Anchorvale Sport and Community Club

Anchorvale has a nice swimming pool with slides. There are three gardens under contruction and look ready in a couple of months. There will be a foot bridge with an island in the middle built across the river to connect the Sport Club to the garden. It will be a popular place to pastime in future.

No Rain

I am wondering why the rain stops coming. It is quite unusual for this time of the year. All the grass are brown and dry. I am glad we have water from Johore River and recycled Newater. Our garden plants need more water than usual. The sky is also clear and visibility is very high. I can see all the commercial aircrafts cruising at immense height. Weather is nice and cool.
What is happening? I do not remember such winds and cool temperature.

The Joy of Blogging

When I am not feeling good, when I am down, when I am stressed, when everything that can go right go wrong, it is blogging time. My fellow blogger, Boh Tong and friend encourages and console me. I felt so much better now. This is the wonder of blog. Not only it is an outlet, it also allow stress and sorrows be shared, friends to stay in touch and be updated. Joy will be doubled just like my son's "O" level results.
Yes, blogs and blogging, the joy of blogging indeed.

Goddess of Mercy

Not feeling too good this morning. Sigh! So I go to Queens Street Temple to pray. After praying, I still did not feel very good. The "cheems" or the prayer lots I got for my kids and myself were good. Somehow my gloom did not dispel much. Work is stressing me out. Now as the news get reported in the TV, bad news on many front are overwhelming my senses. I am feeling numb...

Is News Reporting Reflective?

It is gratifying to read that prices are not going up for this Chinese New Year. Be it barbershop or market produce, prices are supposed to be the same. I am not sure if this is accurate as I found prices for fish is higher today in NTUC. There is a long queue at Bee Kim Hiang, so I was curious to see if the price was same as before and I am very disappointed that prices has gone up. Maybe price stability does not includes the compulsory treat of sweetmeat. Now I wonder if I am forming opinion that may not be accurate when I read the papers.

A Father's Pride

"O" level results were out this week. B1 had 3 A1s and 5 A2s. He was hoping for better results as he "worked" for it. Frankly, B1 only spend probably 6 weeks studying for his exams. I wished he had spent more time. However, I am very proud of my son. He is a straight As student. This is actually amazing result. He outperform my "O" level by a mile. I hope he get into the JC of his choice.
I am bursting with pride!

A Food Paradise

Sorry for not blogging the last few days. I was caught up with work and family. Yesterday, I arrived in Penang. After my meeting, we had lunch in a coffee shop Tee Kee. Tee Kee serves roast duck, braised tofu and eggs, boiled romaine letture and chye beh(preserved vegetable). Taste is home-cook (well sort of, actually much better) and Teochew style. I had my favourite carbo (carbohydrate) Teochew porridge. The meal is very delicious, a Michelin 3-star. The cost is even more amazing. RM24 for 4 persons i.e. slightly over $10 Singapore dollars.
In the evening, my host brought my colleague and me to a hawker center where local go instead of Gurney Drive, the famous hawker center. Gurney Drive hawker center is like Newton Circus in Singapore. Food is expensive and poor value. Where the locals eat, excellent strong tea for RM1.20, out of this world taste haemee soup for RM2.50, charcoal grilled satay, very tender and wood flavoured from the grill for mere RM0.60 each and mouth-watering Penang char kuay teow for RM3.30.
Man! Penang is heavenly, a food paradise!

Stress ECG

Health Screening Day! I was up bright and early to TTSH aka Tan Tock Seng Hospital. TTSH has set up a new department for health screening and it is a profit oriented department. The service is personable and courteous. The staff will check if you are looking for something and help you out immediately. The treatment is like guests in a hotel. It is quite different from the regular wards where getting ignored is typical and there are more "NOs" and "Don't" and "Not Allowed" rather than how may I help you attitude in the Health Screening Dept.
I opt for an ECG stress test for my additional option. To do this test I was wired up to an ECG machine and Blood Pressure Monitor. Then I have to walk on the treadmill at the brisk pace and the pace increase very 3 mins. Not only the pace increase, the incline also increase so that the effort required increase at an exponential rate. I managed to stay on the treadmill for 10 mins. I could have continue for another 30 secs but do not want to be a fallen hero. That is if I work myself to exhaustion, I may fall down the treadmill. It will be unpleasant indeed. The good news is my heart is strong and healthy. My ST segment was stable under stress. Therefore I will keep riding my bike.

Discovery at the Library

Our National Library is progressive and up-to-date. There are ebooks accessible via the internet. I go to Bishan Library regularly while waiting for my youngest attending his gym class. Today, I discover that there are audiobooks as well. I am pleasantly surprised. Audio books allows multi-tasking. Can drive and read or surf and read, hm! More efficient and better use of my time!

Is the Mass Media making things worse?

News means exceptions. Can the current news spread fears and therefore make bad economic situation worse? People are spending less when all the bad news impact the psyche and Asian usually are prudent and conservative will become more so. Hence the economic will contract further. What is real? Can higher spirit level or God change the economic situation of the globe? In Japan, the annual visitors to the temples to offer their prayers for the new year increased this year. Does praying help? Will God answer our prayers for a improving and growing economy?

Economy Turning Around?

Oil price and other commodity prices are stablizing and even going up. This is a clear sign the economic crisis is flattening out. Is it the bottom? Maybe. With all the governments working in concert, I believe economic activities will start to grow again.
We are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. By 2nd half of 2009, life will become brighter again.

Working Late

It is past 11pm and my office manager and I are still working. This is the fun of working in a global organization with offices in different time zone. I am happy my office manager is responding to my coaching well and she is working towards improving her competency.

Warmer and the Good News is...

Singapore is getting warmer. This decade is 0.5 celcius higher than previous 50 years. The increase in temperature is increasing at a faster rate. Is it global warming or is it not? There is no clear evidence. The good news is the tide level has not change. That is the water level at high tide has not change. I live near the river where at high tide, the road is about 3 feet higher than the water level. If the water level rises, it will be a real problem for me to get home.

Pay Cuts

It is on the news that NWC or National Wage Council may recommend wage cuts to save jobs. It is a series of unfortunate incidents. First inflation from 2007 through to first half of 2008. Then in September 2008, financial crisis cause by toxic debts cumulating collapse of investment bank, Lehman Brothers. The financial crisis has now spread to the "real" economy and economies are shrinking, jobs losses or threats of job losses are mounting. Hence, NWC is seriously considering wage cuts as a way to save jobs.
Taxi drivers business has dropped by 20% in pre-CNY period. This is very unusual and barbers are not increasing their price. These are signs of times. It is the worst of times. Best of times may be coming soon...

Weak, Weaker, weaker, wea...

Business is down. Terribly down. First time in years, 7 years to be exact that I see this kind of result. It is a nightmare with all the evil globins biting you all night long. How long more will I be stuck in dreamland? I can wait to wake up.

Eat, Pray, Love

Elizabeth Gilbert has a sense of humor. This book is about her travel around the world after a messy divorce. Liss as she is called by her guru must be making more money than her ex-husband. He demanded the house, the leased apartment and all the furniture they owned. In addition, he also want the money from the books she wrote, the royalties from any movie rights which is basically her future earnings.
Sounds like she done the right thing by divorcing a good-for-nothing man who intent to live off a woman's future earnings. I cannot believe a man would feel he is entitled to money just because he is married to a woman for a few years.
Good riddance! Like a fairy tale, Liss goes through a rocky road and hardship and finally she achieved peace and love. She is now married to another man.

Poor Story Teller

I was pouring out my grievances of my nasty SOB neighbour to another neighbour. I could not remember or repeat the story intact. Jumping all over the whole scenario. I am really bad at repeating words or relaying a story. This is why until now I did not write any story.

Petty Neighbour

What do you do with a unfriendly and petty neighbour? I love my home. We enjoy living here. Then a neighbour that sucks can spoil everything.

New Year Resolutions

I do not know what so important about resolutions and why people make them to break them. If you do not have resolutions or make any resolution, then there will be none to break. So why do people keep saying they will make a resolution to keep their resolution? This is tired cliche. Just like saying to a gorgeous looking girl "haven't I met you before?" in a bar.
I am not a believer in New Year Resolutions. "Just Do It" is the motto I have. Make resolution any time and just do it. Well, sort of. Except for weight which until now I have not conquered. I kind of think that I will finally face up to the fact I have to adopt Andrew Weill's philosophy. As long as you exercise and stay healthy, don't worry about weight. Andrew Weill is a well known Wellness author.

Jobs Available!!!

Earn up to $4,500 per month during training. Start at min $5,000 per month once trained. Sound too good to be true? Many dubious ads like this on future trading, commodities trading, or other get rich quick schemes?
It is from the Government of Singapore. Be a teacher. It is recession proof and totally an iron-rice bowl. If you get promoted to Principal, you can earn more than 12,000 Singapore dollars per month.

Mad Rush at Kinokuniya

Kino has a yearend sales of 20% storewide. This mean you need not pay for the $21 membership to get the discount. The queue was madness. I thought I will go and get some of the books David Connors, CEO of OCBC read. The books by the physicist Feynman is a little "deep" or rather technical and dry. I did not manage to find Quality by Philip Crosby on management techniques. I have Good to Great, a book he read when he first joined OCBC in 2002.

Jingle All The Way

Arnold Schwarzenegger star in this old Christmas movie. Arnold is an executive with no time for his family. He is busy cutting deals and solving his customers' complaints. The hottest toy is Turbo man and is a must-have for all the boys. Arnold forget to buy the toy and in his search for the Christmas gift, he have lots of mishaps and misadventures. Another father is in the same straits as him and fight with him all the way for the last Turbo man from radio show. As luck has it, Arnold running away to avoid the police officer whose bike was knock by Arnold in haste, and after in a second incident, cause him to fall and spill coffee all over his uniform, was mistaken as a stand-in for the Turbo man for the Christmas Parade. Arnold became Turbo man and fly up to save his son in distress. He became a hero and win back his wife's affection and his son's admiration.

Renewing Friendship

Two of my old friends come over for dinner. It is great to catch up with old friends. I make my signature rojak dish for dessert. We had R2E2 Australian mangoes as well. R2E2 is at a good price with the weak Aussie dollar. Giant was selling them at $2.65 each a couple of weeks ago. Now it is on sale in Carrefour for $2.95 each. They are huge mangoes and full of flavours. This is now can compete with harum manis, the Indonesian mango.
Humans socialise over food. I used to think only Asian does. Chinese used food more than Westerners. West prefers alcohol beverages for social networking. Alcohol depresses the brain and make people feels relax.
As for me, my beverage for social glue is tea. Hot English tea from India and hot Chinese tea from China.

Sex!

Sex sells! Magazines must have articles like What your man want you to Know in Bed?, 7 Ways to drive Her Wild, Tao of Lovemaking, etc, etc. Well sextories bring in traffic to blogs as well.
I wonder what other ways are there to attract more traffic? I should blog about The Art of Driving Your Mistress Crazy for You or How to Make Any Woman Desire for You!

Gardening Day

Today, it is time to renew my tiny patch of green in front of my house. We first remove the old plants that were becoming untidy and unhealthy. Then we bought heliconia to change the landscape. It is back breaking work to dig out the soil and plant in new plants from the nursery. The old soil were replace with new black humus compost-like soil. Our garden look refreshed with a new look. It is nice to relax after a day of hard work and see the result of the efforts.

Inconsiderate Driver

On Christmas Eve near to noon, an incident sticks out in my mind. Parkway Parade was very busy and massive amount of cars going in and out of the carpark. There is a black SUV on the way out and then notice a car was about to get out and decided to wait for the slot. Meanwhile on the way in is a long queue of cars. This black SUV is blocking all other cars on the way out. The car the SUV waiting for took an extremely long time to move. He has kids but it is like he enjoys making people wait. Then the black SUV is super inconsiderate as well as she felt that the whole line of cars behind her should wait for her.
The driver is a pregnant Indian. This is the first time I have seen such rude and inconsiderate woman driver. I felt that she is acquiring the maximum bad karma!

