Started since 7 Jan 06

My top 3 most memorable moments in 2010

2011-01-02T16:50:00.005+08:00

1. Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games. It was the inaugural Youth Olympic Games and Singapore won the rights to host it from 14 to 26 August 2010. SPH was assigned as the Host News Agency and the news centre was pooling resources to cover the games. My boss was asked to provide a photographer and I was seconded to ST over this period. They assigned me to take charge of covering the basketball matches at the Youth *scape Park.

2. Hilton Hotel Bride jumped to her death. What was to be a normal morning shift turned out to become an assignment that would be remembered as one of Singapore's most tragic news. The broom had accidentally fell to his death at Hilton Hotel on his wedding night and eight months later, the bride, unable to overcome her grief, committed suicide from her flat.

3. My "MINI" accident. I was on morning crime shift but the company car was not available. So I had to drive my MINI to cover the assignments. On the way back to office, I did not notice a divider and drove right over it and in the process, damaged my car. The "jab" to the undercarriage led to repairs that took a month which included an engine overhaul. The insurance paid for it but the hassle and the premium I had to cover was a very painful experience.

WhyOhGee!

2010-08-28T10:18:00.003+08:00

One of my most memorable experience in photography! It is indeed an honor to be part of such a historic moment and to be able to document it! Albeit tiring, it was totally worth it to be part of something so grand and global. The event allowed me to showcase my photos to he rest of the world. Exhilarating! Thank you Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games!

看. 世界

2010-07-14T00:48:00.000+08:00

应该用万花筒透视这黑白的世界?

还是用透视镜看穿这花花世界里的黑与白?

陈绮贞 - 旅行的意义

2010-07-14T00:46:00.002+08:00

你看过了许多美景你看过了许多美女
你迷失在地图上每一道短暂的光阴
你品尝了夜的巴黎你踏过下雪的北京
你熟记书本里每一句你最爱的真理

却说不出你爱我的原因
却说不出你欣赏我哪一种表情
却说不出在什麼场合我曾让你动心
说不出离开的原因

你累积了许多飞行你用心挑选纪念品
你收集了地图上每一次的风和日丽
你拥抱热情的岛屿你埋葬记忆的土耳其
你流连电影里美丽的不真实的场景

却说不出你爱我的原因
却说不出你欣赏我哪一种表情
却说不出在什麼场合我曾让你分心
说不出旅行的意义

你勉强说出你爱我的原因
却说不出你欣赏我哪一种表情
却说不出在什么场合我曾让你分心
说不出离开的原因

勉强说出你为我寄出的每一封信
都是你离开的原因
你离开我就是旅行的意义

上善若水

2010-05-12T14:14:00.001+08:00

上善若水。水善利万物而不争，处众人之所恶，故几于道。居，善地；心，善渊；与，善仁；言，善信；政，善治；事，善能；动，善时。夫唯不争，故无尤。

《道德经》第八章

My First Holiday in 3 Years!

2010-04-29T07:45:00.000+08:00

My last overseas trip was Vietnam 3 years ago before Estelle was borne :) So we were pretty much excited that Estelle is old enough for us to attempt a holiday together as a family. The trip was okay and the cruise was a new experience for all of us since we have never been on one. The onshore visits are manageable as well although I would say they are quite boring... and expensive! If there is one most memorable experience I had for this holiday... it would be that both Estelle and I fell sick on the very first night on the ship! Hahahaha!

My Cappucino...

2010-01-03T11:20:00.000+08:00

咖啡店将调高咖啡茶水价格. 我就干脆买了一台咖啡机, 在家自己泡Cappucino喝. 看起来还不错吧! 一杯的本钱大概才$1左右! 比起 Starbucks 或公司里 Spinelli 所卖的便宜多了 :)

Mmmm...

2009-12-22T18:00:00.001+08:00

I love my new Espresso machine! Will post my experience of using the Nespresso and of course my "shots" (pun intended)!

:)

Take a Rest!

2009-12-17T11:11:00.002+08:00

My shoulders are aching from 6 straight days of crime shift: 3 morning mortuary and 3 night crime shift... looking forward to the break these few days and next week! :)

iPhone 3G S

2009-12-15T10:00:00.000+08:00

I'm glad I held it out for the price war between the 3 telcos to slash their prices for this cool gadget. I stayed with SingTel and it cost me $250 for the phone with a $56 plan. There's an additional discount for future bills cos I extended my MIO plan with them :)

云南十八怪

2009-09-26T16:00:00.002+08:00

第一怪: 花鞋后边拖一块
第二怪: 高山深处藏大海
第三怪: 树塔相包不为怪
第四怪: 领带当成腰带用
第五怪: 梯田修到云天外
第六怪: 野花可以做蔬菜

第七怪: 老太爬树比猴快
第八怪: 水火当做神来拜
第九怪: 十八姑娘象老大
第十怪: 双手可以当碗筷
第十一怪: 草会咬人更厉害
第十二怪: 三个蜂子一盘菜

第十三怪: 长街宴上百家菜
第十四怪: 山洞能跟仙景赛
第十五怪: 小马比大马跑得快
第十六怪: 独树成林大家爱
第十七怪: 奇怪泥巴当瓦盖
第十八怪: 干活行家是老大

What a Birthday.

2009-08-22T16:00:00.000+08:00

It's MINI.

