Singapore Man of Leisure

Hong Kong Hong Kong

2013-05-11T13:39:00.000+08:00

I'll be flying off to Hong Kong this Monday for 10 days of free and easy walk walk see see.

When my Mainland Chinese friends ask me which is my favourite Chinese city, I always replied Hong Kong! (You should see their expressions. LOL!)

Besides Shanghai, Hong Kong is a city that I know very well.

I've been to Hong Kong many times. But the most memorable trip is still my first trip there in 1997. It's a business trip extention where I spent 5 wide-eyed days totally amazed at the contrasting sights and sounds.

Hong Kong is definitely the place to seek your fortune/career if you find the working pace of Singapore too slow for you.

Just stand at Mongkok. If you have entrepreneur blood in you, you will salivate at the opportunities staring right back at you.

I'm a city walker. I've always loved getting lost in big cities.

10 days in Hong Kong?

You may wonder what's there to do? Precisely!

I'm not there to do anything. It would be just like being in Singapore: hungry, eat; tired, rest; curious, explore.

I've only made one plan for this trip - I'll take a day drip back the Shekou via ferry. I've not been back for 5 years now...

Shekou was my first overseas posting. I was there for 5 months before "ah kong" (company) transferred me to Shanghai.

The rest I'll play by ear when I'm there.

Theory versus Practice

2013-05-07T21:40:00.000+08:00

Theory is knowing the name of that medicinal plant.

Practice is the knowing where to find this plant, pick it, and turn it into a medicinal brew.

One Of The Best Negative Yield Asset We Can Buy

2013-05-02T14:10:00.002+08:00

Before you read on, can you think of one yourself?

It's interesting to hear more and more people are now telling their friends how silly to put money "rotting" in the bank getting real negative yield after you factor in inflation.

But there are a few asset class that are good investments even when it's earning no or negative yields.

Today, I'll share one asset class in which 80% of Singaporeans live in them.

Yes, it's HDB Singapore flats!

Unless you have paid your HDB flat in full with cold hard cash, most of us would have taken out a HDB or bank mortgage to finance this one of the biggest big ticket purchase of our lives.

And by taking out a mortgage, aren't you paying interests instead of receiving one? It's negative cash flow and negative yield some more!!!

Just ask your parents either directly from HDB or from the resale market.

It's better to get your info from real people you trust than from statistics.

How?

Some may say HDB flats are 99 years leasehold and is not an asset and all that crap (pardon my french).

Eh... Then you are you not renting instead? I listen to what you do; not what you say.

We are limited by our own imaginations and the lies we tell ourselves.

Some retired or retrenched HDB owners have discovered renting a few spare rooms can generate some usual rental income.

Some who were posted overseas were happy to discover they can rent out their whole HDB flat and finally practice what they have learned from reading "Rich Dad; Poor Dad" - generate positive cash flow from their properties! (All theory no practice is...)

Some Singaporeans have sold their HDB flats and uprooted themselves to landed properties in some of our neighbouring countries. With lower cost of living to boot! (Isn't it nice to have options? Unless of course you consider yourself a true blue Singapore born and bred vegetable. Last I heard, people are mobile; like our ancestors)

Now, who says great assets must have yields?

My first poster girl - Farah Fawcett

2013-04-30T18:08:00.001+08:00

I was reminiscing at LP's blog about how the landmarks of our yesteryears were slowly disappearing on us.

There was this "Da Zhong" emporium at Margaret Drive/Commonwealth Avenue where I used to hang out after school. Sadly it's demolished long ago...

At the stationery section, I can't help but gravitate towards this poster hanging on the wall.

Yes, it's the 70s and the era of Charlie's Angels and Six Million Dollar Man!

I'm sure all of us have our first poster girl (or man) in our hearts.

Some of us buy and put such posters in our bedrooms. Some - like me - put them in our hearts as we were too "shy" then... LOL!

Hey! I started noticing older women since primary school!

Hmm...

HDB - Is the price a bargain?

2013-04-23T21:36:00.001+08:00

Female readers out there, if you are into handbags, you will be able to spot bargains when you are travelling to Europe or US - be it Prada, LV, or Coach.

You have to act quick! There is no time to call friends or relatives back in Singapore to check the retail prices back home.

If you hesitate for a moment, the bitch standing next to you will grab the handbag and you will spend the whole trip sulking.

