Don't get me wrong, it's not that I hate him/her or what.. He/She's really quite a nice person and the usual me will just be like "errrr... ok no problem, when do you need it?". But I am really preparing a lot of stuff for an upcoming business trip. The point I am trying to put across is, how many times will you say no, be it out of fear for being perceived as unhelpful, not sociable, always trying to slack etc.

People tend to fear that they are never good enough, which is one of the '7 bad habits that hold good people back' (I read this from the same titled book). They want to impress and do all they can. They want to be viewed as an efficient multi-tasker who can be relied upon and want everybody to like them. The fact is, no one really bothers about such things. They are just relieved when someone takes charge of some work. I'm not encouraging anyone to push away work here but if you are handling more than you can, your effectiveness and efficiency at other more important work suffers... Does this really mean you are an efficient multi-tasker who can be relied on to submit high quality projects?

You will most probably invite a lot of exploiters who know you are too weak to refuse a job. Take on only what you can manage at that time and what you think will greatly contribute to your key performance indicators. Of course lending a helping hand to others at times when you are available is an excellent way to understand how everything works around as well. The main thing here is balance.

I am still learning the way out here but saying "no" feels good at times. Saying it once does not warrant me to be a guru and start some self help topic here but I have been learning and gaining more experience when it comes to work relations day after day.

FACT: You cannot please everybody, but at least, don't piss yourself off trying to please others.

Recently there have been some issues with foreign workers in Singapore, especially the Serangoon Gardens area. The Singapore Government plans to change Serangoon Garden Technical School to a Foreign Workers Dormitory.

Serangoon Gardens has always been well known for Chomp Chomp food centre, its bungalows and a quiet, serene environment. With a huge influx of foreign workers, there are concerns over social security, the dwindling of property prices and the nuisance that foreign workers may create. I fully understand the points above and there is no doubt all these may be points of concerns for residents residing in the area. I stay in Jurong East and every night there are many workers loitering around JE MRT station and Boon Lay MRT station. As it would be people will not feel safe for their girlfriends, daughters and wives passing through these places but:

Leave these workers on an offshore island???!!!

It's like putting them on Guantanamo Bay man! These workers have rights too and to travel all the way here and do all these shit work for Singaporeans, at least such educated people can suggest some better ideas? I am not trying to be high and mighty here but somehow, I've had it enough with Singaporeans thinking they are world class and own the world. Our forefathers are immigrants as well and as you would have it, the property that you buy is also built by these foreign workers. One of my first few jobs after graduation from Sec school was to work in a construction site and I can assure you, no Singaporeans with a degree and right frame of mind will take on the job.

One thing for certain we still do not know what may happen, and I may be wrong with all of the above. But at the very least, show some human respect for them. We are all part of the world ya?

"We are the world.. We are the Children..."

Shine for Singapore...

Ended work kind of late today due to some function, therefore the train was not as packed. A lady was standing in front of me, who appears to be in her early 40s. Seated in front of her were 3 university students. The whole drama started when one of them took out her water bottle and started to uncap it. Conversation as follows:

Lady X: You shouldn't drink in the MRT you know

Girls: ???

Lady X: What if you spill the water on the train and people slip?

Girl 1: Don't worry I will be very careful.

Lady X: What if it happens? I mean there's a sign right there (pointing to the sign) that states no food and drinks allowed. If you spill then who is going to clean it up?

Girl 2: Errr... well if it really spills we will clean it up with tissue paper.

Lady X: The point is not wiping it up. Can't you read the sign? It says "No Food and Drinks Allowed"

Girl 3: Well everybody does that and I don't see anybody falling down because of water.

Lady X: (Exasperated, going schizo) Thats not the point! You can read the sign, WHY DON'T YOU JUST FOLLOW? YOU GIRLS ARE SINGAPOREANS RIGHT? CAN'T YOU EVEN FOLLOW SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS? You should be more considerate!

Alvin: *Sniggers at the back*, noticing that Lady X was lying on the pole like a pole dancer, leaving no space for others to hold on to.

Girls: (Exasperated, definitely NOT GOING SCHIZO over water on the train) But...

Lady X: (Interrupts Girls) Don't argue so much lar! Just follow the rules. Is it that difficult?

Ang Mor lady over the MRT intercom: Tanjong Pager (after 5 secs and train comes almost to a stop..) Tanjong Pagar

Girls 1 & 2: *bids farewell to Girl 3, mumbling as they stepped out of the train*

Lady X: *Staring at Girls 1 & 2, clearly with murderous intent*

Girls 1 & 2: *continues to mumble*

Ang Mor lady over the MRT intercom: Doors Closing... too too too too too too too too

Lady X: *Walks quickly towards the door and steps out, hands flailing at the girls* Hey you girls!

MRT Door: PSSSSSSSST... TROB

Ang Mor lady over the MRT intercom: Next station, Tiong Bahru

- The End -

Wow, If I wasn't really tired from the train ride I would seriously have loved to follow her out and see what happens next. Seriously uber funny, especially the part in bold above. The Auntie is a REAL SINGAPOREAN. She JUST FOLLOW LAW.

Happy birthday Singapore, Shine for Singaporeans.

Remember I went for fish spa in Singapore a couple of months back? This time I went for it in Malaysia, and you can obviously see how freaking big the fish is! I was freaked out at first, cos it is really much much bigger thatn the ones you find in Singapore, but tried it nevertheless and actually, quite shiok man. Haha...

How cool is this? I managed to get a monkey up my shoulder and took a picture with it. It's called the silver leaf monkey due to the hairstyle of the monkey. Well they are really quite gentle, only get excited at the sight of food. Stupid colleagues went to tag this picture on facebook, and tagging my name on the monkey. But well, we have the same hairstyle lar...

Went for a really nice seafood dinner at the rustic fishing village, after that went for a firefly trip. This firefly park is at Kuala Selangor, consisting of a boat ride across a swamp and boy, those fireflies look beautiful. Millions of them at the trees flashing lights simultaneously like a christmas tree. Its touted as the 8th wonder of the world. Did nto take any pictures as it was really very dim and it will be impossible to capture them on camera unless you have lenses and shutter speeds created for F1 Race. (this is true ok, I asked Wilfred who was on the same boat, and he was a photo-journalist).

Nice experience we had anyway. Well just a brief update for all of you to know that I am still alive.

Anyway I had a chat with one of my friends some time back and she said something which I find really bewildering. She was talking about her boyfriend and said that if want to find a guy, must find one that has religion, because guys with religion will be guided by the rules of the religion and be more morally upright. Friends who know me, relax ok, I did not kill her on the spot. Muahaha. Anyway, i think that its a complete load of BULLSHIT. Okay I actually started typing a lot of things but I am scared I will get arrested. So i shall just stop here. Oh and in case any of you here read this and thinks that I really need to accept God into my life, well, don't bother and don't even try to tell me. I respect your religion and hope that you will respect my "no-religion" state. So don't blame me for snapping into your face next time any of you preach me with any such bullshit, cos I wun hold back, as many of you have experienced before. :)

First the food. The scorpions were quite bearable but the big black ants were the irritating bit (looks like blueberries from the picture). With their 6 legs and 2 feelers, and so many of them on one toufu, the swallowing is unbearable. You feel them just crawling down your throat. The best (or worst) thing is, it has the taste of ants, if you know what I mean. Imagine after squashing some ants and then smelling your hands, now imagine having that taste in your mouth. Uber.... Shiok!

The fish spa was a good experience. These small fishes (called doctor fish) nibble on the dead skin cells on your feet and they seem really happy to do so. You have swarms of them coming to your feet and sucking the hell out of them. Feels really ticklish at first but after a while, it really feels quite good. Some of these fish are really fed till super big! You can try it at Kenko Wellness at $16.90 for half an hour (if I got the price correct) or you can make your way down to Qianhu for this therapy at a much cheaper price. The most expensive place I have seen is at Underwater World, costing a booming $35.00++ for 20 min of fish spa and 20 min of foot reflexology.

I foresee many more food treats of exotic flavours and different experiences which I can share with you guys in my new job scope. Definitely an interesting prelude to the job I am going to take on soon. :)

People come and people go, how true this statement is. Throughout one's lifetime, many people exit and enter your life, your friends, family etc. I have been in Wavelink for almost a year now and it has been a great experience for me. Wonderful colleagues, nice working environment but not forgetting the stress it comes with. Come June, I will officially move over to the union side (SMOU) as Industrial Relations Officer, starting from the junior level. Yes changes again but I accept it whole-heartedly with many exciting and challenging tasks to look forward to. Many of my close friends in Wavelink are leaving one by one (including me, even though SMOU and Wavelink is under one umbrella). I started my work here in June 2007, right after ORD. Together in my batch were Cherry and Ria, and Cherry has already left the company in pursuit of greener pastures for her. Our workstations have also been shifted drastically where I am no longer at level 4 and have started doing some work in the union in the 2nd floor. I will miss those times in my small cluster with Trong and Arina where we have loads of fun and crude conversations to de-stress during weekdays. They are one of the reasons why I look forward to going to work as well. :)

Karen is also leaving at the end of this month. She is an extremely good listener with a super big heart. I don't think she ever gets angry at anyone although she always say that she's angry at me. Hahaha. Some pictures taken during Cherry's last day:

Well it has been great knowing you Cherry, someone to accompany on the long MRT trip back everyday talking about life, her country (China), Singapore, work and the occasional dinner treats. Guess I will be here posting different pictures very soon when everyone starts to take farewell pictures soon. Yeah I guess it's true, people come and go. From my days in Primary School, my beloved Secondary schoolmates, my funloving Poly buddies, my terrific army days, my wonderful Starbucks Family and Wavelink friends. People come and go but it is the good and memories which stay in your heart, and form a different experience of life wherever you go. Have a great long weekend everyone!

What is Singapore doing to all these students man???

For friends out there who may be worried about me, don't be cos I will be able to take care of myself and I am following a very very experienced tour leader's car so not to worry lar ok!

Be back next Tuesday night... See you!

Yeah I'm going away on a trip. It's a company staff retreat and I am going to Shanghai. Check in time is 11pm and here I am blogging before I leave. Heard that Shanghai is now from 0 to 5 degrees. First time I going to some place so cold, and I will not be able to survive the chill without Irene and Zhenpan's luggage and winter wear, and beautiful memories with Chang Hong's Canon Digital Ixus :)

My last time on a plane was in 1999, when I followed CSS choir to Hawaii for performance. I am sure that this trip will be a good one as well. Will blog about the trip when I am back (not immediately though). Btw, Happy Birthday to Werner, Jialin and Wilson! Till then, take care dudes!

Well if

2Ants in attendance: Zhenhao, Vijay, Melvin, Chee Keong, Khairul, Xiaohui, Peiwen, Yicui, Flora, Cailing, Christopher, Hee Teck, Bala, SUlaiman, Me, Zhenpan, Tirmidzi. You guys are great!

Kudos to Hee Teck for organising this.

Oh and I ran today! Haha.. although it was a short run / jog / walk / stroll,  I felt happy that I took this first step. Hope that I will continue to run for a long time to come. Peace out!