​Kết quả

Singapore, December 06, 2013 She gave me the bath tea, hand-made, with the most natural ingredients she’s collected from all her overseas trips. “This looks gorgeous!”, said I. “I’ve made it just for you! Singaporeans don’t have time to enjoy a bath.” “Huh?” “Haven’t you heard? It’s kiasu.” Amused by my dumb-founded face, Susan quickly explained herself. Kiasu is a Hokkien word meaning “scared to loose out”. As competitive as Singapore can be as a small nation with big ambition, Singaporeans are programmed since childhood to be constantly on the move. It’s all about efficiency. It’s all about calculated moves to be ahead of the queue. It’s all about getting somewhere before the crowd. And when one gets there, one has to stay alert and calculative of the next somewhere. Isn’t that tiring? Don’t we walk into this world bare-footed and leave it bare-handed? Kiasu…. #efficiency #happiness #philosophy #perspective #scaredtolose #life #ahead #kiasu #singapore

Manila, December 13, 2013 “Manila International Airport, terminal 2, please!” “Yes, Ma’am. And My name is William.” After 4 days in noise-polluted Manila, I am ready to head home for some quiet down-time. “What’s X’mas lane, William?”, ask I looking at the traffic police officer standing on the road side with a blue and white signboard written “X’mas Lane”. “December is a bad month for traffic, Ma’am. Everyday there is broadcast on TV about X’mas lanes to help ease the traffic in various areas.” Hmmm…. I wish they do the same in KL during Ramadan. I almost missed my flight due to traffic jam during the last Ramadan. “So William, are you ready for X’mas?” “No Ma’am. I have three kids and I really don’t know how to get them gifts this X’mas. It is in our tradition to give gifts to friends and families. That’s why everyone is out shopping even though they have no money.” “So how’s your life now compared to 5 years ago?” “Worse! Prices keep rising, yet my income stays unchanged. I’m struggling to feed my family at the moment.” “What are you gonna do about that then?” “Lots of people leave, looking for work abroad. I would if I could. Unfortunately, I cannot leave my wife and kids behind. Lots of families get broken and separated because of this.” William makes me recall the Filipina I met at Gemini station in Rome 2 months ago. Her life story goes just the way this taxi driver remarks. “So if you have one wish today, what would it be?” “A simple life with my family, Ma’am.” “Isn’t your life simple enough at the moment, William?” “I don’t know if I can make it through everyday. It’s bills, bills, bills, and we have no peace. A fortune-teller told me that 2014 will be better.” “How so?” When I reach 45 next year, he said that my fate would change and my life would be brighter.”, said he with a broad smile, all ready to board his next flight to a peaceful, care-free, simple yet joyful future. Sometimes, that is all we ever need, just the bare neccessity to lead a simple life. In the spirit of X’mas, I hope 2014 is a better year for you too, William! #manila #phillipines #happiness #Xmas #bareneccesity #perspective #hope #simple #life #joyful

Manila Airport, December 13, 2013 It’s Friday the 13th and it’s my last flight of the year. Quite spooky huh? Based on the travel agent’s summary, this is my record flying year with 40 trips to 16 countries and 29 cities. That would mean I’m in a different country every 3 weeks and spend every 2 weeks in a different city. To be quite honest, I am officially tired. Sitting here at Manila airport catching the last flight of the year home, I couldn’t help but looking back in restropect. What have I learned from my travel? Nothing too fancy unfortunately. After hours up in the air and a super lot of idle time to contemplate, I guess I’ve learned to speak the language of the universe. “What the?”, some would say. I know…., but that’s totally cool. Take the top 2 most popular languages on earth, English and Mandarin, and ask me if I have used them the most this year. Definitely! Yet the most meaningful conversations I’ve had around the four corners of the world are shared through smiling eyes, subtle nods, loving hugs, and absolute silence when one’s heart whispers to another’s words of sympathy, understanding, and compassion. How can one put a name to such a language? The universe is nameless…. If we have to put up a name for the sheer purpose of recognition, I would name it “language of the universe”. Pretty lame I know! It’s Friday the 13th, and it’s not that spooky after all. There lives no such concept in the dictionary of the universe…. #subtle #restropect #smilingeyes #happiness #philosophy #perspective #language #hug #love #silence #life #universe

