Nice and friendly blog

Surprise always comes. Noticed today that there was a hit that coming from http://spaces.msn.com/members/PF2005/ to my own blog. It ends up is the blog of a very pretty and nice girl called Pei Fong. Hardly got any friends who is blogging, so quite happy to know that she is starting a blog. So next year, may be, may be ... can have a partner to go Bloggers.SG by then.

Visit 凤情日记.

Volunteer for World Toilet Organization

Went to volunteer for World Toilet Organization just now. It's a bit of useless as I was allocated the slot of 4.30 pm to 7.30pm, but the event was ending by 5.30 pm. But anyway, it's interesting to know that such a organization exists in order to promote better sanitary and cleaner toilet. And the staffs from the World Toilet Organization are very friendly, really made felt like at home.

For more information on World Toilet Organization, visit their homepage at: http://www.worldtoilet.org.

Met Kind and Warm Heart People Again

Few days ago (or on Sunday August 7), my car tire punctured while I was driving at Sungai Petani, near my hometown in Kedah. I didn't notice it initially, but heard some weird sound from the car. I stopped my car twice to check. At the second checking, I stopped the car in front of a mini market (ops, I forgot the name of the mini market). At this time, the front passenger side tire was obviously punctured.

I was a bit nervous, as I never changed the tire before. At this time, 2 nice gentlemen from the mini market (not sure if they were customers there or owners of the mini market) came to help me. They taught me step by step on how to change the tire. More importantly, they helped me to unscrew the tire, as the screws were very very very tight. I doubt I will be able to unscrew it if I was alone.

So finally the tire had been changed. To the two nice and very kind gentlemen, who I even forgot to ask the name, thanks again.

Cheaper Way to Get to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA)

The official one-way express rail fare from Kuala Lumpur Central station to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is RM 35.00. It's expensive, but it's possible to as low as RM12.50 to travel from KL Sentral to KLIA. It's all due to the fare structure different between so called KLIA Express and KLIA Transit. Basically, KLIA Express is the direct express rail service to KLIA from KL Sentral, for RM 35.00, while KLIA Transit stops at several station along the way, with cheaper fare because it mainly caters for locals. A closer examination on the ERL fare structure at Express Rail Link will reveal some interesting fact. The fare is listed at KLIA-Transit section.

KL Sentral --> Bdr. Tasik Selatan RM 4.20
KL Sentral --> Putrajaya RM 9.50
KL Sentral --> Salak Tinggi RM 12.50
KL Sentral --> KLIA RM 35.00

But,

Bdr. Tasik Selatan --> Putrajaya RM5.30
Putrajaya --> KLIA RM6.20

So to save money on fares:

1. Either take the ERL to Putrajaya for RM9.50. Get down and buy another ticket from Putrajaya to KLIA for RM6.20. Total cost works out to RM15.70 instead of RM35.00 The inconvenience is having to wait for the next train for about 15 mins(peak) or 20 mins(non-peak). But the substantial saving of RM19.30 per person may be worthwhile.

2. Take the Komuter to Bdr. Tasik Selatan for only RM1.00. From here take the ERL to Putrajaya for RM5.30. Get down and buy another ERL ticket to KLIA for RM6.20. The total costs add up to only RM12.50 instead of RM35.00. This option is cheaper by RM3.20 but the additional hassle may not be worth the additional saving.

ERL is banking on the fact that despite this apparent weakness in the fare structure, nobody will take advantage of it mainly because everybody is in such a hurry nowadays!

Lost, and Found Again

I read a news report about where on earth, when you lose an item, you will have the highest chance that somebody picks it up and returns it to you. In that report, Singapore ranked among the highest. Today, it seemed like it's a bit proven.

I lost my PDA on the bus. I believed the PDA just slipped down my bag, but I didn't notice it. I alighted the bus halfway the bus route, and when I noticed that my PDA was gone, the bus was long left.

I suspected that the PDA was left behind in the bus. But to be certain, I called back to office to check if the PDA was there, as I pretty sure that I took it with me when I left home this morning. It's not in the office. I called SBSTransit hotline, the office was closed. Finally, I called the TransitLink hotline (1800-CALLONE), and was given the phone number for SBSTransit Lost & Found (63837211) and Tampines Interchange Control Centre (67811360).

As the bus was heading to Tampines Interchange, I called them first. The first guy who picked up my phone thought I was his friend or something, kept telling me where is the Tampines Interchange. The second guy took my phone number, and promised me they will call me IF somebody returns the PDA. At this point, I decided to give up any hope of recovering the PDA.

As I was on the bus back home, somebody called me. He picked up my PDA! Victor Aw picked up my PDA on the bus. The PDA does have my number, but it's hidden. So Victor Aw found Aki's phone number. I wrote her phone number, together with her chinese name in the PDA's note when we volunteered for 117th IOC session. Luckily, Aki could recalled that I am the one wrote her name in Chinese.

