SUMMER LOTUS

Summer Lotus Dec 24 6 min read

Travel builds good memories for recall during this pandemic.

If not for this pandemic, I would be in snow land in Japan right now. Just early January this year before anyone has heard of the word Covid-19, I had the good fortune to be in Nirvana, which is Niseko in the wildland of Hokkaido.

I will never forget the moment the bus pulled up at the bus-stop and the driver said that we have to alight. It was snowing heavy white powder everywhere. When my friend, Irene and I got off, we went straight knee-deep into the powdered snow with our bags half-submerged as well.

We felt a mix of joy and trepidation as the snow beat down on us. In the bitter cold and both of us handling a sizeable bag, we wondered if we could make it to the train station 500m away. The cold shook us to the core yet we wanted this experience.

A passerby offered to help us book a taxi but all taxis would only pick us up from the station. We gritted our teeth and dragged our bags along the wet road, avoiding the side pavements that had built up with snow. In and out of shops we went, first a bakery, then a cafe, to get a respite from the cold and partake of something hot to beat the chill.

Alas, we reached the station. Anywhere in Japan, the customer service counter never disappoints. Most of the staff were volunteers, happy to converse with foreigners in English. We booked a cab that came promptly and the driver took us on a scenic route to our hotel.

Absolute Niseko Lodge is in a great location in Kutchan city at a price that was very affordable. The lodge was behind a resort that is next to the main street. It had stopped snowing but that did not dampen our enthusiasm. As soon as we checked in the bags, we made snowballs and threw them at each other outside the lodge.

The first day at Kutchan town of Niseko was exploration. We noticed that this skiing spot was a top hit with foreigners judging from the international mix. Everything was within reach with a huge supermarket that caters to many tastes and stock full of necessary items for a resort as remote as Niseko.

The Japanese restaurant had a long queue way before it was opened and people were already milling around to join the queue. We walked the streets and passed many quaint resorts. There were many upscale apartments in the process of completion for the year 2021 for interested investors and I can imagine more crowd would come to experience the famous quality snow here.

From where we stood, the ski mountain was all around us and skiers were enjoying their sport. I must say it was too crowded for an amateur skier like me. However, we were in Niseko. Even if I did not ski, I would not miss the scenic beauty for anything in the world.

Ahead of me, Mount Yotei loomed. It is very similar to Mount Fuji in Tokyo, in the prefecture of Honshu. The view was equally breathtaking. At various times of the day from dawn to sunset, the mystic Mt Yotei appealed to us and we started taking pictures. The properties in Kutchan seemed very much sought after.

From Kutchan, we were close to Hirafu village where the biggest resort, Grand Hirafu stands. That leaves a reason for us to be back. We had only two nights at Kutchan where we spent pretty much of the time watching skiers negotiate their courses down the slopes, sampling great food and wine, and enjoying some onsen.

Our next stop was Tomamu, unheard of to me at least but I was glad to experience it. Out of Niseko, we boarded a bus that headed for Tomamu, about 2 hours away.

This time, we were looking forward to staying in a large Japanese home turned hotel.

Mr. and Mrs. Tadayuki Natsui are the owners of the property, Pension Ing Tomamu. A large brown house in the middle of nowhere but Mr. Tadayuki’s service was impeccable. He would pick up his guests and also brought them back to the bus station or railway station on checkout. In addition, he provided free transport to popular places near his lodge.

Pension Ing Tomamu has a perfect setting of a home with a cozy dining area, fireplace, and an indoor onsen to boot. At the specified time arranged every morning, we would first have a delicious Japanese breakfast. Breakfast with a view of the snowy surroundings.

Everything tasted so good in winter but to be honest, Japanese food is just delicious. Mr. Tadayuki dropped us at a famous ski resort called Hoshino resorts Tomamu that is very popular with the Chinese Nationals. We also arranged a pick-up time back to his pension house.

What really impressed me were the ski slopes of Tomamu resort. There were miles and miles of wide ski routes and it was a really massive change from Niseko, though the latter is world-famous. For amateur skiers like myself, this came as a great relief as I need not worry about bumping people off their tracks.

