http://tabulas.com/~ericb34r/ A Bear's Life Footprints of a Bear en Thu, 15 May 2008 15:00:17 +0000 Taken from All Saints Home Volunteers' site http://asvolunteer.blogspot.com
Come and Join us!!! =D

Hey friends out there, we will be recruiting new volunteers on 26th June 08...
the details are below:
(Ask your friend/colleague who is interested in experiencing volunteerism to come down)

find out what it’s all about at this orientation specially created for you, our Volunteers.

Date: Thursday, 26th June 08
Time: 7.00pm – 9.00pm (Registrations start at 6.45pm)
Venue: National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre
6 Eu Tong Sen Street, #04-88 , The Central
Singapore 059817
Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay MRT

What to expect…
An overview of the local volunteering scene.
Positive preparation – what it takes to be a Volunteer
Diversity – Volunteerism doesn’t just stop at social service… think creatively… nature conservation, performing arts and many more… the possibilities are infinite!

]]> http://tabulas.com/~ericb34r/1567625.html http://tabulas.com/~ericb34r/1567625.html Thu, 15 May 2008 15:00:16 +0000 JP Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge Yup, I went for JP Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge. You must be thinking "Someone like Eric run???". This time, I have to tell you, you are absolutely right! Hehehe... I don't run. Well, I don't like running. Hehehe... To me it's kinda boring sport. Sorry for all jogging lovers.

My company joined JP Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge last Wednesday. About 50 people from my company joined the run. We prepared our t-shirt. It's from New Balance. It turned out that some people use the same t-shirt. Hahaha... When we reached there. We saw some people wearing the same one, without our company logo of course. Then we thought oh noo.... That's not good. Can't really differentiate ourselves. Hiks...

Anyway, I joined them just to help them look after the bag and taking photos for them. I was like the official cameraman for the day. Hahaha... It was fun though. It was 5.6km run. It started from the bridge near Esplanade (Can't remember what the bridge called =P) Then they run to God-knows-where because I didn't follow them running. Hehehe... And finished at The Padang.

The faster runner was like about 17min. Oh my God, 15 mins??? I think If I run, I'll be like two hours to finish it. Hahaha... That's for male. For female was about 20min if I don't remember correctly. Well done guys!!! You are good.

But to my surprise, after an hour run, all our runners are back. Huhuhu... Amazing, they are good. Well done!!! You guys are good. =D

From there, we took dinner in Funan food court. There were about 12 of us left from the run to have dinner there. Some of the others went to Marina Square food court I heard, and some left home right after the run. Hehehe...

That's all the story from JP Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge. Oh ya, this year total runner was 13000. Yup, huge number hey... =D

]]> http://tabulas.com/~ericb34r/1562147.html http://tabulas.com/~ericb34r/1562147.html Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:09:12 +0000 My weekend... Another weekend has passed. =D What did I do this weekend??? Hmm... Friday, went to NTU for a BBQ. It's actually a farewell dinner for one of the staff which I know also since I worked in NTU before. Someone from the group left to join another company. Yeay... Congratulations!!! You have graduated... Now, only one person left in BioE from the old batch. Hahaha... You know who you are. So, when are you gonna graduate too? Looking forward for your graduation dinner. =P

Saturday, I went to Changi Village. Yup, Changi Village. It's the second time I went there actually. The first one, I went there only to get boat to Pulau Ubin. This time, me and my friends walked around the place. I went there with fellow All Saints volunteer with some of people from HSBC Insurance. We went there to view the suitable place for our outing. It's not really our outing, it's actually outing for our aunties and uncles in All Saints home. =D It's sponsored by HSBC Insurance. Some of the staff will be joining us too. Yeay... Thank you HSBC... =D

The place is actually good. Well, for us to go around, but unfortunately, it's not a really good place for outing for the elderly. There's no sheltered place to cover the elderly from the heat. You know Singapore is so hot!!! Even I almost fainted due to the heat that day. =) Oh well, we gonna go to Botanical Garden next week to view the place. But I can't go next week. We all depend on you guys!!! Not too worry, Edmund and Carolyn will be there. Right guys? =D

