Posts Under: Blog

My First Day in Melbourne

February 16, 2009 • Blog • 8 comments

After a pretty uneventful flight from Singapore to Melbourne – save for the need to switch seats at the inflight entertainment wasn’t working in my original place – I finally touched down in this beautiful city in the state of Victoria commencing my life as a student. What’s on the news was pretty much the raging bush fires and their aftermath in terms of loss of life and livelihoods for many Australians. Thankfully, the effects weren’t that severe here save for a slight haze and a parched and brown appearance throughout the city.

Here’s some photos of my first day in Melbourne.

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I am staying at the Graduate House of the University of Melbourne, which is a pretty decent place with adequate facilities for most of my needs. Food is great and its interesting to meet people from various nationalities around the world.

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From Word of Malice to Word of Mush

February 10, 2009 • Blog • 4 comments


Courtesy of m/a/z/e & Molliwogg

One of the most important skills needed to propel one’s efforts in social media is the age-old act of relationship building. To move any social media outreach, blogger relations or online evangelism effort through the long haul, one needs to have a group of believers, and to put in extra effort to build relationships with fellow digital denizens.

Just having a great blog or a nifty social media application isn’t enough if people don’t care enough about you or your organisation to want to be a part of the action. You need to invest in winning their trust and often their friendships too.

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When Winter Falls, Build a Snowman!

February 4, 2009 • Blog • no comments


Courtesy of Faisal.Saeed

I seldom respond to tags, being a rather idiosyncratic blogger, but I felt that this one by Vivienne merits attention. She blogged recently about how one should seize opportunities “like a hunter” during winter, as opposed to enjoying life and living off the fruits of one’s labour “like a farmer”.

First, I must confess that I love winter! The cold, the snow, the icy atmosphere and the chilling breezes somehow add an element of magic. Haven’t you noticed that many fantasy movies (like the Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and Chronicles of Narnia series) are often set in a white wintry snowscape? There is something surreal and otherworldly about a world blanketed in soft white cover.

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The Most Advertised Shop in Singapore

January 31, 2009 • Blog • 2 comments

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I spotted this heavily branded and bedecked convenience store recently while strolling along a street in Singapore. What struck me was not just the number of brands being placaded, but the fact that they are offering “UK Bed Space for Rent” at only “$10”.

Wow! Talk about great deals during the economic crisis…

PS – This shop obviously isn’t located along Orchard Road.

Splashing Sensations at San Diego Seaworld

January 28, 2009 • Blog • no comments

Bordering Mexico, San Diego is one of the southernmost cities in California and the second largest in the State. On what must be one of the wettest day in Southern California – where it purportedly “never rains” according to Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood – we went on a trip to the world famous San Diego SeaWorld.

Occupying a sprawling 200 acres, the marine-based attraction supposedly sets the standard for similar aquatic destinations around the world like Hong Kong’s Ocean Park and our own Underwater World. It features many daily shows, thrilling rides and marine animal encounters. To date, most than 80 million have visited this world class attraction.

How was our experience there? Well, the shows were pretty nifty but we wondered where the crowds were since the place was quite desolate.

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Finally Doing My Masters

January 24, 2009 • Blog • 7 comments


Courtesy of snipergirl

In slightly over three weeks, I will be flying off to Melbourne to continue my education. I will be reading a Masters in Arts Management at the University of Melbourne, specialising in modules related to art history, museum history and philosophy as well as audience development, finance, strategic planning, organisational management and cultural policy.

This has been made possible through a scholarship courtesy of my organisation, which comes with a three-year bond. Looking at the financial situation as it is, it may not be that bad a deal although it did take me some time to mull over it.

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We’ll Teach You To Skate But Not To Spell

January 12, 2009 • Blog • 8 comments

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Spotted this standee somewhere at People’s Park Complex recently. I wonder how the English teacher of the guy/girl who has copywritten this must feel.

If you are a potential customer of this business – which is a possibility since the advertisement proclaims that anybody from 1 to 70 can be their client – would you be convinced by this advertising message?