Nick Fang’s Say

My first memories of Thailand are from a road-trip that my family took to Pattaya when I was just single-digits in terms of age. It was organised by the Automobile Association and I remember being stuck in the car for long periods of time, which wasn’t so fun for a six-year-old. But I also remember it being a beautiful country, with fantastic vistas, warm people, hot food and an amazing combination of a chilled-out vibe and an underlying vibrancy that is unique in the world.

In the years since, I’ve of course returned to the “Land of smiles” many times, for work, holidays with the guys to tailor suits at Pinky’s in Bangkok, for fencing competitions and the SEA Games, and it’s always been a favourite travel destination of mine. I’ve been for a vacation with my father, and numerous times with my mother and even one memorable trip with my two cousins from Canada. Tom yum, MBK plaza, noisy markets, pristine beaches, even the wonderfully tacky and cliched sleaze-pit of Patpong, are just some of the patchwork of fond memories that I have of Thailand.

So I was saddened by the recent troubles in the Thai capital. Not surprised, mind you, but saddened nonetheless. It seems that the country is destined to be plagued by political strife that will, regular as clockwork, pop up every half-year or so, to create chaos and mayhem for the regular folk, the economy and even the occasional tourist.

Which is a damn shame, if you ask me. It’s a country that has much to offer, and deserves much better. I’m not too sure what the solution is. Red, yellow, white, blue…there’s always going to be a significant group that will be disenchanted and unhappy no matter who’s on top. Fair and democratic elections? I guess they would help, but I am keeping my fingers crossed that they are peaceful and safe elections as well.

Scenes like this don’t fill me with confidence that it will happen anytime soon. But on a more positive note, it appears that the markets have already factored in the turmoil as just a reality of the country’s backdrop, and most experts say that investment will still flow into Thailand, maybe just a bit more slowly when things get hot and heavy. Growth will still be slower than it could be though, a pity for the country and its neighbours.

And the Thai folk are nothing if not resilient. A hundred bullets, one in the chest and one in the head and Sondhi’s doctors say he’s “out of danger” that same day? Now THAT’S tough.

Here’s wishing all my Thai friends a safe future and a sustainable peace in the long term.

Or The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which made up my Sunday night amusement this week.

I thought I would check it out, given the 13-Oscar buzz surrounding this film, and to tell you the truth, I was a little disappointed.

Instead of Benji Button, it could have been Forrest Gump Part II.

Substitute “simpleton” with “ageing in reverse”, “Lieutenant Dan” with “Captain Mike”, “I luhve you Jen-neeeee” with “Good night Daisy”, and the Deep South with New Orleans and you pretty much have the same idea. Gump had absent Dad, Button had deceased Mum (and absent Dad). Button has an old folks’ home in place of Gump’s bed-and-breakfast. They both go to sea, seem to like roaming the world, and are unnervingly kind and trusting and yet never have anything bad happen to them. And their love affairs are tinged with sadness and a little bit of never-meant-to-be. They both have kids, sit with them by the side of the road, and the kids are cute and perfectly normal.

Well I liked both the films, but was hoping that we would get something new this time round in terms of storyline. Nice way to spend a Sunday evening though. And strangely enough, I’ve always felt that Tilda Swinton and Cate Blanchett were very similar in looks and acting style and it was a bit weird to see them in the same film. But that’s just me.

And can I say that I am in love with Ms Blanchett.

She is sooooooooooo beautiful in the movie. And luminous. I never really got what the reviews meant when they called her that, but she glows in this film. I was swooning quietly in the darkness of the theatre. A friend of mine says she’s a bit old to be hot but I thoroughly disagree.

On the whole, I don’t think TCCOBB is worth 13 Oscars, but it certainly is a pretty movie, nicely made, humorous at times, touching throughout, and Ms Blanchett for the win. Brad does a credible job as a method actor doing the born-as-a-prune-grow-into-a-beautiful-man-die-as-a-baby thing, but really I think the make-up is the big winner there. I was touched, though, the same way I was in Gump, by the message of true love, universal kindness and the underlying theme that the world isn’t such a bad place if we were all just nice and trusting and had faith in people.

And I couldn’t resist, just one more for the road. Have a great week ahead!

