Delayed for a month.

It seems that I will be working till mid of Nov before leaving my current job.  I actually planned to stop work in October but because my current Team Lead (and good pal) had some issue hiring new guys to come in to  replace me.  So I decided to stay for one more month before saying goodbye for good.

Some of my colleagues are a bit surprised that I am leaving that soon (they actually thought I would finish my 2 yr contract which is in 2012).  But I guess I just can't stand this long distance relationshop with my kids and wife anymore...

So my plans are actually quite straight forward, get married and get a long term O visa to stay in Thailand.  Money wise, I have some savings and should last me at least a year or two. 

For the next 6 months when I'm in Thailand.  I would be busy like hell as I need to start researching on how to start up a little business in Thailand.  Not a big setup, just a small one that I could at least sustain myself and my family in Thailand. 

So what do I plan to sell?  To be honest, I can't really tell yet!  Haha.. as I have serveral options in my head.  Photography service, teaching English or Chinese and maybe even an Internet Cafe..  So the next 3 to 6 months in Maesai would be cover some ground work.

 

Another year, another same old routine....

I just came back from my annual IPT training (the 2nd session only) and I just realised I have never really write about my views and thoughts on the NS (short for National Service) in my blog before.

After my BMT (Basic Military Training) I am actually posted to be in the 30 SCE Combat Engineer (Shiong shiong unit) but luckily I keng (cheat) my way out during my training and became a service clerk.. hehehe.. I'm just too fat and lazy to carry heavy loads up and down and run here and there.. :P

I then deferred and completed my Bachelor degree before I got enlisted back again to clear my remaining 6 months of liability.  A total of 3 years and 4 months wasted in my youth.  Why 3 years and 4 months and not the usual 2 and a half?

That's because of the waiting time I received whenever I graudated.  I waited for 5 months to get enlisted when I graduated from Poly.  And another 5 months when I graduated from my University.  So a grand total of 3 years and 4 months wasted in my prime youth. 

This is one of the main reason why I hated NS life. Wasting my time.  Another aspect that I hate is being stuck  in a regimental environment.  Politics are everywhere and the worst part is that you can't escape as you will be stuck in your unit until you are discharged from your service.  In the real world, you could just throw a letter of resignation and just leave, in NS... well....

So yes, I hated NS.  Almost every minute of it.  Now they reduced it to 2 years but if the waiting time to get enlisted is the same then its also 2 and a half year or more.  So now our dear Gahment wants to compensate us by handling out $9k SGD for the NSmen.... I'm not sure if I will get it (most probably not the full sum) but I heard its only entitled to those who are still in the system.. So to those brothers who R.O.D (Run Out Date) already.  Really feel sorry for you guys if you are not  getting the pie... At least something is better then bloody nothing...

 

Going Home... Soon...

I think most of my inner click of friends and colleagues already knew that I have tendered my resignation.  My last date at work in Singapore should be in Oct (if my boss can hire a new guy/lady as soon as possible).

So my next plan is of course, go back home sweet home to Thailand and be with my wife and kids there.

There are actually a lot of things that need to be settled first.  Examples are our marriage certificate so I can get and 'O' Visa and etc.  So I need time to travel up and down the country a lot of times. 

My initial plan is actually to continue to work while handling all these bureaucacy at the same time.  But my working nature is shift based and I need to accomadate a lot of dates that I may need to fly back.  Which means in the end.  I get stressed at both work and handling my personal matters.  Which I think will get a lot of screw ups (in Thailand of course).

And I miss my kids and wife a lot.  So I decided to leave sooner and get my own personal things done first.  This way, I will be more focus on the things I plan to do.

Wife that day informed me Boy boy can walk on himself!  And like his sister.  He walks up and down, here and there and everywhere with his new found skills.  :)  hehe..  And the best is his sister actually holds his little hands and guide him along.  When I heard this, I was overjoyed and yet regrets followed later when I hung up the phone.  I had missed my daughter's first steps and I did it again with my son.  I hope this will be the last time I miss any important events in my children's life. 

HK Trip - Lost

I'm not sure what to write for this post.. thus the title LOST..  Its been 6 years since my last trip to HK.  That last trip I went alone and climbed a mountain (about 3/4 way) and it was a blast.

I planned to scale the mountain again for this trip as I found some peace and made one of my major decisions in my life on that little hill...  So actually when a friend of mine decided to go for a short trip to HK (I think I proposed it at first).  Its immediately in one of the "to do" list in my head.

It went quite well until halfway when it started to rain and we got stuck halfway.  I actually wanted to continue but I gave up as I thought its a bit selfish of me to continue this personal journey of mine (I know my friend will definitely follow me as its a bit dangerous).  

I did not get what I really wanted on that trip and its a bit sad actually.  Although my friend did consoled me and say we could try again next time when I get fitter and more prepared.  It is a sound advice but truthfully, I did not want to go back up again.  Maybe I will scale another mountain or hill but I decided to give up this one for good.  Don't bother to ask me why as its a personal thing and I do not wish to share it! :P

So the rest of the trip I dedicated most of my time trying my best to show a side of HK to my friend who has never been there... I think he did enjoyed his trip (I hope :P) except for the mountain part I guess hehehe

I have posted some photos on my facebook... Do feel free to browse them :)

This is our future generation....

