I love exploring.
Recently, I was on a company trip to HCM (Ho Chih Min City) in Vietnam when I took it to some extreme. Being a young and hip man, I went to the in-house disco with some of my colleagues on the first night. It was kind of disappointing but we decided to return 2 days later to check out again, on a Friday night.
On the day of appointment, everyone except me did not show up. Being a man of my word, I went alone. To my delight, it was jammed packed with people and I sat in one corner. A veteran in exploring overseas, first rule of thumb in a foreign unfamiliar place is to hide in one corner and observe.
One particular observation interest me. The DJ stand was located high like an altar at the front of the stage. The DJ for that particular night was a lady and I must admit that she is quite a looker, naturally blessed with assets that would have put almost 80% of Singaporean girls to utter shame. Right in front of her were a whole dance floor of people, overflowing with obviously guys. As she was bouncing and dancing and swinging her arms in her station, everyone else on the floor was doing the same, dancing, swinging their arms and bouncing.
I can't help but thought to myself if those people are really bouncing to the rythmn of the music or the asset of the female DJ. I couldn't help but notice the matching rythmn and beat of both.
I later learnt that a lot of people in Vietnam go to discos for relief and relaxation. Well, I guess all of us needed an outlet for us to vent some stress to keep some sanity.
I was thinking, "are we that easily satisfied or are we just satisfied temporally?"
Monday, March 23, 2009
Choices, Choices, Choices
My first knowledge of Kuwait coincides with the first Gulf War when the senior bush declares war on Iraq for invading Kuwait. Names like Ramadiyah, Fahaheel, Ahmadi, Sabahiya, Abu Halifa, Maboula and Mangaaf sounds exotic and foreign to a boy just getting into his teenage years.
This ignited a lifelong interest and passion about the Middle East. It was this interest that led me to my current job and a career that i'm pursueing now. Never did I imagine on that day that I would one day set foot in the country that I barely know of and even being to those exotic sounding places.
My impression of Kuwait was that it is a war-ravaged country that had stood up on its own two feet and wings forming, ready to fly. Being there in person never change that impression. It is one of the most westernized Middle East country and affluent.
One of my turkish friend told me a wise saying that I agree completely! "To know how rich a country is, just look at the supermarket!"
On my off days on my oversea trips, I love to visit the supermarkets not because I like it but it was often the only place to go to. One other reason was to see what they got to offer. By far, I was most amazed and amuzed by the Sultan Center in Kuwait.
Boy, they had absolutely everything. For orange alone, they have an entire section of it which ranges from Taiwan Mandarin Orange, China Mandarin Orange, Ceylon Orange, Egyptian Orange, Colombia Oranges (???), Sri Lanka Orange, Australia Orange and even Malaysia Orange. There's another section wholely devoted to apples, water-melons, vegetables.
A quick glance in the vegetable department, you could be forgiven for thinking you are looking at a color platette. There are vegetables of all sorts, sizes and color! I seen for my own eyes a purple capsicum and that is so freaky!
Truly, only the affluent could have afford to have so much exotic fruits, food and vegetables imported for their consumption. My mainland Chinese friends and friends from communist or ex-communist countries all told me that during those years of the Cold War, they had only sweet potatoes and green vegetables, apples and orange on the shelves of their supermarkets. Even them, it looked more like a monochrome black and white television, rather than the dazzling radiant plasma color we are seeing these days.
The power and signs of affluence.
This ignited a lifelong interest and passion about the Middle East. It was this interest that led me to my current job and a career that i'm pursueing now. Never did I imagine on that day that I would one day set foot in the country that I barely know of and even being to those exotic sounding places.
My impression of Kuwait was that it is a war-ravaged country that had stood up on its own two feet and wings forming, ready to fly. Being there in person never change that impression. It is one of the most westernized Middle East country and affluent.
One of my turkish friend told me a wise saying that I agree completely! "To know how rich a country is, just look at the supermarket!"
On my off days on my oversea trips, I love to visit the supermarkets not because I like it but it was often the only place to go to. One other reason was to see what they got to offer. By far, I was most amazed and amuzed by the Sultan Center in Kuwait.
Boy, they had absolutely everything. For orange alone, they have an entire section of it which ranges from Taiwan Mandarin Orange, China Mandarin Orange, Ceylon Orange, Egyptian Orange, Colombia Oranges (???), Sri Lanka Orange, Australia Orange and even Malaysia Orange. There's another section wholely devoted to apples, water-melons, vegetables.
A quick glance in the vegetable department, you could be forgiven for thinking you are looking at a color platette. There are vegetables of all sorts, sizes and color! I seen for my own eyes a purple capsicum and that is so freaky!
Truly, only the affluent could have afford to have so much exotic fruits, food and vegetables imported for their consumption. My mainland Chinese friends and friends from communist or ex-communist countries all told me that during those years of the Cold War, they had only sweet potatoes and green vegetables, apples and orange on the shelves of their supermarkets. Even them, it looked more like a monochrome black and white television, rather than the dazzling radiant plasma color we are seeing these days.
The power and signs of affluence.
Familiarity Breeds Routine
It is quite amazing to note the amount of time I spent in Dubai Airport Terminal 2 during my transits. In total, I had spent approximately 40 over hours there. As with each time I spend in transit there, it just amazed me what routine can do to a man.
By default, I would head straight down to the duty-free electronics section for a quick update of what's on and drop by the bookshop to get a book. After getting the book, it is time to bunk in at the Irish Cafe with a pint or two of Budweiser to attack the book. In between, I surf the net a little.
Well, that would probably make a pretty boring routine but it does always helped me get through those boring and lonely transits in Dubai Airport.
I'm glad that for this instance, routine helps.
By default, I would head straight down to the duty-free electronics section for a quick update of what's on and drop by the bookshop to get a book. After getting the book, it is time to bunk in at the Irish Cafe with a pint or two of Budweiser to attack the book. In between, I surf the net a little.
Well, that would probably make a pretty boring routine but it does always helped me get through those boring and lonely transits in Dubai Airport.
I'm glad that for this instance, routine helps.
The Singaporean Dream
We had heard of the AMERICAN DREAM..... let me present the SINGAPOREAN DREAM!
1. Live in Condonimium (Any district fine as long as it is condo lah. Have swimming pool, gym, bbq pit. Very important to have the word "Park", "Villa", "Rise" or any condo sounding words in the name. )
2. Son must be Low Ya (lawyer) and daughter must be Lok-the (doctor). Son-in-law preferred to be sign-on one (no 1st sgt or 2nd sgt ah, only ssss-kor-la need apply because must got stars one then after 45 got future... can go gahmen board lah. If not, sure go join AIG sell in-su-ren)
3. Have maid to do housework. No time to wash clothes lah. Maid also must get Filippino, the Ferrari and Lamboghrini of maids. Tell people my maid from Philippines is like driving a luxury car.
4. Must strike 1 time.. just 1 time TOTO jackpot during Chinese New Year (the biggest toto every year) or just 1 time 1 time tui bey pio (strike 4D) saturday and sunday both 1st prize... private or gahmen also can. If not, every week tin kong po bi win every EPL match betting... half ball, 1 ball, 2 ball or no ball also can. Just one time big one.
5. CPF account FAT FAT, so can withdraw 1 time and go batam start a 2nd life, not play computer one.
6. SARFA & NTUC membership - these 2 are the essential membership to cheap chalets, gyms and karaoke!
7. Wife or Husband must maintain body shape after marriage. eh, round or pear shaped not counted sia!
8. Gahmen everyyear cut this cut that and give shares or money every time there is election. Gahmen also must sack all those scholar sitting in office all day to think of new ways to make money of us. I hope every year election then got more cuts and money.
9. ERP and MRT prices better dun rise and COE drop ah!
Finally,.......
10. Be able to spot every single speed camera and "cop on the top" so can brake in time lah and hoh...CTE dun accident and jam every night can?!?!?!
1. Live in Condonimium (Any district fine as long as it is condo lah. Have swimming pool, gym, bbq pit. Very important to have the word "Park", "Villa", "Rise" or any condo sounding words in the name. )
2. Son must be Low Ya (lawyer) and daughter must be Lok-the (doctor). Son-in-law preferred to be sign-on one (no 1st sgt or 2nd sgt ah, only ssss-kor-la need apply because must got stars one then after 45 got future... can go gahmen board lah. If not, sure go join AIG sell in-su-ren)
3. Have maid to do housework. No time to wash clothes lah. Maid also must get Filippino, the Ferrari and Lamboghrini of maids. Tell people my maid from Philippines is like driving a luxury car.
4. Must strike 1 time.. just 1 time TOTO jackpot during Chinese New Year (the biggest toto every year) or just 1 time 1 time tui bey pio (strike 4D) saturday and sunday both 1st prize... private or gahmen also can. If not, every week tin kong po bi win every EPL match betting... half ball, 1 ball, 2 ball or no ball also can. Just one time big one.
