Singapore-Zhejiang engagement

some 50--member delegation led by zhejiang vice governor Gong Zheng was in Singapore for the 6th Zhejiang-Singapore Council Meeting and study visit from 21 Mar 2010.

I attended the bilateral council meeting on 23 Mar in Grand Hyatt and had business exchanges with the zhejiang vice governors, hangzhou vice mayor Tong (lady in white square print) and zhoushan party secretary Liang (lady in black). Both sides are enthusiatic about the future tourism engagement and education/corporate training exchange with the support of the Singapore and Zhejiang provincial and municipal leaders.

Glad to have a photo opportunity with our Minister Mrs Lim Hwee Hua and Parl Secy Sam Tan togehter with Governor Gong Zheng at luncheon.

Exploring the unknown Bedok

Hardly go to Bedok so i am not familiar to the area at all. Went there this sunday to look for a delicious food outlet Sedap Corner- Asian Food Grill, recommended by friends.

After goggle to find out the location, i followed the direction given and heading towards Sim Avenue to search for Upper Changi Road, BUT, I cant find it and only saw New Upper Changi Road. So made a call to the shop and was advised to just take the Upper Changi Road all the way till passed Tenah Merah MRT station, then turn left into Bedok Road, and along the road is Bedok Food Market Centre, turn right into the car park (there are 2 entrances leading to parking), second entrance is nearer to the Sedap Corner, and there are parking lots right infront of the shop. On the same row, you will see another prominent stall called Mad Jack, but it is less crowded when we were there.


Waiters recommended the signature dish are Thai prawn paste rice and Vietnamese Beef Kueh-Tiao soup......all drinks and food are delicious according to them. The waiters and people at the kitchen are courteous and patient, so make people feel comfortable and ease to have meals and enjoy the food there. Price is reasonable restaurant price with GST eg Thai rice prawn paste is $12 inclusive of 7% GST. We wanted to order the Kaya Durian toast but it was out of stock. Will try next time.

Opposite the Bedok food centre, you will find many people having their meal at a coffee shop which is famous for their Mee Pok, very crowded but quick service, price at $3.50 per bowl.

Will never notice this delicious food if it is not recommended as it is tuck at such an unnoticable corner of Singapore. Will bring my overseas friends there in future.

Notebook shopping

First time went to IT Show in Singapore on Mar 14. 2010 after the "push" by friends around, even though it has been staged for so many years and have been told it was very very poupular and crowded.

On Sunday 14 Mar after lunch with church comrades, 5 of us led by Steven and Catherine went for a notebook shopping spree in Suntec City. At first, i wanted to park my car at Suntec, but after advice by Steven, i decided to swing to raffles city car park instead to avoid the hugh queue to get into Suntec car park, and the decision proved to be sound.

wow, never see Suntec so pack before, really peolpe mountain people sea, people no entry!! Everywhere is crowd, escalars, lifts, lobby, entrance and exit....every level from 1st to 6th, and the worst is the product and sale hall...ten of thousands of people.....once u entered, u got soak into the e-wave, consumers and sales reps are all busy engaging each other......must say that all sales reps are very enthusiastic and couretous with good products knowledge unlike u go to ordinary shopping mall to buy fashions, most of the sales executives not quite sure the range and features of the things they are selling......this is mainly because the incentives are different. The sales reps at the IT Show are all driven by handsome sales commissions.......they would engage you till you make up your mind.....

we shoped around at Toshiba and Fujitec, from low to high range, from smallest to 14 inch notebook with latest hardware and technology....with the advise by our dear IT expert friend Ka Fai and Steven.....we are armed with knowledge and resources....... and coincidentally bump into Doris who joined in the force subsequently.

The sales are very competitive.....the latest u enter the game with more people in your group, you stand to win the race as there is better bargaining power. After talking to more than 4 sales reps and applying "divide to conquer" tactic.....we managed to get the best price of some $1500 nett for the latest Toshiba Protege M900 with free Window 7, extra hard dics pwoer etc etc
The search for the place to install the hard disc power is like a refugee journey......everybody is in the rush.....but luckily the technicans there were so professionally and prompt in their action....it took less than 10 min...so no complaints...

