Coming out of China - part 5 Maoshan

Maoshan is up next.  We visited the temple dedicated to Lao Tzu, the teacher who wrote the infamous Tao Te Ching.  Tao as we know it is the Way, that which cannot be named.  Again there is a huge bronze statue of the great teacher.  While parts of the temple is old, most of the larger structures are new.  And as with most Tao temples, it is assimilated with Buddhism.

Coming out of China - part 4 Nanjing

Awoke at 6.30 pm after a good night sleep.  Last night was the only night we slept more than 7 hours as we look at early night.  The other days have been sheer rushing around and late nights.

The rest were still chatting over breakfast while I had my quiet time.  The group converse in Chinese most of the time so I could not really participate in the conversations.

Today Siong Po told us that we would be visiting memorial sites.  Along the way, I see mature maple trees everywhere lining the streets.  It was kind of exciting to finally get to see the tree I have always wanted to see.  Apart from that, there were lots of fir, alpine, spruce, gingko and willow trees.  The air in Nanjing is rather cool.

First we visited the Nanjing Massacre Memorial where 300,000 people died during the pre-WW2 Japanese invasion into China.  The place is so solemn, dark and stark, and dedicated to peace with very modern architecture.

Then it was on to the Presidential Palace of Chiang Kai Shek.  The palace is so well taken care of both the building interiors and the gardens.  It is so full of history.

Nanjing is a mixed city of old and new, rich and poor.  

Finally we went to Zhongshan Park where the world heritage - the Ming and Ching tombs are located.  This park is so immense it took us half a day and yet we did not manage to cover the whole place.

All in all, we walked through the day, looking at Chinese history from the Ming dynasty to the modern day, and even got lost after dark in the park.  We huffed and puffed our way back to the carpark after walking in circles, in the dark.

Coming out of China - part 3

We departed Sungchiang Jinjiang Inn after breakfast to head for Wuxi to visit Lingshan's park dedicated to Buddha which holds the tallest bronze statue of Buddha in China and in the world at a height of 88 meters.  I was totally enthralled in the beauty of the place and took many pictures.

We spent some 2 hours here and despite the heat of the day, we walked on and climbed to the Buddha's feet.  Looking down, we could see a straight line of structures going down the slope into flat land and the sea.

While this place is a tourist attraction like the temple in Shanghai, it is much more peaceful here as there are more green than people and the place is open.  Certainly China has done a lot to build lovely parks dedicated to various topic of interests.  It is a culturally rich country.

Coming down the hill, I passed by a flock of pure white pigeons feeding on seeds off hands of visitors.  They miggled with people so naturally.

Coming out of China - Part 2

We took a morning flight from Xiamen to Shanghai and was met by Siong Po, Sifu's good friend at Pudong International Airport.  We were immediately taken to visit Shanghai's City God Temple.  At first sight, I was really impressed by the heavy cultural essence of the place but after going into the grounds which was packed full of people, locals and tourists alike, I found that it was all about commercialism at the temple.  

Firstly we had to pay to get into the temple.  In the temple amongst worshippers were people donning colourful customers chanting prayers.  We made our offerings and prayers, and I wondered around taking photos.  Unfortunately that day, I ventured to far out past the exit gate to take some pictures outside (unaware that once I made it through the gate, I was not to be allowed back in).  I walked back to the front to get back with my group but was chased by the people at the front gate, shouting at me rudely in Chinese.  Fortunately, my friends were nearby and they saved me from the ticket vendors.  The event left me rather upset.  I felt like how Jesus must have felt when he went to the temple of God and found peddlars of all kinds at the house of God.  While Jesus threw them out, all I could do was weep at the lack of respect in a place of worship.  How sad.  My friends told me that that is how it is there and we left the temple for lunch and visit the rest of the place.

That experience set aside, Siong Po brought us to the famous Shanghai Bund.  Along the way, I noted that Shanghai is a very developed metropolitan city, far more advanced than Xiamen.  The city has some 20 million population (vs Malaysia's 26 million), 10 million cars, and 4000 sky scrapers (5000 by 2010).  It is by all means the largest city in China but miraculously there was very little honking compared with Xiamen.

We visited both side of the Bund and like people on tour, we were rushed from one end to another.  The city skyline was fantastic and looked different both in day and nighttime.  It was a very tiring day for us, having walked so much from 1  to 7 pm.