5. CPF account FAT FAT, so can withdraw 1 time and go batam start a 2nd life, not play computer one.
6. SARFA & NTUC membership - these 2 are the essential membership to cheap chalets, gyms and karaoke!
7. Wife or Husband must maintain body shape after marriage. eh, round or pear shaped not counted sia!
8. Gahmen everyyear cut this cut that and give shares or money every time there is election. Gahmen also must sack all those scholar sitting in office all day to think of new ways to make money of us. I hope every year election then got more cuts and money.
9. ERP and MRT prices better dun rise and COE drop ah!
Finally,.......
10. Be able to spot every single speed camera and "cop on the top" so can brake in time lah and hoh...CTE dun accident and jam every night can?!?!?!
Rocky Balboa
Rocky Balboa. The name ignites with fond memories in my mind. As soon as the name began to form in my mind, the music started playing.
Rocky remains one of the most influential movie figure in my life and the lives of many others. From the cold-war era to the recent years, Rocky had been inspiring many and the seemed as the story of good triumphing over evil.
In each of Rocky movies, he would say something to inspire people on. It goes in the line "life's (circumstances) going to give you(us) such a beating that you(we) go down but what you(we) got to do is to punch your(our) way up and the other guy down."
The good old underdog formula never loses its magic either. It always inspires and gives hope when hope seem waning, especially in such tough times as now. I watched the latest in the Rocky franchise this afternoon (again) and was all in arms cheering my childhood hero (Stallone aka Rocky) on!
It does not matter he loses but all it matters was that Rocky stood up one more time. It only matters that Rocky threw one more punch. It only matters that Rocky push his opponent to the fringe.
It sort of reminded me that it does not matter if it is tough time or crisis time now. What matters is that we punch our way out of trouble and we stood up one more time.
Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!
Rocky remains one of the most influential movie figure in my life and the lives of many others. From the cold-war era to the recent years, Rocky had been inspiring many and the seemed as the story of good triumphing over evil.
In each of Rocky movies, he would say something to inspire people on. It goes in the line "life's (circumstances) going to give you(us) such a beating that you(we) go down but what you(we) got to do is to punch your(our) way up and the other guy down."
The good old underdog formula never loses its magic either. It always inspires and gives hope when hope seem waning, especially in such tough times as now. I watched the latest in the Rocky franchise this afternoon (again) and was all in arms cheering my childhood hero (Stallone aka Rocky) on!
It does not matter he loses but all it matters was that Rocky stood up one more time. It only matters that Rocky threw one more punch. It only matters that Rocky push his opponent to the fringe.
It sort of reminded me that it does not matter if it is tough time or crisis time now. What matters is that we punch our way out of trouble and we stood up one more time.
Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!
Sub-zero Experience
I still remember the evening I was doing dinner with a friend (Jimmy) at a jap resturant at Kallang Leisure Dome. He was sitting opposite me and describing to me the sensation of eating ice-cream in the sub-zero temperature. From then on, it entered one of the "Top 10 things to do before I die" list.
Finally, today, I had done it. The feeling of the ice-cream melting in our mouth and the warm gush of the ice-cream circulating internally while your whole body is freezing on the outside. It is just out of the world experience. To top it off, I had bbq-ed night snack out in the cold too.
I had experience sub-zero temperature many times but this is the first I had the opportunity to relax in such a climate.
Now, I got to find another "top 10 things to do before I die" item to replace this.
Finally, today, I had done it. The feeling of the ice-cream melting in our mouth and the warm gush of the ice-cream circulating internally while your whole body is freezing on the outside. It is just out of the world experience. To top it off, I had bbq-ed night snack out in the cold too.
I had experience sub-zero temperature many times but this is the first I had the opportunity to relax in such a climate.
Now, I got to find another "top 10 things to do before I die" item to replace this.
The Last Lecture (by the late Randy Pausch)
I stumbled upon this book at the bookstore yesterday. I bought one for a friend and one for myself to read. The foreword itself was captivating.
To a teacher, lecturer, the defining 'moment' of their lives would be to give THE lecture. But just what will one talk on for the very last lesson. I like this book and Randy Pausch.
Instead of leaving behind some patchy stuff, he left a legacy behind for his children - a legacy that will be remembered forever.
Somehow, it prompted me to ask myself, how will my "last lecture" be... what will i be talking about... what will I be sharing about.
To a teacher, lecturer, the defining 'moment' of their lives would be to give THE lecture. But just what will one talk on for the very last lesson. I like this book and Randy Pausch.
Instead of leaving behind some patchy stuff, he left a legacy behind for his children - a legacy that will be remembered forever.
Somehow, it prompted me to ask myself, how will my "last lecture" be... what will i be talking about... what will I be sharing about.
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