Sunday, June 27, 2010

Did You Have One of These as a Lad?

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The proper English word for this may be slingshot or catapult .... but we used to call it a "lastick".

So did you own one as a boy? I suspect quite a number of us did at one time or another. It was just a "macho" thing to have (maybe because schools banned it). Not that many of us used it for any serious or injurious purpose. All I ever did with mine was practice shooting pebbles at a banana tree in an aunt's garden.

I'd like to say this was my old weapon from those youthful days, but alas my lastick disappeared a long, long time ago. In fact I saw this in a shop in Shanghai last week and just couldn't resist buying it for old memories' sake.
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Thursday, June 24, 2010

Sizzling Shanghai (Part 2)

We spent almost a whole day at the Shanghai Expo 2010. We got there just as it opened at 10am. Most of the expo is on the Pudong side, with a smaller section on the Puxi side (Pudong and Puxi represent respectively the areas to the east and west of the Huangpu river that cuts through Shanghai).



Overall a very impressive showcase, and as might be expected, with throngs of people visiting.  I reckon this could become the most visited Expo ever! Here's a selection of photos from our day at the Expo ...
Photo (1) : At the China pavilion (didn't go in as the queue was about 4 hours long)


Photo (2) : I love the architectural designs !

Photo (3) : At the Malaysian pavilion. Negara ku .......


Photo (4) : Some shots with the Malaysian dancers performing outside



Photo (5) : We didn't go in but sampled some Malaysian fare outside. Alas, taste not so sedap.


Photo (6) : This is the Singapore pavilion, supposedly shaped like a music box

Photo (7a) : No Sinos, I haven't returned to Siem Reap. This is within the Cambodia pavilion.


Photo (7b) : The Kingdom of Cambodia pavilion

Photo (8) : G'day mate, here's the Aussie pavilion


Photo (9) : With Cisco colleagues in the Estonia pavilion


Photo (10) : In front of the Latvia pavilion


Photo (11a) : UK Pavilion


Photo (11b) : Standing outside the UK pavilion


Photo (12) : Finally, with a colleague outside the Cisco pavilion


Well, there are obviously many, many more pavilions and sights that I won't be able to show ... so if you do have a chance, go visit it yourself. The Shanghai Expo 2010 continues till October 2010.
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Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Sizzling Shanghai (Part 1)

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Just got back from Shanghai in the wee hours of Monday. Wife and I were there for five days. For me, it was a business trip - participating in an "Urban Innovation" conference organized by Cisco and hosting some government officials from ASEAN - but we also took a couple of days to explore this vibrant city as well as visit the Shanghai Expo 2010. It was also micro-reunion time as we met up with Jimmy Kho Khoon Haw (Form 5Sc, 1976), his wife Janet (also a Teresian) and youngest daughter. Jimmy has been based in Shanghai for work for a few years.

The first thing one notices about Shanghai is how many people there are! Shanghai has more than 20 million residents (and rising). But consider this: even though Shanghai only has 1 percent of China's population, it accounts for 5 percent of the country's output and 25 percent of total trade!

Here are some photos. It will probably take me a few postings to do a decent job in reflecting the exciting metropolis that is Shanghai. The next few are from an area known as Nanshi, the old Chinese City.


Photo (1) : In front of Hu Xin Ting teahouse, near Yu Yuan in Nanshi area




Photo (2) : Same area


Photo (3) : Look at the human traffic !


Photo (4) : More people :)



Photo (5) : The area is known for its tea houses


Photo (6) : We did have some snacks from Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant


Photo (7) : Added festive mood with many signs on the Shanghai Expo 2010


Photo (8) : My friend, the Shanghai Expo mascot,  is based on the character "ren" (person)


Photo (9) : Out for dinner on the Bund (Puxi side) with Jimmy Kho on Friday evening


Photo (10) :  Jimmy, Janet and youngest daughter

Thanks Jimmy & Janet !

More Shanghai explorations in the next posting.
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Thursday, June 17, 2010

Norbert and family in Singapore

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Our buddy Norbert Liew and family were in Singapore last week. Unfortunately I was tied up with work much of the week but we finally managed to catch-up for lunch at Yum Cha dim sum restaurant in Chinatown on Saturday. It was good to catch up and meet him and his lovely family (including sis-in-law and niece).

Here are some photos we happened to take ...


Photo (1) : Food glorious food ...


Photo (2) : My father also joined us for dim sum


Photo (3) : Smile, ladies ...


Photo (4) : Norbert, his sis-in-law, 2 daughters and young niece


Hope you all had a nice time in Singapore, Norbert and family ...
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Saturday, June 12, 2010

Giving Back to St Joe

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Bottomline: Pledges Needed
We've been discussing ways of giving back to St Joe for a while. Based on discussions that Bob Chew and I have had with the Principal and our review of various possible needs suggested, we propose a one-time sponsorship of new desks for students and teachers for 3 classrooms. This will impact 6 classes since these classes are used by morning and afternoon students.Total cost for this is around RM 8,500. I propose we aim for the auspicious figure of RM 8,888.

We currently have RM 5,000 left from our Grand Reunion funds. We need a further RM 3,888 and hope that you will agree that this is a meaningful way we can make a small contribution to our alma mater. We therefore hope you will be generous and pledge an amount (as small or as large as you like) towards making up this figure. Just make your pledge in the comments. We'll figure out the collection process later. We hope to be able to present our contribution to the Principal by July 2010.

Here's the latest status (updated daily):
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Details now follow ...
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Background
A few weeks ago, Bob and I called on St Joe's principal Mr Thomas Lau to explore some meaningful ways we could contribute to the continuing education of the new generation. We had an interesting chat and Mr Lau and assistant Raymond brought us on a little tour of the school grounds. You've already seen photos of the Library. Here are some shots from our old classrooms in the Old Boys Block.

Photo 1: One of the classes we studied in back in 1975 and 1976

Photo 2: Another view of the same class

Photo 3: Mr Lau shows the condition of the desks and chairs

Photo 4: The next classroom

Photo 5: Bob trying to show us he still remembers his Add Maths formulae


In deciding what form our donation takes, we are guided by the following principles:
(a)  the donation will be for something that helps in the education of the students,
(b)  it will be a once-off donation, rather than extended over a period which may be hard to manage,
(c)  it should be something that a sizeable number of students will actually make use of

After listening to the Principal on possible areas that would benefit from sponsorship, we have decided on sponsoring new desks for three classrooms (our old ones in 1976), namely
old 5Sc - now 2H and 5H
old 5A1 - now 2G and 5I
old 5A2 - now 2F and 4E

Student desks (103 units @ RM 68 each) = RM 7,004

Teacher's table (3 units @ RM 500 each) = RM 1,500

Other expenses for future repairs (and rounding up to an auspicious number :) = RM 384
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Total needed = RM 8,888
 
We currently have RM 5,000 left from the Grand Reunion. So to top that up, I'd like to ask if any of the boys of 1976 would be willing to pledge some more (up to RM3,888) to bring this figure to an auspicious RM 8,888.
 
Just enter your pledge (your name and amount pledged) as a comment to this posting. We'll figure out how to collect the money from you later.  I'll also put up a running count of how much we have collected, updated daily. I'm sure I can count on your generosity. Thanks in advance.
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Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Musical Interlude

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Nice song from the Seventies. David Soul, the "Hutch" of "Starsky and Hutch", launched his singing career with this beautiful number. I agree that the images have little connection with the song lyics, but they do look nice. So turn up your PC volume, and click the play button ...



Enjoy ...
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Saturday, June 5, 2010

Mark and family in Singapore

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Mark Chin and family were in Singapore this week. On Friday, we went for dinner at Newton Food Centre.



Afterwards we went for a stroll by the waterfront at the Esplanade Theatres by the Bay (affectionately called "The Durians") to take in the Singapore night skyline.




Click click click! Opportunities for some nice photos ... The new Marina Bay Sands integrated resorts (including the casino) is in the background ... The well-known local joke is that the three distinctive buildings represent the "Father, Son and Holy Goh".



The Merlion and Fullerton Hotel (which was the former General Post Office), backed by the buildings of the financial district, make for quite a nice night view.

There were also some free performances around Esplanade area, which we stayed around to watch ...


... as well as take some shots with the outdoor displays ...


It was good to meet Mark & family. We all had an interesting evening.
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Friday, June 4, 2010

Selamat Hari Gawai (Part 2)

Here are some photos sent to me by Ah Loot, from his visit to Sinos' place at Kg Seratau (15th Mile) on the Kuching/Serian Road.


Photo 1: A smiling Sinos, back from Cambodia

Photo 2: Ah  Loot joins for a group photo

Photo 3: Mr and Mrs

Photo 4: One more time ...

Photo 5

Photo 6: What a lovely house !

Photo 7: Getting ready for the dance

Photo 8: This is how you do the traditional Bidayuh Gawai dance ...

Photo 9: C'mon, all join in ...

Photo 10: Isn't this fun?

Photo 11

Photo 12


Sure looked like a happy and enjoyable day !
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