I did well enough in my PSLEs to qualify for a SAP (Special Assistance Plan) school which teaches both English and Chinese as first languages. I owe this satisfactory outcome to my mother who had to spend what limited extra money we had in those days for English and Mathematics tuition for me; Ben and I went to tuition together but that story is for another post.
I grew up in an all-chinese family. My standard of english up, till secondary school, was rather poor and this was not helped by having predominantly chinese friends and playmates. I recall now being very nervous when speaking with my malay and indian classmates in english.
Realising this weakness, I deliberately chose to study, in secondary school, english literature instead of chinese literature which most of my good friends did. In E. Lit class, I remember my teacher Miss Foo would have us to read aloud passages from texts such as "Things Fall Apart" and "To Kill a Mockingbird". I must have impressed my teacher somewhat in my english oratory abilities that I was asked to represent the class in a debating competition. That experience was both agony and enlightenment. I was shaking when it was my turn to stand and speak, my hands twitched, I stammered and I was an obvious nervous wreck. I was so embarassed that I told myself it was time to improve.
The trouble was although we were in a SAP school, the focus was actually on learning a higher level of chinese and not english. So to practise english, when speaking (or scolding) the NPCC squad which I was in charge of, I would only use english. I would like to think this gave me added confidence in using the language later in my life.
On the other hand, as we were a SAP school, the methods of learning chinese were decidedly traditional with lots of tingxue and moxie. Long bus journeys were the perfect time to study the textbook in preparation for quizzes although this severely damaged my eyesight. But becuase of my background growing up speaking chinese, I never had any serious problems in chinese.
Since I started working, what I had to continue improving though was writing in english: in being clear in explaining, appreciating the flow of ideas and tightening prose. And this has so far been a daily learning process that will probably never stop.
So my take on the current bilingualism issue is this. Based on my personal experience, the environment a child grows up in is crucial. In Singapore's context, if a parent appreciates the importance of chinese, then chinese should be the dominant language at home. As for english, there will be more than ample opportunities to develop proficiency or even mastery of the language in formal settings such as in school or work.
14.12.09
Hainan Trip 2009 - Falling sick
The weather was nice and cool in Wenchang, in which we spent 5 days. The days were packed. We woke up early and gathered at the hotel lobby at 7am and took a short walk to the city centre park for our morning exercise.
This will be followed by a hearty lunch before we took the 2 hour plus ride for sightseeing before returning to the village home for dinner. We then had to endure another long ride back to our hotel in Wenchang. The day does not stop there. We will then take a walk in the city streets and have our daily dessert of ginger soup. By the time leave for the hotel, it will be around 11pm.
When we proceeded to Haikou from Wenchang on the fifth day, all seemed fine in the morning. We had our morning exercise followed by our breakfast.
But mum recalled later that once their car entered Haikou, my cousin and Dad immediately started sneezing. By the way, Haikou is warmer and the air is more polluted.
The hotel in which we had planned to stay turned out to be a bad choice as it was situated in front of a wet market, and the condition was quite run-down. It was made worse when I observed that the toilet had no door but a curtain for separation.
By the time we found a hotel and took a short drive to have lunch, Dad was already not feeling well and had to visit the toilet twice. I felt a little tired but was not feeling unwell.
When we reached the hotel, we all agreed to take a much needed rest from the long journey from Wenchang. Ben was already not feeling well. As for me, once I started to lie down on the bed, I felt a little cold, a familiar sympton that the body was trying to cool itself.
I woke Ben up and he immediately gave me some panadol.
I grew increasingly cold and weak and slept until the next morning.
But the most surprising part was that Mum did not fall sick at all despite the fact that she was complaining she wasn't feeling well at the airport!
This will be followed by a hearty lunch before we took the 2 hour plus ride for sightseeing before returning to the village home for dinner. We then had to endure another long ride back to our hotel in Wenchang. The day does not stop there. We will then take a walk in the city streets and have our daily dessert of ginger soup. By the time leave for the hotel, it will be around 11pm.
When we proceeded to Haikou from Wenchang on the fifth day, all seemed fine in the morning. We had our morning exercise followed by our breakfast.
But mum recalled later that once their car entered Haikou, my cousin and Dad immediately started sneezing. By the way, Haikou is warmer and the air is more polluted.
The hotel in which we had planned to stay turned out to be a bad choice as it was situated in front of a wet market, and the condition was quite run-down. It was made worse when I observed that the toilet had no door but a curtain for separation.
By the time we found a hotel and took a short drive to have lunch, Dad was already not feeling well and had to visit the toilet twice. I felt a little tired but was not feeling unwell.
When we reached the hotel, we all agreed to take a much needed rest from the long journey from Wenchang. Ben was already not feeling well. As for me, once I started to lie down on the bed, I felt a little cold, a familiar sympton that the body was trying to cool itself.
I woke Ben up and he immediately gave me some panadol.
I grew increasingly cold and weak and slept until the next morning.
But the most surprising part was that Mum did not fall sick at all despite the fact that she was complaining she wasn't feeling well at the airport!
Must know how to earn money!
Mum and I were joking with cousin A, who happened to be 'unattached' now that we will be able to find suitors for him from Hainan who can help with household chores and can cook.
This was not purely in jest because mum was requested by a Hainan acquaintance to look out for such opportunities for her nieces.
Cousin A replied," In Singapore, no need to know how to cook, most importantly much know how to make money!"
This was not purely in jest because mum was requested by a Hainan acquaintance to look out for such opportunities for her nieces.
Cousin A replied," In Singapore, no need to know how to cook, most importantly much know how to make money!"
11.12.09
Grandfather's one year anniversary
It is a cliche, but visiting Grandfather at the columbarium, I asked my uncle,"Time flies, has it been a year already?" I have since been a little moody the whole day from the visit.
I was at the columbarium early and as it was a weekday, it was largely deserted save for one family also paying their respects to their beloved relative.