I was a little shocked and largely disappointed to hear that Michael Phelps was busted for smoking marijuana by that illustrious publication, the News of the World, no less. What’s worse, he had no defence for it other than the fact that he is 23 and had behaved in a “youthful” manner.

Ok 23 isn’t that youthful.

And this from a guy who had already been caught for drunk driving some time ago and had to deal with the drama and fall-out from that. You would think he would have learnt his lesson then.

But the incident got me to thinking about other cases where top athletes have been caught doing silly things with drugs and such.

Top former cyclist Jan Ullrich was caught for using ecstasy and also crashed his sports car in a drink-driving incident before he was enveloped in a far more serious doping scandal that pretty much ended his career.

And more recently, Tom Boonen, another premier cyclist, was caught for cocaine use out of competition. He was cleared of any serious punishment yesterday and was back to his winning ways in the Tour of Qatar race.

There have been many other similar cases in the past. So what is it with athletes and drugs abuse? 

These guys are sporting icons, looked up to and respected by many around the world.

They are also supposed to be physical specimens of the highest order, capable of amazing feats of fitness, endurance and speed. After all, it’s not everyone who can pull off eight gold medals in a single Olympic Games.

They spend hours and hours honing their bodies to become the best in the world, over years and years of mind-numbing and physically excruciating training. They don’t stop for public holidays, birthdays, vacations or natural disasters. They are there in the wind, rain, cold, heat, pounding out the miles and kilometres or lifting weights until their bodies cannot take anymore. Then they come back the next day and do it all over again.

With all this sacrifice, pain, blood, sweat and tears, why would someone abuse their body with substances that could be damaging in the long term, and worse, could result in a positive drug test that comes with punishment, fines, and even suspension from their sport?

Yes, most of them were caught in the off-season, and it’s important to make the distinction between the use of recreational drugs and that of doping products that artificially enhance performance. The latter is cheating. The former, I think, is just plain stupid.

In the wake of Phelps’ latest scandal, I know many who would say that he was just “being human after all”, that he was blowing off steam after a hard racing season, just having fun.

I suppose these a slightly valid reasons. After all, here is a guy who has spent most of his life staring at the black line at the bottom of a pool, plowing up and down for thousands of miles a year. Maybe he should be cut a little slack.

But I think that all elite athletes need to realise that they are held to a slightly different standard from the rest of us. It’s precisely because of their talent, sacrifice and achievements that they are looked upon as being role models, icons, someone to be respected, admired and maybe even mimicked in their lifestyles, focus and determination.

As people, young and old, pursue their dreams and goals in life, it’s natural to look to those who have come before and achieved more than most to set an example of what to do, of what can be done.

So it sucks when these people do something that is foolish, that is not right, and in some cases, against the law. 

I’m not saying they should be angels or perfect. But they should know what they represent to athletes and sports fans around the world like myself, who look to them for inspiration and motivation. And hopefully think twice before reaching for that bong.

Last week was a whirlwind of events that left me pretty much out of breath by the end of it.

We got to see a little bit of history being made when Mr Obama took up his position in the White House and I have to say, I wasn’t surprised when W got the boos as he made his way to his seat during the inauguration. His half-hearted defense of his terms in office were hardly convincing, although I’m sure he knows he’s on a slippery slope in that respect. I’m just excited to see what the new prez is going to do now that the reins are firmly in his hands.

Singapore also saw a historic Budget announced on Thursday, with quite a few “firsts”, including a dip into our national reserves. I think the moves are wholly justified by the worrying environment we are facing these days. If anything, the more drastic the rescue measures the better. I think most people are happy with the Budget but there will always be segments who feel that more can be done. It’s probably a wise move though to keep some of the powder dry in case of more emergencies down the road. But we’re definitely on the right track I reckon.

Then finally it was on to the weekend and the Chinese New Year break. It’s been surprisingly cool after a few weeks of hot and windy weather. The sprinkling of showers yesterday evening hopefully mean a year of abundance ahead! 

Here’s wishing everyone a top Year of the Ox and may all your wishes come true!

It might sound depressing but I’ve been thinking about getting old in recent weeks.