Guangzhou, July 4, 2013 Though probably dead tired after landing in Guangzhou from Sydney at 6AM, our Guangzhou host would not take no for an answer when extending his dinner invitation tonight. Since Guangzhou is super famous for its Cantonese cuisine, it is Cantonese food tonight by no mistake. We walk in leisure to the restaurant which offers no common dining area apart from various themed VIP rooms. Exclusivity by all means is here to service this important trading province of Guangdong. We are first seated at one sofa corner of the room where a tea ceremony is initiated. Being a very health-conscious person, our host orders a herbal tea, supposedly good for the liver, especially when alcohol is about to flow through one’s body. While the tea fragrance fills the room, an expensive bottle of red wine is being decanted at the main table. The bottle is then brought over to the host who passionately shares his tasting notes for this 1000-dollar bottle of 2005 Domaines Barons de Rothschild Chateau Lafite “So you must be a French-wine fan?” I ask. “Definitely!” answers Vincent. “What are your thoughts on Australian and American wines that have made headlines in recent years then?” Without a flash of hesitation, Vincent explains his philosophy about wine, “French wine is like a charming, elegant lady who comes from a noble and educated family heritage while Australian and American wines can be referred to as young, energetic, entertaining ladies who can be a lot of fun but won’tbe able to walk a journey with you.” What a description! Though i am not sure if he has actually been sold the concept at one of the roadshows promoted by the Wine Association of France. The host then apologizes that he could not make us wait for an hour while our Lafite needs to breathe, and unfortunately that we have to start dinner sooner, knowing we need to rest early after a hard-working day. Without any prejudice on the 1000-dollar tag, Lafite tastes perfect to me, distinctively flowery though I am supposed to pick up flower, oak, fruit, and orange, all in all a very sophisticated combination. Pairing with fine Cantonese dishes of five-spiced tofu, Cantonese roast pork, roasted baby duck, pan-fried estuary fish, and an unusual Western cousin lobster thermidor on a bed of Chinese noodle, the dinner ends on a fine note with snowy custard dumpling for dessert. As we walk back to the hotel that night, I can, for the first time in my life, feel the expensive gap between the social classes in China. One country, same city, yet it is heaven and hell intertwining in this rough city of Guangzhou. #sophistication #lafite #perspective #cantonese #guangdong #life #france #wine #Guangzhou

Guangzhou, July 4, 2013 Guangzhou has never been my city of choice due to previous bad experiences. If there is one thing I love about this city, it is the magnificent Cantonese cuisine setting out to capture even the most critical foodie. The variety of offerings is amazing and the tatses are just heavenly. With that in mind, I return to Guangzhou, hoping to get quickly through the days with frozen-faced business meetings and a few great meals as a bonus. Loud, noisy, rude, and always on-the-go are the things stuck in my mind after my last Guangzhou visit about the people here. Why does one have to shout across a one-meter distance just to deliver a simple message such as “It’s boarding time”? That I could never comprehend. But then again, it may simply be an ingrained habit that one grows up with in this short-breathed city. Well-prepared for a typical buzzing Guangzhou day ahead, I calmly step into Mr. Li’s office. Taken aback by the zen-filled posture and attitude of the host, I do start wondering if I am in the wrong Guangzhou. The office is well-arranged with trees, flowers, a beautiful Chinese ink-washed painting and a nice calligraphy piece. I once thought ink-washed painting and calligraphy were dying in this motherland of such historical arts. Underneath the table, there is a beautifully-carved wooden box of weiqi, the ancient game of Chinese chess on warfare, which one can only come across in Chinese movies about ancient dynasties. A humble wooden tea table sits quiety at one corner, looking all set for a tea ceremony. The whole setting together with its host brings about the nostalgic & much-appreciated Greatness of Chinese heritage values, ones that can hardly be found in today’s material world. If one has to fight to get a better graveyard spot, who cares about Greatness in the kingdom of humanitarian values? Time flies when one enjoys the company. What an unusually calm and peaceful day it is in this buzzing city of trade! Though one rare encounter may not change one’s perception about the whole place, it certainly helps project soothing thoughts on future returns…. #weiqi #calligraphy #inkwashedpainting #teaceremony #zen #travel #perspective #guangdong #arts #life #Guangzhou

Casa, June 20, 2013 It’s our last day today. The three friendly Tunisians are heading home tomorrow while I am staying over another day to explore Casablanca. Voilà! It’s been 5 days on the road. The once strangers have become good friends. Isn’t it that amazing how we are all connected while living in totally different parts of the world! French cuisine it is. To Tunisians and Moroccans, French is wired in their system and French cuisine obviously is the preferred choice for any celebration. That explains why all the haute couture bakery cafes in Casa have been thriving among the upcoming middle class in this fast-paced country. That’s where we have our farewell dinner, Le Relais de Paris. French offerings with a refined touch, rough Moroccan wine with some personality, the once strangers toast to friendship. The night evolves around world arts, music, movies, philosophy, which to my Tunisian friends pretty unusual topics. These days, people tend to discuss opportunities, real estate, hot destinations, and cool fashion. It certainly does not stop there! As the night deepens into the murmurs of the Atlantic ocean, a hot debate is brought out into the open. “What is the purpose of life?” Different religions, different views. Different backgrounds, different views. Different age groups, different views. Yet we end the night on a beautiful note. We may travel to life’s different destinations. We do, however, share the same journey, a journey from the hearts…. #philosophy #beautifulnote #music #friends #perspectives #arts #life #lifepurpose #strangers #Casablanca

City of Carthage, June 18, 2013 It’s not everyday that one gets to see a UNESCO World Heritage such as The Roman Ruins in Carthage. I know I’ve spent 17 hours in 3 different airports to get here. What do you know? The people in Tunis are living with the ruins every day of their life. It’s on the way to work in Les Berges du Lac. It’s on the way home to Manouba. It’s on the way to their favorite wine bars in Sidi Bou Said. It’s in your neighborhood. What’s new? It’s in your own backyard in the city of Carthage. New rulers tend to destroy the formers’ legends. That’s OK. The people of Tunisia continue to build their future on top of the ruins. Life goes on. History is not only alive in their heads. It’s physically alive in their homes! “We are not Arabs. We are not African. We are simply Tunisian. And we are lost.” That seems to be the common concept of identity in this country. After all people here speak their own dialect, French arabic, that is not understood by any other Middle Eastern arabs, and a whole lot of other languages – French, Spanish, Italian…. So what’s next? Will the revolution of 2010/2011 helps define the identity of this country and its hospitable people? No one knows. Tunisia is on hold waiting for the next election which needs to be figured out in a country where dictatorship has kept it under control until someone set himself on fire. “We have to work out how to run an election first” says a Tunisian friend of mine. Until then, life is still thriving along the coastline, the upcoming European-lifestyle suburbs of Tunis. One thing for sure, history will continue to have its share in the backyards of this amazingly beautiful country. #carthage #sidibousaid #tunis #romanruins #Tunisia #Unesco #lesbergesdulac

Casablanca, June 21, 2013 It’s on the water. It’s the landmark of this town. It’s a cannot-miss-it for anyone coming to Casablanca. Hassan II Mosque, the pride of Casablanca, the pride of Morocco. 100 dirhams to get in and you get a tourguide in your language of choice. My Arabic is zero. My Spanish is yet to be learned in the next lifetime. My French is at street level. English sounds good. Groups and groups of people flock into the mosque, eager to admire the much-talked about legend of this architectural landmark by the Atlantic ocean. No one wants English today, so I get a private tour. Shoes in the plastic bag, I walk in to the late King’s vision for the future that took the contribution of 10,000 artists and craftsmen, and obviously thousands of workers to build. Grandiose is the word. The whole mosque appears before one’s eyes like a royal castle in any of the 1001-Arabian-nights folk tales. The best of Moroccan decor and art have found their home here in Grande Mosquée Hassan II. What can one say? For a moment there, it’s getting personal. It’s me and the monument. I drop the tourguide and seat myself down at a quiet corner. Space and time is irrelevant. My tiny self is insignificant. I can feel the energy of 25,000 people being here today, all heading East, all in sync in their prayers for a better world. It happens every Ramadan and it’s happening soon this July. A few pigeons flap past. Grey shadows gently touch the hand-crafted white marble floor. I look up. The sky is blue. Isn’t that mad? You can open up the roof of this massive mosque! Reality suddenly churns in. People are still struggling to makes ends meet out there. Beggars are on the streets. How can one justify the estimated US$800 million spent on such a project? How does one justify the 56 Venecian Chandeliers and a luxurious hammam underneath that’s never been used? Grandeur will forever be admired. The King will forever be remembered. My heart-felt moment for the people of Morocco will forever stay forgotten. #HassanII #grandiose #casa #morroco #grandeur #Casablanca #mosque

KL, November 28, 2013 He’s a 27-year-old Malay guy with a shy-looking face and smiling eyes. As he took on the mission to drive me to KL International airport today, little did he know that he would soon face with the toughest questions in his life…. “What does 1000 Dinar mean?” I ask while pointing at the brass-looking medallion dangling from the mirror. Apart from the word 1000 Dinar that I could recognize, the rest are in arabic. “I don’t know exactly the translation of the arabic words but basically this is to give happiness, health, and safety on the road” said the guy with a shy smile. “Did you get it from a temple?” “No I bought it a while ago” “What about these beads?” “Oh my friend gave this string to me. I use it every time I pray.” “So how many times do you pray per day?” “5 times” “Really?” “Uh, sometimes not when I am busy.” Fleeting guilt was spotted. “So what do you do when you pray?” “I ask for forgiveness of all my sins” “What’s your biggest sin ever?” Shocked by a direct question, he gave a nervous laugh and said that he would not be able to tell me who he only got to know for the last 24 hours. “Only my best friends know.” “Fair enough!” “So what about you? What’s your biggest sin?”, asked he in a counter-attack manner. ” Well, I ran away from home when I was 16 and broke my mother’s heart.” The guy was kinda caught by surprise to seeing it flowing out of my mouth. “So I guess you’ve never confessed your biggest sin to God before?” “No, not yet.” “How come?” Nervous laugh again. Silence fell as he tried to look through the blurry car shield kept alive by the non-stopping water handles trying to sweep away the heavy raindrops and probably the windmill of his mind…. “You know why it is easy for me to tell anyone about my sins?” “Why?” “Once I know I’ve made a mistake, I accept it and go and change it. That way, it’s become a lesson and no longer a sin.” “True”, said the guy in contemplation. “Don’t try and commit it again though!” Laughters filled the air as we approached the airport…. “Can I tell you about my biggest sin?”, asked he all of a sudden as I was was getting ready to be dropped off.” I stopped, and looked at him. “Sure, only if you are ready!” “I slept with a few girls before” “Is that all? That’s pretty normal for a 27-year old single guy right?” “Yeah but it’s prohibited in Islamic law” ” I see. I’m sure God will forgive you for that, unless you sleep with someone while having a relationship with another.” “It’s called double sin and yes I have committed it. “Ohhh….” We said goodbye as “purple rain” came out from the car stereo, seemingly poking through the grey & thick curtain of a melancholic KL evening. “Don’t forget to pray and confess tonight” “I sure will” #happiness #philosophy #forgiveness #perspective #life #religion #malaysia #kualalumpur #sin

