V For Victory

Everyone of us has performed the hand gesture of holding two fingers up in the air - The V-Sign. 

Did you know it originated from the Second World War days by Winston Churchill to signify ‘Victory’? 

Oh well...doesn't matter if you didn't.  Now you know... 

I am holding mine up now for my little warrior, who has just been declared "clean" from his scan results - right smack on time to welcome the year of the rabbit!

Wishing him health and happiness always.  

i-Touching

iPhone is out to lunch, and dinner for that matter.


I was at lunch with 3 others, all us were iPhone 4 users and our subject of discussion all lunch hour surrounded some of the latest location-based apps. 


The very same day when I had a roundtable dinner gathering, the majority of us had our iPhone with us too - all showing flashy on the table that was. 

How very i-Touching - for Steve to know! 


Let's us not forget our very well-trained table etiquette, esp when loads of family dinners are coming up for the Chinese New Year and don't let them get in the way!

My Dream House

Every time I walked past this house, I would ask myself if money is no object and I can have whatever I want, how would my dream house look like. 

This setting comes close, but mine would be a two-storey house largely made of natural materials such as timber and stones, facing the sea with a stairway that leads to a sandy beach. 

It would have at least 4 bedrooms to cater family and guests, each with its own bath and perhaps a half bath off the hall.  A stylish and bright dining room letting in natural sunlight, and a country kitchen with breakfast room is a must.  I would also have a cozy cottage style living room with a fireplace and a family room to have great talks about life.

Then ideally I would have a picture window overlooking my huge but manageable backyard with a nice lawn - good for holding BBQ parties and picnics in the weekends.

Last but not least, it ought to be filled with laughter from family and friends, doubled down with plentiful of gourmet food and pleasing wine.


Keep dreaming alampy, you will reach there one day!

You can come back to reality now. 

Vanity Plates

Flashy cars are a common sight in Hong Kong, where we as a pedestrian witnesses a daily pageant of Mercedes, Rolls Royce, Porsche, Ferrari and Maserati everywhere we go. 

In a town that levies a 100% tax on luxury imported cars, not only have we got the world's highest concentration of Mercs per capita, car enthusiasts here can also pay sums in thousands of dollars to accessorise their vehicles with vanity plates if they want to. 

The owner of this car definitely wanted something even bolder than his orange Audi TT: a license plate that reads "MR BEAN."

What would be yours if you have a choice? 

A Call For Spring Cleaning

I used to love my home more than ever and I am now sitting in the middle of my little den thinking, I am getting a bit bored of the four walls, the decor and the furniture. 

I supposed I can either move house, or have it refurbished. 

Let me perhaps step back a bit to avoid the radical and really think of the root cause of the reason I am getting sick of my place.




I can blame myself for my recent visits to my dear friends' places who all own a bigger place than me; or...I can also blame myself for allowing clutters to build up. 


Yes - that would be it.  Cluttering.  

It's eating up my space in the house, also starting to occupy my retina and hence becomes a bother. 


That's it. 

I am going to ditch things I haven’t used in the last 12 months such as clothes I no longer wear, Christmas decorations, old wrapping paper, the fondue pot, that old laptop I think I can upgrade “when I have the time”.  If I haven’t touched something in a year, chances are I am not going to need it any time in the next 12 months either. 

And I have a week from today - before the arrival of the Lunar new year to take care of business. 

Afterthoughts of A Friend's Funeral

I have just attended a funeral and bid farewell to a primary school classmate.

It broke my heart to see her family shattered in tears and I was shaken by the numerous memories of us which decided to flash on you at the event and I couldn't help think what could have been if I have done this and that differently. 

Dalai Lama once said,

"Man sacrifices his health to make money. 

Then he sacrifices his money to regain his health. 

And then he is so anxious about the future, 

that he doesn't enjoy the present. 

And as a result, he doesn't live in the present or for the future. 

And he lives as if he's never going to die. 

And then he dies having never really lived."

May this unfortunate incidence remind us all to enjoy and behold what we have got.

Live strong and proud!

I Drank Churchill's

My palate was very fortunate to have tasted Pol Roger Champagne where its long-standing fame dated back to - believe it or not - Sir Winston Churchill days.

Pol Roger's Champagne had been Churchill's lifelong favourite and he famously borrowed a slogan of Napoleon's to describe his passion for this supremely invigorating champagne:

"In defeat I need it, in victory I deserve it".

I understand him totally as that's what I do too:  

In hunger I eat, in sadness I eat, in happiness I...eat!

Life goes on.  

Bon appétit !

