?

.....6,000 mile site visit

2009-07-04T17:59:00.004+12:00

Prepping for my site visit tomorrow - thought its best to post the links/info i would be needing for my trip.

....getting to auckland airport

Ticket Prices

Adult One Way
Adult Return
Child* One Way
Child* Return
Backpacker [with ID] One Way
Backpacker [with ID] Return
Bikes, surfboards etc…

$NZD
$15
$22
$6
$12
$13
$20
$6

Auckland City - to Auckland International and Domestic Airports
First bus departs at 4.30am from Downtown Ferry Terminal
Last bus departs at 10.15pm from Downtown Ferry Terminal

1.Place to crash-in at beijing airport terminal 3 before early morning connecting domestic flight. Beijing airport website sucks! - english version totally useless. thank god for google -

Airport hotel is at the far right-hand end of level 2 as you face out of the building, and signposted.
You can rent a room by the hour or overnight. The rooms are typically large and clean, have no bath but a proper shower cubicle, but no windows.
The location is in the public concourse that stretches across the front of the building. Go right to the front of the building and turn right.
It's ¥300 for a standard room with private bath for 4–6 hours, ¥400 for longer, less for shorter periods. You can pay less for a room with common bath, or ¥400 for 4–6 hours in a triple with private bath. You can try to bargain these prices down, but don't expect much success.
The overwhelming majority of the business will be walk-up. I've known one of the two 'time-rate lounges' as they call them in Terminal 2 to get full, but when I went round these places in Terminals 1, 2, and 3 last year all had vacancies. They are all run by the same people, so if Terminal 3's happened to have no space they would call and check the others. There's a free shuttle bus to Terminals 1 & 2, and although Terminal 1 is much older it's 'time-rate lounge' has recently been completely refurbished and would be your first choice over the twin rather more tired facilities of Terminal 2. Except for variations in room sizes (and in Terminal 2 you can just hire a comfy chair in a lounge with TV blaring) the rates are much the same in all three terminals.

If you want to try and reserve in Terminal 3, the number is 010 6455 8577.

300rmb? I'd rather get this cheaper alternative to airport hotel, only minutes away from airport - 188rmb per day (including transport to and from airport).

2. transport to and from beijing airport to beijing cbd. a lot has changed just before the olympics - not used to the new subway system, last time i was there there was only a couple of lines.

SUBWAY

Beijing Capital International Airport is served by the Airport Express Line of the Beijing Subway. The 28.1 km line runs from Terminal 3 to Terminal 2 and then to the city with stops at Sanyuanqiao and Dongzhimen. A one-way ticket costs Y25 and a trip takes 16-20 minutes.

BUS

The airport also offers six different shuttle bus routes to and from various points in Beijing, including Xidan, Fangzhuang, the Beijing Railway Station, Zhongguancun and the Nanyuan Airport. One way tickets cost Y16.

the 4th

2009-05-06T15:56:00.007+12:00

..world's top cities offering the best quality of life - Mercer 2009

Auckland again scored among the world’s top five cities, this year moving up one place to 4th position and scoring 107.4 points, on par with Vancouver.

How to make your colleagues like you?

2009-05-01T09:31:00.002+12:00

found this very nice article...

Human relationship is an art that need to be learned. It has to be upgraded continuously. This art is like software which can become obsolete as time changes. The relationship in office is very different from the relationship we find in a family.

A family is built on bond of love and commitment. But colleagues in
an office or in any working environment are totally different. They
come from a different background or from a different location or
country. They might be from a different race and religion. They have
different beliefs. They have different aspirations towards work. They
do not have a common platform like a family: probably same background;
same race and religion; might be same college (got a crush with your
partner and got married); probably same location (you meet your sweet
heart guy or girl in a bus stop or train subway and got a crush). There
is common ground in a family.

We hear divorce rate is growing at a higher rate in a particular age
group of married couples in a particular country. We hear this often in
mass media or newspaper. There is relationship problem. But if there is
a marriage ritual between colleagues I think its divorce rate will
dwarf the divorce rate of husband and wife. So do not fear of
statistics.

Most income is most probably earned through employment. We have to
work to get an income to â€˜runâ€™ our family or our self. The average
person spends about 48 to 50 â€˜consciousâ€™ hours in a week with working
colleagues as compared to only 34 conscious hours with family members.
Therefore the urgency to fine tune the tactics of having a harmonious
relationship with working colleagues is much needed.

Be Optimistic

Today I was browsing through a calendar 2009 which depicts the
Chinese zodiac. As I was reading those who were born in the year of the
dog â€“ the magic word that caught my eye was the word â€˜optimisticâ€™.
Those who were born on the year of the dog are optimistic. I thought to
myself why not all of us be optimistic? I mean see on the bright side
of life. See the light at the end of the tunnel. Observe only the plus
point in another person. If a person who is selfish but fulfills what
he promised can be a trustworthy person. Each individual is born unique
and this uniqueness if understood correctly we will be able to forget
their fault and appreciate their goodness. Are you perfect?

Be energetic and Confident

A lethargic personality does not attract people. A lazy inactive
person is seen as an unsuccessful personality. A person who enters the
office arena with a life in his face and body language is seen as an
approachable person. When you say â€˜good morningâ€™ with energy and
dynamism you are actually transporting that energy to other person. The
posture of your walking and sitting tell tales about you.

