ABOUT ME, BRIEFLY


ABOUT THAM CHEE WAH, BRIEFLY

I have redefined retirement at age 23. I have a lifestyle where I do the things I like, with the time I have and still get paid for it. I designed my freedom these two decades, traveling to more than 40 countries. I run a successful business doing consulting works as a Corporate Writer, Corporate Emcee, Event Producer and a Workshop Facilitator. I am also a talk-show host on an Internet Radio station with two programs "A Course In Miracles for Work-Life" and "Freedom Speaks". Life is Healthy, Rich & FREE! You can design this lifestyle according to your willingness. I hope mine will inspire you to achieve that freedom too.

Monday, March 31, 2008

I, a Chinese Poet

(Click to enlarge to read Chinese as jpeg file, I design a beautiful poster with the poem.)

I found my old scrapbook and found some of my wonderful writings from my teenage years through to my years of under employment and then to my years in juggling business with my innocence. Quite a wide span of life experiences.

Reading my works, I feel very gifted. A born gifted writer, poet and perhaps even a Chinese Scholar in the past. I begin to feel that I know the Chinese language way before I was born. I attended English Catholic school from primary through to secondary. And yet, I had this urge to learn the Chinese Language when I was 8 years old. Then, I pestered my father to send me to night clasess to take up the Chinese language subjects as would a normal Chinese School student. So, I am reading geography in Bahasa Malaysia and speaking fluent English with teachers and class/school mates in the morning government school and read the same geography text in Chinese in the evening classes, likewise for all the other 8 subjects (I think it was 8 subjects.)

And then I grew up loving the Chinese language while I, of course, flourish with my English as well. But my Chinese language takes a softer approach in all my writings. And really, look at my poem I got it published in Sin Chew Jit Poh more than 15 years ago, I am astounded with my own talent, really!!

I translated it the way I feel it now, so all will be able to read. (I could sense like I went back 15 years ago, a deja vu feeling, about how I could have felt when I wrote this poem then, amazing-eh, like I have never left!?) Enjoy!!


舞者

弯腰伏着
在芬香的国土上
有一盏阳光照来
双手点着伸直的脚尖)
一个钢琴音符跃出
一只手划过一边彩虹
一只手摊开添上色彩
脚在地平线上一横
扫出汪洋追逐天空的狂欢
纤纤的身子一娜一个转
风吻着海鸥游过瀑布
穿过山河
冲过海浪
脚趾再一点
捉一朵云绕着山腰打了一个结
耸一耸肩 举手
小心翼翼的把太阳放到地平线上
再弯腰
拉着余晖晶莹的长袍
慢慢的放到离沙滩不远处
歇下来
低头看那些微细的沙
片刻
风也停止了

那种希望
在久久不息的“啪啦啪啦” 声中
得到了答案

Dancer

bending, face down
on the fragrant soil of a beloved country
a stream of sunlight beam through
both hands touch the outstretched feet
leaps a musical note from the piano
hand briskly sweeps open a rainbow
another hand vehemently brushes it with colors
on the horizon, a leg frantically draws a mighty curve
storms the sky as the ocean race it in a frenzy
a sensual body seduces and turns
wind pushes its lips to the seagulls and swings almighty waterfall
speeds through the rivers
pushes through the waves
tip at the toe
catches the clouds and tie a knot at the waist of a mountain
shrugs the shoulders, raises the hands
carefully places the sun at the horizon
again….. bending
towing the cloak of the shimmering dawn
slowly places it on the shore, not faraway
rest
bow, take a closer look at the glistening sands
at the split of a second
the wind dies

all the aspirations
in that long awaited thunderous “clap clap clap”
the answer is certain

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Creative Dinner within 90 minutes




I will find time to cook dinner, because it is very fun to do so. Sometimes, it may be a little too late to start cooking, and sometimes the mood is just to relax and try something from some quaint restaurant or just eat out. But I will always find the time to cook myself and be creative in the kitchen. I have tried marinating fish with cincalok (fermented shrimp paste) and corn flour, then fry the fish until fragrant and crispy. Real taste of kampung in its most creative way!!

And this evening, I have a thought I will try something new too. Deciding to be a 1-day vegetarian, I think of some ways to make my vegetarian meals a bit exciting. After watching a chef cooked mushroom last night on AFC (Asian Food Channel), he caramelised them, and he used it for grilled steak. I found that interesting, about the caramelised mushrooms. So, I tried it with some tofu instead and it came out a beautiful vegetarian dish.

