Massive Traffic Jams Around Suntec

At 3:15pm, we exit Suntec carpark to Nicoll Highway. The traffic hardly move. It is an impossible situation. I wonder if this has something to do with setting up for F1 race. Every green light move a few cars only. Maybe COMEX is so popular. Many are buying all kinds of electronic gadgets. I can observe them at Ya Kun and the food court while waiting for my boys. Maybe the economy is not so bad. Or it is the "new and innovative" economy that is thriving and growing.

COMEX

The computer and electronics exhibition is so packed that the escalator broke down from overload! Loads of new gadgets and deals. B1 and B2, my two older boys are very excited and went there by themselves while I spend time in MPH to take advantage of 20% discount and free membership. Electronics is still growing strong. Price are getting better with improved performance. Many great deals. So my boys are discussing on the merits of the different laptops.

Closure?

It is a quick end to the table tennis saga with a press conference. The poor table tennis manager's job is extended for 3 months. The new head madam still stay and will "take time to learn".

Nice Ride

It is good to be service by the good men and women of SQ. They are polite and keeps offering me drinks. I had a conversation with a steward. The team just came back from Vancouver. He like Vancouver. We chat for a few minutes on Vancouver and Toronto. He wish SQ fly to Toronto. After he joined a few months, the service was stopped because Air Canada cannot compete. I know because I came back to visit Singapore on that flight that go via Frankfurt. I do like SQ to go Toronto. Unfortunately, the Canadian Airlines(now only Air Canada as Canadian Air has been absorbed by AC) are totally uncompetitive with poor service and very outdated aircraft and archaic entertainment system, lobbied the Government to protect the routes. Canada will not progress with this kind of protection. British Airways was very bad before and improved so much that it is competitive internationally.
Government has to realise when they protect their industries, they are causing them to be weak.

Early Start

Will have to rise early at 4:45am Singapore time. This is the not so fun part about travelling. Long day. Early start and late finish. Super long hours working to cramp all the meetings and customers' visits. It pays well. So I am sticking to the tough regime. So "sian" (hokkien for tired) sometimes.

Rewarding Myself

I have been on one major meal per day for the last two days. Tonight I rewarded myself with a chick-a-rib in Outback. Mmm! Soooo Good! No wonder I have weight issue. My weight increased more at home as I snacks and drink too many teh halia and teh-C. Ya Kun kaya and butter toast is very fattening too.
I enjoyed bagel yesterday for breakfast. Toasted bagel and cream cheese reminds me of living in Canada. I miss Canada. When the earth axis shifts, we may be back living in Canada. Of course if we survive the shift.
I am a big believer in a lot of the predictions. My wife feels I am living in a make-believe world of books.

Seoul Warm

It is still summer and weather is warm in Seoul. The walk from the city air terminal to the hotel is pleasant. It is good to check into the same hotel as it is like coming home. There are other nicer hotel near Itewon. I like COEX Intercont as it is walking distance to city air terminal where the bus schedule is every ten mins. Also the underground shops allow me to walk around the mall for exercise and to kill time when I am free.

Terrible Headache

I wake up not feeling too good. In the aircraft, I drank choya umeshu. What a mistake! I am down most of the time with a massive headache and sweating profusely. 7 hours plane ride became a long nightmare. After that another hour and a half of sleeping in the limosine bus. I have to abstain from alcohol to prevent migraine recurrence.

FIRED!!

Well, the Olympic is over. The most interesting news for Singaporeans is the Manager and Coach of our medal winning team were fired. The team is not even back to Singapore to celebrate. The new President of Singapore Table Tennis Association is the new broom that sweeps clean. She started her job a month ago. This may sound sexist... I guess it takes a woman to inflict this kind of pain to the two men. Maybe they may have said something she did not like. I bet the two men are totally clueless. They have no idea what "innocent" remarks can be interpreted by a woman who is "serious".
My deepest sympathy to them. Just as they thought they did a wonderful job of helping Singapore to win a medal in half a century, they lost their jobs. I believe a famous guy once said "Hell is nothing compared to a woman's wrath".

The Culture Code

I like this book by a French anthropologist who now lives in US. Why so many Americans are obese? Food is Fuel. When an American is eating consuming more than what he needs, he is putting it away. The history of America is the wild west. You do not know when your next meal will be. American invented fast food and French slow food. Eat as you go. Movement is health - American Code. When a French finishes dinner, it is delicious. When an American finishes dinner, I am full.
The Culture Code is good story telling. It is actually very interesting and is available in the library.

Websites on Books

What kind of booklover am I without any links to websites on books???
My favourites are now on the Fun Places to Go...

What do I really want?

