christian

The Season of Advent

Posted by Chong | 11/30/2008 09:12:00 PM | , | 0 comments »


Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before December 25; in other words, the Sunday between November 27 and December 3 inclusive. And ends on the eve of Christmas. The colour Purple is the colour for Advent, it symbolizes penitence and readiness to learn.

Latin adventus is the translation of the Greek word parousia, commonly used in reference to the Second Coming. Christians believe that the season of Advent serves a dual reminder of the original waiting that was done by the Hebrews for the birth of their Messiah as well as the waiting that Christians today endure as they await the second coming of Christ.

Train travel made easy...

Railways could soon link South East Asia to China and Europe.

Train lovers and travel nuts have long had a dream of going from Europe to Singapore by rail.

The journey to the East goes well as far as China, and the upgrading of tracks - sometimes with high-speed trains - is easing passage as far as Hong Kong.

From then on south, the rail buff, and potential cargo carriers, must wait just a few more years.

From south China into South East Asia is a bigger leap than it looks on the map - and not only for trains.

Diplomacy and funding from France and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have been agreed for the next step, from China to the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi.

And there are more routes being built from Kunming in the Chinese province of Yunnan.

Regional transport specialists told the BBC that two-thirds of the line from Kunming to the Chinese side of the border is completed, and a project is under way on the Vietnamese side to Lao Khai on the border.


Dreams to reality

Moving southwards through Vietnam, the aged track from Hanoi in the north to the southern hub of Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) in the south does daily duty for thousands.

It works, but is old and needs upgrading.

Even more urgent for the Vietnamese government are the urban rail projects it announced in September.

At least $15bn (£9.7bn) is to be spent on building tramways, sky trains and subways within Hanoi, and a metro in Ho Chi Minh City.

In Hanoi, complex upgrading works are being propelled by Japanese and French assistance; Japan is funding a feasibility study into elevating the entire urban railway, and a metro line is planned between the airport and the city.

In Cambodia, the entire national network is now being overhauled, rehabilitated and privatised, with the help of a foreign investor and multilateral funding.

Missing links

Tourists gather at Trans-Siberian train in 2000.
The Trans-Siberian train links Russia to China.

Getting from Vietnam to the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, remains difficult.

The terrain demands several challenging bridges, feasibility studies for which have been funded by China.

A route has been identified to meet the Vietnamese border at Loc Ninh, which suits Vietnamese mining interests in the area.

But the money has not yet been found to meet the costs of the project of up to $500m.

Getting from Phnom Penh further westward into Thailand is perhaps the most startling difficulty, ever since the Khmer Rouge ripped up the train lines between their strongholds in north-west Cambodia and the border.

The Thai government is fixing up the six missing kilometres (nearly four miles) of track on their side.

Contractors are now working on the 48 km missing on the Cambodian side, from Sisophon to Poipet.

Just a few kilometres are missing between Thailand and Laos.

It is now agreed that the Thai government will pay for the rail track over the Friendship Bridge that crosses the Mekong River between the two countries.

Once it reaches a rail head on the other side of the river, a few more kilometres are needed for it to reach the Laotian capital Vientiane.


Big ideas

Other links are on the drawing boards, if the mountains and rivers can be tamed.

One idea is to link Chinese rail southward through Laos along the Mekong River, although the technical challenges presented by the dramatic landscapes would make this expensive.

That would still be easier than linking China to the south seas through Burma, where huge mountain ranges - and a cash-strapped government of ruling generals - bar the way.

A steam train crossing the River Kwai, near the Thai-Burmese border, 1999.
This steam train on the River Kwai harks back to earlier times.

He and his colleagues have been asked by regional governments to upgrade recent transport plans "with a view to multi-modal transport", meaning the swapping of containers from trucks to trains and back.

In future it would be possible to catch a train, or put a container on a train, from Singapore to Phnom Penh within two years, and from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City within five years.

A train ride along the banks of the Mekong might take a little bit more time.


Visitors Worldwide

Posted by Chong | 11/30/2008 12:11:00 AM | 0 comments »

Just abit of sharing..was quit surprised that within and hour of my posting, I got 14 visitors from 9 different Countries.