I stayed on the green course which was the basic route for beginners and that was wide and long enough to allow skiers to enjoy the unimpeded slopes of Tomamu. Tomamu is also known to be very snowy which added to the thrill.

The snow felt so velvety smooth it is no wonder the skiers who come to Hokkaido are also called powder hunters.

Not once did I fell on the slopes. I was not going at a particularly high speed and that attested to the easy skiing on Tomamu slopes due to the snow quality. The two skyscrapers stood in contrast to the wild surroundings of Tomamu which is actually quite remote in Hokkaido.

Tomamu resort has a sprawling network of restaurants which were often full but we managed to sample the food there. Most memorable were Hokkaido-Charred Shoyu ramen, old-fashioned ramen, Tomamu limited Tonkatsu ramen, and Yuzui tsuyu tsukemen which we lapped up with relish.

In the evenings, we paid a small admission fee to visit Tomamu’s illuminated ice village which was a collection of domes constructed entirely of snow and ice. Amongst them was a bar, a cafe, a shop, a wedding chapel, an ice-skating rink, and a workshop with ice-related hands-on activities.

Our winter experience may be brief but left indelible memories.

In a pandemic, it is disconcerting for many travel buffs. But do not let anything get you down. Open your albums and recall the good times you have had.

If you are short on travel, explore your own country and you will be surprised by the changes that are always ongoing around us. The world is so global and change is swift and subtle even in one’s own ‘backyard’.

With the internet, one can reach almost anywhere virtually in today’s world and be prepared to explore again once Covid-19 is over.

Life has many meanings and it is up to you to give them

Summer Lotus 19th 2 min read

Itis about solving each day’s problems as it comes

It is about helping others solve their problems if you have the solutions

It is about keeping your temperance no matter how the day went

It is about doing what you desire and living your dream

It is about looking for the good in everything

It is about feeling grateful every day

It is about looking at life from a fresh perspective and emerge positive

It is about experiencing life‘s many facets and learn from them

It is about giving yourself new challenges to overcome

It is about growing each day into a stronger and more compassionate person

It is about being mindful of how beautiful the world is becoming in many ways

It is about seizing opportunities to better oneself

It is about uncovering your hidden talents and develop them

It is about sharing any happiness you have with others

It is about bringing a smile to another person

It is about laughing often

It is about making others say, “I am glad to have known you.”

It is about not wasting time on trifles and trivialities

It is about not griping about the world and others

It is about loving others the way you would love yourself

It is about forgiving all past unpleasant incidents

It is about accepting that life will continue to surprise you

It is about inspiring others to live as well as you did

It is about the knowledge that you can handle anything in life with your attitude

It is about telling life that you will emerge victorious

Finally, It is about a great journey you have paved for yourself.

Results do not fall on your lap without effort

Summer Lotus Dec 18th  4 min read

Patience is an emotion. Are you able to overcome the discomforted feeling of not getting what you want instantly? Are you willing to delay happiness? Do you have the endurance, calmness, and forbearance to wait for the results?

Today’s advances in technology have made us an ‘instant breed’. By that, I mean we want things and stuff done instantly.

From experience, being impatient leads to missed opportunities, strained relationships, and unfulfilled goals.

These days, I allow things to play out when I strive for a goal and see my efforts to fruition. If I achieved my goal, that is good. If not, waiting for things to materialize allows new ideas to crop up that may enhance my effort.

It is not about doing nothing but doing all you can in the meantime. Wait for results and don’t quit.

The proverbial “Rome was not built in a day” rings true. When I first learned Japanese, it seemed impossible. The language was spoken fast and always dribbled off my ears easily.

But I love anything Japanese such as its food, music, scenery, products and I was determined to master the language to enjoy them as they are mostly written in their lingo.

It took me several years at a local night school as the lessons were only once a week and there was no daily exposure to the language in Singapore where it is mostly English /mandarin speaking.

I resorted to many tactics. Getting myself a Japanese mentor found me in the Japanese association as a member. We interacted with like-minded Singaporeans interested in the language. We would indulge in all aspects of conversations led by a Japanese group leader and made friends.

But sometimes your Japanese friend is more eager to learn English from you.