So, thanks to Victor Aw, the nice guy, with her wife, and Aki indirectly, I got back the PDA. Victor Aw actually waited me at Han's at Century Square. He is such a friendly guy. Too bad I didn't have much thing for him, except some drinks.

Well, guess Singapore rating might go up a bit?

Celebrity at 117th IOC Session - Hillary Clinton

Oh no, I really want to throw away my camera phone. She is HIllary Clinton.


Everytime a famous celebrity walked out of the Esplanade's theatre, sure will caused a human traffic jam. So did Hillary Clinton.


Here's a better one of Hillary Clinton, taken by other on another occasion.

Fellow Volunteers at 117th IOC Session

With Ke Yun. First met her with Aki and Sandy together at the bus stop after the first briefing.


2 pretty volunteers Aki and Sandy


With Charles, IC of Circle 2. The photo took with my low end mobile phone camera.


All volunteers in Circle 1 and 2 of the Esplanade ushers, thanks to camera phone of Raffee.


Another photo of our group at Circle 1


At the end of the opening ceremony, directed guests from Roof Terrace to bus at Raffles Avenue.

Celebrity at 117th IOC Session - Jacque Chirac

I think it's time to upgrade my handphone, as the camera quality is sucked. Anyway this is Jacque Chirac.


Jacque Chirac taken from the staircase to Foyer Stall. The lady in front of me is actually from the 117th IOC Session organizing committee. She said I will be safe for taking these photos. Hopefully.


More of Jacque Chirac


Jacque Chirac was giving pretty long interview at the Foyer Stall, causing massive human traffic jam.

Celebrity at 117th IOC Session - Sven Goran Eriksson

He was walking down, nobody seemed to know who is he.


He is Sven Goran Eiksson, the coach of England football team. Later in the night we saw him again going into Equinox, but too late to catch him up.

At the Volunteers Lounge of 117th IOC Session

After the rehearshal on 4th July 2005, a group of us went to Volunteer Lounge and met some other volunteers.


Another photo of the group.

Fortress Singapore

Fortress Singapore, a Today newspaper headline, seems very suitably named. The Today's news article is about how the authorities have stepped up the security for the 117th International Olympic Committee (IOC) meeting, which among other things, will choose the host country of the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Sometimes I really wonder if the Singapore authorities have over-reacted to the security threat. Even before this event, the security measures across the island has tighten up. So I see machine-gun at Orchard Road! And the big Security t-shirt at the MRT station, which I think is useless. Not to say the 'cannot take photograph' immigration checkpoint at land crossing with Malaysia, which doing nothing else other than causing long traffic jam. Oh ya, may be they stopped the gun flowing in, but I don't heard much of it even before 911 attack. Anyway, luckily they don't jail if you take photograph at the immigration building. The worse if confiscation only.

Anyway, here the full article:

Fortress Singapore

Along with IOC glamour comes security burden

Wednesday • June 29, 2005

Ansley Ng
ansley@newstoday.com.sg

THE smiles have been perfected.

But as Singapore prepares to hold the 117th International Olympic Committee (IOC) meeting to choose the host country of the 2012 Summer Olympics, one group has its guard up.

For eight months, security officials have been sparing no effort to ensure the safety of delegates at one of the highest-profile events to be held in Singapore this year.

More than 2,000 police officers, soldiers and civil defence personnel will be deployed to protect about 3,500 foreigners, including heads of state, celebrities and sporting greats.

"This will be one of the biggest security operations in Singapore in terms of scale and numbers," Senior Assistant Commissioner Aubeck Kam, the Singapore Police Force's director of operations, told reporters yesterday.

For a week starting on Saturday, security will be tightened for the arrival of world leaders such as British Prime Minister Tony Blair, French President Jacques Chirac and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

Football stars David Beckham and Raul, and boxing legend Muhammad Ali will also be in town.

Police have been working closely with the armed forces, civil defence force and organisers to "ensure all delegates have a safe time and see the best of Singapore", said SAC Kam.

For example, police may conduct checks on shoppers at the Raffles City Shopping Centre, next to the convention centre where the meeting will be held.

Vehicles entering the mall's basement car park would also be checked, while visiting delegates would be assigned bodyguards.

While the authorities prefer to err on the side of caution, security experts told Today that the threat of terrorists mounting attacks on the meeting was low.

"You can never rule out the possibility of an attack but I would be extremely surprised (if it happened)," said Dr Tim Huxley, senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

"Singapore is such a hard target that it is extremely likely to deter terrorists from thinking seriously about attacking this event because Singapore has been proactive in the war against terrorism."

