The Yellow Ribbon Project

I was invited to speak in a sharing session at Changi for young inmates not too long ago. We were waiting to go in at the main entrance when a bunch of visiting students spotted me. They were hardly older than 15. They recognized me and were buzzed. They smiled and waved at me, you know, being friendly and all. Naturally I waved back and was chatting to them when this female warden, stomped out and started yelling at the kids.

She roared: " what so funny?"

" why laugh? why you all talking? very funny is it?"

" wipe that smile off your face. Later you go in you will know."

At that moment, I felt like it was the 1st day of my army life. Being shouted at by the platoon Sergent for anything and nothing. The boys hushed into a rapid silence and the light hearted moment was instantly crushed. I could tell from their faces that they were intimidated and humiliated.

I was so indignant. Because I cannot imagine someone treating kids like that. I was told that the kids were labelled " problem youths" in school, therefore were brought here to see the place, in the hope that fear would keep them from doing anything that might put them in there.

So there we were, invited to restore the self- esteem of the inmates by encouraging them; You have people like the female warden treating kids like crap, making them feel bad about themselves and probably making a mental note to " rebel" against the authorities in the near future. Thanks a lot madam. I just hope you do not treat your children at home like this.

We were given a tour of the facilty, showing us the condition that the boys lived in. The entire building was clean, organized and efficient. Nothing like the dangerous vengeful-gang-ass-raping-you-stab-me-I-kill-you scenerios that we so often see in the movies. About 90 boys were selected to meet us in the canteen. We were greeted with a spirited " GOOD AFTERNOON SIR, GOOD AFTERNOON MAM" and after that we were treated to a song performance by a boy called Willis, who sang a song he wrote, supported by 2 guitarists using a mike and a speaker more suitable for talking than singing.

The song nearly made me teared. It was about the dreams that he had despite being locked in. The applause from the rest only indicated that they felt the same way. How often do we take our freedom for granted? All the time I dare say. For it is only when you lose something do you realize how much it meant to you.

Honestly, on my way to the centre, I really had no idea what I wanted to say. Because however difficult that I might think my life was, theirs were probably worse. And I am not prepared to make up something just to impress them. They deserved nothing less than the truth.

Therefore at that point I decided to share something that always fascinated me... Hope.

I have always believed in hope. Because without it, there is nothing to look forward to, nowhere to go, nothing to work for. So I shared with them something that I have done in the past to remind myself of the hope that I have for my own life and the goals that I set out to achieve.

I challenged them to write down 5 things that they wanted to do with their lives when they get out. And when they have done so, to write down the ways that they can go about making them happen. I wasn't sure if they were going to do it, or they might just think that I was bullshitting. But if I could make just one boy believe in himself, and that one day he might be a better man because of the 5 things he listed, that I have done something good.

On my way home, I recalled the 5 things that I listed years ago, and realised that I have only achieved 3. But I believe that one day, I shall achieve all 5. And I hope that all the young faces that I saw earlier, will have their dreams come true too.

As long as we keep walking, however far, we will one day reach our destination.

Bonjoir, France!

aIt has been more then a week since my virgin posting. I had to take a break because I needed to be in France for a business- personal trip. Managed to take time out to do some sightseeing. Paris, Monaco, St Tropez. Beautiful places with so much to see.

THE LOUVRE

Situated along the famous Rue De Rivoli, the photo above is but perhaps 1/4 of how magnificent it really was. Took me 3 FULL days to fully explore it. It was a total sensory overload, from Greek mythology to egyptology, from Mecedonia history to French art, from Louis David to Giuseppe. The creativity of humankind was resurrected right before me...

My favourite painting of all times:

"SUCRE de NAPOLEON ler a' NOTRE- DAME de PARIS par le PAPE PIE VII"

The painting is almost two and a half stories in height and spans about fifteen metres. The pure majesty of it awed me into humility. Each individual in the painting had their own expression. It was almost as if I was drawn into the painting itself, becoming part of it, participating in the grandeur of Napoleon's coronation.

Oh Yes, THE Mona Lisa

One does not come to the Louvre without taking a photo with Mona. It was in Denon, ( there are 3 sections: Sully, Richelieu and Denon) amongst the Italian Paintings of the 13th to 17th century. In spite of its reputation, it was a little small, measuring maybe around 18 inches by 30 inches ( approx.) I was actually disappointed by its size. I kindof expected a huge painting. At least life size, like " Watteau" or " Vermeer".

