Ah Meng Rest In Peace...

Ah Meng, female, aged 48, Sumatran orangutan, icon of Singapore Zoo

Our beloved Ah Meng passed away peacefully on 8 Feb 2008, 11.20am. Today, she is laid to rest in the Zoo in Garden with a View, overlooking the best scenery in the Zoo. A perfect final resting place.

I reached the Zoo at 8.50am. Soon the orangutan keepers came in the buggy with Ah Meng in the white coffin. Her coffin is decorated with leaves, ferns and flowers, the natural style. Her familiar keepers were her pall bearers. The staff and ex-staff lined up to pay their last respect to the grand dame. I was red-eyed from the sobbing earlier.

Finally it was my turn to see her one last time. I reached out to touch her hand. She's cold from the freezer. Ah Meng looked so peaceful. She seems to be sleeping and dreaming about something sweet. Sam, her keeper for 37 years said, "Maggie, Ah Meng is dead." Sam was stating the obvious, probably to try sink in the truth that Ah Meng is truely gone. I reached out to Sam's hand to comfort him. I only managed, "Take care, Sam." and I turned into a crybaby all over again.

Memories of Ah Meng began to flood my mind. I see the throngs of people coming to pay their respect to Ah Meng, some holding flowers, some holding back their tears. She is indeed loved. I'm sure if she understood, she would be pleased and proud of herself.

Fanny made a speech. Finally I see a softer side of her. Fanny was obviously controlling her tears when she delivered the speech. Then Sam too. Sam was brave. He fought back his tears throughout his speech only breaking down at his last words, "Ah Meng, goodbye." No one else wanted to make a speech as those who knew her well are afraid that they might break down at the mere mention of her name, me included. A reporter had want to interview me but I refused. Call me selfish, but my memories of Ah Meng belongs to me and only me. No one can ever understand the Ah Meng in my memories just like I cannot experience Ah Meng like Sam has. Each of our own memories are unique to ourselves.

It was finally the time to cover the coffin. Ah Meng's beloved keepers rounded the coffin, saying their final goodbyes. One of the keepers hugged Ah Meng and cried. His colleagues had to support him. Sam was their standing strong as their chief. Ah Meng's grave was laid with flowers. Friends of Ah Meng began to lay their flowers on her coffin and bid farewell to her.

Ah Meng has indeed led a full life. She has been a successful mother, grandmother and a career woman. She has lent her name and face to help the tourism of Singapore. She has left a mark in history of Singapore tourism industry.

Today we are not to grieve for our loss of such a wonderful companion, but to celebrate her full life. She has great accomplishments and led a fulfuilling life. Although it's farewell, she will live as fresh memory in the hearts of those who love her.

Farewell Ah Meng, thank you for the wonderful memories that you have given me...

My Tears For Ah Meng

Ah Meng has passed away in the morning of the second day of Chinese New Year. I did not check my handphone until this morning after I read about her death in the newspapers. My ex-colleagues have informed me via sms yesterday.

I was crying my heart when I learnt about the news. Memories of Ah Meng flooded my mind. I still remember the times I spent with her.

Sometimes in the morning, when I have sometime, I will wander to Ah Meng's usual walking route to see her. Ah Meng, sometimes being lazy will hold my hand for support. I could almost still feel her hand in mine, or rather my hand in hers. Her hand is so big and so warm.

On birthdays and special occasions, I will get permission to take pictures with Ah Meng. I always remember what a prima donna she was. She will look into the camera for one picture and then look away. We had to spend sometime coaxing her to turn towards the camera for another picture.

On my last day at work, I went to feed Ah Meng her breakfast. Porridge with minced chicken. Ah Meng decided not eat the chicken and rolled all the minced chicken into a ball and tried to spit it out. Her keeper, Sam stared at her and called her name, Ah Meng swallowed the meat.

What a darling she is. I will miss her dearly. Tomorrow, I will be attending her memorial service and paying my last respects to her.

I think there's no end to my crying again...

A Teary Rat Year

On the first day of Chinese New Year, right after the saga in the morning, all went well until when we went to visit my maternal grandmother's place.

My maternal grandfather is now in ICU, his life withering away. The cancer is slowly eating his life away.

I sat down with all his daughters and they started talking about grandfather. My youngest auntie urged her sisters to see their father as much as possible and say things that need to be said. She shared with us what she has said to her beloved father.

She said, "Dad, thank you for being our father. We have never regretted being your children. You are the best father a child could ask for. Don't worry about us. We love you." At that, everyone sitted on the table sobbed. We have each buried ourselves in the wonderful memories of my grandfather.

Finally we left the table red-eyed.

