Sinfully Good ......

How to work towards a common goal when everyone has its own agenda ?

My 5th day at work. Probably won't be my first choice in the companies I would want to work for. It is big and damn big but there are too much rumours out there on how much you time and effort you had to invest in. I felt it could be a good platform for me to take the challenge ....

Today I witnessed something in which not only time and effort I will be putting in. Your mental buffer to take shit of any form must be very adequate, if not, probably you would just disintegrate into the air.

To blend in a new environment takes time, you have to identify and remember key people of each teams which can help you with your agenda. Sometimes, it is a direct help, or could be a collaboration, or could be you need to help them, etc.

Almost every work there will be projects, whether be it technology related or not. So you could be competent in certain areas whether technically or management wise or co-ordinating wise or communication wise or PR wise or abit of everything. So PMI or CITPM comes in place, it basically gives you a guideline on how to successfully plan, execute, control and deliver a project on time and on budget.

I come to realise that it can only be a foundation to work on as other critical factors really surpasses PMI or CITPM. Like ...

Corporate Culture
Corporate Processes and Policies
Local and Regional Restriction
Office Politics
Relationships
Individual Work Load
Objective vs Realistic

Someone with substantial weight send an email which I did not get a chance to read but definitely has its blend of sweet and short pricks, ironic sarcasism, etc. This was send to my boss's boss's boss's boss. So boss obviously was agitated and try to "big issue make small, small issue make nothing". It was a string of unfortunate events that lead to this which I felt can be prevented or at least very much mitigated.

A rule that worked everywhere. You might have did 1,000,000,000,000 good things and if you did a mistake ....... Just be prepared. The tolerance level for mistakes in today's working environment is as little as you can imagine.

Sometimes you would overlook certain details, simply there is just a limit that one person can do or handle or co-ordinate at a time or time frame. Therefore, the so called the Project Manager or the "Scape Goat" must be steady pom pi pi, if not ... can only pray. But then, this always is not the case.

Of course, he can also hope that his team steady pom pi pi then maybe he can rely on them. Then usually, this "team" rarely is dedicated and are shared resources so it is back to the "there is just a limit that one person can do or handle or co-ordinate at a time or time frame" rule.

Anyway, part and parcel of work. Basically 2 options, do or don't do. Soon my turn to take on the role of "How to work towards a common goal when everyone has its own agenda". Let's see how it goes ...

小情歌

这是一首简单的小情歌 唱着人们心肠的曲折
我想我很快乐 当有你的温热
脚边的空气转了
这是一首简单的小情歌 唱着我们心头的白鸽
我想我很适合 当一个歌颂者
青春在风中飘着

你知道就算大雨让这座城市颠倒
我会给你怀抱
受不了看见你背影来到
写下我度秒如年难捱的离骚
就算整个世界被寂寞绑票
我也不会奔跑
逃不了最后谁也都苍老
写下我时间和琴声交错的城堡
最后谁也都苍老

My Latio Polished !!!

Finally got my car polished. I tried out Klef which a friend had been using. They are mobile and will go to your designated location after arrangement. The comprehensive treatment package costs $120. They will clean the car, coat the internal leather, shine the tyres and then "seal" the car.

I ALSO JUST FOUND OUT SOME CBK STOLE MY CAR WHEEL AIR CAP. WHICH CHEAPO AND UNEDUCATED F*CK SLOTH TOOK IT ?!?!??!

It looked really good after the job. Glossy and smooth finish. Now will be how long will it last. I was told every 4 months should go for 1 treatment. It also depends on the frequent of use and exposure to climate.

Black really brings out the gloss finish but also looked crap when it is dirty.

Their website www.carcare.com.sg

红豆

还没好好的感受
雪花绽放的气候
我们一起颤抖
会更明白什么是温柔
还没跟你牵著手
走过荒芜的沙丘
可能从此以后学会珍惜
天长和地久

有时候有时候
我会相信一切有尽头
相聚离开都有时候
没有什么会永垂不朽

可是我有时候
宁愿选择留恋不放手
等到风景都看透
也许你会陪我看细水长流

Beowulf

It was an epic animation that looked as real as it can gets. About a warrior who helped a king hrogar to kill Grendel, a mutated monster liked outcast. Ironically, this outcast was the king's son. During the night, where grendel attacked the king's celebration, he killed almost everyone but could not touched the king, who was protected.

