Visit to the "Shi Ma Lo" Temple

It seem like I was not in particular luck (money-wise) since the start of the new year...

Spent a fortune in extracting my wisdom tooth during first few day and most recently spending a fortune on repairing my car. Stock market also crashing therefore incurring losses (at least on paper). Not forgetting I'm going to spend some more $$$ on my wedding stuffs in coming months... :(

My GF suggested that we go "Shi Ma Lo"'s (Waterloo Street) Chinese temple to pray. Once a while my GF will go there for some prayer and donate some money token, it's been a while since we last went there.

Famous Chinese Temple at "Shi Ma Lo"

It's crowded inside

Well... I'm not exactly a Buddhist, I consider myself a Free Thinker. Though I was brought up in a more Oriental culture (Buddhism) environment and also went through Methodist school, I was somehow never into any religion. However I do not feel uncomfortable going to a temple. To me, offering joss sticks to the Gods is a form of respect; irregardless of what religion. Ha... Guess the government had successful molded (brainwashed) me into a person who accept "Multi Racial, Multi Religion". But of course this is important in a country like Singapore where we have different races and religion people living together. We need to live harmony together, so continue to "brainwash" the new generations... :p

Just for the record, I did not pray for more wealth during the visit to the temple (though I would love to strike a lottery...). But I would think that my GF had done that for me. :p Ha...

Lunar New Year is also round the corner, so we went to the nearby market where my GF wanted to get some New Year goodies. It's damn crowded. Shoulder to shoulder, sweat and sweat... :( This will be the closest I will go for a lunar new year sale market.

Count me out if you intend to go Chinatown... I have bad memories in jam packed market selling goodies for the last few years. Disastrous!

Stock Market Crashing? Recession?

Red is the colour during early this week. When you looked at the Singapore Straits Time Index, you see a sea of red numbers. Share prices seem to be plunging like nobody's business (similar manner to the times when they went up few months back) in the midst of recession fear and US sub-prime issue. Or market correction? Well, the stock market did recovered a bit later the week after US Fed cut the interest rates.

One thing for sure, my stocks which I'm holding devalued quite a lot during this period of time. Remember I briefly mentioned "Last Fool's Theory" before? Wonder who are the unfortunate ones (last fools) who entered the market just before it crashed...? But I do believe that irregardless of whether the economic/market is either up or down, there will still be people making tons of money out of it. How I wish I know how...? Sigh. Those "Big Fishes" will be eyeing the opportunity to eat "Small Fishes" like us.

Bearish Time?

Then again, I'm no expert in stock market to talk too much in depth. I'm just a "small fish" trying to make some small money. :p

But one thing I learnt, only invest with money you can afford to put aside or lose. My 2 cent thought...

Good luck... :)

Link: Singapore Stock Exchange http://www.sgx.com/

New Year Resolution 2008

It's already the 3rd week into the new year... and I'm trying to gather my thoughts on my new year resolution for this year.

I actually gave some thoughts before the turn of the year but just did not state it down.

This year could be a busy year for me given that I'm getting married this year. So guess I will at least be swamped by the wedding preparations. Hopefully that will not drained out all my energy from achieving my goal.

What I would hope to achieve this year is to set up a business of my own. Hmmm... not really my "own", but rather partnership with some other people for a start. It has been my ambition to own a business for a while; you work for your own sake! I remembered this goal was an undone assignment during 2006. I was so disappointed that I dropped the idea/target during the following year 2007 to prevent any further disappointment.

All these years every person I talked to are always interested in setting up their own business but none of them have proved me so. "NATO- No Action, Talk Only"... sad thing. Well, I guess I might be categorised as one of them too. I did tried to make some difference during the end of 2006 when I realised that I was going to miss my resolution. I researched and approached a F&B company to franchise it's product. All was set to happen till all my "potential" partners back out due to no confident on that product. I would have gone all out if I had some support from some of them.

The reason why this idea has revived is beacause...
1) You cannot rely on people to provide you with a job all your life; retrenchment happens!
2) Semiconductor sucks...
3) Not really interested in corporate ladder ("You are stuck, right??" You must be thinking)
4) Your very own business!
5) Found some friends who seem non-NATO

Having said all these, there are of course a lot of uncertainties when it comes to venturing out. To be honest, I do not have such expertise at this moment. Therefore franchising comes into the picture to reduce the risk and create a win-win situation. Perhaps the correct/safe business model for me now is to still hold the permanent job while setting up a business.

Will I be cut out for running a business? Will the partnership work out? Am I really into business or prefer a 8-to-5 job? Business is much more complex than I thought? Lots of questions unable to answer now.

Hmmm... striking the Toto now may pretty much changed all my plans. Ha... I was hoping to put that as my new year "wish".

