Beijing 2008: One World One Dream (2)

Oh no. I have been a procrastinator. The Olympics are over. 2008 is drawing to an end. I have not finished documenting my Beijing trip!

A few of my best "students"...

with me "teaching" them.

Beijing is a city of temples. We went to a Confucian shrine, a Taoist temple and a mosque on one particular day.

Dong Hao is also my good buddy, and he is seen together with me, Boon Boon and Denise. Denise had to wear a "sarong" for having failed to meet the mosque's requirements for decent attire.

No Copyrights Reserved

I have taken the liberty to reproduce this without the permission of my friend, whose identity I shall protect:

my temp 4yr stay of ippt/rt/reservist is over/almost over.and the feeling of dejavu, of being a 2nd class shitizen in my own country, having wasted 2.5yrs (supposedly) for the sake of protecting 4m people (but 1/4 foreigners, many freeloaders, many who take SG as a stepping stone, some who take the easy PR status to obtain a quick buck, 2yrs of wasted income is a lot of money (a few hundred thousand dollars), etc etc), is back again!so high time for me to choose one of the only 2 options available to me.1) escape from paradise2) get myself medically certifiedsince i cant escape for now, i have only option 2).ok. take action

Lacking money. Need to work with him for Bing's contributions.

Very stressed

But no one will know it. To many, arts or Chinese Studies per se is an easy discipline to score in and achieve an A grade. Not much work involved eh? Plus one of my best buddies getting married. Must do my best to draft my best script ever and not screw up any aspect of his wedding (I'm the emcee). Papers and more papers. Requiring endless research. I, however, have no regrets. It is this path that I had chosen to undertake, and I should finish it.

Weird

Some singers are really good, but their English names sound really weird. Given their gifted voices and talent, why the names? These names include Aska (where's Chage?), Jam (what?!) and Yoga (haha!). Please, record companies, get your singers better-sounding names, even if it means naming them Tom, Dick or Harry.

Orientation Camps

I have never participated in any orientation camp. And having heard enough horror stories about them, I am glad to have done so.

Passing food from mouth to mouth. Pole dance. Whipped cream forfeit. And the stupidest and lamest of all, push-ups over gals. Plain lewd, to quote the Forum. How can such games be fun, especially for the most conservative students.

I read that in the past, freshies were subject to humiliating treatment by their seniors such as "having their heads dunked in a toilet bowl" (?!). The trend has since shifted to a more sexual one. Why the humiliation? Why the intimate physical contact? Aren't orientation camps supposed to welcome freshmen into their school community?

I am like half a Taiwanese, so I can safely attest to the fact that even in liberal Taiwan, I seldom see such activities or events being organized in the universities. Exchange students are invited to tour different parts of Taiwan, eat and drink with their volunteer helpers, and attend bashes and parties at lounge bars and pubs. Little, if any, sexual implication in such a context. And yes, I have nothing against holding bashes and D&Ds, even though I don't go for them as well. Prom nights and social dinners would be nice too.

Final verdict: Orientation camps are childish and tasteless. Ragging ought to go to the rags.

Afterthought

Why were we so excited over the Olympic Games? I think one possible explanation is that we like to see how records can be broken by "supernatural beings" who can swim and run as if they are flying, as well as jump and swing as if they are pugilists of the past. They have achieved feats that most of us would fail to perform, and done so in an elegant style that deserves our applause.

Break the matrix in us, and we can achieve. How true. Let us strive.

The Worst of Times

If only I was born in ancient China. Having studied the classics and erudites, I could have taken the civil examinations and become at least a lowly-ranked official at the county level. Professions of medicine, engineering, and the sciences enjoyed a low social status and value. Business was deemed mercenary and too pragmatic for its own good, with merchants being condemned as corrupt and unscrupulous. My discipline could have rendered myself useful in the eyes of the state and scholarly elite. Now? Times have changed. In my disfavour. The sun has set below the horizon.

My Happiest Day (s)

27 August: It was on this day two years ago that I began to love Taiwan so much. I had been to Taiwan on many occasions before then, but it was the SEP experience that had brought me closer to beautiful Formosa. Hope to visit Asia's oldest republic soon.

29 August: Happy for some reason! :-)

Boon Boon was the top scholar in Johore. Hurray!

Sigh

I feel useless. I fail to help the people around me.

Jacky Wu's Songs

Jacky Wu may be cutting an album soon. If so, the album should be out by December. It will sell like hotcakes and top the charts in both sales and popularity. Absolutely delightful.

To recap, here are some recommended songs by Jacky Wu:

屋顶
窗外
幸运的人
欠你的温柔
永保安康
是不是这样的夜晚你才会这样地想起我
三暝三日
真心换绝情
你比从前快乐
世界末日
患得患失

Listen to one every night and you will grow to love him as much as I do. Don't let this entry go to waste. Your time will not be wasted.

Notes Read, Done!

Ok. Off to sleep now. Cough syrup to put me to it. :-)

Stressed

I had searched my shelves and drawers for tangibles of past fame and glory, but I could find few. I read my blog for answers, and little was seen. Had my youth been wasted?

Inferiority complex: You are in danger of worsening. Snap out of it.

The Passage of Time

I must be getting old. Coughs and colds have become my best friends. I don't feel as energetic and healthy as before. Age must have caught up with me. I can clearly see the passage of time. I mean, it is all within obvious sight.

I have turned naggy. I forget what Jiayi and Yuting had told me many times before. I did pay attention but I just cannot recall. Haiz. Sigh. Hmmm. Where was I...?

Oh yes, the passage of time. How fast. How slow. How funny.

Hee hee!

Check this out if you want; hope it still works:

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/2006-11-25-/3452073438

My Struggle

Everything went blank before my eyes. I groped my way back to my room, threw myself onto my bed, and dug my burning head into my blanket and pillow. So everything has been in vain. In vain all the sacrifices. Blah blah blah.

Animal Farm

In my Beijing trips, I was the shepherd dog. The student participants were the sheep. The professor was the shepherd. There were bones in Istanbul and the Himalayas. I chose to forgo them. But I was the dog who had made many "zhu peng gou you" friends during the trips, especially the recent one in June. That had been a gratifying experience. I wish for a "Taiwanese Thought and Culture". If it ever materializes, I don't mind turning into a pig.

Sakae Sushi: A Matchmaking Place for all

Jiayi had worked part-time for Sakae Sushi before. She still maintained contact with many of her ex-colleagues. She told me that as high as 40% of her branch co-workers got attached to one another. Wow. What a high figure. And these individuals had never met before. We talked about her stint in Sakae and the friends whom she had made there. Seems like they are quite an interesting and fun-loving bunch to be with.

We have been talking about raising the birth/fertility rate in Singapore these recent days. Sakae Sushi is an living example of how to make such things work. I don't know how it works there, but apparently it works. Sociologists, here's your task!

Beijing 2008: One World One Dream (2)

Not bad. It's all coming back to me now. Here is the Beijing National Stadium, or simply the "Bird's Nest". It was this place where I saw the most spectacular Opening Ceremony ever in the history of the Olympic Games on TV. I almost cried as a surge of pride overwhelmed me. I felt so proud to be an ethnic Chinese. We have succeeded! We have shown the world what China can be!

The Stadium remained a fenced-off area in June, so we departed for the 798 Art Zone. For some reason, we became crazy nuts there:

So cute right:

I think this is the Supreme Court of Beijing. Just a guess:

Here is the Grand National Theater of Beijing, where Boon Boon and some others caught an expensive ballet performance a few weeks after. Oh yeah, Boon Boon failed to watch it. Late and lost on his way there. So sad right. :-( :

The professor and I decided to return to the hotel before nightfall with some of the students. The lake at Yiheyuan is very beautiful.

Happy Birthday!

To my friend Tips! Whom I have known since my Marist days. Too bad there isn't any celebration going on amongst us. At least I am not in the know. And Hauser is too busy a lawyer-to-be. No time for the TVB mooncake drama. Everyone around me is busy. I seem to be the odd one out. But I am old. I can feel it. I ought to take the easy way out of life. Tips has gone older too! All the best to his stint in TH. We will pay and pay, not to him though. Haha!

Slogging Hard

An MSN conversation:

D: I'm a pathetic piece of shit.
WJ: If you are, I must be a bigger piece. I belong to a sunset industry. If yours is a sunset industry, mine has to be a nightfall one.
D: China is booming.
WJ: I am not a bicultural talent. A bicultural talent is one who is bilingual and studies "useful" disciplines such as the sciences, engineering and business. I am not needed.

I was on the train in the evening, during which most commuters knocked off from work and were heading home. I heard things like:

"You know ah, that colleague of mine never does anything. So I do everything and people know it. But she is still like this. Never change. Damn pissed off leh."

"He was wrong lah. But he kept arguing with us. I think he didn't know what was going on, or he simply wanted his way lah."

Working life must be tough. Countless adults grumbling and complaining about their colleagues and bosses after work.

If I am a useful piece of poop, I can at least help expel some toxic waste out of the body.

Since I am not, why not I stay on in the rectum, and remain silent without causing harm to the body in which I inhabit?

Learning a Language

I am not qualified to talk much about this. My Chinese standard is not even superb to begin with. The Taiwanese possess a much higher level of proficiency in Mandarin than I do. This I am confident of saying. Absolutely. Without a doubt. What else can I say?

But I agree with this axiom: don't be shy, just try. To learn or master a language, you must have the courage to lose face and speak it, even if your audience is a native speaker. I don't understand why saving face has become such a great private enterprise these days. True to what some of my friends had suggested of me, I can be the sort who would jump into a pool with a suit on. Erm... I mean I may do it if I need to reinforce a point or something. I am not nuts.

If you don't get what I mean, please watch Mad About English. The Chinese really derserve their Olympics and I wish them all the best. Here's signing off as a Taiwan fanatic. It is China that I am talking about. With no political implications.

Beijing 2008: One World One Dream (1)

I keep telling myself that I should update on my Beijing trip soon. Here it comes, with 2 months already past. It is never too late to start I guess. And yes, it will be a real test on my memory. I will try though. Here is one photo taken at the new Terminal 3 of the Beijing International Airport. It was clean and spacious and looked set to usher in the Olympic Games. Go China!

Speaking of lateness, our class was late for our welcome dinner hosted by the Peking University. So sad right. Wait bad impression then we can kiss future trips bye bye. I trust that the Chinese are magnanimous, but noble hearts and minds should not be taken for granted. We were late because our bus stalled on the expressway. And the air-con malfunctioned. What we could do was to alight and take a breather by the road shoulder. And this lasted for an hour before the bus was repaired and took off to the restaurant.

I lost count of the number of times I had seen this signboard:

This is the Peking University central library where I had spent many afternoons when the class was having its lessons:

Not to forget the beautiful Weiming (?) Lake within the campus:

I will update on the trip further, having covered only 2 days here.

Uncle Jacky says again:

Always hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

Never wait for the sake of waiting, even if you have waited long enough. If nothing is gonna be, it never will. Move on. Says who that your waiting time has been wasted? You have rested well. Alternatives await. The ball is in your court. Toss it to the pasture that lies ahead. You will be happier. :-)

All Rights Reserved: Nostalgia

For 43 years this sacred dust,
Has used its future to frame its past.
Will all that is never come to last,
Today, here, then gone, how fast?

Uncle Jacky says

靠自己，
最实际。

Short clips of my recent trips

I like to take photos, but I don't like seeing myself in them. It took me quite a while before I could find those with me in them. Here I will share 2 photos that my friends had taken in Beijing.

I choose this first one because it features the greatest number of people among the photos that I have. Sad to say (but expectedly), I don't have any class photo with me.

I like this second one because it was taken outside the Beijing Zoo and we were on our way to see the super-duper cute pandas.

As for the photos for Taiwan, I upload this because it captures an unforgettable gathering that my Taiwanese friends and I had in Taipei. Hope to see them again soon:

I decide on this photo because it was taken at the very place where I had the best smelly beancurd in the world:

I will update more on these trips as and when I feel like it. Stay tuned if you're interested!

寻找

对青春茫然
才会借由旅行
来寻找自我
赫然发现
原来我研究历史
是因为对未来
已了无期盼
平凡无奇的人生
还会快乐吗

会的
一定会快乐的
简单就是美
这句被人讲了无数次的话
却没多少人能去履行
我正努力
摒除世俗观点
活出自己

豁出去吧
青春就是本钱
真的
不是盖的

Puzzling Paradox

Recently, I have been asked these questions over and over again:

"Why did you choose to do your Masters instead of work?"

"Don't you have dreams and goals in your life?"

I am not in the least offended. I simply feel tired answering them again and again. These questions, nonetheless, reflect fundamental differences in life philosophy.

To the peeps out there, studying was merely an avenue for them to get their degrees, find good jobs and achieve career advancements. I don't derive my perks from these "material" and "worldly" pursuits. While I agree that having a purpose in life serves to make life a meaningful one, I can assure you that such a purpose will always be an ongoing process and not an end state.

I don't do things for a purpose. Neither do I do things on impulse. I simply follow my heart. This is all that matters. My only interest is travelling. I will make it a point to travel as and when I can. It would be on the premise that I don't starve to death before then.

What a dilemma. Life is a journey of paradoxes.

My Take on Money

Money stinks. Call me an idealist or a pretender, but I am not a commodity. I don't need money to prove my worth and existence in the world. I hope my deeds can match my words in due course.

I certainly don't fit the bill for a capitalist. Perhaps this is why I chose to stay put in my comfy zone of the academia and avoid the stench of cash loading in my face.

Arrogance not desired

An overdose of confidence is arrogance. Take heed.

My Jovial Self in Taiwan

Taiwan always brings a smile on my face.

Boon Boon has been asking me to update my blog on my recent China trip. I need to document my Taiwan exploits too. Looks like I will have pretty much to write about in my next entries.

Purpose

I see one purpose in life now: earn enough money so that I can visit Taiwan every now and then.

Back from Taiwan

I'm back reluctantly, having spent every cent in my pockets. Taiwan had been my home for almost the entire month of July, but to me this was not enough. I wish to visit it again soon.

Here's a glimpse of my itinerary in Taiwan:

3-6 July: Taipei
7-11 July: Kaohsiung (my southern base; 10 July: Tainan, 11 July: Kending)
12 July: Taichung
13 July: Lugang
14 and 16-17 July: Taipei (my main base)
18 July: Keelung
19-20 July: Taitung
21 July: Hualian
22-25 July: Penghu
26 July: Taoyuan International Airport (sob...)

I need to thank Peggy and her friends and relatives for their warm welcome and hospitality, as well as my other Taiwanese friends who had forked out time to meet up with vagrant me. I seem to be the only free soul around these days, so it was only right that I embarked on this trip to visit them. To all my friends out there (especially Peggy!), sorry for all the inconvenience that I might have caused you during my trip!

I am glad to have left my footprints on much of Taiwan. If I am to include the places that I had covered in my SEP duration, I have been to about 80-90% of Taiwan. An overstatement? I need to undertake more trips to verify this.

Will my quest ever be completed?

回去宝岛

一趟知性之旅，即将启航。
引颈期盼的一刻，终于到来。
尽情期待，相逢聚首的时刻。

Jacky to Medan

Time really flies. Jacky will be leaving for Medan this coming Sunday. He will stay there for the next 2 years, teaching English to the rich and affluent. He will also bag an income that an average Singaporean would covet. He is the man in black:

It has been 4 years since I know Jacky and my other USP friends. For Jacky, I knew him from my YEP experience in Thailand. A group of us went to a rural village in northern Thailand to promote AIDS awareness via forum theatre. We were trained to act and stage our performances to a village audience. Little did I know at that time that a juicy gossip awaits us. Jacky and his love-distance friendship. It came to nought. Personally, I had a great time there conversing with the locals in simple Thai and enjoying authentic Thai cuisine. I could understand what the cabby was saying to Boredin, and had built up my endurance for spicy food. Which reminds me: Yuting was a native of Chongqing. She had soup noodles and deemed them too tasteless. Right before us she threw in a potful of chilli sauce and the broth became a red, thick gravy. I applaud her powerful taste buds. That was my most memorable bowl of pork noodles.

