21 november 2007 morning newspaper

biking kakiS!

tks to my personal riding kaki.... raising fund for my trip. sponsoring me in a way. xie xie ni men!

from auntie annie

sorri to make the cheque looked so green. i would like to thanks auntie annie for sponsoring me in our trip.

xie xie ni!!!!

REWARD!!!! RM$2000.00

Pada 24/10/2007 (Rabu)jam lebih kurang 930pm, saya dengan seorang kawan berhenti rehat di hentian rehat Machap arah selatan (high way pergi ke JB). Saya telah meletakkan motosikal saya numbor FZ7413M Honda di kawansan parking yang dekat kantin tanggan. Pada pukul 1000pm, saya pergi untuk mangambil motosikal terserbut dapati sudah hilang. Saya sudah merepot polis di balai Simpang Rengam.
Saya harap boleh mendapati mencari motosikal saya. Sesiapa yang mendapat cari motosikal tersebut akan diberikan RM2000.00.Motosikal saya ialah Honda Africa Twin 750cc warna biru dengan merah. Sila hubungi Mr Goh +6012-7735368

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On 24/10/2007 (wednesday) time 0930pm, I was traveling from Malacca to Singapore, I stopped at Machap R&R south. Im riding Singapore registered bike number FZ7413M Honda Africa Twin 750cc red/blue and I stopped with my friend for a quick meal. At 1000pm, I went back to my bike, I found that it has gone missing. We went to search at the toll, nearby kampong but nobody has seen it. Witness saw 2 malay boys aged 17-18, rode a Yamaha RXZ, one of them climb on my bike, unlocked my handle bar and the other help to push my bike onto the highway towards JB. I have made a police report at Simpang Rengam. Please help me to find my bike as it has a very sentimental value to me. Thank you. Contact me, Mr Goh +6012-7735368.

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My bike is stolen on 25 oct 2007

dear Riders.

lesson learned: never go to malaysia again!

today (25 oct 2007) i drove down with my wife, went to all the kampong nearby to send the 'wanted' poster. that's the only hope. forget abt the police.... i also asked my sis in law to advertise on the malayu newspaper in johor.

$ lost is about SGD$20000++. the infomation in my PDA is priceless!

that's not the issue. i bought this bike 2 years ago coz i planned to go RTW.

it's just like u are training for a sword fight for two years. just 2 months before the fight u lost the sword, how would u feel?!?!?!

since day one when i bought the bike, i did alot of modification on it. testing, trail, correction. the bike help me to marry my wife back. then we tested the fuel tank. it went dry without telling me. then i start to learn more about her. day b4 my wedding day, my wife and i push the bike at the highway in malaysia for 45minutes bcoz it ran out of fuel. we had a good time pushing it! will never forget.

the crash bar issue was a madness!!! from motorworld arguement to sengkuang metal works. after much work due to her extended 36 liters fuel tank, the perfect crash bar is on her now, custom made.

getting eugene saddle to do a cobin similar seat for the bike is a test of patient. ask micheal: best seat, second to none! cost me $200.00!!! i have to test the seat by riding for a few hours then i can say that it is comfortable.

getting my 2 aluminium boxes on the bike is a challange. need to put her at sengkwang for weeks! must cut the exsause, do measurements..... i did a extended space for my wife. extra 4 inches from her back to the box. Comfort!!!! the top box rack was perfect too!!! Luckily I went to Malacca without the 2 side boxes.

adding the scott oiler, welber rear suspension, front fork special suspension, Garmin GPS anti vibration holder with internal power is my recent works! thanks to ah chan from m-techik that had given me many many advice and patience.

i had known her for the past 2 years. how's her temper and charactor. she has also get used to me, everytime waited patiently for me to come back after i parked her. yesterday was the final, which i could not kissed her goodbye.

It was the kind of understanding, trust and love that the bike and I gave each other. I almost work everyday, driving my truck. Driving my truck is driving me crazy… when my wife and I got low morale, she would want to ask me to ride bike out for a spin. It’s such an amazing trail, riding on my XRV with my wife really lessen the pressure and workload in my mind. The bike bring me to the high sight which makes me feel on top of the world. The kinda freedom it has whenever I shoot straight into AYE, the kind of understanding power it has to overtake. I feel like flying. I told myself, this bike is the one that can bring me to the corner of the world!

