Wahbiang Christmas 2005

December 25, 2005 2 Comments

Not Classic 2004, But Still Endless Laughters, Games and Fun!

 
Just came back from the party – it ended less than 1 hour ago.. Just finished downloaded some of the best shots of the night onto my blog. It is certainly a wild and fun night; despite the low turn-out of our clan members.
 
This year, Yifu and Lilian played host for Wahbiang Xmas 2005 at their new condo home at Bishan. There were only 14 of us (Yifu, Lilian, Meijie, Jimmy, Kendrick, Stephen, Wendy, Joe, Felicia, Kalinda, Tracy, Juliana, Duuk, Guofeng). Many fell ill this year – Ivy and Serene. Kendrick’s gal had to work, so she couldn’t make it too.
 
Still, it was a good night of fun and laughters. Not as classic as 2004 Xmas (that was still the best Xmas in my opinion). Miss these missing people: Joanne, Serene, Yixi, Lusia, MC, Francis, Echo and Ivy. Somehow, felt that Tracy, Kalinda and Kendrick were a little tamed tonight. (maybe this year got no "worm party"). 
 

Okay, here are some of the key notes of tonight party!
 
1) The top 3 prizes were won by Jimmy ($50 Taka Voucher), Kalinda (Fortune Sticks) and Duuk (Volka Mini). All 3 "gold prize" winners had to go thru forfeits in order to redeem their prize.
2) Wendy (stool), Lilian (memo pad) and Yifu (salt and pepper holders) got the consolation prizes.
3) Many people actually dun know what "MSN" stands for. Guofeng and Lilian didn’t got that right.
4) Wendy "mouthed" Juliana! Wendy has to feed Juli 10 m&m – using nothing but her mouth!
5) Gareth then picked Felicia to repeat the "Juliana-Wendy" erotic challenge.
6) Jimmy got molested and licked by 5 poor souls. And worse – Felicia tried a "Jimmy-Orh-Pi-Sai" stunt.
7) Yixi was voted as the most stingy person in our clan. And Guofeng won the "Most Flirt Award".
8) Only Tracy, Juliana and Kendrick walked free without any forfeits.
9) Kalinda and Jimmy had to dance thru a "Cyndi MTV" in order to redeem their top prizes. For Duuk, he was foaming with whip-cream after his forfiets.
10) The games and prizes added up to $380. The internet tutorial given by Gareth is FREE. 🙂
 
Felicia will be releasing the "Dance Video" soon. Come back to view these footages later this week!


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Candid Shots! The Funny, The Bold and The Ugly!

December 23, 2005 Leave a comment

Wahbiang Moments of the Year!
I was clearing my digital photo library over the past 2 sundays. My gosh, since 2002 (when I got my Nikon Digital 950), I have snapped more than 20,000 shots! And in my "friends" library alone, there are exactly 4,564 digital photos of my clan.
 
So, I spent the past few days going thru these digital shots – selecting the best and the worst. Since it is always my custom to give out "photo-xmas-card" every Christmas, I decided to give out a "Top 20 Selection" this year.
 
 
 

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O-Biang Dress-Up Party at Katong

December 16, 2005 Leave a comment

Once again, the people at Katong has done something extraordinary. I guess it is the first of its kind at Ean Kiam Place – a street Christmas party like no other. Like it or not, this street at Katong is becoming Singapore’s first underground design street – (perhaps, I should push this idea hard to the Government to commission this street as a design street – like Science Park, Biopolis etc)
 
Anyway, Randy and gang thought of creating an "O-BIANG" party. What is "O-Biang"? In short, it means outdated, retro and 1960s. Anyway, everyone must come dressing in really "O-Biang" outlook.
 
The turnout tonight was HUGE! We kinda blocked off half of Ean Kiam Place! 5 companies took part in this first-ever joint-Christmas party. Everyone came dressed-up – with the "O-Biang" theme in mind.
 
Here are some funny shots of the "O-Biang" Party. I came dressing as a MP of the 60s.

_____________________________________________________________________________________
 
THANK YOU: To the wonderful people at SPELL. Thanks for your Christmas Tree Gift to Caffeine. You can see it in the pix.

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Did I sign for a Package?