The attendance of so many world leaders and sports stars is viewed as a sign of the world's confidence in Singapore's security.

"In Singapore, the level of security is very high," said Dr Huxley, who specialises in Asia-Pacific security and defence. "It is precisely that sense of security that not only reassures leaders attending such a meeting but also helps attract them."

But it is the high-profile nature of the event — and the guests — that has driven the authorities to take no chances.

Of the cities vying for the Games, New York has already been the victim of the most spectacular terrorist in history. Madrid and Moscow have also been hit by terrorists. London is Enemy No 2 for some, because of Britain's ties with the United States. And, until recently, the Al Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah terror group was sharpening its knives in the region.

But the authorities can breathe a little easier, knowing that the militant group — whose last significant act of terror was the bomb blast near the Australian Embassy in Indonesia last September – has been crippled.

"We have seen it mount significant attacks … but it's leaders are on the run," said Dr Huxley, speaking to TODAY from London.

"They are probably more worried about evading capture than mounting significant attacks at the moment."

Another security expert, Dr Andrew Tan of the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, agreed.

"They (JI terrorists) have to assemble a team of people, have local logistical support, be able to smuggle weapons in and carry out surveillance," said Dr Tan. "It's difficult for JI as many of their commanders are either on the run or arrested."

Last weekend, Basque terrorist group Eta set off a car bomb next to a proposed Olympic stadium in Madrid to protest the city's bid to host the 2012 Games. Could they try to grab the world's attention here?

"Eta does not have the capacity to operate worldwide … chances of them carrying out attacks here would be remote," said Dr Tan.

"Eta has political demands. They explode a bomb but they usually don't want to kill too many people. They want to make a political point," he added.

Nevertheless, along with the smiles, the officials have been striving to perfect their defences too.

Blogsome is Down, hence blog on Dae Jang Geum

I host my blog about Korean drama series Dae Jang Geum in Blogsome. It's an instant hit. Within 2 days it's found, indexed and crawled by Google, and sending numerous visitors to it each day. However to my horror today, it seems like Blogsome is down today. I can't access my blog and even Blogsome homepage at all. Hopefully it will be up very soon.

NB: The site is up and running again after about 5 hours outage.

Page Rank Update

Ever since Google floated the idea of Page Rank, it has became one of the most important aspect of Search Engine Optimization. Higher Page Rank will push the position of a website towards the top in a Google search, which is the major search engine in the world. However, the information on Page Rank is scare. The only ways to view what is your website's Google Page Rank is via Google Toolbar or Google Directory. Even so, the Page Rank is not updated instantly. It's updated only once about 3 months.

SEO Company's Page Rank Update List History provides some important information on when a Page Rank update occurred, and predicts when is next. It also contains information about backlinks update, and other Google related update. Backlink is the link from other website to your website. Basically, the more quality backlinks you have, the higher the Page Rank will be. So the information of the backlinks is important too.

Blog Promotion

How to promote a blog? Looks no further. Best Blog Directory And RSS Submission Sites lists more than 100 blog directories and RSS sites that you can submit the blog to. This ensures maximum exposure to your blog. However, unique quality contents are still key to a success of a blog.

Finished Writing Northern Vietnam Travelogue

Finally I finished writing my Northern Vietnam Travelogue which included travel in Hanoi, Halong Bay and Sapa. In the future, I will continue to touch up the travelogue when I have free time. But I guess it will be more or less the same.

Crazy about Dae Jang Geum (大长今)

Finally I finished watching Dae Jang Geum. Last 2 weeks, I had spent most of my time watching the 70 episodes Korean drama series (54 episodes for original Korea's 60 minutes version).

Dae Jang Geum, also translated as Jewel in the Palace, or 大长今 in Chinese. The drama background was set on the period of Chosun (or Joseon) Dynasty (朝鮮王朝) in Korea, and spanned across briefly during the reign of King Seongjong (成宗 李娎), King Yeonsangun (燕山君 李隆), mostly during the reign King Jungjong / Chungjong (中宗 李懌) and ended during the reign of King Myungjong (明宗 李峘), about around 1490 - 1552.

The drama depicts the historical story of Dae Jang Geum, the first female royal physician in Joseon Dynasty, which portrays the her determined struggle, her sacrifice and her wisdom to rise thru the rank at the time where female has no place in society to become the first female doctor to the King.

Did I like this drama? Ya, for sure. Why? Not sure. I believed this drama is also a typical Korean drama series success formulas. An interesting story line, a tearful and 'all the bad things hit them' characters, beautiful sceneries, a little humors, and of course, very nice sound tracks. Nevertheless, this drama inspires about determination and courage, and provides insight into ancient Korean culture, medicine and cuisine, and nonetheless, peasant life.

