Was looking for this documentary online. A very interesting documentary that talks about global warming. Click here to see trailer.

Eloquently weaves the science of global warming with Al Gore’s personal history and lifelong commitment to reversing the effects of global climate change. A longtime advocate for the environment, Gore presents a wide array of facts and information in a thoughtful and compelling way. The film is not a story of despair but rather a rallying cry.

Carbon dioxide and other gases warm the surface of the planet naturally by trapping solar heat in the atmosphere. This is a good thing because it keeps our planet habitable. However, by burning fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil and clearing forests we have dramatically increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere and temperatures are rising.The vast majority of scientists agree that global warming is real, it’s already happening and that it is the result of our activities and not a natural occurrence. The evidence is overwhelming and undeniable.We’re already seeing changes.

Glaciers are melting, plants and animals are being forced from their habitat, and the number of severe storms and droughts is increasing. You can do your bit at this website.

okay. My disappearance from the blogging scene is nothing new. Sometimes it's plain laziness. Sometimes it's writers' block. Sometimes it's just too tired. Sometimes i just don't feel like sharing. Sometimes it's sometimes.

But i found a few truth inconveniently revealing themselves unknowingly..

1) Girls i like before since school times are somehow born in the month of April. i seem to have some nemesis with April-ians. But interestingly, Cancers are water signs. Taurus are Fire Signs. Both signs cannot withstand one another. They don't attract each other anyway.

2) April used to be a month of finance. A new year for those who are working, finding themselves realising how much they have earn for the past one year.

" Ayy, i earn so much money ah?" or

" Ayy, i earn so little meh?" or the best complain i heard so far

" Wah....sibei pekcek... COE goes up, GST goes up, ah girl guni hoon goes up, sand prices goes up, my income tax also goes up " I say, my friend the only good reason that your income tax goes up because you earn more last year. *angry*

3) I have this" Pls intro girls to me " face now. Friends came up asking if i want to know this girl. Friends want to introduce this girl. Friends worried i have no girls. Colleagues want to hook me up with this girl. Colleagues want to introduce their girl friends to me. Colleagues want to introduce their daughter to me. For a moment, i'm thinking should i feel lucky or should i feel sad.

"Ah qiang ah, you have reach age to settle down liao. anyway you don't have gf for the past 2 years. you need some channels to release some energy rite........" *lol*

4) April is a month of breaking up. The reason i bring this up is that there seem to be a kind of fashion trend going around. Not that i like this kind of trend. Rather dishearten about the news that friends, colleagues, and bla bla bla. broke up with their love ones after being together for many many many years. They are probably the last person that i thought would break up.

It's like moving in phases. When you reach certain age, you start giving angbaos to newly weds. When you reach certain age, your friends broke up after being together for years.

But people ( and if you are the one going through this), don't despair. Hang on. I know it's going to be very hard. But hang on. Things will turn out positive. Not that i'm promoting some religion but there's one which I remember once a friend from a religion said this statement,

" God is putting you through this test. And he knows you can do it and pass this test."

I also remember that God sent angels to show us the light in the darkness. Sometimes some angels he sent are without wings and halo. I call these angels, friends. Maybe it's also time for you to re-look into you life for the past few years about what you have done.

Remember, it's always shine after the rain.

*edited on 25th Apr*

Met an old friend today. She curiously mentioned that i've become gentlemanly. Was i that bad, lousy, cold in poly days? Frankly speaking, we haven't seen each other for more than maybe a year or 2. Our conversations were usually thru smses or msn. Wanted to write all this for a long time. Just as i wonder technology has brought us closer, it also drift people apart unknownly.

The I-Generation, some call it has invented a new communication means which our young generations has been using to communicate with their friends, families and making new friends. Everyone talks about emails, Google, cellphones, Friendster, MSN mesenger, 3G, etc. Peoples' emotions were transcript into emoticons, smileys or put the simple smiling muscles on your face into " :)" . Perhaps that's why Nokia has their tagline, Human Technolgy. Even work were corresponded over emails.

Lacking the human touch, are we victims of the E-World when our lifestyle so much depend on it? Maybe you can ask someone around to name the Top 5 things she/ he will press the panic button when she/ he lost them. Bet one of them is the cellphone.

Living in this I-Gen, i still like the one-to one conversation over a coffee or something. Don't like webcam either. Though it offers quick response from peer to peer, Internet still can't give the satisfaction of the 5 senses - sight, hear, smell, touch and voice. It can only offer visuals with sights and sounds, also not forgeting Internet telephony (VoIP) network where free voice or video conferencing.

August was a stressful, depressing, uncertainty month. Where alot of things happened had me tasted the meaning of " you never know what's gonna happen in the future". I never like suspension. Long waiting shivers my spine. Empty talks also bores me. Once, again the lightning with negative charge struck me hard.

Late last year, I was told that i am going to lose someone very dear to me in a matter of time. She was diagnosed with kidney failure. Transplant was out of question - weak heart. Nornal dialysis( both blood or water) were also not in the checklist. Put it bluntly, she's left to die with her knowledge that her days are numbered. I can never imagine how i would react when someone announced that to me.

Day by day, toxin level can be controlled by medicine. But to only a certain extent. Other parts of the organs are showing signs of failing including the weaken heart. She still managed to talk to me and laughing with me when she was admited into hospital. I was talking to her over 3G technology for a while too minus the touch. There were both tears of sadness and joy. To me, her life have been very hard and strong. Not to mention that she already watched her husbands died before her.

It was then, i felt that there's nothing worth to fight for in life. No point working so hard to earn a living, an recognition, a degree, etc.Why bother? Everyone will die anyway. Just a matter of time. We are waiting for death the very second we are born into this world.

Just waiting.

Don't worry, suicide is the word created for idiots. I'm smart.

But I will not wait endlessly. It's my life. We only live once and it has to be worthwhile. I want to be happy waiting and experience life. I will not succumb to any difficulties or obstacles. I'll will strive to live the way i want. Making choices that allow me to experience life within the time limits. Life is a wonderful thing which i think probably one of the wonderful things that the-being-some-call-up-there gave.

By the-being-some-call-up-there terms. The-being-some-call-up-there has sent the-being-some-call-up-there's followers to her. She must have found happiness. It's is a bliss. Though it will still be a draggy, painful journey, perhaps she will be lead to a place they call heaven. Her husbands waiting for her patiently. Perhaps they can stroll down the beach that they never get to do it before. Perhaps they can embrace sunset in each other arms that they never get to do it before. Perhaps they can count the stars of the Milky Way that they never get to do it before.

I really hope.

I sincerely apologise if you began to feel negatively about things in life after reading this post. But i do hope that you will pick up yourself again. Not now maybe. But not too late. Do something. Talk to a friend. Take a stroll. Play a game. Read a book. Forget about alcohol and drugs, they only worsen the situation.

Remember, be happy.

Lyrics:

Over the sea and far away
She's waiting like an Iceberg
Waiting to change,
But she's cold inside
She wants to be like
the water,

All the muscles tighten in her face
Buries her soul in one embrace
They're one and the same
Just like water

Then the fire fades away
But most of everyday
Is full of tired excuses
But it's too hard to say
I wish it were simple
But we give up easily
You're close enough to see that
You're.... the other side of the world
to me

On comes the panic light
Holding on with fingers
and feelings alike
But the time has come
To move along

Then the fire fades away
But most of everyday
Is full of tired excuses
But it's too hard to say
I wish it were simple
But we give up easily
You're close enough to see that
You're.... the other side of the world

Can you help me?
Can you let me go
And can you still love me
When you can't see me anymore

Then the fire fades away
most of everyday
Is full of tired excuses
But it's too hard to say
I wish it were simple
But we give up easily
You're close enough to see that
You're.... the other side of the world
Ohh.... the other side of the world
You're.... the other side of the world
To me.

Came across this clip on youtube. Click here if you can't see the clip.

Found this remix of "James Blunt 's You're Beautiful ". Maybe it's been there for quite a while . But sometimes you really need this kind of laughing gas to smoke the monday morning. Got the lyrics below too.

Click here to listen. Compliments from MorningSidekick.

“My Cubicle”

Lyrics by: Morning Sidekick
Performed by: Jym Britton
Parody on “You’re Beautiful” by James Blunt

Cube FarmMy job is stupid my day’s a bore,
Inside this office from eight to four
Nothin’ ever happens my life is pretty bland,
Pretending that I’m working, pray I don’t get canned.

My Cubicle, My cubicle
It’s One of Sixty two
It’s my small space in a crowded place
Just a six-by-six foot booth
And I hate it that’s the truth

When I give a sigh as the boss walks by,
no one ever talks to me or looks me in the eye.
And I really should work but instead I just sit here and surf the Internet.

In My Cubicle, My cubicle
It doesn’t have a view.
It’s my small space in a crowded place
I sit in solitude.
And sometimes I sit here nude.

got this from talkingcock.com. Pretty interesting... but curiously wonder what can worse than a hum-onei onei, hum-ice-kachang( blood and hum instead of condensed milk and atapchee), hum steak( middle raw), etc... hmmmm.

by Cockle Doodledo,

The reason for the Prime Minister’s notorious and embarrassing gaffe during his National Day Rally speech has been revealed.

In his 2006 National Day Rally speech, the Prem Binister had intended to deliver a withering, cogently argued response to those who saw the Gahmen’s clampdown on Mr. Brown as heavy-handed. Instead, the argument was not only garbled, but he inadvertently revealed how out of touch he was with the average Singaporean’s experiences.

By saying, ‘mee siam mai hum’, he created the impression that either:

1. he had never eaten mee siam in his life, as mee siam never contains ‘hum’, or cockles;

2. he could not tell the difference between laksa or char kway teow (which does have cockles) and mee siam (which doesn’t), which then raises questions about what he eats regularly, and how different his diet is from the average Singaporean;

3. he actually meant to say, ‘mee siam mai hiam’, which is possible. But by asking for no spice in a dish whose entire point is spiciness only suggests wimpiness;

4. he has never had to order food in a hawker centre in a long while, if at all, which again sets him apart from his constituents.

- all of which are not particularly flattering propositions.

However, the Prime Minister’s Orifice has managed to uncover the truth that the Prime Minister’s ‘mee siam mai hum’ statement was not in fact a gaffe, but derived from personal experience.

Specifically, his experience during a pre-election walkabout earlier this year at Bukit Gorblok Food Centre in Hong Kan GRC, where he sampled the wares of Mr. Hum Kah Chan, a tze char hawker whose speciality is serving cockles with everything.

Yah lor, said Mr. Hum, whose stall is aptly named ‘Humpalang Hawker Food’. Prem Binister come to my stall, so I offer him my today’s special, mah.

Which was you guessed it mee siam with cockles.

I put hum in everything, he said proudly, with a hint of defensiveness. Chicken rice with hum, nasi lemak with hum, bak kut teh with hum, prata with hum, even ice kacang with hum. I love hum. Hum, hum, hum, hum, lovely hum, wonderful hum.

The Prime Minister consumed the dish, said Mr. Gerry Mandhir, an officer with the PMO. And promptly had diarrhoea. Not the verbal variety that runs in certain geriatric members of his family, but from somewhere, um, lower down.

Mr. Hum subsequently had his licence suspended for unhygienic food practices.

What to do? The hum was pai, said Mr. Hum ruefully, using the Hokkien word for ‘bad’, before chanting angrily, Pai hum! Pai hum! Pai hum! Pai hum! Since then, the Prime Minister has had a phobia of foods containing cockles, and always asks that whatever is served to him does not contain the offending bivalves.

This explains his statement. The hum was very harmful to him, said Mr. Mandhir. It was especially embarrassing because he was wearing white pants. You must understand this incident is also why he just cannot stand the colour brown.

got this email from a friend. You just don't get such long emails about complains. Felt unworth for her, our PM and fellow Singaporeans for their efforts to let tourists feel at ease while shopping in Singapore. Afterall, tourism is one of money-earning way in a country. And talking about ‘Go the Extra Mile for Service’ (GEMS) Movement for that saleman.

