D-Day Coming.....

Gigantic Headache....

Take a look here....

Blossom Residences....Nice right? The price is 723psf, located deep in Bukit Panjang and 3 LRTs away from the future MRT.

The Warren, located few hundred meters from CCK MRT, is asking for about 780psf.

If you were me, which one will you buy (assuming budget is not the main factor here).

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SO and I went to the showflat for Blossom Residences a few weeks ago with the agreed mindset to just simply take a look around. We ended up spending 5hrs there and nearly bought a unit!! The only thing that stopped us was our lack of essential documentations and the chequebook!!

After walking out of there, doing some homework and a few days later, we decided that Blossom is not that good a deal afterall....

And so we set our sights on the upcoming Executive Condo in CCK by City Development, expecting to launch in Nov or Dec. A week later, we gotten news that a new DBSS project, The Trivelis, in Clementi and minutes' walk from the MRT, will be launching in End Oct.

Here comes the headache :

SO is VERY keen in the Trivelis for its location. I'm for it too, based on location. However, I'm also looking at the potential upside of the property 5-10yrs down the road when this property becomes eligible for sale.

I'm resigned to buying a property at today's high price, but I'm also looking at how much can I potentially gain or even breakeven when I decided to sell this unit in the future. There is a limited upside to a HDB flat no matter what and thats because you can only sell it on to another fellow Singaporeans or PRs and also that's if the Ethnic Quota for the block had not been reached.

An EC, is completely different. An EC can be sold after 5yrs, but only to Singaporeans or PRs and to anyone (even foreigners) after 10yrs. With the continued influx of foreigners into the country, I've no doubt that the prices of condos will only head north no matter what price you bought it at. The only problem is how far north and whether you have the money to buy it now.

My preference would have been an EC in the west anytime. The CCK EC will be the only EC launched in the west for the next few years for I do not see any allocated sites in the west for ECs for the next few months. And if the price difference between the DBSS and the EC is 100k, we might as well bite the bullet and go for the EC, correct?

Ok, having said so much, the main part is finally coming....

The Trivelis will be launching end of this month, the CCK EC tentatively end of next month or even December. If we ignore The Trivelis now and the CCK EC turns out to be out of our budget, we may be stuck with nothing and have to settle for a resale HDB flat.

If we go ahead and apply for The Trivelis, and happened to be successful, doesn't that mean the end of my EC dream? And we'd have wasted a perfect chance to own a "half"-condo at a slight discount!!

I know that we can't have our cake and eat it too, but I'd really love to at least give the 2nd cake a try before the 1st cake....

How how how???? What should we do????

KMTA Day 1/8

OK, today's the most dreaded day of the entire battalion. I'm sure I need not mention why....

The "Admin Team" loaded up our laptops, printer, kitbags and some other essential items into our designated Land-Rover. We then headed off to the Vehicle Form-Up Point before heading towards KMTA, with my rover leading the convoy of 19 vehicles, including 2 spare guns.

Departing at 9am, we arrived at our destination (+/- 100km away) nearly 2hrs later and immediately setup our "Office" for the next 8 days. Our "Office" is set up in a gigantic open-concept sheltered shed with concrete flooring and a bricked perimeter wall with openings at intervals. We picked out and optimal spot towards the middle of the shed, cordoned off an estimated 5m by 5m area using white-tapes and started setting up the various equipment and beds.

It was nearing lunch time by the time we finished. We were shocked to learn that there will be no food today and it's supposed to be Combat-Rations for today. Fresh rations will start from tomorrow and continue until the final few days when it will revert back to Combat-Rations. One alternative is to get food from the canteen which will usually be opened at the camp site. However, checking out the building likely to be the canteen, the hawker said it would be ready only during dinner time. We ended up getting by with a packet of Combat-Ration, some biscuits and junk-food bought from a nearby provision shop.

The canteen was ready by 4plus and we took turns to go as someone HAD to be around to guard the "Office". When I finally managed to go, I was stunned to find that the hawkers here are the EXACT folks from the SYC Canteen!!! Apparently, these hawkers are aware of our movements and followed us as we move!! I'm very impressed.

