A Day My Favourite Soccer Team Lost the FA Cup... But I Just Wasn't Too Bothered...

Indeed... something lost, something gained... Man U lost in the dying minutes of the extra time... And I usually will be very frustrated and agonized over my favourite team losing an important match...

But not on that very special night...

And it was all because of these beautiful people...




Had a great time on Saturday evening with my first batch of students... Met them for dinner at Marina South... GZ & CP reminded me that when they were in Sec 4, we had an outing there as well... That prompted me to hunt down for the old photos I took with my old film compact camera...




It's been 5 years... look how young we all were... They are still young, of course... All young ladies and gentlemen now...

This was the best turnout since they graduated in 2003... So much to catch up, especially with the guys... Most of them I was still able to keep up with their progress via a few of them... So happy to know how well all of them have come along...

1) GZ - graduated from Poly, now working... looking into applying for a course in a private university
2) CP - graduated from Poly... looking into applying for ACCA or private university
3) TW - graduated from Poly... secured a place in NUS (Estate Mgmt)... awaiting NS
4) YC - graduated from NAFA... thinking of applying for NTU Media Studies
5) WL - now in Poly, after doing well from ITE...
6) WX - graduated from Poly, awaiting NS
7) SZ - now serving NS as a Police Officer a Changi Airport Division
8) LC - graduated from ITE, moving on to do a diploma
9) WH - graduated from Poly, awaiting NS
10) SR - doing his final term in Poly
11) LH - kindergarden teacher
12) SC - completed ITE, now working
13) SB - graduated from poly, now working
14) D - completed ITE, completed NS... now looking for job
15) KL - completed Poly, now working
16) SK - completed Poly, now working
17) XY - now taking an Airborne Course at Commando Camp (serious!)

I've probably said it before on this blog... They've really been the batch that I've learnt so much from... And I'm still learning from them now!

Every time I see them, I'll reflect upon how I've worked with them and grew with them... They've time and again given me a lot of strength and conviction to continue on my path and mission as an educator... They have moulded me, as much as I would like to think that the school has moulded them...

Before I left home that evening, I was pondering what would be a good time to excuse myself and return home to watch the 10pm FA Cup Final... But the moment I met all of them, I knew it'll be a special night that will absolutely have no replay whatsoever... And after dinner, we adjourned to Coffee Bean at J8 till well past midnight...

How I wish their other 2 very close teachers could be there as well... but alas, family commitments... But I'm very sure they'd be very proud of this batch of students too, just like I do...

Just when I thought I'm sliding down into a valley in the course of my work... I have these wonderful people to propel me back up again... Thank you guys and gals... :)

I'm a Slow Dancer??? Wow!

Disclaimer: This entry is by no means a mode of self-advertising... Purely for fun & laughter :)

The Slow Dancer Deliberate Gentle Love Dreamer (DGLD) Steady, reliable, and cradling her tenderly. Take a deep breath, and let it out real easy...you are The Slow Dancer. Your focus is love, not sex, and for your age, you have average experience. But you're a great, thoughtful guy, and your love life improves every year. There's also a powerful elimination process working in your favor: most Playboy types get stuck raising unwanted kids before you even begin settling down. The women left over will be hot and yours. Your ideal woman is someone intimate, intelligent, and very supportive. While you're not exactly the life of the party, you do thrive in small groups of smart people. Your circle of friends is extra tight and it's HIGHLY likely they're just like you. You appreciate symmetry in relationships. ALWAYS AVOID: The Battleaxe (DBLM) CONSIDER: The Maid of Honor (DGLM) or The Sonnet (DGLD) Link: The Online Persona Test

Which Famous Leader Am I?

Sounds nice... :)

What Famous Leader Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

Shoot Bird

Okie... The Grammarians out there will condemn the title I've so chosen... But I figured it makes sense to lots of S'poreans at least... ;)

Very literally indeed... IIRC, the last time I went to the Jurong Bird Park was when I was in Primary School... Ridiculously long period of time since I stepped back there...

