Oyster & Pearl in Holland

2008

2008-01-06T23:03:00.000+01:00

A year has actually passed since I blogged...

www.xuanhaopauline.com

Milan and Verona

2006-12-03T00:21:00.001+01:00

Hi all...finally got to upload some photos from my trip in Milan and Verona.

Well, in short, I think Italy has become one of my new favourite European country..hehe, for now, I still want to go to Split, Croatia and Scilly!! Well...haha the list never ends. I also want to travel more with my wife!

Anyway....Milano is definitely one of the most fashion, trendy, chic city that I have been. I also had the chance to see the wall painting of Leonardo Da Vinci's The Last Supper. Impressive really. No photos there though. Huge.

Verona is a really nice mix of history and modernisation. Small but cute. It will be a tough choice to decide to go north for the Jan/Feb fashion sale (hehe for my wife) or to head south to Rome and Venice. Perhaps we will manage all. Haha...life...

Some changes to the blog, apparently, blogger has a new beta version, a move to corporate blogging with your Google account. For some reason, I can't seem to upload on my usual server, so I am linking from Flickr for this post.

Ok..photo time! Say spaghetti, gorgonzola, cannoleni and cheeze !

This is the main Duomo cathedral in Milano. Really impressive, albeit the untimely re-touch up of the exterior. At least I still could climb to the roof terrace! See photo below

Part of the whole Duomo square. This is one of the entrances to the golden fashion streets. Almost every lady here was carrying a LV, Gucci or Prada!!

Inside this covered shopping paradise! Maybe you can spot the Prada shop. This is just the begining....

Somehow, there was a certain character of this city that I liked.

This was my first photo of Verona. About 90 mins away from Milan by train. This was a really good day trip, away from the capital. And so I thought I was geting away from the fashion...hehe Anyway, I discovered a couple of interesting sights here.

This is the Arena. Third largest of its kind, open air amphitheatre. This looks like the one in Rome.

Quite cool eh. It's a city living in a city.

View from the top of the city.

The fashion continues...I really liked the shops, the walkways and cute cafes. Had lunch in a tucked away traditional pizza place. Hmmm....

No historical city goes without a number of bridges and castles. It was nice to walk around in the morning.

How many of you know that Julliet lives in Verona? A nice surprise to find this. Anyway, there was a shooting of a scene in the play "Romeo and Julliet" and here you see the Julliet...haha

A statue of Julliet and the famous window.

An unique art of its own. I found on two walls of her house, declarations of love in the form of letters, notes, sticky stuffs...hehe...but it's cool I think.

On a closer look you find...

Out of Action in Action

2006-11-13T18:33:00.000+01:00

Ok folks, going to be out of action for the next two weeks. Work calls.

Leaving for Bonn, Germany tomorrow and back this Thursday. Then away in Milan, Italy for at least a week till the 27th Nov !!

Oyster-in-Action

Miss U much!!!

Time please pass

2006-11-09T17:20:00.000+01:00

Suddenly, I want time to pass quickly and for Christmas to come...

Cumulate Draw

2006-11-07T10:01:00.000+01:00

Today, I chanced upon this useful tool.

A web-based drawing tool that allows you to make quick images and complicate flow-charts if you need to. Allows you to also export to mmd/fmd, jpeg, png, svg and pdf. Just the right thing for me this morning as I had to make a rough sketch of how a part of our website will be revamped.

Conclusion: It did serve my needs today. Will send my schematic to the web designer now.

Check it out at this link

Or draw directly !

Happy Halloween

2006-11-06T11:34:00.000+01:00

Now and then, I keep missing to check back on the SavageChickens. Heehee really funny at times

Nice feeling today

2006-11-05T16:48:00.000+01:00

Well.......somehow today I had a nice fuzzy feeling about my wedding plans for next year...hehe

And I found that Flickr has a really nice way of displaying photos as a mosaic.

Check this out on this link.

Gmail Space

2006-11-03T17:11:00.000+01:00

This is really useful and finally I found this after I have started using my gmail account.

Gspace is an extension of the Firefox browser that allows you to use your Gmail Space (2 GB) for file storage. It acts as a
remote machine. You can transfer files between your hard drive and
gmail. Your gmail account looks like a FTP host and you can upload and
download your files. After you install, you get an option called
"GSpace" in your "tools" menu clicking on which opens the window for
transfer of files/folders.

Works great for storing/sharing files with your friends. Also very good
for backup of photos and music files, actually any kind of file.

Download here

For all the cool bloggers out there!

2006-11-02T10:55:00.000+01:00

Omg...this is one of those moments where you discover something really useful and you just have to share it. This is a pot of gold..haha...anyway, if it is really gold, I am going to keep it to myself...kekeke

Anyway........check this out if you are a blogger. Firstly, you have to be using the latest version of FireFox 2.0 (sorry for those diehard I.E people). Go download Performancing for Firefox. This is a full featured blog editor that sits right in your Firefox browser and let you post to your blog easily. You can drag and drop formatted text from
the page you happen to be browsing, and take notes as well as post to
your blog. (I just cut and pasted this text and drag to drop the image below, for eg)

Ok....you have been teased. Click this link : https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/1730/

Damm its cold today again.

The Bright Side

2006-11-02T09:56:00.000+01:00

Thanks Kum....

Yay! Life does get better when you decide to walk on the Bright Side. I just received a letter from the IND acknowledging their receipt of my application! Damm...of cos they have to receive it, I sent it by courier two weeks ago! Haha..oh well............I shouldn't complain. Its like for another example, I am getting my Internet connection up next week!!..Woohoo...u think? I waited two months for the installation!

So....as the song goes, don't worry be happy.

Why am I not blogging?

2006-10-30T18:26:00.000+01:00

Every day I go onto my own site. Every time I click on my Sites of Recent Interest. I check LifeHackers, I read BoingBoing. I read Table of Malcontents and Monkeybites on WiredBlogs. Now and then, when I see Penguin online, I go check her blog, leading to Vorlacks, my brudder in China and his stories - Pretty much are unpublished and below the cone of trust. I am happy that Kum is doing up his house.

But I do not know what to write. It has been 12 days since she has left for Singapore. Everyone that I met asked me where is she and to everyone I say, I am hoping that she will be back by Christmas. Hope.

I have sent the application forms for her residence to the IND. The Evil IND we say here. What to do? Wait and Why.

11 days ago, the key to my bike chain broke. I made a new key and it didn't turn the lock. I used the IKEA plier and the new key broke. That cost me 3 Euros. Well heck, I can just walk. For two thursdays, I went to a different bike shop in town. Shops open late only on thursdays here. They told me I need to go to the Police. Yesterday I went to the Police. The lady told me that they cannot do anything and would not want to see my breaking my chain, all cos I had no papers to prove that I bought the bike. I looked at the metal saw in the shop. Well heck again, I spent another 3.50 euros on a new key. It worked and I cycled to work today.

I have moved. Last night my neighbour's girlfriend's ex-husband threw a stone at my window. He wanted me to go over and wake her up cos she might be on sleeping pills. A loud and long "fight and tumble" session followed onsuite. The next morning, they were all celebrating my neighbour's birthday.

I have no Internet at my place now. I am doing Overtime everyday for 12 days. On weekends, I go to office to webcam with her. How much time do you spend with your love ones? Spend more.

So why am I not blogging? Perhaps I have no mood.

Anyway, the distance is long and last night I dreamt that I was running home. Dreams and hopes. What to do? So I guess I blogged again.

"...all good things must come to an end so that better things can follow..." I believe.

Brazil Honeymoon Mosaic Art

2006-10-08T12:19:00.000+02:00

A YouTube about Singapore

2006-10-03T21:29:00.000+02:00

Hehe...this is really funny. Especially if you have been away from home for a while...Hahaha

Geneva Weekend

2006-09-30T19:20:00.000+02:00

We were in Geneva over the weekend!

Well, weather is always not very good in this city of watches...perhaps thats why the symbolic "monument" is a fountain on Lake Geneva...haha

Anyway, we did managed to take some photos amidst the rain.

There will be a need to be always back in Geneva...:)

Photos from Rio, Buzios and Paraty!!

2006-09-09T23:36:00.000+02:00

Finally....managed to copy my ftp program on my memory stick and now we are uploading the photos on the blog! Woohoo....*waits patiently on the 256k connection*

Hehe, we actually took 519 photos up till now.....the below photos show some of the places that we have been. I shall try to explain a little as we go along...

This is the Petrapolis bus station. Reminds me of the JB Larkin Bus Terminal..haha..

There is a Hong Kong Pastry shop here! We were really surprised at this because the Petrapolis is an ancient city tucked away up the mountains off North Inland from Rio. Anyway, the chinese waiter was really helpful and got us on the right bus to town.

The Cathedral. Hmmm, apparently the Royal Family rests in peace here. There is even a space reserved for the surviving grandson and wife. He is 65 this year...

One of the Museums. Cannot remember the name...something like the royal palace..

The Museum Imperial.

An artistic shot by my wife...hehe..

Now we are at the base station of the Corcovado. THE place to be but also THE place not to be when its raining heavily...Damm...we got the latter. Stood at the top of the summit for almost 4hrs and got only 1 good shot and all clouds. Well...some things are not meant to be...

This is the cogtrain up the summit. In fact, I was suprised to know that this train is swiss-made and thus, the sister railway to the one in Interlaken, up Jungfrau. I was there! Next time must bring my wife....or else...suffer the wrath of...

