King of the Birds, Lord of the Skies

King of the Birds, Lord of the Skies
Gather ye rose buds while ye may, old time is still a flying;
and this same rose that you see today, tomorrow will be dying.
CarpeDiem: Seize the Day!
- Dead Poets Society

Tuesday, September 23, 2025

40 Years Ago..

40 years ago, children were gentle with their parents. Today, parents have to be gentle with their children. 

40 years ago, everyone wanted to have children. Today, many couples are afraid of having children. 

40 years ago, children respected their parents. Today, parents have to respect their children.

40 years ago, marriage was easy but divorce was difficult. Nowadays, it is difficult to get married but divorce is so easy.

40 years ago, we got to know all the neighbors. Now, we are strangers to our neighbors.

40 years ago, people had to eat a lot because they needed the energy to work hard. Today, we are afraid to eat fatty foods for fear of the cholesterol.

40 years ago, villagers were flocking to the city to find jobs. Now, the town people are fleeing from the stress to find peace in the suburbs.  

40 years ago, rich people pretended to be poor. Now, the poor are pretending to be rich. 

40 years ago, only one person worked to support the whole family. Now, all have to work to support one child. 

40 years ago, people loved to study and read books. Now, people love to update Facebook and read their WhatsApp messages.

Welcome to the 21st Century!

Phone         - Wireless
Cooking     - Fireless
Cars            - Keyless and soon Driverless
Food           - Meatless
Tyre            - Tubeless
Tools          - Cordless
Dress          - Sleeveless
Youth          - Jobless
Leaders       - Shameless
Attitude       - Careless
Spouse         - Energyless
Kids             - Mannerless
Parents         - Helpless
Pedestrians  - Fearless
Feeling        - Heartless
Education    - Valueless
Government - Useless
Parliament    - Directionless
Masses          - Clueless

Everything is becoming LESS but still our hope in Self is - Endless

However, Friendship still remains Priceless!

And ultimately, God is Limitless!!!


Wednesday, July 16, 2025

My Chengdu Trip (Jun'25) - Experience and Evaluation

Okay, I finally did it! 

I just returned from Chengdu (成都), the Capital of Sichuan Province, China, in the recent summer of 2025. I understand my many friends are eager to find out about my 9-days experiences in Panda Land. So here is it.  

Fun fact: Chengdu is the Capital of Sichuan. But Chengdu was also the Ancient Capital of the Shu-Han Kingdom during the famous 3 Kingdoms era (where we have the revered Zhuge Liang). And it was also-also the ancient capital for 9 dynasties in antiquity China (朝古都).  

I chanced upon several tour operators from mainland China online, who advertised their Chengdu packages. I chose a 7D6N route with a separate additional 2-days free-and-easy roam on our own. The extra nights of hotel stay were offered FOC by the operator. No strings attached. Sometimes, free stuff is just....free stuff.   

I booked the above tour package for 4 pax directly from one tour agency (out of several) in China via WhatsApp & WeChat. Yes, they do use WhatsApp also. I transferred RMB100 (S$18) as initial booking fee (deposit), and then headed to the Land of the Pandas and Peppercorns with 3 other friends who are smarter than me but still willing to come alongside this crazy adventure. 

Incidentally, we only need to pay the outstanding balance when we arrived in Chengdu. So I guess there was little financial risk involved if they don't show up for us at the airport. All the admin part will be covered & completed after we check-in to our hotel . An additional insurance was also charged by them when we signed the contract in the hotel. I will elaborate on this later below. 

And yes, it's cheap, dirt cheap kind of cheap, like RMB 1,500 cheap! In our local currency, that's like S$270 cheap. Any cheaper, you are probably wondering how can they even make a profit. Initially, I had my concerns too (like my many well-intentioned friends, who thought I will be either scammed or kidnapped). Fortunately, no scammers or kidnappers presented themselves throughout the 9 days. No drama, no opera. The contract signing phase was a little unconventional though, as it was conducted in our hotel room. 

From the moment we touched down in Tianfu International Airport, someone already contacted me to the proper gate where a pick-up had been arranged. After loading up the luggage, we headed to Chengdu city center, where we will be putting up. Someone greeted us when we arrived at the hotel front lobby. He was the one responsible for coordinating my entire trip for the next 9 days, kind of like our personal tour butler, minus the apron :P I will addressed him as The Coordinator. 

After finishing the paperwork, we got to head out for dinner (on our own expenses cos the actual tour would only start the next day). Thankfully, we were surrounded by eating establishments and restaurants once we stepped outside the hotel. The train station was literally right next to the hotel. Food & fruits stalls were everywhere, with all types of 7-11-nish provision stores for general supplies. Not to mention many small-scale paddlers on wheels selling supper snacks and fruits, which we bought plenty every night.

So then, since the package offering was legit, what exactly is covered under this RMB 1,500 deal? Pretty much what I needed most. Here are the list of items:

1. 8 nights of hotel stay (twin sharing)

2. Airport-to-Hotel transfer on Day 1 and Hotel-to-Airport Transfer on Day 9.

3. All breakfast (provided by the hotel). 

4. All pickups to major attractions (by cabs & coaches).

5. All entrance tickets to major attractions (pre-booked for us in advance so no need to queue).

6. Most lunches & dinners (but not all meals). 

HOWEVER....even though I said this is not a scam. there were definitely some levels of mismatched of promises & misinformation from the operators, like the group size, type of transport & travel mate profile. I will further elaborate more below. The Tour Operator (aka the Company) was so nice that they also added extra "events" for us in case we were bored to death by the long bus ride. 

Lets start with those extra "pitstops" that popped up along the trip. Insidiously, during the first 3 days, they brought us to places not mentioned in the itinerary, like a silverware factory, a jade factory, a traditional medicine factory, & some tea & spices shop. I guess such "shopping stops" were necessary to break up the long journey from Chengdu City to the northerly suburbs where the main attractions are. For example, some of us may travel from Singapore to KL (a 5.5 hrs bus ride), but get to stop at Yongpeng mid-transit for a short break, and buy some stuffs. 

Personally, I don't mind having some shopping stops along the way. To me, I got to stretch my legs and ease my bladder. At these stops, they usually paddle their local indigenous products. At one point, we visited a bullhorn factory where they fashioned combs & other ornaments out of those bull horns from their special local hairy cows (Mao Niu). Strategically, did I mentioned these "pitstops" were planted along the long journey on route to our main attractions. Some of these shopping sites were even nested inside our lunch locations. What a wonderful coincidence!  

To be fair & balance, I was not pressured to buy anything. Buying stuffs was not mandatory. All these merchants ever wanted was a chance to showcase their crafts & consumables. No under-the-gun type of enforced purchase. If it fits your needs, go ahead and swipe the plastic. Better still, they prefer electronic mobile payment like WeChat & AliPay. 

Looking at the bright side, at least the internet & wifi signal here (and everywhere else) were super strong & stable. You got signals even in remote national parks & up on mountain peaks. They needed that cos the whole China economy thrives and traffics on electronic mobile payment. Hardly any hard cash were transacted here. The moneychangers at home must be super pissed knowing fewer & fewer Singaporeans are exchanging their SGD for RMB.  

Okay, now to the meaty part of the journey. We were there from 21-29 June....which meant it was summer and the weather was warm, with some occasional showers forecasted. However, temperature do dropped drastically when it approached high altitude here in north Chengdu, especially during the nights in the mountains. During our 3rd night, temperature dropped to a mere 3 degrees, and we were giving electric blankets from the hotel. So have extra coverings with you always.   

I divided these 9 days into 5 legs: 

Leg 0 (1 day):  5 Hrs Flight to Tian Fu Int'l Airport (TFU), Arrival, Airport Transfer & Hotel Check-in.

Leg 1 (3 days): Huanglong National Park, Jiuzhaigou National Park, & Indigenous Tibetian Highland. 

Leg 2 (1 day): Mt Emei

Leg 3 (1 day): Panda Research Base & San Xin Dui

Leg 4 (1 day): Free & Easy in the morning. Dujiangyan in the afternoon to evening.