After the bike has been stolen, go recce at the possible route of advancement. I used the fastest way to report to the autority (the patrolling government tow truck) bcoz they have signal comms thro out the whole highway. Forget abt giving them ur name, ic number, address, where u come from, where u going…. It will take u hours! I gave them the description of my bike and my contact number. GOSH! It take them about 60-100 seconds to write down 9 0 0 8 5 5 1 5. Take note of trucks around that may have the bike in. I went to the next nearest exit and check it out. Be calm, think. Not hush! Ask the witnesses. I did the best is to keep calm and think, looking at the landscape situation around me and remember. But best of all, this method still cannot get my bike! So I Lanlan go policestation to queue up to make report. They got many silly questions to ask u and many procedures. They type with single finger searching for the alphabet Q,B, P, Q, and so on….. I just to have to smile and mean time telling myself to seek for other help.

Today driving to the kampong, people are really there to reply my help with sincerity. There’s a reward of RM2000.00 but they didn’t bother. They passed the extra papers to their friends around and hoping that everybody is aware of it. I went to mywife's ex kampong, they took the paper and pass it to their uncle, the uncle would say he got a XXX friend which is a XXX person, he will personally go find help from that guy. Phone call will sent and recive from one state to another. My wife siblings would gather the most important contact and give it to us. It’s so homely. I could not see this kind of integrity in the city life which I am staying at. I felt ashamed!

I have lost a beloved bike but I gain more understanding about human. I am now one level up!
My round the world trip is still on!

thank you Sister Lay pheng.

this simple card has been presented to me 20years ago. it has given me 20 years of hope and numerious amount of hope when my prayers ain't answered. in life, there is still a hope. dont ever give up. everybody can give up hope on u but u cant give up hope onyourself!! thank you sister lay pheng, guilding me thro.

xin ming daily news on 14 november 2007

xin ming daily news had posted my news so sadly... discouraging and threatening!

my background

the route for my trip.......

I have an elder sis, 4 yrs senior, married with 2 daughters. Mum and Dad was from the normal family. When they were young in the 1970s, mum was a bus driver for SBS. At that time u rarely see such young lady driver. She was about 22-24yrs old when driving the bus.

Dad since 7yrs old came to Singapore from china. He worked a lot during his childhood days. Only had his education till Primary 6. they have a dry sundry shop in clementi in 1978. till today the shop is there. Both of them are hawker operator.

When I was young, I played in the hawker centre. Im so called the hawker kid. Hdb playground was also my favorite. I went thro the normal education. PAP, clementi town primary school for 6 yrs, Tanglin Secondary School for 4 yrs. Ngee Ann Polytechnic Electrical engineering 1995-2003. I was the drum major in my secondary school band. During my poly days, I was also a young committee member of the concert band. My poly education was complicated! 6 modules to get my diploma but I was kicked out of the course in my 7th module! At that time I didn’t treat my studies seriously. I always hang out with my motorbike gang, went out late everyday, engross into bike touring in Malaysia, worked part time as a kitchen crew in a restaurant. Also, dad was involved in gambling and bookie. He was heavily in debt and left the house in dec 1996 or 1997, I couldn’t remember, without telling anyone about his plan. He flee to Malaysia. He left me and my mum in the house. I’m ok, but mum got to mend the shop everyday, got to deal with all the loan sharks sitting outside the shop everyday. Mum was very strong at that time. I looked upon her when dealing with troubles. She made use of the time in the night to work in the coffeeshop as a drink server.

When I was kicked out of my course, I worked half a year b4 I was enlisted into NS in 1999 june. I excelled well in my BMT but I couldn’t attached to be an officer because I have no diploma cert. pls view my letter to my platoon mate attached.

After ORD in june 2001, I worked aimlessly before I joined my former boss ( which is my mum’s brother, AKA my 3rd uncle) in the nursery. About oct 2001, my mum was dignosed with leukemia. Both sis and I were devastated.

