WHAT ON EARTH IS FACIAL BONE GRINDING SURGERY?

When I read about a young singer, Wang Bei, dying on the operation table while undergoing facial bone grinding surgery, I had wondered what on earth that was.  I did a search on the Internet and realised what the young lady had wanted to do was a face contour surgery whereby volume of the facial bone is reduced by using osteotomy to reduce the contour of the face.
Here is an example of the result of face shaping

 Before surgery (source: http://www.advaestheticsurgery.com/facial.php)

After surgery(Source: http://www.advaestheticsurgery.com/facial.php)

To read more, please visit the following sites:
http://eng.plasticsurgerybeijing.com/zygoma.htm
http://www.advaestheticsurgery.com/facial.php

Here is a picture of the late Wang Bei whose death from an accident while undergoing "Facial Bone Grinding Surgery" has been highlighted in the Chinese press.  Judging by the photograph, I am really wondering why she wanted to have the procedure done as she already looked pretty.  Guess she got greedy.

A WEIGHT LIFTED

In the middle of the year, I had promised to send some gifts to one of my blog visitors but somehow when I was shifting house, I lost her address and also could not locate where I had kept the gifts I had bought. 

Luckily while I was cleaning my room at my mum's house in Ipoh, I managed to find the gifts.  Then I managed to get her address via email and this morning I finally sent the gifts. 

I don't know about you but if I have some uncompleted task, I would feel as if there was a weight I was carrying around with me. Only when I have completed the task would the weight be lifted. 

TIME FOR ANSWERING QUERIES

It's school holiday time and I am afforded the luxury of some time of my own.  At the same time, I also get to carry out some tasks that I have being putting off because of work.  Happily, I have been able to finish off more than half of them.

Visitors to the Xing Fu Blog and also my blog on herbs have written in with queries for me to answer.  I have already answered some but am still working on the rest.  Sometimes I just cannot give the answer off the top of my head as I too am not sure.  So I need time to do some research or to ask someone else who is more knowledgeable.  Besides visitors from the blogs, my own friends would also call me to ask for Feng Shui advice.  Again, I tell them to wait if I am not sure of the answer and would let them know later.  For example, my friend's husband just bought an apartment for her son who is studying at Taylor's College in Kuala Lumpur.  However, the main door opens to a big table and the parents are worried whether the piece of furniture would be bad Feng Shui.  I told my friend that I'd go and see her on Thursday and get her to draw me the plan of the house before I offer any advice.  There was one query from a friend that I could answer immediately.  It was about a thorny plant (about 5 feet high) that was growing outside the main gate of her house. She was wondering if it was okay to get rid of it.  I said go ahead as it was not within the perimeters of the house.  If it was inside the perimeter, then I'd ask for the house direction as cutting down a tree in the Five Yellow sector is taboo.

Anyway, I am happy to get all these queries as they help me to learn more.  As I have always mentioned, I am not a Feng Shui master but just someone who is interested in this ancient Science.  Writing and researching about Feng Shui help me to understand it better.  So bring on more queries for me to answer.  I welcome them.

FACIAL BONE GRINDING SURGERY???

The late Wang Bei

Facial Bone Grinding Surgery? What the blazers is that?  That was what I asked myself when I read the news article about a Chinese singer who had died while undergoing such a cosmetic surgery procedure in Wuhan, China.

Here is the article:

Chinese pop singer & talent show beauty dies during plastic surgery

The Chinese pop singer and a former contestant on China's answer to American Idol, Wang Bei, 24, died on November 15 during facial bone grinding surgery in the central city of Wuhan, according to Chinese media.

Wang wanted to improve her looks by cosmetic surgery. It was her beauty which made her a popular contestant on the smash television hit 'Super Girl."
It was an "anaesthetic accident" which occurred during the surgery of Wang Bei. Her was operated at the Zhong Ao Cosmetic Surgery Hospital, according to Chinese news agency,Xinhua.
At least 3 million people have cosmetic surgery in China , every year. But Wang Bei's death raised concerns about the dangers of plastic surgery in the country.
Source: http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/7448193-chinese-pop-singer-wang-bie-dies-during-plastic-surgery

MY TWO SEN WORTH
What is more ridiculous was the fact that Wang Bei's mother was undergoing the same cosmetic surgery procedure at the same hospital at the same time.  One wonders if she had any work done to enhance her looks before the Facial Bone Grinding Surgery.  It sounds very painful to me.  Anyway, she paid for her vanity with her life.  Is it worth it?

MISS THE CHANCE TO SEE DR PRINCE IN PERSON

Kim Hyun Joong

South Korean beauty brand, The Face Shop previously had Bae Yong Joon as one of its spokeperson.  I think that was about two years ago.  Now the latest in line is Kim Hyun Joong who in my opinion is a younger version of Bae.  If they ever decide to make a movie on the life of Bae Yong Joon, then they would not have to look further than young Kim to play him.

Bae Yong Joon

38 year old Bae Yong Joon and 24 year old Kim Hyun Joong

The singer / actor is set to make a two-day visit to Malaysia (as part of his Asia Tour) on Dec 4 and 5!
A Fans Gathering Event will be held on Dec 4 at the Bukit Bintang Entrance, Pavilion at 5pm. On top of that, selected (or extremely lucky) The Face Shop (TFS) shoppers will also get a chance to meet the SS501 leader up close on Dec 5!
Source: http://k-popped.com/2010/11/the-face-shop%e2%80%99s-kim-hyun-joong-in-malaysia-on-dec-4-5/

Drats! Drats and Double Drats!  I would have liked to have gone to the fans gathering to see the Doctor Prince (his nickname) from Boys Over Flowers fame but I have official work to do from the 3rd to 5th of December.  I personally think Kim Hyun Joong is very cute.  I was rooting for him to get the girl instead of Goo Joon Pyo.  I like him better than Bae Yong Joon.  He has such a dreamy voice. 

PRAYING TO THE LAUGHING BUDDHA

The Laughing Buddha is the epitome of happiness.  In His Divine presence, the worries and woes of mere mortals would dissipate.

Here is the beautiful state of the Laughing Buddha at the Kuan Yin Temple in Ayer Tawar.

Apparently, there is a special ritual to pray to the Laughing Buddha at the temple.  Mr Quah is explaining the ritual to Lai Yoong in the above picture.

Lai Yoong is trying to touch the tummy of the Buddha at the instruction of Mr Quah.  In the pictures below, Lai Yoong has captured me carrying out the steps in the ritual of praying to the Laughing Buddha.

Step 1:  Kneel in front of the Buddha and start praying.  One can also ask for blessings from Him.

 Step 2:  After praying, one can proceed to walk towards the Buddha statue.  First, touch the prayer beads of the Buddha.

Step 3: Next touch the big belly of the Buddha for lots of happiness.

Step 4: Then the next step is to touch the foot of Buddha.

Step 5: Touching the fan that is held by Buddha would need some stretching as it is a bit high up.

Step 6: The sixth step is to touch the petal of the lotus flower.  One has to keep touching the petals while going one round clockwise.

Step 7: The ritual end when one reaches the starting point where one started to touch the lotus petal.  

FENG SHUI AND CRABS

I had been eyeing the beauties above for quite some time now.  The vendor at the market had been urging me to buy a pair home as pets for months.  The smallest ones cost RM1 each while the biggest ones are only RM5.  He told me children like to keep them as pets and they are easy to look after.  He said to just feed them bread or biscuits and wash the containers they are in every few days.

In Shanghai, the the crab is widely used in the competitive center as company logos.  It seems that in Feng Shui, this creature is considered one of the auspicious symbols. Why?  Because crabs are able to move very fast in the water and react and retaliate fast to enemies. They are very cunning when it comes to hunting pray as it will used its powerful claw to pinch on the enemies so strongly that is almost impossible to escape once its enemies are captured. It’s shell are hard and it represent success to the owner who display this auspicious crab in the office and with the crab ability to move sideways represent cunning and able to strategize complex strategy and power and strength to sustain difficult downtimes.
Those who are looking for promotion in office can also display this crab on his/her table to help you to eliminate your other competitors and also to avoid unnecessary office politics that might have pointed to you intentionally or unintentionally. Auspicious crab also can work well for student you are undergoing examination and it will benefit them in terms of getting good results. It will help them to plan and strategize their study time and also when they are facing the examination paper.
Source: http://www.fengshui-gift.com/store/product/auspicious-crab.html
According to the guy who sold me the crabs, he said that keeping them is auspicious as they would bring wealth luck to the owner.  The powerful claws of the crabs are supposed to draw in money luck.

100 YEN SHOP

I had spotted the 100Yen Shop in Manjung when I was busy shifting house.  However, I just simply did not have the time nor the mood to go in and have a look. 

Now that I am comfortably settled in my new house, I got the time to go in and have a looksee.  Most of the things there cost RM4.90.  I went with Lai Yoong last week and both of us had a fun time looking at the things sold there.  Some were so interesting and innovative.  I bought myself a dustpan and broom, cleaning tissues and a banana container.

AYER TAWAR KUAN YIN TEMPLE

Nestled in a Palm Oil Estate in Ayer Tawar is a Kuan Yin Temple that not many of us know of.  I actually got to know about its existence from the Contractor who made the grill for my house, Mr Quah who is a committee member of the temple. 