Its been some time I wrote about social issues in Singapore.

I actually wrote this a few days ago when I saw an article in our ST.  1,500 coke geysers

But I did not have the time to refine it until another article came in and attracted my attention which has the same issue I wish to point out.  YOG caterer acts on food  I  just want to point out to a particular paragraph in this article.

Full-time national serviceman Leslie Wong, 20, who was stationed at the Marina Bay floating platform, said the 15 or so meals he has been given so far were similar to the one that has been criticised.
He said: 'One of the meals was a dry, tasteless piece of chicken with a few slices of carrot and some soggy rice. I ended up throwing most of it away.'
He said that while he had no complaints about the portions, most of his friends on duty at the same venue chose to buy their own food instead of eating the packed meals.

I think by this time you should understand what I am pointing out.  Yes, our future generation does not care a bit about wasting food.  Its scares me because they do not understand the effort and labour to produce each grain of rice. 

I've been to Thailand and Burma and I have seen how the people work in the fields.  I have seen homeless child hunger for food and even water in Thachilek and Maesai and I just find it so revolting that Singaporeans here, wastes food for no reasons other then being greedy and selfish.

That 1500 bottle of coke can be donated for a better cause.  The experiment is already well-known, why is there a need to re-enact such an experiment in such a grand scale?  Just to beat the world record while another part of the world is starving?

The young man in NS, who is supposed to protect our motherland complains about the food he was provided (yes its bad for SFI to do that) but just threw it away recklessly.  Its just soggy rice!  Its not rotten or contaminated.  Its just plain food to keep you FULL and from hunger!  I remember the MRE (meals ready to eat) packets in army days and the rice was like cake and I just ate it even if it taste like shit.  If not, I just don't take it.  Thats the problem with Singaporean, We take and grab things that are free without thinking we ever need them .. The kiasu syndrome.

It so wrong to do such things.  So much injustice is done to those farmers who grew each grain of rice. 

Trust me, what goes around will come around.  We import our food and we don't grow them.  When world food shortages comes (and its already starting).  WE will be the first one to feel the impact.  And THEN you will STARVE.  And THEN you will feel what is it like to be hungry.

Here's a stark reminder to those who waste food and one of my favourite journalistic photograph.  A picture of a starving child in South Africa in Sudan by Kevin Carter.

 

Getting Married in Thailand - Documents Required

Just a brief record and guide for those who wants to get married with a Thai partner in Thailand.  You need a few documents before you can do it.

1) A copy of your passport and photos (passport size). and spouse to be.

2) A search result hard copy letter applied at the Registry of Marriage to prove you are Single (or divorced)
https://app.rom.gov.sg/internet/emrs/rom_emrs_start.asp  Cost is bloody $35 for this letter.

3) A letter from work pass division of MOM of your spouse to prove she is not working currently in SG.  Need to have a copy of his/her passport and passport photo.  Apply at the MOM workpass division office.

4) A Certificate of No Criminal Convention (CNCC) applied through Sngapore Police at Cantonment Complex.  Download the form here.  Bloody $45 dollars for this certificate.  (This one better as at least they give a certificate, unlike the stupid letter from ROM)  You may need to draft a letter yourslef if you did not go to the Sinapore Embassy in Bangkok to get a letter of instruction.  Just write that you need a CNCC for marriage purpose in Thailand will be fine.  A copy of photo id or passport of your spouse to be is also required.  And remember to bring your passport (not IC) if you are applying in person.

5) A letter from your current employee, stating your current job and salary.  (A copy of your letter of appointment or contract will do also). 

6)And finally,  a completed Affidavit form (accquired when you go to Singapore emabassy in Thailand) with 2 referees details.

And thats it for first part of the process..... TBC.

 

 

My new birthday toy - Spinner 360

I have been waiting for Lomography Society to come up with something(toy cam) exciting to play with and recently they release the Spinner 360.  You can check out the camera here for the details but I just want to write a short review about it.

One word - FUN! It's really fun to shoot with it but I think you need to buy a lot of film for this as each roll shoots only up to 8 images... I already burnt 2 rolls on my first encounter with it.

The camera seems to be quite well built.  The hood is actually metal!! Think it serves as a counter weight for the spin as if I removed it, the camera will not spin as fast.  Operation is easy and the results were quite stunning. (More photos in the photo gallery)

Pictures were actually quite sharp, the lens is multicoated too.  The only complaint is that there is no locking button to stop the camera from adcidentally advancing.  I could remove the rubber band but its a bit of a hassle.. which cost me some wasted space on the film.

I also bought the digitaliza bundle with the camera to help me scan these panaromic shots.  Thanks to Ndroo of fuzzyeyball.com to confirm the thickness.  It actually works on my old Microtek i900 :P. 

Think I will sping more in the coming months....