Cecil Lee

Look Ma! A starfish trying to learn the ancient art of Flying Star Fung Sway!

A. Chinese Astrology (Chinese Horoscope/Zodiac Signs) www.lovesigns.net (Based simply on one's year of birth) 1. Many years ago, before the birth of the internet and hyperlinks; there were many books on Chinese Astrology or commonly also called Chinese Horoscope/Animal Signs or Chinese Zodiac Signs. 2. Then, up to 1980's many books on the above can be found on bookshelf stores. 3. And many share the same guidelines as found under my Chinese Astrology site called: http://lovesigns.net 4. Under the above site; you can find your compatibility: http://www.lovesigns.net/horoscope/acompare/acompare.htm B. Ba Zi Analysis of Compatibility 1. The input required for each individual are: Year, Month, Day and if possible Hour of birth. 2. A pillars of destiny or Four Pillars chart is constructed and analysed in relation to compatibility of he two partners. C. What are the differences between the two methods used? 1. Looking at compatibility based on Chinese Astrology is like taking an X-ray and trying to figure out the chart on a lighted clip board. 2. Ba Zi Analysis is akin to Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or also known as nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI) or also known asmagnetic resonance tomography (MRT). 3. Thus, Para A. Chinese Astrology is akin to the technologies of early science while Ba Zi is a more sophisticated method. No point giving me individual birth dates. This is only a free general advice forum. And not a someone do it for you forum.

20 Year Flying Star chart and annual flying star numbers. For the Flying Star Fanatic, there is also the Monthly and hourly Flying Star numbers!

Reference showing this year's annual stars and their significance:- http://www.geomancy.net/resources/yearly-forecast/fortunes-2013.htm 2013 Flying Star Forecast North 6 1 8 7 5 3 2 9 4 South Take note the following sectors:- Sickness Star this year is at South-West Misfortune/Sickness Star this year is at Center Disputes/Quarrel Star this year is at East Education/Romance Star this year is at South-East Grand Duke this year is South-South-East, 150 Degree. - Avoid sitting facing the grand duke or disturbing him by having renovations. Location in Conflict is East. - Avoid having renovations done opposite the location in conflict.

Sample Illustration of aGroup Audit chart of a family of 5 persons:- 123 Somewhere in Singapore N1 (345), Period 7 (1984-2003) North-West (Metal - white/gold) 1 8 4 year 6 EXCELLENT sector [1.] Health [2.] Death [3.] Disaster [4.] Health [5.] Longevity North (Water - blue/black/gray) 6 3 8 year 1 GOOD sector [1.] Spook [2.] Longevity [3.] Prosperity [4.] Spook [5.] Death (Main Door or Frontage) North-East (Earth - yellow) 8 1 6 year 8 EXCELLENT sector [1.] Excellent [2.] Disaster [3.] Death [4.] Excellent [5.] Prosperity West (Metal - white/gold) 9 9 5 year 7 INAUSPICIOUS sector [1.] Longevity [2.] Spook [3.] Irritation [4.] Longevity [5.] Health Sector Cure: Metal 2013 has inauspicious star 7 Duplicate Mountain Star Center (Earth - yellow) 2 7 3 year 5 GOOD sector 2013 has inauspicious star 5 Comb. 10 Water Star East (Wood - green/brown) 4 5 1 year 3 GOOD sector [1.] Irritation [2.] Prosperity [3.] Longevity [4.] Irritation [5.] Disaster 2013 has inauspicious star 3 South-West (Earth - yellow) 5 4 9 year 2 INAUSPICIOUS sector [1.] Prosperity [2.] Irritation [3.] Spook [4.] Prosperity [5.] Excellent Sector Cure: Metal 2013 has inauspicious star 2 South (Fire - red) 7 2 7 year 9 GOOD sector [1.] Disaster [2.] Excellent [3.] Health [4.] Disaster [5.] Irritation Mountain Star found Water Star found South-East (Wood - green/brown) 3 6 2 year 4 EXCELLENT sector [1.] Death [2.] Health [3.] Excellent [4.] Death [5.] Spook 1. Please refer to the above sample:- 1.1 For example at SOUTH compass direction. 1.2 The 20 Year Flying Star is for a home that is under Period 7 (1984 to 2003). 1.3 So long as this home is not totally torn down and re-built; one school of thought says that this home will always remain as a period 7 home. 1.4 But between 2004 to 2023; the same chart can be applied to the home. The only difference is that the double #7's at South facing becomes past prosperity. No longer the current wealth luck sector. 1.5 From now to 2023, this home's wealth stars are located at North (Water star #8) and NE (Mountain star #8). 2. If you examine the about chart carefully, there is such a thing as an ANNUAL flying star number. As this term suggests, every year, this annual star changes. 3. For example, the annual #9 flies to the South sector (this year).

