HALF FARES FOR SENIORS 60 AND ABOVE

The bus company is obviously aware of what commuters have to put up with! I tried calling the numbers but no one picked up the phone. So much for the sign.

Ever since I sold my car in 1998, I have been relying mostly on public transport to get me from A to B. If you are a regular commuter like I am, you will have plenty to gripe about. Take today, for instance. It was my umpteenth 'public confrontation' with the Metro bus conductors since the bus fares went up on 1 September.

Clearly stated in black and white, but the bus conductors claimed they didn't know about the new concession for senior citizens!

It states clearly on the announcements pasted all over the inside of the Metro buses that orang tua (senior citizens) 60 and above pay only half fare. Regardless of which Metro bus I take, the conductor invariably insists I pay the full fare. Even when I point out the company's signed directive, I get any one of the following responses:

~ the boss never informed us of this half fare
~ you don't look like you are 60+
~ the new ruling is 65+
~ none of the elderly passengers have asked for half fare
~ we don't have time to check all the identity cards
~ as you wish, but I'll report to my boss about this

GEE!


So far, the conductors have caved in. That's because I stood up for my rights, and had the evidence to back me up. However, on all the buses I've taken, I have yet to see older passengers asking for this fare concession. Ignorance can be expensive if you take the bus daily! One elderly man was sitting right beside the directive, but for reasons best known to himself, he did not take the trouble to read it.

Buses waiting for more passengers, never mind if they are hogging half the road and blocking the taxis from exiting.

Now wouldn't it be lovely to board a bus and when you take your money out to pay the full fare, the conductor smilingly tells you, "Auntie, you only need to pay half fare." That would certainly make my day!

Dirty bus-stops are the norm. There are no bus schedules or information on bus routes. This is in the up-market neighbourhood of Sri Hartamas.

You can bet this is NOT a bus stop in Kuala Lumpur. There's ample information on schedules, time of bus arrivals, and wheelchair facilities on board. Below that is the map showing bus and MRT routes.

HOW TO LIVE TO A HEALTHY 100

There was a time when I would skip the obituary pages in the newspapers. No one in my social and family network would be there. That was what I thought. Then my beloved sister passed away at 55 of a heart attack. It happened early in the morning while she was getting ready for work. That was three years ago. Since then I have lost several friends and family members. None of them died of old age.

A few days ago, my cousin suffered a fatal heart attack. He was only 43. It was a wake-up call for the younger generation in the extended family network. I am glad my adult children are taking their health more seriously now

Singapore's Teresa Hsu at 100, and at 111 today with Anthony Robbins at last weekend's 
"Unleash the Power Within" event in Singapore. (Photo credit: Belle Lee)

Young people in the prime of their lives often assume that ill health and disease affect only the elderly - until someone in their age group is struck down. Healthy living should start right now, and we should get our children and grandchildren actively involved before they wind up addicted to fast food, junk food and fizzy drinks.

Here are some health tips based on Dan Buettner’s “Blue Zones”.

1. Stop eating when you’re 80% full. There are NO obese centenarians.
2. Opt for a plant-based diet that includes nuts and whole grains.
3. Treat yourself to a glass or two of red wine a day. Asians prefer tea. It is a good anti-oxidant too.
4. Know your purpose in life and be driven by it.
5. Have in place a belief system - spiritual or religious.
6. Learn to relax and enjoy life.
7. Keep physically active.
8. Be part of a healthy social network.
9. Maintain good family ties.

Time for me to dust off the cobwebs on my weights and dig up those vegetarian cook books. I am 61 going on to a healthy 100 and beyond, God willing.....

Related article:

Meet Angel of Compassion - Teresa Hsu

CHASING LIFE

Take out your pen and note-book. Time to jot down some great tips on how to live long and happy. Learn from the people of Okinawa (Japan), Sardinia (Italy), Nicoya (Costa Rica) and Loma Linda (US). These are the Blue Zones - areas where you can find a high concentration of octogenarians. They are living proof that having an active lifestyle, healthy diet, social network and a purpose in life are the key ingredients of longevity.

CAN RACIAL BIGOTS SEE THE BEAUTY IN COLOURS?

Dark-skinned Shanghainese girl Lou Jing (shown here with her mother) sparked off racist attacks on the Internet against her and her mother when she appeared on the 'Let's Go! Oriental Angel' talent show.

Photo: Blog.Huanqiu.com

Yet another hate story has surfaced. This one happened in China. As the majority race in China, the Chinese, who are of Han descent, seem to have difficulty accepting folks (like the Uighers of Sinkiang) who are of a different colour or religion.


It would be interesting to do a study of people who practice bigotry. Do they share common characteristics? Are they themselves victims of racial discrimination or abuse just like their parents were, perhaps?