And all we need is just one mother fucker to mud-stain on a white shirt. It is that obvious.

Email:

Hello Friends,

I just want to share with you a terrible experience we had when we traded-in my mother-in law cellphone at the CYBER JIN Pte Ltd (Lucky Plaza #B1-81, near 7-eleven) this weekend.

The story goes like this; my Mom wanted to trade-in her old cellphone to buy a brand new N70. We accompanied her to the Lucky Plaza hoping we could get a good bargain. Then we found this store that agreed to buy my Mom's cellphone for $220 and would charge us only $550 (net) for an N70 under the condition that we do both transactions (buy and sell) with them. So far, this store offers us the best bargain compared to other stores from the rest of the building.

We agreed to their transaction proposal as we were then in a bit of a hurry (she was only a tourist and would stay in Singapore for only 4-days). However, when we were about to pay, the salesman suddenly told us "Why do you want an N70? This is a very bad phone. In fact this is one of the most problematic phones of Nokia." He immediately caught our attention and in fact gained our trust (imagine a salesman telling you that a product you are about to buy from him is not worth the money you are paying it for). He then proceeded to make his presentation about why we should not buy an N70 and even said "If you really want it I can sell it to you but please know that we've heard a lot of complains about it". Afterwards, he brought out anN6280, which he said was by far a better phone than the N70 at almost thesame price (he even gave another short presentation of its advantages). Of course, since he already gained our trust, we found his presentation very convincing.

We bargained for the phone and he said "I can give it to you at just $555 (net)". After being impressed by a convincing presentation, my Mom agreed to trade-in her old cellphone for $220, and buys the brand new N6280 for $555 (This means that she just would have to shell out another $335). We told the salesman that we would pay by Nets and we gave him our card. While paying, he tried to sell to us a 64Mb mini-SD Card for $20. We said we did not want it (as my mother wouldn't use it anyway). We proceeded with the transaction, got our phone and asked for the receipt. The salesman said that the Nets certificate would be our receipt. Should we encounter any problem, we just look for him and he would be happy to assist us. Since we are in a hurry, we took our phone and nets certificate and left. While we were leaving, he handed us the 64Mb mini-SD Card and said "Take this as a free gift from me".

After a long day of sight seeing and a little shopping, we finally got home and my mom finally had her first chance to test her new cellphone. To her surprise, the supposedly brand-new cellphone had contact numbers (some even had photo-contacts) of some people in its phone memory (meaning it was used and wasn't brand new!). We then checked the phone's serial number (IMEI#) and again to our dismay, we found out that the phone's IMEI# doesn't match the IMEI# listed in the box. We did a research to see what other things the salesman tricked us into believing and we found out that the 64Mb SD Card that he was trying to sell us for $20 was in fact part of the phone's original package (some other things listed as part of the original package as seen from brochures were also missing). Not just that, we checked the Nets certificate, and learned that he charged $355 instead of just $335 (so sneaky, we didn't even notice!). Worst of all, we found that the price of the N6280 from neighboring stores is just $450(net) while he sold it to us for a total of $575! (Including the extra $20 we did not notice that he charged us through Nets).

Imagine how disappointed my Mom would be after knowing that she bought a cellphone that is not just $100+ overpriced but is also isn't brand new as we were made to believe (plus the fact that some of the components from the original package were removed and the that salesman charged more than what we had agreed).

The next day, we went back to the store to complain and get a refund. The salesman said that he couldn't give us a refund. What he can do is to buy the cellphone we bought from him a day ago for $575, and give us ONLY $300 (does he think we're that stupid!!!)... We did not agree and insisted a REFUND; during our discussion one of his colleagues shouted, "Give them a new box so that they would leave!!!" (He's so rude!) I don't know how stupid these people think we are if all we came for was to get a new box.... I told them that if they wouldn't refund our money, we would report this matter to the police. They just gave an insulting grim and said "Go ahead, we'll see you in court" and then one of them lit a cigarette (inside the shop), and smoked in front of us and along the hallways of the mall (while wearing that insulting smile) as if telling us that he is not scared of the police. In fact, he can smoke in a "No Smoking Zone".

While we were leaving (to complain to the police) we came across an Indian couple who owns souvenir shop nearby and told us that this (our incident) happens almost every week. The Indian lady said that this store always gets complains from tourists but are always able to get away with it because tourists usually would just go away. She also said that this store avoids (if they can) giving receipts to unsuspecting customers to cover their fraudulent transactions. She suggested that if we can, we should complain these people to the authorities because they make Singapore look bad. We went to the security department of Lucky Plaza and the security people helped us contact the police. The Lucky Plaza security people also admitted that this always happens but it's just not their jurisdiction so they really cannot do anything about these incidents other than making a report to the police. The security people also advised that it is illegal for a store not to issue a proper receipt detailing all transactions to a customer. This means that the Nets certificate that we have (although having the store name and address) is not a valid receipt after all.

The police came, talked to us and told us to wait for them at the security counter of the mall while they went to the store and talked to these people. We told the police that we want a refund because we were cheated and do not trust these people or any of their products anymore. We also reported that the store did not issue a proper receipt. The police went to the store, talked to the manager and came back to tell us that the manager's suggestion was to give us a new N6280 (one that matches the IMEI of box and the unit!!!) so that all of these would be settled. We told the police that we want a refund and we don't want to do any business with them. Then, the Police suggested that we file our complaints to CASE, because they are not the right person for these kinds of situations.

As of now, we are gathering all evidence we can that could help when we file our complaint to CASE. We are hoping that the Nets certificate that we have will suffice as one of our evidences. We are no longer interested of the refund, what we want now is to teach these crooks a lesson so that they will stop cheating other people. Let this email be a warning to you and your friends. Always check a product very well (research if possible) before buying and always make sure you get a 'detailed receipt' of all your transactions. Never fall prey on these predators waiting for unsuspecting customers.

Something to kick off a dull monday. Got this from an email. This is hilarious. Hmm..maybean Englishman could not construct sentences using numeric, which is exclusive only to Malaysians and Singaporeans.

