looking forward to 2014~

still a few more days left in 2013....

Boxing Day... the worst day to come to work in Korea, knowing that everyone back at home have the day off, in the sun... watching cricket....

yet its cold here... and i have to pull my big butt out of bed and crawl into work... and just check-up on the cricket... without beers....

it's such a slow day too... coz since im working with so many overseas people... they are usually all on vacation between xmas till new years....

well... looking forward to the new year... i can sense its going to be good... it should be good.... 2013 was quite memorable too seeing that i did the march down the aisle... and in 2014, i have a mini-me to look forward to... could be one of the more 'tiring' years of my life... but nevertheless, im looking forward to it....

on a career side of things... its the 3rd year in this company... the 3rd... i guess 3 is somewhat the minimum number of years u'd want to be in one place... but having said that... i guess i dont think im really keen on moving to a entirely new industry.... i kinda like this "mobile security" work.... maybe if i keep grinding it out here, i'll see opportunities within....

i guess i'll just keep doing what im doing.... being very australian in a korean company environment... just let time tick over while i just do my thing, and keep myself busy... why stress, why worry... looking like ur stressing and worrying doesnt mean ur doing meaningful work... (despite what so many here believe)....

i know a lot can be done without having to stress and grind... 2014... i'll stick to that belief~

world cup 2014 pools

For a FIFA world cup group to be called the "group of death"... there really needs to be 4 competitive teams.....

In the case of Group B.... Spain, Netherlands, Chile... and Australia.... that is the 'group of death' just for australia....

Luckily, Korea has had a relatively good draw, with Belgium, Algeria and Russia... there are no easy wins in that team... but at least Korea can go into each game knowing a win is as probable as a loss.

It should be an interesting World cup to watch.... the time difference... well, i guess its better than being in Europe since i can sleep and wake up for the matches, rather than staying up and feeling crap in the mornings...

Let's hope the stadiums are ready, and no construction cranes fall on the stadiums again ^^ fingers crossed~

Fire~~!!!

a boring and bland day at work became exciting when after an explosion sound, black smoke was up and around outside my office window...

there is a building construction site right across our office building, and there was a massive fire at that construction site~

obviously.... hundreds of people gathered around with their smartphones out and started taking photos of the fire~

unfortunately, there were 2 casualties and 9 injured on site....

i cant believe how quickly the fire was up on SNS.... facebook, twitter.... and photos from all angles... i guess it would be like that anywhere in any event nowadays... but this being a "digital complex" and with all the techy people around here.... i couldnt help posting stuff online too.... like... NOW.........

a long time since....

its been a long time since my last post....

and its been a long time since australia qualified for the soccer world cup....
german coach is gone... which is fine for me... coz his name was too hard to spell anyways ^^

i think lucas neill's comments were kinda taken out of context... and the media reaction to it was a bit poor... yes, he's also not in the greatest of form, which definitely doesn't help... but seriously, im not sure if anyone in the aussie team is performing any better...

the korean int'l team was also in shambles.... losing game after game... and putting in poor performances.... quite worrying with the world cup approaching next year...

even without the pools being drawn, unless they pull their heads in, australia and korea combined will probably not even win a single game in Brazil next year...

overnight, korea did beat mali... and australia beat canada... but really... psht~

i've really neglected the NRL finals series this year in my blog... which is good? meh~ bulldogs made no dent in the finals series this year, and i've been so busy at work and stuff, i barely watched any of the games...

i think its the season for everyone to pull their heads in.... pull up their socks... and get pumped!!!

The Best

Just before this year's US Open tennis, they had a function to celebrate 40 years of computerized tennis rankings, and invited all the past year-end World No.1's to the one venue....

Whether it is tennis, other sports, or pretty much anything that you do... it would be quite a feeling to know that you are the best in the world at that point... that no other living being on the planet could do what you do better than you....

i wonder what that feels like.... ^^

9 days to go... ^^

Royal Baby~ and England....

last week i was in england, and visited london on the day the royal baby... baby prince george was born....

england was fun... 2nd biz trip that i went alone... going alone has its ups and downs.... the up is... i go alone.... travel alone... so its comfortable... but the downside is... im alone... it gets boring sometimes....

since one of my appointments was also cancelled, i had a free day that i could try to visit all the places on the Monopoly board.... but sheez... that would seem like a real task to do that~ haha

it kinda felt surreal visiting Wimbledon.... all these years watching it on TV.... i always thought it would be located more like Melbourne Park, but it was like this massive tennis complex in the middle of a suburban neighbourhood... and what about the golf course across the road from the tennis courts... how good does the grass and greens look there!!!

england... good pies... sausage rolls.... filthy looking river..... red double decker buses.... WYSIWYG~

the positive note of this trip.... i went to the casino at leicester square and won big~  went to england with 200 pounds... and returned after (doing some shopping too) with 615 pounds~

now that is what defines a 'good business trip'~

another state of origin series.....

thats now 8 in a row....

since 2006~2013..... qld has won the series....

that's EVERY series that i have watched from overseas since leaving Sydney at the end of 2005.....

coincidence?? should i go back to Sydney??

what does NSW need?? maybe NSW needs more streakers to interfere with the game everytime QLD look like they'll score...

ah well....

