Life of Niz

In our mind our thoughts a plenty,
sleepless nights for me a many.
Important things we do remember,
very important we pretend we forgot.

Work now today, work later tomorow,
when then we plan and whose time we borrow
No more time we waste, our life is in haste,
every minute, every second, every moment..
Never will be in sorrow
signing off
Nizam

The only reason why i took so long to pen something about the F1 must be because my work involvement for this year’s F1 had yet to (almost there now) reach a conclusion.

I say almost, cos we’re still involved in some of the wrap up, post mortem meetings and appreciation lunches/dinners. You’d be surprised by the number of people involved and the scope of work behind the scenes.

BEFORE

When i first heard that the F1 event was coming to Singapore, i was sceptical. Then i heard rumours that it was going to be held smack in the city, the first Asian F1 street race. The only other street races were held Monaco, Melbourne, Valencia. I had my doubts. Then i heard that it was going to be the worlds first F1 night race! I was in absolute disbelief!

Let me tell you why i thought so.. lets say you buy a new computer game, eg, Winning Eleven (btw i love that game!) that you like very much. And then instead of starting the game at the beginner’s level, you jump right into the world class level. Well, maybe you have what it takes to be there, but just to be safe, wouldnt you want to go through the basics first and try out the easier match levels before you dash into the lion’s den?

Well, in a way, thats how i felt the F1 came about over here. And i knew that there was no room for failure. During our F1 working trip to the Monza circuit in Italy, one of the track circuit directors shocked us when he commented that “Singapore is CONDEMNED to give a world class F1 race”. Shocking but true, i thought. We had to succeed!

DURING

Though sounding impossible in the early stages (ala Uniquely Impossible), as the months whistled by, everyone involved got quickly right down to work. Where egos and principles used to orchestrate the way meetings were conducted, compromises, understanding and cooperation took over later and in the end the room was filled with friends.

I had my right hand working on the night lighting for the F1 track (micro level) whilst my left hand was involved in the overall traffic and transport coordination efforts for the F1 patrons, the public and affected stakeholders.

The plans we had agreed on, on paper had to translate to on the ground actual working plans. And there were times, where there were a couple of hiccups (almost), and the situations were rectified quickly.

My personal experience in the circuit during the build up, during the races, and during the tear down, filled me with many memories, most of them pleasant and i dare say proud.

Amidst skyscrapers, hotels, colonial style bridge and buildings, the singapore flyer, the esplanade theatre lay an F1 street circuit laced with about 1,600 metal halide each rated at 2000W spaced at intervals of 4m. The result, a breathtaking bird’s eye view. A sparkling white jeweled necklace.. (diamond maybe)..

AFTER

After a well deserved rest, (am still waiting to start that one, lol), am sure the whole lot of us, hopefully with a few more folks, will huddle together again in the same spirit to endeavour to provide another world class race next year. Perhaps, there needs to be tweaking in the circuit to make it more attractive for overtaking, or a need to realign the pit lane entry and exit to make it more safe, whatever the changes, it can only be towards the betterment of the race next year. Lets wait and see..
Signing off
Nizzy

Kung Fu Panda! -

There have been some nice animated movies , Shrek, Madagascar, Incredibles, Finding Nemo and then came this fighting panda.. How would this unlikely pudgy panda fare in a kung fu role?

The idea itself was intriguing, and like bees to honey, i was attracted to find out what lay in store for me.

I went to watch Kung Fu Panda, with some expectation of coming home with a warm feeling and a some laughs to take the blues away… but little did i expect to be blue-own away!

You may not realise the positives of the movie until much later, when you start reflecting the way i did. I did a simple checklist, lets see if our tastes match..

(Warning! - Spoilers ahead!)
Animation - Awesome!
(i can still recall the scene where TaiLung escapes from prison)

Dialogue - Awesome!
(The stories about the peach tree/seeds, the comedic element bet Po and Shi Fu, “I’m not dead! I’m at… peace” lol and so much more.. very witty and more importantly meaningful at many a time.

