$120

Is this the market rate for wedding dinners at a 5-star hotel?
Ooops, I just realised that I may have given too little ...

Wedding & Marriage

Attended a wedding last nite. As the parents (whom I acquainted with in the course of current work) were well-off, the son, I gathered from the video montage and the sharings, speeches at the wedding dinner, that he has had a good life that not many of us get. It was said that he learnt flying, he goes for watches that costs more than $20K etc.....wow, but he displayed his quite cheeky/playful side of him during the wedding dinner. He is 29. He and the wife presented the mothers with bouquets of flowers and the fathers with gifts to show their appreciation. Quite touchy.
Marriage is certainly a journey. Infact, I have finished watching the 20 episodes Taiwan Drama which I started last week - it is about couplehood, marriage, etc....somehow, it tugs my hearts which our mediacorp dramas fail to. My wife commented that the acting was no big deal (when she caught me glued to the laptop for many late nights) but the plot and acting just 'touched' me that I 'chased and chased'. The title is "I Do."
http://sugoideas.com/drama-2008/i-do/
I don't deny that I sort of favour the male lead - Blue Lan Zheng Long. Somehow, he just have the charisma to act in such romantic yet touchy dramas - a more recent production that he was in is "Easy Fortune, Happy Life".
http://sugoideas.com/drama-2009/easy-fortune-happy-life/
What tugs me is the way the actors acted and the manner they 'delivered the script'. It is just so natural, so 'real' and so so moving. But in true reality, marriage life aint that perfect but this drama certainly reminds us to cherish our marriage. Again, messaging is subtle yet powerful.

Run & Watch

Most people take up 'running or jogging' to keep fit and stay in shape.
Some do so to spend time with their family ... as well.
For me, I usually 'run or jog' alone cos I want to take the time to think ... or sort out some matters.

I am glued to another Taiwan Idol Drama ...again. In fact, I have not been watching MediaCorp drama for a while liao. Somehow, I find the storyline/plot stale and bored. The anticipated anniversary blockbuster 'TOGETHER" will be shown next Mon. Will watch to see if it is worth following. The Taiwan drama that I am watching has a simple story ...like most of their dramas ...but somehow, the acting is just cool... or am I attracted to lead actor/actress? haha

Song 18 [English] : You Raise Me Up

I heard this beautiful song at a wedding function this evening.
It was played to showcase a montage of photos put together by the couple.
Pardon my ignorance ... I really din know that there is such a nice yet inspirational song besides 'wind beneath my wings', 'go the distance', 'because i love you'.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

The song was first sung by Josh Groban. I sort of like the version by Westlife.
Here's the link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9Emy90auW0

Back Home

I am home ...on Sun, 15 Nov after spending 5 days at Brunei ...and was shocked to receive my M1 phone bill today ....for Day 1, I have already incurred $10 for phone bills for calls made totalling less than 3 mins! What a joke.... I should have purchased phone cards ...sob.
That aside, I will not be posting pics of my trip cos I din take much cos we have an avid photographer-teacher in the midst and we have a website to showcase the trip... do check it out (it is in Malay thou cos it is meant to be a cultural trip for Malay pupils).
http://www.wgpsbrunei.blogspot.com/

I shall summarise my trip below
Day 1 - Upon arrival, we visited Royal Regalia which is a must see for all visitors, and to the Mosque built by His Majesty the 29th Sultan.
Day 2 - We visited the Ambulong Factory to see how sago is extracted from the palm tree and tasted 'grupes' (see for yourself in the weblink below). Afternoon was spent in a school.
Day 3 - We set sail to the "Venice of the East" - Water Village - cool yet scary ...walking around planks in the middle of the sea ...come to think of it, what if accidentally fall into the sea? hmmm....Afternoon was spent at the (Old) Technology Centre.
Day 4 - Spent the morning in the school..which ended with a celebration of sort, followed by a tour of the Arts and Handicraft Centre in the afternoon.
Day 5 - Visited the Museum and shopping in the afternoon at Gadong before heading home.

This is my FIRST (working) trip in my 15+ years of working life. OK lah, but taking care of the kids is no joke cos the responsibility is there. Dun think I will want to go back again. The travel agent was quite nice to upgrade me to a single room as I am supposed to be sharing with another male teacher. Single room would mean more freedom lar ...can throw my clothes all over, bathe in my leisure pace, ... I am not afraid of being alone or the dark and I know some people is afraid of being alone in a room in an overseas land ...

Well, I am home ...and immediately started work on Mon, thou I am feeling tired and was nursing a sore throat ...

Jetting Off

Had been very busy since my last post....am still busy cos tomorrow gotta an impt event.
Thenafter, I will be away in Brunei from 11-15 Nov, and celebrating my b/day there (just imagine!)
Not for holiday ...but to be 'custodian' of over 20 children.
Hmm....I have a strange feeling that I will be stuck ...stuck here for another year.

Too clever

Since young, I have never liked clever people. esp clever/intelligent girls ...maybe, I am afraid of 'losing out and not able to catch up'.
I have met someone in my current job. Hmmm....while she certainly has the cut for bigger jobs, but she has a lot to learn in EQ...cos, her aggressiveness can upset people, many people. If that is so, she may not garner the support of her staff, in future ...and then, no matter how good she is, she will be all a-lone to fight the battle...how to win?