五月天 2025 線上跨年演唱會

Just realised there is free online concert by 五月天 today. Thank you for the free concert.

Happy New Year 2025!

Happy New Year to everyone! Wishing you joy and abundance in the coming new year. Enjoy the moment and be happy! 

阿果绘本Ah Guo Illustration

 

Dedication to My Nice Colleagues and Happy New Year 2025!

Today finally returned the staff pass. To be honest, I have mixed feelings. On one hand, I feel happy to have rest but I also feel sad as I won't be seeing my friends often. I met many kind colleagues who have become my friends, some who are like my family already. My kind colleague and friend Ms Q offered free ride to and from school as we live just a few blocks away. The young and capable leaders whom I have worked closely the past two years are also very kind. Sometimes I can be a very difficult person. Yesterday my department HOD treated us to sumptuous high tea buffet at Orchard road hotel. I do treasure the times we worked together to achieve common goals and the feasts we enjoyed.  

My friend reminded me absence makes the heart grow fonder when I replied her that I feel a bit nostalgic today. 

Never mind, I can still meet up for meal with friends since many of them stay in Tampines. 

In a way, I feel happy that I can use the time to explore some projects and read. I must also lose weight by exercising and eat more plant-based food. Just want to dedicate to my wonderful colleagues and friends this Chapter 8, The Highest Good is Like Water from Tao Te Ching by Laozi as many of them fit the profile of this chapter. Wishing all readers and friends great health and happiness in the coming New Year 2025! 

第八章

上善若水

水善利万物而不争，

处众人之所恶，

故几于道。

居，善地；

心，善渊；与，善仁；

言，善信；

政，善治；

事，善能；

动，善时。

夫唯不争，

故无尤。

From the book Decoding the Tao Te Ching. This chapter reminds me of my wonderful colleagues who are my friends. 

 

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all my wonderful Christians and Catholics friends and relatives! Wishing you all joy and laughter as you celebrate on this special day!

 

Standard Operating Procedure

Last year USA had historical Congress hearing on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena as former top navy pilots, and intelligence officers came forward to share on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena, formally known as Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). The hearing helps to remove the stigma as now more people dare to talk about it. If you think about it, the universe is so vast with billons of stars . It is really arrogant to think that only planet Earth has intelligent beings.

It is not safe to be whistleblowers. After David Grusch testified in congress, someone released information that he suffers from PTSD and he is not in the right frame of mind. Some people even made fun of his autism. As usual, they use the same modus operandi to put down the credibility of whistleblowers (perhaps except navy pilots). I hope David Grusch is okay. 

Modus operandi of the DoD. From Imminent book written by Luis Elizondo. 

Lue Elizondo spoke up for David Grusch.

I hope David Grusch is well. Former National Reconnaissance Officer Representative, Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Task Force

 

冬至快乐! Happy Dongzhi Festival!

Just prayed to ancestors at home and had some sweet glutinous rice balls filled with peanut paste, red bean or black sesame paste.

Happy Winter Solstic.

Art by Ah Guo.

 

Hong Kong’s Tsz Shan Monastery

Opened in 2019, Hong Kong's Tsz Shan Monastery has a Buddhist art museum where you can see sutras and art sculptures. Maybe next year I travel to Hong Kong to visit the art musuem and pray to Kwan Im and Buddha. In 2017, I travelled solo to Hong Kong to pray to the majestic Big Buddha at Tian Tan. I am thankful to Buddha who spent 49 years teaching the path to end suffering selflessly. Next year, I want to spend more time reading Buddhist books and practise Buddha's teaching. 

Tsz Shan Monastery website Click here https://www.tszshan.org/home/new/en/visit.php

                  Tsz Shan Monastery. Image from Li Ka Shing Foundation here

Imminent by Luis Elizondo

Imminent is a really interesting book on UAPs, how the author was recruited for this secret program by the Pentagon written by Luis Elizondo, United States of America Former Head of the Department of Defense's Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program. I like it that he also commented about Form follows function as most UAPs are observed to be like spherical forms. 

