Rafael Nadal v Fernando Verdasco. The occasion - semi-final of the Australian Open 2009, in Melbourne. I managed to see most of the match. It's an all-Spanish semi-final. And what an epic encounter it was. This must be one of the best tennis matches I've ever seen! Both players really took tennis to new heights & the spectators must have got more than value for money. It was intense, end-to-end stuff. The skill level & ability on display was extremely high. It had it all - fantastic rallies, marvellous winners, powerful returns. What a shame someone had to lose.
The match turned out to be the longest in Australian Open history - it went on for 5 hours & 14 minutes. Nadal ended up winning 6–7(4), 6–4, 7–6(2), 6–7(1), 6–4. I don't know how both players have that kind of stamina to go that distance. But they did. I was up the whole night watching both players serve up a feast of high class tennis. Well, almost the whole night - I think I might have fallen asleep somewhere along the way. What a shame someone had to lose this match. In this case, Verdasco lost, & I do feel sorry for him - but he should really be proud for his efforts in taking Nadal all the way. Nadal may have won, but the real winner is tennis - & the fans who were lucky enough to watch this match.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Retrenchment - time to move on
The global financial crisis have been resulting in lots of job cuts & layoffs worldwide. Well guess what??? It's happened to me, too - I'm now the latest victim of the global financial crisis. I just got retrenched from my company this morning.
My desk phone rang just after 10am this morning. It was the Human Resources Manager, calling me over to the meeting room. When she spoke, I immediately knew what was going to happen. In the meeting room was the Human Resource Manager, the Partner I worked under & my Team Manager. The Partner explained that the global financial crisis is affecting many firms, & unfortunately the company is not immune to the financial crisis, so for that reason, they couldn't offer me a permanent full-time position. I was still under probation, as I had only just joined the company in August 2008 (my probation would have been due in February 2009). They said they looked at another division in the Brisbane office & elsewhere in the company's offices in the other state capital cities for openings that I may slot into. But there weren't any - except for an Assistant Manager position in the company's Perth office, & they gave me the Perth contact details if I was interested in applying for that position. I wasn't interested, because I wanted to remain in Brisbane.
So there, just like that, I'm gone from the company. Kicked to the sidelines. I had to leave this very morning. The standard procedure is to leave office effective immediately after being laid off, though I got a little time to gather my belongings. By 11am, I was out of the office. I didn't get the chance to say goodbye to my colleagues (I was told not to say anything to anyone), except for 2 colleagues who I bumped into outside the building. I told both of them what happened, as they were curious as to why I was out of the office carrying lots of things.
I took the retrenchment pretty well, actually. No outward display of emotions. There is some sadness & disappointment over losing the job - but I wasn't surprised at all, because I really did see it coming. When I was told of the retrenchment, my reaction was along the lines of "yep, just as I thought". Anyway, to be absolutely honest, more than feeling sad & disappointed is the feeling of being daunted & overwhelmed at the prospect of having to do the job search all over again. Aaaarrrrggghhh!!!!
An English football manager once told a player said that disappointment is part of life, prior to dropping that player from the starting line-up. Well, disappointment is part of every facet of life. Because today, I just tasted disappointment in the form of job loss. It is time to move on & look at new opportunities. Only God knows where all this will lead me to.
My desk phone rang just after 10am this morning. It was the Human Resources Manager, calling me over to the meeting room. When she spoke, I immediately knew what was going to happen. In the meeting room was the Human Resource Manager, the Partner I worked under & my Team Manager. The Partner explained that the global financial crisis is affecting many firms, & unfortunately the company is not immune to the financial crisis, so for that reason, they couldn't offer me a permanent full-time position. I was still under probation, as I had only just joined the company in August 2008 (my probation would have been due in February 2009). They said they looked at another division in the Brisbane office & elsewhere in the company's offices in the other state capital cities for openings that I may slot into. But there weren't any - except for an Assistant Manager position in the company's Perth office, & they gave me the Perth contact details if I was interested in applying for that position. I wasn't interested, because I wanted to remain in Brisbane.
So there, just like that, I'm gone from the company. Kicked to the sidelines. I had to leave this very morning. The standard procedure is to leave office effective immediately after being laid off, though I got a little time to gather my belongings. By 11am, I was out of the office. I didn't get the chance to say goodbye to my colleagues (I was told not to say anything to anyone), except for 2 colleagues who I bumped into outside the building. I told both of them what happened, as they were curious as to why I was out of the office carrying lots of things.
How different things change in a few months. When I joined the company in August 2008, things seemed all good. Then things change drastically & I find myself running short of work with alarming regularity, especially over the last couple of months. I did voice my concern to the Team Manager at the staff review in November 2008, but was told that this is a normal thing & that I need not worry. Nevertheless, I was still a little skeptical & felt a little insecure at times. After returning from the overseas holidays, work continued to dry up & I began to suspect that my days at the company might be numbered (can't keep me, if they got no work to give me). That suspicion was further reinforced during the last couple of days, when I saw meetings held behind closed doors between the HR Manager, the Partner I worked under & the various Managers within my division. The phone call from the HR Manager this morning confirmed that my concerns were very much well founded.
I wasn't the only person laid off; there were 4 others from my division alone who were laid off also. The difference is that those 4 were permanent full-time staff; I was full-time but not permanent as I was still under probation. There could well be more people from different floors who were also retrenched - I won't be surprised.
I wasn't the only person laid off; there were 4 others from my division alone who were laid off also. The difference is that those 4 were permanent full-time staff; I was full-time but not permanent as I was still under probation. There could well be more people from different floors who were also retrenched - I won't be surprised.
I took the retrenchment pretty well, actually. No outward display of emotions. There is some sadness & disappointment over losing the job - but I wasn't surprised at all, because I really did see it coming. When I was told of the retrenchment, my reaction was along the lines of "yep, just as I thought". Anyway, to be absolutely honest, more than feeling sad & disappointed is the feeling of being daunted & overwhelmed at the prospect of having to do the job search all over again. Aaaarrrrggghhh!!!!
An English football manager once told a player said that disappointment is part of life, prior to dropping that player from the starting line-up. Well, disappointment is part of every facet of life. Because today, I just tasted disappointment in the form of job loss. It is time to move on & look at new opportunities. Only God knows where all this will lead me to.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Top 9 ridiculous place names
I saw this on the internet. It's funny to see the sort of names given to some places on this wonderful planet Earth. Have a look:
*******************************************************************
Australia may boast some of the funniest sounding place names in the world, but it doesn't have a monopoly. Scattered across the globe are towns and villages with names so unfortunate that it's hard not to feel sorry for the locals. But if you're looking for an amusing spot to add to your travel itinerary, these places are ideal for a visit, especially if you'd like your smiling mug captured on camera next to a silly sign.
Muff — County Donegal, Ireland
Undeterred by a name that conjures up all sorts of hairy images, tonnes of people have been crossing the border from Northern Ireland in recent years to relocate to this once-sleepy village. Despite the population explosion, Muff hasn't lost its traditional soul. Each year, during the first week in August, residents celebrate the Muff Festival, which includes all kinds of parades, parties, copious beer consumption and a raft of bizarre competitions, like JCB heavy vehicle driving, pig racing and lorry pulling events.
