U-EVOLVE The Only Constant - Change

New Blog

2010-01-04T14:49:00.005+08:00

Hi!

Have you visited my new blog yet?

http://www.ievolve36.blogspot.com/.

Share my experiences there.

New Year, New Blog

2010-01-02T12:54:00.004+08:00

Hi everyone.

From U-evolve, we move now to

http://www.ievolve36.blogspot.com/

Follow me on my blogging experiences in this new blog.

Best wishes to all of you.

Seasons Greetings

2009-12-24T19:26:00.007+08:00

Seasons greetings to everyone. In a few days time year 2009 will be over and we look forward to another new year. It will be a time of taking stock of what we have experienced... achievements, disappointments, joys, challenges, good health, and the list goes on.

With this reflection comes a whole new list of new year resolutions to motivate us to face another year. The visual reminds us that "the only thing that we can really control in life is our mental attitude". So with a strong belief system to guide us, the goals we set will be achievable and hopefully we will be contented.

With this we welcome the New Year with a positive frame of mind and hope and pray for the best.

Sunset at Sutera Harbour Resort, Kota Kinabalu

2009-12-10T15:06:00.011+08:00

Thought for today.

"To know oneself, one should assert oneself"

-Albert Camus

While watching the sun set over the sea at the waterfront of Sutera Harbour Resort I managed to take a few photos as the sun disappeared into the clouds and then down the horizon.

There is a certain fascination with sunrise and sunset. When watching something in the distance, the rays of the sun add a different character to the scenery. For example it was no magic when a picture I took of the ruins of Angkor Wat during sunset turned out to be one where the ruins was golden in colour. It was the effect of the sun's rays!!

Sunrise and sunset are indicators of the reality of life...as the sun rises so it must set. Life must go on no matter what the realities are. But knowing oneself will be half the battle won. Reflecting on Albert Camus quote... "one should assert oneself". So how then can we assert oneself?

Try using "I" statements when communicating with people. In a situation when something is not what one expects it to be, one can state one's feelings about it and then proceed to describe the situation and then indicate what one wants changed to make one feel "good". For example " I feel disappointed. The lecture room is untidy. I will be happy if the cleanliness of the room is maintained." Communicating one's thought and feelings in this way and in a calm and mature manner is not offensive instead it indicates that one is assertive. It is advisable to be assertive in our interaction style so that one will not be perceived to be passive and submissive. Neither is it advisable for one to be aggressive and manipulative. Being assertive and perseptive will help us be more aware of ourselves and also of others.

Swot Analysis

2009-12-07T15:05:00.012+08:00

Thought for for today.

" Be always sure you are right, then go ahead"

David Crockett.

How does one figure out what is right? Simple enough -as a group of lecturers during a Teacher Education training workshop in Kota Kinabalu discovered when they used the SWOT Analysis as a tool in the decision making process.

During the case study discussion, Vivien, Ashley, Helen, and Muada listed out the strengths and weakness, or what is also known as internal factors, of the case study subject. Next, the other group members Tsen Lip Sheng, Yap Sau Lan and Jacqueline analysed the external variables, namely the threats and opportunities, in the case study. After a detailed discussion on these issues, they were confident with the decision they finally arrived at. Using the SWOT Analysis can help one seive out the unimportant issues, thus making it easier to focus on the relevant matters before arriving at a well considered decision.

During the forum session Yap Su Teng, Noirom, Simon Hii Chui Yung and Ellis shared their views and related some of their experiences with regards to the importance of listening skills in effective communication. They concluded that emphatetic listening in interpersonal communication will help the listener understand the feelings and views of the speaker. The other lecturers elaborated that this can also be applied in their interaction with the students.

The presentation of the conclusions of the case studies generated a great deal of discussion and everyone went away feeling more confident to deal with issues pertaining to effective classroom management.

Kota Kinabalu

2009-12-07T14:36:00.009+08:00

Thought for today.

"Time ripens all things.

No man's born wise.

-Cervantes

(Don Quixote)

Before the trip to Kota Kinabalu, I was reminded to visit the Atkinson Tower, a must for all tourists. So, fired with great expectations, I was greeted by this small but interesting wooden tower with a clock which is still working...notice the time? Although it is a wooden tower it survived the war. It was constructed in 1905 to as a memorial to the then British District Officer Atkinson who died at the age of 28. Over the years the tower has been extensivley repaired and restored and is now under the Museum department.

Reflecting on the above thought is motivating for it reminds us that no time is too late to anyone to go ahead to pursue one's desires. Things are achievable if one remain focussed and act appropriately instead of being complacent.

Evaluation of Teaching

2009-11-29T13:35:00.012+08:00

Thought for today.

"Education is what survives when what has been learnt has been forgotten".

B.F. Skinner.(Education in 1984)

Recent newspaper reports on the teaching of Science and Mathematics in Chinese schools, have generated interesting feedback from readers and concerned parties. The Ministry of Education is interested to know the magic formula used in these schools. The Director-General of education has been directed to investigate into this. He is going to identify the "good" schools to study the teaching and learning approaches used and will implement these best practices next year.

What are some of these appropriate approaches which will be identified by the officers in their study? Some views expressed in the newspaper include rote memory of multiplication tables, detailed and clear explanations by the teachers, and a lot of homework and practice. But the most relevant are the views expressed by a Mathematics teacher Ms Cheah Yin Hong ...." I teach them how to connect Mathematics to their daily lives and how to apply it. " She also added that more research must be done by the Ministry before emulating the methods used in Chinese schools. An important consideration adds Ms Cheah ..."Is our teaching just different from the aspect of the mother tongue? Does the language affect the students' ability to focus and absorb the knowledge?"

In a recent workshop on the evaluation of teaching and effective teaching practices, particpants emphasized two important issues. The first is the need to select teaching approaches and activities based on the learning outcomes instead of focus on just the topic to be taught. Ms Koshila from TAR College shared that getting students hands-on and with close monitoring her students have no problems achieving the learning outcomes. Ms Cheng Wei Fong, also from TAR college emphasized that giving students feedback on their performance have enabled them to improve.

Secondly, to ensure that the learning outcomes are achieved, teachers are encouraged to use cognitive strategies to maximise learning on the part of the students. Ms Sheila from UCS Institute Excecutive, Sarawak explained that some of these strategies include spatial strategies, mnemonics, analogy, and advanced organisers. Twinkle Anak Bati added that rehearsal activities, such as role play, simulation, and group work will increase learning.

Some food for thought on the teaching of Science and mathematices include investigating into the appropriate teaching methods to use and more importantly is the monitoring of what really goes on in the classroom,. We cannot fault the manufacturer of a fast car if the driver does not know how to drive it properly!!!

Turtle management centre, Segari, Perak

2009-11-26T20:45:00.008+08:00

Thought for today.

"Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land."

Aldo Leopold. (A Sand County Almanac)

From the exit of Changkat Jering Toll plaza, a pleasant drive for about 50 Km southwards along the coastal road will bring one to the Turtle Management Centre, in Segari, Perak

This centre is the initiative of the Fisheries Department for the purpose to protect maritime turtles from threats of extinction. So there is a turtle hatchery where the hatchlings are released when they are big and strong enough to fend for themselves in the open sea. Tourists will be able to see several tanks where the hatchlings and small turles in the various stages of development are kept. One can also see large turtles swimming in some man made ponds. There is also a small tourist centre with informative posters and a few specimens.

Apparently this coastal area, called Pasir Panjang Segari is a suitable nesting area for these maritime turtles. The nesting season is all year round with the peak season being between March to July.

This is an interesting place to visit and tourist can later adjourned or lunch in the restaurants in Lumut or Pantai Remis.

Sai Baba's 84th birthday celebration

2009-11-25T10:02:00.006+08:00

Baba's thought for today.

"My birthday is the date when Divinity

Blossoms in your heart."

On November 23rd many devotees gathered in the hall of The Legend Inn, Taiping to celebrate the 84th birthday of Sai Baba.

The organising commitee did a good job of decorating the altar, complete with a three tier birthday cake, and a few others, lovingly made by the devotees themselves. Many devotees also made floral offerings.

With the usual opening prayers followed by an hour long "bajan sesssion then the "arati", everyone adjourned for a delicious vegetarian dinner. It was a joyous occassion for meeting up and exchanging news.

Multi intelligence

2009-11-21T09:39:00.010+08:00

Thought for today.

"They know enough who know how to learn"

-Henry Brooks Adams. (The educaton of Henry Adams)

The UPSR results hace been announced and the Ministry of Education has proudly highlighted that the results have improved slightly, with rural schools performing better than last year. At the same time it was noted that an aptitude test for gauging thinking skills and problem solving skills, which was introduced last year showed disappointing results. Post mortem into the reasons for this will definitely useful.

This new subject is a positive move a holistic education. We often hear the relevant authorities take pride in announcing schools' achivements in terms of academic results. Rarely has there been mention of students abilities and achievements in the other areas of development. Are we giving scant regard to the students' other strengths as explained Howard Gardner's Theory of Multi intelligences discussed in his book "Frames of Mind" 1983? Giving due consideration to these many aspects of human intelligence will be helpful in understanding learning styles, personality and behaviour in education and thus promoting skills in critical thinking and problem solving.

Edward De Bono, a famous British psychologist, writer and expert on thinking, has this relevant quotation. "Many highly intelligent people are poor thinkers. Many people of average intelligence are skilled thinkers. The power of the car is separate from the way a car is driven"

So the move by the ministry in introducing the new subject to gauge the thinking and problem skills of the students is a move in the right direction. What remains to be seen is the implementation of appropriate teaching activities in schools to enable students to develop these skills. If students are guided in this direction they will be able to apply their own judgement and interpretation to adapt to situations and thus be able to make the best for themselves.

Snatch thieves

2009-11-11T10:58:00.008+08:00

Thought for today.
"Every calamity is a spur and valuable hint"
-Ralph Waldo Emerson(Fate)

It was most unfortunate that I was a victim of a snatch thief. I was walking towards my car parked infront of the railway station in Taiping. As I sat on the drivers seat I placed my handbag which contained a wallet and a cell phone on the seat next to me. Before I could lock my car from the inside, someone opened the door. I thought that he was going to ask for directions but in a split second he grabbed my bag, uttered "sorry" and slammed the door. I jumped out of the car hoping to beg for my cards, but he had raced away on his fancy looking red motor bike.

As this was my first experience as a victim I was terribly shaken. Still I managed to drive straight to the police station to make a report. I was evry impressed with the "counter service" at the police station. The police officers on duty were very helpful...they allowed me to call my husband and also connected me to the banks to cancel the cards. I was relieved and thankful for I never thought that they would go out of their normal duties to help a victim!! Cheers to them!!

