Dog Training

Took some time off during lunch yesterday to visit the bookstore, thinking of getting a book on dog training. I browsed through the small collection of dog books which were available and as I repeated the titles to myself, I was mildly amused. "How to speak to your dog", "Communicating with your dog", "Reading your dog's mind", ... these were some of the titles! I felt I could be regarded as a little neurotic trying to learn a 3rd language talking to dogs and mastering dog psychology too.

More ironically, in the 9 years that I have been having a dog, I never read a single book about dog training or dog behaviour. Now that my pet dog is a senior, I am learning to retrain him like a puppy. The truth is it took me a long time to realise that training a dog is not just about "sit", "stay", "no"... essentially obeying basic commands. It is about helping dogs achieve a balanced state of mind (I borrowed that from the Dog Whisperer). Since there is not a "one size fits all" solution, being balanced is the only way to have assurance that dogs can remain calm when confronted with different challenges and situations. With a reliably trained dog, we can then look forward to truly rewarding experience from dog ownership.



In the last 6 months, I spent most of my free evenings training my dog. He is generally nice but had suffered from the "Napoleon Syndrome", i.e. small dog with big ego. We spent half an hour walking everyday, repeatedly performed basic commands such as "sit" and "down", also confronting objects he feared in the past. All these were done to re-establish myself as his "pack leader". Overall, we have had much success with the training, although I have not been able to correct some of his undesirable behaviour. So it is still "work-in-progress" and I think it always will be until I start howling...

Rationalising a crisis

I have never come so closed to being implicated in a life endangering crisis, other than SARS in 2003. Compared to those days of SARS, I feel greater insecurity and dismay over the current situation in Japan, due to lack of reliable and transparent information.

For a week, devastating news from Japan have monopolised airtime on every TV news channel. The images and photographs published on various media were no more encouraging. As time goes by, it becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish fact from fiction. The sensationalist rhetoric employed in news reporting have impaired truth. I am perplexed in deciding when to stay calm, when to raise an alert, when to summon my family member home even.

Rumours and unverified comments are flying. They are not just foolish but vicious in times of crisis like this. My own family members have circulated the fake SMS purported to be issued by BBC, warning that radiation from Fukushima has spread to other Asian countries. This has stirred up unnecessary fear and panic amongst the family, followed by endless phone calls of inquiry and reassurance. In my mind, the ones who circulated this SMS are no less guilty than the Chinese people who swept the supermarket shelves clean of salt, when they heard rumours that consuming iodised salt reduces the effects of radiation.

I was in Beijing last Thursday when China's salt scare occurred. It happened rather quickly, as rumours started going on in the morning, the supermarkets were already out of salt by noon. My colleagues fretted a little as they could not get a packet or two of the precious salt. But I knew they were half bantering. A taxi driver I spoke to on my way to the airport was really optimistic. I asked if he would be scared to pick up passengers arriving from Japan and he replied not at all. He told me that if they (Chinese) have survived SARS, nothing else can be more fearful. I am not sure if the driver meant every word he said, but I admire his courage and positive attitude just for saying that. So, don't be too quick in passing judgement or criticism, there are people who are still sober amidst the frenzy.

Besides pledging a donation, the next best thing we can do to help the Japanese endure this crisis is to be rational and not spread untrue rumours that will shake someone's confidence. Above all, hope for the worst to be over soon.

In 2008, a Japanese lady walking towards a donation box set up in Meiji Shrine for the Sichuan earthquake. Will kindness be reciprocated by the Chinese in similar manner?

Discretion

I wish I could speak my mind freely without reservation and explain the intricacy of every matter. But years of professional training have taught me that discretion is necessary for greater good, even at the expense of being misunderstood.

I wish all man are wise enough to see beyond superficiality, to discover the thoughts and considerations behind a decision or action. But man often become foolish and blind once marred by self-interests.

Then it is up to us if we should be aggrieved by the fools.

Harvesting Parsley

The cooler weather in the last few months has done plenty of good to my parsley plant. Although it has survived for 2 years, it hardly thrives like the way it has been lately.

