A Diver's Logbook

Fruit of the spirit

2011-01-26T16:24:00.001+08:00

My friend came back from hong kong and bought the cell group peeps a bag each. Each bag has 9 seeds and they are labelled with English and Chinese names of the fruits. I put them in water today and thy are starting to shed the outer casing... It's really cute cos the words are actually burnt onto the inner layer and will be permanently there. Heh heh.

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One Free Weekend

2010-07-03T22:56:00.001+08:00

You'll not miss it until it's stolen from you.
Spent one of the rare Saturday at home. Paid off my sleep debt, caught up with 3 loads of laundry, watched planet 51, snacked, picked up the scuba diving book. Things I have been wanting to do for along time now. :) grin... I'm happy. Now, I'm just blogging in a 26 degree weather, listening music on the totally awesome seinheisser earphones. :) the trip to Germany was good. Compared to Switzerland, it pales... But still being in Europe beats Singapore and its naggy, irritating and hostile inhabitants. Shopping there is extremely slow since the cashier takes extreme care in handling. Nothing else worth mentioning except for the sausages. :)

July is great, I'm glad I'm not in shanghai now and missing the 35 degree weather. Its also great because all the Scuba documentaries are showing on tv. The book we are studying on the beatitudes, keeps me hungering and excited about Sundays.

Next month, I move to shanghai, one of my assistants leaves... Mom is all alone at home...

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Simulation

2010-05-22T16:10:00.000+08:00

Today is a good simulation of the 2 months to come where I'll spend my time in shanghai alone. I spent my day doing housework, playing games, listening to music and having lunch at this hour at the food centre when it's less crowded. I dislike crowds, noise, And find it a hassle to eat.. I really should stock up on instant noodles and fruits. I checked myself into a foot massage palor full of Chinese. Guess what there's a free shoulder massage too. Been craving to have it done since 2 weeks ago. Finally... Before I start my hectic business trips walking around airports, construction sites and sitting on the plane.. Tragic. My shoulders, legs and back are stiff from all of these.

So looking forward the the move and the challenges at work. I wonder how much I should pack and bring over. I hope I fit in because I don't have any friends there, and I do know a few business associates there my age.. So I guess I won't be too lonely. It's only for a few months right? ;) yeah, at last, something fun and interesting in my mono life.i plan to head to Tibet after my work in shanghai, before coming back to Singapore. Or maybe japan. Heh. Yay! Totally looking forward

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Loving the seashell

2010-05-01T22:37:00.001+08:00

Loving the asus seashell 1008P. thanks to rui for shopping with me. woots! i always regret my buys when it comes to electronics. i admit i buy on impulse. but glad that some research was done, and i actually thought and prayed about it before i bought it. :) loving it it’s quite slow since it’s only running on 1gb ram. but as long as it’s featherweight at 1kg, slips into my handbag, able to run dwg viewers. i cannot ask for more. oh wait, maybe photoshop. but. doubt i will be doing a lot of serious designing work on this lappie. so im happy to just use this 800 bucks for the next 3 years to email, watch anime, skype, and as storage. heh.

Scuba in Kiribati

2010-04-26T11:29:00.001+08:00

Last night I watched a documentary on Shark-Eden- Republic of Kiribati, on nat geo adventure. The dive sites and islands were AMAZING… Flint, vostak, Starbuck and Millenium Atoll. These islands housed more than 150 species and were 2^nd in worldwide ranking for bio mass. Prestine. Amazing. Mind blowing. Black tips, white tips, reef sharks, jacks, barracudas, parrotheads, loads of small fishes, big rays. Never seen so much breathing healthy corals my whole life. Loved the branching corals, and the giant clams. Starbucks had a algae population, it was like a green field in the water. I almost cried when I say so many sharks and the ocean was just exploding with life! So beautiful, I wished I could visit this place. But I have no idea how to get there!

Facts from NatGeo Web:

BIOMASS AND REEF HEALTH

The biomass of a species can be estimated in an ecosystem by calculating its abundance with its average individual size.
A high biomass means a large number of fish, which can indicate a healthy reef.
Flourishing reefs can keep bad microbes in check.
Certain algae found on damaged reefs release food for bacteria and can cause bad bacterial to grow out of control.

FLINT ISLAND AND REEF

Flint Island, in the South Pacific, is four kilometres long and less than a kilometre wide.

Flint Island is the top of an ancient volcano, surrounded by deep ocean.
In the 1870s, native plants were stripped from Flint Island and tens of thousands of palm trees were planted to produce coconut oil.
Around 1900, Flint Island was abandoned.
Coral and algae can be a barometer of a health of an ecosystem.
If a coral is stressed, it can turn white or bleach.
Coral covers 90% of the sea floor of the Flint Island reef. This is over three times more that other reefs in the Indo-Pacific.
Flint’s reef is beautifully coloured and healthy.
The reef’s algae use sunlight to create energy, some of which it gives to the coral.
Sharks keep fish populations under control.
Fishing has affected the shark population on Flint Island.

VOSTOK ISLAND AND REEF

Vostok Island was first sited in 1820 and named by a Russian explorer, after his ship.
Vostok is less than 2.5 square kilometres.
Vostok Island has never had human habitation.
Sharks and abundant life in Vostok’s reef indicate a healthy and undisturbed system.
Vostok is one of the few places left that looks like the Pacific did 200 years ago.
Vostok’s forest ecosystem is natural, unlike almost every other South Pacific island.
Vostok’s forest contains a mat of pure guano.
Guano, or bird dung, is rich in phosphates and nitrogen.
In the mid 1800s, surrounding islands were mined for guano to be used as fertilizer.
Vostok’s small size saved it from being mined for guano.

STARBUCK ISLAND AND REEF

Starbuck Island is nearly 600 kilometres northwest of Vostok Island.
Starbuck is over eight kilometres long and three kilometres at its widest.
Starkbuck has only a handful of palm trees.
In 1872, more than 100 guano miners laboured on Starbuck, abandoning it in 1920.
Starbuck’s reef is half covered by algae, mostly Halimeda, a type of algae that coexists with corals.
Starbuck’s reef is abundant with fish and sharks.
Starbuck has the second largest biomass of all studied coral reefs.
The biomass of predators on Starbuck is larger than that of the fish they eat.

MALDEN ISLAND AND REEF

Malden Island is 200 kilometres northeast of Starbuck Island.
Malden Island is almost 39 square kilometres and roughly triangular in shape.
Malden Island was mined for guano between the 1850s and 1920s.
Malden Island was the test site for three low altitude nuclear bombs in 1958.
Malden’s reef contains at least ten times more sharks than other reefs around the world.
Parrot fish graze on the reef and break down dead coral skeleton to sand.
Development, fishing, and pollution can upset the delicate balance between algae and coral.
There are 10 times more microbes on reefs degraded by man.

MILLENNIUM ATOLL

Millennium Atoll is a lagoon surrounded by a string of islands.
Millennium Atoll is about 800 kilometres away from Malden Island.
Blacktip reef sharks swarm the flats of Millennium’s lagoon.
Sharks are among the first species to go away when humans arrive, and the abundance of sharks in the Millennium lagoon indicates a healthy system.
Millennium’s reef contains a large amount of one species of branching coral – Acropora.
Millennium’s reef contains giant clamps with electric green and blue colours.
On the islands, native plants compete with imported coconut trees for space

Boiling point

2010-04-13T00:44:00.001+08:00

So the client wanted to change the layout for one of the many rooms on a certain level ab he told me his comments over the phone. I confirmed that it was the biggest room which seats 30 and has a fireplace. My colleague sketched 3 options for him and wasted 2 hours of his time only to realize that the client actually wanted to revise the room next to it which sits 100 people and doesn't even have a fireplace!!! Argh. I wonder if it's because my mandarin was so poor that I heard wrong, or was it that he wasn't looking at the plan and simply agreeing to which ever room I guessed it to be? Sigh... Such a silly mistake. I spent 2 hours installing that kickass cad viewer program only to feel worse and unsettled in this hour of the day! I should never have checked this darn email at bedtime, should have just ignored it and gone to bed. I really have someone to blame for writing me emails late at bight or early in the morning. Now after 2 months of that, I have developed a habit of holding on to my phone to sleep. Sigh... Horrible. Feel so bad for my colleague who has to do the work! But I can't really help or cross the line since it isn't my field of work. Sigh... Silly mistake

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2010-04-01T12:34:00.000+08:00

Well, this someone went through great extents to make me believe ( and I did) that it was his last day. he even got his team mate to write me a letter. I am really mad, that my trust is misplaced. So I told him , that was totally immature childish and uncalled for. He was upset that I called him childish and then I said, well, my apologies, since im too serious for the group I will be on my way. Im just totally pissed off at people playing jokes on me. When someone left a cockroach on my desk, I got fuming mad.

I cannot take jokes, I had enough of people playing jokes on me since high school, and people giving me insensitive comments while I was in college. I try hard to trust people and understand them, and be a good friend and buddy. But I hate it when it’s all a stupid joke.

Healthy Again!

2010-03-29T20:38:00.002+08:00

Woo Hoo, im healthy again, i took myself off the propranolol for palpitations and hypertension, that has been about 1 week. i felt comfortable enough not to take that. and my test results for the blood count came back yesterday, NORMAL! the thyroid function test came back today and it was also in the normal range, although not desired yet. normal range 0.5-5.5. my levels since january was 6.6/ 7/ and now.. 2.8! Another doctor called me this round, Dr Fong. Dr. H. Liew was off duty today. Well, Dr. Fong also urged me to see the specialist asap. Im gonna hold it off for as long as possible! specialists are expensive, slow, and not open on weekends! Problematic. Received a call from a nurse yesterday and today, He kept asking when i want to book the appointment, i finally convinced him to give me the hotline number. Well, i just think Doc H. Liew is a good doctor, and approachable enough to ask for occasional clearance letters to do extreme sports. Heh Heh. Although he is always on the safe side, not wanting to risk anything. The GP clinic is nice, and i don't make appointments, just call to make sure doctor is on duty and go down anytime conveniently. It's great, i like it this way. the nurses are friendly and skilled. blood tests have never been so painless.

Settled! im happy ( not the hyper kind of happy) that my levels are finally normal. i can also see that my goiter is visually smaller.. i have this sickening sore throat now, but the tests says its unrelated. Well, just really thankful to God for helping me stay faithful on the course of medicine, and that my body is responding. I don't wish to go for the surgery or treatments etc. happy to just take orange flavored lozenges now. haha.

Today at work, i accomplished all the tasks i set out to do. So that's good too. i feel like i can handle stress better these weeks. i have not been put under so much pressure my entire life! not even during exams. it's a trying period for me. Loads of foreign ( in chinese!) correspondence and coordination with engineers, architects, clients, suppliers from 2 active projects. and being bugged by so many people in the office over the other 2 important projects. sigh.. so sians... but God will help me, so i try not to worry too much.

i pray he grooms and matures my 2 assistants soon. so i can avoid micromanaging and trying to get everything done on my own. They are slowly learning and are truly capable. im thankful for them, as team members and as friends, lunch buddies, activity partners etc. glad. yea, 10 more minutes and i will get out of the office for home. can't wait to sleep on my lovely bed, in the lovely room.

