Ipoh and KL, here are the food delights...

1 whole chicken, 2 kilo of tauge and 6 hor fun servings for a whopping RM64!!!!!

price of a bowl of Ipoh horfun with fish cake slices has increased

from RM1.70 (when I first had it, I think) to RM3.20 now!!!!

whalloped bak kut teh... yummy :)

best char siew with engulfing aroma at the stall

RM48 tea set for 2 persons...

reminded me vaguely of Peninsular Hotel in HK

The Op

the senior optometrist

The doctor said, “Hi Edgar!” in a loud and commanding voice. Asked me briefly how I was feeling and for my I/C numbers. I couldn’t see much without my glasses as a nurse guided me to the operating table while I slowly recited my I/C numbers.

Told me to lie down.
Series of systematic instructions came in a torrent and with such ease (I guess) after thousands of such similar operations.

“Well Edgar, just a demo for you. This is what you will hear when the laser is switched on. (Then came repeated clapping sounds next to my right ear which I had heard while I was waiting outside the op room).”

“All right we will start the procedure on your right eye first. Open your eyes and look towards to the orange light.” (The nurse pasted something to keep my eyelid open and something metallic was placed on my eyeball.)

“You will feel a slight discomfort initially. Then you can see for a few moments as we create the flap. But don’t worry, you should be able to see after a short while.” (My heart was palpitating as I began to doubt my decision to subject myself to this “unnecessary” procedure that could endanger my eyesight forever.)

“All right, look at the orange light (lucky he didn’t asked me to walk towards the light) and don’t move (I was so worried that if I move a single muscle, the laser would miss and I could go blind) for the next 5 to 8 mins. We will the start the laser now.” (the clapping sound starts..)

My mind starts to wonder… then I told myself to focus on the light.. my mind started to count from 1 to 60… wondering when the 5 to 8 mins would be done…

Suddenly the clapping sound stopped. The doctor then explained to me that he would be putting back the flap and told me not to move. It felt like someone trying to stick something on a glass door and smoothening out the sticker to avoid bubbles being trapped underneath the sticker.

The same procedures and words were repeated again for my left eye.

A few minutes later, the op was completed and declared a success.

After an hour of recovering from the slight pain to both my eyes and high level of stress that my poor heart has gone through, I was duly accompanied to the taxi stand by a nurse for my ride home.

Thus this is the story of how I spent a few thousands on my eyes. The End.

my eyes opening experience Part 1

I walked casually into the clinic after lunch, without any appointment. Everybody (ie. I think they are all girls with long hair) was busy. I just took the form and filled it up.


I was duly given and told of an itinerary of eye tests, procedures, counselling sessions etc which I should expect to dedicate 2 to 3 hours of that afternoon to complete.


I was duly shown to a waiting area dedicated to 10-15 people like me at various stages of completing the itinerary. For all the various tests, I was attended to by beautiful people.


In one of the tests, the optometrist lady asked me why I looked so tired. I said I was bored. Her response, "Maybe we should put more exciting movies on the tv.... all right, can you read the third row of alphabets for me?" "... A . urr F.. D .. O and T ?"


As part of the process, clients like me are made to sit through 10 minutes of watching an educational video on Lasik to ensure that we know what we are doing.


After all the tests and video, I finally get to see the doctor. A hugh man. "Hi Edgar.. shaked hands.. and briskly ushered me to a machine and examined my eyeballs for 20 seconds flat. He then said something about my astigmatism, high degrees and mild presbyopia... in his medical opinion was for me to go for wavefront. "How much more?" I asked. "I don't discuss prices here. My staff will attend to you about this later." Duly ushered out of consultation room.


Next, group counselling session. Wow! Just to make doubly sure that e know what we have decided to go through. 6-8 of us were gathered into another room and we were given the dos, don'ts and risks etc etc.


After which, I confirmed my operation date and paid my bills. Yes, a few thousands poorer. But looking forward to the big day tomorrow.

I am a bit artificial now

A part of me is artificial since Friday Nov 30, 2007.

What do I mean? I have decided about a week ago ie. after comtemplating for years, to get Lasik done on my eyes. My eyes have now been artificially carved by laser beams.

Why did I decide to do it?

• The dropping prices enhances affordability.
• The escalating comfort of seeing my brother and sister who did theirs and were up and running within 24 hours. I had thought one would have to suffer the temporary blindness for a couple of days.
• The short turnaround time of the whole exercise attracted me. If you decide to have Lasik done on your eyes, you could get them done by tomorrow.
• The lower prices put aside my concern about "useful life" of the Lasik op given my impending "lao hua". Sigh... :(

I am now a few thousands dollars poorer but my eyesight has gained almost 7-fold better.

Till the next posting, I will share with my personal experience of going through the process.

P/S - I am now back. I was really busy focusing my every ounce of strength and attention on helping my students in their pursue of their academic excellence.

HDB said more supply but higher prices expected

As per Nov 29, 2007's BT, the Housing and Development Board said they "will continue to monitor demand and could offer another 6,000 units through its build-to-order (BTO) system. However, prices are also likely to go up."

[Why? I ask myself.]

Related link:
Click here for the full text of Mr Mah's speech

Saying that he did not want to 'fudge the issue', National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said: 'Prices will go up as a result of resale prices going up.' Mr Mah was speaking at the launch of two new housing projects under the BTO system.

Mr Mah's representation solicited an immediate response from Lu Keehong who wrote to BT's Forum on Nov 30, 2007,. Lu made the following queries about Mr Mah's position on HDB and its pricing policy.

1) Since when the new HBD flat prices are to be influenced by resale market prices?

2) As current resale prices are on an up trend, thus higher prices for new flats expected. So Lu asked whether vice versa was true in the last few years when property prices were in doldrum? Ie. did HDB price its flats lower in the last few years?

In conclusion, a few simple questions.

1) How does HDB price its flats of various sizes?

2) How does HDB determine its supply?

What is happening to "prices" in our daily life?

my expensive night

"Prices of live chicken rise by 20%" "Flour in short supply, so bread prices may be hit."

Both are headlines at page 2 of Straits Times today.

Now eating a $3-lunch is no longer filling to the stomach. To avoid raising the price, the hawkers and restauranters will just reduce the serving portion.

Your salary must increase by AT LEAST 7% this year. For otherwise, your real income would definitely be lower than last year...

P/S - refer to letters in the Forum page today

- Maybe that is why taxi drivers are taking the risk of being caught for touting... drivn to desperation to make a living ma...

- Maybe that is why the sales posters, stickers, flyers etc etc can be found all over the place with no regard to law... again driven to desperation to make a living ma...

- Maybe that is why karung guni men are so much noise in Clementi area... again driven to desperation to make a living maaaaaa............

farewell dinners

a gift i appreciate
a meal i will always rem
a team i have worked with

Attended a few farewell dinners on edgar recently hosted by his ex-colleagues. It is truly farewell dinners indeed. Sob sob...

I do notice people don't really catch up with ex-colleagues after leaving a company. So the farewell meals are thus really really meaningful. I actually said "pow chuung" as in "take care" to my some of my staff who are older than me.

I was so blessed with the good staff that I have the pleasure to have served with over the years. I will miss oei and all of you. I sincerely wish you all my bests. Good health, in particular.

As for me, I will embark on my next phase of my life.

See life clearer

I was duly introduced to this clinic specialising in lasik surgery by my brother and sister yesterday. It was buzzzing with so many people and activities on a saturday afternoon. The clinic really impressed me with many interesting features.

The clinic has firstly an interesting punchline - "see life clearer". Well for me, should we live our life trying to see things so clearly, philosophically speaking?

Secondly, the very pleasant looking ladies on duty today were all wearing hot pants in a clinic that does not look like a medical facility at all!! If I call the piece of clothing correctly.

Thirdly, I was shown that you are able to get lasik surgery done in just a few hours ie. from the moment you decide to go for lasik. You don't to wait for a surgery appointment over weeks.

Fourthly, my brother and sister regained complete use of their eyes after a good night sleep after surgery.

Fifthly, you would be chaperoned by a very pleasant looking lady after surgery from the clinic at 15th floor (I think) to the taxi stand at ground floor. This is definitely service!

Lastly, the clinic performs 30 surgeries on a quiet day. At $2,400 per surgery for both eyes, the clinic is generating a sales turnover of $72,000 a day or about $1.44mio for 20-working-day month. WOOOOW!!!!

auntie n uncle shopping approach

Auntie's char siew story

An auntie wanted to buy ony $2 of char siew to do her fried rice at home. The stall owner said a minimum of $3 is required. After some bargaining, the auntie won. Before she left the stall, she also asked for a few packets of chilli sauce.


Uncle's ABC stout

An uncle ordered a can of ABC stout to go with his peanuts. Coffee shop assistant delivered and asked for payment of $3.80. The uncle exclaimed that it is so expensive and swore never to return. After he paid grudgingly, he turned to other patrons and earnestly reported on the prices of the same can of Stout sold at NTUC Fairprice for $3.20 and at nearby hawker centre for $3.40.


Moral of the story

Our young ones should too learn the value of money. We need to appreciate our own hard earned money and not to give them away so easily.

We have to make a fuss over paying too much for something, yes even if it is over 10cts. Unless of course, you can afford it.

Stick no Bills - Is it still a law?

need instant cash?

the leftover stain after removing a heavily glued poster

my electricity meter

Dear Town Councillors,

Reference to my email to you dated 21 May 2007. As the problem still persists and as some of you said you could not see the above pictures, I have now placed in this blog for easy reference.

What have been done to date? For my estate, I do notice the cleaners are working extra hard in clearing the posters, stickers from the walls. But is it effectively and efficiently solving the problem?

I don't think so.

Can you suggest a solution? The offenders are blatantly placing their contact numbers for your necessary actions.

I do believe that there is light at the end of tunnel (before we got pasted out!!!!)

one family unbroken

up and on

my school n the moon

the water that flows thru' the village

On Saturday night last, I attended the old boys' (yes, old) dinner at my alma mater.

We were all there to celebrate our boyhood lost forever. At least, I was. Some were as old as the school.. Some are very famous, or prominent, or rich, or still young etc etc. I think one came in his taxi.. For me, I guess I am pretty much in between everything. I am neither rich, famous, poor, old nor young.

One of us even came with the old school books. We were looking at the goondoo pictures of ourselves and teachers; and reminiscing about our stupid pranks, detention class, yellowed school shoes etc etc.

The most cherished moment of the nite was when my friend, of more than 20 years, related this story to me.

"My younger brother scolded my mum." he said. "Huh?" said I.

"He said my mum sent him to the wrong school, RI. She should have sent him to St. Andrew's too." he said. "Why?" said I.

His younger brother envies him for the many friends that his elder brother still have around him despite the years.

Peace overwhelmed me. Amen.

Bus fare hike, inflation and you

What is the headline in Straits Times today? What is the topic discussed on 93.8FM this morning?

Bus fare hike, my friends. But it is only 1-2 cents increase next month, you may say. Why is Edgar making a big fuss out of this 2-cent issue?

Assuming a Jane is paying $1 bus fare today, with another 30 years to retirement and that bus fare increase at 2 cents per annum, you would be paying $1.60 for the same trip in 30 years' time.

You would be drawing down on your savings to pay for your daily expenses.

Inflation is a disease that all should be very concerned with.

P/S - China equities experienced their biggest one-day drop in over 2 months yesterday in reaction to news that China's inflation rate surged to a 10-year high last month.

Legal definitions or legal loopholes?

** The following may be deemed not suitable for children. Please read on at your own risk.**

• It was reported in Singapore's newspapers recently that a man was caught outraging the modesty of a woman when he grabbed a woman's breasts from behind. He tried to defend himself in Court, through his lawyer, against the charge by saying that a woman's breasts are NOT private parts.
  
• A senator (I think) in US was charged with disorderly act in the toilet. The media's use of words to describe the act is very interesting. "He was caught in the act as what most people would generally deemed as asking for sex." (something like that la. can't remember exact quote.)
  
• Remember the Clinton-Lewinski saga. The government spent hours after hours debating whether to impeach Clinton on the issues of whether there was sex and secondly, define oral sex.