Everyone seems to have a story or two on their experiences or experiences of a friend or relative who have been unfortunate to have their bags or wallets snatched. This makes us wonder why all this is happening so frequently and openly. We can merely speculate on the reasons but what is important for us is to cope with this social problem. Friendly advice have included among the obvious- like not carry a handbag, lock the doors of your car, do not put your handbag on the passenger seat, etc-all measures amounting to being extra careful at our personal level. I suppose this is the best we can do and avoid being paranoid when we are in public places!! We have really lost our freedom and peace of mind in this unsafe envorinment.

Courage

2009-11-06T10:20:00.012+08:00

Thought for today.
"Don't be afraid to go out on a limb.

That's where the fruit is."

Anonymous

In a recent workshop some interesting issues were discussed. In one senario enacted by Azmi Sharin and Ng See Teng, in a situation whereby the boss refused the project paper which was sub-standard, the 'Broken Record Technique of being assertive was practised. Of course, they were such good 'actors' and this brought a great deal of laughter and enjoyment. Hopefully with more practice, this form of interpersonal communication will become second nature to them.

Later, in a group discussion session, Helena Teo from Meridian Contracts Sdn Bhd, Amarjet AK John Gendi from Twin Tech College, Kota Kinabalu, and Mohd Haris from Menta Construction concluded that "character" is the some total of the traits of an individual that constitute who the person is as a unique person and one's personality is revealed through the way one behaviours and interact.

This was then followed by a short lecture on the Transactional Analysis Theory of Eric Berne. The practical application of analysing transactions based on the "three ego states" of Parent, Adult and Child does offer another perspective of what effective human communication involves.

It is hoped that the participants did have a fruitful time and will be brave enough to try out the new skills practised. Yes, "don't be afraid to go out on a limb. That's where the fruit is".

Work

2009-11-05T19:12:00.011+08:00

Thought for today.

"Your work is to discover your work, and then with all your heart to give yourself to it"

-Buddha.

This group of Golden ladies must have followed this maxim all the years they served the government. They certainly must have with all their heart discharged the duties that had been assigned to them. For without this dedication it would have been difficult to be in service for more than thirty years.

Hence these retirement years are a time for living life, sharing and doing their little bit to make this a better world. The monthly lunch gatherings of the retirees of TMGS is a good occasion to share information regarding mutual friends, ex collegues, and family members. Sometimes getting away from the daily routine and meeting in different venues, trying different menus can be an exciting experience.

So yesterday saw yet another gathering of these retirees from TMGS for lunch at the Traders Hotel in Kamunting. There was still a great deal of talk on the 120th anniversary celebration of TMGS and the sharing of experiences in the school continues to delight everyone. The newspaper report of the anniversary event will bring make some nostalgia for those who missed the function.

It will be more meaningful if more will try to make the crowd for the next gathering on December 2nd, again in the Traders Hotel at 12.30pm.

Nine Emperor Gods Festival

2009-10-25T14:04:00.009+08:00

Baba's thought for today.

"Food which fans the flames of thirst should be avoided."

The ninth day of the Chinese lunar calendar signifies the last day of the celebration of the festival of the Nine Emperor Gods. This Taoist festival, is a religious one dedicated to the nine sons of the Queen of Heaven and Goddess of the North Star who is believed to control the Book of Life and Death. The nine sons known as the Nine Emperors are worshipped as patrons of prosperity, wealth and health. This may explain the large hugh crowds during this festival.

On the first day of this festival also known as "Kiew Ong Yiah" devotees do to a river bank or a seaside locality to invite and receive the deity for the nine days of worship, prayers, chanting and observance of vegetarian diet. Temples dedictaed to this deity are crowded with worshippers, the majority clad in white and many stay in the temple compound for the duration of the festival. Some do this as a form of thanksgiving for favours granted, some in prepration for the solemn and mystic ceremony of going into a trance, (some with spears pierced thorugh their cheeks, some with objects hanging form hooks on thier bare backs, just to name a few) some to fulfill their vow for the fire crossing ceremony. As an observor, I am amazed by the deep faith of these devotees and their endurance in undertaking such acts of faith.

On the eighth day there is a procession through the town and the many floats bearing the different deities from participating temple, add novelty to the celebration. An interesting and for me an unexplained phenomena is the sight of the sedan chair (bearing the deity) carried by four people, jerking and tossing around and rocking wildly as it makes its way through the town.

An unusual observation this year is the presence of female mediums or devotees in a trance forming part fo the procession. It is interesting that women are also gaining equality in this area!!

The last day is marked by the fire walking ceremony after which the deity will be sent off.

Arthur's Seat

2009-10-23T11:28:00.005+08:00

Baba's thought for today.

" Service springs out of love and it scatters

Love in profusion."

Arthur's Seat is a hill resort located more than 302 meters above sea level. It is a granite peak on Mornington Peninsula. The main attraction here is the reward of a panoramic view of the surrounding area as well as the natural bushland with mixed varieties of eucalyptus trees. The scent of the eucalyptus is very refreshing ...just like being in a spa while we sat down for a simple lunch of the breakfast leftovers which we packed from Boxhill shopping complex. Sitting on the hugh metal chair, Arthur's Seat, certainly did give me a sense of being "lord of all I survey"!! Enjoying the cool wind in the midday sun was an unsual experience.We would have seen some animals if we had strolled along one of the many tracks in the park.

On the drive down the treacherous slopes we made four stops at the lookout points to capture some interesting shots. The first is Chapmans Point 274 m, the Murrays lookout 247 m, Franklin Point 195 m and the lowest is Bowens Point 145 m. We were luckily to have clear blue skies and cool weather to make this a worthwhile and enjoyable trip.

Teachers

2009-10-22T18:49:00.009+08:00

Baba's thought for today.

" The teachers of tomorrow are the students of today"

It is truly distressing that Joanna Gilbert Anson who was accepted for a postgraduate course at the Teachers Training College Rajang was discriminated against when a senior official told her that she was too fat to become a teacher. In the New Straits Time dated October 21st, she claimed that the man told her" You are too fat. You can't possibly be a teacher. You look unhealthly, come back next year when you have slimmed down".

There are two main issues here. One pertains to the qualities of a good teacher and the other to discrimination on one's size and appearance. Is it fair for the officer to pass judgement based on the size and weight of the candidate? One wonders whether he is aware of what qualities or characteristics a good teacher should possess and whether one's weight has any bearing on a person's performance as a teacher. Any right minded person would be sensitive to such personal issues and the least he could do was to be empathatic instead of passing offensive, insensitive and unfounded statements. It is plain and simple that a good teacher is not measured in terms of her body weight!! It will be interesting to know what sort of disciplinary action will be taken by the college authorities for this dispicable behaviour of the senior officer.

And to Joanna, do not feel discouraged. You have the qualifications as well as the inherent qualities to be a good teacher. Do not give up your dream. This is just a minor obstacle. Look ahead, fight for your rights, see that justice is done and take steps to do the post graduate course. You will be a good teacher.

A teacher's role includes besides the imparting and facilitation of knowledge, the social aspect of instilling the right values, guidance in the development of leadership, teamwork and other life skills. Thus a teacher has the responsibility to be good role models for the future teachers and one's weight is definitely not a necessary pre -condition for achieving this.

Above are some beautiful pictures taken two weeks ago in Melborne.The picturesques scenes along the coastal road around Port Phillip Bay to Sorrento are really breathtaking. The azure blue waters reflecting different shades of blue add a certain mystic charm during this drive. We made a stop at Sorrento located at Mornington Peninsula, from where there is a car and passenger ferry service to Queenscliff on the other tip of the bay. Unfortunatley we had to forgo this experience of sailing through the bay and enjoying the view of the skyline of Melborne. But anyway Sorrento also has its own charm of historic buildings, quaint shops and interesting cafes. On the homeward journey we passed by Frankston, Rosebud and Dromana following the gentle sloping road from higher elevation of Arthur's Seat towards the coast of Phillip Bay. As Rosebud is a popular beach resort, the row of numerous little colourful beach huts is a unique sight here as can be seen in the first picture.

Great Ocean Road, Victoria

2009-10-20T14:50:00.013+08:00

Baba's thought for today.

"What is the unmistakable mark of a wise man?

It is love for all humanity"

No artist can compete with Mother Nature when it comes to the beauty of the spectacular coastal features found along the Great Ocean Road in southern Victoria.

These features have been sculptured by the giant waves and strong winds in the Southern Ocean. The most outstanding of these features are the Twelve Apostles which are in fact craggy limestone stacks rising majestically from the water.

Viewed from the deck, I did not see twelve of these stacks, some may have been hidden from view, but I have been told that in reality many may have collapsed. As can be seen in the pictures, the stratified rocks besides the unique shapes also bear interesting colours and the layering effect lend a certain charm to the scenery.

Another interesting sight was the Loch Ard Gorge, where it was believed that an iron-hulled clipper was driven into the rocks and only two of the fifty people on board survived. The London Bridge arch does not justistfy the name now for part of it has collapsed. But we cannot expect nature to stand still. Nature will take its course and the coastline will continue to be ravaged by the wind and waves and more novel features will form and be aptly named.

For the more adventurerous visitors, this are also popular for surfing, fishing, nature walks to observe the vegatation and the animals. But the not tobe missed the food. We stopped by at Timboon for lunch and we enjoyed the fish and chips, the gourmet cheese, the local beer and of course the ice cream and cheese cake!!

Taiping Peace Park

2009-10-17T15:41:00.016+08:00

Baba's thought for today.

"World peace and indivivual peace can be accomplished simultaneously. When the hand takes food to the mouth where it is chewed and swallowed, the nourishment spreads to every part of the body."

Taiping, my hometown, means everlasting peace. The town was so named after peace was restored between warring groups who were fighting over tin mining rights in the Larut district. Today it is significant that in 2001 the Taiping Peace Initiative was launched and a Peace Park was started in the Lake Gardens. The only indication of this park is a Peace Pole erected on a small one foot high platform as shown in the pictures. I wonder how many Taiping folks are aware of this or are seriously involved in achieving the objectives of this project.

The objectives of this group of interested parties are indeed noble. I quote from a speech made by Anwar Fazal, Chairperson of the Taiping Peace Initiative "I am particularly grateful to those who helped shape The Taiping Peace Initiative where we promote a triple peace - peace with ourselves (inner peace), peace with other people (social peace) and peace with the Environment (eco – peace)."

Many of us also subscribe to these three dimensions of peace. Taking care of one's well being, having high self worth, not bearing any grudges, being kind in our thoughts, words and actions, will work towards the cultivation of inner peace. With inner peace the cultivation of social peace will be a natural consequence whereby one will be able to put into practice the values that guide us in our daily lives. For peace with the environment we can play our part in many ways, for example, through a change in our lifestyle, through the way we dispose off our garbage, through recycling and reusing things , just to name a few. Maybe we have to get involved in the activities of this project!!

