Watchnight 2007

This night is about to end and soon a new year will begin. As I was writing this, I received, with deep appreciation several SMSes which conveyed warm wishes for the New Year! That's great! Thanks! This particular blog, the last for the year 2007, will not bore readers with all the details of the year. Like many of you, I assume that you have your share of 'ups and downs'too. Generally speaking, that's life, isn't it? However,the distinct difference for me (and I hope it is true for you too)is the ability to celebrate and thank God that in these circumstances, I have gained precious lessons in life such as insights into human relationships. For my family and friends who had journeyed with me through the year, let me say "Thank You" for your love, prayers and concern.I shall treasure them in my heart. To close the year, let me share with you the joy that my family and I had shared together when we celebrated Christmas in the beautiful Shangrila located more than 4,000m above sea level in Yunnan, Southern China and a pix that captured the free spirit of the birds that flew above Daguanlou Park in Kunming. May you have a beautiful New Year and one that soars like the birds!

What's your season?

The four seasons of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter have diffferent significance for different people throughout the world. Some would associate ski@Lake Tahoe during winter, fish@Florida during summer, admire the cherry blossoms @Japan during spring and enjoy the beauty of the autumn foliage along hillslopes/lakes, streets etc... However, these seasons could also bring in hardship and suffering for the poor and homeless.
As we reflect on our lives, we can draw parallel lessons from these changing seasons. Though the seasons are repetitive throughout the generations (in so far as humankind do not neglect to address the climate and environmental issues at hand), it is not so with life's season. Generally, we should learn to appreciate the precious innocence associated with childhood, the enthusiasm and energy of youths, the challenge to maintain a healthy work-life integration in aduthood and finally, enjoy the beauty of the golden years. We must learn to savour, learn and appreciate each of these seasons. Categorically speaking, the life span of humanity is often seen in terms of a journey. We grow from one season to another. And we recognise that the human clock cannot be unwind. In other words, we should thank God for the seasons that He has given to us and for family and friends who share the common journey. At the same time, we should not live in regrets for the things that we have failed to accomplish. We should learn some precious lessons from time to time and press on to embrace each season with faith and fortitude. Indeed, there is a reason for every season!

Lavender

In a recent visit to Tokyo, my wife visited a departmental store and was given several stalks of lavender. It was promoting the use of its essential oil. "Flowers and leaf-stalks can be dried for perfuming bed-linen and to keep moths away from your clothes. Lavender essence is used commercially in the perfume, soap and pharmaceutical industries. Dried lavender is packaged in small cloth sacks and sold worldwide. Dried lavender is also used for cooking and for herbal cures. There is a strong cottage industry in the Beyond region of lavender products." (www.beyond.fr/floral/lavender.html)

We look forward to visiting a lavender farm in the near future.

Bridge again

Several people have asked me to post the published pix on the blog. Here it is. I m honored.:)

Odaiba Bridge

The 918 meter long suspended Rainbow Bridge links Odaiba town with the Tokyo Waterfront crossing Tokyo Bay underneath. The picture snapped at dusk evoked a sense of stillness and tranquility, a change from the hubbub and noise of commuters riding the subway in the Japanese capital. It shows that in the midst of an unprecedented pace of economic development as in the case of the Japanese rebuilding herself after WW II, there is a place for calmness and solitude.
NB. This pix was published in Singapore Straits Times Life Section "Shot & Saved: Japan" on 6 Nov 2007 :)

Spider, U win!!!!

"Hurray! I've won by one!" declares the spider as it walks happily and proudly into the beautiful asiatic lily! Does this not reflect the sort of competitive spirit that prevades our human communities today? My experience living in a society that has transitioned from a Third World Country to a First World Economy attributes her success based on the principles of meritocracy and the "the survival of the fittest". While this sort of spirit is much needed so as to achieve significant 'progress', and at the same time, prevent the development of a overtly laid back spirit, does this also contribute to the making of a pretty highly stressed society? The reality is that man is under the constant pressure to keep up with the Joneses.How can we find a balance? Can't we simply enjoy the lily flower and appreciate its beauty and accept and adore the spider, whether it has eight or six legs?

Back to the Moon?

I was enchanted by the beauty of the bright crescent moon that hung and shone beautifully against the darkened sky. In ancient times, people worshipped it and believed there were deities and fairies living there. Many mysteries surrounded the ever changing phases of the moon, full, quarter or new. The question: “Is it possible to reach the moon?” was finally addressed with the visionary leadership of President John F. Kennedy of sending man to the moon and returning safely to earth. Finally, Neil Armstrong landed on the moon in July 1969. It was witnessed by the world via black and white television sets. The historic moment was indeed “...a small step for man, but a giant leap for mankind.”

