Basi Singapore Story - Part III

My 3rd day started with a delicious lontong breakfast at a hawker style food court. It was so superb, my mouth waters just thinking about it! I can't remember where exactly we had it but it was about 20 minutes drive from our hotel in Raffles Boulevard.

We then headed back to Mandarin Oriental, to join a technical tour at the Marina Barrage. The Marina Barrage is a dam spanning the Marina Channel, forming Singapore's first reservoir in the city. Being the 15th reservoir in Singapore, Marina Reservoir has the largest and most urbanised catchment at 10,000 hectars or 1/6 the size of Singapore. Its purpose is to increase the existing water catchment from 1/2 to 2/3 of Singapore by 2011.

Marina Barrage

The Marina Barrage is the result of Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's vision when he envisaged damming the mouth of the Marina Channel to create a freshwater reservoir. It incorporates a 3-in-1 concept to achieve 3 benefits i.e. water supply, flood control and lifestyle attraction. From the sky view, the barrage looks like two number 9s linked together, which potrays the Chinese sign of prosperity. There are several must-stops at the Marina Barrage namely the Barrage itself, the Green Roof, the Central Courtyard and Water Playground, the Solar Panels, the Pump House, the Arts Trail and the Sustainable Singapore Gallery.

It's just a reservoir but they manage to make it into a tourist attraction

The Sustainable Singapore Gallery houses six galleries, each sharing a different aspect of sustainable story. It's filled with fun interactive and multimedia elements showcasing Singapore's efforts and achievements towards environmentally sustainable developments. Here, you can learn ways to make use of available resources to meet the needs of the community for development while preserving the environment.

Explanation by our tour guide in the Water Gallery



Sustainable Singapore Gallery

Demonstration on how the Marina Barrage works

The Marina Barrage is landscaped to integrate with the surrounding environment. The landscaped roof not only provides cover for the structure of the building, it is also a recreational park open to the public. As part of the Marina Barrage's eco-friendly feature, the grass helps to lower the building's temperature so that less energy is used.

Singapore skyline from the Green Roof

SOM delegation

See the three buildings at the background?

Apakah?

Itu ler future Asia's biggest casino..

On the Marina Bridge

As we are leaving, more visitors poured in

We left the Marina Barrage at about 10 a.m. as my boss and Dr. H had to greet the Minister at the airport. I, on the other hand, took the opportunity to go to Charles & Keith Boutique and Marina Square. I had to wait for an hour before it opens. And I purchased 3 bags..sigh! But this was my only purchase. Considering I have bought stuffs for my hubby and kids, I deserve one myself, kan? Hehehe! Actually I purchased 2 handbags, the other one is actually a belated birthday gift for my biras. The bag I bought for her is similar to one of mine, hers is in purple, mine in brown.

(Note: My biras LOVED the pressie!)

It was almost 12.30 noon by the time I got back to the hotel with achy feet. Rushed to get ready for the 7th Ministers' Forum at 1.30 p.m. I think my boss was kinda upset because I didn't greet the Minister when he checked in coz he arrived as I was going out of my room. My bad!

The Ministers mingled outside the meeting room. This time around we were joined by three other economy countries from the Phillippines, Vietnam and Western Australia. Each of the Minister were given an opportunity to give a short keynote and share each countries' experience in the development of water infrastructure. They later adopted the Ministers' Declaration and decided on the host country for 2010 and 2011.

7th Ministers' Forum on Infrastructure Development in the Asia-Pacific Region

The Forum ended at about 5.30 p.m. After that, we proceeded to the Suntec City Centre for the opening ceremony of Singapore International Water Week. I was amazed at the amount of attendance and participants, it was such a huge event. I'd give the organisers a pat on the back for their success and their ability to get the participation of more than 350 industry players from 40 countries showcasing the latest technologies, products and services in the water industry. We managed to visit a few booths after the opening ceremony.

Opening Ceremony of the Singapore International Water Week

Visiting the Water Expo

After visiting the booths, we headed to Geylang for dinner. I told our driver that he had to bring us to a place which serves a variety of food because I was so hungry by then as I skipped lunch. We went to a Chinese Muslim restaurant and I ordered Hong Kong Kuey Teow.

By the time dinner ended, I was already dead tired. All I was thinking about was to pack and sleep on the comfortable bed. But alas, I slept at 2 a.m. Could it be the room? Hmmm...

Basi Singapore Story - Part II

Woke up at 7 a.m. and enjoyed the sunrise from my room. Got ready for breakfast. Walked up to Suntec City Mall and had murtabak at Food Republic food court. Our registration will only start at 1.30 p.m. so we decided to walk around the mall. Unfortunately the shops only opened at 11 a.m. so we practically just walked around until the shops opened. We only managed to check out a few stuffs before returning to the hotel as registration for the meeting starts at 1.30 p.m.

