I think I hurt my thigh during last week bball game and it have not recovered till now so the bball game just now sux in a sense I kept missing my shot. I didn't play quite well, my thigh is now hurting, my right knee is a little wobbly and walking the stairs is a torture.
And when I was going home after supper I accidentally scrapped by little toe across the concrete pavement and now it's bleeding with 2 small holes visible on it. I think the skin got tore off and perhaps some teeny weeny piece of meat as well.
I applied iodine lotion on it and hope it don't stain my bed sheet tonight.
What a #$@!!$ Day!
Today it's FRIDAY!
therefore it's Basketball day!
I'm now watching NBA Game 5 series between LA Lakers vs San Antonio Spurs
Even though they just finish the 3rd quarter and my heart is with SA Spurs, I think Lakers will win it. Spurs look physically and mentally tired and Lakers just look more and more dangerous with Kobe Bryant. In short, Lakers have more hunger to win than Spurs.
But it's alright. Spurs have won the Championship 2 times in a row. Like other great team and organization, they just need to get back to their drawing board and start planning all over again, retaining the core of the team.
I think Tim Duncan is really a model professional. He seldom show much expression in the game, just go about doing his job quietly and effective, unlike Chelsea - Dogbra. I think I spell his name wrongly but I don't really want to find out.
Duncan with an enormous dunk!
Sometimes its amazing how lyricist can weave long string of words into meaningful lyrics and let it stay in your head over and over again every time you heard the song.
The movie Music and Lyrics might come into mind..with the song 'Way back into Love'
I've been watching but the stars refuse to shine,
I've been searching but i just don't see the signs,
I know that it's out there,
There's got to be something for my soul somewhere
this is the English version but me being a hua yu pai...I rather Chinese lyrics over the English version anytime.
我不难过-
孙燕姿我真的懂 你不是喜新厌旧
是我 没有
陪在你身边当你寂寞时候
我不难过 这不算什么
只是为什么眼泪会流我也不懂
就让我走 让我开始享受自由
不要再说 或许这是最好的结果
现在分手 总好过你不爱我一拖再拖
松开你的手 离开你左右
我向前走 这会是我真正的解脱
我怀念的- -
孙燕姿
我怀念的 是无话不说
我怀念的 是一起作梦
我怀念的 是争吵以后
还是想要爱你的冲动
我怀念的 是无言感动
我怀念的 是绝对炙热
我怀念的 是你很激动求我原谅
抱著我的痛
谁爱的太脆弱
谁过头爱了
谁要走我的心
谁忘了那就是承诺
谁自古自里走
谁忘了看着我
谁让爱变执着
谁忘了要给你温柔
还是想要爱你的冲动
我记得那年生日
也记得那一首歌
记得那片星空
最近的右手
最暖的胸口
Although I'm not in a relationship crisis or anything like that, I think anyone would feel comfortable just listening to it.
My fren came back from aussie to attend her fren wedding and I went to her house last nite for dinner. It's nice to see her and her family once again after 1 long year. Nevertheless, I still don't understand where she always crack up with laughter whenever she talk with me. Perhaps I am always that humourous to her Hahaha.
Anyway she brought back
and taught me new method of eating them. I remembered I ate a couple of Tim Tam while in Aussie so now for the next few days this shall gonna be my night snack!
I knew I wanted to type something before the last post. But I forgot.
So it took me sometime to remember what I want to type exactly.
On Friday night, I was for my secondary school gathering. Attendance was alright but basically those who showed up are those regulars who always do. Nevertheless, credits must still go to Brenda for contacting and Ah Hui for coordinating the entire event.
However, some feedback, next time can budget abit? Haha..student haven earn money yet still very poor. Perhaps can give student discount and help pay for the rest? Hahaa
On Sat, I spent my afternoon at Yishun playing bball with my NTU mates. On Sat night, I spent my time playing bball with my bball mates right below my house.
I liked playing bball on the weekend, the adrenaline, the rush, the sweat, the tiredness all combined into one. But what I don't like is those woverline who don't cut their nails so the underhand of my hand always bled because the skin got scratched off by those sharp nails while playing defence. Then its another week of healing before it all happened again for the same reason.
