APEX HOME HOSTING 2008

Apex Home Hosting 2008

Apex Club of Singapore - City has this Youth Exchange Program with Apex Club of Western Australia to promote international understanding and friendship.

Under this program, one Club will select 2 students from their country and send them to the other Club for about 4 weeks. The following year, the other Club will do the same. This year, our Club received 2 students from Western Australia. Next year, we will send 2 students from Singapore over.

The 2 students that came over to Singapore on 25 Nov 08 are Leigh (left) and Cassandra (right). They were here for 3 weeks and one week in Malaysia.

I would like to thank Chin Sin & Ruby and Mathavan from Singapore and David Chitty and Dr V. Mohanadas from Apex Malaysia who have helped in the hosting and co-ordinating of home-hosting for these 2 students.

On 30 Nov 08, I took the 2 students to Southern Ridges. After the walk, I took them to SAFRA Mount Faber for breakfast at Ah Koon Coffeeshop.

On 6 Dec 08, we brought the students to our usual food distribution to the poor at Blk 105, Jln Bukit Merah.

I took over the hosting from 14 Dec 08, Sunday. On 15 Dec 08, I brought them to Singapore Botanic Gardens. There was slight rain in the morning but that did not stop us from going there. There is discount for students to the National Orchid Garden. Students just need to produce their student card, they can be from any country.

In the afternoon, I took them to the Chinese Garden for a walk and photo-taking.

On 22 Dec 08, I drove them to the Budget Terminal (BT) to catch the Tiger Airway back to Perth. Another 2 students from Temasek Poly also came to send them off at the airport.

Back in Perth at the airport, you can see how happy they are after being away for 4 weeks. I must also thank Peter Constable for making the arrangements for them to come over.

If you ask me why do I help to host the students and do I gain anything ? My answer is very simple, I do not hope to gain anything but I do hope to bring some happiness to other people.

FINALLY......

The more we help and give, the more blessings and rewards we will receive - it will only work when the help is done with a PURE MOTIVATION.

Cooking Hainanese mutton soup

Cooking Hainanese Mutton Soup

A friend of mine has shared the cooking of Hainanese mutton soup. The sharing was publish on the Sunday Straits Times, 7 Dec 08. We are from the Firefly Mission - Together we light up the world.

Here is the article.

Finally, it is said that "Giving is living to life's fullest." I think "Sharing" is also living to life's fullest.

Cross With Care

CROSS WITH CARE

Sometimes simple words can big a difference if you do not follow. What do I mean ? Whenever you need to cross any roads, you need to cross with care. Read on and you will know what I meant, especially for parents.

Traffic Lights

First, I like to share about crossing at traffic light junction. One Saturday morning, my wife was crossing a road with traffic lights near the market. The "Green Man" appeared, the first car stopped before the traffic lights, it should be safe to cross now. Fortunately, my wife make an effort to check for on-coming traffic just to be sure, there was a cyclist on bicycle did not stop before the red light. He just ride pass the red traffic light. If my wife did not wait and check, she would has been hit by this cyclist. As you can see, how important it is for you to check and make sure it is safe before you cross. A lot of time, it is not the fault of the pedestrain, the pedestrain thinks he has the right of way. But if the other party, eg driver, makes a mistake, who is to suffer more. Some drivers may be rushing for time and forget above safety of others. They dashed across the traffic lights when it just turn red. If the pedestrain is also rushing and dash across the road the moment the Green Man appears, it is very dangerous. That is why, at the traffic light, it is written : Green Man, Cross With Care.

Zebra-Crossing

Next, I like to share about crossing the raod at any zebra-crossing. A lot of time, pedestrain just cross at the zebra-crossing without looking for on-coming vehicles. When the zebra-crossing is at a bend, we need to be even more careful especially at night.

We must always remember to check and ensure it is alsolutely safe before we cross the road. This will help to prevent accident from happening.

Never Use Your Handphone When Crossing The Road

A lot of times, we see people using their handphone while walking beside the road. This is still ok. But if someone needs to cross the road, he/she better put away the handphone and focus he/her attention on crossing the road with care, be it at traffic lights or at a zebra-crossing. This is because the person may forget to check for on-coming traffic or cyclists who may not stop for him/her to cross. As a result, accident can also happen.

My Badminton Club - Evergreen SRC

Left : With Warren Golf & Country Club. Right : With S'pore Swimming Club. End 2008.

