General – Page 3 – pierreo.com – Join me on my journey

Comments Welcome

Posted on 6 September, 20086 September, 2008 by pierreo

Part of the fun of having a blog is the ability to share with the people you know.

However, a big part of it is also getting feedback from these same people.

I have received comments from a few people and thanks them for that. I have received private comments from a few, and that is fine too, but I would prefer that you feel free to share comments with all the readers. It is great for me, because I know that people are reading and enjoying what I write – it make the sharing even more enjoyable.

For those who do not know about ‘comments’, please go to the bottom of this post. You will see the category for it but also, in orange, the word comment with a number between parenthesis. If you click on that, you will be able to see the comments that have already been given by people, and you will also be able to leave you own comments for all to see. It is very easy. You have to provide an e-mail address, but I will be the only one to see it – it is just to insure that I can trace back where the comments came from, in case I violently disagree. I have not yet had to ‘censure’ any comments…

Thanks in advance, and I am looking forward to hearing from you very soon

Look for posts on “A typical work day” and “Singapore 1/2 Ironman 2008” in the very near future

(719 Page Views)

Culture, General

In the news recently

Posted on 17 August, 200820 January, 2010 by pierreo

For information only …

Item 1

Singapore has decided to change the sense of rotation of the Singapore Flyer (a large observation wheel opened in March of this year) because “Feng Shui” masters have indicated that the original rotation was pumping money and fortune out of Singapore and into the sea.

If you do not believe this (I had trouble myself) here is a story in The Manilla Times quoting the Straits Times (but I could not find the original story there…)

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/aug/11/yehey/world/20080811wor4.html

Item 2

Belgium beats Italy in the Olympic Football tournament to qualify for the semi-finals. This has not happened often, especially recently. The last I can remember was a victory against Italy in the 1980 European Championship which qualified Belgium for the final against the Soviet Union.

Last time Belgium did this well in the Olympic Games was in 1920, when they actually won the tournament. Yes, Belgium did get a Gold Medal in Olympic football, something that Brazil has not been able to achieve!

Item 3

Singapore Ladies Table Tennis team has beaten Korea in the semi-finals of the Olympic Games. They are now facing China in the finals.

This will be Singapore’s first Olympic medal since 1960 and only the second one they ever won. Singapore will reward each gold medal winner with 1 million Singapore Dollars; a silver medal is worth 1/2 million and a bronze medallist will get 250,000 S$. Nice incentives for their top athletes.

Item 4

Michael Phelps has won 8 gold medals in one Olympic games and 14 in two!

Item 5

A white Zimbabwean has won that countries only Olympic gold medal so far. What is President Mugabe going to do about it?

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General

Changes to PIERREO.COM

Posted on 31 July, 2008 by pierreo

Do not be surprised if you start seeing some changes to pierreo.com and this blog.

With the guidance of David, I have been progressing with modifications I wanted to do a long time ago – just never had (or wanted to take) the time necessary.

I have already upgraded the version of WordPress that I use and will soon learn (by trial and error I am sure) how to modify the theme and look of the blog. You will probably not notice a lot of the changes I am making, unless you bother to ‘explore’ my sites – yes, sites with an ‘s’. Here is what I have so far:

PIERREO.COM – the main site and home for all the other. Also the home for this blog. The main purpose of this bolg will remain ME! This is a way to share my life with you the reader.

PIERREO.BE – There have been time when I have wanted to react to world events and solicit ideas and opinions from others on the subject. I always hesitated to do this in MY blog, and therefore I will set-up a separate bolg where I can be more provocative and, hopefully, get some interesting debates going

TWIMPG.NET – This will be my travel site. I will gradually include there photos from the trips I have taken over the years (I am already working hard on Japan). Maybe, after I get more ambitious, and certainly more familiar with the INTERNET, this may also become a general forum where people can share information and advise on various destinations.

LES-LAVES.COM – I have not yet decided what to do with this one. As I Learn more using the ones above, maybe something will come to me. I just wanted to reserve the name, just in case.

Please (and I mean this) let me have your comments, ideas and suggestions. You can comment directly to this post if you are not shy about having everybody see what you say, or drop me a note if you want to do so privately. Thanks in advance for your help in this endeavour.

