South Africa

Today I have a lady customer from South Africa, she was here in Singapore for 3 days and will be going to stay in Australia for 1 months. She is migrating to Australia as soon as she settle her business in South Africa.

She was born in South Africa, she has Guest House business there. Her husband own a Guest House business before their marriage, she has another Guest House called her own eventually. They have built up the business 20 years together. One Guest House has grown from 5 bedroom to 18 bedroom, accomplished with shopping area, restaurant, and swimming pool. She love South Africa, so why they want to sell away their business and migrate to another strange land?

She said, nowaday, the South Africa government ruled that the white people has to give away 3-5% of their company shares to the native black, and let them involved in their business, otherwise, they can't run the business. Because the black think that what belong to the white should belong to the black.

She was very upset about the changes in this ruling. She said this is their own business they have built from scatch. When she was young, her family was very poor. She felt the ruling is not fair and it is the black discriminate the white rather vice versa. She said nowadays, a lot of white are considering moving out of South Africa.

She managed to sell away her business for 3.5 millions. She said they took almost 1 years to get the approval from the Australian government.
The Australian government welcome either talented people or wealthy people to settle in Australia. They don't have talent, but they have 1.3 millions Australian dollars for investment, they are qualified. They applied and waited for the approval for almost 1 year. She estimated from application, selling their business in South Africa, and finally settle in Australia, will take about 2 years. They intend to travel around Australia for at least 6 months before they will decide what business to take.

She wanted to buy an apartment for her daughter, and then, they will buy an apartment for themself.

Although her future still very bright, but what I see in her now : she is angry and sad. But live still has to move on............................

The myth of vinegar

Two days ago, I have dinner with a friend in a vegetalian restaurant at Smith Street in China Town. After dinner, we chat for a while with the lady boss of the restaurant. I forgot what we chat, eventually she mentioned that she had visited a friend in the India hospital. In the hospital, she saw 2 girls have the big tummy. These 2 girls don't know how but got the leech staying in thier tummy. The leech has been growing eggs and baby in the tummy. The doctor did not dare to do the operation on the girl. They are left in the hospital until their time to die. One girl has died. Another girl was lucky because a Malaysian asked permission from her parents and brought her back to Malaysia and used the Chinese Traditional method to treat her since death is the only option in her local hospital.

She and her family members arrived in Malaysia. This man used the chinese herb and vinegar to burn and let the smoke passed through her anus, and she was asked to drink the vinegar as well. She eventually past out all the leech from her stomach.

The lady boss told us, whenever she went to India, she will go to doctor to get a preventive injection. During and after the trip, we will drink a lot of vinegar to clean and clear the possible virus and worm which she might have infected or caught.

I want to write this story down, so that whenever, we caught any virus which can't even cured by the doctor, we will at least try out vinegar, it might works, who's know!

Durian Tour to JB

On 12 August 08 Straits Times has introduced the Durian Tour to JB from June to August. I have to take this down so that next time if I want, I will know where to go.

Tour Agency : Chan Brothers Travel (Tel: 65336119)
Luxury Tours ( 67332808)
Maxpac Travel (67848568)

Itinary :

• Visit to a durian plantation which near the town of Tangkak in Ledang district, to sample unlimited portions of durians and other seasonal fruits
• Shopping at Aeon Tebrau City mall in JB
• Seafood dinner

Fees: $53 for an adult, $47 for a child

By air-conditioned coach

Garden Festival in Singapore

I have visited the Garden exhibition in Suntec City on 25 July 08. The admission fee during weekend is S$12/- instead of S$6/- during the week day. Although all the master piece are nice, I don't understand why I feel bored when I browsing the 2 halls. I only took a few pictures for memories of the trip.

This is the wall decor from one of the great design of Garden.

This is the stand for Green Culture Singapore - Singapore's No 1 Gardening Website & Discussion Forum. I have taken notes of how they use the natural or cut paper leave to decor the boring wall.

Their web is http://www.greenculturesg.com/ GCS is more of an interest group of hobbyists with a cyberspace presence and they ranked the #1 website in the Lifestyle - House and Garden category for 2007 by Hitwise. People with great interest in gardening or plant, this site should be able offer a lot of very practical advice and knownledge. You must visit this site if you love to grow somethings.

Hanging the big leaves on the wooden fan with some garden light is very nice too.

Special floral design on the wall with some crystal hanging with the ribbon.

This design use the difference glass colour shade to create the very attractive and special effect regarless of days or night.

