Must Have
Check the Lucky Days for Renovation, Marriage, Business, Travel and More in 2018.
Always choose LUCKY DATES and TIMES for the important events in your life and pick auspicious directions to get the most out of the year. AVAILABLE AT ALL LEADING BOOKSTORES and online at www.wofs.com and www.fsmegamall.com
SEPTEMBER contents
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LILLIAN TOO IN RUSSIA
SPECIALS 10 LILLIAN TOO TEACHES
FEATURES 24 LIFE WITH LILLIAN:
THE THREE DIMENSIONS OF FENG SHUI IN MOSCOW
FEELING REGAL & LOVED IN RUSSIA
Lillian Too
sharing space, time and spiritual feng shui
ǦǨ are the photos and highlights!
Lillian Too shares beautiful pictures of her travels in St Petersberg and Moscow... being ǡƪ her Russian hosts!
15 FOREST CIT Y: CHINA
32 LIFE WITH LILLIAN:
͊͜͜͝ ǧ DOLLAR MEGAPOLIS OF PARADISE ISLANDS OFF THE SHORES OF SOUTH MALAYSIA
China’s “One Belt One Road” initiative gets ǡ of reclaimed islands that will change the economic land and seascape in Southeast Asia.
20 JACK MA
GLOBAL INTERNET ICON
Phillip Lim takes a peek at his Paht Chee chart and discovers amazing stars that outshine his
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66 NORTH AMERICA IN A
HISTORICAL SOLAR ECLIPSE
͞͝ǡ
America. Millions gathered to witness this astronomical phenomenon; but what does this omen foretell about America’s future?
FAMILY BONDING AT FALLS CREEK OUTSIDE MELBOURNE
Lillian and Jennifer Too take to the ski slopes near Melbourne, Australia where the snow is Ǩ
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36 EXPERIENCING A RUSSIAN CIRCUS
Jennifer Too watches the Moscow Nikulin Circus and regails the daring feats and animal talent of the Russian Circus! A show not to be
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38 MALAYSIA’S COLORFUL PERANAKANS
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ǯ Penang, Malacca and Singapore.
44 SELINA YEOP
JUNIOR: MOMPRENEUR EXTRAORDINAIRE
Helen OonǦ ǡ motherhood and a thriving career as she brings her ̼ London!
LIFE & LIVING 19 THE POWER OF RED
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29 NINE LIFE CHANGING
WAYS TO BRING NEW CHI INTO YOUR HOME
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41 HARMONY AND
HAPPINESS AT HOME
Create a peaceful and calm living space with these Ǥ dissolve tension and revitalise tired energies at home.
42 JAPAN:
LAND OF THE LUCKY CAT
Lulu Lee
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SEPTEMBER
contents
On the Cover In this issue, we feature a gorgeous gold and malachite Rooster which Lillian received as a gift from one of her hosts in Russia! It embodies the Wood Rooster, which is an
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ghost month!
48 “MY LIFE AT SERA JAY”
Charok Lama Rinpoche talks about life as a student monk in one of the largest and most illustrious Buddhist Universities in the world! Here’s a glimpse of what geshes͝͡Ǥ
50 TOP COACH KOH
Dato Kee Hua Chee chats with Dato Jack KohǡǦ
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54 ACTUALIZE YOUR GOALS WITH VISION AND ACTION BOARDS
PUBLISHER
Audrey Tan shows us how to use vision and action boards to actualise all our goals and get things done!
WOFS.com Sdn Bhd
57 AMULETS FOR HUNGRY GHOST MONTH
PUBLISHING DIRECTOR
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58 LIFE WITH LILLIAN:
FOREST WALKS IN OUR WONDERFUL CIT Y
Lillian Too takes a tree bath through Gasing Hills with her nephew Han JinǤ
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60 SYDNEY: A HARBOUR CIT Y OF CLASS
Helen Oon Mountains! A place where the gentle waters of the Darling Harbour lead to ǯ
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70 REAL COMPASS VS DIGITAL COMPASS
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for feng shui work? Hanni Lim addresses this important point of feng shui
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72 DESIGNING BATHROOMS
Chris Yeo shares designer architectural tips on creating spectacular
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77 THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE
Shahreen Kamaluddinơ this realisation can make it much easier for us to attain the life we dream Ǩ
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82 FRIENDSHIP FOR FABULOUS FENG SHUI
Dato Kee Hua CheeƤ spontaneous views on “friendship” and what it means to them! You’ll be Ƥ
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IN EVERY ISSUE 85 LUCKY DAYS FOR SEPTEMBER 86 ASTROLOGY READINGS FOR SEPTEMBER
Lillian Too
EDITORIAL EDITOR IN CHIEF DESIGN DIRECTOR RESEARCH EDITOR ROVING EDITOR
Jennifer Too Chris Yeo Stanley Ng Phillip Lim
ART ART DESIGN MANAGER ASSISTANT DESIGN MANAGER SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Andrew Yep Jeannie Yue Calvin Liew, Yew Siau Hooi Koh Soo Yee
MARKETING & ADVERTISEMENT
For advertising enquiries contact
[email protected]
INTERNET INTERNET MANAGER Kenji Chan VIDEO PRODUCER Lim Han Jin
FOLLOW & LIKE US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
www.facebook.com/fengshuiworld twitter.com/fengshuiworld instagram.com/fengshuiworld
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88 FLYING STAR UPDATES FOR SEPTEMBER 90 SIGNIFICANT SPIRITUAL DAYS FOR SEPTEMBER 92 ASK AUNT AGGA
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94 GOOD & BAD DAYS TO CUT YOUR HAIR
FENG SHUI WORLD is published monthly by WOFS.com Sdn Bhd, A-17-1, 17th Floor, Northpoint Office, Northpoint Mid Valley City, No:1, Medan Syed Putra Utara, 59200, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (tel: +603-2080-3488; fax: +603-2287-4813; email:
[email protected]; website: www.wofs.com). Printed by Atlas Cetak (M) Sdn Bhd, Wisma Atlas, No.2 Persiaran Industri, Bandar Sri Damansara, 52200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Distributed in Malaysia by MPH Distributors, 1st Floor, Warehouse, Wisma Luxor, No.5, Jalan Bersatu, Section 13/4, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. Distributed in Singapore by MPH Distributors, No.50, Tagore Drive, Level 3, Habitat Warehouse, Singapore 787621. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. All prices are correct at time of going to press but are subject to change. SUBSCRIPTION RATE (post paid) to WOFS.com Sdn Bhd is RM 118 for 12 issues (East Malaysia residents please add RM10). Enquiries, changes of address and orders payable to WOFS.com Sdn Bhd, Subscription Department, A-17-1, 17th Floor, Northpoint Office, Northpoint Mid Valley City, No:1, Medan Syed Putra Utara, 59200, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (tel: +603-2080-3488; fax: +603-2287-4813; email:
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LILLIAN TOO
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SINGAPORE
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Sunday, 10th December 2017
Sunday, 17th December 2017
(10am to 5pm)
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Hall 405 & 406, Level 4, Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre
Grand Mahkota Ballroom, Hotel Istana Kuala Lumpur
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FREE SEATING
Letter from the Editor
T
his must surely be a Russian issue! We have just come back from ten days of surreal hospitality in a country filled with the most beautiful and warm people, buildings and architecture that left us in awe, and a history and heritage that stamped an indelibly lasting impression. Our wonderful hosts Snezhana Tikhonova and Tatjana Birukhova invited Lillian Too to bring her feng shui event to Russia. Co-hosting us was the lovely Oxana Girko. The event, held over two days at the Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow, was a resounding success! The Russians are so friendly, so warm and so enthusiastic! Many were already well-versed in feng shui having read many of Lillian’s books that have been translated into Russian, and were eager to learn more. While many in attendance spoke English, there was also simultaneous Russian translation available for those who preferred to listen in their own language. The first day covered Landscape and Compass Feng Shui, while the second day focused on Spiritual Feng Shui. Those who missed this event can access it online (with optional Russian translation) via the Lillian Too Mandala website (visit www.wofs.com for more).
in exquisite art, architecture, music, culture and sheer beauty. The country is incredibly photogenic – strike a pose and every click looks like something straight out of a magazine.
Before heading to Moscow for the event, we could not resist taking the opportunity to visit the fabulous museums, palaces and fountains of St. Petersburg, an hour’s flight or a 4-hour high-speed train ride from Moscow. When you visit Russia, you return incredibly inspired because this is a land so rich
We brought the kids as well, as they were on their summer vacation. For 8-year-old Joshy, while the sightseeing tired him out, he was fascinated by stories of Peter the Great and Catherine the Great, while Jack, whose great love is the piano, paid homage to the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, one
Good Feng Shui brought us to Russia
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Peacock Mirror The peacock has the power to absorb poison energies from the atmosphere. Point this mirror towards a poison arrow, and let it dispel any harmful vibrations.
When displayed in the home, it cleanses the energy of all poison vibrations such as anger, jealousy and sadness.
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Letter from the Editor Malaysia Sea Games Mascot ‘Rimau’. Kuala Lumpur is hosting the 29th Sea Games 2017
Dressage (popularly thought of as ballet on horseback) was the second horse event that saw Malaysia take top spot, while Polo is going great guns for the Malaysian contingent so far. In polo, we have another high profile athlete, our very own Youth and Sports Minister YB Khairy Jamaluddin, who is setting a great example being the first Minister to compete at the SEA Games, and in medal-winning form. Astrologically, the Horse is an ally of the Tiger, Malaysia’s national animal; it is also its official mascot for the Games. No wonder Malaysia seems to have so much affinity with horse sports. But more than winning medals, these Games is about the sporting spirit and making friends, and the official motto, “Rising Together” is a galvanizing maxim covering not just the Malaysian contingent, but all our visiting athletes and supporters as well.
of the foremost music institutions of the world, where legends such as Rachmaninoff, Scriabin and Tchaikovsky have played or worked at. Jack even got the opportunity to take master classes here with the wonderful Prof Natalia Troull. Read more inside of what you must not miss in Russia, and I promise you, if you have not visited, you absolutely must. Do not believe any rhetoric you read in the news, because Russia is beautiful, modern, open, welcoming and with so much to offer. A phenomenon that seems to have captured everyone’s imagination is the recent complete Eclipse of the Sun visible over a whole stretch of America. A complete eclipse happens only once in 99 years, so this event drew crowds all over America to camp out to watch it. Visually, it is breathtaking. But it’s significance? There are various schools of thought. Lillian Too offers us her views on this within. This month also sees Malaysia play host to the 29th SEA Games, involving the 11 countries of Southeast Asia. The country is abuzz with activity and there is really nothing better to galvanize a nation than sports. The Games opened on Sat 19th Aug at the Putra Stadium at Bukit Jalil, with Malaysia putting up a truly fabulous show full of culture, pageantry and pride. The SEA Games are ongoing as we close this month’s issue, but Malaysia is already doing the nation proud in terms of medal tally. I am following the equestrian sports closely, as these are the events closest to my heart. Here, Malaysia seems to be sweeping the medals. HRH Sultan Mizan of Terengganu set the Games off to a great start, winning both team and individual gold in the equestrian endurance event. He also makes history being the first and only Malaysian Ruler to win a gold at these Games.
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This issue, we aptly feature former Badminton Champion Dato Jack Koh who is using his expertise to coach the new stars of the future with the formation of the “Purple League”. Badminton has always been a source of national pride, a sport where we can boast of being truly the best in the world, and working together with big names such as Dato Lee Chong Wei, Rashid Sidek and Khairy Jamaluddin, there is no doubt in Malaysia’s ability to continue to dominate this sport that so many kids here grow up playing. We also want to bring to your attention the amazing Forest City, a completely manmade paradise island off the shores of South Malaysia. Hanni Lim takes a look at the feng shui significance of this new structure, its element shape, its landscape implications and of course no doubt the economic benefits. Impressive stuff indeed! Our Paht Chee feature puts the focus on Alibaba’s Jack Ma, who has risen from humble beginnings and many initial failures to become the richest person in Asia. Phillip Lim takes a look at the birth chart of this charismatic business magnate, and is not at all surprised to find a slew of success stars present. A timeline of his ten year luck pillars is also either extremely coincidental or revealing! As September is the month of fashion, Helen Oon speaks with Selina Yeop Jnr, who is making news on the London fashion scene with clothing that real women (who are not stick-thin) can wear, and with bags that the modern woman can carry (you need more than a lipstick and credit card these days!) Functional but fashionable is definitely the new style of today. A lot more in this issue as we bid adieu to the summer, but don’t also forget to arm yourself with amulets as we approach Hungry Ghost month. Have a great September!
Jen n ifer Too ͞ ͜ ͝ ͣ | w w w. f s w m a g . c o m | F E N G S H U I W O R L D
PHOTO FRAMES that bring good Feng Shui
When you place your photograph with the bird image behind, and surround your image with auspicious objects, you will always get good news coming to you.
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Lillian Too in Russia
LILLIAN TOO teaches the
THREE DIMENSIONS OF FENG SHUI IN MOSCOW Lillian Too journeys to the blue skies and warm greetings of beautiful Moscow to meet her Russian-speaking fans… and share important highlights on space, time and spiritual feng shui over two incredible days! Here is the recap of her insightful seminar… and amazing photos of her gorgeous fans from Russia! By HANNI LIM
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O
ne of the things that continue to amaze me is how far feng shui has reached the four corners of the globe. Each time we hold Lillian Too’s Master Practitioner Course (which happens about twice a year) we are always pleasantly surprised to meet students from so many different countries around the world who have read Lillian’s feng shui books at some point in their life, and benefitted from them in some pretty miraculous ways. Many of our MPC students who pass through our lecture halls go on to lead amazing careers in
their own field… and some even become famous feng shui speakers and consultants in their home country. About three years ago, we met the lovely Snezhana Tikhonova, a long-time fan of Lillian and feng shui teacher from her homeland in Yakutsk. Yakutsk is the capital of the Sakha Republic, one of the states located in the Northeast part of Russia, closer to Siberia. Who would have thought that Lillian’s feng shui books would make it all the way to this part of the world! But Snezhana tells us that her own students from Yakutsk are big fans of Lillian’s brand of feng shui and dream of meeting her in person one day! It was also around the same time that we met Tatiana Biryukova, a successful cosmetics heiress who hails from Estonia. Estonia is a former state of the Soviet Union; hence its citizens also speak Russian. We first met Tatiana when she came to participate in our first Tara Retreat… and decided to come back for a second Tara Retreat a year later. During her second Tara Retreat with us was when she met Snezhana… and the two became instant friends, thanks to their Russian heritage! Since then, the two have joined us on many of our spiritual pilgrimages and feng shui events… from Bodhgaya to Kathmandu, and India to Taiwan! And each time we meet, they are quick to repeat their request to Lillian. “Please come and give a talk in Yakutz and Russia!”! It took three years for both ladies to convince Lillian and so finally, this year, they collaborated very closely to mount an amazing two-day event in the city of Moscow!
CHARMING NEW PERSPECTIVE OF RUSSIA Lillian, her family and our group of WOFS staff travelled to Moscow, not knowing what to expect. Most of what we have seen or heard about Russia and its citizens come from television and movies… but the real experience of Moscow will debunk any of the post-cold-war gloomy imagery you might have lingering in your mind! Come to Moscow and you will feel immediately energized and
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uplifted by the abundant growth energies of this historical city. And what delighted us the most was how charming and friendly Russian people can be, and how incredibly well-educated and cultured they are! Classical music and pretty things permeate the atmosphere. Chopin, Litsz, Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky can be heard playing in hair salons to restaurants and shopping malls. Russians really know how to live in style and elegance. Instinctively they already practice good feng shui! Just take a stroll down the streets of Moscow and you will be greeted with fashionably dressed beauties and dashingly handsome men in suits… amidst a stunning backdrop of timeless buildings decorated opulently with intricate décor and golden domes! You cannot help but snap a thousand photos… especially when the skies are perpetually blue and the cotton-like clouds look exactly like an expensive Russian painting! In this gorgeous city, feng shui fits in quite naturally. The curve of the roads and waterways flow with good chi. The streets are very clean… and all around us are stunning trees and gardens blooming with a sea of flowers. You can feel the roaring growth energy radiating from the great Moscow River that flows past the hotel where we stayed. It is no wonder that the principles of feng shui seem to thrive in this glorious country! At the time we visited, the city of Moscow is undergoing massive renovations in preparation for the 2018 FIFA World Cup which will be held here. We were told that a hundred streets were being modernised with electric cables going underground and open drains were being covered. Not to mention the blazingly fast 4G cellphone network that reveals just how modern this city has become!
TEACHING FENG SHUI ON DAY ONE It is amidst this energetic and vibrant environment that Lillian and all of us were warmly welcomed by her fans!
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Lillian Too in Russia I can tell you that Russians are really BIG on giving flowers when they want to show how much they love you! By the end of the second day, almost half of stage was filled with giant bouquets of cultured roses. One special bouquet with pink and white stripes was given to Lillian by a surgeon in St Petersburg; and we were told that it was the only rose of its kind, cultivated in an exquisite Mexican boutique rose farm! On the first day, Lillian taught her audience about the basic principles of space feng shui… on how to spot good landscape feng shui and activate the eight sectors of the Pa Kua to attract good luck. She explains that good feng shui starts with the dwelling’s external surroundings and one is most fortunate if they can live in a property that enjoys a mountain feature behind and water in the front. A powerful formula for activating good energy within the interior of the home is to identify the eight sectors of the PAKUA in one’s home; each of these specific locations in a person’s house can be energised to generate the eight aspirational types of luck: fame, wealth, career, good health, love, education and descendants. A key part of Lillian’s talk emphasized the point that in order to enjoy good feng shui, one has to take into account the time dimension of feng shui. This is because feng shui energies change from year to year; and thus energy is never static. To practise time feng shui we have to look at the annual feng shui chart of the year to see what type of energy flies to each sector. So for example, the South sector represents fame and recognition and this is usually activated with Fire energy and movement. But in the year of the Rooster, the South plays host to the Five Yellow star that brings misfortune; hence lights and movement in the South triggers misfortune instead of fame and recognition! This very vital point is a heart of practising feng shui in a mindful way, always being aware of how the annual, monthly and daily changes of energy can make a difference to
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Lillian with the Organizers of her Moscow Feng Shui event, Snezhana and Tatiana and her husband Oleg.
Lillian with Natalia Pravdina and her fiance, who has been studying with her for over ten years.
the quality of energy in each sector. Lillian not only covered the feng shui chart of 2017 but treated her Russian fans to a glimpse of what’s in store for 2018, the Year of the Dog!
INTRODUCING SPIRITUAL FENG SHUI ON DAY TWO On the second day, Lillian introduced her Russian fans to Spiritual Feng Shui. She explains how the methods of spiritual feng shui can add great depth and power to space and time feng shui. When all three dimensions – space, time and spiritual - are practised together, the results are often quicker and more powerful! Over time, the energies of any given space can grow stagnant and afflicted, and thus yin energies start to build up in the home, which can cause fatigue, quarrels and theft. If
left to decay further, yin energy can result in accidents and severe illness. Hence the most effective way to clear away these energies is to develop the habit of space cleansing regularly. In her talk, Lillian revealed two easy methods to cleanse one’s space. The first is the clapping cure, which was a huge hit with her Russian fans! This simple method, combined with the right cleansing mantra, is the easiest way to dissolve any dead chi and infuse the space with vibrant new energies. Another ritual that Lillian herself practises every day in her home is to burn incense and fill one’s space with incense smoke. The smoke itself purifies the molecules of energy in one’s immediate environment, but when it is accompanied with specific mantras and offering invocations, the ritual becomes an excellent
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FULL OF IMPORTANT
Day-To-Day Information!
Use this Diary to make an exciting record of your 2018 days! Create a journal, then look back at all you have written. Observe the quality of your days and watch patterns emerge. Learn feng shui the intuitive way! When you start recording all the good things that happen to you, there is nothing that brings better feng shui. Make this your indispensable personalized Book of Days! AVAILABLE AT ALL LEADING BOOKSTORES and online at www.wofs.com and online at www.fsmegamall.com www.wofs.com and www.fsmegamall.com
Lillian Too in Russia
Beautiful Russian fans who brought gorgoeus bouquets of roses as gifts for Lillian.
Gabriel (Snezhana’s husband) with sponsors and fans for the event.
Mr Too and Jennifer with Carolina and Mauricio (Miami)
Anna Aksentiva with Lillian
Russian beauties rejoicing at the event after years of waiting to meet Lilian! With a fan from Moscow.
Lillian’s books translated into Russian
Snezhana (middle) with her students from Yakutsk.
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Young ladies learning feng shui!
Russians are so warm and sincere in their affections!
medium that enables us to enlist the assistance of the cosmic beings! In her talk, Lillian explained that the local spirits of the country, city and individual houses play the most important role in ensuring the spiritual energy of a home is nourished and safeguarded. Thus making incense offerings regularly to these beings can help lift away obstacles that prevent us from living a good life. When the local spirits are happy, the energy of the home naturally promotes harmony, prosperity and well-being. When making incense offerings to cosmic beings, Lillian explains that it is crucial that we invoke the Enlightened Buddhas and offer incense to them first. Buddhas are enlightened beings – they are all-compassionate and omniscient, and their hierarchy in the natural order of spiritual power is right at the top! They’re the BOSS! So when we invoke their presence by offering incense to them first, it ensures local spirits and any wandering spirits are endeared towards helping us. In h e r t a l k , L i l l i a n a l s o introduced her fans to King Gesar, Guru Rinpoche and Tara. If you missed her seminar in Moscow and would like to watch it, the video will be made available via Lillian Too’s Mandala Ezine (English and Russian translation available).
