Life is either a daring adventure or nothing

I've Moved!

2009-05-25T13:07:00.003+08:00

Hi guys, girls, ladies, gentlemen, uncles, aunties, friends and relatives,

I have officially moved to a new blog site!

Check it out @ http://mrkeropok.blogspot.com!!

This blog will be archived by end of this month. :)

Continue to lend me your support on my new blog! :)

I'm Moving!!

2009-05-22T11:11:00.002+08:00

Hi everyone!

Thank you so much for all the support these years. I will be archiving this blog and moving out to start a new one shortly. Just felt that I need to have a fresh new beginning in my blogosphere journey.

Am still in the process of doing up my new blog site.. so just hang around this space and await for more news!

Cheerios! :)

A-B-C Guide to Success in Life

2009-03-04T13:23:00.003+08:00

In my Junior College days, I was one of the top Ten-Pin bowler chalking an average of 200 PPG (points-per-game). I trained hard and my dream was to one day win an Open competition and be part of the Singapore National Bowling Team.

In the first year of my National Service, I crack-fractured my right wrist (my master hand) during the Standard Obstacle Course (SOC) test. I went through 1 year of physiotherapy and rehab, but never able to carry heavy stuff using my right hand again. I was downgraded to PES C1L2 and I was never able to take part in competitive bowling again. [Reality strikes and my world just collaspe around me... it's a lousy feeling.]

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In my university days, I was an avid sportsman. I played soccer, basketball, soccer, squash and almost any ball games. In January 2006 during my Masters' studies, I had a freak accident on a rainy day. I slipped, fell and sprained my right ankle (my master foot)really badly. I was out of sports action for almost 6 months, unable to do even light jogging. [I felt really lousy about myself.]

During the 6 months, I went through intensive rehab and physiotherapy (up to 2-3 times a week, sweating like a madman at every physio session!). In November - December 2006, I took part in a 100KM walkathon, climbed the 72-storey Vertical Marathon @ Swissotel and completed the 42KM Singapore Marathon.

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During my Masters' studies in Bioengineering (2004 - 2006), I was required to take Biology subjects, understand Biology concepts and theories, write reports and do up presentations on them. These were a major challenge for me as I have never ever taken Biology before in my life!

I mugged, studied, burned midnight oil studying and preparing for every single homework, test, exams and presentation. This is on top of being a cell leader and serving in church.

In end-2007, I was conferred my Masters' Degree in Engineering. Together with it, I had three conference presentations, two journal papers, and one patent application to my name. I just collected my Masters' Degree graduation certificate this week. *All Smiles*

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Success in life doesn't mean having a glamourous lifestyle, great achievements, nor popular and accepted by people. All these are good and important things in life. BUT... Is that how you really would define Success?

To me, the A-B-C guide to Success is:

1. Able to star at every challenges that comes in life and see the opportunity for growth.
2. Being able to bounce back from defeats and failures in life - having a never-say-die attitude.
3. Choosing not to compare and envy the people around you, but follow your principles, values and convictions of life.

Being a Christian, this is where I get my source of inspiration from:

Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those he loves. - Psalm 127:1-2 (NIV)

I have finally Grown Up....

2009-02-26T17:29:00.004+08:00

During my teenage years,

I didn't look forward to having meals together with my parents because we didn't have much to talk about. Every meal was solemn and very very quiet.
I disliked talking to my parents because almost every conversation would end up in arguments.
I hated going shopping with my parents.
I hated it even more when my mum holds my hands while crossing the road.

Today (I was on leave),

I enjoyed lunch together with my parents. Simple homecooked food, and it was a good time of catching up.
I enjoyed chatting with my mum, just hearing her ventilate, talk about her hobbies, friends and aspects of her daily life.
I went grocery shopping with my mum, helping her choose fruits and vegetables (I am learning from her =D) and carrying them home.
I held the umbrella for my mum while we were out and she held my arms when we crossed the road.

You know what? I believe I have finally grown up. Unknowingly I became busier and busier in live... and unknowingly I began spending less and less time at home... I began overworking and under-relating. As I looked back, I began to realize how much I missed spending time with my family.

Looking ahead, I am making effort to catch up with loss time. I love my family a lot. =D

After 20 over years, I have finally grown up. HOW ABOUT YOU?

PS: This post was inspired after watching the movie "For One More Day". Thank you Mr Jeffrey for introducing this wonderful book to me.

Valentine's Day Party 2009 - "Where Is The Love?"

2009-02-18T00:44:00.004+08:00

It’s been around since the dawn of humanity and beyond. It beautifies, empowers, motivates, cultivates, brings tears, warm hearts; and in recent times, burn wallets. Discriminating no one, love is in the air this Valentine’s Day, when the celebrating of love between friends, family and that special someone brings much joy to flower vendors and marketers of novelty flicks.

Valentine's Day Party “Where is the Love” anchored by a group of youths and aimed to spread love in a different way, by sharing the love of Christ and His people on earth. From the moment the party started, with the welcoming of guests at the reception with balloon sculptures, and roses for the fairer gender, to the introduction of Valentine’s Day and its main highlight (roses, roses and more roses!) the mood never died down. Most of the guests even came decked out in pink and red! Upon stepping from the colorful registration room to the main, cosy and cooling room, guests were greeted by a vibrant array of balloons on the walls, and large bold “HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY” words on boards. Interesting, hardly seen before Vday quotes were flashed on a big screen, giving a definite Valentine’s Day feel. Sitting down in their groups on colorful and comfortable mats, it felt soothing enough to just sit there and not move.

Icebreakers followed. While getting to know strangers on a more personal level was difficult in a short time frame allowed for the icebreaking, the organizers of the party had in mind a creative activity to ensure groups get pass that awkward “Hi, you are?” moment.

Each group was given 50 minutes to prepare a skit based on Disney stories like “Cinderalla", “Beauty and the Beast“, “Snow White” and “The Frog Prince”, with an added twist, in the form of contemporary love songs having to be somehow incorporated into the skit. Admittedly the atmosphere was not that hyped up initially as people began to feel their way into gelling together as a group and coming up with interesting ideas. Yet as ideas snowballed and people rehearsed, even the apprehensive ones began to loosen up and go wild. 45 minutes into the preparation, chaos reigned. People were all over the room acting funny, laughing at their friends and themselves, trying very hard to get their skit ready in time.

Come show time, most of the groups were ready to present their skit in front of the 70-strong crowd present at the party. Modernized versions of “Sleeping Beauty”, along with controversial “Frog Prince” and other hilarious skits kept the audience in peals of laughter. If there was any awkwardness among the groups, there certainly was not now.

Halfway into the amusement of watching friends bringing to life Disney stories, Ee Jay went up to share his love story. In a short yet catching account of falling in love over fries amongst other things, he told of how God moulded his love life to the success story it is now.

Olivia, had this to say, “I thought it was too little time to plan a skit in a group that doesn’t know each other…but yup I thought the sharing was good."

The key to a successful love story in a pocket-friendly manner? G-O-D!

Despite time constrains, new friends still had this to say on the event, “It’s a great way to spend Valentine’s Day”, said Mingli. Besides, what other enjoyable way to be spending V-day as a single? For others, it was a creative way of spending the day. Said Daryl, “It’s fun, unique and meaningful.” Cliché yet heartfelt words from someone spending one of his last few V-days as a single and unavailable man. Reflecting these sentiments, Cheryl felt “ The event was not bad and enjoyable.” To see friends bring friends and allowing a place for friendships to grow and new ones to be made was definitely heart-warming. Its said that a picture speaks a thousand words, and the Event Photo taken at the end of the party spoke volumes on the many untold stories of people and relationships.

Other than the participants, the committee of 3 that was set up to conceptualize, plan and execute the whole party had much to say. Having other commitments in National Service, Team Coordinator Jasper commented that, he “felt very relief because of many last minute changes but still managing to pull if off.” At times, he felt “a little frustrated because of restriction in camp and not being able to do a lot of things.”

Thankfully, the team had a huge backing in the form of the spiritual family. “Its great to see the family rallying for this event, helping and inviting new friends to join us, and the dynamic was good!” said Sai Kang Warrior, Miss-all-over-the-place Joadine.

The High Commissioner of Committee Where Is The Love, Ee Jay released a statement affirming the success of the event: “It’s a joy to see the youths coordinate and run this event for the youths, Well planned and organized. Even as an adult, I enjoyed the program a lot!”

Personally, I had visualized the setting to be even more cosy with more than balloons to create the V-day mood. However, with the energy generated by the groups, the lack of more decorations was more than made up for. Looking at how long the party lasted, I’m amazed at how groups of relatively strangers were able to come up with decent skits. If this were a movie, I will give it 4 popcorns! If not for the effort, then at least for the jovial people there and the amusement of it all.

Written by Jaren, just ORD-ed!

This Valentine's Day - Where is the LOVE?!?

2009-02-06T00:20:00.002+08:00

Feeling lost and lonely this Valentine's Day and nowhere to go?

Curious to find out what True Love really is all about?

Are you desperately on the lookout for a Boyfriend/Girlfriend?

Guys: How come the girl that I like don't like me?

Girls: Is this Prince Charming the guy for me?

What are you waiting for? Come join me this Valentine's Day and have all your questions answered! Come experience and find the TRUE LOVE of your life!

Drop me a note if you would be keen to come along! =D

"Bokeh" Boleh??

2009-01-27T10:52:00.010+08:00

Every wondered what you can do with the simple digital camera you have on hand? Have you ever wished that you could take some "nicer" shots with your digicam compared with those "professional" shots?

Well, introducing this camera technique called.... "Bokeh". Something new I learnt from my friend, NiVlEm, which can be used easily on any digital camera with the macro shot function.

Bokeh (derived from Japanese, a noun boke 暈け, meaning "blurred or fuzzy") is a photographic term referring to the appearance of out-of-focus areas in an image produced by a camera lens using a shallow depth of field. Different lens bokeh produces different aesthetic qualities in out-of-focus backgrounds, which are often used to reduce distractions and emphasize the primary subject. (from Wikipedia.org)

All photos taken using the Canon PowerShot A1000 IS.

搞笑行动 In School!

2009-01-21T13:35:00.005+08:00

School just started.. check out what are some of the funny things happening in class! =D

小學生造句精選

1。題目：一邊....一邊....

小朋友寫：他一邊脫衣服，一邊穿褲子。

老師批語：他到底是要脫還是要穿啊？

2。題目：其中

小朋友寫：我的其中一只左腳受傷了。

老師批語：你是蜈蚣嗎？

3。題目：陸陸續續

小朋友寫：下班了，爸爸陸陸續續的回家了。

老師批語：你到底有幾個爸爸呀？

4。題目：難過

小朋友寫：我家門前有條水溝很難過。

老師批語：老師更難過。

5。題目：又....又.....

小朋友寫：我的媽媽又矮又高又胖又瘦。

老師批語：你的媽媽是變形金鋼嗎？

6。題目：你看

小朋友寫：你看什麼看！沒看過啊？

老師批語：沒看過。

7。題目：欣欣向榮

小朋友寫：欣欣向榮榮告白。

老師批語：連續劇不要看太多了！

8。題目：好吃

小朋友寫：好吃個屁。

老師批語：有些東西是不能吃的。

9。題目：天真

小朋友寫：今天真熱。

老師批語：你真天真。

10。題目：果然

小朋友寫：昨天我吃水果，然後喝涼水。

老師批語：是詞組，不能分開的。

11。題目：先.....再....，例題：先吃飯，再冼澡。

小朋友寫：先生，再見！

老師批語：想像力超過了地球人的智慧。

12。題目：況且

小朋友寫：一列火車經過，況且況且況且況且況且況。 (請唸出來)

老師批語：我死了算了。

Happy Birthday, Kermit!!

2009-01-15T14:23:00.003+08:00

A picture paints a thousand words.... =D

Dummy's Recipe to Making Cheesecake

2009-01-14T11:35:00.011+08:00

Ingredients Needed:

1. Digestive biscuits 2. Butter (250g block) 3. Philadelphia cream cheese (250g block) 4. Condensed milk (NOT evaporated milk) 5. Lemon

Step 1: Preparing the base crust for the cheesecake. Mash digestive biscuits into fine grains (Best to use a ziplock bag). Make sure they are as fine as the sand at East Coast Park beach!

Step 2: Mix the digestive biscuit grains with melted butter. The ratio is 1/4 block of butter to 5 digestive biscuits. Stir in one direction and get a good "cement-like" mixture.

Step 3: Spread the mixture evenly onto the base of your container. Best to use a plastic tupperware. If you are using melt container, remember to put tracing paper as a base.

Step 4: Preparing the cheesecake. Mix 1 block of Philadelphia cheese with 1/4 can of condensed milk.

Step 5: This is the toughest part! Put in all your energy and start mixing them evenly. Add in a few drops of lemon juice in the process of mixing. This would give the slight sour taste.

Step 6: Continue mixing... Your hands should be tired by now. So get your friends to help you. Make sure your mixing is in one direction! (I'm not sure of the rational, but it's what my youths tell me.. haha!)

Step 7: Now spread the cheese-condensed milk mixture evenly over your container, which was earlier laid out with the digestive biscuit base.

Step 8: Once done, put the container in a fridge to chill the cheesecake. Estimated timing is 1-2 hour for small cakes and 3-6 hours for larger cakes.

Step 9: Decorate your cake as you wish! TADA! It's done!!!

PS: Can you make out what is the words on the cake? Keke....

Contentment

2009-01-09T00:12:00.001+08:00

"Contentment = Reality - Expectations" - by Wayne Cordeiro, Rising Above

Put some thoughts into this equation in perspective to the relationships with people around us daily.

You Better Change! Or else.......

2009-01-07T12:37:00.006+08:00

Take a good look at this... For the past two years at work, I have been sitting on this distorted chair:

The results of it are:

1. Much complains from my colleagues around me that the distorted chair protruded into the common passageway, making it inconvenient for them to move around.

2. Frequent backaches for me from the lack of proper cushion and support on the lower back.

Call me lazy, cannot-be-bothered, or resistant to changes.... I managed to turn a deaf ear to all complain, ignored all pains and was contented to live with this distorted chair for two whole years! (Talk about being High-S huh?!?)

So when I started work this year, I decided enough is enough... it is time to make CHANGES! Else my persistent indulgence in laziness or ignorance will continue to wreck inconvenience and more pain to my colleague and my own physical body if I don't learn to change!

So check out my new chair! Tada!

It's hard to see a stark contrasting difference from the photo. But trust me, my back has been feeling great since the change. And there has not been any complains from my lovely colleagues anymore!

How are you kicking starting the Year 2009?

Contented with whatever you are used to already? Or a time to evaluate, get yourself off the chair and make some CHANGES??

New Year Resolutions!

2009-01-05T10:32:00.004+08:00

A New Year... A New Beginning, and a time to set New Year Resolutions! But wait... have you ever wondered what's the definition of New Year's Resolution?? So check this out from Wikipedia:

"A New Year's Resolution is a commitment that an individual makes to a project or the reforming of a habit, often a lifestyle change that is generally interpreted as advantageous."

So now, check out MY new year's resolution..... Here we go!

1) Read a book per month

2) Watch a DVD per month (must be inspiring shows)

3) Complete Adidas SunDown Marathon & Standard Chartered Marathon, each in sub-5hr 30min timing.

4) Scale to summit of Mount Kinabalu

5) A personal gift/makan treat/movie treat from me for everyone in my youth group

That's as far as I can think of now, will add in more as I get inspired along the way.

Well, truth of the matter is that anyone can set NYRs, but not everyone can achieve it. The key is to set in place practical steps and plans to achieve them. In line with my NYRs, here are some practical steps to be taken:

1) Write down a list of 12 books that I would want to read this year (currently I have 3 in mind already)

2) Setting aside the last Saturday evening of every month for a getaway to catch up with my mounting stack of DVDs!

3) Exercise (either jogs or ball games) at least 2-3 times a week. Currently I jog twice and play soccer once within a week.

4) Plans are already on the way to climb Mt K. in June 2009!

5) One of my youths has emailed me a contact list of everyone's birthday and NOW I am busy logging them into my calenders (email & handphone) with alarms!

Have you listed down your NYRs yet? Take time to pen them down, else it's definitely gonna be another boring year ahead for you.

If you have listed your NYRs, then may I challenge you to put actions to words. =D

Where have you been?!?!?

2009-01-02T09:48:00.005+08:00

Many of you have been asking me where I have disappeared to in the past two month as I haven't been updating on my blog. Well, here's a quick update on what I've been doing these past two months. Enjoy!

Standard Chartered Marathon 42KM Singapore Marathon

I survived my 3rd marathon in 4 years, clocking in at 6 hours 26 minutes. Many have asked me, "Why in the world do you pay money to suffer?". My answer is always the same... Pushing myself to the limits and believing that I can achieve something that I cannot humanly fathom I can do. I want I can! =D

Holiday Trip to Kuala Lumpur

Took a week long holiday trip to KL with a bunch of friends. Indeed it was a wonderful time of R.E.S.T - Relaxing, Eating, Shopping and Touring around KL. Next time anyone of you want to go KL, look for me! I will introduce you to all my KL friends whom can show you around! =D

Christmas Party

A bunch of my church youths organized a Christmas Party at my place. So proud of them that they anchored the entire event - the decoration, the food, the games and even the cleaning up. A wonderful warm and cosy time of sharing the true meaning of Christmas with our friends as well!

Combined Cell Group Camp @ PraiseHaven, Salvation Army

Immediately after Christmas, I headed off for a combined cell group camp where we had a time of re-looking back at Year 2008 and being thankful of what has happened. A good opportunity also for everyone to catch up and time to bond with one another. Lotsa fun too especially with the 'Fruity' fun game! =P

Countdown Party 2008 @ TOUCH Centre

Ended the year 2008 in a celebrative mood with the Countdown Party in church. The theme for the party was 'Occupation'. Check out some of the crazy ideas that came out from this. All in all, everyone was game for the dress up and we have tonnes of fun just snapping photos away! What a way to usher in the new year! Woohoo!