Storyline - Awesome!
(About a unlikely hero, an oversized panda with a high level of determination overcomes all odds to realise becoming the Dragon warrior as he was chosen to be. I also liked the way the story was crafted to put Po in that awkward position to be chosen as the Dragon warrior though he never really wanted to be one in the first place. he only wanted to go there to watch them remember? And the secret to ultimate power was Nothing!)

there is so much more i can say about the movie.. but i’d rather you see it and feel it for urself.. dun just drop off your nephews, nieces or kids at this movie. Join them in it, and you’ll come out smiling just like them!

One of the best animation movies i’ve watched in a while! Do you feel the same?

Signing off..
“Me”

The same questions that i ask myself, would you be asking too?
The same worries i have for tomorrow, would you have a clue?
For today i yearn to live and smile, to make my life really worth its while
Need i change my life or my style, else find I my way en route green mile?

I may have bounced off the idea of ‘the right timing to get married’ in my earlier entries. Most of us would agree, that the earlier the better, as long as you are ready to get married.. one reason thats going around is that u better find someone who likes u the way u are when ur young, good looking and healthy *with the 6 pec* *wink* enough to run around rather than wait till ur pudgy, struggling hard to hold on to ur youth and health… unless u have millions in ur bank account, thats a diff story.
Through my several discussions with elders, friends and other relatives, i realise that being ready for marriage is important. Alas, the onerous task of realising when that actually is, is beyond some of us… The evidence is in the  divorces we see around us, or the ones that live together but not with each other, or the ones that love more than one another, etc.

There lies many aspects of readiness before the ‘big move’. I’d like to think that before we take that path down the aisle, some of the qns we should ask ourselves include, “Am i ready emotionally? Am i ready mentally? Am i ready financially?”

Emotionally Ready: I think getting married to someone, requires emotional stability. Requires you to be there for each other, to complement and support each other during the emotional downs. One needs to be able to trust the other to let the other enjoy his/her wants and needs, one needs to be able to be strong for the other in times of need, perhaps to even protect the other if the situation calls for it. It is difficult to know when u are emotionally ready, but its very easy to know when u are not. Agree?

Mentally Ready: This is not the same as being emotionally ready. I’d like to think that one would need to be mature enough to take up this responsibility and to be understanding enough to give and take when necessary, to see the bigger picture in the tasks u set out to do together and to plan for the lives ahead, together, for each other, and later for the family u set out to lead together. To be able to discuss solutions for problems that we encounter, to think positively and have the mental strength to never give up, to work smart instead of working hard to get what both of u want out of the lives u spend together.

Financially Ready: True love is all that matters, some say. Money doenst matter.. Money is the root of all evil… bah humbug! I think financial matters are close to our hearts and plays a vital role in how we lead our lives and also affect how happy we are.. Money is not the root of evil. the new age saying should be that the “lack of money is the root of evil” Thats when jealousy, envy and greed steps in.. doenst it? So, sufficient savings is important before u take this step, sufficient knowledge in knowing how to manage the money you have and that you will have in the future is also important.. Though having money doenst necessarily mean happiness, having money gives you the ability to make another happy. Being able to bring ur loved ones out for a movie, being able buy a simple dinner (no one is demaning a 10 course dinner. lol), to send ur loved ones home (am sure u wouldnt want to walk from city hall to jurong east), all of these simple tasks, though simple are not free. They all need money, dont they?

Another important question that i neglected to ask is how does one know that he/she is Mr or Mrs right? how do u know is he/she is right for u? *everyone wonders this i bet* but how do u know if you are the right one for her/him? *not many people wonder abt this i bet* why do we always think for ourselves and not so much for the other? I have no wisdom to share on this, not yet.. if u do, pl do share.
When you throw dust in the air, it takes some time to settle down.. And perhaps when the dust settles down, and then maybe, just maybe, it all starts to make sense..

Signing off..
Nizzy

Before and after the movie
We had a choice of watching ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ at either 8pm or 1030pm last night. I’m thankful my mum managed to get the tickets for the 8pm slot.. The move was almost 4 hours long! We had our late night dinner/supper at about midnight at one of our favourite prata haunts along Bendemeer Rd. Mm.. fresh, crispy and soo tasty.. Wish like having some now.. don’t you?

