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Passionate About Life | CoverPage

Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Photo | My Sony

Evening  AMK Avenue 5Another update from Click! Singapore for my Photography Blog, the 7th edition of point and shoot, leave it to chance pictures.

The most useful thing on me is definitely my trusted Sony Ericsson S700i cell phone is like my best travelling buddy. Never leave home without it.

Appointments alerts and convenient metric/imperial conversions easily without cracking my brain. World time in major cities... not that I use that much but what a convenience!

The best thing of all, is definitely photo taking. I am so blessed to actually chose this phone over other brands, because until now, I am very pleased with the way the pictures turned out. Even while on a moving vehicle. It takes great picture as far as I am concern.

It has its limitation though - at night and indoors, but still its performance it tops. So I go around snapping anything I like, whenever I like. Click photo for more.

Monday, February 27, 2006

Escapade | Blue Skies

Clear Blue Late February SkyToday is Monday. The least favourite day of the week. Ask anybody.

Yet I was greeted with beautiful sun shining in my bedroom while I was getting ready for work. The day was bright and the skies was deep blue. Heaven!

With my trusted S700i cell phone, I begin to snap the clear skies as the day proceeded while I go through my normal mundane Monday routine. With zest for some reason, my friends probably thought I was high on some banned substance.

Never mind them, I have to point out to them how beautiful the day was, the skies were showing as I snapped the free gifts from the heavens. Click photo for more.

Sunday, February 26, 2006

Family | Sunday Sloth

Puffy resting on Sunday tooSunday was suppose to be a great day outside. Planned to see the Asian Aerospace Exhibition at Changi Airpot, but there were more urgent and important stuff that took priority.

So stay-home were we this weekend, but all was not lost. The day with the family around the house was kind of well... cool!

Puffy made it all worth while for all of us to stay home with her antics.

Did not take lots of picture of gigantic flying machines, but lots of the tiny creature we called Puffy. But why the "sloth-like" Sunday? Click photo for more.

Saturday, February 25, 2006

Family | Makan Sutra

Esplanade Commercial District SkylineAfter the lull period of outings when my wife had to attend to her booth in a Wedding Fair at Orchard Road, this weekend is great!

Since we were looking for a retail shop space for her budding business, Peninsular Plaza had an interesting place. Funan IT Centre has too, but we are still trying to get one with an affordable monthly rent.

Almost by default, since we were there, after dinner at Funan Food Court, we could not resist to go to The Esplanade and Marina Bay for relaxation by Marina Bay eating snacks and maybe supper.

Supper we had at Makan Sutra. Our first time actually eating supper there. Nice happening place yet with a relaxed atmosphere. Tons of photos, but no space for all. Click photo for more.

Friday, February 24, 2006

Family | Postergirl Puffy

Puffy in Orange PeelHappy to report that our Puffy is doing really well here.

Gained weight and becomes like a furry ball, with the ever cute personality she oozes to the family.

We have finally realized that she now recognises us and accepted us when my son brought her to his class for Pets Day.

A wonderful news to my wife who just adore her. We are discovering more of her funny antics as we learn more about how to care for her.

My son let her swim in a warm pool in the sink.

Now that is something I need to read up a bit on. Is it natural for hamsters to do that? Click photo for more.

Thursday, February 23, 2006

Photo | Space Station

International Space Station at DawnThis is another update, the 6th from my Click! Singapore for my Photography blog.

Not really stunning photos, but the feeling I felt looking first thing at dawn when I woke up, a minute before the alarm clock striked.

The only bright jewel in the sky I noticed without my glasses on. After some investigative reading on NASA's website. I believe it is the International Space Station.

Not exactly a Singapore-made super-structure, nonetheless it was over Singapore skies at least. Just a bright spot in the sky, but a beautiful one indeed. Click photo for more.

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Abode | Dawn Star

International Space Station at DawnWoke up to a pleasant view of man's achievement.

At dawn, I got all roused-up to capture the jewel in the sky that was biggest and brightest amongst the faint ones.

Was it a moon? No... it is too small to be. An aeroplane maybe? But it stayed on one spot.

A UFO? How I wish! That would be my childhood dream come through. That would be the news of a century! As far as Singapore is concern, that is.

Ah... a satellite! Nah! It is a space station. A space station? Click photo for more.

Monday, February 20, 2006

Abode | Sleeping Satellite

February Full MoonJust one of those boring, the nothing-to-report kind of day.

What do I do when that happens?

I start to sift through my photos for something worthy to post.

Photos invoke memories, and the feeling felt then and many, many more words... being worth a thousand words and all.

Anyway, the recent full moon was cool. It was bright and beautiful and definitely worth to post in my opinion. Noticed how few words are coming out of my mind. Click photo for more.

Sunday, February 19, 2006

Family | Sunday Certification

Desperate Housewives... HousebandIt is Sunday again, the second week my wife tending to her booth.

