'Mid-Holiday' Report

It's one and a half months since I'm back, so what have I been doing? Or rather, have I spent the time wisely enough to have added value to my life over the past 6/7 weeks? Some random thoughts. . .

This recession may have hit a lot of people hard but it's probably a good thing that has happened to my generation. I agree with an article I read some time ago that this global economic slowdown will 'offer' people from my generation a 'taste' of some real adversity. We were still too young to feel the pinch during the Asian Financial Crisis during 97-98 and the dot-com bust at the turn of the century. For those of us who have started work, much as people our age do not face the threat of retrenchment as much as others do, many would have felt the effects of shrinking bonuses and paychecks. It is a timely reminder that good times like the previous 5 years should never be taken for granted. All the latest trends in clothes, handphones and what not with attractive discounts that swamp the market nowadays serves up great temptations to look the part or otherwise be known as weird. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (I've decided not to continue writing more on this)

Facebook, or Book-keeping as I call it. It's a very interesting phenomenon. it wasn't too long ago (or maybe it was) when Friendster was the order of the day. FB has a much more interactive interface with the ability to publish your moods (Andrew Leung is feeling blablabla now....), to poke people (Erm?), to be tagged in photos..to play all kinds of games which I didnt even bother to have a look at and much more. It's a place for the high-profile people to attract more attention and get even more high profile. I kind of noticed it's always pretty much the same people who keep changing their status, uploading new photos and have long lists of comments. Actually I still dont understand why people like to publish their emotions. "Andrew Leung is feeling sad now..." Am I already implicitly telling everyone to come comfort me? or "Andrew Leung is feeling f**ked up and furious now....." Erm, so? Oh well.

Rare Update

At the end of the day, in life, just like in Finance, having a strong 'Balance Sheet' is all that matters.
Accounting profits count for nothing if you don't have the cash/cash flows to survive. In all the cash outlay in life, how much of it actually adds to the Asset base in a person's 'Balance Sheet'? Or are most of them simply expensed off in the pursuit of the latest phones and gadgets.

-g.o.o.d-

When being good is just simply, not good enough.

-d.o.n.t-b.o.t.h.e.r-

Before more people mis-understand, I'll get this straight. LoL. The comment about "greener grass" was not meant to refer to myself. Period. And McGriddles, you should know better who it refers to.

Internship is starting in a few days and I don't feel a bit excited at all, and I don't know why. In fact, I havent been interested in anything at all since I came back. (Except seeing the brand new A4s on the road, Wow.) Just enjoying my time in my cave. I would have thought that, after a semester in which i'm supposed to be pushing my own boundaries and venturing into uncharted territories, I would become even more active. But instead it has gone the other way round. Maybe that's why. I'm tired.

Or maybe it's the recession. Adding to the sense of pessimism, that all's not well. Recession? Ooh. Tell that to the hoards of people queueing outside Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Coach just now. I congratulate them, for they are doing their part to help support the retail industry and stimulate the otherwise sluggish Singapore economy.

Or maybe it's because I'm still floating around, when I would rather be anchored to the dock.

Breadtalk in China

Change? What Change?

So, what -c.h.a.n.g.e- have we seen?

From Bloomberg and FT,
"Asian stocks slump, Extending Global Rout, as Exports Fall; Nintendo Drops"
"Japan Exports Fall the most in Six Years as Global Recession Intensifies"
"US consumer prices fall 1% in October"

Not much, it seems. Of course, anyone who thinks and hopes that Barack Obama is the messiah for the current economic doom and gloom is obviously "out of touch".

It was interesting, to see at first hand, the -c.h.a.n.g.e- China has undergone. Sure, we've heard and read lots about how China has driven the World economy for the past decade and the worsening income disparity, supported with isolated reports of dissent among farmers and peasants in the rural regions. With the severe bias against China, it is often difficult to fully understand objectively just what exactly is the situation like. Since my return, my parents have been trumpeting how impressed they were with Beijing from their trip there. Not just with the Bird Nests, Water Cubes and the National Grand Theatre but also how much more organised the city has become since their previous visit. In short, it is difficult not to feel proud about China's achievements within such a short period since economic reforms in 1978.

