Showing posts with label do you know?. Show all posts
Showing posts with label do you know?. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Awakening
Like many said, 不见棺材，不掉泪. How true can this be. I never thought it could be that serious when my headaches came knocking on, at an occasional frequencies. Usually, those headaches goes away within hours, and if it gets a little unbearable, Panadol will come to the rescue.
Apparantly, the issue aren't that simple. High Blood Pressure finally came looking for me. As genetical as it could be, it can actually be prevented. My one year absence from exercise could literally did such damage to me, and to think I'm laughing off with that recent weight gain. Definitely, it's not good news to me, not to my parents and not to the girl too.
Now, I have to watch my diet, my sleeping hours, my stress level and so many more. I have to admit, I haven't been taking the utmost care to and for myself, and should I fail to do so from now, it could possibly been so irresponsible of me.
I foresee lots of sacrifices ahead such as taking precious time off to exercise when I can actually use it to do my happy stuff, not eating my favourite hawker fare. I look forward to impose strict lifestyle for my ownself from now on and of course, the support from everyone is needed. Encourage if you can, scold if you must.
I went a little search to find out how putting on weight, even by a few kilograms can be disastrous, especially when you are not exercising. Now we should really see how exercising play such an essential and important role in our healthy lifestyle. In short, to live longer, exercise.
I briefly read through the biological benefits of exercising:-
Sad to say, I've waited for it to happen before I take a turn, but I shall hang in there and move on before it gets worse. It's going to be difficult, but I'm going to try it, for it could be now or never.
Apparantly, the issue aren't that simple. High Blood Pressure finally came looking for me. As genetical as it could be, it can actually be prevented. My one year absence from exercise could literally did such damage to me, and to think I'm laughing off with that recent weight gain. Definitely, it's not good news to me, not to my parents and not to the girl too.
Now, I have to watch my diet, my sleeping hours, my stress level and so many more. I have to admit, I haven't been taking the utmost care to and for myself, and should I fail to do so from now, it could possibly been so irresponsible of me.
I foresee lots of sacrifices ahead such as taking precious time off to exercise when I can actually use it to do my happy stuff, not eating my favourite hawker fare. I look forward to impose strict lifestyle for my ownself from now on and of course, the support from everyone is needed. Encourage if you can, scold if you must.
I went a little search to find out how putting on weight, even by a few kilograms can be disastrous, especially when you are not exercising. Now we should really see how exercising play such an essential and important role in our healthy lifestyle. In short, to live longer, exercise.
I briefly read through the biological benefits of exercising:-
- Strengthen your heart and cardiovascular system.
- Improve your circulation and help your body use oxygen better.
- Improve heart failure symptoms.
- Increase energy levels so you can do more activities without becoming tired or short of breath.
- Increase endurance.
- Improve muscle tone and strength.
- Improve balance and joint flexibility.
- Strengthen bones.
- Help reduce body fat and help you reach a healthy weight.
- Help reduce stress, tension, anxiety, and depression.
- Boost self-image and self-esteem.
- Improve sleep.
- Make you feel more relaxed and rested.
- Make you look fit and feel healthy.
Sad to say, I've waited for it to happen before I take a turn, but I shall hang in there and move on before it gets worse. It's going to be difficult, but I'm going to try it, for it could be now or never.
Monday, May 10, 2010
The 'Do Not Say' @ Work
Chanced this upon ChannelNewsAsia and thought it was quite interesting to share, which in actual fact, made you realise that just words as simple as the following could lead to huge misunderstanding and even in some circumstances, landing you in hot soup.
So, welcome to the world of reality...
"Try"
Try is a weasel word. "Well, I'll try," some people say. It's a cop-out. They're just giving you lip service when they probably have no real intention of doing what you ask. Remember what Yoda says to Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: "Do or do not--there is no try." Take Yoda's advice. Give it your all when you attempt something. And if it doesn't work, start over.
Put passion into your work and give it your best effort, so you can know that you did all you could to make it happen. So if the outcome you were expecting didn't come to fruition, it's not because you didn't do everything you could to make it happen. It just wasn't the right time for it or it wasn't meant to be.
"Whatever"
This word is a trusted favorite of people who want to dismiss you, diminish what you say or get rid of you quickly. "Whatever," they will say as an all-purpose response to your earnest request. It's an insult and a verbal slap in the face. It's a way to respond to a person without actually responding. When you say whatever after another person has said his or her piece, you have essentially put up a wall between the two of you and halted any progress in communicating. It's a word to avoid.
"Maybe" and "I don't know"
People will sometimes avoid making a decision and hide behind words and phrases like "maybe" and "I don't know." There's a difference between legitimately not knowing something and using words like these as excuses. Sometimes during a confrontation people will claim not to know something or offer the noncommittal response "maybe," just to avoid being put on the spot. If that seems to be the case, ask, "When do you think you will know?" or "How can you find out?" Don't let the person off the hook so easily.
"I'll get back to you"
When people need to buy time or avoid revealing a project's status, they will say, "I'll get back to you," and they usually never do. If people say they will get back to you, always clarify. Ask them when they will get back to you, and make sure they specify the day and time. If they don't, then pin them down to a day and time and hold them to it. If they won't give you a day or time, tell them you'll call in a day or week and follow up. Make sure you call and get the information you need.
"If"
Projects depend on everyone doing his or her part. People who use if are usually playing the blame game and betting against themselves. They like to set conditions, rather than assuming a successful outcome. People who rely on conditional responses are fortifying themselves against potential failure. They will say, "If Bob finishes his part, then I can do my part." They're laying the groundwork for a "no fault" excuse and for not finishing their work.
There are always alternatives, other routes and ways to get the job done. Excuse makers usually have the energy of a slug, the vision of Mr. Magoo and the spine of a jellyfish. You don't want them on your mountain climbing team up K-2 or Mount Everest.
"Yes, but ..."
This is another excuse. You might give your team members suggestions or solutions and they come back to you with "Yes, but . . ." as a response. They don't really want answers, help, or solutions. You need to call the "Yes, but . . ." people out on their avoidance tactic by saying something like: "You know, Jackie, every time I offer you a suggestion you say, 'Yes, but . . . ,' which makes me think you don't really want to solve this problem. That's not going to work. If you want to play the victim, go right ahead, but I'm not going to allow you to keep this up and I may have to report you." After a response like that, you can be assured that the next words you hear will not be, "Yes, but . . ."!
"I guess ..."
This is usually said in a weak, soft-spoken, shoulder-shrugging manner. It's another attempt to shirk responsibility--a phrase is only muttered when people half agree with you, but want to leave enough leeway to say, "Well, I didn't really know. . . . I was only guessing." If you use this phrase, cut it out of your vocabulary.
"We'll see ..."
How many times did we hear our parents say this? We knew they were buying time, avoiding a fight or confrontation or really saying no. It's better to be decisive and honest by saying, "I need more information. Please present your case or send me the data--both pro and con--so I can make an informed decision." That way the interested parties will contribute to an in-depth, well-researched "verdict."
So, welcome to the world of reality...
"Try"
Try is a weasel word. "Well, I'll try," some people say. It's a cop-out. They're just giving you lip service when they probably have no real intention of doing what you ask. Remember what Yoda says to Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: "Do or do not--there is no try." Take Yoda's advice. Give it your all when you attempt something. And if it doesn't work, start over.
Put passion into your work and give it your best effort, so you can know that you did all you could to make it happen. So if the outcome you were expecting didn't come to fruition, it's not because you didn't do everything you could to make it happen. It just wasn't the right time for it or it wasn't meant to be.
"Whatever"
This word is a trusted favorite of people who want to dismiss you, diminish what you say or get rid of you quickly. "Whatever," they will say as an all-purpose response to your earnest request. It's an insult and a verbal slap in the face. It's a way to respond to a person without actually responding. When you say whatever after another person has said his or her piece, you have essentially put up a wall between the two of you and halted any progress in communicating. It's a word to avoid.
"Maybe" and "I don't know"
People will sometimes avoid making a decision and hide behind words and phrases like "maybe" and "I don't know." There's a difference between legitimately not knowing something and using words like these as excuses. Sometimes during a confrontation people will claim not to know something or offer the noncommittal response "maybe," just to avoid being put on the spot. If that seems to be the case, ask, "When do you think you will know?" or "How can you find out?" Don't let the person off the hook so easily.
"I'll get back to you"
When people need to buy time or avoid revealing a project's status, they will say, "I'll get back to you," and they usually never do. If people say they will get back to you, always clarify. Ask them when they will get back to you, and make sure they specify the day and time. If they don't, then pin them down to a day and time and hold them to it. If they won't give you a day or time, tell them you'll call in a day or week and follow up. Make sure you call and get the information you need.
"If"
Projects depend on everyone doing his or her part. People who use if are usually playing the blame game and betting against themselves. They like to set conditions, rather than assuming a successful outcome. People who rely on conditional responses are fortifying themselves against potential failure. They will say, "If Bob finishes his part, then I can do my part." They're laying the groundwork for a "no fault" excuse and for not finishing their work.
There are always alternatives, other routes and ways to get the job done. Excuse makers usually have the energy of a slug, the vision of Mr. Magoo and the spine of a jellyfish. You don't want them on your mountain climbing team up K-2 or Mount Everest.
"Yes, but ..."
This is another excuse. You might give your team members suggestions or solutions and they come back to you with "Yes, but . . ." as a response. They don't really want answers, help, or solutions. You need to call the "Yes, but . . ." people out on their avoidance tactic by saying something like: "You know, Jackie, every time I offer you a suggestion you say, 'Yes, but . . . ,' which makes me think you don't really want to solve this problem. That's not going to work. If you want to play the victim, go right ahead, but I'm not going to allow you to keep this up and I may have to report you." After a response like that, you can be assured that the next words you hear will not be, "Yes, but . . ."!
"I guess ..."
This is usually said in a weak, soft-spoken, shoulder-shrugging manner. It's another attempt to shirk responsibility--a phrase is only muttered when people half agree with you, but want to leave enough leeway to say, "Well, I didn't really know. . . . I was only guessing." If you use this phrase, cut it out of your vocabulary.
"We'll see ..."
How many times did we hear our parents say this? We knew they were buying time, avoiding a fight or confrontation or really saying no. It's better to be decisive and honest by saying, "I need more information. Please present your case or send me the data--both pro and con--so I can make an informed decision." That way the interested parties will contribute to an in-depth, well-researched "verdict."
Monday, April 26, 2010
Sleeping Late? Think Again
It has been quite a hectic period - it's like both of us were down with some illness at different point of time recently, so much so that it's making us feel stressed out, and feeling more sian much more easily. Everything feels so tensed up lately. And it doesn't help when things are piling up. We decided to attribute it to lack of sleep. Made a few pacts on my own to gain back my 'lost' weight after the shocking chanced discovery over at the clinic last Thursday. It hit me back to that 'phobic era', thankfully, plans has been made to get me back on track, starting with main culprit (assumingly) - sleep. Therefore, i did myself a favour and find out more on what seems to be an underlying consequences many of us are facing.
When you sleep late, body will release tons of destructive hormones, known as cortisol (stress hormone) into our bloodstream, which affects our call health. Staying up late forces body to release them and that is exactly what our body DO NOT need because it increases blood pressure, weakens immune system, slows down growth and cell renewal and interferes with sleep by reducing serotonin levels. Serotonin is useful for regulating of intestinal movements as well as various other functions including regulation of mood, appetite, sleep, muscle contraction and memory and learning. That is also the reason why human beings appear restlees and failed to function properly if they experience inadequate sleep. One could also lose their ability to concentrate and remember things.
If experiencing inadequate sleep, one might have the chance to display irritation, moodiness as well as disinhibition. It's just as worse as provoking a women who's having PMS. I personally feel that there is a vicious cycle between Stress and Sleep. Sleep is the number one cause of sleeping difficulties, and in turn, lakc of sleep also triggers stress. Immune system could also suffer, making one more vulnerable to illness like colds, cough, and other infections or disease.
Apparantly, it's not only how long you sleep that matters but when do you sleep that matters. Best optimal time to sleep is between 11pm to 1am as researched, because it is said that this is the period of time when the body is producing the highest level of growth and regenerative hormones beneficial to our body, which could also means better sleep quality.
Some people will experience no desires to eat, even after few hours after waking up, me included. Found out that it's mainly because our own body entered into a state of survial mode protection and not because we are not hungry. Probably the appetite is not there and few hours later, you start feeling hungry and you can hear your tummy growling. Each time that happens, it spell danger. Think again, a body without food for probably more than 12 hours (assuming you didn't eat supper), how healthy and 'logical' can that be.
When you sleep late, body will release tons of destructive hormones, known as cortisol (stress hormone) into our bloodstream, which affects our call health. Staying up late forces body to release them and that is exactly what our body DO NOT need because it increases blood pressure, weakens immune system, slows down growth and cell renewal and interferes with sleep by reducing serotonin levels. Serotonin is useful for regulating of intestinal movements as well as various other functions including regulation of mood, appetite, sleep, muscle contraction and memory and learning. That is also the reason why human beings appear restlees and failed to function properly if they experience inadequate sleep. One could also lose their ability to concentrate and remember things.
If experiencing inadequate sleep, one might have the chance to display irritation, moodiness as well as disinhibition. It's just as worse as provoking a women who's having PMS. I personally feel that there is a vicious cycle between Stress and Sleep. Sleep is the number one cause of sleeping difficulties, and in turn, lakc of sleep also triggers stress. Immune system could also suffer, making one more vulnerable to illness like colds, cough, and other infections or disease.
Apparantly, it's not only how long you sleep that matters but when do you sleep that matters. Best optimal time to sleep is between 11pm to 1am as researched, because it is said that this is the period of time when the body is producing the highest level of growth and regenerative hormones beneficial to our body, which could also means better sleep quality.
Some people will experience no desires to eat, even after few hours after waking up, me included. Found out that it's mainly because our own body entered into a state of survial mode protection and not because we are not hungry. Probably the appetite is not there and few hours later, you start feeling hungry and you can hear your tummy growling. Each time that happens, it spell danger. Think again, a body without food for probably more than 12 hours (assuming you didn't eat supper), how healthy and 'logical' can that be.
