Collin Ng's Blog

I spent one year in our town office before I resigned sometime in 1990.  I asked for a transfer to the ticketing/reservation (PO) department on hearing there was an opening.  It was granted by the management.  My intention was to gain some exposure in ticketing before asking to do sales and I did express to our then 'fearful' UG (country general manager), Mr Kardinaal in one of the interviews by him.  Our town office was at Mandarin Orchard. The manager of PO department was Katherine who was mostly in her room typing away.  There were some young and pretty ladies in the ticketing department then.  Well, let me recall all the ladies in my department then, we had ever smiling Maryanne, sweet Janet, helpful Zawyah, friendly Michelle, 'kangcheong" Komala (I think I spelt her name wrongly), serious Irene and cool Sadiah.  The other guy in my department with me was Thia.  He was a very stout man, suave and sported a head full of black hair.  I h...

China is one of the world’s oldest civilisations with thousands of years of continued history.  The recorded history of China goes back to as far as the Shang Dynasty (1700 – 1046 BC).  However, historians still remain unclear the exact beginning of the Chinese New Year celebration in China.   Suffice to say, it was said to have started from the year end religious ceremony in Shang Dynasty (1766 – 1122 BC).  A few countered that it started from as early as Emperor Yao and Shun (~2300 BC) according to some historical records. Notwithstanding, the date of celebration in ancient times varies from mid-winter to early spring until Emperor Wu (157 BC – 87 BC) of the Han Dynasty established the first day of the first month as the start of the new year when the solar base calendar was established.  It is also called the Han calendar which is still being used till today.  Chinese New Year is the most important celebration for all Chinese. According to ...

“ I don’t understand why Cupid was chosen to represent Valentine’s Day.  When I think about romance, the last thing on my mind is a short, chubby toddler coming at me with a weapon ” – Anonymous Indeed one does not need to dig deep to understand but in ancient Roman mythology. it is said Cupid is the famous of all Valentine symbols and he is the boy who is armed with bow & arrows and piercing hearts.  He is best known as a mischievous, winged child whose arrows signify desires and emotions of love.  He aims his arrows at Gods and humans, causing them to fall deeply in love.  If any, he has always played an important role in the celebration of love between a man and a woman.  Today, Cupid and his arrows have become the most popular of love signs and what better time for his love signs to be prominently featured other than on Valentine’s Day which is celebrated the world over.       Everyone knows February has long been...