Counting down

Yes I know I shouldn't be writing but I really want some sort of relaxation. Day by day you get into the office and work your butt off and at the end of the day, endless work continue. To do it in the western way, I would have taken a break off right away but the thing is you have to work when you are in Asia. Worst still, not to recall how bad Mainlander's etiquette can be, I would really want to escape to somewhere where Chinese will not really touch. The best choice - Japan! Here are the reasons:

(1) Japanese are very good with language, such that they only speak in Japanese and not English. Due to globalization, this is dying down but they are still striving to live purely on Japanese.
(2) Chinese only go shopping and visit "the most important" attractions. We, as Hong Kongers, visit places which are important but also of true meanings. Of course I am not saying that going to very famous places are not good, my arguement here lies in the appreciation ability.
(3) Good food! Well, Japanese food are not that fatty.
(4) Clean! Well, this is something even Hong Kong should learn. They never spit, they never litter but they don't have litter bins on the streets! Reason for this: ethical citizens!

Although the Japs did kill a lot of Chinese, we, as Chinese are acting as brutal as the Japs did to us many years ago. Chinese in foreign states are, mostly, quite misbehaved. Moreover, many Mainlanders think that they are "all that" and so they think money is the key. Note here I am not saying that money is not important but it definitely isn't the most.

Come on Chinese - let's all be a little bit humble as the Confucius thoughts always say that we are...

Still, counting down to my Japanese trip and really looking forward to flying with Cathay Pacific again. (no marketing means here!) :)

A Reflection on Chinese on board Air China

By coincidence I got a chance to fly a non-Cathay Pacific flight to Beijing and fortunately or unfortunately I was able to experience the flight was an Air-China flight operated by Air Macau. Experiences during this 3-hour flight was really fruitful. Here are my thoughts:

- Seats size for Economy class is almost universal. Being in Asia doesn’t mean your Economy seats are bigger or smaller. However, people keep on complaining about the size of their seats. To be honest, Chinese aren’t that big in size but their mouths just keep on shouting and complaining! Reflection on this: What about those big guys from the western world?

- Not disturbing others on board is an etiquette where something where all flight that all should maintain their etiquette. This includes not pushing, not kicking, and not verbally disturbing. On board this Air China flight exposes me to the breaking of such etiquette! I was seated in a row, next to two ladies and behind them was a “kind of crazy” woman stabbing around saying that she can’t sleep on board. The thing is: (a) it is a short haul 3-hour flight. How much sleep can you get?; (b) every Chinese is of similar size, how can you make such a fuss? She isn’t really that fat. Just a normal sized middle-aged lady; (c) she shouted and laughed so loudly

- On board I was unfortunately seated closed to a person suffering from fever. Passengers on board all moaned of this. Now, one thing for sure. If you are suffering from fever, don’t fly! Second, if he is on board then for your health, stay onboard!

- Food served on the flight was either Fried Rice or Fried Noodles. If for whatever reason one is flying Air China again, please opt for Special Meals. I did that and I was lucky to escape from the horrible rice and noodles!

And still the old saying goes. The flight may differ by a few hundred. But for a better passengers, better services, and above all, better hygiene on board, fly the two Swire-operated airlines!

October addition: Thanks to Jess, this is another proof that Air China is not a suitable flight to fly on (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6e7HSeq3OY&feature=player_embedded#)

Objectivity vs. subjectivity

Seeing people coming and going should be something that I have grown accustomed to. However, to be emotional is something that embeds in every single human being. No matter it is I myself leaving a place or someone leaving, sadness do arouse.

Nevertheless, God has always keep us passionate by amusing us by the changes in our surrounding(s). Some may seem joyful while others may sound baffling. Sensation of mankind simply overides the subjectivity of the situation without a trace. What baffles in your mind seems to overflow like an eruption from an uncontrolled volcano. Not that I am being philosophic here but truly this is what we are facing in our society. We forget the importance of subjectivity or worse to say, based the so-called "subjectivity" on monetary terms. What is given by nature and what our society is founded on (the nature) is forgotten or even too much taken for granted.

