E V E R Y D A Y . B E A U T I F U L . P U R P O S E F U L
November 17, 2012 Leave a comment
(Photo Taken: A Bridal Shop, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon – The fancy and unusual shopfront says it all – Marriage is indeed a wonderland. It is a setup of high stake gamble and a couple of Merry-Go-Rounds. Wedding is a ceremony when a man loses his Bachelor’s Degree and the woman gets her Masters. It is when one word becomes a life sentence. Isn’t that wonderful!)
November 14, 2012 Leave a comment
What a great way to end 2012 with a Gold Award with Reebok at this year’s Hong Kong Marketing Excellence Award! Thanks for all the social-media congratulation notes. This is such a rewarding journey with 2 of my loveliest and most gorgeous clients – Jermaine and Poly! Winning an award is rewarding. However, nothing beats seeing the smiles on my client’s face – that’s priceless!
My deepest gratitude and special thanks to my superb creative Wing Lee, Dorothy (who is giving birth soon!), Ron (our production team) and Paul for all the hard work and late nights! And for once in a blue moon, my team of girls (and French boss) get to see me in corporate suit and tie (as I am always in my signature black tee and jeans). Enjoy the Award Video and photos below.
October 25, 2012 8 Comments
Whatsapp is becoming annoying. Almost too stalker-friendly. I don’t care if all my friends, business contacts are using Whatsapp. I have deleted the app and switching over to Viber. Even WeChat or QQ are more user-friendly.
What’s wrong with Whatsapp? First of all, it is not travel-friendly. Whenever I travel, I carry 2 phones. Whatsapp is tagged to a unique telephone number, therefore, my contacts have to know which account they need to send messages to. Skype or Facebook Messaging do not have this problem as it is cloud-based communicator.
Second, Whatsapp “time-stamp” your last online status. This is the most annoying privacy-intrusive function! I have no idea why the developer wants to include such a feature. But it is a disturbing tool for stalkers to track one’s availability. You can disable the “time-stamp” function but the app will still reveal your online and offline status. Without you knowing, anyone can check if you are active or not. This function is stupid and should be disable permanently.
Last night, a friend of mine was chasing me for some stuff. At 2am, he buzzed me and I didn’t want to answer his call. He left me a very disturbing message in my Whatsapp – “I know you are still awake…cos I can see you online”. WTF?!!!! That was the last straw for me. I deleted the account today. (Honestly, he is not the first one who abused Whatsapp!)
Lastly, Whatsapp scanned your contact list and displayed their names automatically. However, it doesn’t check the “locality” and the “accuracy” of these numbers. For example, John is my friend in Singapore and his number is 9876 5432. When I travel to Hong Kong, this same number 9876 5432 will be displayed as “John” in my Whatsapp contact list. However, it is not the same “John”. If you didn’t specify the country code in front of all your telephone numbers, Whatsapp will automatically link you up with the local number displaying the same name. Now, that is dangerous and it happened to me.
Last year, I was chatting with a complete Hong Kong stranger cos’ he appeared in my list as “Hock” (cos he shared the same number as the real “Hock” – I didn’t list the country code number in front of his number). Anyway, this idiot stranger whom we all mistaken as “Hock” chatted with the group for a long time. It was only after 9 months later when I chatted with the real “Hock”, he couldn’t recall any single dialogue he chatted with us. It was only after a quick call with the real Hock when I realised our group of friends have been chatting with the fake one. Of course, I blasted that jerk for his dishonestly. He thought it was pretty fun so he acted along. To avoid another mistake like this, I have to update the “country code” in all my Singapore and Hong Kong 8-digit contacts.
To me, Whatsapp started off as a convenient tool across different platform – IOS, Blackberry or Android but it is not the only app that offers that. What’s painful is its lack of privacy and inconvenience for traveler like me. As I started reading about its security issues of not encrypting our private messages, I believe I had enough.
So, I am deactivating my Whatsapp account today. I am not going to save money by losing my privacy. (It is not entirely free anyway as it uses data-plans). I am now on WeChat, Viber and Skype (which offers 256-bit AES encryption key). Anyway, most of my wiser friends in China don’t Whatsapp, they QQ/WeChat instead. Well, for those who want to know if I am sleeping, active or inactive, try calling me instead. Stop spying my status cos’ you can’t now.