Happy 50th Anniversary! :)

NDP 09

2009-08-01T18:00:00.000+08:00

A colleague of mine took some candid shots while we were waiting for the parade to start :)

<我怀念的> by 孙燕姿

2009-07-31T12:15:00.001+08:00

作詞：姚若龍　
作曲：李偲菘　
編曲：Martin Tang

我问为什么
那女孩传简讯给我
而你为什么
不解释低着头沉默
我该相信你很爱我
不愿意敷衍我
还是明白
你已不想挽回什么

想问为什么
我不再是你的快乐
可是为什么
却苦笑说我都懂了
自尊常常将人拖着
把爱都走曲折
假装了解是怕
真相太赤裸裸
狼狈比失去难受

我怀念的是无话不说
我怀念的是一起作梦
我怀念的是争吵以后
还是想要爱你的冲动

我记得那年生日
也记得那一首歌
记得那片星空
最紧的右手
最暖的胸口
谁记得
谁忘了

想问为什么
我不再是你的快乐
可是为什么
却苦笑说我都懂了
自尊常常将人拖着
把爱都走曲折
假装了解是怕
真相太赤裸裸
狼狈比失去难受

我怀念的是无话不说
我怀念的是一起作梦
我怀念的是争吵以后
还是想要爱你的冲动

我记得那年生日
也记得那一首歌
记得那片星空
最紧的右手
最暖的胸口
谁忘了

我怀念的是无言感动
我怀念的是绝对炽热
我怀念的是你很激动
求我原谅抱得我都痛

我记得你在背后
也记得我颤抖着
记得感觉汹涌
最美的烟火
最长的相拥
谁爱得太自由
谁过头太远了
谁要走我的心
谁忘了那就是承诺

谁自顾自地走
谁忘了看着我
谁让爱变沉重
谁忘了要给你温柔

我怀念的
我还有想要爱你的冲动
我记得那年生日
也记得那一首歌
记得那片星空
最紧的右手
最暖的胸口

我放手
我让座
假洒脱
谁懂我多么不舍得

太爱了
所以我
没有哭
没有说

Last Day

2009-06-30T12:00:00.001+08:00

at the Chinese Integrated Newsroom. It was an initial mix of excitement and resentment when I was posted to CIN. But looking back, it wasn't that bad. I got to take pics with celebrities (especially with Cheer Chen and Amei) and enjoyed cuisines (enough of abalones and shark fins to last a life) like there's no tomorrow. Of course, there's the not-so-popular KTV and advertorial assignments but they were manageable and tolerable.

So today marks the end of my tour at CIN before I head back to the not-so-glamourous 意外新闻 kind of assignments. It will be early mornings at the mortuary and late night shifts for me again. But I feel the rotation will do me good before my journalistic sense rusts or my head gets too big :)

What an experience it has been and I look forward to seeing my CIN colleagues again in maybe another year or two. Ciaos!

I can't believe it... MJ is dead!

2009-06-26T10:15:00.001+08:00

A-mei 张惠妹

2009-06-05T19:15:00.000+08:00

梦想成真!!! 我的朋友都知道, Amei 一直是我的偶像... 从她出道至今, 我一直很喜欢她! 当我知道有机会与Amei合照时, 我是多么的兴奋, 多么的期盼! 这也是我在报馆最想完成的愿望之一... 终于实现了! 真得好开心!!!

When Love and Love Collides...

2009-05-30T15:00:00.002+08:00

I love Mini Coopers and I love shoes. So when I discovered there is an Onitsuka Tiger for Mini... I simply went crazy! Who says you can't have the best of both worlds?

:)

一份耕耘一份收获

2009-05-22T18:40:00.000+08:00

摄影, 工作, 生活都是如此.

U-Weekly

2009-04-30T22:22:00.000+08:00

Congrats to Michelle Chia on her BIG DAY! And thanks to her, this photo made it to the covers of this week's 优1周 :)

绮贞 . 太阳

2009-04-04T23:30:00.001+08:00

“我是我，一碰就碎的太阳，我热切的希望，能在消失之前，得到信仰。”

超high! 真的很欣赏她的音乐和她对音乐的热忱与执著! Can't wait to see and hear her the next time in Singapore.

Happy 1st Birthday Estelle!!!

2009-03-14T00:01:00.003+08:00

It seems like only yesterday when you were born... 爸爸,妈妈 is so blessed to celebrate your 1st birthday with you! You have brought so much joy and laughter to all our family and friends! 你是我们的祝福与开心果! 愿善伊健康,快乐,永远都这么可爱!!! :)

My brother bought the Converse Wajima!!!

2009-03-10T09:30:00.001+08:00

Wajima is a town in Japan where it's famous for producing high grade traditional Japanese lacquer-ware. Traditional Japanese lacquer-ware features 3 colours: Black, Red and Gold. My brother and I had drooled over this beautiful pair of Converse Wajima One-Star on the Converse Japan website but I didn't really think he would actually shipped it in!!!

Happy Birthday My Friend :)

2009-03-10T08:30:00.000+08:00

Things will only get better for you from now on... so dun worry, be happy!

More practice shooting rainbow...

