KL Roast in Tampines 1

The food court in Tampines 1 shopping mall has a KL style of Roast Meats like Char Siew, Roast Pork Belly (Siew Yoke) and Roast Duck. The char siew is blackened and looks very delicious. I decided to go for the double roast i.e. char siew siew yoke. Or roast pork with roast pork belly. The pork belly is crispy but a little too salty to my taste. The char siew was sweet and yummy. It is also burnt to the right degree. I love charred char siew! I know it is unhealthy as there may be plenty of carcinogenic compound. It is mainly caramelised and carbonised sugars.

It is also not too crowded as I was there for late lunch at about 2pm. This is a great place to taste KL cuisine.

Home is Always Sweet!

Manila is exotic, warm, full of beautiful women and traffic jams. The food variety is excellent and inexpensive. I also manage to buy frozen bbq ribs from RACKS, a local resturant and brownie for my family.

Going away for a few days, make home sweeter. My boys are happy to see me and I am very happy to see them. Then it become familiar nagging from me i.e. why are they not spending time on their school work? Why are they playing computer game all the time?

The "Absence makes heart grows fonder" wears off fairly quickly...

Texas Em!

I have a wonderful dinner at this American BBQ resturant in Greenbelt 3. I love the ambience and taste of classic bbq ribs. My compariot ate his favorite steak, rare! The atmosphere in the resturant belt is very hip and feels very safe. At the ground level is Seattle Coffee, Starbucks and Coffee Beans. The night warms up the all the patrons enjoying the beverages and company.

It is something I do not get a chance to enjoy at home. I always go to a coffee joint in the mall. I wish we have something similar as in GreenBelt, Makati.

GreenBelts

Makati, the shopping heaven in Manila. I am staying in a hotel right beside GreenBelt shopping mall. There is lots of expensive brand stores. Not my kind of shopping. Luckily, for me there are 3 different chains - National Bookstore, Fully Booked and Power Book.

There are many excellent resturants. We just had dinner in Chilli's. There is Bumpa Shrimps and other local resturants.

Window shopping is my favorite pastime while travelling. I get to exercise(ok only a little). I get to see products and browse through books. Plenty of different coffee joints to experience. Best of all window shopping is free!

Project Peranakan

Today is a rush from one place to another for tuition and school project. It is Peranakan Project day. We drove to Joo Chiat Road and take pictures of the shops and the facade of the buildings in the yore days. For food we tried Bak Kut Teh or pork ribs soup. The food is good but a tad on the expensive side. We had a medium size claypot of ribs mixed with stomach, liver and intestines. A side dish of salted vegetable and claypot tofu.

It is a hot and humid afternoon. We feel tired and dehydated walking for an hour. There is an Antique Shop that sell old Peranakan articles along East Coast right between 328 Katong Laksa and Mee Chin Coffeeshop famous for Kaya(coconut jam). At the Antique shop, I saw my favorite appetitizer, Nonya Achar. I bought a bottle for S$10. Kind of expensive. This food will bring me nostalgia to the days when I was growing up, so I think it is ok to pay the handsome price.

Night Out at AMK Central

Ang Mo Kio Town Central is extremely busy on weekend nights. People are out in force. It seems like everyone is busy eating or shopping. I was out to look for a headset for my cellphone. It is obsolete and next to impossible to buy. I guess I have to go to Sim Lim Square to see if it is still available.

There is a food pasar malam(night market) right beside the multistorey car park. Loads of deep fried tasty and absolutely unhealthy snacks. Luckily there is a fruit stall for those who like to live healthily. I bought some Taiwanese King Mango. 3 giant mangoes for $10. It is a good deal. I am waiting for R2E2 from Australia and Harum Manis from Indonesia, my favorite mango species.

Spine Adjustments

It is good that my chiropractor adjusted my spine today. I fell on Sunday while practicing rollerblades and it does not feel good in the last few days. My bones are "click" in position. I hope I feel better tomorrow....

Hall of Memories

According to Lobsang Rampa, when a person dies on Earth, his soul will leave the physical body and be born in a different realm. Actually, heaven. Earth is a school and "hell". In the different realm, there will be spirit guides who will ease us into the new world just like a doctor and nurse who delivers babies to our world.

