UNITE@Xmas

Click here to see Xmas Flash 

My annual Xmas&New Year address this year deals with unity for my fellow countrymen and my country.It goes like this; Christmas time is here again, as is the end of another year. It's a season to reflect on the achievements and tribulations of months past, and also a time for new goals and new resolve as we approach the dawning of a brand new year. As you celebrate the present and dwell on the future, our Christmas wish to you is to Unite@X'mas in this blessed country of ours, one that is built on our unique cultural diversity. This is, of course, nothing new, but with many short-sighted and small-minded individuals stirring up racial sentiments in a bid to threaten the nation's stability, it is perhaps necessary for us to be constantly reminded so as to not take our peace and prosperity for granted. On that note, we hope that this joyous season brings you tidings of forgiveness, fellowship and love, as we, not just set aside, but celebrate our differences. Have a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year. Cheers! Have A Happy New Year all of you dear to me near and far.

HappyXmas06

This is our first Christmas without Jon. When we agreed to host the annual family gathering we knew there would be mixed feelings as to how we 'celebrate' this year's Xmas. So to set the tone and to celebrate Jon's present absence, we started proceedings by acknowledging Jon's absence and presence with a prayer and a slide show of Jon's images at last Christmas. 

The silent procedure was accompanied by Sting's 'Fragile'. 

Then after, as with all Christmasses past, we had the traditional turkey and the sumptuous food spread contributed by family who we share the happy season with. 

 It was comforting for me to revisit images of Jon and it made celebrating X'mas this year justifiable, also only because Jon wouldn't have it any other way. 

I think his familiar boyish grin brought relief to all of us, even if tears were freely flowing.

95% goes to Medan

Went to Medan for the first time with 95% to conduct two trainings for a group of very young, very switched on individuals who were on fire when we left. The city unlike Jakarta is less congested more languid in pace and well laid out, abit like Penang. 

We conducted the first part of the training in Brastagi, a highlands resort about 2 hours from the city of Medan. The harrowing drive up the narrow and winding trunk road revealed the edgy, underdeveloped countryside of North Sumatra. The Bataks live in these parts, their favourite cuisine- pig burnt in an open wood fire and sweet corn barbequed pretty much the same way. 

The hotel Sibayak was adequate and the helpful staff pretty much made up for any shortcoming. Training went like clockwork and I had the benefit of getting the very power and goodness of our trainers up close and very gruelling. I have never been more tired from a day's work and never happier. 

But the true happiness came from seeing the faces and the 'being' of the participants at the end of the second day. Awesome.

Cameron Highlands

My biker buddies from BMW Motorrad invited me, a non BMW bike owner, to join them on a weekend ride to Camerons. Apprehensive at first, but then I thought; what the heck! How often does a Ducati owner get invited to ride with the Beemer boys? Besides, I'll stick out like dogs balls and that's what 'living' purposefully is all about.
So off I went on Saturday morning, after a hectic, congested, work filled week, I was off, like the wind, to join 30+ other BMW bikers on a ride up the deliciously winding slopes of Camerons. The virtually mishap free ride took about 2 hours with petrol stop at Tapah rest. Quaint little streams and spectacular waterfalls still dot the route up the highlands but the tight and sometimes long corners make the ride worthwhile.Of course the large acreages of vegetable farms and tea plantations make a grand vista.
The spanking new Century Pines Hotel we stayed in was small enought to be personal yet big enough to accomodate all of the bikers and bikes in the front courtyard. There was a karaoke cum sports bar that we bikers ended up drinking when we were not admiring each other bikes in the courtyard. Oh. Did I also mention that it was also a trip to celebrate Oktoberfest? Yes the German beers were flowing all right. And the German MD of Auto Bavaria I was with, Mathias Heimann was scintillating company as we conversed and connected on a level that transcended 'time and space'. A man who enjoys his beers as much as he enjoys biking and the business of 'not selling cars'. It was indeed a memorable night, even with all the beers in my head, what was on top of my mind as I turned in, at way past 3am that night, was a question that will almost always be a mystery posed to me by Mathias;
Where are you when you are travelling? Cue music (twilight zone)

I am eagerly awaiting the ride photos from fellow biker/photographer Norizan. Watch this space.

A Century of Days

That's how long it's been since Jon's liberation. I call him a 'Joyful Melancholy' on his blog the book of Jon

Pictured here is a moment captured in Kijal, Terengganu. The usual family holiday filled with sheer joy as they still are, of the three of them cavorting by the beach hut caught in a classic pose of 'one-ness'. And that that we had together, nothing can change. What a happy family.

