SINGAPOREDREAM

Lunar New Year in Singapore.

2012-01-30T01:22:00.001+08:00

Lunar NewYear is an important festival for all the Chinese around the world. It marksthe beginning of a year. The old and unused ones will be replaced. That is thetime for us to do spring-cleaning. For business man, all debts will be cleared.For kids, they will be sets of new clothing.

On the eve,family would have reunion dinner. In the past, family members go to far awayplaces to work and only will come back to their home town to meet up and restfor this festive season. In Singapore, we would usually have steamboat dinnerto feast. In the past, simple food like rice and vegetables were eaten everydaybut during the Lunar New Year, meat, fish and some other delicacy will bebought and served.

So now inSingapore, having abalone is a luxury and it symbolized that the family had didwell and this is to reward the whole year’s hard work.

This year, Sam and I had a 7 days non-stop feasting and visiting of relatives.

Godparents, my dad’s brothers and aunties and cousin, my Godparent’s siblings, Ah Chong (at hospital), Dr Tan, my nanny, Noris, then we went to Malaysia to visit Samantha’s family, her uncle and cousins, her sister’s in law, dinner with Chenghow and wife, Angel and Leo, Shiyun and family came to visit us, then we attended a special wedding function. Coming back to Singapore, we met up with my poly band mates and went for my Godfather’s birthday dinner, Anthony Ang’s house for feast and on the 7^th day, we met up with my secondary school band friends, to my 3^rd uncle house which is my mum’s siblings then to my uncle Heng’s house for feast.

It is all for one cause: to catch up even all of us are busy during the rest of the year.

So I see the positive side of this festival is that we are able to meet up and see the younger ones growing as compared to the previous year, seeing the elderly ones getting more grey hair.

We witnessed some friends/relatives do have bad habits. It was kind of them to initiate their house for the gathering but the host were more busy entertaining themselves. So I saw some guest left immediately after the meal. I guess the bonding has been broken and I know that something must be done.

Then, we observed everyone is paying attention to the new kids and babies. The reaction of these new and young family members has shown the past teaching of the parents. At the same time, most of my younger cousin that used to be naughty had grown up and is taking over the role of a host.

At thistime, Samantha and I do not have kids and we surely do not know how is the lifeof having a kid. No comments.

It wastiring but rewarding. Able to see our love ones and their family.

It is allabout being thankful…

The mostsymbolic thing that we did was at Samantha’s family. 15 of us knee down andserved her mother a cup of tea, individually. At the same time, thanking herfor the past effort and giving her our blessings.

Can you guess, where am I? this was taken during my great grandmother's 100th birthday.

Lunar new Year 'salad'.

Singapore Leprosy Relief Association

2012-01-24T01:03:00.000+08:00

Our 2nd project for Lunar New Year 2012.

Samantha went to purchase the last batch of oranges from Clementi NTUC

Willy Ang, Jen Soh and her daughter drew time out from this big festive season to help the folks.

The care taker of the home helped us too.

One of the patients.

Many of them had leprosy when they were a kid and their family abandoned them. So, they do not know what it feels to have a family.

There are 41 patients here. Some of them can move by themselves, these are the ones that are bed bounded.

This 90+ years old lady cant see anymore. She does not have fingers.

This is their home. they are very normal people. We shake hands with them and gave them our blessings.

Thou this building is built in 2005 and seemed new, it has not been maintain and the working crew used a big canvas to prevent the rainwater from dripping directly onto the hall. the roof has been leaking for some time.

Thanks to the heart warming people that helped in this project. Samantha, Willy, Jen Soh and daughter and the working crew at the home.

St. Andrew's Cathedral Home for the Aged

2012-01-22T10:39:00.000+08:00

This year, we stop buying things for Chinese New Year. Things like abalone is so expensive! When you go on the street, you would witness people busy buying new clothes, new furniture, new TV, new shoes and lots of lots of goodies at home. For us, we bought the minimum. We use the money to do something worthwhile, for others.

We decide to do something for the community around Clementi. I know of this home where the old ladies would stay. Our motive is to let them know that they are not forgotten during this festive season. I think the best gift is just an Ang Pao (a traditional red paper packet which contain money) and some oranges.

Samantha and I chose every oranges carefully, inspecting each box and each orange.

Sheng Siong Clementi has convenient loading bay and good staff to help us to load our purchase.

23 goodie bags. We put on facebook about our activity. Jen Soh and Willy Ang replied and the willingly to come and help us. Both of them are very approachable and their job is to take our packed oranges and to wish and bless the elderly.

Sorry I am not good in this, so they had helped the team in a very good way.

Jen Soh gave the elderly a bright day with her warm approach although it was a rainy day.

Samantha helped to pack the oranges into 23 small packets before Jen and Willy comes.

Jen Soh with the oldest lady in the home, she is 98 years old.

The supervisor Mrs Margaret Lim, sharing the history of this home with us.

Willy and Samantha.

Thank you Willy and Jen Soh for your valuable time and effort for making the old folks happy.

Willy is also active in volunteering. He also advised me about other homes. 1st day of Chinese New Year, Samantha and Willy will join me to visit Singapore Leprosy Relief Association.

The purpose of this visit is to let the people in this home feel the joy of this festive season. I went to make a visit yesterday. There are 43 patients living in this home and most of them DO NOT have family members. This building looked very very new and modern from the external look but when i went in, the 5 level building is leaking when raining. they use a big canvas to cover the indoor hall.

Leprosy Home is like a home. they have normal activities and this is their home. The patients are normal. The home is a home and we are going to visit their home on the first day of Chinese New Year, Monday 23 January 2012. Time is around 4pm - 6pm.

http://www.silra.org.sg/

Please do contact us if you want to make 2012 Chinese New Year a special year for those forgotten ones in the society.

About tree ownership in Singapore.