Alright, after the hot walk around the Changi Beach, we went to the hawker center for lunch!!! Yeay... It was almost 2pm when we ate. I was starving. And I believe you know that Changi Village is famous for the good food. Although it's a bit far from civilization. So, I decided to get nasi lemak for myself. The famous nasi lemak. The queue was so longggg... Not sure how long it took to queue. But finally I got my nasi lemak. When I ate it, it's nothing special. It's just as per normal nasi lemak. It's over-rated I found. And the portion was so small!!! Aiyo, can hardly fill my stomach, so I decided to get another food which turned out to be Hokkien mee. Hehehe... It has one of those newspaper paste and stuff too. It is actually nice. For this Hokkien mee, I agree that it tastes nice. =D

Then from there, we went to our lovely All Saints Home, we befriended with the elderlies and Kee Teck brought his Ipod shuffle and speaker to play songs around while befriending. Hehehe... Well done Kee Teck!!! After service, we went for dinner at the usual place and headed home. =D That's my Saturday!!! Hot Saturday that was.

Sunday, as usual, I was bored to almost dead. Nothing much going on. I decided to read some stuff for my master project. It's difficult!!! Huaaa.... Why did I choose this topic??? ='( Tones of equations, partial differentials and stuff. I forgot everything about these. Hiks hiks... Must tahan must tahan!!! Come on Eric, you can do it!!! Yeah!!!

]]> http://tabulas.com/~ericb34r/1561507.html http://tabulas.com/~ericb34r/1561507.html Sun, 27 Apr 2008 14:16:26 +0000 Till we meet again, my dear friend... One of the bravest girl I ever met...

]]> http://tabulas.com/~ericb34r/1560005.html http://tabulas.com/~ericb34r/1560005.html Tue, 22 Apr 2008 13:07:49 +0000 Hi all... Hi all, it's been a while. I can't believe how fast time flies. It's April now, before you know it, it's gonna be May. A third of the year has passed. And when you think what you have been doing? It's a lot yet seems so little.

I am back now in Singapore. After 18months in UK, I finally came back to tiny island of Singapore. It's not that I am looking forward coming back. I have to say that I love it there. It was a great one and half year of my life. Can't believe it passed so fast. I made so many new friends, some of which (read it: All)I never forget. Working (or training for that matter) there is a different experience. I love the way the people work over there. They work hard and yet they play hard. They know how to balance their life. I really miss UK. We'll meet again guys. Some time some where on this planet. Thank you for everything.

Now, I am back to Singapore. I am working in Tuas South, which you probably know it's out of civilization though Singapore is not so big anyway. I worked 8 to 5 now. So far, nothing much since my plant is still under construction. I heard it's gonna be busy soon when all the commisioning starts. I am not sure whether I will be going home on time again or not. =( So sad...

Singapore, after coming back, few things have changed. There a lot new building around here. Singapore is building more and more malls. There is a new Singapore fliers which look similar to London Eye. A new IR is being built. It's a lot of construction going on there. Orchard road received new malls. The old Scotts is no longer there. It's gonna be changed with this new mall. Sommerset area is also having a new mall. Wow... You guys're really into malls, aren't you? Hehehe...

I guess shopping is one of the main relaxing activities in Singapore ya. =P To be honest, I am a bit lazy to go to those crowded places. Look at Orchard road, or any malls in Singapore during weekend. It's crowded like crazy. Sometime just want to have quiet weekend. I just thought, I have to get out of the country to do that. Hahaha...

I will be going dive again. To me, that's the most relaxing time. When you go to the island. There's nothing worries me. I can relax. All I have to do is have fun and enjoying myself. I really love to dive. Can't wait for my next trip which is in June.

This is my first post after so long. It's a bit here and there. It's just me mumbling. Hehehe... There's a lot of things I can tell you. I'll let you know again next coming posts. I hope I am not to lazy to tell my story here...

Cheers guys...

