Reflections of Passion

Theatre Outings ^_^

2007-01-20T10:11:00.000Z

Let's see how much money I've invested:

Les Miserables (20th Anniversary Cast)
Phantom of the Opera
Cats (UK Tour - Wimbledon)
Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
The Far Pavillions (Original London Cast)
Chicago
Woman in White
Billy Elliot (Original London Cast)
Guys & Dolls (Cast: Patrick Swayze)
Avenue Q (Original London Cast)
Evita! (Remake - Original London Cast)
Wicked (Original London Cast)
Mary Poppins
A Midsummer Night's Dream (Play)
Some Girls (Cast: David Schwimmer)
Beauty and the Beast (Broadway - NYC)

Others:

Miss Saigon (Asia Tour - Singapore)
Saturday Night Fever (Asia Tour - Singapore)

Countries of the World

2007-01-20T09:53:00.000Z

Sigh... still got so many to go!

Wicked!

2007-01-15T13:47:00.000Z

Go watch the musical - it's sooooo wicked!

And I managed to catch Idina Menzel (Original Broadway Cast - Tony Award Winner for her role as Elphaba) during her final performance here in London on the 30th of Dec!!!

Also met the other lead cast members - including Helen Dallimore (Glinda the Good), and Adam Garcia (Fiyero). It was such an awesome night!

Seriously, I've been really asborbed in the musical for a fairly long time now. Bought the soundtrack from HMV, and it's been top of my iTunes ever since!

I guess what really captivates me is the enchantment the show brings across. I've seen numerous musicals since coming to London two years ago (I've seen quite a few that I've lost count - say, about 15?), but I'd say that for me, 'Wicked' ranks way up there with Phantom and Les Mis.

In a ironic way, I would call this a 'modern-epic' musical - simply because the way it's presented is so much more modern that the legendary epics to the likes of Phantom or Les Mis. And yet's it's done in such a brilliant and spellbinding way that it leaves the audience wanting for more.

Note that I'm refraining from saying anything about the story-line to avoid any unintentional spoiler comments.

Go watch it - if you don't like it, hey - you're just £30-40 short. But if you do, perhaps you could be the next person defying gravity in your neighbourhood!

MBTI Personality Test

2006-12-15T01:00:00.000Z

Recently retook the MBTI Personality Test, and whoala - I'm still an ENFJ!

Extraverted iNtuitive Feeling Judging
by Joe Butt

Profile: ENFJ

ENFJs are the benevolent 'pedagogues' of humanity. They have tremendous charisma by which many are drawn into their nurturant tutelage and/or grand schemes. Many ENFJs have tremendous power to manipulate others with their phenomenal interpersonal skills and unique salesmanship. But it's usually not meant as manipulation -- ENFJs generally believe in their dreams, and see themselves as helpers and enablers, which they usually are.

ENFJs are global learners. They see the big picture. The ENFJs focus is expansive. Some can juggle an amazing number of responsibilities or projects simultaneously. Many ENFJs have tremendous entrepreneurial ability.

ENFJs are, by definition, Js, with whom we associate organization and decisiveness. But they don't resemble the SJs or even the NTJs in organization of the environment nor occasional recalcitrance. ENFJs are organized in the arena of interpersonal affairs. Their offices may or may not be cluttered, but their conclusions (reached through feelings) about people and motives are drawn much more quickly and are more resilient than those of their NFP counterparts.
ENFJs know and appreciate people. Like most NFs, (and Feelers in general), they are apt to neglect themselves and their own needs for the needs of others. They have thinner psychological boundaries than most, and are at risk for being hurt or even abused by less sensitive people. ENFJs often take on more of the burdens of others than they can bear.

TRADEMARK: "The first shall be last"
This refers to the open-door policy of ENFJs. One ENFJ colleague always welcomes me into his office regardless of his own circumstances. If another person comes to the door, he allows them to interrupt our conversation with their need. While discussing that need, the phone rings and he stops to answer it. Others drop in with a 'quick question.' I finally get up, go to my office and use the call waiting feature on the telephone. When he hangs up, I have his undivided attention!

Functional Analysis:
Extraverted Feeling
Extraverted Feeling rules the ENFJ's psyche. In the sway of this rational function, these folks are predisposed to closure in matters pertaining to people, and especially on behalf of their beloved. As extraverts, their contacts are wide ranging. Face-to-face relationships are intense, personable and warm, though they may be so infrequently achieved that intimate friendships are rare.

Introverted iNtuition
Like their INFJ cousins, ENFJs are blessed through introverted intuition with clarity of perception in the inner, unconscious world. Dominant Feeling prefers to find the silver lining in even the most beggarly perceptions of those in their expanding circle of friends and, of course, in themselves. In less balanced individuals, such mitigation of the unseemly eventually undermines the ENFJ's integrity and frequently their good name. In healthier individuals, deft use of this awareness of the inner needs and desires of others enables this astute type to win friends, influence people, and avoid compromising entanglements.

The dynamic nature of their intuition moves ENFJs from one project to another with the assurance that the next one will be perfect, or much more nearly so than the last. ENFJs are continually looking for newer and better solutions to benefit their extensive family, staff, or organization.

Extraverted Sensing
Sensing is extraverted. ENFJs can manage details, particularly those necessary to implement the prevailing vision. These data have, however, a magical flexible quality. Something to be bought can be had for a song; the same something is invaluable when it's time to sell. (We are not certain, but we suspect that such is the influence of the primary function.) This wavering of sensory perception is made possible by the weaker and less mature status with which the tertiary is endowed.

Introverted Thinking
Introverted Thinking is least apparent and most enigmatic in this type. In fact, it often appears only when summoned by Feeling. At times only in jest, but in earnest if need be, Thinking entertains as logical only those conclusions which support Feeling's values. Other scenarios can be shown invalid or at best significantly inferior. Such "Thinking in the service of Feeling" has the appearance of logic, but somehow it never quite adds up.

Introverted Thinking is frequently the focus of the spiritual quest of ENFJs. David's lengthiest psalm, 119, pays it homage. "Law," "precept," "commandment," "statute:" these essences of inner thinking are the mysteries of Deity for which this great Feeler's soul searched.

Famous ENFJs:
David, King of Israel
U.S. Presidents: Abraham Lincoln Ronald Reagan
Tommy Lee Jones (The Fugitive)
Michael Jordan, NBA basketball player
Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean)
Oprah Winfrey
Pete Sampras
Sean Connery

Avenue Q!

2006-12-04T23:22:00.000Z

Brilliant musical! Absolutely fabulous! Highly recommended!

A couple of phrases that stuck in my head:

"... And you'll never know till you reach the top if it was worth the uphill climb..."
"... You gotta go after the things you want while you're still in your prime..."

Have you found your purpose in life?

Christmas is Coming

2006-12-04T01:37:00.000Z

Newsong The Christmas Shoes

It was almost Christmas time, there I stood in another line
Tryin' to buy that last gift or two, not really in the Christmas mood
Standing right in front of me was a little boy waiting anxiously
Pacing 'round like little boys do
And in his hands he held a pair of shoes

His clothes were worn and old, he was dirty from head to toe
And when it came his time to pay
I couldn't believe what I heard him say

Chorus:
Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight

He counted pennies for what seemed like years
Then the cashier said, "Son, there's not enough here"
He searched his pockets frantically
Then he turned and he looked at me
He said Mama made Christmas good at our house
Though most years she just did without
Tell me Sir, what am I going to do,
Somehow I've got to buy her these Christmas shoes

So I laid the money down, I just had to help him out
I'll never forget the look on his face when he said
Mama's gonna look so great

Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight

Bridge:
I knew I'd caught a glimpse of heaven's love
As he thanked me and ran out
I knew that God had sent that little boy
To remind me just what Christmas is all about

Repeat Chorus

Mooncakes anyone?

2005-09-18T08:41:00.000Z

This is the story about mooncakes which I found off the internet:

During the Yuan dynasty (A.D. 1280-1368) China was ruled by the Mongolian people. Leaders from the preceding Sung dynasty (A.D. 960-1280) were unhappy at submitting to the foreign rule, and set how to coordinate the rebellion without being discovered.

