Food in Kota Kinabalu

In my recent trip to Kota Kinabalu with my family, I have some of wonderful food there. Here are some pictures to share with all.

iPhone

It has been about a month since I got my iPhone. Having used Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Sumsung, Palm, and HTC for the past 8+yrs. I got to say that iPhone does lives up to all the hype and attention that it is drawing. Of cos, it is still not the best phone yet. For one, using the iPhone is really easy. Compared to the other smartphone, I am totally at ease with the iPhone almost instantly. Its apps are also very attractive and useful. Attractive in the sense that downloading apps and discovering them is almost addictive. Thankfully, there is the price factor to slow me down. The apps are practical and useful. I for one especially love the tranSGuide which tells me when the next sbs bus is arriving. Syncing to the mail and calendar is a breeze without the guesswork. Overall, I love my iPhone!

BaoBei's Creations!

These are some of my darling's creations...

Saving Gaia

It seems that what the scientists are saying is true. The earth is getting warmer with each passing year. I still remember when I was much younger, this period of time will be a time where there is less rain and thus a bit warmer.

Now, I believe all will agree with me, the weather are so much scorching hot in Singapore. The moment you step out, you can feel your pesperation on the skin and the burning heat engulfing you.

Are we too late to do anything? Can we still save Gaia (the earth) as the campagin are going around now? I'm not sure. But I believe we all have the responsibility to do our part to ensure the world is still a liveable plce for our future generations.

So lets start now by recycling a bit more, using less non-recyclable items, and save some electricity and water by being conscious of how we use them. As the saying goes, a little thoughts goes a long way.

A Day In Singapore

What can a Singaporean family do in Singapore?

This little red dot don't have much place to go, but yet it have many hidden treasures if you know where to find it.

On this typical day, since I have to look after my son, I decide to take him out. So together with my wife, we pack a little snack and set out for the east coast beach. The weather is good, so once we reach there, Ezra immediately start on his sand castle building.

Since the weather is quite hot, we did not stay very long. After 1.5hr later we decide to take a quick shower and set off to the next location.

IKEA mega store!

Why there? Nothing special except Ezra loves the meatball (and so does Viv) :p. And it is just a stone throw from Giant, which allow us to do a bit of marketing after our lunch.

Our last stop is non other than the new Singapore Icon - Singapore Flyer!

Since its opening, we have past by the Flyer many times, but have not set foot on it before. So it was a good opportunity for us to bring Ezra to the Flyer (since its the school holiday, and they are having a offer). At the booth, Viv and myself decide to just get the membership card since it is a better deal - just $127 after discount!

Ezra simply loves the ride, in fact we love it so much that we planned to return in the evening to get a different view. :p

It was only much later that we realised that as members we are only allow one ride per day :( Thankfully, the usher is graceful to allow us one more ride. Thank God. And the view is simply beautiful!

Promise of God

While walking to the mrt station at chinatown I saw this rainbow. My spirit was lifted, and I was renewed. I quickly took out my hp and capture this rare moment. It was a really big and clear rainbow. While my hp's camera is low quality and limited it still manage to capture this wonderful moment.

The sight of rainbows always cheer me up. Because it never fails to remind me of God's promises.

How Times Flies

Times flies! It seems not too long ago that I posted about my going back to work. That was nearly two months back. Now I'm just a regular 9 to 6 office guy, drawing a regular salary every month. Today, colleagues in my office are getting their bonus. None for me :( since I'm new. Things are starting to get familiar once again with me. Yet, my department, the Change Management, is once again going through a major change. *sighs* Good & bad, but only times will tell.

One of the things I like about Potong Pasir

I miss the neighbourhood that I grew up in. Its lush greenery, cooling breeze from the hills, quiet environment, and closeness to the City. These are just some of the things I miss about Depot Heights, the place where I have stayed for the last 30+ years.

Now, I do like my new neighbourhood too. Its relaxing atmosphere (reminding me of Depot Heights), and it is also not that far from City too, plus closness to the MRT station.

One of the things I like of my new neighbourhood, I love the Mac! most. Why is it so different? Well, for start, having breakfast at Mac in Potong Pasir is very relaxing for me. People at there are so relax that you don't feel rushed dinning in there.

It has sort of become a once every two month activities that I do with my son. Bringing him there for breakfast, a father and son bonding time. Well, not that I don't want to bring my dear wife along, it just so happen she don't fancy mac as much as my son and me do. (^_^)

A new beginning

On Feb 09, with the great blessing from God, we finally got our own home. A nicely decorated flat at Potong Pasir. It is really amazing, looking back, how God have through the turn of events lead us to this house.

Lesson learn, sometimes we must not look at set backs as the final outcome, but rather as opportunities for better things/times to come.

My Lord is my refuge, I will not be afraid. Amen! (^_^)

Back in the workforce

Today marks my first day back in the workforce. I arrived in office at 8:45am. Was quickly briefed by my manager before he rushed off for a meeting. As my workstation was not ready yet, I was left sitting by my table with practically nothing to do. After about 30mins, my assigned buddy came and give me some briefing and bring me around the department. 10am my laptop arrived, so I go about setting up my station. By 10:30am I was back at my table with nothing to do again. Chatted a bit with some old friends. At around 12noon, I go out for lunch with some colleagues. The rest of the day went by slowly. At 4:30pm, the department have their lou hei. All in all, it was a good first day for me. Slow going and easy adjustment for me after my six months of break.

