horizon" and in his novel, he masterflly described a distant and secluded hideaway of great beauty and peacefulness, a remote paradise on earth hidden in a Tibetan valley of snow-capped mountains where harmony reigns, where the God walks among the people and where man and nature embrace each other. It was really an utopian dream for those who really seek the paradise on earth. Collin and I are equally excited about it as we will be celebrating Collin's birthday on the most beautiful paradise on earth - Shangri-la ( Heaven on Earth).

A little update in Feb...

I just came back from a short holiday in HK. Really enjoyable and memorable one in HK. Even though 4 days in HK seems to be short, it seems that it was really a long break with my partner there..and it is simply one of the most fantastic getaways for me!

See the photos here

=========================================

Oh, my love, my darling,
I've hungered for your touch a long, lonely time,
Time goes by so slowly and time can do so much.
Are you still mine?
I need your love, I need your love, God speed your love to me.

Lonely rivers flow to the sea, to the sea
To the open arms of the sea
Lonely rivers sigh, 'Wait for me, wait for me'
'I'll be coming home, wait for me!'

Are you still mine?
I need your love, I need your love, God speed your love to me

=========================================

My personal viewpoint has been published!

Before I went to sleep, I received an email from a Zaobao reporter asking me for my personal opinion on the Enabling Masterplan which focused on one of the areas- Disability Sports. She is asking me for an opinion on what I hope for the disability sports in future. You could see the newspaper article with the red square being drawn around each paragraph.