Tiong Bahru Wet Market - Branded Market with the freshest stuff

                                                                       At the fish stall 

        My wife has been shopping at the same fish stall for almost 20 years at the Tiong Bahru Market. I  have been fortunate to be introduced to this market about 10 years ago, and have witnessed the development from its small and cramped past in this exact same location, to the temporary market for 2 years and this 'new' market location the last 4 years. As a testimony to it selling only the freshest foodstuffs, many die-hard supporters ranging from the elderly in wheelchairs, in walking sticks, to the middle aged in their SUVs and compact cars, to the wealthy in their Audis, Benzes, Porsches and BMWs to the young adults in their latest BMW 3 series, they come from far and wide to buy from this 'branded' of all brand wet markets.

      The elderly are most visible, and the foodstalls are properly spaced and with ample air ventilation between stalls. Lately, in the past 2 - 3 years, I have noticed many expatriate families ranging from the Japanese (they have been coming here for more than 10 years in fact), Koreans, Americans, Australians, the British, German, French and Middle Eastern families (much less as the food sold is not halal) coming here to buy their fresh meat and fish.

      Our fish stall lady, whom my wife never got to know her full name has recently decided to retire at close to 70. She is an inspiration for all older generation workers, and I believe she is very well off selling easily, more than $20,000 worth of fish per weekend. I should know, we spend, around S$ 250 per visit, and multiply that with almost 100 customers all buying fish with revenue receipts of $50 upwards, it is not difficult to calculate her gross takings. She must be happily enjoying her retirement in some landed estate, and tending to her grand-kids.  Hawkers who are successful in Singapore make BIG MONEY. Make no mistake.

     Above the wetmarket, is the food court which has stalls selling everything from Nasi Lemak, to Lor Mee (chinese noodles in black sauce), fishball noodles,Wan Tan noodles, char kuey teow, chai tau kuey, cantonese porridge, duck, chicken rice, rice dumplings, all the paus literally 30+ diffrerent kinds of chinese hawker food. Truly a food lover's paradise.

     I can go on and on about the allure of Tiong Bahru, but I am not a fan, to be honest. The place is especially crowded on weekends, getting a parking spot is difficult and there is a handicapped singer who belts out chinese tunes ad nauseum in too loud a voice. I oftentimes do give my spare change out of sympathy but it hardly lessens my misery listening to him,

    The food at the foodcout or hawker center is mediocre and although there is alot of variety, only a few stalls do serve truly tasty fare.    

    It is one of a kind place. Many true blue Singaporeans still make a beeline for it every weekend and if anything were to typify Singapore life, a visit to Tiong Bahru wet market would fit the bill.  

  

Reality Distortion

       Steve Jobs was a masterful manipulator, he was a genius in assessing a person's character, his strengths, weaknesses fears and dreams and he then was able to cajole, bully, coax,steal and even evangelise his co-workers to produce a computer based on what his exacting standards were, he chopped and changed, stole people's ideas and made it his own, pushed, fought, bullied, screamed, was screamed at and changed specifications ever so often. He asked for the impossible  many times, and his colleagues were transfigurated into some sleepless, mindnumbing work zombies creating the best and newest product which would change the world, the Macintosh.

        Once the final product was done after countless battles within the organisation, and revamps, thousands of rewrites, challenges, arguments, people leaving over personality clashes and almost 4 years of development ,the MacIntosh was born in 1984. He got the entire 43 technicians,, software engineers and engineers to sign a template for the creation of an an art piece. All of them hewere so moved they admitted that during the signing ceremony, they had indeed created something for the good of humanity.

       Jobs was so good at hypnotising or motivating the team, that most people achieved the impossible tasks with superhuman effort. Those who saw through the act called it his ability to 'distort reality' or the 'distortion reality phase'.  I  believe that at each new Computer Show in Palo Alto with each new Apple product launch, he uses the same techniques to mass hypnotise his audience through the sheer aura of his presentation.

      Such is the power of  his Reality Distortion.

      

One Republic - Something I need

I want 50,000 views

     50,000 views is my target to achieve by next month. Prove me right.

Prepare for Success

      


       Many people in life, are not prepared for success. So when presented with a successful opportunity, they ponder and wonder what if so many things may go wrong. Lets take a positive approach to life and focus on all the good things that have happened to you (or I) in the past, and be happy. In balance, view your life in whatever lens you want and you will be surprised that the emotion is based on how one view's life. 

Life's true reward is the journey. Make the most of it and Seize the Day. 

Lets Reel them In !!

          As the good fisherman knows, there is time to cast out his nets, and there is time to bring them back in, laden with the catch of the day. We have been preparing for this moment for the last 2 years, patiently building up our fleet, sizing down the unnecessary vessels, or extra fishemen, adding new equipment where needed and waiting, biding our time.

         Will this be the time for us ? All the signs point to something good. Now I am praying for the right verdict.   

          We will overcome all obstacles, as before and victory will be ours to savour !! 

          I can feel it.    

How Apple Computer got its Name

                               

        Currently I am reading this firework of a book, based on the late Steve Jobs' life. He was an adopted child of hard working American German migrants who lived in Pittsburgh. His father was Palestinian and mother Irish American, but their family objected vehemently to the union.

        I was amused and fascinated how he decided on the name Apple Computer, it is an Oxymoron type of name as apple is related obliquely to rural country America (American Apple Pie) and Computer (in the 70s) is related to high technology.

        It stemmed from the fact that Steve in his late teens was fascinated with Eastern (Zen Buddhism) religiousity and was making trips to India to seek his meaning in life, as well as find a guru. After a 9 month soul seeking trip, he came back, dressed in saffron clothes, like an Indian holy man, as well as did not bathe often, and had straggly unkempt hair, just like a hippe child from the 70s.

      He was perpetually trying out vegan diets and the one which stuck on him was a fruitarian diet consisting mainly of apples. So when the time came for him and his partner Steve Wozniack to choose a name, he decided on Apple Computer.

      Funny how things turned out so fabulously for the company.