Nature Photography 101

Nature Photography @ Singapore Botanic Gardens: For novices to digital photography – start with capturing nature at the Botanic Gardens! See the sights the Gardens has to offer, appreciate plants at the same time. A collaboration with the Nature Photographic Society, Singapore, this 6 half-day course will expose participants to a wide variety of skills and passion.

I had my first lesson on nature photography today! I signed up for the above course which involves six 4-hour lessons divided into two parts: 8.00-10.00 am theory; 10.00 am to 12.00 noon practical. The setting is at the Singapore Botanical Gardens. Over 6 weeks, I will be learning with a group of 30 participants tips on landscape, insects & plants (macro) and aviary photography plus a session on post-processing using photoshop.

photo: dragonfly @ Botanical Gardens

The theory session for today was a bit overwhelming as the instructor was a pro who is really passionate and particular about photography. He showed us his portfolio of photos on birds, animals, etc. Many of which were published in professional magazines. He also travelled around the world to take photos; most of which you know you will never be able to capture because they take a lot of skill, huge investment in lenses (one of his lenses cost S$15,000!), and patience. He uses the analogy of a fishman to describe patience; he chooses the right spot and waits for the right moment to capture the best shot. Sometimes, this could take hours or days. In contrast, a hunter goes from one spot to another to choose his subject.

I benefited more from the practical session. We had to take close-up photos of dragonfly at a pond, but I was limited by my camera's ability (the best I could take was the shot above). To take really close-up picture of the insect, a macro lens is required. It costs about S$800 t0 $2,000, which I will need to invest in if I want to take macro pictures. For today session, I managed to borrow a close-up lens from one of the instructors to take a few shots. It was challenging as we had to use manual focusing. I am pleased with my maiden effort into macro photography. As it is sucking the flower, note the eye of the dragonfly staring at you as though it is asking, "what are you looking at? Don't disturb me!"

photo: "what are you looking at?"

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!

Facebook | Your Photos - Zonal Connect

Facebook Your Photos - Zonal Connect

The Fullness of Life

I have recently acquired a new hobby. As a gift for myself on my birthday (May), I bought a digital SLR camera - Canon 550D at just below S$1,800. To learn how to use the camera, I have signed up for several photography courses. In Jun/July, I will be attending a nature photography course organized by the National Parks and the Nature Photographic Society of Singapore. It will be held over 6 half-Saturday (8 am -12 noon) which involves 2 hours of theory lesson in class and 2 hours practical at the Botanical Gardens.

In May, we celebrated our 18th anniversary! To celebrate, we took a “local” holiday. My wife didn’t want to travel as we are already going abroad in June (Europe) and July (HK). So, we decided to book a room at the Fullerton Hotel, which I found a bargain thru the internet. For $288 a night, inclusive of buffet breakfast, river cruise + F/B voucher of S$88 (which can be used for dinner). They allow late check-out till 3 pm. For an extra S$50, you get to upgrade to a room with the view of the Marina Bay. The upgrade was worth it as the room at the 7th floor comes with a balcony and overlooking the integrated resort and the Singapore flyer. It was also two rooms away from Room 777, which is the very room the late Goh Keng Swee and Hon Sui Sen occupied as Finance Minister during the early days of Singapore independeence.

Below is a photo I took using the new camera.

Finally, I would like to share the following prayer (twice I received it recently; first from my wife on my birthday, and second from the church elder during the contact group dedication):

“When I think of the wisdom and scope of God’s plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”

(Ephesians 3: 14-19; NLT).

PEACE

“Do not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7

When I was about to graduate from the university, I went for a job interview with a prestigious MNC. During the interview, the MD asked, “What do you treasure most in life?” Very assuredly, I said, “Peace.” He replied, “You can’t find peace in this company.” Without pausing, I countered, "I disagree. Peace can be found anywhere. It is found within one’s heart!” Sure enough, I didn't get the job. On hindsight, I could have been more agreeable during the interview process. But I still hold the belief that peace is found in one's heart!

Anyway, this posting is not about job interviews, but rather on the subject of peace. Do you want to worry less? Imagine never being “anxious about anything”. Seems like an impossibility, right? We all have worries at work, in our homes, at school. So, how do I cope with worries?

