Lifestyles Ideas Management - Vacation Message

Hello! I will be on vacation from 31 January 10 11 February down south of China, where they are facing worst winter in 50 years. What a way to travel and trusting that by the time we landed at 11:25pm on 31 January, there will be sunshine! Most unlikely as forecast by BBC weather report, the next five days will be showers and temperature is about 11 degrees C.

I believe in miracles and trusting that God will grant us journey mercy and good weather especially for us because we are special in his image.

So while on holidays, no posting until 12 february 2008, for the Chinese, Happy Lunar New year!

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Every Product Tells a Story Kikkoman's Shoyu

Illustrations by Ryuji Fujii

Kikkoman’s Shoyu (soy sauce) is one of the sauces which we have been using for 30 over years when it was introduced in the local market. The sauce has a unique taste of soya beans unlike other soy sauce manufactured by the locals, they are comparably good but Kikkoman’s shoyu taste better in dipping or cooking with them.

Soya sauce is indispensable part of Japanese cooking and is now one of the natural seasonings. It originated from China and enhances the flavors of food. It first appeared in Japan more than 400 years ago and identified as the “national flavor” of Japan.

Soy sauce (shoyu) has been produced in Japan since ancient times, but it is only since the early 17th century that it has been mass-produced. Many soy sauce brewers lived in Noda in Chiba prefecture (northeast of Tokyo). At that time, each sauce soy brewer ran their own small business. In Noda, many were from either the Mogi or Takanashi families. The first President, Mr. Shichirouemon Mogi mentioned that Japanese Industries will have to be modernized from now on. If we continue with the private management system, Noda soy sauce manufacturing will get behind times. We have to get together and form a company to achieve development with rational management. We should get the whole family together and we will be “Noda Shoyu Co Ltd” our trademark shall be that old symbol of “Kikkoman.” “Kikko” means the shell of a turtle symbolizing long life and therefore is auspicious. “Man”means ten thousand, many. “Kikkoman” is a name to make millions of people happy. From the merger evolved a rational management system, the name of Kikkoman became known to more people. In 1945, when the American General Headquarters was set up in Japan after their defeat in World War II, the Americans directed food production in their own way. The American remarked that the Japanese should avoid inefficiency in food production especially putting too much time into making soy sauce. You should make it chemically. Many manufacturers followed these rationalized instructions for processing their product, but not Kikkoman.
Soy sauce is brewed just like wine. You can never get delicious soy sauce without processing them through the amount of time with the help of the micro-organisms in the blend of the soy beans, wheat, salt and water. Kikkoman will stay with the traditional recipe. We have to try to persuade the American General Headquarters to understand this method.

How to make naturally brewed soy sauce
Ingredients: High quality soy beans carefully selected, wheat and salt
Steam soy beans, roast wheat then crush. Mix them together.
Add seed starter
Koji culturing (dry mash) is produced three days later
Fermentation: Mix with a brine solution to form moromi (wet mash)
Moromi is left for half year, during which time the action of enzymes and yeast will mature the mixture.
Matured moromi machine pressed to extract the raw soy sauce
Raw soy sauce is hat and pasteurized. This stabilizes the color and aroma.
Inspection and bottling

With the current shortage of ingredients it is necessary to find more efficient way of production. We have to search for a new brewery method to combine Kikkoman’s original technology and the functions of the micro-organism.
In 1948 Kikkoman developed a new brewery method to dissolve soy beans chemically and ferment them with the micro-organism. We will open our new technology to anyone so that we can contribute to preserving the “shoyu culture” Later, then they could get enough ingredients, they went back to the traditional natural brewing system with renewed technology. At houses, people used to pour soy sauce from a one-liter bottle into smaller bottles. I don’t like the dripping and it turns sticky. How can I get rid of it?
We have to make a cruet that is easy to use and prevents dripping. In 1964, an epoch-making drip proof soy sauce cruet was introduced. It was a hit because of its easy to use and good design – a mouth with a special device.

People have different taste according to their region. In Kansai (western Japan) people also use usukuchi shoyu ( light color soy sauce) as well as koikuchi shoyu (dark soy sauce). Light color shoyu will surely expand Kikkoman’s share. People are more conscious about their health nowadays. People would like to have less salt in their shoyu, too. We have to meet the needs of customers. In 1965 and 1966, Gemen shoyu (less salt soy sauce) Usukuchi shoyu (light color soy sauce) made its debut.
People have higher and higher standards for what they eat now. We could make a soy sauce that is of higher quality than the ordinary one.
Kikkoman has been making special soy sauce for the Imperial Household since a long time ago, called “ Goyogura Shoyu” (a soy sauce for imperial purpose). Maybe we could sell this to the public, too. But we use whole soy beans for making “ Goyogura Shoyu” which needs more time for brewing. The price would also be doubled.
In 1990, Kikkoman introduced “Tokusen maru daizu shoyu” (deluxe soy sauce) despite its higher price, people loved it for its good quality and excellent flavor. It opened up a new era for Kikkoman. “Tokusen maru daizu shoyu” tastes like traditional shoyu. This is the original Japanese taste.

I have lost count of the Kikkoman’s products over the supermarket shelves, as there were many soy sauces manufactured by the local Chinese manufacturer who tried to improve their soy sauce to taste uniquely better, however Kikkoman’s soy sauce stands out in the crowd of many sauces as it stick stubbornly to the traditional natural brewing system coupled with the new technology.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Love in Action

Introduction by Bill Hybels
A columnist from Florida observed sometime ago that our world is made up of all kinds of people. He noted, for instance that there are dog people and there are cat people. There are swimming-pool people, and there are beach people. There are coffee people and tea people. There are Ice Capade people and hockey people. There are tennis people and golf people. There are breakfast people and people who can’t quite remember what breakfast is. There are sail people and powerboat people. There are suitcase people and garment bag people. I think you get the idea; our world is full of all different kinds of people. There is a kaleidoscopic variety of interests, values, and idiosyncrasies among human beings. But among all this incredible diversity, all of us are strangely similar in one area of interest. Do you know what it is?

Self-interest!

Self-interest is one of the few things that unify us as a human race. It is the kind of interest that makes four-way intersections so perilous. Four-way stops unmask the universal dark side of the human animal. “Me first.” “No, me first” “I’ll show you”. And this same self-interest makes the last piece of apple pie become the precipitator of World War III around the kitchen table. I think you know what I am talking about.

If we are going to be honest with each other and God, we have to admit that all of us struggle with old-fashioned, grassroots self-centeredness. It takes a tremendous toll on our quality of life at work, in our marriage relationship, in the parenting process, and with friendships. It even affects the life of a church. The “me first” mind-set filters every activity, decision, opportunity, and commitment on the basis of what it will mean for ourselves above all else. Will it give me pleasure? Will it forward my concerns? Will it increase my net worth? Will it make look good? Will it make me feel good? If so, let’s go. If not, I’ll pass. I would guess that self-centeredness has a greater grip on our thoughts, decisions, values, and relationships than we could ever imagine.

Our generation has been called the most self-centered culture in modern history – the “me” generation. But the “me first” mind-set is not a new phenomenon. In fact it is as old as mankind itself, and clearly traceable back to the days of Adam and Eve.

A dog says: you pet me, you feed me, you shelter me, you love me, and you must be God.
A cat says: you pet me, you feed me, you shelter me, you love me, and I must be God.

It is an interesting study on self interest which we will be meeting today once a fortnightly to touch on this sensitive topic, a search journey together on our self-interest life. What a great discovery that will impact our lives in each of the meeting.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - How Many Stars are there?