Handbag Hook

I was in a bar one evening, had to stand while waiting for a table and there was this very attentive bar manager who gave me one of these cute little hanger to hang my handbag.

Honestly, that was the first time I came across something so practical.  My bag was rather heavy that night with a laptop plus some documents and this little thing did a magnificent job of making sure my bag was safe and off the dusty floor, so I could enjoy my drink hassle free!



And I thought...the manager was such a saint! Well he was, but this hanger is cuter. 



Today, I was delighted to see this selling on the street and bought this piece here without hesitation. 

I was told this invention dated back to our parents' generation and I got laughed at for being so ignorant.

Was it just me, I mean...have you seen one of these before?

Sometimes I do wonder where I have been living all these years!

It's Malting Good!

This Balvenie Doublewood Single Malt Scotch Whisky I had was a 12 year old single malt which gains its distinctive character from being matured in two woods.

This baby has a very fragrant nose of fruits and sherry, layered with honey and sweet vanilla.  I am so impressed with this Balvenie 12 years old that I will have to seriously consider trying any 18 year old bottling. The older the better as always but it just fails on the price point.





Anyway, this scotch felt so right without any rough edges, so smooth and totally inoffensive that I don't think I can easily go back to Johnnie Walker Black Label or Chivas Regal 12 years.

Instilling A Love Of Reading

I regret not reading more than I should when I was at young age and I honestly think my life could have been much better than it is if only I had picked up a few more literature than comics and learn to love reading as a child.

Reading to these kids is totally unlike “adult” reading - The bounce back of funny comments, the strangest questions we get asked, the interactiveness, all makes for the most hilarious yet enlightening entertainment possible. 


I truly believe in instilling a love of reading in a kid as early as possible - as one of the best gifts we can give them in their lives.

Hence I am doing a bit of catch-up reading now!

What? I am Not a Capricorn Afterall?

The news has just informed me of our zodiac sign has been a mess all our lives!

In the Washington Post, it says zodiac signs were created some 2,000 years ago by tracking where the sun was in the sky each month, but since the moon's gravitational pull has slowly moved the Earth in its axis, we have a one-month alignment work to do!

Capricorn: Jan. 20-Feb. 16
Aquarius: Feb. 16-March 11
Pisces: March 11-April 18
Aries: April 18-May 13
Taurus: May 13-June 21
Gemini: June 21-July 20
Cancer: July 20-Aug. 10
Leo: Aug. 10-Sept. 16
Virgo: Sept. 16-Oct. 30
Libra: Oct. 30-Nov. 23
Scorpio: Nov. 23-Dec. 17
Sagittarius: Dec. 17-Jan. 20





The juxtaposition I have been questioning on myself all these years - the aloof and self-contained Capricorn me trying to get approval from the Sagittarius' boisterous and easy going me - mystery solved.  


 

Wish You Well

I was hyper all week long with various formats of birthday celebrations and I also came to learn I am truly one of the richest women in life surrounded by a wealth of friends.

Today, I am condemning all the above because however rich and happy I felt, I couldn't help a friend who had decided to end her life in misery. 

All I complained during the week was the aftermath of attending parties, resulting in the lack of concentration at work.

I didn't realise someone out there desperately needed our attention - someone who had nothing else to concentrate for the past few years but her own self-doubt. 

It's been a roller coaster ride for many of us here this week, but the message from our dear friend is clear.

Let this sorrow awake us and may we search for the true reason why we live and lead a life worth living for.   

I've Had The Time Of My Life

"Now I've had the time of my life 

No I never felt like this before 

Yes, I swear it's the truth And I owe it all to you...." 

I am still recuperating from the aftermath of a thoroughly thrilled surprise party that my friends threw in for me on my birthday.

It was a party that I always wanted and they have masked it so well that I had absolutely no idea of what I was up against that night. 

It turned out to be a party of a life-time and I had too much fun acting like a lunatic on centre stage.  My blood was being pumped so fast that evening, I honestly thought I would suffer from a heart attack! 

But if I did die from a heart attack, I think I could die right there knowing I had a bunch of friends who would go all the way to do the most crazy things with me, and that I have had a good life being me with no regrets. 

As I say, I am still recovering from the damage of the night and I do apologise for not having a constructed mind to write exactly what I had in mind.  

I am - wordless. 

Taste The Bitter Sweet Yet?

You know you are "old" when bitter melon starts to be your cup of tea.

Bitter melons - supposedly a food that once you acquired the taste it becomes a craving.  Terribly good to your health too.



