Travel: Phuket Trip (31st March - 3rd April 2010)

This is Boon.

I am most comfortable when I am in my slipper.

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Waiting Happily @ Lobby of Burasari Hotel

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It is a boutique hotel which is featured as one of the special hotels of the world.

It is quite good (location, service, deco) and the price is reasonable. I would recommend my friends to stay there.

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The Room...

Yesh, there is a see-through bathroom.

The interesting thing is that the blind is controlled outside the bathroom, hence, putting the person in the bathroom in a more vulnerable position. haha....

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Self-Reflection

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Good Breakfast.

We were enjoying ourselves. =)

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Day-Bed on the balcony of the room

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Patong Beach

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Time for Suntanning!

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Relax Relax.

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There were a few topless ladies - One Granny with Sagging Breasts strolling slowly with confidence (While her figure was not exactly nice, but I was impressed by her self-confidence).

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Next Day: Diving

Diving with http://www.thailand-divers.com/

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The previous day, I went to a few dive shops and chose the most expensive one- 4635baht (S$203) for a full-day trip with 3 dives to Phi Phi Don. The rationale was simple: Other shops was operated by Thai people and the price was slightly cheaper only. And this operator is endorsed by the National Geographic.

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Lower Deck

Upper Deck

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Diving with R again.

The last time R dived was back in Sep'02, when we were 2nd-year undergraduate & took the open-water diving course together. Hahaha...

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It was the most comfortable dive trip I ever had. There was free supply of COLD can drinks and water, food and fruits, coffee, milo, tea...  The lunch was simple, yet very delicious. If you wanna suntan or enjoy the wind, you can go to the upper deck. If you wanna have air-conditioned room, go the the lower deck. Well, most people stay in the upper deck.

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I did not need to bring anything or assemble my equipment (unlike my previous dive trips). I just went to the lower deck, put on the equipment and jump into the sea. After each dive, I just left the equipment on the lower deck, and the Thai crew would just change my tank for the next dive. It was so good!!!

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The dive-masters were professional and they came from different parts of the world. My dive-master was a 20-year Swedish dude, and there were only 3 of us attached to him. That is a good ratio (normally, it is 1 dive-master to 6pax).

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Freedom!!!

Awww....

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Jumping Shoot

(The fellow diver must thinking I was mad!)

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Island near Ko Phi Phi Don

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I did not see any big fishes, but I saw my first sea-snake (which was more venomous than any land snakes)!!! No big creatures, but the underwater "landscape" is Beautiful.... =)

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On the second dive site, there were alot of translucent pink/white jellyfish near the surface of the water. While I was ascending to the surface, it was a beautiful sight to see so many jellyfish dancing and moving gracefully. However, there was a price a pay for such a beautiful sight. We were all stung by the jellyfishes when we were floating at the surface. It was not a pleasant experience, nevertheless, it was a new experience. 

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Happy

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Bangla Street in Phuket.

This picture captured the nightlife of Phuket - Chaotic, Sleezy, Loud, Colourful...

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Colours

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Thai-inspired Jumping Shoot @ Patong

after a good Thai Massage

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SEAFOOD Dinner!!!

It tasted really good.... It was opened by a Greek man who had a Thai girlfriend/wife.

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Patong Area

Shopping Time!!

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T-Shirts

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HE was feeling green,

But it was a great short trip for me.

Thanks HF, LY, K & R for being such a great company.

I am just lucky....

I met HY (Nepal Travelmate) just now, and we were talking about our friends in Nepal. Then, I remembered that Jeevan (one of our porters) called me a couple weeks ago, I did not pick up as I was busy at work and I forgot to call him back. 

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On the way home, I was thinking about Jeevan's current situation - He should be in the beautiful but freezing Himalayas now. He might be waiting patiently at Lukla airport for any available job as porter. As a porter, there is no job security - he does not know if he will get a job for the next few days. If he is lucky, he will get a job and he would be carrying the luggage of trekkers for 14days, hopefully, the trekkers would tip him well at the end. If he is not feeling well, he cannot go on medical leave. May be he might continue to be a porter for next 10 years if he is still fit and healthy, but what will happen if he fall sick or get old?

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I am on a high spirit today, as I am flying to Phuket tomorrow for a short holiday. I will be diving, staying in nice hotel by the beach, eating good food, getting Thai massage etc... When I think of Jeevan, I started to feel the unfairness of life. I am not wealthy, but I have seen quite abit of the world and life is comfortable. Life has been good.

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If I am in Jeevan's shoe, could I break out of the poverty cycle? Unlikely, I would be helpless, and it takes alot of effort.

What have I done to deserve all these good things in life? I don't know. 

Am I very smart? Not really.

Am I very hardworking? Not really.

Am I lucky? Yes.

I am just lucky, and I am feeling grateful for it.

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 I am not just thinking about Jeevan, but also other wonderful people I have met while traveling.

May be in the eyes of many people, I am already living in paradise.

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From Top-left-clockwise:

Jeevan's Golden Teeth; Group Jumping shoot; Acting cool; Dancing to Nepali Music in a Pub @ 2800m; Playing "Heart Attack".

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We did not treat him as a porter,but as a friend. We invited them (Guides & Porters) to eat together, to play games together and shared the chocolate & sunblock with them. We really had so much fun. At the last day, Jeevan was wiping away tears when we bid farewell.

