Myself

I got hooked. Yep....to borderlands. I almost have hardly anytime to study for my paper on mon. Still thinking should I just go ahead and try for the exam. Wonder if I can read all the way to the fifth book by 5am.

Haiz.

New Year Resolution 2010

Time to make New Year Resolution once again.


I always ask myself, "What's the point in making resolutions when you don't keep them?" I dunno. Really.

But Still Here I GO!

1. Better $$$ Mgnt. (Brought Forward from 2009.)
2. Start having some inital investments.
3. Get ready to buy my 1st endowment plan?
4. Get my Driving License 3A.
5. Get ALL my CERTIFICATIONS.
6. Work HARD @ my career.
7. Start a Diploma in Psychology.
8. Get a proper desktop.
9. ~(To be added next.)

Hort Park Photos

Promised a friend that I will show him some photos I took @ Hort Park....then got the feeling that I missed my blog.

My soul screams out.

Literally.


So much stuff is happening at work. Not say great stuff. Just a lot of hiccups making life in work seem like a repetitive cycle on and on these few weeks.

So much SQL errors making me sick. Sometimes I question myself if this is due to wrong instructions given from the top or myself that cause such errors. Just thinking about it during the weekend makes me so pek chek.

What else is boring into my mind right now? CERTIFICATIONS LOR!!

So many pocket-aches and headaches to go. A Peek into the current 2.

1. GIAC Security Essentials Certification (GSEC)
- More info here.

2. SNORT Certified Professional (SnortCP)
- More info here.

I have less than 1 month for the later one....ahhhh. :(

I have less than 3 months for the more expensive first one. -____-"

Free mooncakes are yummy!

Its the time of the year again!!! Nah not Christmas, doesn't come so early in Singapore.

Oh yah, Hamilton won the F1, Tauflik sang the anthem wrongly. No big deal to me.

The good deal is...all the yummy free samples of mooncakes around the shopping malls. Seriously, this isn't like me in the first place. I only started becoming like this since I went into RMIT, and started hanging out with the freebies foodie club.


I remember then I used to get free stuff like beer, sausages, t-shirts, etc. And it kinda got me hooked on the freebie's galore. Dunno why, I do feel a sense of happiness sampling the munchies like a kiasu auntie.

Oh dear...Jenny's gonna flip when she sees this. :P

Life so far...

Time passes by really fast, its being close to two years since I graduated from Uni. Seems like my perspective of things has changed. Taste has changed, Love has changed. etc.

Used to think about the simple life, now begin to think about the bigger picture. Think about having a car to get to work, drive girlfriend around, fetch her home...Think about buying a place to call my own. Think about getting credit cards in my wallet...Think about what investments to make.

What was the dream last time? How to get a fatter piggy bank? Maybe. I can't remember. Its being so long.

The Late Post: Shi Qing's Wedding

Hi People.

Sorry for the recent no-post rates of this blog. Being really busy since I started work. Everyday just passes by in a blink. Whoosh.



Shi Qing Wedding

Life's updates.

Time has passed so fast. In just a flash, I've worked for a year in my current company.

I have got a new wishlist, I get one every once in a while, but most of the time they are never ever completed. Only exception was the recent one had a 80% success rate. Now what's outstanding is only the desktop and bicycle.

Things I have to get done before end of the year.

1. SANS GSEC Certification
2. SnortCP Certification
3. Get my 5 days of personal development out on track.

Decision to Blog

I decided to blog today, just cos I realized I never really moved my blog since my SANS Course.

Things have been pretty fine, despite the onslaught of projects and sicknesses, ie flu. I've managed to turn the tide on some things, though there are others out there that require improvement on my part.

Things that I need to get:
My GSEC Certification - Gotta Start Working On Tis Soon. Pocket hurts from the bite.
My Snort Certification - Wonder how is it like?
My Bicycle - Shortlisted a few, though not really decided yet which to get.
A massage. - The chair just isn't doing any good.
A holiday. - My blood's being sucked dry.

I realized the blogger interface has changed abit, looks weird though.

It's my birthday on Sunday. Got a pen from Bernie,after taking some throws from him. Got a giant cup from New York New York membership. Need to get back in shape, either lose that gut or something else. Gonna turn 25, a year older since 2008. So whats the recollection since the previous birthday?

