Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Teochew Porridge

Teochew porridge is well liked by many. It is usually more plain and less oily. It is very easy to consume especially on very hot days. These days, it is increasingly diffucult to get good Teochew porridge. Some are just too expensive while others are just very ordinary. Then you should try out Soon Soon Restaurant.  

At the junction of Simon Road and Upper Serangoon Road. During peak hours, there is always a queue there. Only peeve here is that at peak hours it is tough to find a place to park your car. There is a good array of dishes to select.

The service is quite fast and prices reasonable.

This deep fried fish is delicious and very fresh.

The "chye poh" omelette is not salty and has a nice crunch while the fish cake and meat ball are tasty.

The chili lala looked so tempting that I naturally have to get some.

And of course the typical cabbage to go along.

The braised pork is lean and the gravy when mixed with your porridge give an added fragrance to the entire meal.

It is a place I will surely visit again.

Monday, May 21, 2012

Tribute To Robin Gibb

The Bee Gees were quite ordinary musicians from their humble beginnings. They were from a place in Manchester, England before moving to Australia and then making it big in the USA. Today, only Elvis Pressley, The Beatles, Garth Brooks, Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney have outsold the Bee Gees.

The Bee Gees or Brothers Gibb have since retired when Maurice died in 2003 but few people knew that actually broke up in 1969 as Robin went on his own. The Bee Gees were very special and very talented as they not only sing but also wrote and produced. They gave Barbara Streisand "Gulity" and "Woman In Love":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xr-fOJdeUus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ppc_dT-J5E
Andy Gibb "Shadow Dancing", "Thicker Than Water" and "I Just Want To Be Your Everything":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcHlL6PR5NU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqCmGQKmGnw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-xfFqWaK1s
Dionne Warwick's "Heartbreaker":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc5vPwD1OL0
Kenny Roger's "Island In The Streams":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lixDK_tMEhE&feature=fvst
Yvonne Elliman's If I Can't Have You":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Do14z5ycic
The Tavares' "More Than A Woman":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLXTcm00xhg
Samantha Sang's "Emotions":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_INLQXnSkk0&feature=fvst
Frankie Vall's "Grease":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFmkM6YXOqo
Merrill Osmoand's , Olivia Newton John and Andy Gibb's "Rest Your Love On Me":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-87X-feJS8

Of course the Bee Gees went really big with the disco music of the late 70s when they gave Saturday Night Fever but as I grew up, I remember and loved them for the music of the late 60s and early 70s where our parents, uncles and aunts can fondly recall. Songs that still resonate in our ears or when you watch Melody Fair. In the UK it was released as S.W.A.L.K. or Sealed With A Loving Kiss, a message traditionally written on envelopes of love letters by school children. Yeah and do you like Mark Lester who starred in it? Those were the days of infatuation where boys like girls and vice versa. The years of innocence. Let me bring you back to 1971:


Those were days where friends and I hung posters and centre spreads from fanfare magazines on our bedroom walls. The Bee Gees were one of those looking at me until they were either torn or a newer and better one comes along. Their music and songs have been so deeply ingrained in many of us such that you can never forget Barry's falsetto and Robin's clear vibrato lead vocals which became their hallmark and signature sound. (Vibrato refers to the voice that ia alternating quickly and subtly between two pitches that are very close together). That is why Robin's voice is so special. Some of their songs had Barry and Robin singing but Barry sung most of the lot with Robin after that. Maurice occasionally joined Barry in songs like Melody Fair and IOIO:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MM9oB3WXbeg

Which were some of the songs sung by Barry and which were by Robin and the ones they sung as shared lead vocals? Here goes:

Barry Gibb: If I Can't have You, Night Fever, More Than A Woman, Don't Throw It All Away, Staying Alive, Tragedy, Love You Inside Out, Too Much Heaven, Spirits Having Flown, Jive Talking, You Should Be Dancing, Love So Right, Warm Ride: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6z-hjBfvIA,
In The Morning (was in the movie Melody Fair and a song we would sing and strum the guitar with) :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmWdOvg6v1k
To Love Somebody: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykU8iSKkJR0,
First Of May: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqsTpGXlTKw
Words: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JECTUQVrvzE

Robin Gibb:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQxt0epZFOg (August October)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCRqAzCevsY (New York Mining Disastr 1941)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwwkErDJitQ (I Can't See Nobody)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJmRdE3WBgE (Holiday)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRNTQvXSsfA (I Started A Joke)
All the songs with Barry:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmI4Qh03IKM (I've Gotta Get A Message To You)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-uzRYCFmUw (Saved By The Bell)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXecvrAXOKg (Mr. Natural)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2DS5UezO0c (ComeOn Over)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZH1AEy7KGuw (Love Me)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlAHMwSExM4 (Run To Me)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XWYefe9EzI (Massachusetts)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2H2OlJ9JdE&feature=fvst (How Can You Mend A Broken Heart)

Finally, this song for Robin Gibb. Don't forget to remember him. Now there's a new band in heaven of Robin, Maurice and Andy.

