As M and T were not feeling well on sunday, they decided not to go for our usual skate gathering. Making use of the chance, i too, took a break from the usual routine and took my bike out for a ride instead.
It had been quite sometime since i went for a 3 hour non-stop ride. Rode down to Bishan park before heading down to MacRitchie. Went further down to lornie road and turned into the small rode that leads to Singapore Island Country Club.
Here's where i got the surprise visit from one of our little furry neighbour from the park after passing some tombstones. Want to know who's the neighbour i'm talking about - just click on the link below. :)
Really wonder why we didn't see any of them when i went for a hike with MM a few months back. Heehee, maybe we were making too much noise that day. (",)
http://www.wildsingapore.per.sg/discovery/factsheet/plantain.htm
Of course, i managed to sight quite a number of the long tailed macaque (a type of monkey if you are not familiar) along the way. Quite a common sight nowadays and due to the fact that humans sometimes feed them, they will make a grab for the plastic bags (thinking it contains food) held in the visitors' hands. So make sure, remember to keep your plastic bags out of sight if you visit the park. :)
Sunday 28 August 2005
Tuesday 23 August 2005
Discover Your Destiny
It's one of the books from the series "The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari". Maybe some of you might find it familiar since it's pretty much found in most of the major retail bookstores here.
There's a particular chapter in the book that reminded me about one of the dicussions i had with C before. Yup, that's rite, C's the same person i had mentioned in my first blog entry "Coffee Talk".
We had this particular talk at the cafe that's rite in front of CK Tangs quite a couple months back. It's about life and what is it. C said life is a learning process cos we are always on the learning track till the day we pass on from this world.
As a child, we learn to eat, to walk, to play. When we get to school, we learn to study, to participate in group activites, to live through exams. By the time we reach adulthood and step into our working life, we learn to cope with people, to work with our colleageues. By the time we get married and have kids, we learn to be a spouse, a parent. Guess you more or less get the idea.. (",)
As usual, i'm pretty much in agreement with what C said but i added on just a little more. Life is also a process where we learn to remember who we truly are.
As a child, our minds are free from prejudices, judgements and we readily accept everything with an open heart. As we get older, we judge, we assume and our hearts becomes tighter. By the time, we hit our 70s or 80s, we learn to let go (in chinese Kan Kai Le) if we are fortunate enough. We become a child once more, accepting things with an open heart, the diff, with wisdom. :)
Learn to remember, to rediscover the purest and the fearless self that we all once were when we were just born is the major theme in the book. Let's us all be the child we truly are in our hearts. :)
There's a particular chapter in the book that reminded me about one of the dicussions i had with C before. Yup, that's rite, C's the same person i had mentioned in my first blog entry "Coffee Talk".
We had this particular talk at the cafe that's rite in front of CK Tangs quite a couple months back. It's about life and what is it. C said life is a learning process cos we are always on the learning track till the day we pass on from this world.
As a child, we learn to eat, to walk, to play. When we get to school, we learn to study, to participate in group activites, to live through exams. By the time we reach adulthood and step into our working life, we learn to cope with people, to work with our colleageues. By the time we get married and have kids, we learn to be a spouse, a parent. Guess you more or less get the idea.. (",)
As usual, i'm pretty much in agreement with what C said but i added on just a little more. Life is also a process where we learn to remember who we truly are.
As a child, our minds are free from prejudices, judgements and we readily accept everything with an open heart. As we get older, we judge, we assume and our hearts becomes tighter. By the time, we hit our 70s or 80s, we learn to let go (in chinese Kan Kai Le) if we are fortunate enough. We become a child once more, accepting things with an open heart, the diff, with wisdom. :)
Learn to remember, to rediscover the purest and the fearless self that we all once were when we were just born is the major theme in the book. Let's us all be the child we truly are in our hearts. :)
Monday 15 August 2005
Five Wonderful Precepts
After reading LH's recent post in her blog, i cannot help but reflect how these five wonderful precepts can help bring peace and happiness into everyday living for each and everyone of us. Precepts are not hard and fast commandants but rather a form of guidelines to help to transform peace, harmony into our lives. (",)
The first precept is to avoid intentional killing and harming of all living beings. As much as we wish to live in happiness, all living things too. Every being in this world do not wish to suffer nor be in pain. Knowing that we are all equal in this aspect, we avoid intentional killing and harming. In doing so, we can cultivate a loving compassionate heart for all beings, big or small, beautiful or ugly.