I suppose it’s partially due to the looming end of year, which tends to put me in a retrospective mood and gets me reflecting on the meaning of life, the passing of time etc.

But it’s also linked to the fact that I’ve been nursing my first major injury that is affecting my enjoyment of physical activity for the first time since I started playing sports at the age of 5.

A freak slip during a simple warm-up jog about four months ago has left me with an inflammed tendon in my knee and I can’t run more than 10 metres without shooting pains.

I’ve been quite fortunate so far in that I’ve evaded serious injuries, so I can tell you that this latest injury was quite traumatising for me.

Scenes like this are definitely on hold for awhile.

But even as I sit and whine a little about being old and decrepit, it’s dawned on me that another 12 months have come and gone.

Soon, 2009 will be upon us and, as I’m sure all of you know, it’s shaping up to be a tricky year for everyone.

The economy is rocky, the environment is getting worse, and solutions are few and far between.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed that things will turn out ok, and I have a feeling that they will, in that funny way they have of doing so.

But an email from a colleague leaving for another job made me pause and think too. The email ended with a quote from an author that basically encouraged all of us to think of someone to say “thank you” to each day as a way of encouraging us to be more aware of all the things we have to be grateful for in this life.

This then helps to lift us up out of any gloom and doom and general depression, something that is especially useful in these trying times.

So, with just under 10 hours to go before we hit 2009, I thought I’d pen down some of the things I’m grateful for.

My family is healthy and largely happy. I have a challenging job that pays the bills (more or less) and a boss who inspires me to do and be my best and colleagues who make me look forward to coming into the office. Despite a growing beer belly and creaking joints, I’m pretty healthy. I have found things I am passionate about and have been given the chance to make a difference in these areas. I have friends who make me laugh and who will have my back when it counts. I’m not currently in love but I love my life.

Now that I think about it, I can’t really complain. So thank you to everyone who’s been part of my life this year. I can’t wait for the new year to start!

What do you have to be grateful for?

Happy New Year everyone! See you in 2009.

I know it’s not anywhere near the end of the year, even though the Christmas decorations have been up for about a month, or so it seems.

But I can’t help but take a look back at the year gone by and think, Wow.

It’s been a pretty momentous 12 months by all accounts, for both Singapore and the world.

This little country of ours has had a few firsts.

Formula 1, the Flyer, major sporting events…we’ve made headlines around the world.

Then the economic crisis hit, and we watched as some of the most incredible and unbelievable events unfolded in the financial world that may not ever be seen again, or at least in our lifetime.

The measures that have been undertaken by world governments are likely to go some way to mitigating the impact on our lives and Singapore leaders have drawn up our battle plan for dealing with the crisis.

Next year and possibly the year after look set to be difficult ones for everyone but what’s life without a few challenges I always say.

And there is reason to be hopeful.

When I look at the events that unfolded during the US presidential elections, I am filled with hope.

To see a leader like Obama inspire a people and change mindsets that have lasted for hundreds of years and to think of the potential he has to change even more things around the world, how can one not be filled with hope for the future?

People can change, and change we must, if we are to face the years ahead and the challenges they hold.

But as 2008 draws to a close, and we prepare ourselves for an economy in recession, a climate in jeopardy and other troubles, I think we’re in pretty good shape.

We’ve still got more than a month to go, and the silly Christmas season to come. But I’m already looking forward to 2009!

It’s been ANOTHER crazy week in the world of finance.

Global stock markets have pretty much gone berserk, with massive falls and unbelievable volatility seen all around the world.

The one trend, if you can even call it that, is the fact that nothing governments do seems to have much effect on the pessimism and lack of confidence investors are feeling right now.

Wall Street is virtually unrecognisable, capitalism appears to be on the wane and the financial sector seems to be heading towards higher regulation by the authorities and governments.

I’ll leave the debate over the pros and cons of taking this path to the experts, although a definitive verdict seems to be lacking at the moment.

I’m more concerned with what we, the regular folks on Main Street, can do, as we watch stock markets plunge, oil prices spiral downwards and our economy slips into seeming recession.

Having sifted through reports and commentaries from all over the world, the key message I’m hearing is:  DON’T PANIC.