When a person sits or stands upright he is seen as a confident
person. A confident person gets attraction more quickly than a person
with low esteem.

Do not be rude

This is experienced by many people at work place. If your close to a
particular colleague that person is most likely has had not been rude
to you as others. They key to better rapport with others is to make
others put in a happy state. Whenever you around them they feel
happier. Use the magic word â€˜pleaseâ€™ and â€˜helpâ€™ much often. Use phrase
like â€˜Would you like â€¦â€™ or â€˜Can I suggest this to you..â€™ In speech and
behavior you have to give an impression as a humble person. When you
are humble people will see that you are nice person to be with.

Be Objective

You may have heard that to be better in interpersonal skills â€˜you
have to be yourself. There is a danger to this in. If you remain
yourself only you will like your self not others. We cannot be
ourselves with working colleague. At home you can be in your pajamas
but at work you have to different. This is common sense. In behavior
too you have put up a more manageable you.

Rather than being yourself you can be objective as possible. The
objective is to make each one of your colleague like you. Say something
nice to them. Start from the receptionist. Give your sincere comment
that she looks very nice in that dress. Say something nice each day.

Enjoy gossip

Working is synonymous to gossip. Gossip is the culture for most of
us. Though it is bad to spread bad gossip, it is an inevitable aspect
of management- how will management manage a gossip. But since everyone
is doing it if you lay back to this culture you will be disliked by
many. Join in the gossip. If a gossiper says something about something
show interest in that topic. Most of the workers stay in a company not
because of pay or better bonus but the presence of a gossip community.
If you are participating in their gossip you are wanted by them.

Enjoy being gossiped

Be prepared to take gossip in the positive way if you are the
target. Be happy that people are talking about you and you are being
noticed. If you resist then you are swimming against the sea current.
If you react to this you will be seen as very sensitive person and
people may shun you for good. The focus here is to get the community
like you. If you take lightly about being gossiped most probably the
gossip will fade away. Be happy and enjoy being gossiped.

Be Funny

Laughter is the best medicine. Make your colleague laugh and you
will be wanted by many. Try making a story each day in a funny way and
tell to your colleague. In fact, what you experience everyday can be
distorted to a funny story.

Today while I was boarding a bus and I need to tap my ez-link card
on the entrance tap sensor. There was a lady in front of me also
boarding the bus. While I was about to tap my card I accidentally raise
up her skirt wide enough to notice her panty! I got so embarrassed.
Story like this can be exchanged with your colleague. If you are funny
people will be glued to you.

Date Them

When I say date I do not mean to be flirty. I mean to get
personalized connection with your colleague. Have you date a guy? No
you are not a gay. Dating colleague is actually a healthy way of
communication. You are spending your time and sometime a little money
on them. You do this and your colleague will miss you.

Remember their birth dates

Most marketing companies send birthday greeting cards to pull their
clients to their service. It is because your birthday is only important
to one person â€“ that is you. That is the weakest part of any human
being. They feel wanted if someone sends him or her birthday greetings.
This is a killer tactic in human relationship. I always sent short
message service to my colleague and remember their birth day.

Listen To Their Success Story

The human is only preoccupied with oneself. It is by nature a patron
of egoism. The topic in discussion is either about someone else
(gossip) or about him or her. Be realistic- I think you are also
egoistic. Being egoistic is part of our nature. The next time your
colleague talks about him or her â€“remember you will be doing that also
and give your time in that story. Learn to listen to their â€˜successâ€™
story.

Show Your Hospitality

Find opportunity to call your colleague to a party. New Yearâ€™s
countdown is a good opportunity to invite your colleague for a party.
This will create a natural bond between you and your colleague. To
share your birthday, your childâ€™ success story (after they obtain good
grades in the academic results), your anniversary, your festivities
with colleague are great ways to show that you will want to bond them.

Gain Attention

Success in any field is a function of the majority vote. Just like
in politics, leaders are chosen because they have a majority vote. It
is because they are different from their predecessor. Is Mr Barack
Obama different from Mr Bush?

Likewise, if you want support from your colleague you have to be crowd
puller. The simple thing you have to do is to be different. The way you
dress or the way you speak has to have a charisma to pull them towards
you. If you are a guy start letting down your hair â€“ that will be
different in todayâ€™s context.

Be A Baby

How do you receive a baby? A baby is cute and very manageable. The
baby is always nice to hold and taken care of. Everyone likes a baby.
Look out for opportunity for people to guide you. God like to guide us
â€“why? It is because God like our â€˜innocentâ€™ stage which had been
mentioned in many religious holy books like the bible and the Al Quran.
God want to us to approach in an innocent manner. Most people are in
fact helped miraculously by nature when they have been cut off by
almost all logical help.

If you want an affiliation with a colleague, even if you know what
to do, request for an â€˜innocentâ€™ help. They will come close to you.

Tell Them A Sad Story

People, who are very good in communication, like to relate a story
or two. Facts can be sometime boring. Communication is the stumbling
block in interpersonal relationship. A good communication has an added
flavor of a sad story. The important thing is to have a third party
involved as the subject. By telling a sad story about someone you are
actually giving an impression you are a compassionate person. A
compassionate person is well respected in society. Can you forget
Mother Theresa even she is no more with us?

