Inside a christmas tree, Orchard Rd, Singapore

So much have been written this year on my blog. Squeezing time to put all the right words never came easy especially there is so much of other things to do. Though the impact of the current economic environment is not all that pleasing but here in my office, we are busy. I did made some adjustment to the company policy and our business plan and looking forward to jobs that are more attractive for a period to come.

The past is over and all that is new re-born. New website, blogsite, new office space, new logo and outlook, new policies and business plan, new faces and it is also time to reach out to new ground, India.

Getting close to all that are new in Ayer Matahari is another year, 2010. It’s time to dress up for Christmas and jolly our way into the new year.

So, folks, thank you for reading my blog for the year and hope to find time to write for the coming year.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

NG KOK HONG

Man in Mask. A 5 minutes sketch

There is a vacancy in my office for anyone who loves to draw. Who also keep in touch with the digital world and familiar with autocad, photoshop, sketchup… at least.

A vacancy left by those I believe have no appreciation for art and friendship. I love to create vacancies for people who are in need. I always like to create a generous environment for those who worked with me. Knowledge, books, travels, friendship, trust, compassion, humility, selfless and giving are part of my ingredients for a good recipe to success in life. All these are meant to fill a vacancy of life.

Unfortunately, I was always wrong as those who came to fill the vacany brought along greed, jealousy, politics, selfishness, trickery and never enough with enough into the pot. Eventually such mixtures turn into a sour and tasteless concoction that kills.

I am glad and thankful as those cannot be mixed into something good turned sour and allowed to be spitted off. I did just that and carried on with the next formula for a good recipe.

Fruits that are bad smells. Some bad from the core takes a longer time to detect.

Ayer Matahari needs someone who can fit into the recipe for art and science to be blended and compasionately make a good project into some memorable ones. We have about 10 hotel projects in both design and pond systems in India, a few good conceptual project design in Malaysia and a couple more in Bali.

I welcome those who love art and science, wiling to learn, selfless and friendly to call and fill the vacancy for artist – designer in our office at Ayer Matahari.

Email: kokhong@ayermatahari.com or call me at +6016 2192289.

My kids enjoying time in Bangkok. Time is joy.

Time is money. Such reminder that time is all about money is not truly healthy. Time is happiness and make time for this. We are once again like an annual ritual back to a time to enjoy our holiday and seasons for celebration.

It is time to cut work loads in the office and start packing for a good leisure break. I started early right on the first week of the school holiday whereby I shipped my wife and 3 kids to Bangkok. Bangkok, a city I can never get tired going. A place to relax with good spicy food and a heaven for shopping for new gears and books. Old friends are still around and jokes and joy are everywhere.

Last week in Bangkok, my family gathered together with long time Thai friend Dr Opart and family. We talked about good old times, family and kids matter and even had a good time together with the kids for a IMAX 3D movie. Of course, all the time of chattering went well along with prakhaphao, tom yam and other Thai delicacies.

Just as I step right back to my home, well, it is also time to wish good friends greetings to all those from US for the Thansgiving day. Thanksgiving day is very meaningful to the Americans and good to know for those whom known to me were having a great time with their turkeys.

The day was not even over after back from Bangkok, again, I was with my family back on cool seats watching ‘A Christmas Carol’ with Ebenezer Scrooge reminding us of our ways and selfishness have to go… You don’t want any ghosts visits. Well, time for Christmas is near. New year 2010 is close. My youngest kid, born on 1 January is all out for party….and celebrations to come.

So, have you started packing? Work needs to be wrapped up for hibernation. Don’t worry about Dubai fallout and the economy on slaught. Time is not all about money but happiness and Happiness is here. Have a great time.

Old Mumbai taxi.

‘Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found’ by Sukethu Mehta will give a clear in-depth of what life is all about in Mumbai. A good book to read and remains a book to read. I had a brief time in Mumbai last week and though didn’t have much time to explore but from what I can see, Mumbai is a city you do not want to miss. A real mixed on modern new and old from the past.

I had a long trip from KL to Chennai, Chennai to Coimboture then to Mumbai and back to Chennai. Half of Chennai city was flooded as I was told by an old friend Ravi. The manager of Hotel Green Park, Mr Kabir was kind enough to offer me coffee while I was waiting for Ravi at the hotel before my next flight to KL. With Ravi, we had a modest tea meal with capati along with rogan josh. We talked about old times back to year 1985-87.

This trip to India was short and travel was extensive stretching from Chennai-Coimboture-Mumbai. Though most of the flight times were all in the evening but it did drained me of the waiting and sitting period at the airport. This reminded me of my early years of travelling to Bangkok from K Lumpur by train.

Not long after finshed my college years, I decided to venture north to Thailand. I was told of much charm and beauty when you arrived Bangkok with women welcoming you with flowers and garland. Kevin decided to come along and we were very excited. I told him as what I knew about the great Bangkok, the Thais were pretty, warm and friendly, cheap shopping and great food. We took a train there of course and after a long ride, we arrived in Bangkok after about 15 hours of bone-shaking journey. As naive as we were, we expect Thai girls to welcome us with flower and garlands and to our shock, we were met with beggars trailling us every wherever we went like leeches. Things were pretty cheap though and we bought two fake watches. Mine was about RM10 and lasted less than 2 days and for Kevin’s, well it functioned more than a week before he dumped it. That year was 1988.

Creative shop at Chatuchak Market, Bangkok

Bangkok. I am always attracted to woodwork. I have wood carvings from Java, Bali, India, Taiwan, Thailand and even a few pieces done with my own hands. A recent trip to Bangkok, I found that those guests came with me shared the same attraction to woodwork. Hand made photo frames, small furniture and also an entire set up of a stall from re-cycle wood. That’s why I enjoy Bangkok as there are many creative ideas that will inspire you to work hard and smart. Hand work of old woods were truly good at Siam@Siam with all bare and raw finishes with dark tones. Just like work done incomplete but completed. Rated: Good Old Mind.

At Arsom Silp Institute, I was impressed by design simplicity without leaving the environmental complexity. Architect Khun Joy told me of their design to incorporate re-cycle of sewage water, a walk by the lake side and no vehicle to drive right into the institute. I enjoy architecural approach that are culturally correct, environmentally acceptable and design practical. That is The Ashram…. or Arsom Silp about 30 mins drive from central Bangkok. Rated: Good Mind

Say NO to Stupid Ideas!

Back in KL… and talking about care for environment, I received a big plastic bag which my wife finds it very useful. It is big enough for everything except the message printed on the plastic bag..” Say No to Plastic Bags“. It is like offering someone a cigarette and tell him not to smoke! Why in the first place the organiser distributes plastic bags to send such message? This is truly out of mind and how to say no to plastic bag that is suppose to carry a message printed on it! Rated: No Mind.

Old Story.

I walked into an old dental clinic. I was told to sit on the chair with lamps and mirrors everywhere. Then, the hand shaking dentist asked me to open my mouth so he can get a good view of my teeth.

The dentist said, “One of your tooth is crooked!”

“Can you straighten it or should you extract it?” I asked.

He replied, “I need to twist your jaw to straighten your tooth!”

Say NO to Stupid Ideas!