Xiamen Family Home-coming Trip (Part 1 of 2)

In October 2019, we chose our ancestral home - Xiamen (厦门), China for a family holiday.

It's been too long since we had a full family holiday. I think the last time was Taiwan trip in Dec 2015. Our parents though, had multiple holidays and outings for the past 5 years, at least 2 annual oversea trips, as we took turns to bring them out. They can be considered frequent flyers.

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We departed from KL to Xiamen Gaoqi airport via an evening flight. The morning before the flight, I arrived back in KL from London. Anyway, this was not the first time I took back-to-back flights in a day, but I don't expect this kind of travel to happen in the near future.

Before the family boarded the Yo-Yo Bus (airport liner) from Johor Bahru, I was already at KLIA killing time.

Xiamen, China is the family's origin. In fact, dad was born there, only to be the last 'kid' to leave the village with grandma in the 60's. Thus, this was also a family reunion trip. Dad's elder sister (姑姑) - Aunty Hua still lives in Xiamen. She was married off by grandpa at like 20, as the 'males' of the family left the village for then Malaya to trade and earn an income. There was no question of feeling self-pity or sadistic. Life was tough, and that was a fact, when the country is mismanaged by an incompetent government.

China had a turbulent modern history, since the end of the 1800's. The country suffered in the hands of the Europeans, who poisoned the population with drugs (opium). China lost badly in multiple opium wars, witnessed horrible scenes during Japanese occupation (WW2), endured a brutal civil war, and years of mismanagement during the early days of communist rule.

Countless families got displaced, and to survive was to do whatever it takes. Overseas Chinese of the early 19th century had nothing to lose. Tin mine coolees, deckhand at ports, farmers, fishermen, petty traders... Any work that puts food on the table, was worth doing. By sheer hard work and ingenuity, some would strike it big in life.

Still, the condition outside then-China was still so much better. Those who left actually had little social status in China, and were mostly from the coastal cities.

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Unsurprisingly, the first destination the next day (Day 1) was to head back to village of Zhan Chu/Zheng Cuo (增厝), in Tong An (同安), nowadays redrawn and named Xiang An (翔安). It's around 2 hours drive from Xiamen city center.

The ancestral home - 2 generations after grandfather left for Melaka

Returning to the Constitution’s Path of Moderation | Shad Saleem Faruqi ...

Every Malaysian should watch this speech, on your rights, heritage and stand.



Hats off to you Prof. 

Traveling America: Washington DC: Part 3 of 3

Previously in Part 2, I visited the Capitol, and Ford's Theater, where President Lincoln was shot: 

https://weesertan.blogspot.com/2020/07/traveling-america-washington-dc-part-2.html

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DC has an NBA team - Washington Wizards. Since there was a game in town, I thought why not.

DC's Capital One Arena was a huge indoor stadium

Not the biggest game on the calendar (USD 22/ticket)

Some impressive play

A fellow traveler at the Hostel from Taiwan - Albert explained that this was an end-season game, and both teams had nothing much to play for. They may even 'lack' the motivation to win, as finishing lower in the table means they have a higher priority to choose rookie (new) players next season. No wonder I felt that the game was quite lackluster at times.

Wizard's Bradley Bill (had to Google for for famous players) only played 2 quarters.

Traveling America: Washington DC: Part 2 of 3

I had a fantastic Day 1 in DC, as spring arrived. Walking in DC was splendid:

https://weesertan.blogspot.com/2020/07/traveling-america-washington-dc-part-1.html

The weather forecast for Day 2 however, was least amazing, so I conveniently planned to stay indoors - visiting the Capitol.

The visitor center was really informative, with helpful and friendly staffs

There were many delightful tours - A full day wasn't sufficient

Chief Washakie (left) and Freedom, who stands on top of the Capitol (right)

Traveling America: Washington DC Part 1 of 3

Previously on Weesertan.blogspot.com, I spent 3 nights at Niagara Falls, and confirmed that the waterfalls did not freeze:
https://weesertan.blogspot.com/2019/06/travelling-america-niagara-falls.html

Today is the second half of 2020, and 4th of July. I thought it's a perfect time to continue writing about the New World.