It's the same for male readers. COE prices dipped below $10,000 some years back. Those who "knew" the car market would have maxed out on a 10 years car loan with minimum deposit - never mind if it's the "wrong" thing to do on paper.

You would have been much better off than those who felt its "safer" to save up a meaningful deposit first so you can limit the car loan to not more than 5 years. Yup, you "saved" on interest; but you got "scxxwd" by the mercurial rise in COE prices by waiting...

The moral of the story is that if you know what you are buying, you will know instinctively whether something is expensive, fair value, or at a bargain. No need to ask gurus or your friends. You can squeeze the trigger yourself!

A HDB flat is usually the biggest big ticket purchase for working class readers who are like me. However, it amazes me that most people would spend more time doing research buying a washing machine or big screen LED TV than getting themselves "in-tuned" with the HDB market.

I would like to share 2 real life stories on the advantage of being in the know on what you buy:

Story A - me!

During my time, I can only buy a resale HDB flat when I reach 35 years young. So at 30, I was already eagerly on countdown. During my free time, I was flipping the papers to get an idea of the HDB prices in Queenstown.

I bought my 55 sq m 3S corner flat in Queenstown for $124,000. Officially, this 3 room flat is not a corner unit as it's an old design - the corner corridor outside belongs to HDB. A normal corridor 3S is selling at $118,000.

I saw this unit in the morning and closed the deal in the night. My math not good but thank goodness I just needed primary school math.

After buying this unit, I bought from HDB the 9 sq m corner corridor for $1,000. (Where in Singapore can buy 9 sq m for S1,000? HDB good or what?)

$118,000 divided by 55 sq m =

$124,000 divided by 55 sq m =

$125,000 divided by 64 sq m =

Story B - my sibling

My sibling bought a 3I HDB flat in Holland Village area last year with cash over valuation at $12,000 only!?

Never mind Holland V area - where in Queenstown can get this "low" COV?

I know what you are thinking. Could be a murder or horrible death unit? Or O$P$ ah long harassment unit? This can be easily ascertained if you knock on doors and ask the neighbours.

It's like the handbag example. When I say know the market or product, it meant you have the street smarts to know whether it's genuine or fake.

My sibling came, saw, and closed the deal there and then. No let me think about it. The amazing thing is that there were 5 clients who saw this flat before her!

How to get to know the HDB market

1) Newspaper classified ads

2) Take a glance at the HDB ads junk mail in your letter box before you throw them away

3) And for those IT savvy, HDB Singapore

I'll throw in this bonus. Sometimes price is not everything. How to know whether a new BTO HDB flat or an older resale HDB flat is better for you?

Attend house warming parties and invite yourself to friends' flats duh!

You may discover you don't like the size or layout of the new BTO flats. You may prefer HDB flats from certain era. For eg, do you know the differences between 3S, 3I, 3A, and 3NG?

Is your knowledge from floor plans or from kicking the tires?

Price is not everything. That's why to you paying $1 million for a 5 room HDB is crazy; but to the new owner, it's a bargain! For that location, that view, that size, its priceless!

3 Pillars of Learning

2013-04-19T12:49:00.000+08:00

"Seeing much, suffering much, and studying much, are the three pillars of learning."

— Benjamin Disraeli

Our Education System

2013-04-16T22:07:00.001+08:00

Dedicated to the young readers out there who find it hard to "fit in".

Do not despair, complain, or put yourself down.

You just need to look within and discover who you really are. And celebrate your uniqueness!

Trust me.

The world is not against us.

We are the luckier ones.

We don't have well trodden paths laid out before us.

Oh what joy! We can walk our own paths!

Do not worry.

In the words of our Hokkien street smart wisdom:

"Crash got sound!"

So keep moving forward!

愛燦燦　小椋佳夏川りみ　さだまさし　海援隊　武田鉄矢　氷川きよし

2013-04-10T20:47:00.004+08:00

Just sharing this song I like very much.

Can't understand a single word; but it gives me an uplifting spirit just by listening.

Every singer is a pro and master in their own right. Each with their own unique singing style and voice.

Young and old, despite their differences, it shows we can still harmonise with one another without having to drown out the tunes of the other singers just to make ourselves stand out.

Dedicated to all who are working in teams (and fellow bloggers - wink wink).

(Yes, it's another SMOL cryptic message to "know sound" out there)

Just friends - Right... (How to find out the truth)

2013-04-06T07:42:00.002+08:00

We're just friends. Honest!

A mom visits her son for dinner who lives with a girl roommate.