2009-03-05T13:45:00.001+08:00

Yup. Another rainbow sighting on 2 Mar 09. This time, I tried capturing a plane flying right across the rainbow since a wide angle was used the last time. Maybe some people will find their pot of gold in SIA amidst the economy turmoil? Haha :)

"赢" 照

2009-03-02T17:17:00.005+08:00

This is literally my reflection on 27 Feb 09 when I attempted to capture Edison Chen as he left the airport in a tinted van with curtains. In case you didn't know who he is, Edison 陈冠希 is a former Hong Kong celebrity who had his sex photos with/of a number of females celebrities stolen from his computer when he had sent it for repairs. The extremely saucy photos surfaced and became the BIGGEST scandal in the Hong Kong entertainment scene in 2008.

He was in town recently for a couple of events and had both the local and foreign media in a frenzy. It was an experience of a lifetime (and fun!) for me to rub shoulders with tens of foreign paparazzi, jostling with another tens of securities and squeezing with hundreds of screaming fans and curious onlookers. I enjoyed myself although it was tiring and my back was aching from trying to take as many photos of him as possible. But I came to realise why some people are so obsessed with him. He is quite a charmer.

But is he a hero or a villain? Some people admired him for his ability to "score" with so many hot female starlets while some called him shameless for this display of voyeurism. While the photos and poses are shockingly explicit, the ladies in them are obviously willing parties. So who is at fault? Do we sneer at their sordidness or snicker at Edison's lack of computer knowledge? But before we even pass their sentence, have we asked ourselves: Are we any holier behind our own closed doors?

I'm not defending him but like what Jesus said, "Let those without sin cast the first stone."

They're not shoes...

2009-03-01T01:30:00.001+08:00

Bought a pair of Sanuk Donny (Red). Love the design and the comfort but a bit ex. Xiaomin got a pink Sanuk Flyaway.

:) Smile!

Speaking of the rainbow...

2009-02-25T18:45:00.000+08:00

It's funny how this rainbow appeared just moments after Xiaomin mentioned that it has been a while since she saw one. Moreover, not one but a double band appeared! We were so excited! A lot of people all over Singapore saw it and I think it really brought warmth and hope to those who are weathering through today's turmoils. Praise the Lord for His Wonders, Promise and Salvation!

:)

Some sights which amused me...

2009-02-16T12:00:00.002+08:00

Mutated Ariel. The radiation in the sea must be quite bad.

Car Mech"CAT"nic. Economy is so bad now that even cats have to sideline...

No Bikes Allowed. Maybe it only applies to motorised ones.

PAP

2009-01-21T15:15:00.003+08:00

Huh? Obama is the new face of PAP?

Haha... Gotcha! I think the PAP (it's "Pop Art of the President" lah, not our long-reigning political party) looks quite cool. And he should make a better president. After all, no one could be worse than the previous one. Just hope he dun prove us wrong. Pressure, pressure...

Admiring the View

2009-01-11T08:00:00.000+08:00

An 'artistic' photo that Xiaomin took of Estelle when she was looking out the window...

Cool Dips

2009-01-01T15:50:00.003+08:00

Had been taking 善伊 for swims and dips lately as a way to relax, exercise and build water confidence.

I think she loves to play in the water. Just look at her smile! So cute!

Baby Cuisine

2008-12-28T21:00:00.002+08:00

Xiaomin puts a lot of heart and mind into preparing Estelle's meals. Here's one which really impresses me. And of course, Estelle finished it.

Ingredients
---------
1/2 of a Potato
1/5 of a Corn
1/2 a slice of Bread
Small piece of Chicken fillet

Preparations
----------
Skin and steam the potato, corn and chicken fillet.
Mashed the Potato.
Blend the corn and the chicken together.
Mix the mashed potato, blended corn and chicken together.
Blend the bread to crumbs.
Take a small portion of the mix and roll it into a small ball.
Coat the ball with the crumps.

The corn and the chicken adds flavour to the treat while the bread crumbs adds texture to the overall experience.

Looks like a fantastic delicacy right?

:)

Old Town White Coffee

2008-12-17T14:00:00.001+08:00

Not bad but a bit too sweet and expensive. The food is so so but not worth the price. Overall only a 3/5.

Learning to read...

2008-12-14T12:30:00.000+08:00

upside down... hahahahaha...

At least Estelle is more interested in books than TV :)

A kinder 2C

2008-12-13T18:25:00.006+08:00

If I were Ros, I would not have been able to stand the way comments were passed of Hayden and myself.

Although we have been good frens for so long and the comments did not harbour any ill intentions, still I feel it was a bit uncalled for. And most of the comments were made by those who are either unmarried or without kids of their own. Yes, we have been "suaning" each other for the longest time and it is meant to be harmless. But there comes a time we have to tone down our language. Sad to say, we are no longer our youthful self in our white uniforms with metal buttons.

Maybe I think too much but it's about time we reflect how we treat our frens. Before we lose any. I could actually sense the closeness of our 2C gang fading away. Or is it just me?

:'(

Happy Birthday Javier!

2008-12-13T15:30:00.001+08:00

女怕嫁错郎

2008-12-09T13:00:00.002+08:00

She should just leave him. He does not deserve a 3RD chance. Especially not under such circumstances. As much as my beliefs and faith disagree... this time I do think it's the best for her.

:(

I'm really angry. A**HOLE! JERK!! You call yourself a man!?! *PUI*

Mini Habitat at Night!