Leg 5 (1 day): Chengdu Inner City (Free & Easy) - This part we do not follow any group. We are entirely on our own.

In case nobody told you, Huanglong, Jiuzhaigou and Mt Emei are all nested 3000m above sea-level. Some of us suffered from high altitude sickness during the 1st leg of the trip. It was like an invisible pressure squeezing you constantly. Some have headaches, others have bowel movements (squeezing the shit out of you). Some, in extreme cases, may hallucinate. For me, I just hallucinated about hallucinating. So be warned! Drop all your poops & craps in the hotel before pushing out, otherwise, the high altitude pressure will do the crapping for you :P  

P.S, Oxygen canisters can be purchased along the way for those who may not respond well to these high elevations, often at an unbelievable tourist-friendly price of just RMB50 (+/-)! Yes, the thin, mountainous, high altitude air is free, but compressed and canned air is not! Make Capitalism Great Again! 

In addition, there were tons of walking & steps climbing. Pls do some training at home before coming to China. I felt like I had climbed all the stairs in my entire neighborhood estate after this trip! And please have a good pair of walking shoes. You can thank me later :P

Okay, now the part on my evaluations about this Chengdu trip.

Chengdu is a great city to visit. It is clean, safe and easy to navigate. Within the city, I had never spent more than S$3 per trip via their DiDi Cab. And that's great! The city is carved out with concentric circular ring-zones: 1st Ring Rd, 2nd Outer Ring Rd, and so on. Its super easy to get around. Hence the average distance was usually under 4-5 km apart if you planned your journey well. Just avoid zig-zagging all over Chengdu. 

I also had entertained the idea of cycling around the city, like many Chengdu-ers do. Sadly, after messing around with my mobile APP and their QR sign-up code, I still could not unlock any bicycle. Maybe I don't smell Mala enough to these bikes. After what looks like an eternity later, I decided to just get a DiDi....again! :) It only 3 bucks, everywhere! 

Alright, enough of pleasantries and platitudes, here are some of the honest pain and problems I faced:

1. The 9-days trip is not "Chun Wan" as highlighted by the Operator

This can be frustrating, seriously. "Chun Wan" means pure play or 100% play (pardon my bad direct translation). I was misled to believe that this whole trip was pure fun like any "No-Shopping, Attractions-only" trip. Yet, it was littered with shopping drops one after another for the initial 4 days when we headed out to the highlands. Though not too disruptive in my personal opinion, I do not appreciate the non-disclosure arrangements before we commenced. The Sales Rep from the tour agency did specifically mentioned this was a "Quan Wan" package. Nonetheless, all the main golden attractions I wanted were delivered without compromises. So, I overlooked this misrepresentation. So dear tour agency, next time don't do this to other people, okay?

2. Bus Coach Standard and Group Size

I was told by the tour Sales Rep (prior to the trip) that the group size would be kept small, between 12-15 person max. However, the reality was far from that! The bus coach was packed almost to the brim, with possibly only 1 or 2 spare seats. I was also under the impressions that the bus coach would be modern and spacious, with USB charging point, cup holders, nettings for your loose items, bathroom, sauna pod, pickleball court, full-sized fridge and coffee counter etc.....Just kidding. But in reality, the bus was dated and tightly configured (2-2 configuration). To be fair, there were journey that they offered better bus (2-1 configuration). But such upgraded buses were not that often. So it was a give-and-take here. The only saving grace was that the seats can be inclined backward for a short nap. Maybe that was just a mere mismatched of expectations on my part. I have sat in better outfitted coach around South Korea, Japan, New Zealand and Europe. But this was China, and maybe this was already their best offering, and some may even considered that a premium platform. I have no idea.  After all, I only paid S$270 for accommodation, transport, food and entrance tickets. I should be be thankful, no?

Also, I was told by the Sales Rep that she will try to fit us into groups coming from similar regions, like from Singapore and Malaysia. But now I understood, the word is TRY! So far, we were the only Singaporeans in the entire trip. Nothing wrong about travelling with domestic Chinese nationals, I must add. They are nice people. I am just highlighting the discrepancies I experienced in pre-trip communications. I had made new friends during the journey, and I am thankful :)

3. Hygiene practices during meal times

When come to lunch and dinner time, it was a rude & uncomfortable awakening! Our table mates would stick their chopsticks repeatedly into every dishes, often allowing their saliva to marinate with the meat and vegetables, and by extension, sharing their precious DNA with everybody. Some even did a round of "treasure hunting" within the confine of each dish, searching for their preferred parts. After a while, every plate of food resembled a petri dish of special probiotic cultures. Maybe they really treated us like family members when come to meal times. 

Yes, I was told that public common chopsticks & ladles would be provided, and THEY WERE! The problem was that nobody used them, other than me and my 3 Singaporean friends. After a while, we just resigned to scooping up enough portions as early and as fast as possible, before everybody baptized it with their saliva-rich chopsticks :) Nothing to see here..... Problem solved. 

And no, they did not make me sing their National Anthem before eating. That's a myth, okay!

Granted, I understand that this was just another manifestation of cross-cultural practices, and I am not judging our Chinse friends. It was just a different table-practices that we have to acknowledge and appreciate. Fact is, I came Chengdu fully prepared, knowing that such behavior is ubiquitous in China, and I do not have any moral high grounds to claim on table etiquettes . But is it really too much to ask someone to please use that common ladle or chopsticks next time? Please? Thank you :P  

4. Programs scheduled too Early

Due to the long distance from Chengdu to the various attractions in the north (Huanglong, Jiuzhaigou etc), we were informed to be ready at the hotel lobby for pick-up by 5:30am several mornings! That means waking up at least 15-20 min earlier, say 5am! If you did not turn in before 12mn the earlier evening, prepared to be a pale & pissy zombie throughout the journey. Bring some mouthwash, cos brushing teeth takes time. Learn to sleep with your next day outfits so that you can jump right out of bed and out of the room within 5 mins :P

By this same extension, we had problem with breakfast during those early push-out days. The hotel front desk staffs prepared ahead our breakfast "care package", and handed it to us on our way out. I did not get to enjoy the wide breakfast buffet spread for the initial 3 days! 

In addition, on one occasion, the hotel breakfast area was so cramped and crowded that food ran out as soon as it was dished out. I have learned to be the "Fastest Hand in the East" in order to grab some breakfast on my plate. Queuing in line was practically non-existence here. Many displayed the "I Believe in Cutting Queue" sign on their forehead. I had to push and shove my way like everybody else but in a polite and discreet manner in order to get to the food. I am now more skillful and shameless after several breakfast regime, because it was really a feeding frenzy where the only easy days were yesterday. 

No prize for guessing correctly, the hotel were obviously full of guests heading out all at the same time from the same spot to the same destination. Although we belonged to different tour groups/ buses, the net effect was still the same: CLUSTER-JAMMED! Its easier to buy your own breakfast when we approached our tour bus outside the hotel. Street hawkers were everywhere, and the prices were very affordable. Give it a try! You can use the public toilets later if you are that unlucky :P  

5. No Smoking Signs Do Not Work in Most Places

Apart from smoke prohibition inside bus coaches, smoking was almost a national past time everywhere else for many of my tour mates. Whenever there was a pitstop for toilet breaks or meals, our smoking pals would light up a stick or two. Some even smoke in front of a "No Smoking" Signage. So, I guessed it was normal here. No, I am not complaining. Even though I am not a smoker, I do not judge those who do. This was purely my observation, and my point was to merely highlight this aspect of their lifestyles without perjuring or prejudicing anyone. Sincerely, I like to think that the column of clean air around me was offensive to those who constantly seek a pillar of smoke around them. For that, I apologize :P

6. Less-than-Desirable Luggage Allocation during Transit. 

If you think the bus were crowded, you should see how we squeezed 4 adults into the back row seats of a standard sedan car! Where was my Toyota Vellfire? Other than the first and last pick-up transit between hotels and airport, they often overlooked the luggage carrying capacity of their vehicle. How do one fit 6 medium-sized luggage into the back boot space? Or into any space in one car for that matter? Well, apparently they can! Somehow there is this "Can-Do" spirit here in Chengdu and we eventually squeezed all 6 luggages and 5 grown adults into one standard sedan car. I am officially impressed, as we got compressed side-by-side and really felt depressed during the brief transit. But well done, Driver Si-Fu!  