Good morning Singapore!! Can you spot the Merlion??

Breakfast at Food Republic, Suntec City Mall


It was my first time attending a Senior Officials Meeting so I was looking forward to it. Many member countries were absent, thus only 9 member countries attended including the host country, Singapore. There were paper presentations by 6 countries, followed by discussion on the Ministers' Forum's agenda and deliberation on the Ministers' Declaration. My dad was right when he said that I should take the opportunity to attend such meetings. The meeting ended at about 5 p.m. We returned to our hotel and resumed back at Mandarin Oriental for the welcoming dinner. We exchanged views on water management/issues in our own country, listening with fascination to the experiences of Japan and Singapore.

SOM

With my boss

After dinner, we headed to Bugis Street for souvenirs and Takashimaya for the bosses retail therapy. That night I slept late again, kept on switching channels until I felt sleepy. Must be the cappucino..

Basi Singapore Story - Part I

I woke up on Saturday (20/6/2009) and planned what I was supposed to do because I missed going to the money changer on Friday. So I had to juggle between going to the money changer and packing for 3 people before 12.30 noon. I think I lost a lot of time because I was searching for a money changer around Taman Connaught but couldn't find it so I had to go all the way to Kajang.

We left the house as planned and as I reached the airport, I wore a face mask. Apparently I was the only person wearing it which surprised me because I would've thought people would be scared of the locally transmitted AH1N1 case but apparently not. Call me OTT but although the disease have yet to have an impact like SARS but I have a 4 year old and a 5 months old baby so sue me for being scared! At first I wanted to take it off when I got funny stares but I decided not to care. Later I saw a few other people wearing the face mask so I don't feel so kiasu. But out of all the passengers travelling to Singapore, I think there were only 5 people including myself who wore face masks.

Anyways, the Malaysian delegates travelling that day were the 3 of us. Another delegate, Dr. H will be joining us the next day. As there was no delay, we reached Singapore at 4.35 p.m. My boss and I checked in at Pan Pacific. We rested for a while, window shopped at Marina Square (Charles & Keith boutique spotted) and going for dinner. My boss suggested a restaurant which is well known for its sup tulang. Honestly, I have never had sup tulang eaten with a straw before so it was a new experience for me.

After dinner we headed to Takashimaya at Orchard Road. There was a traffic as it was Saturday night. I was looking for shoes but ended up buying clothes for Faiq and Aira. The next destination after Takashimaya was Hard Rock Cafe, to buy Rafiq's t-shirt. We got back at the hotel at about 10.45 p.m. and eventhough I was tired, I couldn't sleep because I had Nescafe Ice during dinner. I only slept at about 2 a.m. after watching John Q.

My Cherie Amour

My favourite song from Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5's Album

My Cherie Amour

La la la la la la la la la la la la la la

La la la la la la la la la la la la la la

My cherie amour lovely as a summer day

My cherie amour distant as the Milky Way

My cherie amour pretty little one that I adore

You're the only girl my heart leaps for

How I wish that you were mine

In a cafe or sometimes on a crowded street

I've been near you but you never notice me

Oh cherie amour won't you tell me how could you ignore

Back behind this little smile I wore

How I wished that you were mine

My cherie amour... My cherie amour...

Maybe some day you'll see my face among the crowd

Maybe some day you'll share your little distant cloud

Oh cherie amour pretty little one that I adore

You're the only girl my heart leaps for

How I wish that you were mine

La la la la la la la la la la la la

La la la la la la la la la la la la

I Want You Back

My favourite song from the Jackson 5's ABC Album

I Want You Back

VERSE 1:

When I had you to myself

I didn't want you around

Those pretty faces always made you stand out in a crowd

But someone picked you from the bunch

One glance was all it took

Now it's much too late for me to take a second look



CHORUS:Oh baby give me one more chance (show you that I love you)

Won't you please let me (back in your heart)

Oh darlin' I was glad to let you go (let you go baby)

But now since I see you in his arms (I want you back)

Yes I do now (I want you back)

Ooh ooh baby (I want you back)

Ya ya ya ya (I want you back)

Na na na na



VERSE 2:

Tryin' to live without your love

Is one long sleepless night

Let me show you girl

That I know wrong from right

Every street you walk on

I leave tearstains on the ground

Following the girlI didn't even want around

Let me tell you now



CHORUS:Oh baby all I need is one more chance (show you that I love you)

Won't you please let me (back to your heart)

Oh darlin' I was blind to let you go (let you go baby)

But now since I see you in his arms

Uh-huh A buh buh buh buh

All I want A buh buh buh buh

All I need A buh buh buh buh

All I want A buh buh buh buh

All I need



Oh just one more chance to show you that I love you baby! (I want you back)

Forget what happened then (I want you back)

Let me live again

Oh baby I was blind to let you go

But now since I see you in his arms (I want you back)

Spare me of this cause

Gimme back what I lost

Oh baby I need one more chance ha I tell ya that I love you

I feel good!