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Not sure if we will meet again.

Knowing that he is a good person, I sure hope my friend find happiness and peace in life.

=)

RIP Ben Mok - Cyclist

Taken from: http://cyclinginsingapore.blogspot.com/2010/03/rip-benjamin-mok.html

ONE of two cyclists knocked down in Clementi on Sunday night by a suspected drink-driver died in hospital yesterday from head injuries. Freelance writer Benjamin Mok Chee Kong, 35, never regained consciousness after the accident. ..... A close friend, Mr Nic Mok, 23, said the cyclist was very particular about road safety and had always insisted on wearing full safety gear such as helmet and gloves, and having front and rear lights when on the road. 'I was distraught when I heard the news. It was shocking because he is usually very cautious,' he added.

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+++

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I was really sadden to read this news. I do not know Ben Mok, but being a fellow cyclist, I could understand the danger of cycling in Singapore. Despite being cautious and mindful of the traffic rule, cycling on Singapore Road is still dangerous. There are just too many reckless and inconsiderate drivers around.

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I never cycle at night, as there are too many f**king irresponsible drunk drivers around. Ben Mok had a bright future ahead, apparently he was going back to US to do his Phd. It is such a waste.
His blog: http://pedaldamnit.blogspot.com/
Memorial Link: http://www.benmokpedalon.com/

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Please do not drink and drive.

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Life is so impermanent and unpredictable.

May he rest in peace.

2010 Aviva Ironman 70.3 Singapore Triathlon

Yes, I have done it.

I did not finish in a good time, but I have completed it and I am happy about it.

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One year ago during 2009 Aviva Ironman 70.3 Singapore Triathlon, I was practicing my swim (around 1km) at Queenstown Swimming Complex, and I said to my friends that it was quite crazy to do half-ironman. I am a weak swimmer, I bought my bike 1 year ago, and I am an average runner. It was a daunting task for me, but with some trainings & perseverance, it is a good feeling to know that I can do it too.

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My Preparation

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Transition Area

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Race Statistics:

• Of the 1,396 entries for the Aviva Ironman 70.3 Singapore, there are 465 Singaporeans and 1,018 athletes representing 60 other countries.

• A total of 61 nations are represented with Hong Kong, Australia, the UK and US, and Japan, Philippines, Malaysia and the UAE very strong in numbers.

• 86% of the field are male with 14% female.

• The most popular age group category for both women is 35-39 (33 women) and 40-44 for men with 272 competitors.

• The oldest competitors are Japan’s Kazuharu Tsujii (Male 74 years) and Australia’s Pamela Williams (Female 57 years)

• The youngest competitors are Singapore’s Siew Mei Chan (Female - 22 years) and Tiong Han Yeo ( Male -20 years)

• There are a record number of 95 teams also introducing competitors to the incredible Ironman 70.3 distance in 2010

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The Race:

Prior to the race, I told myself that I would not push myself too hard, if necessary, I would definitely stop. I just wanted to participate and feel the energy. I was in the sea for a short swim to warm-up, and when I saw the speculator sunrise, I was really happy and glad to be alive.

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The Elites getting read for swim - Cowie on the Right.

(Taken from Lee T*** FB w/o permission)

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Swim-

To see the World Class Triathletes in action, was so cool. When my age category flag-off, I was one of the last few people to enter the water. I swam at my own rhythm, and decided not to push myself hard. I completed my 1.9km swim in 47mins and felt good about the swim. It was a good start.

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Cycling across Benjamin Shears Bridge

(Taken from: http://hooky3659.wordpress.com/2010/03/22/aviva-ironman-70-3-singapore-2010/)

Cycle-

I took my time to get ready for the 90km cycling (3 loops). After I exited the transition area and started paddling, it was quite bumpy on a smooth road. I knew something was wrong. I got off the bike, checked my chain etc... everything seems to be working. I started to paddle again, but it was still bumpy and I knew that I could not continue like this. I got off again to realise that I got a FLAT tyre!

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To make things worse, I have never change a flat tyre before, even though I have the Kit. To make even worse, it was the rear tyre that was flat, which meant that it would be more difficult to change. A lot of participants were cycling passed me. I was quite pissed off, as I am already a weak cyclist and this was happening to me. I tried to change it, but to no avail. A passerby (foreign worker) came to assist me to change as well, but after 5-10 minutes of trying, I knew that there was no way we could change the flat tyre.

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Fortunately, I was 500m away from the transition area. I pushed my bike back to the transition area and found Shimano Bike Mechanic to fix it for me. It was not easy for them too!!! After 15mins, they fixed my tyre and I was ready to go. In total, I wasted around 26mins because of this flat tyre. The transition area was completely empty when I left, and it was very demoralising. I was the second last person leaving the transition area, as another guy was still repairing his broken bike chain.

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The first lap (30km) was fine, and the highlight was when the elites raced passed me. I saw the number bid 0001 – Craig Alexander (The Reigning Ironman World Champion). I was cycling beside a world champion for a split second = Happiness. They must be in their 3rd lap already. For the second lap (60km), I was a bit demoralized to think that everybody was their third lap already. The last lap (90km) was quite tiring and to cycle across the Benjamin Shears Bridge for the 5th & 6th time was painful – there were people getting off their bike to push it. The positive aspect was that I hardly see anybody and I must say that it was quite a cool experience to have the whole expressway with the city view to myself. More importantly, it was the first time that I overtook people. Finally, I am not the last one!

