Cycling - canceled due to rain
Climbing - shortened due to need to catch 2 movies in a row (that computer in the rockgym has a lot of downloaded movies!)
Eating - well, this one I didn't cut back on.... I must say that I was disappointed with Carnegie's brunch which I hear good things about. My standards are high :)
Monday, May 31, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
I want to ride my bicycle!
I went cycling last weekend again, finally! My poor little red foldie, it mostly sits lonely, forlorn in my basement :)
Woke up literally crack of dawn, cycled along near empty streets to get to the riverside bike path with Vinny. I clocked 40km that day at a nice leisurely pace. Along the way, got a good meal(s), had peking duck for dinner... ok, it was a good weekend!
Friday, May 21, 2010
Hot hot hot...
Last week was beautiful, 25-26degrees in the day, and a cool 21-22 in the evenings.
This week, we got Singapore-like temperatures, up to 30degrees most of the day, dropping perhaps to 26 in the evenings.
Because my apartment has lots of windows (which I love it for), it also retains heat from the green-house effect all day. So even when I turn in for bed, it still registers a 29degrees indoors. Hot!
It's been AC on to cool down the apartment before bed. HOT!
Met service forecasts cooler skies next week, back to 20degrees night, slightly higher day. I hope they are accurate!
This week, we got Singapore-like temperatures, up to 30degrees most of the day, dropping perhaps to 26 in the evenings.
Because my apartment has lots of windows (which I love it for), it also retains heat from the green-house effect all day. So even when I turn in for bed, it still registers a 29degrees indoors. Hot!
It's been AC on to cool down the apartment before bed. HOT!
Met service forecasts cooler skies next week, back to 20degrees night, slightly higher day. I hope they are accurate!
One of my favourite TV programs/favourite scene
One of my favourite scenes from Mer & De's love relationship.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
I like mountains, but what if the mountains are creepy?
Last Monday, I finished work early, left at 5pm, took a 30min walk up and down Elephant mountain, taking in the spectacular views of the sunset over the city.
Last night a colleague told me not to go up there anymore. He said that the last time he went up there, 2 months ago, he found the top crawling with cops - someone had committed suicide up there. He did mention it to me at that time but he reminded me again not to go up, especially after noon. Some Chinese superstition. So I asked casually where do they hang themselves : that big tree on the top, where there are 2 little huts. That's usually where I sit for a few seconds to catch my breath before heading back down.
So how? Do I stop doing that? Or trust in Jesus to protect me? Hmm....
Friday, May 14, 2010
Shrek 3
I'm looking forward to Shrek 3...
I love Pinnochio in the last Shrek movie, absolutely tore me up.
I love Pinnochio in the last Shrek movie, absolutely tore me up.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Weight...
During the last week in Houston, I was jetlagged and can't sleep beyond 4am. Between 4am and my pickup at 7am, it's 3 whole hours. I'd comfortably be able to gym, shower, clear emails before breakfast.
After 5 consecutive mornings of gym, sleeping 4 hours a night, and not eating well (boss kept choosing crappy American Chinese restaurants, bleh!), you'd expect some weight loss right?
Er.. nope. Dang...
After 5 consecutive mornings of gym, sleeping 4 hours a night, and not eating well (boss kept choosing crappy American Chinese restaurants, bleh!), you'd expect some weight loss right?
Er.. nope. Dang...
Friday, May 07, 2010
Demise of a platform
In all the years I've been in HP, this is the first time I had a platform killed.
To be honest after the rollercoaster ride we've been on for Akashi, I really had no feelings about this.
And staying true to the way I DO feel about HP of late, the rumour mills have it earlier and more accurate than a lot of work, directly working on the project itself.
http://i.engadget.com/2010/04/30/hp-slate-killed-rumor-mill-says-yes/
I found out 2 days AFTER management made this decision.
After 10 years in HP, it is really sad to see a company I loved and respected reduced to this.
To be honest after the rollercoaster ride we've been on for Akashi, I really had no feelings about this.
