Crowd Wooers!

September 7, 2008 Leave a comment

 
 

(Photo Taken: Indoor Mountain Biking Competition at Cityplaza – Hong Kong)

Filed under Life in Hong Kong

Bad Celebrities of Asia

September 7, 2008 Leave a comment

What is so damn wrong about East Asia? Why are we seeing the same kind of news lately? Ex-leaders facing charges of corruption…leaders who quitted under pressure…and leaders who rally no support in their own yard.

Leaders of today do not wage war (over land, gold or women) with others. They come with a different set of skills. Leaders today are excellent PR artists, distractors and enterprising masters who engineer perceptions and realities into their people’s heads. They control our minds with scary thoughts of "terrorisms", "viruses" and now "green-house effects". Leaders who are unable to sponsor the rising oil prices are now promoting their citizens to go green. Leaders who want to rally their people’s support – create fires in their own yard. Leaders who want to distract, turn their people’s attention into neighboring woes and sad stories. Leaders who want to look good only publish unimportant worldy news as headlines on their own newspapers. The good news often belong to themselves while the bad ones are often on others.

This is the generation of information-savvy leaders. They are publicists. They are super businessmen who know how to crack the code without being caught. They helped a couple of poor people to glorify and justify their existence. They said they are the core of the balance yet they are also the one who can bring chaos if they are to be displaced. They have friends in the military who can take any good opposition down without any hesitation. They are the new law.

Under such turmoils (shift of power, economical downturns, terrorist threats & rising oil prices), how can the people in Asia prosper and progress? Or is this a trend of leadership for the new century? Or worse, these unlucky bad leaders are just the "tip of a massive ice berg"?

Filed under Jo's Thoughts

6 Days in Taiwan

September 4, 2008 Leave a comment

Over the last 6 days, life was extremely hectic but fulfilling in Taipei. I had both extremes (hard work and good times). I woke up everyday at 5:00am and arrived at Taipei Airport minutes before 7am. Yes, it was "Mission Impossible" but my good team mates in Taipei saved my days. After 6 long days, the project is finally delivered – accomplished with distinction! I was the last one to leave Taipei this afternoon. I came back to Hong Kong with great relief and satisfaction. "Yes! Another gold for the agency!"


Made many Taiwanese friends this trip. And
they are extremely friendly. (Oh dear, I can’t believe I am saying
that!) Even my limo-driver (hotel-airport transfer) insisted to buy me lunch and beer! My Taizhong supplier not only introduced his wife and in-laws to me and also offered to be my tour guide to "anywhere I want to go"! The
beautiful models I worked with were so sweet, sincere and warm! Gosh… the
"kampong spirit" is so strong here! Every night when I took taxi out for dinner, I met and chatted with different personalities. The cabbies were so candid and open about their lives – one even wet his eyes and poured out his sad stories to me last night!

Sadly, I was stranded at the
airport all the time and didn’t really tour much – but managed to
squeeze out a couple of hours in the last 2 days for some
"shutterbug" snapping. (Blurrrp! Taiwan food + mei mei are so so nice!) Yes, I love Taipei!

Filed under Life in Hong Kong

The August Stars

September 4, 2008 Leave a comment

Duuk and Kalinda celebrated their "August End" birthdays! Wow…even MC, Jimmy and Karen were there! Mmm…can see some big changes in our friends… Karen looks slimmer…Meijie looks more "compatible"….Joanne had a makeover….Duuk & Juliana look "fuller", Gareth fatter…only MC and Jimmy didn’t change much. Still so young ever! According to Joanne, they were so "high" that night – lots of drinking and "babies-making" (Oh yes, that is exactly what Duuk got for all his birthday wishes!)


 

Opppss… forgot to mention Kalinda… <again, I know she will hate me for this> – Well, I couldn’t recognise her in these photos… she looks happier and younger here.

Filed under Wahbiang

Brother 风 Came & Gone

August 25, 2008 Leave a comment

 

 
风 came and left. For some strange coincidence, my Singaporean visitors arrived with similar patterns. My parents arrived during Typhoon Kanmuri (on the eve of Olympic Opening). Gareth and family arrived during Typhoon Nuri and left during Olympic Closing Ceremony. Both typhoons ended with letters "ri" and both were big enough to shut down the island.

 
 
It was an unusual visit. Gareth and family were "house-arrest" and spent one entire Friday – indoor with us. We managed to spend a good Saturday shopping along causeway bay, wan chai, women street and temple street… but traveling with 2 active boys can be quite challenging and taxing. Surprisingly, Gareth and Ivy knew their ways better than us! In fact, Gareth played "host"and showed us around Mong Kok! He brought me to places where I can get "gas guns" and "mobile phones". Those were Geek’s Paradise! Felicia and Ivy went back early on Sat night – leaving Gareth and myself to roam Mong Kok all by ourselves. Like real blood brothers, we explored the streets for 2 hours… Never know it is so good to go shopping with Brother 风.