7. Miscellaneous small expenses 

For places like Huanglong, Jiuzhaigou, and Mt Emei, we had to choose how we get to the top of these attractions, which are HIGH, like over 3000m high! There were cableways available, but we had to pay for it. Fortunately, this so-called "small transportation" within the attractions were very affordable. Trust me, we got to the top faster and easier for approximately $20. 

Then there was this digital mobile tour guide we could purchase (more like rentals). It was a wearable device that we put on our ears, so that we can hear the narrations of the local guide within the attractions without him/ her shouting all the time. This was also a relatively small expenses (about $10). At times, we can do without it. Just remember to stay close to the Tour Guide by following his/her long guide flag stick :P     

8. The Mandatory Insurance at the beginning of the Trip

This was the only part that I cannot understand, but still went along despite my discomfort. The tour coordinator that handled our admin collected an additional RMB400 (per pax) for some sort of a "Cover-All" insurance (S$71 each). I told him that all of us had purchased our own travel insurance prior to departure. He explained that the Sichuan Government had made this compulsory for travelers due to the recent Sichuan earthquake. But I think it was just a lame excuse. In addition, he mentioned that the places we intended to visit are mostly high altitude attractions. Conventional medical evacuation can be difficult and costly, or so he claimed. Naturally, I was tentatively troubled, privately perturbed, and fleetingly flustered. There were so many shades of confusion here. So our personal travel insurance plans were not recognized? Are all tourists visiting Sichuan subjected to this mandatory "cover"? What provisions  will this "insurance" plan offer? 

Personally, I, me and myself felt this was really really fishy. I suspect these RMB400 was his compensation for the next 9 days of providing background support. That was just his creative way of asking for his share. Granted, the Sales Rep did mentioned that there will be some sort of insurance being arranged when we arrived. I just failed to ask her beforehand WHAT it was and HOW MUCH it cost! I felt a bit ripped-off at first, but for a mere $71, I simply let it slipped. To make me feel better, I just treated it as a "tips" to this Tour Coordinator, who will be our sole go-in contact person for all matters going forward. Silly me, rite  :P 

Okay.....enough of my inconsequential gripes & grumbles. These are the things I like or appreciate about our Chengdu journey:

1. The Cost

Without a doubt, this has to be the cheapest tour packages I had ever signed up since the invention of sliced bread. Period. For a mere RMB1,500 (S$270) that covered all of the hotel room stays, most meals, long-distance transportation to all attraction sites, entrance tickets, with an all-day Tour-Guide, this price was hard to beat!     

2. The Accommodation

Like most people (I guess), I did not come to China for the hotels, or at least not for prolonged period inside one. I was also not here for any hotel in-house spa or massage packages. To me, the hotel room was for a good night rest only. Nonetheless, personally, I was very satisfied with my accommodations. The rooms were clean and comfy. The bed was firm and supportive. The bathroom was adequately equipped, stocked and staffed with clean towels and toilet paper. We had free Wi-Fi, complimentary bottled waters, and good flow of running hot water if needed. Not to mention those little white disposable slippers! 

3. The Food in Chengdu is Incredible!

Not surprising, we experience superb culinary excellence in Chengdu, hands down! All the restaurants we visited were 9/10 great. Our meals were both delicious and attractively-priced. We sampled magnificent local dishes (spicy and non-spicy) on the first night, and also special made-to-order dumplings and beef noodles. We savored local Sichuan dishes near the famous Kuan Jai Siang Zi, and then we had a round of authentic Sichuan Hotpot near Wuhou Ci. If you think you know what Mala Hotpot in Singapore is, then what we had was Mala Hotpot on steroid here in Chengdu! We also dined right beside the renowned Dujiangyan river, surrounded by live performances, and then watched the stunning "Blue Tears" (Lan Yan Lei) after sunset, just few feet away from our table. Honestly, you cannot find a bad meal in Chengdu :)

And for those with sweet tooth or Caffeine addiction, there would always be a Mixue Ice Cream Joint or a Luckin Coffee outlet every 400-500m in all directions! I was officially and pleasantly overdosed with Luckin Coffee and Mixue Oreo Ice Cream Cup in Chengdu!

4. Cashless Payment Society

Even though I did not bring a single piece of cash with me (yes, zero RMB with me), I still managed to pay for all my purchases via AliPay. It was easy, handy, and I can keep a digital record of my spending in my mobile. Just make sure your mobile phone has enough power, or your travel mate has extra power-banks :) Or try out one of the many charging bank power stations, which are everywhere. Just scan a QR code with Alipay, and retrieve a portable power bank, and then return it at any location around the city after use. Cool rite? You can never run out of battery juice in a Chinese City like Chengdu!  

5. Getting to the various attractions via bus coach

Places like Huanglong, Jiuzhaigou, Mt Emei can be quite far outside the City Chengdu. I am convinced that it will cost me more if I had travelled to those various attraction via their Highspeed Rail network. Yes, I may get there faster, but that's it. It will be more expensive for each one-way ticket should I choose this D-I-Y method. Online, you will find that it costs around $20-$40 one way for a second-class seat. Plus you will need to find your way from the train station to the main attractions. Our bus brought us right up to the doorstep! Or almost the doorstep. And all these under the $270 cost. Me think it was a good trade-off. 

6. Affordable Cab Services

Thanks to our strong dollar, an average trip that costs around RMB15-20 will look like $3-4 after currency conversion. Its really a treat, especially if you have 4 travelers in one cab. Its cheaper than taking their trains! Plus, it is super easy to arrange for a Didi cab via my mobile APP or just use AliPay.  

7. Main attractions and all entrance tickets covered 

Without any doubt, I came to Chengdu for one main and major attraction: Jiuzhaigou! I am grateful I had my shot at it, and totally enjoyed the visit and the walk in this eminent National Park. Beyond that, I also checked all my boxes for Huanglong, Mt Emei, Dujiangyan, San Xin Dui Museum, and those cute Pandas, which are definitely native to China and local to Chengdu, because I realized that none of them speak English :P 

And no, I still couldn't get that Panda mug I wanted, nor found any Panda Express (a fast-food franchise in the States) in Chengdu. 

8. My fellow travel-mates!

If there is one thing that will make or break a travelling experience, it will be the fellows you are travelling with. I am glad to say I have 3 best travelling pals who are not only fun to be with, but also very accommodating to my shortcomings. I am very blessed by their company and friendship. Hope their life and vacation were not ruined because they chose to accompany me to Chengdu. 

We don't often get what we want in life. As a result, we learned to compromise from time to time. However, I can gladly say that I get to check all my boxes, with little compromise, with my 3 dear travelling mates. They are a great blessing to me in this trip, and for that, I am eternally grateful. 

I have no regrets coming to Chengdu this summer of 2025. My 9 days were not wasted. All the planned attractions were awesome. We did not fall sick. We eat good. We stay good. We travelled to places with no accidents. I felt that the time and money was well-spent. My only prayer and hope is that my 3 pals also had a trip as great as mine.

Things to Note if you are going Chengdu:

1. High Altitude Attractions. 

High altitude sickness is real. They called it "Gao Fan". Just climb or walk slowly. Don't need to rush. Take a few more breaks if you must. Eventually, you will reach the top, one step at a time.

2. Rain and Protection

Yes, the raincoat sellers may tell you its raining season. Don't succumb to their scare tactics. Bring your own raincoat, poncho, waterproof jackets, umbrellas will do. Don't waste your money buying their raincoat or shoe wraps. The ground is not that wet and the floor isn't muddy. The walk ways are well maintained. Safe your money for nice food.

3. Pandas, pandas, where are you?

We reached the Panda Research Base in the late morning. Bad idea! The big crowd was already mounting up, as June was also their school holidays. In addition, the pandas will be mostly sleeping in the afternoon, so try going early in the morning.