Watch out for more exciting highlights in 2009! Sundown 42KM Marathon, Expedition to Mount Kinabalu are two of the plans in stored!

My new year resolution would be 'Daring to live life on the cutting edge'! So as to inspire others around me that we can step out courageously and achieve things that we never have imagined about if we choose to believe! =D

I have Finally 'Resurrected' !!!!!

2008-11-16T09:17:00.005+08:00

Phew! *Wiping sweat off my forehead* I have disappeared from the Blogosphere for a while but now I am back! Now.. what have I been busy week the past 3 weeks???

A picture paints a thousand words... just take a look....

I am 'Resurrected'! Watch out for more coming from the History.Maker!

Drowned in the Toilet Bowl

2008-10-28T21:41:00.005+08:00

Incident Report

On 27th October 2008 (Monday) at around 10:00am, the owner of the Samsung D880 Dual Sim Handphone woke up and made his wake to the toilet to wash up. En route to the toilet, the owner picked up his handphone to read some of the SMS sent to him in the night. He brought the handphone into the toilet and after reading the SMSes, the owner placed the Samsung D880 handphone on the flushing system cover of the toilet bowl before proceeding to wash up.

After brushing his teeth and washing his face, without drying his hands, the owner reached out to grab his Samsung D880 handphone from the toilet bowl flushing system cover and wanted to proceed out to the living room for breakfast.

However, for unexplainable reasons, the owner didn't manage to get a good grip of the Samsung D880 handphone and it slipped through his fingers and tumbled into the toilet bowl below.

The Samsung D880 handphone executed a 1.5 somersault move before a perfect plunge into the waters of the toilet bowl. The owner watched in despair and within a split second plunged his right hand into the murky toilet bowl waters to rescue the Samsung D880 handphone. Within 5 seconds, he managed to rescue D880 out of the waters, but it had already been knocked unconscious.

The owner immediately rushed out, grabbed a dry towel and quickly started drying Samsung D880. He took out D880's battery, SIM cards and Memory Card to dry them and also performed CPR (by blowing away any excess water) in hope to resuscitate Samsung D880. However, at this point, Samsung D880 was still unconscious.

After 5 minutes of frantic attempts, the owner decided to bring Samsung D880 down to the Ah-Beng handphone shop nearby and seek immediate help. While at the Ah-Beng handphone shop, the "doctors" opened Samsung D880 up and found traces of rust on its metallic parts. At that point, the "doctors" declared Samsung D880 dead, and there was no way of reviving it.

Attached along is a detailed autopsy report:

News Reporters from the Cha-Pa-Rang Times caught up the distraught owner of the Samsung D880 handphone. Check out what he says about the sudden death of Samsung D880:

"It's just so sudden! I never thought such things could happen... I mean... I have heard about such freak accidents happening to my friends before and I always laugh it off. I never thought it could happen to me! *Sob sob*"

"I will NEVER bring my handphone to the toilet again!!!"

[Movie Review] High School Musical 3

2008-10-26T09:14:00.007+08:00

Yes! Believe it or not! I went to catch the movie High School Musical 3 yesterday! And I am seriously thinking of catching High School Musical 2 (if my schedule permits me) which will be shown on TV5 tonight!!

Now, what's my take for HSM3? *Drumroll*

Storyline:

One word - CHEESY!

Music, Singing & Dancing:

Amazing vocals, choreographed dance moves and how everything pieced together! You will definitely be shaking your leg or grooving to the beat of the songs

Family Entertainment Value:

Am sure the kids will love it. I've watched it with a 11 year old boy whom said this after the show, "I don't mind watching it again!". The songs and dance will really engage the entire family. But of course, parents and adults please help to process and "debrief" with your children that real school life is not like that. And be careful of those short skirts flying around during the dances, may stumble the kids.

In overall.......

If you are a High School Musical fan, you should catch this to follow through what you have watched.

If you have never seen any High School Musical series (just like me and my girlfriend), go catch it as well! Best when watched without any expectations.

If you are true blue action movie fan, you should try watching HSM to appreciate a bit more about musicals. (minus the cheesy storyline though....)

You REALLY Got to See This!!

2008-10-24T01:11:00.005+08:00

News and photos taken from Telegraph.co.uk

Giant spider eating a bird

The pictures show the spider with its long black legs wrapped around the body of a dead bird suspended in its web. The startling images were reportedly taken in Atheron, close to Queensland's tropical north.

Joel Shakespeare, head spider keeper at the Australian Reptile Park, said the spider was a Golden Orb Weaver. "Normally they prey on large insects… it's unusual to see one eating a bird," he told ninemsn.com .... "It uses its venom to break down the bird for eating and what it leaves is a food parcel," he said. (full report here >>>)

Leopard savaging a crocodile

The giant cat raced out of cover provided by scrub and bushes to surprise the crocodile, which was swimming nearby.

A terrible and bloody struggle ensued. Eventually, onlookers were amazed to see the leopard drag the crocodile from the water as the reptile fought back.With the crocodile snapping its powerful jaws furiously, the two animals somersaulted and grappled.

Despite the crocodile's huge weight and strength, the leopard had the upper hand catching its prey by the throat. Eventually the big cat was able to sit on top of the reptile and suffocate it... The whole scene happened in the course of about 5 minutes. Then the leopard was gone. (full report here >>>)

Mouse bites snake to death

A mouse bit a venomous viper to death after it was thrown into the snake's cage as a lunchtime snack. The tiny rodent killed the snake after a fierce 30-minute battle, emerging with "barely a scratch on him", according to on person who saw the fight. The furry creature had other ideas. Instead of cowering from the 12in snake's gaping jaws and long fangs, it went on the offensive.

"It attacked the snake continuously, biting and scratching it," one firefighter said. (full report here >>>)

Heron catches rabbit

Enjoying a leisurely wade in the waters of the Dutch undergrowth this grey heron decided to go in search of lunch when he came across this unsuspecting black rabbit.

Undeterred by its size, the grey heron, the largest bird of its kind in Europe, swooped down and gobbled the rabbit up in one mouthful... The rabbit screamed loudly when it was hanging helplessly in the bill of the big heron.

The heron tried to kill the rabbit by putting it under water. After about half a minute the rabbit was almost dead but as it moved it was put under water by the heron again.

When the poor little rabbit had finally died the heron swallowed the rabbit completely. It was not that easy because of the size but finally the heron was successful. (full report here >>>)

Food 4 Thoughts:

Am totally struck dumbfounded by these news.... It wonder what got into these animals that made them react/behave this way. Genetics? El Nino? Or have they just gone bonkers? Mother Nature also has her whacky days....Not everything can be explained by science itself. Yicks!!!

I almost Died at Bedok Reservoir!!!

2008-10-21T22:58:00.005+08:00

Did I manage to catch you attention with the headlines? Haha... I was sharing with some student through my Cyber Wellness lessons that in blogging, one of the ways to catch peoples' attention to read your blog further would be using a shocking headline.

Well, I didn't literally experience near death like an accident or what at Bedok Reservoir. It was just that I was almost out of breath by the time I reached Bedok Reservoir during my marathon training run on Monday. *duh*

Check out my marathon training till date. I clocked in 11KM on Monday! *Yay!!*

This was the furthest distance ran till date for me. But what was disappointing was that I really took a much longer time. I had set a target of 1 hour 15 min, but ended up in 1 hour 30 min! A couple of probable reasons as I sat down to reflect after the run:

1. There was no push factor. I was running by myself without anyone alongside to spur and encourage me on. Thus, naturally there wasn't any urgency to push to run faster or even maintain consistent speed. I ended up running slower and slower.....

2. I tried a new route and wasn't mentally prepared. I changed my mind halfway through the run and opted for a new route. I couldn't visualize what was ahead and soon I really regretted embarking on this untried journey. When the dreaded feeling sets in, I also lost the momentum and desire to run. I just felt like stopping to walk my way home. But with every last ounce of my willpower, I literally dragged myself through and forbid myself to walk. It was really a battlefield in the mind.

My 20 Cents worth of Thoughts:

Interestingly, isn't that much about how our daily living is as well?

We all need a friend alongside us to spur and encourage us on. Especially when we are going through tough times, it really means a lot to have someone stand by you cheering, encouraging and motivating you on.

Many times when the odds are stacked against us, we really really feel like throwing in the towel. Our spirit may be willing, but the flesh is weak. Someone may be blowing smoke from a cigarette in your face tempting you to try smoking, and if you don't, he taunts you for being a cowardly chicken. Do you give in?

Trust me guys and girls, many time you have to exercise your willpower in making decisions and not allow your feelings get in the way. If you strongly believe in the values and principles that were taught to you by your parents and teachers, then will yourselves to follow it. Do not just blindly follow your feelings and end up walking the road of regrets.

Nile Tilapia.... What's That?!?!

2008-10-19T10:42:00.005+08:00

Article from Mail Online

Well, we have all read news about Siamese twin babies all around the world. Check out this news about Siamese twin FISHES!! Here's an excerpt from the article:

"It is so incredibly rare that you would think Siamese twin fish attached at the stomach would never survive.

But at eight months old, these two Nile Tilapia fish in Thailand have found the perfect way to cope with life upside down... or the right way up if you're the lucky twin.

The bigger fish protects its smaller sibling on the bottom, while it in turn looks for food.

The Nile Tilapia fish is a common freshwater species found in tropical rivers, canals, lakes and ponds but these two were found in a Bangkok aquarium.

The fish can reaches a maximum of 2ft in length and can weigh up to 9lb.

Originally from waters stretching from Africa to the Cape Horn, the fish was introduced to freshwater irrigation systems so as to fight algae growth but has now become a pest.

Behind shrimp and salmon Nile Tilapia is the third most imported fish to the U.S."

Food 4 Thought:
Life can be somehow very unfair at times... even to fishes! But do they give up and just die? NO! Though born with handicap and deficiencies, this pair of conjoined twin, they have somehow developed a sense of resilience and continued to pursue survival in their unnatural environment! (Try living your entire life upside down man!)

If a fish can develop such tenacious, never-give-up attitude... Why can't us human beings? Think a bit more about it... we are more than a fish right?!?!

"Mother! You go and DIE!!!"

2008-10-13T21:39:00.007+08:00

Tears welling up in the little boy's eyes, he fought hard to prevent the tears from trickling down. Tears are a sign of weakness and boys do not shed tears. Standing in the middle of the living room and with a surge in audacious boldness, the little boy pointed at his Mum and shouted with great anger in his tone....

"Mum! You go and die! I don't want to friend you already!"

With clenched fists, the little boy turned around and stormed back into his bedroom, throwing his face into the pillow and punching the bed mattress. He thinks within himself, "I hate you Mum! Why won't you buy me that Transformer toy?!?!"

The little boy's Mum heaved a sigh of sadness and walked back into the kitchen to continue with her household chores. She's speaks to herself, "Sigh... When will this boy ever learn that earning money is not easy?"

Such a scenario just keeps repeating itself through the next few years. Tempers somehow just easily flare up resulting in quarrels with cursing remarks and vulgarities flying about. From refusal to buy toys, to failing tests, to stealing money, to forgetting to flush the toilet after use. Seemingly ANYTHING could result in a quarrel in this family.

------- (Pause) --------

This is no ordinary family... Welcome to MY family.... 18 years ago. And yes, the little boy above is non other than me. You must have skipped a heartbeat upon knowing this right? Far cry from the goodie goodie guy you know of me today. Ignorant, arrogant, ill-tempered, want everything my way....etc. You name any spoilt-child like attitude, I almost have them all.

I never knew why I behaved like that in those years. Perhaps it was bad peer influence. Perhaps it the lack of a Father figure in my early childhood years as my Dad was working hard overseas. Perhaps it was just any child's growing up phase. Well, I never got down to diagnosing what really it was.

But one thing I know.. I am really thankful that my Mum never gave up on me despite all the verbal abuses I hurled at her in those growing up years. Instead of shutting me out or exchanging verbal abuses with me, she continued to love and care for me faithfully in the little everyday things which I had often taken for granted. Things like covering blanket for me in the middle of the night, washing and ironing my clothes, preparing breakfast for me daily before school, giving me tuition, piggy back me to the doctor when I injured my leg...etc. And the list is never ending even until today.

I know that a large part of who I am today is because of my Mum - how she has given to me and how I have modeled after her. She does have her flaws in many ways and may not be a perfect Mum (no one is perfect anyway), but to me, she's the best Mum in the world! *clap clap clap*

Photo taken when I was 17 years old on a family vacation in South Africa.

Thank you Mum! This post is specially dedicated to you! Love you!

To all out there: In your journey of growing up, have you taken your Mum for granted unknowingly? Maybe it starts with saying 'Thank You' to your Mum the next time she does something for you. It's as simple as that. You don't need to wait for Mother's Day to make it special for your Mum. You can make everyday a Mother's Day for your Mum by appreciating her!

I am a Force to be Reckoned with!

2008-10-11T23:49:00.006+08:00

... (continued from previous post).... I slotted in my debut token and started my first arcade game adventure. I lost the first game within 5 minutes. Not satisfied, I put in another token again. This time I won the first game but lost the second. Without consideration, I put in another token and before I knew it, 2 hours had just zipped by and I have finished up my $5 worth of tokens!

I left the arcade center feeling proud of my achievements within those 2 hours... It was a satisfying feeling long never felt before, definitely not when I am playing on the real soccer pitch with my friends. I thought to myself, "Hmm.. I kinda talented in Virtual Soccer. Give it a few more tries, I am sure I can do much better and beat any player who tries to challenge me! And this is definitely better than slogging out on the court with my friends whom always tease me. If I excel in this game, I will be King!"

Subsequently, days hanging out in the arcade center snowballed to months. What started out as Fun soon became an Obsession (or should I say addiction even). My reputation in the arcade center grew as I got better by the day on the virtual soccer field. I would attract a fairly large crowd watching me play and even cheering me on when I challenge other players.

"Wow! In school, I am a Nobody.... In this game, I am Somebody. I am a Force to be reckon with! Don't mess with me or I will trash you!"

News spread like wildfire and soon my classmates got wind of my new found fame on being the 'King of Virtual Soccer'. Now, no longer do they tease me, but instead they are asking me for tips and advices on how to play well in Virtual Soccer! Sometimes I would hear my classmates whisper to students from other classes...

"Hey, EeJay is really good at Virtual Soccer! He trashes everyone whom challenges him at the arcade center! If you need advice on the game, you should look for EeJay! He's a Pro!"

Gosh! I suddenly feel like the Senior Consultant of Virtual Soccer! *smug look on my face*

I was simply basking and enjoying this new found fame until things came crashing down to earth when one day a student from another class came up to me and said..... (to be continued)...

We're IN this Together!!

2008-10-09T00:38:00.005+08:00

Check out my marathon training route today with Semukun... 10KM!!

We did it in approximately 1 hour WITHOUT stopping... and Boy... We really ran our lungs, calves, ankles, knees, hamstrings out! We were still crapping happily for almost 3/4 of the run. But by the time we hit 8KM, we could barely catch our breathe. Crapping ceased, silence took over with heavy panting and gasping for air.. It was all serious business from then on as we worked our way up the final stretch of Depot Road 10-degree slopes which was tormenting!

One important thing I reflected during the run today was that once Semukun and I embarked on the run today, there was no turning back...

No money to flag cab...

No EZ-Link card to catch a bus ride...

All we had was each other, and We Are In This Together!

Finishing the 10KM today means more than just marathon training, or exercising. (---> Check out the fat boy photo. I don't want to be like that again! Yikes!) But it speaks volumes about Commitment to finish what we started out together.

"In the fast-food society we live in today, Commitment is a cheap word. We can easily start out on something, and once we hit the bumps, we throw in the towel. We don't care whom gets hurt or left behind, all we care is about ourselves. Friendships, work, studies, relationships..... everything has become wishy-washy or broken today because of the lack of commitment."

Do you have an issue with being committed and following through what you do today?

Don't just take the easy way out. Learn to finish what you started.

Special thanks to Semukun! Thanks for the inspirational run today man. Greatly appreciate the commitment (both vocal and silent period) through the run. Let's get Mr Bang Bang to join us too!

I'm a NEWBIE!

2008-10-07T01:47:00.000+08:00

Check out my latest buy! A Newbie Polo T-Shirt!

Can you imagine? I never heard about this brand until my youths told me about it months. And I have NEVER seen a Newbie apparel until last Saturday when I was shopping for a birthday gift for one of my youth. Yes yes.. Laugh at me all you want for being a Mountain Tortoise (Sua Ku)... *sulk*

But YES! Today I am proud to say that I am part of the Youth Revolution! New World Order!

Gone are the days of Gianne Versace, Giogio Armani, Polo Ralph Lauren, Valentino.... Nay... those are Dinosaur generation stuff... I have "Crossed Over" to Newbie, Pure Milk... (anymore? Those are the only two brands I know now. Someone please educate me... keke..)

PS: I am not advocating materialism. Just sharing my journey of jumping my Fashion-sphere to connect with the young people. =)

Run, Fat Boy, Run!!!!

2008-10-05T22:05:00.004+08:00

8.5KM. That's the distance I covered today. Not too bad considering that this was my third run within a span of four days! I felt good after the run and could still have gone on to complete 10KM. But the aroma of my Mum's cooking was just too alluring to be ignored, so I headed home instead.

A random thought... 13 years ago, I could never imagine myself jogging. To me then, you might as well kill me if you want me to run! Why? Check out this photo below and you will understand why... (can you spot me?)

Ok Ok... back to the more serious stuff...

