Chinese New Year Trivia

Singapore - some Chinese New Year Trivia for those who are clueless about this festival that is widely celebrated in Asia....

1. Why must the amount in cahs in the Hong Bao be even-numbered?
2. Why must we stay up on the eve of Chinese Year Year?
3. Why do we wear red-coloured clothes on Chinese New Year?
4. Why is the Chinese Character fu placed upside down?
5. Why are mandarin oranges exchanged during Chinese New Year?



Answers:
1. There's a Chinese saying that "good things come in pairs". Odd-numbered amounts are generally associated with money given at funerals.
2. It is believed that the later children stay up on the eve of Chinese New Year, the longer their parents will live.
3. According to a legend, there is a New Year monster called Nian. Because, the monster fears the colour red, it became tradition for the Chinese to wear red to frighten it away.
4. Turning something upside down is known as "dao" in Mandarin, which sounds similiar to the Chinese word for "arrive". Turning the word upside down means that blessings will arrive.
5. The Mandarin word for mandarin organes is ju, which sounds like ji, meaning good luck. Another version is that oranges are called kam in Cantonese, which sounds like the Cantonese word for gold.

Korea seeks to be Asia's No.1 English speaking Country

Seoul - It has been a long time coming that any Korean government acknowledge that English is the de-facto lingua franca for business. The incoming government 's plan to boost public English education is stiring a nationwide debate over its viablity and even its implication for the national sense of identity. Koreans have much pride over the country, language and customs - and it is not difficult to understand why since they have come a long way with a unique and distinct culture.

The incoming Korean government intentions is laudable but it takes a nation mindset to change. Quoting the chairperson exact words "Whether you like it or not, English is one of the global languages. Moreover, int he situation where 90 per cent of the information on the internet is offered in English, our national competitiveness, is directly linked to English education" and "We live in an era where people's English skill is a core factor in determining the nation's competitiveness."

The fact that 10 years of English education fails to produce decent English speakers really shows that there needs to be changes.

The article rank Singapore as one their list of recognised English speaking countries that teachers will be sent to learn to improve their command of English. The other countries are: US, UK, Australia and New Zealand.

Singapore has come a long way....that the speaking of English starts at Kindergarden. It is a holistic approach and includes speaking, writting, proper sentence structure, reading, composition.

Busy as a Bee...

Seoul - This day concluded on a busy note with 3 appointments back to back. The temperature drop to zero maybe due to my warm Singapore persona. On a whole the meetings went well. We had lunch at a buffet restaurant - I have been there twice. Everytime, we visit this customer - we will go to this buffet restaurant. There were wide slections of korean food on the buffet spread for just 9,000Won person. According to Korean standards, this is considered cheap and I think it holds true to Singapore too. The one recognizable similiarity in my 3 visits is the number of elderly people - it is a like a old folks gathering from all walks of life.

Dinner was at a sushi restaurant - the waitress was able to speak Mandarin and she comes from China Hei Long Jiang province. The food is really good and fresh. In the past, tips were not the norm but my customer boss, were giving tips to the waitress and Chief Chef. This was a recognizable difference from the past - a western import.

It seems to follow the conventional understanding of the West that a good tip follows good service.

Freezing cold - minus 3 - Ramada Seoul Hotel

Seoul - It was freezing cold at -3 celcius and this trip will make it my 57th trip to Korea.

On this trip, I chatted up an elderly couple that spent about 1 month in Asia going around Singapore, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong, Cambodia and parts of India. A lovely couple that shared their experiences with me and gave me a book - titled "Eight was not Enough" this is an autobiography of herself. It was written about her struggle in raising 9 children - with 7 adopted and some physically challenged. It was refreshing like a gush to cool breeze on a hot summer day.....not exactly though I was on a plane. They lived in Pleasant Hill which I am familiar with and near the hotel I always stay when I am in Walnut creek. I will call them when I next go to US.

This time I will be staying for 2 nights at Ramada Seoul Hotel - I have never stayed there before though it is located within the Gangnam area. It cost 14,000Won from the Inchon airport to Ramada Seoul via the Limo bus, which took just pass 1hr. It was good since it is the 3rd hotel on the Limo bus route. The room was decently clean, enough room space and comes with broadband internet.