One motto which carried me through my university days was “aim for the best; expect the worst”. The second half of the motto was my in-built mechanism to handle stress, worries and disappointments. Since the worst is expected, everything else will turn out better! It is quite similar to what one real estate entrepreneur said, "if you can live with the downside risk, the upside will take care of itself".

Since I became a Christian, I learnt there is a better way to cope with worries and face an uncertain future. As the scripture (Philippians 4:6-7) suggests, I now turn my worries into prayers. Whenever I start to worry, I stop and pray. God may not always remove the issue (or problem) that causes my anxiety in the first place. Instead, He promises a “peace which surpasses all understanding”; a peace that the world cannot provide; a peace that guards our hearts (our feelings) and our minds (our thinking) regardless of circumstances, people, or things that would otherwise steal our joy; a peace that doesn't mean the absence of trials on the outside, but it does mean a quiet confidence within.

photo: Miami (april 2010)

True peace is not found in positive thinking, in the absence of conflict, and in good feelings. It comes from knowing that God is in control and He cares for me.

On the Road: Miami & Naples, Florida

From Palm Sunday (my last blog entry) to palms on the beach!

It is the time of the year again for my annual migration to the US to attend the American Real Estate Society (ARES) Meeting. This year, it will be held in Naples, Florida. Prior to that, I am visiting Florida International University (FIU) which is based in Miami. This will be my first visit to Miami, but my second trip to Naples, which I first visited in 2001.

In Miami, I will be staying at Sofitel Miami, which is close to the airport and FIU. It overlooks a blue lagoon (see photo on the right). The ARES meeting in Naples will be held at charming The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club. It is Southwest Florida's only resort with its own 18-hole golf course.

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Facing the Gulf of Mexico, there is nothing much to do in Naples besides lingering on the gorgeous white sand beach (see photo below) and play golf (which I don't). Rather than being fronted by tall condominium buildings, the backdrop for the beach here is all the mansions along Millionaires' Row. Everything in Naples is laid back. But the guide book warned that this is not a place where little ones will have fun. Leave them at home. Also, it's not a swinging singles scene whatsoever. More of a romantic spot for couples.

It will be a busy meeting for me this year. I present a seminar at FIU, followed by three research papers at the ARES meeting. On top of that, I have to read a paper for a colleague and chair a session. These together with catching up with friends in the real estate academia circle as well as working on research with collaborators, will leave me little time to enjoy the beach.

Palm Sunday

Sunday church service (Mar 28): the preacher exhorted the congregtion to develop a 20/20 vision. One statement which I noted in my journal is,

“Life is like that… We see many things. We don’t always see clearly. And we don’t think about what we see.”

After the service, I saw a young child holding a palm branch. I was reminded of Palm Sunday; the day Christians remember and celebrate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. We are told in the scripture that as he entered the holy city, mounted on a donkey, Jesus was given a rousing welcome. A great crowd came to watch him, they waved their palm branches, and shouted “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! Blessed is the King of Israel!" (John 12:13).

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Monday morning (Mar 29): I was impressed to devote this holy week to reading, studying and meditating on Jesus’ last week on earth. Sometimes, we can become over familiar with a story such that we no longer pause to think deeper. From the scripture in John 12:12-21, I identified the different groups of people mentioned in the passage. Note their postures:

(1) The crowd – they are those that have come to celebrate the Passover feast; they are not inhabitants of Jerusalem. They are mostly country people; but devout Jews. Matthew Henry commented, “these were not the rulers, nor the great men, that went out to meet Christ, but the commonality.” In other words, they were ordinary people. What was their posture? (i) They had palm in their hands, which is an emblem of victory and triumph; (ii) they cried with a loud voice. In their exhortations, they acknowledge our Lord Jesus to be the king of Israel, and that he comes in the name of the LORD.

(2) The witnesses – they spread the word! What is the reason that instigated the crowd to come and pay respect to Jesus, though the government was so much against him? It was because of the miracle he had performed recently – he raised Lazarus from the dead. No doubt, the city heard about it; the report of it was in all people’s mouth, which is traced to the eye witnesses. It is probable that those who had seen the miracle did not only assert it to those who asked them, but published it unasked.