Ah Lek was asked to make a sentence using 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 and 10. Not only did he do it 1 to 10, he did it again from 10 back to 1. This is what he came up with....

1 day I go 2 climb up a 3 outside a house to peep. But the couple saw me,so I panic and 4 down. The man rush out and wanted to 5 with me. I run until I fall 6 and throw up. So I go into 7 eleven and grab some 8 to throw at him. Then I took a 9 and try to stab him..

10 God he run away..

So, I put the 9 back and pay for the 8 and left 7 eleven. Next day, I call my boss and say I am 6. He said 5, tomorrow also no need to come back 4 work. He also asks me to climb a 3 and jump down. I don't understand, I so nice 2 him but I don't know what he 1..

Saw this very interesting article in TODAY newspaper today, 13th July 2006 issue. Tiny Vanuatu is the happiest country in the world, Singapore the unhappiest in Asia, says new report

LONDON - Vanuatu, a tiny South Pacific Ocean archipelago with a population of around 200,000, is the happiest country on Earth, while Zimbabwe is the unhappiest, according to a study published yesterday measuring people’s wellbeing and their impact on the environment. Among the Asian nations Vietnam came highest at number 12 and Singapore was ranked lowest at 131, said the 178-country Happy Planet Index, compiled by the British think-tank New Economics Foundation (NEF).

Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica and Panama completed the top five in the world, it said. African countries along with Zimbabwe made up seven of the bottom 10. The Group of Eight industrial powers meet in Russia this weekend but have not much to smile about, according to the index.

Italy came out best in 66th place, ahead of Germany (81), Japan (95), Britain (108), Canada (111), France (129), the United States (150) and Russia, in lowly 172nd place. The index attempts to measure how well countries use their resources to deliver longer lives, greater physical well-being and satisfaction.

Mr Andrew Simms, NEF’s policy director,said the index addresses the relative success or failure of countries in givingtheir citizens a good life while respecting the environmental resource limits on which all our lives depend.

So what is Vanuatu’s secret?

Don’t tell too many people, please, said Mr Marke Lowen of Vanuatu Online, the island republic’s online newspaper. People are generally happy here because they are very satisfied with very little, he told The Guardian. This is not a consumer-driven society. Life here is about community and family and goodwill to other people. It’s a place where you don’t worry too much. The only things we fear are cyclones or earthquakes.

Selected others:
17. Philippines;
23. Indonesia;
31. China;
32. Thailand;
44. Malaysia;
62. India;
64. Iceland;
70. Netherlands;
87. Spain;
88. Hong Kong;
89. Saudi Arabia;
99. Denmark;
112. Pakistan;
115. Norway;
119. Sweden;
123. Finland;
139. Australia;
154. UAE;
156. South Africa;
159. Kuwait;
166. Qatar.

The full Happy Planet Index is available at www.happyplanetindex.org.



===============================================================

Xiaoqiang: " Wah Uncle, now taxi fare go up. you all shiok lah."

Taxi Driver: " Shiok your head. Now don't know got business anot?"

Xiaoqiang: " I not your 1st customer rite~...Why leh, now increase fare you all got more money mah."

Taxi Driver: " Ya we got more money, but people now see fare increase, all siam( avoid in hokkien context) taxi like siam the auntie at kopitiam with shio zui( hot water in hokkien context)." All cramped at bus stop. I see liao also sian."

Xiaoqiang: " Hahaha... Lai Shio..Shio Zui ah...shio"

Taxi Driver: " Correct mah, they say increase then increase.. must be those who never take taxi one say increase.. ho mia( well-to-do in hokkien context) got people drive here, drive there or drive their own car. Like smoking ban in July like that.. also those who never smoke then ban smoking at kopitiam. #$%^*&! Now i cannot bang sim( rest my heart in hokkien context) smoke and lim kopi( drink coffee in hokkien context)."

Xiaoqiang: " that one i don't know. Aiya.. people also because of your health mah. smoke less lah. The most put a yellow box at one corner to smoke lah, no cigarettes can buy from the mama shop at the corner. Hahahah... Now aama shop must be good business."

Taxi Driver:" Ah di, no racist joke ah. You in my cab, you don't racist ah. We lacial(racial) harmony country, ok. National Day coming liao, you don't anyhow say ah."

Xiaoqiang: " I apologised. ayy.. uncle, people say we are the most unhappy people in asia leh."

Taxi Driver:" Of cos lah, you when wake up neber worry. Gin na( Children in hokkien context) worry about their studies, spelling. Your lao pek lao bu( mum and dad in hokkien context) worry about water bills, electrcity bills. you worry about this bloody traffic jam how long and my meter diam diam tiao( keep going up in hokkien context). Where got happy??"

Xiaoqiang: " Wah lao... Meter tiao again."

Get prepared for the 7th lunar month this year... with a little appetiser before it comes. Also for those Jia Ga or Gan Dang.. It's a leap month for the 7th month this year i.e. 2 months instead of the traditional one.

(WOOooooooo....*scary sound*)

When I was young, I lived in a deserted kampong deep in the jungle. Every night, my mother would ask me not to go home too late as there won't be any transportation after a certain time.

One night, before going home, I ta pao a kueh teow soup for supper. I was late and I waited for the taxi/bus but there was none. I was getting worried as the night was getting darker and darker. So I tried to flag down private vehicles to take me home. There was no one stopping for me, till one motorcyclist took compensation on me and stopped to give me a lift. He was a man with a kind face. I accepted his offer and got onto his motorbike. On the way home, we would pass by a temple. At night, the temple would look eerily spooky with the dim lights from the candles.

At first, the motorcyclist was warm and friendly. When the temple was approaching, the motorcyclist eyes grown bigger and bigger. His kind face turned to a face of anger. He was muttering something loud but was not audible to me. I was so scared that I closed my eyes in order not to see his angry face. Then, the motorcylist stopped in front of the temple and then yelled at me.

"Your kueh teow soup is so hot!! It is burning my thigh! Can you please move it away???"

