Where do you find peace and joy?

While peace and joy may be scarce in our world today, esp. in light of the Bangkok bombings over New Year's Eve, we at least found some in our recent vacation in Phuket. We loved the gentleness of the Thais, the richness of their culture, their musical language and uniquely spicy food (tho' a tad heavy on the sugar and coconut milk!) Most importantly, we cherished just being together -- be it sweating and sunburning on the golf course during the day ...

.... or cooling down with cocktails and coconuts at sunset.

Phuket's beaches have distinct characteristics: From the Boat Lagoon and Laem Hinn Harbour in the east, to the crowded madness of Patong and Kata in the south, to the up-and-coming Surin, Kamala and Laguna in the west, and peaceful Nai Yang and Mai Khao in the north.

The relatively untouched northern beaches form Phuket's longest stretch of sand (~13 km) and are also home to the Sirinath Marine National Park, a protected nursing area where leatherback turtles come to shore to lay their eggs during the dry October - February season. In fact, we liked it so much that we seriously considered a vacation club ownership at the Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa, which also launched the Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation as part of its grand opening in 2002. Go here for more photos.

Happy 2007 and 新年快樂!

My year in review - how 'bout you?

Here's a little about my year as I reflect on what to share in my annual update to friends and family. If you like, share a little something about how yours went too. Happy New Year!

1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?
Said my farewells and relocated across hemispheres within a month

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Gave up on long term planning this year

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes :D

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes :(

5. What countries did you visit?
USA (and Texas b/c that's a whole other country), Canada, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand and Singapore (current home)

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
Some personal and professional stability

7. What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
April 2: Our homecoming. Also, June 4: Our first anniversary

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Survived a challenging first year of marriage

9. What was your biggest failure?
Fully letting go of my own needs and plans

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Dengue fever during a project in Indonesia

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My iPod (a gift) and everything on it

14. Where did most of your money go?
Paying off my MBA loan before leaving my former job

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Switching careers. I left consulting sooner than I thought, but am thankful for a new (less travel intensive but no less challenging) job that combines my background and interests in strategy, finance, business development and all things geeky.

16. What song will always remind you of 2006?
No Other Way by Jack Johnson | Lyrics | Music Video

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
Happier or sadder: A little of both, actually
Thinner or fatter: Thinner (it's a losing battle on my end)
Richer or poorer: Poorer (my own wealth), Richer (combined + intangibles)

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Tour Europe and more of the Americas (with friends, for fun!)

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Travel for work

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Hitting golf balls, singing carols by my mom-in-law's bed and packing for Phuket

22. Did you fall in love in 2006?
I've a love-hate relationship with Asia

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Heroes!

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No

26. What was the best book you read?
The Glass Palace by Amitav Ghosh

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Jack Johnson b/c his music balances out the hecticness of life

28. What did you want and get?
A Nokia N-series phone ;)

29. What did you want and not get?
This *real* Coach bag

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
The Motorcycle Diaries. I only saw it this year though it came out in 2004. Otherwise, Casino Royale b/c hotness x intrigue + angsty torture = I like!

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
First interview for the new job which I'll start next year, watched Heroes Ep 8, and had a romantic Italian dinner for two

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Hindsight is 20/20 but I occasionally wish we hadn't left the US so soon

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
Errr... I really don't have any

34. What kept you sane?
The hubby, also responsible for the (in)sane bit, with his Easy Silence (aka a Dixie Chicks song | Lyrics | Music Video)

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Check my December posts

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The US midterm elections? The endless Singapore vs. Malaysia rivalry?

37. Who did you miss?
My "family" of global citizens, be they Americans or internationals

38. Who was the best new person you met?
YOU!

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006:
Wherever I am is where I'm supposed to be

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year life:
Closer to Fine by the Indigo Girls (yes, I like girl bands!) | Lyrics | Music Video

Christmas isn't Christmas till it happens in your heart

Have a blessed Christmas everyone! May you celebrate the gift of life - one that is filled with music, laughter, fond memories, good food and drink, and loved ones.

This is the first time hubby and I are celebrating Christmas together in Asia. It's a bitter sweet time given his mom's deteriorating condition and me without my own family, who are all in Texas this time (where it's evidently raining too!). On Christmas Eve, we attended a midnight service at his childhood church, St Andrews Cathedral, together with a few of his old Sunday School brats, I mean mates.