I waited for improvement and there was nothing much. I had to persist or thousands of dollars in tuition fees would have gone down the drain.

I ignited this desire to improve faster by enrolling in a Japanese language immersion course for two weeks in Tokyo at a Japanese language school for foreigners.

I might be the oldest student in the class and faced many subtle discrimination and remarks but patience and persistence were my constant bedfellows.

After lessons and cultural immersion outings, it was a mostly alone time that put my language practice to the test.

During my commute in Tokyo trains, there was plenty to see. Lots of interesting advertisements, all in Japanese characters. I deciphered them with my electronic dictionary and became so fascinated with their culture and thoughts.

My alone time after school was spent in the basement of massive shopping centers in Ginza or Shinjuku, sampling food and asking questions with the help of my dictionary. Some salespeople were quite amused but helpful. I find that the Japanese are not as cold as they are perceived.

When they know that you try to learn their language, they would open up and chat with you, never mind that the conversation was skin deep.

I have received a larger portion from a food vendor when they knew that I was enthusiastic to speak their language and they could tell right away that I was a foreigner judging from my textbook style and stiff Japanese.

When things seemed so hard because the teacher tried to test me all the time to see if I could cope in class, I remembered Gandhi’s message, “To lose patience is to lose the battle.”

With time, the three writings of the Japanese language- kanji, hiragana, and katakana seemed to be easier to decode in my mind, to my delight. The repeated announcements at train platforms made sense. It boils down to patience in learning and persistence to learn.

To be honest, I did not master Japanese but I will not be lost anywhere in Japan. My Japanese is still in smithereens occasionally when expressing my requests but I could get answers that I understand. With time, it will get better.

I have also learned to travel more economically like the locals and go to places that the locals like to keep for themselves. They do not want tourists to run over their hidden gems. That is understandable as in some resorts, they are very traditional and foreigners may not stick to their etiquettes.

I learned to adopt and imbibe whatever is good of their culture into my lifestyle and discard what I do not feel is helpful.

In conclusion, the learning of Japanese may be applied to the acquisition of any knowledge or skill.

Be patient and persistent. George Bernard Shaw said it well, “Two things define you; your patience when you have nothing and your attitude when you have everything.”

To that, I would add persistence which is inextricably linked to attitude.

How inspiration leads to a winning situation

Summer lotus Dec 17th 4 min read

I was a solo practitioner for more than 30 years. I enjoyed dentistry very much but I reckoned that the day would come when I would have to hand over the reins to younger dentists.

The best thing I did this Covid season is aspiring to inspire people working with me.

Having good, dedicated staff is a rarity and I feel that it is our management of them that will mold them into the kind of colleagues we want around us.

I have engaged a young dentist, just two years post-graduation. I feel very blessed to have someone cheerful, enthusiastic, and humble to learn from me.

I shared whatever techniques that I have found useful as many things are not learned in the University, including management of nervous or difficult patients, communication skills, and thinking outside the box to manage clinical problems.

I can see that she is very happy working in my clinic as everything is well-equipped and we operate on the premise that if we treat each other including patients with respect, communicate well and provide a high quality of care, the days will go smoothly.

I aspire to inspire her to run the business as if it’s her own by sharing patients, encouraging her in challenging cases that are often resolved well. In turn, she has inspired me with any current knowledge whether dentistry or IT or any relevant sharing of knowledge.

I am inspired to keep up to speed with her where necessary. We potentiate each other to do our best each day which often ends so amicably, with happy patients as well.

My existing dental assistant has been with me for almost thirty years too. She is a rare gem, so dedicated to the service of dentistry that she is as good as my right hand as well as my left hand.

A good trainer to boot for my younger dental assistants who are part-time students earning some income. Her good nature has brought about pleasant working relationships and camaraderie.

One part-time dental assistant is a University Student who is studying Biosciences. I attempted to inspire her by being organized with my workflow, having good communication about protocol, and giving praise on jobs well done.

When the workflow is smooth so there is less tension during work. Good communication prevents misunderstandings and hence mistakes. I never rush my staff as a steady transition between patients leads to smooth procedures rendered.

We had many moments of zest and humor as well as she is such a lovely girl with many pleasant manners.

