Aswan

Between Cairo and the Nile River, there is an ancient yet modern city named Aswan. In the olden days, it used to be a trading area and this practice has continued to current days. Aswan is still an important trading center for Egypt and other African countries. It is one and half-hours away from Cairo by flight but if one were to take the train, it would take more than ten hours. On this day, we woke up early to catch our flight at 6am.

We reached Aswan around 8am and our guide brought us to visit the Aswan High Dam. A major project that took eleven years to complete, this large dam accounts for 80% of the electricity consumption in Egypt. One cannot help but to agree that the Nile River has its modern days’ talents as well. After this, we visited the ancient red granite quarry whereby we learned of how the quarry operates in the past and I was deeply touched by the hard work and difficulties that the quarry workers faced. On a different note, I was pleasantly surprised to come across three books relating to Egypt in Chinese language in a small shop nearby and I happily purchased them.

Next, we enjoyed lunch onboard a cruise ship. Hundred of ships that vary in different sizes are berthed here. Amenities onboard each ship contains hundreds of cabins, a restaurant and café. There are even swimming pools onboard some of the larger cruises and it resembles a floating five stars hotel! We will be staying onboard the cruise for three days and that includes a New Year countdown party to welcome 2010.

To be honest, I was most looking forward to this part of the trip but I was greatly disappointed once we went onboard. The cabin assigned to us was near the engine room and I am sure that the engine sounds will keep me awake at night. Thus, we insistently requested for the person-in-charge to change a cabin for us. Upon several requests, we finally got our wishes and were assigned to a lower level cabin, near to the employees’ resting room. There was no beautiful scenery here but it was very quiet.

Late afternoon, we drifted along the Nile River in a small boat for 40 minutes and it was a pleasant experience, as we get up close and personal with the seagulls. Upon returning to the cruise, I sat on the deck to start blogging while taking pictures of soaring seagulls and the beautiful sunset!

Sailing along the serene Nile River with its beautiful scenery, I indulged in a beautiful night.

Museum

Today is the third day of our tour in Egypt. The weather is glorious with bright sunshine but there is a slight chill in the air.

In the morning, we visited a mosque, which was built on a hill in the Islamic district of Cairo. This mosque was built in the Middle Age and its exterior looks majestic. The interior design looks as luxurious with the support of four pillars and a semi-circular roof, giving the air of the sacred and solemnity. The entrance of the Mosque faces northwest and there is a carving of sunrays on the door. This symbolizes prosperity and rebirth.

After our visit to the Mosque, we proceed to the archaeological museum and according to our tour guide; this is one of the must-see places in Egypt. This archaeological museum contains the collection of the main legacy of the Pharaohs and truly presents the essence of the Egyptian tombs. Security is very stringent and we can see guards on duty in every corner. Our guide explained in detail the history of Egypt but I was more interested in the Pharaohs burial items, the mummies, gold masks and the queen’s jewelries. In the end, I was disappointed as we were only left with thirty minutes to explore on our own. Even though there were some frictions with our guide during the tour, I understand later that he was just maintaining the professionalism of his job.

In the evening, we came to an old bazaar and I requested the guide to give us two hours to explore. To me, regardless of visiting a site of attractions or shopping mall or bazaar, it is all about experiencing.

After all, the popularity and consumption patterns of a country can be observed from such shopping areas. In this bazaar, there are all kinds of famous spices, handicrafts, traditional and modern apparels and accessories etc. I took many lifestyle shots and hope that I can share with everybody.

At night, we boarded a river cruise berthed at the Nile River. It was a great experience to have our dinner onboard as the scenery was mesmerizing and the food was good, thus, improving my mood for the day.

Alexander

The buildings with broken tiles, litters on the ground, an over abundance of vehicles that makes traveling difficult and the incessant sirens of car horns in the ancient city of Cairo gave me a false impression of the capital of Egypt.

However, the scenery along the way to Alexander changed my opinion of Cairo. We traveled on a modern expressway with views of high technology areas, high-class golf courses and soon-to-be developed luxurious residential areas, lining up both sides. Although there are rooms for improvement, if Cairo continues to develop healthily, this could become a desert oasis!

The city of Alexander faces the Mediterranean Sea and resembles a Greek-style city because it was built by the Macedonian King, Alexander. It has the air of a metropolitan city. We traveled by car from Cairo and the journey was approximately 3 hours. Due to the distance of travel and this being a day trip, we have a packed day ahead.