Then it was off to Sungchiang to check in to a Jinjiang Inn at 10 pm.  Sungchiang is a 1000 year old city, modernised to look like a very young city with many universities.  There were young maple and ginkgo trees planted all along the streets.  After freshening up, we were brought by Siong Po to a Massage Parlour for a good foot massage.  The lady who did the massage for me Changna was very good.  She massaged all the aches away.  Then it was off to bed.

Coming out of China - Part 1

The 10 days in China came and went by so very quickly with my spartling Chinese.  It was quite an eye opening trip as it was not as bad as what I heard about.  It was pleasant to note that the 4 main places I went to were rather clean - Xiamen, Nanjing, Shanghai and Putuo-shan.  

I had only 3 complaints - the heat, the open spitting and the loud noise levels (the Chinese tend to speak very loudly like they are arguing, and they tend to honk when they drive).

There were maple trees everywhere, lining the streets of all these cities, mixed with ginkgo, pine and willow trees.  I could tell by the look of the trees that most of them were more than 50 years old.  The maple trees were just starting to turn gold.

Hardly any land was wasted, either used for development, housing or agriculture.  There were vegetable and rice farms everywhere, even in Nanjing and Shanghai where there were vacant land.

Xiamen is reported to be the cleanest city in China.  One can hardly find trash anywhere.  Shops open from 9 am to 10.30 at night.  If there are customers, they stay open till 11 or 12.  They are very accommodating.

The day we arrived at Xiamen, we immediately departed for Fujian Nan'an, a small town 1.5 hours drive from Xiamen to visit the town god's temple.  Nan'an is Fujian's stone city.  There were so many stone factories around the city with many heavy vehicles loaded with stone plying the roads, resulting in dusty and badly damaged roads.

We made our prayer offerings at the temple dedicated to Chen Hwang (Emperor of Hades) and his generals Ah Pek and Ji Pek.  This temple, we were told was built in the 1700's for Nan'an's army.  After paying our respects, we were invited to drink Chinese tea by the caretaker of the temple who has worked there since he was a boy.  We then made our way back to Xiamen and checked into our hotel, freshened up, proceeded to dinner and all had a foot massage to wind down the long day.

Day 2 was spent going to Anxi, tea city of the Fujian Province.  The road there was partly dusty but not as dirty as the road to Nan'an.  We passed many tea plantations and discovered that the famous Tikuanyin tea originated here and a park is dedicated to the legendary founder.   More about the story later.  There were padi fields and vegetable farms intermingled with tea.  There were also lots of bamboo growing along the rivers.  Yes, Anxi is also famous for its bamboo products.

We visited 2 temples here, got lost along the way because the taxi driver did not know the way.  The 2 temples were Chien Sui Yen (Clear Water Stone temple) and Anxi Chen Hwang Miau (town god temple dedicated to the Emperor of Hades).

On Day 3, we made our way into the inner city of Yongning, just outside of Xiamen.  We visited 2 temples, the older Stone Lion City God Temple and the newer Yongning's town god temple, both dedicated to the Emperor of Hades.  The Stone Lion City God Temple dates back to 300 AD.  

Although the people here visit temples all the time to pray, these temples were located in the more notorious parts of town, our van having to go through narrow roads passing by local wet markets lining the narrow streets with motorbike taxis and beggars galore.  We were advised to take care as the bikers just rode the streets like they owned it, and the beggars, they come out of thin air, asking for alms just outside the temples.

That was 3 solid days of visiting 5 temples, which were mainly dedicated to the Emperor of Hades but some of them had branched out to include Buddhism.  The last temple we visited also had a pure Tao section where a Sifu teaching Tao sits.

Leaving on a jetplane for Xiamen China

I am now at Gate D38, waiting to board the plane. I do feel a bit excited as it is my first trip to China. Had very little sleep this morning as we got back from temple only at 3 am and work up at 5.30 am.

Passengers are now boarding.

Hougang Avenue 5, Singapore

Coach departed 1-Utama at 10 am. The journey was very nice, the coach very comfortable. Air cond was very cold. There were only 10 passengers. Stopped for 20 mins at Pagoh rest area.

Arrived in Singapore at 3 pm and got to Uncle Lee's place at 4. Got in by MRT after Bus arrived at terminal. The weather is fine and very hot and humid. Uncle Lee's birds are chirping, as usual, and the parrot is talking a lot.

Soon I will go explore around the area to see the trees. The trees here are all very well shaped.

I miss my boys... but absence makes the heart fonder.

