Goodbye “Hai Yue” (Back-dated Blog)

July 20, 2008 1 Comment

Finally, PCCW activated my broadband and cable TV yesterday. I am able to upload some of my back-dated blogs.

In fact, there is only one blog that I would like to upload here. It contains one of my most precious and unforgettable moments of my life in Shanghai. For my past 2 years, Hai Yue Gardens has been the place we lived. It is the place where I welcomed 60 over visitors. It is also the place where Kalinda, Joanne and my family spent a great deal of time in.

I am sure many of you missed the old warmth of my old Hai Yue Gardens. Here are the last look of the place.


Left: Gone are Joe’s toys…                                   Right: Elkan’s sofa bed was given to Francis.


Left: 67 8-Days Magazine!                                   Right: Elkan did it again (with his metal head!)

Filed under Life in Shanghai

Leon Meets Elkan

July 13, 2008 Leave a comment

Yesterday, I had a surprise visitor. Cousin Leon, my 2nd Visitor, was in town for only 1 short day. Leon only called me at 2pm and we met at 2:50pm (how last minute!) Most importantly, it is a very significant visit for him. Leon visited me 3 times in Shanghai but he never gets the chance to meet my boy. Poor timing I say, Elkan was in Singapore when Leon was in Shanghai.
 
Finally, two of them met yesterday afternoon and both of them clicked like old friends at the very first second. “Mmm…this gor-gor look very nice”, Elkan smiled. “Mmm…and you also smell very nice.” Haaa.. Elkan was referring to the strong perfume Leon was wearing. Man. he was so full of praises for Leon. Unlike his usual shyness towards stranger, Elkan was very friendly and held Leon’s hand throughout our 3-hour outing.
 
At 4:30pm, Leon left for Xiamen. We sent him off at the HK Express Train Station. Elkan asked Leon “You must come and stay at our house.”
 
“Elkan, Leon is flying off now” I said. Elkan gave a disappointing look and sighed
 
“Then, you must promise to visit me 2 more times, okay?”
 
How sweet and charming his words are! Guess this meeting is worth-waiting afterall. 3 years…it is never too late to know one another – between uncle and nephew.

Filed under Family

My Daily Mornings…

July 13, 2008 Leave a comment

Gone are the days of cab-flagging. The fastest way to beat to crowd and jams is to join them on the MTR. Surely faster and cheaper than cabs.

Filed under Life in Hong Kong

Blah..Blah…Bra???

July 13, 2008 Leave a comment


(Photo taken: Billboard at Causeway Bay MTR) – Mmm…very corny.

Filed under Life in Hong Kong

My 1st Week and my 1st Visitor

July 13, 2008 1 Comment

 
I can’t imagine how fast time flew. I am already in my 2nd week in Hong Kong.
 
It has been an awful hectic start. Work is horrendously demanding (from 9am to 9pm) and I had a couple of rough dealings with my “unscrupulous and scheming” property agent. If I were to take this negative reference and stereotype all HK people, I have only one word to describe them – “rigid”. Thankfully, I have made many nice HK friends over my last 2 years to change my perception.
 
One good and valuable lesson learnt – HK agents are tough and rigid negotiators – they are sharp, ruthless and useless. “Snob dealers”, I would call them. Our old way of bargaining tactics are useless over here in HK. I hate negotiating with these “air-heads” cos’ they are inflexible and narrow-minded. In short, I underestimated my wits and had my worst business defeat here. (At least, in China, deals are made out of “relationship” and “best interests”. Deals are very conditional and one-sided here.) After dealing with 4 different agents, I concluded and Elkan forbids – “F*** my useless agent”. Period.
 
On a positive side, HK is beautiful and dynamic. The hills, the sea and the skyscrapers. We got a nice apartment (away from the city) at the eastern side of the island. It is quiet, peaceful and beautiful. We have a great sea-view, overlooking Kowloon. Every night, Elkan and I will sit by our bedroom window, watching and counting the passing “floating lights” (ships of all sizes and types).

 
 

Last Wednesday, I received my 1st visitor in HK ~ Joanne! She arrived just in time to “cut ribbon” at my new home. (Coincidently, that was also the first day when we moved into our new apartment.) Everything was in a mess, there was nothing at home – no shampoo, drinks etc. We were basically living out of our suitcase.
 
Work stole most of my time away from her. Poor Joanne, she had to loiter around HK all by herself. I certainly wish she can stay a little longer (like her last Shanghai stay). At least, I can show her around – perhaps planning a short trip to Macau or Shenzhen. Still, her stay is controversially memorable. I won’t disclose much online but I am just happy to have her here with me. Just exactly 30 days ago, Duuk and Juliana were there in Shanghai to help me pack…and Joanne came to HK …er…to help me unpack? Mmm… wonder if there is another group who can just pop by to clean up my small house.

