Oftentimes, you get bored when you keep seeing the same thing over and over again. We always look for what's new, what's different to retain our interest. But not with the Great Wall.
The Great Wall will keep you hooked simply because it's unbelievable how it goes on and on and on. It just never ends.
You walk past each brick, past each bend, past the many stairs and outposts and you can't help but wonder how much effort it took to create it all... and what kept them motivated to continue with such an overwhelming task ahead of them?
Sunday, August 07, 2005
Sunday, July 24, 2005
At the edge. A different kind of edge.
Work has been really tiring and was feeling at the edge. But now am on the last few days of my much needed break - a vacation in norway to visit my sister Delia and her family, Vegar & Hanne.
The picture here shows me on a different kind of edge. =) Am sitting at the ledge of "Preikestolen" or "The Pulpit Rock"... much to the dismay of Delia who felt this was too dangerous a position. Hehe.
To see some pics from the trip, go to my my flickr site!
The picture here shows me on a different kind of edge. =) Am sitting at the ledge of "Preikestolen" or "The Pulpit Rock"... much to the dismay of Delia who felt this was too dangerous a position. Hehe.
To see some pics from the trip, go to my my flickr site!
Sunday, July 03, 2005
Travel... Business or Pleasure?
Business or Pleasure?... I find responding to this question, when asked by an immigrations officer, really hilarious. Especially, when I respond.. pleasure. There's just a hedonistic quality to saying "pleasure" -- or is that just me?
Anyway, I've always been fond of travelling...probably cause I got exposed to it when I was really young, due to our family's assignment to Nigeria. There's just something about the "smell of the place" as you visit different countries that gets me excited... and that humbles me. It makes me realize how HUGE the world is and how my life, my world is just a speck in the whole scheme of things.
Travelling used to be one of the things I loved about my job. "Used to" being the operative term. Now, it's something I almost dread... I think of it as a necessary evil. I know I have to do it to do well at work but how I wish I didn't have to. Not that I don't like any of the countries I travel to... most places I go to I just LOVE the food and even just feeling the different vibe of the places. But, it's just not the same when you travel for business with jam-packed itineraries. And it's just not the same when you don't travel with your partner or closest friends... every new sight or experience, you find yourself thinking "I wish he/she were ther to see this" or alternatively "I would have been better off at home with ______".
Looking ahead, I see trips lined up ahead of me... am sure I'll be out more than 75% of the next 5-6 weeks! This is probably the only downtime I have at home with Betty (my Powerbook) and unfortunately no Vineet (travelling for work as well!) so am a bit pensive and trying to recall the collection of words I put together to articulate how I feel....
Everytime I fly away
Be it for a week or only for a day
There's a sad song that creeps into my heart
Why oh why are we worlds apart
For with every goodbye
The sad look in your eye
Asks me why we have to spend time apart
I wish it didn't start
I guess to sum it all up, what I'm saying is: Travelling for business? It's no longer a pleasure.
Anyway, I've always been fond of travelling...probably cause I got exposed to it when I was really young, due to our family's assignment to Nigeria. There's just something about the "smell of the place" as you visit different countries that gets me excited... and that humbles me. It makes me realize how HUGE the world is and how my life, my world is just a speck in the whole scheme of things.
Travelling used to be one of the things I loved about my job. "Used to" being the operative term. Now, it's something I almost dread... I think of it as a necessary evil. I know I have to do it to do well at work but how I wish I didn't have to. Not that I don't like any of the countries I travel to... most places I go to I just LOVE the food and even just feeling the different vibe of the places. But, it's just not the same when you travel for business with jam-packed itineraries. And it's just not the same when you don't travel with your partner or closest friends... every new sight or experience, you find yourself thinking "I wish he/she were ther to see this" or alternatively "I would have been better off at home with ______".
Looking ahead, I see trips lined up ahead of me... am sure I'll be out more than 75% of the next 5-6 weeks! This is probably the only downtime I have at home with Betty (my Powerbook) and unfortunately no Vineet (travelling for work as well!) so am a bit pensive and trying to recall the collection of words I put together to articulate how I feel....
Everytime I fly away
Be it for a week or only for a day
There's a sad song that creeps into my heart
Why oh why are we worlds apart
For with every goodbye
The sad look in your eye
Asks me why we have to spend time apart
I wish it didn't start
I guess to sum it all up, what I'm saying is: Travelling for business? It's no longer a pleasure.