Merry Christmas

It is a peaceful day. No news is good news. A Buddhist by heart and action, I still love Christmas. As I watch Channel News Asia on the significant of Christmas, the birthday of Jesus Christ, I realised as a Singaporean, I enjoyed all religious festivals. Vesak Day or Hari Raya Puasa are holidays that all Singaporeans enjoy. We are very lucky to live in a place where racial and religious harmony are achieved.
May peace be on earth.

Parties Galore!

Many neighbours are celebrating Christmas. The French two doors away, 3 households opposite my unit. It is real party time. Christmas is a celebration of joy and happiness. May the new year be a happy one.

Tonight is an exciting night for Children,

Children of the world who believe in Santa Claus. Santa Claus is coming to town. You better watch out, You better not shout, Santa Claus is coming to town. He is making a list and checking it twice, Who is naughty or nice, Santa Claus is coming town....
I am watching an old musical right now titled "I am dreaming of a White Christmas". It is kind of slow but the storyline is touching. I can write my blog an watch the movie at the same time.

White Christmas

Looks like Canada and US is having a White Christmas. My favorite holiday is Christmas. I love Christmas after living in Canada. It is a long holiday from Dec 24th to Jan 2nd. No work! So it is great if it snows. It is very nice to watch snow falling from a window inside a warm house. Big bookstore like Chapters have fireplace and you can buy Starbucks coffee and browse the books by the fireplace. I like the romance of fireplace place. As a kid, I enjoyed reading fairy tales and there is always a fireplace in some of the heartwarming tales. Fireplace, good book and a good cup of cappuccino. Mmmm, this is life!

Monsoon Winds

Nice cool winds from the North bring forth rain and cool temperature. The winds are strong and kite flying is a favorite pastime in Anchorvale. Stunt kites can do amazing "kiteobatics" like climbing up vertically and diving straight down flipping back just before touching the ground. They can spins clockwise and counterclockwise in a flash.
There are many radio control planes enthusiats as well. The planes are quiet electric type. I used to love model planes. Somehow the fire has died down. Now, I just fly toy planes that has limited control. Sigh! ...though his dreams are coming true, they are no longer as exciting. There are new dreams...

Nude Pictures of Shu Qi

I was reading yahoo news on Zhang Zi Yi being voted the Most Beautiful Person in the world. The thumbnail pictures contains topless Shu Qi. Clicking on the thumbnails will bring you to Shu Qi's website. Shu Qi is promoting her sex kitten images with plenty of topless and nude pictures.
Here is the link:http://www.shuqi.org/otherworks/cd.shtml

Family Time - Simple Pleasures

My sisters are over to my place for dinner. We have turkey, pork ribs, bbq chicken wings and sushi. My nephews and one niece came along. It is very good to see all of them. I enjoys cooking and cutting out fruits for them. As I skin the large R2E2, we make small talk. About car park fine, about how the principle of keeping the road clear is not really true. Seems like revenue enhancing program. It is incredible that car parking fines can run to a few hundred millions Sing dollars every day. This is indirect taxation!
The visit is short and sweet. In the few hours, we reconnect and renew our family ties.

Christmas is coming

Christmas will be upon us next week. Christmas shopping is still hot. Long queue at wrapping counters. Gifts buy is still in vogue. It is a subdue but still Merry Christmas. With economy cooling down, retail is still good. I am glad to see people spending and keeping the economy going.

Bombs at Printemps, Paris

For those who know Paris, finding a public toilet like looking for diamond in a desert. It cost 2 euros to get entry into a public toilet if you can find one. 2 euros is equivalent to $4 in Singapore currency. The most expensive entry to a public toilet in Singapore is 20 cents. Anyway, to answer nature's call in Paris is to go to a big department store.
Printemps is wonderful high end department store. It is a pity that Printemp close shop in Singapore. Anyhow, there are public toilets in Printemp. It is one of the few places to answer call of nature for few. The other is Galleria Lafayette.
Five sticks of dynamites were found in male toilet at level three of Printemp. I went to that toilet when we were in Paris. Luckily, it was just a warning with no detonator. Still a terror attack is a horrible thing. Even on holiday, it is not safe.

Chiropractor - The Western Tieh Ta

My neck has been giving me problems since my holidays. I have stiff neck and it is really inconvenient. Turning my body to look left or right is comical to a bystander and it hurts my ego and cause real pains. Tieh Ta or the Chinese bone manipulations is the traditional way of fixing this problem.
Living in Canada expose me to the Western form of tieh ta or spine manipulation. Today I gone to my regular chiropractor for a followup visit from last Friday. He adjusted my spine and cervix. Once my cervix is balanced, I am on the road to recovery.
Chiropractic treatment can be expensive. Treatment usually requires a few sessions. In each session, spine will be adjusted so that it is balanced.
Modern day living with computer work and reading, our necks are put in a strained position for long time. In time, the body rebelled and muscles go into spasm. This is where we need experts to help us regain our balance and relieve our pains.

2009 - What will it be?

Let me be frank. I worry and therefore I pray. I was at Kuan Yin temple just before lunch time to offer my prayers and wish for a stable and good 2009. So what do I think of 2009? Business climate has cooled. It is global cooling! There are many factors. Easiest to blame is the financial crisis. High oil and commodity prices that can drop faster than water going down the Niagara Falls. Oil price drop from a high of more than US$150/barrel to now US$47/barrel in less than 3 months. Other commodities price has suffered as demand drop precipitously. Right now there are so much uncertainty. We have plenty of economists giving their opinions in Channel News Asia. They gave very gray overview. They are the same people who calculated and estimated very optimistic views before the crisis. Hindsight is 20/20. Now there are lots of opinion that the danger signs were there before but ignored.
Governments in the huge economy are scrambling to come up with fiscal stimulus and financial policies that will respond to the crisis.
In time of change and uncertainty, we have to stay to use white water rafting terminology which is very good description of our current environment, bouyant. Bouyancy is staying afloat and letting the water carry us to where it may be. The key is to do minor adjustments as we roll and roil in turbulent water hitting into obstacles and rocks in out-of-control manner. The strategy is react furiously as we get near to rocks that threaten our survival. There may be period of calm but it is only very short time and hopefully catch our breaths before tumbling into white water again. This remind me of my time in Canada. A plant shutdown puts more than C$20million business that I was responsible for at risk. We called it the Brantford Project. Not only did I survived, I became a hero and had a standing ovation in the National Sales Meeting when I was called up for recognition. I was both embarrassed and exhilarated by the feelings that the sales team had such strong appreciation for me.
2009 - we will survived!