So I ventured to the 'block' housing my grandfather. Beside my grandfather was my grandmother and a couple of other relatives. My grandfather had the foresight to have booked the lots for all of them early :)
I remembered this phrase regarding 'the longest distance in the world': 乡愁是一方方整齐的骨灰坛，我在外头，外公在里头。
Uncle K prepared the food, drinks, paper-money and incense offering. At that point when we were performing the rituals, I realised that this is not about superstition, it is about remembering a loved one, and wanting to have a way to display the love.
Cousin A and I were then given the task of burning all the paper-money and artifacts and we have quite a fun time playing with fire, literally.
We adjourned for a satisfying lunch of dumpling noodles before making our separate ways home.
I was at the columbarium early and as it was a weekday, it was largely deserted save for one family also paying their respects to their beloved relative.
So I ventured to the 'block' housing my grandfather. Beside my grandfather was my grandmother and a couple of other relatives. My grandfather had the foresight to have booked the lots for all of them early :)
I remembered this phrase regarding 'the longest distance in the world': 乡愁是一方方整齐的骨灰坛，我在外头，外公在里头。
Uncle K prepared the food, drinks, paper-money and incense offering. At that point when we were performing the rituals, I realised that this is not about superstition, it is about remembering a loved one, and wanting to have a way to display the love.
Cousin A and I were then given the task of burning all the paper-money and artifacts and we have quite a fun time playing with fire, literally.
We adjourned for a satisfying lunch of dumpling noodles before making our separate ways home.
29.11.09
Taiji - Words from Laoshi today
This morning's 2-hour lesson passed exceptionally quickly today. S said this was because I was assigned to the front row corner spot and had to concentrate. I think this is quite true. I felt I really learnt something today.
What laoshi said today:
1) Use internal strength and external form like a turbo engined vehicle.
2) Difference in western and chinese styled bells (this is something I have never considered!). Western bells eg church bells are struck from the inside whereas easter eg temple bells are struck from the outside. The sound emitted naturally differs. The church bells and clear and loud compared to the deep lasting humming of the temple ones. This, says laoshi, also illustrates the difference between the US and Chinese and why the US finds it so difficult to understand the Chinese. As taiji practitioners, he said we should look to the temple bell as an example.
3) 打拳不是看行，而是看心。
What laoshi said today:
1) Use internal strength and external form like a turbo engined vehicle.
2) Difference in western and chinese styled bells (this is something I have never considered!). Western bells eg church bells are struck from the inside whereas easter eg temple bells are struck from the outside. The sound emitted naturally differs. The church bells and clear and loud compared to the deep lasting humming of the temple ones. This, says laoshi, also illustrates the difference between the US and Chinese and why the US finds it so difficult to understand the Chinese. As taiji practitioners, he said we should look to the temple bell as an example.
3) 打拳不是看行，而是看心。
10.11.09
9.11.09
Hainan Trip 2009
We took a morning flight out of Haikou and returned to Singapore eagerly looking forward to returning to our individual routines.
Summarising this trip, we visited my father's hometown for four days consecutively, visited four different beaches and apart from my mum, the rest of us all fell sick.
Will be posting more photos and details of our trip in subsequent posts but will leave now with a group photo and one I took with my grandma.
Summarising this trip, we visited my father's hometown for four days consecutively, visited four different beaches and apart from my mum, the rest of us all fell sick.
Will be posting more photos and details of our trip in subsequent posts but will leave now with a group photo and one I took with my grandma.
1.11.09
19.10.09
17.10.09
Sharing Ba Duan Jin
Invited Aunt Sherry for a walk at Botanic Garden last week. Uncle Keong and wife joined us as well. So I took the opportunity to share with them the steps of Ba Duan Jin and hope that they will practise and reap the benefits of this ancient exercise.
6.10.09
Its all in the legs
Swimming the freestyle, that is.
I have been trying to learn to swim the front crawl stroke properly these few months and my wife S has been pointing out my fatal error of which I have no means to improve -- I cannot float. If you do not know how to swim the freestyle and have attempted it, you will probably experience the same sinking and lung-bursting agony as I, and the harder you propel yourselves with your hands, instead of going faster, you merely sink faster.
Where do you sink first then...yes...the legs.
Let's analyse.
Suppose you push off from the wall of the pool with your arms in front of you. With the momentum of the push, you will be able to glide, and as you get slower and slower, your legs will drop. Why is this?
The only natural float we have as humans are in the lungs, so to push our legs up, we have to kick -- in freestyle, the kick is normally referred to as the flutter kick.
This was how I learnt the flutter kick.
- Use a kick board and kick. Sounds easy? I couldn't reach one-third of the pool without my legs sinking when I started.
- Stablise the body when kicking. Your hips should not be swinging wildly as you kick. (This point is very important and cannot be over emphasised)
- Try putting it together with your arm-stroke once you are sufficiently proficient.
I have been trying to learn to swim the front crawl stroke properly these few months and my wife S has been pointing out my fatal error of which I have no means to improve -- I cannot float. If you do not know how to swim the freestyle and have attempted it, you will probably experience the same sinking and lung-bursting agony as I, and the harder you propel yourselves with your hands, instead of going faster, you merely sink faster.
Where do you sink first then...yes...the legs.
Let's analyse.
Suppose you push off from the wall of the pool with your arms in front of you. With the momentum of the push, you will be able to glide, and as you get slower and slower, your legs will drop. Why is this?
The only natural float we have as humans are in the lungs, so to push our legs up, we have to kick -- in freestyle, the kick is normally referred to as the flutter kick.
This was how I learnt the flutter kick.
- Use a kick board and kick. Sounds easy? I couldn't reach one-third of the pool without my legs sinking when I started.
- Stablise the body when kicking. Your hips should not be swinging wildly as you kick. (This point is very important and cannot be over emphasised)
- Try putting it together with your arm-stroke once you are sufficiently proficient.
28.9.09
Aunt S hospitalised
Aunt S felt weak at the MRT Station this morning and the station control officers very kindly arranged for a ambulance to send her to A&E. As she was running a slight fever as well, her symptoms were initially diagnosed as minor-stroke which worried all of us.