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FOREST CITY:
CHINA BUILDS A $100 BILLION-DOLLAR MEGAPOLIS OF PARADISE ISLANDS OFF THE SHORES OF SOUTH MALAYSIA
By Hanni Lim
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f ever you find yourself in an airplane that is about to commence landing towards Singapore Airport, peek out the window. You might be able to catch a glimpse of a triangleshaped island that lies just beneath the coast of Johor. A few years ago, this location was nothing but sea water. Today, it has become PHASE ONE of China’s largest and most ambitious city project outside Chinese soil. This fire-element piece of reclaimed land is the first of four islands that will make up FOREST CITY, a futuristic group of eco-urbanislands that will eventually house 700 million global citizens who dream of living and working in a “perfect city”. The future “citizens” of this new city will enjoy pristine beaches with clear water and breathe fresh-
clean air unpolluted by vehicle or industrial emissions. From landscaped lawns and manicured golf courses to flowering shrubs on the face of
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each building, luscious greenery will blend seamlessly with the towering skyscrapers everywhere within view. Thousands of high-tech, modern
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An artist’s impression of how Forest City will look when completed.
residential housing that caters to middle class and upper-income society will be made available for purchase. And the city itself will bring in world class entertainment, have international restaurants as well as top education and medical facilities. It’s paradise with a modern twist and the Chinese are going to spend A TON of money to make this a reality! Chinese developer Country Garden Holdings Co. has already partnered with hundreds of Malaysian and foreign entities to invest more than US$100 billion in building the world’s most modern “smart cities”. Why are the Chinese placing such high hopes and cash into Malaysia? “The Chinese developers see this as an opportunity. A lot of them say Iskandar is just like Shenzhen was 10 years ago,” said Jonathan Lo, manager of valuations at CH Williams Talhar & Wong, a property broker based in Johor Bahru. Strategically located between Singapore and Malaysia, it is situated just 5km from the Second Link (one of the two bridges that connect Singapore and Malaysia), offering commuters living in Forest City a 40 minute-drive to downtown Singapore. Though located close to Singapore, its geographical jurisdiction falls within MALAYSIA’s Iskandar City; so that all businesses conducted within Forest City will enjoy all of Iskandar city’s financial incentives
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An entire city filled with luscious greenery that will provide clean air and plenty of growth chi!
such as tariff exemptions and other perks. Foreigners who wish to stay in Forest City are eligible to apply and take advantage of Malaysia’s “My Second Home Program” which offers a 10-year working visa and attractive tax incentives for expatriates who qualify. The project is expected to complete in 20 years, with all four reclaimed islands spanning 2,025ha off the coast of Gelang Patah, Johor. A quick search on Google Maps and its satellite images reveal that half of the first island is already completed with land infrastructure linking mainland Iskandar City (in Johor) to the island.
WHO WILL LIVE IN FOREST CITY? One may well ask the question, “who will eventually live in this city?” China has a recent history of
building a slew of megacities in their homeland and many of them are “ghost towns” – huge empty malls with strips of condominiums and houses that are owned by Chinese investors, but not a single person lives within. According to an article published by Bloomberg News in November last year, the number of residential properties Forest City have already outstripped demand, that in order to sell these hundreds of new units built every month, some developers have taken to flying in planeloads of potential buyers from China. This was what prompted low-cost airline AirAsia to initiate direct flights connecting Johor Bahru with Guangzhou in May last year! And this marketing initiative seems to have worked very well for the Chinese; each flight brings about 100 to 150 potential Chinese
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The project is expected to complete in 20 years, with all four reclaimed islands spanning 2,025ha off the coast of Gelang Patah, Johor. buyers whose trip to Forest City are subsidized by Country Garden themselves. Almost half of the groups who come end up buying a residence, although it’s not clear if they will ever live here. Also, Country Garden has run into a hiccup, as the Chinese Government has recently tightened controls in efforts to curtail Chinese investment in properties overseas. Nevertheless, Country Garden Pacific View Sdn Bhd (Country Garden’s local representative here in Malaysia)’s Executive Director Datuk Md Othman Yusof has assured the public that the project is right on track and will continue to gain momentum with the start of Stage Two of its Industrialised Building Systems facility. “Despite challenges faced by Forest City, we are moving in a very positive manner. Whatever negative stories that were supposedly associated with Forest City are untrue as we have continued to develop the project according to the scheduled timeline we had laid out,” Othman told NST Business in an interview on August 3rd, 2017. The island is already showing some initial signs of economic activity. Forest City’s first five-star hotel – Phoenix Hotel - opened for business in October last year. News reports indicate that over 80% of its residential properties have already been sold. A health centre as well as a private American boarding school - Shattuck-St Mary’s - will open its doors to new students starting August 2018. Phase 2 development is targeted to launch end of next year with RM 1.2 billion already invested in building several 18-hole golf courses and also a five-star hotel. The vision is for high-income earners from
Google map screenshot in 2017
around the globe to come and make Forest City their first or second home here in Southeast Asia.
CHINA’S “ONE BELT ONE ROAD” INITIATIVE: BUILDING A PAIR OF EARTH AND WATER DRAGONS In addition to the economic benefits that Forest City can generate for Singapore and Malaysia, the more exciting aspect of Forest City is how it fits into a Master plan that was unveiled by the Chinese back in 2013. China is working hard to resurrect two very ancient sleeping DRAGONS that once prospered and gave rise to the Chinese Empire: an Earth Dragon (Silk Road) and a Sea Dragon (Silk Route). Forest City is a joint venture project between China and Malaysia and is expected to become the glowing prototype for a long list of infrastructure projects that will be built as part of China’s ambitious “One Belt One Road Initiative” that is proposed by President Xi Jin Ping. For those who may not be aware of this grand plan, the One Belt One Road (OBOR), (recently renamed as “Belt and Road Initiative”) is China’s game-changing economic strategy to link Asian and European nations to China via land (Silk Road Economic Belt) and maritime routes (Maritime Silk Road).
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O B O R b u i l d s o n C h i n a’s original Silk Road (by road) and Silk Route (by sea) and is targeted at investing in massive infrastructure p ro j e c t s a n d d e ve l o p m e n t o f “economic corridors” in strategic locations. The Maritime Silk Road will run from the Chinese Coast through Singapore, then on to the Mediterranean. Geographically, the Road routes will be structured along six major “corridors” as follows: 1. New Eurasian Land Bridge, running from Western China to Western Russia 2. China–Mongolia–Russia Corridor, running from Northern China to Eastern Russia 3. China–Central Asia–West Asia Corridor, running from Western China to Turkey 4. China–Indochina Peninsula Corridor, running from Southern China to Singapore 5. Bangladesh-China-Myanmar Corridor, running from Southern China to Myanmar. 6. China–Pakistan Corridor, running from South-Western China to Pakistan The “Road” initiative will comprise building railroads, highways and
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bridges and can be divided into two main parts: the Asian Belt, and the European Belt. The Asian Belt will connect Singapore all the way to Kunmin, China via rail and roads. A route from Kolkata (India) to Kunmin is also planned. Once established, a person living in China will be able to take a high-speed train that goes all the way down to Singapore, via Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia all within two to three days. Similarly, citizens from these countries will be able to travel all the way to China by land or rail. The European Belt will connect Beijing all the way to Russia and cities in Europe. In theory travellers will be able to take a train or drive from Beijing to Istanbul, Moscow and onto Venice. The initiative is already underway at record Chinese speed, and 60 countries have already entered into trade talks, deals and infrastructure negotiations with China to deliver on this great plan. Many of them are as excited as China to unlock economic opportunities that were previously not viable due to geographic constraints. You can
China, on the other hand, have invested billions of dollars in several South Asian countries like Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, which show marked improvements in their basic infrastructure and contributed to their economic growth. imagine the enormous trade and economic boost that it will do for all the countries that will participate in this venture. The cumulative investment needed to fund this whole project is estimated to be around US$4 trillion to US$8 trillion but this is just based on the projects that have already been identified and begun! C h i n a’s g r a n d v i s i o n h a s attracted criticism and controversy from factions allied to US interests, claiming that the motivation behind China’s big plan is to gain political
Kazan
(and likely, military control) in Asia rather than developing trade and economic opportunities within the region. But many in favour of China’s vision have pointed out that while the US may have committed itself to funding the development of poor and under-developed nations based on humanitarian grounds in the past, they have yet to produce any real success stories or follow through on their many and extensive promises of progress. China, on the other hand, have invested billions of dollars in several South Asian countries like Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, which show marked improvements in their basic infrastructure and contributed to their economic growth. Forest City Johor is China’s flagship project in this Southeast ASIA part of the world, and most are optimistic that the Chinese will surely pour the right amount of resources into making it a grand success! Anyone currently living anywhere else wishing to live in this part of the world, our advice is to buy a property there now before it gets simply too expensive!
One belt, One Road - China new Silk Road Irkutsk
ANKARA
PIRAEUS
KASHGAR
SUEZ Chittagong Sittwe
Kunmin Haiphong
Fuzhou
Planned Silk Road economic belt Planned maritime Silk Road Member states of AIIB (Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank) Harbor with Chinese involvement
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MOMBASA
Singapore
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The Power of
RED
Red is most auspicious colour in feng shui, as not only does it generate auspicious yang chi, it is also symbolic of the FIRE (/(0(177KH¿UHHOHPHQWDWWUDFWVIDPHDQGUHFRJQLWLRQOXFNDQG can melt away hostility between friends and relatives. As we enter LQWRWKHGDUNHUKDOIRIWKH\HDUVXUURXQG\RXUVHOIZLWKWKHFRORXUUHG WRFRXQWHU\LQHQHUJLHVRIWKHGDUNPRQWKV
RED EAGLE CLUTCHING A JADE
This magnificent King of Birds has the power to bring success luck and overcome conflict energies brought by the #3 star in the West. Place in the West location for this year.
WEALTH RED TARA
She is the Prosperity Tara that bestows abundance. Invite her into your home and make offerings to her. Wealth Red Tara protects against power struggles that cause financial loss and power.
THREE LIONS REMEDY for THREE KILLINGS
This special trio of celestial protectors is excellent for neutralising feng shui afflictions that emanate from the Three Killings. Place in the East location this year to suppress this annual star.
RED TAM WATCH
This beautiful watch channels the power and magnetism of Red Tara, the Goddess of Love and Charisma! Wear when you’re on out on date or meeting with people you wish to impress! Red Tara’s energy protects you from harm when you are out at night!
NINE PEACOCKS for POWER and ABUNDANCE
Place in the West location to bring new career opportunities and business deals! Give your career a boost as the Nine Peacocks also brings recognition luck!
(]HPSHISLVUSPULH[www.fsmegamall.com
Paht Chee with Phillip Lim
JACK MA
GLOBAL INTERNET ICON
so many stars of success are found in his paht chee Jack Ma is listed by a KPMG survey 2017 as the richest person in Asia and a global tech innovation visionary who has a net worth of USD 36 billion. He was born into an average family in Hangzhou, China on the 10th of September 1964 at 3.10am. From a young age, Jack decided he wanted to learn English, so he would ride his bicycle an hour a day just to interact with foreign tourists to converse with them, thereby improving his English. Later on in life, he graduated after several attempts with a Bachelor’s degree in English. His early years as a youth was a time filled with setbacks and challenges, and he has recounted FOUR PILLARS )PVS
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Yang Water
Yang Water
Yin Water
Yang Wood
ႀ
ੀ ੂ
ᣬ ᦜ
ੀ ᣴ
࠙
Yang Wood Tiger
Yang Earth Dog
Yin Metal Rooster
Yang Earth Dragon
Element
Areas of Life
Metal
Resource, Support, Authority
Earth
Recognition, Power, Rank
Wood
Intelligence, Creativity
Fire
Wealth, Financial Success
Water
Friends, Foe, Colleagues, Competition
N
TEN LUCK PILLARS 9
19
ႀ
˲
Yang Wood
Yin Wood
ੂ
̔
Yang Earth Dog
20
Yin Water Boar
29
39
ˈ
ʷ
ߔ
˂
Yang Fire
Yang Water Rat
Yin Fire
Yin Earth Ox
49
59
ੀ
ࣁ
Yang Earth
Yin Earth
࠙
ӽ
Yang Wood Tiger
Yin Wood Rabbit
69
79
ई
ᣬ
Yang Metal
Yin Metal
ᣴ
ࣃ
Yang Earth Dragon
Yin Fire Snake
many obstacles and failures in the many talks he has given which have become big hits on You Tube. A common story of his early life tells how he failed in 30 over interviews trying to get employment, including one unsuccessfully trying to get a position working for Kentucky Fried Chicken. He was rejected 10 times by Harvard University amongst many other similar rejections. So how does someone who starts life so unlucky manage to rise above all the trials and tribulations of early life, not get discouraged and yet be persevering until eventually becoming so well off and so phenomenally successful? We discover the answer lies in his birth chart – yes, we looked
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deep into Jack Ma’s Paht Chee natal chart – and we saw there his stars of determination, stars of hard work and mostly stars of great confidence and firm belief in himself. We can take a close look at his Paht Chee chart. We know that Fire is missing, with the other 4 elements present in fairly equal amounts. The Rooster in the month is the secret friend of the Dragon in the year, and brings added Metal and supportive allies. Since he was born in Autumn, that supports the conclusion that his self element of Yang Water is marginally strong, so he is able to enjoy all good fortune indications coming his way. We know that Fire is ver y important and lucky for him, but Earth and Wood also bring him good luck. Water and Metal are unlucky for him. The presence of DRAGON and ROOSTER as two prominent Pillars indicate the potential for great success, as these two are celestial secret friends. They bring good fortune stars into his life. The next two Pillars of DOG and TIGER are allies, and this too is a fantastic indication of luck as well. Next, we look at the hidden stars in the chart. Here there is the scholastic star indicated by the Tiger, 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
22
29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38
Rooster Dog Boar Rat Ox Tiger Rabbit Dragon Snake Horse
His chart also shows the presence of the Star of the 5 Ghosts, indicated by the Tiger, which in his case is not the 5 Ghosts Removing Wealth, but rather the 5 Spirits bringing him Great Wealth, largely due to the Dog in his Day Pillar, thus it can be said that it was his wife, Zhang Ying, by being his Pillar of support and also helping him in his business who is what helps his Ali Baba business to prosper. and this “star” imbues him with an insatiable curiosity for everything. It is the source of his desire to constantly improve himself and to seek out knowledge. The Internal Flower of Romance Star, indicated by the Rooster in the chart, brings him his loving and supportive wife Zhang Ying. The Travelling Horse Star indicated by the Tiger makes it clear that he will travel far and wide in the course of his life. Two units of the Star of Powerful Mentors together with the Star of Money Bags are excellent indicators, and these two stars together pour great wealth into his life. They indicate for Yin Water Yang Wood Yin Wood Yang Fire Yin Fire Yang Earth Yin Earth Yang Metal Yin Metal Yang Water
Yin Metal Yang Earth Yin Water Yang Water Yin Earth Yang Wood Yin Wood Yang Earth Yin Fire Yang Fire
him a steady growth of wealth luck, as well as plenty of excellent networking luck. Jack Ma was born on an auspicious day as his Day Pillar indicates that he has the Star of the 5 Virtues. This star brings him his depth of compassion and charity. He is known to be of stable character and can be relied on to get things done. He is not someone that craves a high social standing or great wealth, which is one of the main reasons great wealth comes to him. His chart also shows the presence of the Star of the 5 Ghosts, indicated by the Tiger, which in his case is not the 5 Ghosts Removing Wealth, but rather the 5 Spirits bringing him Great Wealth, largely due to the Dog in his Day Pillar, thus it can be said that it was his wife, Zhang Ying, by being his Pillar of support and also helping him in his business who is what helps his Ali Baba business to prosper. Looking at his Ten Year Luck Pillars, we know that his luck changed for the better at the start of luck pillar 29. We know that the Yang Fire in the heavenly stem of that crucial Ten Year Pillar is critical to his success. The Rat that governs this luck pillar is his ally; but the Rat forms a side clash with the Rooster in his Month Pillar. Therefore, we can see that although his luck shows an improvement, it is not as great as it could have been. We see that this was the time of his life when he first learned about the Internet and started his first web site – “China Yellow Pages” a great feat during those days of dial-up networking. In his next luck pillar, his success luck went full bloom in
Learn about internet Start up China Yellow Pages After 3 years, company made 800k, not very sucessful Founded Alibaba Alibaba won 225 million foreign capital
Yang Fire / Yang Water Rat
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2003
39
Sheep
Yin Water
Yin Earth
2004
40
Monkey
Yang Wood
Yang Metal
2005
41
Rooster
Yin Wood
Yin Metal
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
42 43 44 45 46 47 48
Dog Boar Rat Ox Tiger Rabbit Dragon
Yang Fire Yin Fire Yang Earth Yin Earth Yang Metal Yin Metal Yang Water
Yang Earth Yin Water Yang Water Yin Earth Yang Wood Yin Wood Yang Earth
2003 year of the sheep when he started Tao Pao Market place, Ali Pay, Ali Mama. His ten year of 39 is still a FIRE Pillar. The year after that in 2004, the Monkey brought him 1 billion direct investment from Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang. For sure, the Yin Fire of this luck pillar, together with the Ox, brought him incredibly strong support. In his case, the Ox represents the presence of the Diplomat Star, which further strengthens his networking abilities. While we are on this page, we should also note that the Sheep is the animal that represents his Star of Good Fortune, which means that any business he starts in the Year of the Sheep has a much higher chance of big success. The world already knows what happened to Tao Pao Market Place and Ali Pay, both of which are now household names in Asia and amongst overseas Chinese are considered as big as Amazon. It seems China’s Ali Baba empire is more than a match for this great western river! In 2017, Jack Ma reaches the age 53 and he is now in a new luck pillar.
Founded Tao Bao Market place, Alipay, Ali Yahoo co founder Jerry Yang invest 1 billion in Alibaba, China TV selected as top 10. World economic forum select as young global leader, fortune magazine say he is. Graduate MBA
Alibaba online transaction exceed 150
Looking at his current luck pillar, we can see that both elements are favourable for him. Here, the luck pillar is governed by the Tiger, which is the ally of the Dog in his Day Pillar. Remember that in luck pillar 49, we are now in the 3rd quarter of his luck pillars, therefore it is the relationship with the Dog that we should be more concerned about. As you can see, the year of the Horse completed the allies Tiger, Dog and Horse, thus ensuring the success of his 25 billion USD IPO. In 2015, Year of the Sheep, he started his first Hema store, and can certainly see its success with 13 shops in Shanghai, Beijing and Ningbo. Good question is will his new concept store that incorporates phone apps to allow for online and offline shopping as well as Ali Pay be a bigger success in the years to come? That certainly looks like a certainty, as his next luck pillar is filled with favourable elements and governed by the Rabbit, the secret friend of the Dog. So in the case of Jack Ma, his chart is filled with so many lucky stars! And so many lucky ten year pillars
2013
49
Snake
Yin Water
Yin Fire
2014
50
Horse
Yang Wood
Yang Fire
2015 2016
51 52
Sheep Monkey
Yin Wood Yang Fire
Yin Earth Yang Metal
2017
53
Rooster
Yin Fire
Yin Metal
2018 2019
54 55
Dog Boar
Yang Earth Yin Earth
Yang Earth Yin Water
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Yang Fire / Yin Earth Ox
that track the course of his life’s journey. That he is also a humble and inspiring man demonstrates the great compassion he feels for education and upbringing of the young. We have tuned in to many of Jack Ma’s inspiring talks on You Tube, and you should too, as he is an amazing speaker. You might pick up a few tips indeed, pointers that encourage you to have sustained grit to succeed.
Alibaba raised 25 billion USD in IPO. Forbes 30th most powerful person in world. First Hema Store Owner of 4 exclusive wineries. KPMG survey rank him 3rd in global tech. Open 3 Hema grocery shops this year where customers can buy online.
Yang Earth / Yang Wood Tiger
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lifewithLillian
Enjoying fabulous views and exquisite Italian cuisine from the Buono Restaurant at the top of the famous Hotel Ukraine.
Feeling like a real Tsarina at the Tsar Restaurant in St. Petersburg
FEELING REGAL & LOVED IN Savouring truly delicious Georgian food at Elarji Restaurant in Moscow
Cultured striped pink and white roses from a Russian fan! I’m told they were flown in from a boutique Mexican rose nursery just the day before!
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Russia
It has to be something of a miracle that my Feng Shui books, translated into Russian, has made me so many friends and fans in Moscow and also in other parts of the country, as well as in Estonia, Yakuzia in Siberia and Kazakhstan. Some had come to study feng shui with me in Malaysia some years ago and they have become big names in the feng shui world in Russia. They are also successful business and professional women and happily, they have also become close friends of mine, amongst whom are Snezhana, Tatjana and Oxana, who together invited me and my family and hosted our stay in the two great cities of St. Petersburg and Moscow in the most regal and luxurious fashion. Truly they spoilt us all, me, my family and my WOFS staff. Definitely showing us what good feng shui can bring indeed! Wow, they showed us round their fabulous cities, put us up in the best hotels and then they wined and dined us in such grand manner we never wanted to leave. Every meal was a gourmet feast of different Russian cuisines and each such a fabulous experience! For our last night in Moscow, Tatjana and Oxana took us to the famed CAFÉ PUSHKIN and then to NOBU because Jack wanted to try Russia’s Japanese cuisine! And in between, we even got to taste authentic Georgian cuisine. It was all too much and I want to share some of our time in Russia with my readers.
The Conch brings Communication Luck
This beautiful golden conch shell symbolises communication abilities and networking prowess! Fill with orange crystals and place a dragon on top! Place in the NW to elevate your power of speech!
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This is the lobby of the incredibly beautiful Hotel Ukraine where the enormous marble pillars dwarf us all. Housed in one of the 7 famous Duma buildings, there is a delightfully gourmet Italian restaurant on the top floor of the building where we went for dinner.
I
n Moscow, our hosts organized a two day seminar on the THREE DIMENSIONS OF FENG SHUI to a group of over 200 students who came from all parts of the country. I was very moved by the incredible warmth of the participants and many said they had waited too long for me to make it here! Such words of welcome can melt any heart, and mine did, especially when they came with tons of stunning roses and lilies. They brought so many flowers it broke my heart to leave the beautiful blooms behind. I was blown away by their hospitality, their wide smiles and big hugs. Russians are very demonstrative, and in this they are like me, so we hugged and embraced… it was incredible. I want to say my family and I including our WOFS officers who came have now fully embraced the energy of this great country! For more on the seminar, turn to elsewhere in this magazine for a detailed write up. Russia is grand and imperial, and also hospitable and incredibly friendly. It would be easy to be intimidated by the sheer splendour of its public buildings, but the people are so warm one feels at home in no time at all. And all the hotels are stunningly beautiful and clean and not as expensive as we
26
Imagine a city square so sweeping in its grandeur. This panoramic shot gives readers an idea of the scale and size of all the buildings in the cities of St. Petersburg and Moscow. We fell in love with everything we saw and did in this amazing country!
