Chinese New Year - Best Excuse for Get-Togethers

EVERY YEAR on the 1st and 2nd day of the new Chinese New Lunar Year or Spring Festival as it is called elsewhere around the world, hundreds of millions of Chinese families come together from far and wide to enjoy family meals and to share gossip and interests that may kickstart long-drawn conversations.
Today is the 2nd day of the new lunar year of the Dog (2006). The sun is shining very brightly as on most Chinese New Year days. It is so hot at times, like today, that most of Chinese make a hasty retreat into the cool confines of their own homes, but not before gobbling up another slew of CNY dishes at some relatives' homes or in their own homes.
Chinese New Year is also a time of giving. Say what you like about the money-grabbing Chinese and their inscrutable ways, the Chinese are familiar with the philosophy of giving. That is why ang pows are not only a must but also given with great generosity.
I just returned from visiting an old friend at the Cheshire Home. She has been there for more than 25 years. As on most CNY occasions, my wife and I dropped by to visit here. Also, like in previous CNYs, there are the unannounced arrivals of strangers who come to the Home to distribute CNY ang pows. They do not seek publicity not do they make a big fanfare about the purpose of their visit.
Basically, what they do is to come and distribute ang pows (red packets) to all the inmates and staff of the Cheshire Home. Today, I was fortunate enough to witness one such person. He was past middle-age. He came on a motorcycle and promptly on arrival, he took out a stack of ang pows to distribute to the residents.
On the sound of the ringing of a bell, the residents came rushing out from their rooms to wait in line for the ang pows which the quiet, unassuming man gave to one and all. It was a sight to behold. It wasn't like a presidential visit or anything even close to that but the sight of an individual who had sought no publicity and gave so much gladdened my heart and provided much hope to the handicapped people who will spend the rest of their days in quiet solitude and perhaps quiet desperation which most of us ordinary folks do not understand or want to understand.
Human beings are like that, so long as this kind of physical predicament is not ours to bear, we have a tendency to push it out of our mind and not entertain the thought of knowing that there are individuals somewhere out there who are a thousand times worse off than the rest of us who simply have no time to sympathise with this group of minority.
However, one single individual can sometimes do so much in so short a time. This middle-aged man after distributing the ang pows went on to sing a medley of Mandarin songs, much to the delight to a majority of the inmates at the home. His voice was powerful and it echoed across the hall and hallways of the Home.
We the unsuspecting curious-onlookers were simply impressed by his energy and enthusiasm exhibited by this man whose identity remained unknown to us all. Sometimes in our busy lives, we do not realise that there are some generous souls out there in the blue yonder carrying out generous acts of kindness which we often hear about or read about in magazines and newspapers. Perhaps, sometimes too we would want to carry out similar acts of compassion and generosity but somehow we find the excuses that we often gladly find not to do it.
And here today at this home, I bear witness to this man. His acts reminded me of the times when my grandest intentions of splendid human acts yet unperformed pale a thousand times in comparison to his small, ordinary acts of kindness and generosity.
There is much to learn from strangers like that on some days of our lives. We come across them at the most unexpected moments. For a while, we remind ourselves that we too are capable of carrying out similar acts but our courage often is found wanting.
Maybe after today, the thought will remain in my heart and mind so that I too will join this legion of do-gooders who want no rewards and expect none.





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Fear of that something around the corner