Once we acclimatise, we will be brought to the Hall of Memories. In the Hall of Memories, our life will be reviewed. After reviewing what and how we live our life in Earth, there will be counsellors to help us understand the lessons we have learned and assess whether we need to return to Earth for more lessons. Achieving great material wealth is not much credit. Helping other fellow earthlings and saving lives on Earth get the most credit.

Many a times I wonder and wonder. Have I done any thing to get ahead? Will I be "promoted" to the next level i.e. going from Secondary 4 to JC 1? Should I be so focus on day-to-day living rather than doing altruistic deeds? What lessons was I supposed to have before being born on Earth again? Will I have regrets in this life? How about reliving all my embarrassing moments?

For now, Hall of Memories is distant memory. Life goes on...

Balance is a Good Thing

My back is sore and right forearm tender. This is the result of falling while roller blading. Learning to balance while moving is challenging for 88kg man. The force of falling is tremendous and instinct on breaking falls is totally wrong. So far I have been resisting and putting my body to a full stop. I still need to learn to relax instead of tensing up, roll my body instead of forcing it to come to a stop immediately and absorbing all the kinetic energy into my bones, tendons and muscle.

If I can balance well, then no fall. Which means no injuries, no sore back and torn muscles. Balance is a wonderful thing and I wish I learn this kind of skills while I was young and light weight.

Escape in Fantasy aka Stress Relief

My reader suggest I should read more fiction and escape into fantasyland as it improve health. I agree with his(I assume it is a guy) advice. Reading for escape is even better than watching dvd. Imagination and translating words in images in the mind is a good way to keep our mental faculties sharp and young. Reading just for pure enjoyment is an a great way to relief stress. No need to think about work, just the excitement and adventures.

007 series has a great plot and Ian Fleming build the climax and end with a little loose end for example in You Only Live Twice, the Ama Girl in the Japanese Island is pregnant and was about to ask Bond to marry her when Bond gave her a piece of paper with Russia written on it. She remembers her words to the Shinto priest and decided help Bond to go to Russia so that he can regain his memory...

Just Enough

This a recent book I acquired from Borders. It is a very interesting for me. The writers were a research fellow and Professor from Harvard Business School.

Why is it interesting? American media has been hero worshipping on business achievement. The pursuit of money and the quickest way to get rich. Articles are abundunt on new records. Biggest amount of money earned in the shortest possible time. The compensation for CEOs keep hitting new record highs.

This book examine the SUCCESS. Success in 4 compartments - Happiness, Achievement, Significance and Legacy. Achievement about work, career, money or in school, academic performance and in sport, championship. Achievement in school, business or career override and overwhelm the other 3 areas. As I read this book, I feel so much better about myself for not moving up in my career. Yes, I have plateau. I count my blessings in watching my kids grow up. I have time to exercise and keep fit. Although I still spend plenty of money on health and dental care.

The area I am still lacking is significance. That is community involvement. I may want to do more in this area when I retire from work...

College Kids

My #5 neighbour's son is in college. Last night, a group of his friends come over and swam late at night. This morning when I woke up at 6 am, they were still at the pool side. I wonder why they do not need to sleep. It may be the excitement of friendship, gossips, sharing story or just plain showing off that young, strong men do not need sleep. Luckily, they were not rowdy. I wonder if they disturb other neighbours who sleep without aircond.

K'Nex

B1 had dental appointment in Mount Elizabeth. Since I have to wait, I might as well eat the nazi lemak in Lucky Plaza. It is quite popular and usually has long queue. Right beside the food court is a Bargain Bookshop. There were plenty of fiction and also some non-fiction as well as children book. There were K'Nex kits on sales for 3 dollars that B3 was interested in. So I bought a bridge and robot for him. He fix them up the moment we reach home. After that, he take out the old kit that his two older brothers had and start to meddle with them.

It is funny. He did not play with any of his elder brothers' toys. Somehow toys in the store are more interesting. Now that he experience the K'Nex, he is now exploring the bigger set and meddling with them to try out different setup. $6 is a worthwhile investment as he is now playing the old sets that cost probably more than $200.