1. In my opinion, usually the effects of #5 will affect mostly those with large open spaces at the centrepoint (be it a home or office) 2. Just last week, I received a call from a regular client. He was late in calling for a yearly review this year. 3. And just twoweeks ago, suddenly, there were lots of defects in his precision production factory. 4. I went down last week to help neutralize the problem. 5. His is a medium sized company and in the sample illustration, you can see that the centrepoint of his office is "smack" in the middle of the office that has a large open area. 6. For a home, and if this is the common corridor or the toilet at or near the centrepoint, as mentioned earlier no need to be phobic about it.

In my opinion there are two schools of thought, here:- 1. The ultra conservative or rather extremely phobic practitioner and their equally phobic or panicky client or friend or follower. 1.1 If you choose to be aligned to the above, most likely, you will be offered this solution: "Ladies and Gentlemen please hang a six hollow rod wind chime at this area (full stop)" 2. If you belong to the liberal school of Feng Shui then..... yawn... snore... "OH SORRY! What did you just say?" And snore and most likely do nothing and sleep peacefully throughout the entire year! 3. So YOUR CALL. 4. There is no right or wrong answers, here. 5. Look at it this way: if this is America: you either choose the Republican or Democrats. 6. People like us in Singapore where we don't have that much choices: how about: Heads you win (Para 1); tails you select Para 2?

In general:- 1. In Feng Shui, the rationale why it is considered not good to have a door face another door. For example in the attached two illustrations: 2. Please see marking in red "A" and "B". In original attachment (Illustration 1) one can see that the two doors (marking A and B) are directly facing each other. 3. In common sense Feng Shui, just imagine two persons each at A and B standing and confronting each other. Thus, sounds like a fight during "High Noon". This is why some have "asked" to avoid this "confrontation" between those staying in each of the two bedrooms. Refer to illustration 2. 4. Frankly, I am not sure what you are getting at. 4.1. Firstly, if your position on that piece of land is fixed what can you do? 4.2. What are you trying to achieve here? If you are trying to plot aFlying Star chart, then it is a matter of finding the frontage e.g. frequency of opened windows vs front door (locked or opened most of the time) in your mobile home. 5.Otherwise, no offence, just too many text wordings to comprehend, here.

Under Human or Man Luck factor, yes, it is always excellent to seek immediate family member's view. This often shifts the entire burden of "responsibility" to shared responsibility = consensus. Here, it not only put you personally at ease but also indirectly boost your Human or Man Luck factor. (Under the Holy Trinity of Luck: Heaven (born with) and Feng Shui (Earth luck of home and office). Another or last category of luck Human or Man Luck must never, never to overlooked. Some people, don't have great Heaven nor Feng Shui luck; but with strong Human or Man Luck; it can transcend over the other two type of luck.)