Where would I like to Retire?

This is the question I have been pondering for a long time. Canada like my mum? Also neighbouring Asean countries like Malaysia or Thailand. Cost is lower and healthcare is world class. How about passing time? Internet, libraries, bookstores and cafes. These are top on my list of must haves. There must be our local food at low prices. Safety and political stability are other factors to consider. Actually Singapore scores high on the various parameters. The biggest disadvantage is cost. The other strong disadvantage is lack of natural places for entertainment like lakes for fishing, winter sport such as skiing. We cannot go to the countryside for R&R. Our "countryside" is very expensive and is run like vacation business.
I need a hobby farm to grow something useful for human consumption. Singapore is out of the question for this. Maybe Batam or Bintan is another option. Where? The day will come when I have to decide.

Festive Spirit is Here Again

The malls are all decked up in their Christmas finery. In PJ, the Curve is bathe in tiny lights that there is a magical glow. I loved Christmas. Everyone is taking pictures capturing the precious silvers of memories. The mood is bouyant. The atmosphere, the happy crowd and the party goers chattering away... they make me forget there is a financial crisis. In fact, what crisis? Looks like Malaysia is not affected by the current global slowdown. OK! one mall does not represent Malaysia. I bet it is a good indicator. Malaysia as a whole is less affected or maybe the young are less affected. Either way, the festive spirit has rub onto me.
Merry Christmas!

My Hat Off to Esplanade

My family and I was at the Christmas Concert in Esplanade Concert Hall by SSO or The Singapore Symphony Orchestra. The Children Choir was a little slow. The orchestra is magnificent. The traditional Christmas was full of energy and power. It was very vibrant and interesting to see the musicians working in unison. I must say I enjoyed the music so much. After the concert, B3 was hungry and wanted McDonald. We walked over to Marina Square and bought ice cream for him. I had ice blended mango. After our late night snacks, we walked back to Esplanade carpark. I put my right hand into right pocket to reach for my car keys and it was not there. A sense of panic and nervousness started to rise from the pit of my stomach to my chest. I think hard and force myself to be calm. I asked a cleaner if I can get back in the concert hall. He told me to look for the security guard. I saw one at the upper floor and raced to him immediately and told him my situation.
He call on his walkie talkie and asked me to wait. A few minutes later another security guard come over and together with another colleague escorted me back into the concert hall. I raced my seat or what I thought was my seat, bended down to look when I heard a yell. Here it is. The security guard was on one row lower and he can see the floor of my row clearly. There was my car key.
To the security team in Esplanade, my heartfelt thanks!

An Easy Day

No much get done today. Wake up late, have lunch and read outdated newspapers to past time. Public holiday is good for rest and recovery.
The hotels in Europe has bad bed (Paris) and bad pillows (Switzerland). My shoulder and neck is so stiff and my low back is aching. Time to see my chiropractor...

Read and Learn

It is interesting. I enjoyed reading and words give me the experience I need and yearned for. During my most recent Europe trip, my eldest, B1 wanted to try everything and is very adventurous. Meanwhile, I am reluctant to go to the Top of Europe at 11,000 ft as the altitude is high and I do not like the thin air. I experienced running about in Genting highland and then on the way back my body has to adjust and it did not feel good at all. This was when I was young. Now, I am reluctant to challenge my physical capability and push my limits. I also realised I connected well and grasps very quickly when I experience whether it is the scenery or scientific experiments or human behaviours or whatever, live!

Booklover Heaven

Page One is now offering 30% discount. Today in response, Kino is giving 20% off until Christmas. Granted, Kino usually give 20% promotion during school holidays and long weekend. I like it as the book scene get more competitive. Borders 25/30/35% discount is also very competitive. The total discount is just over 40% with the additional discount for members. This is why consumers benefit with competition. Beside price, the range and service has improved. I recalled with MPH was the only big bookstore, the discount is only 10% in August and the promotion is call MPH Book Bang!

Bonding

A trip and doing activities together is great family bonding. The boys played and watched funny shows and enjoying and laughing together. I am really happy to see them bonding and having fun. B3 enjoys his first snow very much. Snowballs fights, big snow man, toboggan, hm! It is a nice change from hot, humid and rain.
It is nice to be back our warm home with sweet memories.

Ahh! Laksa, Bak Chor Mee,...

Yes, food! We just had our meal or dinner Singapore time. It is good to have big boys with big appetite. We ordered yong tau food, bak chor mee, laksa and fried beef kway teow with black bean sauce. Mmmm, so good to taste home. It is like soaking your hands in cold water for 15 mins and then putting your hands in room temperature water. The water feels hot. After spending 10 days in cold Europe with high price, everything in Singapore now feel so cost effective. Yes, cheap!
Before the trip, we always feel Singapore is expensive. Now comparing with Paris and Switzerland, it is very reasonable.

Sledding

Yesterday, we went sledding. We had a guide who make sure we are equipped with the snow boots and then drove us up winding and narrow single lane mountain road. It is quite scary as the mountain is quite steep. At regular intervals, there is a slightly wider area for cars to pass each other. Otherwise only one car can go at any time, up or down. We stopped and park at a cable car station and took the cable car to a much higher point. There is a resturant right at the other station. A couple that came with us climbed up higher. They had to wear snow shoes. We tobbogan down to back to the cable station below.
It is our first experience toboganning as a family. The path is narrow and snow thick. It took about 45 mins to get down. We are going slow to get used to the path and learning to control our sled as well. B3 was with me and he keep asking me to go faster. Mummy take a bit of time the first time down to get used to sledding. It was fun.
This morning is payback time! My muscles are all sore as we are using those we hardly ever use.
I highly recommend toboganning to everyone especially family. This is great family bonding experience.

Switerzland, the Rugged Beauty

The hotel we are living in. It has two bedrooms, kitchen, two bathrooms and a fireplace.


The view outside our living room window.



The river is just right beside our hotel...

Mona Lisa and Effel Tower

Louvre Museum is a formerly a palace and is enormous. Entry is 9 euros for adults and free for 18 years and below. It is spacious and had lots of paintings and sculpture. The paintings are very good. Mona Lisa, the most famous and also the most popular is actually quite a small are at same size as in the painting. Some paintings were even bigger. Looking at the paintingpainting size of a family protrait or A3. There are many life-size painting i.e. the human subjects s, it must have taken the artist a long time to complete the job. Many of the them are life-like. I am not a arty-craftsy type and so I was tired out by the walk. In total, I spent less than an hour. Walking to find Mona Lisa from the entrance take more than 15 mins. After seeing meeting Mona Lisa, I would not say this is a life changing experience.
Going up to the top of Effel Tower in the bitter cold is interesting experience. The weather was gloomy and a little foggy. So the visibility is a little compromised. However the view is spectacular. It is also scary for those afraid of heights. It is quite fun just to go up to be on top of the world, I mean Paris. Paris is a interesting city. There is only one tall modern building. There must be a height limitation as the buildings are not more than 10 storeys high. Another interesting feature is there are many huge doors on the arches along the buildings. Some are entrance for cars. There are more than 12 metro lines. The pedestrian path is quite narrow and Parisens are always in rush.
Taking the metro(MRT) and buses is a cinch and convenient. It is also cost effective. Living in an apartment with a kitchen also save money. You got it! We are touring on economy class.

More Pics in Paris

View outside the kitchen. Living on the top floor mean we get to see the sky.


Louvre Museum where famous Mona Lisa of the Da Vinci Code is just steps away.

A standing room only shower. This shower is even smaller than any of those in the hotels I stayed in Japan!

My bedroom with the skylights!

A picture is worth a thousand words...

Bathtub right in front of our bed. It is like a no bedroom apartment.

Outliers, continue...

Time magazine reviewed this book as well as New York Times. Malcolm Gladwell is a highly accomplished writer to command such interest.
Outliers is a frontal assault on the great American myth of the self-made man says Lev Grossman of Time magazine. It examines the circumstances and environment that make a man successful. Yes, man only! There are no woman example. It makes interesting reading and a lot of the reasonings are sound and plausible. I like it as it mirror a lot of my thinking as well.
Well, best way to get to know about kthinking is to read Outliers.

Paris, Finally

We are in Paris finally. It takes 14 hours from Singapore to Zurich. Then a 3 hours stopover and an hour and 10 mins to Charles De Gaul Airport, Paris. Our flight took off at 1am in the morning. My butt hurts sleeping in the plane.
I had fell from bicycle a week or two ago. I landed right on my butt. I was immobilised by the pain for a few minutes. B3(my youngest boy) was on the bike with me and fell too. He get up with no problem and keep asking why I am not moving. Now I know I have not recovered from my hard landing.
Anyway, we landed in Terminal 2F. We had ordered a pickup and told them the we are in Terminal 2. We were told to find out exactly where we were and call back. There were 10 "separate" terminal in Terminal 2. Fifteen minutes later, we were pick up at Gate 8 by a yellow airport minivan. As we ride the van out, we know why it take so long for the van to arrive. There were 3 terminals! Just to get out of terminal two takes about 3 mins.
The ride to our hotel took 45 mins. We are in a very old building more than 200 years. The room is on the 6 floor and the lift is "Batman-style". The ceiling is low and slanted just like in the attic. There is an open bath right in the bedroom. It is really quaint.
Weather is freezing.

Outlier!

This is a latest book by author of bestsellers, The Tipping Point and Blink, Malcolm Gladwell. I like the chapter on air crashes of Korean Airlines. Korean Airlines has the worst record for air crashes in the world! The reason? Korean respects for authority. It is culture. If the captain does something wrong or did not notice something important, the first officer will politely point it out. If it is ignored or the captain does not do anything, out of deference, the first officer will remind again to reinforce his point but will not be direct. Hence, the aircraft crashed and killing everyone on board. The first officer can't even save himself.
Korean Airlines subsequently hired a Consultant to improve her safety record. This Consultant insist on all pilots and first officers to communicate only in English. They have to learn English with their own money....
I am running out time as I have to get ready for my vacation. Will continue next time....

Forward

I am looking forward to a well deserved holiday. It has been busy and work is just non-stop. I enjoyed working and working hard. It is a good time for a break to bring the family together. In New York Times today, there is an article based on research, the way to be happy is watch less TV. Happy people spend more time socializing and doing other stuff. Cutting down TV bring more happiness. I wonder about internet? Would cutting internet make one happier too?

Interesting Times

Prices are going up and people are losing their jobs. Financial markets around the world are gyrating like crazy. Many people lost their fortunes and some are making their fortunes. What can we do?
Bad news are on the papers everyday. Retrenchments by Global Finance companies are announced daily. Actually is the economy so bad? Shopping malls are still busy and lots of people are still buying. Maybe people are cutting down their purchases. Real Estate prices are dropping except for HDB flats.
As Charles Dickens puts it "It is the worst of times, it is the best of times".

Discount and More Discounts

All the book stores are getting more aggressive on price. Kinokuniya has 20% storewide this weekend. MPH has 20% for 500 titles - not so good deal. I do not know about Times but last weekend, Borders has 25% for 3, 30% for 4 and 35% for 5 books. On top of the 35%, there is an additional 10% for members. Borders has great deals!

Holiday Mood

The weather is cool and we go to NTUC Fairprice to buy snacks for our upcoming trip. Just allowing the boys to buy candies, buying instant noodles, biscuits and preserved fruits(kiam sng tee) makes me get into holiday mood. I felt like we are on holiday already. Our 3 boys are in a very good mood and my spirits are high. Yes, we are all looking forward to our Europe trip.

BT is out for Holiday in Malaysia

I just read that Boh Tong my fellow blogger is off to Malaysia for holiday. I wished him safe travel. I will be going to Switzerland and Paris myself next week. It is holiday season. Merry Christmas everyone!

