Public Toilets in Beijing

A big shock in my life when I entered the public toilet near the local "pasa-makam". It is like a huge activity hall that we have in the HDB community center, except that this hall is with elongated hole dugged for squatting while doing "big" business and a drain at the other side for "small" business. More variations of toilet also found when I explored more in the public places. All of them has similar phenomena. ie. you just need to follow the smell to locate it. Some has wall, but no doors. Some with partial door !
(it is not easy to take these photo as there are businessmen in there. I actually waited outside till it was vacant to have quick snap !)

Mode of transport in Beijing

Other than normal transportations that are the same as in Singapore, one can also notice unique types of transport.

Special bicycle lanes are created at the side road. Thousands of cyclist can be seen on the side road during rush hours and jam out at traffic junctions.

Various passengers transport like trishaw, converted 3 wheels motor cycles, box-build 3 wheels motorbike, electric-controlled bus and the subways. This has add on colors, dust and vitality on the road and makes Beijing streets interesting and unique.

Haircut in Beijing

RMB 100 type haircut & 1 color dye (top), RMB 3 type hair-shave !

This is one of the important things to search it right in Beijing. A reliable and reasonable hair saloon that provides decent hair cut which has similar standards like in Singapore.

I found one saloon located near to my apartment. Haircut and one-color dye (Wella brand) including wash and blow, cost RMB 100 (or S$20). Similar services cost S$50 in Singapore. Hence it is a good deal indeed!

But this cost is for medium income group and above. For lower income group or senior citizens, they normally frequent the “make-shift” barbershop along the street. It cost only RMB 3 (S$0.6) for one hair cut. Try it if you dare!

Team Building at YeSanPo

Itinerary in 白里峡 also includes visiting amusement park where activities like canoeing, horse riding, bunggy jump, cable car up to mountain peak and rock climbing. It was a weekend well spent indeed.

Team Building @YeSanPo (野三坡)

Joined the product design and ESI team for a 2D1N tour cum team building last week end.

YeSanPo is located at the outskirt of Beijing, inside Hebei province. It is a stretch of mountain that formed the beautify gorge and canyon century ago through natural geographical movements and weather erosions & glaciations.

We walked through a narrow lane (known as 一线天） in between two huge mountains. It was spectacular and gorgeous ! The feeling is great and refreshing. There are also many natural waterfalls and flowing streams. It is so different from the one we have seen at Jurong Bird Park.



It cost RMB 240 per head (S$48) for this whole trip with 3 meals and 1 night hotel accommodation. Where else on earth can you find such a trip and treat ?

Pilgrimage to India

Following the Buddha's Trail

It was the most valuable life experience I ever had for visiting the holy places in India where the Lord Buddha was born, enlightened, passing out and gave out the first important sermon.

Two renown monks, Ajahn Karuniko and Ajahn Sannamo were on this same pilgrimage trip from 1-12 December 2005. They were our spiritual advisors explaining the life of Buddha along the trails, as well as our inspiration for deep devotion and dedication to our faith.

The Birth of The Great Master - Part 1

The lord Buddha was born around 2600 years ago at Lumbini (located at Nepal, just at the India border). A pillar was established now to mark the birth place. The pond nearby was the washing point for his mother immediately after giving birth.

Today, the water in this pond is regarded as "holy" and many devotees from all over the world use this water to clean their hands, legs and body to symbolize the purification of their mind, body and speech.

Enlightenment - Part 2

The lord Buddha attained enlightenment at dawn under the bodhi tree at Bodhgaya. This tree seen in the photo at Mahabodhi Temple, is the exact spot that the Buddha was enlightened.

Many devotees of various traditions came and meditated under this tree throughout the night till dawn to emulate Buddha's great experience of bliss and liberation.

Pari Nibbana - Part 3

The lord Buddha passed out (also known as Mahaparinibbana) at Kushinagar and never born again into this world. He has attained the highest stage of spiritual development known as Nibbana. The pure hearted one, with a clarity of vision is free from all sensual desires and attachments.

Devotees from all part of the world came to this Mahaparinibbana Temple and offer their highest respect and veneration. This temple is always packed with devotees, deva, angels and celestial beings (can be seen as white dot floating in the air like in this photo. We were astonished to see so many dots appeared when this photo was developed) at all time of the day.

First Sermon - Part 4

After enlightenment, the lord Buddha went to the Deer Park at Sarnath where he gave the most influential sermon to his five ascetic disciples.

The famous buddhist teachings such as the "middle way", the four noble truth and the noble eight fold path was given by the lord buddha. This teaching is followed and practiced till today by all buddhists in the world.