1. Please see sample illustration: Ba Zi Expert Review Summary [1.] Sample, Male - 17 Oct 1980 at 1.00 p.m. to 2.59 p.m. Lunar Calender: 1980, 9th month, 9 day Birth Element: Weak Water Favourable Element: Metal (white/gold), Water (blue/black/gray) Unfavourable Element: Earth (yellow), Wood (green/brown) Wealth Element: Fire (red) NOTE: Wealth element auspicious only if you are a Strong Water, otherwise it will bring you lots of problem This Sample Person'sFive Element Breakdown 3 Extremely Weak Water 0 Weakest Wood 4 Weak Fire 3 Strongest Earth 2 Strong Metal 7% 0% 31% 39% 21% This tells me that you are a Weak Water because of too little Water (7%). Your element is born in a season which is makes Water Element Extremely Weak. Thus, influencing the element strength of the other five element elements. The percentage of each element is considered after considering the seasonal strength and the number of that element present. Thus, your favourable elements are Metal (21%) and Water (7%) Elements. Fire (31%) is your wealth element. However, as you are a Weak Water, you first need to be stronger in order to control your wealth element. Based on the percentage of the Five Element of each of your favourable element. You should attempt to enhance the favourable element with least percentage, followed by the favourable element with the next lowest percentage. As Weak Water, your favourable elements are Metal (21%) / Water (7%) . Water (7%) is your most favourable element. Metal (21%) is your next most favourable element. As you have sufficient amount of Metal, you will benefit more by having more of your other favourable elements. Your unfavourable elements are Earth (39%) / Wood (0%) / Fire (31%). Earth (39%) is your most unfavourable element. As you have too much of Earth, it is best to avoid it having too much more. Fire (31%) is your next unfavourable element. Wood (0%) is your least unfavourable element. You have a very unbalanced Five Element distribution. Often, this produces signs of a person with several possible health problems. You have 0% Wood element. This often signify possible Health related problems to the Liver, Bile and Spleen. The ideal balance of each element is generally 20% of each element. However, it is difficult to achieve exactly 20% of each element. This is because it is difficult to know exactly how much of each element you have at any point in time. So as long as you have more of your favourable elements, you will improve your balance and harmony. 2. If you are referring to the sample above; for the Chinese; if the parent or grand parent visit a geomancer, the geomancer will select a Mandarin name; in the above example; appropriate to the above Sample person. 2.1. Using the above chart as a guide to help select a new born's name or for someone wanting to change their name mid-way in their life is the main purpose for the above chart. 3. As all Chinese Mandarin characters can be classified to one of the five elements. Thus, in general, it is preferred that the new born or Sample person's name does not contain an element related to Earth as he already has too much earth element = 39% followed by 31% fire 4. Frankly, this is the real purpose or one of the other major uses of the above chart. Other than of course identifying what health issues the person may most likely have in the near future. 5. Sorry, for other races, there is no known precedence other than (perhaps? not possible) a mandarin name? This is out of the question. 6. However, what is most useful and can be applied universally is per attached, and a sample section is shown below:- Luck Pillar 3, Age 27 - 36 (2007 - 2016) Luck 3 Chart Age 27 - 36 Year 2007 - 2016 Animal Sign Ox Heaven & Earth Element Fire Heavenly Stem ji yin Earth Combination Join New Element Earth Clashes Ten Deities qi sha Determination Earthly Branch chou yin Earth Three Comb Directional Two Comb New Element Earth Clashes Harm Punishment chou-wei Self Punishment Romance Star Movement Star Nobleman Star Chou & Wei Academic Star Arts Star Hidden Element 1 ji yin Earth Ten Deities 1 qi sha Determination Hidden Element 2 xin yin Metal Ten Deities 2 pian yin Unexpected Funds Hidden Element 3 gui yin Water Ten Deities 3 bi jian Friend Annual Luck Year 2007 (Pig) ding-hai Fire-Water Year 2008 (Rat) wu-zi Earth-Water Year 2009 (Ox) ji-chou Earth-Earth Year 2010 (Tiger) geng-yin Metal-Wood Year 2011 (Rabbit) xin-mao Metal-Wood Year 2012 (Dragon) ren-chen Water-Earth Year 2013 (Snake) gui-si Water-Fire Year 2014 (Horse) jia-wu Wood-Fire Year 2015 (Ram) yi-wei Wood-Earth Year 2016 (Monkey) bing-shen Fire-Metal Explanation for Luck Pillar 3 Big Luck (10-year) / Seasonal Luck This period falls under the Winter season. Favouring North directional luck period, which happens to be the Water element. As you are a Weak Water, this is auspicious for you as it helps to strengthen your weak Weak Water main element. ji - (yin Earth) Heavenly Stem Heavenly Stem Combinations No Heavenly Stem Join found. No Heavenly Stem Combination found. Heavenly Stem Clashes No Heavenly Stem Clashes found. chou - (yin Earth) Earthly Branch Earthly Branch Combination No Three Earthly Branch Combination found. No Directional Earthly Branch Combination found. No Earthly Branch Combination found. Earthly Branch Clashes No Earthly Branch Clashes found. No Earthly Branch Harm found. You have an Earthly Branch Punishment found! chou-wei - The elements in the Luck 3 (chou - Ox), Conception (chou - Ox), Hour (wei - Ram) pillars of the Earthly Branch punishes each other. The punishment are due element incompatibility between the two animal signs where one element actually destroys the other. No Earthly Branch Self Punishment found. Executive Summary for Age 27 - 36 (2007 - 2016) Generally, luck with you during this 10-year period. Unfortunately, both the 5-yearly luck period are inauspicious, so you will not enjoy the best 10-year luck. Luckily for you, there isn't any major clash during this period to make it even worst for you. You are also very lucky to have nobleman luck where you will meet some people who will always give you a helping hand. Major Nobleman Luck [2007-2016], Especially in [2009**] [2011*] [2013**] [2015**] Minor Yearly Career Movement Luck in [2010**] [2013**] Minor Yearly Romance Luck in [2008] Minor Yearly Academic Luck in [2007*] [2011*] NOTE: 1. Year marked in red colour or YEAR** is a very inauspicious year, so expect adverse effect on the Career / Romance / Academic Luck. 2. Year marked in green colour or YEAR* is average year, so must be extra careful else you get adverse effect on the Career / Romance / Academic Luck. Otherwise, nothing else major to point out from your current luck period. Changes in your Five Element Balance for 27 - 36 (2007 - 2016) Water Wood Fire Earth Metal 3 % 0 % 68 % 18 % 9 % You are a Weak Water. Generally, you will need more Metal and Water, while avoiding any Earth or Wood. In order to be effective, you should know how the current 10-year luck period affects your original five element distribution. So for this 10-year period you should fine tune your favourable elements as follows:- Favourable to you Your favourable element Metal (9%) and Water (3%). You will need more Water (3%) than compared to Metal (9%) to improve the luck for this period. Staying in a suitable House Element - Your luck will further be improved if you are staying in a house facing direction which represents Water Having a suitable career - Metal element career such as Advertising, Arts, Communications, etc. Having more favourable colours - You can further boost your luck by ensuring your bedroom decor/car colour/dressing are in blue/black/gray (Water element). Unfavourable to you While, your unfavourable elements are Earth (18%) and Wood (0%) You will to avoid Earth (18%) more than Wood (0%) to improve the luck for this period. Avoid staying in an unsuitable House Element - Your luck will further be reduced if you are staying in a house facing North-East/South-West direction which represents Earth Avoid an unsuitable career - Wood element career such as Customer Relations, Constructions, Games, etc, will make this period less auspicious for you. Avoid unfavourable colours - Should ensure you avoid bedroom decor/car colour/dressing are in yellow (Earth element). Here, one will notice that when this Sample Male person reach 27 to 36 years old, he has to be careful of Fire (Heart problems) and 0% wood means that he may be most likely affected by diabetes or other areas : live, bile or pancreas.