And staying true to the way I DO feel about HP of late, the rumour mills have it earlier and more accurate than a lot of work, directly working on the project itself.
http://i.engadget.com/2010/04/30/hp-slate-killed-rumor-mill-says-yes/
I found out 2 days AFTER management made this decision.
After 10 years in HP, it is really sad to see a company I loved and respected reduced to this.
Thursday, May 06, 2010
5 nights in Houston
Didn't get to go shopping at all this trip - being carless is quite a big handicap in Houston. But then again, not driving also means no stress of driving at high speeds or listening to the GPS tell you to go down the wrong path... ack!
After 5 nights of waking up at 4am, I am quite glad to go home tonight. I surprise myself at the ability to live on so little sleep... I know I used to in the past, but in the last couple of years since moving to Taiwan, I've pretty much was able to get 7-8hrs every night.
And so I hit the gym every morning, and after 5 days in a row, have gotten quite strong, or so I think. Then again I've not climbed in 2 weeks - the litmus test will be next week after I'm back. And in the meantime, my climb kakis have gone to Putra again and from the pictures, looks like a blast. I miss them...
After 5 nights of waking up at 4am, I am quite glad to go home tonight. I surprise myself at the ability to live on so little sleep... I know I used to in the past, but in the last couple of years since moving to Taiwan, I've pretty much was able to get 7-8hrs every night.
And so I hit the gym every morning, and after 5 days in a row, have gotten quite strong, or so I think. Then again I've not climbed in 2 weeks - the litmus test will be next week after I'm back. And in the meantime, my climb kakis have gone to Putra again and from the pictures, looks like a blast. I miss them...
Saturday, May 01, 2010
The eagle has landed...
For the longest time my miles were accrued on Singapore Airlines. This is my first flight on EVA. My Taiwanese colleagues swear by EVA, and after flying it to LA, I must say, SIA still rules. Objectively of cos, disregard my bias of being Singaporean. Service is comparable - Taiwanese hospitality is great, but really SIA have the entire system down to a pat. And I had to ask for a toothbrush, SIA gives out cool amenities kits on long haul flights default.
However, on SIA flights into US, with the code-share with Air India, I typically never have good experiences. Not about racism, it's just I never had a good experience. Now EVA's flight into LA originates from Vietnam. I had this little old couple sit next to me, who speaks zero English. The EVA stewardesses kept asking them, coffee/tea? chicken or the fish? They'll just point at me - don't ask me why... (now I never developed the knack to sleep on flights, I usually watch endless movies with my headphones never out of my ears) so, elderly Vietnamese couple points at me, Taiwanese stewardess looks at me, I usually look at everyone with a 'huh?' look?
Eventually, nice stewardess gives up and dishes out whatever...
Later on in the game, I realized they liked coffee. But they speak absolutely zero English, so even when holding a pot of coffee and the stewardess goes, 'coffee?', they don't get it. But they'll hold out their coffee cups after meals, seemingly hoping for something. I eventually ordered 2 cups of coffee for them, and they seemed very pleased with this gesture. After I offered to fill in their US immigration embarkation forms - this took a long time for me to make them understand that I WANTED to help them fill in their forms, they kept wanting to squeeze out of their seats to go to the stewardesses who by this time, are quite tired of playing charades with them. And it's not even obvious what they wanted anymore. I filled their forms and they took it out to the stewardesses... Why? Who knows...
But as I was walking off the plane, the Vietnamese lady pounded me on my back 3 times - I take it as a affectionate gesture even though it was pretty violent. Either that, or she was just saying sorry for sitting on my bag strap, I had to yank it out of her butts. Oh well... I'll take Vietnamese over India anytime.
Now I am in my Houston hotel room, it's Sunday morning but I can't go to mass or to the gym or to the mall - I am trapped since I'm carless. Sigh...