Twatt — Orkney Islands, Scotland
While unfounded rumours abound that this is Muff's twin town, the inhabitants of Twatt have become rather used to people laughing at them. This far-flung village off the north coast of Scotland featured at number four on the list of most vulgar sounding names in the book Rude Britain. Perhaps surprisingly, Bell End, Minge Lane and Cocks were ruled even cruder than Twatt, which also has a namesake on the Shetland Islands.
Whiskey Dick Mountain — Washington State, US
Mountaineering aficionados may dream of reaching the peaks of Everest and K2, but the humorous hiker heads to Whiskey Dick Mountain. A two-hour drive from Seattle, a 15km trail leads you through rugged desert area, blessed with rocky outcrops, hidden canyons and a blaze of flora and wildlife, until the 1200m-high summit appears before your eyes. People have been known to reward themselves at the top with a swig of Jack Daniel's whisky from their hip-flask.
Titty Hill — Sussex, England
Although it's just 40km from Portsmouth on England's south coast, Titty Hill feels like it's in the middle of nowhere. Surrounded by a patchwork of fields, the tiny hamlet consists of a couple of houses and a farm called, appropriately enough, Titty Hill farm. In a country that's well known for its wealth of silly place names, Titty Hill is within easy driving distance of Thong in Kent and Shitterton in Dorset, but a fair way from Wetwang in Yorkshire.
Gobblers Knob — Pennsylvania, US
Immortalised in the 1993 film Groundhog Day, Gobblers Knob in Punxsutawney is a place of pilgrimage for those wanting to hear if winter is finally over. German tradition holds that if the sun comes out on Candlemas, the precursor to Groundhog Day, the hedgehog (or badger) will see its shadow and six more weeks of the cold season will follow. When German settlers came to Pennsylvania they continued this tradition, using groundhogs instead of hedgehogs to predict the weather.
Dildo — Newfoundland, Canada
Dildo was founded in 1700 around fishing and whaling activities, with unsubstantiated rumours that its name came about because of the phallic-like shape of its harbour. Consistently named among the prettiest towns in Canada, it's recently become a magnet for tourists. Australians may already be familiar with Dildo as it was featured in the 'What the?' segment of Rove Live in 2006. The Dildo museum is popular for the replica of a 9.1m squid hauled from local waters in 1933.
Hell — Stordal, Norway
This pleasant Norwegian village hardly lives up to its dastardly name, especially in winter when, with temperatures as low as minus 20°C, Hell literally does freeze over. An easy train ride from the major city of Trondheim on Norway's fjord-peppered west coast, Hell was put on the map in 1990 when Mona Grudt, a green-eyed redhead, was the country's Miss Universe representative. She billed herself as 'the beauty queen from Hell' — and lost.
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch — Anglesey, Wales Although there's an uninhabited hill in New Zealand called Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu, this Welsh town has one of the longest officially recognised place names in the English-speaking world. Locals claim that when translated from Welsh it means 'St Mary's church in the hollow of the white hazel near to the rapid whirlpool and the church of St Tysilio of the red cave'. Thankfully, it's also spelt Llanfairpwllgwyngyll and commonly known as Llanfair PG or Llanfairpwll.
Fucking — Tarsdorf, Austria
Arguably the world's most shockingly-titled town, Fucking — 30km from Salzburg and apparently named after a sixth-century local called Focko — has been the centre of much controversy in recent years. After souvenir hunters kept stealing the signs, local authorities arranged a poll to ask the townspeople whether or not they should change their name. The stubborn lot gave a two-fingered salute, and a four-letter word response, to that little idea.
*******************************************************************
Australia may boast some of the funniest sounding place names in the world, but it doesn't have a monopoly. Scattered across the globe are towns and villages with names so unfortunate that it's hard not to feel sorry for the locals. But if you're looking for an amusing spot to add to your travel itinerary, these places are ideal for a visit, especially if you'd like your smiling mug captured on camera next to a silly sign.
Muff — County Donegal, Ireland
Undeterred by a name that conjures up all sorts of hairy images, tonnes of people have been crossing the border from Northern Ireland in recent years to relocate to this once-sleepy village. Despite the population explosion, Muff hasn't lost its traditional soul. Each year, during the first week in August, residents celebrate the Muff Festival, which includes all kinds of parades, parties, copious beer consumption and a raft of bizarre competitions, like JCB heavy vehicle driving, pig racing and lorry pulling events.
Twatt — Orkney Islands, Scotland
While unfounded rumours abound that this is Muff's twin town, the inhabitants of Twatt have become rather used to people laughing at them. This far-flung village off the north coast of Scotland featured at number four on the list of most vulgar sounding names in the book Rude Britain. Perhaps surprisingly, Bell End, Minge Lane and Cocks were ruled even cruder than Twatt, which also has a namesake on the Shetland Islands.
Whiskey Dick Mountain — Washington State, US
Mountaineering aficionados may dream of reaching the peaks of Everest and K2, but the humorous hiker heads to Whiskey Dick Mountain. A two-hour drive from Seattle, a 15km trail leads you through rugged desert area, blessed with rocky outcrops, hidden canyons and a blaze of flora and wildlife, until the 1200m-high summit appears before your eyes. People have been known to reward themselves at the top with a swig of Jack Daniel's whisky from their hip-flask.
Titty Hill — Sussex, England
Although it's just 40km from Portsmouth on England's south coast, Titty Hill feels like it's in the middle of nowhere. Surrounded by a patchwork of fields, the tiny hamlet consists of a couple of houses and a farm called, appropriately enough, Titty Hill farm. In a country that's well known for its wealth of silly place names, Titty Hill is within easy driving distance of Thong in Kent and Shitterton in Dorset, but a fair way from Wetwang in Yorkshire.
Gobblers Knob — Pennsylvania, US
Immortalised in the 1993 film Groundhog Day, Gobblers Knob in Punxsutawney is a place of pilgrimage for those wanting to hear if winter is finally over. German tradition holds that if the sun comes out on Candlemas, the precursor to Groundhog Day, the hedgehog (or badger) will see its shadow and six more weeks of the cold season will follow. When German settlers came to Pennsylvania they continued this tradition, using groundhogs instead of hedgehogs to predict the weather.
Dildo — Newfoundland, Canada
Dildo was founded in 1700 around fishing and whaling activities, with unsubstantiated rumours that its name came about because of the phallic-like shape of its harbour. Consistently named among the prettiest towns in Canada, it's recently become a magnet for tourists. Australians may already be familiar with Dildo as it was featured in the 'What the?' segment of Rove Live in 2006. The Dildo museum is popular for the replica of a 9.1m squid hauled from local waters in 1933.
Hell — Stordal, Norway
This pleasant Norwegian village hardly lives up to its dastardly name, especially in winter when, with temperatures as low as minus 20°C, Hell literally does freeze over. An easy train ride from the major city of Trondheim on Norway's fjord-peppered west coast, Hell was put on the map in 1990 when Mona Grudt, a green-eyed redhead, was the country's Miss Universe representative. She billed herself as 'the beauty queen from Hell' — and lost.
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch — Anglesey, Wales Although there's an uninhabited hill in New Zealand called Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu, this Welsh town has one of the longest officially recognised place names in the English-speaking world. Locals claim that when translated from Welsh it means 'St Mary's church in the hollow of the white hazel near to the rapid whirlpool and the church of St Tysilio of the red cave'. Thankfully, it's also spelt Llanfairpwllgwyngyll and commonly known as Llanfair PG or Llanfairpwll.