These are some of my opinions: 1. In my opinion, the greatest key success factor of activating a mountain is if invariably there is open space and perhaps a window or two or if it is a landed property the dining area opens to an (open) court yard. 1.1. Here, it is akin to e.g. the highest form of "pure luck". Be it a mountain or water wealth star. 1.2. Thus, if there is an opening of sorts like a window or an open court-yard, this is far better than anything else to enhance wealth position. 1.3 And if we do spent time at this area e.g. dining area with say an opening; then we are talking about achieving high marks in improving one's luck. 2. Thus, we are talking of very high score for the above. 3. Contrast this with an enclosed dining area. And using text book type of solutions. Here, in an enclosed environment e.g. no openings etc... one is said to try to "squeeze" out the luck if any. As compared to a natural surrounding as mentioned under Para 1. to1.3. 4. But if you want to place a painting, usually a mountain painting often include things like a mountain scene with lots of trees (like pine trees) etc.. and perhaps a touch of open space or even some birds flying around this space. 4.1 Other mountain paintings may include e.g. the great wall of China or part of it as a painting or photo.

In my opinion, from my personal understanding: 1. To many, the subject of Marketing may seem exactly the same or identical to Sales; 2. But if one has studied the fundamentals of Marketing and in detail; marketing is usually one level before sales. 2.1. In Marketing, one studies not about the bird or the bees but for those who have studied the subject it is about the cows and stars etc.... 2.2. Here, there is a difference between being a Marketing manager vs a Sales person. 2.3. A marketing manager for example; recommends and sets prices, the type of product strategies for the company. A marketing manager may use market research information; and direct vs indirect marketing programs. And he monitors the projected sales etc...A marketing person also deals with advertising for the company. And may even be in-charge of a TEAM of Sales-person. 2.4 Thussome marketing person or manager is like an invisible hand running his sales team. He may not need to get his hands dirty.. demonstrating products or trying to close a sale. If we view a marketing person (not a hawker): he/she belongs to the water element. 3. But, if one is given products to sell, and is tasked to "sweet talk" others into buying our company product. Then he/she belongs to the fire element. 4. Of course, if one becomes a Jack of all trades: have to do both marketing and sales (one man operation) type of person then his/her job is now both water and fire element. 5. Thus if one is tasked to sell a type of vacuum cleaner and go house to house: then this is a pure sales person. And not to be confused with a Marketing man.