Some people commented that he is DoD spokesman to prep and cushion the impact of revelation of other nonhuman species since this book has been cleared for publication by USA DoD. 

Lately they have congress hearing on UAP topic.  We are now living in an interesting time. 

He had a good boss, the late Mr Harry Reid who vouched for his role in investigating UAPs.

First time I see a redacted book.

From CBS news here.  Air Force Capt. Robert Salas, who was at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana in 1967 when 10 nuclear missiles he was overseeing suddenly became inoperative - at the same time base security informed him of a mysterious red glowing object in the sky.

Drones or UAP?

Lately the United States of America news media have been reporting of the unidentified ‘drones’, some the size of a car and able to turn dark when it was tracked. USA FBI admitted that they have no idea about the source of these sophisticated ‘drones’. When the world super power with advanced technology said that they have absolutely no idea, we have to be alert. Do you trust them?

Finally after days of keeping quiet about these frequent and numerous unidentified objects in the sky, New York Times has started to report today. They were busy reporting wars in the Middle East. When you have your national FBI saying that they are not sure what are in the sky, yet say they believe it is not a threat. You have to start to question if they are lying or they are really not sure what they are doing. Keeping quiet will not help as more people are equipped with phone cameras to capture the image. Perhaps the time has come for more discussion on these UAPs as advocated by Luis Elizondo, the author of Number 1 New York Times Bestseller, Inside The Pentagon’s Hunt for UFOs Imminent.

You can’t keep secret forever.

Image from the finest newspaper, The New York Times.

It has spread to other US states and there is still no answer on what these drones are. United Kingdom also reportedly have these drones. If you are interested to know more, you can do your research. 

Home-cooked Korean Bibimbap

We love Korean bibimbap which is actually mixed rice. So today we cooked mixed rice for dinner. I specially went to local Korean shop that sells chili sauce paste and kimchi. We prepared lots of vegetables like carrots, cucumber, brinjal, spinach, fried egg, salmon and scallop. In addition to Korean chilli paste, we also added sesame oil and sesame seed. Absolutely delicious with so much yummy vegetables!

 

Planning Another Trip to South Korea

I enjoyed the recent trip to South Korea and was delighted to experience both Autumn and Winter last month. Thus, I'm planning for another trip to South Korea next year.

I was looking for South Korea guide books at bookshop but there are not many South Korea tourist guide books available. Fortunately, South Korea Tourism Board has done very well by providing free informative tourist guide books for various places in South Korea at Korea Plaza which is located near Telok Ayer MRT station.  Also the Korea tourism staff gave prompt reply when I asked if I could get any free guide book. I'm really impressed with their prompt and good service. 

There are ebook available here too. I prefer to look at hardcopy books. 

Thank you for the free guide books, cute stickers and key chains. Gamsahamnida!

Website: https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/svc/main/index.do

Korea Plaza

Nearest MRT station: Telok Ayer MRT station (about 5 mins walk)

Lovely decoration at Korea Tourism Organization

 

Back to Singapore Praying to Kwan Im

I'm back to Singapore from South Korea yesterday. This afternoon, I went to Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple at Waterloo street to thank Kwan Im for safe journey and protection. We managed to avoid the heavy snowfall last Wednesday and Thursday as we were in other city. Luckily we managed to enjoy the lovely snow last Friday (the only snow day we experienced and other days were pretty good weather). 

As usual, there are many people praying at this popular Buddhist temple in Singapore. I always pray to Kwan Im before and after the travel to thank the compassionate bodhisattva for protection. 

 

Autumn and Winter in South Korea 2024

South Korea has left a special place in my heart. This is the first time I got to experience winter with snow drifting onto my face last Friday! I felt so excited and happy and made some snow balls! I am really thankful that I got to enjoy both autumn and winter in late November within a week. Most of the Koreans are friendly and helpful especially from the countryside. 

Seoul is more fast-paced and some people are not so friendly. There are still some friendly and helpful people in Seoul. It is also more crowded and annoyingly had many foreigners protesting. Some disrupting traffic and shopping street on weekends. I prefer rural places where people are more friendly and helpful. I will not go shopping on weekends in popular Seoul shopping streets.

I really like Korean food and cool weather and will visit Seoul and other countrysides in spring again to explore other places like Buddhist temples and parks where flowers will bloom. This time I will travel alone to really explore the country in Spring. I love the beautiful trees and food in South Korea. See you again South Korea! Gamsahabnidaa!

Seoul tower

Playing with snow!

Fubao has returned to China.

Twin pandas at Everland. Happy to see four pandas.

Staff helping to plough away the snow to make it safer for walking. Thank you very much. Kamsahamnida!

Can you see the snow dancing?

At Jeonju

I also love the mountains.

Hello From South Korea!

 Annyeonghaseyo from South Korea! Arrived in South Korea this Monday. Finally my first travel since 2018 when I travelled to Perth in November 2018 for work.I love their healthy food like Kim chi, tall and handsome oppa and cool weather now! I’m eating kimchi everyday from breakfast to dinner. 

Generally most Koreans are pretty helpful and polite. Their toilets are also clean. Some kind Koreans offered to help to take photos of me and my parents. Places like Jeju is also not as crowded as Singapore. Currently travelling around Korea. Hmm, maybe next year I go to South Korea again, focusing on Jeju and Seoul. Next year, I’ll spend most of the time travelling solo for the first half of the year. I will focus on East Asia and perhaps Europe. 

Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee

Last month, I finally tried the legendary Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee located at Singapore Hong Lim Market and Food Centre. I felt thankful that I got to eat this famous fried kway teow (flat rice noodles) by the senior grand master. I heard that this grand master rarely cooks now as his son has taken over the reins.

My mum shared that she loved the fried Kway Teow Mee at Hong Lim Market and Food Centre so I took her there after her medical appointment since it is near to Hong Lim food centre. Luckily we got to eat this tasty fried kway teow by the pioneer shifu. I don't eat cockles and just put it away. It's actually a simple kway teow dish with cockles and egg but so delicious! 

We went there at about 10.15 am on weekday and there was already a long queue. The efficient staff took our order and collected cash. 

Glad that we managed to eat this scrumptious fried kway teow before the Grand master retirement.

Paid in cash. Long queue already formed at about 10.15 am on weekday.

Happy Deepavali!

Happy Deepavali to all Hindus! I am very happy that today is public holiday and I can have extra rest from work!

Last week, I went to Waterloo street to pray at Kwan Im Thong Hood temple and I thought I just prayed outside the Sri Krishnan temple which is just next to Kwan Imm temple. Many  years ago, I was surprised that my ex-colleagues prayed outside Sri Krishnan temple after praying to Kwan Imm and they told me they believe in all religions. Perhaps all religions are teaching similar things like kindness, compassion and karma or Cause and effect. .

Let's  focus on similarities on religions like Kindness, Compassion and kama like Golden Rule and less on the differences. We must not take religious harmony in Singapore for granted. Once trust is gone, society will be fragmented with distrust and disharmony. 

Happy Deepavali to all Hindus. The Light will triumph over darkness and the good prevails! Happy holidays to all! 

Sri Krishnan Temple at Waterloo street

New Dishes at Elemen Restaurant 2024

Had a wonderful vegetarian meal with my friend after work last Friday. We shared  two sets of 8-course meal at Element restaurant, one of which is the new Taiwan course set meal. She didn't eat much so I had most of the food, to my delight.  Anyway I enjoy delicious food with my friend. 

The Taiwan set course will end this month on 31 October this year. If you love Taiwan food, you should come to try. 

Click here to read more.

elemen 元素 @  Millenia Walk

9 Raffles Boulevard

Millenia Walk, #01-75/75A/76

Singapore 039596

             I love Sichuan Dan Dan mian with springy noodle with tasty spices. 

                                                                Tiramisu is nice here