The One and Only.

And ME freezing in flip flops..

What it should have been! Life goes on...

Great! Now we are at Buzios! 4hrs away by coach, east of Rio. Well, we think this place had been almost over-rated. Beaches were wonderful but the only thing worth coming here for. Had a nice grilled fish by the beach and the rest were pretty much touristy. BTW, this photo shows where we were staying - Pousade Conrais E Conhais

Pretty wife! I love you...:)

Waves were amazing!

Hmmm don´t stare at my wife! Hehe

Waves

Hmmm don´t wonder. Its me.

Paraty!! We love this place! This is a photo of where we stayed - Pousade do Forte. This place is highly recommended! Had the most amazing and value for money schooner trip for 5hrs, among the various beaches and islands in the bay of Paraty. Met a couple of interesting people, among them, our new found `godfather` and `godmother`. They were also having their honeymoon, celebrating 50 years of marriage!

Baby on hammock

A typical Portuguese colonial house.

This place is rather unique, with its cobblestones roads, no cars are allowed to enter this UNESCO declared heritage town. A place with a rich history of being an important port and city along the gold trail. Also represents and serves traditional paraty cacao alcohol. More information on www.paraty.com.br

Old house by the pier.

This is taken on the Schooner.

Typical, almost symbolic view of the Paraty town.

Check out the number of people onboard. This was the other boat that went together with us.

One of the beaches that we stopped over for a swim.

Hehe, I think I need to train up for my wedding dinner next year...hahaha

Also taken onboard.

Quite amazing banana desserts we had here. Banana de Terre. Recommended for its starters and desserts. Fish for main course was nice though a little dry for taste.

Interestingly, there is a wide array of pushcart desserts! Pauline´s favourite!! Hehe...heaven for a sweet tooth...I also like it. The night scene here is also unbelivable. So many food stalls..so little stomach space...

Cute and chic souvenir place. If you are looking for handmade, handpainted authentic paraty wooden boats, this is the place to get them. We got a few fridge magnets here. We both loved this shop...hehe, to add, they have a nice inhouse pet catty..

Phew! Thus ends the photoblog tour of our last 8 days after Congress!!

Ok, got to rush to eat my Yakisoba noodles at the open square now!! Until later...ciao!

Paraty!

2006-09-09T16:38:00.000+02:00

We are now in a small town along the Costa Verde, Paraty.

Finally we were able to do the Schooner trip around the Bay of Paraty. It was a really nice boating experience, island-hopping, swimming and having grilled fish on the schooner. One of the best 6hrs spent on this trip! Photos will follow later cos we are in an Internet cafe now.

One thing we don´t understand is why the town nightly celebrations always start about 11pm!! These people live on fishes and they don´t sleep early..haha...maybe its us. ^^)

Tonight is our last night here, tomorrow will be setting off back to Rio and then flying back to Holland again on the 11th!

This is our favourite place in Brazil!!

It´s actually VERY COLD in Brazil now!!

2006-09-06T01:00:00.000+02:00

Before we begin, we are now in Buzios, a little charming, almost touristic, resort penisular off the northern coast, above Rio de Janeiro. Took us 4hrs by coach, Malaysian Style..haha, throw in the pee stops and all.

For some unapparent reason, its freaking cold here!! At least 15 degrees cold now. The beaches here are amazing...tomorrow, I will bring my camera to take some photos. This afternoon, we had grilled fish on the beach.

I think we are getting into the Brazilian culture here..haha...had a caipirinha this afternoon, pauline was sipping fresh mango juice. Both of us just lying on the corridor hammock, listening to the Samba of Raiz...and cuddling under a blankie...cos its damm cold...haha..

Anyway, life is good...

Congress is Over and the FUN begins!

2006-09-02T04:33:00.000+02:00

Hehe...now my wife is very very happy!! Finally, my Congress is just over and today we went on a Staff Tour in the Upper City of Salvador Bahia. Marking the first day of me, not having to wear a suit, I could finally put on my havaianas flip-flops for my first tour since my arrival!

Starting from the lighthouse Barra, marking one of the tips of the Salvador State (photo below), we then went on from the lower part, Cidade Alta and moved to the upper parts.

Salvador is built around a very old, cracky, or craggy hill, somewhat on the eastern side of the bay, spliting into the lower and upper sections. Interestingly, both sections, the Cidada Alta and Cidade Baixa, is linked by a toweringly Art Deco lift shaft of the Carlos Lacerda elevador - the city's largest landmark. (photo below)

In the 3 hour tour, Pauline had one good buy and I was very tempted to buy a Brazilian Hammock back...I also thought the paintings were very nice...sigh, i think I shall stick to my plans of getting one or two Brazilian Music, really catchy!

Anyway....below are the photos that we took! Check it out!

Penguin, this last one is for you. Today the Sun was better and the Surf was more!

Anyway, we might not get Internet access in the next few days as we will be going to Rio de Jeneiro (4 days), Buzios (3 days) and Paraty (4 days). Will keep everyone posted on our travels and thanks for coming back to check!

Ciao en Bon Dia!

Ibiz first, now Pestana

2006-08-23T16:34:00.000+02:00

Our first night was at the Ibiz Hotel...quite ok, nice location, its just by the beach!! But today we checked into the Pestana Hotel, MUCH better...hehehe...Five Stars and an amazing room sea view! :)

We had some interesting food, panzones...some kind of pizza wrap. And were treated to traditional Brazilian drinks..hehe..fancy getting high on the first night....almost but not near yet...hahaa...but I think we better stick to the cocktails/mocktails. Some of them taste too good to be dangerous....

These below were taken from our room balcony at the Pestana Hotel. We will be here till the 2nd Sept.

One Month Anniversary!

2006-08-21T23:03:00.000+02:00

Congratulations to ourselves! heehee Tonite we had dinner at a really nice Argentinian Restaurant, one that serves the best steak in Den Haag and some say the Northern Hemisphere! See how happy and satisfied is my wife below..hee

We are married for ONE month! woohoo...ok, at least another 60 years or so to go...haha..:) I love you baby MUACK!!

Now...finally finished packing for our next big trip together!

In about 4 hours, my wife is going to wake up to wash her hair and blow dry..then 30 mins later I will wake up....haha ... We are going to BRAZIL !! Another Woohoo...hehe

So......Brazil...la la la la la la la la.....

Be back on the 12th Sept!!

Maybe we can post some photos from Brazil. :) Keep you all posted.

Happy Oyster and Pearl in Holland

Braised Peanuts!!

2006-08-12T20:58:00.000+02:00

Oh no...

Today both of us have a HUGE craving for Braised Peanuts!!

We went on a Chinatown Raid of supermarkets...searched through 5 supermarkets and yet we couldn't find any canned braised peanuts!!!

I am now very tempted to cook my own braised peanuts...maybe its time for me to bring out my slow cooker! :)

Does anyone have any receipe for braised peanuts? The kind you eat with porridge.

Somebody save us....

Sunday outing at Giethorn

2006-08-09T18:01:00.000+02:00

Last Sunday, we went for a SNA outing at Giethorn! A really nice village by the northern of The Netherlands. Quite a charming place, an almost "venice-in-holland" feel. Lots of rivers and old reed-roofed houses.

We have a new found friend in the Hague! His name is Chee Seng, the guy on my right. A really nice guy working in Shell. He lives near us and this saturday we are going shopping for Singaporean food stuffs! Apparently, there is a shop in rotterdam that sells real singapore brands ingredients. Hurray!

Animals in love

2006-08-05T17:48:00.000+02:00

Heehee this is for you Kum..:)

ROM photos!!

2006-07-30T18:44:00.000+02:00

Dear all Family and Friends,

Thank you for coming to our ROM reception!

All our happy moments are remembered on this photo album

Xuanhao & Pauline

One Heart

2006-07-25T23:20:00.000+02:00

I created this mosaic from 804 photos that we have taken together in Singapore, Genting, The Netherlands, Paris and Barcelona.

Nice?

Home again!

2006-06-26T23:02:00.000+02:00

What can I say?

9 hours more to leaving the house for Schipol airport. I am coming back baby!!

Tonight marks the last Bachelor's night in the Netherlands...:)

And I am REALLY happy about it! haha...

Zaanse Schans with Kanglin

2006-06-18T18:34:00.000+02:00

Yoz...hehe..been a whle since I updated my blog. Never go anywhere interesting recently.....:(

Anyway, this weekend, Kanglin was staying over my place and today we went to Zaan Schans.

Quite a picturesque area...dutch village, cheese factory, clog workshop and of course, windmills...I bought some cheese with fenugreek! Very nice....lekker kaas!

Check out the photos!

Had some Italian ice-cream. Extra toppings for a hot day!

Windmills again....haha

NOW.....9 days to Singapore!!! Woohoo.....I want to eat durian and teochew porridge this time. :)

Fun!

2006-06-05T00:23:00.000+02:00

Hihi...

This sign was spotted during the 2nd World Health Professions Alliance Leaders' Forum. Thought it was really funny...Haha

Also....somehow the weekend just passed unknowingly...

After a late night shower, I am amusing myself with this online IQ game...hee try it! I am now at lvl 19...not very good at it i think! Going to make myself some green tea...

http://www.microgames.info/game_info.php?products_id=205

Have FUN!

First year anniversary!!

2006-06-01T12:31:00.000+02:00

Woohoo!!