To follow further on the thought for today, societal peace, in the wider sense will include world peace. World leaders have their hands full with this as their main agenda. The absence of peace means that there is conflict. Thus to attain peace will involve identifying the nature of the conflict, then investigating into the causes of the conflict, be it insecurity, social injustice, economic inequality, political or religious radicalism, racism and even nationalism. World leaders are not having an easy time- they themselves are facing conflict in their endeavour to solve these conflicts!! It takes a lot to be a successful world leader!!

Baby's full moon celebration

2009-10-17T14:56:00.010+08:00

Baba's thought for today.
"Know that the purpose of human birth

is to reach the Lord through worship."

Congratulations to Jin and family for Whye Jing is one month old today. Following in the tradition of 'full moon" celebration, certain customary 'nyonya' food items were prepared for thanksgiving in the temple and to the deities worshipped in the home and at the alter of the late ancestors. These items included 'nasi kunyit"(tumeric flavoured glutinous rice steamed with coconut cream) and chicken curry, 'mee koo" (red coloured cakes with mung bean filling), red coloured hard boiled eggs and fruits. (See picture posted).

As baby and parents are in the US, we performed this ritual here, by proxy. But back in the US, Jin will be giving Whye Jing a clean shave of all the 'womb hair' from his head. He will be a handsome 'kojak'!!!Then he will be dressed up in new clothes, decked with gold ornaments in celebration of being one month old (or young) and permitted to leave the house. (This was in the olden days when the confinement period for new mothers and babies, was strictly followed). Some many feel that such rituals are frivolous but I think that the observance of such customs is important and serve to remind us of our roots.

Reflecting on the purpose of birth involve serious discussions- views vary according to one's religious beliefs. Without a firm inclination towards any of the denominations, I faithfully believe in my better judgement in my words, thought and actions and along the way consciously believing in the hidden hand of the Almighty. Outward rituals help in strengthening one's beliefs though for some private worship in the form of introspection, meditation and quiet prayers serve the purpose bringing inner calm and feeling self actualized.

Bill Granger's Restaurant

2009-10-14T15:04:00.017+08:00

Baba's thought for today.

"Whatever acts, a good or bad man may do
the fruits thereof follow him and will never stop
pursuing him."

We are all responsible for our actions - be they good or bad. The law of Karma (the effect of action and reaction) is something that we cannot escape from. When good things happen to us, we say it is good luck or attribute it to one's ability or resources. But when the unexpected bad things happen we try to blame everyone, everything, anything but ourselves!! It is prudent then that one reflects carefully before one says anything or do something. This is my reflection for today.

The fame of Bill Granger's talent of preparing simple food into something tasty and well presented has led to more cafes being opened since the first one in Darlinghurst, Sydney in 1993. On a cold and wet Saturday morning Sin directed the cab driver to Bill's Restaurant, a quaint looking cafe located in the corner perched on a slope!!

The setting here is relaxed and informal and diners may even choose to eat fuss free from a communal table. (See picture) There are comfortable corners for reading and customers have free access to the numerous magazines and books. It feels like home to be inside, so much so that I was immediatley attracted to the centrepiece of the communal table; a large bowl of attractive red pomegranates. I noticed a little girl on the next table eating this fruit and so I decided to help myself to one of them too after I had finished breakfast. Shortly after this , the nice waiter came by the table and asked whether I had wanted one of the fruits. When I replied in the affirmative, he added that the fruits were for display only. Imagine my embarrassment! I apologised and requested that it can be put into our bill. It was a pleasant surprise when Sin settled the bill as this item was not charged! Was it done out of courtesy or maybe they did not know what to do. But we were happy!

We were fortunate that we did not have to wait for a table as the place became crowded just when we were about to leave. We started off with a drink called 'Sunshine', a smoothie of yoghurt, orange juice, strawberries and bananas. The couple next to us had champagne but for us, Asians this seem somewhat strange. They were celebrating their anniversary and I guess they just wanted a head-start to the day!

We had the chef's speciality of scrambled eggs with rye-toast and we added a side order of smoked salmon. The other order was hot cakes and bananas served with flavoured butter and honey. Well, as I am not a food connoisseur, I ate the food slowly to savour everything, not only because it was expensive but also to try to determine what secret ingredient had been added to the dish. It was fabulous, well worth the effort of getting up early and braving the unfriendly weather!

So on your next visit to Sydney do head for bills (note that there's bills2 too!).

Marriage vows.

2009-10-13T09:41:00.007+08:00

Baba's thought for today.

"It does not matter, how bad or low the husband is;
the wife must, through love, bring him around and
correct him, and help him gain the blessings of the
Lord."

It was indeed a romantic setting -Lisan and Jeeuk seated calmly with the Sydney Harbour bridge in the background while they waited for the ceremony to begin. As is the practice in Australia, the ceremony was officiated by someone called a celebrant. Relatives and friends were treated to a rare experience of a cruise wedding, with good food, heavenly cakes for desert and the spirits flowed freely. Congratulations to Lisan and Jeeuk. The other pictures show Lisan with her parents and aunts, Lisan with her cousins and Lisan "sealing her love" for Jeeuk with a ring

Sydney harbour bridge

2009-10-11T18:35:00.015+08:00

Baba's thought for today.

"Greed yields only sorrow;
contentment is best"

How does one determine how much is enough before one crosses the line into being greedy? I guess one has to differentiate between what are 'needs' and what are 'wants'. If it is something you cannot do without, then it is a 'need'. If not then we have to learn to put a ceiling on our desires to aviod being greedy. Not an easy thing to do no doubt for humans are by nature avaricious!!

Contentment involves one being satisfied and with one's status and one's possessions. It does not imply a state of complacency but a state of being equanimous and being mindful of the present.

A visit to sydney would not be complete without shots of the Sydney harbour bridge, commonly referred to as the coathanger. Sin suggested that we attempt the 4 hour climb from one end to the other but I was not brave or fit enough for this adventure. Imagine paying A$200 to be strapped up with all the safety gadgets and putting on attire to suit the windy weather before the assault.

Anyway we decided on the ferry ride heading for Manly and enjoyed the adventure under the bridge instead of on top of it. The chilly weather forced us from the open deck after a few minutes back into the ferry proper from where we had to be 'contented' to watch the Sydney Opera house, the Sydney skyline and the other iconic buildings. There were a thousand butterflies in my stomach when the ferry wobbled, dipped, splashed and rocked from side to side during the short stretch called the 'heads'. Luckily this scary experience lasted only a few minutes!! But it was an exhilarating experience. I had to be 'contented' with this versus the bridge climb!!

Cup cakes

2009-10-11T12:42:00.011+08:00

Baba's thought for today.

"Patience is all the strength that man needs."

This cake shop located on the ground floor of the Queen Victoria Building, Sydney, specialises in cup cakes. It is appropriately called the Cup Cake Shop. The display of colourful cup cakes attractively decorated with royal icing fronts the whole shop. (See picture)

October 1st was Li Sim's birthday and Li San had ordered a hugh cup cake (see picture) to celebrate the happy occassion. I have never seen a cup cake of this size so it was a real novelty. It not only looks good but the taste was heavenly. One would normally eat the cake and leave the icing as we do in Malaysia. But with this cake, the butter cake was creamy and rich, and the icing was even more yummy...just the right sweetness and the texture was smooth. This experience will make me look at cup cakes differently. I wonder whether such a shop can be found in Kuala Lumpur for such a venture may have good potential!! Think about it you bakers out there.

Reflecting on the importance of Patience, I begin to analyse what being patient involves. Patience can be defined as a delay in getting what we want . Margaret Thatcher once famously remarked " I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end".

Patience is thus a state of endurance under difficult circumstances or perservering when our needs are not met or exhibiting forebearance when under stress. Therefore to put patience into practice means making a choice of either a small reward in the short term versus a bigger reward after a longer time. Being patient is thus a decision making process where one has to determine one's intended rewards.

Queen Victoria Building, Sydney

2009-10-10T09:40:00.016+08:00

Baba's thought for today.

"Do not get swelled up when people praise you
and do not feel dejected when people blame you."

This iconic building, the Queen Victoria Building located at the intersection of Market street and Pitt street in the CBD district of Sydney is an interesting building. It was built in 1898 featuring Byzantine architecture to replace the markets of Sydney. But over time it was remodelled for various purposes including as a concert hall. But in 1984 it was refurbished by a Malaysian company Ipoh Garden Ltd and is now home to more than 200 shops covering four floors.

Staying in the Swissotel located opposite, I took the opportunity to visit the building everyday to appreciate the interesting interior consisting of many domes and domelets. A stroll through the various floors (see picture) is itself a treat. The two mechanical hanging clocks have many unique features. Notice a miniature ship rotating indicating the passing of seconds.The exquisite stained glass windows are works of art and add character to the building.

The front facade is distinctive for no one can escape the majestic statue of Queen Victoria and also a wishing well guarded by her dog Islay. It is always crowded for the Town Hall station entrance faces it and as such is a popular meeting point.The basement is connected to the train stations and all the main shopping outlets such as The Strand, Myers, David Jones and Sydney Central. This indeed is a shopper's paradise!!

Reflecting on the quote for today, I am reminded not to be taken in by compliments and praises, and not to be adversely affected by undue criticisms and negative comments. Instead one should have confidence in oneself and hold fast to our own convictions and stay detached but mindful of events in our lives.

After Sydney and Melborne

2009-10-09T18:41:00.011+08:00

Baba's thought for today.

"Through the media of films, books, music
and the behaviour of elders, young minds are
excited and aroused into indulgences."

After four days in Sydney and four days in Melbourne I am back to share my experiences in these two Australian cities.

Before my departure for Sydney, I was forewarned of chilly weather. But on arrival on the first of October, I was greeted with very hot weather. We hopped on the Sydney hop-on-hop-off bus (picture 1)and headed for Bondi Beach. (picture 2)

The clear blue waters of the bay with the white sands and strong surf beating towards the shore were greatly appreciated by the 'sun worshippers'. The beach was crowded with people sun bathing while the surfers had a hey day on their surf boards. Unfortunately for us we were not prepared for the hot weather, clad in jeans, without any hats or umbrellas or sun block. Being shy of the blazing sun, I tried to shield myself from the scorching sun with my scarf. I must have been a real sight to behold but for me self protection is more important than public opinion!!

As I stood in the shade of a tree and watched this scene, I wondered to myself why Australian were still heading for Bali when they have such beautiful beaches and surf at their doorstep. This brings me to today's reflections. The power of the mass media with their aggressive promotions of holiday destinations have lured people to such places when sometimes similar experiences can be obtained at home or nearer home. But people still feel the need to indulge themselves with expensive and exotic holidays for reason know only to themselves. Therefore it is up to the individual to make their own choices.