My Badminton Club - Evergreen Sports & Recreation Club

I am with the Evergreen Sports & recreation Club for nearly a year. I must say it is a good club for badminton lovers.

Once a week, I will play badminton with the members at Gan Eng Seng Primary School. All the members are nice people and love badminton. We only pay S$20 a month and I play on every Thur between 7pm to 10pm. At times, we also have friendly matches where we will play against other clubs including clubs from overseas. The age gap between members is wide, some are below 30 and some are above 60 years old.

Our badminton blog is http://evergreensrc.blogspot.com/.

Evergreen SRC's Objective

1) To promote goodwill, understanding & harmonious relationships among members

2) To provide social & recreational activities for members

3) To provide various forms of exercise & games for members

Membership is opened to all but subject to the approval of the management committee

The entrance fee is $20

Annual subscription is $10

About Life

ABOUT LIFE

"One only lives as long as one breathes." Human beings do not have the ability to control the length of their own lives, nor can they prevent their own deaths. Since this life is impermanent, we should cherish it, use it, and enrich it. Let the goodness, beauty and truth of his inconstant, precious life illuminate the true value of life. - Master Cheng Yen from Tzu Chi.

Lately in the news over in Singapore, there are reports about a young lawyer being killed by terrorist in India. One hundred over people from different countries also were killed. Follow on after the killing, there are articles about how to handle such situation when there is another breakout, how to prevent from being killed and so on. Talking about the true value of life, I can think of 3 kinds of human being :

1. One who save lifes

2. One who just live their life, just make sure he enjoys and survive each day (there is nothing wrong with it)

3. One who take away others life with or without reason

A good example of the first kind of human beings are doctors. Other than doctors, there are also life-savers. People who go for mission trip when there is a disater to save people. I tend to think majority of people belong to the 2nd type above. These people just eat, work, sleep, relax, take care of their family, read newspaper and maybe exercise. These people are perfectly alright to have them, they contribute to population grow and to the society. The last type of people are the worst, I find that this kind of people lack moral education, no compassion, no wisdom and I think a lot has to do with the person mind. To me, these are human beings but not being human.

Fundamental rule of Treat Others As How You Would Want To Be Treated is still the rule I think it is easy to remember and all should follow. The end results is utopia, otherwise, it will be oblivion.

Important Advise for Travelling Overseas

Important Advice When Travelling Overseas

Most of us has travelled abroard. Be it to neighbouring country by car or by air overseas. One of the important advise I like to share when going overseas is not to bring your whole wallet.

What I normally do when I go to Malaysia is to take out my spare wallet which is empty and put in some Singapore dollars and Malaysia ringits. Reason is very simple, one of my friend once lost his wallet when we were in KL, Malaysia. In his wallet, he has 3 credit cards, driving licence, IC, country club membership cards, etc. Money to me is the least important if lost. My friend lost all his cards and money where most of the cards and even IC are not needed when in Malaysia.

So to play safe, I only bring my passport and money with me whenever I go overseas.

Happy travelling.

Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary Kathina 2008

Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary (SBS) Kathina 2008

This is my second time to SBS Kathina. SBS is located on top of a hill at Taiping, Perak.

For people who have not been to this trip, I strongly recommend you go at least once in a life time. For only S$250, you can visit SBS, participate in Kathina, most of the food is included, 2-way coach provided and one night stay at Federal Hotel, Bukit Bintang, KL.

We left Singapore in 2 coaches on 24 Oct 08, Fri, at around 9pm. Our first night was spent in the coach. We arrived at Taiping the next day in the morning just in time for breakfast.

After our breakfast, we were brought the foot of SBS where some of us walk up the hill while the rest went up by 4X4 jeep/pick-up/SUV. Certain part of the slope up is very steep, that is why they us 4X4 vehicles to ferry people up.

[Small waiting area at SBSbelow the hall where we sleep one night.]

At SBS, we were allocated a hall for our overnight stay there. The buildings at SBS were blend into nature.

KATHINA on 26 OCT 08

On 26 Oct 08, as early as 5pm, we got up and get ourselves change to our Firefly Mission t-shirt. Breakfast was available very early.

[Firefly Mission's President (centre), his mother and son.]

At this time, a lot of people from all over started to arrive at SBS. Each year, we see more and more people come to the SBS Kathina.

[Ven Aggacitta giving talk.]