Fucking — Tarsdorf, Austria
Arguably the world's most shockingly-titled town, Fucking — 30km from Salzburg and apparently named after a sixth-century local called Focko — has been the centre of much controversy in recent years. After souvenir hunters kept stealing the signs, local authorities arranged a poll to ask the townspeople whether or not they should change their name. The stubborn lot gave a two-fingered salute, and a four-letter word response, to that little idea.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Year of the Ox, Happy Chinese New Year!
Behold, today marks the Chinese Year of the Ox! Hooray! Gong hei fatt choy!! Firecrackers. Lanterns. Decorations. Red packets. Chinese goodies. Wow...... All of these things will be absent from my Chinese New Year itinerary. Why? Because we "only" live in Brisbane. Over here, we don't celebrate Chinese New Year on quite the same scale as they would in Asian countries (or at least, those Asian countries with a sizeable ethnic Chinese population). Nothing grand or elaborate over here. That, plus the fact that I'm too old to be playing firecrackers & running around collecting red packets. I'm not a kid anymore - or at least, I no longer look like one. The Chinatown in Brisbane would probably be doing something to mark Chinese New Year - but I won't be there. Instead, we will probably be having a Chinese New Year family dinner at home. It's pretty low key, family stuff. The same old, same old thing we do each year....
Anyways, to all my Chinese friends, happy Chinese New Year! May your year be a happy & prosperous one!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Ben Ho's pastoral induction
CCCB now has a new pastor - Pastor Ben Ho. Woo hoo!! After our morning service today, we had a pastoral induction ceremony for Ben. The turnout was pretty good. If I recall correctly, Ben's parents were present to watch their son being inducted as CCCB's latest pastor.
I've known Ben for a number of years now. We were part of CCCB's YF group for a few years; Ben was part of YF long before I joined in 2001 & in fact, Ben was the head leader of YF for a while. Then Ben went to Sydney to do some theological studies & Ministry Training Strategy (I hope I said it correctly!). He met his wonderful wife Faith there. After years of study & ministry training, Ben is now back in Brisbane, together with Faith & their 2 lovely daughters. He is here to serve God & His people in Brisbane. Ben will now be the pastor for CCCB's morning service. Manwhile, Pastor Steve will be moving over to head up CCCB's new evening church called the 5:17 Church. (Very creative name - this new church is based on the words of 2 Corinthians 5:17. May God bless & grow that new church!)
Of course, I'm very happy for Ben. I think being a pastor was always what he wanted to be, & now it is a wonderful reality. How else to feel but happy for him! For years, I have known Ben as a friend & Christian brother, & he's someone I always love & respect. Now, I also know him as my pastor. I am sure many others are also happy with Ben's appointment. May the Lord continue to bless Ben & his family. May the Lord bless Ben's work, & may God grow our morning service through Ben! (ditto for Pastor Steve & his work with the 5:17 Church)
I've known Ben for a number of years now. We were part of CCCB's YF group for a few years; Ben was part of YF long before I joined in 2001 & in fact, Ben was the head leader of YF for a while. Then Ben went to Sydney to do some theological studies & Ministry Training Strategy (I hope I said it correctly!). He met his wonderful wife Faith there. After years of study & ministry training, Ben is now back in Brisbane, together with Faith & their 2 lovely daughters. He is here to serve God & His people in Brisbane. Ben will now be the pastor for CCCB's morning service. Manwhile, Pastor Steve will be moving over to head up CCCB's new evening church called the 5:17 Church. (Very creative name - this new church is based on the words of 2 Corinthians 5:17. May God bless & grow that new church!)
Of course, I'm very happy for Ben. I think being a pastor was always what he wanted to be, & now it is a wonderful reality. How else to feel but happy for him! For years, I have known Ben as a friend & Christian brother, & he's someone I always love & respect. Now, I also know him as my pastor. I am sure many others are also happy with Ben's appointment. May the Lord continue to bless Ben & his family. May the Lord bless Ben's work, & may God grow our morning service through Ben! (ditto for Pastor Steve & his work with the 5:17 Church)
Saturday, January 24, 2009
They said it - FC Barcelona best club in last 18 years!
Ohhhh, ho ho ho, look at this article from Goal.com. My club (FC Barcelona) has been ranked as the best club side in the world over the last 18 years. Woo hoo!! Still not entirely sure how they came to the conclusion. But who am I to complain?! Hehe.
Link:
http://www.goal.com/en/news/8/main/2009/01/23/1074536/
barcelona-named-best-club-team-of-last-18-years-by-iffhs
Article:
The International Federation of Football History and Statistics has today named Barcelona as the best club side of the past 18 years.
The IFFHS compiled the statistics from 1991, using the position each team finishes in the annual world rankings as a scoring system, and the Catalan side are 79 points clear of second place Manchester United.
Behind Manchester United come two Italian giants in the form of Juventus and AC Milan, and then down in fifth are Real Madrid.
During the time period taken by the IFFHS, Barcelona have won the Champions League on two occasions, whilst they have won La Liga eight times.
Manchester United on the other hand have also won the Champions League twice, but they have picked up ten Premier League titles.
Below Real Madrid there is quite a gap down to the next Spanish side, with Valencia sitting in joint 17th with Sao Paulo.
England and Italy meanwhile both have four teams in the top 15 of the list.
Official IFFHS Rankings:
1. Barcelona (SPN) 757
2. Manchester United (ENG) 678
3. Juventus FC (ITA) 621
4. Milan AC (ITA) 611
5. Real Madrid (SPN) 605
6. Internazionale Milano (ITA) 567
7. Bayern Munich (GER) 563
8. Arsenal (ENG) 550
9. River Plate (ARG) 503
10. Chelsea (ENG) 442
11. Liverpool (ENG) 435
12. Porto (POR) 425
13. Boca Juniors (ARG) 420
14. AS Roma (ITA) 405
15. AFC Ajax Amsterdam (HOL) 400
16. Parma (ITA) 373
17. São Paulo (BRA) 367
Valencia (SPN) 367
19. Glasgow Rangers (SCO) 364
20. SS Lazio Roma (ITA) 342
James Walker-Roberts, Goal.com
Link:
http://www.goal.com/en/news/8/main/2009/01/23/1074536/
barcelona-named-best-club-team-of-last-18-years-by-iffhs
Article:
The International Federation of Football History and Statistics has today named Barcelona as the best club side of the past 18 years.
The IFFHS compiled the statistics from 1991, using the position each team finishes in the annual world rankings as a scoring system, and the Catalan side are 79 points clear of second place Manchester United.
Behind Manchester United come two Italian giants in the form of Juventus and AC Milan, and then down in fifth are Real Madrid.
During the time period taken by the IFFHS, Barcelona have won the Champions League on two occasions, whilst they have won La Liga eight times.
Manchester United on the other hand have also won the Champions League twice, but they have picked up ten Premier League titles.
Below Real Madrid there is quite a gap down to the next Spanish side, with Valencia sitting in joint 17th with Sao Paulo.
England and Italy meanwhile both have four teams in the top 15 of the list.
