Back Relief & more...
As for myself, I think it will do wonders to my aching lower back. Must have been the long hours sitting in front of the computer...
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The Messengers
The Messengers, a supernatural thriller film directed by the twin-brother screenwriters and film directors Danny Pang and Oxide Pang, marks the Pang Brothers' first foray into Hollywood.Sad to say that while their hit Asian horror film, The Eye, has spawned two generally successful sequels, as well as a forthcoming Hollywood remake, The Messengers on the other hand fails to deliver the chills with its tedious plot, clichéd storyline and unsurprising twist.
IMHO, the movie relies way too much on cheap, nerve-jangling sound effects and musical stings to compensate for its lack of substance in this derivative scarefest.
In a nutshelll, a nicely photographed but slow-moving, dull and utterly predictable movie.
Final verdict:
Plot - ** 1/2, Effects (Chills) - ***, Substance - **
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Turkish Delights! Part II (Business Mode)
State of Being : Thinking Back... 13 Feb Presenting the Cheese Platter:
Recollecting the trip.... the WW Conference in Ankara
12 Feb
Brie Kartausen Ittingen, Bergfichten, Fribourger Alpschaf,
Alp Dräckloch, Greyerzer, Jersey Blue
The musuem grounds are actually closed in the evening but special arrangements were made just for us! :) 
In front of The Mausoleum of Kemal Atatürk
- More company overview & updates *blah blah blah*
- Workshops - "Swissness - Live It!"
Really amusing seeing some colleagues' actings during the group presentations!!! :P - Ended the day with the "Ottoman" Gala Dinner
Highlights of the Dinner: - Watched "The Sema Ritual" performance & Smoked Shisha for the first time
The Sema Ritual (i.e. Twirling Turkish Men)
Smoking Shisha *my virgin (blush) puff*
15 Feb
- Started off the morning with "The Hamam Experience" at the Armita Spa since that is the only time slot available before we leave home for Singapore
Highlights of the Experience: - Being scrubbed with a kese + soap massage from head to toe under a pleasant cloud of lather. Extremely RELAXING.... Zzzz
Scrubbed & Kneaded while lying on the heated marble-floor
- Presented the NEW CSG programme in the late morning
Really pleased that I managed to field all questions from the audience! :) - More presentations from other departments *blah blah blah*
- Farewell to Ankara as we left for the airport at 7pm for another 13-hour flight from Ankara-Istanbul (1 hr) and then Istanbul-Singapore (12 hr)...
Overall, a rewarding experience leaving Turkey knowing that in the essence of time, I still manage to do three Turkish activities that I set out to do, which is
- to watch "The Sema Ritual"
- to smoke shisha &
- to experience Turkish bath!
Alas, the only lament would be that we did not extend our Turkey trip due to the Lunar New Year...
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click here for full photo album
Turkish Delights! Part I (Leisure Mode)
10 Feb
- Departed for Ankara via Istanbul (12-hour flight) on Business Class *Cool!* B)
- 1-day stop-over at Swissotel The Bosphorus, Istanbul
(fabulous view of the Bosphorus from the hotel!)
Swissotel Istanbul Hotel Lobby Lounge
- Visited Ortakoy in the morning as soon as we touched down
- Joined a half-day Ottoman Splendors tour in the afternoon and visited Suleiman Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia & Blue Mosque (amazing how we managed to squeeze all these places of attractions in one short afternoon)
- Overall, a fulfilling day sight-seeing Istanbul in fast-forward >> style
Though I must admit that the interior of all the mosques do look kinda same after some time. Ha!
Highlights of the Ottoman Tour: - Witnessed the grandeur of the 86-carat pear-shaped 'Spoonmaker' Diamond (aka the Kasikci)
- Only regret that we failed to visit the Grand Bazaar cos it was closed on Sundays :(
12 Feb
- Departed for Ankara via domestic flight (bye, bye Istanbul *sob*)
Snow Capped Mountains in Ankara
(view from the plane)
- To be continued...
- In the meantime, click here for full photo album
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300
State of Being : Awed
Adapted from the graphic novel 300 by Frank Miller, 300 is based loosely about the Battle of Thermopylae, which took place in 480 BC.
Shot mostly with bluescreen to duplicate the imagery of the original comic book work and a year long post-production by a total of ten special effects companies, the visuals are simply surreal and captivating.
Final verdict: ***
Print Pretty Pictures
Sad to say I was a victim myself as I also succumbed to getting a Canon Photo Printer. Simply cannot resist the bundled freebies - 36 credit card sized papers (with the tray) + 36 postcard sized paper, that came along with the printer CP-720. On top of that, purchase the 108 paper pack for $32.50 and a $30 NTUC voucher is yours for free. In other words, the ink / paper package only cost $2.50! WHAT A STEAL!!!
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Kudos for Mystery Solved...
Will need to watch wat I type from now on since I've been revealed!!! :p
So U Think U Can Dance?
Overall was kinda entertained by the various kind of performances, like exotic dance, salsa, cha-cha, etc put up by the dance schools. But despite persistent persuasion from this friend of mine to take up salsa dancing, it is still a NO NO for me. Afterall, salsa is usually accompanied by cuba / latin music and this kind of music just ain't my cup of tea.
p.s. had to admit though that I am still seriously comtemplating on taking up Hip-Hop cos who can simply resist bobbing their head along to tunes such as
Nelly Furtado's "Promiscuous" & Justin Timberlake's "SexyBack"!!!
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