25th Wedding Anniversary

As 2017 draws to a close, may I wish you a great year ahead.

“I am getting married!” was the subject heading of an email I received recently from a former student. She is not the only one who got married this year… I know of several other former students who also tied the nuptial knot this year.

 

2017 is also a special year for us. It is our 25th wedding anniversary. We are thankful for the many good memories; we have been to interesting places we never dreamed of… This year, we visited Florida (Jan), Hong Kong (Apr), Switzerland (Jun), Taiwan (Jul) and Sydney (Oct). That adds up to nearly 80,000 km!

Florida (Jan 2017)

Marriage is not the only milestones in one’s life. There are other significant milestones, such as:

• the first day in university;
• the last exam;
• getting the first job;
• receiving the first pay check;
• collecting the keys to the house;
• the first promotion;
• becoming a parent;
• retiring; and so on…

Taichung (Jul 2017)

Milestones are important because they are the fruits of our hard work; they encourage us; and they mark a new phase/season in our life. It is therefore important to celebrate milestones; lest our “life become one long ride without stops to enjoy the scenery”. So I am reminded that we should not be  hurried to reach our destination... don't settle on snapping photos to share on Facebook. Instead, remember to pause, ponder, enjoy the panoramic view, make friends, and smell the flowers along the way.

Sydney (Oct 2017)

Mankind has over the years erected monuments & memorials for many reasons. Personally, I collect small stones/pebbles and place them in visible places around my house/office. They serve as a constant reminder for me to:
(1) be thankful (look back) - count my blessings,
(2) be humble (look up) – if I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants, Isaac Newton; and

(3) be hopeful (look forward) – past victories paved the way for future success.

May your 2018 be filled with abundant grace, joy and peace.

 

Switzerland (June 2017)

Chronophage - The Time Eater

"Basically I view time as not on your side. He'll eat up every minute of your life, and as soon as one has gone he's salivating for the next."

Year-end Reflection 

 

Dec 2015: Another year is passing away.... Although not everything we had resolved to do at the start of the year have been accomplished; although we encountered trials along the way; and although the economic outlook remains uncertain over the horizon, we can still find reasons to give thanks.

 

We do have a good life: I am truly blessed with a wonderful wife. We live in a private apartment, we enjoyed doing simple things together. We are healthy… physically, emotionally, socially and financially. Job-wise, I find meaning in what I do... I love to do research, teach and inspire my students, who are really the hope and future of the nations. All in all, we are happy and humbly grateful for God's protection and grace.

 

We were away on sabbatical: 4 months in Cambridge (Aug -Dec 2014) and 5 months in Florida (Jan - May 2015). What does one do during sabbatical? R&R! Intellectually, R&R stands for Reading and Research. At a deeper level, R&R also stands for Rest and Reflect. During our sabbatical, we met many acquaintances and made new friends. We tried new things, new experiences. We also travelled to many cities, such as Maastricht in Netherlands, Brussels & Bruges in Belgium, London, Manchester & Reading in England, Edinburgh in Scotland, Boston and several interesting places in Florida, USA.

 

What inspired us? In reflection, there are indeed many things we could share on what inspired us. Cambridge is a stunningly beautiful college town. You can easily be awed by its rich history; imagine dining at The Eagle pub where Crick and Watson interrupted patrons’ lunchtime (in Feb 1953) to announce that they had discovered “the secret of life” (i.e. how DNA carries genetic information); or visiting the Wren Library to look at the handwritten notes of Sir Isaac Newton; or peeping into the field notes of Charles Darwin at the Sedwick Museum.

 

In Florida, we were inspired by the natural serenity of God’s creation and by the friendliness of those we met. I was thrilled to visit many farms, which taught us many life lessons, such as not to underestimate the potential of a small seed; the importance of patience and hard work; and appreciating the seasons of life… particularly, there is a season to sow, there is a season to wait, and there is a season to reap. 