Must be due to the rain, it's rather cold today. For the first time ever, I wore a t-shirt under my uniform and I just about felt warm enough. Usually, the uniform alone would make me sweat! I can't imagine how cold it will get later on in the night be it for those out there in the field and also for us back here in camp. Even the water feels quite cold... Guessed I'd skip shower tonight...

I was mentioning to SO earlier in the evening that the amount of calamaris I've had in the past few days are more than what I'd have had in a single year. She instantly reminded me that these are high cholesterol stuffs. I hadn't thought of that until she mentioned it.

Oh man, I simply love SO to bits for being so thoughtful!! :)


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

LUCKY

Do you hear me? I'm talking to you
Across the water across the deep blue ocean
Under the open sky, oh my, baby I'm trying

Boy I hear you in my dreams
I feel your whisper across the sea
I keep you with me in my heart
You make it easier when life gets hard

I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
Ooh ooh ooh

They don't know how long it takes
Waiting for a love like this
Every time we say goodbye
I wish we had one more kiss
I'll wait for you I promise you, I will

I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
[ From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/j/jason-mraz-lyrics/lucky-lyrics.html]
Lucky to be coming home again

Lucky we're in love in every way
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home someday

And so I'm sailing through the sea
To an island where we'll meet
You'll hear the music fill the air
I'll put a flower in your hair

Though the breezes through trees
Move so pretty you're all I see
As the world keeps spinning 'round
You hold me right here, right now

I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again

I'm lucky we're in love in every way
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home someday

Ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh, ooh

====================================

"Lucky" simply describes my feelings in recent days as we count down to our nuptials!! I can't help but think of how lucky I am to have found this soulmate, companion, low-maintenance, simple-lifestyled, down-to-earth woman whom had agreed to spend the rest of her life with me.

I cannot imagine how she is able to tolerate me.. but well, she's managed to and is prepared to do so until the end of our time. There are many things that I can imagine us doing/experiencing together. Perhaps I should make a list of all these things lest I missed out any.

Believe it or not, listening to this track and typing this post, my eyes started getting moist....

PS : I'm 99.9% sure I'm gonna have this song at our wedding.

Life-Changing Trip to Hong Kong

Yo Folks, I just got back from a LIFE-CHANGING trip to Hong Kong. Life-changing in the sense that my life from the trip onwards will not be the same again...

Let's see how will it not be the same again...

One, I bought a Macbook Pro for my 2nd Laptop. I've got a MSI Wind U100 at the moment but its been slightly more than 2yrs since I've had it and my butt is itching for a change. Also, the MSI seems to be slowing down somewhat. Thus, my itch for a change of machine. The very reason why I decided to get a Mac from Hong Kong was due to many folks online telling me that Apple products are the cheapest in Hong Kong as compared to other parts of the world, even in the US. I did some comparision between prices in the Singapore and Hong Kong Apple Store and am convinced that it indeed IS CHEAPER to get a Mac in Hong Kong. Besides, the warranty is international, what have I got to lose? I took the plunge and bought it in Hong Kong, saving about S$250 over what I would have paid had I bought it in Singapore.

Two, I "popped the question" to my SO whilst in Hong Kong. Needless to say, her response was a yes. And from then on, my life had change from self to "with a dependent". I feel that I'm more than ready to take on this added responsibility. Anyway, this is just the beginning of the next lap in the journey of our life together. And I can imagine how bumpy it might get going forward. Not that I'm pessimistic... but married life can never be smooth unless we are both saints. Either that or we both are enduring our differences and unhappiness. If this is the case, then it is the most unfortunate for should us both erupt, all hell will break loose and God knows what will be the final outcome?

We are currently starting to prepare for our wedding, date to be decided, venue yet to source, alot of details yet to work out....

Anyone wanna help me plan for no fees involved?

Photos from Land Of A Thousand Smiles

Here's the long awaited pictures snapped while SO and I were in Bangkok recently....

PS : My apologies for the masking of our faces as we're both shy folks.... :)

 On the way to Baiyoke Sky from the Airport. Able to spot which is my hand and SO's?

