Self-exploration - re-reading my old posts

So now that I started to write again, I thought it is a good idea to read my old entries, just to see where I have been and how my throughts and writing style might have changed over the years. Afterall, we all change as we grow.

First thing I noted back in an article in 2004, is I have lived through dial-up Internet times. Yes. Wow. Especially when travelling around Asia.

Second thing is, a lot of my posts is about bitching at work. Politics, interesting events, etc. So yes, having a job is a major part of my life. I think it is true for most people. Perhaps that's why retiring for many people is not a simple affair.

Third thing is that I cannot remember many things. I remember some pieces of my childhood that are not significant in any way. As in, they are not terrible things or extremely happy moments. Just a random normal day. Haha. I also don't remember giving away my books to my friends before leaving Singapore, my first time using Australia's Medicare, and a few other things. 

Sometimes, it is usually these inconsequential things that we do, seems insignificant to us, but poeple who benefit from them would usually remember.

Contemplation

I am sitting on the balcony of a hotel in Port Stephens, staring into the ocean.

Once every few years or so, it seems I fall into this mood. Of wondering what I want to achieve and what my worries are and how to address them.

Today I am thinking how do I retire...
I am thinking of live and death.

And some nights I lay awake and wonder how I would die and how painful that would be and how frightened I would be.

I guess you can tell I am a "glass half full of poisonous water" type of guy.

Time for Check List ? Time for a comeback ?

I know, I know. This is not the first time I said I am making a come-back.

Coming back to the blogging world, I was reminded of my old friend KoP (Singapore Serf).
Oh how quickly time passes. And just a few days ago, my post received another comment from someone. I have always thought of making a comeback, that comment just jolted me into action. I hope this lasts.

We probably all reach some point in life where we are nostalgic and think of the past. All the various moments that we try to hold on to. I hope I am not hitting mid-life crisis.

Why do I want to come back ? I don't know. Maybe I felt my brain needs more stimulation. Maybe I need another writing avenue other than work emails and documents. Maybe I secretly yearn to be back in the limelight , albeit anonymously. I am not sure, and you will not know, but you are welcome to guess.

Check list ? Is that a work thing ? I don't know...
8 years in Australia now - check.
Have a job - check.
Have a home - check.
Enjoying life - check.
Having a beer while writing this - check.

Ok. We are go for a re launch.
Let's see how many people come back. :)

New Year - 2009

Yes, looking back at my blog, this post is obligatory.

I haven't been a person who writes resolutions, and I am worse at following them. So I will just probably review what I have and haven't done for 2008 and what I hope to achieve in 2009.

What I have done in 2008 :
- Uprooted myself and finally moved to Australia smoothly
- Got myself working in a job that I liked doing more and get appreciated
- Bought myself a new digital camera and a few toys
- Read a few novels

What I haven't done in 2008 :
- Continued my stock investment homework. Seems like I made a few mistakes again in buying shares without proper evaluation again and lost some money. Not huge, but enough to wipe out a couple of years of dividend payouts.
- Picked up more healthy activities like jogging or sports regularly
- Read more non-fiction and expand my general knowledge
- Blog more regularly about intellectual stuff
- Complete my Command & Conquer game series

What I hope to achieve in 2009 :
- Continue my investment with due diligence
- Pick up my golf again
- Add more healthy exercises into my routine
- Learn how to be a better cook

2009 will bring lots of opportunities for investments, if only I am prepared. I am not getting younger and I have to start exercising both my brains and my muscles. I think I shall just focus on these few things for the coming year. I hope the rest will fall in place soon after.

Anyway, I wish everyone all the best for 2009 as well !

My Name in Chinese

Haha...

Happen to try out google's translation service.

Take a look at this...

So Calamari For Thought is translated as 汽车工业的思考... Hahaha..

Oh but it has my name correct.

Name: Singapore Calamari
名称：新加坡鱿鱼

Appreciated

Just today, I was given a $50 shopping voucher by a salesperson that I was supporting quite a lot the last few months.