Second precept is to avoid stealing and gaining ownership of things through false means. We know how one can suffer when we lose something that is dear to us. Think about the time you lost your wallet or mobile phone, wasn't it troublesome? With knowledge of such, we learn to respect the property of others and it helps in building harmonious relationships.
Third precept is to avoid speaking falsely and to cultivate speech of truth and loving kindness. Knowing how lies and harsh speeches can hurt, we avoid speaking angrily and falsely. Think how nice it will be if everyone around you speaks of joy and love. Likewise, they wish so too.
Fourth precept is to avoid sexual misconduct and unhealthy relationships that can bring harm and shame to yourself and the people around you. How many times have we read or heard in the news or know someone that was hurt because of these unhealthy relationships? I believe countless times and i'm sure none of us don't wish to be the party that is on the hurting end. Why not have and enjoy relationships that are filled with love, sincerity and faithfulness.
The fifth precept is to avoid the consumption of intoxicants and speaking of intoxicants, it is generally pointing to alcohol and drugs. Through media, most of us know that people under the influence of such intoxicants can do a lot of unimaginable things. Most of the time, these events are harmful. It is not to say we can't consume them, e.g. if we are sick, we still take drugs to help us recover faster and better.
In all, these are basic guidelines to help us live a life that will be clean and free of guilt. They are not meant to be binding and restrictive. On the contrary, it is meant to set us on a path to a heart that will be more free and loving and a mind that is more aware. (",)
May all of us be well, free and happy. :)
The first precept is to avoid intentional killing and harming of all living beings. As much as we wish to live in happiness, all living things too. Every being in this world do not wish to suffer nor be in pain. Knowing that we are all equal in this aspect, we avoid intentional killing and harming. In doing so, we can cultivate a loving compassionate heart for all beings, big or small, beautiful or ugly.
Second precept is to avoid stealing and gaining ownership of things through false means. We know how one can suffer when we lose something that is dear to us. Think about the time you lost your wallet or mobile phone, wasn't it troublesome? With knowledge of such, we learn to respect the property of others and it helps in building harmonious relationships.
Third precept is to avoid speaking falsely and to cultivate speech of truth and loving kindness. Knowing how lies and harsh speeches can hurt, we avoid speaking angrily and falsely. Think how nice it will be if everyone around you speaks of joy and love. Likewise, they wish so too.
Fourth precept is to avoid sexual misconduct and unhealthy relationships that can bring harm and shame to yourself and the people around you. How many times have we read or heard in the news or know someone that was hurt because of these unhealthy relationships? I believe countless times and i'm sure none of us don't wish to be the party that is on the hurting end. Why not have and enjoy relationships that are filled with love, sincerity and faithfulness.
The fifth precept is to avoid the consumption of intoxicants and speaking of intoxicants, it is generally pointing to alcohol and drugs. Through media, most of us know that people under the influence of such intoxicants can do a lot of unimaginable things. Most of the time, these events are harmful. It is not to say we can't consume them, e.g. if we are sick, we still take drugs to help us recover faster and better.
In all, these are basic guidelines to help us live a life that will be clean and free of guilt. They are not meant to be binding and restrictive. On the contrary, it is meant to set us on a path to a heart that will be more free and loving and a mind that is more aware. (",)
May all of us be well, free and happy. :)
Saturday 13 August 2005
First Day, Last Day
Saturday was the first day of class.. As usual, i'm feeling a bit rusty going back to my studies after such a long break. It's been more than two months since my last exams in May. Guess anyone would feel the same after two months of holidays.
Just recently realised that this semester will be a heavy one for me. As it's my first time doing the final level subjects, i'm required by the system to take all 3 papers together in this very first sitting and it will be somewhat disruptive to my travel plans.
Most of you probably know that i've been looking forward to a trip to the western part of this world, if possible, in late October. However, it seems to me that i'll probably have to shelve my plans aside for the moment if i'm to be able to cope with all three papers.