- The saddest picture i ever received -

- The saddest picture i ever received -

I kept telling everyone that it's alright to have an indulgence once in a blue moon. Like the renowned beer ad. It's T**ger Time!! Bottoms up!! Slurp up those warm chocolate melt cake( i had one at 1929 hotel's Ember on yesterday)!! Chop those roast meat( I had them at least once a week)!!! Get cheesy with a cheese cake!!!

Or you feel like have a buffet spread?? I welcome all treats if you are thinking to bring me to any one of those restaurants below. It's pretty hard to really get up for sunday brunch. I left out places like Equinox and New Asia Bar 'cos i 've not tried them. The list can goes on and on... But how nice it will be if you are swirling a glass of wine on a monday 3pm; standing high looking across Shenton Way, laughing at your boss.

i feel like makansutra-poser as i am writing this. Well, at least not food selector( opps~).

The Fullerton Singapore - Gourmet Buffet Dinner
Where: Town Restaurant (tel: 6877-8128),
When: 6.30 - 10.30pm, Mondays to Saturdays
Cost: Starts from $28+++
What: Rolled out on April 8, the buffet allows diners to mix and match meals. They can pick from various main courses and help themselves to the Gourmet Appetiser Buffet and Gourmet Dessert Buffet, which cost $20+++ and $15+++ respectively on their own. There is also the Seafood Tower at $28+++ per person or $48+++ for two. Or They can opt for the Appetiser and Dessert Buffet ($25+++),Seafood Tower and Dessert Buffet ($65+++ for two) and Seafood Tower with Appetiser and Dessert Buffet ($98+++ for two).

Conrad Centennial Singapore - Big Breakfast Buffet
Where: Oscar's Cafe & Terrace (tel: 6432-7481)
When: 7am - 3pm every Sunday
Cost: $28+++ (adult); $14+++ (child)
What: Launched in March this y ear, it serves everything from muffins to dimsum and seafood fried rice. The highlight is the vitamin corner, which includes a juice bar. From 11am, pay $40+++ to combine the breakfastspread with the carving of the day.

M Hotel Singapore - Sunday High Curry
Where: Cafe 2000(tel:6421-6222)
When: Noon - 3pm every Sunday
Cost: $28+++ (adult); $14+++ (child)
What: What started off as a pure curry buffet in February this year now includes a Western spread. This includes roast prime ribs and Yorkshire pudding. The fish head curry is highly recommended.

Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa Resort - Brunch 'N' Plunge
Where: Sharkey's (tel: 6371-1071),
When: 12.30 - 3pm
Cost: $39.50+++ (adult); 1/2 price for 12 years & below
What: Enjoy great sea view & free use of pool facilities as you tuck into the buffet. BBQ items; pork ribs & tiger king prawns, local favourites like fried oyster omelette & kueh, dominate the spread.

Raffles The Plaza - Plaza Market Peranakan Buffet
Where: Plaza Market Cafe (tel: 6431-6156)
When: Noon - 2.30pm and 6.30 - 10.30pm daily; high tea from 12.30 - 5pm (Sat, Sun& public holiday)
Cost: Lunch costs $25+++ (adult) and $13+++ (child); dinner costs $30+++ and $15+++ respectively; High tea is $23+++ and $12+ ++ respectively
What: The showcase of authentic Peranakan cuisine and the ayam buah keluak and durian pudding have won fans.

The Fullerton Singapore - Chocolate Buffet
Where: The Courtyard (tel: 6877-8129)
When: 8-11pm every Friday and Saturday
Cost: $24+++ (adult); $12+++ (child)
What: Chocolate lovers have been indulging in treats such as the chocolate mango yoghurt mousse. Checkout the drink station with its premium chocolate-blended drinks.

Shangri-La Hotel - Coffee Garden's Seafood Extravaganza
Where:Coffee Garden(tel:6213-4275),
When: 6.30 - 10.30pm daily
Cost: $61+++ (adult) and $31+++ (child).
What: The seafood buffet was made a daily affair with over 100 items range from barbecue lobster to Norwegian salmon dishes. Italian, Indian and Japanese sections offer pizzas, curries and sashimi.

Swissotel Merchant Court Singapore - Buffet Lunch & Dinner
Where: Ellenborough Market Cafe (tel: 6239-1848)
When: Noon - 2.30pm, 6.30-10pm daily
Cost: $19.90+++ for lunch and $24.90+++ for dinner on weekdays, $25.90+++ for weekend dinner. Children pay $11.90+++ for lunch, $13.90+++ for weekday dinner and $14.90 +++ for weekend dinner.
What: This spread with a strong nonya component has gained fame since 1997 & the star is durian pengat, a yummy mousse. Other must-haves include the slipper lobster in black bean sauce and abalone mushroom noodles.

The Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore - Sunday Champagne Brunch
Where:Greenhouse(tel:6434-5288),
When:11.30am -3.30pm (Sun)
Cost: $88+++ (adult); $45+++ (child)
What: The extensive spread includes 25 appetisers, 50 types of farmhouse cheese from France and local, Indian and Western specialities. There are 16 sections in all, including the popular oyster, sashimi and souffle. Wash everything down with Moet & Chandon champagne.

Four Seasons Hotel - Sunday Brunch At One-Ninety
Where: One-Ninety (tel: 6831-7250),
When: There are two sittings: 11am - 1pm and 1.30pm - 3pm
Cost: $ 68+++ (adult) and $30+++ (child); Pay $98+++ to add free flow of Veuve Clicquot champagne.
What: This has 20 hot and cold stations offering fresh oysters, sukiyaki, dimsum and pasta. The sinful dessert buffet station carries 25 sweet treats. Kids get their own spread and activities.

Hotel Inter-Continental - Olive Tree Mediterranean Buffet
Where: Olive Tree Mediterranean Restaurant (tel: 6431-1061)
When: 11.30am- 2.30pm for lunch (Mon-Fri) and 6.30 - 10.30pm for dinner (Sun-Thu)
Cost: $39+++ for lunch and $52+++ for dinner. Free for children under seven years. Those aged between 7 and 12 years will be charged according to their age. For instance, a seven-year-old will be charged $7+++ and a 10-year-old will pay $10+++.
What: It has attracted a strong following since 1995. The menu changes daily and offers more than 20 items, including the popular seafood on ice and pasta.