Silence is golden

2009-09-30T07:18:00.007+08:00

Baba's thought for today.
"Silence is the speech of the spiritual seeker"

No can can deny the fact that in human communication "Silence" is in fact a form of non verbal communication. By not saying anything 'speaks volumes'. This very act conveys to the other party or person strong messages, such as 'I did not hear you"; "I'm indifferent"; "I disapprove'" and the list goes on. This is the aspect of silence in interpersonal communication. So for effective communication one has to be sensitive to such situations.

But in intrapersonal communication, silence may refer to contemplating, reflecting, introspection, meditation, being deep in prayer, or just being with oneself. This process enables one to clear one's thoughts; to be in the presen and thus one is in reality practising mindfulness. This is spiritually uplifting and may be joyous or equanimous.

Bukit Merah Eco Park

2009-09-29T13:47:00.012+08:00

Baba's thought for today.

"Let the wave of memory, the storm of desire,

the fire of emotion pass through without
affecting your equanimity."

Among the many attractions in the Bukit Merah Resort in Perak is the eco park. This park is well designed with visitors entering at the upper level and then proceeding downwards to the various sections. Children will certainly be delighted with the various sections which allow feeding of the animals. (The feeding package can be purchased at the ticket counter).

The design allows visitors to stroll at leisure whilst they watch the animals without feeling too humid for there is sufficient ventilation. But the most exciting experience for children is the feeding and petting of the animals.

In the pictures Lisim is lovingly fondling a hamster. In the other pictures Aidan is engrossed in feeding the little turtles, petting the bear cat, holding a rabbit and feeding an iguana. Such experiences, besides being endearing to children will give them an opportunity to appreciate nature and the animal world.

Emotional Intelligence

2009-09-28T14:20:00.004+08:00

Baba's thought for today.
"Instead of making the senses which are at best very
poor guides and informants, his servant; man has made
them his master."

Reflections on today's quote will include some sharing on emotional intelligence.
Usually our first reaction to events that happen are influence by our emotions.

Effective classroom management

2009-09-27T18:17:00.018+08:00

Baba's thought for today.

"The mind fixed in the awareness of the One is

like a rock, unaffected by doubt, stable, secure."

We had an exciting time over the last two days at the KTAR Training centre in Wisma MCA. This lively group of lecturers from Tar College, not only from the main campus in Setapak but also its branches in Kampar and Penang interatced with me during the workshop sessions.

We discussed many issues pertaining to effective classroom management and effective communication. On the topic of effective comunication, we emphasized the importance of listening.

During the seminar session, lead by Iris, seven ways to achieve good interpersonal communication were elaborated. These tips included appropriate body language (such as establishing eye contact, leaning towards the speaker, silent signals to show interest), not interrupting the speaker, using the speakers words to get your own point through, and asking suitable questions. The panel members shared their experiences which also included some humorous episodes which took place in the lecture halls and tutorial rooms.

In the next picture Mr Tan Ping Foo led his group in summarizing the main points on how to create active learning in the classroom. Ng Khoo Lay contributed practical ideas such as the use of appropriate teaching methods and using a variety of teaching aids and activities. Tan Gaik Yen also agreed that using cooperative learning will generate more participation from the students. The general conclusion was that instructional design should be student centred to achieve maximum learning.

In another workshop session, Prema, Christine, Hew and Jayamathy examined the issues involve in the topic of "Praise in the classroom." They emphasized the differences between praise and encouragement. Whilst praise only recognises complete, perfect product, encouragement recognises effort and improvement. Amongst the many differences, the most significant is the effect on one's self esteem. While praise makes one feel worthwhile only when others approve (external locus of control), encouragement makes one feel worthwhile without the approval of others (internal locus of control). In the long term, praise makes one dependent on others but encouragement will result in self confidence and self reliance.

Ooi Sumin, Diong Fong Wei, Yau Ming Yuan and Clifford presented some research findings on the importance of multiple intelligences in the teaching and learning process. As opposed to the traditional viewpoint of two types of intelligences of 'verbal' and 'computional', the paper describes the breakdown categories such as linguistic, logical/mathematical. social, musical, kinesthetic/bodily, personal and naturalistic. So ideally recognition of such differences will enable lecturers to plan their teaching methods and activities accordingly.

There was active participation from members of all groups and many topics were covered. I believe that the lecturers went away more informed on the principle of "withitness" when managing their classrooms; the significance of teachers' beliefs in students' achievement; and lastly through the case studies insights were gained on handling inappropriate behaviour, students' learning styles,personal problems faced by college students and also issues faced by lecturers in general.

I benefitted from the sharing and hope to get feedback from lecturers especially on the topic on 'Outcomes based learning'.

Lessons from the birds

2009-09-23T17:51:00.007+08:00

Baba's thought for today.

"However high a bird may soar, it has
sooner or later to perch on a tree top,
to enjoy quiet."

Attribution theory

2009-09-23T13:46:00.011+08:00

Baba's thought for today.

"Whatever is to our advantage will appear right to us:
We do not usually look upon a matter from the other
fellow's standpoint."

My reflections on this quote prompt me to mention the Attribution Theory which deals with the way one can attribute a certain behaviour or happening either internally or externally.

We all have a need to explain the world, both to ourselves and to other people, attributing cause to the events around us. This gives us a greater sense of control. When explaining behavior, it can affect the standing of people within a group (especially ourselves).

When another person has erred, we will often use internal attribution, saying it is due to internal personality factors. When we have erred, we will more likely use external attribution, attributing causes to situational factors rather than blaming ourselves. And vice versa. We will attribute our successes internally and the successes of our rivals to external ‘luck’.

When a football team wins, supporters say ‘we won’. But when the team loses, the supporters say ‘they lost’.Our attributions are also significantly driven by our emotional and motivational drives. Blaming other people and avoiding personal recrimination are very real self-serving attributions. We will also make attributions to defend what we perceive as attacks. We will point to injustice in an unfair world.

We will even tend to blame victims (of us and of others) for their fate as we seek to distance ourselves from thoughts of suffering the same plight. We will also tend to ascribe less variability to other people than ourselves, seeing ourselves as more multifaceted and less predictable than others. This may well because we can see more of what is inside ourselves (and spend more time doing this).

In practice, we often tend to go through a two-step process, starting with an automatic internal attribution, followed by a slower consideration of whether an external attribution is more appropriate. From a standpoint of motivation, external attribution of events or bebaviour may be more campassionate and effective, maybe??? It's similiar to saying "I give you the benefit of the doubt" (More information on this topic can be obtained in the relevant web sites from which I had referred to.)

Very often too, we do not try to understand the other person's reality but instead pass judgement based on our own perceptions. Maybe we shall attempt to be more objective.

This picture of a lovely sunset scene was taken on Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia. The "goodness"of this picture, can be attributed the unique scenery, the expertise of the photographer or to the quality of the camera? So what is the answer? Figure this out.

Goodness of Eggs

2009-09-22T15:20:00.003+08:00

I am sharing this interesting article which was forwarded to me.

Egg yolks are good for you
The truth about egg yolks
Many people throw away the egg yolk because they think that's where all the nasty fat and cholesterol is". This is a perfect example of how confused most people are about nutrition.
In a world full of misinformation, somehow most people now mistakenly think that the egg yolk is the worst part of the egg, when in fact, the YOLK IS THE HEALTHIEST PART OF THE EGG!
By throwing out the yolk and only eating egg whites, you're essentially throwing out the most nutrient dense, antioxidant-rich, vitamin and mineral loaded portion of the egg. The yolks contain so many B-vitamins, trace minerals, vitamin A, folate, choline, lutein, and other powerful nutrients... it's not even worth trying to list them all.
In fact, the egg whites are almost devoid of nutrition compared to the yolk. Even the protein in egg whites isn't as powerful without the yolks to balance out the amino acid profile and make the protein more bio-available. Not to even mention that the egg yolks from free range chickens are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids. Yolks contain more than 90% of the calcium, iron, phosphorus, zinc, thiamin, B6, folate, and B12, and panthothenic acid of the egg. In addition, the yolks contain all of the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K in the egg, as well as all of the essential fatty acids.
And now the common objection I get all the time when I say that the yolks are the most nutritious part of the egg..."But I heard that whole eggs will skyrocket my cholesterol through the roof ." No, this is FALSE!
First of all, when you eat a food that contains a high amount of dietary cholesterol such as eggs, your body down-regulates it's internal production of cholesterol to balance things out. On the other hand, if you don't eat enough cholesterol, your body simply produces more since cholesterol has tons of important functions in the body.
And here's where it gets even more interesting...There are indications that eating whole eggs actually raises your good HDL cholesterol to a higher degree than LDL cholesterol, thereby improving your overall cholesterol ratio and blood chemistry.
And 3rd... high cholesterol is NOT a disease! Heart disease is a disease...but high cholesterol is NOT.
You can read the following article about why trying to attack cholesterol is a mistake, and what the REAL deadly risk factors actually are...

So I hope we've established that whole eggs are not some evil food that will wreck your body... instead whole eggs are FAR superior egg whi
Also, your normal supermarket eggs coming from mass factory farming just don't compare nutritionally with organic free range eggs from healthy chickens that are allowed to roam freely and eat a more natural diet.
I recently compared eggs I bought at the grocery store with a batch of eggs I got at a farm stand where the chickens were free roaming and healthy. Most people don't realize that there's a major difference because they've never bought real eggs from healthy chickens... The eggs from the grocery store had pale yellow yolks. On the other hand, the healthier free range eggs had deep orange colored yolks indicating much higher nutrition levels and carotenoids.
So next time a health or fitness professional tells you that egg whites are superior, you can quietly ignore their advice knowing that you understand the REAL deal about egg yolks.
One more thing about eggs... I read a study recently that compared groups of people that ate egg breakfasts vs groups of people that ate cereal or bagel based breakfasts. The results of the study showed that the egg eaters lost or maintained a healthier bodyweight, while the cereal/bagel eaters gained weight.
It was hypothesized that the egg eaters actually ate less calories during the remainder of the day because their appetite was more satisfied compared to the cereal/bagel eaters who would have been more prone to wild blood sugar swings and food cravings.
For more infomation go to
http://www.truthabouttabs.com/cholestrol-myths.

We are what we eat?

2009-09-22T14:17:00.005+08:00

Baba's thought for today.
"The food that one eats has to be pure,
free from the subtle evils radiated by the
persons who collect the materials, who cook
the dishes and who serve them."

There is a great deal of discussion on organic food, GM food, processed food and the list goes on. We are faced with so much literature on the pros and cons of the various types, that there is confusion as to what constitutes a wholesome diet.

What we eat is a matter of personal choice, preference, taboos and one's health condition. There is no such thing as a proven formula that will guarantee one's good health. But at a spiritual level, the topic of food has also been hotly debated. Some people are sceptical about the food offerings made during observance of festivals and some prayer rituals. Following today's quote, I believe that all foods are wholesome if they are served with a loving and sincere heart and the person who consumes it likewise must be grateful for the food.

