Siuwang's Xanga

Monday, November 20, 2006

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 14:17:31 GMT

~The Banquet~

On sunday, I eventually was able to watch "The Banquet" in Siam Paragon ( a grand shopping mall in Bangkok ). Watching a film of my own country in other place gave me "something more" than entertainment.

SAME Birthday !!

Today, for some reasons, the receptionist in my service apartment (hotel) told me she was born on the same day as mine. Hey, she is the first one that I met like this. What a coincidence!

Graduation Day - 5th December, 2006

I planned to come back Hong Kong from 2/12 to 10/12 in order to attend Graduation Ceromony on 5th Dec. I am currently inviting my friends and every counterparts of mine to have grad photo taking with during that memoriable week.

I definitely would have a great time with my friends and family when I come back

PRIZE from HKU

Today, my family received a inviation card from The University of Hong Kong. When my dad told me, I was quite surprised. It actually is the exchange scholarship. I was invited to attend the ceremony on 12/12. I really wanna go.You know, it is not easy for me to get a academic prize from University, other than extra-curricular activities which I performed better. Thus, I 'd better adjust my schedule and hopefully get approval from my boss, Kevin tomorrow.

Monday, November 06, 2006

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 17:07:20 GMT

Just finished washing clothes manually. Today, I got quite a few things to write. Needa write quickly coz tomorrow wake up at 7am ( My office hour is 8am to 5pLast Friday ( 3 Nov ) - Loy Kratong Festival ( Thailand )

"Loy" means o float? rathong?is a raft about a handspan in diameter traditionally made from a section of banana tree trunk (although modern-day versions often use styrofoam), decorated with elaborately-folded banana leaves, flowers, candles, incense sticks etc. During the festival, many people will let float a raft like this on a river; governmental offices, corporations and other organizations also create much bigger and more elaborate rafts.

Invited by Pooke, colleague from HR and her other counterparts, I went to the temple of Dawn together with them at night. The temple of Dawn is one of the highlighted sightseeing spot for tourists and at the same time one of the wonderful viewpoint on the river side towards the parade of colorful light-bulb decorated boats along the river.

Afterwards, we went to another temple where there are a night market held specially for the festival. It seemed no difference from the Temple Street in Hong Kong except one of the game corner where they have a IN game? I would say. Circled by tons of people laughing nastily, there were three cages each with three young girls inside while a pour of water was placed under the cage. What were they doing? Why did they laugh? It was a game that you needa throw an orange-sized ball to hit the target plate which will, in turn, lose the girl support and then fall her down into the pool. Is it unbelievable? I just felt so guilty when I saw it.

Sat ?4^th Nov ?Golf day and drinking in Sheraton Hotel

It was just so cheap to play golf here. 100bahts for 100 balls! Can you imagine? I really wanna learn golf here.

Today, I played golf with my smart Swedish colleague, Alexander. He played golf for years. After apparently shorter two-hour time, I improved from never touching the balls to hitting the ball to ?a certain distance??20 meters.. which is damn short. I found it fun though and wanna play it again the coming weekend.

Afterall, we went to a prestigious hotel ?Sheraton to have a drink. The price is indeed inexpensive!!

Sunday ?1st motorbike experience and "Who moves my cheeze?"

It was an easy day. I woke up late and then went sun bathing near the pool.

I tried an interesting pool in the afternoon on that day ?taking a motorbike taxi , there are too much accidents of it though.

It was my first time to ride on a motorbike which is actually one of the major transportation methods in the city.

On arrival at Siam Paragon where is one of the most prestigious shopping malls in Siam Square ?the shopping areas in BKK, I immediately went to the Book store and totally indulged into the book ?Who moves my cheese??within the following two hours. That book did give me some insights and new perspective towards hange?It suggests us oving with the cheese? don overcomplicate the matters when change happens because changes happen everywhere, think simple and adapt to the change quickly and better be prepared big changes by monitoring small changes all the time.

Saturday, November 04, 2006

Sat, 04 Nov 2006 16:29:10 GMT

We were totally wasted after playing 5 times the steepest pirate boat....

and also getting wet with the stupid boat game

Pooke, my thai colleague, is so mad at taking photos.

Thai noodles with "Ton Yum" Soap scrolled Alex up entirely.

Is this photo good? Aristic?

Saturday, November 04, 2006

Sat, 04 Nov 2006 16:15:10 GMT

Snorkelling in Krabi and Koh Phi Phi ( Pi Pi Islands) - Southern Part of Thailand

Helen and I at a fine while sandy beach with crsytal-like water under such a wonderful weather luckily

Alex and I went to the Amusement Park - Dream World

and I was being hang poorly....Guess who did it

Helen in Aquairum.

I really loved your long-skirt. You are so beautiful wearing this.

Saturday, November 04, 2006

Sat, 04 Nov 2006 15:50:23 GMT

Life in Thailand ~ a wonderful place to live

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The below photos are in Jiu Zhai Gou, a paradise of Sichuan in China...

常言道: 黃山歸來不看山, 九寨歸來不看水.

看來，去了黃山以後就不用看山水了．．．

No way! I still wanna travel and see around the world...

Saturday, November 04, 2006

Sat, 04 Nov 2006 15:38:52 GMT

I just learned a good news from one of my friends knew from the Lee Shiu Socio-economics Study Project 2004 few days ago.

Fei Tang, a postgraduate of Peking (Beijing) University - one of the most prestigious university in China, received n opportunity to study abroad for a two-year Double PhD program in Tokyo.

From the days we stayed together for the exchange project, I learnt that Fey Tang is very ambitious, knowledgeable and easy-going person. I truly congrats that he had this challenging but exciting chance.

I wanna go to Japan which is one of my favourite country ?I loved their food, the atmosphere there. Japanese are good at packaging. Everything there is just so beautiful. Hope that I can visit you, fei tang. Enjoy your new life there, fei tang.

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 01:49:13 GMT

I am currently working for Clariant Group as a regional management trainee. In August, I signed a two-year contract with my company and they offered me a comprehensive rotational MT program for me. The program comprises an orientation, 3-4 projects with traveling opportunities within Asia and we will be assigned to a mentor and report to them throughout the program. Evaluation will be made upon completion for each project My mentor is stationed at Bangkok and thus I need to station at Bangkok for the first 8-month project.

In Sep 1^st , the program was kicked off with a two-week orientation program. It included a Presentation skills training workshop in Shenzhen, sites visit to the representative offices and plants in Zheko and Guangzhou. The presentation workshop trainer, Eddy

On Sep 27 which was the last day of their old airport, I arrived at Bangkok. My schedule actually was delayed due to a sudden bloodless political coup proposed by a military head against the previous Prime Minister, Taksin. The situation was so calm and peaceful especially after the one-year prime minister, Surayad is nominated.

Since Sep 27, I learnt some basic thai for greeting and some for survival ?ask for food and take taxi. I found some (but not much) similarities between Cantonese and thai which makes me quickly to learn this soft-tone language. I will work harder to learn Thai and hopefully can communicate after 8 month stay.

Bangkok is a very easy place to live. Price level here is relatively low than Hong Kong One hour drive by taxi cost you at most 350 bahts ( almost HKD 70-80 ) Food here is just cheap and delicious. In Siam Square, Central Plaza, etc , you can find whatever cuisines you want, ranging from Thai, Tong Yum Noodles and Shanghai Xiao Long (Dim Sum) to Italian pasta and Japanese Sushi. People here are generally nice and honest except those in tourist area.

From 29 Oct to 1 Nov, Jadine Alex Hui, one of my best friends came and visited me. He is a easy-going guy and is full of interesting ideas and

We have been the amusement park ?Dream World, China Town, a superb but unreasonably cheap Italian restaurant as well as a Spa house with just OK environment and service.

In Dream World, we played crazily within those 3-4 hours. How Crazy? We played the most exciting games non-stop till dizzy, featuring the Hurricane which invented you in the sky so many times, the Pirate boat with the longest and steepest swings that we have ever seen, Space Mountain and Spider roller coaster. The thing that I was proud was that I challenged myself and had eventually overcome my fear towards sitting at the extreme of the Pirate boat with my hand free from the handhold at the top of each swing. After that, I believe I mange to go further in the coming future.

Yesterday night, the last day of Alex stay, we went to an tour guide recommended Italian Restaurant (let me show you the address soon). Each of us ordered one soup. We shared a plate of pasta with meat sauses and the 4 seasons Pizza ?a pizza with 4 different ingredients and thus 4 different tastes in each quarter. We have also ordered a bottle of white wine which is up-to-standard and eventually we were surprised by the cost of this delicious supper -THB 1600 (= HKD 300). What? HKD $150 each? Right! Sounds great?

