A week ago, I went for my ex-school band presentation. It was the cheapest ticket into the Esplanade. My first experience of the hall's renowned acoustics and elegant architecture. The music wasn't great (it was mainly classical I might add) but seeing a bunch of secondary school boys sweating in their brow, trying impress a daunting live audience warms my heart. It's like reliving the old days again.




Two tics and a program...

3 days ago, i stepped foot into my office after having almost 3 weeks of break. Unlike my first day when i started work last year, where i was nervous and trying to give a good impression, i walked in confidently at noon. Reason i was there at noon was because i had to go to the Hospital to repair my broken back (that's another story altogether). I was greeted by everyone i saw with cheerful gasps and surprised voices when my teammate told me that the Nokia Client is here in the conference room and asked me to join the meeting. As i walked in, i was given a celebrity welcome - "Yuchun!!", "Yuchun you're back!!", "Hey! Welcome back!"

I could still remember the night before where Jon warned me that the first day is the worst and i'll probably just feel like quitting. He's probably referring about the work part. But we both know this for sure, it's the community in the work place that keeps us going.

I realized that I've never blogged about my work before, and since i sorta had a 2nd first day at work and with the same first-day-at-work spirit, here goes -

I work for BatesAsia handling Nokia, Dockers, Chilis, and recently added Takaful Nasional. Most of my time is spent managing Nokia, the company's biggest account and Dockers at a regional level. I basically manage and develop TV commercials, print ads, outdoor, radio and any oher advertising form you could think of. And with the little free time left in the office, i play part time talent for visual developments(See below):





My Art Director says that i can only do one kind of smile and face, like Zoolander's Blue Steel and Magnum, so the Dockers visuals we're developing for Spring Summer 06 has my body with that damn Corbis Caucasian face. But just for your info, i was a talent for a Nokia ad and Sophia's eye is currently on the Maxis 3G ad and billboards.

With my current tenure with the company, i get to wear free Dockers and use new Nokia mobile phones 2 months before launch. Side perks includes meeting lots of babes in the industry and attending events with celebrities. No wonder Alex is eyein' this job - after all, it was one of the events where he caught eye with a gal that he insists has a very nice smile. Fact was, she didn't - we suspect it was her boobs smiling at him ; ) She was skimpily dressed.

To sum it all up, i hate work, but love the job and people.

Y.

Waking up in the city that never sleeps is certainly an experience everyone should have at least once in a lifetime. Though packed with tall buildings, this city injects exuberance into life. Many would have think that New York is probably just cold concrete but i must say, the city seems to be alive prodding you to explore more of its beautiful skylines, green pastures and sea breeze.



Times Square at 1 am. It's amazing to see this part of New York jam packed with people, mostly tourists even at such wee hours in the morning. Many shops were still open, talk about midnight shopping ; )

Fact - This is the place where 2 million people crowd for the New Year's countdown.



We were in the MTV merchandise shop where plasma screens were showing TRL. It was when the hundred of fans on the street started screaming that we realized it was live. I managed to quickly run out to get a few shots of Hilary Duff greeting her fans from the window.

Fact - Keanu Reeves and Angelina Jolie were in New York too, but we didn't manage to see them.



Outside the New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street.

Fact - Tourists were allowed to enter the NYSE but since 911, this place is now heavily guarded with SWAT teams.



Brooklyn Bridge in a foggy rainy weather.

Fact - This suspension bridge was build in 1870.



Central Park! This 843 acres park boasts several lakes, theatres, ice rinks during winter, fountains, tennis courts, man-made beach volleyball courts, baseball fields and many playgrounds. We were simply amazed. There were parts of the park that made us feel like we're trekking in a jungle, there were parts of it where trees are more organized giving us wonderful views of lakes and streams, and the above is the sheep's meadow, a meadow for sunbathing, socialising and Frisbee.

Fact - Workers moved nearly 3 million cubic yards of soil and planted more than 270,000 trees and shrubs during the construction of this park. The park was opened to public in 1859, and by 1865 the park received more than 7 million visitors a year.



Random pictures of New York featuring 5th Avenue the address everyone wants including me, the famous Yellow Cabs and check out the size of America's pizza slice!

Fact - 5th Avenue has the highest rent in the world.



Ever since the fall of the WTC, the Empire State Building regains its title as the tallest building in New York and ninth tallest in the world. It is probably New York's most well known landmark as the view from top is amazing. You can see the whole of manhattan from the 86th floor observatory deck (the bottom picture is just a snippet of east manhattan). The top right picture shows me in front of the office directory.

Fact - This is the building King Kong climbed in 1933.

Will post the Bahamas pictures up soon. It's great to be back.

y.