Protected by ? The pact that the King made with ....

Then came Beowulf, the warrior who slayed grendel for the king. This pissed off Grendel's Lao Bu, voiced and modeled after Angelina Jolie. She came one night and murdered almost all of Beowulf's troops. So beowulf had to find her and killed her.

He did find her but then .... He was too weak to resist the Lao Bu indecent proposal. She need someone to have a child with. Beowulf agreed and in return he will be King and will be protected.The same pact King Hrogar had.

Since it was the same pact, the son came back to haunt him. But this time, not the mutated monsterous thingie anymore, a golden dragon that almost tored his kingdom apart. He had no choice to battle it.

Beowulf hanging from the dragon, attempting to pierce its heart was inches away, so as to get nearer, he slained his arm and dislocated his arm. He did killed it but paid with his life as well.
Quite worth watching if you liked animation movies. 7/10

Lust Caution R21

I watched this on deepaavali. It was supposed to be a espionage thriller. The main plot might be of WW2 and espionage but it does not thrilled though.

Based on Eileen Chang's novel, this critically acclaimed movie has its media limelight because of its explicit sex scenes.

If the sex scenes and the murder scene was to be removed, the movie will be really plain vanilla. Though some people might still like vanilla.

As the stories moves forward, about a group of student who wanted to do a part for their country, started their radical and ambitious plan to assasinate a top Jap collaborator, Mr Yee, played by the ever charming Tony Leung.

The female lead Tang Wei, who played Wong Jia Chi in the movie. She was also Mrs Mak in the movie, which she need protrayed to get near to the Yee family. As she gone through stages of the plan, from just a student, to acting as a rich tai tai Mrs Mak, to trying to seduce Yee, having an intense and sexual affair with Yee and to having an complicated and emotional relationship with Yee.

After watching the R21 version, I must agreed that the scenes was really quite explicit. At least 4 to 5 scenes depicting their intense and lustful sexual acts. No wonder rumours of 假戏真做 was in the air, it was as real as it can gets. The murder scene where Kuang, played by 王力宏 and his gang killed his cousin was quite explicit too. The first knife that Kuang put through his body was driven so strong and slowly in his stomach, quite hiong ...

The movie was about 152 mins long. As most part of the movies detailed how Mrs Mak tried to get a chance to kill Yee and also plans to delay the assasination, so it became draggy at certain parts. It was like just waiting for 3 scenes to happen :

1) Sex
2) Yee got killed
3) Students got caught

I liked the scene where Wong Jia Chi finally could not bear to kill Yee and informed him to run at the jewelery shop. Then Yee rushed downstairs and flew straight into his car. Yes, flew. This was totally unexpected, the flying part. He literally flung himself from the shop door to his car. Hiong ! 7/10

Macau/Hong Kong - Day 5

Day 5. We prepared to go Hong Kong in the late morning. Woke up about 9 am and had the buffet breakie. Left for the ferry terminal about 11+. We took the faster ferry and went to Hong Kong Island.

We reached the Central ferry terminal about 1 pm. Bought the 1 day MTR pass again and head for 湾仔 MTR for lunch at a 茶餐厅.

We found one at one of the exit. It was called 永发茶餐厅 and was a good choice.

It was a Tuesday and full of lunch crowd.

A typical 茶餐厅 ambience and after browsing the menu. I got the 菠萝油 and 蛋挞. It was very good.


The 菠萝油 has a piece of butter in between and bun was soft and crust just really crisped all over when you bite it. The蛋挞 were the best, not oily and crust was layered, with the middle part just perfect. It was traditional kind, not like those葡挞. SaMe and Tnoid ordered the curry beef rice and it was very good as well. The beef was really tender and sauce so tasty, somehow.





Had our full. We head towards the Forever Blooming Bauhinia, it was about 15 mins walk from 湾仔 MTR. It was a flower like statue along the harbour. Purpose to signify the 回归. Just an object to me, probably more meanings to the locals.



Then we head to Causeway Bay to buy our 恒香老婆饼. We didn’t know actually where to buy so SaMe had to ask the MTR staff which told us SOGO had a outlet. It was at the basement where all the food stuff was. We got some 铁观音 and龙井 tea leaves which comes in an attractive small tin. About $35 HKD a tin.