I am left to help out around the house. Did the same mundane house chores, but not as awkward as before.

The second time around, the task was easier and less of a "chore" as I got the hang of things and did them better in double the speed.

I amaze myselft sometimes, but definitely will not quit my day job over this. Just like "Desperate Housewives" Tom Scavo, a stay-home Dad, I only have 1 kid to attend to while I do house chores. You do not want to know more. Then again... Click photo for more.

Saturday, February 18, 2006

Photo | Orchard Road

Orchard Road Shaw House Lido TheaterA 5th update on my Click! Singapore Photography blog section.

Help my wife to improve on her booth display in Orchard Road with more lights and rearrangments of the mechandise to be a bit more pleasing to the browsing eyes.

Did just that but dragged the whole revamp on and off while customers flowed in and out of the booth on a busy Saturday afternoon. From the afternoon, the project stretched all the way into the night.

Once done, I was free to "roam" the vicinities of Orchard Road. A once favourite teenage and yong adult's haunt, well, mine too when I was still courting my wife.

A lot has changed since then, a lot of revamped done especially to the facades of the famous buildings and the walkways that made the shopping experience world class. A photo opportunity for me to try my hands on hight shooting. Click photo for more.

Friday, February 17, 2006

Escapade | Longer Weekend

Weekend open skies, full of possibilitiesToday is end of a working week.

It is a Friday evening, my official start to a weekend. I am all smiles. Weekend fanatic!

I already have tons of pending enjoyable stuff that I can do over the weekend. This would have started every Thursday, I might imagine, but all the good stuff cannot truely be enjoyed if rushed.

I need more spare weekend time that the normal 2 days.

I have a way to prolong the weekend that works for me. May be everyone is doing it too, but it works wonders for me. No, I do not slow down time, I do not turn back the clock, but I get 2 Sundays when I do it.

Maybe I am nuts, but hey, that is just me. Click photo for more.

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Photos | The Esplanade

The Esplande Aerial View From Westin Standfort HotelA 4th update on Click! Singapore Photography section of my blog.

Had a good time on a weekend on March last year when we 3 went on a family outing at Marina Bay for dinner and a nice breezy stroll along The Esplanade.

The night city skyline is beautiful and was where I had the opportunity to use my Panasonic FZ10 Camera with setting other than auto. Went to the Padang, Marina Bay and then to The Merlion.

Such a great thrill to see good enough photos turned out (within my standard) with my night shots. Well, the camera did most of it. I just point and shoot.

Note, one pro-looking aerial view photo is not mine, but on loan. Click photo for more.

Monday, February 13, 2006

Escapade | Sunny Days

Monsoon Rain View from Masterbed RoomThe beginning of 2006 was a rainy affair. The month of January was gloomy and depressing as a dark a the sky, it felt.

Confined indoors with nothing much to do. We made the most of it with lots of movies almost like a marathon. With the movies came the snacks. And with the snacks came the pounds.

Well I have just to work it out on my HomeGym.

February came but continued with scattered rain and mostly cloudy days. Not exactly the weather I had in mind, but it improved by end of last week.

Then the skies brightened and clouds are floating away to reveal sunny days. Sunshine is here again and all is alive. Life is good! Click photo for more.

Sunday, February 12, 2006

Family | Sunday Chores

Dreaming of a relaxing SundayNot an interesting weekend for me. A slow one in fact.

Left home alone with my son having his Xbox Live online friends to play with and my wife tending to her booth at a Wedding Fair, I was dumbfounded. No clue how to fill my time without them.

Well, my wife gave me a list of chores to do instead. Thought of lazying around the whole day and do nothing, but I have to contribute to do house chores too. I have done bits here and there, but to be the "houseband" was kind of tough and needed some getting use to.

Well, at least for 2 weeks. Here goes the boring and mundane chores I did with some movie watching time squeezed in between. Click photo for more.

Saturday, February 11, 2006

Photos | Sungei Buloh

Sungei Buloh Wetland ReserveMy third posting of photos from Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve for Click! Singapore section.

Went outing with my son and nephew to Singapore's nature reserve located at the north-western tip of the island, bird-watching of local and migratory birds and nature trails of the fuana there.

My second trip there, we got to explored the reserve until we ventured out so far away from the Visitors Centre, just barely had enough time before closing.

What a wonderful place to be! We will be back again. Click photo for more.

Friday, February 10, 2006

Family | Puffy's Twin?

Puffy, meet Ms Mouse, Ms Mouse... PuffyIt is Friday night and the on-off rain has rendered my plans to have dinner outside with my wife and son at Orchard Road be cancelled.

Instead I had to buy back dinner for my son and I, while wifey has hers at her booth. Guess it will be a slow business day for her with the rain restricting passers-by from her booth.

Puffy was awake quite early today and incidently met her distant relations on my desk while waiting for her treats. Cute Puffy and my trusted Microsoft Mouse keeping each other company while the rain poured outside. Click photo for more.