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Craig Alexander - Bid No. 0001

(Taken from C*** FB w/o permission also)

Run-

I was really happy to get off the roadie and start running. I did not push myself too hard, as I could feel the strain on my heart and I just wanted to be safe. The afternoon heat was killing me, and thankfully, the sky was overcastted after my first 7km lap. The 21km seemed to be endless, and I was always looking forward to the next water point to cool myself. Around 2km before the finishing line, I was getting a bit emotional when I knew that I was going to finish the race, and thinking that I had seriously thought of not participating in the race.

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Total Time: 7hr 24min.
(Position: 843 out of 951 finishers)

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Rough Breakdown:

1.9km Swim  47min

Transition 1 6min

Bike Repair  26min

90km Cycle  3hr 30min

Transition 2  4min

21km Run 2hr 29min

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It is the BEST event that I ever participated. It was expensive though – S$375 for registration, excluding other expenses (bike servicing, bike accessories, supplements, taxi transportation etc..). But it is worth every cents. Below are the highlights:

1. Spectacular Morning Sunrise

2. Seeing the Elites in Action

3. Cycling across Benjamin Shears Bridge

4. Participating in the biggest 70.3 ironman in Asia

5. Craig Alexander cycled beside me (for a brief moment)

6. Feeling emotional and grateful that I completed the race
7. Wonderful Participants and Volunteers cheering for slow finishers like me

8. Participating with a group of wonderful friends. (Prior to the race, 2 of them got serious food poisoning – vomiting and bad bad diarrhoea, doctor recommended them not to participate, and they completed it. Respect!!!)

Lastly,

9. Really grateful to be alive.

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Full Ironman next? May be, May be Not...

I think I better see a Cardiologist first to have a peace of mind.

=)

Movie: Up in the Air

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There are 2 things in the movie that struck accord with me.

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The First Thing:

While travelling for business was nice, dining in nice restaurant and staying in beautiful hotel, and the best part, not paying a single dime from my own pocket. The thing I enjoyed the most was walking in solitude during the cold night in a foreign land. It was quite therapeutic and very conducive for self-reflection. However, it could be extremely lonely to be in the hotel room – I felt emptiness in a nice hotel room. I would rather in any rowdy Kopitiam drinking a cheap glass of teh-peng with my friends or family. I realised that the human element (warmth) is definitely more important than any physical possession or indulgence.

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The Second Thing:

Too many people are too attached to their jobs. They take their identities from their jobs, and their lives revolve around their jobs. Their sense of self are lost when they are retrenched. That’s sad. Imagine if you are at your deathbed, would you be thinking about your achievements at work? The revenue you had generated for your company? The projects/launches that you had implemented successfully? I certainly would not think of any work, monetary or academic achievements. Those things are irrelevant in the face of death. I will think of the precious moments spent with my family, friends and nice people. I will think of the beautiful world that I have seen and experienced. I will think if my existence makes this world a slightly better place.

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I shared this story before: My friend’s colleague was working for DBS Bank for more than 20 years, and was retrenched. She packed her belongings that day when she received the news, and the next day, her record was removed from the company intranet. 20 over years of hard work and youth, yet, no trace of her was left. Nobody in the company will talk about her contributions. Soon, she will be forgotten by the company. I realised that nobody is indispensable in the company, and that should be the way for the company to operate effectively. While work is important, it is never the reason. Money is never the reason too.

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I have been jobless for 7 month before. It was a difficult period, but I was not in depression. I lost self-confidence and doubted my ability. I was afraid to meet people. My identity was dependent on external factor, which was foolish. It was an invaluable experience, as when some of my friends were out of job, I told them that I understand their feeling. I really do. Hence, I felt that it is unwise to be so attached to a job. So what if you are unemployed? Still the same person, just having more free time to do things that you enjoy!

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Not sure if I can say the same thing if I am jobless again. Will let you know.

=)

1 Week more to Aviva Half-Ironman

This is the tapering week and I love it... my body can finally rest & recover at last!

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Last Week's Training:

Mon: Rest

Tues: 3km Swim (1hr 13min)

Wed: 25km Run (2hr 33min)

Thurs: 1.2hr Cycle & 4km Run

Fri: Rest

Sat: 9km Run (instead of 25km, as body was really tired)

Sun: 90km Cycle & 5km Run (4hr)

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I spent 10-11hours exercising last week.

The best thing - No irregular heartbeat detected.

I should be able to complete the race.

=)

Lessons from the recent episode

I felt that I was over-reacting to the irregular heartbeat (Heart Skipping a Beat). The GP that I visited advised me not to participate. I got a second opinion from a doctor, provided details on my heart history, and she felt that it should be normal.

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My heartbeat is perfectly normal now. I have done marathon and Olympic Distance Triathlon, and I did not face any heart problems. I have decided to participate the Aviva Half-Ironman in 2 weeks time. Will not push myself too hard especially if I do not feel well, and would stop if necessary. It is my own race.

Thanks for all the concerns!