Most likely i'll have to look to somewhere nearer and at the same time, a shorter duration. Guess the "journey to the west" can only be fufiled in next year Jan or Feb. Still, i'm looking forward to whatever trip i maybe going. After all, it will still be a whole new experience for me, be it near or far. (",) Sometimes, an old place re-visited can also be a whole new experience if we can approach it with a beginner's mind. :)
Sunday was the last day of the carnival at the marina for the national day celebration. It was the day for the final installation to the fireworks display as well. Went there with my blading friends after our usual sunday workout to catch the fireworks on the ECP brigde.
Yup, got my shots on the fireworks displays but sad to say, most of the photographers including me, were a bit tad disappointed. Some were disappointed with the displays and some lamenting about over-exposed shots. I was among those that had quite a few over-exposed shots. It's a bit technical, so let me try to explain.
It was quite a windless nite and so, the smoke from the firewrorks was not dispersed. It remained near the firing point. As the smoke is whitish in colour, it tends to reflect light very well. When the fireworks explode, especially the ones that are really bright, i'll get more light than what i expected through my camera and my photos turned out overly white and without details.
Still, i managed to get some not too bad shots and i'm quite contented with it. Well, it's a good learning experience and i'll be more prepared for the next year, if there's one. (",)
Just recently realised that this semester will be a heavy one for me. As it's my first time doing the final level subjects, i'm required by the system to take all 3 papers together in this very first sitting and it will be somewhat disruptive to my travel plans.
Most of you probably know that i've been looking forward to a trip to the western part of this world, if possible, in late October. However, it seems to me that i'll probably have to shelve my plans aside for the moment if i'm to be able to cope with all three papers.
Most likely i'll have to look to somewhere nearer and at the same time, a shorter duration. Guess the "journey to the west" can only be fufiled in next year Jan or Feb. Still, i'm looking forward to whatever trip i maybe going. After all, it will still be a whole new experience for me, be it near or far. (",) Sometimes, an old place re-visited can also be a whole new experience if we can approach it with a beginner's mind. :)
Sunday was the last day of the carnival at the marina for the national day celebration. It was the day for the final installation to the fireworks display as well. Went there with my blading friends after our usual sunday workout to catch the fireworks on the ECP brigde.
Yup, got my shots on the fireworks displays but sad to say, most of the photographers including me, were a bit tad disappointed. Some were disappointed with the displays and some lamenting about over-exposed shots. I was among those that had quite a few over-exposed shots. It's a bit technical, so let me try to explain.
It was quite a windless nite and so, the smoke from the firewrorks was not dispersed. It remained near the firing point. As the smoke is whitish in colour, it tends to reflect light very well. When the fireworks explode, especially the ones that are really bright, i'll get more light than what i expected through my camera and my photos turned out overly white and without details.
Still, i managed to get some not too bad shots and i'm quite contented with it. Well, it's a good learning experience and i'll be more prepared for the next year, if there's one. (",)
Thursday 11 August 2005
Fotos!
If you are wondering what i've been up to recently.... It's Fotos, fotos and more fotos for the past two weeks or so.
Uploaded the fotos that i took in Bintan. Its part of the earlier posting. Hope you will enjoy it! Btw, please give me your opinions and comments if you have any to help me improve on my skills. :) At the same time, been chasing a bit of "stars" around and trying very hard to get their trails.
Don't get me wrong, i'm not going after any idols but i'm actually shooting fireworks. One of the newest baby in fireworks are the ones that popped in shapes of stars. Since they leave trails - ain't i "star chasing"? ("~) I must say it's not easy to get those pretty pics.
Had a few mishaps during the shoot. (_ _") Well, maybe the next time any of you meet up with me, ask me what happened and i'll share the experience with you, so we can have a good laugh together over it! :)
Btw, will be uploading some of the pics taken at the fireworks in a later post once i'm done with the processing. (" ,)
Uploaded the fotos that i took in Bintan. Its part of the earlier posting. Hope you will enjoy it! Btw, please give me your opinions and comments if you have any to help me improve on my skills. :) At the same time, been chasing a bit of "stars" around and trying very hard to get their trails.
Don't get me wrong, i'm not going after any idols but i'm actually shooting fireworks. One of the newest baby in fireworks are the ones that popped in shapes of stars. Since they leave trails - ain't i "star chasing"? ("~) I must say it's not easy to get those pretty pics.