My beautiful Russian fans who demonstrated such a lot of love and warmth. My heart melted in Moscow!
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Having my family here with me in Moscow was such a big bonus! Here we are at the stately Horse Fountain located in Alexander Gardens, next to the Kremlin.
Moscow city’s imperial architecture blends well with the modern skyscrapers that are fast encroaching on the city skyline, unlike in St. Petersburg, which is definitely a majestic city of even greater regal splendour.
These are the grounds of Peterhof, the Summer Palace of Peter the Great. It has hundreds of fountains all run by cleverly-designed elevations. So no pumps run these fabulous fountains, just different levels of water! You can see our boys are tired and grumpy because the sightseeing of the palace took so much out of them haha!
had first been led to believe, at least not any more costly than in other major city of Europe or the USA. Those of you reading this must visit and you will view this amazing country then with new eyes and a new attitude. It is very safe and very clean and very beautiful in spite of massive construction works going on in the city to get ready for the FIFA WORLD CUP, which Russia is hosting in 2018.
Altogether, we are told 100 streets are being upgraded in Moscow, hence there were long traffic jams around the city center, but we did not see soldiers or machine guns! Moscow is a safe and secure city and there are tons of tourists who come from all over Europe, but mainly from China. We also met holiday makers from Iran, Dubai and Kuwait. This is a city filled with panoramic views,
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enormous buildings and big public squares and gardens. Its history is sad and passionate, but all over, we see enormous buildings from another era and all are well-maintained. This is a country worth getting to know! Moscow city’s imperial architecture blends well with the modern skyscrapers that are fast encroaching on the city skyline, unlike in St. Petersburg, which is definitely a majestic city of even greater regal splendour. Everywhere there we see the influence of Peter the Great and the empresses Catherine and Elizabeth. St. Petersburg is a city of palaces, all of which are such popular tourist destinations that are so well-marketed, getting into them and viewing them is a highly regimented affair – and also very tiring! One has little choice – the lines queuing to get into the Hermitage Museum and
27
One of my hosts flew my family and I from St Petersburg to Moscow in her exclusive private jet! A taste of what good feng shui can bring!
the Peterhof Gardens of the Summer Palaces are very long indeed, and also very challenging for a softie oldie like me. In the end, I felt it so much more restful to see this incredibly well-maintained city by river cruise, which takes us all over this “Venice of Russia”. When we go touring St. Petersburg in the comfort of an open boat river cruiser, we are more relaxed and that is when we get blown away by the sheer wealth of the inhabitants. Everywhere along the expensive boulevards lining the river banks and canals, there are enormous mansions, more like “palaces”, each of which must have over a hundred rooms, and each one painted in a beautiful pastel shade so that the city overall looks colourful but sweet. It costs more (in taxes) if you want to paint your home a modern grey colour, so not many such gloomy colours prevail. The colours are meant to overshadow the weather conditions, which is usually dull and gloomy. But in the three days we were there, the sun came out, the skies were a beautiful blue and the temperature was a mild 21 degrees or so. Whatever the weather conditions, I so strongly urge everyone to visit because this city should be on everyone’s bucket list. I brought my family to Russia for them to soak in the ambience of this great nation. My first visit was in the early Nineties over twenty years ago,
28
and with my grandsons growing up in a world where the influence of Russia is escalating, I wanted them to see this country and all that it has to offer. For Jack especially, who loves music so much, we were fortunate enough to arrange for him to take some classes with one of the most famous Professors based here at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory of Music. It was definitely an incredible eye-opener for my young grandson to learn firsthand what international standard piano playing is, and of course, Russia is world famous indeed
for its music, its ballet, its arts and culture. Jack soaked it up with great enthusiasm. This trip, we also had a chance to go into one of the deepest and most beautiful of the underground Metros, in St. Petersburg. We were blown away by the public transportation facilities – so sparklingly clean, and also each one so beautifully decorated with incredible museum quality mosaic art. The station we visited went so deep and was so clean it took our breath away. Nothing like the dirty underground subways of London or New York! Says a lot for the citizens of this city! We also got to fly by private plane from St. Petersburg to Moscow courtesy of my hosts, so kind of them. I know we can get used to this level of luxury very easily indeed, and I also have to say we got served some of the best cuisine ever on that short one-hour plane ride. My grandkids enjoyed the experience and were quite enchanted with the idea of having a flat bed all through the flight. On the ground, everyone enjoyed the river cruises of both St. Petersburg and Moscow. Few things can match touring the Russian cities by cruise boat as we discovered, especially when there is music and great food to go with the sight-seeing!
Inside the river cruisers such a treat eating and sightseeing at the same time. This is summertime in Russia, so the mornings start early and the evenings stay light until quite late. In St. Petersburg, the nights continue to be light right up till ten in the evening, so it’s all T-shirt weather!
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FENG SHUI QUICK BITES TO WHET YOUR APPETITE
9 LIFE CHANGING WAYS TO BRING NEW CHI ENERGY INTO YOUR HOME TO JAZZ UP YOUR LOVE LIFE, ENHANCE YOUR FINANCIAL STABILITY, ENSURE YOUR GOOD HEALTH AND MAKE YOU FEEL HAPPIER LIVING WITH GOOD FENG SHUI is very much about getting fully acquainted with the ART OF PLACEMENT and working with the SYMBOLS of good fortune according to the different formulas of Feng Shui and also taking note of Feng Shui’s THREE DIMENSIONS. So you need to be enhancing your SPACE, updating according to TIME changes in energy and appeasing the SPIRITS of your home. It’s all quite easy once you know what to do and how to do it. Here’s a list of simple things you can bring into your daily schedule to give your home a real boost of fresh energy that engages the Three Dimensions of feng shui.
1
CLEAN YOUR SPACE. Keep your home and your rooms clear of clutter pile-up so have a good housekeeping daily schedule. Once a week, remove all stubborn negative energies with three rounds of hand clapping or ringing bells or using a singing bowl to let the sounds cut right through yin energy accumulations and disperse all quarrel and hostile energies. This way, your space stays physically and spiritually crisp and clean.
4
DISPLAY HAPPY PHOTOGRAPHS. Always have pictures of the family smiling happily together displayed on table tops and cabinets. This ensures the family will always stay together and stay safe.
A D O P T a P E T.
3
This can add vibrant new chi energy into the home. A dog or a cat can generate copious amounts of YANG chi with their playfulness; this prevents YIN spirit formation that is caused by stillness in the home when you are away at work.
5
OFFER INCENSE DAILY. This is a powerful way of staying on good terms with the Spirit energies of your home. When you offer incense through the medium of fire i.e. by burning, the spirits who live alongside you will protect and keep your home safe.
PLAY MUSIC THROUGH the DAY. This generates the resonance of life sounds, which does wonders for the vibrations of the home space. Keep the radio or television turned on, but keep the volumes down. What you want is a feeling of there being life energy inside your home.
7
2
8
MOVE THE CHI. This is an important aspect of Spiritual Feng Shui and requires you to literally move your tables and chairs even a little bit, and to change your decorative features around every now and then. This “moves” the chi and keeps the objects of your h o m e alive.
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BRING in GREEN PLANTS. This enhances the energy of life and growth. They create fresh oxygen and add the natural colour of the great outdoors into your space. Take up gardening to add ne w life giving YANG chi into your space on an ongoing basis.
6
U P D AT E YO U R PLACEMENTS. Every month the energy of your home, its rooms and corners will change so it is a good idea to update the placement of the symbols of good fortune in your home. Check the new flying star and astrological energies from this magazine every month.
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CREATE CELEBRATION OCCASIONS. Organize parties or get-togethers in the home on a regular basis. When you bring friends into the home, you are energizing your home with fresh chi energies, which is certain to add to your feng shui! 29
LILLIAN TOO’S MAS T ERCLASS PART 1 & PART 2
Chinese destiny analysis reveals all about your life, YOUR WEALTH POTENTIAL, timing of your SUCCESS LUCK and your LOVE LIFE .....
LILLIAN TOO’S MASTERCLASS IN PAHT CHEE 1 2nd to 6th October 2017 ;OPZPZHVUL^LLR4HZ[LYJSHZZHUK>VYRZOVWPU)HZPJ7(/;*/,,+LZ[PU`)PY[O*OHY[ (UHS`ZPZ;OL*6<9:,PUJS\KLZPU[LUZP]LTVYUPUNSLJ[\YLZ[H\NO[I`30330(5;66PUOLY MHTV\ZLHZ`[V\UKLYZ[HUKYLSH_LKZ[`SLHUKM\UHM[LYUVVU>VYRZOVWZ^OLUZ[\KLU[Z^PSSIL N\PKLKPU[OLWYHJ[PJHSYLHKPUNHUKHUHS`aPUNVMHSSRPUKZVM7HO[*OLLJOHY[Z :[\KLU[Z^PSSYLHKJLSLIYP[`JOHY[ZHUKHSZVOH]L[OLJOHUJL[VWYVNYLZZP]LS`HUHS`aL[OLPYV^U 7(/;*/,,+LZ[PU`)PY[O*OHY[ZHZ^LSSHZ[OVZLVM[OLPYSV]LKVULZ :[\KLU[Z^PSSILWSHJLKPU[VZTHSSKPZJ\ZZPVUNYV\WZMVY[OLHM[LYUVVU>692:/67ZLZZPVUZ ;OLZL>692:/67ZLZZPVUZJVTWYPZLWYHJ[PJHS^VYR[OH[PUJVYWVYH[LYL]PZPVUZHUKYLHKPUNZ VM7HO[*OLLJOHY[Z;OLZL^PSSILN\PKLKI`[OL*6<9:,-(*030;(;69:4HZ[LY7OPSSPW 3PT"4HZ[LY:[HUSL`5N"4HZ[LY/HUUP3PTHUK4HZ[LY/HU1PU3PT(SS[OYLLHYLL_WLY[ZPU 7(/;*/,,HUHS`ZPZ^P[OTHU``LHYZVMJVUZ\S[H[PVU^VYRL_WLYPLUJL)`JVTWSL[PUN7HY[ VM[OL7(/;*/,,4HZ[LYJSHZZLZHUK>VYRZOVWZNYHK\H[LZVM[OL7(/;*/,,*V\YZL ^PSSKL]LSVWHZV\UKMV\UKH[PVUPU[OL-\UKHTLU[HSZVM+LZ[PU`(UHS`ZPZ;OL`ZOV\SKIL YLHZVUHIS`HKLW[H[\UKLY[HRPUNIHZPJYLHKPUNZVM7(/;*/,,JOHY[Z^P[ONVVKHJJ\YHJ`
IN PAH T CH EE LILLIAN TOO’S MASTERCLASS IN PAHT CHEE 2 9th to 13th October 2017
HOUR
DAY
MONTH
YEAR
ᇒ
ཻ
ཻ
ࢷ
YANG EARTH
YANG WATER
YANG WATER
YIN FIRE
ཻ ᔇ
ᇒ
ଡ ፘ
ባ ᎋ
YANG WATER
YANG EARTH
YANG WOOD
YIN METAL
RAT
DOG
TIGER
ROOSTER
(Only Students who have completed PAHT CHEE 1 with Lillian Too or have completed her ONLINE PAHT CHEE COURSE may attend PAHT CHEE PART 2)
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Please email Connie at [email protected] for the detailed course itinerary, course fee, accommodation package and Course Registration Form or call us at +603-2080-3488. Venue : A17-1, Northpoint office, WOFS HQ, Northpoint Mid Valley City, No:1, Medan Syed Putra Utara, 59200, Kuala Lumpur. Office Hours : Monday to Friday 9.00am - 6.00pm (Malaysian Time)
P U N SIG W! NO
URSE O C H AC FOR EIMITED! S E C SPA ARE L
lifewithLillian
FAMILY BONDING AT
FALLS CREEK
OUTSIDE MELBOURNE
M
y immediate and extended family makes up a very big part of my life. They manifest happiness for me in a most ordinary way and it is through their happiness that I define mine. Early last month, my daughter – an only child who has done us so proud all these years because she has such amazing integrity and purity in the way she is a wife and mother and also a daughter – with her wonderful husband, a Dragon
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no less and her two sons a Monkey and a Rat thus creating the trinity of allies in her family, came with me and my husband for a week-long ski trip to Falls Creek, a five hour drive outside Melbourne. Once again, we created a great many happy memories being together on this trip because there were so many opportunities to bond closely and surely, enjoying the smells of the new environment, an unfamiliar place to all of us. Melbourne and the drive along the country roads to Falls Creek gave
us an opportunity to smell the air of Southern Australia. In Melbourne, a city which my nephew Han Jin and his wife Audrey are intimate with, we discovered the restaurants along the Melbourne waterfront and we loved the shopping in the shops adjacent to the Crowne Tower Casino. And yes, it was such fun walking through the casino floor – so enormous, perhaps even more so than those we saw in Las Vegas. Neither my husband, nor Jennifer nor I are gamblers, but yes, we do
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Grandpa and Grandma with their grandkids surrounded by rich golden marble!
Papa with Jennifer on the casino floor
like the feel of the tension in the air whenever we walk through the casino, and although we feel no desire to try our luck on the tables, still it is a very nice experience breathing in the colourful beauty of a casino interior. We took a picture to let you know what I mean. See the colours of the circular motifs on the floor, the lights on the ceilings and the gaming tables in the background. Can be quite irresistible to so many people! But as you can see from what Jennifer is carrying, we indulged ourselves a little bit, spoiling ourselves to a few choice items in the Designer boutiques adjacent to the Casino! And if you ask me, I will say YES it’s great to enjoy retail therapy anytime anyplace! Like a great many others, we adore shopping wherever we go, and although we love the countryside, we are at heart city people. We also dined in some style and we especially want to share this seafood restaurant with readers. If ever you are in Melbourne, do try out the mussels here – cooked in a slightly spicy tom yam broth, it is totally exquisite! Across from where we sit is the river and on the other side is the city campus of Victoria University. This is a place where many successful Malaysians and Singaporeans studied and so they have their alumni universities and colleges here. My nephew Han Jin and his wife Audrey are graduates of Monash University,
Enjoying a delicious seafood lunch in Melbourne.
which has a wonderful twinning program with our very own Sunway University in Kuala Lumpur. In my travels across many of the world’s countries, I realize just how fortunate we Malaysians are, for in travelling to so many different countries, Malaysians become so knowledgeable about other cultures, traditions and ways of life. Surely this must be the reason why so many Malaysians go to Australia, the UK, the USA, to Canada and to so many other counties and achieve so much success in those countries and also when they return
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home to Malaysia. I can say the same for Singaporeans too. After Melbourne, we hopped onto a bus with our friends – three families in all each with their kids – for the five hour drive to Falls Creek, reportedly the largest alpine ski resort in South Australia. Alas, we must have forgotten to pray to the weather Gods here, because when we arrived, it was to some pretty challenging conditions - dark, stormy, foggy and pretty daunting … And then the sun came out! And Falls Creek was laid out before us
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The Sun came out on Merit Multiplying day to greet us in all its glory!
glorious and amazingly beautiful. Truly, I had no idea Aussie ski resorts could be so amazingly beautiful. We were lucky as we were booked into this place called ATTUNGA and wow, it was such a lovely chalet for us. Our rooms were large and spacious
and everything worked, including the heater and the spa, so important on a skiing holiday. There was live music every night in the adjoining bar and restaurant. The place is run by two brothers and wow were they hospitable. Such great
mates and they truly made us feel so welcome; James even took us on his snowmobile to explore the villages that make up Falls Creek. We - my husband and I - enjoyed the walks along the snow covered trails of the resort a lot more than the skiing, which I felt was too challenging during the early days of foggy conditions. But when the sun came out, the whole scenery was painted with a different brush it seems. That was when we decided to take the chair lift up to the mountains, although not so ski so much as to dine amongst the snow-covered ski fields. My arm was still a little too frozen to do much skiing, but it was wonderful watching the kids having so much fun. They loved the black slopes here and there were many of them and so much snow! And although the runs were shorter and the slopes less steep compared to the blacks over in Vail in the USA, they made for fun skiing nevertheless. For me and my husband, we loved the energy of the place; he had his Guinness Stout and that made him happy, while for me it was incredible meditating while walking.
GREEN TARA S T ICK ER The beautiful Green Tara helps you to overcome obstacles. She also grants wishes and dissolves troubles. Place this window amulet on your car, windscreen, office or house window to manifest her presence in your life. Tara protects you from robbers, thieves, accidents and natural disasters.
TM
Available at all World Of Feng Shui Boutiques or online at www.fsmegamall.com/sept2017
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FENG SHUI WORLDOnline
GET YOUR MONTHLY FENG SHUI FIX STRAIGHT TO YOUR IPAD. www.fswmag.com
Daring feats with no safety nets!
EXPERIENCING A RUSSIAN CIRCUS by Jennifer Too
Russia is famous for many things – caviar, vodka, ballet, music, its picturesque cityscapes, magnificent palaces and stunning cathedrals – but it is also world famous for its Circuses. In Russia, the circus is considered an art form, and in Moscow and St. Petersburg, you can still catch performances of an era past – clowns, acrobats and magicians performing death-defying acts without safety nets, with adorable animals in tow, every bit as talented as their human counterparts!
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R
ussia is famous for many things – caviar, vodka, ballet, music, its picturesque cityscapes, magnificent palaces and stunning cathedrals – but it is also world famous for its Circuses. In Russia, the circus is considered an art form, and in Moscow and St. Petersburg, you can still catch performances of an era past – clowns, acrobats and magicians performing deathdefying acts without safety nets, with adorable animals in tow, every bit as talented as their human counterparts! Our hosts Tatjana and Oleg took our enormous party of 11
to Moscow’s most classic circus, the Nikulin Circus, based in Tsvetnoi Boulevard about a half hour from our hotel, the Baltschug Kempinski by the Red Square. We had heard stories of the great Russian circus featuring lions, tigers, bears, monkeys and sealions, so while we were in town, we were eager to see and experience all this first hand. And it did not disappoint! The Nikulin Circus is one of Moscow’s oldest, dating back to 1880 when it was first established. It has its own home in a purposebuilt circular auditorium with all the ambience of your classic carnival. The ushers were dressed
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The animals were simply brilliant - adding a real charming dimension to the show!
Front row seats afforded us an awesome close-up experience of the circus!
in red and white stripes, fitting for a circus crew, while the performances were accompanied by a live orchestra in a balcony above the stage playing suitably upbeat carnival music. While the master of ceremonies spoke in Russian, you didn’t need to be able to speak Russian to understand what he was saying, it was all in the body language. The two-hour show comprised clowns, magicians, acrobats, dancers, actors and artists who drew raucous laughter and marvel from the full-house audience. I have attended many Cirque du Soleil shows with acrobats flitting and flying up and down beautiful ribbons and hoops, but the Nikulin Circus was something else altogether. This was circus entertainment at its most stripped down – while the acts were beautifully polished, the danger factor was certainly much more evident than in your average circus show. We were seated in the very front row, so the real risk of mis-jumping or mis-landing particularly when the acrobat started doing triple back flips onto moving planks balanced by two act members just feet away from us - was greatly magnified. The human performers were wonderful, but the animals were simply too adorable. When the first animals came onto the stage – monkeys – my first thought was, are they going to have lions? Because if there are lions, perhaps a front row seat may not be such a good idea! My mind flitted back to the 2003 Siegfried and Roy tragedy, where Roy Horn was mauled by his white tiger Mantecore during a show in front of a live audience, which left him half paralysed and led to the
closure of the show. Anyhow, there were no lions in this circus, but one of the chimps had a leash on the whole time, which left me wondering if he was a trainee monkey not yet trusted to not run wild into the audience. The second animal act featured a bear! But it was a cute little honey bear rather than an intimidating grizzly. Still, the bear wore a muzzle, which allayed my fears. Because, again, we were seated only a few feet away with no protective covering between stage and audience! The third act involving animals was one featuring a host of adorable sea-lions. When they splashed the stage with water, and the auditorium filled with sounds of the ocean, it gave us a clue to our next performers. Here, the ushers asked us to remove the popcorn and take our hands off the ledge in front of us, and every time I put my hand on the ledge, I was asked to remove them and keep them behind the ledge. It made me wonder if it was because sealions liked popcorn, if they bit, or if their handler cued them with hand signals so did not want the audience distracting their co-stars. Just preceding the act, we saw a trapeze artist handling a ball while coiling his way up and down two ribbons. The sea-lion did one better, bouncing a ball on its nose, thrusting it up at least 6 meters into the air, over and over. How do they do that? Everyone has seen drawings of seals and sealions balancing beach balls on their noses, but it never crossed my mind they could really do that! Seriously impressive stuff.
