Friday 30 December 2016

Compassionate 慈悲心

China - Shenzhen (Old Street)

中国 - 深圳(老街)

Went China on a business trip and stop over at Shenzhen.

Winter in Shenzhen was not as cold as other parts of China.

In fact the temperature was just nice for me.

I wear only T-shirt and jeans when the temperature is six degree and above.

So my close friend gave me a nick name "zero degree".

X     X     X     X     X     X     X     X     X     X     X     X     X     X     X     X     X     X     X     X   X     X     X     X     X

Walking back to my hotel after dinner.

A woman scavenging the trash can caught my attention.

What shocked me next was that she was eating directly from the bin!

She even passed her son "food" found from the trash can!

The scene had sent chill into my spine.

I stopped her from eating and offered to buy them dinner.

She refused to go with me.

I rushed to get food for them.

When I was back, the woman was still eating the leftovers from the bin.

I passed them the food and drinks.

I told her that she and her son should not be eating waste.

She could be a mute as she never answered any of my questions and only gesture to her son.

Where were they from? Could they have spent all their money yet could not find their loved one?

Where were they heading to? Could they have not enough money to go back their hometown?

No answer from both mother and son.

What saddened me was that, a lot of passers-by walked pass them but none offered help.

Instantly, all the traditional virtues are indifferent.

Friends said that she might be con-woman, just to gain sympathy.

But I thought, even if she was a con-woman, I was only being cheated with one meal.

Sometimes can we just treat others with compassion?



到中国出差,在深圳过境。

冬天的深圳不比中国的其他地方冷。

其实,对一向怕热的我来说,这天气还挺好的。

当气温在六度以上时,基本上我还是穿T恤和牛仔裤在街上走。

所以我的好友给了我一个外号“零度”。

X     X     X     X     X     X     X     X     X     X     X     X     X     X     X     X     X     X     X     X   X     X     X     X     X

吃完晚餐,朝我住的旅馆走去。

一个脸朝垃圾桶里拾荒的女人,引起了我的注意。

令我震惊的是,那个妇女是直接在垃圾桶里扒饭来吃!

她甚至拿垃圾桶里的“食物”给儿子吃。

这一幕,让我整个脊椎有刺骨的冷。

我阻止她吃,并提议为他们买晚餐。

她拒绝跟我走。

我赶紧为这对母子买晚餐。

当我回来时,那妇人还在垃圾桶里扒着残羹吃。

我把食物和饮料交给他们。

我告诉妇人,她和儿子不能吃残羹。

妇人有可能是个哑巴,因为由始至终她都没回答我的任何问题,也只对儿子比手势。

他们从哪来?是不是身上的钱用完,还找不到亲人?

他们要去哪?是不是没钱回家乡?

母子俩也没给我任何答案。

令我悲伤的是,很多路人路过他们,却没有人愿意伸出援手。

霎时间,所有的传统美德都淡然无存。

朋友说可能她是个骗子,在博人同情。

但我想,就算她是骗子,我最多也只被骗了一顿饭。

有时我们是不是可以以慈悲之心待人呢?

Thursday 15 December 2016

Phi Phi Island 比比岛

Thailand - Phi Phi Island

泰国 - 比比岛





The Phi Phi Islands are between the large island of Phuket and the west Strait of Malacca coast.

比比岛是介于普吉岛和马六甲海岸以西海峡之间。

The islands are administratively part of Krabi province.

这些岛屿是甲比省行政的一部分。




The islands came to worldwide prominence when Ko Phi Phi Leh was used as a location for the 2000 film The Beach.

小比比岛之所以在群岛屿中那么突出,是因为它被用作 2000年 的电影《海滩》的拍摄景点。

Phi Phi Island was devastated by the Indian Ocean tsunami on December 24, 2004.

比比岛于2004年12月24日,遭受印度洋海啸蹂躏以至满目疮痍。

Nearly all of the island's infrastructure was destroyed.

几乎岛上所有的基础设施被摧毁。



From Phuket to Phi Phi Island via speed boat needs more than an hour.

乘快艇从普吉到比比岛需要一个多小时。

For those who get seasick easily, be prepared to puke.

对于那些容易晕船者,准备吐个够吧。

The whole sea route is super bumpy.

整个海路都是超级起伏不定。

P/S: Several passengers on the same boat began their journey with laughter and chatter but halfway through became miserable and groggy.