]]> http://tabulas.com/~ericb34r/1554262.html http://tabulas.com/~ericb34r/1554262.html Sun, 20 Apr 2008 06:28:04 +0000 Happy New Year 2008!!! Happy New Year 2008!!!

Doesn't matter whether we had good or bad year, we have a whole new year this year!!! Let's have a great one, shall we!?!?!]]> http://tabulas.com/~ericb34r/1512423.html http://tabulas.com/~ericb34r/1512423.html Tue, 01 Jan 2008 16:26:27 +0000 Visa application Just got back from Italian embassy. I went there to apply for my visa for my trip in January. I was planning to go for a skiing trip there.

I went there after I had an appointment with them and came in the morning. I reached there at about 1030 in the morning. It's after they have a problem with the railway that there were no train from Slough to London Paddington. In the end, I took train from Slough to Windsor and from Windsor I took train to London Waterloo. It's a longer way. I ended up reach the embassy one hour later than I was planning.

When I reached there, I took a number and waited for my turn. It didn't take long for my turn. When I reached the locket, I submitted all my documents. The lady there checked all the documents. When she checked my work permit visa, she just noticed that it's less than 3 months from my trip. That is when she told me that she cannot proceed with my application because of that. I asked her to try to apply for me anyway. But she refused!!! Oh noo... I asked her again but she said that she can't or won't.

I walked off from the embassy with dissapointment. It's not that I will stay there if that's what they are afraid of. It's not that I going to do something bad when I am there. I just want to go there for holiday and have fun with my friends. I have booked everything, accomodation and return flight as well.

It's really dissapointing. I can't join my friends for this trip. Was really looking forward for this trip. Oh well, I think it can't be help. I am really sorry guys... You all have to travel for me. Enjoy the trip and take more pictures for me to see. ='( ]]> http://tabulas.com/~ericb34r/1511468.html http://tabulas.com/~ericb34r/1511468.html Thu, 27 Dec 2007 14:43:00 +0000 Amsterdam Trip Day Four
Right, so now is the fourth day, I am spending the day alone in the town of Amsterdam. Today, I am walking around the town by myself, enjoying the town. =D Started early, had breakfast in the hostel. I met with a group of aunties in there. They are from Malaysia apparently. Had chit chat a while having breakfast.

First stop of the day was Sex museum. Yup, I went in there. Hahaha... Got a few intersting stuff inside there. Hehehe... Marylin Monroe as she was the sex symbol last time. There're some other stuff that are interesting. You know when you go there. =P

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Sex Museum

Then I walked around the city, went to one of the market. Not a very good market. Amsterdam made of lot of canals around the city. Everywhere you go, you will see canals. People travel around the city in boats as well. They have bridges that open to let boats pass.

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Around the city

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I came across this fish shop. They sold Herrings. They eat them raw with pickles and onions. They are quite nice, really. I like it. =D

Then I walked towards the Heineken experience. This is where they used to make the Heineken beer. Now it is a tourist attraction. So I went in there and it's nice place. I like it. Once you get in, they gave me three coins. Three for redeem three pints of beer and one for free gift at the end. They showed us how beer are made. We went through the fermenter where they made the beer before. It's kinda fun. They really make the place fun. There were two bars in the place. We can trade our first coin in the first bar, then the other two in the second bar. =D

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Heineken Experience

You can make pictures, videos in there as well. They make a place to take pics of our own with some of the Heineken frames and send it to friends. There are place where we can be DJ, saw lotsa ads of Heineken beers. It is enjoyable. =D

From there, I walked to Anne Frank Huis. It's a house where Frank family hid from the Nazy for 2 years because they are Jews. For the whole two years, they stayed at the back of the office. It's a hiding place behind. It's amazing and sad together for them to stay there. Imagine you stayed in a small house for two years. Within that two years, you have to be very quite so that people won't hear you, specially in the afternoon because there were people working in the front. Anne Frank wrote a diary everyday in that two years which explained the life she gone through. Until somebody reported them to the Nazy. After the war, only the father survived. And he got the diary of Anne Frank. He then published the diary which become famous. You may find the diary in the book store now.

