Blog To Express

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A "recycled teenager" learning to blog.

Jun 30, 2011

A New Generation Funworld

In 1920s and 1930s, amusement parks were introduced to Malaya, offering a mix of eastern and western entertainment to the masses. Singapore had three amusement parks - New World , Great World , and Happy World (later renamed Gay World).

After the demise of the "Three World" Amusement Parks which were blogged at "Blog to Express" a new generation of children who grew up in Singapore, what new generation of "funworlds" to be developed by enterprising businessmen cater to the needs of these children and to fill up the vacuum created by the loss of the "three worlds of amusement parks" to entertain and amuse our young children in the 1980s.

The children today could not imagine the amusement parks visited by their parents and grandparents. How to describe these amusement parks in the 1920s and 1930s, what types of kiddie rides, carousals, the "Ghost Trains", the experience of their childhood playthings during their era.

Children who grew up in different eras at different places are the same recreational needs to enjoy with their toys, children games to play and their enjoyment and to give them emotional space to grow and develop. With friends and children of their same age group for sharing happiness of laughter, games to be excited at their funland to play.

Lets share with our children how we enjoyed our childhood days catching spiders and watching fireworks, the "vanishing games" kids play during my bygone days. Simple stuff compared to the high-tech virtual computer games they play today.

The joyful moments of a child is not time-specific.

Today, virtual games have gone mobile anytime, anywhere...iPhone, smartphone, PSP, iPad and what you have on the road, in the train and even in the loos, mesmerised in their own game world on their hands.

Is there any difference in the joyful glints of the child's eyes now when he gets an ice-cream and a child, say, who was 50 years ago.

In the world of the child, the first taste of ice-cream or candy for that moment is a heavenly experience, an indescribable heavenly joy.

I cannot assume that all the children love the same things everywhere in the world, but we make a general assumption that ice-cream and candy love all children.

I would like to borrow the lyrics of the song "My Favorite Things" , from the movie "The Sound of Music" on this blog.

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things

When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad.

[Repeat all verses]

From a personal parenting experience, I discovered that the best growing up years when my children were very young, their joy is our joy.

In the mid-1980s, my elder daughter and younger son had a family outing ("kai kai" in children lingo) almost every Sundays.

The "new generation funland" wasn't "New World, Great World or Happy World" amusement parks in my young days.

The photos above were taken at the "Uncle Kenny Funland" at Ken-Air Funworld Pte Ltd
80 Marine Parade Road, #03-26 Parkway Parade, Parkway Parade, Singapore.

I did not realise that these candid photos were taken 20 years ago could be retrived as my "memory aids" of my kids at the new generation amusement parks on this blog.

It was an innovative amusement park for kids in an air-conditioned and safe, children-friendly environment with the latest kiddie machines for exciting games and rides. The kids loved spending the whole day there and reluctant when it was time to go home. There were too many games and kiddie rides at Uncle Kenny Funworld for them to play until they got tired, for them to enjoy this favorite place.

The new generation funworld are very different from my childhood three "worlds" of amusement parks...but memories of our child enjoyment and experience are the same. A different form and void; same growing up years until they found different hobbies in school activities and events with school friends and the community centres.

Uncle Kenny was created by Ken-Air Travel Agency and the first indoor amusement park concept.

Ken-Air Funworld Pte Ltd located at 80 Marine Parade Road, #03-26 Parkway Parade, Singapore.

Parkway Parade at Marine Parade Road. Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Below is an excerpt of "Children pack new indoor fun centre", The Straits Times, 22 April, 1984 on Page 4. Courtesy of the National Library Board NewspaperSG:
An indoor amusement centre opened on 21 April, 1984 at Parkway Parade and was deluged with excited children.

Its owner, Mr Kenny Goh, 35, who also runs Ken-Air Travel Agency, looked pleased at the turnout, which consisted mostly of invited guests.

He hoped the 2,800-sq-metre Funworld, which cost $2 million to decorate and equip, would attract customers willing to pay 40 cents to $1 for rides on the merry-go-rounds and bumper cars.

Mr Goh was confident he would succeed where many other amusement centres have failed. He said his centre provides entertainment for both adults and children.

"With smaller families," he said, "the parents have more time and money for their children."
At Uncle Kenny Funworld, the children were running everywhere shouting happily. The best sound (or noisiness) anywhere in the world is the children's natural, pure sound of laughter and love.

Once while watching my children enjoying themselves at Uncle Kenny many years ago, I smiled to myself the flashback of my childhood memories to my childhood days at the Great World Amusement Park.

Uncle Dick Yip's recollection of "Great World...recapturing the fun of childhood!" here . These photos from this blog with kind coutesy of Uncle Dick Yip to share his grandchildren at the kiddie rides. Thanks to Grandpa and Grandma to help them recapture the fun of childhood.

Another "new generation funworld" for the favorite of the kids was the Wonderland Amusement Park at Kallang Park.

These photos of Wonderland are posted here with the courtesy of the National Archives of Singapore (NAS) here:

Unfortunately, I could not dig up the family album of these photos or may have lost them.

However, Jerome Lim's "Wonderland Without Glasses" blog at The Asia Mag is linked here

Parents, grandparents and the family are encouraged to create their blogs to post photos of fond memories where the children have visited any new generation funwold and amusement parks to save them for posterity. Unforgettable happy moments of our times!