However, on SIA flights into US, with the code-share with Air India, I typically never have good experiences. Not about racism, it's just I never had a good experience. Now EVA's flight into LA originates from Vietnam. I had this little old couple sit next to me, who speaks zero English. The EVA stewardesses kept asking them, coffee/tea? chicken or the fish? They'll just point at me - don't ask me why... (now I never developed the knack to sleep on flights, I usually watch endless movies with my headphones never out of my ears) so, elderly Vietnamese couple points at me, Taiwanese stewardess looks at me, I usually look at everyone with a 'huh?' look?
Eventually, nice stewardess gives up and dishes out whatever...
Later on in the game, I realized they liked coffee. But they speak absolutely zero English, so even when holding a pot of coffee and the stewardess goes, 'coffee?', they don't get it. But they'll hold out their coffee cups after meals, seemingly hoping for something. I eventually ordered 2 cups of coffee for them, and they seemed very pleased with this gesture. After I offered to fill in their US immigration embarkation forms - this took a long time for me to make them understand that I WANTED to help them fill in their forms, they kept wanting to squeeze out of their seats to go to the stewardesses who by this time, are quite tired of playing charades with them. And it's not even obvious what they wanted anymore. I filled their forms and they took it out to the stewardesses... Why? Who knows...
But as I was walking off the plane, the Vietnamese lady pounded me on my back 3 times - I take it as a affectionate gesture even though it was pretty violent. Either that, or she was just saying sorry for sitting on my bag strap, I had to yank it out of her butts. Oh well... I'll take Vietnamese over India anytime.
Now I am in my Houston hotel room, it's Sunday morning but I can't go to mass or to the gym or to the mall - I am trapped since I'm carless. Sigh...
Friday, April 30, 2010
Houston trip
The yearly face to face marketing summit is to be held in Houston next week.
Because of the way things are, I told my managers politely that I did not want to go, especially since I am not presenting.
They insisted. So I am going, very reluctantly until I found out that,
1. I can't rent a car, only managers get a car. Rest of us slaves, car pool.
2. I can't fly out on a Saturday, cost is higher, only managers get that priviledge. So I am flying Friday evening.
3. Everyone else is in a more expensive hotel where the managers are placed - but because I didn't insist, I am not there.
Now you understand why I hate this department. It's full of bullshxx.
I need a new job.
Because of the way things are, I told my managers politely that I did not want to go, especially since I am not presenting.
They insisted. So I am going, very reluctantly until I found out that,
1. I can't rent a car, only managers get a car. Rest of us slaves, car pool.
2. I can't fly out on a Saturday, cost is higher, only managers get that priviledge. So I am flying Friday evening.
3. Everyone else is in a more expensive hotel where the managers are placed - but because I didn't insist, I am not there.
Now you understand why I hate this department. It's full of bullshxx.
I need a new job.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Tragedy on the highway
After the entire mountain slid off onto the highway, they dug 4 days non-stop 24/7 with up to 30 exacavators, an endless line of trucks to cart away the earth, and finally last night, they reached metal.
It was car debris.
According to experts, it all happened and ended within 5 seconds. The impact was so great cars were mangled so bad, in 1 car, the 2 bodies were mangled together.
As of this morning, the operation went from rescue to road clearance.
To the folks working their guts out - thank you.
To the families grieving their dead - may God bless you and the souls.
To the rest of us - let us give God thanks and be joyful always, because you never know when everything will end, abruptly.
It was car debris.
According to experts, it all happened and ended within 5 seconds. The impact was so great cars were mangled so bad, in 1 car, the 2 bodies were mangled together.
As of this morning, the operation went from rescue to road clearance.
To the folks working their guts out - thank you.
To the families grieving their dead - may God bless you and the souls.
To the rest of us - let us give God thanks and be joyful always, because you never know when everything will end, abruptly.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Landslides in Taiwan
The rainy season hasn't even started yet and there's already a horrible landslide. In Chinese, the term used is 走山, or the mountain shifted. Based on the pictures, it looks like the entire mountainside fell over and dumped tons of soil all over the No. 3 Freeway between Taipei and Keelung.
This happened Sunday night, and reports have it that, 3 cars appears to be buried underneath.
