Nostalgic Memories

Fitness Myth

2012-01-26T15:32:00.001+08:00

I recently read an interesting article from Forbes magazine about some common fitness myths.

To cut the article short, here is the summary:

Thinking that an hour workout can make up for the day long unhealthy eating is too presumptuous. A strict healthy diet speaks more in reducing weight.

It may sound reasonable that we could burn more fat with empty stomach in the morning jogging; but this not only causes us sub-optimal performance but also burns our muscle instead of fat.

Shake might be thought to be healthy and ideal for a diet plan. But its side effect is we will never get full and satisfied, subsequently crave for more food intake. Whole food intake on the other hand can increase our metabolism rate while make us feel satisfied.

Egg is thought to be a banned item from a diet plan. But a recent study says egg yolk is efficient in reducing our bad cholesterol, LDL.

Stretching before intensive training is an conventional wisdom to reduce injury. But in fact, it not only weaken our muscle but also increases the risk of injury.

Thinking that we need to hit certain heart beat to reduce fat is a common misguidance from the cardio equipment. The way our body burn fat is simply too complicated for an equipment to comprehend.

My Fitness Corner

2012-01-25T22:51:00.001+08:00

I am delighted that almost everyone who sees me says I am thinner.

This motivates me a lot on my coming workouts!

So I will keep a diary of the future ~~sweatout~~ workout in My Fitness Corner.

Autumn in My Heart

2012-01-15T14:06:00.000+08:00

Not sure how many of you still remember this ~~lame~~ touching Korean drama! For the first time, it aroused many teenagers' thinking of whether they were accidentally changed in the baby ward. *smile*

I still remember my dad watching this whole drama with us, and in one episode, he was touched until tears welled in his eyes!

I couldn't remember every single detail of the drama, but I can always remember how we one whole family cried on the saddening fate of the main character in the drama. And how we discussed the drama, how we vowed to love each other even more...

It has been so many years since this Korean drama was aired. Nothing is more important than the sweet memories etched in my heart, forever and ever.

2012 Resolutions

2012-01-14T13:22:00.004+08:00

Well, I have no much luxury to squeeze more effort and time to achieve some luxurious resolutions but these are some I wish to do:

1. Read more books. Let's target 10. Without specifying a quantity, I afraid I might slack off.

2. Pass the two exams remaining. Given the heavy workload currently, I might attempt only one this year.

3. Reduce weight to 52kg.

4. Grow more in career. I am not sure what are the other ways of having salary increment besides passing exam for an actuarial associate, but I will explore along the way. Perhaps recognition of hard work is not a bad idea too, except always talking about money.

5. To save an amount of money (God knows it) to renovate the house bought in my hometown. I have the amount quantified, but not going to reveal it here, for God's sake. *grin*

6. To go traveling. I have bought tickets to Phuket and Kota Kinabalu. But I wish to bring my parents to somewhere this year. Let's see where they wish to go.

7. Conquer Mount Kinabalu!

8. Make Online Books Recap earning USD2 per day. I am not greedy and ambitious I know!

2011 Resolutions Verdict

2012-01-14T13:15:00.001+08:00

1. Read more books (I only read two books in 2010 but so many in 2009). Currently on shelf: Maximize Your Memory, The Power of Body Language, 80/20, Eat Pray Love.

Verdict: Failed terribly. Listed here are three books, oh well, I managed to read three books but of course it is not my initial intention of reading MORE books.

2. Finish all the remaining 6 FAP modules by March.

Verdict: Failed to finish them by March due to my laziness. Managed to finish and pass everything on January 9, 2012. *wry smile*

3. Pass Advanced Finance and Enterprise Risk Management (my final paper if I pass Financial Economics Theory and Engineering in January) in April.Update: I didn't pass FETE. So AFE will be my second last paper now and hopefully FETE will be my last paper in November!

Verdict: FAILED AFE twice. *very sad* no chance attempting FETE, and I still need to retake them this year.

4. Get associate credential by April and fellow credential end of the year (providing I pass FETE first).Update: I can only get my fellow credential early next year (Spring). :(

Verdict: I managed to get associate credential only by now, of course it was not May, but January 2012.

5. Grow more in career.

Verdict: Passed! Surprisingly, I am able to hop to the largest insurer in Singapore and the learning curve is steep!

6. Go traveling with family somewhere in the year.

Verdict: They came to visit me in Singapore instead.

7. Purchase a house end of the year for investment purpose.

Verdict: Nearly shared a property investment with my friend, but I eventually opted out to buy a house for my parents. I look forward to staying in this bigger and better house. The picture above is the show house unit for the house I bought.

8. Lose weight! I want 50 - 52kg!

Verdict: Passed! I managed to reduce 4kg but yet to reach 52kg on scale.

Though I failed 4 out of 8 resolutions, I still will plan some this year, 2012.

2011 was a year I had some breakthrough in my life, though it was still quite far from the milestone I wished to reach. But I am still grateful of what I was able to archive. :)

Boooks Read in 2011

2012-01-08T21:14:00.001+08:00

Argh it was one of my resolutions to read more books in 2011, but as always, we don't do what we set out. I think that we I always set the resolutions I wish to to archive, which is more like a fairytale most of the time. So at the end, most of the time, I do not manage to archive it.

All the books read are exclusive of the textbook I read for exam.

Let's see, in year 2009, I read 18 books!

In year 2010, I only read The 8th Habit: from Effectiveness to Greatness as well as Think and Grow Rich. The review was not written by me though.

In 2011, I ~~swore~~ was determined to read more books. But at the end, I only read The Purpose Driven Life, Beyond Opinion: Living the Faith We Defend, and reread Who Moved My Cheese. The first two books are given by saints, if not I would only manage to read one pathetic book! All the books I target to read were left more than half. I am currently reading Eat Pray Love, hopefully I can finish it by the end of this ~~year~~ month.

Arghh... I don't wish to set much to read this year, but with the website set up, I think I would be motivated to read. :)

Any books recommended for me?

