Wednesday, October 31, 2012

P1 Admin Day @ WPS

Dear 2013 P1 Pupils’ Parent, You are reminded to come for Pri. One Admin Day on 29 Oct/30 Oct at WPS (Time: 9am – 4.30pm). Parents are to complete admin forms/ purchase of books and uniforms for 2013 P1 Pupils.

It has started. With a sms from the school, we were reminded that the P1 days are just ahead in less than 2 months time.

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Once we have found her name on the school board, we collected all the forms for administration. Inter-bank Giro form, dental form, school bus form, health declaration form, school book list, uniform list, etc.

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How can a child read so many books in a year?

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Joey was excited to see her teachers to be. I pray that she will settle in nicely come next year.

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After all the admin work, it’s time to check out the uniforms and purchase the books at the canteen’s bookstall.

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A former student now mother commented that the uniform still looks exactly the same decades ago and now.

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During my days, the PE t-shirts were in yellow colour. I think the white ones are nicer.

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So convenient, even school shoes can be purchased at the bookstall for S$14 per pair.

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All in all, we spent about S$300 on books, shoes & 3 sets of uniforms. Who says education is cheap in Singapore?

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All photos taken on iPhone.

Monday, October 29, 2012

Tokyo Trip - Akihabara 秋葉原

This is a series of the places I have visited in Tokyo when Kless and I were there in October.

Akihabara 秋葉原, also known as Akiba after a former local shrine is a district in central Tokyo, that is famous for its many electronics shops. In more recent years, Akihabara has gained recognition as the center of Japan’s otaku (diehard fan) culture, and many shops and establishments devoted to anime and manga are now dispersed among the electronic stores in the district.

How to get there
Akihabara Station is served by the JR Yamanote Line, JR Keihin-Tohoku Line, JR Sobu Line, the Tsukuba Express and the Hibiya Subway Line.

From Tokyo Station, Akihabara is two stops north by JR Yamanote or Keihin-Tohoku Line. The trip is about 3mins and costs ¥130.

From Shinjuku Station, take the JR Chou Line (orange colour rapid service) to Ochanomizu Station (abt 10mins) and make a quick transfer to the JR Sobu Line (yellow colour local service) for one more station to Akihabara (abt 2mins). The fare is ¥160.

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Coming out from the east of Akihabara Station, you will be greeted by the multitudes rushing to find their products in the huge shopping mall (Yodobashi-Akiba) that offers a one-stop shopping experience for computers, games, watches and cameras.

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A view from a distance away to let you see the hugeness of the mall. As compared, Singapore’s Sim Lim is like a dwarf.

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Saw this group of kids hanging around the mall making calls to probably friends to inform them of the goods they have found. I just love the hats Japanese students wear, kawaii!

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Another huge multi-storey mall you will see when you come out from the station is the LABI store. It specialized in personal computers, PC accessories and household electronics. I reckon you will need at least 1-2 hours to slowly walked through the entire mall.

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And since you are over at this mall, remember to pop by the nearby Gundam Cafe. Most of my guy friends will go crazy if they were there. Operating hours are 10am – 11pm (weekdays) and 830am – 11pm (weekends). The cafe serves Gundam themed dishes and is decorated with art and themes from the series.

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A super cool “Mobile Suit”.

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If you are looking for electronic components, security monitors, radios and computer parts, then Radio Market is the must go place for you. Radio Market is a former black market zone that specialized in selling radio and electronic parts after WWII.

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For gamers, there is an entire street that sells a wide range of anime and manga related goods including movies, video games, CDs, stationary, software and character goods.

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Adult DVDs are also readily available along the many streets. Heard from a friend there is even a 5-storey high mall that sells all sorts of sex-related items.

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Akihabara is the home to the famous Maid Cafes. These are cosplay themed restaurants where guests are served by waitresses that are typically dressed as French maids. In addition to serving food, the maids engage in conversation and games with the customers and treat them with care and respectful language due to the master of the house.

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A few photos of the maids on the streets trying to promote their cafe’s business. They are all quite shy and would shun away from taking photos. So got to take from a distance or while they are talking to potential customers.

