www.Go To The Mountain - Musings of a Potential Guru

Singapore is small, the Little Red Dot that people laugh at and a name we now call ourselves. We are now even saying thank you to a big neighbour who has asked a few times why we complained about the haze when their green forest gave us oxygen most parts of the year. When people talk about others, it shows their own smallness or magnanimity. That person who talk about others, always speaks more about himself than others.  We have our own warts and all just like every family have theirs but there are many who would love to have many of the things we have. The ability to laugh at oneself is a great trait that few possesses even though they say they could or have.  Above everything else, food is one where we not only have abundantly but the variety and mixture given our multi racial and culture, is truly the spice of life. Besides being a little red dot, we are even thought to be a concrete jungle but for a concrete jungle, we have pockets of green lungs in abundance. Many o...

The power of English football has shifted to North West England judging by the first two matches of the new season. The Manchester clubs looked promising. Defending champions Leicester will not be too bad but will find it tough going. Arsenal will need to do more and Wenger is not wrong not to throw good money but soccer is more money than sports today so you may have to do in Rome what Romans do. Tottenham will also find it more difficult to even find second spot let alone to be champions. Liverpool can be the most exciting and yet the next time infuriating.  The EPL takes a break on 3-4 September weekend for England's 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier visit to Slovakia on 4 September. First questions could be answered on this day whether Sam Allardyce is the right man for the top job. England had Fabio Capello and Sven Goran Eriksson and even with a golden generation did not get better. Maybe Allardyce is cheaper but what Big Sam brings is to get England back to basics. I remember...

The opening day of the new EPL 2016/17 season was a little subdued rather than a big bang. Most of the matches were nondescript, even drab save for two teams with home red-shirted strips but won by the away team in black attire. What was my impression after the first matches were done with?  Manchester United v Southampton - The newspapers flashed colourful headlines on the Red Devils, Mourinho and Ibrahimovic. If you had watched the match, United laboured boringly until Bournemouth gifted the goals. Of course, they have not won here for quite some time and Ibra scored a good goal. The boring and pragmatic soccer is not unexpected from Mourinho teams. It is hard not to be better than LVG especially with the new additions. When Moyes bought Maruone Fellaini there was hue and cry but LVG made him a first choice too and so do Mourinho now so Fellaini ain't that bad. Mkhitaryan looked interesting nut the cameo did nothing much. It was a good start with an away win.  Now t...

Some ang moh came and created a stir in our food scene. Michelin Star, Michelin Bib Gourmand, this and that. Frankly, what do ang moh know our our food scene and culture just after being here for a while? Many of us were here at the beginning when our hawker and street food evolved. When every hawker created every ingredients from scratch.  How many of you are aware that Michelin are first and foremost tyre makers? Michelin makes the finest tyres since days of old and are of course famous even in the race circuits. My dad was a fan of Michelin tyres and back then his cars were always fitted with Michelin tyres. I was a fan too. They cost more than other tyres even for their lower range. Michelin tyres are made from softer quality rubber and are reputed to stop more effectively when you apply the brakes. They are also more sensitive when in usage and those of you who often scrap the curb need beware as the side walls are very sensitive to damage when you graze or hit the curb. ...

There was a time...no, this is not a National Day song. There was a time where chickens are chickens. I used to go to a kampung at the old Bishan which was called "Pek San Theng" where a relative lived and collect freshly laid chicken eggs from a shed. They lived in an attap house, have fresh water from a well to draw water from a bucket using a pulley system and a central kitchen as if it was built for the community. There was no mobile data but only chickens that roam freely. Today, there is roaming data but chickens are all caged.  They were proper roads to get in to the village and there were no street lamps for lights at night. It was certainly a great experience for me as a child but sadly we could never go back there again. These days people do not even go out, to run or to walk then along came Pokemon Go and everyone got crazy. Before this, people were already walking around like zombies. Enjoy your game but beware that in every game, safety is paramount. Despite...

Singapore has always been on a relentless mode for change. If you do not drive past a place, a building you will be surprised to find it gone, changed and revamped. If you do go to a place for sometime, never assume that it is still there even if it were to be for three months. I have recommended people to a place for good good only to  realised  they were gone so it is better to update. It started with the disappearance of mom and pop stores. Modern ones are taking over. Sometimes, I wonder if it is necessary to make everything modern looking and very much looking the same without much character. I guess it reflects the times where people's focus are on how good they look on the outside and spending time, money on it, taking selfies and posting on social media instead of developing the inside - the quality of the mind, heart and soul. We are knowingly or unknowingly creating artificial people by the bucket loads. What is happening to my beloved Singapore and the wor...

It gets more difficult is it? Fore reigning champions Leicester City to defend their prized crown? Fortunately, Vardy stayed put which is good for him for there is always the temptation for more money elsewhere or say more continued success with Arsenal but nothing is guaranteed as there were good players who moved and became a debacle. They have lost the influential Kante and may later lose Mahrez. Even then, most will know better to find a way to counter their game.  An intriguing season awaits us for sure as Arsenal and Tottenham have stable squads with small additions to strengthen their teams. The Gunners still lack another top striker and defender in my opinion even though they may now have Xhaka to enhance the midfield and Tottenham looking so solid all season only to crumble towards the end but now have Janssen to play alongside or deputize Kane. Manchester City have upgraded with the finest manager in the world in Pep Guardiola who also have an almost...