Don't Forget To Remember:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBZCyuLuMEU&feature=fvst

Goodbye to our hero. I'll be listening to the Bee Gees for some time for now and sing along. "Feel I am going back to Massachusetts. Something's telling me I must go home. And the lights all went out in Massachusetts the day I left".....RIP, good bye Robin.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XWYefe9EzI

Till I finally die which started the whole world laughing.....
Till I finally die which started the whole world living.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSxuvNGSrmc

Fly Robin Fly! 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM72iWami9M


Sunday, May 20, 2012

Hougang By Election

Hougang was a laid back new town when I shifted there with my parents many years ago, I think easily more than 20 years ago. I started attending election rallies when I became an adult even way back. I witnessed those days where opposition parties took pot shots at the ruling party and people were cheering but when it comes voting the results were the same. Some politicians got carried away and were sued for defamation. People could see and decide for themselves who were the good candidates but today the ruling party is attacking the opposition which may not go down too well with people as some political analysts has rightly noted.

At Potong Pasir, I saw how the people love Mr. Chiam See Tong and got him into Parliament. A very admirable, well-respected and humble man. Later, a Mr. Low Thia Kiang won over the people of Hougang but we can see how Potong Pasir and Hougang have aged. People were asking why were they not helped like other estates. Shouldn't estate upgrading be dependent on age and need of the estates or the number of older people rather than who is the MP.

As a Singaporean I was concerned with the unhappiness of the people and that all Singaporeans should be treated equal. I saw the mood on the ground changing over the years but Singaporeans should hang on together regardless whether you support Manchester United, City, Liverpool, Chelsea or Arsenal. The government is working hard since the last election which is a good thing. Now that ministers are taking buses, trains and going to schools. As I have written previously, if you are the ministers, MPs or CEO of a company, it is definitely very good to go to the ground unannounced instead of with pom and pageantry. Take a bus and train at peak hours alone. Put on your cap in bermudas and t-shirts with sun glasses and go visiting places and just like the Undercover Boss and then you will see real things.


Who wouldn't love a guy like Igor as a friend, colleague or countryman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzdHOQw3R-E
As leaders, you want to see real people and real situations.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SWEbB4juEY

I have never discussed with my parents who they should vote as they have seen more than me and eaten more salt than I have rice. I saw people taking to opposition rallies like they used to when the ruling party was the opposition. I sensed a divide. The younger generation today is also different. Regretfully, I didn't have time to attend any of the rallies this time so I watched them from youtube.

DPM Teo Chee Hean:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue75OKlPJtU

Hougang Candidate Desmond Choo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAeKCks00w8

MP Denise Phua:
MP Low Thia Kiang:

MP Sylvia Lim:

MP Chen Show Mao:

MP Pritam Singh:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMIGsKwAwWA&feature=relmfu

I love this guy Pritam! He seems like someone I can talk to all day over a beer or two.

NCMP Gerald Giam:

Hougang Candidate Png Eng Huat:

You can also find all the hustings here:
https://www.facebook.com/hougangsmc

If you were the boss, you have to be a friend just like how we should try to be a friend of our children. That is the hallmark of a good leader. I would want people to support me because they wanted to support me as they love me even if they are from the same organisation not because they were told to support me.

The people love and supported Mr. Lee Kuan Yew whole-heartedly and unstintingly. People also love and supported Mr. Chiam See Tong and Mr. Low Thia Kiang the same way albeit on a smaller scale. It is all about trust and respect, not just a party or system. This may be the same reason if someone were to leave his job and go to another organisation to work. There are people who if they left where they were they cannot survive because their reputation is so bad while others will thrive wherever they go.

My parents are in their late 70s but they have never complained about the lack of lifts even when they have to carry things while walking up the stairs as they came from a generation with a tough life. The young people are not very happy for reasons already reported in the press or in surveys. There will be some people who through their own kiasuism may think that if the estate is spruced up they could fetch a better price if they were to sell their flats. A guy wrote to the ST Forum saying that Hougang residents should move on after so many years and a lady responded. I like that lady for she has a balanced view. I just wonder why ST published the guy's article which has little or no substance.

Although the the candidates are Mr. Desmond Choo and Mr. Png Eng Huat, I think Mr. Low Thia Kiang holds a certain sway with the people of Hougang. Just like when I recommend you where or what to eat or which golf club to get and when you tried them most find them good but there may be a few who may experienced poor service, not to their taste or their own golf swing were bad but mostly you trusted and respected me you will probably still follow. I think the question is increasingly about who can connect with people. Career to do a job for the people or service to the people. Career to do a job for people would be like those who come to you on a street and say "Sir, I am not selling you anything but....." they are peddling you for donation for a good cause, yes but they get paid doing it. Nothing wrong but service to the people are those giving their time at charitable organisations.

At the end of the day, this by election is about Hougang and the Hougang residents will decide at the ballot box again. Singaporeans must stay united and be treated equally and without discrimination regardless. Just like I have been predicting EPL matches and some of you have been asking me who will win? This one is easy only one match you might say but this is complex. Based on the goings on, hearsay from various people, the ground - it may be closer. The season is blue though - Man City, Chelsea. Then one man has a name that resonates when I meet groups of people in gatherings or parties who seemed to like to shout: "Huat ah!!"

Whatever the outcome, I wish the people of Hougang all the best!

Euro 2012 - The Finalists


What a game that morning! Congrats to Chelsea! How many teams can beat Barcelona over two legs? Yet Bayern playing on home soil has to be favourites especially with Chelsea 6th in EPL  and missing 4 players including their captain. When Muller scored in he 83rd, many would have thought it was over. Didier Drogba powered home an unstoppable header which Neuer got a hand to in the 88th but could not stop to bring it into extra-time. Then Drogba played villain when he carelessly tripped Ribery but Cech saved the penalty.


When Philip Lahm scored the first penalty in sudden death and Juan Mata's got saved, again we thought it was over. To win in this situation on penalty kicks against the Germans? No way! Cech saved from Olic then Cole scored perhaps the most well taken penalty to level before Bastian Schwesteinger hit a post and Drogba hit the final nail! He was amazing when he first turned out for Marseille and continued till now. This has implication for England. Ashley Cole was outstanding as he made some timely tackles and superb interventions. Gary Cahill was okay and Frank Lampard playing as captain was neat. What a game! Cruel for Bayern Munich though.
 The irony was Roberto di Matteo was not the first choice of Roman Abramovich. The coveted trophy with big ears has been won! Chelsea came back from the dead 3-4 times. It was written in the stars. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMg5cQd5f50.

It was like that Ali rope-a-dope with Foreman. Only sorry for Tottenham for missing out Europe as Chelsea won. Will Abramovich retain di Matteo? If he doesn't, would Liverpool be interested? Life's victory does not always go to the bigger or stronger men. As the battle went on maybe after 15 corners and 30 shots, Bayern players may have started to believe it wasn't their time while Chelsea grew in confidence. A classic lesson. Johan Cruyff slammed Chelsea for the way they played. That is why Abramovich wanted Pep Gourdiola.


Euro 2012

The 16 Finalists for Euro 2012 hosted jointly by Poland and the Ukraine are contesting in four groups A-D with the winner of Group A playing Group B runner-up, Group C winner playing Group D runner-up,  Group B winner to play Group A runner-up and finally Group D winner playing Group C runner-up leading to the semi-finals and Final.

Groupings

Group A - Poland, Greece, Russia, Czech.
Group B - Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Portugal.
Group C - Spain, Italy, Ireland, Croatia.
Group D - Ukraine, Sweden, France, England.

The Odds:

Spain - 5/2
Germany - 3/1
Netherlands - 6/1
England - 10/1
France - 12/1
Italy - 12/1
Portugal - 16/1
Russia - 28/1
Croatia - 33/1
Ukraine - 50/1
Denmark - 66/1
Czech - 66/1
Poland - 66/1
Ireland - 66/1
Sweden - 80/1
Greece - 80/1

With the recently ended EPL season still fresh in our minds and Roy Hodgson naming a squad close to what I had suspected as advised in my previous article, let me tell you the hits and misses of the squad.


England

Goalkeepers (3) - Joe Hart, Robert Green, John Ruddy.


Joe Hart is destined to be a star. He's England's best for some time. Confident, courageous, capable. Even Sir Alex said so. Robert Green brings back bad memories due to Fabio Capello for not listening to me to pick Hart back then. John Ruddy deserve a shot for his sterling display for Norwich. Safe here, no issue.

Defenders (7) - Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole, Glen Johnson, Joleon Lescott, John Terry, Phil Jones.


Leighton Baines has a good season for Everton and even Man Utd wants him to replace Evra . He actually outscored Ashely Cole in the real live Fantasy League but Cole has been England's best defender for such a long time. No issue on left back. The best right back in England is PFA Young Player of the Year Tottenham's Kyle Walker. He's strong, quick, make and score goals including including free-kicks but alas his toe is hurting and won't be going. What a waste. Glen Johnson was playing during Benitez's time at Liverpool. It seemed lacking in confidence. Gary Cahill has been good but didn't play often enough for AVB at Chelsea. Joleon Lescott is a good bet in a title winning season for Man City but he made that silly mistake which allowed QPR to score. Phil Jones is one for the future so it makes sense to bring him , besides, the boy is versatile as centre back, right back or even defensive midfield. John Terry? He has a shadow hanging over him.  He was out of pace when Liverpool trounced Chelsea 4-1. Micah Richards had a great time early in the season but fizzled out and was not selected. My shock was the dropping of Rio Ferdinand. Maybe he can't play two back to back games due to his bad back but he played more regularly for Man Utd this season and there is no other defender who is so comfortable on the ball and distribute it better from defence. Defence for England is so so unless they play like Chelsea (vs Bayern) or Man City (vs Man Utd).

Midfielders (8) - Gareth Barry, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, James Milner, Scott Parker, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, Theo Walcott, Ashley Young.


Gerrard and Lampard are not at their best and Gerrard has been hampered by injury but when they were at their best for Liverpool and Chelsea they didn't do well for England. This will be their last chance. Gareth Barry had a good season for Man City. Can he hold midfield like he has done for City? Scott Parker is probably the best  - he wins the ball and release it. Milner didn't play many games so he is fresh. Walcott is boom or bust - he can be the best or mediocre.  Ashley Young had a great season with Man Utd. If he can reproduce the same form at Utd England can do better. Paul Scholes, the best passer was not recalled and Michael Carrick was left out. A notable absentee is young Jack Wilshere from Arsenal. He would have made a difference. The key is the very young Alex Oxlade Chamberlain. He is not known to the competition and boy is he fast!

Strikers (4) - Andy Carroll, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck, Jermaine Defoe.
Jermaine Defoe is raring to go as he didn't play in every game for Tottenham. He can be deadly and clinical. Welbeck showed he has good movement and has done well for Man Utd. Rooney is the top scoring Englishman in 2012 season with 27 goals but he will miss the first two games through suspension. Andy Carroll offers something different. If he imposes himself he can be a threat due to his aerial ability during set pieces. He started to show what he could do towards the season's end and he is fresh. The others like Adam Johnson (Man City), Sturridge (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton) and Jordan Henderson (Liverpool) are pending. The squad seem lacking. 


What Roy Hodgson and Engalnd can do is to take a leaf from Chelsea. Their domestic form was poor but they conquered Europe including overcoming Barcelona over two-legs and then Bayern Munich in Germany. Not only that, they overcame the Germans who were at home on penalties! It is almost like beating Spain and Germany and conquering in penalties. Gary Cahill, John Terry, Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard were a part of that team that made history recently. 

Denmark made history when they didn't even qualify but due to a ban on the former Yugoslavia, they were recalled when the players were already going on holidays. They went on to win the Championship. Greece was another example when they won the Championship. Unfancied and most of their top players played overseas including the EPL. A few were in the first team of league clubs but many others either plied their trade in the lower divisions or were merely substitutes in the Premier League. They were well rested and without the pressure of expectations when the rest were tired.

Captain

John Terry will not be captain and it may be a good thing. To me, a captain should be one like former Man Utd captain Bryan Robson. He tackled and won balls, assisted and scored goals. He was courageous, all-actioned and a fighter when the chips were down. There is none better than Steven Gerrard. Hodgson has made the perfect choice. Frank Lampard and Scott Parker can be the deputies. There have been many examples over the years for Liverpool and top of the list was that famous 3-3 comeback against Milan when they won the Champions League. Not only should Gerrard be captain, the England team should be built around him.

How will England fare and who will qualify from the first round or go on to win the 2012 championship and who are the players to watch in this tournament? Watch this space.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Home-Cooked Delights

I read that they are now shaping up a school to teach about hawker food. Good and bad. Good because maybe there is still some hope and bad perhaps from my belief that the best things in life comes from sheer experience and evolution.

I read an interesting article from the Straits Times titled "Are We Ready For The Future?" and was impressed. I have always wondered how would Singaporeans cope if suddenly we find that we can't have domestic helpers? No quality food from hawkers? Food fuels a nation just as the coffee lady in your office fuels the company and the business but we must be ready for independence day! We'll never know what we will be missing until they are gone. By means of home-cooked delights? They say the way to a man's heart is through the stomach.

We live in a different world now and is indeed difficult to cook each meal everyday for a small family where sometimes your busy children and their schedule and worse if we add ours do not permit that luxury. It is simply common sense to just eat out. I am thankful that sometimes I still get to have home cooked meals from the wife like this sweet and sour pork.

Or pork chop! Many people today do not cook at home, some not at all so the beautiful kitchen remains pretty and new. It is much cheaper and a lot healthier to eat at home. Besides the economics, it is really a lot more on family bonding. Children who have regular meals with their parents should have healthier relationship with their parents simply because in our busy world, time is of essence. It promotes family bonding.

And recently to savour mum's "chap chai". As I told you before add a dash of belacan to it and you will know what I mean. Cravings?

Mum's "char siew" according to my nephew, a savvy eater, is the best. As there is no roast pork, I shall represent my mum in negotiation for just $1 million for the secret recipe.

Besides being very good with her sweet and sour pork, my wife is also pretty good with her pan cakes.

Spread them with maple syrup.

Or open up a can of Japanese red bean and bingo!

A mouth-watering experience awaits you.

Cut them down to size if you want to be dainty. You may spread them with kaya (egg jam), fruit jam or whatever you fancy.

Fold it by half if you think productivity but beware of squirting!





It becomes amazingly addictive when you top it with my favourite Haagen Dazs Green Tea ice cream with Japanese red beans.

Sometimes, she'll give us beef stew.

Or "pek chye" soup with fish maw which is a good perk me up tonic.

Hotel style omelette is always hearty.

Indulge in a bit of luxury by adding a dash of crab meat to your omelette.

On very hot days, simple fish, pork or chicken porridge can be wonderful. Add abalone slices if you like. Believe you me, it is better than most of the so called famous porridge out there.



I was surprised with her "siew mai" concoction.

Mushroom, fish maw and abalone to pamper you once awhile can be a good thing. If your wife cooks, you are are blessed man and vice versa if the hubby cooks. If both do then you can only whip out a storm! Most of you will surely agree with me that the best food is still home-cooked. On top of that, it is prepared with love.

I saved the best for last. This was the best soup she has ever made. I think it is a real success because only chicken and crab meat were used in a soup stock boiled for hours. It tasted as good as any shark fins soup at a restaurant or better. We really do not need to consume shark fins anymore.

This is the proof! All consumers and restaurants should take note.
I can change the world. They say that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Is that true? For some men, you may have to aim lower.

Friday, May 18, 2012

Curiosity

I started with a question - what do you value based on a survey on Singaporeans and what they considered to be important values such as - Appreciation of beauty and excellence, Empathy, Forgiveness, Kindness, Honesty, Curiosity, Spirituality, Energy, Humour, Perseverance, Principle, Hope, Love of Learning, Gratitude, Open-Mindedness, Humility, Courage, Fairness, Justice, Sincerity, Creativity, Self-Control, etc.

I'll be talking about curiosity today and finish off later with a few others like spirituality, principle, hope, perseverance, justice, sincerity, open-mindedness, fairness. I have since covered more than half of them.

Curiosity


If curiosity kills the cat, non-curiosity killed all the other animals!


"Curiosity killed the cat, but for a while I was a suspect - Walter Pater.


You should always learn, with life comes wisdom and with wisdom comes the courage to live your life selflessly. The more you learn about yourself and the experiences surrounding your life, the more opportunities you have to make your life better and more fulfilling - Ralph Waldo Emerson. 