Our USP clique with Jiayi and Jane met up last evening to gather with Jacky before he goes to Medan. He owes Boredin and Jiayi a treat for having been too smart a year ago. The gathering had been fun. We had dim sum and porridge. Jacky recently had his wisdom tooth extracted and bearing with excuriating pain, joined us nevertheless. We admire his tolerance and friendship. Jiayi and I had some drinks with Jacky at TCC before we could bear to part. Parting is hard, but our friendship will be "harder", more "solid"! As I swallow my last bit of tears, allow me to wish Jacky Bon Voyage and all the best to his teaching stint in a foreign land. We shall meet again. :-)

Response to comment

My dear friend Jacky lives in a world of self-delusion. He must engage the real world and confront the fact that Jacky Wu is indeed famous and popular. The truth is Singapore's retail outlets had imported his CDs and the CDs were all sold out. I was merely too slow to act. Nonetheless, I will be meeting Jacky soon to convince him out of his fantasies. :-)

Some thanks...

First and foremost, I must thank Derrick for getting my Jacky Wu CDs autographed in Taiwan! 8 in total! Very happy. I could not sleep on Monday! Jacky Wu leh! No small fry lor. I had tried to buy some of his CDs here in Singapore but failed, because they were sold out at all retail outlets. Haiz. 本土天王，人红可不是盖的！

Next, I must thank my Beijing clique for helping me out and allowing me to enjoy my TA stint. But Boon Boon will be leaving for Malaysia soon. 人生之无奈何其多啊！

And my dear friend Jacky will be heading to Medan soon. I must meet up with him, Boredin, Jiayi and Yuting soon before my Taiwan trip materializes. I have yet to book my air ticket, so my timetable for the time being remains flexible. Sad yet happy. How ironic.

Pessimism?

The Massachusetts Constitution states that all men are born free and equal, and have certain natural, essential, and unalienable rights; among which may be reckoned the right of enjoying and defending their lives and liberties; that of acquiring, possessing, and protecting property; in fine, that of seeking and obtaining their safety and happiness. Are men all born free and equal? Obviously the answer is negative, with the axiom as old as the hills that all people are equal but some are more equal than others. How true, and you realize it only when you come of age. Indeed, as Jean-Jacques Rousseau puts it, men are born free but everywhere he is in chains. There are rules and regulations to be conformed to, as well as duties and responibilities shouldered upon right from the minute when you were born. All in the mind? Then, may I ask, when will I ever break free of the shackles from both within and without? A social contract binds us together as communities, and powerful forces of inertia are supplements that foster the Prisoner's Dilemma between us. Selfishness eliminates all possible means of cooperation and hence change. A vicious cycle rolls and before anyone knows it, we are now lost in the abysses of space and time.

I can't go to Taiwan yet, for reasons too complicated to be explained here. I shall update on my recent China trip soon.

随心所欲

跟了北京这团，身体是累的、透支的，真的老了。

我还真不适合团体旅行。每天都有固定的行程要遵循。我又不是个"morning person"，却要每天早起，早餐都不吃呢。

对我而言，人生就和旅行一样，随心所欲才好。今天的心未必代表明天的心，也不一定是我终究所要的。做出太多的安排，不仅累了自己，也累了明天。

胸无大志，过一天、算一天。

Back!

I'm back from Beijing. Met new friends such as Charis, Davin, Eunice, Pooi Yean, Tian Boon, Wan Jun, and Yuan Ting. Seen old ones such as Jie Chun and Pei Fun. Very happy!

I feel old though. Overcome by fatigue as I struggled to type these words. I shall talk more about the trip in the days to come. Now that I'm back, away I hope to be! Taiwan awaits me.

Dislike

I hate people hitting my head, for any reason, period.

出口

此刻我只想找一个出口

哪里才会有离开的出口

但就算真的找到了出口

能往哪里走？

嫉世愤俗

真想出走

Be Positve and Happy!!

Look forward to life!
Look forward to family!
Look forward to friends!
Look forward to tours!
Look forward to ... career!
Look forward to ... money!
Look forward to everything!

Never look back. Nothing should hold me back.

Regretful but happy

If not for my itchy fingers, I would have enjoyed a complete score of five. My past decision had ramified into an irrevocable mistake. I am, nonetheless, happy. Contentment fills the air that I inhale. What more can I ask for? Happiness lies in the heart of the beholder.

Some things never change

We are now living in the twenty-first century. Yet parents have been telling their children that if they don't study hard, they will have to dump rubbish for others. I wonder if some teachers entertain the thought too. Anyway, with such remarks, these parents have contributed to the very rubbish that they are talking about. Good grades equal good jobs? Education should never be commodified! In my capacity as a prospective graduate, I shall defy conventional wisdom and social norms. I will be receiving less than 2000 bucks per month for the next few years. And hence open to scorn and criticism. About me being a vermin of society who leeches onto the riches of others. Fine. If this is what it takes individually to dispel the dumb discrimination against the lowly-educated.

Cute Pandas to Taiwan

Cute eh? They are named "Tuantuan" and "Yuanyuan".

Interesting?

It should remain the moral imperative of the civil society to denounce any form of unjust propaganda by either words of speech or acts of deeds. Even if they are committed by a single individual. Mixing personal issues with general affairs is irrational, irresponsible and stupid. Overwhelmed with emotions, someone with stones for brains had sprouted some amoral nonsense in some part of the world. This very someone obviously has some distorted code of morals in her. Indeed, not very Buddhist of her. Oops.

Redundant

Zong Hao and his newfound accomplice Alex had just crushed me at the table. Losses were not recouped, and a new tragedy unveiled. Derrick, however, treated me to a Thai dinner and promised to have my Jacky Wu CDs autographed during his Taiwan trip. A tasty and satisfying consolation, I guess!

Sometimes I would wonder if it is necessary for me to stare at the mirror every morning to groom myself in preparation for the day. Looking into the mirror is akin to seeing a portrait. I am trying to present myself in a way deemed acceptable by other people. In a way that I can identify myself with as well. On a personal note, what's the point for me? Most of the people whom I meet are either my friends or mere strangers. If my friends dislike me because my hair is not in place or I have forgotten to shave, then they are the superfluous ones whom I can forgo. I love my single but unavailable life, and there is no incentive for me to impress gals and attract unnecessary attention. My verdict of the day, therefore, is that I should spend less time at the basin and wash up just enough to face the world. Just for courtesy, not vanity.

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/2006-11-25-/3452073438

What is Life?

Kenny just asked if I am feeling depressed. I had long passed that phase. My youth is past. I have reached an impasse. In life. Most, if not all, things are now transient to me. No more press interviews. No more contests or competitions. No more awards. No more grades. No more conferences, seminars or talks. No more glory and fame. No more ceremonies and dinners. No more functions and parties. I hanker after these no more. I used to. But absolutely no more. I shall not update my profile for greater prominence and more opportunities. Neither will I seek to improve myself for the sake of improvement. Progress (Power) corrupts. I must be in tune with the Flintstones. No need for 933 and 98.7.

Bored, and hence thinking too much? Not exactly, with my research in a stalemate. Lack of a "special someone"? I think I will be more troubled if I have one. Jacky said that with such a mentality one cannot hope to excel in this country. In total agreement with this view, I had never and will not hope to achieve. I had long come to terms with how I feel. I am actually a happy-go-lucky person now. I just don't understand why people around me are so bothered by the present and the future. Am I sane? I think I am. Still. At least for now. I feel more Buddhist than ever. But not reclusive. Please don't distort my meaning here. :-)

Taureans are never suicidal. This entry may sound sad but I am actually happy. I look forward to more gatherings and overseas trips in the near future. As for events that may spread my name far and wide, I will give them all a miss. Even if they are held in America.

MSN Chats

I had just chatted with Debby, Gail, Jacky and Peggy online. A pesky mosquito kept disturbing me. My killer instinct was aroused for the first time in several months.

A brief summary of what we had talked about is as follows:
Debby questioned me on my sexuality.
Gail asked me some questions pertaining to Chinese history.
Jacky argued with me over some issues and plans.
Peggy provided me with details of what I can expect from my upcoming Taiwan trip.

Nice chats on the whole! I must remain optimistic about the future. Life is not about maximum payout, but optimal play.

To Derrick: Your proposed plan is feasible but troublesome. There will be too many transfers involved. Please seek transport to Taipei and work your way from there. It will be much easier.

