The project for Thomas and Hay street Chinatown upgrade has finally come together. It is now open for community consultation. Below are the details published on the Sydney City Council site. The project planning will be finalised in four weeks. Following that, construction will begin.

Have your say on Thomas Street upgrade, Chinatown

Please join us and the Lord Mayor at a consultation for the concept plans of Thomas Street upgrade in Chinatown.

In 2010, the City of Sydney developed a Public Domain Plan for Chinatown in consultation with the community. The Plan celebrates the unique character and heritage of Chinatown and creates more space for pedestrians, public art, outdoor markets and events. Improvements and traffic changes to Thomas Street between Hay Street and Quay Street is the second stage as part of the Chinatown Public Domain Plan.

The proposal includes:

• A new public space on Thomas Street between Ultimo Road and Thomas Lane;
• Widened footpaths to create a strong pedestrian environment;
• New public art, street furniture and lighting; and
• More street trees and shade to improve footpath amenity.

The following traffic changes are also proposed:

• 10km/h Shared Zone with timed closures on Thomas Street (between Ultimo Road and Thomas Lane), giving priority to pedestrians in this section of the street;
• From Ultimo Road, there will be no through traffic southbound into the proposed Thomas Street shared zone;
• One-way southbound traffic on Thomas Street between Thomas Lane and Quay Street;
• One travel lane on Thomas Street between Hay Street and Ultimo Road. A left turn lane into Ultimo Road will be retained; and
• Adding two loading zones in the area, and removing 18 parking spaces on the western side of Thomas Street to allow for widened footpaths.

The consultation will be held between 4pm and 7pm on Wednesday 8 May at Dickson Room, Level 1, Holiday Inn Darling Harbour, 68 Harbour Street, Sydney. Lord Mayor Clover Moore will come at 4pm to open the consultation.

You can also view the plans and provide your feedback to Project Manager Gabriella Monagle on 02 9265 9333 or viagamonagle@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au until 6pm on 3 June 2013.

I visit China once a year, and I am in China at the moment. The main reasons for my visit to China are to see my family and to do feng shui research. My journey in China is always full of adventures and surprises. I met childhood friends, heard the news of birth, and death. Expected  and unexpected events  have made me thinking of 缘分 (yuán fèn ).

缘分 (yuán fèn ) is one of the common words in Chinese. It is an abstract concept in Chinese culture and Buddhism, the invisible link between people, and is some inevitable encounter opportunities and possibilities.

It is 缘分 (yuán fèn ) that we can be family, friends, colleagues, or classmates. It is 缘分 (yuán fèn ) that we take a same flight or attend a same event. It is 缘分 (yuán fèn ) that when, where, why we were born or when we be dead.

缘分 (yuán fèn ) is destiny that ties people together. Life is a gathering of fate,and sometimes separation is also a blessing of love. Here is a story that explains what is 缘分 (yuán fèn ).

Someone asked a monk What is 缘分 (yuán fèn )? The monk thought a moment and said: “缘分 (yuán fèn ) is life, life is the 缘分 (yuán fèn ).”

This person was very confused, and asked a higher monk. The high monk said: 缘分 (yuán fèn ) is the practice of previous life. This person didn’t understand his previous life, and  asked the Buddha.

Buddha didn’t say anything, his finger pointed at the clouds in the horizon. This man looked, the clouds rose and the clouds dropped, following the wind.  so he realised: 缘分 (yuán fèn ) is not something you can pursue, it just likes the wind, the wind is uncertain.

The modern understanding of 缘分 (yuán fèn ): 缘 and 分 is two words. 缘 (yuán) is fate, it is also the cause, it defines how and when people meet. 分 ( fèn ) is to decide whether the two can spend together, it is also the result.

Life is full of 缘分 (yuán fèn ), no matter what, we should cherish it.

It was rare to see Chinese first lady on the international headlines. In China, politics has always been a men’s thing. However, things have changed. Recently, the first lady of China 彭丽媛(pen li yun) accompanied her husband – Chinese president 习近平 (xi jing pin) visited four countries. This visit has been widely reported in international media.

From Chinese metaphysics, in the current period, the 坤 (Kun) — female energy arises. More and more female CEOs, politicians, artists, authors appear in the world. It is not a surprise that the Chinese first lady has stepped on to the world  stage.

彭丽媛(pen li yun) is a mother, wife, Chinese folk  music singer. She became famous and successful at young age through her own talent. When I lived in China, we watched her performances often.  Her voice is like a nightingale, beautiful and powerful. As a first lady of China, her beauty and charm are eye catching. She is the World Health Organization Goodwill Ambassador to fight AIDS and Lung Disease. She has done a lot of work in the public sector. As a first lady of China, I believe she can help a lot more people, to restore their  health and harmony.

The balance of yin and yang is the fundamental of harmony and prosperity. Having a prominent first lady will help to restore yin and yang to Chinese politics.

2013 is a Water Snake year. This year starts with water and fire problems, the year has built in “Three Penalties” 三刑. Hence, the water snake year is not a very peaceful and safe year for most people.

My master in China (Grand Master Shao Wei Hua) has designed a safety charm for 2013. People who are born in the year of Snake, Pig, Tiger, or Monkey, or whoever has these symbols in their birthday charts, should print the safety charm opposite and put it in their wallet for safety.

The 2012 water dragon year had been a strong force in good or bad for many people. Most people look forward to the new year, to have a new beginning. Without choice, we entered the 2013, the  year of water snake.

In Chinese culture, 春节(chun jie) Chinese New Year is the biggest festival of the year, it is similar to Christmas in western countries.

When I was young in China, that time China was quite poor. Every family had to save up for Chinese New Year. It was important to be able to put  feasts on table, make new clothes for children, and give kids red envelopes with money inside. The feast and celebration lasted for 15 days. Chinese New Year has always been a wonderful and dramatic time in my childhood.

Having been in Australia for more than two decades, I always kept the Chinese tradition, as a parent myself, I am passing the tradition to my younger generation. I alway take Chinese New Year’s day off, put a feast on table, celebrate the festival with family, and friends. This year was a bit special, I was invited to celebrate the Chinese New Year with at a function with Kevin Rudd two days before Chinese New Year.

Hope we be happy every day, and have a lot to celebrate in 2013.

Dear friends,

We are officially entered 2013 the Water Snake year. Snake year has the nature of intelligent, elegant, patience, and fast opportunities. I have done a video talk about different signs and their luck with investment in 2013. Here is the link:

www.fengshuiaustralia.com

Hope you have a happy, safe and prosperous 2013!

Yours sincerely,

Mina R Zheng

I have been interviewed by Rosalind from NineMSN regarding Feng Shui tips for academic success. She has written an online article in for Cleo magazine. If you are interested, you can see the article at

http://www.cleo.com.au/feng-shui-your-secret-to-academic-success-in-2013.htm

If you are studying this year, then I hope that these tips may be helpful to you.

I watch the fireworks on New Year’s Eve in Sydney almost every year. It is a wonderful way to celebrate the ending and beginning of a year. Although the Chinese New Year starts in one month, the solar calendar has already moved to 2013.

Last night we walked down to Balmain East, the Harbour front, to watch the fireworks. A friend lives there, we are invited to their place on every New Year’s Eve. It was great to catch up with friends, drinking, relaxing,  and watching the fireworks.

Sydney is the first city in the world to celebrate the New Year due to its time zone. The government spent six million dollars on the fireworks to celebrate the New Year. Sydney is built around the most beautiful harbour in the world. When the fireworks started, the shooting noise, the multiple colours and vivid lights brightened up the sky. It went on and on. The magnificent images of the fireworks made the harbour splendid.

Thanks to the ancient Chinese who invented fireworks, and helped the world more beautiful. The best way to watch fireworks is near the water. With the water background, the fireworks look huge and very close. Withe the fire above, and the water below, they form a glorious image of harmony and success.

The Chinese believe the fireworks noises are to ward off bad luck, the brightness is to celebrate the safety of the past and welcome the new beginning.Hope you were safe in 2012, I wish you have a very great year in 2013!

Dear friends,

Christmas is for children and family. I Wish you and family have a very very Merry Christmas and happy New Year!

Many thanks for reading my blog. I look forward to many more next year.

Your sincerely,

Mina R Zheng