Charisse

Interesting Site

One lazy Tuesday afternoon, I was walking along Orchard Road and this wall painting across the road, caught my eye ->

I started to stare real hard at it.. Are they going to build an outdoor stage beside the shopping mall? But why are the performers wearing bright yellow shoes and hat... that kinda puzzled me..

5 seconds later, my two companions, who coincidently were also looking at the same painting, pointed to this notice ->

All three of us had a good laugh :)

Can You Do it?

I just got the following email from my friend >>>>>

This is interesting...

If you can do it... let me know

An Indian discovered that nobody can create a folder anywhere named as "con" in his computer.

This is something pretty cool...and unbelievable... At Microsoft the whole Team, including Bill Gates, couldn't answer why this happened!

Try it out yourself...

The Mid-Autumn Festival

Last Sunday (18th September 2005) was the 15th of the 8th lunar month. Chinese worldwide celebrate this day every year called The Mid-Autumn Festival ( 中秋节 ).

This auspicious occasion is a time of gathering and reunion for families and friends, many whom come together to enjoy mooncakes, Chinese tea and appreciate the moon at it fullest.
- VisitSingapore.com

In Singapore, major hotels, restaurants and bakeries started accepting mooncake orders even before the 7th lunar month (The Hungry Ghost Festival). From the traditional mung bean and lotus paste mooncakes to the champagne truffle and ganache snowskin mooncakes... The most expensive I saw this year was the Häagen-Dazs mooncakes selling at SGD80 (USD47.60). I was wondering if they were made of gold... Hehe.

On Saturday, the evening News reported the Lantern festival celebration at Lianshan Shuanglin Monastery ( 莲山双林寺 ). This Chinese monastery is just a 20mins walk away from my house! Celebrating the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival at a Chinese monastery would be interesting and meaningful! Not letting this opportunity slip by, I dated Esther to go down to the monastery with me on Sunday!

"民眾不僅可觀賞到景致宜人的雙林寺夜景，品嘗中秋應節食品，觀看法師現場做月餅，還可以觀賞卡通片《一休小和尚》、祥龍瑞獅、印度舞蹈、馬來民歌等精彩的多元文化及多元種族的節目表演；同時，民眾還可親賭「沙彌」造型彩燈和多種燈飾。 "
- http://buddhismcity.net/newsall/creation/details/20923/

Guessing riddles ( 猜灯谜 ) is a must for big group Mid-Autumn celebrations

Monks led thousand of followers around the monastery pray for blessings.

Kids love fire-sparklers :)

A fully-blossomed waterlily and the Pagoda

Many such huge lantern figurines were being displayed on the monastery ground.

These candles were held by the procession followers.

The candles were used to form the Chinese word for "Buddha"

The full moon intersected with a strange piece of "cloud". Everyone was amazed.

Lanterns and lanterns!

Dragon dance

Wishing waterlilies - I love this photo!

My Music Hobby

This all happened in the music school >>

3 weeks ago...

Piano Teacher: "Do you intend to take the music exams for next year?"

Me: "Ermmm.... I don't know if I can play well enough to go for exams...."

Piano Teacher: "Mr Ng wants you to take Grade 2..... although I think you should go for Grade 1"

Me: "Ermmm... Let's see first.. I just wanna concentrate on my MCAD exams first..."

2 weeks ago...

Piano Teacher: "These are the books for Grade 2"

My eyebrow rosed.

Piano Teacher: "Please pay them after the lesson.."

After the lesson...

Cashier: "$35 please"

My eyebrow rose once again. (One of books is only 3-paged, but it is tagged at $5.50!!! Erm, can I just photocopy it?)

1 week ago...

Piano Teacher: "Have you paid for this month's fee?"

Me: "Nope.."

Piano Teacher: "This month you are starting grade 2 right?"

I interrupted: "What?! Gonna charge 10 dollars more?!?! Right??!?!"

No wonder Nr Ng, the BOSS of the music school, preferred me to take the Grade 2 exams... he can earn extra 10 bucks from this month onwards... This is really a very expensive hobby... from the very first SGD90 per month to the current SGD110 per month.. I am feeling the pain for parents who have to send their children for tuition, music and art classes... How do they afford it?

You've Got Mail

Inbox (25)

25 new mails. *Yawns*

Scrolled up and down (to look for gold).

One email caught my eye.

Sender: Microsoft Certified Professional Programs

Subject: Congratulations on your new Microsoft Certification! Please claim your Welcome Kit!

Email Body:

Congratulations on becoming a Microsoft Certified Application Developer!

Your next step as an MCP is to confirm your address at the MCP Member site in order to receive your Welcome Kit. The kit contains your certificate, your personalized wallet card, your MCP lapel pin and the MCP program agreement. You will not be sent your Welcome Kit until you confirm your information and request your kit at the MCP Member site.

YEAH!

Friends, I got my MCAD! With two more exams, I could be a MCSD. However, the past months have been rather hectic for me, I guess I would like lay back a bit and take a short break first...

I have a small vacation plan for next weekend:

visit old friends staying in Kuala Lumpur and
conquer MidValley ;)

Happy National Day

HAPPY NATIONAL DAY to all Singaporeans!

We are 40th!

Folks, remember to don your Red and White today!

