RAM and Windows 7, 8 & 9

4 years old damaged RAM Chip Sets each 2GB

My Dell Inspiron 580 is more than 4 years old (bought in June 2010). It originally comes with 6GB RAM but recently I noticed that the programs and speed of the PC is terribly slow despite efforts in removing unwanted programs. Then I realised that the RAM was down to 2GB, the remaining 4GB seemed to be unreadable or damaged.

Not knowing which RAM chip set was damaged(there are 3 of them as shown above), I decided to replace the 3 pieces of RAM with a single 4GB RAM set (DDR3) After replacement, the programs run on smoothly. A desktop with 4 years of continuous usage is considered old. But I trust that my Dell can still run for another year or two. Good workhorse.

It runs on Windows 7, which is acknowledged as the best operating system from Windows and to some it is better than Windows 8.1. I have a Dell laptop running on Windows 8.1 but I still continue to use my Windows 7 desktop.

Recently, there was rumour that the new Windows 9 will be released soon (Sep 14) by Microsoft under the new CEO. When I bought Windows 8.1 laptop, the salesman said that the laptop was loaded with Windows 7 and believed it was a better OS. However, I proceeded to pay Microsoft for Windows 8 and subsequently upgraded it to Windows 8.1. The laptop doesn't come with touchscreen, as such it is difficult to use the much promoted Windows 8 Metro interface. I had initially thought that with the promotion of touchscreen interface, there would be attempt by monitor manufacturers to produce large quantity of touchscreen monitors, hence over time, reduce the cost and price. I was wrong. At the time of lauch, a 23 inch touchscreen standalone monitor cost about S$550. Now after 2 years since Windows 8 was released, the 23 inch touchscreen monitor still costs about S$500. Why would anyone pay this price for touchscreen feature when a non screen 23 inch probably cost half of that price? The non-cooperation from monitor manufacturers means that consumers are still using the conventional non touchscreen monitor, aka Windows 7.

Microsoft Office 365 introduced for Windows 8 ran on a yearly subscription format. The non subscription version will cost much more. This is asking consumers to pay Microsoft on a yearly basis. Why this arrangement? This discouraged consumer to upgrade to Windows 8 or Microsoft Office 365.

What I hope to see in the new Windows 9?
Traditional Windows Start Button
More stable Internet Explorer with less security issues
More stable Operating system with less requirement to upgrade
Forget about subscription base Microsoft Office
Full compatibility with older softwares

Well, Windows 7 continues to serve me well even though it is more than 4 years old.

Horse Riding

The Horse (7 years old) and my shadow

This was my second time riding a horse. Both times, my butt hurt after riding, probably due to incorrect riding posture. The first time was in South Africa. The second time was in Tiger Leaping Gorge in China. In China, the task was more strenous for the horse because it was an uphill climbing task and secondly I was much heaviler. I could recall that in the first attempt many years ago, the horse did run for a short distance.

In China, the horse had to stop for a few moments either to breath or for me to adjust my seating postion (as I was shifted too far back). The horse man had to coerced the horse to move. Obviously the horse man said that I was inexperienced in horse riding. The horse understood the path that it had travelled well and due to familiarity, it would stop at certain spots for rider to take photograph. This remind me of the chinese phrase "老马识途" which means an old horse will know its path travelled (and will not be lost).

In the modern days of cars which boast more than 100, 200 bhp. This horse is only 1 horse power and yet it could take me to the peak of a mountain in rugged terrain.

My Favourite Street Food Singapore

Eng's Noodle Wan Tan Mee

I have written about my favourite Singapore steet food on 16 Jun 2013 and one of my favourite is wan tan noodle.
http://e21s.blogspot.com/2013/06/my-favourite-street-food-singapore.html

This wan tan noodle is from Eng's noodle house in Tanjong Katong Road. It opens from 11am to 9pm daily. Interesting taste comes from its extra spicy chilli sauce and a special taste sesame oil. The noodle has also a different texture as compared to conventional.