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Jun 24, 2011

New World Amusement Park

The New World at Jalan Besar c 1950. Source: National Archives of Singapore. (NAS).
The New World
From Return to Malaya by R.H. Bruce Lockhart, 1936

I waved an arm towards the night. With a grin [my rikisha puller] seized the shafts, and off we jogged. Twenty-five years ago we should have pulled up at a brothel, for your rickisha puller, even if he is inarticulate, knows instinctively the tastes of the tourist, and in those days Malay Street was the obvious destination of a European setting out alone at night.

Fashions, however, have changed, and after a gentle trot my puller stopped before a gateway with a huge electric sign in English and flashing the words, "The New World". I got out and rather shyly followed the throng which was streaming through the open gates. Inside was a huge fair with theatres, opera, cinema, dancing-hall, side-shows, booths, refreshment stalls, and even a stadium. The crowd was of all classes and of all races...

The noise was deafening. Next door to an open Chinese theatre with the usual accompaniment of gongs, a Malay operatic company was performing Mashdur. From the sideshows came an endless broadside of chatter laughter. In the booths in the centre, Japanese and Chinese were selling toys which would have delighted the heart of any European child: voracious-looking dragons, clock-work crocodiles and snakes, miniature baby-carriages, wooden soldiers, and the quaintest of domestic animals.

Avoiding the cinema where alluring posters of Miss Mae West revealed the fact that I'm No Angel had been passed by the Singapore Board of Censors, I went into the dancing-hall. There was an excellent orchestra, hired, I think, from some liner. It was playing Aufwiedersehn when I came in, and a crowd of dancers, mostly young Chinese, the men in white European clothes with black patent-leather dancing shoes, the girls in their semi-European dresses slit at the side, filled the dancing-floor. Many of the dancers had their own partners. But when the dance was over I noticed a number of girls who left their partners as soon as the music stopped and went to join other girls in a kind of pen. They were the professional Chinese dancers who can be hired for a few cents a dance.

There were other Europeans dancing, and after asking an attendant how the thing was done I plucked up my courage and, as soon as the music started for the next dance, went over and engaged a partner. More intent on information than on pleasure I ambled slowly round the floor, I had no reason except my own clumsiness to feel self-conscious. My Chinese partner danced with the ethereal lightness of a Viennese. Her name was Tiger Lily, and she told me some of the secrets of her profession.

These Chinese girls are engaged by the management. They are very carefully selected, and breaches of discipline are severely punished. They are paid about eight cents a dance. Each dance is registered on a card, and at the end of the week the cards are vigilantly scrutinized. Girls who are in great request, and who can show a high average of dances, may be promoted. Others, whose engagements are below the fixed average, have their wages reduced. In the dancing-hall, at any rate, there is no social intercourse between guest and professional dancer. At the end of each dance the professional goes back to her barricaded seclusion. The decorum, indeed, was unimpeachable, and could not have been criticized even by a Wee Free minister in a North of Scotland parish. To me this model seeliness was even more extraordinary than the almost complete waiving of the color bar in a British colony.
The New World c 1945. Source: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

The New World at night c 1953. Source: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

The New World c 1960. Source: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

The New World at night c 1962. Source: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Jalan Besar c 1900. Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

For the benefit and convenience of those who are unable to visit the "THREE 'WORLDS' OF AMUSEMENTS" exhibition organised by the National Library Board, I am pleased to blog here with additional research topic on New World Amusement Park.

Acknowledge with thanks to the National Library Board, Singapore for sharing this exhibition on "THREE 'WORLDS' OF AMUSEMENTS" on this blog.

This exhibition is based on articles from Singapore Infopedia. For more information and sources about the three 'Worlds' and other topics related to Singapore, please visit Singapore Infopedia .

Singapore Infopedia is an electronic encyclopedia on Singapore, providing access to a collection of articles on Singapore's history, culture and people.

NEW WORLD

The first of the three "Worlds", New World Amusement Park at Jalan Besar was opened in 1923 by merchant Ong Boon Tat and his brother Ong Peng Hock. It was later sold to the Shaw Brothers.

It had Chinese and Malay opera halls, shops, restaurants, cinemas, boxing arenas, shooting galleries, and soon established a reputation for a vibrant carnival atmosphere. It boasted what was arguably the best opera in Malaya - the New World's City Opera. Its cabarets were much raved about, and it had the first air-conditioned cabaret hall in Malaya. Those preferring to dance to Malay tune patronized the Bunga Tanjong where bands played to the beat of ronggeng or asli, interspersed with cha-cha or rumba. On some nights, the bands also three in the "twist" or "rock-and-roll".

Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew watching a ronggeng dance in 1964. Source: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

A poster of the New World Cabaret in 1939. Source: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

A Calypso dancer with an attentive audience c 1956.

As the popularity of amusement parks declined and other forms of entertainment emerged, New World lost its appeal and faded from the night scene. The site was sold to a developer in 1987. Today, City Square Mall sits on part of the old amusement park sit.

The gate of the park was taken down and sent for repair and re-painting, after which it was reinstated at the main entrance of the new mall. The refurbished gate was unveiled in January 2011, a reminder of the vibrant New World that drew crowds of visitors in its glory days.