EVER experience that fear of the unknown. For example, you have been working at an organisation for a major part of your life and one day, an opportunity pops up right before your eyes. You can't believe it. You have been working for God-knows-how-long and poof! it appears you - the door that you have been talking about with friends, family and colleagues for ages.
It is your golden key to greener pastures. It is expected that you dive and grab that key. But no, you hesitate. Not for two seconds, but for some very long minutes. What happens if I don't like it, you tell yourself. What happens if I fail and fall flat on my face, you ask yourself again.
While your friends and relatives are tearing their hair out and calling you all kinds of unkind names, you hesitate some more. Hey, where are your guts, you hear that question flying over your head.
Nobody is quite aware of the fact that you have not done anything like that before. You keep on postponing grabbing that holy grail. What holy grail, you ask yourself for the third time.
Human beings are not a race known for their relentless courage and entrepreneurial spirit. We are mostly chickens. Slightest disturbance and we fly to the rafters. So much for that invisible lion's courage.
I wonder sometimes, too. There's so much to learn if only we step around that corner. Life is not for the timid, nor it suffers gladly the squeamish. We tell ourselves we need to be a bit more adventuruous and a little less doubtful about our own abilities. Alas, we are often let down by our own lack of courage. Some of us are basically cowards, and we won't admit it. At least when one admits it, it is the first step towards solving the problem because we recognise there's a situation that needs a solution.
When you think of the number of years you may have left on earth, a lot of things suddenly don't look so awesome anymore. We think we can't leap over a wide drain. Of course not. There's no tiger 100 yards behind us. If we were to hear a tiger's roar and sense that it has caught our human scent and if we tally, we would soon be tiger's breakfast. I bet the speed record for running the 100 metres would quickly be perceived as reachable.
Life, it is said, is meant to be lived by grabbing its jugular. It's time to "lock and load", as they say. Tally not. Time is precious. Life is short and you can always find another job, that is, if you are not fussy or humble enough to do anything you like.
I am beginning to sense that level of adventurism rising in me. That adrenaline pumping huge amounts to prime me for that great leap across or into the unknown. As Nike has put it a long time ago - JUST DO IT!







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Much Ado About Something

SURELY all of us at some time or another must have asked ourselves: "What am I doing in this office, or in this world, or even in this life?"
Well folks, the answer lies within yourselves. You clearly have been looking up the wrong avenue. The solution has always been you, and the answer rests in your heart.
I don't mean to go cryptic on you but it is obvious, there's no correct answer. For some people, the query on personal happiness could be marriage. Someone they don't know yet has not entered into their lives. Therefore, their lives are not stable and they need a balancing act. In this case, a partner who will give that stability which they gravely need.
We all wonder sometimes what we are doing working in the office when the whole wide world awaits our grand entrance. There's so much to do, so little time and almost no money to speak of.
How cruel can life be, you may exclaim. Actually, you don't need money to do any of the things you so dearly love. All you need is a determination to see it done. Did Steve Jobs worry incessantly about all the major aspects before he kickstared Apple Computers? Or did Bill Gates worry too much before he embarked on DOS and later Windows? I bet not.
These people have no time to worry, or to think of all the obstacles they will face. They just went ahead and did what their hearts told them to do. That is the secret of success. If you think you have a major plan, go ahead and try it. If it doesn't work according to your plan, so what? At least, it was worth trying.
Many people don't even try. So they don't know what they are missing.
Some of the greatest successes in life belong to those who risk it all, in the name of passion. This is what I mean about "much ado about something". Go ahead and make a big fuss about your dream. Hey, you are the one having that dream and holding on to it. Nobody else is interested.
A lot of people lose the battle before it even begins. They have a grand notion of doing something wonderful but five minutes later they bomb their own plan to pieces because they have just come up with 10 reasons why it won't work.
To think that you could actually have a lot of fun while doing it. Don't worry so much about not coming up tops. For example, some years ago, the Sony people were on a roadshow about several of their latest products. To add some spice to the event, they hire two Spanish yo-yo champions.
There I was standing among the small crowd, all agog over the spins and loops performed by the Spaniards. Then, the presenter asked if anyone would like to try their luck on the yo-yo. Before you could catch your next breath, I was up there.
I don't know why I did it but the sense of adventure was irresistible. I gave the yo-yo a couple of flimsy throws. It went in several directions except the direction that I wanted. On a scale of one to 10, I basically scored a 2.
For my audacity, I was given several minor Sony products. I felt so proud of myself. My daughter who was standing nearby was beaming with pride, too. Later I told her that it doesn't matter if you are not the champ, so long as you took part. That's the spirit of the game, as in everything else in life.
There are a rare few who go through life getting involved in one adventure after another. Anybody else would have been aghast at their boldness and so-called recklessness but I tell you these people are having the time of their lives. We should emulate their example.
The essence of most "fearful" things is the fun factor. If you think you have received a whole lot of fun out of the efforts exerted, then why not? When you are 20 years old, you tend to get into all kinds of scraps. When you are 50, you automatically think of the number of bones you may break in a foolhardy physical action. In other words, you become more of a coward.
Then, life passes you by and you begin to realise what a boring person you have become. However, all is not lost. There are some brave, old souls out there and they are making us look like fools.
Seventy-years-old? No fear, man. They still swim across shark infested waters. Eighty-years-old? No sweat. That guy is still jogging and running. Death may be beckoning to them but chances are these old geezers are too busy to return his calls.
So the next time, anyone asks you what is going on with your life, tell them you are very busy because you have embarked on a project called Much Ado About Something!





