“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)
Month October 2007
My Doodling:
To all fellow Man United die-hard fans! This site features all of the highlights and goals of all their most recent to the past matchs. So if you missed any match, you can always check out the goals from here. POWER!
Snapshots of HCMC
Now back in Singapore again, presenting some some shots here from my trip.
Overview of HCM City’s skyline:
Taken from 25 storeys high in its Chinatown District area with its overcrowded buildings squeezed closely together.
Not exactly a pretty sight.
Roads are not even visible, so you can imagine how hellish traffic is like over there.
Sights at Vung Tau:
Vung Tau is located 130 km away from Ho Chi Minh City and is a favourite resort destination for those wishing to get away from the city. A two-hour drive away.
The big mount at the background is one of Vung Tau’s landmarks and it has a statue of Jesus erected on the top. The statue is a miniture replica of the one in Sau Paulo, Brazil.
Halfway up the big mount with its “postcard” scenes to indulge with the sea breeze blowing in your face. But not forgetting the scorching heat too.
The breath-taking view of the coastal strip from the top of the mount.
People and others:
Roadside stall offering fishball snacks served in “Indian Rojak” style.
The “rojak” includes dog meat too *Yum Yum*
Just kidding about the dog meat part. But isn’t this pooch cute??
The kids are also cute of cos…
My favourite bunch of kids whom i have visited in HCMC for the passed 3 years. Their smiles and mischevious antics never fails to refresh me.
They love posing for the camera. They will do anything to get their pictures on my camera =P
Lastly one of my favourite shots…
*Aawwww*
HCMC: Land Without a Vision
As I was walking along the streets in District 1 (similar to Singapore’s Orchard Road), this street kid unexpectedly approached and begged me.
“1 dollar (USD) please… 1 dollar please… I want to eat”
“No. I don’t have”
My firmed reply fell on deaf ears as it didn’t seem to deter him and he actually followed me for another good 1 km as I walked on.
This kid was really persistent. (!?)
Feeding with Fish or Teaching to Fish
Wanting to practice wise giving (for you never know what the money is really used for), I thought it more beneficial that aid was not given for the reason not to encourage begging from someone who was young and completely healthy.
If he always got his way, then he would rely on this (begging) and would not want to work and be an asset to society.
Was I being heartless by not readily parting with a meager USD1?
I am for one, a believer in this principle: Give a man a fish, you feed for a day. Teach a man how to fish, you feed him for life.
Eventually God provided an alternative without compromising my principle. I bought him two buns which he gleefully accepted and went away with.
Land without Vision
The next day, I had an opportunity to hang out with some neighbourhood kids. They were such angels. However, after feeling happy with the time spent with them, I was shortly overcame with sadness when I thought about their future.
Judging (based on a general observation) from the common way of life, culture and political influence in HCMC, one would be able to foretell the paths that these kids would be walking towards. They would be following their parents’ footsteps and doing what everybody else is doing in general- contentment in merely surviving and living by in order to make ends meet.
Though this kind of living is not wrong and is found in almost every society including Singapore, but in HCM City where the standards of living is underdeveloped, it is disheartening to observed how the people were not inspired, led and taught towards a better quality of life for themselves and their families. At least in Singapore, we have a general vision of attaining the 5 c’s. This so-called vision, has somewhat driven our nation over the years to excel and thrive to what we are today.
In my personal opinion, it is because the people in HCMC have not be shown any sort of long-term vision of what life could and can be, apart from the life they now know. Thus, the endless similar cycle of low-quality living.
Much Needed Shepherds
“When he (Jesus) saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd”
The above verse from Matthew 9:36, best describes the state of this city. The people especially their children (the future generation) needs to be mentored and trained in order that they might be the future leaders for their country and society.
Hopefully, more leaders will lead the way for the people towards an alternative way of life that was meant to be.
HOPE: Our Global Network
In a “divine coincidence”, I got to meet a Korean couple from Hope London (seen in between the two ladies in picture) that were in HCMC for the week to open a representative office in this city.
The brother, Mr Hyongsuk Kim was so friendly and was enthused in sharing with me about his business- M-BIZ Global Company Limited and how he and his wife got it started two years ago. They are in the gaming software business for mobile handsets and have Samsung as one of their major clients under their belt.
Interestingly, he shared how with the amount they were paying for one staff in the UK, they could actually hire 10 staff in HCM City.
Wow… that is really cost-effective!
Besides spending a wonderful time over lunch, we accompanied them the whole day in search of a suitable office in the city. And thankfully, they found one on the same day that they had to fly off.
But when I think of how we managed to get to know and encouraged one another in another country, I am very much thankful to God for our global network in Hope and with such an extensive family that I belong to.
Indeed, God’s seed vision for our Hope International Movement is growing and actualising over the years since its pioneering days.
Globalisation of God’s Word
“This same Good News (Gospel) that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.”
Colossians 1:6 (New Living Translation)
Business Brief on HCMC
Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam and is located near the Mekong Delta. It has a growing population of 5.1 million people and is governed by the Communist Party.
Touted as the second China, this city is the most important economic center in Vietnam. Accounting a big percentage of Vietnam’s economy, it produces more than one-fourth of the country’s gross domestic product and industrial production and which pays nearly one- third of its taxes.
But even as I strolled the streets (my third visit in 3 years), I observed that the changes to the city’s landscape were only considerable. The standard of living, in my opinion has also not improved very much with its public transport under-developed without a much needed city train system considering HCM being a city.
A Visit to SBG
A visit to the Singapore Business Group (SBG) brought me to their co-ordinator, Mr Peter Cheong, a fellow Singaporean who had been in Vietnam since 1988. He serves voluntarily in SBG- a non-profit organisation that was started by a group of Singaporeans working in HCMC in 1992. Presently, they have a total of 285 members in their fold.
Interestingly, Peter (in left picture) shared that this city was host to an estimated 3,000 Singaporeans working and living in here. There are more than 500 Singapore companies presently operating in HCMC.
According to him, operating a business here is still a challenge with its many laws catering for different groups of people. For instance, a foreigner would have a different law applied in comparison to a local. Therefore it is safe to say that the laws here prevents foreigners from leeching off its country and people, but a put-off to foreign investors.
Singapore’s Presence in HCMC
My research led me to discover that Singapore’s economic interests in this city is ever-growing. SembCorp Utilities Pte Ltd, works with the Ho Chi Minh City’s authorities, is building a huge 700 MW thermo power plant in the city. Singapore’s real estate companies like Keppel Land have several projects in the city such as the ongoing 64-hectare “Saigon Sports City” project in District 2, and CapitaLand, a fairly new entrant to Vietnam’s market had signed a MOU to develop 600 homes in Saigon South next to the Phu My Hung Urban Area, its second project in less a year. The Singapore-based Dairy Farm International is operating some supermarket outlets in the city.
With Vietnam now a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), their laws will be “forced” to be harmonious with international conventions and commitments, and gradually, I believe doing business in Vietnam would be more attractive and friendly for foreign investors and entrepreneurs.
Greetings From HCMC!
Taken by the Saigon River along Ton Duc Thang Road in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam.
My Doodling:
If you’re reading this now, I should be in the air flying towards Vietnam! I’ll be there for a week… Yeah!
Looking forward to the wonderful people, food and culture that makes that country a perfect haven to find rest from the never-ending demands and datelines *yucks*
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