Photos of matchboxes of the "El Amigo Nite Club" and "Maxim Discotheque" at New World Amusement Park. Photo Credit: Yeo Hong Eng

Map of New World Amusement Park. Photo Credit: Yeo Hong Eng

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Jun 18, 2011

Baby Jacob - Grandpa's Joy

Abang Lawrence Lim loves Sun, Sea, Surfing and latest hobby, shooting video clips posting to Facebook and YouTube.

Congratulations Grandpa 'Abang'! Best wishes to Baby Jacob, second grandson of Dad Damien and Mum Huifen. Greetings too to Grandma!

'Abang' is Lawrence Lim as I call him. My former colleague with HDB for over 20 years. More about him later on the blog.

For now, lets watch the video of Baby Jacob - 3 days old here .

The words of inspiration from Grandpa's personal experience and perspective to share below:
When you are a baby, your parents work for you;
When you go to school, your teachers work for you;
When you start working, you work for other people;
When you retire, you work for yourself;
When you become a grandparent, you work for your grandchildren;
When you kick the bucket, your work is done.
This is the cycle of live.
Enjoy every stage of it and be glad that you have done it well.
Some related quotes about grandma and grandpa:

"I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth".
Erma’s Angel

"My grandfather was a wonderful role model.
Through him I got to know the gentle side of men".
Sarah Long

"One of the most powerful handclasps is that of a new grandbaby around the finger of a grandfather".
Joy Hargrove

"Grandma and Grandpa, tell me a story and snuggle me with your love. When I'm in your arms, the world seems small and we're blessed by the heavens above".
Laura Spiess

"My grandfather once told me that there are two kinds of people: those who work and those who take the credit. He told me to try to be in the first group; there was less competition there".
Indira Gandhi

The Baby Jacob video clip was created by Lawrence on Facebook. He is a sailing and windsurfing enthusiast who spend most of his time to train young people to pass on his skills and experience.

The Windsurfing Singapore video Lawrence created on 29 May 2010 on YouTube with "Rain, rain go away",the dark clouds was heading towards East Coast. Everything look promising. Everyone was excited and went out to wait for the storm. But someone must have started singing the song and the storm went away here .

He has more than 10 YouTube video posted by Lawrence to his Facebook profile page.

Enjoy!

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Happy World Amusement Park

Happy World Amusement Park. Source: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Happy World was opened in 1937 by George Lee on a plot of land between Geylang and Mountbatten Roads. It was renamed Gay World in 1966. It catered especially to families with children, and fees to its attraction were kept affordable.

It was best known for sporting events and boasted the first covered stadium in Malaya. Besides boxing and wrestling matches, and sports tournaments, the stadium also occasionally held circuses.

The Gay World Amusement Park indoor stadium where the National Day Exposition 1967 dinner was held. Source: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Before the war, there bangsawan, operas, movies, games,sports, stunts, circuses, cabarets and shopping. As with the New World and Great World, gambling was rife at Happy World during the Japanese Occupation.

While the amusement park activities resumed the war and crowds once again flocked to Happy World in the 1950s and 1960s, the park was in decline by the 1970s. Free admission introduced in 1987 failed to woo the crowds back.

In 2000, the Land Office served notice to the remaining tenants to vacate by March 31. Eng Wah Organisation, the main tenant which also ran three cinemas at the park and managed the park, ended its lease. About 40 tenants stayed when the lease was extended to June 30.

Three tenants - Tai Thong Restaurant, New Happy Cinema and Datoh Rajah Theatre - stayed on beyond the deadline on temporary leases. The stadium was renamed Geylang Indoor Stadium and was managed by the Singapore Sports Council until the site was demolished in 2001.
The [Three 'Worlds' of Amusements] exhibition organised by the National Library Board is currently held at the Lee Kong Chian Reference Library on Level 11, National Library Building, Victoria Street, Singapore.

This exhibition is based on articles from Singapore Infopedia. For more information and sources about the three 'Worlds' and other topics related to Singapore, please visit http://infopedia.nl.sg

Singapore Infopedia is an electronic encyclopedia on Singapore, providing access to a collection of articles on Singapore's history, culture and people.

"Ian On The Red Dot - Wanderings, Musings and Happenings from Ian on Singapore" has written an interesting and informative blog "From Amusement Park To Cement Park" on Happy World here .

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Jun 5, 2011

Change is Inevitable

I came across an article from Xmuel.com to blog to express about change which my friends request to post on this blog topic.

The past, present and the future is the slogan and change as the buzzword we notice today, splashed on the headlines every media channel in every language…for a better world, not for the worse.
Pause and look at the world around you: it will end in a moment.

Change pervades every part of our world on our every scale. Your own body is changing as you read this message. Your topmost layers of skin are subtly dying, to be replaced by the skin beneath. Your hair is growing. In your stomach, food is being annihilated and transformed into useful fuel. The room around you is decaying. Dustmotes too small to see swirl and dance, gathering across every surface. The beverage next to your desk is slowly evaporating.

Macro-scale changes are similarly all-pervasive. The stock market is a chaotic storm of thrilling change. A continuum of wondrous new technology emerges, rises to power, and becomes obsolete as you watch. The slang and idioms of today are gradually canonized, and your very language slowly evolves. Politicians come and go, and in the larger time scale, their very parties come and go, and again larger scale, their very countries come and go.

Change is one of the biggest, most common fears in western society. More people fear change, more deeply, than any other phobia. Here’s a little exercise. Imagine if tomorrow you wake up in a totally different country. You find that you can speak the language with ease, at the same time you’ve magically forgotten your original language. You have friends, a career, family… all in this foreign country which is utterly different than anything you’ve ever experienced. Although your life in the new landscape is equally blessed compared to your former life, feel how out of place and shocked you are. Now, try to see through the eyes of someone who’s lived in that foreign land from birth. Imagine that THEY took your place and you took theirs, when the transportation occurred. They’ve inherited your old life while you inherited theirs. Are they any less shocked and displaced than you? They are just as lost and afraid! That proves, it’s not the new country- whichever country you chose- that stirs up those fears. It’s CHANGE itself which stirs them up.

Change is the most powerful fear in our society. CONQUER the fear of change, and that puts you among the bravest people alive.

Change is inevitable: you cannot stop it, neither can you escape it, not though you expend all the power of the mythological gods. You have a choice: you can resist change, and change will occur. Or, you can accept change, and change will occur.
The third, secret option, is to embrace change. Condition yourself to love change, and all your life you’ll be thrilled by it. Certainly there’ll never be any lack of change.

There are different levels of embracing change. You can superficially embrace change on the outside, and still fear it deep inside. You can embrace change on every level. Most people don’t embrace change at all: most people despise and fear change.

HOW CAN YOU MOVE FURTHER TOWARD EMBRACING CHANGE?

Despite how much people fear change, it’s very easy to take steps toward conquering the fear. The techniques are so simple, they almost seem silly.

TECHNIQUE #1: Conscious choice. Consciously, deliberately make the decision to embrace change. Make this a routine. At least once a day, say to yourself: “I choose to welcome change in my life.” Gradually, your fear of change will begin to loosen.

TECHNIQUE #2: Fake-it-til-you-make-it. A variation on Technique #1, in Fake-it-til-you-make-it, you tell yourself: “I welcome change in my life.” Do this at least once a day. This technique is more powerful than technique #1. However, if you’re highly resistant to change, using this technique might produce resistance. For example, you might feel silly because of your efforts. You might feel like, “I’m just lying to myself.” If resistance comes up, persevere; alternately, go to Technique #1 for awhile until you can make the jump to Technique #2 more smoothly.

TECHNIQUE #3: Attention (hat tip Eckhart Tolle). Whenever you find yourself getting upset about ANY change. Simply become aware of this. Don’t go out of your way or do any sort of special reaction: merely say to yourself, “hmmm, I’m resisting change right now.” Or better yet, merely KNOW to yourself, that you’re resisting change, without any mental dialogue. The point is, become aware of the matter. Amazingly, merely being aware of the resistance, will have a dissolving effect on the resistance. It’s like magic, and it’s really very powerful. The technique is very powerful when you pull it off, the downside is it takes lots of discipline to remember to become aware like that when very real day-to-day situations trigger change-resistance.

TECHNIQUE #4: Ridiculous Optimism. When you become aware of change of any form, find ways that it can benefit you. Really look for that silver lining behind every raincloud. It doesn’t matter if the “bad” in the situation outweighs the “good” by a huge amount; do whatever mental gymnastics it takes, to find SOMETHING to be grateful for in the change. I’ll list some examples.

Example 1 of Ridiculous Optimism: Your favorite TV show is cancelled. Well, maybe this is just a sign it’s time to finish that classic novel you’ve been meaning to read. Maybe this is an opportunity to discover something better which you can spend that hour doing.

Example 2 of Ridiculous Optimism: You get fired. Well, at least now you don’t have to put up with (insert some workplace bother). Maybe this is just a sign that it’s time to do a career change. If nothing else… life is going to get a bit more adventurous!

Example 3 of Ridiculous Optimism: You break up with your significant other. Well, they had certain baggage, and now you’re rid of that. You can go hit the singles bars, maybe a few danceclubs, have some fun. If nothing else, you’ve learned a great deal from the relationship and it’ll make a fascinating, dramatic chapter in your life when you look back later.

TECHNIQUE #5: Worst-Case-Optimism. This technique is a sort of meditation. It’s an imagination exercise. When a change comes up which you seem to be upset about. Visualize the worst scenario that could possibly happen. For example, your company has to cut costs: worst case scenario, you could be fired. Imagine yourself working at another workplace, laughing and joking with the coworkers. Maybe your party loses the national elections. Absolute worst case scenario, you could be imprisoned as a political prisoner. Picture yourself in a work camp, sharing a clandestine smile with a fellow prisoner. Picture yourself twenty years later, when your party’s come back into power, making speeches and selling books about your experience. The details aren’t important, nor do they have to be really logical even. The point is that after imagining surviving the worst case scenario and thriving. Whatever much easier situations arise, you’ll be able to laugh at.

LIVE IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW

Many people, especially older people, cling to a bygone world. Biding their time, waiting til all these new fads go out of style and things return to how they were fifty years ago. Well, that ain’t gonna happen. Embrace the world of the now. Embrace the new technology. Embrace the new language and slang. Embrace new philosophies, new entertainment, new fashion. If you don’t, the new things will just come anyway, you certainly can’t stop them!