During the movie

I have to admit that i know nuts about the historical facts relating to this movie. My comments/opinions are based only on what i saw, hear and felt when i was a part of the audience in that cosy Jade theatre *with dangerously steep steps*.. A lady carrying drinks and popcorn almost fell whilst trying to get back into her seat behind me. Luckily she didnt hurt herself, but ended up ‘blessing’ me with a lot of popcorn instead! I picked up some that fell in my lap, and playfully displayed them in my cupped hands to my mother and asked “Mum, want some free popcorn!?” lol. she laughed too!

Saw: Whilst i was watching the movie, i couldnt quite understand why it was the most expensive bollywood movie so far. Maybe, it was because the cinematopgraphy wasn’t that good? I think Devdas looked much better on screen.. what do you think?
Eye candies Hrithik and Aish looked like a good onscreen pair.. both acted aptly for their roles, i felt. Their ego clashes were fun to watch..:)

My guess, is that Aish’s fan following will increase in number after this movie.. She didnt act.. she became Jodha.. Her elegance, her poise, the way she carried herself.. no wonders she’s so good doing these kind of epic films (e.g Umrao Jaan and Devdas). She’s got the qualities befitting a princess, queen… no wonders she won the queen of the world title!

Heard: AR Rahman’s songs doesn’t quite come out and grab you like how some of his others used to.. But these tunes, i think will grow on you and will be on your mind when you least expect it.. when ur on our way home in the train/bus/car.. you are thinking of the day’s events, and suddenly, you hear the ‘Kwaja’/'Azeem o shan’ song in the background as if it were playing on someone’s handphone nearby.. you look around and realise that its actually playing in the back of ur head.. and perhaps in your heart too..
Personally, i felt warmth in my heart and a sense of calm when i heard beautiful islamic phrases being uttered on screen.. Bismillah, Subhan allah, Masha allah.. etc.. Dont quite know how to explain it yet.. maybe when i find the right words, i’ll come back and share with you…
º·.·´¯`·.·ºNizamº·.·´¯`·.·º

When young we were, time we hadn’t to appreciate the surrounding beauty.. all we did was to appreciate the surrounding beauties.. *wink*.. but as time passed and maturity we sought, (some still searching) we realise that the surrounding (including the beauties) is beautiful too..

Its true. Take a breather from that life that you are running on fast forward right now. Press the ‘Pause’ button.. and take a deep breath.. look around..Do you or do you not notice the changes around you.. in our lion city. Do you not see the new buildings sprouting faster than before, do you not see the changes and new connecting roads and highways that make your journey smoother, do you not see the public housing that is so beautiful you dont believe its public housing?

We know some of our friends and relatives head for ‘greener’ pastures elsewhere..if they saw the changes that were taking place now. to transform our lion city as what we know now, to something we’ve always imagined it to be,, would that have affected their decision to move? We’d never know now, would we?

My take on it is what i can offer here.. I’m not saying i’m right, you dont have to say im right either.. but let me see if i can make sense of what i think.. ready?
In the earlier years, our country strived to set ourselves a sound foundation, so we dug deep, and a result, strong, deep roots we have beneath us.. Conventional public housing, traditional buildings, conservative entertainment.. all seem to become a part of history as the day passes on.. though little glamour we had, purpose we were filled with.. and thats why we are where we are now..

After 40+ years, our strong roots, allowed us to aspire, grow tall and then engage in some ‘make up’, self adorning if you will let me call it.. thriving night life, evolving attractions in Sentosa, world class art theatres and more.. ala the branches elegantly spreading their arms and budding flowers blossom in pride.. in years to come, this tree will be so beautiful, so attractive and so unique.. u’ll take a step back and ask urself.. is this our Singapore??

Wait for Sentosa and Marina Bay to bloom.. and u’ll see what i mean.. Im sure more will come thereafter.. The time has come where we prune our branches, and let our beautiful flowers bask in their glory… where we be proud of what we are, can be and will be.. Let Singapore be also the tourist’s prime destination spot… why not i say?