Roast Tofu with Swiss Brown Mushroom

1 box Tofu
1 box Swiss Brown Mushroom (sliced)
Fried shallots
Olive oil
Sesame oil
Butter
salt
Rice wine

I mashed the tofu with a fork in a glass baking dish, spread it out, and add fried shallot, sesame oil and rice wine, while I sauteed the mushroom with olive oil, salt and butter. Leave them to caramelise on low heat for about 15 minutes or until very fragrant. Then, pour the mushrooms onto the mashed tofu. Use a fork to mix them a little. Bake or set to roast if you are using a convection oven for about 20 minutes. (I think next time I will try to roast it longer!)

Taste terrific!!

And I also cooked French Bean Sprout, instead of using SoyBean Paste, I fried it with garlic and a pack of Feiron (which contains wakame, soy, spinach, pearl and ABM mushroom). I just add in Feiron without mixing it with water, just fry it dry with the French Bean Sprout, very high in iron and calcium.

The next dish is Butter Lettuce sauteed with fermented bean curd and chilies. I added in rice wine too.

A highly ingenious vegetarian dinner!!

Monday, March 17, 2008

Cross the Bass Strait with Spirit of Tasmania



Many friends have missed the splendid serendipidity of sailing across the Bass Strait. The enchantment of the night sky and the ocean will keep you awake to fill up your spirit with the wonderment of the vastness, empty yet so fulfilling. Even when you sleep, in your dreams, while the ship sails into the middle of nowhere, just the laps of the sea and the whistling of the wind will keep you in your merryland to drool with a smile.

Many friends have asked me how I get to Tasmania. When I told them there is a ferry service from Melbourne, they all responded in bewilderment. Is there a ferry? No, it is actually a ship, like those cruise to nowhere kind of cruise ship. It is about 7 storeys high, with most of the lower decks for vehicles. Upper decks have beautiful and comfy sofa lounges with TV, video, games arcade, children play rooms, gaming lounge.

I particularly like the fine dining cafe (it's not big, so I don't call it a restaurant), where they serve steaks, italian pastas and a good choice menu with starter, main courses and dessert, wine and cocktails too. There is another bigger space, it is like food court, but they have 2 rows of buffet lines serving pasta, savouries and meat dishes with buns and cold cuts. I took the buffet, well, I really like the fine dining menu but I think it is odd sitting in a nice lounge in a ship doing fine dining alone, I kind-of decide against it, so went to have buffet which of course is much cheaper. I can fill up my plate for less than AUD10 (I think it is less than AUD10, I could not find my notebook now, perhaps when I find the facts, will amend it later).

While on board, I had all the time to read up the brochures and plan my itinerary around TAsmania. There is an office known as "Tourism On Board", you can even buy travel tickets and bus packages here. I bought my TassieLink ticket here.

So, instead of taking the flight from mainland Aussie to Hobart and miss the joy of sailing, do consider the next time you plan your trip down under. By the way, it costs me only AUD101 one way, the seat is like those in the airplane (see above pic). And the time of sailing was 11 hours. I boarded the ship at 8pm and arrive Devonport at 7am.

(By the way, my flight route was KL-Melbourne, Brisbane-KL, so I took a flight from Hobart to Brisbane on Virgin Blue for only AUD110 one way, will tell you the story next.)

Well, one thing I discover to my thrill is that, I thought Bass Strait is a small little water canal, like the one at Dover, England, dividing Australia mainland with Tasmania, but it takes 11 hours to cross it with a ship that sails at 27 knots. Now, that is a far!! But so much more enjoyable on the ship - oh, by the way, it saves me a night's stay in Melbourne. The next writing will be on the backpackers places I stayed while on my trip there last year in 2007 February.

Friday, March 14, 2008

So cute!!


Send this eCard !



I found this cute e-card at the above website, so appropriate, it just expressed in such brilliant colors my thoughts and feelings about you guys log-in to my blogsite and read my writing. You know, it is such a great inspirtation, and all your comments and encouragement have given me the lift to spread my wings wider when I fly. I thank you!!

To watch the display of the card, please click on "Play".

Friday, March 07, 2008

Bratislava - Slovakia, a country where scuptures' breathe




I know, I have been missing for almost 2 months now. Since I posted the last thought on Dec 28, 2007, I left to India for almost 3 weeks. Came back and did some work for 4 days, then flew to London for another 3 weeks vacation to Eastern Europe and Britain too.

Then, I came back after a rejuvenating sojourn, and have so much good fortune, the business appointments kept pouring in. Today, I decided to take a half day off to take in some good breath and have some time to write too.

So, here it is, some cute pictures taken in Bratislava. The top 3 pics are essentially the Top 3 sculptures in Bratislava that are the most photographed. The one in focal black and white, is my personal pick as one of the best known chef in the world.

Lots of stories to tell, especially my backpacking experience to India (again, I know, I just like India, the diversity in everything is always pulling me back to its embrace again and again, and I am not complaining.) And then some more extra travelling tips in Europe to share.