Trillions and trillions!
The Milky Way Galaxy which we call home, contains at least a hundred billion stars! And Psalm 147:4 tells us that God determines the number and calls them each by name. If you take just three seconds to name a star, it will take you at least a hundred years just to reach 1,051,200,000 and that is only a fraction of the number of stars in the universe!
Blow your mind isn’t it to think of that.

No wonder the psalmist begins by telling us how good it is to sing praises to God and how pleasant and fitting it is to praise God. Indeed the Lord our God is great and mighty in power and his understanding has no limit. (v.5)
God is known and worshipped not only for his power and wisdom but more so for his love and care. The God who call each star by name knows, loves and cares for each one of us. How comforting it is to know that.

Psalm 147 contains several contracts.
It describes not only the vastness of God’s ability but also the intimacy of his care. The Lord is not only concerned about nations but he also cares for broken hearted individuals and their very personal wounds. He covers the heavens with clouds, yet he is concerned for the smallest elements of his creation.

All of us here have needs. We face all kinds of struggles and challenges which often leave us discouraged, wounded and tired. It is comforting to know that He who hung stars into space also “heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds”. How encouraging it is to know that the Creator of the universe and the Ruler of all nations cares for each of us individually and personally. I do not know about you but I find it most comforting to know that there is a God who loves me even if the last person of earth deserted me.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Delicious Blog

We have quite a number of food bogs in Singapore flashing across the screen by placing order via phone or email with the logger who bakes at home.
But these days, unless you are a friend of the blogger, you will not be able to eat into the tempting home-baked confectionary they feature. The food blogger are adopting the “friends only can order” rule to avoid flouting the National Environment ruling and to comply with the regulation of home based businesses. The National Environment upholds the hygiene standards in food retail industry and can take actions against two blog sites because of feedback from the public of how they were hawking home cooked food.
The law prohibits homes from being used to cook food sale to public, it is not against sale of food to friends. Food sold on the blogs is from unknown sources and may not be prepared in premises with acceptable hygiene standards. Residents are allowed to carry on small scale home baking for sale but only to “friends” without advertising. This activity is to supplement income so long as it does not caused inconvenience or nuisance to neighbors such as noise, smoke, waste, dust or litter.
This is a good reminder on the importance of maintaining food hygiene in home baking.
The retail confectionary is getting their businesses back again with the rules issued last year by the National Environment Agency.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Eight Treasure Box

Eight Treasure Box is not about the Pirates of the Caribbean (did I get the right name of the film) it is about a snack tray which will always be displayed during the Lunar New Year. We are supposing to start on a healthy slimming diet for lunch and found it hard to keep this year’s resolution especially with the coming of the Lunar New Year.
We ( I suppose you will know who, they are my lunch kaki ( usual lunch colleagues),
our taste buds is almost the same so we shared food most of the time, by ordering 4 – 5 dishes with plain porridge. The eight treasure box taking the pride of the place in the centre of the table with each compartment filled with snacks like melon seeds and assorted nuts, While there are eight compartment on the box, there are more than eight types of traditional goodies to be included. The snacks are sweet, so that the eater will have a honeyed year ahead and the seeds and nuts connote a long line of descendants.

What is in the traditional eight treasure box?
Items in a traditional eight treasure box
Peanuts – a long line of descendants, the same way the peanut grows to yield many plant shoots.
Melon seeds – a long line of descendants
Pistachio – not just a long line of descendants but also a joyous new ear because the name of the nut in Mandarin literally means “ happy fruit”. This is because of the half-cracked shell resembles a smile
Candied kumquats – a sweet and prosperous and fortunate year ahead
Honeyed dates – a long line of descendants and a sweet year ahead
Chocolates shaped like gold ingots – a great wealth
Candied lotus root – numerous offspring
White rabbit candy – a sweet and abundant year ahead

Modern version of eight treasure box
My favorite items in a eight treasure box
Roasted honeyed cashews
Pistachio nougat
Sliced dried cranberry
Camel abalone macadamias
Wasabi potato cracker
Watermelon rock candy
Lemon honeyed peels
Dark chocolate orange thins

This modern version eight treasure box will be quite a hits with those who like me are weight conscious and most of the items ( do not have sugar or preservatives added on).
Have a sweetie new year!

Lifestyles Ideas Management - 198,000 Yuan a table reunion meal at Guangzhou hotel

At least eight people in southern China’s Guangzhou city will enjoy a reunion dinner priced at 198,000 Yuan (S$40,000.00) per table – deemed by as the most expensive reunion dinner in all of China.

One table has been reserved by an unnamed company for the dinner at the city’s Shangri-La hotel. Star – rated hotels in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province are known to whip up feast fit for kings during the Lunar New Year, There is a saying which is most often heard while traveling in China, “Eat in Guangzhou”, an eating paradise on earth.
Reservations for these up market get-together meals at high end hotels have already closed three weeks before Lunar New Year which starts on 7 February this year. At the Shangri-La hotel, reunion dinner costing below 8,000 Yuan have been snapped up; places for the 198,000 Yuan eight course Imperial Feast are still available though.

The hefty priced tag is the equivalent of a year’s salary for a white-collar executive in Guangzhou. Still it is a far cry from what is dubbed as the world’s most expensive dinner concocted by world renowned chefs at US$25,000.00 (S$36,000.00) a head.
The 10 course culinary experience organized in November last year by the Lebua Luxary Hotel in Bangkok, attracted food lovers from the US, Europe, the Middle East and other parts of Asia. Six three-stars Michelin chefs roped in to put together creations such as “tartar of Kobe beef with Imperial Beluga caviar and Belon oyster” and “mousseline of pattes rouges crayfish with morel mushroom infusion” all paired with a rare and robust vintage wine.

I will be most satisfied with just the teppanyaki Kobe beef, any types of caviar, rock oysters, crayfish and matsutake mushroom. My reunion dinner will be in China not the Imperial Feast in Guangzhou but it will be in Xiamen, a simple seafood reunion dinner with Buddha jumps over the wall (soup with abalone minus off the shark fins). While I am there, scouting around for the best restaurant for our reunion dinner, ask my guide about it when 6 February is near.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Starting the day right

Do you want to prepare a good and delicious breakfast but not sure how,
here are some tips:
Plan what you want to serve for breakfast the day before. If your child is mature enough and he loves to eat breakfast, discuss what he would like to have in the morning. Involving him could make him more enthusiastic about waking up tomorrow.
Ensure that the breakfast table is set the night before to make things easier in the morning.
Wake up your child a little earlier so that he has time to sit and eat in a calm manner.
Keep the breakfast simple so that it does not have to take too long time to prepare. A sandwich made with wholegrain bread with tuna or cheese will provide enough carbohydrates and protein and ready in minutes. Add a glass of milk for protein, calcium and vitamins.
If you cannot pack fruit, adding tomatoes and lettuce in the sandwich to add the fibre and vitamins.
Keep to this routine so that he get used to waking up and eating in the morning.
Sit down and eat with him and this will help you monitor his eating habits and you can at the same time be his role model.
A good breakfast is a wonderful start of the day and I am now believer of having a good and hearty meal in the beginning of the day. Lifestyle’s poll found that of the children, who eat breakfast, the most popular quickie meal was bread – about three quarters ate this and the favorite spread is peanut butter. Four in 10 kids also paired their food with a glass of milk which gets the thumb up from dietitians as it is packed with protein, calcium and vitamins. Food likes cakes, hot dog buns or sweetened breakfast cereals may require little time to prepare in the morning but are not the healthiest choices either. A whole meal bread sandwich with egg and cheese plus a glass of milk may be a better choice.
Still it is better to eat something than nothing in the morning. Skipping breakfast affects the brain’s function because it is fuelled by blood sugar which comes from food that is digested. So if blood sugar levels are low, it could result in poorer brain function such as the inability to concentrate and poor attention.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Struggle with mum

Recently I had my brother, sister in law and nephew over for dinner.
I slaved for the whole morning, went to the supermarket and back home storing what need to be in the refrigerator. I washed, cleaned, sliced and diced to prepared Japanese sushi hand roll. Mum tsk tsk-ed over how much food I have prepared, whether it was enough for my nephew who likes to eat meaty stuff. I can’t stand it when she kept saying that the portions of dishes for the hand roll were not enough for six of us. The stirred fried pork loin and beef is not even enough for my nephew least my brother and sister in law. I just can’t stand it and gesturing to her to be out of the kitchen.