And perhaps aptly, the glowing reviews of Beijing has served to highlight the severity of China's rich-poor gap even more following my short trip to GuangZhou. While this is already my Nth visit to GZ, this trip has undoubtedly left me with experiences and insights like never before. As I walked into GZ's top hospital, I know I can't expect the standards of Gleneagles, Mt. Elizabeth or SGH but what I was about the witness, was simply, "wow" (in a negative way). The main lobby was inadequately lit with crowds queuing at the registration counter that you would only associate with the Great Singapore Sale. Next, and perhaps something I enjoyed most. Waiting and getting into the lift. Obviously there's no such thing as waiting for people to come out first before entering the lift, and even then, the rush into the lift was as if there was a Gold Bar in the lift. So what do I do? Adapt and Play. As the lift door opens, I've learnt to make my presence "bigger" and holding my ground when shoved, Just like how you would defend a ball during a soccer match. LoL. It was great fun. Right that's beside the point.

Walking from the lift lobby to the hospital wards was interesting in its own right. Being amazed at how people can blatantly smoke right there with 'No Smoking' signs plastered all over and the wards just steps away. The wards, both the main corridors were full of the beds against one side. The patients simply recuperating and having their drips with relatives next to them, in the corridor. The environment was anything but conducive for recuperation. For those who are fortunate enough to get a room, (and mind you, you aren't getting a room even if you have the cash to splash. They simply did not have any vacant space), the space and comfort over at Tekong is far superior to those that Sun Yat-Sen University 1st Affiliated Hospital. I can only say that the conditions are simply appalling.

But that's not even appalling enough compared to what I am to encounter. Patients fresh from surgery are wheeled from the operating theatre onto a ROAD for a short distance OUTDOORS before reaching the main building. It's a ROAD, within the hospital vicinity, where there are throngs of people walking.. with the occasion car passing by and a CONSTRUCTION SITE right next to it. A patient just out from surgery being transferred in open space next to a construction site. You draw your own conclusions. And this is the top hospital in GZ with arguably the best medical expertise in the Pearl Delta Region except HKG. Admittedly, the current location of the operating theatres is temporary pending the completion of the new surgical building but this arrangement is simply unacceptable. I was made known that this is an isolated situation and that other hospitals do have proper exclusive access for patients heading to and from surgery but there simply isn't any excuse.

Now look back and think of the grandeur of the Bird Nest, Water Cube.. National Grand Theatre. For all that money, to put up that facade to showcase to the world that China is the next superpower. It is. It will be. But at what cost? It is, saddening to say the least to see for myself, just how inadequate the healthcare is in China and the alarming lack of new direction and revamp to improve the situation. GZ is currently building two skyscrapers which will rival the tallest buildings in the world upon completion, and everytime I look at the scaffoldings of those buildings, I wonder, If only those money had been directed to more practical purposes. If only.

And as if I haven't whined enough. I'm not done yet. I used to say, Guys are bastards, as much as girls are bitches, and sadly, I've always hoped to be proved wrong but save for a few anomalies, I've yet to see anything to suggest otherwise. In fact, guys are scumbags, and fine, include me in that. And part of the reason for the continued existence of scumbags, are the increasing number of the female species who are willing to be bitches so that there are scumbags. You see, Birds of the same feathers flock together. But boy am I glad that BanGanG epitomizes how not to be a Scumbag.

Some things never change... but some things do. For almost 104 months, I've only ever known one person who can make my heart rise and sink as much and as fast as the stock indices do these days. (yes, I'm hopeless) But cruel as it may be. Time waits for no one. While I've stood my ground, it has become increasingly clear that the grass is indeed very green outside, and the worse thing is, it just gets greener and greener. As one of my friend told me some time ago, "Wah, Good luck man". Yeah. I need it.

I suppose many of you who still read this post must have been sick and tired of the endless aircraft photos but... here's more! =X

The system failure at Changi Airport resulting in queues never seen before at Changi. Kudos to the SQ ground staff however, for their calm and measured approach in handling the scores of passengers flooding them with queries and with the manual check-in procedures.

Old-School SQ Cabin, a far cry from the 777-300ERs for my MEL-SIN.Touching down after a short 4-hr hop..And Back Home at Changi T3..

And for those who might have taken offence with some of my comments, just take it that I'm just rambling off mindlessly and take it with a pinch of salt, 'cos literally, I nearly did my head, a nasty knock that had blood trickling down. But hey, I still conjured up with THE LONGEST post ever, since this blog's inception.

-h.o.m.e-

As the GE90-115B engines powered the 777-300ER down the runway, the thought that I'm finally going home.. is so surreal. And who better to bring me home, than Singapore Airlines. Just hearing the Singaporean accents of the Captain and the flight attendants in itself already gave me a good 'preview' of being -h.o.m.e-...........