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Ever played "Sim City"?
Have you ever played the game "Sim City" on your computer? It's a game where you basically build your city from ground up and run it as if you were the mayor. I remember my friend Jan was addicted to it in college and she was really good at it. I, on the other hand, sucked. Really sucked.
I'd try to build cities but the inhabitants of my city continuously complained, the upkeep was bad and all my roads would always end up with potholes!
Some people who have settled in Singapore sometimes compare it to that game - Sim City. 'Cause everything seems to have been planned, well thought of and organized.... a bit too organized for some in fact.
Recently, we had a company offsite in Kuala Lumpur (which was good times but that's another story =)). Vineet and I visited Putra Jaya while in Kuala Lumpur. It's a city whose full plans will be completed in 2012 and it's designated to be the future capital of Malaysia. Amazoing what they've done to the place!
Architecture is modern but clearly influenced by Malay / Muslim culture. They've built a man-made lake that creates a "central island" for the main government buildings. The lake will be a future site for yachting, rowing, etc. And what's interesting is that they're really promoting this locally with boats (airconditioned / non-airconditioned) that take you around the lake.
Talk about Sim City Extreme! Funny though, Jan's Sim City also had a lake with a central island...but if I remember correctly, she made the central island a jail. :-O
I'd try to build cities but the inhabitants of my city continuously complained, the upkeep was bad and all my roads would always end up with potholes!
Some people who have settled in Singapore sometimes compare it to that game - Sim City. 'Cause everything seems to have been planned, well thought of and organized.... a bit too organized for some in fact.
Recently, we had a company offsite in Kuala Lumpur (which was good times but that's another story =)). Vineet and I visited Putra Jaya while in Kuala Lumpur. It's a city whose full plans will be completed in 2012 and it's designated to be the future capital of Malaysia. Amazoing what they've done to the place!
Architecture is modern but clearly influenced by Malay / Muslim culture. They've built a man-made lake that creates a "central island" for the main government buildings. The lake will be a future site for yachting, rowing, etc. And what's interesting is that they're really promoting this locally with boats (airconditioned / non-airconditioned) that take you around the lake.
Talk about Sim City Extreme! Funny though, Jan's Sim City also had a lake with a central island...but if I remember correctly, she made the central island a jail. :-O
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Mommy meets Vineet!
My mom just came over for a 2-week visit to Singapore... and she's finally met Vineet!
Am happy. Enough said =)
Am happy. Enough said =)
Sunday, May 29, 2005
Koh Samed Dinner on the Beach - Literally!
This was one of the best dinners I've ever had! Wish I were having dinner again here tonight... but oh well, will find a nice substitute place to go to in Singapore for now... Bye!
Saturday, May 28, 2005
Auntie Leila =)
I was never a huge fan of kids before... not that I hated kids.. but kids never favored me and I never favored them. But that changed when I became an aunt. Once my sister's started having kids and I got first-row seats in watching them grow up, I quickly became a fan.
First to arrive were Matthew and Andrea - the twins born to different mothers. They were born on February 6, 2000 about 30 minutes apart - but Matthew was born in Singapore, the son of Ate Dits and Simeon while Andrea was born in the Philippines, the daughter of Ate Diane and Andy. It was interesting to watch them grow up. To see their eyes widen and sparkle and you know they're just like a sponge, absorbing all the new things around them. Now, they're both 5 years old and they just seem like they're growing up so fast! These days, Matthew has taken to wiping his lips after giving me a kiss!
The next one to arrive was Sophia, Andrea's younger sister. She was born on June 16, 2001 to be the playmate of Andrea. Funny though how 2 kids can be born to the same parents, be raised in the same household and yet clearly develop very, very strong personalities of their own. Sophia, at a very young age, began to have very definite views about how she dresses. She loves dresses and skirts, matches her own clothes and shoes - and at times can reduce an adult to tears by refusing to wear a new dress that doesn't meet her standards! On the other hand, there's Andrea who loves her shorts and rubber shoes! This is just one example - but you clearly see the differences in their preferences on many, many things. Nice to see though that while they have they're differences they are still sooooo sweet to each other especially at night when Andrea shows off her reading prowess by reading Sophia a bedtime story. The picture below is of them during their recent Singapore visit.
