Another new entry after 2 years

There  are a few changes since I posted my last entry.

I have left the community job and joined a Ministry. Planning to leave the Ministry for something more fun.

Girl girl is already in P3. She is growing up well, physically, emotionally and academically. An obvious development is that she eats a lot nowadays. Another new development is that she is wearing a spectacle, began about 2 weeks ago. Dun quite like to study, ha.....

Change a new used car. The Altis has served well but coming to 10 years old. Need to have a good rest.

What has not changed is the traveling twice a year as a family. Visiting Taiwan and Hong Kong, last visit was in 3 to 4 years ago. Expecting to see more changes.

Indeed, changes is the only constant variable.

Holiday in June 2013

Wow, it has been coming to 2 years since I made my last blog. It was on June 2011 holiday.
Will update with a new blog - June 2013 Holiday to London / Paris.

This is the first time that I am traveling to Europe area. Really looking forward to it. We visited Seoul during June 2012 and had a wonderful time visiting new friend in Jeonju and home stay.

It is pretty expensive to travel to Europe and the it is a long haul flight.
As usual, enjoyed the planning though it was challenging to decide where to stay, serviced apartment, boutique hotel or normal hotel. We believe that having a good accommodation is important especially after a full day of activities.

We will be staying very near to Eiffel Tower and I feel pretty good about it :-)

Planning a Holiday for June 2011

The original plan was to go back to Taiwan in June this year. Decided to go to Hokkaido since we have been talking about it for quite awhile even though the Taiwan's trip programme almost completed.

The sudden earthquake and massive nuke leak changed the whole planning. Was quite disappointed but definitely not safe to go ahead. Where's next? Beijin. Dropped the plan again due to the hot weather and not many interesting spots for girl girl.

Finally settled to visit Melbourne for the cooling weather since it is winter in June and a good mix of activity for the family. Pretty busy and tiring to research 4 places over a few months. But the effort was not totally wasted as we can use it whenever we decided to visit the places again.

I enjoy planning unique and enriching holiday program, ie trying different activities so as to have different experiences from the moment we fly off until we touch down home. For the recent Melbourne trip, we tried traveling on SQ A380, staying in a service apartment with a kitchen and day trip to a few nearby places.

Half way into the trip, I also started to source for more information that I may need it as I will be visiting Melbourne again :-)

It's feel good to blog again

My last blog posting was about 8 months ago. Ha...
It's feel good to blog again. :-)

There are, indeed, many things to write and share, 8 months of activities and happenings.One of the immediate differences is that I can now blog easily using an iPad. Dun have to turn on a netbook or notebook or pc to do so. Much convenient especially it comes with a good screen size. iPhone is just too small for it.

I am thinking of summarizing the past 8 months into a few paragraphs here. Emm... not quite possible. I will just share more about it as I blog.

To start off, I began the year 2011 with a sudden change of my job portfolio. Moving from planning and organizing community projects to working on social media stuff, mainly on the Facebook platform. The assignment was to achieve 200,000 fans after 6 months. The base number then was coming to a thousand. Do you think that it is possible? Dun say no without giving it a try and trying it hard with many attempts. I am still trying at the moment. Ha...ha...ha...

There are two things that I like about the sudden change: able to do something new and a lot of learning about social media - new skills set and knowledge :-)

Ice-cream man

I like to buy ice cream from an ice-cream man who drives around the neighbourhood on his motor tricycle with a beach umbrella or a van. Again, an old trade that has been existing for many many years.

A dollar each and consumer can decide to wrap the ice cream with a slide of colourful bread or two crispy biscuits or just in a cup. I prefer eating it with bread or biscuit. The ice-cream usually comes in a few favors namely red bean, sweet corn, strawberry, vanilla and chocolate. The ice-cream man will ring his bell to announce his arrival and to attract people to patronize his mobile stall, especially the kids and students.

Instead of buying and keeping a box of ice-cream at home and be stuck with the only favor for awhile, I prefer buying it from the ice-cream man - economical, fresh and with more choices. Another reason is the thrill of running into one unexpectedly, to consider myself lucky to come across one :-) A dollar's joy and enjoyment is comparable, if not better than, having it in Swensen, Hagen Daz or Ben & Jerry's.

