The Whimsical World of Argus: 08/01/2007

We rock!

London: 1 August, 2007
I am missing them... what a great bunch they have been! You guys rock my world. London is such a great city and you guys brought it up one notch!

Will visit if I happen to be in your country...Canada, US, Britain, Italy, Colombia, India.....wow!!! I will be applying to the Foreign Service, cheers!

We rock! They were there in honour of me....arn't they such a sweet bunch!

Lunch in the park; a farewell for me....

So in sync (not to mention; college preppy-ness).... polo tees and the synchronised hand wave, albeit, in the opposite direction...

Amanda (extreme left): I am like so totally flabbergasted...

Soni (cup in hand): Chill it, babe...

Vernon: Thank you, guys! Till next time...

Reflections...the LSE and I

London: 31 July, 2007

I spent some quiet moments going around the LSE for the very last time, just wanted to spend some intimate moments with the school that has given me a world-class education. I had also wanted to be inspired once more.

Being at the LSE, I was challenged by the high level of intellectual debate and the plurality of views held by different ones of us. However, the experience gave me a new found confidence, also giving me new insights and a whole new perspective of life.

The LSE experience also sharpened my analytical skills and gave me a keener appreciation for different views.

For all that I have been bestowed, I will be eternally greatful...

The famed Old Building....

The Student Centre...

Doing its bid for the community...

Names of nobel laureates and distinguished alumni who have walked the hollowed corridors of the LSE.

The Old Building, so aptly named, is where bright minds of all ages congregate...

Good food worth its weight in calories!

I love my food!

Cold Rock...rocks! a relatively new ice cream parlour at Holland V...now, Holland V is not hip for nothing...it always gets the cool stuff...probably a franchise brought in from Down Under.

This is my ice-cream sundae...yeah, without whip cream and chocolate fudge...i declined...Just, wanted to enjoy the 3 flavours raw...well, starting from the extreme left is choc chip, followed by pistachio and ferrero...the ice-cream is luscious...and the consistency is good, best part? It does not melt all that quickly! It is creamy goodness that titillated my palate....

Crisp shrimp dumplings from Swenson's at Plaza Singapura....really nice and crisp to the bite! Goes well with tatar sauce...a match that brought the dining experience up one notch!

What can I say?....my hearty main cause comprising of a BBQ spring chicken, crunchy broccoli, shreds of purple radish, shreds of cabbage and cubes of potato in cream....

The spring chicken was coated in a light marinade that did not overwhelm the natural goodness of the spring chicken. This dish sure packed a punch!

Time to work those calories off...gotta swim and run...its one vicious cycle! That way, I can enjoy more good food!

I can't get enough...

The London Bridge...

Shakespear's Globe with Tate Modern and its sky-high tower (background; right)....

"when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford"

- a lovely quote by Samuel Johnson...

The pictures of my London Escapade will keep flowing...life there was simply amazing, and I had to be trigger happy in order to satisfy my insatiable urge to capture, what such a great city has to offer in its multi-faceted splendour.

Enjoy...

Good times, money is no object...

London: 31 July, 2007

A day of reminiscence...went to catch a movie with dear pals...Soni and Deepak...the most expensive movie I have ever caught...30 Singapore dollars! It was for "Simpons; the movie". Totally hilarious, totally worth the experience...

The most expensive movie I've ever caught...

Some candid moments...calling to check for availability of seats at VUE cinema; Leicester Sq...

I can count on you

HELLO KITTY; from Kits to Tab

For you, tabby...

Friendships are hard to come by, at least those that are genuine...
I am glad to have known you...
Inasmuch as life does not not always pan out the way you want it to...
Life is also kind, life is also good...
Because I know we are still friends

Indeed, such a relationship is worth treasuring...
The best part?
I know I can count on you...

Inasmuch as life may cause us to be busy...
One thing is for sure...
You are never far from my mind...

Cheers to our friendship...
Cheers to life...
Cheers to you for being part of my life...

-Kits

Snippets of Life in London: Episode 1

Collaboration with other Asian countries is for the greater good of Singapore

ST Forum > The following is an article I contributed to the ST Forum
Aug 24, 2007

THE recent news reports about Singapore forging greater ties with Vietnam should serve as an inspiration to many in addition to the good relations we enjoy with the country at the governmental level.

There is foreseeable potential in both countries cooperating by, among other things, supporting greater economic exchanges and providing a platform for ease of doing business.

Having many Vietnamese friends on my university campus have made me come to a realisation that the Vietnamese are a group of very driven people with a zeal for education. Indeed, these are qualities worth emulating as Singapore goes into its next phase of development.

In as much as we have come a long way, and have time and again been lauded for our economic success, we can barely rest on our laurels. Going forward, we have to continually innovate and better ourselves in the face of increasing economic challenges from the rapidly growing economies of China, India and Vietnam.

Additionally, we should not view such economic challenges as adversarial; instead, we should work on cooperating with these countries on all possible fronts. In this way, synergy can be achieved, which will grant Singapore leverage in various areas.

Indeed, Asia is a hodgepodge of cultural elements; however, we can cooperate on areas such as defence and education without fear of losing our unique cultural identities, yet, granting us a bigger voice on the global stage. This is especially critical for a geographically small country as ours.

Arsenal...i am such a fan!

London: 29 July, 2007
Visited the Museum of London, following which, I went to Arsenal to see the Emirates Stadium...truly, it was a sight to behold. The weather was perfect! I simply love the cloud cover which accentuated the beauty of the images...

EMIRATES STADIUM

MUSEUM OF LONDON

The Southwark Bridge, one of the many bridges that link both sides of the Thames...

The Tate Modern...a former power station converted into an ultra modern gallery for contemporary art

Shakespear Country

London: 28 July, 2007

Went up with a group of friends from the LSE to Shakespear Country...it was breath-taking...loved the sights and sound of the country...it was a 3hr train ride from London.