Our first stop at Alexander brings us to the mausoleum of Kom El Shouqafa, which was discovered in 1900. The mausoleum is a blend of Roman, Greek and Egyptian architectural features and is one of the most complicated and most balanced in yin-yang elements that I had ever came across in my years of traveling. Even though this underground mausoleum is not big, its sophisticated designs are delicate and detailed.

The King’s grave lies at the center of the mausoleum and there are hundreds of complex looking graves of different sizes surrounding the king’s grave. This mausoleum comprises of three levels and looks spectacular. I was unable to take pictures, as cameras were not allowed. Unfortunately, I was also unable to conduct any Fengshui research as compass is prohibited. Nonetheless, with the memory of the mausoleum tour, our guide and I drew a blueprint of the catacombs.

Around 3pm in the afternoon, we enjoyed lunch at a restaurant that faces the Mediterranean Sea. The scenery is beautiful and I took many pictures. Thereafter, we visited the spectacular Palace and Grand Garden. The Grand Garden is a few times bigger than the Botanical Garden and gave one the impression of being in paradise.

Our last stop in Alexander brought us to the Ancient King’s working office. It has since been transformed into a five star luxurious hotel. A beautiful public relations consultant gave us a short hotel tour before we made our way back to Cairo. We finally arrived back in Cairo close to midnight. It has been a long day and after dinner, I fell asleep shortly.

Pyramids

The Pyramids in Egypt is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It is as prestigious as the world famous India’s Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China. The reason why these places are so mysterious and intriguing is because to date, no one can determine how people in the olden days built them.

Cairo is the capital of Egypt and is full of mist in the morning. We had travelled out to the pyramids early but the queue at the entrance is already swarmed with people. Due to the great mist, we were unable to see the pyramids in full view but one can still feel its magnificent presence.

We had to walk very near to the architecture before being able to see its vague outline. I stood at the north entrance of the pyramid with my compass to determine the directions and as expected, it is sitting in the South and facing the North. This year marks the 30 years milestone for the wedding anniversary with my wife. Our guide joked with us that only sincerity, which is strong as gold, can achieve such a milestone and the pyramids are the best evidence. Amused, I could not help but to lament that our relationship is simply beyond words.

Our guide mentioned that the pyramid faces off four directions, meaning that the pyramid is made of four planes, converging at the tip. I always had the impression that the pyramid has three surfaces but discovered otherwise when I opened a crystal shop in 1994. At that time, I still retained some reservations but after witnessing the pyramid in person, I was finally convinced.

Towards the North of the pyramid, there is an entrance to the tomb, whereby tickets are required. I was intrigued to explore part of the pyramid and the tombs that lie within. After all, part of my profession relates to the placement of tombs. Being a foolish tourist, I was disappointed to find that the tomb contains a narrow walkway that eventually brought me to a somewhat square room that contains one coffin. I understand from a guidebook later that tomb raiders created the path that I took to the tomb.

Nevertheless, I discovered a great secret! The caves are a natural miracle created by the mixture of deposition of volcanic lava and granite. Unfortunately, photography is not allowed and thus, I am unable to share with you here.

There are much confusions and unsolved mysteries with regards to the construction of the pyramids. It is almost impossible to imagine how people can lift a rock mountain that is tens of thousands in tons from a flat ground to build the pyramid and perhaps, it may be easier to accept the explanation of a volcanic mountain being reformed into the pyramid. Though this explanation does sound more feasible, it is still a speculation.

Moving on, there are actually three pyramids in the area but due to time constraint, we are unable to visit all. We certainly hope that there will be a chance in the future to revisit!

An Expedition to Egypt

My impression of Egypt has always been that of a faraway land but ever since my trip to India last year, I decided to visit the mysterious yet exotic Egypt to discover her secrets.

When I was young, I read about the mysterious pyramids, the ever-famous Suez Canal, the magnificent Sphinx and various alluring attractions. I look forward to visiting these places of interests and attractions, in particular, the Suez Canal. The Suez Canal is an amazing work of technology that connects Europe and Asia for water transportation and this brings the term “When East meets West” into mind.

At 6am in the morning, my wife and I finally arrived at Cairo. The traffic at Cairo is just as erratic as India’s; the only difference lies in the absence of cows wandering freely on the roads. Another similarity that I spot between Egypt and North India is that both destinations are founded on desert terrains.