Never happen to me before and this is for the very 1st time. Take a look below..that is the proof!

Singaporean Hostage in India

Posted by Chong | 11/29/2008 12:45:00 PM | , | 0 comments »

In memory of Ms Lo Hwei Yen


Is a tragic news that a Singaporean lady was held hostage in India in the recent terrorist attack in the city of Mumbai was found dead.

She is Ms. Lo Hwei Yen, 28 a law graduate of the National University of Singapore, Ms Lo worked with Stephenson Harwood, a foreign law firm based here. She is the first Singaporean to die in a terrorist attack.

"The loss of any life to terrorism is sad, and the loss of a fellow Singaporean is a pain more keenly and closely felt by every Singaporean." Professor S Jayakumar.

See what the insane mind of a terrorist can do? Have they no regards for human life? What if the terrorist's love ones are held hostage? Is there a need for 'an eye for an eye' attitude?

"Do unto others what you want others to do unto you"

Let there be peace on earth....

Julian Beever's Art Part 5

Posted by Chong | 11/28/2008 07:34:00 PM | | 0 comments »

More of Julian... ...

Art for the people.
' My art is for anybody, it ' s for people who wouldn ' t go into an art gallery.
It ' s art for the people. '
' Art shouldn ' t be locked away in galleries and libraries and books.
Art should be for everybody and not just art buffs, historians
and so-called experts. '


Julian works in chalk, so his art, which takes up to 3 days to complete,
is there only as long as the elements allow,
' If it rains it means I ' ve done a lot of hard work for nothing,
but I usually manage to avoid that. '
Visit with Santa


The important thing for me is to get a photo of it at the end.
For me, I ' m working towards building a photograph as my end result,
and if I get that I ' m happy. '

Taking on a fly


' The secret is to set up a camera on a tripod and keep it in one spot
and check every mark you make. It ' s really just playing with perspective
to make it appear different to what it really is. '
Julian Beever - Self Portrait




Black Friday

Posted by Chong | 11/28/2008 12:19:00 AM | | 0 comments »




What is this Black Friday about? Some might think ah.. another Financial market down trends? Well not really! But it has something got to do with figures.

Black Friday is a day after Thanksgiving (in America is the 4th Thursday of Nov) got its name because historically it was the day when a surge of shoppers will fill the Malls helped stores that are in the reds to break into profitability - 'into the black' - for the full year, thus "Black Friday"

Julian Beever's Art Part 4

Posted by Chong | 11/26/2008 06:40:00 PM |

More of Julian Beever... ...

Baby Food, viewed from the opposite side


' Once I realised you could make things go down,
I realised you could make them appear to go up
and I began experimenting. '
Make Poverty History - side view - 40 ft long


Make Poverty History - front view

Amazing! Need Help?

Julian Beever's Art Part 3

Posted by Chong | 11/24/2008 07:51:00 AM | | 0 comments »



Clinging onto a Pole

Archaeology

Felix the Cat gate-crashing the Chinese New Year
of the dog He ' s popping put of the ground in a Chinese dragon costume. '
Chinese Dragon with Felix the Cat .

Politicians get sucked into a pit.



Julian Beever's Art Part 2

Posted by Chong | 11/21/2008 06:38:00 PM | | 0 comments »

2nd Installment for Julian Beever's Art


The 3D aspect to his work came much later while he was working in Brussels,
' I decided to get into 3D after seeing the effect of tiles being removed
from the street, and later trying to recreate the sense of depth in a drawing.

People avoid the hole.
Hosing down the street

Watch out!
Canal Street - New Orleans

Land Use
Underground Band

Julian Beever's Art

Posted by Chong | 11/18/2008 01:52:00 AM | | 1 comments »

I was introduced to Julian Beever's art thru a friend. I remembered not too long ago Julain Beever was in I told at Raffles City and had his print made there.

Just a day a go another friend emailed Julian Beever's new works to me...and I would say wow!!! ia really amazing.

As the photos are quite a lot.. I would break them into a few installment..so keep a look out for them ya!

And for some you may ask.. who is this Julian Beever? Click on his name to find out more!


All of Julian Beever's works are done on flat sideway!!!

