walking down the isle... not me

congratulations to my cousin... may she have a blessed marriage and filled with lots of happiness and love...

End of Leg One....

as the boats dock in Salvador now and the crew enjoying a 3-days break. I managed to get hold of some photos of the first leg...


look... that's our uniform... I thought they look really funny especially the guys in red-sarong over that pants....sarong party boy... shhh.... don't think they would like it!!!


This was taken at the end of race 1 at Cascais in Protugal. We came in forth for this race. Not too bad for a start and 10 crew down with seasickness for 36 hours. We climbed up from 10th to 4th.





How can we not have champagne and beer?? sailors pretty much sail and drink their lives away...

This is US sailing away!! Here we go to Salvador across the Atlantic Ocean. Was quite an eventful sail... heard we suffered crew injuries that requires 12 stitches ... argh nasty!!














I heard the sail could heel at an angle of 30 degrees for days... from this photo it looks like a good day and about 20 knots of wind.

The best looking guy in the world

My friend forwarded his photo but no one knows his name....

any one knows?

Leg 1 Race 2 - finishing line

At 2325 GMT (2025 local time - 17/10/05) Westernaustralia Clipper crossed the finish line off the Farol de Barra, Salvador, to take first place in Race 2 of the Clipper 05-06 Round The World Race. Skipper David Pryce and crew maintained a strong position from early on in the race, leading for much of the latter part. Eventually good tactics coupled with fast boat speeds ensured a comfortable win for the Australians who will be the first to sample the legendary hospitality of the Centro Nautico da Bahia.

At 0049 GMT Liverpool crossed just ahead of Cardiff, beating the Welsh boat by just 3 minutes after three and a half thousand miles. Cardiff finished at 0052 GMT. Both boats are now approaching the harbour where fireworks, fruit and Caipirinhas await.

At 0312GMT (0012 local time in salvador), New York Clipper crossed the finish line to take 4th place. Durban was approximately 8 miles behind and so should finish within the next hour.

If we maintain the speed and winds are good... Uniquely Singapore will be 6th and should be coming in later in the day... well done guys. it's been a hard sail.

korean craze

I know for those who know me will probably laugh at this blog. The korean-soapy-drama-madness has been around for few years when the "Autumn in My Heart" hit Singapore few years back. May be there had been other korean dramas shown on our local channels before but at least Autumn in My Heart was the first korean drama that I watched during a repeat telecast in Channel U. I often laughed at the FANs of these korean man who has been on the headlines of late...such as Bae Yong Jun, Won Bin... etc. and now it seems, I am slowly catching on too. I can't say I am a HUGE fan but the number of k-dramas I've watched is still within count of my ten fingers.

Recently I caught on the famous soapy-teary-drama Stairway to Heavan showing on Channel U now... and here is the reason why I WATCHED this super-draggy-teary show... introducing Kwon Sang-Woo -thanks to my colleague Eleen Limfor telling me his name.

Any ways... I've got a mini fan club in my office ..hahah with just Eleen and myself. She's now following the show too and she sent me this photo early in the morning. And that's how both of us started the blogging of our korean - hunks chase. erhmmm I know you guys would say that he's not a hunk... o well, it's just a passing phase for me. I'm sure there will be more cute actors coming along...
p.s actually i love watching japanese dramas too.

drenched and drunk Sunday

yesterday was intended for round pulau ubin sail for the IndoChine Ambassador's Cup 2005 but the whole day's rain forced the committee to postponed the race to next week as we can't possibly risk the international ambassadors getting drenched.... Unfortunately before the committee made the annoucement, I was already completely drenched whilst rigging up the boat with my new found skipper - Jerry who was a shipmaster and sailed around the world for 25 years. It was fun hearing all his stories and good opportunity for me to get tips for my trip too!

the party started earlier than planned.... free flow of drinks just flowed non-stop till 6.30pm and I drank from 2 till bar closed... was good fun and the race will resume this Sunday. There will be food and drinks from Indochine again..hahah

Actually, I will be miserable for this Sunday's race as I have to attend 2 weddings this Saturday, I will start drinking in the afternoon and continue through dinner. hopefully I can still be emcee for the dinner....

What is life all about?

I had this for few years... and occasionally I look at it again. Thought it would be nice to share it with some friends...

PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE

Sooner or later, everyone you know will disappoint you in some way. They'll say something or fail to say something that will hurt you. And they'll do something or fail to do something that will anger you. It's inevitable.

Unfortunately, you make things worse when you stew over someone's words and deeds. When you dwell on a rude remark or an insensitive action made by another person, you're headed for deeper problems.

