Sad CNY 2017

Stories of invasive gossiping and questioning by aunties/uncles during CNY is always funny and true to one self's personal experience. But ill-minded gossip is the first time I experienced myself on the first day of CNY.

I spent about 3 minutes listening to their gossip before it turned awry. I could not fathom how the hell he could explain, elaborate and deduce my own life as if he were me. I guess he enjoy speaking of self-degrading option for my life. Before the gossip get worse, I decided to speak out to stop their topic of conversation and to mind his own first. 

Fear

Lately, I was so obsessed with Hello Kitty McDonaldLand crossover plushies just because of fear. I guess the fear in me took the toll and plunged me back to the dark memories of my past.

I was a timid kid who always felt insecure when in school or public area. I had never feel so nervous and scared of attending my private tuition as I was always ended up as an entertainment outlet by the bullish son of the tutor. Unfortunately, other tuition mates joined in the bullying party lead by him. And he became my greatest ever enemy of my life. One of them even harassed me sexually but I was so timid to resist such embarrassment. I hated them so much that I started to isolate myself from them since then.

I felt suicidal throughout my teenage life. "Could I live past 18years old?" was the frequent question popped out in my head before I slept each every night. I had to sleep with my favorite teddy bear to sooth my aching heart. I hated them so much that I studied hard to excel over them. Books were the only consolation I could find in that I survived the ordeal.

Hatred, anger, revenge, sadism, fear; that's what I learnt and cultivated in me. They became habits. Fear leads to hatred. Hatred leads to anger. Anger leads to suffering. They seems like a karma that I couldn't let go yet till now. When I encounter difficult times, they come back easily to haunt me.

I have to sleep with Kitties tonight.

Happy Mother's Day 2012

Today is Mother's Day. I wish I have annual leave to apply so that I can go back to celebrate this special day with mom and dad. Sadly, my current employer provides only 7days of annual leave per year; the minimum requirement under the local employment act. I used to enjoy 18days or more annual leave by previous employers. When such benefit is gone, I can feel the pain of losing the comfort and privilege of getting off day without affecting my next pay. That would be one of the factors I will quit when my contract ends albeit I enjoy the nature of my job; teaching.

I guess mom is happy enough to receive a morning call from me instead. This year, my sister came back to hometown and probably would bring mom & dad out for a special dining-out. Last year, my brothers celebrated Mother's Day with mom & dad.

My puppy love came back to haunt me again in my dream after so many years. Just a hug from the person, I had a crush on, drove me insane. I locked myself in a wooden house before burning it down. I survived, and I ran to a cliff before jumping into a raging river. My crush followed me and jumped as well happily ever after...  before I woke up emotionally drained. I resumed to take a short nap to kill off the lovesickness. As usual, time will heal and I will forget this the next day.

It's been 2 months since I had meals with family members. Today lunchtime, I was blessed with a rare experience of having meals with a family. I was having my vegetarian lunch at hawker center when a lady asked me to allow her to share table. Few minutes later, I found myself having lunch with the lady including her family of 5 members. I felt love like I was having meals with my family. But I felt awkward too when I noticed there are empty tables nearby. Just because people usually don't share table with strangers when there are empty tables around. The kid of the family even asked his father who I am. How wonderful life is if everyone is like this family.

Lynas Advanced Material Plant Kuantan is Declared Safe?

How safe it is? What may go wrong, can go wrong. The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant is a recent example of catastrophic disaster it had brought no matter how good the control and preventive actions it has due to oversight. We already have a time-bomb of radioactive leak disaster in Bukit Merah. God bless to Perakian and Kuantanese.    

Nocturnal Leg Cramp Attack

I always thought waking up because of nightmare is quite common albeit I have never encountered one. Surprisingly, I had a rude awakening yesterday night, jumping up in pain. The leg pain of calf muscle contracting non-stop for a minute was so intense as if it was going to break.

I didn't know what to do actually but frantically stretch my affected leg to every possible positions. It got relieved when I stood straight and still. WTF!