Eat, Love, Pray author Elizabeth Gilbert insist that there must be really 3 times so that we dug deep into our heart and psyche. I am not sure if it is necessary. That said, I must say this is quite a profound question. Something I rarely asked myself. I think I am in the same boat as most.
Deep in my heart...what do I REALLY want? The list may be long as I written previously. Or do I really want to live a hermit live and purify myself into a living Buddha and cease my karma and rebirth? Be one with unconscious or superconscious. Can I a mortal with limited intellect and consciousness be able to transcend the travails of daily living and live the life of a holy man? Why do I pursue work, career and money? Why do I have family? Why do I enjoy food and have weight problem? Why do I love? Why do I enjoy material life like computer, internet and bigger TV? Reading and pursuing knowledge instead of wisdom. I am always going after external pursuits instead of scaling inner mountains and developing wisdom.
Knowledge and capability I believe is no match for Wisdom. How can I cultivate and grow my Wisdom? What can I do? Or is it I can only attain wisdom by experiencing life itself.
Many questions to ponder over....

Money Management

I am very intrigued by the question of money management by Calvin, my Chinese colleague. I have been toying the idea of doing a session on money management for some time now. Actually, since two of my Malaysian colleagues who attended the Rich Dad Poor Dad seminar two years ago. I wonder how my team members are in managing their finances. One has now bought a terrace house and the other living in Bangkok. The rest I do not know. One thing I know for sure. All who have left my team are making much higher income. An indicator of success for me.
However, earning more money is only part of the equation. I like to educate my team members in Wealth building or at least lead to a part of financial independence. Hmm! I should do a Personal Finance workshop in my next meeting.

Great Deals

We ran out of vegetables and out of stock to cook up lunch for our boys. It is past 12 pm when I reached Fernvale Point. 20cents for a cucumber! I decided to buy one. The green grocer or vegetable seller in local terms gave me great prices for other vegetables as he is packing up for the day. He insist I should buy the tan kuey or gourd for cooking broth. One slice is $1.50 each. He sells to me two thick slices for $1.50. As he pack it into a plastic bag, he gave me two pack of baby kailan for free! Ok the kailan is turning yellow and wilted. He probably have to throw them away tomorrow. I am totally sold by him. I feel great as I walk home. Maybe I can fight inflation by going to buy when stall owners are closing up to pick up great deals.

Hurray! Progress

My weight after Manila trip is below the magic 88kg. Will continue to watch calorie intake especially at home. Next week will be easy as I will out in Seoul. Long hours and infrequent meals and best of all only snacking late at night. So I can expect further reduction. Hmmm! I must stay the course.

Swimming in the deep end

Mandarin Oriental has a deep end in the pool and I thought I will touch the bottom. In order to swim downwards, I have to release air in my lungs to reduce my bouyancy. Touching the bottom, I started to swim upwards. On the way up, my need for air was so high that instinctive I breathe before I reach the surface assuming I have surfaced when I had not. Water gets into my lungs and I choked and hurriedly swim to the ladder to cough out the water. I tried the floor again but this time touching only with my feet. Even so the water so deep that it is quite an effort to get all the way up to the surface. I realised how easy it is to drown. There is no way to make any noise and any one on the pool even lifeguards do not suspect anything.
So if you are swimming out in the open sea, it is even riskier with water currents and waves. Please remind all your kids. I am safe, I thought it is important to record this experience.

Manila!

Land of Buxom ladies! Miss Thailand had been crowned Miss Universe. The next country would be Philippines - the land of Gorgeous Women. Fabulous food at a reasonable price and wide variety of choices. Philippines has lots of potential. Literacy is one of the highest in Asia with highest percentage of population well versed in English, this country has lots of potential all gone to waste due to politics and corruption.

Urrrgghhh!

I now have zoom past 89kg. This is record high! I am very sure this is one record I do not want to break. D24 durians, all day eating and sitting...it is guaranteed to fatten anyone up. Eat when happy, eat when stressed, eat when sad, eat, eat, eat. Nett result weight gain. Discipline when it come to eating is an uphill task. Maybe I have to look for a different strategy. Exercise and calorie counting is the key. I enjoys food too much and also feels hungry most time. And not hungry has the compulsion to try out food.
Battle of the bulge continues....

Gooooodddd Morning!

6:45am. Dawn is interesting as the light from the sun showing up slowly in the east turning the sky from dark blue to lighter and lighter shade of blue. Orangey colours when the sun is about to peep above horizon. The cocks will be crowing and birds chirping and chattering as if calling each other to wake up.
Looking out from the roof just like being in a resort in Malaysia. A clear view of the sky. The quiet sounds of nature. It is something we now rarely enjoys in the hustle and bustle of city life. High rise buildings and reduced greenery put us out of touch with the "kampung" close to nature living. City living is so convenient and full of man-made entertainment - resturants, shopping, cinemas, library, tv, computer/internet...
I love connecting with nature!

