Lifestyles Ideas Management - Stepping out for Adventure

Stepping out for adventure is more excitement this holiday season, taking a break from conventional shopping trips and cruises. If you are starting to feel that the weekend game no longer excites you, perhaps one of these activities might help you quench that thirst for adventure. Put all your worries aside! Give your travel agent a call and you will find that planning for your dream adventure holiday is a lot easier than you think!

Imagine looking out of your window every morning and being greeted by lush greenery with a mountain range in the distance, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. If you like your getaway coupled with all the challenges and beauty that Mother Nature has to offer, then hiking may be just the holiday for you!
Though considered by enthusiasts to be the “free and easy” of adventure holidays, braving the outdoors and facing steep climbs set in the wilds of nature is not an activity for the dainty. With hiking hot spots such as the 350m high Gunung Bintan and Taman Negara Rain forest in Malaysia, aspiring adventurers are spoilt for choice whether they desire the challenge of a steep climb, or a stunning nature experience infused with discovery and adventure. To add to the challenge and excitement, some trips are organized in the form of a race or competition between groups, making this an adrenaline packed adventure!

I remembered way back in 2001, when I had my first hike in Nepal, Lantang valley near to the Tibet border, overlooking the world highest mountain, Everest. It was a medium trek following animal tracks around the mountain ranges. Sometimes, we need to go on fours just to scale through the steep spot and at times we need to scale sideways in order to pass through a narrow edge around the mountain to the next. Sometimes, we need to hide ourselves away from the yaks, an aggressive black buffalo who will charge at anyone in front of them. I thought perhaps that was the last time that I ever came back alive, so I left some notes behind for my mother to collect them in case of my death.

The most difficulties part of my trek was the walking around the mountain up and down for solid eight hours with two hours break for lunch and teas. My legs were wobbling weak and after six hours of walking, I almost crawled on the ground, I just could not take it anymore. Turn back, turn back my mind kept on telling me that but my heart stood firm. That was the adventure I was looking for after all these years, one year training in aerobics and six months of scaling the flight of stairways. Just to work on my stamina.

The sleeping arrangement were quite terrible, we slept in the tents with the sleeping bags so cold that it was hard to fall asleep, even though I was very exhausted to the bones.
The nights were cold and the howling wind beating down the tent. It was pitch total darkness. One consolation was the vast and numerous stars up on the sky that it makes you forgot all the coldness and numbness. My water bottle turned to ice the next day. The coldness makes it difficult for the toilet wash; it was extremely difficult to peel the layers of clothing off as our hands were too cold.

Sometimes I wondered how I can survive the coldness of minus 5, 10 and 15 degrees C. It must be the strong will and determination to overcome all obstacles and reach the summit overlooking Everest. It was the most memorable trip that I had ever taken in my own life time; the most beautiful scenery that I have ever seen was etched in my mind forever. Every day, we hardly spoke with anyone except a few smattering of English with the guide; I did not get to see anyone along the way as it was not the season for trekking.
I saw an eagle, one monkey, less than 10 mountain yaks and 5 persons along the way, greeting each other as we passed them. It was dead quiet as we passed deep into the cedar forest, dark and quiet that you can hear your own panting.

By the eighth day, we reach our summit however we cannot get any further to the glacier as few days ago; an avalanche buried two Japanese tourists. And immediately the next day we need to evacuate the whole area descending quickly. The first snow fell and the wind was gushing strongly behind us. The descent was quick as the wind was pushing behind us; we kept on walking until we reached our lodging site.

By the tenth day, we were in the valley road waiting for the public bus to take us to the town where we can catch a transit to Kathmandu. By the midnight, we were still on the road to Kathmandu, stopping for toilet breaks only. 1:00am we reached our hotel where we stayed on our first day, it was such a welcome sight. Without dinner, I slept like a blackout, nothing can wake me up till the next day at 10:00 am. It was free and easy day ahead and we took a private guide to explore the market place and had lunch at the Hyatt Hotel where we met the executive chef which happened to be on the same plane with us.
It was a lovely lunch washed down with cappuccino. After lunch, we stopped by to buy some spices and vegetables seeds for planting. The next day we took the early evening flight out from Kathmandu to Singapore. It was a good flight and I slept throughout.

One good lesson that I learned on this trip is to treasure precious water from the tap. What we drank during our trip was water collected from the river, it was brown in colour and that was the reason why we drank either coffee or tea. What I learnt was never to look back but pressing forward to the goal which was the summit. It was a most memorable trip. It was also a trip where I discovered my friend exciting secret affair with the mountain guide which I did not mentioned it until today in this blog. Though I did not think it was right thing for her to carry out such activity behind her husband’s back. But as a colleague and friend I did not voice out at all after all we are adult and being adult we should be responsible for our own actions. I wondered during the trip that if I had a husband like hers, would I have done the same thing. We are not perfect being and to err is human. I still hold on to my moral standards, she is a widow with a younger boy friend.
The poor mountain guide was soon forgotten and a memory after the trip.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - The Most Fulfilling Years!

This is a story of Myrtle Howell, age 67, a devoted Christian woman, whose husband died early in their married life and left her to bring up the three children alone. She grew old and out lived all her children. She went into a depression when her last child, her youngest son died. She told God that she was tired and wanted to leave this “prison” she was in and go to be with God.
But God spoke to her – “ I am not done with you, go and write to the prisoners.” So she wrote from her old folk’s home a letter to the prison Chaplain. And this is what the letter said: “Dear inmate, I am a grandmother who loves and cares for you. I am willing to be a friend if you like to hear from me, write to me. I will answer every letter you write.
A Christian friend, Grandmother Howell.”

Soon, she was corresponding with up to 40 inmates a day. She became a one woman ministry reaching into prisons all over America.
She said, “I thought my life was over. But these past few years have been the most fulfilling years of my life! I thank Prison Fellowship! And most of all, I thank Jesus!”
Myrtle Howell became a great missionary of God. No matter where you live. Or what your situation is like God can still do wonderful things through your life. As long as your heart is still beating and your blood is still pumping – you can still live a fulfilling life.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - 57 cents

A sobbing little girl stood near a small church from which she has been turned away because it “was too crowded.” “I can’t go to Sunday School,” she sobbed to the pastor as he walked by. Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor guessed the reason and, taking her by the hand, took her inside and found place for her in the Sunday school class. The child was so happy that they found room for her, that she went to bed that night thinking of the children who have no place to worship Jesus.

Some two years later, the child lay dead in one of the poor tenement buildings and the parents called for the kind-hearted pastor, who has befriended their daughter, to handle the final arrangements. As her little body was being moved, a worn and crumpled purse was found which seemed to have been rummaged from some trash dump. Inside was found 57 cents and a note scribbled in childish handwriting which read, “This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday school.” For two years she had saved for this offering of love.

When the pastor tearfully read that note, he knew instantly what he would do. Carrying this note and the crumpled purse to the pulpit, he told the story of her unselfish love and devotion. He challenged his deacons to get busy to raise enough money for the larger building. But the story does not end there! A newspaper learned of the story and published it. It was read by a realtor who offered them a parcel of land worth many thousands. When told that the church could not pay so much, he offered it for 57 cents. Church members made large donations. Cheques came from far and wide. Within five years the little girl’s gift had increased to $250,000.00 – a huge sum for that time (near the turn of the century!). Her unselfish love had paid large dividend.

When you are in the city of Philadelphia look up Temple Baptist Church, with a seating capacity of 3,300 and Temple University, where hundreds of students are trained. Have a look, too at the Good Samaritan Hospital and at a Sunday school building which houses hundreds of Sunday School Schoolers, so that no child in the area will ever need to be left out during Sunday school time. In one of the rooms of this building may be seen the picture of the sweet face of the little girl whose 57 cents, so sacrificially saved, made such remarkable history. Alongside of it is portrait of the kind pastor, Dr. Russell H. Conwell, author of the book, “Acres of Diamonds.”

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Xmas Eve dinners runied when roasts didn't turn up

Their spirits were dashed during at least 10 dinner parties on Christmas Eve when the roasts they ordered from a caterer did not turn up.
The three ovens at Gourmet and Butchery broke down on that day and 36 patrons either did not get their orders or got them very late.
Some orders were placed as early as two weeks before Christmas Eve. Two upset customers whose roast never turned up and who never got a phone call informing them said the no-show ruined their Christmas Eve dinner parties with family and friends.
How can a professional butchery do something like this on Christmas Eve? They didn’t even call to apologize that night,” the upset housewife said.

The Gourmet and Butchery owner said that three ovens in the company’s kitchen overheated and broke down at about noon on Monday. “As it was Christmas Eve, it was hard to find a technician and when we did it, it took three hours to fix them.”
As the kitchen was coping with more than 3,000 orders that day, they could not catch up on the delays. One oven can cook about 20 turkeys, 55 beef roasts and about 70 - 80 pork roasts at any one time. The owner tried to call as many customers as possible to tell them about the situation but could not reach all of them during the chaotic evening.
The company will refund the purchases and pay for extra costs incurred such as eating out at the last minute. It will also these customers roasts for the New Year free of charge. But redress after the fact may be too little too late for some customers.

Another customer said it should have alerted him earlier so he could make alternative arrangement for his party. “We just wanted better service. It is not about money but the distress they caused and their not responding to us,” he said.

The owner in trying to do everything in their power to solve this as customer are very important yet forget one simple rule – try to be honest about the situation and inform the customer about the situation earlier so that you only lose the business once but not smeared your reputation permanently.

Just for laughs
Motorist filled car with petrol through window
An early-morning motorist in Hungary poured 150 litres of petrol through the back window of his car, according to ananova.com. The man drove off with petrol dripping on the floor at the petrol station shortly after the staff noticed his mistake. It was too late to stop him, they said. Police suspect the motorist was either very tired or very drunk.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - A letter from an old friend

How are you? I am the same but feeling older. Very tired.

(1) I am glad that you advised me to work in education related area a dozen years ago. I am happy that I am able to do so. Without your advice, I would be here. Although I talk about children now, it is much practical than before. I have time to look around and think. It is scary but I feel that the system is failing. Although this system produces more 'elite' but there are also more losers compared to the older generations.

A few months ago, it was published that there are 15% Normal Tech and 25% Normal Academics. Imagine 40% of our future 'abnormal'. The system takes great care of the top 20%. We are having a new Principal. For 30 years (age 7 to 37), I never think that Principal is a tough job. But when I look at my new Principal I just shake my head. I wonder how is she going to make the school 'prosperous'.

(2) It has been published so many times that customer support get pay rise but not me. I joined in Mar 01. I got my last increment in Mar 03 and not a single cent rise after that till now. I am glad that after almost 5 years, I am expecting an increase of $60 in Jan 08. After that it is another 'drought' - long wait again. But what should I do? If you read the papers carefully, the pay rise is only applicable to super scales and higher level. Sad to say I am a lowest level. I label myself as the most less prospect staff in the school. Because I stopped getting pay rise at 32. Most of the time I care less. I just do my part and that's it. I don't think there is any moral left. In terms of competencies among the 4 Technical Support Officer I am the best. But the other 3 are at a higher grade and receive higher pay than me.

(3) Chinese Nationals and expatriate Indians. Do you notice that you see more of them around? The Prima Deli incident – bacteria found in the chocolate cream. Look at their off springs. Their juniors are brighter and smarter. Our juniors are lagging behind. They will dominate us soon. My colleague told me that in National University of Singapore, Chinese nationals are nicknamed as Ah Tiong ( the one that knows all).
One day, I bought my son to the zoo and there were so many Chinese nationals. Mind you, the bright ones. There are so many, there are Ah Sing (lower level who cannot get into school). I think they will be the scientist or leaders and ours becoming odd job laborers. Reversing what it is now. They excel in lots of areas. But what about our child future?

(4) My husband's job in Chiang Mai was a horror. Later he found a job in Esco Singapore run by a local CEO & family. Now he is working under a local company but is being posted to China with 3 home trips a year. I think this is a better organization at least he gets his contributions. I heard things also changed in FR. Globalisation? More than 10 years ago, everybody was happy. 7 years ago, it wasn't so bad either. Things got worst since my son started P1. My son is as old as Cedric (my nephew).

(5) We see nothing but increases from the papers. Taxi fare up, school bus fee up, high level civil servant pay up, property price up. That is on the surface only, the truth is my property price doesn't go up. I only take taxis during emergencies so it doesn't affect me much. My son only took the school bus when he was in P1 & 2 (1yr 3 months) because the school was under prime and relocated to Ang Mo Kio Street. Now the school has moved back and he only needs to walk to school with shelter all the way. A blessing. My husband was so pleased after reading the news. A big thank you to you again. If I didn't resign and work in a school, I won't have time to think and take action.

(6) I have subscribed to Time and I am reading the old issues. I read an article on the last page yesterday. The book is not with me now. If not, I could type it out for you. It is about what is the point of living if we eat healthy to avoid getting cancer. Someone can eats carefully and still get cancer. So it depends on 4% fate. I am thinking should we leave our life to fate? In this case, is it true that prevention is better than cure?

This is just life.

Best Wishes,
PS, sorry that I got carried away and wrote such a long mail.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Driving overseas: Australia

It is holiday seasons in here and many are getting out of city for holidays at their favorite destination. Australia and New Zealand is the nearest getaway land with plenty adventures to offer us. Driving around Australia and New Zealand is one best way to see the vast land.

Driving in Australia is a great way to see the country especially if you don’t’ want to be tied to a fixed itinerary. Here’s how to get started:

Driving License
Visitors over 18 years may drive in Australia if they hold a valid driving license from their home country and if they are driving the class of vehicle which they are licensed to drive. You must have the license with you at all times while driving.
An international Drivers Permit is not sufficient by itself and must be accompanied by a valid driving license. If you’re spending longer than half a year there, you should bring along an international drivers permit or apply for an Australian driver’s license.

Car Rental
Renting a car is a good option if you want to explore a particular region thoroughly on your own. You’ll need a credit card to rent a car which you should book before you travel. There may be an age limit for renting certain vehicles, like Moves and luxury sedans. The big car rental companies may be more expensive, but offer advantages. They have branches nationwide, offer airport pick-up and drop-off points and long-distance one way rentals.

Speed limits
On country roads and highways the usual speed limit is between 100 and 110 kHz, unless otherwise indicated. The national default urban speed limit is 50km per hour.
All speed limits are clearly marked and all states operate sophisticated speed detection equipment. Any fine incurred in Australia is the responsibility of the driver. If the driver is a foreigner, the fine will be mailed to their home country address.

Driving in Melbourne
If you plan to drive in Melbourne, watch out for the peculiar “hook turn”. Certain intersections in the city centre will have a sign that says “right turn on left only”. That means you have to keep on the leftmost lane to make a right turn. Although it’s confusing, it makes sense as hook turns prevent trams from being held up in traffic.
Instead of turning right from the right lane, you should get into left lane and cross three-quarters of the intersection and then stop, indicating to turn right, until you have a green light in the direction you are turning.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Christmas Gift

This is a story of a woman with two kids.
The woman wanting to buy Christmas presents for her two kids went to the as usual crowded shopping malls. She went in for hours shopping for the presents to give to the two kids and her family and friends. Both kids wanted mum to buy them their favorite things that it took her the whole day to get all the gifts on the list. By then she was overwhelmed and almost on the brim of collapse. Alas, she managed to pay up the cashier and was making her way to the elevator. When the elevator came with full load of people, she took her two kids and pushed her way in the elevator. They stood in front and the door of the elevator closed. While the elevator was going down, she could not take it any longer and shouted “ Who is that person who started Christmas, he should be shot, hanged and crucified on the tree”. The crowd behind her was silent until someone spoke “ We have already crucified that person on the tree”. Then there was a great silence all the way down the elevator.

This is a story of a Christmas Gifts
An African boy listened carefully as his teacher explained why Christians give presents to each other on Christmas day.

“The gift is an expression of our joy over the birth of Jesus and our friendship for each other” she said.
When Christmas day came, the boy brought the teacher a seashell of radiant beauty.
“Where did you ever find such a beautiful shell?” the teacher asked.
The youth told her that there was only one spot where such extraordinary shells could be found. When he named the place, a certain bay several miles away, the teacher was left speechless.
“Why. Why, it’s gorgeous.. wonderful, but you shouldn't have gone all that way to get the gift for me.” His eyes brightening, the boy answered, “Long walk part of gift.”

God came from heaven to a manger, from a manger to a cross, from a cross to a grave and from a grave back to heaven.
And we ask, “ why all this trouble, God?”
And God would say to us “ Long walk part of gift.”

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Cook your food well!

Cooking our food well is just a important as buying, handling and storing properly,
Harmful bacteria that cause food positioning can be found on raw or uncooked food, especially meat, poultry, seafood , eggs and dairy products.
Heat kills bacteria. You can keep food safe by cooking it thoroughly. Food is properly cooked when it has been heated for a long enough time and at a high enough temperature (at least 74 degrees C) to kill the harmful bacteria that cause foodborne illness.

Food Safety Tips
Eggs should be cooked thoroughly until the yolk and white are firm
Bring stews, soups and curries to a boil
The meat should not be pink and the juices should run clear.

Salads are by definition, celebrations of fresh vegetables. So for good results, they should absolutely be assembled, dressed and eaten right away. To nibble at them over a period of days is to taste only the slow deterioration of flavor.
So, firstly buy good produce and use it as soon as possible. Secondly, cut up, wash and dry the vegetables – soggy salads are no fun. A spinning salad dryer for leafy vegetables is a good investment.
Thirdly, dress and toss salads just before eating. The oils, acids and salt in dressings will cause unappealing color and texture changes in the greens if you let the tossed salad stand for too long.
There is no one size fits all dressing. For most leafy salads, I use basic vinaigrette of four parts oil to one part vinegar or tart citrus juice, plus salt and pepper.
This is easily varied by changing the oil – sunflower, olive, grape seed – or the acid, or by adding herbs or other seasonings like mustard or tahini (sesame paste).
If a creamy dressing is called for, I usually just thin out some good store-bought mayonnaise with milk or lemon juice. Try to avoid really viscous dressings that prevent you from tasting you from tasting the vegetables.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Gift Buying Tips

Do you know what is a “giftologist”?
Her job is to advise customers on what to buy and for whom. She has a few tips for frazzled shoppers on how to organize their last minute shopping sprees.

Make a list and priorities it according to the importance of the relationship between you and your recipient. This must be presume that would mean family and loved ones come first, then close friends, then colleagues and so on.

Shop under one roof, that is in one shopping complex or one shop that carries a wide variety of merchants and you can buy everything in one place.