2008-12-02T20:30:00.001+08:00

Beautiful place to visit at night for a different feel! :)

A little tail

2008-11-26T12:10:00.002+08:00

Xiaomin could actually tie up Estelle's hair into a cute little tail... haha :) love her "play with me pretty please..." expression too!

"Yes Sir!"

2008-11-14T12:20:00.000+08:00

Haha... the groom was my Platoon Commander (PC) way back in my OCS Cadet days at SAFTI-MI. I was surprised to see a photo of his wedding cake on a delivery truck in the carpark. He's quite a character and doing quite well in the service. But I would never expect him to have a wedding cake with his wedding photo on it and furthermore agreeing to use it for publicity!

Living your dream...

2008-10-31T16:00:00.001+08:00

and making it come true. If I had not step out of my comfort zone, I would not have landed myself an occupation I love. If I had listen to my (and others') mind and not my heart, I would not have realized this dream of mine too. How often have we been influenced by others who imposed their perspectives on us and tell us that our dreams are beyond our reach? The only major stumbling block that could stop you is yourself. If you set a goal and persevere, nothing can stand in your way. I learnt this the hard way but it's a lesson well learnt. And it's paying off.

Have yours come true?

Tune my Block?

2008-10-30T12:30:00.001+08:00

My neighbour had mentioned to me about his experiences of a humming, resonating sensation that would last for about half an hour and would sometimes scare his daughter. Well, this morning I understood what he meant.

There was bad weather at around 5 am and we could see lightning and hear thunder outside our window. But that was not what woke us up. The whole room felt like it was vibrating and resonating to a tuning fork (the pitch sounds the same too). It would get very loud before the lightning and thunder then died off and the whole process repeated itself. Not only did we sense the resonance and vibration, the room felt warmer too!

I'm sure it has something to do with the height of my flat and the atmosphere (+/- ve charges) that caused the block to behave like a tuning fork. In any case, wow... it was quite an experience albeit a sleep depriving one...

Coming Soon!

2008-10-22T09:50:00.000+08:00

After so many years of dreaming...

First Tooth!

2008-10-08T13:45:00.001+08:00

It's SINful to be late...

2008-09-19T19:00:00.001+08:00

and screw up my shoot. It was mean to be an exclusive shoot before the event is open to public. In the end, they arrived an hour and a half late and went straight to the crowd. No point shouting over the top of my voice to pose them while jostling with the other males hungry for sweet young things in short skirts, skimpy dresses, sexy poses and big boobs with deep cleavages...

SIN is a boring event if you ask me...

*voice in background* "SORE LOSER!!!"

Ok...ok... Except for the Nissan GTRs. Haha.

Caught at NDP!

2008-09-18T19:25:00.000+08:00

Hahaha... an ex-colleague of mine spotted me while I was covering the NDP Preview. I had not seen myself in action before... so it was both weird and amusing when I saw it on his FaceBook!!!

First Solid Feed

2008-09-13T19:00:00.000+08:00

Estelle's first attempt at starting a few teaspoon of solid food. It was just so cute and interesting to see her expressions while we feed her!

Learning to Sit up by Herself!

2008-09-11T19:30:00.000+08:00

Hanging Around in the Office

2008-09-10T18:30:00.000+08:00

Estelle 生病了！

2008-09-06T16:55:00.004+08:00

Due to her cold, Estelle has not been able to sleep or eat well (neither can we). We had to bring her to see a doc after she developed a fever this morn. It's really not easy when your child (and yourself) is sick... her discomfort is so painful to watch!

Estelle's Crawling!!!

2008-08-23T17:45:00.000+08:00

Remember when I had said a few weeks ago to keep an eye on your kids cos they grow up so fast? It's truly incredible!

Estelle is practicing how to crawl after 5 mths!!! Not very steady but she managed to keep moving forward to reach for what she wants!

First haircut

2008-08-23T15:30:00.001+08:00

Estelle had her first haircut! Although we could not bear to cut her hair but it was getting a bit long for her own comfort and convenience. *Sob* It was really really painful and sad to see her long, beautiful, curly, stylo-milo, Japanese/Korean hairstyle from birth been cut! We dun think she enjoyed it too... *Sob sob*

2nd one?

2008-08-22T11:00:00.001+08:00

After the govt had announced more financial perks, tax reliefs and additional leave to encourage Singaporeans to have more babies, I had friends and colleagues asking me when my 2nd kid is coming.

The answer is, "Not anytime soon."

The perks benefitted couples more who are having their first child and swayed those on the verge of considering one. Their net gain amounted to significant thousands whereas the gain for having a 2nd one, in my case where Xiaomin doesn't work anymore, is minimal. In my case, there is only an increase of $1000 in Baby Bonus for having a 2nd. We could benefit more from the rest of the additional perks such as maternity and childcare leave and tax reliefs UNLESS Xiaomin goes back to work. But I am not for this idea cos I highly regard the importance of having one of the parents bear the responsibility of bringing up the children than any centre, grandparents or maids. So this announcement did not send me over the moon and persuaded me to have a 2nd one anytime soon. Of course, having children is not totally about $ from the govt but it is helpful. Ultimately, it's a personal decision about our lifestyle. And I'm not the least influenced to change mine yet.

We went to visit 上羊, 佩恩 who just had their 2nd son, 天诺 in their 2nd year of marriage. I must salute them for their courage and faith to have 2 kids given their circumstances. They dun exactly get any benefits from the Singapore govt yet their mentality is what the govt hope Singaporeans would have. Maybe that's just how the Singaporean society works. We need incentives and fines to tell us what should or should not be done.