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So who's reading this? Let me know

For about six months now, I have been blogging my thoughts on every conceivable subject that enters my head on any given day.
So naturally, I am curious whether anybody is actually passing through this way.
So in a vain attempt to find out if anyone actually has seen my blog or actually read a line or two, I am asking those who come my way to drop a line to say that they have been here.
So please drop a line to say that you are one of those anonymous ones who pass by like a ship in the night. This will please me no end. Thank you very much.

International Graffitti Wall

OK, you guys out there. I am officially setting up on this single page for those of you who want to express some wise sayings, smart remarks, outrageous statements (but not profanity, please), and age-old axioms.
You may say it in your own mother tongue, street lingo, dialect, or native language. I am just curious as to how far we have progressed in this whole wide world in terms of human expressions.
Since this is the Internet, and graffitti is impossible in its real sense, we shall apply our own rules concerning this game.
Let me kick off with one of my own in the Malay language.
It is:
Seperti katak dibawah tempurung (living like a frog under a shell or cave). The meaning usually refers to a person who lives in the narrow confines of home and does not know what is really outside the walls of his shelter.

How to handle illness in the family

LOOK, everybody falls sick at one time or another. Nobody goes through life without falling sick at least 10 times in his entire life. Some people are born inherently strong.
They go through thunderstorm, a whole houseful of sick people, walk along hospital wards of very ill people, eat unclean food and still emerge healthy as Hercules.
You might apt to think that this person has got that Rasputin immunity. As some of us may recall, that Russian monk Rasputin was almost impossible to kill. His enemies fed him poison and he joyfully consumed the poisoned cakes and laughed. They shot him and threw him into the river. Diagnosis: death by drowning. How strange.
Yes, they are people who are seemingly immune to illnesses. Now, that's not our privilege. We do get sick now and then. And loved ones, friends and others known to us fall sick at some juncture.
I have personal experience of all this wave of illness that rushes up my shore every couple of years. Sometimes if I am unlucky, it happens in a series. Recently, someone close to me, fell sick. Normally, when a person falls sick, there won't be such a melodrama but if the physical discomfort is expressed in prolonged coughing and wheezing, the alarm bells start to go off, one by one.
Beneath the thin veneer of human fortitude, lies an ocean of concern and sympathy. Most of the time, we try not to go overboard with unnecessary concern but when someone dear begins to display signs of delayed recovery, the human compassion kicks in.
The normal modus operandi with regard to illness in the family is first to apply some home-grown medicine. Sometimes it is herbal concoction. Occasionally, it could be some ancient Chinese cure. When all fails, it's time to visit the doctor. If that too fails, it's back to the drawing board. In this case, the Chinese will often refer to some highly recommended Chinese sinseh.
The Chinese tend to believe in their own millennia-old cures for everything ever recorded in the medical annals. Most of the time, it works - quite amazingly. I totally vouch for some of these ancient Chinese cures.
We shall not mention any names here but at least one Western-educated doctor quietly and discreetly subscribed to Chinese medicine for certain illnesses. He does not know how to explain it but apparently, he swears by those medicines which he buys on the quiet.
One of the old tried-and-tested methods of handling illnesses in the family is to have a long career of witnessing sick members of the family. The more you have experienced in terms of sickness like mumps, influenza, stomache, cramps, rashes, fever and broken bones, the calmer you will be when one of these incidents strike the family.
It all boils down to experience and the feeling of having seen-it-all-before. About three-quarters of illnesses are actually nothing. Only perhaps two or three out of a 100 illnesses are cause for worry.
Contrary to popular belief, the human body is actually quite resilient. We are not so easily "killed off". A number of those who suffered "sudden deaths" are usually those who have already given up the "fight" a long time ago.
So next time when illness visits the family, here's what you do:
1. Stay Calm
2. Make a checklist of all the symptoms
3. Rest is usually the best cure
4. When home remedies fail in cases of simple medical problems, visit the doctor
5. Ask your mother or grandmother for advice
6. If you are dissatisfied with a doctor's diagnosis, get a second medical opinion. Doctors have been known to be wrong on many occasions.
7. Think positive
8. Say some prayers
9. Cheer up the sick
10. Don't be a doomsday agent





