Sudafed Helps!

Medicine do help relieve my congested nose symptons.  I was feeling weak and now after taking one Sudafed and Serazym(for sore throat) I feel better now.  The problem will start once the effects of the medicine wears out.

Tokyo is warmer than Seoul at 8 celcius.  So it is nice after getting my butt froze up.   Later, I may get a chance to take a walk to Ropponggi.  It is nice just to wander about.  Ropponggi Hills has vibrant nightlife.  I am surprise since it is so costly.  Yet there are people buying such expensive services.

Lunch Menu

We landed in Haneda at 10am.  Our friend pick up us and gave us a ride to our hotel.  We go for lunch at my favorite yakitori resturant.  Unfortunately, it is limited menu for lunch.  There are only 6 items and all set meals with rice.  It was tempting for me to try yakitori or fried chicken.  My throat is very sore and so I reluctantly order boiled chicken which come in hotpot.  I am glad I did.  The soup was good for my throat and it was very tasty too.  So healthy is fine!

Last Night in Seoul

It is really really cold.  The dinner is homestyle and really good.  The shopping district is full of people but not for me as it is freezing.  Tomorrow I have to get up early for my flight to Tokyo.  It will be cold and dark when we travel to Gimpo Airport.

I cannot go and do my regular window shopping as it is too cold for me to was about.  I hope I can sleep better tonight as I drank rice wine.  I had poor sleep the first two nights.  Hotel is nice.  I am not at my usual self.

Best BBQ

We always go to this charcoal bbq place in Seoul.  The meat is very good and I loved the pickled oyster mushroom.  It is great to have good company and good food.  The business is doing well.  So everyone is happy.  I am glad to have such good business partners who considers me as his friend.  He is a good friend indeed.

After dinner, we walked through the underground mall and this bring back memories of 30 years back when I first travelled to Seoul.  I stayed in Lotte Hotel everytime I was here then.  Unfortunately, it is so cold and I cannot explore the place more.  Wow is the word! 

It is also scary to think how quickly time has passed.

Free Nescafe Coffee

I should not have tried the free Nescafe coffee in the small shiny cannister.  I was tired and after drinking the coffee, I fell asleep.  Now I am wide awake and have hard time trying to fall back to sleep.  The caffeine has kick in.  Also I was having difficulty breathing due to my congested nose.  I wake to take a Sudafed to clear it but it also keep me awake.  Maybe there is caffeine in the Sudafed?

I need to find way to get back to sleep.  I have a long day tomorrow.  So I shall not worry about my inability to sleep but just lie on the bed to rest.  Travelling is like this.  I do get hard time sleeping in strange beds.

Freezing!!

Seoul cold!!  Temperature is below freezing.  There are snow on the floor when we are on the way to hotel.  All the snow are cleared in the city itself.  Lotte department store is just beside my hotel.  It is in old part of the city.  I think it ihas changed since I was here 20 years ago.  I used to stay in Lotte Hotel when I first travel to South Korea.  After a while, I switch to a different location as the traffic is terrible.  Now I am back at Westin Chosun.  The hotel is more than 100 years old.  We had Korean shabu shabu for dinner.  The meal is really good and very filling.  My host is very good when it come to hosting guest.  He will bring us to nice Korean food and order the best dishes.

I took a walk after dinner but the cold weather prevent me from exploring more of the vicinity of the hotel.  The street food and the Lotte department close at 9 pm.  Quite early for a big city.  I have quite tired due to my flu and cough.

Lotte department is full of Chinese tourists.  They are buying lots and lots of stuff.  The conciege speaks mainland Chinese Mandarin.  She looked Korean to me.  So Lotte knows who the customer is!  The Chinese are big spenders!  It was Japanese before and today it is Chinese.  Feng shui loon liu chuan.

Stuffy Nose Sore Throat

I am not feeling well since Thursday night.  Could hardly sleep at night as I have to keep waking up to clear my throat and bladder.  I think I am infected by B1 on Wednesday when he offered his drink.  I should not have drank it.  This is the 2nd time I fall sick after sharing drink with him.  I should not have broken the rule.  He is young and fit and even though he is very sick, he does not show as much.  Whereas for me, I feel lethagic and weak.  I need more vitamins to fight my infections.  Worse, I have to get up early tomorrow to go Korea.  It will be a serious week of travelling from point to point and very busy with short sleep cycle.  I will need more rest when I returned home end of next week.

First Bus Strike Then Riot, What's Next?

Some speculate Lucky Plaza or Geyland will be next as it is an enclave for foreign workers.  I know one thing for sure.  We have reach the critical mass where it is sufficient size of different groups to spontaneously combust.  So beneath the surface of well manicure lawn lies worm holes and rabbit burrows or even sinkholes.  Our well managed and disciplined country is no longer immune to unruly behaviours and chaos.

It is quite a dent in our reputation.  Can we prevent chaos with so many from different culture and social norms.  Are there serious cracks in our society which our government is total blind to?  Do they really think and feel they are always right and the population just need the explanation of their policies?

The possibilities are endless for the future.  The path our government take is critical.  The citizens' votes are crucial in changing and addressing the changes required.  Maybe like the once in 50 years flood become a regular occurence, riots, strikes and old ways of showing the workers' grieves may be the way forward.  I hope not.

Cold North

It is going to be cold when I travel to Korea this Sunday.  Going from our sunny island set in the sea to winterland will give my body thermal shock.  I also do not enjoy carrying extra heavy clothing.  It mean I cannot travel light.  I love snow and hopefully get the chance to enjoy white winter landscape.  I had snow once in Seoul and it is magical although not so easy to walk about.

Flashpoint

The foreigners issue has been rumbling for years and finally in the last GE, the votes swing wakes up the government and the flow was not stopped but slowed.  The riots in Little India is indication of the numbers have reached the flashpoint and burst into flames.  You can blame on many factors.  Alcohol is now the biggest whipping boy.  LKY said he will not allow too many foreigners as they bring along social habits like splitting, jaywalking, littering and other social ills which he eliminated for Singaporeans.

The massive influx of foreigners increase Singapore's economic performance and social inequality as the gap between rich and poor widens (the working class becomes poorer and poorer as the foreigner reduce wages). 

The question for the Singapore Government is whether it will consider to reduce the influx further and maintain social harmony through less or slower economic growth or impose more controls to keep unruly behaviours in check. 

Toy Poodle

My nieces had dinner with us tonight.  They requested to bring their toy poodle over.  So I thought it was a battery operated stuff toy.    When they arrived, the toy poodle was running about very fast.  Seem like nowadays they made incredible toy until I realised it is a real dog.  What an ignorant uncle I am.  Toy poodle is just a breed of dog and not a toy.  This dog is very friendly and does not bark.  It is good with a few commands as long as there is a treat.  It can sit, shake hands, lie and kiss.  So it can be trained for more commands.  The poodle is also very docile and active.  The cost of the dog is high at $1,000 and then vet services, toys and grooming.  So it is an expensive hobby.  My nieces love it.  My boys are happy to know the dog as well. 

I love the dog but do not like the responsibilities as the cleaning to maintain the home is quite hefty.  It the two hours it is here, it peed 3 times and once it peed on the carpet.  It is quite a lot of work.

Funeral

This afternoon we purposely go to Lavender for lunch.  Singapore casket is nearby and we have to visit our neighbour to pay our last respect to her brother.  He died at the age for 47, very young.  He has a boy and a girl.  Girl is 18 and boy is 17.  He was on litium for many years and recently started to reduce the dosage himself.   I understand he became unstable and his wife bring him to IMH (Institute of Mental Health) but IMH transfer him to Tan Tock Seng instead.  At Tan Tock Seng he ran away and then collapse nearby.  However his wife was frantically searching and he was only found an hour later.  By then his heart had stopped beating.  CPR was applied and heart restarted but he is in a coma.  He died later in the hospital.  It is a sad story.

Husband Snatchers

Today, I heard a story about Chinese woman who snatch married Singapore man.  This married man convinced his wife to left their matrimonial home for a few days during Chinese New Year for the mistress who will be visiting.  It is amazing how this man who is a lawyer managed to convince his wife to do so.  They are going to stay married and the mistress has a daughter.  Remind me of Wong Li Lin's case.  Her marriage starts to unravel when they relocate to Shanghai.  Apparently stories like this is very common.  So I wonder how the China women gain this capability to snatch men from their wives.

Is there a special school the mistresses go to?  Is there a networking working system where they can share tips and learn from each other?  Why China women are more successful than Vietnamese women or Thai?  Can it be genetics?  If genetics, how come the Singapore Chinese women become victims?  Maybe the sociology professors should do some research...

HDB Waived My Parking Fine

It was a busy Saturday morning.  Long queues going into the multi-storey carparks and Parkway Parade carparks.  So I parked at the HDB side.  It is red and white lot.  On the floor, in red bold letters "Reserved from 7pm to 7am for Seasoning Parking...".  So after I parked my car, I was reassured it is ok.  When I returned to collect my car after a fried kway teow lunch in hawker center followed by ice-cream in Parkway Parade, I was surprised to see a ticket on my windscreen.  I wondered.  Then I read the ticket - $50 fine for parking on a lot reserved for season parking only.  Then I looked up and saw the sign that says "Season Parking Only on Saturdays and Sundays". 

My immediate reaction was Jack Neo's movie  that talk about this where the protagonist was complaining how confusing it is with Red and White carpark lots.  Red is Season Parking only.  White is Regular Parking at $1 per hour.  Yellow is Regular Parking at $2 per hour.  I am in total agreement.  It is like a motorist trap for unsuspecting motorists like me.  In fact several cars are in the same situation as me. 

So I go to HDB Branch Office in Geylang, we were sent to a computer terminal to do the appeal.  Then it was drawn to me that I have made an unnecessary trip.  I should have logged into HDB  website to appeal.  Well, since I was already there, bo bian just use the terminal and write my appeal.

Today, a week later, I received an email from Principle Estate Officer that my carpark fine is waived!  Good news indeed!!!

Change in my Information Inputs

The trend of getting information from internet is impacting my reading behaviour.  I no longer read print as often or as much.  Newspapers do not hold my attention like before.  Maybe the slant is making me cynical.  I am also reading less books.  Audiobooks are replacing the printed version.  With Note 3, I don't even need to bring my laptop for short trips. 

I remember going to business center every time I checked into a hotel when travelling for work.  I will need to get messages and faxes.  That become obsolete when we started carrying laptops and internet readily available in the hotel.  Internet access was expensive at $30 to $50 per day.  Today, most hotels provide internet access for free or include in the room charges.   With phabets, it may be a matter of time laptops become obsolete as well. 

So written messages and printed faxes make way for information through laptop computers.  Reading different websites give me the information I needs and forms my opinion.  I am glad to get more alternative views rather than what the mass media like daily newspapers tell me to believe in.  Newspapers always criticise the internet for non-factual reports.  I think it is fear of losing their relevance.  When we believe in printed news, we are right as they are a credible source the newspapers claim.  This is self serving and grasping at all means to retain their power.  So in a way the internet level the playing field for the small guys whose voices can now be heard.

Does this make the world a better place?  This is the future we will find out.

Sigh!

It is the heading for this entry.  I have no idea what to write about.  It rained all day today, so I did not get to cycle for my regular exercise.  I swam a little and meditate for a few mins in the pool.  Other than that it is just work and meals.  It is another day.  Thanks to Buddha, it is peaceful and everyone is well. 

I also borrowed audiobooks to put into my Note 3.  It is good to have books to listen to.  But it can be tedious and many times the downloading did not work properly with the Window Media.  Apple's audio file transfer is far superior and easier to use.  Although there are more apps and functionality with Android Operating System, Apple is so much more easier to use.  It is also intuitive making which is why my wife loved it so much.

Well, it is end of another day.

Spring Cleaning

Most people do not like rain it is prevent us from going outdoor.  It rained last night and rain continuously until late afternoon.  I like it.  This is more like our rainy season during the monsoon.  The weather is nice and cool.  Back to the regular same old same old.  So I am happy for the good ole days.

B1 finished his exams and is doing spring cleaning.  He is the head cleaner clearing up his baby brother's textbooks.  We donated all the textbooks to Fairprice.    Mummy caught the bug and clear up her cupboards too.  Plenty of forgotten handbags showed up.  Even $1,000 leather bag from Korea 20 years ago.  It still looked so nice but she wanted to dispose of it.  It is so painful for me.

Are Singaporeans Second Class Citizens in Singapore?

This is loud clamouring  in the internet.  Today, B2 is supposed to have lunch with his classmate.  We were having trouble trying to decide where to eat in People's Park.  Chinatown Point will be too expensive.  People Park hawker center is hot and dirty.  Finally, we decided on soya sauce chicken.  As we walk past the row of shophouse, one sign distracted us...84cents for Peking Duck.  We decided to check it out.  It is Spring Court, where the food is quite good.  So we decided that we will try as the minimum $84 spend is easy to achieve with the price in the menu.

B2 had to go and instead of missing the chance to eat good food, mummy offers him to ask his friend to join us instead.  This girl is from a different course.  She is in precision engineering and they met during CCA.  I do not remember her name and will refer her as Ah Girl.  Ah Girl is 19 years old and  is a Malaysian from Johore.  She is here on scholarship which mean she does not need to pay for her school fees.  On top of that, she is bonded for 5 years which means she is guaranteed a job the moment she graduates.  No interview is required for the scholarship.  She just need to submit her results. 

My neighbour's daughter tried so hard to get in medicine and was rejected.  She has to pay $200K to $300K to send to Ireland for medical school.  Many Singaporean kids have trouble getting any help from our government to study.  Meanwhile, we are paying foreign kids to study here.  The logic is we bring in smart foreign kids here to study for free and give them jobs when they graduates.  Hopefully, they will continue to stay in Singapore afterwards. 

My boys have to spend two years doing NS.  We have to pay our own way.  No job guarantees when they graduate.  This is beginning to look like real discrimination for being born in Singapore.

$5 Adams Nasi Lemak

This morning, B1 has an exams in school and we offered to send him to Bukit Timah campus.  It was like an hour before the exams start time but his classmates were there.  Several other parents dropped their kids as well. 

Since Adams Road hawker center is nearby, we go there for breakfast and to read the newspapers.  We have our nasi lemak from our favorite stall No. 1.  I ordered the Adam's Special which is $5 per plate.  This is the only set with mutton.  This is the most expensive set.  I realised it is half the price in a resturant.  But since we do not go there often, I always go for this set as it has chicken wing, achar, ikan bilis, peanuts and fried egg.   I also have my favorite beverage - teh halia from my favorite stall in the corner. 

Since I shared the nasi lemak with my wife, I was still feeling hungry and I tried the mutton soup with tripe and gizzards.  The soup is even more expensive at $6!  The gizzard is tough.  The soup is tasty and a little sweet.  The mutton is fine but the tripe is too fatty.

I love to eat even when I am full.  This Live to Eat lifestyle is killing me slowly...

Frying Pan

This is the last week for the WMF pots and pans at special price in Fairprice using accumulated points.  I collected 20points and go to the AMK Hub to buy 24cm frying pan.  There are a couple of aunties there choosing their pots.  And like fellow travellers, they are very helpful and I managed to get one with no visible scratches.  I love to cook using non-stick.  It is easy with eggs as well as roti prata.  A little oil helps.  So my cooking is healthy but not so tasty with less oil.  I am happy to get a branded pan for twenty bucks.

Thanksgiving Holiday

It is Thanksgiving in US now.  My headoffice is closed as everyone goes back to their hometown to be with their families.  It is like our Chinese New Year reunion dinners.  So the West has similar traditions.  Family is a universal value.  The kids grew up and flew the coop but returns annually to have 3 generations togetherness.  We are using up a lot of carbon but family value is critical for the survival of our human race. 

We are lucky that we have a tradition of having dinners as a family.  Then there is rule that we cannot quarrel or use the phone or watch tv.  So it is conversation.  Pure simple old fashion talking to each other.  It is wonderful to share stories and events for the day.

Rain Pattern

I noticed the rain pattern is different from previous years.  It is our rainy season but we do not get rain everyday or rain all day long anymore.  We get heavy shower or downpour for a couple of hours then it stops.  I wonder if the change is permanent.  I feel like it is a real change in season when it rained daily.  Now it is like any other time.  So we lost our rainy season.

B1's Birthday

Today is B1's birthday.  So it is Mango Cake time!!  We went to Compass Point as B3 is very keen to get free kisses from Kiss 92 FM.  80 boxes of kisses given free at Watson at 6 pm.  We were there at 5:30pm, so he queued while we buy the cake from Prima Deli.  B1 is 21 today and he has to study for his exams this Saturday.  He is so stressed and working all day long.  Seems like Law is not easy course to read.

Heaving a Sigh of Relief!

Mum has send in the selection.  We have decided on Chinese Gentleman for first and second choice - Integrated Program and "O" level Program.  3rd and 4th choice is English Gentleman i.e. International Baccalaurate and "O" level.  Final two choices are the neighbourhood "good" school.  With the submission of our choices, I am relief.  It is a harrowing challenge to make so many choices and trying to predict the best outcomes for the results B3 had.  Many parents in the KiasuParents.com are not happy with their kids results even though some of them are in my mind fabulous.  Parents are not satisfied.  Singapore is a hugely competitive and driven society. 

The PAP government drives Singaporeans relentlessly.  The speeches and talks say one thing but the policies are designed to make sure it is the survival of the fittest.  One example is "Teach Less Learn More".  So syllabus is cut by 30% but examinations still test you on the 30% not taught.  So the teaching is transferred to tuition centers and tuition teachers.  The scholarships by PSC is another example.  The students are all top scorers in exams.  They are put on pedestals so the message to the rest of the parents and students is you are a loser when you did not score "A"s consistently throughout your academic career.

Choosing School

It is very challenging to choose secondary school.  Everyone has a dream school and dream remains as dreams.  So it is more realistic choice but still many unknowns.  However with the same points will choose the school we chose.  What is the chance?  How can we assure we get in?  Who are our competitors?  How many competitors are there?  Which school is better fit?  One that makes a
"Chinese Gentleman" or one that makes "English-like Gentleman".  One school that produces scholars but timid in character or the other school who has no scholars listed but has a President.  Strict or easy going.

Aiyah, both my wife and I are getting exhausted in determining which school to choose.  After submitting our choice, we will be gnashing our teeth for the next four weeks until the results are send via sms.  Then if we did not get our choice, we will need to appeal.  What a nightmare for parents and students.  This is bringing up kids in Singapore. 

Lunch Party

My sister-in-law invited my family to a lunch party with plenty of prizes.  Unfortunately, we did not get any good prize.  However, everyone leave with a small prize.  So the party has a feel good factor.  The compere or host was good.  He is entertaining and funny.  Although some of the jokes borders crude.  He is good at dancing and imitating different accents - British, Philippino, Indian and Malay.  Pretty awesome actually.  He is actually quite skilled in Malay and Chinese.  Overall, I would rate him high.

The standard of food is pretty good since it is Mandarin Hotel, famous for Chicken Rice.  Laksa was not bad and dessert is tao suan, glass jelly and assorted cakes. 

After the party, we adjorned to Bras Basah Complex as B1 needed a law workbook from Popular.  Since it is quite late, we decides to eat out at Chin Chin for dinner.  We had a good family day.  All 3 boys are with us all day today.