Official IFFHS Rankings:
1. Barcelona (SPN) 757
2. Manchester United (ENG) 678
3. Juventus FC (ITA) 621
4. Milan AC (ITA) 611
5. Real Madrid (SPN) 605
6. Internazionale Milano (ITA) 567
7. Bayern Munich (GER) 563
8. Arsenal (ENG) 550
9. River Plate (ARG) 503
10. Chelsea (ENG) 442
11. Liverpool (ENG) 435
12. Porto (POR) 425
13. Boca Juniors (ARG) 420
14. AS Roma (ITA) 405
15. AFC Ajax Amsterdam (HOL) 400
16. Parma (ITA) 373
17. São Paulo (BRA) 367
Valencia (SPN) 367
19. Glasgow Rangers (SCO) 364
20. SS Lazio Roma (ITA) 342
James Walker-Roberts, Goal.com
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Malaysian football needs a huuuuge shakeup
Goodness gracious. Malaysia just lost 5-0 at home to the United Arab Emirates in an Asian Cup qualifier. Yes, 5-0....at home! Horrendous & humiliating.
Everyone knows Malaysia are no football power. And humiliations like that UAE debacle are nothing new, really. After all, during the 2007 Asian Cup (which Malaysia co-hosted with 3 other ASEAN countries), they suffered heavy defeats in their own backyard against China & Uzbekistan. Malaysia were then coached by local Norizan Bakar, who departed after the Asian Cup. He was replaced by another local, B Sathianathan. Sathianathan immediately won the Merdeka Cup with the Malaysian Under-23 team, & that within a few months after their Asian Cup flop. That seemed to suggest that Sathianathan might be able to improve the fortunes of Malaysian football, with a youthful side under his charge. That early success now seemed like false hope (or fool's gold, with all due respect). Just last month, in December 2008, Sathianathan's Malaysian team flopped at the AFF Suzuki Cup held in Thailand, where they won 1 match (v Laos) & lost 2 (v Vietnam & host Thailand), thus failing to reach the semi-finals. And now, the 5-0 disaster against the UAE.
Something is definitely wrong. Blame the coach? Well, ok, perhaps Malaysia's recent coaches are not the best in the world. But then again, back in the 1990s, Malaysia hired that renowned Frenchman, Claude Le Roy. Le Roy came on board with a good reputation after having achieved success with some African national teams (including Cameroon & Senegal). But he couldn't improve the fortunes of the Malaysian team, no matter how hard he tried. It's because African footballers are much, much, much better than Malaysia's players. Subsequent coaches (both local & foreign) have tried & failed to improve the Malaysian team. It doesn't matter which coach Malaysia appoints, the problem stays there & results never really improved.
No, it's not the coach's fault. The most obvious problem is the lack of quality footballers. After all, no matter how good a coach is, he cannot make an omelette without eggs. And this Malaysian team seems to have too many bad eggs. Many say that the team is playing the price for years of poor coaching & inadequate player development at grassroots level - & therefore, it is said that the current football system is to blame. This seems true. But hang on a minute, is it really all the system's fault? Should the system take all the blame for Malaysian football's current problems? After all, under more or less the same system, Malaysia managed to unearth better, more rounded & more dedicated back in the 1970s & early 1980s - the period during which Malaysia were actually had a decent football team, a team which competed well against teams from East Asia & the Middle East. The system may have been tweaked a little over the years; now, there might be better facilities & more foreign coaches able to come into Malaysia & do their work. But I don't think the system has changed very much from the old days; it is more or less the same. So if the Malaysian football system is now producing less than it did in the past (both in terms of quality & quantity of players), then it has to be assumed that the problem is also due to the attitudes of the players today. Some people have questioned the hunger & determination of current Malaysian footballers to improve their game & better themselves. Decades ago, it is said footballers played for the love of the game, train harder than the footballers today, & are less motivated by money. Malaysian footballers today, despite supposedly being in the professional era, are said to be less passionate, lacking ambition to improve themselves, too easily satisfied & settle too easily for mediocrity. Some even say the Malaysian footballers are over pampered & are in it for the money - the pay might not compare with what footballers get in Europe, Japan or Korea, but still regarded as "easy money" for Malaysian footballers. As a result of lack of ambition, Malaysian football has stood still, or worse, gone backwards. The Middle Eastern & East Asian teams which Malaysia rivalled in the 1970s & early 1980s, have now all moved on & progressed, leaving Malaysia far behind. Look at South Korea & Japan, who have featured prominently in World Cups & Asian Cups. Look also at Saudi Arabia & Iraq, who contested the most recent Asian Cup final. Look also at Iran & Kuwait. And then, of course, look at the UAE team which just caned Malaysia. These countries have top right infrastructure & system in Asia, & their players have the professionalism & desire to improve, which Malaysian players seem to lack.
So the problems in Malaysian football are due to a combination of factors - the need for the current footballing system to perhaps be overhauled & for player attitudes to be more professional. The former can be fixed with lots of time, proper thinking & planning. The latter, I suspect, would pose the greater challenge. How does one change an animal's ingrained spots or stripes?
Malaysian football really needs a huge shakeup. And fast! If it takes a humbling 5-0 home defeat against a capable Middle Eastern team to start the shakeup, then so be it. Better to get the ball rolling now, then doing nothing & regretting the inaction down the track.
Everyone knows Malaysia are no football power. And humiliations like that UAE debacle are nothing new, really. After all, during the 2007 Asian Cup (which Malaysia co-hosted with 3 other ASEAN countries), they suffered heavy defeats in their own backyard against China & Uzbekistan. Malaysia were then coached by local Norizan Bakar, who departed after the Asian Cup. He was replaced by another local, B Sathianathan. Sathianathan immediately won the Merdeka Cup with the Malaysian Under-23 team, & that within a few months after their Asian Cup flop. That seemed to suggest that Sathianathan might be able to improve the fortunes of Malaysian football, with a youthful side under his charge. That early success now seemed like false hope (or fool's gold, with all due respect). Just last month, in December 2008, Sathianathan's Malaysian team flopped at the AFF Suzuki Cup held in Thailand, where they won 1 match (v Laos) & lost 2 (v Vietnam & host Thailand), thus failing to reach the semi-finals. And now, the 5-0 disaster against the UAE.
Something is definitely wrong. Blame the coach? Well, ok, perhaps Malaysia's recent coaches are not the best in the world. But then again, back in the 1990s, Malaysia hired that renowned Frenchman, Claude Le Roy. Le Roy came on board with a good reputation after having achieved success with some African national teams (including Cameroon & Senegal). But he couldn't improve the fortunes of the Malaysian team, no matter how hard he tried. It's because African footballers are much, much, much better than Malaysia's players. Subsequent coaches (both local & foreign) have tried & failed to improve the Malaysian team. It doesn't matter which coach Malaysia appoints, the problem stays there & results never really improved.