Recently I'm involved in 1 project and it's not going on quite smoothly. In fact we met up with a lot of issues which don't seem to have any solutions to it. Sometimes self doubts crept it whether we can carried it off. But somehow I don't bear to see the project go to waste. Perhaps its about having a head and ending off with the tail. Perhaps I just want to put in my best effort which I have not do so yet. Perhaps I just want to do my part to help those needy. Or perhaps I'm just plain selfish to want this project to be complete so that it can boost my resume. Whatever the reason, I hope there shall be progress by the end of this week.
Meanwhile, my good fren, the one whom a group of my frens flew to Aussie to attend her wedding in back in SG and we are meeting up tomorrow. What a wonderful reunion again Hahaha. Perhaps I can even see a few fireworks again between the warring party...Hahaha
some interesting articles seen on the newspaper.
'Grandpa Wen' brings cheers to the people.
Grandpa Wen over here refers to Chinese Premiere Wen Jiabao. The article describe the Premiere action, his sincerity and personal touch right after the China Earthquake.
I think if you have been reading the newspaper recently about the earthquake you should have already seen this statement of Premier Wen hollering to a child trapped under the rubbles: " This is Grandpa Wen, hang on child, we will rescue you!"
It also mentioned Premier Wen yelling at mission commanders who were delayed due to heavy rain: "you know who are paying your salaries, you better know what to do now"
It further on describe that a lot of Chinese have been overwhelmed by Mr Wen and his sincerity, honesty and humility.
In some way I felt that Our prime minister also practice the same PR skill as Mr Wen. But both of them are good and sound leaders so it's our blessing and Singapore Blessing that a good, uncorrupted, sound govt is running Singapore. Of course, nothing is perfect but if you want a idea of a bad govt, just turn your head to our neighboring ASEAN country that have encountered similar natural disaster to determine whether are we indeed lucky to be born in Singapore.
In case you have not hear of the URA master plan for Singapore, they are trying to turn Singapore into 24hrs operating timing which will then truly mark Singapore as a cosmopolitan city. So this is one of the feedback received in response to "Cranking up the night-time buzz"
"Who would want to?"
Dr Lim Boon Hee, on Thursday report, "Cranking up the night-time buzz": who would want to visit a museum at midnight or dance at a street party when there is no transport to fetch them home? ( Valid point ) Call a Cab? Charges are too hefty. (Very true) Most people are also drained by 10-12 hour workdays, helping with their children's homework, housework, and catching up with the news...The night buzz is a luxury we cannot afford. It is largely for those who do not need to work and have lots of money but nowhere to spend it. ( Hahaha very humorous but strong point to hit home to the authorities) I think indeed the authorities are eyeing on those tourists, PMEBs, DINKs with huge wallets to do all these stuffs. It remain unclear whether they can succeed. Taiwan itself is a 24hrs city but their own population are already accustomed to staying up real late anyway. What I do know is I valued my sleep so I am not so bo liao to go visit a bookstore at 3am in the morning when I can lie on my bed to sleep instead..hahaha.
Recently the fuel prices kept rocketing to incredible prices.I remembered when I did my marketing project this semester one of the primary concern for companies is the ever-escalating cost of fuel oil.On the day of our presentation, fuel oil hit a record high of $121 per barrel and look at the price of fuel oil today - $135. In a short span of 3 months, oil prices kept increasing and Indonesia is reducing its oil subsidies for its citizen at yesterday midnight. Students riot have already occurred and it's chilling to note that the last time oil subsidies were reduced it brought the downfall of former president Suharto and the mass rioting, looting and raping of Chinese girls. Times are different now. The economy is not as bad as the last decade, the govt seem relatively more stable than the previous regime but it could still be a catalyst for further problems. The Indonesian Govt is following the Singapore method of allocating funds to help the needy to fight inflations and the fuel price by giving something like NSS shares. It remain unclear whether the money can indeed reach out to the needy.
Alrite...That's all for the news article.
Sick, Headache, Dying.
Somehow I think the ba chor mee uncle add to much vinegar to trigger my illness..because this morning when I vomitted everything out the vinegar smell is very strong.
Luckily quiz is still fine.
At the end of the day, it's worth the effort to stay up late to catch the Champion League Final.
UCL 07/08 Champion -Manchester United
Just looking at this image make me feel 0.01% better already!