He didn't need to as I was just doing my job well and I don't see any reason that he had to suck up to me. Thus it is a geniune gesture of appreciation which I am grateful for.

Its nice to be appreciated.

3 Months and holding

Its been just over 3 months since I came over. Haven't been out to many social events. But still I guess I would like to comment on what I felt so far, and see how my opinion change over time.

(1) Work Culture

Most of the guys here are quite ok. I think its about the same most places. But most of the people leave on the dot. Except for some guys/gals who probably don't want to waste time in the traffic.


(2) Social Issues

Not much to talk about yet, as I wouldn't consider myself immersed into it at the moment. However, based on current affairs programs on TV and the news, recent events stand out :
- Rising cost of living,
- Rising costs of petrol (and the subsequent cut in petrol tax to help a little),
- Pensioners trying to cope with rising cost of rental and living,
- Rising property prices and mortgage rates,
- Putting paedophiles away in jail for life,
- Over-reaction to people taking photographs of children (worrying that the photos will be used by paedophiles)

And if any campaigns were to be used to gauge what is the latest issues, it would be :
- Speeding and Drink Driving
- Pedestrians not using proper railway crossings


(3) TV/Radio/IT

Internet here is not as cheap as Singapore, definitely. And they all have a monthly limit. Even those plans where I don't have to pay extra, anything over the limit most probably will be throttled.

I am probably not one for very heavy downloading. So far, I haven't been really able to exceed the 150GB per month that I have been allocated. Even the 40GB during peak hours (anytime except 3am to 9am) is just about fully utilised.

Free-to-air TV programs are about the same quality as in Singapore. Though it is all DVB and almost all channels have an HD counterpart.

All programs carry a rating warning, and more adult-themed ads and TV shows are late at night (like after 9pm).

TV and Radio programs have openly gay hosts and it is not the end of the world...


(4) Traffic

Peak hour traffic is bad on major roads. Probably not as bad as in Singapore. But comparing peak hour traffic at my previous workplace in Singapore and my current work place, it looks the same - faster to walk out of the business park.

Though Sydney is probably the most expensive in tolls compared to the rest of Australia.

And yeah, the roads are not as well maintained as Singapore roads during the IMF/World Bank Conference 2006.


(5) Neighbourhood

Very quiet. Probably if you visited the city and lived in hotels in the city, it would be more lively. But out in the suburbs, anytime of the day it is usually quiet. How quiet ?

On average, I meet 3 cars per week on my way in and out of my garage and the main service road outside my house.

On the average, I get to say 'hi' to ALL my neighbours (not just the next door) in the whole area once or twice every weekend.


(6) Finances

Interest rates are high, good for savings. Since income tax are withheld at source, don't really feel the pinch other than reading payslips. What I get in my bank is what I can spend.

It's probably too early to estimate yet, but probably I can achieve the same savings at the moment.

Total amount I spend on food is about the same, in real dollars, as I had spent in Singapore. Of course, I get to make my own food more, but I think I am eating a more healthy diet. More juice, milk and veges.

Oh, and I will probably be getting some amount back every year on tax rebates. Just have to pay a little more attention to these details.


(7) Medical

Can't say, as I haven't used any of the medical services yet. But I think I will still pay a bit more for private health insurance.

According to colleagues, some went through things like child-birth and cancer treatments for their relatives - all on public health. Free and not too bad. But of course, that also means you are not able to find the best of the specialist if you want.

Some would prefer taking up the private option, so that they can have elective surgeries done by the doctors of their choice and at a date of their choice, instead of waiting in queue.

Of course, there are horror stories in public hospitals but isn't it the same in Singapore ?


(8) Overall

Overall, I would say it might have been better if I came over earlier. Been hearing comparisons by various people on how they are glad they bought their houses years ago.