And pretty impressed with it, I must say... Had a lot of fun in the aviaries... So fascinating seeing birds flying all around you... Had lots of fun shooting them too, especially when I was trying to shoot birds in flight... Felt like I was doing trap shooting... Then there were the cheeky and friendly parrots in the aviary... So easy to shoot them... Immensely therapeutic... :)

Pink Flamingoes

"Trap Shooting"

Oooorh... So cuuute...

Love Birds...

Full series is HERE

Glorious Days Gone By...

Amazing place... or should I say mansion... not quite easy to locate nor access... But worth the long walk... Doesn't take much to imagine how glorious its past used to be... Sad that it'll be gone soon...

The Istana Woodneuk

I'm A Talent?

Okie, I know it's lame... But what the heck... Feels good to know I'm a talent... heheheh... ;)

You're a risk-taker, and you follow your passions. You're determined to take on the world and succeed on your own terms. Whether in the arts, science, engineering, business, or politics, you fearlessly express your own vision of the world. You're not afraid of a fight, and you're not afraid to bet your future on your own abilities. If you find a job boring or stifling, you're already preparing your resume. You believe in doing what you love, and you're not willing to settle for an ordinary life.

Talent: 62%
Lifer: 31%
Mandarin: 54%

Take the Talent, Lifer, or Mandarin quiz.

How Long More?

It's either I can be so forgetful or I can forgive so quickly... I seem to be able to survive the recurrent frustrations, which stems from someone's apparent indifference or inability to communicate... For far too long, past two years especially, time and again I find myself running around covering for someone else's posterior... For far too long I've gone into battles alone, settling matters, become the middle-person to pass messages, explain on behalf of someone who's inexplicably incapable of doing it... For far too long, I've been crammed in the middle to the point where I no longer am able to perform my OWN ROLES!!! Perhaps it's all my fault for leaving it far too long... I do not wish to see my charges be short-changed... But that may in itself be a self-justifying image of mine... Self-glorifying myself... How naive? To think that I'd be relieved of his clasp, I still find myself living in his shadows... picking up loose bits after him... What on earth is this? "You are in the position to tell him!", I have been told many times... How many times do I have to bring it up? Why on earth is everyone not happy and it falls back to me? Can't everybody see that I'm unhappy too? Utterly ridiculous! "You ought to handle it better as you are expected to...", I've also been told... But for how long more???

How long more???

Basement 18...

I wasn't even aware that the infamous Haw Par Villa is still open these days... until I came across a write up on the 18 levels of Hell...

Gosh... reading these alone sends shivers down my spine... That's the 'character education' that ancient Chinese received... Give me SEL any time...

18 Levels of Hell
1. Chamber of Wind and Thunder – People who kill and commit heinous crimes out of greed are sent here for punishment.

2. Chamber of Grinding – Wealthy men who do no good and waste food are ground into powder in this chamber.

3. Chamber of Flames – People who steal, plunder, rob and cheat are sent here to be burnt.

4. Chamber of Ice – Children who ill-treat their parents and elders are sent here to be frozen in ice.

5. Chamber of Oil Cauldrons – Sex offenders such as rapists, lechers, adulterers are fried in oil in this chamber.

6. Chamber of Dismemberment by Sawing – Kidnappers and people who force good women into prostitution suffer the fate of being sawn in this chamber.

7. Chamber of Dismemberment by Chariot – Corrupt officials and landlords who oppress and exploit the people are dismembered by a chariot in this chamber.

8. Chamber of Mountain of Knives – People who cheat customers by earning more than they should, profiteers who jack up prices and cheat on the quality of goods are made to shed blood by climbing the mountain of knives.

9. Chamber of Tongue Ripping – Gossips who stir trouble and liars suffer the fate of having their tongues ripped out in this chamber.