During the course of the meal, his mother couldn't help but notice how pretty his roommate was. She had long been suspicious of a relationship between the two, and this had only made her more curious....

Over the course of the evening, while watching the two interact, she started to wonder if there was more between him and his roommate than met the eye.

Reading his mom's thoughts, her son volunteered,

“I know what you must be thinking, but I assure you,we are just roommates."

About a week later, his roommate came to him saying,

“Ever since your mother came to dinner, I've been unable to find the silver plate. You don't suppose she took it, do you?"

He said ,"Well, I doubt it, but I'll email her, just to be sure." He sat down and wrote :

Dear Mother:

I'm not saying that you ‘did' take the silver plate from my house, I'm not saying that you ‘did not' take the silver plate

But the fact remains that it has been missing ever since you were here for dinner.

Love,
your son.

Several days later, he received an email from his mother which read:

Dear Son:

I'm not saying that you ‘do' sleep with your roommate, and I'm not saying that you ‘do not' sleep with her.

But the fact remains that if she was sleeping in her OWN bed, she would have found the silver plate by now, under her pillow…

Love,
Mom.

Remember when CPF was 25/25%?

2013-04-02T13:35:00.000+08:00

I was lucky to be working in the late 80s when our CPF personal contribution was 25% and employer's contribution was 25% too.

The unfortunate thing I was earning less than $600 per month then. Would have benefitted more if it's based on my last drawn pay.

Imagine if your employer would be contributing 25% CPF on your salary, would you be happier? Of course the catch is you have to deduct 25% from your take home pay too.

Some will miss the good old days; some will be happier to see more take home pay even if the employer's CPF contribution is also cut accordingly.

I guess it may depend whether you go for instant gratification, how you manage your monthly cashflows, and lifestyle choices.

CPF hurrah!

There are those "luckier" ones (I've learnt that it's better to use luck so as not to sound arrogant or offend) who don't view or have to depend on CPF as a retirement/financial freedom tool - it's more a temporary place to park their funds while waiting for the next investment opportunity.

Let's put it this way, the elite will not come up with schemes and policies that do not benefit themselves; especially if you belong to the higher tax bracket.

Some of these luckier ones even do voluntary contributions to CPF!

CPF boo!

Then there are those who "fear" CPF.

I'll never see my money they say. Which can be true.

If you have plans to utilise a big chunk of CPF to pay for your home mortgage, pay for your children's tertiary education, and other DIY "investments" - then you know now that come your retirement, you'll likely be asset rich and cash poor. (Education is also an investment right?)

The fear is not whether the official retirement age will be pushed back.

Its whether your market timing is good or "lucky" on the day you call it quits.

Not fun to retire in 2001/02 or 2008/09 when your CPF is heavily invested in stocks and mutual funds.

Nor was it fun to if you retire with multiple properties during 2002 to 2006, especially if you had bought them during 1996.

On children's education I better don't touch upon. Every family have their own "bible".

Something do not add up

I would have assumed those that depend or have lots of plans for their CPF before retirement would prefer a higher CPF contribution rate - both from themselves and their employer.

It's ironic the CPF boo crowd prefers to hold cash outside CPF; while the CPF hurrah crowd are putting their cash in!?

Interesting.

Orthodoxy vs Orthopraxy

2013-03-29T14:58:00.000+08:00

It's a holiday!

Just thought I'll write something more celebral today (or so I think).

Let's introduce 2 big words:

Orthodoxy - correct belief

Orthopraxy - correct practice

No, I'm not giving a religious sermon today. Don't worry.

Just using these two spiritual words as moot points to explain how some traders and investors apply them on their financial journeys - sometime without being aware of it themselves!

Orthodoxy Traders

Should I use discretionary trading or should I trust mechanical systems trading? The faith is that once you get this big picture "belief" fit right with your temperament, the rest will fall into place.

How about the "correct" trade time frame to trade for you?

Some will swear by day trading with no over night positions. The belief is that you with 1001 piranha bites, you too can reduce an elephant into bare bones. (Hmm, are there elephants in South America?)

And the best thing is, you can have a full night's sleep in peace - every night.

Some will pooh-pooh these nimble-footed traders. Swing and position traders will prefer the meatier bite of a lion. A big kill can last you several days so lions don't have to hunt every day. Can sit in the shade and chill.

But by going after bigger kills, you run greater risks of getting kicked in the face by hoves or gorged in the gut by horns if you are not alert.

