E-Interview (Singapore Blog Awards 2012)

When did you start blogging and what drew you to it? Where do you get inspiration for your blog content?

2,407 days. 980 blog postings. I wrote my first blog entry exactly 6 years, 7 months, 3 days, 23 hours, 45 minutes ago. Back then in 2005, there wasn’t any Facebook or other social media platform for us to record and share our stories, photos and words. I started blogging to keep my good friends and loved ones connected.

When I left Singapore in 2006, my blog became one of the main channels for my family and friends back home to stay tuned with my new overseas life. My blog is a journey of my life outside Singapore. There are many postings of happy reunions and heart-breaking goodbyes. During my loneliest expat days in Shanghai, blogging helped me to download release those heavy emotions off my chest. There were many beautiful moments when I was alone, blogging was the only way I could share those beautiful moments with my wife and son back home.  Over the last 6 years, my blog readers and me went through many beautiful and remarkable journeys. My blog is a vault of my memories and emotions. It is my priceless heirloom for my little boy.

My blog would be empty and colorless without my friends and loved ones. They are my biggest source of inspiration and support. They are also the ones who keep my blog traffic going. My son, Elkan is one of the biggest “traffic drivers” to my blog. He has lots of fans out there who love to tune in to read his stories. My wife, Felicia is also one of the key contributors for my blog. She is a better writer than me. Whenever there is a big family outing, she will email me the family news and photographs. I always remind myself how short and precious life is. We should always remember and celebrate the most beautiful side of life.

How do you feel about being one of finalists in Singapore Blog Awards 2012? How do you feel about the other Finalists in your category this year? How do you think you will fare compared to them?

I would like to thank the Singapore Blog Award Team and judges for shortlisting me for this year’s award. There are a lot of good bloggers in my category and I wasn’t expecting to be in the finals again. (This is actually my 3rd consecutive finals) All of us are different and special in our own ways – that is the beauty of bloggers. It is going to be very difficult for the judges to pick an individual winner. Nevertheless, blogging is never about winning or losing, making money or pursuing fame. It is about being true to yourself and that is what makes a good blogger stands out amongst the crowd. Be original. Be bold and be free to make your own expression.

Give a reason why readers should visit your blog and vote for you?

If there is a reason why readers should visit my blog…this is what I want my readers to remember: We are the authors of our own lives. Your life, your path. Don’t let someone dictate your life. Always look at the positive and beautiful side of life. Happiness is the currency of life. Spend it wisely.

A Round of Table Tennis Game at the Museum

(Photo Taken: Playing Table Tennis at the Singapore Art Museum – Waiting for the high ball to land, Elkan was having a great time playing with the art curator at the “Ping-Pong-Go-Round” table – created by Artist Lee Wen. We skipped our afternoon hike at Fort Canning Hill and explored the nearby museums instead. It has been almost 12 years since I last stepped into a museum in Singapore. The facades and interiors of the museums have gone through quite a lot of upgrading. Despite their grand new looks, I feel there are a lot more we can do to attract more visitors. Time to bring in more vibrant content and make heritage interesting for the new generation. I was disappointed that we need to flash a NTUC card to gain free access. The main permanent galleries of the museums should be opened freely to all Singaporeans. If not for the very least, give free access to our students and retirees.)

Love is a Journey. Marriage is one of the Destinations.

(Photo Taken by Felicia – A bus ad by “Marriage Central under National Family Council” along Bugis Street, Singapore – I disagree with the copy on the bus. Marriage, under sacred vows and registered by law doesn’t guarantee perpetual love. According to the “Marriage Central” website, almost 50% of divorces in Singapore happened between the 5th-9th year of marriage. Thanks goodness, I just passed the 10th year! A couple needs love and more to make a marriage last. Being married doesn’t mean everlasting love. Love goes beyond marriage, seperation and death. Therefore, I believe love is the ultimate journey. Marriage is just one of the destinations.)

Welcome the Dragons (恐龙)!

On the eve of the Chinese Dragon New Year, we went “dragon-watching” at the Singapore Science Center. With over 50 live-size animatronic exhibits, the “Dinosaurs Live Exhibition” is the largest robotic Dinosaurs show in the world.

Despite our jumping shots at the entrance, I rated this show 3.5-star. It wasn’t as “live” as what the poster promised. The only impressive part was the massive size of these prehistoric creatures. The 3,500 sqm jungle was small – we covered the entire show in less than 30 minutes. Within a glance, you can almost see 50% of the exhibition. It left us little to explore and discover. The canvas backdrops were badly installed and looked cheap and untidy. The dinosaurs weren’t as “animatic and lively” as I expected. Some movements were rather static and slow. The sound effects helped a lot to compensate the “cartoonish” expressions but the “rainbow lightings” were too overwhelming. Other than the typical information boards (and rubber stamps) that were placed beside the exhibits, there was little interactive engagement about these creatures. I was expecting more 3D and digital content – so the children can interact and navigate to know more about these magnificent prehistoric creatures.

To improve the show experience, Science Center should consider changing this to a guided tour. Amplifying the “adventure experience” with experienced guide leading the audience into the jungle with stories. The space should be darkened and be lighted up at every new visit. There should be more partitions (and vegetations, volcanoes etc) to isolate the exhibits so it allows more immersion and exploration within each space. Replace the wooden platform walkway with pebbles and dirt-roads. Remove the railing and let the vegetations/rocks be the natural barriers. The dinosaurs should be motion-activated and be more involved with its human visitors.

This shows size doesn’t matter when it comes to a good experience. Let’s hope the organizers can put in more thoughts and efforts to bring back the magic of a good show. Or at least, leave a lasting impression for the visitors.