Sick

2010-03-28T10:26:00.001+08:00

So I'm sick again... Increased dose of carbimazole with referral letter to the specialist. Justcant seem to find time since they aren't open on weekends. Dr. Herman was great, he took time to understand an explain my condition, accompanied me through the blood tests, clinical examinations, booking of specialist appointment, collection of drugs. He was right there for the 40mins I was in the clinic. Most of all, He was happy to see me alive! Haha, told him I didn't go for the trip in the end, and he was so sorry about the forfeited money. He said to wait until I get better. Well, gotta listen to the doc, can't go against him! He has my best interests. I have been taking my medicine faithfully, so he said this is not a textbook case. Paid a bit more money to get my blood tests done on a Sunday urgently. He will call me either later today or tomorrow. If I have weird results, then I will need to book an earlier weekday slot for the doc. But I could be travelling next week you see... And even the following... Sigh. I hope the results will be good this round! ;)

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Redang Logs

2010-03-20T14:04:00.004+08:00

See photos here: http://picasaweb.google.com/geodyi/RedangMarch10#
Berjaya Dive Center, may be because of the period we were there, we felt the service to be highly professional, logistics were well planned and carried out on time as per schedules. The dive center was flexible with diver's requests and carried out responsibilities with much joy. After the dives, we even sat down to log and flipped through the fish species books. it's always a time i enjoy, when we talked and learnt about the creatures we just saw. Amazing experience. The beach was private, we tried body boards, but wasn't brave enough to canoe against the cascading waves.. woots. vivisbilty for all dives, were really good! Currents were stronger in the afternoons. overall, i give the northern bay dive sites of Redang an 8/10. If i chance upon redang again, i will definitely do another 6 dives at different sites. :)

Dive Site: Gunter's Reef- Redang Island

Dive Number: 32

Max Depth/ Bottom Time: 23m/39mins

Weight:3

Exposure Suit: 3mm Shorties

Visibility: 40m

Temperature 28

Dive Master: Faizan ( Berjaya Redang Dive Center)

Buddies: Brenda Ong. Nita Hanica/Lourdes Sarmiento

Sights: Giant Moray Eel, Lionfish, Devilfish, yellowtip barraccudas, other reef fishes like angelfishes, butterfly fishes.

Gunther's Reef, northwest shelter of Redang island, home for soft corals and nudibranch, an easy dive site for orientation.

Dive Site: Terimbu Kili- Redang Island

Dive Number: 33

Max Depth/ Bottom Time: 20m/45mins

Weight:4 ( With camera)

Exposure Suit: 3mm Shorties

Visibility: 40m

Temperature 28

Dive Master: Faizan ( Berjaya Redang Dive Center)

Buddies: Brenda Ong. Nita Hanica

Sights: Nurse Shark, greenback turtle, moray eel, blue spotted stingray, razorfish, angel fishes, clownfishes etc etc.

Another popular location for divers where inhabitants include soldier fish, black tip sharks and the majestic lion ish. Maximum depth is at 70 feet. Do look out for the magnificent array of hard and soft coral, sea fans, and feather stars.

Dive Site: Pasir Akar- Redang Island

Dive Number: 34

Max Depth/ Bottom Time: 15m/52mins

Weight: 3

Exposure Suit: 3mm Shorties

Visibility: 50m

Temperature 28

Dive Master: Faizan ( Berjaya Redang Dive Center)

Buddies: Brenda Ong

Sights: Trigger fishes, moray eel, turtles, black tip sharks, reef fishes etc. A hole at the butt on my DM's speedos. i made sure i was above him so i don't see anything too ghastly! it was a great dive! serene and slow, and with lots of air to spare since it was so shallow. the black tip which passed in an instance, was a pleasant surprise.

3km from the jetty, and shallow, Pasir Akan is known to have experienced strong currents. The reef also houses black tip sharks and turtles.

A new path

2010-02-27T23:31:00.001+08:00

Is this how this year is going to be? Started off the year presentations after one, with assistants but boss is gonna load me with tons more. She already told me so. Well, after travelling with her, I came to know the funny, childish and less frustrated face. ;) it was nice spending 2 days The 2 revered bosses. As always biz trips with colleagues always brought a while new perspective. Although I was quite pissed off by the things the colleague says sometimes. It was a good experience learning from the bosses , participating, tAking the lead, step up for spontaneous presenting etc. Weather at shanghai and Qingdao was about 8 and 4. Had the opportunity to go for maasages, take a nice long walk down the shore and the music stadium walk. Bought a few things, loved my new leather shoes. Im glad i didnt apend money on much this round! I was told I spent 2900 on mobile on roaming data?!!! This singtel is crazy. I stopped using it when they called to say I incurred 700. It was all work that 2 days. Stupid dumbo people! I won't pay that money man!!! I was really cold with charred lips and blister feet, and nose bleeds and though my clothes were packed in under 15mins, 6 hours before the flight, I was well insulated. It is such an amazing experience. The shanghai airport actually feels quite peaceful with abundance of seats. Feeling a little cold since my coat is checked in. I wonder how horrible the bus journey from gate to plane will be. *Sneeze*

It's was good to see my clients and the project team. The hotel had 4 blocks and the staff always knew who we were and where we are. This hotel is an amazing bunch! The bosses are nice, staff are helpful an professional. I could book an air ticket while I was having breakfat in the hall?! It's funny how we made the hotel staff run around and bring chaos to the (hotel's tagline)"peace of a family" Yet they were always smiling, greeting, serving food, drinks, fruits and hot towels. Very amazing service standards. the laundry room! It was prim proper clean neat and you just couldn't find dirt anywhere in the hotel!

I'm Soo tired, and all I think about now is the crazy phone bill. Second bring home thought- Feeling sorry I had to cancel my skydiving trip. Guess Gid is really telling me not to go through Doc Herman, Connie and work. He called to say my condition has gotten worse. I really don't know! Sigh... I'm glad I made the choice not to go. The third thing on my mind. Thank God for surrounding me with great people at fun, play and work. Thank Him for the special ability to make friends! The cute and friendly architect just made my trip even more awesome! You know he stuck to me all through the meeting and helped me with mandarin. He introduced every dish to me at the table. He was probably the only one who rmembered my English name from the meeting last year! ;) he is totaly my type, dependable, kind, cultured, warm, serious yet friendly. He stuck with me and helped me through all the 4 days i was there. the project manager mr. Wang is also nice and warm. You know waLkig down the french decorated hotel buildings just made everything nice and Romantic. Every staff bowing and a familiar face at every corner. ;) They both offered to bring me out for a tour, i had to decline since i felt it wasn't right to leave my colleague at the meeting And i left with the architect for underwater world?! time didn't work out well in the end and L said to give him a chance next time I'm here. I was really happy this team is experienced, overtly workaholics, loving and fun. I am making this horrible 12 hour one way journey in 2 weeks time! I do hope It doesn't clash with my redang trip! Boohoo!! Honestly I don't wish to visit this same place again. Been there done that and off to new places! Hehe...

First thing to do when I get home/ office. Check my credit cards and phone bills. Unload and pack stuff to bring to office, upload photos. Do laundry! And... Just really, find out why the heck happened with the phone bill!!! Ah...

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Doctor

2010-01-31T17:36:00.002+08:00

Doc H. L. is so honest and comical! Gosh. I kept wondering why his forearm is so comically short! He laughs at every action I do cos my condition is just so terrible! My hands are very shaky and my condition is just so bad. Cannot stop laughing. He didn't ask for a blood test this round and so I'm not sure if the carbimazole has worked or not. doubled my dosage and at the same time I also confessed I have been diving. He says he's really not sure what ha it'll cause. So he'll go home to his textbooks after he knocks off at 5.30. LOL!!! He asked me to monitor my weight as it is a good gauge for effectiveness of drug. And I'm like smiling cos I gained close to 15kg the last time I started on this drug. He laughs and says, well, it's really not your fault that you breathe more air and gain more weight. haha!!! So retarded!

I told him about the shoulder ache and he said it's a tendon shift. It should heal and it's normally and injury. Certain positions hurt and certain arm movements don't. I can feel shifty things in my shoulder and arm actually. he asked if i had funny sounds in my arm. so i left out a big 'crack'!!! and he was like. "gasp! oh gosh!" then he shook his head like E. Low.

My next appointment is 21 feb. He showed me the calender and his time table they just issued him, he mummured "sabo I'm on weekend shift again..." "but it's okay cos I get to spend more time with..." "family" wahaha! This guy is totally funny man. The last time he told me "the surgeon will aga aga take out your thyroid" I almost fainted!!! LOL. Despite all these, I think he is a good doctor, caring, responsible, dedicated.

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Spring Clean

2010-01-25T08:40:00.000+08:00

I finally cleaned up the whole flat! We probably have not put up a collective effort since a few years ago. I absolutely love the new sofa set. It was a great size and color and fit. We did the sofa shopping in 10 mins and it was delivered in 5 hours. Heh. I spent the whole Sunday playing dynasty warriors 4. I totally suck at it. Haha. Refuse touch final fantasy As I have been stuck at the same stage for quite some time.

It was a good weekend despite sore muscles. Looking forward to this friday's Accupuncture and massage session! And I have a dreadful busy week ahead. I know it because boss called me up yesterday from overseas. Sigh...

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Where did all the good guys go?!

2010-01-22T14:59:00.000+08:00

I felt this was imperative to write about at once!

So we were all at the porch of the office waiting for people to gather for lunch. I was talking to the that group of ‘ single guys’ and one of them went “ there’s something on your hair” arms folded, expressionless. “where? What?” swept my fingers through every part of my hair and “WHAT?!” “WHERE?!” I finally turned back to my absolutely fantastic lunch buddies and asked brenda what that is! Then selwyn went through my hair because we all thought it was some scary insect with hairy legs! And it turned out to be some hair wax I didn’t spread out evenly! Goodness. There is precisely why they are still single at this age! “ why couldn’t you help me with it?!” and they went.. “BUT… IT’S WAX!”

Finally!

2010-01-20T19:29:00.001+08:00

I used to hate being alone, left out of a conversation and not being
invited to parties. But now I just really like being alone, getting
lost in memories, jokes, making a mental to-do list. Watching tv,
blasting music and napping. I like Travelling alone, do my own work
and mind my own business. People have called me anti social cos I have
started earphones in the office. Haha, I am still sociable la!!

I think the lesser I talk, the lesser problems I have and the lesser I
have to know about, worry or bitch about. I also dislike people
calling me on the phone! I love eating my favorite char Siew rice at
the food market, going to the library and scuba diving. I just hate
noise and it will be sooo good if people don't ask questions now and
then. I like being helpful and I'm also talkative at times! But
sometimes I just need to be left alone.. No wonder I was voted to be
the grumpiest designer in the office! Out of a hundred people. Haha!

Can't wait to finish my dinner, head back home, get some tee shirt
designs done, snack, slack, slump in front of the tv and have a good
rest! Yipee

they're brothers see?

2010-01-13T17:20:00.000+08:00

So I keep having this jingle in my head. “they’re brothers see,, they’re one big happy family!” it’s from one of the songs we performed in a musical years ago. I can’t even remember when!

The reason, I started on this post… my new doctor, H. Liew, sounds so much like my diving instructor E. Low. I got a phone call from an unknown number and after like 30 sec of chit chat, I realized I wasn’t talking to a friend but the doctor from R. Hospital. Oops. I did a google search of his name and I read in a few blogs that he’s a “good” and “nice” doctor. Now I don’t have to visit the hospital twice a month. the hospital requires me to go for consultation and blood test once a month and the doctor just calls me to tell me the results. And the best part, I have a direct bus from my home to the hospital! It’s only 10 bus stops away! J The worst part, I have to start the medication ALL OVER AGAIN.. so, please don’t tell me I have put on weight when you see me. That will really help!

“hello, can I speak to jodi?”

Yes, speaking”

“how are you ar?”

“erm, ok lo, I just started medication for a few days? Haha…”

”btw… your thyroid results are out. “

“??? huh???”

“yeah, your results are out and a normal person has levels of 1.7, but you are now at 5.8.”

