The Story of Advertising

In Taiwan, there is this professional in the field of advertising called Li Xin Pin who was born in the 1970s. She majored in Advertising and graduated from the National Chengchi University (Taiwan). Currently, she is studying for her PhD at the Peking University. In addition, she is also the lecturer for "Advertising-Planning and Creativity" at the School of Journalism and Communication, Peking University. Apparently, she is a beauty from the photographs I have seen. I came across her works about ten years ago, which are aggressive and full of expectations.
Her latest work, "Fei Xie Bu Ke, Bu Xie Hui Si"《非写不可，不写会死》, is a standard textbook. There is a famous saying in the preface written by her, "Knowledge can be reproduced, but not intelligence", which makes one ponder. As compared to her previous book, "Tui Fan Li Xin Pin De Chuang Yi Xue"《推翻李欣频的创意学》, it is just like she has come up to the shore from the vast ocean. On the cover of this book, the following is written, "Creativity-Create-New Creation". In the future, whether she will enter the dead alley in life and overcome the obstacles or grow old in the dead alley, it all depends on what she sees and hears. What worries is she might still be doing well at the age of 30; but fears might arise at 40, time will be wasted at 50 and she will not be so energetic at 60.

I prefer her early works, such as "Ai Yu Xiu Dao Yuan"《爱欲修道院》, exchanging love letters with the lover you cannot be with, sets one sighing; "Bu An Yu Shi"《不安于室》seems to be a memorandum of the peaceful and prosperous times, blending in characteristics of some countries in Europe and Asia, it produces a sensual journey enriched with colours, smell and taste. At the ending of another book, "Qing Yu Liao Li, Ai Qing Chu Fang"《情欲料理，爱情厨房》, it introduces this book of hers, "Shi Wu Lian"《食物恋》- "I use my dreams and excess emotions to re-create a food chain. This is a book full of seductions and is also a book of betrayal. It seduces your sense and betrays your food recipe." "Guang Gao Fu Zuo Yong"《广告副作用》and "Wei Ni Si De Hua Li Xing Gan Dai"《威尼斯的华丽性感带》captured my heart as well. Li Xin Pin is sensitive to the surrounding environment, people, things and events, which makes her able to interpret the romantic side of advertisements in a perceptual and rational way.

Due to my own interest, I collected over ten books written by her. Thus, I always tell my friends if I did not go into the field of fengshui, I would definitely enter the advertising industry. This is because I am a perceptual and rational person.

The more the old man looks at the writings of this little girl, the more exciting it gets. But as this little girl grows older, the old man gets older as well. The journey of the heart for everyone is outstanding in his or her own way, but they are actually on the same track.

The Land of a Basket of Flowers

Recently, URA announced the Jurong Lake Masterplan 2008 to transform the Jurong Lake District into a unique lakeside destination for business and leisure. This plan will work towards to make over this place into West region's most alluring lake scenery.

Between year 2002 and 2004, I used to reside in Jurong East's HUDC area. Opposite my place reveals the alluring sight of Chinese and Japanese Garden. During my stay there, I published two poetry books. Looks like the conducive environment has fired up my imagination to come out with exquisite work. However, the economy was at its downturn due to the SARS period at that time. I was also probably at my most downcast period.

Actually, ever since I got married, I have always stayed in the West. Traffic jams are minimal in the morning and traffic is smooth towards the evening. Coupled with many well-known learning institutes, Singapore's two Government University and two polytechnics gathered in the West as well. However, as the West is filled with industrial parks, people who are worried of air pollution chose not to reside in this area. In actual fact, there is ample rainfall in the West thus air pollution problem is brought under control. The only problem is that there are many heavy vehicles on the road and therefore traffic accidents may be rampant. Other than these, residing in the West should not pose much of a problem.

The situation seemed to have changed lately because more can be seen residing in the West. Sometimes, I wonder if Singapore's last paradise will be destroyed after so much large-scale revamp.