 
 

Well, if anyone needs a tour guide on Kowloon side, I would certainly recommend these 2 visitors. They made such good shopping and dining companions! The typhoon didn’t really dampen their moods – Gareth was happier and excited during the typhoon moments. It was an extra "experience" for him – a gift from Mother Nature.

For Elkan, he has another good playmate to accompany him. He certainly enjoys a playmate – he kept telling Xaiver – "I like you you know. I want to hug you so much!" Guess he wants to keep Xavier as a softtoy.

 
 

Filed under Wahbiang

Brother 风 is Here

August 22, 2008 1 Comment

We received our 14th visitors today! Mr GUO风 and gang visited our house today. Thanks to his other girlfriend "Nuri", we need not go to work today. What a holiday gathering for all our us – we are now stranded indoor, enjoying cable-TV while Typhoon Number 9 is brewing right outside our window. (In fact, the "eye" just entered Hong Kong right now!)

At lunch time, all of us decided to "go out and face the typhoon". Braving against the strong winds, we walked briskly to the restuarant. The adults were cautious but the kids were screaming in estascy. In fact, I think the kids did more damage than the typhoon. They screamed, they ran and they made a big mess! Haaa…

 
 

Nevertheless, the typhoon was quite an experience for us. Later this evening, we went out to explore the city. It felt like the 1st day of CNY – most of the big shopping centres and shops were closed (only the faithful CircleKs, 7-Elevens and fast food joints were open). We roamed the streets – looking for signs of "life". Hong Kong was like a dead city tonight. I have never seen such an empty Causeway Bay at 7pm. Nathan Road was quiet too.

It was a frightening night. We saw many trees uprooted…fallen billboards and cracked glass everywhere. Finding a good place to eat was very difficult. We managed to squeeze into a small "HK Cafe" for our meals. During our dinner, a billboard outside the cafe came falling down and dust flew into the restuarant. Thanks goodness, no one was hurt. At 815pm, we made up our minds – to go home and stay indoor. Typhoon can be fun in the beginning but it posed too much inconvenience and dangers for the people in Hong Kong. There were just too many "booby-traps" hanging above your heads.

 

On our way home – it was a 300m walk from the MTR station to our house – THAT WAS A SCARY WALK. Our usual pavement was blocked with fallen structure. We took another route and saw many fallen trees. Worst, the heavy rain and wind obstruct our senses. That was certainly the scariest 300m walk home. We stopped every few steps…waited for the wind to weaken before making another dash.

Now, the storm is brewing outside. And the "eye" is still in Hong Kong – heading for Guang Dong. Man, I like an off-day Typhoon…but hated the dangers that lurk above us. This is when "Advertising Kills" their target audience.

  
 

Filed under Wahbiang

48 Years Later….

August 17, 2008 Leave a comment

 

(Photo Taken: JUSCO, Hong Kong) – We managed to catch the final minute of the historic table tennis finals between Singapore and China. Seating and standing around the LCD Showroom, there were a lot of Hong Kongers watching this match. One old lady in the crowd said "This is China’s greatest sport. Singapore has no chance to win gold." True enough, this was a 1-sided match…with China winning all 3 frames. For Singapore, it is not the "gold" that we are aftering…it is the break of a 48-year wait. (Our last Olympic Medal was won 48 years ago in Rome). Silver is already a big bonus for us – it is our 2nd one after almost 5 decades.

Hovman said "Singapore didn’t win the medal. They bought it". I can understand his sentiment. You see, Singapore didn’t really create these winners..we imported them. Nevertheless, I see it as a very successful Singapore-China investment. Funny, we always have different perceptions about the Chinese in our country… Yet we owed a couple of great Chinese ladies imports to fulfilled our 48-year old dream. Truly, Li Jiawei, Wang Yuegu and Feng Tianwei earned this night! They have worked very hard and it is their dream too. This will be their eternal glory to remember – not just for themselves but for Singapore.

Now, we have the imported talents and winners. It is time to grow and nurture our own "Made-in-Singapore" winners. Bring back the "Ang Peng Siong" and "Tan Howe Liang" of yesterdays. They were our true Singapore Champions.  Let’s import the expensive "retired and celebrated champions" to train our young. (How about pretty Guo JingJing – she said she will retired after this…) We got to start creating our own legends – and not some "big ass empty talk of Goal2010". (Man, we should shame Minister Ma for putting up a goal and not achiving it!). Oops… I am not suppose to mix sports with politics.

Filed under Jo's Thoughts

Belated Gift for Meijie

August 17, 2008 Leave a comment


Normally, I don’t call Meijie oveseas. And he knows – when Joe calls, it is always about "computer trouble-shooting". And yesterday, I called Mr IT Heng on his birthday. Instead of wishing him "Happy 33kg!", I bothered him with some stupid MS Vista upgrading questions! Haaaa… I even get him to surf the internet for me. I bet Mr Heng was excited to hear my voice yesterday…and he may be thinking that I am going to give him that "birthday greetings"  Haaa…to his disappointment and horror surprise, Mr Joe didn’t even wish him anything and "disappeared" the entire day! Not until Mr Joe and gang reappeared 1 day later with their most beautiful "birthday song". Yeah, Felicia, Elkan, Tracy and myself sang him a song this morning over the phone!
 
