CNY 09

Ha, read in the papers the other day on whether it's still appropriate to accept ang pows when you are old(er) yet unmarried...hmm...i've got no qualms about accepting them even though I do give to appropriate pp as well...so guess it's still ok!

Happy Chinese New Year to all!

Obama's inauguration

Pretty good and realistic speech by Obama....let's hope he follows through...there have been comparisons between him and Martin Luther King and some of his speech follows the same style

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjnygQ02aW4

Random musings

Many people ended 2008 with the hope that 2009 will be a better year....well....half a month has passed and we just keep hearing news that things are simply gonna get worse...pretty depressing isn't it? There is at least one article on yet another company laying off people in the papers every day...sigh...

Anyway, in the midst of all the doom and gloom, I've been reading a mindless book. Have been hearing how good Twilight the movie is so I decided to read the book...and...it's rather boring! Ha, I know many Twilight fans are gonna contradict me on that! I wanted to put up an article I read on the Straits Times the other day about how Twilight has basically turned everything that we knew and liked about vampires on its head - the sleeping in coffins and not being able to come out in the day and all...was quite a fun article but couldn't find it. Anyway, I heard that the next few books are supposed to be slightly better...shall press on and see whether it's worth it :)

Best job in the world!

Anyone keen on applying :)? Sounds like a pretty fun job!

Australia offers 'best job in world' on paradise island

Tue Jan 13, 4:32 pm ET

SYDNEY (AFP) – An Australian state has launched a global search for candidates for "the best job in the world" -- earning a top salary for lazing around a beautifultropical island for six months.

The job pays 150,000 Australian dollars (105,000 US dollars) and includes free airfares from the successful applicant's home country to Hamilton Island on theGreat Barrier Reef, Queensland's state government announced on Tuesday.

In return, the "island caretaker" will be expected to stroll the white sands, soak up the sun, snorkel the reef, "maybe clean the pool" -- and report to a global audience via weekly blogs, photo diaries and video updates.

The winner, who will stay rent-free in a multi-million dollar three-bedroom beach home complete with plunge pool and golf buggy, must be an excellent communicator and be able to speak and write English.

"They'll also have to talk to media from time to time about what they're doing so they can't be too shy and they'll have to love the sea, the sun, the outdoors," said acting state Premier Paul Lucas.

"The fact that they will be paid to explore the islands of the Great Barrier Reef, swim, snorkel and generally live the Queensland lifestyle makes this undoubtedly the best job in the world."

Lucas said the campaign was part of a drive to protect the state's 18 billion Australian dollar a year tourism industry during the tough economic climate caused by the global financial meltdown.

While the campaign has elements of some reality television shows, a candidate's looks will not be a prime requirement, Tourism Queensland chief executive Anthony Hayes told AFP.

"No, I don't think beautiful is what we want, I think charismatic is what we want," he said. "The reality is we are looking for a fantastic communicator.

"What we want this person to do is travel throughout the Great Barrier Reef and just try every experience, every adventure they can find and report back via blogs and video to tell the world why Queensland is a great place to come for a holiday."

Tourism Minister Desley Boyle said some people might question whether it was risky to let an unknown person become an unofficial tourism spokesperson for the state.

"I think the biggest risk will be that the successful candidate won't want to go home at the end of the six months," she said.

"This is a legitimate job which is open to anyone and everyone."

Applications are open until February 22. Eleven shortlisted candidates will be flown to Hamilton Island in early May for the final selection process and the six month contract will commence on July 1.

Job-seekers can apply on Islandreefjob.com

Pride

For me, lessons in humility are the hardest to learn. I'm actually a very proud person with an ego that is a little too big for a female (yes, I'm stereotyping here)....and I've been praying for humility for a long time. Little did I know it's gonna come in this form...through a period of joblessness in one of the worst recessions of our time, having to fight with so many others to find a job..any job!

It's because of pride that I quit without much planning and without a job, it's pride that I've kept looking for jobs that pay peanuts because I refuse to admit that I can't have the jetsetting life that I've been bragging about...

But I've realised that pride can't negate the fact that I have a father who is not as young as I thought he was, a responsibility as a daughter and granddaughter, who has no right to make others worry and fret the way I'm doing now.

Guess this is just an explanation to those who may be wondering where I may be heading next... am not totally trashing the idea, but this doesn't seem to be the best time for me to go anywhere unless I can't find a job here...

50 places to travel in a lifetime...

Here's National Geographic Traveller's list of 50 of the world's top destinations "that every curious traveller should visit in a lifetime". So many places, so little time and money!!

Which would you want to visit?