CHANGE REALLY IS INEVITABLE

Even if you were king of the world and could ban change with an iron fist, change would eventually come. If nothing else, you would eventually die. Death is as much a part of the human condition as birth. A proverb says:

The end of meeting is parting.
The end of building is ruin.
The end of accumulation is dispersal.
The end of birth is death.

Think about this for a second. This isn’t a rule of thumb. This proverb is cruel, unforgiving truth. Everyone you know right now, in a hundred years you will no longer know them. Every manmade thing in your life, in a thousand years they will be gone. You yourself WILL die, and that is the ultimate change. Accept the fact that you will die. EMBRACE the fact that you will die. USE the fact that you will die, as inspiration to live an intense life, filled to the uttermost with adventure and achievements and love and joy. There’s no time to waste. You could be dead a moment from now, so ENJOY THIS MOMENT!!

A WORLD OF ENTROPY

In parting, here’s a final visualization. Imagine what would happen to the world if humans were suddenly whisked away. Picture the remains of a metropolis. At first, it’s just another day, except no humans around. Vegetation starts growing unchecked, over the years, stubborn plants start breaking down the pavement, the cement, all the structures. Weather beats upon the buildings, animals gradually move in, all the skyscrapers begin to decay. Earthquakes and fires, floods and hurricanes rage, breaking the city down. Unmaintained, anything manmade will gradually decay away. Picture the city after a hundred years. Completely overgrown and decayed.

What about after a thousand years? Will there be anything left? Even if archaeologists dug it up, there’d be very little left of the city. What about after ten thousand years? A hundred thousand years?

Change is powerful, the most powerful force in the universe, it’s an awesome force and a beautiful one, when you embrace and welcome it.
A city on the deserted island of Hashima, Japan

The following is a compilation of relevant quotes from Internet resources for reference purposes, not intended to be dogmatic, didactic or blasphemous:

"Everything changes, nothing remains without change." ~ Buddha quotes (Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta, the founder of Buddhism, 563-483 B.C).

"What we are today comes from our thoughts of yesterday, and our present thoughts build our life of tomorrow: Our life is the creation of our mind". ~ Buddha

"Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened". ~ Buddha

Happiness never decreases by being shared". ~ Buddha

"Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one getting burned. We are what we think. All that we are arises With our thoughts. With our thoughts, We make our world". ~ Buddha

"There is nothing more dreadful than the habit of doubt. Doubt separates people. It is a poison that disintegrates friendships and breaks up pleasant relations. It is a thorn that irritates and hurts; it is a sword that kills". ~ Buddha

"The rule of friendship means there should be mutual sympathy between them, each supplying what the other lacks and trying to benefit the other, always using friendly and sincere words". ~ Buddha

"Believe nothing merely because you have been told it. Do not believe what your teacher tells you merely out of respect for the teacher. But whatsoever, after due examination and analysis, you find to be kind, conducive to the good, the benefit, the welfare of all beings - that doctrine believe and cling to, and take it as your guide". ~ Buddha

"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense". ~ Buddha

"All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think, we become". ~ Buddha

"Anger will never disappear so long as thoughts of resentment are cherished in the mind. Anger will disappear just as soon as thoughts of resentment are forgotten. You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger". ~ Buddha

"Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one getting burned". ~ Buddha

"Through zeal, knowledge is gotten; through lack of zeal, knowledge is lost".
~ Buddha

"You cannot travel on the path until you become the path itself". ~ Buddha

"He is not the same, nor is he another". ~ Buddha

"Meditation brings wisdom; lack of mediation leaves ignorance. Know well what leads you forward and what hold you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom". ~ Buddha

"When one has the feeling of dislike for evil, when one feels tranquil, one finds pleasure in listening to good teachings; when one has these feelings and appreciates them, one is free of fear". ~ Buddha

"Let the wise guard their thoughts, which are difficult to perceive, extremely subtle, and wander at will. Thought which is well guarded is the bearer of happiness". ~ Buddha

"Be vigilant; guard your mind against negative thoughts". ~ Buddha

"We are formed and molded by our thoughts. Those whose minds are shaped by selfless thoughts give joy when they speak or act. Joy follows them like a shadow that never leaves them". ~ Buddha

"Those who are free of resentful thoughts surely find peace". ~ Buddha

"They are not following Dharma who resort to violence to achieve their purpose. But those who lead others through nonviolent means, knowing right and wrong, may be called guardians of the Dharma". ~ Buddha

"You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection". ~ Buddha

'He insulted me, he cheated me, he beat me, he robbed me' -- those who are free of resentful thoughts surely find peace. A good friend who points out mistakes and imperfections and rebukes evil is to be respected as if he reveals a secret of hidden treasure". ~ Buddha

"This life of separateness may be compared to a dream, a phantasm, a bubble, a shadow, a drop of dew, a flash of lightning". ~ Buddha

"I reached in experience the Nirvana which is unborn, unrivalled, secure from attachment, undecaying and unstained. This condition is indeed reached by me which is deep, difficult to see, difficult to understand, tranquil, excellent, beyond the reach of mere logic, subtle, and to be realized only by the wise". ~ Buddha

"Never in this world can hatred be stilled by hatred; it will be stilled only by non-hatred -- this is the law of eternal". ~ Buddha

"Hatred does not cease through hatred at any time. Hatred ceases through love. This is an unalterable law". ~ Buddha

"Our theories of the eternal are as valuable as are those which a chick which has not broken its way through its shell might form of the outside world". ~ Buddha

"A dog is not considered a good dog because he is a good barker. A man is not considered a good man because he is a good talker". ~ Buddha

"A wise man, recognizing that the world is but an illusion, does not act as if it is real, so he escapes the suffering".

"Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful".

"A good traveler has no fixed plan, and is not intent on arriving."
- Lao Tzu

"If you look to others for fulfillment, you will never be truly fulfilled."
- Lao Tzu

"Understanding unity helps to solve humanity's biggest challenges. There is no such thing as an isolated problem. By injuring any part of the world's system, you injure yourself. There is no such thing as a win/lose situation. Think of life on this planet in terms of systems and not detached elements. Broaden your field of vision and assimilate the knowledge you have. See that the environment does not belong to any single country to exploit and then disregard. You cannot afford to think of your relationship with the earth as a one-night stand. There's no such thing as a free glass of milk. It's time to buy the cow". ~ Za Rinpoche

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world". - Mahatma Gandhi

"There Is greatness all around you - welcome it! It is easy to be great when you get around great people". ~ Bob Richards

"If you fly with the crows, you will get shot with the crows.
Well that's what my old grandad told me.And he was full of bullet holes". ~ Unknown

"God does not play dice with the Universe". ~ Einstein

"Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit".
~ Max Ehrman, Desiderata

"The ear tests words as the tongue tastes food".
~ Job 34:3 NIV

"Let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action".
~ 1 John 3:18 NRSV

"The fewer the words, the better the prayer". ~ Martin Luther King

"Some people want to see God with their eyes as they see a cow, and to love Him as they love their cow - for the milk and cheese and profit it brings them. This is how it is with people who love God for the sake of outward wealth or inward comfort. They do not rightly love God, when they love Him for their own advantage. Indeed, I tell you the truth, any object you have in your mind, however good, will be a barrier between you and the inmost Truth...." ~ Meister Meister Eckhart (1260?-1327?)

"The World is three days: As for yesterday, it has vanished, along with
all that was in it. As for tomorrow, you may never see it. As for today, it
is yours, so work in it". ~ Hassan al-Basri

"A friend cannot be considered a friend until he is tested in three
occasions: in time of need, behind your back, and after your death".
~ Ali ibn abi Talib (radiAllah anhu)

"Allah doesn't like unjustice. He loveth not those who do wrong. If you end up suffering injustice, we do not know what Allah has planned in the bigger picture of things. Allah is The Just; and will bring justice. If not now, then in the hereafter". ` Unknown

"Innumerable changes of moods are yours,
and they are uncontrolled by you.
If you knew their origin,
you would be able to dominate them.
If you cannot localize your own changes,
how can you localize that which formed you?"
~ Jalaluddin al-Rumi
[Fihi Ma Fihi]
[At a time when Muslims today are being faced with trials and tribulations from every periphery and within, we would like to welcome this site IslamicQuotes.com. The site concludes the deep and organized thought from the commandments of Allah (swt), the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet (saas), and guidance and examples of the Muslims who came before us and are among us today. Included is also sayings which coincide with the truth of Western and Eastern thinkers and philosophers.

Our Reason for Being: Together, we all can make the world a better place for all mankind and understanding from the guidance provided to us. We, as Muslims, must learn, educate, reflect upon, and share this place on earth with everyone, including people of all faiths and humanity, filled with Wisdom, Love, Peace, and Happiness. Let us leave it to our Creator be the final judge.

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IslamicQuotes.com - Your thinking guide to emaan (faith) ...
For Each Day: "Think, reason, ponder, reflect upon - Be happy, at Peace, and Joyful"].
"The best way to understand and believe that change is inevitable is the weather and natural calamities (eg: tsunami, typhoon, volcano euption, etc) which affect millions of people - every time".
~ Thimbuktu
Things do not change; we change
Farah Aida examines social change in Singapore

By Farah Aida

Change is the only constant in life. This constant is the cause rather than the effect that sets things in motion. By ‘things’ I mean, systems, structures, situations and circumstances that define our existence in any civilized society. The essence of these ‘things’ does not change because they shape the basic structure from which such a society may grow and flourish. However their forms or features may differ just as human faces may look different depending on an individual’s ethnicity. These days, under the skilled hands of a plastic surgeon, the features of a human face can also change. The fact that we are now scientifically capable of altering the forms of our faces to match our outfits indicates that we effect changes on things because our attitudes, needs, mindsets and expectations have and will continually undergo ‘extreme makeovers’.

As Singaporeans, we too have not been spared although it is generally believed that the patriarchal style of government instilled in our early days of Independence may have cultivated a society that seemed to change only when things change. Supporters of this viewpoint may cite the population control measures introduced in the late 60s and early 70s, which included the 1968 “Keep Your Family Small” campaign, voluntary sterilisation in 1969 and the “Stop At Two” campaign of 1971 as obvious illustrations of this perspective. So successful were these measures that our population steadily declined every year since 1975.