I suddenly realised that exactly a year ago, I started working for FIP!! I have survived one year in the Netherlands!!! :)

I still remember the time when I first came here, my first task was to help pack the mailings for FIP Newsletter...haha...and I was then, sitting alone in the Boardroom, wondering how my work and life here will be...

I also remember the time I had to lug and fix all my IKEA furniture up those killer-dutch staircase, to my first home apartment...thanks Teresa for your help then and now!

And in the months that followed, I had such a steep learning curve, getting ready for Congresses, working on all FIP projects and also getting use to living on my own. I totally enjoyed travelling for work and also a couple of leisure travels around Europe...ahh the life of an oyster.

The most important point of my time here was to meet the love of my life!!!!! X is for Xuanhao, P is for Pauline....And for those of you who know, 23rd July marks the day!! Now we have found each other to continue our life together....hmmm nice..haha

Anyway....I am still at work now...so I shouldnt be not working...haha...But I really do appreciate my family especially and all of you who have been still keeping contact with me, all these while and as tough as it is to be here by myself, as valuable will be this experience I know.

All the best for everyone in all that you work for! Believe hard enough and it will come true...

The Day.

Photos from WHA 2006

2006-05-29T00:18:00.000+02:00

Hi all,

Here are some photos taken at my recent trip to the World Health Assembly in Geneva. Hmm realised that I didnt take much this time, then again, I shouldn't be taking too many photos on a working trip! haha...true....anyway, I didn't have the time to walk around the city except for one night, but then, by the time I got back to the hotel, its already 9pm. That was the earliest night out on my own!

Meetings travel meetings...I love my job! Hehe

Here is me at the entrance of the Palais des Nations

Here is the main Assembly area where all the country delegates of the WHO Member States sit...nice place eh...security was tight! As I represented FIP as an NGO with Official Relations with WHO, we had to sit upstairs.

Can you spot Singapore?

Prince Charles as the Invited Speaker!!

Me with Wee King, the President of the Singapore Nurses Association. Had the opportunity to meet the Chief Nursing Officer, the Director of the SNA cum president of the Commonweath Nurses Association, the Mr Lam, CEO HPB, plus a couple of people from the MOH. Had a couple of interesting chats and new friends in the Mongolia and Malawi Ministeries!

Another meeting photo. Okay, too many meeting photos already..haha....

Until the next trip!

Back!

2006-05-25T22:45:00.000+02:00

I am back to the Hague!!!

7 nights in Geneva...finally home :)

A point in the history of time...

2006-05-23T18:32:00.000+02:00

A great man, an inspiring one indeed..

I am now at a special time in the history of the World Health Assembly. In the Executive Board of the WHO I am sitting in now, we just maintained a minute of silence for the late Dr Lee....

Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General, was today quoted as saying “The world has lost a great man today…history will mark LEE Jong-wook’s many contributions to public health”; a sentiment undoubtedly shared by those fortunate to have spoken and worked with this great leader.

By the end of this meeting, we will have a new Directer General for WHO

Busy times and Coming HOME!!

2006-05-11T10:47:00.000+02:00

BUSY times!! Almost forgot about my blog until one of my WA members had to remind me of our Min-Once-A-Week WA requirements to post..hehe

Anyway..........busy busy preparing for meetings now. Will be in Geneva for a week, attending the World Health Assembly..hmm, maybe will meet Khaw Booon Wan...haha say hi

Oh oh oh..I have plans to be back in Singapore soon but this time have to do work while I am back.

If all things well, I should arrive back on the 28th June... have meetings and FIP workshop to attend on the 29th and 30th June...then have to go to Beijing for a site visit for the next FIP Congress in 2007 from 10th to 16th July....keep the 23rd July free please (surprise!)....and then return to Amsterdam on the 25th July.

Oh yes, another new thing is that I got a new bike!! Well, for some non-apparent reasons, someone broke the gears of my old bike..I cant ride it anymore!! So, I manage to find an old bike in the FIP Garage last week and I found a bike, belonging to one of ex-FIP staff and she is selling it to me for 50 euros...so..well, not too shabby I think.

Ok, I will take a photo of my old and new bike and post it next!

See you all soon!!

Tarragona

2006-04-27T01:13:00.000+02:00

A city by the sea, just 1 hours away by train from Barcelona.

Tarragona is a city located 100 km South of Barcelona. The city has been known as Imperial Tarraco since the Roman domination. In Tarragona you can admire some of the best preserved Roman ruins in the Iberian Peninsula.

Simplicity. Here I met up with my friends - Miriam and Sergio.

I love the colours. Here we had the most amazing traditional catalonia food.

Barcelona

2006-04-27T00:32:00.000+02:00

These are taken all over the city. Chic, we love it !

A city of good food. Friendly people. Nice shopping. Beautiful.

First time here, we enjoyed discovering all things new together. Weather was really good, met up with Gonzo, a city of memories, we will return again.

Place Catalunya

Port side

La Rambla - the main city street. A mile of shopping street! Cool eh. From pets to rolled-up pizza cones!

Our hotel - Cram Barcelona. Loving it! Aribau 54.

Sagrada Familia by Antoni Gaudi architect. A great unfinished work.

The Journey up Parc Guell...we walk.

La Roca Village...oh man, here is THE place for shopping. A factory outlet shopping over 90 brands. I got my camper shoes, diesel jeans and polo jacket here. Now we have a few more other cities to cover...:)

Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya

Flower Power!!

2006-04-26T23:44:00.000+02:00

The finer things in life. Enjoy.

Together

2006-04-26T23:03:00.000+02:00

Everywhere we go.

It's not easy to take couple shots when you are travelling so each and every photo taken together means a lot to me!!

Kinderdijk windmills

Keukenhof tulip gardens

Barcelona - Place Catalunya

Parc Guell

Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya

Tarragona

My Choice

2006-04-26T22:21:00.000+02:00

Some things in life, you have only 1 choice.

Happy birthday!!

2006-04-20T18:18:00.000+02:00

Celebrating this day with her in a seaside city south of barcelona....taragona..

Nice. Make a wish.

Ola !!

2006-04-18T14:30:00.000+02:00

Touch down to the capital of catalonia....barcelona...

Sun.

Nice..

Barcelona next week!

2006-04-12T17:34:00.000+02:00

I am really REALLY excited!!

really excited because I have never been to Spain and this will be my first time in this lovely seaside city of...tapas and sangria...hehe

REALLY excited because she is going to be here this week and we are going to spend the next week together in Barcelona!! I can imagine long walks in the city...shopping? haha

One happy oyster :)

World Health Day 2006

2006-04-07T11:15:00.000+02:00

April 7, 2006: To coincide with the global recognition of World Health Day, today FIP officially launches its Global Pharmacy Workforce and Migration Report – a Call for Action. The launch is a timely compliment to World Health Day, which this year focuses on the theme “Working Together for Health”, and which will see an effort from health stakeholders worldwide to raise awareness of the increasingly compromised situation surrounding the global health workforce.

Over the past year the FIP workforce and migration study has been a major focus of the Federation, and has involved the contribution of over 100 individuals from pharmacy professional and regulatory bodies, training institutions and Ministries of Health. The report, the first of its kind to profile workforce issues specifically related to the profession of pharmacy, provides a current overview of important issues affecting the pharmacy work force such as regulation and description, shortages, distribution imbalances, and Continuing Professional Development. With this report, FIP urges pharmacy professional and regulatory bodies, policy makers, pharmacy education providers, and pharmacists to actively document the profession and build an evidence base from which to access credible support for change, as well as develop national strategies to address workforce issues. It is hoped that with this data a precedent is set for government and professional bodies to dedicate contin uous attention to the issue.

This strategy holds true for the FIP as well, whose overall aim is to increase collaborative efforts with and amongst Member Organisations so that pharmacy workforce issues may be appropriately and effectively examined, and that future directions for all aspects of the profession may be mapped out. It is becoming increasingly accepted, opportunely, that the pharmacy profession has an essential and integral role within all aspects of healthcare on local, national, and global levels, and it is imperative that human resources continue to strengthen in order to meet the needs of the population and growing expectations of the profession.

FIP invites all to view the report at: www.fip.org/hr

PS: I co-authored this...Hee

A blog of recent interest

2006-04-06T18:22:00.000+02:00

A Mini-Project

See the word - Spread the word.

New MSN account

2006-04-04T10:28:00.000+02:00

For some unapparent reason, my msn account is shut down.

Add me now at___xuan.hao(@)hotmail.com___

All in one London Day!!

2006-03-28T00:29:00.000+02:00

1 day with 1 friend and 1 oyster train card, tubing around in the London Underground!! This time round, I was staying over with Pei Chia over the weekend before my meeting at the RPSGB on Mon.

This city is really expensive to live in....had a craving for Duck Rice in my head before I reached London and surprisingly, the first thing she brought me to eat was duck rice at 4 seasons!! Well, it was really nice ...at 4.5 pounds per plate. We had krispy kreme doughnuts at the Victoria Station area too.

Me with London Cabs!! One black one and a colourful one...first shot of the day

St. Paul's Cathedral

The Red Telephone Booth

The Salvation Army - International HQ

The Millenium Bridge

Shakespeare's Globe - the original Macbeth's window they say

I didn't believe this was London's Bridge!! And so we all thought it was falling down...not as I thought it would be like...:(

Clink Prison Museum

A welcome

This boat has a special name and meaning which I forgot...