Attend their invitation with a gift

Attend your colleague invitation. Invitation is a great sign for
bonding. Attending to invitation is also a sign of respect if we
respond favorably. But you can add fuel to that bonding is by giving a
gift when you attend the invitation.

Visit when they are sick

If a colleague fall sick that is the greatest opportunity. Scientist
told us a long time ago that babies who are well taken of will become
to develop right personality when they become adult. It is all about
human touch. Touch is a fantastic way of getting connected with your
colleague. Your sick colleague will be very happy when they have
visitors and touch them and tell them she or he will be well.

Congratulate them for their promotion

Praise is often cited a good practice of gelling with anyone. But
when you praise someone at the right time it is a perfect dart of
rapport building. When your colleague get promoted next time, take this
opportunity to tell them they deserve more in life. Try out this tactic
and you will get a fantastic rapport link from your colleague.

Model them

Modeling will also has some good result in creating a bond with
colleague. When I say modeling is actually to capturing the style of
their communication and movement. Each individual is unique. If you can
copy that uniqueness and relate them when you communicate it is a plus
point for a bond to form. This has to be carried out when you are
dealing with one particular colleague.

You can model the behavior of most popular people. If you watch the
American Idol the most popular judge is Mr Simon Cowell. His emphatic
style of communication is admired by many. This you can do in a group
communication.

Help them

Live and let live. Even a person born with a silver spoon needs to
perform an action to use it. Effort is what matters in living. Offer
you advice if your colleague wants them. Most people are actually proud
or shy to ask. This is bad habit. If you are colleague, you are most
likely on the same position or â€˜same boatâ€™. There is nothing wrong to
ask and learn. If someone asks for a help sincerely help them. You will
be admired.

Put on a smile

Smile is the facial expression most people like to see. A good smile
couples with sincerity. Put a good smile as it is the first impression
that you are getting ready to connect. Smile will not carry yourself
very far if you did not do a bit to practice the points mentioned
above. At least try one point at a time and then you smile.

ketchup pra sa sketch-up

2009-04-28T10:28:00.004+12:00

now that i have MORE free time i've decided to do a "dagdag sa kaalaman" to increase my marketability in these harsh times.

why Google sketch-up? coz its free (pro version is better) and there are tons of tutorials on the net to guide me, also it appeals more to me than photorealistic 3d rendering softwares like 3d studio max etc.

i'll just stash my sketch-up tutorial links here for reference.

- SKETCH U CATION
- SPATIAL DESIGN by Massey Uni
- SKETCH-UP FOR DUMMIES
- MORE TUTORIALS

eto good trip - supercool!

2009-04-20T19:51:00.001+12:00

CLICK and be mesmerized....wow pare bigat!

ap-phallic poses

2009-04-19T20:39:00.001+12:00

what is it with obelisks and people in phallic poses? atop one tree hill sits an obelisk visible throughout auckland, couldnt help myself ...eat your heart out john holmes!

Sir John Logan Campbell (the park donor) is buried on the summit of One Tree Hill alongside the obelisk. The Maori name for the hill is Maungakiekie - mountain of the kiekie (...no joke!). Kiekie (Freycinettia banksii) grows as an epiphytic climber or vine.

how to make a dodecahedron calendar - neat!

2009-04-18T16:20:00.000+12:00

instructions HERE

allergies

2009-04-16T14:31:00.004+12:00

just got back from medlab for a skin prick test - found out im allegic to house dust mites and dog or animal hair (milder).

House Dust Mites – Reduction Measures
How to Live With an Allergy to Animal Hair

work related posts

2009-03-05T16:09:00.006+13:00

- decided to posts aggregated articles/info i may need for work lateron.

OFFICESPACE - INTERESTING WORKSTATIONS

portable work station concept (interesting, they got one thing right - plenty of storage).

a portable office workstation by Planet 3 Studios Architecture Pvt. Ltd that consists of 2 desks, a decent amount of desktop real estate and a ton of storage space (watch video).

Solitaire Workstation (good simple design, not ergonomic though) is a project by Alexander Lotersztain, and as you can see is a a table and a chair that look like the “G” letter. A beautiful piece of furniture that is excelent for small places, and if you want to use the whole power of the Solitaire Workstation you can use the space under the seat to store some books like in the first picture.

Globus Mobile (a good sample of stupid design - theres no such thing as a paperless )

The Globus Mobile is a complete office workstation and chair hidden in a large ball. The concept by designer Michiel van der Kley can be moved to any place using its hidden wheels. When you want to work, you just swivel it open and bingo: you can slot in a laptop, perch on the padded chair and think up as many chicken-and-egg or ping-pong ball jokes as you like.

yet another hyped concept...

Eclipse Office Partitioning System is private workstation concept

a discrete, adaptable office cubicle by Marcus Ward Curran; although envisaged as living in the average office environment. Sliding mesh segments allow you to close off some or all of your immediate surroundings, while built-in peripherals such as speakers, a webcam and power supply mean the computer is integrated to the system. As suggested in the video, the hood section could change colour according to mood or task, while the whole thing is on casters for ease of movement.