10. Chamber of Pounding – Cold-blooded murderers are pounded in this chamber.

11. Chamber of Torso-severing – Scheming and ungrateful men have their torsos severed in this chamber.

12. Chamber of Scales – Crooks who oppress the innocent, people who cheat on the quality of goods and daughters-in-law who ill-treat their in-laws have hooks pierced into their body and hung upside down.

13. Chamber of Eye-gouging – Peeping toms who go around peeking and leering have their eyeballs gouged out in this chamber.

14. Chamber of Heart-digging – People with evil hearts have theirs dug out in this chamber.

15. Chamber of Disembowelment – Instigators, hypocrites and tomb-robbers have their bowels dug out in this chamber.

16. Chamber of Blood – Blasphemous crooks who show no respect to the gods suffer the fate of being skinned in this chamber.

17. Chamber of Maggots – Crooks who use loopholes in the law to cheat and engage in malpractice are being eaten alive by maggots in this chamber.

18. Chamber of Avici – Crooks who have committed heinous crimes, brought misery to the people and betrayed the ruler are placed on a platform above an inferno. The unlucky ones fall off the platform into the inferno and burn while the lucky ones remain on the platform. These spirits are never to be reincarnated.

再见。。。 优客李林

Just came back from S'pore Expo... my favourite Chinese group 优客李林's concert...

A taiwanese group which released their first album in 1991...

The year when I started learning to play the guitar...

Was mesmerised by the guitar chords of their song 认错... a song which any decent guitar player who's into chinese pop would love to play and sing...

Was another beautiful and joyful experience, listening to 林志炫 singing live... He's one of the very very few male singers whose falsetto could sound so beautiful...

And it's an inspiration and admiration to relive the mastery of 李骥's songwriting prowess...

优客李林's music has been very distinguishable amidst all the run-of-mill chinese songs before they disbanded... A very unique 优客 brand of music and style... Something which all the full-house crowd tonight could associate with...

Found one of their songs which I love a lot on YouTube, both the music as well as th lyrics... and again, nobody's writing lyrics like this anymore...

黄丝带
作词：李骥 作曲：李骥 编曲：Tony Smith

站在面无表情灰色丛林中
面对冷默的你
也许等待的我不能再让你感动
将离开的你教我不知该怎么做
好久以前这样的心情也曾有过
年少的轻狂 曾经让你走出我心中
现在你已将一切带走
我想这一次我也失去所有

等待你的我的心还在守候
守候对我冷默的你的眼会回头看我
离开我的你的背影是否听见我
我的爱你的心在门口守候



Took this poor quality video during the concert...

Where has all the 猜心 & 半袖 Gone?

Chinese songs these days... do not have lyrics like these anymore... so sad...

Sung by an unpretentious and yet soulful 万芳, the images in the song just come to life...

猜心
作词：十一郎 作曲：张宇

四方屋里 什么都没有
只有被你关进来的落寞
你在墙角独坐 心情的起落 我无法猜透

握你的手 却被你推落
惊见你眼中翻飞的寂寞
问你心想什么 微扬的嘴角 有强颜的笑

这样的夜 热闹的街
问你想到了谁紧紧锁眉
我的喜悲 随你而飞
擦了又湿的泪与谁相对

这样的夜 热闹的街
问你想到了谁紧紧锁眉
我的喜悲 随你而飞
擦了又湿的泪与谁相对


半袖
作词：姚若龙　编曲：洪敬尧

我凝视你的侧脸　你漠然数着木棉
骑单车的少年　结伴呼啸追逐笑颜

在街角那家花店　我停在红玫瑰前
你迟疑的瞬间　回忆也走的好远

你爱穿宽松的衬衫　你抗拒任何被束缚的感觉
沈思的我　落在你身后　而你头也不回

风扬起你的衣袖
无声的翻飞　无声的挥别
撕落的玫瑰　像眼泪

赶上前和你并肩 发现你领口边缘
有一根我的发　斜斜在你胸前依偎

把我伸出的手轻收回　还是留它给你做纪念
代替我多陪你一会　送你穿过对街

风扬起你的衣袖
就像一双
白色羽翼
越飞越远
越飞越远

Finito...

