of iPad

You know it’s true when something exceed your ability to understand how it works, it sort of become magical. – Jony Ive

I like how Apple started the iPad video with this sentence delivered by the charming Jony Ive. [Sidetrack: Somehow I find him voice very calming and the ability to let others listen to what he wanted to say. I’m smitten! ]

So what’s with the iPad anyway? Quoting Steve Job, it’s [iPad] so much more intimate than a laptop and so much more capable than a smart phone'.


Personally, I think that the iPad is a pretty thing and I hope to get it when it reaches Singapore’s shores. I love how institutive it is and the magnificent screen. I also love that Apple is rolling out its own online bookstore, iBookstore, that can be used to download books straight to the iPad. The book-flipping movement is so cool!

But I have this nagging thought in my mind. is it really necessary?

It’s funny how the marketing folks can shape the way we live our life. In the past, most companies are marketing that ONE thing that lets you do MANY things. And now, maybe they realize that they have run out of things to sell, they decided to try selling MANY that makes you do that ONE thing.

So much for simplifying our life.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not against technology. In fact, I worked in the telecommunication industry. I’m just not sure if technology actually helped us to save more time or make us waste more.


Just a thought.

Have a happy weekend!

of the man in the arena

While during some research for my job, I came across this great profound speech that I like to share with you all.

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

– Theodore Roosevelt 1910

Of What Could Have Been?

We received a traumatizing SMS from our Pastor last night that one of our peer, a trainee vocalist, has passed on on Monday. After receiving the news, MArk and I sat in silent throughout the journey home.

I don’t know what he was thinking but for me, I was prompted once again of the fragility of our lives. One moment, we are embracing life and the next we could be gone. Just like that.

I just saw her facebook profile, it’s still there. But she is isn’t, not anymore.

We heard that she has taken her own life. Whenever that could prompt her to do that, it must be really painful and unbearable for her to have made that decision.

I can’t helped but wonder what could her future have been if she hasn’t do that. She has such melodic voice. She has such beautiful smile, She’s 21.

What could have been in store for her?

Now, we’ll never know.

of a Perth-fect holiday

Many say that Perth is a boring place. I'll let you know if that's the truth when I'm back.

Yup, I'm going to Perth in late March! Will be going with Juli and meeting Yan Ping over there.

Researching and drafting my travel itinerary now. Ya, I'm kiasu, so what!

The last time I went Australia was to Sydney for 14 days. That was 3 years ago and it was my 'so-called' graduation trip.

Talking about trips, I think I haven't post up my entry on the BKK trip with MArk.. :)

Of dd/mm/yyyy

Did I forget to mention that we have nailed down our wedding date?

5th March 2011: Church solemnization

6th March 2011: Dinner banquet at Grand Copthorne Waterfront

Oh, now I remember why I haven’t mentioned that.
I thought that it is safer for me to let the cat out of the bag in 2010.

Now I can safely say that I am getting married next year without sounding far-fetched.

Most importantly, some friends and relatives will FINALLY stop asking me “Huh, why so long”?

I have sorta run out of excuses for them since they conveniently dismissed my reason that there is no suitable venue for us end of this year.

Anyway, next step for us will be to secure a suitable church and a reliable bridal studio.

Heard that Julia is quite good? Any to recommend?

of Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult

For last year Christmas (sounded like eons ago which in fact is just a couple of days before), Xueli bought me a novel by one of my favourite author; Jodi Picoult. I was so excited that I read the book that very night. Thanks gal!

“Handle with care” by Jodi Picoult is her more recent work after ‘My Sister’s Keeper”.

Thought it isn’t as much a tearjerker as the latter, it is nonetheless still a good read.

To me, both books have very similar theme but crafted so differently.

In “My Sister’s Keeper”, which by the way is one of my favourite book, it explores the controversy of ‘designer babies’ and their social, emotional and mental implications. Will a mother compromise the life of a child in order to save another dying child?

While in “Handle with Care”, it breaks the barrier of medical ethics and personal morality. It’s about a mother’s love and protection over a disabled child at the expense of losing her own family and betraying her best friend.

Both book that a recurring theme of “How far will you go for someone you love”?

Spoilers ahead!

Charlotte O'Keefe’s baby girl is born with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), or brittle bone disease. Like an irony, her family name her Willow just like the willow tree so that she will bend and not break. You see, Willow will suffer hundreds of broken bone throughout her life. She could easily break a bone while sneezing or by turning in her bed. In another words, it will be a lifetime of pain and suffering. As her family struggles to cover astronomical medical expenses, her mother Charlotte decides to file a wrongful birth lawsuit against her obstetrician for the compensation which might ensure that she can fund a lifetime of care for Willow.
But it means that Charlotte has to testify in a court of law that she would have terminated the pregnancy if she'd known about the disability in advance. It would mean that she has to testify that she had rather Willow has never been born.
But that’s a lie because Charlotte has never loved another person as much as she loved Willow. At the same time as Willow brought her inconvenience and disrupted her life, she also brought Charlotte joy, love, sunshine and the strength she never knew she had. But will Willow know that Charlotte is lying in order to give her a better life? At a young age of 5, will she know that sometimes loving means you have to lie? Does her husband and her teenage daughter that for a fact?

To make matter worse, the obstetrician she's suing isn't just her physician - she's her best friend.

Faced with the accusation from local media that she is a gold-digger, betrayal of her best friend, separation from her husband and teenage daughter, Charlotte still choose to continue the law suit for Willow’s sake.
In the end of the court battle, she won the case at gotten 8 million dollars for compensation for the “wrongful birth lawsuit”.

The story ends with a final chapter written from the perspective of Willow. It is 2 years after the law suit and she is alone at a frozen lake, or so she thought. Suddenly, the surface of the ice break and she has fallen into the water. As soon as it breaks, the ice started to freeze again and trapped Willow in-between. This time, she thought: “Finally, I’m not the one who breaks”……

of a good year

Christmas came and went. 2009 came and will be gone in a couple of days.
I have asked myself this question repeatedly.

"Where have all the time gone to?" They may have slipped by me without me noticing. I know I have said this numerous times but it never fail to amaze me how time flies.

Just when I turn my head to the other side, a couple more months have passed me by.

2009 has been a good year for me. Below are some of the highlights to share with you guys!

A. Top 10 Movies in 2009

1. Inkheart
2. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Price
3. My Sister’s Keeper
4. Time Traveler’s Wife
5. 2012
6. Julie and Julia
7. (500) Days of Summer
8. Confession of a Shopaholic
9. Mu Lan
10. Avatar in 3D


B. Top 10 Dining

1. Tea Café – 38A Seah Street (Tel: 63335400)

It’s a quaint little shop serving all sort of teas accompanied with little assorted biscuit to match the different types of teas. Try their cucumber sandwiches and chicken wings. Me and Shelley’s favourite tea place.

2. Nanjya Monjya –Waterfront Plaza 390A Havelock Road #01-03/05 (Tel: 67387177)

According to Iida, this is the most famous Japanese restaurant among the Japanese Expats. We had a wonderful dinner time with Iida, Edwin and their family. This was the first time I tried authentic Japanese Okomoniyaka. This inspires us to try and make our own Okonomiyaki at home.

3. Relish by wildrocket – Cluny Court #02-01

If you love burgers, you’ll love Relish. The patty is uber juicy and was done just right. A good place to hold private party.

4. Caramel Café – Shaw Towers 100, Beach Road (Tel: 62952188)

I saw a very nice picture of Juli on her facebook and she told me it was taken at Caramel Café. I decided to pop by as the deco of the shop won me over. The shop was split into 2 with the restaurant on one side and a hair salon on the other. I love how the different furnitures compliment one other. Desserts are awesome. Try Vita Plum, a good drink to help with digestion.

5. Scrumptious Café - 200 Turf Club Rd #01-19 Turf City (Tel:64636543)

We meet with the siblings and kids at this breakfast joint. Great place for kids as they have a separate room where kids can go expend all their energy before coming back to the table for their breakfast. You can also go for a manicure/pedicure if you call to inform them early.

6. Oriole Ole – 96 Somerset Road #01-01 Pan Pacific Serviced Suites

My colleague swears that they serve the best cappuccino. You can also try their fish and chip. Nice ambience.

7. Marmalade Pantry – ION level 3

Sticky date and toffee pudding & crabmeat linguini. I can have that for the rest of my life.

8. Oomphatico’s – 16 Tanglin Road #01-35 Tanglin Mall (Tel: 67339088)

Food is pricy but the ambience makes it all worthwhile. It is like Alice walking into wonderland. Their lovely juices come in unique-shape glass.