Then came Hanne! My godchild and niece born to Delia and Vegar on April 30, 2004. She's half Filipino, half Norwegian and is likely the most documented child on this planet! Delia sends out monthly newsletters and DVDs to let us know how fast she's growing. Luckily, I'll get to see her this July! =) Here is her picture wearing some of her 1st bday gifts - Hello Kitty from me, hat from Vineet.
First to arrive were Matthew and Andrea - the twins born to different mothers. They were born on February 6, 2000 about 30 minutes apart - but Matthew was born in Singapore, the son of Ate Dits and Simeon while Andrea was born in the Philippines, the daughter of Ate Diane and Andy. It was interesting to watch them grow up. To see their eyes widen and sparkle and you know they're just like a sponge, absorbing all the new things around them. Now, they're both 5 years old and they just seem like they're growing up so fast! These days, Matthew has taken to wiping his lips after giving me a kiss!
The next one to arrive was Sophia, Andrea's younger sister. She was born on June 16, 2001 to be the playmate of Andrea. Funny though how 2 kids can be born to the same parents, be raised in the same household and yet clearly develop very, very strong personalities of their own. Sophia, at a very young age, began to have very definite views about how she dresses. She loves dresses and skirts, matches her own clothes and shoes - and at times can reduce an adult to tears by refusing to wear a new dress that doesn't meet her standards! On the other hand, there's Andrea who loves her shorts and rubber shoes! This is just one example - but you clearly see the differences in their preferences on many, many things. Nice to see though that while they have they're differences they are still sooooo sweet to each other especially at night when Andrea shows off her reading prowess by reading Sophia a bedtime story. The picture below is of them during their recent Singapore visit.
Then came Hanne! My godchild and niece born to Delia and Vegar on April 30, 2004. She's half Filipino, half Norwegian and is likely the most documented child on this planet! Delia sends out monthly newsletters and DVDs to let us know how fast she's growing. Luckily, I'll get to see her this July! =) Here is her picture wearing some of her 1st bday gifts - Hello Kitty from me, hat from Vineet.
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
The best time to start?..... NOW!
Am sure we've all gone through this before. The feeling that you want a change, you want to start something new... yet you always seem to find reasons to postpone it. Everytime you think that you're really going to do it this time... your mind starts thinking of another reason to wait. So that it's a "logical start".
Take this blog for example. "I'll start once I think of a theme" then it was "I've been thinking of getting a Powerbook - I'll just start it then" then it was "I'll start once I've adjusted to my new job and have more time".... and in my head I've rationalized all of these as good excuses.
Well at least this is a start. This is officially the first entry in this blog (let's see how it lasts.. the last blog I started had a grand total of 6 entries over its short-lived 5 months... but that's another topic altogether.. hehe). Am writing this blog with Betty, my 2-week year old Powerbook who I try to play with every night =) Hang on.. just checking her birthday on the iCal...oh! she's already 3 weeks and 2 days old! Will get around to attaching her picture here soon once I get my camera connections all sorted out.... but see! not having the picture did not stop me from starting this blog now!
Ok, before I continue raving like a lunatic, I better wrap this up. After all, it's sleep time!
Seriously though, am sure you've been there before. You, like me, must have found yourself wanting to do something in life but you oftentimes catch yourself waiting for the "logical start"... and for sometimes it almost feels like the chances to make a go of things are passing you by. Let this be a small reminder to myself and to you that the best time to start might just be at this very moment.... NOW.
Take this blog for example. "I'll start once I think of a theme" then it was "I've been thinking of getting a Powerbook - I'll just start it then" then it was "I'll start once I've adjusted to my new job and have more time".... and in my head I've rationalized all of these as good excuses.
Well at least this is a start. This is officially the first entry in this blog (let's see how it lasts.. the last blog I started had a grand total of 6 entries over its short-lived 5 months... but that's another topic altogether.. hehe). Am writing this blog with Betty, my 2-week year old Powerbook who I try to play with every night =) Hang on.. just checking her birthday on the iCal...oh! she's already 3 weeks and 2 days old! Will get around to attaching her picture here soon once I get my camera connections all sorted out.... but see! not having the picture did not stop me from starting this blog now!
Ok, before I continue raving like a lunatic, I better wrap this up. After all, it's sleep time!
Seriously though, am sure you've been there before. You, like me, must have found yourself wanting to do something in life but you oftentimes catch yourself waiting for the "logical start"... and for sometimes it almost feels like the chances to make a go of things are passing you by. Let this be a small reminder to myself and to you that the best time to start might just be at this very moment.... NOW.
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