No, it's not the coach's fault. The most obvious problem is the lack of quality footballers. After all, no matter how good a coach is, he cannot make an omelette without eggs. And this Malaysian team seems to have too many bad eggs. Many say that the team is playing the price for years of poor coaching & inadequate player development at grassroots level - & therefore, it is said that the current football system is to blame. This seems true. But hang on a minute, is it really all the system's fault? Should the system take all the blame for Malaysian football's current problems? After all, under more or less the same system, Malaysia managed to unearth better, more rounded & more dedicated back in the 1970s & early 1980s - the period during which Malaysia were actually had a decent football team, a team which competed well against teams from East Asia & the Middle East. The system may have been tweaked a little over the years; now, there might be better facilities & more foreign coaches able to come into Malaysia & do their work. But I don't think the system has changed very much from the old days; it is more or less the same. So if the Malaysian football system is now producing less than it did in the past (both in terms of quality & quantity of players), then it has to be assumed that the problem is also due to the attitudes of the players today. Some people have questioned the hunger & determination of current Malaysian footballers to improve their game & better themselves. Decades ago, it is said footballers played for the love of the game, train harder than the footballers today, & are less motivated by money. Malaysian footballers today, despite supposedly being in the professional era, are said to be less passionate, lacking ambition to improve themselves, too easily satisfied & settle too easily for mediocrity. Some even say the Malaysian footballers are over pampered & are in it for the money - the pay might not compare with what footballers get in Europe, Japan or Korea, but still regarded as "easy money" for Malaysian footballers. As a result of lack of ambition, Malaysian football has stood still, or worse, gone backwards. The Middle Eastern & East Asian teams which Malaysia rivalled in the 1970s & early 1980s, have now all moved on & progressed, leaving Malaysia far behind. Look at South Korea & Japan, who have featured prominently in World Cups & Asian Cups. Look also at Saudi Arabia & Iraq, who contested the most recent Asian Cup final. Look also at Iran & Kuwait. And then, of course, look at the UAE team which just caned Malaysia. These countries have top right infrastructure & system in Asia, & their players have the professionalism & desire to improve, which Malaysian players seem to lack.
So the problems in Malaysian football are due to a combination of factors - the need for the current footballing system to perhaps be overhauled & for player attitudes to be more professional. The former can be fixed with lots of time, proper thinking & planning. The latter, I suspect, would pose the greater challenge. How does one change an animal's ingrained spots or stripes?
Malaysian football really needs a huge shakeup. And fast! If it takes a humbling 5-0 home defeat against a capable Middle Eastern team to start the shakeup, then so be it. Better to get the ball rolling now, then doing nothing & regretting the inaction down the track.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Farewell Jay & Melina - again!
They went, they came back, then they're off again. That's the case with my friends Jay & Melina. They had previously gone off overseas a couple of years ago. Then they came back to Brisbane sometime last year (August or Sept 2008) to stay for a few months. Now, in a few days time, they are off again. Wow, just as we got used to having them back, off they are going.
A few of us had a farewell lunch with Jay & Melina this past Sunday. The lunch was had at Yahoo Restaurant in Sunnybank Hills, & it also was Melina's birthday on Sunday. Then we went for dessert nearby.
Jay & Melina will be missed! May God bless them throughout their journey overseas.
A few of us had a farewell lunch with Jay & Melina this past Sunday. The lunch was had at Yahoo Restaurant in Sunnybank Hills, & it also was Melina's birthday on Sunday. Then we went for dessert nearby.
Jay & Melina will be missed! May God bless them throughout their journey overseas.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Qld Roar 3 Sydney FC 1
I went with some friends to the A-League game between Queensland Roar & Sydney FC this past Saturday evening at Suncorp Stadium. The match was ok - not spectacular, but not horrible, either. Qld Roar won rather handsomely 3-1, courtesy of a hat-trick from Dutch import Sergio Van Dijk, to make it a happy evening for the home crowd happy.The win gave Roar some hope of finishing in the top 2, but it ended Sydney FC's season, as the visitors needed to win to have a chance of getting into the playoffs. To be fair, Sydney could consider themselves unlucky to have lost. They started the match well, & looked the better side in the opening stages. Even though they went a goal down in the 15th minute, Sydney continued to pass the ball better than Qld, & deservedly got the equaliser 10 minutes later. But just 2-3 minutes after that, Qld somehow managed to regain the lead with Van Dijk getting his second to make it 2-1 to the Roar. As the game progressed, Sydney's game dropped a little, & both sides eventually became evenly matched. There were no further goals, until Van Dijk completed his hat-trick in the last minute of the match with a well-taken goal.
Thank goodness the Roar had Van Dijk. I'm not convinced the Roar could have won this match without him, as I could see Sydney FC getting at least a draw if Van Dijk was not playing. Sydney FC fielded quite a number of youngsters for this match. I take this to be a sign that the Sydney coach Kosmina had little faith in his side's ability to win this match with his more experienced players; he probably thought he might as well chuck in some youngsters to give them experience for the future. Nevertheless, I thought that Sydney's youngsters gave a good impression of themselves. I feel sorry for them that they lost - certainly the 3-1 scoreline is very harsh on them. A draw would have been a fair result, as there were moments (especially in first half) where Sydney showed better technique & better passing than the Roar. If Sydney can keep this young side together, then with some decent player additions, they will definitely be a serious threat next season. Whether they will have Kosmina in charge next season looks doubtful after failing to make this season's playoffs - that despite the promising youngsters they currently have.
As for the Roar, this result is certainly more impressive than the performance. The scoreline flattered them; I don't think there was any point in this match which they could claim they were truly in control, certainly not enough to warrant the 3-1 result. While it is good to be able to win by a good margin without playing that well, they must improve on this showing if they are to make an impact in the playoffs.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
El Clasico 13/12/2008 - Barca 2 Real Madrid 0
This is a belated post regarding El Clásico which took place last month, on 13/12/2008. Barca were at home to their bitter rivals Real Madrid. They won 2-0, courtesy of late goals by Eto'o & Messi. Both goals came in last 7 minutes. Eto'o stabbed home from close range. Then Messi scored with a wonderful chip which a Real defender tried in vain to clear - the ball was probably already in before the clearance was attempted.The 2-0 win was no more than Barca deserved, as they were attacking for most of the match. Eto'o had a penalty saved earlier during the match, but made amends by opening the scoring late in the game. Real Madrid went into this match with new coach Juande Ramos at the helm. They can point to 1-2 good chances to open the scoring & defended well to keep Barca at bay. That is, until the 83rd minute, when Eto'o struck. I guess there was only so much defending they can do, but once Barca scored, that was it. Overall, a Barca win was fair. And the result is one to savour for Barca fans like myself :)
Here are the highlights - HQ with no commentaries, only crowd noise. Enjoy the beautiful football - from the team in dark blue & dark red :)
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Where next for overseas trip???
A question/thought just came to my mind - where should I go next for overseas trip? Well, here are the options:
Malaysia & Singapore again: Same old, same old, but hey, most of my relatives are there, family friends are there, too. And of course, imagine all the food!! *drool*
Vancouver, Canada: My cousins are there & I haven't seen them since I was a child. A visit to Vancouver would be a great idea. And while I'm there, I might as well also visit a few other places in Canada & the US. I don't think it will be cheap, though.
New Zealand: It's just nearby, & I hear pretty good things about NZ - just as I hear good things about Vancouver. This one is definitely worth considering.
Hong Kong & Shanghai: I got friends in both who've suggested going for a visit, & they will take me out to some good places to eat. Yum! Friend in Shanghai will only be there for a few more months (on work assignment) before returning to Singapore later this year, so I'll probably see him in Singapore next instead of Shanghai. Friend in HK will be there for a while - so I can see myself visiting her there in HK.