Do you know where to take a romantic Dinner Cuisine in the Garden set up in Singapore? One of the place to go is Halia, their address is 1 Cluny Road, Ginger Garden, (enter via Tyersall Avenue) Singapore Botanic Gardens, Phone : 65-64766711

The Floriculture Association (Singapore) at 3 Coleman St, #03-16 Peninsula Hotel Shopping Centre Tel: 63386194 offer Certificate WSQ Courses for Gift, Corsage, Hamper, Bouquet, Arrangement, Wedding, Venue, Funeral, Celebration, Display, Image etc.

The official launch of the WSQ Floristry will be on 13 Sept 08 at Toa Payoh Town Park.

Their web site is http://http://www.tropifame.net/ This website seems to be stilll under construction till date. You can check again later.

Forever Living

On 1st week of July, I saw an advertisement to enage part time beautician, and it stated that they will allow the sucessful candidate to enjoy subsidies for the facial training course.

I called and they tried to fix an appointment with me. I stopped at Clarke Quay MRT station, and exit by B exit, cross the road, then I saw the Forever Living Building right in front. The young man waited for me at the traffic light in front of their building. In my heart I think, another MLM!



Forever Living has bought this historical building for 1 billion dollars four years ago. I remembered I ever came to this building one evening, it was convented from hospital to a disco place then.



Frankly, I think this historical building is under a good hand of Forever Living.

They offer me a 25 hours beauty couse for S$599/- and I can buy 13 items of the skin care products at the cost of S$99/-. The actual value of the 13 items is about S$400++ if buying at retail price. Because I wanted to learn facial for a long time, so I decised to sign up for it. The other considerations included

• I wanted to tape on their marketing skill and support.
• The company has been around for 30 years, that's means their products has been proven for 30 years. From my own experience, I might not like MLM, but I can not denise that MLM products are usually good, special and exclusive.
• I might able to have a salon set up in my house.
• Their products costs are very attractive and reasonable.
• This is a rich company. The company has brought the heritage 100 years old building for 1 billion dollars. It is always good, able to stick to someone rich and wealthy.
• Since their brand has been established worldwide 78 countries, I think it will be easy to do sales just mention their brand. The customers will not question me on the quality and branding problems.

I never thought I will have any success in MLM, but I don't mind keep on learning somethings new from others.

Crab

That day, I was doing the foot reflexology for a European couples. They have just finished their three and a half hours buffet lunch in Raffles City Hotel. They said the foods were so nice that they could not resist but just eat and eat. When they talk about our Chilli crab from Sri Lanka, they mentioned they have eaten the gaint Japanese crab, and the long claw Alaska crab. Frankly, I did not know all these, this is the first time I heard about Alaska and the Japanese crab. So, I check the google, these are what I found.

Canadian King's crab

Alaska King's Crab

Learning to do Home Cook Pizza

On 11 July (Fri) I attended a 1day Italian CuisineWorkshop Recipe by Mrs Jambu at Kampong Kembangan Community Club. She is a good cook, after the lesson, I think I can make Pizza by myself. The following is the recipe.

Italian Pizza
Ingredients :
300 grams Bread Flour
8 grams sugar
24 grams shortening
1 tsp Yeast (dry yeast)
240ml water

Topping - Ingredients :
250 grams Grated Mozzarella cheese
1 tomato sliced thick
1 big Onion -ring
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 small can pineapple
1 small can small can mushroom sliced
1 can Tuna fish

Method :

• Place flour on a clean table and make a well


• In the well mix salt, sugar, shortening and yeast


• Add water slowly and mix to form dough


• Knead well until smooth and elastic


• Divide dough into two


• Coated with shortening then cover and rest for 10 mins


• Re-knead and place the rolled dough into the baking tray


• Before resting for 10 mins, using a fork to prick holes before baking


• Pre-bake in the oven at temperature 180 degree C for 10 to 15 mins


• Spread sauce and gamish with topping


• Grill until golden brown using top grill

For Sauce - Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp Olive Oil


• 1 can tomato paste + 1 tbsp of water


• 200 grams Tomato (Chopped)


• 50-100 grams sun dried tomatoes


• 2 tbsp chili sauce or 1 tsp chili powder


• 3 cloves Chopped garlic


• 50 grams chopped Onion


• 1 tsp Vinegar


• 1 tsp Sugar


• 1/2 tbsp Oregano


• 1/2 tsp Salt

Method :

1. Saute onion and tomato paste, add in all the sauce and spices


2. Cook for 1-2 mins, add chopped Tomato (add a little water if required) Cook until thicken.


3. Cool 0 then spread on the cooked dough


4. Place topping and grill until golden brown

Plastic surgery

My friends have sent their twin for plastic surgery for their jaw before they serve their National Service. The operation was done in Mount Elizebeth Hospital. Each operation cost more than 20K. After the operation, the boys can chew their food better than before. Their look have become more attractive. The result of the operations are very positive except the money has spent. These lucky boys must thankful to their parents for their sacrify and willingness to part this sum of money for the better of their future.