I do not believe in berating anyone about any mistakes as it serves no purpose. Humans are fallible but errors should be minimized. Understanding, explanation, and rectification are adequate to put the episode behind us.

I am so pleased that my dental assistants have a lot of initiative to solve any potential hiccups in running the clinic.

Recently, a mother brought in her 16-year-old daughter and requested that I give her a part-time job so that her time is gainfully used.

I assessed that she seemed a nice girl and immediately accepted when I heard that her daughter is keen on dentistry.

From day one of work, I wanted to find out if she was really keen on dentistry.

I started slowly with some basics such as tooth numbers, terminology, and clinic protocol. I tested her to see if she did her learning and she did. Each day, I expanded her comfort zone to assist me in rendering dental treatment to my patients. I could see that more understanding of her work engages her fully and well.

I treated her as a dental student already enrolled in school. By communicating well, she came to understand material sciences and techniques. She also watched how we handle patients gently.

It’s been a month so far and I asked her if she was still keen on dentistry and she beamed yes! I have managed to inspire her to love dentistry and I believed she would make a good one. I have a position for her when she graduates, I told her.

She would make a very good dental student as she is preparing it way before her time. I warned that she might have to go through some boring lectures as I have imparted much knowledge on a daily basis, I joked. It would certainly be a breeze for her to ace the course given her enthusiasm to work.

Every day is a lovely day. Cheers, smiles, and laughter pervade the clinic. Sounds of please, thank you, see you again rang through the day.

I honestly believed that inspiration is the only way to melt a person’s heart. It takes away any unpleasantness that no amount of chiding would do to make a person perform well.

Treat those we work with, using kindness, helpfulness, gratitude, and understanding. By being the best exemplary person you want others to be, you can inspire anyone.

Aspire to inspire before you expire and you live a very congenial life!

So, writing is about self-discovery

Summer Lotus Dec 17th 5 min read

I have always wanted to write unique articles. I knew that I had to do it the hard way; that is to read and research. But I often felt resistant. The mass of words before me was not inviting. A thousand other things beckoned me to do them — my exercise, organizing my stuff, preparing and cooking that recipe, meeting a friend for coffee, continuing the drama series on Youtube, et cetera.

Later . . . later, I will do it, I tell myself.

Reading is a very difficult activity to do, at least for me. I have never finished more than five novels on my hand since young. I used to marvel at my classmates, how they could voraciously lap up thick romantic storybooks. My friend spoke with glee when she finished “Gone With The Wind” in under two weeks!

It takes a very tenacious person to read. I do not know whether this difficult trait is unique to me but I find people around me reading with ease especially at the latest website creation course which was not just a hands-on workshop. When we queried about anything on our Telegram study chat group, we received instructions but due to the sheer volume of students numbering to a thousand plus, one was always directed to an article or even a youtube post to find out more.

The problem lies with me and how could I overcome it? Fortunately, I love writing though I struggled to get every story through and have listed the steps on how I could surmount this obstacle.

I believe that I am impatient. I want things to be placed before me on a silver platter. Back in dental school, I once requested my professor to show me how to prepare a certain tooth at the dental chair. She looked at me with disdain and said, “ You want me to show you?!” Then she walked away and I went to figure out myself. Her teaching or mentoring had stopped outside the lecture rooms, so in the clinics, the ball was in my court. On looking back, I thanked her for not babysitting me.

The following is what I need to do:

1 Self-assess — I am patient! The old adage, “ Rome was not built in a day” stands for eternal truth. What is it that puts me off reading? Why do I want things done fast? Why couldn’t I wait? How could I develop more patience?

I guess it is in my nature to be impetuous. I realized that I am not so when it comes to dentistry, the learning of languages, and sports like scuba-diving and skiing. That’s it! I just found out that I am a kinesthetic learner!

Kinesthetic learners need to move. We are active and learn best when physically engaged through active participation and a sense of touch. That accounts for the way I often asked any of my mentors, “ Show me then let me try!” Reading is not a kinesthetic activity but a visual one but please don’t suggest that I learn Braille which would add another hurdle to my list of learnings!