Odd Man Out?

He's the first Asian to win the 110m hurdles Olympic Gold Medal and he came to do in style from near oblivion. Read more at B3's Weblog and find out why this man will be bigger than NBA Icon, Yao Ming.

Coffee Terrace

Was invited to be one of the panelists in the 'Industry leaders' session of our Shine Training at Awana Genting Highlands one weekend. After a very invigorating night Q&A session with the participants, I took the family, who tagged along, up to Genting Hotel's Coffee Terrace for what I consider one of the best buffet lunch spreads in the Klang Valley set in very stylish refurbished interior of contemporary chic.
I was both happy and relieved that my family agreed with me. The cool mountain air did all of us alot of good as well. It was a nice little 'break'.
You're welcome Guys.

The Gap, Brisbane

"Get off the Moggil Ferry drive for about 5-6 mins to roadworks then a school comes up in front turn with the corner then stop at coffee place on the right. Relax, have a cup of coffee and wait for me".

Those were exact instructions from my host Daryll who drove from his home at the Gap to meet me and lead me to his home, more aptly The Ritz Morton where I'll be his guest for the next few days. Daryll & Hsiao Ping, Jessica and Andrew Morton have lived in Asia a great deal. We met them when Daryll did time in KL with Hong Leong Bank and have been good friends ever since and whereever they went to live after KL we would call their home, The Ritz Morton due to their impeccable taste for fine living. Speaking of which, I thoroughly enjoyed the pre-dinner cocktails of newly arrived wines from the local vitners, especially memorable was the Tyrells Semillion or was it the Hunter Valley Sauvignon Blanc-Semillion with the flinty aftertaste? Yes, lovely indeed.

Pictured above is Jessica who was kind enough to model for me in front of The Ritz Morton, which is actually a lovely house sitting on 33,000sq.ft of land high on a hill overlooking the city of Brisbane.
Bottom 2 pictures of the Chinese Suite where I stayed. Notice it even comes with ancient Chinese musical instruments- in case you can't sleep, I suppose you can play yourself a lullabye. Beats the Ritz anytime.

On the road

To Toowoomba

From Toowoomba to Moggil

On the Moggil Ferry

Spent some much needed time on my own when I drove from Toowoomba to Moggil Ferry Road near Brisbane to catch the ferry to meet up my with hosts for my next Australian episode.
What a feeling...open road ahead and behind me with just acres and acres of greenfields and meadows surrounding me. Even with the powerful 3litre V6 Toyota Camry, I felt no urge to put the pedal to the metal to test the ride, the driving experience was priceless at just below 100kph.
As I drove in my time of quietude, a very welcomed tune came on the car radio just to briefly accompany and share with me that very special moment of driving alone on that long highway, 'Knocking on heaven's door' simply sung by some unknown Aussie unplugged and sublime. Jon sang that very song during school campfire nite, it was his favourite song and only solo performance with his band. I just felt very liberated and very loved as the Moggil Ferry came into view.

To Brisbane

Having spent enough time basking in the familiarity of an Asianized metropolitan Sydney, we decided to drive North to Brisbane via a detour to Toowoomba to see a friend before I arrive at Brisbane to spend time with my Aussie mate Daryll.The drive was approx. 850 kms via the Pacific Coast H'way. After the first 5 hours, we arrived at Port MacQuarie, a quaint little seaside holiday resort cum port. Home also to McQuarie University, there's a huge student population here. Spent the night at a motel after waking up the proprietress, who showed up in a bath robe. Haggled with her over the price of the accomodations, got the price we wanted, no breakfast and a room overlooking the main road. Pretty decent place to sleep in. Up at six the next morning and Coffs Harbour was our destination for breakfast.I drove most of the way up the coast, beautiful stretches of land and seascape interrupted by turfs of green meadows and forested creeks. Because of the strict speed limits, we drove at a leisurely pace taking in the expansive vistas and it was such a breeze that we made Coffs Harbour earlier than expected and decided to make for the much heralded Byron Bay for lunch instead. Lennox Head needs special mention as the sweeping views to the sea are spectacular.
Byron Bay was lovely as lunch, Fish Heads was the name of the restaurant where we had fresh Pacific rock oysters washed down with a very very nice bottle of Sauvignon Blanc Semillion- Three Sisters from Victoria. Very satisfied. To wear down the effects of the alcohol, we took in the sights and side streets of Byron Bay.

