Sight to Insight

As usual, decision making is a rational process to select the choices but it becomes an emotional process to make the choice. From my good old Canon G2 to my Lumix FX9 and not forgetting my even older analogue Canon AE-1 (had it in 1977 in France); I decided to go one step up on the DSLR (digital single lens reflex). I was toying the idea of an entry level such as Nikon D40x, Canon 400D.... and then came the announcement of the Casio Exilim Pro EX-1, which does incredible movie; which only a camera devoted to scientific research could. It was to be launched in March 2008. I was in Tokyo for my CoreNet (Real Estate program) in end February and decided to go to Akihabara to inquire whether it was out. For those who do not know; Akihabara is THE place for technology. Japan has a lot of products that are not exported out. So it is a sight to behold. However, even in Japan this camera was still not launched. By chance, I came across this newly launched Fuji Finepix s100fs, which was launche...

I have lived in Malaysia for most of my life. I spent six years in France for my doctorate studies. I am now living in Singapore, and travel around the region. The contrast of Japan against other countries is its people's focus on quality, be it food or manufacturing. The civic mindedness of Japanese in keeping the environment clean is difficult to comprehend. This is so evident when we visited Takato and Matsumoto where the cherry blossom was in full bloom. There were no garbage bin to avoid any time bombs being deposited in them. Yet, there was no rubbish on the ground. There were so many visitors yet no garbage! This is Japan! Enjoy some of the magnificient photos that I put together. More to come, when I get them from my friends. You can go to my link on Shiga Kogen and Odahiko website for more information on the skiing and the cottage.

This was the exact word of an ex-colleague who is 63 years old (see picture), owning a beautiful cottage on a mountain resort (see picture), just about two hours by train from Shinjuku station. Why do I want to write about it? The simple answer is that corporate ladder climbers have forgotten that there is life outside of work! He is the prime example of this story by demonstrating that he is just too busy to think about working for a living. He is working for his life! He is working for his entertainment! He is working to bring joy to many people. A few of us who are still working for the corporation visited and stayed for two nights at the cottage. The atmosphere was so serene that the stress of work disappeared, as I looked up the blue sky littered with sparkling stars in the night. The cold spring of just about 4 degree celcius added to that peacefulness. A barbecue dinner along with beer, wine and jovial conversation truly brought out what friendship can be developed even in the c...