The craziness in stock markets is currently being driven by fear and panic (when is it not?). Signs in the real economy are not great, but they certainly don’t warrant the irrational sell-offs of virtually every sector that we have seen in the past week or so.

If sense and calm can prevail, we might be able to see a bit more clearly and slow the chaos down just a bit.

The second over-riding message that is being sent out is that prudence is very much needed right now.

While there’s no need to panic, it’s also clear that there are tougher times ahead. I for one am curtailing any unnecessary purchases and trying to up my levels of savings.

The experts say that this strategy will enable us to take advantage of bargains and investment opportunities as and when they arise in the months ahead.

But of all the difference bits of advice I’ve read of late, the one that resonated the most with me was the recommendation for us to focus on taking care of the other aspects of our lives even as our financials take a beating.

One article I read said we should keep our fitness up, get in shape and stay in good health.

Being fit and healthy always helps one to keep in a positive frame of mind, and endorphins, the hormones released when we work out, are all-natural pick-me-ups that rarely fail to get us in a good mood.

This has become pretty important in the current crisis.

Now, I don’t proclaim to be a financial guru, but not panicking, being cautious with our money and staying healthy seem like good advice to me, not just in times of crises but all the time!

Here’s wishing you all a good week ahead, and hopefully less craziness in the financial markets!

Sorry for the long-ish absence but it’s been a pretty crazy couple of weeks.

I am of course referring to the drama on Wall Street and the United States economy that has threatened to spill over into our living rooms and lives in the form of slowing economic growth, worthless investment products and uncertainties over our insurance policies and even bank holdings.

It’s been quite interesting and exciting from a journalistic point of view, when you never know what big news the next day is going to bring.

But at the same time, it is definitely unnerving for many of us to be in a position where our investments, pensions, nest-eggs, maybe even livelihoods are at stake.

There have been numerous reports of worried investors, bank customers and insurance policyholders searching for answers and clarity from the authorities and companies that have been affected by the financial turmoil.

Unfortunately, definitive answers have been hard to come by, especially given the continued murkiness about the future and the global economy. The recent news of the approval of the mega-billion dollar financial rescue package in the US is sure to buoy spirits, but the end is far from being in sight.

I’ve never been big into investments and while I am concerned about the future of the economy, I am lucky enough to not be in dire straits yet.

But this crisis has made me think.

I’ve always held that there is more to life than just the chase for cash, the rat-race, the pursuit of the almighty dollar.

Perhaps I have been fortunate to have enjoyed a privileged position where living hand-to-mouth has not been a reality yet.

Yet, in the current difficult situation, it feels wrong to be talking about a higher purpose, about a deeper meaning to life, when peoples’ livelihoods are in jeopardy.

Is life really all about the five or six Cs (I lose track of how many we’re up to now)? When push comes to shove, is that what really matters to all of us?

Will there ever come a time when we can say that, hey, it would be nice to have more in the bank, but at least we have our health, we can enjoy time with our families or a quiet evening with good friends?

I’m not sure we’ll ever have the answer to that question, but I’d sure like to hear what you think!

A couple of things happened recently that got me thinking about identity.

I don’t mean identity in the sense of one’s personal details on one’s IC, but more of the intangible essence of uniqueness that sets us apart from each other.

Lance Armstrong, the seven-time Tour de France winner and, to me, one of the greatest athletes of all time, recently announced his planned return to competitive bicycle racing next year at the ripe old age of 37 and after close to four years of retirement.

Speculation has been rife over his motivation for coming back, after a successful career that saw him reach the pinnacle of his sport, earn a few millions and become a true-blue celebrity with a rock-star girlfriend and numerous A-list movie star chums.

His official reason is a desire to keep publicising his cancer foundation and fight against the disease to a global audience, a noble motivation for sure.

Some have suggested that he wants to erase suspicion he may have used drugs in his career by submitting himself to the now exceedingly stringent testing regimes that have sprung up in the last few years.

Others say he may have run out of money, or just wants a last fleeting dance with glory that so many former champions seem to lust after in their twilight years.

I think it’s something else, something deeper.

