Singapore Bay Run and a Brand New Phone!

Did the Singapore Bay Run today for 10km....... without any training at all! So can say the whole run (more like walk) is a very slow process. Hee.... Luckily it was an army event so also got a lot of "forced" army personnel running (more like walking) as well. In the end, I think I did not stick out like a sore thumb though. Haha... The timing should be terrible as well. All in all, I am just happy that I have finished the run. Wondering how am I going to survive for the Standard Chartered 21km in Dec. OMG! Do not even want to think about it.

So after the run, to reward myself, I decided to get a new phone. Hee... Like real! So walked into M1 shop and decided that I shall give Samsung Omnia a try! Well this is the closest that I could get to a "iPhone" look-a-like since I am not a Singtel subscriber. Actually was caught in between Nokia N71 or the Samsung Omnia cos both looks good. Got the phone at quite a good price and hope that I will like using the phone. Looking forward to start using the phone. Hee....

A "tired but relived" Polarbear

Finally I saw Fireworks! Fantastic!

Recently, think I had been working a bit too much and feeling a bit stressed over it. So I mentioned about watching fireworks might do some wonders.

All thanks to LLT, she managed to get a pair of tickets to watch the fireworks from the Hippo Cruise Boat. Yes from the river, much closer to the fireworks! Hee... Once I know that we got he tickets, I am so excited about it! Imagine how close we will be watching the fireworks! Hee...

The meet up time at the Clarke Quay ticket office is at 7.30pm. We reached there on time but already to find a crowd in a queue all ready to board the cruise as well. All the kids were excited, but so were us. Hee... Soon it was time to board the boat. There was a little drizzle going on but still decided to sit in the open to make sure that we got to see the fireworks, at the same time hoping that it will not be cancelled.

We were soon on our way along Singapore River. There is a tour guide with us, explaining all the tourist spots along the way. Felt so touristy. Hee... Taking photos along the way. After a short while, we reached the Marina Bay and were anchored just in front of the Esplanade. While we were watching for the fireworks to start, the guide decided to ask us some general tourist questions and to win some prizes. I was lucky enough to make 2 guesses and win two duck quakes whistles. Hee...

After a 30 mins wait, the fireworks finally started! With the music from the Marina Grandstand and the fireworks in front of me, I was totally blown away by it! I was looking at the fireworks in front of me, the right side of me, everywhere was shooting fireworks. While watching it, I was also busy taking pictures and videos of them as well. Below is one of my better picures taken,


After a good 30 mins of fireworks display, and a grand finale of fireworks, the boat slowly headed towards back Clarke Quay. Everyone onboard was still talking about the fireworks and excited about it as well. Once back on shore, we decided to go and grab some dinner as we were totally famished as we decided not go have dinner before the cruise.

Again like to thanks LLT for this special experience, let try to do this every year ok? If we can get the numbers, we might even be able to book our own boat and have a party on onboard!

A "fireworks fanatic" Polarbear

Disappointed with M1!

The M1 line that I am using now, is the only mobile number that I had been using. So come to think of it I had been suing it since I am 16 years old. Wow that was long. Hee...

So since my contract is coming to an end, I had been thinking if I would like to switch to the Singtel or Starhub or stay with M1. So I called M1 up to tell them my intention to buy a phone from them and at the same time to re contract my line. So in the end guess what they offer me?... Sigh...

After a week of waiting, they offered me $50 off my next bill and 6 months caller id free ($30). After talking over the phone with the operator, she finally decided to throw in another 3 months free autoroaming ($30). Total up to only a miserable of $110 for being their loyal customer for the past 10 over years.

Their latest tag line is "You deserve better!", but I dun really feel it from them.

To say I am just totally disappointed with M1!

A "very disappointed" Polarbear

Fireworks! I want to see!

For the past few days had been again working like no day and night, feeling a bit tired now. Thinking should I get a rest before I truly burnt out. Hmm....

There is going to be 2 nights of fireworks display at Marina Bay this weekend. But ... Sigh.... Dun think I am going to catch it as I am not going to squeeze with all the people and all the tickets for the fireworks display are sold out as well. I just wish that watching it will be able to lift my mood up a little bit.

Going to run my 10 km this coming Sunday and OMG! I had not been running at all. Think I am going to had a hard time running the 10km. Hopefully I will be able to complete it within 1 hours and 30 mins. Hee...