Recent Updates

Met up with loads of people in the past 2 weeks. Jiahao, Tipin, Andrew, Nick, Raymond, Jiayi, Yong Chang, Crystal, Melvin, Boredin, Sam, Soon Kit, Joseph, Teng Hui, Jane, Jacky, Jianhao, Daniel Lee, Sor Hui, Cheryl, Daniel Chua, Derrick, Zong Hao, Seng Hwa, Chee Ming, Kenny, Si-Rong, Siyu, Daniel Lim, Dingguo, Bryan, Nian Long, Rachel, Shaun etc. Hope I have not left anyone out. Will be meeting Gail and gang next week. Happy that Debby and Vivian read my blog from Hong Kong. My professor must not know of all these. I have not completed my data compilation and field research yet. Here's my recent photo with Dingguo and Bryan.

Wacky Jacky's Favourites

Author: Jared Diamond
Chinese drama serial: Towards the Republic
Film of all time: Battlefield Earth
Japanese drama serial: Furuhata Ninzaburo
Pastime: High tea
Sport: Cycling
Taiwanese actor, compere, singer: Jacky Wu
Taiwanese variety show: Guess x 3
Topic of Interest: History, Political Science

Embattled

The Battle of the Wall had ended. To my dismay, I was mortally crushed by a series of flying colours and changing sequences from three sides of the Wall. They were so dazzling that I began to see stars. Derrick, occupied at one side, seemed like an innocent "pig" when I first saw him. At the battle's end, however, I was devoured by the "tiger" of him. Now hopelessly hurt, I can only hope that he would read the very first entries of my blog, which I regard to be the very best that I had offered, if I can ever write at all.

My Common Sense of Nostalgia

I studied in Mei Chin Primary School. It became history following its closure in 2001 (?). Its name, however, resonates in my mind even as today. So be it for as long as it wants to.

I first stepped into the school in 1990, before which my poor memory could barely recall. If I have not been gravely mistaken, my first friends-cum-classmates were Melvin, Ruiliang, and Limin, none of whom should be reading this because we had long lost touch with one another (except for Melvin, but he knows nuts about this blog). And then by Primary 3 and 4, I got to know Crystal, Javern, Moiha, and Yonghan. Amongst others, these were the bunch with whom I had spent a significant part of my childhood.

I was never too bright a student in primary school. I fared badly in class tests and final exams. I was too talkative for my own good. But it takes two hands to clap. I was, however, the unlucky one to be punished most of the time. Just my luck I guess. No grudges borne though. Those were the innocent days when I spent each day without thinking how the next would be.

I went home every day for my daily dosage of cartoons and TV programmes. I was so glad that my parents did little to interfere with my routine. The lazy bum of me simply hated sports and the rough outdoors, and Chip & Dale with their Disney friends kept me entertained for afternoons upon afternoons. Lackadaisical? But I loved such inactivity. I am the epitome of such a past.

Something changed all these. The wretched streaming system came and drove many parents into unnecessary panic, and to some extent including mine. I was marched into tuition without much of a consciousness of what it actually entailed, except for working through countless assessment books rather aimlessly. I usually copied the answers from behind and made some deliberate mistakes to make my assignments look "authentic" before submission, but my individual tests showed it all and I was often reprimanded for my lack of effort. Even my Chinese was bad during this period of nonachievement. I was, however, not at the least affected. I had not understood the importance of studying then.

The tuition did help, however. By a twist of fate, I found myself in an undersized EM1 class of only 8 students. I had an excellent teacher Mdm Tan who forced us to recite idioms and poems every lesson, and Chinese characters relentlessly flooded my brain until they were all too firmly imprinted to be dislodged. My EM1 stint was a turning point in my academic life. I finally felt a slight urge to maintain my grades and to pursue my interest in the Chinese Language.

The tuition helped in other ways too. I actually topped Maths in class on a few occasions. My class position rose to unprecedented levels after Primary 3. My English poem of 6 lines was chosen on display at the school bulletin boards. I was never too mindful of these things, because I had other pleasures to derive from my life then.

I loved my Social Studies projects. I think they had boosted my interest in current affairs and general knowledge. And they offered perfect opportunities for me and my project mates to enjoy some great fun at the playgrounds and games arcades. Ice-cream sticks and super-glue. Styrofoam boards and plasticine. I could always look forward to either Police-and-Thief and Street Fighter after my project ordeals were done. Eventually we got sick of queueing for our turn at the arcades, and when Yonghan's parents bought him a Sega set (?) we would piously visit his home everyday to discuss homework with him. On a pretext of course. Behind closed doors.

I dreaded rainy days. Earthworms abound under a shroud of muddy tracks that we walked on to get to school. Our young scientist Ruiliang would lead us all on a trail of adventure and excitement in his opinion. For me it was more of fear and disgust. Nonetheless, by peer pressure, I would drag my prudent feet with a few others to follow him in his daring explorations. Millipedes and toads often joined the earthworms in a concert of unison, and I simply prayed that they would not crawl onto me or cross my path for any reason.

Delinquency was in the air in my final primary school year. My classmates Ken and Denise were caught smoking at a carpark within the neighbourhood, and I happened to sit in between these two colourful characters. I myself was involved in a tussle with an EM1 girl and soon our parents became involved when it became too heated. I guess we just could not stand each other then. Kinda childish eh? Well, we were young and juvenile, and hence excusable!

My lazy bone has called out to me to stop acting like an old man. I should get some sleep before I really look like one.

无病呻吟

渐渐地
童年的记忆
曾几何时
烟消云散

放慢生活步伐
走的可能更远、更宽广
可就没人有勇气这么做
如此简单的事情
竟成为一种奢望

出卖灵魂
只为温饱
这样的温饱
值得存在吗

长大的烙印逐渐形成
天真的幻想逐渐破灭
物质的享受
麻木了颗颗
变质的心灵
一切变得空荡荡的

算了
习惯就好

没有依赖

没有期待

没有伤害

Generous Donations!

Wow! I had either messaged (only to those whom I thought would help) or spoken directly to some friends to ask for contributions in aid of the Sichuan quake victims, and Chee Ming, Crystal, Derrick, Gail, Kenny, Si-Rong, Soon Kit, and Yuting all pledged to make donations (not to me of course but through the various channels; some of whom did so without my appeal). They offered sums that vary from SGD 50 to SGD 300. In any case, it was kind generosity on display, even though many of them are not working adults! Not to be outdone, I shall cut down on my shopping and hence my expenses in my impending trips to Beijing and Taipei.

Humans have short attention and memory spans. The overwhelming emotions that we feel for the victims at present may not stay with us for long, but the agonizing pain suffered by the victims themselves may linger on forever. The damage had been done, and the psychological scar wallowed in. Facing the aftermath is just as crucial as the tackling the disaster. Our aid must continue. Sustain it!

Fund-Raising for China

Singaporeans are kind, having donated millions in kind to help the quake victims in China. Taiwan, however, has offered the biggest amount of foreign aid in monetary terms, amounting to nearly 70 million USD. As I have always said, the Taiwanese are rich!

Please, everyone! It is all for a good cause! Donate if you can!

Thesis completed: Abstract

Thanks to its success in economic reform, China in recent decades has rapidly transformed its economic and political landscape, rekindling global academic interest in the country and its people. However, analyzing and interpreting developments in China has always been and will remain a daunting challenge for both non-specialists and China experts. China’s diversity, a product of its enormous size, is an important feature that has contributed to the challenge. To rule the vast country effectively, China’s governance from the imperial age of dynasties to the present has to function at multiple administrative levels, but this is only a lesser aspect of its political operations.

Given China’s diversity, what then actually holds China together? Renowned American anthropologist James L. Watson argues that a perceived, perceptible unified culture is the key to holding China together. If anything is central to the creation and maintenance of a unified Chinese culture, it has to be the standardization of ritual. This view forms the essence of Watson’s “Orthopraxy Hypothesis”, which claims that for the Chinese state, the standardization of ritual practice takes precedence over efforts to legislate or control beliefs, resulting in profound consequences for the creation of a unified cultural system. By enforcing orthopraxy (correct practice) instead of orthodoxy (correct belief), state officials were able to incorporate people from different ethnic or regional backgrounds, with varying beliefs and attitudes, into an overarching social system we now call China. Such is the strategy that has enabled Chinese culture to reach the coherence and uniformity that we see today.

Using Watson’s hypothesis as a theoretical framework, this paper argues that the Chinese imperial state had indeed valued rites over beliefs in its flexible and realistic construction of a unified culture. The paper presents this argument by discussing the City God cult in the Song and Ming dynasties, and in particular how the religious cult was merged with the state as a symbiotic tool to govern the local populations which had resided far from the direct jurisdiction of the political centre. In state opinion, ritual standardization in the approved sequence performed by the people was very much cultural unity on display.