When I visited her at the hospital in the evening, I was happy to note that she looked and sounded normal. She was due to take a MRI scan of her brain to assess whether there was stroke.
In any case, I gently told her that this was a wake-up call she should heed and suggested that she find time to join us in our weekend taiji and leisure activities both to find some exercise and to relax.
Post-Note at Noon, 29 Sep 09
Aunt Sherry is being discharged now. According to Cousin Jing, who just visited her, "Everything seems fine".
When I visited her at the hospital in the evening, I was happy to note that she looked and sounded normal. She was due to take a MRI scan of her brain to assess whether there was stroke.
In any case, I gently told her that this was a wake-up call she should heed and suggested that she find time to join us in our weekend taiji and leisure activities both to find some exercise and to relax.
Post-Note at Noon, 29 Sep 09
Aunt Sherry is being discharged now. According to Cousin Jing, who just visited her, "Everything seems fine".
20.9.09
Celebrating Mum's Birthday
Mum's big day today. The birthday lunch was Crystal Jade at Terminal 2.
Mum loves to take photos amongst colourful flowers.
It was the Hari Raya period so the airport had thoughtfully set up related themes for photography.
Mum loves to take photos amongst colourful flowers.
It was the Hari Raya period so the airport had thoughtfully set up related themes for photography.
It was also F1 fever.
And for a single receipt of more than $20, you get to ride a electric go-kart.
Dad on his go kart.
This is the closest mum will ever get to driving a car!
And for a single receipt of more than $20, you get to ride a electric go-kart.
Dad on his go kart.
This is the closest mum will ever get to driving a car!13.9.09
10.9.09
Penang - Journey back to 80s Singapore
As befitting my middle-age status, I sometimes reminisce about my childhood years, trying to sieve through an increasingly foggy memory to recall memories, sights and sounds of yesteryears. And it is getting more and more difficult. Visiting places to jolt the memory is no use because most of the pre-war buildings that we frequented have been either torn down or refurbished losing its flavour as a result.
One of my more vivid recollections is visiting the Upper Bukit Timah area quite often in my childhood. That was because it was the nearest shopping belt apart from going to the city or Chinatown. The belt-stretch starts where the Ten-Mile Junction is sited now and extends all the way to where MINDEF is. Shops and buildings do extend both ways from this stretch but are less busy and patronised.
This row of two-storey shophouses was where our books, school shoes, spectacles etc. were purchased. On the eastern side behind the row of shophouses, there used to be small hills and I recall mum bringing me to visit a quite famous sinseh (TCM practioner) when I was unwell. There were also many coffeeshops with most of them at the corner streets where traffic was the busiest.
So I felt immediately at home and extremely nostalgic at Penang precisely because of of its 80s Singapore feel. The old-ness, the faded colours, the five-foot way, all of which seemed to have leapt off the pages of my memory.
The smell and taste of the food were delicious linkages to small and obscure bits of episodes filed away in my mind. The greying rain-stained building facade were exactly the ones I saw in 80s Singapore. Walking along the five-foot way, surveying the goods on display, dodging some of the items hung on the ceiling, the expectant look of the shopkeepers at passerbys.
To complete the adventure, we hopped onto a trishaw and it turned out the appropriate, albeit overpriced, thing to do. The slowness of the trishaw complemented the feel of the area around Campbell Street which are dotted with many UNESCO heritage sites.
One of my more vivid recollections is visiting the Upper Bukit Timah area quite often in my childhood. That was because it was the nearest shopping belt apart from going to the city or Chinatown. The belt-stretch starts where the Ten-Mile Junction is sited now and extends all the way to where MINDEF is. Shops and buildings do extend both ways from this stretch but are less busy and patronised.
This row of two-storey shophouses was where our books, school shoes, spectacles etc. were purchased. On the eastern side behind the row of shophouses, there used to be small hills and I recall mum bringing me to visit a quite famous sinseh (TCM practioner) when I was unwell. There were also many coffeeshops with most of them at the corner streets where traffic was the busiest.
So I felt immediately at home and extremely nostalgic at Penang precisely because of of its 80s Singapore feel. The old-ness, the faded colours, the five-foot way, all of which seemed to have leapt off the pages of my memory.
The smell and taste of the food were delicious linkages to small and obscure bits of episodes filed away in my mind. The greying rain-stained building facade were exactly the ones I saw in 80s Singapore. Walking along the five-foot way, surveying the goods on display, dodging some of the items hung on the ceiling, the expectant look of the shopkeepers at passerbys.
To complete the adventure, we hopped onto a trishaw and it turned out the appropriate, albeit overpriced, thing to do. The slowness of the trishaw complemented the feel of the area around Campbell Street which are dotted with many UNESCO heritage sites.
9.9.09
乡愁 -- 余光中
小时候, 乡愁是一枚小小的邮票,
我在这头, 母亲在那头；
长大后, 乡愁是一张窄窄的船票,
我在这头, 新娘在那头；
后来呵, 乡愁是一方矮矮的坟墓,
我在外头, 母亲在里头；
而现在, 乡愁是一湾浅浅的海峡,
我在这头, 大陆在那头。
我在这头, 母亲在那头；
长大后, 乡愁是一张窄窄的船票,
我在这头, 新娘在那头；
后来呵, 乡愁是一方矮矮的坟墓,
我在外头, 母亲在里头；
而现在, 乡愁是一湾浅浅的海峡,
我在这头, 大陆在那头。
4.9.09
不管
张雨生有一首歌叫《不管》。 歌里面唱到：不管，不管，让我们交换，你才知我心酸。
想到这两个字，和这首歌，是母亲告诉我一段关于她和外公的故事。父母结婚之后便在外公家住了下来。后来，有了下一代之后便买了政府组屋搬了出去。外公为此不高兴。
有一天，在邻里的湿巴刹碰面，外公转过了身子，不睬母亲。母亲说她眼泪霎那间便流了下来。
===========
当然，后来他们都合好了，我记得小时候母亲常带我们三兄弟搭巴士去拜访外公外婆。当时外公外婆开杂货店，我们三个便在那里玩上好几个小时。
父母与子女那里会有隔夜仇，只是一时面子过不去。雨生的另外一首歌说得很好，《我最疼爱的人伤我最深》。
人生是马拉松，日子还长，一切都可能改变，只是时间的长短。
很久沒和爸爸貼心交談,
卻發現他動作滄桑緩慢,
滿臉皺紋漫長,
見證我成長
內疚也心酸,
時間太趕,愛得太晚
想見的人,待到燈火也闌珊
為了不平凡,
忙忙忙會讓人盲.
