Can't wait to go ski again

Tomamu Resort Twin Towers facing the slopes

     The cold wintry days are coming, and I am sure looking forward to some time on the slopes. Yes, times are bad, businesses all over the world are reeling from the triple whammy of poor economic outlook in USA, the EURO debt crisis and China's plunging manufacturing sector. However, with some of my savings from the last few years, I plan to take my family for their once a year bonding time.
     

     It is likely to be again in Japan, as we can't afford the time and costs of a USA ski trip (normally its about 14 days, and total costs would be in the region of US$ 20,000), although I hope one day I can ski on the slopes of  Canada, Europe and Australia, with money, age and health related issues coming my way as I age (touch wood - I hope to keep those off for a long time yet).

     Then again, you never know, I might go to the North Asian countries soon, as our partners are located there, and the Dec - Feb months are perfect for a  slide down the pistes  or two ?

The First Rock Song

     This was the first rock song which captured my attention. I was all of 13 or14 at that time, and the year was 1975.  My family, particularly my father had only played the classics, his many operas and some Christian music. His reasoning was that he wanted his children to listen to 'cultured " (read Western classical) music and had no time or interest in the then 60s or early 70s rock and pop music of the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, the Doors, Queen, Beatles and the like. He likened that music to Satanic or people with hedonistic interests.

     As a young and rebellious teenager, I remember my good friend Andrew Lee, telling me that if I paid him 3 or 4 dollars, I could buy a cassette tape of the 70s 'pop' music. So I did, and the first album I proudly owned was Elton John's Rock of the Westies.

    It was glorious, ear candy to me. I was transformed into the '70s music fan. The top song I recall was this one, called Grow some Funk of your Own. It should have been titled (to Elton)
"Grow some Hair of your Own !'

    

Past Prime Minister's Q and A on young of today

        This is a very insightful Question and Answer Session by the former Prime Minister, Mr. Lee. Very candid and brilliant storytelling of the early years of Singapore. If anything, the young people of today should listen to what he has to say. If they do not 'get it', at least understand that there were many patriotic leaders and champions of our independent first generation Singaporeans who stood tall,weathered the major challenges and made Singapore what it is today. I say "bravo" to Mr. Lee and his cohort.
       
       History has shown that Singapore has indeed risen to the occasion and now its up to the 3rd Generation of people to move forward. The challenges are far more complex and the world far more
interconnected, as can be seen by the globalisation of the world.

       Watch the video and see for yourself what a master storyteller and motivator Mr. Lee is.

          

Gangnam Singaporean style

This is a really funny video parodying the hit Youtube Gangnam dance style from Korean rapper, Psy.

Its done in a really tasteless style, but its good to laugh at ourselves every once in a while. Enjoy it if you can understand it.

Happy National Day Singapore !

                                          Happy Children watching the National Day parade

          Today August 9th, Singapore celebrates its 47th year as an independent nation, after separating from the Malayan Federation of States in 1965. Our history is short, but the achievements, many. As a proud and patriotic Singaporean, I would like to highlight one of the core values stated by our PM yesterday which many of us take as a 'given'. Many people who were born in the 60s and beyond, find the going more difficult with each passing year.

         Since 1965, we have had no natural resources save for a deep water harbour and Sentosa island, so practically 90% of our food resources are imported. We suffered from a lack of water, having had to buy water from neighbouring Malaysia and filter it. Our people were poor, lived in abysmal conditions in the kampungs and along the Singapore river. Gangsters and gangs operated in many estates from Redhill to Selegie to Katong. Healthcare was 3rd world standard, as was education and a whole host of basic amenities and infrastructure was lacking. Communist groups were festering and race relations was very fragile.

       Fast forward 47 years, the picture below shows the tremendous change since those tumultous days.With a GDP per capita of US$ 52,000 in 2011, Singapore is among the top 10 countries in the world.Its standard of living is very high, personal safety is practically the world's best, easily beating USA and many European countries, 40% of our water is self processed, through catchment and recycled (yes we drink our own processed 'toilet water' !), our smooth downtown traffic is the envy of many 1st world countries with the  COE , Electronic Road Pricing and the comprehensive Mass Rapid Transit. (OK its had its share of breakdowns and is a 'work in progress'). We have 2 thriving casinos (many would say that this is the root cause of many social problems of late) developing our downtown into a bustling tourist and metropolitan hub, our port is 2nd in the world in terms of tonnage passed, the Singapore Airline is the standard bearer for quality service worldwide, Keppel Corp is the largest oil rig builder in the world, the list just goes on and on.

     Many Singaporeans who have grown up with all these little luxuries, take everything for granted and want more. The complaints about the new foreigners taking jobs, school positions, not adopting to local culture and not integrating are genuine and valid. Having foreign people in our city is an inevitable aspect of globalisation as the flow of opportunities, money, talent, jobs will continue to the most open and adaptable of societies. Thereafter, the country can progress economically. That cannot be changed as this is the groundrules of globalisation.

     Singapore has a unique advantage other than the rest in that it is one of the most multi-cultural and multiracial societies in the world. It was not by chance that we are very tolerant and accepting of interacial friendships, marriages and living together side by side with the same 'kampong spirit' that was with us in the beginning in the 60s. People were much poorer then, and helping out each other regardless of race was, and is, a cherished core value of our great little nation.

