Workin up a sweat

random Singapore Fact: Singapore's resident population of over 3.48 million inhabitants is comprised of 77% Chinese, 14% Malay, 8% Indian and 1% others. English is widely spoken.

Today I got to get my work out on at the Yushin Stadium Fitness Center. It was great to get to run and lift weights, something I love doin back in the states. Its quite confusing doing this on the metric system with kilos and kilometers. All in all it was a great workout and I plan on going each day possible.

The humidity is horrible here. You step outside and your drenched with sweet. The heat isn't much more than Texas but its the dang humidity. Everyone carries around small packs on Kleenex to wipe the sweat from their forehead.

I met up with Amir at the Satay club to discuss more aspects of the business. We talked about the government interaction with Food Manufacturing in Singapore. We discussed the components of The Ministry of Man Power, The Agrifood and Vet Authority, National Environmental Agency, and the Ministry of Environment. Each of these work with foodstuff, hygiene, and worker/employee relations.

Amir and Anwar introduced me to the owners of the company Mr. Mohammed Raffi Bin Bashir Ahmed and Madam Jalilah Bte Surip. Mr. Raffi is originally from Pakistan while his wife is of Malaysian decent. Mr. Raffi has a strong vision for his company to expand across international lines with several restaurants in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and eventually the USA. We talked about the opportunities to view sources in Malaysia and Indonesia and he asked if I would be willing to accompany him when he went to view these. I was excited about the opportunity to visit these locations. We discussed my background in the food chain. We also talked about his respect for all religions. His own (Islamic/Muslim), Jewish, to Christianity. He explained it to me as being a few different chapters in the same book of life. We all started out in the same Chapter when Adam and Eve conceived, but no one knows what the last chapter will hold.

Mr. Raffi is an intelligent man with a great outlook on life in general. He operates his business in away that is satisfying to himself and his customers. The company has lots of potential, but needs funding to make this happen.

Ms. Surip, Mohammed's wife is a very quiet woman of a few words. Amir told me this ahead of time. Ms. Surip has been influential in the creative marketing ploys that the Singapore Satay Club has attempted. Through marketing via Media Outlets it has been possible for the company to steadily grow.

I met up with the Aggies in Downtown Singapore at the La Pau Sat Hawker Center. This is an open air dining area, or Al Fresco Style Social Dining, where several vendors have kiosiks selling different types of food. La Pau Sat street is behind the center where the area started off as a street vending Satay area. This is where Royal Halal got its start in the Satay Business. At the request of Anwar and Amir I tried the satay to test their claim as the best satay in Singapore. The test held up. The peanut sauce did not have as much flavor, while the meat was a low quality fatty cut.

I introduced the Aggies to some tropical fruit from the area. I shared Wax Apples, Sout Sop, Pineapple, and my personal favorite, Dragon Fruit. Some enjoyed it some did not. It just depends on your taste preferences.

We talked about the days work and how everyone is enjoying the job.

Drew seems to be getting a good take on all the Caltex business by visiting all aspects of the company.

Paige is working with some advance Statistical Analysis of the Variability in Products.

Stephen D is working with the asphalt Division.

Stephen H is working with financial analysis.

Jennifer is working for the Promotional part of Caltex.

Sam is still looking for an engineering firm to work for.

Kent seems to be doing great at the entrepreneur's program.

Triv has been doing more stuff with his host family and on his own so I assume he is doing well. He was a little under the weather but seems better now.

Alicia is working with a publishing company that caters to the Asian Millionaires that make 5 million+ a year. She is working on an article featuring Sentosa's resorts.

Nick is working with polytechnics and is dealing with some cool 3D electronics.

The group working at Caltex's has been our communication Hub. Since they work together it is easier for them to communicate and quickly get the word out to the rest of the group.