Firstly, everyone's individual sleep needs vary. Some are able to function with as little as 4 hours of sleep, whereas some, after 10 hours of sleep, still feels they are not at their peak of their normal self. Nobody can tells you exactly how many hours you should sleep, afterall, only you know your own body best and well.
To overcome the lack of sleep, as a first step to avoid the caffeine intake i suppose. Exercise also helps you to improve the quality of sleep. And that excludes exercising right before bed. Speaking of which, just when you thought supper (yums) is a nice day to make you feel sleepy, guess what, instead, it could easily increase risk of heartburn which could keep you awake through the night.
Keeping a regular sleep/wake schedule is the most important among all. Bad habits can be developed for example watching TV in bed, taking long naps during the dat to compensate for inadequate sleep at night. A definitely wrong way of compensation i realised. Sleeping in the day and sleep at night is two entirely different thing.
Something as simple as sleeping, can have such a huge impact in our lives. One thing leads to another, same for sleep, whether we have enough sleep or not, reflect on how our day will pass by, somehow, directly or indirectly. So, avoid sleeping late.....
To overcome the lack of sleep, as a first step to avoid the caffeine intake i suppose. Exercise also helps you to improve the quality of sleep. And that excludes exercising right before bed. Speaking of which, just when you thought supper (yums) is a nice day to make you feel sleepy, guess what, instead, it could easily increase risk of heartburn which could keep you awake through the night.
Keeping a regular sleep/wake schedule is the most important among all. Bad habits can be developed for example watching TV in bed, taking long naps during the dat to compensate for inadequate sleep at night. A definitely wrong way of compensation i realised. Sleeping in the day and sleep at night is two entirely different thing.
Something as simple as sleeping, can have such a huge impact in our lives. One thing leads to another, same for sleep, whether we have enough sleep or not, reflect on how our day will pass by, somehow, directly or indirectly. So, avoid sleeping late.....
Thursday, April 01, 2010
Uob Travel
My very first time writing about my job, well, not literally. I was mentioning to the girl on how i meet all sorts of interesting (some, VERY interesting) people throughout my course of working in UOB Travel for coming to 2 years. Jokingly, i would have this great example of a tele-conversation i had with a assumingly CHEENA lady.
ME: Hello, UOB Travel....
CHEENA LADY: Hello, can i *blur* Manjurini?
ME: Sorry?
CHEENA LADY: Manjurini...
ME: [Search around and ask my colleague who is Manjurini]
ME: [still holding the line and check through my phone book list of my company, still no Manjurini to be found]
CHEENA LADY: Hello?!?!?
ME: Hang on Madame.
CHEENA LADY: Speak MANJURINI!!!!
ME: I'm sorry Madam, but there's no one by the name of Manjurini here. I think you've called the wrong number.
CHEENA LADY: Speak MANJURINI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ME: I'm sorry????!?! [Frustrated already]
CHEENA LADY: 讲华语啦！！！
ME: [showing the 'WTH' face] 可以讲华语！
and so....the tele-conversation goes on...
This job wasn't a fantastic one, purely because it's not something i regarded very well when i first got it. At that point, it's really just a JOB. slowly, my interests in this industry increased and it got me to hang on until where i am today. At times, i had to admit the work environment turns me off, but the loads of stuff i learn over here, is definitely what i cherish and would like to share with just about anyone.
I've learnt more about destinations both possible and impossible to travel. I've learnt about destinations i've never heard before, and learnt MORE about destinations i've heard before, and i'm proud of it, because it's really so wonderful and interesting to know these facts. I start loving Travelogues, Travel magazines and alot more stuff, such as the design of aircraft, the different models of aircraft, the wonders of car hire, the amazing facts on certain places on earth. Perhaps, i'll take this chance to share...
[Maldives is made up of thousands of islands and Mauritius is just one island by itself (twice the size of Singapore)]
[Hohhot is a city in Mongolia]
[New England is located in United States of America, not Great Britain]
[Jeddah, the capital of Saudi Arabia can only be entered by Muslims]
[North Korea - only one travel agency in Singapore does it and you are not allowed to bring your mobile phone into the country and one North Korean must accompany you to everywhere except when you are sleeping, shitting or peeing (making love included)]
I decided it's too much for me to share and i'll probably spill them all out when i'm in the right mood..
Personally, i've been on trips because of my job and probably one of the best satisfaction i can get as well. It's great how i can go on trips for both job and personal purpose and ultimately share it with everyone, friends and customers included. Observations on how kiasu and ugly some customers can get as well WOW-ed me at times. Of course, aside from that, there are customers who made your day. Till now, i will never forget how there is this nice customer (yes, an auntie) made my busy day. She was a customer whom i served, booked a package with me. Satisfied by my service, she not only praised me. She hanged around the fair for a few hours after she booked the package with me, only to pop out so suddenly (while i'm still serving another customer of mine) with a cup of hot coffee. One word to describe that, heart-warming...
After being in this line for so long (ok, not very long, but long enough to make some interpretions), the hardest to deal type of customers is naturally those aunties. Surprisingly, the easiest to deal type of customers is also aunties, so i have this love-hate relationship with aunties.
One of the most memorable experience with passenger would be one which just even happened yesterday when i served a pair of handicapped couple. Husband, Dumb and Deaf, and wife, Dumb, booked a vacation. Surprisingly, my first time handling such passenger and it's a touching experience i would say.
Many lessons and experience i've learnt through my job, and one of things which i regard it as the most important aspect of travelling is the preparation for the travel, the 'what to pack and what not to pack' into your luggage that is. Something i love to share and at least, the next time i travel, i know where i can refer to again. 20kg baggage allowance is no joke. It may seem alot, almost half the weight for some, but seriously, especially for ladies out there, 20kg is just a mere figure. Some are so horrifying that they already take up near 15-18kg before the trip and coming back would be a big issue, unless they do not mind paying crazy amount for excess baggage.
My Must Bring List (enough to hit between 10-13kg already)
- Toothbrush & Toothpaste (even so the hotel provide, most would be pathetically small and could barely cover all of your teeth)
- Shampoo, shower foam & condition (same as the one previously mentioned, even if the hotel provides, you won't know what the previous user [it could be some prankers] put inside the container, all the hotel do is refill). Unless the hotel provides you with the bottle type, then you can be assured to use them.
- Swiss army knife (you never know when you need it and seriously, it's super handy, be it opening a bottle of beer, cutting stuff etc)
- Luggage tag (many luggage look damn alike, how would you even know your luggage is really yours, save yourself some trouble and embarassment, hang or attach a luggage tag on your luggage, at least when it comes out for the luggage belt, you know right away it's yours)
- Cup Noodles (to spare myself from going to bed hungry at wee hours at night, or to satisfy my in between hunger. you'll never know how expensive the room service can be and where to even get the food if you don't know the place well)
- Undergarments (disposable ones would be better. You won't want to wash those smelly during the trip and what's worse, imagine going for a long trip and when you are back home, unpacking eventually what would seem or smell so unpleasant. Err...just imagining is bad enough...)
- Medication (a must for me, flu is a common thing for me because sleeping through the air con room is too 'powerful' for me. For those who need to medication on a regular or certain basis, this is a must bring, and of course, just in case, no one can predict what can happen)
- First Aid Kit (definitely for case of emergency, accidents do occur, especially when you least expected it)
- Moisturing Cream (our skin tends to get dry and it is very essential)
- Lip balm (cracking lips is no joke, you can bleed from it. you got to apply it before your travel and not during your course of travel)
- Shaver (travelling also means you should groom yourself, so, look tidy)
- Facial foam/cream (our face is just as important as our body)
- Clothings (depending on the countries you are visiting, if it's hot weather, chances are you will bring more clothes to change)
- Mobile Phone (only if you want to stay in contact with your loved ones. Also note that certain mobiles phone are only workable in certain network at the destination you are visiting, i.e: Only 3G phone are workable in Japan) PS: Double check with local operator to check which operator should you connect to when you reach your destination in order to obtain the cheapest rates
- Passport (forget to bring this and you can forget about leaving the country, unless you think you are Mas Selamat)
- Camera (it's considerably one of the must bring when travelling in today world. I'm sure you would want those moments to be captured as perfectly so that 10 or 20 years down the road, you can at least flip back these photos and remember, how enjoyable everything once was)
- Umbrella (unless you are god who can predict no rain at all, or not scorching hot sun, or you just love soaking yourself in the rain, if not, safe than sorry always works)
- Tissues (for your mouth, butt, face, body and everywhere else you can think of)
- Travel Insurance (the ultimate 'safe than sorry'. Period)
It's a job that i hold high interests in. Every now and then, i get to see the world and i'm thankful for all that opportunities. Friends alike always feels i'm lucky but the work behind it was hidden by this partition that no one would understand unless you are in the same trade as me. It made me realise how important networking is as well as somehow, provides me with soft skills. I love travelling more than ever thanks to this job and right now, this has become my dream to travel around the world. Till then, i foresee myself still sitting and doing what i am doing, probably not for long but what i've learnt from these one year plus, is definitely what i will bring with me, throughout my entire life.
ME: Hello, UOB Travel....
CHEENA LADY: Hello, can i *blur* Manjurini?
ME: Sorry?
CHEENA LADY: Manjurini...
ME: [Search around and ask my colleague who is Manjurini]
ME: [still holding the line and check through my phone book list of my company, still no Manjurini to be found]
CHEENA LADY: Hello?!?!?
ME: Hang on Madame.
CHEENA LADY: Speak MANJURINI!!!!
ME: I'm sorry Madam, but there's no one by the name of Manjurini here. I think you've called the wrong number.
CHEENA LADY: Speak MANJURINI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ME: I'm sorry????!?! [Frustrated already]
CHEENA LADY: 讲华语啦！！！
ME: [showing the 'WTH' face] 可以讲华语！
and so....the tele-conversation goes on...
This job wasn't a fantastic one, purely because it's not something i regarded very well when i first got it. At that point, it's really just a JOB. slowly, my interests in this industry increased and it got me to hang on until where i am today. At times, i had to admit the work environment turns me off, but the loads of stuff i learn over here, is definitely what i cherish and would like to share with just about anyone.
I've learnt more about destinations both possible and impossible to travel. I've learnt about destinations i've never heard before, and learnt MORE about destinations i've heard before, and i'm proud of it, because it's really so wonderful and interesting to know these facts. I start loving Travelogues, Travel magazines and alot more stuff, such as the design of aircraft, the different models of aircraft, the wonders of car hire, the amazing facts on certain places on earth. Perhaps, i'll take this chance to share...
[Maldives is made up of thousands of islands and Mauritius is just one island by itself (twice the size of Singapore)]
[Hohhot is a city in Mongolia]
[New England is located in United States of America, not Great Britain]
[Jeddah, the capital of Saudi Arabia can only be entered by Muslims]
[North Korea - only one travel agency in Singapore does it and you are not allowed to bring your mobile phone into the country and one North Korean must accompany you to everywhere except when you are sleeping, shitting or peeing (making love included)]
I decided it's too much for me to share and i'll probably spill them all out when i'm in the right mood..
Personally, i've been on trips because of my job and probably one of the best satisfaction i can get as well. It's great how i can go on trips for both job and personal purpose and ultimately share it with everyone, friends and customers included. Observations on how kiasu and ugly some customers can get as well WOW-ed me at times. Of course, aside from that, there are customers who made your day. Till now, i will never forget how there is this nice customer (yes, an auntie) made my busy day. She was a customer whom i served, booked a package with me. Satisfied by my service, she not only praised me. She hanged around the fair for a few hours after she booked the package with me, only to pop out so suddenly (while i'm still serving another customer of mine) with a cup of hot coffee. One word to describe that, heart-warming...
After being in this line for so long (ok, not very long, but long enough to make some interpretions), the hardest to deal type of customers is naturally those aunties. Surprisingly, the easiest to deal type of customers is also aunties, so i have this love-hate relationship with aunties.
One of the most memorable experience with passenger would be one which just even happened yesterday when i served a pair of handicapped couple. Husband, Dumb and Deaf, and wife, Dumb, booked a vacation. Surprisingly, my first time handling such passenger and it's a touching experience i would say.
Many lessons and experience i've learnt through my job, and one of things which i regard it as the most important aspect of travelling is the preparation for the travel, the 'what to pack and what not to pack' into your luggage that is. Something i love to share and at least, the next time i travel, i know where i can refer to again. 20kg baggage allowance is no joke. It may seem alot, almost half the weight for some, but seriously, especially for ladies out there, 20kg is just a mere figure. Some are so horrifying that they already take up near 15-18kg before the trip and coming back would be a big issue, unless they do not mind paying crazy amount for excess baggage.
My Must Bring List (enough to hit between 10-13kg already)
- Toothbrush & Toothpaste (even so the hotel provide, most would be pathetically small and could barely cover all of your teeth)
- Shampoo, shower foam & condition (same as the one previously mentioned, even if the hotel provides, you won't know what the previous user [it could be some prankers] put inside the container, all the hotel do is refill). Unless the hotel provides you with the bottle type, then you can be assured to use them.
- Swiss army knife (you never know when you need it and seriously, it's super handy, be it opening a bottle of beer, cutting stuff etc)
- Luggage tag (many luggage look damn alike, how would you even know your luggage is really yours, save yourself some trouble and embarassment, hang or attach a luggage tag on your luggage, at least when it comes out for the luggage belt, you know right away it's yours)
- Cup Noodles (to spare myself from going to bed hungry at wee hours at night, or to satisfy my in between hunger. you'll never know how expensive the room service can be and where to even get the food if you don't know the place well)
- Undergarments (disposable ones would be better. You won't want to wash those smelly during the trip and what's worse, imagine going for a long trip and when you are back home, unpacking eventually what would seem or smell so unpleasant. Err...just imagining is bad enough...)