Check out this website which Agnes, Bernard and me has done for Microsoft Singapore and the Ministry of Information, Communications and Arts (MICA)

http://www.happybirthday.org.sg/

The official National Day Parade website

http://www.ndp.org.sg/

I would like to wish my two old buddies who celebrate their birthdays with the Nation.

Happy Birthday to Joey, Wenyi and Singapore!

Happenings and Happenings!

Looks like I was absent from theSpoke for almost 2 months! Well, I am baaack!

As usual, let me proudly present my Photo Blog

*drum rolls*

[ HUMAN MOVEMENT ]

[Folks who left Singapore.. ]

[ Welcome them Who Joined My Coy ]

[The Guy Over There who got himself a little fame.. ]

Many activities and 'excursions' were held over the past months... Enjoy~

[ GO KARTING ]

"We shall NOT be held responsible for our own injuries.." :P

The wicked laugh after knocking down fellow racer..

[ SUNGEI BULOH WETLAND RESERVE ]

[ VILLA BALI - the chill-out bar ]

Ssssh.. dont disturb

The Tree pose

[ MY HATCHDAY CELEBRATIONS! ]

Japanese Dinner at Waraku

No way am I doing this!

Am I allowed to have a choice?

Helpers!

Don't play play with me, I will make you cry...

This pearlie prezzie I got for myself :)

This month, I am working hard towards this logo.

I have passed the first paper today.. Two more to go! Which also means more hibernating in my room :(

Now is the spookiest month for all Chinese worldwide... take careeeee spokers....

"Today is your Birthday"

I was having dinner when my mum suddenly turned and said "Today is your birthday".

(eyes blinked)

(Stared at her for 2 seconds)

"Ooooooh..."

My mom loves to go by the lunar calendar :P

gardensilly

http://www.eeshaun.com

"Soh Ee Shaun, a 24-year old teacher, does all his sketches by hand but produces his final drawings using Macromedia Freehand. He even does all the colouring digitally"

http://www.eeshaun.com
Check it out!

MVP on Technet

Two articles on Technet Singapore that just got published this week:

Aspiring MVPs – Interview with Howard Lo, MVP Lead for SEA
Based in Singapore, Howard Lo is the coordinator for Microsoft’s Most Valuable Professional (MVP) Program in South East Asia. Following on from their successful regional conference last month, he explained in greater depth why Microsoft invests so much in the prestigious IT professionals program.

Spotlight: Sukhdev Singh, Singapore's SQL MVP
The Most Valuable Professional Program (MVP) is Microsoft's high profile scheme for recognizing its most accomplished professional users, and leveraging their skill in the development of new products. Sukhdev Singh - featured in the last month's TechNet Flash bulletin – talks in more detail about his role as Singapore's SQL Server MVP.

Ketchup and Chilli Packets

I posted a question weeks ago on why there is a digit printed on the packets of chilli and ketchup packets from McDonalds and Burger King.

Well, if you compare the colour of the tomoto sauce of a "2" verus a "8", you will see that the one with "8" actually looks much redder.

Therefore, the answer would be the concentration of tomoto/chilli in the sauce. Chilli sauce with a "7" would taste A BIT more spicy than the packet with a "3" printed on it.

Now that you know it, the next time when you order your food from the counter, you can tell them that you want the least hot chilli sauce ;)

Lazy Sunday Afternoon...

Was sitting alone at Mos Burger, dazing, looking out of the glass panels, letting thoughts flowing through... It felt good... to re-think about things, plus self-reflection... this is what I needed after a hectic week of work, juggling along with 10 hours of lessons a week.

A good chill-out fren to me, would be someone who I can feel comfortable with.. and even when the two of us are not talking, there don't be any awkward silences.. we just know that both of us are deep in our own thoughts, enjoying the golden moment.. Just by looking at each other in the eyes, we could understand each other... and there might be times when we just burst out laughing/giggling at ourselves...

Now, I am alone at home.. hearing the soothing sound of water falling from the filter... watching the 2 naughty fish banging their head against the fish tank :)

Bill Gates LIVE! in Singapore

Our panda-eyed team proudly presents you the online registration for Bill Gates LIVE!

Bill Gates is coming to Singapore to share with you his insights on the future of computing. Together with industry leaders and experts, come discover the latest and coolest technologies in the IT market as well as career and business opportunities. Register now and meet Bill Gates on 1 July 2005.

Click here for information and registration

www.microsoft.com/singapore/billgateslive

Please note that we accept online registration only

Red Hot Question of the Day

When you get your chilli/ketchup sauces from your local fast food chain, have you ever noticed that there is a digit printed near the bottom of the packet? If there are, do you think it has any significance? Come on, TELL ME your guesses here!

From left: "4" is printed on the chilli packet, "8" is printed on the ketchup packet.

Hint: You might want to run off to your nearest fast food branch to get a few packets now.
Packets from McDonald's and Burger King have it, but not Mos Burger.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to FAITH, WINIE, JASON (spoke), JONATHON and sgdotnet!

There are so many birthday boys and birthday girls this month..

I just had a class gathering tonight to celebrate the birthday of 3 friends..
Sgdotnet has a BBQ tonight at the beach to celebrate their 1st anniversary, but too bad I can't join.. It has been storming outside since 10pm, I wonder if there is any rain over their side.. but this is such a good time to sleep.. on a rainy day..