Time really flies fast. Today marks the first month into my job and wow what a great change it had brought into my life.
Firstly, I was introduced to Manila, Philippines. Without this job, I don't think I will ever step foot into Manila, unless I took part in the Amazing Race Asia of course. Hee... In fact on my first day of work, I reported to Manila and in the end I spend 3 weeks out of the first month (4 weeks) travelling in and out of Manila.
Secondly, I was opened to the world of Telecommunication. I never knew that I can ever joined this line. I am being thankful for given this chance. Ever I started on this job, it had been a great learning curve where I had been learning something new almost everyday. I was also given a lot of new challenges or responsibilities where I was given a lot of freedom to do what I think is feasible.
Lastly, I get to know a great bunch of people from all nationalities from Singapore to Philippines to UK. There are a lot that I have spoken on Skype but yet to see their face. Hee... This is a good chance for me to learn working with different people from different backgrounds as well.
Of course of all the good things, there are bad things as well like stress, unable to spend time with my family and loved ones and have to be independent when I am all alone overseas. I missed spending time at the gym and with my friends as well.
All in all, I totally dig (LOVE) this job right now. Hope that I can last longer in this job than another other jobs. Haha... How do I celebrate today? I treated myself to a nice quiet dinner at Tony Roma's! Hee...
A "take and give" Polarbear
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Happy 2nd Birthday Oscar!
Today is Oscar's second birthday. Time really flies fast. He joined our family when he was 3 months old in July 2006 and now he is 2 years old already.
In my family, we already considered as him as part of a family. He has a house of his own, where he can sleep in and hide all his toys inside as well. He also got an open access to every part of my house, he is now even sleeping on my bed even though he got a house of his own. Haha.
So on this special day, we got him some presents, well a new toy and a new snack for him. Seems like he like it a lot as he refuses to let us take it away from him. Haha.
So Happy Birthday to him again! He is the best dog in the whole wide world! We will always love you!
A "loving Oscar always" Polarbear
In my family, we already considered as him as part of a family. He has a house of his own, where he can sleep in and hide all his toys inside as well. He also got an open access to every part of my house, he is now even sleeping on my bed even though he got a house of his own. Haha.
So on this special day, we got him some presents, well a new toy and a new snack for him. Seems like he like it a lot as he refuses to let us take it away from him. Haha.
So Happy Birthday to him again! He is the best dog in the whole wide world! We will always love you!
A "loving Oscar always" Polarbear
Friday, May 23, 2008
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
This is my first movie that I watched in Manila. I only got this to say, it is freaking cheap to watch a movie in Manila, with each ticket only cost $5. Even their "lazy boy" chair which is equivalent to our "Gold Class", each ticket only cost $10 and it comes with free flow of pop corn and drinks. How cool is that! Too bad, I was too late and all the shows with "lazy boy" chairs are sold out, so in the ed I got to settle for their normal cinema. Their normal cinemas are all like GV Max back home!
So now back to the movie. I did not remember watching the earlier 3 shows but still I think it got nothing to do with the last 3 anyway. Hee... The plot is simple. In order to put back a crystal skull so that the enemy will not get in and in the way he managed to found out he actually got a son.
This show is a really long show. I do like the retro look of the film to keep it in tune with the last 3 shows. Even Harrison Ford is 65 but he sure dun look or act like a 65 guy. Hee.... One thing that I do not agree with is the ending of the show. Too far fetch already la! Hee... Overall I give this show 3.5 stars out of 5.
Maybe I will start to watch the shows in Manila now. Hee...
A "many more movies to watch" Polarbear
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Team Building @ Tagaytay
For the past 2 days, had been having some fun, a break for the work as well.
So within 3 weeks from joining this new company, I was in time to join in for the team building that was organised by SMART side. So this is also the first time that I will be seeing all the counterparts in the other side. Hee... I expect some but when I turned up in the room, I did not expect to see one whole room of people! Well around 80 plus people and have to say I don't even know 90% of them.
So it started off with some ice breakers before we boarded the bus and head towards Tagaytay. Tagaytay is a volcano (still active one I think) with a lake crater surrounding the crater hole. It was beautiful. Too bad, I did not have the chance to head to the crater hole. Yes! We can take a boat across the lake and climb up the crater. If you are keen for more information about the place, can click here.
Well, back to the team building, it was done in a amazing race style, where we got to solve and complete different task along the way before we reach the final destination. Along the way, we got to know each other in the team better. I was lucky to be in a fun loving group.
At night we were tasked to reflect the whole process the whole day and ended the night with a get together night which I totally did something embarrassing. After which, we then check into our room for an "early" night rest.
Next day, we started to do the rest of the team building programs before we are back on the bus back.
Overall, I am impressed with everyone as they played as hard as they worked as well. The organisers are great as well, with the whole team building program being carried out seamless. Now I see the faces and know their names. Hope that from now onwards, it will be easier to work from now onwards.
A "so many people to work with" Polarbear
So within 3 weeks from joining this new company, I was in time to join in for the team building that was organised by SMART side. So this is also the first time that I will be seeing all the counterparts in the other side. Hee... I expect some but when I turned up in the room, I did not expect to see one whole room of people! Well around 80 plus people and have to say I don't even know 90% of them.
So it started off with some ice breakers before we boarded the bus and head towards Tagaytay. Tagaytay is a volcano (still active one I think) with a lake crater surrounding the crater hole. It was beautiful. Too bad, I did not have the chance to head to the crater hole. Yes! We can take a boat across the lake and climb up the crater. If you are keen for more information about the place, can click here.
Well, back to the team building, it was done in a amazing race style, where we got to solve and complete different task along the way before we reach the final destination. Along the way, we got to know each other in the team better. I was lucky to be in a fun loving group.
At night we were tasked to reflect the whole process the whole day and ended the night with a get together night which I totally did something embarrassing. After which, we then check into our room for an "early" night rest.
Next day, we started to do the rest of the team building programs before we are back on the bus back.
Overall, I am impressed with everyone as they played as hard as they worked as well. The organisers are great as well, with the whole team building program being carried out seamless. Now I see the faces and know their names. Hope that from now onwards, it will be easier to work from now onwards.
A "so many people to work with" Polarbear
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Made of Honour
"For Tom (Patrick Dempsey), life is good: he's sexy, successful, has great luck with the ladies, and knows he can always rely on Hannah (Michelle Monaghan), his delightful best friend and the one constant in his life. It's the perfect setup until Hannah goes overseas to Scotland on a six-week business trip... and Tom is stunned to realize how empty his life is without her. He resolves that when she gets back, he'll ask Hannah to marry him – but is floored when he learns that she has become engaged to a handsome and wealthy Scotsman and plans to move overseas. When Hannah asks Tom to be her "maid" of honor, he reluctantly agrees to fill the role... but only so he can attempt to woo Hannah and stop the wedding before it's too late."
This movie is definitely another chick flick and it makes a prefect date movie! Patrick Dempsey is the prefect lead for these kind of movie, handsome and with the kind of dreamy eyes that will melt thousands of women. The movie plot is possible in real life so therefore makes the story believable. Hmmm but to fall in love and get engaged within 6 weeks is a bit too much... Haha. Overall, I give this movie 3.5 stars out of 5 stars. I loved the scenery of Scotland. Hope that I got the chance to visit that country soon.
Too bad, i do not have a very close female friend, if not I will be more than willingly to be her "Maid of Honour". Hee...
A "also want to be Best Man" Polarbear
Thursday, May 15, 2008
US lists polar bears as threatened
Just saw this piece of very sad news. Extract:
"WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US government Wednesday listed polar bears as a threatened species owing to a drastic reduction in Arctic sea ice, but insisted the step did not mark a policy shift to attack global warming.
The announcement by Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne amounted to the government's first use of the Endangered Species Act to acknowledge the loss of an animal habitat caused by climate change.
"While the legal standards under the ESA compel me to list the polar bear as threatened, I want to make clear that this listing will not stop global climate change or prevent any sea ice from melting," Kempthorne told a news conference.
"Any real solution requires action by all major economies for it to be effective," he said, echoing President George W. Bush's reasons for renouncing the Kyoto treaty on global warming.
The Interior Department said that under the ESA, a listing of "threatened" means that a species is at risk of becoming "endangered" within the near future. It is listed as endangered when it faces imminent extinction.
The polar bear now comes under federal protection, but officials were vague about what that would mean in practice, and stressed there would be no halt to oil and gas drilling in the bears' frozen habitat.
Dale Hall, director of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, said he did not want to "prejudge recommendations" by government scientists on how best to protect the bears now.
The Bush administration supports energy exploration in an Alaska wildlife refuge, adamant that industry regulations already exist to protect species such as polar bears, whales, seals and walruses.
Kempthorne did detail greater steps to monitor polar bear populations in Alaska and outlying islands in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas, where the US government this year has sold new leases for oil and gas production.
Hunting of polar bears is already restricted under US law after their numbers fell as low as 12,000 in the 1960s, and Kempthorne said ice melting posed the greatest danger now, not energy production or indigenous peoples.
The iconic bears' population has rebounded to an estimated 20,000-25,000, two-thirds of them in Canada, but Kempthorne said they were "likely to become in danger of extinction in the foreseeable future" without preventive action.
Canadian Environment Minister John Baird said he was not planning to replicate the US designation, arguing that Canada's larger polar bear population was "very different" to America's.
But Baird said he would list the bears as being at risk "in a heartbeat," in line with a Canadian scientific panel's recommendations last month.
The committee had recommended designating Canadian polar bears as a species "of special concern," but not one imminently threatened with extinction.
The US interior secretary displayed satellite images showing Arctic sea ice had fallen to its lowest level ever recorded, 39 percent below the long-term average from 1979 to 2000.
"Today's decision is a tremendous victory for one of the world's most iconic and charismatic animals," said Carter Roberts, president of the US arm of the World Wildlife Fund.
"The other big winner today is sound science, which has clearly trumped politics, providing polar bears a new lease on life," he said.
But WWF and other environmental groups also stressed that the US government, which has resisted all legal efforts to parlay the ESA into a law against climate change, had to address the underlying cause: greenhouse gas emissions.
"Federal protection represents only the tip of the iceberg if Americans want to save the polar bear," said Betsy Loyless, senior vice president of the National Audubon Society.
"Listing the bear as threatened is not going to save it if we continue to melt (ice) and drill its habitat," she said.
Edward Markey, the Democratic chairman of the House of Representatives select committee on global warming, said that at the same time, the US government was allowing Arctic oil and gas drilling to continue "unchecked."
"Essentially, the administration is giving a gift to Big Oil, and short shrift to the polar bear," he said."
OMG! It seems like Polarbear are going to disappear from the face of the earth. That is both bad and sad news!
So EVERYONE, it is time to save the Earth and the Polarbears! Do your part ok!
A "very sad" Polarbear
"WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US government Wednesday listed polar bears as a threatened species owing to a drastic reduction in Arctic sea ice, but insisted the step did not mark a policy shift to attack global warming.
The announcement by Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne amounted to the government's first use of the Endangered Species Act to acknowledge the loss of an animal habitat caused by climate change.
"While the legal standards under the ESA compel me to list the polar bear as threatened, I want to make clear that this listing will not stop global climate change or prevent any sea ice from melting," Kempthorne told a news conference.
"Any real solution requires action by all major economies for it to be effective," he said, echoing President George W. Bush's reasons for renouncing the Kyoto treaty on global warming.
The Interior Department said that under the ESA, a listing of "threatened" means that a species is at risk of becoming "endangered" within the near future. It is listed as endangered when it faces imminent extinction.
The polar bear now comes under federal protection, but officials were vague about what that would mean in practice, and stressed there would be no halt to oil and gas drilling in the bears' frozen habitat.
Dale Hall, director of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, said he did not want to "prejudge recommendations" by government scientists on how best to protect the bears now.
The Bush administration supports energy exploration in an Alaska wildlife refuge, adamant that industry regulations already exist to protect species such as polar bears, whales, seals and walruses.
Kempthorne did detail greater steps to monitor polar bear populations in Alaska and outlying islands in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas, where the US government this year has sold new leases for oil and gas production.
Hunting of polar bears is already restricted under US law after their numbers fell as low as 12,000 in the 1960s, and Kempthorne said ice melting posed the greatest danger now, not energy production or indigenous peoples.
The iconic bears' population has rebounded to an estimated 20,000-25,000, two-thirds of them in Canada, but Kempthorne said they were "likely to become in danger of extinction in the foreseeable future" without preventive action.
Canadian Environment Minister John Baird said he was not planning to replicate the US designation, arguing that Canada's larger polar bear population was "very different" to America's.
But Baird said he would list the bears as being at risk "in a heartbeat," in line with a Canadian scientific panel's recommendations last month.
The committee had recommended designating Canadian polar bears as a species "of special concern," but not one imminently threatened with extinction.
The US interior secretary displayed satellite images showing Arctic sea ice had fallen to its lowest level ever recorded, 39 percent below the long-term average from 1979 to 2000.
"Today's decision is a tremendous victory for one of the world's most iconic and charismatic animals," said Carter Roberts, president of the US arm of the World Wildlife Fund.
"The other big winner today is sound science, which has clearly trumped politics, providing polar bears a new lease on life," he said.
But WWF and other environmental groups also stressed that the US government, which has resisted all legal efforts to parlay the ESA into a law against climate change, had to address the underlying cause: greenhouse gas emissions.
"Federal protection represents only the tip of the iceberg if Americans want to save the polar bear," said Betsy Loyless, senior vice president of the National Audubon Society.
"Listing the bear as threatened is not going to save it if we continue to melt (ice) and drill its habitat," she said.
Edward Markey, the Democratic chairman of the House of Representatives select committee on global warming, said that at the same time, the US government was allowing Arctic oil and gas drilling to continue "unchecked."
"Essentially, the administration is giving a gift to Big Oil, and short shrift to the polar bear," he said."
OMG! It seems like Polarbear are going to disappear from the face of the earth. That is both bad and sad news!
So EVERYONE, it is time to save the Earth and the Polarbears! Do your part ok!
A "very sad" Polarbear
Monday, May 12, 2008
Where's Polarbear?
Ever since I started working in this new job, I started to travel to this specific country for work quite often. Well for my first monht of work, I will be spending 3 weeks at that country and 1 week in Singapore, of cos I flew back to Singapore at weekends.
Yesterday, my planed landed at the airport at 1650H, and I only got out of the airport at 1800H. I actually queued at the immigration counter for an hour! What a waste of time! This despite all the counters are open.
Well another reason is 2 flights landed at the same time. Still the officers really took their own sweet time to stamp the passport. Sigh. No wonder the travel books all mentioned about the horrible slow immigration counters. This is the same for both entering and exiting from the country.
Wanna to make a guess which country's airport is that?
A "needs to be very patient" Polarbear
Yesterday, my planed landed at the airport at 1650H, and I only got out of the airport at 1800H. I actually queued at the immigration counter for an hour! What a waste of time! This despite all the counters are open.
Well another reason is 2 flights landed at the same time. Still the officers really took their own sweet time to stamp the passport. Sigh. No wonder the travel books all mentioned about the horrible slow immigration counters. This is the same for both entering and exiting from the country.
Wanna to make a guess which country's airport is that?
A "needs to be very patient" Polarbear
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Tired now!