My mom always says it is an 'old folk's food' because many youngsters don't enjoy the bitterish aftertaste of it and won't go anywhere near them - not until older. 

Eating them always tantalizes my taste buds and I used to hate them.  Yes I said I "used to" hate them, but not any more.  

A year older today, hopefully a year wiser to be able to find sweets in the midst of the bitterish! 

Happy birthday alampy!

Steve's Brand

Would Apple be at risk with Steve Jobs' imminent medical leave?


I surely hope this news was created by rumour spread by Apple's rivals, who would love for nothing more than Jobs’s illness to cripple this powerful brand. 
 

I wish this man well and hope he can come back from medical leave fit and healthy and tell the world not all good things will come to an end.  

At My Own Funeral

Once you get past the age of about 30 if you have never been to a funeral, I'd say you have done very well!

The fact is that people around us die and they are people we know, people we love.  And that toll only adds up as time goes.

I once heard a quote, 'Yesterday is a memory, tomorrow is a mystery and today is a gift, which is why it is called the present'.

Do you ever say to anyone "If I die tomorrow I want you to....".

Well, imagine this - it is now tomorrow and you are dead.  You have all those loved ones left behind and they are grieving over your death right at this moment.  What do you want them to do?

Here's for the record, for my own funeral:

I don't care where to spread my ashes or where to have my final heyday.  Most importantly, I just want presence in my funeral not to be sad with my departure.  I want them to reminisce the happy times we spent, the nicest food ate and the funniest jokes we shared.


Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.

Carry on your life as if I haven't left you,
I just went travelling, gaze down I see you.

Whisper to me like you always wanted,
I will willingly listen, your wish responded.


How does that sound?

 

Am I Switching Camp?

Man, this is an easy call.  The answer is, no of course not. 

I was just a little bit distracted and leaned towards Adidas just a little.  Most probably due to peer pressure.  

I still love NIKE, I haven't switched camp. But I must admit, these are 2 very cool items I purchased, esp the reversible belt there.  

Bravo To Japanese Designs

I invite you to watch this short video featuring nothing but the terrifically brilliant innovation from who else but the Japanese!!

And if you observe closely wherever you trot, you find sense of humour everywhere.  Yes.  In their elevator doors too.

Absolutely brilliant.

Jazzing up The Next Party

The Japanese are one of the most talented people when it comes to unique designs on gadgets and gizmo.

What amazes me is every design is more beautiful than the other, and it becomes such a mind-boggling exercise to choose between them since they are all very attractive.

Take a look what I have here. 

Imagine dropping one of these groovy guitar-shape ice into your drink and give it a stir.

So cool don't you think?  Tell me this wouldn't jazz up your party and I won't believe it.

Made In China / Made By China

Years ago, it was important to see where an item was made when you were trying to find that perfect souvenir to bring home from the foreign land.  It is no longer relevant now because almost any souvenir you pick up has the words "Made in China" written at the back.  So what do you do?

Good to know the reputation of Chinese products in Japan has improved substantially.  The flip side of the coin though, it is not helping with China's balance of trade at all. 

Say for example a computer labelled "Made in China", is likely to contain a large portion of imported contents including an Intel chip, a Microsoft Windows operating system and a liquid crystal display made in South Korea.  Which means, only a very small percentage of the value-added product labelled "Made in China" is actually "Made by China".


My limited Economics degree taught me the latter corresponds to the concept of China's GNP, and excludes import charges on intermediate goods and investment income paid to overseas countries.  

The former, when increasing exports, requires importing more intermediate components at the same time, which do not form part of China's GDP. 


My take is, you will be far better off looking at the images made by a camera or lens and not wasting time checking what the "made in" sticker says. 




 

Win The Minds By Customer Service

I was queuing to pay for my shopping and I witnessed as soon as customers began flocking around a checkout counter, a clerk rushed to open another register to serve shoppers as quickly as possible.  And to pass muster, the shop clerk has just 90 seconds to wrap a product, hold out a receipt to the customer with both hands and look at him or her in the eyes with a smile.

And I was in Japan - where I was succumbed to a constant reminder of how customer service excellence ought to be.  

This level of attentiveness is somewhat rare anywhere else in the globe, where most of the shop clerks you encounter often chat with colleagues instead of serving the awaiting customers; they are often very uncomfortable in apologising when things go wrong and what's worse is when confronted with criticisms, many tend to get defensive. 

And we got used to that.

We have simply resigned to the fact that this is the norm.  I really think the warmth of Japanese-style customer service should be welcomed all the more in this age when person-to-person relationships have become so tenuous.