Tower Bridge!! And so this was the bridge that every other kid in the world thought was falling down...

The City Hall - on the south bank of the Thames, near to the Tower Bridge. Home to the Mayor of London, the London Assembly and the GLA.

Tower Hill, taken from Tower Bridge

Another view of the Tower Hill castle

The London Eye

Another view of the London Eye

Westminster Abbey and the Big Ben

Big Ben Close-Up !!

Gate of the Buckingham Palace

The Buckingham Palace - hehe not so impressive eh...

A new fren running around the palace gardens...eating a chocolate

Pei Chia and Lindsay !! It was St. Patrick's Day too and you can see the market celebrations below, at covent gardens...nice

Me and Lindsay. Was really nice to see her again and to catch up on each other :)

Until the next trip...

I'm in love!

2006-03-21T20:32:00.000+01:00

Hello everyone..

To all of you who are still faithfully, or on random occasions, out of boredom or by sheer brotherlyness, been following parts of my life here in the Netherlands, I must really say thank you for reading this site!

Well, the decision to come here, to leave everything familiar was not an easy one. Some might say it was the appeal, some might say it was the experience. Interestingly, different reasons have struck me at different times of my life. I first began to travel for pharmacy and for NUSPS. Then, it was for IPSF and APRO. On an almost insane streak, I travel for passion. Was it a passion for pharmacy or just for the heck of life?

Sometimes I smile to myself and sometimes I wondered what's in life for us. Was love and family ever on my agenda?

As you can imagine, I would say "Siao..." At the end of the day, be amazed at what we can do....believe strong enough and it will come true...

I am in love now... :)

Across many lands, by fate and perhaps a sense of humour and time, I met her in Amsterdam last year. She is funny, she is honest. Mostly importantly, we saw in each other a life-long companion. My best travelling partner in life she is. Maybe she is just my big baby...heehee

A courage to love leads to comittment and responsibility. For me, you are all that I need.

Us at the Louvre Museum, Paris

L'amore Paris

2006-03-15T00:46:00.000+01:00

The Eiffel Tower

The Notre Dame

The Champs Elysées

The Arc Du Triompe

The Chateau de Versailles

Les Jardins du Trocadero

Guess how far is Singapore from the top of the Eiffel Tower?

Away in London!

2006-03-11T01:11:00.000+01:00

Gosh! Time does fly so fast...and I always wished that April will come quicker...

Me departing for London tomorrow and will be back on Monday night! Been busy this week preparing for the London meetings. Hehe, before I can post my Paris photos, I am going away to London.

This month is going to be really hectic, and I am glad for it because then time will pass quickly and April will be sweet :)

The blooming tulips mark the begining of Spring...and for you, pink diamonds...:)

My first Snowy Winter

2006-03-01T23:58:00.000+01:00

Winter...

We all experience seaons in our life, sometimes the Sun shines and at other times, its cold and windy...but you always know that Spring will come after Winter...and thats what makes you want to stay alive in Winter...just like the trees here. Now you see them with bare branches, without their leaves...they almost seem..dead...but deep in them, life goes on...

Time will pass and Sping will come soon!!

Anyway, I have been away from blogging for a while, cos of my busy work at the office and I was away in Paris for a week too. Lots of meetings and reports to prepare in March, will be flying to London for a short meeting and we have a big weekend meeting in the Hague too. Beijing in April!

Here are some photos of the first heavy snow here from last night!! Keep warm in the cold!!

It all started with some light snow last nite...this was taken from the window of my house...

In the morning, a white land reveals...ooohhh

This was taken from my roof window.

A car

The church by my house

As you may imagine, I got in slightly later for work this morning..haha..taking photos under my umbrella as i try to not slip while walking to the office...haha

So pretty..

This is the lake by my office!! Can't wait for it to freeze...hmm, wonder where did all the ducks go now...

The FIP Building - side view

Front view

Walkway view

Thats me! By my balcony...nice right?

Scenery from my balcony

That's all folks!

Thanks for staying with me through the Winter. Believe in Spring and Summer will not fail you!

i am back!

2006-02-09T23:59:00.000+01:00

Hehe...been so busy with work these days that I even forgot about my own blog!

Hmmm, wonder if anyone is still reading this site...:(

Anyway, life at work been really tight with report datelines and surprisingly, i got to meet up with Doris and her husband, plus Huini, in the Hague! Must have been at least 5 years since I saw Doris and she is looking fine, enjoying her honeymoon in Europe. We had dinner and light drinks in the Hague.

Also, had the chance to be go for a Taiwanese Acapella pop group yesterday. Quite good singing and really funny stage comedy, "super sunday" style! Best part was also, cos I have a Taiwanese intern here, Johnny, who met up with the Ambassador and secretary, at the Taiwanese embassy. So....we were lucky to be fetched to the concert hotel from the embassy, with the secretary to the ambassador. We arrived late, but we had reserved front row seats!! How cool is that? Haha...its good to know people and also people who know people....:)

Here is the site of the group: http://www.semiscon.com/english.htm

Tomorrow I have this housewarming party with some close friends, our first since I moved in to this new place. Nice! Hmm, i see wine, cheeze and sweet desserts...Oh I miss cheesecakes so much!!

Sat, I am thinking of checking out an educational fair here...well, hmm, I maybe taking up a part time masters here. See how things go...always plan ahead! Thats the best plan you can have for your life!

Sun, will be the 15th day of the lunar new year and I am going to the SNA CNY lunch at Hoofdorp! Hmm lekker lekker....I hope the food will be good and i wonder if there will be lucky draw for return tickets to Singapore!!!.....gotta bring my lucky dice! Maybe wear something red...hehe

Photos from SNA Lunch to come!

Chinees Niew Jaar!

2006-01-28T21:13:00.000+01:00

Gong Xi Fa Cai!!

Hehe...its kinda wierd spending my first Chinese New Year in the Netherlands or overseas for that matter. Traditional dragon and lion dances just do not seem right here...haha, oh well, dim sum was still good though. :)

Oh I miss going to Chinatown in Singapore and buying chinese new year goodies...even durian puffs....I really do miss THOSE durian puffs I had when I was in Singapore last month....do you know which ones I mean? hehe..warmy...

Check out some of the photos!

A large crowd was already there when we arrived!

Quite cold ...

Somehow I seem even shorter in this country...haha

At least she looks like she can see the dragons...I got bored. haha

Lions dance! Not very lively though...haha...but the atmosphere was great with so many firecrackers going off!

Cai Qing !

Johnny and Me. He is the new intern that we have at FIP

Tana and Me during our dim sum lunch.

Johnny and Tana

KaPot Network is up!!

2006-01-22T00:01:00.000+01:00

YAY!! Finally I have Internet at the new flat...:)

For those who know, the KPN, aka Kapot Network, is finally setup in our new apartment!

For those who dun know, I am now staying in a new flat with two of my colleagues, myriah and tana. There is a new intern at FIP and he is staying at my old flat. Well, this new place is so much better, more space and more like a real house! Real living room, real bathroom, real bedrooms and a second level loft --> oyster's cove!

I took some photos of the new place. Check it out now!

This is the living room. Really nice when you put on the candles and have our "storm" lighting up...hmm thinking of warmness..hehe

The staircase leading up to my loft.

My bed! hehe...this photo shows part of the "room", officially, there is no door but we are thinking of fixing up some curtains. Well, not so bad, if I can bring in my rocking chair, coffee table and oh I need more clothes shelving. Need to buy more pillows and bedsheets too! Heehee....

Ok....happy to be connected to the outside world....:)

Leaving for Geneva on Monday!! Away for 3 days for a WHO meeting...wish me luck!

Aww...somehow, missing Singapore...And Chinese New Year too! We have a gathering on the 12th Feb with the Singapore Netherlands Association people here. Hopefully, there will be the lucky draw for SQ tickets to Singapore again!

No internet

2006-01-15T15:14:00.000+01:00

Sigh...no internet at my flat yet....:(

Insanely busy!

2006-01-13T13:46:00.000+01:00

I am busy!!!

It's been crazy catching up on work, dutch and a new intern under my wing!!

Anyone planning to visit Europe this year? IE. visiting me? haha...have to plan my leave soon..:)

Geneva in 9 days!!

Back in the Netherlands!

2006-01-10T09:45:00.000+01:00

From a hot and humid 32 degrees to a cold and wet -1...

From 5 meals a day to 2 meals a day...

Life is about soft spots, ... the day will come, the "special question"...

Missing u and all!

Good food!!!

2005-12-18T04:25:00.000+01:00

YAY!!! Me home!!!

Arrived yesterday!! No sleep till Singapore! haha...watched 6 movies on flight....not much sleep..arrived at 0644am...had dim sum breakfast! :)....went home, sweat like crazy....slept 1hr...cousins arrived at my house, went to eat lunch at one of their house...picked up another cousin's car...went home..slept for 2hr...got dragged out of bed to send my parents to my grandmother's place...went to meet classmates for dinner, had a long gossip-catching-up session....went for supper at Jalan Kayu's prata!!! Had a short confrontation with a guy there!! Damm I am begining to not like that place for its crowd...

Anyway........me one happy oyster back in his cove...:p

Home soon!

2005-12-16T00:53:00.000+01:00

Just home after a late Christmas dinner with close frens Tana, Myriah and Boyan. Had a fabulous dinner at PUCK, nice wine, good food, good laughs and M&Ms.....ooh....WAS a really good dinner to wrap up this year. I think I will miss them all, even when i am back in Singapore. Tana will be in Germany, New York, Oklahama. Myriah, all over Portugal. Boyan in his ski hut in the Bulgarian Mounts. Me in hot, humid Singapore with too much to eat, too much to shop, too many movies to catch, too little time :)

There was an air of festivity as you walk the streets tonight, listening to Love Generation on your fiets, with a cool chill blowing, I felt like I had half-a Dutch Christmas this year. My first autumn/winter in Europe. Got a really huge FIP Santa Gift Pack from the Boss too!

*Back to reality* I have to clean my house, do last minute laundry, water the plants...hmm, wonder if it will survive....clean the toilet, sweep the floor....pack my bags!..OH...yeah, pack my lugguage...haha...almost forgot about it.

Wow, its 1am now. Better start taking out my luggage and stuff my clothes!

Planning to wake up at 6am, dump the clothes in the washer, go back to sleep, wake up at 7am, dump the clothes in the drier, go back to sleep, wake up 8am, pack last minute clothes. And get out of the house at 9am!

Wish me luck and safe travels for everyone heading home!

SQ323. Wait for me! I am checking in!!!

Countdown!

2005-12-12T23:03:00.000+01:00

4 more days to go....:)

Wierd thoughts van de dag

2005-12-11T22:58:00.000+01:00

Today I had a weird day. Was woken up by a fren to play WoW online. Played for 6hrs. Missed my train to Deflt for my gifts shopping plan. Slept till 6pm then. Ordered Chinese takeaway - as I have officially cleared my fridge in preparation for homecoming on friday. Wanted to study my Dutch, but ended up watching tv as they were showing something really interesting on Animal Planet. It was on SOS Fauna and how they were raiding illegal wildlife bird and animal poachers in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Saving the fauna by releasing them in the wild in the Amazon and Bahia environments.

There was a women in this organisation "Project Monkeys", who dedicated her life to saving Monkeys. Its really amazing how people can say that and walk the talk.

Have anyone of you ever thought of dedicating your life to a cause?

Leaving everything familiar for a cause to advance the pharmacy profession internationally has always been on my mind. For now, I still believed in it.

Perhaps its not a wierd day but weird thoughts. Pro-departure 4days Singapore.

Back to Dutch...

Sinterfeest in mijn kantoor!

2005-12-05T21:23:00.000+01:00

Today is Sinterklass day - Dutch version of the Santa Claus! :) And best is, we still get the normaal Christmas holidays!! hehe

Well, everyone gets a half day off but the 3 of us met phil, decided to work! wow...hehe, hardworking FIP staff eh....not to forget I had to go have my lungs X-rayed for my regular 6 months TB check up in the morning. Hmm, apparently, they dun really believe that I do not have TB...haha...oh well.

Anyway, just at about 4pm, the sun came out finally and I had this craving for chicken wings by the reinkenstraat near the office. So, we decided its time for our very own Sinterfeest! hehe, bring on the bottles!

Half-Year Anniversary!!

2005-11-30T23:13:00.000+01:00

WOOHOO!!

I was just talking to my fren and I suddenly realised that tomorrow - 1st Dec is going to officially mark my 6-Months Anniversay in the Netherlands! I officially started work on the 1st June!!! WOW....i actually am still alive! hehe

I am now looking at my organiser and it really does bring back memories, albeit only 6 months, haha...about what i wrote about the stupid GDD, ...IND...and crazy places I had to run to get my visas. At one point, I was legal to work but illegal to stay and having to take a TB test at some place where I got lost, trying to find the building!

I actually travelled more than 3 hours to see windmills!!...tsk tsk...such touristy acts are never to be repeated nor condoned in all sense...lol

Some interesting facts:

1 new job = 1 new life experience

2 times Ikea trips = 2 times renovation of my flat

3 haircuts = I have my favorite hairstylist fren now in Amsterdam. He's cool.

4 of my Singapore frens came over visiting (Seokz, Wendy, Kok Wee and Liza)

5 weddings dinner in Singapore missed :(

6 crazy parties at least :)

12 Dutch classes so far

50 days travelling out of the Netherlands in the past 6 months!

FUN times with Liza and frens!

2005-11-28T21:47:00.000+01:00

Hihi..

Wow...writing this makes me feel like going home! Spent two dinners and 1 night with Liza and frens when they were here last week was really really fun, to be able to crap Singapore Style..haha...IT was a superorama-singaporean outing! Haha, haven't had such laughs for a while haha...I still dun understand why they had a Batik Nite in Amsterdam?!! haha..

Oh yes, I think Pauline and Rachel are fun people too! Really enjoyed their company and hopefully, they dun think I am a crazy oyster! hehe....good times...good times...

I also introduced to them, two of my good frens here. Jonathan from FIP and Samir from Dutch Class. :)

Check out the cool photos!

Taken at the Dam, from left - Jonathan, Liza, Pauline, Rachel and Samir

Liza, Me and Pauline - had a long walk on Wed night - we COULD have taken the tram though! hehe,...kudos to Liza for still walking with her sprained ankle --> won her the Bravery Award during their company Batik Nite!

Group photo at the hotel on our first night dinner outing.

Instead of watching the Boom Chicago performance, we got there after the show had started so...well, guess we could always do some light drinks and chats there still. :)

Me and Liza on the Fri night. Out at the nearby Cheeze Fondue place. Heel Lekker!! :)

Check out the Fondue and Salmon! Good times Liza!! Miss u all already!

Can't wait to be back in Singapore!!!

Nothing ongoing but LIZA is in the Netherlands now!

2005-11-23T09:47:00.000+01:00

Hihi..

Nothing recent has been really exciting here...did anyone even know that I slept till 430pm on Sat afternoon? It was just a day that I thought, should be an morning-alarm-free, ended up being Not-Much-Of-a-Day left! haha...And I had to talk about my non-existent weekend during Dutch classs last night. :)

Dutch is getting tougher! Ik den Nederlands is heel moeilijk! Som ik kan horen heel goed maar ik begrijp niet...:(

ANYWAY.....I am meeting Liza tonight at Amsterdam for dinner!! YAY! Should be fun! Shall take some photos! haha

Hailstones!!

2005-11-16T21:00:00.000+01:00

Wow...we got caught in a mini-hail stone rain!!! Quite fun though painful when they hit your head.. :) I heard sometimes in Canada, they rain hail stones the size of golf balls!! Crazily!!

COLD!! Maybe about 7 degrees now...maybe I should buy a glove now...haha

First time in my life...

Made in Egypt

2005-11-14T15:49:00.000+01:00

Not sure if you guys have seen this....hehehe

Sinterklass is here!!

2005-11-12T23:39:00.000+01:00

Here's an early Ho Ho Ho to all of you!!

Spent an early morning cycling to the harbour to wait for Sinterklass to arrive...with all the other kids!! haha..sadly, I didnt get a treat from the black petes...:(

There is an interesting story behind Dutch christmas and all about how Dutch immigrants brought the tradition of Santa Claus to the rest of the world....then again, thats what the Dutch thinks...haha.. and it is still a dream for me to be celebrating Christmas at the Santa Claus Village in Finland.....

Until then, here's some Dutch Pre-Christmas festives!

Zwarte Pete with some mini-zwarte petes!!

Huge crowd by the harbour!!

Not so fun...

Extremely enjoyable!

The cool thing was if you cant find a place to stand by the harbour...well, you can come in your own boat!

And nobody is stopping you if you just want to kayak here...hehe looks really fun!

Sinterklass's steamboat from Spain!!!

S and his merry Petes onboard

Can you spot Sinterklass?

Sinter! Sinter! *kids jumping*

And so you all thought Sinterklass was on THAT boat....ah....i see him in the crowd...

This Pete was once a stuntman!

All hail! The Man Waves.

Made in Spain

Thus, presenting you Sinterklass, with special appearance - Tigger!!

Sinterklass in the Hague!! Tomorrow!

2005-11-11T15:48:00.000+01:00

On Saturday the 12th of November, Sinterklaas will be in town again. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Dutch tradition of ‘Sinterklaas’, here’s a crash course: Sinterklaas is the name of the historical Saint Nicholas, patron saint of children and sailors, and a bringer of gifts. Every year he travels – by steamer – from Spain to the Netherlands to bring children presents on the 5th of December, his birthday. This year, too, children and parents will welcome Sinterklaas to the Netherlands when he arrives in Scheveningen harbour.

So..........tomorrow, I am planning to cycle to the Scheveningen beach to welcome Sinterklass too! I heard he is giving out treats to children too! :)

Check out the program!

Festivities to celebrate Sinterklaas’ arrival in Scheveningen, on the quay of the ‘2e binnenhaven’ (the second inland harbour), will start at 10.30 a.m. Karel de Kok (‘Charles the Chef’), Lakei Franciscus (a valet) and Hofdame Frandolien (a lady-in-waiting) will play the leading roles in the children’s musical Karel de Kok, perform funny sketches and songs that you can sing along with.

The S.S. Madrid will arrive in Scheveningen harbour at approximately 11 a.m.
Around 11.15 a.m. the S.S. Madrid will steam up the inland waterways and reach the second inland harbour (2e binnenhaven).
Around 11.30 Sinterklaas will set foot on Dutch soil.

After a welcoming speech by Mr. Deetman, the mayor of The Hague, Sinterklaas will go to the city centre.