The 老婆饼 came in a box of 6 and was about $24 HKD. But somehow as usual, SaMe misread the labels and thought it was a box of 16. He even asked the sales if it was a box of 16. Kaoz … any common sense will tell the box cannot fit 16 and even it can fit 16, it will not cost only $24 HKD ! Tnoid who doesn’t know canto though the sales was being friendly when she sort of smiled or giggled but apparently not, was laughing at SaMe’s SaMe question.



Anyway, we got our stuff and there was still some time before dinner. We thought of heading to find the Central mid-level escalators. As it was near our dinner at Yung Kee restaurant, so we decided to give it a try. In the end, we did found it, but didn’t go all the way up. It was non-continuous and not sure where will it ends. And at certain times, it will go up and certain times it will go down.




Dinner time, early one before we head to TST symphony of lights. The recommended roast goose at Yung Kee. We got the goose, ribs and a twin mixed vege. The goose was good, crisp skin and meat lean and tender though certain parts were abit tough. Not sure if goose were suppose to be lean or they are so good in making roast goose. It was like there was minimal fats between the skin and the meat which I liked it. The baked pork ribs in orange sauce was abit too fruity but still quite nice. The twin vege with crab meat was mild but still savoury, drenched in thick sauce with real crab meat. Overall, a good meal, costs about $490 HKD.





Full again. We head to TST to wait for the lights show. Rested our legs at Pacific coffee along the harbour but luckily we overheard 2 aunties behind us saying the best spot to see the show was at the clock tower area which was quite far from where we were sitting down. So bo bian, need to make our way further up …

As we approached, really, crowds are gathering there already. We took up standing spot and waited. This show starts daily at 8 pm. After all the wait, it started. There are some narration in the beginning then will be just music and lights from the buildings that supposed to synchronize with music, etc.

I was trying to hold the cam to take the video of the show. Shag, a full 13 mins of it. It got abit boring after 5 to 6 mins. Probably something for first timer, I will rate it as passable for second timers.



Now we really need to get a drink and rest. We head back to the TST ferry terminal and found another pacific coffee so we drank and rested there. Then at about 9 pm, we made our way to the ferry terminal, and somehow counters were liked closed. Sian, we found this one was not 24 hours. Only the central ferry terminal was 24 hours.

Haiz, so have to MTR back to Central. The 1 day MTR pass really worth it now. We reached Macau at about 11+ then head back to hotel and rest.

www.nygirlofmydreams.com

It was like a scene out of a hollywood movie or some novel. Apparently, a guy who saw a girl at a NY subway was so "love at first sight" with her that he setup a website to ask for any help or information regarding her within hours after losing her in a crowded train.

And results will very encouraging with people offering information, even themselves to him. Kaoz ..

But the miraculous part is the girl's friend saw this new website and send the guy a picture of her to confirm is that who you saw ?!??!?!?

Yes ! Yes ! Yes ! ....

The guy a web designer Patrick Moberg, 21, from Brooklyn. The girl Camille Hayton, an intern at magazine BlackBook from Melbourne, Australia, who also lives in Brooklyn.

How serendipity is that ? Finding someone in a 8 million populated city, just within a click.
Or probably people already starting to think how incredulous it will be

The news from Reuters

Macau/Hong Kong - Day 4 ( Part 2 )

It was disastrous at Sands. Pure EQ driven impetuous actions !!! We had some time to kill again before heading to the greyhound racing. BJ tables at Sands were also min $200 HKD, so we roamed around the大小 tables again. Waiting for any trends to ride on or ride against. Then the moment came …

A table have just got its 8th time小. I laid $500 HKD chips on “大”. As the bell shaped cover was lifted by the croupier, Haiz …小 !!! 9th time小 already ! 不甘心 … I took out another $500 HKD and laid on “大”. SaMe, 血盆 , tnoid joined in.

The croupier lifted the cover ! 小 again ! 10th time already ! How can that be ?!?!?!? ( Why not ? )

不可能的 ! 不可能的 ! 不可能的 ! More people crowd around the table but lesser people betted, as if there was a AURA hovering around the table protecting the casino of course.

I had to take out my last bettable $500 HKD and LAID on ”大” !!! SaMe, 血盆 , tnoid joined in as well !

Then ….. it happened ! 11th time 小 !!! Haiz … the probability of it going big gets higher again but no $ liao. The last $500 HKD needed to go Hong Kong again tomorrow. It was like some adrenaline rush and somehow the devil hovering round my head just edged out the angel.