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2010/04/27/2003471589
And a TV reporter said that between Mar/Apr last year and this year compared, the no. of earthquakes big enough to be felt went up from 58 to 116 (or something like that, I can't quite remember). But close to double.
Truly, man is changing the earth. In ways that is not good.
This happened Sunday night, and reports have it that, 3 cars appears to be buried underneath.
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2010/04/27/2003471589
And a TV reporter said that between Mar/Apr last year and this year compared, the no. of earthquakes big enough to be felt went up from 58 to 116 (or something like that, I can't quite remember). But close to double.
Truly, man is changing the earth. In ways that is not good.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Pain pain...
Against the grain of lazy Saturdays, I took a 20min jog before dinner. Then on Sunday I went for a good session of lap climbing - skipped 3 weekends in a row due to being out in the mountains...
Monday I woke up to a familiar ache - arms and legs. So I lay in bed whimpering to myself until 10am until finally God got so disgusted at my malaise, he threw me out of bed with an earthquake, 6.6 magnitude centered in Lanyu island - dived there once :)
It's 6.30pm on a Monday evening, I am contemplating a McDonald's dinner ahead of tonight's conf call. Hmm...
Monday I woke up to a familiar ache - arms and legs. So I lay in bed whimpering to myself until 10am until finally God got so disgusted at my malaise, he threw me out of bed with an earthquake, 6.6 magnitude centered in Lanyu island - dived there once :)
It's 6.30pm on a Monday evening, I am contemplating a McDonald's dinner ahead of tonight's conf call. Hmm...
Saturday, April 24, 2010
5th Anniversary
As the church celebrates the 5th anniversary of the pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI, I pause to think... has it been 5 years? Wow... I remember watching the entire new pope election process on TV totally captivated.
Issues remain, paedophiles priests in our midst and such. I pray that we all guard against evilness, darkness. The church of God will prevail, there is no doubt, we need to watch each and every heart. It begins with the first step for everyone.
I know what my first steps are, I just wish I can do it! Endure Felicia!
Issues remain, paedophiles priests in our midst and such. I pray that we all guard against evilness, darkness. The church of God will prevail, there is no doubt, we need to watch each and every heart. It begins with the first step for everyone.
I know what my first steps are, I just wish I can do it! Endure Felicia!
The things over and beyond...
Just because I tend to ignore the mysteries in life/unexplained/strange stuff, like how do the huge status get to where they are on Easter Island, or how were the Pyramids built etc... Does it mean they don't exist?
Because of my firm belief in my soverign Lord and God who reigns over everything on and above earth, I'm usually annoyed to talk about other gods/alien beings.. whatever. I find the lack of respect to my God very hard to stomach.
BUT...
If you think about it, it does not mean it does not exist...
Hmmm...
I think I sleep too little and play too much BubbleTown late into the nights.
Good nite.
Because of my firm belief in my soverign Lord and God who reigns over everything on and above earth, I'm usually annoyed to talk about other gods/alien beings.. whatever. I find the lack of respect to my God very hard to stomach.
BUT...
If you think about it, it does not mean it does not exist...
Hmmm...
I think I sleep too little and play too much BubbleTown late into the nights.
Good nite.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Weekends in the mountains...
I spent the last 2 weekends in the mountains...
First it was Alishan for fireflies
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8062670@N07/sets/72157623722672971/
Then Hualien, where we tackled 2 trails very breathtaking views
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8062670@N07/sets/72157623758252739/
The first trip was relatively easy - almost no walking except for a 1-hr hike that turned out to be a 3-hr strenous walk within a thick bamboo forest so green and lush that I felt like a panda taking a walk. And it prepared us for the next trip which was 11k of steep ups and downs day 1 and 28k on day 2 that cost us a long time to complete.
Excellent views and absolutely fantastic companionship. Kudos to the organizers.
Now I need to recover - both in terms of work/emails and also in terms of my aged legs.
Plus my uncle is in town and I've been neglecting him.