Okie folks.. it's done...

Finally finished processing the Growth Camp photos...

My eyes are about to dry up looking at the screen, checking colours, contrast, exposure...

Full series of 155 photos is HERE

Self-Inflicted Panic...

Was feeling kind of frustrated over something this evening...

Decided to drive to Punggol Point to see what I could shoot...

Almost couldn't make it back home...

Reached the end of Punggol Road around 7.30pm...

I didn't know what got into me and I parked my car in the OBS carpark...

The carpark has a barrier and I saw a sign board stating the opening time of the carpark, and a warning message to drivers which says that once the barrier is lowered, drivers would have to collect their cars the next day...

And I thought I saw 5.30 am to 8.30 pm...

So happily I parked the car, and ventured to the beach to take the above few shots...

Didn't basically know what I wanted to shoot...

Eyes just weren't opened...

No vision of what I wanted at all...

Took some long exposure shots, and at the back of my mind, I reminded myself I had to return to my car before 8.30 pm...

And diligently, I went back just past 8 pm...

And to my horror, the barrier has been lowered!!!

I looked at the sign in the pitch dark carpark...

5.30 pm to 8.30 am... Carpark would be CLOSED!!!

I wondered why the heck was the carpark still open when I came in at 7.30 pm??!!??!!

Was quite angry at myself...

A few options quickly came to my mind...

- I tried to see if I could drive over the curbs...

- But my Red Swift Pod is too low...

- I figured I had to leave my car in that pitch dark carpark and walk all the way out to Punggol Central to take a public transport...

- I'll pick up my car some time tomorrow...

And then...

I saw a middle-aged uncle waving at me from about 50 m away, at the bus-stop near the jetty...

I ran towards him...

A miracle...

He said he could help me...

He said he's not from OBS... but he could help me...

He gave me the combination lock number to the lock that locked the barrier to the carpark...

***7...

He asked me to go try if it still worked...

I ran back and drove my car to the barrier, near enough for the headlamps to give me enough light to see where the lock was...

***7... the lock undid itself...

I was free...

I brought down the barrier again after I drove my car out...

Locked the barrier again...

I had to thank the middle-aged uncle...

I drove back to the bus-stop where he was still sitting...

He gave me a thumbs-up...

I thanked him profusely and offered to give him a lift...

He said a friend of his will give him a lift soon...

And I bade him farewell...

A miracle...

An angel...

Lessons learnt:
- Read the words of any sign boards, not just the numbers... a.m. and p.m. do differ!!!
- Just because it's stated that the barrier would be lowered at 5.30 pm doesn't necessarily mean that it should be down at 7.30 pm...
- Don't give up and succumb to panic when everything seems to be all hay-wired... U might just meet an angel to pull you out of agony...

Well... after this self-inflicted panic episode, at least I've learnt some lessons... and I now know the number lock sequence to that carpark... : )

It's a Bird...

Kinda miss the roaring sounds of the landing planes at Changi campsite... I think the kiddos miss it too... ;)

无间道

Okie... I've uploaded some Growth Camp photos to satisfy the appetite of those who inquired about it... Still have loads of them not done up... But if you want to see about one seventh of it, it's HERE

Chickadees

Another performance during Growth Camp... :)

It's been 21 months since I last changed my handphone... contract expired and was toying with which new model to change to...

My usage of handphone has always been making calls, sending sms, making simple reminders in the calendar, taking snapshots... never a power user of 3G capabilities...

So all I need is a simple phone... I must say that none of the fancy models in the market actuall quite make me want to make a change... Until the Nokia 6300 came along...

The number 1 reason why this model appealed to me straightaway was because it looks almost like the Apple's iPhone... well at least from the front view anyway... well, less the keypads...



Was telling myself to save up till the iPhone arrives onto Singapore shores next year... that'll be my ultimate gadget... Has always been obsessed with Apple's products... frm the iMac to the iPod to the iPhone...