“what? oh…”

“so how are you feeling now?

“you are having more than 3x of hormones. So, just drop by and see me anytime you are free”

“can I see you in a month’s time?”

“yeap”

Alright, I will go to the clinic in a month’s time then”

“okie! Seeya!”

Winter at last

2010-01-06T12:18:00.000+08:00

Winter at long last. And a new year with new aspirations. Met my sis
and mom in haikou. So I was stuck in china with my sis as her passport
was misplaced. Mom went home first. And now im at the Airport too.
Need to pray my sis will be ok with the permit and her flights. Shes
all alone here in china. Haikou, Sanya, Guangzhou. So much money spent
on flights, and hotels, airport transfers and taxis.

I was glad to catch up with friends and make new friends in haikou and
Guangzhou. Caught a little glimpse of their lives. :) looks like this
little problem did work out well in the end. Gave me some time to shop
and visit the zoo. I even went for a hair extension! So far 3 out of
180 strands have fallen off.

The most memorable part? The giant pandas, that baby white tiger cub
we cuddled and took a picture with. :) I loved the lion tiger
performances and its not just 1 tiger. This zoo at yang Xiang has half
the world's count of white tigers at 100. The pandas were just so
great. Spent 6 hours in the zoo and its been so long since I wore a
zoo teeshirt and felt like a kid ;)

Cha Cha@ office

2009-12-27T17:11:00.000+08:00

Cha cha at the office printer because boss wants 170 pages with staples in them. PDF to him NOW.

Cha Cha on my desk chair because I am fainting from hunger.

Cha cha to the colleague’s desk and cha cha to the next.

Cha cha to radio, the only comfort I get now.

Stress is getting to me. I am 40 hours away from my flight and I still have tons of things to do!

Cha Cha Cha!

Stress relieve+ wrist support

2009-12-26T13:53:00.000+08:00

Yet Another

2009-12-23T01:31:00.001+08:00

Compelled to write at an almost Unearthly hour... Yet another case of desertion, Can't-stop-crying wife, heartless man and people who come between families. The fact that she called me shows that she's indeed desperate and friendless. I wonder why her daughters are for? They are all married and moved to another country. Don't they know that their father cannot be trusted for mom's safety and happiness?!

Thwarted my holiday plans cos I was supposed to be taken in by them. Small problem cos I already reserved mom sis and my rooms after I found out. Today I just ran to evey corner in the office, trying to coordinate collate information so to send out for print tmr. Then I also had to run to the store in the rain to get 4 sets of smorkelling gear for ic. Was wet, not drenched, thankful for that timely cab.

I'm just sooo tired. 2 days to Christmas but still 6 more days if torture in the office..

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Ah! The bug...

2009-12-05T12:09:00.000+08:00

Ugh… I feel terrible! My nose is running, my lungs feel congested and it just started to pour! I was planning to go home in 40 mins after paying my tax and having my almost-expired-instant-Korean-noodles.

The tax payment browser just doesn’t work! And maybe it’s best they put be in jail, so at least I can escape reality for a bit.

Learning To Breathe

2009-11-25T01:14:00.002+08:00

Hello, good morning, how ya do?
What makes your rising sun so new?
I could use a fresh beginning too
All of my regrets are nothing new

So this is the way
that I say that I need You
This is the way
This is the way

That I'm learning to breathe
I'm learning to crawl
I'm finding that You and
You alone can break my fall
I'm living again, awake and alive
I'm dying to breathe in these abundant skies

Hello, good morning, how ya been?
Yesterday left my head kicked in
I never thought I could fall like that
Never knew that I could hurt this bad

I'm learning to breathe
I'm learning to crawl
I'm finding that You and
You alone can break my fall
I'm living again, awake and alive
I'm dying to breathe in these abundant skies

IPhone

2009-11-13T20:08:00.001+08:00

So no motorbike lessons, no buying of bikes, no holidays, no more owing credit card bills, and… finally!

The iphone is mine!

Im in the office, slammed with 3 new projects to share among, originally 4, and now help arrived, so 6. Which is not too bad! And I have 2 ongoing projects starting up with 2 old projects in the coordination stages.

Now Im so tied up with all 3 phases of construction and design and I still have to help others! I know I should feel good to be able to help, but I’m beyond tired..

My iphone comes on hopefully, Tuesday morning, delivered to my office. black 16GB 3GS. With horizontal keypad so my fat fingers can finally operate the phone. All in all, I paid 288 for the phone for a 2 year contract with 55 per month of data/voice. That’s not too bad isn’t it?! well, I still need to use my existing starhub line for 7 months with the iphone. After dropping all the value added services, it comes up to 25 a month. I mean I can afford it. So I would say this new iphone cost me 463. And I get a a lot of other perks and value added services free for a year from singtel. Rocks my world!

P.S. my new number is 92977546. same as the extension number in the office. haha!

3 weeks in Autumn

2009-10-19T23:08:00.000+08:00

3 weeks...

Away from Home - yes i miss mom

Complaining that the heater doesnt work- i am totally falling ill! check out my nosebleeds! i only brought sweaters but the chill is 10-20 and the winds blow hard at 6

Of working overbroad

flights

late nights in the hotel room

having the same room number in 3 hotels! So Creepy!

Fun, Joy, Laughter, games i havent played in years! like heart attack and draw four

Shopping... marketing

Car rides

Travel and Tourism. travelling with people from other countries who i have not met before and becoming good friends.

Bungee Totally rocked!!! freaked me out, but guess what, i survived!

Motion Sickness

Cable cars

Flying Fox

Bamboo Rafting, duckie tours etc etc.

Farming

Horse riding This is the part i loved the most. i am having a very sore back and bum right now. My horse was a 8 year old white lady. It was mature and handled the situation very well when the dark new male came at my thigh with its crazy teeth! i was screaming cos we went off the track in to the rocks!

3 weeks of autumn, basking in the beautiful Switzerland and China, created by God.

Thank you, Lord!

and the best part... i only spent 300 dollars on occasional mcdonalds and clothes because i depserately need them since my travels always got extended. i am a very sound traveller you know... but i cannot predict my boss' sudden decisions.

i miss home and i have not gone to church for 6 weeks!

i am coming home soon, Mummy...

2.54am Room 818

2009-10-15T02:57:00.001+08:00

Dont worry, this room is not haunted. my mind is exploding with
information collected through the day. faces, names, tasks, stress,
and fatigue.

So much to do, so little time, 4 hours to rest and 16 hours of work.
im soo tired...

Job thrills

2009-09-30T23:00:00.000+08:00

I just got home and am blogging on my bed. 3 Nights since I slept at home and im totally bushed. Europe's jetlag shouldn't be so bad! Singapore just experienced the 7.3 earthquake....'s tremor. It left 200 designers who stayed late in the office building stranded on beach road. Any sudden movements now will force out the puke within me.

Switzerland took my breath away. We lived the life of the rich and famous at hotels that charged 1000 a night for a standard room. Every meal was fine dining, and costs 100 per pax. Visited 9 hotels and 4 were 'Leading Hotels of the World'. I had all the hotel staff remember my name and I even had a rose upon arrival! Hotels so high class I could never afford. They even lend laptops to guests. A chauffer with a maserati was provided by the hotel for visitors to the bar who had too much to drink. I liked how pets were allowed. It felt like home.

Work has never been so fun, and tiring. Flew 26 hours and rode 700km to zurich, interlaken, grindalwald, gstaad, sorennberg.

I constantly recognise God's blessings He has bestowed on me through HBA. I had been given chances to work with top designers and my bosses acknowledge me. Travelling with colleagues is always fun because you finally make friends. the guy whom I used to think of as, "cute, obnoxious, dictative, ruthless, experienced designer" can get tired, laughs tears, care, considers my views, makes mistakes, play, sleep, complain like a kid, and is still the cutest guy in the office. Hah! Next stop... China, In 7 days.

The biggest subway in the world!

2009-09-15T20:05:00.000+08:00

The destiny of the success above relies on the mighty system below ground. 70 million inhabitants future depend on the establishment of the subway.

I was surprised when i walk thru the construction of the subway with aid of a documentary. The team faced obstacles with the tunnelling from the beginning to the end. They also designed stations after hundreds of hours of observing humans. Afterall, Beijingers are the fastest walkers in China!

Beijing subway has some of the coolest stations in the world. Stations were themed to the area it serves above ground. For example, stations on line 4 serving the olympics stadium, have ultra modern designs, whilst stations on another line serving ancient monuments carry a more serious tone.

I never knew moving the fare gantries by 5m would had such a big impact during the rush hours. Trains in singapore, and other cities have a lapse of 3 minutes on average. Trains in beijing? 35 seconds! Wow.. Truly chinese, truly massive, truly impressive.

Thank You!

2009-09-14T20:37:00.001+08:00

Do you know how much this email means to me? I can count the number of times I have been praised by IC. The first time was when I was two weeks into this firm, 2 years ago. And the few times all happened this month after I started on a project with him. Im soo.. thankful to God for helping me. I can’t even see what’s so good about my work. CP thinks i am paranoid and lack confidence. ( I think it is BS. Short for Bullshit) AM. Thinks im scared of him ( I am!) I just think he doesn’t really want to see my work. Basically not interested to push me higher.

Thank God for an answered prayer as well. I was struggling so much with a new guy (who is rumored to be really good!) from states who was supposed to tag around ( Boss calls it The Assistant, another BS) with me. I feared that he would break my rice bowl. Even so, I was thinking of how I can protect myself against him by not teaching him EVERYTHING, but partial. Insecurities are scary.. they make you lose sleep, hair, makes you temperamental. My family has tolerated the grumpy me for 2 weeks. I am so glad and thankful that he is now tagged to someone else who will show him the ropes.

Emotions escalating towards the trip with family and grandpa this weekend! J I shall leave the office in 20 mins, and not worry about tomorrow. Yay!

Robots

2009-09-10T22:05:00.000+08:00

How different are robots from humans. Robots think, socialize, act, respond, and they help humans with medical and mental needs.

They talk to introverted kids whom therapists cannot reach. They help cerebal paralysis patients walk by simulating the brain. They make warehouses come alive! Instead of you walking to the racks, the racks walk to you. How amazing is this! Doesn't this sound as if they are better than us?

Because of the uncanny response from humans, robots still look like machines even after decades since the first experiments.

I acknowledge how movies have altered my views to fear in human-like robots , but I also acknowledge that God has created only one of me in this world! And this, is totally mind blowing. :) Thank God it's Friday! (tomorrow)

Dispel All My Fears

2009-09-09T11:08:00.002+08:00

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love, Amazing grace

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God, Who called me here below
Will be forever mine
Will be forever mine
You are forever mine

Grave's Disease and Scuba Diving

2009-09-03T12:55:00.001+08:00

Prof: “Did you run to the hospital from home? Your pulse does seem like you did!”

This is my 6^th year suffering from hyperthyroidism. I have stopped medication for 2 years now, and it’s slowly coming back and getting worse. Today, the prof. hit me with bad news- no competitive sports and no scuba diving until I tell you so. Reluctant, I looked it up on the internet and every article proved the prof right. I paid close to SGD 400 for 10 mins of the prof’s time, medication and blood tests. And I wonder if I should come back to this hospital since it’s 4 times more than the previous hospital. There was not waiting queue and I was treated first class. We’ll think about it.

8 pills a day will make me lose hair, sleep. I will gain nothing but weight. But maybe I will become a better person! I couldn’t complete the previous treatment. But I know this time, if I commit it to God and ask him to help me, I can do it. I will delinquently take 4 pills instead of 8 everyday and see how it goes after 6 weeks. After years, im still back at square one, starting on my treatment again. it doesn’t end here. This treatment will go on for the next few years. I am considering surgery

http://www.divecartagena.com/dan.html

It may not be in a person's best interests to scuba dive with untreated symptomatic hyperthyroidism (i.e., having an overactive thyroid gland). The thyroid is a vital gland that secretes the hormone thyroxine, which helps regulate body metabolism. In excess quantities, this hormone can increase the heart rate or produce cardiac problems, affect respiratory rate, decrease body weight and even interact with the central nervous system. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism can also include discomfort and anxiety.

Cardiac effects of hyperthyroidism include tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), serious dysrhythmias and heart failure. Hyperthyroidism can also cause muscular weakness and periodic paralysis.

The output of the thyroid gland can be controlled by medication, radiation, radioactive iodine or surgery. These procedures reduce the function of the thyroid and the amount of hormone released. Once the hormone level has been reduced to within the normal range (as assessed by blood tests), and the signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism have resolved, a diver with a thyroid condition may resume diving, as long as he has no other major health problems and is physically fit.

Individuals who are treated for hyperthyroidism may in turn become hypothyroid (have reduced thyroid function) and may require supplemental thyroxine to raise their hormone levels back into the normal range. It is vital for all individuals with thyroid ailments to have their thyroid function measured regularly by blood tests. This can help diagnose hypo- and hyperthyroidism and can indicate the efficacy of treatment.

Participation in recreational scuba diving is usually considered safe for individuals with hyperthyroidism when they show no signs of the ailment and have normal thyroxine levels.

George Carlin

2009-08-20T10:13:00.001+08:00

Isn't it amazing that George Carlin - comedian of the 70's and 80's - could write something so very eloquent...and so very appropriate.
A Message by George Carlin:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Runway Bride

2009-08-20T10:05:00.001+08:00

One facebook I saw compilations of wedding photos for 2 brides I know. I have a wedding to attend this weekend, and that is the 6^th wedding this year. Also, I must have been watching too many Korean dramas.

The alarm rang at 730, the heart was willing to get up, but the body was weak. I thought about what to wear and slowly fell back into slumber.

I woke up disturbed by my mom’s voice and she told me I had to leave now… and I had to marry someone now! And that someone’s father was sick and just wanted his son to be happily married. Right so I made my way down to the event hall. It wasn’t even a church. I walked in grasping my mom’s arm and begging her to tell me… “so who am I exactly suppose to marry?!” then I saw a man all dressed up and smiling at me. I was like CRAP! I was so convinced it would be Y! But it turned out to be K!

I was shoved into a meditation room and I was required to do some Pilates 2 hours before the start! Magically, I was in some sort of a gown. I have always wanted to wear something short and casual, instead of the regular white fluffy gowns.

Then this lady Y used to stay in the event hall. It was like she was some.. soldier staying in the barracks. I just knew it, don’t ask me why. Then the groom was so upset when the lady started to cry. It told me that she was the one he loved. I told my friend who sat beside me. “Too bad Rui isn’t here.” She said “ Well, he can come for your next wedding.” I replied” I don’t think I can marry someone and not love him eventually.”

Then the alarm rang again. scenes of the dream was disturbed. But it carried on. I saw scenes from the not-so-long-ago. K and the interior designer was doing up our room and he wanted to have everything painted black.. right..he told the designer not to touch anything that’s mine since he doesn’t really care about me.

I was suddenly seated in the event hall. There was someone wearing a white gown standing beside me. The wedding march started and the place was dark. I thought, great! So now the bride isn’t me.. But somehow I marched down. And we were in white and light blue gowns, it was really casual almost like a fashion show. The runway was lit and there were colored spots on us. We quarreled down the runway and the dream ended.

Right……..

Cats

2009-08-19T16:16:00.001+08:00

TMeow! Sabryna’s kitty is coming over to Singapore from the US. it has to be quarantined for a month.. and so, my colleague is going thru soo much stress! Kris’s 4 cats are still back at home, and I caught her looking at her cats’ photos on her desk… Aggie has cats too! haha. 2 of them. I just sat around and listened to them talk about how Kris’ declawed cat attacked a neighbor’s dog! it came back all bruised and bleeding.. With that kind of a confidence, It just had to be a HOLDREN CAT! Oh I felt really left out.. I need to get a cat!

Trip

2009-08-17T15:17:00.001+08:00

12:50 Wednesday 12 August 2009
Back Seat

First blog post for my tiring 5 hour journey to china. I finished watching xmen-wolverine origins and xmen-1. Woke up restless from a 10 min nap. And guess what only 90mins to go before we land. I’m suddenly overcome by anxiety. That has been giving me a sick feeling in my stomach for the past few days.

I caught the trend, searched for my carbimazole tablets and they were yellowed and expired! I guess I don’t have any help to calm my nerves. It will be a tiring 5 days. And I can’t seem to get any sleep. The plane has been shaking ever since take off. Perhaps I can finally experience a crash?! This is the horrible-est flight I have been on!

Brian mcknight music and blogging on my mac book on a plane. Free breakfast in the silverkris business class lounge. The steward who calls me and my colleague by name. what can be better than this? without fail to mention economy class and the back seat. Row 55! That’s the last 3 men row, right before the loo, and I keep picking up a smell. Eeww… I couldn’t stop looking out for him in the lounge, hoping he could coincidentally be on business trip as well.

Despiite the back seat, I should be feeling very happy now, but my thoughts scatter, become reminiscent. I heard a radio conversation. It basically asks who you’ll like to go for a 10 day holiday with. I mentally voted for family. And the results say that im sick of my double life- the pretence at the work place, fending off daggers, and I just want to be myself.. How true, I enjoy my job, but im getting sick of it..

I suddenly smell it again! It’s that guy 2 seats away, he keeps burping and it stinks.. he can’t stop asking for snacks, drinks, and goes to the loo often.

The turbulence is making my macbook violently whack the cup holder. I should turn it off and get some sleep.

23:05 Wednesday 12 August 2009
First Class

Woah.. it was a tiring day and tomorrow is promised to be worse. Westin hotel surprised me with a free upgrade and personal meet and greet. This was not the usual bowing and politeness. It was far better! Once I said I was jodi, the manager ran out to greet me. So then a handful of people offered to carry my luggage up. I had dinner and a nice bath and now im in the oversized armchair in the master bedroom of my executive suite. This suite has 2 bedrooms, 3 beds, 2 bathrooms, 1 powder room, one hall, dining, and study. Woah. My master bathroom sure is impressive! Yay! Im so blessed…

I’m paranoid I’ll lose things, so I kept in mind to put everything I have in the master bedroom. Even if it means I only have 2 power points and 3 items that need to be charged.

01:01 Friday 14 August 2009
Foreign

I can’t believe we managed to survive at the work site with aircon with the temperature at 39.c on Wednesday and 40.c on Thursday! Everyone said we can at the last few days of summer and the hottest ever..

It was a busy day.. climb lots of stairs, lugged my laptop and backpack. Moved furniture. I was mostly slacking, Kenneth did soo well. i felt everyone at this jobsite was a friend! Although I had to be mean to them because of work, at the end of the day, we could go for dinner together and drank and laughed. J it was a tiring day.. and the thought on my mind now.. the carpet for the whole project is soooo ugly.. sigh.. I hope that once the furniture are in to cover the majority of it, the place will look good. It seems the first few levels and guestrooms looked great. Those were the areas my bosses were involved. Then they slowly lost interest and now.. I feel the other areas don’t look good.. sigh. Im so demoralized.

Dinner at famous Ghost Street was ok. The food was similar to the ones we have at home. I especially liked the pear slices with ‘shan char’ sauce. I’m getting sick of roast duck. I loved the “Da Bai Chai!” Didn’t not it can be so good!

The full body massage at a sleazy Chinese spa- with 3 basements was not very helpful. I could still feel my arm aching during the massage. And now, my whole body is still aching.. im hungry and tired. Gonnna grab something from the minibar and sleeppp… good night!

00:04 Saturday 15 August 2009
Chinese Food Makes Me Sick

Roast Duck, more roast duck and finally mcdonald’s! Chinese restaurant, Chinese restaurant and more corporate dining, finally- freedddooomm!! This few days have been 38, 39 and today felt like 40! It’s been so hard to pull thru. One woman with 15 guys at any time on site. Every action I make to relieve blood pressure in my legs, commanded laughter from the man. Then slowly, the men slumped on to the floors.

I made friends.. Jiang, We could communicate very well and he helped me to express my comments. He even wanted to take my bag by force. He’s constantly helping me along the way and laughing all the time at the dining table! I almost cried when the 2 feet lobster came on the table, the head staring at me.. Wang, he’s a chubby, loud spoken, contractor boss, he is hilarious! Everyone knew who I am, and I didn’t even know their names. I was rumored to love sports. HAH! The client has been telling the 50-odd consultants stories about me… tsk. The contractors were nice.. everyone fought to take us out for meals. We took photos like friends even though there had been so many quarrels, finger pointing etc.. it was such a good feeling.

My flight is in 7 hours, I will need to get this 5 hour rest now. I’m really glad I brought along my sandals! My feet are dying..

01:16 Sunday 16^th August 2009
What?!

I obviously didn’t join in “The Great Westin Run”. Let’s just say the odds are against me. Weather, the nature of the sport itself and the scorching sun. Just because they upgraded me to the executive suite, I have had super VIP treatment my 5 days here. Hah!

Today was manageable, abit of climbing at the Xi an City Wall and visiting the Terracotta Warriors and Horses. It was cool! Kenneth was a great company together with the tour guide and driver. 38.c sustained through 6am in the morning to 10pm at night. It’s cooler now, finally. Sweeny Todd is on now, but im too tired to watch it. Bought souvenirs. Feel cheated cos I bought a set at 60 sing dollars when I saw 20 other shops selling them at one tenth of the price! According to the tour guide and the sound of the metal body, the one I bought was of premium quality. Right. Anyways I ended up buying a 10 dollar set at the airport for a friend. Argh…

So then i went to Kenn’s room to get photos. And now my freaking macbook doesn’t read or write the external hard disk.. ah!!! I need to figure something out tomorrow. Yawn.. time to sleep! My gastronomical and retail journey starts in 7.5 hours.

15:07 Sunday 16^th August 2009
Home

Stuck in an internet lounge with expensive food and the chair that requires efforts in order reach to the table, that doesn’t even have internet! Stupid LAN cable.. Boarding time is in another 20 mins and I’ll be out of the land of the great panda. J So now, im just gonna enjoy my hotdog sandwich, and pray I have enough cash in my wallet! If not, oops, gotta find a Bank of China ATM in this vast… environment.

I got to the gate at 1630 hoping to make a smooth entry (and risk missing the flight. as always) and the boarding time has been delayed twice. Expected boarding time is 1615 and departure 1645. This means I will land at 2300! Argh.. it’s 1600 now and the plane is nowhere in sight.. I have an hour’s battery on my laptop left. I guess I should be thankful!

Next week

2009-08-07T17:43:00.000+08:00

Im so looking forward to next week! It seems my boss gave me a short
holiday without making it too obvious to the rest... She said 6 days
when in fact im only needed for 3 days. So then due to logistic, I will
be there from wednesday to sunday, 5 days.

And this time with a great colleague, senior, and friend, someone whom I
always look up to for his patience, tolerance, humilty and his coping of
stress. Kenneth. You have really gained all my respect. Thanks for
sharing with me, all your experiences, frustrations and funny
jokes/remarks. You're such a great man! Your wife and kids are really
blessed.

