Langkawi Part 2

O.k... now that I'm home and my wife is busy setting up her Palm... more pictures! Hooray! Anyway, these are pictures while we are at MINES resort. Not very good though I must admit but definitely keepsakes for the memories. The pic shows an image of the swimming pool. O.k for some info. The official website is www.mines.com.my. From Novotel hotel we insisted on taking a metered cab to Mines which cost less than RM$20. But we paid the cab RM$40 for being very chatty. Nice guy. Anyway, if we book a cab, it'll cost us around the same amount. It was nevertheless a harrowing ride. Traffic was er, nightmarish!. We left novotel around 6 in the evening and reached mines closed to 8. We checked in the beach spa hotel and realised that the shopping center was only less than 5 minutes walk. We love the shopping center. Food, food and food and plenty of sensible shops. Sensible would means, non boutiques, non expensive stuff. These boutiqueys and expensive stuff can be had at KL sentral itself. There is even a Tanjong Golden Village cinema there and we managed to catch Eragon for RM$9 a ticket. It was an experience watching a movie there. For one thing, the audience is much more responsive. And the reacted even before the actors had finished speaking their dialogues. I gather, it must be the subtitles. O.k, it lunch time. Need to eat. Will continue.
Oh, have a Merry Christmas.
25 dec 2006
1400 hrs.

Langkawi Part 2

O.k... now that I'm home and my wife is busy setting up her Palm... more pictures! Hooray! Anyway, these are pictures while we are at MINES resort. Not very good though I must admit but definitely keepsakes for the memories. The pic shows an image of the swimming pool. O.k for some info. The official website is www.mines.com.my. From Novotel hotel we insisted on taking a metered cab to Mines which cost less than RM$20. But we paid the cab RM$40 for being very chatty. Nice guy. Anyway, if we book a cab, it'll cost us around the same amount. It was nevertheless a harrowing ride. Traffic was er, nightmarish!. We left novotel around 6 in the evening and reached mines closed to 8. We checked in the beach spa hotel and realised that the shopping center was only less than 5 minutes walk. We love the shopping center. Food, food and food and plenty of sensible shops. Sensible would means, non boutiques, non expensive stuff. These boutiqueys and expensive stuff can be had at KL sentral itself. There is even a Tanjong Golden Village cinema there and we managed to catch Eragon for RM$9 a ticket. It was an experience watching a movie there. For one thing, the audience is much more responsive. And the reacted even before the actors had finished speaking their dialogues. I gather, it must be the subtitles. O.k, it lunch time. Need to eat. Will continue.
Oh, have a Merry Christmas.
25 dec 2006
1400 hrs.

langkawi pt 1a

I know I'm suppose to update the blog on the Langkawi trip but I'm at home at the moment. Anyways, just for your info, after staying at NOVOTEL, we went to Mines Resort. Nice place but three nights is just enough time to stay. Any longer, we would have been bored. We stayed for two nights, however.

Anyway, bought for me wife the PALM Tungsten T/X yesterday. Will update with a review although it does not look as nice as my Palm T5. Got it for $498. Got a 1gb mini sd card, leather case, screen protector for free. Also bought infra keyboard (original Palm) for $80 and got a stylus thrown in for free. Bought for me a sd wifi card for my palm t5. Don't know if it'll actually work but will try. Got that for $90.

Palm T/X
http://www.palm.com/sg/products/handhelds/tx/

24th December 1410hrs

just got back from langkawi part 1

Went on a holiday with my family to kuala lumpur and langkawi. I intend to show of the pictures on the blog. So this is the first entry.

Anyways, to start of, we went to Langkawi by way of Kuala Lumpur.
We took a bus there, aeroline, and it costs us S$47 per adult one way and S$35 for a child (adam and sara).
You may want to try https://www.aeroline.com.my But a word of advise, try booking the return ride in KL itself, you can save quite a bit.
Anyways, the ride starts from HarbourFront and ends at Corus hotel in KL, which is about 10 minutes walk from KLCC, the shopping center and KLCC, the MRT.
Met up with my sis who is staying at the novotel hotel. We got a room there for RM$178.20 before tax. You may want to try http://www.novotel.com/novotel/fichehotel/gb/nov/6324/fiche_hotel.shtml. Although the address states that it is at Jalan Kia Peng, it is actually nearer to Jalan Chu Lan something like that. We took a cab from corus hotel to novotel and it costs us less than RM$10. When we finally checked in, it was about half past eight in the evening. We finally retired at amround 11 pm.

In hindsight, we don't really like the hotel that much. The rooms are small but they are adequate. Anyway, we stayed there for only a night and we set off to MINES resort the next day.

bought some stuffs

Hello...today is the first time I felt like I am on a holiday. Actually my official hols start yesterday but I still have some unfinished work to do. And since my wife is not going to the office today, I thought of not going to school too.