4. That Suspicious "Insurance"

Before you book anything with them, check with the Sales Rep if this insurance is mandatory, and how much it will cost. Insist on not paying for it, or you are not signing the package with them. I think they will yield and waive the insurance required. But do this on your own volition and ay your own peril.     

5. WeChat Notification Settings

Make sure you download WeChat, and turn on the notification mode. The Tour Coordinator will be constantly in touch and checking on you to make sure you got the service and support as promised. The different daily drivers will also be contacting you via WeChat. The daily Bus and Tour Guide will also remind you what time to meet and return to bus via WeChat. Stay connected & contactable.

6. No Mandatory Purchases 

Remember, you don't have to buy anything at any shopping stops. you can try their free samples for taste. Free beef jerkies, spicy-ovened fish, even hot hairy-cow's milk. But at the end of the day, the decision to buy is yours and yours alone.  

7. Attractions are customizable 

I realized that every attraction is almost an independent module by itself, and can be customized to meet your travel schedule. Discuss that with the Sales Rep and they will tailor-made an itinerary that suits your pace. For instance, you can head out to Mt Emei on Day 1, then back to Chengdu, and then rest for the whole of Day 2. Then push out to DuJiangyan on Day 3, then back to Chengdu, and then rest on Day 4, and so on. Do note that Huanglong and Jiuzhaigou are usually paired together and the journey up north is further, so may be a bit difficult to come back to Chengdu on the same day. 

Final Disclaimer:

As always, my views and opinions here are over-rated and solely mine :) In standard legal mumbo-jumbo, that means "All Rights Reserved". All personal assessments may only be for reference. Some portions may also be exaggerated. Me knowing me and my allergy to B.S., I often write different than I speak in person, so I may appear a little crazy and sometimes offensive. For that, I apologize :P

All the best to those who plan to visit Chengdu in the coming near future. I am quite sure it is a city that won't disappoint. It will only overwhelm you with amazements, and overload your taste buds with their authentic Mala dishes :) 

The travel industry in China is undergoing a renaissance among the world's travelers, especially travelers from Singapore. For me, the journey has become as significant as the destination. When it comes to travel, it is very much about that experience you feel, and not just about getting from A to B. It's how you get there, in what means and ways, and with who, and how much. However, you can't put a price on the emotions you get from travelling. The memories you can create, the insights you can gain, the new horizon you can encounter, and the awareness you can raise within you. Every new place is a once in a lifetime experience. For me, Chengdu is that place.        

Granted, this Chengdu 9D8N trip was not marketed to me as a luxurious travel package (as many of my well-travelled friends had known what luxurious travel is), and therefore cannot fulfil my every wimps and wishes, it had nonetheless met all my expectations for a decent first-time visit to a Chinese City of this size and status. The operator had all the essentials covered: Smooth airport transits and hotel check-in, comfy and clean hotel rooms, pre-arranged entrance tickets, all transportation to attractions and back, plus most meals covered. All these for just S$270 for the above essentials, I can overlook some minor electives not fulfilled. 

In other words, it may not be the front-row-seat kind of travel, it was definitely not at the back row neither! I may sound like a few fries short of a Happy Meal, but I am grateful that this Happy Meal is still good!    

Well, and you know what they say, rite? When it is good, it is great! I'll be back, Chengdu :)

Bon Voyage!


Apologies: I had difficulties uploading pictures and videos here. So I may have to find another way to cover that.

End-of-Blog Scoreboard & Summary:

Food:              9/10

Hotel:             8/10

Transport:       7/10

Attractions:     9/10

Safety:            9/10

Walkability:    8/10

Shopping:       7/10

Value for Money: 10/10 


  


Monday, December 20, 2010

I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love - Chicago

Thought it wouldn’t matter if we didn’t stay together
And if it was over, baby it was for the better
I was thinking I’d be alright til I thought it all through
Now I know that I ain’t really living if I have to live without you

I don’t wanna live without your love
I don’t wanna face the night alone
I could never make it through my life
If I had to make it on my own
I don’t wanna love nobody else
I don’t wanna find somebody new
I don’t wanna live without your love
I just wanna live my life with you, with you

Guess I have to go away, so much I have to go through
Guess I had to lose you to realise how much I love you
Can’t we make the fire burn again, burn a little stronger
Cos I feel alone and baby I can’t be alone any longer

I don’t wanna live without your love
I don’t wanna face the night alone
I could never make it through my life
If I have to make it on my own
I don’t wanna love nobody else
I don’t wanna find somebody new
I don’t wanna live without your love
I just wanna live my life with you

Oh if I have to make it on my own
My life will never be the same
My love would never be the same
I don’t wanna live without your love

I don’t wanna live without your love
I don’t wanna face the night alone
I could never make it through my life
If I have to make it on my own
And I don’t wanna love nobody else
I don’t wanna find somebody new
I don’t wanna live without your love
I just wanna live my life with you

I don’t wanna live without your love
I don’t wanna face the night alone
I could never make it through my life
If I have to make it on my own
I don’t wanna love nobody else
I don’t wanna find somebody new
I don’t wanna live without your love
I just wanna live my life with you

All About Loving You - Bon Jovi

Looking at the pages of my life
Faded memories of me and you
Mistakes you know I've made a few
I took some shots and fell from time to time
Baby, you were there to pull me through
We've been around the block a time or two
I'm gonna lay it on the line
Ask me how we've come this far
The answer's written in my eyes

[Chorus:]
Every time I look at you, baby, I see something new
That takes me higher than before and makes me want you more
I don't wanna sleep tonight, dreamin's just a waste of time
When I look at what my life's been comin' to
I'm all about lovin' you

I've lived, I've loved, I've lost, I've paid some dues, baby
We've been to hell and back again
Through it all you're always my best friend
For all the words I didn't say and all the things I didn't do
Tonight I'm gonna find a way

[Chorus:]
Every time I look at you, baby, I see something new
That takes me higher than before and makes me want you more
I don't wanna sleep tonight, dreamin's just a waste of time
When I look at what my life's been comin' to
I'm all about lovin' you

You can take this world away
You're everything I am
Just read the lines upon my face
I'm all about lovin' you

[Guitar Solo]

[Chorus:]
Every time I look at you, baby, I see something new
That takes me higher than before and makes me want you more
I don't wanna sleep tonight, dreamin's just a waste of time
When I look at what my life's been comin' to
I'm all about lovin' you

All about lovin' you

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Doctrine Of Utmost Good Faith

What Does Doctrine Of Utmost Good Faith Mean?
A minimum standard that requires both the buyer and seller in a transaction to act honestly toward each other and to not mislead or withhold critical information from one another. The doctrine of utmost good faith applies to many common financial transactions.

Also know in its Latin form as "uberrimae fidei".

In the insurance market, the doctrine of utmost good faith requires that the party seeking insurance discloses all relevant personal information. For example, if you are applying for life insurance, you are required to disclose any previous health problems you may have had. Likewise, the insurance agent selling you the coverage must disclose the critical information you need to know about your contract and its terms.

Source: Investopedia

Caveat Emptor

What Does Caveat Emptor Mean?
A Latin phrase for "let the buyer beware." The term is primarily used in real property transactions. Essentially it proclaims that the buyer must perform their due diligence when purchasing an item or service.

In other words, consumers need to know their rights and be vigilant in avoiding scams. For example in the private purchase of a used car, caveat emptor places an onus on the buyer to make sure the car is worth the purchase price. This is because once the transaction is complete the buyer will not receive a warranty or return option from the seller.

Source: Investopedia

Salad Oil Scandal

What Does Salad Oil Scandal Mean?
One of the worst corporate scandals of its time. It occurred when Allied Crude Vegetable Oil Company discovered that banks would make loans secured by its salad oil inventory.

When the ships full of salad oil would arrive in the docks, inspectors would test it and confirm that the ship was full of salad oil. However, the company didn't remind anyone that oil floats on water. They had filled salad oil tanks with water and put a few feet of oil on top, fooling everyone. The company would even transfer oil to different tanks while taking inspectors out to lunch. In 1963, the scam was busted and over $175 million worth of salad oil was missing.

American Express took one of the biggest hits from the scandal, losing nearly $58 million and experiencing a 50% drop in AMEX stock as a result.

Source: Investopedia

Leprechaun Leader

What Does Leprechaun Leader Mean?

A corporate manager or an executive who, like the fabled Irish elf, is a mischievous and elusive creature said to possess buried treasures of money and gold.

Also spelled "Lepre-con Leader".

According to Irish folklore, the location of hidden treasure is revealed only when the leprechaun is caught. In the case of a leprechaun leader, the "buried treasure" is not usually buried, but protected in an offshore account!

Examples of leprechaun leaders are the executives of Enron, who stowed away millions of dollars until they were finally caught.

Source: Investopedia

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

If I Had My Child To Raise All Over Again...

I came across this email the other day, and thought it was timely to share with all the parents out there. Like them, I have a 5-year-old boy (little Eaglet) and watching him grow everyday is both a privilege and a blessings. Hopefully this short little message will help us set our compass right. Here we go:

If I had my child to raise all over again,
I would build self-esteem first, and the house later.
I would finger-paint more, and point the finger less.
I would do less correcting and more connecting,
I would take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.
I would care to know less and know to care more.
I would take more hikes and fly more kites,
I would stop playing serious, and seriously play.
I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.
I would do more hugging and less tugging.
I would see the oak tree in the acorn more often.
I would be firm less often, and affirm much more.
I would model less about the love of power, and more about the power of love.

Happy reflecting and hopefully gain some bearings :)

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Relationship: Collecting or Connecting Friends?

It is official. Today is my first day...as a 37 year-old man now. I have survived thus far, eating without being eaten. Thank God!

Over the last 72 hours had been exciting. Emails poured in, Facebook walls posted, SMSes recieved, phone calls, even my good old mailbox recieved birthday cards around this season of the year. Well, it's my birthday afterall :)

Talking about birthday, I am not that into cakes or gifts nowadays. Really. I have too much things already, and thankfully I have practically everything I need. So presents are not essentials. I just want to spend some meaningful time with my loved ones, friends and significant others. That to me is more important now. Get connected with loved ones. Relationsips, in short.

No wonder Pastor Bill Hybel said "relationships are the only reality in this universe". People, not things, counts. Relationships matter. So when I looked back at this road I've travelled, I asked myself how many relationships have I forged over the years. Or was it merely a collection of names and numbers here and there?

Interestingly, when I was much younger, I often asked myself do I have at least 6 good solid friends who will carry my coffin when I died. Quite silly consider the fact that here in Singapore nobody carry coffin for their deceased family members or friends. But it forces me to evaluate and take stock of what is important in life. When we are confronted with the fraility and finality of our existence, we are often reminded of our purpose and mission on earth.

More critical is what will my loved ones and friends write on my tombstone given a chance? Will they describe me as one who had impact their lives positively? Someone who make a difference in them? Will they regard me as a servant of Christ? A Faithful husband? A Loving Daddy? A Great Friend? I pray they will.

My age is but a number. But it reminds me that I am accountable to many, that I am steward to relationships, that I am a trustee to those who look to me for comfort and security, for guidance and inspiration. The bigger this age number, the larger my accountability and stewardship.

I have written this before here in my blog. But I felt it is timely to pull out this poem again, for it is so fitting to know that we should count our age not by years, but by friends. But not just friends collected, but friends connected. That, to me, is a true, sincere, genuine relationship :)

Happy Birthday to Me! :)

Count your garden by the flowers,
Never by leaves that fall.
Count your days by golden hours,
Don't remember clouds at all.
Count your nights by stars, not shadows
Count your life by smiles, not tears.
And with joy on every birthday,
Count your age by friends, not years.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

The "WOW!" of Vows

Vows. Promises. Word of Honour. We are familiar with them. We would have made some vows, some promises and words of honour at various times of our lives to various people: Our spouses, our employers, our country (through the pledge), even our parents and friends.

Question is: What is the real significance when we uttered those vows and promises? Is it still relevant in the modern 21st century where people no longer take their vows and promises seriously in the light of a self-serving environment? Yes, ours is the proverbial “I’ll do my best, but NO PROMISES…” Sounds familiar? You just hate it when someone disclaimed their liabilities and make light their expectation to deliver. In other words, is there a wow factor in the vow anymore in these age?

I believe there is meaning and purpose behind every well-crafted vow and promise. It is the purpose behind these words that give them significance. Essentially, it is an agreement and determination to be true and stay true. The Bible calls this consecration. Set aside. To be given priority. To be held above all else.

Is this mentality the driving force of your vows and promises – to be true and stay true? Even when the circumstances when you made those vows have changed? I drew inspirations from the sermon I heard 2 week ago about the Nazirite vow. The nature might be different but I think the application is the same.

Recently, I heard and witnessed a lot of couples struggling to keep their marriage intact and in place. Some resented their spouse. Some rejected each other already. Some get distracted by third parties and abandoned their first love. Some claimed that they have tried and exhausted all means for reconciliation.

Bullshit!
Excuses!!
Liars!!!!!!!

Truth is: They just don't want to...

Some becomes outlaws with their in-laws. Joking still, some said, "Divorce? Never! Murder? Maybe!" Husbands and wives stayed on the lifeless marriage because of the house, the kids, the finances, even ...the dog. Sad but true. How to salvage?

I believe we need to return to the very first altar when things began. Go back to the history. Why we get together in the first place? Let’s examine the basic tenets of the vow and then cast it against the backdrop of our marital vow.

A. It is all about BEING DEDICATED TO

When one make a vow (to a spouse), it is meant to be wholly dedicated to him or her. Or in another version, says “to belong to in a special way”. There are 4 possible reasons why someone would dedicate to another as spouse:

To make a ransom demand: “I dedicate myself to you, and you MUST DO THIS AND THIS….” A spouse-napper.
To gain a reward: “I dedicate myself to you so that you WILL GIVE ME…OR I WANT THIS….” A Things-Lover.
To repay a favour: “I dedicate myself to you because you HAVE DONE THIS FOR ME…..........” A grateful-partner.
A committed love response: “I dedicate myself to you because I want to bless you and make your joy my No.1 priority”.
A True Lover.

Don’t be a Things-Lover or Spouse-napper.

B. It is all about BEING SEPARATED FROM

When you study it, the Marriage Vow has at least 4 interesting features:

1. It is unique and exclusive. (Forsaking all, be faithful to ONE)
2. It is public. (In the presence of God and these witnesses…)
3. It is costly. (In sickness or health, through good/ bad times, for better/ worst, in plenty/ in want…no matter come what may… )
4. It is temporal. (as in till death do us part and be re-united when Christ returns)

Don’t let anything come in between the marriage. The union is non-negotiable. Divorce is not an option. Don’t make convenient excuses and look for way out at the very first sign of trouble. That is the summation of the vows. Being “separated from” others to be “alone with” each other.

C. It is all about BEING DESTINED FOR

When two individuals got married, the two shall become one. Problems start when the couples ask, “Which one”? Answer: Christ. That is the eventual destiny of the couple. One for another, both for the LORD (these were the words engraved on the inside of our wedding bands). There is a higher upward agenda then just mastering transitions from young married to old grandparents. When both couple seeks to draw near and imitate Christ, the two shall become spiritually one, not just mere physical or mental or social oneness. The vow seeks unity and oneness in Christ.

Inadvertently, when the vow is threatened or broken, I believe God has made provision for reinstatement, through a journey of healing and restoration by grace through faith and scriptures. I will not dwell on inner healing here. The main focus here is the centrality of the vow.

For young couples starting out, remember the vow you took. They are sacred. Don't lose sight.

For older couples who are struggling, remember the vow you took. Consecrate yourself anew and afresh to each other. Don't lose hope. Don’t give up, or give in to temptations. Be willing to pay the price, any price, to finish well.

Go.
Press on.
Dedicate yourself to God.
Consecrate your marriage again.
The goal is to not just start but finish well.
The bumps on the road are what we climb on to progress.
A good and strong marriage takes lots of effort and sacrifice….and… it is worth everything.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Of Misrepresentation & Degree Mills!