Boy No 1 , before the operation.

Boy No 1, after the operation. The boy immediate transformed to a handsome and smart looking boy.

Boy No 2, before the operation.

Boy No 2, after the operation. Once again, the maggic of the plastic surgery. No pain no gain.

Tibet

I have picked up this leaflet from a vegetablian food store. Its content said like these.

"the goal is autonomy not independence www.dalailama.com be anti-violence not anti-China :Respond to anger with patience and compassion inspire yourself: Read up on Gandhi and Martin Luther King from ordinary to extraordinary : Write to your President, United Nations Commission for Human Rights and your local embassies to press for dialogue, genuine autonomy & transparency compassion in action: Dialogue with any company that trades with China to insist on human rights small action big result : Support email campaigns and petitions. www.avaaz.com be the change you wish to see in the world : Peace starts with just one person. Dedicate one hour a month to stand up for Tibet until Tibet is autonomous keys to happiness : Practice the 16 Guidelines for a Happy and Meaningful life. www.16guidelines.com do something positive : Dedicate 10 minutes daily to world peace remember you vitamins : Recite the Sutra of Golden Light for world peace www.sutraofgoldenlight.org accountability plan : 'Every individual has a responsibility to help guide our global family in the right direction : - H.H. The Dalai Lama take action now : Start your own non-violent "Stand up for Tibet" campaign. Tell us about it at info@standupfortibet.org"

Frankly, the moment we pick up the paper, my friend and I are wondering, what is the difference between autonomy and independence. We guess independence means "no government", autonomy means still has "government". Any way, we are very poor in the history, we don't know what is the history between the Tibet and the China, just like we still don't quite know what is the story about the World War I and World War II.

We are more concern about the cyclone victims in Burma. No matter what we still think that Olympic Game should not be disturbed. It is Sport after all.

Reading Habit

Look at this family! The moment this family on board this MRT, after setting down on the seat, without second thought every one of them took out their book and read in the MRT. You see them so engross in their reading. Their big sister even standing without the seat also read.

I was seating just next to their parents. I heard the father discuss or highlighted some points from the bible enrichment book with the mother. They didn't waste any time in the MRT. Reading is so natural to them.

Nail Studio

Last Saturday, my friend has an grand opening of her Nail Studio at People's Park Complex, on 3rd Floor above the hawker centre. I think this hawker center has just gone through the renovation work. This place used to be the shopping center of the older generation. After the renovation, this place looks very promising to be the next shopping location for the younster like Far East Plaza, and the Bugis Village. The addition of the escalator and the location is above the MRT station, made this place seems has very bright future though not many people has known about this "new" place yet partly also because the exterior wall has not changed.

There is lion dance and buffet lunch for more than 30 relatives and friends. My friend took over this place from a lady who successfully tender the 2 units, got the place and after the renovation, then got pregnant and then realised that she was not capable to run the studio because she could not stand the smell of the Acrylic nail.

Their friends not only sent them flowers, they came for the service and at the same time buy the package from them, very supportive. Their social network is very good.

This place got very high ceiling. My friend install a beautiful crystalised lighting. They also installed 2 aircon, I think the monthly electricity will be very high. The nail dryer is about 300W, it is not 50W like fan! The total area of this place is about 400 sq ft. This shop renting from HDB direct does not mean cheap rent. It is about the same price as you rent a shop at Lucky Plaze in Orchard Road. I believed my entrepreuner friend are able to do a prosperous business here.

I like this picture that adhered to the front door. The tip of the nail is the design of the US dollars, very creative.

Very simple painting and lighting, without any blockage and the black and white setting made this place very cosy.

The 2 tables for the nail station. They install an computer there so that they can serving the net while in the shop. This computer keep the children present there from their bordom. The pictures at the wall were specially ordered from OPI from the States, cost S$28/each.
The entrance and the cashier counter. Behind the counter are four seats for the Padicure and Manicure. This place has no water output in the unit. They overcome the problem by getting a mobile barrel like the picture below and a big container that contain all the waste water, very brilliant.

Behind this wall is the small storage place to put the staff handbags, water supplies, tea preparation area. The colour scheme and the 风水 (the feng shui) was follow the advice of their paster from the Thai temple. Their paster came to pray for them that evening.