The leaders of the rebellion, knowing that the Moon Festival was drawing near, ordered the making of special cakes. Baked into each moon caked was a message with the outline of the attack. And since these messages were distributed as 'Cakes', they managed to avoid the detection of the Mongolians.

On the night of the Moon Festival, the rebels successfully attacked and overthrew the government. What followed was the establishment of the Ming dynasty (A.D. 1368-1644).

Today, mooncakes are eaten to commemorate this momentous event in History.

For generations, mooncakes have been made with sweet fillings of nuts, mashed red beans, lotus-seed paste or Chinese dates, wrapped in a pastry. Some mooncakes have one or two cooked duck egg yolk in the middle of the rich tasting dessert. People compare mooncakes to the plum pudding and fruit cakes which are served in the English holiday seasons. Nowadays, there are hundreds varieties of mooncakes on sale a month before the arrival of Moon Festival.

Mid Autumn Festival

2005-09-18T08:26:00.000Z

Chinese Festivals are amazing. I was just speaking to a friend regarding the story of the Mid Autumn Festival, and figured that it's a good idea to post the legend on my blog. Read on and enjoy! :)

There are many beautiful legends about the moon in China. The most popular one tells how a goddess named Chang'er ascended to the moon.

A long, long time ago, a terrible drought plagued the earth. Ten suns burned fiercely in the sky like smoldering volcanoes. The trees and grass were scorched. The land was cracked and parched, and rivers ran dry. Many people died of hunger and thirst.

The King of Heaven sent Hou Yi down to the earth to help. When Hou Yi arrived, he took out his red bow and white arrows and shot down nine suns one after another. The weather immediately turned cooler. Heavy rains filled the rivers with fresh water and the grass and trees turned green. Life had been restored and humanity was saved.

One day, a charming young woman, Chang'er makes her way home from a stream, holding a bamboo containe., A young man comes forward, asking for a drink. When she sees the red bow and white arrows hanging from his belt, Chang'er realizes that he is their savior, Hou Yi. Inviting him to drink, Chang'er plucks a beautiful flower and gives it to him as a token of respect. Hou Yi, in turn, selects a beautiful silver fox fur as his gift for her. This meeting kindles the spark of their love. And soon after that, they get married.

A mortal's life is limited, of course. So in order to enjoy his happy life with Chang'er forever, Hou Yi decides to look for an elixir of life. He goes to the Kunlun Mountains where the Western Queen Mother lives. Out of respect for the good deeds the has done, the Western Queen Mother rewards Hou Yi with elixir, a fine powder made from kernels of fruit which grows on the tree of eternity. At the same time, she tells him, "If you and your wife share the elixir, you will both enjoy eternal life. But if only one of you takes it, the one will ascend to Heaven and become immortal."

Hou Yi returns home and tells his wife all that has happened and they decide to drink the elixir together on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month when the moon is full and bright.

A wicked and merciless man named Feng Meng secretly hears about their plan. He wishes Hou Yi an early death so that he can drink the elixir himeslf and become immortal. His opportunity finally arrives. One day,when the full moon is rising, Hou Yi is on his way home from hunting. Feng Meng kills him. The murderer then runs to Hou Yi's home and forces Chang'er to give him the elixir. Without hesitating, Chang'er picks up the elixir and drinks it all.

Overcome with grief, Chang'er rushes to her dead husband's side, weeping bitterly. Soon the elixir begins to have its effect and Chang'er feels herself being lifted towards Heaven.

Chang'er decides to live on the moon because it is nearest to the earth. There she lives a simple and contented life. Even though she is in Heaven, her heart remains in the world of mortals. Never does she forget the deep love she has for Hou Yi and the love she feels for the people who have shared their sadness and happiness.

ASEAN Gathering!

2005-09-17T23:43:00.000Z

Yeap yeap - we had an ASEAN Gathering today at my place! And wanna know what's the best part? There were three generations represented: 98/99, 99/00, and 00/01.

Awesome stuff! It was mainly to celebrate Conrad's departure from London (yes - he's going back to become a full-time professional "kepoh"), and to welcome Chui Hsia to pursue her Masters here in London (LSE).

We had a great time over dinner - thanks to a wonderful chef (mua) who successfully whipped up some delicious dishes (including Thai Green Curry). Yum! And for desserts, Wai Ping brought a delectable Tiramisu Cake from Marks & Spencer! You can't even begin to imagine how tasty it was... :P Not willing to be outdone, Conrad brought a lovely bottle of Chardonnay for us.

And since tomorrow (Sunday - 17th September) is the Mid Autumn Festival, Chui Hsia personally imported some mouth-watering mooncakes for us from Malaysia. Any guesses as to what the brand is? Yes, you're absolutely right!!! It's none other than the most celebrated mooncake brand in Malaysia - Kam Lun Tai!!!!! YUMMIE...........................

Seriously, I can get so engrossed with talking about food. Guess it's something that I've recently picked up since coming to London. ;)

We chatted all through the night - Old stories re-told, and college memories re-lived. Ahh... what bliss. We really should do this more often.

Perhaps when our friends in Singapore meet up for the ASEAN Gathering next month. Until next time, take care!!!!

Who is the Fourth Man?

2005-09-11T22:11:00.000Z

My pastor just shared this during service today... Amazing stuff!!! He quoted from this sermon towards the end of the service, and everyone was clapping away towards the end. I was so ministered that I just had to paste it up on my blog.

Read on, my friend, and be ministered. ;)

Who is the Fourth Man?
An Oral Roberts Sermon

Let me tell you who He is in every book of the Bible:

In Genesis He is the Seed of the Woman.
In Exodus He is the Passover Lamb.
In Leviticus He is our High Priest.
In Numbers He is the Pillar of Cloud by day and the Pillar of Fire by night.
In Deuteronomy He is the Prophet like unto Moses.
In Joshua He is the Captain of our Salvation.
In Judges He is our Judge and Lawgiver.
In Ruth He is our Kinsman Redeemer.
In I and II Samuel He is our Trusted Prophet.
In Kings and Chronicles He is our Reigning King.
In Ezra He is our Faithful Scribe.
In Nehemiah He is the Rebuilder of the Broken Down Walls of our human life.
In Esther He is our Mordecai.
In Job He is our Dayspring from on high and our Ever-Living Redemmer.
In Psalms He is the Lord our Shepard.
In Proverbs and Ecclesiastes He is our Wisdom.
In the Song of Solomon He is our Lover and the Bridegroom.
In Isaiah He is the Prince of Peace.
In Jeremiah He is the Righteous Branch.
In Lamentations He is the Weeping Prophet.
In Ezekiel He is the Wonderful Four-Faced Man.
In Daniel He is the Fourth Man in the burning fiery furnace.

Who is the Fourth Man?

In Hosea He is the Faithful Husband, forever married to the backslider.
In Joel He is the Baptizer with the Holy Ghost and Fire.
In Amos He is our Burden-Bearer.
In Obadiah He is the Mighty to Save.
In Jonah He is our Great Foreign Missionary.
In Micah He is the Messenger of Beautiful Feet, of carrying the Gospel.
In Nahum He is the Avenger of God's Elect.
In Habakkuk He is God's Evangelist, crying, "Revive thy work in the midst of the years."
In Zephaniah He is the Savior.
In Haggai He is the Restorer of God's Lost Heritage.
In Zechariah He is the Fountain Opened in the House of David for sin and uncleanness.
And in Malachi He is the Sun of Righteousness, rising with healing in His wings.

Who is the Fourth Man?

In Matthew He is the Messiah.
In Mark He is the Wonder-worker.
In Luke He is the Son of Man.
In John He is the Son of God.
In Acts He is the Holy spirit.
In Romans He is our Justifier.
In Corinthians He is the Gifs of the Spirit.
In Galatians He is the Redeemer from the curse of the law.
In Ephesians He is the Christ on Unreachable Riches.
In Philippians He is the God Who Supplies All Our Needs.
In Colossians He is the Godhead Bodily.
In I and II Thessalonians He is our Soon-coming King.
In I and II Timothy He is our Mediator between God and Man.
In Titus He is our Faithful Pastor.
In Philemon He is a Friend that Sticketh Closer that a Brother.
In Hebrews He is the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant.
In James He is the Great Physician.
In I an II Peter He is the Chief Shepard who soon shall appear with a crown of unfading glory.
In I, II, and III John He is Everlasting Love.
In Jude He is the Lord Coming with Ten Thousands of his Saints.
And in revelation He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

He, my friend, is Jesus! Hallelujah!!!

