A bit more graciousness makes the society.

I used to frequent MOS Burger at Raffles City Shopping Centre weekly as I needed to grab a bite before my Thai class. One thing that gains my return is their service crew. Really commendable effort by MOS Burger to continuously engage our older workforce.

Few months after the conclusion of my Thai class, here I am again, served by the same aunties and uncles. Still impressed. They may be older, slower in taking orders, but one thing makes up for everything. Their attitude!

The uncle delivering orders may not be as agile or as fast, but he is so meticulous in ensuring you get your orders correctly, and hot. He warns you of the temperature sometimes!

The aunties taking orders may not fully register your order at first opportunity, but she courteously repeats your order carefully, and asks of every details without fail. "Welcome to MOS Burger! The $3.90 one is rice burger, $3.60 one is bun (the pictures looked similar). Small fries? Small or medium drink? Chilli, ketchup? Anything else? Having here? Okay $8.55 thank you!"

After some time, the queue starts snaking at a certain point. But the service crew's warm and loud welcome really compensated the wait. A little more patience from everyone, look how enjoyable the entire experience becomes.

Kudos to the service crews! 

And let's remember to clear our trays! A collective progression to a more gracious society!

Vlog #2 - of hotel and tour around Ubud!

Welcome back to the second instalment of the Bali series. Some interesting activities and sightseeing in Ubud covered in this vlog.

As I continue to edit the rest of the vlog, it seems like this trilogy may turn into four parts! 

Enjoy!

Vlog #1 - dnata lounge and Qatar Airways business class

Last week I went to Bali for a short weekend getaway. I've split it into two (or more) parts, the first vlog on the flight and airport lounge, and the second vlog on the island's galore.

Some post-birthday indulgence, thus the J class booking. Trying to sound technical & guru here with a 'J class'. Typically, F/P for first class, J/C for business and Y for economy.

So, for this first vlog, it's a photo and video sharing of the new multi-million project - dnata lounge, which is the business class passengers' airport lounge for Qatar Airways and Garuda Airlines in Terminal 3, Singapore Changi International Airport. Then, some peeks into the J.

No stranger to Qatar Airways, this 9th time on board a QR plane really made me felt at home. Even after comparing both legs of my journey, FA Sujit really upped the game. Kudos dude. It was like having a personal butler in flight. Update: QR's business class is world best for 2013 (skytrax).

Enjoy!

FA Vishal extending QR hospitality right from the moment you take your seat

my cut of action!

Media never fails to amaze me. I've never thought of appearing on national TV, let alone SBS. So let me bask in it a bit more. 10 mins to edit and cut out this piece. bear with me. enjoy.

Had a good birthday lunch at Alkaff Mansion :)

Birthday is a day to count blessings!

Every birthday, it becomes a time for me to reflect on the past year. What are the things I've achieved and what had I not achieved. 

The past year had been particularly good for me. I had expected a first class honours, but, it came with a bonus and surprise to get a prize along with it at my convocation. However it is very disappointing for me to realise that a fch serves no purpose in the corporate world unless it's from a local university. Perhaps I just haven't found the right job. I will continue to work hard. Otherwise, work had been smooth with nice colleagues. 

Went night safari with family, meals with friends, and first time celebrating it at work! Colleagues bought me a cake and backpack! Thank you. Oh! And my excited niece had been talking about how she was going to invite her playgroup little friends to my 'birthday party'! HAHAHA. Of course it didn't come true.   

I am indeed grateful to the advent of my life, and have not forgotten the less fortunate. I always believed that education is the way to grow. That is why when I visited the orphanage in Nairobi, I brought along a package of stationery and books. 

This year, I am very fortunate to be able to join another 70 donors in giving out a total of 108 student scholarships to the less fortunate students in Thailand. I donated two normal shares within my limited capability. 

The annual ceremony at Wat Thamfad, kindly coordinated by brother fazhu, hosted a total of 108 students from 10 different schools in Kanchanaburi, Thailand. The scholarship ceremony this year, presided by Luang Phor Watchara is also in celebration of the 100 years of Somdej Sankaraj. It was coincidentally held on the day of my birthday this year, on 12th October.  

I am very happy to be able to help them. Even though public education is free in Thailand, however, the students would still have to purchase their own uniforms and books. This is how the annual scholarship issued by Wat Thamfad helped the poorer students there. 

Phor means father in Thai language. Look at how happy and respectful the kids are when they are receiving their scholarship from Luang Phor. So heart warming. 

Sharing some of the ceremony's photos with you all. Photo credit: bro Fazhu.

The banner for ceremony

LP Watchara of Wat Thamfad

Little boys kneeling in line to receive their scholarship

Displaying appreciation with a Wai

This boy is so cute! ^^

Etena sacca vajjena sothi te hotu sabbada! [By the firm determination of this truth, may you ever be well]

Been a while....

I apologise for the lack of enthusiasm in blogging recently, but I assure you I'm not giving up, and am having something brewing in my pot.

In the wee hours of the night, sitting cross legged, staring at a pile of leisure reads on my study table, as well as youtubing on my laptop, feels totally like the time machine. Back to exactly a year ago when I was studying in Liverpool. Albeit different cause.

Today, I am just trying to fill the gap of time. Tomorrow is a public holiday (reads: bank holiday in uk context), thus I have the luxury to forego a bit of my sleep to do some non-constructive stuffs. It is kinda like... How can I waste my night when there's no work tomorrow? And then the irony sets in.

However, during my schooling days, pulling an all-nighter meant serious business. Doing your tutorial won't need an all-nighter. Researching for your dissertation don't need that either. All-nighter usually meant that there is a submission coming up the next morning at 9 am. Usually I'll make a trip to our communal kitchen in our flat at about 2 am to grab a bite. That is also when I'll bump into my flatmates, some of whom happens to be my classmates as well. They would sometimes be groaning about how I have not started my papers and still get a manageable grade.

This boils down to planning, really.

Because, by then I would have done my research, got the arguments drawn up, and only left with the work of typing. I wrote the outline for my papers soon after the modules start and put it aside, beefing it up along the way. I start my research early by hitting the books before the other 101 classmates get the books I want from the library.

That is how I start my papers at 4 am, ensuring a final check and manage a comfortable submission at 8:45 am . Also, to avoid problems during submission, I would have opened the submission page at 8 to 8:30 am to ensure its work-ability.

I would say I have learnt a great deal through all these trivial matters. Time management, research ability and work priorities. And most importantly, analytic skills.

My lecturer once warned us at the start of a particularly module that by the end of our course in Mass Communications, we will either go crazy or become fat. Crazy because there is so many standpoints (e.g. intended audience, producers etc); but this is what honed us to be analytical! =) Fat because the stress will make us eat more junk food! It is pretty obvious I am the latter hahahahaha! You know, Thorntons' brownies are such good comfort food at night! Thankfully but sadly, it's not available in Singapore. It was my drawer staple!

Something's weighing down my mind but not apt to share publicly. Agony.

Anyway, everyone be well, stay well!