Singapore's west region is seen as the dragonhead that has once brought about a turning point economically. However, many industrials have started to venture out. Coupled with the introduction of both light and heavy industrialization, the beauty of Jurong seems to be misplaced. But then again, the purity and simplicity of Jurong area linger.

Through my work, I realized that friends who reside in the East are extravagant in terms of renovations whereas people who reside in the west seek simplicity and do not invest much on renovations. This is how the East and West differ from each other. As both Jurong East and West sit towards the South-West of Singapore, the luck cycle will also help to bring about a change for the better. However, the population residing in this area is not large thus its expenditure is also not as significant. How is situation in Jurong going to improve?

After the vigorous development of shopping malls such as IMM and Jurong Point, it further led to an increasing number of people residing in the West. In addition, there is also a large influx of immigrants that further contributed to the development of Jurong area. Till date, luxurious shopping districts, hotels and cafes are still lacking in the West. The Government hopes to develop Jurong into both a tourist attraction and business district. In hope of bringing new vibrance to this area, good management is essential or the masterplan will not be a success.
In fact, fashion design, delicacies, lifestyle, business, industrial, housing properties and relaxation are the hypes today. There is a need to strike a balance among these things and to come up with a comprehensive plan to enhance development.

The Surgeon Who Acts By The Book

Recently, I came across frightening news. A client of mine is suffering from very unfavourable fengshui back home. After residing for a few years, his wife contracted serious illness. Thus, client decided to invite a geomancy amateur to assist him in his residence's fengshui.

After the amateur went to client's place, the situation failed to improve. In fact, it got worse and client's wife was once again admitted to hospital. Then, client got me to help him. After inspection, I realized that there are a lot of problems with the setting back home. First thing first, fengshui requires us to understand the environment then inspect the interior setting according to the owner's Ba Zi.

My client has told me his situation before hand but I will still analyze all possible reasons that led to his suffering before I decide what to do. Deciding on measures to solve problems according to the specific circumstances is the key issue here. Analyzing life destiny will only tell us why certain things happen and where did it go wrong. However, if we were to adjust the setting back home, it is just like a surgeon operating on a patient. The surgeon needs to be highly experienced or the operation will be a failure.

When I got to my client's residence, I witnessed that its fengshui is really bad. Its main door is met with 'Tian Kan Sha' (coupled with 'Shuang Tian Sha'). I could feel the impending force just by standing in front of the main door. At the back of the house sits the MRT track and roads. According to fengshui, this is also what we called,'shuang lian dao sha'. Given such circumstance, it is an imperative to dispel the impending evil forces before adjusting the interior setting.

The residence sits at east and faces west. This is an inauspicious direction in fortune 8. The house is dimly lighted and possesses strong negative spirits. Mirrors are necessary to provide light and receive positive energies. However, the geomancy amateur removed them all. Fengshui teaches, ‘It is not scary to face evil forces and we can't escape these negative forces'. We could be facing evil forces initially but not anymore when changes are implemented.

Blamed it on the amount of experience because this fengshui logic has not changed over the years. The amateur has committed all of the mistakes my fellow experienced colleagues feared the most. This is exactly what I mean by 'surgeon operating by the book'. Isn't it scary?

No one is born to be scared of tigers. The new generation of geomancers should develop strong foundations. Acquiring fengshui knowledge of a mere one a half years is simply not enough! I would think that a geomancer has to study for at least three years. Thus, if you come across lessons that claimed that you would be able to acquire fengshui after going through a few classes, please do not believe them easily.

Analyzing fengshui is similar to being a doctor. One has to have ethics to prevent undesirable aftermath.

Doctors Are Like Parents

Some people longed to get married all their life. However, due to the fact that some may destined to be ill fated, problems thus arise after marriage. Actually, problems can still surface before marriage similarly.