Tnoid still have $ left so he went alone and betted $1000 HKD, and it was time it turned the corner. And it did. Finally, it opened 大.

Haiz, still trying to 平伏失落的心情. Our legs were tired so we found an area outside to rest. Shortly, then we head to the greyhound racing in a cab. In the cab, the driver shown us a few places to eat around the racing area. Also asked if we are interested to go for some 真人表演 for $388 HKD each. He left his mobile and asked us to call him later if interested.

The racing area was not packed, not much people, almost 90% were tourist. Seats in the stands are dirty. Anyway, it was just to see the race “Live”. The bettings type and odds were abit hard to understand. Odds can fluctuate from 1.1 to 30++ in a second on the large LED board.



Then my cam batteries went dead. But cannot be wor, I just changed them at the 猪扒包 shop. But it was shown as charged this morning, probably this enelope brand batteries need to be charged by a sanyo charger ! Sian …. *Sums up my day*

We stayed for about 4 races and betted 2 of them. And obviously we were not very good dog choosers. So you get to see the dogs shit while they were paraded. Then the race started, the dogs chased a fake bunny which was held tightly on a stick and mechanically pulled while they chased it.

After a while, when bulk of the tourists left, it became quite 冷清 already. We didn’t want to go for the show and were quite full also so we head back to hotel first. We played cards and then head for supper nearby.

Macau/Hong Kong - Day 4 ( Part 1 )

Day 4. We woke up abit late, about 8:30 am. Went for the buffet breakie in the hotel, had our full then went back up to get ready. Today we will be in Macau, actually not much of any must go places already, so we head to fisherman wharf.

A man made attraction that has specific themed area like tang dynasty, rome, volcania, aladdin’s fort, spain, amsterdam, etc. Shopping, restaurants and a casino are part of it as well. It was a Monday late morning, not much people roaming around there. We started with 唐城 but the main gate was closed, siting renovation going on. Without going inside, it was just a 唐墙 instead.

"唐墙" was closed

The bridge linking Macau and Taipa behind us

I liked this place. Felt like I was facing the Mediterranean sea. Need quite alot of imagination though

Rome - The Gladiator arena

Then we just strolled through volcania, aladdin’s fort then rome. Take it like a stroll through a park. It gets boring after a while, something we probably won’t go again. We head for the Babylon casino, name sounded like they will “beam you up” if you were on a winning streak kind of casino.

The casino was guarded by Ls. All Ls. Yes … Ls. That was secondary anyway.

It was not big compared to others. But quite a crowd probably part of the itinerary for toured groups. We got time to kill and hanged around the place till about 2+. We roamed around the 大小 tables and place bets based on trends.

It was about luck but since we had time so we just make it more fun. I meant if that table had already open say 7 times 小, then probably chances of it opening 大 will be higher in the next few rounds. The probability will definitely be higher but the trick was when do you bet ? And how much do you bet ? And do you chase ? Sometimes it gets emotional and all the IQ just dissolved.

That is why casino is a sure win business. Not only mathematically and statistically are on their side, but also betting on 人性的七情六欲. About the thrill of seeing what you expected became the actual and the greed of winning more money. Also some maybe blinded 翻本, lose $100 bet $200, lose $200 bet $400, etc. Some luck did bend to our side, recoup some of the losses at Wynn on Day 1.

It was about time to eat. We going for the Macau famous 猪扒包. We hopped into a cab and head to the little road side kopitiam was at Taipa.

Do note the 猪扒包 is only sold from 3 pm to 5 pm. We were there about 2:50 pm and there was a long queue already.

I started queuing while the rest looked for seats.

While queuing, we decided to get 2 猪扒包 each and I also ordered a 鸳鸯 and a 波罗油.


We queued for about 20 mins and finally got what we wanted. The verdict ......

It was just a piece of 猪扒 between 2 piece of toasted 尖头面包 like bread.

The 猪扒 was generous, tender and savoury. At the ordering counter, the 猪扒 were in a pot ready to be sliced between 2 breads.

I can’t remember how much was one, but should be around $3 to $4 SGD.

If a similar kind was selling in SG, probably I will eat it again.


The 波罗油 didn’t have a piece of butter inside it but instead full of some sort of creamery substance. It was good, within my taste bud expectations.


Full again, we were ready for the Sands Casinos !!!

Daryl Peach won the World Pool Championship 2007 !!!

The match just ended ...

