Dialogue with CEOs of IDA, EDB, Perm Sec from Info Comm, Education, etc

Today attended a dialogue session with the various CEOs and Perm Secretaries from the various ministries. It was a well co-ordinated event held in Sofitel San Francisco Bay, a pretty nice hotel in Redwood city. The event started with refreshments and a chance to begin networking session at 6.30. Following that, we began the dialogue session promptly at 7.

A short introduction followed from each of the CEOs of the various civil sectors and Perm Sec from the various minstries. They gave an overview of current policies and new actions in their respective ministries/sectors. Lo Kheng Hwa, CEO of EDB gave a preview of the growth in various sectors in the Singapore economy. Lim Chuan Poh, Perm Sec of Ministry of Education gave some overview of the autonomous management of the 3 publicly funded universities in Singapore. Other leaders of the industry gave some overviews as well.

The Dialogue sessions kinda invoked very interesting questions, perhaps very seldom mentioned in Singapore itself. And I find it interesting and revolutioning for Singaporeans to ask these questions. Because it definitely showed some form of changes in the mindset and how the young and new generation approach problems.

Peter Purushotma who happens to be my consulting professor commented on the stigma not young people have, but it is the stigma in our families, maybe parents that are continuously influencing us. Thinking back, I thought it is very true. In the valley, I could concentrate better and focus better in the work that I do. Perhaps its the families that are holding us back. Being from an Asian Chinese culture and background, one will argue the importance of family values versus career prospects in one's life. In the big picture, at least in my perspective, it will be generally a more utilitarian view for all to contribute in their own sense to Singapore and its economy.

There has always been a hot debating point on whether Singaporeans are creative or entrepreneurial enough. I have always be educated by teachers and my parents to take the safest and steadiest path through life. My point of view however began to evolve to take a tougher and more challenging path of creating value not only for myself, but for the country as well.

The stay in Silicon Valley so far has offer tremendous networking and learning experience. When I initially arrived, I have no idea of any avenue to know more people or how to go about doing things. After spending some time here settling down and getting myself involved in NUSEA, it seems to open up to more people and opportunities. Today's dialogue session, with the few other mixers that I have attended slowly sparked the passion and interest to get the entrepreneurial dream going.

I will want to keep this fire going and burning.

Controlling your life

In life, we have face many deicsions. Most of them are minor ones which you wouldn't probably not bother about or remember.

For the few that would alter your life greatly, choose them with great care. Take the courage and follow your heart. In life, there's no 2nd chance and you only get to live through it once.

Don't regret it.

I was over at the TieCon (THe Indus Entrepreneurs Conference), kinda like the largest in the world. Met Mr Arnold, a couple of inspiring entrepreneurs, VCs etc. Kinda got me in the mood of setting my own business really soon.

Felt that we need the kind of environment to simulate entrepreneurship growth. Sadly, in Singapore, Entrepreneurship is not a weed that can grow everywhere. Here, its like that, you can't seem to kill off that kind of spirit. Hopefully with the influx of more people and personal efforts of people like myself, Singapore can slowly evoluate to a country that's open to creativeness, entrepreneurship and risk-taking.

Wildflower Long Distance Triathlon - Half IM (2)

Hi Guys and Girls back in Singapore,

    Mr Kenneth Kuo and myself went down to Lake San Antonioin Central
California last weekend for the WildFlower Long Distance Triathlon.

http://www.tricalifornia.com/wildflower/2006/

(go under long course - course descriptions and maps to see the elevations
in the course)

     With the blessing of the Tri-Gods, we both manage to complete the race.
Kenneth came in with a spectacular timing of 5.45 whereas I took 7.21 glad
to finish.

    We both left home at Sunnyvale at noon and drove 3 hours down to the
race site. We were immediately greeted by the beautiful pastures, rolling
hills, blue lakes and the treacherous slopes. After finding a decent site to
camp overnight, we proceeded down a 1 mile, 7-8% slope towards the racesite
for registration. Its probably something which you wun see in South east
asia at least. A transition area probably 3-4 times larger than the one in
OSIM, and stalls/booths that stretch a long way. We had to cycled back up
this 1 mile slope back to the race site. Though it offers a nice view, it
gave us a very good idea of what we will be expecting in the entire cycle
leg.

