A small update

Ever since missing school for a week, an already hectic school life becomes doubly more strenuous with major deadlines every week, minor deadlines every few days and those 2-tests-in-one-day pattern. This coming week -> New media + E-commerce test, Secondlife group meeting, Geopolitics film group meeting, a major Tourism paper looming ominously to be due the coming Monday, 3 learning portfolios reflection behind time, a presentation on Thursday and more learning portfolios to come...

And that's just the workload for this week!!

Nevermind about the depressing stuff, here are some better updates. :D

Work and Travel: I'll be working in the Grand Canyon Lodge at the North Rim!

This lodge/resort is where i will be working at! And it's directly on top of the Grand Canyon and overlooking a magnificent view of the amazing formations. Perched near to the edge of the cliff, I am praying no accidents or murders happen.

The view looks splendid, and i think reading the bible here to catch the first rays of the sun or the last rays of the day will be an emotionally touchy affair as you personally encounter the wonders of God's creations. A little river of the Colorado had carved this steep rocky platform into a narrow gorge at the bottom over millions of years.

(Geography know-it tip: See the flat plateau like platform of the rocks? Grand Canyon is NOT a mountain, but the earth/land was this high in the past. Years of erosion by river and floods have carved this steep highland, it's as if the river is a knife that cuts the cake into two or more segments.)

People riding on donkeys to get through the narrow paths at the side of the Canyon. This looks really really scary, i can't imagine if the donkey loses its footing... But it'll be so cool to see a donkey, Jesus rode on donkeys before!

Something exciting, although i'm going there in summer (9 May - 19 July), the North rim which i'm working at is an extremely cold place with extreme temperature. In the night, the temperature drops to a minimum of 1 degree celsius, while maximum day temperature is 17-24 degree celsius during the period when I'm there.

This means that i have to wear winter clothing and bring bulky fur jackets! How costly they'll be to purchase it though, drinking a hot chocolate by the fireplace could be a dream come true..

Blue Urban Oasis at Century Square: Jasper works there and I finally got to try his cooking!

Classic Fish and Chips

This is really really yummy, crispy on the outside and full of wholesome fish inside, perfect with Tar Tar sauce and sweet chilli, my favourite condiment. Drizzled with a slice of lemon, the taste is just nice - slightly tangy, sweet, spicy. My favourite combi of tastes. But the fish on its own with lemon is really good too... I'm kind of craving for more.

For the first time, i finished all my food although i'm really full.

(Banger and Mash) Veal and Chicken Sausage with mashed potatoes

I can understand why this is a popular dish, especially for meat eaters. Filling and satisfying, really good for guys!

Buffalo Wings
Pic from their website as i forgot to take this: http://www.blueurbanoasis.com

Jasper treated us with extra food such as Buffalo wings and Homemade brownie with Ice cream. The Buffalo wings is amazingly yummy, full of taste from the mix of spices and does perfectly well as a finger food (craving for this) while the homemade brownie w ice cream is Nopp's favourite, he keeps harping about wanting to eat it again.

And i really hope we have time to dine at the cafe/restaurant again next week before Jasper leaves for his new job. :)

xoxo, principessa

Work and post-illness cravings~

I think i'm nearly okay, should be able to go to school tomorrow and resume my normal activities! Yay! I don't feel weak at all, the only thing that is bothering me are my mouth ulcers, those dreadful things! But they should recover soon. :)

A huge THANK YOU for everyones' prayer for me, my sis and my boyfriend. I think a huge portion of my church knows about it and is praying for us, that is really really sweet :D

There's sooo many things i need to do, i've just so many things in my life to do to complete to fulfill. I don't hate doing things, i don't really hate assignments or work because they give our life a sense of purpose, what's a better feeling to have than accomplishing a deadline on time with the best work you've tried to give?

List of pending school stuff
- Environment Mid Term Test Makeup - Essay (Monday or Tuesday)
- New Media Mid Term Test Makeup - Essay (Monday)
- Secondlife Project Research (Monday meeting)
- Geopolitics Class Response Paper
- E-commerce Mid Term Test (18 March)
- Tourism Personal Assignment
- Geopolitics Group Film Analysis
- Environment Sustainability Personal Assignment
- Secondlife Group Project

Some Random Things to do
- Buy a satin eye mask
- Open UOB Campus Account

There's a small list of necessity shopping to do to prepare for Work and Travel, and since being cooped at home i've been craving for some yummy food.... a lot of yummy food in fact. Even a Macdonald delivery advertisement entice me, and that nice looking new BK Fish Burger...

But now, i got to study for tests and research for my papers or i'll be slaughtered with tons of last minute work.

xoxo, principessa :)

HFM disease!

Am i just super unlucky or what? After being sick for 2 weeks with that hacking cough, i'm now infected with a new virus. The Hand Foot Mouth disease that is supposed to infect mostly children! But with the immunity of a child after 2 weeks of cough, it's no surprise i'm their newest target. But how did i get infected? :(

As of now, my third day into this terrible infectious disease that locks me behind the bars of my HDB door, my sister and my bf have caught it too. My bf probably caught it from me, and my sister is probably the culprit cos she's a child care teacher. Ugly hands and feet full of sores or blisters, eewky.

So i end up missing the New Media midterm test (makeup test is super hard i heard, one long essay), my tourism presentation which i spent days to prepare (and am worried my group members are not so prepared), and hopefully not my environment sustainability mid term on thursday. Hopefully, i recover by then. I hate to be kept indoors and immobile, i like to go wherever I like and be on the go usually.

On a more cheerful note, since i am stuck to my computer or bed, i have lots of time to surf the net and found a few outfits from topshop that i will loveeeeeee to get. (if i can afford it, rare chance though since i ought to save for my New York/San Francisco/Los Angeles and Myrtle Beach trip)

Some outfits that i may actually consider wearing if i grow half a leg taller and an inch skinner... Just kidding, but if i can afford it i may try but wear it a little more subtly.

I love the Yellow Bonjour tee! I want it i want it.
I actually have a similar checked straight cut mini skirt like this, from the bargain bin at $3.50 each, kay if i go too bored i may actually try to pair it with my tees in this way and see if i dare to wear to school, lol.



I simply love the Kitty Tee and the Printed skirt combo, topped off with a loud sling bag.
Cute but i won't do the shades, they probably won't look to nice on me.

But this will be my ultimate favourite look :D


A little too Agyness Deyn for me, i don't like the bad girl tomboy look, i won't wear this but i (heart) the skirt


Other stuff that i really like and hope to rip off the shelves of Topshop if i can :)




Cute, love the little frilly detail. Let's anchor away!




This skirt is perfect with a snug basic top, or roughen up with a tee from the men's rack, i've been thinking of stealing the XS clothes from River Island men for a while... they fit me pretty well actually but :*( too ex.



If this costs less than $30, i'll definitely snag one. I love the tiered detail that breaks away from normal racer tops




Needless to say, this trench coat from Topshop is so ultimately me!
Classic style on top but the bottom is skirt-ish and i especially love the bow at the back.

I like anything with ribbons. :D

Such as this little cookie


with the strawberry toy i bought her
(she loves it cos it makes a soft squeaky sound and is so soft to bite)

I like things with wings too (just not on me unless its Halloween)


sniffing around the bed, she just likes to sniff or run


Clearer picture of her. Oh, and she wears a doggy size 2 - 4


It's so hard to grab her and catch a still picture because she's always very active..

Hope i recover soon

xoxo, principessa :)

NUS crane accident on Friday 22nd Feb 08

(Straits Times Online)

"Seconds before his 72-tonne crane toppled, he shouted a warning to fellow workers at the worksite below his perch. It bought them precious moments to run helter-skelter for safety at the worksite in the National University of Singapore (NUS) campus.

Then, even as the 60m-high tower crane tipped over, Mr Homsen, 46, swung the boom away from the nearest building, the NUS Business School.

The crane plunged to the ground. Trapped in his cabin, he died from multiple injuries to his body.

Witnesses said that as the crane fell, it hit a tree and very narrowly missed the bus stop near the NUS Business School.

Separately, Mr V. Ravindran, 43, the elder brother of Mr Thinatharan, also voiced his disquiet.

'What if the crane had fallen onto the university bus stop?' he said."

dear God, thank you for giving wisdom and the quickness of mind to the heroic crane operator, Mr Homsen before his 60 metre tall crane came crashing onto the floor, narrowly missing the NUS business bus stop or the NUS business building where many students are. Tens and Hundreds more people could have died if Mr Homsen did not swing the heavy boom of the crane away in the few seconds where he sat in his driver seat, watching and falling with it. More people could have died if he didn't shout and asked workers out of the way from below the crane in that few spilt seconds when he felt himself falling, knowing he'll die in a matter of time.

dear God, thank you for holding me back and not catching the earlier bus to business school for my project meeting. Because if i had been there a few minutes earlier and seating at the tables where the construction site is directly beside and the crane fell, i could have died too.

Thank you for protecting me all the time and my fellow school mates and others at the construction site. I do hope Mr Homsen believes in you and his soul is safe now in heaven.

All honor and glory be to God, and in Jesus Christ name I pray, Amen.

Vivitar Slim and Wide Photos

Finally developed the pictures from the Vivitar camera after sooo sooo long. Since December.

Vivitar Plus Points
- Well developed flares when you shoot at the sun
- Good contrast in colours
- Vignetting at the side creates a more 3D feeling, especially when shot towards the sky
- Lomo effect because of the lens curvature
- Cheap camera (bought for S$17 with shipping)
- Fun if you can places to shoot at, surprise when you see the picture
- Point and shoot, super easy to use

Vivitar Minus Points
- Grainy pictures that is not very sharp or clear
- Expensive to develop (approx $3.50 - 6 for 36 film, developing costs $8 + into a CD)
- Cannot view pictures until they are developed
- Need daylight and outdoor to work or else pictures are crap
- Don't shake the camera
- Wide lenses means you don't know when your finger gets in the way

Some pictures taken by Vivitar Slim and Wide on Flicker

Notice the flare effect from the sun, fabulous effect


Another flare effect, sun from above lights up the whole tree


Contrast colors, vignetting at the sides

Some pictures taken by Vivitar Slim and Wide by me! :D

Taken in Singapore (click for bigger size)

Ignore the finger because the lens are so wide, hard to gauge. With the naughty but sweet Cookie


One of the few first test shots, nice flare. My bf's garden lotus


At House, Dempsey having a pot of tea and dessert with the girls


Taken in Thailand, Chiang Rai mostly during my mission trip

Sunset

At the break of dawn, too little light but i thought this misty effect can be quite nice.


At an Akha village, notice the cracked ground


Same village, if you remember i took this with my digicam too. Contrast here is not too great and the picture is cropped cos my brother fingers got in. I didn't shoot this although i was beside my brother, there's this nasty looking rooster threatening to flap at me


Same village, notice the nice flare surrounding the small family


No more cracked grounds, at the top of the hill of the Akha village, there are actually beautiful flowers


A morning walk out of the inn/hotel and this is what we see, town life in the rural mountain




Same town, a 'Mini' shop renting mini motors. Took this because of the dog.


A church at Huang Shi Mu with an Akha or Karen tribe kid


Same place, another child. Woman behind is from Karen tribe i think, their signature checkered headcloth


My favourite picture, regret not having taken more with the Vivitar. Compared to the ones i took with my digi-cam, i prefer the contrast and the vignetting here that makes everything 'come alive'


Singing orphans at a school/orphange open by Christians


Love the flare, self taken picture

:D in Chiangmai province

xoxo, principessa

15th day of CNY and i've been coughing like a hag

It's true, i am coughing like a hag. :( Like a poor old frail lady coughing her lungs out. I hate this illness whatever it is that have invaded me a day after Valentine's day. It started from the fever and the faint feeling of weakness, and mushroomed to something bigger - terrible sore throat so i can't speak for days, then coughs and coughs. Dry, irritating, sickening coughs that attacks even when i sleep, can't even sleep properly or breathe normally because there is always this tendancy to cough. And it's energy sapping, coughs that don't stop. :(

Am i getting some airway disease? Whatever this is, i am angry with the virus! It has been a week and i'm far from recovering, even the cough syrup is dwindling.

Anyway, it is the 15th day of CNY and i went to my uncle's place for popiah and yusheng party. 4 plates of yusheng, with 2 being a really special type with fruits and duck. My little nephew Issac is really cute today because he is in familiar territory, his grandparent's house where he has lots of toys. I saw him brushing his teeth with this edible toothpaste that needs no rinse, how cute and small and soft toddlers are! He is 13 months. :D

My bf is really good with kids, they seem to like him more. Its his first time meeting him!


Brushing his teeth, haha, so cute.
The green round thing is to stop the brush from going too deep in that may choke him.


Shiny eyed

I was reading the papers "SM Goh to West: Don't fear Asians resurgence" and i have profound respect for him. My growing up years are spent when he was the PM, and somehow, the words he says, his actions and plans and policies all makes me respect him. He's really wise with extensive knowledge, and i attribute it partly to his Geography background! We geographers think deeply and critically about issues, we deal with complexity and someone in his position, politicians and policy makers should preferbly have a social science background, or even if they don't, go under some social science course because it really helps us figure out the big picture and small picture.

True and very well said. Asia is emerging as a strong power both economically and politically, we have made our presence. We are important and its time the West recognize that Asians are not lower in status, all humans regardless of race and nationality are important. The West shouldn't live in their colonial mindset times, why should they continue to dominate the UN, IMF or World Bank over all these years when the world have changed? Reluctance to change the status quo.