- totally impractical, toy for bigtime ceos only.

audience with the queen

2009-02-28T12:30:00.001+13:00

The queen was in town for a day last tuesday and this is the closest i got, such a shame - i remember when the qe2 was in hk, i was able to get close enough to almost touch the hull.

Cunard Line's Queen Mary 2 docked at Jellicoe Wharf as it is too large to fit into the main cruise terminal at Princes Wharf.

The Queen Mary 2 is 345 metres long and weighs 151,400 tonnes. More than 16,000 meals are served each day to the liner's 2,400 passengers, including 73kg of lobster and 3.3kg of Russian caviar, and the ship's two whistles can be heard from 16km away.

louis vuitton pacific cup

2009-02-14T20:31:00.005+13:00

Team New Zealand has overcome America's Cup holders Alinghi to win the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series.

Trailing 1-0 in the finals coming into Saturday's racing, the hosts pulled off three wins in a row to win the best-of-five series with one race to spare.

They won a gripping race four by 20 seconds after taking a narrow early lead and refusing to relinquish it despite being pushed all the way by the Swiss boat.

36°50'41"S 174°49'29"E

Trying to catch a glimpse of the final deciding race from this vantage point at savage memorial

waitangi day - looonnng weekend!

2009-02-08T19:57:00.005+13:00

This outlandish mountain, like something from a fantasy landscape, is actually a rare phenomenon – it’s the plug of an ancient volcano. The material around the plug has eroded over time, leaving only the hardened lava core. It is located on Tokatoka Road, off State Highway 12, 17 kilometres south of Dargaville.

bundok ng susong dalaga known locally as "tokatoka point"

Every year on 6 February, New Zealand marks the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. In that year, representatives of the British Crown and over 500 Maori chiefs signed what is New Zealand’s founding document. The day was first officially commemorated in 1934, and it has been a public holiday since 1974.

3 day weekend = 3 day camping trip = 3 days of no celphone signal, internet, laptp, tv, psp not even a radio.

35°44'58"S 173°40'26"E

mental note: DO NOT USE "Off " insect repellant by johnson&johnson, as soon as the smell dissipates - your totally defenseless against the sand flies.

Sandflies are more attracted to dark/warm colours and standing next to a person in a black fleece jersey will provide instant relief to you! A lightweight longsleeve white wool or polypro top would be a good choice for weather, sun and sandfly protection. A hat with a good brim provides protection for your face. Sandflies tend congregate lower rather than higher. So if you cover up your feet and ankles and stand up you'll be less hassled. They are not very quick and walking provides instant relief. If you have a choice, stop where there is a breeze and out from under trees. Close your car doors and windows as you leave, or you’ll have a sandfly party going on in your car when you return to it.

35°48'32"S 173°39'47"E
The Taharoa domain is a 538 ha recreation reserve containing three freshwater lakes known as the Kai Iwi Lakes. It is situated 35km northwest of Dargaville. The domain can be reached by travelling along State Highway 12 to the junction of Omamari Road which is well signposted. It is a further 11km along Omamari Road and then Kai Iwi Lakes Road to the domain. The Kai Iwi Lakes which cover an area of 305ha are suitable for a range of water based recreational activities. These include boating, diving, fishing, sailboarding, swimming, yachting and water skiing. Pine plantations covering some 60ha have been established around the north eastern margins of the lakes. An extensive walking track system has been developed within the reserve. Sheltered camping and picnic facilities are also available for visitors to the area. The Taharoa Domain is 2.5 km from the Tasman Sea. Walkway access to the coast is available though an adjoining farm property west of the domain. The nearest road access to the coast is at Omamari 8km to the south.

Happy Birthday Auckland!

2009-01-26T20:34:00.007+13:00

Today is a holiday - Auckland's big day! the "city of sails" celebrates it's birthday with a big regatta at the bay and a sumptious seafood feast at the viaduct.

yatch with skytower at the back

36°50'25"S 174°45'36"E
the seafood festival - eat,drink and be merry with the geebees!

in search of EXCELlence!

2009-01-25T20:34:00.010+13:00

i was archiving old cds when i came upon these pics when i visited EXCEL several years ago.

othet, francheez' and me

pamplona and me bunsoy and pamplona

tapilits and me

naka-friendster ko si bunsoy a few weeks back, seems EXCEL ay buhay pa and both pamplona and bunsoy are still there - goodluck guys!

Who are you?

2009-01-16T12:51:00.006+13:00

Stop asking and find out who you really are - take the test.

i'm an ISTJ- Introverted Sensing Thinking Judging SOB hehehehe.

the left or the right, blond or brunette...decision,decision,tsk,tsk!

Introverts are more concerned with the inner world of the mind. They enjoy thinking, exploring their thoughts and feelings. They often avoid social situations because being around people drains their energy -Wow, deep huh!... exploring the left and the right.

Here’s a three-step approach (galing DITO) that’s gone a long way toward moving me past my natural tendency toward introversion and contemplation to regularly taking fairly major risks, both personal and business.