A smile is contagious and we wouldn't mind getting used to that too, right?

Train Etiquette

Passengers on Japan's public transport do not seem to talk.  They prefer to sleep or read.

The (vocal) use of mobile phones on public transport in Japan is frowned upon, and announcements asking passengers to switch their phones to silent mode are played frequently in every one of my train journey.

I just know I am going to miss that serene silence when I return to Hong Kong. 

 

Walk Fast, Live Longer?

I know people with long legs can walk fast (naturally true).
I also heard that people with long legs run fast (theoretically possible).

I don't know if it is true scientifically because I don't fall into any of these 2 categories yet I have heard many times my friends who walked along with me have to remind me to slow down.

According to a report I came across online in LiveScience.com, people who walked 1 meter per second (about 2.25 mph) or faster consistently lived longer than others of their age and sex who walked more slowly! 

Right, I know what you are thinking.  Nope, going out and start walking faster now, does not necessarily mean you will suddenly live longer though!  Apparently, our body chooses the walking speed that is best for us, and that is our speed, our health indicator.   

May be I am so used to walking at my pace, alone.  

I shall have to adjust my speed, when I am not walking - alone.  

Handicapped Without It

It’s been half a year since I got my hands on my iPhone 4, and boy has this made an impact on my life?

I was out of town and decided to switch off the mobile data to ensure I won't break my bank.  I was in a foreign land, wanting to look up directions and places of interests.  I did't have my very intelligent GPS friend to guide me around and I lost my knowledgeable Google handyman that has been my go-to person whenever I am stuck.



I was literally "handicapped" without the internet-accessing apps in my smartphone.  Not like I could not breathe or anything, I am sure many of you agreed, we simply can’t run life like we used to.

Learnt a lesson about smartphones - non-connectivity to the internet will inevitably make our smartphones less smart but it should in no way, disable our smart thinking! 

But it did it to me.  I relied on technology too much and I don't like that dumb feeling when I knew I should be exercising the creativity in my human brain a bit more than I should.

Cigars - Hobby, Habit, Addiction?

A friend introduced me to this special treat and for someone like me who has never picked up a cigarette, I have no idea what to do whatsoever with the chunkier version of a cigarette!  My first encounter was given to nothing but the very best and it was a premium Cuban. 

My friend is cigar connoisseur who only take cigars on celebrated events or when the "mood" is right.  Cigars smoking for her would be considered as a hobby - a pricey one too.  Not sure I would go for that, but no harm trying I guess?

I tried puffing on one, had fun lingering curls of smoke hanging in the air and at half way, it went out.  This thing I was holding was so expensive, I dare not waste it so I have kept the unfinished cigar and reckoned if I ever find the right atmosphere, in the right mood to really fully enjoy it, I will light it up again.  Everyone at the party was so fearful that I might easily develop the habit or even an addiction of cigar smoking.   

I am glad to tell you confidently that it won't happen because as soon as I woke up the next day and discovered all my clothes, my leather wear were all engulfed with this most annoying smell of the coffin stick - that's enough damage to make me quit cold turkey!

Good try, but no thanks.  

Lets Repackage What You Prayed For

I have this person which I worry about and I do pray for her. She is not happy and she is petrified.

"Do you pray to God?" I ask her. "Or the ruler of the Universe?
"No," she says. "I pray and pray but I hear nothing back."
"Perhaps you are asking for the wrong thing." I say.

"Dear God, I want to win the lottery. Dear God, I want to change job.  Dear God, why did this happen.  Dear God, when is this going to end," etc.


What if God is waiting for her to go buy that lottery ticket of realisation first - before he answers her prayers?
 
Yes. The Lottery ticket of realisation. 

I got this reflection from the movie "Eat, Pray, Love".

There's a story about a man who prays everyday for years trying to win the lottery: "Dear God, Please, Please, Please, let me win the lottery."  Years later, nothing happened.  Finally the exasperated god appeared upon him and says "My son, please, please, please, buy a ticket!"
 
Perhaps her lottery ticket is to wish for the simplest form and that is: her own happiness.  That's all.  Let's hope she gets it soon. 

The Last Bluefin Tuna

From a culinary point of view, whether cooked, seared, raw or even canned, I wouldn't say I am a big fan of tuna but I eat them.  I know that most big fish (Whales for instance) are over-fished but I did not realise that the Bluefin Tuna specifically is tip-toeing on the edge of extinction.

 
In view of that...what can we do to save the poor fish?
 