Online Books Recap

2012-01-08T14:13:00.001+08:00

Okay, this post is about an introduction of a website constructed and maintained by my friends and me. Online Books Recap is a site of reviews on the books we read, consisting of a few genre. Currently, there are science, religion, self-development, entrepreneurship and risk management.

How can you support us as a friend?! *grin* That is by browsing and bookmarking our website. The traffic driven will bring us money through the advertisements we put in our website.

A few highlights that you may be interested are:

The Purpose Driven Life

Blue Ocean Strategy

Who Moved My Cheese

The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness

Thanks :)

Christmas and its truth

2012-01-08T13:19:00.000+08:00

According to wikipedia, Christmas is an annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ, celebrated generally on December 25 as a religious and cultural holiday by billions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year, it closes the Advent season and initiates the twelve days of Christmastide. Christmas is a civil holiday in many of the world's nations, is celebrated by an increasing number of non-Christians, and is an integral part of the Christmas and holiday season.

But the truth is the Bible never intends to command us to remember the birth of Jesus Christ but His death and long for His second coming. A few doubts on whether Jesus was born in winter.

1. Weather condition at the time of Jesus' birth indicates that it could not have taken place in December. Luke 2:8 tells us that when Jesus was born, the shepherds were watching over the sheep at night. The cold weather in the evening during midwinter is very piercing; it is the custom of shepherds in Judea to bring home their flocks before the start of November, prior to the onset of the cold winter months. Hence, the birth of Christ could not have been in December.

2. In 4 B.C. the Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar issued a decree for a census to be taken in order to know just how many subjects he had and how much taxes he could collect. Quirinius, who was then governor of Syria (where Judea was then part of the great Roman-controlled province), implemented the decree to take the first enrollment for census of Judea that same year. There were no historical records to indicate that the inconvenient harsh months of winter was the time the authorities scheduled for the tax enrollment, which necessitated the population's traveling from all parts of the land to their natal districts to register in the electoral roll, for storms and rain make journeys both unsafe and unpleasant in winter. It was in compliance to this decree for registration that Joseph went up with Mary from the city of Nazareth in southern Galilee to his hometown Bethlehem in southern Judea (Luke 2:1-5). It is also unlikely that Mary, who was pregnant, would travel 190 kilometers from Nazareth to Bethlehem because it was considered not fit for a pregnant woman to travel during winter (Matt. 24:20; Mark 12:18).

You may ask, "so? Even though Jesus was not born in winter, but since everyone is celebrating, why can't I do so too?"

A friend of mine gave me this explanation - we, christian should not be thought by others that Christmas is what a christian about, it is the matter of testimony.

In his message REMEMBERING CHRISTMAS, Brother Watchman Nee said, 'According to the opinions of many believers, it is a good thing to have a day each year to remember the Savior's birth....Apart from one's opinion, God's Word, the Bible, is still the only standard and the highest standard. Our concern lies not on what man speaks, but on what God has spoken....Does the Bible have a command to remember the birth of Christ?...Only one who believes in the Bible will know that the things God did not command and the things God did command have the same significance ....Many say that God never put a stop to the celebration of Christmas....It is sad when Christians search the Scriptures to give a basis for their sin and an occasion to the flesh....May God give us more strength to enable us to say, 'How do we dare do what God has not commanded?''

Illuminati 2012 End of the World Conspiracy Predictions

2012-01-02T14:37:00.001+08:00

Many Christians are longing for the Lord's second coming. I am very reluctant to accept this fact thinking thousands, millions of people will die in sorrow during His return.

It is really a hard-feeling when I watched this video especially when the fact and our current happenings, all are reflective of what is in the bible. I was thinking what can I do besides being forlorn for this coming "doomsday". But after a while, if we were to be rational, we will clearly know that what we need to do is to repent and turn to the Lord. Argh, but soul and spirit like to contradict each other every time. Exercising our spirit and repenting seem to be easier said than done.

How to reject our self, and follow the Lord? Can I do it?

Fresh Steamed Escargot

2012-01-01T23:34:00.001+08:00

I never ate fresh steamed escargot before but only cheese baked one and I thought it would be yuck to be freshly steamed. It amazed me.. It is really fresh and you can thoroughly enjoy the seafood/sea water freshness!

Cheese may cover the escargot if it is not fresh, but fresh steamed one is entirely naked for you to savor...

Congratulations!

2011-12-21T23:48:00.002+08:00

My idol, Timothy Tiah is going to marry his princess! Though he had been saying marriage is not for him, at least for these few years, but love reigns!

Congratulations, Tim and Audrey! I wish you to dance on your grandchildren's wedding day!

Here is their sweet proposal video:

Meme Proposal | Tim * Audrey from Crazy Monkey Studio on Vimeo.

Braise Teaser

2011-12-18T19:12:00.003+08:00

I got this teaser wrong. How about you?

A binary cell is put in a bottle and it take one minute to split into two; it fills up the whole bottle in an hour.

How long will it take if 2 binary cells are put into the same size bottle to be filled up?

RSS

2011-12-17T16:57:00.000+08:00

Can someone share with me how RSS work?

Let say, I have a website, and I would like to let people subscribe to my updated post, how can RSS help me?

I know common blogging platforms automatically include for us, how about website?

Search Keywords Being Hit

2011-12-17T09:06:00.002+08:00

Without my realization, time flies, and I have been blogging for the holly 5 years, with the fewest posts of 63, and average of 70 posts each year.

And to amaze me that with the pure intention of sharing what I eat, what I read, where I go, what I hate, what I treasure; my blog does provide some pretty information people are looking for.

These are some of my blog keywords being hit last month:

Click to enlarge

These are some of my blog keywords being hit last week:

Click to enlarge

These are some of my blog keywords being hit this week:

Click to enlarge

Pretty cool huh?

What is Stress?