What the medal means to Singapore

2008-08-18T08:08:00.001+08:00

The Olympics Women Table Tennis Finals could not be held at a time more aptly than on the day of the annual National Day Rally. And the PM made the right decision to delay his 'live' telecast of the rally to broadcast the game. He knows that the game will be able to "rally" more Singaporeans than his own "rally" that night. A true leader knows how to make both the right short-term decisions and the necessary long-term plans to attain the desired effect. And he did this to to the effect of reinforcing his points about the Foreign Talent Scheme during the rally too. What better ways and timing to do this than during the game itself?

PM noted native Singaporeans' concerns over foreign talents taking away jobs and depressing wages. It is a genuine concern and it has been around for quite some time. The silver medal reminded Singaporeans that we have got to open our mind and wake up our ideas. There is much to gain economically and culturally from them. If we had clung on to our “纯种意识”, we would still be trapped in our "well". The silver medal demonstrated again how we could make a name in the international arena, raise our bar and inspire Singaporeans that we CAN achieve great things.

We should look at this medal on the broadest picture possible. This is when, sports is not just about the game. This is when, sports is a country policy and a governmental strategy. We should not belittle the weight that sports have on a country. Ultimately, all of us want to "Shine for Singapore" and for the country to stand proud. So let us face the bare reality. To do this, we must remember that the pioneers of Singapore's history are once made up mainly of foreigners too. We are a smart population but we are limited by resources and our size. To grow, improve or even to survive, we need to do all that is necessary and sometimes seemingly awkward. Lucky for us, our leaders have the foresight and the courage to implement what turned out to be an exciting and moving medal in Singapore's history.

A Proud Silver

2008-08-17T21:19:00.003+08:00

Congrats to the Singapore's women table tennis team! A well fought game that did us proud! It was nice to see them smile during the game despite the pressure.

Mambo Bumbo!

2008-08-17T18:59:00.002+08:00

Estelle's neck is pretty strong now and she's able to sit up with some support. So we got her a "Director's Chair" to train her as well for us to manage her better. She looks so cute in the lime green Bumbo!

中国“疯”

2008-08-13T22:30:00.004+08:00

I know I'm late in posting this cos the opening was like almost a week ago. But watching the encore telecasts gave me goose-bumps again and reminded me of China's power. Anyone must be “疯” to underestimate or ignore their capability. Although I'm not a 'Chinese' Chinese, I'm just as proud to be a Chinese. The Chinese can do anything bigger and better than anyone in the world if they put our heart and soul into it. It may be about 面子 they did a fantastic job in wowing the world. Photos are by Getty Images.

"好"邻居

2008-08-13T11:45:00.003+08:00

It's important to have good, considerate and understanding neighbours. You can try to be one and still not do enough to please. I didn't know I have a super surround sound system in my room that can rattle walls and windows and frighten little girls. Wonder what will "come up" next.

Before one sees the splinter in other people's eye, look at the beam in your own. So door slamming in the middle of the night is alright meh?

"要是我有一百万..."

2008-08-10T23:59:00.001+08:00

is a Hokkien song sung frequently at getais during the Hungry Ghost Festival. Recently it attracted more media attention due to "12 Lotus", a new 'getai' film directed by Royston Tan. He sang this song at the Jurong Fishery Port getai which I feel reflects what he must have in his pocket now ... lots of "一百万"... haha :)

I was at the getai to cover his appearance to promote his latest film and took the chance to take a pic with him during the interview.

Express Yourself!

2008-08-04T11:00:00.000+08:00

比上不足，比下有余

2008-08-01T20:20:00.001+08:00

Just something that came across my mind during a course I attended recently. I was reminded that there are smart people with "足" to learn from and we cannot be complacent with our "余". We can learn a lot from not-so-smart people too. There is always a “上” and learn from the right “下” too.

Keep an eye on your kid cos...

2008-07-16T19:35:00.006+08:00

they grow up so fast! Time really flies when you have so much fun just watching Estelle grow up. She is now 4 months old and learning how to turn. She is also making a lot of sounds now and laugh really heartily when played with. It is a joy just looking at her and her smile. I hope I would be around with Xiaomin as much as possible to experience Estelle's growth!

$3.30

2008-07-14T14:55:00.002+08:00

Sigh... just discovered that one of my favourite ice-cream hangouts will be increasing their price again... by 10%! Looks like I can't frequent them as much as I want to anymore. With price increments of everything around us nowadays, I can't afford to go out as often without burning a hole in my pocket. I have never felt so hesitant about walking into a shop now with stuff getting so much more ex than before. Even ice-creams have become a luxury.

But hey! That doesn't mean I'm not satisfied with my life now. Relatively speaking, I am still very very very fortunate and blessed than most people in Singapore and the world in general. God has provided me with more than I asked for so I should remind myself to 知足常乐.

MGS4: Guns of the Patriots

2008-06-25T22:00:00.001+08:00

Woah! My bro's Metal Gear Solid 4 Limited Edition Playstation 3 set is here! It took a bit of effort and time for it to be shipped from the US but it's definitely worth the wait! MGS4 is one of the most anticipated game in history and the most exalted among gamers around the world! Sweeet!