Asiana Airline: Flight OZ214

Sunday morning, i wake up to the news that a passenger flight to San Francisco crashed on the runway during landing...

so in the past 4 days, i guess alot of news, speculations, accusations, incredible stories of heroism and survival have all surfaced from the incident....

the one thing that jumped to my attention since the crash was the number of people fleeing with their luggage.... it is the sad and unfortunate truth that people treasure their belongings more than the lives of others....

the last time i heard on the news, about 80 people were being treated for burns....

i would hate to ever think that they could have fled the aeroplane faster if someone wasnt taking out luggage from the overhead compartment...

i do notice on all the flights i go on.... as soon as the plane lands... people jump up and reach for their luggage... its like there's a prize to get off the plane first...

lets not forget the number of people who never turn off their electronic devices.... and also never use the seatbelt.....

BASICS...............

going to Brazil~

no.. not me.... well... maybe me~

but last night both Korea and Australia sealed their qualification for the 2014 World Cup~!!!

there were definitely some ugly moments and lack of sportsmanship shown yesterday... but lets just write about the positives~ so, im just going to write about the Australian match~~

Australia needed to win to confirm qualification, and Iraq really turned up to play as well~ it was a nail-biting match, and frustrating at times because australia had so much possession, but couldnt convert on the scoreboard...

Massive call by the coach, holger osciek, in the 76th minute when he decided to take cahill off~~ taking the national hero off the pitch in the most critical 15 minutes of football... wow~

but his substitute, Josh Kennedy (who i think looks like the south park Jesus), came up as the saviour and headed in the winning goal~~

Gold~~~

i would like to also applaud iraq on their performance as well, since they said they wont lie and roll around on the pitch to waste time, and respectfully, they played their part in a wonderful match as well...

the Korea vs Iran match..... meh~ korea lost, iran won... they both qualify for Brazil... but the result had nothing to do with what left a sour taste after the match...

thank goodness the Korean coach has changed after last night....

after the Sydney trip....

Sydney was sydney... which means it was awesome~!!

great vacation~ but it was so short i didnt get to catch up with any friends....

it was weird not having my own bedroom... since the whole family has moved house since i left sydney....

star city changed its name to The Star.... still nothing has changed... they took my money....

i missed the bulldogs vs dragons game... which would have been awesome to watch, but meh~~

things that have now changed AFTER sydney is.... im struggling more and more to find reasons as to why im living in Seoul.... and also the big change is... i'm now officially (?) engaged.... which does make me think even more about moving back to sydney sooner rather than later....

we'll see how married life pans out first in seoul... i guess i need to develop myself more in my job now before i try to make a move to another company... otherwise i'll have to start from the bottom of the heap again...

blah blah blah~

need to find myself again....

since march... i feel like my brain has been up in the clouds... and while it feels like i've been gritting the teeth counting down the days to sydney, thinking that break would freshen everything up....

now with just a few days to go, i think im in serious need of a final spurt of concentration....

it seems everything right now is a big blur and a mess.... in particular... work...

yes, i am the first to say, if work isnt working out, and it isnt enjoyable, the majority of the blame falls on the individual's frame of mind.... and so.... my frame of mind is "up in the clouds"... hence work seems to be going pear shaped as well....

i guess i keep my sanity these days by watching sports during the 'am'... and listening to calming music in the 'pm'.....

sheez... i really need to start pulling the finger out and focus....

meanwhile, ryu picked up his 5th win this season.... in the wee-hours @ 2am....

no... i didnt stay up to watch it (all)... just parts of it.....

things to do...

just a few days out before im back in sydney for a 10 day trip....

between now and sydney, i do have a one-day visit to Tokyo for a meeting.... but sorry if im just a bit not focused..... there seems to be only a few things other than work ticking in my head....

the NBA playoffs havent even managed to get into my radar these days... besides that fact, there has been so many upsets, i wouldnt bet on it.. which means i wouldnt watch it.....

i did realise tho that im leaving sydney on the tuesday... one day before the first state of origin match in sydney.... dammit~~

at least i'll be able to squeeze in a NRL match... even if it won't have the state of origin players... it shouldnt really impact either the doggies or dragons.....

maybe just the morris twins....

counting down the days....

it's just a 10-day vacation..... but i cant wait till i go back to Sydney~~ haven't been back home for over 3 years now....

it's going to be a packed 10-day schedule... catching up with people, eating some good food.... and getting out to the doggies match~!!!

its still almost 3 weeks away... but i know nothing good is going to happen between now and then... and at the very least, im just going to accumulate more stress which has managed to find me quite well these days....

meat pies and tooheys new..... i'll see u soon!!!

Boston Bombing

another attack in the US.... im not sure if this is going to end up being referred to a terrorist attack, but it was a terrifying bombing that occurred near the finish line of the Boston marathon.

it will be quite interesting as to how this story unfolds, who was behind the attacks, the truth, the conspiracy, the entire consequence of this tragic event.

so far 3 people have died, with hundreds still being treated.

prayers to those in Boston, and i hope there's more truth than conspiracies to come out of this, and i truly hope the people resposible are brought to justice~

Great Scott Inspiration~

i havent exactly waited the entire 77 years... but I'd say for as long as I've been waking up early in the morning to watch the Masters, I've always been disappointed to see the Aussies, or even Koreans, come so close to winning, and never get over the line...

this year, only 4 aussies were in the field... unlike the dozen that would usually enter... but right thru till the third day, all of the aussies were in contention... to be honest, i was backing Jason Day to pull thru.... but his 2 bogeys on 17 and 18th on the third day really flattens the mood rolling into the final day... he still played solid to finish third~

Adam scott,,, no great score over the 4 days, but 4 solid rounds under par, then sinks a beauty on the 72nd hole, I thought that would seal the win.... in the post-victory interview, he too also thought he had won it there and then....

then cabrera takes it to a playoff, and he's got the mentally to bring his thoughts back together and sink another winner on the 2nd playoff hole~

the inspiration behind this win is not that he's the first aussie to win the masters, but more because of his "choke" in last years British open, where he had a commanding lead and literally had a meltdown~

its clear that he has become mentally stronger after last July's incidents and this is really the pinnacle of "learning from your mistakes"

now that u've broken the duck and have your first, i hope u go on and win several more Masters, and other majors like Mickleson (who also had a long wait compared to expectations to win the Masters)

Adam Scott~ you champion~~!!

Spring is here...

It's April 1... and whilst it's been technically spring for a month, I finally feel spring has come to korea....

firstly, the weather isnt miserably cold... altho still a bit nippy....

the cricket season is upon us.... altho i just split my thumb open at training and might miss the first match.....

march was quite a month..... barcelona, prague, san francisco, hong kong, jeju..... not going to shanghai was very much a blessing in disguise.....

the jeju workshop was a good break.... the entire company went on the trip, and it was enjoyable coz we didn't all get plastered during the night, but instead enjoyed a few drinks, then went to bed....

boat fishing would have been fun except the fact that i just get seasick too easily.....

april is upon us... and im notorious for making hospital trips in april, so i need to be extra careful... (knock on wood).... i did end up getting 5 stitches in my thumb on March 31st..... i hope that ends it as for injuries this year....

need to stay injury free from now to get a good season of baseball and cricket this year~~

Busy month at work....

i've spent half this month away from home, and i will be gone~~ again next week.....

this inconsistent sleeping pattern is really catching up on me.... it seems to take me 2 or 3 days to get back in rhythm and shake off any jet lag... but then after a few more days, im zooming off 16 hours before where i started again....

so its 3 more sleepless nights there... and once i adjust, 3 days later, i zoom back home....

luckily (?) for me.... i wasnt able to receive a chinese visa... so whilst i should be in china today... im not.... which didnt really go down well at work regarding my "readiness" and organisation skills... however, im not sure if its due to the sporadic travels... i have been cut some slack.....

its been quite a month.... looking at other jobs.... was almost on the verge of considering a move to Singapore.... but then rearranged my head to decide to commit to Korea... (and her)

while all this mess is going around in my head, im keeping sane by watching australia get slaughtered in the cricket.... paying more attention on my fitness for the cricket season here in korea..... enjoying the NRL... im 14 from 16 in tipping~!!! this hasnt happened since 1998.... hehe

i saw this photo in the news this morning.... made me laugh so much, i thought i'd post it... never liked costigan anyways..... altho this month i feel my head has been stomped on as well.....

looking forward to HK next week tho.... hopefully i can break off from work people and try to catch up with Dan Chan.... at least this time i KNOW i will be getting off the airport island~~

Hong Kong shenanigans~~ looking forward to it~~ followed up by Jeju shenanigans~!!

Lets polish off this month well with enjoyable biz trips~

NRL kicks off with a.... scandal

I don't know... personally, im getting sick and tired of the news about peptides... it was legal before but illegal now... players took it knowingly, unknowingly....

im not sure why any of the sharks players have to 'own up' to using it.... if they were given supplements by club officials... thats not really the player's fault...

this is different to shane warne's "mum gave me cough medicine" incident...

and its a totally different issue to lance armstrong....

until i hear the players say, they knew it was illegal, but still opted to take the supplements, then i dont think cronulla sharks have to worry about suspending 14 of their players....

now there's also benny barba who has personal alcohol, drugs issues.... which i also hope for the bulldogs sake it gets sorted out sooner rather than later....

meanwhile, the season has started... im 1 from 1 in footy tips..... it's all downhill from here ^^

Lunar New Year 2013

back in the office after the Lunar New Year long weekend....

i had a decent break, but i still feel so tired returning to work on a Wednesday morning... -.-

i've always said... celebrating 2 separate new years is a good thing... because between Jan 1, and the Lunar New Year, u can always do a quick check-up on how well you are following your new year's resolutions....

personally... i dont know... because i didnt really make any solid new year's resolutions... ^^

well, i have vowed to get healthier this year... and i guess i've taken a few steps in achieving that... so... im slowly heading to the right direction....

despite my 29th birthday being a few days away, in "korean age", i've hit the big Three-Zero... 30~!!!

it definitely has a horrible ring to it... altho, it will probably take a few more years when im 36 to appreciate being 30.... ^^

Happy New Year everyone~ and i hope everyone has a healthy 2013 like i plan to~

another one of "those" moments...

yes... i'm having another one of "those" moments...

one of those "what the F am i doing? why the F am i here right now? why the F did i do that?" moment........

so in 2005 november, i chose to ditch my 2 medical science subjects, pack my Bachelor of Business, and jet off to china.... i didnt even have a grad ceremony.... so it's not even the med sci degree, nor the grad ceremony that i regret not having.... funnily enough, i dont even regret the way i've spent the past 7 years....

but i keep thinking these days... what if i never left sydney 7 years ago.... i'd most likely be working in an office, in a suit - just another suit-and-tie lemming (as drew and i put it during uni)

now im grinding it out in korea for chump change.... which makes me think... why the F do i have to put up with all the crud in this office?

so while i dont regret what i've done during the past 7 years, i do wonder how things would be if just stayed put in sydney....

to me it seems like, a straight, predictable, simple road VS a wild, windy road which would leave u with a variety of experiences.... so i chose the latter.... which hopefully in the end the two roads will meet.... but for now, i feel like im behind others coz i've taken the windy detour....

this can't be good for my mental health........ i need more positive thinking~~ or a double shot of vodka..... =)

daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy New Year~!!!

It's 2013, and i've been so held up at work that I haven't even had to write my first post for 2013....

so.... andrew thinks my blog is just like a sports report... but i guess that's pretty much coz my life almost revolves around sports... and gambling... and sports-gambling.... hehe

but i'm not going to blog about how much i've won, nor how much i've lost..... but my new year's resolution is... make my blog more 'personal diary' than sports..... altho my personal opinions are usually about sports....

i guess one of the biggest reasons i started this blog was so that i could read it many years later... i still occasionally enjoy reading my own blog to see what i did on this day a few years ago.... ^^ sounds lame if ur not me... but its quite refreshing (?) to do something like that.... truly recommend it to others who write blogs, or even on facebook....

well... so far 2013 has been quite busy... and cold.....

i'll be jetting off to shanghai on Sunday for a meeting on monday morning... only to return to korea that evening so i can jet off to Munich the following morning.... I was supposed to goto Munich on the monday... but because this shanghai meeting came up, i will fly over to Germany a day later....

this job is really taking me to new places..... never been to germany before.... should be interesting.... probably would be more interesting if i actually had time to look around... but once again... tight schedule.... meetings everyday from 9~6 till thursday... then friday, i fly out... -.-

as for shanghai.... well, i dont know how many times i've been there.... hehe

since im only there for a day, it's a shame i cant call and meet up with some of the people i know there... or even make a trip to wuxi.... if all goes well with this meeting, i hope 2013, i can make frequent trips to shanghai and find some personal time there as well...

on a final note.... mike hussey has retired~~~ (i had to make a mention)

ponting and hussey retiring in the space of a month..... the face of australian cricket is going to change again... im sure the impact wont be as big as the "warne, mcgrath, waugh, gillespie, martyn, langer, hayden" retirement phase... ^^

what a champion~~ M.Hussey~!!!