2011-12-16T22:52:00.001+08:00

Stress is when you have to do things within a very tight deadline and the things you produce are affecting others' work. Everybody is like asking for your things every few ~~seconds~~ minutes.

Pretty cool huh? I experienced that when I was modeling a government scheme. @@ Everything seemed to be fine as I was too focused of making sure the coding has no bug. Not to forget, and I need to admit that I was too confident with my coding that I did not realize it shared an indicator which crashed with some products. That is the whole holy shit! Fixed the whole thing in two hours.. Rerun 300++ products in more than 12 hours, and god bless, things flow smoothly.

And finally I have a restful day today and enjoyed the department dinner :)

Lesson learnt: always be conscious, full testing on modeling is very very very important!

God and Science

2011-12-11T23:03:00.001+08:00

I am reading a very interesting book called Beyond Opinion, Living the Faith We Defend. I am particularly impressed with the section Challenges from Science.

Perhaps from young, I have been too into ~~Science~~ knowledge, I believe in Science, I even believe what the scientists said. It really leaves me struggling between science and God.

Until I read this part, I think I am convinced now.

I am not good in putting the text in points, but here is roughly the gist:

Example 1: Science can tell us how a car operate, how a car is manufactured, but it does not mean that Mr Ford does not exist.

Example 2. I bake a cake, cut them into pieces and give a piece to biologist, chemist, physicist each. They will come back telling me the cake is consisted of amino acid, how much energy is inside, how is the molecule and the bonding of the cake. But all the scientists cannot tell me what is the purpose of me baking the cake, I am the one baking the cake, I know what is the purpose.

Same applying to God and this universe. Scientists tell us how the universe look like, how it operate, but it does not mean God does not exist. Same applying to the second example, we may know everything about the universe, but we may not know the purpose of the Creator creating this universe.

What do you think?

I shall continue reading and post more if I find something impressive. :)

Ironic Feeling

2011-12-09T22:49:00.001+08:00

When I am too bogged down by work, all I wish is to sleep. When I do not have much to do, all I wish is to have more things to do.

What to do over this free weekend? READ BOOK to kill time :)

Family Visiting Me

2011-11-16T01:02:00.001+08:00

My whole family except my sister visited me the past weekend. But too bad, it rained for the wholly two days, and constrained our effort of painting the town red.

I didn't know there is elephant parade until my youngest sister told me she read that on plane. It is not only at VivoCity but also Merlion Park.

one of the many elephants at VivoCity

We spent quite a few hours in Sentosa.

From visiting Universal Studio,

Lake of dreams

Christmas aura is covering the town

to Marine Musuem,

Restaurant outside marine museum

Good jump!

to riding tram viewing all the white-sand beaches.

After that, we went home for a small rest, and made our way to Marina Bay Sand to enjoy the Wonder Full Light Performance.

We did not manage to spend our Sunday fruitfully but was hiding away from rain in Chinese Garden for hours while chatting from skies to earth..

I never knew that there is such a nice garden in Singapore featuring two styles of garden, namely Japanese and Chinese. We only managed to visit Japanese Garden before it rained cats and dogs.

entrance of Chinese Garden

Some nice scene for couple to take wedding pictures.

I think my family has to visit me again to really have good round of sight-seeing. :)

Skies

2011-11-02T15:01:00.003+08:00

I love skies. Some said people who love skies are those who yearn for freedom. I'm not sure how true is this.

Below are some nice landscape of my way from Penang Island to Singapore.

Leaving Penang Island

Nearing Singapore, Johore I guess

Sea of Cloud

Singapore Aiport

An Embarrassing Finding

2011-11-01T17:32:00.003+08:00

It has been quite a while that whenever I wear sport shoes for a few hours, my legs stink. I was upset about it as I thought I had skin disease.

I washed my sport shoes (after 3 years since bought) last week, I wore it again today for more than 6 hours, and to my delight, my legs didn't stink! I even lifted my legs to smell if that is true! *ignore me*

Banana Muffin

2011-10-24T18:33:00.001+08:00

Mom wanted to bake chocolate-butter muffin but I suggested banana muffin. This is the ever first time I bake muffin. It turned out to be satisfactory!

To bake 7-12 muffins (depends on the size), we need 3 big banana (or 7 small banana), two eggs, half cup of sugar, 1.5 cup of self-raising baking flour, a little bit of butter and half-teaspoon of salt.

1. Smash the banana

2. Stir the egg

3. Mix the flour, sugar, butter, salt, stirred egg and smashed banana evenly.

4. Bake for 30 minutes at 160 degree.

5. Ready to be served. :)

Frenzy Week

2011-10-11T17:57:00.004+08:00

It has been a frenzy week for me. I have been working past 9pm in a row last few days; initially 10.00pm, then 12.30am, then last night 4am!!! It is not something I am proud with nor wanna brag about. I finally believe that working long hours consecutively can cause a great toll. Last night, I felt some pain in my chest. Not a good sign, it's time to get back to the normal human living!!!

Appreciate health!!

A reminder

2011-10-07T00:24:00.002+08:00

Steve Jobs' death reminds me again that every man is mortal... I am very sad today when I learnt that Steve passed away, I always cannot accept strong men die. But I still have to accept the reality that we cannot escape from death on this earth...

Steve Jobs said before everyone is afraid of death, even though they are going to heaven.. Nobody wants to die to get to heaven.. I think it is very true..

But I am not sure if he knows to get an eternal life, we need to believe in Jesus Christ! (he is a Buddhist)

Well, don't take about eternity, talk about present, please appreciate your health!

My New Assistant

2011-10-03T22:27:00.002+08:00

How does his resume look? Convincing? *grin*

Vostro 3550 direct base
T520352MY-Dell? Vostro? 3550
2nd generation Intel® Core? i7-2640M processor 2.80 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 3.50 GHz
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Mille Crepe

2011-09-27T12:27:00.001+08:00

It is so lucky for me that within 1.5 months of joining the new company, I had two times of outing. One was company's team-building at Sentosa and another one is department team-building at Malacca.I get to blend with my colleagues better within such a short time frame.

Most importantly, during the Malacca trip, I got to try something very special and I wouldn't forget for the rest of my life. It is Mille Crepe aka thousand layer cake at Pahlawan Square. You may laugh at me that it is so common yet I never try. Yes, I never ate this before! I couldn't forget layer by layer of the cake melting literally in my mouth and seeping into my taste-bud.

Original flavour

Chronology

2011-09-26T11:24:00.003+08:00

I afraid my postings might confuse you all.

It is my bad. And it is time for me to make a chronology.

All the farewell posts before Singapore are referring to events happened from July 16 to August 6.

I reached Singapore on Aug 13 and started working on Aug 15. It is around one month after I worked, I joined my colleagues to donate blood and I fainted (it was on September 9).

Hope this paint a better timeline of the happenings around and on me.

First Weekend before Working

2011-09-26T11:17:00.000+08:00

And yeah, finally after weeks of relaxing and enjoying, I got to come Singapore to start working! But I was blessed enough to have two gentlemen tag along with me. Thanks Alvin and Shane. Well, they were actually here for the career fair held on Sunday, but too bad, we were actually conned. Even the advertisement said Sunday was open for non-PR, but when we approached those booths, all asked if we are PR, and said sorry after knowing we are not. *sad*


Shane and Alvin boarded Tiger Airways, while I was waiting for my flight.


Entering Singapore. Greener pastures?

After I reached Changi Airport, we then took a cab to my new house! Excited and worried to wonder how would my room be. I saw some pictures from the finding room website, and just asked a friend of mine to help me pay deposit. We were all very satisfied with the house and room condition. It is really a nice room, and until now I still like it very much.

Toa Payoh HDB. Photo courtesy to Shane

After settling down, three of us went downstairs to see what to eat. And again, I was very blessed as Alvin and Shane helped me to try out a few food and let me know which is nice, and can try in the future. The food in Singapore is dirt cheap! I mean if compared dollar-to-dollar with food in Malaysia, especially KL. We then took MRT (which is less then 3-minute-walk from my house) to Marina Bay.

Scenic Bay

Concrete jungle!


What are we pointing at? Casino!

After getting our stomach filled at the food court, we enjoyed ourselves with Wonder Full held every Saturday night at Marina Bay Sands.

Vista of Marina Bay

Awesome water-scenes

Dynamic

She was singing "A wonderful world",
indeed she really gave us a strong sense of
feeling ourselves in a wonderful world.

We then sat down on the deck to enjoy the view, chit-chat, and watch people walk-by and take pictures.

~~This building has no function yet,~~
~~but to let tourists take pictures~~
It is an art-science museum

After that, we dragged our sweaty body all the way to Malayan Tower there to grab the view of the Merlion. We were totally-worn out by the time.

Merlion, the landmark of Singapore

But to our surprise and delight, we had another chance of watching the symphony of light!

Actually the water-scene plays and symphony of light are performed together. If you're at Marina Bay Sands, then you can only watch the water-scene plays. If you're at Merlion there, then you can only watch the symphony of light.

Great show!

We were really satisfied with the loads of nice pictures taken on that day (all the pictures were taken without the assistance of tripod!). But what is more precious, we could again gather, talk about our dream and have some sharing on the random topics!

Black-Out

2011-09-10T00:41:00.001+08:00

I think dying is like blacking out. And today I experienced it!

Well, as you all know, I am a keen blood donator. Whenever there is a blood donation drive, I will surely contribute if I do not encounter menstrual or fall sick. Yesterday my colleague asked me to donate blood together, without any hesitation, I agreed.

But then I stayed back working until 10pm, by the time, I reached home and bathed, it was already 10:30pm. I surfed net for a while, then went to sleep. But surprisingly, I woke up at 3am, fell asleep again, woke up again at 5am. I guessed I was stressful. After being worn-out at work, I was still worried about my studies progress, which caused me a bad sleep.

When the clock struck 12, we all happily made our way to Fitness First at Raffles Quay to donate blood. To my horror, when I almost finished donating, I felt my hand a bit numb. But I thought it was okay as my colleagues complained that too. Then gradually, I felt I was very giddy and tired, and I told myself to close my eyelids for a rest. And the next moment, I lost my consciousness. I was flabbergasted and scared when I slowly regained my consciousness and sight. As the people around me were strangers! After a while, when I really "woke up", I only recalled I was at the donation drive. They were the staff there. All I would say was when I blacked out, I was in another world having some tiring dreams. The feeling when I woke up seemed like I was having a long sleep.

After that, only I knew that I lost grip of the stress ball in my hand, then the staff all rushed to me to stop the blood, and adjust the chair. So it added the feeling more of I was sleeping, as I was lying flat. Then the doctor approached me to examine me, and said some comforting words like it happens sometimes, take some good rest, drink more water and fruit juice, etc. When I asked him if I blacked out, he tried to avoid my question, and kept saying things are okay.

Our elbow will be wrapped like this in Singapore
after donating blood :)

Soon after, everyone was done with donating blood. And it was my hard time! As I gotta walk under the hot sun back to the office and have lunch! But I survived it and was getting well after I settled down in the office.

The lesson I learn hard today, and I warn everybody, if you have insufficient sleep, please don't donate blood. You're risking your live!

But if you're fit and healthy, please donate blood!

Power of Editting

2011-09-04T18:15:00.002+08:00

Original version

First Edition with dark background

Second Edition with lighter background

Third Edition
(Courtesy from Love to be Loved by You, Marc Terenzi)

Amazed by the power of Lightroom and Photoshop?

Which one you like?

Final One Week Before Singapore

2011-09-03T13:04:00.001+08:00

My colleagues had a so-called farewell trip with me one weekend before my move to Singapore..

We kicked off our journey early in the wee hours. Practically trip nowadays is nothing more than food sampling trip!

We filled up our stomach in the morning in dim sum in Ipoh.


