The power of surge…………………….

The electricity is so erratic and unstable. Companies that sell home appliances must be laughing their way to the bank because the consumers need to replace their appliances so often. Not that they are selling sub-standard products but because of the regular power surge and if you do not own a regulator, good luck to you.

All my important equipment like my computer, printer and fridge, I will have these appliances going through a regulator and a UPS. As for this iron, my maid is using it behind as and when required.

With a blink of an eye. the iron breathed its last!

Latest design.

Coins in line……………………

Once in a while, I would place a line of coins out for my maid to collect them. There were meant to buy either meat or rice for my dogs or sometimes for my breakfast. This is one thing that most people will think it is trivial, but if I were to give my maid a lump sum every month to buy these, some how the money will be mismanaged. They would either use it for themselves and ask me to deduct from their salary, or suddenly I discovered last minute that the ration is not there because the money had ran out.

Today when I lined up the coins, I walked down my memory lane again. My dad used to come back early in the morning after his round of taxi driving, he would place stacks of coin on the table top for everyone of us. These stacks of coins were meant for our daily school pocket money. In primary level, we had forty cents for the day and our pocket money will be increased to eighty cents once we entered secondary.

Looking at the stacks really brought back the times when all of us were young, vulnerable and needed our parents so much. Time flew by so quickly.

Happy Chinese New Year Singapore…………………….

Gong Xi Fa Cai Singapore!

It was a quiet CNY for me this year. All my Singaporean friends had gone back. I was surfing and chanced upon this video posted up by my friend.

Living life is all about how you develop a beautiful creative mind. Adversity always bring out the best in you. Singapore, you are really blessed.

台上一分锺，台下十年功

Today saw the closing of the first decade of my life in Uganda. A beautiful 10 years of adventure and memories. I know the next decade will be as exciting and the pace will pick up again like when I first set foot here.

The crossing for the year will be a quiet one because all my staffs had already left for holiday. I am left only with my 6 faithful dogs and my faithful Mac playing iTune. While writing this blog, Dr. Hook’s “A little Bit More” came up. Brought back so much fond memories. Dr Hook’s music are evergreen.

Looking back, 2011 was the year that I got the most invitations to give talks to share my experiences and my work. I am already in the process of preparing another talk for a forum in Singapore University next year. I had been advised by a writer to pen down my journal into a book. How interesting. Maybe I should do it before I become senile.

I chose the above title for this blog was because I felt it was relevant. In order for one to see the fruit of labour, one has to bite the bullet of perseverance. The striving for excellence is never easy unless you are born with a silver spoon in your mouth.

Speeches and talks only lasted for a few minutes, but what was not seen was the rough and tough road less travelled by many.

Happy New Year!

Something new everyday…………………….

I do not own a television and I was not aware about this issue until I came to knew about it from a friend.

Of late the electricity was very erratic and we were facing constant load shedding. This had disrupted our lives quite a bit. My friend were lamenting that due to the load shedding, her aged old mother was getting restless because she cannot access to their monthly subscribed DSTV India channel.

I asked why was that so since they had their own generator. She said, it was not about their own generator, it’s about the station, which also faced the load shedding problem. They are unable to provide the service because of the load shedding. They cannot power up.

I was amused! I asked her, “then what about your monthly subscription to the station? Aren’t they supposed make sure the consistency and to provide you the service paid?” she said, “no, we still have to continue paying the service.”

Lucky I am no TV addict. Sometime I still cannot understand and comprehend the working system here although having stayed here for so long.

If I were in her shoes, I would had terminated the service.

Or is it because I had a lower tolerance level compared to my friend?

Load shedding again…………………….

Lately the problem of having power shortage is back. This time it’s even worst. It is so disruptive.

This country is blessed with the second largest lake in the world and the source of the Nile river. Only a handful countries in the world can be so lucky to have all these water source to generated electricity but yet it is a disgrace that the electricity issue cannot be managed.

The answer is like the nile, murky and lots of undercurrent.

Instant success is a myth…………………….

A friend of mine directed me to this clip. It is so very true. Many people always think of getting rich quick, earning quick bucks or becoming famous overnight. Success always comes in a disguise as “hardwork and perseverance”.

Going ape…………………….

One of my objectives of going to Penang during my last trip was to learn how to make moulds for my beeswax candles. There are no candle moulds having African theme in my collections and its not easy to get them in the market. I decided to produce my own.

After going through all the trails and errors, I had finally got my first Gorilla beeswax candles out. The feeling was fantastic when I extracted them out of the mould after they had solidified. It does gives me a sense of achievement.

Never too old to learn new things.

Speak no evil, see no evil, hear no evil.

