Food Fair @ Suntec

Cheese sausages in a row

Very nice...I like!

They can't believe the huge KONG BAH PAO they see

ROARRRR! CAN YOU DIG IT!!?@?@?@

Yeah it's fake, but I don't care.

And that was lunch. So there.

Zheng pre-puke, Things made of chocolate, Din Tai Fung

Here you go Kings, seconds before he almost pukes
(by the time he'd already changed his drink to minute maid)

This is a show made out of chocolate and candy. Found at Paragon basement.

This is an LG Life-sized Chocolate phone made of dark chocolate!

Up close...

Din Tai Fung Prawn thingy

DTF prawn dumplings

DTF Xiao Long Bao

68 working days left, in memory of the interns at B*tes

It suddenly seems less formidable. As we approach the halfway mark in our internship, let's pause and remember the people at B*tes.

For the 12-hour shifts they pull. For the work that goes unheeded, unused or unappreciated. For the perserverance they've shown. For the bitchiness they've had to put up with. For having the balls to rise above it all.

Because you are decent human beings. Because you have long ago decided that they can just go screw themselves. Because, you are better than that.

And for that, I salute you.

Press on.

How to conduct an office launch

How indeed?

Sometimes it gets discouraging. When you've tried your best but you know you're flogging a dead horse. Yes, it's not our fault. The project kinda got dumped on us.

So the event happened, complete with a typo, a politician who didn't listen but expected the audience to, and a geeky-looking beatboxer who might have saved the event from the depths of event hell.

I'm a newbie to all of this.

But I watch enough of the apprentice to know that when you are project manager, and the shit hits the fan, you're supposed to remain calm. You don't micro-manage. You don't get flustered and panicky, thus making everyone else equally flustered and panicky. You see the big picture. No?

And why would you ever want to deviate from a speech which has been carefully prepared and vetted to best convey the messages and intentions of the organisation that invited you to speak anyway? For an ego-trip? ooo, I'm so clever, I write better speeches than trained speech-writers and agencies who have spent hours poring over every loophole.

Come on.

The one bright spot was the geeky beatbox guy, we shall call him Hiro, because he also looks like Hiro Nakamura, the geeky Hero in Heroes. Haha. Oh, and the host was pretty funny too.

In any case, I fully expect that some shit-stirring will happen on Monday, with regards to the dismal media turnout and general disinterest. Maybe they'll take this as feedback and not come up with such ideas in the future.

The SMCR model of communications can be used to describe the client/agency relationship:

Client sends a message, through a medium, and the message is received by the agency.

Agency sends a message, through a medium, gets interrupted by an incredible amount of noise, and shrivels to a singular word: "yes".

Bah. No wonder the Prof last sem said Asians had a high level of cognitive dissonance.

Prize presentation, Toast, Duck and Utah-iTah pics

Mr. Aaron handing me the sneak tickets to 300 after my victory.

Mr. Aaron announced at 4:13pm on Wed that he was giving away two tickets to watch 300, with the contest being decided by who replied the quickest.

Naturally, with all the NTU fastest finger first training, I couldn't lose. (Jole was doing work)

The roast duck in plum sauce from the Asian Kitchen. It's good.

Peanut butter + chocolate cupcakes

The iced lemon tea from Toast is REALLY GOOD. Best I've tasted ever.

Zheng after his 3-4 glass of Sprite Zero

19. I did the math.

The worst presentation on a supposedly desirable item I've seen.

Ice cream is supposed to be comfort food. It's natural to market it in colourful little boxes and tubs, or pass it off as a high-class indulgence. But clinical white boxes that could just as well house frozen meat?? You've got to be kidding me.

The label says "no frills". At least they've got something right.

Things I have learned in the past two months

1. It never hurts to volunteer.
2. Smile. You're tired, grumpy and hungry. But smile. You will feel better.
3. Always be thankful for little things.
4. Never forget where you've come from, to get to where you want to be.
5. Some of your peers are doing more significant things than you.
6. Some of them are not.
7. None are having as good a time, nor as kickass an environment.
8. Routines give rise to complacency, which translates into mistakes. Make each day different.
9. If all you expect of an internship is to be an intern, your wish will be granted.
10. The workplace is the best place to practice empathy. Empathize with your peers, supes, clients and bosses. Believe there is always a reason for what they ask you to do. If none materialize, make one up.
11. Humility.
12. Forward thinking.
13. Some Excel skills.
14. Grab opportunity when it knocks.
15. Be thankful for supes that want you to learn.
16. Your colleagues and supes are not professors, don't expect them to give you lessons.
17. There's no need for an office bag if all you bring is an iPod.
18. Always take time to reflect your week, if not the day.
19. Constantly evaluate yourself after a task.
20. It is possible not to put on weight if you maintain an exercise regime.

I know this isn't what I usually post, but I'm in a reflective mood tonight. You may start to see more of these type of posts from now on. Maybe I can finally bring myself to blog for real.

U-tah, I-tah

To the world's shittiest drink. *Up yours*. I hate this drink and you can find out why here: U-tah, I-tah. Our stupid version of texas hold'em.

I need to pee.