2012-01-09T13:53:00.000+08:00

Many arborists in Singapore are invited to study health andrisk assessment of trees for property owners. They have been conservativetowards risk assessment because most property owners appreciate new buildings,concrete and metal rather than trees.

These trees had been standing there for the past manydecades, providing shade and shelter for us, taking in the carbon dioxide andgiving us new fresh oxygen, giving birds a home and working 24 hours a daywithout asking for any credit. All they need is a constant correct attention.

Keeping trees in the estate can be at very low expenses butwhen old trees are not healthy and sick, surgery could be costly.

The job of an arborist is a language translator, to tellhuman what the tree is trying to say. But most of the arborist are beingpressured that they do not want to take liability from the risk involve asnothing is 100% guarantee that the tree will not fail. Like any human medicaldoctor, they will tell the patient’s family the most conservative chances andsolutions, and have to take the risk for undergoing treatment.

Here lies my love for trees, I found this poem from a bookand share with you before reading the report.

The Tree’s Prayer

You who would pass byand raise your hand against me

listenbefore you harm me.

I am the heat of yourhearth on the cold winter nights,

thefriendly shade screening you from the summer sun;

And my fruits arerefreshing draughts

quenchingyour thirst as you journey on.

I am the beam thatholds your house,

theboard of your table,

thebed on which you lie

andthe timber that build your boat.

I am the handle ofyour hoe

andthe door of your homestead,

thewood of your cradle

andthe shell of your coffin.

I am the gift of God

andthe friend of man.

You who pass by,listen to my prayer…

Harmme not.

(Anonymoustranslated from the Portugese)

Save the trees

2012-01-05T16:16:00.003+08:00

Do you believe in cause and effect?

I got a call to attend a case this morning.

4 persons were injured by a fallen dead branch from a tree.Blood was spurting out from 1 of them, 3 others was hit on the shoulder andback.

When I reached the site, the property manager was there with15 other contractors. Everyone was worried and was trying to do the: not myfault, when I came in, it was already like that… or: we just took over thecontract 1 month ago. How long does the branch takes to become this condition?You must come and tell them it is more than one month.

The branch is about 5-6 inches in diameter and about 10meters long without any leaves on it.

When I walked to the tree that threw this branch, the treetold me that she is very angry because someone had step on her leg and givenher wrong things to eat, causing her to have bad tummy ache. Also, she isthirsty and she needs to have a bigger house to grow. She knew who stepped on her legs and she also knew who isthe one that decided to build the structures. So she threw her broken branchesat them. She was angry.

I told the tree:

ok,don’t worry, I am here to protect you and promise you that you will not

behurt anymore. I know that you have been working endlessly for the past

30years here, day and night. Giving shade to human and cars, giving home to

thebirds and beautifying this place. I will try to ask them to give u a public

servicemedal for your long service award.

The tree gave me a blink and smiled at me.

I walked around the tree and saw construction damages on theroots. I see the new layer of heavy tar that had be super compacted becausethis road is meant for super heavy vehicles. They are throwing cement slurry onthe soil to feed the tree.

I went back to the property manager and told him what thetree needed. He already had his own opinion and was giving instruction toeveryone. He wanted to reduce the crown of all the 61 trees along this road. Itold him, they do not need crown reduction but to clean up and give them properfeed.

He tried to explain to me that because accident happened, hehas to show everyone that something has been done. He is making the decisionfor his own benefit! He want to answer to his boss!

Then I pursued him to only do alternate trees for thereduction. He said no, must do it altogether. I kept quiet because I am verynew in this organization. When I gave my opinion, someone raised out that if Iwant to suggest anything, please go thro them before going to the propertymanager. I kept quiet.

After some time, this property manager told us to remove the2 trees that are near to the construction area. One of them was the angry tree.

Then, one of the guy that the tree was angry with, came andtell the property manager: remove all 3, not 2!

He sounded angry and demanding too.

Hearing this, I was stunted to hear that the propertymanager agreed without hesitation or reconsideration. It sounded likebargaining of price at a market and the seller agreed to the bargain withoutcounter offer.

I went blank and dare not look at the tree or go near heranymore because I promised her that I would give her what she wanted. Now, theywant to kill her and her friends.

I never looked back because I know the 3 of them are veryworried now upon hearing the news that they are innocently given a deathsentence, and all her childhood friends were also being punished. I’m sorry, I didmy best.

How many more trees can I save?

Mother Nature knows who is the bad person. When you hate thetree, they will do something to you.

I love the durian ideology! Have you ever heard of anyonethat was hit by a durian? Very seldom or never. Because we love the tree andwas hoping to get good durians from it, so the tree love us back by notdropping the durian on us!

Since the creation of metal and cement, we, human beings arebeing carried further and further away from nature. When trees are in argument withmetal and cement, we human always will side the metal and cement, declaring thetree is the loser. Did you realized that?

Please, love them because they have worked endlessly for us.All they need is a little attention.

Goodbye 2011

2011-12-31T20:39:00.001+08:00

It has been a year of waiting. The very last memory of whatwe did last year was the lunar new year, eating and feasting with our relativeand friends. At times, we had to even visit people that we do not want to visitand have to wish them with good luck. What kind of world is that? Lunar newyear is a time to forget the bad things and start a fresh. It never happened.It is for the businessman to finish all the uncleared debts.

The second thing that we could remember was endless offriends coming to Singapore to visit us and we are really happy about that.Opps, that started from the year before that, with Romina and Johanna duringOctober 2010. They didn’t stay with us but we were together for some time.Thanks to Desmond Kong and Cindy that helped us ferry them around.

Then, thereis:

Ruru, met and lived together in Australia

Dave, USA, that he helped us in our worst time of our trip.

Kamil and Iza, we never met them before but have beencontacting each other during our trip. We ended up meeting in Singapore.