But till it arrives, I got the 6300 for at least the next one year or so... : )

Mummy Mummy Come & See

I almost died laughing when I saw the kiddos did this... Don't ask me why... Had a great time at the Upper Sec Growth Camp's campfire... : )

Joy...

My Dragon batch Padawans who entered JCs received their long-awaited A-Level Results yesterday...

I sms WJ in the late afternoon, and she called back... She did really well!!! Despite her super active participation in school activities as a Student Councillor, she managed, what I felt, very very well indeed...

I was so happy... It was joy in fact... a kind of joy that's so pure and straight from within my heart...

And a wave of satisfaction came thereafter, after finding out also that several other whom I've taught previously, all qualified to enter universities... They'd be the first batch of students whom I've taught from Sec 1 to progress and reach universities... Hmmm, that's an amazing 6 years that's gone by...

I've always felt deep down that this batch of students would do well... SJ, CG, SK, NC, WM etc who entered JCs, and the numerous others, like BL, EL, CJ, and many others who entered Polys... They all had abilities and social skills which I lacked when I was their age... I lacked the kind of confidence and self-belief when I was their age...

All of them are still on a journey... a journey of discoveries and finding more about themselves, and giving what they have to others...

And it's great joy and satisfaction to know that I was privileged enough to be on a small part of their journeys of life...

The Harder Right...

I first came across this phrase "the harder right" when I read a book on leadership during my NS days... The book was written by a retired officer from the famous US Military Academy at West Point... the context of this phrase was that as leaders, time and again he'll be tasked to make right decisions... and more often than not, the right decisions are usually very hard to make as well...

And over time, I've learnt to appreciate it a lot more...

So many harder rights to make at work... there's always an easier way out for many cases and situations... but we been trying to take the harder right... simply because it's young people we are working with on a daily basis... we just can't write them off... they'll continually need the guidance and hand-holding... some will need us to hold them and see them through every step of their way... some will be very independent very early on...

The harder right more often than not is energy and emotions sapping... Very sapping...

And that's where courage comes in... The courage to continually choose the path of the Harder Right...

And that's also where faith comes in... The faith to believe that we are seeing them through a phase in these young peoples' lives to better and brighter days ahead...

Eyes of a Photographer

Seen this Korean MTV many years ago... it surfaced again in a photography forum recently... Reminded me that it's not the photography gear that makes great photographs... A photo is only as beautiful as a photographer's eyes can see...

Enjoy this touching MTV...

About Time...

Well well well... how time flies... seems like it was just a while back when I posted an entry to remind my Padawans on what to take note of during their O Levels last November...

And very soon, D-day will arrive...

I'm anticipating eagerly too... Just like you guys and gals...

Been receiving some SMSes to find out when would the results be released... I seriously know just as much as all of you do... So there's no need to send me SMSes in the middle of the night...

Good Luck and all the best...

See you all very soon... : )

Mr. Slowhand

13 January 2007 (Saturday)...

Singapore Indoor Stadium...

10,000 fans mesmerized by Mr. Slowhand...

He's over 60 years old... He's been rocking way before I was born...

But I managed to get onto the Clapton bandwagon some time back in 1991... when I was in junior college... where any decent guitar student would attempt to play his Wonderful Tonight and Tears in Heaven...

Last night's programme was quite different from his 2001 tour... I have his 2001 tour DVD and was expecting this to be something like that...

But boy I was wrong... He dug in very deep back into his music history, and played many of his older songs... and also, there were lots of blues in this programme...

It was during the concert that I realised that I've unconciously been converted to like Blues music... all thanks to Mr. Slowhand...

I remember I tried listening to B.B. King's blues when I started out playing the guitar... but I couldn't quite appreciate it...

Perhaps it's due to age... perhaps it's due to Eric Clapton... I now can feel the Blues... the angst... the improvisation... the way the guitar notes pulls my emotions... simple pleasures...

The Sunday Times today reported that the 10,000 audience literally were eating out of Eric Clapton's hands... I think that's an understatement...