The rest of the day, I feel super exhausted with a sickness feeling when I got fever. My brain is so itchy that it keeps like shutting down. I could had just slammed my head down to the desk right in front of my customer. Perhaps the leg cramp resulted in internal injury leading to some sort of bacterial/viral infection. The sickness feeling has been subsiding slightly now.

Could it be because of mineral overdose like potassium? I should not have taken too much of chicken chop for the past two days.

Depression Relapse

That day, I thought I saw my ex-big boss during the transit. Naturally I didn't stop but passed by his side in the midst of moving crowds. Yet I could catch a glimpse, without turning back, of him looking back to me in split of seconds. That night, I recalled my working experience under him. And my depression episode.

Girlfriend passed away. Suffered low back pain for the following entire month. Inevitable resignation. Subsequent 4 months of self-mental torturing and jobless ordeal. I couldn't resist but to feel melancholic and depressed again. Should I just migrate to another country to start a new life with new people again."   

Meet Your EX- on Valentine's Day

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, a day known to many as a popular channel for celebrating and expressing love for each other by giving flower and gift. Flower and gift business owners are particularly happy to engage extra resources to make money during this day.

Not many know that Valentine's Day is originated from a public holiday observed to honor Christian Martyr named Saint Valentine, not at all romantically related to love. Unbelievably it evolved into a day we know today.

For couple, enjoy reciprocating love for each other and enjoy spending big money on a lavish dinner & gift too. At least your partner is willing to be scammed and part with money for the sake of love.

For single, it is just another boring post-Monday-Blue Tuesday. But...

If you ever meet your ex- on Valentine's Day, what would you do if

- your ex- is happily celebrating special day with his/her partner?

- your ex- is single still?

- your ex- just pass by you like stranger?

Kentucky Fight Club (KFC)

So KFC heat is stirred again since the last year viral videos (1st, 2nd) of cookers preparing KFC meal with extraordinary procedures never found in their SOP.

The recent scuffle between customers and KFC staffs is just another epic failed F&B services. Unfortunately racist word exchange in heated argument is not uncommon in a multi-racial nation. The ugliness of racism is always there since day one no matter how harmonious the community of multi-racial is living in from outsider's perspective. There are always black sheeps who can't wait to flame this issue in order to spread racial tension and to provoke others. As a Malay proverbial saying goes, "Sebab pulut santan binasa, sebab mulut badan merana" (body hurts due to bad mouth).

No matter how, KFC is always the top one of my favorite fast food.


#1 Video: KFC Scuffle Part 1

#2 Video: KFC Scuffle Part 2

Rest assured that this is not only in Malaysia. It happens everywhere.

#3 Video: KFC Sdyney Employee Rant

Senior vs Junior

SCENARIO:

Senior: What degree do you have? B.Sc or B.Eng? B.Sc for Bachelor of Science or B.Eng for Bachelor of Engineering? What kind of engineering?

Junior: B.Eng (I use my B.Eng paper to rub my ass. I only keep "Ph.D. Newtonian" Engineering.)

Senior:  Let me state clearly to you what kind of people I am and my expectation. I am a very hardworking and result-orientated person. Whatever project or assignment I have given to you, must be delivered by the agreed dateline. If you make a silly mistake, I won't give a face but to scold you loudly right in front of you in the office. Can you work with me?

Junior:  I may disagree with your way but will commit to deliver result within reasonable timeline.

Senior:  ................well, two people with stronghead may be able to work together.

Junior:  (Stronghead = stubborn or strong principle? I hope you are not the first one. I see inevitable debate and conflict between us in very near future)

Senior:  The current project I would like you to work with me has been long overdue. Mainly because suppliers are too dependent on us and not aggressive enough to deliver by the scheduled time with certain degree of compromised result. You have to be "stronghead" to wake them up and push them for results. You have to be well versed in their specification requirement so as to ensure that their work is adhering to the code of practice albeit these are their responsibility.

