Eggs & Sperms

11 Nov 2009 – Kome

Appreciation to Les & Ivy for introducing Kome Japanese Fine Dinning**** at the Kepple Club last Sun. Compliments to chef Lawrence. Was actually not hungry due to a late tea that day. Accompanied with champagne and a white wine, the miso soup and salad were delicious. The fish sperms were out of this world, tasty and smooth; the salmon roe/eggs were juicy bites. Reminded me of when I was at the mountains in Norway when we just ate the trouts’ roe right after we fish them from the lake.

Sebastian CHOW and I celebrated his bday with tea earlier that Sun. Met Seb 10 years ago when I first returned to SIN and he was in his late 20s. It is amazing that 10 years have gone so quickly by and watching how people have developed over the decade is another learning experience. Seb used to like his drinks but has now given that up and the amount of money he saves… $$$$ per annum. Unfortunately he still smokes. If only he could give up smoking instead and just drink less! At present into photography…  two of my favourites from his albums.

Football is a fertility festival. Eleven sperm trying to get into the egg. I feel sorry for the goalkeeper – Bjork

Movies

10 Nov 2009 – Movie Buff’s Ratings!

The German Film Festival starts tomorrow and I have tickets for 4 shows. Here are my personal ratings for below:

Coraline (animated 3D)** A young girl explores her new home and stumbles upon a mysterious secret door that seems to lead to an adventure which turns dangerous. Interesting 3D effects but for me, a headache at the end of the movie. The previews for A Christmas Carol (3D) seems good, but do not know if I can cope with another headache!

My Sisters Keeper** Tear jerker! Anna was brought into the world to be a genetic match for her older sister, Kate, who suffers from leukemia. When Kate goes into renal failure at age 13. Knowing that she will have to donate one of her kidneys to her sister, Anna sues her parents for medical emancipation and the rights to her own body.

The Song of Sparrows**** Iranian movie about Karim, a man who works at an ostrich farm outside of Tehran. He leads a simple and contented life with his family, until one day when one of the ostriches runs away. Karim is fired for the loss. He travels to the city to repair his elder daughter’s hearing aid but finds himself mistaken for a motorcycle taxi driver. His generous and honest nature changed with this new profession.

Love Happens** Widower Burke, whose book about grieving turns him into a phenomenon. Reinvented as a charismatic self-help guru, he falls for Eloise at a seminar and is forced to confront the fact that he hasn’t come to grips with his own loss.

Capitalism*** This documentary explores the root causes of global economic meltdown. Michael Moore described the corporate and political shenanigans as ‘the biggest robbery in the history of this country’ – the massive transfer of US taxpayer money to private financial institutions.

The Adjuster* (SFSociety): Noah is a sensitive insurance adjuster who takes care of the psychological and physical needs of his clients. Hera, Noah’s wife, is a film censor who secretly records the pornographic films that she rates in order to show them to her older sister. Got rather lost among the dysfunctional people!

Have a Smiley Weekend :-)

Here is one for Sat

A man moves into a nudist colony. He receives a letter from his grandmother asking him to send her a current photo of himself in his new location. Too embarrassed to let her know that he lives in a nudist colony, he cuts a photo in half and mails it.

The next day he discovers that he had accidentally sent the bottom half of the photo. He’s really worried but then remembers how bad his grandmother’s eyesight is, and hopes she won’t notice.

A few weeks later, he receives a letter from his Grandmother. It says: ‘Thank you for the picture. Change your hairstyle… it makes your nose look too short.’ Love, Grandma

And another for Sun

In ancient Greece (469 – 399 BC), Socrates was widely lauded for his wisdom. One day the great philosopher came upon an acquaintance, who ran up to him excitedly and said, ‘Socrates, do you know what I just heard about one of your students, Plato…?’

‘Wait a moment,’ Socrates replied. ‘Before you tell me, I’d like you to pass a little test. It’s called the Test of Three.’

‘Test of Three?’ ‘That’s correct,’ Socrates continued.

‘Before you talk to me about my student let’s take a moment to test what you’re going to say. The first test is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?’

‘No,; the man replied, ‘actually I just heard about it.’

