Enhanced 2008 Marriage and Parenthood (M&P) Package

PM Lee annnounced the Ehanced 2008 Marriage and Parenthood (M&P) Package at the National Day Rally. We as first time parents were overwhelmed and delighted but the happinness is shortlived.

1. Enhanced Baby Bonus
The cash gift for the first and second child will be raised from $3,000 to $4,000. Read more.

2. Children Development Account
The government matching contribution will be extended to the first child at up to $6,000.

3. Extended Government Paid Maternity Leave
Maternity leave will be extended from 12 weeks to 16 weeks for mothers. The last eight weeks can be taken flexibly over 12 months from the birth of the child, subject to mutual agreement between the employer and employee. More more MOM website.

The catch! For Singapore citizen babies born on or after 1 January 2009 (or whose Estimated Date of Delivery is on or after 1 January 2009) to lawfully married parents.

Megan estimated DOB is Dec 2008 so we do not qualify! It's like kenna only 3 digit for 4D!

好花不常开 好景不常在

One more day!

I will be heading off to Taiwan in 1 days time. But there are tons of work left undone and tons more to be done when I am back! It's weird when it feels so tough going for vacation and the BOSS will always question: "why go for so long, must OT finish yr task before you go, remember bring you laptop to check emails! wako, what the fcuk! Anyway that's what happen to my wife, who is still slogging in office to finish her work. I can foresee that there will be 2 laptops tagging along this trip!

Time flies after turning 30! Christmas>New Year>Chinese New year>Valentine day>...and back to Christmas again! Used to save up for the entire year to go for backpacking trip, sourcing for the cheapest flight, 3rd class trains, backpackers inn! Nowadays it's all about time! I am paying 75%more for this trip, reason being peak season and we can all take leave at the same time. If money can buy time, why not?

I have turned from a Backpacker to a "Free and Easy" guy to a TOURist. Like many of you, I hate to wake up TOO early in the morning, travel a long distance on the bus and spend only 30mins at a scenic location! Not even have the time to compose the shot and we have to leave! But time has changed. You cannot expect yr 70+ yrs old dad to walk like nobody's business! Further more with my leg injury and big belly I can hardly walk for too long too!

The last trip to Japan was wonderful. The first part was with tour group and second past was free and easy. But that requires lots of time and $$$!

Well, life is hard and short (人生苦短). We should explore/travel more within our means.

The Spirit of Journalism

I have heard of the dead of Japanese photojournalist, Kenji Nagai in the news but it only struck me when I saw the picture from Reuters. He was still filming even after after being shot in the chest! I have read of videograhers who are shot in war zones simply because their shoulder mount videocam looks too much like a RPG! more | Video

quote from nyost
"A colleague told The Times of London that Nagai was relentless in pursuing a story. His mantra was: "Someone has to go to the places nobody wants to go."

What's interesting here is the solider wearing a full combat uniform and yet running on a pair of slippers!

source: reuters

backpacking days

came across some old pics while archiving my images. These are taken by BK during the days where 1MB of CF card = SGD$1.

look at how lean I WAS! sld be ard 70KG then! Having breakfast @ Savannakhet, Laos. Very simple meal, noodle and vegetable. Its a challenge eating those vege as they looked really raw and you are not sure if they are properly cleaned!

roads @ Phnom Penh, Cambodia. On my way on that small cc bike to Tonle Sap lake.
The tar road has just been completed days before and they are still laying toward the knoll. Most of the roads are simply mud tracks and its really challenging for the bikes considering those small thin tyres.

me in the angkor wat compound. "tourist" seldom venture to this part of the temple. You suddenly realized how quiet and tranquilize it is, being surrounded by these gigantic stone structures. A very very weird feeling.

those were the days when you carry tons of camera gears and went around shooting. Those were the days.... The kids are so navie, pure and innocent. Although they are really poor, they do not beg for money.

不知不觉 八月了

I see daylight

Tuesday. So glad to see light again when i reach home.

mad @ IKEA

IKEA delivered our 2 (similar) shelves today. One had 2 dents and a scratch line. The delivery guy casually said: I'll help you patch up! The other had a dent so severe that I have to reject. He said they will replace in 3-4 days, unpacked the remaining items from the box and left. WTF! I have one scratched shelf, the other unassembled, unpacked books and wasted half a day! No wonder it's affordable solutions for better living, not quality furniture with great living experience!

Helo mr. Lampost

They are the ones who lit up our path in the nite. How often do you lift your head to look at them?

Another Bad day

Had a really bad week, after the diarrhoea came the sprained leg on the eve of Labour day!
Smell good rite!

The sky is as gloomy as my stomach

Lao Sai Day

Still contemplating whether I should post the photo of my shit splattering on the toilet bowl!

Amazon

When was the last time u experience something new?

Rarely buy things online unless I am not able to find them locally. This is my first package from Amazon, and it was pure excitement!

33

when you are 13 and in school, you wonder where you will be working at 23
when you are 23 and working, you wonder how far up the corporate ladder you can climb at 33
now at 33, I wonder...

人生

回忆是无限的想象空间

记忆有如是传统的摄像机
把人生的每一分每一秒都锁定在底片上
永远插不掉

但是
我们都希望人生有如是数码相机
可随时删除那些恶梦
只留住美好的回忆

WHAT if?

WHATS IF?

1.There is no more toilet paper, and you have to clean your shit?
2.Our tap water is not longer safe to drink?
3.Your Girlfriend is actually a he?

Long weekend?

I am really in a dilemma today as I really dislike the idea of asking people to work on holidays, especially when it is NEW year. On the other hand, my client would like to share his wedding photo and video to his mother, who happen to be hospitalized. And then you realised that you are blessed with good working partners who do no mind taking a few hours off to get this favour done. Thanks to Alvyn and Martin, own you one!

2007

While sending and replying New Year wishes, I realised that I have not update my phonebook for quite a while. And I realised that some of the numbers will have to be deleted forever...for the fact that they will never be answered again. I have lost some of these friends, their life taken away by cancer, leukemia and drunk driving. Well, if you are still complaining why you are not earning more that your peers or changing to a bigger car...be satisfied and happy that you are still alive to see another YEAR!

Happy New Year to all the souls in Heaven!