- Medication (a must for me, flu is a common thing for me because sleeping through the air con room is too 'powerful' for me. For those who need to medication on a regular or certain basis, this is a must bring, and of course, just in case, no one can predict what can happen)
- First Aid Kit (definitely for case of emergency, accidents do occur, especially when you least expected it)
- Moisturing Cream (our skin tends to get dry and it is very essential)
- Lip balm (cracking lips is no joke, you can bleed from it. you got to apply it before your travel and not during your course of travel)
- Shaver (travelling also means you should groom yourself, so, look tidy)
- Facial foam/cream (our face is just as important as our body)
- Clothings (depending on the countries you are visiting, if it's hot weather, chances are you will bring more clothes to change)
- Mobile Phone (only if you want to stay in contact with your loved ones. Also note that certain mobiles phone are only workable in certain network at the destination you are visiting, i.e: Only 3G phone are workable in Japan) PS: Double check with local operator to check which operator should you connect to when you reach your destination in order to obtain the cheapest rates
- Passport (forget to bring this and you can forget about leaving the country, unless you think you are Mas Selamat)
- Camera (it's considerably one of the must bring when travelling in today world. I'm sure you would want those moments to be captured as perfectly so that 10 or 20 years down the road, you can at least flip back these photos and remember, how enjoyable everything once was)
- Umbrella (unless you are god who can predict no rain at all, or not scorching hot sun, or you just love soaking yourself in the rain, if not, safe than sorry always works)
- Tissues (for your mouth, butt, face, body and everywhere else you can think of)
- Travel Insurance (the ultimate 'safe than sorry'. Period)
It's a job that i hold high interests in. Every now and then, i get to see the world and i'm thankful for all that opportunities. Friends alike always feels i'm lucky but the work behind it was hidden by this partition that no one would understand unless you are in the same trade as me. It made me realise how important networking is as well as somehow, provides me with soft skills. I love travelling more than ever thanks to this job and right now, this has become my dream to travel around the world. Till then, i foresee myself still sitting and doing what i am doing, probably not for long but what i've learnt from these one year plus, is definitely what i will bring with me, throughout my entire life.
Saturday, January 09, 2010
Marriage Is Good For Health
Source from ChannelNewsAsia.
WELLINGTON : Despite the barbs of comedians and the spectacular bust-ups documented in the gossip magazines, marriage really is good for you, international research has found.
A study of nearly 34,500 people in 15 countries found married people are less likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and substance abuse, clinical psychologist Kate Scott of New Zealand's University of Otago said Tuesday.
"What our study points to is that the marital relationship offers a lot of mental health benefits for both men and women, and that the distress and disruption associated with ending marriage can make people vulnerable to developing mental disorders," Scott said.
Being separated, divorced, or widowed is associated with increased risk of mental health disorders in both men and women, particularly with depression in men and drugs and alcohol abuse in women.
"One of the more important findings is that in recent years it has been asserted that marriage is better for men than for women in terms of mental health. This study does not agree with that position," Scott said.
"We found that compared to never getting married, getting married is good for both men and women in terms of most mental health disorders."
But the study did find that men were less likely to become depressed in their first marriage than women, and Scott said this might be due to women being more likely to follow the traditional role of a wife first time around.
Other studies have found that as gender roles have become less traditional, with women working more and becoming better educated, female depression has fallen.
The latest study also found getting married reduced the risk of substance abuse more for women than for men.
This might be due to evidence that women cut their alcohol consumption sharply when they became pregnant and this often continued while the children were young, Scott said.
The study was based on the WHO World Mental Health surveys across developing and developed countries conducted over the past decade.
WELLINGTON : Despite the barbs of comedians and the spectacular bust-ups documented in the gossip magazines, marriage really is good for you, international research has found.
A study of nearly 34,500 people in 15 countries found married people are less likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and substance abuse, clinical psychologist Kate Scott of New Zealand's University of Otago said Tuesday.
"What our study points to is that the marital relationship offers a lot of mental health benefits for both men and women, and that the distress and disruption associated with ending marriage can make people vulnerable to developing mental disorders," Scott said.
Being separated, divorced, or widowed is associated with increased risk of mental health disorders in both men and women, particularly with depression in men and drugs and alcohol abuse in women.
"One of the more important findings is that in recent years it has been asserted that marriage is better for men than for women in terms of mental health. This study does not agree with that position," Scott said.
"We found that compared to never getting married, getting married is good for both men and women in terms of most mental health disorders."
But the study did find that men were less likely to become depressed in their first marriage than women, and Scott said this might be due to women being more likely to follow the traditional role of a wife first time around.
Other studies have found that as gender roles have become less traditional, with women working more and becoming better educated, female depression has fallen.
The latest study also found getting married reduced the risk of substance abuse more for women than for men.
This might be due to evidence that women cut their alcohol consumption sharply when they became pregnant and this often continued while the children were young, Scott said.
The study was based on the WHO World Mental Health surveys across developing and developed countries conducted over the past decade.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Never Give Up
(http://sg.news.yahoo.com/ap/20091124/twl-eu-belgium-coma-recovery-c8e2916.html)
BRUSSELS – For 23 torturous years, Rom Houben says he lay trapped in his paralyzed body, aware of what was going on around him but unable to tell anyone or even cry out.
The car-crash victim had been diagnosed as being in a vegetative state but appears to have been conscious the whole time. An expert using a specialized type of brain scan that was not available in the 1980s finally realized it, and unlocked Houben's mind again.
The 46-year-old Houben is now communicating with one finger and a special touchscreen on his wheelchair.
"Powerlessness. Utter powerlessness. At first I was angry, then I learned to live with it," he said, punching the message into the screen during an interview with the Belgian RTBF network, aired Monday. He has called his rescue his "renaissance."
Over the years, Houben's family refused to accept the word of his doctors, firmly believing their son knew what was happening around him, and gave no thought to letting him die, said his mother, Fina. She was vindicated when the breakthrough came.
"At that moment, you think, `Oh, my God. See, now you know.' I was always convinced," she said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.
The discovery took place three years ago but only recently came to light, after publication of a study on the misdiagnosis of people with consciousness disorders.
While a 23-year error is highly unusual, the wrong diagnosis of patients with consciousness disorders is far too common, according to the study, led by Steven Laureys of Belgium's Coma Science Group.
"Despite the importance of diagnostic accuracy, the rate of misdiagnosis of vegetative state has not substantially changed in the past 15 years," the study said. Back then, studies found that "up to 43 percent of patients with disorders of consciousness are erroneously assigned a diagnosis of vegetative state."
The issue is fraught with difficult medical and ethical questions. Patients diagnosed as being in a vegetative state with no hope of recovery are sometimes allowed to die, as was done in 2005 with Terri Schiavo, the severely brain-damaged Florida woman at the center of the biggest right-to-die case in U.S. history. Her feeding tube was removed.
"It makes you think. There is still a lot of work to be done" to better diagnose such disorders, said Caroline Schnakers of the Coma Science Group.
Houben was injured in an auto accident in 1983 when he was 20. Doctors said he fell into a coma at first, then went into a vegetative state.
A coma is a state of unconsciousness in which the eyes are closed and the patient cannot be roused. A vegetative state is a condition in which the eyes are open and can move, and the patient has periods of sleep and periods of wakefulness, but remains unconscious and cannot reason or respond.
During Houben's two lost decades, his eyesight was poor, but the experts say he could hear doctors, nurses and visitors to his bedside, and feel the touch of a relative. He says that during that time, he heard his father had died, but he was unable to show any emotion.
Over the years, Houben's skeptical mother took him to the United States five times for tests. More searching got her in touch with Laureys, who put Houben through a PET scan.
"We saw his brain was almost normal," said neuropsychologist Audrey Vanhaudenhuyse, who has worked with Houben for three years.
The family and doctors then began trying to establish communication. A breakthrough came when he was able to indicate yes or no by slightly moving his foot to push a computer device placed there by Laureys' team. Then came the spelling of words using the touchscreen.
Houben's condition has since been diagnosed as a form of "locked-in syndrome," in which people are unable to speak or move but can think and reason.
"You have to imagine yourself lying in bed wanting to speak and move but unable to do so _ while in your head you are OK," Vanhaudenhuyse said. "It was extremely difficult for him and he showed a lot of anger, which is normal since he was very frustrated."
With so much to say after suffering for so long in silence, Houben has started writing a book.
"He lives from day to day," his 73-year-old mother said. "He can be funny and happy," but is also given to black humor.
Recently he went to his father's grave for the planting of a tree.
"A letter he wrote was lowered into the grave through a tube," his mother said. "He closed his eyes for half an hour, because he cannot cry."
There is little hope that Houben's physical condition will get better, but his mother said she refuses to give up: "We continue to search and search. For 26 years already."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I was touched by the above article. It wasn't what happened in terms of the medical technology that i'm focusing on, but the admiration on how much his parents always believed in him. The strong belief eventually paid off. Sadly, his dad wasn't around to see that very date he could express himself, but definitely something his mum would be overjoyed about...
That's about it. Belief. How many of us hold of to a certain belief that one day, something will happen? We get easily disheartened at moments of failures that often, we do not see how we could have hold on and then stay firm.
'When you reach the end of the rope, tie a knot and hang on'
How true can the above quote get? Giving up is easily..but it's always holding on that makes life more fulfilling, although it's tough.
BRUSSELS – For 23 torturous years, Rom Houben says he lay trapped in his paralyzed body, aware of what was going on around him but unable to tell anyone or even cry out.
The car-crash victim had been diagnosed as being in a vegetative state but appears to have been conscious the whole time. An expert using a specialized type of brain scan that was not available in the 1980s finally realized it, and unlocked Houben's mind again.
The 46-year-old Houben is now communicating with one finger and a special touchscreen on his wheelchair.
"Powerlessness. Utter powerlessness. At first I was angry, then I learned to live with it," he said, punching the message into the screen during an interview with the Belgian RTBF network, aired Monday. He has called his rescue his "renaissance."
Over the years, Houben's family refused to accept the word of his doctors, firmly believing their son knew what was happening around him, and gave no thought to letting him die, said his mother, Fina. She was vindicated when the breakthrough came.
"At that moment, you think, `Oh, my God. See, now you know.' I was always convinced," she said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.
The discovery took place three years ago but only recently came to light, after publication of a study on the misdiagnosis of people with consciousness disorders.
While a 23-year error is highly unusual, the wrong diagnosis of patients with consciousness disorders is far too common, according to the study, led by Steven Laureys of Belgium's Coma Science Group.
"Despite the importance of diagnostic accuracy, the rate of misdiagnosis of vegetative state has not substantially changed in the past 15 years," the study said. Back then, studies found that "up to 43 percent of patients with disorders of consciousness are erroneously assigned a diagnosis of vegetative state."
The issue is fraught with difficult medical and ethical questions. Patients diagnosed as being in a vegetative state with no hope of recovery are sometimes allowed to die, as was done in 2005 with Terri Schiavo, the severely brain-damaged Florida woman at the center of the biggest right-to-die case in U.S. history. Her feeding tube was removed.
"It makes you think. There is still a lot of work to be done" to better diagnose such disorders, said Caroline Schnakers of the Coma Science Group.
Houben was injured in an auto accident in 1983 when he was 20. Doctors said he fell into a coma at first, then went into a vegetative state.
A coma is a state of unconsciousness in which the eyes are closed and the patient cannot be roused. A vegetative state is a condition in which the eyes are open and can move, and the patient has periods of sleep and periods of wakefulness, but remains unconscious and cannot reason or respond.
During Houben's two lost decades, his eyesight was poor, but the experts say he could hear doctors, nurses and visitors to his bedside, and feel the touch of a relative. He says that during that time, he heard his father had died, but he was unable to show any emotion.
Over the years, Houben's skeptical mother took him to the United States five times for tests. More searching got her in touch with Laureys, who put Houben through a PET scan.
"We saw his brain was almost normal," said neuropsychologist Audrey Vanhaudenhuyse, who has worked with Houben for three years.
The family and doctors then began trying to establish communication. A breakthrough came when he was able to indicate yes or no by slightly moving his foot to push a computer device placed there by Laureys' team. Then came the spelling of words using the touchscreen.
Houben's condition has since been diagnosed as a form of "locked-in syndrome," in which people are unable to speak or move but can think and reason.
"You have to imagine yourself lying in bed wanting to speak and move but unable to do so _ while in your head you are OK," Vanhaudenhuyse said. "It was extremely difficult for him and he showed a lot of anger, which is normal since he was very frustrated."
With so much to say after suffering for so long in silence, Houben has started writing a book.
"He lives from day to day," his 73-year-old mother said. "He can be funny and happy," but is also given to black humor.
Recently he went to his father's grave for the planting of a tree.
"A letter he wrote was lowered into the grave through a tube," his mother said. "He closed his eyes for half an hour, because he cannot cry."
There is little hope that Houben's physical condition will get better, but his mother said she refuses to give up: "We continue to search and search. For 26 years already."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I was touched by the above article. It wasn't what happened in terms of the medical technology that i'm focusing on, but the admiration on how much his parents always believed in him. The strong belief eventually paid off. Sadly, his dad wasn't around to see that very date he could express himself, but definitely something his mum would be overjoyed about...
That's about it. Belief. How many of us hold of to a certain belief that one day, something will happen? We get easily disheartened at moments of failures that often, we do not see how we could have hold on and then stay firm.
'When you reach the end of the rope, tie a knot and hang on'
How true can the above quote get? Giving up is easily..but it's always holding on that makes life more fulfilling, although it's tough.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Jailed for Staring
(http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080418/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_italy_staring;_ylt=AmhATjFJkZpY6Iw9H.UwtxztiBIF)
A very interesting link. A man was actually convicted and sentenced to jail imprisonment. Reason? For staring at a women. Explaination for the sentence wasn't not mentioned but it's obvious why. However, i don't remember that any rule in Singapore law has such weird forbiddence. If there is, then lots of Singaporeans would have been sentenced to jail imprisonment.
I can't forget the countless times i have encountered such situations before with my own eyes. Usually, it's those foreign workers, if not, it would have been those uncles which big eyes oogling each time a scandily woman walks by or stands near them.
I can still clearly remember on the train one day, whereby there's this China man (don't ask me how i know he's a Chinaman, i just knew it, they all have got the same features somehow) was intensively staring at the girl beside him. Then, the girl was still sleeping, her attire isn't really revealing from a far look of it, but perhaps this 'deaperate for ice-cream' Chinaman is really desperate for a nice view of what he's missing. When the girl woke up, i thought the Chinaman would turned away, pretending that he hasn't done anything, but i was wrong. He continued his pevertic actions and it got the lady so uncomfortable then she got up and walked off. Ohh, as she walks away, the Chinaman didn't even set his eyes off her at all...Gosh....for such a person in Italy, perhaps he'll be sentenced to death?
A very interesting link. A man was actually convicted and sentenced to jail imprisonment. Reason? For staring at a women. Explaination for the sentence wasn't not mentioned but it's obvious why. However, i don't remember that any rule in Singapore law has such weird forbiddence. If there is, then lots of Singaporeans would have been sentenced to jail imprisonment.
I can't forget the countless times i have encountered such situations before with my own eyes. Usually, it's those foreign workers, if not, it would have been those uncles which big eyes oogling each time a scandily woman walks by or stands near them.
I can still clearly remember on the train one day, whereby there's this China man (don't ask me how i know he's a Chinaman, i just knew it, they all have got the same features somehow) was intensively staring at the girl beside him. Then, the girl was still sleeping, her attire isn't really revealing from a far look of it, but perhaps this 'deaperate for ice-cream' Chinaman is really desperate for a nice view of what he's missing. When the girl woke up, i thought the Chinaman would turned away, pretending that he hasn't done anything, but i was wrong. He continued his pevertic actions and it got the lady so uncomfortable then she got up and walked off. Ohh, as she walks away, the Chinaman didn't even set his eyes off her at all...Gosh....for such a person in Italy, perhaps he'll be sentenced to death?
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Singapore Most Wanted Man
The news came shocking. I didn't expect something would happen, given how secured Singapore has always been, even though news of terrorism did shake Singapore at some point of time years ago.
I went casually with curosity to Channel News Asia website and read this article.
(http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/331726/1/.html)
Bravo to Bukit Panjang MP, no doubt why my parents voted for him. He questioned during the parliament why does it take so long for the public to know what had happened and also, why can't the public be involved.
Seriously, Singapore is large enough for a person to go missing, let alone finding a suspect with unclean history and intent to escape be found easily without the help of the whole nation. Where is the spirit of Total Defence that's being talked about so often, especially when Total Defence Day has just pass a week plus ago.
Initially, only Special Operations Command units, Gurkahs and police officers are being activated, then, out of the sudden, Guards Military Units and Recce units from Singapore Armed Forces are being activated as well. Thousands were sent to hunt this limping man down but 30 hours has passed and it seems no fruit has been beared.
Perhaps, he has already escaped Singapore and flee to other country. It would be a great damn shame if the same incident which happened few years back occured again. Indonesia had to deport him back to Singapore after he was being caught on the run in Indonesia.
A limping suspect, unarmed but with great connections outside the world is certainly capable of anything. I can't help but worry about the holidays plans being planned months ahead from now...i'm sure as long as one day he wasn't caught, it's not a safe country. But the even more worrying thing would be whether is he still in Singapore or not...Sadly...we have no clue at all..
Army camps throughout Singapore are on a high security level now. That includes my camp as well. Guard duty now is going to be tough one....gosh....
I went casually with curosity to Channel News Asia website and read this article.
(http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/331726/1/.html)
Bravo to Bukit Panjang MP, no doubt why my parents voted for him. He questioned during the parliament why does it take so long for the public to know what had happened and also, why can't the public be involved.
Seriously, Singapore is large enough for a person to go missing, let alone finding a suspect with unclean history and intent to escape be found easily without the help of the whole nation. Where is the spirit of Total Defence that's being talked about so often, especially when Total Defence Day has just pass a week plus ago.
Initially, only Special Operations Command units, Gurkahs and police officers are being activated, then, out of the sudden, Guards Military Units and Recce units from Singapore Armed Forces are being activated as well. Thousands were sent to hunt this limping man down but 30 hours has passed and it seems no fruit has been beared.
Perhaps, he has already escaped Singapore and flee to other country. It would be a great damn shame if the same incident which happened few years back occured again. Indonesia had to deport him back to Singapore after he was being caught on the run in Indonesia.
A limping suspect, unarmed but with great connections outside the world is certainly capable of anything. I can't help but worry about the holidays plans being planned months ahead from now...i'm sure as long as one day he wasn't caught, it's not a safe country. But the even more worrying thing would be whether is he still in Singapore or not...Sadly...we have no clue at all..
Army camps throughout Singapore are on a high security level now. That includes my camp as well. Guard duty now is going to be tough one....gosh....
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Eat Healthy
Do you know Singaporeans are eating saltier and saltier? Every cuisine ranging from Indian to Malay to Chinese cuisine, the salt / sodium intake is getting higher and higher. Health Promotion Board and certain hawkers see this arising issue and therefore, do something about it.
In collaboration of the two, you can now find hawkers with a special food pyramid logo which is red in colour. This spells that the hawker has achieved excellence in cleanliness and hygiene and also the provision of healthier food. They might display the certificate as a proof issued by the Health Promotion Board as well.
Below are the list of participating hawkers outlets: (so if you happen to be around the vicinity, try popping by to eat something healtheir)
- Tiong Bahru Food Centre Stall 53
- Blk 74 Toa Payoh Lorong 4 Food Centre Stall 5
- Blk 105 Hougang Ave 1 Food Centre Stall 35
- Blk 127 Toa Payoh Lorong 1 Food Centre Stall 30 & 26
- Blk 341 Ang Mo Kio Ave 1 Food Centre Stall 15
- Blk 409 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10 Food Centre Stall 30
- Blk 49 Sims Place Food Centre Stall 25
- Blk 137 Tampines Street 11 Food Centre Stall 44
- Blk 2/3 Changi Village Food Centre Stall 31
- Blk 85 Redhill Food Centre Stall 33
- Blk 115 Bukit Merah View Stall 279
- Blk 221A Boon Lay Place Food Centre Stall 125
- Blk 726 Clementi West Food Centre Stall 124 & 113
In collaboration of the two, you can now find hawkers with a special food pyramid logo which is red in colour. This spells that the hawker has achieved excellence in cleanliness and hygiene and also the provision of healthier food. They might display the certificate as a proof issued by the Health Promotion Board as well.
Below are the list of participating hawkers outlets: (so if you happen to be around the vicinity, try popping by to eat something healtheir)
- Tiong Bahru Food Centre Stall 53
- Blk 74 Toa Payoh Lorong 4 Food Centre Stall 5
- Blk 105 Hougang Ave 1 Food Centre Stall 35
- Blk 127 Toa Payoh Lorong 1 Food Centre Stall 30 & 26
- Blk 341 Ang Mo Kio Ave 1 Food Centre Stall 15
- Blk 409 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10 Food Centre Stall 30
- Blk 49 Sims Place Food Centre Stall 25
- Blk 137 Tampines Street 11 Food Centre Stall 44
- Blk 2/3 Changi Village Food Centre Stall 31
- Blk 85 Redhill Food Centre Stall 33
- Blk 115 Bukit Merah View Stall 279
- Blk 221A Boon Lay Place Food Centre Stall 125
- Blk 726 Clementi West Food Centre Stall 124 & 113
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Do You Know (2)
I've once again here to share some of the facts about what i've learnt on and off lesson. Some amazing, some shocking and some interesting.
