Chiang Mai Choo choo

Been riding about on a motorbike in Chiang Mai for the past few days. Kinda exhilirating, but also kinda scary. Having a car whiz right by you at 40km/hr is not all that good for your nerves.

My friend has been showing me around, and as a result i've managed to see some places that are a little out of the way, non-touristy, and quite different :)

Will post more about it later, but for now, a summary :

3 thai massages (at 10 bucks for 2 hours!)
8 good meals
2 cheap ties
700 bucks worth of shirts,pants and suit
5 days catching up with a friend
1 wat (temple)
5 days of amazing weather (20 degrees celsius = BEST!)

ok. talk more later. time to enjoy this last night in chiang mai

Ajantis is going to collect his suit....

Hellos and goodbyes

Had my last event for work last night. It went swimmingly, and one of the speakers even mentioned how i had been really flexible and went the extra mile when talking about a client that she helped. That kind of helped to close the night off on a positive note.

I leave with very mixed feelings. Happy at what i've accomplished, but sad at leaving a group of great colleagues behind. So that's a good thing right?

Change is always difficult.

What did i do well in the past 2 years? I've worked hard to become a better leader and better boss, to know my people better. That was a promise i made myself coming into this job, and that's a promise i think i kept. I assume the best of people, and treat them with the dignity and respect that they deserve. Hence, i leave with respect and a reputation for having done a good job, despite resigning. Most importantly, I leave a good strong team behind to carry on the good work of the department.

What could i have done better? I need to be faster in general, and firmer about making tough ones. I need to start assigning timelines so accountability is clearer and things get done faster.

The last 2 years have been an incredible journey. Here's to the next stage!

Ajantis is taking off.....

Hello!

Hello. I am a 29 year old Singaporean. Chinese, non-descript, geeky. You know, typical Raffles boy who's into computer and video games and all things geek. A bit banana, but otherwise prototypically Singaporean.

Hello, my name is Alex. I am Singaporean and i am gay. My husband and I have been dating for 8 years, married for 2.5 years. We got registered in Vancouver, Canada, but are still dating long-distance. We want to raise kids, but not here, where the government is still unwilling, and will probably be unwilling to be supportive for quite a while longer.

Why did i finally decide to say it on this blog? Well, i've been thinking about it for a while. Coming back here was almost like coming out all over again. I had to consider that people might not be as supportive, and that i was working in some sensitive government positions. As i came out to selected swing friends, then to some colleagues, i became more comfortable with myself. Now, i'm at the point where i probably won't deny it if someone asks me. But i still don't see myself becoming some kind of gay activist.

So what was the final push? I guess it was seeing the government's decision to rework the Penal Code, to remove the prohibition against oral/anal sex between heterosexual couples but keep it for homosexual couples, hence explicitly criminalising gay sex. All because "society won't tolerate it". It raises interesting questions, such as the role of government in society, whether it is a mere mirror or an advocate of social values. But that's a debate for another day. All i can say is that it leaves me feeling marginalised. I am a gay Singaporean. My sexuality is not all of me, but it is part of me. You can't have one without the other. I want to stay here, but i probably won't over the longer term. And i can't, don't want to stay that silent anymore. Hence, this post.

Ok that's enough venting from me. here's a link to cheer us all up. I think it's awesome that Dr. Khoo set something up like this. Society needs more groups like SAFE Singapore. Civic society is currently over-dominated by groups like Focus on the Family and other pro-family but anti-gay groups.

Ajantis is now going to continue working on his computer....

Woo hoo! Hoo woo....

Marathon done in ... 5 hr 16 min, despite presence of slight runny nose, and flu (now feeling effects of that)

Glad to have done it, glad to have it over with, now i just gotta deal with the sore knees, ankles and the chafing. Oh god the chafing. I was waddling like a duck when having lunch with the gang.

The marathon was an interesting experience. It was overcast (thank god) with slight drizzles, and there were interesting sights along the way. People had tags on from adidas that stated their reason for running, ranging from the inspirational (Pain is temporary, Pride is everything) to the humorous (because my Wife made me do it) to the slightly cocky/funny (Cos i run slow but i'm still ahead of you)....

There were quite a few guys/girls who cramped up or were injured. I felt particularly bad for those who couldn't move any more at the 39km mark, but also glad that it wasn't me.

Unfortunately, the gang got stuck on the darn Runspiration bus, but i'm really glad that all of you made it down. Thanks again! It meant a lot to me :)

So now the marathon is over. I might not do it again, but i'm glad to have done it. It takes too much time to prepare for a marathon, especially since i'm not especially built for long distance running. However, running the half marathon in under 2 hours is a completely different matter :)

This marathon marks the end to a very good year...

Ajantis is tired, but contented....

Impending... somthing

Two (maybe three) things to blog about today.

The marathon is tomorrow! Getting kinda hyped about it. Would be more hyped if i didn't have this slight flu! Told Oats that i would probably still run tomorrow, but might be a little bit slower. Desperately hoping this flu is better by tomorrow.

Am glad that friends are coming down to see me at the finish line, and also to take the runspiration tour!!!! Yay :) Thanks... it means a lot to me.

The funny thing is i caught the flu from the person who was briefing me on my training plan for next year. It is VERY PACKED, but it also makes clear that they are investing a lot of time, energy and money on me. Like i told selena though, i foresee a tough decision coming 4-5 years down the road. We still want to have kids, and i wouldn't want to go to a country which wouldn't accept the relationship that i have with H, or allow us to raise kids.

Had my work plan retreat with the team yesterday. Wanted to give a short closing/farewell speech since it was probably my last chance to see all of them together. However, i did not expect to tear up while talking. While it was a little bit embarrassing, it was also an affirmation of the memories and good times that i have had in this job, and it was also touching to see some of the team tearing up as well.

Transitions, transitions. I guess it's time for one stage to end and another to begin!

Ajantis is drinking lotsa water...