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The show concluded with a magician, not doing David Copperfield secret letters foretelling the future, but the old-style rough and ready and definitely dramatic escape-artist style acts. At this point, the stage transformed from a dry fairground into a water wonderland, complete with fountains, showers and magical bubbles that descended from the high ceiling. The female dancers were Russian beauties with their resplendent manes of hair, while the male dancers rippled with the muscles obligatory for such finely-honed acrobatic feats. The Russian circus is incredible entertainment, but more than that, it is awe-inspiring when you think of the practice that must no doubt go into the exactness needed to perform to this amount of precision. Russia produces some of the world’s best gymnasts, dancers, artists and musicians. The circus is all this rolled into one, with laughter to boot. And always, the danger factor at the back of the mind. A great night out for all the family! For more on the Nikulin Circus, visit www.circusnikulin.ru
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MALAYSIA’S COLORFUL PERANAKANS A trilogy of amazing short stories about the Babas and Nyonyas of Penang, Malacca and Singapore
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In the days before steam-power, traders depended on the seasonal monsoons to carry them from their homeland to distant ports. In port cities like Malacca, Penang, Singapore, Batavia, Phuket and many parts of South-east Asia, they sojourned for six months waiting for the monsoons to change to bring them home. Since the 5th century Chinese traders, particularly from Fujian, travelled along the coast of mainland Asia towards South-east Asia. Unaccompanied by their women, many married local maidens and it was from these cross-cultural encounters that Peranakan culture took hold and evolved as a blend of cultural elements from China, South-east Asia, India and Europe and eventually also got inputs from the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British. For the past eight years, I have been writing short stories on the Peranakan Babas and Nyonyas (‘baba’ is the term for the male and ‘nyonya’ for the female). I found it odd that while a lot had been written on their material culture in coffee table books, not much fiction had been written about this colourful community. Where are their stories? With its S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 7 | w w w. f s w m a g . c o m | F E N G S H U I W O R L D
vibrant heritage, its share of eccentric personalities, superstitions and taboos (pantang larang), its creole languages, rituals and cultural mix, a Peranakan perspective would, I felt, provide a fascinating context for fiction. I had insider experience as a sixth generation Nyonya. I grew up in a pre-war house off Galloway Road in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, a charming old structure with blue, brown, orange star-patterned floor tiles from Italy, green stained-glass windows, stout red wooden doors, a ‘chim chae’ or courtyard, a steep staircase, frighteningly high ceilings and a peephole upstairs right above the verandah. My father, a baba from Malacca, and my Penang nyonya mother lived here with my paternal grandparents and our amah from China. I grew up in this half Malaccan, half-Penang, Peranakan world with its myriad influences from Chinese, Malay, Indonesian, Thai and European cultures. I know the smells, aromas, sounds and noises well, as my mother was a great cook and she created the most divine nyonya dishes. Every morning you could smell the aroma of thick black coffee being brewed. Later, it was the overpowering waft of belachan being toasted and the tok tok sounds of sambal belachan being pounded or the rempah being gilinged (grounded) on the lesong (stone grinder). By late morning, the aroma of a gorgeous tamarind curry or a spicy coconut-rich curry would fill the air. Meals were not just nyonya, we also had Chinese herbal soups at night and English tea with cakes or goreng pisang in the afternoon. It was
a wonderful childhood laden with memories of lots of food, festivals and celebrations. Grandma wore colourful Pekalongan batik sarongs and kebaya bikus, chatted in Baba Malay, Hokkien or Hakka depending on who she was conversing with. When startled, she would ‘berlatah,’ lapsing into jerky utterances in Baba Malay. Mother, educated at the Pudu English Girls’ School, was a multilingual Anglophile, who loved to sing songs about smiling Irish eyes and the bonnie banks of Scotland. My Pa and grandfather on the other hand could not speak a word of Chinese, only the Queen’s English and the Baba patois. My mother, feisty, witty with a razor-sharp tongue, was a story teller. Like Sheherazade, she enthralled us with tales, enlivened with doses of onomatopoeia and dramatic flourishes. Fascinating stories of her mother forced to give away a daughter during infancy because of jealous evil spirits, of mistresses who turned up at the funeral of a playboy uncle with babies in tow, of ‘ being spooked ‘ when pregnant (a pregnant aunt was startled by a monkey when cooking in the open kitchen and gave birth to a hairy monkey-like baby), tales of love entanglements, betrayals, scandals and secret liaisons, family feuds and intrigues. Some of these colourful scenes inevitably crept into my stories. My love of Nyonya food and cooking as well as knowledge of the Nyonya
Exquisite chinaware from the Peranakan era.
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Baba and Nyonya in traditional wedding costumes.
kitchen and the elaborate preparations within can be discovered in The House of Smells and Noises, a poignant tale of an excellent Nyonya cook with two disinterested but highly ambitious daughters. I have to let my stories speak for themselves. I remember during those years studying literature at university, we had to analyze a famous poet, his inner thoughts and fears. It occurred to me that perhaps all he was doing was simply writing an ode to beauty, but we over-interpret the poor writer to death. Her stories of her life during the Japanese Occupation were riveting – of how her mother begged a Japanese officer on her knees to spare the life of a Malay man who was carrying a parang on the train they were travelling on (he was a woodcutter), how she and her sisters had to flee, disguising themselves as boys for fear of being abducted by the Japanese, of how a kind lonely Japanese officer struck up a
Delicious “Nyonya” food that is a blend Chinese and Malay cuisine is an enduring part of this heritage.
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Baba and Nonya krosang jewellery worn with elaborately embroidered kebayas and manek slippers are some distinguishing aspects of Peranakan wear.
friendship with my Grandpa and gave them his protection. Many of my mother’s stories were translated into fiction in my first collection which I called, ‘Kebaya Tales: of Matriarchs, Mistresses, Maidens and Matchmakers’. This was published in 2011. Apart from fiction, I also showcased the beauty and elegance of the material culture by inserting pictures of beautiful kebayas and accessories in between each story, as well as old black and white photos from my family albums. Kebaya Tales was well-received by the reading public, with the first print run sold out within the first 3 months. It went on to win the Popular Star Readers’ Choice Award (Fiction) in 2011. A review in The Edge described it as ‘bitter-sweet, light and delicate as the kebaya, spiced with the tang of sambal belacan.’ This was followed by a second collection two years later, ‘Sarong Secrets: of Love, Loss and Longing.’ Here, interspersed between each story are more gorgeous visuals of vintage sarongs and artifacts. An endorsement 40
of the book sums it up, the author “… divulges the nyonyas’ colourful idiosyncrasies and guilty secrets with ever so much wit and sympathy.” The push factor for a trilogy came from my editor who urged me to attempt a third collection, even sending me a design of the next book cover. I decided to go for it, focusing on the babas this time. The babas have been somewhat left out in the recent resurgence of interest in the more feminine aspects of the Peranakan baba-nyonya culture. The babas were renowned during pre-war days for their business enterprises, vast business networks and immense contributions to society. They played an important role in nation building and many were prominent businessmen, political leaders, reformers, champions of education, patrons of the arts and renowned philantrophists. My third collection, ‘Manek Mischiefs: of Patriarchs, Playboys and Paramours’ have the babas taking centre stage, with a strong masculine feel and perspective; the women characters here however remain headstrong and gutsy, unafraid to challenge the odds. I researched and conducted interviews for many of the stories in
Manek Mischiefs. For one particular story Kueh Brothers, I interviewed my uncles Foo Yat Kee and Yat Chin, now 88 and 87 years old, who could amazingly still recount all the details of their boyhood days during the Japanese Occupation, how they sold nyonya kueh their mother made on an old rickety bicycle, and the day they spilled the entire pot of assam laksa soup! The book ‘Fifty Years of Silence’ by Jan Ruff-O Herne on her experience as a ‘comfort woman’ inspired me to write a story of a young girl on the brink of a beautiful romance, abducted cruelly in the dark of night. Manek Mischiefs also has stories laced with loads of humour and poignant tales of how great wealth is squandered within three generations. In my last story, I share how I lost someone I love deeply in a semi-autobiographical story, which drained me emotionally working on it, trying to articulate my thoughts. The visuals in Manek Mischiefs focus on colourful twinkling Manek (beaded) items, the personal belongings of the babas such as beaded shoes, decorative ornaments, covers of spectacle cases, cigar and cheroot cases, even beaded magnifying glass and stopwatch cases. Many of the images were from very kind friends and from the Peranakan Museum of Singapore. Why is it important to write these stories? They give us insights and are living expressions of our diverse cultures and shared memories. With increasing homogeneity through globalization, it has become all the more important to keep our individual cultures alive as expressions of our rich cultural diversity. Stories are the zeitgeist of the day. It has given me so much joy and pleasure writing a trilogy of them.
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Harmony & Happiness at Home
Generate happy energy in your living space by inviting symbols of happiness and peace into your home. Here are four excellent feng shui energizers that will help neutralize quarrelsome vibes and promote family harmony at home.
Relaxing Laughing Buddha
Display in the West if you’re suffering from conflicts with friends and family. The Laughing Buddha removes anger energy and offers solutions for those embroiled in court cases and highlycharged situations with co-workers, bosses and family members.
Bejeweled Luohan of Longevity The Luohan of Longevity bestows blessings of harmony, good health and longevity. Place in the Northwest this year to counter the energies of the illness star.
Peace Apple
The red apple is a symbol of peace and reconciliation. If you’re having petty arguments with your spouse, place a pair of red apples by your bedside (one on each side). It will help dissipate any tension between you.
3 Harmony Animals These three celestial animals have the power to protect against disagreements that separate siblings and cousins. Place in the East corner of the home to help brothers and sisters get along harmoniously. (]HPSHISLVUSPULH[www.fsmegamall.com F E N G S H U I WO R L D | w w w. f s w m a g . c o m | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 7
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of summer air conditioning, that I felt nothing short of utter confusion
t a C y k c u L e h t f Land o by Lulu Lee The Reluctant Feng Shui Practitioner
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ast month I toyed with a loose commitment to revive my travelling efforts, and indeed I did. Though the trips were spontaneous, it is the results that count and I was quite the over achiever. This month started off with a quick hop over to America, where I have not been for a few years, followed by a wonderful few days in Nagoya. Though neither were new country destinations counting towards my quest to visit one hundred countries, they were nothing short of wonderful trips. It is embarrassing to admit that despite my many trips to Japan, I have never been there in the summer. Being an avid snowboarder, I look forward to desperate blog mentions of the appearance of Yukimushi,
the small insects that according to Japanese folklore signify the coming of snow in Hokkaido. I then eagerly check the daily snow reports for news of the first drop of snow, and it is soon all systems go to squeeze in as many trips to Japan as possible in order to frolick in that divine powdery snow that you do not find anywhere else in the world. Arriving in Nagoya in summer was a rather bizarre experience. I think back to snippets of Heston Blumenthal’s food on TV, and I imagine how diners felt expecting to eat a fruit when it was in fact chicken liver pate dressed up as a mandarin. My mind and body are so accustomed to that first hit of winter that creeps into the aerobridge as you step off the plane, a totally different feeling from the coldest
humidity. While I kept expecting to feel that cold blast of air and see the customary procession of ankle high Uggs, I was greeted by none other than trendy T-shirts and summer pants. Nevertheless, once I had overcome the sensory confusion, I felt so at home. I adore everything that is Japan. I love feeling safe and secure upon arriving, knowing that whoever you will interface with for the next few days is going to be genuine and honest. I eagerly anticipate the novelty of leaving my valuables on tables without having to worry about items disappearing so expertly that you do not even realise they are gone. I love how things work in such an efficient manner, where buses depart as the clock’s second hand hits sixty, and you have no problem finding your bus because things just work in such an orderly manner. I love the politeness of the people, and how ever yone is willing to help, so much so that I feel terrible watching a female or elderly attendant loading shopping laden suitcases into the car with no expectation that you might relieve them of their task, or when someone goes out of their way to give you directions to your destination. The Japanese are such proud people too, and so they should be. Their country is so naturally beautiful, from cherry blossoms to snowcapped mountains to Hawaiianesque beaches in Okinawa, and everything they make is beautifully crafted and packaged. And above all, I love the food. There is an inner glutton in me, that is by and large successfully suppressed. However, my inner glutton found its soulmate glutton on this trip, and together they rampaged through the city devouring
everything in sight. In three days they had eaten their way through all the usual suspects and more – from tasty gyoza to crunchy tempura, warm fluffy tamago, roe laden pasta and the famous Cochin chicken. With so few days to try everything, a typical single meal would consist of stops at multiple restaurants, with each restaurant representing one course of the meal. Fi n a l l y, t h e e a t i n g b i n g e culminated in one heavenly dinner – a sleek beef tasting platter, consisting of different brands of beef, all proudly flagged for post-dinner discussion. They were all whiter than they were red, and would magically burst into mouthfuls of steak juice
as soon as you put them into your mouth. It was a glorious evening of exploration, resulting in a pseudobeef high, and with a strong general consensus that Matsusaka trumps everything. Having consumed most of the city and barely able to walk, we decided to head out to the countryside on our last day, and booked our bus tickets to Shirakawago, a beautifully quaint Unesco heritage town about two hours away from Nagoya by bus, where triangular roofs peek out from brilliant emerald fields. A great day out, and much needed exercise after our gluttonous few days. Though I have visited many places, Japan remains one of my
Wealth Red Tara She is Norter Drolma, (Vasudhara), the powerful orange-red Tara increases prosperity and eliminates financial troubles! Invite her into your home and make offerings of milk and honey to her!
TM
Available at all World Of Feng Shui Boutiques or online at www.fsmegamall.com/sept2017
true favourites, now not only for the snow but for everything it offers. It is such an iconic place but the one “icon” that I am always fond of is the ubiquitous Maneki-neko, the Feng Shui “money cat” - always cute, always smiling and always welcoming. Call it superstition or culture, but every time I catch sight of it, be it in a shop window or at someone’s front door, I cannot help but think of all the positive vibes that it brings to the place. Funny how a little ceramic ornament can always make me feel welcome. Maybe Feng Shui has got it right. Japan certainly has - I for one seem to keep going! Now, if all the other countries followed suit ... I’m doomed!
Selina Yeop Junior Mompreneur
Extraordinaire By Helen Oon
W
hen I first met Selina for the interview in July this year, she was in the middle of orchestrating the final touches of her fashion show at DSTRKT (pronounced District), one of the upbeat clubs in Soho London. It was an informal catwalk where she was showing her own fashion brand Romyda_KL to a selected crowd invited by the organisers. As the DJ pumped up the volume with funky urban sound, the models sashayed down the aisle wearing a collection of Romyda’s signature silhouettes that were not just wearable but elegant and trendy. I have been to so many fashion shows where you have to be beanpole
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thin and have legs up to the armpits to wear the clothes that only look great on the models. Romyda dresses are designed for discerning women of all shapes and sizes to look great and fashionable. Selina was in London on a mission – to launch her handbags THESELINA. Her couture and handbags speak volumes of a worldly lady of exquisite taste blessed with both brains and beauty. I took a peek at the world according to Selina Yeop Junior.
Yummy Mummy Mompreneur The latest buzzword for women who juggle motherhood with running their own business is “mompreneur”, women are born to be multi-tasking experts, and some have taken multi-
tasking to new heights. This new breed of women have broken the glass ceiling and soared high above the gender barrier. Enter Selina Yeop Jr, a Public Relations guru, trendsetter, socialite, fashionista and entrepreneur with “an iron fist in velvet glove” attitude. She is sensual and feminine in appearance, but savvy and rapier-sharp in business. Her fame as a successful business woman and socialite has earned her much media coverage. I asked her what advice she would give to women who want to start their own business and what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. She has these words of wisdom to share, “Women who want to start their own business must be armed with a whole lot of faith in what they are doing, and never allow self doubt to creep in. Along the way, there are bound to be those who pour cold water over your ideas, but you must only listen to what that inner voice tells you, and believe that life always has your back. So if it takes off, then it’s just great, but if it doesn’t, it’s just as great too. For me, I am just pure energy, and my focus in doing any business or activity is sheer determination with the motto, “There is no room for failure.”
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Bejewelled Windhorse crossing the great waters Advance your career and increase your lungta! The magical windhorse flies over a sea of obstacles and soars to victory!
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“Today, a handbag is a necessity and no longer functions only as an accessory. For the multitalented and multifaceted woman of today, she moves swiftly from corporate affairs to cocktails, from being a mother to making boardroom decisions.
Her high-octane professional and social life makes Wonder Woman look like a couch potato. She has co-authored two books, “The IPO Debut” and “Small and Medium Success Stories” honing on her previous experience in the corporate finance industry. She is part of the advisory panel of the Women’s Institute of Management and on the board of two public listed companies, Ekowood International and TSH Resources Berhad. Where does she get all that energy? I quizzed. She said, “I ensure that my fitness level is maintained at all times. I make sure I exercise at least five days a week. I have my youthfulness maintained by MAC Clinic’s Dr Hew. They are pioneers in aesthetics. For relaxation, I meditate and enjoy soaking in my Jacuzzi filled with Epsom salts while watching Netflix!” As a single mother of three sons and a busy business woman, I asked how she juggles her life and who inspires her most. She replied, “I am inspired by me as I can multitask in managing my children and household single-handedly, my business, my social life and my spirituality.” She softened when she talked about her sons, “I spend
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quality time with my boys. They are very attached to me. We laugh a lot together and I still treat all of them like little babies.” She pulled up a picture of her three handsome sons from her mobile phone to show me, as a devoted mother would do.
Handbags and Glad Rags As a Public Relations and Communications veteran for over 20 years, Selina knows how to launch a product. Her company Salina & Associates Public Relations is one of Malaysia’s top boutique agencies. She explained, “My company is spelt with an “a” in Salina for numerology purposes, and it has served me well.” This is a nod towards Feng Shui where numerology plays an important part. In her line of work, she observes fashion trends and understands the psyche of a woman’s practical needs in her handbags, the most important accessory in her wardrobe. Then came a light bulb moment when she began conceiving the idea of designing handbags that “incorporates functionality but not
compromising the luxurious feel in texture and attention to quality in every aspect from selection of colours, purpose, to the final stitching of its distinguishable insignia”. Thus THESELINA was born. Speaking from experience, she opined, “Today, a handbag is a necessity and no longer functions only as an accessory. For the multitalented and multi-faceted woman of today, she moves swiftly from corporate affairs to cocktails, from being a mother to making boardroom decisions. THESELINA is for the woman who does it all. Like every modern woman nowadays, I often move from meetings to evening functions. THESELINA is that versatile that you can transition from day to night easily, having one less thing to worry about.” Commenting on her Twilight collection, a cocktail and evening
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clutches series, which are larger than the average clutches, she said, “I often find that I have to choose what to include in the clutch. I can maybe fit my mobile phone and lipstick and nothing else. In this day and age, mobile phones and power banks are essential. And at least a compact powder and lipstick too. Those are the bare necessities for a night out.” Spoken like a true woman on the move with a busy lifestyle. THESELINA collection is inspired by the delicate and intricate artisanal skills of the Malaysian embroidery heritage. It makes its debut this year in three major markets in Europe, USA and Asia in ten designs from three different collections - The Twilight Collection, The Work Hard Play Harder Collection and The Travel Collection. Selina is a walking advertisement of her fashion brand. She oozes elegance and sophistication in whatever she wears. Romyda_KL is
the synergy of three talented women – Selina a PR guru, Ning Baizura, Malaysia’s top R&B songstress and Soul Diva and Romyda Keth, a talented Cambodian fashion designer. The collection debuted at the KL Fashion Week in 2016. Their fashion statement is versatile apparel that can be worn to work and transformed into eveningwear with accessories for a night out. They match THESELINA handbags concept. The clothes are chic and figure-hugging to accentuate the female form. I especially like the below-the-knee length that elongates the silhouette of the wearer and tailored to look great regardless of age, shape and size. The fabric of the collection is a cut above others with exclusive handcrafted designs of ribbons hand embroidered in crisscross patterns; laser-cut lace or
hand-stamped prints. They stay away from machine printed materials to give their brand that special signature look and exclusivity. Their stylish atelier is at The Conversation Studio in Kuala Lumpur with personal shopping service where clients can discuss their choice of design in comfort and privacy. Born in the year of the Rooster, Selina displays all the characteristic of this animal sign noted for their selfconfidence, discipline, intelligence, ambition, enterprising ideas and warm-heartedness. Asked what motivates her when she wakes up every morning, she says, “I love life, and I am grateful for every waking moment. Life always leads you to the highest good,” declared Malaysia’s very own Wonder Woman, momprenuer extraordinaire and bon vivant.
THESELINA is available on www.theselina.com, www.asialuxeliving.com and www.modestrove.com.
Tam brooch Embellished with the seed syllable of Goddess Tara, the TAM brooch captures the eye with stunning diamonds while keeping you safe from the eight major dangers.
TM
Available at all World Of Feng Shui Boutiques or online at www.fsmegamall.com/sept2017
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“My life at Sera Jey” BY CHAROK LAMA
Sera Jey monastery in South India, with a total of 6000 thousand monks, is one of the three great Monastic Universities of the Gelukpa Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Charok Lama Rinpoche has been a student here since the age of 8, having secured a place after studying at Kopan Monastery in Katmandu since he was discovered and enthroned as the reincarnation of the much revered holy yogi of the Solu Khumbu region of the Himalayas. In his past life, Charok Lama was a Lama of the Nyingmapa Tradition, the oldest of the four traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. In his present reincarnation, Charok Lama is part of the Gelukpa Tradition. He sees no difference in the traditions and as he tells us, the practice of Dharma is the practice of subduing the mind and understanding the true nature of reality. As an alumni of Sera Jey, Charok Lama gives us this short description of life at a Buddhist University. 48
I
am a very strong believer of cause and conditions, and the extended form of cause and condition, which is “karma”. The conditions that have shaped my life and how it has turned out is truly a blessing, and Sera has been a big part of it. As someone who was brought up in a Buddhist monastic society since a very early age, I know it is a privilege to be in Sera, one of the biggest and greatest monastic universities that keeps the Nalanda tradition and Buddhist philosophy alive. It is a small monastic town, yet quite big for a monastery and it has an assembly of over six thousand monks being trained in the traditional way. It is amazing seeing the monks train at a very young age in the path, and even more astounding and inspiring to see the Senior gurus such as the present Ganden Tripa Lobsang Tenzin who has finished over 29 years of study as a humble monk in Sera, followed by the tantric college, having been appointed as the Abbot of the tantric college and being enthroned as the head of the Geluk Tradition at the age of 82. His is a golden heart that touches millions. I am so fortunate as He has touched my heart. He is my heart Guru! Like nearly every university, Sera comprises different houses. Sera Jey and Sera each have over twelve to thirteen different houses, but unlike other Universities, it takes a staggering 25 years at a minimum to finish one’s PHD course here. While these institutions do not offer courses that directly help you survive in a materialistic world, they do help students fortunate enough to be admitted
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to build a mindset that can overcome a multitude of problems that occur in the materialistic world, as well as all the causes and conditions that bring difficulties and sufferings. A lot of people wonder why it takes so long to complete the Program here that leads to the Geshe qualification. Well, the course consists of the five major Buddhist philosophy texts, which are a condensed and clarified version of the eighty four thousand teachings of the Buddha, or an extended form of the Lam Rim thoroughly laid out in categories, such as ahbisamaya, madyamika and tamana vartika. There is also vinaya, the study of all the different vows, from ordination to tantric vows. All these subjects are taught through reasoning and logic, which is done through debate. So anyone who successfully completes the Course will have at least a sound footing in the teachings of the Buddha. A completely different world known to few, lived by even fewer, and hidden to many, where ancient culture is intertwined with ancient wisdom, a world in which we are shown to perceive the true nature of things, and that reality is not in what we see but in what we do not see, a place where you are taught that the power of your mind has no limits. Here at Sera, one is taught to be humble and detached, with most leading simple lives trying not to be attached to material pleasures and learning to be content with what they have. For most, the source of happiness comes through the utilization of wisdom, through practice, prayer and serving others. The lifestyle is so simple that one may say it is boring, yet it is one of the most formidable courses one will
I do believe in following a middle way that keeps up with the rapidly changing world yet promoting the ancient wisdoms.