Visit Jewel in the Palace for more information.

Tiger Causeway Challenge 2nd Leg

Singapore won again! At the first leg of the international friendly between Singapore and Malaysia, Singapore won over Malaysia 2 - 0. Now at the 2nd leg of the match at Stadium Bandaraya Penang, Malaysia, Singapore again won Malaysia 2 - 1.

Malaysia's goal was scored by Arsyah Ayob at 25th minute. Singapore's goals were scored by Noh Alam Shah 19th minute and Daniel Bennett at 66th minute. Well done Signapore!

Tiger Causeway Challenge with Beers and Girls

Courtesy of Tiger Beer F.C. I was able to attend Tiger Causeway Challenge, an international friendly football match between Malaysia and Singapore, also in support of President challenge 2005. Malaysia and Singapore has long been an arch rival, and this game was a chance for Singapore to seek revenge after continued to lose to Malaysia 3 times, and even humiliated by Malaysia 4-0 in front of home crowd in 2002.

So Singapore did it! The Lions won Malaysia 2-0, scored by Noh Alam Shah at minute 32 and 90. But for the Tiger Causeway Challenge, the challenge is not ended yet. There will be the second leg of the match in Penang next week. Who will win next?


Tiger Beer promotion before game starts


Malaysia and Singapore teams and the referees lined up in the field for national anthems.


Beep! Match started.


Beautiful Tiger Beer girls Serene and Jean (if I heard correctly) with Tiger Cup, won by Singapore Lions on 2005. The girls helped others to take the photo with the Tiger Cup with instant Polaroid camera, and served as model too.


Football, beers and girls were all ingredients for the enjoyable night. The 2 pretty Tiger Beer girls served the guests with, what's else? Tiger Beer.


From National Stadium, beautiful scene of Singapore skyline.

Tiger Causeway Challenge

I get 2 VIP tickets to Tiger Causeway Challenge, a football match between arch-rival Malaysia and Singapore to raise fund for President Challenge 2005. The funny thing is, while I am a Singapore Parmenent Resident, I am actually a Malaysia citizen. The 2 VIP tickets that I got is sponsored by Tiger Beer Singapore, so I believe it's for supporting the Singapore soccer team. But naturally I should support my home country team. So which team should I support? Anyway, since 2002 Singapore had lost to Malaysia for all 3 matches that they met each other, and even humiliated by Malaysia 4-0 in Singapore backyard itself.

Most importantly is we're going to have free flow of food and ice-cold Tiger Beer for the day!

David Beckham coming to Singapore

According to the news, David Beckham, together with Tony Blair, Prime Ministery of United Kingdom will make an appearance in Singapore to support the bid of London to host the Olympic Games in 2012. I have volunteer in the 117th OIC session too. But since I will volunteer only for a day, guess the chance to even see the shape of him is pretty slim.

Scary Dream

I made a scary dream yesterday, just before waking up. The dream was about I was in the car, at the unknown deserted place. Suddenly there were few people walked towards the car and opened the door, and tried to grab me. I woke up after this. This is the first time I have such a vivid dream. Previously I almost couldn't remembered any details after I woke up. If not, most likely I couldn't determined if it's a dream, or it's just some wild thinking of mine during half sleep.

GapBuster reduces payment again

From June onwards, GapBuster reduces the reimbursement for McDonald's Singapore assignment from SGD $8.50 to SGD $6.10. I don't know how they come to the amount. But it mean that most likely I have to pay more by myself if I don't want to drink coke, easily the cheapest drink on McDonald's menu.

Few months ago, GapBuster also reduced the shopper fee for Cold Storage related assignments from SGD $8.00 to SGD $6.00. Yet after the reduction, all assignments still been grabbed almost immediately after been released. So I guess there must be too much 'hungry' shoppers in Singapore.

Different Google Search Results

Google must be built with a massive amount of networks of servers. I searched at my home, and all my 3 blogs have been updated with information of backlinks. However, when I went to my office and did a search, the backlinks information was not available. So most likely I was connected to 2 different Google servers, and 1 had updated with the blogs links information, and the other not yet. It's interesting to know how Google handling such a vast amount of information.

Complain the Budget Airlines

According to The New Paper, there were a total of 45 complaints against Budget Airlines (or Low Cost Carriers) so far. There were some ridiculous complaints, like promotion gimmicks, unable to log on to the websites during promotion, and even unable to get the advertised promotion air fares! It's best that their complaints can leads to all fares are low fares anytime to anywhere. :)

One thing is out of 45, 32 were against Tiger Airways, mostly involved over-charging the customers. I wonder why Tiger Airways can let this kind of things happened. I used to buy Tiger Airways tickets, but no problem at all. Anyway I feel that Tiger Airways website is the most not intuitive and attractive among 4 budget airlines in Singapore, other been AirAsia, ValuAir and JetStar Asia. Beside, it's also the only online booking system that can easily identified they're using Amelia from InteliSys Aviation System.