Sydney

View from the apt. Finger Wharf in the foreground.

Had to attend a conference one weekend in Sydney. Gladly jumped at the chance and returned to a city I was last at 25 years ago. After a successful meeting, we moved into a friends studio apartment on Victoria St. in Potts Point very close to King's Cross. The balcony opened up to a view of the Harbour Bridge and part of the Opera House. 

And right in the forefront on the suburb of Wooloomooloo lies one of the most expensive piece of real estate in Sydney, Finger Wharf, an apartment complex on the pier where Russel Crowe lives. He supposedly bought his waterfront apartment for A$14M.

Sydney, city by the bay, hasn't changed much except for the skyline. The Harbour Bridge used to charge A$O.20c toll when I last visited now charges A$3.00. They still use the same unmanned toll collection mechanism. Just throw the coins into a large collection basket. 

More cosmopolitan now with a larger mix of Chinese, Koreans, Vietnamese, Thais, Malaysians, Singaporeans, Indonesians. Sydney is even more chic, stylish, charming, exciting than ever before.

may i feel

Following my earlier post on the poetry of ee cummings here, 

I've stumbled upon yet another one of his love poems that borders more on the physical side of love that America's second most popular poet writes prolific. 

 

may i feel said he 

may i feel said he (i'll squeal said she, just once said he) 

it's fun said she (may i touch said he, how much said she, a lot said he) 

why not said she (let's go said he, not too far said she, what's too far said he, where you are said she) 

may i stay said he (which way said she, like this said he, if you kiss said she, may i move said he, is it love said she) 

if you're willing said he (but you're killing said she, but it's life said he, but your wife said she, now said he) 

ow said she (tiptop said he, don't stop said she, oh no said he) go slow said she, (cccome? said he, ummm said she) you're divine! said he (you are Mine said she)

Cummings always considered himself just as much a painter as he was a poet or writer. Especially in his later years, spent at his home in New Hampshire, Cummings would paint during the day and then write at night. Beginning with his years at Harvard and continuing on into the 1920s, Cummings identified with the artistic movements of Cubism, Dada, and Surrealism. He particularly admired the work of Pablo Picasso. 

 It's also his birthday today. Happy Birthday Edward Estlin Cummings. What a love fiend you are.

Best Picture

A picture tells a story. Some paint a vivid tale, some go on to document an event or a special moment. A good picture should actually ignite feelings in you to do things. Very few do all that I've mentioned. And this is one of the few. It just transforms my imagination and makes me want to don white cotton robes and traverse the desert with a camel train.
Look closely. Can you find the camels?
This is an aerial photograph of a herd of camels crossing the desert. The black parts are the shadows and the 'white' camels.
This is one of the best pictures of 2005 voted by National Geographic.

Imagine

Today is John Lennon's Birthday.

Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one


Who would have thought the Beatles, a 60's boy band, would make such an impact on the greater good.
What you have started, just like what Gandhi and Jon did, will never die.
'And the world will live as one.......................'

Happy Birthday John Lennon

World Population-2006

According to reference.com;

In 2006, the world population will exceed 6,500,000,000 and the United States population will exceed 300,000,000. Worldwide, there are 4.1 births per second and 1.8 deaths per second. In the United States, there is one birth every eight seconds and one death every 13 seconds. China has the world's largest population with over 1,300,000,000 people. One out of every five people in the world live in China.


It's getting to be abit crowded don't you think? Six point five billion people with more than twice the number of newborns over deaths per second and birth is escalating faster than death by 5 secs. Which means more people are coming than going. With improved healthcare, the average life expectancy will increase. But then again, people want to live forever but nobody wants to grow old. Think about it.
And if there are five in your family, how do you decide who goes to China?

Gentleness is Strength

"There is nothing as gentle as strength, and nothing as strong as gentleness".
-Frances de Sales


Perhaps in the quest for God and in finding justification for my gentle nature, I have arrived at some fundamental issues that are very real for me and further cements my belief in the greater good.Gentleness is Strength

by Robert Perry

We all love to be on the receiving end of gentleness. It feels wonderful to be treated gently. Yet, on the giving end, we wonder if being gentle can get the job done. We live in a world resistant to change, even change for its own good. If we are going to make a positive difference, surely at times we must act strongly, even harshly.

This reflects our underlying attitude that gentleness is weak, an attitude that is perfectly understandable. We probably all have had the experience of trying gently to get a certain result while no one listens, only to finally get that result when we start shouting.

A Course in Miracles, however, claims that gentleness is strength. In fact, it says that if we want to make a positive difference in the world we will "need the strength of gentleness" (Manual, p. 13). It says that if our tactics are harmful, we will actually be too weak to accomplish what we came here for. This is a total reversal of how we see things. How can it be?

True gentleness is more than just a matter of behavior. It flows from an inner gentleness, a gentle way of seeing. Do you look upon the world through gentle eyes? As people do their crazy dance, do you look on them with narrow, unforgiving eyes, or do you "look with gentle graciousness" (Text, p. 407)?

This kind of seeing gives rise to the gentleness that is truly strong. Real gentleness has the power to reach inside people and cause change. Perhaps we can remember a time in our own lives when one gentle touch reached us as nothing else could, when one gentle word was more effective than all the shouting. The power of gentleness is the power of love.

More than that, says A Course in Miracles, the power of gentleness is the power of God. According to the Course, God is perfect gentleness yet also infinite power. True gentleness, then, is more than mild behavior, more than mere timidity. It is a state of mind that mirrors the nature of God, and so taps into His infinite power. This is why the truly gentle have been known to perform miracles.

And this is why they will one day inherit the earth. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught that "the meek shall inherit the earth." The word "meek" here is the translation of a Greek word that actually means "gentle but strong," which is why many translations now say "the gentle" rather than "the meek." A Course in Miracles makes the exact same point. After speaking of the strength that comes from never attacking-from gentleness-it says, "This is what is meant by 'the meek shall inherit the earth.' They will literally take it over because of their strength" (Text, p. 20). Can you imagine a world ruled by the gentle? What a wonderful world it would be.

I believe it would be a world of infinite power because like God, our true nature, perfect gentleness is also infinite power. And if it's true that we all love to be at the receiving end of gentleness, we should be the change that we want to be. And yes, what a wonderful world it would be.....

Terry Fox Run 2006- More pictures

Well you know what they say;
Better late than never. Photos still say alot. See how much fun Summer is having? Not half as much as mummy!!! Isn't she lovely?

Summer's Birthday

On the night you were born, the moon looked like this.

Thursday, September 28, 1995


Moon's age (days): 4
Distance (Earth radii): 58.13
Percent Illumination 17.21%
Ecliptic latitude (degrees): 2.39
Ecliptic longitude (degrees): 233.37

Our darling girl turns 11 today. Although she felt a little under the weather due to a bout of food poisoning acquired during her b'day dinner at the Dome at KLCC, she put up a brave front for all present.Lots of friends and family members to surround you with love, lots of food and even two b'day cakes. I simply love the butter cake with sugar icing. Yummm

Your birth tree is Hazelnut Tree, the Extraordinary Charming, undemanding, very understanding, knows how to make an impression, active fighter for social cause, popular, moody and capricious lover, honest and tolerant partner, precise sense of judgement.

Do you think it describes her aptly?

Happy Birthday Summer

Terry Fox Run 2006

The Gans were there for the first time when we heard of it from friends. And we were glad we went to 'walk' the route with sooooo... many people who supported the Terry Fox cause. Summer wants to do it again. Zane was home alone.
Well supported, well organised, well funded and well done Terry.

The Run is named after Terry Fox, the young man who inspired these events.

Terry Fox was 18 years old when he was diagnosed with bone cancer. His right leg was amputated above the knee. Whilst in hospital, Terry was moved by the suffering of cancer patients, particularly children. So much so that he resolved to run across Canada (a distance of 8,500 kilometers) to raise money for cancer research. He called his journey the “Marathon of Hope”. Terry Fox, an amputee, ran a marathon (42 kilometers) a day for 143 consecutive days - a total distance of 5,373 kilometers. At that stage, Terry was forced to abandon his run as the cancer spread to his lungs. Terry Fox died at the tender age of 21. Before he died, he knew that a fund-raising event would be held each year, with the same objectives as the Marathon of Hope - to help find a cure for cancer.

Longer

"When artists create pictures and thinkers search for laws and formulate thoughts, it is in order to salvage something from the great dance of death, to make something that lasts longer than we do".
- Hermann Hesse

Life is a terminal condition. What are you doing to make it last longer?
Hermann Hesse(2 July 1877 – 9 August 1962) was a German-born poet, novelist, and painter who became a Swiss citizen. In 1946, he received the Nobel Prize in Literature. His best known works include Steppenwolf, Siddhartha, and The Glass Bead Game (also known as Magister Ludi).