So many horror movies and suspense movies that I want to watch now! Hope they will be still showing when I want to watch them.

Just rambling at random cos I dun really have a topic to talk now. Hee...

A "bored" Polarbear

12 Lotus

Another local movie by the much talented Royston Tan.

"12 LOTUS tells a story of a talented singer Lian Hua, yearns for acceptance from those she loves, that they see her for who she is, beneath the bling of stage costumes, snappy footwork and the sizeable income she rakes in.

The tragedy that unfolds is an age-worn tale of love and betrayal. Her fall from grace is as spectacular and breathtaking as her heights of fame and fortune. Despite a heartbreak that is too much to bear, Lian Hua's indomitable spirit prevails. Her voice soars one final time, and like a flower that blooms, it dazzles us, humbles us."

After the very successful "881", I went to watch this movie with high expectation, decided to watch this movie at sneak preview. Got to say here, I do not think that this movie is not part 2 of 881, in fact it should be treated as a separated movie. This movie is like a 2 hours long MTV for me. Lots and lots of hokkien song and ge tai performances, with the main song 12 Lotus linking up everything. I loved the song 12 Lotus, it does lay out the plot of the movie very nice.

The acting by the leads are very good especially Liu Ling Ling and Mindee Ong. The dancing and the remixe of the songs does add a lot of flavour into the movie.

However compared to 12 Lotus to 881, I will still prefer 881. 12 Lotus does not touched me as how 881 touched me. The focus was lost at times but when they start to sing the next chapter of the 12 Lotus, everything fall back to pieces again. The whole movie does have a very retro feel as well. Overall, I will give this movie 3.5 stars out of 5.

A "retro" Polarbear

Feeling Moody

I was feeling moody since yesterday and now someone giving me cold shoulder again.
I will feel much better if you did ask me why, but you did not. :(
Sigh...

A "moody" Polarbear

Happy National Day! Money No Enough 2

Today is National Day! Happy Birthday Singapore! Time to wear red again! Hee..

So what to do on National Day? Watch a local move by Jack Neo la, what else?


This movie came 10 years after the first movie was a sleeper hit. Not to say I went in with high expectation but thinking that it should be better than the first one.

The movie picks up from the last one where the 2 out of the 3 brothers are rich and got more of local updated political correct jokes as well. The actors are better this time round as well, got to say that Hui ge actually was the most enjoyable one in the movie. As usual for a Jack Neo movie, the first half of the movie is a full of jokes and to poke in the face movie and the second half tires to put your heart strings. Have to say that this time round, I am not touched by his movie, dunno why but just think that it is too far fetch for me to relate to it already.

The CGI is not that bad but how come when they say ERP and what was printed on the gates was EPR? Hmm... Overall I give this movie 2.5 stars out of 5.

Well all in all, hope this movie still does well and break some local box office records.

A "Money no Enough" Polarbear

FIR Concert

After 4 albums, finally they decided to start they concert tour and the first stop outside Taiwan is Singapore. I had been waiting for them to come here for concert as I had seen their concert on TV and it does look like a very good concert. So when the concert news came about, decided to watch this concert. Out of all days, they chose 080808 for concert. I even flew back one day early for it. Hee... Have to say that I got high expectation for this concert.

Their concert layout was different from the user one. With the stage on its side, seem like it is nearer to the crowd and less people as well. It was a good choice though. Seem like it was a full house as well.

After watching the concert, I somehow felt disappointed even though I enjoyed the concert. The program of the concert was not really smooth with a few abrupt breaks and caused me to feel bored at times. The singing of the lead singer Faye sounds weird, it seems like she is sick or over exhaustion. She could not really hit the high notes and sounds out of breathe at times as well. For the other 2 guys, it seems that they are standing at the side becoming like part of the band rather than FIR itself. Somewhere due to the above reason, I dun really enjoyed the concert.

Hope that they will perform better next time they come here for a concert.

A "picky" Polarbear

Stressed!

Recently there was a problem at work. Since it was not actually my department issue, I initially stand aside, trying not to get involved.

With a twist of luck, I was sucked into the action. With a lot of people suddenly wanted to have a piece of it and wants to be updated at all times. However it seems that instead of being understanding and help to solve the problem, they actually added in more stress. The rest of the people just use their mouth to talk and no action done while my team was working our ass off trying to solve the problem.