 

 

Get real…………………….

I had to write this. I need to get this off my chest.

I managed to catch up with a friend of mine after things had settled in. We had our regular once-in-a-while get together chat to see how we are getting on. We happened to touch on the community we were working on and I was expressing my many disappointments which I faced every now and then.

The last case was about some farmers, having worked with them for a few years, started their monkey tricks again. After sending them some money to get the honey down for me from the village, not only did they told me that there was no honey, they had even used up the money for their own instead.

Just when they were about to start gaining trust from me, they started their nonsense. I was just lamenting to my friend why it is so difficult to get good people to work with. I know there are good ones out there, but till now I am still trying to find one that you can trust whole heartedly. Time can only prove what I said.

He rebutted and told me that he always felt frustrated to hear people not giving enough trust to the people. He told me he had come across honest people since he arrived in Uganda 2 or 3 years ago. He mentioned that there was one that told him,”We are honest people, but just don’t tempt us”.

In my heart, I was taken aback. How can this statement defined him as “Honest”? Just because he was honest enough to tell my friend not to tempt him in anyway? I don’t find the logic behind. My friend pointed that we should keep our money in the bank and not at home so that he will not be tempted when he could not see the money. I cannot imagine that I have to wake up everyday, go to the bank and stand in line to withdraw money, inconvenience myself just to avoid “tempting” that person.

My friend followed up with an example, saying that its just like if we were to know that someone is an alcoholic, we should not bring him to a pub. I felt that this has nothing to do with temptation. Its all about self discipline and integrity.

Now, what if a lady is wearing something short or sexy? Does that mean he has the right to molest or rape her because she was “tempting” him?

A sensible person who has self discipline and integrity, should know his own problem and not pushing the problem to another, blaming others for his weakness. I found the reasoning very weak. I felt that the person who claimed, “not to tempt him” is smart to push his responsiblity to others.

To those people who feels that we are always belittling the Africans, we are not. We are just sharing our experiences and the different upbringing. We just need to understand and be prepared to accept what is real.

To us, it is wrong, to them, it’s not their fault.

 

Happiness is…………………….

waking up fresh, enjoying the simplicity in life and facing the challenges that lies ahead.

They had grown……………………

After having been away for two and a half months, my two puppies, Panda and Five had already outgrown their mother.

They are growing too fast. I guess they would be competing with their dad in size by end of this year or beginning of next year.

Panda is really a non stop eating machine. Her eating habit didn’t change since young.

Anyway, its a joy to see them eating and playing. Most important is that they are healthy.

“High” tea at 40,000 feet…………………….

Actually this meal was 24hrs late. I messed up my schedule, missed my flight on 30th early morning. I kept thinking that I was supposed to leave for airport on 30th which in fact I was supposed to leave on 29th evening.

I was packed and ready to go to the airport when my sister reminded me jokingly whether had I checked my flight ticket to reconfirm. True enough, We saw the mistake! With God’s grace, I managed to get another flight by paying another US$50 to catch the 1st October morning flight. Now I have a good reason for a personal assistant.

This was one of my longest trip away from Uganda, two and a half months. One third of 2011 was spent in Singapore. Coming back for the last quarter is to prepare for my next adventure for the many more years to come. This two and a half months could be another turning point in my life. I will be spreading my wings to Rwanda comes next year. There could be a possibility that I would need to change my blog title soon if I am going to spend more time in Rwanda.

I am happy that I had found so many long lost friends and also made many new friends when I was back this time round. Friends coming from all walks of life, from Singapore to Malaysia to Myanmar to the Philippines. This trip was made comfortable and smooth had it not been a very good friend helping me out in searching for good food and transportation. Thanks Kim! You are indeed a great pal!

There is one thing that is most important and amazing is my walk with God and how he opened up so many doors for me during this trip. Yes, I know it’s a bit personal but would just like to share a little bit of my experience on my spiritual aspect.

I am writing this blog with my new toy for the first time. It is fantastic!

Learning to let go…………………….

It was a trying time for me during my last two and a half month back home. Not knowing what to expect. I thought I was walking alone when I saw that there was only one pair of foot prints instead of two.

But no, he was carrying me when I was tired.

Finally I learnt to let go.

Closing this chapter with a knapsack of new adventures.:)

The most important tool a doctor ever needs……………………

A pair of listening ears.

Time in a bottle……………………

A trade long forgotten...

Last weekend was a break for me. Took a bus ride with my youngest sister and her family to Malacca and spent some family time with them, away from all the meetings and discussions.