贏到了風光,
輸去了我的心肝,
生命苦短,
人不過是人,
世界有太多東西流轉.
別把風景搬上天堂.
想到这两个字，和这首歌，是母亲告诉我一段关于她和外公的故事。父母结婚之后便在外公家住了下来。后来，有了下一代之后便买了政府组屋搬了出去。外公为此不高兴。
有一天，在邻里的湿巴刹碰面，外公转过了身子，不睬母亲。母亲说她眼泪霎那间便流了下来。
===========
当然，后来他们都合好了，我记得小时候母亲常带我们三兄弟搭巴士去拜访外公外婆。当时外公外婆开杂货店，我们三个便在那里玩上好几个小时。
父母与子女那里会有隔夜仇，只是一时面子过不去。雨生的另外一首歌说得很好，《我最疼爱的人伤我最深》。
人生是马拉松，日子还长，一切都可能改变，只是时间的长短。
很久沒和爸爸貼心交談,
卻發現他動作滄桑緩慢,
滿臉皺紋漫長,
見證我成長
內疚也心酸,
時間太趕,愛得太晚
想見的人,待到燈火也闌珊
為了不平凡,
忙忙忙會讓人盲.
贏到了風光,
輸去了我的心肝,
生命苦短,
人不過是人,
世界有太多東西流轉.
別把風景搬上天堂.
3.9.09
30.8.09
24.8.09
Room to Read
I was moved to tears while reading a book and eating my 小碗面 breakfast at the Bras Basah Complex food court so I had to stifle my emotions. The book "Leaving Microsoft to Change the World" was written by John Wood who is also the founder of the IGO Room to Read on which the book was based on. In brief, the background was that John travelled to Nepal, was appalled at the extent of illiteracy and the lack of books that he vowed to make it possible for more children in poorer countries to have access to books.
In one of the chapters in the book, John was in Vietnam and met a younger man named Vu. Vu works the graveyard shift (in the hotel John was staying) so that he can spend more time reading up and studying. John observed that Vu's hunger in reading and devouring whatever material he could come across when he observed Vu reading the manual of a digital watch (probably obselete). John, then still an executive in Microsoft was given the chance to show off his Microsoft Excel skills, but whatever John demonstrated, Vu could do the same process faster using shortcuts John did not know of.
John was impressed and wanted to help Vu by buying him a book on Excel. But Vu being proud and wanting to remain independent refused any help. John had to think of ways and means to 'trick' Vu to accept financial assistance.
In the end, John left a sealed envelope with US$20 as his 'scholarship' to Vu instructing Vu to only open the envelope a day later. Moments later, Vu knocked on John's door in tears. He had opened the letter, was so touched and finally relented to accept a new friend's help. After John sent off Vu and closed the door, John wrote in the book that "..at which point I collapsed on my bed and started crying with tears of joy, of hope, of optimism, for forming a connection that transcends words."
Holding in my chopsticks a fishball, I also had to fight back tears.
In one of the chapters in the book, John was in Vietnam and met a younger man named Vu. Vu works the graveyard shift (in the hotel John was staying) so that he can spend more time reading up and studying. John observed that Vu's hunger in reading and devouring whatever material he could come across when he observed Vu reading the manual of a digital watch (probably obselete). John, then still an executive in Microsoft was given the chance to show off his Microsoft Excel skills, but whatever John demonstrated, Vu could do the same process faster using shortcuts John did not know of.
John was impressed and wanted to help Vu by buying him a book on Excel. But Vu being proud and wanting to remain independent refused any help. John had to think of ways and means to 'trick' Vu to accept financial assistance.
In the end, John left a sealed envelope with US$20 as his 'scholarship' to Vu instructing Vu to only open the envelope a day later. Moments later, Vu knocked on John's door in tears. He had opened the letter, was so touched and finally relented to accept a new friend's help. After John sent off Vu and closed the door, John wrote in the book that "..at which point I collapsed on my bed and started crying with tears of joy, of hope, of optimism, for forming a connection that transcends words."
Holding in my chopsticks a fishball, I also had to fight back tears.