September 16, 2012 Leave a comment
(Photo taken: Honghum Train Station Taxi Stand, Kowloon, Hong Kong – 2 Falun Gong banners hanging side by side communicating contradicting messaging. The line between good and evil is often so thin. Just like the same lines between love and hate, fame and shame, life and death, peace and war. Which side are you on? Perhaps the only line that is constantly widening today is the one dividing wealth and poverty. Below photo: Sleazy Porn Shop and religious Buddhist Shop at Tsim Sha Tsui)
September 11, 2012 Leave a comment
Alright. Budget cut. No fancy overseas trip this year for our team building. We decided to plan our Team Building Day somewhere closer to home. We couldn’t think of another better destination. Certainly not Shenzhen or Lama Island. Macau seems to be the perfect choice. It is Asia’s most flamboyant SinCity and I am sure there is a place for Action Heroes like us.
At first, I was skeptical about this destination for team building. It was just a short 1 day + 2 nights trip, how is it possible to achieve any decent team bonding? Surely not card-counting over blackjack tables. Or pimping our younglings. Thanks to Chowpo, Mayee and Kelly, they made Macau as exciting and meaningful as our last team building trip! Thanks to the generosity of the team, Felicia and Elkan were able to join me in our team building trip.
First stop – Macau Tower. This is where notorious Edison Chen broke the world record attempting the world’s tallest bungee jump back in 2006. Nope, we were unable to attempt any record-breaking stunts (thanks to the budget cut, we can’t afford the HKD3,000/head jump). Instead, we suspended ourselves, like puppets out on the ledge 233m above ground. The only things which prevented us from doing our own free-fall were two 1cm-thick ropes. It was a walk of faith. We could trust no one but the ropes.
Elkan, being the youngest and smallest-sized in the group, was instructed by the guide to lead the SkyWalk. Having no concept of fear, he was like a hyperactive monkey out on a leash. He was screaming in ecstasy, jumping and running freely out on the ledge.
For the some of the other adults (I was forbidden to mention any names), fears and anxieties sipped in. High life at the top of the world wasn’t as glamorous and indulging as they expected. I was thankful for this experience. I witnessed the weaknesses, strengths, courages and transformations of my team. And how they overcame fear with courage and determination. It was this moment when all of us stood as equals, watched each other’s back and walked the talk together as one united team – under the rain on the pinnacle of Macau. Bravo!
After our successful (disruptive and noisy) stunt outside the tower, we went a storey down to the 60th floor to enjoy a sumptuous lunch at 360° CAFÉ – Macau’s highest revolving restaurant. It was certainly a much more relaxing and cozier way to enjoy Macau. I am sure David, Wing, Mayee, Clara and Stephanie fully agreed with me. Opps, I wasn’t allowed to mention any names.
Our next stop – Casino Wine and Gourmet on the 59th floor! We grouped ourselves into 3 teams. Each team was given a bag of chips. We were given 1 hour to win as much chips as possible. The team with the most chips win! There were 3 casino tables in the room. For each station, we were asked to taste different types of wine or cheese. Through tasting, we have to bet our chips on the right answer to win! It was certainly not an easy task for the Asians. (Harshad and I cried “Kelong”!! This game is 100% setup for the Guai-Los to win!). My team decided to focus all our resources on one particular table which gave us the best winning chance. Our strategy paid off! The team of Hongkies, Singaporeans and Indians won the English-French team by a big margin of 9,000 dollars! Sweet!
Our last stop just before dinner, we “chilled out” (literally) at Asia’s largest Ice World at Venetian. Under -15 degrees Celsius, we braved through the 45-minute exhibit. It reminded me of the Harbin trip we had last Christmas except this time, I was in shorts and sandals. Even with the blue overcoat, it was freezing cold! For a minute, the team packed ourselves in a small igloo. It was so warm and cozy inside. The igloo actually worked!
Dinner was at a Brazilian restaurant, FogoSamba where it offered “eat-&-drink-all-you-can”. The “eat-all-you-can” offer didn’t really appeal to me. After 5 servings of roasted meats, I decided to call it a day. It was just too stuffy and oily for me. For once, I complained having too much meat and I went to get more vegetables to balance off the meaty meal.
It was a superb team-building day. Overpacked with activities but the programmes were all very very interesting, refreshing and meaningful. Felicia, Elkan and I took the 1030pm ferry back to Hong Kong right after dinner. Thanks David and the organising team for planning such a wonderful trip for the company and my family. I look forward for another great year. And next time, we shall conquer Mount Everest/cage diving/dance with the crocs and bet on the different Indian curries and durians. Just let Harshad and me do the planning.
July 2, 2012 Leave a comment
Yes, you read it right. It says “funtastic”. Great fun and tasty BBQ by the beach, this is an unforgettable belated birthday bash with my very own newly created W-Pop Bands – Women Generation and Super Senior! (That is the power of great cosmetic surgery and photoshop skills!) All thanks to my sweet and lovely Wahbiang buddies and family, they organised a “surprise” party for me this evening. (Supposed to be a foolproof surprise party for me until a few accidental leaks of information to me last week. It wasn’t difficult trying to piece all the missing puzzles together.)
