Went out and blew S$209 on a vibram shoe. I had stopped running for more than two years after I felt I pulled my knee after a particularly exhaustive schedule of running, badminton and more badminton. Just before I stopped, I was running really well and enjoying my weekly exercise with my colleagues.
What changed for me today was reading the book Born to Run, and I identified with the author's notion that ad human beings we were designed to run, which was what our prehistoric ancestors had to do to hunt animals. It was the natural thing to do. What was unnatural and causing all our injuries was actually the heavily cushioned running shoes that modern technology gives us. In fact according to the book, the better the shoe, the more dangerous it is.
25.1.13
12.1.13
Down with viral infection
How the new year has begun does not bode well for me. I have been away almost two days a week; last week because of cough and sorethroat and this week for diarrhoea and viral infection.
Used the opportunity to reflect on how easy one's health can change, and really the meditation masters when they described how they persevered in their meditation when they are seriously sick, I must pay respect to them. I tried to hold on to "buddho" for a while but most of the the I just wanted to sleep or to use my iPad to distract the mind.
So much for 2 weeks of ordination! What Ajahn Keng said is so true, one must really 拼 especially when one is healthy and know the way to samadhi.
Used the opportunity to reflect on how easy one's health can change, and really the meditation masters when they described how they persevered in their meditation when they are seriously sick, I must pay respect to them. I tried to hold on to "buddho" for a while but most of the the I just wanted to sleep or to use my iPad to distract the mind.
So much for 2 weeks of ordination! What Ajahn Keng said is so true, one must really 拼 especially when one is healthy and know the way to samadhi.
17.6.11
Don't miss the chance to be filial.
There are two people you can never repay. What two? Your father and your mother. Even if you were to carry them on your back and live a hundred years, supporting them, anointing them with medicines, bathing and massaging their limbs and wiping up their excrement after them, even this would not repay them. Even if you were to give them absolute rule over the whole world, this would not repay them. And why? Because parents do much for their children - they bring them up, nourish them, they introduce them to the world.
But whoever encourages his unbelieving parents to believe, his immoral parents to be virtuous, his stingy parents to be generous, his foolish parents to be wise, such a one by so doing does repay, does more than repay his parents.
Anguttara Nikaya I.61
But whoever encourages his unbelieving parents to believe, his immoral parents to be virtuous, his stingy parents to be generous, his foolish parents to be wise, such a one by so doing does repay, does more than repay his parents.
Anguttara Nikaya I.61
5.7.10
Drive up Malaysia for durian
I drove up Malaysia with parents and S last Saturday. One objective was to enjoy durians in the town of Tangkak (near Segamat) but my personal objective was to stretch the legs of my 15 year old W124.
Dad surveying the old-town scene of Kluang, about 2 hours drive from Singapore.
Waiting for food to be served at the 'Lau Pa Sat' coffee shop in Kluang.
Row of W124s parked opposite the durian stall in Tangkak.
The Tangkak durian stall.
Satisfied looks after stuffing ourselves with high quality durians.
Here, we reached the Gunung Ledang Waterfall and Resort, just 6km away from the durian stall.
One of the many pools that locals are enjoying a dip in. We needed around 25 mins to reach this spot but one can actually reach the summit if he wants.
Dad surveying the old-town scene of Kluang, about 2 hours drive from Singapore.
Waiting for food to be served at the 'Lau Pa Sat' coffee shop in Kluang.
Row of W124s parked opposite the durian stall in Tangkak.
The Tangkak durian stall.
Satisfied looks after stuffing ourselves with high quality durians.
Here, we reached the Gunung Ledang Waterfall and Resort, just 6km away from the durian stall.
One of the many pools that locals are enjoying a dip in. We needed around 25 mins to reach this spot but one can actually reach the summit if he wants. 
14.6.10
Updates on Brown and White
Brown has been awakened earlier these days now that her daddy is motivated to bring her for early morning walks. She seems to like it though and wakes up without prompting once daddy is up and about. She has also taken to poo-ing during her walks probably because there are less people around and we know how fussy she is that no one should see her doing her business.
Yesterday, blood was observed in White's urine and she was rushed to the vet. Suspecting a urinal tract infection, antibiotics was prescribed. She was still in good spirits though and enjoyed vigorous tummy rubs. Tail was down most of the time after enduring a long 2km dogathon at East Coast Park.
Yesterday, blood was observed in White's urine and she was rushed to the vet. Suspecting a urinal tract infection, antibiotics was prescribed. She was still in good spirits though and enjoyed vigorous tummy rubs. Tail was down most of the time after enduring a long 2km dogathon at East Coast Park.
5.5.10
Smiling enough?
I was taking the lift down for lunch today. One person was telling his friend. Do you know that the greatest difference between a human and a animal is that a human have the ability to smile.....and most people are not using this ability enough.