Teresa from Chile, we met in Columbia. She is a realbackpacker! Time was to tight for us to bring her around because at the sametime, the swiss team, Saskia and Andrea, were with us in our house. It was areneion party for us with the Swiss team. We had so much to do in Singaporewith them! They stayed with us for 10 days and still, Sentosa wasn’t in thequeue. It was too little time.

Adi, from Indonesia, we brought him around to have a shortvisit of Singapore’s bike shop because he was on a study visit.

Gary Wong and his girlfriend, staying with us for a few daysand we enjoyed the Chilli crab meal. We met Gary when he was in India.

Don at Canada, Vancovour, came home one day telling Ashleyand Scott: look what I found on the road! They were so surprise that it wasn’tany cats or dogs but 2 RTW bikers. That’s how we got to know Ashley and Scott.They didn’t stay with us but we had fun on our truck, going round and roundSingapore.

Mark and Senne were the first bikers that we hosted. We havenot met them before but it was our pleasure to provide them with a space tocrash on. Glad that they enjoyed Singapore but the red tape that Singapore hasdisallow them to bring their Australian registered bike in.

Did we missed out anyone?

Then we remembered the 2 election campaigns that wereinvolved. Thanks to the internet, we could know more about the government andthe policy behind it. It seems that everything is sensitive in Singapore. Whichis not a sensitive area or topic in Singapore? I cannot think of any. Anythingcan be turned into sensitive! By involving in the campaigns, I see thingsdifferently and know more about how it is being run. I get to know more peopleand get different views. Who knows? Maybe one day I might run for thePresidency of Singapore. Luckily we are not affected by the natural disaster inSingapore, which consisted about the flood, the ponding and the MRT trainbreakdown.

Then there is rides, holiday and bike complaint. The 10 daysride to Kota Bahru and Gua Musang was satisfying for the both of us. The rideto Malacca for the recent 3 nation charity ride was another fun ride with ourclose friends. The only ‘holiday’ that we could remember was the trip to PulauTioman for 1 week, then, we realized how comfortable it was to have our bikeand tent, minus Hope Too. And the worse of all, no body has confident that hecould save Hope Too’s problems. Maybe our next blog we will try to: Africa Twinfor sale in Singapore.

There’s another chapter about our problems faced during thelast 6-8 months for considering publishing a book. Lets not talk about it now.

2011: looking back, nothing has been achieved. Though wehave come back from the days living on the road, I must say that the trip isnot completed.

It is not completed. Why not?

Samantha told me today: many new businesses today, they needto choose between income or moral value.

I listened to a speech and the great man said: to save theworld, we must

无条件的 服务一切众生 ，爱护众生。谈附带条件是行不同的。

In English, it means to: service all living beings and lovethem, without conditions. To negotiate for conditions will not be workable.

We shall take this2 as our guideline to what ever we do in the coming years.

2011: Seems like we have unfinished task to do from thetrip.

We will not forget you.

Our best Christmas gift In Singapore

2011-12-22T22:45:00.000+08:00

We are really proud of our friend, Kevin and EiEi. They are able to teach her 4 years old daughter to learn the difference between

What is 'want'

and

what is 'need'.

When we go to the $2.00 shop, many times we see things that is really cheap and tell ourselves:

so cheap, buy first, keep at home, you don't know when you are going to use it. If you never buy and when is needed, then you have to come back here again.

At this time, I would apply their theory 'want/need'.

Buy 1 pant for $59.90 and get 50% for the second item on the same purchase. It's really cheap but, do we really want it or do we really need it?

When things are needed, we would spend the effort to get it, no matter how much it cost. Be it expensive, be it far away or be it needed to queue up for because something is needed.

What about something that I wanted? That is for Christmas or some other festive season. If you go to the shopping mall, the Christmas tune makes you want to buy things. You receive letters at your mailbox telling you the best gift to buy for you loved ones. Will you be emotionally moved by it? Me not.

Christmas is just a date for us, a fixed date to meet our loved ones. No matter how busy we are, we will keep this day for them. Having a feast and gift exchange is secondary.

So, make a point now, don't get influenced by the Christmas mood at shopping mall. You are strong enough to resist that. Your loved ones are thinking of you.

Think about how many people had loved you when you are a cute baby and an adorable young boy/girl. They are the ones!

Don't cry when they leave the world one day because life is not eternal. Cherish them when they are around.

The best Christmas gift is an iphone 7?

Start sharing with everyone about what is 'want' and what is 'need'.

Happy holidays and don't drink and drive, it is dangerous, not because you will get fined!

R-rated movie on Singapore home TV

2011-12-22T15:43:00.000+08:00

I noticed there is a new religion within everybody.

Most family has the altar in their house, usually in the living room.

They believe what the god in the altar is preaching and everyone practices what this religion tell them to do, think or behaves.

But many do not know that this religion is being backed up by businesses.

it is the TV.

People pray their soul to the TV and believe what the TV says.

The news on TV shows bomb explosion in middle east countries, indirectly it is telling us something.

The TV has shows of famous actor using and talking about some product, indirectly it is telling us something.

The TV series shows broken family, children suicide and some other sad drama cases. Indirectly it is telling us that it is normal.

Mr X says: why did you scold your maid?

Mrs Y said: you never watch the TV? if I don't scold the maid, she will be ... and ...

Now, most movies and TV series are being sponsored by enterprises. Be it educational or not. Example, in Singapore, there is a telecast: Crime Watch. I think it is good as it has educational purpose. It is supported by the relevant enterprise to help crime prevention. Then, there is variety shows being backed up by large supermarket chain, telling everyone that they are doing well.

All I want to tell you is that there are agendas behind our TV show.

One same story, can appear in 2 different views, depending if it appears on

星期二特写TuesdayReport
http://www.facebook.com/TuesdayReport2011?sk=wall

or

前线追踪 FRONTLINE
http://www.facebook.com/QianXianZhuiZong

it's how they present one story to the viewer, it depend on how they want you should think.