Kindness to others is cruelity to myself

Yesterday some of our furniture finally arrived. As Viv have to work, I have to be the one to receive the delivery and do the inspection. As things goes, after my inspection I found that two of the drawers for the wardrobe was not in good conditions. The delivery guys try to pull a fast one on me by using a marker to color over the exposed areas of the drawers. Of course I did not accept that, but instead of being nasty, I (as per usual) just requested nicely for them to change the drawers. So I have the delivery guys take it back to be changed. After which I began cleaning the rest of the furniture. I was quite happy with myself. However, the happiness was short lived. When Viv arrived in the afternoon, she soon discover that the dinning table top have a crack! and two of the chairs are wobbly!!! I felt that I'm such a failure. So angry with myself why I did not do a thorough inspection before letting the delivery guys go? I am so angry with myself that I always like to take things easy and close one eyes or make it easy for others to take advantage of myself. If only I'm not so 'kind' to others and be more kiasu, than I would have save myself from all these troubles. That night, I went back to the new house to wait for the delivery guy to exchange the drawers. However, he did not come. While I was waiting in the house, my feeling is so messed up and unsettled. I know Viv did not blame me but I was so angry with myself. In the end, Viv get the delivery guy to arrange to come back on another day to exchange the table top and fix the chairs. Thank God for my understanding wife.

I'm no handyman

When it comes to fixing anything (non computer related) in the house, I am usually the last person that people will look to for help. However, yesterday was a special occasion. I have to do it myself in order to get my new house to the way I want it, plus we want to save money by DIY instead of getting a plumber to fix the bath room taps. So we got the shower head, pipes, and those connector thingie. A few trips to the general store to get the tools I need, the spanner I have is too small for tightening the joints. In the end I have to make two trips, as I got the diameter wrong. The fans was fixed yesterday. As the electrician have to cut the corning in order to lay the cables, I have to get plaster to fix it back. All in all, I spent about $100+ to get the things I need and about 4 hours doing what I set out to do. I still did not get the pipes to work as I want. Still some more tinkering needed there. It sure was a tiring day for me. Thank God I'm no handyman, but it is all worth the hard work doing it for my own home.

Our New Home

Finally we have gotten the keys to our new home. And the arrangements are made for the contractors to come in and "touch up" on the flat.

Tomorrow the painting and polishing will start work, followed closely by the air-con man and the carpenter (and hopefully the electrician too). If all goes as plan without hiccups, we should have the flat ready just before CNY. :D

This the flat before "touch up"...

Is it just me?

Why is it happening? Today, as per usual, we wake Ezra up and get him ready for school. He seems unusually quiet on the journey and did not even touch his breakfast. Upon reaching the school, he requested to go home and start to cry a little. *sighs* Why? It seems that every time I bring him to school he will cry. Even though he knows that I will be back to pick him up, he just refuse to let me go. I know that he can't bear to be separated with me even for that brief 2 hours. But I really wonder how can I help him to be more confident.

Things/people around us

New births, deaths. These are the things happening around us. Usually we are oblivious to them unless it happen on us or close one. Technologies are suppose to close up the vast distances between people across nations. Instead it have make people grown further apart from each other. Rather than meeting up, we msn or skype each other. Instead of calling up each other over the phone we sms. Its not that i'm against technologies, but often times we over relies on them and forgets that no amount of emotcons can replace the emotion convey through our voice or facial expression. 2009, a year where many expects hardship. Lets not forgot that as we goes about our daily lives, making ends meet. That we need to slow down once in a while to care for people around us. To show our humanity.

So unpredictable

Sat morning, just found out that my aunt (dad's side) had a fall in the bathroom and was in ICU. Found out a little later that she had a stroke and was brain dead. *sighs* My parents are badly affected by this sudden departure of their sister (especially my dad). In fact, they had just visited her during Christmas and now she is gone. So unpredictable things are in life.

2nd of Jan 09

Today is the orientation day for Ezra's school. So brought him down to meet his new classmates and also for him to adjust to the 'back to school' lifestyle. Hopefully, he will be more prepared come next monday. It was a short 2hrs session for him, after which, I drive him home to rest. While I drive the car to top up petrol and meet up a friend for lunch. Driving is very tiring for me, thank God for a wife who love to drive. hehehe. After my meeting with my friend, I meet up with Viv again to proceed to our 2nd HDB appointment. Yea! Finally we have a place we can call our home (ok, technically we still have to wait a couple more weeks before we can move in, but who is counting rite?). After the appointment we went to order our 'seahorse' brand sofa. And realised that the price have increased by $200 only a few days earlier. *duh* no choice, we both love the sofa, so still decided to go ahead and get it. Went home and share the news with my parents that we will be trying to move before CNY if possible. But instead of sharing our joy, got shown black face and questioned why we need to rush to move. *sighs* why can't they look at things from our side? Its not like I can always be so free to be around to handle the moving of things. Especially more difficult when I get back to full time work.

First day of 2009

A new day in a new year. Its a public holiday today, so why did I wake up so early (I woke up at 7:20am!)??? Anyway, that's my first thought for a new year. So lame rite? 2009 is going to be a very 'interesting' year for me and family. 1) we will be getting our new home. 2) I'll be starting a new job, a 9-6 desk bound one. 3) Son will be starting school with a new class of friends. just to name a few of those things that are going to be happening soon. While most people are worrying about the recessions of the world and what not, I choose to just live it though one day at a time. Anyway, its the norm rite? It happen before and will happen again. And while some believe that spending less is a solution and others to spend more to 'stimulate' the economy, I will just do as my usual lifestyle. Spend when I feel like. So here's a new year wish to all, May this new year be a promising and God blessed one to all.