Saturday, December 17, 2005
Where In The World Is Gage Sim?
17th Dec - 20th Dec 2005 Bangkok
21st Dec - 25th Dec 2005 Chewang Beach, Koh Samui
26th Dec 2005 Ayuttaya
27th Dec - 28th Dec 2005 Bangkok
29th Dec - 31st Dec 2005 Chiang Mai
Ist Jan 2006 Home Sweet Home, Singapore
21st Dec - 25th Dec 2005 Chewang Beach, Koh Samui
26th Dec 2005 Ayuttaya
27th Dec - 28th Dec 2005 Bangkok
29th Dec - 31st Dec 2005 Chiang Mai
Ist Jan 2006 Home Sweet Home, Singapore
Labels: Life
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Where Does The Sense of Self Begins?
The one very thing I love about Thailand people is their sense of self.
Growing up as a Chinese, I usually don't say 'No' because of politeness issues.
So the first time when I offered my colleague something, I was shocked that she declined my offer.
This is one of the most precious lessons I learnt here. We Chinese take some things way too personally.
Not accepting a favour means that I don't like you.
What nonsense. Everything that we see is about ourselves.
Then I thought about how secure someone must be to decline, to refuse, to be the other way of what is expected of you.
Sure, Singapore has more money. But the Thailand people are so much richer than us spiritually.
I think we may have conformed so much to be what we are now that we have lost our sense of self. We are one of the Singaporeans that keeps Singapore moving.
So I'm glad Singapore is trying to slow down and back track our sense of self now. Start now. It's never too late.
When you find a sense of self, you are more accepting.
Thailand has so many cross-dressers on the street. One of the factors, I believe, is that Thailand people believe that anyone has every right to be what they want.
They are more accepting than Singaporeans.
When you find a sense of self, you are more creative.
You are not afraid to wander too far, in case you lose yourself.
Singaporeans need to read and learn more. Start by watching the half an hour news. We can't hide under our patch of sky forever.
I'm grateful for this trip.
I have learnt so much from Tawfiq.
I have learnt so much from my colleagues.
My favourite toilet sign. It's so refreshing. The only toilet sign design I see in SG is the standard one. Oh. And to get this picture taken, 7 people had to stop to wait for me to finish. My first public photo shoot. ha!
So where does the sense of self begins?
Our surroundings, our parents, our friends, our world, our culture, and so many more.
But most importantly, I think, it starts from within.
Yes, this answer seem so base.
So easy.
So obvious that we have moved ahead, like Singapore had. And we have never considered this most important factor at the start.
Don't wait till many years later then try to back track.
Stop now.
And ask yourself.
Do you have your sense of self?
You will be surprised that you don't have an answer for this simple question.
Remember to answer yourself specifically.
You owe yourself that.
Growing up as a Chinese, I usually don't say 'No' because of politeness issues.
So the first time when I offered my colleague something, I was shocked that she declined my offer.
This is one of the most precious lessons I learnt here. We Chinese take some things way too personally.
Not accepting a favour means that I don't like you.
What nonsense. Everything that we see is about ourselves.
Then I thought about how secure someone must be to decline, to refuse, to be the other way of what is expected of you.
Sure, Singapore has more money. But the Thailand people are so much richer than us spiritually.
I think we may have conformed so much to be what we are now that we have lost our sense of self. We are one of the Singaporeans that keeps Singapore moving.
So I'm glad Singapore is trying to slow down and back track our sense of self now. Start now. It's never too late.
When you find a sense of self, you are more accepting.
Thailand has so many cross-dressers on the street. One of the factors, I believe, is that Thailand people believe that anyone has every right to be what they want.
They are more accepting than Singaporeans.
When you find a sense of self, you are more creative.
You are not afraid to wander too far, in case you lose yourself.
Singaporeans need to read and learn more. Start by watching the half an hour news. We can't hide under our patch of sky forever.
I'm grateful for this trip.
I have learnt so much from Tawfiq.
I have learnt so much from my colleagues.
So where does the sense of self begins?