Something that I reflected and learned from my run today. Because I was running along the road, I had to take occasional pauses due to traffic lights (Yes, I am a good citizen whom only occasionally jay-walk, but not all the time!). These pauses helped me to catch my breathe and actually helped me a lot in lasting the distance to complete the run. I figured that if I had ran at a constant pace without stopping, I probably wouldn't have lasted 8.5KM. Maybe at 5KM I would have been breathless and took the short-cut home!

Isn't it something like life? Sometimes we go through life at such break-neck speed and try to accomplish many things at one time. We multi-task, work late, bring work home, constantly checking our email on our BlackBerry/PDA/iPhones... The culture, technology and environment we live in never seem to know how to slow down!

That's why, all the more, we need to INTENTIONALLY take pauses along the way to relax, recuperate, regroup and reorganize. It helps to be more effective and efficient in the work that we do. It helps us to last this frantic pace of life without breaking down or burning out.

Have you Rested today?

64 Days and counting down....

2008-10-03T19:44:00.002+08:00

That's the number of days left before I enter the battlefield where Mind, Body, Soul and Heart will be challenge - The Standard Chartered Singapore 42KM Marathon 2008. Having completed two previous marathons in 2005 and 2006, I thought I would be rather numb or near dreadful about taking on this year's run, but somehow I am very high spirited and looking forward! The major reason has got to be the fact that I am actually making effort to train for this marathon as compared with previous runs where I just grind my way through.

Special thanks to Shem and Joy whom have been my jogging buddies as we toiled round our Bukit Merah route. It's really motivating to have someone running alongside you, especially someone like Shem whom I can crap with along the way. Hahaha... I REALLY wish we could crap through the entire 42KM!!

Here's the route that I ran with Shem and Joy yesterday after work.. 5.8KM. But it was a killer route with breath-taking up-slopes!

And here's the route that I just ran today.. 6.7KM. Flat terrain but had to battle in my mind to complete the run having already ran yesterday.

My next target would be to run 10KM non-stop!

I'm gonna be blogging more often about our training progress. So keep in tracks with me!

You can also check out Shem's blog @ http://semukun.blogspot.com to see if he enjoyed running with me! Wahahaha...

Acknowledgements: Special thanks to http://42.195km.net/e/jogsim/ for making our jogging route tracking possible!

" Want to hear my sexy voice?"

2008-09-28T09:45:00.014+08:00

I have read about such explicit marketing SMSes in the newspaper recently, however I didn't pay much attention to it until two weeks ago, I received a somewhat similar SMS. I brushed it off assuming again that it was probably just a mis-sent. However, I received this above SMS on my handphone just two days ago. It raises my concern and seems that the content of this "marketing" SMS is getting more raunchy and explicit!

Let me translate what the SMS says:

ADV: Sexy voices hotline, quench your desire for love, re-igniting the passionate love within you @ XXXX-XXX-XXXX (island-wide lowest rate of $0.78/min. Indulge yourself in passion! To unsubscribe, reply 'CR')

Shocking! A couple of thoughts flashed through my mind the moment I received it. How in the world did these people get my handphone number? What happens if a young child receives such an SMS? Gosh! The propagation of pornography is really rampant... seemingly EVERY platform of information transmition has been 'utilized' to become avenues of flooding pornography or sexual connotative materials!

You may or may not have received such SMSes before, but brace yourselves for them to come. Such spams and floodings are going to be the common thing in this digital age as everyone is working through all channels to get everyone's attention via every means.

Honestly, there's just no way to track down how they got my mobile number and try to ban them. After a while it will still come back again. But there are still ways we can help ourselves.. so let me, the Cyber Wellness guru, share with you some practical tips:

1. When you receive such spam SMSes, delete it immediately! You never know.. some of these SMSes may be tagged along with a virus that will damage your handphone! Do not forward to your friends as well!

2. DO NOT be drawn in and call back to these hotline. Firstly it is for your personal well-being. A lot of these SMS are just but a front to attract people. Behind it lurks the danger of pornography and sexual services. Secondly, you may think that 0.78cents/min is petty cash. You're WRONG! Once you call, the hotline services will just lure you with those purring and seductive voices and before you know it, it's 30 minutes! 30 minutes X 0.78 cents = $23.40!

3. DO NOT unsubscribe from these marketing SMS by replying to them. E.g. in my case above, replying "CR" back to the sender won't help. Because most of these SMS are mass spamming - they are just randomly sending out to everyone within this series of mobile number i.e. 9100 0001, 9100 0002, 9100 0003.....etc. By replying, you are effectively telling them that your number is Active and they will just keep spamming you with more of such SMSes! So the best way is to just ignore and delete.

Am I DESTINED for the Goal?

2008-09-27T10:52:00.008+08:00

.. (continued from previous post)... How is it possible that I've got a history of computer gaming addiction? What actually happened??? It all started back in Secondary 3 where I was totally fed-up with my friends for constantly gearing, picking at me and their sarcastic jokes.

Since Secondary 1, I was already an avid soccer fan and would stay back after school daily hanging out with my friends on the soccer field or court. However, there is something about me then which makes every player wish that they would not be in the same team as me. Because at 13 years old, I was standing at 1.60 meters tall and weighing in at 85KG!! Humongous right? It was like a Sumo Wrestler trying to play soccer! Naturally at such an incredible hulk frame, I was easily the most clumsy and slowest person around on the pitch (and presumably the entire school!), therefore no one would want me in their team because it seems like they would have an added liability!

A typical scenario would look like this:

We would split into our random teams via the age-old traditional method of "Oh-Ah-Bei-Ah-Som" (if you do not know this methodology, you definitely belong to the Generation Z! *blink blink*)

Whichever group that unfortunately has me in their team would usually react this way, "Alamak!! Sure lose liao! Got Fatty Bum Bum in our team! Siao liao lah... we must work extra hard now cos we are one man down. Can we put him on the Free transfer list?!?!"

Hanging my head in disgust and discouragement, I would drag my feet and walk to my publicly-assigned and self conceited position - the Goal Post!

Sometimes I would voice out requesting to play in other positions to try out, hoping to get more involved in the real soccer action. Some common response from my friends would be...

"Please lah... just stay where you are and don't run out! Give us some hope by staying where you are.."

"Oh man... please don't come out. You are DESTINED to be a goalkeeper! You look so cool standing there.. and plus.. look at your waistline! It is almost the same width as the goal mouth! All you need to do is to shift your buttocks left and right, and you can block all the shots! Plus you go so much fats.. the balls will rebound really far away! You are born to be a goalkeeper man!!!" (said with a snigger and sarcastic tone)

I was always bombarded with these negative comments and the only thing I could do was to just swallow them down and accepted them. I didn't want to walk away from my friends because I don't have other friends and didn't want to be seen as a loner too. So for the entire four years in Secondary School, I was constantly bombarded with these crude negative remarks and would ALWAYS play as the goalkeeper. *Sad* In my mind, I was thinking, "I am lousy in my studies. Now I am also a loser in the soccer game. Gosh! Am I a loser in life?!?!"

Things went further downhill for me two years later in Secondary 3. Out of boredom one day, I decided to drop by one of the Arcade center near my house and wanted to play any games to distress and ventilate my frustrations. The "Virtual Soccer" game caught my attention and since I also like soccer as well, I was thinking maybe I can try out all the skills I wanted to in the real game, but never had a chance to in this game!

I slotted in my debut token and started my first arcade game adventure. I lost the first game within 5 minutes. Not satisfied, I put in another token again. This time I won the first game but lost the second. Without consideration, I put in another token and before I knew it..... (to be continued).....

15 years ago, I was 'addicted' to.......

2008-09-23T23:25:00.002+08:00

Computer games of today are so much different compared to those that I played when I grew up back 15 years ago. When I was in Secondary School days, the Internet had only slowly begun coming into trend, and back those days, the fastest available Internet speed around was via the 56K dial-up modem using the household telephone line. Surfing the net was a dread due to the slow congested speed and by the time one gets to read through all his emails, one season of English Premier League would have already gone by! (exaggerated)

When teenagers play online computer games today, they are literally spoilt for choice! From the fantasy games like World Of Warcraft and Cabal, to the cute-looking 2-Dimensional games such as MapleStory. Teenagers typically get glued to the screen for hours just fulfilling in-game quests and virtual landscape explorations. This scene is vastly different in my 'dinosaur' time - the Internet wasnt' so well developed yet and thus not to mention the idea about games. My computer then was black screen with green lines and the only noise it makes is "Teh Teh Teh!"

However, back in those days, I was very much drawn into playing a different kind of computer games. In fact, I was so hooked that my whole world would just orientate and revolved around that game. I was 'addicted' to the arcade game - Virtual Striker, a soccer game where it could be player vs. computer or player vs. player. I spent most of my free time and the arcade center and was almost like the P.R of the center. Even the center manager would recognize me and treat me a can of Coke from time to time!

Screenshot from arcade game - Virtual Soccer

However, this 'addiction' was so potent that it brought me to a point where I isolated myself from my friend for almost a year and even almost got kicked out of school because of declining school grades!!!

Look at me now.... 29 years old, enjoying a good and fulfilling career, happily in love, and family doing well. How is it possible that I've got a history of computer gaming addiction? What actually happened???

It all started back in Secondary 3 where I was ..... (to be continued)

[Heros Revealed] Lance Armstrong

2008-09-20T11:51:00.004+08:00

Article from TODAY, 13th September 2008

Many of you would have heard the news by now: Lance Armstrong, the 7-times Tour de France champion whom retired 3 years ago, is back in the professional cycling scene and attempts to challenge for his 8th Tour de France title next year!

Now, what makes this "resurrection" from retirement evermore so impressive and inspiring was the fact that Lance Armstrong is a cancer survivor. Having started out his pro-cycling term on the Tour de France in 1993, he was getting better in his performance by the year and many would have expected him to win the Tour de France in 1996. However, that was when disaster struck - Lance Armstrong was diagnosed with Testicular Cancer, and (listen to this) the cancerous cells had already spread to his lungs, brain and abdomen! Doctors have listed that Lance's chances of survivor was just a mere 40%.

Pause. How would you have reacted under such circumstances if you were Lance Armstrong? Honestly for me, I would be totally devastated and lost hope on everything in life! Or probably I would give up on cycling, stay home to sulk and complain that life is just seemingly so unfair.

Story continues. But that was not the response from Lance Armstrong. He spent the next two years undergoing intensive regiments of chemotherapy, brain surgery to remove the tumors and even an orchiectomy to remove the diseased testicle (ouch!).

Lance Armstrong's death-defying comeback to the cycling scene began in 1998 on a local competition where he came in 4th. Then in 1999, he won his first Tour de France, leaving the second place cyclist breathing in his tracks of dust by a hefty 7 min 37 seconds! Tremendous accomplishment for a guy whom just a year ago was battling surgeries, rehabilitations and threaded along the brink of death! This road win in 1999 marked the first of the next 6 Tour de France win that was to come. Between 1999 - 2005, Lance Armstrong won 7 Tour de France titled in total, achieving 22 individual stage wins and 11 time trials!

There has been much commotion since the public announcement about why Lance Armstrong wants to come out from retirement. Was it for the money? Was it just another commercially viable publicity stunt? What's Lance Armstrong trying to prove here?

Frankly speaking, it doesn't really matter whether Lance Armstrong wins another Tour de France title or not. Just by looking at his illustrious and adversary-denying track history, I am already inspired by his never-say-die attitude. Whatever the circumstances of life, this guy just refuse to take it lying down and rises up to challenge the odds.

I like what the article above mentioned about Lance Armstong: "He's prepared for the mother of all comebacks, because Armstrong the cancer survivor is all about how men and women can overcome great odds, to reach the mountain top."

May you be inspired by Lance Armstrong's testimony. Irregardless of the odds that may be stacked against us in life, we can choose to rise up and fight on! You can be a 'Lance Armstrong' in every way.

Glossary:

(1) The Tour de France is the world's best-known bicycle race. Started in 1903 and run every year excluding the world wars, it is nowadays a 23-day, 21-stage road race usually covering more than 3,500 kilometres (2,200 mi).

(2) Castration (also referred to as: gelding, neutering, fixing, orchiectomy, and orchidectomy) is any action, surgical, chemical, or otherwise, by which a male loses the functions of the testes. In common usage the term is usually applied to males, although as a medical term it is applied to both males and females.

Girls, Beware of UpSkirt Chasers!!!

2008-09-17T23:24:00.009+08:00

A month ago, I had a rather traumatizing encounter while shopping at a shopping mall. This incident happened while I was traveling up on the escalator. Sited ahead of me, next to the step out point from the escalator, there was a shop brandished with perfumes and cosmetic products. What shocked me at that particular point was that one of the salesgirl, back facing the store entrance and wearing a mini flair skirt, was climbing up on a ladder and stocking up products in the cabinet. She was totally oblivious to the fact that in that position, she was going to almost let everyone around have a free upskirt show!

It didn't need to take supersonic senses for me to understand what was coming next if I were to continue staring for another 10 seconds. Instantaneously as this salesgirl started her climb up the ladder, I immediately turned my eyes away to look elsewhere. Phew! A huge sigh of relief.... (I will explain my point later in this post. Read on.)

Traumatized enough, I wasn't prepare to stay around to spot the "Ti-Ko-Pek"s whom may be drooling at this free view nor see if there were anyone whom would go and get this salesgirl down from the ladder. I zipped off to the next level and carried on with my shopping.

Gosh! What has happened to the dressing culture of the teenage girls of today? Aren't they worried of over (or indecent) exposure when they wear such short flair kind of skirts? Honestly, I have nothing against girls wearing skirt, but I just feel strongly that there's got to be a limit to how far this can go. There has been enough horror stories of molest cases and people using handphone cameras to capture upskirt pictures. I seriously think girls can go one step further to protect themselves by giving their mini-skirts a bit more cloth-lengthening.

To the Girls: Yes, you do have the free-will to wear anything you like. Yes, guys should learn to be more self-controlled and not have wandering eyes. But the truth is that you will do yourselves and the guys a huge favor by re-considering your approach the next time you want to wear those short skirts. You can take active measures to protect yourselves. Example: If you are wearing those mini-skirts, do use you handbags to block or get a friend to stand behind you while you travel up the escalators. and for goodness sake, girls please do not climb ladders when you are wearing skirts. I am sure there are plenty of gentlemen around whom can lend their muscles to help you. Honestly, we guys are all visually stimulated, that slight upskirt/buttline/over-fleshy exposure will trigger a lot of reaction through our mind.

Having said this, Girls, you do not need to wrap yourselves up like a dumpling. Either opt for longer length skirts or learn to take proper preventive measures. I am certain beauty and proper cover can co-exist.

To the Guys: Now, be truthful and do not just bluntly shift all the blames to the girls. Let's also learn to exercise self-control and respect the ladies. Be alert at ALL times! And learn to turn your eyes away when you expect some of these exposure may come. If you have a girlfriend, learn to share this with your girlfriend and ask her to help give you warning signals! And sometimes if by accident you do catch a glimpse, just turn away and walk off. DO NOT allow yourself to be glued!

Some of you may say, "Wah.. but free show mah, why don't see? Anyway it's not harmful mah!" WRONG! Honestly, how is staring at upskirts of ladies different from watching pornography???? The end results and effects are the same - our values and moral standards towards sexuality becomes eroded! And some may end up becoming perverts whom take upskirt photos as their secret obsession!

So guys, be alert and stay clear!!!

I was 0.81s slower than Usain Bolt!!

2008-09-14T20:58:00.006+08:00

Usain Bolt, World Record holder for 100m @ 9.69s.

For me on the cloudy Saturday morning yesterday, I was just a mere 0.81s slower than Usain Bolt....... BUT ....... the difference is that I clocked the timing of 10.5s over 40 meters in my IPPT and Usain Bolt ran 100 meters!

Can you imagine that!?!? For many of us, the timing we take to run our IPPT or NAFTA shuttle run, we are still at least one second slower than Usain Bolt! Means that while we are still huffing and puffing trying to catch our breath, Mr Lightning Bolt has already finished his race and already into his celebration laps already! Shocking statistics isn't it?

Anyway, that was just the appetizer. The main course is updating everyone about my yearly IPPT which I took yesterday. My results are as follow:

Station #1: Sit-Up - 38 (Argh! Short of one to get 5 points!)

Station #2: Shuttle Run - 10.5s (Disappointing. I clocked 9.9s a year ago)

Station #3: Chin-Up - Excused because of my wrist injury

Station #4: Standing Broad Jump - 216cm (Phew! My weakest station. Just happy to clear that!)

Station #5: 2.4km Run - 12min 27s (I'm glad I survived through 6 boring laps round the tracks!)

Honestly, I was quite upset with my results, especially for the sit-up and shuttle run stations. I could have done much better on those scores. All it took was a split second of lost concentration and everything went downhill from there.

When I started out at the Sit-Up station, I was 1-for-1 (1 sit-up every second) for the first twenty seconds. And typically for me when doing sit-ups, I would take huge breathe and slowly exhale through the 60 seconds without taking a second breathe. This helps me to keep the momentum going and hitting 40 sit-ups would be a piece of cake. However this time round things took a different turn. Suddenly there was a shout from behind from one of the PT instructors, "Ah Ah Ah... Cup your ears ah!!" . I lost focus for that split second an exhaled my breathe of air and started frantically inhaling a new breathe. That broke my momentum and I almost had abdomen cramps! I struggled for the remaining 40 seconds, only managing 18 more sit-ups. It felt digusting knowing that I missed the top mark in this station just by one sit-up!

Ironically, I left the Sit-up station unable to sit up properly because of the abdomen cramp. Time constraint, so I went ahead to the shuttle run station. Bending up and down to touch the sensor, combined with the twisting and turning was really tough with the abdomen strain, so I came in from the shuttle run clocking a pathetic 10.5s.

At that point, I felt really yucky and thinking that I had another 2.4km race ahead, I really had no mood for it. I feel like walking out. But the thought of going for RT (Remedial Training) puts me off and I decided to give it my best shot for the last station.