Sentosa
My working partner Jeremy
Miss Dawn Yeo
Miss Jessica Liu!
Joanne Peh was there as well but she was filming. I had the good fortune to see her up close when she ran past my front during a shot. She seem to have become prettier. More feminine.
End of Day.
Very cute errrr...'Friends' Right...Teacher Jassie? Hahaha
She's gonna kill me for this. I know. I just know it.
But I doubt she can catch up with me anyway hahaha
following marcus blog about his 'there', perhaps I might want to introduce to everyone 'my there' as well.
Perhaps I shall go according to the Singapore education system and slowly explain 'my there' to everyone.
My there when I was in primary school was to score well in PSLE to get myself into Bukit Panjang Govt High School. It was the best school in the West ( CCK, Bukit Batok, Bukit Gombak Area) but I could not meet the cut off point of 245. I got only 228 for PSLE. Even though Kranji Secondary School was just 1 min away from my house, it was still relatively new. Hence, I select Dunearn Secondary School instead as 1 of my basketball buddy was studying there. Sadly, I think Kranji Sec School ranking have long surpassed Dunearn long time ago but nevertheless I think I still made a bunch of great friends at Dunearn.
When I was in sec1, my there was to get into the best class in sec 2. I did it eventually but somehow something went wrong. My maths ability deteriorated and I got separated from my usual gang of friends when I was posted to Sec 3e2 instead of 3e1 which is a pure science class. I appealed and got into 3e1. However, thinking back, I think a combined science or a pure science class actually make little difference. If I got a choice again I rather take combined science because it's such a waste of time tackling the stupid biology.
When I was in 3e1, my maths again fared quite badly, especially A Maths. I guessed I'm a late developer. I was almost forced to drop A maths but luckily I don't know why I got thru sec 3 into sec 4. Suddenly the brain begun to click and function well. My chemistry and maths improved tremendously even though I decided to self study and stop tuition for A math.
My there when I was in Sec 4 was to aim for an opening in SAJC because of the basketball culture over there. However I got 19 pts for prelim and could only opt for PJC for my 3 months course.
The 3 months was relatively frustrating. While others slacked and relaxed during the 3 months, I was actually hard at work with my chemistry, maths and econs. I liked econs, hated chinese and wondered whether should I continued taking the JC route. When the O Level result came out, I got 14 points which made me eligible for JC education.
It is necessary to mention at this point that throughout my secondary school I have maintained a close bond with my guy friends. We practically did everything together that I believed other classes labeled us as anti-social. Hahaha So I don't where I got the leopard courage to actually decide I'm not gonna take the JC route and opt instead for the Poly route. I was the minority in the class that took the poly route but I guessed it worked out really well for me in the end.
When I went into poly, I think I didn't set any 'My there' for myself. I just did my work diligently, attended classes, do my tutorials and did extremely well for my 1st year. I got into Dean List which spur me on to do better during my 2nd year. Together with my bunch of 'Class 24' , we worked hard, played really hard and formed another close bond which is in its 7th years right now.I got into the Dean list again for my 2nd year so I decided to set 'My there' for a Cert of Merit for the top 5% of the cohort. Unfortunately, I lost my motivation during my 3rd year. I started to question myself whether would I want to pursue a career in the IT industry. I think I already have the answer closed to my heart but since it's the final year I might as well give my best effort. Unfortunately, I didn't get that many distinctions during my final year and miss out on the Cert of Merit. Nevertheless, I got accepted into NTU for my ill-fated foray into the world of Electrical Electronic Engineering.
I didn't have any "my there' during my army days. I just did what I am supposed to do. I think I did alrite for my roles and responsibilities. At least I believed my men saw me as an impartial sergeant who look out for their welfare whenever possible.
When I was in NTU for my EEE education, I didn't have 'my there' set at all. The 1st semester was a real struggle. Everyday was a struggle and I don't like it at all. I just refused to admit that I am going to spend my 3 years of tertiary education mugging away like no tomorrow and missed out on everything. I couldn't cope really well with circuits and diodes ( darn I can still remember those terms!) but I still love dearly my maths and signals and systems. Somehow against all odds I got an 'A' for my physics because I 'copied' and got full marks for my mid term hahaha. In the end the 'A' grade became really useful when I came back the 2nd time as a business student.