Nizam

Singapore - Paris (airport) - Marseille - Milan - Paris (airport) - Singapore

That was my flight itinery for the past week.. I went with my Director for an official overseas study trip to Marseille and Milan for the F1 lighting trials.. Cant reveal much more about the trip, else i’d have to kill you after telling you.. lol.

Here’s a little flashback, if i may about how the trip went.. wont bore you much..only snippets here and there i promise.. =P

Flight to Paris
When i took the flight from Singapore towards Paris, i looked out of the window (i got the window seat!) and saw our beautiful city laced with lights and then a sense of pride washed over me… there i could see from so high up in the sky, our streetlights shining brightly and so passionately (can they?) to keep our roads safe.. our city looked so beautiful at night.. (do try getting a window seat the next time u’r taking a night flight out of our lion city and you will see what i’m trying to describe to you).

Marseille
After touching down in Paris, we had to wait a few hours for our connecting flight to Marseille. Had about twenty to thirty winks and then scooted over to our gate and caught the flight to Marseille.

From the airport, we dr
ove to the hotel… Hotel Du Castellet.. and
true to its name, it felt like we were staying in a caste amidst the mountains under the clear blue sky.. My boss and I had our own villas!Beautiful weather, beautiful scenery too… *recounts*…
At the lighting trial at a high tech test track just beside the hotel, we witnessed the testing of the lights and cars whizzing by at speeds of upto 300km/h i believe.. Anyone who is not an F1 fan, would have a very high chance of becoming one after watching and hearing one whizz pass so close to you.. *not so much of a fan of F1 i was, but leaning towards becoming a hardcore one i think*

Milan

We went to Monza to visit the race circuit before the race. Saw some of the cars being put together, saw the hospitality suites set up.. absolutely stunning they were esp you find out that they (temporary structures taht would be taken down after the race) were set up in less than 48 hrs! We had a guided tour of the place and learnt a lot about how the race circuit was set up.

We went to visit the Duomo di Milano church in the evening after we had our dinner.. Pictures will not do justice to what i saw and felt when i was there.. Larger than life, detailed sculptures reaching high into the sky, the warmth you suddenly feel even with the cool wind enveloping you…

There you go, as promised, an abridged account of my trip that promises you more that i have yet to tell.. catch me and i’ll be more than glad to share with you…
Wishing all of you a fabulous week ahead! Au Revour (French) & Arrivederci (Italian)
Nizam

When words fail thee……………

The quiet evening’s song you hear,
from your smiling face falls a tear..
you wish to speak you wish to say,
but words you seek keep running away..

The first time you weren’t sure
The second time you thought you were
If there was a third, if there was..
It would be only just because…

When words fail thee…
music puts it so simply..

http://blackyss.imeem.com/music/JizrsfpZ/munbe_vaa_tune/

*go grabs my sitar*…..
Nizam

I Can Be
I’m the son you wish you had
I’d love you like the world’s best dad
I’m the brother guiding you
When you’re lost and haven’t a clue

I’m the employee who works hell for you
You’d think of me, there were two
I’m the boss who stands up for you
who’ll up and fight all the way through

I’m the teacher’s favourite pet
never missing homework, no not yet.
I’m the friend standing by your side
When trouble spews, together we’ll hide

I’m the missing half in your life
You’d be my very treasured wife
I’m the coolest dad in town
We’d crack jokes and party around

But hurt the ones i love, if you
Make them cry or make them blue
Then i warn you to come prepared
Cos i’m your enemy you never had
-Nizam

Questions
Why do I cry for others
With my very own tears
Why do i help others
When i have my own fears

Why do i lead another
When i’m lost in thought
Why do i search for love
When i lost the love id got

Why do i look into your eyes
When my eyes yearn to hide
Why do i act so strong
When i’ve nothing by my side

Why do i search for my mask
When i threw it away
How’d i answer when u ask
Why im not smiling today

When do i get the answers i need
Questions i have for me and who
Answers come fast i plead
Wait not, please hurry please do
-Nizam-