• Build a time machine?  Go back years ago before the days when people start consuming shark fins and try to stop them.
• Ask the chef every time when they serve you tuna and avoid it if they are bluefin.
• Every time your friend who is about to tuck into that bluefin tuna sushi, yell and say "by the way this is endangered, I wouldn't eat it if I were you".
• Buy a book that list out fish that are abundant and those that are being over-fished.  You can either become a fish expert by memorising all the vastly available species or concentrate on the list of fish to avoid from the standpoint of - try it while you can as it probably won’t be around much longer.

How would you go about protecting the last bluefin tuna now that you know they are at the verge of extinction? 





 

Celebrate Small Victories

It is vitally important that we take the time to celebrate our small victories because it forces us to acknowledge our progress and increases the likelihood we will repeat the positive behaviour in the future.



Let me share with you the small victories I achieved today.

I successfully encouraged 2 of my friends to blog.  One would return to her long forgotten blogging habit and one would commit to writing 5 pieces per week, starting imminently.  Both told me they were inspired by my Project 340! 


Some would say with the vast availability of the internet, anyone can blog.  To me these are what I called small victories worth celebrating.  What I wrote has made them ponder, my writings were meaningful to them in some ways and hence, my Project has a value to exist.



Here's a medal to myself.  I couldn't be happier.  

You can do it too.  

alampy's space Sets To Announce Annual Target for 2011

Latest News <3 Jan, 2010 - Hong Kong> - alampy's space is due to announce its newly set target for 2011 today as its Founder and CEO offered a teaser to her readers just about a day ago.  

"I talk to a lot of people about my blogging habit and one of the most commonly asked questions has been, how I manage to keep coming up with topics and ideas," says the young and energetic Founder and CEO of alampy's space during an exclusive interview with Latest News where she shares her passion on her writings.

"That's a tough question and the answer has been, it has not been easy," claims the Founder and CEO. 

"Once I developed the habit of writing, it sort of stick with me. Some days, it’s still thrown off and busy schedules can get the best of me.  Having said that though, I still believe in writing frequently and consistently as key to any blogging success," she adds. 

About a year ago she committed to writing daily as an experiment (named Project 340) to see what the practice would yield.  A year later, the founder claims the project has been well worth the effort, and she is poised to continue, with a betterment to write 365 pieces for 2011 (+7.35% YOY).

Before the new year, the Founder publicly thanked her supporters in her blog.  The same bunch will no doubt be delighted to receive the announcement she made today.

About alampy's space

Since its inception in 2007, alampy's space - a privately-owned blog page has been gaining traction worldwide with the numbers of its supporters fast accumulating and its page view surged three-fold from a year ago.  In 2011, the Founder and CEO of alampy's space is to continue with promoting her motto

"The world is my classroom, each day is a new lesson and everyone I meet is my teacher" to the communities in which she serves wholeheartedly.

Project 340 or 365?

I haven't been able to sit down long enough so I could write on my blog.  After my last entry, days have been filled with family get together and yes holidays can be more hectic than work. 

The house is much quieter now and so is my mind.  Second day into the new year and my soul is faced with a blogger's dilemma.  To blog or not to blog.  Should I be blogging daily or intermittently?

It was you who have told me it wasn't what I blogged that got you interested.  It was how I blog.  I can make a trip to the grocers sound interesting, while another might have flown to the International Space Station as a space tourist and manage to make a dull story of it.


Oh and how very rude of me.  A very Happy New Year to you my dear friends and readers.  May you continue to choose the path which brings you meaning, joy and love.

I think a commitment to a number will be a good idea.  I haven't decided on that number but thanks to all of your support to Project 340, I know for sure I shall write from the heart.  I will endevour to write about what interests me and I know the chances are, it will interest you as well.

Give me another day to really think about the magic number and I shall reveal my commitment in my next post.

New Year Resolution for A

Turn of a decade and I was going to write about new year resolutions for alampy's space, for myself...then I realised Apple over-ruled the headlines on the first day of 2011, so I decided new year resolutions for alampy's space can wait, the new year resolution for Apple, cannot. 

First there was the signal issue, which Apple said was not a hardware issue but software, then there was 'reinventing video calling' which is restricted to Wi-Fi use and there are many Wi-Fi cross platform solutions already available, followed on by the lack of information about the White iPhone 4.  




How do you feel about that pricey gadget of yours not being able to do the simple task such as setting an alarm? 

This sounds worse than the millennium bug back in 2000 and surely not good enough for a company as big as Apple where they have some of the most dedicated aficionados in the world who spend a fortune on Apple products!

Who knows what other surprise(s) they have installed for the million users out there.  Only time will tell.