This is my 1st birthday celebration with my Singapore’s family and friends since 2005. Gosh, I have been away for such a long time. They put in so much effort just to make this a special occasion for me. 1 week before this big day, they conspired over hundreds of whatsapp messages. It was a well-organized party – great food, great company and very very special birthday gifts.
Most importantly, we had great fun together. My friends are like my very own family. They complete me. They are my most important asset. They are always there for me whenever, wherever I need them. I am very blessed with their presence and love. Despite my absence, they keep the clan intact over the past 7 years. Many of them put in extra effort and flew in to spend many important occasions and festives with me overseas.
So, bear with me with the long “Thank you list”. Thanks for all the hard labour and good spirits. Thanks for spending your precious Sunday with me. Plus the wonderful and special birthday gifts. Karen, we love your chicken wings! And your excellent skills controlling those young rebels. Auntie Amy, you should really consider starting your own BBQ bean-curd business. They are really tasty! And if you do, I will fly home to help your business! Charlie, thanks for bringing in the food and got drenched in the thunderstorm. Jimmy and Gareth, thanks for the great brotherhood love, be it here or in China – and keep it that way. Joey and Meijie, thanks for babysitting Elkan and me from Friday to Sunday, enduring all the late nights (oh yes, thanks for stopping my impulse purchase of another Apple product). Kalinda, thanks for the beautiful songs last night! And remember our next trip to you-know-where. And not to forgot to thank you for keeping those cards safe and dry. Joanne, thanks for capturing this evening’s beautiful photos (you have redeemed your fiasco on my wedding proposal night when you shot blank). Juliana & Duuk, thanks for participating in the evil plan of the card making. It will take me quite a while to reset my beautiful impression of my favorite K-pop idols. It took me so long to identify you Juliana – must be a big cosmetic job. Tracy, your AR Drone is superb! Well tested and flown (up to 6m high). The drone frightened the old boys for a second but it is a great gift! MC, it is great seeing you after 6 years! You never aged! And I look forward to see you out there with me! And sister, thanks for the great gift! Exactly what I wanted to get 3 days ago. Last of all, thanks my wife for the card designs, cosmetic works and fine touch ups. You have given us stardom! Thanks for enduring my years of nonsense and snoring. And not forgetting the children for destroying the bedroom, in exchange for the peace they gave to their parents. (The younger boys did a great job for inspiring Elkan to cycle. Now, he can ride a bike finally!)
Enjoy the very exclusive limited edition “Super Senior and Women Generation” pictures. Till we meet again.
June 16, 2012 4 Comments
Just when I least expected… I received one of the most special birthday gifts of my life – presence of my loved ones (My 139th and 140th new HK visitors – Chester and his friend)! Thanks for making my day so special and unforgettable. I am touched by your blessings and love. Just like what I wrote in my last blog post – “It is never about the gifts I received. It is about the people I love and miss most. It is their presence I long for.” Thank you very very much!
June 15, 2012 Leave a comment
Thanks to all the great birthday wishes I received last year, I had the happiest and the most fulfilling year of my life. Looking back at all the past year’s blog postings and photographs, I was blessed by all the love showered by God and my loved ones back home. Be it work, love or family life, it has been a colorful and amazing year for me! Every day is a new gift for me. There is always something new to look forward to.
Despite away from home, I had many great reunion times with my wife, son, father, mother and friends. From my last birthday celebration in Gold Coast to icy cold Christmas at Harbin, I have visited many new places with my favorite travel-mates (Kalinda, Tracy, Meijie, Felicia, Elkan and Harshad). Many friends flew in regularly (brothers like Gareth, Francis, Jimmy, Desmond, Meijie, Cousin Bin and Yei) to light up my lonely weekends. 2 visitors I missed most are my dad and mum. In their presence, I felt like their little boy. For some strange reasons, I miss their nagging. It is a great feeling to roam the streets with them, have dinner together and live under one roof. Thanks to my mum, she has been imparting family recipes to me during my past visits back to Singapore.
Whenever there is reunion, there is goodbye. I have a love-hate relationship with both Changi and Hong Kong airports. Despite so many years and countless farewells, I admit it is not my strongest attribute. I still find saying goodbye difficult. Especially to my son and wife. (mmm…also my dad and mum too!)