We'll be in beijing wednesday afternoon. I had wanted to go to the great
wall. After some research, I figured I might faint in the unforgiving
heat, so that's cancelled. I had to go somewhere! Xi an was chosen. 500
bucks for morning flight to xian for its teracotta warriors, tombs,
wall, scenery and then the night flight back to beijing. There were 11
hr train ride options. But that is just... Crazy, since it takes time of
the actual visits for travel. The great part, got a free night at
marriot and so im techincally not paying for everything else. 500 for 5
days holiday in china.. Wheee!

The return flight is 4 pm, I can see myself sleeping in til 9, head to
the mall or olympics mall for breakfast and shopping. Slowly return to
hotel for checkout and get to the airport. :)

Sounds like a really great week doesn't it? But, before that, 1 day of
torture and verbal abuse from loud mouthed boss. I hope he doesn't know
im disappearing wednesday onwards!

F.O.P Mark Conner

2009-08-02T21:22:00.001+08:00

We don't go to church, we are the church. The church is a community.

We dont just try to be like Jesus.. We train oursleves as Paul writes.. Thru training we can do what we can not do thru willpower alone.. Just like learning language, playing the piano... We train! Practise! "Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee!"

Regards
Jodi Chen
+65 82684285

Sent from my Windows Mobile® phone.

Understanding Silence

2009-07-31T17:40:00.002+08:00

R contacted me after 6 years! Wow.. L, we have been in minmal contact la.. He left in year 3 and andR left in year 2. Omg R gained 30 kgs. And L, he's the same.. E and R came along too. It was a great time catching up as both guys were sooo humorous. I was glad that they all said I was the only one they remembered. I've always liked L. He's just this really cool older men I trusted in scool. He was a loner, but he opened up to me. R was the underdog,athletic always in jersey but now.. He says he's ashamed to take off his shirt cos he has moobs or breast. Haha.

Then only L and E remained and we had a good heart to heart talk. :) talked about how E was a lesbian and L admitted he was gay. It came out so clean. Everyone was so honest with each other, no body was judgemental! Shared about our relationships, work and businesses. And best of all..

L understands! He's also is in a relationship with a guy 12 yrs his senior. And he knows how sometimes we the younger ones get rebelious and somewhat agitate our guy, but always rest in knowing that he forgives and still loves.. His guy owns a gallery in paragon. Himself he owns his own interior design. company and he's been doing well for 6 years! L said he didnt remember me as someone who likes to draw or paint, he remembered me to be techie.

it was a a good dinner. A really genuine one. :) im happy.. And sleepy. Heh. E brought me a magnet many years ago for my birthday.. and it said. "friends are family we choose for ourselves" indeed... :)

Regards
Jodi Chen
+65 82684285

Sent from my Windows Mobile® phone.

Can. not. concentrate...

2009-07-27T17:17:00.000+08:00

I find myself horribly distracted today.. the weather is perfect for sleeping in, tho, not so perfect for desk napping. I feel old, with aches everywhere, and a throbbing headache. Perhaps I should really get into an exercise routine, before I turn into a fat aching flop.

Im rather happy with the amount of work I have completed today, considering that it’s Monday. It’s gonna be 6 soon, and I hope the rain stops so I can catch the bus home. Did I mention the bus is on the other side or the road and I have to climb a 5 m extraordinary high overhead to get there? Im not exaggerating, it levels up perfectly with my floor and my building’s a loft.. so ya.. I wished the bridge joined up with my office!

Currently, the rain is clearing. The palm trees in front on me are swaying. I feel, almost, at the beach…

Flat

2009-07-20T15:44:00.001+08:00

Hi Blog

Today’s thoughts are about buying selling flats/ renovation…

It seems my sis hooked up with the MP for the estate, and He is looking into the matter with HDB to remove my dad’s ownership in the flat. This means we can sell/ buy another place or take a renovation loan for the current flat.

Now I have a few problems.

1. My flat is valued at about 300k but it is not in good condition. It needs new M&E works. And I would love to get rid of the ugly mosaic tiles in the kitchen and 2 bathrooms. So I need to renovate it even before I can sell or rent. Reno and miscellaneous cost more than 20k cold hard cash. I cannot take reno loans without being the current flat owner. Problem solved once I replace my dad’s name in ownership.

2. I can buy a flat with my sis under the HDB family nucleus thingy. But I have this sick feeling I will be the only one paying for the house in time to come. No offense. And if I ever can trust men or human beings in general, again and decide to get married, I have nothing left for my OWN flat.

3. Even if I do find money to renovate and rent it out, I will need to purchase another one at a 250,000 cap. this amount is derived from my CPF account + Maximun loan( which is $1900/ month over 10 years OR $800 over 20 years) 250k can find me a place in ulu places such as punggol and sengkang, a 4-5 room resale flat. But.. I want those big windows and new flats in mature estates such as ang mo kio and bishan! there is a chance to reduce the loan/ installment amount if I use my cash earned from current flat. Hopefully I don’t need loans. But I really love m

The above 3 options are void since I have to pay make sure I don’t jeopardize my bro’s uni expenses/ partial tuition fees. I also have some big expenses in the few months to come. And NO huge expenses are already exclusive of diving trips.

*screams out in frustration* I feel I have 30 year old dreams but I’m just a 24 yr old person with a 24 yr old kind of salary. Can I somehow get 6 year’s advance…?

Jodi Chen

Designer

JodiC@HBADesign.com

HBA / HIRSCH BEDNER ASSOCIATES

DESIGN CONSULTANTS

700 BEACH ROAD #02-00 SINGAPORE 199598

TEL +65 63934546 FAX +6563372460

www.hbadesign.com

Tioman July 09

2009-07-17T11:26:00.002+08:00

WooHoo! I am a PADI Certified Advanced Diver.

Next Stop- Perhentian or somewhere a little more expensive. Heh.

This resort offers leisure packages, I think they are quite good. Take a look! J

Those who wish to learn, can also look at their course fee/ structure here. About SGD 600, but exclusive of transport. Same as the instructor who taught us, but can’t guarantee the service is as good! http://www.tunabay.com.my/package3.html

For those who are unsure, they also have a discover scuba course, http://www.tunabay.com.my/dive_rates.html

Kristin and I are thinking of heading down 18 September (Friday) to 21^st September ( Public Hols, Monday). J requires one day of leave (or skipping school)

Accommodation/ food SGD 150

6 boat dives another SGD 200

FULL set of Equipments SGD 40 a day (considering 3 days)

Transport(round)

Bus From Singapore to Jerteh (10 hours) – SGD 50

Taxi to Jetty (15mins) – SGD 10

Speed Boat to resort (40 mins)- SGD 20

Total 550

7 Dives+ Equipments/ Accommodation & food package/ Sea Transfers

Approx. SGD 450

+ transport SGD50

+ Taxi to jetty SGD 10

Total 510

2009 3 DAYS / 2 NIGHTS FULLBOARD FUN DIVING
PACKAGE (RM) /PERSON

Occupancy	Rate
Single	RM970
Twin	RM770
Triple	RM750

2009 4 DAYS / 3 NIGHTS FULLBOARD FUN DIVING
PACKAGE (RM) /PERSON

Occupancy	Rate
Single	RM1,330
Twin	RM1,130
Triple	RM1,110

Holiday Surcharge(Adult/Child)
Weekend (Friday & Saturday)	RM20
Malaysia School Holiday	RM40
Malaysia Super Peak Holiday	RM80

Package Include:

3 days/ 2 nights

Welcome drinks
2 night accommodation in Standard Deluxe Chalet
2 breakfast; 2 lunch; 2 dinner
Return sea transfer by speed boat
4 boat dive with equipment

4 days/ 3 nights

Welcome drinks
3 night accommodation in Standard Deluxe Chalet
3 breakfast; 3 lunch; 3 dinner
Return sea transfer by speed boat
7 boat dive with equipment

Package DOES NOT include:

RM 5/person, Marine Conservation fees (to be paid at the jetty)

Notes:

Triple sharing; 3rd person will be provided with an extra mattress

NOTES
All package price quoted as per person
All package are ex-jetty unless stated
All package does not include RM 5 marine conservation fees
Resort reserved the right to change any snorkeling or dive trip due to weather condition.
Resort reserved the right to change any snorkeling or dive trip due to weather factor

TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Reservation
All reservation must be made to Tunabay Island Resort in writing either by mail, email or fax and confirmed by us prior to guest arrival.
Tunabay Island Resort reserved the right to cancel all reservation, if no payment is made within the given deadline.
A reservation will be secured by giving details of credit card or deposit paid.
No reservation is confirmed without a full payment.

PAYMENT
DEPOSIT 50% - 21 Days BEFORE ARRIVAL.
To secure a reservation during public holiday, 50% must be paid, once the reservation is confirmed.
Payment must be made through our bank account and then fax us the bank-in slip for reference.
Payment must be made to Tuna Bay Resorts Sdn. Bhd.

CHECK-IN & CHECK-OUT
Check-in time at 1400hrs.
Check-out time at 1200hrs.
Early Check-in are subjected to room availability.
Late Check-out is possible but subjected to room availability.
Latest Check-Out time: 1430hrs.

CANCELLATION
Cancellation without early notification will result in released of rooms and deposit forfeited.
In the event of no show, rooms will be released and deposit will be forfeited.
The management reserves the rights of anytime without giving prior notice or reason whatsoever to withdraw, add, amend, modify, revise or vary the rate, privileges or terms and conditions of the contract.

IMPORTANT NOTES
The resort are not responsible for any cancellations of sea transfer, snorkeling trip and diving trip due to weather factor. Tunabay Island Resort will not compensate anything due to weather factors

HBA's pride- The Ritz Carlton Jakarta is down!

2009-07-17T11:11:00.004+08:00

Six dead in Indonesian hotel blasts

JAKARTA: At least six people including several foreigners were killed and 10 were injured when explosions ripped through two luxury hotels in downtown Jakarta on Friday, police said.

Witnesses said two loud blasts shook the Ritz-Carlton hotel and the nearby JW Marriott in the upscale Mega Kuningan business district in the centre of the city around 8:00am (0100 GMT).

Blood was spattered on the street outside the Marriott and police had sealed off the area, an AFP correspondent said.

Windows had been blown out of a second-storey restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton, but there was little damage to the Marriott that was visible from outside.

The Islamic militant network Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) has been blamed for a string of bombings on local and Western targets in Indonesia in recent years including the bombings in Bali and the 2003 attack on the Jakarta Marriott.

Walk On- 4Him

2009-07-15T09:42:00.004+08:00

The wind blows hard
The climb is slow
Shadows are dark
I stumble on these stones
But my Lord, You are near
I will not fear

I chose to take this road called faith
I will walk on
I trust that You will lead me through
I will walk on

No end in view
At times I feel alone and the signs are few
But at least they all say home,
And You my Lord, You're the hope I hold
Strength of my soul

Because of love
There was an awful hill You climbed
And because of love
I'll live my faith
One step at a time

The course is set
Life's hard but yet
We will walk on
Around each bend, until the end
We will walk on

We chose to take this road called faith
We will walk on
We trust that You will lead me through
We will walk on

Scuba Cat

2009-07-14T19:43:00.004+08:00

Scuba Cat

Scuba diving is a sport enjoyed by millions of people all over the world. You strap on the oxygen tank, wetsuit, mask and fins, sink into the ocean, and you're enveloped by the silence of the deep sea. Schools of shiny reef fish dart back and forth in unison. Stingrays and jellyfish glide by, weightless and graceful. In the distance, you see something else. It's swimming with a fellow scuba diver, and it has a tank and mask of its own. It could be child, but it's too small and looks like it might actually be … furry. As you get closer, you find that it's not a child -- it's a dog. It's Mutley the dog. Mutley the scuba diving dog.

he trick to completing the suit was finding the right balance between floating and sinking in water. Alba sewed built-in pockets on the sides of the wet suit that hold lead weights, which keeps Mutley from rising too high or sinking too low. Her head is outfitted in a custom-made, inverted Plexiglas bubble, which is also weighted. The same principle as a diving bell is at work here. An inverted bell, bowl or bubble holds pressurized air as long as it's kept upright -- but that also makes it harder to submerge. It takes 16 pounds of lead weights around Mutley's bubble to keep her underwater, but still buoyant.