My MINI dream

2008-06-11T14:40:00.000+08:00

See here for my new MINI blog!

Iron Man

2008-05-16T19:40:00.002+08:00

Wow! It has been a while since I last saw a super-hero movie this cool. But it may be more exciting if what the end of the credits suggested *above* is true... Just hope they dun screw it up!

潘安邦

2008-05-12T20:00:00.000+08:00

I shot his concert in Singapore last year and I had another opportunity to shoot him again at the office today!

Favouritism

2008-05-11T17:40:00.000+08:00

Yup... Babies already display favouritism even when they are a few weeks old. Hahaha... Estelle knows better than to offend her father in this shot! Too bad... mummy!

Fisheye View

2008-05-07T18:00:00.000+08:00

Views from my place using a 16mm fisheye on a full frame D3... hehe :)

My new toy

2008-04-30T10:30:00.001+08:00

Yesh!!!!! It's finally here! Heh heh... that's the perk of working in this line... it's like winning first prize! Close to $18,000 worth of new equipment leh! Woo hoo!

:)

Ronnie O'Sullivan

2008-04-28T23:59:00.002+08:00

OMG! I just saw Ronnie "The Rocket" O'Sullivan whacked his record breaking 9th 147 break in 8 min 47 sec to seal a 13-7 victory over Mark Williams and cruise into the last eight of the World Championship 2008! Simply exhilarating to see him in action! Such speed and accuracy... both left and right handed... he's really a genius!

And he's also £157,000 richer for that 147...

We Will Rock You!

2008-04-12T23:30:00.004+08:00

My feeble attempt to outdo Galileo from the musical based on Queen... The two ladies behind just totally ignored this nutcase... hahaha :)

As usual, great company to see a musical with. I think Xm enjoyed herself too as it's her first "outing" since Estelle's birth. Thanks guys!

Mighty Morphing Power Baby

2008-03-28T22:15:00.000+08:00

Amazing how babies grow and change over just 2 weeks... Estelle has grown more active and "temperamental" over meals and diaper-changing sessions.

Here, she's showing off her "Shadowless Phoenix Kicks" and "Thousand Palms Punches" which she had just mastered and left her parents begging for mercy...

Estelle 陈善伊

2008-03-14T14:37:00.002+08:00

I had mentioned in my post long ago that "when I turn 30...", I had a feeling that there would be a "major turning point and a milestone in my pathetic life".

Well, this is it.

Seeing Xiaomin deliver and hearing Baby Estelle's first cry has got to be one of the most touching, most exhilarating and most defining moment of my life. To be able to see our fruits of love after 39 weeks was indeed something beyond descriptions. She is the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, and when she looked back at her daddy for the first time when I called her name... it brought me to my knees...

I really have to thank God for His Plan and Providence, my parents (and mum-in-law), my many friends and the capable hospital staff for being there for us whenever we needed. Most important of all, I want to thank Xiaomin for the selfless love and sacrifice she has given. None of these would be possible without her. I would be nothing without her. Dear... Estelle will surely be our blessings and joys for years to come.

I love you...

Hitting the Big 30...

2008-03-06T23:59:00.001+08:00

没什么特别的感触... But I am so very thankful to God and everyone for what I have and have become. 不愁吃，不愁穿，不愁住... a fantastic family, wonderful spouse and great friends who loves me, a job I enjoy so much, fun colleagues, no health problems, staying in a stable and safe country with capable governance... What more can a man ask for?

Hmm... a Mini Cooper would be nice...

:)

Greek Masterpieces from the Louvre

2008-03-04T23:59:00.001+08:00

Took Xiaomin to see some Greek masterpieces which was loaned to the National Museum of Singapore by the Louvre Museum in Paris. A chance to enjoy a "cultured" afternoon with my girl and at the same time, a form of "胎教"... hahahaha...

T3

2008-03-02T23:30:00.001+08:00

First visit to T3 since it opened. Taken using the panoramic function on Xiaomin's handphone camera.

4 more weeks...

2008-02-23T08:30:00.001+08:00

The 'Glow' on pregnant mothers is simply beautiful...

Taken on BW400CN film with my Nikon FM2 and Planar T* 2/50mm ZF.

"There was a time...

2008-02-21T19:11:00.001+08:00

when people say that Singapore won't make it... But we did!"

Winning the bid to host the inaugural International Youth Olympic Games in 2010 must have been one of the proudest achievement for Singapore. The win did not come easy and it took a lot of courage and hard work to even dare dream and strive towards this goal.

Winning seemed so surreal and I wonder how many Singaporeans are actually feeling the pride and anticipation... I hate to think this way but I just got a feeling that some are still too caught up with their own businesses, rising prices and their desire to strike TOTO to actually care. So winning the bid is an excellent opportunity to rekindle that fighting spirit our forefathers used to have and tune Singaporean's mindset (even mine) that the only people who can prevent us from achieving anything is ourselves!

I'm proud to be a Singaporean!

Cute Cup Cakes

2008-02-18T11:00:00.000+08:00

Xiaomin saw these cute cupcakes at 翡翠 Bakery at Bugis Junction last night and she fell in love with them instantly... Haha... a very amusing marketing strategy... cupcakes too cute to resist!

Slam Dunk!

2008-02-16T23:59:00.000+08:00

Here's how a Nikon D3 performed in a basketball game...

