天目湖

天目湖 - part of the seminar that the customer organized. This was a nice lake, made a tourist attraction. I always appreciate a large water body, though the company of close friends and family would have made this lake more interesting.

Marathon 10

Sunday, May 30, 2010
Marathon 10
Refering back to last year's post...
http://charles-footsteps.blogspot.com/2009/12/marathon-9.html

Did better this year, with trainings up to 2.5 hrs... First night marathon... the Sundown Marathon, which began last night at 2359hrs...

Decided to take part on this event late last year, inspired by friends, and this is the first time I'm taking part in the night event with lotsa good pals running together or supporting.

1. Mobil Marathon 1999 5hr 48 min
2. ExxonMobil Marathon 2001 4hr 33 min
3. StanChart Marathon 2003 5hr 00 min
4. StanChart Marathon 2004 5hr 22 min
5. StanChart Marathon 2005 4hr 47 min
6. StanChart Marathon 2006 4hr 50 min
7. StanChart Marathon 2007 4hr 32 min
8. StanChart Marathon 2008 4hr 53 min
9. StanChart Marathon 2009 5hr 07 min
10. Adidas Sundown Marathon 2010 4hr 57 min

This makes 10, hitting my original target. Yeah!

The knees did not hurt as much this time, and it was more the abrasion, the sleepiness and the boredom that got to me. haha... now the question is... what will I do for this year's StanChart event?

A typical weekend ...

Taiwan Up 2010 ... and really tired

Arrived in Taipei since Monday, but with heavy thoughts. The upcoming meetings were not going to be the most fun, and the cold weather and winter environment made the mood somewhat darker.

This is the first time that I come across the Taipei 101 building. Walked by last night, and took a look and a snapshot. Strangely, the aspect ratio and the surroundings actually make the building NOT seem very tall.

Sadly, I did not have the mood to roam the streets of Taipei at night, being extremely drained after the meetings and discussions. In fact, I did not sleep on the bed last night, but on the coach, waiting for phone calls and discussions. Zzz... Let's see if my mood improves tonight, to make a trip to at least relax in this nice city.

moments before 32

spent the whole weekend watching 17 episodes of Brothers and Sisters... and when I finally went out for my first meal of this sunday (okay... 2nd, if you count buns and yogurt as brunch), I was also keen on taking a walk to move some of the lazy muscles.

it was only then that I realized the lake next to the hotel had a musical fountain with laser and hip-chinese music show. it was actually quite entertaining, and I like water afterall...

the bright spot in the top background is the moon on the 16th... supposedly at its roundest. Quality of the blackberry camera for night shot is poor, but at least the camera caught some of the moving lights.

Really could stay there and watch the dancing water jets, in the cool weather with the nice night sky. The laser show was quite good, reflected at various depths of water, rushing up, or splashing back down. If the music were different, and if there were good company, with a container of hot coffee, it would have been a perfect night. :-)

in China during their holidays

China's National Day... Mid-Autumn Festival... The adjacent festivities almost meant a standstill in China, since people are inclined to return home for a much deserved long break. In the past, this would be critical, as people needed to return home via rail, which could take days. Today, it is still important, as not everyone is rich enough to take the more expensive modes of transport.

Anyhow, despite the customer's plan to complete the work during this period, reality caught up, and there were insurmountable problems and hence delays. The result was the "burning" of holidays for many of the people around the project.

Photos from the park - day & night:

Bangkok 2009

Went on a last-minute holiday over last thursday to sunday, planned and confirmed only last monday-tuesday.

It was a good decision, to put down everything and take a break. Besides a few work calls and email checking, I was free to use my mind for my own purpose. Did some shopping, clubbing, and most importantly, roaming around with the same gang of friends.

Finally saw the Jatujak market, and despite the complaints of how hot, messy and unpleasant the market could be, I actually quite liked it. Well... I cannot understand why they are selling used shoes in the market, but the sale of some flowers, plants and pets did add something different to the typical flea-market style.

We went to a club two nights in a row (a third too, for those who stayed), and the crowd was amazing... amazing as in that it was almost impossible to move through the people, and we were pushed around more often, then moved by our own accord. The music was nice for these two nights though, and it was really enjoyable.

Journals from a week in Dushanzi

Journal log:18 July 1230hrs
Flight CA1901

Left Beijing this morning and took a little notice on how huge the airport is. It is pretty amazing from the vantage point I had.

Anyway, last night's news splashed on the bomb attacks at the Marriott and the Ritz-Carlton hotels almost simultaneously. It felt so surreal,especially since Iam heading for Urumqi en route to Dushanzi. What safety precautions can l fall back on, if something wereto happen? Not my most comforting moment right now.

Well, at least l'm entertaining myselt with my new Kohjinsha UMPC. Nice...

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Journal log: 18 July 2120hrs
Maitark Hotel 1006
Day 1 of "Disconnected from the world"

The trip to Dushanzi was uneventful, and on reaching the hotel, it became clear to me soon that there will be very few ways to be connected to the outside world. There is no internet, no connection on my mobile phones, even the local phones will not be able to make international calls. My only connection will be via my Beijing colleague, the Chinese agent and another Singapore colleague who has a China-registered number, by calling any one of them.