Hmm...quite interesting, I thought, and I do agree that I see many sullen faces around.
Then, as I stepped out of the lift, I realised his statement is not entirely true.
My dog can smile as well!
Hmm...quite interesting, I thought, and I do agree that I see many sullen faces around.
Then, as I stepped out of the lift, I realised his statement is not entirely true.
My dog can smile as well!
3.5.10
White dog in brown dog's house
Brown monitoring White.
Group photo.
White enjoying her belly scratched. Middle child left out?
A couple of weeks ago during lunch, my colleagues (those with children) were debating whether it will be good to have 2 or 3 kids. It is the usual argument, one will be too lonely(for the kid), two seems just nice and three, the middle one will feel left out.
So I was there minding my own chicken (we were eating chicken rice!) because I am seriously not interested in all these talk on children.
Suddenly, one of them asked me, hey, since you were one of three kids, and the middle one, did you ever felt left out. Choking on my piece of chicken, and straining my brain to instantly unlock decades-old memories of childhood, I really cannot think of any incident. So I said no.
But this question was left lingering and the answer actually is yes. There were certain occasions I felt left out.
In my innocent childhood years, I always have this feeling that my mum doted more on my elder brother and my father liked my younger brother more.
But thankfully, my character is quite easy going and I found other avenues to channel my emotions for example in books and sports. I also had very good friends in school.
But on reflection, I have also been a difficult child. I grew extremely argumentative in secondary school and loathed housework so my mum was always scolding me. My dad has always been quiet but he could be very fierce at times. I always resented this and would antagonize him by being sarcastic. He always threatened to slap me but he never did.
Being a Buddhist, I would like to think that I have done something good in the 'past' and despite all my emotional challenges in my early years, I think I grew up rather normal and balanced! haha
I don't know whether it is karma, but as life would have it, my parents visit my place every week nowadays and this week when they are away travelling, I miss their company. It also seemed weird that they were not around for our weekly taiji lessons.
So I was there minding my own chicken (we were eating chicken rice!) because I am seriously not interested in all these talk on children.
Suddenly, one of them asked me, hey, since you were one of three kids, and the middle one, did you ever felt left out. Choking on my piece of chicken, and straining my brain to instantly unlock decades-old memories of childhood, I really cannot think of any incident. So I said no.
But this question was left lingering and the answer actually is yes. There were certain occasions I felt left out.
In my innocent childhood years, I always have this feeling that my mum doted more on my elder brother and my father liked my younger brother more.
But thankfully, my character is quite easy going and I found other avenues to channel my emotions for example in books and sports. I also had very good friends in school.
But on reflection, I have also been a difficult child. I grew extremely argumentative in secondary school and loathed housework so my mum was always scolding me. My dad has always been quiet but he could be very fierce at times. I always resented this and would antagonize him by being sarcastic. He always threatened to slap me but he never did.
Being a Buddhist, I would like to think that I have done something good in the 'past' and despite all my emotional challenges in my early years, I think I grew up rather normal and balanced! haha
I don't know whether it is karma, but as life would have it, my parents visit my place every week nowadays and this week when they are away travelling, I miss their company. It also seemed weird that they were not around for our weekly taiji lessons.
29.4.10
Locked Out
I was locked out of my own house yesterday night for one hour.
Admittedly, I was quite upset because it was almost 10pm, and I was tired and sleepy and I have not had my beer! S had to bear the brunt of my unhappiness.
Whilst waiting for the house keys to be fetched, I spent an irritable hour lying on a slab of concrete 'wall' at the void deck, inviting suspicious stares from nighbours walking to the lift lobby. Thankfully for army training, I can balance myself very well while lying down (face up) on the wall only 30cm wide.
The Guiness foreign extra did its work wonderfully after I got into my house later though. I did not have too much time to enjoy its taste as my bedtime beckoned.
Conclusion? I think I am a little stressed from work.
Admittedly, I was quite upset because it was almost 10pm, and I was tired and sleepy and I have not had my beer! S had to bear the brunt of my unhappiness.
Whilst waiting for the house keys to be fetched, I spent an irritable hour lying on a slab of concrete 'wall' at the void deck, inviting suspicious stares from nighbours walking to the lift lobby. Thankfully for army training, I can balance myself very well while lying down (face up) on the wall only 30cm wide.
The Guiness foreign extra did its work wonderfully after I got into my house later though. I did not have too much time to enjoy its taste as my bedtime beckoned.
Conclusion? I think I am a little stressed from work.
28.4.10
Enlistment
Cousin JL will be enlisting in a few months time and he is not a whee bit concerned, like I was in my time. Why? Because he has been medically downgraded.