Try to shop in the morning or near closing times to avoid having to jostle with other shoppers.

Get a “helper” – a friend or your husband to tag along so he can queue at the cashier while you make your rounds.

Gift-wrapping services are great but the queues are often very long. Buy gift boxes or gift bags which you can chuck your presents into without having to go through the hassle of wrapping them.

What to buy? Well, you cannot go wrong with toiletries and food and beverage items. An easy way to make a group of friends happy is to buy, a nice T-shirt in different colours.
If you are attending a party, get a lovely floral decoration for the host to add to the festive mood. Stay away from useless gifts like stationery.

Remember there’s no shame in shopping on a last minute.
It is the thought that counts. Even it is done last minute your friends and family will appreciate you putting in time to buy them a gift. However, always have in mind that it is the thought that counts not so much as the gift, it's time to remember those whom we love and appreciate them by expression of giving gifts.

22 December, I shop at my favorite shop selling body care shop, my favorite is because the shop sell all types of nice things for ladies, once you are inside you can smell the lovely scent of lemon, lavender, green tea, olive and almond, it is as if you are strolling in the spice garden.

I bought twelve gifts for some people whom I want to appreciate during this festive season, trusting that through this little gift they can feel being loved.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Greed for Money

Lured to her uncle’s home on the pretext of doing some farm work, the young niece of a Chinese school teacher and a Chinese student were instead taken to a hostel by the uncle’s wife and made to have sex with two men. The men then paid the wife 4,900 yuan (S$970). The girls were the first of 22 students – some as young as 11 – forced into having sex with men seeking virgins by wife Zhao Qing Mei, 28 and later her husband, Chi Yao, 25. The couple who both taught in the poor province of Guizhou in south west China were sentenced to death last Friday, 14 December 2007.
Last year Zhao planned with a local woman identified as Wei Yaqin who is still on the run, to earn money by forcing teenage girls into prostitution. Zhao and Wei lured Chi’s niece and another student into Zhao’s home in Weining county.
The next day, the girls were taken 150km away to a hostel in Nayong county where they were told to have sex with the two men and later ordered not to tell their families about the prostitution. After that, Zhao encouraged her husband, Chi, his colleague Hai Long and Hai’s wife Li Huiyan to join in. Several days later, Zhao and Li bought home another four girls who were taken to hostel in nearby city the next day. The hostel owner said he had contacted a man willing to pay for sex, But the man refused sex with the girls when he learned that two of them were underage. One of the four girls was forced to have sex with a man at another hostel. The two couples then took two of the girls to the hostel to which they had taken Chi’s niece the first time, where one of the two men from the first encounter paid Zhao 4,000 yuan to have sex with the girls.
By June, the ring had forced 23 girls, including a non-student, to have sex with men.
Six of the girl was under 14, ages ranged from 11 to 17. They were lured on the pretext of doing farm work or going on agricultural excursions and were later told that their families would be poisoned if they refused to have sex.
During one trip with two girls, Zhao helped her husband in the rape of one who refused to comply with their demands. The child ring made 32,350 yuan.
Money certain is the root of all evil! Greed is the tumor of insatiable desires for money, power and authority.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Caregiving

This is the real story of s struggle of a single woman.
My mother, whom I live with, suffered a stroke six months ago. She is now bedridden and since I am the only sibling who is not married, I have had to juggle work with looking after her. Even though there is a helper (maid) to help, I am depressed and stressed out from catering to her needs. She always needs my attention and I feel obliged to do all I can for her. But I have no time for myself. I do not think I can continue to live like this, even for another few months. What can I do?

I am always against sibling whom assumed that because a person is single it is duty bound and naturally so for the single person to look after the elderly parents. I know of a distant friend who is actually in the similar position. He is worse off, both parent is dementia and He have to juggle between his teaching music and looking after both elderly folks. Formerly he is good looking but now he looked haggard and old with one of the front tooth gone. It is sad to know that many single persons is facing such situation and some had even taken their lives in their own hand. There was one suicide case where it was reported in the national newspaper about a woman in early forties jumped from her apartment few years old. Her mother was bed-ridden after a stroke and she left her job permanently as a caregiver. The first few months she seemed able to cope as her siblings came frequently to help out. But as times goes back, the help became lesser and fewer, so much so it was taken for granted that she ought to look after her mother. She was not aware of her burnt-out emotional draining chores of being a caregiver, neither did she knows that depression seeped in gradually. She was depressed and stressed out but there was no one to confide to, the sibling thought that she was coping alright. One day it must be the depression that made her decide to take her own life as a release from her troubled circumstance, this circumstance was beyond what she could handle or take. This was her break point, life was nothing but suffering and more suffering. Everything became dark even though the sun was shinning brightly, all she saw was the dark side of life.

Caregiving is a journey that can be demanding at all levels – physically emotionally and financially. It is a journey you must be prepared for and a big part of that is working out how to involve others – and not just the helper (maid). Others must be willing to help out.

It would be good to have an open discussion with your mum and other family members about the current situation, as differently family members may have different expectations. You need to let your siblings know about the problems that you are facing and discuss how they could share some of the responsibility.
You might find it difficult; given the other siblings have their own families to care for. But you have to remember that you will be caring for your mother for a long time to come and need to be on guard against “burnout”. You will become increasingly unable to cope if you do not get more help. The consequences for the whole family including your mum, if this happens will be much worse.

Another way you can help yourself is to understand more about your mother’s reaction to her recent stroke. Like most stroke patients, she may be experiencing feeling of helplessness, fear and anger. She may be so overwhelmed by her own emotions that she has not considered your needs and difficulties. Understanding what she is going through would help you communicate better with her which in turn will improve your caregiving.

Your and your helper could also learn more and how to provide the proper care by attending course. This will help to reduce stress that comes from not knowing what care to provide and how to give it. It includes knowing hoe to lift, transfer or feed the patient.

Caring for yourself is the most important part of caregiving. You can provide the “good” care you aim for when you are healthy and strong. You need to take care of your emotionally state and your physical health as well as your social, leisure and recreational needs. Most importantly, remember that you are not alone. There are support groups where you can get encouragement and support from other caregivers.

I remembered my 18th floor neighbour’s daughter suffered through a stroke one day while she was having dinner with some friends. She fell off the chair. She lead an active lifestyle with playing ball games and exercises thrice a week. She was a keen mountaineer and went afar for hiking and trekking. As compared to me, I was not active and exercise only twice a week by brisk walking to the supermarket and home bound with bags of chips and peanut butter cookies. She was small size and slim whereas I am medium size and average build. After the stroke, her bubbling nature changed to feeling of anger about everything and everyone. When I met her at the vicinity park, she would glared at me with her angry eyes as if I was the cause of her misery. But I understood and took it with stride; deep inside I am feeling empathy and sympathy for her and hope that she will pick up her life again. She probably has been pointing finger at God and ask “Why” such thing happened to her and not her medium size and average build neighbour.
Till today, she put on weight and walk with a slight limp, her right hand is immobile, never did she recovered from her stroke. She speaks with a stutter.
I have seen stroke patient living till today doing normal activities and never can tell that they suffered from stroke before. The acceptance level, attitudes and perception on lifestyles management is taking life as it comes.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - My Father and I

My father and I are saying goodbye at a small airport in southern Africa. He and close friends of his have joined me in one of my favorite places, Botswana’s Okavango Delta. We have always been close, but for some reason he seems especially emotional as I put him on the plane. Tears well in his eyes as he says how much he loves me and hopes we’ll see more of each other.

I assure him that I’ll be home soon. He smiles and climbs into the plane.
Immediately I call my mother and sister and tell them that something is not right.
During our safari he became easily confused. He drifted off in conversations. He seemed disengaged. One evening as we talked, Dad – a world traveler and geography whiz – could not remember the name of the Swiss village he and my mother stayed in at least a dozen times. My mother takes him to a neurologist for testing. The diagnosis is dementia, most likely Alzheimer’s. Dad remains cheerful and positive. As often happens in these cases, my mother is the one who struggles with despair. Shortly thereafter, she is diagnosed with cancer. Six months later, she is gone.
My sister and I face the toughest decision of our lives: How to give our father the care he deserves? We find an excellent facility, three miles from my sister’s home, that specializes in caring for those with dementia. At first he resist, then settles in. When I call, my father tells me he’s buying a new yellow Mustang, and that he and my mother are driving over to visit this afternoon. It breaks my heart to hear his gentle voice making plans that will never happen, but then I think that if he is happy living in an imaginary world with his beloved wife, perhaps memory loss isn’t such a bad thing. I accept his illness and cherish every moment with him.
Memory, perishable and enduring, is the brain’s archive. It is a marvel of neuronic circuitry, its loss can be cruel, but remember this: It is through memory that we hold on to those we love.
Adapted from Editor’s Note National Geographic November 2007 issue

My father and I were close when I was small, he would bought sweets after his tired day’s work and quietly passed it to me when we were alone. We nicknamed him ”Black Ninja” as his face will be moody black if he was unhappy after his day’s work.
We were told by my mother to keep quiet least your father started throwing temper around the house. He was a fiery tempered person, not of a voilent physically but he would dished out all the hasty words at my mother. At that time I wondered how my mother suffered silently without retaliation nor a murmur. Most of the quarrels at home was about finances and how hard he has to work to support all the hunger mouths at home, nine of us.
I am the fifth in the family and sandwiched between my brothers and sisters.
I was the errand girl, doing chores for my mother and siblings. Life carried on as normal and soon I was out working for my keeps. My father retired permanently and he was always staying at home reading newspapers, hardly talked with my mother. Perhaps after all these years, there was nothing to share any longer.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Care giving

This is the real story of s struggle of a single woman.
My mother, whom I live with, suffered a stroke six months ago. She is now bedridden and since I am the only sibling who is not married, I have had to juggle work with looking after her. Even though there is a helper (maid) to help, I am depressed and stressed out from catering to her needs. She always needs my attention and I feel obliged to do all I can for her. But I have no time for myself. I do not think I can continue to live like this, even for another few months. What can I do?