Had a few mishaps during the shoot. (_ _") Well, maybe the next time any of you meet up with me, ask me what happened and i'll share the experience with you, so we can have a good laugh together over it! :)
Btw, will be uploading some of the pics taken at the fireworks in a later post once i'm done with the processing. (" ,)
Thursday 4 August 2005
Reflections (Bintan Trip)
Some after-thoughts and reflections i have on the occurrences during the 2 day trip to Bintan Lagoon Resort. Even though it may have been a short trip but it did spurred something in my mind as i run through the photos. :)
One of them that pops right into mind was one of the conversations i had with the non-marketing manager that i mentioned in an earlier blog entry. It was about a beach, a beach he took for granted.
Apparently, before he became a citizen of this country, the place he lived was not too far from the beach. Though the beach was within reaching distance, he spoke to his family about going to the beach for an outing which never really came about. They did go for outings but usually ended up somewhere else.
For that moment, i reflected alongside him, thinking how true it is - a fact that we sometimes almost never treasure what we have till it's no longer there or out from our reach. I guess that is why we need to be mindful of the present and learn to appreciate and fully treasure the people and things that surround us.
Second thing that happened which gave me an insight was the wine drinking during dinnertime. The company had brought some red wine to be drunk during the dinner at Bintan and apparently, some of them had a drop too much. As the return trip to the resort was quite a distance, one of them vomitted upon reaching the resort after the bumpy ride.
It made me realise how wonderful one of the precepts that i have taken was - the precept to refrain from the usage of drugs and intoxicants. Why do i say so? Simply because by refraining from intaking of the intoxicants including drinking, i'm able to keep my mind clear and thus, less likely to cause trouble or do or even say something that i might regret later. Especially when it was the resort staff who cleared up the smelly mess - doesn't it ring a bell? A scenario that our loved ones are the ones who had to clear up the mess we made.
You may think that the person could be feeling awful about the mess created and didn't really mean to but i think fair is fair. After all one has the ability to say no to the drink in the first place. Some may even say they know their limit but do we? From what i gathered, the person only had two glasses and by the social norm, two glasses is not a lot. Somtimes a little is enough to go a long way, be it good or bad.
The third incident occurred at the ferry terminal in Bintan while waiting for our turn to board. A couple of us were having coffee sitting around a table and just chit chatting our to past time. offhandedly, one of my colleagues mentioned that (in order not to mention names here, i'll just name them X,Y and Z) X was particularly nice to Y and Z tried to brush off the topic and said, "Hey, don't anyhow say (in proper english it means keep yer mouth shut!)." My colleague replied that it is rather an observation and not made out of the air.
I couldn't agree more and it made me ponder why can't we say something that is a simple fact. Is there something more to X and Y that Z is trying to cover for them. So, what is it then? It also made me realise that a simple and uncomplicated life is the LIFE that is really worth living for. By living a life that is simple and clean, one is free of guilt and thus, have no fear of what people may say. And live free - that's life.
May all of you, my dear friends out there, be free, be happy and be well. :)
One of them that pops right into mind was one of the conversations i had with the non-marketing manager that i mentioned in an earlier blog entry. It was about a beach, a beach he took for granted.
Apparently, before he became a citizen of this country, the place he lived was not too far from the beach. Though the beach was within reaching distance, he spoke to his family about going to the beach for an outing which never really came about. They did go for outings but usually ended up somewhere else.
For that moment, i reflected alongside him, thinking how true it is - a fact that we sometimes almost never treasure what we have till it's no longer there or out from our reach. I guess that is why we need to be mindful of the present and learn to appreciate and fully treasure the people and things that surround us.
Second thing that happened which gave me an insight was the wine drinking during dinnertime. The company had brought some red wine to be drunk during the dinner at Bintan and apparently, some of them had a drop too much. As the return trip to the resort was quite a distance, one of them vomitted upon reaching the resort after the bumpy ride.
It made me realise how wonderful one of the precepts that i have taken was - the precept to refrain from the usage of drugs and intoxicants. Why do i say so? Simply because by refraining from intaking of the intoxicants including drinking, i'm able to keep my mind clear and thus, less likely to cause trouble or do or even say something that i might regret later. Especially when it was the resort staff who cleared up the smelly mess - doesn't it ring a bell? A scenario that our loved ones are the ones who had to clear up the mess we made.