A completely different world known to few, lived by even fewer, and hidden to many, where ancient culture is intertwined with ancient wisdom, a world in which we are shown to perceive the true nature of things, and that reality is not in what we see but in what we do not see, a place where you are taught that the power of your mind has no limits. ever encounter. Not saying that there aren’t any faults. I am personally not in favour with the rules and regulations in the monastery, which change with every appointed management. I have been trying to put up with the system, which, similar to many senior societies, tries to promote itself. But it lacks the educational background to survive into the twenty first century, with the power to keep such traditions, teaching methods and a philosophy known worldwide alive. I believe that the Tibetan monastic system can do better than what is currently offered. It can do better by adapting to the new conditions of the modern world. With the number of monks entering the monastery getting fewer each succeeding year, I fail to see a
bright future if it keeps proceeding with its current approach, which for me is a very sad thought. Like many, I see great potential in these monasteries, which bring up great people who can help countless beings. Despite that, the joy of getting to be a part of this world is nevertheless a blessing, and like many, I do believe in following a middle way that keeps up with the rapidly changing world yet promoting the ancient wisdoms. Sera is a peaceful place without much outer interference, and we are provided with all the time and knowledge to work on ourselves, so at the end of the day, what matters to us is that we find the means to help others and to deal with our destructive emotions, and that is what Sera has provided me and many others with.
Chorok Lama with Lillian and Prof Panovska in Jennifer's home. Charok Lama offers this beautiful callligraphy of an instantly sketched OM MANI PADME HUM specially for her !
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Dato Jack Koh came from nowhere and is now everywhere in the world of sports, especially his forte badminton! His is an inspiring tale of zero to hero, as this doubles badminton champion is now an entrepreneur who grew a badminton training academy into a leading sports provider and talent management organisation. LA Corporation and Petaling BC Academy have achieved more than RM120 million in accumulated annual turnover through effective business planning, project management and innovative marketing. By Dato Kee Hua Chee
TOP COACH KOH F
or a kid who used to play badminton using his house’s gates as net, Dato Jack Koh has come a long way, yet he is all of 32! Born in 1985 in Muar, Johor, Dato Jack Koh was pushed into badminton by his elder brother James, who simply needed a partner! His sister Joyce also became an adept player and the amazing J siblings all became state players which is a feat! “It was great fun. My bro James is 3 years older, and initially we played 50
out of passion as we were very good at badminton. Soon we abandoned our house gates for proper courts, but when I was about 15, I realised I had to decide on education or fulltime training. I was selected by Bukit Jalil Sports school when I was in form 4, so I left Muar and came to Kuala Lumpur. “I was given an allowance of RM30 per month, so obviously I never played for money!” he laughs. At 17, he won the World Junior Cup and was finalist in the 2002
World Junior Championship in Men’s Doubles. He was the 2005 World Police & Fire Games Champion in Men’s and Mixed Doubles. He was Sukan Malaysia Champion 2006 and World Chinese Champion 2007 in Men’s Doubles and is considered to be the best doubles player in Malaysia, just as Dato Lee Chong Wei is best singles player. By 2008 his partners included such greats like Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan who won the Gold medal at the 2012 Olympics. But the pair
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lost to Dato Jack Koh and Tan Bin Shen in 2002! By 2015, this pair were the Malaysian national champions. Of course, badminton tends to be synonymous with Dato Lee Chong Wei, but he is a singles champion and Dato Jack Koh plays doubles. “I was the best doubles player under 18 and I had 3 partners - Tan Bin Shen, Zakry and Fairuz. We used to rotate our partners,” says Dato Jack Koh. He was professional badminton player representing the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) from 1999 to 2006 and national badminton player from 2002 to 2006 representing Polis DiRaja Malaysia (PDRM). In 2006, he noticed there were few incentives and opportunities for badminton players to reach stellar heights. “Markis was riding high as a player in the world Top 20, but I was in the top few hundred!” he laughs ruefully. Ever ything boiled down to financial constraints. Dato Jack Koh was already in Malaysia’s national squad at 19 and had reached a plateau. Being stagnated was a painful period of his life. Financially and career-wise. “I had no support. I come from a poor family. We were very poor,” he says and declines to elaborate. “I left the national squad in 2006 to further my education.” Bad decision. He enrolled in well-known colleges like KDU, Open University, MMU, HELP institute and even Universiti Malaya, but never graduated!
He studied sports science in UM, Business IT in KDU and sports management. “I never graduated as I needed money to pay for rent, petrol, food and living expenses. It was really tough juggling tutorials, attending lectures and worrying how to pay my bills. “When I was studying at KDU, I was also working installing GHL credit card terminals and was paid RM80 for every terminal. I also worked in Starbucks as a barista and a few told me they remembered me serving them. At night, I worked in a sports shop.” This hardworking player also coached badminton and finally, Lady Luck smiled on him, as who should he coach but his future father-in-law and brother-in-law! Ironically, his wife does not play badminton at all, as Datin Wong Mei Teng is a medical doctor. They met when Dato Jack Koh was working in Elken direct selling and she was a customer! He discovered he possessed another talent - business acumen! “I rented two halls and sub-let them. It was lucrative, so I kept doing the same until I ended up renting nine such halls in the Klang valley. I started assisting developers in designing sports centres, as no one knew better what was required than players themselves, from adequate changing
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rooms to decent showers to quick bites and transport. In a nutshell, I quickly ‘pao’ (monopolised) the Chinese schools’ halls. “The badminton courts were used during school hours, but not after classes ended. So I rented them from 4 pm to midnight and sub-let them to customers. Many parents suggested I should build my own hall and I agreed. “So I asked my father-in-law to buy land and we sorted out the ROI (returns on investment) and found it was do-able.” Sports Arena Sentosa in Old Klang road was his first Sports Arena and completed in 2011 at a cost of RM 12 million. “The 2 acres contain the purpose-built Sports Arena with 21 badminton courts, 4 futsal fields, yoga dance studio, 5,000 sq ft gym, gymnastic studio, 1,000-seater mini stadium and café. We offer sports massage therapy, sports shop and various facilities. I also coach.” It costs RM16 per hour to play badminton here.I suggested he should
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also open a disco, as it would be great to dance after working out. He shakes his head and grins, “No go. We open 8am till 3am and that’s when clubbing ends. We are open 365 days a year and yes, including Chinese New Year and Christmas Day.” There are now Sports Arena in Bukit Serdang, Mahkota Cheras, Puchong and Ipoh. Three are franchised as LA Corporation of which Dato Jack Koh is founder and Group CEO is a DBO (Design, Build, Operate) sports oriented company. LA Corp is a holding company, which invests and manages sporting events with a staff of 800. In 2010, he had the great good luck to meet and coach Lim Kim Heng, the founder and boss of Senheng, Malaysia’s biggest and most successful chain of electronics store. Lim recognised Koh’s go-getting, cando attitude, which reflected his own when he started Senheng, which now numbers 120 stores. “I found a sympathetic ear in the Senheng boss, as he agreed even state and national players had no chance to excel. We lack what I call the eco-system, with ‘eco’ referring to economics. We agreed to pool resources to help talented but underprivileged kids. Samsung also joined us and SS Talents was formed in 2010 with 10 players. “BAM (Badminton Association of Malaysia) has the pick of the crop, so we take those not chosen by BAM. Yes, we accept second-tier players and train them.” He beams proudly, “Our coaching paid off handsomely. In 2014, 4 of our players beat the players from Bukit Jalil school! It was the intention of SS Talents to train talented youngsters to enter Malaysia National Team and we were on the right track.” Then came the formation of Purple League… “After I married in 2012, I used to visit United Kingdom around 8 times a year to visit my wife who worked as a doctor in London. I went to many Premier League football matches and hit on the idea of a badminton league based in Malaysia, but open to international players!
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“I roped in Ganga, ex-secretary general of BAM for 28 years with vast experience, Lim Kim Heng of Sen Heng, Wong Wei Choy my father-in-law and Khairy Jamaluddin the Minister of Youth and Sports. Together, the five of us started Purple League Sdn Bhd with emphasis on training badminton players with potential. “We chose the name ‘Purple League’ as purple is a noble, imperial and auspicious colour used by the ancient Roman emperor. Few realise Beijing’s Forbidden City’s full name is ‘Zi Jin Zheng’ which means Purple Forbidden City!” explains Dato Jack Koh. The fact that purple occurs least frequently in nature adds icing to the cake, since only a few make it to the top! A rare colour for the rara avis! Coaching and Koh must be made for each other, as it brings good feng shui to Dato Jack. “I have been fortunate to coach Tan Sri Lim Wee Chai, the founder and boss of Top Glove since 2007. He has now decided to invest in sports complexes after seeing what I have done with Sports Arena sports centres. Soon we will be opening a few sports complexes called Top Sports centres!” He muses, “I don’t know why, but most think foreign coaches are better than local ones. Malaysia has produced a hundred badminton legends, so there is no need to import costly foreigners! Think of Yap Kim
Hock, Foo Kok Keong, Dato Razif Sidek, Misbun Sidek, Ong Ewe Hock and the list continues. “They do small-time coaching but now they can train and impart their experience and expertise properly. And in the process, Purple League becomes backed by legends!” Together with ASTRO, Dato Lee Chong Wei (world’s #1), Lim Kim Heng (founder of Senheng electronics chain), Ganga Rao (ex BAM secretary general), Rashid Sidek (chief coach of Malaysia), Dato Sri Andrew Wang (MD of JH Italia which imports Lamborghinis) and Wong Wei Choy (owner of LCW Sports Arena Sentosa), Purple League is offering a staggering US$1 million cash, making Purple League the world’s most lucrative badminton league and providing the best platform for local and foreign players. “Purple League will have most, if not all, the state/district badminton associations and private clubs to participate and discover the world’s next champion in the same ilk as Dato Lee Chong Wei,” says Dato Jack Koh. And Koh’s the coach!
“We chose the name ‘Purple League’ as purple is a noble, imperial and auspicious colour used by the ancient Roman emperor. Few realise Beijing’s Forbidden City’s full name is ‘Zi Jin Zheng’ which means Purple Forbidden City!” explains Dato Jack Koh. S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 7 | w w w. f s w m a g . c o m | F E N G S H U I W O R L D
King of the Wealth Gods
The protector Namtose is the Lord of the Wealth Yakshas. He safeguards your assets from decline and ensures you do not suffer from reversal of fortune. Place him in the North.
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Actualize your Goals with Vision and Action Boards
O
ne of journaling’s many uses is as a tool for planning and organizing the various aspects that make up your life. It is a process that becomes meaningful when given a purpose. My mother always told me that in order to remember or track anything, I had to write it down. It worked for my studies in school, for my budgeting in university and every other task I set out to complete. Checklists, notebooks and annual
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by AUDREY TAN
planners became my dependable (albeit limited) personal assistants; prompting me, making sure my time was well-spent and most importantly, giving my mind the freedom to tackle each task with more focus and my heart the peace to enjoy the little things. There are times, however, when even the most organized person bites off more than they can chew and overwhelm sets in. It is then necessary to take a step back, review the past few months in your journal and evaluate
the goals you’ve set for yourself - in relationships, work, your studies, finance, health and fitness. Vision boards are where you prioritize your goals. It is a space where you can redirect or refine the course of your actions. There are usually a million things we want to do, to complete or to experience and this is where you narrow your goals down to the ones that are the most meaningful. The goals you decide to focus on set the tone for what ultimately go into the action boards.
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rd Create Your Vision Boa STEP 1: Identify your most important goals Choose a time when you can get a few hours to complete your vision board in a quiet and comfortable location. This should be a place where you can relax, unwind and immerse yourself in your thoughts, with enough space to cut out your images and arrange them onto your board. Remember to have your journal with you. Take some time to go through it, reflect on the past months and list down the goals you want to focus on within the next six to twelve months. Make them specific and attainable and not too far-fetched that putting in the work will yield results that continue to motivate you to while closing the gap.
STEP 2: Select relevant images from your favorite magazines, Pinterest or personal collection It is undeniable that visualization plays a key role in the actualization of goals. It has long been touted as one of the most powerful mind exercises you can do. By having your goals set out in clear view, you guide your mind to concentrate on the ones you expressly want to realize. The most effective vision boards should display not only images of the things you want, but also those depicting how you want to feel once those said goals have been attained. The more your board reflects how you want to feel, the more it will come to life and usher you in the right direction. If one of your goals is to spend more time with your family, you can retrieve photos of your family members in a happy setting, enjoying each other’s company. If you are looking to complete a marathon, select images of people rejoicing in the fact they’ve just crossed the finish line. Whatever your goals may be, pick the images that remind you of why you made that goal a priority in the first place.
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STEP 3: Map out your images on your board Once you have all your photos and images cut out and prepared, it is time to map them out onto your board. As with journaling, how you go about arranging the goals on your board is entirely up to you. Let your vision guide you in deciding which images belong and which don’t. You can use anything as the backing of your boards. Some examples use a poster board or corkboard adhered to the wall, while others simply fill a frame or small canvas and hang it up. Use definitive words to describe your goals. Phrases such as “Climb Mount Kinabalu”, “Write a book” or “Win the regional chess tournament” make the goals you place on your board all the more distinct and actionable. Write them out on little cards and place them next to their corresponding images. Finally, don’t forget to incorporate your own picture amidst all those goals as a way of visualizing yourself being surrounded by all the things you have accomplished. Action Boards, on the other hand, set out small, doable, positive changes you can make to achieve the larger goals of the vision board. Reviewed on a weekly basis, they provide the platform for detailing the steps, notes and ideas required to reach those goals. These should be organic and allowed to evolve as you go. Give yourself the flexibility to edit the boards as you become more informed of the processes involved. As long as the bigger picture stays the same, you can modify the route you take to get there. For this reason, whiteboards, magnetic boards and canvases work really well. If you prefer a board with more visual appeal, you can cover up some canvases with pretty cotton fabrics stapled around the back and you have yourself a customizable board that matches your room decor. Magnets and push pins make reorganizing your action boards a breeze and you won’t end up with a truckload of boards taking up precious storage space over time.
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Create Your Action Board STEP 1: Take a good look at your vision board
STEP 4: Review and update on schedule
What actions can you take to move closer towards those goals? Take some time to brainstorm and list down your plans of execution. Most goals demand some extent of multitasking and the action boards ensure you don’t overlook any crucial steps in the process.
STEP 2: Fill in your action board Now that you’ve determined what you need to do, you can fill in your action board. Sift through your idea or bullet journals and attach small lists and notes pertinent to your plan. Putting all the information in front of you will give you more clarity on how best to proceed.
STEP 3: Keep It Visible As the old adage goes, “Out of sight, out of mind.” Have your vision and action boards out in the open and clearly accessible to you. Look at them often as they now function as constant visual reminders of what your precious time should be spent on. I have my action board up on the wall in front of my desk and it has many a time prevented my attention from going all monkey-minded and losing focus.
Action boards are only as effective as the last review. Make it a point to reevaluate your actions on a weekly basis, identify what worked, what didn’t and what needs modification. Was an action too general? Be more specific. Remove completed tasks and add new ones. Update regularly and you create real momentum towards actualizing your goals. While vision boards have the ability to inspire and motivate, action boards bridge the gap of where you are now and where you envision yourself to be in the future. Employed together with your bullet journal or planner for daily organization and you have all the tools you need to make your goals a reality. Good luck!
“Vision is merely a dream without action.” ~ Joel Barker Audrey Tan is the founder and creative force behind ARTSUNAMI, which specializes in bringing you quality tools, stickers and stationery products for everyone who loves journaling! www.instagram.com/artsunami www.facebook.com/artsunami
Wheel Protection Earrings This diamond studded pair of flower earrings channels the powerful energies of the Goddess Tara! Wear daily to bring happiness, success and good fortune into your life.
Available at all World Of Feng Shui Boutiques or online at www.fsmegamall.com/sept2017
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HUNGRY Ghost Month Amulets to keep you safe!
Hungry Ghost Month runs from 22 August to 19th September this year. Spirits and ghosts from the hell realms are allowed to roam freely on Earth so it is vital to stay protected and observe all the usual taboos! Here are four powerful ways to ensure that wandering spirits are kept at bay!
HAYAGRIVA PRAYER WHEEL
This precious Hayagriva Prayer Wheel contains more than half a million Hayagriva Mantras that offer supreme protection against attacks from malevolent forces and dark magic! Animal signs who have weak spirit essence or life force, and those who are suffering from illness, depression and stress are most vulnerable to being disturbed by spirits and ghosts this month. Place this wheel near your entrance and spin the wheel clockwise daily. Imagine bright red light from the wheel fliling the entire home with blessings and protective energies. The presence of this wheel in the home invokes the magical protection of Hayagriva.
DUSUM SANGYE GURU RINPOCHE PLAQUE
“Dusum Sangye” is Guru Rinpoche’s most powerful essence prayer for removing obstacles and bringing strong protection against spiritual disturbances! Hang this plaque above or near your entrance to protect against wandering spirits who wish to enter your home. It is also wise to chant this prayer aloud daily to dispell accidents or mishaps! It has the power to suppress obstacles and lead your family towards a happier, more stable life.
PROTECTION PRAYER WHEEL PENDANT
This stunning Sapphire-Blue prayer wheel contains powerful mantras of wrathful Vajrasattva, destroyer of obstacles and difficulties. it is also an excellent amulet against spirit harm. Wear as a protection amulet throughout the month and twirl it daily.
10 HUMS BROOCH AND KEYCHAIN WITH DHARMACHAKRA WHEEL
Turns back all negative hexes, spells and bad vibrations directed towards you due to jealousy and office politics. Pin on your jacket, clothing or handbag and have it nearby to stay insulated from spirit harm this month.
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lifewithLillian
PLENTY OF FOREST WALKS IN OUR WONDERFUL CITY
Here I am with my nephew Han Jin at the start of our morning trek up the hills of Bukit Rembau Forest Reserve. The grounds are well laid out for an “easy and accessible” walk. When we go deeper into the forests, we can opt for wood-paved walkways or go exploring the unpaved trails. We can stay on the gentle slopes or climb up the steeper footpaths to reach the top of the hills to see the city laid out below. Plus there are many crossroads where we can decide whether to take the difficult high road or the easier low road!
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discovered when I went out trekking one weekend that around Kuala Lumpur are plenty of forest reserves where you can see secondary and primary jungle as you trek some pretty groovy trails specially cleared for anyone to explore. On my maiden walk last month, I was pleasantly surprised to see so many young people of all races walk these trails, and everyone looked genuinely relaxed and happy. They were very friendly and I experienced many spontaneous greetings of good morning. It is as if the fresh air puts us all into a happy, lighthearted frame of mind. 58
I am so lucky to be living in Kuala Lumpur, a city where the energy is bustling, the weather is warm all year round, where skies are almost always blue and where the air we breathe stays oxygenated by the vast cover of trees in our magnificent jungles. Not to mention the enormous Dragon – our main range of mountains – magnificently poised on the spine of Peninsular Malaysia bringing us lots of good fortune luck! Not many people know this, but the vast flora and fauna of equatorial Malaysia is nearer our city doorstep than we realize, and visitors to our fair city can climb our tropical hills and mountains just as easily when visiting our city, because there are forest reserves dotted along our city fringes where it is easy to get a taste of the equatorial jungles close by. Believe me, immersing yourself in its energy is quite incredible! All round the city, our health-savvy local authorities have ensured there is a network of undulating jungle walks and forest trails with different levels of challenge for anyone wanting a healthy morning walk, trek or run!
Surprisingly, I found the trails easy, although t here is always a slight incline, so it is challenging without being too difficult. The great thing is that you can enjoy your walk at your own pace; you do not need anyone to teach you how to walk (ha ha I have a fear of gym machines) and most of all, it is free! There is no admission ticket to purchase, no queues and plenty of choice pathways. It is also very cool, as the trees provide good cover from the sun, especially when you go during the hours of the early morning. Start before 8 am and walk for two to three hours; you can map out your own path and walk from one hill
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The morning walk really is easy; it is such a great way to get some gentle exercise, both physical and mental, allowing me to get my blood flowing and moving, enabling me to breathe unpolluted oxygen into my body, and best of all, giving me the chance to enjoy all the smells of the forest and feeling psychologically and spiritually more agile than ever. to the next. Do this every weekend and before you know it, you will be as fit and as toned as any of your children or grandchildren! When my nephew Han Jin invited me to join his family on one of their regular weekend walks, I was at first fearful I would not be able to do the trek given my age, my problem shoulder and bad back, but then I reasoned that if I managed to climb the Himalayas only a few years ago, and if I can still ski, surely I can trek these small hills of Kuala Lumpur? In any case, AGE is just a number and we are only as old/young as we think we are! I had to break through the chronic feeling that I was somehow “getting too old” to enjoy all the things I used to enjoy. The way to break through this mindset is to simply “do it” and prove to myself that my body can match my still young at heart mind!