Let Us Pray...

2005-08-04T07:55:00.000Z

Bombings in London?

We'll have to wait today to find out. Here's a summary of the past events:

London Episode 1: The Bombers Menance (exactly 4 Thursdays ago)
London Episode 2: The Brits Strike Back
London Episode 3: The Return of the Bombers (exactly 2 Thursdays ago)
London Episode 4: Attack of the Brits (via capturing & sentencing of Episode 3's surviving suspects)

Now, it doesn't take a Mathematician to work out the progression. Hence, the Metropolitan Police are on high alert today (Thursday) in fear of another episode in this cosmopolitan city. What will Episode 5 be?

a) London Episode 5: A New Hope? or
b) London Episode 5: Revenge of the Bombers?

Only time will tell. We have another 16 hours to go before Thursday ends.

Come, let us pray! :)

Harry Potter 6

2005-07-19T08:40:00.000Z

I did it! I've finished it! Whoopie!

Harry Potter 6: The Half Blood Prince

2005-07-16T08:00:00.000Z

It's here! It's finally here!!!!!

And yeap - I've gotten my copy from our trusty ol' Tesco - for just £7.97! Ooh...... what a bargain! What a bargain indeed! :)

Well, the race is on!

May the best wizard win!

The STAR Online

2005-07-11T09:38:00.000Z

Hey guys - check out this link (while it's still available) from Malaysia's The STAR (while it's still available)

Bombings in London

2005-07-07T21:16:00.000Z

It started off just like any other ordinary day.

But little did we know that today, on the 7th of July (0707), London was set to experience one of the greatest catastrophes she has ever known.

Thankfully, I managed to get to my office venue for training at 9am today. And when some colleagues arrived late due to the disruption of the WHOLE London Underground Tube System, we knew something was wrong. And our suspicions were confirmed when friends progressively got news of the bombings in London.

The official news has been released, and it has been confirmed that there were 3 bombings in the Tube, and 1 on board a London Double Decker Bus. The current toll stands at 37 casualties, and 700 injuries. Barbaric. The news chills us to the bone, and the whole city was in a chaos. Police sirens echoed every so often around the city, and additional security guards were mobilised to most offices - including mine. :P

And everyone everywhere practically had their mobiles glued to their faces - hoping to reach their loved ones (both in and out of London). But we really had to keep dialling to connect - due to the overcongestion of all mobile phone networks. In fact, the sight was not very different from yesterday - when calls were made to congratulate each other on the news of London's success in winning the bid to host the 2012 Olympics. Tears of joy among the faces of the people on the phones just 24 hours ago have transformed into tears of sorrow today.

The Tube system has been suspended until further notice, while buses resumed only after 4-5pm in the city. However, most people (including me and my friends) chose to walk wherever possible. I spent up to an hour walking home, but I've got absolutely no complaints about it. It's always better to be safe than sorry. Even now as I type this mail at 10pm, the local news show people still walking the streets - making their way home. Empty cars are like gold-dust... I pray that they'll be able to get home safely to their family members.

Anyway, continue to keep us in your prayers, okay? In a time like this, we need God's protection upon us stronger than ever... :)

Beautiful Scotland

2005-06-14T09:32:00.000Z

Just got back from my one-week vacation around Scotland (and a bit of Northern England) with Aik Win and Angela. And boy – the road trip was magnificent! You’ve gotta see it to believe…

Here’s a quick list of the places we stopped by:

York (England) – The large Cathedral here (York Minster) is simply majestic
Lake District (England) – Breathtaking, and Majestic

Edinburgh – A beautiful cultural city with attractions like the Castle and Scott Memorial

Falkirk – The Falkirk Wheel is a scientific wonder built to transport ships up 150 feet

Stirling – Home of the Wallace Monument (Recall Braveheart?) and Stirling Castle

Glencoe – Breathtaking view of Scotland’s most famous valley

Fort William – Amazingly picturesque mountains, rivalling Lord of the Rings!

Loch Ness – Yes, home of the famous Nessie - We even drove one circle around the lake!

Loch Lomond – The largest (and one of the most beautiful) lake in all of mainland Britain

Glasgow – Shopping paradise of Scotland, with a vibrant lifestyle

Liverpool (England) – Awesome Beatles Museum, River Fest and Anfield

Apologies for the short post – time’s really tight. I promise to write more of this wonderful trip.

Here’s a quick summary of my upcoming schedule:

16-19 June – Rome and Italy

20 June – Day trip to Dublin (Ireland)

21 June – Balik Kampung!!!

Hence, it’s gonna be really tight for me to update this blog. Nevertheless, please stay tuned. There are tonnes of amazing stories to be told...

Chocolates - A Brief History

2005-06-05T23:55:00.000Z

As promised:

At the begining of the 16th century, during the conquest of Mexico, the Spaniards learnt about cocoa. For the indigenous population (the Aztecs), the cocoa bean was of divine origin; that is why Linnaeus named the cacao tree Theobroma cacao (Theobroma = food of the gods).

The beans were roasted and ground, and then diluted with water to obtain a cloudy drink, to which vanilla and other spices were added. The Aztecs called this mixture "cacau-atl". On the Spaniards' return, news travelled quickly and their recipe was implemented throughout Europe.

At around 1700, the "cocoa" drink (to which honey or sugar were added) was widely known.The colonial powers of the time exported the cacao tree to Africa and Asia.

Production, consumption and trading of cocoa increased constantly. However, the most rapid expansion occurred in the 19th century, after 1828, when Van Houten discovered a method for removing a large proportion of the fat from the cocoa butter. This marked the start of the production of bars and slabs of chocolate.

Cool huh? :)

Amsterdam and Brugge

2005-06-03T23:46:00.000Z

Hooray! I’ve finally set foot on another two new countries – The Netherlands and Belgium! Quick check: This brings my list of European countries to 5 (after France, Switzerland, and Austria last Christmas). *Grinz*

Let’s start with the Holland. Well, I really must say that this remarkable country really lives up to the tales told about it. I saw many windmills, grazing cows (any guesses as to where Dutch Lady milk powder came from?), and beautiful tulips. We also visited a traditional Cheese and Wooden Clogs factory that was located about 45 minutes off Amsterdam.

A Windmill in Amsterdam

Traditional Wooden Clogs

For the Amazing Race fans out there, you may recall that there was an episode (Season 4: Episode 5) which required the contestants to perform a Detour while they were in Amsterdam:

They can choose to perform "15ft" or "500kg". Bizarre mixture of SI units with non-SI units aside, "15ft" requires contestants to wade through a fifteen-foot pile of cow manure and dig deep to find the next clue. "500kg" will require a Team to wear traditional wooden clogs, pick up cheese and pile them on a wooden stretcher, and bring exactly 500kg worth of cheese to the man nearby who awaits with the next clue. "15ft" is fast but disgusting, while "500kg" is clean but performing it will obviously take a longer time.

And when night crawls out, a particular section of Amsterdam comes to life. Yes – the famous Red Light District. This is the main reason why tourists from all over the world flock to Amsterdam – where Prostitution and Pot are legalized. Words fail me in describing this place. But if you do need help imagining what it looks like, think of a more established and organised version of London’s SOHO, or Singapore’s Geylang. It’s really an amazing sight.

Right – let’s move on to Brugge.

This medieval town in Belgium is a really beautiful place. The town centre - known as the Market Square - is dominated by the Cloth Hall and the 83 meter high Belfry Tower, one of the most majestic symbols of the city.

Hmm.. I guess now’s the perfect time for a brief history lesson:

The original cloth hall and tower in the Market Square date from 1240. The first tower, however, was destroyed by fire in 1280. At the time of the fire the four wings of the cloth hall already existed, as well as the two square segments of the belfry. The present octagonal lantern was added to the tower between 1482 en 1486. The wooden spire that crowned the tower was again destroyed by fire in 1493.