You may think that the person could be feeling awful about the mess created and didn't really mean to but i think fair is fair. After all one has the ability to say no to the drink in the first place. Some may even say they know their limit but do we? From what i gathered, the person only had two glasses and by the social norm, two glasses is not a lot. Somtimes a little is enough to go a long way, be it good or bad.
The third incident occurred at the ferry terminal in Bintan while waiting for our turn to board. A couple of us were having coffee sitting around a table and just chit chatting our to past time. offhandedly, one of my colleagues mentioned that (in order not to mention names here, i'll just name them X,Y and Z) X was particularly nice to Y and Z tried to brush off the topic and said, "Hey, don't anyhow say (in proper english it means keep yer mouth shut!)." My colleague replied that it is rather an observation and not made out of the air.
I couldn't agree more and it made me ponder why can't we say something that is a simple fact. Is there something more to X and Y that Z is trying to cover for them. So, what is it then? It also made me realise that a simple and uncomplicated life is the LIFE that is really worth living for. By living a life that is simple and clean, one is free of guilt and thus, have no fear of what people may say. And live free - that's life.
May all of you, my dear friends out there, be free, be happy and be well. :)
Wednesday 3 August 2005
Bintan
Got back this evening from the co's overnite outing at Bintan. It was supposed to be a staff appreciation outing but guess one of my colleague's comment pretty much sums it all - it's not to appreciate the staff but for the staff to appreciate.
Confusing? I'll explain... It's like this, Bintan Resort Lagoon is more known for its golf course. Gathered from the thoughts and opinions from most of the staff, it's really for the marketing and senior management to indulge in their interest in golf. Hence, it's for the staff to appreciate the golfers....
It's not so bad for me cos you guys know me - i'm quite into photography, so i can more or less entertain myself by snooping around the place taking pictures. Well, i really can't say the same for some of the rest.
I know that one of the managers (non-marketing) went to the beach at around 3 times within that 24 hours stay in the resort (i know cos i bumped into him while taking pics of the beach area). You might say he's a beach lover and he likes the sun but all the rest of us know, he's not the sort (he's more of the quiet type).
To tell you the truth, many of us found him quite pitiful and lonesome during the trip. On my part, i do admire him in a way cos he's pretty resilient in his peaceful quiet manner. He's really well read and very much capable of holding an more intellegent conversation than the rest of the managers do. So i actually managed to engage with him for quite a fair bit of conversation but still, there's only so much that we can say.
All in all, it wasn't a bad trip for me, got my shots after all but pity that the sky's overcast so i couldn't get a proper sunset or sunrise shot (you know, the big yolky thing). By the way, i got my hands on the go-kart there. As usual go-karting are fun but a small blemish in the big picture due to the fact that the track was a bit narrow and short. :)
Here's the pics, do enjoy! =)
Confusing? I'll explain... It's like this, Bintan Resort Lagoon is more known for its golf course. Gathered from the thoughts and opinions from most of the staff, it's really for the marketing and senior management to indulge in their interest in golf. Hence, it's for the staff to appreciate the golfers....
It's not so bad for me cos you guys know me - i'm quite into photography, so i can more or less entertain myself by snooping around the place taking pictures. Well, i really can't say the same for some of the rest.
I know that one of the managers (non-marketing) went to the beach at around 3 times within that 24 hours stay in the resort (i know cos i bumped into him while taking pics of the beach area). You might say he's a beach lover and he likes the sun but all the rest of us know, he's not the sort (he's more of the quiet type).
To tell you the truth, many of us found him quite pitiful and lonesome during the trip. On my part, i do admire him in a way cos he's pretty resilient in his peaceful quiet manner. He's really well read and very much capable of holding an more intellegent conversation than the rest of the managers do. So i actually managed to engage with him for quite a fair bit of conversation but still, there's only so much that we can say.
All in all, it wasn't a bad trip for me, got my shots after all but pity that the sky's overcast so i couldn't get a proper sunset or sunrise shot (you know, the big yolky thing). By the way, i got my hands on the go-kart there. As usual go-karting are fun but a small blemish in the big picture due to the fact that the track was a bit narrow and short. :)
Here's the pics, do enjoy! =)
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