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Ghosts - Seen any lately?

CHILDREN and adults love ghost stories. I have a few but it all depends on your inclination to absorb such tales of the apparition kind.
When my mother was a newly-wed, she stayed in this bungalow in the middle of the rubber estate, together with her aunt who was a nurse. My dad then was an employee with a government department. So he wasn't around the whole day until about 6pm when he came home.
Almost everyday, around an appointed time, heavy footsteps could be heard, even if it was daylight. And there was nobody in the house except my mum or sometimes my aunt and my mum.
Of course, the two women were very scared. Both women were Catholics so there were a lot of rosary sessions. Who would believe that a ghost could roam around in the day time. Strangely, when my father returned home, the ghost won't be around.
Apparently, my aunt was so frightened that long before that ghostly hour, she would be clasping tightly to her rosary and praying. But prayers didn't seem to deter the ghostly stranger because it still paid courtesy calls.
Finally, in desperation, a Catholic priest was called to bless the house. Holy water and other spiritual prayers seemed to work. The apparition stopped "walking" around the house.
Later, my mother found out from some people staying in the vicinity that an old woman used to stay in that house. When she died, no proper burial rites were observed and her final send-off was apparently quite inappropriate. The talk was her spirit was restless and she probably wasn't aware that she was dead and behaved as if she was still part of the mortal world. Hence, the heavy footsteps and other ghostly consequences.

The second ghostly tale came from a close friend of mine who reluctantly revealed that when he was a teenager, he used to roam the neighbourhood with a bunch of close friends. In the group, was one guy who seemed to possess the "third eye". Over in the East, we call such a guy the one who can see dead people.
One day, while this group of friends was playing, one of them suddenly started behaving in an odd manner. He seemed mesmerised by an object in the distance and started walking, zombie-like in that direction. His friends noticed his strange behaviour and called out to him. He ignored them and continued walking.
Soon, the alarm was raised and they grabbed him. One of the friends started chanting religious mantras while the others held him down. It took sometime before any effect could be seen but all of them were scared out of their wits.
When this "possessed" chap woke up, so to speak, he told them that he "saw" someone calling and waving him from a distance. As if he was powerless to resist, he started walking towards the apparition.
This friend of mine who didn't realise the idea of talking about this frightening experience told me to keep the entire story a secret. He has experienced it and was totally freaked out. Till today, he doesn't want to talk about it, except that one occasion when he mentioned it to me.

The third story involved a security chief of a private corporation. Many years ago, my sister was working as a croupier in a casino. The casino was located on on mountain resort. Naturally, being a gambling centre of international proportions, the casino operated 24/7.
The head of security was a former police chief who had retired and joined the owners of the corporation that ran the casino. Being an ex-police officer, he had his fair share of death, and dead bodies.
One night, he left the mountain resort and was driving down to the valley below. The hour was very late and it was about 4am. As you know, up in the mountains, anytime beyond 5pm, darkness is like a black curtain over the land. It was no exception in this case.
While, this security chief was driving alone, midway through the journey he felt as if someone else was in the car with him. He threw a cursory glance at the rear-view mirror and caught a glimpse of a woman with long black hair sitting at the back of the car.
He knew instantly an entity not of earthly origin was keeping him company. Being an ex-policeman did not guarantee courage. He was frightened, at the same time, he was a practical guy. Any guy with no presence of mind would have panicked and could have driven off the steep mountain.
This guy just kept his eyes on the road and steeled himself against doing anything foolish. After some time, he stole another glance at the rear-mirrow. The apparition was no longer there! Much to his relief.
The next day, he related his experience to his colleagues. They told him that he was lucky to survive the ghostly encounter. Others might have panicked and swerved from the main road and down the cliff. Chances of survival from such a sudden move would have been almost nil.