Visualize gutsy action and success. Twice a day, visualize engaging in the activity that would require guts and then succeeding wildly. Make it as vivid and detailed as possible. Use all of your senses. Over time, this really helps to alleviate the anxiety/fear that holds you back. Through repetition, you tend to desensitize your fears and anxieties, while simultaneously reinforcing your belief that, should you take a gutsy action, you will succeed.
Take incremental action. Pick a situation that gives you the opportunity to confront one of your fear-inducers in a controlled, supported, incremental and gentle manner. For example, if you have a fear of speaking in front of people, commit to a small weekly gathering of friends and begin speaking up, rather than scheduling a 20-minute presentation in front of your entire company. Then, begin to commit to events/actions that will allow you to confront your fear in increasingly more exposed situations. This process lets you experience serial success, builds confidence and gets you “incrementally gutsy” over time.
Rinse and repeat. The more-often you engage in this process and succeed, the more you’ll believe in your ability to succeed and the more willing you’ll become to step out of your box.

More reading materials, for me or anybody else interested.

8 Essential Skills They Didn’t Teach You In School
10 Skills You Need to Succeed at Almost Anything
Building Relationships: 11 Rules for Self-Promotion

insurance assurance

2009-01-12T22:12:00.001+13:00

you could just glimpse the needle piercing the blue sky.
times like this it is better to be sure than unsure - insurance, be it life, disability, redundancy o ano pa man ayan mabuti na yung makasigurado. dito sa nz ay walang pension plans tulad ng mga nakukuha sa pinas - the closest they've got is probably the kiwisaver.

i just had an xray at mercy ascot and it cost me more than 100 dollars - if i had a medical insurance, it would have covered it.

black sands of muriwai beach

2009-01-04T21:25:00.005+13:00

A windswept rugged coastline, 60km of surf beach and rolling dunes of black sand characterise Muriwai Beach, making it one of Auckland's most popular west coast beaches. Two hours after this pik was taken just beyond the horizon - tragedy struck.

where the road ends, walk down the path till you get to the waters' edge. climb up the steps till you reach the top.

thats 60kms of rugged coastline down there.

as you reach the crest, viewing platforms provide great vantage points to take in the spectacular location and watch the gannets.

36°49'51"S 174°25'31"E

last day of the year

2008-12-31T22:27:00.001+13:00

36°49'38"S 174°48'47"E

6 hours before the 2009, bluff overlooking the bay at north head, devonport.

its otherwordly

2008-12-15T10:44:00.003+13:00

look at these pictures, does it remind you of a far away planet in some scifi movie? ...or maybe onion skin?

this my friends are my retinal scans - right (above) and left (below), on my 3rd month with exception i was brought to Barry+Beale to get a new pair of glasses - one of the benefits of becoming a regular with the company is a visit to an optometrist. a kind elderly gentleman gave me a complete eye checkup (took those ret pics), no surprises though- my eyes still have the same grade. i was ask if i wanted a new pair of glasses, after more than 8 years i'm shelving my trusty pair of rayban wayfarers - its time for a pair of titanium lindberg's...supercool!

another one bites the dust

2008-09-20T09:30:00.003+12:00

big news in the nz architecture scene yesterday...

Property blues bring firings at top architects [read]

...tsk,tsk,tsk to think na a few months ago ay nag-aaply pa ko sa opisinang yan.

the OFFICE

2008-08-21T10:33:00.000+12:00

started working for exception interiors at vulcan lane on queen st, a commercial/office interior fitout company specializing in office interiors. let me take you on a grand tour of our office -

blue screen feeling

2008-05-19T00:28:00.000+12:00

i know...i know...i'd start updating this blog SOON - abangan!

the BEACH

2008-03-23T20:05:00.002+13:00

Coordinates: 36°52'41"S 174°55'21"E

- can't remember the last time i hang around a beach like this...8 years ago? its called "eastern beach" sure is a refreshing site, had a nasty sunburn afterwards - definitely worth it!

sa wakas!!!

2008-03-10T17:17:00.004+13:00

...lumabas din ang damuhong working visa ko sa NZ.

may visa finally came out last feb. 25. censya na at di nakapag-update ng matagal, naka-block kasi ang blogspot sa mainland china hbang asa manila naman ako last january ay saksakan ng bagal ng internet connection. anyways, i will fill-in the blanks when i have the time..................soon!

one word...hOOters!

2008-01-03T18:30:00.001+13:00

no better place for my first post of the year. very disappointing though, hOOter girls are suppose to have capital "Os" - this one doesnt meet the specifications.

mamamasko lang po!

2007-12-21T22:04:00.000+13:00

go ahead KLIK me!

...ship has sailed?

2007-12-06T01:06:00.000+13:00

creek near NZ embassy

drop off police and nbi clearances requested by the visa officer, back to the waiting game.