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These are some of the things I learned from this episode:

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1. There are many things in life beyond my control, as long as I have given my best I should be happy, and be at peace with it. Do not need to get frustrated, as I know I have tried my best. Success is knowing that I have done my best given my limitations and constraints.

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2. Enjoying the Journey is more important than Reaching the Destination. As I might never reach the destination, and quite often, the Journey is more interesting than the Destination.

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3. Stop thinking about "Why me?"

Last year, I did not reach Kalapatthar during the Everest Base Camp Hike because of Altitude Sickness. I was wondering "Why Me?". Today, I asked myself this question again. It is a useless question! Just accept it and MOVE ON.

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4. Death is not a statistics.

I was reading articles about fit and healthy triathletes who died, mainly due to cardiac/heart related problem. These are real healthy fit people, and i could be part of the statistics. Death is REAL... It is a totally different experience when I am able to visualise my death, and not looking at it from a dettached point of view. 

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5. Good to have friends, as always. =)

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I guess every triathlete has their own story.

Everytime I asked myself: Is it worth it?

I am not ready for this Aviva Half-ironman, and this is my short story:

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2nd Aug'09: Completed my first OD Triathlon

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31st Aug'09: Had a fall during cycling and fractured my wrist.

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Sep'09: Out of action & went traveling to Perth

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Oct/Nov 09: Went Nepal for 3 weeks (fell sick, and recovered 2 weeks after coming back)

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Dec'09: Struggled to run 5km & decided to skip StandChart Marathon.

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Last Week of Dec'09: Tried Cycling again after 3 months (fell down again with minor scratches). I wanted to throw away my cycling shoes & clips, but I told myself that I should not be defeated by stupid clips.

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2nd Jan'10: Struggled to keep up with RF during the 40km cycle (1st time after the fall).

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Jan'10: Having been Cycling with guards - having phobia of cycling & falling.

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28th Jan'10: Decided to sign up Aviva Half-Ironman. RF decides to skip and do OSIM OD Triathlon instead.

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Feb'10: Sick for 10days during CNY & fitness deteriorated. =(

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19th Feb'10: Swam with RF, who mentioned that he was surprised that I signed up for Aviva HIM, considering that I was struggling with 40km cycle a month ago.

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27th Feb'10 (Sat): 18km Run - 1hr 58mins (Struggled)

28th Feb'10 (Sun): 85km Cycle - 3hr 24min (Struggled too)

1st Mar'10 (Mon): Rest

2nd Mar'10 (Tues): 22km Run - 2hr 14min

3rd Mar'10 (Wed): 3km Swim - 1hr 13min

4th Mar'10 (Thurs): 1hr Cycle, 4km Run & 30mins Weights

5th Mar'10 (Fri): Rest

6th Mar'10 (Sat): 22km Run - 2hr 28min (Stuggled & The sun was killing me)

7th Mar'09: 90km Cycle & 4km Run - 4hours (Struggling as well)

Irregular heartbeats detected.

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I think I am overestimating my abilities & I am not that young anymore. I am not ready for Aviva Half-Ironman. May be the irregular heartbeat is telling me not to stress myself too hard. Last few training sessions had been PAINFUL.

Will I look back to think that I am foolish?

I just know that Life is not about seeing it from hindsight, but living the moment.

=)  

What would you do if you are in my position???

Recently, I have been training quite hard for Aviva Half-Ironman. I know I am not ready - it is a long story, will explain it next time.

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Today, after 90km cycle & 4km transition run, I was totally exhausted. Just now, while I was reading my papers, I felt my heart is beating weirdly. I decided to monitor it, and I was worried with my finding - my heart is beating irregularly. Shit!!! It is like missing a beat for every 4 or 13 or 5 counts. Damn it!

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To make things worse, I have an existing heart problem (My valves are not working as well as it should be). Some doctors said it is minor, but my insurance premium is 70% higher because of this condition, and anything related to my heart will not be compensated. In another words, if I die of heart-attack, my insurance company will not pay anything.

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I searched the net, and it was quite worrying for me. =(

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http://www.sportsdoctor.com/articles/heart.html

If you experience a premature beat more than once every 20 to 30 minutes, however; or if you have an irregular heart rate, palpitations or pauses in your heartbeat, it's extremely important to see your physician. She can determine whether you may have a benign condition called athlete's heart or a more serious problem.

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Some cardiac risk factors:

I. A history of fainting for no apparent reason, especially if the fainting occurred during or immediately after exercise.

2. Symptoms of an irregular heartbeat, palpitations, skipped beats or fluttering heartbeat either when resting or exercising.

3. A close blood relative who died suddenly before the age of 55, or a family history of early coronary heart disease, high cholesterol, Marfan's syndrome or enlarged heart.

4. A family or personal history of seizures.

5. You are a male over age 40 or a female over 50, the American College of Sports Medicine recommends that you have a medical evaluation before you begin an exercise program.

Another Article: http://www.ehow.com/about_5535564_irregular-heart-rate-after-exercise.html

An irregular heart rate, or arrhythmia, can be caused by many different factors. These include smoking, too much caffeine and coronary artery disease. Experiencing an irregular heart rate only during or after exercise may be a sign of a very specific and life-threatening problem: catecholarminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT).