Yoke Fock Moon beside the famous Foo San. Heard that this is better than Foo San

The never-missed order!


I feel that the Lau Sa Pao in Jin Xuan (in Uptown) is nicer

And to my surprise, our food sampling didn't end here. We continued enjoying Ipoh White Coffee,

It serves very aromatic coffee.
But the shop right in front of it serves even nicer and thicker coffee.

The must-try in Ipoh!

and famous Tao Foo Fa at Funny Mountain,

Soft and smooth

until Rachel complained if our trip is to Cameron Highlands or Ipoh!

We then only made our way to the top. Along the way, of course, it was not without laughter. And everyone of us reached the tip top in one piece, nobody puked or ~~fainted~~ with pale face.

After we checked in our apartment to settle ourselves and the food we brought from KL for steamboat, we headed to Boh Tea Farm. I never know the way to the farm is so narrow and winding. It is practically just sufficient for one car on the single-path. And we have to be extraordinarily cautious to avoid and give way to the car against our direction. We took a lot of pictures there,

The BOH Tea sign always marks one's foot on Cameron Highlands

and enjoyed our hi-tea with breathtaking tea bushes surrounding us.

Each of us yearned for that moment to last as it was really relaxing.

We really need to slow down at times in life
to wind ourselves down. It is so rejuvenating!

We then visited a cactus farm to buy some cactus back to office, mainly for two reasons. One is to live up our monotonous office. And another is to let the cactus suck up a bit of the radiation from the computers around!

Soon it was dusk. We went back to the apartment to rest, to shower, to watch TV, to play cards and to prepare for dinner! Never know that guys nowadays are good in cooking as well! They can wash vege, cut vege, boil soup, wash dishes properly and well!

At night, guys were having drink while we gals were having our pillow-talk until the guys invaded our territory to invite us for drink.

The seemingly a must thing for chatting for adults in this age.

After that, we pranked on one of the colleague to make him dance and we laughed out loud! Soon it was midnight, some went to sleep, some continued to play cards. The next day, we had Alicia to cook us breakfast! Everyone was so lazy to give her a hand. *felt bad*

We then drove down the mountain to try food at the famous hawker stalls in Ipoh.

Red bean

But the food for me is not very impressive. Yet, always the memory outweighs everything. We had some good laughter there.

When we thought that we were so full and all we wanted is to drive all the way back KL, Beng Hui gave us a call asking us to exit at Sungkai to eat pork leg! At that time, everyone was so reluctant to take up the spoon and fork, until he cut the meat to each of us!

Famous pork leg at Sungkai

We then reached KL at around nine, and after some Facebook browsing, everyone went to bed early to get ready for work the next day.

Few days after, we had our one last dinner before I really focused tidying up and throwing away my things. It was really a precious meal we ever had.

It is really a fond memory that etches on my heart. This bunch of whacky friends are my one-year-old-met colleagues. But we are blended as one! If I were to say the thing I miss the most in KL, I would say it is this priceless friendship we build.

2nd Last Week Before Singapore

2011-08-27T11:39:00.009+08:00

I went back home 2 weeks before Singapore! The home always embrace me with warmth and love.

My mom is younger and prettier than me.
I'm always asked if we are siblings :(

This is the time mom cooked the least when I go home. I don't want her to be too busy and tired. We started the morning of Saturday with dim sum.

some snapshots of the dim sum we ate and like

For brunch, we ate asam laksa, the one which is the most famous in my hometown now. After that Alvin and I went to his house for lunch of curry chicken (his mom's mastered dish)!

I then came back home, having some tête-à-tête with mom and dad. Dad is always a cool and nothing-is-wrong type, but mom is more to the fragile and full of worries of us type.. Couple should always complement each other I guess XD. Dinner time, my sis was out for serving at St Anne as a scout, dad was out with dinner with his friends, my bro, mom and I then went to eat the ever best Pork Noodle nearby my house.

Drooling?
with my ~~perverted~~ polite bro
mom banned me from uploading her picture here

I then rushed to meet up with my old friends since primary school! The chat was more to work and relationship. *grin* Felt funny as time creeps by, the topic is evolving too.

Pictures were taken by XY's dad..
All our parents are retirees/retiring..
does that signify we're grown-ups now? *sob sob*

On Sunday, I spent the day lazying at home with my family, chatting, watching TVB series and getting my hair permed and dyed. My mom always critized me of my rugged look. So to keep her from nagging, I finally tidied up myself a bit. :)

Then came the dinner time, I insisted to treat my family for dinner, but at the end, still dad paid. :(

Camera-shy dad was still unwilling to take pictures with us.

my perverted bro insisted portrait pic should be big,
so this looks like a passport pic

Then came Monday, after lunch, and bidding farewell with mom and dad, I headed back KL for work. It was the time like the first time I went PJ to further my studies. It was so hard yet have to say good-bye. Though I have been away from home for studies and work for quite some time, but doubling the distance now is like doubling the feeling of letting go.

Guess that my mom should be more relieved now as I move from the more dangerous KL to the safer Singapore :)

3rd Last Week before Singapore

2011-08-27T11:06:00.009+08:00

For the 3rd week, I met up with my foundation besties. Again, we talked non-stop whenever we bumped together. From the very last time, we talked about homework; then during university time we talked about graduation; then during the final semester we talked about finding job; then now we talked about things at work. They are the friends who evolve and grow together with me.

Clockwise from the left: Onn Sein, Foong Kheng, Kelvin, me, and Alvin

I really wish them the best in their first job. And not to forget the dinner they treated me. It was really nice and special to me, the Korean-styled seafood rice.

The food recommended if you ever dine in Kim Gary Restaurant.

But beware, you need at least an hour to finish it,
it is sizzling hot!

On Sunday, Alvin, Beng Hui, Alicia and I visited Yee Voon at Serdang. She baked us some cheese tarts. They are the best cheese tarts I ever eat. The cheese was enriched and the tart was just beyond words. After that, we headed to try the well-known dishes in Serdang - Spicy Soup and Flower Wine Chicken.