This program is backed up by a furniture enterprise:

http://entertainment.xin.msn.com/zh/tv/channel-8/programmes/courts-2.aspx?cp-documentid=5474447

This program is backed up by some renovation company:

http://entertainment.xin.msn.com/zh/tv/channel-8/programmes/home-makeover-2.aspx?cp-documentid=5476232

This one back by some travel related company:

http://entertainment.xin.msn.com/zh/tv/channel-8/programmes/japan-flavor.aspx?cp-documentid=5606453

it is the independency of the media company. do you know why Al Jazeera news is not avalible in Singapore? they have very good view on matters and do not side any party. I'm not sure whey they are not avalible on TV, even on our cables. http://www.aljazeera.com/

I must say our Singapore Media has done a very good job, at least there are no R-rated movie after 11pm.

Can I add the word 'free' before the word 'R-rated'?

IPPT, National Service in Singapore

2011-12-19T23:47:00.002+08:00

I went to IPPT last Saturday with Tan Chong Wei and Vernon at Maju Camp.

IPPT = Individual Physical Proficiency Test

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPPT_Award_Badge

It is a compulsary test for all male citizen that is still eligible for national service.

for the past 10 years since I ended my full time national service of 2 years, I had always achived a silver award for the test until last Saturday.

Some of you may think that you have not even have the chance to pass. It's ok. All I want to tell you is that health is degrading if you don't keep it up.

My first test station was the shutter run. In order to get the silver award, I have to hit 10.7 seconds and below. I tried 2 times and the best was 10.8 seconds.

After that, I feel dizzy and wanted to vomit.

That was my very first time that I have such feeling.

I almost wanted to give up after hearing much news about some young and energetic people collapse and died after doing exercise.

Vernon and Tan was encouraging. We knew each other since 1999 and had been together for the worst scenario. You really know a person's character when trouble comes. Example, a group of friends gather and meet for a meal. Everyone is very hungry. yes, something like 11pm and still waiting for dinner. once dinner is served, you can see who is rushing to grab the food for themselves first. Yes, those are the ones that is going to die and think of themselves. For the past decade, I have been observing friends around me. Vernon and Tan are there. it's tough during the training but they persisted helping each other first before themselves.

There are lots of story that I want to tell about my times during the 2 years full time national service. I think it will be better for my friends to tell you about me, maybe they can publish a book about me.

What I think about them? well, next year will be end of our service. It will be for me to see and for you to judge. Maybe after reading our story, you would encourage us to continue our service till 45 years old together since we enjoyed it so much.

Sorry I can't post any picture here... this is highly sensitive... I am staying in Singapore. I am being watched over.

just want to share my feelings with you.

cheers!

HTC phone, Fujitsu Laptop, Brother Printer : Singapore

2011-12-06T17:40:00.001+08:00

I had a Brother MFC-6490CW.

It can scan A3 paper.

It is an all in one printer.

When we came back from RTW, one of my industry partner advise me to buy this because he only had a A4 paper scanner, so he can use mine to scan. But after a while, he was ahead of me and maybe forgotten about me. So this $550 printer is left here for collecting dust.

We still can use it for other purpose, we tried our best to love this machine.

There is a warrantee of 1 year. We contacted Brother Printer and Fax and the technician came down. They could service and replace parts for us for free because the problem of this machine was raised within 1 year of purchase.

After diagnosing, the technician told us that it's the printer head.

I asked why would the printer head be faulty?

'maybe there is dust...so you should always open this, this, then this to clean with this this and this. But you see our term and condition, within 1 year, replacement for parts is free except for this list of item, that include the printer head.'

That is a fine print on the terms and conditions!

But Brother Singapore is on good will to replace this for free if you purchase 3 color ink from us today at S$XX.XX.

Well, overall, I must say that the machine is taking up time and space in my house.

Remember I told you about the Fujitsu incident that happened last year?

We went to repair my Fujitsu laptop in Singapore when we came back.

We bought it just for our round the world trip.
It had been a very good traveling laptop.
We bought Fujitsu because they have#1 WORLD WIDE WARRANTY!!!
The specification is the same as the other brand we wanted to buy but the other brand is 30% cheaper and do not have WORLD WIDE WARRANTY.

#2 Fujitsu provide free1 year WORLD WIDE WARRANTY3 years LOCAL WARRANTY.

When we were in Brazil, Sao Paulo, something went wrong with my laptop.
We need to wait about a week to get a reply from singapore to know were can we sent in our laptop for servicing since it is still within the 1 year WORLD WIDE WARRANTY. Yes, after one week, we got the right person to talk to and the nearest place to sent the laptop is USA! we have to ship the laptop to USA?! no thanks.

This is what they call WORLD WIDE WARRANTY.

When we come back, we went to the Fujitsu servicing center at Funan Center to resolve the problem of our laptop that had been bothering us for the last 2 and half years.

The laptop is still under the 3 years LOCAL WARRANTY.

Friends, do not think that warranty is everything is FOC. We have to pay S$80++ to the company just to let them have a look at the laptop that they sold me 2 and half years ago, then i have to wait almost 1 month for a part to arrive in order to get it solved. When the part arrive, I have to hang around Funan for 5 hours to wait for them to repair.

We must compliment HTC Singapore.

Samantha had some issue with her HTC Desire S mobile phone.She called up HTC and they were able to come to our house to pick it up. Wewere not comfortable about giving our phone to someone so we went to thecustomer care center at No. 1, Harbour Front Ave, #01-06 Keppel Bay Tower.

It was a wait and the phone was taken in with some questionasked and form filling. They say the repair will take about 3-5 working days. Wewent back.