Till then, have to work hard on attaining my new year resolution.

Signing off, Towkay-wannabe Mango... :p

Make a Will

It's been more than a week since I last posted a note. Perhaps lost of thoughts after losing some wisdom earlier? :(

Today I like to chat about "Will"... I'm not talking about Will Power, rather the Will that determine how one's assets are distributed after one is no longer around.

Hmmm... not very auspicious thing to talk about, let alone thinking of making one in the start of the new year?! Some people might even question "Are you that rich?" Well, I get to know that you need not be rich to make a will. Irregardless whether it is $10 Million or $10 Thousand, it's all about how the money or assets are shared among the beneficiaries to avoid any dispute when time comes. This also assure that the person whom you like to give the money will receive them.

Under Singapore Law, if there is no Will made, the default beneficiaries of spouse, children and/or parents applied. There are a couple of scenarios that can be iterated depending on whether one is married, have children, parents still around... etc. There can also be cases when the money can end up in the hands of someone you did not expect. What if you want your siblings, nieces, nephews or grandparents to have some shares as well? That's when a Will comes into the picture.

One is usually advised to do some estate planning to check out his/her assets and liabilities so that one will know how much is left to be distributed. It will not make sense if the debts are more than what one owns, then basically there is nothing left behind. Movable assets more than S$600k or properties more than S$9M are subjected to estate duty tax. Rich people may find ways to go round the loopholes...?

In short, I do see advantages of setting a Will and I intend to make one in the near future.

Anyone interested should of course seek professional opinion. There is much more than what I mentioned. (I'm just trying to bullshit my way after attending 1 or 2 talks... :p)

Make a Will... will you?

You have Wisdom Too(th)?

*** Warning: This post has some images which may be disturbing to some readers. Please do not eat and read at the same time. ***

Guess what is the first thing I did in 2008?

Sigh... I got my wisdom removed... Err... I meant my wisdom tooth.

It's been a while since the dentist suggested that I get my bottom right wisdom tooth out. There was a gap between this wisdom tooth and the tooth infront. This had caused food trapped and likely created problem for my other teeth. Though it was not causing much pain, I decided to get it done after turning deaf ears for a long time.

At first I thought it will be a simple surgery (been told that it takes an hour only), and expect myself to be able to return to work the next day. True enough, the whole event took slightly less than an hour, with the extraction around 15min only. But, I might have just underestimated the pain which was about to feel after the anesthetic was gone. Half of my jaw was initially numb but few hours later it was a different story...

Recalling back on the proceedings, I could clearly hear the sawing, drilling and hammering... Ha... scared? Gotcha! Well, there was definitely sawing. My tooth was cut in halves when I got them back. The feeling during that time was... a bit scary... but fortunately the dentist is good. He kept assuring me and constantly check on me. At the end of the surgery, he said "Tooth is out, everything is ok. I will start stitching." Stitching...?! Felt like sewing...!! *Fainting*

Though this was not a major operation or what, I found that the most important thing in such situation is to have support and comfort from your loved ones. My GF purposely took leave to take care of me that day. At first, I thought why waste the leave, but in the end, I really appreciate that... She was cooking porridge for me while I suffered in pain. Thank you Dear!

Hopefully I did not get any less intelligent after losing one of my wisdom tooth.

So... did you removed your wisdom too(th)?

Happy New Year 2008!

It's "Goodbye 2007... Welcome 2008!"
Time flies, another year just passed...

Did you achieve you new year resolution last year? And what's your wishes this year round huh? As for me... hmmm... strike lottery??! Ha... do you consider that as a valid new year resolution?? :) Perhaps another post for more detailed thoughts and look back.

My GF and I went to Marina Square to catch the new year fireworks.

Inside Marina Square

A view from Marina Square

Everyone is gearing up for the fireworks shooting from the bay area. "People Mountain People Sea" (many many people in Chinese) Ha... It already very crowded at Marina Square. Just imagine areas nearer to the river like Esplanade and Fullerton One! I'm not into squeezing with other people. We decided to find somewhere less crowded to make ourselves more comfortable; of course we are not getting the best view lor...

Gearing up for the show
Party begins at 12midnight!
Happy New Year 2008!

Nice...

Wow... Taxpayer's money in the air... Ha

Once the fireworks is over, people started to stream their ways to carparks, bus stops and MRT heading home. And we started walking back to get my car at Bugis (~25min stroll). Hmmm... ain't the party just began? Maybe at other countdown venues (Vivo city, Sentosa, pubs)?

Fireworks is over; people heading home

As we were walking back to Bugis, I saw a group of workers getting off their lorry and doing their routine clearing of rubbishes from the public dustbin along the traffic junction.

Hmmm... a sudden thought came across my mind...

New year or No new year, it's business as usual and life goes on...