After the last fire it was never rebuilt. Like in most cities of the Low Countries the belfry tower was the place where the important documents of the city were preserved. At the same time such towers were used as watchtowers. Inside hung bells, each bell having a distinct sound and function (e.g.: bells for danger, bells for important announcements, bells to indicate the time, etc.).

The entire complex still bears witness to the importance of Bruges as a medieval trade centre. In the cloth hall, the Flemish cloth which was manufactured in different other cities was sold to the rest of the world. In 1399, for instance, there were 384 sales stands inside the hall.

As we left the town centre and headed for our tour bus, I managed to pick up one of the finest snacks Belgium has to offer – WAFFLES! And boy – they’re delicious! Just writing the word makes me drool. Haha….

And our last stop was none other than at the PJ Chocolate Factory. Haha, it was sooooooooo fun! I had the chance to taste so many different kinds of Belgian chocolates – and they’re simply deeeeeelicious! Being a die-hard chocolate lover, I really felt like I was in heaven. Woohoo! Hm… perhaps I should write a blog about chocolates next time!

Well, I guess that sorta wraps up the trip – with a bang!

Will be headed to Scotland next week! Stay tuned for more adventures!

Dragon Boat Racing

2005-05-26T23:00:00.000Z

Imagine…

20 people paddling side by side, in a boat forty foot long.

A drummer, sitting in the prow, beating the drum to provide timing, rhythm, and motivation.

A steerer, at the stern with a giant paddle – guiding the boat in the direction of the finishing line.

Yes, imagine all these elements combined together, united in the spirit, and dedicated to the triumph. This is dragon boating.

Today, my division – Insurance & Investment Management – organised a Dragon Boat race among the various social groups. Although my team managed to win in two races in the preliminary stage, our timing wasn’t good enough to get us into the final. Oh well, the consolation of it all was that we managed to lay our hands on the booze before the finalists. :P And most importantly, we had tonnes of fun!

Though yesterday’s race was amazingly tiring, I was sparked by an idea to research on the legend behind this sport. And if I’m not mistaken, Dragon Boat Racing will be included in the 2012 Olympics. Cool stuff!

So, henceforth begins our history lesson:

Dragon Boat Racing is an ancient Chinese tradition that goes back over 2000 years, and has become shrouded in many myths, legends and superstitions. The Dragon Boat Festival falls on the fifth day of the fifth month in the Chinese Lunar Calendar (usually around Midsummer’s Day).

THE BATTLE OF DRAGONS
One explanation for the origin of the festival is connected to rain-making magic. Summer is the driest period of the year and rain is needed to grow the crops. The races were held each mid summer, re-enacting the battle between Lung, the dragon of the air and Le, the dragon of the water which were said to fight in the clouds thus causing rain. The races were thought to stimulate the real dragon gods to fight in the heavens.

HUMAN SACRIFICE
Another theory its origins , like many other midsummer celebrations all over the word, was as an attempt to come to terms with the fear of decay and death which accompanied the passing of the longest day of the year. The powers of darkness might be appeased by a sacrifice, and one way of achieving it was by a mock battle, the losers symbolising the sacrifice. In fact, dragon boat 'fights' frequently provided real victims because boats would sink and men would drown. It is said that no one would attempt to rescue the men on the grounds that they had been chosen for sacrifice by the very fact of their boat’s sinking. Luckily this part of the tradition has not been practiced for some centuries.

DEATH & CORRUPTION
By far the most popular legend, saddest and most romantic is that of Qu Yuan. In the third century B.C., China was divided into a number of small kingdoms, each struggling to gain control of the rest. In one of these kingdoms lived a wise counsellor and warrior statesman called Qu Yuan. He was a loyal aide to the Emperor King Huai, but through deception and plots laid against him by corrupt court officials, Qu Yuan was removed from his position of high office and banished from the royal palace.

In the years that followed his banishment, Qu Yuan became a wandering poet who was much loved by the people he met on his travels. He wrote of his love for his country and its’ people and lamented his fate and that of his Emperor still surrounded by those corrupt officials. Eventually he presented a petition to the Court listing all his grievances. When this was rejected out of hand by the King, he made the ultimate protest and committed suicide, drowning himself in the Mi Lo River.

When Qu Yuan's followers heard of his death, they took to their boats to search for his body and to protect it from being eaten by fish, they beat the water furiously with their paddles, and threw rice dumplings into the water as food for his spirit. It is said that some days later a man met the ghost of Qu Yuan. He told him that the rice had been taken by the Dragon water god that lurked beneath the surface of the river. In future the rice should always be wrapped in bamboo leaves and silk, and tied with multicoloured thread, as protection from the dragon god and his water spirits.

And so it came about that every year thereafter, on the anniversary of his death, that the Chinese began to commemorate Qu Yuan’s final protest, by holding a Dragon Festival, on the fifth day of the fifth moon, which was celebrated with temple rituals. This festival grew to include the custom of eating ‘tsung-tzu’ or 'bak-zhang', lumps of sweetened glutinous rice boiled in a wrapping of leaves and tied with raffia, and the launching of boats to look for Qu Yuan’s remains as well as the custom of Dragon Boat racing, with drums being banged to symbolise the act of frightening the fish from Qu Yuan’s body. Eventually the festival and the races spread throughout the coast and river communities of China.

Well, whatever the legend, I have two statements to make:

a) Dragon Boat Racing is amazingly fun!

b) 'Tsung-tzu' or 'bak-zhang' is amazingly yummy!

Gosh... all this talk about food is making me hungry. Think I'll have to make a quick trip to the refridgerator now... Adios!

Latest Addition

2005-05-25T23:34:00.000Z

Hee hee...

Here's the latest addition to my expanding collection :P

Fight For Life - Fighting Cancer in Kids

It's two bands intertwined together into one, and represents the Fight For Life charity. "STAND UP, SPEAK UP"

I'll definitely be wearing this around quite often... ;)

Cool stuff!

Royal Albert Hall

2005-05-22T23:50:00.000Z

From the time that I first saw the Tenth Anniversary Concert of Les Miserables (The Dream Cast) on DVD, I’ve been dreaming of setting foot into the Royal Albert Hall.

And today, this age-old fantasy has become a reality.

For it was today that I attended a concert by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (yes – the very same one that performed in Leicester Square for the STAR WARS UK Premier!) with my friends.

As I entered into the massive concert hall, I was awed by the beautiful and majestic design of the venue. The whole experience just seemed so surreal, as I subconsciously found myself whispering in my heart, “Wow – this is it! I’m finally here!” And since we got some amazing seats in the stalls, we had an excellent view of the orchestra on stage, as well as the whole layout of the place.

Just look at the interior - Ain't she a beauty?

And when the orchestra began to play, I felt my emotions soar with the repertoire of the night. The pieces that were performed are as follows:

Rossini - William Tell Overture
Grieg – Piano Concerto (Featuring pianist Alain Lefevre)
Rimsky-Korsakov – Scheherazade
(Note: You can click on the above songs to listen to a short music clip of the piece)

My favourite piece of the night is definitely Grieg’s Piano Concerto (I’ve always longed for a chance to hear it being performed live by an Orchestra), while Scheherazade was brilliantly performed to an all-attentive audience. Hee… I guess I’m just biased to piano pieces. :P

This is definitely a night to remember. And the interesting line-up of upcoming events, I’m convinced that I’ll be making numerous more visits to this remarkable hall.

Horse Racing

2005-05-21T23:14:00.000Z

Hmm… Any horse enthusiasts out there?

If you love horses, then this blog entry is gonna excite you!

Being a mega horse lover, my manager organised a day out at the races for the whole RSA Audit Team today. And guess where did we go? Lingfield Park – the busiest racecourse in the whole of Europe! Awesome! Do click on the link to find out more about this incredible place.

My maiden trip to the racing arena was exciting in every sense of the word. We rented a private box in the grandstand for the whole team, and enjoyed our buffet breakfast and lunch in the box, mingling and chatting away. Oh, and how could I forget to mention that we had free flow of drinks and booze – from wine to spirits and beer. Clearly, this whole outing is gonna cost a bomb. And true enough, we eventually discovered that the firm spent £130 per person! Wow!

It was a pleasant experience being able to witness the race live from the grandstand. As many of us were new to horse racing, the level of excitement was extremely high – driven by a sense of anticipation and expectation of winning some money. Bets were made based on a multitude of reasons – including the colour of the horse, the colour of the jockeys, how striking a particular horse’s name was (eg: Persian Lightning or Blue Torpedo), etc. My manager even attempted to lock eyes with the horse before placing her bid. Hee~ but the horse never came in first – I guess it was just too intimidated by her stare.

I personally made a few bets on some of the races – all of which failed to bring in any returns. Guess I’m just not honed with any fortune-telling skills. Hee hee. But as I kept my bets low, I managed to mitigate my losses. :P This just reinforces the fact that I was never made for gambling. And the moral of the story is this – don’t put your money in something you don’t know well enough about. ;)

But still, this has certainly been an amazing evening. We certainly had loads of fun together as a team. And it was fun getting to know my colleagues on a more personal level (instead of just talking about work all the time!).

Syiok!

STAR WARS: Revenge of the Sith

2005-05-19T23:28:00.000Z

Hooray!!!!!!!

Yeap yeap – I’ve finally watched STAR WARS: Episode 3 on 19 May 2005 – together with millions of other people around the world! *Grinz* It was really nice that everyone in the cinema clapped and cheered when the 'STAR WARS' logo first flashed across the scene, accompanied by the classic tune from John Williams' score.

Without the intention of writing a spoiler, I shall not dwell on the contents of the film. Instead, I’ll just write a quick blog on my general opinion and feelings after watching the show.

In short, I loved the film. With such impressive lightsaber battle sequences and amazing CGI enacted scenes, one really has to take one’s hat off to George Lucas for producing such a masterpiece conclusion to the epic saga of STAR WARS.

And the basic storyline of the movie is what all STAR WARS fans have come to expect – as I feel that it nicely provides a seamless transition between the first and second trilogy. For those of you out there who are hungry for answers as to what happens between Episode 2 and Episode 4, this is the movie to watch.

From another perspective, I’ve gotta admit that there are some parts of the film that could have been better. The trademark cheesy one-liners from Episode 1 and 2 still populate the script, and I feel that the characters could have been further developed. Hayden Christensen may not be everyone’s favourite actor, but I feel that he deserves a small amount (yes – just a small dose) of credit for playing the lead role of Anakin Skywalker. He has certainly improved from the wimp that he was in the Attack of the Clones.

All in all, it was a fantastic show. And in terms of ranking the film against its 5 counterparts, my verdict is that it falls just below Episode 5 & 6.

To all fellow STAR WARS fans out there, this is a show you will not want to miss. May the force be with you!

Charity Wristbands

2005-05-18T21:50:00.000Z

They’re hip, they’re hot, and they rock!

Tony Blair wears them, and soccer stars like Ronaldo, Thierry Henry, and Ronaldinho wear them too.

Hmm… Now what exactly am I talking about?

Charity wristbands. Yeap - this is the latest craze to hit the whole of the UK and US. At a small cost of £1 each (yes - the money goes to Charity), they come in all colours with simple, touching yet powerful messages – each one representing a different message and charity group. And since they get snapped up as soon as they hit the shelves, they’re pretty hard to find – especially in good ol’ London.

Hence, when I was posted to a job in Horsham (approx 1 hr south of London), I wasted no time in combing through the town in search of charity shops to look for these colourful wristbands. And boy, it took up my entire lunch break – as the charity shops only sell one band each – in support of their adopted charity.

And I’m delighted to say that I’ve done pretty well – having secured up to three wristbands for myself. They’re as follows:

Help the Aged wristband – with the message: “Reach out with a HUG”
Here, HUG is the acronym for ‘Helping United Generations’

British Heart Foundation wristband – with the message: “Feel The Pulse”

Breast Cancer Foundation wristband – with the message: “Support Knowledge Strength”

I bought this as a tribute to Kylie Minogue - wishing her a speedy recovery...

A quick search on Google for ‘Charity Wristbands’ will return you tonnes of other types of bands in the market – including anti-racism and tsunami relief. Well, I’m currently wearing the purple one (Reach out with a HUG), and you can bet that I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled for other bands when I pass by charity shops!

Star Wars - The UK Premier

2005-05-16T23:42:00.000Z

Date: 16 May 2005… Check

Time: 1800 hrs… Check

Location: Odeon Cinema, Leicester Square… Check

Attendees: Multitudes of fans… big and small, young and old… Literally

Weather: Rain… Why?!?!

It wasn’t just another ordinary Monday in London. No… today was the UK Premier of the much awaited film, STAR WARS Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith – a film that marks the completion of the STAR WARS Saga, and a film that shows the pivotal point whereby Darth Vader is created.

Despite the foul weather (yes - even the rain clouds didn't want to miss out on such a spectacular event that will go down in history!), thousands of fans found themselves helplessly drawn to the Premier like bees to honey. It’s an event that you don’t even have to ‘think’ about going – you’ll just go! As Nike says – “Just do it!” While mingling with the crowds, I was very impressed with the various people who were dressed in their favourite STAR WARS characters – including Darth Vader, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Darth Maul, Queen Amidala, Storm Troopers, and even Chewbacca! Everyone seemed to have their own lightsaber! It was amazing! But try as I may – I couldn’t find any Yoda around. Perhaps he was too short to be noticed in such a massive crowd. :)

So, what’s so special about this event? In case you haven’t heard, this is the very first time ALL six STAR WARS will be shown in sequence to the audience – a mega movie marathon. The 'Galactic Passes' (which cost £50 each) for the marathon screening were instantly snapped up when they were issued in April. Wow! George Lucas himself commented that he hasn’t watched all six of the shows in one sitting. Upon further questioning, his recommendation is that we watch one every Saturday… not all in one go :)

Another milestone in this premier is the presence of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – one of the finest orchestras in the whole of Britain. They performed the whole STAR WARS score (written by the famous John Williams) on an amazing futuristic open stage erected in the middle of Leicester Square. And while they were playing, scenes from all 6 of the shows (yes – ALL SIX) were flashed on the huge screen behind the orchestra. It was simply ecstatic. The audience was mesmerized by the performance, and gave a thunderous applause throughout the piece. The two tunes that were greeted with the loudest cheer are the STAR WARS Main Theme, and The Imperial March (a personal favourite of most of the people).

I was awestruck – for I managed to catch a glimpse of some of the most famous people in Hollywood including George Lucas, Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker), Christopher Lee (Count Dooku), and Ian McDiarmid (Chancellor Palpatine). It’s a pity that Natalie Portman (Queen Amidala) couldn’t make it though… would have loved to see her in the flesh. She was apparently held up at Cannes – after the World Premier which took place there yesterday. Sobz…

But all in all, it was a fantastic evening. It was a day where you could feel the unity among the people there. Despite the bad weather and the congestion, everyone was very patient with each other. There wasn’t any pushing in an attempt to get good positions/views, and there certainly wasn’t any violence involved. Even the kids (of all ages) were so well behaved. The people simply knew that they were united here for one purpose – to cheer and support a film series that they’ve adored since their childhood (however short or long ago). Perhaps it's the silent camaraderie between fans that kept us going.

It was simply an amazing sight to behold! Clearly, the force was with us today!

Jason Bourne

2005-05-14T21:47:00.000Z

Hooray! After endless hours of reading, I’ve finally completed the Bourne series written by the famous Robert Ludlum – The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum, and The Bourne Legacy. Needless to say, I enjoyed each and every one of them – with Supremacy being my favourite!

For the uninitiated out there, I’ve copied the synopsis of the last book (Bourne Legacy) to quickly bring you up to speed with who Jason Bourne is all about:

“A man without a past is washed into the nets of a fishing boat. He is barely alive and has no knowledge of who he is or how he got there. Over the course of three books, The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum, he gradually comes to realise who and what he really is – a strange amalgam of a man named David Webb, and a deadly killer: Jason Bourne.

Now David Webb is living a peaceful life as a university professor in the backwoods of America with his wife and children. But someone plans to take him out of the game for ever. A deadly assassin is on his trail and David Webb must once again turn to Bourne to save his life and family…”

For all the action-thriller fans out there, this series is a definite must read. Some of you may think that you’d much rather watch the movies than read the book. However, I should add that the movies are based loosely – very loosely – on the books. In fact, the film and the books draw very few parallels with each other. One might be forgiven if he assumed that the movies were made independent of the books – save the use of the title, and character names.

In terms of preference, I’d say that my heart lies more with books than with the films – especially with the amazing level of detail and description portrayed in novels. This is always the case, provided the books were written prior to the movies. It’s not uncommon for me to get all excited after reading the books, only to find the films disappointing. And mind you, this includes award winning films like Jurassic Park and Harry Potter. Well, I guess it’s not the fault of the movie producers and directors – for there is only a limited amount of detail which you can capture in the short 2 hours’ duration of a show…

But still, I’m sure we all still love the movies – regardless of whether we are bookworms or not. Some enjoy the visual feast of action scenes like the Quidditch games in Harry Potter and the Jedi Battle in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (Episode 2), while others are out to see how the scenes described in the books are brought to life. Some also watch movies just to see their favourite stars in action. :)

All in all, whatever your take on books-turned-movies, the Bourne series is definitely a recommended read. Trust me, you will not be disappointed.

Hooray!

2005-05-13T08:52:00.000Z

This is gonna be a short blog...

Just wanna let everyone know that I'll be headed back to the shores of Malaysia/Singapore from 22nd June to 3rd July. I'll be flying to and leaving from Singapore, but the bulk of my time will be spent in my sweet ol' hometown, Mentakab!

Have painstakingly timed my trip back home to coincide with my dad's retirement birthday - on 1 July 2005. Hee hee.

Really hope to be able to meet up with ALL of you during my short vacation back home, yeah? Keep in touch!

Pay increment... Is this your boss?

2005-05-10T20:44:00.000Z

Some interesting mail I got from a friend. See if you can spot the anomaly... ;)

................................................................................

After 2 years of selfless service, a man realized that he has not been promoted, no transfer, no salary increase no commendation and that the company is not doing any thing about it.

So he decided to walk up to his manager one morning and after exchanging greetings, he told his manager his observation.

The boss looked at him, laughed and asked him to sit down saying, "My friend, you have not worked here for even one day."

The man was surprised to hear this, but the manager went on to explain.

Manager:- How many days are there in a year?
Man:- 365 days and some times 366

Manager:- How many hours make up a day?
Man:- 24 hours

Manager:- How long do you work in a day?
Man:- 8am to 4pm. i.e. 8 hours a day.

Manager:- So, what fraction of the day do you work in hours?
Man:- He did some arithmetic and said 8/24 hours ie. 1/3(one third)

Manager:- That is nice of you! What is one-third of 366 days?
Man:- 122 (1/3x366 - 122 in days)

Manager:- Do you come to work on weekends?
Man:- No sir

Manager:- How many days are there in a year that are weekends?
Man:- 52 Saturdays and 52 Sundays equals to 104 days

Manager:- Thanks for that. If you remove 104 days from 122 days, how many days do you now have?
Man:- 18 days.

Manager:- OK! I do give you 2 weeks annual leave every year. Now remove that 14 days from the 18 days left. How many days do you have remaining?
Man:- 4 days

Manager:- Do you work on New Year day?
Man:- No sir!

Manager:- Do you come to work on workers day?
Man:- No sir!

Manager:- So how many days are left?
Man:- 2 days sir!

Manager:- Do you come to work on the National holiday?
Man:- No sir!

Manager:- So how many days are left?
Man:- 1 day sir!

Manager:- Do you work on Christmas day?
Man:- No sir!

Manager:- So how many days are left?
Man:- None sir!

Manager:- So, what are you claiming?
Man:- I understood Sir! Thank you sir for all the money you have been giving me for not having worked a single day!

Cambridge Ballroom Dancing

2005-05-10T20:30:00.000Z

Just last Saturday, I made a trip up to Cambridge.

Well, it wasn’t the typical kind of tourist trip. Nopes… Believe it or not, I’m finally gonna have a ‘non-tourist’ weekend! Hahaha…. I was on my way up with Conrad and Rob to support a friend in the Oxford-Cambridge Ballroom Dancing Competition.

Felicia has been persistently rambling on and on about ballroom dancing, so I thought I should finally attend one just to see what it’s all about. And I have to admit that the sight of the couples all dressed up and dancing so elegantly really took my breath away. We witnessed several ballroom and latin dances – including waltz (my personal favourite!), quickstep, and jive. It was magnificent. According to Fely, we witnessed some of the finest couples in the whole of UK in action. Cool! Please click here for the photo galleries posted up by the Cambridge Dancesport Team.

Watching these couples in motion reminded me of the movie, Shall We Dance (starring Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez). Some of the more seasoned couples exuberated with confidence as they elegantly floated from one end of the floor to the other, while couples who were more amateurish showed eagerness to impress the judges. I’m glad to report that Fely and her partner (Alex) were among the more confident of the lot. Hee…

And the hall at St Ives was filled with the typical competitive atmosphere – with students simultaneously cheering “CAMBRIDGE, CAMBRIDGE!” or “OXFORD, OXFORD!” respectively. An innocent passer-by might be forgiven if he thought some reckless thugs in the hall were cheering “OXBRIDGE, OXBRIDGE!”. Haha.

Although Oxford emerged the overall champions for the Varsity match, Fely and her partner (Alex) came in tops in the intermediate tango, and were awarded the overall best couple for intermediate ballroom. Apparently, this is the first time they’ve ever won any awards in ballroom dancing. Congratulations on a job well done – you guys certainly deserve it after the months of effort that you’ve poured in! I’m sure this will be the first of many!

All the best!

IQ Test = 138

2005-05-09T21:06:00.000Z

Hsin-hui, your IQ score is significantly above average. Congratulations! You have a wide range of exceptional skills which are much stronger than those of the average population. You are also skilled at answering the types of questions that are asked in a classic IQ test. The test analyses your strengths and weaknesses based on your mathematical, linguistic, visual-spatial and logical skills. Even though you have high scores in all of those areas, we are able to analyse your results to discover the areas in which you have the strongest abilities.

Your mind's strengths allow you to think ahead of the game -- to imagine or anticipate what should come next in just about any situation. Because you're equally skilled in the numerical and verbal universes of the brain, you can draw from multiple sources of information to come up with great ideas. The timelessness of your vision and the balance between your various skills are what make you a Visionary Philosopher.

In addition to your strengths in maths and linguistics, you have a knack for matching and anticipating patterns. These skills and your uncanny ability to detect the underlying blueprint of most of life's situations add to your visionary philosopher mind. Two philosophers who share the same combination of skills you possess are Plato and Benedict Spinoza.

Note: This Classic IQ Test can be accessed from the following Tickle link. Try it! :)

Manchester United!

2005-05-08T08:08:00.000Z

Just last weekend (from 29 Apr to 1 May), I made a pilgrimage to Manchester.

Old Trafford - the Theatre of Dreams. Ahh.... It was a magnificent experience. Although I did not sit through a live match, I signed up for a tour around the stadium grounds together with Adrian Lunsong, William, and Richard (Adrian's friend). We had a great time together over the May bank holiday weekend.

For those of you who know me well, you'd know that I didn't give a damn about football while I was in Malaysia / Singapore. But two months upon arriving in London, I've gotta admit that I've been poisoned by the football mania. As my fellow Malaysians say back there - "Makan Bola, Minum Bola, Tidur Bola" or literally translated as "Eat Ball, Drink Ball, Sleep Ball". This basically reflects how certain people are so consumed with football that they hardly ever think of anything in their minds.

And how did I come about supporting Man United? Hm... though question - especially since this club isn't doing remarkably well this season. But we ARE going to win the FA Cup on 21 May. Mark my words. Hee hee. Well, back to my question. I can't pinpoint a specific answer, but I must say that I've seen quite a number of matches since I've got here. And Man U basically struck me because I felt that all the players were truly outstanding (unlike most other clubs that only relied on one or two key players). Haha...