Shutter speed of 1/500 at high ISO of up to 6400 under low light condition with no flash!

Making Preparations...

2008-01-26T11:00:00.000+08:00

Graffiti Art

2008-01-24T23:00:00.000+08:00

Something funky I saw along the streets of Singapore. This is quite cool!

Pho 24 at Millenia Walk

2008-01-08T23:59:00.000+08:00

LJ and FJ got me excited when they had informed me that Pho24 can actually be found in Singapore! We had fond memories of their food during our trip to Vietnam last year and I was eager to reminisce the taste of tradition pho and Viet coffee.

So I took a special trip down to Millenia Walk after the ante-natal course with Xiaomin and we were so happy to see the familiar logo. We promptly placed our orders and enthusiastically waited for the food to come.

But we were disappointed.

Firstly, the "Thit Bo Ga" or the quail eggs that we ordered was not even de-shelled properly. There were 'craters' or broken skins on them. When I feedback that they should have run the eggs under cold water immediately after cooking them so as to make de-shelling easier, they defended by saying that the 'central kitchen' had prepared them so there was nothing they could do.

Secondly, the soup for the pho and the quail eggs were too salty and tasted 'MSG-ish' which left an unsavoury aftertaste on my tongue. The beef was okay but the quality of the soup was somehow inferior than what I remembered.

Thirdly, the size of the filter for the Viet drip coffee seemed to be a tad bigger than the grounded coffee they use so we had a bit of the residue. The coffee was also not as aromatic as the ones we had in Vietnam. Do they even use coffee from Vietnam, I wonder?

Lastly, and most disappointingly, they actually RAN OUT of basil leaves! HOW COULD THEY! Who serves pho without basil leaves?!? Ridiculous for such a renowned establishment to actually overlook this. This kind of attitude and oversight is the bane of such an industry. It was so appalling!

You can say I am being too fussy but I just feel that if you undertake a franchise, at least adopt the correct and determined attitude to doing it right. NEVER think for a moment that the customers and the general public can be taken for a ride. People dun mind paying for good food but such slack and "Aiyah... no one can tell" way of business would only mean one thing:

Suicide.

《论语 . 季氏》

2007-12-31T23:59:00.000+08:00

Some wise words to ponder over for the coming new year!

孔子日：

“ 君子有三戒：少之时，血气未定，戒之在色；及其壮也，血气方刚，戒之在斗；及其老也，血气既衰，戒之在得。”

坚信: 一份坚定对上帝信心的礼物

2007-12-29T23:59:00.000+08:00

Congrats to Sam and Carol! What a 'genki' baby boy they have!

The 2C family just got bigger...

2007-12-13T23:59:00.000+08:00

Congrats to Jimmy and Mun! And a BIG (3.7 kg worth of) welcome for Javier!

5cm Per Second

2007-12-02T23:59:00.000+08:00

This anime was recently featured in the "Animation Nation 2007", organised by the Singapore Film Society. My brother went for the screening (so sad I couldn't go due to work...) and he highly recommended it to me. Lucky for me, he managed to buy the DVD (his current expensive hobby) or I would have missed this fantastic anime!

5 Centimetres Per Second (秒速５センチメートル) is "a chain of short stories about distance". The movie is named for the speed at which cherry blossom petals fall - Petals being a metaphorical representation of humans, reminiscent of the slowness of life and how people often start together but slowly drift into their separate ways. This Japanese animated feature film is by Makoto Shinkai, a very talented artist. The film consists of three segments: Ōkashō (桜花抄), Cosmonaut (コスモナウト), and Byōsoku 5 Senchimētoru (秒速5センチメートル). Together, they narrated the journey of Tono Takaki (the male lead) on a path of loneliness and self-realisation, chaining up one of the most beautiful story I have ever seen.

Other than "Millenium Actress" by Satoshi Kon, this has got to be one of my most favourite animated featured film for its fabulous storyline, cinematography, script, pace, depth and emotions. The use of fine details, contrasts and interactions between the characters' expressions, body language and backgrounds added amazing realism that would evoke our genuine feelings for them. The theme song was wonderfully selected as well and enhanced the mood and flavour of the film. Here's the last three verses of the song, "One more time, one more chance":

"いつでも捜しているよ　どっかに君の姿を
明け方の街　桜木町で
こんなとこに来るはずもないのに
願いがもしも叶うなら　今すぐ君のもとへ
できないことは　もう何もない
すべてかけて抱きしめてみせるよ

いつでも捜しているよ　どっかに君の破片を
旅先の店　新聞の隅
こんなとこにあるはずもないのに
奇跡がもしも起こるなら　今すぐ君に見せたい
新しい朝　これからの僕
言えなかった「好き」という言葉も

いつでも捜してしまう　どっかに君の笑顔を
急行待ちの　踏切あたり
こんなとこにいるはずもないのに
命が繰り返すならば　何度も君のもとへ
欲しいものなど　もう何もない
君のほかに大切なものなど"

"I’m always searching, for your figure to appear somewhere
At dawn on the streets, at Sakuragi-cho
Even though I know you couldn’t be at such a place
If my wish were to come true, I would be at your side right away
There would be nothing I couldn’t do
I would put everything on the line and hold you tight

I’m always searching, for fragments of you to appear somewhere
At a traveller’s store, in the corner of newspaper,
Even though I know you couldn’t be at such a place
If a miracle were to happen here, I would show you right away
The new morning, who I’ll be from now on
And the words I never said: “I love you.”