First it was Alishan for fireflies
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8062670@N07/sets/72157623722672971/
Then Hualien, where we tackled 2 trails very breathtaking views
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8062670@N07/sets/72157623758252739/
The first trip was relatively easy - almost no walking except for a 1-hr hike that turned out to be a 3-hr strenous walk within a thick bamboo forest so green and lush that I felt like a panda taking a walk. And it prepared us for the next trip which was 11k of steep ups and downs day 1 and 28k on day 2 that cost us a long time to complete.
Excellent views and absolutely fantastic companionship. Kudos to the organizers.
Now I need to recover - both in terms of work/emails and also in terms of my aged legs.
Plus my uncle is in town and I've been neglecting him.
Friday, April 02, 2010
So who says lizards are good climbers?
At the rock gym on Wednesday, there was a helpless gecko/house lizard running helter-skelter all over the floor in search of cover.
Obviously it has fallen from the rock wall - methinks the roof... (because Honda was there and yelling at something).
In short, it was a lousy climber. I would grade it a 5a free-solo. It's saving grace is that it's got very pretty tiger like stripes on its body. Kinda creepy, was too scared to go closer for a better shot.
Made belayers a little apprehensive all night, we'll belay, then nervously look around our feet.
Obviously it has fallen from the rock wall - methinks the roof... (because Honda was there and yelling at something).
In short, it was a lousy climber. I would grade it a 5a free-solo. It's saving grace is that it's got very pretty tiger like stripes on its body. Kinda creepy, was too scared to go closer for a better shot.
Made belayers a little apprehensive all night, we'll belay, then nervously look around our feet.
Happy Maundy Thursday
And into the final triduum.
Tonight over mass, Father washed the feet of 12 people (men symbolising the 12 disciples). Technically he only washed 1 foot each to save time :)
Father Cary is an awesome preacher, he is very technical plus a dry wit, so his sermons are really good. Part of what makes him good is that he is very particular about details - things have to be done right.
Knowing this and knowing him, I didn't dare step forward to snap this picture. I think it is ok, I should think it is ok, but you never know... I took it from my seat :)
Tonight over mass, Father washed the feet of 12 people (men symbolising the 12 disciples). Technically he only washed 1 foot each to save time :)
Father Cary is an awesome preacher, he is very technical plus a dry wit, so his sermons are really good. Part of what makes him good is that he is very particular about details - things have to be done right.
Knowing this and knowing him, I didn't dare step forward to snap this picture. I think it is ok, I should think it is ok, but you never know... I took it from my seat :)
Monday, March 29, 2010
St Rita of Cascia
As part of my lenten preparation, I attend mass/stations of the cross Friday nights.
The good folks at St Bosco are screening movies on the life of the saints after stations of the cross. I got to learn about St Rita. She lies incorrupt, ie her body is still intact and on on display in a glass case in the Basilica of St. Rita in Cascia, Italy even though she died in 1457.
By today's standards, the movie moves at a slow pace and has a lot of war/killing scenes/death scenes. There were many times I wanted to just go home :)
Why am I talking about St Rita in my blog? Because
- she persisted in an atmosphere of violence/warring. Her husband was a knight, ie he went around killing people.
- she used love to win people around her back to God.
- she never gave up, even in the face of impossible circumstances
- she trusted God and stayed in constant communication, ie she kept praying.
Alamak, sounds like what my mom always says to me, you must pray you know, prayers are very important...
The good folks at St Bosco are screening movies on the life of the saints after stations of the cross. I got to learn about St Rita. She lies incorrupt, ie her body is still intact and on on display in a glass case in the Basilica of St. Rita in Cascia, Italy even though she died in 1457.
By today's standards, the movie moves at a slow pace and has a lot of war/killing scenes/death scenes. There were many times I wanted to just go home :)
Why am I talking about St Rita in my blog? Because
- she persisted in an atmosphere of violence/warring. Her husband was a knight, ie he went around killing people.
- she used love to win people around her back to God.
- she never gave up, even in the face of impossible circumstances
- she trusted God and stayed in constant communication, ie she kept praying.
Alamak, sounds like what my mom always says to me, you must pray you know, prayers are very important...
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