Food Allergy - 2nd Episode

Fatty Crab was on my banned list for a long time. The reason is I was sick after eating there and thereafter we did not go to this place anymore, at least not when I am around. This time another team member is hit. It is awful. The symptons are similar - severe headache, nausea, cold sweat, diarrhea and miserable. The body is total out of action and in pain and royal discomfort! There must be something in the seasonings or the crabs may not be fresh as the taste will be cover up by the strong flavorings.
I am so glad I was not affected. As I write, the bring memories of the durian, D24, which I think deserves it title "Sultan" as it tasted heavenly and its flesh is just like custard.

Team

I have stopped focusing on work for sometime. I cannot resist putting an entry as work is my passion. We get together as a team every quarter. This quarter's meeting was very productive and the team is very open and share a part of their lives not related to work. We had a session on Happiness. The common themes for happiness for our group of 11 are Friends, Family, Kids, Grandparents/Parents, Independence, First paycheck/bonus, Recognition, Being Alone, Giving Gifts to family members and others. It is quite easy to be happy. Focus on the Family as Dr. James Dobson's daily column in Today - the free newspaper.
I am very happy to have a wonderful team.

Sweetbitter

It was great three days in KL. Fabulous and sumptious buffet in OneWorld Hotel. Designer Coffee during coffee breaks sweetened with cookies and biscotti. Dinner at Penang Village and Fatty Crabs washed down with Chendol, Lychee Tofu and bittersweet, custardy D24 durians. We really enjoys food and more good food. Trouble with wonderful meals is weeeeight!! I gained a kg in 3 days. Now my weighing scales read 88.5kg at night. This is because I skipped dinner tonight. If I did not, I am very sure the scales will go past 89. Now the bitter part. It is time for diet and starve myself.

The Night is Young

Two days of meetings and teambuilding. We have fabulous food. Eat enough to gain some serious weight. Sigh! We have life backward. When we are young, we should have the money to enjoy good and plentiful food. When we get older, we should do exercise program for team building instead of eating. We ended dinner early as colleagues from China went th an ex-colleague and her boyfriend to Ampang.
Dinner was at Fatty's crabs with crabs cooked in two different style, satays and chicken wings. Simple fare, excellent taste! Desserts was D24 durians, mangoesteens and rambutan. We have great bonding...
I took a walk around the resturants in the Curve and it is very happening. The young, good looking(especially female species) and restless are enjoying alfresco dining. I think it must be the hot weather that makes people enjoys staying up late and hanging out with their friends. Alfresco dining is the way to go. In Mid Valley Mall, most resturants are closed by 10pm. Only those on the outside of the "box" with tables and chairs outside are open late.
KLites are night birds. At 11pm, the night is young and teeming with young adults. Cheers to them.

Lucky Me!

I arrived in KL today. So I thought I will check out Borders and see if there is a copy of 4 Hours Workweek. The computer indicates there is a copy in the store. However it is not in the shelf that it is supposed to be located. So the store assistant call another location. After almost an hour (of course I was spending the time productively by browsing all the other books) it confirmed that there is a copy in the Gardens i.e. MidValley Mall and will reserve for me. I have no idea if I will have time to get over as the next two days is meeting from morning till late at night. Anyway, reserving it I may have the chance to go over.
I go over the MPH and check it out. Amazingly, the store assistant who was typing the computer halfway stops and says there is only a copy in the store and walk over to the right shelf to get it. She must know this book well that she no longer need the computer to tell her if it is in the store or the location. I hope this book do not disappoint. The reviews of this book in Amazon.com is not flattering.

The Future of Work

There are more and more interest in the future. I am also trying to figure how to forecast our future so that I can be more prepared. Reading books is my way of learning. Thomas Malone, the author first explain an insight. It is communication that enable human to organise in a bigger and bigger scale. Also through communication that democracy system of government develops and succeeds.
With business, the centralized bureaucracy has developed in the past 100 years or so. Now with internet and emails, new model of work is required. Machines are taking over production of things. Humans are involved in the creation of knowledge. How do we live and earn our living?
I have to read further....

Family

My sisters are over for dinner. It is great to spend some time with my nephew and nieces. I must do this regularly. It is good to bond with my extended family and it is a very happy evening for me. I must do this more often. Family will always prevail over work or money.

Olympic Extravaganza

Watching the TV last night on the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, it is so much bigger and grander than our National Day Parade. The lights and the fireworks is just amazing. The choregrapher is Yimoz. I find it hard to believe this guy will be able to design so many dances and performance. He is just getting credits for all the creative work done by a big team.
Maybe it is fatigue, I also feel that after a series of two extravaganza in a short time period. It looks like the same old same old.
There are plenty of creativity. The effects are spectacular and the fireworks, AWESOME.
China has ARRIVED!

All Gone!

I can't believe it! There were 5 or 6 copies of the four hour work week and they are all gone. I browse through but did not buy on my previous trip to Kino. Only soft cover was available. The Kino staff informed me that hard cover is not available in Kino and to try Borders. He also say the price of hardcover and paperback is the same. I was at Kino during lunch and where the 4 hours workweek were was just an empty hole.
All gone! It may be a required reading for book club or a team meeting.

Tui Na

Just discover a tui na or the art of Chinese Bone Manipulation master in Old Airport Road. My left wrist has not recovered after two months. This master was recommended by a fellow diner in the hawker centre. He obviously know that I have had problems with my left shoulder which I wrote about earlier. He "released" the flow and stick some black sticky stuff to my wrist and gave me some pills. There are orange, white and pink. I am supposed to take one each twice a day after food for 5 days. I am supposed to be cured by then.
I must say so far my improvement has been rapid. However I am a bit sceptical that he can fixed in 5days after two months of pain.

Keeping up with the Jones

We are keeping up with the Sngs and Tans. My new and shiny 42" Plasma is installed today. Sng and Tan are my neighbours. Most of my neighbours have bigger TVs than us. Even our latest is not the biggest TV in the neighbourhood. Why plasma? I have be sold by Hitachi who cited a study that more people prefer Plasma. Although in the showroom LCD TVs are far clearer and brighter, I still stick to Plasma as the picture are more realistic and there is no delay for action movies. Delays or response time will cause fast moving actions to be blurry. The Plasma is also cheaper LCD for the same size. Technology advance quickly and price keep dropping. I was convinced by LCD 4 years ago and bought a 32" for $4000. Today the same TV with better features cost below $1,000.
High tech is tough business as the life of a product is no more than 6 months. Price is expected to keep dropping and features keep increasing. A majority of my customers are in high tech and we are constantly under the gun to deliver better value.

Aha!

The Four Hours Work Week is talking about entrepreurship. Getting ideas and making products in China and selling them in internet. This guy is quite successful and intelligent. He is a guest lecturer in Stanford University. He fails in several ventures before achieving his current success. Author also claims there are others who copied his designs but still fails in the business. It is a typical rags-to-riches story in US. The Horatio Alger stories. Have you heard of Horatio? More to come....

The 4 hours work week

At the poolside, an Angmoh (Caucasian) who look like a Big Wig of a Big Company is reading this book. It was featured a couple Sundays ago in book review and it was on a young girl current reading list. I must get this book and see if I can work for 4 hours a week. This sounds like One Minute Manager. I recall a colleague saying it takes more than a minute to read the book. Therefore One Minute Management cannot be realistic. He is quite logical and it makes sense.
However, I do like to find out more about the 4 hours work week as it sounds really intriguing.

The Ritz Carlton Millenia

It is full dress rehearsal for National Day Parade this evening. Prelim exams for "O" level was over yesterday. And B3 has been requesting to go to the parade. B2 has been asking when we are going for holiday. So Mummy checked around yesterday with the various hotels that were offering NDP rooms. She settles on Ritz Carlton as it offers the best view where the parade just right in front of the hotel. She also cut a deal to include all three boys for the meals that comes with the room. Ritz Carlton lives up to its reputation for service. The staff are friendly and makes eye contact all the time. I think they may be a little biased toward teenagers as it seems like the two older boys do not get the service or attention when they need something.
It is the first time for us to stay in a hotel in Singapore. It is just like holiday oversea. All three boys are very excited and enjoys the new and strange environment. It is also the rare time they stay in a hotel.
Ritz Carlton Millenia is luxurious. We stayed in a room with living and dining room. The toiletries are by Bvlgari. The towels are very thick and soft and feel luxuriant.
According to the research on Happiness, it is memories and events that makes people happy and not things. So the money is well spent as our family will be nursing the sweet memories of watching the fireworks that explode their glories directly in front of our eyes.
This is happiness indeed! If you want to know more about happiness, click on Science of Happiness under title my interesting links on the right.

Airconditioner Breakdown

Our aircond breakdown last night. It is hard to sleep well without aircond. The outside temp was not bad and with the fan at full blast it is still bearable. However, aircond is beautiful even though it is not environmentally friendly. Life is hot and stuffy without aircond. Luckily, we managed to fix the aircond. The PCB or printed circuit board broke and it cost $900 to replace. The whole outdoor unit cost only $2,000. So there is something wrong with the way services are charge. With $2,000 I can get one year warranty with brand new condenser and other parts whereas with the circuit board, the warranty is only 6 months. This really defies logic!