So much happened over the Chinese New Year hols

Like all festivities, Chinese New Year is no different. You invite friends over for a good meal and drinks, and vice versa. The challenge is how do you keep up with the widening circle of friends accumulated in the course of your business and work. Next is how do you ensure that you are able to keep up with all the feasting and yet stay fit. It's just as well as today is Ash Wednesday, as it means having to fast and abstain. So we get a break in-betweeen the sometime senseless nibbling away at the food and cookies spread out from day to night.

But amid all the celebrations, it is interesting to read about how a senior Hamas commander was assissinated in Dubai. The operation, according to accounts in the newspaper, was apparently carried out with the precision of an well-organized body, with the assailants coming from different countries disguised as tourists. No doubt the finger is pointed at the Mossad. It's killing like these that no one claims responsibility unlike those terror acts carried out by the extremists where they would proudly raise their hands to own up their deeds. But while one deputy leader was killed another was captured by US and Pakistan forces. The Taleban denied their leader was captured though the captors are beating their chests to bare their success. Amid all these fireworks in the international arena, a lesser known leader in Sri Lanka is facing trial for purported acts of treason. Fonseka, who lost in the war-ravaged island's presidential race recently, was a new twist to the otherwise happy ending to the years of struggle between the Colombo government and the Tamil Tiger insurgents. Meanwhile, the world is waiting with bated breath on the release of Aung Sung Su Kyi by the Burmese military junta, as neighbouring Thailand's court grapples with its delibrations on whether there's case to confiscate Thaksin billions. Indeed, there's so much happening around the world politically that economic events have to take a back seat.

Chinese New Year

Alas the Chinese are busy spring cleaning and stocking up their homes with all things new, almost. From new pyjamas to brooms and dustpans, households would get themselves a new set to begin the new year. Superstitions undoubtedly tend to get the better of most folks, especially the elderly. The Chinese are steeped in traditions though in these modern times we see an affront on age old practices such as wearing of red or other bright coloured clothes during the festive season. The younger generation preferred black and this invariably dominates their dress code, whatever the day or time of the year.

Nevertheless, it is breathtaking to see the crowd that throngs Chinatown during the run-up to the New Year. Red is still the dominant colour be it for banners, greeting cards, and even CD music covers. The street-side calligraphers are still making a quick buck with their deft strokes of the Chinese brush as they pen words of good fortune for the initiated. These scrolls, if I may call them, will be pasted on the doors, or on the huge pots or urns used for storing the padi. As you squeezed your way around the stalls, amid the cacophony of flute, cymbals and drums accompanying the vocals blasted from over-sized speakers, invariably one will be struck by the changing face of society. Caucasians are easily noticeable, not to mention Muslim women in their headscarves (or tudong), as they too joined in the rush. The strong aroma of roasted pork wafted through the humid air as the stall operators hollered at the top of their voices to draw the crowd's attention.

Pussy willows, tangerine Nien kau, pomelos are undoubtedly the evergreen items that stood the test of time. Once a must for the New Year but now a "no no" item are the range of firecrackers and fireworks that governments from across the continents have banned their indiscriminate firing. Singapore was among the first to ban fire crackers and today even Beijing has put a stop to it albeit I suspect the firing of crackers is still very much prevalent in the countrysides and in some secondary cities.

I was listening to the clanging of cymbals by a Chinese orchestra as I was writing this blog, and my mind was transported to the 1960s when my parents would get into a frenzy putting orders for various new year pastries, sweets and other iconic goodies. I would be assigned the menial task of spring cleaning the windows, lamp shades, fans and light bulbs with pails after pails of water to wash away the cobwebs and dust. A red banner cloth would be hung prominently outside the door, a symbol to show that we are celebrating the new year. A week before the big day, my mother would begin to wrap the red packets or hongbao, before plunging into the kitchen to prepare for the big reunion dinner feast on New Year's eve. But like all things traditional and Taoist, as a prelude to the reunion feast, offerings would be made to the ancestors in the afternoon. Its a ritual that I enjoyed as a student, as I went through the ceremony offering joss sticks and burnt paper offerings into one huge bonfire to signal the beginning of the celebrations. Happy New Year!

Now that I'm a year older...oh no!

If the predictions of geomancers and other so-called experts who read into the future and the Chinese horoscopes are to be taken seriously, then year 2010 is a year of where the winds of change will be blowing. If there is any modicum of truth in their predictions, then nimbleness, flexibility and adaptability are characteristics which will be highly valued if we want to ride the ups and downs of their predictions.

As the fireworks and fanfare begin to settle, I can't but be reminded that I am another year older. Oh no....yes now that I am a year older I have to seriously look into my future. The biological clock is ticking and I don't know if I will join the paths of actor Patrick Swayze (of Dirty Dancing fame) and find my life fizzled just the way a gust of wind would put out the playful flicker of a candlelight, or will it be some other calamity that will snuff out my life, be it the widely publicized H1N1 flu virus or some other modern day viruses. Would it be better to go with some dignity and pride as a respectable contributor to the country's economy, or to grey and join the ever increasing flange of tottering elderly table cleaners and public cleansing workers? They are a discarded group of spent bullets, to be cast aside after having provided the lustful shooter with the bang and the adrenalin rush at the firing range. I recall the days when my grandma and grand uncles and aunties were able to relax and enjoy their last days among the hordes of grandchildren and other family members. Having done their turn to bring up the family, they were able to enjoy their retirement and reap the harvest of the seeds they planted in their early ears. But what has happened in today's economy? The elderly becomes like the water buffaloes, still pulling the plough for the farmers, forced to put every ounce of energy to work in the name of economic progress. Alas those who drew up the policies would never have to slave till midnight or later because they are the ones who would have the wherewithal to retire gracefully while the buffaloes wallow from sunrise to sundown. What can be done to help the grandpas and grandmas, to give them the rest they so deserved? The solutions are there but unless policymakers are prepared to change their mindset this grey workforce will have to stay nimble, adaptable and flexible until the winds of change blow in their favour.