Spicy Soup,
practically it is not spicy but more to hot of pepper

The must-tries in Serdang!

We then spent our day at The Mines with a movie of Harry Potter and dinner of pan mee.

Beng Hui also recommended us a very exciting new gadget - Samsung Galaxy II, which he and Alvin bought it 2 weeks after that.

Thanks Yee Voon for the effort she dedicated especially to us for the tarts :)

A Wonderful World

2011-08-16T07:46:00.003+08:00

The bay view might not be as scenic as HK Victoria Harbor, but so far I like this country a lot. :)

Effect of Photoshop

2011-08-08T22:10:00.003+08:00

notice the difference in color?

notice the difference in
angle and missing of straw?

4th Last Week Before Singapore

2011-07-24T10:36:00.014+08:00

As you guys know, I come to Singapore for the sake of ~~fun~~ good. My few weekends before this were fully occupied. I would really like to thank all the friends for this.

And for the 4th weekend to August 13, I went to Malacca on Saturday and visited my cousin on Sunday.

From left: Hui Boon, Me and Shuzhen

And Malacca trip is always not other but a food tasting spree!

1st stop: chicken rice ball.
I always feel the rice is nicer than the chicken.

2nd stop: Jonker Street.

Malacca-styled Asam Laksa, I like it.

And all sort of ice-kacang, some are too sweet,
some are sour to be just nice :)

3rd and last stop: Satay Celup

Another thing I like about Malacca is the scenic and well-kept city.

Nice area for a stroll along the quay.

Quay

The town

Nice architecture together with the cherishing blue sky

The hotel nearby the quay,
the ambiance is very soothing for hi-tea.

Thanks Shuzhen to tag along to reunite with Hui Boon. Thanks Hui Boon to be the navigator. And lastly thanks Alvin for the day-long driver.

On Sunday night, I met up with my cousin and played with her prince and princess. We had a sumptuous dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant in Empire. Vietnamese food is healthy just like Korean food, they always wrap meat with vege.

Blissful

Alvin was called uncle.. XD

Handsome and cute

Pretty and cute

This was the end of the 4th weekend before Singapore.

Peaceful World?

2011-07-19T11:55:00.002+08:00

A peaceful world is always from a peaceful heart.

How many times do we (city folks especially) able to look out to the sky to enjoy the surrounding peacefulness?

Outing with Colleagues

2011-07-04T20:34:00.009+08:00

Had ~~an outing~~ food sampling spree with colleagues-cum-friends yesterday.

Our first stop was sampling the sumptuous Hong Kong style dim sum at Jin Xuan Restaurant, Uptown PJ.

Believe me, you should try it out if you like dim sum.

1. Fried shrimp dumpling

2. "Lao Sha Pao"

custard is flowing out and seeping into our taste buds

3. "siu mai"

4. fried durian (MUST TRY)

5. steamed shrimp dumpling

6. Shanghai styled "siu long pao"

7. yam with shrimp

8. egg tarts

9. dwarf melon with fishball

Well, done with dim sum galore. Our mission was actually to visit and play with Princess Mikaela, our ex-boss' daughter.

But she was sleeping and so we decided to have another round of food sampling. This time it was Chinese dessert at Yan Ho Tong.

seacoconut "Kuai Leng Kou"

Original flavoured "kuai leng kou"

This dessert was orginated from a clever Chinese figure, Zhu Ge Liang. It was used to reduce the soldiers' body heat so that they would perform better. It was made of tortoise and some sort of herbs.

After some chit-chatting, the baby had woken up.

Princess Mikaela

Babies are naive and kind in the very natural way!

Mikaela is curious of every single new thing. I could capture good angle of her looking at my camera aperture because she was attracted by my DSLR instead of her mom's iPhone!

- Mission Complete -

Happy Parents' Day

2011-06-22T20:03:00.005+08:00

Another attempt on flora.

I think every camera amateur likes to try on flora as they are stationary!

particularly like this picture as it tells a story seemingly

Well, as the post titled, Happy Parents' Day! (All the pictures were taken while waiting to cut the cake)

I'm grateful that my parents are still with me, and I can still celebrate parents' day with them.

Appreciate every moment with our parents, dude!

Orchid Garden

2011-06-12T01:03:00.002+08:00

Learnt a lot on photography from Shane today..

Let the pictures below do the talking and please comment.

angles speak!

Dragon Boat Festival

2011-06-06T21:48:00.004+08:00

Happy Dragon Boat Festival!!

My heart is warm as I can still enjoy mom's dumplings in KL! Thanks to Shane!

yummy...

Beijing April 10 2011

2011-05-15T08:53:00.007+08:00

This was the most rushing day in our Beijing trip, as we were yet to buy enough souvenirs! We all naturally think that buying souvenirs is the easiest thing to do, but it is never so for me. Imagine you have colleagues, friends and family, each you gotta think what is the most suitable/meaningful for them.. Perhaps it is because I am Taurus, I am down-to-earth, I like to give people something useful (same as I like to get something useful if I were to be given present). So I dragged until the very last day only to get souvenirs for once and for all!

We woke up pretty earlier, and rushed to XiDan after the breakfast. It was a chilling morning and I didn't bring my wind breaker! So I had to walk in the cold to look for souvenirs (so you guys should appreciate me). =.=

XiDan is a modern place in Beijing, famous for shopping complex and the biggest bookstore in China (if not the world).

We saw a mobile blood donation campaign outside the bookstore, but too bad, I just donated my blood before coming to Beijing. So I could only pose a thumb-up like this:

It is said in the website that if the book you wanna find cannot be found in this bookstore, you cannot possibly find elsewhere! It is a complex made up of 4 floors comprising of all genre of books in different languages (of course mostly mandarin still)!

harvest of the day

We then rushed back to the hotel to get our lunch before heading to the airport.