And if you can't finish your kill in whole that same day. you sleep at night tossing and turning afraid some other predators will steal your bounty in the middle of the night...

Orthodoxy Investors

Oh! There's so many examples here. I'll just quote a few.

Buy and hold versus market timing?

Diversification versus concentrated focus?

You can't beat the market so do passive indexing versus I can beat the market active stock picking?

Should I go for value, income, or growth stocks? (Hmm... Can I have all 3 in 1? Apple?)

Which asset class is the best? Some are one horse rider; while some have no problems riding camels, elephants, and dragons! (Opps! Please cross dragons out as I'm mixing fantasy with reality again)

Orthopraxy Traders and Investors

Both traders and investors in this school have a lot in common than they think!

Investors buy when there's blood in the street and sell when everyone are in climatic raptures. It's similar to a Trader's practice of fading a rally and buying the dip.

Traders let their profits run; cut losses when a trade goes against them. It's rhymes with an investor's maxim of weeding out losers and keeping only winners in a portfolio.

Buy low sell high. Can't be different between an investor and trader right?

It's all about "best practices" that bring home the bacon. Very practical stuffs. Can see and touch kind.

Nobody cares about what you think; just your bottom line.

What if torn between Orthodoxy and Orthopraxy?

I have one good example here.

If you are a Buy-and-Hold believer, and you also a big fan of Warren Buffet's:

Rule No.1: Never lose money. Rule No.2: Never forget rule No.1

Well, I have no solution as the solution has to come within from you.

It's like in the spiritual realms. First you have to decide to believe in one guru or many gurus.

Even if you believe in one guru, you'll still split into multiple denominations as everyone have their own interpretations on "correct practice".

Me? I'll stick with my Hokkien street wisdom:

Happy can oredi!

Who needs a bailout?

2013-03-26T12:53:00.000+08:00

On 15 January 1998, Suharto signed a deal with the IMF for another bailout package full of unpopular austerity measures.

The body language of the then IMF Managing Director Michel Camdessus says it all.

After this "for your own good" treatment from IMF, most countries in Asia have beefed up their reserves so they don't have to be talked down to ever again.

With the recent "bailout" of Cyprus, it's good to be reminded of the painful costs of a bailout.

It goes for sovereign states as for individuals.

林憶蓮-鏗鏘玫瑰 - Song dedication to Tulip Girl

2013-03-23T15:39:00.001+08:00

A special song dedication to a Tulip trader friend.

I've noticed very few Investor bloggers put up Youtube songs in their blogs. On the hand, I've found quite a few Trader bloggers share music in their blogs.

I guess Traders are insanely aware of their emotional roller-coaster and inner demons. Music is a way to communicate with our souls.

Music drowns out the deafening white noise of our thinking. Only then can we hear the soft murmurs of our hearts.

Is Gold considered as investment or insurance?

2013-03-21T12:09:00.000+08:00

It is quite interesting to listen to intellectual debates on whether Gold can be considered an investment (when it has no cash flow) or is it an insurance.

Investment

I remember around 2005, I remember reading in the Sunday Times about how a Singaporean investor became a millionaire by investing in Gold.

He had sunk in his life savings of SG$500,000 into Gold when it was US$250 an ounce a few years back. When his story was published, Gold had doubled to US$500 an ounce. Making him a millionaire!

And he's not selling! He's convinced Gold will double again to $1,000 an ounce in the next few years.

Hey! He was right again!!! If had resisted the urge to sell, he is doing very nicely with Gold around US$1,600 an ounce today. Even with the appreciation of the SGD against USD.

For this investor, he already had the answer to the question. More importantly, he profited from his conviction.

Gold had outperformed STI from 2005 t0 2012 - yes, Gold beat low cost passive indexing even with no cash flows.

Caveat! Those who bought Gold below US$1,000 and those who bought Gold near the recent top at US$1,900 an ounce would have different responses and explanations to Gold prices today.

It goes to show with all investments (equities, property, commodities, etc), getting the semantics right is not as important as getting this question right:

Are you early or are you late to the game?

Insurance

Imagine you have SG$200,000 invested in a low cost passive ETF of STI in 2007/08.

You had the harrowing experience of seeing your "investment" got sliced into half at the lows during March 2009.

4 years just blew by just like that! And now you have recovered all your "invested" money. You did not make any money, but then you did not "lose" any money either. Or so you think.

SG$200,000 4 years ago can buy that stylo car you've always wanted. To buy the same car now, you most probably need to take out an additional loan...