This kind of gesturing happened many times when I am cooking for a meal and guests are coming. Don’t get me wrong: I love my mother and I know she only wants everyone to have their fills. In my mother’s eyes, we are always a child and she forget that we are adolescent and cannot afford to put on weight sideways. She keep asking us to eat more, eat more during mealtime. When we finished up everything on the plate, she will comment that I did not cooked enough for six persons.

Many times I tried so hard to avoid such struggles and I have learned to let go issues if it’s something not worth fighting. “Parents know best” just doesn’t cut it as a valid reason any more. My mum cannot bring herself to say “sorry” to me and after so many years, I finally begin to accept that she is too proud and stubborn to say “sorry” even for little things which she does incorrectly. I learn to accept the “no sorry” from her. Mum thinks that “she knows best and is always right”. This is the one thing which I find it hard to accept, one day I will find the time to write about my family members - we are are so different in our ways because of our brought up and the culture set up my my so called "always knows best and right" mum. My family is like to real world outside where you find all different walks of life, complex in character and set in their ways. In my bag I always carry a small mirror and whenever I feel like criticising someone, I will look at my mirror to reflect my own iniquities before shooting out all the negatives. Nobody is perfect!

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Neighbors who just cannot get along

Four birds kept as pets by one household have become a flash point for residents on the eighth floor of a block of flat. Miss Chan who lives opposite the See household has lodged more then 20 reports with the authority. The birds’ loud chirping has led to many sleepless mornings as her neighbor has the habit of hanging his bird cages along the common corridor from as early as 6am. When the authorities come, he would keep the cages in the house for two days and then they are back to their old ways.
Besides the chirping birds, another neighbor was also annoyed with the See’s barking terrier. They say that the dog is often unleashed and have even run into their homes.
When approached by the authority, Mr. See denied their complaints. He says that he owns only two birds and does not hang the cages along the corridor. His dog, he adds is always leashed. Mr. Sim accuses the neighbor of hurling vulgarities at his family. They are the ones trying to make trouble says Mr. Sim who moved in five years ago.
For Miss Chan, she has taken to snapping pictures of the birds and recording their chirping to use as evidence for the police. I just hope they put their birds away and give everyone some peace.

Another resident, Mrs. Chen is looking forward to getting away from her neighbor of 20 years. So great is the animosity between them that both sides barely exchange greeting, The bad relationship started almost 15 years ago when her neighbor started crowding the common corridor with more than 10 pairs of shores and up to 20 flower pots. The neighbor refused to clear the area despite repeated requests. When my friends visited me, she asked whether if my neighbor was operating a shoe shop.
She is moving away soon.

Mrs. Xie can hardly hear her television set at times. That’s because her neighbor is a medium who performs religious rites in her flat four times a week. Besides burning incense the woman also chants, blows on horns, ring bells and plays loud music.
Mrs. Xie who has been living in her flat for more then 20 years has asked the authority for help. Her neighbor now stops the rites at around 10:30pm instead of midnight. We live so close in and the noise is terrible. Her neighbor Mrs. Meno moved in two years ago with 12 people including children from one to seven years. Mrs. Meno claimed that she performs her religious rites only on Sundays from 7pm to 10pm. The rites are small scale affairs with only two or three people turning up. They also try not to make too much noise. I do not understand why my neighbor cannot be more tolerant and we are just offering prayers and helping people, says Mrs.Meno.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Cutting down plastics

We uses 2.5 billion plastic bags a year or 530 bags per person. What is even more alarming is that we are indifferent to this compared to other countries who is waging wars against plastic bags. China would ban retailers from giving customers free plastic bag from June 1, 2008. Australia would phase out plastic shopping bag within one year. In Ireland and Taiwan, retailers are already obliged by law to charge customers for plastic bags and consumption has fallen as much as 90 percent. Singapore has a Bring Your Own Bag Day on the first Wednesday of every month and involves about 200 retailers.
For the first day, we saved an estimated 100,000 plastic bag,

We should go to extreme measures not to use plastic bag and opt for foldable nylon shopping bag reusable. And considering the fact that the average plastic bag is used for five minutes, then it takes 500 years to decompose, it is not worth the toll on the environment. We can do more for to save our own environment and it start with ME.
I can do less plastic bag at a time.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Man get 24 years of rape

The man, a former part-time security guard, began to molest his daughter at home in 2002 when she was 10 years old. The rapes started when she was 12. He would creep into the room and rape her on the double-decker bed that she shared with her younger sister. The mother of two girls was the man’s mistress. The family lived in a four room flat. The man was married with a wife and son who lived elsewhere. The repeated sexual abuse came to light when the girl told her aunt about what had happened. The aunt told the girl’s mother and both decided to report to the police. The man was arrested the next day and confessed to raping and molesting his daughter.

The highest court’s sentenced the man to 24 years behind bars and send out a signal that a tough stance will be taken against sex offenders who prey on their own children. “Rape is one of the most serious offences in the statures, more so in this case when it is perpetrated by a father against his biological daughter of tender age” said Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong. “ The sentence must reflect the abhorrent nature with which this kind of offence is viewed in our society.” The case came before three judges court after prosecutors appealed against the man’s original 16 years jail term, hand down last year.
The trial judge has imposed a total of 16 years. The offence carries up to 20 years of jail per charge, as well as at least 12 strokes of the cane. The man was spared caning due to his age. The DPP argued that the trial judge had imposed an “overly lenient” sentence.
The trial judge had placed too much emphasis on the fact that the girl and her family had written letters pleading leniency, saying they had forgiven the man. It is not beyond reasonable contemplation that the victim penned the letters in the misguided hope of keeping the family intact or as a result of indirect pressure by other family members.
The man who was not represented in court pleaded for compassion. “The pain and shame in my heart will remain with me.” he said. He urged the court to let him spend his twilight years with his family so he could make amends. What is done cannot be undone and the man has to pay for the consequences of his action. What I fear for him is the fact that he will have to live in shame and pain when he is serving his jail term facing other criminal offenders within the confined space, a another different world.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Fake US$1 million notes for sale

Can you remember in one of my post (4 November 2007 True Story #14) about a man who robbed the bank and asked the teller for a US$1 million note. You could have a million American dollars in your pocket if you fancy. That’s a cool S$1,429,000, but unfortunately, not real. The sale of fake US$1m notes in a shop in Raffles City Shopping Centre. The note which was sold for S$3.00 per piece, looked and felt like real currency. However, in the shop it was displayed as a fake in the window display. Anyway there is no such thing as a US$1 million note. The largest denomination of the US dollar is $100, the US treasury department mentioned in their website. The seller of the notes said it is quite normal to see fake US notes with different designs, because her supplier offers a variety of fake notes with pictures such as those with US presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton. The notes which she orders through the Internet have been popular as some customers like having a million dollars in their wallet. You can buy it if it is not expensive and once in a while you can show off to your friends. I rather have the real one.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Goodness gracious