Junior: ......(and so what, you want me to cover up your shit)

Senior:  You may not like the way I set the timeline or decision but you must commit to deliver even you do not agree to. In certain scenario, you may not be able to understand why I would make a decision which sounds illogical or unreasonable to you. Some information behind such decision may not be shared to certain level of staff. It is similar to when my manager is asking me to do something which I can't understand due to information which is only shared among the higher level of management.

Junior:  ......(and so what, you still want me to cover your shit with "super saiyan" performance)

Senior:  I appreciate worker who is performing and delivering result timely. I reward them based on their performance and capability. In my office, I am not looking forward to forming a national team. I want a Manchester United team in my office, performing and delivering results of high integrity ahead of schedule.


TYPICAL PATHS TO TAKE:

A
Junior:  Can we kick off the meeting on the project now? I can't wait to take this promising work.

B
Junior:  Thank you for the appointment but I have to consider the offer.

C
Junior:  Can we kick off the meeting on the project now? I can't wait to take this promising work. (resign if work is worse)

White Ang Pow for Chinese New Year 2012

Standing from left to right: Dr.Collin Tiew (MCA Seputeh division ex-committee member and Sri Desa branch ex-chief) and Ibrahim Ali (President and Founder of Malay Right Group Perkasa)

It has been a hot news that on 29 Jan 2012, Dr. Collin Tiew brought a group of old folks to attend a Chinese New Year open house organised by Perkasa in Pasir Mas, Kelantan, only to receive their "white gold in advance". With such controversial photo of Collin with Ibrahim Ali handling out white ang pow to old folks, one may think that Collin was subjected to "death sentence" under the circumstances but he should have acted out timely to stop this giving on spot. Instead, he resorted to complain and apologize in a public interview after the event. It takes two hands to clap but one hand to slap.

White or red outside, no white inside matters most rather than turning away the greater than expected guests empty handed due to running out of red ang pow. What say you?

JB Eastern Dispersal Link: For People or Daylight Robbery

Johor Bahru Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL) is a new 8.1 km dual 3-lanes expressway which provides alternate route from Pandan (end of North South Expressway-NSE) to Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex (CIQ), scheduled for revenue service in Feb 2012.

It has been reported that anyone who comes in or out of CIQ will be charged with a proposed one-way toll of RM9.10 RM6.20 in addition to current toll of RM2.90/S$1.20 charged for Causeway link, regardless one uses the EDL or not. Anyone and local who use EDL but exit before CIQ, will be exempted from toll charge. This is an extraordinary out-of-box thinking invented by Malaysia, only in Malaysia. Non-user has to pay for EDL user!

For justice and fairness, please support petition against this illogical toll charge via No extra TOLLS at Johor Baru CIQ for Motorists who do not use EDL highway

UPDATE 01 APR 2012:
EDL opens, no toll for now
Najib announced recently that those who do not use the EDL need not pay toll

What Men Want

Pan is a body-builder trainer, athletic and good looking. Yet out of the stereotype, he leads a double life. He is a self-made porn star earning lucrative income through his personal cum business website. His apparent conservative client(s) from body building training become(s) not so conservative after all upon discovering his other side of life. He loves money and sex.

Gerard is a model photographer, slim, tall and handsome. His life is teeming with women and lust. He enjoys meeting new girlfriend and finds life excitement through one night stand. He believes women who come into relationship with him are well aware that their encounter is purely for fun without commitment. He loves sex.

Farrer is a macho-looking man with high self-esteem and confidence. He strictly holds to his life principle, conservative, responsible and hardly change for the sake of others. He knows career and family are his priorities.

Keith is a good looking guy who always put his mother to his first priority. He has a gorgeous girlfriend. He doesn't know what he really wants in his life. Yet he is pretty sure he wants to give the best life he can provide to his mother and younger siblings.

I am a "street" man with a trapped mentality living in his teenage world. I used to hunger for a car, a house and a family.  Ever since abandoning my previous career, I do not know what I want heartily. I am a floating wood in the ocean. Leave me alone.