     Lets stop and think during this  47th celebratory day of Independence. Racial Harmony is Singapore's key 'takeaway' to the world. The new immigrants who come here, have to work doubly hard at achieving what Singaporeans have obtained in the last 47 years. Granted there are some really rich tycoons who put their multi-millions or billions here (think Severon of Facebook as one example), but  Singaporeans have 'been there and done that'. Europen, Chinese and Indian migrants must adapt to our rojak mix like it or not,  so they eat at our coffee-shops, drink Tiger beer, and their kids attend our schools, we compete for the work opportunities on equal footing (discriminatory practices are 'no no' here).  Its getting a little crowded somedays on the  MRT trains and buses, but adapt we must and we will.

    Happy National Day My Singapore !!

  

              

Do we subconciously set 'roadblocks' to our success ?

       Today at around 5pm Singapore time (London time 10am), Team Singapore's Men's Table Tennis was taking on China for a spot in the Men's Team Semi-Finals. True, mighty China are world champions, and Singapore are lowly ranked, perhaps in the top 10.

        I was having a drink before the start of my Karate class at the Community Centre's Canteen. So my friend and I were chatting about the week ahead, and I noticed that the TV was switched on the the Olympics channel, namely the Men's table tennis action. A little boy, of age 7 or 8 was rooting loudly for Singapore, shouting  "C'mon Singapore, you can do it !"  I was pleased that the youngest generations of our citizens are so solidly patriotic and behind our team (even though they were foreign born) even up against the toughest opponents in the world.  

       Much to my surprise, a man next to him, his father I presume, admonished him by saying " Ah yah, they have no chance, lah, that is China they are playing, sure lose !!"   For the record, Singapore lost 3 - 0. But the little boy's pure and outspoken cheering was refreshing, as it was a NEVER SAY DIE attitude. 

       I was quite taken aback at this attitude, but decided to keep mum. It just brings to me the question, does a life experienced with joys and setbacks, and reality, keeping us from having a dream ? Can't we beat mighty China in table tennis ? Why are we adults so negative about Singapore being able to   make it to the top of the sporting scene worldwide ? 

     Do we SUBCONCIOUSLY drive ourselves AND OUR CHILDREN to MEDIOCRE  and SUBPAR PERFORMANCE because WE THINK WE CAN'T DO IT, THEREFORE WE DON'T OR WE LOSE IN THE MIND GAME  EVEN BEFORE THE ACTUAL GAME STARTS ?   

      Away with the defeatist mentality, my friends !!   WIN !    You will be shocked at the results. 

Well done Feng Tian Wei ! 1st Bronze for Singapore !

    Congrats to Ms. Feng Tian Wei, for showing us what talent, nerves of steel and killer instinct are all about.

       In the arena of world's GDP per capita, economic well being, and standard of living, Singapore is already amongst the world's best. In the arena of sport, to be honest, Singapore is really pathetic. Many Olympics have come and gone, and we had nothing to show for it, as thousands of parents have also decided that their children's best bets in life and earning a decent and long staying job is through the pursuit of an education. So many billions of dollars are spent year in and year out to tuition, condition, and even hothousing the children to study and achieve good to excellent grades. At the expense of their sporting potential. We've all seen the athletes who excel at the SEA or Asian Games level but somehow, the sacrifice and toil of making it to the world class level is still lacking. NOT TODAY !  

  

       In 1995 when the 'foreign talent' drive started, many people were accusing the authorities of 'buying talent' from abroad to improve Singapore's image. Well, after almost 20 years, the fruits of this talent program has yielded top results especially in table- tennis, badminton,football and even some athletics. Singapore won its first Olympic silver in almost 48 years in 2008, the women's table-tennis team coming in 2nd only to powerhouses China. In 2010, Singapore stunned the world table-tennis fraternity by becoming WORLD CHAMPIONS in the table - tennis World Championships surpassing a weak China team.

       Today, history is made again when our Singapore girl, Feng Tian Wei won the Bronze medal in the Women's singles, beating her Japanese opponent convincingly 4 - 0. To all those detractors who say, yeah, she was born in China, well may I remind them that almost all of our forefathers were immigrants not too long ago (most immigrants came in the early 20th century), so everybody has a place to call 'Home' and she calls Singapore 'Home'. Many netizens are no more than 'keyboard cowboys' who know nothing else better than to moan and groan behind a pseudonym, they should take this as a WAKE UP CALL. Some, talented, hardworking foreign-born people are making it good in Singapore, what about you and I ? Go out there and aim to achieve to our fullest potential.

     Parents should see sports as not just as a means to build character, but as a viable, long term career, which may pay off handsomely. So let the young boy or girl try their hand or leg at football, table-tennis, tennis, sailing, squash and badminton. There are avenues for a long and profitable career. The Singapore Vision 2030 is one fine goal, and the Singapore Sports Center is primed to achieve that goal. 

       Coming back to Feng, I must applaud her and the entire STTA S'pore Table Tennis Association for having the tenacity, resilience and perserverence to see through the program which has been started for more than 15 years and now, the fruits of their labour are finally taking fruit.

      Feng, I salute you, and your teammate, Wang Yue Gu.The tremendous fighting spirit,the many thousands of hours of sacrifice, and the talent you have is a fantastic role model for our children. We need to emulate the same spirit of our table-tennis players, in our Singapore youth, as well as give ourselves a reminder that, with an iron will, talent, and hard work, we can and will succeed.

      Its just an Olympic Bronze medal, but to me, its a whole lot more, its showing the world the Singapore Can Do Spirit which is so much more valuable to all of us, as a lesson. 

     Seize the Day.