There is only one thing gracious about Singaporean is that now we queue because of the queuing campaign held fifteen years ago which has been ingrained into us. We queue for food, in stores or for taxis. Queuing is a norm in Singapore because we learn to express a desire for it, if you try and cut queue, people will tell you get in line. Our Prime Minister commented last week that Singapore was not only ungracious and will not likely to change in his lifetime. Mr. Lee is 84 by now.
The ungracious is due to our culture long fostered over time. The idea that we have to excel in everything has been ingrained in us for many years. We have excelled in so many ways that one would think that it is comes natural for us to develop graciousness.
We do not see our lack of gracious as something impolite or being a problem in the first place. We have the problem of “me first” culture.
We have no shortage of reminders about niceties since our National Courtesy Campaign was launched in 1979 and these campaigns are too “top down”. What we need is for every Singaporean to learn to say “Excuse me, you need to return the tray, give way just like the queuing and if we do it often it will becomes a habit.
We need to teach the younger ones in school, inbuilt into the education system of having Good Conduct lesson once a week. Parents are too busy to teach at home and if the school can take over this social responsibility it will goes a long way for our new generation turn to a gracious society.

We may not litter much, always queue and will give generously to good cause. But it is the little manners that they are found wanting.
Failing to say “please” and “thank you”, “excuse me” and “sorry” or to greet neighbors or strangers. Rushing into trains and buses and not letting passengers alight first. Not giving up coveted seat to someone who needs it more, elderly and ill or pregnant. Not keeping to one side of the escalator to let others in the hurry pass. Not clearing up after themselves in food courts and fast-food restaurants. Bad road behavior including impatient, honking, not signaling when switching lanes and indiscriminate parking. Not keeping public spaces and parks clean. Not punctual whether for weddings or appointment. Bad manners at the table, including chewing with mouths open and talking with mouth full. Inconsiderate towards and ill-treating maids, foreign workers and service staff

I remembered attending a church’s friend wedding dinner which was printed in the invitation card, dinner at 7:30 pm sharp. By 7:15pm most of us were seated down with our fuzzy drinks and there will one or two empty tables near to the bride and groom’s family. I presumed the two empty tables were for each of their relatives who were still making their way to dinner. My friend, the groom went around the table to ensure that we were all ready to start and request for the serving crew to shut the ballroom door at 7:30pm. When the time comes, the door was shut and the whole place went dark with spotlight on the first course held up high by the serving crew, the music were playing to the marching of the crew down the aisle to serve the first course. In all Chinese dinner the first course is always the cold dish appetizer. When we were eating the third dish at about 8:15pm, the two empty tables were seated with a few people with unhappy faces. By the fifth dish about 8:35pm the two empty tables were all seated with people with the usual unhappy faces. Most of them were elderly relatives from the groom side.
This was the best wedding dinner that I get to reach home at 9:00pm sharp and I can still get to watched my favorite nine o’clock news. The worst dinner that I have attended is my best friend, the bride. The dinner did not get started until 10:30pm although the invitation card printed at 7:30pm sharp. This was not dinner but midnight supper and I reached home at 1:00 am. The dinner cannot get started without the old great grandmother making her presence at 10:30pm. After the dinner goodbyes, the bride and groom did not offered any apology to invited guests.

We are a First World Country and migrants and international tourists will measure us against a standard with which they measure themselves. And if Singaporean cannot even show basic consideration we will be judged by everyone in the world. We tend to be driven by tangible rewards. We use our grades, jobs and salaries to affirm who we are in this world, except for inner qualities like compassion. We are so focused on pushing forward and always being ahead of others and ensure that someone else is behind or below us.

We are indeed an ungracious lot, not the most gracious by definition but then again, nobody is perfect. We are trying our best to be at it and that is also applicable to other societies in the world as well. So even if we are not gracious at least we are true to ourselves.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - My Travel Journey

Two weeks ago I received a call from the local travel agent who specializes in China tours with 30 years experiences that the tickets were ready for collection and settlement of the tour payment. Sharon, the tour agent settle the details of my tour with such professionalism that I almost indebted to her, she goes an extra miles to even filled in the arrival and departure card for us, gave us enough luggage tags and even a specially prepared tour itinerary in Chinese as most of the tour agent speak English but have difficulties translating the itinerary Chinese to English. My Chinese is fair but can still read some simple words so should be able to make out most of the written words.

The tour fare including Singapore airport tax per person is S$1,178.00 inclusive of 11 days tour package, hotel accommodation, 30 meals, inland transportation and hotel transfers two ways. What is exclude is the tips for the porter, tour agent and bus driver.
The tip per day is S$4.00 per person fixed by the local travel agent at destination.
It is an expectation from travelers to give appreciation to the local guide and driver apart from the salary they receive from their travel company. Tipping is part and parcel of the tour agreement between tourist and travel agency.
I prefer the no tipping please and yet give appreciation token for good and excellent services. The receiver and the giver reciprocate good feeling between each other.

The travel journey takes 11 days to roundabout trip around the Southern part of China, which is the Fujian Province. We have our itinerary lined up and I should be posting videos and photographs when I am back in week 8.

Day 01 : Singapore – Xiamen
Day 02 : Xiamen – Quanzhou
Day 03: Quanzhou – Chaozhou
Day 04: Chaozhou - Shantou
Day 05: Shantou – Xiamen – Quanzhou
Day 06: Quanzhou – Anhui– Fuzhou
Day 07: Fuzhou – Mount Wuyi
Day 08: Mount Wuyi – Xiamen
Day 09: Xiamen
Day 10: Xiamen
Day 11: Xiamen

We chose to visit the Southern part of Fujian as it is less cold than in the Northern as my mum cannot take the cold weather. I would prefer to visit colder places because the weather in Singapore is hot and wet all year round and to be able to go some places cold will be quite a change and at least away from the sun temporarily. I love to stay in a temperate climate rather than back home climate of very hot and very wet all year round. We get to see the sun everyday of our waking life and sometimes I wish the weather could be a little cloudy and cooler. We get to see the sunrise everyday that it is not a novelty any longer. Therefore I love to go places where I can see the sunset, as our high rise apartment faces the south east direction, we can only get shades of purple, orange, blue and red splashes across the sky in the early evening.

This trip offer very exciting things for me to see, eat and taste the cultural aspects of Chinese small town. All visiting place are across the southern coastal areas which offers lot and lots of seafood and the produce of the sea. It is during one week before the Lunar New Year and the goodies display in the shop will be wonderful enough for the eyes not talking about eating them. We will be able to eat some of the festive dishes which will be served during this New Year period. There goes my dieting plan disrupted during these eleven days touring and hope to be able to shed some fats on Day 7 where we need to climb up the stairs of the Mount Wuyi, heard that it is a fairyland mountain top where the clouds descent. We have so much time spend in Xiamen, thinking of go around the small lane, busy streets to shoot some nice pictures or find something useful to do during Day 9 ~ Day 10.