Where am I in the seasons of life? 2015 is also a very special year. It marks Singapore's 50th year of independence. Most Singaporeans will also remember 2015 for the passing of Mr Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father and chief architect of modern Singapore. Born in 1965, I also celebrated my 50^th birthday this year. If you take age 20-35 as spring, 35-50 as summer, 50-65 as autumn, 65-80 as winter, then I am at the stage where summer has just passed. So, here I am, staring into the autumn season of my life… reflecting the season of transition, the changing colors of autumn leaves (and white hairs) can make one more contemplative on life... While this is the season for gathering the harvests and for giving thanks, it is also a time for preparing for the coming hibernation of winter.

 

The Corpus Clock: The continual passing of time and cycle of life and death reminded me of an interesting landmark in Cambridge UK. The Corpus Clock is a large sculptural clock at street level, looking out over the busy King’s Parade. The dominating visual feature of the clock is a grim-looking metal sculpture of an insect similar to a locust. This beast is called the Chronophage (literally "time eater" in Greek). It moves its mouth, appearing to "eat up" the seconds as they pass, and occasionally it "blinks" in seeming satisfaction. The creature's constant motion produces an eerie grinding sound and the hour is tolled by the sound of a chain clanking into a small wooden coffin hidden in the back of the clock. Below the clock is an inscription from 1 John 2:17: mundus transit et. concupiscentia eius ("the world passeth away, and the lust thereof").

 

According to Taylor (the benefactor), the clock is entirely accurate only once every five minutes. The rest of the time, the pendulum may seem to catch or stop, and the lights may lag or, then, race to get ahead. This erratic motion reflects life's "irregularity". Conceived as a work of public art, the Chronophage reminds viewers in a dramatic way of the inevitable passing of time. It is deliberately designed to be "terrifying". Taylor shared, "Basically I view time as not on your side. He'll eat up every minute of your life, and as soon as one has gone he's salivating for the next."

 

Time can pass us by swiftly without our knowing: Below are two photos we took, then and now. Then was in 1997, now is in 2014. Two photos of the same couple taken in front of the same building, but 18 years apart. Note that I am wearing the same navy blue jacket, although its color has faded and the padding worn out. Thankfully, we are still smiling after all these years! Life has been good to us!

 

                   

Some say, life after 50 is a downhill: I do not believe this. Instead, I believe there is more to life! While the visual image of the Chronophage eating away time can be hypnotically disturbing and the claim that the world (and its lust) is passing away is true, it is incomplete. The second part of the verse was left out: “but the one who does the will of God lives forever.” One inspiring biblical character is Caleb who continues to thrive at the age of 85. During our sabbatical, we got to know many who are still going strong in their autumn/winter seasons. Their stories serve as a lesson for us to never release God’s promises; never retire from serving God; never resigned to the fate of time, and never retreat from the enemy!

 So for this Christmas: We choose to look back with gratitude, to enjoy the present, and to look forward with hope. Instead of letting the Chronophage chew away our precious moments, we intentionally take time out to celebrate life. Instead of running mindlessly, we find time in this festivity period to remind ourselves of God’s provision, and to say “thank you” to those who have been a blessing to us in many different ways.

 

Indeed, your friendship has been a blessing to us. Thank you. May the holidays become a special time of spiritual enrichment, personal renewal, and genuine gratitude.[1]

Photo: on a less-travelled road in Florida (2015)

Our prayer as we look forward to 2016: Lord, you have been good to us, you have been gracious; you have been faithful meeting our needs; Lord, it’s so plain to see. You have been good to us. We have been given much that we can’t even begin to thank you… And still, we believe there is more. So, we open our hands to receive all that your love has installed for us,
miracles wonders blessings unnumbered, love never-ending!

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[1] References: Don Moen, Charles Swindoll, Wikipedia.

 

Monuments & Legacy

LEGACY - What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.... “If I have done any deed worthy of remembrance, that deed will be my
monument. If not, no monument can preserve my memory” - Agesilaus II.