Anyway, that's pretty much another change that I've been through here. From zero knowledge of football, I've pretty much picked up a considerable level of idea on what the game is, and who are the key players, and how the league systems work. Hee... before this, I never knew how fans could be so passionate about their clubs. Oh well, I'm no longer an exception now. :)

Go Red Devils!

Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

2005-05-06T23:08:00.000Z

Yeap yeap!

This is certainly one of the most entertaining musicals I've ever seen! Hee~ and it isn't because I watched it on my birthday! It's amazingly creative and humourous - take my word for it! Two thumbs up!

And behind the jokes and slapstick comedy, lies a very strong and loving message. It tells of the story of a young boy called Joseph. His dad (Jacob) has 12 sons - of whom Joseph is the favourite. So, much to his brothers' jealousy, Jacob made a wonderful and colourful coat for Joseph. Joseph also constantly has dreams that his brothers will all one day bow down to him.

Overcome with hatred and envy, his brothers decide to sell him off as a slave to Egypt. Through a remarkable turn of events, and God's intervention, Joseph makes it big in Egypt, and becomes Pharaoh's right-hand man. His wisdom in interpreting Pharaoh's dreams resulted in them having plenty of food stocked up to brave the 7 year famine.

Upon hearing that Egypt had food to spare, peasants from all the neighbouring countries made pilgrimages here to beg for food. Joseph's brothers also came all the way from the land of Canaan, without knowing that Joseph was the person in charge. During the confrontation with his brothers, Joseph (still not recognised by them) put his brothers through a test to determine their honesty by framing his youngest brother - Benjamin - for a crime he did not commit.

The brothers then made every effort to beg Joseph to release young Benjamin and lock them up instead. This was particularly because they knew that their father (Jacob) loved Benjamin too much to part with him as well (especially since Joseph is 'dead', and Joseph and Benjamin were the sons of his favourite wife). Joseph was deeply moved by his brothers' plea, and decided to make himself known to them.

The reunion was so touching, and I could feel tears well up in my eyes (despite the fact that this was a very humourous musical!

To put it simply, it was amazing and delightful. Feel free to read up more about the life of Joseph in the Bible - in Genesis 37 to 50. It's a beautiful story that talks of how God can intervene in your circumstances, and bring out the best in you. Truly, we serve a living God!

Hallelujah!!!

A Special Day

2005-05-06T09:37:00.000Z

Another day, another year.

Gosh - time really flies! It's already been 25 years since I've breathed the air of this beautiful world. Looking back, this journey has definitely been anything but easy. But I believe that it is the very challenges that we face that make us into the man we are.

As I've shared in one of my earlier blogs, here is one of my favourite quotes from Mark Twain:

" Twenty years from now, you'll look back and regret the things you didn't do, rather than the things you did. So, raise your sails, aim for the sky, and your ship might yet fly!"

Taking Stock (1st Milestone)

2005-04-27T07:50:00.000Z

With the blink of an eye, I’ve been living in London for close to half a year! Gosh – that’s close to 16% of the time I have here (3 years). Time really flies when you’re having a good time.

I should really take some time to look back into the past 6 months and reflect on how I’ve spent my time here. Have I really learnt anything from being in England? Have I really gained what I hoped to achieve when I left the shores of Malaysia and Singapore not too long ago? And there’s the big question I often get from friends back home – “Have you changed?”

Truth be told, I can’t say that I have changed much in the recent months. I’m pretty much the same Hsin-hui that you know even before I came here - simple, fun-loving, and cheerful.

But I must say that life here in London has certainly been remarkably colourful. Yes – in every sense of the word. I’m certainly more well-travelled now, having been to places that I’ve never dreamed possible – including the majestic Swiss Alps, the mysterious Stonehenge, and other magnificent places like Paris (Boy, I just love the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum), Cambridge, Oxford, Bath, Zurich, and Austria. Priceless memories from these trips will forever be etched in my mind. Among the most treasured moments I’ve had include the time when I was skiing down the Alpine slopes in Austria, absorbing the breathtaking view of the whole of Paris from the pinnacle of the Eiffel Tower, and bathing in the open-air hot springs in Switzerland while light snowflakes drizzled down from the sky above. Ah… what bliss…

I’ve also learnt the basics of cooking a reasonable meal. Previously, all I could ever whip-up in the kitchen was just a simple bowl of fried rice or instant noodles. Now, I have a certain measure of confidence to cook a variety of soup, pasta, curry, and other Chinese dishes. At least I wouldn’t feel lost if I was thrown into the kitchen and asked to prepare a meal. I must say that I actually rather enjoy cooking (although I may not be that good at it – yet!)

On another note, I really miss making music in my life. Sure, I’ve been to several fantastic musicals here in the West End – including Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera, and Cats. And after attending several services in Hillsongs London, I know that there is a calling for me to continue in my pursuit of making music. I really do not know what plans God has for me, but I can sense that it’s gonna be big! Huge! Boy, I truly thank the Lord for using my parents to plant the gift of music in me ever since I was young.

He’s given me a dream – a very big one. By His grace, I don’t just have a dream. Instead, I see it, and I hunger for it! And I’m confident that one day, this dream will come to pass. But what should I do to get closer to this dream? Hm… Perhaps I should get myself a guitar? How about a keyboard? Or maybe both? *Grinz*

We have all been fearfully and wonderfully made. And deep down within our inner recesses, there is this huge potential that is waiting to spring forth and shine to the people around us. One day, it will all come to pass – when our memories and fantasies converge as one.

“Twenty years from now, you’ll regret the things you didn’t do, rather than the things you did. So raise your sails, aim for the sky, and your ship might yet fly!” ~Mark Twain~

Hold on to your dreams, my friend, and continue to run this race with wisdom and courage. I’ll see you when you get there…

Bath

2005-04-25T08:43:00.000Z

Presenting the world famous Roman Bath...

Ain't the picture above just beautiful? This is the amazing sight we beheld when we entered the Roman Baths in the City of Bath.

A World Heritage City, this place dates all the way back to the Medival Ages. It was originally built by the Romans (duh - why else would it be called a Roman Bath?), but was abandoned after the invasion of the Anglo-Saxons. You can read up more on the traditional Medival Bathing at this site. Besides being known for it being Britain's only hot mineral springs, Bath is also famous for being the city featured by Jane Austen in two of her novels - Northanger Abbey and Persuasion.

The waters of the Great Bath (as shown in the picture above) are natural and have not been treated. As such, people are not allowed to go into this warm 'pond'. There have been plans to open a Bath Spa for the public (to allow residents and tourists to have a dip), but it has always been postponed for one reason or another. Observers say that these delays could be a bad omen. After all, the place was used as a temple of pagan worship to the Goddess of Healing, Minerva. I guess only time will tell...

For people in the UK, this is definitely a place worth visitng. Take my word for it. :) Also, feel free to click through my pics at hozoned4 for some of the pics I took while in Bath. Enjoy!

Stonehenge

2005-04-24T11:49:00.000Z

The Stonehenge - One of Earth's greatest mysteries, one of England's greatest treasures.

Built between 3000BC and 1500BC, this prehistoric monument has attracted flocks of visitors from all around the world. Pilgrimages are made throughout the year to witness these majestic stones - simple stones which serve to remind us all of the complexity and sophistication of the engineering and sciences of our forefathers.

One may be forgiven to question the significance of these stones. Why is it that everyone makes such a big hype over it? I mean, they're just stones, right? Surely, there's gotta be other unique historic stones in the world that deserve a similar attention to that received by the Stonehenge?

Well, you're wrong. Archaeologists have remarked that one of the most definitive designs of the Stonehenge is the horizontal stones mounted across two parallel vertical stones each. Other stone structures of the past were all vertical in design. There had to be some reason which compelled the creators of this site to lift such huge and heavy stones to place them above the structure.

Some say that it was a religious site - evidenced by the remains of tools for pagan worship. Others argue that it was an astrological site (with stones that mark the sunrise and sunset during the Solstices of the year). Some believe it to be an annual calendar - one that even factored the changes in the sun's position in leap years. In addition, some extermists even claim that it was built by aliens as a landing site for their spaceships.