Thursday, February 09, 2006

Escapade | Word Cloud

Get you own Word CloudEverybody seems to have one, so I gave it a go for my PAL - Passionate About Life blog.

And now I have one to call my own. Like I said, I got it free, short of ordering a T-shirt from the website. It was great when my PAL word cloud came out, as the words I often use and I can customize the fonts and its colours to suit my blog. Cool.

You should get one if you have not. Click photo for more.

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Escapade | Brontok Virus

The world was waiting for a Kamasutra virus to attack every PC in the globe.

The infamous Indian art of... you know what. I instead got a Brontok, a virus created from Indonesia today. Wow, both from Asia. Thought you would be proud of an Asian invention.

Nope! Definitely not this type of destructive and wasteful creativity.

The whole day was unproductive for me as I struggled to eradicate it from my PC and nothing else. The installed Hauri Antivirus did nothing to prevent nor detect it even with the latest updates.

Instead, a free version AVG Antivirus from Grisoft.com did the job in less than it took to download it. Fantastic!

The old trusted AVG is still the best around! I can vouch for that any time! Click photo for more.

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Family | Busy Day

SGH Food Court for early dinnerTook off work on Friday to accompany Mom to SGH's National Eye Centre in the afternoon.

Since I could not make it in time if I were to take the afternoon off, I had to take the whole day instead. Well, what a busy day I had indeed.

Spent in the morning with my Wife to scout a new shop we have been thinking of setting up.

Then rushed in the afternoon to my Mom and Dad. I had to fetch them from their home, in time for her check-up at SNEC. She more than needs the eye surgery, she has been putting off for too long.

Click photo for more.

Monday, February 06, 2006

Photos | MacRitchie Reservoir

MacRitchie Reservoir BoardwalkIn my second posting of photos of places in Singapore, we headed to the first TreeTop Walk on the island that is free to the public right in the middle of the island's Central Catchment Nature Reserve in between MacRitchie and Pierce Reservoirs.

An hour's worth of tracking on foot to the suspension bridge was hard work for many but great for nature lovers.

The long boardwalk ran almost endlessly winding the reserve primary and secondary forest and all the way to the water's edge.

An awesome experience and a very good workout for this family of 3. Click photo for more.

Sunday, February 05, 2006

Photos | Click! Singapore

Malay Village HouseInspired by a message left by Ellen M Johns from Coffee Granules, I decided to pick-up where I left off on my MI Photography blog with pictures.

I will post pictures I took from family outings and scenes in and around the island now. It would have been more meaningful when I look back when I am old.

I would kill for photos of yesteryear, when I was a child. The scenes then... my home in village - the front yard, the back yard, our cats, chickens, our sheep yes, sheeps not goats, the view down from my favourite tree... the many pictures that are only in my head.

Oh, I wish to have them right before my eyes. The fond memories. Click photo for more.

Saturday, February 04, 2006

Family | Something Wonderful!

The verdict is out!

The "part-time" adopted hamster is officially ours to keep. We have always been a family of 3, and now Puffy makes 4.

When my son brought back the good news, both my wife and son went off to the neighbourhood library to look for books on hamsters and how to care for them.

We now know what breed Puffy is and armed with good information to make Puffy as comfortable and healthy as we could possibly provide her. Click photo for more.

Friday, February 03, 2006

Family | Something Great

+ Life  Something GreatContinued from the last entry, the 3rd item on the list deserves the same "excruciating detailed description" as with all my entries.

If anybody has a lot of time to kill and wish to fall asleep in front of his or her computer, this would be an ideal read. No prescription required.

Insignificant to most, well.. all, but such a memorable event for this family of 3, hopefully 4 later on. We just have to wait for the verdict. Click photo for more.

Thursday, February 02, 2006

Family | Something Good

+ Life  Something GoodToday is a pretty good day for me amid everything else that sucked.

3 things that came to mind and I listed it, described them in "excruciating detail" for my own reference, for my immediate sanity.

I will look back and maybe laugh about it, or maybe reflect on the things I did and pat myself on the back, or maybe feel nothing of it, or... maybe cannot retrieve it back ever, if Blogspot goes bust or no longer free-of-charge.

Anyway, how or where it will take me later in life is anybody's guess. Click photo for more.

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Escapade | Red Packet

First day of work after the long Chinese New Year weekend. Received a Ang Pow and a pair of oranges from our CEO. Wow!

A slow day, but an educational one no less.

Interesting to actually see a Lion Dance performance and the blessings of a place by these Lions.

All these years living in Singapore and celebrating the CNY holidays, but never once stood and actually watched the whole ritual of my fellow Chinese customs and traditions.

Well, my Chinese friends were no helpful at explaning stuff and rituals as there are as ignorant as I was, but nonetheless it was interesting for us all to watch. Click photo for more.