The popular saying of 'you are what you eat' can be interpreted at different levels so one has the choice to eat whatever he or she pleases. It's all in the mind.

One world, One dream

2009-09-21T08:24:00.017+08:00

Baba's thought for today.
"There should not be any trace of dislike
or distrust on the score of nationality,
language, caste, economic status, scholarship,
age or sex."

I am reminded of my days in University of Malaya 40 years ago when we interacted as one "race". There was no racial tension. Words such as polarisation did not exist in our vocabulary then.

MU, the only university in Malaysia at that time, must be lauded for the measures that were implemented then. In the halls of residence, first year students had to stay for one semester in dormitaries shared by six girls of different races. This was a good experience for us, for by living togather we had the chance to learn about each others' culture, food and sensitivities. Both Muslims and non muslim food were served in the dining room and all students collected their respective food preferences from the counters and we then sat and ate together, both muslims and non muslims and thus we could interact as well as know about the various dishes. This was indeed very effective at bringing the integrating the races.

I also remember a frightful experience when I had a Malay girl as my room mate. One evening, on entering the room around 'magrib' time, I had a shock of my life when I saw a white figure behind the door. Naturally,in the dim light of dusk, I thought I had seen a ghost!! This is just one of the instances of learning through experiences and it is through such examples that we as Malaysian can live as One Nation.

Internationally, events are held periodically to bring countries togather. Sports events, leadership events, community service conferences etc are good occassions for people of all races to meet so as to foster understanding and respect for people of all races, creed and culture. But individuals must also play thier role in their personal capacity towards fostering goodwill. The picture show the crowd of different nationalities cheering during the paralympics football match in Beijing 2008.

The paralympics held in Beijing in 2008 opened my eyes to the recognition of all races as equal human beings irrespective of their colour, creed and physical conditions. The motto of One World , One Dream (Pictures taken in Tiananmen Square last year) should be the guideline of how we should live our lives and treat all with compassion.

New member

2009-09-20T09:41:00.012+08:00

Baba's thought for today.

"The lights have to be switched on in the heart
of man, rather than in the house where the
image of the Lord is installed and worshipped"

Reflecting on this thought, I am reminded to pay more attention on cultivating postive moral values; to be kind in our thoughts ,words and actions; and to have some daily quite time spent in meditation and introspection. Hopefully with this the internal lights will shine regardless of outward form.
We have once again been blessed with another grandson, born on the auspiciuos day of 190909 in New Jersey, USA. Mother and son are doing fine and we share this joy with Jin and family and wish them all the best. WhyeLi is proudly showing off his new brother WhyeJing.

Today is Hari Raya Aidil Fitri and everyone is in a celebration mood visiting our Muslims friends in the Malaysian spirit of 'open house'. This practice is unique in Malaysia. During major festivals, people of all races, creed and culture take the opportunity visit eaxch other in order to share in the social interaction, further understand each others' culture, strength fellowship ties and promote racial harmony.

We are indeed fortunate to live in such a nation but we should also play our part to maintain this 'one Malaysia' concept.

Shopping Mall decorations and mooncakes

2009-09-19T09:47:00.014+08:00

Baba's thought for today.
"The purpose of living is
to achieve the 'living in God'."

Today is the eve of Hari Raya Aidil Fitri which also corresponds to the first day of the eighth Chinese lunar month. In Malaysia the celebration of the festivals of the different races forms a unique aspect of our culture. With such a varied ethnic mix, we are 'celebrating' one thing or another all year round! How interesting.

The shopping malls take great pains to reflect the mood of such festivals in their decoration. Very soon the Hari Raya (essentially green)decorations will be replaced with the bright red and colourful decorations of lanterns and moon cakes for the mooncake festival which will be observed in fifteen days time.

As the observance of these festivals reflect the 'muhibah' spirit of 'One Malaysia" we should be always mindful of the values that we hold. Having a simple, clean and moral lifestyle; caring for family and friends; and conserving the environment are some of the ways to achieve 'living in God'.

Posted are pictures of some mooncakes bought in Vietnam. The making of mooncakes is now a competitive business and craetivity is called for in order to capture the market. Notice the unique presentation and theme of the sow with her brood of piglets.

In the other picture, the filling of mooncakes is not the conventional filling of lotus bean, red bean or mixed nuts filling. They have now stretch their imagination and new flavours have included green tea, chocolate, and even ice cream. But these flavours from Vietnam 'takes the cake'...fillings such as shark's fins, oyster, abalone and other exotic items. Just imagine!!! To top it of all these are presented in very attractive boxes and labelling!

Neighbours

2009-09-18T13:30:00.008+08:00

Baba's thought for today.
"Man is now able to soar
into outer space and reach
to the moon:
but he is not moral enough
to live at peace with his neighbour."

This quote brings to mind the current 'strain' Malaysia and Indonesia are experiencing. Apparently the misreporting by Discovery Channel regarding the origin of the Balinese dance called "Tarian Pendet" started a furore regarding infringement into one's cultural heritage.

Debates by claimants of the 'copyright" of 'Batik', 'satay' and 'ayam percik' just to name a few may have led to temperatures reaching boiling point, even resulting in some unfortunate incidents faced by some Malaysians in a neighbouring country.

The real reason for this situation is only a point of conjecture but it is definitely something beyond 'batik' and 'satay'. But it is heartening to note that the leaders are working on ironing out the differences.

At our personal level, it calls for understanding, patience, tolerance and compassion to live peacefully with our neighbours. We should regard and treat our neighbours as our best friends for in a crisis, especially if it occurs in the dead of night, it will be our neighbours who will be the first people at our doorstep.

I am reminded of the common saying "Love thy neighbour as you love yourself" but it means more than just passing a plate of cookies across the fence!!

Residential communities do organise events to promote fellowship as seen in the picture of a racing event for children in Parkside Drive, Peoria USA or social events to celebrate Halloween as seen in the second picture. All these do promote good neighbourliness but the bottom line is that we have to 'walk the talk".

Score 'A' Programme

2009-09-17T12:33:00.013+08:00

Baba's thought for today.

"Awake, Arise and

Stop not till the goal is reached."

This qoute is motivating especially for students as I share some information on a strategy that can help students reach their full potential.

I am referring to an interesting portal which offers home tuition and coaching to school children from Standard one right up to Form Five based on the Malaysian school syllabus.This portal is endorsed by the Ministry of Education and has been tested in eight-nine schools in the country and the results have been very encouraging.

This portal was made available to the public in 1997 and testimonials from students of various learning levels who have succeeded in scoring several 'A's and many even straight 'A's in the public examinations speak well of this portal. This interesting mode in home tuition has many practical advantages both for students as well as parents.

Firstly, through e-learning, students are able to work at their own pace, identify their weaknesses and receive immediate feedback on their performance. The many interactive features of this portal also includes Examination Hall experience; endless practice sessions with the hugh question bank; e-notes and dictionary. With these unique features students can be fully engaged in active independent learning. Furthermore, parents can also receive immediate feedback of their child's work through the SMS service.

I am impressed with this portal and I feel that if this is used more widely, more students will definitley be 'A' students. Congratulations to the team who designed this portal thus adding an extra option for tuition towards the goal of higher academic achievement.

The picture shows a group of like minded people sharing their experiences on this virtual learning mode.

Thunderbolt in Taiping area.

2009-09-16T22:27:00.008+08:00

Baba's thought for today.

"Condemn the wrong and extol
the right as soon as you notice either
in your children; that will settle them
in the straight path."

A very important parenting skill is being able to recognise and accept the faults and weaknesses of our children. Parents must try to be objective in the way they discipline children. It's not easy to stay detached for one's judgement may be clouded by one's over consuming love for them. Any misbehaviour
should be duly handled appropriately

In the same way, any achievement, sincere effort or good behaviour should receive praise, encouragement , rewards and reinforcement in order to
motivate the child to cultivate positive values, to continue to achieve and to bahaviour appropriately

I was unable to post pictures since the dial-up connection is not efficient to support the upload of the pictures. With so many modems down, TM Net is finding it difficult to cope with the complaints. I sincerely hope that my Streamyx connection will be back to normal soon.

Ramadan Bazaar

2009-09-15T22:37:00.014+08:00

Baba's thought for today.
"When you feel that you cannot do good,
at least desist from doing evil"

We should all be accountable for our own decisions and actions. Following the quote for today, let us lead a simple, considerate lifestyle and let all our actions be guided by the values that we hold.

Walking through the Ramadan bazaar which was set up for this sole purpose, I feel thankful that Malaysians are able to enjoy the festivals practised by the different races. The whole place was a hive of activity but of particular interest to me was the food section.

Besides the Muslim shoppers, the non muslims also took the opportunity to purchase the different delicacies, cooked dishes and cookies.

The variety displayed for sale was so wide that the shoppers were spolit for choice. Whilst the roaring business was good for the traders.I could not resist the variety of curries for sale. The curry 'merah 'ayam, the 'kerabu' bean sprout, and the 'sambal' fish, (all pictured) were my first choice for dinner tonight. Then I bought some cakes for desserts. My favourites were the tapioca pudding, and the 'batik' cake.

The Holy month of Ramadan is indeed a joyful and meaningful month for the Muslims, through their observance of their religious obligations are able to develop strong will power, strength their faith and preserve their culture. "Selamat hari Raya Aidil Fitri"

Ceragem Centre

2009-09-14T19:40:00.006+08:00

Thanks for comments. I post some more pictures of the machines.

The first picture is the 'Amber Chia' machine. There are three computerized programmes which will vibrate in different speed and variations. Each programme lasts ten minutes. Do you see Amber in the poster?

The second is called the Human Medextec. It is also a vibrataing machine. The intensity can be selected and the user is advised to follow the recommended postures when standing on the machine.

Ms Chen Phui Phui will readily answer all your queries and attend to your needs when you are there.

Hope you will have the chance to try out these machines.

'Phor Thor' -Festival of the Hungry Ghosts

2009-09-14T18:31:00.006+08:00

Baba's thought for today.

"The same current activates all"

All man are born equal. I think this what the quote means.

The 'Phor Thor' ceremony during the seventh lunar month is observed by many people who believe that by making bountiful offerings for the 'wandering souls', they will be richly rewarded.

I've been told that the main diety is the 'God of Hades' who acts as the patron and there is always an effigy of a horse which is to transport these offerings to the other world. Picture one shows, besides other prayer items a pair of pyramid shaped clusters of buns called'moh hor'.

Picture two shows the full view of the altar and the paper horse is clearly visible beside the altar.