Thereafter, we enjoyed a traditional Egyptian breakfast at a café and tried the ‘Falafel’, also known as ‘Tamiya’, which is a delicious deep-fried snack made from beans. We were told by the tour leader that this is an authentic Egyptian meal but I find the taste very much similar to what I tasted in Indian restaurants in Singapore. Both Egypt and India are countries that are rich with spices. Thus, that probably explains the similarity in both cuisines when it boils down to color, smell and taste.

Many friends who had visited Egypt also urged me to discover the beauty of Egypt and to visit the mesmerising Mediterranean Sea, alluring Red Sea and mysterious Nile River. Despite these beautiful landscapes, I believe Egypt still has room for improvement.

Egypt contains age-old history yet, is a modern world in itself. Their ways of living is different and intriguing. At this point in travel, one certainly has a whole new experience. For those who are planning for an overseas tour, Egypt may be a brilliant choice for you!

The Legendary Life of Michael Jackson

I attended a seminar on June 25th, which was conducted by Professor Justin Lin Yifu, World Bank Chief Economist and Senior Vice President. He spoke on the topic, "Beyond Keynesianism: A Global Challenge for Development".

While he talked about the rise and decline of America and the rise of China, the king of pop, Michael Jackson, came to my mind. His rise, glory and decline are very similar to the history of America's modern development.

A country is akin to a person, as both will experience luck fluctuations. In glorious times, if you choose to be self-indulgent and extravagant with no plans for your future, you will ultimately be back to square one. When that happens, you will have to work even harder to recover your losses but it will depend on whether Heaven is willing to give you a chance to do so. This is the case for America, like it is for Michael Jackson.

After the seminar, I went home and collected some information, planning to write an article on America's financial tsunami and Michael Jackson. The very next day, I learnt of the sudden death of Michael Jackson and was deeply saddened by his departure. To commemorate this idol who accompanied me during my younger days, I changed all the music tracks in my car to Michael Jackson's so as to recall him.

Michael Jackson's artistic achievements are incomparable. Even his ex-father-in-law, Elvis Presley, was a far cry from him. He has a mysterious power hidden within and exhibits an amazing charisma, taking the whole world by surprise.

Although he has black heritage, his unique appeal on stage has gained him the utmost admiration of the whites. And even the Russian and Chinese Communists were impressed with him. While I was on holiday in Japan, I even visited his museum.

His life was never smooth-sailing. The bumpy childhood stimulated his strong fighting spirit, but it also cast a shadow over him. His unhappy marriage and improper behaviour added more sorrows to his life.

The plan to hold seventy concerts shows that he was trying to revive his glorious days. However, Heaven did not give him the chance to do so. Due to the great pressure brought about by the concerts, he lost his most important asset, his life.

The saying goes, "Where there is life, there is hope". You should cherish whatever you have now. Otherwise, it will be too late for regrets if you should die at a young age like Bruce Lee, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Hitler or Saddam Hussein.

From the analysis of Michael Jackson's Eight Characters, we know that he has strong Explicit Talent and Competitive Deity. Hence, he possesses extraordinary talents and is capable of changing history and creating miracles. But in face of a weak life, he will suffer from immense fear and worries when he returns to a peaceful life after a glorious period.




Strong Explicit Talent
According to the analysis, he is a talented but rebellious person. Hence, he has the guts to innovate and never follow the rules. His strong Explicit Talent is vividly exhibited by his artistic talents, song compositions, bold performances and unique dance steps. He overcame the tradition and changed the history. He also gained honour and riches. However, he was still unsatisfied with what he had, thus he tried to make a breakthrough to gather everybody's attention. Although he was well-respected on the career front, his private life aroused disputes, as he ignored the human moral values. This is the price that a wild celebrity has to pay.



Strong Competitive Deity
He has a weak life, but with Competitive Deity in the Year Pillar (represents ancestors), he is a typical example of someone who builds up his fortune from scratch. As the "Wealth Star encounters robbery", not only will he bring bad fortune upon his father, wife and sons, his vast wealth will also be affected. In actual fact, those with Competitive Deity are very determined, tough and able to persevere till the end in whatever they do. However, he ruined his family and himself. Only his friends and buddies were there to create miracles with him.