The Maldives: This is probably the most exotic of all the places I've listed. I heard the beaches there are pretty good, & tourists enjoy it there. Not that I'm a beach person, but somehow or other, I got Maldives on my list of places to visit. One day, I might. People have said it's not that cheap, though (Bali is cheaper to visit, so I was told).
Malaysia & Singapore again: Same old, same old, but hey, most of my relatives are there, family friends are there, too. And of course, imagine all the food!! *drool*
Vancouver, Canada: My cousins are there & I haven't seen them since I was a child. A visit to Vancouver would be a great idea. And while I'm there, I might as well also visit a few other places in Canada & the US. I don't think it will be cheap, though.
New Zealand: It's just nearby, & I hear pretty good things about NZ - just as I hear good things about Vancouver. This one is definitely worth considering.
Hong Kong & Shanghai: I got friends in both who've suggested going for a visit, & they will take me out to some good places to eat. Yum! Friend in Shanghai will only be there for a few more months (on work assignment) before returning to Singapore later this year, so I'll probably see him in Singapore next instead of Shanghai. Friend in HK will be there for a while - so I can see myself visiting her there in HK.
The Maldives: This is probably the most exotic of all the places I've listed. I heard the beaches there are pretty good, & tourists enjoy it there. Not that I'm a beach person, but somehow or other, I got Maldives on my list of places to visit. One day, I might. People have said it's not that cheap, though (Bali is cheaper to visit, so I was told).
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Unspent money from overseas
All right. I got back from overseas just a few days ago. My room is now cluttered with things I bought from overseas. Quite a few of those things are lumped together on top of the bean bag behind me. The task of sifting through my purchases & packing them away looks to be quite daunting. I barely have any more room - I really need to get my own home quickly!
And ohhhhh, guess what else I brought back? Unspent money, & I mean lots of it - more than I had expected to bring home. Here's how much I brought back: AUD $670, Malaysian ringgit 78, Singapore $93, Brunei $44.
That tells me that either I brought too much money with me overseas, or I didn't spend enough while there. I think both is true. Maybe it's a good thing I didn't spend all that money. I was already 1-2 kg over the limit with my luggage - so if I did spend that unspent money, I would really have seriously blown the luggage limit. And I would have copped a big fine from the airport. That wouldn't have been good. At least I can put that unspent money to bettter use - or save it for my next overseas trip.
And ohhhhh, guess what else I brought back? Unspent money, & I mean lots of it - more than I had expected to bring home. Here's how much I brought back: AUD $670, Malaysian ringgit 78, Singapore $93, Brunei $44.
That tells me that either I brought too much money with me overseas, or I didn't spend enough while there. I think both is true. Maybe it's a good thing I didn't spend all that money. I was already 1-2 kg over the limit with my luggage - so if I did spend that unspent money, I would really have seriously blown the luggage limit. And I would have copped a big fine from the airport. That wouldn't have been good. At least I can put that unspent money to bettter use - or save it for my next overseas trip.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Ryan & Nicole's wedding celebration (Part 2)
We left Nicole's home & were one of the earliest to arrive at The Church of St Francis Xavier, a rather sizeable church in Petaling Jaya (apparently, my mum's uncle attends this church). The day got hotter & hotter, & to make things more interesting, the church did not have any air conditioner. But thank goodness there were some giant fans at the front stage, & us groomsmen turned some of the fans to face where we would be seated.
At the church, Ryan was looking as relaxed as ever. Very relaxed, in fact. And with good reason, too - the morning tea ceremony passed by very smoothly & everything seemed to have gone according to plan & on schedule (in fact, a little earlier than scheduled). With everything going very well, what else should Ryan be feeling if not relaxed? Soon, then the maid of honour & bridesmaids arrived & marched down the aisle. This was followed by Nicole, looking as radiant as ever, accompanied by her uncle who would be giving the bride away to Ryan. And so the ceremony began!
We were in a Catholic church, so the ceremony had some Catholic influence. My parents appeared normal, & mum wasn't emotional as I had expected. There was a choir, too, which presented us with "Lilies of the Field". The choir was superb - great choice by Ryan & Nicole. All in all, the ceremony was not very long at all, & it went by so smoothly. Praise God for that. We had the singing, Bible reading, rite of marriage, blessing of rings, exchanging of rings, lifting of the veil,& then nuptial blessing. And right after that, there was a Holy Communion for baptised practicing Catholics who were present at the ceremony. Very interesting. That was soon followed by a couple of hymps - a communion hymn & thanksgiving hymn. Then we had a concluding rite & the signing of the marriage register. We sang "Just Let Me Say" while Ryan & Nicole signed the register. The conclusion of the ceremony was followed by some group photos (relatives, friends, etc) - which I somehow managed to miss.
The ceremony was marvellous. Soon after, me & BT would follow our cousins back to the Lai residence for a break & to get ready for the reception in KL. We stopped by & had some KFC on the way to the Lai home. Andrew, Val & my parents were taken to the Prince Hotel in KL (where the wedding reception was to be held) to rest up & change.
Prince Hotel has a 5 star rating - the inside is very nice & opulent. There were lots & lots of pictures taken before we entered the reception room. It was no less than what I had expected - after all, there were so many relatives & friends present. Even Uncle Paul & Aunty Daisy made the trip from Brisbane for this wedding day (in fact, both of them came to Malaysia in November for a holiday, a few weeks prior to the wedding). Plenty of pictures, plenty of catching up, chit chat & laughs. There was a huge turnout - at least as big a turnout as Nigel & Phuong's reception back in September. There was a band hired to perform. It was a grand reception!
There is no separate table at the front specifically for the bridal party like they have in Western countries. Instead, all the bridal party were dispersed. The table for the newlyweds had a huge floral arrangement in the middle, & that table also included our parents, Nicole's mother, sister & grandparents, & Aunty Jenny & Uncle Jimmy. Us groomsmen found ourselves at a separate table nearby, full of the Chin cousins (mum's nieces & nephews who interestingly, although on mum's side, all have the Tan surname). The bridesmaids themselves are in a separate table altogether. That, I was told, is the style in Malaysia.
The reception menu consisted of a multi-course (mostly Chinese) banquet, & they were all very delicious. There were 3 dishes I especially liked: the braised shark's fin with sun dried scallops & crab meat, the crispy roasted chicken with prawn crackers & seasonal salt, & the steamed sea grouper with supreme soya sauce (what a superb fish!). The wedding cake was huge - 4 tiers, almost as tall as Nicole! And then, there was also the pouring of the champagne.
A few people got the chance to propose a toast to the new couple - my toast was that God would bless any future children of Ryan & Nicole. That was followed by a very loud "yum seng" from the best man & myself! Aunty Carol would later joke that my parents must have had a heart attack at the sight of me screaming "yum seng" aloud.
There were speeches from Nicole's uncle, dad & of course, Ryan & Nicole. Nicole's uncle was very eloquent. Dad's speech was funny - his jokes were mostly at Ryan's expense (& I saw Ryan smiling & shaking his head a few times!).....which makes me dread what dad would say about me when it's my big day (that will be a long way away, but it's God's will). Haha. But it was good, & the relatives really enjoyed dad's speech.
The long day ended just before midnight. What a marvellous & unforgettable day it was, too. I thank God for that, & may the Lord bless Ryan & Nicole & their future! :)
dad's side - the Tan klan
wedding cake - very tall!
At the church, Ryan was looking as relaxed as ever. Very relaxed, in fact. And with good reason, too - the morning tea ceremony passed by very smoothly & everything seemed to have gone according to plan & on schedule (in fact, a little earlier than scheduled). With everything going very well, what else should Ryan be feeling if not relaxed? Soon, then the maid of honour & bridesmaids arrived & marched down the aisle. This was followed by Nicole, looking as radiant as ever, accompanied by her uncle who would be giving the bride away to Ryan. And so the ceremony began!
We were in a Catholic church, so the ceremony had some Catholic influence. My parents appeared normal, & mum wasn't emotional as I had expected. There was a choir, too, which presented us with "Lilies of the Field". The choir was superb - great choice by Ryan & Nicole. All in all, the ceremony was not very long at all, & it went by so smoothly. Praise God for that. We had the singing, Bible reading, rite of marriage, blessing of rings, exchanging of rings, lifting of the veil,& then nuptial blessing. And right after that, there was a Holy Communion for baptised practicing Catholics who were present at the ceremony. Very interesting. That was soon followed by a couple of hymps - a communion hymn & thanksgiving hymn. Then we had a concluding rite & the signing of the marriage register. We sang "Just Let Me Say" while Ryan & Nicole signed the register. The conclusion of the ceremony was followed by some group photos (relatives, friends, etc) - which I somehow managed to miss.
The ceremony was marvellous. Soon after, me & BT would follow our cousins back to the Lai residence for a break & to get ready for the reception in KL. We stopped by & had some KFC on the way to the Lai home. Andrew, Val & my parents were taken to the Prince Hotel in KL (where the wedding reception was to be held) to rest up & change.
Prince Hotel has a 5 star rating - the inside is very nice & opulent. There were lots & lots of pictures taken before we entered the reception room. It was no less than what I had expected - after all, there were so many relatives & friends present. Even Uncle Paul & Aunty Daisy made the trip from Brisbane for this wedding day (in fact, both of them came to Malaysia in November for a holiday, a few weeks prior to the wedding). Plenty of pictures, plenty of catching up, chit chat & laughs. There was a huge turnout - at least as big a turnout as Nigel & Phuong's reception back in September. There was a band hired to perform. It was a grand reception!
There is no separate table at the front specifically for the bridal party like they have in Western countries. Instead, all the bridal party were dispersed. The table for the newlyweds had a huge floral arrangement in the middle, & that table also included our parents, Nicole's mother, sister & grandparents, & Aunty Jenny & Uncle Jimmy. Us groomsmen found ourselves at a separate table nearby, full of the Chin cousins (mum's nieces & nephews who interestingly, although on mum's side, all have the Tan surname). The bridesmaids themselves are in a separate table altogether. That, I was told, is the style in Malaysia.
The reception menu consisted of a multi-course (mostly Chinese) banquet, & they were all very delicious. There were 3 dishes I especially liked: the braised shark's fin with sun dried scallops & crab meat, the crispy roasted chicken with prawn crackers & seasonal salt, & the steamed sea grouper with supreme soya sauce (what a superb fish!). The wedding cake was huge - 4 tiers, almost as tall as Nicole! And then, there was also the pouring of the champagne.
A few people got the chance to propose a toast to the new couple - my toast was that God would bless any future children of Ryan & Nicole. That was followed by a very loud "yum seng" from the best man & myself! Aunty Carol would later joke that my parents must have had a heart attack at the sight of me screaming "yum seng" aloud.
There were speeches from Nicole's uncle, dad & of course, Ryan & Nicole. Nicole's uncle was very eloquent. Dad's speech was funny - his jokes were mostly at Ryan's expense (& I saw Ryan smiling & shaking his head a few times!).....which makes me dread what dad would say about me when it's my big day (that will be a long way away, but it's God's will). Haha. But it was good, & the relatives really enjoyed dad's speech.
The long day ended just before midnight. What a marvellous & unforgettable day it was, too. I thank God for that, & may the Lord bless Ryan & Nicole & their future! :)
at the church - Ryan & the groomsmen (the one left of Ryan is our cousin & the best man)
the ceremony well under way
brother & sister - Val & Brendan
dad's side - the Tan klan
mum's side - the Chin klan
Val & the Chin cousins (the 3 ladies seated with Val are the best man's sisters)
that's us with mum's nephews & nieces
the brilliant couple has arrived!
wedding cake - very tall!
they might need a bigger knife than that!
the newlywed's table
pouring the champagne
a wonderful couple & a day to remember :)
very nice!
group photo at the newlywed's table
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Ryan & Nicole's wedding celebration (Part 1)
I spent much of this year, & especially the last few months of 2008, thinking about this particular day. It's all about this 1 day. We talked about it almost constantly. At every family dinner, we talked about this day. Sometimes when I hung out with friends, I would talk about this day. It was almost an obsession. It is the reason I made the 3 week overseas trip which ended just a few days ago. The day which I am referring to, which I have been going on & on about for months, is Saturday 27/12/2008, the last Saturday of 2008. That is the day my brother Ryan & his beloved Nicole had their wedding ceremony & reception in KL. It is a memorable day for Ryan & Nicole, & their families & friends. Ryan & Nicole had their registry marriage exactly 3 months before that in Brisbane. That was 3 months ago. The time to celebrate was on 27/12/2008 - & how we all celebrated!! It was a fantastic & memorable day for everyone. It was one of the best days of my life :) A very long day, but definitely one to cherish. Me & my youngest brother, BT, were Ryan's groomsmen, with the best man being our cousin Chee Yen (Ivan Tan on Facebook). Nicole's sister Priscilla was the maid of honour, with the bridesmaids being 2 of Nicole's friends.
The night before the wedding, myself & BT went with another cousin, Nicholas Lai, to stay at his church member's house as there was no room at the Lai residence. We woke up pretty early on the morning of the wedding, got dressed & went over to the Lai residence to have breakfast. Ryan & Chee Yen were already there - they had stayed at a hotel the night before. After a quick breakfast, I accompanied Ryan in the bridal car, to head over to Nicole's place. BT & Chee Yen made their way in a separate car. At Nicole's place, we were going to do the tea ceremony. Ryan would go upstairs to bring his bride from her bedroom. Very soon, masses of friends & relatives would arrive - so many people! There was plenty of food set up on the tables outside the home. And the tea ceremony then began.
The tea ceremony was quite long - even longer than Val & Andrew's tea ceremony 2 years ago. But we didn't feel it - the tea ceremony went by so smoothly that it finished well ahead of schedule - about 1 hour ahead of schedule! Wow, talk about good planning! I never before heard of tea ceremonies which finish so far ahead of schedule. I managed to catch up with some of my relatives. Surprisingly, I didn't really get grilled over when is my turn (to get married). Anyway, the day was so hot, so we stayed indoors, in the comforts of the air conditioner. The early finish to the tea ceremony meant that we had plenty of time to head over to The Church of St Francis Xavier (in Petaling Jaya) for the wedding ceremony. And off we would go to the church. Mind u - the relaxed lead up to Ryan & Nicole's wedding ceremony was a sharp contrast with the frantic scramble before Val & Andrew's wedding ceremony 2 years ago (haha, I still remember).
The night before the wedding, myself & BT went with another cousin, Nicholas Lai, to stay at his church member's house as there was no room at the Lai residence. We woke up pretty early on the morning of the wedding, got dressed & went over to the Lai residence to have breakfast. Ryan & Chee Yen were already there - they had stayed at a hotel the night before. After a quick breakfast, I accompanied Ryan in the bridal car, to head over to Nicole's place. BT & Chee Yen made their way in a separate car. At Nicole's place, we were going to do the tea ceremony. Ryan would go upstairs to bring his bride from her bedroom. Very soon, masses of friends & relatives would arrive - so many people! There was plenty of food set up on the tables outside the home. And the tea ceremony then began.
The tea ceremony was quite long - even longer than Val & Andrew's tea ceremony 2 years ago. But we didn't feel it - the tea ceremony went by so smoothly that it finished well ahead of schedule - about 1 hour ahead of schedule! Wow, talk about good planning! I never before heard of tea ceremonies which finish so far ahead of schedule. I managed to catch up with some of my relatives. Surprisingly, I didn't really get grilled over when is my turn (to get married). Anyway, the day was so hot, so we stayed indoors, in the comforts of the air conditioner. The early finish to the tea ceremony meant that we had plenty of time to head over to The Church of St Francis Xavier (in Petaling Jaya) for the wedding ceremony. And off we would go to the church. Mind u - the relaxed lead up to Ryan & Nicole's wedding ceremony was a sharp contrast with the frantic scramble before Val & Andrew's wedding ceremony 2 years ago (haha, I still remember).
Ryan bring Nicole downstairs
tea ceremony - Aunty Ivy (Nicole's mother)
tea ceremony - Ryan's parents
Ryan & Nicole with Ryan's 3 siblings & brother-in-law
Ryan & Nicole with mum & dad
Ryan with the groomsmen
Sunday, January 11, 2009
My overseas trip (Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei)
Just got back from my overseas trip a couple of days ago. I was away for almost 3 weeks - most of which was spent in Klang Valley (i.e. KL & the surrounding metropolitan areas), but I also spent some time in Singapore & very briefly Brunei. It was one heck of a vacation. Fantastic, memorable, & unforgettable.
The main highlight was my brother's wedding celebration near the end of last month (see the next 2 blog posts). It was a grand day for the families & friends of both bride & bridegroom. Personally, it is a day I will savour forever. And it made the overseas trip such a memorable one! Praise the Lord for that!
Besides my brother's wedding, there were also other things of note from the trip:
- The people I came to visit; I enjoyed the catching up with relatives & friends - the chats & laughs, etc.
- Making some new friends from the Lai cousins' church, e.g. Frederick Tan who supports Man Utd. There's also Emerick & his brother Adriel, who supports Real Madrid, & I gave him a bit of "grief" when reminding him of Barcelona's recent 2-0 win over Madrid in December's El Clasico).
- Lots of Malays in Malaysia.
- Being woken up by cousin's "Sponge Bob Square Pants" alarm ringtone almost every morning!
- Watching UEFA Champions League second round draw live from hotel in Brunei (which I stayed overnight en route to KL).
- Watching "Transformers The Movie" on the bus trip from KL to Singapore.
- New Year's Day fireworks in Singapore.
- Touching a live snake on Sentosa Island, Singapore.
- Visit to Singapore Zoo on New Year's evening (unfortunately, it was at night & unfortunately, I never got to see some wild animals that I was hoping to see like tiger & Nile crocodile).
- The mega-sized shopping malls in Klang Valley & Singapore, though some of the things are expensive. It seems everytime I visit Malaysia, new shopping malls sprout up.
- The shopping I did in shopping malls & street markets. (Andrew & Val say I bought a lot of things, but I would beg to differ!)
- Malays, Malays, & more Malays.
- The food!!
I could go on & on......but yeah, there were some really good memories which will remain with me forever :)
Anyway, on that last point above (food), of course, u can't go to Asia without sampling the wonderful food! Certainly, that applies to Malaysia & Singapore. I reckon I must have consumed ice kacang (my favourite dessert) at least 6 times during the 20 day trip. Anyway, here are pictures I took of some of the food I was fortunate enough to get to eat during this overseas trip:
AMW root beer & waffle
steamed fish
chicken rice & crispy skin pork
The main highlight was my brother's wedding celebration near the end of last month (see the next 2 blog posts). It was a grand day for the families & friends of both bride & bridegroom. Personally, it is a day I will savour forever. And it made the overseas trip such a memorable one! Praise the Lord for that!
Besides my brother's wedding, there were also other things of note from the trip:
- The people I came to visit; I enjoyed the catching up with relatives & friends - the chats & laughs, etc.
- Making some new friends from the Lai cousins' church, e.g. Frederick Tan who supports Man Utd. There's also Emerick & his brother Adriel, who supports Real Madrid, & I gave him a bit of "grief" when reminding him of Barcelona's recent 2-0 win over Madrid in December's El Clasico).
- Lots of Malays in Malaysia.
- Being woken up by cousin's "Sponge Bob Square Pants" alarm ringtone almost every morning!
- Watching UEFA Champions League second round draw live from hotel in Brunei (which I stayed overnight en route to KL).
- Watching "Transformers The Movie" on the bus trip from KL to Singapore.
- New Year's Day fireworks in Singapore.
- Touching a live snake on Sentosa Island, Singapore.
- Visit to Singapore Zoo on New Year's evening (unfortunately, it was at night & unfortunately, I never got to see some wild animals that I was hoping to see like tiger & Nile crocodile).
- The mega-sized shopping malls in Klang Valley & Singapore, though some of the things are expensive. It seems everytime I visit Malaysia, new shopping malls sprout up.
- The shopping I did in shopping malls & street markets. (Andrew & Val say I bought a lot of things, but I would beg to differ!)
- Malays, Malays, & more Malays.
- The food!!
I could go on & on......but yeah, there were some really good memories which will remain with me forever :)
Anyway, on that last point above (food), of course, u can't go to Asia without sampling the wonderful food! Certainly, that applies to Malaysia & Singapore. I reckon I must have consumed ice kacang (my favourite dessert) at least 6 times during the 20 day trip. Anyway, here are pictures I took of some of the food I was fortunate enough to get to eat during this overseas trip:
AMW root beer & waffle
chicken & beef satay
dhosai with dhal & curry
forgot the exact name....i think it's Malay-style chicken with curry/chilli sauce (it goes with nasi kandar)
steamboat (in tom yum soup)
steamed fish
oar jien a.k.a. oyster omelette (in Singapore)
masala dhosai (in Singapore)
roti telur with fish curry (in Singapore)
Western breakfast (Grand Copthorne Hotel, Singapore)
oar jien (again - at same place hawker place in Singapore - it's so good i went back a second time!)
chee cheong fun (Cantonese steamed rice roll)
wu tau guo (Chinese yam cake)
mamak rojak/Indian rojak
kangkung (Malaysian vege) & clams
crabs
ice kacang (the tallest one i had on this trip!); on the right is steamed bun with curry puff filling
chwee kway a.k.a. pinyin (steamed rice cake)
banana leaf lunch
chicken rice & crispy skin pork
dinner at Chinese restaurant in Subang (too many dishes to name)
durian (very quintessentially Malaysian)
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