Hand Injuries

2009-07-14T15:08:00.003+08:00

It’s just as tobias said, when you hurt your hand/arm, you just keep accidentally hitting the same spot..

So now I have a twisted arm and a swollen palm because I lost my grip while coming down the boat’s ladder.

Oh well, don’t forget the cuts on 3 fingers. Ouchie. And now using my office desktop is killing me…

Frustration

2009-07-14T10:42:00.002+08:00

It is such a horrible day..

Anyone who makes a mistake today will not get away with it. cant you guys read phone numbers.. I am not jennifer, so stop calling me. And please send me emails that actually have attachments. don’t make me locate my package from 100 colleagues. Just name your package correctly la! such frustration…

Flunk

2009-07-13T10:20:00.003+08:00

I was sooo disappointed with my camera housing. It gave me huge problems with buoyancy and I couldn’t even descend with double of usual weighting. The bag of air put up a such a struggle, I had several cuts on my hands from yanking at the mooring line to make a descent. Finally, after the panic attack, I passed it back to the boatman and obviously flunk my underwater photography. Sigh… in any case I still completed 5 other dives for my advanced open water course! WHEE! I will share photos soon on my blog. J

Coveted Camera

2009-07-10T14:09:00.008+08:00

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/EP1/EP1A.HTM#

But i really hate the stainless steel. Still like black cameras. heh

Traditional Chinese Medicine

2009-07-10T09:16:00.002+08:00

Went for massage, acupuncture and cupping yesterday! My arm has been acting up the past days. I have struggled with this for close to 2 months.

Tried all ways to shift my desktop around, but the wires to the CPU just isn’t long enough! It feels better now, but I smell like an Ah Ma with all the plasters. To my horror, I have weird brown medallions over my back and shoulders! Thanks… for giving me this just one day before I go for the diving trip.

It’s so amazing, that when I complained of the ache in certain parts of my arm, she knew straightaway it was my neck! I’m glad the tension in my arm in not here. It does feel a bit sore today. after all the zapping and attempts to decapitate my head from my shoulders.

Adore these furniture!

2009-07-08T09:53:00.000+08:00

Night Out

2009-07-08T09:42:00.002+08:00

Dinner was so fun, desserts were great and show was crazily funny.. O rather, the person who sat beside me was crazy. My good ol’ friends, R, A, S, A.(sounds pretty catchy eh?)

Katong is a nice place. I spent my really young days at my grandma’s shop house at joo chiat. I also listened to mom’s stories about Katong’s land reclaiming and drainage systems.

But, It was a hard place to return to since I’ve always gone there with R. Still glad I went and laughed so hard. Now, I am so overcome with fatigue… labored breathing and loss of concentration..

Travel more than doubles risk of blood clots: study

2009-07-07T11:20:00.005+08:00

By Amy Norton

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A study published Monday strengthens the evidence that long-distance travel can lead to potentially fatal blood clots in some people -- showing that the risk grows in tandem with the length of the trip.

In an analysis of 14 previous studies, researchers found that, in general, travel was associated with a nearly three-fold increase in the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) -- blood clots that form in the veins, often in the legs.

If such a clot dislodges and travels to the lungs, it can cause a potentially fatal condition called pulmonary embolism.

Several high-profile deaths have brought attention to the risk of VTE among travelers, particularly those on long-haul flights. Experts think a combination of factors -- including dehydration and hours of sitting in cramped conditions -- explains why some people develop blood clots.

However, not all studies have found a clear link between travel and VTE. To look at the discrepancy, the researchers who conducted the current review, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, analyzed 14 studies involving more than 4,000 cases of VTE.

Some of the studies compared VTE patients with a "control" group of people who had been referred for possible VTE symptoms, but were found to not have a clot -- a comparison that carries the risk of bias because the control group likely has a higher-than-average risk of blood clots.

In other studies, the control group consisted of healthy people from the general population -- which are more likely to capture the true VTE risk associated with travel, explained lead researcher Dr. Divay Chandra of the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.

When the researchers looked only at those studies, they found that travelers had a nearly three-fold higher risk of blood clots than non-travelers.

What's more, the risk climbed along with the duration of the trip -- rising 18 percent for every two hours of any type of travel, and by 26 percent for every two hours of air travel.

But while the current findings confirm the travel-VTE link, Chandra told Reuters Health, "there is no reason for panic" because the absolute risk to any one traveler is still low.

Still, Chandra said, "people who travel long distances should be aware of the risk of blood clots and learn to recognize the symptoms."

Symptoms of a blood clot in the leg include pain, warmth, swelling and redness in the limb. If the clot travels to the lungs, it may cause sudden shortness of breath, chest pain or a cough that produces blood.

To help reduce the risk of VTE, experts generally recommend that long-distance travelers periodically move around and stretch their legs, and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

Certain people are at increased risk of blood clots, Chandra noted -- including cancer patients, people who have recently had major surgery such as a joint replacement, and women on birth control pills. They may want to talk with their doctors about any precautions they should take when traveling, he said.

SOURCE: Annals of Internal Medicine, August 4, 2009.

Advanced OWD

2009-07-07T09:31:00.003+08:00

Just to update you. I passed the theory sector for my advanced Open Water Certification! All I gotta do now is not panic during the practical open water dives and I should be on my way.. In fact, the instructor has already asked for my passport photo to send together with the certification card application. Mwhaha! Yea.. but I m kinda worried over 3 specilaty dives since they are with another instructor.. And it’s Malaysia.. you know la..

Happiest Monday Ever

2009-07-06T10:34:00.001+08:00

Hello world

I find myself in a glorious mood! Maybe it’s because im looking forward to a nice dinner with good ol’ friends tomorrow evening, and also the scuba trip this Friday with one of my best friends!

Im so glad the advanced OWD is not this week, or I will fail horribly.

The weekend was so relaxed and i was too much of a bum to even turn on my computer to blog. There is a movie titled’ the cube’ or “the cube 2-hypercube’ My sis told me about ‘the cube’ many years ago. I was browsing thru the infotainment guides on cable TV and I couldn’t believe they were showing the cube 2 at 12midnight! Watched it and I gave myself a pat on the shoulders that I stayed up for it! Movie lovers should watch that. I still want to watch the first one though. Gonna find that DVD and get my popcorn! The cube came out in 1997 and the second one came out in 2002. OH MY…

Just want to laugh out loud now.. been a good weekend and coincidentally the sermon yesterday was ‘the Sabbath rest’. You know what’s the best part? The noisy bosses are not in for a few days again. J

Rui, if you are reading this, remember your Berms are still with me?

haha. even this is funny.

Woo hoo! Hip hip hooray to the busy but happy week ahead!

Advanced Open Water

2009-07-03T16:56:00.002+08:00

The isntructor almost killed me… and came up with a long story as to why I shouldn’t black list the previous tioman resort..

Of course, after much talking and arrangements, I got to do the 5 coolest and most desired specialty dives! (not considering the crazy FISH AWARE…)

Deep (Resort Instructor)
Night (Already done)
Underwater Navigation
Search & Recovery (Resort Instructor)
Fish Aware
Photography

Woo hoo!!! i can now comprehend why mom always tells me to ask if i want to get things done. dont just accept the cicumstance and mumble after it happens.

I love this cool blog!

2009-07-03T11:08:00.000+08:00

http://funfragrance.blogspot.com/2009_05_01_archive.html

Running Route

2009-07-02T09:27:00.002+08:00

We started running, or rather... i probably was brisk walking or jogging at some point in time, last night. started at 1030 and ended after 50 mins or so. the route was from home... aljunied crescent and then cut into merpati road and roundabout at circuit road home. ironically, we ended up at mcdonalds and bought some and walked home

now im like.. really sore and tired and sleepy. haha. but we promised each other to run at least 2 times a week. :) which is really good.. cos i have much weight to lose. i told hens if he helps me lose 10 kg, i will give him 200 bucks! haha. this way, i feel the pinch, and probably wont end up walking most of the route. hee

cheers to a healthier lifestlye! i mean.. cheers with plain water.

this will also include no carbonated drinks, which i havent been taking much since a few years ago... and more fish and chicken since they are low in fat. also, not dairy products. the only thing i cant give up is the breakfast of butter and kaya toast! no....

Don't ever ever give up......

2009-07-01T11:08:00.000+08:00

One day I decided to quit...
I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality... in fact I wanted to quit my life.
I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.

"God", I asked, "Can you give me one good reason

not to quit?"
His answer surprised me...
"Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"
"Yes", I replied.
"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them.

I gave them light.

I gave them water..
The fern quickly grew from the earth.
Its brilliant green covered the floor.
Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.
In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful.
And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. He said..
"In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed.
But I would not quit.
In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would
not quit." He said.
"Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant. ..

But just 6
months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.
It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave

it what it needed to survive.
I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."
He asked me. "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling,

you have actually been growing roots".
"I would not quit on the bamboo.
I will never quit on you."
"Don't compare yourself to others."
He said.
"The bamboo had a different Purpose than the fern.
Yet they both make the forest beautiful."
"Your time will come", God said to me.
"You will rise high"
"How high should I rise?"
I asked.
"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.
"As high as it can?" I questioned.
"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."
I left the forest and brought back this story.
I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you.
Never, Never, Never Give up.
Don't tell God how big the problem is,
tell the problem how Great God is!
Heaven's door opened this morning,
God asked me... My CHILD...
what can I do for you?" and I said "Protect and bless the one reading this message.
God smiled and answered ... "request granted .............

MARRY / DIVE WITH THE RIGHT MAN!

2009-06-30T13:43:00.003+08:00

Scuba man jailed for wife's death

An Australian court has sentenced a man to four-and-a-half years in prison over the death of his bride on their scuba-diving honeymoon on Great Barrier Reef.

Christina Watson, 26, drowned while diving with her husband, David Gabriel Watson,

an experienced diver, 11 days after their wedding in 2003.

The sentence came after Watson pleaded guilty to manslaughter having previously

denied murder charges.

Prosecutors said he had failed in his duty as his wife's dive buddy.

'Survival extinguished'

Prosecutor Brendan Campbell said Watson had failed to give her emergency oxygen

when she needed it.

Watson allowed Christina to sink to the ocean floor without making any serious

attempt to rescue her and also failed to inflate her buoyancy vest or remove weights

from her belt to allow her to surface, Mr Campbell said.

"He virtually extinguished any chance of her survival," he told the court hearing, in Brisbane.

A dive instructor found novice scuba diver Christina Watson lying on the bottom of the ocean after her husband, known as Gabe, had surfaced.

In mid-2008 a coroner found it was likely Watson killed his wife by holding her underwater

and turning off her air supply.

The American couple were on their honeymoon in Australia.

Watson, who has since remarried, voluntarily returned to Australia last month to face

his murder charge.

Christina's father Tommy Thomas, her sister Alanda and friend Amanda Phillips travelled

from their native Alabama to attend the court hearing.

Prosecutors had sought a five-year jail term for Mr Watson, with the possibility of

parole after 18 months.

5pm Office Beer

2009-06-30T09:10:00.002+08:00

Yea!!! Just when I was feeling stressed out!