At the flag off of the 2.4 run, I was thinking to myself that all I needed to do was to clock 2.00 minutes flat per round and I will be safe for a pass at 12:00 minutes. (the passing mark for my age group is 12:40)

Looking and feeling good after the 1st lap. (1 minute 53 seconds)

It's getting bored in the 2nd lap but still ok. (3 minutes 57 seconds)

My legs are feeling the cramps in 3rd lap. (6 minutes 05 seconds)

I really really feel like stopping and walk for the rest of the run after 4 laps. (8 minutes 15 seconds)

Everyone seems to be overtaking be in this 5th lap. I am grimacing from stitches. (10 minutes 20 seconds)

Gosh! I was getting slower by the laps and am flirting with failure and possible RT if I still continue to run at this turtle pace! NO! I didn't come this far to fail and go for RT... This cannot be! Mustering up all the remaining energy I could find within my legs, I opened up my stride wider and pushed through the last 400 meters.

I closed my eyes at the last 10 meters as I crossed the electronic barrier end point. Upon hearing the beep signal, I opened my eyes and looked at the score board.... 12 minutes 27 seconds..... I PASSED!!!

I left the camp a happy man. I may not have clocked the best possible performance, but I am glad that I bounced back from the initial shocker, cramps and yucky feeling to pass this IPPT. IPPT... Till we meet again next year! Kudos!

Lesson learnt: Indeed, a lot of things is in the mind. 99% of our defeats in life come because we caved-in in our minds first. We lost concentration, lost the will to fightand gave up easily and sometimes even before the battle begins! Life is never always smooth sailing. What counts is when we remain focused and will ourselves to rise up and conquer the next hurdle ahead!

Source:
(1) Usain Bolt photo from http://www.huffingtonpost.com
(2) IPPT station photos from http://www.mindef.gov.sg

Disclaimer: I have no anger nor grievances against the PT instructor whom shouted at me at the sit-up station. He was just doing what he needs to do. =)

My Love Story (The Malaysian Version)

2008-09-12T14:48:00.005+08:00

Sharing with everyone this special post written by a dear friend of mine.

Disclaimer: Please read with discretion! =) Stay tuned to my blog for the true blue Singapore version of the story.

So sit tight and enjoy this story.....

So yes, this is the story of a "couple" of my friends. And how the met. And how friendship blossomed into a tree bearing much fruit. Before I go on, I must admit, I have to preconceived idea that Singaporean girls generally are more aggressive compared to Malaysian girls. And I still do think so.

On one of the days during the trip, I asked my new found friend called C, how her relationship with my other new found friend called E happened. She proceeded to produce a a little story slightly south of the truth. When I asked E, a differing story came up. And when I asked the rest of my newly found friends, even more disparities were produced. So I guess I shall hope off the bandwagon and merge my little puzzle here.

I managed to find some cute and archived pictures from this blogger, very creative I must say. Anyways, I'll be using some of her material as part of this story. So all credit goes to her for pictures. =)

Anyways, the story goes like this...

For a long, long, long, while, our friend C has been waiting for a burning ember to spark up her life. But like the saying goes... it's hard to hit a moving target.

Yet somehow, it never happened. What to do? Wait summore lorrrr.

And then suddenly... E appears out of nowhere. Why? Because when we keep our eyes so peeled for something ahead, we never learn to appreciate what has always been around... Hehe. So the moral of this story is... don't tunnel vision. Later low SA (Situational Awareness), then GG.

So they became friends on a mission trip. Wahseh, holy fate + destiny + galaxy colliding + etc etc + please_insert_own_ideas_here. But this is where it gets interesting. C says, that she thinks E is too friendly.

There's such a thing? O.o

And before E can do anything, he's already pwned by the force of a woman's mind. Because in a woman's head... friendly = player.

Everyone say: First Blood!

But yes, E is friendly and warm. So when C sees this, she panics and puts out the fire before there is even a hint of smoke. Yet, she cannot help but already be captured by his presence and charm...

So as the usual corny story goes, time flies by, they become good friends and then they begin to notice each other and then and then and and then. And before we know it, voila.

Being the wonderful rolemodels that they are, they return to their mentors and pastors and "tribes" and begin to consult wisdom from age and experience. Soon they gather up their thoughts and said to themselves... "Why not?".

And from there, C begins to allow E to win her heart. Awwww.

But for that to happen. One of the following must arise...

I'll let you decide for now which one arose. Hahaha.

Nevertheless, as E arised to win C's heart, he embarks on a quest so fearless that it requires him to have faith and the heart of a lion. After all, to win a girls' heart is no easy feat. It requires someone like the above four pictures to rise up deep within. Haha. But the truth is, Someone even better must arise first.

And so E prepares himself. And when the opportunity arose, mathematical formula proved true.

Opportunity + Preparation = Destiny ready to be taken hold of!

A girl will never give in that easily. Obviously because they are complicated creatures which complicate the mind of men. But in the end, with faith and courage, and perhaps a little encouragement from the brothers above...

E wins C's heart. And now they have embarked on a journey ever so beautiful. Even though I do not know the entire story to the point. And neither do I know both of them ever so well, but this I do know...

"And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken."
Ecclesiastes 4:12

So, to E and C. May you both be blessed on this journey. And may I be invited to your wedding day. Hopefully not to present this blogpost. Hahaha.

You're both wonderful rolemodels and mentors to a generation in desperate need of guides in faith, hope and love. And as you both look to our King, may you both radiate with his presence and grace. And above all, may you both radiate with, and in, His love. As we fight for the future, I continue to hope in standing by your sides, fighting for the Cause and for life. With God, less is indeed more.

"What the world needs now, more than ever before, are every day heroes who are ready, willing and able to make a difference." -
Greg Hickman

PS: Why do I say Singaporean girls are more aggressive? Because they tend to make the first move more often than not. After all, a girl must give clear signals. Guys are dumb when it comes to picking up hints. But we were still made first. So there. =P

TCS Staff Advance 2008

2008-09-08T14:15:00.005+08:00

Just came back from TCS Staff Advance in Lanjut, one of the beautiful beach resort on the East coast of Malaysia. It was really a good time out from the hectic pace of life back in Singapore. There was sufficient rest time, play time, good food, wonderful fellowship..... basically I came back really well rested, recharged and ready to go! Woohoo!

Check out some lovely photographs (courtesy of my good neighbor in office - Joy Ong)...

Snap shot with some cute Malaysian cats during toilet break

Finally arrive at the Serai di Lanjut Resort! Check out the big balcony for each room!

Group photo after a game of beach volleyball.

Wah Piang! Where can find such nice blue sky in Singapore?!?!

Don't you just wish that you were there to enjoy the Sun, Sand and Sea?

Up close and personal with nature - Starfish!

Group photo of Baby Boomers & Generation X!

The finale of our retreat - Camp Fire night!

Phew! We all had to stand a distance away to avoid becoming Roast Pigs!

Watch out for more photos coming up soon pending my colleagues sharing their photos with me. =)

Lewd Games at University Orientations

2008-09-03T10:22:00.008+08:00

Article and pictures from: The Straits Times, 31 August 2008

Honestly, when I first read this article, it was nothing new to me because I have experienced this during my days in NUS since I started out as a Freshmen and all through the subsequent 6 years as a Senior. However, since my Freshmen years 8 years ago, I have really seen an "advancement" in how more and more explicit these orientation games or forfeits have become. If this concern or alarm was not raised, we might as well brace ourselves for the days ahead where even secondary school orientations are playing such lewd games!

Check out some of these "games" being played and let this serve as a warning so that you will learn to prepare yourselves and guard yourselves from such lewd acts.

Lewd Game #1: Passing Sweets from Mouth to Mouth

This is an all out 'sabo' game. Usually the toothpick that is given to the freshmen is only half the length of the normal toothpick or even shorter! Using that, you are required to pass polo sweets from one toothpick to another! Secondly, while in the midst of focusing on passing the sweets, some seniors would 'accidentally' bump the two freshmen (typically a guy and girl) so that they would 'accidentally' kiss onto one another!

Lewd Game #2: Human Polo Dance

Typically a forfeit game. The girl would be the 'pole' and then the guy supposedly the dancer. No meaning to this game. In fact I find this very disturbing and degrading for the girl. It seems to be portraying her as the object of sexual desire!

One way I got around this was to dance around the pole instead of doing pole dancing the sexual connotation way. It makes the crowd laugh because it's funny but yet not degrading.

Lewd Game #3: Passing Egg Relay

Somehow all these orientation games doesn't seem to like using hands and feet the usual way. It always has to involve face, chest, lips, buttocks...etc. This game probably ends up more dirty than lewd because most of the time the raw egg or water bag would break in between the faces.

Lewd Game #4: Licking Whipped Cream / Colgate

This would probably be the most sexually explicit orientation games evolved. Typically makes it look like sexual foreplay. This game sometimes is done with the girl being blindfolded and trying to feel her way to find the cream and lick it off. Gosh! Whoever came up with this game is sick man!

Lewd Game #5: Push-Ups

Ok, this game speaks for itself. I don't need to explain it any further.

You know what is upsetting about such lewd games?

1. Most of the games would portray women in a degrading way.

2. It's quite humiliating because most of these games are forfeits. Which means that when two person are performing this forfeit, the entire camp or group are watching and cheering them on!

Honestly, what has become of Orientation? Isn't it supposed to be one where you make a lot of friends, build rapport and teamwork and get adjusted to campus life? Since when has sexual connotative games been a way to achieve these objectives? I strongly believe we can still have fun and building relationships the 'clean' way!

To the girls especially: Do not feel compelled to join in such games. Make a stand and maintain your moral standards. You do have a choice to say NO to such games. It's ok to have fun, but not at the expense of compromising your values and principals.

[Rated PG] "Let's have Sex for Fun!"

2008-08-31T19:27:00.014+08:00

[Disclaimer: This post has been rated PG by the author. In any case if you are stumbled, responsibility will not be borne by the author]

Well... I bet I have caught your eyes with this attention-grabbing title right?

These past few days, I have observed some disturbing matters which really caught my attention and shocked me totally! Check out this news article from NewPaper on 25th August...

Gosh! Teenagers today, regardless of their academics standards, are engaging in sexual activities at a really young age.. and not to mention even without protection measures! And this article even highlights that most of our teenagers do not know anything much about sex and sexuality i.e. can get pregnant after having sex, STDs...etc. Then why in the world do they still get involved not knowing the potential dangers that lie ahead?

Check out this next article which is even more disturbing....

Having sex with the boyfriend just because out of boredom?!?! My goodness!

What infuriates me most was this... this teenage couple only tried using condoms as an experiment and it was purely out for fun! And having nothing better else to do, each time they came together, all they did was just having sex! *Faintz*

Another shocking article...

Having no idea how a woman can get pregnant? Having no idea that one can contact STDs from unprotected sex? This teenage girl ended up having unprotected sex 4 times a week with a man more than twice her age!

And check this out... despite having discovered this man's real identity, this girl still refused to leave the guy, but still want to stick with him just because he is caring. Honestly think about it, do you think this girl will have a future or even get married with this guy?

Pause.

It's really shocking to hear that young people today grow up with rather loose moral standards. Of course we can push all the blame on the Internet and new media that has been bombarding our youths' minds today with all sorts of sexually stimulating materials. Just a stroll on the MRT cabin, or picking up an islandwide popular free newspaper, you will catch a full view advertisement as this....

What do you think goes through the teenagers' mind when they see such advertisements? And not to mention all the magazines displayed in stores which shows scantily dressed women on the front cover. It's really difficult to walk around without seeing ANY advertisement that is promoting its product without using any tinge of sexuality to draw the crowds' attention. Honestly, I am rather disgusted at how perverse and low the methods have become. Internet, blogs, social networking websites.... these platforms have become tools which speed up the process or made easy a teenager's access to these sexual materials.

Having said that, we can't just throw all the blame on new media. On the other end, Education has got to play an important role as well. Honestly, the law and ministry system will always play second fiddle to the degree that new media is penetrating to our teenagers. But what should be of key importance is really considering pushing sexual education to the teens at a younger age and allowing them to have avenues where they can be free to share some of their struggles without being condemned by the adults or laughed at by friends.

This is the challenging scenario right now: Without proper and healthy way of sex education, the teenagers grow up clueless about sex and sexuality. And with the bombardment of provocative pictures and sexually connotative materials from the new media, youths seems to hit puberty at an earlier age and they are keen to find out more and experiment in this area. However, without the proper curriculum in place to teach them about the dangers and consequences of unsafe sex or premarital sex, AND with adults still seeing SEX as a taboo topic to talk about with young people, the only place they learn about sexuality will be from the new media and the friends around whom have tried the 'forbidden fruit' before!

Some of my personal comments....

To the boys: There is no denying that we are hot blooded and testosterone-driven at this young age and want to explore our sexuality. However, do not be distorted by what you see in the TV programmes and Internet. Do not be rash to jump into sexual activities in your relationships. You can have a healthy, fulfilling relationship with your girlfriend without engaging in sexual activities. Use the brain on your head to think rationally, not the brain below your waist which is always irrational. The only difference between human beings and animals is that human beings know how to control our sexual urges and desires. Don't be an animal!

To the girls: Learn to guard and protect yourself, especially your emotions. Don't be sweet talked by guys into giving away your body to prove your love. You don't need to have sex to proof your love to your boyfriend. If your boyfriend does demands sex to prove your love, than I think such a boyfriend is not worthy to have, you can jolly well abandon this relationship. Learn to draw boundaries in your relationship with your boyfriend and not allow him to touch you in places that are forbidden. At the end of the day, you would want a boyfriend whom cares and love you for the way you are and who you are, not for what you can do with him (sex). 要学着自爱!!!

Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2008

2008-08-09T21:43:00.004+08:00

Enough is enough. Been there and done that, it's time to take a break and try something new next time round. Those were my exact words after having ran two marathons in 2005 and 2006. And guess what? This year I am back again and have signed up for the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2008!!

"Siao ah?!?! Are you addicted to running marathon or what? Haven't you had enough of it? Aren't you afraid of getting injured again like how you did the previous times?"

Yes, these questions which many have asked me have been in my mind when I signed up for this gruelling 42km run. Honestly, I was really hoping I could go for a year-end overseas vacation to give myself a well-deserved break. And putting myself through 42km of pain and toil was the last thing on my mind.

So why did I sign up for the marathon anyway?!?!?!

"I WANT I CAN!" That's the motivation for me running the marathon this year. And I am running this marathon for the youths that I mentor, as a display of living out what I have always believe in - Nothing is impossible. Do not allow negativity or excuses saying that 'I can't' come in the way when we face challenges in life. If we set our hearts to do what is right and be determined to follow through, whatever we want, we can achieve it!

Join me along as I embark on this enduring journey once again. May you be inspired and catch that same persevering spirit as well! Gambatte! Woosh!

[Rated PG] Internet Pornography

2008-08-04T10:14:00.005+08:00

[Disclaimer: This post has been rated PG by the author. In any case if you are stumbled, responsibility will not be borne by the author]

... (Continued from previous post)... Do you think I still struggle with watching Internet Pornography since that day? Well honestly, I still struggled for a good whole two years before I entirely broke free from the chains of Internet Pornography. However during those two years, it wasn't easy and there were many relapses along the way.

Sometimes I stayed free for almost an entire month, only to fall back again because of a moment of folly and dabbling 5 minutes longer on the Internet which extended to an additional hour of pornographic website surfing.

But during those two years, there were some important steps which I learnt and took that kept me on track and not give up in this battle.

1. I kept myself strictly accountable to my parents and also a trustworthy group of friends. Now, you must be thinking that I am crazy by being so harsh on myself. But truth is this, that was how badly I wanted to get out of this addiction. Till a point I wasn't afraid of 'losing face' by confessing to people around me whom I felt could help me. Looking back, this step was really important because constantly there were people whom would spot check on me and even when I had relapse, they would encourage and help me rather than condemn me.

2. I shifted my computer into the living room. Trust me.. even when I felt tempted to watch pornography, there was no way I could do it with my parents watching primetime Channel 8 drama series behind me!

3. I threw away almost $100 worth of FHM magazines. Gosh, these were like my 'precious' collection bought with my savings. But yet I also knew that these were like little temptations which would drive me towards watching pornography. So I decided to take the extreme measure of tearing them apart and throwing them down the rubbish chute!

4. I also decided to rejoin my group friends whom played soccer daily after school and on Saturdays as well. I made effort to visit my grandparents on Sundays with my parents as well. All these real life activities helped me to keep my mind away from doing my own "research" projects on the Internet. Exercising also helps to relieve myself from the sudden rush of urge and desire to go on the Internet.

5. I NEVER gave up trying! Basically I came to a point of understanding that pornography has a serious impact on me and my future. I really want to have a healthy mindset of sex and sexuality rather than be distorted by what is shown in all those perverse websites which shows human beings behaving like animals! I don't want to be like an animal! ARGH!!!

Many of you as you read my testimony of overcoming Internet pornography may feel that certain steps that I took were really extreme and that you may not be able to do it. Trust me.. you can, but you can't do it on your own. Learn to put down your pride and humble yourself to ask for help from close, good people around you. They can be your parents, your teachers, church leaders or pastors. Raise your hands and seek for help.

3 Basic Tips to share and encourage all of us:

Desire - Having understand the consequence of pornography. You need to desire that you want to break free from it. It all boils down to how badly you want to get out of it.

Decision - You have to come to a point of making a firm stand that no matter how hard it will be, you decide you want to change. Do not procrastinate on your decision. Do not look back at the decision you made.

Determination - It will not be easy along the way. There will be times where you may relapse and fall back. Or tempting obstacles that will entice you to go back the old ways. Be very determined. Determine from the very beginning that you do not want to slide back the old ways again!

PS: Till date, I have been "Porn-Free" for the past 5 years. If I can do it, so can you!