Within the past 24 hrs, I have done 2 classes of body pump and 3 classes of body combat. By the time, I was doing the last class, I was already pretty tired. Well it has been a long time since I have done that. Hee... Getting slacker alr. However, it was fun and felt good after doing all the classes.
Y m I doing so many classes? Cos I am more busy with work and going to travel more, means less time for gym, so I am doing more at a time. Another reason is I am going for a wedding dinner later as well! Hee... More good food! Hee...
I am feeling so tired now!
A "tired" Polarbear
Y m I doing so many classes? Cos I am more busy with work and going to travel more, means less time for gym, so I am doing more at a time. Another reason is I am going for a wedding dinner later as well! Hee... More good food! Hee...
I am feeling so tired now!
A "tired" Polarbear
Friday, May 09, 2008
Speed Racer
"Born to race cars, Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch) is aggressive, instinctive and, most of all, fearless. His only real competition is the memory of the brother he idolized—the legendary Rex Racer, whose death in a race has left behind a legacy that Speed is driven to fulfill. Speed is loyal to the family racing business, led by his father, Pops Racer (John Goodman), the designer of Speed’s thundering Mach 5. When Speed turns down a lucrative and tempting offer from Royalton Industries, he not only infuriates the company’s maniacal owner (Roger Allam) but uncovers a terrible secret—some of the biggest races are being fixed by a handful of ruthless moguls who manipulate the top drivers to boost profits. If Speed won’t drive for Royalton, Royalton will see to it that the Mach 5 never crosses another finish line. The only way for Speed to save his family’s business and the sport he loves is to beat Royalton at his own game. With the support of his family and his loyal girlfriend, Trixie (Christina Ricci), Speed teams with his one-time rival—the mysterious Racer X (Matthew Fox)—to win the race that had taken his brother’s life: the death-defying, cross-country rally known as The Crucible."
Another summer blockbuster, this time by The Wachowski brothers, who brought us Matrix Trilogy. I only know is this a Japanese comic but that is all. So I just went in and watch the movie. This movie is so different from the Matrix. I think the background of the movies are all CGI, but hey I am not complaining as the end results is realistic and very much colourful! The plot is simple and easy to follow. A kid likes to race since young but grew up to find the real deal of car racing, well something like F1 but their race tracks are really futuristic. It also touches on family ties as well. Rain was in as a supporting role and have to say he did pretty well for the role, more than a pretty wallpaper in the movie. Mentioned before, I am totally blown off by the colour of this movie, everything seems to be 3D. Overall, I give this movie 4 stars out of 5. I totally loved the monkey in the movie!
A "wanna more movies" Polarbear
Monday, May 05, 2008
Superhero Movie
Hmm... Decided to not go to gym but relax and watch a movie. Enjoyed a relaxing evening by watching a lame movie.
So when you have the creators of "The Naked Gun" and "Scary Movie" writing a movie, what kind of movie can you expect? A funny yet lame movie at the same time. This time round they decided to make a spoof of all the Superheroes movies that was out. Luckily Ironman is not out yet, if not I am pretty sure that they will include it in as well. The movie is pretty much based on Spiderman with the rest thrown into it.
This time a guy who got bitten by a dragonfly and got his special powers. Hmm.... Surprise Surprise. Then all the things happened when he is getting used to his powers. Well then thrown in X-Men, Fantastic Four, etc. You will get the rest of the movie's plot. So in the end did he learned how to fly? Hmm...
Well I dun find this movie really that funny but LLT was laughing from the start to the end of the movie. I find it more lame and gross at certain parts as well. Then we do need these kind of movies to keep us sane in this world. Wahahaha. Overall, I give this movie 2 stars out of 5. Well there are still some funny parts. Hee...
A "feeling tired" Polarbear
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Ironman
"Based upon Marvel's iconic Super Hero, "Iron Man" tells the story of Tony Stark, a billionaire industrialist and genius inventor who is kidnapped and forced to build a devastating weapon. Instead, using his intelligence and ingenuity, Tony builds a high-tech suit of armor and escapes captivity. Upon his return to America, Tony must come to terms with his past. When he uncovers a nefarious plot with global implications, he dons his powerful armor and vows to protect the world as Iron Man."
What a way to start off the summer movie season! This movie is simply FANTASTIC! I am not a very big fan of the comic or the cartoon. Now, I am keen to know more about him! Robert Downey Jr. totally rocks as the lead roll and the rest of the cast are well suited for their rolls as well. As this is the first movie, the director did take his time to slowly tell his story on how Ironman came about. We can see the development of the Iron suit as well. Cool! The plot is simple and tells the start of Ironman. The pace is good, not too fast nor slow. It gives a pretty clear picture on how it came about. The CGI is simple great! I am now looking forward to the sequel to see him fight off the bad guys! Overall, I give this movie 4.5 stars out of 5. Go and watch it!
There is so many super heroes movies coming out this summer! Batman, The Incredible Hulk etc etc. Can foresee me spending more time in cinemas again! Hee...
PS: Pls stay at the end of the credits to see what is going to happen for the sequel! Yes! There is a sequel in the planning already! Coming in 2010!
A "looking forward to more summer blockbuster" Polarbear
Friday, May 02, 2008
My "First" Day at Work
Today was the first day that I spent at my new office. Yes, finally I got a job which office is in town area! Hee.... Well yes, I have been there for interview, but they did some renovation in the office. Saw my new colleagues today as well. Managed to do some of the admin stuff and got a new laptop as well. Wahahahaha! Finally! Hee... I still got to set up the laptop on Monday and hope to get all of the admin stuff done by Monday as well.
For the past 4 days, I was away in Manila. It was my first trip there and was quite excited, not to forget to mention stressed as well, to go there as well, especially when I am flying there and back alone. It was like going for amazing race. It was quite good for the following reasons:
1. I finally got to fly on Singapore Airlines. It was very good, from the service to the food. Got a personal entertainment set as well. Managed to catch 2 movies, Jumper and The Bucket List. Even got time to play some of the games as well. For the food, it was simply great! Hope got more chance to fly SQ next time. Not to mention, finally got a job that requires to fly as well! Hee....
2. The hotel that I stayed, Hotel Intercontinental, was simply great. It was right in the middle of the town and was surrounded by shopping centres. I did not managed to have chance to walk around until the last day.
3. My colleagues there are a great bunch of friendly people! I managed to learn a lot from them over then past few days. We will be working very closely together from now onwards.
Heard that there will be a team building for everyone as well and it will be at Philippines as well. hope this is true and will be able to meet the rest of the people that are based in Europe as well.
From now, I think I will be very busy with my new job and not as relaxed as I was in my previous job. Hope that I am able to start contributing soon! Hee....
A "excited to start work" Polarbear
For the past 4 days, I was away in Manila. It was my first trip there and was quite excited, not to forget to mention stressed as well, to go there as well, especially when I am flying there and back alone. It was like going for amazing race. It was quite good for the following reasons:
1. I finally got to fly on Singapore Airlines. It was very good, from the service to the food. Got a personal entertainment set as well. Managed to catch 2 movies, Jumper and The Bucket List. Even got time to play some of the games as well. For the food, it was simply great! Hope got more chance to fly SQ next time. Not to mention, finally got a job that requires to fly as well! Hee....
2. The hotel that I stayed, Hotel Intercontinental, was simply great. It was right in the middle of the town and was surrounded by shopping centres. I did not managed to have chance to walk around until the last day.
3. My colleagues there are a great bunch of friendly people! I managed to learn a lot from them over then past few days. We will be working very closely together from now onwards.
Heard that there will be a team building for everyone as well and it will be at Philippines as well. hope this is true and will be able to meet the rest of the people that are based in Europe as well.
From now, I think I will be very busy with my new job and not as relaxed as I was in my previous job. Hope that I am able to start contributing soon! Hee....
A "excited to start work" Polarbear
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