Valentine in Hong Kong

February 14, 2007 Leave a comment

 
 

Man, this is the most unusual Valentine Day ever.. Imagine me spending this romantic day in a glass box, overseeing Happy Valley Racecourse. I have never try horse betting before. It was pretty fun and simple – lots of reading (no wonder we often see punters reading those horse-betting manuals). No, I am not a master in horses – can’t really "read" the conditions of the race horses when they walked past us. However, great beginner luck though: 5 wins out of 8 races. How much? Just enough for 1 HK40 hongbao for one of you.
 
 

Filed under Life in Shanghai

My New Room-mates

February 4, 2007 Leave a comment

My new place is about 30 sqm bigger. I invited 8 new room-mates to share this space with me. 8 distinctive characters – and it is fun peeping into their lives. Can’t tell if they are "bu" or "kang" but they are sure exciting to watch. Oh yes, strictly no sex.

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Winners at the Last Mile*

January 12, 2007 1 Comment

It has been almost 2 years since I ran our last "Amazing Race (aka SuperRace)". For the past 2 races, I came near to winning but never really had the chance to cross that finishing line. Yesterday, my team finally did that in the 1st OgilvyAction Challenge. Braving through rain, sickness, no toilet break and the cold wind, my team outwit, outplay and outlast the other 15 teams to win the race.

The prize (RMB2000) wasn’t the key driver of the race. It was the stiff competition we had throughout the 7 stops (all over Shanghai city) that made the race so exciting and rewarding. In fact, it almost look like a 100m race – where you have runners crossing the finishing line within spilt-seconds. It was a close fight for us – a mere time-gap of 1-3 minutes!  (Franklin, Ming, Dick, Daisy were really pain-in-the-ass, so close and so tight!)

We cannot choose our team, it was premixed. I had a team of "Yang Warriors" – these girls were tough, hungry to win (an important mentality from the beginning) and a common belief and goal to achieve. We ran hard, we kept telling ourselves we wanted nothing but the 1st spot (cos’ there is only one prize). Being number 2 isn’t good enough for us.

Glad it was a sweet reward for a long hetic week.

* The "last mile" is a term we coined to describe the final touchpoint before a consumer crosses the check-out counter (which is the cashier). It is a critical window where consumer make his/her buying decision / brand-switch – based on the influence of brand experience, product trial, price strategy and other existing promotional attractions that influence the outcome of the "buying decision". 

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Babysitting in Shanghai

January 3, 2007 Leave a comment

   

For the past 2 weeks, I have revivied my status of fatherhood. To be honest, it took me quite a leap to get used to "family life" again. Being "married and single" for the past 6 months has somehow reshaped my lifestyle. I was like living a married bachelor. I guess that is the most blissful and luckiest role a man can have.

Taking care of Elkan can be so challenging and demanding. No wonder Felicia was bedridden for 1 week! Within 10 days of her stay here in Shanghai, Elkan has somehow tortured his mum to pieces. On New Year Eve, Feli couldn’t even get out of her bed. Her old spine injury came back to haunt her. Echo has to stand in for 3 days (while I am working) as babysitter. It was a painful new year for her. For me, it was a real test, juggling work and babysitting. I must say, it is the most difficult job on earth.

Like father, like son. I guess my son is giving me the same problems I gave my poor mum. Elkan is just an active boy yet there are so much "adult-behaviour" in him. He can be authorative, directing us here and there ~ yes like a DIRECTOR. Elkan can’t wait to be independent. He wants to do things like how adults do. He wants to flag the taxi, press the lift door, take photos, play DVD, feed himself, pay for things, run errands etc. He wants to be like adults. Even the stares he gave me when I forgot to switch off the lights at night reminded me of my mum’s. He can be assertive when he means business.

Overnight, my little quiet house has become so noisy and full of life.

Filed under Life in Shanghai

Christmas Party in Shanghai

December 23, 2006 Leave a comment

  

While the Wahbiang Xmas Party won’t take place until tomorrow night (25th Dec), we folks in Shanghai has just finished celebrating our very own Christmas party. Francis and Echo played such a good host. We had so much fun and laughter (after a few cups of wine).

 
Mm..I shouldn’t be showing these images now cos’ we played a mini version of what Wahbiang will be playing tomorrow night. But still, I would say it was a very enjoyable night (despite my awfully painful wisdom tooth infection).

Yes…Feli and Elkan are here with me. I bet all of you back home have heard about Feli’s early surprise for me. I was having the usual late Friday night at the office when I saw shadows of familiar faces waving at me outside the glass entrance doors. My gosh! Now, that was quite a freaking sweet surprise – to have my son running towards me in laughters.
 
Echo and Francis planned another big surprise for us when we arrived home. They came to my house early on Friday afternoon to dress up my house with Xmas tree, gifts and window graphics. I was so touched by their sweet kindness!
 
I had such a bad gum infection (since Wed) that it kinda bring my spirit down. The pain is truly unbearable (so much that I teared)… i couldn’t even get to eat or sleep last night. Thankfully, I went to see the dentist today and he gave me some super magical painkillers. Plus the red wine I had at Francis’ party, I can feel the "real naughty Joe" in me again. Goody old Christmas is back!
 
Guys, enjoy your night in Singapore! I miss all of you back home! Please send me the pixs.. I will put them on my blog.
 
p/s (Thanks for all your gifts – Juliana, Joanne, Tracy and Kalinda. I haven’t opened them. I will do so on 25th Dec – with pictures. My kisses will come in Feb 2007.)


Filed under Life in Shanghai

A Surprise Visit

November 19, 2006 1 Comment

 
After my "short fling" with Echo and Francis in HK, I took the last Dragonair flight back to Shanghai on a cold wet Friday night. I should have planned a weekend stayover with the couple in HK. But again, it is their 1st "honeymoon" trip (after giving birth to Grey)…so I tot it may not be nice to tag along. Moreover, I do really need a break…I have been in-out of fever and flu for the past 4 weeks! I need a good rest.
 
Just when I thought it would be a long lonely weekend for me, I received a surprise sms on Friday! Jinwei, my primary one buddy (he was working for Motorola Design Team) was in town!
 
We have been close friends since 1982 – 24 years to be exact! Believe it or not, this is our 1st time being together outside Singapore. It wasn’t even a pre-planned meeting – a very short and rush indeed. In fact, we have only a small window to meet up – I arrived in Shanghai on Fri, 11pm and Jinwei will be flying out on Sat, 1pm.
 
On my way back home (from Pudong Airport), I got my driver to pick Jinwei up from his hotel. Despite the late hours and his bad flu, we spent a good 3-wee-hour together. He visited my place (helped me with my luggage) and then, we headed to Xin Tian Di for our late night supper. We have a good chat until 3am – about our marriage, sons and careers. It’s so casual and comfortable. Wish I have more time with this brother of mine.
 
I persuaded him to stay over the weekend so that I can show him around Shanghai. (It was Jinwei’s first trip here.) But he misses his wife and son more, I understand, there will be another chance, he said.
 
On our way back to his hotel, we got the taxi driver to detour and I showed Jinwei the famous Bund. Man, it was raining cold. What an uninviting way to show him the gems and colours of Shanghai, I thought.
 
Still, it was a good meetup – with the 5th Visitor of my House.

Filed under Life in Shanghai

My “illegal” hobbies

November 13, 2006 Leave a comment


Life must be getting really dull in Shanghai. Francis and me are running out of things to play lately. We are getting too lazy and bored. Thus, I told Francis “Let’s do sport!” So recently, we decided to “cultivate” a few new hobbies for ourselves. It is kinda funny. Just 2 grown-up fathers who need to release a little. We need excitement really badly!
So, Francis and I started getting involved in “Mafia” activities – High speed chasing over 240km/hr, cross-fires into someone’s house at 12am, blowing the night sky with explosives, crashing chopper into other’s car, drifting in rally track etc.

 

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A Multinational Meeting

September 7, 2006 Leave a comment

 
Almost every month, I will be in Hong Kong meeting my clients. But this trip is very different.. it is an assembly of multi-nationalities and interesting people. The 3-day forum has finally ended…and somehow, I kinda miss some of them. There were about 30 of us – 17 nationalities – (French, Spanish, American, Philippino, Indonesian, Singaporean, HongKonger, Malaysian, Australian, Indian, Swiss, Japanese, Korean, Taiwanese, English, Russian, Mainland Chinese) – Wow, it sounds like a mini "World Bank Meeting" over here in HK. Of course, we aren’t in the banking business… we are smokers, remember?
 
The Hong Kong host did a superb job in blending all of us together. It was a fantastic meeting and I walked away with lots of experience. The people are dynamic … all masters in their own areas. It was all work and fun…3 packed days and 3 entertaining nights. There were times when we cannot understand each other’s language and that created a lot of jokes in the forum.
 
For example:
The French said "Let target the freaken fryers" (what he meant was "frequent flyers")
The Chinese said "Women has lower penetration" (what he meant was "market penetration for the female")
The Swiss said "We must fuckers" (what he meant was "stay focus")
The Russian said "It will be a intimate challenge" (what she meant was "ultimate")
The Singaporean said "The pig is nice" (what I meant was "the peak has a nice view")
 
There are 2 ways you can pronouce the word "multi" (mul-T or mul-tie). Of course, this is something even the Europeans and Americans couldn’t agree on. So last night, the host specially prepared a "multinational drink" for us.

Right after the drink, everyone in the forum agreed on the pronunciation. The drink added a new meaning to the word "multi".

We all had a MaoTaiNational Drink. (Enjoy the pixs)

Filed under Life in Shanghai

A Black Day

August 29, 2006 Leave a comment

Exactly one day after the arrival of “Grey”, my life went into a few days of “Black”.
In fact, this happened about 1 week ago – last Wednesday to be exact. I was having a late meeting (here in Shanghai) when I received a call from Felicia. It was 730pm. She was sobbing over at the other end.
That was the 2nd time I heard Feli crying over at the other end. Living overseas, there is no such thing as “a good place” or “a good timing” for someone to break a bad news. The 1st time when Felicia called crying was when Elkan hit and cut his head. My heart sank when I heard the news but I regained my senses almost immediately – to mentally-prepare for the next step. Thankfully, it was just a couple of stitches and my little boy was hopping about the next day.

“Dear…there has been an accident…” Felicia cried. “…..A car accident…”

My heart broke even before I get to hear the complete story. In that spilt second, everything paused around me. I looked outside the window… lots of images flashed across my mind – like a sudden power surge – I saw images of my mother, my father, my friends and my son. It was the “scariest and longest second” I ever felt in my life. Yes, I am preparing for the worst.
“What happend…?” I asked.
“Dear…you know, this morning, they left for Malacca… something happened…one of the cars overturned….and one of our auntie died on the spot, “ she sobbed.
That was all I could take. My heart sank…and my knees turned weak. I walked out of the conference room, found a quiet corner and sat there. Earlier that day, 2 Singapore cars left for Malacca. My mother-in-law and Elkan were in one of the cars. For that one moment, my mind told me that I have already lost my son. My head was blank…My heart stopped beating… nothing else matters now.
“Is… Elkan…alright?” I trembled. I was expecting for the worst. My head was already calculating all the exit plans – air ticket, project hand-over, etc etc.

“Yah..he is okay…Mum and him were in the other car…” Felicia assured me. It was a relief and that is all I need to hear.

I couldn’t sleep that night. Feeling so lost, sad and worried. My heart went to my cousins and uncle – who lost a lovely mother and wife overnight. I can understand their loss, their pain. This could happened to my son or anyone dear to me.
Life is so ironic. I experience both the extreme joy (of birth) and sorrow (of death) in less than 24 hours. Life is so fragile – as what Joanne said to me – we may not even have a chance to say goodbye.
For my late auntie and her family who loves her. My deepest condolences.

Filed under Family, Life in Shanghai, Life in Singapore

The Arrival of Grey!

August 22, 2006 Leave a comment

This is exactly what you get when you put a very dark chinese and a very fair chinese together. In fact, I like this name…a neutral element in itself.. A good neighbour of light and colours. But certainly a bad neighbour of principles and certainties. Perhaps, there are many who love to live in a grey area.
I was in Grey’s area today. Standing above him.. seeing the joys of black and white. Grey is certainly a special hybrid of 2 different cultures and nationalities. He is a Chinese no doubt…but certainly a complicated one. Right now, I shall call him a Singapore-Born-in-China-Chinese.
Like his father, I have been counting down to this date of arrival. In fact, I was more impatient than his parents. I have been calling almost every day…looking forward to see Grey. Coincidently, there are 9 birthdays this month (Meijie, Duuk, Kendrick, Kalinda, Linda, Felicia’s Mum, my sister and my niece) and Grey picked the same day as my sister.
Of course, Grey is more than than just a philosophy of colour. If you look at his initial, he comes right after E and F.
Oh yes, Grey has a chinese name – no no no… it is not anything like “Hui Chen” (dust). His parents decided to call him “Jia Chen“. Grey Xie Jia Chen.

Filed under Life in Shanghai, Wahbiang

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