Euro English

2005-11-09T13:13:00.000+01:00

Usually I do not like to forward emails but this is really funny, especially when I am learning Dutch now....haha

The European Commission has just announced an agreement whereby English will be the official language of the European Union rather than German, which was the other possibility. As part of the negotiations, the British Government conceded that English spelling had some room for improvement and has accepted a 5- year phase-in plan that would become known as "Euro-English".

In the first year, "s" will replace the soft "c". Sertainly, this will make the sivil servants jump with joy. The hard "c" will be dropped in favour of "k". This should klear up konfusion, and keyboards kan have one less letter.

There will be growing publik enthusiasm in the sekond year when the troublesome "ph" will be replaced with "f". This will make words like fotograf 20% shorter.

In the 3rd year, publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expekted to reach the stage where more komplikated changes are possible. Governments will enkourage the removal of double letters which have always ben a deterent to akurate speling. Also, al wil agre that the horibl mes of the silent "e" in the languag is disgrasful and it should go away.

By the 4th yer people wil be reseptiv to steps such as replasing "th" with "z" and "w" with "v".

During ze fifz yer, ze unesesary "o" kan be dropd from vords kontaining "ou" and after ziz fifz yer, ve vil hav a reil sensibl riten styl.

Zer vil be no mor trubl or difikultis and evrivun vil find it ezi tu understand ech oza. Ze drem of a united urop vil finali kum tru.

Und efter ze fifz yer, ve vil al be speking German like zey vunted in ze
forst plas. If zis mad you smil, pleas pas on to oza pepl

Cycling to Hoek Van Holland - 40km today!

2005-11-07T00:49:00.000+01:00

Another sunday spend cycling somewhere...hehe

Well, initially I really wanted to cycle to Gouda, after reading a little on the town from my Lonely Planet....BUT I cant find the website that gives you the cycling routes?! Anyone know?

So...I remembered that Mark was telling me that he cycled to Hoek van Holland, which is about 20km away from the Hague, was a pretty nice place to go according to him...hmm..I am trying to think of a word to describ the place...perhaps I can conclude that the process justifies the end. haha...because basically there is nothing at Hoek van Holland!!?? I got to a little port town near the sea, after maybe about 2hrs? Nothing much there actually...haha.....seems like a good exercise day though..

With a little disappointment, I headed back to Den Haag and spotted a different sign that points to Den Haag, in a totally different direction which I came from? Being a curious me, I naturally decided that I got to live dangerously and take this new route back home, afterall, its also just another 20km back. And, I am glad I did!! The path winded away from the main roads and after 30mins, I was cycling on a hill path! I wished I started earlier the day because then, the skies were darkening with the sunset....it was almost unbeliveable how/why there is this bike path, along the coast, winding on some low hillies, with no cars and just some people walking...with a few sheep here and there! hehe...really nice

About 12km on this hill/coast path, it felt like hardcore cycling..haha....especially with the strong winds...at this point of time, I though of Weijie! hehe...I remember we did the round islands cycling in Singapore, 2 or 3 times? (I hope you are reading this weijie..hehe)

Anyway.....check out some of the photos I took along the way,...I must find the bike route to Gouda!! Till next weekend..:)

The street which I live on

On the way - came across this windmill in the Hague! wow...seems to be a real working windmill.

Some sheeps along the way...

Plenty of greenhouses too! With 2 sheep onlooking as I took this photo.

I think sheeps are curious creatures. :)

The hilly path! Nice workout for cycling here...

A Beach nearby

Spongebob Square Pants party or Halloween Party?

2005-11-06T02:18:00.000+01:00

ZUT ALORS!

BOB L'SPONGE!

One might mistaken us for a group of 10yr olds celebrating Spongebob's birthday party! BUT, these photos were actually taken during our Halloween party last week! hehe....*good times*

SquareBox Sponge Pants?

You might recognise some of us...

A Father and his two daugters

Happily drinking

Too much drinks? The doctor from Scotland is called in. :)

Cookie Monster also came to our party!!

The world is in an oyster?

2005-11-02T16:54:00.000+01:00

Cycling trip to Delft!

2005-10-30T23:28:00.000+01:00

Hiyo...

Today was a cycling day! Finally, my tyre was OK and my chain didn't die on me! So...all things well, I survived my first "long" trip to delft! Actually the distance to delft is only about 10km...but...of course, somehow.....my journey there was quite ok, got most of the route correct but when I was cycling back, I missed a few turns and ended up a little lost in Rijswijk!! So, now, I know that Centrum = Den Haag! haha...oh well, it was good fun too. :)

Check out some of the photos that I took along the way and also in Delft. Pretty much a nice and cosy town I think. Spotted some really nice traditional deflt blue holland souvenirs.

Cycling in Autumn is a pretty sight - with all the leaves falling and nice cool weather.

First shot taken in Delft! That's my bike in the foreground!

This is the city centrum. Like a city square where people hang out and chill by the square.

And so the sun set...

Back from Geneva and a new plant!

2005-10-29T21:57:00.000+02:00

Home again...:)

Had good meetings in WHO, that paid off...so things are looking good for us.

Managed to sneak a shot during one of the sessions which I attended in the forum.

This is the WHO Executive Boardroom.

Okay, today, I finally got some time to do some plants shopping! hehe...

Check out the new life in my room...haha, so now there are two living things in my flat...

Sometimes, I cannot help but feel amused at my blog. The reason is because I write about such trivial stuffs in my life here..haha...I wonder who else would want to read about them...and this photo of my plant is the 500th photo on this site! Can you believe I actually put together all these? hehe...small things in life i guess. :)

Tomorrow we are having a Halloween party at the IPSF apartment and next week, Kok Wee is bunking in my apartment for 3 nights!...another 4 day 3 nights affair...haha

I am really looking forward to Liza coming to the Netherlands next month too!

3 days Geneva

2005-10-26T04:59:00.000+02:00

Off to Geneva in 3 hours time!

Need to be at the tram stop to catch the 0556H Tram number 2....

So that I can catch the 0626H Train from Den Haag Central station to Schipol Airport, ETA 0711H. Flight leaving at 0835H!

Ok, ...maybe I should catch some winks instead...hehe

*yawn*

Yay! Just confirmed my air tickets and had a funny weekend

2005-10-24T11:53:00.000+02:00

Yay!!

Just got my airtickets confirmed.

16th Dec - Depart Amsterdam 1115H on SQ323
17th Dec - Arrive Singapore 0635H

8th Jan - Depart Singapore 2345H on SQ324
9th Jan - Arrive Amsterdam 0645H

Cool!!

Oh...just for laughs, the weekend that passed was really hilarious. Long story short, I made my bicycle tyre flat and exploded it --> result: I had to pay for a new tyre. hahaha

Anyway, I did get my bike light still. :)

With all the rain these days, I have been cycling with an umbrella! haha...especially in my working clothes...haha, very dutch. Now the next thing is to get one of those rack bags on my bag and I will really be in the culture..haha

Will be in Geneva this wednessday till friday for a WHO Forum: Making partnerships work for health.

Hehe looking forward to the pizza at the WHO cafeteria...*yummy*

ik spreek beetje nederlands!

2005-10-18T21:00:00.000+02:00

Goed!! Leuk!!

haha...just had my first dutch lesson today...super fun..haha...

Ok, let me teach you some dutch...

Me: Hallo, ik ben ME. Wie bent u?
You: ik ben YOU.
US: Aaagenaam
Me: Hoe gaat het met u?
You: Goed, dank u, en met u?
Me: Prima, dank u
You: Mijn land is Nederland. Wat is uw land?
Me: Mijn land is Singapor. ik spreek engels, en u?
You: ik spreek chineese
Me: ik woon in Den Haag, en u?
You: ik woon in Singapor en ik werk bij Unity, en u?
Me: ik werk bij FIP
Me: Duit
You: Duit

hahaha..hows that? goed? leuk?

Wie is dit? wat is dat?

Somehow msn language is like dutch or dutch is like msn language...haha

It can only be with a woman...

2005-10-12T16:09:00.000+02:00

This week had been home improvement week for me!

Tana is staying with me now because there is no space at the IPSF apartment with 9 more people there till the 18th Oct! So, we have decided that its time for me to revamp my apartment!! Kinda fun...kinda exciting..:)

We went to IKEA again to buy new stuffs and she is becoming my home consultant! haha...kinda Operation Renovate XH. The complete package includes home redesigning, cleaning and cooking lessons! haha...sounds pathetic eh me...haha, but then again, I am learning a lot! Hehe...such is life...good times good times...

Anyway, check out my new living space!

BEFORE it was....

NOW it is....

Amazing eh....it can only be with a woman...haha :)

This coming Saturday will be Plants day!!

I got a bike!

2005-10-08T23:07:00.000+02:00

New Freedom!!

This morning, me and Mark, went to check out bike shops around, where we stay and I got a new second-hand bike now!! Super fun!! Finally, I do not have to walk to office and to the IPSF apartment...hehe....it's only 5 min to the IPSF flat now!! :)

And, the funny thing was that we decided that we will cycle to Delft in the afternoon. Got our lunch. Put on our gear and got ready to go. Cycle cycle cycle...*ZUT ALORS* - half way through, about 4km away from the Hague, my chain broke!!! *ZUT ALORS* again...

Well, our real adventure started...Mark had to tow me on my bike behind, with me holding on to the bike lockchain, balancing behind, all the way back to the bike shop.....haha...THAT was fun, felt like Cirque Du Soleil...haha...good times, good times...