The problem was solved yesterday. When the news spread, everyone was trying to gain credit for it, and people who did not work in the issue even emailed to talk about what we can do to prevent this problem. Since when they know what to do? Where were they when we needed assistance to solve the problem?

At times, I really pity my team who have been working their ass off yet people ate unappreciative of them.

Now rushing on report that other people, who are not involved, are chasing for it. Sigh....

A "very tired" Polarbear

I was away for 2 weeks

I was away for work for the past 2 weeks and this was the first time that I have to spend a weekend over there.

For the past 2 weeks was pretty boring, well almost all work and little play. Since it was raining season here, it had been raining almost every day or night. The weekend here was gloomy as well. Luckily I changed my hotel to a service apartment, and it was just above a very big shopping mall. So looking for things to eat is an easy thing to do. This hotel is so much better than the last one, the location of the service apartment wins hands down. They also upgraded me to a 2 room service apartment, which was too big for one person to stay in. Hee...

My colleagues did bring me to Mall Of Asia, which is the largest shopping mall here and one of the largest in the world as well. Imagine it is like Vivocity but 3 times bigger. We walked and we got lost in there, walking in circles. Hee... Like the rest of the shopping malls, it got the usual shops as well. Watched The Dark Knight in IMAX here with large screen and have to say it was great looking everything so big in the face. Hee...

I am so excited now as I am going to board the plane and going back home in 4 hours time. Woo! I'm going home! Going to do so many things when I get back. I miss home so much.

A "going home" Polarbear

So many concerts, so little money!

With F.I.R, A-mei, Avril Lavigne and many more coming for concerts,

What am I going to do about it? I wanna to go but ... ....

Sigh.... :(

A "sad" Polarbear

Need to start running!

With a 10km run (a month away) and just signed up a 21km run (4 months away), I think I better start picking up my lazy ass and start running again!

OMG! What have I got myself into?

A "lazy ass" Polarbear

The Dark Knight

This movie is another big summer movie which everyone is waiting for especially after Heath Ledger aka The Joker died after he was done filming the movie.

This movie totally blew me away, other than Ironman. From the start until the end everyone on the movie really did a job in the movie. The story line is simple, got 2 baddies, Two Face and The Joker. Well me not being a comic fan, I got to know that Two Face is actually a good guy turned into a bad guy. This is actually a Joker movie rather than Batman movie as he totally shadowed everyone in this show. I dun really like how the movie end though, too bad for Two Face. I would loved to see more of him.

One thing I dun really like is why does batman got to speak in such a deep husky voice. Hee.... Overall, I give this movie 4.5 stars out of 5. The lack of 0.5 stars is for the reason they killed Two-face. Hee...

Update:
I managed to watch this movie again in IMAX. Even though watching it second time, it just toally blew me off with the large screen. How come Singapore dun show the movie in IMAX version?

A "Joker" Polarbear

A-mei is coming for concert again. WooHoo!

Yes! A-Mei is coming for another concert in less than a year! So happy and excited when I know that she is coming again! Last year her concert was the BEST! I am sure this year will be the same as well!

This time her concert will be on 4 Oct 08, Singapore Indoor Stadium.

I have already bought the tickets at Sistic. Have you?

A "excited" Polarbear

Mega Combat and Gym Politics

Last sat was PF's Mega Combat. Well only managed to attend half of it since we got to get ready for Gary Cao's concert after it. Hee... This is my second year doing it. I do not know why but I do not enjoyed doing it. Just find it boring doing it. Do not think I will be doing it next year. Cannot imagine the queue for the distribution of the T-shirt. OMG! People are really so kaisu leh. Still managed to got mine, when there is no queue.

One thing in gym, when I go attend the classes, I would prefer to go for the classes which are taught by the instructors I prefer but I do not go to extreme where I would check everyday if that instructor will not be teaching that day class due to something. I will still attend the class.

There are also groups of ppl who will only attend the instructors they attend and become like groupies. these are the people usually standing in the front and would have stay back to talk to the instructors. Of course they had big influence as they usually will be the ones to request for tracks in classes. Of course there will be different groups for the same instructors and each group will try to do their best to get the instructor's attention like helping them to set up, keep the equipment. There are even people who will go to different gyms in a day to attend the classes conducted by the same instructors. Even at Mega Combat, the whole gang would have stand in front of the platform where that particular instructor is standing. OMG!