When I left NTU after my 1st term, 'My there' was to get myself into NBS. I think fate played a part because the school ruling changed and allow diploma students to freely apply for any courses that they liked, instead of restricting them to their particular course of study in Poly. I am quitely confident I can get an interview because of my strong academic grades in poly. Again I guessed fate play a part. I got myself a job as a technical support officer at Starhub so my communication skills improved tremendously. Therefore, I think I managed to convince the 2 professors who were interviewing me for 20 mins to give me a chance to come back again to NTU for a business education.
So here I am..finishing my year 1, proceeding next to year 2. I think the next 'my there' would be to aim for an 2nd upper degree as well as participating in many fulfilling and enriching events that can complete my tertiary education. It might do me no harm as well to include finding my 'miss right' inside 'my there' list before I graduate as well. Hahaha
So this is 'my there' story. What about yours?
KNN, after typing so much, I think 'my there' actually sound pretty ugly. Therefore, next time markie if you want to try another attempt something like this, please find something that sound nicer. Thanks.
Recently I saw a couple of news in the media that caught my attention.
As everyone might know, it is now the acceptance of the universities offers for those A level and dip holders who are pursuing higher education.Therefore as always the case, there are always complaints, feedbacks appearing in the newspaper written by parents stating that their sons/daughters could not get in blah blah blah...
So in our case, this parent is writing in to state that universities should inform those students who are graduating from O level on their choice of education, whether to go polytechnic or junior college, if the universities are going to increase the intake of polytechnic students and thus depriving the A Level student a seat in the universities. He also mentioned that polytechnics should try to tie up with overseas universities for diploma holder to further their studies so that more seats can be allocated to A Level student.
Being polytechnic educated, I find this very ridiculous. To suggest that poly students should rather pursue a degree from oversea institution whether by distance learning or directly overseas simply irks of protectionism. No one owe your child anything. If he/she is good, he/she will be able to get into Universities anyway.However, getting to your choice of course is another issue again which I will go into later. Suppose if the parent suggestion go through, is he going to write in 3-4 years down the road again to the newspaper and remarked my son/daughter is currently jobless because Singapore PR are taking away his/her job so may he suggest that Singapore PR should go overseas to work instead so that his son/daughter will have a job in Singapore?
perhaps the parent did not understand 'Globalisation'. His son/daughter is not merely fighting a place in the universities with polytechnic students. His son/daughter is also competing with foreigners who are on scholarships to study in the local universities. It is a totally different ballgame.If I were him, I will not waste time to pen down this ridiculous letter but instead sit down with my son/daughter, plan out the possible route and select the most optimal plan to ensure the best education path.
And anyway, the polytechnic themselves have already been sourcing foreign universities to allow poly students with excellent grade to go direct into 2nd year .
Next, it seems that most of the students applying this year have opt for business/acct/econnomics for their 1st choice.
http://news.asiaone.com/News/Education/Story/A1Story20080517-65670.htmlThe writer enquired majority of the student why did they do so and many of them stated that pursuing a business degree allow them to work in the bank, earn super high salaries of 7-10K per month and support their desired lifestyle. Upon reading that, I shook my head in disbelief. Earning 7-10K in bank is possible but they are only the minority. There is a misconception that working in the bank mean mixing around with rich clients and earning big bucks. That only applies to investment bankers and even so they need at least 5-6 years of experience before they can reach that level. Otherwise fresh grad entry are the ones who is staring at the computer screen working long hours crunching numbers while earning 3-4K per month.
But these students should not be blamed. They received their information from the media. Nowadays, it is not uncommon for universities to release their employment figures and their grossly inflated figures from graduates working for 1 year. What the students can only do is to read up more and find out more details about their future ambition to prevent them from building up unrealistic expectations and dreams which can so easily be crushed by the harsh fact of reality.
However, sometimes I do wonder, what exactly are our youth in Singapore thinking nowadays?
Pictures Time
Ice Wine in Real block of Ice
Diageo Intl - Giant Alcohol Conglomerate
Shu Qi for Kenzo
Moschino
My Booth
Office for business meeting
Booth directly opposite- Smoking Lounge
Gucci
Bottles of Hard Liquors
Mango
Absolut Mango! New Flavor From Absolut Vodka
but I think it's only available in Duty Free Stores inside the Airport
That's all.
Day 3 of the trade fair.
Today is a relatively easy day because most of the meetings were concluded yesterday. There is this new guy who is a last minute replacement and he was attached to my station for today..which is not exactly a bad thing because at least someone is able to chit chat with me. He had finished his dip and currently waiting for national service. Through the conversation, I find that he is a little bit naive, a little bit immature, a little bit lost for direction what he want to be in future and wondered to myself am I the same as he is when I was around his age.
I'm not quite sure as well but tried to advise him on some of the issues he raises throughout the conversations I had with him for the entire day. Otherwise, he is quite a nice person to converse with to pass time.
Somehow I felt that the trade show is an excellent opportunity to widen contacts and discuss business opportunities and collaborations. Of course, for some reasons or others, I felt that the exhibitors are also having fun as well, judging by how they kept visiting the smoking lounge every half hour for cigar and cigarettes , how they keep cheering glasses of whiskey, ice wine, beers, luxury chocolates. I tasted some of the chocalates brands which I have never heard before and I must say, it's taste really good. Luxury chocolates have taken a new meaning and level, not just godiva or royce but much higher standard than that.Mango, the clothes retails shop even set up a booth as well and I am eying on their straw carrier bag which look very nice but they only give it to trade show buyers.
My sups at the booth were all French and they are nice people. They left us to our jobs and trust us. Sometimes I will chat along with them when they are less busy. All of them are based in France and they'll be flying back once the trade show is over. Btw, 1 of my sup is very very handsome. His eyes can speak a thousand words. Unfortunately, he also has the tendency to speak to himself sometimes.
1 of the things that never failed to amaze me is the lightning speed of the trade show magazine that never failed to be deliver to us early in the morning highlighting the previous day activities.
I guessed as I was typing this the Swing Party held at Shangri-La Hotel should be over and Viola, I am willing to bet my entire fortune that this event will appear in tomorrow morning Issue 4 of the trade magazine. I don't know what logistics they use but to compound all the photos, the reports and sent to the editors for editing, follow by the printing press to print throughout the night and delivered right on time the next day morning simply speak of EFFICIENCY!
That's all for the updates today. Tomorrow is the last day. I'm darn tired. Time to hit the bed.
I went to the zoo recently.
I'm not quite too sure when did I went..2 weeks ago perhaps?
Singapore Zoo at Mandai
Anyway I went to the zoo because I saw a television program on the Singapore Zoo and the program is really interesting so I decided I must go and see for myself. In the end I went together with 3 of my friends but we didn't have a group photo taken. I think everyone was tire by the hot weather and walking
Me, Jos
Marcus and his friend in another pic.
tall tall giraffe. Do they know how to play bball?
I think the zoo is still pretty much the same since I last went during my secondary school days. Somehow I dunno why but it seems the zoo I visited in Australia seems to be better. But I still like the polar bear show. Inuka is handsome. He should be the next singapore zoo icon!
We didn't take a lot of photographs. But I remembered 1 incident that seem quite amazing to me. There was this huge male orang utan that was lying down on its enclosure feeding on the leaves. We were only seperate by the clear glass wall. I placed both of my palms on the glass wall and the orang utan got up from its sleeping position, walked across and settled down beside the glass wall where I'm standing but at the opposite side. I was stunned by its action.It just sit there, perhaps waiting to be pat but it's impossible for me to pat it so after a while it got bored and shift to another position to settle down again.
And that was the time when I felt the orang utans have human instincts indeeds.
I started my work at suntec convention hall on Monday.
Yesterday was relatively slack for they have conferences the entire day. I figured I spent at least 8 hours listening to lectures and helping with the Q&A. And for a moment I thought I might have the best job in the world, to get paid to listen to lectures that peoples have to pay $400 to listen to and earning $$ at the same time. Some of the lectures are really interesting relating to marketing and Asian perspective so I really enjoyed it.
Today I got assigned to be the coffee boy at the meeting lounge. Again it's an easy job but I have to stand for pretty long hours. Still, it's an eye opening experiences to see those brands whom I didnt even know it exist. Tomorrow I shall try to see if I can get some exotic samples from them!