I still remember my enlistment day, the images of climbing up the three-tonner, of glancing at my parents sitted and waving at me, picking up the ali baba bag, waiting for the hair-cut, waiting at the range for shooting practice, of many punishments (especially one change parade I was responsible for for reporting back camp late), a female sergeant screaming obscenities at us, the same female sergeant making me 'knock-it-down' when I offered to give her a hand going down a steep slope, of having an emergency pee session while firing blanks in the midst of tall lalang somewhere in Lim Chun Kang, of being estatically happy when I chanced upon a secondary school friend who was also involved in training in Lim Chu Kang .... the list goes on.
In a way, I am sorry that JL will not be having the FULL NS experience, though I doubt very much he will mind.
I still remember my enlistment day, the images of climbing up the three-tonner, of glancing at my parents sitted and waving at me, picking up the ali baba bag, waiting for the hair-cut, waiting at the range for shooting practice, of many punishments (especially one change parade I was responsible for for reporting back camp late), a female sergeant screaming obscenities at us, the same female sergeant making me 'knock-it-down' when I offered to give her a hand going down a steep slope, of having an emergency pee session while firing blanks in the midst of tall lalang somewhere in Lim Chun Kang, of being estatically happy when I chanced upon a secondary school friend who was also involved in training in Lim Chu Kang .... the list goes on.
In a way, I am sorry that JL will not be having the FULL NS experience, though I doubt very much he will mind.
Little White Dog visiting
Snowy (I call her Little White Dog) is staying over at our place for a week as Ben and parents are travelling to Hokkaido. Dana, aka Little Brown Dog, is a little concerned and quite jealous. So S and I have to be careful that the two little dogs do not end up fighting, not that they will actually.
S has also being kept busy, preparing their meals, and monitoring their small and big businesses. It has also made my life a but more exciting, as I have another dog belly to scratch.
Separately, I am happy for parents that they have an opportunity to visit Japan with Ben and LL accompanying. And it is sakura season, it will be beautiful!
S has also being kept busy, preparing their meals, and monitoring their small and big businesses. It has also made my life a but more exciting, as I have another dog belly to scratch.
Separately, I am happy for parents that they have an opportunity to visit Japan with Ben and LL accompanying. And it is sakura season, it will be beautiful!
17.3.10
24.2.10
Lessons from Korean Drama
S and I have recently taken to watch the 7pm Korean Drama on Channel U. In brief, the protaganist Encai was ousted from her marriage by her best friend Aili and left to drown by her husband. Miraculously, she survived and plotted her revenge against the two by taking on another identity. Thankfully, Aunt Sherry has the DVD and we shortened our agony of catching the one-hour daily offerings and went straight to the last two episodes.
In the show, Aili is a character that is extremely cunning and evil, endlessly dreaming up schemes for her own selfish needs without caring about others. Encai and the rest of the innocent parties naturally hated her.
(Do not continue reading if you are still watching the show!)
Towards the very end, Aili realised that she can terminal cancer and for the welfare of her only son, she repented and begged those whom she had plotted against to take care of her son. And they did.
In a way, as ludicrous as the plot and the end may sound, it mimics real life pretty well. When we are alive and healthy, reflecting about our own mistakes is very difficult. The mother of one of the characters said "The best time to quieten down and reflect on oneself is when you are sick, weak and stuck in a hospital bed."
However, in real life, human beings can be even tougher nuts to crack. One of my uncles never forgave my grandfather over a past incident, did not see him for decades, and refused to even attend his funeral. This saddened us greatly. I feel sad for him too because now that grandfather has passed away, the chance to say sorry has also gone.
In the show, Aili is a character that is extremely cunning and evil, endlessly dreaming up schemes for her own selfish needs without caring about others. Encai and the rest of the innocent parties naturally hated her.
(Do not continue reading if you are still watching the show!)
Towards the very end, Aili realised that she can terminal cancer and for the welfare of her only son, she repented and begged those whom she had plotted against to take care of her son. And they did.
In a way, as ludicrous as the plot and the end may sound, it mimics real life pretty well. When we are alive and healthy, reflecting about our own mistakes is very difficult. The mother of one of the characters said "The best time to quieten down and reflect on oneself is when you are sick, weak and stuck in a hospital bed."
However, in real life, human beings can be even tougher nuts to crack. One of my uncles never forgave my grandfather over a past incident, did not see him for decades, and refused to even attend his funeral. This saddened us greatly. I feel sad for him too because now that grandfather has passed away, the chance to say sorry has also gone.
3.1.10
2.1.10
Parents march in at wedding vows renewal ceremony
Mum and Dad signed up for a wedding vows renewal ceremony presided over by Minister Lim Boon Heng. Here's a video showing my happy parents during the march-in.
The video below shows Mum and Dad receiving their certificate from Minister Lim Boon Heng. Mum was lookoing out for our family photographer ie Ben that she forgot there were official photographers -- they had to wave to get her attention!
More photos from the lovely event:
16.12.09
My own journey with bilingualism
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.
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!"
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