I am but a voice in the wilderness, not to be heard. I will be before long, if I don't steer life's journey with some skillful forward planning, I may have to resign to joining their ranks when my time comes.

All heated up on global warming

For so many days the political leaders have been engaged in a dialogue in Copenhagen to do something to check the climate change. It's indeed a poker game as each country representative try to read what's behind the minds of the others. I find it uncomprehensible that so much persuasion need to be done on this issue to get everyone at the roundtable. Climate change has been talked about for the past 10-20 years, but no pay paid any serious attention. As always, the attitude adopted is that it is not my problem. It's the next generation's problem. It was not until temperatures started to rise, icebergs melted, sea levels began to rise that the politicians begin to sit up. Let's hope something worthwhile comes out of the whole discussions, otherwise the Copenhagen gathering becomes yet another event that did just the opposite. It would go down as yet misdeed by mankind to add to the global warming as volumes of papers were printed for the discussions, all the fuel burnt to give warmth to the delegates, journalists and demonstrators.

Thaksin...a wedge between Hun Sen and Abhisit

The uncanny stance taken by Cambodia's PM Hun Sen at the ASEAN Summit in Thailand certainly raises many an eye-brows in the regional grouping. Prior to his allegience of friendship with Thaksin (outside Thai PM), Hun Sen had not made any public proclamation of the ties between them. Not only had Hun Sen not behaved well as the guest in a host country, but he has taken the additional step of creating a wedge between himself and the Thai PM Abhisit Vijjajiva at a meeting that is meant to be a dialogue among neighbours. Whether or not Hun Sen words are just rhetoric and his pronoucement to offer Thaksin the job as his country's economic adviser is a theatrical act to capture the awe of his audience, it certainly undermines the attempt by the regional group to promote a united front of Southeast Asian nations.
What's the motivation behind this whole episode could perhaps be seen in the context of the border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand. The undulating terrain between the two countries are known to be havens for smugglers of all trades. Both countries from the economic standpoint are at different levels of playing field, and indeed the Thai army is better equipped than the Cambodians. But, one must not forget the ruthlessness and ferocity of the Cambodians during the regime of the Khmer Rouge. Certainly in a jungle warfare, military hardware may not always give the ground troops an upper hand, from the lessons learnt during the US-Vietnam War and even now in the war in Afghanistan and in Pakistan against the Talibans and others.

Pride takes on a high price in Asian culture. Both Hun Sen and Abhisit may find it difficult to come together for a handshake after the latter remarks about Thaksin. Now ASEAN has not only Mynammar (with its infamous human rights track record) as a thorn in their flesh, but the row between Cambodia and Thailand as a fish bone in its throat.

Earthquakes, underground nuclear tests

The recent slew of underground movements of tectonic plates should indeed raise eyebrows from geologists to turn their attention to the war mongers, who have been testing nuclear bombs underground over the past years. While I only attended Geo101, my suspicion is that the tectonic movements could have been accelerated and exacerbated by these tests. Indeed, Indonesia which bore the brunt of the plate movements, which inflicted untold hardships and misery on its people, is not responsible for any of these underground test but still there is room for experts to take a closer look at the occurrences.

Today, Iran is anxiously trying to join the ranks of the nuclear powers with North Korea competing and behaving like the antics of two spoilt kids trying to rush for a toy. In the context of the unnerving soil movements seen globally, from Taiwan across to Japan, down to Indonesia and the Mediterranean, we have to circumspect in doing what we think others can't see - underground. The ramification of one country's actions is taking a toll on another, with the loss of many innocent lives.

It is timely that a multi-disciplinary team of experts should dwell on this matter, and an organization like the United Nations should assemble it team of learned individuals to put the matter under the microscope. Alas, if we don't do something, we may all end up as - who knows - just nothing as the world disappears into dust.

Two Great Talents Lost In A Day

What a sad day for many people to see two great talents passing away - Michael Jackson the pop icon, and actress and poster girl of the 1970s-80s, Farrah Fawcett.
Unmistakeably the music of MJ would make every young man or woman snap his/her fingers. His signature "ooo" at intervals in his performances would make everyone scream, especially the women. MJ was unmatched and was a performer with his own style of music and dance, just as Elvis was. The journey for MJ was turbulent as he went from one operation to another, and he suffered fainting spells. The court litigation against him added to his woes. Bad publicity also dogged his career and I vividly recall his dangling his baby outside the window which was also slammed by the media and his critics. But whatever he did, he was an influence on people young and old. For a time, he was the King and he entertained. I remember his appearances on video clips like Heartlight City and stuff, together with others such as Lionel Richie, and how they took the world by storm.

And during that time, there was also Farrah in Charlie's Angles invariably got everyone glued to their television sets. Her sweeping hair style was a real sensation for the women during her time in the 1980s. Her posters were everyone at the women's hair salons, and magazine covers.

Today the curtains come down for the last time for both stars. We pray that they will go to the never never land where there will be no pain and no more hardship, and enjoy eternal peace and blessings. We mourn the loss of the two super stars.