However, it is presumptuous to assume that government policies alone resulted in the plummeting birth rates. According to sociologists Rajakru and Yap, “modern attitudes to working life,... late marriage and single living,... made these policies... highly effective.” These considerations should not be disregarded especially when it is clear that the changes in our attitudes and expectations have made the policies of that time successful. This is in direct contrast to the intense criticism and “great public outcry” that arose with regard to measures in the 1980s to promote selective procreation based on education, economic levels and inadvertently ethnic class. Singaporeans then disagreed with the rationale behind such policies and refused to alter their mindsets to accept such a change. Consequently those measures were dissolved.

Despite our seemingly non-confrontational demeanor, we still hold our destiny in our hands. When external change occurs it is because we have made internal changes first. In 2001 Dr Kenneth Tan from the National University of Singapore wrote an article, ‘“Civic Society” And The “New Economy” In Patriarchal Singapore’, that discussed the existence of universal gender stereotypes in Singapore society; the man is regarded as the provider and protector whilst the woman is the biological producer. However just three years later, changes are already taking place. The Prime Minister’s Office released the following statement on August 25, 2004:

To keep pace with the trend that women are increasingly playing a larger role in supporting their families, the Civil Service has revised its medical benefits policy... The changes will facilitate greater sharing of care-giving responsibilities between married couples.

This media release echoes the words of incumbent Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his National Day Rally speech when he said, “...we can't stand still because... our people are changing and... so must the way we govern Singapore.”

However, skeptics may say that the government, of any nation, looks into the interests of the party in power first before proceeding to address the concerns of its people. I concede that there are measures at the national level that may be unappealing, unrealistic and even disadvantageous to the individual but ultimately a self-governing system like ours must concern itself firstly with the survival of the nation before looking into the interests of individuals. In this respect, changes in the people’s expectations will cause changes in governing styles although the essence of government remains the same.

Having said this, there is however an area in which times have changed but Singaporeans have not. Although we have gained developed nation status and are supposedly more educated and affluent than our forefathers, we have deteriorated in our social graces. The then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong’s National Day Rally speech in 2001 gave mention to Singaporeans’ complacency and lack of social graces “at home and in other countries.” In this respect the forms of our human nature have not evolved to complement our economic achievements. We still hold some of the negative immigrant mentality, such as the ‘kiasu’ trait that was probably necessary in a fledgling state, but which has no place in the first world nation we presently reside in. It was William James who said, “The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes.” We must therefore make a conscious effort to shed the ‘me-first’ mindset in exchange for a kinder, civil and community-conscious attitude lest our efforts at qualitative progress remain at best, mediocre.

QLRS Vol. 4 No. 2 Jan 2005

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Mother in The Dream

In a quiet and undisturbed moments, please watch and listen to this video on YouTube "Mother in The Dream" , "2011中国达人秀 12岁的乌达木 唱 "梦中的额吉"

中国达人秀12岁的乌达木 唱 "梦 中的额吉" 给天上的妈妈太感人了.

在29日晚播出的《中国达人秀》中,内蒙古呼伦贝尔草原的小牧民乌达木上台。乌达木很可爱,评委问他的梦想是什么。乌达木说他希望发明一种墨水,随便在哪个地方滴一点,就­能让那里变成草原。这样纯真的梦想让评委们由衷地被感动。

乌达木来到达人秀的目的是为了给天堂里的母亲唱一首歌,《梦中的额吉》。乌达木说,他的父母都已经离开了他,

他经常会做梦梦到他的母亲,他希望这首歌能被母亲听到。

歌声震撼 评委观众泪流满面梦中的额吉

用圣洁的花露当茶让您先享......
在您的眼中我找到了安祥的眼神......
您的儿子从梦中惊醒......
快来吧额吉......
您的儿子从梦中惊醒......
快来吧额吉......
乘着梦中的银鸟我飞翔在天边......
梦见您带来了瑞兆的幸福......
您的儿子这就来......
等着吧额吉......
您的儿子这就来......
等着吧额吉......

梦中的额吉......
让人哭泣的歌声......
广辽的呼伦贝尔草原......
也只有广辽的草原能有如此感人的声音......
让我们静享这份久违的感动吧......

歌曲蒙文发音
  1.sumeih zeregleend gegee anirlaad
  susuglehiin erhend eej mini bodogdana
  huugee irene geed suugee orgood
  huslee chiltel alsiig shirtee dee
  alsad suuga eej mini
  amin hairtai shuteen mini bilee
  2. zadgai tengerd uul ni zamharna
  zalbirhiin erhend eej mini bodogdana
  argaliin tsogond tsaigaa buliyeelj
  anis'haa chiltel alsiig shirtee dee
  alsad suuga eej mini
  amin hairtai shuteen mini bilee
  3.huhereh uuls'aas hoglerj haragdana
  huugiin tani setgil gegelzeed baina
  hunii zeregleend huu chini yavnaa
  husliig tani nimgeleed yavaad ochina daa
  alsad suuga eej mini
  amin hairtai shuteen mini bilee.

