My Experience in Batam Projects 2010 - 11 as volunteer

My Experience in Batam Projects 2010 - 11 as volunteer

My first Batam trip is on 12 Jun 2010. It was a very good experience and I went back there again 3 times this year (2011).

 [3rd from left is Jesline and 2nd from right is Ruheng]

Ask me why I keep going back, the answer is simply because I love to give and I feel good when I do good. One of the main difference between last year trip and this year trip is last year trip we bring all the things to give from Singapore whereas for this year trips, things are mostly bought in Batam. All my trips are over the weekend, ie Saturday and Sunday, except my latest trip, 7 – 9 Aug 11, which lasted for 3 days to coincide with our National Day.

Below shows the different orphanages I have been to or helped :

No	Name of  Orphanage	Total	Teacher	Total	Location
1	AL - IKHLAS	23	3	26	T.UNCANG
2	HIZBUL WATON	20	3	23	SEI TEMIANG
3	AL - IRSYAD	40	2	42	TIBAN
4	BINA UMMAH	48	7	55	RS ( PERUM BINA UMMAH)
5	PERMATE BATAM	27	3	30	PERUM BUMI SAKINAH
6	FROFIDENSIA	123	7	130	TIBAN
7	PANTI BATESDA	43	3	46	BATAM CENTRE
8	PANTI  AL - ANSHORI	36	3	39	DEPAN PBI
9	L-SADAI	21	2	23	TG. PIAYU
10	ANNI'MAH	40	3	43	DAPUR 12
11	MIFTAHUL ULUM	30	2	32	BATAM CENTRE
12	ST TERESIA	98	5	103	BARELANG
13	AL - MUTALIM	33	2	35	TG UMA
	TOTAL	582	45	627

Some of the Orphanages are linked to religion and some are not linked. At the orphanage, we will give the children a nice meal and play some games, sing and dance with the children there. Before we say good-bye, we will also give each child a goodie bag.

My first trip was with the help of an active cyclist, Collin Ng. We stayed at Batam View Resort when we were there. Over at the resort, there is a nice swimming pool and a big spa with different packages for people to choose from. It is the first time I have my massage with a nice sea view. My wife and I were asked to remove everything before the massage.

Subsequent trips in 2011 we stayed at Batam town. The arrangement were done by Ruheng and Jesline Heng, both are Buddhist. Stay in Batam town is good because we can buy our stuff to give away and enjoyed the local food nearby our hotel. Massage is available at the hotel or within walking distance.

  

Finally, there are many photos and memories to share, I just want to say if I have opportunity to go back to Batam again, I will still do so. I believes everyone has their dreams including the orphanages in Batam. How to make their DREAMS come true ? The answer is you do it by working.


Drop me a mail at ychaoloy@singnet.com.sg if you are interested to join me.
Thank you for reading.

My New Yonex Badminton Racket

My New Yonex Badminton Racket

I went to Batam to help organise a party for the orphans and some single mother there, in June 2011. While we were at a market buying things for the children and the single mother, I saw a Yonex badminton racket at a stationary shop. After checking the price, I decided to buy the racket. I come with a bag and looks fine with me. It cost only about S$25. On the racket, it is written NANO SPEED.

Upon returning to Singapore, I went to re-string the new racket. At the shop where I use to patron when my racket string broke, the moment I gave my new racket to the boss of the shop at Beauty World Centre, he told me the racket is not real, a real racket of this model would cost around S$295. He then asked me how much I bought the racket. When I said it only cost me about S$25 and I bought it in Batam. He was kind enough to ask me whether I still want a re-string. Not knowing how the feeling is like when I play with this racket, I asked him to re-string for me. It cost me S$16. 

I tried out the new racket the following week at Henry Park Pri School badminton hall. It is one of the worst racket I ever used. The racket is too flexible. I stopped using it from then.

Having play badminton when I was around 11 years old, I never new there are fake Yonex badminton racket. When I told my badminton friends, they just listen and don't have much to say. Last Friday, I was with some friends having lunch at a Japanese Restaurant. We were talking about the fake Apple shop in China, when I told them the story about my new badminton racket, one of my friend could not stop laughing, she said I made her day. Again, the same story told by the same person to different people, you get different response.

Thanks for reading. Send me your comments ychaoloy@singnet.com.sg

My 3rd Trip to Kukup, Johore, Malaysia

[photo taken at the resort : left to right : Jessie, Janet, lady boss, Raymond's mum & sis and me.]

I made my 3rd trip to Kukup on 28 - 29 May 2011. My previous 2 trips there were by coach. This time, we drove there on our own.