.Exercise and CPVT

CPVT is a genetically based heart condition where mutations in the ryanodine receptor, a cardiac protein, causes problems with the regulation of calcium. An increase in calcium in the heart causes an irregular heart rate, a problem that can be deadly.Irregular Heart Rate

People with CPVT have normal heart rates when at rest. When epinephrine and other catecholamines produced by the body during exercise or stress encounter the heart of a person with this protein mutation, however, it causes a sudden irregular heart rate. This condition is so serious that exercise can cause sudden death for someone with CPVT.

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An irregular heart rate after exercise could be a sign of other heart conditions. A imbalance of electrolytes such as potassium or sodium could cause an irregular heart rate after exercise. Excessive smoking or caffeine consumption could also cause a postexercise arrhythmia. Also, exercise is a form of stress, and excessive exercise can cause in irregular heart rate.

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This is really frustrating and worrying!

There are so many causes to irregular heartbeat.

I do not want to die jus because of I want to challenge my physical limit.

That's sheer stupidity!!

Evidence of Past Life??

Even though I consider myself as a Buddhist, I am still skeptical about past life and reincarnation. Buddhists are taught to be inquisitive and critical, and do not accept any teachings based on Blind Faith. I made an effort to look at the subject matter of reincarnation in a scientific way, hence, i read a scientific book about past life, which was endorsed by Prof Ian Stevenson. It was still not conclusive to me, as I have never experienced any recollection of past lives.

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In the Buddhist tradition, it is said that deep meditation could bring alot of insights including seeing your past lives. Well, I could never attain that kinda meditation...

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So this is still a big mystery to me...

Steve Jobs: How to live before you die

http://ahboon80.blogspot.com/2009/09/your-time-is-limited-so-dont-waste-it.html

Posted this sometime ago, but nothing beats hearing from the man.

Enjoy!! =)

Choudon Orphanage

,Back in 2005, I was traveling across China and Tibet and I met a British gentlement (in his 50s) on the bus from airport to Lhasa City. He was helping out at an Orphanage ran by a Tibetan Couple without any government assistance. The founder (Nyima) was an orphan himself, and after seeing so many street kids in Lhasa, out of compassion and driven by his passion, he decided to quit his job as a tourist guide to setup and spend all his money on an orphanage. I guess Nyima is able to empathise and understand the orphans better than anybody. Amazing person. His wife also joined him full-time. 

Choudon Orphanage @ Lhasa, Tibet.

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We decided to visit the orphanage and tried to understand the situation. The orphanage was overcrowded, there was no showering facility inside (The Kids had to shower once a week outside), they are facing financial difficulties as the only source of support is donation....

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Unfortunately, the founder (Nyima) was not around when we visited the orphanage. Instead, his wife hosted us. As it was a long traveling trip for me, I had limited funds & donated some money at another place during the earlier part of the trip, hence, I did not donate any money. =(

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Taken @ the orphanage

(I cannot remember which one is Nyima's wife - I think the one in white)

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I did not forget the brief encounter, and I felt bad for not helping the orphanage. Fortunately, last year october, I met a Singaporean Lady who was going to Nepal, Tibet & China for a few months. She was kind enough to help me to find the orphanage and pass my small token (donation) to the orphanage.

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She had a hard time searching for the orphanage, as the address I gave her was 4 years ago. After a few hours of searching in the small alley of Lhasa, she located the orphanage (which had shifted) and met Nyima. I was so happy to know that the orphanage is still around. She gave me a sad news - Nyima's wife passed away in 2008 due to some illness.

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 It was sad. She was doing such a great job - showering love and protecting the helpless street kids, unfortunately, she left the world at a young age. It is just sad to know that a good person is no longer around. May she find peace and happiness in another world.

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Life is just so unpredictable.

Life is impermanent.

Beautiful Things in life: Potala Palace

Sunrise @ Potala Palace, Lhasa, Tibet (2005)

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There are certain moments in life that I will never forget. Those precious moments made my life colourful and meaningful. Something I will bring with me when I leave this world.

One of them is definitely seeing Potala Palace.

On the bus from the Airport to Lhasa City, I had a glimpse of Potala Palace - the excitement and happiness was overwhelming for me. It was an amazing moment. There are very few times in my life I felt this kind of extreme happiness. 

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I had seen other great momuments, but none of them bring this kinda happiness & excitement.

Why do I have such affection towardsTibet?

I really don't know. 

I just know that I will be back again... hopefully soon. =) 

Golden Week in Japan??? Bad Choice =(

I booked my flight to Tokyo last year (Got a good deal), but I did not realise that I booked it during the Golden Week in Japan. I could not change the dates, as it was a discounted ticket.

After looking at the youtube videos below & reading the online blogs, I was quite discouraged. =(

Train in Japan...

Wave Pool in Japan

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I was looking forward to a Zen experience - tranquil and serene- outside of Tokyo, and a bustling city life in Tokyo. But I think I will get a Crazy Experience... but I will take it positively and experience the craziness.

Wish me luck!!! haha...

Forgiveness... A liberating force...

Recently, someone made a nasty remark about me (I was informed by a credible source). My first reaction was anger, but I was not thinking about confronting that person. I just wanted to sit down and clear up any misunderstandings, as I have nothing to fear. However, knowing that person's personality, I know that sitting down won't clear things up, as that person would get very defensive and may be aggressive (Vulnerable & Huge Ego at work).

