letter from the editor March 2014
Bustling Tokyo. W
hat an inspiring start to the year it has been! With the Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia dominating our television screens all February, winter sports have very much
been on the world’s consciousness this past month. Despite the varied and sometimes negative press reports leading up to these games, come February 7th when the Games began, we were all treated to spectacular displays of precision, tenacity, triumph and glory, as we shared the ups and downs of the athletes as they battled it out for medals in the world’s premier sporting get-together. We saw dreams being fulfi lled or dashed depending on whose point of view, but ultimately, just being a part of the Games was honour enough for all those representing their countries in the winter wonderland that was Sochi. In this issue thus, we bring you coverage of the leading lights of winter sports.
Our annual holiday over the Chinese New Year break took us to the slopes of Whistler-Blackcomb, which has become a favourite destination for us as a family. Whistler in Vancouver was the host to the last Winter Olympics, so we got to attempt the slopes navigated by our favourite athletes four years ago, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves into the spirit of the Games. Lillian brings us her take on the magic of the mountains in the pages within. Travel is a wonderful way to broaden our horizons, and in keeping with the winter theme, Helen Oon tells a tale of two cities – yin and yang – from the majestic mountains of Niseko to the bustling streets of Tokyo. Many examples of feng shui in use in modern Japan. Kee Hua Chee meanwhile introduces the holy hill of Hatyai
With Jack by the Olympic Rings at Whistler.
in Southern T ailand, which boasts an enviable collection of sacred Deities life-sized and larger than life, a worthy destination for anyone searching for a spiritual getaway.
As we enter the Horse Year, which is proving to be as aggressive as the charts indicate, the weather is running amok, with massive fl oods in the UK damaging over 1700 homes, with damage estimated at over 15 billion pounds and rising. Honey Lim studies the annual charts, identifying the Natural Disaster Star in the North as a chief culprit in Britain’s fl ood-ridden start to the year. T ere is more to come, so it is vital for everyone to stay protected in a year of such extreme energies.
Mountain Magic
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