We made our last-last-minute shopping again in the airport to get more souvenir until all our yuan run out!

ignore Alvin's swollen lips please

The reading on the cabin marked the end of Beijing trip...

Conclusion of the trip:
1. We managed to go most of the well-known tourism spots in Beijing.
2. I regretted I didn't go to 2008 Beijing Olympic stadium, Birdnest and swimming stadium, Water Cube. I thought they are just normal stadiums until I came back and saw my friend's pictures of those two stadiums with attractive lighting at night!
3. We found some nice food, yet overall I think I have culture-shock in Beijing, from hygiene to food.
4. Will I go again in the future? Yes, I will, to the stadiums!

Educational Pic from Beijing

2011-05-15T08:50:00.002+08:00

This is the way to make hands warm during winter. :)

Funny Picture from Beijing

2011-05-14T22:46:00.004+08:00

Notice many small kids in Beijing like to wear this kind of pants!

both girls and boys!!

Beijing April 09 2011

2011-05-14T18:49:00.006+08:00

Started Day 4 with a sumptuous breakfast.

Then bid good-bye to the five-star hotel to head to Temple of Heaven.

Finally could not resist the temptation of this dessert and tried it though it was sold by the dusty roadside!

beyond expectation

Again things in China is HUGE. We walked for quite some distance then only reached Temple of Heaven.

Temple of Heaven consists of three parts, The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest, The Imperial Vault of Heaven, and The Circular Mound Altar. Practically nothing much to describe for Temple of Heaven, it is a ~~joint~~ series of temples built for Emperors to worship God. By the way, for those who are interested in history or architecture, kindly click on the link above.

We started by stalking in the shady garden and it took us ages to first reach The hall of Prayer for Good Harvest. Of course, partly we were stopped by some attractive things along the way.

Nothing much inside The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest. Indeed we were prohibited to go in the hall, we can just ~~peep~~ see from outside.

The things used to burn offering

Another thing which made us stay long in a place in China is the big throng of visitors! Can hardly find a good spot for photo-taking.

Nice gardens with flowers blossoming everywhere!

It took us another ages to reach The Imperial Vault of Heaven. This building is more interesting, as there is echo when you speak. We did not manage to try, as we just blindly followed the flow to round the building without doing anything!

And lastly we reached The Circular Mound Altar. We took some pictures there by having different kind of poses, as it is again practically nothing for us to see.

Great garden, isn't it?

We were super hungry by the time we finished visiting the three seperate building in Temple of Heaven. We then exited to eat at the shop nearby. However, it was around six and no taxi was willing to take us. They gave all kind of excuses, and the only reason we could think of was that our hotel was quite near to the temple.

So we had to WALK back all the way to the entrance we came in and then made our way back to the hotel. By the time we reached our hotel, we died straight on the bed until supper time!

The delicious and cheap supper we found nearby our hotel marked the end of Day 4 in Beijing.

P/S: This is a lame post, as it was a lame day in Beijing...

Friends Gathering and Monash Charity Dance

2011-05-10T16:12:00.003+08:00

Met up with my two secondary friends, Chor Yen and Xuan Jing last Saturday. It has been 4 years we didn't meet! Gossiped a lot a lot as an exchange of information.

After a few hours of chatting, I told them I would be attending a dance concert in Monash, as a support to my bosom friend, Shane. Both Chor Yen and Xuan Jing were interested too, after confirming with Shane that there were still tickets left, they decided to go with us.

The dance was really an eye-opener for us! Though all of them are not professional dancers, they did really dance marvelously and swiftly.

What more, 15% of each ticket is donated to World Vision.

After 2.5 hours of show, the dance concert came to the end. And we didn't miss the chance to take some pictures with Shane, the very outstanding dancer of the night!

Of course, after watching, I was triggered to learn dancing (the same thing after I watched a Hong Kong drama about dancing as well).

Blood Donation

2011-05-01T21:26:00.003+08:00

We should donate blood if we are healthy, as blood is precious. Blood saves lives.

It has been quite a while I didn't donate blood as I was always fatigue and deprived of sleep. Now I am back! Will be donating blood four times a year!

Please donate blood if you are healthy!

Beijing April 08 2011

2011-04-27T16:05:00.007+08:00

Woke up very early in the morning, as we cannot be late more than 10 minutes for the course.

After the hearty breakfast in the hotel cafe, I quickly dressed up to get myself prepared.

6 hours ~~crawled past~~ flew by, and it was the end of the course. Got to know more about ethic and professionalism, practically the do's and don'ts. Also, I get to know a few new actuarial friends from China, Taiwan and Korea.

After resting, Alvin and I got down to the MRT in front of the hotel to head to the famous and never-sleep street in Beijing - "Ghost" Street.

There are two rows of restaurants selling a wide-range of food. The shops were blazing with their own styles of signboard.

We walked for quite some distance and were attracted the most by this shop. It serves the dishes in the ancient time -Shu.

Every plate, bowl and cup are labeled "sterilized" clearly.
Not sure how true is that.

The shop was crowded and we waited for quite a while until the food was served.

special, unique and delicious

One fish alone cost us 100+ yuan.

We continued down the street to look for "刷羊肉", as it is strongly recommended by our friends in China.

Then only we got to know 刷羊肉 is actually mutton steamboat. @@ Nevertheless we gave it a try.

I found that the mutton taste is beyond my tolerable range, and so I needed to dip it into this sauce. It was tasty.

The two dishes above are worth a try, especially for those who like Chinese food.

That marked the end of Day 3.

Sony Alpha 350

2011-04-21T11:40:00.004+08:00

2.5 years ago, I bought myself a cute digital camera. Now I got myself a muscular DSLR!

Beijing April 07 2011

2011-04-21T08:36:00.012+08:00

Started our second day by hunting for breakfast in the midst of strong breeze. This is because we wanted to save money from dining in the hotel cafe.

We walked for around 300m until we found the well-known franchised bakery in China - Wei Duo Mei.

The breads are really delectable.