Friend finally found the man of her life. However, she is seven to eight years senior. Of course, the male's parents objected countless times. This couple approached me to help them select an auspicious date to carry out their marriage. I used ‘Fight fire with fire, magic must defeat magic' as an approach to seek a turning point for their marriage. The male's parents acquired some knowledge of fengshui and they are also aware of the know-how to choosing an auspicious date. After looking at the date that I chose, the parents demanded me to fill them in with more details pertaining to the reason I chose the date. Of course, it was very hard for me to reveal them the utter truth. Thus, I could only try my best to convince them to proceed with the date I chose. After marriage, friend contracted terminal disease. These days, there are no longer incurable diseases. However, friend refused to proceed with the operation she needed, fearing that there will be unsightly scars left behind.

I personally feel that since friend has already fulfilled her first wish, that is to get married, she should continue to have the will power to live so as to fulfill her second wish. Her second wish is none other than to procreate and to live to old age with her husband forever.

It is inevitable that people find it hard to accept such unexpected news. I find it hard to accept it too. I really hope that friend's family members will give her the moral support she needs and encourage her to receive treatment as soon as possible. Then, pick an auspicious date for her to proceed with the operation.

Many times, so long as the patient and doctor could complement each other well, chances of getting cured exist. Of course besides depending on the heaven's will, things be still under people's control. We should continue to shower her with love and care and persuade her to receive treatment.

Doctors are like parents. Many people started believing in fengshui and nowadays, my clients are of my children's age. I am similar to my clients' parents, I hope that they live good days ahead too!

Democratic Progressive Party defeated itself

Taiwan's fengshui resembles a fish. However, I am still unsure of where the head and the tail of the fish are sitting at. It is unlike Malaysia where the state Johor is clearly the head of the fish with its mouth opening at Johor Bahru. Singapore is a carp on the land of fish pearls.

Looking at Taiwan's Presidential Elections, it seems to me that the South of Taiwan is most likely where the head of the fish locates. And how did I draw such assumption? Looking at this politically, regardless of DPP or KMT, the winning party over South of Taiwan shall rule the whole of Taiwan.

Chen Sui Bian won the hearts of South of Taiwan and took on the Presidential role. Before Ma Ying-Jieou decided to participate in this presidential run, he spent an entire year going around South of Taiwan to engage with the residents sincerely. Clearly, Ma has really given much thought to the matter compared to Chen. This is also what I call fengshui's magnetism. That is, we use magnetism to get merge spirits and energies; from sociology's point of view, it is seen as an approach to blend in with the crowd in hope of gaining popularity along the way.

The people who are of great help to Ma today are, the citizens who used to support DPP, Chen Wen Xi who pushed Chen to the Presidential throne, Shen Fu Xiong who resented DPP and Shi Ming De who leads the Red Army.

Taiwan's Zhong Tian channel that broadcasts the programmes 'Wen Xi Xiao Mei Da' and 'Quan Ming Zui Da Dang' are all zooming Chen and DPP into criticism. Whenever DPP reveals any strategic movements, KMT will always expose DPP's plan over the television.

Given such advanced technology today and influential media such as Phoenix Television, we are able to get our objectives right to perceive this Taiwan's Presidential Elections.

Friends, according to life analysis, Ma and Chen are as if water and fire respectively. They are unable to come together and thus Ma is seen as Chen's unlucky star. Many times, Ma certainly caused umpteen headaches for Chen.

Although Ma has been selected, he will only be officially taking on the Presidential role on 20th May. So, between this crucial periods, Ma's status is still easily challenged by Chen should there be any problems with Ma.

Courageous people will receive heaven's help and righteous people will support Ma. From what I see, Taiwan shall be experiencing relatively good luck.

I sincerely hope that Ma will be elected as the President and confident that Ma will be capable of exciting the Asia's stock market.

China's Five-Star and International's Five-Star

I have always stayed in the five-star hotels whenever I visit China. The hotel provided ample facilities but I am not satisfied with their service.