9V-SWS! Singapore Airlines' NEWEST Aircraft! (9V-SWT is still stuck in Boeing Factory due to the recent mechanics' strike)My Supper. =D
Brekky was the exact same thing as my last flight......

U.S. Elections 'Live' Updates

As the U.S. election results start trickling in...here's how the candidates are faring in the Battleground States.

Florida (27 Electoral Votes) - 48% reporting
Obama - 52%
McCain - 48%

North Carolina (15 Electoral Votes) - 37% reporting
Obama - 52%
McCain - 48%

Ohio (20 Electoral Votes) - 7% reporting
Obama - 57%
McCain - 42%

Indiana (11 Electoral Votes) - 63% reporting
McCain - 51%
Obama - 48%

Missouri (11 Electoral Votes) - 10% reporting
McCain - 55%
Obama - 43%

With Obama leading in 3 of the biggest Battleground states, and especially Florida which is a must-win for McCain, does it seem like Obama already has one foot in the White House?

-人。 生。 如。 此 -

被 人 误 会 ，

只 要 对 得 起 自 己 ，

无 所 谓。

-SQ218, 带 我 回 家-

-c.h.u.i-

So, 3 down 1 to go, and here I am, blogging and you-tubing away while I 'wait' for my last paper in 11 days. What a write-off this semester has been academically. -_- Forget it. I'm just looking forward to KrisWorld: Dark Knight, Mamma Mia, Wall-E.. Time to catch up on some of the movies that I've missed out. =)

Melbourne Marathon 2008

'Post-Exam'

非 一 般 的 友 情

"我怀念的，是无话不说
我怀念的，是一起做梦“

我记得那年生日…

没有华丽的装饰，没有贵重的礼物，没有点着蜡烛的一片chicago cheesecake (我们还异口同声地问为什么不是 New York 的)。

你们唱着最难听的生日歌，还逼我装出吹蜡烛的表情，没有蛋糕、甚至还吝啬到要用$10 voucher 跑到老远的 Tong Shui Café。

我，只能觉得又好气又好笑。

因为只有在熟人面前，我们才会表露出最真实的自己；
因为只有在熟人面前，我们不会计较这些身外之物；
因为只有在熟人面前，三个二十多岁的大孩子才会像小孩子般玩闹，却又讨论一些很大人的课题。

当人们看见我的悲伤，你们却看见了我悲伤里的呻吟；
当人们看见我的成熟，你们却看见了我成熟中的淘气；
当人们都以为我很坚强，只有你们看得出我在逞强…

那突如其来的电话，从远方传来的问候；
即使长途电话有多昂贵，即使 reception 有多差；
那句句都在损我，字里行间却流露出的关心；
那在我最需要安慰，及时给予的鼓励；

我感动了。
哭了。

哭，并不是因为承受不了现在所要面对的；
而是因为在我人生的道路上，有两个知心的朋友。

这样，真的真的，已经足够了。

11月11日；30天。
1月 8日；88天。

我们会一直无话不说；
我们会继续一起做梦。

人生的际遇千百种，但有知心长相重。人愿长久，水愿长流。"

-嫦 姐， 10月 12日 ，Facebook.
_________________________________________________________

友 情 的 珍 贵 ， 我 感 觉 得 到 。
11月 11日，嫦 姐， 我 们 相 会 在 新 加 坡。
1月 8日 ， 豪 弟 ， 我 们 等 着 你 。

Bloody Idiots

The few brats behind me couldn't stop sprouting vulgarities.

The carriage was strewn with empty beer bottles, newspapers and graffiti.

The air smelt of alcohol and smoke.

Another group of brats took the liberty to smash their bottles on the platform after alighting at the station with no regards or whatsoever to the hoards of waiting passengers at the vicinity.

Welcome to Melbourne's train network on a Friday night. Give me SMRT, anytime.

Singapore Day 2008. It's -m.a.s.s.i.v.e-2-

And while everyone's still suffering from withdrawal syndromes after the eventful weekend, here's the 2nd and 3rd part of the Singapore Day extravagenza. The Gala Dinner was certainly up there in terms of the Glam Factor and in fact made the actual SG Day feel like it's just the prelude to the Gala Dinner at night. Then again, both events are fun in their own right, the former, being free and easy, queueing for food.. and the latter, a totally different experience altogether, having spent most of the night interacting with distinguished guests of the night. As the only 'kids' there, we certainly feel young, very young.......