9. Togi – 11 Mosque Street (Tel:62210830)

A cozy family restaurant that provides authentic korean food. I love the Kim chi soup and the grill pork belly. It comes with 5 small dishes which are re-fillable. Comfort food for the soul. Parking is a problem though.

10. Sushi Tei @ Big Splash

Me and MArk particularly love this outlet. We paid $88 and signed up for the Sushi Tei member card which gives us 10% discount plus $60 dining voucher. We like to sit by the window and people-watch. A must-try is the Sashimi Salad with Sushi Tei sauce. Yummy.

C. Top 10 most significant/happiest moment

1. MArk proposed to me at the finishing line of his Desaru Ironman. I said yes, of couse. - Aug
2. Starting my job in SingTel after months of searching – Mar
3. Don’t need to serve 1 month notice for ex-company yet getting paid for that month!
4. Visiting my dad in Guangzhou which he brought us on a mini tour to Sheng Zhen, Macau and Hong Kong – Feb
5. Went Bangkok with MArk. The SHOPPING! – Oct
6. Selected to join the vocal team in my church
7. Crossing the finishing line for my first 21KM half marathon
8. Confirming my wedding date and hotel venue
9. Failing my driving test for the 3rd time and decided never to take the test again
10. Celebrating xmas with the ladies at Melt. It is then I realize that in life, we don’t have to care what other things about us when we have a few good ones knowing who we are and what we are made of.

D. Top 10 things to do in 2010

1. Explore 3 new places in Singapore (Excluding SAM)
2. Learn a new language – Thai
3. Serve in the community for the needy
4. Plan for a trip to Perth with the Juli
5. Go for a beach holiday, bring a book or two and do nothing else
6. Go for a full medical check-up and get vaccinated for preventive cancer
7. Train for 21KM sundown marathon
8. Save more money for the wedding
9. Spend more time with family and friends
10. Be thankful for everything and complain less


As I look back, I saw that God is good. He had blessed me with much.

Have a great year in 2010 and many happy returns.

I look forward to a greater year ahead.

of a ball of wool

If only the issues of our life can be stacked nicely into compartments, it’ll definitely make life so much easier.

And if only so, I will be more motivated to open up the compartments and try to straighten things out one issue at a time.

But unfortunately, it is not.

They are somehow intertwined together like a ball of wool. I couldn’t possibly straighten one out without touching the other part of the wool.

It’s so tiring and further discourage me to want to iron out the issues of my life. Now the ball of wool just piles on into a bigger piece of mess.

Now, teach me where to start……

of another holiday to get over this holiday

In case you'll be wondering, I'm back from my bangkok trip. I wouldn't call it a holiday cuz I felt more tired after the trip than before! I need another holiday to get over this holiday. hahaz.. MArk says I'm full of excuses.

I bought tonnes of clothes, 2 bags and some stuffs for my family. Thankfully, we didn't burst the weight budget given by Tiger Airways. :) MArk bought even more clothes and spent his money faster than me! He is a shoppoholic at heart, he just refused to admit it.

More pictures will follows during the weekend. I just need to catch up with work and with reality for now.

Follow on closely!

I'm already planning on where to go next! I can't believe myself too sometimes.

of I'm so going to bangkok

My luggages are (sort of) packed, counting down the hours before I touch down at bangkok airport. I've done my research, printed out all the places with the thai address to assist us in communicating with the cab drivers. Change our thai baht.

This is such a long awaited trip!

I promised myself to let go off the work baggage I'm holding onto. For the next 5 days, I will not think of work. It is just me, MArk and the holidays.

Yes! I'm so going to bangkok!

of those days which we live for

I hope you enjoy this. I do!

The winner for Cannes Short Film 2009.

I thought that it reflect those moments when we are awaken by our annoying alarm clock in the morning remaining that work is waiting for us, sitting alone in the train, walking in a sea of crowd, coming home to a voice machine. Those are moments we can identify with our daily lives.

Until one day, something happen. You met the guy of your dreams, you gotten a new job/job promotion, just anything that makes your adrenaline pump faster.

Those days, we jumped out of bed. Those days, the sun seems brighter. Those days, you'll not get pissed no matter who cut your queue. Those days, it's ok even when you don't get it your way.

Don't we all live for those days?

of The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

I just finished reading 'The Bell Jar' by Slyvia Plath. It was just one of those random book I picked up from the national library and boy am I glad I did that.

It is the first and only novel by Sylvia Plath and the protagist life's run somewhat paralle to the life of Plath.