In the end they did not keep their promise. Instead of 3-5working days, the phone was sent back to our house within 2 working days and itwas 100% repaired.

HTC Care Singapore did a good job!

ISA Certified Arborist Singapore, Arborist report.

2011-11-24T12:28:00.001+08:00

-Arboriculture Services.

-Arborist in Singapore.

-Arborist assessment and report proposed for tree retention with Tree Conservation Areas (TCA) / vacant land as required for DC and BP submissions by Nparks.

-Tree survey.

-Tree decay detection.

-Study of construction impact on trees.

-Tree preservation and protection.

-Tree Surgery.

-Advance Visual Tree Assessment (VTA) .

-ISA Certified Arborist in Singapore.

-Singapore Arboriculture Society (SAS) .

Click here for our web page.

csk_landscape at yahoo . com . sg

(+65) 66489414

Riding to the same place again, 3NCR 2011 Malacca

2011-11-22T15:27:00.001+08:00

For 2 weekends, we rode out of Singapore.

On the first weekend, we went to Yong Peng for Crystal's wedding.

On the second weekend, we rode to Malacca with Uncle Woo, Sam Leong, Yee, Jiawei, Cheryl, Desmond Kong, Cindy Lam, Juvena and Lim Lai Siong. I dropped Samantha at Malacca as she is accompanying Crystal for her 2nd phase wedding.

We saw Thailand flag on a bike.

We saw Australia flag on a bike.

We made use of the annual 3 nation charity ride ( 3NCR) at Malacca for an excuse to get together to ride to somewhere.

It was fun fun fun with my friends around.

My family in Singapore

2011-11-10T00:21:00.000+08:00

why did we do it?

2011-10-21T16:37:00.000+08:00

Summary of our route.

2011-10-07T14:20:00.004+08:00

Overall route. 2008 January 1st to 2010 August 1st.

Detailed route.

2008 January to 2009 May:

Singapore to Malaysia, Thailand, fly to Nepal, India, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Greece, sail to Italy, Valtican, Slovenia, Austria, Czech republic, Germany, Swizeland, France. sailing 28 days to Argentina via Morocco, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Brazil. Wheels on again at Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Columbia, sail to Panama, Costa Rica.

Our route from 2009 May to 2009 November:

Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, USA, Canada, Alaska, Canada, back to USA.

Our route from 2009 November to 2010 June:

USA, fly to Australia, East Timor (Timor Leste), Indonesia.

Our route from 2010 June to 2010 August:

Crossing the 7 main islands of Indonesia from Timor, Flores, Sumbawa, Lombok, Bali, Java, Sumatra, shipped over to Malaysia and now we are back in Singapore!

the days of a Singaporean.

2011-09-29T15:11:00.014+08:00

Six little stories to share about the days of a Singaporean.

1) Bendemeer Food Center blk 29, #01-74 新路 Teochew fishball noodle.

$2.50.

Tuesday – Sunday. Morning and early lunch only.

Fresh, big bouncy fishball, not other starch ball. I wonder how she did it ensuring the whole fishball was cooked. Because of it’s size, if the center of the fishball is cooked, then the external part of the fishball will be overcooked.

Good!

Review from this web: http://www.myhawkers.sg/index.php?m=stall&c=view&id=3646

2) Then, somewhere near my house, Clementi, there was the famous chicken rice from Tanglin Halt. Sam and I walked down. While we were looking around the shop, we were hosted by a guy. He guided us to the cash counter. We were looking at the menu on the wall, looking for the cheapest meal that we want to eat but there were NO PRICE indicated. From our experience from eating chicken rice for 2 person, it would be cheaper to order 2 individual plate rather than to have one big plate to share. We paid first without knowing how much was it.

2 x $3.50 chicken = $7.00

2 x $0.70 rice = $1.40

total = $8.40

we took the receipt and walk to a table. We had our own water bottle. Another guy came and asked me if I wanted any drink and I smiled and shake my head. This guy shouted to the cashier:

They don’t want drink.

The food came…

We might be expecting too much from word of mouth and from the advertisment on the wall. I kept quiet and ate the food.

Towards the end, Samantha told me:

The one at Clementi central is better.

After the food, we walked back to the cashier trying to look for a proper menu, the one that they have was a drink menu. There were NO PRICES in it.

I guess it is a place for regular customer, not for poor citizen like us that is looking for cheap and good food.

3) Then, there was skyrise gardening and greenwall. garden being built on walls and roof to save space for greening in this dense city of Singapore. That day Samantha and i saw a roof top mobile garden! i wonder the LTA (Land Transport Authority) has approval to it.

4) Recently, i posted something on my facebook page:

LED or LCD TV better.

For the past years, i had never bought a TV before. Since young, my parent bought the TV, it lasted for a very long time. till recently we came back, the TV at home was a CRT type TV given by my sister.

when it was on, it buzzed for 1 minute to warm up before the screen is visible. There were also other reasons on why we wanted a new TV but the interesting part was to shop for a new TV.

We went to a big shopping center that opened for 24 hours. there were everything for sale. Electronics, jewerelly, food, clothes, bags, computer, accessories, watches. they had a wide range of selection. they sell at very low price because their customers were usually foreigners from other country. these foreigners wanted to buy things cheap and bring it back to their country. it may be about 30% cheaper than other shops because there are some 'export' models that were being sold without warranty. it is a very successful mall.

When we enter the mall, there would be a filter. this filter will scan all customer. if any of us is carrying a plastic bag and walk in, this filter will shout:

oei! OEI!

then we have to go to him, he will use a cable-tie to secure our plastic bag.

Then we browse the item on the shelf. the stuff wasn't very friendly. we witness a foreign worker wanted to buy a charger from the salesman behind the counter. the salesman spoke to this guy with his left palm resting on the display shelf at waist level and right hand tucking on his hip. He didn't have eye contact with his customer. the way he was pointing out on where to find the product to his client is like asking him to go away.

why is he treating his customer like that? is it because he is a foreigner that looked like a laborer? i supposed they come from the same country.

some time after, i went closer to looked at the things on his shelf and he looked at me and smiled: yes sir, anything you are looking for.

i smiled and shake my head.

The way he treated me and this foreign labour was different. This foreign labour did not have any reaction on how the salesman treated him.

anyway, one of the system in this shopping mall that worked out is that the salesman were not allow to collect payment. WHY? don't ask me...

when we have selected our product from the salesman, he would give us a written ticket and we were instructed to get this ticket to the cashier to make payment, by ourselves. Then, we take the payment receipt back to the salesman, he will verify that we had made the payment, do some writing on a big book and gave us the product.

it seems that every salesman in this mall is not friendly, and some of them were even RUDE and why they are so successful? Because they are selling electronic goods without warranty and it would be very cheap as compared with the outside market?

Why do we have our bags tied up with the cable-tie?

Why the salesman not allowed to collect payment?

Why is there a filter-guy at the door?

Why do they give different attitude to different customers?

why are they so popular?

5) good recommendation:

if your sink / sewage is stucked, you will call your plumber.

by the way, the plunger, the hot water, the chokage bio chemical didn't work.

i called the recommended contractor from the Town Council. A guy at about his mid 50s, seems like a loan shark, knocked at my door. he came in and looked at the situation. he said he need to cut the pipe and do something about it to clear the choke, then join the pipe back. the quoted $100.

I rejected.

then i called a neighbourhood contractor. he send a PRC man with a big machine and quoted $180, no less.

I rejected.

Thanks to my friend Jackson Goh, he recommanded someone and i got a number:

ISS Pest Management Pte Ltd.

They cleared the choke without any hassle.

They gave me a service report,

it was done by a local (not by FT or loanshark),

it comes with one month warrenty,

and it only cost $80!

Please note that they are not plumber. they specialized in clearing chokage. what is the name of the machine in the picture?

William Lim 92777106, 62681188.

6) This is one of the most grand chinese funeral that we have witness so far. it must be someone important to a society that had passed away. it's not a usual funeral.

All pictures above were taken by HTC Desire S mobile phone except for alibaba.JPG

Diary on 17 July 2011

2011-09-15T13:01:00.002+08:00

17 July 2011.

I learned 2 words today.

Diaspora.

The plan was to meet on 1230pm at the POSB, Toa Payoh Central for lunch. I was 10 minutes early but fellow supporters were there before me. Not long after, Mr Sindu came with his caregiver, Ms V R Sara, and friends. Ms Sara was a long time friend of Dr Tan Cheng Bock for more than 3 decades. With Sidhu's mobile disability, he would still encourage Dr Tan’s activity, not by mouth but to come on ground with us.

Almost everyone living around Toa Payoh would come to this place for a scroll in for lunch or activities. Looking among the crowd, I saw Dr Tan and his wife walked towards us. Immediately, the crowd turned their attention towards us, even the main attraction on the hall was the indoor kite flying exhibition.

Passerby stopped their routine and came to our crowd, trying to stretch their hands to greet Doc. Young family having their Sunday off scrolling the shopping center, saw us and wanted to take picture with President and First Lady hopeful, and would proudly post it on their facebook. Shop owners, hawkers and lunch crowds would place down what ever was on their hand, stood up to feel the texture of a President to be’s hand.

One came over and said,

I know you! I used to see you in your clinic when I was very young.

The lady was in her late 30s was very glad that she could see Dr Tan again.
Another one was an elderly man in his early 70s, limping on a walking stick. I saw him walking very fast from the rear, squeezing in between the crowd and appeared in front of Dr Tan:

Cheng Bock, nice to see you here!

I talked to this elderly and found out that he was Dr Tan’s senior when they were in Raffles Institution. I wondered it must be a very small school because after graduating half a century ago, this elderly still remembered Dr Tan even they were not in the class. Later he disclosed to me that they were living in the same kampong when they were young.

We also witness members of public came forward and told Dr Tan:

I know you, Dr Tan Cheng Bock. I used to stay in Teban Garden. You were my MP.

Some even step forward to greet him, even not staying under Dr Tan’s constituency, like Bukit Batok, West Coast, knew the existence of him. I could see that these people have something in common. They were very glad to see Dr Tan again on the street and want to come forward to greet him.

There must be something that Dr Tan did, leaving deep memories to these people. Either he had prescribed them with a wrong medicine or they had helped them in some way that they had remembered for life.

There was a key maker at Toa Payoh. He said,

Yes, last time I was staying at ‘Yung Toh Hng’ (Chinese dialect for Starfruit Garden,
which is the existing Teban Garden).

The journey from POSB to Mac Donald’s became an hour’s toddle, which I could walk in 5 minutes. It was these citizens that remembered Dr Tan that made him wanted to meet more. He told me he was a little tired because he spent 3 hours in the morning, walked the railway track from 10 Mile Junction to King Albert Park with his buddy, Chiu San.

He smiled and told me:

We were a little ambitious.

Chiu San laughed. I could smell that these 2 elders had a little adventure this morning.
I asked Doc why in Toa Payoh, he could meet so many people that had known him for good? This is not Teban Garden or Lim Chu Kang. Sometimes, even at Bedok, he would meet familiar people on street that were rejoiced upon seeing him. He explained to me about the word, Diaspora. Doc quoted that these people that he met were the diaspora from Teban Garden and especially Ama Keng, when this village was taken back by the authority.

What was the 2nd word that I learn? It came from the key maker.

