Never too early

It was 4:00a.m. in the morning, I just climbed onto my bed at 1:00a.m., as far as I've remember, I was in a hotel of Nanjing, a local called "5 stars" hotel; their buffet breakfast were delicious, but how come I've got these? The reasons was I had to catch up with an 8:00a.m. international freight, so I booked a taxi at 6:00a.m. and I should check out at around 5:30a.m. But the worst thing was I woke up earlier even I was so tired. If you were me, would you forced yourself to sleep for another 45mins.? It's difficult, really really difficult.


So finally I decided to pack and finish my instant noodle + instant 3in1 coffee for an instant "refresh".


In normal practice, to arrive the airport 2 hours earlier for international departure is quite common, especially in China, because you have to spare extra time of facing the unexpected delay by human issues; in addition, if you have hand carry luggage, you better boarding as soon as you can, otherwise your luggage storage above your seat will most likely be occupied by someone else; then you have to say goodbye to your bags and hopefully they are safe in 10 rows in front of yours.


But there are always an exception. I remembered I did arrive Nanjing airport at around 6:30a.m. assuming I could start check in immediately, but the fact was all passengers waiting outside the gate (the international departure zone is usually smaller then the domestic without much to shop or to eat) together with their huge packs of souvenirs, until 7:30 something, all rush towards the counter at once, you can imagine how messy it was?! Don't worry, I will leave those details.


At that moment, I regret to give up my sleeping time and deluxe breakfast to wait outside the gate; but if I have to re-arrange again, I am sure I will have the same schedule, because there is never too early; just like our life, by having one minute extra, you may have a chance to reverse the whole story. 


P.S. - Blessing to people affected by the Iceland volcano ashes, wish they can return home very soon.

Totoro

I am an animation character in a Japanese film, my name is Totoro. We, as a family live in the forest, we sleep on leaf bed with sky as blanket, our favourite food is chestnut, we walk & play everywhere in the town, even in the backyard of our human neighbour.

But let me tell you, only kid and small child will discover us, like the pair of sisters who live next to us. We meet in the forest and bus stop, they find us and play with us often. One day, their mother have to stay in the hospital for a long time,they miss her so much, so we bring them to the hospital by our totoro bus. It is a very high tech and high speed bus, very comfortable and I wish you will have a chance to try. 

Well, they finally see their mother while their father visited her, almost recover and most likely can return home very soon. These two girls feel so relieve and happily enjoy their short trip on the tree branches. And we are happy to make their wish come true.

You know, there is always a secret, there are miracle everywhere, but you must have a simple heart as pure as a kid, they will believe the unbelievable. We just can't wait to be discovered and be friends with you, .......Oh, oh, we have to sleep now, good night.

The way home

In Chinese, we say 鳥倦知還, meaning when a bird flying anywhere, once it feels tire, it will return to it's nest. If reflect to a human, he or she will know the way home after passing his /her wild life.

To us, it may not be that extreme of being live in an uncontrollable or irresponsible life. But we may once leave our home sweet home, rushing into this secret world that is waiting for our exploration and discovery; to look for self value, respectful, excitement, freedom, ......when we were young. Did you?


Or we may not act in such a physical way, but let our free mind fly every where in the universe, then after knowing an infinity of new stuffs, receiving uncountable of new data, then what next?Try to apply those in our life? Try to act like what we admire?Without anyone to be responsible for, how free and amazing it would be.

Some people do have these kind of experience, by not setting any target, just go wherever there is a way out towards the world, to start their adventure without regret; instead of living like other people in a standard life cycle of studying, working, married, saving for house, car, pet and waiting to get old. They may gain or lose after all, but one day, they have to stop like Forest Gump stop running, take a break and find their way home. A place that always open to wait for their return, because there is our destination......our family.

Insist stubborn

When I saw this van, the first picture came to my head was red heated charcoal all around those nice sweet potatoes, you could smell from very far away on the street corner, feel the warmth,  and you just couldn't wait to buy one for a big bite immediately, especially during Winter time.

I am not sure whether they are still using charcoal these days, I guess and I wish they insist, because the taste of sweet potato will be different, if it isn't.

Year 2010, my own career is still being affected by the financial crisis. People and friends keep on telling me that I shall stop working as a design consultant only, but working with build, too; i.e. a main contractor, to gain more client and money. I do struggle for a while, I even plan to see if it is feasible; but when I look at this photo, I take a break from my worries and remind myself something once again that I insisted in the past 20 years......

......to be a design consultant, because I am a designer not a contractor even people say there is no conflict in this two roles, but actually it does. I am stubborn, even I don't have much work to do while the market is changing and my client can't /don't want to afford a design professional any more; and I am sure for some days later, I may come to a financial difficulties as a result. But what is the point to have my own company if I can't insist to be myself?

Will the sweet potato seller earn more living if it was being modernize with electrical equipment? or computerized? Yes! but I am sure he won't...that is what people's thought of his (my) stubborn, we guess.

內地公幹101 Business Trip in China 101

很多人也會往內地公幹, 特別是香港回歸中國之後. 幾年前我也常在一兩天之內往返國內不同城市工作, 以一個不常出門的女子, 實在遇到不少問題. 但經過一段實戰之後, 也有少許心得想與你們分享.

1) 查明當地天氣, 因為中國城市日夜溫差很大, 有時可以相差10度, 絕對影響所需要準備的衣物.

2) 你所乘坐的航空公司決定你是否要先在上機前吃點東西. 經驗告訴我除港龍外(非中航 co-share freight), 如坐其他的航空公司, 還是預先吃一點點好. 特別如果你是一個愛咖啡的人.

3) 不要以為一個人坐在窗邊便不會被打擾, 其實坐在通道邊不但出入及進餐比較方便, 遇到旁邊的乘客有問題, 如嘔吐或鬧事, 閃避也容易一點.

4) 如坐國內航班, 請務必帶備濕紙巾, 薄荷膏, 口罩, 因為空調往往比較差.

5) 行李盡量輕便, 不用寄倉可避免遺失及漫長的等待時間, 特別往國內, 這種事情足以摧毀你整個行程, 切記!

6)  找換, 接送, 住宿等盡量在離境前安排妥當. 不要浪費時間在當地機場與當地人周旋; 除非你有大量時間, 金錢及冒險精神.

7) 如必要乘坐計程車, 不要把行李放在行李箱, 還是放在身邊坐位上好. 這樣不會被無良司機脅持行李講價.

8) 乘車時要行大路, 即使司機提議也不要貪快行捷徑.

9) 緊記抄下車牌, 並肯定收費錶已啓動.

10) 行車時不要睡覺, 留意路線及路標.

好, 暫且說到這裡, 下次再談.

Many of you will need to have business trip in China, especially when Hong Kong was returned, I used to have this short trips rapidly in some years ago. As a lady not had much experience from the beginning, I gained some lessons after those "on site training"and would like to share some tips with you.

1) Make sure you counter check the weather of your target cities, the temperature can varies more that 10 degree Celsius from day to night time, especially to the cities located in the North of China, like Beijing. Your luggage should have proper clothing 

2) According to my experience, if you are not fly with Dragon airline (the non co-share flight with China Airline), but all others from Hong Kong, you better eat something you like before boarding; especially for those who need coffee. 

3) If you are alone, take the seat near the aisle instead of next to window, it may be a lot more disturbance, but your great flexibility while going to washroom and dining, plus the emergency escape from trouble maker next to your seat are still worth. 

4) If you need to take the domestic flight of China, make sure you've got disinfectant wet towel, mint ointment and mask in your pocket, because the poor ventilation without these handy tool may "kill" you in a second. 

5) Hand carry luggage is the first rule, avoid disaster that happen always of luggage lost or keep on waiting at the delivery tracks till the last flight arrive to the airport. This will absolutely spoil your trip into a mess. 

6) Try to arrange all your exchange of currency, local transfer and accommodation before boarding in your own country; don't bother to make those deal in the airport when arrive China with local guys, unless you have a lot of time, money and would like to be a great explorer. 

7) If you really need to take local taxi, carry your luggage with you at the seat area and avoid putting into the storage at the back; then you will not have a chance for the bad guys to  blackmail you for more fee by locking your luggage / document. 

8) Take the usual driving path, never the short cut as suggested by the driver, even you are running out of time. 

9) Remember or mark down the taxi no at once, and make sure the driver did activate the charge meter. 

10) Don't sleep even if you are tired, try to remember the traffic route / time, especially to some landmark or road sign. It always help in case some driver wants to treat you by using a longer path to your destination.


O.K.! just up to here, may share more next time if you feel these are useful.

No risk no gain?

I am addicted to Facebook game after I discovered there is no point to continue invite or connect real friends, who you've actually will keep contact in your daily life. So I just concentrate to a game call "Restaurant City".

This is a game for operating a virtual restaurant or cafe, you can have bigger shop area with more staff by operating day after day to gain your virtual coins and level up. You will have to pay your staff by feeding them after working each 4 hours, you have to buy or exchange ingredients to cook your dishes; and the most attractive part is...you can shop and buy to decorate.

I am not surprise of how this game attracts so many people to play, that can fulfill their shopping wishes and cafe dream. Basically you will never lose and have no pressure to run this business, even if you do nothing and just online every day 24hours, you will gain your shop area and level up. In case you forget to feed your staff, they "died" but can "live" again whenever you feed them. So there is absolutely a risk free business. Will any of player gain an experience to open a cafe in the real world? I just wonder!

I won't play full day, as I do need to take a break from the virtual world and back to reality to face my real risk; but if you ask what do I gain? I can tell besides of layout practice and the pleasure, it will be patience and self control...I am sure you know what I mean.

One at a time

Monday is always the most busy day of the week. I am a rush lady, when there are some tasks stuck up in my brain, I will get rush and want to finish them all at once. This is killing me, because my blood pressure will rise immediately follow with a quick heart beat, then I have to sit down and figure out what is really urgent that should come first in my schedule before I "died".

I have this bad habit since I had my career. The good side is I usually finish my task earlier than it should = rarely miss the deadline, which is very important to me as in the design field; but the truth is, actually I have enough time to finish one by one, rather then complete some of them simultaneously to increase my work load.

Worst of all, this bad habit affects my daily life,too. Say each Monday when I am back to my office, I will want to turn on all lights, copier, printer, air conditioner, server, computer, wash cups, boil water, charge mobile, check email, reading blogs, write blog, flip today's calendar, water the plants......all at once. I know it is insane and no need, but, I do have this feeling to push me through; now, I will take a break after turn on the light, take a big breath, act one after the other.

Although I have to force myself of having a more controllable work path, I do think this is a must, to learn acting one thing after the other. To gain a bit more time of thinking, a chance of changing to the matter which seems no hope; like standing in front of a soft drink vending machine, all sorts of drinks are there, even if you want more than one, you still need to purchase one by one. You may want to select another taste when the one just comes out from the machine, so why hurry to have two or three at the same time?