New Zealand or Bust - update3

2007-12-01T12:47:00.000+13:00

nbi request for clarification documents

tama ba namang may kaso pala ko sa maynila back in 2005 ng di ko alam - "grave physical injuries", buti na lang wala ko duon at that time hehehehehe. delayed tuloy ang pagrelease ng aking nbi clearance, i had to get an affidavit of denial ( sample) from the embassy.

they call it the "BIRD's NEST"

2007-11-19T01:34:00.000+13:00

The main stadium for next year's Beijing Olympic Games, the $400 million "bird's nest", will open to the public for the first time in April 2008.

other renderings 1 2 3 4 5

Herzog and DeMeuron’s Olympic Stadium, fondly referred to by some as the “Bird’s Nest,” is a feat of engineering, an aesthetic marvel, and an uber-green machine to boot. What we love most about the stadium’s design is its integration of a myriad complex systems all rolled into such an aesthetically and conceptually simple and stunning object. The Swiss architects describe it best, saying, “The spatial effect of the stadium is novel and radical and yet simple and of an almost archaic immediacy. Its appearance is pure structure. Facade and structure are identical.”

The structure itself is composed of a grid-like formation that serves as both structure and facade, integrating the stairs, walls, and roof into one cohesive system. Instead of form being dictated by function, Herzog and DeMeuron’s design effectively removes the distinction, making function and form one in the same.

Such a large-scale and highly-trafficked building raises questions of waste, efficiency, and cost, but the “Bird’s Nest” seems to pose innovative, green solutions to a variety of potential building issues. Its green features include a rainwater collection system, a translucent roof that provides essential sunlight for the grass below, and a natural, passive ventilation system.

Perhaps the most unique feature of the structure is its “cushion” system which strategically fills the spaces within the building’s facade to regulate wind, weather, and sunlight. On the rooftop, the inflatable cushions fill gaps to weather- and waterproof the stadium. “Just as birds stuff the spaces between the woven twigs of their nests with a soft filler, the spaces in the structure of the stadium will be filled with inflated cushions.” Coincidentally, the cushions will be made from ETFE, the same material used to create the translucency of the “bubble building” across the Olympic park.

Sculptural rather than an architectural sensory overload like many a contemporary stadium, “it meets all the functional and technical requirements of an Olympic National Stadium, but without communicating the insistent sameness of technocratic architecture dominated by large spans and digital screens.”

___________________________________

anton santos pics

New Zealand or Bust - update2

2007-11-17T01:45:00.000+13:00

waiting...waiting...waiting...

- for the meeting to start at Chang'An Spa, clients showed up two hours later. After only fifteen minutes our meeting ended. Wish i could say the same for my NZ visa. Got an email from the visa officer, says it's already approved "in principle". Problem is - i have to wait almost a month para sa feedback from their medical assessor in NZ regarding my medical tests. Kaya i'm back to waiting....

one moment in time...

2007-11-08T17:42:00.000+13:00

- fullsize dioramas.

a scene from "enemy at the gates"?

moonlighting as a scout for the great genghis khan.

...handing the chairman a scarf.

a day at the museum

2007-11-07T23:54:00.000+13:00

...the military museum.

.....ahhhhhh!

-nooohhhh!

standing tall...literally.

stuck between a rock (marx) and a hard place (lenin).

missiles of november

2007-11-07T02:16:00.000+13:00

me in foreground to show scale

parked outside the military museum in beijing is this obsolete IRBM (intermediate range ballistic missile), the DF-2 was part of the Dong Feng/Julang missile series.

business end of an IRBM

tail section - upclose and personal

iphone and me

2007-11-06T00:36:00.000+13:00

visited bisazaa showroom today, thought it would be a nice place to test the iphone's camera.

...my hands were'nt steady.

New Zealand or Bust - update!

2007-11-04T01:55:00.000+13:00

dawanglu subway station, gotta take a pic of this "bloody hell ads" - cool!

...where was i this week?
went back to the clinic for my GGT check up last monday, guess what? - my darn GGT jumped from 77 up to 155. inspite of all the precautions i took - no coke for 2 weeks with balance diet and water therapy. anak ng tipaklong! buti pa nung regular coke drinker ako at kahit ano ang kinakain mas mababa pa yung GGT ko.

alarm bells started ringing - oh no! this is it, my bubble burst.

started to feel like this chap (reminds me of "who framed roger rabbit"movie).

- or did it? doc told me if i failed that theres another test to take thats all ( i saw on her list a series of test to take after each failure). Hepa C test - no problimo! passed it with flying colors.

tuesday morning i finally submitted my papers (including med result) sa NZ emb in beijing, now on to the visa waiting game for the next two weeks.

Antonsworld - old blog

2007-10-19T13:32:00.000+13:00

"Antonsworld" my old blog is still online.

is this me?

2007-10-19T02:51:00.000+13:00

According to

this
is
ME.

THEY built this city.

2007-10-18T23:15:00.001+13:00

sign at dawanglu subway station, the skyline of beijing is evolving at a frantic phase. you'll get lost in a maze of new buildings.

on our way to a meeting this morning (here) passby these...

northwest
New CCTV HQ
(under construction)

(artist rendering)

Undoubtedly China’s most spectacular new building project to date, costing a whopping $750 million. Designed by Rem Koolhass of the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), the 230-meter tall twin-tower is connected on both the ground and at the top as a twisted loop. The irregular grid on the building surface is supposed to represent the forces traveling throughout the structure.

west
China World Trade Center Tower 3
(under construction)

(artist rendering)

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

The China World Trade Center (CWTC) development in Beijing is a large long-term project in the heart of Beijing’s Central Business District (CBD).