So we went to Popular at Bras Basaht. I have not been there for quite a while, at least 10 years, and the first impression I got was that there wasn't alot of changes. But when I stepped into Popular, I was very pleasantly surprised! It was bright, cosy and the staffs were so friendly. Perhaps we were there early.
I bought 3 cds, Taufik Batisah, Hady Mirza and Il Divo. Hady's album was a let down but Taufik's one is a nice one. No wonder he won the MTVasia award... Have not heard the content of IL Divo yet but I'm hopeful.

Next we went to Kinokuniya at Ngee Ann City. Parked at the 7th floor and took the lifts down to the 3rd floor. Saw Kino's dinky entrance but was very awed when I went in. It is like a never ending tunnel with book as far as the eye could see. If I were to compare Kino with Borders, I would say Kino got more class. My wife bought a book for SOTA. Whatever it is, it is nice to be in town in the morning. A priviledge I would cherish as a teacher...

December 5th 1535 hours.

Oh Adam is enjoying himself especially with Irsyad around.

Dead tired

Today is, gosh, what day is it today? Oh, its Friday. No wonder I'm dead tired. Just came back from in laws in Woodlands and my wife and son has already zonked out!

Went to Sing Expo today. Wanted to go to the adidas sale but the queue to get in was so long. In the end, I brought my son and maid to Popular sale. Not bad. Met my ex colleague and his wife there. Bought a foldable mattress and left it in the car. Just in case we need it. Cost me $25. Then had to join a snaking queue which took me almost an hour to pay for the items. Yup, it was a long queue but it was a moving queue.

Went to NUS after that to fetch my wife who, I think, is administering the talent academy for SOTA You may want to try here.
Or try searching for the event in www.channelnewsasia.com

Was on MC today, knee was hurting and was nauseous...

Anyway, I went to National Library on Tuesday for CIP and it was an eye opening event. We were given the grand tour and we actually went to the tallest floor in the library. It was way cool!!

Here is a pic. Oh by the way, thats not me in the pic...

O.k lah... its 23 Nov 2006 and its around 2200 hrs.

Today is the 17th. My school had its 8th, prize giving day. I finished around 12 after photo taking...
Went back, with the intention of going to the motor show at Suntec with me son, but could not find parking space. Went to mustafa, at least to look for Tante's present and again no parking space. Ended up at Tampines Square with Adam. Bought him a basketball (buy 1 get 1 free( for $5.95 ). WOW!

O.k its 2250hrs.

workd cup

I'm watching the world cup match between england and portugal. honestly, i do not care who wins, but my neighbours are here, and I'm enjoying myself more looking at their excitement than the game... lol.

Adam had his first concert at christofori bishan just now. Can't say that it was well organised but Adam performed like a pro. What I meant is, he seems to enjoy performing. He performed two song and dance routines. My sis in law and her son, came to watch. Means a lot to my wife I think, since my mother in law can't make it as she is busy working two jobs. I pity and yet I admire her. She should be retired, minding her grandsons and not working so hard.....

I'm on wireless

Its true, I'm on wireless! Hooray. I'm on dell p4 laptop for about two years but it is always connected to my router. Now I got a networkable printer and it works. In the olden days, I've to connect my hp or my epson inkjet printers to my dell, so that my other laptops (wife) can print. Now I don't have to!

I'm typing this using my dell inspiron p4 connected to a usb wireless adapter... in my dining room. My wife's laptop, the Acer is still being charged and she can surf the net too... and did I say that we can print now without connecting our computers to the printer... wow!

Anyway, just bought the hp s2600n from challenger for $680. I know I could get it much cheaper from Sim Lim, but I need the after sales service. The printer is so easy to connect. Really just follow the manual, step by step and voila...

It comes with four cartridges, black, yellow, magenta and blue. I think it is slow for a laser but I'm in no hurry. And I took up the option to buy the second ink cartridge (black) for $1.


O.k now back to reality, tomorrow is my first day of Term 3. Arrgh!

Thursday

Just came back from a driving holiday in Selangor and KL. Although it was only a two day trip it was quite a smooth one. We set out at 4.00 am on Saturday morning and hit the Tuas checkpoint at 12.30am on Monday morning. First time I drove out that far in my Jet. But it'll survive. Will post pic soon.

Its Thursday today and tomorrow I'm having a staff meeting. I hope to have my son asleep soon so that I could go over to school.