In total, after nearly 3 hours' checking and comparing exercise, we bought 3 sets of latest Toshiba Portege M900 (u cant find the specs in their website yet, it is a higher range than M780) and one Toshiba mini notebook at S$810......and using UOB credit card enabled us to have a feee travel bag over S$2,000 purchase and 2 movie tickets (lucky dip) for less than $2K. Please see weblink to Toshiba products http://laptops.toshiba.com/laptops/portege/M780

Features of Toshiba Portege M900: Intel Coretm i3-330MMobile Intel HM55, Express Chipsetintegrated 802.11BGN2GB DD3, Memory320GB Hardisk Disk13.3 WXGA superview, Super Multi DVD Double Layer DriveNvidia Geforce G310M (ext 512MB), Built in camera, Built in card readerBlueToothWindows 7 Home Premium

Happily got it back home (brothers and sister were excited too) and get started to play with the great help of my IT colleagues/friends.......thanks alot to Alvin's unreserved support and assistance.....he is now the best IT mentor i can turn to........thanks very much!!

It is really a very good learning and fulfilling IT shopping spree.......1st time buying notebook for myself in my career.......would encourage friends to go and see for your self and experience the interesting IT show in Singapore, understand it is 4 times a year, and you will realise that there isnt any recession AT ALL........and the visit is very worthwhile especially you get your favourite product at best price!!

Tsinghua reunion

Attended the launch of corporate business programme by China Tsinghua University and Raffles Business Institute on 7 Mar and was surprised and glad to meet up with the Principal of Tsinghua University Hu Dongcheng after a lapse of about 7 years.

Got to know the Principal during a 2-week Executive Programme for Civil Services conducted in Tsinghua University in 2002 to better understand China culture and practices. It was my first time undergoing a course in China and the outcome was very enriching. Principal Hu was very hospitaible and even hosted us to welcome dinner while we were there.

Subsequently after I joined STB and visited Beijing in April 2003 with colleague Edmund to hold meeting with the Chinese officials of our counterpart, he specially took time to meet us together with his fellow colleagues Cui Guowen and Lan Lang in the campus to renew contacts. Understand that Cui will be retiring this year and he himself will also be due in 2012. Hope both of them can come to Singapore for more often to have more learning exchangea with Singapore institutions to broaden our network and learning experience.

Time flies and those were the days. Happy to see him in Singapore to launch the Chinese business education programme for professinal executives wanted to enhancing their capabilities with Tsinghua.

Chinese New Year's gathering

On the 3rd day of Chinese New Year (16 feb), we (6 of us - Yong, Ser Ping, Leow, Paul, Raymond and myself), the SIP Comrades, visited our former CEO Neo Chian at his residence and wishing him and family good health and happiness. It was a very happy and meaningful gathering over wine, beers and new years' goodies among old comrades as some of us have not seen each other for more than 10 years.

It is glad to learn that all of us are in good health and career, some are taking life easy to work less and enjoy life. Active interaction among us and interesting exchanges over current affairs, travel, casino opening and public response, sharing of personal career development and challenges, SIP development etc

nice to have a surprise preview of neo chian's handsome and chubby grandson also.

Now Let me share with all blog viewers are happy pictures taking on that day, and we shall make this gathering an annual affairs and have a comradeship 2020 celebrations.

Resort World at Sentosa opening soon

hi, please see the nice pictures taken by me at the recent visit on 4 Feb 2010

On 4 Feb afternoon, some 40 colleagues and I visited Resort world at Sentosa (RWS) in Singapore before it officially opened to public. It was an interesting but tiring tour as we spent nearly 4 hours walked the ground of the latest Singapore attractions: Casinos, Universal Studios (the rides, shopping street, Far Far Away , Jurassic Park, WaterWorld, 3 hotels – Michael, Festive and Hardrock, as well as its 5000-pax convention facilities. I personallylike the rooms design and ambience at hardrock hotel and its pool side environment. Thanks RWS management especially Wern Ling and Wayne for organising the fam tour for us and their warm hospitality.

It is worth the while to walk the ground and see for yourself the attractions and facilities as the entire development was grand and marvelous. I will visit them again when they are officially open to enjoy the ride and facilities. Hopefully before Chinese New Year since they just received their casinos license.

Holidaying in Osaka and Kyoto

Osaka flyer and hot spring at Rinku Premium Town, 15 minutes from Kansai airport

Have been planning to spend my new year in Japan with good friend Fan since end Nov, but it could not be confirmed till 18 Dec when I received the news from SQ Krisflyer that the return ticket from Osaka to Singapore is confirmed. Thanks god for fulfilling my dream.

As Fan would only arrive in Osaka on 29 Dec afternoon, and my flight arrival was 740 am in the morning, I specially brought along a book to kill time in case I have nothing to do at the airport in Osaka. It turned out to be otherwise. The minute after I collected my luggage and got the information tips from the courteous English speaking Japanese staff at the information counter plus a helpful Japanese gentleman, I spared no time to get to the nearby town of Rinku within 20 min by taking the shuttle @ 100 yen for the premier outlets shopping. Most of the popular band names except LV and Gucci are there. Never shop at such an early hours especially lugging along with the cabin bag (luckily It was handy and light), the cool weather of 9 degree made the shopping experience extremely pleasing and pleasant especially when the service staff are courteous and helpful at the outlets.

A visit to nearby hot spring @ 天然温泉Onzen was unexpectedly reasonable in price (only 500 Yen) and beautiful experience with crystal clean hot spring water, steam bath, salt bath and mint bath. In the beginning, I was the only one in the Onzen, subsequently 2 groups of Japanese ladies joined the bath. I will never forget the excellent service of the English speaking young Japanese gentleman and smilingly sweet service staff at the mint bath fanning the mint…we were like queen enjoying the mint fanning. It was really very enjoyable. I had a nice bowl of ramem for lunch at the Onzen.

I enjoyed until nearly ran out of time to get back to airport to meet up with Fan and Celia. After lunch at 2 pm I rushed for the shuttle bus and back to airport and Fan arrived earlier than expected. After getting advice from the Information Counter, we then took a JR Line train to Kyoto in 110 min @ 2980 Yen. The Kyoto train station was huge and vibrant with huge crowd and buzz activities. No difficulty in getting to our hotel Miyako Hotel, just 10 min walk. After checking in, we took subway to Kawaramachi station and proceeded for Oyster dinner near Diamaru. As most of the shop closed at 8 pm, so we ended up shop at the 300 yen shop and bought the famous mister donuts and get back to hotel for supper.

On 30 Dec after breakfast, we explored our way at Shijo-dori Kawaramachi Takashimaya, looking for Burbury Blue Label products, fashion, souvenirs and accessories, strolling along Togetsu-Kyo Bridge bridge, pedestrian street, exploring the traditional arts and crafts, food (plum) and sake etc. As we feel like having dinner at hotel, so we went to Isetan supermart to buy sushi, donuts, cheese cake, strawberry and packed back to hotel to enjoy our dinner. A green tea spa was the highlight before retiring to sweet dream.

After buying Japanese cakes and pastries on 31 Dec morning, we boarded JR Line to Osaka at 1230 pm @ 540 yen. Upon arriving at 1 pm, we checked out the subway line to Namba where our Washington Plaza Hotel located, then zipped to Daotun Shinzabashi to enjoy Osaka, window shopping and watching the modern and fashionable Japanese youths around us .
During the next 2 days, we explored Osaka all by subway and foot. Tried all kinds of Japanese cuisine eg Ramem, sushi, BBQ beef, ice cream, also went to Osaka Performing Theatre to join the crowd for the Kansai 2010 concert, wow, the young and energetic crowd stormed the souvenir store at no time, most of the souvenirs were sold. I managed to get a big multi-purpose towel scarf and red shopping back.

Time flies especially happy moment. On the last day, I woke up early to take subway Nahai line at 845pm @ 890 Yen to airport. It was a very smooth ride and not crowded, it took about 45 min to reach Kansai airport and it is one of the cheapest and convenient way to get to airport.
Overall, my Osaka/Kyoto trip was relaxed and memorable. The FIT way is the best to get to know a city. It is quite easy to get around the 2 cities by train and subway even though we know close to zero Japanese language. I hope I can travel to another city of Japan in 2010 to enjoy the Onzen, Japanese food and leisure shopping, and have a relax holiday.