The same SG$200,000 4 years ago is around 20% deposit for the million dollar condo you are eyeing. Now you are kicking your idiot decision to invest in the stupid ETF instead of that condo. The condo is now valued at....

But if you had "invested" the same SG$200,000 in the STI ETF anytime during 2009, equities turned out not so bad as an "insurance" against lost of purchasing power 4 years later- just like Gold.

As some have discovered after buying insurance, you can overpay for the same benefits and protection!

A variation of the above italics on investment:

Timing is everything!

Traders' view on Gold

I prefer to use a Trader's view on Gold as it's more actionable, provides greater clarity, and less prone to distractions.

When you buy Gold, you are shorting USD.

When you sell Gold, you are long USD.

It's just this simple!

OK, maybe not so simple. Remember that your profits for Gold is in USD. It will be reduced/or enhanced by the currency exchange movements between USD/SGD.

If you are bullish on Gold, a better trade/investment could be to long Gold in JPY terms:

You buy a Gold ETF and you buy an equal amount in a currency ETF that shorts JPY.

Welcome to the world of pairs trading!

Letter: Greetings to a 15 Year Old - アンジェラ・アキ Angela Aki 手紙～拝啓十五の君へ～

2013-03-19T13:10:00.001+08:00

Translation from Youtube:

Dear you,
Who's reading this letter
Where are you and what are you doing now?

For me who's 15 years old
There are seeds of worries I can't tell anyone

If it's a letter addressed to my future self,
Surely I can confide truly to myself

Now, it seems that I'm about to be defeated and cry
For someone who's seemingly about to disappear
Whose words should I believe in?
This one-and-only heart has been broken so many times
In the midst of this pain, I live the present

Dear you,
Thank you
I have something to tell the 15-year-old you

If you continue asking what and where you should be going
You'll be able to see the answer

The rough seas of youth may be tough
But row your boat of dreams on
Towards the shores of tomorrow

Now, please don't be defeated and please don't shed a tear
During these times when you're seemingly about to disappear
Just believe in your own voice
For me as an adult, there are sleepless nights when I'm hurt
But I'm living the bittersweet present

There's meaning to everything in life
So build your dreams without fear
Keep on believing

Seems like I'm about to be defeated and cry
For someone who's seemingly about to disappear
Whose words should I believe in?

Please don't be defeated and please don't shed a tear
During these times when you're seemingly about to disappear
Just believe in your own voice

No matter era we're in
There's no running away from sorrow
So show your smile, and go on living the present
Go on living the present

Dear you,
Who's reading this letter
I wish you happiness

Time - the only constraint that matters

2013-03-15T15:30:00.001+08:00

Last night, I had a chance encounter with two ex-bosses (husband & wife team) from my IMM sofas selling days.

My, it's 20 years since we last saw each other!!! Their baby son (he was a toddler running in the showroom then) is now serving NS in the police force. Man, do I feel old! I was 25 not so long ago...

I was sadden to later learn an ex-colleague of ours has died at the young age of 43. Heart attack. He was related to my ex-bosses by marriage.

I had older colleagues and friends moving on before me; but this is the first time someone younger than me has left... It's a bit surreal. I am 3 years older than him.

We had an interesting relationship back then.

I was the top retail salesperson at our IMM showroom and he the top "part-time" retail salesperson at our company's warehouse showroom.

He works in the warehouse during the normal workweek and moonlights in sales during the weekends.

So there was friendly competition between us, but since we both also came from humble beginnings, there was comradeship too.

Forever and ever

I wrote in "My Story" that money lost can be earned back; but time lost...

I used to make personal plans assuming I will live forever.

I plan to retire at 55.

I plan to travel to XXX and YYY one day.

I plan to take up ZZZ lessons next year (and next year, and next year).

I plan to read this book soon. Sure one! Promise!

Sounds familiar?

Balance between Time and Money

Vagaries of time

Time is the only constraint that really matters.

Hoarding sucks if tomorrow never comes.

Spending like it's no tomorrow can cause a big handover when you wake up at 90 penniless if had planned to live till 80 only.

What ifs

If you knew you have 6 months or 2 years more to live, would you continue the same path as today? Now that's the real test of our so called "passions"!

Some will continue working till their last breath as they are doing what they love.

Some will drop immediately the little lies and excuses they have told themselves . Nothing like a little urgency of time to shine some clarity in our lives.