I am always against sibling whom assumed that because a person is single it is duty bound and naturally so for the single person to look after the elderly parents. I know of a distant friend who is actually in the similar position. He is worse off, both parent is dementia and He have to juggle between his teaching music and looking after both elderly folks. Formerly he is good looking but now he looked haggard and old with one of the front tooth gone. It is sad to know that many single persons is facing such situation and some had even taken their lives in their own hand. There was one suicide case where it was reported in the national newspaper about a woman in early forties jumped from her apartment few years old. Her mother was bed-ridden after a stroke and she left her job permanently as a caregiver. The first few months she seemed able to cope as her siblings came frequently to help out. But as times goes back, the help became lesser and fewer, so much so it was taken for granted that she ought to look after her mother. She was not aware of her burnt-out emotional draining chores of being a caregiver, neither did she knows that depression seeped in gradually. She was depressed and stressed out but there was no one to confide to, the sibling thought that she was coping alright. One day it must be the depression that made her decide to take her own life as a release from her troubled circumstance, this circumstance was beyond what she could handle or take. This was her break point, life was nothing but suffering and more suffering. Everything became dark even though the sun was shinning brightly, all she saw was the dark side of life.

Caregiving is a journey that can be demanding at all levels – physically emotionally and financially. It is a journey you must be prepared for and a big part of that is working out how to involve others – and not just the helper (maid). Others must be willing to help out.

It would be good to have an open discussion with your mum and other family members about the current situation, as differently family members may have different expectations. You need to let your siblings know about the problems that you are facing and discuss how they could share some of the responsibility.
You might find it difficult; given the other siblings have their own families to care for. But you have to remember that you will be caring for your mother for a long time to come and need to be on guard against “burnout”. You will become increasingly unable to cope if you do not get more help. The consequences for the whole family including your mum, if this happens will be much worse.

Another way you can help yourself is to understand more about your mother’s reaction to her recent stroke. Like most stroke patients, she may be experiencing feeling of helplessness, fear and anger. She may be so overwhelmed by her own emotions that she has not considered your needs and difficulties. Understanding what she is going through would help you communicate better with her which in turn will improve your caregiving.

Your and your helper could also learn more and how to provide the proper care by attending course. This will help to reduce stress that comes from not knowing what care to provide and how to give it. It includes knowing hoe to lift, transfer or feed the patient.

Caring for yourself is the most important part of caregiving. You can provide the “good” care you aim for when you are healthy and strong. You need to take care of your emotionally state and your physical health as well as your social, leisure and recreational needs. Most importantly, remember that you are not alone. There are support groups where you can get encouragement and support from other caregivers.

I remembered my 18th floor neighbour’s daughter suffered through a stroke one day while she was having dinner with some friends. She fell off the chair. She lead an active lifestyle with playing ball games and exercises thrice a week. She was a keen mountaineer and went afar for hiking and trekking. As compared to me, I was not active and exercise only twice a week by brisk walking to the supermarket and homebound with bags of chips and peanut butter cookies. She was small size and slim whereas I am medium size and average build. After the stroke, her bubbling nature changed to feeling of anger about everything and everyone. When I met her at the vicinity park, she would glared at me with her angry eyes as if I was the cause of her misery. But I understood and took it with stride; deep inside I am feeling empathy and sympathy for her and hope that she will pick up her life again. She probably has been pointing finger at God and ask “Why” such thing happened to her and not her medium size and average build neighbour.
Till today, she put on weight and walk with a slight limp, her right hand is immobile, never did she recovered from her stroke. She speaks with a stutter.
I have seen stroke patient living till today doing normal activities and never can tell that they suffered from stroke before. The acceptance level, attitudes and perception on lifestyles management is taking life as it comes with trials and tribulations. The essence of maturity is the ability to look beyond what we can see.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Spa Holidays

Last December 2006 three of us went to Anantara Resort & Spa Hua Hin, located on the Gulf of Thailand, this is a strictly Thai architecture built with the finest teak wood. This resort is tucked inside many hectares of lush tropical gardens, every room on the ground level leads to a garden and sea view. There are ten presidential suites face the sea, some comes with private pool, although the sea is within minutes walk. We took a three night’s stay package which includes economy airfare on Thai Airways to Bangkok, round-trip private transfer by mini-van from the airport to Hua Hin.

Upon arrival we were met by the travel agent representative at about 5:00 pm and transfer to a mini-van with three of us and a Thai middle age driver, who spoke no English as we found out later in the journey. He smiled a lot as we are in the land of a thousand smiles, so it is not surprising that she lives up to her name. I remembered not long ago, Singapore welcome the APEX conference and the ads on the bus printed as: Singapore, the land of four millions smiles so we are better off in smiles than Thailand. Culturally speaking,
Thais smiles a lot and they are brought up since young, it is part and parcel of their lives to learn to live life as it comes. Whereas for Singaporean like us, we are brought up culturally to mind our own business and smile only on the right time and systematically we are trained to be integrated into society prim and proper. Every thing and from top and bottom it works like a clock, everything work in Singapore from the political system to the mass rapid transport. Every one of us expects things to work the way it should be.

Then when we traveled overseas, we expected the same kind of treatment.
We went into the van and unexpectedly the driver stowed away our luggage at the back of the van as it is a ten sweater, three of us can sit on two seats comfortably well.
The traffic in Bangkok as usual is crawling during peak hours where everyone is rushing home on Friday evening, we do not mind as it was a good chance to take stock of the long traffic jams that we hardly experience back home. No honking from all the drivers on the road, how patience is the Thais. Back home it is a different story altogether.

After a while we are back on the smooth traffic and we just sat and stared at the scenery and the driver just drove on. It was past 7:00 pm and about 2 hours passed there was no water stop for us and we began to wonder whether he will stop us for dinner. Guessed as much there was no stop until 8:00pm we break our silence and request him to stop for a drinks and toilet call. It was easy to communicate with the driver our hands, he understood us very well. We bought our dinners at the Thai convenience shop which sells every Thai product from noodles to traditional Thai cooked food. We packed in chewing gums, cup noodles and our beloved potatoes chips in various flavor. The packaging is written in Thai language but from the packaging you can tell the flavor. Dinner was sandwiches and bread as we were not so keen to tuck in cooked food, perhaps the food may not agreed well with the tummy.

Our journey began, it was 9:00 pm and the sky grew darker and darker, the street lights were far away from each other. There were no cars on the road except heavy duty trucks and container trailer. We felt uneasy and what if the driver decided to abandon us halfway through the journey into a deep jungle. We looked at each other and tried not to sleep at least one of us had to be wide awake.

It was a never ending journey and the driver was speeding on the road, 120mph, the trees passed by so quickly, the dark night and we saw nobody walking on the side road.
There were palm trees everywhere and one or two pottery factories.
The driver was looking at us from his front mirror because we stopped talking since after the water stop. It was a frightening experience and alas we passed by a brightly lighted small town with neon lights, a few men was having drinks and then it was back on the dark road again.

At 10:00pm, we saw a couple of resorts and we knew that we reached Hua Hin.
Anantara is the last resort located in the phetkasem beach road; we were finally at the main entrance at 10:45pm. We saw huge wooden cravings of animals, elephant, Siberian tiger, leopard, and all the animals you see in the Sriracha Zoo in Bangkok. This is some kind of a welcome parade for the visitors.

Anantara is not a friendly resort; we had to climb up a ten flight of stone steps in order to step into the reception area. Fresh squeeze chilled orange juice was served immediately and it was a refreshing drink because we were very thirsty from the munching of the chips. We sat and while the counter staff checked us in, with baggage carried to our reserved triple room located near a garden on the second level. We need to climb up three or four flight of steps, passed by a lotus garden, a garden step that lead to the beach, a water lily pond before stepping one last flight of steps into room.
On the way to our room, we were greeted by the bull frogs as it was mating season, the crickets and some other insects; it was a symphony orchestra sound.
Is there snakes we asked and the bell boy smiled and shake his head, I thought it was a no snake around or he could not understand at all so he shake his head and smile.

The room was well-furnished, cozy with a balcony that overlooked the garden.
We saw two wooden lovely umbrellas with hand-painted motifs, Japanese slippers for walking to the beach. All the amenities you can find in a five-star hotel.
That night we slept well except with the few sounds of the insects drumming our ears.

The next morning we combed around the whole place, hectares of tropical trees, lemon grasses, screw pine, basil and other types of herbs you normally find in a Thai garden.
There were many lotus, water lilies and hyacinth ponds around the garden; it is like a maze around the villas. From the beach you can watch the big waves washing into the shore. Nobody sunbath or swim which was not surprising due to last tragedy tsunami events that took place in Puget and Phi Island. The rooms with sea view are still available since the tsunami days.

Breakfast was continental styles and with some Thai desserts, the famous one is the mango with glutinous rice dripped with coconut milk. Not too bad but it was sweet for my taste. As we ate our breakfast we can hear the birds chirping away and the ceiling top decorated with many colored empty bird cages. It symbolizes that birds are born free.

We went to the event counter to book our spa treatment and cooking course on the third day. There were few tourists, mostly European couples. There were five eating places around the resorts, one French and Italian restaurant, two Thai restaurants and one BBQ pool style restaurant. The food prices were expensive compensated by the good and attentive services; otherwise it was not value for money. Most Thai dishes were authentic in taste. Our daily meals added up to about S$200.00 (one lunch + dinner + tea coffee and snack)

In the early afternoon we reserved a shuttle bus to take us to town, in the afternoon the town looked sleepy and shops opened at 10:30 am. Most beach front restaurant was closed and the opening time was 5:30pm for dinner. They do not serve luncheon.
There were some small eateries and family restaurant that serve quite tasty food on par with what we ate at the resort, the price was cheaper by half.

There were nothing much to buy except some dried seafood stuff like dried cuttlefish, dried shrimps and dried mangoes, Thai crackers and snacks. Most of them are fisherman so the seafood prices are comparatively cheap than in Bangkok. The seasonal fruits were mangoes, tangerines and Thai famous limes (we ate them every day as it was always served as garnishes besides the dish).
Subsequently the next two days we ate our lunches and dinner in town before we took the shuttle back to the resort. Hua Hin’s town is one straight road with all the shops lined up at the sidewalks you cannot get lost as it is one straight road.

Around the main road there were many side road that wind into the small lanes, it is these lanes that makes Hua Hin, a popular place with men. There were countless of girly bars, hangout water holes with pretty ladies in a group. Some as young as in their teens,
From their faces, a heavily make up thick foundation and very red lipsticks, but some young girls were innocently fresh without make up, probably a novice from countryside.
Having no choice but to make a living and send money back home to support their parents. This is a familiar story of young Thai teenager girl’s fateful life in the big city.
From head to toe, you can tell how experience they were in the flesh trade

The town suddenly woke up with a big yawn at about 8:00 pm so different when in the day light. In the day, we saw housewives doing their daily provisions, children in school uniforms and working class. In the night, there were lesser locals and more men tourists around and shops were lighted with may small little colored bulbs put together in rows and rows. Many open air bars with lighted candles with the clicking glasses and huge jug of beers being served and girls just sit around and looked pretty.

This is Sodom and Gomorrah's although not as buzzing like in Bangkok city area, it is slowly catching so as I heard from the resort staff.
Works is hard to find in Hua Hin and working opportunity in bars is easily available and tips are good if you are good in public relations. Hua Hin is a tourist spot and naturally service related work will be easily available. There is not much of a choice.
Unlike Singapore is a city of possibilities and we have plenty of choice for employment just as many choices for the types of food you like every day.

The third day, the cooking course was cancelled as there were few takers and we took the whole day off to town for lunch and back for our spa appointment.
We went for our spa which is located at the western side of the resort, a private and secluded garden. When you walked in, there is this feeling like you are walking into secret garden. We selected the massage the essential oil to go with it.
It was like having a massage in a privacy of a garden, with sweet music playing in the background. The massage lasted an hour and it was very refreshing good!
After dinner, we slept soundly like a log.

The next day it was breakfast and wait for our private transfer back to Bangkok city for our flight back to Singapore. The ride was smooth and fast as the driver was going at 120 mph on a broad day light. We tipped him heavily for ferrying us back in one piece.
We were about three hours earlier than our flight so we spend our last baht in the airport transit shops buying all the things we need to gave to friend and family members.
It was a refreshingly good getaway.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - A Bird In Hand

This is real story of a man who gives up building a career as lawyers, doctors and engineers to become a bird farmer in Singapore. He has a smelly introduction to his career but Mr. Ho is proud to be a farmer today.

When asked by people about his profession, his unabashed proclamation that he is a game bird farmer makes their eyes grow wide.
Mr. Ho love to be called a farmer and I am glad to be one says the jovial Mr. Ho, whose father is one of Singapore’s pioneer farmers.

Mr. Ho being the boss’ son did not entitle him to special privileges. He started learning the ropes just like everyone else – by clearing the bird droppings.
At first, I used to curse and swear. It was such a smelly and dirty job. I thought. ‘Why is the boss’ son doing this, why not the other workers?’ says Mr. Ho.
But he soon realized that studying the bird droppings allowed him to tell if the birds were malnourished or sick. To motivate him further, his father told him that whatever droppings he collect were his for keeps. So, Mr. Ho sold them as manure and pocketed $2.50 per packet. After many years gone by, today Mr. Ho is the executive director of Singapore’s only quail and game bird farm. The farm also breeds and sells guinea fowl, pigeons and kampong chicken. When the farm opened to the public, Mr. Ho was tasked with educating visitors on commercial poultry. These talks came to a standstill when Sars and later bird flu struck.
It was then Mr. Ho unaccustomed to the dearth of visitors, set up a subsidiary company called Uncle William Edu & Agri Enterprises in the farming enclave known as Farmart Centre. The Farmart Centre houses mini-farms, about 3 – 4 times he conducts tours around the centre for kindergarten, primary and secondary school children.

His plan is to go into something, a cross between farming and education.
He works six days a week. His days start with checking the chicken mortality rate and the number of eggs lay. After this, he transports a cartload of quail eggs to Farmart Centre.
‘I want the eggs in my shop to be the freshest in town’ that is why I collect my eggs every day and gives away those that are more than three days old’ Mr. Ho says.

Today’s public perception of farming is unlike the old times when it was deemed a lesser job. The man who once baulked at his early farming training says emphatically: ‘Farming in Singapore is not a sunset industry.’ In fact with the organic product gaining popularity these days, farming will be a good source of income in the days to come.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Fat Does Not Matter If Partners Are Happy

Women are more willing to overlook the fact that their partner is over-weight.
I have seen intelligent and gorgeous woman who adore their boyfriends with bad skin; overwhelming love handles or huge beer bellies.
This is because the men make them laugh, are attentive and take really good care of them and not because these overweight men are richer and big spenders.

Some may say that these men overcompensate for their lack of physical attraction by being overly nice. But in reality, there is only so much one’s physical appearance can do for you. Outer beauty last for the first impression, the inner beauty is the one that outlast the first. At the end of the day, what everyone wants is someone to hold on to in good and bad times. Size does not matter if both people are happy with each other. The ability to share one’s mind with the other person is what brings two persons together.

Fat girls have it harder than guys – because men are generally more superficial and seek validation from the appearance of their partner.
If your partner is overweight, go for a workout with him or her for health reasons and not because you are ashamed to be with some one who is overweight.
Being overweight is not a crime and ostracizing overweight people and belittling them based on appearance is shallow and unbecoming.

Beautiful is in the heart, soul and mind and not quite just appearance, although appearance counts in the first impression when two strangers meet. Accepting the other parties as a unique person is the sign of matured personality.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - The Gift of Love

The gift of love sustaining its fragile nature.
Poets, philosophers, and romantics have all sought to lad, describe and celebrate the mystery of love. In religious systems, love is usually described in terms of obedience and self-giving to the deity, wile in psychological terms, love has to do with caring relationships and mutually in which the boundaries of each person are respected.

No matter which way we approach the subject of love, our description will be only halting and inadequate. Henri Nouwen seeks to emphasize the vulnerability of love. He writes: In love man and women take off all the forms of power, enhancing each other in total disarmament”.

Love will always have fragile character. It cannot be regulated or sustained by structures, rules or commitments. It can only be sustained by continuing acts of love which are marked by gentleness, care, openness and trust.

Love will always have the act of selfless giving and not expecting a return from the other person. It is always giving and not subject to any condition. How many of us can demonstrate such a selfless act of love. Many know but few practice it.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - The Stressful Life

(recite from Psalm 23)
The clock is my dictator, I shall not rest.
It makes me life down only when exhausted.
It leads me into deep depression.
It hounds my soul.
It leads me in circles of frenzy, for activities sake.
Even though I run frantically from task to task, I will never get it all done.
For my ideal is with me.
Deadlines and my need for approval, they drive me.
They demand performance from me, beyond the limits of my schedule.
They anoint my head with migraines.
My in-try overflows.
Surely fatigue and time pressures shall follow me.
All the days of my life.
And I will dwell in the bonds of frustration
Forever
By Merv Budd

The Stress-less Life (Psalm 127: 1 – 2)
Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.

In vain you rise early and stay up late, tolling for food to eat – for he grants sleep to those he loves
By King Solomon

Lifestyles Ideas Management - An Attitude of Gratitude

It is said that in Africa there is a kind of fruit called the “taste berry.”
It changes a person’s taste so that anything eaten afterwards tastes good and sweet. Gratitude is the “taste berry” of the good life. When we choose to fill our hearts with gratitude, life is sweet. Gratitude can carry our hearts through much. Without it, life becomes wearisome and unfulfilled. If you don’t have an attitude of gratitude, all you have left is an attitude!