Breathing in High Altitude

Correct breathing is important for sports. At an altitude of more than 2000m above sea level, the air is thinner and the atmospheric pressure is lower. There is tendency for the body to grasp for air and the heart beat would go faster even for a simple activity like climbing a stair. This was what I had felt from trip to Li Jiang and Tiger Leaping Gorge.

However, once I am back on sea level, breathing seem to be easier as you can feel the higher concentration of oxygen. It is less strenuous to the body and the heart beat would be in a calm state. Exercising seem to be easier (perhaps it is psychological) when oxygen is in abundance.

It is common for competitive sportsmen to train in high altitude so that the same body can perform better in normal atmospheric pressure. Example of such sportsmen : Lewis Hamilton

Blk 207 New Upper Changi Hawker Centre (Bedok Town Centre)

Bedok Chwee Kueh located at Bedok Town Centre Hawker Centre. I usually see a crowd in the morning queueing for the chwee kueh. They are selling at market price hence why the crowd? It is due to the large quantity of diced preserved radish that is nicely prepared. The signage shows that it has been in business since 1996.

Highly recommended if the queue is not too long.

For more information on chwee kueh, it is available in wikipedia.

Li Jiang / Shu He Food

Beef Noodle



Bitter gourd with fried egg - It tasted good because of MSG but became extremely thirsty after that and the taste lasted the whole night. This is the power of chemical seasoning.

Noodle with Pork at Naxi Guest House. No appetite to eat after exhaustion. Also pork cubes were not fresh.

Dali Beer - Initial taste was strange probably due to the ingredients in which the beer was made. But drinking further, it was fine. Cost between 10 to 15 yuan per bottle.

Vegetable Noodle - Not much appetite to eat. This was pale in comparison with what the Koreans hikers and family had. I was thinking of Singapore good food during this dinner.

Fried Rice - Again MSG was added.

Another Vegetable Noodle - Noodle in soup was good because the MSG was diluted and secondly all the ingredients were thoroughly boiled. This shop served free chinese tea and had free wifi.

This was the best meal I had in China. Plain porridge with Xiao Long Bao. Special mentioned was the plain porridge which had a sweet fragrant. It was either corn or barley. In Singapore, our plain porridge is really almost tastless. But this is good. Xiao Long Bao was also good. It cost me less than 15 yuan for this breakfast. For once, I was pleased that there was little or no MSG.

This is the shop that sell the plain porridge and xiao long bao. It is located near Zhong Yi Market and old Lijiang town. The eating place has a very classic chinese look.

Lijiang Zhong Yi Market

忠义市场

Interesting market located just outside Lijiang Old Town. They sell fresh produce, food and daily necessities.

Bought some peaches there.

Tiger Leaping Gorge - Star Glaze

Focal Length = 13mm
Aperture = f7.1
Exposure Time = 30 sec
ISO Speed = ISO 8000
No Tripod, Camera placed on formwork facing sky, Cloudy evening
Location = Half Way Guest House, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Yun Nan China
Altitude about 2250 m above mean sea level

Tiger Leaping Gorge

虎跳峡

 

Altimeter shows 2555m above sea level

Small water fall in the mountains

Fallen rocks blocking the path

 

One of the most beautiful gorge in the world.  It is located next to the famous jade dragon snow mountain (玉龙雪山) and about 2 hours from Lijiang.

One can see the gorge at the ridge or from the valley. I had chosen the higher means.

Highest peak I had achieved was about 2550m. Valley is about 1770 to 1800m. An ascend of more than 700m is not an easy task considering the thin air.

Jin Sha River passes through which leads to Zhang Jiang and the water would discharge to the sea near Shanghai. River is muddy coloured due possibly to erossion from the mountains.

The famous 28 bends was a steep climb to the peak. Luckily I was on a saddle of a horse. A 1 horsepower to carry me up the hills.