As early as 5 years ago, a house probably costs a third of what they costs now. Even with mortgage rates of 18% pa, its much better off than it is today. Mortgage servicing takes up less share of their take home pay.

As global inflation/recession is on the horizon, there's no escaping. I think I wouldn't live in Sydney forever. But for now, I think I am not too much better off (yet) , but I am no worse off either.

Yeah, had to spend a lot initially, but I think that will last me quite a while.

At least, I can still see my net-worth chart (in my MS Money) growing the last few months.

Concept, Ideas, but Laziness rules

They did it in the USA. An idea that myself and KOP once thought of. Slightly different, as wi-fi wasn't that common few years ago. But I am sure we would have thought of using it as a supplement.

What am I talking about ? Using Cell-phones signals to triagulate locations for commercial purposes. The technology has been used by police and telcos - but they all rely on telcos to PROVIDE the location via their own reverse-triangulation method (using multiple base stations find where the phone is).

We weren't depending on Telcos to provide such information, but to war-drive out there to collect such data.

Now its commercially available in USA - SkyHook

I heard another company is doing the same for Singapore and Malaysia. Tapping on end users with GPS-enabled phones. Download application that records GPS locations + GSM + Wi-Fi Signals. Sends the data back to them and they compile into a database. Of course, users are paid for such data - Navizon.

Oh well, ideas are just ideas until you have the capability, time and money to make it a reality...

Eewww. Horrigible Things...

Ok, this is not the most poisonous, or most deadly, or what.. but sure as hell quite yucky...

5 Most Horrifying Bugs in the World

Ad on Radio...

I am not sure if I am the only one who noticed this radio ad... (I heard it on Class 95)...

It is by HP Printer division I assume.. The ad goes like this (Not in order, and not verbatim) :

Woman A (Called Kim) : See, this is Jessie on her first birthday...
Woman B : Ah.... eh ?
Kim : And this is Jessie on the roller coaster ride...
Woman B : Huh ?
Kim : And this is Jessie (blah blah, I can't remember)..
Woman B : Kim ! I can't see Jessie.. Well, just a little, your photos are all faded !

And the ad ends with say "Don't let your memories fade away," and urge the audience to use original HP Ink and things like that...


First thing that came to my mind was : If I am printing my own photos on HP Printer, wouldn't I be having a soft copy of the photo ? So how can the memories fade ? If the photo faded, I just print another one !!!

????


** Edit : Its by Canon, not HP.. My apologies...

Adapting back to Singapore

Ok.. Been back for a few days.

First thing that I miss, is the nice weather.. and nice sun.. gave me a good tan.. :)
Then it is the quiet nights that makes sleeping more peaceful.

Work-wise, I have lost more passion. I am going to work just to make it easier for my dept. But then, do I make a difference ?

Found another thing to do. Probably take photos to sell on the Internet... Make my hobby pay for some of my bills ?

I am learning ...

Cartography.

Well, at least, only the creation of maps, specifically for use on Garmin systems.

A bunch of hobbyist started a project to learn how to create maps. It was a combined effort, so each of us took a small section of Singapore to map out.

Yes, redundant, cos Singapore is already well mapped out. But then this is more about learning. And since we are in Singapore, it is easier than mapping out Timbaktu...

So we have bulk purchased the mapping software. Quite cool I have to say. Features include imposing Google Earth satellite images so that it is easier to draw.

This is how it looks like up close :



Learning to draw different types of roads, landscape, etc.

This is the section that I am doing. Needs a combination of collecting tracks of the roads, aligning the satellite images accurately, then tracing out the rest of the roads :



After this, will need lots of refinements, like putting POIs (Points of Interest), Turning Restructions, etc... Lots of things to learn from the experts. Anyway, its a hobby, so the most important thing is not to get too stressed over it.

Good and Bad

Had an enjoyable weekend. Went to a chalet organized by some colleagues. BBQ , nice food. Caught up with old friends, chatted with new. That's the good.