In fact, the more you dwell on these things, the more bitter you'll get. You'll find your joy, peace and happiness slipping away. And you'll find your productivity slowing down as you spend more and more time thinking about the slight or telling others about it. Eventually, if you don't stop doing it, you'll even get sick.

So what should you do the next time someone betrays you? TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR FEELINGS. Even though the other person may be at fault, even though the other person wronged you, you are still responsible for your own feelings.

In other words, other people do not "cause" your feelings. You choose them.

For example, two different people could be told that their suggestions made at the staff meeting were "stupid and idiotic." One person may "choose" to feel so hurt that he never speaks up at any other meeting again. The other person may "choose" to feel sorry for the critic, sorry that the critic couldn't see the wisdom and necessity of her
suggestions.

As long as you blame other people for your feelings, as long as you believe other people caused your feelings, you're stuck. You're a helpless victim.

But if you recognize the fact that you choose your feelings and you are responsible for your feelings, there's hope. You can take some time to think about your feelings. And you can decide what is the best thing to say or do.

Then, you've got to learn to WALK AWAY FROM DISAPPOINTMENT. It's difficult to do, but it's possible.

The famous 19th century Scottish historian, Thomas Carlyle, proved that

After working on his multi-volume set of books on "The French Revolution" for six years, Carlyle completed the manuscript and took volume one to his friend John Stuart Mill. He asked Mill to read it.

Five days later, Mill's maid accidentally threw the manuscript into the fire. In agony, Mill went to Carlyle's house to tell him that his work had been destroyed.

Carlyle did not flinch. With a smile, he said, "That's all right, Mill. These things happen. It is a part of life. I will start over. I can remember most of it, I am sure. Don't worry. It's all here in my mind.

Go, my friend! Do not feel bad." As Mill left, Carlyle watched him from the window. Carlyle turned to his wife and said, "I did not want him to see how crushed I am by this misfortune." And with a heavy sigh, he added, "Well the manuscript is gone, so I had better start writing again."

Carlyle finally completed the work, which ranks as one of the great classics of all time. He had learned to walk away from his disappointment. After all, what could Carlyle have done about his burnt manuscript?

Nothing. Nothing would have resurrected the manuscript. All Carlyle could do was to get bitter or get started. And what can you do about anything once it is over? Not much. You can try to correct it if it is possible, or you can walk away from it if it isn't. Those are your only two choices.

Sometimes you've just got to shake it off and step up. It's like the farmer who had an old mule who fell into a deep dry well. As he assessed the situation, he knew it would be difficult, if not impossible, to lift the heavy mule out of the deep well.

So the farmer decided to bury the mule in the well. After all, the mule was old and the well was dry, so he could solve two problems at once. He could put the old mule out of his misery and have his well filled.

The farmer asked his neighbours to help him with the shovelling. To work they went. As they threw shovel-full of dirt after shovel-full of dirt on the mule's back, the mule became frightened.

Then all of a sudden an idea came to the mule. Each time they would throw a shovel-full of dirt on his back, he would shake it off and step up. Shovel-full after shovel-full, the mule would shake it off and step up. In not too long a time, the exhausted and dirty mule stepped over the top of the well and through the crowd.

That's the same approach we all need to take. We need to shake it off and step up.


Finally, you need to FORGIVE. It's difficult, especially when the other person doesn't deserve your forgiveness or doesn't even seek it. It's difficult when the other person is clearly in the wrong.

Part of the difficulty comes from a common misunderstanding of forgiveness. Forgiveness doesn't mean that the other person's behaviour is okay. And forgiveness doesn't mean that the other person is off the hook. He's still responsible for his misbehaviour.

Forgiveness is about letting yourself off the emotional hook. It's about releasing your negative emotions, attitudes, and behaviours. It's about letting go of the past so you can go forward to the future.

Everyone in your life, everyone on and off the job is going to disappoint you. If you know how to respond to those situations, you'll be way ahead of most people. You'll be able to live above and beyond your circumstances.

Action:

Identify two people that have disappointed, hurt, or angered you. If possible, select two people towards whom you still have some bitterness.

Then ask yourself, "How does my bitterness serve me? Am I happier holding on to it? Do I sleep better? Is my life richer, fuller, and better because of my bitterness?"

If you find that your bitterness is hurting you, make a decision. Actually decide to let it go. Walk away from the disappointment -- which means you no longer dwell on
it or talk about it. Period!

Cosmopolitan and Pink lady

Was out with a girl friend.. who refused to be captured in the photo. So I took the martini drinks that we were having... a cosmo and pink lady ... it kind of sympolises us!!! Am i the cosmo and she the pink lady...??? hmmm... that was something to think about.