Ramada or Ramada Renaissance?
I am quite curious why they also asked is it Ramada Renaissance Hotel. The Renaissance Seoul Hotel in Samsung-dong was once called Ramada Renaissance Hotel, and it became famous and stuck with many people and taxi drivers. Till, today - many people still call Renaissance Seoul Hotel (now under the management of Mariott Group) as Ramada Renaissance Hotel. Ramada brand name is part of the Ramada Group of Hotels. I have stopped trying to correct people's mindset but just indicate to them the correct hotel and street address.
 Together with Young Jin and Dr Na, we had dinner at a popular Korean BBQ beef restaurant. The food was very tasty and delicious.

2 overstayed at Changi airport

Singapore - Two over zealous fans of popular Taiwanes singer-actor Jay Chou bought air-tickets to catch their idol at the Changi Airport and landed themselves in trouble.

The 2 entered the departure hall with their boarding passes at about 11am on July 30 last year but had no intention of flying to Kuala Lumpur - except to meet the Taiwanese pop star up close. After getting the boarding passes for their flight, they entered the departure where the notice states "No entry except for passengers with boarding passes and proceeding to their next destination".

The two telemarketers did not proceed to board their flight, but instead went to meet a celebrity idol who was arriving on the same day. The two were later detained by an Immigation and Checkpoints Authority officer and the police were called.

Under the Protected Area and Protected Places Act, they could have been fined and jailed for up to two years each.

Reference: Straits Times.

Renaissance in China

China - Every where I go there will always be some article about China. China's development and growth has been more than phenomenal. In November, I went to Sydney and everyone is talking about China. Why? because China is now Australia's largest export market and it is the real reason for the strong Australian dollar and booming economy. Sydney taxi drivers talk about how China has made Western Australia a booming state and made many people there rich.

In such a short period of time, China has become an economic Juggernaut:
- World largest mobile phone subscribers and still growing...
- 3rd largest economy in the World - by end of 2007, China will overtake Germany to be the 3rd largest economy in the World
- Bringing more than 100 million people out of poverty in 10 years

World's Largest Steel Producer - China surpassed the US to become the World's largest steel producer in 1997 (10 years ago). China's mills have increased their output five fold over the decade, to about 38% of the world's total.
Reference:
IHT

World's Largest Exporter - In September 2005, OECD stated that China could be the World's largest exporter by 2010, but during the first six months of 2006, China has surpassed the United States as being the world's largest exporter. Only five years ago, the United States exported more than double the amount of China.
Reference:
Manufacturing News
OECD press release

World's biggest CO2 Emitter - The International Energy Agency has predicted that China's carbon emissions would not equal those of the US until 2010 . But in 2006, accordingly to the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, China has already overtaken US as the world's biggest CO2 emitter.
Reference:
IEA Press release
Guardian UK
NY Times

Widest varieties of cars

Singapore - Having travel to most parts of Asia Pacific, I find that Singapore has the most varieties of car brands. There are 49 brand of cars being sold in Singapore. The largest are European made with twenty-four (24) brands, next nine Japanese made brands, five are made from China, six are USA made brands, three brands are Korean and three from our neighbour Malaysia.

Alfa Romeo - Europe
Aston Martin - Europe
Audi - Europe
Bentley - Europe
BMW - Europe

Chery - China
Chevrolet - USA
Chrysler - USA
Citroen - Europe (France)

Daihatsu - Japanese
Dodge - USA
Dongfeng - China made

Ferrari - Europe (Italian)
Fiat - Europe (Italian)
Ford - USA

Geely - China
GM - USA

Ha Fei - China
Honda - Japan
Hyundai - Korea

Jaguar - Europe
Jeep - USA

KIA - Korean

Lamborghini - Europe
Land Rover - Europe
Lexus - Japan
Lotus - Europe

Maserati - Europe
Mazda - Japan
Mercedes Benz - Europe (Germany)
Mini - Europe
Mitsubishi - Japan

Nissan - Japan
Naza - Malaysia (new introduction in 2007)

Opel - Europe

Perodua - Malaysia
Peugeot - Europe (France)
Porshe - Europe (Germany)
Proton - Malaysia

Renault - Europe (France)
Rolls Royce - Europe

Saab - Europe
Skoda - Europe
Soyat - China
Ssangyong - Korea
Subaru - Japan
Suzuki - Japan

Toyota - Japan

Volkswagen - Europe (Germany)
Volvo - Europe