Although I'm not too familiar with the rich Anglican tradition, I was thankful for the opportunity to reflect as the past few months have truly tested my faith, priorities and identity (esp. in terms of success, marriage and family). I also realized that this is the first year I've not served on a worship team since I was 15! (That, for you curious folks, is half a lifetime ago). Time has flown by and though I've missed that unique faith community and ministry, I am reminded that "true worship" is reflected in how we live our lives and through the choices we make. A few days ago, I brought the guitar over to sing to my mom-in-law, who's been bedridden since October. In those moments of sound and stillness, I came to appreciate another depth to worship and a deeper meaning to these words below:

Because He Lives

God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus;
He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives;
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!

And then one day, I'll cross the river,
I'll fight life's final war with pain;
And then, as death gives way to vict'ry,
I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives!

Words and Music by William J. Gaither © 1971

Doing good by doing well

Whether or not you celebrate Christmas, this is a season for giving and sharing - and as we reflect on the year or look forward to well-deserved bonuses, promotions and vacations, my thoughts also turn to the people whose passion for their work have inspired me.

Some of the most inspiring people are found in the most unlikely places at the most unexpected times. My very first tribute goes to caregivers around the world, especially the selfless relatives, doctors and nurses who have supported us, my mom-in-law and the family through this challenging time. Special acknowledgment to the Singapore Hospice Council and the Lien Foundation for launching the Life Before Death campaign.

Fortune's 50 Most Powerful Women in Business photo feature includes a few of my career heroines: Indra Nooyi (Pepsi), Andrea Jung (Avon), Anne Sweeney (Discover), Ann Moore (TIME), Shelly Lazarus (Ogilvy), Mary Minnick (CocaCola) and Colleen Goggins (J&J).

Despite choosing the corporate path for 7 years now, I often contemplate moving into the public service, NGO or nonprofit realm - first as an undergrad economics TA/RA, again when I collaborated with the United Nations and the World Bank throughout my MBA, and most recently while debating a career switch after we relocated to Asia. Maybe I will take the plunge someday, but in the meantime, these are two role models who've successfully leveraged their business expertise and experience for the greater good.

Elizabeth Littlefield. Formerly a managing director at JPMorgan in their capital markets division, she now serves as a World Bank director and CEO of the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor, a consortium of public and private development agencies working together to expand access to financial services for the poor in developing countries.

Jeff Skoll. The former eBay president wanted to be a writer as a youth. Today, he's founded - inter alia - the Skoll Foundation which links up with Oxford's Saïd Business School to invest in promising social entrepreneurs; and Participant Productions, that has brought us Syriana, Good Night, and Good Luck and An Inconvenient Truth.

A little light reading on for profit v. public/nonprofit trade-offs:
Doing well and doing good (Economist)
What's wrong with profit? (New York Times)
The power of philanthropy (Fortune Magazine/CNN Money)
When is being good not good enough? (Forbes)

Our Asian heroes

Looking back at 2006, there's much for Asians to be proud of. As long as we don't let success get to our heads, 2007 looks promising!

Not only did we survive countless natural disasters (earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, hurricanes) this year, several individuals also gained prominence in the global arena. Mohammad Yunus became the first businessman to win the coveted Nobel Prize for Peace for his pioneering efforts with Grameen Bank in microcredit. Ban Ki-Moon was sworn in as the next United Nations Secretary General (apparently with a healthy dose of humour) at a critical time when the UN needs to restore trust, rebuild its image and regain some semblance of authority. Upon successfully combating the SARS and bird flu epidemic, Margaret Chan was elected as the next Director-General of the World Health Organization with a renewed focus on health in Africa and women's health.

Coincidentally, TIME just published a special feature on 60 Years of Asian Heroes (see below). Check it out for familiar and maybe new Asians who've made their mark as nation builders, artists and thinkers, business leaders, artists and explorers, and overall inspirations. Is there anyone not on the list who should be?

Asians are making waves in Hollywood as well. Ang Lee became the first Asian to win a Best Director Academy Award for Brokeback Mountain, a film which transcended myriad cultural and social boundaries. Don't forget the outstanding quintet of Asian actresses - Sandra Oh, Lucy Liu, Gong Li, Zhang Ziyi and Michelle Yeoh. Then there's Yul Kwon (click L photo below for Entertainment Weekly's interview), the Stanford/Yale/McKinsey alum, who won over viewers, critics and the castaways of Survivor: Cook Island - and rising star Masi Oka (click on R photo below for New York Times feature), a TIME Asian American whiz kid, who secured a Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe nomination for his work in the hit new TV series Heroes. See these LJ tags for more of my thoughts on Survivor and Heroes.