The bad, is that I think I sprained/strained my back, after carrying not-too-heavy cooler box by myself. There weren't any sharp pain while I was carrying it, but probably due to the large physical size, I had used some parts of my back muscles that were seldom used.

I felt my back starting to get sore during the BBQ.. and as the night progressed, it got worse.
By the wee hours of Sunday morning, it is already painful to walk and move about.

Probably will be seeing the doctor again. Hope nothing major...

Two down... more to go...

Remember this : http://calamariforthought.blogspot.com/2007/07/one-down-another-to-go.html

That's down. And my colleague got this for me from Margaret River :



That was very nice. Doing some beer and I have more...

Like this :



and this :



and this :



and this :



and all these :

Another step in becoming a seasoned traveller...

I have been travelling, for work and for holiday, for the past 10 years.

Yesterday, I have another point to clock into my season traveller mileage - I missed my first flight.

I arrived at Taoyuan International Airport on time. I checked in with almost 2 hours to spare. I proceeded past immigration, where I had to consume all my drinks.

(I couldn't remember whether they had another layer of security check at the gate and have taken the decision to go in rather than stay outside. I tried to finish my can of coke, a bottle of H2O and a bottle of mineral water. I can't and had to dump whatever I couldn't finish.)

In I went, then up to the next level and settled for a cup of latte and a croissant for lunch. Light, since I will be having another round of late lunch on the flight.

Then I took out my laptop to play my game (no points for guessing what game I was playing, ha ha.)

I didn't double check my flight time. I kept on thinking it was 2.40pm. So I played until about 2.25, turned it off, and proceeded to the gate. I know SQ closed the gate 10 min before departure. I could make it on time.

As I was walking into the gate, I looked at the signboard and it said the flight time was 2.20pm! I ran down. Nobody was sitting at any of the chairs. One of the staff saw me walking down and apparently know my name. Wow ! How did he know ?

So the plane had just left the gate, and my luggage was in it.

Anyway, to cut the long story short, they arranged me to get on the next flight. Gave me my boarding pass and I have another 4 hours to kill. This time, I found a comfy sofa, sat down and read my novel.

When I arrived in Singapore, my luggage was sitting on a trolley waiting for me already. Nice SQ service.

*~*~*~*~*

So, I have had close-call connections where I had ran from one end of the airport to the other. I have had flight delayed for hours due to weather (though it wasn't snow nor typhoon). I have had stand-by for 4 days at the airport waiting for empty seats on full flight season. I have had incredible flood that didn't stop me from getting back home on time.

Now I missed my flight trying conquer the world in a chair... :)

Only experiences left that I haven't had are lost luggages, missed connections, air accidents and hijacks. I really hope I will never have to live through any of it. Missing a flight is enough excitement. Excitement that did no harm except my kill my time and my mood.

*yawn*... tired... had a whole week of work and late night partying. Going to sleep early so that I can enjoy my weekend.

One down.. another to go...

Clearing out my stash.. No point keeping them...

So this is one down :


And dealing with this now :

My Books are in hot demand...

For those who already know, I have given out a list via email to my close friends.

This morning, I sent out the remaining list to my whole office (about 65).
Lo and behold, 20 out of 26 books were taken up within an hour ! Some books even had multiple bookings.

Haha. Was joking with one of my colleagues that if only my work-related emails get such fast and good response. He mentioned that it was my title "Knowledge to be shared" and the list of good books that attracted such reactions.

Of course, things like A-Level physics had no takers.

So good, I don't have to make a trip to sell at 2nd hand bookstores..

I want to be Hospital Adminstrator...

I said I was playing with Command & Conquer , right ?

Being the fickle minded me, 2 days ago I was packing my software and games collection and I installed this game in my Vista - Theme Hospital.

Pretty funny and interesting. Hooked on to it now.. Damn...

Found Home ... Don't Go...

Finding new home for my old pets

Find new home for pets - a dog and a bear.