Mad Rush to Visit Schools

It is a mad rush to visit Secondary Schools with open house.  We went to Catholic High and Victoria School.   SJI is not open today.  Sigh!  Why is it so challenging and tiring for choosing the school.  The PSLE results is supposed to help but the Principal will tell you the cutoff points depends on demand.  As parents, we do not know how other parents will choose and how many kids in the same points as our kid.  So many unknown and they do not know how the computer system or algorithm work in the decision tree for posting.  So it is a stab in the dark.  Hence stress for us as parents.

Post PSLE Activities

Now that our high anxiety state is over, we are looking at Secondary School.  It is really challenging that we have 3 days to pick Secondary Schools.  And we have to have 6 choices.  Anyway, mummy is talking to other mums to get more information and share opinions.  I am more disinterested and calm.  I am of the opinion that what will be will be.

Today, we went to St. Joseph at Malcom Road.  The program looks interesting especially the IB which emphasize on thinking skills.  Tomorrow is Catholic High.  Then it is decision time.

D Day!

It is D Day tomorrow!!!  B3 is getting his PSLE results.  Our last baby and our last hope for the best secondary school.  What will be will be.  So all we can do is hope for the best and prepare for the worst.  Many parents will be in high anxiety state tonight. 

I am feeling sleepy and tired.  Will go to bed early and be ready for excitement tomorrow...

Fishing at Punggol Jetty

B3 tried fishing again.  This time at Punggol Jetty.  We saw a guy who set up two lines using a small fish which he wrapped completely with a string.  Beside the bait fish is a foot long fishnet.  I was wondering what he was catching.  When he caught a crab that I realised why the fish is completely wrapped.  It is there just to attract the crab and not to be eaten.  The crab was trapped on the net and could not get out even when he reeled in the line.  Meanwhile we have no luck using artificial lure and chicken hotdog.  We had fun even though we did not catch anything.

It is so easy to just cycle to Punggol Point for fishing.  We just need to learn how to fish properly.

Arab Street

Going to Arab Street is like visiting another world.  Lebanese and Middle East resturants seem exotic.  I ordered Arabian Black Tea and found it is actually Earl Grey tea.  The food is atypical of Singaporean food.  Indian food is popular as they are served in Kopitiam style rather than resturant and therefore priced a lot lower.

Before lunch, we went to Beach Road to get more hooks and artificial lures to fish.  We tried fishing at the Punggol beach but no luck.  It is not easy to fish with artificial lures.  B3 is tired after the fishing expedition.

B3 tries Fishing

B3 is keen to do fishing out of the blue.  He insisted on trying it out with bread as baits.  We went to the spot behind Seletar Spring Condo but no luck.  It was difficult as the rubbish catcher caught the hook.  So we cycle to the opposite bank to try.  Still no bite.  It may be the baits.  Seems like the fishes there are no interested in eating bread.  We may have to try using other baits like prawns or earthworms. 

Bo Bo Cha Cha

Bo bo cha cha is a local dessert.  Boiled yam and sweet potatoes in a milky sweet coconut broth.  I bought the roots in Yishun on Thursday.  The yam was rotting.  So we have to cook them.  Steamed the cubed yams and sweet potatoes for 15 mins.  In the pot, boil water with pandan leaves.  Add rock sugar.  When water is boiling turn heat to low and put in the steamed roots.  Add coconut milk.

We get large pack of fresh coconut milk and screwpine aka pandan leaves from Fairprice.  My wife cooks up the bobo chacha and it is really good!  I have to admit I have a sweet tooth.  The yam and sweet potatoes have to be soft yet not mushy.  Coconut milk has to be at the right concentration so that it is rich but now overwhelming.  We used rock sugar instead of refined white sugar for sweetener. 

I had 4 bowls today.  At $1.50 per bowl in Lucky Plaza, it is almost the cost of the ingredient.  So nice and wonderful.  I enjoys it hot and love it cold.  It is a versatile dessert.

Meeting a Friend from Malaysia

My friend called this morning that he is here in Singapore and like to meet up.  So I had tea with him in Mr. Prata on Evans Road.  The prata is so-so.  Teh halia is not bad.  We talk about business and investments.  He is a successful businessman with many properties in Malaysia and Singapore.  He want to invest in a property in Singapore as his properties here will be mortgage free by next year.  He has plenty of dividend stocks.  He collects more than $3,500 Sin monthly from dividend alone.  So I will say he is pretty comfortable.  His daughter is a doctor working in England.  He visited Canada recently and is very happy to invest there.

He is concerned that the business has slowed down and feel it will be worse next year.  So we spend a lot of time discussing about stock.  My portfolio is not big and therefore I do not have as many stocks as him.  Still we have a good time.  I enjoyed my time with him.

Knee Improved!

My knee pain is reduced!  Now I can climb stairs with no difficulty unlike a few days ago.  So the Ebene knee guard works.  I have to bring one to change as it has incomplete sewing in one of the flexible reinforced strips.

I should also try check out if it has a waist band.  This may be helpful for my low back pain....

Ponder

Sometimes, I just ponder what life is about.  There are so much to do.  I have so many books to read but unable to.  Recently, I have been watching Korean dramas.  After a while, I get tired of it.  I was reading thrillers by David Baldacci and this has come to pass as well.  Meanwhile, work to earn income and spend $$$ to look after the family. 

Is there more to life than earning and spending?  Recreation like reading and watching drama gets boring after a while.  Why some have a calling like becoming a monk or preacher.  I wonder how many other professionals have calling.  I enjoys working and doing business, however earning money is not a calling.  Maybe I am wrong.  Enjoying my work means it is a calling.  Seems like a calling means you either become very rich(entreprenuers, surgeons) or very poor(missionaries and social workers).  The rest of us are just worker bees.  Working so that we can live.

Warm Neighbourhood

I loved going to Chong Pang.  I used to live in Yishun and directly opposite Chong Pang was a Malay Kampong.  Small Malay boys will be walking their goats.  There is a small pond.  Life was idyllic.  Unfortunately, they were chased out and the kampong is now part of Sembawang Airbase for helicopter.  I have not been the the hot spring as well.  It is a long way to walk.  There are folks there soaking in the hot water.  Some will bring eggs to cook as well.

Recently, I go to Chong Pang once a week to get my grocery.  The vegetables there is competitive.  I find the people there are warmer.  Strangers make conversations easily.  I like the kampong-like spirit there.  The famous Hup Lee Fried Beehoon is no longer as popular.  The long queues are gone.  The aquariums are gone too.  But some of the old hawkers are still there.  The atmosphere in Chong Pang is warm compared to AMK Ave 10 hawker center near ITE.  Although I go the AMK hawker center almost daily, I did not have any conversation with anyone.  Whereas in Chong Pang, the chance is very high I have a causal conversation with a fellow customer.

Red Cross prefers CASH!

Note: In-kind donations (food, clothes, etc) are not accepted due to logistical considerations. Tax deduction is not applicable for overseas giving.

“We have received close to a hundred phonecalls and emails from concerned members of the public, expressing interest to help in one way or another. At this critical time of need, cash donations would allow greater flexibility in our response coordination and immediate relief purchase and distribution,” he added.

I copied the 2 quotes from Yahoo!  Typhoon Haiyan devastated parts of Philippines.  Looks like money is the way to go.  Red Cross I know as a kid and growing up is not the Red Cross of today. 

Money does makes the World go Round!

Ebene Knee Guards

My left knee is hurting when I climbed up the stairs.  It may be due to strenous cycling I did a couple days ago.  Due to the pain, my ability to walk up is compromised.  So my wife insisted I have to go for chiropractor.  I am adamant that this is not going to solve this problem as I know I have meniscus issues due to excessive jogging in my younger days.  So it is a trip to Guardian Pharmacy and we bought a pair of Ebene Knee Guards as one costs $42 and two is $65.  Yes, I am a sucker for deals. 

On the box, it promises to cure my pain in 7 days or money back.  So let's see if they work!

Amazing thing You can do with Samsung Note 3!

Samsung Note 3 has good resolution and quite nice and comfortable to watch tv or movies.  Now, we can watch dramas on our 55" LED TV through screen mirroring.  It is quite easy to connect.  So now DVDs is going the way of dinosaurs as well.  The wonders of technology!

An Uneventful and Thankful Sunday

It is a gloomy morning and I went to the wet market to see if I can buy some goldfishes that the stall some have for feeding.  Unfortunately, not this morning.  Only those with flat tails are available.  So I have to wait till next week and see.  I bought 20 curry puffs from the Malay food stall.  10 potatoes and 10 sardines for 50 cents each.  They are not healthy food as it consist mainly flour deep fried in cheapest cooking oil.  Once in a while, I tell myself.

Late morning, it is grocery shopping at Fairprice in AMK hub.  Christmas spirits are springing up.  Many packaging have red and green with Christmas theme.  I like it.  I love Christmas!  Reminds me of living in Toronto.  The PA system has not put up Christmas music yet.  It will be even better.

We prepared sandwish lunch and sat down for lunch with B2's friend who was over to get his help in preparing a presentation.  After lunch is cycling and watching Korean Drama To the Beautiful You recommended by B3's classmate, Racheal.  It is funny and we have to suspense our beliefs many times.  Right now, I am keeping B3 company while he makes gifts for his classmates.  I can hear B1 and B2 loud guffaws at the living room. 

Today, is coming to an end.  I am thankful for a good day!

Roaring Business at Nanyang Seaview Aquarium

We have to replace our black mollies in the aquarium as the 2nd generation started with 7 is now left with 2.  Nanyang Seaview Aquarium is one of the few aquarium that sells black mollies.  Best of all it is nearby our home. 

We go there after lunch and the place is full of cars.  Now that the road have shifted, the Aquarium is very visible from the main road.  Nanyang Seaview's business has grown dramatically.  It is amazing luck and feng shui.  It was supposed to move and the government decided they no longer needed the land.  Before the new road was built, the place was known only to nearby residents and regulars who went there by words of mouth. 

I have been going to the aquarium regularly since I moved to YCK 8 years ago.  I can see the owner is laughing his way to the bank!!!

Good Japanese Food in Far East Plaza

On level 3 of Far East Plaza in a obscure corner is a Japanese food resturant.  It is not really a resturant but more like the other shops that sell food in a shop lot.  This resturant serves really good Japanese food.  Menu is small but quality and taste are excellent.  I am usually not a Japanese food fan as I do not like seafood and the food is not only expensive, I will go hungry very quickly.  But I will recommend this place.  Unlike food blogs with pictures and address of the resturant, I just blog about my experience.  If you are interested, you can do the treasure hunt.  It will cost about $30 per head.  The place is always full or at the least the two times I am there for lunch.

Be Still and Know the I Within

We are all part of God according to Lobsang Rampa.  If we meditate and cultivate stillness of our minds, we will be able to meet with our "Overself" which is on the 9th dimensions.  We are on the third dimension.  Lobsang Rampa says there are many dimensions and even the bible states "there are many mansions in my father's house".

I tried meditation on and off.  So I am just a regular bloke living life in a blur.

The More You Know The More You have to Learn

This is something I discover when I read.  In business books, they usually have several ideas from other authors.  So there will be a recommended list at the end of the book.  Books on psychology, occult, how-to, motivation, investment, strategy, basically all non-fiction books have bibliography detailing all the sources.  I usually want to read and learn further.  Now I have so many books that I find that it is impossible to keep up with my reading.  The reading expands exponentially as reading one book will recommend a few others and each of them recommends another few more.

In short, the more I read, the more I have to read.  While it is good to know, I am beginning to realise Francis Bacon's "Knowledge is Power" does not hold true.  Harry Loryane, the memory and mind expert modify it to "Knowledge is Power when put to Use" is better.  However, I read and learning a lot but I am not rich.  Neither are the Professors of the world.  So knowledge is fun and enjoyable to learn but does not really pay well.

He who listens most learns most

Listening is one of the most difficult and challenging skill to master.  For the person who listens will learns about many things.  I am good at listening at work in meetings or with customers.  At home, I need to listen more than dispensing advice to my boys or scolding them.  I am still a novice when it come to being a father and daddy to my boys.  The problem is I read and learn from many leadership and management books, attending seminars and short training courses on business, selling and marketing.  I have only maybe 5 books on bringing kids.  Even then, I only skim through them and did not read them in details.  My behaviour changes at work where I am a skilled trained professional to a novice raising boys to be fine gentlemen.  I wished I spend more time learning to be a father instead of letting nature takes its course through field experience.  I have "Out-of-Sync Child", "Dare to Discipline by James Dobson" and a couple other books.  I do not remember what I am supposed to do, whereas when it come to management, I read hundreds of books.

I need to listen more to my boys.  I will work on this.

The Journey of 1,000 miles begins with a Single Step

Whatever we have to do, however difficult or long, is a journey of a 1,000 miles.  It is daunting.  It is difficult.  It is scary.  All we have to do is to step the first step, then the 2nd step and continue.  Along the way, we may want to give or change direction.  We should not be so obsessed with the goals we set when we were young.  However, it is focus and determination that bring us to our destination.  Let's all keep going on our journeys.

Sitting Sitting the Grass Grows Green

This is one of my favorite Way of Tao poem.  It describes the joys of meditation.  It is the philosophy of Wu Wei, doing nothing.  Letting nature takes is course.  Do not delve on issues or forcing change.  This reminds me of the song lyrics "what will be will be, the future is not for us to see. que sera sera."  The proverb "Man proposes God disposes".  In different ways, we wise up to the greater power beyond us.

Better to light a Candle than to Curse the Darkness

Lobsang Rampa is a Tibetan Monk who wrote about Occult stuff when I was in secondary school.  He has a lot of wise sayings.  I was reading on the pursuit of happiness by Singaporeans who now taught themselves about Positive Psychology through reading and seminars.  One of the interviewees has a blog that put out a wise saying daily.  I do not know how this will make a person happy.  I guess it does.  So this is my wise sayings for today.

Instead of complaining about the situation, do something positive about it.  So lighting a candle to dispel the darkness is the right way to deal with the "darkness".

Internet today has lot of complaining.  But also a lot of interesting details about a lot of things shows up.  Far better than the main stream media which is quite slanted.  I am now reading blogs of people who wrote about social issues and many who try to unearth the truth about Singapore.  It is good to know many Singaporeans are working toward a better country.  I enjoys reading TRE.  It does have alternative views and many different contributors.  Some articles are well researched and opinions are supported by facts and figures.  The site founders and editors do a fabulous job of keeping alternative views available to the public.  So kudos to them!

Beautiful Friday

Early to bed, early to rise.  Makes a man healthy and wise!  I woke up early quarter past five.  I prepared breakfast and food for recess for B3.  Then I wake him up at quarter to six.  He comes down for his breakfast and then I walk him to the school bus.  I did the duty this morning and actually yesterday's morning as well.

The sun was out in the morning, blue sky white cumulus clouds.  Weather is gorgeous.  In the afternoon, it showered, no it poured!  Maybe flash flood again in some parts of Singapore.  Rain is so heavy nowadays.  After the sky opened, it clears again and drizzles lightly.  The PCN was nice and cool.  Due to the rain, hardly anyone was there.  So it was a very nice relaxing ride.

I am grateful for a peaceful day.

Halloween Night

B3 is a lover of Halloween.  He does not do trick or treat as he is shy.  However, he keeps asking for pumpkin so that he can carve one out to make a lantern.  When he saw the price in Cold Storage, he changes his mind.  He is a mindful spender and no longer frivolous.  So he improvised whenever I am cutting out fruits.  First experiment was to carve the orange out of the skin.  It did not work too well as the orange is small.  Next he tried the pumelo skin which is better but not much.  The skin is all blackened and curls as the candle burns. 

Water melon was on special in Fairprice.  So when I was cutting it, he request for the end to be cut thicker.  He ate the watermelon with a spoon.  Then he carve the husk and made a hole on top to allow the heat to escape.  It worked fairly well.  B3 is very creative.

Getting Rich vs Having Peace of Mind

You know, Boh Tong recommended JJ Claypot Rice on Bedok Reservoir Road.  I have no idea where is it.  Armed with an address and google, we found it and it was a place I used to frequent during the NE Monsoon to fly gliders.  Right beside the carpark, was a condominium coming up.  My wife reminds me that she said she asked me to look at a unit with 5 bedrooms, the so-called dual key which is two units side-by-side for 3 generation living.  I was not keen as there were several suicides at Bedok Reservoir.  Today, the price has gone up.  Had we bought it, we would have made money.  A few hundred Ks at least. 

Thinking about it this morning, I had several missed opportunities when it come to real estate investment.  If and only if I had been daring and take risk, we would be comfortable today.  But no, I declined the opportunity for capital gains worrying about potential loss and carrying a mortgage.  So today, I am just the average Joe living the average life.  I do regret sometimes but this morning I feel compelled to pen down my thoughts.  I have a peaceful life.  Do I have to be fabulously rich?  I enjoys a regular life of bringing up my boys, have dinners at home and a vacations every two to three years.

The Chinese has a saying - When you are born, you brought nothing, when you dies, you cannot bring anything.  It is a reminder not to be too focus on material wealth.  I wish we do not need money to live.  Unfortunately, we all do.  Plus I loved working.  So I have a peaceful of mind earning and maintaining a comfortable and not luxurious life.  I have a rich life with my family.  We have dinner together almost every evening. 

Although I do wished I listened to my wife and bought one or two properties a few years ago once in a while, I do not dwell on missing out on the Singapore property boom.  As many mentioned before, a dying person never wished they spent more time at work but more time with his or her loved ones. 

So I have simple frugal life and spend as much time with my family.  This brought me peace of mind as I will not have regrets when my time has come.

Connecting

We ran out of fruits.  So after dinner, I made a trip to the supermarket nearby.  B2 decides to tag along.  Along the way, he starts telling me about what's happening in school.  He is in the mood to be chatty and talk about CCA(co-circular activities or non-academic work).  He is experiencing the usual team dynamic where the slackers come up with excuses not to attend the meeting to escape work needed to be done.  There are the politics and sarcasms during the meeting.  It reminds me of working in a large organisation!

This time I only tell him my concerns about him and how he has improved over the years in his abilities and learning the value of thrift.  I told him I am happy to have this conversation with him.  He thanked me for listening to him.  I must say his EQ is good to know that I was listening to him most of the time.  Father and son had a good connection last night.

Watermelon was on "special" at $3.50 each.  We chose the watermelon together.  He enjoys learning to tap on the melon to listen to the sound.  I taught him to look at the head where the fruit was attached to the plant.  The sound is different for different melon.  There were two that we feel was ripe.  We took them to the weighing machine and pick the heavier melon(must get value for our money!).  Then I noticed "black beauty" is at $3.50 too.  This time the size is a lot bigger than before.  So we pick a black beauty water melon.  It is the first time I bought this water melon.  I am looking forward to find out it taste like.

Healthy Diet

"A Dietitian" wrote to me to eat all the healthy food - no fried food, no sugar and no carbo.  I am trying to do this.  I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables.  But I also love youtiao, fried poh piah(spring roll) and fried chicken.  I have cut down my carbo intake significantly.  My big weakness today is "teh-C".  I drink a cup every morning.  Some times I switched to coffee with condensed milk.  The drink is rich and unhealthy.

Luckily, I have discipline to exercise everyday when I am not travelling.  If it rains, I will sneak out once it stopped even for a short while to make sure I at least exercise a wee bit.  Cycling is so gentle compared to running.  It is also very comfortable, no sweat! as the airflow around the body prevent sweating.

Dinner at home is two tablespoons of rice.  We eat the unpolished rice with low glycemic index commonly known as GI.  So I just need to consume less calories when I travel since I do not exercise.

Cravings

Right now I have a craving for peanuts butter!  I am still very full from dinner.  I had plenty of fruits as I want to reduce my weight.  However, although my stomach feels bloated and full, I crave for a peanut butter sandwich.  I feel deprived.  No wonder my weight can only go one way....UP!  It is crazy.  Women are a lot more discipline and resilience when come to dieting.  My wife is a great example.  I have ex-colleagues who can just stop eating.  Again they are females.

I need to reduce my weight significantly.  Yet, it is not working.  How do I simply stop my weakness for food?

Brunch At Imperial Treasure Crowne Plaza

My eldest sister invited us for brunch at Imperial Treasure.  My youngest sister and 2nd sister went as well.  It was a good get together.  The taste slightly different from Imperial Treasure in Ngee Ann City.  My two nieces belonging to my eldest sister are present and eldest boy from my baby sister is there too. 

My nephew is going to ORD next month.  Time flies.  I was a little surprised but they serve only 22 months nowadays.  He is going to Philippines next month and Europe April next year.  He is going to have fun before going to University.   My eldest niece had an operation and is on MC now.  She will need to rest and recuperate.  I am glad she looked fine. 

Crowne Plaza is quite deserted except for Imperial Treasure.  Maybe it is not the lobby.  I should explore the hotel a bit before coming home.

Tired of Books?

Recently, I have not been acquiring a lot of new books.  I am also not reading books as much as well.  When I fly, I read the newspapers and magazines.  They are easy reading.  Books unless it is fiction requires more brain power and focus.  When I take flights with zero entertainment options unlike SQ, I should bring Thrillers like David Baldacci or Jeffrey Archer.  I should also bring Ken Follet.  I was introduced to Ken Follet by Cheong Suk Wai.  She wrote on the pleasure of reading and one of the books she enjoyed a lot was Pillar of the Earth.  There are so many pages.  It takes a long time to read through.  Actually, I find the story very enjoyable.  However, it requires a huge block of time to go through the extremely thick book

I read less on Leadership and Management Science nowadays.  I am still using English books for reference.  My reading diet not only reduced, has also change to light reading.

JJ Claypot Rice

My friend, Boh Tong recommended JJ Claypot Rice on my blog when I reminisce about comfort food when I was growing up in Commonwealth Drive.  Today, I went looking for Blk 744 Bedok Reservoir Road.  When I finally located the place with the help of Google Map, it was actually right at Bedok Reservoir Park.  I used to go to the park during the slope season to learn to fly slope gliders.  Today, flying model planes is not allowed.  There is a sign by Mindef.  It is so sad as it is the only place in Singapore that you can do slope soaring.  Now you will have to go to Johore to fly.

We arrived early and ordered the claypot rice with blanched kailan in oyster sauce.  The rice were cooked from scratch.   Actually, taste quite good.  The rice at the bottom of the claypot is only slightly charred and not burnt like some other stalls.  The kailan tasted good.  However, I find it too hard.  So my next visit, I will request for slightly longer blanching to soften the vegetable. 

Since the food is quite good, I promised to return with my boys.  Although there is a sign self service, the old J (I did not get his name) brought the food to us.  He is a very nice gentleman.  I also let him know BT recommended that I come.  He is very happy to hear this.

Reading Old News

I am still catching up with the newspapers for the almost 3 weeks that I was gone.  There are interesting bits which I like.  It was big news that population growth slows.  Straits Times is like govt mouthpiece.  It is like big deal.  Population is still growing through foreigners.  Then the analysis warned that there will not be enough young to support the old.  I wonder if we did not open the doors wide will we have so many seniors to support?

I am working down the papers and now left with a couple days left. 

This evening I had a short chat with a friend.  She is a single mum with a boy and a girl now in their teens.  She is still looking for love but is very caught with the man must give her fixed allowance of two thousand every month.  I wonder which man will want to support this woman who is very capable and earns a lot.  I think any man will choose a younger model where his money will go a long way.

Train Driver who Blogs Fabulously Now Retrenched!!!!

Gintai the blogger who was in the news and had a meeting with Law Minister, Mr. Shanmamugan suddenly stopped blogging a year ago.  His blog was doing well.  This mean readership was high and plenty of attention all the way up to the Cabinet.  Why did he stop suddenly?  Plenty of speculations now that he is retrenched a year later.  He is a SMRT driver for 18 years.   He is a gentleman and while rantings did not paint a negative picture of his employer except and I quote "You know they are big powerful organization and I am just a nobody.... I’m just like a small fly where they can just kill me for their sport!"

I guess from his blog he does have misgivings and is afraid to divulge details for fear of repercussions.  Giving good 18 years of his life and discarded.  SMRT is a government-link company even though it claims to be private and listed in the stock exchange.  Isn't this incredible?  Looks like the "cheng hoo" is leading the way to displace Singapore workers.  Granted this is highly speculative given that no details were divulge.  Is there no other job for the driver within such a vast organisation?  There must be plenty of jobs that he qualify for even if his health conditions does not permit him to drive.

Is Singapore Success Story over?  A few months ago, Sumiko Tan wrote on her column after visiting Punggol PCN that Singapore is in its Golden Age.  I guess there is no where to go but down once we reach the top.

I distinctly remember in the news a year or two ago, Manpower Minister, Tan Chuan Jin says that the PMET who became jobless is actual very small percentage of the total jobless workforce, they are very vocal and this gives the perception that there are a lot more of them than actual fact.  Relying on hard numbers which depend on a lot of variables can be misleading.  Also where is the heart for all the PMETs who have families to feed and support.

Alan Tang now has all the time in the world to enjoys his "retirement" meanwhile ex-Prime Lee says we should all work past the retirement age.  What irony!

A Week in Melbourne

My neighbour is raving about her trip to Melbourne where she spent a week there.  It is PSLE marking week and she brought her kids there.  She love the place!  Especially her size is only Medium whereas here it is Extra Large.  The food is so cheap.  She love to eat and good at comparing prices.  She felt the price in resturants is expensive.   She also brought candies over for my boys.  She is really enthusiatic about Australia although she is only in one city. 

I also think Melbourne is nice even though I stay only one night there.  I wrote about my opinion changed and now think Melbourne is better than Sydney during my trip to Australia three weeks ago.  I like the historical feel of the place especially with the trams.  Singapore is a lot more advanced and has more stuff to offer that is branded goods or electronics.  However, Melbourne has a more homely feel.  The pace of change make me feel left behind.  My neighbourhood is changing rapidly.  The roads are widen and expanded.  The realignment of old road confuses me.  Jalan Kayu is totally changed.

So I like Melbourne being the same every time I visit especially since I did not go there very often.  The familiar feel is very shiok and I feel I know the city.  I love Melbourne.

Experienced vs Newbies Cabin Crews

On the theme of Cabin Crews, I like to articulate my opinion on experienced crews vs young good looking even sensual stewardess.  I loved good looking girls.  As Straits Times columnist Richard Lim puts it, beauty is a pleasure to be experienced.  However, for cabin service my preference is always the more mature experienced crews.  The balding IFS in his 50's always made my flight comfortable by introducing himself and making sure I know he is in-charge and will make my flight comfortable.  I also find that leading stewardess - green kebaya and chief stewadess - the red kebaya are usually very service orientated and set good examples.  Red kebaya are usually bigger size and past their prime in terms of looks or figure.  They make it up for great customer care and maturity. 

I usually find male Chiefs and in-flight supervisors very well versed in keeping passengers comfortable.  Of course if there is a good mix with "eye candy" it will be the "service other airlines talk about!".  By the way, although I have not personally experience Emirates service, I heard they are good.  I also like Cathay Pacific inflight service as well.

Budget airlines is like travelling in the past.  My first flight in 1984 was Air India to New Delhi.  No inflight entertainment at all.  I was on business class and there is simply nothing to do except sleep.  I learn to bring books to read after my first flight.

Note 3 Ringtones

Since having the Samsung Note 3, I have not been picking up my calls.  The ringtone is soft and hard to identify.  So I keep missing my calls unless I have the phone in my hand.  Then I can feel the vibration as well.  The screen is beautiful and easy to read.  But the size of the phone makes it uncomfortable to squat down when the phone is in the pocket.

Today, I tried to use the Google map for directions.  But Google map response was so slow that I found the place before it can map out.  It may be due to my settings.  The high definition screen is a big plus.  Colour is vibrant and watching movies is far better than iPhone.

Everywhere, people are using Samsung even aunties in the hawker centers!  There are less and less Apple.

Single Mum Stewardess

Her son is 18 months.  She became a English teacher but the income was poor.  So it is back to flying again so that she can earn more to support her son.  Her husband left her two weeks after their son was born.  He is a cabin crew as well.  He is now living with another cabin crew.  So the interesting stories that Boh Tong writes are true. 

When you are a cabin crew, you start living like the rich and famous.  I like the story of the stewardess who married an Indonesia tycoon and when they divorce, she gets $100,000 monthly allowance to maintain her lifestyle.  It become a legend.  In a Straits Times interviews, many cabin crews know this story and hoping to be the next girl to strike it rich.  It is winning the lottery everyday!! 

For every success story, there must be many who failed.  So it is living a dream.  Working as a cabin crew bring advantage of meeting rich men and women frequently.  So this increase the odds of striking lottery.

Back to the single mum, I think she is holding up well and doing a good job.  She is young and will recover from this setback.  She should be able to get a new man who will love and take good care of her son.

Hari Raya

I am confused.  A public holiday on a Tuesday and I keep feeling and thinking it is Sunday!  The PCN is very busy in the afternoon with the sun shining bright - full of joggers, family taking walks, roller bladers, skateboarders and cyclists like myself. 

Our morning start with thunderstorm as I have conference call at 7am.  I saw the lightning strikes on a block of flats and immediately I hear the electrical crackles on my phone.  The thunder claps deafeningly.  It was a little scary.

It is uneventful day with B1 and B3 at home all day and B2 going to Punggol billard in the afternoon.  The evening ends with chicken and abalone congee.  Dessert is Bird's nest soup.

It is a good day for everyone.  Happy Hari Raya.

Getting the New Samsung Note 3 is like Learning a New Language

It take getting used to my new Samsung Note 3.  Even opening calculator mode is different and more complicated than iPhone.  It is a simple press on the icon in Apple but I have to go to Samsung icon and then calculator.  So I have to search to figure out where Calculator mode is hidden.  Transferring audio files is different as well.  If I copied a disk that is not in the database, I have no idea how to name the Album.  In Apple, it is easy to make a Playlist using Recently Added function.  In Android, I have yet to learn how to efficiently make name my latest copied CD.  So it is learning all over again.  My wife do have a point.  In Apple, it is very simple to use.  Only issue I have with Apple is no flexibility.

I am trying a function which is not available in Apple.  One apps to track walking and cycling.  Including the meals, it becomes a health tracker.  So it is useful in trying to reduce weight.  I am falling in love slowly...

Happiness is...

Ordinary Day!  according to Sumiko Tan.  I agree with her.  An uneventful day with no drama is a happy day.  Sumiko is reaching 50 and well into her middle age.  She has learn to not to strive for better job, better pay, better holiday, better basically anything and everything.  I told my wife about this article and she agrees.  To her Happiness is being contented.  Contented with what you have.

That is material contentment.  I wonder about relationhips, emotions and other unmeasurable aspects of life.  They are the REAL JOY of living when everything is good and stable.  It is will be difficult to strive better wife or husband, better kids, better parents, better temperment, better love or better enjoyment.

We can work to become better parent, husband/wife or kids.  There are also relativity in soft aspects.  What is better say wife?  One who does everything for the husband? Or produces and look after kids well?

Happiness is contentment with our life, both material and emotional aspects.  So I am happy most time and unhappy sometimes.

Back to Hometown

We were on our way to lunch this morning but the jam on CTE was right up to AMK Ave 1.  So I decided to get off at Braddell Road to avoid the heavy traffic.  As we drive along, I was still deciding on the venue for lunch.  We decided to go to my hometown Commonwealth Cresent market and hawker center for lunch.  The dessert stall there is very good and is still run by the auntie when I was still a very young boy.

The Japanese food stall that was featured in the newspaper is closed today.  So we tried one of the coffee shop that we have not eaten before.  We had wanton noodles and fishball noodles.  We also had signature deep fried pig trotter from the zhi char stall.  No regrets!  Just having a meal in the place I grew up is quite nostalgic.  My boys do not have any attachment to this place.  It is good they know the "ancestral" home although it is only 45 years old.

Setting Up my Note 3

My wife pointed out rightly after I get the Samsung Note 3.  You have to set up everything again.  If it is iPhone 5, just plug into your computer.  No transition issue.  I was worried that it is going to take a lot of work to transfer data across especially since I do not have right to install programs into my computer.  I thought it will be difficult and take up too much time.  Actually, it is a breeze!!

All I have to do is to google my questions and the first two or three search will give me the answers.  For example, how to transfer contacts from iPhone to Samsung.  Or how to transfer my music from iPhone to Samsung.  It is so easy.  Then Viber, WhatsApp and other chat apps are available on both operating system.  The email accounts are easy to set up as well.  I had a little trouble with my office account because my eyesight is not good enough to read the small characters properly.  So a magnifying glass helps.

B3 has fun using the voice recognition software.  He says play "love story" and in a few seconds the music came on.  It is quite amazing.  He is trying out all the cool features.  Whereas for me, I just make sure my music and emails work.  I am glad I can set up accounts easily. 

By the way, the camera is very sharp and it is easy to take pictures.  The good thing about Samsung is if I ran out of memory, I can easily increase by up to 64 gigabytes.  With my Apple, I always have to clean out my audio files to put in new audiobooks.  I may get lucky and be able to video any unusual sights(UFOs?) in the sky.

I have to look for a bike holder as I worry my current phone holder may not be good enough.

Bewildering Choice of Phones

There are so many phones on the market. It is time for me to change phone and I thought I want to try HTC.  I used HTC a couple of minutes when a Taiwan lend his phone to me to check something on the internet.  I was really impressed!

To make it easy for decision, I narrow my choice between Samsung Note 3 and HTC Butterfly S.  The HTC Butterfly S has solid sound system.  The earphones are also from Beads.  After spending so much time evaluating it, it is not available in Singtel outlets.  So I go Courts.  Unfortunately, it is EOL.  EOL is end of life!  So there is no more choice for me.  I have to settle for Note 3.  Then I found out my voucher is missing.  So in the end, no new phone.  I have to look for my voucher before going back to get my phone.

Note 3 is quite impressive.  The screen is bigger, brighter and clearer.  It is like a mini TV.  So shoik as it makes reading easy.  Plenty of functions and many megapixels camera.  So it look like an amazing gadget!  I have to look for my voucher and go back to the store!

No MSG in Taipei

The first thing we noticed about eating at home is how thirsty we feel after our meals at the hawker centers.  We never feel thirsty eating all the different types of food in Taipei.  Not only do we use msg or rather the hawkers are taking shortcuts.  We used them so much that we always feel thirsty after our meal.

I wonder why the very popular food scenes in Taipei need not use any flavor enhancers and they have roaring business.  So our hawkers must be poor cooks that need to use artificial means to make their food taste better.

Random Thoughts on Taipei

Taipei does not have supermarkets.  Plenty of 7-eleven, Family Mart and other convenience store like Tokyo.  Specialised food shops that offer braised food items or youtiao and dou zhiang(soya bean drink).  The walking cum cycling path is wide and it is safe and easy to walk about.  Motorcyle is a common, very common which many women also use.  The helmets they used seem to be flimy.  I am not sure if they offer much protection.  However, I don't see lots of motorbikes on the highway either.  So there must be less deadly accidents unlike Singapore.  A lot of the residential buildings looked old and rundown.  This is where Singapore does a good job by requiring the facade of all residential building to be painted every five years.  The tables and chairs are very low and meals are served along the five feet way outside the shops. 

The terrain is hilly and plenty of building on the side of the hills.  Must be stable.  I wonder about the plumbing and toilet.  How can they be done without costly infrastructure.  The food culture is strong and the women do not seem to be as pretty as those in South Korea.  So plastic surgery is not popular with the folks here. 

Taipei 101 is a brilliant idea and engineering marvel.  It is an easy landmark to look for when walking about town.  The Eslite bookstore not sells books but have design and lifestyle products.  I am not a collector of junk other than books.  So I enjoys window shopping to see all the beautifully designed products and not spending any money.  Plenty of expensive brands and labels in Taipei 101.  So there must be lots of rich and wealthy people in Taiwan willing to spend on boutique stuff.

Also there is I am not sure if it is a protest but everyday there is a group who will be meditating and an old man on loudhailer yelling out something I do not understand.  It does not seem to be a political protest.  I like the Barista Cafe.  It is warm and cozy. 

Overall, Taipei is a nice city to visit.  However, I never even consider a long tern not to say a place to retire unlike Sydney or even Auckland.

The Famous Night Market

The night market is the hot tourist spot in Taipei.  It sells mainly tourist junks.  All the cheap trinkets and stuffed plush toys plush are likely to be made-in-China.  Walking about the night market reminds me of Bugis Street.  Plenty of street food on a stick.  Even quail eggs can be cook and stick through.  Mee Sua and Large Fried Chicken Cutlet are available back home.  Interesting to see them sold in makeshift carts.  The sausages are gigantic.  Fried oysters is soft unlike back home.  They give plenty of oysters which is more value.  I also tried the stinky tofu and they tasted like normal tofu.  Plenty of milk tea carts. Beef steaks seems more popular than pork chops.  There is jelly shape like lollypops, preserved fruits like plum, mango and lemon.  Also interesting but I did not try is Da Bing Pow Xiao Bing meaning a small biscuit inside a big biscult.  No one is trying it, so it is not popular.  There are bbq big squids which seems popular.  I like the fried steam buns but since it is full of dough, I did not eat it. 

George Quek come to Taiwan and go home to start up the resturants and make it to big time.  So anything is possible if you have abilities.

Hurray! Weather is Clearing. Walking Possible,

Looks like typhoon has passed.  Light rain today.  I may be able to walk to my appointment as it is only half an hour by walking.  It will be nice easy stroll to explore the city.  Our pair of legs is our 2nd heart according to a book written by a cardiologist.  Walking improves our cardiac function.  Better than cycling.  It is the gentle form of exercise.

Boh Tong, The Popular Blogger

Boh Tong writes stories about cabin crews.  He writes on their colourful love lives.  He is good at collecting gossips and turning them into engaging stories.  Sometimes there are stories about encounters with passengers especially recognisable names.  Since he retired early, he writes blogs to collect advertising revenue.  He also sell consulting service to help crew wannabes to get hired.  Plus he has a pet transport service. 

In short, he has several streams of income to support himself and his beautiful Japanese wife.  I am glad when he occasionally leaves comments on my leave letting me know that he is a regular visitor.  As for me, I write an open diary.  I am not a famous guy, so no one really care about what I do or eat or whatever...  Someday maybe my grandchildren or even great grandchildren may want to find out more about what their fathers did as they are growing up may be able to find bit and pieces in this blog.  I am sure my boys with tell their kids stories of how they grow up.  This will be a database of some of the things we do as a family like having dinner together everyday, going for holidays in Europe, cycling with me in PCN, even catching fish at the reservoir.

My blog does not earn much in advertisements since the readership is pathetic.  However, I enjoys the process and discipline of writing.  It is a fun way to occupy myself in the hotel room.  I also write to sharpen my English skills.  So my reward for blogging is numerous.  Since it is not a bestseller, I hope it improves over time.

By the way, Boh Tong's blog is BohTong Please enjoy.

Wet Wet Wet

Typhoon bypass us but it simply rained all day long.  Tomorrow is forecast to rain as well.  So I am stuck.  Hopefully, I can go home as scheduled.  There are two typhoon on the weather report.  After this one, another one will be coming.  I am feeling bored watching movie The Day Earth Stood Still.  As usual, when the alien request to meet UN, the US Secretary of Defense says meeting her is enough.  This movie represent the typical US attitude.

Although I am stuck here, I enjoyed the Taiwanese hospitality and I love the fact I can speak the same language.  It is like going to my ancestral home town.

Wet Dreary Sunday

Luckily, the typhoon passed Taipei but it is just pouring and pouring.  So it is in the room to watch movies and surf the net.  I hope the rain will thin down so that I can walk and pass time around the malls, my favorite activity while travelling.

The food here is good but the variety is not as much as in Singapore or Malaysia.  Our many different ethnic groups make our food so varied.  It is quite enjoyable to go to the night market which is like our hawker centers.  After a while like our hawkers' fishball noodles, braised duck or congee are repeating like a mantra, the fried oyster, stinky tofu, beef steak and fried chicken pieces.  I have not tried the mee sua or the stinky tofu yet.  Stinky tofu smells terrible.  So likely I am not going to try.  I like the braised food and beef noodle. 

The Eslite mega book store is a good place for me to pass time although it is mostly Chinese books and English books are quite limited.  Starbucks does not seems to have as many outlets as other cities.  Tea culture is still very strong here.

Wet Season in Taipei

It is raining everyday since I arrived in Taipei on Thursday.  I am indoor most of the day but not so nice to walk about with the rain.  Luckily, it is a drizzle most time rather than shower.  Temperature is nice and warm and is quite comfortable.  Din Tai Fung offers the same taste.  There are plenty of street food, mostly fried buns.  I have to go to the night market and experience the plethora of street food.  It is like our hawker centers.  The stink tofu smells horrible like a pungent toilet.  I have not brought myself to try it.  Then when I think of foreigners' attitude toward our favorite king of fruits, the delectable durian, they also have the same reactions to the smell.

My low back is not good for standing all day.  I need to do more core muscle strengthening when I go back home. 

Mrs Higgins Cookies

Soon to start my travel home.  11 hours of flying!  Longest for non-stop travel within Asia.  I am looking forward to buying cookies home.  It is really nice when warm -crusty outside and soft and juicy inside.  Yes! Juicy!  I think it is the half melted sugar.  Very sinful but really good.

I will be getting white chunk macadamia and a host of other types to for the family to try.  Mmmm a nice sweet treat.

Newmarket

I heard Newmarket is the most expensive area in Auckland.  So I get the directions from the hotel and do my regular walk.  I am glad I asked for directions instead of wandering aimlessly.  I would not have walked so far if not for knowing destination and a map in my hand.  I am glad I am more adventurous.  The shops were all closed by 6pm before I reach Newmarket.  Hence the place is more or less empty.  I feel good that I really exercise instead of window shopping.

Newmarket is quite nice, a mini Orchard Road.  The "expensive" brands are there but nothing like KL, Singapore or Hong Kong.  It takes an hour by walking from my hotel. As it was getting dark, I hurry back so that I am on familiar ground for dinner.  I like hot noodle soup when the weather is cold.  So I had Vietnamese beef noodles with fried spring rolls.  Eating by myself is not so fun with no wifi to entertain me while waiting for the food to arrive.  So I spent my time reading the menu and pictures on the wall.  It is the end of a long trip and tomorrow it is going home.  I learn a lot about the customers and their purchasing behaviour.  This is a great learning trip for me. 

I only get to sleep for the night before leaving home again the following morning to Taipei.

Money isn't Everything

I was reading Dr. Chee Soon Juan's article on a place for money in society in TRE.  Conceptually, I agree with the notion that money isn't everything.  We should have compassion and fun in living.  A balanced lifestyle.  Money buys almost everything in our current society.  And the phenomenon of high real estate price is in Australia and New Zealand.  The average worker is unable to afford a home.  At least for them, they can still afford a car so in a way better than a average Singaporean.  I am thinking maybe the reason why the real estate prices are so high may be due the printing of money.  US may be the root cause of making real estate price beyond the reach of average worker.  QEI, QE2 and now QE3 cause the real estate prices around the world to rise.

Medical costs have risen exponentially as well.  Doctors wants and need a good living.  As doctors, they want to afford the nice houses.  So the idealistic doctor who heals without expecting to earn his reasonable returns for his skills is newsworthy. 

So I wish that money isn't everything.  Unfortunately for Singaporeans, we are living in a city-state and there is no kampong or farm we can go to lower the cost of living.  Therefore our government has to do something to reduce the suffferings of the people in the low income levels.

Walking about Town

Walking about near the hotels I stayed in is usually my way of passing time and exercising.  University of Auckland is just nearby.  Plenty of foreign students.  The biggest pool may be Koreans.  I pass by loads of them.  I wish they are as good looking as the actors and actresses on the drama but no such luck.  Plenty of mainland Chinese as well.  Then the rest from faraway land speaking exotic languages.

It is easy to get Korean, Chinese and Thai food in resturants.  There are Indonesian, Japanese and Vietnamese food in food court.  So it is an amazing melting pot.  The shopping is poor would be an understatement.  It is appalling.  Very few shops mostly offering souvenirs, pearls and cheap jewellery.  There are plenty of cafes all well frequent by students.  A public library and Sky Mall which look like a casino.  People are still renting DVD here.  What a archaic town!

There are plenty of banks and tellers around.  So I feel lucky to be surround by money which I do not own. 

Maybe because the weather is a lot colder and windy.  So it seems nicer to walk around Melbourne or Sydney.  Brisbane is just a country town.  People here live a good life.  They drink after work hours to socialise.  As I get to know Auckland better, I don't think I can retire here. 

Auckland vs Sydney

Walking about in the late afternoon, I observed the women in Auckland does not seem to be as good looking as Sydney.  As one sociologist puts it, the more beautiful the women, the richer the society.  As the society becomes richer, women spent more money making themselves look good.  Maybe because the weather is colder and the women are in thicker clothings therefore do not have the ability to flaunt their figures.  Even the men looked better in Sydney than Auckland.  So it may be the wealth factor at work.

Auckland is like a university town with University of Auckland beside the town center.  Plenty of foreigners like Sydney- Koreans, Chinese, Indians and other exotic lands(exotic because I cannot decipher the language).  Plenty of tattooed men and women.  Natives are large!  So I see a lot of plus size compared to Australia.  Auckland is slow and is similar to Brisbane.  So I think it is back to Toronto for me in future.

Culture Shifts of Immigrants

Yesterday, I had lunch with my hosts.  We went to a Italian resturant.  I was glad they decided to order and share the food.  I like variety when I eat.  We ordered chicken caesar salad, bacon salmon pizza and fried seafood bowl. 

One of my host is a Kiwi working and living here in Australia.  The other is Hong Kong Chinese who moved to Australia at 10 years old.  The Kiwi is married to a Hong Kong girl who moved to New Zealand at about 10 or 11 as well.

As usual, we talk about things in general.  The Hong Kong Chinese girl who I shall refer to as Flo made a statement - what is rich?  She says if people go to her house, they says she is rich.  However, if they open up her clothing cupboard, she is poor.  She has plenty of things but very poor in clothing.  Interesting!  Flo compartmentize riches in different category of possessions.  How about money?  Flo agrees that many people will look at money as a measure of riches.  Flo is so Australian in her outlook.  Being the first generation immigrant, I expect her to have a lot of Hong Kong values passed from her parents.  Although I am making general statements of Hong Kong residents of pre-1997, it is generally true that Hong Kong residents are obsessed with making money.  During the 80's, my colleagues from HK are obsessed with making money.  So Flo is a surprise for me. 

Flo is keen to do a good job.  She works hard and she asked hard questions.  She drive the training session I had with the group.  I will be sweating bullets if not for the fact that I had personal experience in all the questions she asked.  Interestingly, Flo while driven did not show ambitions that most Hong Kongers had.  This is another virtue she acquired growing up in Australia.

Then Kim(not her real name), the wife of the Kiwi came to sign some legal papers to sell her property in New Zealand.  I have to ask Kim to join us.  She has her toddler girl with her.  The toddler is gorgeous.  She has big eyes and long eyelashes.  She has limited vocabulary but when she asked for food, she looked so adorable.  I was so happy to have a baby with us for lunch.  Kim is a Hong Kong girl as well.  She is so reserved and apologetic.  When I insisted that she eats, she asked for the menu.  I thought Kim did not like the food we ordered and wanted something different.  Then she asked her husband and her hubby says he will pay separately.  This is cultural shift for me.  We are sharing our food and why did she even think that she has to eat separately.  My inate culture is eating together is most important.  Who pays for the meal, we can worry about it later. 

