The Delusions of Yesteryears

 

So I am told by the elderly, that volunteering to enlist for World War 2 in the mid 20th century was seen as obligatory by most to do their duty to nation and society - but in those times it was also an exciting adventure like opportunity to see the World.  Millennials, Gen Z and those following behind the Baby Boomers have had peacetime opportunity to explore overseas without the accompanying dangers of battle.

We have been given authority like advice on the health risks of eating eggs, desired blood pressure points and the benefits of health supplements.  Dissenting voices now appear in cyberspace to counter or modify such advice.  Every one has an individual uniqueness health wise - and to be subject to population averages can be missing the mark.

Many of us must have reflected on the serious loyalty and passion of sitting down to watch and hear the news telecast.   As the internet liberated the expression of and accessibility to information, it has become so clear and evident of how such news content has been cherry picked and emphasised according to the powers of the day (financial, geopolitical and more).  Now the equivalant Town Hall megaphone pundits are doing it by clicks, social media and more.

Nothing is forever.  The impermanence of Things pervades more than ever, despite the tech advance, the addictive distractions and new ideas.   Strive and enjoy the Moment.  A promise can be fulfilled and yet disintegrate due to the consistency of Change.   Excessive attachments interfere with true happiness.  Flora bloom, rot and regenerate.  Politicians come and go, together with whatever inspiration, lies and mediocrities.  The Cloud demands your money payments after you get comfy storing your data having access to it from any device.  Pets die.  And yet we have to carry on.

When young, our brains and inner soul absorb the wonder and fascination of what we are being fed in all respects.   Only later do we realise the half truths of the geopolitical game.   That Prime Minister we honoured in our childhood turns out to be a scroundel.   The public or commercial institution we use has mismanaged our data.  Customers long loyal to a specific entity get rewarded by being screwed with higher charges and bad service.

The romanticisation from movies, travel brochures and legends have hidden realities.   Exotic locales can mean suppression of Indigenous peoples.   History is always recorded ignoring the contributions from humans and human structures not useful to the World as it is According to Those In Power.

When we have been brain washed through the years, essentially we can still hang on to myths, tampered propanganda and blurry impressions of the past.

Were historical leaders that good?

Where we witness a mass of people wailing at state funerals, do we remember the dark side and acts of the deceased indivudual when he or she was in power?  Human beings are easily swept over by overwhelming public emotion.  To realise the truth, even if not downtrodden, is a liberating experience.

The distractions of the past also point a way to better manage the continuing delusions of the present.
If you look close enough, history does repeat.   There are similar characteristics in the personality and pyschological make up of humans and entities out to delude us all the way to the future.

On the bright side, delusions experienced are only a necessary stage on your journey to realisation and awakening.


#yongkevthoughts

Inherent About Numbers

Binary numbers led to the way of automated and intelligent software.

The media quotes numbers to affect our senses - how much our investments have grown or been reduced, the amount of ingredients in our nutrition, knowledge of parameters measuring our society and how we can visualise and realise our personal dreams. 

Numbers can be the true universal language. 

We have hand wearables that spew out numbers on how our physical bodies are performing.  The calendar has facilitated time management, appointments and project planning.  We reflect on anniversaries and the march of numbers has been the ever reliable quiet partner of progress. 

Truly each of us are identifiable by numbers, whether in cyberspace, the devices we register with like mobile phones, government management of its citizens and other residents, our title deeds, financial assets or liabilities or more. 

Banking is indeed a trove, game and use of numbers.  Whether it is based on blockchain, cash or digitised systems, numbers are indeed indispensable.   The relentless daily movement of reported values in currency, share value or trading insights means that one can make gain or suffer loss by paying attention to differentials or dabbling in speculation. 

As with most human devices, numbers can be misused. 

So called elections are won by counting the majority voted for. 

Health diagnoses are decided by whether your count is above or below an arbitrary average.  You pay for wifi and other utilities by the relentless metering of numbers.  

You are a sports achiever by attaining the ninimum time to do it. 

With civilised standards, we trust in recorded or recommended numbers.

However, polling counts can be manipulated.   Focusing on counts can miss the benefits of holistic health assessments.  Numbers are only a tool, not the be all.  Numbers are only indicators and not the rule. 

There can be a human penchant to be fascinated by numbers.  Think of the Guiness Book of Records or how many hits on an app an influencer or singer has achieved.  Numbers can imply how much you are earning  or how well you have used or wasted a limited resource like time. 

We are encouraged to keep our minds active or relax by quizzes involving numbers.   We wrestle with the interplay of numbers as much as with alphabets, abstract ideas, philosophy and technological complications.   Humans inventorise, list and count joys and lesser agreeable things. 

Mobility has leapt by bounds and travel thrives on numbers.   Approvals, documentation and certifications are validated by issued numbers.   Our aircraft has to be flying above a certain measured height in the clouds before we enjoy wifi accessiblity in the stratosphere.  All airlines provide on screen feedback to passengers on how the flight is performing.   

There can be pyschological and emotional implications from numbers.  Society driven addictions like gambling thrive on the utilisation of numbers.  Age old cultures give powerful meanings behind each number.  Passwords are created by using numbers, or part of them - and many use specific numbers meaningful and easier to recall. 

Odd or even numbers are called up for duty in selecting those for national service, use of vehicles allowed on roads of busy cities on different days and in facilitating distribution of limited resources 

There are expressions that echo human kind's inherent ties with numbers. 

One's number is called up.

Age is only a number.

The number of things available does not indicate quality.

I have a lucky number.

The numbers involved make me feel numb.

What is the Number One rule?

A few honest men are better than the numbers.

The numbers are too big to ignore.

Business in the end is about the numbers.

Eight means prosperity, six implies happiness and three exudes life.

Four can mean fortune.

It is all a game of numbers.

The numbers do not tell the full story.

Numbers do not lie.

Numbers do not feel.

There is safety in numbers.

You have to be odd to be Number One.

Numbers speak for themselves.

Numbers rule the Universe.

#yongkevthoughts

Eating Choices Revisited

 I am not sure if public service hygiene inspectors anywhere cover dietary and nutrition aspects.

I do home cooking most of the time.  When eating out across greater Sydney, 

I do find I get more thirsty an hour or two after eating out.

Aussie society is caught up with the American obsession for fast food.

Unhealthy food in Aus is generally accessible, cheaper and made addictive.

Creative ways of making salads using fresh produce are available in my side of the woods at home and when eating out.

It was reported recently that the intake of fruits and veg has fallen amongst kids in Australia, despite the blessings in this continental island for produce from tropical to temperate climes.

Aus styled barista made coffee tastes better than coffee in other western societies.  As such, coffee drinking obsession is evident in the mornings anywhere across Australia.  

How healthy is drinking too much barista made coffee?  The jury is still out.  

What is definitely

unhealthy is the Aussie penchant for having bacon and other processed small goods in their daily intake.  Every society has a historical culinary addiction to preserved, pickled and processed meats like sausages, condiments and marinates.

When not taken in moderation, they can spell trouble for the human body, especially when consumed regularly over as many years.

Another main culprit is deep fried dishes, by whatever label they come to us - crispy, oil soaked or battered.  Southern Chinese Yum Cha has its fair share of deep frieds if one avoids the steamed versions.  Banana fritters, 

deep fried chicken bites, fish and chips in the Anglo tradition, Japanese tempura and supermarket snacks are just some examples. And yes, I got my KFC deep fried chicken wings yesterday.

The ever persistent danger is the sugar level in our constant diets.  Sugar is so cheaply available and can be said to be added in varying amounts in things we eat outside, whether they are, for example, in Thai dishes, French patisserie offerings, Taiwan  bubble tea drinks or in the obvious Krispy Kream doughnuts.

 Supermarkets are stacked aplenty with items "trying to balance" between sugar, salt and fat.

#yongkevthoughts

Immediate Response to SQ 321 22 May 2024

 

A 16 year old  Boeing 777 ER on flight at 37000 feet on 21 May 2024 over the Irrawaddy Delta in Myanmar experienced a sudden encounter with a clear air turbulence.  The aircraft tilted up and then fell dramatically for a very short time, causing spinal and head injuries to 53 passengers and one crew member who were not belted up.  A British subject unfortunately had a heart attack and died.

The injured were thrown up in dramatic fashion against overhead lockers or projected upwards while walking in the aisle or using the toilets.

The plane made an emergency landing in Bangkok.  SQ231 was flying from London enroute to Changi.   Breakfast was served on board when the plane encountered the severe turbulence on a route used by several airlines.

Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport rose to the occasion by offering interim triage to injured passengers on the tarmac once the affected plane landed.

All eyes are on SQ now as to how they handle the aftermath for passengers, crew, airline reputation, aircraft safety and more.

One of the five key pillars for the nation of Singapore is air travel and  SQ.

I reckon the others are the vibrancy of its financial hub,
shipping port, innovation and good governance.This incident can be described as s black swan in risk management speak.

Such a black swan is seen as an unlikely event but when it happens, creates a significant impact.

For passengers and crew, is it covered by air travel insurance? The CEO of SQ immediately offered
an apology on Facebook.

Both the President of the island Republic and its newly sworn in Prime Minister also provided clear unconditional apologies in public as well.

Effective and timely open communication is a hallmark of good businesses and governance.

The official Singapore response and tone from the top is immediately not to get into any blame game, not to push underlings to speak and not to keep quiet in the first critical hours after the incident.  SQ and the Government of the Red Dot moved fast to navigate a business like yet caring response.

The official communication given soon after this event was not just aimed at the passengers and crew aboard this flight, but also for the whole cohort of other existing and potential members of its world wide market.

A quarter of the passengers on the flight hold Australian passports, another almost quarter are Singaporean.  Many boarded SQ231 to ultimately head to Australia.

I noticed the efficient transfer by 22 May on charter flight of uninjured passengers from Bangkok to Changi.

Although there was some uncertainty from the incident, SQ worked on the facts, concentrated on taking care of passengers plus cabin crew and methodically mopped up.

No cabin crew or pilot, aboard the SQ 231 flight from London scheduled to Singapore, spoke or wrote on social media.

SQ ensured any speculation on public media was minimised.

As usual, so called air travel experts appeared on broadcasted media overseas chatting of the possible why and how.

SBS free to air in Australia mentioned that Singapore Airlines had a record of only 3 fatalities during operations  in the past 25 years.

#yongkevthoughts

To Re-Covid or Not

 

Looks like everyone has to be more mindful and cautious again.  Singapore is reportedly facing a spike in another variation of Covid infections

Face masking in close public crowds can reduce the risks, but brings into play cultural, political and emotional attitudes in many individuals I know

Many people I know have had varying concerns about significant and other lingering side effects of mRna Covid vaccinations.
We as lay
persons have been subject to varying confusion and uncertainty about Pfizer.
I tried to get Novavax and non mRna vaccinations
in 2021 and 2022 but they were not available in my side of the world.

Elderly people are always reminded of the higher chances of infection but usually they do not expose themselves to Covid risks everyday as much as the younger generations.

The cynic in me suggests that Big Pharma and its possible conspirators can be hyping up Covid risks with other less honourable aims in mind.  At the same time, governments and medical authorities in general have strangely kept mostly silent about Covid since late 2022.  The logic does not match.

The spike in international travel since 2023 has refreshed businesses, the economy and employment and we are happy for that.
What is missing is for institutions and official experts we would like to trust to make pronouncements on what is truly happening about Covid and continuing dangers.

Individuals have self managed in the cloud of uncertainty and non clarification, especially discouraging for those who have complied with authorities on Covid vaccinations and now facing  a potential situation that those vaccinations no longer provide future effective protection.

The Truth is out There - and needs to be told in this so called advanced civillisation of human societies.

#yongkevthoughts

Paradise Retained?

 This possibly remaining vestige of colonialism is hardly brought up by the mainstream media.

The recent riots in Noumea, blamed on the Melanesian Kanak independence movement, is part of a brewing dissatisfaction evident in New Caledonia in as many years.

The bright side - Even if the French territories in the South Pacific are so far away from Europe, their residents of whatever background amazingly are given full rights to vote in French  elections - something the British, Germans, Portuguese and Dutch never did in Africa or Asia.

Noumea is pretty scenic and is part of the romanticised chain of still French controlled part of South Pacific locations that include Tahiti and Bora Bora.

It is nearer for Aussies from the east coast to fly to New Caledonia than to fly to Singapore or Bangkok.

There is a direct flight from Changi Singapore to
Noumea on AirCalin.

The Down side - it can be very expensive to maintain political, military and supply logistic control  over a few isles on the other side of the world.

Still Paris can quickly send a thousand troops to New Caledonia quickly following the recent extensive riots in May this

year in Noumea.

Tiny New Caledonia is the world's fourth largest producer of Nickel,  after Indonesia, Phillippines and Russia.  Almost a quarter of people employed in New Caledonia work in the nickel production sector.

South east and East Asians migrated to New Caledonia in the past for this nickel mining rush.

There can be issues with environmental impact from nickel mining.

Pausing to Reflect on Our Contemporary Society

 Just like inside the proverbial witches pot, let us reflect on the contemporary world to muse on what has been brewing for some time now -  and can potentially cook more in this third decade of the 21st century. 

The past is not a sure guide for the future, but currently reading the key leaves hanging from the prediction tree is not a wasted exercise. Why wait until the typical and reactive hue and cry when the pot does boil over? 

In geopolitics, we have witnesed how endless banter and chat in halls of distinguished looking human beings do not do much in resolving matters of any severity.  Where there is no empathy in wilfulness - and where controlling mindsets are embedded in selfishness and divisiveness - problems get multiplied. 

Increasing control in the background by truly powerful interests around the world - whether in finance, politics, arnaments, technology or emotional articulation of self entitled beliefs - will impact on a world run on short termism, less supporting resources  and increasing manipulation of the way the masses think and react. 

There are events that can spring a

surprise, but there can be related causes that many of us have wilfully ignored or are in long denial, for whatever reasons, justified or not. 

1.  Continuing down trodding of and discrimatory treatment in practice of specific groups of people in an age of supposedly human enlightenment. 

2.   Blurring of facts, opinion and lies in matters of science, health and medical norms. 

3.   Significant breakdown in the regulatory environment where 

organisations and individuals who breach know they can mostly get away scot free. 

4. Dehumanisation of commercial, institutional and other human interaction transactions. 

5.    The loss of inner meaning for human beings despite experiencing improved physical facilitation, greater mobility and the growing availability of instant gratification. 

6.   The debasement of original meanings of specific phrases as they are publicly misused and quoted by parties with a negative intent. 

7.  Increasing distraction of humans with trivial and temporary matters by the powers that be with addictive methods, gadgets and overly processed consumption. 

8.  The increasing failure to develop and implement innovation in the way societies and economies are run, especially with larger populations who have higher expectations. 

9.   The pervasive and lingering preoccupation in media with rather negative matters rather than appreciating the positive ones to balance the full and overall picture. 

10.   The dire need to better manage the vast amount of accumulated and future data by individuals, governments, on line data banks and other parties. 

When you next get an opportunity to observe matters, do any one of the above ten dotpoints apply? 

And please do suggest another dot point on your mind to the list above, thank you.

#yongkevthoughts

Whatever Will Be, Will Be

 When I got to vote, 

l asked my Missee, 

Will I now kick off the rogue

who's been fooling me? 

Will I be truly free, will I feel neat?

Here's what she said to me. 

Que Sera, Sera,

Whatever will be, Will be.

Politics is just not for thee,

Que Sera, Sera,

Whatever will be, Will be. 

When I paid my dues and joined the Melee,

I asked my Party what lies ahead?

Will we have rainbows day after day?

Here's what my Party said to me. 

Que Sera, Sera,

Whatever will be, Will be.

Politics is just not for thee,

Que Sera, Sera,

Whatever will be, Will be. 

Now I have a Branch of my own

Members ask their Mentor what will they be,

Will they have power? Will they be rich?

I tell them tenderly, 

Que Sera, Sera,

Whatever will be, Will be.

Politics is just not for thee,

Que Sera, Sera,

Wharever will be, Will be. 

- Lyric variation by KY

Que Sera Sera was a hit song by Doris Day,

featured in the Alfred Hitchcock movie,

"The Man Who Knew Too Much."

What They Do Not Want To Tell Us

 In an age of information overload, what is most significant? 

It is what they do not tell us.

It is what they make it so difficult to access.

It is "nothing to see here".

It is what they dress up in  mighty terms - commercial-in-confidence, 

Parliamentary privilege,

national security, military secret, for the public's own good.

It is what Freedom of Information requests gets the silent treatment.

It is when shareholder microphones get shut down by the Chairperson of the Board.

It is when obvious topics of urgency, news or discussion of them do not appear as headlines.

It is when authorities underestimate the intelligence of the public.

It is when weblinks are blocked without any explanation given.

It is when the public are fed addiction on rather useless distractions.

It is when censorship occurs covertly with those in power shouting they represent democratic values.

It is when the public gets strongly aroused to find out for themselves.

#yongkevthoughts

By The Time I Get to Ballarat

 An Ode to Victoria -

By The Time I Get To Ballarat 

"By the time I get to Tullamarine,

She'll be rising,

She'll find the note I posted on Signal,

She'll laugh, when she reads the part that says I'm coming

Cause I've wanted to, so many times before. 

By the time I make Southern Cross,

She'll be working,

She'll probably stop at lunch,

And give me a call,

But she'll just hear that phone keep on ringing,

Out of coverage, that's all 

By the time I make Ballarat,

She'll be sleeping,

She'll turn softly and call my name out low,

And she'll cry, just to think, I may not really be here,

Though time and time I've tried to tell her so

She just didn't know,

I would really love her so."

Most of the above Lyrics are credited to Jimmy Webb.

The greatest version, to me, of this hit song was rendered by Glen Campbell.

That Time of Year - End of 2023

 So it is that time of year to clear the rafters. 

Calenders are human devices, but they sort of sync with the movements of Earth, the change of seasons and the connections of the human pysche with the Universe. 

Significant social, cultural and sentimental triggers are also kicked off before closure of the year.

What have we achieved, what we have not, what close shaves did we have and how grateful we can be. 

Moving away from all the commercialised distractions of year end, what really matters? 

I reckon it is people and how they have made you feel, inspired, discouraged or anything in between.  It is also how you have treated others you come across - given a free smile, learnt something, enjoyed discussing something or made a stand in differences of opinion.  True and lasting friendships go through the hard yards with a deeper appreciation and understanding.

What is not worth it can be let go thankfully with hindsight and relief. 

No matter where and how our station in life is on several fronts, what also is significant is to take a pause and acknowledge things  fortunate in our own platter.  

There is no need to succumb to societal pressures to compare ones self with others.   It is more important to compare your past self with your current self, to motivate yourself to an even better future. 

Each of us human beings do have a limited shelf life.   The arrival of another year means getting nearer to that best by and the separate ultimate date.    So the resolution for each New Year is more importantly, how are you going to make the best of your time, which can never be recouped, refunded or returned. 

The stroke of midnight on the last day of the old Year is just an artificial demarcation.   Every one carries on with mostly the same habitual mindsets, practices and comfort zones.  The trick is to discern better which are temporary pleasures and addictions, to sift them like unwanted chaff from what truly matters. 

So we come to the most important point in managing the transition from 2023 to 2024, how best to navigate change.    Change is the ever constant - and how to gracefully and effectively navigate its nuances is the best gift of ability of all. 

Confronting change can reaffirm your everlasting inner values, but also needs agility to approach things in a different way.   It can require new techniques to steer your personal ship.  It requires one to adapt, innovate and rethink.  Change best makes us to anticipate better, not just react but optimise risks lurking in every part of our personal journey. 

Change is best handled by managing our intensity of expectations.    Change is facilitated by being able to see and understand things that others cannot.   Good change is not 

spectacular, but consistent and gradual, like shepherding your next generation, like moving on when it is positive growth and not just rearranging the proverbial tired old furniture. 

To best change, each of us has to be mindful of our inbred attitude.

#yongkevthoughts

The People We Come Across

 Very rare and perceptive is the one

.who can see the reason behind your silence.

.who can feel the pain behind your smile.

.who can understand behind the depth of your eyes.

.who can lift your inner self up without you having to ask.

.who sends you the vibes you need, even from afar.

.who stands with you in both good and not so good times.

.who listens more than unnecessarily judge.

.who encourages you and inspires you, even if you may not deserve it.

.who gets into touch when you need it most without you having to ask.

.who sparks you to better take care of yourself.

.who makes you helpfully see the big picture and not drain you of your personal energy.

.who makes you to want to get off your personal comfort zone.

.who makes you better discern what is priority in a world of distractions.

.who shares what cannot be reimbursed by commerce or money.

.who abandons you once they no longer find you useful to their selfish needs.

.who can appreciate the love behind your concern.

#yongkevthoughts

mNra In Reflection

 The late founder of contemporary Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, insisted on 300 per cent safety and not just 100 per cent in his mindset. 

mRna tech is said to be used in early stage developing other things apart from in Covid vaccines, but the vehement  unusual support and emphasis by various powers that are around the world to utilise it and support Pfizer has not gone unnoticed. 

Inactivated vaccines like Novavax were difficult to access in Australia at the height of the Covid years from 2021 to 2022 - and still are. 

Even if one still believes in Covid vaccinations, it is so obvious how mRna types are made more accessible and continually emphasised by the Canberra Federal Government from 2021 onwards. 

Scott Morrison ex PM in Camberra also showed gusty support for Pfizer vaccine production in Melbourne. 

Pfizer has hardly been evaluated comprehensively for its performance in Covid vaccines around the world.  Before the onslaught of Covid, the track record of Pfizer and other Big Pharmas has been doubtful at best. 

Sinovax vaccines are never available in Australia, not sure because of geopolitics or due to eliminating competition for mRna based vaccines. 

Experimental vaccine developments since 2021  are not over in assessment of their side effects, efficacy and long term implications. 

All the Big Pharmas offering Covid vaccines were hastily given blanket liability exemption.   The emergency conditions enveloping the world then have been lifted in 2023, so why are not such Big Pharmas been evaluated on a rational and balanced basis? 

The sudden stop by world wide authorities, especially from late 2022 and 2023 onwards,

to push for compulsory vaccinations re Covid - and the mysterious demention of the continuing infections - are so obvious. 

So the world's population can now be said to be injected with two main variations of activated and inactivated Covid vaccines....... 

just like the crowds on any street holding Apples and Androids. 

#yongkevthoughts

Sri Lanka Today

 

Sri Lanka March 2024

The island nation has lots of walking at natural sites and religious places, a variety of food familiar to Malaysia's multi-racial demographics, interesting town walks, varying climate zones from mountains to coasts, Dutch historical influences and several options for adventure experiences.

Travel distances are user friendly, with destinations usually reachable one way between one hour and 90 minutes by road.  The way Sri Lankans drive can be so precise and shockingly close to one another on its mostly narrow roads.

Somehow I found the meats used in curries were pretty dry or hard.  Exception was in pork black curry.  Fish is generally more palatable, as in grilled or in curry dishes.

Escalators are rare outside Colombo and walking up two steps of flights to go to a meal floor is common.  King Coconut water, dhall curry, mudcrab and bananas are tops in my choice, but not durian types grown here. Tea quality as you know is outstanding, with ambiant walks in the midst of tea plantations around Nuwara Eliya.

The Sri Lankan economy is still in the doldrums.  There is this ever rising cost of entrance fees payable only in USD to enter tourist sites.  Locals on the street are friendly but realities of costs of living cause many to approach foreigners in not the most savoury manner.

There are sights and scenes in Sri Lanka that remind us of Malaya in the old times. Surprisingly the level of understanding and ability to speak English has fallen.

Hotel rooms, even at four star level, can be lit up better.  Toiletries for guests can be minimal.   Tv sets in the countryside often have Dialog brand wifi transmitters.  Buffet breakfasts are the norm for tourists, with a balanced selection of local, Thai and Western dishes.  The safety of tap water supply is better than in Thailand and Indochina, but boiling water and use of bottled water are advised

Your skill in the art of negotiation upfront for ride prices makes tuk tuk journeys more calming, although the pollution in Colombo streets can be a problem and it is better to ride with face masks on. You can pay in cash for Uber and Pick Me shared drive services. Grab is not available, unlike in South east Asia.

The emphasis for perfect and untainted copies of US dollar notes received by Sri Lankans can grow to be an irritating issue for unaware tourists.  Immigration points on arrival and departure are efficient and arrival cards must be prior filled up online.  Lining up for our foreign passports to be stamped seems more efficient at Colombo Airport compared to KLIA.  Baggage claim carousels are better serviced at Colombo than at Sydney.

The heat of the midday sun can be less tempered than south east Asia as Sri Lanka is further north of the Equator. 

Bentota, south west of the island, can be so commercialised with its beaches. The waters of the Indian Ocean look and so full at the beach, with stirring winds and gorgeous play of sunrise and sunset.

Galle remains a top choice in experiencing Sri Lanka, even if it is heavily imbued with colonial influences.  It has many tourists and inspiring accommodation - and if you care to walk along its streets, the true character of Galle surfaces, as it rose to be a strategic trading port dealing with the dangers and opportunities from the outside world.

My overall preferred experience in Sri Lanka is being together with locals waiting for Pooja in the very room so near the Buddha's tooth relic in Kandy.  Lining up behind in my choices are the river boat ride along the Madura River with its many isles, indigenious peoples, cinnamon trees and on to meeting the sandbanks of the Indian Ocean coast.  We were truly relaxed staying for three nights at the Livvy Waters Villas in Dambulla, with high ceiling cabins, spacious stone floor bathrooms and the chatter of lizards at night.

Nuwara Eliya, referred to as Little England, is nestled amongst cool and hilly landscapes - while Ella is a budding party hub for young Europeans.  The Nine Arch Bridge is a bit of hype and can be missed if you are on a busy schedule.  Why two peaks refer to the Biblical Adam beats my understanding.

We had a resourceful and energetic
young driver for our afternoon safari across the Yala National Park, but the variety of fauna observable is much less than in Africa.

Embarking on to Buddhist religious sites can at times demand the patience and passion of a pilgrim.
At the UN World Heritage site of Anarudharupa in north central Sri
Lanka, we were required to remove our footwear and walk on red hot concrete, brick or bare earth for long distances in the open, when the temperature was 36 degrees C. (It was burning hot for our soles even when we wore the allowed socks).

The hike up to Lion Rock in the Singhalese cultural hub of Sigiriya can be demanding to those not used to rock steps of varying width or height, slippery rain conditions and energy exerted up or down steep slopes.

The dawn opener on state TV is a collage of recogntion to all the main faiths in Sri Lanka and not just to Buddhism.  Singapore in contrast remains strictly secular in just playing the National Anthem on Mediacorp.

Tuti or Thank You, Sri Lanka for opening my eyes, heart and thoughts.

#yongkevthoughts

PS. We did not visit Jaffna and Trincomalee on this visit.

Desirable Airline Service

 

What makes an all round reliable airline that reassures?

Customer service with a balanced empathy and focus.

Engineering standards that are monitored and maintained.

Smooth transitions enabled at connecting airports.

User friendly bookings with resolution of any matters arising.

Boarding and disembarkation spring in the step.

Airline staff who are well trained and valued by the employer.

Seemingly little extras on flight like free wifi, that dessert and responsiveness to the uniqueness of each passenger.

Airline Board and top management who value human beings as vital to the business - and not just sheer profits.

Airlines that strive to provide the leading edge without haughtiness.

Airlines who emphasise on the holistic experience and not blame others on outsourced parts of the business.

#imagekev

Eatery Reviews

 

In this age of increasing disinformation, hidden propaganda, manipulative commercialism and social media hype, are we helped when we check an internet review of an eatery?

Are the scorings reliable?  One person's sense of taste can be another's disdain.  Can an eatery take litigation when its operators opine they have been unfairly assessed?

When goggling began, most reviews of foodie venues were dominated by text.  Then came the barrage of still images, many micro focused with blurred backgrounds, some echoing the ambiance of the place and all illustrating and supplementing what is written.

Eventually images in all forms took over with a crescendo.   Video clips, tantalising angles and added music made viewers really feel we are there with the influencers.  You Tube and Tik Tok fast tracked this waterfall of visual feasts.  Decisions and sensations were more made visually rather than upon listening to the audio.  Next, how do we bring in the wafts of Umami smell and aroma?

Individuals or groups of individuals can perfect the art of foodie tasting with humour, energy and internet income.   Some incorporate travelogues, in a varying range from the upper class seat experience of long haul aircraft flights to more obvious ads for tour itineraries.  Foodie reviews are transforming, experimenting and continuing to use new technology.   I wonder who watches the TV travel or cooking programmes anymore.

Perhaps nothing is as delightful as unplanned dropping by an eatery and enjoying the food, pushing aside any preconceived opinions from one's self or others.   The art and science of culinary sensations is best achieved by stepping on to the venue itself and utilising one's gut feel on the spot.

This brings to the matter of Michelin food guides, rankings and their requirement that winning eateries must fulfil prestated conditions each year to maintain their Michelin rank status.

Opinions of Michelin award teams are usually from individuals who are not local to the culture and country where they swoop in and make their assessments.   Are judges with local preferences and palates not important enough to be given more consideration?  Are restaurant design, elegance and pricing observed distracting from niche taste, strange cooking skills and heritage styles?

Can Michelin award judges have an inherent and unacknowledged bias against the vageries of things foreign? Is fusion cooking standing a better chance of being recognised by Michelin?

It can be amusing in contemporary times that scrolling on screens has fuelled the process of choice of eateries.  And then there is easy access to wifi and the need to post things on a real time basis - just after one bite and several posted images, an opinion of the food must be formulated.  There is not even sufficient time to digest the dish in the body before an opinion on a bite of morsel of food becomes viral.

Another disturbing tribal live screen following is that of fans watching what individual influencers eat every evening.   Does it reflect the pervasive extent of boredom that this can become a watching sport?

I know of people who quietly enjoy what they have eaten or drunk - and quietly go on to the satisfaction of having completed another day.  Such humans will not give impressions of food unless asked.

So there are millions of food images hanging about our cyberspace Universe. What eventually happens to them when they are no longer viewed? 

The eatery business needs regularity of custom, excitement of venue and marketing in all aspects. 
Word of mouth in the locality is no longer enough as greater mobility brings in diners from far and wide.
The post impact of a declared pandemic has changed significant
parameters for businesses that pay much rent, cannot rely on staff being available and depend on broken supply chains.  Social media  in this respect can help, but if not managed optimally, it can also be a two edged sword.

As for other things in life, success can bring about its own down stream challenges.   Cynicism can set in potential customers with too much hype in viral foodie opinions.

Relaxed venues begin to have three sit down sessions an evening.   Surcharges of whatever variety begin to be charged to so called milking the cow while the going is good. 

It all starts with someone giving an opinion for the world to see, read or hear in an entertaining way.

#yongkevthoughts

Purchasing Choices

 

The duopoly of supermarkets continues across Australia, as corporate muscles are flexed against suppliers, staff and customers in a relentless obsession of growth in profits, dominance and control.

I support more of stand alone independent grocers and direct producers, they have more variety on their shelves.  As prices in Coles and Woolies have gone up, they cannot compete price wise with some independent grocers, especially ethnic ones like Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Indian, etc.

My strategy now is to be mindful of selected items of grocery to buy - and suppport small business in my locality as far as I can. A more focused approach helps to avoid wasting expenses on addictive food, zoom for more quality in edibles and exercise our minds and hearts in better choices with discretion.

Fresh eggs are not bad at Aldi, they do not shelf them in fridges like Coles and Woolies. Fresh milk at Aldis is a good buy, but at the same time there can be a lot of distracting products at Aldi outlets.

More distracting is the preponderance of products laden with sugar, salt, preservatives and fat at the main supermarkets.  Do walk the aisles and make up your own mind.

If one resides in an Australian regional area, I understand there can be a lack of choice -  and one depends more on the duopoly.

This is echoed in the lack of competition especially in the Australian sectors of domestic air travel, pharmacies and banking.

Fresh produce markets are fascinating to me, but generally since Covid, prices have spiked st such stalls, even if quality is maintained.

I have also dabbled in ordering online offers of groceries and white goods - some provide free  and next day delivery at the very latest.
The physical store model is increasingly under threat - the way some businesses are treating customers is viewed in disdain by more people I know.

Need we visit a supermarket venue to get essential food?  We step in such places and we observe some using them for social chats.  We also note the rise in self managed check outs with narrow spaces.  Cameras are attached to monitor the movement of human beings.
Pyschological games are played with posters put up by the supermarket to induce us to buy, but which underestimate our level of intelligence.

Do reflect on the huge numbers of real estate such supermarkets sit on, they can easily get into the commercial property game once they stop selling food.

There has truly been this relentless drive to know what you and each family have bought in the past to shape millions of purchasing profiles.   The underlying rationale is that once you buy something, you will buy it again.   This model excludes the very possible human trait of not purchasing the same thing ever again - and the right to have a significant change in taste.

The use of membership cards implies the giving of peanut reward points to customers.

The duopoly puts its bets on greater convenience, habitual pattern of spending and lack of competition for the majority of the population to
regularly visit its outlets.  They are also experts in marketing, human behaviour and commercial practices.  

#yongkevthoughts