Weak Life
Besides having a weak life, he belongs to the destiny of Farm Soil and his Earthly Branch encounters a clash. All these imply that he is a perfectionist. His strong Explicit Talent and Competitive Deity are the reasons for his extraordinary life. However, he looked forward to a simple and ordinary life. To escape from the reality and suppress the fear within himself, he did extraordinary things such as the construction of Neverland, donations to charity and adoption of children. His reputation was also ruined by the two lawsuits. Although everything was settled in the end, he had undergone immense pressure.


Health
His Explicit Talent encounters both robbery and clash, which will cause serious impact on his nervous system. His black genes made him felt inferior and he wanted to excel, thus his capability to create and reform was astonishing. However, he never obeyed his destiny or followed the rules, which caused his life and thoughts to be very different from the outside world. Due to the unresolved worries on his mind, changes occurred in his physiological functions. Eventually, he cannot differentiate whether he was a man or a woman, a black or a white, causing him to suffer from serious mental problems.


Aspirations
I did an analysis of the rise and decline of Africa in the past, which talked about the character of the black. Black is a mysterious and tolerant colour. The blacks have many sides, they are sympathetic, rebellious, creative and violent. They can also be great leaders and reformers. Once their talent is discovered and utilised, they will definitely become outstanding people. At present, blacks have exhibited their influence in politics, sports and music, with Obama Barack as America's first black president. Michael Jackson had sparked global music trends and many took delight in talking about his benevolence. Sadly, he treated everyone in the world with kindness but he did not know how to treat himself well.




Wealth
I do not oppose the view that plastic surgery can help to change one's luck for the better. However, Michael Jackson's appearance had become worse with each attempt, thus his luck also became unfavourable

For a man, the most important parts on the face are the nose and chin, which represents wealth and luck in old age. The nose must be big and round, just like Jackie Chan. The chin must be square, so as to establish prestige and enjoy a worry-free old age. But after several plastic surgeries, Michael’s wealthy nose changed to an upturned nose, which is most undesirable for a man. An upturned nose with big nostrils symbolises the leakage of wealth. A pointed chin means he will have a bad life with no one to rely on when he is old.

Hence, we can see that plastic surgery can enhance beauty and confidence if it is done well. Otherwise, one will lose confidence with a failed surgery.


Luck
Michael Jackson died at the most prosperous moment in his life. If the seventy concerts were held successfully, it will definitely be an unprecedented record. But Heaven seems reluctant to let this occur. Actually, a life analysis has its pros and cons. The good thing is that you will complete your life journey accordingly and the bad point is that you will have worries in whatever you do. Michael only had a few cycles of bad luck in his life. At the age of 3, he was in favourable luck and everything proceeded smoothly. A turning point started to appear when he was 18 and his most glorious period was age 23 to 33. He encountered some unhappy events at age 33 to 38. Thereafter, he experienced good luck till he reached 43. Numerous obstacles occurred during the period of age 43-48, which caused him to suffer the greatest setback in life and his wealth is almost depleted.

He tried to stage a comeback after the age of 48, but fortunately, he died suddenly at the age 50. If not for his over-reliance on medicine to reduce pressure, he might become the centre of attraction again and clear all his debts. Hence, while he was alive, there are some speculations that his passing on will bring him more riches and fame. In my opinion, he should be able to live till 68 if he leads a stable and peaceful life.


Well, the deaths of many famous artistes were all caused by pressure. You should be yourself and live for yourself! To care for others, you must first take care of yourself.

I have done the life analysis for many celebrities, but this time round, it is done with immense sorrows. Be it a great talent or an outstanding country, they will surely end up in a mess without an integrated plan.

America has created countless miracles but it ended up in such a tragic situation. I hope Heaven will bless America and may the country be able to create another Michael Jackson!

The First Large-Scale Ammonite Exhibition in Singapore

Date: 29th May - 7th June 2009, 11am - 10pmVenue: Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre, Level 4, booth number 4L-29

Way OnNet Group is proud to bring you the first large-scale Ammonite Exhibition in Singapore, which will be held from May 29 to June 7, 2009 at Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre, Level 4, booth number 4L-29.

Founder and Chairman of Way OnNet Group, Grand Master Tan Khoon Yong, will be holding a seminar named “Ammonites & Feng Shui” on May 31, 2009, 11am to 12noon at Hall 402-404. He will give guidance on how to integrate the Ammonite into the feng shui formation of your home and office. Do not miss this rare opportunity!

For details, please log on to http://www.WayOnNet.com/NewsDetails.aspx?aid=119