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Then I walked pass the Church beside Anne Frank Huis where FC told me there are photos of animals. He liked the photos. He went to Amsterdam a week before me. =D So, from there, I walked back to the hostel and took my backpack and went to the airport.

In the airport, I just walked around, trying to shop but bought nothing in the end. Hahaha... Went to the rooftop where we can see the aeroplanes flew or landed. =D And there are a lot of people with binoculars to see the aeroplanes. I think they must be aeroplane enthusiasts. They make a note of what type of aeroplane landing. Hehehe... Seems they really enjoy it. =D

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Then, it's time to go home. Reach back to Slough. Hehehe... It's been fun trip.]]> http://tabulas.com/~ericb34r/1496775.html http://tabulas.com/~ericb34r/1496775.html Mon, 12 Nov 2007 10:55:19 +0000 Amsterdam Trip day Three
Right, so the third day, I spent my day walking around city of Amsterdam. Emmy and Ruby had gone back to Paris. Since I am alone, and FC recommend a day tour of Amsterdam, I joined the tour. We went around to shoe making factory, Cheese factory, go visit Volendam (a fisherman village), went on a boat, to a ceramic making factory. Went to Den Haag after that, and finally went to Madurodam. That's a whole day gone. Hehehe... Pictures explain everything. =D

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Shoe making, Holland with windmills

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Cheese Factory

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Volendam and me on the boat

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Ceramic making factory

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Madurodam

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How far I was...

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Giants invasion, Run!!!

]]> http://tabulas.com/~ericb34r/1493814.html http://tabulas.com/~ericb34r/1493814.html Sun, 04 Nov 2007 10:09:00 +0000 Amsterdam Trip Day Two
Second day, Sunday, three of us went to Rotterdam. This time, we came to visit Eve and Ralph. We reached the station in the morning about 9am. Eve came to meet us in the Station. Ralph joined us next. Then there is this friend of Ralph whom I forgot his name (sorry... -_-'). Eve and Ralph gonna showed us Rotterdam. =D

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Bicycle parking, look at the sign "Kiss and Ride" Hahaha... So you need to kiss first before you ride bicycle??? Nice... =P

First thing first, we rent bicycles. Hehehe... Yup, I guess you all know Holland and bicycles are almost the same word. =P Oh well, in my mind anyway. Hahaha... Anyway, we rented three bicycles for Emmy, me and Ralph's friend. Hehehe... Ruby decided not to rent the bicycle and so Ralph had to have an extra person to carry. =P

We went around the city with bicycle, first we went to an Ice cream shop. The ice cream is really nice. It's near the market. The market is really crowded. We just passed by the market and there were performance by kids at the end of the road. We watched for a little while before continue our journey. =D

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Crowded High Street

We passed the metro station in Rotterdam. It's a famous one I think, though I can't remember the name =P There many funny building. They said that Rotterdam is famous for the architect. The buildings there are more modern then Amsterdam. It has high buildings around the city, not usual for city in Europe.

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Funny Building and the metro station

Then we went to this lake. It's kinda nice place to relax and chill. We sat down to rest in one of the park. There are a lot people enjoying the sun, children playing on the "sandy beach."

From there, we cycled pass the river. We went to this place called Strand aan de Maas. The place is actually man made beach. It's beside the river. They open during summer only and every summer they make this place again, put in some sand. It gave the feeling that you are on the beach. Hehehe... Kinda cool.

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Strand aan de Maas

We went for dinner after that. We ate at Wok to Go. It sells Chinese food in a box. Hehehe... I dunno why I don't have the pics, maybe my batery ran out. =( By the end of the day, we went home. I went back to Amsterdam and the girls went back to Paris. I still have another two days in Amsterdam on my own. Hehehe...
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All of us in Train station before we went home
]]> http://tabulas.com/~ericb34r/1493675.html http://tabulas.com/~ericb34r/1493675.html Sat, 03 Nov 2007 23:38:00 +0000