In the cowhead incident, I wonder what this person meant when he said he would feel "uncomfortable" if an Indian temple were to be built in his neighbourhood. What's there to feel uncomfortable about? On the contrary, I would feel safe if I lived near a mosque, a church or a temple. True devotees, whether they be Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists or Taoists, practise love and respect for all mankind.



HATE is a most toxic emotion. Having this in our system is worse than having cancer because unlike cancer, hate is contagious. It can spread and kill much faster than the H1N1 virus. Just look at the atrocities taking place everywhere in the world.....and in our own backyard.

1 (RINGGIT)MALAYSIA

Photo: The New Straits Times

Had enough of 1Malaysia slogans? Yeah, me too. I am more interested in 1(Ringgit)Malaysia – meals. Did you know that you can actually get a meal for only RM1? Nah, impossible! Not in the city of Kuala Lumpur. Here you can't get a decent meal for less than RM3.00. That's exactly what I thought until I saw the above headlines in the papers.

RM1? That’s about S$0.40 or US$0.28! For that you get a plate of roti canai with your pick of a curry AND a glass of teh tarik! I haven’t paid so little for a nourishing meal since my student days back in the 1960s.

Your money's worth @ only RM1

If you are horrified by the inflated prices of buka puasa (breaking of fast) buffets at hotels, you will understand why it’s such a welcome relief to know that there are folks out there like Mustapa Kamal Maulut who truly embody the spirit of ‘People first, Performance now”. He is chairman of Ukhwah Koperasi Pendidikan Islam Malaysis Bhd which owns the restaurant offering RM1 meals. This guy definitely knows how to win over the hearts and stomachs of Malaysians.

Patrons making their selection at the restaurant.

That’s not all. On Fridays, patrons at the restaurant can eat as much as they want and pay whatever they feel is fit. Friday’s proceeds are donated to charity. I don’t know about you, but I’m heading there this Friday. Hope I can get a seat. In case you want to tuck in too, the restaurant’s in Lorong Medan Tuanku Satu.

Almost sold out!

In these days of high prices, low quality and poor service, it’s a cause to celebrate when one comes across a case to the contrary. That was how I felt when I chanced upon some roadside stalls selling buka puasa fare. For RM1, I could have my pick of any three kueh (cakes) from a tantalizing assortment of kueh of all colours and shapes – just like the people flocking there to make their purchases. The vendors beckoned with warm smiles and friendly invitations to sample and buy. And I did!

For these humble people, quality control and good service come from a genuine desire to offer their best. That's a sure way to draw customers. You don't need an MBA to make a success of your business ventures. Put people first before profits, and you are on your way to achieving your goals. So simple lah, but few practitioners of this philosophy.

My kind of Malaysian street scene...

WANT TO BE IN A REALITY SHOW FOR SENIORS?

Seniorsaloud has been getting quite a bit of interest from the online community. I have received emails requesting for interviews, for links to other blogs, and for free promotion. The latest emails came from two Singapore firms that are organizing events targeted at older adults 45+. Seniorsaloud is happy to help promote these events.

The first is a 2-day conference on "Marketing to Baby Boomers" to be held on 19-20 November at the Marriott Singapore. If you have a business that caters to the silver-haired market, or are interested in setting up a seniors-related enterprise, you would want to register for this conference. For more details about the speakers and the topics, click on the link above or on the image in the side-bar (scroll down).

The second is a search for senior challengers to participate in an info-reality show for Mediacorp Singapore. This is a programme featuring senior citizens taking up challenges and fulfilling their dreams.

I reproduce part of the email below:

There are 13 episodes for this season and each episode will feature a kind of sport/activity/skill. The main objective is to encourage other seniors to have a positive life, even after retirement. This is a Mandarin programme and the title of the programme is - I Can Do It Too! （我也做得到!）It will be aired on Channel 8.

We are looking for candidates for the following categories:

~ Sand Sculpting - preferably with a family member (must be older than 20) or a senior friend ~ Marathon - alone
~ Juggling - alone
~ Felt Craft (handicraft) - preferably male
~ Kizomba Dance - with a partner, both must be seniors

Basically, you have to be interested in learning the new skill/activity and we will introduce you to a professional trainer for a training course. The entire training will last for around slightly more than a month and ultimately, you will have to fulfill a task or achieve a mission. All expenses incurred will be paid by the production company or sponsored by various companies. We only need your time and passion!

If you meet the following criteria, we would like to see you:

~ above 45 of age
~ positive and cheerful
~ have a strong interest for your selected category (no experience preferred) as you need to learn from the basics
~ any nationality but must be able to speak at least basic Mandarin as it's a Mandarin programme
~ be physically fit and healthy
~ be comfortable in front of the camera i.e. not camera-shy

Please call (65) 63417710 and ask for Zelda（小橦）to arrange for an interview or to know more details. Or email me at seniorsaloud@gmail.com.

Anyone game for the challenge?