The world today is no friend to peace. Conflicts, competition and strife rule the day. We are taught rivalry from young. Be number one. Our motto is no longer “ Be the best you can be.” but “ Be better than the rest.” And so we work harder, run faster, always spoiling for a fight. No one seems to know how to live in harmony anymore. We realize however, in fugitive moments, that we are made for something different and better – “I am all for peace.” Who is robbing you of peace today? YOURSELF

It’s the wrong kind of pressure that can crush and weaken or kill. That is where my life had created an overload. Even with much of that unloaded now, my days still get crunched with plenty of demands, changes and frustrations.

It is not enough to just tolerate with one another at home or in the office. Instead we are to make every effort i.e. actively and earnestly strive to guard and keep the harmony at home and in the office environment.

How are we to do this?
Here are some practical ways:

Keep focusing on what’s really important
Be realistic in your expectations from others
Choose to encourage rather than criticize others
Refuse to listen to gossips
Practice graciousness in conflict situation
Support others around you

Everyone needs and wants to be loved, and when people find genuinely love and care for each other, they would want to be in part of it.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Our Enslaved Expectations

Commercials play to our restlessness and they even help to create it. If they succeed we feel a need for their product by the time their pitch is over. We want better health, smoother hands, a nicer smell or a bigger burger.

One class potato chip commercial shows a boy boarding a bus with a big bag of their crunchies. As the boy keeps reaching for another chips, he claims, “Bet you can’t eat just one.” Hearing the irresistible crunch, the bus driver grabs “Just one.”Of course, he keeps munching until finally his hat is full of those habit-forming chips. By the end of the ad, everyone on the bus is chomping and singing “No one can eat just one.” That’s amazing when you consider that you can’t even get two people to speak to each other on the buses I ride!

But the advertisers are experts on human motivation. They want to create in us an appetite for more. Even without those commercials, we are driven by that appetite.

“More is usually perceived as the answer to our restlessness, the “if only I had” of life. We convince ourselves that there’s nothing wrong with us that would’t be cured by more time, more house, more money, more friends, more job, more clothes, more excitement, more comforts.

Then we get the “two aspirin” form of a big raise, a dream house, a partner, a lighter schedule or a standing ovation – only to find that the “headache” of restlessness soon returns.

The unsettling truth is that more is never enough!
Discontentment destroys any possibility of personal peace. It condemns us to the pressure cooker of guaranteed restlessness.

Conventional wisdom tell us “A man’s reach should always exceed his grasp.” A commitment to excellence, to service, to personal purity should keep us reaching. We are by nature, pursuers. But modern stress results from the wrong pursuits – misplaced discontentment.

We are enslaved by expectations that cannot be satisfied. They are intrinsically frustrating. These “drivers” comes in three forms, and they keep us on the edge because they keep us reaching for more.

Possession
People
Performance

Possession
Plato commented on our possession expectations:
Poverty consists not in the decrease of one’s possession but in the increase of one’s greed

There is always another “thing” you do not have.
And the increase of things only creates an appetite for more.
There was a time we looked forward to owning one TV, but then we needed two. Once we are thrilled with a flat of our own, but the thrill soon replaced with a hankering for a landed property. Eventually the landed property was too little. It would take a big house to do the trick. And a swimming pool would be nice too.

Our “poverty” really is in Plato’s words “the increase of one’s greed.” Dinner out was once-special treat – now it’s routine. Tonight it will take a fancy restaurant to provide the same special treat. It seems only yesterday that an air conditioner was the luxury of the rich – today I have got to have one. Yesterday’s luxury become today’s necessity.
Possession expectations will keep pushing us past the fragile limits of peace.

People
We live in a state of chronic frustration because the significant others in our lives do not measure up. Or can’t measure up.

While the baby is on the way, we profess only want a child who is normal. But from birth on, we ant a super kid! We want him either the life we did not have or a replay of the life we did have. Somehow, their grades, their friends, their style are never good enough.
We focus on what they need to improve, seldom on what they have achieved.

Marriages become battlefields because our partners continually disappoint us.
Weaknesses are magnified, strengths are forgotten – just the reverse of the courtship process. We’re expecting more of Prince Charming or Cinderella and they may be getting tired of never being enough.

If you are not satisfied with those around you, you are probably even less satisfied with yourself. We compare ourselves to standards of parenting, partnering or producing that are unrealistic and can never relax because we are never good enough.

Performance
Performance drives us to stressful schedule, sacrifices and compromises. Our worth becomes identified with our work and no spot on the mountain is enough. Even the top is unsatisfying as Alexandra the Great discovered when he wept because there were no more worlds to conquer.

Whatever our game is, we will lose consistently if we have to win all the time. We aspire to be promoted to the next rung of the company ladder –only to need yet the next promotion before the paint is dry on our new office door. No award, no achievement is ever enough. We punish our bodies, our families, our friends, and our sanity to reach for another level of victory.

One day this unquenchable appetite for conquest can even violate the marriage covenant. There is a “need” to demonstrate that you are still attractive. An innocent flirtations are tantalizing YOU, your spouse, your kids – and even your conquest – end up sacrificed on the ugly altar of adultery.

It is stress-driven slavery to always have something to prove. Discontentment runs like a treadmill under our feet. We are always running, pushing for more possession, more from people, more conquest. There is no rest on a treadmill !
ARE your lifestyles on a treadmill!

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Caring for Silver Cutlery and Gold

Always wash silver cutlery as soon as possible after it has been used – this prevents food from causing tarnish stains. To clean a lot of silver cutlery quickly put strips of aluminum foil in a washing bowl and place the silver cutlery on top.
Cover the cutlery with boiling water then add 45g (3 tablespoon) of baking soda and soak for 10 minutes.

I tried another method and found this method works quite well.
Put strips of aluminum foil in a washing bowl and place the silver cutlery on top.
Cover the cutlery with water then add in 3 tablespoon of salt and soak for 10 minutes.
The reaction you see will be some bubbles are forming as a chemical reaction took place between the aluminum foil and the salt. The silver look like it has been polished.

Caring Gold
I use to buy coke or Pepsi not for drinking but for washing two things, gold or the pig intestines (small or large ones) for stewing with dark soy sauce with all kinds of spices.
It is delicious but the cholesterol is high on these and I always feel guilty after eating and I will always make it an effort to walk a short distance home to rid off the guilt conscience.

Put all the gold pieces (earring, bangles or necklace) in a small bowl.
Pour enough coke or Pepsi to cover the gold pieces and soak for ten minutes or more.
Check on them and if they are clean and shinning, take them out immediately.

Put the small or big pig’s intestines in a bowl.
Pour enough coke or Pepsi to cover the curly long intestines and soak overnight.
By the next day, they are nice and clean without the pungent smell, ready for stewing.

I tried rubbing toothpaste with my thumb and index finger or a soft brush on my gold pieces and it works wonderful shinning.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Power Failure

When you are all alone in the house and everyone is out for appointment. What should you do if there is a power failure?

If you have an advance warning of a power cut, switch refrigerator and freezer controls to maximum, put candles and matches where you can easily find them.

Circuit Failure
If several appliances or lights in one area fail at once, a circuit fuse in the main fuse box has probably blown. Switch off everything on that particular circuit.

Replace the blown fuse. If the fuses are not labelled, look for scorch marks. Check for broken wires and repair them.

Check for and repair any visible damage to plugs and flexes used on the circuit.

Switch on appliances and lights one at a time. If the fuse blows, again, the circuit may be overloaded or an appliance may be faulty.

Power Cuts
When power returns. Reset electric clocks and timer switches. Do not open the freezer for at least six hours.

During a power cut. Turn off all your appliances and lights – apart from one bulb, and the refrigerator and freezer. A power surge when electricity is restored could blow a fuse.

Keep some emergency candles and matches near some place for you are sure to find them in a power failure.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Storage of Bread

Keep sliced bread in the refrigerator only after one or two days especially such humid weather in Singapore. Unlike other temperate climate, sliced bread can be fresh after a few days in the bread bin.

Keeping bread fresh
Put a slice of apple or potato in a bread pin to prevent bread from drying out.
Clean the bin weekly to prevent mildew from forming.
This is applicable for temperate climate, unlike our local weather, the only way to keep fresh bread is in the refrigerator, it get moldy fast after the third or fourth day.

Grating for breadcrumbs
Fresh bread does not crumble into breadcrumbs easily.
If you must make crumbs using fresh bread, freeze the loaf first, then grate it to make into crumbs.

Storing and Making Sandwiches
Freezing
Make sandwiches in advance and freeze them.
Remove them from freezer several hours before serving
If you have to make sandwiches the night before but want to keep them moist and fresh.
Wrap them up in a few lettuce leaves, then in aluminum foil and refrigerate them overnight.

Layer Sandwiches
Make layer sandwiches quickly and easily by slicing a loaf of bread horizontally and applying the chosen filling to each layer. Reassemble the loaf then cut into individual vertical slices.

What to do with leftover bread?
Moistening bread – to freshen stale bread, brush water over the bread, then wrap it in a sheet of aluminum foil. Heat the bread in a medium oven for around 10 minutes, or until the bead feels springy.

Dipping buns in milk
Buns can become stale quickly but if you have some left over, dip them into a bowl of milk then put in a hot oven for a few minutes. They will freshen up and the top will crispen.

Crisping biscuits
Soggy biscuits can be crisped up on a baking sheet in the oven for a few minutes.
Alternatively place them in a microwave on high for 30 seconds. These methods also revive stale cereal.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Poultry and Fish

Poultry must be thawed and thoroughly cooked otherwise it may produce food poisoning. If you need to skin a fresh fish, the job will be easiest if you freeze the fish first. After using a pan for cooking fish, wash it with vinegar to remove the fishy odour.

Roasting chicken
When roasting an unstuffed chicken season the cavity as well as the skin. Place half a lemon in the cavity to flavour the flesh.

Using milk
Thaw frozen fish in milk to give the fish a fresh taste. Use the milk to make the accompanying sauce. Soak anchovies for half and hour in milk to reduce saltiness.

Reducing fish smells
Fried fish
Adding lemon juice to the fat used to fry fish reduces the smoke and odour
Rub your hands with vinegar, lemon juice, or salt then rinse them in tepid water before washing them. You will prevent the fish smell from setting.

Clarifying stock
Using eggshells to cloudy stock – any impurities will cling to the insides of the shells. Remove the shells when the stock is clear. Remember not to use small broken egg shells unless you want to sieve the whole stock into another pot.

Open soup cans
Before opening a can of soup shake it well, then open it at the bottom end. All the soup will slide out neatly without sticking to the can.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Stock without using meat

Stock without using meat
A good vegetable broth does need to be sweet as you think it should be as nowadays all the vegetables from the market or supermarket tastes sweet. Ever wonder where the sweetness comes from, especially if it tastes too sweet to be true!
A stock should have a well-rounded and satisfying taste and must have other dimensions.
Base stock is provided by onion, garlic and celery or fennel which lay a smooth foundation for the rest of the other ingredients to blend on.
For a bolder stock option, white daikon radish, chayote, soybeans, sweet corn and carrot is a good version of sweet stock. Pumpkin can also be used.

Into sweetness, you can also balanced by savories. So include vegetables that are rich in natural flavor enhancing glutamates such as Japanese Konbu, kelp, dried mushrooms and tomatoes. Fresh mushrooms give an earthy quality to stock and should be sautéed first for the best flavor to ooze out.
To give stock a little body throw in a diced potato, spoonful of barley and fresh few pieces of Chinese yam (wai san). Avoid vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, brinjal and green capsicum which turn gassy-tasting if simmered too long.

Spices can be added like peppercorns, ginger but use them sparingly. They are mellowed by long simmering.
Bland stock can be saved by few minutes of simmering with ingredients that contribute aromatic accents, lemon, lemongrass, whole coriander sprigs, root and all.

Be realistic about quantities – one carrot is not going to be made your broth tasty if you are making 3 liters in a pot. Start in minimum of two parts vegetables with three parts water by volume. Dice everything into bite-sized chunks to maximize flavor extraction. Roasting or sautéing some of the vegetables add another layer of depth to the ensuing stock. Simmer everything for an hour or slightly longer should be sufficient.

How to freeze stock in the freezer
Pour the cool stock into ice cube holder or container for easy use.
Squeeze the ice cubes holder and a small cube comes out easily.
One cube can be used for stir frying vegetables or add with water to use it as a base for your instant noodles. You can throw away the noodle seasoning found in the instant noodle packet.

Lifestyles Ideas Management – Say Cheese!

Cheese is an excellent source of calcium, protein and may B-vitamins and it has been enjoyed people around the ages. It is a most popularly eaten as snack and used in different types of cooking. There are many types of cheese available in the supermarket and with a little knowledge in mind before you go shopping.

Cooking with reduced fat cheese for nutritional value
Mozzarella and ricotta are naturally lower in fat as they are made from skim or partial skim milk. Skim milk as we all know is good for building bones especially for the elderly. Lower fat content means a milder flavor, softer texture and contain less milk fat.

How to cook with reduced fat cheese
Tip 1
Avoid melting cheese under a toaster grill.
They tend to toughen under direct heat

Tip 2
Cook over low heat, stirring slowly and in one direction to make sure the cheese melt properly

Tip 3
Add flour or cornstarch to shredded cheese to help it blend more smoothly into sauces.

Types of cheese used for cooking
Soft cheese
Soft cheese has high moisture content. Fat content ranges between 20 ~ 30% of the weight. They tend to be bland in flavor and are rarely used in cooking as they lose flavor when heated.
Brie – serve brie with a variety of fruit and place thin slices on a sandwich. They are used for baking.
Cream cheese – this cheese makes delightful spread on bagels and toast. Used for cheese cake.
Semi-hard /semi-firm cheese
These uncooked pressed cheeses are ripened for a relatively long period. Semi-firm cheeses are dense and usually yellow in color. They are ideal for melting and best used on toast and quick snack.
Cheddar – commonly seen on the shelves and used in between sandwiches and eaten on its own, the taste is mild and tender.
Gouda – a versatile cheese well appreciated as a breakfast cheese in Europe. It tastes especially good when served with fruit salad.
Hard / firm cheese – with lower moisture content they are generally packed into molds under pressure and aged for longer time.
Parmesan – made with skimmed or partially skimmed milk. This cheese has a rich and sharp flavor, primarily used for grating, spaghetti and pizza toppings.

My favorite cheese is soft cheese, cream cheese, cheddar and of course Mozzarella and ricotta.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Knocked out by disease

According to our local health authority study shows main causes of sickness care disease that could be prevented early on. The healthiest people in the world based on year 2002
Rank
Country
1
Japan
3
Spain
4
Switzerland
5
Monaco
6
Sweden
7
France
8
Italy
25
Singapore

If you needed another reason to lead a healthy lifestyle, here it is. A study show that Singaporeans may be living longer now, but they are also sick for more years than people in some other countries. The main culprits are heart disease and stroke, cancer, diabetes and even mental illness.

An average Singapore woman should live to 81.8 but she will spend eight of these years ill or disabled. Men will spend eight of their 78 years in poor health.
A lot of suffering and premature deaths comes from diseases that could be prevented – such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Some cancers too can be detected early.
There should be more public education on how these aliments can be prevented and screening to catch problems like diabetes and cancer early. People should take ownership of their health if they want to keep such illnesses at bay. Best advice is to go for regular screening, eat more vegetables, less salt and do more exercise; that could cut down the number of years you suffer from ill health.

Women as compared to men have the tendency to be knocked out by disease like diabetes, neurological, musculoskeletal, and mental and cancer; though women live longer life span. Men should also take a leaf from their wives. Women all over the world live longer and healthier lives. They smoke less, exercising more and being more health conscious than men. As for Japan, its explanation is the low rate of cardiovascular disease comes from their high-in-fish diets.
Let’s eat more fish and less meat, starting from today!
But that does not mean that I like to live to 81.8 years and spend eight of these years suffering from illness and disability. I rather live to 60 years in good health; it is not the quantity but the quality of life that is important.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Alzheimer disease, a touching story

Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder most commonly manifested in forgetfulness and affects a person’s ability to carry out daily activities.
It is frightening to know that your brain is slowly erasing the past and present memories like a virus in the computer slowly deleting all your important program files until one day the screen when boot turn black and blank.
Isn’t it better to keep a journal and write in all the good memorable things and events and the treasure of good friend in paper and ink. That day arrive, I can still read the written words and remember to smile instantly. The next day I will forget what I read yesterday.
I have my blog as a good reference.

The risk increases with age, doubling every five years after the age of 65. With the aging population this disease is on the rise. There is not cure to Alzheimer’s although there is medication available that can improve and slow down the decline in cognitive function.
Memory-enhancing training likes keeping a diary and engaging in music, art and crafts can be helpful.

Many turn to traditional Chinese medicine that recommend the use of gingko biloba, omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, folate or statins for prevention of decline in cognitive function in Alzheimer’s. But there is insufficient support of evidence.

Families need to know Alzheimer’s and other dementia sufferers can be managed at home with adequate training and support. It is good to attend caregiver’s support group by the Alzheimer’s Association and read up books on Alzheimer’s. As a caregiver, you must take care of yourself first then you can give better care and your have to think positive. It is an uphill task as a caregiver!

From Associated Press
A 78 years old Italian man has been arrested after shooting dead his unconscious wife in her hospital bed because he did not want to see her suffer any more.
The hospital said the man had been told earlier on Saturday that his 82 years old wife was in the final stage of Alzheimer’s disease which severely impairs memory and affects personality. The man, a former traffic policeman went home and returned on Saturday afternoon with a pistol. He covered his wife’s forehead and chest with towels and then shot her three times. He then sat on a chair near the bed until police arrived. The hospital officials quoted the husband as saying he did not want his wife to suffer any more.

This is a sad story just like the story which I read about it in The Straits Times about the brother who suffocated his cancer-stricken sister with a pillow. He was arrested and given ten years jail for manslaughter. This is a very sad story, too.
The sister has been stricken with stomach cancer for about 2 years and had stopped working for awhile. Most of their finances had been drained by the hefty medical fees and because of illiterate; they did not approach anybody for help. Most of the time, the brother would visit worship places that offered free meals. He would takeaway portion of his meals and brought it back to his ailing sister.
For the past two years, every consultation visit to the hospital, he would piggyback his sister to and from the clinic despite rain or sunshine. Both could not afford the fare for a two way ticket to the hospital. Nobody knew their plight not even the closest neighbor next door or two doors away. The hospital staff and doctor knew nothing about their suffering. The sister would bring back only the usual medicine. Never a day gone by without the groaning and grinning on the bed and the brother could just watch his beloved sister weaning away to a skeleton frame with skin.