"Monuments! What are they? The very pyramids have forgotten their builders, or to whom they were dedicated. Deeds, not stones, are the true monuments of the great." - John Lothrop Motley.

photo: pryamids of Giza, Egypt (Dec 2010)

London:Fish & Chips

Fish and chips is Britain's national dish. According to a travel guide book, it was introduced to London by Murano Jews. It has since been Britain's fast-food since the mid-19th century. Britons consume some 300 million fish and chips meals per year. Unlike crisypy french fries, the English chips are limp but they burst open with flavor when eaten with salt and malt vinegar.

photo: fish & chips (Rock & Sole Plaice, London)

Our first meal in London, thus, has to be fish and chips! After checking into the hotel, we went to join the huge crowd outside Buckingham Palace to see the Queen, who was celebrating her official birthday. After that, we head for our fish and chips at Rock & Sole Plaice (47 Endell St., near Covent Garden). It was recommended in the guidebook. We met another couple from Singapore at the restaurant. I could recognized they were Singaporeans by their Singlish!

As we were not that hungry, my wife and I shared one order with an extra side dish of mushy peas (yummy, my favorite!). For the fish, we had a few choices, such a cod or haddock. We went for the later on the recommendation of the waiter as well as the guidebook which quoted a local saying, "haddock is for heroes, cod for zeroes". Overall, it was a good meal, but we agreed that we had better fish and chips in the past. It was nevertheless an enjoyable experience eating "al fresco", taking in the sights, sound and fresh air.

reference: Lonely Planet

On the Road: England & Holland

We will be traveling from June 11-21. Our itinerary:
Jun 12-13: London, England
Jun 13-16: Reading, England
Jun 16-17: London, England
Jun 17-20: Rotterdam, Holland
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Our time in London will be free and easy. We do have two appointments to meet up with friends. Otherwise, it is pretty much taking it easy. We will probably not do much of the touristy stuff as we have been to London a few times. But time flies, the last time we were here was in 2000. Exactly, ten years ago!
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Our second stop is Reading (above photo), which is about 30 mins train ride from London. It is around halfway to Oxford. It is essentially a university town and my main purpose is to visit University of Reading, where I will be giving a research seminar as well as a workshop for PhD students. Then it is back to London again for another night.
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Our third and last stop is Rotterdam (right photo) in Netherlands. Here, I will be joining up with a group of academics for an international real estate conference. Rotterdam is about 30 minutes from Amsterdam airport by fast train. It is essentially a port city.

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With our trip coinciding with the World Cup, it will be interesting on match day. English and Dutch are fervent supporters of their national team and it may just be worth the while to join the crowd to watch a live match in the local pub! That's provided they are not playing an Asian team. I recall in one of the previous World Cups, the boyfriend of a student who was travelling in Europe was physically assaulted by a group of football hooligans when the local team lost to South Korea. Apparently, they can't differentiate Chinese from Koreans.

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Which team am I supporting? Traditionally, I go for Brazil. But this round, I am placing my bet (literally) on Spain. If it wins, the retailer from whom I purchased my new digital SLR camera will give a 50% refund. That's $900!

Hanoi, Vietnam

"The Vietnamese nation was born among the lagoons and marshes of Red River Delta around 4000 years ago, and most of its independent existence has been ruled from Hanoi, Vietnam's comparatively small, elegant capital lying in the heart of the northern delta." -Lonely Planet

photo: Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi (Mar 2010)

My wife and I visited Hanoi last week. The air tickets came courtesy of the airmiles redeemed from SIA. Although Halong Bay was highly recommended as a-must-see sight off Hanoi, we decided we wanted to have a relaxing itinerary; literally doing nothing, except to "jalan-jalan and makan" (malay word for "walking and eating").

We stayed in the bustling Old Quarter, the city's commercial heart. As noted in a guide book, Hanoi is bursting at the seams. Almost everyone else zips on motorbikes. From a conversation with a local, I understand that the ratio of the no. of motorbikes to the no. of adults in Hanoi is 1.3!

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Walking on the narrow street in the Old Quarter is a challenge for visitors from places with orderly traffic system, such as Singapore. Everything spillovers onto the road, as the pavements are often occupied with motorbikes. Pedestrians are, thus, forced to walk on the narrow & tumultous streets, competing with the motor vehicles, each honking their own way thru' without any regard for traffic rules. The air is distinctively polluted with traffic fumes and dust, evident by some locals wearing masks.

photo: our favorite pho in Hanoi

Our main agenda in Hanoi, as stated earlier, was walking and eating. However, since walking on the Hanoi streets is not pleasant, the highlight of our trip was reduced to eating! But, afraid that our stomach may not be strong enough, we were careful not patronize any of the stove-and-stools food stalls or street kitchens scattered throughout the city.

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During the day, we went hunting for "famous" local eateries and sampling their specialties, such as the ubiquitous pho (beef) noodle soup; and bun cha (char-grilled pork served on cold rice noodles with minty salad greens). Other Vietnamese specialities we tried include: banh cuon, a snack consisting of almost transparent rice-flour pancakes stuffed with minced pork and black mushrooms (very similar to "chee cheong fun" commonly eaten in Chinese dim sum) ; cha ca, fried fish with a lot of fresh dill and eaten with cold rice noodles. For those who may be turned off by the unpleasant surroundings of the local food joints, Quan An Ngon would be a good option to sample upmarket street food. It is essentially an an open-air food court, frequented by both locals and tourists, with a more pleasant environment.

For dinner, we opted for a more western setting of spanish and italian food. We ate at the restaurants around St Joseph's Cathedral, which is a stone throw from our hotel, Golden Lake Hotel. The tapas, pizza and wine were ok but relatively expensive as compared to the dirt cheap prices we paid for lunch at the local eateries. On Sunday, Mai & her family treated us to an international buffet at an upscale restaurant. Located in a wealthy suburb in the south, it is close to a big mall in Hanoi. Effectively, there are two sides of the world in Hanoi - one for the ordinary folks, where you pay in Vietnamese Dong, and the other for the wealthy locals and international tourists

Below are some photos we took on the trip;

“The real test of friendship is:
Can you literally do nothing with the other person? Can you enjoy together those moments of life that are utterly simple? They are the moments people look back on at the end of life and number as their most sacred experiences.”

- Eugene Kennedy

Wakulla Springs, Florida

"The principal reason for visiting Wakulla Springs is to enjoy the scenery and to appreciate a part of Florida that remains pristine after hundred of years." - The Rough Guide to Florida

Fifteen miles south of Tallahassee, Wakulla Springs State Park is a 6,000 acre wildlife sanctuary quietly hidden in Spanish moss-draped Florida woodlands. The heart of the park is the world famous Wakulla Springs, which is believed to be one of the biggest and deepest natural springs in the world, pumping up 1/2 million gallons of crystal-clear pure water from the bowels of the earth every day. In addition, the Wakulla Springs Lodge, styled in Spanish architecture and completed in 1937, provides a quiet retreat from the modern world.

Note: "Wakulla" means "river of crying bird" or "strange and mysterious waters." A number of films have been shot here, including several of the early Tarzan movies and parts of The Creature from the Black Lagoon.

One of Wakulla Springs' main attractions is the guided boat tours that operate 365 days a year, depending on the weather. The 45-minute river cruise glides under moss-draped bald cypress trees and past an array of creatures, including precious manatees, massive alligators, tribes of turtles, and graceful wading birds, such as anhingas, green herons and white ibeses, up close.

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Below is a slide show of the photos we took on our visit to the Wakulla Springs on 31 Dec 2009.

For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land - a land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig-trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills - Deuteronomy 8:7-9

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source: The Rough Guide to Florida, Lonely Planet Florida, & Florida State Parks' brochure.

On the Road: Tallahassee & Atlanta

Question: What is the capital of Florida state?

Answer: Tallahassee!

Huh, where exactly is it located? It is located north-west of Florida, just across the border from Georgia state.

Well, we will be spending four days in Tallahassee (photo on the right), visiting a friend. Our journey will take us via Singapore-Tokyo-Atlanta (20 hours by air, excluding stopovers) and then Atlanta-Tallahassee (6 hours, by car) .

After Tallahassee, we go back to Atlanta where we will be staying for another 3 days. I will be attending and presenting a research paper at the annual ASSA meeting.

We leave for the airport in 2 hours time, and will be back on January 7. Until then, our prayer for you is that may 2010 be an exceedingly prosperous year for you. May whatever you plan and do prosper and bear fruits in abundance.

Scripture for 2010: "Blessed is the man ... whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." - Psalms 1:1-3

Prayer for Tourists

"Busy sight-seeing, the frantic tourist rushes through the sites faster than a speeding bullet. The frantic's tourist's primary concern is merely to be able to cover as much ground as possible, in the least amount of time - just to be able to say, 'I've been there, seen this, and done that'. Then he hurries on in his conquest of space, but not in his understanding of it." - Edmund Chan

photo: Perth (Sep 1992)

In his book Growing Deep in God (page 97), Pastor Edmund Chan shared that he came across an interesting display-cloth with the printed words, “Prayer for Tourists” in Subiaco Market in Perth, Australia.

Melbourne (2005)

Heavenly Father,

Look down upon your humble obedient tourist servants, who are doomed to travel this earth taking photographs, mailing postcards, buying souvenirs and walking around in drip-dry underwear.

Give us this day divine guidance in the selection of our hotel; that we may find our reservations honoured, our room made up and hot water running from our faucets. We pray that the telephone works and that the operators can speak our tongues.

Lead us, dear Lord, to good and inexpensive restaurants where the food is superb, the waiters friendly, the wine included in the price.

Give us wisdom to tip correctly in the currencies we do not understand. Forgive us for under-tipping out of ignorance, over-tipping out of fear. May the locals love us for what we are and not for what we can contribute to their worldly goods.

Grant us the strength to visit the museum, the parks, the government buildings and all the musts in the guide book, and if perchance, we skip a historic monument to grab a sleep after lunch, have mercy on us, for our flesh is weak.

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For husbands only: Dear God, keep our wives from shopping sprees and protects them from bargains they don’t need or can’t afford. Lead them not into temptation for they know not what they do.

For wives only: Oh mighty Father, keep our husbands from looking at foreign women and comparing them to us. Save them from making fools of themselves in cafes and nightclubs. Above all, do not forgive them for their trespasses for they know exactly what they do.

Spiritual Application:

Edmund Chan wrote that the frantic tourist is a parable of life. He is a parable of prayer. He reflects little on his journey, thus he understands little of it. Similarly, many people hurry through prayer, but reflect little on it. They see, but do not perceive. They observe, but do not understand. They hurry through prayers as if the destination is more important than the journey. They are compulsively driven to complete a task rather than to enjoy the presence of God. They pray driven prayers rather than devout prayers.

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To grow deeper in prayer, we must not be in a hurry... Prayer is like taking an unhurried walk.

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source: Edmund Chan (2008) Growing Deep in God - Integrating Theology & Prayer

Sweden: Stockholm

" If I had to call one European city home, it might be Stockholm. One-third water, one-third parks, one-third city, on the sea, surrounded by woods, bubbling with energy and history, Sweden's stunning capital is green, clean and underrated." - Rick Stein

June 24-28: The last leg of our vacation. I will be presenting a research paper at the real estate conference organized by the European Real Estate Society.

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Stockholm is built on an archipelago of islands connected by bridges. Its location midway along the Baltic Sea made it a natural port, vital to the economy and security of the Swedish peninsula. Today, with 1.8 million people, Stockholm is Sweden's largest city, as well as its cultural, educational, and media center.

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For the visitors, Stockholm offers both old and new. Crawl through Europe's best-preserved old warship and relax on a scenic harbor boat tour. Browse the cobbles and antique shops of the lantern-lit Old Town. Take a trip in time at Skansen, Europe's first and best open-air folk museum. Marvel at Stockholm's glittering City Hall, slick shopping mall, and art museums.

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Overall, we find Stockholm an expensive tourist destination. It seems like everyone is out to earn a profit from tourists. Some examples being: shopkeepers charging extra for stamps (above the face value of the stamp, for service charge?), public toilet entrance fee (approx S$1-2), tap water with a thin slice of lemon in it (S$2) & short subway ride ($5-$8 per trip). At one place (Katarina elevator), we were amuse to find a charge of S$2 to ride the lift (not more than 8 levels). Below are photos we took during our trip.