‘All right,’ said Socrates. ‘So you don’t really know if it’s true or not. Now let’s try the second test, the test of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my student something good?’

‘No, on the contrary…

‘So,’ Socrates continued, ‘you want to tell me something bad about him even though you’re not certain it’s true?’

The man shrugged, a little embarrassed. Socrates continued, ‘You may still pass though because there is a third test – the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my student going to be useful to me?’

‘No, not really…’

‘Well,’ concluded Socrates, ‘if what you want to tell me is neither True nor Good nor even Useful, why tell it to me at all?’

The man was defeated and ashamed and said no more. This is the reason Socrates was a great philosopher and held in such high esteem.

It also explains why Socrates never found out that Plato was sleeping with his wife!

Troll’s Brain

5 Nov 2009 – Memory

Thank you to Charles CHONG for Tue’s lunch and to Jane TAY for last night’s dinner in the delightful company of Connie & Tee Chiu.

Why blog? A friend asked that question of me and a good one too. Sometimes the memory is only good with the help of pictures and notes made at that moment! When traveling, making notes and dating the pictures taken then is a way to remember, otherwise the memory fades and info/data from then weakens or vanishes. Even the MB of a computer is limited but one can choose to delete what is useless, thus making room for new useful info. If only we could do that to our memory…

Up to today, the first telephone number 83192 from early 1950s at 5 Temenggong Rd still sticks in the memory. That data is useless now and would prefer to remember my present number. Unable to understand why it cannot be deleted? Blogging helps me to remember but other reasons are to acknowledge and update family & friends (ie to those who are interested to know) as to my what & whereabouts

When situations are documented with words and pictures, they somehow seemed to trigger flashbacks or impressions when reading and looking back at them. According to George Bernard Shaw: we are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for our future. But how can one move on to the future without remembering? Moving on is a process of remembering, learning and letting go of the past (at least the parts which are no longer constructive to hold on to!). Thus giving room to be responsible of our future to learn more.

Blogging is using a new medium for what it is good for, connecting and interacting – George Siemens

Greetings from Malacca

1 Nov 2009 – November’s Dates

A weekend to Malacca/Malaysia was about 3hrs by bus from SIN. It was 5 years ago since our last trip there. Jo LAM, Steven LAM and I left on Friday. Jo’s passport was expired and instead of taking the 12noon bus, we took the 1545hrs bus. A one-time permit application was a learning experience at the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority/ICA. Thank you to June CHONG for her kind hospitality and for driving us around.

Some new developments but the old Malacca town has not changed much. The river cruise is new and they are trying to clean up the surroundings by the river to attract tourist. Have always enjoyed visiting as this is one of the few places in SE Asia with history from the Jrivijayan, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch and English. The Seri Negeri, State Administrative and Development Centre which houses the Chief Minister’s Office, State Secretary’s Office and Legislative Assembly Hall are now listed in UNESCO’s World Heritage site.

13th Happy Bday LEUNG Yee Fun

15th Happy Deepavali to my Indian friends

19th Happy Bday Yulis ADAM TEO

26th Happy Thanksgiving

27th Happy Bday Daisy CHIA and Selemat Hari Raya Hagi to my Muslim friends

29th Happy 3rd Bday to my only grandson John Whitham HALL

30th Happy Bday LAM Kwok Chai

We can learn from history how past generations thought and acted, how they responded to the demands of their time and how they solved their problems. We can learn by analogy, not by example, for our circumstances will always be different than theirs were. The main thing history can teach us is that human actions have consequences and that certain choices, once made, cannot be undone. They foreclose the possibility of making other choices and thus they determine future events – Gerda Lerner

China/Fujian & Hunan

29 Oct 2009 – Happy Bdays LAM Kwok Lock & Kiera CHUA

Xiamen/XMN 厦门: The boat ride and tour to the small island of Gulangyu 鼓浪屿, where Peggy TAN’s mother was from and the only piano museum in China was pleasantly refreshing as cars are not allowed there. Appreciations to TAN Kah Kee/TKK’s 陳嘉庚 descendants, Management, Committee and Staff of the TKK Museum, Overseas Chinese Museum & Jimei Schools for all their hospitality and kindness throughout the XMN stay. Thank you for all the books, DVDs and postcards. Without Peggy, this China visit would have not happened.

Changsha/CSN 长沙: app 80mins flight from XMN where the recorded history in CSN can be traced back to 3,000 years. Two names that earn CSN’s reputation among tourists are Chairman Mao Zedong (photographed in the restaurant he frequented) and Yuelu Academy. Otherwise it is just another big bustling modernized city with loud noisy crowds, still spitting everywhere and the traffic plus pollution uncomfortable for the ears, eyes and nose! Cannot imagine how the lungs will look like living there.

Zhangjiajie/ZJJ 张家界: app 4hrs drive from CSN, ZJJ is known for its mountains and National Forest. The weather and views were wonderful but unfortunately the loud pushy spitting crowd has no concept about queuing! Places of interest visited- Huanglong Caves 黄龙洞, YuanJia Jie 袁家界, HeLong Gardens 贺龙公园, JunBianCi 金鞭溪, ShuiRaoShiMing 水绕四门, BaoFeng Lake 宝峰湖, Tianmen Mountains 天门洞景区, where the longest cable-way ride in the world is located, 7.4km. Due to fog or maybe smog, 4hrs delay at CSN airport on route back to XMN. Our charming young local guide, Tina did a good job taking care of our group of 12 demanding and whiney senior citizens

Food was on the greasy and salty side, otherwise tasty. Unless one wears ear-plugs and oxygen masks, be prepared for the noise and smog. The only times I wish I was a male was when public restrooms had to be used. Chinese, more or less, what an eye-opener but no doubt more Overseas-Chinese. As for being fully Chinese of race, there are more doubts every time I see my grandchildren who are completely blond and blue-eyed. But there are less doubts to the observations on the new China and her people today where I feel uninviting. Common Sense to Self-Censor (posting 28 Jun 2009) are less in today’s so-called civilized over-populated world with the consequences and reality where everyone for themselves and survivors of the fittest are more

Learn without thinking begets ignorance. Think without learning is dangerous – Confucius

October’s Eateries

18 Oct 2009 – Oyster Surprised

Asia Grand@Odeon Towers**** specializes in the finest Cantonese cuisines. Love raw oysters and do not usually eat them any other ways. But for some reason, decided to taste this and to my surprised, savored every bite of it… lightly battered with salted-egg yoke, a tasty combination. Of course what is a 95th Bday dinner without suckling pig, one of my favourite pork dishes. The way we indulge ourselves with food in SIN is no wonder that cardiologists like my brother are in good business!

Pariss International Seafood Buffet@Marina Square**** has a good variety but missing the Norwegian varieties of marinated, smoked, pickled salmon & herrings. If you have the time to enjoy a 3 hours lunch in good company, this place is certainly worth both the time and money. The stomach did not have space to taste all the seafood, not to mention the rest of the non-seafood buffet! Another time… thanks to Charles CHONG for introducing Pariss.

Food Opera@ION** upscale food-court style with food tasting similar to most food courts but more expensive to make up for the rents! Another new mall but this one with mainly brand-named goods… waaaay over-rated with over-prices for the novae rich!!

Thank you to Aileen KOH for the SPA invitation, was so relaxing and to Les & Ivy for a peaceful stay at their Sentosa Cove condo. Last night was the first game with the SIN Monopoly version. What used to be the most expensive Monopoly property, Park Lane in our childhood is Sentosa Cove for the SIN version! Hope that Darryl NEO (grand-nephew) enjoyed the game and guess who won? Hint… someone who owns the real Sentosa Cove

Heading to China tomorrow. Wishing you all a good week ahead. Updates will be done when I return end of the month. I wonder what China has to fear about WordPress to block it?

Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside – Mark Twain

October’s Movies

16 Oct 2009 – Happy Bday Patricia LAM

Thank you to Lucy for her 15 Oct write-up in http://xingrencha.biz – Trekking her way back home…

Coco Before Chanel*** French drama revolves around one of the fashion history’s most well known icons, Gabrielle Coco Chanel. Chronicles Chanel’s early years from her humble beginnings as a Parisian orphan before she came to be known as one of the world’s most famous fashion designers. Reminded me of another French movie about Édith Piaf, La vie en Rose, .

Paper Heart** US comedy/documentary on a journey to document what exactly love is. Interviewing various people, the determined young girl attempts to find definition and perhaps even experience the mysterious emotion. But her pessimistic denial may hinder her chances at finding real happiness. More for the younger generation!

Time Traveler’s Wife** a dashing librarian who travels involuntarily through time. Henry and Clare’s passionate love affair endures across a sea of time and captures the two lovers in an impossibly romantic trap. Too far-fetched for my imagination!

Haeundae** the deadly tsunami, quite realistic effects in this Korean flick. Reminded me of some of the effects from Titanic!

Dear Zachery**** only for SIN Film Society members. See titled posting dated 11 Oct.

Imagine That*** have always enjoyed Eddie Murphy’s acting and here again he did not fail to make me laugh. Entertaining, a fairy tale ending with the message that all you need is love and love conquers all.

Julie & Julia*** two separate memoirs about two different women in two different era with food & cooking as their common passion and interest. Since Julie is living in today’s technology, she blogged about her challenge to cook all the receipts in Julia Child’s first book within one year. Must remind myself to do a posting as to why I blog!

Anybody who believes that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach flunked geography – Robert Byrne

Chinese: More or Less

14 Oct 2009 – China

Will be heading to China/Xiamen厦门 (Fujian), Chiangsha长沙 & Zhangjiajie张家界(Hunan) next week, 1 day for work and 8 days to tour. That is how I like my working trips!

China has blocked WordPress, thus no updates from 19 – 28 Oct. Have always been interested about China but will only travel there with small selected groups. The first time was in 2004 with cousin David WONG and the U of HI group and we toured the northern silk route. Glad to have tagged along to Ürümqi 烏魯木齊 (Xinjiang) when it was peaceful. Taken rolls of pictures then, but have not scan them for uploading yet, someday it will be done!

Researching the ancestral backgrounds, Jiangmen江门 (Guangdong) in May this year was my next trip. If John CHENG did not accompany me as my translator, would not have gone. Shanghai上海 in Jun, again if cousin LAM Cheng En was not in Shanghai, would have just transit at the airport on route to US. Being Chinese of race but unable to read chinese and not speaking or understanding the language properly makes me feel uncomfortable in China. Can relate to this poster at the Nanyang Technological University/NTU Heritage Museum, the tag line – Chinese: More or Less.

This time round, all the pictures will be digital and will be updated when I return. Let’s see if I still feel more or less

China is more prosperous than before. The people have better lives but they are not happy and confident because the scars are still there – Jung Chang

Dear Zachary****

11 Oct 2009 – A Letter to a Son about his Father

Joined the SIN Film Society over the weekend and was introduced to this most thought-provoking and mind-bogging documentary I have ever seen. It brought real sadness and tears to the eyes and besides being human, like Kate, I am also a mother and grandmother. My heart goes out to Kate & David Bagby with full admiration and respect for what they have been put through; how they dealt with the situation and David’s best selling book- Dance with the Devil.

Synopsis: 5 Nov 2001, Dr Andrew Bagby was murdered in W Pennsylvania; the prime suspect, his ex-girlfriend Dr Shirley Turner who promptly fled the USA for St John’s, Canada, where she announced that she was pregnant with Andrew’s child. She named him Zachary.

Begun as a sort of cinematic scrapbook on his best friend, Andrew Bagby, to his son Zachary, film maker Kurt Kuenne cobbled together the film from hundreds of hours of footage into a deeply personal yet investigative film on his friend’s murder. Although it is a documentary, it plays like ‘a true-crime story so gripping, devastating and ultimately unforgettable that it easily trumps any thriller Hollywood has to offer this year’. The film ultimately goes beyond criminal investigation into a reflection on the Canadian justice system.

To family, friends and your friends in Canada, please try to watch the whole of this documentary. Then question your Canadian justice system. To try to prevent any more similar incidents, please write in with hopes that the flaws in the system will be amended. http://www.dearzachary.com & http://www.youtube Dear Zachary (2008) Movie Trailer.

http://www.oscilloscope.net/shop/view_film.php?ID=3&r=store to buy the DVD.