The stage is set.

We just had to grab that photo with the DPM after missing out earlier in the lunch session.. Haha
Mr Goh Kok Wee from the High Commission
Tan Kheng Hua shedding her Margaret Phua costume to take on the Emcee for the night Gurmit was off-duty for the night after wowing the crowd earlier in the day with the PCK family
The One, that most of the girls were after. And I struggled to match his height!
Our Asian Idol Hady Mirza
Dick Lee, after performing his redition of the masterpiece, Home. Daphne Khoo
There couldn't be a more fitting person to perform a more fitting song to end the night.

The Dessert for the night.. exquisitely done by the Executive Chefs from Mandarin Oriental

And off to the After-Party!

Singapore Day 2008. It's -m.a.s.s.i.v.e-1-

What a Weekend. I finally have the time to breathe after what turned out to be a whirlwind 4-5 days.. The experience from which, one that I'll never forget for the rest of my life. Like what I told some people, I am extremely fortunate to be the President during this term when the Singapore Day is to be held in Melbourne, setting the perfect platform for us to work with the Government agencies such as the Overseas Singaporean Unit, High Commission and Contact Singapore. It also provided for the opportunity for the Big 4 Universities here in Melbourne to collaborate and jointly hold our inaugural event, the Singapore Day After-Party, to be held in conjunction with the main Singapore Day event.

As one of the student leaders, it was also an immense privilege to be part of the small group lunch session with DPM Wong Kan Seng and MP Teo Ser Luck, allowing everyone of us to interact at close proximity with the 2 guests of honour for this mega event.. Not to mention, get to savour the local delights at our own time and comfort without the massive queues outside.. =X Pity we didn't take any pictures during that session, guess everyone was just too uptight to take out the camera and ask for a picture with the DPM.

Right after the day event was the Gala Dinner held at the Melbourne Town Hall for the 500 or so invited guests. It was all glitz and glam with VIPs such as the DPM, MediaCorp CEO Lucas Chow, Permanent Secretary for High Commission in Australia, local dignitaries and numerous celebrities who made the journey down under to entertain us with that few hours of fun and laughter. To rub shoulders and interact with all these distinguished guests is certainly an experience to behold and of course, us being students, we found ample time to cam-whore in this the star-studded evening..LoL.

Before I could even take in all the excitement of being involved in this Gala dinner, it was time to rush home and prepare for the After-party that we put so much effort into organising. And let our hair down we sure did! It was a relief that the party turned out to be a rousing success after a sluggish start in the ticket sales. Singaporeans. When will they ever shake off that last-minute-then-decide thinking. =D

All in all, I can only say that I have run out of superlatives to describe how much a success this whole event has been. From the conception of this SG Day idea to the minute details in the signs.. the goodies.. it's just been too good to be true. A big Thank you to the Singapore Government, OSU and the various agencies for organising this Singapore Day 2008 @ Melbourne. Until next time, Good Day Mate~

Just some of those nostalgic items in the Goodie Bags. A pleasant departure from the usual stuff like note pads and pens..
In true-blue Singaporean fashion, long queues were already formed way before the gates were even due to open. And it's a good thing they did. 11,000 people turned out at the event, more than double the original estimate of 5,000.. Many of my non-Singaporean friends were rejected registration due to this overwhelming response.
The DPM meeting the public shortly before the lunch session, and the ever-so-suave MediaCorp CEO, Mr Lucas Chow.Just some of the local delights at the event, courtesy of Food Republic, somehow the waiting appear to be materially misstated... -_- And yes, everything is -f.r.e.e-
Even the display signs are made to look exactly like those back home..PCK's appearance was certainly the main draw for the day..
And there's Hardy Mirza, Dick Lee and Daphne Khoo as well..Not to forget Tay Ping Hui too..

-w.a.d-t.h.e-

Honestly, I'm still seething. Maybe I'll ring my parents just to perk me up for the day, 'cos for one, I know they will listen to me, listen to my whining as much as I'll listen to theirs. They will offer me advice and "preach life principles" while I ask them to take more chill pills. Not everyone gives a s**t seriously. The human species is awfully practical, only talking to you when they need you in one way or another. Good luck to you when you need them and you are merely surplus to requirements when they have ample friends to be kept entertained with. And not everyone who ought to understand this will understand it.