Armstrong was a champion triathlete in his youth, turning pro at the tender age of 15 and racing against the very best in the world. He became a world champion cyclist at 21, tasted success at the biggest races in the world, and then was diagnosed with cancer three years later.

His recovery and subsequent miraculous return to the top of the sport is well-documented, but what people seem to have missed out is that, first and foremost, Armstrong is a competitor at heart.

In the years since his retirement, he has run marathons and raced in the occasional mountain bike race. In all cases, he has approached the training and racing with single-minded focus and determination reminiscent of his years as a professional athlete.

I think he is coming back now because he misses that part of his identity, that thing that set him apart from all others in his own eyes, that made him HIM.

It’s not as simple as enjoying a sporting lifestyle. If that were the case, he could just continue to enjoy the occasional bike ride with friends and satisfy his passion for sports.

But he’s coming back and he’s coming back to win because that’s how he sees himself: as a winner.

My boss asked me last week why I was competing in a fencing competition over the weekend.

I haven’t been training as much as I used to when, as a member of the national team, I was preparing myself for competitions such as the South-east Asian Games, Asian championships and other events around the world.

In recent months, a change in life priorities has meant that I am spending my energies and time focusing on other activities, and my swords and fencing suits have been slowly gathering dust.

But when I heard that we were having national trials here in Singapore, I signed up in a second.

I knew that I would be up against other younger athletes who had been preparing themselves much better than I had.

I had a litany of excuses ready: I’m old, my carcass is breaking down, I’ve been too busy to train, there’s no big competitions to prepare for in the next few months anyway.

But I refused to trot any of them out and dutifully showed up to compete.

When my boss asked me why, I muttered something about needing the ranking points to keep my position as one of the top few fencers in Singapore.

This might have sounded like a fading athlete on an ego trip. And maybe that’s partially true.

But when I thought about it later, I realised that I still like jumping into the occasional fencing event, or even triathlon, because being an athlete has been part of my identity for a long time too, at least as far as my personal life is concerned.

I started out swimming at age 5, before competing as a gymnast, then triathlete, then pentathlete, and subsequently fencer, for most of my life.

Sport has been what I’ve always enjoyed doing in my spare time, and I think it has helped me to balance out school in my earlier years, and the demands of my career in my working life.

And it’s really hard to let go. This is how my family has viewed me over the years, it’s how my friends know me, it’s how I know myself.

Who knows, there may come a time when I will step back completely and move on to other things, like starting a family, collecting stamps or some such activity.

But I know, for now, that I can’t let go. It’s something that has been such a big part of my life, of my identity, that letting it go completely is hard for me to imagine.

I see this in my fellow athletes here, and in giants of sport like Armstrong.

What is the part of your identity that you can’t live without?

Hello!

This is the first entry I’m putting up on this site and I hope my random ramblings provide you with some form of entertainment, or at least that they help you pass the time!

I thought I would make my first entry about something that has made a few headlines of late: making babies, or rather why we’re not making enough of them.

This year’s National Day Rally touched on the issue of us Singaporeans’ inability to replace ourselves, and also detailed the Government’s plan of financial incentives to encourage more people to get married and start procreating.

I had the opportunity to take part in a couple of forums organised by MediaCorp to discuss this issue and one of the things that surfaced was the idea that perhaps more is needed to be done to change some underlying cultural and social norms that are behind our dwindling birth rates.

I don’t think anyone will disagree with the fact that people these days are just busier than they were, say, 50 years ago. Life is much more hectic, the pressures to excel, succeed, work hard, be the best…make it much harder for people to find time for things like romance, dating, and subsequently marriage and babies.

I personally think that people just need a bit more time, a bit more space, a bit more energy for the finer things in life…to develop, to grow, to get to know themselves as well as people around them.

But by dangling financial incentives for babies, we seem to be reinforcing the idea that money is king and women are almost like jackpot machines – pull the handle and if a baby pops out, you win the prize!

I’m sure that the incentives will be a big help for some families, but something else needs to be done to address the wider issue of our lifestyles.

I’m not sure I know what that thing is…maybe more should be done to showcase the positives of having a family, being a parent, and what this represents.

One thing I do know is, if I wasn’t as tied up in my work and career, I’d probably have started working on replacing myself a lot sooner!