One of the event at the Kathina is dhamma talk by Abbot Ven Aggacitta. Below is the transcript of Bhante Aggacitta talk :

Dhamma Practice

For this Kathina we have produced another beautiful and meaningful T-shirt designed by Ven Kumara's brother, Liew Chin Wui. It is available in three striking colours of maroon, brown and dark green. It is a sort of sequel to last year’s T-shirt, which some of you are wearing now. Let me briefly recap the message of last year’s T-shirt.

The words on the front of the T-shirt are paraphrased from a record of what the Buddha said, now found in the Anguttara Nikaya, Book of Ones.

What I find most significant about this profound statement is that it gives us hope. “Luminous is the mind. It is only defiled by visiting defilements.” This means that the defilements don't belong to us. It is important to understand this intellectually and experientially. The Buddha declared that there is no development of the mind for the uninformed worldling who does not understand this as it really is, and vice versa for the informed disciple.

So the words on the T-shirt remind you that your mind is actually pure and therefore luminous, that mental defilements don't belong to you, that you don't have to be judgemental of yourself or of others. Understanding this intellectually helps you detach from or dis-identify with your thoughts and emotions, look at things more objectively and make wiser decisions in life.

Whenever you are able to detach yourself from defilements and observe them as impersonal phenomena you are getting closer to an experiential understanding of anatta or not-self.

You will also realise that the mind that is watching the defiled thoughts or emotions, such as those caused by anger or impatience, is not defiled, but calm and neutral. Its luminosity may not yet be apparent to you, especially when you are still busily engaged in worldly affairs. However, when you have some quiet time for yourself in seclusion and you are being present­, being aware of your mental response to whatever is apparent at your six sense doors, you may awaken to this Truth. That is what is printed on the back of the T-shirt: BE PRESENT and AWAKEN to this Truth ­that the mind is intrinsically luminous.

Our thoughts are mostly about the past or future and they are mostly accompanied by defilements. Thoughts are produced by the mind, which is an amazing phenomenon. Unlike our five sense faculties, which can only sense PRESENT objects, the mind can take objects of the past, future, present and beyond.

So, in order to know more about its nature in an experiential way, we have to look at it and observe how it works. And that is what this year’s theme for the Kathina T-shirt is all about: Discover the True Nature of Your Mind NOW. First we have to know what the mind is. Then only can we keep track of its movement to understand its true nature, right?

OK, so what is the mind? This is where Western scientists and Eastern contemplatives differ. Western scientists say that the mind is found in the brain, while Eastern yogis say that the heart is the seat of the mind. Now I’m going to play tai chi and avoid the controversy. Let’s not bother about where the mind is located. Let’s instead talk about its most basic quality, which is the ability to know, feel, think and imagine.

That’s why on the T-shirt, after the catch words Discover the True Nature of Your Mind NOW, three questions follow. The first one says: What are your thoughts and feelings now? This question gives a very practical hint. If you want to discover the true nature of your mind, you’ve got to start looking at your thoughts and feelings right NOW; not what you thought or felt last year or an hour ago. If you just think about what you thought or felt last year or an hour ago, you’re not actually experiencing or discovering the true nature of your mind; you’re just creating ideas and concepts about the mind based on reasoning.

But if you’re really attentive to the thoughts and feelings happening right now, you’ll notice how fleeting they are. This is especially obvious of thoughts, but perhaps not so for feelings. For example, you may notice that your angry thoughts have ceased, but you’re still feeling unpleasant sensations in the body. Why? Because our bodily functions are intricately linked to our mind. Any mental response to any stimulus at any of the six sense doors immediately triggers off the production of various hormones, such as neuropeptides. These bio-chemicals create pleasant or unpleasant bodily sensations that persist even after that particular mental response has ceased. If that particular mental response is not reactivated, then the associated bodily sensation will eventually abate and cease.

Of bodily sensations caused by the mind, pleasant sensations are produced by both wholesome and unwholesome mental states, but unpleasant sensations are produced only by unwholesome mental states. So, if you are aware of an emotion in you but are not sure if it’s due to a wholesome or unwholesome thought, check your bodily sensations­if they are unpleasant, you’ll know what sort of thought it was, right?

The next question is all about what is wholesome and what is unwholesome. It says: Are they wholesome or not? In a nutshell whatever thoughts and feelings motivated by lobha, dosa and moha are unwholesome and vice versa. Lobha covers a wide range of mental states associated with wanting, grasping, clinging, attachment. Dosa covers another spectrum of mental states associated with dislike, rejection, aversion. It’s very easy to spot dosa because it is characterised by displeasure. But it’s not so easy to identify lobha because it can be accompanied by pleasure or indifference. Moha is delusion, the not knowing of things as they really are, or perceiving them other than what they really are. And it always accompanies lobha and dosa.

Wholesome mental states, on the other hand, are motivated by alobha, adosa or amoha. Alobha covers all mental states associated with letting go, non-attachment, detachment, liberality and generosity. Adosa includes positive mental states like patience, composure, compassion, loving-kindness and benevolence. Amoha is experiential comprehension of things as they truly are.

If you are able to identify what is wholesome and what is not, then you can abandon the unwholesome and develop the wholesome. You will therefore be able to make truly wise and beneficial decisions.

When you probe deeper into the nature of the mind, you will further realise that all mental states­ whether wholesome or not­ share the same fate. They are all impermanent, for they arise and pass away. But do they happen just out of the blue, just by chance?

That brings us to the next question: How do they come and go? By investigating even closer you’ll begin to see, through present-moment awareness, that they are not just random thoughts and emotions. They come and go due to causes and conditions that you can identify immediately. As you experience this again and again, more and more often, your understanding of anatta or not-self deepens, leading to less occurrences of unwholesome thoughts and emotions and more frequent occurrences of wholesome thoughts and emotions. This will in turn result in a more contented life with less stress, less suffering and therefore more happiness.

However, we tend to get lost in thoughts about the past and future so very often that it’s more of a rule than an exception. So a very simple principle to break the habit is to come back to the 5 senses, which can only take present objects. Use the 5 senses, particularly sensing bodily sensations, seeing and hearing as an anchor so that you can keep track of the movements of the mind and understand its true nature. And this ultimate reminder is displayed at the back of the T-shirt: Lost in thought? Come back to your senses NOW!

Actually the principles of observing the mind in order to understand its true nature are very simple. It is far more difficult to remember to put them into practice. That’s why we produce T-shirts to remind us to do so.

Final Sadhu

Last but not least, I must acknowledge my profound thanks to the KCOC headed by our very visionary and hands-on Chairman, Ng Kian Chong, and to SBS site-staff for their dedicated and sustained efforts in making this year's Kathina Ceremony uniquely better than previously. Sadhu also to the many volunteers, both local and from Myanmar, who have been coming whenever available to help prepare the site, and to others for the dana at the food stalls.

Special mention goes to this year's Kathina sponsor, Friends of SBS, for their concerted efforts to raise funds, which have gone beyond our expectations. Sadhu, sadhu, sadhu! Baba & Nyonya and the Seck Kia Eenh Chanting group from Melaka also deserve acknowledgement for the entertaining and educational Dhamma sketch.

I would also like to commend all others who have helped to make this occasion a memorable and successful one, particularly our guests of honour YB Yee Seu Kai and our VIPs for gracing the occasion. Thank you also Datuk Dr Victor Wee for giving us a live rendition of your very own divinely inspired composition, “Guardian of the Sasana”.

And to everyone: I rejoice in your presence here and in your valued participation in many ways. I hope everyone here will have matured through the trials and tribulations of working together for this occasion and therefore make even further progress on the spiritual path.

In closing, all of us should dedicate the merits accrued here towards our ultimate liberation from the cycle of samsara. And remember: Discover the True Nature of Your Mind NOW, by watching how your thoughts and emotions arise and disappear. And if you are lost in thought, you can simply break the spell by coming back to your senses NOW, i.e. be aware of the 5 senses, particularly bodily sensations, seeing and hearing. Continual present-moment experience of the true nature of your mind can be very liberating. It brings about detachment, contentment and subsequently less suffering and more happiness. Maybe everyone should get a T-shirt each so that you can remind one another!

-----end of transcript-----

FEDERAL HOTEL, BUKIT BINTANG, KL (26 Oct 08 evening)

After the Kathina on 26 Oct 08, at around 3pm, we make our way to our hotel at KL. When we arrived at the hotel, it was already 9pm. We all checked-in and went out for dinner around Bukit Bintang.

The next day, 27 Oct 08, we had a sumptous breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, committee members gathered for a meeting.

[Firefly committee members.]