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Source: Risk Stein's Scandinavia

Germany: Frankfurt

June 23-24: Our fourth and final stop in Germany. A thriving industrial metropolis, Frankfurt is Germany's 5th largest city.

If all roads used to lead to Rome, today they seem to converge on Frankfurt, making it the hub of a great network of European traffic routes. Most international flights land at Frankfurt's huge airport, and its massive 19th-century railway station is the busiet in Europe. Frankfurt is a heavily industrial city, with more than 2,450 factories operating around the Furt (ford) of the Main River. As the home of the Bundersbank, Germany's central bank, Frankfurt is also the country's financial center.

We are staying at Hotel am Dom, which is located directly next to Frankfurt's largest chuch within the boundaries of the historic old own. Room with breakfast is Euro 90 a night. We have arranged to meet Anna and Christoph, a student and her boyfriend, who stays in Frankfurt.

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We will be spending a night here. Tomorrow, we take our connecting flight to Stockhom, Sweden.

source: Frommer's Germany 2009

Germany: Nuremberg

June 22-23: Our third stop in Germany is Nurnberg, or Nuremberg in English. It is 170 km north of Munich. Situated on the river of Pergnitz, Nuremberg is not only a paradise for lovers of its famous gingerbread and sausages, it is also the symbol of Germany's history.

photo: the red sandstone buildings and mostly Gothic architecture were really charming, and the city walls surrounding the old town still remain.

History: The earliest records of the town, the second largest in Bavaria, date drom 1050 when it was a trading settlement. From 1219, Nuremberg was an important centre of craft and commerce. Its most rapid development took place in the 15th and 16th centuries, when many prominent artists, craftsmen and intellectuals worked here, making Nuremberg one of the cultural centres of Europe.

For centuries, Nuremberg was the unofficial capital of the Holy Roman Empire and the preferred residence of German kings, who kept their crown jewels here. However, most people today still connect Nuremberg with the Nazis. Below are a slideshow of the pictures we took in Nuremberg.

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Accommodation: We stayed at Probst-Garni Hotel. According to the Lonely Planet travel guidebook, it is a pleasant, family-run outfit in the old centre. It is also near the train station, which is convenient as we are only staying one night in Nuremberg. The hotel, however, has no website for internet booking or communication by e-mail. A German friend helped to book the room by phone. The cost is Euro 70 per night. Note however that in Europe, most of the red light districts are located in close proximity of the train station.

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Nazi era: Nuremberg held great significance during the Nazi Germany era. Because of the city's position in the centre of Germany, the Nazi Party chose the city to be the site of huge and fanatical Nazi Party conventions – the Nuremberg rallies. The rallies were held annually from 1927 to 1938 in Nuremberg. After Hitler's rise to power in 1933 the Nuremberg rallies became huge state propaganda events, a center of Nazi ideals. At the 1935 rally, Hitler specifically ordered the Reichstag to convene at Nuremberg to pass the infamous anti-Semitic Nuremberg Laws which revoked German citizenship for all Jews.

source: Eyewitness Travel Germany; wikipedia; Lonely Planet, Germany

Germany: Munich

June 20-22: Our second stop in Germany. Munich, the capital city of Bavaria is sometimes called "Germany's secret capital". It is located on the River Isar, north of the Bavarian Alps. With its vibrant cosmopolitan atmosphere, fine buildings, museums and shops, it is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations.

Munich, with 1.36 million inhabitants, is the 3rd largest city in Germany, after Berlin and Hamburg. The German pronunciation for Munich is "Munchen", which is derived from the Old German word for Mönche, which means "Monks" in English. The reason for naming the city in such a manner is to honour the fact that monks of the Benedictine order founded the city. This is also the reason for the monk depicted on the city's coat of arms.

Munchen, which is situated within sight of the Alps, is a handsome city, happily combining metropolitan facilities and sophisticated lifestyle with a small-town, homey atmosphere, symbolized to perfection by its smoky beer halls and cheerful beer gardens. Visitors come here in huge numbers for the gargantuan Oktoberfest.

We are staying at Hotel Jedermann (http://www.hotel-jedermann.de/), recommended in the Lonely Planet book, which wrote, "this renovated hotel with English-speaking staff is excellent value, with small but quite comfortable rooms." Eyewitness Travel's Top 10 Munich added that the budget hotel is one of the most popular hotels in Germany. Most of the 55 rooms overlook a bright courtyard. Owned and operated by the Jenke family for 40 years, their dedication shows in the level of service enjoyed by their guests. A double-room inclusive of breakfast-buffet costs Euro 85 per night. There is also free wireless internet access in the room.

source: wikipedia; National Geographic Traveler (Germany).

Germany: Regensburg

June 17 - 20: We are visiting Regensburg, one of Europe's best preserved medieval towns, where I will be presenting a research paper at a real estate symposium hosted by the University of Regensburg. Despite being a Unesco World Heritage site, Regensburg remains somewhat obscure to many foreign visitors. The architecture of Regensburg testifies to its long history and past grandeur, which reached its peak by the beginning of the Gothic era.

Location: South-east of Germany (1.5 hours from Munich airport) . Regensburg is a city of churches; it was once the focal point from which Christianity spread throughout Germany and even into central Europe.

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Be taken back in time as you walk the cobblestone streets of Regensburg – Bavaria's medieval jewel, and a place so precious it has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city's architecture dates as far back as 179AD. Churches, abbeys, bridges, and houses contructed in the 11th to 13th centuries are ubiquitous in this ancient city. Highlights include the ancient Roman Fort Regina and the Old Town Hall from which Charlemagne ruled the Holy Roman Empire. The Old Town lies on another one of Europe's historic treasures, the beautiful Danube River. Spanning three countries, it made Regensburg one of the gateways to the West from Eastern Europe.

photo: picturesque Steinere Brucke leading to the old town of Regensburg

History: The area of Regensburg was once a Celtic settlement and later a campsite of the Roman legions. In the early 6th century, Regensburg was the seat of the Agilolfa ruling family. In AD 739, a monk named Bonifaced established a bishopric here. The town was the center from which Christianity spread over southern Germany. From AD843, Regensburg was the seat of the Eastern Frankish ruler, Ludwig the German. From 1245 it was a free town of the Holy Roman Empire and throughout the Middle Ages remained South Germany's fastest growing commercial and cultural centre.

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The first and foremost capital of Bavaria, Regensburg was the residence of dukes, kings and bishops. One of it's most well-known residents more recently is Oskar Schindler, whose achievements were commemorated in the Speilberg's epic Schindler's List.

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sources: Frommer's Germany 2009; Eyewitness Travel Germany; Lonely Planet Germany

Marriage Breakthrough Weekend

Mergers - What Can Go Wrong and How to Prevent It is the title of a book I have been reading in preparation for an executive course on Mergers and Acquisitions that I will be conducting for a major property company this month. Although the book's focus is on corporate mergers, we could so easily substitute the word "merger" for "marriage" - what can go wrong and how to prevent it. Afterall, marriage can be viewed as a merger between two individuals, and although I don't have the statistics off hand, we hear that many marriages do end up in separation and divorce.

My wife and I recently joined another 65 couples for a Marriage Breakthrough Weekend in Malaysia. Conducted by our church, it was held in Johor Bahru at the Pulai Springs resort (photo below).

Over three days, we attended several sessions on "Recognizing 'Cobwebs' in Your Marriages"; "Knowing HIS Needs and HER Needs"; "Establishing Spiritual Anchors in Your Marital Relationship"; and "Practical Tips for Harmony in the Home". Besides the seminars and group discussions, we had ample time for quality conversations with our spouse. A romantic candle-light dinner was also included in the programme. One aspect that my wife and I found very refreshing and inspiring was the seminar sessions were conducted by couples, who shared openly and humbly the husband's as well as the wife's perspectives.

In one of the sessions, "romantic" love was distinguished from "caring" love. In particular, husbands and wives were encouraged to become aware of each other's needs and learn to meet them. Willard F.. Harley, author of the book His Needs Her Needs, wrote that marital conflict is created when couples fail to make each other happy. Couples are frustrated because their needs are not being met. He mentioned that ignorance contributes to this failure because men and women have great difficulty understanding and appreciating the value of each other's needs. Men tend to try to meet needs that they would value and women do the same.