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Our room @ Baiyoke Sky Hotel, Level 42. Pretty spacious for a Standard Room. And it costs only 80SGD Per Nite!!

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It even has a small little side room for things like an open wardrobe, drawers and a safe... We use that space to 'dump' our things :p

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My 1st Phai Thai in Bangkok, @ a simple eatery in a side alley. The half-eaten spring roll was purchased from another street hawker... and it's pretty good!

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SO's Thai Fried Rice, not very fantastic but decent enough to eat.

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A makeshift changing room. I requested to try on a bottom and the shop-assistant promptly put up a screen and asked me to try it on THERE AND THEN. I was initially quite amused while SO thought its damn funny....

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Should we go left or right? Which BTS Station is nearer? Both looks equally 'near', so we decided to head for Chitlom Station, a good 5mins walk away :s

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Posing with the ticketing machine. No, she didn't purchase it, I did....

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We're heading to Chatuchak Weekend Market @ Mo Chit Station.

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It was a damn hot and humid day @ the Weekend Market and the Bandung lookalike drink is a welcomed relief!

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My 2nd Phai Thai.... this time, it's from the MBK Foodcourt.

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Fried 'Dumplings' according to the menu but it looks nowhere like dumplings. Looks more like those Singapore-styled Fried Carrot Cake. The sauce in the picture, it's a plum sauce taste-alike sauce which we're not sure what it really is.

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The entire Central World shopping mall was closed for renovation due to the damaged suffered during the recently-ended protests.

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Look at the damage! I was so shocked by the damaged when I first saw it before me that I'm speechless!!

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One of the Bangkok streets during approximately 4pm.

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Lazing around, taking a break in the Amari Watergate Hotel. We're actually there to tailor-made some clothings. There's this tailor on the 3rd Floor called Paul's Fashion. Service is good, price is reasonable and the staffs are very friendly. Most importantly, they speak very decent English!!

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At the Ground Floor Bell-Hop Counter of the hotel we're staying in. The main lobby is @ Level 18.

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Been telling SO that I'm itching to eat some Thai Papaya Salad since our arrival in Bangkok. Ironically, it wasn't until the Day 3 before I get to eat it.

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My 3rd Phai Thai... :p

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Some Vietnamese Spring-Rolls. We don't really like it. There's this weird taste which I suspected to be due to the inclusion of Basil Leaves within the rolls. On a side note, the accompanying sauce is pretty good shit!

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A shot from the Observation Deck atop Baiyoke Sky Hotel.

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This expressway interchange had somewhat become a 'Postcard' picture of Bangkok...

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My 4th Phai Thai... I remembered posting on Facebook on the same day, "A Phai Thai a day, keeps the hungry away" :p

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Some "Fried Oysters" from a food court. It looks somewhat like the Singapore version and that's where the similarity ends. It tastes NOTHING like the Singapore version. This one is crispy, with plenty of bean sprouts and comes with that weird plum sauce (again).

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Our favourite drink in Bangkok. The Thai Iced Milk Tea. Its not exactly an infatuation with the pictured brand but with the drink in general. It's got a unique taste to it, not too sure how to describe it. But it's distinctly different and very nice as compared to the Singapore version (again).

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@ the airport's Departure Hall. We arrived with 2 half-filled bags, the Yellow Adidas and the Red Backpack. You go figure it out yourself how much stuff we bought.

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I bought 40kg worth of luggage space but utilised only slightly over 50%. The lady checking us in even commented that we had over-purchased....

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That's all I've got here.... :)

My upcoming trip... Malacca, during the National Day weekend :)

Hell Weeks....

My apologies for not updating this blog as regularly as before... I've had a very hectic past few weeks that I can barely breathe.

First up was the commencement of a 3-weeks Project Development week whereby we are supposed to do up the IT Security Project which is part of our course assessment. We actually formed up the team and submitted the Project Proposals earlier in the year but left it until the 'official development week' to finally get down to serious work. This was also due to the endless case studies and quizzes along the way.