Sydney, October 27, 2013 Sydney’s No. 1 Health & Wellness Expo – that sounds just right for a Sunday afternoon, specifically for someone who is totally head over heels with this subject. With a dear Singaporean friend of mine, I set out to explore the updated world of health & wellness. What would you expect from such an expo? Aroma therapy? Natural bath and body products? Organic food & drinks? Well, that’s a no brainer! What I am blown away by is a new business opportunity in this trendy sector, spiritual solution. Mind you! I’ve made it up. Bet no one likes to be labelled as providing a “spiritual solution”. “Helping one get back in touch with one’s spiritual self” is probably a better marketing approach. After all, what can one do to get back in touch with one’s spiritual self? 2/3 of the booths are totally set up just to cater to the lost souls. Need a glimpse to your past or a sneak peak to the future? Try the various styles of reading! The traditional palm reading, the Arabian-night crystal ball reading, the new-age psychic reading, or the avant-garde colorful wax reading…. If you determine to focus on the present, however, here’s the deal. Check out your aura with an auro image camera, heal your soul with quantum vortex energy (!?!) or simply embrace the energy from your dedicated healers. I gotta warn you though. Everything comes with a cost. And it’s any where from 25 to 75 dollars per session from 15 to 45 minutes. My favourite? Karma clearing, $25 for 15 minutes. What a bargain! For all the sins that I’ve committed over the years, I wouldn’t even think twice! Would you? I am a beginner when it comes to the spiritual journey. One thing I know, however, is that one could never find oneself by looking outward for solutions. It is, after all, an inward journey that costs no more than courage…. Hang on! The colorful feathers look pretty cool! I may need them for the next charity ball. #health #spiritual #wellness #happiness #soul #finding #lost #outward #perspective #life #inward

Sydney, October 29, 2013 It’s Sunday morning. And just like any other Sunday morning for the last 10 years, he is having his “breakfast by the balcony”. Set on the second floor, amongst nature, with a magnificent view of the moody river, time and space often seem irrelevant…. And as Vivaldi’s Four Seasons fill the air with its magical touch, one would think how beautiful life could be in such a perfect setting. “The white stork is still alone.” Having shared a breakfast by the balcony with him once, I could almost picture his lonely shadow reading the message. We used to spot a single white stork on the other side of the river…. “Maybe it’s time for the white stork to stop fighting and start embracing the world around.” Silence remains for the rest of the day. The response is not responded. He thinks his life is a wreck. His wife’s left him for a delivery guy. His kids keep forgetting his birthday. The girls that he’s dated over the years all lie to him. And even though people pay him a lot of money to be their lawyer, he’s got absolutely no joy out of work. The government to him is corrupted. The people are consumed by greed. All of which, in one way or another, constantly feed his anger. The more he gets angry, the less people would want to be any where near him, and understandably the lonelier he becomes. He declares enemy of the whole wild world. Nothing, and no one on earth could ever bring him the happiness he deserves…. “You know what? If happiness is seeked from the outside world, it’s my absolute guarantee that you would never find it. Try seeking it from within…..” Silence fills the conversation as I patiently await his reaction. I could hear nothing but the vague background noises on the other side of the line. Could one of those be the sound of the white stork flapping away in search for his flock? #happiness #within #perspective #journey #life #stork #outsideworld #search

Saigon, June 7, 2013 In a country where you are judged by the clothing brands you wear, the accessories brands you carry, the branded bikes or cars you possess, or the net earnings you take home every month…, it is quite predictable that you get to meet plenty of well-wrapped zombies along the way. Out of their living boxes they walk, every day, towards the most powerful unit of measurement, the $. “What is that used to measure?” Who would ask such a question? But then again, no question is ever a silly one, said once by my primary school teacher. For almost 40 years now in Vietnam, success has been widely defined as getting ahead of others in the race towards wealth, power, and fame. There is no room for being self-content, no room for showing true colors, no room whatsoever for random kindness. I once asked some expat friends for their objective view about Vietnamese, having served their years in the country. The responses are remarkably aligned. “They can fight!” That to me can be a good trait, if rightly used of course. What do they fight for? Somehow group thinking coupled with the efficiency of mass media has created this huge monster called “success”. It obviously has everything to do with how you look, what you possess, how much money you make, how popular you are, who you know…. And the zombies continue to walk, in and out of their living boxes, into the most fierce & brutal fight for that almighty unit of measurement, with the absolute absence of trust. What if I don’t take part in that fight? What if I have my own set of values? As human beings, everyone longs for kindness and warmth from others. What if I offer it, even to strangers? Are you serious? Are you nuts? Are you ready to be a Purple Cow?” Because in this society, one will stick out like a sore thumb and may be boycotted from the “success” circle of zombies. ARE YOU READY? Purple is my color. I love it! #success #purple #kindness #cow #trust #massmedia #brand #vietnam #colors #warmth #perspective #life #fight #earning #zombie #power #saigon #purplecow