*Warning* Spoiler ahead.

Esther Greenwood is a young girl who wins a dream assignment in a big-time New York fashion magazine in 1953. She is elated, believing that she will finally realise her dream to become a writer. Instead she finds herself spiralling into depression and eventually a suicide attempt.

The story is written in 3 parts. Esther's glamour life in New York during her intern-ship at the fashion magazine, her depression and suicide attempt back home and lastly her time at the asylum.


During her internship in New York, Plath subtly suggest that the significant causes of Esther's depression is certainly the high-pressure environment in which Esther lives. As Esther is the quinessential overachiever, a scholarship winner and gifted student who consistently wins prizes and scholarship.

Jay Cee, Esther's boss during her internship repeatedly told Esther : " Don't let the wicked city get you down". Which aparently, Jay Cee has seen many young and inspiring writer fallen from grace.

Esther grew increasingly depress each day even though she is supposingly leading the time of her life. She questions about her own sexuality in the time of sexuality repression in America. She is uncertain about her career and what she wants to be.

After her internship, Esther went home and found out that she is not selected for a pretigious writting class. She grew more listless each day and have insomia each night. Both symptoms indicating a deeper depression. Death fills her mind that she consider many methods to end her life before deciding to down her sleeping pills.

Esther woke up in a hospital and was later sent to an asylum to recuperate on her 'illness'. She received shock therapy to make her feel 'better'.

" Sitting in the front seat, between Dodo and my mother, I felt dump and subdued. Every time when I tried to concentrate, my mind glided off, like a skater, into a large empty space, and pirouetted there, absently."

I suppose the shock treatment just stopped Esther from thinking/concentrating but not really making her feel better. In this case, the cure of the diesease seems worse than the dieseas itself.

Soon after, Esther is being transferred to another asylum and stayed there, receiving treatments until she feels better. Her path towards recovery.

The author uses The Bell Jar as a metaphor as to how depression can trap the soul and being or the patient.

"If Mrs Guinea had given me a ticket to Europe, or a round-the-world cruise, it wouldn't have made one scrap of difference to me, because wherever I sat - on the deck of a ship or at a cafe in Paris or Bangkok - I would be sitting under the same glass bell jar, stewing in my own soul air".

This book reminds me of 'Girl Interuppted' by Susanna Kaysen in her best-selling book in 1993.

A strongly recommended read, though you might feel slightly depress after reading.

of books, movies and weekends

I call in sick today.

Not too sure if it is food poisioning or viral infection. Whatever it is, i was hugging the toilet bowl for the whole of last night. Not a pretty sight.

Anyway, manage to sleep through the entire afternoon so was feeling better now though tummy is still a lit' quesey.

Anyway, it's the weekend. What are you doing? If I'm feeling better, I would love to catch Julie & Julia on the big screen. I would maybe even pop by the Kinokuniya and grab My Life in France by Julia Child which the movie is based upon.

Whenever there is a movie based on any novel/memoires, the latter is always much more captivating, interesting and speak to me better. There is something about words that motion picture cannot replication.

The memoires of the Geisha, Da Vinci code, Times' Traveller's Wife, Harry Potter, etc.. The books are always much much better than the movies.

Except for The Notebook, which also happens to be one of my favourite love movies of all time!

The next thing to look out for is 'My Sister's Keeper'. I was crying bucket when I was reading the book by Jodi Picolt. It really tucks at the heartstrings. Not sure if the movie will be the same? Do watch out for that. 'My Sister's keeper' will be in cinema on 22nd Oct.

Do watch out for it.

of wedding invitation

I adore this video to bits. Must have taken a looooonnng time to create. Such a genius idea.

People are now embracing social media as tool for communication. They are slowing taking away the traditional invitation card. I just received a wedding invitation through facebook. Not that I like that idea but then if I can't beat them, I'll have to join them. Yep you guess right. I RSVP back through facebook too.

of our bangkok hotel

I finally made up my mind after a week of research!

We will be staying at The Heritage Bangkok for our upcoming trip end of this month.

That decision didn't come easier. Believe me. I practically read up on all the bangkok hotel reviews before making that decision.


Modern and chic room









Clean bathroom with rain shower!!!









Rooftop pool. Can you believe it!!








The Heritage Bangkok was launched in 2008 in Silom which is within Bangkok CBD area and is also 1 minute away from the BTS station! Nice...


Enuff said.

Hope that our experience will be a reflection of the pictures as well.