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Not everything in Akihabara is about electronics or otaku culture. Just a few streets away from the main attractions, is an old-fashioned stores area (on the bottom left corner on the map).

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It would be a nice break from the busy streets and have a leisure walk around the neighbourhood. Probably try some of the local ramen and sake.

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The nostalgic atmosphere of railway road, storehouses and old wooden house.

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Tokyo is a city with many cyclists. My guess is that they are really a bunch of environmentalists doing a small part for the society.

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But there are always a few that prefers to just enjoy their moment of smoking.

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Overall, Akihabara is an interesting place. If you are looking to buy some electronic products, you will probably spend a whole day here. But if you are like me, just soaking in the culture and hope to take some photos, half a day is good enough.

Friday, October 26, 2012

Studio Recording - 你最珍貴

Never in my wildest dream have I thought that I would have a chance to step into a recording studio and do a song recording. To be honest, I don’t sing well at all. Usually when Kless and I go to KTV, Kless will be the one singing and I’m just happy to tag along. But God is so good to us, on our 10th year wedding anniversary, He sent a friend a few weeks ago and created the chance for us to be linked up and do this amazing recording at United Music.

United Music & United Records are started by the famous couple from DreamFactory, Eric and Careen.

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Their company is a special blend of both a music school and production company. Meaning in this place, you can learn to sing and record at the same time. The school provides Electric / Acoustic Guitar Course, Vocal Recording Academy (Sing, Record, Share), First Notes & Musical Playground.

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For Kless and I, United Music offers us a chance to try the Vocal Recording Academy (Sing, Record, Share). We went on a Monday evening and did it straight away after a round of practice. Benefits of having great friends like them =)

When did a duet by 張學友/高慧君 - 你最珍貴. This is probably one of the first and most sung duet for Kless and I when we were dating. So it was the perfect song for us.

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We had the most professional and dedicated couple to do the recording for us. They were just amazing, within minutes, they were able to point out some of the dictation problems we had and even gave us a few on-the-spot tips in singing.

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The moment of truth. We did a round of recording together and then individually we did our parts.

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She just looks so beautiful in the studio. I’m very blessed to have married this woman for 10 years.

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Special thanks to our dear friends who made this possible for us. It was truly a wonderful moment and a memory to remember forever.
I think for us to be married 10 years, and be able to do something like this, it’s totally amazing. So if you are thinking of doing something special as a couple or for your partner, why don’t you consider doing a similar recording? I can guarantee you won’t regret. This is so fun and meaningful.

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Now for the final product.

Kless & Isaiah

你最珍貴
作詞:林明陽/十方
作曲:凌偉文
編曲:杜自持
演唱:張學友/高慧君


(男)明年這個時間 約在這個地點
(女)記得帶著玫瑰 打上領帶繫上思念
(男)動情時刻最美 真心的給不累
(女)太多的愛怕醉 沒人疼愛 再美的人 也會憔悴

(男)我會送你紅色玫瑰 你別拿一生眼淚相對
(女)你知道我愛流淚
(男)未來的日子有你才美 夢才會真一點
(女)未來的日子是否很美 夢才會真一點
(女)我學著在你愛裡沉醉 你守護著我穿過黑夜
(男)         我不撤退     黑夜
(合)我願意 這條情路 相守相隨 你最珍貴

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Joey K2 Graduation

After 2 years in Kindergarten, finally it’s the day Joey will attend her Graduation Concert. She is excited to put on makeup for the performance.

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All graduates have to report by 8am. The hall is readied for the big day. All the families were gathered excited to capture the moment with their cameras, video-recorder, iphones, etc.

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Joey looks so cute in her graduation gown, and she is the only one wearing glasses in her class.

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Stand by to march on stage to receive her graduation certificate.

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Even though the MC is talking on stage, but hardly anyone is listening to him. We were all busy taking turns to take photos with our little Champion of the day.

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2 years of study just for this moment.

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And of course the performance we have all been waiting for. Joey is a natural, I think she was one of the best dancer among her classmates.

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That is my Joey’s graduation! Proud of you Babe!

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