Punggol Paradise

a paradise?

We have been given a glimpse of staying in the paradise of Punggol where a river flows through with water activities in the 2 reservoirs, chilli crab dining, lush green parks etc etc etc

A few days later, we are given the nightmare of staying in Punggol.

What nightmare?

So NOW if you are going from North to town, you will get at least 4 gantries to reach office in Shenton Way. And on your way home in the evenings, you will soon have a gantry waiting for you till 10.30pm.

So by the time the Punggol Paradise is fully up in a few years' time, perhaps we may have to pass through 15 gantries!!!!

No worry Edgar, I don't drive, as you may say. You MRT type? Imagine this.

At least an hour long journey, standing in a crowded compartment all the way to office and all the way back in the evenings!

Bottomline - We need a solution.

Tit-for-tat?

waiting for fireworks

The fake milk powder.

The fake medicine.

Sale of pigs died of diseases.

The char siew pau made of grounded cardboard.

The slaves in the brick factory.



Fake Rabit sweet.

A worldwide recall of some toys produced in China for reason of toxidity in the paint used.

China has conducted tests on soya beans imported from US. China found some contaminants in the imports and has asked US to look into it.

Are the above incidents related? Are they started by some other issues?

US has been asking China to float its currency, to open its market and toughen its anti-priracy acts.

Are the toy company and the boss who hung himself in Hong Kong part of the big picture? Or am I too imaginative?

What do you think?

Now we have "No Sugar Added"

So now you are telling me that there is "No Sugar Added" to the FRESH juice that I am drinking.

So how about in the past when you are telling me that I am buying real fresh juice?

Have you been "poisoning" me with sugar all these years? Are you raising my addiction to sweet things with your intense concoction of sugar water?

We have been drinking these concentrated sugar-added liquid. So can I blame my obesity on you?

So friends, we really need to be aware of what you are putting into your mouth and down your throat.

P/S - I dilute my juice drink ie. half a glass of juice is diluted with another half a glass of water.

Some news bites still in my mind

a brightly-lit signboard at a dark public carpark

The following are some interesting news I read and whatever remained of them in my head.

The first two are very sad indeed and I do hope we will spare a moment and pray for them. One was really stupid and confusing. And one was just plain bloody. And I end with one star story in a condescending tone.

• Bus accident story - Rescuers found a 3-year boy alive held tightly in the bosom of his dead mother. Her head was broken and twisted all the way to the back.

• In the same bus story - The 8-month foetus was ripped off from her mother's womb.

• The Dalvey story - A father came home. Saw the 20-something-year-old boyfriend of his 30-something-year-old daughter, coming out of his daughter's room, wearing ONLY an underwear. The young man (I think) started stabbing the father and the maid... Haiz...

• In a matter of a few weeks, the stock markets of the world went into a tailspin. About 700 points disappeared from Singapore's Straits Times Index together with billions of dollars (some of them, mine).

• To the many new "bird" investors out there, you can now placed a "STAR" on your shoulder and say, "I have experienced one stock market crash, hereby named the Sub-prime thingy."

Good night, my beloved friends and take care.

"forwent" - a new word accepted by Straits Times?

In the Forum page recently, I was thoroughly surprised to see the word "forwent" used in "He forwent fares to help stranger.".

What is that?

My goodness, it is the past tense of "forgo" as in "I will forgo my trip to Japan to study for my coming exam". Or "I have forgone the opportunity to get promoted when we decided to have a baby."

Or maybe on second thought, my English is not too powderful... oops powerful.

Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori...

As I sat alone, thinking about the past, watching love, death and human brutality of "Troy" on TV, my mind suddenly went in search of some poetic lines but alas literature and poems are not my strength...

But this one line has stayed in my head over the years.. We were forced to memorise the lines in my secondary school days. Thus it wasn't a pleasure.

What is the meaning of the line? Well it is not something nice and thus don't go looking for the meaning.

Good night, my...

What happened to "Till death do us part"?

The answer - "The vow was applicable when people only live to the age of 35"


Now that our mortality rate are in the average 70 plus, is marriage to anyone too long?


Can we do a trial or term marriage thingy?