Copthorne King's Hotel - Penang Buffet
Where: Princess Terrace (tel: 6318-3168)
When: 11.30am - 2.30pm (3.30pm on weekends & public holidays) & 6.30 - 10pm daily
Cost: $28+++ (adult) and $20+++ (child);
What: One of the best-known spreads around, this buffet used to feature 28 items but now offers about 40. These include must-have dishes such as Penang laksa, Penang Hokkien mee soup, and Penang char kway teow.

Grand Hyatt Singapore - The Pete's Place Salad
Where: Pete's Place (tel: 6416-7113),
When: 11.30am-2.30pm (Mon-Sat) and 6-10.30pm daily
Cost: $16+++; It costs $19.50+++ if you throw in soup and dessert, and $26+++ with the pasta main courses. Children pay $19.50+++ and get the whole works.
What: Toss your own greens from the fresh selection of 20 main salads, nine toppings and five dressings. If you are going for the pasta, try the signature dish, Cioppino, a tomato-base seafood pasta.

Royal Plaza On Scotts - International Buffet High-Tea
Where: Cafe Vienna (tel: 6589-7799),
When: 3 -5.30pm (Mon-Fri); Noon-5pm (weekends, eves and public holidays)
Cost: $18.50+++ (adult) and $9.25+++ (child) for weekdays and $24.50 +++(adult)and $12.25+++ (child) for weekends, eves and public holidays
What: The spread includes more than 80 Asian favourites and Western treats, of which the bread and butter pudding is most famous. It is also one of the few eateries in town that serve halal buffets.

Goodwood Park Hotel - Local High Tea
Where: Coffee Lounge(tel:6730-1746),
When: 2.45 - 5pm daily
Cost: $18.80 +++ (adult) and $9.40+++ (child).
What: It comprises more than 20 items, including dimsum and local and Western fare. There are also cooking stations that whip up roti prata and popiah. The apom berkuah with banana sauce, a Peranakan dessert, has been the hot favourite since day one.

Hotel Phoenix - International Buffet Lunch & Dinner
Where: Phoenix Garden Cafe (tel: 6233-6129),
When: Noon - 2.30pm and 6.30 - 10pm daily; a Local Hi-tea Buffet is also served daily from 3.30 - 5.30pm.
Cost: $23+++ for lunch and $25+++ for dinner; children pay $16.50+++ and $17.50+++ respectively
What: There are about 50 items in the spread. More soups and salads to suit the health-conscious palate of Singaporeans today. The signature dish - roti prata - is a must-try, as is the durian cake.

Hotel Royal - Tropical Peking-Style Steamboat Buffet
Where: Jade Room Restaurant (tel: 6251-8135),
When: 11.15am - 2.30pm and 6.15 - 10.30pm daily
Cost: $13.80+++ for lunch and $18.80+++ for dinner. Children pay $9+++ and $12+++ respectively. On weekends, eves and public holidays, adults pay $16.80+++ and $19.80+++ respectively.
What: The tangy dipping sauce, concocted from 13 ingredients including sesame, peanuts, chilli and vinegar, is the secret weapon here. Diners can take their pick from 32 items, including sea cucumber, fresh prawns and peking dumpling. There is also a choice of 10 cooked dishes such as fried chicken wings.

York Hotel - Penang Hawkers' Fare
Where: White Rose Cafe (tel: 6737-0511 ext 1156)
When: Held traditionally during school holidays in March and September for 17 days each time, the buffet sometimes has an extra run in December.
Cost: $21.80+++ (adult) and $17.80+++ (child) for lunch and dinner.
What: The first-come-first-served spread is one of the most widely-anticipated culinary draws here. Hawkers from Penang's Gurney Drive set up stalls offering perennial favourites such as Penang laksa, cuttlefish kang kong and crispy lor bak.

Raffles Hotel - International Buffet High Tea
Where: Tiffin Room (tel: 6331-1612)
When: 3.30- 5pm daily
Cost: $31.50+++ (adult) and $18+++ (child)
What: The high tea has earned a name for its indulgent spread and service. The scones with jam, butter and whipped cream, chicken pie and dim sum are top draws. Tiffin Room is also famous for its curry buffets.

Meritus Mandarin Singapore - International Buffet
Where: Triple 3, The Buffet Restaurant (tel: 6831-6271/72) When: Noon-3pm and 6.30-10:30pm daily
Cost: Lunch costs $41.80+++ (adult) & $24.80+++ (child), while dinner is priced at $52+++ and $32+++ respectively.
What: Formerly known as The Stables, the restaurant now offers more than 60 dishes, comprising 22 appetisers, 20 types of hot food & 20 choices of dessert. There is a different theme each month, but the baked honey-glazed ham, roast prime rib of beef, salmon sashimi & rock oysters are trademark items.

And 9 reasons why you should not get piss-drunk while feasting on lovely spread. Gotten this pic from Esther.

I see shopping bags everywhere. It seems like everybody is crazy shopping, SHOPPING, S H O P P I N G!!!!! yes. The great singapore sale is back. So is the flu. Argh~

When you are sick, it also means your body need a break. Not necessary that it's weak against the new virus flying in the air. I was down with cough last 2 weeks ago. Lost my voice. Can't talk. Can't work either. My job involves a lot of talking. It also means i couldn't meet my client. I don't need those sympathy eyes from the client to get my job done. But it's a very good tool, if you know how. I've to admit... my client(s) are nice people. They chased you to go home. They'll wait till you get back and well before going ahead with their campaigns.

I had one of the unusual lunch when i lost my voice that week. Was having lunch with my colleague. I can't talk. So I've to scribble whatever i want to say. Only my colleague speaks. It's like eating with a mute. Kinda embarrassing. As if these lovely lovebirds are lunching, the girl don't mind the mute guy. * Ok i think too much..*

When you are sick, it also means your body need a break( again). Lot of medicine. And I think i have a wonderful rest during my MCs. i decided to go unwind. Sleep more, rest more, drink more.