His guitar solos were simply silky smooth and creamy... He has definitely aged gracefully and still full of oomph...

He has changed his band for this world tour... and I liked one young guitarist in particular... Derek Trucks... His guitar solos are amazing... Has a very distinctive feel to it... Techniques are impeccable... Such a joy to listen to... Kudos to Eric Clapton for brining on up and coming young guitarists into the limelight...

The only minus point about last night's concert, if there were any, would just be that Clapton only played one more song for his encore...

But come to think of it... He THE GUITAR LEGEND... he doesn't need to come out for any encores should he not feel like it...

EC ROCKS!!!!

I.C.E I.C.E Baby...

I've always been particular with sound quality of any sound systems that I own... there'll always be a better system out there as long as one has got the money to spare... But within my megre budget, I'd like to get the best sounding speakers/ amplifier system available...

I changed the front speakers in my car over 1 year ago... and added an amplifier too... Didn't setup the sound too well then...

So yesterday, I went to shift the pair of front speakers to the rear, and added a better pair of Helix H236 component speakers to the front... At the same time, the installer shifted the pair of tweeters onto the edges of the dashboard to improve the sound staging in the car... Since I can't afford a sub-woofer (and my little RSP doesn't have any boot space anyway), I sound-proofed the front doors with a double layer Dynamat to boost the mid-bass of the speakers...

And oh my... the sound now is much fuller than before... All the musical instruments in any piece of music can be heard with greater clarity... But I guess I can only turn up the volume when I drive alone... I don't think anyone would appreciate sitting in my car with the volume cranked up... ;)

For the same amount of money that I spent, I could have modified the exterior of my RSP with front bumper, side-skirts and spoiler... Would definitely give the exterior of my car a brand new and sportier look...

But I'm the kind who's not too bothered with the exterior... I'm not bothered with swirl-marks, not too bothered with slight scratches, not too bothered with sending my car to washed at pertrol-kiosks, not too bothered with maintaining the exterior's absolute cleanliness even...

I'm more concerned with how the sound system should sound, and how well the engine is running... things that can't be seen from the outside... both poisons in their own rights, only to be meddled with with great discipline of the budget...

I guess this is quite reflective about the way I manage myself as well... Someone asked me recently to go get myself some good facial products to upkeep my face... Very nice of these friends... But I've been procrastinating this for quite a while... Can't seem to make myself spend such kind of money on facial products... Heheh, I don't think I'd even think a second if it's about spending on photography stuff or music CDs or DVDs... :)

Another Guitar Vituoso...

Amazing technique... Simply stunning...

Glorious 2007

Hadn't planned to shoot the fireworks because I just didn't feel like squeezing with the insanely massive crowd at the Esplanade area...

But I ended up shooting from my sister's new 18th storey flat... not a bad view at all... not a bad way to start the new year as well :)

Happy New Year Everyone!!!

Don't Believe Everything You See

The wonders of make-up, lighting, and Photoshop...

Pachelbel's Canon in D

Ahh... Pachelbel... baroque era's one-hit wonder... Canon in D...

Grossly overplayed at weddings, advertisements, lullabies, self-help stress-relieve CDs, building pipe-in music, etc etc etc...

Anything in overdose just brings the puke out of a person...

The first time I heard this tune was during my college Guitar Ensemble days... my conductor walked in one day, bringing us a new piece of music to play... we had 3 sections in the guitar ensemble, guitar 1 plays the melodies, guitar 2 plays the supporting sub-melodies, and guitar 3 plays the accompaniment and bass...

I remembered we were all quite amused when all three sections of us received the same score... we couldn't quite believe that the everyone of us were to play the same tune...

But Mr A (my conductor) explained that the trick behind this Pachelbel's music is to stagger the starting time of each section... i.e. guitar 2 will start 2 bars after guitar 1, and guitar 3 will start another 2 bars behind guitar 2...