Hua Ting - Delicious Dinner

We had dinner in Hua Ting. The food was fabulous. The cost is $1,400+ for 17 persons including the drinks. It is a little expensive. However, we had a good time. I enjoyed the meal very much.

Sentosa

It's been a long time since I was last in Sentosa. Today, we had a tour in Fort Siloso. It is hot and humid. There are some hot bodies at the beach. Lot of walking and sweat. Many F&B in Sentosa nowadays. After more than 15 years, Sentosa is quite different now. Cars are normal whereas it was banned before. Plenty of contructions. I can understand why it is no longer popular. The attractions are not so attractive any more.

Red Wine Headache

I did not sleep well last night. I felt my head aches the whole night. It must be the red wine I have to drink as punishment for wrong "signal" in drinking game. I am really a bad drinker. By lunch time, I had to take two tyernols as the headache refused to go away. It was only evening before I feel normal again.
I have no idea why people like to drink. It has the most terrible aftermath. Headaches that is stubborn and it hurts.

Annual Party at Cafe Del Mar

We had annual party in Sentosa. It is my first time since I joined the company seven years ago. Human Resource Manager has changed, so I was invited. Usually, I get invited by the Malaysian side as my office is there. Kind of complicated to explain. Never mind! I had a good time. Just that there were not enough food and I have to order my own food.

Do Not Believe in What is in the News

I read about the DBS layoff and the Chairman says that it was a very difficult decision and all the staff laid off will be given counselling, help to look for another job and other services to ease the pain.
The sad fact is you will not be told that you are laid off. Reporting to work as usual, you will find something unusual. Your entry pass do not work. You wonder why initially. Then another colleague come by and hey presto! no problem. Sorry, you are no longer allow into the office. Man! Don't you get it??!! You are laid off!

Sinking Sands!

Will our IR, integrated resort or Casino be completed? Sands is having problems raising funds since the financial crisis in US. Will Singapore has two Casinos or one? Only time can tell.
I hope we get both our casinos. They will create jobs, bring in tax revenue and make Singapore more vibrant!

Poor Thaksin

I don't mean Thaksin is poor. I feel sorry for him. He is an extremely wealthy man. Now he has no home. He cannot go back to Thailand, UK now do not welcome him. It is not fun. He is a rich guy who went into politics. While he did get richer during his term as Prime Minister, look at all the trouble he is in now.
Money cannot buy everything!

Bagels

Tanglin Mall's supermarket sells freshly baked bagels. Bagels are not commonly available in Singapore. The dough is quite dense and chewy. Bagel is a popularly breakfast item in Canada. I bought 2 at $1.50 each, plain and whole wheat.
Bagels look like doughnuts. It is a ring. To eat, split the bagel into 2 rings and toast it in a toaster or oven. Then butter it when hot so that the butter melts into the hot dough. After that add cream cheese or peanut butter. Eat while still hot or warm.

DBS Retrenching 900

DBS draw first blood. The new CEO was a "people" person according to news when he was hired. DBS made history in the first retrenchment since it existence. When you have an outsider for CEO, this is not unusual. Outsiders do not have the history nor the intimate understanding of the organisation. They are therefore disinterested and can bring forth the sharp knife in order to deliver results. Results that are short term as outsiders are usually hired guns who know their tenure will be short term. This may be the shot in the arm for our government linked bank. It may also send shocks and cause unfold damages for years to come. Damages that DBS will take long time to heal or even not recover.
We can only wait and see.

Great Deals in Borders

This weekend, Borders has a Sale going. The discount is 25% for 3 books, 30% for 4 books and 35% for 5 books or more. Members get an additional 10%. What a great deal! Borders is finally get more competitive in price and will put pressure on Kinokuniya. However Kinokuniya is quite firm on pricing. So far the best deal in Kino is 20% and usually during school holiday. Borders is very busy today. It is also good that Borders did not require a coupon. It is usually a hassle to cut coupons and only one coupon per book which mean you have to buy more copies of Straits Times just to get the discount. It is not environmentally-friendly sales tactic. I like this "Buy more Save more" promotion.

Food That Cause Bad Reactions

I just returned from Malacca and KL. Malacca was a food tasting trip. Our first order after checking into Holiday Inn is to go for dinner. We went to the Portuguese Settlement for seafood. We had crabs, bbq fish, deep fried sotong, otah and rojak. The table is set at the edge of sea. The sea was so dark. There were no ship out. Unfortunately, it was cloudy and the stars cannot be seen. With no artificial lights and clear view of the sky, I am quite sure if there is UFO, it will be seen clearly.
Then day 2, we had satay celup. Satay celup a big pot of peanut sauce in the center of the table just like Korean bbq. You go to the fridge to select the food that come in a long sticks. The sticks are colour coded on based on price. Red-end is RM0.60 per stick and regular is RM0.50. After collecting your choice, just dipped into the satay sauce until it is cooked and sup them up. There were bean curd skin, fishballs, prawns, kangkong... basically anything that can be skewered. After satay celup, we had Bikik Neo nonya food. The nonya food was excellent in taste. Unfortunately, it is also nonya food that cause bad reactions. I could not sleep that night and thought I overeat. I wake up with a migraine. However, after easy breakfast of fruits, juices and cappuccino, I felt OK. However, by lunch time, I was nursing a headache and took tyernol before going for the Malacca famous Chicken Rice Balls. I had a bad reactions and basically returned my lunch into the hotel toilet. Luckily after an hour of rest, I felt much better. So I return to KL with no problem.
Before flying home, I had chicken again as it looks appetitizing. My memory was short! When I reach home, I could not do anything but sleep. I had two tyernol again after a couple hours of nap and return straight back to sleep. I must have slept 14 hours straight. It is terrible.

Eating should not be a dangerous pastime. Seems like my body disagree with hawker foods in Malaysia. I had so many bad experience now with hawker food in Malaysia. They are tasty but cause nasty reactions. So in Malaysia, eat at your own risks!

Obama, President-elect

Yes, I am still amazed. While I do hope that Obama will become the President, there were many doubts especially "The Bradley Effect" where a black man running for Mayor in Los Angeles who was way ahead in polls lost out in the actual election.
Black or white, I hope the new President will be able to improve US standing in the world.