Can't really remember much for 2008. Yet I really loved the 2007 one. I've this thing for birthdays, dunno why. I feel that its an impt day to be celebrated for a person, since thats the day he/she became a person. Weird logic here, but ah, thats me.

My thoughts about the SANS course.

Been 3 days since I started the course. Overall the course is really interesting, due to the experience of the speaker as well as his ability to keep the audience in focus with what he is teaching. By the way, the speaker's name is Stephen Sims.

Did quite a bit of networking with the people here. Most of the peeps are from MHA, witch specks from the private sector. I wonder does the private sector covers such course sponsorship.

I find the spectrum of topics covered is really wide. Good for a entry level ITSEC professional. Found various topics that relate to my job scope, for most parts.

Day 1 of SANS 401: Networking Concepts

Starting my first professional course in security today. The speaker sounds really experienced... A plus point since the HTCIA. Learning about the topic that was covered in polytechnic.

I realized that I have yet to do so much outstanding stuff since I came back from Kuming. By the way, I'm currently blogging from my iPod touch, really gives a new sense of typing and blogging. Really feels very different from a Windows box.

Better stop blogging, continue listening to the teach speaking. Very innovative way of explaining the days module.

IT Show 2009

Just went to the IT Show last week. Actually, I'm quite confused with the play on words. PC or IT show?? I also not too sure myself.

As for what I bought, I kinda like it, though i don't really have any special feelings for it. The iPod Touch!!!

Somehow i do love the slider technology, damn cool. Jenny bought the alternative-made iPhone Mini...rather cool, can watch TV somemore.

Work today was really er rush hour. I actually planned for a list of things to be done today, but weird enough, so many stuff popped out, I didn't really had time to get down to my list. Damn shagged, I actually planned not to on the computer, since my eyes are already googled out from staring at the screen too much. But gotta get some things done here, bo bian.

To the Province of Yunnan (280509-040609)

Yunnan-Dali

Just touched down awhile ago at the airport in Kuming, met Aunt Irene and Francis there. Francis
thought that Uncle Gilbert was an old man due to his greying hair, so automatically took his luggage
from him. Took us 5 hours by minivan to reach Dali. Super long journey and my leg really cramped up.
Upon reaching, we met Jane,Aunt Irene's friend who helped us to reach our lodgings, then we headed off for dinner
in a xijiang restaurant. the mutton leg cost just nine bucks!! woohoo! On the third day, the day looked really
gloomy indeed. No sign of the rain stopping at all. But luckily, there were some nice things that happened.

- I found exotic food. - Yak Meat, Eel Sweet and Sour Soup, Naan Bread, Cheese bread
- I bought the fabled local produce - Taxidermised Butterflies, Pu-er tea, Yunnan Coffee
- I didn't get the marble and jade though, cos i didn't seem to have any uses whatsoever for it.
- I think I might want to go ahead and grab some of the local batik tomorrow.
- I went for a $9 massage run by the local hearing and speech impaired. It was great help to me, but I can't say it was painless.
- I met various people of the chinese minority, got to learn their culture as well as recording down the singing sessions.


Yunnan- LiJiang

Reached Li Jiang after a 4 hour ride via bus from Dali. Missed some really nice scenic views on the mountain route, reason cause
my camera was in my bag, but in the end I managed to get some nice shots on the way down the mountains. Amazing thing though,
was that that China Army appeared to be having a military exercise of sorts on top the mountain we were passing through! Saw a few
covered tanks and alot of logistics vehicles. saw a grunt busy brushing his teeth by the roadside.
Lijiang's produce were really similar to that of Dali, reason being part of Yunnan. However, I was really enchanted by the batik designs of the
Dongba culture of the Naxi tribe. This trip in Li-jiang was neither happy nor sad, sad in the understanding of endless
unhappiness, happy that I got to know so much more culture ideas. Went to check out the night scene in the old town, was filled
with the local women in traditional dress promoting their bars. Boring shit....even the seventh month getai is
way more interesting. Pray that Kunming would be more interesting. Oh yeah, after the massage in dali, my lower back seems to be permanently
stiffen up.

- I found exotic food - Yak Milk, Dragonfly, Worms, Bees, Sichuan cake
- I bought the fabled local produce - batik fridge stickers, display sets, yummy sweets
- I got sichuan fish - but boy, it really sucked.