After the lunch when everyone parted, Sam and I went back to the key maker and asked him why did he remembered Dr Tan? I watched him duplicating a set of key for an elderly and refused to accept his money. He then turned to me and said,

I remember in Yung Toh Hng, i studied at Huai Nan Primary School. I was primary 3. Yes, Teban community was well known and strong in supporting charity, with Dr Tan Cheng Bock. He was one of the good MP in Singapore that we could remember. He was one of the very few MP that can:

敢怒敢言

This was the second word that I learned.

It was my 6th time meeting Doctor Tan Cheng Bock and his wife.

inspiration

2011-08-16T12:07:00.001+08:00

i really like this photo.

it has a strong message to tell the world.

leave me a comment if you like it. but if you are writing something sarcastic, you have to adjust your inner self first before commenting about this photo.

peace to the world!

How i healed and became a Singaporean again

2011-08-09T13:18:00.005+08:00

How I healed and become a Singaporean again.

It has been a year when Samantha and I came back from our epic journey of our life time. For the past 2 years and 8 months, we had never feel so patriotic, able to fly the Singapore flag on our bike upon reaching Singapore land and to my house. At the same time, celebrating national day which the theme was:

Live our dream, fly our flag.

I wanted to contribute myself back to Singapore. The only channel I knew was to approach the RC (a neighbourhood community organized by the main political party of Singapore) chairman but he seemed uninterested about my approach.

When the General Election was near, I noticed that there was unhappiness shown over the cyberspace about being a Singaporean. Many lost their faith, trust and hope towards the nation that they belonged to. Our fathers had come from foreign land to Singapore when it was a 3^rd world country. They were the ones that helped in nation building, to what we have now being the 1^st world country.

Sam and I went to a few election rallies held by the opposition parties and could feel the anger from the people. The results had shown that about 40% of the qualified voters were unhappy. The 60% of the vote had secured 93% of the ruling party in the parliament.

Singaporeans have to go back to the same days again after the General Election. Nothing will be changed as we, Singaporeans, still carried the same disappointment, looking for opportunity to migrate and leave this heartbreaking relationship.

It was when Dr Tan Cheng Bock came into my life. I volunteered being with his team for this presidential election 2011. I could get to know Doc, close as a friend. When we were on the street, I witnessed commoners coming up to him, thanking him for what he had done for them personally. There were too much stories and testimonials to tell here.

Every time we met up, he would casually tell us about his plan for Singapore and what he wanted to do for us. We would talk Singaporean topics and visit heartland places. All these little gestures from Doc had started to seed the confidence of being a Singaporean when I was with him. It’s the good vibration around him.

I was able to walk and breathe again in the public where I used to dislike going out of the house for leisure. I felt the importance of being a Singaporean and what I have to do for the nation.

As a president, being above politics, Dr Tan Cheng Bock is the person to let us, Singaporean feels the sense of belonging and unity. He will be bringing back the lost sheep that have drifted away because of the previous relationship, because of the lost hope in our country.

Thank you Dr Tan, you made me proud being a Singaporean again. From being a fallen angel and become a citizen that is able to sing the national anthem with pride.

I would like to fly the Singapore flag with the same feeling that I had flew it everytime we set a new record for Singapore during our round the world trip:

Argentina (Ushuaia, most southern end of the world),

Alaska (Artic Circle, most northern end of the world),

Top Villarrica volcano (Chile),

world largest salt flat Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia) and of course,

upon reaching back to Singapore.

I would like to take this opportunity to send a message to all fellow Singaporeans on this national day 2011:

We are one united people and there will always be Hope Too.

365 days since we are back.

2011-08-01T00:06:00.001+08:00

Exactly 1 year anniversary that Singaporedream Team has been home, a place where they had always wanted to be.

1^st August 2010, Goh said:

外国的月亮比较圆，家里的月亮比较明。

The moon at home is clearer.

There is a saying : The moon in other countries is rounder, which means it is better or there will be more opportunities being overseas.

But Goh countered this by saying:

The moon may be more round in other country, but it is covered with clouds. The moon at home may not be perfect but at least it is bright enough to light up the path in the night.

Goh started his landscape and arboriculture work since day 3 when they are back. He had been setting up his company again and trying to go back to work. But after some time, the passion for greens is no longer in his blood. Landscape and arboriculture had become a job for him, rather a passion.

At one time, he was in need of about S$20,000 to purchase a truck. Two friends wanted to give him a personal loan. He only chose one. This is the kind of support that his friend has given him.

Goh and Samantha wanted to set up their little family, living happily ever after and had forgotten the feeling of being homeless from the 2 years and 8 months of travel. Thou it is just a 3 roomed government funded apartment, living with Goh’s father, they were happy about not to worry where to stay tonight.

During the trip, they would be happy to save S$10 a day just for lodging. Being back in Singapore, they have the privilege of saving about S$300 a month on lodging and the convenience of local food, which their stomach has been always craving for. It solved the daily issues of their trip by being at home.

Both of them wanted to meet their friends badly since they had left. For the past one-year, they had not met many friends on their list. Why?

He was hesitating for the best moment to meet. Then, one got stroke at the age of 30, passed away. The other relative had stomach cancer and passed away. This was the two devastating moment for them, especially Goh.

Being home sick during their trip, they had met with some Singaporeans living and settling overseas. They can’t understand why these people got out of Singapore and harbor at a new country for new life. He thinks that these people are loser and was being thrown out of Singapore. Like being exiled? Until they came back to Singapore, they understand why these people left a place call home.

Thus, the day they cured their homesick, he mentioned the moon ideology to the press and it puzzled a lot of people.

Goh has always wanted to come back to serve the country but he was not able to take the culture shock that Singapore had changed so much. He believes in helping people. Helping people from home, then to the neighborhood, to the society, to the country than to the world. At the same time, he sees the problem on policy that the government had implemented and wanted to seek justice to the commoners Singaporean. Goh is too weak to challenge the powerful government. He has no qualification, he has no monetary back up, he has no professional friends that understand law and worst of all, Goh and Samantha were struggling with their finance, especially they had just came back home with nothing!