So next time, you hear a ghost story, don't pooh-pooh the tale, just because you haven't experienced anything like that. Who knows, maybe a real ghost will make a believer out of you. But will you survive to tell the tale?




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What's the eating limit?

All of us eat to live. There is no exception. Then there are some who live to eat. We shall not count ourselves among the last group. Few of us are so fortunate, or unfortunate, depending on which perspective you are looking from.
If you live to eat, it could very well mean that anywhere and everywhere you go, there are lots of food for you to sample and taste. That means you will never ever die hungry. That won't be your lot in this life.
On the other hand, if you eat because it's your profession then it can turn out to be a very boring affair. These are the food critics. Most of the time, you won't enjoy yourself because you will be over-critical. Your exquisite taste buds are so used to the finer things in the cuisine world that nothing but the best will find your favour.
Food tasters or food critics can be a sad lot. They get paid for their comments. Restaureters dislike or live in fear of these people. Critics can make or break their business.
For the rest of us mortals, life takes on a simpler mode. We have our usual three square meals a day. Sometimes, there's supper but on most days there is nothing because all of us don't want to look like a pear to our friends and family members.
So what's your eating limit? If you are a non-athletic, anything above the three meals a day would be considered over the top. As you grow older, the same amount of food you take when you were 20 would be a bit too much if you are 40. That is, unless you are an exercise freak or physically active.
People in the developing and developed world normally eat too much. I am not basing this on statistics but on what I can gauge from regular TV footage. I don't think I am wrong in saying that Americans in general eat too much. Most of them are over-weight.
Residents in poorer countries do not have the luxury of eating when they want and anything they want. So you normally see slim to skinny people in the poorer sections of the world.
Frankly, how often do people eat? Breakfast, lunch and dinner is the normal run of things. We are not Hobbits. We do not eat every two hours. But normal people munch a lot. That means snacks in between meals, and it's usually the sweet stuff.
Now you know where all those "thunder thighs" and double-chins come from!
In modern times, doctors and dietitians are quick to say that we have to eat more vegetables because they chocolates, cakes and pizzas are in abundance. It's okay if you eat two pieces of pizza a day, twice a week. It's not okay if you eat three-quarters of a large pizza four times a week.
People overcompensate when they quit a diet programme. It will only lead to trouble for the heart, liver and stomach. The body is a living organism. It functions well if you don't overload the system. But people tend to overeat when they are depressed or when their boyfriends dump them or if their lives are generally boring.
If you are active in your profession or pursuing your hobby, then most of the time you don't have the time to overeat.
The best rule-of-thumb I have ever heard regarding eating is "leave the plate alone when you eaten enough but you could still eat some more".
Meanwhile, be thankful you can eat anything you want and as often as you want. It is a blessing as well as an indication that you are in good health. But don't push your luck.