Yunnan - Kunming

Took a 45 airplane ride to Kunming. Was surprised that the trip from lijiang took longer than the
plane ride from the airport to Kunming city. If I were to come back on my own to China, I would
definitely give Kunming a miss. Nothing to buy, nothing to see. Just pure boliao city life,
the city just super dusty, if not for the rainy weather today. I'm supposed to be going to visit
the Stone Forest and some riverboat tour in the rain tomorrow. Seriously, I don't feel like going
given the options and things that have happened. This is really the first trip that I seriously yearn to
be back home enjoying my leave with my girlfriend. I'm reaching my limit here soon. Surprisingly enough, the stone forest was pretty interesting, got alot of scenic photoshots from there.

"Will be posting the pics up in awhile..2000+ photos."

Things to ponder

April 22nd. The day I changed the outlook of my blog. Frankly speaking, I still prefer the settings of my old blog. However, I decided that it deserves a change of outerwear.


I was showering just now at work, just while I was soaping up, I saw a small floating bubble in the water and instinctively formed a circle with my fingers to blow out another bubble - been doing this since I was a kid when my dad often taught me how to bathe as a toddler. Showing me how to blow bubbles was one particular fun thing I loved to do while in the shower. Alas, the bubble failed to form...what a disappointment.

Then it hit me. How long has it been since I last felt that I had all the time in the world to do something I really enjoyed. Rarely, I should say. Everyday of my life seems to be a passing phase in a project that's due to be completed sometime. Is it just me, or is it everyone else who have lost themselves in their pursue of their dreams..?

Long has it been since I felt it was an eternity for time to pass. Time seems to be passing by really fast, as if the bottleneck on it has suddenly been loosen. Remembered that long time ago, I used to enjoy munching my noodles and taking at least 30 minutes happily on my meal. Now it takes around 10 mins. Buy, munch, dump, drink and go.

My tiny red dot.

Recently there has been a new spate of happenings through this little island.

People walking around stark naked in Holland V, singaporean copies of Edison Chen, people with wild fantasies of exhibitionism. It's hard to tell Singapore has changed so much over the few years.

What happened?

Actually, nothing. No one changed. Only the mentality of the incoming generation changed. People feel shiok flaunting their birthday suit, so be it. I feel indifferent to it. It's just the older generations have some reluctance accepting the change in the young ones nowadays.

Lets say streaking, which is so common in the western universities is considered a taboo here in Asia. So taboo that people can get banned from staying in the hostel.

-This isn't the erosion of our traditional values, bur just something new in evolution.


I fell sick recently, over the weekend, while doing the weekend shift at work. Felt really horrible, couldn't breathe well for nuts. Only felt better after visiting the doctor on Monday. Many thanks to his antibiotics treats and 2 day MC for a sick dude. Jenny was so upset, sorry dear, but don't worry, I can take care of myself.

Thanks for the yummy porridge, Jenny....and your care and concern which really made me feel sooo loved for the past 2 days.

Picturesque @ e Moment

There are times where I find the below words to be really true.

"Times where I did feel happy for those people close to me. Times where I felt that I was really blessed."

Smileys.


I feel so happy looking at these pictures taken. Happy that years down the road, my family is still tightly knitted together. Happy that my neighborhood has changed so little, yet enough for me to let me feel the change. Happy to have a caring and loving girlfriend who understands my needs and knows how to make me smile when my mood is down.

I find the world has changed so much. No more courtesy lion around. No one gives a fark about the ailing human next to them. Its every man for himself in this recession, yet I still see the stark rise in sales over the weekend. Are Singaporeans affected by the downturn or not...?

Or is the art of shopping, kiasuism already at its peak..

Dreams and now.

I remembered this question that I was asked throughout my lifespan on Earth to date.

"Whatchu wanna be when you grow up...?"

At the age of four : I wanted to be a cop. Drama serials really had its propanganda effect.

At the age of six : I wanted to be a priest. Being religious had it roots to this.

At the age of fifteen : I wanted to be a teacher. Guess Mr Irwan brought this change.

At the age of sixteen : I took my 1st job as a data clerk. Thought 1k was cool back then.