At first when he told me about the temple and how beautiful it was, I was a bit sceptical.  He had volunteered to take me there when my house was being renovated but at that time I was busy and said I'd take a raincheck.  Well, I finally visited the temple and Mr Quah kept his word to take me there though he was busy with word.  I also invited Lai Yoong along.

Both of us agreed that the Ayer Tawar Kuan Yin Temple is a place worth visiting.  The place is super clean and the statues and idols are works of art.  Indeed, the temple is beautiful.

Lovely Lotus stool that the temple medium would sit on while in a trance.

The statue of Kuan Yin with her two able assistants.

 A view of the area fronting the temple.

Lai Yoong posing next to a statue of a Kei Lun (Unicorn) which flanks the entrance to the temple.

Temple Pavilion

Statues of some Buddhist and Taoist Deities

Me posing at the entrance of the temple

This lovely Tiger sculpture was made by artisans in China and shipped here

With an intricately sculpted Dragon

Mr Quah explaining some of the Buddhist teachings to Lai Yoong

Lai Yoong with a statue of Confucius

With the statue of the Laughing Buddha

View of the Archway to the temple

The altar was also made in China and shipped here

Lai Yoong contributing money for the 'releasing birds and tortoises' ceremony

FOOD AND MARRIAGE

It's been a while that I reproduced an article about Vasthu Sastra by T. Selva.  His articles are always so interesting and informative.  Anyway, here is his latest article about Food and Marriage which was featured in the Sunday Star today.

Enjoy ...

Uniting over food

Vasthu Sastra by T.SELVA

What you eat can help promote a blissful marriage.

SINCE ancient times, many types of food have been celebrated for their aphrodisiac properties.

I have been often asked by readers for tips on how to enhance sensual pleasures following Vasthu Sastra, which stresses a harmonious relationship as the pillar for a successful marriage.

The pomegranate symbolises prosperity and fertility in many cultures, perhaps because of its abundant seeds. – AFP Relaxnews

While Vasthu recommends the south-west quadrant in a house as the best location to encourage marital bliss, it does not cover the love-making positions.

Information on this is found in the Kamasutra, the Art of Love from India and it focuses on the three aims of life: virtue (dharma), prosperity (artha) and love (kama).

Many people consider the science of Kamasutra as a trivial matter that only involves erotic sexual positions. But the true meaning of the Kamasutra goes beyond that; it highlights the sacred union of the masculine and the feminine cosmic principles.

According to the study of Tantra (a branch of Indian spiritual studies), sex is the cause of the creation and manifestation of the universe.

Research has revealed that since the days of yore, the quickest way to stir libido is by consuming certain types of foods and those that use selected spices. Nutrition plays a vital role in courtship and bonding and the quality of one’s diet has a great deal to do with the quality of sex. In the Indian canon of philosophy, for instance, milk and almonds are served to newlywed Hindu couples because they can arouse sexual desire.

Elders feel a good sex life doesn’t just happen – it requires some help, which means a balanced and nutritious diet. Although secret recipes are not discussed openly, mothers advise their daughters on the importance of certain type of nuts, fruits, vegetables and meals for their health and reproductive system.

Sex, in the Indian context, is not just a pleasure-seeking activity and, traditionally, you are expected to have sex mainly to produce children and continue the bloodline.

Also in the Hindu system of ancient times, a marriage union that had not been blessed with a child was considered a curse from God. To avoid this, every woman who leaves her family home after her wedding carries with her secret recipes handed down to her by her mother, designed to produce offspring, increase love and enhance her mate’s sex drive.

It cannot be ignored that there are certain nutrients which have the power to regulate the levels of sex hormones, and some can even help to protect the reproductive system.

Food for love

> Raspberries: Promotes passion.

> Asparagus: Encourages a healthy sex life.

> Carrots: Male stimulant.

> Garlic: Stirs sexual desires.

> Vanilla: Increases lust.

> Fennel: Promotes libido enhancement.

> Moringa pod (drumstick): Develop sexual interest.

> Coriander: An appetite stimulant for both sexes.

> Ginger: Increases energy and power.

> Basil: Stimulates the sense of sex and boosts fertility.

> Avocado: Can help increase libido in both men and women.

> Celery: A fantastic source of sexual stimulation.

> Oysters: High in zinc, which raises sperm production and gets both partners in the mood.

> Saffron: Contains aphrodisiac compounds and in ancient times every member of the royalty drank a glass of milk blended with saffron and pistachios before going to bed.

> Pomegranate: Long regarded as a symbol of affection and amorous intentions.

> Bananas: Good source of potassium and B vitamins, which increases the body’s overall energy levels.