The problem is that the needs of men and women are often very different and we waste effort trying to meet the wrong needs (p. 11). The man's five most basic needs in marriage tend to be: (1) sexual fulfilment, (2) recreational companionship, (3) an attractive spouse, (4) domestic support, and (5) admiration. On the other hand, the woman's five most basic needs in marriage tend to be: (1) affection, (2), conversation, (3) honesty and openess, (4) financial support, and (5) family commitment.

So, whilst a man can have the best intentions to meet his wife's needs, but if he thinks her needs are similar to his own, he will fail miserably. When they assume men appreciate the same gestures of kindness they like, women, too, fail (p. 13). The book's thesis is that by learning to understand your spouse as a totally different person than you, you can begin to become an expert in meeting all that person's emotional needs, if you would like to.

Marriage is a very special relationship. May is a special month for us as we were engaged (1991), solemnized and married (1992) in the month of May. So, for this month, I will ponder and share in this blog what I have learnt at the marriage breakthrough weekend as well as what I read from W.H. Harley's book. Our Senior Pastor, in his opening address, encouraged every couple to do:

(1) take stock, (2) take charge, and (3) take care of your marriage relationship.

Note: Focusing on the economics, the source of value creation in a merger (as well as in a marriage) is synergy. However, in a Christian marriage the synergy is not only between two individuals, but also between God and the couple. Thus, my wife and I view our marriage not as a contract, but as a covenant committment. Thus, the retreat was named Marriage Breakthrough rather than Marriage Enrichment. We first commit ourselves to God and then to each other, for we love because He first loved us.

source: W.H Harley (1994) His Needs, Her Needs.

Monterey, USA

Monterey is a city of natural beauty with a rich cultural heritage. Founded in 1770, it is the oldest city in the state of California, and was the state capital for a time. Situated 115 miles south of San Francisco and 320 miles north of Los Angeles, Monterey Country is the virtual heart of California's Central Coast. To the east, the county includes the Salinas Valley, a lush growing region, which is today the "Salad Bowl of the World". The region alone produce 80% of the nation's lettuce supply, generating more than US$600 million annually.

Below are some photos I took during my recent trip to Monterey.

On the first day, after checking into the Marriot Monterey, I took a 3-hour stroll along the coastal road towards the Cannery Row. At the turn of the 20th century, this part of the downtown Monterey area was where fish processing companies canned fish fresh off the boats. Monterey was then the Sardine capital of the world! Today, the stretch is home to galleries, shops, and fine restaurants.

On the evening of the second day, I took a short stroll to Fisherman's Wharf. In the 1800s, this part of town was the epicenter of Monterey's whaling industry. Now, visitors climb aboard modern vessels and journey out to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary to admire and appreciate the whales. From the wharf, one could also see harbor seals, sea lions, sea otters and seabirds.

On the afternoon of the third day, we toured the Pebble Beach, which is best known for its luxury resorts, golf courses and stunning 17-Mile Drive tour that passes through the Del Monte forest. There are approximately 20 stops along the well marked route, each with a landmark of interest and paved parking for the vehicle. The stops include popular tourist icons such as the Lone Cypress tree (left photo), the Restless Sea, Seal Rock, Spanish Bay, etc. We stopped for high-tea at the Pebble Beach Golf Links, which is best known for its luxury resorts and golf club. On our way back, we stopped at Carmel-by-the Sea, an exclusive shopping enclave bursting with charming boutiques, fine art galleries and luxury retailers. Clint Eastwood was once the town's mayor (1986-1988).

photo: charming historic garden at Cooper-Molera adobe

On the final day, I followed the Old Monterey's Path of History. Following the yellow-and-brown tile markers set in the sidewalks, the walking tour bring me to the oldest houses in the county which include California's First Theatre, Old Whaling Station adobe, Cooper-Molera adobe, Case Soberanes, Cotton Hall, etc. I particularly enjoyed the tantalizing fragrances of the many historic gardens.