(714 Page Views)

General

Photo Class Final Exam

Posted on 7 April, 200810 May, 2010 by pierreo

As I mentioned before, I just took a photo class. For the ‘final exam’ we are supposed to submit 24 photos taken recently either during a trip, or in one of the ‘touristy’ areas of Singapore. Since I will be returning from Japan after the deadline for this, I decided to do something on Chinatown. It forced me to look at this neighbourhood in a totally different way even though I had walked through it many times.
This is my “Day in the Life of Chinatown”

Bright Lights

Reflexions on the Singapore River

Tai-Chi in the Park

Jogging along the river (I have been seen doing that!)

Reading the morning paper

All is still quite …

Construction workers have not arrived yet

The market is already at full swing

No Comments…

Colorful Shutters

A montage of several local sights (this is also my first attempts at editing digital photos using Photoshop)

The young and the old (inspired by a photo in my parent’s kitchen)

Temple at sunset

Relaxing at the end of the day

Lines everywhere

Ready to party – at least some are…

Food, of course

More food

Chinatown by-night

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Culture, General, Sports

First Week-end in March

Posted on 4 March, 200810 May, 2010 by pierreo

I do apologise for the long silence. I guess I was busy getting ready for this week-end.

It started Friday evening (I agree, technically still February and not part of the week-end, but you will forgive me this literary liberty). That is when I attended the third class of a photography course I have been taking. This is mainly intended to let you take better pictures by knowing what to look for when taking pictures while travelling. It is intended for all levels of ability and the ‘instructor’ mainly taught by showing pictures that he has taken over the years and tells us why they are good, or not so good.

For the second session, he had asked us to provide three of our best pictures we had taken over the years. He would look at them and critique them in the class, telling us how we can improve them. I used these:

He liked the sunset in Freemantle, but indicated that he thought a better shot would have been one with a single light house and the sun right behind it. Using ‘Photoshop’, he re-created this picture I had also taken that evening.

My second pictures was this one:

He liked this star shot. Also indicated that this is something that cannot be done with a digital camera – indeed, my camera does not have a ‘B’ options. Maybe there is some use to keeping a film camera…

The third was just OK – he thought I should have cropped it closer to the face of the child.

Saturday morning was the Singapore Biathlon 2008. My starting time this year was 7:30 AM, an hour earlier than last year. Based on my training, which was very intensive, I really thought I had a chance to be around 1h20, about 8 minutes better than 2007. As usual, I am nervous and find it hard to sleep the night before, so I get up early and leave for the East Coast Park where the race is held. I arrive there at 6:15 AM, in plenty of time to register, get the numbers marked on my legs and arms, and than wait for the start.

Just like last year, the start of the swim was awful. I was trying to stay away from other people but could not. I was kicked, slapped, assaulted from behind and both sides and ultimately hit in the face to the point where I almost lost my goggles. I got out of the crowd and started to swim, and my breathing was so rushed that I could not even keep my normal rhythm. I tried to swim breast stroke, but even that was too much. I thought for a moment about quitting, but than got on my back and relaxed for about 30 seconds, probably no more than that.

It was enough to get me started. I slowly made progress in free-style and started to recover. By the halfway mark, I started feeling stronger, and I needed to as I also discovered that the current was strong, and against us on the way back to the start point. I pushed harder and started passing people – nobody was passing me. When I got back to the beach, my stopwatch showed me the bad news: 36 minutes, at least 8 more minutes than my swim time in 2007. All hopes of beating my time was already gone. I have no ideas where I stand against the ‘opposition’ – so I run to the transition area and get ready for the run.

I feel good! First three km in 16 minutes, first 5 km in 26 minutes – thast is about the timing I was hoping to keep. But than, for no reason, I slow down – I do the next 2 km in 12 minutes – too slow. So I accelerate and actually manage to finish the last 3 km in 16 minutes. My total run time was I think under 54 minutes, 4 quicker than last year. I finished at about 1h33, 5 minutes slower than last year.

My only hope, is that the swim was indeed harder and longer than last year – I cannot believe that my poor start (I had a poor start last year too) made me waste 8 minutes.

The results are out and while it looks like the swim was indeed tougher, I did not do better than last year. In 2007 I was 62nd out of 180 participants. This year I am 72nd out of 230 participants – about the same percentile.

I went home to take a shower and get ready for the rest of my week-end. I was not done yet.

On Saturday evening, we had one of two field trips for the photography class. It started at 5:30PM at the Merlion. The weather was against us – very cloudy and therefore flat light. We were first told to take an artistic shot anywhere in the area as long as the Merlion, or a part of it is visible. Here is one shot I took – it surprised me that with everything that is going on and all the subjects that she could be shooting, this lady is taking a picture of herself…

Next assignment – depth of field. Need to have the plaque, and the Merlion and the background all in focus. Easy with a point-and-shoot, but you have to know how with an SLR.

Third, assignment, take a single shot of the Stamford Hotel – pay articular attention to framing and composition.

I had actually taking this picture while we were waiting for the rest of the group to come and before he had give us the assignment because I found that the plants and lightposts and hotel made some interesting lines.

We finished the evening on the roof terrace of the Esplanade Theaters. I like this shot of the recently opened Singapore Flyer recently opened. It is only in a long exposure shot that you can actually see that it is moving – this one is not quite long enough…

On Sunday morning, we had the second field trip. This time 8:15 AM at Stamford Landing – the place where… I might as well let the picture tell the story

More assignments, more artsy shots. I just had to take this one of the Fullerton Hotel with a Belgian flag in front.

I wonder who is the VIP who justified this – it certainly was not me!

I like this one of Sir Thomas Stamfod Raffles looking down at and posing for a group of tourists…

Or this artsy shot of buildings

By Friday, I have to select 5 shots to submit for critiquing. I have not yet decided…

Any suggestions, please let me know – thanks in advance

(960 Page Views)

General

Papillon Cycling

Posted on 27 January, 200810 May, 2010 by pierreo

I am back in Singapore after an extended trip to Belgium and France.

Christmas was a series of parties (three in total, including the Osterrieth gathering, where unfortunately only 60 people showed up) during which I was able to see most of my family. I also spent some time with friends and relatives outside of these parties. I always go to Belgium with mixed feelings – I am very glad to see family and friends, but it is not really a relaxing vacation, and I tend to eat too much.

After Belgium I spent two weeks in France. My mother was not very well, so I spent time with her and my father. I still managed to spend a week in “my house” – actually the first time that I stayed there as the ‘owner’ since I bought it from my parents in 2005. Rajan, Julie and Georgia joined me and we had very nice trips together to Avignon, Cassis and Digne-les-bains.

As I said, I am now back in Singapore where ‘normal’ activities have resumed. I am doing a lot of cycling, swimming and running, getting ready, right now, for the Biathlon which will be held at the beginning of March, but also looking forward to the Triathlon in July.

Last Saturday, Ben organised (very well I should say) a cycling outing for the whole extended Papillon Clan. We started on the East Coast Park with a Safety Briefing by Freddy

and then we cycled about 20 km to a first pit stop at Changi Beach

We actually ran into Richard (one of the team with whom I had done the ‘ironman’ triathlon last year) while we were relaxing – he was on his way back from Changi Point, where we were heading for refreshments

Some had 100 Plus – but Ben and Freddy brought me a beer. They know what I like! We also celebrated Samuel’s birthday with a cake and a song

We cycled back to the starting point but on the way, Ben and I bought some chicken rice and satay so we could have a pic-nic

It was a very civilised pic-nic, we also had excellent wine (one bottle of white and one bottle of red) and Belgian chocoloate!

At the end, we prepared a short video of the team and good wishes for Yen Nee’s upcoming wedding (this Sunday as a matter of fact). It was a very nice day out.

(646 Page Views)

General

Christmas

Posted on 24 December, 20075 August, 2008 by pierreo

To all my readers, I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

No pictures of me, but three of a friend who left us a year ago.

On Sacred Mount in Morocco

Sunset in a sand storm – Morocco

I stilll miss you

(705 Page Views)

General, Retrospective, Sports, Travel

A Business Trip than a 1/2 Marathon

Posted on 2 December, 200710 May, 2010 by pierreo

Soon after I came back from South Africa, I had to go to the UK on a business trip. Business travel can be exciting, and I am not one to refuse an opportunity to go on one. However the timing of this one could have been better. I was not looking forward to having repeated jet lags and being away the week before I was scheduled to run a 1/2 Marathon.

The trip went quite well, and 5 hours ago, I completed the run (my third for this distance) in my best ever time of 2 hours and 16 minutes, There were over 40000 participants in the full marathon, the 1/2 marathon and a 10k run. I waited at the finish line to see some of my friends finish their marathon and than we had lunch together. It was again a great experince.

But back to Business trips. They do not always turn out as expected. Here is the write up I made last year following a particularly eventful trip – all 100% true.

Business Trips.

Some people believe that they are glamorous and that anybody going on a lot of business trips must be very lucky. I do not necessarily disagree with this view – I have been on many business trips and enjoyed a few of these.

Here is an example of a recent experience I had.

The Concept:

Go to Italy for meetings with potential vendors at the end of June 2006.

The Plan – Version 1:

Fly to Milan on Friday evening to arrive on Saturday morning

Fly on to Marseille to spend the week-end with my parents in Cassis

Fly to Milan around midday on Monday and drive 240 km to Schio, where we have our first meeting on Tuesday

All day review with one vendor on Tuesday than drive 200 km to Bergamo

All day review with second vendor on Wednesday

Fly back to Singapore on Thursday.

The Plan – Version 2:

Fly to London on Friday evening to arrive Saturday Morning

Fly on to Marseille to spend the week-end with my parents in Cassis

Fly to London on Sunday afternoon

All day meetings on Monday in Reading, near London to organize the visits

Leave London around 5PM for Milan than drive 240 km to Schio. Expected arrival at hotel around 11PM

All day review with one vendor on Tuesday than drive 200 km to Bergamo

All day review with second vendor on Wednesday

Leave Milan around 7PM to go back to Reading. Expected arrival at hotel around 10PM

More meetings in Reading on Thursday to summarise meetings and decide on path forward

Leave London for Singapore on Thursday evening.

Reality:

Monday – a week before the trip: All flights from Singapore to Europe are fully booked for the week-end. I am on the waiting list for 6 different flights

Wednesday – three days before departure: One flight opens on Saturday evening, arriving in London on Sunday Morning. This does not give me enough time to go to Cassis so I am making alternate plans to visit Belgium instead.

Friday 2PM: I am told that there is a seat for me on the evening flight out of Singapore leaving at 11 PM

Friday 2:20 PM: I book a flight from London to Marseille via Paris with the local Singapore Air France agent, who wonders why I am going to London first – she had a good point.

Friday 2:40 PM: I book a rental car on-line at Marseille

Friday 2:45 PM: I tell my parents I am coming.

Friday 6:30 PM: I pack one small bag and my back-pack

Friday 9:00 PM: Off to the airport

Saturday 5:00 AM: Arrive in London Heathrow 45 minutes early. Big deal, it just means I have to wait an extra 45 minutes for my next flight to Paris.

Saturday 8:50 AM: Leave for Paris where I arrive at 10:50 local time.

Saturday 11:20 PM: The flight to Marseille is announced with 30 minutes delay.

Saturday 12:45 PM: Flight to Marseille leaves 45 minutes late.

Saturday 2:50 PM: Flight arrives in Marseille.

Saturday 3:30 PM: After long wait in line, I finally have my car.

Saturday 4:30 PM: Arrive at my parent’s house.

Saturday: Some shopping, lot’s of talking, good dinner, local news and finally to bed.

Sunday: More shopping, excellent lunch in the old port.

Sunday 2:00 PM: Leave for the airport.

Sunday 4:30 PM: Leave for Paris.

Sunday 7:30 PM: Arrive London – no problems in Paris.

Sunday 9:00 PM: Arrive at the Hilton Heathrow Airport, after 30 minute wait for my luggage, a 15 minute walk to the train, a 10 minute wait at the train station, a 5 minute train ride, another 10 minute walk to the hotel and a 20 minute wait to check-in.

Monday 7:00 AM: Car takes me to Reading for an 8:00 AM meeting.

Monday: Several more meetings and discussions during the day.

Monday 3:15 PM Leave for Heathrow Airport.

Monday 6:30 PM: The plane finally taxis away from the gate.

Monday 6:45 PM: The plane taxis back to the gate.

Monday 7:00 PM: We disembark into busses.

Monday 7:35 PM: We are finally allowed to leave the busses, not having any idea what has happened or what will happen next.

Monday 7:40 PM: As I wait for my luggage, I call our travel agent (we have a 24 hr emergency number we can use – the agent seems to have an Australian accent!) to see when I can get the next plane to Milan. Not tonight, but the first plane in the morning leaves at 7:30 AM. I ask her to book it and a room at the Hilton Heathrow for tonight.

Monday 7:55 PM: Still no luggage so I call the Hotel in Schio to cancel my reservation there and to leave a message for the rest of the group not to expect me that evening.

Monday 8:15 PM: I finally get my luggage and head for the British Airways Ticketing office to confirm what is happening.

Monday 8:30 PM: Reservation for 7:35 flight the next day is confirmed. They will not pay for the Hilton as they will be making other arrangements for all passengers soon – I have been in that situation before, waiting hours for all passengers to be ready to move etc… I tell them not to bother as I will be in the Hilton.

Monday 9:05 PM: Arrive in my room at the Hilton after a 15 minute walk, no wait for the train station, a 5 minute train ride, a 10 minute walk to the hotel and fortunately only 5 minutes to check-in.

Monday 9:30 PM: Dinner at the hotel.

Tuesday 5:00 AM: Wake up call

Tuesday 5:20 AM: Check out

Tuesday 5:40 AM: Train to terminal 1

Tuesday 6:00 AM: Check in to airport

Tuesday 6:20 AM: Call travel agent to ask them to arrange rental car in Milan (change the reservation I had for the day before) – same Australian accent???

Tuesday 7:30 AM: The plane taxis off – good sign

Tuesday 7:40 AM: The plane actually takes off – we are making progress.

Tuesday 10:30 AM: Arrive Milano Linate

Tuesday 10:40 AM: Message from the travel agent tells me they were not able to get me a car. I call back and they have only checked with National, not Avis or Hertz. They suggest that it will be easiest for me to make arrangements directly at the airport.

Tuesday 11:10 AM: With my bag, I go to National where I indicate that I had a reservation (for the night before) and would like a car. They only have a Mercedes C220 available, which I gladly accept.

Tuesday 11:30 AM: On my way to Schio

Tuesday 1:15 PM: After driving 240 km (yes, in less than 2 hours), I am close to the plant, but cannot find it. Fortunately the secretary is able to guide me by phone – I am glad I had packed my ‘hands-free’ device, and that I can converse in Italian.

Tuesday 1:30 PM: I join the meeting already underway since 8 AM

Tuesday 6:30 PM: The meeting finally breaks up and we leave for Bergamo

Tuesday 8:45 PM: Arrive in Bergamo after 200 km in a three-car convoy, occasionally driving as fast as 160 km/h

Tuesday 9:00 PM: Group dinner (for 8 people) on the top floor of the hotel with a beautiful view of the Cita Alta. Who says you do not get to do any sightseeing on a business trip?

Wednesday 6:30 AM: Wake up call and early breakfast. At breakfast, we find out that one of our team members forgot some key papers in Schio and left very early to go get them. He will not be back before 11:00 AM so we will have to start the meeting without him.

Wednesday 8:30 AM: Get to second vendor shop and start meeting.

Wednesday 4:05 PM: Time to go back to the airport.

Wednesday 6:15 PM: We are all back at the airport, having returned the rental cars and checked-in to our flights. We have our first opportunity to discuss and summarise the meetings and see where we stand while we are all in the same place.

Wednesday 7:40 PM: The plane finally leaves the gate 40 minutes late because one passenger was supposed to be on an Alitalia flight instead of the British Airways flight. Even after three checks of Boarding Pass and Passport, nobody had noticed the error!

Wednesday 10 PM: Arrival at the Holiday Inn South in Reading. I change and go to sleep immediately.

Wednesday 11:36 PM: