It’s the quality of the Cards in your hand that drive YOU! (or precisely the lack of it …)
Here I am sitting in Incheon Airport waiting for my flight back to Kuala Lumpur and then to connect to Singapore almost immediately, and yes I am writing during my journey again! Coming back to Seoul after 8 years (1st visit in 2002 as a tourist), I cannot help but be amazed with how well that the Koreans have exported their culture throughout the world since.
Being one of the worst hit nations in the economical recession of the late 90s and required substantial assistance from the IMF then, Korea has certainly arrived as one of the formidable world power today. This is not just their economical success but the wholesome Korean 'Kim Chi' flavour from Sports (the 2002 success in World Cup football as a semi finalist to their many exports to the top football clubs in the world now, the high-flying Korean professional golfers, etc.), Cosmetic (the miraculous BB Cream and the many home grown brands that carries it), Entertainment (K Pop is now a recognised genre in Music and their TV series are one of the most sought after in Asia today with beautiful faces and captivating story lines) along with some of the powerhouse brands that dominate your lifestyle today from electrical, home appliances, gadgets, educations, communications, IT and cars.
I gathered a feeling that Koreans are a very proud bunch that likes to create everything their own way rather than using wholeheartedly the ready and established at any given time. They seem to know what they want and will manifest and get it. Very competitive! Coming from a nation that always live in the shadow of its neighbours, I guess that is a result of survival instinct. Coupled with the fact that there is distinct scarcity of natural resources, humans are by nature competitive in such environment. 'Kim Chi' is a testament of such culture that preservation of foods is a result of the harsh weather. In fact, I can even feel that there is a distinct growing of confidence this time around as there is a feeling in the streets of Seoul that the recent military 'teasing' from the Kim Dynasty of the North can proved to be the justification to 'reclaim' the North for the ultimate unification of the Korean Peninsula.
Yet, this is only my analysis of Korea being an Elephant to me as a blind man. Perception can be changed and let's not be too rigid with our judgement of things in life. After all, perception is in the eyes of the beholder, there is no right or wrong anyway. Every 'beholder' has different background and accumulated different experiences along the way!
Just like my experience with dogs has always been bad, I was bitten, chased and injured resulting from my limited past encounters. Very unlikely but I might just end up keep a dog as a pet in future!
Closer to heart, Malaysia was once ahead of Korea in the race, fallen just behind the 4 economic dragons that include Korea to the fair distance today. That's not just the economical perspective, just look at football as well as the national cars initiative that both Malaysia and Korea started around the same time.
So being 'blessed' with natural resources is not necessarily a good thing? As 2011 is approaching, time to review of what’s gone wrong and leverage on own strengths. One lesson that I have learned thus far is the fact that there is never too late for anything… it’s is a question of want more than anything.
On the early morning of 13 December 2011, boarding my favourite airline that soon will boost its crew with Sir Richard Branson or rather “Lady Bra Bra” as he will be in the famous RED dress really soon honouring his punt!~
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