Our surroundings, our parents, our friends, our world, our culture, and so many more.
But most importantly, I think, it starts from within.
Yes, this answer seem so base.
So easy.
So obvious that we have moved ahead, like Singapore had. And we have never considered this most important factor at the start.
Don't wait till many years later then try to back track.
Stop now.
And ask yourself.
Do you have your sense of self?
You will be surprised that you don't have an answer for this simple question.
Remember to answer yourself specifically.
You owe yourself that.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Kanchanaburi - The Death Railway
5th December was the King's Birthday over here in Thailand.
So I had a day's off. Yeah!
With this holiday, Kaiqian and I went to visit the famous Death Railway in the province of Kanchanaburi.
Me still half asleep. (But I think I look sexy like that. ha! bleah!)
Since it's a 3hour bus journey, we had to wake at 5.30am. The watch says 6am.
A rough history of this tragedy, roughly 94,000 Prisoners of War and Asian workers (From what I read, the POW died in such great numbers that the Japanese had to employ Asian workers - coolies, to continue with the construction.) died when building this 415km railway.
In World War 2, the Japanese had needed a route to transport goods and soldiers from Singapore to further invade into India. However, the allied forces stationed in the straits will always bomb the Japanese ships. Hence, they had to find a land route.
The Japanese later found out that there is already a railway from Singapore to Malaysia, and another from Malaysia to Thailand.
What they needed was a railway, to link from Thailand to Burma (Myanmar).
So the Japanese got the POWs (mostly from Changi, Singapore) and asian workers to build this railway.
Although the Japanese had signed a treaty to follow the welfare guidelines for treatment of the POWs, the treaty was never honored.
More than 275,000 men worked day and night under the harshest weather conditions. The conditions got worse when the rainy season came, and Cholera broke loose.
We couldn't take pictures in the museum. So only this picture taken at the main door.
It's quite sad to read about what the POWs went through. There were pictures of soldiers suffering from mal-nutrition or diseases. But the caption of the picture was – soldiers considered fit for work.
On the walls of this building marks the names of the soldiers whose bodies are not found.
It was quite a good day. Weather was good and the traffic was OK.
I guess sometimes we are so used to the city life that we forget how lucky we are.
We never have to worry for peace or safety. Imagine how it will be like if there is a possibility that I will be dragged from this laptop now to build a railway. Or a soldier can break into your home to rape you. Or you never see your family member who went out to fight the war again. Or your house destroyed by a bomb.
The Death Railway
There are so many terrible ways to die. But those 94,000 people (mostly around my age, and had left home for the first time in their lives) wasted away slowly and painfully. And most probably they already know that the end of their misery is death.
I only hope that they had gone to a better place.
If I am not wrong. This is the actual bridge built. The wooden part. The rest of the present railway is rebuilt after the war.
Click here to read more about the History of The Death Railway
So I had a day's off. Yeah!
With this holiday, Kaiqian and I went to visit the famous Death Railway in the province of Kanchanaburi.
A rough history of this tragedy, roughly 94,000 Prisoners of War and Asian workers (From what I read, the POW died in such great numbers that the Japanese had to employ Asian workers - coolies, to continue with the construction.) died when building this 415km railway.
In World War 2, the Japanese had needed a route to transport goods and soldiers from Singapore to further invade into India. However, the allied forces stationed in the straits will always bomb the Japanese ships. Hence, they had to find a land route.
The Japanese later found out that there is already a railway from Singapore to Malaysia, and another from Malaysia to Thailand.
What they needed was a railway, to link from Thailand to Burma (Myanmar).
So the Japanese got the POWs (mostly from Changi, Singapore) and asian workers to build this railway.
Although the Japanese had signed a treaty to follow the welfare guidelines for treatment of the POWs, the treaty was never honored.
More than 275,000 men worked day and night under the harshest weather conditions. The conditions got worse when the rainy season came, and Cholera broke loose.
It's quite sad to read about what the POWs went through. There were pictures of soldiers suffering from mal-nutrition or diseases. But the caption of the picture was – soldiers considered fit for work.