Then at 12pm, we gathered at the lobby before we board our coach to Klang for lunch, before we returned to Singapore. At Klang, we had the famous Bah Kut Teh for lunch. Courtesy to our President, Brother Yee Kong, who has kindly arranged for this delicious lunch and even paid for all of us, "Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu Anumodana for your generosity in coordinating and underwrite the cost of this lunch". Look at the expression of the diners, you will know how it taste.

[centre - Bro Yee Kong, Bro Rene on his right.]

Ideal Life

IDEAL LIFE

Have you ever wonder what is the kind of life you want and what is the kind of life which is ideal for most people ?

In my perspective I think if one who has a lot of time and money, that will be ideal. First, why I say time ? With a lot of time, the person can choose to do want he like to do. Be it travel overseas for holiday or even doing nothing but just relax. Second, why I say money ? With a lot of money, then the person can choose to go to where he/she wants to go and enjoy what he/she like to has, be it food, house, car, etc.

Having said that, we should not forget that health is also important. It is no use if one has a lot of time and money but cannot do what he/she wants to do. But if one has the time and money, the person can exercises regularly and take in enough nutrition, then health should not be a problem based of the law of cause and effect.

Everyone has to leave this world one day. Everyone also hope to leave in a peaceful way. How to achieve that ? If one believed in the international law of karma, then one will not spend time doing useless things of worst bad things, but doing good things such as helping others in need.

How to have time and money ? There is no one answer to this question. Again, based on the cause & effect law, if having lot of time and money is the effect, then the cause is doing something. What is this something ? For money, maybe one has to earn it himself/herself. Unless one has a lot of good merits from the past, then the person may be able to inherit the wealth or money from someone.

Insight Sharing

Insight Sharing 1

There is no greater calling than to serve your fellow men.

There is no greater contribution than to help the weak.

There is no greater satisfaction than to have done it well.
-- Walter Reuther (1907-1970)

As I get older, I begin to think what is life all about, why are we here for, etc. One day when one is lying on the deadbed and can still think, will he/she be thinking of the past of what he/she has done for others living in this world. Or just thinking about dying which is what everybody have to go through. It will be nice if it is the former.

What Walter Reuther had left behind for us is very true. I have been serving in our community since 1994. I helped to do recycling work, the money raised goes to buy food for the poor. Most of the poor are living in a one-room HDB rented flat.

But why serve your fellow men and why help the weak ? Is there something good in return ? I think there is no fix answer to these questions. If one is expecting something in return having done something such as helping the weak, then I think the intend is not right as I believe there is really no reason why we should serve your fellow men and why you should help the weak. It is something everybody is responsible to make this world a better place to live in. Maybe one would wish to die peacefully one day on the bed due to old age, by doing good things or helping others or good deed. Well, I think this is fair wish.

My First Trip to LANGKAWI

This is our accommodation, Awana Resort, and our rented MPVs.

My First Trip To LANGKAWI

It was a rare occasion when one day, one of my friend called and asked me if I want to go to Langkawi. My reply was "Why not, I have not been there before. When will that be ?" The answer I got is 14 Sep 2008. We fly from KL domestic airport (LCCT) by Air Asia to Langkawi. The return ticket only cost RM120 or S$50. We need to book early as it is a promotion rate. So we booked the air-tickets in Jun 2008. We need to drive to Tampin on 13 Sep 2008 and stay a night at our friend's place. Our friend will send us to the airport on 14 Sep 08 and drive my car back to Tampin. Flight time is only one hour. When we arrived at Langkawi, there are 2 MPVs waiting for us at the airport. Our group has 12 adults and 4 children. The rental rate for each MPV is RM100 per day, self-drive. With a map on hand, we made our way to Awana Resort which is our accommodation. The hotel rate is RM140 a night for the non-seafacing.

Some Information & Facts About The Island

Langkawi comprises a group of 99 tropical islands, in the Andaman Sea, lying off the north-western coast of Peninsular Malaysia, about 30 km from Kuala Perlis and 51 km from Kuala Kedah on the mainland. The main island is known as Pulau Langkawi. In addition to the island's many land and underwater natural beauty, Langkawi's duty-free port status has provided visitors with another reason to visit the island.

Landmark of Langkawi

One of the landmark I know at the island is called the Eagle Square. It is located near the shopping area called Kuah Town and it is near the sea. At the Eagle Square, you can see a huge eagle facing the sea. A lot of tourists like to go there to take photo with the eagle.