Recently heard that one of the trainee instructors, gena complained by one of the lao jiaos during the class. So the poor trainee do not even have the chance to cover the class now and at the same time she also did not attend that particular instructor class any more. Poor thing. Well wish her all the best!

I just go gym so that I can work out at the same time to relief some stress. I do not go gym to add more stress to my life! I also got enough politics to handle in office already. I do not need any more at the gym.

To those people, please get a life outside gym.

A "just want to enjoy work out" Polarbear

MagicBox

Today watched this play cum magic show, locally produced. The magicians is a pair of Father and Daughter.

The story line predictable, father do not allow children to have magic act of their own as he think they are not ready enough and in the end all got magic act of their own but to find family is the best.

The acting was flat so was the storyline but the magic is the main star. Totally blew me away. There are a lot of different magic acts in the show and they are all very good. Even I was seating in the front seats, it was difficult to see how the magic acts are being done. They are that good. Hee...

All thanks to LLT, I managed to have the chance to watch this show.

A "first time see magic show live" Polarbear

Gary Cao's Concert

I did have the intend to watch this concert when I knew it was coming to town. However since no one want to watch it with me, I decided to give it a miss. It was a KTV session in the afternoon of the day of the concert, sort of spurred up my interest to watch the concert again. Another reason is because he won the Best Male Vocalist just last weekend as well.

As luck to be on my side, I managed to get a pair of free tickets to watch from Hazel. Hee... So excited over it. So much so that we even decided to leave halfway through Mega Combat. Haa...


The turnout of the concert was ard 80%, quite good and did not expect so many people to turn up and support him. After watching the concert, I have to say that Gary Cao is really a very good singer, just like how he sounds in the CD. I find the program of the concert a bit boring and was not well thought through as well. That was quite a disappointment. He could have sang more songs from his 3 albums as well. Well I only can say his voice and wit was the saving grace of the concert. I was happy that I got free tickets to watch it instead me what I had planned to buy tickets for it. Hee...

A "relived" Polarbear

Hellboy II: The Golden Army, You Don't Mess With the Zohan

You Don't Mess With the Zohan

From the trailer, I already can forsee this will be one of the lame movies. As it seems that it is really one, from the lame plot. I am quite surprised that they decided to make a lame movie from the terroristy point of view, one of the best agent who wants to be a hairstylist. So to make his dream come true, he decided to play dead during a mission and went to US for a new life. Then he became one of the most popular hairstylist who attracted all the old ladies as other than haircut and washing, he provides hot sex as well. As the story line get more far fetch, the jokes gets lamer.Overall, I give this movie 1 star out of 5. Watch it if you are looking for a brainless show.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army

This movie is one of the sequels and one of the many comic characters movies that popped up recently. I am not a big fan of the comics, in fact I seldom read comics at all. Well with not much of recollection of what happen to the first movie. I pretty much enjoyed the second one. Hee... the plot was pretty simple, good guys fight bad guys but human do not like good guys and ask for the good guys to be destroyed. The CGI of this movie was really good.Overall, I give this movie 3 stars out of 5.

A "just got to watch movies" Polarbear

News Flash! Earthquake rocks Metro Manila!

"A magnitude 3 earthquake rocked Metro Manila at 8:01 last night, the Philippine Volcanology and Seismology Institute said. The quake was felt at Magnitude 4.5 in Nueva Ecija, Aurora and Bulacan."

Read this in the Manila newspapers this morning. OMG! I landed yesterday night and I did not felt it at all. Hmm... So what I was doing at that time? I was having dinner. Hmm... Maybe it was not strong enough to be felt.

Well you can experience typhoon and earthquake in Manila, I was lucky enough to fly out before the last typhoon landed. This time got earthquake I also did not feel anything as well.

Hee.. So I better start thinking what I should do when an earthquake happens.

Anyone knows how?

A "mountain tortise" Polarbear

KrisFlyer Elite Silver

After 2 months of almost non stop flying in and out every week, I am proud to say that I am now KrisFlyer Elite Silver member. Haha... Not much privileges though. Sigh.

Time to aim for the next milestone: KrisFlyer Elite Gold status! I need to clock another 50,000 elite miles. OMG! That is a lot of miles to clock in a year! Haha... In this case, I really need to take more plane rides than bus rides already.

Oh yes, another thing, finally after 2 months, SQ decided to change their food menu! This came in timely when I got sick of the food on the plane.

A "how to clock miles faster" Polarbear