The pathways in the Reserve are nicely laid out, so the walk is pleasant. Every now and again, we arrive at a crossroads where we must decide which way to go. Sometimes the alternative is unpaved and much steeper. Other times, we meet up with a bridge to cross over a deep ravine, or small steps that take us to a valley floor. The terrain is interesting enough to keep us on our toes.
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Was I glad I went! Because not only could I handle the gentle slopes of the jungle trails, I also had a great time! All through my two-hour trek, I did not once feel myself breathing hard or out of breath. Honestly, this meant a lot to me. The morning walk really is easy; it is such a great way to get some gentle exercise, both physical and mental, allowing me to get my blood flowing and moving, enabling me to breathe unpolluted oxygen into my body, and best of all, giving me the chance to enjoy all the smells of the forest and feeling psychologically and spiritually more agile than ever. We passed many young people, and like them I felt good enjoying the outdoors surrounded by trees and plenty of green cover, yet still feeling that I am in the city with people around. And above me, blue blue skies! The energy is truly liberating! I could choose whatever level of difficulty I wanted, so I started gentle. These trails around the foothills of Kuala Lumpur provide ample variety for anyone, no matter the age, to have any level of exercise we want. Our walk was in the forest reserve off Old Klang Road where the hills join up with the unpaved forest paths of Bukit Gasing. Just watching the kids running with all the energy in the world was enough to inspire me to want to feel young again. We had a great time discovering the network of “developed” trails there. This time around I settle for discovering the small brooks and streams of the forests. Next time I plan to venture higher, steeper!
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TRAVEL
Sydney A Harbour City of Class
BY HELEN OON
F
rom my lovely Bridge View suite at the Marriott Sydney Harbour, I caught my first glimpse of the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge, its steel arch gleaming in the sun. The hotel is only a stone’s throw from the harbour, an unbeatable location to visit the most famous waterfront in the world. When I ventured out onto Circular Quay at Sydney Harbour, I felt I was stepping out of a postcard into reality. The breath-taking harbour is picture postcard perfect. To enjoy the harbour scene, I embarked on a cruise around the harbour on a Captain Cook Harbour
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Story Cruise, one of the main operators on the waterfront. The enjoyable two-hour cruise on a boat with lovely spacious decks and large viewing windows took us around the harbour with running commentary of the places, people and events. It sailed past iconic landmarks such as the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Royal Botanic Gardens, the Government House, Taronga Zoo and other attractions. Sydney Harbour is the largest natural harbour in the world and one of the most scenic and vibrant waterfronts. It is the most iconic landmark of Australia. Set on Port Jackson, an inlet of the Tasman Sea, it
is dotted with several outlying small islands with palatial harbour front properties hugging the shoreline. Cruise ships, ferries and pleasure crafts berth cheek by jowl on the calm blue waters. Swanky glittering buildings and retail outlets nestle on the harbour front and along the quays. The promenade was heaving with people, enjoying the picturesque vista and dining alfresco on the plethora of restaurants and cafes. But the two most iconic features of the harbour are the imposing Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House that set it apart from all the other harbours in the world.
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Skyline of Sydney and Sydney Harbour
length of 183m long and 120m wide at the widest point. It is described as an “expressionist design” set on a monumental podium with a series of sail-like panels with chevron patterns of 1,056,006 tiles in two colours of glossy white and matte cream. I joined a tour to see the impressive interiors of the various venues and came so up close and personal with the exteriors that I could even touch the chevron tiles on the sail panels. It was a phenomenal experience to be inside the sails of the state-of-the-art opera house. Guided tours are available daily at www.sydneyoperahouse.com.
CLIMBING THE “COAT HANGER” ON BRIDGECLIMB
Photo by Shutterstock
Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House sets the bar for modern architectural designs and is lauded as the most distinctive building in the world. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. The multi-venue for performing arts host more than 2000 performances every year with world class shows from all over the world. Designed by Jorn Utzon, a Danish architect who won the international design competition in 1957 to design the proposed opera house, it was officially opened in 1973 by Queen Elizabeth II. It covers an area of 1.8 hectares with a
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Photo by Michael Oon
AN OPERATIC LANDMARK
Sydney Harbour Bridge is a giant arch of steel spanning across the harbour linking the north to south of the city. It became the lifeline that shaped the fortune of the city as it stood today. It opened up the land surrounding the harbour and beyond for development and settlement. It was inaugurated in 1932 and was quite an engineering feat in those days with limited equipment, and depended mostly on sheer manpower, blood, sweat and tears. It made me cringe when I learned of the precarious working conditions endured by the workers with no safety harnesses to protect them when they were working on the high structures. Standing at a height of 134m with a length of 1,149m and 48.8m wide, it
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Sydney Harbour Bridge
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forgot my fear of heights. We were awarded a Climber Certificate after the climb. I would highly recommend the BridgeClimb if you are ever in Sydney!
Photo by Michael Oon
Photo by Shutterstock
has been called the “Coat Hanger” due to its arch-based design. I salute the men who risked their lives building this bridge, and in their honour, I decided to experience the BridgeClimb (www.bridgeclimb. com), the top unmissable activity in Sydney. Despite my fear of heights and a dodgy left knee, I channelled my inner daredevi, and signed on to do the climb. After a pre-climb preparation on health and safety, and being strapped into our special climbing gear and uniforms, our small party of four middle-age climbers led by our climb leader Scott, stepped on the gantry and began our ascent to the upper arch. After negotiating several gantries, steps and ladder, while being tethered to the railing, we reached the summit of the bridge. OMG! What a stunning view of the harbour, with the Sydney Opera House taking centre stage of the seascape. As no camera or mobile phones are allowed during the climb due to safety reasons, Scott took our pictures at the summit as a memento of our climbs. It could’ve been my adrenalin pumping, but I really enjoyed the climb and
WHEN WATER DRAGON RULES THE WAVES It was not until 1778 that the first European settlement arrived, led by Captain Arthur Phillip, to set up a penal colony in Botany Bay that Sydney was born. Out of the labours of convicts and hardship facing a new colony, Sydney grew from a disease-ridden swampy settlement to become the state capital of New South Wales and one of the most important economic and commercial centres of the world today. It is the most populous city in Australia. Its success and prosperity is in no small way thanks to its great Feng Shui. Sydney is blessed with a perfect Feng Shui landscape fronted by a sheltered harbour that embraces “Water Dragon energy”. It is supported by mountains of the Great Dividing Range that runs across the entire length of the eastern coastline of New South Wales. This auspicious configuration holds the
Helen and Michael on the summit of the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Bridge Climb Experience-by BridgeClimb Sydney
energy from the sea and distributes it across the plains between the harbour and the mountains. It was the site that was chosen as the development of Sydney by the pioneers. Today, Sydney is a prosperous city with a thriving Central Business Di s t r i c t ( C B D ) w i t h s w a n k y skyscrapers soaring to dizzy heights. I explored the city and suburbs with Helen, a local guide from Ultimately Sydney, an upscale tour company that conducts tours in and around the city with less touristy sites. We visited Mrs
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PUSH AWAY THE EVIL EYE
Jealousy vibes from others can harm your health and prevent you from achieving your goals. The Hamsa hand protects against betrayal from those closest to you. Buddha’s Foot brings auspiciousness and disarms all negative projectiles aimed at you. Hang them in the Northwest or Southwest.
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The Three Sisters Rocks at Blue Mountain
Photo by Shutterstock
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A visit to Sydney is not complete without exploring the Blue Mountains region, about 50km west of the city. very windy. The visit to the residential areas gave a true picture of the city away from the tourist traps.
canopy across the Jamison Valley. It was a thrilling ride to the viewing platform where the famous Three Sisters rock formation at Echo Point came into view. Aboriginal dreamtime legends tell of three sisters who turned into rocks while fleeing from their abductors, though there are various version of the folklore. It is the most famous landmark in the Blue Mountains. A descend of 545m via a Scenic Cableway took us to the
MEETING THE THREE SISTERS A visit to Sydney is not complete without exploring the Blue Mountains region, about 50km west of the city. The highlight of the excursion was the Scenic World at Katoomba where the panoramic vista of the mountains and valleys of the Blue Mountains was breath-taking. True to its name, a blue haze permeates the atmosphere created by the droplets of oil released from the vast forest of eucalyptus in the valleys when they catch the sunlight. The approach to the viewing point was by the Scenic Skyway gondola with glass floor suspended 270m above the ravine and forest
Featherdale Wildlife Park-Koala
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Photo by Michael Oon
Macquarie’s Point, where a bench known as Mrs Macquarie’s Chair has been carved out of a rock by convicts in 1810 for Mrs Macquarie, the wife of then governor Lachlan Macquarie, who was the last governor of New South Wales from 1810-1821. It was said that Mrs Macquarie would often sit on this bench and watch the ships coming into the harbour from Britain. This is the best vantage point from which to view Sydney Harbour. We ventured into the outskirts including some affluent parts such as Double Bay, nicknamed Double Pay, reputedly the most expensive real estate in Australia with fabulous homes and upmarket shopping precincts. Watson Bay and Vaucluse are other affluent suburbs with great views of Sydney Harbour. We took a short stroll along The Gap, a scenic ocean cliff walk with views of the tempestuous waves bashing against the jagged rocks, an ominous place notorious for suicide. The gentrified suburbs in these areas bear testament to the wealth of Sydney. We stopped briefly to look at the famous Bondi Beach, which was fairly deserted, as it was winter and
temperate rainforest at the Scenic Walkway, a 1.8km elevated boardwalk in the Jamison Valley. It was amazing to stroll among the cool eucalyptus forest with a hint of Jurassic Park. We even spotted the rare Lyre bird, which local legend says is the father of the Three Sisters. To get back to the top station, we rode on the Scenic Railway, the world’s steepest railway at 52˚ incline, climbing at 400m up a steep rock face.
ANIMAL MAGIC We left the best for last when we paid a delightful visit to Featherdale Featherdale Wildlife Park-Wombat
Wildlife Park (www.featherdale. com.au), home to the world’s largest collection of Australian native animals. As an animal lover, it was a joy for me to see the gorgeous animals, including some of the rare and endangered species. There are 1,700 native animals from 250 different species including dingos, echidnas, wombats (my favourite!), Tasmanian devils, koalas, kangaroos and wallabies among others as well as birds and reptiles. There are photo opportunities with koalas as well as other immersive experiences with other animals for a fee; hand-feeding kangaroos and wallabies, or watching the feeding times. Pure animal magic!
VIVA VIVID SYDNEY Our visit coincided with Vivid Sydney 2017, the annual festival of light, music and ideas in the city. The 23day festival turned Sydney into a wonderland of “light art” with stateof-the-art installation of technicolour lights on sculptures, buildings and walls accompanied by music on the harbour. The most stunning installation was on the Sydney Opera
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House, which was bathed in everchanging fabulous patterns every few minutes. The Sydney Harbour Bridge was also lit up with various colours. It was a memorable sight to behold! Sydney has come a long way from a penal colony to become one of the greatest cities in the world thanks to its splendid harbour. For private and personalised tours in Sydney (and worldwide) with great guides, contact Toursbylocals.com. Ultimately Sydney (www.ultimatelysydney.com.au) offers personalised tours of Sydney with experienced local guides. Marriott Sydney Harbour Circular Quay (sydneyharbourmarriott.com.au) is the ideal location for Sydney Harbour attractions and surrounds. Helen Oon is the author of Globetrotter travel guides to Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong. Follow her on her travel blog (Myfacesandplaces. co.uk).
Vivid Sydney 2017 Festival of Lights
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ON MONDAY AUGUST 21ST, THE MOON AND EARTH ALIGNED TO TOTALLY BLOCK OUT THE SUN OVER
NORTH AMERICA IN A HISTORICAL
SOLAR ECLIPSE
Ancient wise men of India and China strongly advise against watching solar eclipses, as do many of the Native American tribes of the United States – believing that it is BAD LUCK to watch the life-giving sun getting completely blocked out. Women in particular are warned to stay indoors during the passage of the eclipse. I believe the solar eclipse last month is definitely a warning of sorts that something bad has happened, might be happening or will indeed happen, and when we read of the race riots, the outpouring of hate and the great divide that has descended on the US political scene – plus the possibility of NUCLEAR war breaking out between USA and North Korea – it is surely understandable that many of us worry.
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ast month, more than ten million Americans camped across America to look up into the skies to watch the solar eclipse. Most could see the sun disappear from sight and darkness descending
for about three minutes. It must have been an eerie experience indeed, when the world literally goes completely dark, turning bright daylight into night. This solar eclipse occurred from 10.15 am to about noon time at the
height of summer. This is a powerful sign of Nature and it symbolizes total yang transforming into total yin – lightness into darkness – perhaps the obliteration of life across one half of our world or a major renewal of life there?
In a total solar eclipse, the moon completely blocks the face of the sun. For this to take place, the moon and sun must be perfectly aligned, allowing the moon to appear as though it is the exact size of the sun. ‘A total eclipse is thus a perfect alignment of the moon, sun and Earth.
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The total eclipse of the sun is considered one of the most spell-binding phenomena in nature, but it rarely occurs over a wide swath of land, let alone one of the world’s most heavily populated countries at the height of summer.
IS THIS A GOOD OR A BAD SIGN?
The eclipse moved across the entire United States, watched by tens of millions of people. They witnessed one of Earth’s greatest phenomenons, possibly also one of the solar system’s m o s t e x t r a o rd i n a r y p l a n e t a r y alignments. Not all planets have MOONS, but EARTH has one and it signifies many things to us. It is 400 times smaller than the sun, but is 390 times closer to Earth. Arithmetically, this makes the size of their images almost exactly the same! Mercury and Venus have no moons. Mars has tiny minuscule spots when set against the solar disc, while Jupiter or Saturn is so far away from the sun, it would appear so small, it is simply obliterated by a moon going round either of these two planets. So only Earth has all the causes and conditions for a total solar eclipse. Such eclipses occur twice every three years on average, and either sweep over oceans or pass over uninhabited regions such as Antarctica or Siberia. The Solar Eclipse that occurred last month was especially important, because it made its way across the
The Solar Eclipse that occurred last month was especially important, because it made its way across the UNITED STATES, making it a particularly telling and significant occurrence. UNITED STATES, making it a particularly telling and significant occurrence. Indeed, the eclipse tracked all the way across North America over 2,500 miles across the inhabited land of central US, stretching from Oregon in the West to South Carolina in the East. About 12 million people live
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along that path, and that number swelled with millions of visitors who flocked to witness the event. Usually, eclipses last for only a few minutes, but this time, the huge path over inhabited land made it easily accessible to the public. Buddhists always pray harder and do extensive pujas during days of such eclipses, as there is great merit in doing so. All eclipses are merit-multiplying days because it is believed that prayers and pujas, meditations and practices done on such days are extremely meritorious as it benefits so many people who may be somehow affected by the darkening of the sun! The last time a total eclipse could be seen from the US mainland occurred in 1979. The next solar eclipse over the US has been forecasted to occur in seven years, in April 2024.
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REAL COMPASS VS DIGITAL COMPASS Will your Phone’s Compass Give you Accurate Compass Readings for Feng Shui Work?
One vital part of practising feng shui is learning to use a good compass and developing the skill of taking directions accurately. All compass formulas require taking compass directions, and accurate measurements of orientations make a big difference in getting your feng shui right. In fact, when you go deeper into some of the more advanced feng shui formulas, you might want to get yourself a Feng Shui lopan, one that comes with a superior compass needle that can show you directions to within 3 degrees of accuracy. By HANNI LIM
W
e strongly recommend investing in a high-quality compass that you can hold in your hand and turn the dial! This might seem obvious, but these days, many of the smart phones offered as mobile units come equipped with digital compasses and many people take directions with digital compasses built into their phones. iPhones come pre-loaded with a
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compass app; Samsung or Android users can download a variety of compass applications from the Google App Store. I have used apps on both iPhone and Samsung and I can tell you that they are not always accurate and cannot be relied on if you want to undertake serious feng shui work. When you have to determine the correct feng shui chart for the house being investigated or when you have to check if a main door is lucky for you, it really is vital to get the directions right.
Compass apps usually give a numerical “degree” reading, and so many people think that because of this, it is more accurate. But if you have an understanding of how these digital compasses derive a reading, you will see that compass apps just do not work the same way a real handheld compass does. A handheld compass is essentially a marked plate with a very lightweight magnetic needle suspended on a tiny pin. This lightweight magnet automatically aligns itself to the Earth’s magnetic field; so when you hold a compass in your hand, this mechanical needle will twirl into position to match the direction of Earth’s magnetic field. Anyone who has taken Physics in secondary school would have done this simple experiment in class! Compass applications in your
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phone use a different method to work out a directional reading. Because of all the micro metals and magnetic components already inside the phone, your phone cannot rely on a suspended mechanical magnet to get a reading. Instead, almost all smartphones are now equipped with three digital sensors that measure different types of information: a magnetometer (to detect the Earth’s magnetic field), an accelerator (to measure velocity and movement changes) and a gyroscope (that measures position against gravity). All three sensors gather different data that helps the phone determine whether you are standing up or lying down, and how the phone is tilted when you are holding it (upright or horizontal, etc) and so forth. All the little bits of data collected from these sensors are then fed into an algorithm that mathematically calculates a final compass reading. All this sounds very hightech, but the margin of error increases the more high-tech it becomes. These sensors provide raw measures of data, and there are variances in the quality of the sensors because different smartphone manufacturers use different suppliers. Usually, it is the compass application itself or some kind of internal software that does the calculation using the data received from these sensors, so this too can vary depending on which compass app you are using! Remember that these sensors were built into smartphones for the purpose of determining where you are in the
world when you use apps like Google Maps, Waze or Uber. But not for feng shui work. We have per formed our own tests and compared readings from our real compass vs several compass applications, as well as readings from compass apps in different phones! The variance can be as much as 10 to 15 degrees in some circumstances. Furthermore, for some reason, we’ve found that the reading you get when you are inside a building versus outdoors can vary in accuracy quite significantly. Readings from the same brand of compass app in the iPhone and iPad also yielded different results when measured on the same spot! I have obtained fairly accurate readings (within 5 degrees difference from my lopan) when outdoors, but when indoors, it seems to go a bit wonky. One time, while I was in a hotel room, I got a reading which was completely off by 178 degrees! Since then I’ve been very wary about my phone compass… You can Google what I’m saying and you will find that other people have also done similar tests, and determined that the variance is significant enough to discount readings from a compass app, if you are trying to perform magnetic calibration activities that require accuracy. Having said all this, I have found the compass app in the iPhone to be useful in getting a fairly general idea of facing directions (when outdoors) if calibrated correctly. Your app will give you instructions on how to “calibrate” your compass… usually by waving your phone in the figure 8 for a few seconds. Make sure you do this if you’re planning to take an ‘indicative’ direction. Your phone compass app also comes in handy for the odd occasions when you need to determine your facing direction in
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a business meeting or coffee catch-up. But if you are checking out a property to purchase or installing a new main door for your home, I would not base it on directions taken from a phone! For this type of serious feng shui work, which can have far-reaching consequences on your investigation, it is advisable to get a real compass!
FENG SHUI APPS Some of you may have used “feng shui apps” downloaded from the App Store. These do fancy things like letting you superimpose a photo of your floor plan with compass directions obtained from the phone. While this can be helpful for those who struggle to divide up the sectors on their floor plan for the placement of cures and enhancers, do take into account what we have written above about these digital directions. When using feng shui applications, check that the directions match readings from a real compass. Otherwise, your placement of cures and enhancers will simply not be correct. Remember that all feng shui apps on your phone use the same method of deriving compass readings from those sensors I mentioned earlier. For placement of cures as part of your TIME and SPACE dimension of feng shui, it is definitely advisable to use a proper compass. Definitely do not rely on digital compasses for detailed feng shui formula applications. For best results, get a feng shui lopan that is manufactured by a reputable manufacturer. Serious feng shui practitioners are sure to find this a worthwhile investment.
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Architecturally Speaking
by Chris Yeo
DESIGNING BATHROOMS SHR WC
FEATURE WALL
SHR
VANITY
VANITY
MAKEUP
TYPE A
TYPE B
VANITY
SHR
FEATURE WALL
FEATURE WALL
WC
TYPE C
VANITY
SHR
WC
TYPE D Space Planning Take for example the space planning layouts above. The first arrangement is the most space efficient layout, where the sink, WC and showers are designed in a row to maximize
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efficiency and space. The layout in Type B looks at separating the wet and dry zones through a central walkway. This is enforced by introducing a feature wall at the end, to split the washing and preparation activities in
In every residential project, the bathroom is probably the second most discussed part of the house after the kitchen. This area is the most personal space one will have in the whole house, so how we design the bathroom becomes very personal to the user. How many ways are there to design a bathroom, you may ask? After all, how difficult can it be? Essentially, there are four main areas to consider – the sink / vanity, WC, shower and the bath. Whilst the general arrangement is straightforward, there are many permutations to how we can design the bathroom. the middle. Type C looks at a more circular arrangement in terms of movement. As you enter in the toilet, the vanity table becomes the center piece to the circulation space, however, the arrangement of the WC, showers and feature walls are placed in a circular pattern. The final arrangement, Type D, looks at separating the activities of casual bathing with cleaning by locating the bathtub at the feature wall to highlight its importance. While the shower and WC are positioned on the other side, to indicate a clear demarcation between casual bathing and washing. And as we throw in more elements into the design, such as walk-in wardrobes, makeup tables or even a sauna, the permutations in how a bathroom can be designed becomes endless. So what is the best way to design your bathroom? While there is no right or wrong, my advice would be to look at your lifestyle and determine what you want in the bathroom. Ask yourself if you enjoy baths, or are you the type who enjoys a rain shower in the morning. Or maybe you are someone who prefers
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to use a hand shower. Similarly, for the WC, are you one who shares or one who wants to keep the WC hidden or maybe even open. Next, look at the space you have and work with the most practical layout that befits your lifestyle to the space that is permitted.