This trip to China is a special one. I am following a group of Singaporeans to visit several temples in Fujian Province, Shanghai, Nanjing and Putuo-shan for divine intervention. At the same time, I will be seeking alternative approaches to treating depression. I want to stop taking the medication which I believe is not good for me.

I will pray for peace and harmony for all sentient beings.

Coach to Singapore en route to China

I am leaving by the 10 am coach to Singapore.  Sent Jordan to school this morning.  He kept very quiet, refused to look at me.  I know that he is sad that I will be gone for 12 days.  When he got out of the car, he said goodbye without looking at me.  I sent him lots of love.

When I got home, Jouwe my youngest came downstairs saying that I cannot go out.  It took a while to calm him down.

Then No 2 came down.  Johan was crying, demanding that I do not go.  But after consoling him and telling him that the 12 days will pass by quickly, he calmed down and we talked about what I would get him from China and things we can do together when I get home.

I am completing my packing and spend some time with Johan and Jouwe.

I am grateful that I have a wonderful husband and 3 wonderful sons.

My sons are already missing me as I will be away for 12 days

My sons did not realize that I would be leaving for Singapore tomorrow and China on Tuesday, and be away for 12 days until about 7 pm.  My eldest started to cry as he was sad that I would be away for so long.  In fact, this will be the longest I am away from the family.  Then my second started weeping as well, begging me not to go away for so long.

It is always the hard for any parent to leave the family for a trip, especially if it is for a long period.  Typically I am away for 3-5 days, and that is always local travel.  Now I will be further away for almost 2 weeks. 

After a long while, they managed to calm down and sat down to each write me a love letter, only meant to be opened when I am on the way to Singapore.  They told me that they will miss me and so will I.  I had to hold back my emotions as I did not want them to feel sadder.

Well, Jordan has asked me to take many pictures of my travel and the 3 boys have each asked for specific presents from China.

Recovered or Not???

Yesterday I had an appointment with my psychiatrist who got me upset about what I thought was recovery and what he the doctor thought.  He said that I have recovered from (am out of) depression yet I am still on high dosage of medication.  He said that the medication is to keep me away from depression.  So does it mean that I am recovered?

I am disappointed that he is not willing to help me get my housing loan settled by the MRTA, just because he views my case as not permanent (but recurrent), even though the insurers and bank are willing to help.  Even doctors nowadays are insensitive and not compassionate.

Even though he is my attending doctor, he does not know that I am still not stable, that I cannot stay alert, that I cannot multitask, that I do not like crowds, that I dream vividly a lot resulting in me waking up very tired.  My eyes are dilated from the medication causing me to have tensed eyes and increased prescription, at times my hands tremble, I feel tired all the time, etc.

My husband read in the latest Men's Health that most people suffering from depression do not recover with medication, that medication only help 10% of patients.  What is the truth out there?

According to WHO, 20% of world population suffer from a form of mental illness.  What is the recovery rate from taking high dosage of medication like efexor and epilim?

Window to Shell's Top Management

On September 16, I sent out an open letter to Jeroen van der Veer, Chief Executive, Royal Dutch Shell, about my predicament - having been dismissed on medical grounds for depression.  This letter took a lot of effort and consideration to write, with advice from Derrick, my sister Margaret and brother-in-law Staffan.  Only after it was edited, checked and re-edited, was it sent out.

After sending it out, I left it as it was, not thinking much about it until Wednesday, during my telecon with Shell Malaysia Industrial Relations Manager, when I was told that Jeroen's office has taken up my case and will be communicating with me shortly.

Then on Thursday, I received an email from Jonathan Kohn, HR Director, informing me that Jeroen has communicated with Chairman Dato' Saw.  Jonathan wants to see me to hear from me my experience the last few months.

Is this a window of opportunity for me to speak my peace and be vindicated?  After exhausting several attempts to appeal for a better explanation for the dismissal, a reversal of the dismissal decision and a gratuity package other than that of the VSS formula (talking with the Medical Adviser, HR Manager, Health and Safety Manager, Managing Director, and even the HR GM), I was about to give up my cause when my family told me not to take it all sitting down, that I had to fight back.

That's when we got some legal advice and was told that I was unfairly dismissed, that the manner in which I was dismissed was unlawful, that I can win in the court of law.

However, rather than going out at arms in the court of law, I took the soft approach of the open letter.  My website www.shelledfordepression.com is now on the web, ready to be launched.  I have some 1,000 email addresses that I can use to garner support (500 of them from Shell).