After following the "Dr" Claim-en Chiang's saga for the past few days, my curiosity got the better of me. I went to google what degree mills are, and so I cut-and-paste the entire top portion for my readers below.

Now, Eagleboy remembered attending one of his "free" seminar also, round about last year. The remembrence still carried with it some post-indigestion churnings in the stomach. I could still feel the same old hardcore pressure-selling tactics to lure the un-initiated to sign up his so-called "Bao-Jiak" trading course. Sibeh sian one, listening to nothing but his metal credit card and some cave in Sentuksah...

Me, being the 'not-so-smart' one, of course missed the "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity to be his student. Sad to say, Eagleboy also didn't come from a very reputable education background. He only graduated from NUS, which he always believe it stands for: Nothing Up Stairs (in the thinking department). He can't be smart enough to sign up for such a deal. Afterall, it is only $3800 what, and can use credit card and pay by instalments you know.

Suffice to say, there is no more stones around on the floor for me to cast now. All thrown already. Someone had already hurled the last one. I hate to say this but I am curious to find out how this poor ignorance bastard will defend himself. Afterall, if you claimed to carry a PhD, you cannot act "blur". That will put other PhDs in very bad lights, you know.

Now, I have always thought that PhD people have "Permanent Head Damage". But now I believe they "Purposely Hide their Deception". These people will have to "Pay Heftily until Dried". His "Program Has been Disrupted" and he will be on the "Public Hate-List Display".

But before all these shit, Eagleboy suggests the cockter better "Prepare His Defense" before a class-action suit!

Here's the site: http://www.chea.org/degreemills/frmPaper.htm

Diploma or degree mills come in many guises. Some degree mills blatantly offer to sell a degree and perhaps a transcript from a legitimate school. Others can be easily recognized by promising that an applicant can receive a degree in a very short period of time, sometimes as little as five days. Another type of degree mill will purport to look at an applicant’s life experience and award a degree based solely on a description of this experience. Others may require the student to submit papers or other assignments, but still will provide the degree in a short period of time with much less work than would be required by legitimate institutions. An advertisement that claims a student can “earn” a degree in much less time than it would take at a legitimate institution is likely evidence that the school is a degree mill.

Degree mills may resemble legitimate institutions in some ways. For example, many legitimate schools provide credit for life experience, but almost all of these schools require students to provide extensive documentation demonstrating how their experience relates to the learning objectives of the course or courses for which they are seeking credit and may require papers that relate the experience to the course requirements as well. Some schools will also provide opportunities for completing the requirements for a degree in a short period of time. Typically, however, these kinds of programs are intended for students who have completed a considerable number of college-level courses, perhaps at a number of institutions, but have not put these credits together to complete a degree.

Now, early in the 21st century, technology is the impetus for a renewed threat. In the past several years, concern over the problem of fraudulent operators has escalated because of the ease of creating a fraudulent institution on the Internet. A moderately skilled web designer can very easily and quickly create a home page for a fraudulent school with the look and feel of a home page of a legitimate school. Often, it is difficult if not impossible to track down the individuals responsible for perpetrating the fraud, and even if they were to be located, they could very well be operating from some location outside the jurisdiction of state or U.S. laws. It is likely that many of these fraudulent schools are also short-lived, making detection even more difficult. They can start up, collect considerable amounts of money from consumers, go out of business, change their name and emerge as a new entity in a very short period of time.

This is occurring at the same time that there is more and more pressure on individuals to earn degrees, not only bachelor’s degrees, but master’s and doctoral degrees as well. Jobs and promotions increasingly go to individuals with the greatest educational qualifications, even when individuals’ work experience may be more relevant to the job than is a degree. This creates pressures on individuals to obtain degrees, tempting some to take the easy route to a degree – the degree mill.

Taken from CHEA
Council for Higher Education Accreditation

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Unemployment - Hope for Those Between Jobs

Unemployment. Retrenchment. Job loss. All these increase a person's risk of depression and self-doubt. Different people react differently to unemployment, or the possibility of it. When word is out that their company is planning a major downsizing, or when the actual retrenchment comes, some feel vulnerable and anxious. Some are concerned about providing for family. Others are depressed that they cannot afford to continue to live in luxury. Still others are bitter that they got axed.

Whatever the emotions, being without job or unemployed is painful.

In the current global financial crisis and recession, it is inevitable that we will know of friends and loved ones who are (or will be) affected by retrenchment. How is the retrenched person to cope? What can we as friends do?

I would like to approach this sensitive issue from two front: First, my response as a friend, and second, the response as a retrenched person.

1. Response as a Friend.

We must be understanding. Job loss put people of all ages and social status into a period of agonizing uncertainty.
We must be encouraging. It is a tough period of life. A warm friendship that gently points a person to God or to some source of hope is comforting.
We must be sensitive. Don’t assume that the person can join you in outings, vacations or eating out as readily as before. Genuinely offer to pay for them (especially those with children)
We must be helpful. Perhaps you know of a temporary job to recommend. Or volunteer to take the kids out. Or offer some practical helps. It is appreciated even if the offer is not taken.
We must be prayerful (for those who believe in God). God answers prayer and people (not just the Christians) appreciate being prayed for. Lets rally around that person or family in prayer.

2. Response as a Retrenched Person/ Christian.

Replace Worry with Trust. Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matt6:33). Hold fast to the promises of God!
Walk closer with God. Some Christian friends have testified that in the previous recession, the retrenchment was the best things that had happened in their lives because they tend to walk closer with God and align their agendas spiritually.
Determine God’s Purpose. Crisis refines us. Our response to crisis defines us. There is purpose in the midst of pain. We can choose to be better or bitter. Knowing God’s purpose in our life helps us to be better.
Use your Time wisely. Don’t stay at home in front of the TV and wallow in self-pity. Invest your time to do what you have always wanted to do but didn’t have the time. Also, plan a definite number of hours each day to search for a job, and stick to it. Don’t let closed doors discourage you.
Join a support Group (like church group). God never intends for us to walk and struggle alone, but rather for us to be in a community. Learn to minister to each other and build each other up in the same crisis!
Review your Budget. Establish a low budget during the job search period. Simplify your life. Some luxuries can do without some times. Discourage the use of credit cards during days of financial uncertainty.
Resist the Temptation to do away with Tithing. Sure. Review it. But don’t stop giving. Even if it’s a “widow’s mite”. Given in the right spirit, God will honour it. God is no man’s debtor!

Faith does not preclude an absence of troubles in life. Rather, true faith allows for problems in life and yet trusts God to be the anchor in those storms. Jesus said that when these storms come, they actually test the foundation of our life, whether it has been built on solid rock or sinking sand (Matt 7:24). Hold fast to God’s word. Respond aright in crisis that God might bring us through the crisis. In Christ, we are victors of our circumstances, not victims.

Friday, February 27, 2009

Huperetes

"Huperetes" - literally means bottom-rower or under-rowers. Servants, in today's context.

"I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a huperetes (bottom rower)..."
Acts 26:16

These are the words of the Lord to the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus. Paul, considered by many to be the greatest Apostle, was not called to be a mighty pastor, or evangelist, or even given a prominance among the twelve. He was simply called to be a bottom rower, a lowly galley slave...chained in place, never seeing where he was going, always moving with the same stroke at the will and command of the Master. No glory!

Many people today decide on their own that the Lord has called them to be something glorified. Maybe you think you ought to be the captain, or the helmsman, or even a mighty marine ready for battle. In reality, the Lord has called you to be a bottom rower. How do we know? Because He is the Captain, He is the Helmsman, He is the Soldier. All things are done for His glory, not ours. He asks us to walk in faith one step at a time, one stroke of the oar at a time.

Ours is an age of consumerism. An ungodly and carnal generation totally immersed in the preoccupation with 'my rights' and 'my choices'. There is a radical need to be tutored to serve God on His terms, not ours. We are taught the great reversal - the greater to serve the lesser.

Four key enemies to a servant of Christ, a 'huperetes'; four key spirits of our age. They are:

A consumer spirit - We fight for our rights, but go light on our responsibilities. There is nothing inherently wrong with having rights, it is dangerous when we only want our rights but discard the associating responsibilities. Many didn't know that with rights comes responsibilities. A consumer says "What's in for me?" A servant says "Can I serve you?" We need to cultivate a serving spirit. Don't covet.