There are heaps of evidence for the various theories above, without any one of them being more conclusive than the other. It remains one of Earth's best concealed mysteries to date...

What do you think?

P/S: Do remember to check out my pics at hozoned4, yeah?

Which File Extension am I?

2005-04-23T21:51:00.000Z

Well, guess I'm having some peer pressure to post-up some form of personality quiz result. Here's goes:

Why don't you try it?

Smallville

2005-04-21T17:38:00.000Z

Believe it or not, I've recently taken a strong interest in Smallville. Well, I've just started watching the series not too long ago, and am currently watching the first few episodes of Season 2. Think I'm currently in the 5th Episode of the season. Cool stuff!

The series has a rather remarkable storyline that portrays the young Clark Kent in his adolescence - prior to the Superhero we all love and adore. And just like all of us, life for him isn't a bed of roses. It's full of the trials and challenges that we all face. I'm sure there are many of us out there who often wish to have his superpowers. Hee~ Does the following description of our hero ring a bell?

"Faster than a speeding bullet. More powerful than a locomotive. Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound... 'Look, up in the sky!' 'It's a bird,' 'It's a plane,' 'It's Superman...'"

Oh oh, and let's not forget the beautiful Lana Lang (acted by Kristin Kreuk) in this wonderful series. Some of my friends say that she's the only reason why they watched (and are still watching) Smallville. I wonder why Clark never managed to win her heart. She is just so hot! Hm... would Supes have been better off if he ended up with Lana Lang instead of Lois Lane?

Guess I'll just have to watch more of the episodes to find out...

Google?

2005-04-20T15:29:00.000Z

My favourite Search Engine:

Les Choristes

2005-04-19T21:39:00.000Z

Mention this film title to anyone and one of the most common responses you’ll come across is the question - “Is this another Mr Holland’s Opus?”

Yeap – I’ve just watched this show yesterday evening.

Yeap yeap – I stepped into the cinema thinking that this would be just like Mr Holland’s Opus.

And yeap yeap yeap – boy was I right! :)

Don’t get me wrong. I must say that I absolutely love watching these films about music teachers who help their students discover the wonderful and magical world of music. Other shows that have successfully used the similar formula include Music of My Heart and Sister Act. Hm… I believe I could even include The Sound of Music! And boy, did I love them all!

Well, what exactly makes these shows tick? Let’s just take a quick look at some of the common elements of these shows:

ACT 1

- Teacher arrives at new school
- Students dislike teacher
- Teacher stumbles across a talented student
- Teacher is inspired

ACT 2
- Teacher begins to teach music
- Students start off as a hopeless bunch (Hm... Typical!)
- Teacher is patient
- Students gradually respect Teacher

ACT 3
- Teacher has a bad boss who discourages music (Yes – this is always the case!)
- Teacher fights against bad boss (almost always winning – otherwise there won’t be a story)
- Bad boss threatens to cut funding

ACT 4
- Teacher and Students prepare for a fund-raising concert / competition
- Teacher and Students succeed / win
- Everybody lives happily ever after

Epilogue
- Teacher continues to teach music…...........................

Well then, do I see any aspiring directors out there? :)

Extravagant Worship

2005-04-18T06:35:00.000Z

Guess what?

I just attended an extravagant worship service with Hillsong London yesterday night. And boy, it certainly did live up to the word extravagant!

If you're familiar with Christian music, you'll know what I mean. We had among the best singers/musicians all under one roof in the Hammersmith Apollo (Hey, even the Beatles have performed there before!) The Hillsongs London band was joined by Darlene Zschech, Matt Redman, and Delirious. Amazing, huh? I would have given anything to be able to worship with just any one of them. Hence, you can imagine the level of excitement I felt upon discovering that not one, not two, but ALL THREE of them would be coming together. Haha - this was certainly an event not to be missed! You can imagine that the whole theatre was jam packed with throngs of people - including some who had to stand by the isles! God's blessings certainly overflow!

We sang and we danced for more than 2 hours (with only short breaks in between) to songs like History Maker, Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble, Majesty (Here I Am), and How Great is Our God. The presence of God was certainly with us, and it was just so amazing to be able to shout out our praises to Him in a congregation of more than 4,000 people. One voice. One family.

Words fail me in describing the event. You should have been there... :)

London

2005-04-17T22:01:00.000Z

Hi again,

I figured that the best way of starting my blog record would be by starting off with an account of my experience here in London, a place where I've lived for more than 5 months now.

I kinda like the description portrayed by the Lonely Planet. Hence, I've decided to copy and paste it over into my blog:

"London - the grand resonance of its very name suggests history and might. Its opportunities for entertainment by day and night go on and on and on. It's a city that exhilarates and intimidates, stimulates and irritates in equal measure, a grubby Monopoly board studded with stellar sights."

Yeap yeap - this paragraph sorta sums it all up pretty well, I believe. It fully captures the essence of what the city is really about - a melting pot of diverse cultures and backgrounds. One does not need to live here for long before being exposed to the various elements that are described above! I shall attempt to elaborate on each one of them as follows:

History and might are easily reflected in the city's majestic and classical buildings. One simply needs to make a simple trip to any museum or castle to be able to rewind the clocks back into the glory of the past.Entertainment is a breeze. I still recall asking my local friends here for suggestions on what to do during weekends (when I first arrived in London). And the simplest (and truest!) answer I've received is that it really boils down to what you're looking for. Popular hang-out spots abound - with beautiful parks (St James's being my personal favourite!), musicals, concerts, football matches, with pubs topping the list hands down.

The next beautiful thing I find about the city is the society and culture. In general, people here are far more outspoken and bold, as compared to the far-east. You'll find that the folks here are very forthcoming with their ideas and comments - even in the business environment. And it's really interesting to have the opportunity to mingle with people of different nationalities - including the Greeks, South Africans, Italians, Gibraltarians, and Nigerians (just to name a few!) Hey, I've even got friends who hail from Uruguay and Ukraine! How cool is that?

Monopoly Board. Ah... I'm sure many of us can recall our childhood days, playing Monopoly with our loved ones. Personally, I've yet to explore all the places on the board - although I'm pretty confident finding my way around places like Leicester Square, Regent St, Oxford St, May

fair, and King's Cross Station. One fine day, I'll plan a Monopoly trip around London - definitely armed with my trusty Digicam. Wait for my blog and pics, yeah?

Wow - guess this has been a pretty long blog! Hope you've enjoyed reading as much as I have writing it. Also, feel free to browse through some of my London pics in the following Webshots links:

http://community.webshots.com/user/hozoned4
http://community.webshots.com/user/hozoned2

Remember to bookmark this page! There'll be more great blogs to come! :)

Welcome!

2005-04-17T21:57:00.000Z

Greetings,

Yeap yeap - this is my very first blog!!! After weeks of reading through the blogs of some friends, I'm finally convinced that it's time for me to follow suit. I guess that the old adage 'If you can't beat them, join them' holds a great deal of truth, regardless of how cliche it may sound. :)

Let's start off with a short introduction of myself (as well as the purpose of this blog!):

I'm a Malaysian guy, who's currently living halfway around the world in London. It has always been a dream of mine to travel around the world, and to experience the different cultures and lifestyles in various countries. Since young, I would marvel at photographs of the outside world, without ever expecting that I would one day have the opportunity to visit them.

However, life took on a really big turn when I received an offer to join PricewaterhouseCoopers London -through a Chartered Accountancy programme with PwC Singapore (which I had been working as an Associate for the past year). From the moment I boarded the SIA plane on 31st October 2004 in Changi Airport, I knew that my life would never be the same again.

I arrived in London on 1 Nov 2004, and have never looked back since. To borrow a quote from the well-loved film Notting Hill, I'd describe that my life here has been 'Surreal, but nice.' Yeap - I've literally enjoyed every moment of my time here - and I keep counting my blessings and thank God for the wonderful opportunity I've been blessed with.

Hence, with the start of this blog, I intend to keep a record of my life here. And when my time is up in the next 3 years, I'm confident that I'll be able to look back into my Blog archives, with a sense of fervor akin to Yanni's emotions that were embraced in one of his musical masterpieces, 'Reflections of Passion.'