I saw this post in time.com
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1739053,00.htmlTitled: Is it Time to Invade Burma?
This post is quite scary. The writer is suggesting that America should invade Burma to remove the Junta because they have failed to provide appropriate humanitarian effort for the Cyclone Nargis. I'm not saying the Junta is correct. In fact, I think they are a bunch of incompetent generals whose family lines are gonna be cursed for generations for bringing so much harm and hardship to the Burma people.
In a sense it also reflect the weak position of Asean. Singapore is the head of Asean this term and so far it's unable to do anything at all to make Burma accept help from foreign aid. It's the big big organisation/countries..UN WFP, USA, China etc that is doing the urging instead.
But back to the article, the writer is suggesting this is the best time to invade Burma..WTF!!! Iraq is still yet unsolved and the last thing we want to see in South East Asia is American+ other coalitions marching in to do another Iraq and then lay claims to the vast riches of mineral resources that Burma possessed. This is not the 19th century..where the theory, I come, I see and I conquered rule apply. Anyway, this is unlikely to happen as well with China and Russia behind the scene.
Meanwhile, I didn't know what events jobs I got myself into until I went for the briefing today. Apparently, it's quite a big and important event because the Suntec Convention Hall display the Very Very Big Banner announcing to everyone about the event.
The registration fee is not exactly that cheap either. It cost between $100 to $400 for a walk in visitor. Some of the talks seem quite interesting relating to marketing but I figured it is unlikely that I have the chance to sneak in to hear the speaker speak.
The girls to guys ratio is also very huge. It seemed that there are 5 girls to 1 guy. That is why, for some reason I'm unable to comprehend, why am I selected to follow one of the sup to work directly with her (all the sups are french btw) and not the rest of the ladies as my colleagues! This is very very sad. In fact, this is extremely sad. I thought I can expand my pool of 'ahem' ladies friend but now chances look quite slim.
On the hindsight, I think I'm the only one who is inside the exhibition hall so I can get to see all the luxurious goods on display or perhaps get a few samples along the way? Hahaha. I think my job scope should be rather easy..that is if nothing goes wrong.
Sometimes, you just cannot simply have the pie and eat it too. Darn!
Today is Mama Day.
Time came out with this '10 best and worst mom'
But I shall focus on the 10 best mom. Some of them are not exactly real figures. E.g the 1st candidate was Dumbo the elephant Mama, Marge Simpson of the Simpson's family, and The Queen Aliens, from 'Aliens' Movie WTH.
Some of the read is touching, some of it is hard warming while some of it is downright funny.
If you are interested, click on this link to find out more:
http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1738178_1737704_1737703,00.html
for those who read my blog previously, one would have known I like this book 'The Alchemist' By Paulo Coelho
Then I tried to read more books written by him. eg. The Witch of Portobello but it was way too profound for me to understand what is he writing about. Even my sister who studied mass comm couldn't understand what is he trying to say inside the book so..it's no my fault that I don't understand la...Haha.
So when my sis introduced this book to me before she left for taiwan: Like a flowing river by the same author again, I cast an eye of suspicion. I don't know whether it might be a hit or miss but being a good brother, I listened to my sister recommendation and opened the book to read for a few pages.
I think this book is GOOD. It is basically made up of many short individual stories so it's quite easy to read. Inside every or rather most of the story lies something for us to understand and learn. It's as if every story lie tiny bits of gold nuggets for you to explore, search for them and come off richer spiritually after reading the story.
Since I'm rushing for time now, I shall not say so much. If you have time to read, go to the library to borrow this book. I'm sure you will not disappointed. Just like me. I shall post a short story tomorrow night perhaps..to let you on a glimpse of wisdom by Paulo Coelho
I have been reading this book religiously for the past week
(Climbing the world's 14 highest peaks: No shortcuts to the top) by Ed Viesturs
I remembered when I was in secondary school when I came across a story in Reader Digest about mountaineering. I think the title was "Into Thin Air" by
Jon Krakauer 'Into Thin Air' is about a group of expert climbers who got stuck on Mount Everest when they reached the summit way too late and got caught in bad weather. 8 climbers were killed, and some of the climbers that lost their life on during the fateful year 1996 were legends in the mountaineering history in their own rights.