We do not intend to visit our relatives in Xiamen somewhat the relationship has turned cold after my father’s death. The letters written by them were always asking for money transfer when my dad was around, now it is telephone calls asking for money transfer cooking some stories about exhumation of my grandfather’s bone from the reclaimed land that the local authority intention to take over the plot. My father is the only son in this family though he has three sisters. One left for Philippines and never return, two passed away. Being the only son, my grandfather left him nothing as he migrated to Singapore. What was left behind somewhat gone missing after the old man passed away, even the old house were de-registered under my so called uncles.
My father left Xiamen at seventeen to Singapore because he was supposed to be recruited by the Army, how true it is but I think he was afraid of dying at war. My father was not a brave man and I am not ashamed of him. He knew that he would not be able to handle a gun so he fled to Singapore. I wondered sometimes if he did not flee to Singapore what would become of me. In China? Why not, I have always wanted to be close to nature after having live in the city, it would be a good change to stay at the countryside.

Xiamen hold a special meaning in my life since my last two visit in 1984 and 1994, things were so different during each visit. People were more simple-minded during those days and now fourteen later, there will be a numerous changes in the city and rural areas.
People are more money-minded and very keen to take short-cuts to be successful. The gap between the very rich and the poor is wide in the big city, but in Xiamen probably less obvious perhaps, yet to see it. In 1994, I saw young pretty ladies from rural areas sitting around the tea houses with men during the early morning breakfast. The men were talking aloud and the ladies were sitting down quietly drinking tea and eating their little dainty dumpling placed on the table. So I gathered they were social escorts, dressing and make-up needed a little coaching. This time round, perhaps the ladies will be more dignified and well-treated around the table, joining in the conversations instead of sitting around looking pretty. I hope to see less of this trade and more of the city bustling with bazaars, loud music blasting in the air, shopkeepers shouting for customers to take a look at their stuffs. Xiamen is an unique city and trust that this identity will not be lost in the midst of economic changes.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Meet and Greet

For those who are non-Chinese and would like to meet and greet your Chinese friends in style during the Lunar New Year. Please read and memorize these words.
These are the first words to say when you greet relatives and friends during the Chinese New year. Besides wearing red, there are other ways to greet people during the festive season. You can say:

For health
Greeting the older folk and the health conscious person with a wish that they stay strong physically and their minds remain sharp so they can long enjoy their golden/silver years.

Fu shou shuang quan
“Fortune and Longevity abounds”

Long Ma jing shen
“To have the vitality of dragons and horses”

Chong man shen ji
“To be filled with vitality”

Sui sui ping an
To be safe from harm year after year”

For wealth
Anyone who works will appreciate this. They will thank you when they no longer have to work for a living.

Jin yu man tang
“Treasures (gold and silver) fill the home”

Shen yi xing long
“May your business prosper”

Zhao cai jing bo
“Attracting wealth and treasure”

Cai yuan guang jing
“Wealth rolls in”

For opportunities
For anyone looking at a fresh start – be it getting married, starting a new job or recovering from a broken heart.

Bu bu gao shen
“Scale new heights with every step

Xin siang shi cheng
“whatever one desires will come to pass”

Wan xiang geng xin
“all things are changed for the new or a new beginning beckons”

Greetings send during this period is always a big welcome and make your friend very delighted.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Isolation

Isolation is part and parcel of our city life.
People living in packed cities are so sick of crowds that when they reach home all they want is to shut the door and be alone. I am no different from those living in densely populated cities such as Tokyo and New York. We are not the only city experiencing the trend of neighbor becoming increasingly isolated from one another. In a populated city, you get people on your face each day that you learn to treasure your privacy of your home. I do not poke into my neighbors’ lives as I respect their boundaries, and not because I am selfish. I do not want my neighbor walking into my house whenever they see me coming home and I won’t do it too. Besides keeping to themselves, nowadays neighbors are getting into more conflicts. The designs of our apartments which have fewer common corridors also reduce the opportunities that neighbors have to interact.
My three neighbor are situated in three different corners, so when we shut our door, nobody know what happen inside our home, the privacy is absolute. In fact, the shopkeeper or the food seller in the vicinity is usually the first person to notice when something is wrong for example when an elderly person is missing. Elderly person tend to keep routine and when the coffee shop owner does not see them for days, they will notice. In the future when we tend to live longer and on our own, the isolation would be very high. I have very good neighbor or in fact I am a good neighbor. My neighbor will know when I am on vacation as I will let them know in advance or reminded them the next few days before I take off. My neighbor will pass her keys to me so that I can take care of her plants while she is away. In emergency cases, they will always knock on my door for help. A good neighbor is better than a thousand relatives.

A poll of 200 households reveals that up to 20 percent have never spoken to their neighbors. They have been neighbors for 20 years yet they are living on different planets. They know nothing about the people’s living just a few meters away –not their names what they do for a living or even how many actually live in the terrace house. We are all the same, we keep to ourselves and do not interact with our neighbors. Most sadly 53 percent say they would do nothing even if they felt something amiss such as not seeing their neighbor for a long period of time. A tragic death last week when the badly decomposed body of 82 year old Mr Wong and his daughter were found in their home.
His 80 year old wife was in the flat as well but she was alive. Neighbor had not seen the family for up to seven weeks but the police were called only when the smell from the homes became unbearable. Neighbors had assumed the family had been traveling.
Another case of a 76 year old cleaner who lived alone was discovered only two days after she died in her bed. She was discovered only when her nephew turned up at her flat to check on her after she did not turn up for work for two days. Her neighbor did not think of knocking at her door even if she had not seen her neighbors for a long time.

Most people feared being label a “busybody” if they probed into a neighbor’s affairs.
About 20 percent of those polled had never even spoken to their neighbor while most would only chat when they bumped into each other at the lift lobby in the corridor.
81 percent did not have their neighbor’s telephone numbers and 60 percent did not even know their neighbor’s name. Neighbor should interact more because they would be each other source of help in time of emergency.

In one heart’s warming case where a neighbor noticed how pale Mrs Kok appeared one day and insisted that she take her to the doctor. The doctor referred her to the hospital where she was diagnosed with a mild stroke. Now her neighbor cook meals for Mrs Kok while her two sons and husband is away at school and work.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - How to spot a troubled child

One sure sign to spot a troubled child is when his behavior changes and stays changed especially if it follows a stressful event such as when a new school terms starts.
For some children, every new school year brings a little fear. It may lead to trouble with sleep or loss of pleasure in things he normally enjoys. He may be more clingy, shy or become less confident.
If this goes on a few days, you may want to check with the teacher if the child is behaving normally in class.
Should the teacher say that the child is a little quiet but not giving any trouble, alarm bells should ring as it is the quiet kids that we sometimes miss. Parents need to ask the child what is troubling their child. Asking the child directly might not be a good idea if talking about emotion is not something the family does routinely.
One suggestion is to watch out for signs that the child might want to talk about and to give him time when that happens. It is important to help the child face his fears. Don’t dismiss his fears or ignore them.
One way is to share with your child your own problems and how you dealt with them. It tells them that even Dad and Mum have fears. Another way to build up their resilience is to teach them skills – sports, doing chores at home or even learning to cook. If they can take care of themselves, they won’t be so fearful. It’s confidences that help the kids.
Kids who are more prone to becoming emotionally disturbed are insecure. They are not independent, they are very reliant on people.

Lifestyles Ideas Management – Is Money a Motivator?

To political leaders money should not be their first priority at all.
Their priority should be to advance the interest of their country and its people.
This is being so as it is hard to accept the reasoning that leaders should be pay salaries comparable to those working in the private sectors. If every leaders had this mindset, a country would not have been able to achieve a certain status, namely in being the upper half of the First World. Without a doubt, the quantum of salary is one of the most important salary is one of the most important factors when choosing a career for many people. But what the people want is leaders who have passion and dreams for their country. Those who are motivated only by higher salaries will not have the welfare of the people at heart. They will as a Chinese idiom says “ge zi wei zheng”( each administrates in his own way and interest). In short, I strongly believe that those who have deep desire to serve will find fulfillment beyond dollars and cents. Their reward is the gratification in helping the weak and the poor to get out of perpetual poverty, improving the general standard of living and addressing injustice.
These are the qualities and attributes of leadership that every citizen wants in their leaders and it is the responsibilities of the elected parties to find them.