As i stood around Mona, group upon group of herded tourists were led straight to Mona, given five minutes to take photos before they were hurried like sheep to their next photo opportunity, thus reaffirming my belief to never join any tour group if i can help it.

I just couldn't resist the temptation. I took a photo.

I call it " The Feeding Frenzy"

I am sure the picture is self- explanatory. Sad, but true. And honestly, I do feel that Mona, despite her history and all, was the most overrated painting in the Louvre. No offense to anyone.

After the Louvre, I was poofed from all that walking. So I headed back to the hotel for a snooze, not before watching CNN and BBC ( the only two English channels) reporting on the devastation of New Orleans. I was truly saddened by the fact that the supposedly most powerful nation in the world needed four to five days before they can even get their act together. So much for Team America. You go, Bush.

The rest of Paris was lovely, the Eiffel Tower, Champs -Elysee, Seine river, Concorde Square etc. Truly the City of Lights. If only I spoke French....

NICE, St Tropez

Funny how many Singaporeans pronounced it as " nice"when It is actually " Neee-ce". Reminded me of the time when some guy asked me for the location of " Hotel ren-des-ves". I had to ponder momentarily before I realised that he was referring to " Hotel Rendezvous"! Still never failed to make me snigger.

And in the same way, St Tropez, I've learnt, is pronounced as " Saint Trok- pay". The " trok" being read as though you are trying to clear your throat in the ah- beng fashion. So imagine it would be like " trooo.... RooccKk- pay"

There you go. 3 minute French. Go figure.

Now , the REAL reason why I was in France.

I was invitedby TAG HEUER to participate in a F1 driving course at the AGS Formule 1 Driving School in Luc-en- Provence, at the heart of the Var region in a triangle bordered by St Tropez, Nice and Aix.

With a 2.2km track that allowed drivers to reach 290km/h at maximum speed, corners requiring multiple gear shift and hard braking. Especially corners like the AGS corner, where one has to slow the car from 280km/h on 6th gear, to a neckbreaking 90km/h on 2nd gear within 150metres. The track, can be VERY challenging to the drivers who like to push themselves to the max.

Before I begin to sound like a tour brochure or a travel programme, I guess the best way is to let my pictures show you just how awesome the trip was.

The Race Track

Imagine tearing down this straight at 285km/h. Trust me, time stop. So does your heartbeat. At that moment, nothing else exists, except the blur of everything passing by you, and the roar of the V8 engine.

The Man and the Machine

I pondered upon the possibilty of cornering at 180km/h. Will I be able to do it? Will the car be able to do it? Spinning off the track at that speed will certainly put me in the wall, not to mention my brains in my helmet.

Deeeeep breath.

I decided to focus on all the techniques that I have learnt. The gear changes, the braking, oversteer, understeer, apex, racing line.

Heart rate increases.

Patrick, the chief instructor shouted over the deafening engine, even at idling: " You already know everything you need to. So let your body take over."

I could only nod. I wish I could.

V8

650BHP

100kmh- 200kmh in 2.5 secs

2nd gear, clutch down

good to go

release clutch........................ BLISS

But only for 2 seconds, because once I pushed the throttle downwards by a mere 3mm, the engine roared into action and I was flying. I changed up to 3rd gear, 4th, then 5th, before I was at the braking point for the first turn. I braked hard till I got to the downshift point and shifted to 2nd gear for the turn....

The car on slick tyres stuck to the ground like it was a train running on tracks. As I drove into a series of lefts and rights, the G- force rattled me body and head around the cockpit like a rollercoaster, only much,much much worse. I realised that I was heading into the AGS corner... at 280km/h.

I needed to brake hard, slow the car down from 6th gear at 280km/h to 2nd gear at 90km/h, and take the corner. When I got to the braking point, I stepped on the brakes hard as I could, my eyes nearly popping out of my sockets and the four point harness ripped into my body, crushing my lungs of its air. I managed to reach 2nd gear and the desired speed without spinning off the track and turned into the straight home run. Its time to let it rip.

I red-lined the engine as I surged forward, the acceleration nearly ripping my head right off my neck. My body was crushed into my seat and I could not breath. My hand were numb and I could not feel my legs......... I loved it..... Lap 1 completed.

The rest of drive just got better and better as I felt more at home with the car. And when I finished I was grinning like a maniac :) I couldn't help it. It was almost sexual..

Driving will NEVER be the same again.