5th May – It is Official

April 8, 2006 3 Comments


The official date has just been confirmed. Come 5th May 2006, I will be flying off to Shanghai for my new attachment.
 
Many have came to ask me so many questions – why the quick and firm decision to go. I am 100% sure about the potential of this move. But I just not 100% sure about the impact I caused due to my sole decision. Honestly, it took me less than 24 hours to make that decision to go. It isn’t a very difficult decision to make. Shanghai is certanly "the place" to be in – China has been opening and growing since mid-1990s. In fact, I would like to be there to witness China’s golden era of economic thrusts. From now till 2010, there are so many things to witness and learn.
 
What’s difficult is leaving my attachments behind… my fellowship at Caffeine Group, my lovely 2 girls, my cozy home, my pet Jaja, my parents, my Wahbiang friends and most importantly, bobo and elkan. The last 2 weeks were bad and heavy-hearted for me. I began to feel the impact of the new reality. The changes around me were emotionally drastic.  I never know my sole decision can affect so many things around me.
 
Will I look back and undo my decision? No, I am 100% sure of that. Is it worth to leave all these attachments behind for a personal gain? Not at all, it is a totally selfish act. Is it for fame, money or status? None of the 3 – I just need an adventure. To explore my limits. Nothing else.
 
Like a pebble hitting still water, I started seeing the ripple-effects. So many questions on my head… I really have no idea how to face them or answer them. Things in office and my personal life are moving too fast. I have no time to ponder and procrastinate. Just want to go along with the flow (of the new events) and let the answers surface themselves.
 
Did I leave a mess behind? NO, I left a legacy.  In fact, I had everything perfectly in place before my departure. My business, my family…they are all in place.
 
So, the next questions are "how long" and "how far"? These are the only 2 questions I am very eager to find out. Certainly not "how much" and "how to".  
 
Will there ever be regret? Yes….. if I leave Elkan behind.
 

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A 2nd Visit to Shanghai

March 28, 2006 1 Comment

When I left Shanghai 2 weeks ago…Echo’s mother was telling me to come back soon – cos she can then bring me to the outskirt of Shanghai for some real sight-seeing. She never expected me to be back so soon… I came back to Shanghai exactly 17 days later – to many ones’ surprise.

Joanne and I took this lonely (and last-minute) trip to Shanghai last Sat. Things are really moving very fast for me this season. Since Jan, there have been many major developments – My design agency has just broken a couple of "peaks" – in terms of sales, port folio and business partnerships. Before we can cope with the new demands, I was invited to Shanghai (48-hour notice) for another "big move". So, here am I, in Summit Apartments, typing this blog.
 
Unlike the last Shanghai trip, my schedule was crazily packed this time – I didn’t even have the time to do daily travel-blog or senseless shopping. Poor Joanne and Echo, I have to leave them alone for 2 days while I got busy with my own stuffs.. I feel bad for Joanne cos’ this is her first trip to Shanghai and I hardly have the time to show her around… (Nevermind, the cold weather took care of her mood. She just enjoy seeing "smoke" coming out of her mouth!)
 

Nevertheless, this is a very special trip for me. Cos’ this may be the trip when I am going to make the turning point of my life. (For those who are really close to me, you will understand what I am saying here.) In the next 1-2 weeks, I will be planning a new extension of my path.
 
For Joanne, she fell in love with Shanghai. For me, Shanghai has just courted me.

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Turning Points in Life

March 23, 2006 2 Comments

I have been blessed with a smooth and charmed life. For the past 31 years, I have been fitting into the right places. Despite the many bumps in my life, I never really got stuck in a spot. In fact, I have been lucky. I have good friends, mentors and loved ones to get me out of the dumps.
 
Life is full of turning points. Many times, unexpected circumstances forced one to make a turning point in his life. For me, I chose to make a turn – without external influence or due to any circumstances.
 
I like to take risk. I like an adventure. I often define my own path, defying the system. No, I am not a rebel or being indifferent. I just want to take a walk of my own – in my own best interests. I never believe age is a guideline for life experience and events. The labour ministry says you retire at 55. The law says you watch RA at 21, intercourse at 16 and smoking at 18. And then, your insurance broker tells you that you are going thru a mid-life crisis at 40. Your entire life may be chartered by your age.
 
I starting defying the "rules" when I was 12. I just dun like the "school postings" arranged by some strangers working at the education ministry. How could some one who doesn’t know your strength post you to schools based on the scores of your PSLE. I remembered I was posted to Bartley Sec (a all-boy school). At the first impression, I disliked the idea of attending a all-boy secondary school. Thus, I told my mum that I wanted to change school. Surprisingly, my mum accepted my decision and went ahead to appeal to the ministry for another posting. I was eventually posted to Dunman Sec.
 
That decision became a turning point in my life. Have I not made that decision, I would have not met my wife. Without her, I wouldn’t be so successful today. At the same time, I met and befriended a group of soulmates who stayed by my side for the past 16 years.
 
I made another turning point when I was 17. After my O’levels, I was posted to Singapore Poly – Architectual course. It was very difficult to enrol into the course as there were more than 2,000 students applying for it. Every intake (annually) was only 80. So, you can say I am lucky to be enlisted into the course.
 
Yet  I shocked everyone in my family when I decided to quit the course (after 2 years). I was ranked 16th in the course and were doing well. I decided I had enough and did not see myself persuing my life in architectual line. I did not want to waste my final year and get an useless diploma. I decided to pack my bag and headed for my national service.
 
That decision sparked my new journey into design field. Have I not made that decision, I won’t be into advertising and multimedia today. Today, I am running a good and established design agency with my friends.
 
In a nutshell, I have made many more "fate-twisting" decisions in my life. I have not regret at all. All these turning points (be it good or bad, stupid or clever) have made me a better person. My mum never set any expectation for me. Unlike the movies "I no stupid"… I am not required to be the top 3 students in my class. My mum just want me to improve every year – be it in studies, sports or career. I have kept her advice in mind and have been achieving that since 1984.
 
These past 2 years have been smooth and highly satisfying. Come April, I will be making another major "turning point". Hopefully, it will be a great adventure.

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Taking Pride in my Job

March 21, 2006 Leave a comment

I was one of those lucky Singaporeans who really started working even before the lawful age. No, I am not an abused child labour. "Money dun just fall from the sky" my dad told me. "You just need to work to experience the hardship and effort in making money".
 
My childhood jobs
So when I was 12 (during my nov-dec holiday), my dad brought me to his friend’s (who was renting a space in my dad’s warehouse) furniture company to work under an old carpenter as an apprentice. Even though the boss was my dad’s good friend, it was a tough attachment. Waking up at 6:30am daily was no problem (cos that is usually the standard time I had to wake up during my primary school days)…What bothered me was the long hours – I have to coup up at one place – doing the same task over and over again – that boredom was devastating! Surrounded by 30 over adults (mostly Malaysian Chinese in their early 20s), I couldn’t connect with anyone. All of them know I am the landlord’s son and left me alone.
 
Due to my little size and young age, I was not given any exciiting / heavy tasks. For 7 boring weeks, I was tasked to pack screws (for those DIY self-assembled funiture). I was so good at one point that I am able to grab and "feel" the screws – without counting them. It was no easy feat…try grabbing 15 screws in 1 grab without counting them. You know what I mean why I said it was no east feat.
 
That vacation, I earned my 1st dollar… In those days, the boss pays the workers every week in cash. I was paid $12/day… So, you can imagine me getting $72 for a week of work.. I was so happy that I almost want to quit school and work there. Afterall, the pay was more than my $1/day pocket money.
 
Since then, my dad would exposed me to lots of other vacation jobs. From 12 to 16, I have tried many posts – from clerk to production worker, delivey man to store cleaner. All these were short 1-time vacation job. Every job was a new experience for me.
 
My Waitering Days at Singapore Swimming Club
After my O’levels, Meijie and I took a waitering job at the old Singapore Swimming Club. The manager who interviewed me was a very charming and capable young man. During my 3-month stint there as a waiter, he taught me a lot of "service rules"… Sadly, you dun get to get such service from any waiter in Singapore now. I still remembered most of these rules by heart until today. Often, when I dine with my friends at any Chinese outlet in Singapore, I would tell them about those things I learnt back then as a waiter. Yes, these teachings may not earn me big bucks but I respected the morale behind these "service rules".
 
1) Never serve in between old people and childen
2) Serve the guests first (in this order: Children, old folks, ladies and last men). Never serve the host first. "Ladies first" dun count in such practice. Unless it is just 2 persons – a couple.
3) Never hold your tray directly over the diner’s head or over the table. Just in case food falls off the tray, it will not land up on the diner or onto the table.
4) When taking order, maintain eye-contact at the same level. Dun took down on your customers, bend your knees and keep the same eye-level.
5) Remember your regular customers by their name. Remember what’s his/her favourite dishes and drinks.
6) If your diner asks you to change plate, refill tea cups, you have failed.
7) Never carry the tray with 2 hands. Never place the tray on the table.
8) When the diners are leaving, make sure they are accompanied to the door. Clear their plates after the diners are sent off.
9) Small talk is good. It makes the diner more at home. But dun interupt their conversation.
10) Be alert. Hold the dish if the diners are slow. Dun rush them.
 
It was my first waiter job and my last. Yet, I took a lot of pride in this job. Cos’ I learnt a great deal of serving people. I met all kinds of diners – the rich, the humble, the rude, the bossy and the pretty daughters… just too many types of them. I have learnt how to manage their expectations…always looking out for their needs – yet still maintaining privacy for them.
 
Raymond (the manager) was a strict teacher. He would often pulled me one side and corrected me. Over time, I have improved and took pride as a watier – even though it was just a holiday job.
 
When I left Singapore Swimming Club that vacation, I lost contact with the manager. For the past 14 years, I kept his teaching by heart.
 
Last Sat, I threw a welcome dinner for my Canada relatives at my client’s place – Jumbo Seafood RiverWalk.  I was greeted by a very familiar voice. When I turned around, I saw that familiar smile – We finally met each other again – but except this time, I was being served by him. He couldn’t recognised me (as I am just one of the hundreds of part-timers he had trained) but he was glad that I remembered him. Afterall, it has been 14 years.
 
I have grown up to be a small boss running a design house. The whole night, I felt so awkard being served by him. Afterall, he was my trainer back then. I still respected him a lot.
 
Still, it was good meeting an old friend. And it is good meeting him at my good old client’s place. I bet he will make a good manager for Jumbo Seafood. If only the part-timers believe in him and their own jobs.
 
 

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Nostalgia

March 19, 2006 4 Comments

I hate spring cleaning.
 
My uncle and aunt from Canada are in town. Mum called and said they may be visiting my place. Thus, I spent my lazy Saturday and Sunday cleaning up my place. Somehow, I can never complete my spring cleaning. While doing so, I revisited some of those "memories" that I have kept in my storeroom.
 
It has been almost 10-15 years since I last touched them. The old letters, photographs, gifts and diaries… Instead of the planned 2-hour cleanup, I took more than 2 days going through all these mementos.
 
I read some of those letters that my friends sent me, the diaries I wrote and old photographs I shot..I realised there is a big gap between my past and my present. I have changed so much… my character, my personality, my tone and my heart. Somehow, while going thru all these past memories, I started to miss a few loved ones – especially my late granny…I couldn’t help but feeling tears built up in my eyes…recalling her smiles, her voices and the last moments I spent with her before she passed away.
 

The feelings are just so bittersweet… Nostalgia (never felt it for so long)….a mixture of sadness, happiness, sweetness and bitterness. For that moment, I couldn’t pack my room anymore… there are just too many things for me to ponder… I have indeed changed so much… I almost forget about myself as a child, as a teenager and as that young man that granny used to remember.
 
Looking back at my old self and the soul that is breathing inside me right now…I am completely a different person. Time not only aged my looks, it also molded me – my life and my beliefs. I dun know if it is good or bad… Certainly, there was a part of me that isn’t here anymore.
 
Was playing Jay Chou MTV… one of his songs caught my attention and moved me. Really, the gift of life isn’t measured in dollars and cents, title or status… It is what your mind and heart contain at the final second of your journey that matters.

我會發著呆　然後忘記你　 
接著緊緊閉上眼 
想著那一天　會有人代替　 
讓我不再想念你 

我會發著呆　然後微微笑　 
接著緊緊閉上眼 
又想了一遍　妳溫柔的臉　 
在我忘記之前    

心理的眼淚　模糊了視線　 
我已快看不見

I love spring cleaning.


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Back to Norm

March 13, 2006 Leave a comment

Finally, all that excitments, fun and refreshing feelings have gone stale. Life is slowly getting back to norm. The gatherings, shopping nightmares and karaoke session we had at Shanghai are still very fresh on my head. And the thought of working and doing business in Shanghai is so so strong.

There are so much things to do when we came back. Unpacking our bags, sending our winter clothings to the laundry..Next day at work, I have so many clients to catch up – quotations, invoicings etc. Next, Tracy, Joanne and I started our own shopping spree at IT Show… spent about $4500 in total in just 2 days! We bought a digital LED printer (OKI) for Caffeine, a 5-megapixel camera + 300G harddisk for myself, a VIAO laptop for Joanne and a MP3 player for Tracy! (Now, my office room is equipped with all the new IT "blink-blink" gadgets!)
 
Richard and Randy were also away to Bangkok (while we were in Shanghai). So, the whole gang kinda gathered on Friday. Richard bought me a sexy underwear (it is so yucky to be honest!). I feel like wrapping that thing over his head!
 
Sat nannies are back. Meijie, Juli and Duuk came over – watched our Shanghai video / pixs until 3am.  
 
Today is new day..no Monday blues…strange… Mmm.. time to sit up and get work moving. Yah, perhaps, I should start planning another holiday trip this May. I need to take a break from my breaks.

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Travel Blog – Shanghai Day 5-6

March 6, 2006 Leave a comment

Today is our last day at Shanghai. Very fast, our journey is coming to an end. Today, we decided to revisit those places that we want to visit – for last-minute shopping, sight-seeing and visiting friends.
 
The clan finally made their first trip to Pudong, Jinmao. My cousin Yei came and brought all of us up to the 54th floor of Jinmao – where everyone can take a bird-eye view of Shanghai city. After bidding farewell to Yei, we moved over to "Chen Huang Miao" where we bought a couple of gifts for our friends.
 
We came back at 5pm. Our fellowship is officially dispersed. First to leave us was Kalinda. She came back, took her barang-barang and left for Beijing. The rest of us went for a nice dinner at "Jade Garden" and later, karaoke. Francis and Echo joined us after sending their parents off… We sang until 2-3am…We then walked Francis and Echo home…and left their house (with Tracy) at 4am.
 
Next to depart is Hovman. He will be leaving for the airport at 6am.
 

Now, it is 4am. We are not sleeping. We will be leaving for the airport at 1130am later. So, the gang is packing up their stuff in their own rooms. We will be going out later at 5am – to visit Shanghai’s Wholesale Centre at "Qi Pu Lu" – to do our final shopping..  
 
In another 9 hours, we will be flying off this city. Just now, in the cab, Felicia said to me that this is a great trip – with the right mix of people + the right mix of programmes. We had shopping, wedding, relatives-gatherings, old friends gatherings and business sessions. I am so happy to meet a couple of old faces in this trip – Ong Yei, Leon, Francis, Echo, Richard. They are all staying in Chinai… it was their hospitality that touches our hearts.
 
6 days are never enough for a vibrant city like Shanghai. We need at least another 10 more days to really experience Shanghai life.
 
No doubt Shanghai welcomed us with her bitter cold weather. We are leaving Shanghai with warmth in our heart.  

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Travel Blog – Shanghai Day 4

March 6, 2006 Leave a comment

We finally get to see the real Shanghai on our Day 4. The whole gang of us decided to break into 5 little groups:

1) Leon and Girlfriend

2) Hovman, Siow Wei, Meijie and Kalinda
3) Mum and Aunt
4) Francis and Echo + parents
5) Me, Felicia and my cousin, Ong Yei
 
Travelling in a small group has all its advantages. You move fast and get to see more things. You save time without waiting for anyone. It is also easier to hop from one place to another – all within 1 cab.
 
I decided to spend my Sunday with my dear cousin, Yei. At 12pm, both Felicia and I decided to drop him a visit at his Pudong Condo. Man, he was living just right beside Shanghai’s financial district.
 

We had a 10-hour crash-course on about Shanghai. I have been to Shanghai 3 times and this is the first time I really get to enjoy Shanghai. (Yei never give me such a brotherly guide on Shanghai the last time I was here in 2002). From the world’s tallest hotel to the most spectacular Nanjing shopping street, we get to experience the "blink-blink" of Shanghai. On a cab, we took a spin around the Bund. We had lunch at Jinmao, desert at the bund (Pudong side), massage at Huai Hai Lu, superb Japanese food at Nanjing Lu and a 40-walk from People’s Square to the Bund.
 