Humanity continues to develop the innate spirit of adventure, exploration and discovery. In our connected and borderless world today, we need to further cultivate and nurture this kind of spirit, for there is much to learn and discover in terms of science, technology, religion, travel, etc… The reality is that there are people and institutions that fear the unknowns and thus deprive them and those around them from benefiting from new knowledge and experience. Modernists would term them as living in the Dark Ages!

Back to the gazing at the moon, what would you ask? “Will someone bring the moon to me?” or “Will someone bring me to the moon since no one has stepped on it since December 1972?” or “I want to travel to Mars as my next holiday destination!” 

Are we locked?

The tree is growing continually against the beautiful blue skyline. The lamp post is sort of a permanent feature on the street. Both have been placed there by man and are pretty to behold. In the foreground, the lock illustrates how man manages his/her perspective. Have we locked ourselves in our understanding and apprecition of nature and the things around us that we might have become like a lamppost that is comfortable in serving its purpose (and stopped growing!) or like a tree which is growing towards new heights? What are some of the areas in our lives that we have locked our perspective and thus hindered our growth in terms of its breadth and depth? Or are we just apathetic and contended with ourselves and choose to avoid risks associated with change? Perhaps we could take the first step to unlock???

+ or - ?

Each day, we add(+) and subtract (-) some values to our lives. For example, one could add positive joy to another by an act of kindness such as offering our seat to those who needed more than we do in the train or helping an elderly cross over the street. One could also make some conscious efort by subtracting unwholesome values from our lives such as becoming less aggressive drivers in crowded cities or becoming less dependant on items that are environmentally unfriendly. In other words, we constantly + and - values to our lives and they have direct and indirect impact on the overall nurture and growth of our planet earth. What values are you going to + or- today? How would they impact your life and our world?

Towards the Light

Large pebbles/rocks can be stumbling stones as well as stepping stones for humanity. We live in a connected world. Each person has the potential to contribute to the growing of a great global community. We do our part by stacking up stones so that we can climb upwards towards the true Light, aiming for the highest ideals. We must work hand in hand, heart to heart, respecting and honoring each other in order to achieve greater heights. In the light of this, the Koreans(and others) who are being held captives should be set free so that they can continue to serve the people in Afghanistan(elsewhere).

Cameron Highlands 2007

Cameron Highlands is a lovely mountain resort in West Malaysia, surrounded by lush tea plantation and greenery. At an altitude of over 1,500m above sea level, it is the perfect setting for a great variety of floral and fruit nurseries. My last visit there was about three decades ago. Hence, it was a nostalgic trip to Tanah Rata and Brinchang, two of the five towns there. The climate was not as cool as before. Nonetheless, it was a good change from the generally hot and humid weather of Singapore.

I was especially enchanted by the sheer size and beauty of the hibiscus and sunflower. They grow very well there and are larger than a human face! The butterfly farm provides a safe haven for the cultivation and preservation of different species. They roam freely within its premises. In the farm, there are also snakes, beetles, tree lizards, leaf insect, etc...They are kept in cages! Phew!
One should not miss a trip to the Strawberry farm. They grow in abundance and I appreciate its stages of growth from seeding, nurturing, flowering and fruiting.
This is indeed a memorable visit that we shall treasure for many years to come. Though the journey up the steep and winding road was challenging, it was compensated by the sheer beautiful landscape and the vast array of fruit and flower gardens. In addition, my wife and I were blessed by the warm hospitality of the Cameronians, i.e. the cheerful and helpful hotel staff and tour guides. Hopefully, it will not be another 30 years before our next visit!

3 on a 2 wheeler

This pix was snapped from the inside of a taxi in Indonesia. That afternoon was exceptionally hot and humid, and you can imagine the heat and the dust outside the air-conditioned cab. If you zoom in to the bottom left of the pix, you would see a tiny hand of a very young child sandwiched between the rider and the pillion passenger. In other words, there are 3 pax riding on the 2 wheeler. This form of transportation is very common there. The child probably represents a considerable large segment of the population of about 200 million living under such conditions. What's your feeling about this?

