Living Nerdy in Sydney

I started taking up piano lessons when I was 4 in a Yamaha Music School. I hated it. At each class, I would turn off the volume on the electronic piano (Electone) so that no one would hear me play garbage. Whenever there were exams, our teacher would give us private one-to-one classes. For me, it would be a whole hour of crying as the teacher would hurl hurtful words at me. My mum realised those group classes weren’t for me and got me a private piano teacher. I didn’t enjoy it either, but was made to stick with it. I was exposed to the performing arts while I was very young. I joined the church children’s choir when I was 4 and then the school choir when I was 9.  I had the opportunity whilst a very young child to sing in front of large crowds. I was in a large stage production called “Oh My Stars”, a Christmas musical, which was performed in an open air amphitheatre in Sentosa. I was in Kindergarten. Then when I was 10, I was in a large school concert for the school’s 60 th ...

Wugu, is a Taiwanese Restaurant located in East Village on Defries Avenue, in Zetland.  Decor The decor is simple with wooden tables covered with a sheet of paper and wood dining chairs. Its high ceilings make the shops very narrow interior look alot bigger than it actually is. Menu Menu comprises of: Small plates (bigger than the typical entrée sized dishes). This includes dumplings, salads and small meat dishes. Not so small plates (which is really a dish with rice) Rice, noodles and soups Kids meals Food Between the 2 of us, we had 3 dishes. First was the Handmade boiled Pork Dumplings with chives, ginger, shallots ($12). There were 6 pieces of very large dumplings. The skin of the dumplings were the thicker kind and the fillings tasted so-so. As the dumplings were slightly overcooked, the texture of the skin could be greatly improved. Next we had Minced Pork with Soy Egg on rice ($10). This very typical Taiwanese dish. The portion of min...

Hard working and able men can build towers, roads, trains, public utilities and gardens. But it takes very special men to change the hearts and minds. Lee Kuan Yew's government did change Singapore from a third world slum to a first world bustling metropolis in a matter of 4 decades. But what is an even more notable feat is that they changed Singapore from a racially fragmented and class segregated country to a people believing that they can do what they are able to do no matter which colour they are or what their family background is. Meritocracy. This is a change of hearts and minds. All done within 1 generation. A Singaporean Singapore. My friends from Hong Kong or the West would tell me that Singaporeans are a brain washed nation. I don't really blame them for thinking that way. From a very young age, we are attended civics and moral education class. Kindergarten Singaporean children start education at pre-Nursery. There are 4 years of formal school before Primary ...

The death of Lee Kuan Yew has had a profound impact on many Singaporeans. Over the last week, we have seen the tens of thousand queuing to attend the laying in state and the events held in neighbourhoods. We've seen the normally reserved Singaporeans cry, posted on Facebook and even publically shout out their emotions. Mr Lee's death has also impacted on Singaporeans and ex-Singaporeans living abroad. In Sydney, Australia, many Singaporeans have followed Facebook and live streaming through Channel News Asia on news and historical videos of Mr Lee's life.  Living abroad, we don't often talk to each other about our origins particularly at work. It's often seen as a making someone stand out in the very multicultural Sydney. Sydney's multicultralism is far greater than in Singapore with 50% of her population born abroad. However, with most of Singapore's youth brought up in an environment of tolerating each other's culture, Singaporeans fit right ...

"No man is an island." John Donne. Singapore's first Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew was a very successful man. He has been closely linked to the success of Singapore, turning a third world nation to a first world nation. As a health management professional, my work experience has shown me that good leadership can bring great achievements. But good leadership alone is not enough, you need a great team. For example, when a patient comes to hospital with a serious fracture, the doctor alone can't treat the patient successfully. Yes, he can lead the team to treat the patient, but he needs the whole team to work with him. He needs the anesthetist to administer the general anesthetic; he needs the nurse to care for the patient while in the ward; he needs the physiotherapist to help rehabilitate the patient to full movement; he needs the clerks to help fill in the administrative paperwork; he needs the nurse manager to make sure the hospital is well stocked. "You...

Former Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, passed away on 23 March 2015. Formal messages of condolences has been sent from leaders around the world. Here is a snap shot. USA President Barrack Obama I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Singapore’s Minister Mentor, Lee Kuan Yew.  On behalf of the American people, Michelle and I offer our deepest condolences to the Lee family and join the people of Singapore in mourning the loss of this remarkable man.  A visionary who led his country from Singapore’s independence in 1965 to build one of the most prosperous countries in the world today, he was a devoted public servant and a remarkable leader.  Minister Mentor Lee’s views and insights on Asian dynamics and economic management were respected by many around the world, and no small number of this and past generations of world leaders have sought his advice on governance and development.  I personally appreciated his wisdom, including our discu...

(Video from Straits Times) You might have seen the videos and pictures of people in Singapore queuing up to attend the laying in state of the first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. This public viewing is held from Wednesday 25 March to Saturday 28 March 2015. (Photo from Channel News Asia) People have turned up in the thousands. The queue on Wednesday was about 1.8 km long, which translated into 8 hours of queuing. To put this into Sydney terms, it's a queue as long as from World Square to Circular Quay. This queue is in over 30'C heat and the government has issued messages to encourage people to  come prepared with water and umbrellas. (Note that in Singapore, umbrellas are used both as shelter in rain and shine). A second queue had been made for the elderly, disabled and pregnant. Generous businesses have been giving away free food and drinks as well as flowers to people in the queue. (Photo from Straits Times) No, no one was forced to. Contrary to fore...