Redefining Culture

2008-07-21T21:00:00.005+08:00

15 years old, Bubble Tea was largely unheard of in Singapore. A typical teenager's favorite drink would still have to be Coca-Cola, F&N Fanta Grape or Ice Cream Soda. However, today when you walk along the streets almost anywhere, you would be able to see most teenage school students holding a cup of Bubble Tea in their hands! And not to mention that the price of a cup of bubble tea is even cheaper than any canned or bottled soda drink!

What actually happened? Who actually sparked forth a chain reaction that redefined the youth culture of Singapore (or even globally)? What actually happened that resulted in a transformation of culture - From Coke to Bubble Tea?!?!

Well honestly, I don't really know. I never really did trace back the history of bubble tea (Hmm.. maybe if you are keen, you can do a Wikipedia search on it and share info with me? Hehe... ). I only know it originated from Taiwan. But I am certain that it has got to begun with one man's crazy idea to bring Bubble Tea from Taiwan into Singapore. He probably would not have imagine that the simple little step of bringing a drink over would soon result in a teenage revolution that took the world by storm!

Can you see what I am trying to highlight here?..... Redefining Culture all started with One Man!!!

Is there a culture around which you would hope to change and make it better?

Alright, I know it is still rather far-fetched if we talk about us being that 'One Man' to redefining a world culture. But how about beginning on a simpler and smaller front of your world at Home? Or even at School or your workplace?

You may be facing alot of challenges in your workplace, home and school. You just don't like things the way it is and wish that the culture of the place can be improve. Maybe it is the way people speak to one another that could be more affirming and encouraging. Maybe it is hoping for a culture where everyone in the family readily stands out to help and support one another instead of giving excuses.

Whatever the problem is, stop focusing on the problems and start stepping out to redefine the culture ourselves! Yes.. Redefining Culture begins with ourselves! We got to be like a sore thumb sticking out doing things that no one does. That how people will notice us and that's how people will catch and follow what we are doing. That's how culture is sparked and redefined!

Many people might have scoffed and scruffled at the idea of Bubble Tea when it first burst forth onto the scene back 10 years ago in Singapore. Many would just term it as "High Class Tea". But soon, more people tried and more people liked it, and soon? the rest is history.

Brave yourself for a new world ahead! Be a Trend Setter and Culture Transformer!

PS: I occasionally like to drink Bubble Tea too. Ice milk tea with jelly (not pearl!) if you would like to give me a treat.

Note: This post is specially dedicated to my spiritual daughter Joadine. Thank you for introducing Daddy to bubble tea! Haha...

Enduring Training without Complaining

2008-07-16T00:33:00.000+08:00

During my JC days, I joined the Track & Field team purely out to experience something new. Having a good sense of my incredible hulk physique then, I knew that I could never make it to the Track events, so I rather be smart and opted for the Field events instead. I tried my hands at shot put, discus and javelin, but I still love discus the best. It's just so cool to see the discus slice through the air and soaring the distance.

Honestly, I wasn't a natural talent at discus throwing. During the first two weeks tumbled through the air like a rubber chicken. It was only two weeks later that I first saw my discus glide out of the cage landing at 10 metres. My coach came over to congratulate, "Well done! Now it's time to change to the guy's discus. You've always been using the girl's one for training!"

Training was really tough. I left each training with sore arms and back, and with blisters on my finger tips from gripping the discus. I really felt like giving up then, somehow all these pain wasn't really worth it. Maybe I should just go back to playing recreational soccer which I am comfortable with.

But something in my mind told me that I shouldn't quit. I'm not a quitter! Gritting my teeth, I stayed on and persevered through every training session. I also figured that I wasn't going to improve on my distance if I only trained twice a week. So I decided to do my own extra training daily after school for 2 hours. By then, I was so used to the blisters on my finger that they got harden. I was so used to pain and aches that I grew numb to them as well. But I never once complained nor had any thoughts about giving up again. Toying myself with complains only made me lose focus and tired mentally easily.

After 6 months of such intensive training, the grand payoff came when I took part in the school's annual sports meet and subsequently the National Schools' Track & Field competition. I came in 3rd for the school's sports meet and nearly made it to the second round in the Nationals. Both event my discus recorded a personal best of about 39 meters! Hey.. not bad for someone who only took up the sport less than a year!

Are you going through a particularly tough season in your life right now where you just feel like giving up? Are there emotional pains that you have suffered which cuts so deep that I just don't want to give and serve anymore?

My encouragement for you is to take this as a training season for your soul, as part of character development. Don't flirt with complains nor entertain the discouraging thought. Take on every challenge as an opportunity for growth and strengthening.

[Rated PG] Are you watching those dirty websites??

2008-06-10T21:25:00.006+08:00

[Disclaimer: This post has been rated PG by the author. In any case if you are stumbled, responsibility will not be borne by the author]

... (Continued from previous post)... Since that day of confession, a cold war broke out between me and my parents. We never talked and I could sense the tinge of disgust and disappointment at home with my parents. And this hopeless situation lingered on for almost a month, until one day when my parents asked me this question... "Are you very sure about kicking this sickening addiction?"

"YES! YES! I really need help! I am so sick and tired of falling in and out of this issue! I need help! Please do anything to help me!"

With tears welling in my eyes, my parents were truly convinced that I was really serious about getting rid of my lustful dirty little habit.

"Ok, we believe you. From now on, you must follow the rules that we set out for you.

Number 1: Move your computer into the living room.

Number 2: You can only use the computer when we are at home.

Number 3: You must allow us to conduct spotchecks on you when you are alone at home.

If you are serious about kicking the habit, do you agree to these rules?"

Honestly, for a good whole 10 seconds, I was dumbfounded by these rules that my parents set out for me. They seem so torturous and rigid! But I realized that if I was really serious about it, then it would call for me to take on these drastic measures which my parents set out for me.

"Ok. I agree to follow these rules.... sniff sniff..."

The subsequent weeks and months after I made this pact with my parents, life went on a roller coaster journey... but definitely for a good purpose. There were times when I was alone and home, and suddenly the phone would ring and my mum would be shouting from the other end of the phone line...

"What are you doing at home? Are you looking at those dirty websites???"

Since that defining confession moment to my parents, life has never been the same again.

Do you think I still struggle with watching internet pornography since that day?

Stay tuned for my final concluding episode .......

[Heros Revealed] John Terry - Man of Steel

2008-05-29T00:01:00.000+08:00

Many of you will know that I am a Manchester United fan when it comes to the English Premier League. Then why in the world am I writing about John Terry instead of dazzling Cristiano Ronaldo, legendary Ryan Giggs or giant goal-stopping Edwin Van Der Sar??

With all due respect to Manchester United, I would have to salute John Terry as an inspirational hero that I really look up to. For those of you whom have watched the European Champions League Finals and followed closely with the EPL the past few seasons, you would definitely agree with me that John Terry is without a shadow of a doubt, a man, captain and leader committed to his team through and through.

For once I really agree with what the ex-Chelsea manager always say, "The better team lost tonight." It was a cruel way to lose the finals having dominated the game. It was even more cruel that when the captain choose to take the responsibility of taking the final spotkick, which would have sealed the game, and yet he slipped and missed. The better team and man really didn't deserve this ending.

Look at the way this guy throws his body on the line game after game. Time and again despite being down with twisted ankles, dislocated shoulders and mutiple injuries, he refuses to give up and recovers in double quick time to lead and inspire his team again. Now that's what I call a true hero!

Many attention has been given onto the millions of dollars splashed on the transfer markets for new and young uprising superstars. But to me, no amount of money nor limelight can rob away the attention on this man....

John Terry - A man of Steel, A man of great heart, A True Inspirational Hero

[How to 做人 series] What's Your Bottom Line?

2008-05-27T10:24:00.003+08:00

Definition of Bottom Line (from http://www.dictionary.com/):
1. The final result or statement.
2. The main or essential point.
3. The decisive point.

Everyone of us function with a bottom line in life. Whether is it towards people or matters of life. It has got something to do with how we are wired up in our minds towards a particular subject incident.

For example:

1. Even though all my friends smoke, play truant and copy during examinations, the bottom line is that I will never be like them.

2. The truth is that life really sucks. But the bottom line is that I will never eat worms nor give up!

3. Despite all the rumours flying around now saying that Peter is a gossip monger, the bottom line is that I still trust him.

In the first hit wave of crisis, do we immediately shatter and start doubting everything around us? Do we give up, turn doubtful easily whenever things don't go the way we expected it to? Do we not have that sense of resiliency to persevere through or work through to resolve the matter?

Down to the fundamental... What's Your Bottom Line?

[Rated PG] Me and My Big Mouth

2008-05-25T22:23:00.005+08:00

[Disclaimer: This post has been rated PG by the author. In any case if you are stumbled, responsibility will not be borne by the author]

... (Continued from previous post) ... I felt utterly digraceful about myself on this dirty little secret that finally one day I decided to put a foot down and told myself that I had to stop watching pornography, else it would destroy my future! The first thing that I did was to confess and share this struggle I had with...... MY PARENTS!!!

Yes, I know this must sound really stupid to confess to my parents, but I was really at my wits' end. Most of my friends were also sucked into pornography addiction, thus seeking help from them wasn't going to be of much help as well. (PS: We may just end up watching together!) I had come to a point where i felt so sick and tired of myself that I even contemplated the thought of castrating myself, hoping that it would end my hormones and testerone drive!

Enough was enough, I might as well face the music. If I was really serious about kicking this addiction, I really needed to take radical and extreme steps to intervene. Though it would be really shameful to confess to my parents, but there was no better way. Rather bear the expected brunt of scoldings and persecutions from my parents for the moment, than live in a lifetime of secrecy, darkness, guilt and shame.

Plucking up my courage on a Sunday morning, I gingerly approached my parents during breakfast....

EeJay: Mum and Dad, I have something to tell you both. I really need help in this area.

Dad: Uh-huh? *Sipping at his cup of coffee*

Mum: What is it? Studies? Not enough pocket money? *munching away at her strawberry jam-filled bread*

EeJay: Errrmmmm....... I have been watching pornographic websites for a long time and I just cannot stop. I really want to and I need help. Can you both help me?

*Coffee cups and breads laid down. Long silence and hard stares from my parents*

Mum & Dad blasting out together: WHAT?!?! Who taught you to be so dirty-minded? Since when did you learn to be such a pervert? You are so disgusting! These things are so bad and you still watch?! What's wrong with you?!?!?

EeJay (filled with shame and close to tears): But but but... I know it's wrong and I want to change. I need help.... sniff sniff...

Mum & Dad blasting back: SHUT UP!

Honestly, I couldn't really remember what they said after that because I was totally shattered at the way the reacted. It's understandable though. I felt really stupid.. thinking that I had made a brave and good decision by confessing, but it all turned out to be a nightmare! I wished I hadn't shared it with my parents. Me and my big mouth!

Since that day of confession, a cold war broke out between me and my parents. We never talked and I could sense the tinge of disgust and disappointment at home with my parents. And this hopeless situation lingered on for almost a month, until one day........ (to be continued)....

Run, Fat Boy, Run!

2008-04-22T08:33:00.002+08:00

Watched this movie with a couple of my youths yesterday. We had totally no idea of what this movie is about, neither did we have any expectations. We thought this show was a goner because 5 minutes before the show started, three of us were the ONLY people in the cinema! Gosh!

Quite a good movie with some learning point behind. I felt it was really inspirational for me, mixed together with some good brainless laughs too, espacially to ease away the Monday blues. Would recommend you guys to watch. However, do filter out some of the crude jokes. Speaks alot about life and one of my life principle which I always live by: Don't just talk the walk, but walk the talk!

Grab a few friends and catch this show quick! :)

How to 做人???

2008-04-15T17:06:00.006+08:00

This question has been boggling my mind since the beginning of last year. It all began in my journey of mentoring youths when I began to be very disturbed at some weird or at times outraging behaviors that they display. And I asked myself this question, "How come these young people don't know how to 做人?"

Why is it that youths these days don't have a sense of puctuality? Nor even any sense of personal responsibility?

Emo-charged generation? What happened to the resilient attitude of human being? Youths today seemingly just love to eat-worms!

Have the youths of this generation lost their desire and aspiration for growth in their lives? Seems like they 没有上进心!!

Thus I have concluded that the youth generation of today is VERY VERY different from how it was 15 years ago when I was a youth. Thought they still go through the standard education track, but seems like the "product" that come out is utterly different!

In this new series of posts, I will be touching more on some of these controversial, outraging or perculiar behaviors, and my personal views on it.

Embark with me on this journey and share your views too!

The good, the bad and the ugly! Let's thrash it all out! :)

[Heroes Revealed] Dexter Benjamin - One Legged Messenger

2008-04-11T09:48:00.003+08:00

An 8-minute long video, but definitely worth watching it.

Dexter Benjamin lost one of his leg while riding his bike and was homeless for a period of time. He bounced back from this adversary and is now a bicycle messenger in the city of New York. Now, that what heroes are made of! Heroes DO NOT wallow in defeat, but rises up with resilience and conquer their fear and challenges.

How about us? We may not be physically handicapped like Dexter Benjamin, but many of us are crippled or overwhelmed by problems in life. Is there anything so bad that we cannot bounce back from?

May the example of Dexter Benjamin encourage you today. :)

Source: http://bikehacks.com

I AM BACK!!!!

2008-04-01T17:58:00.004+08:00

HELLO EVERYONE!!!

Thank you so much for your support all these while when I was MIA from the blogosphere. What have I been busy with? Now let me give you some quick updates:

1. Work, work and more work!

Now, this is not a complain, but it really is something good! Because since the beginning of this year, with the every school in Singapore compulsary to take on cyber wellness programmes, my organisation has been receiving MANY MANY MANY engagements to bring us in to conduct these programmes.

For me, I am in charge of coordinating the parents' workshop. Till date, I have already spoken to almost 300 parents, adults and social workers! Amazing! Really a great learning journey to step out and share in front of big crowd.

2. My laptop crashed AGAIN!

Yes, I just got a new DELL laptop last October. 6 months into its service, it crashed on me all because of a simple Windows Vista update file. It went into restart mode and NEVER restarted again! Gosh!

What frustrates me is always this: Man created computer... in the end, man's life gets controlled by the computer (because all my work is stored in my laptop, I can't work when it crashes and my life seems to stagnate for two whole days while trying to get it up again!)

3. I am UNAVAILABLE already!

This must be the happiest news this year! I have officially gotten "attached" / gone steady / found a girlfriend on 15th January 2008. For privacy reasons, photos will not be posted yet until a later date, so do bear with me for a while. But am sharing this news here so you can rejoice and be happy together with me!

In brief, these are some major happenings through the past month. and also a way to announcement to everyone that I AM BACK!

So stay tuned and watch out for more juicy and exciting posts coming up! =)

[Heroes Revealed] Paul Potts-Ordinary Man, Extraordinary Attitude

2008-02-21T16:50:00.005+08:00

Britain's Got Talent winner Paul Potts has spent most of his life feeling 'insignificant'. Bullied at school for being 'different', he realised growing up that he had one true friend and that was his voice. Singing was his escape. He was able to lose himself in his own little world - the vicious words of his tormentors replaced by hauntingly beautiful lyrics and melodies that lifted his heart and spirit. It was a love, a passion, a lifeline that would follow Paul into adulthood and help him through many more periods of adversity. But it was also a gift that was destined to go largely undiscovered, due to a crushing lack of self-confidence that has dogged this hard working and humble man throughout his 36 years.

..... Although Paul has performed at amateur level, most notably with Bath Opera, his chronic lack of self esteem and fear of rejection always prevented him from trying to make it professionally. "As I saw it, if I never asked - never put myself out there - then I'd never get told "No",'says Paul. "It was safer that way."

So instead, he carried on with his day jobs - which have included stacking shelves in a supermarket and, most recently and famously, selling mobile phones, where he was told by one of his superiors that he was a 'natural salesman'. "But I knew I wasn't," says Paul. "When I was selling, I always felt like I was putting on an act. When I sang, that's when I felt I was myself - the real me."

In 2000, Paul used savings and a bit of money he'd won on a quiz show to attend a three-month summer school in Italy, where he learned the language and got to indulge his passion further. He even got to sing in a masterclass for his idol, Pavarotti. But he was about to be dealt a cruel blow.

In 2003, he suffered a burst appendix. While undergoing treatment for this, doctors discovered a benign tumour on his adrenal gland. It was successfully removed but while he was recovering, he was knocked off his bike and broke his collarbone. "Of all the health problems I'd been through, breaking my collar bone was the most painful and it took months to recover," says Paul. " I got very, very low and for once, singing was the last thing on my mind."

..... Though it's fair to say that when Paul strolled awkwardly - almost apologetically - onto the Cardiff stage for his first Britain’s Got Talent audition a week before that final, in his now infamous £35 Tesco suit, and announced to Simon and fellow judges Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan that he was going to sing opera, they never thought for one minute they were looking at their winner.

Until he opened his mouth and started to sing. It was, as Simon has said since, simply magical. "Incredible", agreed Piers. And Amanda, who was moved to tears, said his voice had left her covered in goosebumps. "We were not expecting that," admitted Simon.

"I was so nervous I was shaking like a jelly, but when I watch that audition back, i can see in my eyes that when I start to sing I go to a totally different place and the nerves just vanish," says Paul. "When I stopped singing, there were a few seconds when my heart was racing because I had absolutely no idea what the judges were going to say."

... "All of this is like a fairy tale and I'm terrified I'm going to wake up soon and find I've dreamt it all," says Paul. "The support I've had has been incredible and I feel so touched and humbled by it. It has done so much for my confidence and I really can't thank people enough for giving me the chance to realise my dream. To be given an opportunity like this is more than I ever could have hoped for. Finally, I am going to be doing what I've always felt I was put here to do - something I love and that gives me so much joy"

Reflection:
Just like Paul Potts, many of us get crushed in life because of the hurtful words others say to us, our own self condemnation or even because of external circumstances that are not within our control. But it takes true courage and a dogged determination to shake and wake ourselves up from these defeats of life and rise up to be resilient.

You and I may not have that opera-like voice like Paul Potts here. We don't need to...

The greatest gifting that we can ever develop is that never-give-up attitude in facing life issues!

Acknowledgement:
- Video taken from www.youtube.com
- Biography of Paul Potts from www.paulpottsuk.com

What are You made of??

2008-02-08T14:40:00.000+08:00

Given any normal tyre, how would you be able to test it out if it were a good tyre or one that is punctured?

Well the honest answer is: Only when you put it to the test. When the tyre hits the road, you will know what is the condition of the tyre. A fully inflated and well conditioned tyre will help the car in navigating rough terrains and even at times preventing it from accidents. However, a punctured tyre can't do that. It can last a few kilometers, but after that it will be malfunction.

Parallel this theology with our own lives. Imagine this:

You and me = Tyres

Road conditions = Circumstances of life

When the tyre hits the road, we will know what we are made of. Some of us handle crisis in life better. Some of us can't take it well and choose to escape away like an ostrich, burying our heads in the ground waiting for the hurricane to blow by.(read post below regaring unhealthy communication patterns) And there are also others whom takes problems negatively and swing into depressions, self-mutilation (cutting ownself), or even contemplates suicide.

How then can we take precautions for ourselves so that we are able to handle situations better and not let the problems overwhelm us completely? The key is P.R.E.P.A.R.A.T.I.O.N

Prepare yourself by:

1. Being Positive - No one goes into a battle wanting to lose. When situations are bad or trying, do not make it worse by speaking negatively!

2. Training - Training for a marathon doesn't begin 2 weeks before the race, but at least a year before. Similarly, train your mind daily and remind yourself, "Regardless of what may come, I CHOOSE to stay positive!"

3. Maintanence - F1 racing tyres are regular renewed and sent for testing as part of maintenance to keep the car in tip top condition for the race. Maintain yourselves by taking time off regularly to rest and reflect. You can take strolls, write in your journals, or catch a movie. Reflection is important as it helps to iron out your thoughts.

4. Gear Up - You can be the best soccer player in the world, but if you are wearing slippers to play on the pitch against players wearing boots.. you will still lose! Gear yourself up by constantly sharing and surrounding yourself with like-minded and positive friends. Trust me, postivity can spark and spread like wild fire.

Well, truth of the matter is we will never know how we would react until crunch time hits us. But at least we can prepare outselves for things to come! :)

4 Unhealthy Patterns of Communication

2008-02-08T14:31:00.000+08:00

(From 'Courtship 101' module by Adrian Ong)

1. HAWK - Total dominance. Refusal to listen to other party's thoughts and feelings. Just blazing the trail and doing whatever he/she thinks is right by his/her own instinct.

Implications: Danger of becoming a MCP. Ignorance of how other people feel. Tendency of views being rather self centred.

2. DOVE - Peace loving nature and in general always would want to avoid conflict. Whenever potential conflict arises, will always give in. Common statement spoken are "Oh, it's ok.. nevermind", "Yupz.. I am ok (but actually is not)" Always close one eye to everything. Sweeping everything under the carpet kind.

Implications: Danger of suppressing how one really feels. No true honesty in relationship. Little things not processed and shared will amount to big things. soon one day, the carpet cannot contain all the junks and one will just explode internally.

3. OWL - Always using the wise man approach. Typical amongst most guys. Whenever conflict arises, he/she will do his/her utmost best to argue their way through. Seemingly refuse to admit 'defeat' and wants to out talk the other person.

Implications: Danger of pride - refusal to admit mistake or say sorry even when in the wrong. Chinese saying - 死爱面子.

4. OSTRICH - When problems and conflicts arise, he/she just buries their heads in the ground and attempts to escape from everything.

Implication: Escapism is the key word here. Fear of confronting conflicts and issues. Just want to run away. Honestly, running away doesn't solve the issues, it just worsen it.

Pause...................................................

This DOES NOT just apply to BGR, but most definitely in our everyday human relationships with one another too. As I begin to reflect, I can identify which unhealthy pattern of communication which I need to be mindful of. And I can also identify some of these patterns in the people whom I work closely with too!

Like it or not, there is a tendency that our communication pattern is in either one of these catogaries.

The key here is to be mindful and don't let these unhealthy patterns inhibit us. :)

Stay tuned for 'Courtship 102' module next month - 5 Healthy Ways of Communication

PS: Post was editted @ 2:26pm after some valuable inputs from Cynthia.

[Heros Revealed] Dating Tips across Teh-Tarik

2008-01-21T09:03:00.000+08:00

"Hey Eejay! When you getting a girlfriend??? Better start finding one soon ah! Else we will bring you to Malaysia and help you find a Malaysian girlfriend!"

These were the ringing words that Uncle Victor and godma Kelly would always say to me either via sms, email or whenever they pop by Singapore. And it never fails to just bring a smile and laughter to me... both of them are SERIOUSLY very concerned for my love life! haha...

I got to know Uncle Vic and godma Kelly back in year 2004 in church and I informally came under their mentorship by constantly shadowing them along, observing and learning from them. And we would always enjoy the time of fellowship best over a cup of teh-tarik. Trust me, I never liked teh-tarik or teh-C until I met both of them! haha... It was always over these teh tarik fellowship that we shared our hearts out... about mentoring youths, church matters, our families, about BGR.... basically everything under the sun! Our joke was always that we live in a 3G era, and our topics are also 3G - God, G12 Vision and Girls! hahahaha......

One of the most important principle that I caught from Uncle Vic and godma Kelly is the authenticity of their lives. They are who they are, genuine and transparent and never trying to hide anything from the people around. The greatest teaching and discipleship that I learnt from them was not from some great theories they formulated, but purely just by observing the way they lead their lives and how open they are to blessing the people around them.

Inspired by them, I also have teh-tarik fellowship with the youths that I mentor, and learn to open up my life to share boldly with them. Through Uncle Vic and godma Kelly, I have come to understand that for people to open up to you, You must first open up yourself to them. :)

Thank you Uncle Vic and godma Kelly for opening up your lives to me.... I am a live that was blessed and changed.

Upcoming Blog Series - HEROS REVEALED!

2008-01-08T17:39:00.000+08:00

"... But real heros aren't glittering images on a TV or movie screen; they don't come in for a one-night stand at a rock concert or sports event. True heroes are there for the long haul, and you can see their weaknesses along with their strengths.... Heroes aren't just talk, their walk bears out who and what they are." - Josh McDowell & Dick Day, How To Be A Hero To Your Kids

We are who we are today because there have been some people whom made a difference in our journey of life. Whether it was a unique moment, or special season, they came and left a great imprint within us that changed our lives and the way we look at things since then.

These people are HEROS....

I have many heros in my life too and in this year, watch out for my exciting series as I introduce them to you and share with you how they have created an everlasting impact in my life.

Watch out for HEROS REVEALED!

Photos from 100KM Walk!!

2008-01-07T16:37:00.000+08:00

True heros in life don't just talk the walk... They walk the talk!

True heros in life ain't just about bragging and boasting... They live out what they preach!

True heros in life ALWAYS CHOOSE to persevere and never give up...

Presenting to you the Young Historymaking Heros of 2007!!! *Woohoo!!!*

How did you end your Year 2007?

2007-12-31T11:36:00.000+08:00

Partying? Playing computer games in LAN shops? Watching movie marathons? Shopping till you drop? Or just slouching in front of the TV and catching up on all the outdated movies?

Well, those would probably be what I would do in any other year. But this year, I decided to do something different. Something crazy. Something radical. Something that people would deem as silly.

I decided to take a walk.... not just any normal walk, but in a 100KM relay walk around Singapore together with some of the youths whom I mentor.

FRIDAY 11:45PM @ S'PORE EXPO. Warming up in the midst of the cool gentle night breeze, we were all ready to kick start the 100KM relay walk. Morales sky high and high spirited, we flagged off and embarked on this amazing 100KM journey once the clock struck 12 midnight. This would also mark the beginning of a crazy or rather ardeuos upcoming 46 hours for me. With church meetings and countdown party rehersal interjected in between, this would also mean that I would not get to sleep till Sunday 10pm! That's 46 hours without any winks! Phew!

>>>>> Fast forward, and it's 6:30am Saturday morning. Our team has reached Lentor Avenue, with aim to reach Sembawang Avenue in 3 hours time to handover the relay baton to the next time that would anchor the next part of the walk. By this time, many of us were already feeling the strain in our knees and calves. But driven by adrenaline rush, we pushed further front in double quick time, hoping to cover as much ground as possible before most of us had to leave for a meeting.

>>>>>> Fast forward again. I managed to rejoin the team again at 11:00pm after the entire day of engagement. By this time, I was purely running on adrenaline and caffeine highs to stay awake. This was the final segments of the walk and there's no way I'm going to drop out. From Pasir Panjang Road, we ventured through to Redhill, through the entire Orchard Road stretch, all the way past Esplanade, crossing Nicoll Highway to reach Indoor Stadium. Henceforth was the most tiring and gruelling part of the walk. From Sunday 3:00am till 7:00am, we had to battle hard against the Zzz-monster to stay awake as we dragged ourselves from Indoor Stadium to East Coast Park MacDonalds. By the time we hit ECP Macs, we were all flat out and decided to catch an hour's wink there and then!

Sunday 9:15am @ ECP Lagoon... Everyone gathered for the grand finale victory march towards EXPO.

HURRAY!!! After two hours, we completed the walk together, bringing an victorious closure to our 100KM relay walk campaign!

Looking back... I could have had more fun partying at any year end events or just couch at home relaxing away. But honestly, nothing beats doing something that challenges my own limits and also inspire lives along the way.

Pace Setter... Trend Maker.... Boundary Breakers... History Makers!

That's my latest tagline!

Not Quitting when the Going Gets Tough

2007-12-25T11:16:00.000+08:00

(Adapted from Mirabel's blog - mirabop.blogspot.com)

The Fern and the Bamboo

One day I decided to quit...I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality.... I wanted to quit my life. I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.

"God", I said. "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"

His answer surprised me.

"Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"

"Yes", I replied.

"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.

In the second year the fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.

"In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. The same in year four.

"Then in the fifth year, a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern, it was seemingly small and insignificant.

But just six months later, the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle.

"Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots? I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you.

"Don't compare yourself to others." He said. "The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful.

"Your time will come", God said to me. "You will rise high"

"How high should I rise?" I asked.

"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.

"As high as it can?" I questioned

"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."

I left the forest, realizing that God will never give up on me. And He will never give up on you.

Never regret a day in your life.

Good days give you happiness; bad days give you experiences; both are essential to life.

--Author Unknown

Reflection:

Before another year just fly by so quickly, that time to ponder and reflection through this past year. How has it been for you? Life is like a roller coaster: Full of ups and downs. It is easy to be joyful and laugh our way through the good times, but how about the bad times, challenges or 'defeats' in life? Take heart.... bad days gives us the experience... we grow in depth, character and strength in those times. :)

Back from the Holy Land - Israel!

2007-12-17T10:54:00.000+08:00

Hello everyone! Just came from the Holy Land - Israel last week, and sharing some spectacular and interesting photos with you guys! Enjoy! :)

Check out this spectacular view of the Great Mediterranian Sea

Flying the Singapore flag sky-high on the Sea of Galilee!

As we travel through the mountains, we look back at an amazing sight of the Sea of Galilee

Beautiful church architecture

Our first entry into the city of Jerusalem!

Almost being rocked off the cliffs at Masada

Taking time to catch a breather and ponder - I also have my serious and reflective moments ok? :)

Can you spot the fish behind me?

After an arduous three-hour bus ride, I finaly made it to the place where Indiana Jone and the Last Crusade was shot - Petra!

Light heart trip and definitely there were times I went crazy and wild!

All photos were taken courtesy by Nokia N73

[Rated PG] Fantasy leads to Futility

2007-12-12T11:45:00.000+08:00

[Disclaimer: This post has been rated PG by the author. In any case if you are stumbled, responsibility will not be borne by the author]

... (continued from previous post).... Soon, with my eyes glued to the screen, I placed one hand down, and almost instantly followed by the other. My head drew nearer to the screen to have a closer look. Before long, I was scrolling through the website, looking at every single picture and subsequently venturing further through clicking on hyperlinks which led me to more "exotic" websites.

This first lustful adventure lasted for 2 hours and I felt totally exhausted and blurry eyes afterwards. My mind was spinning and all I could think of then were the tonnes of pornographic images which I have rumaged through the last couple of hours. I felt totally dysfunctional and wasn't in the right frame of mind.

Little did I know that what started out as a curious beginning led to my indefinite downfall of pornographic "addiction" for the next decade. Not only was I constantly haunted by guilt and shame, but I had also compromised my relationship with my parents and friends. My views about the opposite gender were also distorted because the only perspective I have of women then would be those from the "dirty" websites that I had visited. Each time I try to related or talk normally to the female friends around me, the exotic images would just float up in my mind out of nothing!

The "addiction" was not only killing me softly from the inside out, but also affecting the people around me as relationships became more tensed and strained.

It was only in my army days that I decided to wake up my idea. I felt utterly digraceful about myself on this dirty little secret that finally one day I decided to put a foot down and told myself that I had to stop watching pornography, else it would destroy my future!

The first thing that I did was to confess and share this struggle I had with ....... (to be continued)....

[Rated PG] Curiousity Kills the Cat

2007-11-08T01:17:00.000+08:00

[Disclaimer: This post has been rated PG by the author. In any case if you are stumbled, responsibility will not be borne by the author]

... (continued from previous post)..... "So can you please tell me the websites that you visited so I can research about it? I really treat you as a good friend and don't wish to see you sink deeper into this digusting and perverted addiction. We are buddies, let's go through this together! 有福同享，有难同当!!"

Stupidly and naively, I scribbled down the website on a rough paper. After putting down the phone, it was time to get down to my 'research' so as to help my buddy.

It was a warm Saturday afternoon and nobody was in the house. My parents had gone out to visit my grandparents and I had the whole home to myself. Fearfully, I settled myself in front of my computer, logged onto the Internet and braced myself for what lies ahead in the unchartered realm of the cyber world.

Scrolling the mouse over to the Internet address bar, I keyed in the web address which my buddy gave to me... *typing gingerly* .... "http://www.xxxxxxxxxxxxx.com" (website removed by author's censorship board) and punched on the "ENTER" button on my keyboard.

Functioning from a 'high tech' 56K modem, I starred blankly at the screen as the webpage began to load. My mind was in a total state of confusion then.. excited on what would be shown on the screen, yet fearful about it too. As the 56K modem processed the data, the web page began on load slowly and unveil the truth that lies beyond.

*Image of the same black screen with the picture of a nude woman I had seen a few weks ago began to flashback in my mind at that moment*

The moment the picture loaded on the web page (enough to expose the nudity), I quickly covered my entire face with my both hands, letting out a slight yeeks upon catching a glimpse of the image again.

After a good 1 minute of hiding, I began to open up my hands and peered at the screen between my fingers. Soon, with my eyes glued to the screen, I placed one hand down, and almost instantly followed by the other. My head drew nearer to the screen to have a closer look..... (to be continued)....

[Rated PG] The Righteous Excuse

2007-11-05T13:56:00.000+08:00

[Disclaimer: This post has been rated PG by the author. In any case if you are stumbled, responsibility will not be borne by the author]

... (continued from previous post).... There and then, my hand scrolled on the mouse and clicked on the search engine....

"NO!!! I can't do this! This is not right and so utterly disgusting! How can I be such a pervert?!?!"

Jumping off my chair, I huddled on the end of my bed and buried my face in the pillow in shame and guilt.

For the next few days in school, I was facing two fierce battles within me.

1. I hated and was digusted with my friend for watching those dirty websites. I just cannot swallow down the fact that he does such things! I mean... he has always been a nice guy... how did he turn out like that??? *the word PERVERT slides across my mind*

2. That split second image of the naked woman still haunt my mind. It seems that the more I don't want to think of it, the image become a stubborn stain that refuse to leave. I need a brain transplant!

Suddenly, a seemingly righteous inspiration struck me! A true friend never give up on one another but will help each other through crisis. Since my good friend is caught up with this dirty little secret of pornography, the very least I could do would be to help him and stand by him through this rough journey. And so I decided that I must help my friend..... But HOW?!?!?

In order to help my friend out from his pornography addiction, I decided that I myself need to do up some "research" and find out what really is pornography all about! I thought to myself.... I need to experience it so that I can help my friend! (Yes, silly, stupid and naive thought then...:O)

I braced myself up for this intimidating path ahead, boosted only by the fact that I must save my poor friend from the slavery clutches of pornography. I picked up the phone can dialled his number..

... ring ring..... ring ring..... "Hello bro? Hey, I just want to tell you that I am still disgusted with you for your dark secret. But I am not giving up on you, and in fact I want to help you. So can you please tell me the websites that you visited so I can research about it?"...... (to be continued)....

[Rated PG] Anger & Digust, Shame & Guilt

2007-10-29T22:39:00.000+08:00

[Disclaimer: This post has been rated PG by the author. In any case if you are stumbled, responsibility will not be borne by the author]

... (continued from previous post)..... To my surprise, I let off a shrek, "ARRRGGGGHHHHH!!!! YOU DIGUSTING PIG! YOU ARE SUCH A PERVERT! I DON'T WANT TO FRIEND YOU ANYMORE!!!!"

Displayed before me on the computer screen turned out to be a picture of a woman naked without any clothes on. Within that split second, I had sprang out from the chair and ran towards the door. With both my hands covering my eyes, I kept hurling those accusing remarks at my so-called good friend.