It is ideal to have capable learned people who have the deep desire to serve the nation to be leaders. In today’s context such people hardly exist. People should be motivated to contribute their talents and ability, besides financial means.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Vulnerable party

Lifestyles Ideas Management – Vulnerable party

When madam See husband died in 2005, her son made her sell their three rooms flat, took the SGD 170,000.00 proceeds from the sale for “safekeeping” and moved with her to a rented apartment. Then her ordeal began.
Her son would give her SGD 10.00 for meals, and the money had to last a week. She lived on bread, rice or a packet of noodle every day. When she complained to a neighbor – who promptly chastised the son – he stopped giving her the SGD 10.00.
The widow now 64 years of age lived on water for nearly a week before calling a medical social worker she had met during a hospital checkup. The hospital treated her and referred her to a Safe Trans, a voluntary welfare organization specializing in elderly people who are abused. At least twice a week an abused older person is referred to this centre. In 2004 abuse cases went up to 100 and 120 and to around 500 now. The profile of those abused are widowed women living with their children are the most common victims. Four in five victims have no education and are unemployed. More than half do not own their own homes. The most common form of abuse is neglect – not being provided with basic needs such as food and medicines or not giving enough money.
This is followed closely by physical abuse which could include battery or even confining the person wrongfully at home. Other kinds of abuse include psychological abuse –including instilling fear – and financial abuse, when money is taken away.
70 percent of abuse is inflicted by children. Daughters-in-law and sons-in-laws make up another 14 percent of the perpetrators. In most cases, strained family relationships form the basis of abuse and since the perpetrators are usually loved ones it may take months before a victim gathers enough courage to lodge a complain.

Madam See for example survived on a near starvation diet for nearly three months before she made the phone call that saved her life. She later approached the Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents to seek support from her son. By then, her son had taken her money and left for China with his China-born girlfriend to make a new life there.
Madam See trusted her son thinking that her son could never hurt her but she was wrong.
While not all elderly folks are willing to complain against their own flesh and blood. Like my distant uncle who is now 83 years of age who have to live alone in a rented flat shared with another elderly person. My uncle invested all his money and efforts in providing the best education for his two sons and two daughters while they were young.
I remembered he used to visit my mum and shared about how he gave of his best.
But now, his sons and daughters refused to provide a shelter for him under their roof.
I do not understand what went wrong with their relationship as they should have provided him a place in their homes, looking after his meals and needs, how ungrateful is the sons and daughters who forgot the good things that their dad has done for them.
On the other hand, I do understand it is very difficult to live with an elderly person who is so set in their ways and habits. However, no matter what we are responsible for our elderly parent and count it as a blessing to look after their needs. They take care of us when we are young and when they are old, we take care of them.
This is an act of LOVE.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - When money divides brothers and sisters

Blood is thicker then water. However, when it comes to money is involved the bond between siblings can turn ugly. The money include real estate, bank accounts, wills and whatever comes into mind, brother and sisters have fought over it. There are many scenarios in which money can break down the bond between siblings. For example, a joint account is shared by parent and one child. When a parent dies, the difficulties arises over the disposition of personal effects, another is the lending money to a family member.

Mr. Lim bought an apartment in his and his mother’s name. He paid for it and allowed his mother and his three siblings to live there. Mr. Lim was later allotted another apartment. As the housing rules clearly stated that he cannot own to apartment simultaneously. He moved to his new one and had housing authority transfer his hare in the first apartment to his mother by way of a gift, putting in her name. Mr. Lim understood that the arrangement was for the mother to occupy the apartment in her lifetime. He continued to allow his three siblings to stay there while he paid all the expenses and the mortgage installments. But when the mother died without a will, his three siblings asked the court to declare that they were beneficially entitled to the apartment. They claimed that this apartment belonged to the mother and should be distributed accordingly which meant they should have a share in any property or its sale. Ultimately the sale proceeds are shared equally among the four children but the relationship turned ugly.

Everyone in the family had expected the father to leave the 36,000 square feet in prime district bungalow to his favorite son even though his daughter lived there and looked after her dad. After the father made a will, the son told his sister that he would likely inherit the bungalow while she would be left out in the cold and was not entitled to public housing, He proposed an agreement: If one of them were to wholly inherit the bungalow, it would be shared equally between them. After the father died, it was found that he had left the bungalow to the daughter solely and not the favorite son. The daughter then sought to rescind the agreement with her brother. It was found that her brother had in fact secretly read the will and had realized that the bungalow was bequeathed to his sister solely. He then fraudulently induced the sister to sign this agreement on the pretext that it was to her benefit since it was likely that he would be the beneficiary. The sister won the case against the brother but the relationship is damaged.

It was an eventful two years. Madam Lin made a will appointing her son as the sole executor. She transferred her business to him and sold her property and also passed the sale proceeds to him as well. Madam Lim then amended her will giving everything to her son. After she died, the other siblings alleged that the transactions, the business transfer, the property sale and amended well were invalid as their mother did not have the mental capacity to carry out the decisions. The court ruled that the estate was to be distributed accordingly as if she had not made a will. The relationship between them is lost.

More than 10 years ago, this man died suddenly and left behind a large estate without a will. As he was single, his estate was distributed to his large group of siblings.
There were problems from selecting the legal representative to who would be the one legally heading the estate distribution. Relationships between the siblings soured, as some tried to lay their hands on more money. Mistrust also grew between some of the siblings who never got along well. The estate distribution was delayed because of disagreement.
Communication deteriorated and the parties soon used different lawyers to represent themselves. Siblings turned against one another and things came to a standstill. The estate was left untouched for many years. The private property was finally sold during the downturn period for at least one million less what it could have fetched earlier on.
The money was later distributed amid much animosity. Those annually Chinese New Year get-together became non-events and only one or two siblings visited each other.
Some did not even know when a sibling had died.

The long years of relationship can be destroyed with the presence of money; the love of money is the root of all the hurtful relationship.
The good thing in my family is that my father died without leaving much money and it goes without saying, my mother inherited this sum. What if my mother turn to sleep forever, don’t really know what will happen to our relationship. When the time comes, I hope it will be a most peaceful settlement or I hope that I will not be around to witness the ordeal. Well it will be a small sum as mum is not a wise steward.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Hainan Rag-and-Bone Man who adopted abandoned babies

A dirt poor Hainan rag and bone man who adopted 14 abandoned baby girls. Mr Yao is poor yet he gave of himself to bring up his adopted daughters. His tremendous generosity and humanity touched many people. Both in their 50s, the couple have over the last two decades looked after 14 babies who were dumped by their parents because they were female. The first baby they took in was shoved into Mrs Yao’s arm by a hospital worker, who gave the housewife 20 Yuan (about SGD 4.00) to “get rid” of the day old baby girl. Mrs Yao was on her way to the market. That girl is now 19. Her sisters are aged between two and 12. Three babies died of heart ailments before their first birthdays. Of the remaining 11, six are being cared for by the Yao’s friends or relatives.
The family scrapes by on 800 to 1,000 Yuan (SGD158 to SGD197) a month that Mr Yao earns from collecting and selling discarded items and taking on odd jobs.
To bring up their adopted girls, the Yao’s have borrowed over 20,000 Yuan from friends and survived on plain bun and noodles.