To focus on what really matters. From our own perspective - not anybody's else.

Relationships

If relationships are important to you, that's another potential blindspot.

Do not assume people you care about have unlimited time too. Thinking they can wait till you have reached X goals or achieved Y successes.

"Success" can be a bit hollow if you have no one to share it with.

Stress test your plans with Time

1. Would you still be pursuing this course of action if you had 2 years more to live?

2. Is the sacrifice in time away from people that matters worth it?

Who knows? You may discover "enough" is good enough after all!

Meatballs at 10 cents - you not afraid of crowds?

2013-03-12T10:25:00.000+08:00

I was intrigued when I saw photos and news of the big crowd of born and bred Singaporeans queuing for 10 cents meatballs.

They can't be the same people who are having angst and fear over the "overcrowding" of Singapore I guess?

It's the same when it comes to the IT fairs or departmental store sales. You not afraid of a little crowd are you? Not when there's a bargain! If you don't hurry, you'll lose out!

No wonder before every beauty contest, the organiser will throw some sweets out and the free-loaders will come.

All is forgotten; all is forgiven.

When you fall for "free" stuffs; you lose a little of your free will, a little of free thinking, and a little bit of personal freedom.

Changi Beach Park

2013-03-09T15:50:00.000+08:00

Yesterday Friday late morning, I decided on a whim to visit Changi village for Nasir Lemak lunch at the renovated hawker food centre.

On the way there, I decided to stop by Changi Chapel and Museum. Finally stopped to smell the roses instead of rushing from point A to point B.

Changi Chapel & Museum

This is my first time visiting this historic place despite passing it quite a few times in the past. It's funny that I've visit war museums of other countries, but in my own backyard, I've never made an effort to remember and honour those who have gone bravely before me.

The little notes left by visitors who were descendents of those POWs in Changi prison were most moving. And the thousands of little cranes offered by visiting Japanese students made me smile that all have not been in vain. There's hope.

I was caught by surprise the emotions that welled inside of me. The last time I felt this way was visiting Anne Frank's museum at Amsterdam.

The triumph of the human spirit is indeed uplifting.

Changi Beach Park fishing

After lunch, I decided to walk across to Changi Beach Park to look see look see.

Hey, not bad for a lazy Friday afternoon. Some anglers were braving the noon day sun fishing!

Changi Beach Park under canopy

It's so nice to walk under the shaded trees with a strong sea breeze blowing in my face. It reminded me of my NS army days. Take cover in the shade and koon (sleep) during field camps!

Changi Beach Park in the breeze

Can you feel the wind from the sway of the leaves?

Colours of Changi Beach Park

We don't have autumn in Singapore, and we can't compare to the the autumn coloured trees in China's Jiuzaigou, but we too have beauty in Singapore! Just have to look up ;)

Frangipani tree in Changi Beach Park

And we have nice flowering trees too ;)

I stand corrected as I am guessing it's a Frangipani tree. I'm not a botanist.

Plane spotting at Changi Beach Park

It's not Frisco Bay, but this is where I sat watching the waves roll in. Every few minutes, there will be a plane taking off and I played the which airline is it game with myself. Time is indeed slow when I am still.

Sun tanning at Changi Beach Park

Last year when I was here, the beach wasn't as nice as today. I suspect it has since been cleaned up. Friday 2:30 pm and this ang moh jogger suddenly decided to chill out on the beach.

Hmm. Either that's a long lunch, or he is like me having our man of leisure time ;)

I wonder how's it like during weekends? Do people come here to swim and sun tan? Next time must drop by during weekends! And bring my swim wear!


Granddad and granddaughter at Changi Beach Park

This is nice and touching. Can't see well due to the high contrast, but it's a Malay granddad teaching his granddaughter (around kindergarden age) how to fish.

I guess that's how childhood memories are formed.

I remember tagging along with my grandma during her morning and evening walks. Time was even slower then.

It takes time to forge relationships.

Small nuggets of "quality time" my foot! Don't believe? If your dad works all the time and mom is a housewife, who are you closer to now that you are all grown up?

If both parents work and no grandparents? You miss your maid a lot right?

Ah! Childhood memories...

Be careful what you wish for

2013-03-05T13:36:00.001+08:00

Peter is your typical nouveau riche guy who made a couple of millions in his late 30s.

Loud-mouthed, quick talking, super confident, and oh so full of himself... Can’t blame him; everything he touches has turned into gold lately.