蒙古族男人心中,眼泪是珍珠,是不能轻易流下的,他们从不做对­­­不起别人的事情,蒙古人不擅长作假,也不稀罕作假,他们知道将­­苦­难悲伤埋在心底,然后坚强地活下去,乌达木骄傲,不当人面­哭­,在­广漠的人生中,他和雄鹰一样勇敢。

仔细又看了遍原版,其实伊能静上去抱他的时候乌达木的眼睛已经红­­­了,有一瞬间看他表情是差点忍不住要掉泪,但他深吸一口气,­硬­是­忍了下去并扬起微笑……

乌达木不会象某些人用哭来博取别人同情,他深邃和沉稳、英武大方­­­,用微笑来面对一切磨难......这也正是他的无限魅力!­
angelzing2008


原版比这个更感人,谁这么无聊把声音换掉了,连观众的掌声都被和­谐了。一听就知道有人改了音频而不是假唱
。Xinmlee

真可怜!小小年纪父母就去世了。。。。。
Commy101ys

勇敢的孩子用歌聲唱出對母親思代每看一次就掉一次眼淚,
加油!願上天保佑你平安長大成人.
lucywu36

看到這個小男孩我就想到這幾日常常看清朝的歷史書。

滿族和蒙古族都應該為他們的祖先而感到驕傲。

滿語的嗎媽好像叫額涅,蠻像蒙古媽媽的發音耶!
abcabc13579

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Bringing Up Father


An article written by my friend WooWoo about his parenting experience has inspired me to share some interesting parenting on this blog to express.

The following is an excerpt of WooWoo's original article in Chinese which I have translated:

[Quote]

"My 4-year-old son is now at an age when he 'appears to understand yet doesn't really understand', and likes to ask "why?" about everything.

Both my wife and I found his questioning stressful, so we bought a VCD entitled 'Answers To Your Child's Questions Why'. Answers to various types of questions in different categories could be found in the VCD.

I thought that I could now leave it to the 'experts' to provide the answers to questions of a 4 or 5 year-old child in a simple, easy to understand manner.

However, this was not to be so.

A 4-year-old child is not really interested in knowing "Why an aeroplane can fly in the sky?", "Why are there clouds?", "Why does it rain?", "Why flu cause blocked nose?" and other related questions.

Don't know what I am talking about?

OK. For instance, when I was driving, my son asked, "Dad, why are you driving the car?"

"My good boy, its because I am fetching you to grandma's house".

"Dad, why do you want to fetch me to grandma's house?"

"Dear son, its because grandma have not seen you for a long time".

"Dad, why grandma have not seen me for a long time?"

At this stage, I was becoming impatient and replied, "Because you have not visited grandma for a long time".

My son was apparently enjoying the 'Question and Answer' session and his next question was "Why have I not visited grandma for a long time?"

He was endlessly finding questions to my answers, and I have to look for answers to his questions, endlessly.

In fact, my son doesn't care about my answers. He will just add 'Why' to my previous answer for his next question.

Although I had to focus my attention and "squeeze my brain juice" to reply him, he only treat it as a game and found it fun.

I had to be careful not to create difficult questions to answer.

Once, I became agitated by his questioning and said, "If you continue questioning, I will beat you".

In his innocent, cute childish manner, he asked, "Dad, why will you beat me if I continue to ask questions?"

I have no choice but to continue playing this little game with him.

"Because Dad is very angry".

"Dad, why are you very angry".

"Because you are asking questions non-stop ".

"Why am I asking questions non-stop".

"Because you are inquisitive".

"Dad, why am I inquisitive?"

"Because you are a child. You are really stupid".

"Dad, why am I a child? Why am I really stupid?"

Oh my God, who is there to help me...

'Why am I a child? Why am I really stupid?" .... what kind of a question is this? How do I answer him?

Really, each time I play this game with my son, I became exasperated. At the end of the game session, I am the one who feel stupid.

[Unquote]

The picture which accompany this blog shows a wide-eyed child looking bewildered and helpless, wondering what was happening and why he was being punished.

Was he the 'whipping boy' for his parents to vent their anger over something that has nothing to do with him?

He was probably saying, "Please don't cane me. I promise not to do it again. Please don't punish me." He was kneeling down and pulling his ears to show that he was sorry and will remember not to repeat the mistakes he had made.

Does he deserve a punishment for being naughty? Or for playing a game which he thought was fun, as in the case of WooWoo's son.

As in all games, the best sportsman is the one who plays the game with skills and keeps his cool, regardless of whether he is the winner or the loser...not the one who gets angry because he does not always win.

But was punishment meted out by a parent in a moment of anger the best way to discipline a child?

Is the age-old adage "Spare the rod and spoil the child" the gospel truth?

Surely there are better ways to teach a child, with love. 

The important thing is that he will understand the lessons of parental love.

But it will need a great deal of patience and self restraint on the part of the parent. It is certainly not easy.

The answer is with the parent or teacher....not the child.

The parent or teacher are forever learning too. We remain as a child until we are fully enlightened (which I am not), a Buddhist friend once told me.

The lessons are from our own personal experience in life; because there were no straight-forward answers to every given situation and applicable to every individual person.

Someone once said, "Life is not a problem to be solved. It is a mystery to be unravelled".

Is it true? 

Someone please give me the answers. I am getting to become like WooWoo's son :)

I am fast approaching my 'second childhood' phase, I guess.

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