December 9, 2005 2 Comments


It all happened last week. Joe’s 15-year old 29 inch Sony TV broke down and died.
With Joe’s new Samsung 42" Plasma TV, it is not that hard to imagine. (at Hotel 25)

 
This is dedicated to: Meijie (for everything!) + Tracy (Shooting & Flash) + Stephen, Duuk, Juliana, Joanne, Wendy (for all the weekend party) Note: We just finished our little "Opening Ribbon Cutting Ceremony" by Meijie.  And See the Real TVC below 🙂


 

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Singaporean’s Stupid Queuing Habits

December 9, 2005 5 Comments

There are times when I cannot understand why my fellow Singaporeans are so stupid and rude. Worst, they dun compute logic and aren’t resourceful at all. One of the most disturbing behaviours I couldn’t stand is Singaporean’s Strange but Stupid Queuing Habits. Here are a few cases:
 
CASE NO 1:    At AXS Machines
I was paying my dad’s phone bill at Parkway AXS Machines yesterday afternoon. There are 2 machines (side by side) and each is occupied with one user. Being the 3rd user there, I decided to stand in between the 2 machines.
The logic is simple: The machines are so close apart and I get 2 access to either one of the machine. If one of the 2 users jammed the machine, I won’t be wasting my time waiting behind him/her. A single-line queue to multiple service counters is certainly fair and fast.  However, not many places offer such system. You only get to see such queuing-system in bank, cinema, 4D counter and Challenger IT Store etc.
 
Anyway, there was a teenage-girl queuing behind me with her mother. Sensing the man on the left AXS Machine was going to complete his payment, the teenage-girl’s mother walked out of my queue and stood behind the man – creating a "1-queue-1-system".
 
Fearing the people behind me will start following her cue, I decided to tell her to get back to my queue. Of cos’, like typical Singaporean, she replied: "There are 2 machines here, you queue yours, I queue mine. What’s the problem?" 

I remarked loud and clear: "Auntie, you queue one line, you get 2 machines. It is faster this way. And I am here before you guys. If this man is leaving that machine, I have my rights to use it first. Please dun cut queue."

 
Speechless and embarressed, she went back behind me, grumbling in her hokkien tongue – still complaining that why I started a queue like that.
 
This is so typical Singaporean. When they see 2 machines, they "automatically" form 2 queue-lines. No wonder, they need real barricades or painted floor markings to guide them. We are the only train stations that have "yellow boxes" to guide our people not to block traffic in front of opening MRT Doors.
 
 
CASE NO 2:    Getting a Cab along the Road
The street rule goes – "The one nearer to the coming cab gets the cab"
 
We can’t really fault the cab driver if he decided to pick up someone who "hijacked" your cab. This is one of the most common self-made tension between strangers. Especially when 2 of you are within 50m of the road. It really doesn’t matter who comes first. It is more like "who is ahead of you".
 
I met enough jackass "hijacking" my cab. These people often tried to "outwalk" you by another 10m ahead of you. So, what happened if you meet a "taxi hijacker" on the road? Here are some Singaporean’s common reactions:
 
1) Start Walking ahead of these "hijacker" – Stare hard at them when overtaking them.
2) Resign to fate and stood them frowning. Let the "hijackers" snatch the cab right under their nose. Afterall, there are enough empty cab in Singapore. Wait for next one lor. Only react when more people over-take him.
3) Call for cab lor. Afterall, money can solve anything. And if a cab appears before the booked cab comes, board first…and cancel the booked cab.
 
For me, I rather make my intention & presence clear. If I saw someone waiting for cab along the same road before me, I will walk close to him – ask him if he is waiting for a cab – and if he says yes, I will tell him that I will stand there and wait for the next one.
 
And for those jackass who think they can hide by overtaking me, they are very wrong. Cos’ I will yell out loud to them and make clear that I am there first. They have to wait. Most times, this approach worked. Cos’ Singaporean scare "lose-face" and will act "righteously" when told. Unless these "hijackers" are like 100m away from you – it may not be their fault. They may not see you at all.
 
Nevertheless, I did  give way to "hijackers" who are pregnant, old, with baby in hands or handicap.
 
There are more of such mindless people I meet everyday. Where is the "grace element" in our people? Or have we become so competitive that we forget our basic manner and upbringing?
 
 

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Working for “Sweat and Blood” Money

December 2, 2005 3 Comments

Every day, I am surrounded by job hazards. Now, I can truly understand why my dad said he worked sweat and blood for our lives.
 

Since the day I decided to go into business, my mama warned me not to partner any friends or family members in business. Money matters turns friendship ugly. It brings out the worst in people…. Just like the golden band in Lord of the Rings – we will lose control of ourselves. If we partner "not-so-close" people in our business, we can always plot their deaths later. But it is very wrong to murder your own friends and family members over business matters. I guess this is what she meant…

 
So, every day, I must remind myself to watch my back… preparing myself from any terrorist’s attack. Cos’ we have no friend in business… just benefit buddies and pay masters. My NS training has taught me well, I must be offensive – be pro-active – go out and take down my targets first – before they can be a real threat to me later. (I didn’t act fast in my last venture – that is why I was conned so badly by that son-of-the-bitch asshole, bastard, dickless donkey!)
 