Blogger Really Sucks with Errors

Today I had been hit with technical glitches and errors of Blogger. My Nothern Vietnam Travelogue is the only one that been hit. Firstly, the blog was unavailable. All link to it been redirected to Blogger: 404 - Page not found. This is very bad. Then whenever I wanted to publish a post, index page or entire blog, I will be getting a few error message with fail status.

001 java.io.IOException: EOF while reading from control connection

550 Could not open: No such file or directoryblog/44/59/8/northernvietnam/archives/2005_05_25_northernvietnam_archive.html550

Could not open: No such file or directoryblog/44/59/8/northernvietnam/atom.xml

I am getting very frustuated with Blogger, although it's first time I encountered it. Before that I used to read about the problems faced by other Blogger users, but I just thought that it wouldn't happen to me. Now it happens, and I can feel how others felt. Blogger really sucks!

Update (17 March 2006): For those who comes to here because Blogger issue, check out Blogger Status, which stated that some blogs may having problems. So just be patient.

Volunteer for 117th IOC Session

Yesterday I attended volunteer briefing for 117th International Olympic Council session which will be held in Singapore from 2nd to 9th July 2005. I volunteered at the Functions and Ceremonies committee, which basically involves only 1 day on opening ceremony at Esplanade and reception at Singapore Istana on 5th July 2005. Other committee need commitment of at least a week to few weeks, which is impossible to me to absent from works for so long.

I also volunteered to be section leader at Esplanade, and thus not allowed to join the reception session at the Istana. Beside, to my surprise, volunteers need to go for the trial run too on 4th July 2005, and additional day for section leader on 20th June 2005, as it's not mentioned before. Anyway that shouldn't be problem for me.

EZ-Link Mess

Just now saw a innocent girl been over-charged again by EZ-Link system that implemented on public transport in Singapore. She encountered error when alighting, so she went to the driver, who asked to tap on the "Entry" sensor again. The driver then asked the girl to tap on the "Exit" sensor at the alighting door, but the girl just didn't understand. So the girl had either over-charged for the rest of the trip that she didn't take (the EZ-Link system works in such a way that maximum fare will be deducted when boarding the bus, and the change will be refunded when alighting the bus, provided you remember to tap your EZ-Link card to the sensor), or even worse, be double over-charged for the trip.

I think EZ-Link is the only system in the world that can legitimately over-charge consumers, without being penalized. Thanks to the blame on consumers, and the fact that it's only launched in obedient Singapore society

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith

Just watched last part of Star Wars prequel trilogy, Revenge of the Sith, courtesy of Mr Goh, General Manager of my company and his wife Rosemary, at Golden Village cinema Great World City. Personally I am not a fan of Star Wars, but my another colleague is a enthusiasm of Star Wars movie. He kept reminded us that when "A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away..." appears at the beginning of the movie, we should clapped. Indeed a lot of people clapped. This was the first time I encountered such a strange situation. Applause given even before watching the movie (I don't watch other Star Wars movie in cinema).

I personally felt the Star Wars: The Return of the Sith is just okay only. It's a very interesting movie, with all those special effects and awesome fighting scenes. But I felt that the movie moved too fast, and tried to squeeze too many stories into it. The turning of Anakin Skywalker to the dark side is not very convincing to me, so does his love to Padmé Amidala. The film simply does not portray his feeling and thought deep enough.

The movie runs for about 140 minutes. And I saved some taxi money as Mr Goh and wife were so kind again to give me a ride. Anyway, watch the movie, to be part of the history.

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith movie poster

How many "Next" will you click in Search Engine?

It's interesting to see how's the traffic comes to my blogs, especially from search engine. Frankly speaking, I seldom browse thru few pages of results from any search engine. But I did noticed a few of the traffics comes after tens of pages in search results. Here I listed a few examples.

Tale and Story of My Life:

http://www.google.at/search?q=%22gapbuster%22&hl=de&lr=&as_qdr=all&start=90&sa=N [at Page 10]

Egypt and Jordan Travelogue:

http://search.dmoz.org/cgi-bin/search?search=blogspot&cat=Home/Family/Family_Websites/D&utf8=1&locale=en_us&start=1921 [at Page 97!]
http://www.google.de/search?q=nubian%20village&hl=de&lr=&start=110&sa=N [at Page 12]http://www.google.com/search?q=egypt%20travelogue&num=30&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&start=210&sa=N [at Page 8]

Northern Vietnam Travelogue:

All found within 1st or 2nd page of search engine's results. Seems like my keywords are quite strong for this blog.