Beer in the office at 5pm thanks to boss’ birthday celebration! I can’t believe that new girl worked in the dubai company I was so about to join!!! Yea, looks like she was there for a year, about the same time I was poached. She says office is nice , small but good and stressful. I want to go even more! Dubaidubai…

Such a small world. I have at least 6 people in this office who worked in my previous companies before. Haha. small design world too.

Affordable Green Houses!

2009-06-15T16:33:00.001+08:00

Underwater Hotel

2009-06-13T14:36:00.004+08:00

Visitors to Istanbul will soon have a chance to view the most spectacular ocean views on the planet. A seven floor, seven-star hotel is being built underwater on what was formerly a tobacco factory. There will be exhibition halls, and restaurants, and all rooms will be sea facing.

This isn’t the first such underwater hotel complex in the world. That honor goes to the $500 million Poseidon Hotel which is currently being built off Fiji. The Istanbul hotel differs in that it is being built under the city center, which should make for an interesting experience.

The hotel’s inauguration is set to coincide with the city’s taking over from Linz, Austria as the Cultural Capital of Europe in 2010.

http://www.vagabondish.com/underwater-hotel-in-istanbul-to-open-in-2010/

solitary walks

2009-06-13T14:01:00.000+08:00

http://picasaweb.google.com/geodyi

798 Art district Beijing

2009-06-13T13:59:00.002+08:00

Dive Tioman 09

2009-03-31T13:18:00.008+08:00

My Crazy Diving Buddies again...

2009-03-16T20:54:00.003+08:00

You Guys... really rock my world!!!

Oh, and im going diving with another of my best buddies! sol glad they are divers too! :)

HBA monthly crabbing@ Joo Chiat!

2009-03-16T20:53:00.000+08:00

Shanghai Trip

2009-03-16T20:41:00.002+08:00

Suzhou and Zhou Zhuang Private Tour!

Su Zhuo Silk Factory- We're stretching silk duvet inserts!

Zhuo Zhuang's famous Bridge

Oriental Pearl- Shanghai's skyline

Night Life... i can't remember where! hah!

Birthday @ HBA

2009-03-16T20:39:00.002+08:00

Updates

2009-02-27T09:55:00.000+08:00

This year, I have had the chance to experience a full swing of emotions..

Anger- over the church magazine

Disappointment- over “blah blah”

Anxiety- climbing the corporate ladder

Loneliness- when my best friend left town and ‘blah blah”

Sadness- when I under-perform at work, since he left

Exhilaration- when I go scuba diving and plan my sky diving trips

Happiness- new friends at work, boss’ trust.

Exhaustion- spending too much time at work, holidays, business trips.

So that basically sums all out. I had dinner, desserts, and a good talk with a friend Monday evening.

It had me thinking and talking about the problem I had at work.

I said I could play ‘the game’ at work, and play it well and yet I don’t want to.

I said I loved living the high life, yet I don’t want to, cos I will need to stop being myself. Or at least try to do things I normally wont.

I said I want to be a top designer, and yet I always tell myself im not good at all.

I said I am thankful my bosses are giving me many chances to perform, yet I don’t fully embrace the chances for fear of messing up.

I think im over-confident, and that makes me have low self esteem and confidence.

The list goes on forever. The conflict needs to end. I remind myself every day, to snap out of it.

Will keep trying. I pray things get better. I had a good week at work, with nothing much to do.

Email, blog, print a few documents, sketch furniture, watch the new Korean F4 drama, play ninja games at work, attend senseless meetings with supplier, engage in small talks with important people in the office, reading friends’ blogs, plan my diving trip, tuned to flight fares, etc…

I am thankful for the trip to shanghai with my bro and mom. J the weather was great! Around 1- 7 degree celcius. Winter wear is fun and nice as usual. J

Jodi Chen

HIRSCH BEDNER ASSOCIATES-SINGAPORE

700 BEACH ROAD #02-00 SINGAPORE 199598

DID: +65 63934546

Beijing TianJin

2009-01-26T01:19:00.004+08:00

4 major malls, 3 tourist attractions, 3 5-star hotels, 2 days of meeting, 1 famous restaurant, 4 modes of transport, and all paid for by the company. (except of course, my shopping)

New Items

2009-01-05T20:44:00.003+08:00

i've started buying my own dive gear.

First i bought a nice and comfortable swim wear, a couple of surf shorts, so they dry really fast.

Bought wet suit- shortie and also i had one long one passed down to me.

Also bought 5mm gloves, 20L dry bag, Baggage tags. And guess what i bought yesterday? Yups.. i bought a mask and snorkel. :)

And im really broke. haha!

Today was first day of work, i was given a new project sigh.. does this then mean i got a good increment? haha. dreaming.

Today's emails were all about Coron Wrecks diving, snorkelling with whalsharks OR to go to Sipadan and do the leisure dive there..

Crazed

2009-01-03T00:18:00.003+08:00

Yes.. i know 've said it before.. but, im really crazed!!!!

My next step other then becoming Advanced OWDiver, and maybe be a underwater photogrpahy specialist, is... to see a Mola Mola, Oh gosh. My peeps have been telling me how cool it is. Also, the video Edo had of this sunfish, totally made me drool. haha.

Pulau Hantu Cont'd

2009-01-02T16:20:00.001+08:00

Pulau Hantu

2009-01-01T20:22:00.003+08:00

Whip Goby

Copperbanded Butterfly

Blue Dragon

Stinging Android

Feather Star

Pictures taken from Pula Hantu Blog: http://www.pulauhantu.org

We were in one of the'"2 boats that were already there" heh.

Didn't get to see much but i think i saw this few. :)

DIVING!

2008-12-29T12:31:00.004+08:00

Recent Happenings

2008-12-22T19:10:00.004+08:00

Visit to the Sunbeam Home
We bought presents, drinks, food,played games with them. :)

Visit the old friends at Shalom. Missed you so! :)

Acting crazy as usual.. Everyone's growing up soo fast.

christmas at HBA roof top. haha. HBA gave us jackets. Now we look like a bowling team.

Our last lunch with Pauline in Singapore.

Kristin's Christmas BBQ.

Month of December has been.. crazy! Christmas shopping, wrapping of presents, church magazine, diving lessons and studying for exams, catching up with family and friends, farewell for pauline, etc etc. Work has never stopped pilling. But, i have been choosing to ignore. Hee. even tho my deadlines are in 2 days, im not panicking. hee. wonder if it's good or bad.

Random photos, aged 1-4

2008-12-12T23:35:00.006+08:00

my sis and i

the start of a monarchy

i love my hairdo! my fav stage of bro's growth

my youngest uncle and a stage of his camera frenzy

dad and mom

our favorite hang out- the mcdonald's with the ball pit!

when i still didn't fear clowns..

my first birthday

the star as usual.. haha!

tantrum caught on camera.

haha! i didn't have a brother yet!

what a cool shot! my mom made my singlet!

Sis, ,me, and my cousin Noel. LOL!

Just some random old photos.. we've been through tough times. Times when we didnt have anything to eat, and only a few pieces of biscuits a day. times where i was in the hospital all the time and mom worked hard to pay the bills. Those were the days where even as a kid, i worry. But, things have changed now, and i have much more than others to thank God for. because the change is drastic. and there is sunshine after rain after all. :) God is good.. All the time.

Ans especially those times when i was the cutest of them all. LOL. i was already a bully, i remembered and was made to remember those occassions where i posed in front of my sis at my sis' birthday party. where i stole her drumstick, stole her jelly, and whacked her.. come to think of it, she has suffered much. sigh.. i used to think she deserved all of the crap she is going thru now.. but, she didn't and i wished i could turn back the clock. i would love her more, and stop thinking about myself and my wants and my needs, but focus more on her. maybe then, she wouldn't have gone so astray. oh well, God has his plans for us in life.

Cambodia 2008

2008-12-04T18:42:00.004+08:00

This trip took place in replacement of the northern Thailand mission trip 2008. We applied for leave and paid up but Bangkok and chiangmai were in a political state of mess. Riots, bombings, deaths. So, we decide on Saturday night to cancel the trip due to many reasons. On Sunday morning, Fiona asked if i wanted to go to Cambodia, i said YES!!! and after a few hours of booking flights, hotels, and research, we turned up at the airport and were on our way to Phnom Penh.

Everything! worked out well. We recounted God's blessings frequently. How he has provided this trip for two weary white-collared souls, at the very last minute. How he allowed us to get refund for a night at the Phnom Penh Hotel. We paid up already, but were spending a day at Siem Reap. The hotel staff at both hotels were all so kind! gave me boxes to pack and offered me tape for the box. I highly recommend New York Hotel at Phnom Penh. and if you need a good location at a budget, Angkor St Hotel at Siem Reap is worthy to be considered! :)

Disclaimer: because i just came back from Vietnam a few weeks back.. i felt there isn't much difference in culture, language, and tourists attractions. it almost seems that Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia are just different states belonging to the same country. hee. I'm thinking twice about visiting Laos and Mynmar.

1st day-

City tour at Phnom Penh, Genocide museum, national museum, killing fields, genocide museums, Russian market, central market and foot massage/ pedi&meni along tonle sap. Shopping and taking in sights. the museums, were all so sad...

2nd day-

6 hours on the mekong express bus to siem reap. and angkor temples. the pictures turned out sooo well. sky backdrop enhances every picture!

3rd day-

visit to siem reap old market and french quarters. SPG!!! more shopping for sarongs.. and hammocks. haha! another 6 hours to Phnom Penh. THe bus broke down 15 mins at the arrival terminal.. but the mechanics came and fixed it in a flash! Wow.. impressive i say. Commercial break: mekong express has english speaking tour guides and the journey there is long, but scenic. they also serve towels, water and light snacks.

4th day-

breakfast and straight to the airport for last minute gifts!

Thank God for this refreshing time! :)

Vietnam 08

2008-11-03T21:15:00.004+08:00

Vietnam day 4

2008-10-27T23:20:00.001+08:00

The morning started off at 545am. We had to embark on the journey to mekong delta at 7. It was 150 minutes there. And I wasn't very happy when we reached the floating market. It looked quite shabby. Nothing compared to the infamous Can Tho market about 240 mins drive from HCMC.

Well the sampan ride was good. Short but enough. :) we were hopping from islands to islands for 4 hours. Couldn't help but doze off in the boat. I whacked my head again. Haha.

Saw a python shedding skin, awesome!

No highlights for today. We went to the market for dinner and after that bravely walked home. Swung by a bicycle and motorbike rental store. Can you believe it? It's 50 cents SGD for one day, bike or bicycle. Open all day and night!!! :)

Im all showered now! And packing my bags. Wondering how im going to bring my straw hat, rattan bag, luggage etc all back home.. Hee hee.

This was a fulfilling trip.. Have tried french, viet cuisine, street stalls, restaurants. Gonna meet pam's uncle, hock. And gonna maybe cycle or bike around. Haha! So glad I denied the spa session at all costs.

Signing off! See ya all soon! :)

Vietnam day 3

2008-10-26T19:44:00.001+08:00

Im soo broke!! Haha. Estimated expenditure. Total for the whole trip to be 1200 SGD. Mwhaha! But I have and will have covered the whole ho chi minh, and should never come back again...

Today we went for a service at notre dame cathedral. The songs they sung were in the same familiar tunes. Service was in english and songs in viet. We sung threefold amen and said the lord's prayer as well. :)

We went to diamond plaza, supposedly biggest department store in saigon. Bought coffee. Then we walked down the art street with lotsa art galleries. Bought paintings. Further down we made 2 traditional viet wear for mom and myself. Waiting to collect it at 6pm. Paintings will be delivered to the hotel.

We are currrently at sheraton saigon having high tea. Cos it rained. Haha! I feel sooo broke! Pay day in 5 days! Yay... :) we should be renting bicycles at night and tmr we'll sampan in the meanders of mekong.