Within that short 10 hours, both Felicia and I seemed to get the entire travel package…. Cousin is fun today…giving us lots of insight and the 2 of us kinda shared a lot of things (from business, to family) Thanks Yei..I know you dun offer this "special premium" to anyone. 🙂 Really appreciate…
 
At 10pm, the whole group merged together at the Bund. We decided to call off the night and went back to our apartment. It was a fruitful day for me… haaa… pure sight-seeing, pure catching up with a relative….and 0% shopping… Haaaa…
 
Dun get me wrong, I love shopping too.

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Travel Blog – Shanghai Day 3

March 5, 2006 Leave a comment

After 2 days at "Huai Hai Lu", the boys are finally out of that jinxed "5-finger Mountain"! Can’t believe we spent more than 2 days at 1 street.
 
Outside "Huai Hai Lu"
For the 1st time in 3 days, we moved our asses to some other places. It was still shopping but it was on another street. We brought the ladies to "Chen Huang Miao".. It is more like an antique street….lovely architectual and cheap cultural products to buy. We couldn’t spend too much time shopping as we got to gather at Francis’ ballroom at 3pm.
 

Francis’ Day!
Yes, we finally fulfilled our main objective of our trip, that is to attend Francis-Echo Shanghai Wedding! Even though it was their 3rd and final wedding ceremony, their Shanghai Wedding was a big eye-opener for the rest of us! They have a different style of celebrating the wedding dinner (not the same as Singapore). Here are some of the strange-but-true facts:
 
1) There is no VIP table for the parents. The only VIP table you see belong to their close friends (who are singles). The bride and groom will sit with their friends only.
2) During the couple’s 2nd walk-in, it is their tradition here for the bride and groom to lit candles (on every table) and cigarette for every diner.
3) The Shanghai people dun "Yam Seng" like the Singaporean. They knock the wine glasses on the table to show support.
4) The local dun believe in "table-to-table" photo shoot. They prefer "one-to-one" photo shoot. Imagine Francis and Echo had to toast and take picture with every single diner in the hall.
5) The wedding dinner ended with a lucky draw.
 
And yes, it was also Francis’ 29th birthday too! We bought him a cake and we celebrated his birthday right after his dinner (upstairs at his suite).

 
Drinking Party – Back to our Apartment
We decided to play "drinking game" right after we came from Francis’ wedding. The stake – just 2 bottle of red wine (took from Franics wedding). Within 1 hour, we have 3 drunkards down. Siow Wei took the worst hit – she was down just after 2 cups. Felicia went high after her 3rd cup…Kalinda even has to help her to her bed. Next, it was Meijie… He tried to compose his cool…but collapsed on his bed – lying like a dead log. Only Kalinda, Hovman and I were sober….It was a good drinking experience… now we know who can and who cannot… Haaaaa..
 

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Travel Blog – Shanghai Day 2

March 3, 2006 Leave a comment

I just set a "trip-resolution" for myself today – I must get out of the infamous shopping street of Shanghai "Huai Hai Lu". For the past 2 days, I am trapped under the mountain of shops like how Monkey God under Buddha’s 5-finger Mountain. This place is jinxed for the men but a haven for the women.
 
From the minute we left out apartment, I knew the ladies have a secret agenda in their mind. Even though I recommended going sight-seeing and visiting the tallest hotel (JinMao) in the world…the girls had already made up their mind where to go.
 
So, from 10am till 11pm – the group of us just loithered around just 1 street – Can you believe it? It is Huai Hai Lu, Huai Hai Lu… It is like spending more than 12 hours at Orchard – Eating, Shopping, Eating, Shopping! The men were loitering and the women are, of course, shopping.
 
Man, I blew my S$600 travelling fund in just the 2nd day of my trip. I still have 4 more days to go. From the rate, I must really escape…far from this jinxed road…. a nightmare for the boys. Needless to say, the girls are having the time of their life!

 
The weather took for the worst for the night. The wind just set us trembling. Hovman had to visit the loo at least 3 times/hour.
 
If you asked me how’s my trip to Shanghai at this moment. I would tell you that I dun know. Cos’ I am still figuring how to get out of this street. (We are outnumbered by the yin presence now!)

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