Since that day, I have 100% no tolerance for office politics, back-stabbers, stingy colleagues, cranky designers, cheating partners and grumpy old office janitor.
 
So, yesterday, after plotting for an intense and most detailed attack strategy, I decided to go into action (with an ally) after 10 minutes of serious planning. (Attached images are unsuitable for the typical, safe boring office workers)
 
At least now I can go home and tell my wife and son that daddy did fight (sweat and blood) his life off for their daily bread. 😛

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My Adventures with Taxi Drivers

December 1, 2005 Leave a comment


On an average, I took about 1,200 cab trips per year. That worked out to be about 3.2 cab-trip per day. Quite a conservative number, I guess. So, if I convert that to an estimated cost (based on $5/trip), the final figure can be quite alarming. We are talking about $6,000 – $8,000 per annual. Imagine the kind of money I can save by walking. And if I am a 4D fan, I would have more than a thousand 4D to play with.
 
Of course, as much as 45% of the $8,000 are "covered" by my company. So, it is still cheaper than owning a car. I have no petrol hike to worry…or extra insurance to bear. On the minimum, I will need to spend about $8/day for my transport to work and back to home. So, it cost me about $2,500/annual for my transport to work and back.
 
Friends who have taken cab with me would know that how much I enjoyed chatting with these drivers. For the past 5 years, I may have came into contact with about 6,000 cab drivers (on the assumption that I didn’t take the same cab twice). I have met all kind of cab drivers – from the wise ones to ah beng ones, from the really rude ones to the very enterprising one.
 
But every journey, I absorbed a little tale about the drivers and their own "philosophy" about their job, their families and their perception of our country. Most of the time, I learnt to see a different perspective from these humble people. (Confirmed: there isn’t a young pretty female driver in the cohort of taxi drivers).
 
You will be surprised with the kind of drivers I have encountered. Here are some of my "more interesting" encounters:
 
1) The Extra Service One
One driver threw me a black book of female names. He personally recommended to me a lady called "QiQi". He told me that these are the "hookers" who booked his services on a regular basis. He denied taking commission or "pimp’s fee" but he said he can recommend one that will suit my taste.
 
2) The Secret Society One
One driver fetched me and mistaken for a "client" whom he needs to ferry for a "black business deal". He claimed he was working for an established secret society and ferried "special guests" from airports, hotels and secret gambling dens. He never knew who his "special guests" are, except he will pick them up at specific locations. These guests were mainly new hookers from China, pimps and loan-sharks.
 
3) The Asset-Rich but Cash-Poor One
This Cabbie was eating sushi and offering me some. He told me that he was a Japanese chef and own a condo. Due to bad investment, he has to find $4K every month to pay for his 1.6L car, his condo and other instalments. So, how much he earns as a chef – close to $3K! And driving cab will give him an extra $1K a month.
 
4) The Ex-Millionaire
He was a hotel owner in Vietnam in the early 1990s. He spoke superb fluent English and dressed differently. He had all the magazines that I dun even read – Fortune, Economic Review, Singapore Tatler etc. Sound like a real enterpriser, he went bust in the late 1990s and had to drive cab to make a living now. He is also the one who gave me this 3 golden health rules – "Healthy in the Mind, the Body and the Spirit"
 
 
5) The Salesman
Driving a cab is his part-time job. He is a salesman. He is into all kinds of business – from selling handphone accessories to property agent, he was running around – meeting his clients. During break, he would use his cab as another money-making tool, fetching clients around. Why dun you just own a car, I asked. He replied, "cab is cheaper, only no image. But client won’t know". Driving a cab is cheaper, more flexible than owning a car or renting it. What’s more, he only need the cab in the day. At nights and weekends, he rent it out.
 
 
6) Unbelievable: The One that Fetched me 5 Times
He is a perfect stranger. We dun live near one another. I didn’t make a transport deal with him. Strange but true – and possibly 1 in a million – on 5 different occassions, he picked me off the road and we recognised one another. He has a little doll that he clipped on his mirror and a Siemens ads behind. The first 4 trips are:
 
a) From Eunos to Changi Hospital
b) From Katong to Tampines
c) From Bugis to Eunos
d) From Simei to Eunos
 
I just bumped into him again last Tuesday (from Eunos to Katong). Guess what? His cab is running my Konica Minolta ad now. His name is Mr Rashid and he drives a blue comfort: SHA 6754T.
 

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Short Film by people next door

November 19, 2005 1 Comment

A great effort, considered this is the first film they produced. Winning 2 Awards last week at Substation, this film is made and produced by a group of what I called "cars with newly filled petrol".
 