 
 

I am now typing this blog offline on my computer and will upload this tomorrow morning at my famous (as Joanne coined it) “SRC-like clubhouse”. Please bear with me, I have no internet at home at this moment. (PCCW needs 16 days to activate my broadband – talk about efficiency!). Right now, I am in this "computer corner" – with a bunch of little Jap monster kids – who is right now abusing the iMac with their violent nature. (Feel like plucking his head off!)
 
Life is certainly different over here in HK…A big difference I would say – No dirt-cheap DVD (we are renting DVD now at HK16/title – double the price of a priated disc in China). No daily taxi ride to work (would cost me SGD14/trip). No cheap good restaurant food. And no cheap premium massage/spa. No Carrefour.
 
Sure, there are many more new things in place. A lot of rain, wind, flood and thunderstorms. A lot of 7-Elevens and MacDonalds. A lot of stairs and slopes to walk. A lot of Filipinos (it is amazing to see them every Sunday). A lot of “packed sardine-can MTR rides”. Lots of drippling aircon water. Late night dessert stores. And a lot of men and women in black suits.
 
Perhaps the only common thing that stays constantly unchanged between Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai is – Time. (And yes, that dreadful green shop – Starbucks – it is everywhere).
 

Filed under Wahbiang

Running a new race in Hong Kong

July 1, 2008 2 Comments

Finally, after more than 12 months of planning, my new journey begins in Hong Kong today! (Siam ah! The Singapore torch-bearer is here!)

This should be my 30th odd trip to Hong Kong – but this is certainly my 1st trip here with so many luggages – a total of 11! (and 37 more boxes coming in 2 weeks’ time). Immediately I touched down in Hong Kong, I made my way to my company to get my neccessities (HK SimCard etc). Later the day, I met up with the agent to settle my new house. Urghh…. I couldn’t move in until 3rd July (cos’ the stupid landlord need the cheque to be cleared before giving me the keys – how rigid and cold-blooded!) At least, the mainland Chinese are flexible in such arrangement. Over here, it is very black and white.

Just discover one thing – language. It is more difficult for me to survive in Hong Kong than Shanghai. Cos’ the old folks here dun speak English or Chinese. They only understand Cantonese. If I speak "English", they think I am trying to westernise myself to be like "ABC" or "Ah Mao wannebe". If I speak "Chinese", they think I am a disgusting filthy rich mainlander. So one word – Siow liao! (Even my company receptionist said I dun look like Chinese, Singaporean or Malaysian – she thinks I sounded more like I am from Taiwan!) And when I tried to "singaporise" myself with "singlish" – she snapped "Dun speak English like this – with the lors and lahs, very degrading and unprofessional! It sounded bad!"

Opps. Bad attempt.

 

Today (1st July) is a public holiday in Hong Kong – it is the day to celebrate the return of Hong Kong to China. In all true spirit, both Tracy and myself made our return trip to Shenzhen (okay, crappy metaphor). We aren’t really "returning" to China – but technically, you can say yes too cos’ we just came out of Shanghai yesterday. Anyway, to cut the story short, we need to go out of Hong Kong and then back into Hong Kong to "activate" our work permit. All we need is a sticker and a chop at the inbound HK customs. So, the fastest and easiest way would be a short 2-hour trip to Shenzhen. (mmm.. I wish it can be Macau too. Got cha-bor with me, hard lah)
Here are some nice photos of "me" as "resident" in Hong Kong. Sigh, I am no longer a "tourist" anymore – no more luxury hotel stay or entering via "Foreigner Counter". My passport says "imported worker" – so I guess I must live life like the locals. (See, I am cutting down my cab trips and taking MTR! – with the Octopus Card!)

 
 

Thanks for all the nice sms messages, greetings and calls! Many of you (Richard, Cousin Yei, Yixi, Duuk etc) have called and asked about my 1st day – really, I am so grateful and happy to have you guys around! 

Oh yes…Lucky me bastard, I am already expecting my 1st visitor in Hong Kong tomorrow! (that is pretty fast!) Show you guys more later this week!
  

Filed under Life in Hong Kong

My last 36 hours in Shanghai

June 30, 2008 Leave a comment


9:00pm: Farewell Dinner with Cousin Yei and Summer!


10:45pm: A surprise farewell gift from “Ah Ye” -our food deliveryman!


9:45am (Sun): Farewell breakfast at Starbuck with Lisa!


11:00am: Uncanny! The place where I had my welcome lunch (back in May 2006) is also coincidently my last farewell lunch (at Future Perfect with Hong Ai and Soseki)


6:00pm: Our Golden Chinese Couple and their 2nd baby – Violet!


9:00pm: Our last farewell dinner with Francis, dad, mum and in laws


10:00pm: Felicia’s first fireworks in China! (Same for Elkan!)
10:30pm: Get ready…at the side of the road…
Finale!: 15-min fireworks! (till Security guard came…)

Filed under Life in Shanghai

Goodbye Shanghai

June 28, 2008 1 Comment

Yesterday, my heart was as gloomy as the stormy rain – gloomy, dim and wet. My team organised a farewell dinner for me. (To me, it was a farewell dinner for all of us – not just me alone) Not a big or grand one but they are the ones who matter to me most. Come 1st July, this fellowship will ceased and all of us will be separated to pursue our next destination. This will be our last dinner as colleagues in Shanghai.It was quite an awkward dinner for me. No, I didn’t made any teary farewell speech. I just don’t want to make the dinner an emotional or solemn one. No sad parting words – just in high celebratory moods. The cold rain had dampen our night, I do not want to make it any worse.

My beloved team gave me 2 perfect parting gifts – Philips Digital Photo Frame & Oregon Projector Clock. I was indeed very touched. These 2 items are always on my “browsing list” whenever I go shopping. Rebecca (despite our regular fights and tussles) is my very attentive and lovely partner. She knows all my likes and dislikes. Honestly, I was surprised that she remembered all these. (Man, she is like that worm in my tummy!)

We are a marvelous team. These are the great ones who stood firmly on their values and supported me to the final minute. They are what you call the “real friends” who stand by you in a real crisis. Despite knowing that they may lose their current posts after this migration exercise, this team delivered the best results ever in the history of global travel retail business. Morale hit rock bottom last December but our performance exceed all expectation. (Rebecca, Calvin and Alicia scored and won 3 big projects for me in the last 5 months!)

Throughout my last 2 years with the team, I encountered extreme characters. A couple of my team members took short cuts and failed disgracefully. They also left a load of mess for us to clean up. Others stood firmly and loyally on their values to deliver good results. Our global business is a pressurizing one and it stretches our people to their limits. I can understand why some never meet the marks. It is not an easy account.

The last 6 months were terrorizing moments for many. Clare, Alicia and Lisa are planning for their wedding. Calvin is expecting his first child. Steven is waiting to join our team as full-time staff. The decision to migrate broke many hearts in our team. “We are just a perfect team” many said. There were lots of “whys” and “grumblings” – yet despite all their grievances, they never quit on me or their job. “Every man for himself” never exist in our world. Clare, Calvin, Rebecca, Steven and Alicia stood by my side till the very last minute. For that, I respected this crew of mine. (not forgetting Lisa and Daisy). All of them left a legacy for the new Hong Kong team to continue.

It was their words on my farewell card that made me so sad about leaving. I wish I can give them good goodbye hugs last night. (but the Shanghai ladies in my team are very conservative about getting hugs from a married man). Our parting was just so quick and abrupt. At the dark pavement, we left in 2 separate directions – east and west.

Today, I went back to the office and cleared my table. Looking at my empty department, I felt so sad. We were an excellent team and our rapport was great. In less than 15 days, these friends will be separated to other business units. From then on, we will be leading a separate path and a brand new life.

Don’t get me wrong. I am confident they will excel where ever they are. I just feel pitiful to lose such a good team of talents.



“Can you manage a team of people and our business?” asked Michael, the interviewer.

I paused for a couple of seconds and answered.

“Yes. Your team will love me. Your client will love me too.”

Michael was surprised by my answer. He looked at me in disbelief and said “I hope so, we shall see about that.”

That was back in 2006 when Michael interviewed me. If he is still around today, he would come to me and pat my back and said “Well done”.

Yes, my team loves me. And I will miss them very very much.

Filed under Jo's Thoughts, Life in Hong Kong, Life in Shanghai

Hotel 13th

June 28, 2008 Leave a comment



(Photo Taken: From my Marina Mandarin Hotel, Singapore)

Not sure how many of us know this – Conrad Hotel Singapore does sports a striking "number 13" on its facade. Can someone enlighten me on this? Why this unlucky number? (Sounds good for the Cantonese though)

Filed under Jo's Thoughts

Elkan’s 1st HairCut (by himself!)

June 15, 2008 1 Comment

The last time Elkan got his haircut here, it took about 5 men to distract him and calmed him down. Surprisingly yesterday, Elkan sat through the whole session all by himself. Like a true adult, he displayed such coolness and “ordered” the stylist with his likes and dislikes – like “water too hot”, “gel higher” etc. The girls in the salon love him so much. He had 3 pretty shampoo girls all by himself. Every girl wants to chat with him but couldn’t understand his strange English. (Poor old daddy…he had no one but a shampoo boy.)

Filed under Family, Life in Shanghai

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