DC climbed into my top 3 favourite cities (along with Istanbul and Edinburgh) - Very well-planned, neat and so much of tradition and history

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I was glad to bid farewell to freezing Niagara Falls, I took the 12.17pm AMTRAK train to Washington DC. There is no direct trains to DC, so I had to transit at New York Penn Station. Total travel time was 14 hours!

Glad to have a few stops along the way

Review of a Liverpool Fan

Over a year ago, I recorded down the lessons I learned watching football:
https://weesertan.blogspot.com/2019/06/things-that-i-learned-from-football-and.html#more

Yesterday, I woke up to a messages exclaiming that Liverpool FC won the Premier League. I was still quite in the dark. Chelsea beat Manchester City which means that with 7 games to spare Liverpool wins the league mathematically, ending a 30 year wait.

Being a football fan for 2 decades, I have watched amazing teams play - Van Nistelrooy's Man Utd, Thierry Henry's Arsenal (the invisibles), Drogba's Chelsea, Sergio Aguero's (Man City)... I think the Arsenal team played the best football those days.

The first ever game I watched at Anfield was on New Year's eve 2017 

 When you go to Anfield, you also eat some Fish and Chips, says Kak Ram

Liverpool 1 : 0 Manchester City 

10 things I learn after 10 working years (Part 2)

This is a continuation from Part 1:
https://weesertan.blogspot.com/2020/06/10-things-i-learn-after-10-working.html

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It's also been 2 years since I reentered the republic, taking up a role that does projects, business development, marketing and most interestingly, leveraging and influencing demand drivers. Business travels were aplenty, and in February, I was away to 3 different countries, just before COVID-19 struck. It was a terrific exposure to the corporate world, with a fair share of stress and anxiety. No doubt that I am a more confident and calmer professional today.

Receiving Paul Fletcher Award in London, Oct 19

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6. Set a baseline for your principles, moral ground such that you sleep soundly at night. 

To be able to sleep soundly either means you were very tired, your job is not challenging, or you did everything to the best you could (correctly) during the day.

Nothing beats the pride have doing the right things, the right way, for a prolonged period of time. Actually, you also have to demonstrate / show that you are doing the right things. Walls have ears.

Reputation and integrity is something earned through the challenge of time, but would disappear in a flash. Buffet knows this too, and this was what he held on during the Salomon crisis. Profit shall be a means to an end, and not the end itself. A drop of ink in a pail of milk, would destroy everything.

If there was someone simple, honest and no-nonsense, it's dad. I shall forever remember the values he instilled - Your own feelings are important (Raffles Marina, April 2019)

You won't endear yourself to many, but you will make a couple of life-long friends, who knows your sincerity and honesty as a person, and that you mean no harm to others.

7. Don't take things personally. Be emotionally and characteristically strong. Learn to unwind when you leave the office/turn off your computer.

Dale Carnegie said - Criticism is futile, while Buffet advises non-confrontational interaction.

Traveling Istanbul: Part 2 of 2

Previously on Traveling Istanbul Part 1 of 2, I visited the outer city of Istanbul:
https://weesertan.blogspot.com/2020/06/traveling-istanbul-part-1-of-2.html

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Breakfast at the rooftop was magical. It was special catching sunrise on the Bosphorous, glancing at continental Asia to the east.

It snowed last night 

After a 3-minute walk from the hostel, I reached the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Mosque). It was free to visit.

 Minimal crowd, early morning

Still, there were visitors, and we took off our shoes before entering the mosque

 Splendid artwork inside the mosque

Traveling Istanbul: Part 1 of 2

I was in Istanbul in February 2020, before the world went into lockdown. Never did I thought the skies would close so tightly. 