Underlying the City God cult was indeed the fabric of a unified culture that had successfully accommodated the various backgrounds and beliefs borne by the people. By comparing Watson’s hypothesis with the opposing arguments presented by other scholars, the paper will also examine the limitations and the validity of the hypothesis in exploring issues pertaining to Chinese culture. The paper will conclude that the City God cult per se and the assumption of a unified Chinese culture fostered by the imperial state was a social, ideological construct and illusion aimed at promoting effective governance over diverse populations.

Thesis completed: Acknowledgements

James L. Watson is a renowned American anthropologist, and it was out of sheer ignorance that I knew of his “Orthopraxy Hypothesis” only in late 2007. I must thank Jack for introducing me to the hypothesis which I now use to form the crux of my thesis. My heartfelt gratitude goes to Peggy for having airmailed me some research materials from Taiwan. I am indebted to Siyu, Yong Chang and Yuting for taking the time off to proofread my drafts. I am grateful to my family for providing a loving environment under which this thesis is completed, and for nursing my weak constitution when I was down with bouts of flu while writing it.

This thesis marks the end of my academic life at NUS. I thank A/P Peter Pang for giving me many opportunities to learn and experience in USP, A/P Albert Teo for his care and friendship, and the USP admin staff for their fun-loving nature. At the Chinese Studies department, I enjoy the unreserved assistance of A/P Lee Chee Hiang and the office staff. At the NUS Chinese Library, I benefit from the dedicated service offered by its friendly librarians. Indeed, this thesis is a true epitome of the wonderful experiences that I have shared with these individuals over the years.

Last but definitely not least, I would like to extend my gratitude to my thesis supervisor A/P Lee Cheuk Yin for his guidance and inspiration. It is through him that I am exposed to a comprehensive overview of how academic inquiry and research should be conducted. I thank him for all the recommendation letters that he has written for me, the delightful coffee treats in Beijing, and my appointment as his research assistant. I am grateful for his expertise when my thesis became engaged in tautology and for his patience when I could not submit my drafts on time. He has to be the best thesis supervisor that a student can have, and this thesis would not have been possible without him. All fault and responsibility, however, remains invariably mine. Thanks to all my friends as well!

Fulbright Association dinner

I had just attended the Fulbright Association dinner at USP's invitation. The dinner was held at the Tanglin Country Club, frequented by the Americans who reside in Singapore. I wore a suit, and my friends would know how stifling that was for me.

In any case, I am not anywhere near my goal of heading to the States. I mingled with the USP gang half the time, and spent the other half eating my full-course dinner. I had never liked socializing and making small talk for the sake of it. Anyway, it was fine dining literally and I had enjoyed the food. At the dinner's end, Kishore Mahbubani gave us a talk on how Asia has influenced the world and will continue to do so in the next decades to come. This century will belong to Asia, it seems. My USP professor won Mahbubani's autographed new book through a lucky draw, but he gave it to me because I had expressed my interest in laying my hands on it before the dinner. So embarassing. I thank him for his generosity.

The Fulbright Association is prestigious, and its dinner posh. I felt honoured to be invited to it. This shall be my last moment of glory before I leave USP 2 months later.

Important Notice:

5月12日，中国四川省汶川县发生7.8级强烈地震，造成巨大人员和财产损失。中国政府和人民正全力投入救灾工作。
　　新加坡各界人士高度关注中国灾情，纷纷致电我馆表示慰问，并提出捐款要求。我们对此深表感谢。
　　为便于各界捐款，中国大使馆已设立如下帐号，接受电汇、财路及现金捐款。
　　收款人名称：Sichuan Earthquake Relief Fund-- Chinese Embassy
　　开户行名称：Bank of China Singapore Branch
　　帐 号：011-0-024188-6
　　同时，使馆也接受支票及现金捐款，支票抬头请填写“Sichuan Earthquake Relief Fund-- Chinese Embassy”。
　　无论何种捐款方式，都请提供姓名和联系方式。

中国驻新加坡大使馆
二00八年五月十四日

There is a saying: "God helps those who help themselves." Premier Wen and his people are currently facing one of the worst calamities in Chinese history. Please help them during this critical period. They offer us a stark contrast to the Burmese government, which has allowed one of Asia's worst catastrophes develop into a humanitarian crisis that no one sane enough would want to imagine.

I have already made a donation. Please do your part too.

我的一生

展翅高飞的友人，请留步！
我是毫不起眼的游人，
也是冷眼傲视的过客，
独自漂泊在滚滚红尘之间。
我此时出行，
只为躲避那沾满胭脂水粉的羁绊，
给自己保留点余地、纯真，
看来只是奢求，
可望而不可及。
奔波青春，
劳碌现在，
蹉跎未来，
好一个锦绣前程！
我的一生，
难道就仅能如此颓废？
友人啊友人！
我欲与你奔飞，
无奈却陷入泥沼之中，
无地自容，
无法自拔，
唯有认命，
做个永远的站台。

America

What charm does USA hold that has attracted so many of my friends (both Singaporean and Taiwanese), who flock to it every summer vacation? I have never been there before. I didn't go for my HPAIR conference in 2006, where I could have a taste of what Boston is like.

Frankly put, Taiwan offers me an outlet to escape from my Commencement Ceremony. I need a place that I am familiar with to prove right my decision to skip it. However, I am now increasingly curious about America. Maybe I should go there soon to experience the things that had captivated my friends so much.

First, from now on, I shall keep a lookout for the international conferences that will be held in America. Next, I need to submit my ethnographic data to earn my keep. Finally, off to the States I go. Whatever Wacky Jacky pledges to do, he will get it done.

平平无奇的一天

到国大医院探望玉婷，聊了三个多小时。手发炎了，仍以宫廷语言与朕对话，使朕无言以对。不过当然也聊了一些正经事，整个过程是开心愉快的。祝她早日康复，永保安康。

与佩颖越洋对话，求她代我向Bing说声Happy Birthday!，允之。台湾，我来也！

印度、土耳其，后会有期。先解决北京事项，才来安排台湾行程。刺激台湾经济，朕不遗余力。亏空国库，也义无反顾。反正国库空虚，有劳台湾众卿家掏出银两赈灾了。

与身在深圳的高品联系，知她安好，甚感欣慰。希望能与她聚首，无奈现实无情，人生一小小的诉求也无法实现。人生啊！

欲旧地重游，却物是人非。友人皆出游，独留过客守空情。

宪哥老了，高品，是时候我们接棒了。

一生命运似乎早已注定，与汉学结缘。正当朋友毕业后，将为未来做冲刺时，我裹足不前、固守原地，久久不肯离去。赫然发现，我只能回顾过去，不能展望未来。

原来我背负的，是中华五千年的文明、历史与文化，好一个重担，也难怪我无法如其他人一样，向前迈进。

Troubled

I didn't really want to attend the Commencement Ceremony, but I have been facing pressure from all sides. I need to display my filial piety, respect the professors and other individuals who have egged me on, as well as endure the accusations that have placed me in the realm of stupidity and eccentricity.

Frankly speaking, the Ceremony holds little purpose for me. As mentioned earlier, I am not at all happy that I will be graduating soon. Next, not that I am a big shot, but this Ceremony is definitely not a big thing to me: I have attended numerous ceremonies, seminars and conferences that are more "tua ki" (forgive my poor Hokkien) than this. Finally, I really want to offer my admission cards to those who covet them more than I do, namely Boredin. I may not be able to deliver on my initial promise to him.

My First-Class Honours friend Melvin (whose CAP wins mine by an entire grade) has also no intention of attending the Ceremony. He shares my sentiments. And he shares my birthday. Why do our CAPs differ by so much?! Sigh. Haha!

Anyway, however, filial piety has to come first. If you see me attending the Ceremony eventually, it will be my ethics and priorities on display. Nothing should ever be more important than the family.

Gratitude

Thanks to Debby and gang for their card and "shitty" gift from Hong Kong! I was so touched that I wept all night! Haha! Please visit Singapore soon. Or I can go over!

And thanks to those who had remembered the day and sent me the greetings that I was happy over! Thanks thanks!