    Following a simple pasta dinner and some race preparations, we hit the
sack early. Though the day temperature linger between 25-30 degrees, it
immediately drop drastically to 5-10 degree when night falls. We kept waking
up in the night because of the cold and woke up at 5 plus to prepare
preparation. By 7, we are heading down to the race site.

    After doing the necessary, we head towards the starting line up and I
realised that my wave has already flagged off. Damn, I jump in and quickly
got my to my way and started the swim. The water is probably 15 degrees
cold, our asses are being freezed off in the morning. The swim was nice, no
greasely shit in the water and no salt lingers in your mouth either. I took
a slow transition in T1, putting on my cycling jersey on top of the tri-top
and don on gloves and arm warmers. Cycling out presents a beautiful sight
and view as we go along the lake. By mile 3, we hit a 10% slope that is a
400 ft climb. had to go down to the lightest gear ratio to go up. and it
wasnt easy, everyone is slowing down to 10-15 km.h. Fortunately I had a
12-27 gear ratio, I dunno how Mr Kuo did it with a 12-25. Please ask him how
he did that.

    The 1st 30km were filled with more massive slopes upwards and downwards,
its draining because of the gradient. By the 1st 30 km, it got me thinking
and wondering whether I could even finish the brutal course. Fortunately for
the 30-60km, it was gently sloping upwards and downwards, pretty much
similar to the course in Desaru. That was the easiest part of the cycle leg.
By mile 40, it is a nightmare. 1000ft climb up at a 8-10 % gradient,
stretching 2-3 miles long. Its utterly disgusting. By then, I was tiring out
really bad, lack of decent training is taking a toll on me. After a mile, I
realised that cramps will set in really quick if I continue going like that,
and I had to push my bike up to the peak of "Nasty Grade". At the top of it,
you can see the beautiful Nacimento Lake and hills on the left and massive
LAke San Antonio on the right. What you see on paper is one thing and this
part is the toughest and the most painful part of the whole course. I told
myself that, whatever it is, I will finish it, with friends and loved one
supporting me at the end, I know I can do it once i finish the bike leg. The
remaining bike leg doesnt offer much ease either, its covered with few
hundred feet climbs and undulating terrain. I was going down a long slope,
probably 10% where I hit a pothole, it kinda took out the sponge on my aero
drink, and I was going way to       fast to stop soon. Kinda don't make
sense for me to climb 100 ft or so at this pt of time, I continued on. The
whole bike leg took 4 gruelling hours with much of it spent on the hills
where progress is really slow and painful.

    I was glad that the bike leg was over and began a slow T2. 5hrs into the
race and the temp began rising quickly, hitting 30 degrees when i started
the run leg. I was afraid that dehydration and lack of nutrition will hit
me, and i brought along more bars and gels. Fortuntately, I had more
opportunities to run in Silicon Valley and its paying off. I didnt suffer as
much in the run leg and not surprisingly, the run route aint flat. I tried
running as much as I could and I tried to aviod cramps by walking up the
long slopes. By mile 6-7, I am still feeling comfortable and I know I will
be able to finish well below the cut-off timing. Probably not a great
timing, but I don't care. Maybe if you guys were there, you wouldn't too. I
took a 2.23 run. with most of the time wasted on walking up long hills. I
was really happy to reach the last mile, and made a slow downhill run
towards the finishing line.
The support from the spectators and friends were awesome. Without those
people cheering you on, its probably a lot harder to finish.

    Technology and Gizmos can't get you through the finishing line. It
doesn't matter wat bike you ride or wat tri-gear you buy. Its the legs
that's gonna carry you through. And legs ain't juz powered by gels and bars.
Its powered by your passion and determination to finish it. Its probably one
of the toughest and most painful race I have ever done, with extremities of
conditions and lack of proper training. Its definitely a race to remember,
but through the years that I have began my life as a triathlete, the
mentality of pushing thru got me thru many other situations and problems in
my life. For the many similar minded people in the team, continue
challenging yourself and don't give up in your life. It serves as a brutal
life lesson to me on Wildflower as to what you can or can't do.

    If you believe, you can do it.

    For the rest of all in SG, train hard and good luck for Port Dickson and
OSIM. Know its holidays now, so enjoy your well deserved breaks.

    Anything is possible.

Alan

Starting Work

Hi all,

Guess i am not so much a blogger that will consistently put in entries. Have been in Silicon Valley for a couple of weeks and settling well. Going to get a car soon, that's probably one other thing that is still left on the to-do list.

Leaving for Lake Tahoe this evening. It is basically a ski resort, going there to do some snowboarding. I never done that before, so going to try that out. Heard it is real pretty, will be a good place to let off some steam and enjoy this weekend. Whole trip will not be cheap, probably costing around 250-300 USD. Well, my first trip, save more elsewhere and put a bit more money into seeing the world.

Working in Nanogram is pretty pleassant, American company culture is generally more flexible and less rigid than Asian/Singaporean companies. Well, that's a good thing cuz its kinda going down standard for a while. Probably left 10 months here and going to make good use of my time.

Still haven't got my bike and only ran about 7-8km once. Oh dear, I dunno whether I can make it for Wildflower triathlon man. Will be bad if I can't make it.

Will post more photos online soon.

For the rest, can click on this link to see some photos.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/alan_ang_yn/album?.dir=8492&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos

Silicon Valley

First Blog since I arrive at Silicon Valley.

Not much a blogger I guess. Trying to settle down. The only thing left in the air is getting a car and a local license. Probably will get the car real soon. Maybe in a week or so. Hitching on someone's back is quite troublesome. You can't really decide where you wanna go.

Well and it has been raining yesterday and today. Unlike singapore, the rain is rather light, you dun really get wet from it. But it is pretty cold at times when there's wind. Its quite hard to even go for a run. Well. I will try my best. And work is beginning to pile up soon.

First day at work has been quite ok, perhaps no tangible work yet, But i sense quite a bit of work coming. well, shall do my best anyway. I already feel that there's a lot to learn ard. Gonna spend my time learning as much as I could, and it was prolly the reason why I came here in the first place.

Fortunately I didn't feel homesick. Maybe old liao, dependency kinda not there. But I certainly miss the nice food and sunny weather in Singapore. Silicon Valley is pretty different from what I had expected. Not good nor bad I would say.

Just Different.

Going home now.

Centennial Dinner at Suntec City

Been a long while since I have updated this blog. Well just an update, I have signed the contract with the company almost 2 weeks ago and should be leaving in 2-3 weeks time.

Well today I went down to the Centennial Dinner this evening 21st Jan, Sat, all in the hopes of getting a good meal. Well its free. And since I will be leaving soon, I reckoned it is high time that I will buy my blazer, No.1 for the event, No.2 I need it anyway. and it is 300 bucks spent on a blazer plus a matching pants. Yupz, not cheap, so its a big hole in my pocket. Guys & Girls, so dun expect me to treat u anything for meals, harhhar, spent really a lot on the preparation for NOC.

Back to the topic. Well the thing that caught me up the whole night was Dr William Tan. Well, initially as the event started, there were talks by people and video presentation and so on by the varsity community. Until the video on the marathons screening completed by Dr Tan, I was basically not paying much attention to it.

Why, many would ask? His feat of completing 7 marathons in 70 days or something might not sound too incredible. But I saw how he had completed each race with determination and pride puts me in awe. To many, there's probably nothing too great about him. To me, I would say he would be a hero.

Some background info, Dr William Tan lost the use of his legs to polio when he was 2 or 3. Following that, he got a medical degree and practice medicine. He showed to the world what he as a handicap had managed to achieve while many others who are more fortunate couldn't. I believe that the handicap does not lie at his legs, but at the mind. I saw the ballroom stood up and delievered a thunderous appaulse for his feat. I think that he displayed the strongest human spirit and willpower to live life to the fullest. He is aged 48 and yet I would say inspired many, including myself and a lot others.

I guess I was quite fortunate to be able to get an autograph for him. For once, I haven't been admiring someone more than him. And I think this evening's dinner taught me one good lesson.

Live up and live to your fullest, don't give up.

Long time never post

Ok, i really very long never post blog.

Situation is at such: I am waiting for my boss to revert with the necessary documents before i can start with the Visa. This will mean that I am a month away from leaving.

Did many things throughout the last 2 months Harhar. But not much changes. Still the same old me, juz that I feeling my patience is wearing thinner by the minute over the whole saga.

Wish me luck, I hate waiting.