6 years old teaches you about life

Dialogue:

“Imagine yourself 90 years old, on a porch in a rocking chair looking back on your life. Got the image? Good! Now let me tell you. Studies shows that the biggest regret from the elderly people on their deathbed is not what they did. It’s what they didn’t do. The risk they never took. How sad would it be to get to the end of your life and realized you never truly lived.

This is your life. Nobody else’s. No matter how much this society, your parents, your friends want you to live the way they want to live. You run the show. When you shut your eyes and go to sleep at night the entire world ceased to exist and when you wake up, it is born again.

This is your life. You’re in control. You gotta do what feels right in your heart. Now go back to the rocking chair and think what would your future self say about the ideas you never created, your books you never wrote, the words you never spoke because you were tired, because you were scared or you wanted to fit in and be cool.

A Singaporean heart felt about FTs

The increasing feuds between Singaporean and the foreign talents that we can almost see daily on our Facebook timeline; like the recent case of TTSH dismissed its employee Mr Ello Ed Mundsel Bello for being rude on the comments he posted on his Facebook. It just causes more hatred for either nationality.

The indisputable truth is that our forefathers "invaded" this peaceful Malay village back in the 1830s when Singapore became the capital of British Traits Settlements. Although the Chinese came way before this time, the British found only about 150 people on the island and only 30 are Chinese fishermen.

So it is just a Deja vu happening over again. We came to this little Malay village and FT came to our country which happens to be the same place at a different era. The problem is that this place had not doubled its size but just merely increases from 1960s 581.5 sq.km to 723.2 sq.km today. The population scored much better with 1.7 million in the 60s to 5.4 million today. 

The other things need to mention is that the Chinese came as traders and many ended in small time business owners providing all kinds of services to the communities. That is where we have our title of food paradise in Asia. 

The objectives of Company's Annual Dinner

It is about the time of the year again. Companies are hosting their yearly event to celebrate the successful year that pass and the promising year ahead. As an employee that worked in several companies, I noticed differences in styles and beliefs.

I personally enjoyed this yearly event and eagerly anticipated for the lucky draws. I ever won $400 Takashimaya vouchers, electronics, hampers, etc. All these are history, not every company perceived it in the same manner. It is all about objectives.

What do you think the objectives should be to host such an event?

Some think that it is the time to give thanks to the customers. The company enjoyed a successful year and use this event to show appreciation for the business opportunities.

Some are opportunist and viewed it as a business itself. They send out invitations and rushing to get headcount confirmations. Just as suppliers and business partners confirmed attendance, second wave of sponsorship request are sent out. The event budget will be determined by the sponsorship collection. Of course there must be a profit in it. How can that be? You mean you didn't come across companies that request only cash sponsorship and give some reason such as uniformity?

Many companies (fortunately) uses this event to throw a party for its employees. They believe that it is time to make the employees feel important for been part of the company. It is the time managers praises and organize surprises for their teams. It is time the higher management humble themselves and show recognition for the workforce's efforts. During this event, the director's speech (if done correctly) can uplift the spirit for the coming year.

The European car mechanic in Singapore. Ah John!

Before reading this article, I urge reader to look at the comments too. Altought I write this article based on my best knowledge of John, there are people which encountered very bad experience of him. I also started to doubt myself about him. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that I fully agreed with the information provided by the comment. It is just that every driver encountered bad workshop... I mean who hasn't. So you are absolutely right to read very thing in the internet with a pinch of salt.   

14 Sin Ming Industrial Est Sector B, Singapore 575658
6556 0103

When it comes to brand like Citroen, Renault, Opel cars, drivers in Singapore have a goosebumps all over the body. The repair cost can be a nightmare for most. Lucky for me, I found John. I bought a Renault Kangoo van back in 2006 and got myself in pretty deep shit. The previous owner did not really take care of it and the van is always in constant troubles. I had been to a few workshops and didn't got the problem solve, until I googled in the internet and read some forum posts about John.

On my first visit to John's workshop in Sin Ming industrial park, upon pulling up on the shop's car pouch, the first word he said was,"Your clutch plate is fucked up!". I was like WTH... I told him no way because I bought this van less than a year and the dealer changed a new set of clutch plate for buying the van. He asked why am I so sure about it and I told him the old clutch plate is still tossed behind the van. He took a peek and burst into laughter. He say I have been conned as Renault clutch set come with the housing and stuffs. The old clutch plate lying behind my van was probably from some diesel Japan van or mini lorry. My mind was contradicting about this man that I just met. Is he really that good? I asked myself. Just by listening to the sound when I drove up the 3% gradient sloop he diagnosed my van?

Vietnam short trip

Re-visited HCMC last month to attend my friend's wedding. Things are pretty much the same since the last visit. Stayed in New World hotel costing about $160 dollars a night and I would like to mention about the bed. It's a 5 stars hotel undeniable. 

I'm kind of cheapo person in term on hotels stay. Although I have not/do not stay in dormitory shared bunker hostel before, I usually stay in much budget hotel. The hotels I stayed in are usually in the 30-50 range for Thailand and Vietnam. I don't see a need to stay in luxuries hotel because I don't use the pool, gym, exotic night clubs, casinos, etc in the hotels. I also do not find a bath tub necessary.

Since this visit I went with my director, the hotel is paid by the company. As usual, the facilities of swimming pool and stuffs are not used at all. The bathroom came with a tub which I happily dipped myself for 30 mins, but it is the bed that is extremely comfortable. The duck feathers pillow will knock you off in a matter of minutes. I don't remember any twist and turn action but simply just fall into sleep. It was a near Sealy advertisement experience. The breakfast was fantastic! It is not really about food delicious but it is the variety it has. More than 50 dishes to choose from.

I forgot to bring along my slippers this trip due to a rush in the airport so I bought a pair in Ben Thanh Market. It cost me $6 and I was so lazy to take off my shoes to try it and in the end I bought a slightly small pair of slipper which caused nightmare to walk around with it.

 


Food is fairly nice in HCMC. I would say it is quite compatible to Chinese food. What is special about Vietnamese food is the sauce. Almost every dish comes with its dedicated sauce and the heavily vege dishes makes it a healthier choice for food. Don't believe me? Find me a fat Vietnamese... You can hardly spot a chubby Vietnamese on the streets all thanks to their diet.

 


We also took some time to visit the Mekong Delta. It is about 2 hours car ride from HCMC and we visited the foreign affair department before the tour. The tourist attraction is situated in Tien Giang province and it is a few minutes boat ride to the Nine Dragon river delta. It is where the Mekong river that spanned from China and ends in Vietnam sub dividing into 9 smaller river into the big sea.