For Phase Three, a new tower is being erected that will become the tallest building in Beijing at 330m. It will feature office accommodation, a five-star hotel at the top of the building, as well as retail and entertainment venues.

southwest

Beijing TV Center
(silhouette at left)

(artist rendering)

The Beijing TV Center is a building that is 258 meter high with 41 floors above the ground. This project marks a milestone for the japanese architectural firm Nikken Sekkei Ltd.

north
Wanda Plaza
(Sofitel towers at left)

(me as foreground asungot)

"..architecturally speaking, since a number of new designs are unlike anything ever seen in China, or anywhere else for that matter. Suddenly the focus of many of the world's great architects, Beijing in the run up to the Olympics, is like a blank canvas. Some wonder, though, if all the lavish new strokes are too expensive, and eccentric."

Tell of the Tape

back to the stone age

2007-10-17T16:10:00.001+13:00

sign at the printing shop where i have my drawings blue printed.

if dubya ever decides to bomb beijing (shock and awe - baghdad style) back to the stone age in any future conflict a number of beijingers would be sitting it out quite comfortably.

i've heard of beijing's underground city but i cant find the entrance, hopefully the address i got from this time mag article can help me pinpoint it.

Getting There
The Underground City entrance is on Xidamochang Jie. Proceed east on the first alley south of Qianmen about 400 meters and you should see the sign, in English and Chinese, in the south (right) side of the road. Cameras are allowed, and it's a good idea to bringing a flashlight to peer down unlit corridors.

Address: 62 West Damochang Street, Qianmen
Tel: 6702-2657, 6701-1389
Hours: Daily 8am to 6pm
Admission: RMB20 [$2.50]

para sa mga tumador...

2007-10-17T04:03:00.000+13:00

i shun alcoholic beverages but dito sa lugar ng mga intsik ay di maiiwasang matagayan ng client. ang alak kasi dito ay panulak sa pagkain - tanghalian man o hapunan, minsan pati sa agahan lalo na kung winter.

eto ang pamatay nila dito ang "Maotai"
palagay ko mag-eenjoy si tata nats dito.

The Maotai is volatile stuff - over half of its contents is alcohol. Here are 10 things you should know about China's national wine

1. Maotai is a type of Chinese wine made exclusively in Maotai city in the northern province of Guizhou.

2. It has a mind-blowing 53 per cent alcohol content, compared to vodka's 40 per cent. It has been portrayed in Chinese movies as the drink to take to prove your manly valour and as a sabotage tool on grooms on their wedding night.

3. First made around 135BC in the Han dynasty, it was adopted by Emperor Hanwu as the imperial wine. Today, it is served to visiting dignitaries in Beijing, and carried in Chinese embassies around the world.

4. Unlike Western wines, which are made from fruits, Chinese wines are made from grains. Chinese wines from southern China are mostly made of rice, while those from northern China are mostly made of wheat and sorghum.

5. At least five years go into the making of Maotai, with one year in production and four in fermentation. There are also special 15-, 30-, 50- and 80-year vintages.

6. Maotai is now made by Kweichow Moutai Distillery Group, one of the largest state-owned enterprises in China. It produces 10,000 tonnes a year, of which more than 95 per cent is consumed in China.

7. It cannot be made anywhere outside of Maotai city as it requires very specific environmental and climatic conditions. Its company chairman, Yuan Renguo, says it's easier to make an atomic bomb than Maotai. 'You can make an atomic bomb anywhere, but you can only make Maotai in Maotai,' he says.

8. Priced at 367 yuan (S$77) a bottle in China, it remains the drink of choice among the wealthy elite, the business set and politicians.

9. It is known to be good for health, particularly for the liver and stomach. The late Premier Zhou Enlai reportedly never took conventional medicine. He just tossed back a shot of Maotai when needed.

10. Since 2000, the distillery has introduced red and white wines, made from grapes. It is the first company in China to make Western grape wines.

dating AMEDEO - redux!

2007-10-16T00:42:00.000+13:00

there was a forum for pinoys na dating taga-amedeo but somehow i can no longer find it online, tried googling pero betsa pa din - wala na kong makitang trace nito. so for the sake of finding old friends and/or enemies im putting up a new forum, eto siguradong mananatiling online kasi i will maintain the site.

calling all former colleagues sa AMEDEO kahit saan branch pa kayo na-assigned dati- brunei, manila, singapore, london, bangkok o las vegas. nawa'y mapadpad kayo dito - CLICK TO FORUM

note for me : got java pop-up script here (cant get it to work properly).

Aaaaarghh....damn GGT!

2007-10-15T23:05:00.000+13:00

just got my med test results, shows my GGT is high. have to redo the test after two weeks. i wonder whats causing it, could it be the extremely spicy food i ate the other day o baka naman my regular coke every meal. ah basta! for the next two weeks - no coke, fatty or spicy food for me.

what exactly is it...

GGT and ALP are also called cholestatic liver enzymes. Chloestasis is a term used for partial or full blockage of the bile ducts. Bile ducts bring bile from the liver into the gallbladder and the intestines. Bile is a green fluid produced in liver cells. Bile helps the body to break down fat, process cholesterol and get rid of toxins. If the bile duct is inflamed or damaged, GGT and ALP can get backed up and spill out from the liver into the bloodstream.