Drink more tea lah. There's this place at Esplanade called V Tea Room which became a favourite hunt for my friends. The ambience's is nice. The music is nice. The girls is nice. The tea is fragrance. They have quite a few types of tea. My current favourite is Majesty Queen Tea. They too have a lovely showcase of cakes. Their cakes melt is a must try for all cake lovers. Don't worry, it's not creamy based.

Warm the Earl grey cake, have a sip. Read a book. And it will be a wonderful afternoon to spend. Like the picture below.

Went Rock 'n' Roll on one of the recent sundays. It was not fantastic musical play actually. yes i do watch musical plays.( Don't give me that frown) Music is fine, vocals so-so. But it's definitely not worth the money for the tickets. But they brought in the whole car.

Watched Xmen 3.....Sobs~ Cyclops died. Bad Jean. Watched Da Vin-ci Code. Not as fantastic as the book. I was rather looking at the churches, places during the movie rather than following the story. They are still so magnificent, remarkably mysterious looking to me.


Dinosaur Exhibition at Science Centre. Bring the kids along. Let them know who roamed the earth last time. It's not Transformers or Barney.

I was at the opening launch for this massive event. But I felt rather disturbed by guests who went there. Some of them looked like mathematicians doctors, scientists, researchers,etc; with some local looking-ones had some conversations that i can't helped but to eave drop.

Doctor A: How's your son? Is he studying in ACS Primary?

Mathematician A: Yes he is. Like me. Just finished his exam. Came in 1st, but I wasn't happy with his overall performance. I expected higher marks for his math.

Doctor A: What did he get for his math?

Mathematician A: He only gotten 95 points.

Xiaoqiang: (-,-!!)

Meanwhile enjoy this thai MTV. "Go" by Cover Girls.

Was on the way home in a cab last night. This taxi driver was talking to me in cantonese thru out the whole journey. Do i ever look hongkie to you? Beats me. But out of politeness, i went " hai er, hai er " ... laughed, smiled. Kinda look stupid.

I even went " Diu Ne ah... wah liao.. taxi driver.. Ju Tao ah" when he started swearing at some other taxi drivers on the road. Now when was the last time i went CantoPop at Marina South??? i spoke broken cantonese.... like that how to court hong kong girls. *sigh~*

Came across this zodiac review. My comments are in orange.

CANCER MAN

The most sensitive man and the weakest emotional type in all Zodiac.( Yes, I'm a S.L.A.P. aka Sensitive Lao Ah Pek) Most Artists are Cancer. (i'm a self-proclaimed artist) Cancer is controlled by the "Moon" and the moon change it's shape daily, so Cancer man's emotional and moods change all the time too. You will confuse with him and yet it is his constantly changes that "Charm" you. ( I'll charm and confuse you at the same time, look... you can't see me~) He never go to get what he wants directly, but he will wait for a chance and opportunity to do so. Once he gets what he wants, he will not loose it, except if he get tired of it by himself.

The most sensitive man who can not stand rejection. He cares what other people feel or think of him. He hates loosing face and he tends to over protected himself, so sometimes people might think he is a cold person. ( perhaps..perhaps i am)

Gifted, creative, imaginative, is Cancer. A mystery and complexity play a major role in a life of a Cancer man.( i am mysterious, complex and charming) He could be very funny, very quiet, suddenly very sad. Living with him could be very unexpected, for you will not know what is his next mood. If you like excitement and surprise, you have the right guy and never have a chance to get bored. ( nah~ i think i'm becoming a boring person, i can bored you and confused you down... hahaha)

He thinks of his home as "nest" and it is the safest place for him. If he feels hurt or depress he will stay at home alone quietly( I rather go out and have some fresh air). Once he feels better, he will come out of his retreat and lives normally again. Being a loser is not him. (Loser~!)

It is so easy to fall in love with this guy because he is gentle and a very polite guy. ( See, i told you i'm polite) His wit and creative mind could win your affection( Creative yet confusing, hmmmm....). He will come out from his nest to protect you even if he is not opening himself up to other people much. Not many people will win his heart. (yes i am hopeless romantic, but i will protect you.... *swing his pen around the thumb* A pen is mightier than a sword, you know) His security is only when he has money in his pocket. Once he feels secure then he might think of having a happy family. ( I love $$$$$$!!!! who doesn't)

Even he likes to make and keep money, he is not stingy. Spending money is part of his good image, so he will be happy to spend money to take you out to a very expensive restaurant or buy a jewellery for you. Certainly when he has money OK. ( yes i would)

He is possessive to everything's that he thinks belong to him. Don't try to talk to another cute guy in front of him, he will get suspicion because he is not very secure or confident in himself for this kind of competition( nah~ i'm fine with that; if you are fine with me talking to pretty girls). Once you know each other too much, he will start to look for new excitement ( to spice up my life, of course), but not to worry for he will always think of you. If he thinks you are the true love for him, and you try once to disappear. You will be sure he will come and look for you. ( if i didn't see you in heaven, i'll break my wings to go to hell, to be with you!!)

He is a shy guy, but if he likes you.( i'm shy..*blink blink*) You can get up in the morning and see that he is in front of your house everyday till you go out with him, a very persistent guy. (i'm quite persistent, but not to the extreme to camp outside the house every morning..siao~)

He likes a secure, cheerful and lively woman, confident but at the same time always act proper and appropriate. He likes a secure woman, but able to adjust to his rapid changes. A very difficult type to find woman indeed. ( yes, indeed.... and it's very hard to find..)

In the beginning, you and him will be so sugary sweet together and he will only think of you. This so "super romantic" will not last forever( no.. this will last forever), so don't slip this chance. If you are the one who want his interest, then act and make yourself interesting. Be a supportive person and give him compliment sometimes, but not too much till he thinks you are not sincere.( yes, compliment each other weaknesses is one of the way to relationships)

Unlike many other Zodiac, if he is mad then you better get out of that room. He will calm down by himself. Giving him a slight touch on his shoulders or concerned facial expression are enough. He loves his mother, so try to be his mother favorite, but do not act like his mother! ( yes, please...)

Came across this lovely photo of Hong Kong Disneyland below.

What a way of a singaporean to say hi to Mr Mickey. Look at his left hand.


- HIDDEN (cache) -




Starring : Daniel Auteuil, Juliette Binoche, Maurice Bénichou, Annie Girardot, Lester Makedonsky
Directed by : Michael Haneke
Produced by : Margaret Menegoz, Veit Heiduschka

Georges, who hosts a TV literary review, receives packages containing videos of himself with his family -- shot secretly from the street -- and alarming drawings whose meaning is obscure. He has no idea who may be sending them. Gradually, the footage on the tapes becomes more personal, suggesting that the sender has known Georges for some time. Georges feels a sense of menace hanging over him and his...

Seriously... This french film ought to be the film of the century. 'Cos it's....err... brainless film. I don't understand which dude will call someone to witness himself slit his throat. I don't get it from the start till the end. Lam fell asleep halfway through. Even the French watching with us don't get it.

xiaoqiang: " I don't get it, maybe b'cos i don't understand french."

French woman: " We speak french, we don't get it either."

xiaoqiang: " ........ "

ok. I'm really stressed. And you can go to Crush Calculator if you are stressed too. Coming online doesn't helps. damn.

THREE STONE DIAMOND RING
This unique style is offered in Platinum, 18kt White or Yellow gold and G-VS2 Ideal Emerald cut diamonds. Center diamonds is accompanied by a GIA certification.( picture from dimend scaasi.com)

Was reading one of my friend's post on her An initial addiction to diamonds about diamonds. not my friend, Diamond but diamond the rock. Something interesting for guys to learn. GUYS MUST LEARN AH!!! Sometimes it does not matter if it's the distinctive shade of aqua blue box or where you get the transparent carbon( Bvlgari or Cartier to quote a few) but the real stuff. Which reminds me of Hope Diamond.

- Hope Diamond -

The history of the stone which was eventually named the Hope diamond began when the French merchant traveller, Jean Baptiste Tavernier, purchased a 112 3/16-carat diamond. This diamond, which was most likely from the Kollur mine in Golconda, India, was somewhat triangular in shape and crudely cut. Its color was described by Tavernier as a "beautiful violet." ......

For more detailsof Hope Diamond. Click here

De Beers
Before the 1930s, the gems of choice for engagement rings included opals, rubies, and sapphires. But in the 1940s, De Beers--the South African mining firm that controls the majority of the world's diamond supply( i wonder if it is now)--introduced "A Diamond Is Forever." The success of this campaign turned diamond into the symbol of eternal love and dramatically increased demand for the gems.

What's Diamond? Diamond has been prized for centuries as a gemstone of exceptional brilliance and lustre. But to a scientist, diamond is interesting for its range of exceptional and extreme properties. When compared to almost any other material, diamond almost always comes out on top. As well as being the hardest known material, it is also the least compressible, and the stiffest material, the best thermal conductor with an extremely low thermal expansion, chemically inert to most acids and alkalis, transparent from the deep uv through the visible to the far infrared, and is one of the few materials known with a negative electron affinity (or work function).

STYLE 1A2
Like a bridge connecting you both together, this unique style allows the diamond to be viewed from all sides.

Any diamond shape can be set in this ring. ( picture from dimend scaasi.com)

The Egyptians started the tradition of wearing a wedding ring on the fourth finger of the left hand thousands of years ago. They believed that a vein in that finger, called vena amoris, or "love vein," travelled directly to the heart.

Rules of thumb : "The Four C’s." Cut, Colour, Clarity and Carat weight. These are the criteria generally used to define the gem’s value and quality.

Cut. The cut is the only factor that has been determined by a human being. A skilled diamond cutter can bring out the brilliance of a stone, making cuts that reflect the maximum amount of light inside the stone and up through the face of the diamond. The cutter aims to produce a perfectly symmetrical stone whose right and left sides are mirror images of each other.

Colour. The Gemological Institute of America ranks stones with letters from D-Z, D representing the most highly prized colourless stones The ranking works as follows:

0-1.0 or D-F Colourless
1.5-3.0 or G-J Near Colourless
3.5-4.5 or K-M Faint Yellow
5.0-7.0 or N-R Very Light Yellow
7.5-10 or S-Z Light Yellow

Clarity. To the general public, the idea of "flaws" in a diamond determine its value. However, the word "flawed" implies certain deficiencies in the diamond, which are actually naturally occurring features within the stone. It is more accurate to discuss the number of "inclusions" within a certain stone. Almost every stone, even those of the highest quality, has some inclusions. The clarity of each stone is ranked on a complex scale by the GIA. The scales are listed below:

FL, IF Flawless -- No inclusions visible by an expert using a magnification of 10x
VVS1-VVS2 Minute inclusions, very difficult for an expert to see using a magnification of 10x
VS1-VS2 Minor inclusions, difficult to find using a magnification of 10x
SI1-SI2 Noticeable inclusions under 10x magnification -- few or no inclusions visible to the naked eye
I1-I3 Obvious inclusions under 10x magnification -- some inclusions visible to the naked eye

Carat weight is the final criteria used to determine the value of a diamond. Jaws drop when people brag about the 2 carat diamond they purchased. In reality, the stone’s value is determined by its color, clarity and particularly its cut, as well as its carat weight. An inferior cut 2 carat diamond with a colour rating of I2 and a clarity rating of I1 is worth much less than a colorless, ideal cut diamond with no inclusions. The carat weight of the diamond you purchase should be of less concern than the other factors influencing its quality.


ASSCHER 6AB
Asscher-6A re-designed with added Round diamonds pave' set in ring's profile. We are proud to present the result - hand-crafted, spectacular ring channel set with the finest Asscher cut diamonds of F-VS1 quality weighing a total of 3cts, (which are cut especially for us in Europe) and Round diamonds of F-VS1 pave' set on both sides weighing 0.8cts. ( picture from dimend scaasi.com)