It really doesn't help that one of my team mate (B) had to plan his honeymoon during this crucial period. And the best part is that he's the Team Lead! With him away for most part of the project, I assumed the Team Lead role as 'arrowed' by the other 2 members. Progress was slow in the initial 2weeks and I was really feeling all the stress. 3 person doing 4 person's work is already not easy, not to mention that as the Team Lead, I'm also very concerned with the overall progress and whether we are able to meet our targets or not.

It got so bad that my right eyelid was twitching very regularly throughout this period. There was even once that we had our project discussion at a heartland McDonald's from 9pm till 3am! I thought with the return of B, my load and stress would be lighten and the twitching subsided, but I was wrong. The twitching did stop, abet for a few hours before my eyelids continued 'dancing' away....

I was sharing these problems I faced with SO and it's really during this period that I FULLY realised how much she meant to me.... Besides the support she showered upon me, she also volunteered to help me with the compilation of the report, forgo our weekly outings so that I can work on my project, came over to help out in any ways she could.

All these are done with her having ZERO domain knowledge of my project! I'm not sure if I'd be able to deliver my targets in time had she not helped me.....

Next up after the conclusion of the Project are my final examinations. I've not touched any of the lecture note in the run-up to the exams due to the rushing of the project. Between the conclusion of the project and my exams, I've had 5days to study. Again, SO forgo-ed our weekly outing, came over to basically do nothing while I did my revision.

Like I mentioned earlier, I never knew how important this girl is to me until these 2 episodes. From the support she's showered me to helping me despite having ZERO knowledge about IT Security to traveling 20km to simply do nothing while I study. For the first time in my life, I felt truly LOVED and CHERISHED.

Did I also mentioned that I fly to Bangkok for a much needed holiday with SO barely 10hrs after the conclusion of my final paper? Trip blog coming up soon... stay tuned!

A Trip of Many Firsts....

I was in KL over the recently past weekend (again) and the usual things such as meeting up with Irene and her fabulous bunch of friends, visiting Lookout Point, doing BC, etc happened. However, there exist one major difference...my significant other joined me on this trip!

This is a trip of many firsts, why so? Read on and let me know if its full of firsts or not :

• Our very FIRST holiday
• Watched our FIRST movie
• Did our FIRST good deed together 'fostering' an orphan from KL during a charity event

This trip also happens to coincide with Irene's FIRST attempt at obtaining the Body Combat Instructorship which would allow her to begin instructing BC in FF Malaysia. A whole bunch of us dropped by to give her our moral, physical and vocal support, including Garion, who specially flew in via Singapore Airlines and arriving at the gym only barely 30mins before the class! I've not seen a class filled with more energy, noise and encouragement than this! I've never shouted this much and this hard before in my years of BCing until this class. My voice was already coarse by Track 3.... No doubt there were mistakes here and there, I personally felt that Irene did a great job and thought she might be able to scrap through. However, I guessed the assessor had other ideas....

Another significant activity which we partake in was this charity event whereby we bought tickets to the movie, How To Train A Dragon for 30RM a piece. The amount we paid actually goes towards 'sponsoring' a movie outing for a group of orphans from the local orphanage in KL. This event runs in the manner whereby each Girl-Guy pair of us becomes the 'foster parents' of an assigned orphan for the duration of the movie. Our child is named Paul and imagine my amusement when the tallest boy in the group responded to my calls for his name! He is 16, speaks pretty good English, knows where is Singapore and is even taller than me & SO!!

I've never given much thought about orphans until this event where I came up close and 'personal' with one. For the first time in my life, I really appreciate knowing who my parents are and having them with me. OK, well, at least my dad for now....

This is really a meaningful and rewarding trip for me and SO for its not everyday that we get to do something sooooo meaningful for charity. Living together with her for 3days, I'm already starting to feel closer to her emotionally and mentally. Of course, Irene had a big part to play in making this a GREAT TRIP in the way she introduces us to her awesome bunch of friends... Rachel, Jonathan, Doreen (correct me if I'm wrong).

My next trip there should tentatively be for the Sept Quarterlies.... :)