Pavement Picasso

Julian Beever is an English artist who ' s famous for his anamorphic art
on the pavements of England, France, Germany, USA, Australia and Belgium.


Beever gives an amazing illusion to his drawings, so that the objects appear
to be three dimensional rather than flat as they actually are.
Work in progress.

Work completed

Hard to believe that the little boy is standing flat on the pavement!
Julian admits that some people see his work as graffiti,
and don ' t feel it has a place on public streets. Happily, he says,
he mostly receives a positive reaction and people like and enjoy his art.

Early Budget in 2009

Posted by Chong | 11/17/2008 09:16:00 AM | 0 comments »


Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said yesterday instead of waiting till February, the Government will announce bring forward the budget address to Janurary. To me this is a clear signal that the government of Singapore is takng a active role in reviving the economy.

PM also said measures to help business and workers can be expected 'within a week'. He went on to say that, the utility bills might go down."If we are lucky, it will be where we were before October." said Mr Lee.

No matter what.. Personally I think when we Singaporeans face any crisis..we will definitely thru own support behind PAP. At least they are the tested ones!


$50 off for Levis jeans...

Posted by Chong | 11/13/2008 01:48:00 AM | | 2 comments »

I seldom spurg but was so tempted by the $50 off for all Levis jeans valued above $100. Which means any Levis jeans priced $100 and above u are entitled for a discount. The condition is..you have to give them a pair of old jeans...yes! any old jeans will do.

So thus I bought my Levis 501 button-fly. Which I wanted badly to own as a teen. I choose a pair priced at $139.90 throw them a pair of my old jeans. ...my damaged for the day? $89.90.!!

I bought it on 31st Oct..this morning I passed by a Levis shop at Tampines..the promotion is still on! so hurry go find a pair of old jeans and get $50 off!

Singapore to expand budget in 2009

Posted by Chong | 11/09/2008 02:10:00 AM | | 0 comments »

Analyst was saying that Singapore budget could increase by 10 billions dollars..whopping sum.

Speech by SM Goh Chok Tong...

"If all of us go into a power save mode, then the economy will really go into a recession! This is what economists called the Paradox of Thrift. If you have sufficient savings and can afford to spend, you should continue to spend on life's little pleasures.

"Take your family to the movies, shop, dine out at restaurants and hawker centres, go for your regular foot massage, indulge yourself at a spa, take a taxi, donate to charity and so on.

"This way, we keep the economy going. In fact, I would say when times are a little slow, you could get the best bargain," the senior minister said.

Mr Goh, who is also the chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), assured those who bought structured products linked to failed US investment bank Lehman Brothers that the country's central bank is looking after their interests.

He explained that the MAS cannot announce every action that it takes because of market sensitivity.

Mr Goh said: "MAS has to be measured in its actions and statements because what it does has long-term implications on the confidence of investors in Singapore.

"To be fair and transparent to everyone, MAS has to communicate to all investors at the same time through public press statements. Hence, MAS cannot reply to any particular group of individuals or individuals who write to MAS on what it intends to do."

Yes, we shouldn't save and not spend..of cos spend within our means..but where to get the money? Also should the civil servants and government take a pay cut?

' Hymn of Promise '

New hymn learnt in Church Service, find this soothing and peaceful. Was sung as the Hymn of Dedication.

Never mind about the poor lighting..the singing is great and the best I can find on youtube.






Lyrics for "Hymn of Promise"

In the bulb there is a flower;
In the seed, an apple tree;
In cocoons, a hidden promise:
Butterflies will soon be free!

In the cold and snow of winter,
There's a sping that waits to be,
Unrevealed until its season,
Something God alone can see.

There's a song in every silence,
Seeking word and melody;
There's a dawn in every darkness,
bringing hope to you and me.

From the past will come the future;
What it holds, a mystery,
Unrevealed until its season,
Something God alone can see.

In our end is our begining;
In our time, infinity.
In our doubt, there is believing;
In our life, eternity.

In our death, a resurrection;
At the last, a victory
Unrevealed until its season,
Something God alone can see.

Composer: Natalie Sleeth
Author: Natalie Sleeth



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