注:同船的几个乘客从出发时的嘻嘻哈哈、喧喧嚷嚷到半途的凄凄惨惨、昏昏沉沉。

Thursday 1 December 2016

Taxi Driver 德士司机

Thailand - Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi Airport)

泰国 - 曼谷(素旺那蓬机场)

After a long one and half years, was back in Bangkok for a meeting.

Bangkok, used to be a very familiar place but after the passing of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, is not as colourful as before.

Took a taxi to my hotel in Sathon area.

The taxi driver was very chatty.

He was one of the rarest taxi drivers I had met so far.

Most taxi drivers were complaining about how tough lives were and they were in dire straits.

Instead he told me that he worked hard and travelled abroad whenever he could.

He showed me photos of him travelling to Singapore, Hong Kong and Korea.

Although his English was not so good but to understand what he said was no problem.

His nick name is October.

Thai people have very long name, even they themselves find it cumbersome, so most of them have nick names.

If you have been following my blog, I did write about some dishonest taxi drivers in "Scam City".

I was delighted by the service provided by Mr October.

He was honest and diligent.

He charged by meter.

Travellers who had travelled in Asia countries, would agree that most of the taxi drivers would not charge according to meter.

He even asked for my departure date and made a point to call me one day earlier to arrange for a pick-up at my hotel to the airport.

Most importantly, all this service did not come with extra cost.

Again he only charged according to the meter.

I was satisfied with his service and promised him to write about him in my blog, hoping to help him get more business.

P/S: When you visit Bangkok next time, you can look for him. Mr October, his vehicle number plate is 5252, his cellphone number +66896652156.


经过漫长的一年半,再次回到曼谷参加会议。

曼谷,一个非常熟悉的地方,但在泰王蒲眉蓬驾崩后,似乎变得没以前那么多姿多彩。

乘坐德士到我位于撒通地区的酒店。

德士司机非常健谈。

他是我见过的最罕见的德士司机之一。

大多数的德士司机都抱怨生活如此艰难,使他们陷入了严重的困境。

相反的,他告诉我他努力工作,储蓄够钱就出国旅行。

他向我展示了他去新加坡,香港和韩国的照片。

虽然他的英语不是那么好,但要理解他说些什么并没问题。

他的别名叫奥托本十月)。

泰国人的本名都很长,甚至连他们本身都觉得很繁琐、难念,所以大多数泰国人都有别名。

如果你一直有关注我的部落格,我曾经在《诈骗城市》写过一些不诚实的德士司机。

我很高兴奥托本先生所提供的服务。

他诚实和勤奋。

他按计程表收费。

曾在亚洲国家旅行的旅客大概都会同意,大部分的德士司机都不按计程表收费。

他甚至问我几时回国,并提议在我回国的前一天打电话给我,并安排到我下榻的酒店接送到机场。

最重要的是,所有这些服务都不附带额外的费用。

再次的,他也只是按照计程表来收费。

我对他的服务感到满意,并答应他会在我的部落格中写关于他,希望能帮到他获得更多的业务。

注:下次到访曼谷时,你可以找他。奥托本先生,他的车牌是5252,他的手机号码+66896652156。

Saturday 19 November 2016

Shwedagon Pagoda 雪德宫大金塔

Myanmar - Yangon (Shwedagon Pagoda)

缅甸 - 仰光(雪德宫大金塔)


The Shwedagon Pagoda, officially named Shwedagon Zedi Daw, is also known as The Great Dagon Pagoda or The Golden Pagoda.

The 99 metres tall pagoda is situated on Singuttara Hill, to the west of Kandawgyi Lake, and dominates the Yangon skyline.

雪德宫大金塔,又称仰光大金塔或瑞光大金塔。

塔高为99米,表面贴满了一层金箔,位于皇家园林西的圣山之上,所以此塔也就在仰光市天际线中独占鳌头了。


Shwedagon Pagoda is the most sacred Buddhist pagoda in Myanmar.

It is believed to contain relics of the four previous Buddhas of the present kalpa.

Kalpa is a Sanskrit word meaning an aeon, or a relatively long period of time by human calculation in Hindu and Buddhist cosmology.

These relics include the staff of Kakusandha, the water filter of Koṇāgamana, a piece of the robe of Kassapa, and eight strands of hair from the head of Gautama.