23.8.09
《太极拳论》- 王宗岳
太极者，无极而生，阴阳之母也。动之则分，静之则合。随屈就伸，无过不及。人刚我柔谓之走，我顺人背谓之粘。动急则急应，动缓则缓随。虽变化万端而理为一贯，由着熟而渐悟懂劲，由懂劲而阶及神明。然非用力之久不能豁然贯通焉！
虚领顶劲，气沉丹田，不偏不倚，忽隐忽现。左重则左虚，右重则右杳，仰之则弥高，俯之则弥深，进之则愈长，退之则愈促。一羽不能加，蝇虫不能落。人不知我，我独知人。英雄所向无敌，盖皆由此而及也。
斯技旁门甚多，虽势有区别，盖不外壮欺弱，慢让快耳。有力打无力，手慢让手快，是皆先天自然之能，非关学力而所为也。察四两拨千斤之句，显非力胜。观耄耋能御众之形，快何能为？
立如秤准，活似车轮。偏沉则坠，双重则滞。每见数年纯功不能运化者，率皆自为人制，双重之病未悟耳！欲避此病，须知阴阳。粘即是走，走即是粘，阴不离阳，阳不离阴，阴阳相济，方为懂劲。懂劲后，愈练愈精，默识揣摩，渐至从心所欲。
本是舍己从人，多误为舍近求远。所谓差之毫厘，谬以千里。学者不可不详辨焉，是为论。
虚领顶劲，气沉丹田，不偏不倚，忽隐忽现。左重则左虚，右重则右杳，仰之则弥高，俯之则弥深，进之则愈长，退之则愈促。一羽不能加，蝇虫不能落。人不知我，我独知人。英雄所向无敌，盖皆由此而及也。
斯技旁门甚多，虽势有区别，盖不外壮欺弱，慢让快耳。有力打无力，手慢让手快，是皆先天自然之能，非关学力而所为也。察四两拨千斤之句，显非力胜。观耄耋能御众之形，快何能为？
立如秤准，活似车轮。偏沉则坠，双重则滞。每见数年纯功不能运化者，率皆自为人制，双重之病未悟耳！欲避此病，须知阴阳。粘即是走，走即是粘，阴不离阳，阳不离阴，阴阳相济，方为懂劲。懂劲后，愈练愈精，默识揣摩，渐至从心所欲。
本是舍己从人，多误为舍近求远。所谓差之毫厘，谬以千里。学者不可不详辨焉，是为论。
Taiji Lesson today
Mr Yang shared his encounters with a Mr Ding, former principal of Ai Tong school. After retirement, Mr Ding was diagnosed with cancer. Numerous operations and chemotheraphy rendered him weak and the doctor had informed his family to prepare for the worst. Mr Ding did not wish to accept his fate as such and went to China's villages to look for answers. Apparently he came to a remote village and saw the villagers practising a form of exercise. Curious, he asked one lady and was told that all of the villagers were all cancer patients. He stayed on and learnt the exercise. According to Mr Yang, Mr Ding's cancer went into remission and he is still alive today. Mr Ding agreed to teach Mr Yang the exercise provided that Mr Yang promised to teach others.
Mr Yang then offered his personal experience. After his father and then his elder brother passed away with cancer, he began to worry that he also had cancer one day when he felt pain in the right side of his chest. Many tests later would show that he was not suffering from cancer.
But he said the experience thought him that one's will or frame of mind affects one's wellbeing. When he thought he had contracted cancer, he began to feel weak, depressed and desperate. But when he was cleared of cancer, it was like turning on a light in a dark room, he felt strong immediately.
Another learning point today was when he shared Taiji's grand ancestor Mr Wang Zongyue's Taiji Thesis. I asked him about one phrase "意气君，肉骨臣 ". The crux of the phrase is on what is "君" and what is "臣". The phrase therefore means that the will and spirit （意气）should be the master （君）and therefore lead the body（肉骨）.
Mr Yang then offered his personal experience. After his father and then his elder brother passed away with cancer, he began to worry that he also had cancer one day when he felt pain in the right side of his chest. Many tests later would show that he was not suffering from cancer.
But he said the experience thought him that one's will or frame of mind affects one's wellbeing. When he thought he had contracted cancer, he began to feel weak, depressed and desperate. But when he was cleared of cancer, it was like turning on a light in a dark room, he felt strong immediately.
Another learning point today was when he shared Taiji's grand ancestor Mr Wang Zongyue's Taiji Thesis. I asked him about one phrase "意气君，肉骨臣 ". The crux of the phrase is on what is "君" and what is "臣". The phrase therefore means that the will and spirit （意气）should be the master （君）and therefore lead the body（肉骨）.
21.8.09
18.8.09
12.8.09
10.8.09
Luxury Dates from Qatar
Sis-in-law LL recently returned from a business trip to Qatar. Owing to this, I had the good fortune of tasting some tasty and sweet middle eastern dates.
Dates are the staple food of the middle-eastern people. I like dates because they are immensely sweet and nutritious. This version that LL shared had been de-seeded and restuffed with various combinations of nuts which works very well.
Dates are the staple food of the middle-eastern people. I like dates because they are immensely sweet and nutritious. This version that LL shared had been de-seeded and restuffed with various combinations of nuts which works very well.
1.8.09
Growing Up with Luncheon Meat
Canned food was a regular accompaniment to my childhood meals, and although my parents did provide us with ample fresh meat and vegetables from the wet market, canned varieties such as fish with black beans, button mushrooms, sardines and especially luncheon meat added variety and taste.
How did we do luncheon meat?
1) Fried and dipped with tomato sauce
2) Dipped in egg batter and fried
3) Steamed and eaten with rice or bread
4) Cubed and stewed with carrots, potatoes and onions in a combination my father called "Seetoh" (I think it is a play on the word 'stew')
How did we do luncheon meat?
1) Fried and dipped with tomato sauce
2) Dipped in egg batter and fried
3) Steamed and eaten with rice or bread
4) Cubed and stewed with carrots, potatoes and onions in a combination my father called "Seetoh" (I think it is a play on the word 'stew')
19.7.09
18.7.09
NPCC
NPCC stands for National Police Cadet Corps, and it is an extra curricular activity that secondary students can pick up. Compared to the NCC or National Cadet Corps (aka student soldiers), NPCC focuses a lot more on foot drill. For this express purpose, the soles of the boot are affixed (at the student's own cost) with a metal horse-shoe at the heel and three pieces of metal at the front to produce a clicking sound when the shoe comes into contact with the ground. When marching in unison, the squad or platoon makes delightful percussion.
NPCC was not my first choice ECA in RVHS though. I signed up for NCC-Air despite already having terrible eyesight at the tender age of 13 and also despite knowing that anything less than almost perfect eyesight means not being accepted. I think I signed up because of a friend. My friend got in and I did not.
Then I tried to sign up for NCC but the Secondary 1 Squad was already filled up; such was its popularity.
So NPCC it was. And I was welcomed with open arms.
ECA in those days was on Saturdays. Our program typically starts early morning around 8am to 8.30am with a PT session. More often than not, this will be followed by frantic changing into the police uniform (there is not even time to change in the toilet) for one to two hours of solid foot drill under the increasingly hotter sun. Part of the fun was learning the Malay drill commands. Even today, I can still rememeber all the complex Malay commands. The ultimate command for most of us was for sizing, i.e. to bring about a nice V 'sized' platoon when viewed from the front, with the taller ones on each side.
