4 months of continuously rollercoaster ride

It's been a rollercoaster ride for the past 4 months. Finally I got some free time to follow-up all my social networks. I have not touch any of these networks due to my other higher work & life priorities. Sometimes, I wish I have the time to spare for this. I have tried my best to manage myself & my time but it's difficult when you have several projects up to 3 running concurrently at the same point of time. Now, with all these had settled down, I could finally spend some time on every little things I have on hands. I am really tired but satisfied. Phew!

Long holiday break

I am currently having my long holiday break. Today is my 7th day in Malaysia. Though it is only my 7th day here, I felt so sick with so many things going on in this country. Everyone here is talking about the RM2.70 oil price hike, living cost up, etc. What the heck is going on with the government? Really pity those low income group of people. How can I help duh...

Melacca trip with my colleagues

I spent 3 days in Melacca (a state in Malaysia well know with its pre-historic charm) with my colleagues. This is my fourth time visiting Melacca. We started our journey on Saturday morning from Johore Bharu (JB). Joining us is one of my colleague from Batu Pahat which is a district not far from JB. He is our so-called car "driver". There are all together 5 of us out of which 2 are originated from Melacca. We reached Ayer Keroh Toll Plaza around 10.30am. Then, we drop off the ladies in Batu Berendam & we proceed to Cheng to drop off our stuffs in my friend's house.

Where do we visited? Saturday, afternoon: We went to Jonker Street to sample the best laksa & chendol in Melacca for our lunch. After lunch, we walk & shop around Jonker Street. Then, we went to Mahkota Parade & the new Dataran Pahlawan mall.

Saturday, night: We went to the old Newton hawker center to take our dinner. After dinner, we went to MBO cinema planning to watch Superhero movie only to found out all screens & seats fully booked. Sigh! Wrong timing due to Malaysia's supreme ruler (YDP Agong) birthday & school holidays. We changed our plan to Mori Cafe in Bukit Beruang (opposite of Multimedia University). Over there, we hangout & had several rounds of card games. Guess what type of card game. Hihihi...

Sunday, morning: Sleep zzzZZZ.

Sunday, afternoon: Joined my friend's family for Ba-Chang (Dumpling) festival lunch. After lunch, I go over to my sister's house near MITC & Universiti Teknikal Malaysia while the rest of my friends heading back to Singapore.

So, I stayed overnight in my sister's place. The next day morning, I took the domestic bus heading back to my hometown in Shah Alam.

Merry Christmas

Wish you & your family a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.
Enjoy this video greeting card. If you want, you can view the full version here.


  

Leadership through Innovation & People - An executive conversation with Steve Ballmer

How can your company unlock the potential and power of human imagination for greater success? On May 23 2007, Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft was in Singapore to address this timely topic of leadership through innovation and people at the IDA Distinguished InfoComm Speaker Series.

During the event, Mr. Ballmer shared his insights on how Singapore can compete in a digital economy and retain talents, as well as create a foundation for innovation to drive long term success. View the video coverage of the event below.

Updated Yesterday Microsoft Singapore Invitation

Yesterday invitation has updated to be known as "Heroes Happen Here Party". It's a party to celebrate the pre-launch of 3 new Microsoft products early next year including Windows Server 2008, Visual Studio 2008 & SQL Server 2008. Not forgotten is the new .NET 3.5 Framework. I guess this party would be pretty exciting judging on the event details below. Don't forget, register now ASAP (http://mseventsasia.com/heroes/party.asp). For those who will be joining, leave me a comment below. Woohoo!

Exclusive Invitation From Microsoft Singapore

I received an invitation from Microsoft Singapore last Thursday, Dec 6 for Visual Studio & .NET Framework Birthday Bash. For those of you who are interested, below are the details. To those who will be attending this bash, hope to see you there. Hope this help. Thanks.

Work-Life UnBalance

Year 2007 is ending soon & year 2008 is fast coming. Here, it's raining heavily now. Feeling so slumber. It would be nice if I can take a short nap now. Instead of doing that, I move on to listen to some music & one of the song that struck me is "How Far We've Come" by Matchbox Twenty. This song has inspired me to look back at my life to know how far I've come & how can I improve my life. Furthermore, I find it a good time & day to proceed.

Well, I know it has been almost a year if I remember correctly that I do not have a proper life. What is a proper life to me is the ability for me to have a peaceful sleep (not necessary 8 hours a day), to enjoy every meals I have, to spend some quality time after working hour doing what I love to do & to have more time to socialize. I notice this is happening to me lately when I keep breaking promises. A simple example is my parents called me for almost 5 times where in every calls, they ask me when I will be going back to Malaysia & I just replied "I will plan out & will inform them". When I first came here to Singapore, I will go back to Malaysia once every 3 months even though for whatever reasons I can't do so. After more than a year in Singapore, that frequency changed when I only only go back to Malaysia after 6 months. As an example of this is after Chinese New Year holiday this year, I was in Singapore untill before Hari Raya 2007. So, the gap is almost 8 months. This simply reflect my unproper life which I think it is. I just felt so guilty & sorry for my actions.