据说这塔里面藏有释迦牟尼的八根头发而成为缅甸人心中最神圣的宝塔,是缅甸佛教徒一生必去朝拜的圣地。


The Shwedagon Pagoda is a symbolic icon of Myanmar and Yangon, just like Cambodia's Angkor Wat and the Borobudur of Indonesia's Java island which are known as the "Three Monuments in Southeast Asia".


这座塔缅甸和仰光的象征,与柬埔寨的吴哥窟、印尼爪哇岛的婆罗浮屠被誉为“东南亚三大古迹”。


The base of the stupa is made of bricks covered with gold plates.

Stupa is a Sanskrit word meaning hemispherical structure containing relics that is used as a place of meditation.

Above the base are terraces that only monks and other males can access.

Next is the bell-shaped part of the stupa and above that is the turban.

Then the inverted almsbowl, inverted and upright lotus petals, the banana bud and then the umbrella crown.

The crown is tipped with 5,448 diamonds and 2,317 rubies.

Immediately before the diamond bud is a flag-shaped vane.

The very top, the diamond bud, is tipped with a 76 carat diamond.


据说塔底座周长427米,塔顶有做工精细的金属罩檐, 檐上挂有金铃1065个,银铃420个,并镶嵌有7000颗各种罕见的红、蓝宝石钻球,其中有一块重76克拉的著名金钢钻。

塔身经过多次贴金,上面的黄金已有7000公斤重。

塔顶全部用黄金铸成,上有1260公斤重的金属宝伞,周围嵌有红宝石66 颗,翡翠551颗,金刚石443颗。


Operating hour: 4am - 10pm

Entry fee: 8000Kyat or US$8

P/S: Starting December 1, 2016, Singaporeans can visit Myanmar without visa.


开放时间:早上4点 - 晚上10点

入门票:8000基亚 或 8美元

注:2016年12月1日开始,新加坡人到缅甸可免签证。

Tuesday 8 November 2016

The Straits Times Forum Writers' Dialogue 2016

Singapore - Singapore Press Holdings Auditorium


For readers who had read my older blog, you guys should know that I was invited for the same dialogue last year.

Time really flies, it is time for another new session of dialogue for 2016.

The Straits Times Forum Writers' Dialogue is an event most, if not all, of the forum writers looking forward to.

We, the writers, kind of get a summary of what the Forum column had published and  how it affected the society.

Again, I would like to thank The Straits Times (Forum team) to invite me for this year dialogue.

Looking forward to attending The Straits Times Forum Writers' Dialogue this evening.

P/S: Once again, hope that I can attend it every year.

Monday 31 October 2016

Writer Of The Week 每周之作家

Singapore - The Straits Times (Forum)

新加坡 - 海峡时报(论坛)

The Straits Times is an English-language daily broadsheet newspaper based in Singapore.

It is currently owned by Singapore Press Holdings (SPH).

It is Singapore highest-selling newspaper.

Originally established on July 15, 1845 as the The Straits Times and Singapore Journal of Commerce, in the early days of British colonial rule.

The very first letter to forum was published on July 29, 1845.

The Straits Times "Writer Of The Week" is a weekly column.

It features profiles of various Forum writers.

I am honoured to be invited by The Straits Times to be their "Writer Of The Week".


海峡时报是总部设在新加坡的英文日报。

它目前由新加坡报业控股(SPH)所拥有。

这是新加坡销量最高的报纸。

在英国殖民统治的初期,它成立于1845年7月15日作为海峡时报和新加坡商务杂志。

第一封论文在论坛里被发表是于1845年7月29日。

海峡时报里的“每周之作家”是一个每周专栏。

这个专栏里会在每一周介绍一位论坛的作家。


我很荣幸被海峡时报邀请成为他们的“每周之作家”。

Saturday 29 October 2016

Deepavali 屠妖节

Singapore - Little India (Tekka)

新加坡 - 小印度(竹脚)



Deepavali, the festival of lights, is an ancient Hindu festival celebrated in autumn (northern hemisphere) or spring (southern hemisphere) every year.

The festival spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness or good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair.

Its celebration includes millions of lights shining on housetops, outside doors and windows, around temples and other buildings in the communities.

The festival preparations and rituals typically extend over a five-day period.

The main festival night of Deepavali coincides with the darkest, new moon night of the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika.


In the Gregorian calendar, Deepavali night falls between mid-October and mid-November.