The perks of visiting Istanbul during winter was worthwhile, with significantly less tourist. 

The drawback though, was the erratic weather - It could be snowing in the morning, sunshine in the afternoon and raining in the evening. 

The Sultan Ahmet Mosque, also known as Blue Mosque

I learned that the colour turquoise (kind of light blue) is originated from Turkey. 

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Istanbul is a city of rich history and tradition. The culture mix mesmerizes and attracts millions. Most importantly, this city divides continental Europe and Asia via the Bosphorous Straits. 

Merely scrolling through Google Map was attractive and interesting enough

During winter, temperature go to as low as -3 degrees Celsius

Because it is by the sea, you know how windy it gets - Be well prepared

10 things I learn after 10 working years (Part 1)

1st of June 2010 was the first day I started work as an engineer in a combined-cycle power plant (together with QS, JH and Toh). It was a low key occasion, but I could still remember, by 8.30am, the 4 of us sat in the meeting room at the now defunct Plant A office. Alas, it was a significant milestone in my life - I started earning a living and paying taxes. Though I have been financially independent from the family since 18 (courtesy of a scholarship from GSP), it was still special.

And, it has been a decade!

Once awhile, when departing KLIA, I would still spot the station (if I take the left flank window seats)

After about 3-4 years, there is no more being a rookie and 'young' engineer. People of my generation are now parents, managers, or running their own businesses.

The few of us were lucky, as we went straight into the job after a brief internship a year before, so we kind of hit the ground running. I have been through ups and downs in the office, and there is no doubt that I was extremely fortunate and lucky to receive the mentoring, opportunities and exposures at the workplace. I would say we learned more than we worked. There were also amazing people and colleagues. Not a lucrative career, but I wouldn't trade it for another one. No one teaches you to be a electrician/mechanic overnight.

In the past decade, I switched jobs, went back to university, met loads of people and remained in electrical engineering / energy sector. I was also fortunate to live in different cities.

Below are the 10 things I learned, and hopefully will be useful to the newcomers.

1. Pick up a lifelong skill.

Position yourself in a way that if there are no jobs out there, you still have a core-competency that would prevent you from going hungry. It is important to align yourself to a field of expertise, be it accountancy, bakery, certain sports (football/badminton) and etc.

Circle of competence, as coined by Buffet.

For me, I have no qualms taking up minimum wage and head back to power stations or any manufacturing plants to do electrical maintenance. I am confident in my basics, and could pick-up new skills quickly. I am a hands-on person, so any craft-work is also fine.

Of course, eventually, you could climb the corporate ladder into management, evolve into a generalist, consultant or become an entrepreneur. But for your core competency, that is a life saver.

I would tail my technicians and try to learn every skills on the table, no matter where the location was

Take your own initiative to learn, grow and develop (because no one will plan or do it for you). If you don't think you are learning, improving or developing, try find other ways, such as to take part-time studies, volunteer for a cause or sign-up for some online classes.

On a cold fall day in 2016, after class, outside the classroom in Rankine Building, Glasgow University, I asked Prof. R. Paton what should I do if my boss or the organization is toxic (no culture of sharing knowledge, people issues, unable to learn and grow), he looked me in his light blue eyes and answered - Leave.

2. Be humble, don't worry about doing extra work, or the donkey job.

As newbies, you will be labeled all sorts, from not knowing the basics to just being hopeless. Fret not. This is part of growing up and trimming whatever ego or snobbishness you have. Time is on your side, but the irony is, you have only the first few years to not know the basics or just being hopeless. These few years are the best time to learn rapidly, make mistakes and fail (not too miserably). You could still kind of get away with it (your seniors most probably have to clear the mess for you, so thank them!).

Who isn't a noob when you first started off. I didn't even know how to use a multimeter. I once use a test-pen to check DC current (or rather, I didn't understand general AC and DC circuits and voltage ranges).