Seven Wells

Another place we visited is known as the Seven Wells. There is a nice waterfall also near the Seven Wells. As the Seven Wells is located much higher than the waterfall, we only walked up to the waterfall. The water of the waterfall is very clear and cooling. We can see a group of youngster there dipping themselves in the water and sun bathing. Some are in bikini.

At the beach there

We also drove to a nearby beach in the evening for a swim. The sunset at the beach is spectacular.

Finally

I must say Langkawi is a beautiful island to rest and relax. We only stayed 2 nights there. Given us more time, we would have gone to the Pulau Payar Marine Park. It is 19 nautical miles south of Langkawi and encompassess the islands of Pulau Payar, Pulau Lembu, Pulau Segantang and Pulau Kaca. There is marine life there for snorkelling and diving. There are a lot of places to visit at Langkawi, eg Sungai Kilim, cable car, wildlife park, crocodile farm, etc. For those who like to do shopping and eat seafood, Langkawi will be the right place for them. For those who like to drink, a can of Tiger beer will cost only RM1.60 or S$0.66. The wine and liquor there are all duty-free. But there is a limit each person can bring them across to Malaysia.

I find that the people there are all very relax. Everyone has their own job. The island is very peaceful. My sister-in-law told me she been to Langkawi many years ago. When she and her friend arrived at the jetty of Langkawi, there will people come to ask you if you need transport. They can provide you transport throughout your stay. After she agreed to pay the guy to use his transport, he asked her to make full payment to him first. Being a kind in innocent person, she paid him full. After they check-in at the hotel, he took them to a place of attraction. After he dropped them off, he is supposed to come back at a agreed time to pick them up but he never return. When my sister-in-law went back to the jetty on the last day, she saw the same guy there soliciting for business. When she question him, he pretend that he has never met her. Lesson learnt is never make full payment for a job or service that is not completed.

Trip to Southern Ridges 28 Sep 08

Trip To Southern Ridges 28 Sep 2008

This is the second time I bring people to Southern Ridges. They are my friends from the Bucky Group. The first time was with residents from Bukit Batok Zone 4 RC, we walked from Henderson Wave to Alexandra Arch. This time I parked my car at the Hort Park and walked from Alexandra Arch to Henderson Wave.

We started off from the Floral Walk. With its creative arrangements of different floral forms and patterns, its many colours and hues have been designed to excite your sense of sight. After the Floral Walk, we were at the Alexandra Arch.

Alexandra Arch has the shape of a leave. It also serves as an overhead bridge for crossing Alexandra Road. It has colourful lighting at night.

At the Alexandra Arch, we saw a recovery vehicle pulling a white car out from a drain. The engine compartment has been smashed totally. I can see some marks at the tree. Likely that the car was driving at a high speed and lost control. It hit the tree and continued to barrier near the drain. The barrier was also brought down during the accident. From the photos, one can see how much damages a driver can caused if he/she is not careful. I have no idea what is the cause of the accident. But I am quite sure the car is moving at a high speed beyond the speed limit at that road.

After the Alexandra Arch is a long walk on galvanised grill, known as Forest Walk, to the top of Telok Blangah Hill. At the end of this trail is a shelter which has a Geodesic Dome like structure. All 4 of us have different head dress. I have a hat from Australia. Joo Hock has a jockey cap. Monica has a hat from Cambodia and Anna has jungle hat.

From there, we continued to walk to Henderson Wave. Henderson Wave is a bridge across Henderson. It has the shape of a dragon. It is also lighted up at night. The air at the bridge is very refreshing and the view up there is excellent. You can even see the sea when you are up there.

From Henderson Wave, we took a short walk down the slope and stairs to SAFRA Mount Faber. Over there we had our breakfast at Ah Koon. For S$3.80, you get quite a descent breakfast which consist of toast bread with kaya, 2 half-boiled eggs (come without shell) and a cup of coffee or tea.

We then walked along Henderson Road then turned to Depot Road. Near the end of Depot Road is Preston Road. We turned left to Preston Road followed by Forest Walk. We crossed Alexandra Arch again but this time from the opposite direction. We walked pass Floral Walk and to Hort Park.

Hort Park is a place you can spend another hour or two to look at the indoor decoration with flowers and potted plant. It has many beautiful gardens each has its own theme.

Advice from Me :

For those going there,

1. Go when the weather is good.

2. Go as early as you can to avoid the heat. You need at least 3 hours to complete the walk.

Finally, I must take my hat off for our govertment for doing such a wonderful job of providing such a nice place for people to walk, see, take photos, relax, exercise and it is free-of-charge (carpark is not free most of the time). I must also thank Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and National Park. I have been there many times and each time I go, I discover new things.