The Singaporedream Team set off in the name of the country, spreading words around the world, showing off Singapore to the rest of the world and making public awareness of what Singapore is, to the world. When they came back, there was no recognition of what they had done. This young couple went on this trip on their own fund but in the name of the country. Their most important equipment (the operational ready bike) was stolen 2 months before the set off date. They received NO help from the 60 letters (that was seeking sponsorship) they send out to the local companies. But they still carry on with the remaining deprived fund.

When their engine broke down in USA that almost ended their trip, what the nation did for them is to do an article in the Chinese newspaper, saying:

This is what happen after spending so much money for a round the world trip.

What a great encouragement?

Yes, they made it back. Trying to get use to the new Singapore. This simple living young couple wanted to share their experience with fellow Singaporeans, encouraging fellow Singaporeans to see the world. Corporate companies out there actually made use of them to do ‘free advertising’ for own profit and they were so simple minded that they let them ‘make use of’.

‘I just want to share my experience with fellow Singaporeans’

Goh mentioned in an interview.

His next objective is to complete the journey by writing it into a book. Staying in a government-funded apartment, he often faced disturbance and noise that interrupted from his writing. It was a different atmosphere as compared to the couple spending quiet time in the Patagonia where they can do much of self-realization, and writing a good article. At the same time trying to recall the factual of their trip and put into writing, he needs to think about his business. I wonder how he juggle his inspirations.

As a person that had always wanted to get justice done, he volunteered into politics and had experience the front line of the political battle in Singapore.

Goh and Samantha are so different. They could pack up and leave Singapore since Singapore has given them nothing during the round the world trip. They could have gone to Brazil, have a happy life and retire in Brazil. Why didn’t they leave Singapore?

It has been 1 year and a good recharge for them. What’s next?

老人铁到！

2011-07-24T16:05:00.000+08:00

今早11点左右，我听到楼下传来很大声的喧哗声。我走到走廊旁看到楼下有位老人头和手流血，身边有几位老人扶着他走进组屋。我心想他应该有得到帮助因为我有看到楼下有很多年轻人在停车和走过。不过我心里还是有点担心，还是去关心一下，我拿了钱包想顺便去买午餐。走到楼下，我看到那位老伯的头还再留血，身边一些长辈和缅甸人不知要如何帮助只有一直给他纸巾。缅甸人想帮忙可是语言不通，不能和老人家们沟通。老人家们，没有医药常识还想要他移动去别的椅子。这时，我建议一定要找医生，不能移动。因为移动太多他会流血更快。有位阿姨因为她不会讲英语，拿起电话打去警察局然后要我跟警察说明。警察要我打995叫救护车。我便随手帮他叫了救护车。在等待救护车的同时，我了解到老伯和她太太的年龄大概是七十左右，行动不是很方便，走路还要拿枴杖。不过这位老伯每一次都会在楼下等他太太去巴刹回来，然后帮她一起拿东西上楼。今天也不例外的，老伯看见太太拿着一大包东西要上楼。想要去帮忙。一时，脚提不起力，失去平衡。从楼梯上滑下楼。头和手都敲到地上。她太太一面和我讲述刚才的情形一面责怪老伯为什么要去帮她，然后铁到。我可以看得出她其实很担心，心里很内疚老伯是因为她而铁到。我便提醒她一定要带老伯的身份证去医院。她才想到放在家里。我连忙先帮她跑去先按电梯，好让她不用紧张可以慢慢的走去达电梯。

回到家，我照着她吩咐先拨了一通电话通知她女儿。这时，救护车来了，我拿了老伯的身份证要达电梯，可是电梯刚下楼。我们的组屋只有一架电梯，要等下一趟电梯需要几分钟的时间。我马上从八楼跑楼梯下去把身份证交给救护人员。幸好当救护人员问到有没有家人可以一起去时，有位邻居出面陪同。这样她太太就不用去因为她的耳朵不好，不会说英语和华语只懂广东话。当他太太看到救护车要走时，她很担心说她现在没有带钱。不知道，医院会不会帮她医治她老公，医药费会不会很贵。我告诉她，不用担心老伯是新加坡人一定没有问题。

我写这遍文章的目的是要和大家分享我从这见事上看到什么。我看到没有新加坡年轻人伸出援手，让我开始怀疑新加坡年轻人的同情心。我家楼下不时都有人大老远特地驾车来吃砂锅饭。当我走去咖啡店打包时，看到店里是满座的。这些人刚才在那里？老伯就坐在咖啡店入口不远处。这么多老人围着看他，我不相信不会引起他们的注意。请大家下次看到同样情形一定要帮帮忙。想想我们也有老的一天。

why live?

2011-07-19T19:50:00.001+08:00

i quoted an anonymous from:

http://www.temasekreview.com/2011/07/19/ex-singaporean-in-australia-act-fast-if-you-want-to-emigrate/

is this what living is all about? ermm, but why Australia?

"Well said! Singaporeans are obsessed with branded clothes, branded cars, branded sounding names for condos. In short, many Singaporeans have been brainwashed by the Fapayas’ ‘cheaper betterer faster’ ideology and the equally nonsensical ‘upgrading’ mentality (upgrade from 4-room flat to condo, enslave oneself for another 30 yrs of debt, plenty of daft ones out there doing this, which says it all).

I would think the writer’s point of view is fantastic – a place like Australia gives a person FULL SPACE to develop as an INDIVIDUAL. not to just function as machines and just work for the money. We do need to discover our passions, look more at ourselves instead of what defining ourselves based on what others HAVE, and most importantly, ask ourselves what LIVING is all about."

New Age religion?

2011-07-16T11:38:00.000+08:00

I extracted this from a webpage...

Don’t trust a missionary man, don’t trust a Buddhist man, and don’t trust a Bomoh man.