Feature Walls Feature walls provide a means to break up the monotony of the tiling effect. By introducing a feature wall it helps give prominence to the element it is supposed to highlight. To create a feature wall, there are a few ways to do so. We can either do the conventional method by using two different types of tiles. The secret with this is to keep the tiles within the same colour family. For example, if white is the prominent colour, we can mix the tile colours within the grey and black spectrum. Similarly, if earth tones are being used, stick to earthy colours. Don’t mix with the primary colours such as reds, yellows and blues, as these colours will overpower the
space. Especially when the space is restricted, the colours will completely dominate the bathroom. The other method to create a feature wall is to play with different planes. In this example, the use of a smaller wall in the foreground helps to isolate the wall hung WC within the
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feature wall. But what helps highlight the feature is the use of a backdrop lighting effect, which not only helps illuminate the space, but creates a visual attraction to the feature wall.
Tiling Patterns & Designs What determines a well-designed
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bathroom is the mixture and arrangement of the tiling layout. All bathrooms have to be tiled in some way, whether it is through stone or ceramic tiles. The design issue we have to deal with is to break the monotony of the tiling effect. If we use a single tone throughout the space, it becomes too monotonous and causes the room to feel claustrophobic. Not only that, all the key elements in the bathroom such as the sanitary ware starts to get lost in the saturated colour background. In this example, the use of marble is truly breathtaking, but to continue the same colour stone throughout the space by replicating the walls and floor in the same tone tends to be distractive to the user. This colour tone is again repeated in the mosaic tile pattern of the bathtub wall, which adds further confusion to the design. Everyone will have their own opinion to appreciate a space, but when mosaic patterns are used extensively, it may create a scenario for one to get disorientated and for one to misjudge depth
and distance. Best to minimize any forms of mosaic patterns to isolated features, or not to use it at all. And finally, a tiling pattern to avoid is the chess set pattern. While this may appeal to some, the checkered pattern can cause an epileptic episode, especially when you introduce mirrors which reflect the same pattern in the background. Try to keep a simple tiling strategy when it comes to the bathroom design. In this scenario, the use of lighter tones tile for the floor helps to balance the darker tone wall effect. Similarly, if you use a darker 74
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Trinity
circle necklace
Potent amulet against natural disasters, misfortune, accidents, explosions and harm from spirits and enemies. The Rose gold ring is embossed with the mantras of the Goddess Tara, while the outer Gold Ring has the mantra of Guru Rinpoche.
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tone for the floors, match it with a lighter tone for the walls. But what is interesting here is the use of mirrors to break away the monotony of the tiling effect. By creating a horizontal band at midway up the wall, it creates a visual dissection of the wall to create a top, middle and bottom band, thereby giving the user a panoramic feel to the space. This technique helps to create a visual expanse of space to an otherwise confined environment. And when you integrate steps into the design especially for bathtub, use contrasting colours in the flooring to allow the user to identify where the step is. In this
example, the riser of the step is carried through the wall tiles, which then is used as a feature wall for the WC. To highlight the bath area instead of tiles, a skylight is used to pull in natural light, but also to create a visual aura to the bath space, thereby accentuating its importance.
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When you start designing the bathroom, first look at what layout suits your lifestyle and plan. Then look at ways to create feature walls
for key elements and work through the whole design with a simple tiling pattern that accentuates the bath but not overwhelm the space.
For Interior Design services and consultancy, contact Chris Yeo at [email protected]
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THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE higher self, or your soul, not to your rational human mind. The conditioned mind believes that effort and struggle is the way to success. Yet, if this philosophy is true, everyone would be rich, happy and successful. The reality is that despite working ridiculous hours, their efforts have not borne fruit. What if you are willing to believe that there is an easier way to live? What if you believe that the Creator of this Universe has worked it all out for us and ensured that everything in this Universe not just survives, but actually thrives?
The path of least resistance aligns powerfully with the cosmic law called the Law of Least Effort. This law ensures that your life will be easy and that you can fulfill all your desires effortlessly. All you need do is go within, connect with your own Divine Source, listen to your inner guidance, trust that the Universe has your back and go with the flow of life. So easy... and yet: by SHAHREEN KAMALUDDIN
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his advice is rejected by so many people, simply because we have been conditioned to believe that nothing comes easy in life. We believe we have no choice but to work hard and struggle to get what we want. Here’s the thing. Whatever you believe to be true
will become your experience. If you expect struggle, that is what you will get, and we all know that constant struggle is bound to wear us out. Besides, there will be no joy or fun in life if life is so difficult.
IS THERE AN EASIER WAY? Yes there is. The Law of Least Effort is a cosmic law that speaks to your
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THE LAW OF LEAST EFFORT ENSURES PERFECTION The Law of Least Effort boldly promises that you can do less, yet accomplish more. Nature operates in harmony with this law. It does not hurry, yet it accomplishes everything with perfection. Look at the Universe where countless stars and planets exist. The size of each star and planet is immeasurable, yet all of them are floating in space! The Earth is spinning at approximately 1,000 miles per hour, yet it has not flown out of space! The entire galaxy of stars and planets are held in perfect positions. The Sun, Earth and Nature follow the laws of the Universe and perform their roles perfectly, silently and joyfully. I am inspired by what Hafiz, the 14th century Persian, Sufi, mystic poet and philosopher, said about the Sun, “And still, after all this time, the Sun has never said to the Earth, ‘You owe me,’ Look what happens with a love like that. It lights up the sky.”
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INFINITE INTELLIGENCE Observe how the birds, butterflies, fish, flowers and trees, exist in perfection because they are in harmony with cosmic laws. Their DNA has all the information they will ever need to grow and thrive. They do not struggle, complain or argue with weather conditions. They are fully equipped to handle every challenge that comes. They go with the flow of life, trusting that all is well. Some migratory birds perform amazing feats naturally. The Arctic Tern, a bird weighing about 100 grams, makes a round trip each year, between the Arctic and the Antarctic (about 20 000 kilometres) in order to never experience wintertime! The Sedge Warbler can fly 4000 kilometres without any stopover! This bird weighs 23 grams when he begins the journey and only 9 grams when he arrives! Other small migratory birds can fly 75 hours straight, at 1000 meters high, to cross the Mediterranean Sea or the Sahara! Leatherback sea turtles are among the most highly migratory animals on earth, travelling approximately 10,000 miles or more each year, between foraging grounds in search of jellyfish. Loggerheads born in Japan, migrate almost 8,000 miles to the rich waters off Baja California, to feed and mature. Once they have reached sexual maturity, they migrate back to Japan to breed and nest. The tide knows when to ebb and flow. The sun knows when to rise and set. Butterflies know when to pollinate a flower. Rivers and streams always take the path of least resistance, flowing downstream to the sea. Who is speaking to them? They do not go to a school to learn how to live. Everything in Nature instinctively knows how to thrive. They do not hurry or worry about their future. There is a higher organizing power that is orchestrating everything without the help of anyone or anything. THE HUMAN STORY Our Creator has created everything in the Universe to sustain life at optimal
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levels. We do not need to envy the amazing capabilities, freedom and wisdom of birds, turtles or animals. Just as Nature is guided by divine inspiration, we too are receiving the same divine guidance. We a r e G o d ’s m o s t magnificent creation! Look at how we have been designed. The capacity of our brains and bodies are incomprehensible! Our organs carry out highly complex functions perfectly, 24-7, throughout our lives, without any help from us. Our bodies have an in-built healing mechanism to ward off illness and to heal should we fall sick. We are indeed walking, talking miracles! We were designed to live to 120! Despite our highly sophisticated apparatus and system, we are not accessing our inner wisdom to navigate our life. Rather than allow our spirit to guide us, we let our conditioned minds control our destiny. We over-think everything, worry about the future and complain endlessly about everything. Chasing our dreams, building stress in our minds and bodies, resulting in illness. Jalaluddin Rumi, the 13th century Persian poet and Sufi master said, “When I run after what I think I want, my days are a furnace of stress and anxiety. If I sit in my own place of patience, what I need flows to me, and without pain. From this, I understand that what I want also wants me, is looking for me and attracting me. There is a great secret here for anyone who can grasp it.”
WHAT IS MEANT BY THE TERM “RESISTANCE”? In terms of electrical engineering or physics, “resistance” refers to the disruption of electric current flowing through a circuit. We are human circuits through which pure positive energy is flowing through us. This energy from the Source is always bringing us wellbeing and abundance. There is no reason to fear or worry. When we do, these negative vibrations will block the
natural flow of abundance and wellbeing from flowing to us. The future is unknown, and trying to control uncertainty is going against the flow of the current. Sometimes, the best thing we can do is to surrender, let go and let God take over. When this happens, tension is released and suddenly new opportunities show up, guiding us to new experiences.
HOW TO FLOW WITH LIFE The following suggestions will help you to go with the flow throughout each day. t "DDFQU XIBU ZPV DBOOPU control. When you change, your perspective changes and you will be inspired to take the right action. t "WPJE SVTIJOH EFDJTJPOT rushing from place to place and building up nervous energy in your body. Remind yourself to slow down, take a deep breath and relax. t #FBOPQUJNJTU*UUBLFTVQMFTT energy! t #FBEFUBDIFEPCTFSWFSPGMJGF Don’t criticise. Don’t judge yourself, others or life too harshly. t 6TF ZPVS IFJHIUFOFE TFMG awareness to decide what matters most in life and focus on fulfilling it. t -PPL GPS QPTJUJWF BTQFDUT UP appreciate everywhere you go. t 4UBZDMPTFUP/BUVSFBOEMFBSO how to be in total appreciation of life and all the gifts that the Universe is showering on you. t #F TJMFOU JO NFEJUBUJPO BOE listen to the inner guidance that is flowing to you and through you.
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THE EASY FORMULA TO FULFIL ALL YOUR DESIRES The Law of Attraction manages all the vibrations in the Universe. You will attract whatever vibration you are expressing. Positive vibrations attract positive experiences and vice versa. The better you feel about life, the closer you are to fulfilling your desires. The worse you feel about life, the further you are from realizing your goals. Happiness is your natural state. How difficult can it be to ask yourself to be happy? Look for reasons to feel good and stay on that high frequency. By focusing on what you want, not on what you don’t want, you will naturally raise your vibrational frequency and attract what you want easily. In the Holy Scriptures, Jesus said, “Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be open to you.” I believe he was emphasising how easy it is to get what you want.
The Law of Attraction manages all the vibrations in the Universe. You will attract whatever vibration you are expressing. Positive vibrations attract positive experiences and vice versa. The better you feel about life, the closer ƤǤ life, the further you are from realizing your goals. CONCLUSION Going with the flow, will bring clarity to your life. When you practise silence and meditate, divine inspiration will guide you to navigate the path toward your destination with fluidity and balance. You will find yourself in the right place at the right time. Your present moment awareness will allow you to appreciate everything along the path toward realizing your dreams and living your destiny. When you have mastered the art of going with the flow, you will understand what the 6th century BC
Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu meant when he said,
“Be still like a mountain And flow like a great river.” Shahreen Kamaluddin is an empowerment author, trainer, coach and speaker. She can be contacted at shahreen@ corporatetraining. com.my Her website is www. corporatetraining.com.my
Tseringma with Lion :OLYPKLZV]LY[OLTV\U[HPUZ JVUMLYYPUN^P[O[OL,HY[O .VKKLZZLZLUZ\YPUN[OLZHML[` VMHSSILPUNZSP]PUNVU,HY[O:OL NYHU[ZJVTWSL[LWYV[LJ[PVUMYVT UH[\YHSKPZHZ[LYZVMLHY[O^PUK HUKÄYL
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Available at all World Of Feng Shui Boutiques or online at www.fsmegamall.com/sept2017
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FRIENDSHIP
for fabulous feng shui
Having good feng shui means you also have friends, genuine ones who stick by you through decades and not fair-weather pals who desert you like a ghost at cock’s crow when you fall on hard times! Friends come right after spouse and family! A direct blood relative need not automatically be a good friend! After all, you need to share your good fortune and possessions with pals as it can be downright miserable to mope in solitary splendour in your mansion! DATO KEE HUA CHEE chats with the established and young millennials on what they think of friendship and what they look for in a friend.
PROFESSOR DR COCO ALEX YEOH The founder of Empro and maker of the world’s first triangular brow pencil is President of IPEC/ISO 17024 (Face Art Division), Face Art Academy and International Eyelash Designers Association. He is also director of Korea International Beauty and Health General Union in Malaysia.
Q: Define friendship and what it means to you?
“Friends are of great value to me as, aside from family, they support me in difficult times and share my joyous
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moments as I go through life. Friendship is something that develops over time as good friends are involved or know your life’s momentous events, be they good or bad. It is a fact that some friends are more beneficial than others. For example, a rich and generous friend is happy to buy you expensive meals and you don’t feel guilty since he or she is well-off and the bill will not dent their finances. Other friends can take you to posh events due to their connections, while some may directly let you make money by passing work to you, buying your products or introducing potential clients etc. The length of a friendship may be on beneficiary or even monetary terms, but the depth of a friendship deserves a totally different interpretation. A friend will be there simply if you need him, he will spend quality time and make sure you have positive values imprinted in you, and vice versa. Both of you will grow older and wiser together, look out for each other and make sure both are on the right path in life. Some friends criticise you for your own good with no ulterior motive, while others do so out of secret jealousy, resentment, anger or whatever, so you have to judge for yourself. A friend who praises you blindly just to please you is as useless as one who finds fault with you on a daily basis! My appreciation of the sincerity of friends grows as time passes, as finding someone who tells you the truth and sees the good and bad in you yet accept you as you are is rare. When you have such friends, that is when you get friendship with both length and depth, an undeniably real, living treasure!
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DR MAY TAN Medical doctor who works in Lourdes Medical Centre and operates her own nursing home My Precious Home in Subang USJ1. She graduated from Manipal Higher Academy of Medicine in India. “To me, friendship is two individuals who may be similar or very different, getting to know each other and developing an emotional bond or attachment over time. Friendship is different things to different people. Many become friends for convenience as they benefit each other. The worst are fake friends who exploit or take advantage of you and even cheat you out of money, effort and time. Theirs is a one-way street where you give and they take. Good friendship brings out the best in you and bad friendship brings out the worst, which has a negative impact on our lives. True friendship is what we all
seek. It is scarce and are treasures we hope to find during the course of our lives, as sometimes they don’t last if friends move to another city or country. Friendship requires constant contact, since you can’t meet for coffee or a meal if distance separates. A true friend understands us in ways normal pals cannot. True friends will stand by us through crises that afflict everyone, have our interest in their heart and can withstand the test of time and all the storms. A true friend will not judge or compete with you, though this is easier said than done, as we must all have felt jealous over our friends’ successes at one time or another! But true friends will share our successes and mean well for us from the bottom of their hearts, and there is no jealousy or bitterness. They accept our flaws and will not abandon us come what may. Even if they cannot help financially, moral support is just as comforting. We all need a shoulder to cry on sometimes. They protect our interests, take care of our feelings and don’t intentionally
JESIEY GIAM This 21-yr old model is a feng shui aficionado who parlayed her belief into a spectacular success! From 17 she started practising feng shui after reading Lillian Too’s books. Last year she consulted an Indian feng shui expert Master Su who advised her to change her name as it ill-suited her. She loved her name Jessie and asked for a feng shui remedy. “Master Su calculated and decided I could not spell my name as Jessie, Jessy, Jezzy or even Jess as their numbers all clashed with me. The only alternative was Jesiey with weird spelling, but as it sounded the same as Jessie, I adopted it and it has worked wonders. I also remember when Chia Lee Peng became Amber Chia, her career really skyrocketed!” Jesiey Giam won the Face of Asia 2017 on 23 July 2017 in Seoul, Korea! Jesiey beat 24 other international models to be the first Malaysian to win since the pageant started in 2010. “We need real friends as we cannot run to our mothers
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hurt us with callous remarks. Forgiving each other and never giving up on each other are hallmarks of a true blue friend. It is true we get on better with some friends, while we struggle with others. Some friends we click with instantly, while with others we invest more time, effort and even money without the desired result. As a doctor who owns and runs a nursing home, I have seen children who dutifully pay my fees, but seldom or never come to visit their parents. I have also seen friends who drop by regularly with my inmates’ favourite hawker food! Like love, true friendship is best when it is unconditional!”
all the time! We confide certain things we cannot tell our parents. There are things I tell my parents I won’t tell my friends and vice versa. In my modelling world, I am surrounded by plenty of false friends, which is normal. We compete for the same jobs and tend to be similar in appearance, and if I get it, she won’t get it, and vice versa. So we are cordial and speak nicely and help each other, but I wouldn’t say we are close friends. I count male models as better friends! We don’t compete with each other since we are of different sex, so there is no secret rivalry. If I get a job, I also ask if they need male models who I can recommend, and the boys do the same. Male friends are more simple and less tiring. I tend to get on with people who are older, more mature, experienced and wiser than me. I learn so much from my elders, whether veteran models, agents, photographers or business people. I am also used to friends who are undependable, selfish and greedy, always thinking about themselves, but I have learned to be strong and independent. Many think models have plenty of friends, but these are “here today, gone tomorrow” friends. We are seen chatting and laughing together at parties after shows, but I am satisfied to have half a dozen good friends and lots of casual friends.” 83
PETER PENG He is 21-183-71 and has a slew of titles; Mr Oriental 2015 second runner-up, Asian Supermodel 4th runner-up and Face of Malaysia 2017 1st runner-up. At Seoul at the world finals, he won Oracle ambassadorship. He is remarkably sanguine and realistic despite his tender years. “I can tell if a friend is real or not. You can have a deep discussion with a friend you can’t have with family.
Friends come and go and often are seasonal. I had friends I saw almost daily in school or when modelling. I assumed they would be with me forever and then they disappeared! Either from moving to different towns or changing jobs. We can promise to see each other regularly, but once our jobs change, our paths don’t cross and soon our contacts fade even if we never quarrel. I think friends don’t last forever, but I am 21, so I can’t really say! But if I have 10 good friends to count on at every stage of my life, then I am happy! As a model, my friends tend to be fellow models as we get cooped inside changing rooms as modelling involves lots of waiting. My friends include make-up artists, hair stylists, fashion designers, gym babes, light and sound technicians, bookers and those in the fashion industry. Some friends like to run down or criticise others, while some are selfcentred. I am not perfect, so I don’t judge friends too much. People say it is impossible for
PENNY KOK Everyone assumes Penny Kok to be a Miss Malaysia, singer, movie star or just out from cosmetic surgery. She is none of these, as she is a real estate agent specialising in Australian and New Zealand properties. “Friendship is defined in many ways and cherished in different forms. What friendship means to you may be different from my definition. Some may actually prefer a shallow friendship if they prefer to keep themselves to themselves and not reveal too much to anyone. Others may enjoy a superficial friendship with a fair-weather friend so they can break off the bond anytime without feeling guilty. Most people have many acquaintances and just a coterie of close friends, maybe just five to ten. In my opinion, friendship is that magic moment when you find a companion and the connection is there and you click as if two lost souls are finally reunited. True friendship is when you take time out from your fully packed day just to have coffee and a laugh with them because they release tension. You will be there when they are down, even if it means you get 3 hours less sleep. Not because you 84
a boy and girl to be best friends without getting emotional or be in a relationship, but I think can! This is ‘bromance’, a friendship between a girl and boy not physical and is brotherly in nature. A boy and girl can be close friends without having to be a couple. Close friends are supposed to help each other, but I think it is also unfair to expect them to share my burdens. Why should they suffer or get involved when I get into trouble through my own fault? I expect my close friends to help when I get into a situation, but only to their best ability, as it is ridiculous for them to get stressed, suffer or stick their necks out. The only ones are your bf, gf or family. I am realistic when it comes to friends. A rich friend is not an ATM and should not be expected to pay for meals, movies or parking. Some friends have hidden agendas and exploit friends to make money or get what they want. My older mentors advise me to treat these as ‘tuition’ and unless I am very stupid, I should be able to survive!”
have to, but because you truly care as friendship is immortal. True friends show their real side to you and don’t show the façade they do to the world - the politeness, the fake niceness. This realness helps us realise our flaws, since friends are not afraid to call you out when you are wrong. This encourages us with self-evaluation and improvement essential to growth. Humans crave contact, approval and affection. Friends lead us out of the black hole of loneliness, which is this world without them. Their support, motivation and fun times are crucial to our survival. Without it, life would be an empty, dark, dingy place devoid of happiness and what is life without happiness?”
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Different days bring different kinds of luck for different animal signs. Be mindful of your very own Excellent and Vitality days of the Week and also take note of your Difficult day during each week of the month of September.
1. Overcoming the severe Obstacle days RabbitVKRXOGSODFHLPDJHRI 'UDJRQLQWKH5DEELWRQVW 6HSWHPEHU )RUWKHBoar SODFHDPRQNH\LQ WKH1RUWKZHVWRQWK6HSWHPEHU )RUDragonVKRXOGSODFHLPDJH RI5DEELWLQWKH6RXWKHDVWRQ WK6HSWHPEHU
F E N G S H U I WO R L D | w w w. f s w m a g . c o m | A U G U S T 2 0 1 7
)RUWKH RoosterSODFHD'RJLQ WKH:HVWRQWK6HSWHPEHU 2. Enhancing super good days Ox VKRXOGSODFHHDUWKHQKDQFHUV LQWKH1RUWKHDVWRQ6DWXUGD\RQ UG6HSWHPEHU Sheep VKRXOGSODFHHDUWK HQFKDQFHUVOLNHFU\VWDOVLQWKH 6RXWKHDVWRQWK6HSWHPEHU
3. Enhancing the Supre Vitality days in August RoosterHQKDQFHZLWK SODFHPHQWRIDEHMHZHOOHG GUDJRQ SnakeHQKDQFHZLWKD PRQNH\ILJXULQH Dog HQKDQFHZLWK %HMHZHOOHG5DEELW
85
RAT
OX
TIGER
1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008
1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009
1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010
You are entering a lucky month. New opportunities present themselves and money luck looks good. Your popularity soars and everyone wants to be your friend. Although some may not be as sincere as others, they are all well meaning, so enjoy the attention while it lasts. When it comes to making the most of opportunities, be brave. Capitalize on our good fortune by seizing the initiative to go after what you want. Friends and mentors are in a position to help you. Carry the Popularity Scarf to attract the right kind of mentors into your life. Enhance money luck by placing Fu Dog with Treasure Box facing the main entrance of your home. Love luck is good. Display a pair of Bejeweled Lovebirds in the Southwest of your bedroom, and write your secret wish to keep in the secret compartment.
