Cyclone at Myanmar & Earthquake at Si-Chuan

Lately, a string of unfortunate events occurred one after another. It was merely a moment ago when a powerful cyclone swept through Myanmar. Its death toll climbed to at least ten over thousand of people and left thirty over thousand people gone missing. In less than two weeks, Si-Chuan in China, was struck with a high-magnitude earthquake.

Villagers of Myanmar scrabble to survive amid the dead bodies in the flooded city. Flooding of paddies caused a rice shortage in the country. Taking away Myanmar’s rice bowl has further added to the woes of the population. Although the impact of this disaster was not as great as the Tsunami, its destruction was indeed overwhelming.

Shortly, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck near densely populated areas in South-West Si-Chuan province unexpectedly. Tremors from quake were felt across much of the mainland, including Beijing and Shanghai that are more than 2,000 km away. The total number of casualties and the immeasurable loss are apparently still clocking.

WayOnNet Group, hereby, would like to express our greatest condolences to the affected families in the tragedies in Myanmar and Si-Chuan.

Times Have Changed

It has been quite some time I last visited Bintan Island. I made a business trip to Bintan in the 90s for its industrial piece of land and also the resort. The stay back then was not long. I have been travelling to and fro to Bintan very often and the feeling is still good.

This time round, coupled with the entire company members, we went Bintan Island for a short company trip. The strategic meeting was also held there to discuss, fine-tune the directions and set the goals of our Internet website to focus.

As it was holiday season, the morning boat tickets were all sold out. Thus, we had to take the afternoon speedy boat ride to Bintan Island.

Upon reaching the island, we arranged to first visit Bintan's orchard. It cost $45 per person and we spent about two to three hours looking at the fishpond and its orchard that were beyond our imagination. After that, we went to the beaches to take some photos and saviour coconut juices.

After sunset, we went to one of the tourist attractions by the name of 'Pasar Oleh Oleh'. There are restaurants, massage parlour, handicrafts stalls, eateries, and etc. On the other side, there is also an exquisite restaurant cum a few artistic handicrafts and apparels boutique. We took up a $68 package that comprised an hour-long massage and western-styled dinner. Compared to the trip to the Orchard, this definitely seemed more worthwhile.

By the time we all lodged into hotel, it was already 11 plus Singapore time. I have always thought I was familiar with Bintan's surrounding till I realized that the place has been revamped. Compared to last time I visited for work, it looks completely different now.

We arranged to stay at a suite that came with a garden. We were able to do morning exercises, practise Tai Chi and watch Phoenix Television. They definitely provided me a very homely feeling!

Fire Control

I loved to cook when I was young, as both my grandfather and parents were good cooks. Further more, my mother-in-law was once a protégé of a famous chef, and I intend to publish a cookbook based on her recipes in the future.

I am not a culinary expert, but I love eating and experimenting with flavour creations. If I eat anything nice, I will try to re-create it at home.

Cooking actually requires a lot of skill, be it choosing cooking ingredients or utensils, but the key lies in controlling the degree the ingredients are cooked, and the consideration of the order of adding the ingredients, when to eat the dish, size of the serving etc. When everything is OK, the cook's mood is also important. Emotions do not affect my professionalism at work, but I am after all not a culinary genius or professional chef. If my cooking is appreciated, I will be more motivated to cook; if I am criticized, my desire to cook can be greatly affected. Well-meaning suggestions can improve skill, but if there is no sincerity in it, it will only make the recipient glum and moody.

Nevertheless, cleaning up the mess is the round that tests my patience the most, and of course professional chefs can get away with that. However, when the guests dissipate, I would feel that everything is worth it.

In order to reward my staff for the past year's toil, my wife, my maid and I organized a forty-pax buffet. I started preparing from eight in the morning, and the party lasted until 10pm. In the morning, my maid and I cut vegetables and fried some small snacks, but the star of the show was the soup. The maid was busy preparing all the required utensils and cutlery. There were 5 types of vegetable sides and fried snacks, and 200 fish balls, 10 cans abalone, fresh prawns, octopus etc., which all had to be prepared by hand. The star of the day was my well-honed yam rice and black pepper beer crab.

After enjoying the gourmet spread, everyone started pitting their gambling skills against each other. Ha ha, in the end I won back 3 cans of abalone, all thanks to their generosity!

It seems that only actual participation in the decoration and preparation work of a party can make one appreciate it even more. Next year, I wish that everyone would come to my house to cook two or three small dishes and exchange culinary pointers, and win prizes!

The Fire at Cloud Gate Dance Theatre

The year has barely started when Seoul's Namdaemun gate of immense historic value was burnt down. Another fire destroyed Cloud Gate Dance Theatre's practice grounds and office area, burning up 30 years of Mr Lin Hwai-min's achievements.

In Taiwan, many people are generous towards donating to political and religious causes, but when it comes to the arts, the scenario is the same as Singapore's, where the government's handouts keep one afloat but struggling.

Perhaps, this world-renowned dance troupe should relocate to USA or Europe, where they can maintain a living just by ticket sales alone. With hefty sponsorship, they can focus on performing without worries.

Cloud Gate Dance Theatre is the Taiwan arts entity that I support most. Almost every time they perform in Singapore, I will be there. Looking at Mr Lin Hwai-min, one would think that he has exhausted all his creative means, but every time he manages to prove contrary. It is my hope that he can bring us new inspiration, thinking and benefit with his every visit.

It is totally different from modern drama directed by Singapore's Toy Factory Productions' Mr Goh Boon Teck, which are so real they make you suffer inside, forget the storylines, the dances and basically everything after you reach home. But whenever you are silent with your thoughts, scenes of the beatific contemplations arise in your mind.