There was once that I ran into an ice-cream man in the car park after work. I was happy and prepare to buy one to enjoy it. When I approached the ice-cream man, he was smoking while ringing the bell for business. Though he was smiling at me, the unhealthy and dirty image was just undesirable and killed my excitement or urge to buy an ice-cream from him. The second hand smoke is not good for anyone especially the kids and he is not considerate about it. Another piss-off experience is you are about to rest and read at 10.30pm when you hear the ice-cream man ringing for business. It is a sharp noise in a peaceful night.

Other than the above two not welcoming situations, I am always thrill enough to run into them unexpectedly.

Kanaguni business

Kanaguni - someone who buys over 2nd hand or unwanted household items such as old newspaper/magazines, clothings, fan, television set, radio set, VCD/DVD player, computer monitor etc at the neighbourhood. In return, he or she will then sell it to a collector or an organization for a profit.

It is a old trade that has been in existence for many many years, properly an early version of a recycling programme. When I was young, the kanaguni will move from floor to floor, door to door shouting for business and service. If you have some of the unwanted houeshold items to sell, just open the door and wait for him or her. They will weigh (eg. for old newspaper/magazines/clothings) and pay you on the spot.

Nowadays, they will park their vehicle at the carpark and horn for business and service. They rarely move from floor to floor, door to door. Instead, they move from block to block. It is more economical and less traveling but can cause much noise at the neighbourhood espeically in a peaceful and relaxing afternoon watching a movie or taking a nap at home. :-( Of course, they will drop by your doorstep if u have something for them.

However, there also seem to be another group of kanaguni who will seek out valuable items directly from the shared dustbin area at the void deck. They will ride a bicycle to look for items that are deemed valuable from the dustbin from block to block, day and night. The group seems to come from mainly the senior citizen and foreign workers. While I am encouraged by their action to find a decent way to fend for themselves, many is not very considerate and responsible by making a mess out of it at the common area. They will seek out the valuable items and expect the cleaning personnel to clear up the mess for them next day. Meanhwile, residents have no choice but just have to bear with it.

The old trade has survived by transforming itself in its business operation approach. However, we are definitely still very far from establishing a gracious society whereby we care not only of one self but also others and in this aspact, not to inconvenience others and to show respect of the used of the common space we all share.

Is that so difficult to execrise ?

They grow up so fast

The following case study or example was shared when I was attending a training programme recently:

Sam lives in a 4-room HDB flat with his wife and 3 kids. They are generally a happy family except that every day after work, when Sam comes home, the entire living room and walkway is covered with the children's toys. He always has to put the toys away before he can walk through the living room to reach his bedrrom. he tried reminding, telling, scolding the kids but it was no us.

One day, after a long and tiring work day, Sam came home and found the childrem's bicycles, barbie dolls, transformers, power ranger, Lego sets etc thrown all over the entire living room, blocking his path to the bedroom.

He was so angry with the children that he forgot to close his door. He started to put the toys away and was so engrossed in it that he did not notice that his neighbor, Mr Tan, had came in to help to pick up the toys. Mr Tan youngest daughter had just got married a few weeks ago and had moved out of the house. He had not had a chance to see her after her wedding.

When Sam realized that Mr Tan was picking up the toys after him, he was embarrassed and said "I'm sick of cleaning up after these kids."

Mr Tan said "I hope you don't mind me helping. I miss doing this now that my daughter has grown up and gone. You should enjoy it while it lasts. Your children will be gone before you know it. They grow up so fast."

.....

It is a simple story but with a great insight. As a father myself, I totally agree with Mr Tan. I also see Sam in myself.

Fortunately, I am more aware of it than Sam and has enjoyed the noise, nonsense, etc my daughter has created as part of her growing up. At times, it is not easy to accommodate such behavior and a need to discipline her. It is better to get on her right track early.

Well, discipline should not cause an oversight over her uniqueness and appreciating her true natural originality - the way she talks, smiles, laughs, angers, eats, sleeps, learns, plays, sees things around her. It is, indeed, a master piece of Arts. Good or bad, she also inherited some of your genes, not all her fault.