Huffing, puffing and totally shaken, I left my friend's house almost in tears and totally flabbergasted at what he had shown me. As I sat in the SBS bus on my way home, mixed feeling started to well up from within me.

Frustration.... Anger..... Digusted. Strangely, amidst of all these highly charged emotions, the image which I had only seen for a split second kept coming back into my mind.

The black background with the picture of the naked woman in the middle of the web page.

Yucks! I literally had to slap myself awake in the bus as my mind on and off drifted back into that dirty minded image. And through that whole day, the image keeps popping back into my mind again and again, despite my frantic attempt to intentionally not think about it. But it was of no help... it just stayed rooted in my brain! I felt really dirty, really shameful and really guilty ..... But I just can't seem to erase the image off my mind.. I wish I could change a new brain!

That night as I sat in front of my computer surfing the Internet, the mental image popped into my mind again. There and then, my hand scrolled on the mouse and clicked on the search engine..... (to be continued)

[Rated PG] My First Exposure to Pornography....

2007-10-24T00:29:00.000+08:00

[Disclaimer: This post has been rated PG by the author. In any case if you are stumbled, responsibility will not be borne by the author]

I still remembered vividly it was 13 years ago when I had my first exposure to pornography. Back then, computer were still in their 386 or 486 processor systems and Internet was still a relatively new age technology which many still have not gotten into. There was no MapleStory nor World of Warcraft then.... Neither was there Broadband, as we were still running on 56K modem dial-ups.

The word "Pornography" was considered a taboo and bad word in those days, and I would sometimes overhear my guy friends in class talk about these "interesting things" which they see on the Internet. It didn't strike any interesting in me and neither was I interested to find out more... I rather spend my time and energy then playing the "Championship Manager" game where I would be controlling players like Ryan Giggs and Robbie Fowler!

Terror struck on one faithful Saturday after a morning soccer game. I went up to my good friend's house to catch a shower and upon stepping out of the bathroom, my friend called out to me.... "Hey EeJay! Come come! Let me show you something really cool!"

I was really excited there and then, wondering which new player in the game that my friend may have bought at a cheap transfer fee, or whether he had discovered a new player with great statistics. Estatically, I rushed over in my fluffy semi-dried hair and sat down in front of the computer screen.... "Come on man! Show me what you've got! Show me what new discovery you have found!"

My good friend for the past 3 years scrolled the mouse and clicked to open up a window, with the web page slowing loading from the slow 56K modem. I still remembered that the web page had a black background and as it slowly loaded, a picture began to slowly be revealed in the middle of the page.

To my surprise, I let off a shrek..... ARRRGGHHHHH!!!!!!!! (to be continued)

Even Superman needs to rest...

2007-10-18T11:09:00.000+08:00

Runny nose like a leaking old tap.....

Body aches like a battered Evander Holyfield....

Sore headache like hammering on a brick wall....

Tired and drowsy like I haven't been sleeping for a week....

Well, that's basically how I am feeling now. Just came back from the doctor and was diagnosed with the flu bug and the doctor gave me a four-letter word advice....

R.E.S.T!!

This is the third time this year I have fallen sick and had to take an MC from work. It's rather a bad timing to fall sick because a couple of us at work are rushing in preparation for a major presentation tommorrow!

For a body-kinestatic person like me, falling sick and lying in bed is a killer man! I just wish that I was back at work, on the move and doing something!

BUT, I must learn to take care of my body and rest for today at least. It's time for me to live out what I teach because I always scold others for not resting when they are sick.

Today I rest.. tommorrow, I will be back stronger and better! ROAR! :)

10 New Discoveries about Myself!

2007-10-13T01:18:00.000+08:00

In a span of one week, I have stepped foot into three different countries... Japan, Singapore and Malaysia. Just within 4 days of touchdown back in Singapore from the exciting Tokyo trip, I left swiftly together with my colleagues on a work planning trip to Johor Bahru, Pulai Springs. Phew! It really is quite a mad rush!

But in this season where everything seems to be zooming by at an incredible pace, I have taken snipnets of time here and there to ponder and reflect more about myself, my working style, the way I relate to people and where I get the most job satisfaction out from. Let me share with you these interesting findings and maybe you my dear friends can share some views if these thoughts are accurate!

1. I set very high standards and demands for myself when it comes to work. I demand nothing but excellence from myself.

2. I need alot of sleep. But generally I can still function with little sleep.

3. In busy times, alot of things become functional to me. One clear example is eating. When busy, I don't eat beacause I am hungry, but because I need to.

4. I tend to produce better quality of work when I am hard pressed for time (or given a very tight timeline).

5. I cannot stand sitting around with nothing to do. I must be in the thick of action!

6. I can't sit still for very long.. I will doze off very quickly!

7. Whenever I meet up with people, I will make the best of every effort to share something to value-add to the person. (sounds preachy =P)

8. I am quite a long-winded person.

9. I am a very focused shopper. Get what I need and move on to the next item or event. Thus, window shopping may not be my cup of tea.

10. I tend to process my thoughts within myself first before I would share it with anyone else.

If you have any other inputs which you may have noticed about me, do feel free to comment or tag me about it!

We all live in a crazy hectic world. But learn to take short breaks during these times so as to catch up with your real self. The ancient chinese saying is so so true, "Rest is so that you can go the extra mile!"

The ORIGIN of Sushi & Sashimi....

2007-10-04T10:44:00.000+08:00

I was never a fan of Japanese food.. I didn't like cold noodles, neither did I like goobling down raw food.. and least to mention the taste of that brian-choking and stimulating Wasabi! Yeeks!

But every since last year when I came to Japan, I fell in love with Japanese food. The sushi are really fresh and delicately made by the sushi-master LIVE in front of you. The juicy-ness (pardon my English.. can't find a better word to describe the feeling) of the fresh raw prawns, tuna and salmon... *I am drooling already*... and the formerly yucky Wasabi has turned out to be something exciting and thrilling! It's just like eating spicy stuff... though you sweat like a pig as you eat it, but you just keep coming back for more!

This trip to Tokyo, I had the joy of going down to the Tsukiji Fish Market right smack early in the morning (5:00AM to be exact!) and witness the largest wholesale transactions of fresh seafood! To honest, I wasn't too keen on sushi and sashimi after that morning tour of its origin.. check it out yourself....

Here's how a typical stall in the Tsukiji Fish Market looks like. This is only 5% of the entire wholesale centre!

Check out the size of this GIGANTIC Tuna fish! In length, it is comparable to the height of a 6 year old child.

Alright.. here's my close encounter with this monster! *hey fishy fishy fishy fishy...*

And after come samurai slashing and slicing... here's how they all end up... honestly it was quite a bloody scene on site.

And the prices are really cheap! :)

And typically that's how they all end up. Food on the table for all of us, beautifully designed for our pleasure and consumption. :)

Anyone game for Sakae Sushi buffet soon? :P

It ain't just about Sushi & Sashimi......

2007-10-02T06:00:00.000+08:00

For the past 10 days, me and my team here in Tokyo have been having a wonderful time at the conference, experiencing the hospitality and warm culture of the Japanese friends here, witnessing the unique traditions and most importantly, feasting on the sumptuous food here!!!! Check this out... presenting to you....

The Japanese pizza - Okonomi-Yaki! Oh, I 'drew' the smiley face on the pizza.

The tradition Japanese rice set with curry chicken!

The assortment of drinks you can get from the thousands of vending machines around!

Cold Soba with tempura! Specially yummy when you eat this on a cold chilly morning!

And many many more!!! But WAIT..............

There were times when we just miss home so much that we decided to indulge in....

Well... I still grew up with MacDonalds too you know? *wink*

Japanese goodies coming your way!!!! Watch out!

2007-09-29T19:05:00.000+08:00

All right everyone back home in Singapore!!! Check out all these goodies that are awaiting you to claim when I touchdown next Thursday! From Wasabi beans to uniquely flavored KitKats to Japanese crackers and nuts… You name it, I’ve got them all!

Watch out for JayJay, your friendly Japanese Garang Guni man dropping by near your neighborhood next week!

Cool photos from Hip Hop Tokyo!

2007-09-28T11:15:00.000+08:00

A very special birthday celebrate with my team!

Check out the crazy traffic junction of Shibuya streets!

It wasn't all just sushi and sashimi.... Got indian food too! The naan taste great!

Woohoo!! We stayed in a traditional Japanese style tatami room! A bunch of guys staying together definitely a bit more messy. Pardon us!

And most importantly, the universal food culture everywhere you go.... MacDonalds! Check out this never-seen-in-S'pore burger - MacGriddles!

Passion of my Life.......

2007-09-26T09:19:00.000+08:00

Date: 26 September 2007
My location: Tokyo, Japan
Distance from home: Approximately 5315km

What's the occasion????

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY TODAY!!!!!

Trust me, I do miss home alot and you have no idea how strange it feels to be spending this special day of my life away from home. This is the first birthday of my life that I spend overseas!

Distant as I may be from Singapore, but I also received one of the greatest, most heartwarming and special present...

Check out this birthday blog: http://eejay-u-r-so-old.blogspot.com/, set up by a group of young people whom I have worked together for the past 3-4 years.

What is the very purpose and passion that keeps driving me on these past 10 years? Well, this quote below best sums it up for me:

There's no more nobler mission than positively impacting people in their lives. - Author Unknown

Guess my current location now?

2007-09-22T20:39:00.000+08:00

One moment I was in reservist (last week), and the next moment, I have flown 7,000 miles across the oceans of South East Asia and touched down in the Land of the Rising Sun - Japan! This is a picture of my small but sweet and cosy hotel room. Armed with LAN connection, I am still very much connect back to homeland Singapore via the cyberspace.

Why am I here far far away in the land flowing with Sashimi and Udon noodles? Well, am here with my colleagues on a conference trip, hearing some of the top researches in the gaming industry present their latest findings about the cyberspace and its social impacts. To be honest, this is definitely an eye-opener cos I never knew there was so much to understand and research upon regarding computer games and internet.A "mountain turtle" like me always thought that computer games were just about.... Hmmm.. Games?!?! Never thought anything further until I saw this......

Ten thousands of people (both Japanese and foreigners) travelled far and long distances, battled through squeezy and confusing Tokyo train system, endured the warm and weird autumn heat of 31 degrees... just to have a first hand look and try at what are some of the latest games on Playstation3, XBox 360, Nintendo Wii...etc. Amazing!!!

More updates coming up from me soon, so stay tuned!

This is reporter, Sashimi Jay Jay, reporting live from Tokyo.

My Next Challenge.. The REAL Run!

2007-09-16T23:58:00.000+08:00

With ordinary talent and extraordinary perseverance, all things are attainable. - Thomas Foxwell Buxton

What is your standard Corporal Chong?

2007-09-15T23:16:00.000+08:00

CORPORAL CHONG. That was my identity and name for the past one week as I attended my very first reservist in-camp training (ICT). It was almost 7 years ago that I had used that name, and through the ICT, hearing it again really does reminds me of the good old days when I played my active role in national defence.

@#$%^&*@!@#%^^#@&&$@@#$^^*()^$###@@. Now these gibberish nonsense were the next common thing which I hear alot in ICT. To help you decipher the code, in simple terms, these are also known as VULGARITIES. The moment I stepped into camp, I totally get bombarded from all directions by them and somehow everyone seems to have a PhD in Vulgarities! Simply amazing because it seems that there wasn't anyone around whom could pass a sentence without a foul word used!

Interestingly, I observed two kinds of people whom used vulgarities loosely.

One, these were people whom had gotten used to speaking vulgarities all their lives and it just is too hard for them not to say it. To them, having the "F" word in each sentence is just as similar as some of us whom keep using "Wah Lau!" in our speech. I have gotten to know a few of these people in this ICT, and found that other than their speech, they are really nice people to chat with. I just had to filter my ears, but truly I enjoyed moments of sharing our life experiences together.

Two, they are the ones whom are just loosely using vularities to gain attention from others and wanting to feel part and belonged to a group/clich/gang. I do feel sad for such people as they are usually by themselves without any friends. In a desperation to make friends, they become mere crowd followers rather than gaining the respect of friendship for their own identity. They are not who they really are, but rather becoming like someone else.

After one week of ICT, I left the ICT light hearted knowing that I caught up with many old friends and also made many new ones. But more importantly, I am glad that I did not compromise my own standards in anyway just to gain acceptance.

How about you? In the pursuit of studies, career or relationships, do you live out who you really are and the values you believe in? Or do you compromise your personal standards just to gain acceptance?

2007-09-08T00:00:00.000+08:00

The difference between a successful person and others is not the lack of strength, not the lack of knowledge, but rather a lack in will. - Vince Lombardo

Abit of chemistry here. I believe every single one of us are like INERT gases, that have such potent potential that will explode when nuture till the right condition. But far too often, in the process of nuturing, we lack the will power to persist on and just give up and never reaching the greatest potential we possess.

Just another random post, with random thoughts and inspirations. :)

Race Against Time - Hard Pressed but not Stressed!

2007-09-06T11:32:00.000+08:00

Guess this picture really sums up the the current situation for me... I am RACING AGAINST TIME! Seems like so many things need my attention, but yet like anyone else on this earth, I only have the privilege of 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Come next week, I will be away in camp for reservist for one whole week, and I am making sure that my work in office is being delegated or handed over nicely to my wonderful colleagues. Am also in the midst of coordinating the administrative procedures for a Japan conference trip in 2 weeks time, and being away on reservist at this crucial period doesn't help much either.

But if you ask me, "Am I stressed?" ... my answer would be "NO!" . I must admit that I do feel tense and squeezed for time, but I don't feel stressed and am still quite level headed in handling things. In fact, I feel that in seasons where I am being stretched, these are also the times that I grow most in terms of my capactiy to handle matters, people and problem management. I always remember the wise words from my mentor....

"Every crisis or situation that comes along are not meant to shatter or break you, but rather to build depth and capacity in you."

How are some of you feel right now? .....

Stressed out over exams?

Frustrated over relationship issues with your family, friends or boyfriend/girlfriend?

Seemingly hard pressed to a corner where you feel like you are going to break down?

May I encourage you to pause for a moment, take a pen and write down all these things that are burdening you down. Have a good look at them and take them on one by one. Some you can handle by yourself, some you will need help from others. Don't be too shy to ask for help. We all need help somehow. :)

一人一半，感情不散....

2007-08-28T14:46:00.000+08:00

Yesterday had a fun movie outing with my colleagues and we went to VivoCity to catch the latest blockbuster local production "881". Heard so much raving remarks about it and even the news reported that its popularity and earnings have outdone some of the big name celebrity movies. So I decided to check it out myself... Boy oh boy did I have a good laugh! Was definitely worth the money and good relaxation away from the stress and hectic pace of daily life.

I particularly love the theme song in this movie. The melody is really catchy. Am still trying to figure out what the lyrics mean. Maybe once I get the chords, I will sing it at next year's Parents' Appreciation Dinner for my parents, but tweaking the lyrics abit.

Enjoy the MTV...

For all of you Hokkien folks out there.. Go catch this show and have a good laugh. It truly has captured the heartlanders feelings and emotions. Thumbs up to Singapore Film Production! :)

Special Tribute to a Dear Brother - Dy!

2007-08-27T17:37:00.000+08:00

In 2005, I ran the Half Marathon (21km) in 2 hours 35 minutes.

Yesterday, I took part in the Army Half Marathon and completed it in....... *drum roll*....... 4 HOURS 11 MINUTES..

Calculating, it would mean I am 1 hour 35 minutes slower than the previous year! Oh, and not to mention that I left the race with a strained knee. Ouch! Having already conquered marathons and the many physical challenges in previous years, why did I have to pay money and subject myself to sure torture again? Am I out of my mind or what?!?!?!

Well, my only motivation that spurred me on to run this year was because my good friend and dear brother Dy wanted to run. He was taking it on as a personal challenge, aiming to lead up to the 42km marathon at the end of the year. I was so encouraged and inspired by his decision that I decided to run alongside him to support him on. That's what buddies are for right? No point just talking about commitment and blood brothers and not doing anything to show about it!

Boy oh boy... both of us really went through a gruelling but enjoyable race. The night before, we only managed to catch 2-3 hours of sleep before checking into the race. Both of us got injured during the race and spent most of our time walking and watching bundles of runner breezing past us. I think the 70 years old uncle walked faster than us! =P

But we definitely had a wonderful time through the entire race just talking, sharing, catching up and sweating it out together. Guess being guys, nothing bonds us more together than slogging and fighting through battles together.

As we reached the end point, we were both hobbling. But we forced outself to run as we wanted to look good across the finish line. It didn't matter anymore what was our timing... We were glad we made it.... TOGETHER.

Special tribute to brother Dy:
Thanks brother Dy! I ran quite a few races in my life before, but this one gave me the greatest sense of satisfaction. Committed to you always! Let's fight on and finish strong together!

Reflection:
Many will proclaim to be true friends and buddies in life, but it will never be truly complete until you have been through thick and thin together. Buddies are tried and tested!

Birthday Dedication - Exclusively Jasper!

2007-08-21T14:46:00.000+08:00

I got to know Jasper during a Good Friday event in church 3 years ago. There and then, he was only in Secondary 3, scrawny little fellow, but got those cute boy-yish looks. I thought to myself then, "This dashing young boy sure got a lot of girls chasing after him one!"

After 3 years of mentoring journey till today, Jasper has grown up into a fine young gentlemen studying in polytechnic. YES! Definitely still dashing and smart in his own ways. Gone away are his WWE trading cards and everywhere he goes now, he sports on an Adidas sweater covering over his Chelsea jersey - his favorite soccer team (though I am a Manchester United fan =P).

Jasper - From boy to young adult. A man of faithfulness, loyalty and commitment. He is ever willing to learn and never shy of new challenges that come his way. More than just a close friend, brother and confidante... Jasper is like a son to me. Proud of you son! Thanks for running alongside me all these years. It's a joy, my honor and privilege! :)

What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us. What we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal. ~ Albert Pine

RE-Motivating your Motivations!