Appearance can be revamped to give it a new outlook but it takes time for them to change their attitude. International's five-star emphasizes ‘to give customers whatever they ask for' whereas China's five-star's principle is merely ‘to expect customers to accept whatever they provide'. These days, many state-enterprises have transformed into the latter remarkably.

I stayed at Hua Ting Hotel and Towers the last time I went Shanghai. That five-star hotel provided well-equipped facilities and international buffet. The buffet restaurant is huge and they serve many varieties of food. However, it was so much to the point that I did not what to eat.

I never like buffet style so we went to dine at the 26th level-high Chinese restaurant. Its design, facilities and food are comparable to international's five-star standard but their service has deteriorated. We ordered braised goose as a starter, soup, fish and lotus rice as main dishes.

He Nan's mayor and a businessman of Xin Jiang accompanied usI for dinner. There were altogether five of us sitting at a wooden table, all the way to a conducive corner. The night scene outside the window was alluring; also there was a small bridge carrying water inside the restaurant. We asked for a kilogram worth of 20-year old Shao Xin Wine in high spirits.

The wine was warmed and served before the food came. Warmed wine is exceptionally delicious. We chatted for a while over our wine. In the midst of eating our starter, the soup was served. I told the waitress, "Miss, can you hang on please?' I have just completed my sentence when two dishes were placed onto the turning platform in the middle of our dining table. I told the waitress again, "Don't we get a portion each?" My complaint was not valid.

We merely ate a few mouthful of dishes when the waitress came again, "Sir, do you want us to help you portion out the lotus rice?" I replied, "Miss, please wait for a while more!"
Very soon, the waitress asked about the fish. I told her to hang on again!

We did not want the fish to turn cold before we started eating so we decided to eat the fish before the lotus rice.

In the end, both the lotus rice and fish have turned cold! We asked for fruits and the waitress said, "Sir, we charge for the fruits." We smiled bitterly and nodded our heads.
We finished a meal of almost 3000 RMB at a five-star restaurant in less than an hour. Sadly but true, I have not come across such five-star restaurant in Singapore.

Service may need to come from our heart but there is a need for good management as well. It is very important not to overlook this area. Given such service attitude, it seems really difficult to promote Shanghai as a tourist attraction to greater heights.

Seeing Guan Yin once again

Guan Yin is as if a mother figure which grants people whatever they ask for in my heart. In the eyes of the Chinese society, Guan Yin has always been widely embraced.

I have always loved Guan Yin since young, especially her merciful visage and pearly earlobes. I have once dreamt of Guan Yin before. Guan Yin Goddess asked me what do I hope for. I was still a mischievous young boy who merely requested Guan Yin Goddess to allow me to touch her ears. Surprisingly, Guan Yin acceded to my request. I sensed the roundness and smoothness of Guan Yin's earlobes. The feeling was so surreal despite it being a dream.

The General Manager warmly welcomed my business trip to SuZhou this time round. He brought us to the renowned temple, 'Chong Guang Monastery' at Teng Yang Lakeside. Inside the Earth palace, I saw a surreal Guan Yin statue. It is about seven to eight-storeys high. Upon hopping onto an elevator to the highest level, it closes the gap between Guan Yin's visage and myself. I could not help it but felt a sense of respect when I came into close contact with Guan Yin's mercifulness.

Having visited several Guan Yins' statues, the one at 'Chong Guang Monastery' was one of my favourites. My next favourite is located at Beijing's 'Hong Luo Monastery'. Although it was not as majestic as the previous, the figure remained vividly in my mind.

I visited temples, monasteries, churches and mosques. I admire the artistic structure of the buildings more than gaining a better understanding of the different religions. I respect all forms of religion and their thoughts and views. They are certainly worthy of our lifelong pursuit and worshipping.

Friends, do not discriminate other peopl's religion. God may be sitting quietly aside but they live in our hearts. We should not be badmouthing or criticizing any religion. Passing by any churches, temples, monasteries or mosques, I always take a deep bow as a form of respect. We should all learn to respect one another's religion.