I am now getting more value for the old toys:)

You Only Live Twice

NTUC Fairprice in Thomson Plaza has book sale outside their checkout counter. Ian Flemming books were on sales for S$6 each. It has been a long time since I read fiction. I bought a copy of You Only Live Twice. It is an engaging book. Was hard for me to put the book down when interrupted. The story is about super spy, James Bond and his escapade with SPECTRE. Bond is addicted to nicotine, sake and sex. I guess the classic formula of sex and power make interesting story.

After finishing the book, I watch the dvd version by Sean Connery. The movie has lot of action but do not follow the story in the book. The elements and key characters are there like setting in Japan, Ames divers, Tanaka the Intelligence chief, etc. However, the movie did not bring out the Japanese culture well and also the actresses well not as pretty or beautiful as described in the book.

It is enjoyable to escape in fantasyland once in a while and take a break from business and leadership topics.

Weekend!

I am looking forward to learning how to rollerblade again. Coming Sunday will my lesson number two. It is fun learning with my baby boy. Tomorrow is just mad rush going from one tuition place to another.

On top of this, there are still work to do finish up.

Two days in Kuala Lumpur

I was in KL on Monday and Tuesday and stayed in Sunway Lagoon Hotel. Internet access cost RM50, an outrageous amount. There are free internet in Sunway mall and the coffee shop. I was too tired to surf the internet in the mall or at a cafe as the day was long and it was one meeting after another.

Hence I did not update this blog for two days.

Sunway Mall has a new wing. There are lots of new stores. I think KL is a shopping heaven. There are plenty of resturants with unique flavours. Plenty of old style coffee franchise as well. Hawker food at premium price but served in a nice environment and complementary WIFI.

KL is wonderful city except for the crime. It is very vibrant and has my favorite pastime Mega-bookstores like Borders and Kinokuniya for browsing. MPH is big but selection is tired.

I was embarassed by birthday celebration in Friday's. I was made to stay on the chair and had to sing which was impossible for me. The song cannot be a nursery rhyme or children song or a whole of other elimination to ensure high level of difficulty. I gave some friendly threat of dismissal for the one who put me on this tight spot. Very quickly, the waiter was happy to accomodate after realising it may not be a good idea to force most senior guy, actually the only old guy on the table. I got off with a speech. Phew!

Finally, I am Getting Proper Lesson...

Last Sunday morning, I was cycling in SengKang Park. This is unusual as I usually hangout in Bishan library waiting for B3 to finish his gym. B3 decides to stop gym. In SengKang Park, we met Martin, who had a bunch of roller blades. I guess he must be an instructor. He is starting a new class in the park.

I had falls. I had pulled my hamstrings. I had plenty of "mishaps" learning from books. This morning is the first time I have proper instructions on roller blade. It is so much better to learn for a live instructor. There is immediate feedback and coaching. I now can practice the skills properly. Hopefully after the lessons, I can skate properly.

Family Business

It is routine stuff today. B3 had his Chinese tuition. I had breakfast meeting with my brother-in-law. I am coaching him on his family business. It is really complicated at times. Father and son may not be a good combination. Father learns through experience. Son want to be trained like being taught in school. Philosophical differences. Father is benign and Son is controlling. Father overrides Son's instructions.

I am the mediator. I came up with compromise solutions and suggestion for them to agree and implement. I think the business has lot of potential and under proper coaching my brother-in-law is on his way to greater heights.

Weekend

The weekend is upon us. Time for a change in pace and different activities. It is tuition, shopping malls and riding bike time. Whoppeee! Time for the kids and wife. Time to relax? Maybe it is time for different kind of responsibilities.

Maybe we can go to the reservoir to catch lobsters. Life in Singapore is work, work, work and more work. Kids have no life but to study. No time for social activities to develop social skills and EQ. Break time for boys is computer games. Usually violent games like World of Warcraft. No more catching spiders, fighting spiders, marble, chatek kicking and top spinning.

Feeling Unwell and Positive Outlook

B2, boy number 2 has been feeling unwell. He felt like he is having fever but no fever. He is all worried as there are two cases of H1N1 in his school. I am having a nagging headache and a general malaise myself. I am wondering if it is the bug in the air and surround or stress or plain paranoia.