A competitive spirit - We compete all the time, and on just about anything. Best view, best seats, best spot, VIP treatment, best coverage, best floor, best car, best corner office, best work table, the list goes on. The problem with competition is the "at any cost" mentality. The "to be top at all cost" attitude sabotages the proper process and posture for promotion to such high places and positions. We need to cultivate a grateful spirit. Don't exploit.

A compromising spirit - We go easy on ourselves, all the time. We lower the standards over the years for ourselves, gives excuses, and cut corners, but only for ourselves. The moral line is blurred or non-existing. A little here, a little there, we compromise and leak, a drop at a time. We need to cultivate a spirit of moral excellence. Don't succumb under.

A complaining spirit.
The best part is, if others demand some rights from us, or compromise, or just do the same things mentioned above to us, we complain, get mad, and get even. Worst, we get bitter. It is always their fault. They shouldn't do this to me. I demand a reason for such treatment...and so on. We complain because we do not regard that God is in control, and therefore we often take matters into our own hands. We need to cultivate a meek spirit. Don't churn within.

Such carnal mindsets must go for a huperetes. We are called to radical & authentic servanthood. Today is that day.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

说好的幸福呢? by Jay Chou

歌曲:说好的幸福呢
歌手:周杰伦
专辑:魔杰座

你的回话凌乱着
在这个时刻
我想起喷泉旁的白鸽
甜蜜散落了
情绪莫名的拉扯
我还爱你呢
而你断断续续唱着歌
假装没事了

时间过了走了
爱情面临选择
你冷了倦了我哭了
离开时的不快乐
你用卡片手写着
有些爱只给到这真的痛了

怎么了你累了
说好的幸福呢
我懂了不说了
爱淡了梦远了
开心与不开心一一细数着
你再不舍
那些爱过的感觉都太深刻
我都还记得

你不等了
说好的幸福呢
我错了泪干了
放手了后悔了
只是回忆的音乐盒还旋转着
要怎么停呢

你的回话凌乱着
在这个时刻
我想起喷泉旁的白鸽
甜蜜散落了

情绪莫名的拉扯
我还爱你呢
而你断断续续唱着歌
假装没事了

时间过了走了
爱情面临选择
你冷了倦了我哭了
离开时的不快乐
你用卡片手写着
有些爱只给到这
真的痛了

怎么了你累了
说好的幸福呢
我懂了不说了
爱淡了梦远了
开心与不开心一一细数着
你再不舍
那些爱过的感觉都太深刻
我都还记得

你不等了
说好的幸福呢
我错了泪干了
放手了后悔了
只是回忆的音乐盒还旋转着
要怎么停呢

怎么了你累了
说好的幸福呢
我懂了不说了
爱淡了梦远了
我都还记得
你不等了
说好的幸福呢
我错了泪干了
放手了后悔了
只是回忆的音乐盒还旋转着
要怎么停呢

Monday, February 23, 2009

If You throw Mud, You lose Ground...

"If you throw mud, you just lose ground...is it worth it?"

I still remember a dear brother who spoke this words to me many years ago. I was less wiser then. He was my mentor, my friend, my brother in the faith, and a fellow co-labourerer in the church worship team. These words still sticked to me till this day.

As a young man then, I was unpolished, ill-disciplined, and hot-headed. I was foolish. I resented been told what to do. I just want to tell others what to do. I was proud and self-centred. In fact, I was insecure. I challenged leadership and authority. Bad ideas. My pride and insecurity had led to my inability to work as a team, or held any leadership role, for long. When confronted or counselled by my leaders, I was always defensive and judgemental, and usually left a trail of body counts. I have repented ever since.

This crisis of authority issue led me to read a very special book called "The Tale of Three Kings". It was from my mentor. It talks about a king who likes to throw spears at others when he felt threatened or insecured. One particular and unfortunate target was a young man who will one day succeed him as the next king. However, this young man had to go through harsh and life-threatening treatments under the current mad king. One simple solution to end all this is to just yanked the spear out of the wall and ...right...throw bad. But he didn't. He knows what submission means, and gladly obeyed.

The message from the book left a lasting and deep inprint in my life about submission and authority. It drilled a strong foundation in my conviction about certain things in life today. Now, years later, when I looked back, I am thankful for the love shown to me from these people who chastized and refined me. I can see further today because these spiritual giants had at some point in my life hoisted me on their shoulders and carry me through.

Well, there are still times when I felt the temptations to throw back spears that were hauled at me. I have found strength available to refrain from that these days. I used to find strength big enough to throw back twice the speed and impact. But it is not necessary now, and I am thankful. My spear-throwing days are over.

We all move on. We either get better or worse. I have chosen to get better, and better I know I have been. God has healed many wounds in my heart over the years, and has restored my trust in His goodness and faithfulness. I am secured as a son is before his father. Nothing more, nothing less, nothing else.

This is not my recent encounter or experience. I have always wanted to write about this years back, when I carried my first-born son in my arms. I looked into his eyes, and then I saw my Father's heart for me. What I desire for my son is exactly what my Father desires for me. I finally got in touch with that child in me when I became a father myself. This is a paradox. A watershed point. A breakthrough. A valley-to-mountain experience.

I will end this note with a quote from Rubel Shelly. It was this quote that led me to write this entry today.

"If criticism is mistaken or mean-spirited, rise above it. Maintain the high ground when you're under fire. No victory is worth winning at the expense of picking up the mud that has been slung at you and throwing it back."

Rubel Shelly

Come soar with me :)

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Valentine's Day

I came across this heart warming article about love, and although Valentine's Day is over, it is a good reminder and reflection of what love looks like in and from the eyes on these young ones. And as usual, this is my gift of words to you.

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When Children Ages 4-8 were asked What Love Is

'When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love.'
Rebecca - age 8

'When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.'
Billy - age 4

'Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.'
Karl - age 5

'Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.'
Chrissy - age 6

'Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.'
Terri - age 4

'Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.'
Danny - age 7

'Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss'
Emily - age 8

'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.'
Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)

'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate.'
Nikka - age 6 (we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)

'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.'
Noelle - age 7

'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.'
Tommy - age 6

'During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.'
Cindy - age 8

'My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.'
Clare - age 6

'Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.'
Elaine-age 5

'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.'
Chris - age 7

'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day..'
Mary Ann - age 4

'I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.'
Lauren - age 4

'When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.' (what an image)
Karen - age 7

'You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it But if you mean it, you should say it a lot.. People forget.'
Jessica - age 8

And the final one:

The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said,

'Nothing, I just helped him cry'

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Wow, listen to this 4-year-old boy! He understood what many adults (men) don't - Tears. I wrote a song for my wife some time ago. There was this one line that says, "Every time I hear you cry, I'll cry with you."

It was Orid who wrote that "Tears are sometimes more eloquent than words." Orid, 43 BC - AD 17.

Well, Valentine's Day comes and goes each year, and so is life. But what make this life so special is the relationship and bonds we built over time, each and every time, even after we are long gone. Our children sees the love that we shared among us, and learn to love. And who says that only we can teach them how to love?

We need love's tender lessons taught,
As only weakness can;
God hath His small interpreters,
The child must teach the man.

-Author unknown

Happy Valentine's Day!

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

8 Lessons I learnt from "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards" - Soren Kierkegaard
(words that appear in the movie trailer)

Time : 2 hrs and 47 min
Theatre : Orchard Cineleisure
Ticket price : $8

The themes centre on love, time, aging, youth, changes, death, the impermanence of life and the reality of relationships and bonds that last a lifetime.

Mark Twain once wrote: “Life would be infinitely happier if we could only be born at the age of 80 and gradually approach 18.” In a way, it is like saying "youth is wasted on the young". Upon this quote a story was born (a story written by F. Scott Fitzgerald) and thereafter a movie was made.