Worshipping Idols

Towards the end of May last year, millions in America and across the globe were glued to their TVs, eagerly awaiting the new American idol. It was the fourth person to be crowned American Idol.
Of course, everybody knew the winner will have all the money, gifts, prizes and sponsorships that come with the title. Every wannabe singer in the bathroom, kitchen and hallway thinks it could have been her or him at the podium.
All of us have dreams. There's really nothing wrong with harbouring such a ridiculous ambition, except that there can only be one winner, just as there can only be one true Highlander!
By May 25, the night of the final, we all found out to our great delight or horror that it was Carrie Underwood and not that cute, macho guy Bo Bice. Well, that's water under the bridge now. Carrie has gone on to produce her first album in November and Bo, besides getting married, has other plans for his singing career.
Now, the shadow of the American Idol is again looming over the horizon. Come Jan 18, give or take 24 hours, all the hype, TV publicity and all the attention Fox Televsion can muster will descend upon us like a whole container-load of delicious chocolates.
We will have our initial favourites and try to identify with some potential winners. That lovely girl with a lousy voice may win our sympathy. That roguish-looking guy with an insipid voice may tug at our heart-strings but everything is on the table, as they say.
Simon Cowell will once again irritate us to no end. Paula Abdul will soothe away the hurts of other judges' barbed remarks and Randy Jackson will give us know-nothings the benefit of his immense recording experience.
It will be a grand show of finite possibilities. Contestants will cry, of coure, we all expect them to. The weeks that follow will ensure great display of emotions, on stage and off stage, in the home and in the office.
Everybody thinks he can spot the winner. That's what TV entertainment is all about. It galvanises your secret dreams to be someone like the American Idol. It makes you think you can succeed when tens of thousands of others have tried and fail.
It is the stuff of dreams that every thinking member of the homo erectus species has secretly stowed away in his mind and heart. We all cheer on our personal favourites.
Very often, our opinions will differ from our best friend's, but never mind, the bet is on. Even the losers can become famous. That's the wonderful part of that gigantic reality TV show called American Idol. Just ask bug-teethed William Hung. Ricky Martin bangs, William basically bungled but in his failure, he too bangs.
Now we know, even if we can't sing to save our own lives, someone, or thousands out there will still love us, and not only our mother.
The American Idol enters its fifth season this month. It appeals to the young and old and it speaks of hidden desires and shattered dreams. The American TV moguls know that this show is a great money spinner. Hell, it is now big business just like Burger King or McDonald's.
It is being franchised all over the world. And the world has fallen over itself trying to emulate the success of this show in its own backyard in different regions.
From Australia to Malaysia, the Idol contest has attracted thousands of the most horrible singers to the auditions. Luckily for all of us, some of them can really sing. Then, there's the X-factor. So what if some of them can sing, do they have the look that comes with being a potential champion?
That means well liked by the voting viewers. Simon Cowell describes it as the likeability factor. Sometimes, it is not enough to sing extremely well, you also must have the personality that can make you a winner by just a nose!
I am sure, it will be another fun session again. Twelve weeks of relentless TV viewing for 60 minutes every week aren't going to be too strenuous for your heart. The positive thing is that it is a great conversational topic.
Pick your winners as they say. Just don't get too emotional. For the business-minded, it's time to place the bets. Clearly, all of us need to get a life since we are so easily swayed by a TV show that can only make Simon Cowell and Simon Fuller richer by the millions.
I wish I can sing like Clay Aiken or Ruben Studdard, too but my vocal chords are in constant disagreement with my inner most wishes. So for those who can't sing, they can at least criticise, or praise. I choose to do both. Now sit back and relax and watch the fun.

Is that a Tarantulla on your shoulder?

These days, some people are no longer satisfied with the normal animals as pets. Sometimes we see a South American (somewhere from the Brazilian jungle) iguana on somebody's shoulder.
These fairly large iguanas are basically very slow and quiet. They can remain still for a long time, thus making them a great accessory to the owner's attire. If the idea is gain attention then the iguana is IT!
Then there are some people who are surreptitiously keeping piranhas in their aquariums. There's nothing like an element of danger to perk up your evening or better still, the man-eating fish is a great conversational subject.
Years ago, I read somewhere that some misguided piranha fish owner released that fish into a river or pond. I am not sure if it was a tall tale but the news was slightly scary. The last thing we need in our waterways is a man-eating fish.
The good news is once people hear that piece of news, they will just take out their fishing rods and try their luck. Nothing like a piranha at the end of your rod to impress your friends.
I have also heard of individuals keeping scorpions, termites and tarantullas. Sometimes you ask yourself, why do these people keep such exotic pets? Probably, their lives are lacking greatly in the excitement category.
When I was a little boy, I tried to bring back some huge soldier termites home to my backyard because I thought they were "pretty cute". Fortunately for me, the termites didn't like my backyard. When I was much older I scolded myself for being so silly. That action of bringing home termites was akin to bringing home the plague.
Then, you read stories about some houseowners having tarantullas in special glass cages. Nothing like a big hairy spider to pump some adrenaline into your veins.
Human beings are a bit strange. They like anything that is dangerous, poisonous and lethal. I have not heard of anybody keeping Black Widow Spiders as pets but I won't be surprised if one day I open the newspaper and read an article about someone keeping the Black Widow in his bedroom.
Snakes are practically common now as pets. The favourite ones are usually the albino species. The sight of a white snake slithering across an individual's shoulders seems "so cool" to others.
For those who can afford it, they simply build their own zoos. And there are people like that. People who can afford to keep exotic pets normally keep a very low profile. The last thing they want is to draw attention to themselves.
I have heard of people keeping ghosts but that story comes from the East, and it's a long, spooky tale. I don't want to go into that. People in the West don't understand these stories but some cultures in the East boggles the mind.
If you have people who keep tigers, wolves and other dangerous predators in their houses, then another exotic pet won't raise eyebrows anymore. We wish all these exotic pet owners luck but I don't want to live near them. Just give me a normal dog any day.





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The Most Powerful Economy in the World in 5 Years

The country with the largest population in the world is China. It currently has 1.3 billion people. It also happens to one of the fastest growing economies in the world.
According to a survey whose quantitative methods have yet to be authenticated, China's economy grew about 17 per cent last year, as compared to its official version of about 8 or 9 per cent. For the year 2005, its economic growth was duly registered as 9.8 per cent. Many observers are of the opinion that the rate is much higher.
It is indisputable it has the largest pool of able-bodied workers on the entire planet. Countries that have been experiencing escalating labour costs have been flocking to China to set up factories to produce their goods, thereby bringing down the price of their goods to make them competitive in overseas markets.
The average life-span of a Chinese living in China is 70.8 years. Those aged 15-67 account for 67.2 per cent of the 1.3 billion population. Its population in 1998 grew by almost 20 million.
China is one of the four oldest civilisations in the world. It has 5,000 years of recorded history but the Chinese will tell you that unofficially it goes back about 10,000 years. In fact, archaelogists are still unearthing relics and structures of ancient palaces till the present day.
There are 56 nationalities in the country. There are about 5,000 family names, of which 200 to 300 are common. The Han race makes up about 91 per cent of the entire population. That leaves the remaining nine per cent for minorities. China also has 50,000 rivers.
Working days in China are from Monday to Friday and working hours are from 8am to 5pm but unofficially people will tell you that in a number of factories, it is 24/7.
The King Kong-sized economic machinery that is presently moving its wheels in China almost never stops. With foreign investors knocking down doors to take advantage of China's ultra-cheap labour, the nation's economy is being stretched to record levels.
Today, China-made products are found in almost every part of the world. They are cheaper, better-made and faster-made than most countries in the first, second and third worlds.
With the statistics recorded, China is expected to be the king of the economic hill in five years, barring all unforeseen circumstances. Much of China is still undeveloped. Mountains and hills occupy about 65 per cent of the landscape. There are heavily industrialised areas in the country but vast swaths are still green.
It has been said that despite the enormous economic strides made by China since the 1980s, problems continued to persist regarding transportation. It is assumed that infrastructure is not up to its desired level.
More than 50 per cent of all investments in the Far East are in China. About 10 years ago, China's per capita growth domestic product was on par with the second most populous nation in the world, India. Today, China is outperforming India in "almost every facet of national competitiveness".
A report in the International Herald Tribune in 2003 states that China is keeping her costs as low as India and is offering "better highways, telecommunications, power supply, airfields and seaports".
India's longtime advantages over China in terms of language (English), competency and democracy are fast-eroding.
About 30 to 40 years ago, Japan was the designated next super economic power but recession and other financial backlashes have taken the wind of Japan's sail, so to speak. At one time before 1997, South Korea was THE country to watch. The ill winds of financial chaos descended on a large part of the Far East in the later years of the 90s and crippled a number of economic "tigers".
However, China weathered the storm pretty well and thus was placed in a strategic position to surge way ahead of the pack.
If all the signs are in favour of China, there's a good chance that China's economic train will be picking up speed as it forges ahead and leaves its competitors "biting the dust".
In less than 10 years, or maybe in five, it will pip the tape ahead of US, Europe and Japan. Currently, all eyes are on China and its runaway economic train. Goods from China are flooding the world markets. They are so cheap that no trader in his right mind will turn them down because the profit margins are irresistible.
The first 10 years of the 21st century will witness the economic miracle of the Far East and all indicators point to China.

Let this be MY year

Every January someone bound to come up to me and ask "what it's going to be for you this year?" I am always severely tempted to say "better, stronger, faster, tougher" then I realise I am not from planet krypton nor am I Clark Kent.
So I resist that impulse and say "everyday is going to be good because I have decided so. There's no problem. Everything will be a lesson and a challenge. With that I proceed to view life as if I was born to enjoy every second of it.
For a moment or two, a look of astonishment on the face of the person who just asked the question. Then, I get this gut feeling that he or she is going to punch me as if I have spoken out of turn.
When I crossed the Big 5 (50 years), I decided enough is enough. I wasn't going to wait for life to hand me a bouquet. I was going to plant my own garden of flowers and enjoy the blooming results.
Since then, I have been relishing every minute of every hour of everyday. Isn't that great? Now, if you were a pessimist, you would tend to reply "what's so great about life, anybody's life for that matter?"
People walking around with a cloud of doom and gloom over their heads have a propensity to say "we are born, we live, we cry, we laugh and then we die." Everybody makes up his or her own mind what the person wants out of life. If you want to be rich, there are ways.
If you want to be happy, everyone else wants to know the reason why. If you cry, nobody wants to share that sorrow with you. Humans are like that. They gravitate towards what makes them feel good and shy away from the bad bits. They want no part of it.
This year, 2006, will be another magnificent year for me. How I know? Because I have said so. So it is said, so shall it be done! Somehow this line sounds like a phrase that comes from the movie Ben Hur. There are lessons to be learnt in everything we see, hear and touch.
Sometime ago, I learnt that all that touch our five senses have benefits for us. All it takes is some time on our part and a moment of reflection to absorb the moment and know that the goodness emanates to enhance every fibre of our being.
Take for example, when an infant suddenly breaks out into a smile when you stare at him. How does that make you feel? Surely, you will not break out into tears. The normal reaction on the part of any individual would be a smile returned. A baby's joyful disposition is terrribly infectious. It gladdens the heart of the most hardened criminal and brings joy to all child-bearing women. It is a quality that is inbuilt in all of us.
Thus, joy is a matter of personal decision. So are sorrow, misery and sadness. Many people are annoyed when you tell them that everything that happens to them is a matter of choice. They exclaim "how can you say I WANT to be poor; that I want to be sick; that I want to feel pain."
What they do not realise is that from the day they emerge from the cradle, everything and I mean everything is entirely up to them. How is that so, you may ask.
Well for one thing, studying hard in school is a matter of choice. Let's admit it, most of us feel laziness creeping in now and then.
Later on in life when someone fails miserably in exams, he may blame it on God and his parents but really the fault lies squarely with him. If you really slog, then the worse you can do is to obtain a "D".
At a later stage in life when your health is questionable, chances are that you have been abusing your body since your teens. If you are born sickly, then it's not your fault but there are those who have conquered such physical handicaps and emerged as champions in their own right.
Recently, I watched a segment of the Oprah Winfrey Show. A guy who was born without hands and legs has achieved so much that he put most normal people to shame. This guy because a champion wrestler in his school. Asked how many times did he fail in his attempt to win over an opponent on the wrestling mat, his quick answer: "The first 36 times!" Unbelievable and yet this chap conquered everything in his path and excelled to the astonishment of everybody concerned."
So in actuality, life is pretty fair. If you are born with certain handicaps, it could be your lot to teach others some valuable lessons in life. So don't mope around and feel sorry for yourself. There are others 100 times worse off than you.
That is why this year, as I have decided, will be another great year for me. It will be full of excitement, joy, happiness and surprises - all in the positive light. In turn, I shall endeavour to bring as much joy and happiness that I receive. As they say what goes around comes around.
The punchline is: Decide it be so and so shall it be.





So the opportunity arrives

Call all knife knuts