BM CNY Dinner 2007 @ Grand Shanghai

Shanghainese drug lord

Damn style couple, Eric and Gen

Toto Foto (update: not so lucky after all!)

Group shot of happy people (Back, Left: Jole, Melvin, Mike, Kenneth, Me, Liru, Ping
Front, Left: Shuling, Dawn, Pat, Aaron, Gen, Selena)

Don't ask.

We even had Huang Fei Hong! a.k.a. Andrew

Media monitors are we

Magnum or Blue Steel?

Ten points to Kenneth for acting like a drunk.

Our foto table

I really wasn't ready. Really.

Ultimate tee-ko face

Just had our company dinner at the Grand Shanghai, a pretty classy place, I must say, which, sadly, was invaded by a conga line of drunks and a gyrating auntie from ph*llips. Let me explain.

Being a relatively small group comprising of four tables, we had one corner of the place to ourselves, though we were located right next to the toilet, and hence had a constant stream of curious onlookers enroute to the little boys room.

The main area, laid out like a 1950's Shanghainese lounge (at least I think so), was filled by about 50 or so office staff from Ph*llips. The night started off fine, the rich and soulful voice of the songstress there is reason enough for a return trip, I say. Her voice reverberated around the 150 capacity restaurant effortlessly with practiced ease and poise.

And then, alcohol happened.

Yes, we all are entitled to a few drinks now and then, but getting downright wasted and acting like an inconsiderate fool to the other paying patrons just isn't cool.

Yes Ph*llips. You guys were outta line. Well, you DID form a frigging conga line at around 9pm and yam-senged your voices away, BUT AT OUR EXPENSE.

Do it in your company office all you like. Do it at your niece's wedding for all I care. But when you are but one half of 150 people, you damn well show some respect and keep your nonsense to acceptable levels.

One or two times, heck, five times would've been ok. But you guys yam-senged at least 20 times in a row. Or more. WHY??

Ok. Rant over.

Over to the food. The food wasn't too bad, with the stand out dish being *gasp* the yusheng. Gone were the weird fake green things and overly sweet dressings. I like their yusheng.

The Peking duck was also pretty good. But the food was quite little overall. Oh well.

We tried really hard to have fun though. We went around taking polaroids and posing with ching chong accessories from Chinatown. woo! I think overall the place is really nice in terms of decor and ambience and band, food is ok, but watch out for the other patrons and tr to go on a weeknight lah.

Less chance of meeting horror patrons, damn that gyrating auntie is a bad memory. go away.

Wallpaper sized loof with additional people!

Here's to all those who comprained about the awkward sizing and their lack of appearances. Enjoy. To do this I had to find out how many pixels is one pica ok, stupid windows indesign.

I can't wait for Loof Deux

See lah Chit, now I damn gian. Stick this trailer on your blogs people. We'll have kick-ass hype like The Dancefloor. Only the real thing will rock.

A day of feasting

As promised, here are the pictures from today's visit to her Grand Aunt's place...

Be afraid. Be very afraid. Because what you are about to see will shock you.

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EIGHTEEN DISHES FOR LUNCH!

Can you dig it?!

They started cooking at 530 in the morning to prepare the following dishes (which I can remember)

Oyster sauce kailan
Potato and leek vegetable wrap (hakka dish)
Paper-wrapped chicken in black sauce
Braised duck
Hakka yong tau foo
Asam pedas
Deep fried codfish
Deep fried prawn dumplings
Hae chor (prawn wrap, something like ngoh hiang)
Roast pork
Steamed chicken
Sambal prawns

That's all I can recall eating. For lunch. After which I was told we would be headed for her mum's boss's place.

For dinner.

Damn nice house.

Sedap kueh pie tee!!

There was this huge tent which we went into to get food (incredible, since we already spent the better part of the day stuffing ourselves) and there was Pie tee, roast pork, roast duck, steamed chicken (notice the similarities), tang yuan, sea coconut with white fungus soup, satay, mee rebus, fondue, fruits, and more. There was also this:

Interesting looking ingot-shaped thing. Which I never tried, but looked nice. =)

And then, when we were about done, we found out that there was, gasp, another Peranakan counter on the other side of the tent. !!. Oh well, time to hit the gym tmr.

CNY rocks.

CNY lai liao

Yusheng like it's supposed to be. Awesome.

The result of my mum slaving away in the kitchen for at least 3 hours...

Many many ingredients.

This is how yu sheng should look like what. Not some weird-assed chendol looking slivers of artificially coloured jelly. Heck, it doesn't even contain fish. This one vegetarian yusheng ok. But hor, damn shiok. Seriously. I don't think I've tried better yusheng than the one my mum makes. Aww.

Reunion dinner with the Tan clan.

Grandma Tan had ten children, of which my Dad was one. We have reunion dinner with three others (and their children) every year, less than ten people in all, no need to book room.

Satay and wine. Anything goes.

Food also can action-shot one.

Top view of lo-hei

Steamboat

Steamboat from another angle

Year year got fish...jelly


My cousin Xuan, the cutest 4 year-old in the world.

Super cute!!!

PI-mate and I after our fourth glass of the white stuff.

More pictures from the office party and from tomorrow's visit to the missus's relatives'. Where a feast awaits. A Hakka feast...