(3) Jesus – He rode on a donkey, which is a lowly animal (contrary to war horse). The slow-paced animal is symbolically linked humility and peace. Still, this is much more of state than he used to take; he used to walk on foot, but now he was mounted. Nevertheless, a commentator wrote, “according to the fashion of this world, to be introduced thus was a rather disparagement than an honour to the King of Israel, ... His kingdom is not of this world, and therefore come not with outward pomp.” In our modern day context, a car is not just a car. It is a status symbol… Mercs, BMW, Volvo, Jaguar… Jesus rode a colt – less than 1 horsepower! In comparison, a 2,000 cc car today is equivalent to approx. 150 hp.

(4) The Pharisees – consider their indignation; they rage. Their envy made them fret. They were determined to “go after him”, only to see the crowd has “gone after him.” Note that the word “go after” have opposite meanings (“catch” versus “follow”) depending on our posture. Matthew Henry commented, “considering how great these Pharisees were and what abundance of respect was paid them, one would think they need not grudge Christ so inconsiderable a piece of honor as was done him; but proud man would monopolize honor, and have none share with them (like Haman).”

(5) The Disciples – did not understand what was happening. Only after Jesus was glorified, did they realize… Jesus’ words and actions took on new meaning and made more sense…. As we journey through life, we missed many things along the way… But as we grow older, we’ll look back and see God’s involvement more clearly than we do now… We need a 20/20 vision!

(6) The Greeks – their address to Philip was short, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus”. Not satisfied being in the crowd and seeing Jesus from afar, they desire a personal converse with Jesus… They acted on their desire and approached Philip… (Note: it is good to know those who know the LORD. We should improve our acquaintance with good people who may lead to our increase in the knowledge of God).

As we prepare our hearts for this season, in prayer and penitence, may we adopt the same posture of the crowd, the witnesses, Jesus, the disciples and most of all, the Greeks:

“Sir, we would like to see Jesus.”

reference: Henry Matthew & LAB.

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

Bad Apologies!

I'd "rather die" than say sorry - Zinedine Zidane (Mar 2010)

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"Never apologise and never explain... it's a sign of weakness." - 1949 film, She Wore A Yellow Ribbon

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Footballers, whether they like it or not, are role models by virtue of their high profile. Over the past few weeks, two incidents involving famous footballers (both were captains of their respective national teams) have hogged the headlines.

The first incident involved France legend Zinedine Zidane, who headbutted Marco Materazzi during the 2006 World Cup final - an action which saw the France captain duly dismissed. That was to be the last game of his distinguished career. Italy went on to win the World Cup in a penalty shoot-out. In a recent interview (March 1, 2010), while Zidane admits he regrets what he did, he insists he will never apologise to Materazzi because of the insults against his mother that he claims provoked the headbutt.

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The second incident involved Manchester City's footballer Wayne Bridge's refusal to shake hand with John Terry (Chelsea's captain), who had had an affair with Bridge's ex-girlfriend. Both were once best friends and teammates at Chelsea FC and England. As a result of the scandal, John Terry was removed as the team captain of England. Wayne Bridge, on his part, made himself unavailable for the World Cup citing John Terry’s failure to apologise as the main reason. When John Terry showed no signs of remorse in the statement he issued the day he was stripped of the England captaincy — and in his conduct towards Bridge himself — the Manchester City full back realised living in such close quarters to his one-time friend and colleague for the duration of a tournament was going to be impossible.

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Hard to Say Sorry: Most people find it difficult to say sorry. As Gary Hayden wrote in his recent featured article in the Straits Times on Feb 25, 2010, "some people never accept blame and never apologise." In his article, Hayden highlighted some examples of bad apologies as well as how to say sorry.

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Bad apologies are annonying and more likely to incense someone than it will placate him. Three examples of bad apologies highlighted by Hayden are:

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(1) Insincere apologies - whenever a politician is caught with his hands in the till or a sportsman with his pants down, an apology will almost certainly ensue. However, we are left wondering whether the person concerned is sorry for what he did - or merely sorry he got caught. More often than not, we suspect the later.

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(2) Half-baked apologies - these are often phrased using the passive voice. So instead of admitting "I made a mistake", we say "Mistakes were made". Instead of saying "I am sorry I wrecked your car," we say "I am sorry your car was wrecked". At the heart of these ineffectual apologies is an unwillingness to be fully responsible for what has happened.

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(3) Back-handed apologies - worse, these are really non-apologies. Instead of saying "I am sorry I offended you, ", we say "I am sorry you took offense". The implication here is that you ought not really to have taken offence and Ihave not really done anything wrong but I had better apologise anyway or else I may never hear the last of it. Other examples of backhanded apologies, which subtly shift responsibility onto the victim, include "I am sorry if anyone misunderstood me" and "I am sorry you feel that way".

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An incomplete apology is often, quite rightly, seen as a second insult. In the next blog, I will continue with the tips offered by Hayden on "how to say sorry".

source: Gary Hayden, "Hard to Say Sorry", The Strait Times (Feb 25, 2010); http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1253880/John-Terry-didnt-say-sorry-The-reason-Wayne-Bridge-quit-England.html#ixzz0hM05le1v

Reaching & Touching

We are in a matrix of relationships…. There are many different kinds of relationships. There is that of a man and a woman in marriage. There is, of course, that of a parent(s) and child. Beyond that there are the general friendships of varying degrees of intensity that we all pursue and enjoy. Do all of these relationships have anything in common? Absolutely! - G&G MacDonald

photo: Sunday Service Team @ CEFC (2009)

This year we had a holiday bonanza over this Chinese New Year because it falls on a weekend. As a result, we had four continuous days to break away from our normal routine. My wife and I made a trip back to Kuala Lumpur to visit my elderly parents. Most of the time we spent in KL revolved around family and food; buying, preparing, cooking, eating and washing up.

In addition, I took the opportunity to read an old book which I brought along for the KL trip. If Those Who Reach Could Touch is written by Gail and Gordon MacDonald in 1984. It is a good reminder for me on the importance, principles and practice of developing good relationship. I strongly recommend the book as it is both insightful and practical. Written from a Christian perspective, I think the principles are relevant to our day-to-day relationships.

Reaching out - an impulse basic to human life. From our ealiest moments we reach for security, for food, for help. Later we reach for companionship. Ultimately, we reach in response to the reaching of others: parent to child, friend to friend, stronger to weaker, whole to hurting.

But although we reach instictively, many times we miss our mark. We fail to affect lives. We reach, but we cannot touch. Perhaps, it's becasue we have never learned to touch effectively. Perhaps in the business of daily living we have forgotten how. Or perhaps past experiences have so bruised and blinded us that we are too afraid or too bitter to risk touching. As a result, our relationships have become stunted parodies of the love God created us to live in.

If Those Who Reach Could Touch takes a look at what the Bible says about reaching and touching - how it can be done successfully and why we fail so often. The authors seek to help us understand the ability we have to touch and be touched and show us how to care, to forgive, to encourage, and to confront until our relationships grow to the fruitful, satisfying potential God plans for all Christians.

photo: Christmas (2009)

Summary: Reaching and touching are the building blocks of relationships. …. Generally speaking, everyone reaches but not everyone touches...

Make relationships a priority in our lives…

My Blessings Are So Many

The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you: The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26.

photo: rodendrum (State College, 2008)

Over the whole of last year, our church systematically studied the book of Numbers. The weekly sermons were anchored on chapters of the book. Whilst there are many lessons that can be gleaned, one of my favorite verses from the book is Numbers 6:24-26. It reminds us that God is looking out for us. As Max Lucado wrote, "... what the world has overlooked, your Father has remembered, and sooner than you can imagine, you will be blessed by him.

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Further, my meditation today focused on John 1:16: "From his abundance, we have all received one gracious blessing after another." Browsing through my scrap book this morning, I came across a beautiful poem and prayer by Helen Steiner Rice.

My blessings are so many,
My troubles are so few,
How can I feel discouraged
When I know that I have You.
And I have the sweet assurance
That I’ll never stand alone
If I but keep remembering
I am Yours and Yours alone …
So, in this world of trouble
With darkness all around,
Take my hand and lead me
Until I stand on higher ground.
For anything and everything
Can somehow be endured
If your presence is beside me
And lovingly assured!
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Prayer: Father, keep my faith strong, my fervor constant. Although I cannot see you, I know you are always near, always at my side. In every trouble and problem, there is a blessing. It takes patience and perseverance to see it. Improve my outlook, Lord, so that I can see clearly the blessing You have sent my way. Yes Father, your blessings are all around me. I thanked You for your generosity, Your mercy and Your love.

Thank you, Father, for the many blessings – visible and invisible – that You have bestowed upon me.

New Year Superstitions

“a belief, not based on human reason or scientific knowledge, that future events may be influenced by one's behavior in some magical or mystical way."

... that is how SUPERSTITION is defined on the wiktionary. In a much stronger tone, Charles Swindoll (Come before Winter..., 1985) wrote, “conceived in the mind of ignorance, superstition cultivates insecurity and sends a legion of structural cracks through our character. It feeds on exaggerated, self-made lies which grow so thick that the boughs hide common sense and worse, God.”

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Whether we like it or not, we find superstition everywhere. In sports, professional players testify how they go through strange warm-up rituals to get properly "psyched up" for a game....

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Most would agree that the Chinese are generally a superstitious lot. As the Chinese New Year approaches, there are many superstitions that are believed and practiced for good luck. One example is the color red which is considered to bring luck. The practices of tossing of “yu sheng” or exchanging mandarin oranges, by virtue of their sound (pronunciation), are also associated with good fortune and wealth. On the other hand, washing hair or sweping the floor on the first day of the Chinese New Year should be avoided as this is believed to wash (or sweep) away the good luck. Similarly, do not use scissors or knives as it is believed to cut off good fortune and wealth. And the list goes on and on…

Over time, these superstitions have become a tradition. Just as a foreigner in Singapore observed, “While many Chinese people today may not believe in these do's and don'ts, these traditions and customs are still practiced. These traditions and customs are kept because most families realize that it is these very traditions, whether believed or not, that provide continuity with the past and provide the family with an identity.” Source:

http://wuerstelstand.blogspot.com/2008/01/new-year-superstitions.html

Recall that at the beginning of this year, we celebrated the New Year in the deep south of America. Not unlike the Chinese, we learnt that the Americans also have some interesting superstitions pertaining to what food to eat to bring good luck on January 1. In particular, U.S. Southerners eat pork, black-eyed peas and collard greens (served with rice and cornbreads) on New Year’s Day because they are supposed to bring good luck and prosperity in the coming year. We learnt of this interesting traditions when we visited Stacy Sirmans’ family on New Year’s day:

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Because of their resemblance to coins, the black-eyed peas are considered lucky.

Collard greens being green, is associated with the US dollars, thus, symbolizing more money. The collard greens, despite its uninviting look, tasted surprisingly good (like the chinese 'mui choi') that we went for 2nd helping.

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Pork is also considered lucky because pigs eat their food moving forward, thus eating pork on New Year’s will assure the year ahead will be bountiful.

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Hog jowls (left) are a tough cut of pork that are typically smoked and cured, and taste similar to bacon, except more fatty. Note: The jowl comes from behind the jaw of the pig, weighing a pound and a half at most.

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The Life of a Flower

"Heavenly Father, give me vision to see the wise and inspirational message that you have placed within a flower. The life of a flower, like the life of a man, is measured not by what other are doing for it, but rather the enjoyment it is giving to others" - HSR

photo: "bleeding heart" (State College)

Sometimes when faith is running low
And I cannot fanthom why things are so...

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I walk alone among the flowers I grow
And learn the answers to all I would know

For among the flowers I have come to see
Life's miracle and its mystery...

And standing in silence and reverie,

My faith comes flooding back to me.


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Reflection: Hope is the lone flower blooming in times of life's desert.

What All Good Leaders Do?

"Those of us who are strong and able in faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, "How can I help?". - Romans 15:1-2 (The Message)

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This evening, I was browsing through the journal I kept for my sabbatical. In it, were a number of loose papers and sticky notes in which I scribbled some nuggets of truths, words of wisdoms, or inspiring thoughts that I came across. I believe most of them came from books or articles I read or sermons I heard during that year. Regretfully, I didn't do a good job recording their sources; thus, I may not be able to cite or acknowledge where I got them from. The scrap notes are currently all over the place. Over the next few weeks, I will be revisiting these gold nuggets, reflect and share them on this blog. Trust they will be a good reminder for you and me.

The first one is entitled "What All Good Leaders Do?". One, they get the job done. Two, they get people to produce. Three, they teach people how to do things right, and four, they delegate authority. Whilst all these are true, there's a simple answer that covers all that ground. It is:

"to bring out the best in the people you are leading."

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A good scripture to accompany this thought is Romans 15:1-2 (above). In summary, strength is for service, not status. Leaders need to look after the good of the people around them, asking "How can I help them to be succesful?" We can have enormous influence on the people with whom we come into contact. That influence could be for good or for bad. Similarly, as a professor and an educator, my legacy will not be my research papers nor the awards, but the success of my students.

Field trip to Sentosa Cove (2006)

You have heard of MSG, which is often used in chinese cooking as a flavor enhancer. Well, have you heard of life enhancers? They are people who improve, strengthen, and beautify the world around them. In their interactions with other people, they bring out the best of people. They see something good in us, and then they help us see it too. More important, they help us tap into it... .

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The bible has a lot to say about bringing out the best in people... "Let your words be for the improvements of others, as occasion offers" - Ephesians 4:29; "Therefore encourage one another and build up each other" - 1 Thessalonians 5:11; "The mouth of the upright is a life-giving fountain - Proverbs 10:11; "Say only what is good and helpful to those you are talking to, and what will give them a blessing" - Ephesians 4:29.

In closing, good leaders bring out the best in other people. It's better to build up than to tear down.

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.

Hedgehogs vs Foxes

“You want to know what separates those who make the biggest impact from all the others who are just as smart? They’re hedgehogs.” – Marvin Bressler, Princeton professor.

In his famous essay “The Hedgehog and the Fox,” Isaiah Berlin divided the world in to hedgehogs and foxes, based on the ancient Greek parable: “the fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.”

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The story: The fox waits in cunning silent at this juncture in the trail. The hedgehog, minding his own business, wanders right into the path of the fox. “Aha, I’ve got you now!” thinks the fox. He leaps out, bounding across the ground, lightning fast. The little hedgehog, sensing danger, look up and thinks, “Here we go again. Will he ever learn?” Rolling up into a perfect little ball, the hedgehog becomes a sphere of sharp spikes, pointing outward in all directions. The fox, bounding toward his prey, sees the hedgehog defense and calls off the attack. Retreating back to the forest, the fox begins to calculate a new line of attack. Each day, some version of this battle between the hedgehog and the fox takes place, and despite the greater cunning of the fox, the hedgehog always wins. (p. 90-91).

The fox is a cunning creature, able to devise a myriad of complex strategies for sneak attacks upon the hedgehog. Day in and day out, the fox circles around the hedgehog’s den, waiting for the perfect moment to pounce. Fast, sleek, beautiful, fleet of foot, and crafty – the fox looks like the sure winner.

The hedgehog, on the other hand, is a dowdier creature, looking like a genetic mix-up between the porcupine and a small armadillo. He waddles along, going about his simple day, searching for lunch and taking care of his home.

Foxes pursue many ends at the same time and see the world in all its complexity. They are “scattered or diffused, moving on many levels,” say Berlin, never integrating their thinking into one overall concept or unifying vision. Hedgehogs, on the other hand, simplify a complex world into a single organizing idea, a basic principle or concept that unifies and guides everything. It doesn’t matter how complex the world, a hedgehog reduces all challenges and dilemmas to simple – indeed almost simplistic – hedgehog ideas. For a hedgehog, anything that does not somehow related to the hedgehog idea holds no relevance.

To be clear, hedgehogs are not stupid. Quite the contrary. They understand that the essence of profound insight is simplicity. For example, what could be more simple than e = mc2? No, hedgehogs aren’t simpletons; they have a piercing insight that allows them to see through the complexity and discern the underlying patterns. Hedgehog see what is essential, and ignore the rest. (p.91).

In his best selling managment book, Good to Great, Jim Collins, argues that those who built the good-to-great companies were, to one degree or another, hedgehogs. According to him, the essential strategic difference between the good-to-great and comparison companies lay in two fundamental differences. First, the good-to-great companies founded their strategies on deep understanding along three key dimensions (what you can be the best in the world; what drives your economic engine; what are you deeply passionate about). Second, the good-to-great companies translated that understanding into a simple, crystalline concept that guided all their efforts - hence, the term the Hedgehog Concept.