Today is a heighten state of paranoia every with news bombarding us with all the bad news. The pandemic, global warming, financial crisis, economic , unrest and the like. The scale of all these problem are something we as individuals have very little control over.

The good news despite all the doom and gloom is our business is picking up. Factories are humming again. Business is so good that we have trouble supplying to our customers. This is happening around all the different country in Asia. We are now hearing "green shoots" in the economy. I am one of the green shoots. So it look like the economy is turning around.

Change or No Change

Big announcement at work. After months of speculation, waiting, suspense and anxiety, it is over. It is official! Out of 300 in the big team on 7 roles will be eliminated. This is more of a whisper than a shout. What a relief for all. Still I think many are shaking. We can now move on and come with our life.

People are hard to please. The key complaint from leaders are people resistant to change. Most if not all the time, they meant other people. Rarely, does a leader look at himself. If one change all the time, then the description for such behaviour is called spineless.

To change or not to change. That is the question!

The Police Commissioner

Today, during lunch time, I met my ex-neighbour, the Police Commissioner. He is a booklover like me and is looking to buy books at 30% discount. I was doing the same thing. I bought The Spirit Level and it is about Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better and ...

Just Enough which is by two Harvard Professors. Apparently there is an ancient Chinese story. The Emperor grant a man any amount of land he can mark by walking and it will be his forever. He spends a year walking and marking out the land. Finally, he start walking back to the Palace. As he walks, he start thinking about his sons and future generations. How about access to the ocean? They may need that in future. So he continues to walk marking out more territory. After 10 years, he reach to the ocean and start walking back. Another 10 years later, he reach the Palace. He walk in to seek an audience with the Emperor and fall dead.

It seems in life many of us are in the same situation. Always striving and finally do not get a chance to enjoy the fruits of our labour.

NYDC

NYDC in Wheelock Place is a favorite cafe for me to go and relax while shopping in Borders. I brought my boys to Borders after lunch. B1 had to go after 15 mins as he had tuition. B3, the baby enjoys browsing the pop-up books. He had a good time looking and guessing the animals that pops up. B2 go to EpiCenter as usual to look at all the iPod accessories. It is his hobby to look at the different designs and compare the differences and decides which features he like.

Shopping for books can be tiring. We had tea break in NYDC. I had tea while my boys had spaghetti. The service at acceptable. The food is reasonable. The range of drinks is fantastic. It is also every fattening. The Elephantino drinks are like those in US. It is huge and rich. Full of calories. I would suspect the calories may be more than the full meal. It is so sinful and so delicious. Enjoy now and pay later is my motto in NYDC.

Learned Something New from Chief Steward

I had an interesting conversation with the Chief Steward on the way back home via Airbus 380. The uniform of Stewards has changed. Before the change, it was easy for me to recognise the rank of Stewards. Cabin crews are uniformed group like Army and Police. There is a ranking and clear pecking order.
Light blue was Steward(bottom of the totem pole). Deep Navy Blue was Cabin Supervisor(Big Cheese!) Right now I just can't recall what were the other colours but I know it when I see them. It is Leading and Chief i.e. a total of 4 ranks, Steward, Leading Steward, Chief Steward and Supervisor. Boh Tong will be able to help me out here.
Today, all the Stewards wear the same colour jackets. Only tie colour determine the rank. I confess to the Chief Steward that I cannot recognised the ranks anymore with the tie. It is very easy, it actually follows the colour of Singapore Dollar Notes.
One Dollar(before becoming coin) was Blue in colour, Five Dollar is Green, Ten dollar is Red and Hundred Dollar brownish Purple. Now it became clear to me. True insight just like koan in Zen. The stewardess rank is exactly in the same colour order. With this system, I can tell right away the rank. I have the "flash"! Enlightenment!!

The Singapore Girls

Prius

Toyota has a show room near the Tokyo Big Sight.

North Indian Resturant

It is amazing that Tokyo actually support a North Indian Resturant. The food is quite authentic and very tasty. We had mango lassi, mutton biryani, naan, mutton tikka and tandoori chicken. The food taste is similar to those in India. I was a little surprised. The only complaint is biryani rice is the Japanese sticky rice instead of Basmati rice.

The naan was nicely stretched and crispy part is just right brown. It is a good dinner.