How To Win Friends And Influence People

How To Win Friends & Influence People



One of the fundamental to success is able to get along with people. This by itself is a difficult task.

Everyday we are faced with so many different people. From your family members, neighbour, colleagues, friends and so on. You may meet new colleagues or new friends at times.

Here I try to share the key points from a book I read about How To Win Friends & Influence People.

Fundamental Technique In Handling People





1. Don't criticize, condemn or complain.


2. Give honest and sincere appreciation.


3. Arouse in the other person an eager want.





6 Ways To Make People Like You





1. Become genuinely interested in other people.


2. Smile.


3. Remember that a person's name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.


4. Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.


5. Talk in terms of the other person's interests.


6. Make the other person feel important - and do it sincerely.





By Dale Carnegie

Some People You Just Don't ...and the Fact of Life

Some People You Just Don't .... and the Fact of Life

Everyday during our daily life we will be meeting people. Some people you just don't feel like talking to them, seeing them, following them when driving on road, being their neighbour, etc.

Why I say that ?

People you don't want to be their neighbour.

Some neighbours are so self-centred. Everything they do is for their own benefit. I have living in a private apartment, we have limited parking lots. Certain lots are designated for MC members. But some residents just don't care and any how park their car. When come to washing of car, because they have domestic helper and there are 3 taps at the parking area to collect water, very often, I can see some domestic helpers wasting precious water.

Over at my office, we have colleagues sitting near us which can be considered as our neighbours. I have a table fan on my desk. My habit is to on it when I feel warm and off it when I step out of office or go home. Some neighbour will turn on my fan when I am not in office. But the person did not turn it off after using it. Many a times when I step in my office in the morning, I can see the fan is on. It was left on for the whole night, why waste electricity when you don't need it. Worst is sometimes when I came to office on a Monday morning and noticed the fan is left on over the weekend.

People you don't want to follow.

Back in my office, each of us has 2 computer. One is a PC and the other is a laptop with access to internet and can bring home the laptop. I can see some people will leave their computer on when they go home. Why waste electricity when you don't need it. Computer also need to "rest" when you don't need to use it. Why don't people turn off their computer before they go home instead of leaving it on perpetually ?

People you don't want to follow when driving on the road.

Some drivers don't use their indicator when filtering lane or making turn. Everyone is using the roads. We should be considerate when using the roads. To let others know we are filtering or turning, it is best to signal so that drivers behind us will know. It is also safer as other road users will be aware of your intention. Some drivers just don't have the habit to use indicator. These are the drivers I don't like to follow.

People I don't like to talk to.

Some people just like to complain and make negative remarks about things they came across. These are the people I don't like to talk to. Some of my colleagues just like to complain about their work, the people they need to deal with, their boss, etc. Well you can say it is a mean for them to air their view or relief their stress. But I find that they are negative and focus on others or outside instead of looking at themselves and look inward in terms of what is wrong with himself or how can he change.

Finally...

No two persons are the same. We also need to accept the fact that different people has different thinking, behavoir, habits, attitude, etc. Instead of complaining about someone being unfair, not understanding, lack of wisdom, etc, why not just accept the fact of life.

The Art of Healthy Living (1)

The Art of Healthy Living (1)

Use it or lose it. Sounds familiar ? 60% of adult don't get enough exercise. Yet no one is too old or too out-of-shape to benefit from regular exercise. And it is not as hard to get started. The first is simple : try walking !

It is easy, cheap and safe. And a brisk walk burns as many calories as running!

Take the stairs instead of the elevator.

Go for a quick walk on your lunch hour or coffee break.

Walk part of the way to work.

For part of each session, push yourself til you are breathing hard.

As little as three 10-minute periods of moderate activity each day can make a big difference!

It is an established fact that compared to other diseases, the incidence of hear diseases is 3 times higher in case of people who live a sedentary life. The incidence of heart diseases is noticed to be most nil in case of those who exercise regularly or who are engaged in manual jobs.

I will exercise at least 3 times a week. Every Wednesday evening I will practise Qi Gong for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Every Thursday I will play badminton from 7pm to 10pm. During weekend, I will go for 5km run and sometimes swim at my place if the weather is good.

Your health (and future) is in your hands.