Let me try to recall, lousy spelling notwithstanding, the mouthful command: Yang tinggi ke-kenan, renda ke-keri, dalam satu barisan, khra! (It means tallest to the right, shortest to the left, form a single file, move it!) There are four other commands before the desired shape of the platoon is formed, but don't let me bore you.
Related to foot drill is the exacting standards of how the shoe should shine. And that is to be able to see the reflection of one's teeth. I kid you not. It takes a few years to perfect this state of shine.
The art of polishing ventures beyond simply applying 'kiwi' to brush.
Our superior technique includes burning the kiwi covered shoe with an open flame from a candle to coat the surface of the shoe with a even layer of kiwi. This has to be done very carefully to achieve a smooth surface -- sometimes the shoe can catch fire! Next, after allowing the molten kiwi to cool and harden, use a piece of cotton cloth, dip into some kiwi and polish in a small circular motion. Sometimes, a tinny bit of water will help elevate the shine to an even higher notch. This activity typically takes place on the Friday night and can last hours. You had no choice but invest in the effort because a less than desirable standard will mean 'knocking-it-down' -- push ups! We did hundreds of push ups every week. My NCO said polishing shoes builds patience and character.
We also have lectures then on subjects such as campcraft and first aid. In real life, campcraft came in rather useful on many occasions when the need arose to tie knots for various purposes. My knowledge of the reef knot, highwayman's knot, timber hitch and lashing proved to be valuable life skills. As for first aid, I have not encountered the need to provide CPR nor tie a bandage so I cannot say these knowledge was equally valuable.
NPCC was not my first choice ECA in RVHS though. I signed up for NCC-Air despite already having terrible eyesight at the tender age of 13 and also despite knowing that anything less than almost perfect eyesight means not being accepted. I think I signed up because of a friend. My friend got in and I did not.
Then I tried to sign up for NCC but the Secondary 1 Squad was already filled up; such was its popularity.
So NPCC it was. And I was welcomed with open arms.
ECA in those days was on Saturdays. Our program typically starts early morning around 8am to 8.30am with a PT session. More often than not, this will be followed by frantic changing into the police uniform (there is not even time to change in the toilet) for one to two hours of solid foot drill under the increasingly hotter sun. Part of the fun was learning the Malay drill commands. Even today, I can still rememeber all the complex Malay commands. The ultimate command for most of us was for sizing, i.e. to bring about a nice V 'sized' platoon when viewed from the front, with the taller ones on each side.
Let me try to recall, lousy spelling notwithstanding, the mouthful command: Yang tinggi ke-kenan, renda ke-keri, dalam satu barisan, khra! (It means tallest to the right, shortest to the left, form a single file, move it!) There are four other commands before the desired shape of the platoon is formed, but don't let me bore you.
Related to foot drill is the exacting standards of how the shoe should shine. And that is to be able to see the reflection of one's teeth. I kid you not. It takes a few years to perfect this state of shine.
The art of polishing ventures beyond simply applying 'kiwi' to brush.
Our superior technique includes burning the kiwi covered shoe with an open flame from a candle to coat the surface of the shoe with a even layer of kiwi. This has to be done very carefully to achieve a smooth surface -- sometimes the shoe can catch fire! Next, after allowing the molten kiwi to cool and harden, use a piece of cotton cloth, dip into some kiwi and polish in a small circular motion. Sometimes, a tinny bit of water will help elevate the shine to an even higher notch. This activity typically takes place on the Friday night and can last hours. You had no choice but invest in the effort because a less than desirable standard will mean 'knocking-it-down' -- push ups! We did hundreds of push ups every week. My NCO said polishing shoes builds patience and character.
We also have lectures then on subjects such as campcraft and first aid. In real life, campcraft came in rather useful on many occasions when the need arose to tie knots for various purposes. My knowledge of the reef knot, highwayman's knot, timber hitch and lashing proved to be valuable life skills. As for first aid, I have not encountered the need to provide CPR nor tie a bandage so I cannot say these knowledge was equally valuable.
17.7.09
Back to Basics
Just last week, my taiji teacher was saying, as you go through life, you realise what's more important or essential and shed the unimportant stuff, like unnecssary layers. An analogy he gave was he used to like to pick the finer fish to eat, like 'ang kau' (I actually don't now what kind of fish this is). But now, he realised that as long as the fish is fresh, the flesh will be sweet. Woah...a touch of zen!
Uncannily, I had a taste of this today.
My expensive Omega watch had let me down. Meant to be a diver's watch, but after a few weeks of swimming at the neighbourhood pool, yesterday morning I realised that moisture has seeped into the watch and mist could be seen under the glass face.
I sent in the watch for servicing and was told that the wait could be 12 weeks.
So, the lesson learnt for me is for a watch, as long as it can tell time accurately, it is a good watch. So I went to get this $28 Casio watch which tells the time perfectly and can be worn to the local pool and water resistant up to 50 metres.
Uncannily, I had a taste of this today.
My expensive Omega watch had let me down. Meant to be a diver's watch, but after a few weeks of swimming at the neighbourhood pool, yesterday morning I realised that moisture has seeped into the watch and mist could be seen under the glass face.
I sent in the watch for servicing and was told that the wait could be 12 weeks.
So, the lesson learnt for me is for a watch, as long as it can tell time accurately, it is a good watch. So I went to get this $28 Casio watch which tells the time perfectly and can be worn to the local pool and water resistant up to 50 metres.
Early morning, public bus rides, memories of school days
Reading Bro Jinbo's post has insipred me to bog on my experiences :p
Getting up super early was never an issue when we were younger... now getting up at 6:30 proves a challenge every working day :)
Bus ride were tiring but fun, esp if you got fellow classmates taking the same ride. My sec school, Swiss Cottage was along Bt Timah road. Also a hour to 1.5 hours of bus ride or longer, depending on weather and traffic conditions... neber encountered any floods though, would have love the experience :p
I enjoyed most my rides on bus service 170, where they used to have bus conductor... watching them working their way thru the crowded bus, collecting fares and issuing bus tickets (punching holes along the way).