Male and Female

The stigma, style, ovary, and ovule are often known collectively as the carpel or female parts of the flower. The filament and the Anthers are collectively known as the Stamen or the male parts of the plant. (cf. http://www.naturegrid.org.uk/qca/flowerparts.html). The male and female components exist within the same flower and support the reproduction of its species. And ordinarily, it takes quite a while for it to blossom into a pretty flower. However, in a matter of seconds it can be destroyed.
The nature of the flower can be compared to a human relationship too. When the male and female understand and appreciate its unique role within a given relationship,it has the potential to grow and mature.Just like the process of growth of a flower, the relationship can develop beautifully too. However,like the flower, it is also susceptible to factors (such as lack of communications, trust,love, patience, forgiveness etc...)that will challenge its stability. In other words, if a relationship is not nurtured carefully, it can be ruined. This is especially so in a fast paced society where relationships are often taken for granted and consequently, it is not uncommon for relationships to breakdown even to the point of non repair!. Perhaps we should review our relationships, including working relationships, and give some thoughts on its nurture and growth. Incidentally, someone commented that while our technological advancement has successfully brought man to the moon and back, sometimes we may even find it hard to cross over a road to welcome a new neighbour. What an irony!

Take a break

After the usual busy schedule of the Holy Week

leading to the Easter Celebrations, I had the privileged of "taking a break" for a few days with my colleagues in Penang which is fondly known as the "Land of Orient Pearl". Although my last visit there was almost a decade ago, there were not too many changes in that beautiful island of West Malaysia, except for several new condominiums and a large shopping complex that sprung up along the costal road. Overall, it is a wonderful place for rest, reflection and rejuvenation. In addition to the 3 Rs, I enjoyed the warm hospitality of some friends who brought us to indulge in their local delights such as laksa, chendol and char kway teow! The pix shows the palm trees in the Botanical Garden. Like these tropical trees, they grow tall and reach up to the sky when there is a healthy balance of light, water and nutrients! In the same manner, we cannot underestimate the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. If you have been very busy, you might want to consider "taking a break". Visit Penang :)

What lies beneath

These lovely yellow flowers brighten the landscape of the pavement. The yellow color provides an excellent contrast to the already dull greyish cracked stones. The flowers were scattered by the natural wind and rain while the carefully laid interlocking tiles had been the work of tireless contractors and often poorly paid foreign workers who had left their country in search for a better life... most of them hoping to break away from their poverty cycle.

Here in this community, foreign workers line the streets with the hope of securing jobs is a daily happening. It is not uncommon to see them squatting by the pavement early in the morning and vying for the attention of passing pickups and lorries to provide them with odd jobs and reasonable income for their daily sustenance as well as savings for their loved ones whom they would probably see only once in every 1 or 2 years!

While we walk on the solid pavement,instead of mud tracks and behold the floral beauty, let's appreciate what lied beneath i.e. the swaet and toil of the workers that make our life more pleasant and serene... and offer a prayer of blessing for them as well as for their loved ones who live far away!

Enter

At the IT Fair 2007 in Singapore, I came across a PC keyboard that has an unconventional design.It is washable, dustproof, mildew and water resistant, flexible, lightweight, can be rolled and virtually indestructible! It was retailed at less than SGD20! ENTER the technological age! IT products such PCs' processors, RAMs, printers, notebooks, media players, Wlan etc... are developing at an unprecedented rate! Thousands of shoppers packed the exhibition halls chalking sales of almost $50 million over a four day period!
In addition to technological change, we ENTER into a world of rapid advancements and change in the arenas of science, medicine, religion, politics, environment, philosophy, economics, etc... Since the beginning of this New Year, what new challenges and engagements have you entered into? Have you been coping well?

Happy Lunar New Year

Wishing all a Happy and Prosperous New Year, filled with life, joy, peace and harmony.

Let there be love in the New Year. Let us offer prayers for those who are homeless, lonely, sick, suffering and lonely. May love be shared among us, inhabitants of this world!

Peace and harmony

These steps remind us of the years where people fought with each other that resulted in untold stories of pain , suffering and deaths. The number of World War 1 casualties(military and civilian) was about 40 million, over 19 million deaths and 21 million wounded. (ref. Wikipedia). One would have thought that humankind would have woken up to the terrible cruelties associated with such intense conflicts. Sadly, WW II (1939-1945) considered as the deadliest conflict in human history resulted in the deaths of over 60 million people! One shudders at what the scenario would be like if humanity failed to show mutual respect to each other and took peace and harmony for granted.

Perspectives

What do you see in the picture on the right? More often than not, our first impression of what we think is apparent to us may not be the real thing! Our prejudices coupled with our 'busy' syndrome color our perspectives. Our views are often distorted. However, when we begin to pay a little more attention to the things that appear obvious to us, we suspend immediate judgment and embark upon a journey of discovery. We learn, we grow, we appreciate the beauty around us. The process helps us gain deeper insights into life itself. Think about Richard Foster's statement,"Superficiality is the curse of the age."