Dear folks,
Last month, we made a field trip to Pulau Ubin, an offshore island 20 minutes away by bumboat. A few years back, a pair of hornbills was spotted on the island. After 4 years of painstaking monitoring and protection by NParks, there are now about 60 of these magnificent birds.
Kangxi Exhibition at Asian Civilization Museum
Good and bad news
I have got good news. The speed camera located along CTE in vicinity of Braddell area, which has been there for yonder years, is now dismantled. The speed limit remains at 90 kmh. Here’s the bad news. Traffic speed along that stretch has come down considerably as vehicular congestion is order of the day during peak hours. So I guess it’s a case of bad news leading to the good. For me, it’s mostly good. My travel pattern is contrarian.
Alternative to handshake
With WHO escalation close to pandemic status on (A)H1N1, this brings me back to SARS in 2003. I was then working in a hospital and you can imagine the anxiety every day. We were issued N95 mask, test fitted. We were also taught how best to wash our hands thoroughly and were audited from time to time. We recorded our own temperature twice a day. The most challenging task then was contact tracing.
Handshake is probably one of the worst virus transmission mechanisms as contact takes place. That’s why I think Japanese are very sensible; bowing to greet. Stay away from cheek kissing; best reserved for love ones.
There are a few good practices one can exercise during this time. Waste your hands with soap more frequently. Wipe computer keys with hand rub antiseptic alcohol. Exercise, have adequate rest and I am a believer of sunshine. Have 10 minutes of sunshine; it sanitize and energize. If you are unwell, go consult the doc and mask up if you have a cold, runny nose. Better still, stay home.
As for handshakes, I am getting people to modify protocol. Each time, you greet to shake hands, just lift your right hand 180 degrees to shoulder level and say POW. The other party should do likewise and then say WOW. Try that. It’s actually quite easy. I tried on a Japanese guest and he responded by giving me a high five! Oh no…
Hurrah, cyclists have rights too!
Welcome On Board HPA May09
HPA-Chen Sin Chee
HPA-Fumishige Tamura
HPA-Vincent D’silva
HPA-Wong Wai Ling