Picture three is very interesting for these are the food offerings, consisting of roast pig, dried noodles, many types of fruits, sweets and cakes. But the most important part of the ceremony is the burning of joss paper,'money' and other things made of paper which will appease the wandering spirits.

I think the observance of such rituals and festivals among the Chinese are significant for the believers and they are to be respected as such. Besides such activities are good for fostering community spirit among the different clans, trades groups and companies. It's like a 'muhibbah' thing!!

Sunset at Kuala Sepetang Seafood Restaurant

2009-09-13T09:20:00.008+08:00

Baba's thought for today.

"Man is a spark of the Divine"

If I am not mistaken, somewhere in the Bible it is stated that God made man in his own image.

Man was created 'good'. We are in control of our behaviour, we decide what values we want to hold, and we have the freedom to treat people and the environment in the way you deem appropriate.

There is a spark of the Divine in us, we have to change accordingly.

Port Weld, or the current name Kuala Sepetang is a historic town. The first railway line was constructed from Taiping to Port Weld by the British to transport the tin from the rich tin mines in the Larut District. Today this town is still popular for, amongst other things, a seafood restaurant.

The 'Tepi Sungei' restaurant is located on the upper level of a jetty where fishing boats come in to unload the catch of fish, prawns and shellfish. Mr Ong, who operates this restaurant is always there to recommend the house favourites.

The dishes are all seafood prepared in different ways. The popular dishes are the assam curry fish, butter prawns, deep fried shrimps, steam fish and boiled small squids.

Besides the delicious food, the view of the setting sun at the river mouth, accompanied by the fresh breeze whets one's appetite for the feast ahead.

The pictures, taken when we were with our Pakistani friends show the beautiful sunset, the fishing boats and Tariq with Quassim.

If you visit Perak, this restaurant is well worth a visit. Also not to be missed is the Matang mangrove swamps which is a Ramsar mangrove swamps conservation site. While strolling down the board walk one will be able to observe the different species of mangrove trees and insects as well as hear the chirping of the birds.

Month of the "Hungry Spirits"

2009-09-12T07:25:00.009+08:00

Baba's thought for today.

"All spiritual practice must
be directed to the removal
of the husk and the revelation
of the kernel."

To me, the 'removal of the husk' refers to the form. Rituals and other practices may form part of one's practice, but what is more important is the substance. It is how we live, how we treat people, how we communicate and how we think. 'Revelation of the kernel' is how our thoughts words and actions reflect the beliefs and values which we hold dear.

The common sayings such as 'Practice what you preach ' or 'It is the substance, not the form' summarize the essence of this quote.

What is the significance of the rituals practised by the Chinese? For example during New Year the lion dance signifies the (in the second picture) welcome of the new year. Or the offering of a paper house during funerals as seen in picture one. The Chinese practise many festivals and we should keep the tradition going.

So said...Mother Teresa, Charles Dickens, Leo Tolskoy and others.

2009-09-11T19:06:00.007+08:00

Received an attachment in my e-mail and some of these quotes moved me.

" If you judge others ,
you have no time to love them"
Mother Teresa.

"Never break 4 things in your life
Trust, Relation, Promise, and Heart
Because when they break, they dont't make
noise but pains a lot."
Charles Dickens.

"In a day, when you don't come across
any problems, you can be sure that you are
travelling in a wrong path"
Swami Vivekananda

"Everyone thinks of changing the world
but no one thinks of changing himself"
Leo Tolskoy

Appreciate the icons of Singapore..The Durian
in the esplanade, and the southern sky line.

PSMB. Ministry of Human Resource

2009-09-10T13:31:00.011+08:00

Baba's thought for today.
"Too much food
results in dullness of mind"

What can we understand from this quote? As for me I assume that one should refrain from being greedy when consuming food. Over eating is not advisable for not only will the mind be affected, it may also have adverse consequences on one's health and wellness. Moderation is the way for us.

I take pride in posting some pictures that I took during some training sessions sometime ago. The training workshops cover topics as "Effective Communication and the Educator", "Evaluation of Teaching and Effective Teaching Practices", "Enhancing Personal Effectiveness","Effective Classroom management and Communication" and other related topics for example, interpersonal skills, motivation, and emotional intelligence.

My interaction and sharing during these workshops have been very enlightening for me. Education is life long and since teaching is a two way process everyone benefits not only in acquiring academic and technical knowledge but one is also enriched through this social interaction.

Training provides me with the opportunity to meet principals and lecturers of private colleges, executives and staff from the other organizations. Private Colleges such as Tunku Abdul Rahman College in Setapak, Universiti Tun Abdul Razak, Southern College in Johore Baru, and Swinburne University in Kuching, just to name a few have given me the privilege to share my knowledge and experiences.

Furthermore, during training workshops, the participants get the chance to network, share common workplace problems, and also enjoy each others' fellowship and maybe establish friendships.

The initiative taken by the Ministry of Human Resource, Malaysia in implementing and regulating the guidelines in training is most commendable.

Significant day -20090909. Big Bang

2009-09-09T18:46:00.006+08:00

Big Bang to welcome this auspicious date in the year 2009.Different people attach different significance to recurring numbers.

For one, punters are not accepting any bets on numbers with three digits of 9's!! Why? No idea. Maybe gaming companies such as Magmun, Sports Toto, Big sweep can enlighten us on this.

For people who like puns, the three digits of nine sounds like three dogs.Or it may sound like enough, enough, enough!! (So much for putting a ceiling on desires!!. In Mandarin, 9 (jiu)signifies forever. This explains why so many couples chose to get married today although it is not a common practice for people to marry during the seventh lunar month. So much for the numbers game!! Can you attach your own meanings to this?

As for me, it is indeed a significant day for my son whose birthday is today and I wish him all the best and may he be happy and well.

Ceragem 5R Health Centre

2009-09-09T09:10:00.009+08:00

Baba's thought for today.

"Service is spiritual discipline,
not a pastime of the rich
and well-placed"

There is no place like home after being away for three weeks. I had a wonderful time revisiting some of the popular sights of Beijing and also visited others which I was not able to cover on previous trips.

A few days before I departed, the weather was cooler and there was some rain. It was pleasant to be outside so I enjoyed my early morning walks in Lane Bridge compound and on some days also strolled in the popular parks.

Enjoying the company of Lena, Tim and the boys made me feel priviledged to be a grandmother. Ian and Aidan take joy in calling me 'old' but I take that as a compliment. I will surely miss their antics, ingenuity and boisterious play. They entertained me in a farewell performance where they playfully toyed with their new guitar and drums while they sang, each taking turns on the guitar and the bongo drums. They surely had showmanship considering that it was their first go at the instruments.

Last but not least was the feasting, dining and cooking. I did my fair share of preparing some favourite dishes, coached the new 'aiyi',and enjoyed Ranger's company. The real treat was when I was spoilt with the experience of different types of food, such as Mexican enchilidas, Tibetan yak meat, xiaolong bao in Din Tai Fung, pork knuckle in aGerman restaurant, Szechuan food at Meichou's in Wangjing, and even Nyonya food in Malacca Legend.

Now it's back to my normal routine. The first on the agenda is my daily visit to the 5R health centre where I can get relief from my aches by lying on the Ceragem massage bed for 40 minutes. Then the workout on the vibrating machine called Human Medexer to shake off the excess fat, followed by 20 minutes in the sauna and another 10 minutes on the 'Amber Chia machine'

Temple of Heaven

2009-09-08T23:27:00.007+08:00

Baba's thought for today.

"All things in creation are subjected to
the law of change and man too is subject
to this law."

This quote is at tandem with the Buddhists philosophy that what is important is the present. Be mindful of the present for everything is impermanent.

On my last day in Beijing I visited the Temple of Heaven again,my fourth since 2004. It was a fine morning Monday so I decided to take a leisurely stroll into this historic place...to feel the 'chi'of the sacred grounds where the Emperors of ancient China came to worship and made offerings for good harvests.

I had a refreshing walk and also exchanged tourist news with three young Indian men from Hongkong. I was surprised that as I walked out to the North gate, I was accompanied by a Chinese women and we could make polite conversation...all with my limited Chinese vocabulary!!

The pictures of the Temple of Heaven were taken from the outside...a different angle!!In the other picture taken 2 years ago one can see the grandeur of wooden architeture that has survived for so long.

The picture of the tree shows the Nine Dragons tree.It is a 500 year old juniper tree and the trunk is twisted. This grotesque trunk has 9 vertical spinal grooves resembling dragons reaching for the sky. Hence the name. I overheard a guide explain to some European tourists that the 'chi' is strong around this tree. So I tried, but I did not feel anything!!Maybe not my day!!

Arthur Sackler Museum in Beijing University

2009-09-06T17:16:00.000+08:00

Baba's thought for today.
" The very joy derived from service reacts
on the body and makes you free from disease."

I'm sure many who have been involved in community work without any altruistic motives would have found this quote apt. Baba has often said that service to man is service to God.

Beijing University, often referred to as "Beida" is located in a beautiful campus, but unfortunately as it was raining when I visited, I could not stroll through the whole campus. I had to be contented with the main agenda of my visit, that is,to visit the Arthur Sackler Museum of Anthropology. The museum is small (though not what I had expected) but as a centre for research, it has quite a good collection of specimens.

Jingshan Park overlooking the Forbidden City

2009-09-06T16:54:00.000+08:00

Although Friday was a misty and rainy day, I could not pass the chance of climbing Jingshan Hill that faces the Forbidden city. As you walk up there are two pavilions where one can stop to catch one's breath or to take in the view.

Then right on top is the main pavilion with an altar dedicate to Lord Buddha. No photography of this image is allowed but the tourists did not mind for they could snap shots of the panoramic (though hazy view) of the Forbidden City and its surrounding areas.

The cool and refreshing air was ample reward for my tired legs!!

From Mao to Now. 1949-2009

2009-09-06T16:40:00.000+08:00

Visited the National Museum of Art themed 60 Years of Chinese Fine Arts.
In my previous posts I had mentioned this but I wish to add some extra pictures after reading an article in the newspapers.
This marvellous painting greets one on entering the museum. Photography is allowed. In the other picture one can also see the famous picture of the Brother and Sister painting.

Costumes for Aidan and wine bottles and traditional ones

2009-09-06T16:13:00.000+08:00

This post is to share some pictures of Aidan. Also we collected the order for the
wine bottle covers ordered for Lisan's wedding in Sydney and I took some pictures of some traditional costumes.

Morning activities in Redinghu Park, Liupukanjie, Xicheng District

2009-09-03T12:59:00.003+08:00

Baba's thought for today.
"The end of knowledge is love.
The end of education is character"

Following up from the visit to Redinghu Park,I have posted some pictures of some of the common activities I observed yesterday. What amazed me was that the art of calligraphy is even practised as a morning open-air activity!.The lady in the picture is using a three foot long brush dipped in water and was engrossed with writing large words on the cemented ground. According to sources, this is also good for one's health.

In another picture the group, each holding a racket try to balance a ball while they perform turns and flicks. Looks simple, but while I observed the leader and the 'students' I understand that a great deal of practice is required to master the art.

The park also offers exercise equipment. These are all made of metal and fixed to the ground. A senior couple were both on the cycling equipment, while an agile looking lady was executing some somersaults on the bars. There was a station where an old lady was moving her body uo and down the pole with protrusions,sort of like scratching her back.

Beside these, there was large group having a choir practice- complete with loud speakers, backup music. There were some small groups playing the 'erhu' and other traditional musical instruments. Others were busy with card games, just chatting, amusing young children or seriously walking briskly or doing taichi.

It was a picture of life of the common folks of urban Beijing!!

Beijing sights- Yue Bin restaurant; Rendinghu Park; Art Museum

2009-09-02T19:59:00.000+08:00

Baba's thought for today.

"There should not be any trace of dislike
or distrust on the score of nationality,
language,caste,economic status, scholarship,
age or sex."

Started the day with a visit to Rendinghu Park located at 11, Liupukangjie, Dewaiande Lu, Xicheng District.It is one of the smaller parks with a taste of Trivoli. On entering the gate, there is a yellow stucco building with a baby perched on top.Then on both sides are a few naked statues of men and women. As with all parks in the city, the local people are all engaged with sporting and cultural activities.It was refreshing stolling through the well maintained garden and watching the people busy with their activities.

Currently the Art Museum is featuring a special exhibition of Art to celebrate 60 years 'From Mao to Now'.Works of art representative of the ages, genre and themes are on display on five levels.

Then it was lunch at Yue Bin Restaurant,located 31 Cuihua Hutong opposite the main gates of the National Museum of Art. This is noted as Beijing's first privately owned restaurant after 1949. It offers family food at affordable prices in a simple setting. Highly recomended are the two dishes which are shown in the pictures. They are 'guota dofu he' (wok tofu boxes) and 'ganshao huang yu' (fried ellow croaker). All this for 76 yuan.

Guests for dinner

2009-09-01T21:04:00.000+08:00

Baba's thought for today.
"Food should not be too salty, too hot, too bitter,
too sweet, too sour"

How coincidental that the quote for today is about food. We had two friends Dora and Mandy for dinner. I prepared a Malaysian favourite ...Hainanese chicken rice.Besides the steamed chicken, we served a steamed fish and 'bok choy' in oyster sauce. It was a delightful meal followed by dessert, compliments of Dora. It was from '21 cake' which is ordered online. It was a coconut cake with mixed fruit in the centre sitting on a generous bed of shaved white chocolate.

Applying today's quote, means that we have to be moderate in all we do. No excesses of any kind to achieve the yin-yang of life.

The pictures show the Beijing skyline from the National Ethnic Museum.

Chinese Ethnic Museum

2009-08-31T19:51:00.000+08:00

Baba's thought for today.

"You must welcome tests because
it gives you confidence and it ensures promotion."

I spent an interesting half day in the Chinese Ethnic Museum in Beijing which is located next to the Olympic Village,in Chaoyang District. This complex covers an area of more than 450,000 square meters. The North Garden consists of 16 national villages including those of Qiang, Oroqen and Hezhe ethnic groups.

In the South Garden there are over 20 national villages. All buildings adopt the proportion of 1:1.There is also a large National museum and many sculptures from different parts of China. In this complex one can experience the life and culture of the ethnic villages and appreciate the scenic sights and monuments of China, without going out of Beijing.

The pictures show some colourful costumes,Meticulous needlework, a daring act by two young maidens climbing up a ladder of sharp blades, and Sugong pagoda in Turpan, Xinjiang.

Unfortunately,it is sad that it is only one year after the Olympics, and this place seems somewhat neglected. Many of the fences have collapsed, some buildings are locked, and many museums are closed. It will be a pity if this place is not given more attention for the heritage of China is showcased here.

Legend Malacca by Roman Lake, Sunyi

2009-08-30T15:10:00.000+08:00

Baba's thought for today.
"The only ache people have nowadays is
ache in the stomach, due to over eating
and want of exercise".

Well, we all love food, so I guess what we have to do is to exercise more so that we do not suffer this malaise!

Just had lunch at Legend Malacca, by Roman Lake in Sunyi. This place is run by someone from Taiping by the name of Ong. The menu as quite extensive. We had satay, beef rendang, Penang fried Kuey teow, fried yellow noodles, curry puffs, roasted chicken wings and a sizzling plate of tofu. It was delicious and authentic. Highly recommended.

Visited another museum on Friday. It is the Capital Museum located at 16, Fuxingmenwai Dajie, Xicheng District. It a hugh and impressive building. The museum covers all aspects of the city of Beijing, including selected works of ancient porcelian art, Memories of home life in ancient Beijing, history and also religous artifacts.

But the most interesting was the Beijing Superb Cultural Relics Exhibition which showcased Chinese historical cultural relic collections with Beijing features. The exhibition has 285 pieces which have distinct Beijing characteristics. These include beautiful ancient china wares, lifelike sacred Buddhist statues, glittering and translucent jade articles, gold and silver ware, bamboo,wood,ivory and horn carvings,calligraphies and paintings and many others.

Well worth a visit and it is free. But you have to pay for the special exhibition though.

Clear sky over Beijing and Niujie Mosque.

2009-08-29T11:33:00.003+08:00

Baba's thought for the day
"Every sense is an outlet for the energy of
man in a direction that binds him to
the objective world"

It was an unusual day...clear sky day in Beijing!I Had to take these pictures!!

I also visited the Niujie Mosque. Unfortunately I arrived at 12.45pm on a Friday, so I was not able to get near or into the main prayer hall. This mosque was built in the fourteenth century of the Liao Dynasty. The complex covers 6,000 square metres and contain a hall of worship, minaret, lecture hall and a pavilion and ablution chamber. Muslim men and even Muslim women were streaming into the mosque. there is a specila worship hall for women.

This place is valued because it houses the Shaihai Tombs pf the final resting place of elders who came from Arabia to lecture on Islam in the early years of the Yuan Dynasty.

Tibetan Food

2009-08-29T11:06:00.001+08:00

Baba's thought for today.
"When the magnet does not attract the needle,
the fault lies in the dirt that covers up the needle."

Had Tibetan food in Makye Ame. The place was ornately decorated. The food was good and we were entertained all night long. Friendly atmosphere!!!

Din Tai Fung at Shin Kong Place, Beijing

2009-08-27T19:10:00.000+08:00

Hi Just read on Big Boys Oven's latest posting on Din Tai Fung. How interesting!!! was there with my daughter and her two sons. The place was crowded. the Xiao long pau were really yummy!1 Ian got his lips scalded when he tried to eat the wholw pau in a mouthful! The pork chop was good and so was a pickled vegetable dish. We also enjoyed the 'la mien' with dumplings. Yummy foood but quite pricy.

Chinese Valentines Day

2009-08-27T17:34:00.000+08:00

Baba's thought for today.
'Do not contemplate on Death;
it is just an incident in life;
contemplate on God, who is the Master of all life."

While window shopping in Shin Kong Place yesterday, I was curious when I saw a furious frenzy by Chinese men to buy flowers. The florists and her assisstants could hardly cope with the orders!! It was about three in the afternoon. Later Lena informed me that she too was surprised that on her way to work in the morning, people were peddaling flowers at traffic junctions. The explanation was that it was Valentines day for the Chinese!! It is truly amazing how fast China has opened up and how the people are also following some social practices of the other cultures. We are now a borderless world!

Autonomous regions of China.

2009-08-26T21:13:00.000+08:00

Baba's thought for today.

"Have faith in yourself.
When you have no faith in the wave,
How can you get faith in the ocean?"

When you have Self confidence we will be able to overcome whatever obstacles that we face in our daily lives. Just trust yourself.

I visited the Exhibition hall of Ethnic Cultural Palace located at number 49 Fuxingmennei Street, Beijing. This exhibition has the theme "Fast Progress of Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Guangxi, Ningxia and Tibet" For the sixtieth anniversary of New China.

Next I went to the China Red Sandalwood museum located at Gaobeidian, Chaoyang District. Started by Dr Chan Lai Wah, this place show cases the essence of red sandalwood culture. sandalwod is called red sandalwood because of its colour and its texture is hard which makes it suitable for furniture making. Many of the exhibits are furniture made in Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Feather duster maker

2009-08-25T20:19:00.000+08:00

Baba's thought for Tuesday 26th.

" All work is God's:
He inspires. He helps. He executes.
He enjoys. He is pleased. he reaps.
He sowed"

During the seminar on "The wholehearted marriage' we were reminded that all our reflections, and actions must be guide by prayer, for "All work is God"

Posting some pictures of some unusual tourist sights of Beijing

Sunday in Hegezhuang Village

2009-08-25T19:48:00.000+08:00

Baba's thought for Sunday August 24th.

"Do all acts as offerings to God;
do not classify some as 'my work' and some
as 'His work'"

The server was down so I am making up for lost time.
It was my first Sunday in Beijing this year, and was lucky to attend Sunday service of the Capital Community at Sunhe. It was a friendly yet significant gathering for me. I was priviledged to meet Iris, the wife of the Pastor and also Kushay, a teacher of Humanities at the International School of Beijing. She is a Malaysian but now a US citizen.

I was impressed by the sermon given by the Pastor who covered the first book of John "In the beginning was the Word, and The Word was God". I went to a Convent School and I am proud that I scored an 'A' in Bible Knowledge in the Cambridge School Leaving Certificate Examination. We memorized the Acts of the Apostles but I had no understanding of the Word. It was all rote memory!!This perspective given by the Pastor is motivation for me to read the Bible with greater understanding. I look forward to another sermon this coming Sunday.

We then visited Hegezhuang Village consisting of the Yin Yang Community Centre and The Orchard, a new and upmarket restaurant which is situated in an Orchard and they boasts of planting and serving organic vegetables and herbs in their own orchard. The pictures show the size of the pumpkin!!

Shopping at TianYi

2009-08-25T19:06:00.000+08:00

Baba's thought for today.

"Life is a mirage;
it comes from no visible rain;
it falls into no recognizable sea"

For tourists bent on shopping especially bigtime, TianTi shopping centre is just the place. Each floor is devoted to different types of goods, for example lingerie, shoes, bags, clothes, toys, jewellery, stationery and many others. Most of the shoppers are those buying for retail and they are recognizable by their hugh bags, trolleys piled high with merchandice.

I spent three hours there and enjoyed just browsing and my attempts at bargaining, with my limited command of Chinese, was commendable. There were lots of attractive bargains but I had to control myself and put a ceiling on my desires.

This brings us to todays' quote. Everything is impermanent, Life is just a mirage. What is important is the Present. beaware, be mindful of all our thoughts, words and deeds.

Seminar by Dr Greg Smalley and Erin

2009-08-23T07:42:00.001+08:00

Baba's thought for the day.

"The reasoning faculty must be employed to distunguish between the limited and the unlimited, the Temporary and the Eternal."

We had an interesting session yesterday during"The wholehearted marriage Seminar" conducted by Dr Greg Smalley and his wife Erin. We learnt that the state of the heart was the heart of the matter. The state of the heart has to be kept open and we have to protect and care for our hearts. On the topic of The Reactive Cycle, it was highlighted that being able to identify our emotional buttons will help promote healthy relationships. Lastly we were provide with the simple steps to break out of the reactive cycle. First is to create space. Then identify the buttons and one's reaction. Finally one has to respond with a caring and open heart with 'win/win " in mind.

On the previous day, Friday Mr Lee, the driver sent me to Dazhong Arts and accessories antique shop along Xisi Street. The travel guidebook indicated this famous place for feather dusters. making of feather dusters was a tradition in keeping with the custom when girls, on the eve of her wedding were given a feather duster. Today the maker sells some very priced feather dusters priced at over 1,000 yuan!!

Then I visited the Geological Museum of Beijing across the street along Fuchengmennei Street. Then I temple-hopped to Guanji Temple, Temple of ancient Monarchs and the Baita temple or commonly called the White Pagoda Temple.

This was followed by a shopping spree in the Silk Market buying T-shirts and of course my favourite jade and crystal accessories. All this ended in a relaxing session at Bodhi Sense at Somerset Service Apartment in Chaoyang.

Posting from Beijing

2009-08-20T14:29:00.000+08:00

Thought for today.
"Peace. It can only come fom the Fountain within"

I am really disappointed. I have just spent a good hour writing this post and the whole thing was deleted. Forgot to save as draft.Now I have to do it all over again.

Today is my third day in Beijing. Arrived on Tuesday morning on flight MH037 Malaysian onAirline System. It was an uneventful though pleasant flight. I was surprised that my grandsons' request for a play kit was not granted. The reason being that they did not carry this on the flight. I wonder why this is so for I had pre booked the seats for these two young travellers.

The weather yesterday was rainy and cloudy. I took some interesting pictures in Tiananmen Square. They were pictures of rivers of umbrellas...endless streams of people with unbrellas, going into the Forbidden City, long queues waiting to enter the Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao Tse Tung, and many other people going to other tourist sites.

As for me , I was disappointed for my intended visit to the National Museum was in vain. We were not aware that renovations are ongoing until the year 2010. But I was lucky to visit the Beijing Urban Planning Exhibition Hall. It well worth a visit for the centre is well curated with the state of the art technology. Also, one can see the proactive projects that have been carried out in this fast developing and dynamic city. It is encouraging that great emphasis have been given to environmental protection, water recycling, power conservation, and modern housing and other amenities.

After this visit, I had a relaxing time at our favourite spa and massage centre-the Bodhi essence in Somerset Garden Service Apartment in Chaoyang District. The service as well as the ambience is good food for the body and mind.

Today, the weather is hot and sunny. I took a walk to the local street market. It is interesting to observe the lifestyle of the local folks. The food they eat is basic, nothing fancy. The common food items sold here consisted of pork, chicken, resh vegetables, soya products, and preserved vegetables.

Ian and Aidan loves 'chian peng' a local pancake. I will describe how this is made later.

Beijing 2009

2009-08-17T10:14:00.000+08:00

Baba's thought for today.
"Nothing is to be as itself, for itself."

An exciting day for my two grandsons who will be flying back to Beijing after six weeks here during their summer break.

Ian, six plus and Aidan three plus had an invaluable experience here. In the mornings they attended a Chinese pre school. They had to adapt to the teacher-centered approach of teaching, compared to the Montessori school which they attend in Beijing. But the exposure was good for them. Ian's first complaint on his first day was that there was no play. They had to study all the time. Aidan, on the other hand was the centre of attention. He was offended when he was called 'Ang Moh Kia". But when he knew the meaning , he delighted at being called such.

The cultural experience, the interaction with relatives and friends, and especially the local food will enrich them.

As the saying above goes...these experiences are not just experiences, they will make an imprint in their attitudes, values and interests.

During this period as their temporary guardians, we had a heavy responsibility. It was not easy to handle them..a tricky balance of the western style parenting that they are used compared to and eastern values and norms of parenting that we practise here. But we managed, although it was sometimes stressful. We enjoyed being their grandparents and are proud of these two bright and active kids.

Taiping

2009-08-16T10:36:00.000+08:00

Baba's thought for today.

"Spiritual progress is right living, good conduct, and moral behaviour"

On Thursday afternoon the heavy thunderstorm in Taiping caused a glitch in my internet connection. But nevertheless I am here.

Taiping, the town of everlasting peace is also famous as the wettest town in Malaysia. The town is a beautiful and peaceful town with many historic firsts.

The first railway line in the then Malaya was constructed from Taiping to Port Weld (now known as Kuala Sepatang) to transport tin from the mines in the Larut district. Many Malaysians will still remember the Ghee Hin and the Hai San warring groups, the Larut War and the history behind how this town got the name of Town of Everlasting Peace"

In a related matter, there was a gathering of more than thre hundred people at the Legend Inn Hotel. It was the celebration of 120 years of one of the oldest school in the country- TMGS. It was delightful to meet up with former students and other old girls. Especially heartening was the presence of very senior old girls evns right back to Class in the 1940's. Such gatherings are good occassion for fellowship, enewing ties, catching up with develoments and also establishing networking.

I wish to congratulate the organising committe for putting up such a good show.

More on my historic town later.

Attachment

2009-08-15T08:55:00.000+08:00

Baba's thought for the day.
"The Lord is but a witness; He is above all hate and anger, of attachment derived from 'mine' and 'thine' ."

Home cooking

2009-08-14T10:15:00.000+08:00

Baba's quote for today.

"Speak soft and sweet; sympathise with suffering and loss and ignorance: try your best to apply the salve of soothing words and timely succour"

My late mother-in-law's nonya rendang is unbeatable. During the years that I lived with her, I was fortunate to pick up a few secret recipes which have now become family favourites. I will share the recipe for the rendang chicken.

The difference in the method is that the chicken is seasoned with kunyit powder and salt and then deep fried. The rempah (consisting of onions, dried chilli, garlic, lengkuas, buah keras, garlic and prawn paste) is sauteeted before adding the pieces of fried chicken. Add some water and stir and then add santan and allow the mixture to simmer. Add salt to taste. Dish out and garnish with fried juliened ginger. The rendang chicken is in the picture above.

I have now mastered the art of preparing roast pork. The ideal cut is the belly meat but ask the butcher to give you a block of about eight inches by ten inches or a piece to suit your oven size. Season the meat part with salt,pepper, five spice powder and rice wine. If you like you can slot in pieces of chopped garlic for added flavour. As for the skin, rub with salt and pepper and some vinegar. Leave the piece, skin side up in the refrigerator overnight. Bake in medium heat for 40 minutes or until cooked. Then put heat on high to enable the skin to blister. The roast pork is then ready. You can see the result in the picture above.

The other picture was taken from the condo balcony in Metro Wangsa Maju. The dome has an unusual design and the pink colour of the rest of the building offers good contrast to the fresh green surroundings with the hillock in the background. Observe the LRT Putra line on the right. A good combination of nature, development and religion!! Inspiring after a hard day's work!!

Love

2009-08-13T09:30:00.000+08:00

Sharing for today

"Love seeks no reward:

Love is its own reward"

This picture was taken in Tiananmen square when a group of Chinese youths requested a group picture with Tim and his boys. It was another clear sky day in Beijing and it was 31st August...Hari Merdeka. The air was filled with the spirit of freedom, love and the sharing of "One Dream" the slogan of the 2008 Olympics.

The second picture was taken at Capital Airport. We were there to receive Aileen who was flying in from Bangkok, when this paralympics team happily agreed to pose for a picture with us. Sports transcend all barriers. The love and fellowship shared by sports people with their supportors mend all political differences. Sports also speak the language of love.

Universal love or "agape" is self-rewarding. We can practice charity in our words, thoughts and actions.

Love also includes love for the environment. I started a compost section in the back yard seven years ago. All vegetable waste goes there and I do not need to buy fertilizers. Also garbage enzyme solution is used as cleaning agent in my household. We can all in our own way contribute towards saving the environment.

Let us together share the dream of Love.

Judging others

2009-08-12T14:51:00.000+08:00

Quote for the day.

"No one can judge another for, when another is judged you are yourself condemned"

The first picture was taken during the wheelchair basket game. The women players were tough and aggressive!!

This picture of the Forbidden City was taken during my third visit since 2001. It was a blue sky day in Beijing...something quite surprising under normal circumstances. But it was the season after the Olympics but during the Paralympics. Due credit must be given to the authorites for their efforts to improve the air quality of Beijing during that time.

I had the opportunity to witness some of the events of the paralympics. The performance of the wheelchair basketball players, the floor softball players, the blind judo wrestlers, and the wheelchair atheletes demonstrated their determination in overcoming their physical challenges to attain such high standards to qualify for competitive sport. It was an eye-opener for me.

During this visit to the Forbidden City, I chatted with the mother of an Australian wheelchair basketball player. Her son lost the use of his legs in an accident when he was in his teens. He went through much heartache and depression. But moral support and motivation restored faith in himself. His achievement up to the highest level of competitive sport is testimony that all obstacles can be overcome.

Very often we are quick to pass judgement on others' actions without first checking out the circumstances. We often take people at face value. It will be useful for us to follow the attribution theory by trying to attribute others' behaviour to external factors. By so doing we give the other person the benefit of the doubt.

My message today is to be kind when judging others lest we ourselves be condemned.

Sathya Sai's Golden Jubilee Book of Thoughts

2009-08-11T10:12:00.000+08:00

Sai Baba's ...thought for each day of the year.

The second picture was taken during the Wesak Day celebrations in Whitefield. The host organizer was Sri Lanka. As the Malysian delegation we had the privilege to sit in the front section during Darshan. I am thankful for this experience.

After this I flew to Mumbai and visited Shirdi with my host family Dr Menon and his wife Sugu. It was a night trip by bus to Shirdi. The day spent in Shirdi's ashram was spiritually fulfilling. I am thankful to the Menons for their kindness in making this trip possible for me.

"One without power does not mean lack of physical or mental strength"

Strength, be it mental, emotional , spiritual, social or physical is determined by one's own thoughts and perception.

Strength in all its manifestation is a state of mind. We are all as strong as we feel we are.

My sharing for today is to live life to the fullest. Have faith in yourself. Be brave to change and do not let a small disappointment or mistake make you unhappy.