So It's 2017 Now

New year was uneventful.  We just stayed home and slept.  Not that I'm complaining, I'm not into those countdown parties and such.

Usually this is a time to reflect on what had happened so far, be grateful for the blessings we received and the good things that happened while trying to learn from the bad experiences we had.  

Just a day before new year I also learnt of a sad news about a boy from Batam who had been fighting cancer and eventually lost the battle.  I first knew of his plight just slightly more than 3 years back when I was still in Batam; gave a small donation for his chemotherapy treatment in Singapore after reading his mother's heartfelt plea for help through Facebook.  After several sessions of chemotherapy in Singapore he seemed to have recovered and I thought things were going well.  So it was quite a shock when I learnt of his passing from a common friend in Batam.  Hopefully his family will find strength to overcome this difficult period.  

As for me, my company is expected to release further update of the merger after Chinese New Year.  While I look forward to it in order to get some understanding of my fate I also worry about the kind of card that will be dealt to me.  In a nutshell, shipping does not look good, especially with the TPP unraveling.  China on the other hand is making her presence felt in the region with some major projects that may impact Singapore's shipping industry as well.  Overall, 2017 does not look very promising for shipping although I strongly hope that I will be proven wrong.

It's at times like this when I really wish I had a Nanyang MBA...

And oh yeah... I have some things to fix too which will cost quite a bit.  That really turn me off....

With China Town New Year light up coming this Saturday, I might have something to distract me a bit.

On a brighter note...  today is the first day Lincoln started primary 1 while Lindsay also moved to a new child care.  Lincoln adapted very well to the new environment, he seemed to enjoy school; came back with all smiles today trying to describe what he did.  Lindsay was predictably difficult with eating.  The teachers advised that she ate very little for lunch, otherwise she was mingling very well with the other kids and had no problem adapting too.

When I watched Lincoln walk back to his class after recess, it suddenly dawned upon me that I need my children more than they need me.  Despite them giving me a hard time (yelling at them, going through lessons with them, getting frustrated at them, etc.), they also give me a lot of happy moments and a sense of achievement when I see them reach a certain stage in their life.  They really are a blessing in this otherwise bland and perhaps self-centred life.  

Here's a closing shot for this rambling entry - I have a lot to get off my chest!

The Dark Knight - Fairy Style

~ Photo taken with Nikon D750 + Sigma 24mm F/1.4 DG HSM (A) ~

Toothless Linc

Linc finally lost his front baby teeth last week. It was such an arduous task getting those loose teeth to come off. My wife was persistent in wiggling those 2 teeth while I was growing rather impatient and really wanted to just pull them off.

Eventually my wife gave up after wiggling for 2 hours (from 8 plus to about 10 pm). But at that time the teeth were already very loose, I thought they had to come off that night. Lincoln was too terrified at first, but I made him look at the mirror and asked him to pull the teeth off himself. Until he decided that he needed help, he was no longer afraid to let me touch his teeth. So I twisted the loose teeth for him to see.

Bye bye baby teeth!

My boy is growing up so fast....

 ~ Photos taken with Nikon D750 + AF-S 20mm F/1.8G ~

A Little Trip to Botanical Gardens

Singapore is well known as a garden city and one of the most famous garden is the Singapore Botanical Gardens which was recently granted a Unesco World Heritage site.  But me, Lincoln and my wife visited sometime before the garden got the award.  It was a very nostalgic visit for me and my wife as we had our pre-wedding photographs taken there back in 2008. 

Display at Visitors' Center

Singapore Zoo Trip 2013

It's been quite a while since I last made an entry into my blog.  This time around it will be about a visit to the Singapore Zoo back in November 2013.

For this trip I equipped myself just with the Nikon D5100 and the AF-S 18-300mm F/3.5-5.6G ED VR.  Lincoln was very excited from the moment we arrived.  At the entrance we were greeted by this small cute fellow.

I really forgot the name of this little primate....

Prior to Lindsay's Arrival - Captured in D5100

Just because I was comfortable using my 5D Mark 3 doesn't mean I don't use my D5100.  There were times when I found the 5DM3 to be too cumbersome and I just wanted to go around light.  So my D5100 stepped in.

This time around we took a walk around Ann Siang Hill in Tanjong Pagar.  We had our pre-wedding photos taken here, but at the garden side.  We decided to go to the other end where the hip cafes and restaurants are.  

A private cinema in Ann Siang Hill - D5100 + Tokina 12-24mm F4 II

The Batam Life - Part 4

Part 4 will be about the famous Barelang bridge in Batam.  Barelang bridge is actually a series of bridges that connect Batam to the small neighbouring islands of Galang and Rempang.  The name "Barelang" is a short form of "Batam", "Galang" and "Rempang".  In total there are 5 bridges (If I remember correctly) with the first one being the grandest and main tourism icon of Batam.

Full view of the bridge, taken from outside a nearby seafood restaurant

Little Nyonya Batik

Today was a busy day, we were helping a good friend with her Peranakan store's grand opening.  So I and my wife were out since morning 10 am till about 8 pm.  I myself was particularly busy being the photographer of the event and for her catalagoue.  I'll say that this must be the most colourful and gorgeous entry in my blog ever. 

Peranakan Umbrella

My D90 Diaries

The Nikon D90 was my first DSLR.  As mentioned in my previous post, I had it for less than a year.  But that doesn't mean I didn't take lots of photos with it.  In fact by the time I sold it I suppose I must have taken at least 4500 photos with it.

As it was my first DSLR, I could say it was my first teacher in photography.  Most of the time I would take photos from the balcony of my parents' condo in Tiong Bahru.  I love the view of the pool from their condo.

The view from my parents' condo on the left and the Merlion on the right

What Comes After a Wedding - Part I

Is a honeymoon!  We chose to go to Bali, Hong Kong & Macau for our honeymoon.  Sounds like much?  Not really..  My wife & I took 2 weeks leave to complete our wedding and honeymoon.

This post will cover our honeymoon in Bali. 

Soo..... As soon as we finished the wedding, we headed straight to Bali from Jakarta for our honeymoon.  First stop was at Four Seasons Jimbaran.

Oh my.... what a beautiful place..  no words can describe how beautiful and wonderful this place is. 

The Four Seasons Jimbaran Entrance