Many years ago and even today, often only 2 or 3 start-ups out of 10can survive. Today, it is everyone's dream of starting up a$2 company, with no expertise andno staff, and becoming dormant. Yet,hoping that money literally falls from the sky! Sometimes, having a pedigree company name can make or break a company. Take aim and make sure that your aim is to make sure that the aim of the company name is to stand out. What couldalso be better than setting up a Feng Shui emporium?Aim for a good company name instead!

"Avoid having a crooked signage"

Some aspire one day to attain high office... Hope her wishes come true! Saint Mercy

Is it a dragon that will soon turned into a snake with fangs? Sounds familiar? : CSM

1. You may like to do a search for "frontage". 2. Briefly: 2.1. In traditional times, all homes are at ground level: thus most of the time, the frontage is = standing inside the main door looking outwards. 2.2. But if one reads the various explanations, why often the main door is not the frontage especially for high rise; then one can understand that majority of the time, the stack or standing inside the balcony looking outwards should be taken for the purposes of applying Flying Star Feng Shui. Since this is the location with the most "Yang qi". 3. Thus, since majority of street lamp post and directional signs are of a certain height; it is preferred that your dream apartment should be at least 5th or more storeys high. Thus, I would not want to think of getting an apartment at say 2nd storey, as it will not offer unblocked view and the earlierillustration of an amok vehicle ... 4. In my opinion, for majority of flats, the frontage should be one where there are the most openings rather than the main entrance door.

I can still remember vividly the shock after visiting the first unit at Livia condominium. Another sister project by CDL Properties. Then, out of curiosity, I knocked on the interior wall of a large unit. Virtually all interior walls are of dry partition. And not only that, the entire walls of the toilets are also of dry wall partition. Shocked because, with today's Singapore sky high property prices, one would expect the same traditional built quality (at least) using pre-cast concrete = brick and mortar type of construction. NV Residences being another sister development of Livia condo, should I must say share the same fate. No wonder, what seems like NV Residences expected TOP in 2014 should now be a year earlier. And most likely TOP pretty soon this year! Personally, I got to thank Livia. As when I was looking at as much as 40 different developments (to purchase); I personally kept clear of CDL properties and some others which also share similar construction techniques... for one a certain new TOP development = 8@Woodleigh... Fortunately, there are still other developments that kept to the true "solid wall" construction method. Phew! Here, it is not true that if one pay peanuts, one get peanut shell. But rather, here one pays a premium and yet, get peanuts of an interior... Furthermore, even government HDB flats are a far cry better than this. So far, majority of new public housing flats use solid walls. Some although use thinner (but sound proof) precast concrete walls; they are still considered solid walls. The only slight disappointment of some HDB flats was some stocks that TOP around 10 years ago where the toilets share the same fate as Livia condo. Some of these flats can be found in Sengkang. Otherwise, today, HDB flats are now solid wall construction.

It is not like it is the end of the world..... Goddess of Mercy is always forgiving....

These are some considerations: 1. In the 1960's my grandparent had also a Guan Yin figurine. And was also blessed and given to me in the 1970's. This figurine also has some chipped part e.g. the tip of one of the red lotus leaf was chipped off slightly at the tip. 2. In the last few days I still displayed it (not for praying) but kept as one of the decorative piece in a display shelf. But I have since packed it up. 3. Sounds abit similar to your situation. Although yours has her finger chipped off and fixed back. 3.1 In my opinion, it is real waste or too drastic to "throw" it away. 3.2 If you feel really unsettled, then get a replacement "blessed" and maybe keep or store this one away. Given that you still pray to a Guan Yin. Perhaps even later on, throw it away - if question comes up in the future or everything remains status quo.. 3.3 Thus I feel that there is really no harm to keep or store it away given that it does have SENTIMENTAL value, like what I had mentioned under Para 1. And since it belongs to your later grandmother all the more... again NO HARM storing away later on SHOULD you decide to buy a new Guan Yin. Unless it takes too much space in your home. 4. Frankly there is no hard or fast rule. Like a former Singapore Minister: Mr George Yeo says "go with the flow" or in my opinion: go with your gut feel. 4.1. Or check with your spouse or elder for their advice. Treat it like a "National conversation" in your family. Again it has to do with your feelings afterwards. What I mentioned under Para 3.2 is in my opinion, more on the practical side of things.

Further to what I had mentioned, what I had mentioned below is the most common and the easiest method to follow. It has to do with two concepts: 1.YIN and YANG and also 2. Even numbers meansa pair and sounds more auspicious than oddnumbers. 1. YINand YANG concept: If one often notice Chinese burials or cremation; it is always done on odd days. Thusa person is buried / crematedoften either on the 3rd, 7th, 9th, 11th, 15th dayexactly after death. Here, it is not about looking at thedead's person animal sign orimmediate family's (so many) signs. 2. Even number sounds more auspicious Thus, since Para 1 says that burial is on 3, 7, 9 etc... on the contrary, open for business is exactly opposite of such a sad occasion. And in addition, even daysfor openingsounds more auspicious. Futhermore, in the past, many small business could afford to close longer. And for many Chinese businessman who are Hokien or haveHokien influence like the number 6. Which when pronounced sounds like LUCK. And many Chinese can associate 8 with"FA" = prosper. The above method, thus is robust and simple to understand. And can easily be applied for 2013 or evenin the year 2053etc... Contrast this withtrying to apply an animal sign. Manymodern business are nowadays no longer self employed. Many even have several partners. Some even have several branches. So whose animal sign one should apply? Thus, although this method MAY beused, it is equally troublesome to check out each year as well asfor whom (birth-date)do we use?

This is the link to a past article on when to start work during Chinese New Year. In general, it is a custom to start work or the 1st day to start work or open for business is on any EVEN days under the Chinese Lunar calendar between 1st day of the 1st lunar month onwards. Thus, it is very common to "Open for business" on the 2nd, 6th and 8th lunar day of the first lunar month. One might ask: 2nd day is too early to start work. In modern times, what I often do is, to stop work on the eve of Chinese New Year and on the morning of 2nd day of Chinese New Year; I would turn on myPC; logon to this forum and reply or post a message. Alternatively, one may go intoone's business, and physically do somework on that day. Note: I have skipped the 4th day of Chinese New Year given that many Cantonesedon't like 4 as it sounds like die. And this probably has spilled over to other Chinese dialect group- who to play safe, don't like opening for business during these hours. Thus it is best toopen for business on 2nd, 6th = "sounds like LUCK" in Hokien" and 8th sounds like prosperity. Fankly time is not necessary. But if one wants to can or may consider 0818HRS, 0838HRS, 0938HRS or 1118HRS to start work. Past forum posting and it's link: Reference: http://forum.geomancy.net/phpforum/article.php?bid=2&fid=1&mid=28887&new=%3EHouse%20Hunting%20:%20A%20Lot%20Position%20-%20%3Cem%3EFeng%20Shui%3C/em 1. Chinese New Year starts early this year; 2. This year's Chinese New Year starts on Monday 23 January 2012. 3. As mentioned in the earlier posting of 1/15/2011, below; it is a tradition especially by the majority of Singapore Chinese who are Hokiens to start operations on an auspicious day on Chinese New Year itself. 4. I have mentioned that for the opposite: for the dead, burial is always done on ODD days e.g. 1st day, 3rd day, 5th day, 7th day etc... immediately after death. 5. However, for business opening; it is always considered auspicious to start operations on EVEN number of days. 5.1. Thus for 2012, the first day of Chinese New Year is Monday 23 January 2012; business should or can or may open on even days e.g. the 2nd day: 24th, the 4th day: 26th, the 6th day: 28th, the 8th day = 30th of January etc... 5.2. In addition, the Hokien dialect group (a significant number of Chinese in Singapore are Hokiens (Fujian); love the sound of "6th". As it sounds like "luck". 5.3. In this attached, photo, this very famous and popular wanton noodle stall in a food centre at Telok Blangah states that they start work on 28th January 2012. Which is the 6th lunar day of the Chinese New Year 2012! 5.4. For some business, who can afford to operate or open for business at an extended date could instead operate on Monday 30th January 2012 or the lucky 8th lunar day. 8th is also a very popular and auspicious sounding term for many Chinese dialect groups: 8 in mandarin sounds like prosper for the Cantonese as well as the Hokkiens and Teochews... 6. For example, for Geomancy.net, as we have an international website, our website operations will start on the 2nd day of Chinese New Year which is on Tuesday 24th January 2012. While our phsycial business starts on the 6th lunar day of 2012 similar to this hawker stall. 7. In China, it is usual for many business especially factories to stop work as early as this hawker stall to allow their staff time to return back to their province and home county which can by bus or train be as long as 1 or 2 day's journey depending on which city they work and live.

This poster (split into three parts) shows what one can do to avoid over eating during Chinese New Year. Did you find all the familiar snacks found during Chinese New Year and what YOU CAN DO?

Do remember that when one comes across such a description when buying a new or resale home: "Large uncovered drain behind a house" Be prepared to exercise CAUTION when buying such a home. CAUTION? Implies further investigations should be made or contacting a geomancer to review it.

Impact of cooling measures introduced on 11 Jan 2011 18th January 2013 Summary For those smart people who do not want to waste their time reading all the details: The Singapore Property Market has become one with very low upside potential in the medium term (3 ? 5 years), but with quite significant downside risks. Low upside because: The govt is committed to not letting the prices to go up significantly. High Downside because: Huge supply (200 k units), and lower demand (reduction of foreign labour). Possible course of action if you agree with the above analysis : If you do not have any sentimental or intangible value for your apartment, it is perhaps a good time to sell and take profit. Rent for a year or two and get into private property after 2014. For those who have nothing better to do than derive some pleasure from reading the below: This is one of the most Comprehensive set of measures covering 1. ABSD: Increasing upfront cost in the form of higher stamp duties even on Singaporeans who are potential HDB upgraders. 2. LIQUIDITY: Reducing significantly the quantum of financing available to 50% for those who already have one loan and more significantly, increasing the quantum of upfront cash to 25% from 10% 3. PR HDB: Virtually squeezing the PRs out of the HDB market by not allowing subletting and 5% stamp duties on purchases. These measures have been taunted as anti cyclical measures to calm the market until the long term structural measures such as increasing the supply get the required time to play out its impact. Let us look at the impact of these measures Mid and High end (above 1.7 million) : ABSD: this market has already been impacted since Dec 2011 and with the further increase to 15% for foreigners , 5 to 10% for PRs and 7 to 10% for Singaporeans, all the buyer segments are significantly affected. I do not see many Singaporeans who do not own any property to be potential buyers of this segment (the only exception being investors who have cashed out in anticipation of measures and market crash) LIQUIDITY: Buyers in this segment need to come out with 50% cash, which in absolute quantum is around 1 million out of which 500 k could be cpf. Overall the investors in this segment are likely to be savvy and would stay away from the market which is what they have been doing. The property price in this segment has been virtually flat for the past 2 years and the rentals are under pressure. The existing landlords will have the resources to hold on even if the rentals fall by 20%. No major distress selling except by those speculators who bought in 2010 and later and would desperately need a tenant to make the emi payments. Mass market (800 k to 1.7million) ABSD: The key buyer group in this segment are the HDB Upgraders, high income first timers, and middle income investors who are looking at rental income. There is no impact on the high income first timers. They will have a lot to choose from. HDB UPgraders who earlier had the option to move into a condo and rent out their HDB Flats at a good rental yield of 8 to 10 %, now face a ABSD of 7%. On a 1.2 million property, that amounts to 84k upfront cost. They can choose to sell the HDB to avoid the ABSD, but that is exactly what the GOVT wants to increase the supply of resale HDB flats and bring down the resale prices. The psychology of this group of people would be rather to hold on to their HDB flats. This would result in lesser demand and developers would be forced to lower prices or offer big discounts. (check out this has already started to happen) The middle income investors are likely to be already having one or two properties and will be subjected to high ABSD OF 7 to 10%. The savvy ones were already in the sidelines. The gullible ones in this group will have lesser opportunity to be gullible as they will not be able afford the ABSD and higher cash requirements. On top of this, the PRs who are currently renting a place and looking for resale apartments in the mass market, would also be better off renting because of the higher ABSD and lower financing. A PR buying a 1.2 million property, will have to come out with 60k in ABSD , 30 k in BSD, 240k in cash or CPF Upfront, and around 4.5 k a month in EMI. Most potential buyers in this segment will be squeezed resulting in significant reduction in demand and consequently lower prices from developers. The current landlords are unlikely to sell in panic. They are enjoying a nice rental yield and they will continue to hold even if the rental yields drop a little. If they sell, getting into the market would be very costly under the current regulations. One unintended consequence of this policy is that the supply of resale private apartments will be lowered significantly. HDB resale apartments The government?s key objective is to arrest the price inflation of HDB resale flats. They have so far not been successful because very few owners are willing to sell. This round of measure aims to correct the supply imbalance partially. PRs will be forced to sell because they cannot sublet. Some HDB UPgraders will sell to get a refund of the 7% ABSD. And some of the savvy ones may sell because they can the see the deluge of pubic and private housing that is being built, and expect prices and rentals to head south. On the demand side, ABSD on the PRs will dampen demand from this segment. HIGH income PRs are generally not in this segment as they are likely to have some private property in their home country and so are not eligible. For the low to mid income PRs, the 5% ABSD is quite steep. On a 500k, HDB flat, it amounts to an extra 25k. And they cannot sublet it in the long run and so it loses its attraction as an investment opportunity. Demand from the HDB second timers will also decrease because of the more than 23K BTO flats that will be on offer this year. The above will certainly put downward pressure on the HDB resale prices. Possible course of action if you agree with the above analysis: SINGAPOREAN First timers : no hurry to buy. You will have plenty of options. Bid lower aggressively and ask developers for steep discounts(20%). Their margins are one of the highest in the world, and can afford to bring down the pricing. Current HDB owners and Upgraders: if you do not have any sentimental or intangible value for your apartment, it is perhaps a good time to sell and take profit. Rent for a year or two and get into private property after 2014. Point to note: Once you sell your HDB, it is quite difficult to get back into public housing. Private property owners: If you do not have any sentimental or intangible value for your apartment, it is perhaps a good time to sell and take profit. Rent for a year or two and get into private property after 2014. Private property investors (assuming you already own one property): Currently you are subjected to the ABSD, which is a cyclical measure and is likely to be reversed when the market comes down. So just wait for that to happen. No need to rush. If you can?t sit on your butt quietly, the go and bid lower aggressively. PRs HDB owners: owner occupiers can continue to stay at low cost housing. For those who live in private property and are renting out their HDB, will have to decide between selling the HDB or moving into it because they cannot rent it out legally. Private property owners: for those with long term plans, owner occupiers are better off staying put. If you sell, you need to pay 5% ABSD to get back into the market increasing the overall transaction cost to 10% (ABSD, BSD, brokerage, small renovation) Private property investors with one property and getting a good rental yield has the most difficult decision to make..if you sell, you lose the rental yield, and buying back will make sense only if there is a significant downturn (more than 15%), as the overall transaction cost around 10% quite high (5%ABSD, 3% BSD, 2% brokerage, small renovation). If you don?t sell, you will be subjected to 10% ABSD when you want to buy another property in the event of a downturn. Private property investors who own more than one property are better off not selling, as they will be subject to 10% ABSD to buy back which makes the overall transaction cost (ABSD, BSD, brokerage, small renovation) around 15%. PR First Timers: no hurry to buy. You will have plenty of options. Bid lower aggressively and ask developers for steep discounts(20%). Their margins are one of the highest in the world, and can afford to bring down the pricing. Foreigners: Private property owners: for those with long term plans, owner occupiers are better off staying put. If you sell, you need to pay 15% ABSD to get back into the market making overall transaction cost 20%. Private property Investors: Private property investors are better off not selling, as they will be subject to 15% ABSD to buy back which makes the overall transaction cost (ABSD, BSD, brokerage, renovation) around 20%. Foreign First Timers: Run away unless you have so much money that you need to park it somewhere safe for the long term and do not mind paying 20% transaction cost. Every one knows that these are temporary measures which will be reversed when the market hits a low and when the supply comes in. It makes absolute sense to wait and not incur these heavy upfront costs. Property Hobbyist Ref: Impact of cooling measures introduced on 11 Jan 2011