22 june 2006
1245 pm

We went for a ride

It all started innocently enough. Me, my son and nephew was racing on the xbox and I was winning although by a whisker when the phone rang. Its 6.30 pm and my wife is ready to go home...And then came the twist, my sister in law is already on the NEL and she wants to come along. O.k, that'll be good, not the best but good... So I drag the two kids and Risa out into the car and waited for the sister in law at Punggol Station. It was only about 5 minutes later that she managed to joined us.
So off we went to pick up my wife. On the way, I asked about my mother in law. My Sis-In-Law says she did not know where her mum was as neither both of them had called each other.
So now we are at Kranji and I asked the same question to my wife and yup, same answer.
Now my sis-in-law need to buy milk powder for my nephew, so we went to Sheng Siong at woodlands. Along the way, I called my mum-in-law and lo and behold, I managed to get her to join us for supper. We did have supper, at Sembawang SC. I had Satay. The three of us managed to convince my muminlaw to come back to Punggol and rest there before her night pick up.
Overall, I'm proud of myself, I managed to organise a get together in midweek, and everybody was happy including the kids...
Wife, wife sister and me spent the rest of the night watching a dvd of everybody loves raymond.

Love that show.

I'm in school today, suppose to finish submitting the files... but I'm such a procastinator...

1112hrs 060606

Today is the 5th June... Its 4 days after my 34th birthday. My wife got me a guitar, a gift which surprises me but which I wanted...
I have started learning and the fingers in my left hand is hurting. I think I got the hang of the Em chord already. Been strumming the guitar every night, while waiting for the computer to load. I hope I can play a song soon. Some say you need to learn just four and you could play a song already... Oh well, wish me luck.

I'm in school now hoping to submit some of the books. Its almost noon. I have a few errands to run as well. Hope to finish them and reach home by 3 and then bring the kids out.

My trajet hit 10k about 5 days ago and I have done my servicing. Put in Red Line 5w20. Car feels smooth but I think it is still to early too tell. I've also cleaned my KNN filter although it takes a long time to dry. Am on spc 92 back again and the vibration at the steering wheel is gone. Might be going up to KL this coming 17th June but Adam is performing... his first performance.

Time: 1130hrs 5 th June 1006

I'm stressed

Perhaps many teachers in Singapore would be able to empathise with me. It is one week before the holidays. Although, it does bring joy to some, it bring anguish to many... for this is the time when checking of books is done.

There may be reasons for this event, perhaps good ones, but I've yet to find out what they are.

Why do they have to add the pressure I am already facing?

I'm now watching Singapore Idol on 5. They are murdering the show! For heaven sake, I wish the judges would have more back bones rather than clinging on to each other's comment. Duh

21 May 2006 2055 hrs

Its night and its warm

I went for a walk just now. It was dark and quiet. Saw a man walking his dog, big dog. Thought of walking to the park but gotten too sleepy.

Tomorrow is my school's official day off in lieu of polling day. I'm so excited. Hope to spend more time with my son. Made plans already. Another long weekend.

Nothing exciting happened to me today except one of the students used a pen knife and cut his wrists while in the toilet. When probed, he said that he had no reasons.

0005 19 May 2006

Me wife brithday

Just celebrated my wife birthday yesterday. Bought her a durian cake. They used real durian flesh and not durian cream. Heavenly. Wished I took a picture of the cake.

Its less than two weeks until the school hols. Am so glad for it. Can't wait to hang around Raffles Place and watch the faces of the desk jockies goes by as I enjoy my Ya Kun Kaya toast breakfast.

Oh here is the URL of my favourite forum on the net. Its mainly on Hyundai cars. www.clubhyundai.org

16 May 2006 2300

Its May

Its May, and so, March and April has come to past. What this means is that I've been a trajet owner for about two months. I really care for waht people say about this make/model, but I really love this car. True, fc is a bit high but compare to what? I'm now enjoying fc of about 10km/l with minimal modifications done to the car. Some people states that they could only get 6-8km/l! I mean, how could that be? This is a 2L car, with none of the frills. It can sit 8 compfortable and runs smooth.

And now, this is my review of the car.
I've been driving this car for about 8000km so far. It is roomy, upfront and back and my son likes the air con control at the back. It drives like a lazy beast. I mean you really have to hit the pedal if you wish to have the same sensation of driving a sedan. But, you really do not have to. Just a slight tap to the pedal and the car will move. Sure, it won't impress your mates with its lack of pick up but that's not the forte of this beast. Bring it up to 80-km/h and it'll wake up. It is around this speed that it'll start its sipping mode. It'll just sips the petrol. Just tapped the pedal and it'll het 100km/h easily and quick too. My wife won't feel that I've hit 120km/h! It is that stable. And the engine is silent up to 2.8k rpm!

What I don't like about this beast it the way you have to access the rear seats. I have lots of problem going in but then, I'm a big person.

Will keep you updated on what I've done with the car.

