Sunday, August 16, 2009

Toy convention 2009

Many thanks to Weichang & Yiru from www.myotakuhouse.com for the invitation to cover their showcase at the Toy convention 2009! Here're some snaps from the convention!



Not a great toy fan myself, I couldn't get my eyes away from this impressive display of Transformers! The number of Optimus Prime alone was mind-blogging and I might start to understand why some fanatics have their houses converted to a collector's haven/museum!



Here's a snap of Otaku house! Covering many cosplay items plus collectibles. Check out the Qee selection!! www.myotakuhouse.com!


An example of the absolutely gorgeous and exquisite showcase of Blythe doors. The booth was swarmed with admirers all wanting a piece of this beautiful colleciton of dolls!


Here two men trying to look cool infront of the Blythe showcase.....but hiding a doll each behind them... ;)



One of my favourite stations was the Wii counters, there were easily 10+ stations set up for people to play all sorts of Wii games! This is the new floor pad...and remember to wear the correct coloured socks!! I also had the chance to go on stage to try the Wii guitar!! More images of that to follow...

Friday, August 14, 2009

Joining the 30yo club

Finally, the 'dreaded' day is here. It seem so far away in the horizon for so many years, and never thought how it would feel to finally reach here. And 'poof', it's here faster than anything I've seen.

Some say what achievements have gone through the past 30yrs?? I'm happily married to the love of my life, I'm enjoying my wisest and perhaps the most productive years to date. My 'raw speed' of thought hasn't match up to when I was 18 years old, neither has my 'pure' physical fitness now compared to when I was a teenager. BUTT!! I'm enjoying fine wines up to vintage of 1982 (that's a tad off my birth year!! 1979, which isn't known to be a great wine vintage). I've my own ride and I've taken part in biatholons and triathlons and I've just signed up for my first marathon!!! (standard chartered 2009). I've also been conferred a Phd recently. I've been fortunate enough to witness great cities and national parks of the world, and been blessed with a camera to capture many of these great sites. All in all a great 30 years!

For the next 10 years, many of the '30 club' have said that it's the best years of one's life. I look forward to be successful in my career, to carve out a path worthy to guide others on theirs, to taste the best food and wine around the world, to savour the fruits of labour with my family.

More thoughts to follow....*written after a tank of Sake!!!*..

OUT!

*part 2 of story....Here's one of my best meals I have could have imagined, great Japanese fare (courtesy of TK's arrangements & Thomas culinary skills @ Tomo, Marina square), private room, and XL bottle of Sake, 6 pax, fluid conversation and exchange of ideas = a meal close to perfection. The sake when warmed turned out to be extremely fragrant, switching on the 'right' taste buds at the right time. Here's a composite shot of the gang. From the top left, Cheng Wee, Me! and Yaozhong, buddies from Victoria School, top right, Hoe Soon and myself, trenders! and yes, that's the bottle of sake which we finished. Bottom left, wifey and I tucking in mouth-watering prawns! Bottom right, a trio with Loke Yuen grining with excessive sake blowing red on his face!

Part 3 to follow...


And it was back home for a traditional cake cutting with my parents and wifey. Damn 3 big candles!!!

This was about a week prior to the actual day, celebrating with my research group, Organic Nano Device Lab @ National University of Singapore. It's a tradition to get a cake for the 'babies' for each month. And since August was going to be my last month and it was my big THREE-O, I had to decide to get a 'good cake', and share it with the group! I chose passion meringue from The Patissier , it cost...a BOMB!! Think $XXX, but from everyone's reaction, this cake was worth it..hee.

More to follow? I think so!! watch out!

Monday, August 10, 2009

We, the citizens of Singapore...


I was very fortunate to be able to catch the NDP, albeit it was NE2, but it was the BEST NDP ever which I've watched. The creative direction by Ivan Heng and music direction by Sydney Tan was simply ..WOW.. I absolutely love the 7X8 'cubicles' and it was such a great idea! My favourite segment was the 'chapter 4', where by Singapore was in a 'Fast forward' regime with music from various generation from the 60s all the way through the 90s. The mixing of Shout- Tears for Fears, Spice girls - Wannabe, Madonna - Music and other songs were simply 'pumping'!!! Watching the parade from the Telly on NDP itself was just... so different compared to 'live'!!