How to install and type Chinese characters (Window XP)

我总于可以电 脑打字了。

Thanks to the Geylang Methodist Primary School. The school just started using computer learning at home scheme, so they give their student a step by step installation guide so that the students able to key in the Chinese character for the chinese assisgnment. I have been trying to type Chinese character using computer but don't know how to fix it for many many years. Now then I see how (Really never take things for granted). I really appreciate the effort of the teacher. The setting is as follow.

1. Go to Control Panel
2. Regional and Language Options
3. Click : Language
4. Tick : Install Files for East Asian Languages to install the Chinese files.
5. After step 4, click Details
6. Go to setting, then click Add
7. Input Language : Chinese PRC
8. Keyboard Layout/IME: Microsoft Pinyin IME 2003/Microsoft Pinyin IME 3.0
9. Now you can type Chinese in any software. When you are typing, you can press shift+Alt to switch between English and Chinese. You can also click Language icon below your windows to switch.

How to type faster? (For Microsoft Pinyin IME 3.0 only)
1. Open Microsoft Word
2. Use your mouse points to the Language icon
3. Right click open the menu and choose Restore the language bar
4. Switch to Chinese PRC
5. Go to Context menu, then Properties
6. Tick Prompt Step by Step, incomplete input, Fussy input. Then click OK.

Noble price nomination for this giant fan?

First time I ever seen such a giant fan! This fan is installed inside the Bugis Village, at the centre of the mall. The length of each leaf at least 3m long. It helps to circulate the air inside this congested mall. You feel cool when you are inside the mall in the dame hot day. I believed the electricity consumption of this fan is a lot cheaper than the air conditioning. The fan allows the open concept of the mall. If it is air conditioning the whole place, the mall has to be closed up. So, I feel strongly that the designer of this gaint fan should be awarded some kind of innovative award. The team should be commanded and rewarded. Great design! Hope to see more of the creative design!





This is the packaging design from Japan. Japanese always take great pain to design their packaging. Look at this box, it has the shape of peanut, it is actually the biscuit inside wrap with red bean paste. The biscuit is the design of giant peanut. It is great to be a gift when you return from Japan.

Blue Collar

Today I talked to an aunty whom come for foot reflexology, I noticed she got a tough muscle, she said she works as freelance house keeper. She has about 13 clients, she don't have to do any advertisement, as she is a responsible house keeper, their existing clients just refer her to another house. She works 5 days week, from morning 9 am to evening 5pm, she average working 3 hours in one house, they give her S$50/- for the 3 hours work. She cleans the house, washes the cloths, irons the cloths........... some times her client will ask her to clean the fish tank, and pay her another S$50/-. She average go 2 to 3 houses a day. Imagine if she goes 2 houses, she will get paid S$100/-, if she works for 3 houses, she will be paid for S$150/-. She is capable of earning S$2000-S$3000/per month. Although it is an hard work, she is better off than many white collar workers.

I met another freelance Lock Smiths. I asked him to change the locks for my Aluminium door, for less than 1 hour job, I pay him S$75/- including material cost and the installation cost. He seems receiving many calls for his services. I won't be surprised if he made S$3000/- per month. He probably has to drive a car or ride a motorbike for the house to house call islandwide.

I know of one handicapped mouth painter. He was paralysised due to car accident in 1992. The doctor cut the nerve connection so that he won't feel the pain. He used to be working with a oil plantation, he learned mouth painting after he recovered from his accident. He enaged a trained nurse from Philiphine to look after him, I think this nurse has now become his wife now. They come to Lucky Plaza for Indonesian food quite often. That shows they are quite ok financially.

What I want to say is people who fail in acadamic acheivement doesn't mean it's the end of the road. They can make a decent earning as long as they are willing to learn and be hardworking. Poverty is not possible if you possess the quality of continuous learning and working deligently.

Pretending I don't know you

Recently, I pumped into a few guys in my neighbourhood, and they were all pretending they either didn't see me or they don't know me. I associated with these men when they were in their 30th and when I was in my 20th. I am 45 this year, they must be in their 50-60th. No though, these men had grew a lot of grey hair now, but they still had the look. I am sure they know who I am, but they just looked away from my sight, and didn't want to have the direct eyes contact with me. I also don't have the energy to renew the friendship with them frankly. So, I also look away some way.

Ever since I started my soul searching journey, I also don't want to meet up my relatives and old friends. I just go work and home to look after my children. And I tried to work and work and work.................. no social life, no recreatation, no other activity except learning and working.....

May be I will change when I am more and more stabilise financially. One of my "tow gay"(big boss) friend who run a factory in Dubai offer me to visit Dubai with free meal and accomodation, so that I can tour in this up and coming country, and see what business I or we can do. I also not cabable of buying a ticket and just go. I don't know what have I missed..................... now and future.

