Ed's 2009 Read List

This was an interesting exercise that made me realised that my reading focus was rather narrow and lacked variety. Below was my list for 2009 and, as usual, they are not conclusive and in no order of preference.

Regular Read

| The Straits Times | Business Times |
| Control Engineering Asia | The Economist |
| TIMES | TIMES Mobile | Newsweek Mobile |
| Reuters Mobile | Bloomberg Mobile |
| Journals & Papers | EM Asia |

Occasional Read

| Harvard Business Review | Financial Times |
| EDN Asia | Asset | Wireless Design |

Books that I Like
| Romance of the Three Kingdom (Chinese Version) |
| Suntzu's Art of War (Chinese Version) | What Customer Wants You to Know? |
| The First 90 Days | The Leadership Pipeline | The Undercover Economists | ...

What I should try to read in 2010
| Chinese Classics | Culinary | Food |
| Travel | Home Decor | Medical & Health | ...

Nora Buri Resort and Spa, Koh Samui, Thailand

Nora Buri Resort and Spa, Koh Samui, Thailand

I had one of my best holiday here. Much better than Mauritius or any other holiday. This Koh Samui resort had excellent personalised service recognizing their guests by name and perference. It was a little remote from the city centre having to use taxi to and fro. Otherwise, the environment offers tranquility and very close to nature. Each villa came with complete facilities of room, toilet, shower, bath tub and "open air" rain bath and its own private pool, with jacuzzi, facing the sea. This place is highly recommended for couples.

Above: Bedroom and Open-air shower

Bathroom

Below Clockwise: (1) Bedroom (2) View from bed (3) Compound of Villa (view from inside) (4) Compound of Villa (View from outside) (4) Shower set

    Private beach

Swimming facilities within the Resort

Recommendation (max 5 stars)

Comfort *****
Cleanliness *****
Value-for-money ****
Food (Breakfast) ****
Overall *****

2010: They Rocked 2009

They rock the world in 2009 in one way or another. They either painted the world red or grey. They are just some of the names but not conclusive and not in any order of perference:

| Rachel Uchitel |Steve Jobs | Cristiano Ronaldo | Mark Zuckerberg |

| Madoff | Lehman Brothers | Michael Jackson | Lady GaGa |

| Adam Lambert | Susan Boyle | Barack Obama | Jack Dorsey |

| Ken Lewis | Usian Bolt | Picquet Nelson Jr. |
| Manny Pacquiao | Danny Boyle | Lionel Messi |
| Patrick Swayze |
|Hillary Clinton | Jack Ma | Sarah Palin |

| Rafael Nadal | Tiger Woods | Thiery Henry | ...

Will you rock the world in 2010? Never say Never!

Leave Out all the Rest

Is ten years a long time? Probably yes in today's contact. Many things can happen within the span of ten years. Many relationship can change. Many changes would have taken place.

Change may be difficult but, sometime, necessary. Positive change can also be known as improvement while, negative, regression. Change brought about stess but also hope for the better. Either way, it can be difficult due to having to expect the unexpected and facing uncertainties.

However, if change ever have to happen, to me  and

(Abstract from one of my favourite song from Linkin Park)

"... if you're asking me, I want you to know

When my time comes

Forget the wrong that I've done

Help me leave behind some

Reasons to be missed

And don't resent me

And when you're feeling empty

Keep me in your memory

Leave out all the rest

Leave out all the rest ..."

Has my time come? Maybe. I am feeling the lethagic but, at this point, I really don't know! The time will come for all to know ....succession first!

Picture of the Day - Standing Out & Outstanding

A Pink Car with "I Do" Licence Plate.

This car stood up in the crowd and caught my attention. A pink color automobile in itself will only attract people who like the color but it is usually rare that owners will use pink for their car, especially in Asia. However, with a licence plate of "I Do" and appropriate decor, the intent required this car to be outstanding to serve its purpose because it was meant to be special for the special couple on their special day. The car was supposed to stand out for other to admire, not itself, but its passengers so that they can be blessed. It just has to be outstanding to stand out.

Picture of the Day - View from the Top

Mountain climbing or going up a hill or even corporate ladder are feats that require physical fitness, mental endurance and knowledge. Going up there is not easy but the fulfillment and satisfaction of when reaching there is something that cannot be described or understand by another. The view from the top can be fansinating and spectecular in your own way. However, the path there can never easy. The experience can be painful at times. There may be sacrifices but there will usually be joy along the way. The experience and realization of the dream and, more importantly, the gut to dream are second to no other activities in life. The determination and ability to get there, to many people in today's world, can only be dream.

View from the Top, Koh NanYuan, Thailand

Picture of the Day - The Tranquility of a Central Business District

This picture turned out to be better than expected. The curve of the bridge soften the otherwise cold buildings along the heart of this business district. It was rare for the road of CBD to be empty and pavement not crowded. I was lucky to capture the moment of tranquility despite being a normal business day.

Central, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong SAR

Food Glorious Food!

This trip to Hong Kong allowed me to revisit Gui Kee (my favourite Wanton Noodle stall off Carnavaro Road in Tsim Sha Tsui). A bowl of soup wanton noodle cost HK$19 and Wanton/Fish ball Combo was HK$25. I had been eating there for more than 10 years visiting them every time I went to Hong Kong.

My other favourite is Cafe de Coral, a Hong Kong style fast food with branches all across the islands. Cafe de Coral offered excellent pork chop rice, Honk Kong style milk tea, roast pork, hot pot and "Lao Ding" or Dry instant noodle. A meal would usually cost less than HK$40.

                   Fried Kway Tiao from wedding and Kowloon Hotel's Wanton Noodle

    

                           Gui Ji's Wanton Noodle (off Carnavaro Rd) & Mince Meat Rice with Oyster Egg at Tung Chung's Food Republic

Pork Chop Rice from Cafe de Coral Vegetatian Noodle & Snacks from Lantau Island

I also "Yam Cha" and had "Time Sum" on several occasions. I went to the resturant at Kwan Tung's APM building and another time at a resturant in Prince Edward. This seems to be a must-do thing when visiting Hong Kong. 

I also had lunch buffet at Kowloon hotel where they served decent wanton noodle, shark fins soup and a wide variety of choices Cantonese, Indian, Western and South Asian crusine.

Then there was tea-time at Lantau Island and Oyster egg for dinner at Food Republic in Tung Chung. My dinner set of minced pork rice with oyster egg cost around HK$40. I find it value-for-money and very tasty too. It was certainly relatively cheaper then the Food Republic in Singapore.

Hong Kong is not only a good destination for food but also good for pictures.

Kowloon Hotel: A Picture I like

Christmas Hotpot

We went to Jpot @ Vivo City for our Christmas lunch this afternoon. They served hotpot. A traditional food mostly reserved for Chinese New Year. Hot pot for Christmas, replacing the traditional turkey and other "ang mo" food, was interesting for me. The food was served in nice portion of vegetables, meat, bean curd, seafood and rice with self-concocted gravy and toppings served. The joy was always in the company. Merry Christmas!