I always end up looking for your smile, to appear somewhere
At the railroad crossing, waiting for the express to pass
Even though I know you couldn’t be at such a place
If our lives could be repeated, I would be at your side every time
I would want nothing else
Besides you, nothing else matters"

You can see the promotional video for the theme song and anime here.

夫妻还是要拍拖地！

2007-11-30T22:00:00.000+08:00

新闻奖？

2007-11-28T11:30:00.000+08:00

前几天，我和几位同事在查阅近几年新闻摄影得奖主的作品。
看著那些作品，我得到了启发，也给了我一个提醒。

为了确实报导新闻，所拍到的照片，自然会是好照片。
拍到好照片的满足感是无法形容地。而赢奖給於地是一种肯定。

以赢奖为出发点，而拍出来的新闻照，也会是好照片。
但如果没你预期中赢奖了话，满足感可能会被一种“怨”给淹没。

所以，做为一名新闻工作者，正确的 “态度” 和 “价值观” 是无可后非地。

The Two Most Significant Women in Every Man's Life

2007-11-24T23:59:00.000+08:00

We all know the infamous "Which comes first? The Chicken or the Egg?" question. Difficult isn't it? A question strongly debated at great length over the ages by scientists and religious scholars. But still... not the most tedious.

The all-time most tedious question I think that would cripple most people is the one where you are placed in a difficult predicament to whether you would... "Save your mum or your spouse first?" if they were both waiting for your rescue. A super sensitive question that poses great stress with no answer that would not compromise the relationship between the two most significant women in a man's life. It makes the Black-Scholes Model in my finance module seems like a PSLE question (maybe it was one of the Section C question which so many students cried about this year). No man should be made to go through this ordeal.

Lucky for me, I dun think I will need to worry about going through that ordeal, thanks to a wonderful wife and a great mum.

Happy birthday Mum!

MII on WII

2007-11-14T23:59:00.000+08:00

Yup! That's 'MII' (me) on the Nintendo WII! 象吗? Haha... Supercool console although it takes a bit of getting used to and mastering it. But just think of it... Now I have a bowling alley, a boxing ring, a tennis court, a baseball field and a freaking golf course in my flat!

看見"郭美美"... 我不怕不怕啦!

2007-11-13T23:59:00.000+08:00

Introducing 郭美美! Cute girl with amazingly big eyes. This was taken in a Jap restaurant for a food review. Look out for my shots of her in U-Weekly in a few weeks time.

At Week 20

2007-10-31T12:00:00.000+08:00

I'm gonna have a daughter!

The 8th Harry Potter Book...

2007-10-30T10:45:00.000+08:00

is gonna be called:

"Harry Potter and the Repeal of Section 377A"

It will narrate how Harry Potter got to uncover Prof Dumbledore's devious scheme to overthrow the Order, repeal Section 377A and reform the sexual orientation of all wizards in Hogwarts. A Petition was wriiten, presented but eventually twarted by Harry Potter and overuled by the Ministry of Magic.

In case you haven't heard, J.K Rowling had divulged recently that Prof Dumbledore is gay... *gasp*

They dun write "Children" storybooks like they used to anymore...

Tan Sri (Dr) Lim Goh Tong

2007-10-29T23:59:00.000+08:00

I was up on Genting for a week covering the wake of a legendary personality in Malaysia. Tan Sri (Dr) Lim Goh Tong was the Founder and former Chairman of Genting. He passed away on 23 Oct 07 at an old age of 90, leaving behind an inspiration to many that nothing is impossible if you stick to your visions. Many renowned figures including the Malaysia Prime Minister and over 20,000 people from the general public paid their last respect over the 6 days.

Fire! Fire!

2007-10-17T23:59:00.000+08:00

Kudos to the fire-fighters who fought against the fire at the Ang Mo Kio Ave 4 Market/Food Centre! This was one of the few opportunities where SCDF allowed us to capture them in action for such a big case (although the fire has already been extinguished...haha)! The fire started at around 9.30 on Tues night and raged for more than an hour before SCDF brought it under control. The fire was so intense that the roof collapsed and the entire market of 232 stalls were affected. Luckily no civilian was reportedly hurt. It was the biggest fire I had covered thus far.

On photojournalism

2007-10-10T23:59:00.000+08:00

Quotes from some photojournalists to remind and motivate myself of the work that I do.

"Photojournalists have the incredible role of bringing to life stories through the photographs that they take. In most cases, these photographs will be the only visual representation of the story that the public will ever see. Because of this huge and awesome responsibility, I always interpret the situation truthfully to the best of my ability." - Judy Lyon

"Images at their passionate and truthful best are as powerful as words can ever be. If they alone cannot bring change, they can at least provide an understanding mirror of man's actions, thereby sharpening human awareness and awakening conscience." - Cornell Capa

I realise it is important to adopt a correct and positive mindset towards this occupation. Otherwise, you will get desensitized too quickly and lose the drive to deliver quality photos consistently.

Work and Passion

2007-10-04T11:00:00.000+08:00

"When you work for money, you tire easily. When you work for your ideals, you can bear the cold. When you work out of interest, you will never tire."

Taiwanese Tech Billionaire - Terry 郭台铭