Over at drinks with his piggy and doggy friends, perhaps it’s the alcohol, or maybe it’s the euphoria of the moment, Peter plonked his drink on the table and waved his hand at his friends:

“You know what? Would it be nice if we can buy a machine that can bathe us, feed us, and at the sound of our voice, we can control all the TV and audio devices in our home? Money is not a problem! Limpeh can afford it!”

“Good morning Peter!” chirped the young nurse as she draws open the blind. “You are looking better this morning!”

Peter gave a gentle nod as he went back into recollecting the last words and events of that night. Most of it was a blur. He recalled leaving the club and driving off in his Porche...

The next thing he remembered was waking up in a daze at the ICU unit of this private hospital. That was several weeks ago.

Peter has since learned that he has crashed into a tree that fateful night. And he is now paralysed from the neck down.

Lying all alone in a super-duper first class hospital room with all the bells and whistles money can buy, Peter has all the time in the world to replay the events of that day over and over, and over again.

No, there are no machines bathing and feeding Peter. It’s done by hand from the nurses. But what do you know!? Peter can control the big screen TV over his bed by barking commands at a mouth piece near his pillow. Well, you can’t have everything can you?

“I’ll be back with your breakfast shortly,” said the young nurse as closes the door to Peter’s room.

Wait! There! You have to look carefully. But if you do, you could see the faintest tracks of the tears running down Peter’s eyes.

The life of Pi and my own Exodus

2013-03-01T15:50:00.002+08:00

Have you watched the movie “The life of Pi”?

It’s one of those rare thought provoking movies that makes you think when you leave the theatre.

And it’s visually beautiful too.

For an agnostic like me, there are some similarities between the young Pi and me. I too have embraced a smorgasbord array of spiritual philosophies during my teenage years; albeit superficially.

Warning: For those who have not watched the movie and would like to watch it without prejudices, you may want to stop reading further.

I guess most people after watching would focus on the ending and the two versions of the story told by Pi. And of course Pi’s cryptic: “And so it goes with God.”

Somehow, I didn’t. I am agnostic remember? Both can be right; both can be misguided.

I was stuck and puzzled with the island metaphor instead. What does it mean? What does it represent?

This question has been tumbling at the back of my mind for several weeks now. But I had my “ah ha!” moment last night when someone (I was in a group with strangers) mentioned Egypt and Exodus.

No wonder I was thinking about “free lunches” recently – my subconscious mind was trying to answer the question that’s troubling me all these weeks.

I’ve been on the island before. It’s comfortable and there are “free lunches” everywhere during the day. But what the island gives during the day it takes back and more during the night. (Are you on the same island today?)

The tooth in the flower was Pi’s trigger to leave the island – despite the risks of being cast away lost in the vast ocean again.

Wouldn’t it be better to stay on the island and wait for rescue by a passing plane or ship?

It’s a bit like Zen. The trigger words for my clarity were Egypt and Exodus.

Would you leave Egypt for the desert?

How to amass a small fortune?

2013-02-27T12:22:00.000+08:00

Start with a big fortune.

This way, if you mess up, fall for scams, or the global economy implodes, you may still end up with at least a small fortune. And that's if you are lucky!

Now who says size does not matter?

Sarcasm aside, there is a message between the lines.

Just look at those who started with almost nothing and ended with a fortune - never mind small or big. What did they do?

Walk away from free lunches.

One way to prevent comment spam in your blog

2013-02-24T10:29:00.000+08:00

In recent months, the spam comments in my blog have gotten to the level of ridiculous.

Of course the standard way is to turn on the "word verification" at the blog settings.

But it's a bit of a pain in the ass as I have found out when commenting at other blogs.

If I don't turn this "word verification" feature on, I have to manually delete or mark as not spam those spam comments that are "missed" or "caught" by blogger's automatic spam detection.

By playing around (that's how I broke lots of things), I've found an alternative way.

Under blogger's comments settings "who can comment", I just uncheck "Anyone - includes Anonymous Users" and check " Registered User - includes OpenID " instead.

It's been 6 weeks now and not a single spam comment has appeared at the spam comments holding area. Cool!

Of course this trick only works if, like my blog, you hardly have anonymous commenters ;)

Don’t forget number 1

2013-02-20T15:35:00.000+08:00

I had a Taiwanese colleague who is the “unofficial” leader in the office in Taiwan. We call her “Da Jie” (Big Sister).