So excited for the trip.

Being a perfectionist can be so painful but rewarding at times. Thankfully I am a 'selective perfectionist'. I choose what I want perfection in. A holiday is definitely one of them.

Hehe...

of I need a break else I'll break

Sawadee ka,

Happy friday everyone! Well, I'm happy anyway.

I'm honing my thai language preparing for my next bangkok trip end of Oct! Yeap you've seen right! The tickets are booked. How exciting!!!

I remembered our trip to bangkok exactly 2 years ago. Unlike the last trip where we spent 5 days in bkk and 2 days in Hua Hin, we will just be spending 5 days in bkk this time.

Shop, Eat and Spa. :)

Bkk is like my paradise. No matter how many times I've been there, it's always present a different feeling. The people are so warm and friendly.

Hopefully, no riot, no natural disaster, just happy tourists.

Any nice hotel to recommend? Leave a comment and let me know ya.

Sawadee ka (also meaning goodbye)

of fly-away bride

Me and MArk is having our usual wedding conversation and this particular one sets me cracking up.


Me: My mom seems to prefer a saturday night wedding banquet but I'm afraid with the morning wedding at church, I'll be half dead by the night session. (Me and MArk initially agreed to have a sunday night banquet)
MArk: Hmmm.. I don't think you'll be tired on that day right?
Me: Ya.. Maybe must down plenty of Red Bull
MArk: But what if you fly away?
Me: .... (my mind conjuncting up an image of a fly-away bride on her wings) ROFL

of more venues down, some more to go

Seems to have a turn of event during our venue sourcing for our wedding. Apparently Grand Corpthone Waterfront doesn't have the dates that we wanted. We are soooo flexible giving them at least 12 dates but none fits into their busy schedule. Boohooo..

I love the ballroom! High ceiling, no pillar, beautiful long aisle walk-in and garden backdrop.

Too bad.. We have to quickly source for an alternative venue to back us up. We have to convince ourselves that an alternative doesn't mean second best though. It might just means a higher price tag. haha..

of mixed feelings

I was watching a funny scene on TV when it all started. It first started as a chuckle, and progressively evolve into full blown laughter. I was laughing and laughing so hard till tears were streaming down uncontrollably. Without any warning, it laughing turn to sobbing. Those fat tears just rolled down uncontrollably...

This yo-yo emotion went on for a good 3 minutes before I snapped myself out of it.

This never happened to me before... Must be those pent-up emotions trying all their means to escape me through any emotional release action, hence make those laughing-out-loud become sobbing-out-loud.

While I was laughing-crying or whatever you call that, I was actually alternating between 2 emotions simutaneouly; laughing and crying and laughing and crying again. One moment I was laughing at the stupidity of the actress, and the next moment I found myself crying and thinking about those issues that life has thrown onto my lap. This yo-yo emotion went on for a good 3 minutes before I snapped myself out of it.

That's what I would literally call - mixed feelings.

You know they always say "don't know to laugh or to cry". While I did both. I laughed and I cried.

I must be too high strung lately. Hmmm..

Source: getty images

of full circle

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. Ecclesiates 3:1

It has truly been a challenging period for me, trying to juggle with work, church and my life.

It wasn’t so much as a tough season, but a season where I have come full circle.

After all the changes that I am going through with the situation at work, the direction of the church and with my personal life, they are now the same as they were in the beginning.

With work has been most frustrating. After all the changes that we need to do since the first draft, we have sent the designers back to their drawing board for uncountless times and in the end, we ended up with something similar to the first draft. I understand that that was an inevitable process.

Last Sunday, Pastor Khong mentioned that he had a revelation that God wanted him to complete what he has started off so many years ago. All these years, with all the implemented changes injected at mid-way, it might seem that we are heading back where we have left off.

I must admit that I am becoming dizzy from all these merry-go-round motion. It’s not fun getting lost in the labyrinth. I just needed some clear direction.

It sets me thinking somehow.

Maybe we all need to come full circle in order to realize something which we have forgotten along the way? Because along the way, we lost ourselves to distraction and to the wrong voices and forget what is truly most important?

I don’t know.

But I hope that now there will be a time when the circle is completed so that we don’t have to go round again. It should be sealed, complete and closed.

But then, I know that no matter how far we have walked. Whether it is still within the circle or off-tangent, we will find ourselves back at where He is. At least, for me.









Ecclesiates 3: 1-8

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace