OAG Honestly Speaking

Restrictions on carry-on luggage

2007-03-05T17:24:00.000+08:00

Mainstream media has been awashed with the latest updates from airlines and airports taking action to start screening /banning liquids, gels and aerosols that are taken onboard.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has issued guidelines for international practices and has urged all its participation countries to enforce a single-minded guideline that can be applied worldwide. The deadline set is 31 March 2007 and I'm waiting with bated breath as to how airlines will line up.

As it is, before we leave for a flight, we need to find out the quarantine laws of the country so we know what we can bring as gifts, the duty-free allowances so we know how much perfume, alcohol etc we can buy, if the airline allows outside food to be brought onboard (do they??) etc.

With this move, it would help a lot if we knew what we can buy at airport duty-free shops, what we should discard before boarding least we be fined upon landing and what we can bring onboard least we shrivel up from a lack of adequate skin lotion on that long distance flight!

Looking forward to comments that I'm not alone in my thoughts!

Where's the best place for a honeymoon?

2007-02-21T16:57:00.000+08:00

A few months ago, I was doing some destination research for my honeymoon due in April.. and there are so many nice countries that we should visit! Travellers now are definitely spoilt with choices!

After looking at a few destination websites, I was already getting fickled minded! Hmm..driving and touring around New Zealand seems good, Shopping in Hong Kong sounds fantastic...or maybe a farm stay in Australia? Gosh! I cannot decide anymore!

There are so many countries I want to visit and so many things I want to do! I was sharing this with my good friend and then she knocked some sense into me... She said: " Honeymoon is a time to enjoy each other's company rather than a hectic holiday filled with activities!"

That' so true and I believe there is a time for everything! If it's a family holiday, then shopping in Hong Kong will be the right destination, if we are bringing our kids (in the future), then a farm stay in Australia will be ideal! As for our honeymoon (at least for me), it should be a tranquil and secluded retreat in a nice and cosy resort... and yes, we are going to Alila Hotels and Resorts in Bali Ubud and Manggis. That's exactly what we need....

What's your say on the best honeymoon destination?

A Prosperous Year of the Pig

2007-02-16T13:39:00.000+08:00

Has the year of the Dog treated you well? Well, to most job seekers it would seem so. 2006 saw a whopping 173,300 jobs being created in Singapore (not to mention more than half to Singaporeans), which is 60,000 more than a year before.

The year of the Pig seems to be just as good if not better. With the government raising the growth forecast to 4.5 - 6.5%, we can expect the employment market to be just as bouyant.

High job creation translates into high turnover of staff in most organisations. An employee's market would mean that people now find it easier to move on.

This mixture of strong economic and employment growth coupled with a previous five year lull makes staff migration an even more acute issue.

Does your organisation experience such exodus? If so, how are you coping with the (temporary) extra load? What's your company's strategy to this big question?

Valentine's Day is around the corner!

2007-02-08T10:37:00.000+08:00

I thought it would be educational and interesting to share with everyone how Valentine's Day came about.

According to Menstuff.com, the history of Valentine's Day can be traced back to the ancient Roman celebration of Lupercalia held on 15 February. During the festival to honour the gods, young men would draw names of young women from a box and each couple would be paired to stay together throughout the festival till the next celebration.

Emperor Claudius II of Rome believed that young men should stay as bachelors to stay concentrated on fighting for their country. At that time, he had difficulties recruiting young men as soldiers and cancelled all forms of engagement and weddings. Without his knowledge, St. Valentine, a Roman priest defied the Emperor and secretly continued to wed couples and hold wedding ceremonies. Unfortunately, he was caught and put to death on the 14 February. After his death, he was named a saint. As Christianity spread through Rome, the priests moved Lupercalia from 15 February to 14 February and renamed it St. Valentine's Day to honour him.

Now that we all know how Valentine's Day came about, what will you be doing on this day with your other half or friends to honour St Valentine? As for me, my creative juices are still at work. I've bought all the possible gifts - ties, shirts, pants, accessories, you name it.

Maybe it's time to do something different to honour the real significance of Valentine's Day this year...

Travelling to the land of smiles

2007-01-31T19:11:00.000+08:00

I love being in Thailand. Its shopping, food and sights all appeal to me. But with the recent spate of reports on its new airport not being ready to cater to the amount of traffic (human & planes!), unhappiness amongst the locals of Singapore's purchase of their main telco company, martial law, suspected terrorist bombings AND suspicions of the Singapore government being able to tap into the land's leaders telecommunications through the telco purchase... is it safe for a Singaporean girl like me to still want to be there amidst all these?

Anyone out there, do shed some light!

OAG Superstars 2007 - VERSION Karaoke

2007-01-25T10:50:00.000+08:00

Move over American Idol, Singapore Idol and Project Superstars! Make way for OAG's Superstars!

Recently, we had an informal get-together with all the employees of OAG at one of the karaoke bars downtown. Thinking that it was just another karaoke session, many of us were caught off-guarded when the quest was unveiled to us - The search for the OAG Superstar 2007 - Version Karaoke!

The challenge was to sing 2 songs - An English and Mandarin piece. Points were not only awarded for singing but also to creativity, choreography, coordination, and stage presence.

There were a total of 5 teams: After few hours of competitive singing, dancing and acting, the winners were crowned! It was without doubt the best team who mesmerised us with their extraordinary dance choreography.

The OAG Superstars 2007
From Left to Right: Fred, Jessica, Linda, Pauline, Amy, and Eunice

2007 - year of SUVs?

2007-01-19T10:03:00.000+08:00

Thinking of changing your ride this year? With the impending GST hike, car dealers are pitching to potential buyers to log in their purchases before it turns 7%. Is that called GST marketing?

This is also the year with arguably the most number of new SUVs or cross-over models to reach our shores. There's the new Honda CRV, Subaru Tribeca, Mazda CX-7, Suzuki SX4, Audi Q7 just to name a few. Lifestyle cars are steadily gaining in popularity versus the family sedan. SUV owners typically like the commanding driving experience due to its size and height; giving it the road presence that smaller cars tend to give way when they see one of them in their rear view mirror.

The higher ride and better visibility are common reasons why SUV fans love them...

So now, what happens to the rest of us non-SUV motorists? Do we get lesser and lesser road visibility and presence as this trend continues?

Moving House?

2007-01-11T18:38:00.000+08:00

The term "moving house" gave new & literal meaning to me when I was in Adelaide, Australia recently....

Ready to start the year right?

2007-01-04T00:15:00.000+08:00

Happy 2007 to all!

I hope all of you have had a good holiday break... as for me, besides the errands that I needed to run, I have spent some quiet moments to do my 2006 reflection and set the 2007 resolutions.

Time really flies...and if we do not plan and make good use of our time, we might have to live with some regrets in our lives later.

Think about it, are there anything that you have planned to do but never got down to it in 2006? Are there any countries that you have always wanted to visit but it has always been pushed back because of a busy work schedule?

If you are one of these people, I encourage you to accomplish all these "unfinished businesses" in 2007!

Well, for me, I am ready and all determined to accomplish those things that I have committed to in my 2007 resolutions.

Goodbye 2006, Hello 2007

2007-01-01T19:55:00.000+08:00

A new year, a new begining. 2006 is now behind us.

Joining hundreds of thousands of excited Singaporeans at the Esplandade, I was also eager to watch this year's fireworks, which promised to be more impressive than last year's.

The Esplanade was overwhelmed with people just like last year. From party-goers dancing away in clubs at One Fullerton, families equipped with brollies and mats to enjoy the anticipated magnificient view to people like me - a curious onlooker, all gathered to see how impressive the fireworks will be.

I didn't seem to hear the music that was supposed to accompany the fireworks probably due to the deafening music behind me. The fireworks was a nice sight to watch and my favourite was the finale. Other than fireworks sprouting from the skyline of Marina Bay, some other skyscrapers also joined in the celebration with fireworks firing furiously.

8 minutes later, 2007 was officially here to stay.

From Singapore's very own GST increase and property price increases to France's Sarkozy's Presidential bid, Thailand's new year's eve bombings and lots more, 2007 promises to be a year of action.

To an Outstanding 2007...

2006-12-29T13:49:00.000+08:00

With Christmas behind me and the new year looking ahead, it is once again time to reflect on the past year and make resolutions and goals for the upcoming one.

Looking back, I couldn't help but notice that the weather around the world has been going a little hay-wire recently... rain storms in Southeast Asia causing floods, lack of rain in Australia causing a drought that is said to be the start of only a 100-year one, snow in the Middle East and no snow in North America. What is the world coming to? What are we in for? And where do we go from here?

Away from such ecological factors beyond my control (most of it anyway...) what I could control was how I wanted to live my life and achieve in 2007. The answer was crystal clear - I'm taking up Business Mandarin clasess. It's time to step up and do what's needed.

So as you seek out to plan what's yours for 2007, my wishes are with you for an outstanding and fruitful year ahead.

Happy New Year!

It is more blessed to give than to receive

2006-12-22T12:04:00.000+08:00

As Christmas nears, shopping malls get crowded with frantic shoppers which increase in intensity as the eve of this big day approaches. Santa’s (in our context, parents, spouses, friends) making his list and checking it twice… children too are making lists of presents that they hope to receive…

Perhaps a time to slow down and also remember the life of St. Nicholas and to remind the children, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

Jolly Santa Claus, A.K.A Saint Nicholas was a fourth century bishop of the city of Myra which is the modern-day Turkey. Nicholas obeyed Jesus' words to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor." He donated his entire inheritance to help the needy, the sick, and the suffering. The church recognized his total dedication to God and declared him Bishop of Myra while he was still a young man. Nicholas was known across the region for his generosity to people in need and for his love of children.

Western societies celebrates Saint Nicholas day on December 6. Our current images of Santa Claus have little in common with this devout bishop! We have much to learn from the life of Saint Nicholas.

Encourage the children to approach the Christmas season by focusing on what they can give, not on what they can receive. Besides material gifts, there is also gift of time, talents, and caring for others.

"It is more blessed to give than to receive" — Acts 20:35, NRSV

Babes in Sari

2006-12-08T10:03:00.000+08:00

On a recent work trip to Chandigarh in India, my colleague & I decided to wear saris to one of the hosted evening receptions believeing it to be only one of the few occassions that we would be able to do so.

We expected it to be a fun experience but what was totally unexpected was the reception we received from the locals! If anyone didn't know better, they'd have thought local Bollywood celebrities were in the house!

Not only were we different being two Chinese women from the cosmopolitan city of Singapore dressed in one of the traditional Indian dress for ladies, we were also continually praised and thanked for embracing the local culture.

Food for thought:
In this age of widespread globalisation, many things have been taken for granted. From the simple action of wearing a country's national costume, the reaction of admiration and gratefulness was indeed surprising to me. It humbled and showed me how appreciative a people can be when their culture and habits are embraced as their very own country speeds towards globalisation and seemingly embrace Western values.

So where do we stand in today's world? Who are we? And what are we becoming?

A different kind of blog

2006-12-06T13:58:00.000+08:00

Last night, on Singapore's Channel News Asia, there was a report on food blogs. 4 bloggers reviewed their true identity and commented on the popularity of their blogs. It came to me as quite a surprise. Coming onto the big screen and revealing one’s identify to discuss about food blogs; isn’t that the complete opposite of what blogs are supposed to be?

In Wikipedia’s words, a blog is a website where entries are made in journal style and displayed in a reverse chronological order.

Are blogs getting more commercialised? Are google and yahoo-inspired ad models spinning off on blogs too and via other channels such as TV? Perhaps, the future world of blogs is a wolf in a sheep’s clothing; hiding online advertising and paid search under its thick fur…Who knows?

It’s Business as usual in Taipei

2006-11-29T16:37:00.000+08:00

With the recent episodes of the many street rallies to overthrow the president in Taiwan, I was careful not to pack either red or green tops for my recent business trip to Taipei. (Red is the official colour for the opposition party while Green was to support the ruling government). Being a foreigner, I decided to be absolutely neutral about this.

I almost thought that the rallies were over until evening came…. when I saw a big group of people wearing red tops standing in front of the Taipei Railway station from my hotel room.
The rally has just started… but it was done in such an orderly and friendly manner! We even went down to take a look and took photos! The rally was definitely “tourist- friendly”

By 10pm SHARP, the lights went off and the rally ended and it is to be continued the next day at the same time.

I didn’t feel that the political situation in Taiwan has affected the lifestyle of the Taiwanese in a great way… I was at the International Travel Fair (ITF) and the place was packed with Taiwanese visitors (in a relaxed mood to go for a holiday), Shi Lin night market was still bustling with people, Ximen-ding was filled with happy shoppers and my business appointments were fruitful!

Conclusion? IT’S BUSINESS AS USUAL IN TAIWAN.

Hello World

2006-11-02T17:39:00.000+08:00

Welcome to the OAG Honestly Speaking blog.

In embarking on this journey in the world of blogs, we hope to surprise and provoke you with topics that are close to our hearts and on our tongues as we go about our everyday lives. We hope you keep coming back to give us your comments and thoughts as we share our experiences.

Cheers!