Saturday, April 29, 2006
Zurich pictures are up
Have uploaded the pictures from my Zurich in March - follow this link, also on the left handside of this page - links to photos.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
A Student's Prayer
For those facing exams shortly, here's a prayer to hopefully help you calm your nerves. I found it whilst tidying up my books. I'm not sure who penned it, however the handwriting on the page looks very similar to Joanna's!
Lord, grant to me a quiet heart
Before my examinations start;
Teach me to use my leisure hours
To reinvigorate my powers;
My mind from day dreams liberate,
Give me the will to concentrate.
From all distractions set me free
That in my studies, I may be
A student with this whole intent;
To make my work a sacrement.
From faint in heart, in love expel
All failure fears that therein dwell
And from my pillow drive away
All dark foreboding of that day;
Help me in faith to rest so deep
That I may have untroubled sleep.
While note and lessons I prepare
May I not lose my zest for prayer;
And may I not forget to look
For daily guidance in Thy Book.
In quietness, confidence and peace
May I have swift and sure release
From needless fears and apprehension,
From outward strain and inward tension.
And may I ever grateful be
To all who offer prayers for me
While for myself I intercede
For other students too I plead.
So may examinations find
Each boy (and each girl too) alert in heart and mind
Thus inward joy and peace possessing,
Exams will prove a source of blessing.
Amen.
Lord, grant to me a quiet heart
Before my examinations start;
Teach me to use my leisure hours
To reinvigorate my powers;
My mind from day dreams liberate,
Give me the will to concentrate.
From all distractions set me free
That in my studies, I may be
A student with this whole intent;
To make my work a sacrement.
From faint in heart, in love expel
All failure fears that therein dwell
And from my pillow drive away
All dark foreboding of that day;
Help me in faith to rest so deep
That I may have untroubled sleep.
While note and lessons I prepare
May I not lose my zest for prayer;
And may I not forget to look
For daily guidance in Thy Book.
In quietness, confidence and peace
May I have swift and sure release
From needless fears and apprehension,
From outward strain and inward tension.
And may I ever grateful be
To all who offer prayers for me
While for myself I intercede
For other students too I plead.
So may examinations find
Each boy (and each girl too) alert in heart and mind
Thus inward joy and peace possessing,
Exams will prove a source of blessing.
Amen.
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Macau
A 'Disneyland' mix of cities - Continental Europe and Las Vegas wannabe.
Roman ruins in the East?
Roman ruins in the East?
Great egg tarts!
Chi pa pao - as it says on the label (pork chop bun). Non pretentious, simple yet tasty!>
Ruins of St Paul's
Can you see me waving?>
Walking up to the fort the painful way - on stones (well, free reflexology!)
Grimacing through the pain>At the Fort
B quality sniffing the almond cookies
The casinos - new vs old
I found the casinos very depressing places. I haven't figured out whether people show their true selves in there or whether their personas came from an 'obnoxious-card-throwing' mask they don when they enter the casino, or the air conditioning unit in there makes people more arrogant and have the 'better-than-thou' attitude. Most people playing at the tables appear to think they should put on a show, hence the added dramatics of flipping cards back at the dealers or turning over a card in slow motion - in the slowest manner possible! Or perhaps there was a camera crew in there filming the background scene for the next Ocean's Eleven? Or talent scouts looking for the next 'God of Gambler'? Hmmm.....
The casinos - new vs old
I found the casinos very depressing places. I haven't figured out whether people show their true selves in there or whether their personas came from an 'obnoxious-card-throwing' mask they don when they enter the casino, or the air conditioning unit in there makes people more arrogant and have the 'better-than-thou' attitude. Most people playing at the tables appear to think they should put on a show, hence the added dramatics of flipping cards back at the dealers or turning over a card in slow motion - in the slowest manner possible! Or perhaps there was a camera crew in there filming the background scene for the next Ocean's Eleven? Or talent scouts looking for the next 'God of Gambler'? Hmmm.....
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
A day on the boat and at the races
We were going to have an uneventful day just chilling out. Until one of B's professors invited us to his boat to take advantage of the gorgeous weather.
Taking the wheel of the boat
Enjoying the sun on the deck of the boat (and making my sunburnt shoulders from BBQ on Monday worse too)
Can you see our shadows?
Night at the Happy Valley racecourse....
At the entrance of the racecourse
Tucking into some nosh
< style="text-align: right;">The winning horse - Wisdom Express!>
Taking the wheel of the boat
Enjoying the sun on the deck of the boat (and making my sunburnt shoulders from BBQ on Monday worse too)
Can you see our shadows?
Night at the Happy Valley racecourse....
At the entrance of the racecourse
Tucking into some nosh
Waiting for the races to start
< style="text-align: right;">The winning horse - Wisdom Express!>
Monday, April 17, 2006
Daytime BBQ
Sunday, April 16, 2006
From shabu shabu to Szechuan hot pot and dim sum
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Tokyo
A fantastic city!!!! We were spellbound by the bright neon lights and shops, mesmerised by the tranquility of the gardens and gaped at the hustle and bustle yet orderly fashion of everyday life. It is absolutely amazing how one can walk along the busy roads surrounded by branded shops and skyscrapers, then as you turn into a sidestreet, encounter little lanes of small shops or traditional eateries, or even stumble into a huge park which seems so far away from the traffic and hectic schedules just a street away. The food? Absolutely yummy and healthy at the same time (yes, can you believe it?). We tried shabu shabu (including all-you-can-eat for 2 hours!), sushi, sashimi and yakitori.
Even after just two hours in Tokyo, we promised that we would return. Four days went by quickly... We visited the shrines at Meiji-jingu and Senso-ji, enjoyed cherry blossoms at Shinjuku-gyoen, visited Imperial Palace East Garden and Roppongi, checked out the shops at Shinjuku, Harajuku, Omote-Sando, Ginza and Shibuya, and took an early stroll at Tsukiji fish market (also enjoying the freshest sashimi - first time I've had a sashimi breakfast!).
We still have a list of things we would like to see/experience - kabuki, Noh drama (though perhaps I'll save that for Kyoto), Akihabara.... However, after four days and complaints from our feet, we needed to recuperate from all that walking! We will be back though!!!!
I will upload all the photos and captions in the next week or so together with more details on the visit, but here are some for now...
Enjoying a walk at Shinjuku-gyoen...
Cherry blossoms at Shinjuku-gyoen
An early morning stroll to the Tsukiji fish market - the tunas were about my size!!!Hachiko the faithful Akita
Bright lights at Shimbuya
Even after just two hours in Tokyo, we promised that we would return. Four days went by quickly... We visited the shrines at Meiji-jingu and Senso-ji, enjoyed cherry blossoms at Shinjuku-gyoen, visited Imperial Palace East Garden and Roppongi, checked out the shops at Shinjuku, Harajuku, Omote-Sando, Ginza and Shibuya, and took an early stroll at Tsukiji fish market (also enjoying the freshest sashimi - first time I've had a sashimi breakfast!).
We still have a list of things we would like to see/experience - kabuki, Noh drama (though perhaps I'll save that for Kyoto), Akihabara.... However, after four days and complaints from our feet, we needed to recuperate from all that walking! We will be back though!!!!
I will upload all the photos and captions in the next week or so together with more details on the visit, but here are some for now...
Enjoying a walk at Shinjuku-gyoen...
Cherry blossoms at Shinjuku-gyoen
An early morning stroll to the Tsukiji fish market - the tunas were about my size!!!Hachiko the faithful Akita
Bright lights at Shimbuya
Monday, April 10, 2006
Food poisoning
A minor bout of food poisoning signals that I have definitely arrived in HK! :) Just kidding - B didn't suffer the same although he pointed out that his stomach is probably immune to it by now.
After trying to sleep off the feeling of throwing up previous day's food, I managed to get relief only after the non-medical method of sticking a finger down my throat. Mind - I really did try not to do it but nothing else helped. Instant relief. Yummy food does come at a price. Has it put me off scoffing my face? I was careful to eat light today but I'm sure I'll revert to my holiday 'diet' soon!
Anyways, we're packing for Tokyo - we're off tomorrow for a four day break!!!! Yay!!!! Going from one densely-populated-people-sardine-sandwich-with-skyscrapers-and-neon-lights-city to another rather similar city (from what I've read). Sharpening my elbows even more to get me through the city!
After trying to sleep off the feeling of throwing up previous day's food, I managed to get relief only after the non-medical method of sticking a finger down my throat. Mind - I really did try not to do it but nothing else helped. Instant relief. Yummy food does come at a price. Has it put me off scoffing my face? I was careful to eat light today but I'm sure I'll revert to my holiday 'diet' soon!
Anyways, we're packing for Tokyo - we're off tomorrow for a four day break!!!! Yay!!!! Going from one densely-populated-people-sardine-sandwich-with-skyscrapers-and-neon-lights-city to another rather similar city (from what I've read). Sharpening my elbows even more to get me through the city!
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Arrived in Hong Kong
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Sunday, April 02, 2006
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