I went to Econsave just now to buy some groceries and I brought along a recyclable bag.

I used it and it felt good!

I hope I will remember to bring it with me from now on.

R.I.P

I grew up listening to his songs from Rock With You to You Rock My World. You will always be remembered Michael Jackson..

LOS ANGELES — Michael Jackson, the sensationally gifted child star who rose to become the "King of Pop" and the biggest celebrity in the world only to fall from his throne in a freakish series of scandals, died Thursday, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. He was 50.

The person said Jackson died in a Los Angeles hospital. The person was not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity.

The circumstances of his death were not immediately clear. Jackson was not breathing when Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded to a call at his Los Angeles home about 12:30 p.m., Capt. Steve Ruda told the Los Angeles Times. The paramedics performed CPR and took him to UCLA Medical Center, Ruda told the newspaper.

Jackson's death brought a tragic end to a long, bizarre, sometimes farcical decline from his peak in the 1980s, when he was popular music's premier all-around performer, a uniter of black and white music who shattered the race barrier on MTV, dominated the charts and dazzled even more on stage.

His 1982 album "Thriller" _ which included the blockbuster hits "Beat It," "Billie Jean" and "Thriller" _ remains the biggest-selling album of all time, with more than 26 million copies.
He was perhaps the most exciting performer of his generation, known for his feverish, crotch-grabbing dance moves and his high-pitched voice punctuated with squeals and titters. His single sequined glove, tight, military-style jacket and aviator sunglasses were trademarks second only to his ever-changing, surgically altered appearance.

By some measures, he ranked alongside Elvis Presley and the Beatles as the biggest pop sensations of all time. In fact, he united two of music's biggest names when he was briefly married to Presley's daughter, Lisa Marie.

As years went by, he became an increasingly freakish figure _ a middle-aged man-child weirdly out of touch with grownup life. His skin became lighter, his nose narrower, and he spoke in a breathy, girlish voice. He surrounded himself with children at his Neverland ranch, often wore a germ mask while traveling and kept a pet chimpanzee named Bubbles as one of his closest companions.

In 2005, he was cleared of charges he molested a 13-year-old cancer survivor at Neverland in 2003. He had been accused of plying the boy with alcohol and groping him. The case took a fearsome toll on his career and image, and he fell into serious financial trouble.

Jackson was preparing for what was to be his greatest comeback: He was scheduled for an unprecedented 50 shows at a London arena, with the first set for July 13. He was in rehearsals in Los Angeles for the concert, an extravaganza that was to capture the classic Jackson magic: showstopping dance moves, elaborate staging and throbbing dance beats.

Hundreds of people gathered outside the hospital as word of his death spread. The emergency entrance at the UCLA Medical Center, which is near Jackson's rented home, was roped off with police tape.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Michael Jackson has just died," a woman boarding a Manhattan bus called out, shortly after the news was annunced. Immediately many riders reached for their cell phones.

In New York's Times Square, a low groan went up in the crowd when a screen flashed that Jackson had died, and people began relaying the news to friends by cell phone.

"No joke. King of Pop is no more. Wow," Michael Harris, 36, of New York City, read from a text message a friend sent to his telephone. "It's like when Kennedy was assassinated. I will always remember being in Times Square when Michael Jackson died."

S.E.R.I.O.U.S.L.Y!!

S.E.R.I.O.U.S.L.Y

How can someone be THAT careless?

How can someone be THAT forgetful?

It's totally UNACCEPTABLE!

I'm over it now, but I'll never forget it :op

Of weddings and niece

On Saturday we attended Uncle Adnan's daughter's wedding at Wardieburn Camp, Setapak. Uncle Adnan and his family have known my in-laws family for ages. Traffic was bad as we were going there. Rafiq had gone through at least three alternative routes and we ended up reaching there at 2 p.m.

Men & women in uniform

Cik Su, Mama & Jan

Family potrait yang tak berapa jadi sebab sorang merajuk & lagi sorang meragam..hehe

After the wedding, we went to my parents house to pick up my sister and aunty Leela to visit my niece (yang masih belum ada nama as of today)

With Mak Tok




Faiq, Aira & their cousin

Left USJ before Maghrib, went back to D.U, picked up my other sister at her friend's house in TTDI. Since the children were asleep, Rafiq and I introduced my sisters to Pappa Rich which recently opened just around the corner..

Looks like from now on, it'll be, "Jom makan kat Pappa Rich lar!"..hehe

Of Pot-luck Tea, Melaka Trip and Latest Addition to the Family

This is a belated post of last week's event.

Last Saturday Rafiq went to Kuantan to participate in Xterra. Alhamdulillah, after 5 hours of battling with sea, jelly fish bites, rain, sand, hills etc, he managed to complete the race. I am so proud of him.

Kuantan Xterra conquered!

I left home at about 2.30 p.m. for my pot-luck tea with the usual suspects, Sha & Homey. The last time we met was when they came to visit Aira in February. We decided to meet before Sha gives birth to her second child next month. I brought pasta. Chatted with Sha and her mom while waiting for Homey, who was still baking her apple pie when I called her at 3.15 p.m (she is forgiven for being late bcoz her pie was delicious!!) Faiq played with Zara while we catched up. The highlight of the conversation was the completion of Homey's home and her renovation plans. We left Sha's house at about 5.30 p.m. because Aira was getting cranky (she had a fever) and Homey had to go for her swimming lessons. As always, it was good to meet up and catch up. We'll probably meet again to visit Sha after her delivery. That night my sister and I went to O.U to buy Faiq's swimming attire.

On Sunday at about 12, we left for Melaka as I had a workshop to attend at A Famosa Resort. My sister, Amy came along to be an extra baby sitter. As I will be busy attending the workshop, I won't be able to bring Faiq to the swimming pool and he would probably drive my maid up the wall if he is stuck in the room 24-7. Luckily Amy was available. Anyway..going back to my Melaka trip. Actually we had to go back to my house first (I spent the nite in D.U) coz this bimbo had forgotten her toileteries bag. So we actually left for Melaka at about 2 p.m. Went to send aunty Leela at her house in Bukit Beruang first. Had lunch and proceeded to the resort. There was traffic from Ayer Keroh all the way to the toll plaza so a supposedly 1/2 drive ended up being almost an hour. We reached the resort at about 6 p.m. The program for my workshop started at 8.30 p.m/ 8.30 a.m and ends at 10.30 p.m. It was very compact and tiring for me because Amy dared not drive Rafiq's car (which is a manual) so I had to go out to buy breakfast, lunch and dinner for them. But Faiq had fun so I was glad even though ada sedikit terkilan coz I didn't get to spend time with them. And I have to thank Amy for being the extra helping hand and making time to take care of my children. I really appreciate it as I don't think I can manage without her! ! Love you sis..MUAHHHHSSS!

Settling down

Splish-splash!

Fish feeding time

Thank you Mak Teh

Bubbye A Famosa Resort

My workshop ended at 1 p.m.on Tuesday. Anyhow, at about 11.30 a.m., I received a text message from my younger brother informing that my sister in-law had delivered. He EDD was 06.06.09 and I remembered telling her earlier not to deliver whilst I was in the course in Bangi (from 2-4 June) and during the workshop. So I supposed the baby waited...hehehe. It was good also that she delivered that day as her daughter had a nice birthdate, 09.06.09. We left the resort at about 1.30 p.m., picked up aunty Leela and left for KL at about 4 p.m. We reached QHC Medical Centre at about 6 p.m., to celebrate the latest addition to our family. At the moment, the baby looks like her father and one of my cousins.

Newborn niece...

..and her cousins :o)


After the hospital visit, I went to D.U to send Amy and aunty Leela and left for home sweet home after Maghrib.

THE END!

New Edition

Alhamdulillah, my sister in-law, Haslina Mukhtar has safely delivered a healthy baby girl weighing 3.0kg at 11.27 a.m. today at QHC Medical Centre, USJ. Congratulations to the newly-crowned parents. It's my parents 5th grandchild. Ironically, the sequence of my parents grandchildren is the same as their children - boy, girl, boy, girl and girl.

Both mommy and baby are doing okay. At the moment, we will be calling her Fatimah as she has not been named. Her parents wants to see what she looks like before finding a suitable name for her.

Am so happy for both of them :o)

T.G.I.F

I have a back ache.

Just got back from a 3-daycourse in ILIM Bangi. Kursus Bina Insan. It was very spiritual, a lot of muhasabah diri slots, making us realise about our life - how we treat our parents and family, how we are at work, making us realise about death. Masya-Allah..terasa amat kerdil diri ini. It was an opportunity for me to get to know other people in the Ministry. If it wasn't for the course, memang takkan kenal orang lain besides those in my sector. But then again, I've only been there for about 1 1/2 months so logik le.

Visited Iza and her baby, Iffat Sidqi. Iffat was the baby who suffered from Esophageal Atresia. Iza dah nak habis pantang, Iffat looks like a big healthy boy. It's hard to imagine that he had undergone surgery when he was 2 days old. Alhamdulillah, both mom and baby is in good health.

Went for a meeting in Cyberjaya. Went to Alamanda to buy stuffs for tomorrow's pot-luck at Sha's. Came back masa Maghrib, made herbed beef tenderloin and shrimp salad for dinner.

TGIF!! Can't wait to see the usual suspects tomorrow. Till then, good night!