There were no pain management to elevate her pain away and no human touch from the doctor who jolly well knew that in cancer, the degree of pain is always and extremely excruciating. If only the doctor is a Samaritan then the conclusion will be totally different. If only the neighbor pay a little attention. If only the caretaker in the worship places cared to ask him on his takeaway meal portion. If only the nurses at the hospital take time to talk to both of them. If only those pedestrians who saw the brother piggyback the sister to the hospital care to stop and ask.

There were many “if only” we care about others.
Sad isn’t it that nobody knew until a tragedy happened, then the newspaper reported and everyone knew about it including the neighbors, temple caretaker, the hospital nurses, doctors and Me. Take time to care about others including those you do not know.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - What a great day!

Today is my Birthday and what a great day!
It was running cats and dogs just like when I was born, except it was not flooding at all.
The day I was born the flood came in until knee length and our whole house was flooded.
No wonder I love to spend much time in the bathroom and my mum will always says that the I need to pay half of the water bills.
We had sushi for dinner, wonderful sushi but not as good as the ones made by the native Japanese.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Mahjong Magic

Sunday Times December 2, 2007 reported on the click-clack of mahjong tiles is getting louder as many new unlikely converts frown and plot for relaxation and fun.
Mahjong brings out the best – and worst – in people, say enthusiasts.
Here’s Lifestyle’s tongue-in-check take on these oft-seen players.

The Superstitious freak
Traits: She wears the same red underwear each time she sits down to a game and insists on taking the same seat she sat in the last time she won. She lives in constant fear of a spectator tapping her shoulder as that might ruin her winning streak. If she’s on a roll, she won’t wash her hands no matter how dirty they are.

The Outcast
Traits: No one calls him unless they are desperate for a kaki and scraping the bottom of the barrel. That’s because he’s usually slow whenever it comes to his turn, taking ages to figure out what tile to throw.

The Gambling god
Traits: The silent killer who remains poker faced through the game and then suddenly surprises everyone with an incredible winning combination. He reads up on mahjong strategies and meditates before he plays. Also the one who can “feel” the characters when he pick up the tiles from the board.

The Sore Loser
Traits: She’s not very good at all and so is on a constant losing streak. She’s quick to blame everyone for her incompetence – common accusations include: “changing places to change winning chances, everyone’s ganging up on me” and usually ends the night storming out of the house in a huff.

I gather that this Christmas one of the best gifts that shopper will rush to buy will be the mahjong set that comes with bilingual wording on the tiles. The teenagers, non-local Chinese and the expatriate are all into the pursuit. In fact, mahjong which requires luck, skill and strategy is so popular with youngsters looking to pass time, yuppies looking to let off steam after a stressful week, non-Chinese local and expatriate wanting an Asian experience instead of the usual bridge. For distributors of mahjong tiles and accessories, quickly DID and ordered a huge stock of mahjong tiles wrapped in Christmas theme wrapping paper and my cash register will ring non-stop.

Mahjong is a game long associated with old uncles and aunties and is clicking away with the surprising group of people these days.
Mahjong originated in China around 1850 and pits four people against one another in several rounds called “winds”. Players have to assemble winning combinations – these are often given flowery names like Thirteen Wonders and Full Happiness –from tiles that are circulated around a square table.
For each round, chips are typically exchanged but whether these are eventually converted into cash is up to the players.

The recent craze of this pursuit could be due to the recent buzz over Singapore’s two upcoming integrated resorts. Another reason could be that over the years, mahjong has managed to shed away the gambling related stigma. 52 percent of the 2,000 respondents regarded mahjong and card games as a leisure, not gambling activity. Such is so provided that money played with close friends and relatives and not outside the circles.
Another reason could be due to the fact that medical research mentioned that mahjong is a mental stimulation (a mental sport and that luck is often not the sole determinant behind who sins the game). Mahjong is supposing a cognitive stimulating activity what can be productive for an elderly to stave off the Alzheimer disease. Playing improves cognitive abilities such as planning and decision-making.

New enthusiasts see mahjong as more of a lifestyle pursuit rather than to make a quick buck. Medical research singled out mahjong as a possible way to prevent dementia in the elderly. The washing of tiles during a game is strangely therapeutic. It helps to keep the mind off work. Washing is when players shuffle tiles around in a circular motion after a round.

It is just like playing chess; a mahjong game stimulates our mind and benefits both the young and old by training their concentration and memory. At the same time it promotes socialization. But if money is exchanged, it is gambling and not a social play anymore.
Mahjong play a large part in the gambling scene in Asia and problem gambling has it seeds in “social” gambling. Mahjong is addictive and there are many types of “social” games why mahjong? Scrabble anyone?

Lifestyles Ideas Management - High life at sea

Cruises are good for relaxation and it is so much fun. Yes! fun, there are activities for every one on board the largest cruise ship. The largest cruise ship to call in Asia is here, The Rhapsody of the Seas. I saw The Royal Caribbean International advertisement printed in the classified pages of The Straits Times Newspaper, Life Column Travel page. The sailing dates are fixed by the cruise company and it is during the off-peak seasons.

The Rhapsody of the Seas will be here on December 10, 2007. She is decade old liner mid-sized but it is refurbished and is the biggest ship to call in Asia.
Rhapsody offers six short cruises between two and five nights this month to Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Langkawi and Phuket with festive programs lined up between December 21 and 29, 2007. Open jaw voyages between Singapore and Hong Kong start in January next year, two days call in Bangkok and Hanoi. Cruises to Japan, Taiwan and China are scheduled for February 2008.

Cruise particulars
Maiden voyage: May 19, 1997
Dimension: 915.35 feet long, 105.6 feet wide with 11 passenger decks and occupancy capacity of 2,435 guests. 78,491 tons
Staterooms: 593 with ocean view (229 with balconies) and 406 interior cabins
Speed: 22 knots

I remembered in 2006, we went on board the cruise ship not Rhapsody of the Seas but another well-known liner company plying their voyages from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Phuket. We went on a five days roundabout trip on stateroom with balcony located on the 11th floor. Our balcony was diagonally across the Captain’s cabin and I hope to catch a glimpse of how the captain will look like without his uniform.

The immigration at the Singapore Cruise Centre was smooth, as we booked for stateroom with balcony. All passengers were categorized under First Class, Balcony Class and World Class. The Sea Pass color code is different, Blue for First Class, Red for Balcony Class and Green for World Class. The First and Balcony Class was under check-in priority. With Balcony class, the Sea Pass came with an S$200.00 dining voucher.
We were looking forward to the Gala Dinner and spending of the S$200.00 dining voucher in food, glorious food at the various theme restaurants. We were really spoiled for choice, Japanese, French, Italian, Chinese and International (Asian-themed dishes).

Once on board, we make our Shore Excursions Desk one of our first stops while exploring the ship. We book our Group tours tickets immediately for the next few days and later in the evening; we were busy with our reservation on the Gala Dinner held on the third day. The first day was just moving around the ship to check the cruise compass daily planner for highlights on the opening hours of the activity rooms and discount coupons. It was exciting during dinner time and we decided to try the International Dining Room for our five course dinner. The dinner was a dining experience because each dish was uniquely named. From the menu, you really cannot guess what will be served next. So it was somewhat mysterious, we chose three different menus.
In the late evening, we went up to the 10th floor which housed a Spa sanctuary to take a look at the spa facilities. We signed up for 45 minutes massage on the third day evening. The spa and massage was very disappointing.
We enjoyed ourselves very much especially my mum who spent much time at the casino once the ship roll on the international water. The game room opened and the slot machine is quite interesting as they make lots and lots of noises when you strike a jackpot (S$10.00). The whole evening was spent listening to the noises and brewed coffee served free. There were two performance timings at the Amphitheatre mean you will not miss out on anything due to an early or late dinner. The performances were artistically put up by the serving crew.

I loved the library and the reading corner though there were not many books around. It was nice just sitting down near the window and look out at the sea, blue, blue water.
The ship arrived at Kuala Lumpur and this time we looked out of the balcony.
This time the passengers that came on board were mostly Malaysians and Japanese (probably on fly and cruise trip). All of the sudden, during lunch we were bombarded with the arigato gozaimasu, bowing here and there. One consolation some Japanese men were good looking, others mostly the ochisan and obasan (uncles and aunties from the agriculture and farming community.

It was really wonderful to step out on a small launch which took us to the jetty; customs clearance in Penang was brisk. We went on board the bus that took us around the city and the nearest shopping centers. We have to be back at the jetty by 5:00 pm before the ship sailed to Phuket. We hardly get to know and meet new friends as everyone seemed to be busy with what activities organized by the Cruise Compass.
At Phuket, we went on board land for the whole day and meet the cruise ship at 5:00 pm
just nice for a wash up and dinner. Dinner was always a dinning experience.

Evening was the best quiet time, dark dark world out there with the sound of the waves roaring as the cruise ship speed at 22 knots. It was very dark out there and when we sleep, you can hear the waves if the balcony door was slightly left open. Evening was the best time to chat and talk our hearts out. We missed our scrabbles, monopoly and mini Chinese mahjong set. Good thing we brought along chips and crackers.

Try taking a cruise, you will enjoy very much as I did. We did the last time when we cruise along the Nile River from South to North and took a domestic flight back to Cairo, Egypt. It was the most memorable river cruise surround by all Europeans and Americans and we are the three Chinese (as usual mistaken as Japanese) from Singapore (mistaken hailed from China, some folks thought that Singapore is somewhere China).This was year 2000. Now, Singapore should be quite well-known globally associated with Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, our formidable leader and world class politician.