I know I can't blame it on the same common reason to this problem that is busy with work because I have friends who is also working but they are able to achieve work & life balance. Therefore, I think the consequences of all these come from my work lifestyle. I have to learn to take a break & relax sometimes from work. In my opinion & experience, I have to say my working life in Singapore is difference than in Malaysia due to the fact its fast pace, work culture & people behaviour. Somehow, these has affected my life & I have to learn how to overcome this challenge or else adapt to it. I really miss out many happy, enjoyable, exciting, sad or memorable moments in my life.

I really need to start taking actions focusing at how to manage my time & how to survive in the "rats race" while it's not too late to get back my proper life I wish to. Last, to any of my family members & my friends who I can't keep in touch or I neglected, I hope you all can still bear with me. I am still trying my best to cope up with the burden now. TQ for the understanding.

MediaCorp StarAwards MS Silverlight Video Gallery Launched

Finally the waiting is over. We here at MediaCorp Technologies Web Team are pretty excited to launch StarAwards Video Gallery (http://starawards.mediacorptv.sg/videogallery.htm) developed using Microsoft Silverlight 1.0. To add to the excitements, this application has been showcased in Microsoft Silverlight Showcase site at www.silverlight.net/showcase. Look under Singapore category. Indeed, it is one of the first two Silverlight examples from Singapore. Congrats folks! Keep up the good job.

Backtrack a little, most of us here have been playing with Silverlight since the release candidate versions. Well, I have to say it's a good learning experience to me and to most of us who are part of it. Nevertheless, many bumps along the journey to bring us this far.

Also, not to forget under our belt, we have another web application, Campus Yummy Hunt develop using Silverlight 1.0 which is a online user-generated video gallery for a TV programme audition at http://yummyhunt.mediacorptv.sg/yummy/audition.htm. Moving forward, we are expecting more Silverlight Rich Internet Applications (RIA) will be released from our pipeline.

Therefore, keep following the light! ;-)

EZlink Card Customer Beware

Out of curiosity, I called the Translink enquiry line 1800-225-5663. It seems the undermentioned fact is absolutely true. Read on.

Translink charge one full fare plus 63 cents for second deduction if you tap (flash) at the bus front entrance door, but Translink willing to refund if complaint is lodged at the above number within 5 working days, regretably who is so free to go through the process. Therefore, it's better to avoid such a catch.

Helpful tips for those using EZlink card. To those who always use EZlink card, I would like to bring to your attention on local bus service provider. Usually, when you board the bus, you flash your EZlink card and move in towards the rear. Then, when you get down the bus, you flash your card again at the exit door (located at the middle of the bus). We all know that if we forget to flash the card, full fare will be deducted from the card.

Below is what the public does not know:

If you alight the bus from the front door (the entrance) and you flash your card while exiting without informing the bus driver, the card will capture another entrance fare instead of exit fare. What this means is that two full fares will be deducted from the card as no exit was being captured for the two entrances.

Here's the solution:

Go to the "big" machine (i.e machine for you to top up the card) located at the MRT stations.

1) Insert your EZlink card.

2) Press the function key "Check card".

3) Press the "more" button.

Doing these steps will show you your last 20 transactions. Included in each transaction is the information on the fare deducted, bus no, boarding time and the boarding and alighting point will be reflected on the screen.

I hope the above information does help you all. Please spread this information to people you know to prevent them from paying extra charges for nothing and burn a big hole in their pockets.

Last but not the least, call the hotline line: 1800-767-4333 when the incorrect fares are deducted. Thanks. :)

So Many Topic To Post

I have so many topics to share in this blog after a while since I never post due to hectic work schedule & family issues. I'll try to update this blog as much as I can given the little time I can spare on just blogging. Anyway, thank you you my readers for the interest in my blog. In the next few months, I'll try to post better quality content. Cheers! :)

Burnout

Woke up yesterday morning feeling drowsy. Very abnormal to me. I think its the compounded lack of sleep plus the high brain cell burn rate over the last couple of weeks. Each and every single thing i have to think about will bug me badly. Notice how busy am I from the gap between this post & the last post. I hope matters will eventually low down. I think only time can prove it as of now. I have give my very best shot at all the undertakings.

Singapore Fireworks 2007 @ Marina Bay

Exciting & tiring day for yesterday & today. Yesterday, I went to the fireworks show by the Spain team with my co-workers. We met at CityLink mall in City Hall. My friends from KL, Malaysia who are here for vacation also joined us. IMO, this year fireworks show by the Spain team is much better than all the 4 team shows from Singapore, New Caledonia, Italy & France. Check out my flickr for the photos.

Today show from China is not that impressive compare to yesterday show. For yesterday show, we watched from the center of the Esplanade bridge. Today, we watch from Marina Bay while enjoying steamboat there. For today show, I think it is not that good. Could be because we are watching it from far.

Hello Webverse!

Finally, I could spare a fraction of my time doing what I wish & love to do long time ago. I just keep my fingers cross that I can blog regularly after this & I hope you viewers can bear with me. As of now, I am still trying to come out a tagline for this blog. How about "personal ramblings of web developer in Singapore", "incidental thoughts", "a pile of insignificant posts" & so on. Okay, enough. I will simply set it to "Observing Web 2.0 and Beyond".