Thanks to all my friends in Hong Kong, they made me feel at home. My clients and my colleagues are wonderful friends. Not to forget that I have the 2 most faithful and supportive souls around me everyday – Harshad and Tracy. Gosh, I see both of you every minute of my life for the last 3 years (okay, maybe not for Harshad.. Sorry that I abused you badly at work.) Back in Singapore and Shanghai, I have a group of friends that I can 100% count on. They are always there whenever I need them.
Looking back at all my birthdays. It is never about the gifts I received. It is about the people I love and miss most. It is their presence I long for and not the presents they give.
It is my birthday today and I want to say a big thank you to all of you. Thanks for filling my days with so many colorful memories, tons of whatsapp/QQ/Facebook messages. You are one of the key reasons why my blog exists! Thanks for being there with me during my low and high periods. Thanks for being there with me virtually, physically or sometimes durianfully. Thanks for understanding me so much (in fact, I don’t quite understand myself as much as you do). And thanks for remembering my birthday (even though quite a few of you sent me greetings 2-3 days earlier..including my mum!) You are the best gifts of my life. And thanks for another 365 happier days.
June 10, 2012 Leave a comment
Wish you can see this.
The great assembly of your loved ones.
Your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Your siblings, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Your friends and neighbors.
We are all here by your side.
Wish you can hear this.
Your loved ones calling out to you.
In tears and joys.
Our deepest gratitude and respect.
Reminiscing our good times with you.
Wish you know this.
The unity of your dividing family.
The deep love we have for you.
Your triumphs. Our celebrations.
For the great legacy you left behind.
Your words, your spirit. Your kindness. Your strength.
Lives on forever in our hearts.
Wish you can be here.
To cook our favorite Chinese New Year dishes.
To spend time with our children like the old days when you cared for us.
To remind us to be good and live a good life like you did.
To let us celebrate your birthday once more.
To keep this big family intact.
Wish you can forgive me.
For being late to say goodbye.
For not being with you at your final hour.
For not telling you how much I love you.
(4th JUNE – 5th JUNE 2012 – Over the weekend, I was very worried for my granny. Desperate and despair, I took a night flight out of Hong Kong to Singapore on Monday. The next morning, Felicia, Elkan and I boarded the first bus to Muar, Malaysia. We were on our way in when Felicia answered a call. Her expression told me everything I need to know. Auntie Amy was on the other side of the line. Felicia handed me the phone. My heart sank. I was late for my granny. 3 hours late. My hopes to see her one last time were shattered. It was a dreadful and painful slow ride to Muar. Tears rolled down my cheeks. I sat quietly alone, trying to hide my emotions from my little boy. Elkan was the antidote to our sadness. He kept us distracted with his sunny smiles and hugs. Goodbye Popo. Thanks for hanging on for me. Sorry I was late. )
June 2, 2012 2 Comments
It is a dark weekend for all of us. Yesterday afternoon, I received a bad news from my cousin, Leon. My granny in Muar fell into a coma and is dying. She was in perfect health when my families gathered in Bintan last year. She has always been cheerful, bubbly, and energetic.
To keep our families from worrying, my mum kept my granny’s illness a secret. She was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer a while ago. My mum, aunties and uncles didn’t want her to occupy too much thoughts about her health. Depression and negativeness would make worse for her illness. Thus, they tried all ways to keep her spirits high and happy. Somehow, this formula worked. For a long while, my granny was in high spirits until recently, the cancer cells prevailed and took over her frail body. She eventually collapsed into a coma yesterday.
I called my mum yesterday and she told me to be strong and happy. “There is nothing to be sad about. Don’t worry about granny. It is her time for her to move on. She has had a great life and she wants us to be happy too. We should celebrate her passing instead of grieve.” My mum reminded me how short life is and we should live a great life like my granny. She has been a tough lady, bringing up 9 children all by herself. She is blessed with 17 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Her words and strength moved me to tears. Trying hard to hold my sadness and tears, I couldn’t find my voice to answer her. My mum almost couldn’t hear me further, as I was choking in tears. Thinking the line went off, she hanged up the call.
It was an unbearable night. I couldn’t sleep well, kept thinking of my granny. I was browsing all the old photographs of my granny the whole night. Just realised I didn’t have a lot of photos of her. She visited us in Hong Kong 2 years ago. And that was the last time we met and chatted. Every time we meet, she will always remind me to live life fruitfully.. stay healthy and be happy. (And I did – all these years – trying to balance my life, keep them colorful for my family and loved ones.) Sadly, these farewell shots at the Hong Kong Airport Express are the last I took of her.
Granny, no matter how bad and uncertain life can be, I will live positively, strongly and happily like you did. I miss you so much.
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