In july 2002, I was being encouraged by my boss at that time to take back my diploma. then, he told me I can work part time in the nursery. Schedule was like morning 8-12 work, 1-5pm or 12-6 at school. Either, 8-12pm at school, 1230-630pm at work. There were no Saturday nights for me because Sunday I have to work. I also need to take care of my mum because I’m the only person living with her in the house. Sis took great part in bring mum to hospital, taking time off to be with her.

I saw mum fighting the cancer, she went thro kimo therapy. She was very brave. I had to look out for friends to donate blood to the hospital. A lot of my friends turned up. I am very touched.

My results were excellent in the poly! I was so lousy previously in my maths, which I got kicked out because of it. Now then, I scored 99%, in all the test, AD in my transcript. I topped the course in maths! Im very proud of my results. Wats more, my close friends that was studying together with me also got very good results. Im very glad. At that time, my classmates called me: gardener or contractor or PCK because everyone in the poly had funky dresses and clothes but I entered the lecture hall in my work attire. ( my dirty company shirt, green cargo pants, high cut safety boots).

Life goes on until the 2003 jan, dad came back to the house. In April 2003, I had my final exams. Mum was in her final stage. Night before my exam, she pass away in 3am. 19 april 2003. Sis and I got to arrange all documents, prepare the funeral. My feelings were so down. I only slept for an hour before I went for the exams. Thankfully, I got 75% results! It was the most difficult subject. I could have scored better.

Times were tough. I got to fight on. I was the head of the house as Dad did not have a proper job. I got to be responsible of everything. From repair, paying bills to cleaning the house. Luckily I had a very nice girlfriend, my wife now, to give me moral support. dad only collect rental from the stall he owes. About $200.00 goes into his pocket every month.

In early 2005, dad got a stroke in his brain. It adds burden to us. We engaged a maid to look after him for 6 months. Luckily, it was a minor stroke. He can work now. He is working as a cleaner in an office.

I wanted to look for more money and my passion. I started working part time after my work hours at 5pm. Over time at my company was only $5/hr flat rate. I bought myself a pruning scissors, rode my bike out to a customer house, recommended my a friend, start to do garden maintenance work everyday, 530pm to 730pm before it gets dark. EVERYDAY! I got more jobs then. Garden designs recommended by my neighbour, which her friend’s new house wanted to be built up. At that time I only have my motorbike. All I can carry with me is a small chankol and hand glove. I would find my own ways to get the materials to be transported to the site for installation. With that small chankol, I broke a few for that project because there were so much to plant and dig. My wife accompany me a few nights at the site while im doing the digging. The work last start from 530pm till 1030pm for a few days. I got bleeding blister on my palm.

More people enquired me about my garden maintenance services as I started to sub contract out to a few contractors to do my work. I was working with my uncle then. I started a current bank account, registered a business name called CSK Landscape services. CSK stands for Chua Siang Keng, my mum. It was purely to generate income from my subcontractors. They will do the job as I assigned while Im working full time selling plants. I may not be the only person in my uncle’s company doing such part time because some of my colleagues also uses the full time work hours to sell and collect lottery numbers, collecting soccer bets, trading collective birds and fishes and so on.

Dad saw my check book from my bank being sent to the house. he informed my boss about it without discussing over it with me. He wanted to be a good man now because he still owes my boss $60k. I was kept in the dark about his move. Again, he disappoints me.

My uncle’s business was in landscape supply and wholesale of materials. He does no garden maintenance. After finding out that my part time business, he told me that it was a conflict of interest! There where many things that they trying to find fault in me. I just couldn’t believe it! I have been working very hard in the company for the past 4 n half years. My last drawn salary was $2010. I drew this salary only for a month. Before this it was $1850 for a few years, $1500 for 1yr plus, $1400 for one yr and $1200 for my first 3 months.

I started my business in 2006 July. My wife and I just got married in March 2006. We didn’t have time to go for honey moon. We didn’t have time to go part-tor. I was fighting for my future.