As I was walking past this old man, suddenly I felt time had stood still. This was a trade that I had not seen for a long time; a person that helps write letters or fills application forms for those illiterate. I believe this old man must had worked with the British during the colonial time. He spoke very good English when I got close to him. I guess he took this opportunity to start a small business helping those illiterate to write and type letters and application forms when the British left.

I used to see them along the streets in Singapore when I was young. Technology had pushed these trade to its early grave.

It was more than 10 years that I had not visited Malacca, I meant literally spending time moving around town, browsing Jonker Street and eating those famous chicken rice balls and chendol. Although I did rush through some work in Malacca some weeks back but that was that, nothing more.

Hopefully, my memories can be as long as that old man and his typewriter…

On the bus towards Malacca.

My sis and my niece.

Streets of Malacca.

Breakfast at mamak store.

Church at Red House.

Close up view of monument.

Church at red house.

Trishaw with sound blaster fitted.

Water wheel on Malacca river.

Old warship.

Mudskippers along the bank of river.

Retro phones.

Gramaphone at an antique cafe.

Antique cafe.

Biggest pineapple tart I ever seen.

Laughter, the best medicine…………………….

The Answer…………………….

Since I came back, I had been running non stop. I just kept running and running and running. I need to slow down and have a break for myself. Time just flew by with a blink of an eye. Is this what I wanted or is this what I needed?

I once heard this motivational story about life without goals. Everyone knew that it takes 11 players to form a football team and in order to compete in a match, you will see 22 player from both sides trying to score against each other.

Now picture this…… 22 players running around trying to get to the ball but there are no goal posts to score! Life would just be a series of running around, dribbling and getting no results. I would find it funny having to watch 22 adults running around on a patch of green going nowhere. Have I became one of them?

Today, I sat down and took a breather. I cancelled all my appointments. Initially I thought I was going through the above scenario. Maybe it was the durian that I had eaten, created so much heat inside me that had micro waved my brain. I could not think properly I felt that everything happened in such a short span that i could not find time to digest.

I received an email from Tricia and she shared with me a bible reflection;

Col 1: 9-11

From the day we heard about you, we do not cease praying for you
and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will
through all spiritual wisdom and understanding
to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord,
so as to be fully pleasing, in every good work bearing fruit
and growing in the knowledge of God,
strengthened with every power, in accord with his glorious might,
for all endurance and patience…

First, pray for “full knowledge of [God's] will through perfect wisdom and spiritual insight” (Col 1:9). Second, pray to “lead a life worthy of the Lord and pleasing to Him in every way” (Col 1:10). Third, pray to “multiply good works of every sort and grow in the knowledge of God” (Col 1:10). Finally, pray for “the strength needed to stand fast, even to endure joyfully whatever may come” (Col 1:11).

I knew what I had to do.

I had the answer.

For the very first time…………………….

Visiting Malaysia I had done many times, but having stayed and traveled all over Malaysia for a month, this is the first time. I always like the feeling of doing things for the very first time. It gives me a sense of joy and achievement. Within this very first time, there are also quite a number of first time experiences that had tagged along. So lets see what are the first time on this chapter of my life.

For the very first time………

...having the first holiday with my mom after all these years...

...visiting the temple my mom used to pray when she was a teenager...

...eating an authentic traditional bowl of "hakka suan pan tze" (abacus made from yam) hand made by my aunt...

...my two cousins and niece whom I never knew their existence till now...

…setting foot in Kelantan…

Buying cuttlefish along the street of Kelantan

Walking down memory lane…………………….

Golden girls.

My mom was 5 and she was 7. Fate brought them together to Penang and saw a friendship that lasted 70 years. This golden friendship began when mom was 8. We called her “Yew Fah” aunty.

Mom was betrothed to my dad even before she was born. She left Penang for Singapore at the age of 18 to be married to my dad. That did not stop her from keeping this friendship alive.

Mom and Fah.

Not only bringing mom to Penang was a good break for me, it was also an inspirational trip that was long overdue. This was the first time ever that I had spent so much time with her. I hope this would not be the last. I was glad that my sis, Fah, came along to look after her. Thanks Fah.

I saw a fragile old lady, weathered beaten and torn. But one thing that had never and will never changed was her beautiful sincere smile and benevolent heart.

Lunch at 30,000 feet.

It was a wonderful 6 days stay and I was glad that she enjoyed this trip. She was all excited when I told her that I will be spending some time with her when I got back this time round. We had planned for this trip before I came back from Uganda. She was really looking forward for it.

No longer a lady that could shout across a football field, her weak spoken voice kept narrating her life history as we plodded along the street she once knew. She was like a walking journal unfolding in front of me. Many things and places which I heard when I was young had turned into reality as she pointed them out to me.

The first thing we did was to visit the temple where she grew up and prayed. There lied my grandmother memorial. Hanging along the walls, I could see the line of people that once contributed to the development of this temple. A very nostalgic feeling swept through me as I look at the pre war structures.

Centrel hall of "Tong Sen Tang"

Former chain of command for the temple.

Swinging back the melody.

Watching her sitting on the swing, one can feel the glow inside her, as if she was back to her younger days. The happiness I felt in her cannot be described. Her worries seem to vanish into thin air. She was herself again. She was happy.

Mom was a pious woman. Her faith has always been strong and that was what made her kept going. It was just only beginning of this year she was in a very bad state. She went to Penang all by herself and even my aunt (my mom’s younger sister who is currently staying in Penang) could not even recognize her. She was so bony, hunched and fragile. She could hardly walk, but still she wanted to go back to her friends.

Smiling cheek to cheek.....her favorite Penang laksa.

This trip I had a good, mother and son talk and I learnt a lot more about her after so many years. She wants to be free again. She wants to spend more time with her friends. She just wanted to have a simple life with all her loved ones being there to support her, not to nag at her. She just wants everyone to know that she is not useless. She wanted to grow old gracefully and with dignity. All she was asking was just to be happy. She told me she was so sad beginning of this year when she went back to see “Yew Fah” aunty. She had a fall and was having difficulty with her movements. She was so emotionally affected that she thought she had already spent 2 weeks in Penang. She came back after a week. Watching her best friend in such a state made her felt so helpless and confused. She was afraid…….. afraid of losing her best friend. From her tone, I knew she was really afraid that slowly all her friends are leaving her.

Happiness is........having your best friend by your side for 70 years.

When she saw her on this trip again, she was extremely happy. “Yew Fah” aunt had gotten back her strength and was able to walk again, though much interval were needed. More importantly, she had regained her sense of humor and that was very comforting.

I was surprised that I had two distant cousins that I never knew. The elder one, Alice was nice enough to drive us around when we were in town.

Moment by moment.....

All these years, my mom had not been on talking terms with her sister but surprisingly this time it was different. I did not see any strain on their relationship anymore. Misunderstandings were all buried and forgotten. The blossom of sibling love had emerged once more. We went to her place for meals and even went out together having a good time. I guess time heals all wound. I was really glad to see all these.

I see this trip as a trip not only walking down memory lane, it was also one that is of making peace with oneself. I knew my mom had found peace within herself.

人生有多少个十年。

Back in Singapore…………………….

Going into the 5th day non stop attending meetings, I finally succumbed to flu and a sore throat. The weather was terribly hot and humid. Even after taking shower, I started to perspire. Today I intend to cancel all appointments and spend a day at home recuperating.

Last evening I had dinner at Tung Lok restaurant at Orchard Central and the service there was terrible. I was looking forward to eat in a fine restuarant with fine service. I was wrong. It was no better. I wondered was it normal now with these kind of service or has the word “service” or “hospitality” no longer exist in the service industry in Singapore.

All of us were not familiar with the menu and we were trying to get some help from the staff on what to order. The lady attending to us seems to be very impatient and was as if trying to brush us off with very abrupt choice. Anyway, it could be me being sensitive. We let it pass. The company was enjoyable, spending time sharing life experiences until one of the senior staff (I guess coz she is wearing a different uniform), came and interrupted abruptly asking whether are we going to pay the bill. I told my friends that this always happened in Uganda as well. You order your food, you wait for a long time, they serve the food followed by the bill.The best part was that once you stop working on your food to let your digestion system takes a break, they will come and collect it even though there are still food on your plate. You have to tell them you have not finish yet. Hahahaha! Service was overly good. The difference between them was that the Ugandans were really trying and they performed their duty with a smile. This made me more forgiving towards them.  At Tung Lok, it seems we owed them a living. We could had tripped over their chin if we were not careful.

Feeling kind of lethargic and weak at the end of the evening, took a slow walk along Orchard road. It was past midnight when I decided to take a cab home. To my surprise, the quality of the taxis were superb! The taxis came in different shapes and sizes and were so well maintained. Some really looks luxurious. They were like limousine.

To my surprise, in the queue, no one took these limo. They let it pass. Soon I realized that these limo came with a price. They charge you a fixed fare of S$35. Further probing discovered that the fare differs from one cab company with another. Some starts from S$3 while others S$5. The limo fixed at S$35. I wondered how will a tourist knows which cab company charges which fare if they are new to the country. I just hope I can remember this and not get myself into the wrong one.

Singapore seemed different. The atmosphere felt hostile.