Anyway, weekends are going to be much more interesting for me and I finally get to do some exercise!! haha. I am already planning to cycle to the beach, for sure, and also to Delft and many more!

So, until my next cycling trip! :)

Oh oh, next week is going to be a busy week as the new IPSF Exec are all coming to the Hague for the Exec meetings! Another 9 more poeple at the IPSF Flat and office....

Homecoming!

2005-10-05T12:34:00.000+02:00

Hey hey ...

Just booked my airtickets back to Singapore!!

Will be back on the 17th Dec to 8th Jan...:)

Ohhh...pratas, murtabaks, maggie goreng, kway chap, chicken rice, beef hor fun, geylang suppers, proper fried rice and various "zi cha", real home-cooked food!.....*drool*

Interlaken

2005-10-02T13:13:00.000+02:00

Another really nice place in Switzerland...

Had to travel 2hrs to Interlaken, via Montreux. It was a pity that I didn't had much time to stop over at Montreux. There is a Chateu de Chillon near there. One of the nicer castles in the country.

Anyway, I am glad to went to Interlaken. Quite an outdoor place really! For me, I just did biking around the lakes, forest and town. Plus, took a train up to the Jungfraujoch peak. (3571m) That was really amazing too...

This is Backpackers Villa, where I stayed. 29 SF per nite in the dorm. Quite a good deal. Best was they offered free wireless Internet.

View behind the villa. This inspired me to head for the mountains.

Moo...

Cycling along side this beautiful lake! I have never seen such a clear, turquoise water before

See the waters! Would be so nice if you have a boat by your house here...

People are jumping over the peak, doing para-gliding!

Bridge over river

Open basking performance in town

Haha, I attempted to cycle to as close as I could to the peak...

This was closest I got!

Pretty much agricultural activities around here

In town

Incoming!! Would you believe it?

Safe landing!

Woke up at 630am. Took at shower. Ate breakfast at 730am. Checked out and head to the station to catch the 820am train up to the Jungfraujoch station! Good timing I think :)

View along the way...I had so much anticipation for the final station at the top.

Reached a midpoint!

View at this point.

Second checkpoint!

Views at this point.

JUNGFRAUJOCH at 3571m !! Touchdown! Been so long since I am on a mountain! Miss those trekking days man...check out the breathtaking views. Kinda cold...haha once again, I didn't bring a jacket. Lucky I still had my windbreaker on.

This is called the Sphinx tower. It brings you up 100m higher and so I am at 3671m now. The couple who took a photo for me was very surprised to know that I was from Singapore and actually coming alone!

On my descent

Well....have to go home now...:(

Hope u guys like the photos!!

Winter is coming, hopefully can get to learn how to skiing!

WHO in Geneva

2005-10-01T01:22:00.000+02:00

I really love Switzerland! Somehow I find the people, the way of life (though I was only there for a week), plus the country has a lot of outdoor places to go! The mountains! Skiing!! My next post will be on my trip to Interlaken...You have to be there!

That said, I have to learn french again now! How about two days dutch and two days french weekly? hmm...bien bien...

Oh! Before I put the photos, I must share with you all, some really interesting notes that I made on Swiss culture, among them being the most organized people on Earth.

1. You cannot flush your toilet after 10pm. If you do, your neighbour has the right to sue you in court and the government can put you into jail for disturbing peace and quiet.

2. If you are caught for 3 times on the tram for not paying your tickets, you will be banned for life on public transport in Switzerland.

3. Each person has specific timeslots in a week to do your laundry. And only 1 slot per week.

4. When you get married, you have to first decide with your spouse, how you will split your assets, in the event, both of you get divorced. Then you sign the marriage papers.

5. When you buy bus tickets, you have to have the exact amount! Even the ticket machine by the bus stop will not give out change at all, it only accepts exact amount. We always have to prepare 3 Swiss Francs coins to take the bus!

Oh still interested to stay in Switzerland?

I think I still like the efficiency of the Swiss.

Ok, here are the photos:

This is the World Health Organization - WHO building in Geneva

John Knox Centre. I stayed here while I was on course in WHO. Just 10 mins walk but really cold...heehee, I actually didn't bring a proper jacket cos I didn't anticipate that it would be that cold! Plus, I only had like 5 hours to unpack and pack again...so, kinda slipped my mind about a jacket..:) It was about 8 degrees in Geneva

Imma from MSF and Nuelly from Epicenter

Lake Geneva!

Random photo in the city

This should be familar to many of you....but you cannot imagine how many cows they have in Geneva! haha...almost every corner possible and in parks too. Some people said that every weekend, a cow would end up in the Lake Geneva...haha, somehow...

Swans! This was taken on my way to the reception. We ate at this jardin restaurant by the lake!...nice..

Bon Appetti! New friends at the seminar

On one night, we took a bus to France! This is at Tourney, the first city you will hit, west from Geneva, near the France/Swiss border. Had a really nice french cuisine dinner.

Photos taken at the end of the course. It was a really enriching course for me in the area of WHO Essential Medicines Policies.

On the afternoon of the last day, we decided to do the tour of the United Nations Palaise. This was a museum of Ceramics and Pottery....if I remember correctly...hmmm *ponder*

Opposite to the UN building is the International Red Cross headquarters!

The museum for the International Red Cross is also at the same place. Too bad we didn't have the time to visit it. Maybe next month, I will have some time. Will be in Geneva again for work in Oct. But just 3 days this time.

This is the United Nations Palaise! I am really looking forward to the World Health Assembly next year where I will have the chance to be at the meeting.

Here is our tour guide. She can speak 6 languages!

General Assembly room

There are many gifts from UN Member Countries. This one was from China and its called the Temple of Heaven. The amazing thing about this is that where-ever you stand, the temple is centered to you, with the path leading to the entrance!! Really man...

I like this as well. This is called "All roads lead to Rome" How apt...haha

Raisins anyone?

I love random shots...:)

WORLD PEACE!

South Africa Part Two

2005-10-01T00:49:00.000+02:00

Animals Alore!

Taken on the jeep while on the game drive within Pilanesburg Game Park

Spot the Zebra?

Rhino! And more to come...:)

The Lesser Plains

Impellas!

The road behind...

Tree and Springboks!

Nice colour of the land

Erm, elephants?

Imagine this view of the road for like 4hours...

Finally we reached a small town, where Kat went to find her friend, who is a keymaker. At the garage, there is this limo!

We spent an afternoon at Kat/Dave's old farm, where Lisa still lives there. She and her husband, Pierre, worked on the charcoal factory for Dave, together with a few woodcutters and farmhand. She has NINE dogs!

Ok, you can see the couch that I slept on every night. Winnie and Lucy would sleep on the carpet beside the couch and every morning, winnie would like STICK her tongue into my ear, if I left the ear exposed!!! Then, sometimes, Lucy would push her nose under my arms and force me to scratch her!...so I am like closing my eyes, trying to pretend that I can still go back to sleep and my left arm, scratching her back....so who is going to scratch me?

On this other day, as we were driving towards Blyde River Canyon, we had to stop over at Pilgrim's Rest, an old gold mining town. Quite a touristy place I found...

The hyundai on the left is our car

African ware here = tourist traps. Buy in Zimbabwee, you get them for 1 tenth the price.

I like this photo

We didn't go into the wine yard though. Hot day eh?

Hmm...time bomb?

Haha, looks like I have to go back again cos I didn't have the draught. Nice tradition.

We were just so happy to be out of the car! haha she was getting a bit dizzy with Dave, going round mountain winding roads at 140km/h ! I survived siting in the front seat.

Part of the Canyon!

You really have to be there to FEEL it. Amazing...

Can you see those winding mountain roads? We took those.

At the viewpoint

Wow, wonder if its possible to sit at the top ledge overlying...

YES!

And so the journey in South Africa ends with a nice party-of-3 photo! :)

South Africa Part One

2005-09-30T00:05:00.000+02:00

Hoohoo...from Cairo --> Nairobi --> Johannesburg!

Ok, too many photos....again....here are some photos from Kenya, Joburg and Pilanesburg! This trip I went to visit Kat and Dave, stayed over at their house and if have been reading my previous posts from South Africa, you probably know where I have been...hehe

Touchdown Nairobi! We had to walk on the tarmac from where the plane parked to the airport. Here you see the stairway up and into the arrival hall...Not much people at 4am...:)

I am in Kenya!

After stoning for 2hrs at Nairobi, I flew another 2hrs plus to Johannesburg! Here you see the view of the airport. Now, where is Kat?

Here is Kat! We are preparing Mee Goreng, Jalan Kayu style! Finally, some real samba chilli. Sweat again..

Hehe, me learning how to cook. On another occasion, I did an attempt at Satay Chicken

Kat and Dave. Super nice people, ...hmm, you should also spot Winnie and Lucy somewhere...

Joburg City on an express

Gold Reef City - theme park --> rollercoaster and hotdogs

Hehe...satay chicken in the making..

On this day, we drove 4hrs to Pilanesburg, on route to Sun City and the Pilanesburg Game Park (Safari). As you can see, as we drive into the suburbs, you can see the low cost housings

We reached the shacks. Here was where your gardeners and maids would stay.

The Barrens. Wonder where is Rakey?