Setting up my nursery in lim chu kang lane 1 was not easy. It took me alone for 3-4 months to complete. I had to carry heavy load alone, in the rain and under extreme hot sun. The load was extremely big and heavy as I didn’t borrow any machinery from my landlord as they were very straight people. Nobody knows the hardship im going thro. In the ghost festival, I had to go back to nursery alone after midnight to load the plants for delivery in the next morning alone. There were no lights. I was timid… thinking of something standing out there looking at me. The place was dark and dogs were crying. I have to do it! The plants need to be sent! I cannot screw up my customer's work.

My business expanded from plant supply and wholesale, to garden maintenance, to design, construct and install, to tree consultancy. I am running the show alone. No partners. I had a lot of supportive customer thro out this journey. They had become good friends of mine and we went out drinking, chatting about our personal life, go traveling. They are more than a customer, they are my friends!

For my first year result I was very very very much satisfied. The sales volume is incredible! I couldn’t believe it when I asked my wife to do the accounting for me.

Further more, there is a big company want to join venture with me to set up nursery.
A famous Australian wanted me to be his Singapore liaison and wanted me to set up a shop with him in Singapore. A company that has establishment in 5 other countries located in Asia wanted to support me to set up a nursery beside my ex-boss nursery to challange him. (I told him I can’t because that ex-boss is my uncle. I cannot do such things). A Malaysia supplier wanted to join venture with me to set up a nursery in Singapore. A local government agency wanted to build a long term project with me. I REJECTED ALL. I told them I cannot do it because I’m leaving Singapore for this trip.

I see myself as a millionaire in 3 years time. The opportunity that I have in my business is so wide. I consider myself as a successful businessman. Customers, suppliers and contractors worked well with me. I start to sponsor book prize in a local polytechnic. The book prize named: Chua Siang Keng book prize. I wanted to do it because when I was in my poly days, times were tough. These little effort from my company gave encouragement to the award winners of my field of trade. I hope the spirit of my mum will encourage the prize winner in their life. Am I the youngest person to sponsor the book prize? It doesn’t bother me anymore.

Driving a Mercedes in 3 years time is a sure! But this is not I want in life. I want to stop my business now before it gets too big and more workers are working for me. 3 years down the road I want to have kids. 3 years down the road I may not be able to travel in a healthy condition. 3 years down I may have more money but im sure I would not be able to leave the company for such a trip. It’s time for me to see the world now!

new bike

at last, my new 'new' old new bike is registered. 3515 to be exact. while doing transection at the LTA, i recived a phone call from auntie Annie. she recived my sms, glad that im going for my gap year trip for 18mths. generously, she promise me to sponsor me some cash. gosh... i was overwellm.... she was such a nice lady, supportive in my business and my dream. i could not find anyone like her in singapore. god bless her in good health!!!!

also buying my 10yrs COE for this new 'new' old bike, the premium was abt $1k plus...

went to AIA to admend my monthly insurance, they are very regimental. 1 is 1, 2 is 2, 0+0 cannot be = to 1. waiting time is like 20 times of my shitting time. no chair to sit as i have to give up the avalible to the elderly to wait in Q to claim their retirements.

walked down the street to Prudential insurance: pretty receptionist, nice embiance, free flow of coffee, milo, capuchino, teh terak.... shiok! nice leaning chair, attentive customer service that help me to solve my problem. i gave her a good feedback form.

er... im not trying to do advertisment here... just a personal experience.

all child hood stuff happen fast. i remembered playing cardboxes at my dad's stall, playing hide and seek at the market. every school holiday we would go for holiday at genting, phuket, bangkok, hong kong, china. we love it!!! i still remember all the lovely holidays. i bitten sis on her left arm once at genting. the scar remains till today. that's how nauty i am. my favarote was the 7th mth ghost festival, where all the hawker were involve in the prayers and celebration. it was like a school camp. lots of activity and responsiblity for everybody to station at the tentage.
dad downdays was when he was a bookie and runner. he got his 'pocket money', got raided, got framed by friends and ran away. time were tough. before that, we took over our neighbour house and that made our block 362 flat a executive flat. $140000.00. that was about 1995. the stock market was on the down side where they lost money also. in the night they would sell satay at ghim moh. dad also loaned my 3rd uncle merz for instant cash to repay his bookie debt for the loan shark. $4075.00 everymonth to be paid. these were the life as a hawker kid. gamble, hawker, stocks, suicide are the events in my life. dad even tried to electicude himself using the plug for death. loser