Art of Frustration

Art of Frustration seen on a bus stop barrier

Interchange in Kuala Lumpur

On my way to Singapore, I had to transit in Kuala Lumpur. The long-awaited Pudu Sentral  is finally open for revenue service after a year of massive renovation. It looks as modern as the new Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) at Bandar Tasik Selatan. I decided to go to TBS instead for south bound bus. 

One of the convenient way to reach TBS from Pudu Sentral is via LRT towards Sri Petaling from Plaza Rakyat to Bandar Tasik Selatan. I was surprised that LRT has changed their ticketing system from using ticket card to ticket coin. I guess the ticket coin is more reliable than ticket card which is prone to failure.

#1 LRT ticket coin

I stopped at Salak Selatan station initially as being misinformed by ticketing personnel in Pudu Sentral. I had been to TBS once about a year ago but the confusion arising from the place name itself is inevitable. TBS is located in Salak Selatan but the nearest LRT station is named as Bandar Tasik Selatan and there is another LRT station named Salak Selatan.

#2 Salak Selatan LRT station

#3 TBS boarding area    

Awakening from Slumber

Deception in Slumber: She spies.

While I was browsing books in Public Library at NEX, I chanced upon a book entitled "Awakening from Sleep". I took couple of minutes if not half an hour to read the introduction, the first part and partially on the rest. It's a "breakthrough" attempt for me to actually read the book thus far as I had never really read a book for a year. A year of working aimlessly and reluctantly has thrown my mind into a deep slumber that I barely able to put concentration into focusing task like reading. "Why am I living here for?" is the stereotypical quote in the book which easily strike the cord with most people. Peace, security, money, greed, evil, jealousy. Here it goes.

"For what purpose she is living here now, taking breath in and out. She has few which have been out track since she changed job.

Life has been seclusive since then; she has been avoiding interaction with anyone including family members. She has physically and virtually cut off connection with old friends, university friends and ex-colleagues. Apparently for a year since, she has been living by herself and growing hatred towards her employer. 

With gut feeling and hatred, she manage to infiltrate into the management team. Like others in the team, she looks like them outside; sweet talking, obedient, hardworking and ambitious. Yet deep inside her, she is waiting for opportunity to sabotage the company before she quits. Revenge is one and only motivation that help her to stay on. The downside is that she has been depressed yet she can't let it be detectable by others. Her cognitive ability has been deteriorating in her daily life yet the damage doesn't prevent her to carry on her deception plan. 

"Don't be so naive! Life is that unfair. Accept and move on with life". "No, I don't. I don't give in without a fight. No, I won't be so naive to be a religious suicide bomber to resist and fight against enemy causing innocent sacrifices. Yes I am that naive to get myself into an unnecessary trouble for a revenge."   

Until the day she accomplish her mission, it is a worthwhile slumber she has been putting herself in for others including herself whose careers have been stagnant and exploited."

Life may be so unpredictable and vibrant with complex factors, yet I feel relieved to have someone with same life principle or faith.

Happy Dragon New Year 2012

#1 Video in Chinese dialect (Hokkien)

Translation:

1st aunty: Ah Hoon, I haven't seen your children for a long time.
Ah Hoon: They are very busy. So much work to do. My daughter is a lawyer.
1st aunty:  Lawyer? Good for you to have a son and a daughter.
2nd aunty: How about your son? (to Ah Hoon)
Ah Hoon:  He? He is very busy. His business now is producing Ling Zhi (herbal mushroom) to America and Hong Kong. He also knows Andy Lau!
Eng:          Andy Lau, Andy Lau! (to 1st aunty)
Ah Hoon:  He also bought a house in Damansara (premium land)
1st aunty:  Damansara is not bad.
Eng:          Good.
2nd aunty: Your son is better than my son. He is a doctor, staying in London. He's a specialist in cardiology. He is so good at making money!
1st aunty:  So good!
2nd aunty: So how is your daughter? (to 1st aunty)
1st aunty:  Whenever I phone her, she is super busy. She works at auditing company, owns some company share. Her company is so famous that I don't even recall what its name is. Nevertheless, she earns RM450k yearly!
2nd aunty: Yes, yes. My son performs one operation with an earning of GBP20k! He performs two operations daily.