Open Directory and Technorati

Since one of my blogs listed in Open Directory Project, there are some very few traffic that came from the directory. Not much, but the main objective to get my travelogue listed was for it to be able to be indexed by Google, the premier search engine in the world now.

To my surprise is even Technorati did send some hits to the blog. Technorati is basically a search engine for the blogs. With so many blogs listed there, and majority of net surfers utilize Google for information searching, the few hits seemed very valuable.

Am I going to lose $36,000?

It looks like I am simply too naive or trust her too much. Jacqueline's mum just called me and said want to convert our boutique business from retail to distributorship. She never mentioned about money, but Jacqueline did ask more from me few days ago by sms. I think that's enough, and what's more, I cannot afford to lose more money. I now really believe she is getting rid of me.

Story began about a year ago when Jacqueline, my ex-colleague found me and wanted to start a boutique business together. The catch is, I invest all the capital and she will put in all her effort. Things worked well in the beginning, but she started to ask for more money in November, despite kept telling me that business is okay.

I have wanted to give up, but the dilemma now is how not to lose money, or if really have to lose, how to lose as less as possible. I wanted to take up the business all by myself, but I don't have time to run it. Beside, as she runs everything, she can simply tell me that the boutique is not making money, so I might lose everything. Anyway, I have decided to not spend a single cent more. Others really on how much she going to pay back the trust I put on her. God bless!

Traffic from Google and Yahoo

One good news is my blogs are starting to get hits and traffics from Google and Yahoo search engines. It's not much, sometimes even in single digit each day, but nevertheless it's a great start.

The MSN search engine is a failure. Neither did I managed to get my blogs listed permanently or MSN spider found my blogs, even though my Egypt and Jordan Travelogue listed on Open Directory Project. Initially all my blogs have been found and indexed, but lately they're all been dropped from MSN, for no reason.

Back from Hanoi Vietnam

Arrived yesterday night in Singapore from Hanoi Viet Nam, by Tiger Airways. The plane arrived at about 11 pm. MRT to the city had departed although the MRT train between Changi Airport and Tanah Merah station still running. But there was no more connecting MRT train towards Boon Lay station. So I had to catch bus 36 that runs directly to the city. Luckily the bus driver drove the bus pretty fast, and I was still able to catch another bus home in the city. It was a pleasant journey, although now my skin is quite painful due to severe sun burnt. You can read my stories here.

Depart for VietNam

I will go to the Changi Airport shortly to board Tiger Airways to Vietnam. Hopefully the trip will be wonderful.

Valuair Giveaway Free Air Tickets

Valuair turns 1 this month. They're having 1st anniversary promotion at Caltex House at Raffles Place and giveaway some freebies and air tickets in lucky dip and games. They are also having promotion of 1-for-1 deal, that's mean buy 1 air ticket and get another for free. Unbelievable is if you used to travel Valuair before, just bring the ticket and get a air ticket for free, although it's limited to 50 tickets only. After queued up for about half an hour, I won $100 cash voucher in the lucky dip. Most likely will sell it, if possible.

Finally in the Google

Finally my 2 new blogs Northern Vietnam Travelogue and this one appear in Google. I never submitted these 2 blogs to "Add URL" of Google, so they must be picked up by Google through links to them somewhere somehow. What I did was basically posted them in signature of Blogger Forum, submitted them to Travel-Library and Best Blogs in Asia directory. I also submitted the blogs to BlogShares industries. All blogs also link to each other, and so after a few weeks, Google automatically picks them up and index them.

The main problem now I faced is so called Search Engine Optimization. So far, only main index page is indexed. And Google seems to crawl just once and never returns. I will try to add more fresh contents to make Google spider comes back more often. Hope that it works.

MSN Search Engine Observation

MSN picked up all my 3 currently active blogs all once on 27th April 2005. Of these, I had submitted 1 of them to MSN Search Engine URL Submission. Yet I really could not understand why all of them been indexed and cached by MSN on the same day. Anyway, I did submit all of the RSS to My MSN.

Istana Open House

Istana (mean 'palace' in Malay) Singapore is the official residence of the President of the Republic of Singapore. Every year, on Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Hari Raya Puasa, Labour Day and National Day, the Istana will be opened to the public fro 8.30 am to 6.00 pm.

This year Labour Day Istana Open House has been scheduled at 2nd May 2005. I was unaware of it but I was there because I have volunteered for President's Challenge 2005 Launch Ceremony that also held in Istana. Since I was not for the Istana Open House, I did not walked around too much, and even did not bring my camera. However, I still took some shoots with my camera phone.


If you're early, or at the right timing, you will able to meet with the President (currently President Nathan) close up.


Bouvelard in Istana after the entrance.


Performance for visitors.