ALP metabolizes phosphorus and brings energy to the body. GGT brings oxygen to tissues.

Causes of elevated ALP and GGT levels include:

Scarring of the bile ducts (called primary biliary cirrhosis),

Fatty liver (steatosis),

Alcoholic liver disease,

Liver inflammation from medications and certain herbs,

Liver tumors,

Gallstones or gall bladder problems.

ALP (also called alkaline phosphatase) is found in the bones, intestines, kidneys and placenta as well as the liver. Abnormally high ALP can have many causes other than liver damage, including: bone disease, congestive heart failure, and hyperthyroidism. A rise in ALP levels can indicate liver trouble if GGT levels are also elevated. The normal range of ALP is from 30 IU/L to 115 IU/L.

GGT (gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase) is found in the liver. Obesity, PBC, heavy drinking, fatty liver, and certain medications or herbs that are toxic to the liver can cause GGT levels to rise the normal range of GGT is from 5 IU/L to 80 IU/L.

SOLUTION - base dito at dito ay magbawas ng coke (o alak kung manginginom ka) at uminom ng maraming kape.

New Zealand or Bust!

2007-10-15T18:17:00.000+13:00

C5Art gallery entrance, just outside SOS clinic behind the german embassy.

as part of my odyssey to get to nz, had to undergo med exam at locally designated clinic. the usual battery of test; blood, urine, eye, x-ray and oral took 1 1/2hrs. (fast and efficient)- cost me almost 2,000rmb.

taken this morning outside the new zealand embassy building, along Liangmahe Qiao.

iphone template for wordpress

2007-10-14T15:46:00.000+13:00

found this nice template but could'nt get it to work properly. i think its much better than this one

how to get an NBI clearance overseas?

2007-10-14T14:43:00.000+13:00

say your living as an expat all your life and one day your required by whomever or whatever to get a "police clearance" (in our case an NBI clearance) from your country of origin (of course, philippines my philippines!) - what to do?

Applying for NBI Clearance

By Mail. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the Consulate with a request for an NBI Fingerprint Card Form. Fill-out the personal data called for on both sides of the Fingerprint Card Form truthfully and legibly. Request the assistance of the police agency in your locality to have your fingerprints impressed (ROLLED IMPRESSION) on the appropriate spaces. The person who fingerprinted you should sign his name and state his official designation on the space provided for the purpose in the card. Attach a latest copy of your 2" × 2" photograph (white background), taken within three (3) months before this application at the appropriate box in the Fingerprint Card Form. The Fingerprint Card Form must then be authenticated by the local and state authorities as stated above. Upon the completion of this requirements, please send the authenticated form to the Philippine Consulate General together with the prescribed fee of $25.00 (money order) and self-addressed stamped envelope. Upon receiving the authenticated Fingerprint form from the Philippine Consulate, send the form to the Director, National Bureau of Investigation, Taft Avenue, Ermita 1000 Manila, Philippines, with $4.00 Money Order or PHP200.00 (payable to Director, National Bureau of Investigation). The National Bureau of Investigation will mail to you the corresponding clearance certificate after they have processed the application papers. Upon receipt of your clearance certificate, please examine it for the presence of the embossed NBI DRY SEAL at its lower left portion, the clearance is invalid without it. Also, you must affix your clear and properly taken THUMBPRINT on the space provided for it in the clearance certificate before submitting it to your end-user, otherwise, you clearance will be subjected for further verification/authentication and will cause the delay of your immigration requirements.

In person. Bring with you your valid passport and the latest copy of your 2 × 2 photograph (white background), taken within three months before the application. Fill-out the personal data called for on both sides of the Fingerprint Card Form truthfully and legibly. Have your fingerprints impressed (ROLLED IMPRESSION) on the appropriate spaces at the Consulate. The Consul will sign his/her name and state his official designation on the space provided for the purpose in the card. The prescribed fee is $25.00. Mail the form to the Director, National Bureau of Investigation, Taft Avenue, Ermita 1000 Manila, Philippines, with $4.00 Money Order or PHP200.00 (payable to Director, National Bureau of Investigation). The National Bureau of Investigation will mail to you the corresponding clearance certificate after they have processed the application papers. Upon receipt of your clearance certificate, please examine it for the presence of the embossed NBI DRY SEAL at its lower left portion, the clearance is invalid without it. Also, you must affix your clear and properly taken THUMBPRINT on the space provided for it in the clearance certificate before submitting it to your end-user, otherwise, you clearance will be subjected for further verification/authentication and will cause the delay of your immigration requirements.
NBI FAQ Site

in the beginning...

2007-10-14T04:41:00.000+13:00

pacific century mall, christmas eve 2006

I decided to create this blog first and foremost for ME, para naman may paglagyan ako ng mga litratos at mga kung anu-anong mga bagay-bagay. Tapos para sa mga nakakakilala sakin, para naman madali nila akong mahagilap sa internet - siguro naman tataas na ako sa page rank ng google when somebody search for " anton santos ", sana lang ay di ako matunton ng mga tao may atraso ako.

- yun lang po.

Chaoyang Park 30sep2007, patapos na ang autumn kaya konting strolling at the park muna bago tuluyang lumamig.