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What Car is Yours?

November 19, 2005 3 Comments

There is no way one can complete his life journey without inspirations and motivations. I am not talking about living to the complete end of one’s life. I am talking about living a complete life.
 
Using car as a metaphor to describe life, I call these inspirations and motivations as the "fuels of life". Inspirations and motivations can come in any form. Be it in love, friends, families and sometimes, self-motivated passion. Like a car, regularly, your vehicle needs to refill its petrol – in order for it to further its journey. Without inspirations or motivations, one may find himself going dry and eventually motionless. Dun get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with a stationary car or a "lack-of-drive" vehicle.
 
I stopped my car twice in my life – while allowing people in my peers to zoom ahead of me. Blindly travelling on the main highway, I decided to stop and think about the other path. Somehow, I was "inspired" by a new spot I discovered on the other side of the road and decided to change course. With a full tank, I have enough energy to take on another adventure I desired.  (of course, that journey, I found my wife and new lifetime friends).
 
Last night at 3am, I was talking to Joanne and Tracy about how inspired we were when we were young (in poly days). We were filled up and was ready for any adventures. Somehow, after 4 years of travelling, we can’t resist but to ask ourselves if we are are moving forward or backward – a strange insecure feelings most drivers felt. Really, how do one judge the quality of his journey? By speed, by the direction he is traveling or by the road less travelled? Or by the bigger car he is driving?
 
Along my journey, I came across 5 types of cars: (the most common type)
 
1) A motionless car with an empty tank
There could be many reasons for this. The driver may have been travelling blindly, without checking his fuel and direction, getting lost and eventually, lost his resource to move anymore.
 
2) A motionless car with a full tank
The driver may have found a shady spot with great view – stopped the car and be contented about it. Or a driver with so much potential and options to travelled but chose to be static. This could be the driver lacks courage, self-confidence to advance his journey. Or he is simply procastinating and cannot make up his mind on where to go.
 
3) A moving car with an empty tank
How can that be possible? Yes, it can. The driver is pushing his car towards the next destination. He may lost all the faith, direction and inspiration in life, but he himself is the motivator. With a never-say-die attitude, he chose not to be motionless, he constantly pushing for the next destination. Yes, the driver himself is the fuel.
 
4) A moving car with a leaking tank
Travelling long way, searching endlessly, feeling lost. Precious fuel are leaking away. At this point, most drivers would be tired and worried. Should they find new fuel stations to refill or just let the fuel run out. Or should they pause for a while to re-think of a new path? I guess most people fall into this category.
 
5) A moving car with a full tank
A newly charged car with full fuel and ready to roll. The driver is energetic, taking on roads, exploring his next adventure. The next question is: "How big is his fuel tank?"
 
I guess I am one lucky chap. At every stage of my life, I met different group of inspiring people. That really add fushion to my life and keep me going further. Perhaps, it is time for me to add more fuel to go another adventure. But this time, please remind me to get a bigger fuel tank.
 
 
 
 

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Knowing when the rain is coming…

November 16, 2005 Leave a comment

When I was young, I was amazed by my granny’s prediction of the weather. She often called out "Peng, later will rain, dun go out…" True enough, rain clouds began to form. And most times, it did rained. I always wondered how my granny able to make weather prediction so accurate. She dun watch TV forecasts or dial tele-weathercast. 
 
Unable to withhold my curiosity, I decided to ask her about her skills to predict rainy days. She told me to observe the "water flies" and the behaviour of our dog. Somehow, she was able to pick up signs from these animals to predict the rain. (That is something I can never pick up) I tried correcting her and pointed the clouds to her. I told her about those cloud formations that I learnt in Geography. She just shook her head in confusion. Watching clouds was far too complicated for her. She can only tell the difference between a "dark sky" and a "white" one.
 
When I grew up, I developed my own "bio-system" to forecast the rain. Strangely, I am able to forecast rain 2-3 days in advance. Amazing, it works 90%. Here are what I noticed:
 
1)  Your house is suddenly full of ants. (I suspect ants are able to predict rain and come indoor for shelther)
2) There is a halo around the moon at night. (There are dense moisture in the air, possibly rain the next day)
 
I guess there are many tell-signs around us to forecast natural events. We just need to pay additional effort to observe them and understand their unique behaviour.
 
Guess the same theory can be applied to people-to-people relationship. We have to observe signs of a breaking relationship and try our best to mend it. If not, we got to try all ways to avoid a bad storm. I never look forward and count down to the end of a bad storm. Instead, I always look forward to the start of a refreshing, sunny day.
 
Somehow, the air, after a storm, is often cooler, fresher and cleaner.   

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