So, what should we do then? Stand there and be the servant of papers with digits printed or start screaming to the society that everything is wrong? Or should we escalate to the position of equilibrium and maintain what we are granted from both our nature and society?

Trip to Singapore 2009

Haven't been to Singapore for two years but I still remember how Fandy, a good friend from University, took me and Molly around Singapore in 2007. I went through the old pictures and found that I was in the same flight heading towards Singapore two years ago. Sad thing this time is a lonely flight but lucky thing is I get to meet Singapore expatriates from Europe [well, mostly Spanish and French], whom I get to meet and talk with them.

From Singapore 2009

From Singapore 2009

Visited a few good places - Sentosa, Merlion, City Center, Orchid Garden and most of all took a good rest. I was thinking a bit too much during this trip but I guess it's all eagerness and my dreams and thoughts just kept flushing out of my storage (brain) and things got a bit tangled up. No matter how, I am who I am so nothing much I can really change here. However, my friend was right - I don't admit it at all. I recall another American friend of mine saying the same to me. Gosh, that really suck- it seems that I haven't grown! Or maybe I have grown but the same mentality remains...

From Singapore 2009

Night view of Singapore

From Singapore 2009

From Singapore 2009

Rehearsal of National Day with fireworks afterward

My spirituality was somehow maintained through going to a Sunday mass and linking "Busy" to "Leave everything to God". These two may seem contrasting points for one to balance and truly to strive an equilibrium is definitely hard. Anyhow, to love life and enjoy it is to be in the first and make sure the latter has been applied. Funny isn't it but a simple Bible reading derives this complexed thought.

From Singapore 2009

From Singapore 2009

Very beautiful Orchids!

Flight back was ok but as anyone will always want - more holidays. I am looking forward to more holidays and hopefully a good one will come soon!

From Singapore 2009

From Singapore 2009

Conrad's Blog Update

(1) Background changed making it a bit more fancy - but nothing too fancy though!

(2) A new blog separating my thoughts from normal life and working life. This new blog includes laughters and grieves and above all... pictures from work. Happy reading

http://conradatwork.blogspot.com/

Sleep, work and eat - that's life?

This week I came across the need to accept the fact that "normal life" is just working around the perspective of "sleep", "work", and "eat". However, this truth is undeniable - any sort of parties, gatherings, reunions or extra activities are all add-on. The core cycle of Homo-sapiens to live surrounds around these three aspects. But the thing is how you improvise from each and every one of it. Take "work" as an example. Of course, work is not just working in an office - it can be working on things that you are interested in and thing that interest you. Note that, the three core values are inter-linked. Never can one be independent of each other. This is a cycle where even the strongest link have to abide to.

Miserable as this may seem, the basis of life is formed and therefore kicking off to a life in which one will enjoy is also based on this mechanism. You can gather with friends after "work" and "eat" (or drink which is correlated to eating) and enjoy the time with them. However, the preparation and post-activity work always fall into "sleep", no matter how little you stick with your bed.

Therefore, to all those who are in seek of a job - your "work" now is to "work hard" and find a job and carry on "working" and to prepare for it, you need the two important modules - "sleep" and "eat" to stay alive. To those who are working (including myself) - you have to "work" and carry on enjoying and keep on the interest with the "work". It's hard in this economy but it will come - no matter how much the boss is getting fussy about things; afterall, it is a learning experience (at least, in the cases of people in my age range). Perceptions developped all belongs to use but never forget the graces you are given... so, enjoy life and praise the almighty!

Current enthusiasm to track my log in aviation drives me to dig in every single possibility of tracking my flight experiences. The more you search, the more you find how much have you forgotten. Man brain performs well in short-term but when it comes to back-tracing memory, even a 23-year old like me will say "I am getting old!"

This is my incentive for my next trip to Singapore to jot down as most as I can all that I will see and feel. I will, at the same time, start the reading procedure that I have long wanted. Work simply doesn't make you read!

I found that I have 70+ flights flew in my life... let's try hunting for more!