On Sat where I would wake up super super early to catch the first bus to school to prepare for my ECA. Never once feel tired or regreted having to wake up early... wonder why???
On the issue of education... my results were never any good compared to both my elder brothers... Chinese High & River Valley were out of my league... been able to enroll for Swiss Cottage was like striking lottery :)
My parents hopes for me were simple then... maybe too good to me... just pass can liao... and I met their target :) It was only in my final year of Polytechnic did I "jump" out of this mental box to try to improve my scores. Did pretty well, even manage to complete my Final Year Project which was good enough for the Poly Open House exhibition.
And only when I started working, did I truly realise the importance of a good paper qualification. Having "fought" the corporate war for 10 years, I got my fair share of experiences which I would blog abt soon.
For now... the Zzzz babe is luring me to catch up with her (no more Zzzz monster, Zzzz babe is better for a good nite rest)
Getting up super early was never an issue when we were younger... now getting up at 6:30 proves a challenge every working day :)
Bus ride were tiring but fun, esp if you got fellow classmates taking the same ride. My sec school, Swiss Cottage was along Bt Timah road. Also a hour to 1.5 hours of bus ride or longer, depending on weather and traffic conditions... neber encountered any floods though, would have love the experience :p
I enjoyed most my rides on bus service 170, where they used to have bus conductor... watching them working their way thru the crowded bus, collecting fares and issuing bus tickets (punching holes along the way).
On Sat where I would wake up super super early to catch the first bus to school to prepare for my ECA. Never once feel tired or regreted having to wake up early... wonder why???
On the issue of education... my results were never any good compared to both my elder brothers... Chinese High & River Valley were out of my league... been able to enroll for Swiss Cottage was like striking lottery :)
My parents hopes for me were simple then... maybe too good to me... just pass can liao... and I met their target :) It was only in my final year of Polytechnic did I "jump" out of this mental box to try to improve my scores. Did pretty well, even manage to complete my Final Year Project which was good enough for the Poly Open House exhibition.
And only when I started working, did I truly realise the importance of a good paper qualification. Having "fought" the corporate war for 10 years, I got my fair share of experiences which I would blog abt soon.
For now... the Zzzz babe is luring me to catch up with her (no more Zzzz monster, Zzzz babe is better for a good nite rest)
16.7.09
Long daily bus trips
Not now of course, although in present modern Singapore there still are long journeys one can make on a bus, with some services taking impossibly inefficient routes to pass along more streets.
I spent four years of my life a happy student in River Valley High School. In those four years, I probably spent the most hours on the road.
As I qualify for a SAP school based on my PSLE results, my first choice was the Chinese High School along Bukit Timah Road (it still is there at the same address today). My elder brother studied there and most of my chinese friends aspired to be admitted there as well. My malay classmates who were all very bright ended up mostly at Raffles Institution.
I was not accepted in Chinese High. A side story was that my classmate who got the same PSLE results did, and the reason was that he was a gymnast; he later represented Singapore.
Anyway, I decided against an appeal and resigned myself to RVHS. It didn't help that my mum liked the uniform! My parents' place then was at Marsiling (just beside the old customs building) and RVHS then was along West Coast Road, beside the Pandan Reservoir.
For morning sessions, I woke up everyday at 5am, showered, got dressed and took the first bus, service 178, to school. In the morning, and on the first bus, traffic was smooth and there always were seats. I kind of liked the morning rides, with the cool dawn wind blowing in my face and the surroundings were still dark. I can recall all the landmarks. The oil refinery (?) just after the depot which emits pungent and strange odours. Metal Box along Woodlands Road. The two dirt tracks along Yew Tee, and one of them leads to a temple. The Fire Station at the junction before Bukit Timah Road where the bus will take a right turn.
The journey back home was dreadful. Service 178's destination from Woodlands was Jurong, which was the manufacturing hub. Everyday, by the time 178 reached Jurong East, where I boarded the bus for the way home, it will almost always be crowded. To add to the agony of having to stand for the almost 1.5 hour trip, the bus stopped almost at every stop either to allow passengers to alight or pick up more people.
That's not all the pain we passengers had to endure. Before the bus can turn into the depot at Woodlands, it has to pass through Woodlands Road which also happens to be the mother of all roads into the customs and Johor Bahru. Traffic sometimes got so bad that most passengers will elect to alight some 5km away from the station (when the bus got stuck in traffic and stuttered on) and take a brisk walk. My school mate Chongfu and I were among those weary commuters.
I can still recall those days vividly. But now with a smile.
I spent four years of my life a happy student in River Valley High School. In those four years, I probably spent the most hours on the road.
As I qualify for a SAP school based on my PSLE results, my first choice was the Chinese High School along Bukit Timah Road (it still is there at the same address today). My elder brother studied there and most of my chinese friends aspired to be admitted there as well. My malay classmates who were all very bright ended up mostly at Raffles Institution.
I was not accepted in Chinese High. A side story was that my classmate who got the same PSLE results did, and the reason was that he was a gymnast; he later represented Singapore.
Anyway, I decided against an appeal and resigned myself to RVHS. It didn't help that my mum liked the uniform! My parents' place then was at Marsiling (just beside the old customs building) and RVHS then was along West Coast Road, beside the Pandan Reservoir.
For morning sessions, I woke up everyday at 5am, showered, got dressed and took the first bus, service 178, to school. In the morning, and on the first bus, traffic was smooth and there always were seats. I kind of liked the morning rides, with the cool dawn wind blowing in my face and the surroundings were still dark. I can recall all the landmarks. The oil refinery (?) just after the depot which emits pungent and strange odours. Metal Box along Woodlands Road. The two dirt tracks along Yew Tee, and one of them leads to a temple. The Fire Station at the junction before Bukit Timah Road where the bus will take a right turn.