It was quite a good day. Weather was good and the traffic was OK.
I guess sometimes we are so used to the city life that we forget how lucky we are.
We never have to worry for peace or safety. Imagine how it will be like if there is a possibility that I will be dragged from this laptop now to build a railway. Or a soldier can break into your home to rape you. Or you never see your family member who went out to fight the war again. Or your house destroyed by a bomb.
There are so many terrible ways to die. But those 94,000 people (mostly around my age, and had left home for the first time in their lives) wasted away slowly and painfully. And most probably they already know that the end of their misery is death.
I only hope that they had gone to a better place.
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Yeah! We Got Chosen
Yeah! We will be running around the island overnight (34 hours) again on 11th - 12th February 2006 (Sat-Sun).Hi 5!
Only 14 teams were chosen from NTU and we made it!
yeah yeah yeah!
Watch us shine!
CHARLOTTE aka Race Guru
The most experienced among the four. This mistress dictates all plots and strategies!
• Attended Outward Bound Camps
• DRAGON BOAT/ CANOEING SCHOOL TEAM
• AXN Race
• National Vertical Marathon 2004 ORGANISOR
• NTU Surf N Sweat NTU Bike Rally 2004 ORGANISOR
• 11TH NTU Sports Unlimited Orientation Camp GROUP LEADER
• SAC ‘Mazing Race 2004 PARTICIPANT
• National Vertical Marathon 2005 ORGANISOR
• NTU Surf N Sweat 2005 ORGANISOR
• X-Physique 2005 ORGANISOR
• 12TH NTU Sports Unlimited Orientation Camp GROUP LEADER
THERESA aka Group’s Adrenalin
GO! WHO ASK YOU TO STOP?
NEXT CLUE NEXT CLUE!
Try to rest, you will be B.I.T.C.H.E.D. big time!
• Attended Outward Bound Camps
• TRACK AND FIELD SCHOOL TEAM
• National Vertical Marathon 2004 ORGANISOR
• NTU Surf N Sweat 2004 ORGANISOR
• NTU Bike Rally 2004 ORGANISOR
• 11TH NTU Sports Unlimited Orientation Camp GROUP LEADER
• SAC ‘Mazing Race 2004 PARTICIPANT
• National Vertical Marathon 2005 ORGANISOR
• NTU Surf N Sweat 2005 ORGANISOR
• X-Physique 2005 ORGANISOR
• 12TH NTU Sports Unlimited Orientation Camp GROUP LEADER
• Currently a camp leader for Primary and Secondary Students too!
XIAN MING aka Mapper!
Where will we be without a map-reader? Eyes on the map. The other three will be my eyes. Turn left Turn right – accuracy up to nearest meter!
• Attended Outward Bound Camps
• BADMINTON SCHOOL TEAM
• National Vertical Marathon 2004 ORGANISOR
• NTU Surf N Sweat 2004 ORGANISOR
• NTU Bike Rally 2004 ORGANISOR
• 11TH NTU Sports Unlimited Orientation Camp GROUP LEADER
• SAC ‘Mazing Race 2004 PARTICIPANT
• National Vertical Marathon 2005 ORGANISOR
• NTU Surf N Sweat 2005 ORGANISOR
• X-Physique 2005 ORGANISOR
• 12TH NTU Sports Unlimited Orientation Camp GROUP LEADER
YIH TUNG aka Riddler
Riddle me this.
North South East West Who the Best?
Solve the puzzle and escape the mess!
• Attended Outward Bound Camps
• SWIMMING SCHOOL TEAM
• National Vertical Marathon 2004 ORGANISOR
• NTU Surf N Sweat 2004 ORGANISOR
• NTU Bike Rally 2004 ORGANISOR
• 11TH NTU Sports Unlimited Orientation Camp GROUP LEADER
• SAC ‘Mazing Race 2004 PARTICIPANT
• X-Physique 2005 ORGANISOR
• 2004 Guang Yang Primary School Camp Group Leader
• 12TH NTU Sports Unlimited Orientation Camp ORGANISOR
