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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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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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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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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