Finally a good time to harvest. And of good amount too! Probably enough to make aglio olio for 2.

March 2009


July 2009


February 2011


Harvested!

I know I should have done better than this. Just one bunch of parsley after 2 years is not exactly thrilling. Let's see what I can do about it.

To be continued...

Bye bye wisdom! Hi hi dentist!

Egyptian pharaoh, Ramesses the Great died at 90. It was later discovered that Ramesses had severe dental problems, so serious that it could have led to an infection enough to claim his life. During Ramesses's time, dentistry was still unknown. I feel sorry for the unimaginable pain the great pharaoh must have suffered in his later years due to his dental conditions and that he had to live so long while bearing the pain. I wonder how he slept. I was completed defeated by a decaying wisdom tooth just after 3 sleepless nights.

Since my childhood days, I have been extremely afraid of dental procedures as I had a trauma involving the dentist when I was younger. The dental nurse at my primary school was most unsympathetic and insensitive. Not only did she pass contemptuous remarks, my gums were painful and often bleeding profusely during each treatment, as if red was the natural colour of my saliva. To me, one of the happiest thing about leaving school was that I no longer had to undergo mandatory dental treatment arranged by the school.

If the pain was less than excruciating I would not have visited the dentist after not having done so for almost 2 decades. Last Saturday, I turned up at the dental clinic feeling apologetic and remorseful. It often takes one to have gone through an ordeal before feeling sorry not to have gotten the fundamentals correct right from the start. Fortunately, the dentist and dental nurse were most forgiving. They were only interested in alleviating my pain and not criticism. Whether it is the advancement of dentistry techniques or customer service from paying premium prices, I felt safe and unintimidated as I received the dental treatment. I could not have imagine tooth extraction to be painless, but it was. And I did not see a single trace of blood during and after the procedures, not even a blood soaked cotton wool or gauze pad. If I had not been given my extracted tooth as a "souvenir", I would not even believe that it was done.

Now that I have had my wisdom tooth extracted, I feel liberated. Not just from the throbbing pain that had kept me awake for many nights, but from being a coward that I was for decades, after having overcome my phobia of dental treatment. I have still to attend several follow-up sessions with the dentist after this but I am feeling good about it!


Bye bye wisdom

The surrounding is monotone. Rooftops are whitened with snow, streets are lined in silver, tree branches hung snowflakes, like cotton candy floss. The stillness in the air is almost palpable, disrupted occassionally by murmurs of visitors.

Shirakawago, so surreal in winter time.

他夏了夏天

他夏了夏天
蘇打綠 (Sodagreen)

几点钟结束梦他按下闹钟
如往常开始了一天生活
忙工作忙收获早餐吃什麽
他和他维持齿轮的脉搏

汗水在他的身上化成了彩虹
步伐的节奏延续生命的河流
默默在岗位战斗的每个小小英雄
富有和贫穷卑微和伟大相同
他从不害怕自己被人群淹没
中午吃便当是他最大享受

几点钟也许是月出的时候
如往常结束了一天工作
他心中幻想着晚餐吃什麽
家里的让他不怕往前冲

疲累在他的身上化成了笑容
步伐的节奏开始不那麽沉重
轻轻旋转着夏天地面闷热的晚风
平凡或特别笨拙或聪明相同
他从不担心自己被世界折磨
甜蜜的负荷是他最大依托

带着笑容的睡意化成了彩虹
在他梦中一口气走上了星空
喧嚣地亮起整个夏天渴望的挥霍
清淡与浓烈好与坏他都尝过
他从不介意自己被命运作弄
按下了闹钟开启另一个梦

Time Machine

Been to a pop concert on Saturday evening. Mingling with the youngsters makes me feel old, exponentially.

If I could ask for anything, I would like to have a time machine, to take me back to those days when I was much younger... fearless and free of emotional baggages. It is not that I have a terrible life now that I wish to turn back time. It is merely that being young is so alluring.

A brief moment of folly is insufficient to mask or change reality. It can, however, prompt a course of action that redefines the future. The worst thing that can happen is that I will still be wishing for a time machine in 10 years to take me back to 2010. But I rather be waiting in anticipation for each new day to unfold. Between these, I have a choice.

May 2011 be a year for changes.

2.00AM

凌晨2点，

夜深人静时刻。

肖邦、红酒，

最完美催眠组合。

敌不过月光皎洁，

勾勒出情愁。

我有一个恋爱

In times of despair, pray to the stars.

我有一个恋爱──
我爱天上的明星；
我爱它们的晶莹：
人间没有这异样的神明。

在冷峭的暮冬的黄昏，
在寂寞的灰色的清晨，
在海上，在风雨后的山顶──
永远有一颗，万颗的明星！

山涧边小草花的知心，
高楼上小孩童的欢欣，
旅行人的灯亮与南针──
万万里外闪烁的精灵！

我有一个破碎的魂灵，
像一堆破碎的水晶，
散布在荒野的枯草里──
饱啜你一瞬瞬的殷勤。

人生的冰激与柔情，
我也曾尝味，我也曾容忍；
有时阶砌下蟋蟀的秋吟，
引起我心伤，逼迫我泪零。

我袒露我的坦白的胸襟，
献爱与一天的明星：
任凭人生是幻是真，
地球存在或是消泯──
大空中永远有不昧的明星！

~徐志摩

National Day

During my childhood days, I was one of the lucky children who could watch the NDP contingents march-past in front of my HDB flat. My neighbours and I used to line up early along the corridor to wait and I cheered and waved vehemently as the contingents marched by, usually reciprocated with... indifference. My favourite was the Navy contingent, young men looking spic and span, so smart in their all white uniforms.

What did I know about patriotism back then? Probably as much as what I know about it today. My patriotism has never been put through the test nor questioned about over the years; neither were there occassions which called for the demonstration of my allegiance. So how patriotic am I... hmm, I have no means to judge.

Don't get me wrong though, I love my country. I have once told my colleagues overseas that the time I felt most home sick was when I stepped out of the shower on a cold winter day, in some hotel in a faraway place, freezing and missing the warm weather at home. But it is certainly more than just the weather, I love my home for a myriad of other reasons. The stability, the peace and security, the opportunities that I have been presented with and the competitive edge which I enjoy on the international arena. Our country has certainly come a long way in just 45 years.

Some wise words we have been told, that to love someone is to love her for who she is, not just for her strengths but also weaknesses. Although there are polices implemented in this country which I will criticise and behaviour of fellow Singaporeans which I cannot identify with, I love my home nevertheless. Brand me as "Kiasu" if you like, think of me as an "ugly Singaporean" if you must, I have no qualms about saying it out loud that I am a Singaporean.

And so is Cowboy.


100% Singaporean

I made an effort to watch the NDP parade on TV this year, and oh boy, I must say the guard of honour is as smart as they can be today.

Happy National Day!

Cowboy's 8th birthday

Cowboy is 8!

This year, the birthday celebration was a simple affair. Even the cake has shrunk in size, although partly compensated by increase in the count of cheese cakes to 2.


Hmm... why my cake so small this time?


Never mind, tuck in!

And a very special birthday song sung by Malcolm didi... so cute!



I wish good health for Cowboy and many more years of cheese cakes to come.

Dog sitter's diary

After weeks of jetsetting, I am glad to be home finally with no outstanding travelling commitments. While being homebound, I am entrusted with the task of being dog-sitter for a week. Dad and Mum have gone on vacation in Japan, and even sis is away in Europe. So it's just me and the dogs spending some one-on-one time together in the next few days.

With 2 dogs at home, it is like having a leaking faucet. Clearing their excretion becomes almost a full time job. On top of that is the preparation of gourmet meals of lamb and vegetables twice a day for the 2 connoisseurs. Plus brushing and grooming them, it is all the time I have in one evening.


At 7am, both dogs have hearty appetite.


Cowboy is obviously quite interested in the toasts.



As I watch the dogs doze off by the balcony while basking in the mild morning sun and light breeze, I am contented to have them in my company when my family is away. I am thankful that these creatures are created, for they are truly man's best friends.


Looking great after returning from the groomer's.

盛夏，台北。

7.00pm台北。

在前往西门町的途中，一股热流迎面而来。
尽管很习惯全年是夏天的气候，才不到10分钟，额头就已经冒出了汗。
同事说，台北是块盆地，因此就算到了晚上，在白天所累积的热空气仍然持久不散。



脱下外套，换上清凉的夏天服装，大腿、小腿、肩膀、手臂立刻展露无疑。
到了夏天，台北人身材都变比较不好了。
不过没关系，我们家那里的人一年从头到尾身材也不怎么好。



原来在夏天，全世界都一样。
今晚觉得这里跟家很像。

Beatlemania

I've asked myself many times which is my favourite Beatles song. But it is simply too hard to decide because the band has mostly marvellous pieces.

People often say that there is a Beatles song for every ocassion. It is true indeed. When your car is hit by a cowardly hit and run driver at the carpark, you tell yourself "Let it be". For my friends who have to work till wee hours at month end closing, I dedicate the song "8 Days a week" especially to them. Where to go for vacation? How about "Back in the USSR"? And on Saturday evenings while you wait impatiently in front of the radio for the 4D results to be announced, your heart is singing "Please Please me".


The Beatles at Cavern Club


Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band


Sir Paul McCartney

The Beatlemania on tour, that's about the closest I'll ever get to watching a live "Beatles" performance. 4 impersonating artists performed hit songs from The Beatles at the Esplanade Theatre tonight. Although they obviously lack the charms and charisma of the orignal Beatles members, they did their trade pretty well. Minus the personality aspects, The Beatles are still the greatest! Their songs move hearts, if not, at least the butts, as more than half the audience in Esplanade were on their feet by the end of the concert.

As I looked at footages from the 60s of fanatic Beatles fans on the screen, I began to wonder how it will be for me 20 years down the road, who will be the one standing beside me and if Mayday will still be performing my favourite songs... Perhaps I will no longer have the stamina to stand throughout a 3 hour concert, but you can count on it that I'll still be screaming!!!

七七

七月七号，我喜欢的数字。不是农历七夕，还未到牛郎织女相见的日子。

暂别了乌云密布的天气，今晚夜空星光闪烁。也许你没来得及看见，也未曾想起那一年我们一起搭过帐篷，然后沉默不语，静坐在草场上凝视满载星辉的一片天空。

我怀念那一份感觉，虽然早已忘了你的名字。

下雨了，拉卜楞寺

这一次在旅途中发现一个奇怪的现象。天气虽然反复，但又很规律似的每隔一天就会是阴天。

算一算这天应该又轮到阴天了。车子在往拉卜楞寺方向开去，我心里一路忐忑。坏天气会严重影响我摄影的兴致，但尽管我如何诚心祈祷，凝重的乌云终于还是陈不住气，第一颗雨滴在还未到达目的地之前降落了。

贴心的导游和司机连忙询问我们是否有携带雨具。答案是“没有”。我们的导游小姐这时侯可急坏了。我感觉在她眼里，我们突然变成一群不懂事的孩子。出门怎么能不带伞，不带雨衣? 于是，好心的司机大哥载着我们这群孩子在小镇上到处兜走，想找一家有卖伞的商店还真难。因为这个镇子实在太小了，问了好多人，找了好几家店，好不容易才买到三套“交通灯”颜色的雨衣。


不赖吧？

从车里窥视下着雨的夏河小镇，人们的日常作息没有因为雨天而瘫痪。小贩一如往常在街上贩卖柏树叶(藏族人在家门外的炉子焚烧柏树叶作为祭祀之用)，前来购买的人似乎也没有因为雨天而减少(因为本来就少)。僧侣们脚步缓缓，淋着雨不慌不忙的走向寺院。他们也没带伞，可是我不觉得他们不懂事。





