Photos taken during courses...

Courses on “Challenges in Policy Development” and SCPTA/SIDSTEC “Workshop on Planning, Development and Management of Industrial Parks”

Tuesday, 7 November - Monday, 20 November 2006 : “Challenges in Policy Development”

Tuesday, 7 November to Friday, 17 November 2006: SCPTA/SIDSTEC “Workshop on Planning, Development and Management of Industrial Parks”

Today (7 November) I went for the opening of two courses. The course called "Challenges in Policy Development" for the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) Participants from the ASEAN countries and the "Workshop on Planning, Development and Management of Industrial Parks" which had brought participants from all over the world.

I met a new friend from Botswana who told me that I looked like his son! He gave me a gift, which I did not have a heart to decline accepting. I It is an ostrich egg that he brought all the way from Botswana and arrived in Singapore in one piece! Goodness! It is humongous! I have never seen an ostrich egg before! ..."Now, how large was that ostrich that I saw at the Jurong Bird Park?" I'll send the egg for appraisal (oh yes, I must remember to complete the correct form 'Valuation of Gifts received by Government Officers' ) and see how much the egg is worth. This egg is definitely bound for my collection no matter how much it costs. And you know what? I think I found my winner for "Best dressed participant" today because I saw the gentleman from Tonga dressed in his bright orange hawaiian-style shirt and sarong (draped cloth). I told him that we should just do away with business jackets and just dress comfortably and fashionably like him. Oh.. how I wish I was in Tonga now...

We had a welcome lunch for the participants at the Straits Kitchen, our perrenial favourite as it serves halal food, has nice ambience and offers a variety of local food. The participants had a great time exploring the various culinary delights of Singapore. As I was introducing the different types of food to the guests I was hosting at my table, we soon realised that there were many common dishes amongst us! Singapore has its Rojak, the Philippines have their Gado-Gado (pronounced "HA-doh HA-doh") and the Thai's have their delicious Som Tum. While I was eating, we had a lively discussion on the various places of interest in Singapore. It seems that most of the participants desire to go to Sentosa as they had heard about it from their friends and relatives. To end off the yummy meal, we had some teh-tarik and teh-halia to wash everything down. I told them that it is called "Teh Tarik", which means "Tea Pull" as the hot tea is blended with milk by pouring it from one container to another container with great skill. Everyone left the place happier and a tad bit heavier, if not a little sleepy. I can't wait for my next meal at Straits Kitchen!