 

After the peak, I had negotiated the down slope from the peak to Tea Horse Guest House (from 2550m to about 2200m). It took me about 2 hours for the walk. It was equally challenging due to uneven grounds, rocks and slippery surface. Walking down needs balance and the implication of an error is unimaginable. I had fell once on the way down and my toes had abrasion.

Tea Horse Guest House was the place I had stayed a night.

Best place to study geography – Water Cycle at work. The clouds, moutains, river, water fall, valley...

Lesson learnt while treking : Take the challenges / difficulties one step at a time. By clearing the huddles one step at a time, you can clear the bigger problem and reach your target.

China Impression

China chef tends to add MSG to their food to make it tasty. However, it makes me extremely thirsty after consumption. It does not bring out the natural taste of food.

No availability of Google and its related sites in China. However gmail is available. Alternative search engine will be Yahoo.

Chinese Yuan is a controlled currency, only available for exchange with foreign currency in designated banks. You will need to make declaration and fill up forms to make an exchange. This makes it troublesome for tourists but prevents unauthorized transaction.

TV programmes have many channels showing World War 2 nationalistic shows. Even the actors spoke Japanese to make the show more realistic. The continuous nationalistic education will be problematic for Chinese-Japanese relationship. It will also be problematic for Sino-Asian relationship especially in the current south China sea territorial disputes.

When I took public transport, I did see some Confucianism values from Chinese youngster giving up seats to senior citizens. The immigration officers in custom are also courteous. However, some members of public are bad manners with self-centric behaviour. It will probably take a generation or two for more refined culture, which was lost during the cultural revolution. 

Shu He

束河

A nice town out of Li Jiang. It is much quieter than Li Jiang but still has a fair share of tourists. Things sold in Shu He can be cheaper than Li Jiang if you know how to bargain. There are many silver jewellery shops. But for a tourist without training, it is difficult to identify which are good silver.

I tried the beef skews which cost 10 yuan for 3 skews. The beef is from local yaks. It is the best food I have tried in Shu He. The rest of the food I tried have too much msg for my liking. I have tried the skews twice and in both times, I have shared some with dogs looking pretty much in a hungry state. The skews are available on street hawkers, it is therefore important to look for one that barbecue the meat well and has a high turn over.

I stayed in Maple Inn in Shu He which has a wonderful owner who will help tourists with travelling plans and any trouble faced along the way. The Inn is about 500 m from Shu He main gate which means there is less inconvenient to carry your luggage to inner Shu He. Reservation was made through Booking.com.  Kudos to Will and Anna.

Li Jiang 22 to 26 July 2014

丽江

A sign that confirms UNESCO Heritage site since 1999 by then Chinese President

High Altitude of approximately 2200 to 2400m. Because of the high altitude, temperature is a cooling 17 to 21 celsius in summer. High altitude will make breathing slightly difficult and sometimes there may be a need to grasp for air especially when there is strenuous exercise. It is also a rainy season in June/July. In July, the sun only set around 8:30pm.

It is a Unesco World Heritage site since 1999. The city is a tourist attraction town with many commercial activities. It is a city of mountain and water (山水之国). River dissects the town and there are bridges to cross. As a tourist attraction, there is effort to make the city (at least the old town) clean.

I stayed in Shu He 束河 which is a town about 30 minutes from Lijiang. Public bus number 11 travels from Lijiang city centre to Shu He main road. From the main road to Shu He gate is about 15 minutes walk. The public bus fare is 1 yuan (equivalent to SGD$0.2) whereas a taxi will cost 40 yuan. The public bus has announcement to inform the bus stop that it is stopping making it easy to navigate with knowledge of chinese.

Being a tourist attraction, prices are not cheap, a simple noodle meal costs between 15 to 20 yuan while a can of coke is about 4 yuan.  Road is well built but traffic in the city can be jammed up.

 

Singapore to Li Jiang is about 4 hours flight. Airport to city is about 45 minutes.