Let's see how my sanity holds with so much difficulties to be connected.

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Journal log: 19 July 0810hrs
Maitark Hotel Room 1006
Day 2 of "Disconnected from the world"
Weight - 66.4kg

7 hrs of sleep! Without much to do, and not wanting to work at those outstanding but non-urgent issues, without any TV shows that is worth watching, I slept more than I did for months. And I am looking forward to sleeping more tonight.

While strolling the streets last night, I noticed that the indoor lightings are always quite dim... dim compared to the lightings used in Singapore. Perhaps I am too used to the clarity with bright lights back home. And with regards to street design, the roads at Dushanzi are flanked by trees. It looks nice, but I must comment that the design was not well done. The branches of the trees were too low, and these trees are planted over pavements ... pavements that are now inaccessible by people taller than 1m. Duh...

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Journal log: 19 July 2205hrs
Maitark Hotel Room 1006
Day 2 of "Disconnected from the world"

It is really wierd, not having phone connections while mobile. There is no need to take my phones out, and that feels really strange... Will I get used to this?

I jogged around part of the town, and took some nice photos of the nearby mountains. It is not every day that I get to stay in a town near a snow-capped mountain, with some broad expense of green plains. The Dushanzi town consists of very new buildings, nice new estates, older style estates, as well as slums. The contrast of this small city/town is amazing.

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Journal log: 20 July 0715hrs
Maitark Hotel Room1006
Day 3 of "Disconnected from the world"
Weight - 66.9kg

Going back into the plant in the morning. Hope the progress will accelerate, but I understand that in this line, it is more likely for delays to occur. I wonder how I can handle this upset in the original plans.

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Journal log: 20 July 2150hrs
Maitark Hotel Room1006
Day 3 of "Disconnected from the world"

Probably getting fatter due to the heavy lunches and dinners. This is despite the morning 5BX that I have started to do. Perhaps I will remain fit after this trip? Well, I plan to skip dinner tomorrow in favour for a jog... think this is going to happen?

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Journal log: 21 July 0752hrs
Maitark Hotel Room1006
Day 4 of "Disconnected from the world"
Weight - 67.3kg

Another day here... hope things smoothen out at work. But I also look forward to having a day off to go touring. Hmm...

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Journal log: 22 July 0800hrs
Maitark Hotel Room1006
Day 5 of "Disconnected from the world"
Weight - 67.0kg

Not so much as disconnected from the world now. I could receive phone calls on the blackberry and the contact engineer also got me a local number for my use. But internet connection is still not there and I still cannot make international calls. Hope the government will decide to resume connectivity.

There is a solar eclipse taking place right now. Wonder if I will see it on the way to work later?

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Journal log: 22 July 2147hrs
Maitark Hotel Room1006
Day 5 of "Disconnected from the world"

Just came back from a swim at the next door public pool. Nice, though there is way too many people. But swimming does provide some much needed exercise. Dinner is going to be a Dove chocolate bar, yoghurt and oats cereals. Hmm...

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Journal log: 23 July 0757hrs
Maitark Hotel Room1006
Day 6 of "Disconnected from the world"
Weight - 66.4kg

Work is to begin today. Let's hope things go smoothly!

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Journal log: 23 July 2216hrs
Maitark Hotel Room1006
Day 6 of "Disconnected from the world"

Loading started, but with all the problems that I had previously envisioned. and we hanged around waiting for things to happen such that I only returned to the room around 9+. And my colleagues tried super hard to reach me with this one-way comms situation... so grateful... well, let's hope for a more smooth day tomorrow.

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Journal log: 24 July 0757hrs
Maitark Hotel Room1006
Day 7 of "Disconnected from the world"
Weight - 66.0kg

Light breakfasts and dinners over these 2 days have resulted in some reduction of weight. Guess I should continue to only have light dinners, though next week may not be in my total control.

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Journal log: 26 July 0952hrs
Flight CZ317 - Beijing to Seoul

Left Dushanzi yesterday, and was finally "connected" in Beijing, at the pretty good Crowne Plaza Hotel near the airport.117 emails for the 8 days of disconnection, with a myriad of issues to handle, some within the next 3 days. Oh dear... Hope I can get through these without too much pain.

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Taiwan - part 1

Done with part 1 of the work in Taiwan, and shall be having a more (read: too) exciting week ahead, with meetings in China and Korea.

Went to Taichung yesterday, to get some stuff, and took a few photos in the wet evening...

And now for a "Guess what is this photo all about?" game... What, do you think, is the focus of this photo and where was it is taken? (Clue: this was not taken in Taiwan)

The person with the closest/most creative answer will get a box of wheat tea (if I remember to get a pack in Korea). ..... really wonder if anyone reads this, and bothers to guess .. ???

Shanghai Shanghai

Some photos taken in Shanghai over this weekend: