Gabriel

5 year anniversary

2009-09-24T21:08:00.003+08:00

Celebrated our 5th year in a executive suite with love. simple pleasures in life. will add some pictures soon. rose petals lined on the ground and soaked in the tub with fine wine and cheese and tons of presents. dun i just love you.

exams around soon! yea kick ass in school. topped the cohort!

funds

2009-08-29T16:22:00.001+08:00

breaking over the $100k SGD mark. $150k before SMU. my 21st birthday wish.

something random! i want a bulldog! haha

St peire

2009-07-17T23:09:00.003+08:00

Love got a placement in St Pierre, i believe she will excel there. Its a great restaurant. I think its restaurant 2007 of the year and the chef is pretty established. Besides she is going to be chef de partie 2. Its second in charge for pastry. She jumped a few level and is 2nd in ranked! see thats for being in the best cuisine school in the world. Love, wish u well!

Exams is tml! my first paper is going to be HRM. easy feat. just lots of memory work to be done. i guess all is ready and done! Yea, so contented to be in this course!!! was just planning it all out and was thinking how difficult its going to be doing my degree in ns. I had doubts on its seemingly impossible task and now i am taking my first paper! time passes real fast. On route to getting 4 degrees and a master while i graduate from SMU while my peers graduate with 1 or 2 degrees. Oh well, God bless!

Sime darby, Sime darby, why anit u calling me yet. its been 2 weeks. Gone through 4 rounds and waiting to clear the last hurdle! Personality test completed, Assessment centre completed, presentations, flip charts and management discussion completed. 4 hours assessment completed, meeting with board and executives completed.

Shall give u another week! God its in your hands!

what an exprience

2009-07-04T10:34:00.002+08:00

Was introduced to the members of the board and regional head of sime darby. Asia's leading company and South East Asia biggest company.

Its gonna be a life changing exprience if they nod their head to the four of us.

Happy Birthday

2009-04-07T12:49:00.004+08:00

Time for mourning, time for looking ahead. My best bro dad passed on and our thoughts will always be with him and his family. We are all glad that beng been looking on the bright side. (He always been like that)

Anyway, this fellow inherited $100m and a hotel. Uncle buying him a 750k sports car. Beng dun forget i am an accountant here haha. Looking for a personal wealth manager? haha Girls, what are u waiting for?? Drop me a text for his number! haha. 9627**** Hot commodity on the market!

Wanna Wish you a Happy 21st too bro! It was a waste we forgot our camera on that day! Beng mum treated us to chinese. Whopping 1200k for 4 people.

Anyway, everyday been booking in and out of camp. Getting use to the rountine. Night chat with the Majors and Lieutenant Colonels about investment and food makes duty nicer. A Lt Colonel gave me his name card today. Love, we got 1 more booking haha.

Wherever you maybe

2009-03-15T21:18:00.004+08:00

Love is in Brussels now, heading to Luxemborg later. Wherever you may be, i love you. You will be back in 3 months. 1 year being overseas have passed and we are still going on. Counting down to your return. I cant wait to pick you up in the airport! You're so going to run to me and kiss me. Almost 5 years have passed and you have made my life complete. Love you

Should i go Paris to pick you up? Hmmm...

Its been months

2009-02-11T23:45:00.003+08:00

Everyone been telling me to do something about my blog cos its really lag with all the pictures. Anyway, finally got it sorted. Been really tied up with navy. Finally i am going to get my posting! According to my Instructors, it is suppose to be highly classified. They said they do not know what is my vocation about because they have no clearance, even the Major. They said we will only know when the instructor comes down on Monday to brief us up. Navy and their nonsense again.

Anyway, i am really glad about my vocation. Its called shark hunter. Haha. I am sure that it is nothing related to hunting sharks. Some of us will go to the light house. It is basically either 1 week work, 2 weeks off or 3 days work 3 days off. I am going to take my chances and say its basically using the Radar System to track intruders. Shall wait and see.

Valentine is coming! Aficionado is booked again. Will be posting some pictures soon. Done some marketing today and i am still considering whether i should throw in caviar. Love is not around this year, but nevertheless, i am sure it is still going to kick ass. Gonna pitch a tent for my friend and do up the ambience as well as the candle light dinner by the sea. Cant wait! love, wish u were around to turn things up!

I got another good news to share! Aficionado is book on October as well! Jill is super excited and upbeat about it. According to our corresponds through email with him, he is going to propose to his girlfriend in my house. Half way through the dining he is going to propose to her. I think its really magical to share this experience with someone and to help him make it a memorable one. Jill is of course getting excited about the marriage and stuff.

Also, i have been talking to some of my friends who have signed on with the navy. I was telling them about my investment venture and they seems keen to invest with me. After all they will be getting their lump sum of payout soon. Will need to sort out some investment product soon.

Well, other than that, wanna wish everyone a fulfilling Chinese new year.

Auto Bailout - All i ask for christmas

2008-12-16T19:36:00.004+08:00

I was looking through my portfolio for the year end review and adjustment and it just strike me how freaking fast this year went. Back in Feb, when i just started out the firm, i was looking for investors and now i am gearing up my funds for repayment to my investors. 1 year and divendends are due. Time flies. Everyday looking through the activities and now and then meeting people up for a possible investment. Shit, 1 year flew pass! Next financial year to come.

All i want for christmas this year is a blessed year ahead for everyone and for jill to be safe and be enriched through her exprience. More importantly, am keeping my finger cross for the green light to be given for the Auto bailout of Amercia. 1 decision with tons of consideration, got to admire those ass in congress. Then again, look at the mess they created for themselves with policies that backfired. Thousand of jobs are at stake and more shake up of the unemployment rate will only continue to drag the economy to further standstill. If the green light is given, there will certainly be the early christmas index rally, providing much relief to investors.

This year has been a crazy year for everyone in the stock market, from crazy highs to crazy lows to eventful incidents comparable to the Great depression. Big question marks and worries when people see their portfolio, thinking what to do next. Looking back, i been so grateful to this big shake up. So much lessons to learn from. I guess nothing beats first hand exprience. I was one of those investors caught in the middle of everything not knowing what to do next or what to expect.

Everyone been rather worried about me esp jill and mh. I make crazy decision now and then to invest went everyone seems to be pulling out. After all, buffet once said, "be greedy when everyone is worried and be worried when everyone is greedy." Perfect sense right! 3 weeks ago, i got myself into more debts. i am sitting on a heap of loan, only jill knows the portion of the actual amount haha! took the money from a 2 year loan and reinvested in equities. thankfully with the bear rally kicking in the last 2 weeks i recovered 19k. but i guess its going down here and there with more profit taking from the market. But i guess, it was a decision well made during my BMT. However, not everything went well this year, i ever see my portfolio dip to the lows of over 30k and it left me puzzling what to do. All i can say, this year zoomed pass so fast and there was so much lessons i learn esp from the financial world.

With all said and done, i am broke once again. With repayment of bank loans and repayment for my investors i am almost living on $50 a month! haha. Ns pay of $420 is drained off immediately it comes and i cant start giving tuition because i dunno what is my schedule for NS for my new posting.

Anyone wanna treat me for lunch? haha

Perfect end to my BMT

2008-12-12T14:27:00.003+08:00

Life in Tekong came to an end. Honestly, i thought i hate the idea of army and with the first few weeks of getting fuck i have come to enjoy my days in army. In fact, i kind of miss hanging out in bunk and marching around. We had all sorts of people in camp. ah bengs, tattoo crazy, prision records, drop out school. But you know what? this bunch of guys are the nicest lot that i ever know. down to earth and humble. You know they will never put on a fake front. Never on any pretext. They are what you see. Will look forward for any meet ups.

The best thing about BMT was that on my last ferry out of tekong, Jill messaged me and said she is in Singapore and she was waiting for me at Pasir Ris. I was like yea yea. How is Paris! Then i realised early on while i was talking to her i heard someone talking in hokkien and another group in tamil in the background. Than i realised! YEA love it back! I was like yea!!!! GUYS MY GIRLFRIEND IS BACK! everyone was like oh right Gab! finally. i was like shouting for eugene and all my other guys. Can u imagine after so many months and then suddenly she decides to surprise you. So sweet. oh well thats my jill! and she pick me up in her BMW!

Jill went back yesterday and this time its back to serious work for her! Love, master your skills and learn as much as you can! Dun forget to enjoy the exprience as well and keep your focus on your goals and dream of setting your restuarant.

With dec coming, everyone seems to be going away, Beng going hk, kenneth going tawian, harmony in china.

The best news was seeing my portfolio recover! lets just say its a 5 figure amount!

Your always on my mind

2008-10-14T00:01:00.002+08:00

Maybe I didnt treat you
Quite as good as I should have
Maybe I didnt love you
Quite as often as I could have
Little things I should have said and done
I just never took the time
You were always on my mind

Maybe I didnt hold you
All those lonely, lonely times
And I guess I never told you
Im so happy that you're mine
If I make you feel second best
Girl, Im sorry I was blind
You were always on my mind

My version of Surf and Turf

2008-10-06T22:44:00.004+08:00

Was doing the weekly marketing with my mum and i suddenly thought i should cook dinner since it was such a long time i made dinner for my parents. Been rather knocked out teaching tuition and in school, so cooking dinner today was a great relaxation.

So i present to you my version of Surf & Turf. Love, i think i still kick your ass! see, your still not up to my standards haha. You still got a long way before you will be Aficionado head chef haha.

Sorry

2008-09-26T23:33:00.001+08:00

Love, hang in there, am sorry you had to go through this ordeal all alone in Paris. I am going to check the price tml to see how much to get there as soon as possible.

Happy 4th Year Anniversary

2008-09-26T02:53:00.003+08:00

Disappointed

2008-09-24T19:36:00.006+08:00

"You tell me that you need me and then you go and cut me down"

Guys anyone up for some drinks.

Other than that, fuck off.

Weekend at beng's house

2008-09-21T21:05:00.002+08:00

Waiting for the car to come back and off to beng house for some prata over football at his place. Half time going for a run in his gym and after full time going for a swim in his pool. What more can i ask for a relaxing weekend!

Miss u so badly

2008-09-14T18:27:00.001+08:00

Love, going to dedicate this post to you. Its been months since u left. Every min i get to realised that you meant alot to me. Come back soon. I miss you so so much.

Take care while your inside

2008-09-13T18:25:00.005+08:00

With love oversea and mh today reporting to NS. Life is going to be so boring. Lucky am pack with school and tuition. Kinda of felt so werid hearing mh calling me from Tekong and say "hong, i am really inside already, Fu** man." I was suppose to report camp on Monday but thankfully i got Pes down and now i am going in next month but there is still no running away.

Anyway, good luck to all my other friends going to NS. Mh, u better learn to shut your mouth at times haha. Before camp he said he will surely get into trouble with the authorities because we are the type of guys who will voice out if things are out rightly wrong.

Just now he called me and he said, " hong, gone already, i am being marked." This idiot apparently told his sergent to on the other fans because it was stupid to only on 1 fan as the room was really stuffy. I dun need to say the rest already. I guess you will be able to make out what happened next. haha This happened even before he swear in and all the sergents where pointing at him amongst themselves. Good luck bro!

Anyway, will post some pictures soon! Its been a while since i update but tons have happened! Esp teachers day! Melt my heart when i see those gifts and esp those cards.

Am off to beng house! Snacks, prata and live soccer at his pool side!

Here is my Chef Sim - Latest Pic

2008-09-06T11:14:00.002+08:00

Love, so proud of you! Chef Sim is flying singapore flag! She topped the school's pastry again! 2 times in a row. Make it a straight 3 k. Your the first Singaporean! Keep it up! Topped the best culinary school in the world! Hmmm, does that make u the most promising chef to be haha. Will see ya!

Accident

2008-08-24T18:56:00.006+08:00

Accident with the car below. What a sunday. I dun want to say much already. All i want to do today is hear my opera all night and perhaps do some cooking. I am going to stick to my bicycle. Love, where are you. I need a hug so badly. I really do. I dunno whats going to happen or how much the repair for the fellow car will be. I need you so much. I just want a big and warm hug.

Gathering

2008-08-24T18:51:00.003+08:00

Friday gathering was awesome! Old mates, awesome company, good beer & good laughter. Will post the pictures soon. Time flies man. Its been 3 years since i met max and eugene. Cant wait to get my hands on the pictures. We had tons of laughter and sharing what we been doing was really good. Made us realised that we have all grown up, everyone had their own problems and difficulties. Esp Matt & Chia. Hang in there bros

Surprise visit from my boys! - Hear the noise from 4 boys haha, imagine 35 of them! haha

2008-08-21T19:21:00.005+08:00

Surprise visit from my boys!

2008-08-21T19:08:00.003+08:00

P5-6 Group Discussion! Hear the noise level!

2008-08-21T16:26:00.003+08:00

My Boys - P3-2, P5-6 & P6 Prelims

2008-08-21T16:08:00.015+08:00

Some of my boys! - I want a class picture!

2008-08-20T17:28:00.001+08:00

Supper

2008-08-20T17:25:00.002+08:00

The outcome waso so good.

2008-08-19T22:14:00.002+08:00

Wanton Day

2008-08-19T22:07:00.002+08:00

Jill's Exam

2008-08-18T09:16:00.003+08:00

With the time difference and everything going on, its really hard having a long distance relationship. I guess its taking a toil on us. Anyway, love, all the best for your up coming exams! Study hard and quickly come back. We must have a show down of our culinary skills soon. haha. Love you tons. Go kick ass once again ya!

Alright, got to go read before i go class!

Missing you tons from Singapore

20th Birthday

2008-08-18T09:11:00.002+08:00

Thanks love for your cake all the way from Paris. Really appreciate it. Anyway, thanks for all the well wishes from my friends too. Mh deserve the best award for the most touching Sms. haha. Thanks bro. i got you all always in my heart ya.

My birthday wish is to be the youngest CFO. Finding and on route to my path there now!

Love my mum

2008-08-15T13:13:00.005+08:00

Sometimes in our life, we face a cross road, a intersecting road where you just have to stop and ponder.

Anyway, love marketing with my mum! Today my boys are having PLSE Oral so the school is close. I had the time off and i took my mum for a spin! Went marketing in the morning and after that went to NTUC at upper Thompon. NTUC finest, and the stuff are really fresh and the organic variety are alot. Oh man, they have 120 days fed grain, rib eye beef. Cant wait to get my hands on those meat. Salt and pepper goes well with such great meat with perfect marbling.

I realised its really not easy being a parent, haha, anyway i was like a girl talking to my mum haha. Like talking those really bimbo questions. like mummy what do you wear to seduce papa at night. haha Ops. lets not go further into details. Yeah, talk about her younger days, how she dated my dad, how they had their first kiss and of course our finance now. Everything under the sun.

Nothing beats mother love. Love my mum and of course my dad! I cant wait to attain my fiancial dreams and goals and give my mummy and daddy a good life with me oversea. How long more we have with our parents to walk, talk to, drive with or cook with? 20 years? 30 years 15 years? its scary shit if u look it that way and than we will cherish them more.

Bye Andy!

2008-08-11T12:26:00.002+08:00

For the past 1 week plus, we had a scottish friend staying over at my place. Nice dude. Was telling my sister that if she wants to migrate to the Uk, Andy would be the fastest route haha. Anyway, Andy has left to continue the rest of his Asia Tour. Bro come again! My parents enjoy your company.

The Hong's Family Cars

2008-08-11T12:21:00.001+08:00

Today, happened that all our 3 cars were parked together. I thought it was cute that we snap this picture because i am driving the red car and my sis is driving the white and my bro is drving the black car. The funny thing was that i am the youngest, so i am driving the smallest car now and my eldest brother drives the biggest car.

Who was the killer?

2008-08-11T12:18:00.002+08:00

It started with 2 death and now my whole tank of fish are dying. I just knew it! haha

I miss the simple things we do

2008-08-05T21:43:00.004+08:00

I miss holding your hands and hugging you so much. Miss yours lips too. I miss the days at the seaside reading my biz times and you reading your magazine and spending the whole day there. Sucks being alone in Singapore. Good friends i have, but its different without you. I miss holding you so so much.

Mh, now we know your true identity - Everyone must see these videos!

2008-08-02T23:26:00.004+08:00

Malaysia Part 2 - Memories for life - Best Mates

2008-08-02T23:19:00.006+08:00

Malaysia Part 1 - Memories for life - Best Mates

2008-08-02T23:11:00.009+08:00

Update

2008-07-30T00:47:00.002+08:00

Just a short update here. To start things rolling, I really miss jill so much.

Anyway, I have been given the Pes C status for the army because of my leg. Well, is it a blessing or a curse? The thing is now that I may have to enter the army at April or maybe Jan or Dec. Most of the people told me that it’s a waste of time. Although its true to a large extent but I always believe that a path lost is a path gain.

I will be embarking on my part time degree once I get the letter from Mindef on my enlistment. The plan is this; I am going to study during my NS and get a degree in Finance and complete it by the time I finish NS. Therefore, I will be studying in Kaplan during NS and after NS, I will be heading to SMU to take my degree in Accounting and hopefully I can get another 1 which is Economic. At the same time, I still am deciding whether to either pursue my master in finance or to go the professional path to take the CFA during my time in SMU. So right now the degree in Kaplan is important so that during my SMU time, I can study for my masters or CFA at the same time! So when everything is done, I will have 3 degrees and 1 master when I graduate from SMU. God lead me in your path! Show me through.

Other than that, I am busy in embarking my new business venture. So far, being the director/ partner of Aficionado and Rich Growth Holdings have been a great learning journey for me. I met many people in different industries and I am certain without which I will not be the same person now.

Anyway, I was just talking to my brother and he was telling me to work with EDB or Spring development board regarding this idea. I cant share this idea first because its something new and I would need to bang hard on it and bring this concept to EDB. Hopefully I can get good funding. To me, if I fail or succeed its all about learning. But hey, I dun intend to fail. I am so confident in this. I am just short of a business partner who has capital and has the same passion and goal as me. Anyway, got to thank my brother for advising me. I was kind of heading in a wrong direction with my biz plan and he kind of got me back on track.

Apart from that, I been doing relief teaching and tuition everyday. Relief teaching in the morning and afternoons are pack with gym and tuition and now I have taken up a new tuition boy. I never charge him but I only expect the same commitment I give to him. I have been teaching him everyday and it will continue till his exams. He is primary 3 but he cannot read nor write. It hurts me seeing how hard he tries but often he fails. I totally understand how he feels because when I was younger, when I had to take my Chinese O level, 90% of what the exam wrote I did not understand. Now, when I see my student in the same situation as me, I told myself I must help him. I spoke to his parents and said, I am not a miracle teacher, but I will do everything in my best ability to help him. There was 1 thing Sanjay said that made me wanted to teach him so much. There was 1 day in class where he came out to me and said this, “Mr hong, I am really scare I fail my all my subjects (he cant even read instructions or problem sum question). “ I am scare to fail and would have to retain in primary 3.” At 9 years old, it only showed the kind of maturity he had. After he told me that, I told him Sanjay, I am going to give you tuition everyday.

Anyway, I will not say too much about the next part. The parents these days are so protective till the children now have no self of discipline. Of course, not all parents but most. I was told that 1 parent is going to send my case to the police. I dun know whether to be sad for the child or not. I was told that I cant punished the kids to stand more than 10 mins and I cant shout at them. Back in our days, if my mum would to see that my teacher in school beat me, I will get beaten again by my mum because it only shows that I misbehaved in class. If parents keep complaining about punishment, than it only give non verbal clues to the kids that what they are doing in school is correct and just.

212 Degree

2008-07-25T22:52:00.003+08:00

I came across this and i thought it was really a good analogy.

At 211 degrees, water is hot. At 212 degress, it boils, and with boiling, comes steam and steam can power a locomotive.

1 extra degree makes all the difference
and the 1 extra degree of effort in biz and life seperates the good from the best.

Weekly inspiration for jill

2008-07-20T10:11:00.002+08:00

Love, this week edition of famous chef is Chef Frederic Colin. I will just type the main juice of the article.

Becoming a chef has always been Frederic Colin’s ambition. He entered culinary school in Paris at the age of 16. During his 4 year apprenticeship, he trained under Michelin star chefs Bernard Joinville at Restaurant Lasserre in Paris, and Jean Marie Meulien at Clos Longchamp at Hotel Meridien Etoile.

In 1994, during his compulsory military service, he served as personal chef to the military governor of Paris.

After leaving the army, he worked as a chef at various resorts and restaurants, including La Marina in Valbonne in the south of France and the exclusive K club in arbuda in the Carribean, and other places such as St Barts, Miami, New York and French Polynesia.

He also worked under Michelin starred chef Alain Reix at Jules Cerne restaurant at the Eiffel Tower and chef Christian Lesquer at the 3 start Ledoyen restaurant in Paris.

The beach loving colin was the executive chef at St Reglis Resort before moving to Singapore in September last year.

“I had heard so much about Singapore and when an opportunity came up, I knew it was for me.

Love, see some of the restaurant and maybe you want to do your intern there. He worked at Jules Cerne, the Eiffel restaurant. You may want to consider that.

Ok stay tune next week. Hey, maybe u want to copy and paste and send a email to your classmates.

30th July

2008-07-18T22:06:00.006+08:00

Well, I am back to teaching again. My days been packed with teaching school and tuition. Today taught 5-1 and I was sharing with them all my adventures during my trip. 5-1 is my fav class! Although sometimes they can get really loud.

I can’t wait for the 30 of July. I am going for my first annual shareholder's meeting. China Milk. The first company I fell in love with. Hoards of cash, strong government backing, has its own economic moat and good growth and strong earnings. Besides, all the worries about food prices going up, they have not much to worry because they grow 90% of their feedstock esp corn with now corn prices rising like hell. I can go on and on about china milk but I guess I will just stop here. I can’t wait for the meeting; have various questions for the management. It will be at Hyatt Hotel.

Other than that, I had been looking at seminars and courses to go. Oh shit, I wish I could afford it. Technical trend analysis will cost me SGD 1500. Other basic course will set me at least 500Sgd. Trends for new market, Forex, futures etc. Hmmm, any sponsors? Where is all the sugar mummy out there? Young man going on sale for money haha. Kidding. Present for my birthday anyone? Jill, dun be silly and buy it ar. I will work out the money and after all you don’t know which one I am interested in. Pls k. I will not mind investing magazine for my birthday! Pulse and Smart investors! Hehe

Well, I been thinking through, I am considering taking a part time degree during my army days. I am still at the stage of planning and looking around because it can only happen if I get a 9-5 job during army. Been looking at Kaplan at the moment. I thought of taking either ACCA or Bac in Finance at Kaplan and when I grad, I can continue studying in SMU at least with 1 degree on hand already and than maybe at the same time pursue my masters or maybe CFA ( Certified Financial Analysis). I guess it’s good to be planning now. Wishful thinking? Maybe? Well, I got only 5 years more to go before I hit the working world, going to work my ass off and get as much knowledge. If everything really goes well, I could just graduate in SMU with Accounting and Econ Degrees and also Bac in Finance and masters from Kaplan.

Got to start cracking my head to see where I can get sponsors. part time deg will set me 16k and full time deg i know mummy will handle for me first. Sugar mummies where are you. My investments are in choppy waters. Stock market been so volatile. But I will still maintain a long term prospective on my investments. Oh, I met this guy in the airplane on the way back from Doha, he works in the oil service sector and we had a pleasant conversion. He was sharing with me about his work and business ideas and I asked him how long more is oil going to last? He say, base from research, it’s only about 30-50 years. Hey this guy seems like a big shot in this industry and there must be some truth to it. Anyway, for those having investment, u may want to ponder over what the man said.

Anyway, guess what? I was talking to my buddy Ed!!! I was telling him, Ed, since your army is 9-5 u should do a part time degree. I was like fuck!!! Ed had the same thinking as me. The best part is the same degree and the same school! Great mind think alike ya!

Motivation for you

2008-07-13T12:48:00.003+08:00

Aspiration for chef Jill Sim! This is for you. This came out in today’s Straits Times.

Le Saint Julien’s Chef owner Julien Bompard 39, and his Hong Konger wife of 9 years risked all to open the French restaurant at the Fullerton Water Boat House in 2003. “ We had to pay three months rent upfront and it was a 3 years contract. We had to use all our saving, so that was it. There was no turning back. The day after we did that, the war on Iraq broke out. Ten days later, we were hit by SARS.”

But opening a restaurant has been his dream since he began his apprenticeship at the age of 15.

The French chef who grew up outside Paris learned his trade under the tutelage of renowned chef such as Alain Dutournier of Carree des Feuillants at the Place Vendome in Paris, and the three star Michelin Chef Jacques Lameloise in Chagny, Burgundy.

His first visit to Asia was an assistant to Chef Henri Lecomte in 1990 at a 15 day cooking demonstration in Toyko. After the 15 days, he stayed on to work in the city for 5 months before returning to France to work at L’ Oasis with Chef Louis Outhier.

In 1993, he moved to The Oriental Hotel in Bangkok, where he became the hotel resident chef at its French restaurant, Le Normandie. Then he was in Hong Kong for five years as chef de cuisine at Gaddi’s in Peninsula Hotel.

After a 2 year stint in New York City, he came to Singapore to become deputy executive chef at Raffles Hotel for 2 years before opening Le Saint Julien in 2003.

He won At-sunrise’s global chef of the year award 2006, while his restaurant was named World Gourmet Summit’s restaurant of the year that same year in 2005. This year, Singapore business review named it French Restaurant of the year.

Love, I am so confident that you will be at in the Straits Time in a couple of years!!! Am so confident of it. Quickly set up your restaurant.

3 Michelle Stars

2008-07-13T12:34:00.002+08:00

Oh my goodness! Jill told me she was heading to a 3 Michelle Stars Restaurant with jess and her uncle. Oh gosh, I was seeing those pictures, well, the dishes are nicely finished and everything looks perfectly done. Just the plating of the dish was excellent, i cant imagine what the taste would be! Everything seemly goes well together. All I miss is the tasting! Love email this to me and this was the menu.

1. soup of onion and parsley
2. la sardine, done in 3 differnt way
3. la courgette done in 3 differnt way again
4. langoustine done in 3 differnt way again
5. veal sweetbread
6.cheese
7.coffee dessert
8.raspberry dessert

Ok! Lets guess the price. Oh gosh! Hold your breath! It cost a whopping 1000plus Euro dollars. A dinner that cost $2000 SGD. Jess, your uncle is CRAZY! Haha, what to do, another banker! Aw! Motivation level up!

I miss eating all our dining together in Singapore. Our weekly Jap food to buffets at Fullerton to Intercontinental hotel and all our old time favorites! See, thats how u gained so much weight! haha.

Anyway, I received a gift from Jill all the way from Paris! Someone came and pass me 3 boxes of ice cream from island creamy! My favorite flavors. Oh, thinking back, I miss having my Alaskan bake with you love. Thanks for the gifts though! Enjoy your time in Amsterdam! Remember to check out the live sex club.

To an old friend

2008-07-10T00:42:00.003+08:00

I had a rude shock when I was asleep; I just received a call from Beng saying that Avan has been hospitalized. Right now he is in the ICU fighting a brain infection. For a moment, my mind just could not come to terms with it because I could not associate my friend whom is only 19 years old fighting this ordeal. At 19 and he had to face this shit. Why must life take us on such a roller coaster? For now, all we can do is to pray and I hope he will be doing fine tml when we see him.

Life is so fragile isn’t it? I guess we only have to appreciate our love ones around more, knowing that it only takes a snap of a finger for anything to happen to anybody.

Life is so full of ambiguity isn’t it? We always want a perfect ending but somehow, we know that sometimes even poems don’t rhyme, and some stories do not have a clear beginning, middle and end. I guess life is about not knowing what is next but learning and having to change and taking the moment and making the best of it without knowing what’s going to happen next. I guess, its the ambiguity that’s drives us forward to discover the unknown.

I really hope and pray that Avan will pull through this ordeal, if you happen to be reading, say a small pray for my old friend and his family. They do not deserve this.

Singapore and off to KL

2008-06-27T17:29:00.001+08:00

I am home. The old familiar sight, taste and air. Home looks super nice after the trip. Cozy and warm maybe cos my parents do everything for me. When you are out alone then you realize the basic thing they do for us. I cant wait to eat Singapore food again. Anyway guess what? I got to go off already. I got to go pack up for my trip to KL later at night. Haha! So exciting right! With my best pals beng and mh. The flight is at 11pm! I feel excited yet feel terrible cos never got to spend time with my family yet and I am gone! Will be back soon!

Ok, I go already. Hey guys, tuition will start on 1 to 2 week of July. Better get fire up this time!

15 mins more

2008-06-26T16:50:00.001+08:00

I hate to be going. All i have is 15 mins more before the shuttle comes. Will miss jill so much.

4 Hours more to go

2008-06-26T14:21:00.002+08:00

Woke up at 8 am to see love off. I cant believe it, I have only 4 hours more in this lovely place. Will miss everything here so much esp jill. I guess the next time jill would read this i would either be in the airplane to Doha or waiting in Doha airport for my transfer or on the way back home. Love, we are just 1 plane away, dun cry already. Hang in there.

Last night was really good. We had the occasionally tears and we shared back old memories and had lots of laughter.

Alright, I shall go finish up my packing. Love, see you in 6 months! Do your stagiare and quickly open your fine dining restaurant. Keep up your good work. Be confident in what you do and keep the consistency. We all love you tons and learn as much as you can while you are there and soak up all the experience you can get. Dun forget to enjoy the experience too. You got an opportunity not everybody can get. See you back in 6 months. Love you.

Guys! I am coming home.

France, Paris - My Last Day in Paris

2008-06-26T03:44:00.002+08:00

90 days have passed and gone and i will not trade anything for this exprience i had. I am going to miss jill and Paris tons and leaving her behind will be difficult. I guess she has became so much part of my life. But she will now have to learn and get through this herself. Anyway, you guys should see her friends in school and the people around her! They are the nicest bunch of people.

Jessica Lian, you better take care of this fatty of mine, force her to buy vegetable like you, 1 kg and boil and eat so she can poo! Jill is surrounded with really nice people. Even the neighbour that i have known, bruno is really humble and down to earth! Funny dude. Bruno, quickly come to Singapore, i am still waiting for you to cook your Argentina food.

I have came and now i have to go, have done my part to help her settle down and she is really kicking ass in school! Top student in the best cooking school. Anyway, she is sleeping now. its 10pm. She is really tire.

Tml, my shuttle comes at 1215 and jill got class till 1130 and another at 1230. I got another 1 hour to see her before my shuttle comes. How i wish i could stop time.

Anyway, am sure she can pull through. Been always telling her that she is like a clay being moulded and the process is always painful. I meant, there will never be 1 day in our life that we will wake up without adversities or difficulties and we have to keep reminding ourselves that the situation is not a tragedy but only adversities. Well, i guess life will be interesting with adversities and it gets meaningful when we overcome those adversities. I guess we all have to grow up and changes are never easy. Love hang in there! You will be fine.

Come back and be my top chef and do us proud. Stagiare or no stagiare (Intern) its ok. But we all hope u can hang in there and learn as much as you can. I would love you to do stagiare and learn how the head chef operates and most importantly learn how he manage all the other chefs to churn out dishes to serve so many people in 1 night. But most importantly, dun stress out over it k.

Anyway, the last day was really relaxing, the great Paris sales just started and we went shopping. Zara is on 50% discount! Alright, just want to enjoy my last few hours with jill already. See you guys in Singapore soon!

That’s the end of my euro trip. Stay tune, for my next trip haha. Coming home on Friday morning to fly off to KL on Friday night. Haha.

Love! Come back soon! Miss and love you so so much.

I wanna take the first flight home!

2008-06-19T18:09:00.003+08:00

Chan Mun Hon! Thanks!

I got a call from Mh this morning while I was sleeping, I called him back immediately when I woke up and he sounded ecstatic. I said Wassup? He said, “Hong, I got a fantastic deal for you.” He told me he could help me get a job in citi bank in the dealer room, in the pit room.

The job is to assist the broker in their transactions. The pay is 15-20 dollars per hour and on top of that you are paid 10usd per customers transactions. I guess even if they dun pay me, I would gladly love to do the job. The best part of the job is that I can have first hand experience and to listen and learn from the real pros. I am going to ask them so many questions about the stock market! Oh shit, thanks bro! cant wait! What an opportunity. My early birthday present I guess. Haha.

The other good thing about this job is a night job, cos probably their clients are trading in the US market or hopefully forex. My lonely nights with CNBC seeing the US market till the wee morning will be gone with actual live trading of the US market in the bank! What more is that I can give tuition in the morning and also give relief teaching once a while and of course see the Singapore and Euro market in the morning. Everything fits nicely!

Hopefully I can get the job cos Mh is now having training first. I hope I will not miss the training cos I am only returning in a week time.

France, Paris - The luxury of an exprience

2008-06-18T18:22:00.002+08:00

Summer has arrived in Paris. The sun is hot and up and I have to admit that cleavages are everywhere haha. The gloomy weather around Paris has gone and people look more vibrant as they welcome this summer.

Anyway, to talk a little about our trip we had, if I would to sum it up, it was an awesome trip. I guess for the girls, it was a good trip to getaway and now they appreciate Paris much more. We shared pictures, tapas, pizza, ice creams, new found places and of course we took home many memories and laughers.

My time in Europe is coming to an end and although I have much to miss about my trip here, but there is another part of me that is missing my home, family and friends. So much to catch up with my friends, family and my SAJS boys back in school.

3 months have come and go and looking back, I could never believe that at the age of 19, I have traveled so much and so far. Although I did not had the luxury of living or traveling in 5 star accommodations but I had something better which was the luxury of the experience. A luxury no money can buy and an experience I will never forget. It was simple and most memorable.

I will certainly miss Paris a lot. It is such a beautiful country and honestly, I could stay here all my life if my family and friends were here and if they would to speak English. Other than that, the people, the weather, the excitement around the city is so lovely. I guess I have grown much affection towards this strange place and I hate to leave.

I will be back in less than 8 days on Thursday, but I am sure that I will go back differently with more aspirations and more experiences to bring back home! I guess this trip has brought me tons of lessons in life and I am sure it will come in handy in the years to come.

Till then, see ya, shall be going to the Eiffel to read a book.

Italy, Venice - Venice's Food, Le Corden Bleu Chefs at work part 2

2008-06-17T06:12:00.004+08:00

Italy, Venice - Mini Concert

2008-06-17T06:10:00.002+08:00

Italy, Venice - Venice By Night

2008-06-17T06:02:00.007+08:00

Italy, Venice - Venice By Day

2008-06-17T05:57:00.007+08:00

Italy, Venice - Euro 2008, Italy Vs Romania - Video, Penatly (Must See!)

2008-06-17T05:56:00.002+08:00

Italy, Venice - Euro 2008, Italy Vs Romania - Pictures

2008-06-17T05:54:00.002+08:00

Italy, Venice - Lido Beach

2008-06-17T05:53:00.002+08:00

Italy, Venice - Treviso Airport

2008-06-17T05:49:00.006+08:00

Spain, Barcelona - Tapas

2008-06-17T05:37:00.005+08:00

Spain, Barcelona - Paella

2008-06-17T05:36:00.002+08:00

Spain, Barcelona - Le Corden Blu chefs at work part 1

2008-06-17T05:33:00.005+08:00

Spain, Barcelona - Mercat De La Boqueria

2008-06-17T05:29:00.005+08:00

Spain, Barcelona - Random Shots

2008-06-17T05:26:00.003+08:00

Spain, Barcelona - Beach

2008-06-17T05:19:00.011+08:00

Spain, Barcelona - Hotel

2008-06-17T05:18:00.002+08:00

Spain, Barcelona - Tibidabo

2008-06-17T05:14:00.007+08:00

Spain, Barcelona - Nou Camp

2008-06-17T05:11:00.003+08:00

Spain, Barcelona - Sagrada Familia

2008-06-17T05:10:00.003+08:00

Spain, Barcelona - Le Pedrera

2008-06-17T05:08:00.002+08:00

Spain, Barcelona - Casa Batllo

2008-06-17T05:07:00.006+08:00

Spain, Barcelona - Arc De Triompf

2008-06-17T05:07:00.005+08:00

Spain, Barcelona - Place De Catalunya

2008-06-17T05:05:00.001+08:00

Spain, Barcelona - Barcelona Bus Turistic

2008-06-17T05:03:00.007+08:00

Spain, Barcelona - Gerona Airport

2008-06-17T05:01:00.003+08:00

Off We Go - Barcelona

2008-06-17T04:56:00.004+08:00

Barcelona & Venice

2008-06-09T03:52:00.003+08:00

Hope u enjoy the disney pictures! It was a blast.

Heading to sleep now, got to wake up at 1am to fly off!

Am off with the girls to Spain & Italy!

Till then take care!! Will be back in 1 week on Sunday!

France, Paris - DisneyLand - Pictures

2008-06-09T01:48:00.013+08:00

Celebration!!!! - Best Beef Steak in the world!!!!

2008-06-07T05:02:00.004+08:00

France, Paris - La Defense

2008-06-07T04:59:00.003+08:00

Le Corden Bleu Graduation

2008-06-07T04:49:00.002+08:00

My congratulation goes out to Jessica and my Jill Sim! They graduate with great marks! I am so proud of their success and i am sure this will be their stepping stone to success!

I am most proud of my dear love, she came in top of the whole level. Muack! You should see both their tense faces! and when they say, " the next student is the top student and have achieved a Distinction in Pastry, Miss Sim, Ting, Jill! Everyone was clapping!!! So happy for my love! 1 of the best cooking school in the whole world and she topped the school for pastry! Its like top student for Harvard. I am so proud of her! If only aunt and uncle and her bros were here! Aw, they will be so proud of their daughter! Never mind, am sure in superior she will rock the house down too!

Anyway, just want to say Keep it up love! and jess, next round ya! i am sure u will kick ass! Yea! U two make Singapore so proud too!

Le Corden Bleu Graduation - Darling & Jessica

2008-06-07T04:40:00.005+08:00

France, Paris - Bois De Vincennes

2008-06-06T03:30:00.003+08:00

Paris Chinatown - Aveune De Choisy

2008-06-05T00:05:00.002+08:00

I am back in Paris! - Jill looks so sexy!

2008-06-05T00:01:00.006+08:00

Good Bye Glasgow

2008-06-04T23:57:00.002+08:00

I have grown affection towards the city of Glasgow and the highlands of Scotland. I have met many wonderful people and will bring back lots of good memories with me back home. I really hate to be leaving glasgow, but then again i cant wait to see jill again!

Anyway my sis rocks! You will never get or find a better sister like my sis! Hazel, u enjoy the food first ya! I am coming back soon!

Looking back, i wish for another day in Glasgow!

Good Bye Glasgow

2008-06-04T23:55:00.003+08:00

Kelly Night - Scottish Traditional Dance

2008-06-04T23:48:00.002+08:00

Playing Lawning & Glasgow Univeristy

2008-06-02T08:59:00.003+08:00

Island of Bute

2008-06-02T08:38:00.008+08:00

University - My next road

2008-05-21T20:07:00.002+08:00

I got accepted into SMU accountancy and these few months i have been thinking hard about studying oversea. I was pretty much straight into the idea of stuyding oversea because i wanted a different kind of exposure and a more realistic approach of an education.

The decision for my university has always been a hard one. To my mates, everyone knows how much i want to go oversea and study and possibly live my life there with my family.
But now as i am in the UK, and as i meet people and talk to them, i realise that its not as easy as 1 would think.

Alright, let me share with you what i have felt and why i am confuse and hopefully you guys could share with me your thoughts as well.

Alright, firstly, i want to have an oversea education is so because of what i mentioned above and also the fact that it is easier to find work being educated in their local university and moreover i would have already established my network with my university friends and it would be easier to settle down and find a job and utimately fuifill my parents dream of bringing them over to another country.

However on the other hand, i have realised that if i would to study and work here, i will be affected by racisim. I am not afraid of people spitting at my face or calling or insulting me. I am just concern by the fact that there will be a glass ceiling on me to climb up the corporate ladder as fast as other people being a chinese. I know it is not openly practice but i believe definetly, being chinese, they wil not promote you as fast esp in the UK.

So, i think if i would to stay on in singapore, i would def. have more opportunity and chance to climb up faster, but then my migiration plans will have to put on hold.

I guess thats the rough idea on why i am having deep considerations at the moment. But thankfully, after seeing so many places and meeting different type of people i realised that the world is so huge, so full of opportunity! Get out of singapore and see. From london, to paris to the country sides and other places. The possiblities are endless!

Well, right now, i have already got my thoughts alittle clear, as i was in the loch ness in inversee and when i see all the endless mountains, i told myself if God can produce such beautiful and magnificient mountains, how much more in my small little life God can make something out of it! Having said so, i will leave him to lead me to a choice at the end. I am sure and certian he will put people in my path and guide and advise me in the 2 years i have in the army! So where i will go, i believe it will be the best and the world is really huge! There are more opportunities than just Raffles Place.

So be it SMU or oversea it will clear up soon!

Graduation

2008-05-21T19:58:00.005+08:00

I just heard from edwin that they are going to collect their gowns tml. Shit, 3 years of poly gone! thats really fast! Anyway, i was thinking, i heard we need to wear white, oh man, we graduate already still need to tell us what to wear? Come on! Anyway, i will not be attending the graudation i will still be in Glasgow or Paris. So guys, esp my mates could u send all my regards to everyone back in SP. And do take more pictures and send to me! oh man, going to miss everyone wearing their gowns and suits! Take more pictures k!
Haha, come to think of it, i never attend orientation and i never attend graudation!

Anyway, i guess i have been really fortunate to get SMU, i remember those days where i skip almost half or more of my lectures and tutorials and i think i skip 1 quater of all my test and CA and all the panic rush to take MC for the retest. Thankfully at least now i got a place in the local univiersity and its the course i wanted. The best part was i remembered at year 2, i near fainted seeing how much i did not know about Cost Accounting and i had to run to joseph house for him to help me and gave me some notes! I had practice the past years paper and i did not know a clue at all and it was like 11pm and exam was at 9am. Those were the days!

I remembered how i use to have all the tutorial answers from my sis and that meant that i never ever had to do any tutorial. I always go into class not knowing anything but the teachers would think i know but i seriously dunno anything. My sister and some of my friends say that i have my sister answer so i am not stress but actually, its more stress! Thats because i do not know anything till like1 week before the exams where i study and absorb everything from scratch! Vincent will know best, whenever the teacher ask a question and if my sis got the answer i will answer first so that i will not pick and he always give me this smily face! I guess thats the other reason why i hate going to tutorials cos i have no clue what the teacher is saying cos i am lazy to do because i have the answers already!

Time flies man! I remembered how i also skipped class to go teaching! haha. In the past 3 years, i think i had like 5 jobs and during the last 2 years i had like 3-4 co current jobs as well as school! I guess thats why i always disappear during lessons! and of course really happy that i also started my food biz and the investment biz during poly days!

In any case, i am thankful to have first secure a place in a local uni, what lies ahead i will have to think hard soon!

Trip to London, Amsterdam & Inverness

2008-05-20T08:26:00.001+08:00

I am back! I guess the pictures and video speaks a thousand words for themselves and i dun really need to say anything further right? Well, i guess i will just highlight some parts of the trip! The first day was a trip to london! Oh man, seeing london was great, its like i feel so at home. Totally like Singapore. London was great with views of Buckinham Palace, Big Ben & Westminister and all the famous attractions in London. Oh, anyway, i got a call from SMU when i was at the Wellington Arch. I got accepted into SMU, will talk abit about that later! Lets go back to the trip.

Yeah, so london was great, finanicial hub of the world, oh man wait till you see the people at lunch break! Crazy mad rush! Oh man, there are tons of thing to talk about in london from shopping at LV to seeing all the attraction to eating the Famous Duck check out the pictures.

Oh, in london, we saw this old man having a mini table in Chinatown. Fuck, all the guys who knows me, i can be really hook to gambling. FUCK, we never knew he was a CHEAT! The first hand we played was 50pounds! Thats 150 sgd! haha. All three of us saw it was there but when i opened it, it was not there. Fuck, ok, i guess everyone will never learnt their lesson till they are biten twice! So, this time we thought fuck there goes our 150sgd. The next hand we put was 40 pounds. 120 sgd... thinking back, what in the world were we thinking!!! 270 SGD gone in 5 sec. We realise he was a cheat but had to lose like a gentleman.

Tell you, we were so sunken, so heartpain, screw the term lose like a gentleman. Haha. Thankfully after the gamble was a musical to see Cabarnet. I guess i will still go geylang to gamble haha. Anyway, guys, that money was to buy gift for u all, but now its all gone! Pls understand haha.

Next, we flew to Amsterdam! Land of the red light district! My sis got a lovely haircut, which i have to say that she near brust out quarreling with the stylist. The stylist had to cut it 3 times for her. Haha. She wanted bob but the stylist gave her something different. But in the end it was all good! check out the pics.

Anyway, red light was alright. Went to a life sex show. People literally having sex on the stage! I was seating on the 4th row, u could literally see everything! What an exprience. After that, walked down the infamous red light of Amsterdam. Eastern European girls. Rishi you know what i mean right? haha. Yea honestly, i feel Singapore red light beat Amsterdam hands down! Ours is more vibrant!

Well, what is visiting Amsterdam without smoking marijuana! Haha! drugs! At least now i can say, been there done it! Smoked Marijuana and gone alittle high but the effects is like achol. But surely, i met some forks who had been smoking it for life and they cant live without it. Like the shop worker at the shop we smoked was from Hong Kong and he never went back. I asked him why, he say he cant smoke Marijuana in Hong Kong. But u can tell from his face that he been smoking so much that he looks so stone and always in a dizz. I guess his brian have been damage by the drugs!

Lastly, the best trip for me is the highlands in Inverness! The place was so relaxing and the view is breath taking. We had a little trip down the Loch Ness. Yea, its the Loch Ness where the Loch Ness monster lives. If you see waterhorse, the view is so beautiful! The best part was the hills and the snow cap mountains. Oh man, i only wish time will stop. God and all his wonders. The trip although was 7 days, but it was nothing but great memories. Enjoy the pictures.

Britain, London - Shopping

2008-05-20T08:21:00.002+08:00

Scotland, Inverness, Loch Ness - Video

2008-05-20T07:40:00.006+08:00

Scotland, Inverness, Loch Ness - Pictures

2008-05-20T07:31:00.015+08:00

Holland, Amsterdam - Photos

2008-05-20T07:19:00.015+08:00

Britian, London - Videos

2008-05-20T07:11:00.003+08:00

Britian, London - Photos

2008-05-20T06:47:00.015+08:00

I am off

2008-05-11T22:29:00.004+08:00

I am going to london in a few hours! So excited, two blur ones off to london and holland! oh man! Anyway, here is to all mothers, "A Happy Mother Days!" Ok i have to go pack and go cook dinner in advance! Dear, wil miss you! Enjoy your day!