Rock With You

My favourite song from Michael Jackson's Off the Wall Album

Rock With You

Girl, close your eyes

Let that rhythm get into you

Don't try to fight it

There ain't nothin' that you can do

Relax your mind

Lay back and groove with mine

You got to feel that heat

And we can ride the boogie

Share that beat of love

I wanna rock with you (all night)

Dance you into day (sunlight)

I wanna rock with you (all night)

We're gonna rock the night away

Out on the floor

There ain't nobody there but us

Girl, when you dance there's a magic that must be love

Just take it slow

'Cause we got so far to go

When you feel that heat

And we're gonna ride the boogie

Share that beat of love

I wanna rock with you (all night)

Dance you into day (sunlight)

I wanna rock with you (all night)

We're gonna rock the night away

And when the groove is dead and gone... yeah

You know that love survives

So we can rock forever, on

I wanna rock with you

I wanna groove with you

I wanna rock with you

I wanna groove with you

I wanna rock (all night) with you girl (sunlight)

Rock with you, rock with you (yeah) (all night)

Dance the night away

I wanna rock with you (yeah) (all night)

Rock you into day (sunlight)

I wanna rock with you (all night)

Rock the night away

Feel the heat, feel the beat (all night)

Rock you into day (sunlight)

I wanna rock (all night) - rock the night away

Basi Singapore Story - Part IV

Last day in Singapore. We left the the hotel at 7.30 a.m. After we checked-in at the airport, we went to claim our GST. There was still plenty of time to shop so I went to look for a Coach wristlet for a friend of mine. Had breakfast at the Golden Lounge (courtesy of bosses) and bade farewell to Singapore at 9.50 a.m.

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