When the meeting ended, the taxi that I booked did not come.  Worse is that I cannot get another taxi in as the taxi who took the booking is somewhere else and refuses to let go since it is a good fare.  So my Kiwi host drove me to a train station.  On the way we talked.  I learned that he lived in England for a couple of years.  At the age of 15, he has been mixing with Asians so he understand my surprise about his wife not eating our food.  He says he has a reverse culture shock when at the 23 when he just returned to New Zealand, his brother invited him to have a meal with some friends.  At the end of the meal each calculated his share and paid the bill. He had not split bills with his own friends for many years.

This is interesting learning for me.  Now that my boys grew up in Singapore, they have the Singaporean culture and outlook in life.  I wonder how much cultural tension I would have with them if we had continue to lived in Canada.

Walkabout

All I do is walkabout George Street.  The place is full of people.  I am glad to join the crowd.  Plenty of beautiful women and many down and out people too.  I feel sorry for them.  The down and out of men and I have not seen any woman yet.  Like other developed countries, there are people who fall through the cracks.  It is so much better in Canada.  The social safety covers everyone.  So no begging on the streets if I recall correctly. 

The weather is beautiful.  I wear a pair to walk so it is comfortable and relaxing.

Impression Changed

I always thought Sydney is better city to live as it is a bigger city.  This evening walking to Chinatown, I found that actually Melbourne is cheaper and has more variety.  It is very narrow definition of a good city but hey food for the stomach is a very very important criteria.  The food choices in Melbourne seems better than here.  So now I think maybe Sydney not be as good as I thought before. 

Tomorrow I will have a chance of exploring the city more.

First Bad Weather, Now Flight Delays

I come all the way to the airport with plenty of time and the bad weather I blogged about a few hours ago is affecting all the flights in and out of Melbourne and Sydney.  So I am stuck in the airport feeling tired and sleepy but cannot do anything other than wait.  I hope I get a chance to get to Sydney and have decent sleep.  Otherwise, I will be a wreck tomorrow for all day meeting and training.

The wind was very gusty and strong.  So I can understand why the aircraft will have a hard time taking off or landing.

Bad Weather in Melbourne

I have a one hour window which I thought I can go and enjoy Melbourne before I leave.  But no luck!  The rain was pouring and it is "horizontal rain".  It is so windy.  So I have to come back to my room and do blogging instead.  I am sorry I did not get the chance to explore the city and is stuck in the room getting ready for my next appointment.  I would have love to walk and exercise and feast my eyes on the sights of downtown Melbourne.  No luck!  I thought I could try out some tidbits or snacks the vendors may be able to offer. 

I hope Sydney is better.

Losing Track of Time

Travelling from one city to another every couple of days can be confusing.  I keep forgetting what day it is.  My host was confused about the date during last night's dinner.  I can understand because I am not sure what day it is today.  All I know is I have to keep checking so that I do not miss my appointments and flights.  It is so fast.  I do not realise tomorrow is Thursday. 

Downtown Melbourne is nice.  I understand what my wife always harp about.  The goods on the shelves are dated and behind time.  For latest fashions and books, cities in Asia seems ahead.  Maybe it is due to the size of the population.  The population in cities in Asia are so much bigger and therefore have the economy of scale to take in a broader range of products.

A Fruitful Day in Brisbane

I had a long day and I did not sleep well last night.  I had good dinner at night.  It is fillet steak 200gms.  I could not finish the steak although I ate up all the french fries and rocket salad.  Brisbane is a very slow city.  I like the University of Queensland.  The campus is huge and plenty of research going on.   I wished I am a student again.  Lots of beautiful people.  I think it is also the food and the air.  The physiques are optimum and firm for both sexes of young adults. 

I like the casual atmosphere of university.  Everyone is carrying books and plenty of cafes to sit and discuss intellectual pursuits.  I wish I am an expert in something so that I can work in a University as a Professor.

Quiet Brisbane

I landed in Brisbane.  The way to the hotel is so so quiet.  Everything is closed by 7pm!  I stayed in a hotel right beside the train station and only one or two bars are opened and 7-eleven.  Luckily, there is 7-eleven.  Otherwise you cannot get anything after 7pm in Brisbane.  My host tells me it is a country town really.  I am in total agreement.  It is going back to rural living.

Good Week

I had a good week.  It is nice to get a big order from a new customer and another customer paid up after numerous reminders and follow-ups.  I should not delve on work too much as it is boring to readers.  It feels good and I like to share my joys.  Joy shared is joy doubled.

Our lunch today is in Old Hong Kong at Chomp Chomp.  It is quite pricey but the food is "very Cantonese".  I would love to have other ethnic food but mummy always insist on Chinese.  So Old Hong Kong it is.  B1 was a little shock at the cost.  He is a very thrifty boy.  I am not sure if he is born this way or when he was growing up we were very tight on spending as we are still a young family with little disposable income.  He had toys but not as much as his baby brother.  So I think it may be growing up in a controlled and measured expenditure atmosphere makes him a much more thrifty boy than B2 and B3.  Anyway, I also think even though the food tasted good, it is not value for money.  Once is a long long while is fine as we should enjoy good food.

Tomorrow is travel day!  Must bring books to read.  Nowadays, I find writing actually quite relaxing too.  So I write too.  And it is fun to read my travelog especially in the train in a foreign land.

Hectic Day

It is a hectic day for B3.  He has to do practice papers, attend Chinese tuition and just working to prepare for exams under the watchful eyes of Mummy.  Daddy is laissez faire good at nagging and nothing else.  B3 will be totally out of control playing computer all day long.  Mummy should take the credit for all the successes in our boys have in future.  I wish I know how to help our boys to work toward a successful future.  I only know how to cut fruits after dinner and bbq meats for our meals.  Or do something I always enjoys i.e. buying my favorite snacks and other food items home for them to try.  I always remember eating nice snacks that my father brought back home.  Guess I am just passing on the tradition of bringing "famous snacks" home.

Friday's

I wonder if Friday's is still in Singapore.  It is in Seoul and quite good.  I like the food and atmosphere.  The bbq ribs is quite good.  The food is very good but sinful.  Good for the stomach but bad for the heart!   I am a food lover.  So it is hard to lose weight.

Since today is Friday and I am thinking what to write for my blog, I could only think of food.  Our dinner was simple fried beehoon as we ran out of food to cook.  It is nice to have simple meal with our boys.  Although I like B1 to go oversea for his studies, I am very happy with that we have dinner with all our 3 Bs every night.  I exaggerated!  Not every night but most nights.  It is a nice family gathering where we will have fruits or durian mooncakes.  We all have sweet tooth, so it can be ice cream and we just talk.  Tonight we spent time to go through Maths papers with B3. 

Life is good when the family is together.

Count Down to PSLE Exams

It is getting down to the wire.  Mummy is managing the timing and process tight.  All of us have our duties and all our activities have to be managed around B3 as his exams is getting near.  It is really stressful.  B3 is complaining but still following mummy's orders.  He find ways to sabotage as well.  He is quite adorable when he follows instructions.  Mummy even massage him so that he can feel being fuss over.

With this I am glad I am out of the house and out of the highly stressed environment.  I will have TV to keep me company for the next 3 weeks. 

Silver Anniversary

Today is our silver anniversary.  We celebrate by having a nice Chinese lunch at our favorite resturant, Hillman.  My boys noticed the place is patronised by Japanese only.  B3 was in school as PSLE is iminent.  B1 and B2 is with us.  A true Cantonese, mummy loves the cooking so much that she keeps praising the food.  Hillman is traditional Cantonese cuisine.  Other than lunch, the rest of day is just like any other day.  B3 comes home and have "paper chicken" and naan for snacks.  After which he has to do the papers to practise for his exams.

I also like the Pakistani food and takeaway Chicken Tikka.  I noticed this coffeeshop was reviewed by Wong Ah Yoke, the Straits Times food critic in 2009.  I ate there first time last week and found the food quite good.  I think once a food outlet had been reviewed, the standard must be quite high.

Busy Travelling for 3 Weeks

Next week onward, I will be on the road and in the aircraft for 3 weeks.  It is back to back travelling in Australia and New Zealand.  After that, it is to Taiwan.  We need to drum up more business and doing it in person is the best way.  I am excited about meeting up with customers.  This is the enjoyable part of my job.  I just do not enjoy the long and tiring travel.  It is like a love-hate relationship. 

It is fun meeting people and friends in different countries and enjoying the local food.  But going through security and waiting in the airports are no fun.  

Creative Thai

 

This video is so touching.  The advertisements in Thailand are very creative, funny or poignant.  Please click and see for yourself why it is so popular.

The Wonder of Beauty

This short article by Richard Lim is write so well.  The introduction is a regular day on a routine of going down to basement car park after dental appointment he saw a beautiful woman.  After that he quoted different authors and their prose on beauty.  It is amazing read.  It shows he read widely and remember what he reads to be able to research and pull out all the right quotations.  I am not familiar with all the authors he mentioned.  I guess I read different genre.  I wonder how he can read so widely.  I always enjoys reading. But I am not a good writer.  I do not research or quote as I write.  It is what is called popular writing.  I need to become an essayist and research and write on a topic. 

Anyway, this is my public diary and it is getting me disciplined to write every day.  I am used to writing now.  I just need to improve everyday and get better everyday.

PSLE Stress

PSLE is in two weeks.  Mummy is working B3 on the practice papers.  B3 is tired and stressed.  There are many problems that he still cannot solved in Maths.  I wonder how he is going to do in exams.  He still has English, Chinese and Science to go.  I hope he can do well to go to a good school.  Plenty of questions are quite complicated although solvable and needs time and intense thinking.  I wonder how the kids can perform under time constraints and pressure.  It is terrible way of assessing a kid's abilities.

I am stressed by the exams too as I have to help figure out the problems.