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test test.. hello hello

there's something wrong with blogger... i cant seem to edit my posts.. but i can post though..

Oh Yeah Baby Yeah

IF you look at the side bar, you'll notice a new banner!!! "The Photo Book"



I read from some book that it's a good idea to have an album with ten of your best photos, sort of a portfolio. To keep the standard up, once better photos are taken, I will use them to replace the old ones. Go on and click on it!

Another thing, thanks to my Mum, she has loaned me enough money to buy my dream camera... this beast, the Canon EOS 350D...wooohoooo


The power in my hands!


Just clicking on it feels good. I'll now be able to overcome some of the limitations of my prosumer camera, like noisy pictures in low lighting, slow set up time, slow focusing, shutter lag, etc. This thing can continuously snap at 3 frames per second! All this to serve YOU better... ;)

A Short Post

Time: 0912 hours

Last night, KTV at the Chevrons until late... She works next door to the Chevrons, my heart aches a little everytime I'm near by.

The duty free beer costs $2.50 per mug but it's so fucking light, 3 mugs felt like 3 mugs of water.

Sang until our voices were hoarse

Time to take a crap before leaving for work

Work starts at 1030 today and ends at 1900.

Note to self: Write a thank you note to my interviewer.

Seeya

Time: 0917 hours

Time Machine

Brilliant!

taken from; The Straits Times, Digital Life segment, 20 September 2005

Paved Over

They paved over my corridor just last week.
A fresh layer of concrete, I need one of these...
So they laid these planks for us to walk over during the drying process

Kelong themed HDB flats

I decided to test the dryness of the new layer with my finger

oops...

But they came to touch it up the next day... sigh...
Thought I could show my grand kids

fuck you

Commemoration at Kranji

We Will Remember Them

The place came to life this morning. From a far we could see tour buses and cars filling up the grass patch of a make shift parking lot just outside the cemetery. 645am, daylight was sparingly being introduced to the darkened skies. Sailors dressed in their smart white uniforms ushered visitors onto the lawn where white chairs were lined facing the memorial.

Most of the seats where already filled by Seven. Veterans from all over the world gathered here yet again for another ceremony, each year their ranks getting thinner and thinner. Today, the 12th of September marks the 60th Anniversary of the end of the war when the Japanese formally surrendered to the Allied forces in Singapore in 1945.

I told myself that I had to witness this event, for this might just be the last major commemorative event for WWII as veterans get older and older with each passing year.

Here are 15 photographs that best tell the story...

Dawn: Two Navy contingents stand at ease as the ceremony is about to commence

They came from afar:

This veteran, like many others, made it to the ceremony on wheelchairs and walking sticks.


A prayer for all faiths:

Various religious leaders were engaged to say silent prayers for the dead.


Standing up:

Twice, the congregation had to stand up, once for the minutes' silence and once for the National Anthem at the end of the dedication.


Dipping the flag:

As the national Anthem of Singapore was being played.

Kudos to the RI choir for their beautiful rendition of the Majulah Singapura


At Attention:

Navy orderlies flanking the rows of the memorial walls during the proceedings, they were called to attention before marching off.


Stars: I wonder what stories he has to tell

War Heroine:

Elizabeth Choy (2nd from left) with news reporter Pek Siok Lian (on her right)


Overwhelming: A young man looking at the names of the dead

Medals galore:

They caught me taking a picture of them and they promptly posed for me.


Right about here: Two women veterans looking for the grave of a friend perhaps...?


Salute: A lone soldier pays his respects


The story behind the name:

School children listen intently to their tour guide tell the story of the men of Operation Rimau, a failed mission to sink Japanese ships in the Singapore Harbour.


Planting Crosses:

This veteran was planting commemorative wooden crosses infront of this row of graves. I didn't ask him how he knew those men but I noticed they were all from the Royal Artillery


Leaving the past behind:

Beyond the gate is the hustle and bustle of modern Singapore, a veteran steals a moment to have a smoke.

For The Fallen

They went with songs to battle, they were young,
straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow,
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,
We will remember them,

ALL: We will remember them.

Kranji War Cemetery II

They Died For All Free Men

My second visit to Kranji war cemetery was on a Friday morning, I took leave and I drove my Dad's car (cos my parents were on holiday) there amid the morning rush, but not before having a prata breakfast along the laid back side of Sembawang Road. On arriving, it seemed that the cemetery didn't escape the buzz, workers were polishing the marble on Benjamin Sheares' tomb. Some of the green fingers were doing their gardening, maintaining the flowers that smile upon the graves. Some guys were mowing the already short grass...

Walking past all that activity, I made it to the memorial. Between the walls of names of the dead, a few "vaults" held the memorial register. Curiously, I pried open the metal door to one of the "vaults". To my pleasant surprise, visitors left pictures, cards and information printouts in them.


A Face to the name

Their names surround me, names, names and more names. Screaming out at me in the silence, they all seemed to be vying for my attention but at the same time they seemed so detached. The pictures that were left behind gave faces to some of the names. Black and White was the colour of their time, many of them show men in their prime.


Names

Some printouts from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission were found too. Casualty information made available online to family members looking for commemorations of their loved ones make it all an easier task.


In memory

Another pleasant surprise from the "vault" awaited me. This was the story of one of the POWs who survived captivity and lived a long life. Not all the stories here have sad endings. It kind of reminded me of the movie Saving Private Ryan where "Ryan" was saved from battle at the cost of the lives of the rescue team. The dying Captain of the team in his last breaths told him; "Earn This"


A second chance at life


Elite; The mark of a paratrooper, a modern concept at that time.

How does one forgive the deeds that resulted in the death and destruction of so many? I suppose it's just war and I guess, it's the only way to move on. We cannot hold grudges forever. I believe that many of the people who fought the war didn't want to but fought because it was the right thing to do then. Hence forget, we must not, as we can never allow this to happen again, ever.


Forget me not

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the end of WWII in the Asia Pacific. A dedication service to honour and commemorate all those who sacrificed their lives will be held at 7 am on the 12th of September 2005 at Kranji War Memorial. Admission is Free. Tel: (65) 6269 6158

To view the rest of the pictures for Part II click here.

For Part I of this feature click here.

I HATE PINK

It's ok, I'll start with this bamboo pole holder

Lust for Bust

Hey folks,

try this game!!
see how long u can check out a babe before getting caught!


think u can seek a peak at your buddy's hot sister?

it can be done, it just takes practice...