One of the most important things in life is "not to stop questioning". It is different from being "kay poh" which means being a busybody. Busybodies do not want to learn, they just wanted to find out about others then gossip. "I tell you something but please don't tell anyone" and soon the whole world knew about it. Only you didn't know and think it's still a secret. Remember, there is no secret in this world!

Albert Einstein said that "Everyman ought to be inquisitive through every hour of his great adventure down to the day where he shall no longer cast a shadow in the sun. For if he dies without a question in his heart, what excuse is there for his continuance?"

Whatever subject or question we have in mind, we must always seize the moment and opportunity to be curious, to find answers, to solve our doubts. For if that desire is gone we would have let it pass and we will remain ignorant for not testing opinions and whatever comes our way. Curiosity is a quest. The greatest learners are curious people and the most resolute of them help overcome obstacles. 


Eugene S. Wilson said "The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity".


All children are by nature inquisitive. They need to find out, learn, discover. Telling them not to run or touch things can be futile. When you ask questions in school the teachers asked you to shut up. When you tell your boss something, he says he knows before he listened. In our rush rush world, people go straight into the job and do only one area of work where in the old days, it took you a long time to get recognition, promotion or be a skilled practitioner. That is why most of the food sucks these days. 

For example education is very important, in fact it is the key out of poverty. For Singapore, our flag seems to be flying high in this area but many successful people are successful not because of it as our system here is still too rigid and people are afraid of and completely fear failure and rather mostly be passive learners. I truly admire folks who are passionate about what they do and are deeply committed in doing it. They do not conform and are not compliant. 

Our schools are a production line for what is needed for the economy, for the factories so we are being produced for that purpose and then you are tested like a factory product and when you excel in their given fields you get recognition. If you don't, you are labelled as failures even when young. During my time, I know of many talented and smart people who do not like to study or were simply too distracted as we all grow up differently. What some of them has achieved is even greater than all the scholars put together.

Take Mr. Sim Wong Hoo for example. Nobody helped him because they didn't believed him at first. He would have failed so miserably had he not succeeded in his last attempt to go to the USA to showcase his soundcard. The rest is history. I think people who met him initially would have said "Sim Wong Who?" He was again the first man to let you walk around with music downloaded in your MP3 way before Apple came with their iPod. He went to the USA to take on the big boys and even successfully sued Apple. I wish him well in his new challenge of putting a tablet for everyone student in China and also his philanthropic works and generosity. My salute to him!

The government may only be partly to blame because at the time, it served our purpose. When they say OK let's not do exams for primary one and parents panic! You see what I mean? From the industrial revolution to the now information revolution, there is an astonishing amount of information easily accessible online right from your living room. There is nothing you cannot find and there is nothing one cannot learn - the good, the bad and the ugly. When we wish to learn something and learn it well and even excel in it what does it take to do it?

Firstly, you just need to be curious. Then an interest that stirs up a passion. Do not be afraid. Remain unaffected. However, do note that curiosity can at times also get us into some trouble. You could end up like a cat on a hot tin roof. Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! SO keep your hands to yourself and that's why curiosity kills the cat.

Bruce Lee: Knowing is not enough, you must apply. Willing is not enough, you must do.

Keep asking questions even to yourself and that will lead you to search, seek and find answers and solutions. Stay curious!

Golf Happenings - Update

There was a time when you said you play like Tiger, it was really frightening. Now I am telling you I have been playing like Tiger, only slightly better in that he didn't win in two years and I haven't won only this year! How's that?

Just when you think it is safe - borrowing a slogan from the movie Jaws think again. I am not referring to the Ferrari crash. Recently, while golfing, we were on a par 5 and after the second shot, I was about 130m to the green. The front flight has not left the green. I was driving the buggy and I parked it across the fairway right in the middle with my buggy mate on the nearer side to the green. Two buggies were in clear view. Suddenly I heard some sound and without warning or a shout of fore! a golf ball came from behind hit the ground, went into the buggy and fortunately just grazed my thigh! I was infuriated, shocked and angry for such callousness and bad etiquette.

I got out of the buggy and shouted very loudly at the flight behind. They came to apologise and I gave them a piece of my mind as there was no excuse for them. If the one hit is not sure, his flight mate should stop him. Nobody should die on a golf course like that. Imagine if it hits our head. For those who can;t wait, please stop playing golf. The Marshall came and I forgave him or he could have been banned. Did I do the right thing or should I let him be banned so as to save others? Maybe I was wrong.

I got angrier later when I read that NSRCC will be increasing prices of monthly subscription by what? $15? and green fees by $12! This is like 30-50%?? I am not sure of the exact increases because I could not bear to read them. Why is it that during recession golf charges, MRT and bus fares and everything else increase? To make back the same amount of money or more just raise prices. Multiply that by 8-10,000 and what do you get? Every golfer I have since met felt violated. Is not not possible to raise prices gradually? Should golfer stop playing for a month or three? Or just accept silently. Let me know your views. Write to me, call me or text me. 

This week, I'll share with you some interesting golf stuffs. I received this from the goodie bag during a golf tournament. An award-winning golf ball cleaner.

Some of us won't even bother to clean a ball during play nor carry a cloth. Anyway, you aren't allowed to clean the ball during play except when you are on the green. You need to clean a ball for a few reasons. As you can't clean the ball other than when on the green, it is possible that your ball may hit a tree and have remnants of the tree bark embedded in the dimples or got plugged and even after the free relief from being plugged in the soil in the rough or the fairway on wet days, you need to clean to remove whatever debris on the ball to ensure a true roll without impediments.

Some golfers bring their own cloth and some clubs may provide them but some smart Alec invented this golf ball cleaner - the Ball Zee.

Shaped like a small alarm clock, the slim, flat and easily pocketed ball cleaner opens up into a dual flap with a rough cloth-like material that easily absorbs water and retain it. Just soak it with water for awhile, take it up, close it and squeeze dry. There'll be some water retained in it but they will not flow out to wet your pockets. Each time on the green, just mark your ball and use it to wrap around the ball to clean it and bingo!

While golfing one day, we met a guy from Transview who was promoting something which seems quite incredible and somewhat interesting. He sprayed this liquid onto your golf club face - be it driver, wood, hybrid  or irons and you are supposed to from here on hit straighter and longer shots! Does it not sound so simple and good?

It says: "Longer drive, gives you the extra distance when you need it most!" Satisfaction guaranteed. Shoots straighter and better ball control. Revolutionary technology.

After talking to the rest of the golfers and trying it myself, we found that the problem rest with us not this product. We are quite proficient golfers but we dare not claim we hit most shots straight and long. Some yesses and and some noooooooooooos! So it is an issue with the consistency of our swings more than anything else. It is therefore hard to tell. More test may be needed but I thought I did hit longer as I use a 50 degrees gap wedge from 110m to the middle of the green and I unbelievably overshot the hole as the ball shot to the back and it has never happened before.

Was it just psychological? I am guessing that this thing works in that most of our clubs have faces that are scratched, used and worn out. By spraying the chemical, it fills out the roughage and smoothen irregularities and thus gives a more consistent and flatter surface on the club face upon impact. Check it out and try it when you have a chance.t

I wrote about Golf Simply previously.


Evon has come to town at The Arcade at Raffles Place. It is even more convenient for you. They are well stocked from clothing to accessories and the latest golf clubs.

I found all the latest TaylorMade like the RocketBallz and Callaway RAZR Fit, etc.

Whatever your needs in shoes and gloves, tees and balls (rocket not provided).

 I love the the Fit 39 gloves that they carry. They are lasting and has a great grip. 

Fits you like a skin and has spider man grip and design. 

Well stocked irons consisting Titleist AP1 AP2, Mizuno JPX, Ping 
G20 and i20, etc.

These are the very sweet i20 that I am eyeing, dreaming someday they'll be mine. Let Evon know your golfing needs. 

The Guru with some serious looking pro. Mess with the best, die like the rest.

Beauty pageant! Golfers can be quite vain. I mean the guys.


The weather has been blowing cold and hot. It can make us sick.


When you watch a kung fu movie, sometimes the pugilist fought themselves silly because they want to get hold of a certain invincible manual that when mastered will conquer the world! Like you got the 天 é¾™ å…« æ­¥ (Sky Dragon Eight Steps). We found one at the club's changing / shower room's lost and found. Someone left a whole hand-written manual describing everything a golfer ought to know like - the distance of every iron, hybrid, wood, driver. 


There were also full details on how you should play a ball above or below feet, downhill or uphill, etc. They were wrapped in plastic and probably kept by the owner in his pocket for cross check on the course. Amazing! If you do this, your thoughts translated to your swing and shots will become mechanical. I hope nobody will fight to lay hands on it. Let me know if you need one. I can recite them to you.


















I hope you have enjoyed some of this things and have a good weekend and happy golfing!