What's the Hype?

The new 7 Wonders of the world was recently announced this month on 07.07.2007. As a girl who loves travelling, I couldnt help but feel excited with the new list - with the 105-foot-tall "Christ the Redeemer" statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil joining the winners. Good that I just got to meet a new Brazilian friend too ;)

Despite all the hype on the Man-made 7 Wonders of the World, my personal preference for travelling is still Nature. The New7Wonders committee is launching nominations for the New7Wonders of Nature. Nominations will continue through 08.08.2008. I can't wait that long can I? Here are some valid examples for nominations.

Aletsch Glacier, Switzerland
Baikal Sea, Russia
Dinosaur Provincial Park, Canada
Galapagos Island, Ecuador
Geirangerfjord, Norway
Grand Canyon, USA
Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Iguaçu Waterfalls, Argentina/Brazil
Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Redwood National Park, USA
Sagramatha Park, Nepal
Serengeti Park,Tanzania

Have you not wondered who started the 7Wonders listing? The New7Wonders organisation is a Zurich-based company, which had promised to give 50% of the revenues from its campaign. However in a recent article, it expressed that "We invested 10 million euros in the campaign for selecting the 7 new wonders. We have just been able to break even". Dont get me wrong, but 10 million euros to put up a voting system, global publicity and maintaining a staff of 20 people? The non-profit organisation insisted that they are not into money-making; but surely the world does not require 10 million euros zapped out to create a world ranking list for "tourist inflow"?

Still, I am a sucker for rankings and listings. Knowing that I have travelled and "conquered" the world's best is one of my motivations & interest in life!

Just spoke to a friend who feels that there is "no meaning in life". Dont some people fall into that trap from time to time? All I can say is, when there is a problem, the trick is to solve it. With an optimistic eye, when you are faced with pain and suffering, take it as an opportunity to develop empathy, so you can increase your capacity to understand others better, connect better with others and develop better compassion.

When all else fails - travel - so you can find yourself.

History packed Kyoto


Kyoto, the capital of Japan from 794 until the Meiji Emperor moved the capital to Tokyo in 1869. I spent a good 4 days 3 nights in Kyoto. I took this picture at the old imperial palace. Although every corner was packed with history, I thought this shot captured a touch of contemporary at the Kyoto Imperial Palace.

Nothing extraordinary happened this week. Perhaps I was a bit more of a tour guide for my London visitors. I introduced Killiney, Dim Sum and Char Siew Rice to my colleagues. On Friday evening, we attended the corporate bowling event. The traders won. We later went to a colleague's apartment @ Fraiser and played beer drinking games... funny... Left after a while, and for the first time I stepped into St James. I had more champagne and whiskey. Crazy evening!

Walking Out Our Path

Reading Eeps' post on fresh graduates pay in London versus Singapore was interesting, as I didnt think there will be many news articles around that would comment on the parallel or differences between London & Sg directly. Good to have insights of friends who are staying out of Sg. Reading friends' blog becomes somewhat like a insider news feed to me - from Japan, London, and New York.

Talking about fresh graduates, I was part of a mass recruitment drive last Saturday @ the bank. I was stationed at the meeting room where I would meet 5 candidates at a go, and chatted casually with them in a group. It was amazing that at a relaxed setting, some became very frank about why they wanted to join an investment bank. Some didnt know what they exactly wanted to do, but just wanted to start off in a IB - looking for good pay, better hours than what they currently have, and good contacts so they can set up their own business in future - shocking frankness, but okay there's "honesty". Of course, they were striked off the list.

This week was another madness for me. Three more new joiners and another visitor from London. Quite a challenge to start up a fresh team. But I feel lucky to have good support from my bosses both in London and Sg. I am constantly asked "how things are going" and "if there are any problems, I can always talk to them about it". When there is a problem or issue at work, I usually always find a logical way of dissecting them.

How about emotional issues? Is it about adopting the right mental attitude (whats that anyway??)? I guess that means instead of being overwhelmed by anxiety and worry, always lamenting about a situation, or feeling "Why does life seem so unfair for me", we can save ourselves from the mental pain by having the right attitude. Gosh... its a much more complex subject than a well-salaried job...

1st Snowboarding

Are we heading in or returning?
We all looked clownish - but we were all happy!!

Behind the Happy Smiles

Looking at old pictures again. That was in 2004 and 2003. Carefree days spent at the beach!

This was taken with my ex-colleagues @ KP and diving buddies from DT as below. 3-4 years later, it is interesting to see how each of us have evolved. At least I know one is happy married last Sunday @ Equinox. Most of our careers have progressed well. But we all have time less than before to head to the beach together!

In my workplace, while preparing the P&L, we do often chat heartily. Everyone around me seems very happy. But this can't be true. I am sure at various points in our life, we would be faced with problems that can be depressing and unsettling. Pregnancy is one, as I have witnessed two of my happily married girlfriends showing me tears in their eyes when they first learnt about their pregnancy, and couldnt accept this reality or the changes that are about to take place in their life.

For a start, if you suspect depression, there are online depression tests.
http://testyourself.netdoctor.co.uk/interactivetests/goldberg.php

If immediate help is recommended, you can always start with a GP, who will recommend if a psychiatrist is required. Antidepressant medication may be prescribed. A psychiatrist charges approximately S$120 for the first 20 minutes, and S$180 for the next one hour. How about the less priviledged then? They may be the ones with the real depression problems - poverty, dysfunctional homes, debt, no qualifications or skills to enable them to work & prosper, alcohol, drug addiction, lone parents, criminality or disabled.

For the rich, maybe depression is self-inflicted - maybe "not finding the right guy"; Paris Hilton was said to experience depression and anxiety while in jail, but now "grateful to be home and excited to have real food". In Hollywood, for the divorced seen on the streets, "casual clothes suggested depression, and party clothes meant desperation".

But of course we all know that antidepressant medication does not solve the problem. You need to work through the root of the problems, and know that you are going to be alright.

So Much to Learn!

Hooh, finally it is over. Can't believe I actually lost sleep over a new business process model. Thought through the reasonings last night why I didnt think it would work out in the long term; and asked my boss for a meeting before he flew back to London today.

Fortunately he was very receptive; but (maybe unfortunately) I would have to take on heavier review responsibilities.

It was a load off my mind. I feel more confident should I need to voice my opinion in future. I am beginning to appreciate challenges now - although if I reflect back, I should be cooler - and not lose sleep over work!

This year's Singapore Chef of the Year award goes to a Marriot Hotel chef. The creation is "King Prawns with Potato Cake Served with Cod & Dry Scallop Wanton" - complex!!

According to Channel News Asia:

Judges picked his "King Prawns with Potato Cake Served with Cod & Dry Scallop Wanton" as one that truly represents Singapore.

This dish is for the 4 races in Singapore - the Eurasians, Chinese, Indian and Malay.

When I finished reading the above, in my tired mind, I was wondering which delicacy represented each race?!!

Luckily, it goes on to explain...
The sauce is hot and sweet, and the potato cake is very soft and crispy. Because Asians like sweet, hot and sour stuff, and Europeans like potato very much. You can taste the 4 tastes - bitter, sweet, sour and hot," said chef Kek.

Ok, I didnt have to guess which food item was representive of which race... zzz

Me in My Own World of Travelling

鎌倉市

Yesterday evening, I spent some good time looking through my travel pictures. Yet again, I can never get bored of it.

Last Spring @ 新宿御苑

In a world of your own, you feel loneliness, you get out of your comfort zone, and discover things around you and about yourself, which you would never do if you were constantly surrounded by a familiar environment. My boss from London has spent a good year travelling in Asia Pacific - a mentality most Asians would not (perhaps not even myself).

My bf who has stayed in the States and has travelled frequently since young, says that Japan is the only country he misses on a daily basis. The food quality, architecture standard, interesting merchandises, customer service that cares, diversity of cultural events, abundance of nature out of the city and pleasant politeness despite the crowd, makes everyday living a desirable combination. I think I may want to retire in Hokkaido.

I read about Viktor Frankl today, who was imprisoned by the Nazis in World Was II. Throughout his ordeal, he could not help but see that, among those given a chance for survival, it was those who held on to a vision of the future -- whether it be a significant task before them, or a return to their loved ones -- that were most likely to survive their suffering. It was not based on youth or physical strength. One of the ways he found the strength to fight to stay alive and not lose hope was to think of his wife. Frankl clearly saw that it was those who had nothing to live for who died quickest in the concentration camp.

On a lighter note, check out this Whatever video... So Cute!