The journey back home was dreadful. Service 178's destination from Woodlands was Jurong, which was the manufacturing hub. Everyday, by the time 178 reached Jurong East, where I boarded the bus for the way home, it will almost always be crowded. To add to the agony of having to stand for the almost 1.5 hour trip, the bus stopped almost at every stop either to allow passengers to alight or pick up more people.
That's not all the pain we passengers had to endure. Before the bus can turn into the depot at Woodlands, it has to pass through Woodlands Road which also happens to be the mother of all roads into the customs and Johor Bahru. Traffic sometimes got so bad that most passengers will elect to alight some 5km away from the station (when the bus got stuck in traffic and stuttered on) and take a brisk walk. My school mate Chongfu and I were among those weary commuters.
I can still recall those days vividly. But now with a smile.
15.7.09
Health tips from Taiji teacher
I am very fortunate to be able to learn taiji from my present teacher; my parents and wife are also in the same class. Besides being very knowledgeble and competent in taiji, he also dishes out health tips on and off during lessons.
These are a few I have gleaned:
1) To prevent catching cold, make sure your shoulders are not exposed, i.e. cover them. Should prevent your feet from being exposed to the cold also, by using slippers even at home or wearing socks when sleeping, especially if in an air-conditioned room.
2) Hang on a monkey bar to stretch the spine like primates do.
3) Exercise the brain by softly clenching your fist finger by finger. This will train the different parts of the brain responsible for the movement of each finger. Particularly useful for the aged.
These are a few I have gleaned:
1) To prevent catching cold, make sure your shoulders are not exposed, i.e. cover them. Should prevent your feet from being exposed to the cold also, by using slippers even at home or wearing socks when sleeping, especially if in an air-conditioned room.
2) Hang on a monkey bar to stretch the spine like primates do.
3) Exercise the brain by softly clenching your fist finger by finger. This will train the different parts of the brain responsible for the movement of each finger. Particularly useful for the aged.
14.7.09
Parallel Parking tip
Source: Esquire MagazineFor detailed instructions Step 1 to 4, pl visit Esquire.
==========================
The first time I read this tip, I went to look for a parallel parking lot to try it. Works pretty well!
13.7.09
Chinese Orchestra
Since I am on the topic of Chinese Orchestra (my previous post on the drums performance), I thought I might search my memory on my dabbling with the art.
I think I joined my primary school CO in primary 2. I was following in the footsteps of my elder brother; my mum also encouraged me to learn to play a musical instrument. My brother learned the di zi (Chinese flute), I had absolutely no affinity with the flute (you need to be able to form your lips in a certain way to emit sound from the bamboo) so I settled, or rather the teacher settled for me, for the er hu.
I had some talent in the erhu. In fact, in my whole life, in many things I have a bit more talent than the average guy but not enough to be considered brilliant. So it was the same with the erhu. I stayed with the primary school CO until primary six. The valuable takeaway from the five years was the opportunity to learn music, to read music and to appreciate music, tempo and melody. I also had a good grounding in being on stage and because of this experience (and also my training as a student councillor doing PA duties), till today I never get stage fright.
Also because my elder brother did, I joined the CO at Woodlands CC. I received additional coaching and more performing opportunities. The two instructors I had then encouraged me a lot to pursue the art but as I reached seconday school age, the lure of a more physical ECA attracted me and after a few months into secondary school, I quit CO entirely.
I had found the weekly training quite a chore and realised that whatever talent I had had reached its limit. It was to be the same when I picked up the piano when I was 25 years old. But that is another story.
I think I joined my primary school CO in primary 2. I was following in the footsteps of my elder brother; my mum also encouraged me to learn to play a musical instrument. My brother learned the di zi (Chinese flute), I had absolutely no affinity with the flute (you need to be able to form your lips in a certain way to emit sound from the bamboo) so I settled, or rather the teacher settled for me, for the er hu.
I had some talent in the erhu. In fact, in my whole life, in many things I have a bit more talent than the average guy but not enough to be considered brilliant. So it was the same with the erhu. I stayed with the primary school CO until primary six. The valuable takeaway from the five years was the opportunity to learn music, to read music and to appreciate music, tempo and melody. I also had a good grounding in being on stage and because of this experience (and also my training as a student councillor doing PA duties), till today I never get stage fright.
Also because my elder brother did, I joined the CO at Woodlands CC. I received additional coaching and more performing opportunities. The two instructors I had then encouraged me a lot to pursue the art but as I reached seconday school age, the lure of a more physical ECA attracted me and after a few months into secondary school, I quit CO entirely.
I had found the weekly training quite a chore and realised that whatever talent I had had reached its limit. It was to be the same when I picked up the piano when I was 25 years old. But that is another story.
12.7.09
The Legends of Drums
Mum very astutely bought these under-valued $2 tickets for a splendid 'drums' performance by The Percussion Assembly. Although the venue was a neighbourhood community club, the air conditioning was adequate and the quality of the performance was splendid. As the host himself declared, the standard of the amateur performers was near professional.
Furthermore, in additional to the performance, with the ticket, one gets a free buffet dinner. Thats why mum and dad looked so pleased! The only drawback was some of the aunties were still engrossed in their food when the performance began.
Parents with their friends.
Mum correctly answering a question and was rewarded with an NAC (National Arts Council) umbrella. The man on the right was the host of the concert Mr Quek Ling Kiong, Assistant Conductor of the Singapore Chinese Orchestra. Mr Quek interspersed the concert with nuggets of information of the various percussion instruments that were used, e.g. flat drum, vase drum and different techniques that can be employed to create vivid effects. For example, cymbals when clanged mutedly sound like ducks clacking. Cymbals can be struck and then thrown into the air to sound like firing of rocket-crackers.
Taking a shot with Ronald at his restaurant and also with mum's new umbrella. Times have improved. The CC in my childhood had one vending machine that dispensed Yeo's packet drinks for 40 cents.
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