1st aunty: Eng, how about your son?
Eng:         My son? My son is good. He is coming to fetch me.
1st aunty: Fetch you?
Eng:         Yes. It's so troublesome that he always come to take me along whenever he travels to somewhere.
2nd aunty: Who is coming? (a car stops near them)
Eng:         My son. My son arrives. I am leaving now.

Eng's son: Mom, how are you?
Eng:         Good.
Eng's son: Mom, today we are going to Cameron (highland)
Eng:         Cameron is cold, isn't it.

As the car is leaving, the other 3 aunties resume their meal at the compound of an old folk home.

Mass Rapid Transit Disruptions

#1 SMRT Advertisement Parody

Christmas month with three breakdowns on North South and Circle Lines, commuters get rare chances of riding in the dark, smashing train glass window for ventilation and once-in-a-lifetime tunnel tour.

1st disruption: 

14 Dec 6.00am-6.40am Marymount-One North Stations Circle Line affecting 1400 commuters who were going to work during peak hour

2nd disruption: 

15 Dec 6.56pm onward throughout the night between Marina Bay-Braddell Stations North South Line affecting 127,000 commuters who were heading home after work. Thousands of commuters stranded in one of four stalled trains between City Hall and Dhoby Ghaut Station were only evacuated after more than an hour without air-conditioning by allowing commuters to walk along the track in the tunnel towards Dhoby Ghaut Station.

3rd disruption: 

17 Dec 6.50am-1.48pm Marina Bay-Newton Stations North South Line affecting 94,000 commuters

............

#2 Tunnel Tour

North South and East West Line will only start service on 11am 10am 18 Dec tomorrow due to thorough health check on the train network.

A Better World Starts with You and Me

#1 It Starts With Me (改变由我开始) - World Vision Malaysia 2011 Theme Song
featuring Aniu (阿牛), Daniel Lee (李桀汉), Fish Leong (梁静茹), Michael (光良),
Francissca Peter,  Nicholas Teo (张栋樑), Lee Sin Jie (李心洁), Yise (罗忆诗)

#2 Lee Hom (王力宏) as World Vision Malaysia
15th Anniversary Ambassador 2012

#3 Kevin Cheng (郑嘉颖) & Vivian Chow (周慧敏) on Vietnam Visit

#4 Lee Sin Jie (李心洁 ) on Philipines Bohol Island Visit

For more details on ways to contribute, visit respective World Vision in your region as follow:
Malaysia     Singapore     Indonesia     Philipines     International / USA
Hong Kong     China     Korea     Japan     India     UK     Australia

2011 Xmas Goodies

H&M Jersey Basics (S$17.90/pcs)

PADINI Authentic Short Pants (Brown RM109 & Dark Grey RM129)

Ear Wax Removal via Water Syringing

At last I have regained hearing on my left ear after a second visit for medical treatment. The last two weeks of ear pain and total hearing loss on my left ear was so depressing. The ear wax solution, which I had been applying into my left ear for a week, didn't manage to drain out the cerumen blockage inside my left ear canal.

I was so nervous when I went for the treatment. I thought that doctor might use a ear pick to dig out the cerumen which may cause more pain. When I was kid, my aunt used to clean my ear using a ear pick. Ear picking is a common practice in Asia as Asian people usually have dry ear wax which is easy to remove via this method as opposed to wet ear wax commonly found in Caucasian people.

To my relief and surprise, doctor used a half-foot sized syringe with a straight noozle to apply a jet of warm water into my left ear in order to remove the excessive cerumen inside my ear canal. Apparently the canal was so full with years of accumulated hardened cerumen that the syringing process took about 10 minutes to clear the blockage. I was shocked to see a huge amount of ear wax floating in the waste container.  

End of the day, my left ear can hear more clearly than my right ear now. Guess I should apply the ear wax solution on my right ear and do the water jet too.