"Are you a hedgehog or a fox?"

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source: Jim Collins (2001) "Good to Great".

I Believe There is More!

"I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God." Ezekiel 11:18-20

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Happy New Year! What is your wish for the new year/decade? I am not sure about you, but what I asked from God is an undivided heart and a new spirit. Hence, my meditation over the last few weeks of 2009 focused on the above verses in the Bible.

This time last year (31 Dec 2008), I reflected on how God has filled my cup till it overflows. http://happyvalley-prof.blogspot.com/2008/12/he-fills-my-cup-till-it-overflows.html. Yes, I have been blessed abundantly... Another year on, I am still overwhelmed by how much God has blessed me and my wife... BUT "Since you are already so blessed, since your cup is already overflowing..." some may asked, "..., what is there to look forward to?" Well, I still believe there is more. What resonates in my heart this new day is a song declaring, "I BELIEVE THERE IS MORE". Written and sung by Don Moen, who shared the following in his blog:

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“People everywhere are sensing that God has more for them to do. They are tired of the “status quo” lifestyle. My friend, I really do believe God has more for you to do. He has more for me to do. We have to be willing to step out by faith into the “new thing”, whatever it is that God has put in your heart. This certainly does not mean what you have done to this point is insignificant. I believe it was all preparation. God is NEVER finished with us and no matter what the enemy tries to tell you, God has more for you to do. I am thinking I need to write a book about this. There is so much here.”- Don Moen

It is a beautiful song with inspiring lyrics:

You have been good to me (x2)
You have been gracious
You have been faithful
Meeting my needs
Lord, it's so plain to see
You have been good to me
I have been given so much I can't even
Begin to thank You

Chorus:And still I believe there is more
I believe there is more
I believe
So I open my hands to receive
All that Your love has in store
Lord, I believe

Everything I have done
All that I've said and sung
Lifting Your story, giving You glory
That's just the beginning

Father, I know there is more
Power to heal and restore
Miracles, wonders, blessings unnumbered
Love never-ending

(Chorus) Exceeding abundantly
More than our minds can imagine
Love overflowing
You are bestowing
Day after day after day

Lord, I believe; Lord, I believe; Lord, I believe

Faith Prayer for 2010: So, as we move into the new decade, join me to believe that there is more to your life! Let's open our hearts and lift our hands to receive - All that God's love has in store for us. Love overflowing. Love never-ending. More than our minds can imagine. Lord, we believe!

DOODLECHAMPS! Singapore

DOODLECHAMPS! Singapore is a fantastic competition to discover the coolest and most talented creative doodlers in Singapore. After a challenging nationwide search, 24 of the most talented 9 to 11 year olds competed in the DOODLECHAMPS! Singapore TV show. For more information on the competition, visit: http://www.doodlechamps.com/tv-show .

Watch trailer of the show below!

After surviving rounds of elimination, our godson has managed to secure a place in the grand final. He won the semi-final round with total points of 38 (out of a max of 40)! In the grand final, which will be telecast on 31 Dec 2009, 8.30 - 9.00 pm on Octo TV, Jaye Young will meet another contestant to determine who will emerge as the Singapore DOODLECHAMP. The winner will represent Singapore to compete against winners in the other countries. Please tune in to watch and support Jaye Young!

Congrats JayeYoung!! Go for it!

Below are a sample of two drawings by Jaye Young (done under extreme pressure of time and competitive environment) during the earlier rounds of the competition plus the judges' comments.

DODDLE DUEL

"Jaye Young, I love the fact that you took the squiggle and put all your characters outside this squiggles and these squiggles became the dance for your bees." - Ketna

"... you are clear in your illustration, ... fully utilising the doodle lines." - Farid

"... you have a special eye, ... great technical skills and lots of imagination." - Caroline

DOODLE TAG

"Jaye Young, ... 1, 2, and 3 a new species of dinosaurs are born." - Caroline
"I love your stuff... clear lines." - Farid
"... that dinosaur is so cuddly, as though it's stealing chocolates." - Ketna