My First Tears For Rat Year

On Thursday morning, the first day of Rat Year, I shed my first tears.

My 3rd uncle (my father's younger brother) came to visit us. I've not seen him for a long time. As slightly "lunatic" as usual. His other brothers have forsaken him and he sought comfort from my father. My 3rd uncle was born with a defect in his brain. His IQ is lower than average but he is smart enough to keep himself alive.

Then 3rd uncle said something wrong that infuriated my father. Shouts between them puctuated the morning silence. Father eventually chased 3rd uncle out of the house. 3rd uncle said that he no longer has a family and left with face wet with tears. My heart teared for him, so did my eyes.

All thanks to my grandmother's bad teachings did all his sons and daughter turn out to hate each other. There is no love between the siblings and the children have no love for their mother. This confirms why I have disliked my grandmother ever since I understood things around me.

恭喜发财,财源滚滚来!

咚咚咚呛,
咚咚咚呛
咚咚咚呛
咚呛
咚呛。
祝朋友们鼠年行大运！
昨晚的团圆饭是我一个人准备的。好累哦！虽然累，我和妹同往年一样到牛车水和人群倒数。人山人海。长得高的人占优势，空气比较新鲜。哈哈哈！
初一了。不想去拜年。亲戚快要开始问，“有男朋友了没？”我的回答总是“现在以事业为重”。今年有一点不好意思拿红包。我看再过两年就该避年了。

放了我吧。。。

This is what I called bad service.

Recently, my dad booked a package tour for the whole agency and there were some discrepencies with regards to the itinerary. As a consumer, I have to exercise my right to find out what exactly happened. So I emailed the tour agency...bad treatment was all I got.

I wrote:

....

Frankly, we feel cheated after comparing the itineraries. I would like to get a reasonable explanation for the omission of Stone Forest and other places stated above from the tour package and why if we eventually get to go to Stone Forest, we have to pay admission fee. I hope XXX Holiday can honour your mission to provide professional, responsible and honest services to your customers.

Thank you for your time and hope to hear from you soon.


Here's "Bad Service' reply:

It is a pity that your Dad was not able to understand our package very well, although explanations had been repeated to him many times.

We suggest you and your dad may come to our office one more time, and let us explain it to him one more time together with you, that will help yours to understand better.
What about this Saturday? Obviously, you are not cheated ,there is no such things, we only need you people keep clear in mind. Lucky, the tour has not started yet, if you still have lot of questions after our explanation, you may withdraw the tour according to our terms & conditions, maybe this is the best solution.

Thanks

William

I replied:

Hi William

Thank you for your prompt reply. I will be glad to go down to your office to get an explanation. Unfortunately, my father will not be free to be there with me. Please advise on the best time for me to go down to your office.

I would also like to feedback on the email that you have replied me. I, as a customer who is just trying to find out the details, does not deserve to be labelled as "you people". And also, I did not say I was cheated, I was saying I FEEL cheated.

I believe you have your own frustration. From the customer service point of view, what you have replied will only chase customers away instead of keeping them.

I look forward to meeting you on Saturday.

Thank you.

That "unrepentent-bad service" replied:

I fully understand what you are trying to say, no point to talk about the mails word by word , let us meet and talk about your tour on Saturday. Our office hours is from 1030 –1830.

Have a nice day!

William


NOT A WORD OF APOLOGY! Bad service...bad service. I had only wanted an explanation. Not only did I not get what I wanted, I got a customer service-idiot serving me!

The Pressure of Being the Eldest

I am the eldest in my family. I have a sister, 4 years younger than me, and a brother, 8 years younger than me.

Since primary school, I was given an important task to be a role model to my siblings. Initially, I thought that just being myself would be a good enough. However I soon realise it was not so.

At home, I was always the one to be taking over the wok from my mother when she was busy. I was the one who irons all the clothes and the one responsible for all siblings quarrel and anything that went wrong. I have to behave myself or else my siblings will always compare, "Why can big sister do this and why can't I?". When I tried to compare, my parents' answers were always, "Because they are younger than you. You have to set an example." I have lose my previlage to make mistakes.

In school, as all three of us went to the same primary and secondary schools, I have the pressure to do well. I was to set an example to my siblings. Teachers always says, "Your big sister is such a hardworking girl. You must learn from her." I was taught to believe that if I don't do well, my siblings might not too. I was glad I pulled through. I managed to be ahead of them in terms of studies.

My sister and I have reached adulthood and joined the work force. She found a good paying job in a good company. I was giving myself pressure to climb the social ladder faster than her, earn more than her and etc.

I am telling myself to quit giving myself this kind of pressure. But I guess it's a hard-to-quit old habit.

How does the younger ones feel?