Ohh, here is our safari tent! hehe, we stayed at this tent at the Pilanesburg Game Park. Super fun, we had a fire going, brought meat/drinks, bbq, small animals, stars from the African land....More photos in my next post during our safari game drive

Hehe...actually quite comfy

You guys must see these man. This is SUN CITY! One might recall a Miss Universe contest was once held here. The photos say it all....

Cairo Part Two

2005-09-29T23:08:00.000+02:00

Just a short problog note:

I went to get a new library card today! Hehe, I am the 265th new member for this month at the Den Haag Bibliotheek! They even took a photo of me, holding this huge signboard with the number: 2 6 5 , on it! Said that they will put up all the photos of all the new members at the library...haha, thought that was interesting...

Anyway, more photos of Cairo. I think next post shall be photos from South Africa, then Switzerland!

View from my hotel room. We were staying at the Intercontinental Heliopolis Cairo! Nice little suite!

This was taken at the FIP Showcase area

YPG booth

Ok, the rest were taken at the Taiwanese Reception. Finally got a chance to speak chinese! haha...Jiang Hua Yu...:)

Cairo Part One

2005-09-27T20:34:00.000+02:00

You cannot imagine the piles of files and stacks of documents on my desk now! Seriously...

But, there is always time for a good kabab and a good glass of wine! :)

As usual, I have too many photos! Here are some photos from my time in Cairo during the FIP Congress Gala Nite and our post-congress staff day trip. I think I have some more on the other memory card on my other laptop in office. Will upload those later this week.

This year's gala nite was really special as we had a HUGE outdoor tent, at the plateau near to the Giza pyramids! Really cool...

Me by the Congress Poster. The following photos are all me...haha....with the FIP staff! Really good friends and collegues! Good times...:)

Yoko

Chao Hui

Tana

Thanks for everything Sylvia!

Katja and Simon

Gretie

Rachel

Ton - our boss!

Paula

Lesley and Myriah

Sylvia again! By the Giza pyramids...I think we took the same shot about 4 years ago, maybe at the same spot...

Why am I below?

Me by the plateau, overlooking the 3 Giza pyramids

Lindsay

Lisa

Bazaar in the blazing sun! *My friend, my friend, this one is good for u...cheap cheap. Where are you from?..."

Sphinx+Pyramid

ME!!!

What a journey!

2005-09-25T22:21:00.000+02:00

Oh man!! Can u believe it? The trains are not running from Schipol airport to Den Haag and beyond!!! They just had to be doing rail works tonite!!!

Best is, at this point of exsperation, a group of 17 tourists have to approach me for directions to Amsterdam because of all the train disruptions! What about my case? I also have no trains!!

So....the story goes, I am now on a bus to Leiden!! So that I can hopefully catch a train from Leiden to Den Haag! Did anyone mention that I have been travelling too much??!!

Oh well, now I hope I still can get my tram from Den Haag to my street!

Adieus!
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Top of Europe!

2005-09-25T10:43:00.000+02:00

HooHoo!!

I am at the highest railway station in Europe!! At Jungfraujoch point at 3454m!!

Kinda incredible...kinda cold...haha
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En route

2005-09-24T11:33:00.000+02:00

Swizterland is really a beautiful country! I am now on a train to Interlaken, a small town at the mountainous region. My plan for this weekend:

Interlaken Ost - Lauterbrunnen - Kleine Scheidegg - Jungfraujoch - Grindelwald - Interlaken Ost.

This unique round-trip by modern cogwheel railway takes you first to Kleine Scheidegg, altitude 2061 metres, at the foot of the notorious Eiger North Wall.

From here the Jungfrau Railway climbs to the station at Eigergletscher , well known for its mountain restaurant and polar dog kennels.

The trip continues through the Eiger tunnel to the stations at Eigerwand and Eismeer, with a five minute halt at each. Enjoy spectacular sightseeing through large observation windows hewn from solid Alpine rock.

And then the arrival on the Jungfraujoch, in the heart of a glorious glacier world on the very roof of Europe! Superb views extend as far as the summits of the Vosges Mountains in France and the Black Forest in Germany. The Great Aletsch Glacier, at 22 km the longest ice-stream in the Alps, begins on the Jungfraujoch-Top of Europe.

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Geneva update

2005-09-24T00:08:00.000+02:00

Finally finally...the course was over. Really a week of intensive briefings we had over the past 5 days! Soaked up all the new information and WHO resources on Essential Medicines Policies. Made a whole new bunch of friends and collegues working in this field and WHO as well. A pretty good havest I would say, the now challenging task ahead is translating the new knowledge to FIP and our collaborations with pharmacists worldwide.

Our work here is really a committement to goals and a guide to Action!!!
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Back in the Hague

2005-09-18T17:06:00.000+02:00

Phew!!

Finished my three loads of laundry! Did my ironing! Unpacked and Packed my bags!

So, I guess I am leaving in about 1hr time to the airport!!

HUNGRY!!!!! just one packet of instant noodles and a cup of milo!

Okay, seems like I am sounding a little incoherent here, probably due to low sugar levels....haha

Alritey, just realised that today is Mooncake festival in Singapore!! OHhhh...miss those mooncakes and lantern burning sessions at my condo..haha, been a long time since we did that...

Time to go!!

African memories

2005-09-17T21:43:00.000+02:00

Well...just managed to spend my last rands here in the airport...finally I seat myself at the boarding gate.

The last weeks had been really hectic, congress in cairo then a South African whirlwind week!!

Today we covered almost 1000km!! Pretty much was all dave driving all the way! Really have to thank Kat, Dave, Rob for all the time and hospitality during the past week. Time just passes so quickly...

With an aching right shoulder, lugging my laptop around, I wonder how I can survive another week in Geneva! I will be arriving about 1030am in Schipol tomorrow and probably reach my apartment at 1130am at least, then got to do my laundry and then be back at Schipol about 6pm to catch my flight to Geneva!!! Gonna be there for a week of training course at WHO.

Wish me luck!! Hehe at least for now, I dun have to run for the boarding gate!! Hehe......oh wait! Better check my pass...:)

Longing home....
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Blyde river canyon

2005-09-17T16:12:00.000+02:00

The mountains never fail to awe me...

Wished u guys are here with me!! A photo paints a thousand words but it will never capture what I want to say to you...
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Off to the road!

2005-09-17T13:24:00.000+02:00

Btw, I am not driving....:)
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Pilgrim`s rest

2005-09-17T12:17:00.000+02:00

Phew!

We just raced up across and down the canyon at 160km!!! Wow.....wonder how it would be like on a bike!! Haha

After this mini adrenaline pumping drive, we are now settled at Pilgrim rest, an used to be gold mining town. There is a very cowboy-like feel to this place. Wished I can post photos from my mobile!

Later we are going to run through the canyon again!

Ok my Diggers Potjie is here!
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Whitbank now!

2005-09-16T18:24:00.000+02:00

After dozing off in the back seat, and after a good 4hr drive, we are now in Whitbank!! At a fren place, some light drinks and having another bbq dinner.

These poeople have really cool houses!!

And its actually cold now!! Lucky got some beer...

Ok got to help with the food!!
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A day in the life of kat

2005-09-15T21:00:00.000+02:00

Here I am playing scrabble in kat house.

Today has been a day in the life of kat. Woke up at 7am by dog licks and a dog demanding to be scratched. Here I am, sleeping in the living, on the couch, with two dogs, lucy and winnie, beside me. Every morning, lucy sticks her nose under my arms and demands that I scratch her back...haha and so I continue to sleep with my fingers in a mechanical motion on lucy back.....

Ok time was 1240 in the afternoon. I just woke up. Looks around for the dogs. No dogs. Looks around for Kat. No Kat.

Hmmm...shall just toast my bread for breakfast.

1pm. Kat back! We then drove almost 2hrs to Chinatown to have lunch.

445pm. Got back to dave office. Checked email and read my harry potter book. I have to finish this book before I leave Joburg!!

7pm. Got home. Dave made spagetti for us. After dinner we had chocolate, tea and we play scrabble.....

All in a day of kat.

And finally, tomorrow we will drive out to the mountains.

A more eventful day I look forward to. Hehe

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Finally back in joburg

2005-09-14T18:11:00.000+02:00

485km in two days...

Enough said....I am shack...:)

Tomorrow we are driving up and out to the mountains!
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On the road to Rustenburg!

2005-09-14T10:05:00.000+02:00

Back on the Roadtrip!!

Morning hit list:
Zebras
Elephants
Springboks
Rhinos
African painted dogs
Kudu
Wilderbeast
Mongoose
Impala

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Animal spotting!!

2005-09-14T06:08:00.000+02:00

600am.

I am in a landrover now. We are moving into the african velt. Its prob about 12 degress cool now.

The ranger just told us that we are heading to the central basin to try to catch the lions before they move deep into the vegetation. Then we may spot the elephant herds. Generally many zebras around.

Ok got to concentrate on spotting now...
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African outback

2005-09-13T20:04:00.000+02:00

After driving back from our movie in Sun City to the safari tent.....it was an experience driving in pitch darkness...going high beam....low beam on incoming...the high beam again....Ahhh the sign says Mayanne....that's our site!

I just set the fire going...its ambers now glowing red with a certain characteristic cackling now and then.....nice.

Finally this is an African experience that is very close to what I wished for....

Kat just set the table, laying out the seasoned chicken flattie, the budget super braai wors, the cheap sweet wine, bread and good-old-cup-a-soup....ahh these never left me dun they...haha

Ohhhh...the stars....
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