- StarBucks
How many of you actually drinks Starbucks Coffee and went gaga over it. It's so nice and tasty (i'm not sure if this is the appropriate word to use for coffee or not because i'm not a coffee drinker) that i've heard of how coffee lovers sing praises of it times and times again. However, ever wonder what makes their coffee beans so special as compared to others?
Starbucks doesn't buy their coffeebeans from wholesaler but instead, they purchase the whole area which is said to be a mountain that produces coffeebeans. Which means, whatever the amount of coffeebeans this mountain produces, it all goes to the 15 thousands outlets of Starbucks worldwide. And it's because of this that no other compeitors is able to compete against them, which is the world largest coffeehouse company in the world.
- Brokers for food?
You thought that there's only brokers for stocks? Well, there's actually brokers for anything and everything else. There's brokers for clothes, food, beverages, shoes, electronics even...you might be wondering what these brokers does. Take food for example, you expect NTUC who carries about 800 items in their supermarket to have a department who does the 'buying and scouting' of those 800 items? Large supermarkets like NTUC actually have a group of appointed brokers who scout for food from all over the world, mainly from South East Asia. The brokers is a middleman between farmers/producers etc and NTUC itself, and they simply does nothing but scout for those items checklisted by NTUC itself. And mind you, they earn big bucks...
- Abalone
Abalone is commonly found in certain specific parts of the world. It's considered a delicacy in most parts of the world. And in Singapore, there's actually a monopoly for it. New Moon has been dominant for a long time and are still a leader in this market. Wonder what's their success?
It's actually only right that abalone are being sold so expensively. Do you know abalone have to be kept 12 months after they are being caught before they can actually be cooked and serve so called freshly? If not, the abalone that you eat will have texture as hard as a rock. New Moon strategy is that they speculate the amount they will need throughly from what they have planned for the 12 months ahead. They did survey constantly to keep up with the current market area. From there, they pick up and estimate the amount they roughly need. Take for example if they need 15,00 cans, they will purchase that area used to harvest the abelone and after harvesting, they will keep the abalone for 12 months before they start selling.
- Grade Egg
Ever know why the eggs sold @ YaKun is much more expensive than those sold @ the coffeeshop? This is because the eggs used by YaKun of a grade A. There's four different grade of eggs in Singapore's market - namely, grade AA, A, B and C. Grade AA are the best eggs. To differentiate the grade of the egges, simple. Crack the eggs open, if the egg yolk in intact and still one whole, it's probably of Grade AA or A, if the eggs you crack, the egg yolk will also 'leaked' out and mix into the egg white, it's probably of Grade B or C...
- Dangers of Margarine
Which is healtier? Margarine or butteR? Many would think that it's the first one which in fact is the truth. Margarine are first being introduced in Singapore market back in the early ninities..Then, people realise the 'unhealthiness' of butter and some company see the chance to produce margarine to replace butter.
Margarine does contain less fats, be it saturated or trans fat and also cholestrol because margarine is being chemically modified and treated. This process allows the taste of margarine to be of a mild similarity to that of a butter while at the same time, keeping the nutrition level a more healthier choice as compared to butter. However, this process has its hidden dangers.
A normal human being body will not be able to digest this margarine well because of the process mentioned above, and when this happen, the digestive juice in our intestine and stomach will therefore, so called 'digest' the organs instead of the margarine. This leads to the organs producing a form of liquid which can cause liver, kidney and other problems. If you notice if you take too much margarine, you can find some of them even in your poo. So perhaps, it's better to use Kaya instead for your bread. Haa...
- StarBucks
How many of you actually drinks Starbucks Coffee and went gaga over it. It's so nice and tasty (i'm not sure if this is the appropriate word to use for coffee or not because i'm not a coffee drinker) that i've heard of how coffee lovers sing praises of it times and times again. However, ever wonder what makes their coffee beans so special as compared to others?
Starbucks doesn't buy their coffeebeans from wholesaler but instead, they purchase the whole area which is said to be a mountain that produces coffeebeans. Which means, whatever the amount of coffeebeans this mountain produces, it all goes to the 15 thousands outlets of Starbucks worldwide. And it's because of this that no other compeitors is able to compete against them, which is the world largest coffeehouse company in the world.
- Brokers for food?
You thought that there's only brokers for stocks? Well, there's actually brokers for anything and everything else. There's brokers for clothes, food, beverages, shoes, electronics even...you might be wondering what these brokers does. Take food for example, you expect NTUC who carries about 800 items in their supermarket to have a department who does the 'buying and scouting' of those 800 items? Large supermarkets like NTUC actually have a group of appointed brokers who scout for food from all over the world, mainly from South East Asia. The brokers is a middleman between farmers/producers etc and NTUC itself, and they simply does nothing but scout for those items checklisted by NTUC itself. And mind you, they earn big bucks...
- Abalone
Abalone is commonly found in certain specific parts of the world. It's considered a delicacy in most parts of the world. And in Singapore, there's actually a monopoly for it. New Moon has been dominant for a long time and are still a leader in this market. Wonder what's their success?
It's actually only right that abalone are being sold so expensively. Do you know abalone have to be kept 12 months after they are being caught before they can actually be cooked and serve so called freshly? If not, the abalone that you eat will have texture as hard as a rock. New Moon strategy is that they speculate the amount they will need throughly from what they have planned for the 12 months ahead. They did survey constantly to keep up with the current market area. From there, they pick up and estimate the amount they roughly need. Take for example if they need 15,00 cans, they will purchase that area used to harvest the abelone and after harvesting, they will keep the abalone for 12 months before they start selling.
- Grade Egg
Ever know why the eggs sold @ YaKun is much more expensive than those sold @ the coffeeshop? This is because the eggs used by YaKun of a grade A. There's four different grade of eggs in Singapore's market - namely, grade AA, A, B and C. Grade AA are the best eggs. To differentiate the grade of the egges, simple. Crack the eggs open, if the egg yolk in intact and still one whole, it's probably of Grade AA or A, if the eggs you crack, the egg yolk will also 'leaked' out and mix into the egg white, it's probably of Grade B or C...
- Dangers of Margarine
Which is healtier? Margarine or butteR? Many would think that it's the first one which in fact is the truth. Margarine are first being introduced in Singapore market back in the early ninities..Then, people realise the 'unhealthiness' of butter and some company see the chance to produce margarine to replace butter.
Margarine does contain less fats, be it saturated or trans fat and also cholestrol because margarine is being chemically modified and treated. This process allows the taste of margarine to be of a mild similarity to that of a butter while at the same time, keeping the nutrition level a more healthier choice as compared to butter. However, this process has its hidden dangers.
A normal human being body will not be able to digest this margarine well because of the process mentioned above, and when this happen, the digestive juice in our intestine and stomach will therefore, so called 'digest' the organs instead of the margarine. This leads to the organs producing a form of liquid which can cause liver, kidney and other problems. If you notice if you take too much margarine, you can find some of them even in your poo. So perhaps, it's better to use Kaya instead for your bread. Haa...