The magic and genius of Pachelbel henceforth unveils... the overlap due to the delay in the start gives this piece of music the full body and crescendo and grandeur... pretty amazing...

I used to like to play this piece of music a lot on the guitar... just the melody of course... but as I grew older, and the piece gaining popularity... over time, it begins to eat into me...

Almost like too much saccharine will cause diabetes... yuuucks!!!

Ground Zero

Well... my sore and dry throat has miraculously disappeared after I returned to ground zero, sea-level Singapore... For once, I'm so glad to be back in the humid climate of this tropical isle... a few of the irritating symptoms that I experienced in the dry, cold and high altitude Tibet are cured... No more breathlessness... no more tight-chested feelings... no more blocked and blood-clotted nose...

Amazing how a human body can adapt and adjust with 50% lesser oxygen... I wonder how my body is adjusting when I suddenly return to sea-level, with much more oxygen in the air?

Back from the Rooftop of the World... Almost

Now sitting in an internet cafe in Chengdu Shuangliu Airport, waiting for my flight back home at 8 pm... Long wait... Decided not to venture into Chengdu city after the plane from Lhasa touched-down at 12.30 pm... The sky is overcast, temperature is 7 degress celcius, drizzling, wet, cold... not the kind of weather to lug my 15 kg haversack and 8 kg camera bag around...

Shall just find some corner in the airport to while my time away...

Yeah!!! I've gone to the rooftop of the world... and back... the high altitude was demanding... thankfully, I only experienced mild Acute Mountain Sickness while I was there... Lhasa is 3650m, and it took me 2 nights before I could sleep well at night without waking up every 1-2 hours... but that acclimatisation process was disturbed when I ventured out to Gyantse (3950 m) and Shigatse (3900 m)... gosh... I had to sleep breathing through my mouth as I can't seem to breathe in enough of air at night... the result was super dry lips and dry throats... kind of reminded me of my trekking in Nepal...

Nevertheless, what's left of the traditional and mysterious Tibet is really amazingly awe-inspiring... I said what's left, because after China 'liberalised' Tibet from the 1960s onwards, much of the ancient Tibet has been mercilessly destroyed... A great pity and a crime to have detroyed such a great culture...

Anyway, shall elaborate more as I process the photos I took when I get home... Think I have shot over 1000 shots on this trip...

Closer to Heaven

In 7 hours' time, I'd be on the flight to Chengdu... and there on, will board the Qinghai-Tibet high altitude train into Lhasa, the rooftop of the world...

Weather forecasts predicts an average high of 10 degree celcius in the day, and low of -4 degree celcius at night... freezing... and I've been asked many times why on earth do I still want to go there in December? Why not June?

Cos' I don't want to procrastinate any longer... looking at my workload, it'll be a blessing if I could even go for a trip at year-end next year...

Tibet is the kind of place where the environment is so harsh that I better get there while I still have the motivation and physical tolerance... and even then, I'm prepared to be hit with some Acute Mountain Sickness, diarrhea, nausea, headache etc... with an average altitude of 3900 m plus cold and dry climate, I hope I've done enough preparation and preventive measures to reduce any physical discomfort...

Checklist:
- goose feather jacket (bought it in 2000 for NZ trip but didn't use much since)
- goretex water and wind-proof jacket
- fleece jacket x 2
- woolen jacket
- long sleeves shirts x 3
- chemical heat pack x 10
- fleece gloves
- woolen gloves
- Acute Mountain Sickness pills
- cold pills
- diarrhea pills
- pain-killers

But all these discomforts aside, I'm really looking forward to the amazing terrain and impossible beauty of the Himalayan Range... And I'm also looking forward to the spiritual journey as well... to redeem myself of all the bad karmas I've accumulated in my lifetime...

I'm a bit more wary this time round, as compared to my other trips to the more cosmopolitan cities... got more things to watch out over and not let my guards down at all times...

Okie... all's set... haversack's packed... time to begin a journey that I've been looking forward to for so many years... Look out for this space for the photos of Tibet... : )