>Almonds: All nuts are a prime source of essential fatty acids which provide the raw material for a man’s healthy production of hormones.

> Nutmeg: Increases desire in the female.

> Spirulina: Increases stamina and sexual prowess.

> Tongkat Ali root: Touted as the next herbal “Viagra” and has been found to promote sex drive in both men and women.

> Aniseed: Popular culinary use and has special powers to increase desire.

> Mustard: Believed to stimulate the sexual glands and increase desire.


T. Selva has spent years researching and writing about the ancient Indian science of construction, better known as ‘Indian feng shui’. He is the first disciple of 7th generation Vasthu Sastra Master Yuvaraj Sowma from Chennai, India.

Vasthu talk
T. Selva will present a talk on Jan 8 at 3pm on ancient Indian secrets and how to apply Vasthu Sastra in a home without tearing down walls and carrying out major renovations at Lembaga Air Perak, Jalan St John, Ipoh. Admission is free. T o register, call 012-329 9713.

He provides Vasthu tips on RTM’s TRAXXfm 100.1 at 11.15am every last Friday of the month.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2010/11/28/asiangames/7516764&sec=asiangames

COMMENT
Yeh! Yeh! T. Selva will be in Ipoh on January 8, 2011.  I will try and make sure that I get to catch his talk at Lembaga Air Perak.

LAMBORGHINI

When I was driving along Tambun Road in Ipoh yesterday afternoon, I saw this sporty looking car right in front of me.  When I got closer to it at the traffic lights, I then realised that it was a Lamborghini.  True I have seen pictures of it in magazines, on the Internet and in movies.  This was the first time I saw it in real life. 
It really was beautiful.  Sooo sleek and stylish.

MISSING CORNERS

An house or land should ideally be square or rectangular. If more than a third of the length and breadth is missing, then you potentially have a missing corner.
Each Kua in the Pa Kua is associated with a member of the family and occupy a sector. For example Qian is associated with the Father and the sector NW while Kun is with the mother and the sector SW. Chen, Kan and Ken is associated with the eldest, middle and youngest son while Xun, Li and Dui with the eldest, middle and youngest daughter. The sector that they occupy is shown in the diagram on the left.
There are a lot of reasons why a missing corner can be a fearfull preposition.

Let me tell you a story. One day the eldest son in the family suddenly fell ill. The doctors who treated him were unable to pin point the cause of his problem and hence unable to prescribe an effective cure. This carried on for a few days until someone suggested that they consult a Feng Shui master.
The Feng Shui master came, surveyed the premises and then proceeded to tell them the cause and solution. He said that the son's illness is caused by retaining wall on the east sector of the house that has collapsed. The solution is to simply repair the wall.
The wall was repaired and he promptly recovered. Now this may or may not be a true story but it serves to illustrate the importance of missing corners.
For some schools such as the Flying Star school, a missing corner need not be a big issue. A house is normally divided into 9 sectors called palaces or court. Based on a formula, some sector will turn out to have auspicious qi which other will have inauspicous qi.
According to this school, if a auspicious sector is missing it is regretable but if an inauspicious sector is missing, it is not a bad thing after all!
Neverthless if you a looking for a house or a land, I would suggest you to get one that is of regular shape without missing corners. Just in case the missing corner is your Feng Shui Wealth corner or Feng Shui Love corner.

Article taken from:

http://www.absolutelyfengshui.com/fengshui/missing-corners.php

QUEEN OF THE NIGHT

The Night Blooming Cereus or Queen of the Night pictured above belongs to a visitor to this blog, Stephanie. She is gracious enough to allow me to share it with you here.  The Chinese consider this plant which has one bloom a year very auspicious. Each flower lasts for only one night. It opens after darkness falls, and the bloom is dead with the rising sun.

Belief has it that the night the plant blooms is an auspicious one and those who are lucky to be there when it blooms should make a wish. Actually, it appears that the people living in the household where the plant blooms will have good luck.

AROMATHERAPY INCENSE CONES

I went to the Farmer's Market at Kampung Koh yesterday and bought some aromatherapy cones from a vendor there.  Besides the cones, essential oils were also sold.  What they did was to place a few of the cones into a sachet which can be used to hang in the house, office or car.  Actually, I think it is more effective if it is burnt.  However, placing the cones in a sachet will make the frangrance last longer.  After all one can burn them later on.

I bought the Sandalwood cones as I liked the fragrance the most.  In Ayurveda, sandalwood is used to cool the nervous system, ease anxiety, and purify the atmosphere and the life-force (prana).

AHEM! For those with problems with intimacy,they can try the Ylang-ylang cones as the sweet scent of ylang-ylang is thought to help overcome barriers to intimacy such as nervousness, anger and frigidity.  Kee! Kee! Kee!