For me, this is an epic tale that makes one contemplate the wonders of life, of birth and death, and most of all, love. It touches on questions we ask ourselves and choices we opt over the course of a lifetime. The backbone of this story is the developing relationship between 2 individuals, Benjamin and Daisy. And the plot is the tension that brews as Daisy grows older while Benjamin becomes younger each and every day.

I am deeply awed by the way the movie unfolds itself. The story begins in New Orleans at the end of WW1 in 1918 with the unveiling of a giant clock in the grand central train station. The clock runs backward in memory of the fallen soldiers who will never know a future. It was a heart-broken scene. He was a father, and so am I. I can identify his heartbeat.

Lets look at the individuals. They all represent something to me.

The central, emotional core of the movie is, of course, Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt). He represents for me a man, like anyone of us, who is unable to stop time or reverse it (unlike the clock-maker). However, he is also a man who has a life unlike any others. An extraordinary life journey. His is the odd condition that makes him grow younger instead of older.

Interestingly, just like the story of Forrest Gump, a sense of wonder is a trademark of Benjamin's personality. From start to finish, this character tries to be himself, accepting his flaws and celebrating his strengths as a human being: "It's never too late or too early to be whoever you want to be."

Daisy (Blanchett) represents the life of anyone too caught up in the drama and excitement of career and friends (the artistic kind). More importantly, she embodies a woman, who has to make peace with the idea of growing older while the person she loves is getting younger. She represents everybody's common fear of growing old, and losing the ability to maintain or hold on to life's various positions and demands.

Queenie (the woman who adopted Benjamin) gives the story it’s grace and warmth. Her unconditional love toward Benjamin and others is breathtaking. In fact, she is probably the only woman who ever really deserves Benjamin's love. She is the true heart and soul behind Benjamin’s story and without her it would never have carried the emotional weight it reached. She represents our parents or folks who love us unconditionally, and have a genuine interest in our well-being, without any selfish personal agenda.

Thomas Button (Benjamin's father) represents a kind of successful but lonely man in this world, and eventually an old man who is dying and wants to reconnect with the boy he ditched years ago. Thankfully, instead of showing anger or seeking revenge, Benjamin treats him with kindly compassion for he has come to realize that death is a tender moment that must be treated with respect and dignity.

Some segments of the story that deserved contemplations due to their ironical prepositions:

One of these is when he turns away Daisy as she makes sexual advances towards him while the two are in their 20th years of their lives. With her at the age of 20s and him physically closer to 60 it was a sweet and poignant decision on his part. Later, when they are closer to the same age (both in their 40s), he does not reject her advances proving he was wiser about when to accept her into his arms then instead of when she was at the younger, more foolish age.

Another focuses on the part that preaches the belief of fate. There is a line of dialogue that states our lives are predetermined and you go where fate takes you. Much like chaos theory in reasoning. The scene describes an accident that could have been prevented if only one of a large number of incidents had occurred differently. I would say that if only she turns and checks on the on-coming traffic the entire outcome would have been altered. There is no need to read too much too far behind. Period.

Still another one focuses on the brief but highly charged affairs between Benjamin and a British spy's wife. It is ironical that a spy didn't pick up any sign or signal from his "radar" that his wife was fooling around. While he is checking our the enemies, his wife is checking out Benjamin. And like any spy, she disappeared quietly too.

Lastly, it is the part that Benjamin left Daisy and his daughter. When a person is growing younger and watches their child growing older, it can cause fear and, while Benjamin explains his honest belief that what he is doing is right, it seems to be the worst thing he could do at the time. Even looking back and seeing he might have been right in this important decision, it still seems selfish as he continues his life free from the responsibilities he should be bearing. Ironically, he did exactly what his father did years ago - abandoning the child.

Lessons learnt from the movie:

1. It doesn’t make any difference whether you live your life backwards or forwards; it’s how you live your life. Choose your guiding principles wisely and live by purpose.

2. You have people and things for a certain amount of time, and then you have to be okay with letting go. You can take what you can from it while it’s here, but it’s never yours. Time can be cruel or kind to different people at different times. The only way to walk this journey is with an open heart and thankful spirit. Open to recieve, thankful when let go.

3. There was never a pity party for Benjamin. So must we. Learn to love yourself and appreciated the fact that you are different but never let your handicaps stop you from doing or achieving what you want to achieve in life.

4. I am reminded that love goes beyond age and beauty. It involves a connection between individuals. I will seek to build and nourish that connection with my loved ones, and significant others.

5. Benjamin learns how to let go and not to cling to anyone. But more importantly, to cherish those that are still around us. An old lady in the retirement home told him "We're meant to lose the people we love. How else will we know how much they meant to us?" For that, I would add that he who lost much, love much.

6. I have learned the most, strangely, from this odd duck called Captain Mike. His famous wisdom was in his dialouge with Benjamin, and I quote, "You can be as mad as a mad dog at the way things went. You could swear, curse the fates, but when it comes to the end, you have to let go." Atlas, letting go. Something so important yet so difficult to practise, isn't it?

7. I have learned to enjoy watching sunrise. I will make plans to do it at least once every year.

8. I have learned the importance of one-to-one bonding, through late night kitchen rendezvous. I will schedule regular tea or coffee time with my wife after my boy boy falls asleep. Ritualizing routines rekindle romance! For me, dating my wife all over again is not only necessary, but essential! Remember this 4 'R's :) but do it with the right woman, okay :P

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button reminds us that the best thing we can do is make the most of our journey and be thankful for the people we meet along the way. It's all a gift. Benjamin embodies the zest for life described in one of my favorite quotations by Diane Ackerman:

"The great affair, the love affair with life, is to live as variously as possible, to groom one's curiosity like a high-spirited thoroughbred, climb aboard, and gallop over the thick, sunstruck hills every day. . . It began as mystery, and it will end in mystery, but what a savage and beautiful country lies in between."

Benjamin also reminds us that life is what we make of it - no matter how different we may be from what people expect, no matter who leaves us breaking our heart, or doesn’t choose us because of how we look. Instead, life is just moments to be enjoyed, a story to be told. Take things as they come and you can always learn something new no matter how old, or in this case young, you may get.

The best part of life doesn't just came at the beginning, nor the worst part at the end. I see Benjamin's journey as a privilege, just like mine. If he did not consider and consent that he's got the worst of both worlds, we should not.

Believe.
Press on and live.
Fight against the odds.
Rest if you must, but don't stop.

Carpediem - Seize the Day! (and time as well!)

A Valentine's Day Poem

They tell you what to eat and wear,
And how you should love and care.
So they created a day called "Valentine's",
When love becomes very blind.
They sell you roses costing ten times more,
For fifty, they'll take it to her door.
If love is measured by roses red,
What happens when they droop and fade?
Candlelight dinner you can't afford,
Can't tell her, or your status will drop.
If love is measured by where we dine,
What happens when stomach's not fine?
Fanciful costly card you must buy,
Everyone's doing it, so you don't ask why.
If love is measured by what's on a card,
What happens when words fail the heart?
Newspapers want to make money too,
Reserve love columns just for you.
If love is measured by such publicity,
What happens when faced with the ordinary?
Why let love be so commercialised,
An annual affair, reduced to a price.
Senseless competition of status and style,
By those all geared up to make a big pile.
It's the giving of yourself each day,
In the many small and simple ways.
That make you a true and precious friend,
Who will live and love till the very end.

Happy Valentine's Day :)

Sunday, February 8, 2009

In This Life - by Collin Raye

Song: In This Life
Singer: Collin Raye

For all i've been blessed with in this life
There was an emptiness in me
I was imprisoned by the power of gold
With one honest touch you set me free

Let the world stop turnin'
Let the sun stop burnin'
Let them tell me
Love's not worth goin' through
If it all falls apart
I will know deep in my heart
The only dream that mattered
Had come true

In this life i was loved by you

For every mountain i have climbed
Every raging river crossed
You were the treasure
That i longed to find
Without your love i would be lost

Let the world stop turnin'
Let the sun stop burnin'
Let them tell me
Love's not worth going through
If it all falls apart
I will know deep in my heart
The only dream that mattered
Had come true

In this life i was loved by you
In this life i was loved by you

To my beloved wife...I.N.G.