'No shortcuts to the top' is about Ed Viesturs personal quest to reach the summit of the 14 highest peak on the earth..which mean reaching the summit of mountains whose height are 8000 metres above sea level. Many died while trying to achieve this quest. As the author himself have mentioned earlier in the chapter, he is the only person among the group of hard core mountaineers who survive and live till today.
While reading the story, I remembered this guy from the movie Initial D who mentioned:
'God are also human, except they are able to perform feats that human are unable to achieve.'
I felt that all mountaineers are also god in their own rights. High up on the surface at 20000 feets, they have to make extra careful decision to ensure they not only reach the summit, but also get safety back alive to the base camp. Throughout the book, the author kept repeating his personal mantra: " Getting to the top is optional. Getting down is mandatory.". They live by their code of conduct on the mountains, extending a helping hand to whomever in need of help, to the extent of sacrificing their own personal aim to ensure others have the maximum chance of survival.
And it seems that every expedition they embarked are likely to be their last trip. The author also addressed this issues as he is married with family and kids. But like a car racer who require the need for speed to keep him sane regardless of the high amount of risks involve, they kept going back the mountains for more.
In short, they know someday the chances of dying in the mountains is almost a certain but it seem almost their destiny and fate have been intertwined with the mountains from the moment they start climbing.
There is this particular chapter that touched me. 2 of the author's best friends were among the victims that died on that fateful 1996 expedition. The author joined an expedition up on Mount Everest on 1997.
The thing on Mount Everest is that if someone died up there, it is virtually impossible to bring the corpses back down. The sherpas will not touch it because they are generally superstitious unless they are offer lots of money to bring it back down.Then again, it required herculean efforts just to do so. Hence, most of the bodies on mount everest will be either swept down the crevasses, buried by the snow or remain at the original position where they spent their last lonely moment at the highest peak on earth. And because it's so cold, the bodies don't decomposed but remained at their original state.
The author knew he is likely to come across the bodies of his best friends and he did. The wives of the deceased requested him to bring back something that belongs to their husbands so they can always remembered them but the author couldn't bear to do so and disturbed the bodies of his friends. He sat down beside the corpses,mourned for them and said his final goodbyes.
(Excerpts from the book)
I glanced around, then looked again at the body of my friend, frozen into the slope. I spoke out loud.'Hey Scott, I said, "How you doing?' Only the sound of the wind answered me.
'What happened, man?'
In short, I think this is a great book. Very nice, very motivating, very humane. These are among the few occupations of earth that push the human physical limit to the maximum. I got immense respect for these men. They got the heart of the lions. No jokes.
There is this YMCA Citibank Youth For Causes where students can suggest activities to help to reach money for their target beneficiary. Citibank will provide the seed money to help kick start the event that students proposed if their project is selected.
Today is the selection trial and my friend and I went down to YMCA to present our proposal to the judges.
We were told to come down at 1015am to present but due to overrun we end up in the classroom to pass away time. Strangely though, the classroom was filled up mostly with secondary school students so it's quite funny when they saw us 2 young adults wearing business attire sitting among them.
But while the rest of them were rehearsing their script or making some last minutes adjustment on their slides, I was reading the newspaper while my friend was studying for his jap test later in the afternoon.
Then suddenly came the shocker.
A magical pink human size rabbit appeared right among us!
I think the boys are from RI. I don't know why they need to bring a rabbit costume for their presentation but you have to give credit for their initiatives. Pity the boy in the rabbit costume though. He looked very bored and toyed with his hand phone all the time while he is in the rabbit costume.
1 of the judge for the selection trial was from Ministry of Finance. He have eyes so big that when he looked at you, you think it might just suddenly popped out. I think we managed to answer all his queries and having said so, I felt we have pretty high chance that our project is going to be accept but then again you never know.At least we tried.
My friend and I did not thought of taking part in this event but upon persuasion by 2 other lady friends who obviously are more compassionate than us, we just tagged along and form the team.The ironic thing is, the presentation was done by 2 reluctant fellows while the ladies were not there due to other commitments.
Nevertheless, we done our best. The rest is up to the judges to decide. Maybe this project can serve as an avenue to achieve more good karma as well.
