My 2009 in Review

Here is my personal list of happenings:

• Did sizable management consulting engagements with a multinational company and a local conglomerate. Finally made full use of what I learnt in MBA and PhD. Learned a lot too, especially the human side of a consulting project.
• Did a business intelligence project with a large local company. Learned quite a bit of T-SQL and ASP.NET.
• Completed a statistical library product and sold a couple of copies online.
• Continue to build community in UPSR-TODAY.com
• Started a bookshop, both online and physical
• Developed a courseware on studying skills
• Started developing a workshop for business partnering with software consortium of Penang
• Learned to play chess (so that my son can’t beat me that easily)
• Has a big gathering (20 year anniversary) for a group of Buddhist friends who went to Air Jernih for community service.
• Read quite a few books. Lost count of it.
• Many other small things which didn’t succeed, too trivial, too confidential, or too embarrass to list.

Also, this year, I bade fare well to my late father.

Bye 2009.

May year 2010 be a fulfilling year for me and everyone.

My Favorite Restaurant Coming to Changi Airport

I have tried Ananda Bhavan in Penang Little India, Sungai Petani, and Tanjung Bungah. They have never failed to impress me. Especially the one in LIttle India – where there are two shops, one serving pure vegetarian food – really delights me.

As I walk around Changi Airport Terminal 2 two days ago, there is this sign:

Seems like the shop is expanding fast – outside Malaysia now. I think they deserve to be so successful. If you have tried their food, don’t wait, go try it asap.

Singapore National Museum Goes High Tech

Every time Malaysians visit Singapore, they can’t help returning home with many “ideas for improvement” for their home land. This trip is no exception for me.

I had an exceptionally good experience this time at Singapore National Museum. This time, it introduced a personal digital companion (as they call it). As you move around sections in the museum, you just punch in the number indicated on the floor. You will get detailed explanation on what you are seeing. Here is how the “companion” looks like:

It is multilingual, with a version for children.

I’ve never enjoyed a museum that much. Thanks for making this works.

Take Two

A common scene of a public toilet

(1) Malaysia:

    A desk collecting money from you for using the toilet.

(2) Singapore:

    No desk in front of the toilet. Inside the toilet: