Our Life Stands Here On Earth

I have received emails of good advice a couple of times.
This particular one below is interesting and very relevant.
So I decided to post it on my blog to share with my readers.
Not that I have plenty to leave behind but it is a good reminder to myself.
Not too sure who the author is but it seems to be of Chinese origin.

 

Because none of us have many years to live, and we can't take along anything when we go, so we don't have to be too thrifty...

Spend the money that should be spent, enjoy what should be enjoyed, donate what you are able to donate, but don't leave all to your children or grandchildren, for you don't want them to become parasites who are waiting for the day you will die!!

Don't worry about what will happen after we are gone, because when we return to dust, we will feel nothing about praises or criticisms.

The time to enjoy the worldly life and your hard earned wealth will be over!

Don't worry too much about your children, for children will have their own destiny and should find their own way.

Don't be your children's slave.

Care for them, love them, give them gifts but also enjoy your money while you can.

Life should have more to it than working from the cradle to the grave!!

Don't expect too much from your children.

Caring children, though caring, would be too busy with their jobs and commitments to render much help.

(CYCLE/HARSH REALITY OF LIFE; THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILY WILL TAKE PRECEDENCE!)

Uncaring children may fight over your assets even when you are still alive, and wish for your early demise so they can inherit your properties and wealth.

(THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY RICH FAMILIES!)

Your children take for granted that they are rightful heirs to your wealth; but that you have no claims to their money. (ONE SIDED!)
 
50-year old like you, don't trade in your health for wealth by working yourself to an early grave anymore...

Because your money may not be able to buy your health...
When to stop making money, and how much is enough (hundred thousands, million, ten million)?

Out of thousand hectares of good farm land, you can consume only three quarts (of rice) daily; out of a thousand mansions, you only need eight square meters of space to rest at night.

So, as long as you have enough food and enough money to spend, that is good enough.

You should live happily.

Every family has its own problems. 

Just do not compare with others for fame and social status and see whose children are doing better, etc., but challenge others for happiness, health, enjoyment, quality of life and longevity...

Don't worry about things that you can't change because it doesn't help and it may spoil your health.
You have to create your own well-being and find your own place of happiness.

As long as you are in good mood and good health, think about happy things, do happy things daily and have fun in doing, then you will pass your time happily every day. 

One day passes without happiness, you will lose one day. 

One day passes with happiness, and then you gain one day.

In good spirit, sickness will cure;

In a happy spirit, sickness will cure faster;

In high and happy spirits; sickness will never come.
With good mood, suitable amount of exercise, always in the sun, variety of foods, reasonable amount of vitamin and mineral intake, hopefully you will live another 20 or 30 years of healthy life of pleasure.

Above all, learn to cherish the goodness around... and FRIENDS...

They all make you feel young and "wanted"... without them you are surely to feel lost!!
Wishing you all the best.

Visit to Mango Plantation in Cirebon, West Java

The Mangga Gedong Gincu - Trademark of Cirebon Regency, West Java, Indonesia

The mango fruit is a one of my favourite tropical fruits. It is widely grown in many Asian countries. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, during the last 5 years, the annual global production is estimated at 35.3 million metric tonnes. India is the largest producer, with an annual output of 14.12 million metric tonnes, constituting about 40% of total global production. It is followed by China with an average annual production of 4.14 million metric tonnes, and Thailand producing an annual average of 2.6 million metric tonnes. However, only about 3.4% of the production is exported, with the rest being consumed within the producing countries. The major mango exporting countries are Mexico, India, Thailand and Indonesia, while the major importing countries are United States of America, Netherlands, Germany and United Kingdom.

According to my research (http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/mango-fruit.html) the mango fruit has the following health benefits:

• Mango fruit is rich in pre-biotic dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals, and poly-phenolic flavonoid antioxidant compounds.
• Mango fruit is an excellent source of Vitamin-A and flavonoids like beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, and beta-cryptoxanthin. 100 g of fresh fruit provides 765 mg or 25% of recommended daily levels of vitamin A. Together; these compounds are known to have antioxidant properties and are essential for vision. Vitamin A is also required for maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin. Consumption of natural fruits rich in carotenes is known to protect the body from lung and oral cavity cancers.
• Fresh mango is a good source of potassium. 100 g fruit provides 156 mg of potassium while just 2 mg of sodium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure.
• It is also a very good source of vitamin-B6 (pyridoxine), vitamin-C and vitamin-E. Consumption of foods rich in vitamin C helps the body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful oxygen-free radicals. Vitamin B-6 or pyridoxine is required for GABA hormone production within the brain. It also controls homocystiene levels within the blood, which may otherwise be harmful to blood vessels resulting in CAD and stroke.
• Further, it composes moderate amounts of copper. Copper is a co-factor for many vital enzymes, including cytochrome c-oxidase and superoxide dismutase (other minerals function as co-factors for this enzyme are manganese and zinc). Copper is also required for the production of red blood cells.
• Additionally, mango peel is also rich in phytonutrients, such as the pigment antioxidants like carotenoids and polyphenols.

In 2011, I had the opportunity of making an official visit to a large mango plantation in Cirebon, Indonesia. Cirebon city is located in West Java. It is about 130 km from Bandung and 258 km from Jakarta. Indonesia is the fourth largest mango producer in the world, with an annual production of 1.92 million metric tonnes.

The plantation I visited has a number of mango varieties, including the Harum Manis, Cho Kan Nan and Indonesia’s famous Mangga Gedong Gincu (or Mango Lipstick). The Gedong Lipstick Mango is one of the mango cultivars that commands the highest fruit prices compared to other mangoes in Indonesia. The fruit shape is somewhat round, medium size; fruit skin colour is bright yellow to purplish. Its fruit flesh colour is red to bright yellow with a sweet taste and has a sweet fragrance. According to the plantation management, this particular Mangga Gedong Gincu is the trademark of Cirebon Regency, Indramayu and Majalengka in West Java. This variety could be a competitor for the mango producers in India, Pakistan, Thailand, Israel, Mexico and other countries.
The fruits are harvested, cleaned and packed within the plantation and transported to markets in Bandung, Jakarta and other cities in Indonesia. The packaging is very simple and cost effective as it is mainly targeted at the local markets in Indonesia. Better cardboard carton packaging is used mainly for the export markets and for the supermarkets.

The plantation adopts Good Agriculture Practices (GAP)

View of the Plantation - very well maintained

Flowering tree

Hanging fruits

Bright Red to Yellow Juicy Flesh

Simple Packing House

Packing Mangoes in Wooden Boxes

  

Ready for Transporting to Markets in Indonesia

Cardboard Carton Packaging for Export Markets & Supermarkets