2 Break it into a few pieces — — — I have a thousand yearnings beckoning me. Yes, I need a system. I decided to put them in order. Guess this is what I would plan; first, do the exercise which is very brief anyway being an impatient person. Then sit down for a full ten minutes, google all the stuff that is about the article that I want to write about, and keep the tabs open for reading later. Whatsapp the friend that I want to meet over coffee and arrange the date. Put a date and time which would be a weekend to cook that delectable dish. I am done!

The reading part? My most resistant activity! I guess I would read it and have frequent breaks to break the dullness that is insufferable to an active person — have a coffee, comb my cats’ hairs, arrange some stuff in the corner of my room, brush my teeth again, etc. Anything to break the monotony.

3 Psych myself up — I must envision the results. Another article, a more unique one posted and liked by others. A great day of learning and self-improvement. A step that is closer to my long term goal of being a writer. Just look at some of the established writers. They wrote an article a day sometimes more. Why can’t I do it with sixty-two years of life experiences under my belt? The obstacle is in my mind.

4 Mood — I heard from one designer friend some time ago and he told me that he could not work at times because the mood was not right. He needed inspiration and the right ambiance to create his works. That’s right. I should not blame myself solely. I need to know when I am in a fluid state and jump at the opportunity. Like now. Feeling intense about not liking reading and researching and suddenly ideas about these solutions surface. Putting on some soothing background music that has always worked for me in the dental clinic as my hands moved deftly with the handpiece.

5 Speed Reading — It suddenly occurs to me that this may just help. I should enroll in a speed-reading course! I have no idea how it will be conducted. Hopefully, they don’t send me to read more articles. I hope they actually show me the ropes as I work best being led by the nose, so to speak.

6 YouTube — -The perennial, alternative teacher is there, why am I not using it? Surely, I can find my answers there. I am not a very auditory learner as well and would need to develop this aspect. Well, if I can give time to only one episode of the dramas I watch on Youtube and it takes me a month or more to finish the story, I guess it boils down to the fact that I do not like to be sedentary. Maybe, I could put my iPad to play YouTube lessons while on the treadmill!

I have found my answers while pondering why my learning is stunted in many instances. As an impatient kinesthetic person, my struggles will continue but knowing my weaknesses and taking action will help me reach my unique goals. I shall now put my impatience to practice for the right reasons. Hopefully this helps you to do so as well.

Look up the album to reminisce on good times during the pandemic

Summer Lotus Dec 16th  6 min read

I am a Japanatic (Japan fanatic). I have never missed Japan’s autumn for successive years. ‘Momiji’ or sighting of the red maple leaves is another highlight in Japan after Sakura or Cherry Blossom viewing. Then the pandemic hit and one can only reminisce about autumn in Japan, specifically Kyoto.

It seems to have become more breathtaking each year, looking at some of the latest Instagram pictures. Perhaps there is much less crowd this year, making the ambiance tranquil.

Fortunately, I have been there at the peak and could draw on many fond memories.

Autumn arrives in Kyoto around late November/early December in the most spectacular fashion always. I was lucky to be there some years ago, soaking up the splendor and glory of this ancient city in Autumn. The peace and quiet and the unbridled bloom of the maple leaves that pervades Kyoto currently must be astounding.

To appreciate Kyoto, one needs to go back into history to understand why it is such a rare gem of a historical city. Kyoto was the capital of Japan for over a thousand years and its culture had remained intact and had infiltrated into the lives of the residents to the present day.

One immediately senses that this city is very sacred and spiritual. Religion plays a key role here as evidenced by the innumerable temples and shrines marked on the tourist map.

Followers of Shintoism, a religion that revere nature from trees to rocks to mountains often pay their respects and make prayers and offerings at these shrines. They are characterized by the red gates called Torii.

Buddhists pray at home and also at the temples where visitors also pray and make offerings to the divine. Special mention is given to these sacred sites as they are where the savvy travelers could seek autumn in its full glory.

Following is the list of some of my coveted spots to view red leaves in autumn. The list is far from exhaustive and was what I uncovered in 7 days.