I had completed my thesis on time. And I have gotten enough rest by now. It's time that I move on. My new project is the compilation of ethnographic data for the amount of research that I have conducted over the past few months. Then I can call it a day and start planning for my overseas trips. My plans so far have been nothing but a chaotic mess. Some organizations are simply too slow in their operations. I just can't help it too.

Code of the year: ykchan83@live.com

A Dull and Lacklustre Life ahead

I find myself increasingly uninterested in the things that I used to hold great passion for. My usual hobbies, despite the fact that I have not engaged in them for several months, include singing, mahjong, and going to the movies. It seems that I have either reached a bottleneck for these activities (knowing that there will be little improvement and hence less satisfaction derived from them), or lacked the motivation to conduct them at all. I have grown to become a geek. I still possess the drive to read my books and aim high in the academia. Like what some of my friends say, I am on my way towards monkhood, devoid of all desires and feelings. Despite the use of some negative-sounding adjectives to describe what my life may turn out to be, I think it will nonetheless be enjoyable in its own terms. I love to travel, both abroad and spiritually.

By the way, I am 90% sure that I will be skipping my Commencement Ceremony. I will most likely be giving Boredin my letters so that he can invite his siblings over to grace the Ceremony. Call me nuts or weird, but I am not at all happy that I will be graduating soon. Quite on the contrary, I wish to stay on forever.

Loads of thanks to Peggy for her birthday present! I love the Ma Ying-Jeou figurine. See you soon!

Some facts from individual findings

I'm now slightly freer than I was just 2 weeks ago, so to prevent my brains from going idle, I did some research on my own regarding the topics that I have always been interested in. Just for fun.

Singapore used to administer, if not own, Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean before the Australians took over. We were paid a hefty sum of pounds for the deal.

India is actually closer to Singapore than we thought of it to be, because India owns a stretch of islands at the throat of the Malacca Straits called the Andaman Islands.

We Singaporeans are Commonwealth citizens, enjoying many exclusive privileges accorded to past British subjects. We are no longer colonized, but the United Kingdom continues to bestow the privileges upon us. A statement of emphasis, however, is that we are all equals now. It is remarkable to see how the Commonwealth of Nations has grown to incorporate most of the old British colonies and become an international organization of modern, self-determining nation-states. And it works on a voluntary basis. It seems that past British subjects have little hard feelings towards their old colonial masters. That, to me, is remarkable.

For instance (correct me if I'm wrong; what I say here is not Gospel Truth), if Singaporeans reside in the British Isles for work or study, they can choose to be neutralized as British citizens after a few years. One key note is that the immigration process is simpler than in other circumstances, explaining why many Hongkongers (prior to 1997) flood to the British dominions of Australia and Canada that have erected similar clauses in their laws.

Sounds like a viable option for a quick getaway.

Compare this scenerio with the stories of hatred and warfare that have occurred elsewhere and the difference is obvious.

Wow

I didn't know that 秦沛、姜大卫and尔冬升are brothers. Their mother belonged to a Manchu imperial clan and enjoys a linkage with 多尔衮.

Japan

Japan looks so beautiful from the pictures. I wish to visit the country soon. Cape Soya looks captivating. I'm proud to be Asian!

Confusion

I don't know what I can and will do in the next few months. Or should I say, I have too many choices at hand.

I had just rejected an invitation to go to Turkey in May-June, because I need to compile some ethnographic data in my capacity as a research assistant. I could have compiled the data earlier this year, but was too busy and tired with my thesis to do so. There was also a chance for me to go to India on a USP summer programme in May, but I have to give that up too. The ideal plan for me in May-June was actually to head first to India and then to Turkey.

Most probably I will be visiting Beijing (again) in June to immerse myself in the Olympics mood prevalent there. More precisely, I will be the Programme Assistant again for the USP overseas module in Peking University. However, the outcome for my Master's application is not out yet and a high degree of uncertainty lingers on whether I will enrol into NIE or NUS later this year.

Finally, I had expressed my intention to Peggy and gang that I will be visiting Taiwan from China (via transit in Hong Kong; then I can meet Debby, Paul and others) in June-July. However, even this is subject to the approval of my application. What's worse is that USP has allocated me a seat at the USP Graduation Dinner, because (I think) I qualify for their Honours Roll or something. The dinner will be held in mid-July, and even though I had intended to give my whole Commencement Ceremony a miss, I am now undecided on whether I should skip the Dinner because the media may be there and I am still someone who craves for such "transient" fame and glory. And if I am accepted into the Master's programme, I need to rush back by late July for my diagnostic English test (which is like duh) and to complete my registration formalities with NUS.

In a nutshell, I am hopelessly lost in my plans for the holidays.

Why?

Why are cockroaches such big insects? It is hard not to notice them.

What can't insecticide kill them? I had once sprayed half a can of Bygone on a cockroach and miraculously it survived the attack and flew (albeit in zig-zag motion) out.

Why do they like to crawl around aimlessly? It gives me the creeps.

What do they hope to find? I have kept my place clean.

What's worse is, why can they fly?! Flying cockroaches are the ultimate horror because you never know when they may just bump into your face. With them around, who needs horror films?

象牙塔

我不要勾心斗角
也不要尔虞我诈
只想躲在我那座
以书本建构起的象牙塔里
扮演独角戏里的悲情角色
冷眼旁观世间的纷纷扰扰

俯瞰远方的地平线
似乎预示着自己的极限
能够看的就这么多
也很庆幸自己只能如此
太阳落下的那尽头
不知有多少个未知数
笼罩在无限的黑暗中

初日曈曈
习习的海风吹翻了高耸的象牙塔
书本竟化身成一双双坚韧的羽翼
随意乘骑一双
云翔在悠悠天际里
那尽头却永无止境
好奇逐成无奈

好后悔，好后悔
可是倘若没有这后悔的经验
就不会知道后悔之前的美丽
原来是如此简单

Friends or Foes?

It is necessary for us to take the bitter pill when the occasion calls for it. Similarly, we should possess a huge capacity for criticisms, both kind and unkind, so long as these criticisms are constructive ones that allow us to improve. Friends who offer criticisms should be treasured because they are actually placing their friendship at stake by this gesture. They suffer from an imperfect knowledge of how their subject reacts to it, whether positively or negatively. It is better to hear the cold, hard truth face-to-face than to receive it when you least expect it from gossip-mongers who talk behind your back. Offering criticisms is different from hurling abuses, the latter being insulting and offensive and hence yields no tangible outcomes.

Many friends fall out due to misunderstandings, and these misunderstandings arise from either a lack of communication or too much of it, too much in a sense that people simply have enough of criticisms of themselves from their friends. The transition from friends to foes is a high price to pay. You lose a friend and you learn nothing from the experience. Take heed!

Stardom

Mandarin-pop has been dominated by the Taiwanese entertainment scene in recent years. While it holds true that Taiwan produces many well-known celebrities, it is Hong Kong that produces the stars. The Four Heavenly Kings were a classic, followed by the likes of Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui. I belong to the old school, and my personal favourites are Chow Yun-Fatt and Adam Cheng.

I was in Hong Kong last May when my Canadian friends happened to chance upon Chow Yun-Fatt at a cha can tang, the Hong Kong version of our kopitiam. Being excited as they were, they approached him for autographs and photos which he had all gladly obliged. I mean, wasn't Chow Yun-Fatt nice, given his celeb status in the Chinese community and subsequent breakthrough in Hollywood? Having seen this excellent example of humility and modesty despite immense fame and prestige, I wonder why some budding starlets choose to put on airs even though they have yet to make their mark.

Adam Cheng will be holding his concert in Singapore in May, but I am financially strapped to catch it. Oh well, I had missed Jacky Wu's concert a few years back anyway. Might as well.

The World around "Us"

Does "us" literally refer to only us or does it include "them" as well? I think these distinctions are rather useless. People complain about globalization and its ills, claiming that the growing trend is killing off local heritage and individuality. However, why should cultural diversity be celebrated when in its defense we can only gain enmity and suspicion from "them"? To a fair extent, cultural diversity and hence a "clash of civilizations" has led to genocide, terrorist attacks and civil wars, amongst other calamities plaguing the world of today. Look at the fight between "us" and the terrorists. Or the Darfur conflict in Sudan. Or the massacres in the former Yugoslav states and Rwanda. Or the more recent case in which the Chinese have reacted strongly against the West regarding issues pertaining to Tibet and the Olympics. Cultural diversity is a worthy price to pay in order to make the world a more coherent and homogeneous one to live in. Let there be no demarcation between "us" and "them". We are all global citizens, everyone a part of the human race.

Lost MSN password

May I request that those who had bothered to read this blog at all to add me on MSN via ykchan83@live.com because I have yet to recover my old password and am now stuck with this new address. It may eventually become my permanent one if my brain cells really fail to recollect that silly set of alphabets and numbers. It is more economical to broadcast my folly here than to SMS or call everyone regarding the loss. Thank You very much!

I wonder if raking in big bucks is really that important. Are graduate students unproductive units that leech onto the resource base of society? In any case, I will never give up my plans for further studies in favour of fatter paychecks and prospective promotions, if any. A higher degree may seem useless in the eyes of many, especially when it yields little utility in monetary terms. I know that I will remain poor for many years to come, but I simply don't care, so long as I don't become a burden to anyone. I have my own principles when it comes to the academia: I will only study on scholarships and nothing else. If I receive no sponsorship whatsoever, I will work till I have the means to provide for myself, period.

It is only in my last year at NUS that I realize that studying is indeed better than working. At least in my opinion, this is so. This is my plan for the future, if I am doing any planning at all.

Academics are useless on their own. However, they wield great influence on the lives of others and the world per se if their papers are substantial enough to break stereotypes and change mentalities. Intellectuals can muster the strength and resilience of civil societies and effect phenomenal, sweeping transformations for the better. Newton, Einstein, Al Gore etc. offer good examples in this context. For them to have an impact requires an audience to listen to their appeals. This depends on their ability to write and to convince.

I am still in the learning process. I shall strive on.

5-7 April: Xiamen City, Fujian Province, China

Not to be outdone by time constraints, I had tried to cover as much as I could of Xiamen within 3 days. I first visited a beautiful islet called Gu Lang Yu, famous for its high piano population and rich European architectural style.

The red house shown below is a legacy of the islet's past as the prominent site of European embassies during the Qing Dynasty. Like the hundreds of its kind on the islet, it has now become a residence of the common folk after 1949.

The islet is a pleasant place to be in, and indeed it had attracted many influential Chinese of the past to house their residences here. There is a pavilion atop the highest point of the islet, where a skyline view of opposite Xiamen can be obtained. An image of Zheng Chenggong looms near, symbolic of a successful takeover of Taiwan during the Ming-Qing period. It is up to the visitor to decide if it continues to bear any significance as a contemporary.

I hopped onboard a cab to Xiamen University, known as the most beautiful tertiary campus in mainland China. For me, it has to be the most beautiful campus that I have ever visited in the country, followed by Peking University by my own standards.

At the risk of stating the obvious, Xiamen University was founded by Tan Kah Kee. Mini-museums, monuments, statues and buildings bearing his name are scattered all over the campus, adding a nostalgic touch to the picturesque campus.

I stumbled upon a calm and peaceful pond where couples populate by its circumference. By the way, the air is fresher and less polluted in Xiamen than in most other Chinese cities, so it had been a pleasant experience strolling the pathways and roads.

After a while, I decided to get in touch with my material side by going to Zhongshan road, the equivalent of our Orchard Road. The variety of goods and services offered there is decent, not to mention the abundance of discs and more discs.

I realized that I had to fulfil my spiritual needs as well. Off I went to a hilltop temple the next morning. The history of this temple can be traced to as early as the Jin Dynasty.

And then at noon, I prayed at the most famous temple in Xiamen known as Nan Pu Tuo (南普陀). It was established in the Tang Dynasty and had enjoyed imperial patronage for many generations. The vegetarian biscuits and dishes served were superb, so it does not seem too bad an idea to seek monkhood at the temple.

Xiamen and Kinmen

I visited Xiamen en route to Singapore from Anxi. Xiamen is a beautiful city that faces the Taiwan Straits. However, the first thing that I did in Xiamen was to take a ferry and observe the Kinmen archipelago from a distance onboard. The ferry crossed the green indicator below that marks the boundary between China and Taiwan.

I was overwhelmed with joy when the “青天白日”flag greeted me from afar. I had wanted to salute it but I reckoned that if I did, I might not have returned home alive.

The “三民主义统一中国”tablet on the Dadan island was erected by Chiang Ching-kuo to rally all Chinese under the principles expounded by Sun Yat-Sen. The words were big enough to be seen using a pair of binoculars along the Xiamen coastline. He was frustrated at the fact that Taiwan had been expelled from the United Nations.

Prior to this, Chiang Kai-Shek had erected a tablet that says “还我河山”on the Lesser Kinmen island in Yue Fei fashion after the Chinese Civil War. To counter both the tablets erected by the father-and-son duo, China constructed at the beach a big one that says “一国两制统一中国”. It is interesting to see how China and Taiwan have communicated via silent messages indicated on gigantic tablets.

The Kinmen archipelago is smaller than Singapore in its combined land mass. However, it had for the past 60 years experienced massive shellings and repulsed three major invasions from the mainland. This is remarkable for an archipelago that seems too small to be defendable. In fact, Kinmen had protected Taiwan so well that the whole course of history was changed to reflect the status quo that we now see in the Taiwan Straits.

厦门和金门，两地近在咫尺，却又遥不可及。

两门遥相望，却又紧闭门户，不留丝毫缝隙。

3-4 April: Anxi County, Fujian Province, China

I went to Anxi last week to conduct some field research at a local temple. I have a disclaimer to make here: Anxi is a very scenic place, but the photos posted here do little justice to its beauty because the best pictures remain in the memory card of my professor's hi-pro camera, and I failed to capture on a bus in motion the lush green tea plantations that dominate the rural landscape. My first picture here shows urban Anxi as a rather sleepy town:

In a nutshell, I was busy snapping photos of the temple, its architecture, offerings, devotees, altars, idols etc. I had also participated in an annual festive procession to celebrate the celestial birthday of the City God. Again the best pictures of the grand carnival of enacted deities and teeming crowds are left in the hi-pro camera.

Nothing was left to be done at night, so some of the uncles in my tour group decided on something that cannot be done legally in our local context. Here's a glimpse at our arsenal:

My eardrums were almost shattered when the firecrakers fired off.

And I didn't know that fireworks were this cheap even though I understand that the Chinese invented them. The uncles ignited one bout after another like nobody's business. Indeed, it was nobody's business without the kind of enforcement that we have here. I became convinced that we don't need millions to light up the sky.

Crisis!!

I have not completed my thesis yet. Anyway, I had forgotten my MSN password. Please:

1. teach me how to recover my password, or

2. add me at ykchan83@live.com (my new and temporary address)

Now I'm so glad that I had left my blog address in my MSN nick.

And it is no joke that I have lost all my contacts. :(

Victory for Taiwan!!

I hope it is not too early to say this, but it seems that Ma Ying-Jeou has won the Taiwanese presidential elections, trailing Frank Hsieh only in the Tainan County. The Taiwanese have spoken! They have decided to usher in a new era of progress and prosperity! They have decided to rid themselves of the incompetent government that had led them to nothing but pains and woes for the past 8 years! They have decided to seek justice in their own hands, through their own votes! They have made a resounding war cry that shall resonate for the whole of eternity!

台湾一马当先向前冲！马英九冻蒜！Long Live the KMT!

Taiwan has a future now! Brighter than ever before! Jacky Wu will become richer! What wonderful prospects!

The "One China" Market plan proposed by the KMT definitely sounds better than the ethnic divisions that the DPP had been promoting in the past. As a foreigner, I wish Taiwan all the best. BUT, 青いうち、すてきですね！

Tribute to the KMT! Long live the party and its cadres!

And for the victory tonight, this picture that I have will always remain priceless in my eyes:

Here's re-entering seclusion again! Haha!

My Last Entry for the Semester...

...and so I plan. I will 闭关修炼in the next few weeks to work on my Honours thesis, otherwise I will need to rely upon divine help to complete it on time.

I had received phone calls from Debby and Peggy, as well as greeting cards from Marvin. Thanks for all those thoughts! Here's wishing you all the best of health and luck in the New Year!

Valentine's Day was just over, and I had met enough friends last week to convince myself that most of the single and available around me are actively seeking the special someone in their lives. Good luck to them! Find one soon before your virtues are masked by your looks and wealth in the future, that is, on the basic assumption that all of which will improve in the next few years (with higher income you have the resources to doll yourself up and hence enjoy a better appearance). Those who stick with you when you are at your worst ought to be treasured and loved in kind.

Me? I wear shorts to school. Sometimes I don't shave. I prefer books to humans. Cracking jokes is my forte. I am only serious in my papers. Simply put, I just don't care. I have enough loved ones in my life to feel wholesome. Family and friends. What can be missing?

I am an aspiring academic. And an aspiring hermit.

I need to thank Peggy for helping me gather some of the research materials from Taiwan. She deserves a special mention in my acknowledgement list. My professor has been very kind and helpful too! And nice! Thanks to Jack who has always offered me timely advice when I need it. And to Jacky who has never failed to stress me out to make me see the fallacy of my wishful thinking. Thank You very much to every other person who has assisted me in one way or another. A more comprehensive list will appear in my thesis, if I ever get it done on time.

I shall camp at libraries. I shall sleep in campus. I shall feast my eyes on books and papers. I will do anything to complete the thesis. Never underestimate the willpower of a Taurean. But sometimes I do doubt my own intellectual ability. I hope everything works out fine.

On 15 February 1942, the worst capitulation of the British in Japanese hands occurred in Singapore. 66 years later, I make a vow to avoid that of my life.

China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Turkey. See you in my dreams.

Omniscience to my transient life!

现实

已经看透人生、目空一切，
却仍未看破红尘。
遥想过去，只剩现在，现在又走了。
若见故友，未来虚度，说我也将来。

Jacky Wu and his variety shows

I have an idol named Jacky Wu. He currently hosts many variety shows in both Taiwan and mainland China. Occasionally, he directs a few films and cuts a few albums, both of which he has not done in recent years. How is he able to cope with such a heavy workload, traveling from place to place and having to transit in Hong Kong without direct flights across the Straits?

Jacky Wu has emphasized the "Three No's" principle for his variety shows: No rehearsal, No script and No re-take. The viewer has to accept whatever he does or says without NG. This endows his shows with the vibrancy and wit unseen in our local media. Everything has become so impromptu, so real, and most certainly unpretentious. I was in a live recording of his "Guess" show 2 years ago, and the entire process lasted for merely 1 hour for a 2-hour telecast. Yet, with a huge viewership, it is obvious that the quality and entertainment value of his shows are not at all compromised.

I met up with a Taiwanese senior during the New Year. She has a friend who is a Taiwanse-born TV compere working in our one and only media station. Her friend mentioned that it is stifling working in an environment filled with scripts and forced expressions. Unnatural.

My professor appeared in the papers a couple of weeks ago. Some of us had commented that the photos of him looked "fake": my professor was featured reading a book and apparently in deep thought. The photographer should have done something better, like capturing him when he was speaking to the reporter perhaps?

We live in a pretentious world. 也罢，这世界本来就是虚假、虚幻的，只是现在才察觉到。也不算太晚，知道总比麻木好。I need a respite. As soon as I am done with my Thesis, 我就会到那我熟悉和那熟悉我的国度去，独自过着自在和悠闲的生活: 起码要待上一个多月，必定允诺。我就是这副贱骨头，对那封存已久的境与事总是难以释怀。

哭也一天，笑也一天，干脆逢场作戏过一天。笑一笑，就过去了。

We are all a product of our memories and experiences. Without a future to look forward to, I have my memories to fall back on. Back to square one. For eternity. For nothing, if eternity is transient.

Unfair World

How can we claim that the world is rosy when as high as 50%, if not higher, of the world's population are suffering from famine and poverty? Doesn't it prove the Buddhist notion that life is an endless cycle of suffering （苦海无涯）?

A world of CEOs and presidents is unthinkable, and undoubtedly impossible. If I am not mistaken, about 40% of the secondary school students in Singapore fall under the Normal stream. Unbelievable? Unfair? This sounds logical given the disproportional number of independent/SAP schools compared to that of neighbourhood ones.

“大智若愚”，才是终极智慧，才不会自取其辱。

I am not bright, so I always prefer people to tell me the truth upfront to them being discreet and mindful of what they say. Why bother making suggestions and telling me things that you have no intention of fulfilling? All our feelings would have been hurt. To err is human, and I am a mere mortal. Please criticize me upfront if I fall short of your expectations.

I am a practical idealist. Sounds oxymoronic eh? I have my crazy ideals, but I know that my survival in the society fully depends on how I play the game of life. Although I don't dislike society, I have always wanted to leave it and enter reclusion. I will still work my guts out if need be, but given an opportunity, I would rather lead my own kind of lifestyle and forgo the dreams and riches that life has promised to offer.

Anyway, keep your spirits high! Happy Lunar New Year!

Happy Lunar New Year 2008!

Wacky Jacky and his Taiwan Desk would like to wish everyone a very Happy Lunar New Year! Thank You for accompanying him through a significant part of his life-the transition from carefree student to prospective working adult. Here's yet another year away from freedom and innocence, into a future of hopes and dreams.

I wonder if babies born in the Year of the Pig will enjoy good luck in the coming year. Superstition perhaps, but it is always welcoming (at least to me) to make your future seem more predictable according to the stars and signs.

I appreciate your SMSes of well wishes, dear friends!

Thanks too to Peggy and Marvin for their overseas greetings!

在此恭祝各界同仁新年快乐、身强体健、永保安康！

Global Warming

I saw my comment appear on Lianhe Zaobao dated 5 February 2008. I had commented on the use and payment of 10 cents for plastic bags in the NUS Co-Op bookstore. I supported the new policy, adding that it would promote the practice of bringing bags out for shopping.

I think we have to start somewhere. I can almost imagine that the air-conditioned nation of Singapore will contribute to and fall into what I coin a "heat cycle". Imagine this: the weather gets hotter by the day, and to make ourselves feel more comfortable we switch on the air-conditioners at higher blast. The engines and turbines with the CFCs emitted will then add onto the amount of greenhouse gases that the atmosphere has already contained. Thus hotter weather. Until we turn the air-conditioners onto full blast. Finally, the situation will reach a stage whereby no level of technology can sustain us and we shall suffer from our own un-doings.

We are already feeling the heat ourselves, so we need no Al Gore and his An Inconvenient Truth to tell us what we should already know. Let's begin bit by bit, starting from ourselves!

What is Civilization?

This is a chim question. I also don't know. I Chinese educated one. But in my words I think civilization is this: “穿着光鲜的衣裳，进行原始的搏斗”. Times may change, history may change, but human nature remains the same lah.

I heard they changing the bus and train system leh. For the better. I also think must change. During the off-peak hours, the frequency all freaky low. The bus-stop got people but bus bay bor bus. Once I wait for 20 minutes and a guy who reach the bus-stop before me still there waiting. 等你等到我心痛！等你等到没有梦！Why 没有梦？Completely lost hope, 没有梦想了！Now I see a bit of hope.

Then sometimes, I think my arm too short to be seen, the bus never stop! Then I take train, peak hours, jialat man. I too puny to wrestle in, so wait for about 3 trains then can squeeze in you know. People in the carriage think that standing at the entrance easy for the 财神爷to see them, so all crowd there. You think everyone alight at Woodlands or Boon Lay meh? Of course I know most people will drop off soon, but be considerate and move in for others to board lah. Even I can understand the announcement on air leh.

The taxi, bus and train system all change at one go, wrong lah. Must be gradual and one at a time. Now the transport system improve to discourage people from buying car, but first step to change the cab fare wrong liao. Now those used-to-take-taxi people change to taking bus and train, when the bus and train cannot tahan the new crowd! Why? This means we still don't have world-class transport system! And we always have to pay world-class fares! How can when we are even worse than Taiwan (the "last" of the Asian Tigers) in this aspect? Aiyah, don't know lah.

Monetized economy: everything calculate in relative gains and profit margins. When got LRT and NEL, bus services gone to make people use the new installations. Our convenience compromised. Like this civilized meh? Aiyah, I also don't know lah.

I don't know how to use nice-sounding words to explain things. I only know how to drink kopi and talk cock. Paiseh hor.

Crazy World

It's total madness at NUS. The Arts students of last semester require a SAP of 4.9 to qualify for Dean's List! The names of my friends "traditionally" "parked" on the list disappear, replaced by a whole chunk of new ones. I think our juniors are very very smart, a mighty force to be reckoned with in the last bell curves that we will experience at NUS.