It was a gruelling 5 hours encounter !!! Skills and technique are no more primary. It is all about luck, form, game play and composure. A race to 17 and he won the championship 17 vs 15.

He was leading all the way till Gomez took the lead at 14-12, then it went to 15-15. At the rack where peach was going for the 16th rack win, the last 9th ball was missed by him, then missed by Gomez who wasn't compose enough. Peach took the gratification and his 16th rack.

Gomez also missed it in 2002 in a similar situation at the 15th tied rack.

Peach is $100,000 USD richer.

Macau/Hong Kong - Day 3 ( Part 4 )

Recharged again. We were geared for the “The Peak” !!!

We took the MTR to Central and decided to walk to the Peak Tram after checking the map.

It was definitely within walking distance. About 10 mins walk.

We got the tickets, about $48 HKD, the tram + the pass to go on top.

We took the first tram that came along. It was a steep ride up but short.

Pricing as shown

Queuing for the tram

Anticipating for the breadthtaking view

There were still a few levels of shops from the tram stop to the peak top.

The mentionable ones were the Madam trussade museum but you must pay to go in.

At least, 李小龙 was outside.

Then there was this EA entertainment area on one level. They do sell games but more important you can play almost any games there for free. We had a game there, I beat 血盆 2-0, ironically I took Arsenal and beat his Spurs.


Up we go to the very top, a night with a very nice weather. Cooling.

If you stick your head out, you can feel the chilling breeze blowing at you.

The view was amazing from the top, like some ”无敌夜景”.

I managed to snap some decent pictures but wished that there was a tripod for me to use.

Haiz

While snapping away, we were waiting for the right person to take a group picture for us. The 2 pictures did not turned out to be good but probably 勉强 can lor. Of course, we can get the “commercially” professional to take for us, the phototaker there who had the camera “tripoded” so high up which to ensure they get you the best shot.


Then we went back to the level where the restaurants are and it also offered you a view so you do not have to pay for the “the pass”. But once you get the top view, admiring from this level gave you the immediate difference.


We went back down. Then took a cab to check out Lan Kwai Fong, but it was disappointing, Not sure if it was because it is a Sunday or simply it wasn’t the place to be anymore. A short while KLKK then we head to the ferry terminal.

We reached Macau at about 12+ and head to 滋味满屋 for supper. The name felt so 温馨. A 24 hour eatery just a stone throw away from our hotel. They have noodles, rice and dishes, etc. Quite a good place to eat considered it was opened for 24 hours.


Time for rest and prepared for 4th day.

Macau/Hong Kong - Day 3 ( Part 3 )

Times flies. It is time for our 大闸蟹. We went to Mong Kok. Back to the MTR and we were at Mong Kok in a flash. It was similar to Causeway Bay and streets was also closed. We KLKK while finding a place for 大闸蟹. While KLKK, we went to 女人街 but there was nothing much to buy, more of just a look see look see.

One of the several 麻将馆 in 旺角

With this 花篮, no prize for guessing who 罩住 this mahjong house

More people KLKK in Mong Kok

女人街 pasar malam

A crowd of photographers snapping away at a model advertising for a 碧螺春 drink

One of the stalls selling street snacks

Apparently 血盆 liked to eat 臭豆腐 so I tried my first 臭豆腐. It wasn’t that bad though the smell was quite pungent. But it was so 酥脆 that the smell became secondary. Then with the sauce, it was quite tasty. Probably it was a much savory version.


Somehow, there wasn’t a lot of 大闸蟹 places. But lucky we saw Chao Inn again, Yes the one we had the yum cha.

They have a branch there and the 大闸蟹 was only going for $48 HKD each. We went for it as we do not want to miss going to “The Peak”.

We were early so not much people but people started to trickle in as dinner time approached. Braised goose meat, pork ribs, vege, twin mix prawn/crab rolls and of course 大闸蟹.

The dishes were good. The goose slices are tender and goes well with the sauce. But of course, we came for the 大闸蟹 but frankly speaking, I was quite disappointed, because it was abit ordinary.

The spokesman for 大闸蟹

And we read from ST Lifestyle, there was a certain method in eating 大闸蟹 and more important some parts cannot be eaten. But cannot deny that the roe was really good, that was the only good part. Probably it was small, so the effort to get the meat out does not really satisfy the craving. Overall, a good meal.

The roe which was so good and also so unhealthy

The Aftermath