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At the same time, frustration kept accumulating inside me. Frustrated that justice was not done. I kept asking myself: So what even if I won? There will be awkwardness and embarrassment, which is unnecessary also. I thought of the things that I have learnt - forgiveness, but it was not easy.

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I do not need to defend myself. My frustration was created by my Ego. A nasty remark won't make me a lesser person. Action always speaks louder than word. I do not want to carry the past with me. When I contemplate about my death and that person's death, all these things become trivial and unimportant.

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I decided to forgive that person, and free myself from the prison of frustration.

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It is an Amazing feeling.

It is so liberating.

I felt like a free bird again.

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Life will always test you again and again until you learn your lesson.

There are still many things for me to learn...

There are still many tests ahead...

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Boundless Sky

(Taken @ Timor Leste)

Warren Buffett's Worst Mistakes

Taken from: http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/108869/warren-buffetts-worst-mistakes

Warren Buffett is widely regarded as one of the most successful investors of all time. Yet, as Buffett is willing to admit, even the best investors make mistakes. Buffett's legendary annual letters to his Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A) shareholders tell the tales of his biggest investing mistakes. There is much to be learned from Buffett's decades of investing experience, so I have selected three of Buffett's biggest mistakes to analyze.

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Conoco Phillips

Mistake: Buying at the wrong price

In 2008, Buffett bought a large stake in the stock of Conoco Phillips (COP) as a play on future energy prices. I think many might agree that an increase in oil prices is likely over the long term and that Conoco Phillips will likely benefit. However, this turned out to be a bad investment, because Buffett bought in at too high of a price, resulting in a multibillion-dollar loss to Berkshire. The difference between a great company and a great investment is the price at which you buy stock, and this time around Buffett was "dead wrong." Since crude oil prices were well over $100 a barrel at the time, oil company stocks were way up.

Lesson Learned

It's easy to get swept up in the excitement of big rallies and buy in at a prices that you should not have -- in retrospect. Investors who control their emotions can perform a more objective analysis. A more detached investor might have recognized that the price of crude oil has always exhibited tremendous volatility and that oil companies have long been subject to boom and bust cycles.

Buffett says: "When investing, pessimism is your friend, euphoria the enemy."

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U.S. Air

Mistake: Confusing revenue growth with a successful business

Buffett bought preferred stock in U.S. Air (LCC) in 1989 -- no doubt attracted by the high revenue growth it had achieved up until that point. The investment quickly turned sour on Buffett, as U.S. Air did not achieve enough revenues to pay the dividends due on his stock. With luck on his side, Buffett was later able to unload his shares at a profit. Despite this good fortune, Buffett realizes that this investment return was guided by lady luck and the burst of optimism for the industry.

Lesson Learned

As Buffett points out in his 2007 letter to Berkshire shareholders, sometimes businesses look good in terms of revenue growth but require large capital investments all along the way to enable this growth. This is the case with airlines, which generally require additional aircraft to significantly expand revenues. The trouble with these capital-intensive business models is that by the time they achieve a large base of earnings, they are heavily laden with debt. This can leave little left for shareholders and makes the company highly vulnerable to bankruptcy if business declines.

Buffett says: "Investors have poured money into a bottomless pit, attracted by growth when they should have been repelled by it."

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Dexter Shoes

Mistake: Investing in a company without a sustainable competitive advantage

In 1993, Buffett bought a shoe company called Dexter Shoes. Buffett's investment in Dexter Shoes turned into a disaster because he saw a durable competitive advantage in Dexter that quickly disappeared. According to Buffett, "What I had assessed as durable competitive advantage vanished within a few years." Buffett claims that this investment was the worst he has ever made, resulting in a loss to shareholders of $3.5 billion.

Lesson Learned

Companies can only earn high profits when they have some sort of a sustainable competitive advantage over other firms in their business area. Wal-Mart (WMT) has incredibly low prices. Honda (HMC) has high-quality vehicles. As long as these companies can deliver on these things better than anyone else, they can maintain high profit margins. If not, the high profits attract many competitors that will slowly eat away at the business and take all the profits for themselves.

Buffett says: "A truly great business must have an enduring "moat" that protects excellent returns on invested capital."

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The Bottom Line

While making mistakes with money is always painful, paying a few "school fees" now and then doesn't have to be a total loss. If you analyze your mistakes and learn from them, you might very well make the money back next time. All investors, even Warren Buffett, must acknowledge that mistakes will be made along the way.

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+++

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It is always good to learn from others mistakes, but making mistakes in Investment is inevitable. Money can be lost, but the lessons should never be lost.

Don't make yourself a Victim...

Chinese New Year is a time of reunion, and for some unwise people, it is also a time to show-off or compare their material wealth or other achievements. I guess that is one of the reasons why some friends chose to spend this holiday away from Singapore to avoid all the senseless questions and comparisons. 

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Just now, I was chatting with a friend who was doing well in his career and was a top performer in his team. However, he was complaining about his work. I was also updating him about the progress of some common friends who are doing exceptionally well in their career/business & making lotsa money. Then, I felt a sense of  uneasiness in his voice. Then, he asked if I was feeling jealous about their success.

My reply was "Not Really".

He asked me "Why?".

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I decided to change topic as I knew it was affecting his mood. Most of us are making ourselves victim by comparing ourselves with better achievers and feeling that we sucks. On the other hand, we (aka Our Ego) felt good when we won somebody else etc..., hence, our mood is like a pendulum swing - so unstable and vulnerable. That's the nature of Ego. 

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Interestingly, I was re-reading The Power of Now when my friend called me. And I stopped at this paragraph (which has the answer to his question):

Some people would always rather be somewhere else. Their "here" is never good enough. Through self-observation, find out if that is the case in your life. Wherever you are, be there totally. If you find your here and now intolerable and it makes you unhappy, you have three options: remove yourself from the situation, change it, or accept it totally. If you want to take responsibility for your life, you must choose one of those three options, and you must choose now. Then accept the consequences. No excuses. No negativity. No psychic pollution.

Keep your inner space clear.

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Tibetan Lady waiting patiently for her water

(Taken back in 2005 in Gansu, Tibetan Plateau)
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Back then, I was wondering around the grassland aimlessly and saw this lady. Her calmness and peacefulness attracted me. She was waiting patiently for her water (which was pretty murky), and totally at peace with everything.

Amazing!

Ignorance ignorance ignorance...

Pastor Rony Tan has just apologised to both Buddhists & Taoists for his comments on both faiths. My initial reaction was anger, and I wanted to investigate further by watching the videos. (video 1 & video2). After watching the videos, I was sadden by how Buddhism was misrepresented. Pastor Rony Tan asked a 2-week ex-monk (a Christian Convert - Joseph) to discuss about Buddhism and made the whole religion practice sounded like a joke. Being a Buddhist layman, I found Joseph to be extremely ignorant about Buddhism.

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When Joseph was a monk, he asked "When can I reach Nirvana?"

My first reaction was ignorance ignorance ignorance. With such an ignorant question, I was wondering what had he learnt as a monk or a long-term Buddhist. 

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I just felt that if you do not know anything about Buddhism, you should not misrepresent it. Personally, I have only touched the surface, and I am awed & touched by the Wisdom, the Vastness and the Compassion (The Unconditional Love). I am not upset or angry anymore, as I know they are blinded by Ignorance. They really do not know what they are discussing. I just hope they realise their mistakes.  

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I am happy that I have never attended any Buddhist Talks that criticise other faiths. By degrading other faiths, will never make your own faith a superior one. =)
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May Joseph & Rony find Wisdom and Happiness!

May All Beings be Free from Sufferings!

Young Buddhist Monk

(This picture just put a smile on my face)

Taken from: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/02/colorful_india.html

=)

Death of Singapore's Richest Man....

Ng Teng Fong (estimated with a net worth of US$8billion) passed away today. Well, it really means nothing to me or the people around me. In fact, one of my colleagues was saying that it would be interesting to see who would get the inheritance. I realized that nobody really cares about his death.

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What has he done for the society? What was he remembered for? (Shrewd Businessman?? As written in the article) I knew nothing about Ng Teng Fong, except the fact that he was very rich. Period. Perhaps, he has done some charitable work in anonymity (I hope so).

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I compare him to Iconic Tycoons like Bill Gates, Warren Buffett & Lee Ka-Shing. I would feel sad if anyone of them passed away. They have contributed much to the society, in terms of Philanthropic activities and Business Philosophy, and most importantly, being a role model. Then, I realised that there is NO charismatic person in Singapore (except for LKY). There is no Singapore leader who I could look up to. It is quite sad. Singapore is packed with efficient mediocre people (that includes myself).

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People will remember previous tycoons like Lee Kong Chian and Tan Kah Kee, whom had contributed alot to the society. Interestingly, I saw a Tan Kah Kee Hall when I was visiting UC Berkeley.

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I doubt anybody will remember Ng Teng Fong 10 years from now. I don't even know who was the richest man 20 years ago (I think should be Sam Walton of Walmart). Rich people is only influential during his/her time.

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On the other hand, I would always remember inspirational characters like Ernesto Che Guevara, Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Princess Diana, Deng Xiaoping, Einstein (who is more like a Philosopher than a scientist to me) etc... Their spirit is always around... inspiring us and the future generations.

The Boy with Divine Power

Just watched the documentary on The Discovery Channel: The Boy with Divine Power.

It is about a teenager (aka Buddha Boy) who meditates for long period of time. In the documentary, the Discovery Channel crews filmed him continuously for 4 days without food or drink. In today's medical science, most people would be dead.

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While his display of deep medidation is out of this world, I found his message deep and meaningful. While I am skeptical if he is the next Buddha (Buddhists are supposed to question and be critical in thinking), I am VERY SURE that he is no ordinary teenager. There is so much wisdom, depth & compassion in his speeches. That's Amazing.

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Last year november, I saw an article on him while I was going for my paragliding in Porhara.

He was appealing to the Hindus in Nepal not to Slaughter the thousands of animals for religious sacrifice. Unfortunately, the slaughter went ahead.

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See the news report:

Hindu sacrifice of 250,000 animals begins

The world's biggest animal sacrifice began in Nepal today with the killing of the first of more than 250,000 animals as part of a Hindu festival in the village of Bariyapur, near the border with India. The event, which happens every five years, began with the decapitation of thousands of buffalo, killed in honour of Gadhimai, a Hindu goddess of power.

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It is sad, but that is nothing compares to our modern butchery.

Americans consume a million animals an hour!!!

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Ram Bahadur Bomjon's Speech against the Slaughter.

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I was touched by his compassion.

I really hope that he would provide more wisdom to the world after his 6-years of meditation.

Carrying the Past...

This is one of the classic Buddhist Stories that I heard many times and find it very beneficial.

(Buddhist Monastery @ Inle Lake, Burma)

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This version is taken from A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle

Two Zen monks, Tanzan and Ekido, were walking along a country road that had become extremely muddy after heavy rains. Near a village, they came upon a young woman who was trying to cross the road, but the mud was so deep it would have ruined the silk kimono she was wearing. Tanzan at once picked her up and carried her to the other side.

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The monks walked on in silence. Five hours later, as they were approaching the lodging temple, Ekido couldn't restrain himself any longer. "Why did you carry that girl across the road?" he asked. "We monks are not supposed to do things like that."

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"I put the girl down hours ago," said Tanzan.

"Are you still carrying her?"

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A Wonderful Wonderful Evening...

Attended a good friend's wedding with a bunch of good friends.

It was a great feeling to sit around a table with good friends.

It was a wonderful experience to play with my friend's toddler.

It was touching to listen to the bride & groom's speeches.

It is the best vegetarian meal I had in a wedding dinner.

It was a fun to take stupid photos with friends, despite the fact that we are all nearing 30years old.

I am really grateful for friendship.

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I guess, this will be one of the little wonderful memories that I bring with me when I leave this world.

When I looked up the sky, I saw a few stars & a crescent - it looked PERFECT!

Contented, Grateful and Happy.

=)

Dan Gilbert: Exploring the frontiers of happiness

If you like Freaknomics, you will like this video. =)

Celebrating Life....

Recently, I just celebrated my good friends' 30th Birthday... and a few months later, I will turn 30 also.

That's a really scary thought... and that is the time when quarter-life crisis set in.

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We would ask ourselves alot of questions: What have we achieved in the past 30years? What is our benchmark? Society expectation? Peer comparison? Why do we need such unnecessary pressure? Does it mean that if we are below the supposedly "benchmark", then we should be sad or unhappy?

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Are these questions necessary?

What if I am "ahead" of the pack, does it mean that I will be happy?

Will winning bring real & sustainable happiness?

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Life is like a race.

Sometime you are ahead.

Sometime you are behind.

At the end of the race,

you will realise that you are the only person in the race.

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This year, I set certain goals for me to accomplish... and I have been working hard on it... However, I realised that I lost something precious... That's my source of frustration.

I was so engrossed with the goals that I forgot to enjoy my journey (something that I always advocate). I forgot to appreciate the blue sky, white cloud, green trees.... and the beauty of the world.  I forgot to show gratitude towards the good things that I am enjoying now. I lost those magical moments when I am so touched and grateful to be alive.

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Is it worth it?

I am still searching for the path...

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30th Birthday Cake

Celebration of 30years of Wonderful Life!!!

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Another random thought:

When I was younger, I was affected when people say that I was childish.

Maturity was such an important issue.

I wanted to be mature. I wanted to be respected. I think I was just too unsure of myself. As I grew older, I met lotsa older, successful and supposedly more mature people. Well, I must say that I am not impressed with them. Not impressed that alot of them are so vulnerable.... vulnerable to their EGO.

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The great thing about toddlers are that they have short term memory. They seem to forget all the negative things (like scolding), and be happy with the present moment most of the time. They do not have any vulnerable EGO that they need to protect. They just enjoy and be happy with the PRESENT.

That's something that I want to learn.

I want to be childlike...

=)

Life works in a mysterious way...

Last week, I realized that my attachment to the notion of "I", "Me" & "mine" (My Ego) was creating unhappiness in my life. A sense of inner peace and freedom was lost... and I get frustrated more easily - frustration with people and myself.

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Interestingly, one week ago, my sister returned me the birthday present (Book: A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle) that I gave her a year ago. She said that she could not understand the book. Well, I felt it was a pity that she could not appreciate the depth of the book, but I wasn't upset, in fact, I was happy as I was keen to read the book.

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Right now, I am reading the 2nd chapter which is about EGO.

Perfect! That's what I exactly wanted to read now...

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Life works in a mysterious way.

This is definitely not the first occasion when I have an issue to resolve, and the solution/wisdom appears infront of me without active searching...

End of Year 2009...

I always like the end of the year...

Time to reflect the things that I have done & could have done...

Time to contemplate my life & my inevitable death...

Time to be grateful for all the wonderful things in my life...

Most importantly,

Time to spend quality time with my family and friends...

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I am especially grateful to spend my new year eve with one special group of friends - My Primary School Friends. I always join them for countdown since 31st Dec 1998 (except 2 years when I spent it at New York City Time Square & New Delhi Airport). We are good friends since 1987, and it is happy to see our group expanding with addition of partners & kids.

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I guess I am getting old now...

I am avoiding partying on the street or in a club...

I do not need expensive drink to get me high to feel happy...

I do not need to wear expensive outfit to impress others...

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I just need good company to laugh together.

What more do I need from life?

=)

Ugly Faces Pic @ Dhome