"Virture Courting" Love in the air

Yesterday I spoke to a Phillipino girl. She said she has recently came to know a white young man who is undergoing pirate training in Glam. Her Phillipino friend who is happened to be his coursemate introduce this handsome young trainee to her.

What they do is they chat through the internet with the video camera on so that they can see each other while they are chatting. They do one thing further by they let the video camera on for the whole night, so that the boy can watch her when she is sleeping.

They enjoy the company of each other since both left their home land to another foreign land for career and for training. Two lonely heart find the comfort of speaking to each other.

This is the new age of love affair, amazing right!

"Killzone"

The original painting from "killzone".

This picture was drawn by my son by copying the above printing using "Paint". He spent almost a week to complete this picture. Everyday, he spent sometime to edit the picture.

He always asks me for animation programe. I don't think I can afford an original animation programe for him, unless he can find a sponsor!

The pink swim suite for men

I love to watch the show "Appentics" which was showed on every Sunday on Channel 5 at 11pm. The Appentics are group into 2 teams. They are given 14 projects over the 14 weeks periods. Every week there will be winning team and the lossing team. The winning team will enjoy a lot of fined things in life. For the lossing team, some members from the lossing team will be sent to the boardroom to let Mr Trumpt decide who will be out of the game, and out of the coperate race.

Last Sunday show that 2 teams were asked to design the swim suites, they will put up a stage in the beach, and the team will show case their swim suites through cat walk. The team that sell the most swim suites will be the winning team, and the team that collect the less order is the lossing team.

At the end of the show, the winning team win about 1000 US dollars of sales. Some things like 19000++ versa 20000++.

When came to the boardroom, the data revealed that the lossing team only sold about 3 men's wear, with the sales of about US$300++. The reason of lossing was due to the men's wear. So, who supposed to responsible for the failing design?

They argued that one of the reasons was the pink swimming trunk like the one above contribute to the failure. Another reason was the tight design, as not many men has the nice buttock to wear the suite.

At the end, Mr Trumpt gave the pink trunk to the guy who design the men's wear and sent that guy home because he insisted that pink trunk is alright with men.

The Privileged Customers

I attended an marketing course today. There was one session we touched on the privileges customers or rather how the difference big coperations treat their privileges customers. The tropical company is not other than SQ (Singapore Airlines). Some one shared their experience with SQ. Once this privileges customers of SQ has some urgent matter at home, needed to return back to Singapore urgently from Taiwan. He called the SQ hotline. The operator said," sorry we are fully booked!" As usual, this man started to demand for it. The operator asked, " Sir, are you the member of XXXXXX card?" Once he confirmed he is the member, the operator said, " Give me a moment....." and after checking the computer, he come back and confirmed that, "Sir, we can confirm you will have a seat in economical class to fly home by tomorrow. We will check for you if there is any business class......"

Well, when said about SQ, someone shared another story. Once, a maid and a businessman were flying by SQ in 2 separate days. The maid supposed to leave one day before the master. On that day, the SQ was overbooked and needed to off load some passengers. The maid was asked to delay till the next day flight. She was compensated S$500/- cash and the next day, she was placed seated in the business class. Don't you think it is great to be off loaded by SQ!

Things you need to know going to Italian restaurant

Lately chat with a friend working as an full time waitress in an established Italian Restaurant. Their Restaurant has the following figure.

• They don't serve cold water, all drink has to be purchased.
• They actually serve hot water, but the waitress is reframed from telling to the customer or offer the hot water to the customer.
• The serving is very small portion.
• They have 10% service charges plus 7% GST charges. They have one more charges apply to the people who come alone, don't know what is the term of the charges.
• If you bring along with own wine for celerbration, they will charge S$30/- service charges for let you use their glasses for the wine.
• If you bring along your own cake for celerbration, they will charge S$25/- for cutting the cake and services during the weekday, and S$30/- during the weekend.
• Their weekday set meal is about S$28/per person.
• During the weekend, they insist the customer has to place order for at least S$50/per person A la cart. No sharing of food is encourage here.
• During the special occasion like valentime day, per person has to order at least S$80/-.
• During the pick hour, if you want to come here just for the desert, forget it because no desert order will be taken.
• Any thing put on the table, you better ask before you eat, because all peanuts on the table are chargeable.

A lot of customers walk out from the restaurant due to any of the reasons above. The average they lost about 9 to 10 customers a day.

After the chat, I learned one thing....ie don't take things for granted. Like bringing your own cake and you think it is none of the other business. You are wrong in this place. Better ask before you are broke.