Mr Yao and his wife were featured in our local newspapers "The Straits Times" special report in July on Hainan’s gender imbalances. Donation poured in to help pay for the girl’s school fees and among other things. This fund will help to ease his burden.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Mad Mad World!

Argentinean bridegroom 24 of age told reporters after his marriage ceremony in September 2007 “I have always liked mature ladies.” His bride was 82 years old Argentine woman. He mentioned that he does not care what other people say.
She said “The age difference has never been important to us.”
When reporters asked her if the marriage was purely spiritual she laughed and replied “there is going to be more.” They found love when he, at age 15 went to live with her after his mother’s death. She was a friend of his mother.
But barely a month after their marriage, the bride was dead. She died on their return from honeymoon in Brazil, reportedly of heart problems.

In Fumin county in China’s Yunnan province were blamed when workers spray-painted a barren mountainside green. Laoshu mountain was left an eyesore by heavy quarrying. The forestry department had tried growing pine trees on it but it yielded poor results. In August last year, seven works were hired for 20 days to paint it green. Photographs showed the rock covered in an artificial green looming over houses. Who was responsible? The workers as saying they had orders from the county government to do the job estimated to cost 400,000 Yuan. Villagers griped that if the money was spent on seedlings that could have restored a bigger area of the mountain. The over-zealous officials were heading the government calls for environment protection.
Later it was found that the “greening” was the handiwork of the renovation contractor
who claimed that his house faces the mountain so he paid for the painting for good fengshui. He said that he had tried to get approval from the forestry authority but got no reply and assumed they consented.

In Jilin province in China, officials went all out to save the river did not anticipate that their residents would be so enterprising. Their efforts to restock the polluted river with fish ran into problems when over 1000 residents start hauling them out as soon as they were put in. Officials had put 13 truckloads of live carp worth 70,000 yean into the Songhua River to improve its ecology. But “shortly after the live release” the 1,000 over residents swarmed to the riverbank with nets and other fishing equipment to scoop up the easy catch.

In Hangzhou, China the doctors were spooked.
A Chinese journalist decided to test how greedy the doctors in the hospital were by submitting tea as his urine sample for medical analysis. The results from six hospitals determined that he had an infection. Five of them prescribed drugs costing 1,300 Yuan. Four of the hospitals were state-owned. The headlines in the local Chinese newspapers printed “Patients have become automatic teller machines for the hospital”. The hospital criticized the journalist for violating the journalist’s code of ethics. The hospitals are not responsible for wrong urine test results because the testing equipment cannot tell urine from tea.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Funny Tales in China

As published in the newspaper about the tale of the jilted husband who exacted revenge after his wife ran off: He charged into a makeover saloon that gave her wife a total makeover change and broke the beautician’s finger.
The diner who speared his tongue with a hook while eating fish head and a woman who walks only backward, the farmer with his hard earned saving eaten by the rats.
Another reported about a man in Jilin province found USD400.00 in the stomach of a rotten fish that his dog dug out from the rubbish dump. The man thought that the money has been placed there as a surprise gift and wanted to return it. He placed an advertisement “Cash Prize for anyone who can describe a Fish”. There was a migrant who was rescued by the police when he jumped into the river to clean himself. The police thought that he wanted to commit suicide. There is this company in Shandong province that holds an “unpopularity” contest to identify the three least well-liked employees who will be fired.

The most gruesome story that happened seven years ago was about a shop in a rural province that sold the famous meat dumpling (named in Chinese literally translated “even the dogs cannot resist eating”). The owner, brothers and sister team served special meat dumpling to snaking queues at every hours since morning until the dumpling ran out. The meat tasted very special as it was flavored with lots and lots of variety of Chinese spices. The meat was chewy and believed it was so good. Business was so brisk that it became so popular with the locals. The price of the meat dumpling was dirt cheap that some locals suspected the meats were from dead pigs. Rumors spread around and a reporter decided to ran a special report on the famous meat dumpling. Later the investigation revealed a horrendous dark tales. The meats were from dead bodies after autopsy and dumped off by the mortuary staff – whom happened to be owner’s brother.
Those dead bodies were all from accident and emergency cases which were not claimed by immediate family, friends or relatives. The news shocked the local community and both brothers and sister was immediately put on house arrest until further investigation.
I do not know about the locals but when we were in Shanghai in 2004, we were quite hesitant to eat the meat dumpling shop at the local eateries. The meat inside the dumpling was questionable, where the meat does came from, pigs or human meat. Anyway my mum wanted to eat the dumpling as she has this habit of having supper before sleep.
I bought two meat dumpling from a big store located in one of the “must visit” tourist area, the locals were queuing for them. I believe it should be safe for consumption.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Misplace Gold Rolex?

While the expression “only in America” generally refers to something bizarre, when people say “only in Singapore” generally they are referring to how safe it is or the exceptionally honest people.
I sometimes find this honesty bizarre in itself bizarre in itself, because it is not the norm all over the world. I have actually had shopkeepers chase after me to give me the change I had forgotten.
When I first arrived in Singapore I accidentally left a bag full of the latest electronic gadgets in the back of a taxi when I was out shopping. When I realized what happened I took it for granted that I would never see them again – until a Singaporean friend who was surprised by my reaction said that I should call the taxi company.
I made the call and sure enough, the driver had handed in the bag at the depot at the end of his shift. He didn’t want a reward or even leave his name; they said that he just “wanted to do the right thing”. More recently, a guard working for the Matriq Security Firm which protects the complex in which I live returned my wallet – stuffed full of cash and credit cards – that I left in the gym.
This same guard had previously returned my sold-gold Rolex after I stupidly left it down by the pool. Both times, Maran absolutely refused to accept a reward because he said he was “just doing his job”. All this means two things:
Singaporeans are exceedingly honest and
I will eventually lose everything I own if I ever move away from Singapore

I have lived in quite a few cities around the world and I can tell you that, generally speaking people in the rest of the world on minimum wages are not in great hurry to return lost goods or money to stupid, rich, forgetful, accident prone foreigners.
People like Maran may not be a rarity in Singapore but out there in the big wide world they absolutely are. Forum by Gary Anthony

I am a Singaporean and I totally agreed with Gary about misplaced items and yet it was returned to me by post or dropped in the police post for collection. I will also return things which I have found and dropped them over the police post for collection and return to sender. Sometimes, I would post it directly to the owner if the item is small.
It is very naturally for us to return things found in the public as we are brought up to believe that finders are not keepers.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Fresh Vegetables Nutritional Information

Potatoes are a good source of vitamin C and fiber, and supply useful amounts of magnesium. They are high in starch although when cooked without the addition of fat they are not high in calories.

Tomatoes are a great source of fiber, vitamin C and carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A. They also supply some of the B group vitamin.

Broccoli is very nutritious vegetable. It is an excellent source of vitamin C and has good supplies of fiber and a wide range of other vitamins and minerals. Broccoli also contains compounds which are thought to block the development of cancer.

Mushrooms supply small but useful amounts of a range of vitamins and minerals especially niacin which is supplied in about the same quantities as meat.

Sweet potatoes are a very good source of vitamin C, fiber and carotene (which is converted to vitamin A in the body) Some B group vitamins are also supplied. Sweet potatoes are high in starch.

Lettuces supply a range of vitamin and minerals in small but useful quantities including vitamin A, C, K, iron, potassium and some B group vitamins. Fiber is also supplied; Lettuces have very high water content and are very low in calories.