Your luck bounces back this month, and things start proceeding a lot more smoothly. Your mood will also tend to be better this month, and your good humor makes you pleasant to be around. Make it a point to communicate your wishes. You’ll have plenty of ideas to share, so go ahead and share them. Make use of your social skills to establish a strong network of contacts and friends. Wear a Mystic Knot Pendant to ensure your efforts actualize into material results. This is good time to catch up with old friends and to get to know your clients on a more personal level. Money luck is good and will remain so for a while, so this is a good time to plan for your future. To speed up good things ripening for you, enhance with a Yellow :LVKIXOÀOOLQJ-HZHO. Display this jewel in Northeast of your desk or room.
This is a good month to spend quality time with family, friends and ORYHGRQHV
Fu Dog with Treasure Box
HORSE
Mystic Knot
SHEEP
Double Happiness Symbol
MONKEY
1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014
1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015
1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016
Your good luck runs out this month as the star of misfortune pays a visit. You PD\IDFHFDVKÁRZSUREOHPVSRRU health and even accidents. It is essential to have a Triple 5 Element Pagoda in 6RXWKRI\RXUKRPHRURIÀFHWRSURWHFW DJDLQVWVHULRXVDIÁLFWLRQ0DNHDQHZ Wealth Vase to protect your assets and keep it in hidden in the South sector of your bedroom. To guard against falling sick, place a Kuan Yin with Garuda beside your bed and try to keep the South area of the house very quiet. If you happen to live in the South part of the house, try to move out just for this month. Avoid longdistance travel this month and be cautious when driving. Display Chung Kwai at your main entrance to ward off bad energies.
7KHYLROHQWVWDUÁLHVLQWR\RXUFKDUW posing danger to your physical well being. Protect yourself by placing a pair of Fu DogsÁDQNLQJWKHHQWUDQFHRI your home. Wear an Evil Eye Bracelet to guard against harmful people. You PD\ÀQG\RXUVHOIJLYLQJLQWRH[KDXVWLRQ VRJHWVXIÀFLHQWUHVW7KHDWPRVSKHUHDW work could be negative, with colleagues making insinuating remarks. Don’t let them get to you. And don’t retaliate. If you take what they say too seriously, WKHLUFRPPHQWVZLOOEHFRPHVHOIIXOÀOOLQJ prophecies. Beware of business proposals that sound too good to be true or you FRXOGÀQG\RXUVHOIJHWWLQJGXSHG3ODFH your Horoscope Allies and Secret Friend on your work desk to bring help from trusted friends.
This month spells danger. There is a high likelihood of loss from being mugged or getting swindled. Carry an Anti-Burglary Keychain to protect from being harmed by people with evil intentions. Display a pair of Double Horned Rhinoceros in your home to protect against break-ins. Work gets competitive, but have faith in your abilities. Handle business deals with FDUHDV\RXFRXOGÀQG\RXUVHOI being cheated. Do not trust people easily. Romance heats up, but don’t fool around if you’re married. It’s not worth the repercussions. Display a Dragon & Phoenix in your bedroom to strengthen marriage luck. Your life force is low. Wear the Longevity Dzi Bracelet to protect against falling sick.
Kuan Yin with Garuda
86
Evil Eye Bracelet
Anti-Burglary Keychain
S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 7 | w w w. f s w m a g . c o m | F E N G S H U I W O R L D
RABBIT
DRAGON
SNAKE
1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011
1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012
1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013
This is another excellent month for you. There is little you can do this month that will not lead to success and great happiness. Your energy levels are high, and you will be able to juggle many things, all successfully. Do not be afraid to take on additional responsibilities. As long as you keep a positive frame of mind, you will soon be enjoying the fruit of your efforts. Display a Bejewelled 8 Abundance Doors Stupa in the home to preserve your good luck, and to keep the wealth of opportunities rolling in. To energize for extra side income by displaying a Harbour of Ships sailing into your home. If you can position the ships to sail in from your Sheng chi direction, it will be better.
This is a month of doubles where both good and bad luck comes doubly hard; aim to enhance good luck, as anything good that happens to you this month will be doubly good. But what’s even more important is to protect against ill fortune, because that too will be doubled when it happens. Avoid misfortune by displaying a Bejewelled White Umbrella in the Southeast. You can also wear an OM pendant for protection. Enhance money luck with a Wealth Granting Tree in the Southeast. This is a good month to take risks in business or in the stock market. Even if you are busy, it is advantageous to make time to meet up with old acquaintances.
Another excellent month for the Snake when good things happen one after another. You are on a roll, and the only thing that can stop you this month is exhaustion! You may not be able to keep up with your good luck! Wear the 12 Eyed Dzi to give your energy levels a boost, and display the White Dzambhala Treasurer Chest to increase wealth luck. To boost success luck displays a Bejeweled 8 Trees in the Southeast of your home. Carry your Allies and Secret Friend Amulet to attract helpful people into your life. If you are single and looking for romance, enhance the SW of your bedroom with a red lampshade and a pair of Magpies. In addition, activate Peach Blossom luck with a HorseÀJXULQHLQ the South.
Om Pendant
Bejewelled 8 Abundance Doors Stupa
ROOSTER
DOG
Bejewelled Tree
BOAR
1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017
1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018
1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019
You get exasperated far too easily this PRQWK\RXDOVRÀQGRWKHUVÀJKWLQJZLWK you over petty matters. There could be trouble with the law, so stick to the rules and always keep your temper in check. Display a Red Eagle holding Jade Star 3 in the West corner of your home as a remedy for the quarrelsome energies WKDWVXUURXQG\RX:RUNVHHVRIÀFH politics raise its ugly head. Deal with this by displaying a Rooster on your desk to peck away at vicious comments. Display a Tortoise behind you at work to ensure unwavering support from your boss. You face obstacles when attempting to seal business deals and you may suspect your business partners are out to get you whatever you do, stay calm and don’t over-react.
Caution is the keyword as your chart is burdened with the double illness stars. This month will see you more prone to accidents and illnesses. Avoid risky sporting activities. Display a Wu Lou next to your bed for better health. You PD\ÀQGLWGLIÀFXOWWRIRFXVWKLVPRQWK so don’t take too many unfamiliar challenges. Avoid strenuous physical activities that could affect your thighs. Place a Dragon Tortoise with Ru Yi in the North to activate career luck. On a happier note, romance luck is good and female Dogs PD\ÀQGWKHPVHOYHV especially pampered by their partners this month. Minor health problems DIÁLFW\RXQJGRJVEXW holing up at home is the worst remedy for getting better. Get out and get some sun!
There is the double danger of illness and accidents this month, watch your health, especially if you’re prone to falling sick. Elderly Boars should avoid residing in the Northwest. Keep a Seven Medicine Buddha Plaque by your bedside to suppress illness chi. Be careful when driving or indulging in dangerous sports or physical activity. Lay off anything risky this month. Career and income luck is low this month. Avoid brash money decisions or taking action before thinking things through. Make the best use of your analytical skills because logical thinking will be your saviour this month. If you’re feeling unsure, delay decision-making. Seek counsel from a trusted mentor. A good business amulet will help protect you from loss of sales and income.
Red Eagle
F E N G S H U I WO R L D | w w w. f s w m a g . c o m | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 7
Wu Lou
7 Medicine Buddha Plaque
87
WEALTH GURU RINPOCHE CAR STICKER Guru Rinpoche has the power to overcome all obstacles and difficulties.
CALL: +603-2080 3488 EMAIL: [email protected]
Anti Burglary Scarf This beautiful silk scarf has the amulet wheel that guards against harm caused by pickpocket and snatch thieves. In 2017, the Robbery #7 star flies into the Southwest. Those whose bedrooms, entrance or office are located in these two sectors are advised to wear the Anti-Burglary scarf when commuting.
TM
Available at all World Of Feng Shui Boutiques or online at www.fsmegamall.com/sept2017
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Available at all World Of Feng Shui Boutiques or online at www.fsmegamall.com/sept2017
Significant Spiritual Days
SEPTEMBER 2017
This comprehensive spiritual calendar marks all the significant and powerful days to chant mantras, perform pujas and conduct powerful rituals that will increase your wealth, success, love and happiness. Please take note of these dates and read the explanation on the facing page. Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
2
1 Thousand Buddhas Day
5
4
6
7
Kalachakra Day
Sunday
8
3
Thousand Buddhas Day
10
9
SPECIAL MEDICINE BUDDHA DAY
Medicine Buddha Day
Amitayus Day Amitabha Day
12
11
14
13
16
15
17
Avalokiteshvara Day Dakini Day
19
18
24
22
21
20
White Tara Day Shakyamuni Day
26
25
28
27
29
Tara Day
1
30
Thousand Buddhas Day
Guru Rinpoche Day
16 Arhats Puja Medicine Buddha Day
RIGHT ANKLE
RIGHT FOOT
RIGHT FOOT
RIGHT TOES
LEFT TOES
LEFT FOOT
LEFT HEEL
LEFT ANKLE
LEFT KNEE
LEFT HIP
LEFT FINGERS
LEFT HAND
LEFT ANKLE
LEFT FOOT
LEFT FOOT
LEFT TOES
RIGHT TOES
RIGHT FOOT
RIGHT HEEL
RIGHT ANKLE
RIGHT KNEE
RIGHT HIP
RIGHT FINGERS
RIGHT HAND
LEFT PALM
RIGHT KNEE LEFT KNEE
LEFT WRIST
RIGHT HIP LEFT HIP
RIGHT PALM
RIGHT FINGERS LEFT FINGERS
RIGHT WRIST
RIGHT PALM
RIGHT HAMD LEFT HAND
RIGHT WRIST LEFT WRIST
LEFT PALM
THROAT
RIGHT SHOULDER
CROWN
HEART
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
NECK
7
LEFT SHOULDER
8
FOREHEAD
NAPE
6
NAPE
NECK
HEART
Vitality Point (Women)
THROAT
CROWN
Vitality Point (Men)
LEFT SHOULDER
5
RIGHT SHOULDER
4
LEFT ELBOW
3
RIGHT ELBOW
2
LEFT ELBOW
1
RIGHT ELBOW
September
FOREHEAD
VITALITY POINTS OF THE BODY
The table here shows the locations of your body’s vitality points on each day of the month. Getting bruised or injured, or performing surgery on the joints or organs located at or near these points weakens your life-span and vitality considerably and can be fatal if your life-force is already low. Refer to this table when setting dates for medical operations.
A MONTH OF DOUBLE BUDDHA DAYS This month we enjoy two Thousand Buddha Days on the 1st and 2nd, and a special Medicine Buddha Day on the 6th. Reciting mantras of the Medicine Buddha and sutra of the Thousand Buddhas on these days generate extraordinary merit as karmic results are multiplied on these days! Avoid negative speech, thoughts and actions on this day. Remember also to take note of all the activities to be avoided (e.g. no funerals, medical, parties, weddings, prayer flags, etc) indicated on these calendar days. Offer Tsog on Guru Rinpoche (30th) and Dakini Day (15th) to generate extensive merit for prosperity and abundance to enter your life.
Buddha Days TARA DAY – Chanting Tara Mantras and praises on these days multiplies success and removes obstacles. Join Lillian Too and her Dharma friends online in performing Tara Puja on the 8th day of the Spiritual Calendar. Write to [email protected] for details on how to participate. White Tara Day – Chanting the mantra of White Tara, Buddha of Long life, and making offerings to her on this days purifies negative karma that brings obstacles to long life. Excellent for those who are ill or elderly. Medicine Buddha Day – Chanting the 7 Medicine Buddha names and mantras on this day purifies 30 eons of negative karma and brings swift healing to those who are ill. It also brings BIG success for all activities. Thousand Buddhas Day – Reciting the names of the Thousand Buddhas of our fortunate eon on this day purifies 200 eons of negative karma and prevents rebirth into the animal, ghost and hell realms. You remove obstacles to wish-fulfillment. Amitabha Day – Chanting his mantra purifies 200 eons of negative karma and leads you to Amitabha’s heaven land. You develop strong powers of speech. Avalokiteshvara Day – Chanting his mantra purifies 90 eons of negative karma and brings blessings of happiness, peace and goodwill. You become lucky in meeting people who will constantly help you. Amitayus Day – Chanting his mantra increases longevity and healing for those suffering from terminal illness like cancer and AIDS. You remove the karma of premature death. Shakyamuni Day – Chanting Shakyamuni mantra and praises purifies 1000 eons of negative karma and invite rains of blessings! You reverse the karma of spiraling into darkness and will be led irreversibly towards happiness and enjoyments in this life and future lives. Guru Rinpoche Day – Making lavish offerings to Guru Rinpoche and chanting his mantra on this day invites the Protection of Guru Rinpoche. You will be led irreversibly to happiness, comfort and a life filled with powerful spirituality. Read the Tsog prayer. Dakini Day – Making incense and food offerings to all the female deities and dakinis brings good fortune and merit. Read the Tsog prayer.
*Special Puja Days Incense Puja – Good days for offering incense to Buddhas, protectors and local deities. Protector Puja – Offering Black Tea to King Gesar and all protectors on these days brings powerful protection against obstacles and black magic. Long Life Sisters Puja – Offering Black Tea and Milk to the Five Long Life sisters on these days brings protection against disasters of the five elements Tsog Offering - Reading the Food Offering Prayer before all meals multiples your good karma millions of times.
Auspicious Days Court Days – Harmonious days for resolving disputes and attending court hearings, mediations and trials. Long-Life Rituals - Powerful days for reciting mantras of the Long Life Buddhas – Amitayus, White Tara and Namgyalma. Also excellent for animal liberation rituals Wealth Rituals – Powerful days to offer water to White Dzambhala Wealth deity and chant his mantras. Also very auspicious for making and consecrating wealth vases and chanting mantras & sutras for attracting prosperity luck. Chant the Sutra of Norbu Sangpo. Parties & Weddings – Parties and Celebrations performed on these days multiplies and increases happiness luck. Success Rituals – Powerful days for chanting Noble Stack of Auspiciousness, Hooking Abundance and making prayers for success. Prayer Flags – Raising Wind Horse & mantra flags on these days bring good fortune and blessings. Start Spiritual Journey – Very auspicious days for starting retreat, pilgrimages or performing new spiritual practice for the first time. House Blessings - Excellent days to conduct space cleansing rituals and to invite a holy man to bless your home.
Inauspicious Days No Court – Bad days for dispute resolution, divorce, court trials, hearings & mediation. Disagreements & disharmony prevails. No Funeral - Bad days to perform funerals, burials, cremations and conduct wakes. No Medical – Bad days for major surgical/medical procedures. Medical treatment will have obstacles. No Starting Business – Starting or officiating businesses on these days bring un-ending obstacles to the business. No Prayer Flags – Hanging Wind Horse or mantra flags on these days bring constant obstacles that will plague success. No Weddings/Parties – Holding gatherings, parties or getting married on such days bring discord and disharmony. Friends will turn into enemies.
ASK
AUNT AGGA
If you have a problem you think feng shui can solve, ask Aunt Agga by emailing her at [email protected]
NEED TO LANDSCAPE MY GARDEN BUT IT IS IN THE SOUTH
Q
My garden is located in the Southeast, South and Southwest area of my home. It needs to be landscaped this year. I know that some of these directions are afflicted this year. Are there any cures I can place while this work is being carried out? This year, the South has the Five Yellow so this part of the garden is seriously afflicted, so digging in this part of the garden can have very unpleasant consequences. But if your garden really spans across the SE, South and SW area, then you can get around this “taboo” by starting the digging in the Southeast, and work your way across to end in the Southwest. As long as you do not start or end in the South sector, then you minimise the problem. You should still place many Five Element Pagoda cures in the South corner of the house just to be extra cautious.
A
POOR AND SUPPORTING SICK HUSBAND.
Q
I work at hospital for a meagre salary and I have to support a sick husband. I am often in debt although we live very modestly. I live 92
in Serbia so it is difficult to find feng shui items here. What can I do to improve my luck? I’m sorry to hear about your sick husband and your difficult situation. I can suggest a few things which you can do to slowly improve your situation. Please chant Dzambhala Mantras as much as possible – he is the Buddha of Wealth and request for financial help. You should also try to rescue animals that are meant for eating and release them into the wild every full moon. This will not only help improve husband’s health, it will improve your overall luck by a lot.
A
MY FAMILY MEMBERS ARE DYING. I FAIL IN EVERYTHING.
Q
Recently my mother-in-law died. I just got a new job and then my father-in-law died too. I feel very bad in my new job. Everything I seems to fail. What can I do please? We live in the same house. Usually when one elderly member passes away, the other elderly spouse will go soon if they were very close or dependent on each other. I think you need to do some cleansing in your home to remove all this Yin energy. Burn incense every morning and walk around your home, while playing mantra music all day. I recommend
A
Mantras of Chenrezig, Medicine Buddha or Amitabha. If the spirits of your in-laws are still hanging around, then these mantras will help them to move forwarded from the intermediate state. AS for your failure – please check your feng shui and focus on ways to create “merit”. One easy way of creating the merit of success is to release animals that are sure to die. For example, buying live fish from restaurant and releasing them in the river or sea (please check whether the fish is sea or fresh water fish). Make donations charities or volunteer your time. Whatever little donation you can make will always help.
FRIEND BRUSHED MY F E E T W I T H B RO O M STICK
Q
My friend accidentally swept my feet with a broomstick. I know this is bad luck. Is there a remedy? The easiest way is to wash your feet with “cleansing water” that has been energised with the sun’s rays (leaving it in the morning sun for 2-3 hours) and then infused with one of the two methods: sun water soaked with kaffir lime leaves, or sun water soaked with pomelo leaves.
A
BEDROOM ABOVE BATHROOM, KITCHEN OR GARAGE
Q
If your bedroom is above a bathroom, a kitchen or a garage, will it have a negative impact on you? Yes, yes and yes! Not a good idea to have to have bedroom above any of these three rooms. Of the three, the worse is bathroom. Garage is the least bad – but only if it is used as a storage shed for junk. If you park your car in the garage everyday then it’s not an empty space .. so it’s ok to sleep in a room above the garage.
A
S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 7 | w w w. f s w m a g . c o m | F E N G S H U I W O R L D
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GOOD or BAD DAYS TO CUT HAIRSeptember 2017
There is a little-known and rare sutra which reveals the consequences of cutting your hair on the wrong days – and WKHH[WUDRUGLQDU\EHQH¿WVRIFXWWLQJLWRQWKHFRUUHFWGD\7KHULJKWDQGZURQJGD\VDUHEDVHGRQWKH7LEHWDQ&DOHQGDU DQGIRU\RXUEHQH¿W)HQJ6KXL:RUOGKDVWUDQVFULEHGWKHVHJRRGDQGEDGGD\VLQWRWKH:HVWHUQGDWHVIRU\RX Monday
Tuesday
GOOD Good fortune comes to you. Luck in all life areas improve. Small obstacles are overcome with little effort.
4 BAD You will catch a disease or fall very ill. Young children & elderly folk must not cut hair today.
11
GOOD Wealth, investments & possessions increase. You could aquire new property.
5 GOOD A job offer, promotion or money making-opportunity will come to you.
12
Wednesday
BAD You could lose something or someone precious and miss out on opportunities.
6
7
GOOD Enjoyments increase. You receive good news & your life becomes more comfortable.
13 BAD You attract unpleasant spiritual disturbances from ghosts, wandering spirits & night demons.
GOOD Possessions increase. You will acquire a new asset: i.e. a car, property, electronics or clothes.
BAD You could be sued in court or get in trouble with the authorities.
BAD Inner essence & vitality weakens. You will feel depressed & sickly.
25
26
18
19
Friday
GOOD Brings auspiciousness. Your life becomes smoother & blessed with good timing on all activities.
BAD Your spirit essence weakens considerably. You become vulnerable to spirit harm, depression & mental illnesses.
BAD MisunderstandLQJV FRQÁLFW with others. Relationships with your spouse, relatives and friends deteriorate.
Thursday
20
27
Saturday
GOOD Intelligence & knowledge increases. ([FHOOHQWGD\ for students & young children to cut hair.
GOOD Intelligence & knowledge increases. ([FHOOHQWGD\ for students & young children to cut hair.
1
2
BAD Lowers inner resistence to dark magic & spells. Your FRPSOH[LRQ grows pale & you could fall sick.
8
BAD Eye infection & vision problems. You miss important events & meetings in the near future.
BAD You will catch a contagious disease. You could develop a skin rash or an acute viral infection.
BAD Shortens life span. Elderly people over 60 & sickly individuals should avoid cutting hair today.
BAD Health declines. You could get sick or catch a disease. Avoid cutting hair or shaving.
14
21 GOOD Increases life span! Good day for elderly above age 60 to cut hair today!
28
Sunday
15
22 GOOD Friendship! You may meet with an old IULHQGH[ER\ girlfriend or begin a new romance.
29
BAD Brings danger & violence. You could have an accident, get mugged, be attacked or fall into a hole.
3
GOOD You receive posessions & gifts from others. You will hear good news related to property & vehicles.
GOOD Helpful people. A mentor, friend or relative will offer advice, support & assistance when needed.
9
10
GOOD Blessings of happiness. Problems will have solutions. Heart break will dissolve. Good news is coming.
GOOD Good karma ZLVKIXIÀO ment increases. Others will show kindness and generosity towards you.
16
17
GOOD You get a sudden windfall i.e. a gambling win, surprise ERQXVH[ pensive gift or opportunity to make money.
GOOD
GOOD Power & authority comes to you. You could get promoted or asked to lead a new project.
GOOD Intelligence & knowledge increases. ([FHOOHQWGD\ for students & young children to cut hair.
23
30
24
1
Lillian Too & Jennifer Too
FORTUNE & FENG SHUI 2018
your astrology updates for the Year of the
g o D
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