In life man need to have the timing and the attitude

The Friday morning, 15 August, unfortunately Jessie and I had to leave the rest of the guys to witness the Women's Table Tennis Team Bronze play-off at Peking University Gymnasium. Thereafter we would make our coach journey to the Great Wall - Badaling Wall, after a delightful lunch near the Olympic Games Village subway station.

We were treated to an "emperor's" lunch because so many dishes were presented before us, together with Chinese beer and Coca Cola - all for only RMB50 per tour member! This was arranged by our two resourceful tour guides. To round up our lunch we were treated to some colourful singing, dancing and traditional music. And the souvenir stalls inside this restaurant gave a chance to some last-minute buying by some of our new-found friends.

At the table-tennis venue one Polish player fascinated me as she was handicapped with one of her arms amputed at the elbow. Yet she was determined and played her heart out to support her Chinese partner who was representing Poland also. Actually the Chinese were everywhere representing many other countries.

I was pleasantly surprised to the late Singaporean philanthropist, multi billionaire, Tan Sri Khoo Teck Puat (1917-2001), being honoured by the Peking University with his sculpture and a wall plaque describing his background and achievements at one side of the entrance to the gym. Tan Sri Khoo's Foundation had donated RMB173 million to the Peking University for its sports complex. They highlighted his thoughts on success which principally reads:

"In life man need to have the timing and the attitude."