Can't have it all

Too short of a life
Too much to decide
I win some, I lose some
Not a fair game
No perfect ends

Sentiments

Flowers make people happy

especially when they are free
and received unexpectedly

But they don't last...just like people, things and life..
They wither, in a day or two..so will my memory..with these and more..
Goodbye..
Thanks for being with me..may your values be recognized and cherished wherever you go

Downsizing

Downsizing my clothes,
Downsizing my belongings,
Downsizing my needs, and
Downsizing my life.

Faith

I have to write, I need to fly, if only I can find..

Risks, chances, the two faces..

Pounding my heart, streaking a cut, devouring me in the dark..

The throbbing veins, my conscious gain, accompanying me to the end..

Singapore

It is almost half way through the year and I have not documented my last trip to Singapore yet.

I went there in January of this year, for the e-CASE 2009 conference. Besides presenting a paper and chairing a session, I was one of the four speakers in an international forum.



Singapore is hot all year round. It is small but full of cultural attractions. Mandarin Chinese, English and Fokkian are spoken by many people there. Fokkian is similar to Taiwanese so I was able to communicate with many food vendors. Cantonese is well received there too. Actually Singapore and Malaysia share many cultures, including the languages and accents.

Here are some snapshots of Singapore:

Had a cocktail here. It was late into the night:

From a cable car in Santosa island

Taking a train in Santosa

I wasn't too interested in this: beach at Santosa.
Clarke Quay: Had dinner here on the first night
Lots of shops for tailored Chinese dresses
The famous Hainan Chicken and Rice
Apartments are numbered.

Not a bad idea to hang clothes out systematically.

China Town


Sneaked into a school open house and got some free gifts.

A simulation on the college tour



Singapore is a litter free country

A taste of Singaporean flavours


Singapore is an ordered society with multicultural people living in harmony. But I wonder if Singaporeans feel cold easily because they have only one season to experience? My friend Ron, his son and I posed with two interesting new friends-Emre and Zumrut, the nice couple from Turkey. Zumrut, Emre and I have kept in touch ever since. I just love making friends.
(photo: courtesy of Ron)

More on the flu

I was not happy to hear Joe Biden being referred to as a dope, for his advice to the public on coping with swine flu. I agree with what he said 100%, and I feel sorry for those who are taking this situation lightly. Moreover, snickering at Mexico's health care system (as I have read from some North American online forums) is not a noble act. Feeling lucky over people's misfortunes is not admirable.

This is a global threat and we are all in the same boat. It is not the job of the WHO or local health agencies to keep us safe; we need to look after our own safety by being sensible citizens.

The suspected case in S. Korea has now been confirmed, and Hong Kong has its first confirmed case from a Mexican tourist. This morning, my heart twitched in reading this news: a number of Taiwanese tourists who shared the same plane ride with this Mexican tourist had just returned to this island.

Traveling inter-continently is going to speed up the spread of virus for sure. If I had the authority, I would shut down the air and sea ports, observe the situation for at least two months before re-opening them. Travel warnings to the affected areas are not going to stop the plaque. People should stop traveling to and from places for a while, just to allow the virus to be marginally contained.

Men and women are not almighty conquerors. In the midst of the global crisis, we should relearn to be in awe to what we cannot control and live in harmony with the nature and all creatures. We need to be humble.

Epidemic

I strongly suggest suspending all traveling plans if you can. Think about the viruses you may contract in airplane cabins and the number of people you are likely to get this deadly virus from just by being in the airports.

Keep exercising and keep the immune system strong. And if you can, keep the stress level down to the lowest as possible as stresses are the number killer of our immune system.

According to BBC News Channel, the confirmed cases are as follows as of April 28, 2009:

Mexico: 152 suspected deaths from flu - 20 confirmed cases
US: 50 confirmed cases
Canada: 6 confirmed cases
New Zealand - 3 confirmed cases
UK - 2 confirmed cases
Spain: 2 confirmed cases
Israel - 1 confirmed case
Countries with suspected cases: Brazil, Guatemala, Peru, Australia, and South Korea, and seven EU states

This is very scary, people. I hope we can all escape this epidemic. We are indeed powerless as human beings. Everyone, please take care.