my sis birth

when my sis was born, mum was a bus driver ($13.5/day). sis was taken care by my nanny, we would address her as 'motherrrr'. ah mah was very favourable. bonus that time was ($1400.00)_ dad requested a music player from ah mah as all his pay goes to ah mah. then they bought the black and white tv. their life goes on. dad sell his textile (own business), mum drove her bus. 1978, dad changed line to sell shoes and sundray at clementi ave 2, blk 353. then blk 362 flat was with deposit. the business was blooming at 353. so mum quitted his job as bus driver to help out the stall. there were much customer at that time. when i was abt 3 yrs old, i was nearly got hold my that adrain lim.

more about dad and grandparents

my dad was born in china, canton province, teo ann district, leng oh town, 1950. my grandma brought him to singapore at the age of 7. once arrive, they are station at at island called "kusu island" now where they are held up for 2 days, full body check up before coming to singapore. landing at "red light harbour". my grandpa was at singapore then. dad, grandma and grandpa took the trishaw went to havelock road, attap maki and settled there. grandpa's boss then was a supervisor at plastic factory (SGD$150/mth). grandma also work there SGD$2.50/day. rice was $0.15 with curry and vegi. when ah mah and ah gong was working, dad went to the school till primary 5 (bao chet primary school near havelock rd) at when ah gong lost his job. the factory went bankrupt. then ah mah sold tao tiao mee, kway chap. ($0.15 per bowl). ah gong help ah mah and dad went to work at queenstown(boss home). morning 7am sell bowl, cultury, plates, until 12 noon, then follow boss to stock up goods, sell at pasah malam. job knock off from 10plus. after work he went to boss's home to sleep. his house is situated at the currently infront of the queensway shopping center. (SGD$20/mth)
lifes goes on until aged 14. goh leng kerng, his older cousin, intro him a job to sell textile - lian heng. day time sell at tiong barhu, afternoon will set up at new market road until 9pm. after that he will sleep at his boss house at no. 12 new market road. everymonth when dad gets his salary, he will ah mah to give her all his salary. (SGD$80/mth). the life goes on for 2 years.
till then, see pang, an aquantance, intro dad another job to sell textile at tiong barhu market, boss: lim bark kwang. (SGD$140/mth) morning 7am ride trishaw with full load of textile, from indus road, till near amoy street, (dad pronoued to me as meh kalang street). that was boss house. then to tiong bahru, noon will go to china street. 6pm will go to boss home again. then back back to indus road. indus road flat room rental was SGD$26.00. the room was avalible because of the bukit ho swee fire. the whole kampong was relocated. job goes on till marriage.
at then, my mum's mother, wa-mah, know my ah mah through some gambling session, playing see sek(4-color) . wah mah's bro owe's a soya sauce factory, which linked to yeo hiap seng, gave the business to wah mah due to the bukit ho swee fire. ah mah will go to wah mah's house to work as a part time labouror. thro all these, they both into their child into marriage. dad followed see pang to wah mah's house, presently SAFTI, to visit my mum. the first time when dad saw mum, the was like a wood. duno about BGR. bus number 198 will link dad to mum. at the time of courtship, mum will use her home own car to fetch dad to go dating. they will go jurong hill, botonical garden, mount faber. dating goes on for 18mths. the working hrs my dad has was off half a day after 2 weeks. when dad was abt 24yrs old, both parents agreed to their marriage. marriage dinner was at hang kang restruant. ang pao was $4 to $8. leng kerng gave the biggest ang pao. 1973 was their first child. miscarriaged. they rented a room at bukit ho swee. the child was then 3mth plus. mum went to alexandra hospital when she found pain. dad recived phone call while at work when the news of miscarriage. worried.