2007-08-15T13:56:00.001+08:00

Hi everyone.. pardon me that I have been MIA-ing from blogging for almost a week. Been busy with work recently that by the time I sit in front of my laptop, I have no more "juice" to type out any blogs. I don't even feel motivated to play my secret obsession MapleStory! *Sob Sob*

Talking about MOTIVATION. This is something which we all wish we had but yet find it hard to get going. This year, one of my motivation was to exercise regular and keep fit. I had planned to go jogging twice a week since it was the easiest exercise schedule to follow through without any need to coordinate crowds of people. Excitedly, I was motivated for a month or so... soon the frequency dropped from twice a week to twice a month.

Soon from jogging, it became walking. Soon from deliberately setting aside time for exercise, it became just catching walks up and down from the hawker center to my office. This is no good... motivation is dying down... my motivation has diluted into convenience. Meaning if I got chance, then I would exercise. Else I wouldn't push for it too. "Houston we have a problem... Input is greater than Output!"

Well.. I am RE-motivating myself again this season and I decided for a start, I will pay money to attend the KICKBOXING class at the CC near my workplace! No jogging and climbing stairs for me as my knees are getting brittle after the past two years of marathon. And kickboxing looks really cool too! But the only negative point is that I heard from my friend I would be the second male species in the class, the first being the instructor! *gulp*

Have you been overly caught up with work, studies and the many many 'valid' problems in life that you have lost motivation to do things which you wanted before?

Pick yourself up again... RE-motivate yourself again... Don't procratinate anymore.. Life is not a routine!

What your sleeping position says about you

2007-08-10T10:35:00.000+08:00

Found this interesting website which analyzes our sleeping position to give a clue on what kind of person we may be... Check it out, but don't take it too personally or seriously ah... *smiles*

(Source:http://www.flatseats.com/General/positions.htm)
What your sleeping position says about you ...

Foetus
Those who curl up in the foetus position are described as tough on the outside but sensitive at heart. They may be shy when they first meet somebody, but soon relax. This is the most common sleeping position, adopted by 41% of the 1,000 people who took part in the survey. More than twice as many women as men tend to adopt this position.

Log
Lying on your side with both arms down by your side. These sleepers are easy going, social people who like being part of the in-crowd, and who are trusting of strangers. However, they may be gullible.

Yearner
People who sleep on their side with both arms out in front are said to have an open nature, but can be suspicious, cynical. They are slow to make up their minds, but once they have taken a decision, they are unlikely ever to change it.

Soldier
Lying on your back with both arms pinned to your sides. People who sleep in this position are generally quiet and reserved. They don't like a fuss, but set themselves and others high standards.

Freefall
Lying on your front with your hands around the pillow, and your head turned to one side. Often gregarious and brash people, but can be nervy and thin-skinned underneath, and don't like criticism, or extreme situations.

Starfish
Lying on your back with both arms up around the pillow. These sleepers make good friends because they are always ready to listen to others, and offer help when needed. They generally don't like to be the centre of attention.

My sleeping position is usually "Foetus" or "Starfish".... how about you???

Are we actively using our brain?

2007-08-06T09:49:00.000+08:00

"Gosh! Young people of today really do not know how to think! It seems like they have lost their common sense or left their brains in the computer world which they are so hooked into! They act on impulse. They do whatever they like without consideration of consequences. They succumb themselves to little defeats of life and wallow there for eternity! They do not know how to be rational and think! Always led astray by their emotions and feelings. They are so sheltered that they have lost their ability to think and fend for themselves. Many youths of today are pretty much hopeless!"

These were words from a friend of mine when we were catching up recently. I was astounded by his harsh words, but to a certain extent I agree with what he says.

No, I do not think that youths of this generation are hopeless. But yes, I believe that possibly with the shelteredness and structure of way of life, youths of today grow up pretty much in a spoon-fed environment without having to trigger a thought. And possibly that's why we are seeing teenager cases sky rocketing in the past years i.e. underage sex, thefts, suicide, depression, emo-teens..etc. In the spur of the moment, the gush of emotions and adreneline overwhelms the mind and we soon become irrational and make decisions purely based on feelings and not thinking ahead of the consequences.

I am not neurologist or brain expert myself, but one thing I know for sure, if only we bother to pause and THINK before we act, we would really save ourselves from alot of problems and unneccesary pit falls.

Some youths have shared with me before, "Hmm... but we are young people, we must learn from experience. After we fall down, we will learn from it. That's called 2nd chance."

True as it may seem. But not everyday is Sunday. Not every experience gives you a 2nd chance. And in some cases, the 2nd chance may be different and comes with consequences. So before we jump into making that same statement, THINK again.

Would there be a second chance if your spur of emotions drive you to suicide?

Would your life be the same again if it were a case of teenage pregnancy?

Far fetched? THINK again. Because these are the very things that are happening around us. We can be both a victim and culprit if we don't learn to THINK. :)

Are You Emo-Mo-Mo???

2007-08-02T08:45:00.000+08:00

It seems like there has been this buzz or trend going around in recent years about EMO people, but yet no one seems to be able to pin point down a definition for it. So what really does being EMO means?

Does EMO means Emotional? Based on the facts that most emo people tend to let emotions overrule their brains and either burst out in mood swings or do silly things on themselves. Emotional??

I beg to differ. I believe we are all created as emotional being... that's why we have emotions and will laugh, cry, be sad...etc. I am no specialist in psychology or counseling, but I would related emo people as people whom are emotionally unstable. Overwhelming and challenging situations i.e. BGR breakup or stress stirs up that sense of fear or hopelessness within a person such that his/her emotional capacity is unable to handle it. And thus the person breaks down by taking it out on themselves i.e. self mutilation, hiding in one corner crying, refusing to talk.

It's really sad to see people dwindle down to this emo road, and I think as friends and support groups, we should and must encircle them to help and encourage them rather than ridicule or make fun of them. Don't be too quick in passing judgment!

Dangerously, there is an increasing trend of young people seeking to become emo! Their definition of emo has become a fashion trend of Gothic dressing and dark eye linings, and many of them choose to be like that even though they are not! They even think that self harm is a fashionable trend to follow! Gosh!

Think before you act. Before you jump into following a world wide culture, engage your brains to think if it does you more good than harm. Don't be Emo-Mo-Mo!!

Life without my precious laptop

2007-07-30T22:02:00.001+08:00

A traditional saying goes like this, "You will never know how important someone or something is to you until one day when you lose it."

Just this past week, I came to realise how important and dependent I was on my laptop when I had to sent it for servicing and leave it at the service center for a week! Gosh! I felt so paralyzed without my laptop! Work was stagnated because silly me had forgotten to save out all the important information before sending for repair. I also can't get to indulge much in my latest secret obesession - daily hour dosage of MapleStory. Similarly, I can't get to blog as much as I would have loved to. I remembered 3 days into my laptop-less days, I felt quite crippled and handicapped without my laptop.

But of course there were good things out of this whole experience:

1. I get to sleep early everyday.
2. I got more time to go around disturbing (nicely) my colleagues.
3. I get to spend more time interacting properly with my Mum and Dad.

Suddenly, this question dawned upon my mind - Humans manufactured computers, and by right, we should have control over it. But why is it that in turn, we have allowed computers to control and dictate our lives, that we depend on our computer so much that we cannot live without it?

Have we allowed anything to unhealtily dictate our lives until we cannot live without it? Studies? Pursuit of money and materialism? BGR?

Take a pause and think about it man.... Is it worth it?

Where Boys become Men

2007-07-27T16:50:00.000+08:00

64 - 57. That was the score in the recent C-Division South Zone Basketball finals where Cathoic High emerged as champions over Raffles Institution. I was at Delta Sports Hall to watch this game because the coach of RI is a great mentor in my life and I was there with some other friends to cheer him and the team on. Last year, Catholic High beat RI hands down in the similar finals. This time round, RI really pushed them to their limits and gave them a run for their money. Though RI may have lost, but I was really inspired by these bunch of 13, 14 year old boys sweating their lungs out and going for the gold.

In each and everyone of the boys on the court, I saw a hunger and passion in their eyes. They have the fighting attitude and the winning mentality, and nothing less than winning the championship could satisfy this hunger.

Though at the end of the match only one team could emerge the champion, I felt that ultimately the ones whom gained and learnt the most through the entire basketball season were the boys. They have learnt how to persevere when the odds are stacked against them. They have pushed themselves to their physical and mental limits and developed a tenacious attitude that shows resiliency. And I am certain such attitude will be crucial in the boys' growth journey... a journey where boys become men!

Question: Have we learnt to develop such an attitude in life that when problems hit use, we refuse to give in and fight on? Think about it man!

Where in the WORLD am I???

2007-07-25T09:50:00.000+08:00

In the VIRTUAL world, I am...

MiloAhCek, Level 40, Fire Mage, in CRuSH Guild

In the REAL world, I am...

EeJay, 28 years old, Programme Executive, working in TOUCH Youth Cyber Wellness & Sport department

I am REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, not addicted to MapleStory! I enjoy playing the game, but I am seriously not addicted. However, 6 months into this MMORPG, I can understand why many youths are hooked. To find out more, check out http://comeslashwithme.blogspot.com for me and my mentor's learning journey through MapleStory! :)

Being a Blessing, Be an Aroma!

2007-07-19T15:58:00.000+08:00

These past two weeks I have been making intentional and deliberate efforts in going round to bless people. Initially, it was quite tough as I wasn't quite used to it. But as the days go by, it sort of become something natural to do. Wherever I went, I would constantly remind myself to keep a lookout for anyone I could bless. Maybe it would be sparing a listening ear to someone in distress, or maybe it could be to lend a helping hand to someone in need, or it could be just buying a cup or kopi to lift up a tired soul, or just speaking words of encouragement to someone who feels down... and the list goes on and on. There are just so many possibilities and avenues!

And this photo taken from my office just reminds me that being a blessing to someone is just like this air freshener! People in the vicinity are just rejuvenated by the sweet scent that lingers around and spirits are lifted up!

What are you waiting for? Go and be a blessing to someone today! Just open your eyes and take deliberate notice of things happening in the surrounding!

Bring a sweet scent and NOT A STENCH!

Check out this Beautiful Babe!!!

2007-07-18T15:37:00.000+08:00

This beautiful gal is none other than my god-daughter, Rychelle Koh!! *clap clap clap*

My Most Embarressing Moment....

2007-07-15T21:33:00.000+08:00

WARNING: This blog post is based on a real life story and purely just for laugh only. Please do not forward it out via any channels or with any good intentions to make the author famous. Smiles.

It was the typical warm afternoon of 1990. There was I, a chubby and plump Primary 5 school boy seated nicely away in the middle of the class, paying careful attention to the ongoing Maths lesson. I didn't really like Maths lesson because the teacher was really a nutty professor. Any slightest mistake and he would drag the student out and pinch his/her face! Scary man!

Recess was just over and I was still satisfied (smiling to myself) over the packet of fresh milk that I drank.. Yummy! Suddenly, I could feel a sudden growling sensation within my stomach and this wierd feeling overwhelmed me. I started feeling really uncomfortable with my tummy aching. Gosh! It must have be that packet of fresh milk, now the effects are kicking in! I need to toilet NOW!! Big business is coming anytime!!!

Back to reality, I was afraid to raise my hands to ask for permission to go to the toilet as I was really fearful of my Maths teacher. Yet on the other hand, the burning sensation in my stomach was reaching its limit and I feel I was going to erupt any moment soon! It was a tug-of-war moment.. to go or not to go?

In that defining moment..... Volcano erupted!!! ARGH!!!! I couldn't control any further and I let my bowels loose in my pants. Without further hesitation, I got up and zipped off to the toilet with a hand clutched on my butt to prevent anything from dropping out. That must have been the fatest 100 meters dash I have ever made in my entire life!

After relieving myself, it wasn't the end yet. I soon realised that I had soiled my shorts and undergarment badly, and there wasn't anyone nearby that I could call for help! So all I could do was to wait. I waited, and waited and waited.... and soon 45 minutes passed by. I felt I was going to die soon from the disgusting mess I had created. *sniff sniff...phew!*

Just then, hope came by! My classmate came into the toilet to check on what had happened to me. Embarressingly, I told him what happened and asked him to inform the teacher to call my home and ask my mum to deliver a new pair of shorts and undergarment. I could hear the giggles and laughters from my other classmates outside the toilet... Gosh! There goes all my reputation.. I can't face the world anymore.. It felt awful!

After another 45 minutes long wait... There came the world's most bemusing announcement from the general office.

"Attention. Will Chong Ee Jay of Class 5E, please proceed to the general office to collect your school shorts from your mother now."

Now I am really going to be famous school-wide... And how do they expect me to walk down to meet my Mum when I am already stuck in the toilet with soiled shorts?!!?!? Diaoz!!

Sushi Blessings with the family!

2007-07-11T10:19:00.000+08:00

I blessed two very special people yesterday. I gave them a dinner treat at a Japanese restaurant. They are...... my two dear younger cousins Audrey and Nicole! Why are they special to me? More than just being cousins, but I watched (and heard) them grow up.. from crawling on the floor all the way till now where they are in JC and Secondary school respectively.

Why do I want to bless them? Because I realised that at this generation with all my cousins, we hardly ever meet up except for the annual major family event known as Chinese New Year! I seriously don't want to lose touch with my family man!

The mental picture I had about Audrey and Nicole were still of them in primary or secondary schools with pony tails and chubby with baby fats. Hahaha.. but when I met them yesterday, they have both grown up! One is a entreprenuering young lady, the other is a martial art expert aspiring to become one of the few female pilots as a career next time!

Despite being more than 10 years older than them, honestly, I felt 10 years younger when I was with them!

To Audrey & Nicole: Thank you both for making time for dinner yesterday! Really great joy to see you both! Thanks for helping me with the walkathon pledge cards too! Next time we go watch movie together and invite rest of cousins to come too! :)

It all started with a cup of Kopi-O

2007-07-09T10:01:00.000+08:00

"Hmmm.. what if she doesn't like Kopi-O? What if she rejects me? What if she is busy? I really don't know how to express it to her... How? How? How? Maybe I should wait and try next time?"

Pause. Nope, don't be mistaken. I am not trying to pull off some stun and chase after a girl here. In fact, I am chasing after a lady... the prawn noodle stall auntie at the hawker center next to my office, whom I have gotten to know over the past one year as I work. I am chasing after the auntie to bless her!

I am fresh out of the oven from a church conference over the weekend which really challenged me to live out a lifestyle of being a blessing to others. And it has to be done DELIBERATELY and INTENTIONALLY! Procrastinate and the opportunity will slip by unknowingly. Seize the moment and you will sow a seed of blessing and touch one life.

I overcame all my queries and fears this morning. I bought a cup of Kopi-O, walked like a pink panther sneakily and sprang on the prawn noodle stall auntie. I just told her (in mandarin), "Hey auntie. I noticed everyday you work so hard from morning till night, and I just want to bless you with a cup of Kopi. Hope it refreshes you!"

The smile and appreciation from the auntie just warms my heart. Hey! It wasn't so difficult after all... so much for all those doubtful thoughts in my mind before that... Once I did the blessing, it was so easy!

Tommorrow I am going to do it again. I want to bless the chicken rice stall uncle. The next day the fruit juice stall uncle. I hope I can bless all the stall owners in Bukit Merah Hawker Center within this month!

It is more than just a blessing project... It is about cultivating a new lifestyle... a lifestyle that choose to bless. :)

I want to be a Transformer too!

2007-07-06T13:19:00.000+08:00

"No sacrifice, no victory!"

This was the famous quote that I got out from the latest buzz in town, the movie - Transformers. What is the victory? Victory comes in the form of transformation - when we get good results in our studies, when we manage to bless and impact someone's life or even when we see our dreams or goals in life come to accomplishment. That sense of satisfaction and achievement truly transform our lives! Indeed, transformation comes hand in hand with impact. And with that in mind, I am certain we all are greatly inspired to be a Transformer!

But in all things, there is a price to pay. Being a transformer requires to price too - the price of SACRIFICE.

Times when you have to sacrifice your computer games so that you can spend more times focusing on studies.

Times when you have to fork out time and energy just to encourage a friend whom is feeling lousy after a breakup (when you could either be sleeping or doing whatever you like).

Times when you give up the remaining $2 in your wallet just to buy tissue packs from a frail auntie.

Remembered what Optimus Prime wanted to do when he came to his wits end and wasn't able to defeat Megatron? He was willing to sacrifice himself to destroy the cube just to save the human race - just to save a bunch of people whom he wasn't much related to.

Want to be a Transformer? No sacrifice, No Victory.....

Transformers - More than meets the eye

2007-07-04T10:34:00.000+08:00

"Without sacrifice, there will be no victory." - quoted from Transformers Movie

Heard many reviews about the Transformers Movie.. some good and some bad. But personally for me, whether it is good or bad, I will still watch it because this show has a greater meaning to me rather than just another A or B-graded movie. This was THE show that represented my childhood days! I grew up watching Transformers! :)

Managed to catch the show yesterday night with a bunch of good buddies, oh-man! It was a sure great movie man! I must admit cartoon-version still have a stronger appeal, but the real life action version is not bad either. Which is your favorite Transformer in the show? Are you an Autobots fan or are you a loyal supporter of the Decepticons?

My favorite is still BUMBLEBEE! One thing that struck me about this Autobot was that it was willing to sacrifice to all extend for the boy whom he was instructed/programmed to protect, even till the extent of death itself! Commitment, loyalty, servanthood.. you name it, Bumblebee's got it all!

I'm not a movie buff, but each time I watch, I tell myself that there must be something I can learn from it.

Indeed, each movie is truly 'More Than Meets The Eye!"