4th May

2244hrs

Election 2006

Election in Singapore is coming up on May 6th. The only thing I have about this election is the date. Since it'll be on a Saturday, then half a weekend is burnt. And since I'm a civil servant, I guess, more so, I'll be on duty. Hooray...

Oh well, my weekend is almost over. It'll be another week of teaching my 11 year olds again. They really are not that bad. They've got the spirit and the body, especially, their mouth are most willing. What they really need right now, well most of them anyways, is support.

Frankly, I don't give a damn as to how they live their lives outside school, well actually I do, but that's not the point. The point is, what they do out school time will invariably affect what they do in school. And in that respect, the adults in their lives have to take things more seriously. I'm sure many of them are doing their damndest! I'm sure they'll say they have to work, earn money and they have other commitments... but god damn them! The kids, are they not one of the commitments?

Sometimes, I'm sad, looking and empathysing with them. Both my pupils and their parents. But who can we blame for all that had happened? No one! Not a single soul.

Shit happens... and its happening every day. We got to live with that. Its one thing that make us... us. So if you put one and one together, we got to love shit! If nothing bad happens, don't we get worried? Whether its small shit, big shit or itsy bitsy teeny weeny shit, its what keep us on our toes. It makes us stronger. Thus... shit makes us stronger. Incredible as it may seem, think about it. And if you think deeper, its not really the shit that makes us stronger, its what we do with the shit that comes along that makes or breaks us.

Why am I talking about shit... well I get shit almost everyday whats worse, those shits are not mine... They just got pass along and I have to handle them. Many a times, those shit comes in the form of 11 year olds. And so very often, big mama and bid daddy shit comes along. SHIT!

Oh well... I guess many teachers can emphatise with me.

23 april 2154 hrs

Its almost coming to a Friday. The end of a week and soon the beginning of another. So many things that needed to be done but not yet done... But I guess I can take solace in the fact that some of the things that needed to be done, are done.

As for the National Kidney Foundation, well one could google it and find out how gullible Singaporeans can be, and that include the governments. But then people makes mistakes.

The good news is my mum is not happily having her dialysis done using NUH facilities. We are very relieved as this means that we could use the Card.

In case you guys like to know, I'm staying in Punggol. Very nice place. Cost me S$244 000 for me place and like so many Singaporeans, took out a loan for it. I guess you have to. You could pay cash if you got the cash though. I'm not being cynical, my neighbour paid in cash. In full.

I guess, being smart and prudent does have its priviledges. I mean, she does not have to worry about not finding work right?

Oh, it Friday already. My left leg is still hurting and my right eye is almost closed. I'd quit my raving while I'm still ahead.

Friday 21 April 2006 0005hrs.

Like many Singaporeans, I'm what you called a working class person with a working class family. I've a car, a home entertainment set, a maid and a son. Total monthly income of the family totaled some 6k per month.

I or we also have loans to service. Housing loan, renovation loan and car loan. Three things that you would have if you are a Singaporean. Yup, you are more likely to have a car loan than having a car.
But all this loans or the ability to obtain loans are nothing if your mother can't have dialysis.

For those non Singaporeans out there, we have what you'd call a CSC card. This card is given to civil servants which should help us to save in our medical expenses. But to use this card, one must go and seek medical treatment from government clinics or hospital where the cost will be subsidised.

Well my dad used to be a police officer for 20 odd years of his life until he retires. Now, because he was a police officer, he was given this Card. And because my mum is his spouse, my mum is given this Card too. This Card must be an institution or something because somebody from this Card called us to say that my mum's dialysis treatment would be covered in full. As to why I said this Card must be an institution, well, this God's gift from the government, comes with a small but interesting string. My mummust have dialysis treatment from a government hospital.

Again, to many non Singaporeans, I have to make you realised that Singapore is not that big. You can practically count on one hand as to the number of government dialysis centers. And one of the bigger ones is called the NKF.

Time 2020 hrs. 17 April 2006

meenew

This has been a long time coming. I would say that this is my 10th times doing something like this, posting my thoughts and the daily happenings in my life...but this is the one time that I succeeded.

Well first and foremost, I'm not a techie so I just type as it is.

My name is Slim.
Something I wanted to be for a long time...

Oh well.

First and foremost, I love my family, everyone of them. Even my mother in law. No kidding. She is one great mother in law. Because of her, I'm married to the most wonderful woman in the whole world, Su. And because of her, us, we have Adam. Not to mentioned my dad, who has been like an older brother more than a dad and my two sisters..And not to forget my mum, for whom I begin again on this quest to do my bit to enlighten people.

You see, my 52 year old mum has end stage kidney failure. Yup, the light of my life dimmed but the few words spoken by a very young doctor.

Time 11.45 pm 17th April 2006