I woke up this morning and looked in the mirror. OMG, I am an Asian parent. But am I? Am I living up to the reputation? Is it my destiny?
Who am I? I am the guy in the suit.
My kid plays the piano. OMG, I AM an Asian parent. Don’t worry, I have compiled a list of check boxes to help you.
Does your child plays the piano? [Yes/No]
Does your child plays the violin? [Yes/No]
Does your child plays the recorder? [Yes/No]
Do you want your child to be a doctor (the type that airplane pilots look for, not a PhD doctor), a lawyer or a banker? [Yes/No]
Is your ethnicity Asian? [Yes/No]
If you find yourself saying yes then you are likely to be an asian parent. Dependent on your ethnicity, you also can use the blank template below.
I am a “insert your ethnicity” parent.
Not to worry, there is absolutely no need to panic like I have and write a blog post about it. Keep calm. It is our destiny to be parents. I do take academic seriously. If you are worried about about the academic aspects, I launched my next project “BE a Scholar Tuition” ACROYM “BEST” to find the best version of them.
There is a high academic level that pupils from certain schools seems to be able to achieve and my intention is to break down that open that to pupils from any background.
Whoop whoop, I reached 99 blog entries about travelling / adventures. This is the end but not the end, as it is the beginning of a new series of another 99 blog entries over the next 5 years from 2023 to 2028.
Drumroll please.
“The best version of yourself and how to reach it.”
The next set of 99 blog entries will be about my perspective on Education and looking to unlock the potential of each child.
Play hard, work hard. In my opinion, the world is a playground. Hence, I tried my luck at Formula 1, Space, Helicopters, tiltrotors, travelling, and NGOing. I enjoyed each experience. I just don’t learn fast enough. Now, I am more grown up and wiser, as shown by the PhD. The vast amounts of knowledge to be consumed and learnt are simply too much for a lifetime. Timing is such as important factor… So often, I was in the right place at the wrong time.
Good books for any systems engineer
In 2008, if only I could apply the concepts gained through my PhD. Aerodynamics would have been engaging with the port-Hamiltonian approach. I was limited by Cartesian, which is so 1 dimensional in thinking. If my thinking included Lagrangian, and in the context of acausal dynamic simulation. That click would have been a lot more quicker. There would have been less confusion during my time there. (What am I?, Why am I?, Where am I?, Who am I?)
In 2009, I was proficient in the statistical energy approach, but I only encountered health usage monitoring systems in helicopters in 2011 and machine learning in 2016, pattern recognition was there. These concepts would have impacted the graduate mechanical vibration engineer role at the European Space Agency. That would have been fun.
In 2010, if only I hang out at the Mountain View Hotel buffet in Nepal more often to build my NGO contacts, I could have had a different career. I wanted to get a UN passport, to be a citizen of the world, make it a better place (I was naive). I was very introvert those days.
I collected exciting topics, from driveline simulation of a Formula 1 car, helicopter transmission vibration analysis, flight simulation data conditioning, tilt-rotor transition assembly, to machine learning, thermodynamics and robotics. All these topics are really challenging to master, I needed years to really understand the Acausal approach to simulation when I needed months. In hindsight, My thinking was very causal. I.e. each knowledge / subject was within close proximity of each other, i.e. one theory lead to another. Perhaps a larger mind map or a big-picture understanding would enable me to be a better version of myself. I guess hindsight is a wonderful thing, which topics would you like to know for your past self? Lottery numbers and football scores are not eligible and are clearly against the ethics of time travel.
My favourite role was conditioning the test flight data to make sure it is compatible with the flight simulator, which met the Joint Aviation Regulation requirements. Pilots do not need to stick an “L” plate onto the helicopter. The first moment when they are in the cockpit can deal with all the required eventualities.
In my last few entries on this topic, I want to explore other aspects of travelling, such as my general opinion of travelling and my motivations. Why did I travel?
My motivation was to explore and be curious. Travelling is a humbling experience as I have met people who travelled to far more places than I have / will or impressive people who would indirectly inspire you. The world is big, with lots to see and lots to do.
Cinque Terre, Italy
My approach to travelling can be a bit random, or “stochastic” now I can officially declare myself smart with a PhD. However, Travelling with a tent and relying on public transport in Sicily is so random. My patience in waiting for buses and trains is about 8 hours. I would feel slightly frustrated after 8 hours. Travelling is a tickbox exercise, just to experience it good, bad, and indifferent. Once is enough for some activities, as there are risks involved. I listed the notable ones.
Fairy pools, Isle of Skye
Travelled to live in a foreign country (90 days+) Italy, Nepal and Japan, Learn about local cultures.
Provided accommodation to Couchsurfers from all over the world
Couchsurfed at other hosts (Austria, and Italy)
Took a hitchhike (Avola to Catania, Italy)
Gave a hitchhike to others (Iceland, Austria)
Walked on live volcanoes. (Iceland, Italy, Japan)
International festivals (Oktoberfest, Film festival at Jersey, Edinburgh Fringe)
Sleeper trains (Interrail and China)
Work with NGO – (Nepal, Created science experiments for the local teachers).
Annapurna Circuit trek – 5400m plus.
Night bus in Nepal from Pokhara to Kathmandu with an 8-hour wait – Once is more than enough. Zero is the right number here.
Fly to see Mount Everest – Statistically safe to do it once, and perhaps carbon footprint is not so agreeable these days.
Many UNESCO sites – People say these places are worth going.
Driving in Iceland – visited as many swimming pools as I could.
So why did I travel?
My answer is simple, I wanted to find the best version of myself, which I did not know when I departed for Kathmandu, was to find the best version of myself. I recall at that time, I followed my instinct. So follow your instinct into whichever topic and enjoy every aspect. You will find the best version of yourself because that is part of you.
Getting too old for this.
Final point, the most important part of travelling is to return home safely.
Blogging is a time-consuming activity. My blog captures my feeling at that moment. That moment is diluted by taking the pen out and writing on my notepad. The dilemma is equivalent to the choice between enjoying that moment or taking that photograph. Now, I want to go back to writing more blogs, because I want to share more memories with my two little kids.
We found “To Ma Su” Japanese Thomas and Friends
A brief summary of my travels since 2015, I travelled more of Italy, in particular in Le Marche, Umbria, and Tuscana regions. I went to Yunnan, China. I decided to start my academic journey, and the IEEE conference circuit took me to Italy, South Korea, and The Netherlands. I also won a travel scholarship to Japan to study in Osaka University. I aimed to expand my travel experience since it is a “travel” scholarship. The Japanese Ministry of Science invited me to study. 3 months in Japan with a young family was epic.
I visited one of the most advanced and focused on musclo-skeletal research Lab in the world.
Life moved on, another update I have a family now. My health and safety approach from my aviation industry experience, which kept me alive from my travels, is safer than ever. My blog will expand in different directions, in lifestyle, academics, education and technology.
Let’s complete the travel part of my adventure like I squeezed my soul to finish writing my PhD thesis. Another update, I am a Doctor of Philosophy now, so now I know what I am talking about.
Singapore is a dangerous place for me. The food was a bit too spicy for my delicate stomach. However, my determination and additional trips to the loo got me through a lot of south east asian cuisine. The major difference from Hong Kong to Singapore is the popularity of the Hawker Centres, which could be described as organised street food markets. This was Singapore, everything had to be numbered and organised. The Hawker Centre provides a single centre to experience different south east asian cuisines. Therefore I can have something from Malaysia, mixed with something from Singapore in a single meal. This was Singapore, everything had to be efficient.
What have I learnt about food. In a brief summary.
Chinese… add ginger and soya sauce, Singaporean… add chillies, Malaysian… add coconut and more chillies, Thai… cook in a half pineapple, Indonesian… add curry and peanut sauce, Vietnam… add garlic and fish sauce, Italian… add olive oil and tomatoes, Sicilian… fry it with breadcrumbs, English… put it in oven, Nepali… same food for breakfast and dinner, why have only one most important meal of the day when you can have it twice, Japanese… have something else that is not cooked. French… add some hype.
Singapore is a dangerous place for me or I am too dangerous for Singapore. Although there are currently no reasons for Singapore to deny me entry for the next time due to no arrest. Luckily next time on the entry on the immigration card whether you have been denied entry to Singapore before, which I could tick “no” again. (The right answer) If only all questions are this simple. Singapore just had so many signs about what you cannot do, a massive culture shock from Italy. My favourite one is the “No Durian” sign at the Metro. Damn right, the penalty must be so severe, that no amount of fine could be imposed for the discomfort caused. Singapore still has capital punishment which could be a bit harsh on carrying a tropical fruit. It seemed to have done the trick as no durians were seen in the MRT.
I was stopped by Customs, bag searched by station security, climbed a fence, crossed the traffic ignoring the advise of road markings and traffic lights. (“If you can dodge traffic, you can dodge a ball.”) This could be a sign that I need to take a bit more time on my appearance. I am just too much of a rebel. Actually, a guide to staying in Singapore could be useful. Especially for those guys who rioted earlier in the month. I.e. don’t riot.
Nepal has the weirdest list of items, i.e. you need to see someone professional if you were carrying those items. Singapore has the most scientific list. Wine tax is a function of wine type x %Alc x Singapore constant. For me a place with expensive wine is not a happy place.
Universal Studios was an expensive theme park hence was not part of take 1 but I managed to get a 50% employee discount, so 3. 2. 1. Action.
The Universal Studios highlights were,
Sesame Street Spaghetti Space Chaser
I did not grow up with Sesame street but the I could still relate to Spaghetti Space Chase. Basically if someone messed with my pasta, there is no escape within this universe. It was a very surreal ride almost exactly how I would have reacted to this scene.
Transformers the Ride
What a ride! Very very incredibly done with acceleration, water, smoke, sounds, 3D visuals to give a virtual presence in the movies. Bravo!
Shrek 4D
Don’t mess with the Donkey and a glimpse of the future “hydraulically actuated sofas”. I really should patent that. If the movies provided the speed, accelerations of the object. That could be quite interesting! might need an reinforced floor though. However, should real life be replicated like this?
Waterworld
Great scene played in front of our eyes!! I was in the minor splash zone! Some people got drenched.
Penang, in Malaysia was actually the purpose of this trip. A long time ago, I promised a friend to attend his wedding. Credit to him, he was actually having a wedding with a beautiful bride. So air tickets were bought. I was very lucky to be part of his life event as his “marry (merry) band of brothers”. There was not to be a “Hangover part IV – Ronald’s turn” but it was great to catch up and to see him enjoying life.
The couple were Malaysian with Chinese heritage. Therefore the wedding had a traditional Chinese twist. It was a full day event which included “Capture the bride”. At 0930, the convoy arrived to the bride’s, a series of tests and challenges awaited for us to pass for the groom to rescue the bride. The challenges were mostly alcoholic or possibly antiseptic. The dual use was very clever should someone cut themselves or required first aid. The groom rescued the bride from the mildly “evil” sisters under his leadership with the single sacrifice of one member of the team. Following from that the Chinese traditional of the couple pouring tea for their in-laws and relatives in the morning. There were a lot of relatives so luckily there were buffets at each of the bride’s and groom’s households.
The matrimony was held at a grand hotel next to a beach. Beautiful couple, great weather, great location, great food and great company. The band of brothers also had to do a dance routine for the Bride and Groom’s entrance at the evening function. I don’t dance. Now everything time that song came on, a motion response had been installed in me. It would take time and therapy to forget that experience.
The guy promised to turn up to my wedding. Damn, that was an easy promise for him to make.
In this Singapore trip, I was still travelling without a plan which meant anything after 24 hours was always an unknown. However, I decided after the 7th day accommodation was probably planned so I did not have to live like a snail with all the burdens on my back.
I was a bit more active in Couchsurfing this time but CS will always remain as an option not a primary purpose in my travels. It is great for meeting people. I met a dive master, a life coach and a photographer. They definitely made the trip better. They were very helpful too! Great local knowledge, help in terms of an emergency night stay, luggage storage and employee discounts! I will meet one in Italy again. Small world.
The culture in Singapore is very diverse and It had a Chinatown, Little India (Kathmandu feel), Malaysia centre, Arab street. It is impressive how the city unite all the cultures. It also had a bit of an Expat feel. A place that tried to invite the world.
Singapore is a giant shopping centre with underground tunnels leading to everywhere to avoid the heat and the sun. My imbedded GPS does not work in shopping centres. I need mountains, towns, monuments as points of reference. Shopping Centres are like blackholes to me and Singapore has an excessive number of them.
The modern architecture is on par with Hong Kong. The skyscrapers in Hong Kong are more densely packed. The pace and the seriousness of life is similar. I need 25 plus days of holidays a year.
Adventures of Delboy 