It'll do everyone good if Asian representatives are in the councils because Asia have so much of the world population but proportionately little say, we Asians want to help too. Do you know that some researchers have already been saying that China has already overtaken the US as the world's largest carbon emitter? Since Asia contributes largely to the problem, we need a voice. If it's always the Western powers discussing and implementing suggestions without consulting our viewpoints, is it fair?

I do hope that increasingly, we will be seen as partners. We want to help too. The people of the world needs to unite to fight global problems. =)

Singapore Flyer Opening Day

Londoners have the London Eye

The cool temperate weather combined with these winter-ed trees, makes the experience so romantic!

And Singaporeans like us, have our modern futuristic ambitious Singapore Flyer.
If we want to have it, we must be number one, that's our country's motto. Highest, tallest, biggest 'ferris wheel'.

Do you know? All the carriages/capsules are fully air-conditioned and UV protected.

I wonder if I can skip the sunblock if I'm inside, ahaha. But I won't even go there in the day, i prefer the night view. I love the city at night. There's a certain romance in the air, i don't know but i've always felt this way. I'm fascinated, even the air smells different. Or maybe i just like the bright lights of the city, it's like a gigantic Christmas tree. I wish i can go out more often at night, i think i'll love the whole lounge idea, sipping a cocktail in a jazz bar and chatting cosily with friends. Oh, i hate clubs though. Noisy booze bars, too crowded for my liking.

A poor version of the picture i took of the Flyer with my 2 mega pixel phone :)

I think, i will prefer the London Eye more. As for our Singapore Flyer, only time will tell, and maybe if i've been on both i can give a real verdict.

Anyway, on the opening day 2 days ago, i met up with a very old friend :) Someone i got to know when i was only 12, during the icq, irc chatting days. And amazingly, someone i kept in touch with for so long even though at that time, we're only virtual friends. You know, i don't even keep in touch with people i used to like, be really close to or even ex-bfs? I don't talk to them anymore except Sebastian (my twin, we only speak to each other at random times because he is so busy with his own life and engin club and hall and whatever) and him (my online kor, 2 years older than me).

Thinking back, i think i really have a very happening online life. Happening because i used to spend immense amounts of hours chatting, making friends who i don't meet unless i trust them (after talking to them for years that is). It's really funny actually, how i grew up having virtual 'boyfriends' whom i've never met, and falling in 'love' for the first time when i was 13 with this brilliant guy from Chinese High gifted education program. And after him, many more brilliant guys from famous schools, mostly from RI or Chinese High. All whom i've never met except Calvin and Hock Boon. Calvin is my first real boyfriend when i was 15, we exchanged many letters (hand written ones) and smses though we only meet about once a month?

ANYWAY, i digress too much. I met up with online kor whom i know since i was 12, and we spent a large portion of the day together. It's actually quite fun, there's so many things to do. :)

Went to the gym, to the photo place where i'm supposed to develop my Vivitar camera shots at Sunset way (but it was closed :( for CNY), took the bus to Pan Pacific for the gym, ate apples (now i must look out for hotel gym apples! they're nice), chatted about hotels and many more stuff, ate dinner at Genki (his treat), starbucks skinny latte (i'm so going to order skinny drinks next time :) while he showed me so many of his europe photos... He've been to so many European countries it's craziness, Italy, UK, Switzerland, France, Austria, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Sweden(?), Russia and so on.. :)

I love the pictures he took, especially of this palace in St Petersburg in Russia that is designed by the same architect designing the Versailles Palace in France. All the pictures below are taken by him.

I love the white on yellow color scheme, but the roof is too elaborate for me. The windows are my favourite.


Fountains and fountains of water everywhere at the palace grounds.


How excessively rich can all these aristocrats be? Gold framed windows, gold everywhere but it's so beautiful! I can imagine huge balls and ladies in feathered hats and ballroom dresses.


Ohhhh, i'm also inspired to decorate a room in my house in French renaissance style like this

After the pictures at Starbucks, we went to peek at the Singapore Flyer on its opening night, walked through the Ritz Carlton (my first time) and from the main reception area, there's this beautifully framed view of the Singapore Flyer, it's gorgeous!!!

I'm really glad we kept in touch, he's a really special person to me because we kind of grew up together, and he's always there for me. (: He got me some lovely black n white postcards of Paris (i love the vintage-y feel of black and white pictures), and Blaise Mautin Parfumers Toiletries from the hotel he stayed at in Paris, and a yummy box of swiss made mini pralines chocolates from Lindt!

I think i'm really lucky to have people who cares for me. Including my sweet boyfriend of course! :D

xoxo, principessa