Another major expenditure in dec for mission trip. Brokeness!! Haha.. Signing off now..

Cont'd...
We just booked our tour for tmr to mekong delta. It's another 60 USD. Broke! Haha.. Going to try a roadside stall for dinner and be back to sleep since we need to be ready by 630. :) that should be the end of the day.. If not i'll write more tmr. :) seeya all. And yes.. Monday blues... Sigh...

Vietnam day 1

2008-10-25T19:06:00.001+08:00

Vietnam HCMC is... soo fun so far! Altho I went to the airport right after work in the wee hours and had 2 hrs of sleep, we could still visit 5 places of interest... Was in a raincoat most of the time. Although I stupidly tried to use my tooth to pry something open and chipped it, and walked straight into a jet plane on display at the museum, I think I enjoyed myself :) HCMC post office, war remnants museum , reunification palace, ben thanh market, notre dame cathedral. And looking forward to tmr's chu chi tunnels private tour!!!

I bought lotsa gifts and august and rui's tee shirt! Sorry aug, the tee shirt star print is quite dirty.. I didn't check it. Haiya... I think so come off with a few washes. :(

We are currently having freak show and tell, folding ears, snapping jaws, knocking ankles etc... Haha.. First time I had a all lady tour group, and enjoying it... Hee.

Jodi
Ho Chi Minh City- 735pm. -repost

Vietnam day 2

2008-10-25T18:56:00.001+08:00

It's 1230 now.. And we're off to lunch then to cu chi tunnels. We paid a good price for a private car, driver and guide. Just left cao dai temple. This place gives me the creeps, they have a very symbolic architecture, like stairways leading to heaven. And the ceiling had stars all over etc. Before this we went to a handicapped handicraft centre and bought crafts and lacquerware. Hungry.. And moody...

Cont'd...
Cu chi tunnel was great! I was hyperventilating. Hah! But still finished the whole tour tunnel :) I whacked my head against the entrance post at the start. Haha! Accident proned.

And the highlight of the trip... I fired a AK 47. We paid about 2 SGD per bullet. It was so cool! I was so tempted to buy bullets for M16. Pure adrenaline.. Now, back to the hotel...

Later we'll visit some hotels and clubs HBA designed. :) and go to the tailor for my ao dai- formal wear. :)

Regards,
Jodi Chen

Rui, my desk is bigger!

2008-10-18T10:07:00.003+08:00

I like my desk soo much. i don't mind staying in the office till the wee hours everyday. hahaha. high ceiling, good view, nice tree, imported german table lamp and italian chair... lotsa shelving at the left and easy access to the conference room, through the pivoting panels. haha!

Party!

2008-09-29T14:54:00.002+08:00

Monday Blues? NO!

2008-09-22T21:01:00.003+08:00

We decided last week to have a lunch potluck today! of course i clean forgot about it and was oinly reminded by Charlton on Sunday evening. haha.

wilma and charlton went ahead to cook, and the rest of us, winna, oz, henry and myself will do it tomorrow. that's why i m gonna walk out to buy some flour and butter now. haha.

Here are the photos! Charlton, your spaghetti was great, and Wilma, your salad didn't pale in comparison! :) it was sad winna couldn't join us, but we have other guests! Kristine, Caitlin, Jaime, and Sydney also joined in the fun. The sun was ok, the breeze was fantastic, the water we soaked our feet in was cool etc. overall a good experience! :)

Great Weekend.

2008-09-15T13:59:00.001+08:00

Im writing this the second time, because I don’t know why my mobile doesn’t send emails when it’s using the office WIFI. But it works well at home! Haiya.

Saturday’s workshop in church kick started at 9am. And it went on all the way to 5pm. I have gone through both ‘Walk thru the OT’ and ‘Walk thru the NT’ twice each. But it was still meaningful, and each time, my B.A.T.H changes.

Sunday was mom’s bro’s and my transfer of membership to herald bp church. Rui, Han, Jay, Qiang came to visit. There hasn’t been so much laughter in church! It was good to have the congregation singing so loudly this week. Haha. My brother and I did a song presentation. Through It All and There Is None Like You. I really like this 2 songs. These are the lyrics and my testimony.

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus. The giver of life, strength, comfort, my deliverer.

I thank the Lord for bringing me and my family into this congregation in which we may worship and serve The Most High.

My parents brought me to church when I was aged 8 years. My mother found peace and strength from the Lord, which idol worshiping did not bring. Indeed, in God, she found courage and perseverance. She struggled to make ends meet, dealt with my father's debtors, his abuse and violence, my hospital stays, and was in constant worry and fear of her children being hurt or hungry. Her strength and dependence on God has turned me towards Him as well.

As I look back, and wonder how we even made it thus far, I can't help but praise and thank Him. I have been protected, provided for, and blessed by God at school and now at work. All I ask is for him to continue help me as I strive to love and know Him more.

Through It All

You are forever in my life

You see me through the seasons

Covered me with Your hand

And lead me in your righteousness

And I look to You

And I wait on You.

I’ll sing to You Lord, a hymn of love

For your faithfulness to me

I’m carried in everlasting arms

You’ll never let me go, through it all

I’ll sing to You Lord, a hymn of love

For your faithfulness to me

I’m carried in everlasting arms

You’ll never let me go, through it all

There Is None Like You

There is none like You

No one else can touch my heart like you do

I could search for all eternity long

And find there is none like You.

There is none like You

No one else can touch my heart like you do

I could search for all eternity long

And find there is none like You.

Your mercy flows like a river wide

And healing comes from Your hands

Suffering children are safe in your arms

There is none like you.

There is none like You

No one else can touch my heart like you do

I could search for all eternity long

And find there is none like You. (through it all)

After all of this, we went home and I took a very short nap.

Steven/ Fang Wei invited us to their home for Mid Autumn festival Celebration.

A few young families and families with youths were there.

I brought the kids to carry lanterns and play with sparkles. The rest stayed at home for moon cake and Chinese tea.

We also did a video call with steven/ Deborah at brunei. J

It was good, and I felt I was accepted into the family. Thank God for such great people in Herald Church.

THE BIG MOVE!

2008-08-27T22:15:00.002+08:00

We moved despite the unfinished construction and renovation works. Can you imagine workers drilling away? and the dust is .. unbearable.
Check out our very huge roof terrace complete with pool, deck, BBQ pits, gymnasium
Crazy mess
Our fantastico desk!
Gasp! oz is upset.

HIRSCH BEDNER ASSOCIATES
700 BEACH ROADINCITY LOFTS LEVEL 2

my work today.....

2008-08-14T17:31:00.001+08:00

IM SOOOOO SIIIICCCKKK OOOFFFF LLLLIIIIFFFFEEEEE.

When I get free, I blog ridiculous things. HAHA. So today, im just selecting furniture, checking shop drawings etc..

Im going to try something today.. to basically write in this blog post, everything that goes thru my mind today.. im just gonna leave this email draft open, and keep typing thru the day. Then tonight im gonna read thru it and feel stupid about 90% of the things I said/ did today. LOL.

Work is such a piece of garbage!!! So much coordination… that sheer sliding panel in BSG, is like so problematic! Wah biang..

Can’t we just settle it? Argh.. have to reselect again? Sigh.. and again!

Some people just keep switching the air con dial to 25 degrees.. don’t they know! The compressor stops working and pumps in outside temp air. IT”S SO HOT! I already sent out an email to all 90 people to tell them, people sitting at the corners, die of heat when the dial is at 25. People who are cold can put on a coat, but I can’t take off my clothes! So, please, can we just leave it at 20???? I’m so pissed off, I stuck a note at the aircon dial.

Such a… supplier! Told him, showed him the sample I want, even emailed him, and he came to my office today WITHout my sample?? so not listening…

11:45 am

This chair called the smash chair is soooo kewl!!! J you can smash it to the way you want it! and check out the villain chair! LOL..

A chair perfect for planning world domination.

http://www.geekologie.com/mt/mt-search.cgi?search=smash+chair&IncludeBlogs=&IncludeBlogs=1&x=0&y=0

12:25pm

Burberry Maserati- Money doesn’t buy class!!! LOL.. so gross looking.

http://www.geekologie.com/2008/07/all_money_and_no_class_burberr.php

3:24 pm… work work work….. plus a bit of shopping

http://search.ebay.com.sg/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=leather+case+samsung+i780&category0=

haiya.. I like the tan one, but it clashes with my red phone. LOL. So I guess the black one. But it’s 30 bucks! Forget it la..

anyone wants to buy me a Christmas present? LOL. It’s Samsung i780 and I want a top flip black leather case. hee

3:58pm

http://deputy-dog.com/2007/10/02/interesting-elevators/

looking at crazy elevators! Maybe I should go back to work. LOL.

I have been working just in case you who is reading this decides to think that from 3:25- 3:57, I’ve been looking at one website.. I already have gone thru 2 meetings! LOL.

I’m soo bored!! And distracted.. and so…. BORED. Hee hee.

And.. my colleague just pulled yet another stunt on me.. haiya…. Can’t she stop having a ‘im better than you’ attitude, and go her way and do things.. and mess up the things under my charge! Aiyah.. frustrating!

4:43pm looking at kokeshi dolls

http://search.ebay.com.sg/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&dfsp=1&catref=C6&from=R40&satitle=handmade+kokeshi+doll&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&floc=1&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D2&sabfmts=1&saobfmts=sifonly&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=1%26fsoo%3D1&coaction=compare&copagenum=1&coentrypage=search

5:10 pm

Just finished with another audience with my boss. Okay, 95% of stuff approved, 55 needs development. Okay la..

And yups.. tmr’s gonna be another free day! Just arranging and prepare beautiful presentation boards.

5:16pm

There is another fungal site on my hand!!! Gosh, it’s spreading. LOL..

5:21pm

Packing my desk, emptying my bladder, and threatening to infect my colleagues with fungi.

Tioman Diving Trip 08

2008-08-03T20:57:00.005+08:00

With Suzanne, Dessy & Hendra, Genn, Hensley st August- 3rd August

We left Singapore at 630am. the ferry at the ferry terminal didn't leave till 1pm. First mess up from the tour agency.

it wasn't a coach we took, it was a mini van, crowded and bumpy and just unpleasant.

All the timings on the voucher for ferr and coach were wrong! We missed the boat, the boat had to turn back for us. We had no place to sit?! hmmm? so we took the upper deck, it was alot of splashing and sun on us! the ride was 90 mins mind you. Even till now, im feeling groggy.

After reaching the jetty, we missed the bus back home! after changing into 3 forms of transport we finally caught up with the bus and was on the way home.

So anyway, i was shouting at the rude guide who could just leave with the bus with 6 people missing from her list?! what? gosh, and that irritating bus driver from another tour bus who 'helped' to catch our bus.. He couldn't stop complaing. i had to tell him off in front of the whole bus full of about 50 people. Argh..

The Dive was fantastic! wow, i will upload the pictures when i fix the scanner to the comp. Kewl pictures! Corals, hills and hills of them. fishes, lotsa swimming and fun! the pictures were from a disposable marine camera, but the pictures turned out well! Guess it's because it was noon and the waters were clear, in fact, because i was such a air sucker, we only managed to go a 8,9m dive. So sad.... it's the first, but probably the last, unless someone can really convince me to do it again. Hee.

We also saw 6 dogs attacking a cat. by the time i ran there, the and scared the dogs away, i saw the cat drop down from the dogs jaws and lay on the ground motionless. Sigh.... So sad..... I wished i got there earlier, but i was so tied down with the whole business of trying to find out where the bus went! Sigh.... it's so sad, to see a life lost in front of you.