Google Search Engine Update

It has been a week or two my 2 new blogs, including this one, into my Blogger Forum signature, yet they still haven't been noticed by Google yet, although Google has indexed some of the forum web pages that link to my blogs, yet my blogs not been included into index yet.

What puzzle me more is I also put Northern Vietnam Travelogue into same travel directory with my Egypt and Jordan Travelogue, yet it's not yet been noticed by Google. It seems like may be the "Add URL" in Google is actually working, since I had submitted the later blog to Google. Anyway, Google supposes to do a deep crawl every month, I think I wait for a while to see whether Google can find my 2 new blogs or not.

David Tao 陶喆 太平盛世 音乐会

Thanks for courtesy of Jennifer Kuah, I been to David Tao 陶喆 太平盛世 音乐会, held at Singapore Expo Hall 1. A bit far from city and even from Expo MRT had to walk quite a distance, but the mini concert was enjoyable.

Songs List:

1. Susan说
2. 就是爱你
3. 爱我还是他
4. 月亮代表我的心
5. 爱,很简单

Before David Tao appeared, all female band Wild from London, England performed 2 of their songs. Their songs not bad too.

Photo from David Tao 陶喆 太平盛世 音乐会

The David Tao Mini Concert Stage. Due to late entry, the angle was bad.


Wild from London, England


All female 5-member Wild. They performed before David Tao.


Finally, David Tao


Closer to the corner


David Tao with Yes 933 DJs


David Tao when singing 就是爱你


Played games with David Tao


A head blocked the view


Another gesture when David Tao sang


Shout it!


Faced the corner again


Whenever he sang, this is the most common gesture.


陶喆 David Tao running all over stage towards end of the concert.


Asked the audiences to sing along when sang 爱很简单


Thanks his supporters.

Can Valuair considers a Budget Airline?

Over the last year, 3 budget airlines, or low-cost carrier (LCC), or no-frill airlines, emerge in Singapore. Valuair was the first to start flying. But the problem is I don't think Valuair's air fares are attractive enough. Of all the 6 destinations Valuair currently serve, namely Bangkok, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Perth, Xiamen and Chengdu, the air fares are just slight lower than the conventional airlines. And to get the cheapest air fares from Valuair, you need to book extra early. So initially I was very excited to know that finally there is a 'budget carrier' that fly to Xiamen and Chengdu in China. But after I saw the airfare, it's sort of more of the same with other airlines, including SilkAir.

To be fair, I like Valuair all passengers pay the same fare feature. It won't let us get physiological unbalanced after knowing other passengers paying considerably lower than me. Or even worse, the case with Tiger Airways that the air fare get cheaper.

Got back $5 but still lose $5

Finally my colleague paid me back additional $5 for the deposit of EZ-Link card. Few days ago I told her she needs to pay me more $5, but she didn't seem to understand what I say. But now I still lose $5, as when I buy new EZ-Link, the $5 deposit no longer can take back!

Good News! Get Listed on Open Directory Project

My story on my trip that travel to Egypt and Jordan finally get listed on ODP, or Open Directory Project. It takes about 2 weeks after I submitted it to get listed, and the editor just looked at the blog's main page only and instantly approved my blog under Middle East section, although I haven't complete, or even start to write about travel in Jordan yet. You can find the listing here.

Lose $5 for EZ-Link and may be friendship?

EZ-Link card is the only stored value card that can be used on public transport in Singapore. Previously, whenever you buy an EZ-Link Card, you need to pay additional $5 as deposit. However, nowadays, for new EZ-Link card that is been issued, the $5 no longer refundable.

Been kiasu (Singapore term for afraid to lose out), I bought additional 2 EZ-Link card just before the day all new cards no longer refundable took effect. I have other intention too other than kiasu, one is what if I lose my existing card? Another is so that whenever my family or my friends come to Singapore, I can borrow them the card instead of them buy the new card and pay the unnecessary $5.

My colleague saw I put the 2 EZ-Link card on my computer table. She called me and wanted to buy 1 from me. Of course I said cannot as it's not fair to me as I have to pay the $5 to buy a new card, and also not fair to my smartness :). Yet she was so not embarassed, insisting in getting 1 from me. What can I do? Worst, she took it and paid me only $6.60, the usable card value. How about the invisible $5 deposit?

I am very not happy with this incident. This is not because I am so stingy about $5. All the while I have been so kind to her, letting her to use my pc almost everyday (I stay above her office, actually is company hostel). Besides, I don't say a word too about the colleagues, including her downstair wear the shoe straight into my hostel. Although she is kind to me too, but I think it's good if she leave my things intact, don't spoil too much of my privacy. Arrgghhhh, think I need to give her some warning....

I made it!

Okay, I managed to complete the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge's 5.6 km in 43 minutes 55 seconds. Not fast, but I am so happy that I can finished it, despite so tired now. What's more, I managed to run (Ok, actually was jog) for the first 2.5 km non-stop, a record for me. After that it was part running part walking for me. Much room to improve. :)

Torture Myself

Sometimes I keep wondering why there are always some people who like to tortore themselves, by doing all sort of things that can hurt themselves. Yet, this is what I am going to do by participating in JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge. I haven't exercised for quite a while. Even last time when I used to jog, the most I can run is just roughly 2 km. Now, 5.6 km. Not too long, but let's see whether I can make it or not. God bless me.

She comes to my house!

Li Tit came to my house today to do her income tax filing. I am so happy finally can meet up with her again. She is very hard to date, this may be countable times of meeting up with her since I been in Singapore 4 years back.

Why nobody interested in my blogs?

The daily visitors to my blogs have to exceed 10 a day for a few days now. This compared with around 20 unique visitors a day when I just started the blogs. It's very frustrated to know that nobody actually visits your blogs, and hence also reduce the possibility of ads revenue. Guess I need to promote more, but how?

Google Search Engine Challenge

Finally, my travelogue on travel to Egypt and Jordan is been indexed by Google Search Engine. However, the spider only crawled the index page only, not yet crawls the archive pages yet. Think I still need to give Google some time to pick up everything.

Getting indexed by Google has been the big challenge for me. They're simply too many suggestions by expert on so how to get listed in Google, including how to get listed in 2 days. I am not sure if the method linking from high PageRank site will works or not, as my 2 other blogs haven't been even noticed by Google yet since I joined a link exchange program 3 days ago. And frankly, to find a high PageRank site that willing to link to you is not easy.

Here is what I found DID work to get my blog listed:

1. Posting in forum: I tried that in Blogger Forum. I posted a few posts with the link to my blog and it get Google noticed it in a day or two, although hasn't crawled the blog yet. And I also found that by putting the link in the signature is not working, as my two other blogs haven't even been noticed by Google, despite so many links to them have been captured by Google in my signature in forum.

2. Link from directory: I am not sure if it's just plain coincidental. But once my travel blog get listed in a travel directory, my index page is been crawled, and now search result returns proper blog title and description.

What I am not sure is whether Add URL in Google is actually working or not, as I did submit my blog via Add URL, while my other 2 blogs are not. And also link exchange. My other 2 blogs are currently on link exchange with other blogs only, some of them even have PageRank of 6. So let's see if they will get noticed and crawled by Google soon.

SingNet is getting worse each day...

I was half way typing into Blogger when suddenly 'down' in a short that I cannot browse all overseas website at all. And thus, all my typing was lost. I am getting crazy. This is not the first time SingNet had this kind of problem, yet it happens and again. All this problem on top of traffic shaping on p2p file sharing by SingNet with P-Cube. It is very frustrating that whenever reach their so called 'peak hour', the download speed automatically dwindling down to kind of non-exist!

Gapbuster Mad Rush

Gapbuster is one of the very few mystery shopping companies that has regular mystery shopping assignments in Singapore. Every month, Gapbuster will post all the assignments that are available for the following months. Nowadays, the assignments are vanishing very fast, some half an hour right after it's been put up, you will be sure that most of the assignments with good location and time slot are gone. Just few months ago, it's not so hot yet. Guess this few months there have been a lot of new mystery shoppers. With this speed, I guess within a few months most jobs will be taken by few minutes of available.

Tiger Airways and Early Birds

Tiger Airways says at the FAQ:

"Our airfares are quoted in tiers tagged to market demand. Hence, we recommend that you book as early as possible. Generally speaking, the earlier you book the cheaper the fare will be. We always start by selling the lowest fare. Once that is sold out, we sell the next lowest available fare etc. All fares listed are on a one way basis."

But it seems like not the case, at least for mine. After I booked 2 tickets to Hanoi with Tiger Airways, I noticed today that Tiger Airways is offering even lower fares now, with the starting fare of just SGD $9.98. So, everybody that buy the ticket later than me can fly cheaper than me. It makes me furious.

Actually before I bought the tickets, the Tiger Airways air fare to Hanoi actually stands at SGD $69.98 for the dates I want. Then the promotion of from SGD $19.98 to all their destinations came, and now they made it from SD $9.98 to all their destinations. And all these are for the same period of travel. It seems like Tiger Airways really get the demand estimate wrong.

I am very Slow....

Initially I planned to update my travel to Egypt and Jordan each day for each day of travel. Seem like now I am way behind schedule. I have to do it faster, I hope I will and I can.

Forget the StatCounter

I just noticed that I forget to put the StatCounter code in the Egypt and Jordan Travelogue. No wonder it seemed like nobody visit the website.