Mr Lin Hwai-min is born in the year of the Pig (1947), and is currently a ripe 60 years of age. He is full of determination, quick-witted and creative, like artist Chang Dai-chien, novelist Hemmingway and philosopher Thome H. Fang. On the other hand, he also has the unsual charisma and charm found in the likes of Taiwan's ex-president Chiang Kai Shek, USA's ex-president Jefferson and Singapore's Senior Minister Mr Lee Kwan Yew.

Completing Wood (Bamboo), Water (Water Moon) and Earth (Wanderer), we are still short of Gold and Fire performances. May Mr Lin Hwai-min and Cloud Gate Dance Theatre members can withstand the test of "fire" and create a fire-related dance in the future. Change adversity into strength, and dance the way to another Spring!

Review of "Ah Long Pte Ltd"

I got to know Jack Neo (梁智强) when I was serving NS. Back then, his Chinese name was 梁智强. Will ("志") could not be compared with Wisdom ("智") in current society, and indeed after he changed his name, he was no longer just "Two Rifles" (两支枪, a moniker he used to go by). The new name propelled him from comedian to hosting and finally to directing. Later on he was also conferred the title of PBM by the Singapore government as I was.

This is an era of creativity. You must know how to live with the times, keep to your objectives, and survive at the same time, which is not easy at all! Director Neo's capability to shine throughout his two decades of entertainment career does not come easy.

It is already difficult to be in the creative line in Singapore, much less to continually re-invent. Recently, the government is aggressively promoting the arts and culture scene, leading it to blossom and become more competitive at the same time.

I like challenges and breakthroughs, but I am getting on in years and seniority, so I can no longer be like when I was young and charge ahead without a care. Now I need to cover all aspects carefully, so it becomes a stumbling block. I wish to maintain my influence but dare not be boldly creative; I wish to boost my reputation but I need to moderate. In the past, there were only 4 mouths to feed at home, but now I have to feed many. This is the so-called burden of development and success, acronym "price to pay"!

From "Money No Enough", "I Not Stupid", "Home Run" to "The Best Bet", all these are inspirations from life and the common man's concerns that make excellent movie material. But movie making is also about technicalities and visuals, making "Just Follow Law" feel and look encumbered, so although the box office results were good, there was less applause and more criticism. Ah Long Pte Ltd followed up on the problems that were highlighted in "Just Follow Law", with the same dose of humour and tear-jerkers, but what message do we bring home? After all, few people have brushes with the loan sharks, unlike "I Not Stupid" which could reach out and touch many. As such, many friends criticize this film from a by-stander's perspective and not as a been-there and done it all.

"Money No Enough" is just an exclamation mark, not a reason nor an excuse. Hope Director Neo can reinvent himself, find some good topics, scriptwriters, storylines, and investors. Then he can ascend the stairway of success.

50 year-olds find it difficult to forget the past and face the future. My friend, take it in your stride!

A Look at the Effects of a Harsh or Cosy Winter from China's Blizzards

In 2007, the Second Black Illness Star aligned itself with China, which prophesied serious epidemics worldwide. China was fortunate to avoid suffering the full impact, with only the appearance of minor bird flu cases. This does not mean that there are no viruses - they may be lying in wait for an opportunity.

If 2007's year-end had been a cosy winter, then 2008 would have been an excellent virus-breeding environment due to the warm weather and give rise to large scale epidemics.
The blizzards in the beginning of 2008 could possibly have eliminated all the viruses in the ground and thus the threat of epidemic, but the entrance of the White Water Star may bring unexpected floods that wash the viruses deep underground.

As there are always epidemic outbreaks after floods, plus the fact that the annual average global temperature for 2008 may rise again, the viruses are granted beneficial conditions to spread rapidly.

In 2009 we meet the Nine Purple Star, boding a year of flames and dry earth. It is also China's Grand Duke of Jupiter (Tai Sui) year. There are droughts throughout the year and the Five Yellow star in the North brings more weather change - all these combine into a hot and windy weather. Crop harvests are bountiful but the weather will affect everyone's emotions. Some illnesses like fevers may descend without notice.

In 2007 there was an abundance of water and people were easily agitated; in 2008 water and heat are plentiful and people become excitable; in 2009 fire is in over-supply and people become unusually quick-tempered, leading to wars and riots etc.

Many friends say that an almanac can accompany you to old age, but it is not always easy to decipher all the messages that the almanac is trying to convey.

Chinese New Year Gathering

Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI)'s Lunar New Year Gathering is held annually on the 1st of the first lunar month, and is a good day for the coming together of many Singapore Chinese and the representatives and members of all the nations. Many long-retired leaders of SCCCI will also return to celebrate and meet up with old friends.

Lunar New Year falls around the same time as the time that the Singapore Government will announce its fiscal budget, and many ministers and VIPs will be present to elaborate on the government's new policies. SCCCI also takes the opportunity to reflect the member's concerns to the government. Of course, the policies and concerns vary accordingly to the nature of the times!

My observation: when times are good, the famous seldom appear and VIPs flood the gates, as the famous have to go around visiting their friends for the LNY; during the bad times, the opposite occurs as they switch roles. The VIPs have to go around visiting their friends to look for more business opportunities.

SCCCI is the traditional gathering ground for many matured businessman who are mainly Chinese. I am sure other similar institutions will definitely have their niche. SCCCI leaders and VIPs will exchange name cards and new SCCCI leaders will proffer their name cards to the VIPs to garner more support.

After all, the way of doing business depends on whom you know, and, most importantly, who knows you! The more people who know you, the more opportunities you have; the more people you know, the bigger the opportunities that present themselves to you.

When business is good, bear in mind not to offend everyone or when business suffers, the whole world will be out to get you!