At that time, all the official heads of our offices in Asia Pacific were either a Swede or a Dane. You know how it is when we worked in a European MNC. (It has since changed with more diversity. And don’t you believe this “tapping the local talent” crap… It’s all about dollars and cents.)

This Taiwanese colleague got posted to Shanghai 9 months before me. She was I guess 5-8 years older than me (never ask a lady her age)? And I believe she had been in the company 10 years longer.

Long story short. She was fired during my 2^nd year in Shanghai. One reason I like working for this company is that we have many cases of someone getting fired in one division or office, and weeks or months later the same fired person will be reemployed elsewhere in another organisation in the same company!? I don’t think it can happen in an Asian or American company.

Suffice to say she was offered a job at the Head Office by her previous Swedish boss who has returned backed to Sweden. She turned down the offer and returned to Taiwan instead. So it’s more a matter of “differences in opinions” between her and her present Shanghai boss.

I met this Taiwanese colleague in Taiwan during one of my business trips and over dinner, she shared with me her regrets and offered this advice to me – Don’t forget number 1.

Assumptions and plans

She had planned to work until retirement with our present company. She loved the job, worked hard with the late nights and weekends burnt. In reciprocate, the company encouraged and motivated her efforts with promotions and overseas posting.

She had prioritised her career over love. She is single. She thought work can replace her emotional needs. She bought into the men’s war cry: “Work is my life!”

She assumed doing a job she loves will take care of her forever.

It’s all a lie. An illusion. A mirage.

Regrets

Not getting a property when prices were low. She mistakenly thought since company is paying for accommodation and/or since living with parents, no need to get tied down to a place. She got a rude shock upon returning to Taiwan.

Her contemporaries who were below her in the career ladder were much better off financially in net asset terms just by owning their own homes – especially if they had bought during the 97 Asian financial crisis or during the aftermath of the dot.com bubble bust in 2002 to 2003.

She also regretted not getting herself financially literate all these years. She has some money stashed away and is not exactly what you call poor.

She has no problem making decisions using other people’s money when working for someone. Where to source a product - from which country and supplier - is not exactly involving peanuts.

But now using her own money, she shared it’s difficult to squeeze the trigger on her own investments. Something she has only recently got acquainted with… (I used the word acquainted to differentiate people who out of the blue declare they want to invest/trade for a living after losing their job from those who are passionately investing/trading on the side with a day job and naturally transitioned to fulltime when “it’s time”. Same same but different!)

Her biggest regret is not thinking what she really wanted all these years. She had been too busy “working”.

(I’ll leave out the emotional regret parts out. It’s a bit personal. Just a hint that’s the biggest regret above.)

Interesting new developments in Taiwan

Pension reform in Taiwan

Although it does not affect my ex-Taiwan colleague directly, I think it's relevant to this post.

Don't forget number 1

Although I’ve not said a single word on what’s “Don’t forget number 1”, I believe when you are receptive to hear your own inner voice, you know what it is.

Why People Lie

2013-02-16T12:16:00.000+08:00

It's better with foreplay

2013-02-14T11:10:00.000+08:00

In this instant gratification world today, we often want things now.

Not tomorrow; not the day after - N_O_W!

I remember saving for months so that I can afford that watch I’ve been eyeing. I can still remember the feeling of expectation as I stopped by the shop as I looked on longingly at that watch. Saying to myself I just needed a few more months.

Patience.

I so remember the feeling of joy and contentment as I held that watch I had finally purchased a few months later.

I don’t get that same feeling nowadays when I buy a new watch or most “stuffs”.

Isn’t it ironic? Now that I can practice – I see; I like; I buy – I’ve lost that special feeling…

Do you have similar experiences?

It’s the same with relationships. The morning after experience is totally different. The “easy” one you can’t wait for her to shower and leave the apartment, and be gone. The one you have spent months and years pining for you are still holding her in your arms. And you never want to let her go.

Don’t get me wrong. I got buy Toto. I do want to get lucky instantly too! But I know getting one million through luck is not the same as “earning” my first one million.

Which do you remember more fondly? Is it your first promotion or your most recent one? Feels like your first kiss right?

I am now enjoying the pleasure of foreplay in my investment journey. I’ve not got a 10 bagger with concentrated size yet. It’s not a goal or KPI; it’ more a bitter sweet feeling of longing.

It’s one of those little ironies or paradoxes in life. Once you have climaxed with something the first time, the next time will not be the same

It’s indeed better with foreplay. Patience.