Friday, October 06, 2006

Fri, 06 Oct 2006 15:39:18 GMT

Clariant acquires Ciba愀 masterbatches unit
By Frank Esposito
PLASTICS NEWS STAFF

MUTTENZ, SWITZERLAND (Oct. 4, 5:45 p.m. EDT) -- Clariant AG has added to its color concentrates lineup by purchasing the masterbatches business of Ciba Specialty Chemicals AG for an undisclosed sum.

The deal includes plants in France, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia. The Ciba unit employs 300 and has annual sales of about 80 million Swiss francs (US$64 million).

The acquisition its perfectly into Clariant strategy of expanding No. 1 market positions and driving growth in service-driven businesses,?Clariant Chief Executive Officer Jan Secher said in an Oct. 4 news release.

The deal comes almost eight years after the two major Swiss chemical firms called off a mega-merger that had been announced in early 1998. It is Clariant first concentrates deal since it bought Quality Colour of Delta, British Columbia, in 2003.

Muttenz-based Clariant ranks as one of the world largest makers of color concentrates and compounds and plastic additives. The firm also is one of North America largest producers of those products. Its masterbatches business is based in Holden, Mass. Clariant overall annual sales were $6.2 billion in 2005.

Ciba is based in Basel, Switzerland, with North American headquarters in Tarrytown, N.Y. The firm produces colorants, additives and other specialty chemicals and posted sales of $5.6 billion in 2005.

Sunday, October 01, 2006

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 15:30:23 GMT

Here comes my photos taken in San Francisco...

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLandingReg.jsp?Uc=29j3b9ms.387r95ok&Uy=-ymw3yq&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0&UV=762539749635_406476462108

Sunday, October 01, 2006

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 14:45:23 GMT

In August, I signed a contract as the regional Management Trainee 2006 (Asia-pacific) with Clariant Group - a specialty chemical company based in Muttenz, near Basel, Switzerland.

What is Clariant Gorup?

Sandoz(Swiss pharmaceutical company)

+ Specialty chemical business of Hoechst(German pharmaceutical company)

+ BTP (UK)

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= Clariant Group (www.clariant.com)

Sandoz is the subsidiary of Novartis, one of the Big Pharma pharmaceutical companies.

Hoechst AG was a German life-sciences company that became Aventis. It has been called "The pharmacy of the world" due to its important role in the world's drug market.

Clariant is a global leader in the field of specialty chemicals. Strong business relationships, commitment to outstanding service and wide-ranging application knowhow make Clariant a preferred partner for its customers. Clariant, which is represented on five continents with over 100 group companies, employs about 25,000 people. Headquartered in Muttenz near Basel,

Clariant's businesses are organized in five divisons:

1. Textiles, Leather and Papers;

2. Pigments and Additives;

3. Functional Chemicals;

4. Life Science Chemicals;

5. Masterbatches.

Information. about Management Trainee Program 2006 (MT 2006)

Clariant Graduate Program has been launched around the globe for years. It is the first time for the company to launch the MT program in the Asia-Pacific Region. I was recruited as one out of three MTs this year. Three of us are local Hong Kong graduates with business-focused majors. (REMIND: My major was specialized in Economics and Finance in The University of Hong Kong.)

Reasons to join the MT program

In July, I received an offer the Assurance department from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) ?the one out of the Big 4 accounting firms.

Starting from Sep 1st, my career in chemical industry begins.

From 1/9 to 19/9, I joined the orientation for the management trainee in Clariant (China) Ltd. ?Hong Kong Clariant Office (Regional Headquarters).

Learning Report for Orientation

Major activities in Orientation Program:

1) Office Tour in Hong Kong Clariant Office (HK01)

2) Presentation by representatives from various units:

3) Site Visits in Hong Kong and mainland liaison offices and plants.

4) Presentation skills workshop

Key Learning Points

I. This 2-week orientation program has deepened my understanding of Clariant in the aspects of:

i. the history of the company,

ii. its organizational structure,

iii. its business model

iv. and general situation of the specialty chemical industry.

II. For the business units I have visited, I was able to get a snapshot of

i. how they operate,

ii. responsibilities and duties of their teams,

iii. what products their sell and service they provide,

iv. their clientele,

v. their current position in the market,

vi. opportunities and challenges they faced in Greater China,

vii. the strategy they employed and

viii. what recent projects they focused on.

III. Besides, from the experience sharing of representatives I have met, I knew more about the culture and opportunities offered by Clariant.

III. During every presentation, site visit and training workshop, I have also met colleagues from various functional areas in the region and this given me opportunities to build up a network at the beginning of my career in Clariant.