Of course, this song isn’t good enough for my best friend. And I am giving him an air-ticket to visit us in Hong Kong (with 1-month expiry)! So, Mr Heng, better make up your mind soon…cos’ this offer and gift is "while Joe lasts!" Come bro!

 
 
Thanks to Joanne…she is my Guest Blogger today. Here is her words and photos! Enjoy.

We had a durian feast last nght….wow…its the most expensive durians i have ever eaten..$200 for 4 durians…but it taste really GOoOOOD!

Really shiok and tasty. I am sure you will like it… as what juli said.. "Yi fen xian, Yi fen huo"
 
The gathering was great….we had japanese food… a braun buffel wallet for the birthday boy (he requested for it).
We spend a total of $600 for his bday. A simple celebration but a memorable one.
Yixi shared with us about his new job…oh man…he is like a doctor now..so interesting and unbelievable.
He is clinical sale consultant….and he assist the doctor in the operation. wow…you wont believe it.
 
Well, wish you and feli can join us for our next gathering soon. We miss you guys much..
 
Enjoy the photos i took for you. 🙂 I am sure you will miss home.
 
Joanne
 

Filed under Wahbiang

A Teary Goodbye

August 12, 2008 2 Comments


I am not feeling fine today. Don’t know why, I feel like I have so much weight inside me. And I have no idea what’s wrong with me. Or I just hate departure.

It was an uneasy day for my little boy. He knew my family is leaving today…and we are going to the airport to send them off. He was brave throughout the journey. And when he saw Qiqi at the airport, he forgot about the reason why we were here. Both of them just took each other’s hands and ran around the airport.



When it was time to say goodbye…Elkan broke down at the gate, crying "I want to go back to Singapore with Qiqi…" Heard Elkan’s cries, Qiqi walked back slowly (from the gate) and offered Elkan a hug. It was a very difficult moment for all of us. Seeing my boy cried like this…it somehow echoed the same words and feelings I had for my families at that moment. (except we adults like to self-regulate our own emotions, not expressing them as free as a child).

I saw Felicia wiping away her tears. And I was hiding my teary eyes behind the camera. Guess all 3 of us were feeling the same sadness – can’t bear to see our families go. The last 4 days were "so blissful". For a very long time, we have never gathered like this. 9 of them came – with lots of noise, buzz, laughters and the "nags"…but all lovely presence. For that couple of days, I thought Hong Kong is Singapore.



Sigh….hate the way time flew…leaving us with so little moments…only to relive and savor all these great moments in own minds.

Miss you guys. Really. Thanks for bringing home so close to our hearts.

Filed under Family

9th August Reunion – Day 1 & 2

August 10, 2008 Leave a comment


While millions of Singaporeans were gathering to celebrate our National Day back home,
I was celebrating the 9th of August with the reunion of my family in Hong Kong.
(Yes, they are my 5th-11th visitors!) Leon flew in from Xiamen and the rest of
them arrived after their 3-day trip in Taipei. What an exciting weekend gethering!
Especially for Elkan, he was so excited to see his favorite uncle Leon and
grand-auntie Amy. Oh yes… and his super-active accomplice “Qiqi” – whom he misses so much. 





This is a very very special trip for my family. For the first time in our family history, we are all abroad together! Other than our annual CNY trip to Muar, we have never traveled overseas together. Back then, all four (mum, dad, sister and myself) of us traveled separately on our own. This time, we have all 8 of us here in Hong Kong. Mum and dad were extremely happy and excited. And making this even merrier, we have the company of our all-time favorite auntie Amy and family (Benny and Leon) – it would be perfect if Chester is here with us.

They will be here for 4 days and will depart Hong Kong tomorrow (12th August). So far, this reunion has been very fulfilling and special for all of us. These are the whys:

1) It is my dad’s and mum’s first trip to Hong Kong (and my very very small house!)

2) It is Leon’s first trip at the Peak! (Despite his numerous trips to HK)

3) It is our first visit to Disneyland (who says it is boring? It is worth the visit! Every corner is a surprise!)

4) It is my first face-to-face meeting with my 3 pretty HK “chua” cousins! And we celebrated our HK Aunt’s birthday too! Just found out that Xue-ni and Elkan shared the same birth date! (I left with 1 more “chua” cousin to meet – he is now based in Canada).

5) It is Leon’s first meeting with Qiqi! (She is not as crazy as Elkan over Leon)

6) It is my first 5-consecutive strikes in bowling! (Score jumped from 64 to 181!)

 


Filed under Family

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