But it's Thursday today and it's time for another drinks tonight!!!

totally pissed

I've been swearing a lot lately... or I should say this week. I am still in the office working on the bloody designs with my designer. sometimes I can really vomit blood when it comes to numerous rounds of changes... It's really tiring.

It's almost midnight..and I still stuck here, waiting for the changes to come in...sigh!!

Horrible week

it's only wednesday and I am feeling miserable already.... work is piling so much that I am dreading. Managing the existing events is already killing me and we still have to entertain enquiries for proposal and presenting to potential clients.

I still have 2 more days to weekend...but still my weekends are taken for finishing all the outstanding paper work.

I was suppose to go for drinks with my friend tonight...pretty much doubt this could happen... sigh

and also wondering where's Ken? Havent' seen ya online...where have you disappeared to? In-camp training?

What swollen leg...

oh well... this is how my leg looked like after the second day of insect bite...

Thanks to whatever bit me. I've got an injection to take immediately and a full course of antibiotics to complete to prevent further infection. And all these cost me 80 bucks... damn it!!!

Why seven things?

Seven things I plan to do before I die:
#1. Live in Tokyo, Melbourne and/or San Francisco
#2. Make a lot of money
#3. Own my own house/apartment.
#4. Fall in love
#5. Be Happy
#6. Travel to Central & Eastern Europe and Russia
#7. To sail across one ocean

Seven things I can do now:
#1. Continue learning where my parents lacked in teaching
#2. Plan ahead to achieve things that I want to do before I die
#3. Be thankful & grateful to my parents for my existence
#4. Sail on a 68ft yacht
#5. Drive an auto car
#6. Pay my debts
#7. Blog

Seven things I cannot do:
#1. Touch my nose with the tip of my nose
#2. Eat beef, lobster and crab
#3. Forsee future
#4. Change someone
#5. Own a yacht
#6. Travel around the world
#7. Not be my parents' daughter

Seven things that attract me to the opposite:
#1. His eyes
#2. His intellience
#3. His wit & humour
#4. Confidence, not condescending
#5. His kindness
#6. His gentleness
#7. An European accent

Seven things I say most often:
#1. Great
#2. Crazy
#3. Stupid
#4. Shit
#5. Irritating
#6. Damn it!
#7. What!

Seven celebrities crushes:
#1. Richard Gere in Pretty Woman
#2. Brad Pitt in Meet Joe Black
#3. Johnny Depp
#4. Ewan McGreggor
#5. Ethan Hawk
#6. Tom Cruise
#7. Antonio Banderas in Original Sin

Seven people I would like to do this:
for those who are interested, simply just copy the headers and put it into your blogs.

Blogger problem or is it me?

I've been having problems with blogger in the last few days... wanted to blog a couple of times but I never seem to be able upload successfully. Until today. I had 3 drafts which I didn't make sense to upload anymore so I deleted them. BUT I will blog them later as I made interesting discoveries and some conversations I had with my buddy evoked strong emotions. I will pen them later.

Gosh... what a sudden down pour of rain now!

I'm complaining today. I'm working from home with so much paper work to write... all those roles and duties, admin details, emcee scripts, proposals and presentation. some of them were past the deadlines whilst some of them are for next week. Work has picked three fold in this month... just as I am preparing myself for the race. I should say, I don't have much time to think about a lot of things at the moment. I have a sailing presentation to make tomorrow... and I prepared the slides during the week. I have a cocktail to attend at the British High Commission on Monday - invited by the British High Commissioner to all Uniquely Singapore Crew. I have a meeting with the Clipper on Tuesday. I need to take my travel vaccinations as I am travel to South Africa. I need to collect my gear from the rest of the team mates whom I share with. I have to apply for my Australia visa and get my ticket issued soon... sigh. Oh... not forgetting 2 weddings to attend (a close friend and a cousin) and my grandmother's 91st birthday celebration too. The "to do" list is getting rather long. I have 3 events to manage before I fly off... which means I will not have time to rest before I join the boat.

October is a month of meeting deadlines... I will aim to get all things sorted by October. Can someone give a nudge in case I forget? Also perhaps you should check on me once in a while... may be there isn't much sanity left in me. I need to manage stress from various sources... not forgettng I have a lonely flight to Durban - the most dreaded of all tasks. I may like to travel alone but no way will I be crazy enough to travel in Durban alone. Anything can happen in Durban.... oh well. We'll see if the guys from UK can pick me up from the airport since they are arriving earlier.