We've heard about Yao Ming, Tiger Woods, Se Ri Pak and Fu Mingxia - all leaders in their respective sports fields. This year, younger athletes have emerged as their proteges such as Grace Park who drove the Asian golfers to victory (see below) over the International Team led by Annika Sorenstam at Singapore's recent 2006 Lexus Cup. And lastly, there's my personal heroine from my hometown and favourite sport: Nicol David, the world #1 women's squash player who together with compatriot Ong Beng Hee (also a Penangite) swept the squash gold medals at the 15th Doha Asian Games.

Congratulations! YOU are TIME's Person of the Year

Welcome to the hallowed ranks of Adolf Hitler, Ayatollah Khomeini, Bill Clinton and George Bush!

For seizing the reigns of the global media, for founding and framing the new digital democracy, for working for nothing and beating the pros at their own game, TIME's Person of the Year for 2006 is you.

TIME's latest cover story cites Wikipedia, YouTube and MySpace (errm?!) as three examples of the success of Web 2.0, the internet's latest social experiment.

Either the TIME Magazine staff have all left on early holidays or rather than "seek out great examples, they chose the mostly weird and embarassing ones" (per this WSJ Op-Ed piece). Or we can just relish the fact that we're truly "the person or persons who most affected the news and our lives, for good or for ill" this year. Still, this tribute to the power of the people in today's Information Age should give this self-confessed geek, my fellow techie colleagues and each of you - my virtual friends, much glee. Geeks rule! More at my geek blog here.

PS - The cast of my fave TV show, Heroes, has also been recognized as one of TIME's People Who Mattered in 2006. Reaction and discussion here.

Addicted to Heroes

While skyping a friend in NYC today, I realized that I haven't blogged here in a while. Real life has been pretty predictable (job interviews - which are now officially over, in-law visits, birthdays, weddings, parties and the occasional outings). But the main reason why I've evidently forsaken you all for my Live Journal geeks is because a certain TV series called Heroes has eaten my brain. If you've not seen it on NBC, SciFi or Global TV, check it out! (If you don't have access, let me know). Both the hubby and I are hooked and think it's one of the best new TV series this season - certainly better than the local programming via Starhub. BTW, if you're already a fan, come join our discussion over here.

Update: And evidently, the media critics agree! Heroes - in the middle of its first season - is already up for several awards and nominations from the Golden Globes, Writers Guild Association and American Film Institute. See more details here.

Here's an introductory trailer:

The Heroes premise is an age old one: "What if, in times of profound global duress, Mother Nature created new forms of life to deal with it?" Each episode this season tracks how ordinary folks around the world discover and learn to control their unique gifts. While it's a serialized drama with supernatural elements (think Lost, X-Men or the 4400), what sets it apart are the ways in which each character is introduced and how the plot unravels when their stories unfold and cross. In Heroes, there are no black and white characters or easy decisions, and I found the end result endearingly real, fresh and fun. The proof is in the numbers: Heroes has raked in 15-16 million viewers each week, making it the most watched new TV show among all the US networks since its premiere. Broadcast rights will no doubt be snapped up by global networks before the first season is over, if the BBC's latest move is any indication.

Democracy is alive and kickin'

Since I've blogged about politics in Singapore and Malaysia, I thought I should say something about the recent midterm elections in the US. So I started rambling about voters who exercise their rights to show the world how democracy can work; checks and balances in a bicameral Congress that has both House (population) and Senate (state) representation; accompanied by a tirade about politicians who dither in their indecisiveness, who abuse faith and patriotism to justify their actions, who overpromise and underdeliver, shooting themselves and others in the foot along the way. As Henry Kissinger once said: "Ninety percent of the politicians give the other ten percent a bad reputation."

But y'know, a song speaks better than a thousand words, certainly any of mine! Hence, I will just say this: "Thank you, US voters, for saving our collective asses" (If it sounds familiar, you're a BSG fan). I'll now leave you with Shut Up and Sing by the Dixie Chicks (trailer below):

And Not Ready To Make Nice, the longest running #1 VHS single in 2006 (lyrics here and music video below):