雨势不算大，但地面上已经湿嗒嗒，到了那种泥巴会不时沾到鞋子上的地步。就如镇上的人一样，前来朝圣的信徒并不畏惧下雨天，他们仍然绕着拉卜楞寺一路跪拜。这样一来，不只是鞋子，全身上下恐怕都要被泥沙弄脏、被雨水溅湿。但是，他们一幅不以为然的样子，拖着身躯缓慢的继续前进。我听得见从我身旁经过的那位妇人，她即沉重又疲惫的呼吸声。一时之间，我的心情也随着变得沉重了。



我跟在信徒们的后面，有时又急忙走到他们的前面，不断按下相机的快门。也许是我的黄色雨衣太枪眼，或是快门“卡擦”的声音干扰了神圣、庄严的气氛，终于有一位僧人忍不住回头望了我一眼。他投给我一个充满强烈鄙视的目光，我只好懦弱的转身并将镜头移开以表示我的惭愧(在那之前我还是拍了一张, so sorry)。

在我心里，我没有丝毫对这个宗教仪式不敬的想法，拍下这组照片也不纯粹是因为新鲜、稀奇而已。我真真实实的敬佩并崇拜他们对自己的信仰如此虔诚，对自己的身体如此严苛要求。我不禁在想，究竟人类的极限是由什么来牵制的？是大脑还是身体的器官？或者纯粹只靠信念就可以完成非同凡响的伟大事迹？



这时候，天空开始放晴了。我披着包含了导游小姐和司机大哥劳心劳力才购得的塑料雨衣，带着一颗被虔诚信徒感动无比的心，在拉卜楞寺雄伟的身影呵护之下，感受到人和神(还有雨衣)给于我的无限温暖。

Grieving

It is the capricious nature of life that taught me the hardest lessons. Yet after all the years, I am not quite immune to sad events. I have felt an immense sense of loss following the demise of my dear friend's father. That it should happen so abruptly and at the most unexpected time makes it harder to bear.

Not so long ago, I watched the quiet gentleman in deep slumber at the hospital. There was nothing unusual about him on that day, and in fact on all other days when I visited. It was hence easy for me to imagine that he had merely wandered off to dreamland and will some day return. I prayed silently for a miracle each time I stood by his bed. Without contesting where the allegiance of my faith lies, I now know how much my prayers are worth. Close to bankruptcy I guess, for they were rarely answered. On the presumption that prayers would work, I spoke comforting words to my friend but now they only seem just too careless.

Perhaps I need not grief over the inevitable ending of all living beings. But it maybe an inborn tendency in humans to grief over the burden which we all have to carry throughout this journey. I am devoid of means to make things easier for my friend and on myself but I hope this will serve as a closure at least, to that irrevocable sense of loss in me.

On the silk road

In 2 weeks, we set foot on the ancient capital city of Chang'an, traversed across the Gobi desert to Dunhuang, experienced desolation at the western pass of the Great Wall of China in Jiayuguan and then carried on our journey to Xinjiang.

There were beautiful sceneries along the way as always, farmlands, grasslands, mountains, desert... but none could match the extraordinary charms of Tianshan and Tianchi. We saw people of different races and cultures. The Hans, the Tibetans, the Muslims and Uyghurs are mostly kind and generous. We slept on trains, galloped on horses, rode camels, sat on a donkey cart (...and ate some donkey).

Here are some of the places we have been to.


The terracotta army museum.


Iron Bridge over the Yellow River at Lanzhou.


Beautiful scenery outside the window on our 5 hours drive from Lanzhou to Xiahe.


Monks spinning prayer wheels at Labrang Monastry in Xiahe.


Tibetan nomads and their horses in Sangke Prairie.


Riding a horse on Sangke Prairie.


Desolation at Jiayuguan.


Thousand hands Guanyin (千手观音) performance in Dunhuang.


Echoing Sand Dune (鸣沙山) in Dunhuang.


Cresent Lake (月牙泉) in the middle of the desert.


A road through the flaming mountain (火焰山). No sight of Iron Fan Princess.


Muslim prevalence in Turpan.


The Uyghur children loved to be photographed.


Magnificent beauty of Tianshan (天山) and Tianchi(天池). Picture perfect.