Calm after a Storm

First heavy dark ominious clouds form up in the sky. The rains. After that lightning flashed. Huge and frequently lightning accomplished by deafening thunder. Explosive sounds indeed. Now the sky is clear and everything looks fine.

It is Terrible!

If you want to commit murder and get away with it, come to Malaysia. Prime Minister of Malaysia, once said this in one of his speeches. Today's headlines "Political Analyst acquitted of Murder of Mongolian Model". He is speaking the truth although the audience was having a good laugh as it seems like he was jesting when he said it.
I am not saying this guy did it or didn't. However, the father of the victim felt that his daughter will not get justice right from the start.

Community Gardens

Gardening are now encouraged in small patches in the HDB estates. The oldies are enthused and have less aches and stiffness. It is good for community development and bonding for the old and young. There are fruits like starfruits and passionfruit that were harvested. So growing your own fruits and vegetables has many benefits other than the fruit of our labours.

Obama, For President

Obama looks like will be a good President. He is wise in choosing Warren Buffet to be his financial advisor. Tax the high income and relief the low income. It may seem like wealth redistribution but it is the high income earners who benefits most from the government expenditure and infrastructure building...

Weekend is coming

Yeah, tomorrow is Thank God It's Friday. I wonder the bar TGIF is still around. 1985, my boss, Grant Smith brought to this bar and explains to me what TGIF means. I could not believe people live for the weekends. It was fun to work in Asia. It was until I live in Canada that I appreciate the culture of weekends.
Weekend is the time for family and relaxation. Do your own stuff and determine your own destiny - fishing, shopping or going to the cabin. I learrn to love long weekend where we can do a road trip to a nearby town or city like Upstate New York or Buffalo. In Singapore, weekend mean a trip to the shopping mall...boring.

The Oil Factor

This book was published a few years ago and the scenario it painted have come true. Now it is a bestseller. It is really prescient in predicting the current financial crisis. What good about this book is it recommended what to invest in and when. So if you want to get ahead of the curve for the current financial state, get this book. You can also subscribe to their newsletter. However, it is US focus and may not work for us in Asia well. The calculations commodities are interesting. Overall, it provide a clear explanation of the events unfolding today.

Stock Market is like a Yo-Yo

Prices are going up and down. It is a fantastic time for day traders. However bad time for investors. The stocks I bought recently had come down dramatically even though I bought them at what I thought was a bargain price. Right now it is best to sit tight and hold on and wait till the market stablized.

A Proliferation of....

Snakes! It seems like we see a dead one every day. There were two babies about 1 foot long on the pathway to the playground. There were two on the new road from Jalan Kayu to Compass Point. Urrrrggghh!!!!

Buffet and Gates Go Back to School

This is a video where Warren Buffett and Bill Gates field questions from students of University of Nesbraska. It is very interesting and insightful. The answers are very down-to-earth from Warren. He is just a regular guy. I like his views of the world.

Urine as Fertilizer!

While feasting on the crabs, I asked my fellow diners around my table how to grow vegetables since they should know farmers. The key tip is using urine diluted 50/50! I know that in Cameron Highlands the farmers use urine. It is so simple. I was asking for the type of fertilizer to use and how to make sure they grow big and green. The best part is urine is free!! Googling I found plenty of information on urine as fertilizer. It is amazing that I did not check on the net.
I know talking on bodily excretions may not be the best subject. I learn a lot while having dinner. I am so happy to be a backyard gardener.

Candid Shot of TCS Actor and Actress

This is at a food court in SengKang. They were there with two kids and a granny.

Hairy Feast Pictures

The resturants at the lakeside.










The crabs neatly stacked. Everyone gets a pair i.e. male and female.




My fellow diner smiling away enjoying the delicacy. You can see she is in Seventh Heaven!










The pretty waitress that serves us.

Hairy Times

It was hairy time in a fun way. Hairy crabs are in season and we had hairy crabs dinner. The crabs are quite small and very tasty. It is just lots of work and therefore dinner takes lots of time which is also good relationship building time!
We had a cruise in the lake. The town is only open for 3 months a year during the crab season. It is a rustic place and very touristy. I will post pictures when I reach home.

Day Two in Shanghai

Temperature is high and humidity is at the level where I am sweating profusely. It is all day preparation for tomorrow's conference. Work is quite slow pace. I am not use this kind of pace. However, we do have a good team putting together a program to improve our business. Lunch is at Coffee Bean. I had the pasta with tomato sauce and herbs. It is terrible and poor value for money. Do not order this if you ever feel hungry. The cookie is passable. I would say cookie in Starbucks taste a lot better.
The best cookie is from a hotel chain in California, US. It is crusty outside and soft inside. You get a pair when you check in and I usually request for more. The trip to hairy crabs help me recall the name of the hotel. It is called Doubletree. Out-of-this world cookies!

Shanghai

Weather in Shanghai is quite warm at 20 celcius. It is nicely cool and dry. It must have been more than a year when I was last in Shanghai. On the way to the hotel, the radio in the cab report Shanghai ren tor (lots of people) and cher tor (many cars) give the city a unique problem. This set me thinking about the complexity of a megacity. Who determine how many taxi drivers? How do you licence them? How would anyone know all the streets? This is just the cab services. How about the train and bus services? Who plans? How will it work? If God forbids, disaster strikes how would the people react? There are so many tall gigantic buildings containing many people. What would have if services stop?
In Shanghai, the hustle and bustle is palpable. It is ren san ren hai (literaly people mountain people sea or a sea of humanity). I like Shanghai, the most comopolitan city in People's Republic of China.

Scientific Toys

I love Scientific toys. I just returned from Japan with two. A "pop pop" boat and a Stirling Engine. The Stirling Engine is a little more complex and requires some skills. Japanese are very good at their craft. Although the instructions were in Japanese, they are very well illustrated with drawings. I must say the instructions are very clear and I managed to get the engine working. The "pop pop" boat is very simple and easy to assemble. I am very glad to have two working models. Will show you pictures next time.

Full Moon in Osaka

It is a beautiful evening and the sky is clear. My cellphone camera does not do justice to the view. Anyway, a pictures is worth a thousand words. So here it is...

Rural Japan

I went to rural Japan to meet Customer. It is fall and the weather is wet and cool. I had a little time. Actually, I have to kill time because in Japan, we have to arrive early and wait for the exact appointment time before going to the reception. Below is two persimmon trees heavy with fruits. Unfortunately, the fruits are not ripe. Otherwise it will really be tempting to pluck it off the tree and eat.

I like "green". There is a windmill generator and a small solar panel (left picture) and a complete solar roof for the bus stop picture below. Rural Japan has plenty of land. The farms are all very small unlike US or Canada.

Wet in Tokyo

It is cool and wet in Tokyo. After landing in Narita, it is another 3 hours trip to check into the hotel. This is a long day. Will have to get up early tomorrow morning for first meeting. Well, such is life when working on a trip.

Jim Rogers Live!

Jim Rogers is an excellent, excellent speaker. He is very simple and clear with his folky wisdom. It was a privilege to hear him live at the NUS Cultural Centre. I am glad to attend his seminar. He is very basic and down-to-earth. However, there are a lot of intricacies in the investment he suggest, Commodities. There are many commodities and he says farmers will be the one getting rich in future. Gold, oil, water is the future for the next 10 years. We should invest in commodities rather than stocks.

Aeromodel Site

Right across Anchorvale Community Club is an enormous square field. Aeromodel enthusiasts are flying their planes on weekends early in the morning and in the evening. Many joggers are doing their exercise for the week. The planes are all electric and therefore quiet. It is nice to see so many R/C flyers. There are many types of planes as well. The advances in technology now mean flying radio control aircraft is now affordable.
I must re-ignite my interest to fly again.

Madness at Takashimaya

Traffic jammed all the way to the car park. Then add insult to injury, car park is full and the entrance is blocked. In the mall, huge crowd buying like there is no tomorrow. By looking at the shopping mania, who would believe there is a financial crisis. Retail is still going strong. Of course marketing helps! Taka department store has 20% discount and Taka cardholders get additional 15%. It is an excellent deal.
At night, Compass Point has food festival in the main concourse. As my boys put it, it is like Pasar Malam in Aircon environment instead of out in the street. We sample many varieties of food available. It can get expensive to feed three boys. All in all, we all had a good time. Yummy and excellent for father-son bonding.

Opportunities

Conversations with neighbours and friends on the financial crisis have one common thread. Everyone is waiting for the opportunity to buy up stocks. Obviously there are many people sitting on a pile of cash. I wish I have the kind of money all these people are talking about. I wonder how many are speculators and how many are genuine investors.
There are many cash rich people in Singapore!

Stock Market Meltdown

Today, the Singapore Stock market lost more than 6%. It is a terrible day. My stock portfolio suffers a bruising. I probably lost a fair bit as I am still holding a few shares. Both my shares in Singapore and Canada lost a lot of value. Luckily I am still young. But my "retirement funds" is not looking pretty at all.
Looks like the whole world is in turmoil. Markets around the world drops. I review a book I read earlier by a stock analyst. This book was published in 2004. The author Simon Sim forecast 2008 was the peak and after that our stock market will go into decline for the next 7 years. Look like he is right. The book is titled The Joseph Cycle.

Financial Markets in Upheaval

The past week market upheaval reaches Richter scale of 9.0 in earthquake language. Lots of opportunities and financial stress. Stock market now is low. Will it get lower? Is this the start of bear market? Now Europe has financial crisis. Raffles Education stock was $2.56 is now trading below 60 cents. The boss of Raffles Education was featured in a two part series on Sunday Times in two separate Sundays. He was third or fourth richest man in Singapore. Now, he must be a lot poorer but still very wealthy by any standard.
Warren Buffett, the world 2nd richest man famous saying "Be fearful when everyone is greedy and be greedy when everyone is fearful." He just invested 8 billion dollars in Goldman Sachs and GE. I am not sure about US market anymore. A little gun shy after getting burnt.
I think the Singapore stock market offers good value now. However, it will take several years before the stock will climb back up in value. So if you have spare cash, this is the golden moment to invest.

Another Good Day

I am happy to write a report that results are good. Today is the day. This is why it is a good day.

Wonderful Day

Sunday! The most beautiful day of the week. Wake up late! Ahhh! No problem at all. We ride our bikes to Jalan Kayu for breakfast. Many bikes at the roti prata shop right beside the carpark(there is only one "official" carpark where coupons are required). There were road works. It was going to be noisy and smelly from the fumes of the heavy vehicles.
So we go further down and had dim sum instead. The taste and quality is just so-so (average). It is good value. Price is quite reasonable. However my boys were not impressed by the siao long bao. After breakfast, we cycle back home. A good start to our Sunday morning, breakfast and exercise at the same time.
Lunch was famous mee rebus. Then I spend some time at the poolside and off to the playground with B2 and B3. B3(the baby of the family) plays with his friends who were there. We finished the day with barberque hamburgers. It is a wonderful day of rest and recreation.

Dead Tired!

I have been cycling for exercise and my body is protesting. I am aching all over especially my butts! Sorry for not writing the past few days. Work, family and other committments are keeping me away from blogging.
The good news is I am exercising and working like a dog. The bad news is my weight is still at 88kgs. I have no idea why burning up calories with bone-tired body is not bringing my weight down.

Loud Bang that Echoes

There are two loud gunshots. One at about 8:35pm in Fernvale. It is very loud that it echo. Someone must have loud gun or using a gun for construction. I heard the same bang in downtown Shenton Way as well. It is quite unusual as it is a sound blast and then nothing. I wonder if any of my readers living in SengKang or Fernvale heard this extraordinary gunshot bang.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri

Our newspaper has change the name to Aidilfitri instead of Puasa. I just check up to see if I was wrong and found out that I am just outdated. More information can be found in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hari_Raya. It is an important Muslim festival to celebrate "Day of Fasting". The mosque at the junction Yio Chu Kang Road and Ang Mo Kio Ave 3 is full of Muslims from all walks of life including foreign workers. They are all there! It is incredibly crowded with everyone in their finery.