To me, the keyword here is appreciating. Be part of her growing up.

Books and Reading Journey

I like books and enjoy reading, properly a habit cultivated since young.

I started reading Chinese books with heavy comic content initially and gradually with more text as I got to recognize more Chinese characters and phrases. These Chinese books were well known classic titles such as "Journey to the West", "Romance of The Three Kingdoms", "Water Margin" etc. I could read them repeatedly. Of course, I also read translated fairy tales, life and contribution of famous individuals such as Edison, Newton, Colombia etc. All with very interesting content. My parent bought some to share and mostly borrowed from the library.

My first English title was "The Famous Five" - adventurous story. However, I have to refer to English-to-Chinese dictionary regularly in order to understand the readings. Partly to learn the language as well. Hence, I would take more time to finish reading a book.

My first and only collection then was the story of Sherlock Holmes. My aunty bought it for me from the Golden Plaza or better known as Little Bangkok. I was very happy as I have been enjoying the story but I was also very sacred at the same time as my parent would blame me for wasting the money over useless title, according to their standard.

My reading list expanded as I grow up to also include the Chinese Martial Arts Novel mainly authored by Jin Yong （金庸）. Jin Yong had written many titles and his works is very well known among the youth and adults. Some of the titles were filmed as movies and drama series closely followed by many individuals. There is a saying that where ever there is a Chinese community, you will be sure the existence of his loyal readers and fans.

I actually slowed down my regularly reading habit very much during the later part of my study and army time and resumed shortly after started to work. By then, I was more interested to read English books especially those on business, management as well as technology stuff. Most of my basic IT knowledge and skills were acquired then. One of my favorite reads was books on Bill Gates. I have learned much from the readings. Bill Gates became my Super Hero till now.

Two major changes were obvious, I began to read more magazines and began to buying more books & magazines than borrowing it - the beginning of building my library at home, subtly. I also learn to subscribe some of the magazines.

Years of experience make me realized that it is not so economical to buy technology books as it evolves rapidly, definitely much faster than my reading speed. The concept of management is pretty much the same, most importantly is one's ability to apply it timely and appropriately to create the desired result. The easily access and availability of Internet and richness of its content form good alternative resources. Amazon.com appears as one of my favorite websites. Gone the days of busy buying. I am a mellow shopper now. I visit library regularly again.

It's kind of funny, I am back to reading more Chinese books nowadays. Partly I am comparatively stronger in the language. Partly there are more available contemporary titles, English books are translated faster, better and cheaper. Instead of the classic titles, I read more about history and philosophy stuff. Since I enjoy traveling, I have collected more travel related books and magazines especially those in Asia version or edition.

Indeed, I already have a private library at home with a good spread of subjects and titles to meet my reading needs. What makes it more satisfactory is that it also has many books, both English and Chinese, that my daughter owns and enjoys readings. She inherits the story where I started many years ago though very differently. I hope that she will continue the journey with or without us around. It is definitely a journey that worth taking as a lifelong joy.

Ha...ha...ha...

Car washing service

Woke up in the middle of the night to washroom. Took a peep out of the window to check if it was raining. No rain but saw a man with a bicycle washing a car at the carpark downstairs. Very curiously, I stayed at the window for awhile more trying to figure out the driver.

Actually, he was not the driver. He makes a living by providing car washing service in the neighbourhood. A tall, skinny and friendly gentleman. He rides around with a pail of water, looking and waiting for car to be back and wash it. I think I have his promotional leaflet - A5 size, single coloured print or photo-copied. S$30 per month from Monday to Friday, rain or shine. Not expensive, S$1.50 a day though I did not engage his service at the moment. No particular reason.

I am not sure if he is doing it as a full time job or just a sideline to make some extra money. Either way, I respect him greatly. There are many people who are just like him, to work day and night to keep a decent living, there are also many who just dun bother to help themselves but reply on borrowing, conning, seeking undeserving help from various sources to past time. Worst if the person has an abled body and mind. A disgrace to themselves.

Life must has been hard on him if not why the need to wash someone's car at such an hour. But he lives to be his best possible and not yield to it. He also committed to his promise to wash it once a day, rain or shine at S$30 a month.

Come to think about it, I feel ashame that I am not quite friendly to him at times when his bicycle is blocking my way in the carpark though I do not horn at him. I have to practise and master more about appreciating and accommodating - as a way of life. Showing of respect goes beyond words.

Once upon a time (2)

I dun like to cut hair when I was young.

Not only that the uncle cutting my hair was not so friendly, but equally important was that my mum wanted me to keep very short hair style ie botak. Looking back now, I can understand why she insisted it that way - neat, clean, cooling and helped to save some money since I did not have to visit the barber so regularly.

My classmates would always tease me and called me botak head. They would laugh about it and I did not enjoy it very much. In fact, I was the rarely few with the botak hair style in class and properly in school. I could not carry with me a comb which was a trend then. :-(

To manage my expectation and objection, my mum would tell the uncle to have a long botak hair style for me. Any difference ? Ha...ha...ha..., not much but at least better than being botak.

Not sure if the experience had affected me silently, I prefer to keep my hair very short since the army time and now I am back to botak style again with no choice- fulltime, 24 x 7 :-)

At times, my daughter's classmates would call me botak uncle when I fetch her home after school. They seem fascinated and curious about it. 1 to 2 asked me why I have no hair and pretty bothered by it.

Some days, somehow they will know why. Ha...ha...ha...

Mahjong

I started to play Mahjong again,

I stopped playing it totally many years ago not only because I was losing much money then but most importantly, lost all the tuition fee that I had earned for a month service to a student. It was just unbelieveable while I walked home that night or rather in a wee hours after the game. Anyway, no bus and train service at the odd hours and also no money to take a cab. :-(

I learn to play mahjong since young by watching how my relatives play and learning it gradually along the way. It is a very addictive game. Players need to think and adopt best possible moves as well as what other may have in mind. Having good tiles does not mean that you will win for sure. More often than not, the game lasts for hours. At times, to order supper as the game continues. I enjoyed the small talk and accompany during the mahjong session. I hate when the game turns ugly over money. Whether winning or losing, players are bound to feel tired after the game, both physically and mentally.

Senior citizens are encouraged to play mahjong to keep one's mind active and alert. However, suggested to play it in a "healthy" or decent manner ie not much money or no money involved. It is definitely a good mean to past time, catching up with friends and just gossiping.

I feel that I am much skillful now as compare then. Winning most of the time, involving a few hundreds / thousand dollars. :-) Are you game enough to join me ?

See you online over iPhone
Ha...ha...ha...

History seems to unfold itself again. My daughter is eager to participate when I play mahjong on the iPhone. I will get her to throw out unwanted tiles. The same way my aunty told me a few decades ago.

Once upon a time ......

I used to stay in a rented flat many years ago. It has one bed room, a living room, toilet/bathroom and a kitchen. Small area but enough to meet daily needs. There were four of us in the family. I was the living room captain.

One of the unique features of the structure was that there was no windows at the kitchen area. It was an open concept built with iron bars from top to bottom. To sun or rain block, household has to install own canvas. However, it was very windy day and night. Good view of the outside world. Being a little naughty child, I would place one of my legs out in-between the gap of the bars. The love language used then was caning and scolding. I would considered myself lucky as caning was rarely used on the children in the family.

My favorite moment was when it rained, especially the heavy rain type. Even with canvas, the kitchen area would not only be wet but the best of it, flooded :-) Both my mum and myself would be pretty busy - my mum moving items that could be damaged by the water quickly while I looked for papers to make paper boats. The love language was not quite effective as I could hardly hear what my mum was saying. Anyway, she has more things to worry than those sailing paper boats. Cheers !

While my mum was patiently clearing the mess and praying for the rain to stop,
I was chanting
rain, rain, stay with me
rain, rain come again
Ha..ha..ha..

Boutique Hotel

I like the idea of staying in a boutique hotel whenever I travel for leisure. Though it has existed for years, I am more for it recently as I feel that the offering is generally much better.

Boutique hotel tends to be smaller in size and hence fewer guests in total. Check-in, check-out and breakfast sessions are more enjoyable. At the same time, staff is able to provide more personalized services for the guests whenever there are requests. The reception counter is well organized, designed and staffed.

The room is usually modernly designed with good colour combination + creative lightnings, cosy & clean environment, stuff with more current and useful gadgets such as LCD tv, a good range of international & local tv programmes, DVD player, free wi-fi internet connection, jacuzzi in bathroom, coffee/tea set and comfortable bedding. My recent stay in Taipei also find well packaged condom as part of the room amenities list.

Some added services include free usage of laundry equipment (eg. washing machine, dryer etc) for guests, kitchenette to do some simple cooking (or warming) etc. Of course, it can be quite expensive to stay in a boutique hotel and comparable to a 5-star hotel. My recent research suggested that Taiwan offers more competitive boutique hotel rates - pretty affordable in good location (ie walking distance to train station and surrounded by places to dine and shop). Hong Kong is quite expensive.

Consider staying in a boutique hotel especially if you are visiting Taiwan. :-)

Children's Day 2010

Children's Day is also becoming Parents' Day. As all primary schools and childcare centres will not be operating on 1st October, parents may have to be on leave to take care of them. In fact, some make it a family day to shop, dine, watch movie/performance and having a fun day together. For organizations that wanted to be acknowledged as pro-family or having worklife balance, much flexibility is shared with staff. Some even organized activities at the company level for the staff's children.

It has been years since I had my Children's Day. Not much celebration other than those programmes and gifts organized by the school. Nothing special about it. Nothing bad about it too.

Since the Day is meant for the children, I would prefer letting the children to organize a fun and relaxing moments with their friends out of the usual places. As long as it is a healthy, decent and safe programme, give the children the space, freedom to go wild with it. Afterall, they can only be a child for a few years.

I also celebrated it today by having a strawberry sundae after my lunch. :-)

"Huh ? I though you are already a junior Senior Citizen ?"

Yes, I am. But I am also young at heart. Happy Children's Day :-)
Ha...ha...ha... Cheers !

5 years old

谨卉 (Jillian) is 5 years old now.
Celebrated with her a few days.

Had a dinner at Swensen and enjoyed her favourite ice-cream. She has been celebrating her birthday at the Swensen every year.

Brough her to Universal Studio Singapore to take photos with different characters, taking a few rides and watching some performance.

She also had a simple birthday party at the childcare center with her classmates. A few days before the party, we went to shop for items for the goodies bags to be given to her friends. She packed it happily with her mum.

Will be bringing her to watch the Korean's musical performance, Nanta, at Esplanade a few days later. Just wanted to expose her to different Arts and be entertained by the International group.

Most importantly, wish her healthy, happy and enjoy every minutes in life :-)
Cheers !

Setting good example

While I was driving and approaching a major traffic junction, saw an uncle cycling and likely to cross the road using the zebra-crossing. Based on past experience, I was quite sure he would cycle across. I slowed down in case he "decided" to rush across it. However, the uncle stopped cycling, alighted and pushed his bicycle while using the zebra-crossing. I was surprised. He was doing the right thing and setting a good example of safe cycling while on the move. Yet, it was rarely observed most of the time.

I am not sure if you realize it, we live in an environment showing more negative rather than positive examples. One good and typical example is the use of traffic light. Pedestrians of all ages seem to "enjoy" crossing a road whenever there is no traffic even though it is still displaying the stop red-man-light sign. Cyclists too.

Maybe the persons have an urgent matter to attend to, maybe it is going to rain. maybe the bus is approaching, maybe just dun want to appear stupid waiting for it especially when there is no sign of cars, maybe impatient, maybe .....maybe life is just too long to live on ?

I am more worried about the messaging to the young ones. While we are trying to educate them the proper behavior in school and at home, we are setting wrong example when it comes to practical. The worst of it is that there are many more examples besides using of traffic light such as smoking, talking loudly when using a mobile phone, cut queue, not showing the basic respect, telling lairs, rude etc.

Educating and bringing up the young ones is like doing a cha cha, three steps forward follows by two steps backward. A wrong twist could cause much unhappiness and pain.

Amazing and refreshing read on being a tour guide

I come across a Chinese book accidentally titled as "教我如何不宰你", I translated it as "How not to slaughter you alive".