At the age of seventeen : I wanted to be a web designer. Loved the colors.

At the age of nineteen : I took the choice of a tech support. Shitty job with new insight.

At the age of twenty : I wanted to be a C³ specialist for the RSAF. Liked Command n Conquer.

At the age of twenty-one : I still wanted to be a cop too. Still love the Men in Blue.

At the age of twenty-two : Thought my dreams destroyed, thanks to fuckers in the army.

At the age of twenty-three : I wanted to be in events management. Guess Jake played a role.

At the age of twenty-four : I took the choice of Security Engineer. N boy I love this career.

Coffee, Tea n' Me.

I drink coffee almost everday. Tea sometimes. So how does it affect me?

I read somewhere in a study that coffee helps to prevent Azheimer's. Then I read somewhere that it kills yours reproductive organisms. Alamak. So does it helps or hurts you..?

I read somewhere that herbal tea will do better help for the reproduction aspect. Should I change from earl grey tea in the noon to something else..? Or just stick with my dragofruit cum mango drink.

Me...stuck in the middle of this otherwise below the belt debate.

I just went for my polytechnic class gathering yesterday. Cannot imagine how many chickens were killed yesterday jus for the gathering...or were they dead already.
- They came headless anyway.

Strangely enough, Eddie and me were wearing the exact same polo tee yesterday. WTF. Shiqing announced her wedding on August 2nd.
- Wah that is really fast. I think she just got attached around the same time as me...

No music, no dream.

These times sure are laborious times.

I'm trying to blog for the first time on my netbook, sure it is getting on fine, can type just as well.

So why did I get a netbook for?
- Mobility
- Lightweight

I found that since I started working, I hardly got time for self-enjoyment or reading as my pastime. Even going to aikido alone, is beginning to feel really boring. Thinking of taking up a new martial art. What should I pick? Im thinking of joining clubsnap and placing my photo shots online in the forum, wonder should I not? I could get better feedback from the people there.

I just went to watch "Detroit Metal City" with Jenny. A really cool tale about fulfilling one's dream through music, performed by the fantastic artiste of the Death Note- L fame. He's really able to change as and when he wants, superb performance.

Things I wanna see @ the end of the year.
- James getting a proper control of his life.
- Me getting proper control of my finances.
- Jenny starting school and looking less stressed-out.

IT Show 2009..

I learnt a new term today.

It's 'hoot' - lets see what dictionary.com has to say on this...shall we?

–verb (used without object)

1.	to cry out or shout, esp. in disapproval or derision.

2.	to utter the cry characteristic of an owl.

3.	to utter a similar sound.

4.	Chiefly British. to blow a horn or whistle; toot.

but well. I shall say it this way...watchu hooted from the IT Show...?

I hooted a MSI Wind U100Plus - Black Colored one. for S$709. N what do I have to say..?

- Pretty awesome for that price. The body of this beauty was really sexy, at least to my standards, I don't need lug around my giant gaming notebook anymore. It can now sit at home and enjoy retirement, bound to its desk bound job. Specs were pretty good for it's pricing. Tried to test run DoTa on it...It worked! Now I have 4 coms at home that are DOTA-friendly. Girlfriend got a bit sour with the lightweightness of the netbook, considering her bulky MacBook.

I couldn't think of anything else to buy, though I have to get a basic print server and printer for home. Would Brother or Canon be a good choice..?

Disgusting, Ugly Singaporeans.

That's my final verdict about Singaporeans nowadays.

I admit I'm influenced from a past entry from my tutor's blog somewhere in the past, but to think that the habits of the Ugly Singaporeans have changed so little in the past decade. In the past, I would suppose that this issue is less rampant.

However, after I stepped my foot into the rat race, my point of view changed. I used to think it was just some illiterate older generation guy who gives a damn about his/her surroundings that was the charcoal -colored sheep. But nay, in reality, this refers to the below as well.

1. Pregnant ladies who assumed that it is their natural-born "birthright" to get seats in transports and see fit to display their lack of courtesy to others.

2. Uncles and Aunties who assumed that their age allows them the seniority to take up two "ahem" seats with their butts or other barang barang that they are lugging with them.