On Deepavali night, Hindus dress up in new clothes or their best outfit.

They light up diyas (lamps and candles) inside and outside their home.


Then they participate in family puja (prayers) typically to Lakshmi – the goddess of fertility and prosperity.



屠妖节,灯火节,是每年的秋季(北半球)或春季(南半球)庆祝的一个古老的兴都教节日。

这个节日标志着在精神上,光明战胜黑暗或善良战胜邪恶、知识战胜愚昧、希望战胜绝望。


它的庆祝活动包括数以百万计的灯光照在房顶,外门窗,庙宇和各地社区建筑等。


节日的准备和仪式,通常长达五天的时间。


屠妖节的主要节日之夜,与兴都教日月历月份 - 卡迪卡,刚巧也是最黑暗的、新月之夜。


屠妖节夜幕,降临于阳历的十月中旬和十一月中旬之间。


在屠妖节当晚,兴都人会穿新衣服或者穿他们最好的服


他们点亮 diyas(灯和蜡烛)以照亮住家内外


然后,他们参与家庭 puja膜拜)拉克希米 - 生育与繁荣女神。



Tuesday 25 October 2016

Grand Palace 大皇宫

Thailand - Bangkok (Grand Palace)

泰国 - 曼谷(大皇宫)


The Grand Palace has been the official residence of the Kings of Siam (and later Thailand) since 1782.

自1782年以来大皇宫已经成为暹罗(后来泰国)国王的官邸。


The Grand Palace is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Thailand.

大皇宫是泰国最受欢迎的旅游景点之一。


The Grand Palace is made up of numerous buildings, halls, pavilions set around open lawns, gardens and courtyards.

大皇宫是由无数的建筑物、大厅、展示馆围绕于开放式草坪,花园和庭院设置与组成。


The Grand Palace is currently partially open to the public as a museum, but it remains a working palace with several royal offices still situated inside.

大皇宫目前部分开放给公众作为博物馆,但它仍然是一个工作宫,里面仍然有几个王室办事处。


Construction of the Grand Palace began on May 6, 1782, at the order of King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke (Rama I).

大皇宫的建设始于1782年5月6日,是由拉玛一世浮屠育华朱拉洛登王下令兴建


P/S: Thai King coffin will be temporary resting at the Grand Palace for 100days (from October 13, 2016) to receive chanting by eminent monks. Remember to dress modestly (preferably in black during this period) when visiting the Grand Palace, avoid wearing shorts, short skirts and slippers.

注:泰王灵柩会暂厝大皇宫100天(从2016年10月13日起),让高僧诵经。记得游览大皇宫时要穿着端庄(在此期间最好着黑色),忌穿短裤、短裙和拖鞋。

Friday 14 October 2016

Southern Shaolin Monastery 南少林寺

China - Putian (Southern Shaolin Monastery)

中国 - 莆田(南少林寺)




Southern Shaolin Monastery is located in the western end of town Licheng, Putian, Nine Lotus Mountain Village, about 17km away from the city.

Southern Shaolin Monastery was formerly named "Linquan Temple", built in Southern Yongding years (557AD).

During the Tang dynasty in the reign of Emperor Tang Taizong, warrior monks from Henan Shaolin were deployed from the Shaolin Monastery to combat piracy.

Emperor Tang Taizong passed a special imperial order to Lin Tanzong, Abbot of Northern Shaolin Monastery, to build a Shaolin Monastery in the South which was known as the Southern Shaolin Monastery.

During the early Qing dynasty, the Southern Shaolin Monastery was completely razed due to anti-Qing.



南少林寺位于莆田荔城区西天尾镇九莲山林山村,距市区约17公里。

南少林寺前身名“林泉寺”,建于南朝永定年间(公元557年)。

唐初因十三棍僧救唐主有功,太宗皇帝特敕北少林昙宗方丈,在南方建少林寺,称为南少林寺。

至清初,因反清复明被夷为平地。


Until 1986, archaeologists excavated the site and found the ruins of Southern Shaolin Monastery, hence unveiling to the world.

In 1989, under government strong support, began to rebuild the monastery.



直至1986年,考古学家挖掘发现南少林寺遗址,这才让其呈现在世人面前。

1989年,在政府的大力扶持下开始重建。




Operating hour: Daily                                       开放时间: 全天

Entry fee: Free                                                 入门票: 免费