Cauliflower is a very good source of vitamin C and a good source of fiber. A range of other vitamins and minerals including B group vitamins, potassium and calcium are also supplied in worthwhile quantities. Cauliflower contains compound which are thought to block the development of cancer.

Carrots are an excellent source of carotene which is converted to vitamin A in the body. They also supply fiber, vitamin C, some B group vitamins and calcium in useful amounts.

Cabbage is a very good source of vitamin C, K and fiber. It supplies valuable amounts of carotene and the B group vitamins, calcium and potassium. Cabbage contains compounds which are thought to block the development of cancer.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Fresh Fruit Nutritional Information

Oranges are an excellent source of vitamin C – one orange containing about 2.5 days supply. They also provide a good source of dietary fiber and supply some calcium potassium and carotene.

Apple is good source of dietary fiber and supply useful quantities of a range of vitamins and minerals. They are always available and there are lots of different varieties. ‘An apple a day’ is still sound advice!

Pears are a good source of dietary fiber and they make a delicious and worthwhile contribution to your diet. Try the range of varieties which are available and make the most of their distinctively sweetness.

Mandarins, like other citrus fruit are an excellent source of vitamin C. They also provide dietary fiber and carotene which your body converts into vitamin A.

Grapes contribute dietary fiber and some potassium. They have more sugars than other fruits so it is good idea not to eat too many if you are trying to lose weight. However, a great alternative to lollies.

Avocados do supply some fat (not cholesterol) and they are higher in calories than other produce, but they are still a great food choice. They supply useful amounts of vitamin E, C, B group and potassium.

Peaches have some vitamin C and dietary fiber as well as small but valuable quantities of various vitamin and minerals. Yellow fleshed peaches are a great source of carotene which the body converts to vitamin A.

Kiwifruit are an excellent source of vitamin C, with one kiwifruit supplying enough for 2.5 days. They are also a good source of dietary fiber and provide worthwhile quantities of many vitamins and minerals.

Berries are generally a good source of dietary fiber and supply a range of minerals and vitamins, with most berry types supplying good amounts of vitamin C.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Ways to eat well on a shrinking budget

Smart Shopping strategies
Plan your meals and snacks.
Make a grocery list to get just what you need. Do not buy on impulse.
At the supermarket, compare prices and pick items that are cheaper so as not to burn a hole in your pocket.
House brand and items on sale are usually the cheapest.
Go for the basics, focus on the staples – rice, bread, milk, fruit, vegetables, lentils, chicken, fish and oil – things that you really do without. Indulgences that are high in salt, fat and sugar can be enjoyed occasionally and in small portions.
Buy local foods as it will save you money.
Buy seasonal items, the price of delicacies like mangoes prices dip during fruit season.
Buy in bulk as it usually works out cheaper. Families buying together can get better deals. If the portion is more than you need, pack it into smaller amounts and freeze.
Do not over stock as in Singapore you can easily get to a retail shop within 30 minutes.
Practice good stock rotation – use up the older items first before you consume the fresh foods. Most of the time, consumers throw away a lot of food that does not get used up as the quality of food deteriorates beyond the “use by” or “expiry” date.
Scan the shelves before you buy. Less popular brands are usually placed at the bottom or on the top of the bay, not at eye level. With these foods, cheaper does not mean poor quality or inferior taste.
Buy sale items and use discount coupons, credit exchange schemes to offset cost of your food purchases.

There’s no quick formula to cooking on a budget. Like anything else worthwhile doing in life, it takes a little effort in planning, creativity and work. Combine the right ingredients to get a meal that looks and tastes good. Put in extra efforts in the use of herbs and spices.

If you do not want to cook, eat at a cheap stalls where the same bowl of noodles costs a lot less than in the shopping centers. Make an effort to select cheaper and healthier foods.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Savoring Saffron

Saffron is indeed the world’s most expensive spice. It consists of crocus flower stamens that can only be hand-picked – at three stamens to a crocus and over half a million stamens to the kilo, you can do the math, fortunately, you need only a few tens of stamens for a modest-sized dish.

Saffron has a unique aroma combining floral, mineral and dried-grass nuances and a bitter sweet taste. Together, these are seductive when subtle but medicinal in excess.
Across Europe, the Mediterranean, Middle East and Asia, saffron is used to color and flavor staple starches, most commonly rice as well as bread and pasta.
Infuse saffron stamens in a few spoonfuls of lukewarm water or milk for about 30 minutes to extract their glorious hue and fragrance.
Use the liquid to flavor whatever you wish. If you’re new to this spice, follow trusted cookbooks closely as saffron is easy to over or under apply.
Keep in mind that long cooking weakens its aroma.
Do not buy powdered saffron but always choose whole saffron that you can see and smell through the packaging, to avoid being swindled.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - To the bitter end

It is a brand new day today of the new year 2008. I woke up late and what a rush! but it will be another year of living life one day at a time and taking one step at a time.

The title - To the bitter end is not about bitter life, it is about the bitter end of cucumber.

Hope you will enjoy reading this!

I always been puzzled by the bitter end of cucumber, and I always cut the huge chunk of the top end off and rub the cut bits against each other to prevent the cucumber from tasting bitter. Rubbing the cut cucumber ends to remove bitterness is virtually a worldwide practice. However, it is an old wives’ tale, as you can see by tasting the white froth formed at the cut, and then the cucumber –neither is bitterer than the other. The rubbing technique may date back to Victorian notions of toxic elements in cucumber juice. Cucumber bitterness varies from plant to plant, fruit to fruit (they are fruits) and season to season. It is not certain exactly what makes some fruit bitterer than others, though growing climate probably plays a part.

If a cucumber is bitter at all, it will almost certainly be bitterer at the stem end, which can be identified by the indented scar where the stem broker off. Also, the bitter compounds (called cucurbitacins) only accumulate just under the skin and around the seeds, not in the flesh, and so the bitterness can easily be removed by peeling and deseeding the fruit. The Japanese species of cucumber which is a long and the body with spikes poking out, I do not find these bitter at the end. Choose those with body with spikes which is the test of freshness.

Lifestyles Ideas Management - Happy New Year!

The mood generally for next year is upbeat with 7 in 10 polled expecting to get pay rises in the new year and one third planning to switch jobs. We are feeling good about the new year and what it will bring. We are upbeat with the integrated resorts and Formula One (F1) race to boast the economy, high property prices and buoyant job market sentiments.
Everything seems to be good in the new year but we cannot afford to splurge on big items like moving to a bigger house, buying a new car and more expensive holidays.
The rising costs in transport, housing, health care and food is quite a hefty sum. With the prices going up, it’s time to tighten our belts

I need to look for cheaper alternatives, eat out less and shop less and that is the best I could save in my lifestyles management. Starting off in the first day of the new year, I will be eating more healthy food and cut out the fatty and oily food, with a small portion of food of course, always wanting to be 80% full stomach. I will be drinking less coffee and tea substitutes with more fresh fruits. Breakfast will be back to oat meal and bread with butter and one fruit drink. I wait for the first day of new year to start the healthy diet will enable me to shed off 5 kilos from the weighing scale. I am not doing it with pills or health drinks but on healthy food and regular exercises.

I am excited starting my new course every Sundays mornings at 9:00 am ~ 12:00 pm on the how to create creative website. It will be something new for me to explore and gain knowledge in creating a new website that link to my present blog. I hope to be able to hit a new idea. Whatever it is, learning something new is still better than not doing anything with my life. This year 2008 will be an exciting year, acquiring new knowledge and looking forward to a down memory lane holiday in China starting 31 January ~ 11 February 2008. Here’s wishing you a Happy New Year with lots of good things coming your way, stay healthy always!