1 Tofukuji — The best view of the fiery canopy of maple leaves may be viewed from the Tsutenkyo bridge of this massive temple. Exploring the grounds would lead one to many impressive gardens of traditional zen architecture — rock gardens employing pebbles, large rocks, moss, displayed in unique patterns. It is a meditative place.

2 Eikando — I was most impressed by Eikando’s brilliant red and orange display of autumn leaves. It is sprawled across several levels in the foothills of the Higashiyama mountains. The Tahoto pagoda offers a spectacular view of the surroundings and the Amita Buddha statue with the face turned over the shoulder are the most distinct features of Eikando but be prepared to be blown away by the colors of autumn here.

3 Kiyomizu —A Unesco World Heritage site, this celebrated temple which means ‘Pure Water Temple’ is known for its large wooden stage that juts out from the main hall and they were built without nails. It offers a spectacular view of Kyoto city and its precincts. The sea of vibrant colors is spectacular in the day as well as in the evening where the trees are illuminated.

4 Nanzenji — Be impressed at the entrance into this massive zen temple and many of its sub-temples by the foliage, stone and rock gardens, and beautiful ponds. One can spend much time here soaking up the flavors of autumn, set on an ancient historical ground belonging to the 90th emperor of Japan who once had his villa here.

A most interesting feature that provides a picture-perfect backdrop is the Roman-style aqueduct, a canal system that carried water and goods between Kyoto and Lake Biwa.

5 Tetsugaku no Michi — Translated, this rustic, tranquil path is known as The Philosopher’s Path. It was favored by the philosopher Nishida Kitaro (1870 ~1945) who liked to stroll along here, deep in thought.

The path connects Ginkaku-Ji Temple to Nyakuo-Ji Shrine and is spectacular during Spring too for its incredible Cherry Blossoms. Cat lovers will be thrilled by the sight of the resident furry friends relaxing on stone benches.

6 Takao Kyoto — -To escape from the maddening crowd in Kyoto city, I took a one-hour bus ride out of Kyoto to Takao, a sparsely populated mountainous area. It did not disappoint. There, I had ample elbow space and many photographic moments with my selfie stick. It was such a pristine walk with a visit to three historic temples, one of which is Kozanji temple, a World Heritage site.

7 Bishamondo — -I had a meditative time here. Apparently, it was a little out of the way from Kyoto in the Yamashina suburbs but I would recommend this place because it is generally quiet and a picture-perfect moment awaits you. People are stunned by the entrance into Bishamondo. If the timing is right, the gentle steps are awash with vibrant crimson, red maple leaves. Once inside, enjoy more peaceful surroundings.

8 Sanzen-in temple — -This temple in the rural town of Ohara, an hour north of Central Kyoto gave me a different experience. Along the journey of negotiating the connected halls, one could feast on a beautiful traditional Japanese garden with a small pond and a hill, enjoy Japanese calligraphy and paintings on the sliding doors. From the main hall, the famous Sanzen-in temple emerges among the maple and cedar trees, and here I had the most peaceful walk in the moss garden.

9 Arashiyama — -On the outskirts of Kyoto, I had the most serene experience at Arashiyama where one can enjoy the lush tall bamboo grove path by bicycle or on foot. Ride the Sagano Scenic Railway which runs seven kilometers from Arashiyama to nearby Kameoka, mostly alongside the pretty Hozu River. As the train is quite slow, one could take in the splendor of Autumn. I had another beautiful time at Tenryu Ji temple, one of Arashiyama’s important temples.

During autumn, the sky may turn dark early but Kyoto never ceases to amaze. Many of these sights have light-ups at night and continue to enthrall visitors with the beautiful night images of Kyoto’s treasured sites.

Some pictures taken at these sites;

To truly savor autumn in Kyoto requires weeks. Getting to the maple viewing sites is a challenge as long lines of visitors throng the bus stops early in the morning. It might be feasible and faster to walk. Of course, there are subways and train lines.

Kyoto is an extremely alluring destination for die-hard photographers and walkers. Momiji is an activity that comes only once a year and timing is paramount. In Kyoto, they are centered around temples and shrines where the beauty lies.

As soon as this Covid-19 blows over, I would book a flight and lodging to visit Kyoto again and enjoy another autumn for posterity.