3. Self-righteous members of the public who refers to others as charcoal-colored sheep as well and go around taking snapshots of others

4. New, cute rule of having priority seats for the elderly that practically no one gives a hoot to.

- Come on, there are in-born courteous people out there! They will give seats to the elderly regardless of the nationality,race, or religion. There's no need to give a label to a seat.

For the below para, those who know me personally, will know I'm just too gentle to actually box anything..

What's more interesting is the regular morning crowd that loves to cluster-farking in front of the train doors. Sometimes, this habit of push and pull becomes a melee battle for some. Lets' say for my case. Some nut tries to squeeze through others with his innate skill of elbowing others to make way for himself. What can I say?- I do give a sincere apology for 'accidentally' landing a fist on you, but that urge was just too tempting. I appreciated seeing you diao me for that punch, it really showed that you understood how it felt to be in the shoes of those getting a 'sensation' feel of your skill. My friend, I know that rushing to work is important, but please spare a thought for the little kids holding on to mummy's hands who are in your way...k?
[Anyway this was weeks ago.]

Roses are red...Violets r blue.

Roses are red
Violets are blue.
My love for you is true,
Do you think of me too?

There's this special day in the year...and no, its not Valentine Day.

Its' a day where two people choose to meet and really concentrate on spending time together. No movies, no foreign form of entertainment. Traditionally, people chose to associate love with roses, lotsa surprises, a movie.

Not me.

I wanted it to be something that is memorable, not just in a lovey dovey way, but also in a unique way. One thing for sure, I'll remember these 2 days. A day without flowers priced over the top, just for commercialism to make a big rip into ye pants. A day without competition with other couples in the cinema in an awesome public display of affection. Pity my girlfriend thought I was just running around aimlessly. I just wanted some precious time with her..something to keep in my mind, while I'm working in my windowless cave. Something to gaze at while im working unearthly hours. A timepiece for her that tells whether its night or day, so that she will think of me always. A timepiece by her, showing how much I liked blue and to keep on time.




Valentine Day Memoirs

Haven't been blogging for some time....

I know....my blog seems practically dead nowadays.

I practically cannot even remember where I left off.

Well, all I can say is that these few days have been really busy with things and such.

I really didn't have time to upload photos until yesterday, and only got time to do it and find out my Internet wasn't working. My router has gone haywire. Its time to make the damn call to Singnet and ask for my new router.

Really.


Finally, I have finished the "Kite Runner", the book that Nani lent me last year. I finished it this morning on my way to work!! Goodness. It made me think how much time i spend getting to work everyday. I start to ponder what should I get to make myself happy, and the people precious to me happy as well...

What are my wants? Where are my needs?

--Basically, I think most of the things in my wishlist are wants. Don't really feel like blogging on a Monday. Urgh.



Snippets of Life



Chalet H01



Date at Marina Barrage



JingLi’s Wedding

A 2009 wishlist

Found some things on the market that I really wish I could lay my hands on. Not so sure if I should though.

1. A Bicycle - Really beats renting bicycles from the kiosk.
2. A Ipod Touch - Juz a new upgrade.
3. A Netbook - for future course outings.
4. A New Gi - for replacement of the old torn up one.
5. A New Hp - Juz a new upgrade.



2009 Starts!



Esther/Ivan’s Joy!



Da Shang Hai

Just passed the Niu Year Day 1

Didn't really have the time to blog much since due to work increase. And more time needed to be spent physically.


I brought Jenny to my family gathering for the new year. I hope she was well-received by everyone. She got along fine with the cousins from my mom's side. I was quite surprised by this. I really do hope the bad habits of the elders do not get passed on to the children.

Jenny tried her first buah keluak dish yesterday. Glad that she liked it. Could see that she enjoyed herself a lot with my family.

I know that there are a lot of delayed photos. So I think I'll up them soon according to priority. A lot of people are asking for their photos to be upped on facebook.

Also spent a 3 days chalet with my friends and dearest. Really enjoyed the whole thing.

4 months and beyond.

Days pass so fast...


I remember in my past relationships, it took so long just to hit 1 month while I was in school or during National Service.

However, once you start working, as Kenny said previously, time passes by really fast and you find that you hardly have any additional time left for yourself and others. Friends who have yet to start working, this is one extreme point to note.

Time management is pretty much what is needed in order to maintain the balance between work life, as well as social life.

-Uncomplete-