The book was published in 2006 on traveling but focused on tour guide. Not how to be one but the dark and ugly side of being a tour guide as a profession. The author is from China and he has been a tour guide for more than 10 years.

The author shared much detailed happenings from his vast experience on the dilemma, challenges, unfairness, and difficulties in managing travelers in a tour group, bus driver, services providers and travel agency. Pretty amazing and refreshing read. Based on his sharing, it is definitely very pressuring and unpleasant to be a tour guide, in particularly, in China and leading a China tour group.

The main source of all these rooted to the fact of charging too low or no fees at all of joining a tour group. At the macro level, the governance system is not good enough to facilitate a healthy development of the industry. The result of it is that the tour guide has to coax or "force" travelers to buy more and to visit more factory outlets to meet the expected "quota" to cover the cost of the trip and even to make money for the agency. At the same time, the tour arrangement may have to reduce or cut cost on food, accommodation, itinerary etc. The whole travel experience is affected with complains, unhappiness and at times, violence. Tour guide does not has a basic salary and for those few that have it, they are expected to help out in the agency when there is no assignment. If anything happens, tour guide has to bear the consequences fully.

It's sad to read about it. Traveling is suppose to be fun, enjoyable, safe and happy. But it may not be case if joining a tour group. Though I would prefer planning my own trip and I do most of my overseas holiday, I have also joined tour group on a few occasions.

The best was the one that I went to Tokyo. The tour guide was a lady and she was experienced enough to conduct a meaningful and pleasant trip throughout the journey. At least I din feel that I was "forced" to accept or visiting nonsense places or the need to buy stuff. :-) The other few, something did happen along the way though we all managed to complete it satisfactorily. The general rule seems to be avoiding budget tour package especially to China as visitors are "expected" to buy, to be surprised with changes and properly a mismatch of delivery of services and products.

If you are interest, click "教我如何不宰你" to read and to learn more about life as a China tour guide.

We will always be left with a year of challenges

Human's development is really amazing. My daughter is coming to 5 years old soon and some of the improper behavior seems to disappear gradually and naturally.

We used to prompt her to sit down and tuck in together many times during meal time, whether it is at home or eating out. Most of the time, she will just try to take some and left much for us to feed her when we have finished ours. In the past few weeks, we observe that she is able to sit down and finish most of the food before starting to get  naughty again. Hence, it is much more enjoyable now and can engage her better over meal rather than being angry with her for not wanting to eat and finish it.

A the moment, her favourite food is egg, sausages, fried chicken, broccoli, butter, cheese, instant noodle and dessert especially the chocolate favor. And she does not like to have gravy to go with her rice. I always like to say that 5 years old solves the 4 years old challenges. We will always be left with a year of challenges to guide her along the way. Most importantly is to have the patient to live with it for the year long before the challenges are kind of addresses gradually and naturally.

Ha...ha...ha...

Arrival of iPad

It was reported in today's newspaper that Apple announced the availability of iPad in 9 more cities, including Singapore. Finally, it is here for sales from this Friday, 23 July 2010 onwards.

The retail prices area as follow:
For wifi only version - S$728 for 16GB, S$878 for 32GB and S$1,028 for 64GB and
For wifi + 3g version - S$928 for 16GB, S$1,078 for 32GB and S$1,228 for 64GB.

Basically, S$200 more for 3g version. It is a bit more than what I have budgeted for it but cheaper than those availability earlier through parallel import which was selling around S$1,900 per unit.

iPad will be selling through its authorized dealers and not the telcos. However, the telcos will be providing data plan for it. Well, will wait for awhile before buying one to play with it :-)

First time as a Model

Sent my daughter to the Child Care Centre this morning as usual. When we reached, she spotted the centre's brochure with her photo on its frontpage.

She was surprised and happy about it :-) We were more surprise than her. Ha...ha...ha....Come to think of it, this is the first time she poses as a model "commercially". Actually, the photo was taken when the class was having an activity.

<------------ She is smiling brightly here

Very soon, she will be leaving the centre and moving on to a new stage of life as a primary school pupil. ;-)