Parking there is convenient and cheap. There is a big sheltered car carpark before the jetty, it is called "Mouse Carpark". Not sure why it is called Mouse. The charges to park there is RM6.

We stayed one night at Kukup Colourful Resort. The address is No. 66, Kukup Laut, 82300 Pontian, Johor.

website : http://www.colourfulchalet.com/

The charges is RM90 for 1 night stay with 5 meals. Last meal is a seafood lunct at a restaurant nearby.
Those who like marjong and karaoke will enjoy staying there.

8 Gifts That Do Not Cost A Cent to share

8 Gift That Do Not Cost A Cent to share

I was at NUH yesterday (9 Apr 11) morning because my mum complaint one of her shoulder to very painful, so I send her to the emergency dept at NUH.

While waiting for her, I went to the bookshop at NUh and saw this interesting article. Here it is :

My mum was discharge this afternoon (10 Apr 11). She was given some drips of potassium chloride yesterday at the hospital and felt better today.

No need for Facials & Slimming to make yourself attractive

No need for Facials & Slimming to make yourself attractive

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day.

For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others.

Thanks to Joo Hock for forwarding me this nice poem. The above photo shows the current 7 members from Apex Club of Singapore (City) taken on 4 Apr 11 during the birthday celebration for our President, Michael Tan, at Hans (Jalan Bukit Merah).

Passing of our Ex-CE

I was so sad last Tue, 29 Mar 11, morning when I heard that our formal CE has just passed away the day before.
Read the original article below.

The former Chief Executive of Singapore's Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), Soh Kong Pheng, died on Monday (28 March) from kidney cancer, aged 60.

Mr Soh stepped down as Chief Executive of DSTA in December 2010, having announced his retirement a month before upon learning of his ailment. While being treated for kidney cancer, he contracted dengue fever and had to suspend his cancer treatment.

His daughter, 25-year old Soh Lee Ling, said: "After my father's retirement, we had planned to travel to the US around January or February to visit my elder sister and her newborn daughter, and celebrate Chinese New Year together as a family. However, after he fell ill, we had to remain in Singapore so that he could receive treatment."

According to Ms Soh, although her father was busy with work, he always cared and though for his family, even when he was sick in bed.

When Mr Soh retired last year, his colleagues in DSTA compiled a commemorative book for him. In it, an individual penned a message saying: "Mr Soh was a modest gentleman. Even after assuming the post of Chief Executive, he still treated all his staff as equals. Whenever introducing me to others, he would describe me as his "colleague" rather than his "chauffeur"."

According to a DSTA spokesperson, staff members are saddened by Mr Soh's departure and they fondly remember his contributions to the organisation.

Soh Kong Pheng joined the Singapore Armed Forces in 1972 and has held several major appointments, including Head of the Defence Material Organisation. He was DSTA's Deputy Chief Executive (Operations) in 2000, and became the agency's Chief Executive in 2008. Last year, he received the Public Administration Medal (Gold) from the President of Singapore.
---------end of article------
One of the lesson I learnt is that we should not wait till we are retired then enjoy life. A lot of people have this thinking that I should save as much as I can while I am young and able to work and wait till I retire then enjoy life. But they forgot that when they are old, a lot of things they cannot do or enjoy. For example, when you are old, you cannot eat as much as when you are young, you cannot eat the nice & fatty stuff due to health reason, you cannot carry a 20 kg luggage to go travelling, you will not be able to change flights, you cannot walk as far as when you are young, you cannot climb a low hill, etc. There are many more reasons why we should not wait till retire to enjoy life.

Some Words for Ourselves

Dear Friends,

I have not write on my blog for quite a while. I still get about 20 visitors a week for my blog. With the energies of the Lunar New Year upon us, there is no better time than now to make a powerful commitment; to heal your unconscious guilt allowing you to create the life you've always wanted! Below is an interesting article from our local Chinese Newspaper.

It shares some things for ourselves. Do not go against an idiot, society, yourself, relatives, things of the past and reality. Reasons are simple.
 
Lastly, some of my friends and colleagues asked me, how many "Lo Hei" (or "Yu Sheng" or raw fish and vegetable salad), I had during this Chinese New Year. My answer is I have lost count. This morning, I looked at my planner and did a stocktake. From 22 Jan 11 until the last day of Chinese New Year, 17 Feb 11, I had 11 "Lo Heis". Some days I had 2 "Lo Heis" on one day. I have decided to change my diet to vegetarian diet from now for 3 months.