Then we were back to the hotel lobby to wait for our tour guide to fetch us for the trip we signed up earlier in the airport.

We were fetched and were told there would be another two tourists joining us. The two good-looking tourists were picked up from Marco Polo Hotel and we knew they must be either very rich or on a luxurious business trip. True enough, they are flight attendants from Vietnam Airlines.

We were then heading to Badaling Great Wall, which is located at the northern part of Beijing, about one-hour-drive from the city center.

Once we got down the van, we knew we would be frozen if we were not going to get a wind breaker. So we simply grabbed two winter coats from a stall nearby at a very low price of RMB250.

Even our camera lens was "moisturized"
due to the very low temperature.

Great Wall is really magnificent and amazing. Imagine that there was no machine assistance, but the impregnable Great Wall was built across various barriers like hills and rivers!

We were given 1.5 hours to conquer Badaling Great Wall and for photo-taking.

Thiet, Vinh and Jess :)

Part of the Great Wall is really steep. But for each step you climb, you will say nothing but to be astounded by the perfect and excellent masterpiece.

We were marveled by the intelligence of
the architects and engineers involved in this grand project.

sign of victory

After an hour, we sat down to rest and have some information exchange with Vinh and Thiet on Malaysia and Vietnam.

When we were passing through the tunnel to take a cable car down to the base, we were "attacked" by the ever strongest and most freezing wind I met in my life. For the one minute, we could not utter anything, but to try covering ourselves up. The chill ran into our mouth and down to our spine. Luckily we survived in the "wind attack".

At the base, when we were about to leave, we saw this attractive camel and spent RMB20 each person to take pictures with it. *grin*

After that, we were led to a jade factory to learn how to differentiate the genuineness of the precious and splendid jade and also had our lunch there.

The next station was Summer Palace. It is another improbable masterpiece! The whole palace stretches around 3.0 km square, with 75% being the man-made Kunming Lake and 25% being the man-made Longevity Hill. The Summer Palace was built during Qian Long Emperor for the 60th birthday celebration of His Mom.

The soil excavated from Kunming Lake was used to build Longevity Hill.

I like willow very much as it gives me a sense of tranquility.

The Marble Boat is a sight not to be missed in Summer Palace. It was used by the Emperor and His Mom to enjoy tea and the breathtaking view.

Our last station was Dr Tea House. We sampled four types of tea, namely Puer, WuLong, Litchi and Jasmine Green Tea. In the tea ceremony, we were briefed the way to drink tea and the history of each tea.

At the same time, we were chatting really euphorically, making jokes of the tea history etc.

The correct way to drink Puer:

We then made our way back to the hotel, bidding goodbye to the two new friends.

After checking in hotel, we walked around HK Macau Center to look for dinner. We tried this classy restaurant. The food was really delicious and cost reasonably unlike the Beijing roasted duck we ate on the first day.

Then it marked the end of Day 2, we got ourselves early to the bed to be energetic for the associateship professionalism course the next day.

Beijing April 06 2011

2011-04-16T10:20:00.017+08:00

We reached Beijing at the break of the day.

We were like in another world. Everything is so different. We were like back to the ancient world.

even the tol gate is like a temple

After resting due to the tiring flight, we started hunting for food. Some people said Beijing food is delicious, some said it is sucks. We chose to believe the former.

Our first stop was this shop.

It is very famous and classy.

We ordered a two-person set, comprising of a few dishes of duck-product, like duck soup, duck HEART, and duck meat (of course). We were served with some side dishes like vegetable, fish belly soup as well.

The heart of the duck is really really scrumptious but you gotta pass through your own barrier to tell yourself you are not eating hearts of the duck. For the every heart we ate, we would yuck a bit but still it was delicious.

Another well-known and must-eat dish in Beijing is the roasted duck.

It is recommended to be eaten with this popiah skin

We then caught a bus to go Forbidden City at around 1pm. Not knowingly that from TianAnMen to Forbidden City can actually take us ages!

We first shopped around at Square of TianAnMen. It is a hot tourism spot.

It is spring.. everything is blossoming with life.

There are rows of shops in the square.

Well in China, they have a lot of funny brands, as they like to translate half and render another half directly. Like Standard and Poor is called 标准普. And Starbucks is called:

After some quick shopping, we headed to Forbidden City.

Forbidden City is finally a stone's throw away after walking with heavy panting.

But guessed what?! We reached there at 430pm!!!! We were not allowed to visit the Forbidden City already. The distance is extremely long from the square to Forbidden City, perhaps because we snapped too many photos on the way.

Regrettably, we visited the garden next to Forbidden City with just 3 yuan as entrance ticket.

Seemingly we were in heaven!

Switching on our macro-mode to have a big capture of the beautiful and lovely flowers!

After being in the garden for approximately one hour plus, we then made our way back to our hotel, looking forward for Day 2 Great Wall trip!

p/s: Never underestimate China.. They are really Great China.. The buildings are humongous. The roads are large.

TGI Friday's on Tuesday

2011-03-31T10:36:00.004+08:00

We luxuriated ourselves in a sumptuous dinner on Tuesday to celebrate a glad news from workplace.

We chose TGI Friday's as it is near to our place yet the food is delicious and ambiance is conducive.

Ordered three "unusual" main courses: beef bacon cheeseburger, chicken and shrimp diablo, double-stack chicken quesadillas. We normally have steak in TGI Friday's as the steak there is beyond praise. However this time, we decided to try something new.

The chicken and shrimp Diablo was simply too delectable. The pasta was topped by fresh and seasoned chicken slices and shrimp, as well as the tomato sauce. The chicken and shrimp sautéed in olive oil were so juicy. The richness of the taste was further enriched by the grated Parmesan cheese and oregano. Most importantly there were pieces of cut onion and celery blended in the pasta which made the overall taste fresh instead of cheesy.

The gigantic beef bacon cheeseburger was yummy too. There were layers of taste. The soft bread of heated with butter. The bacon was fried crispy to be topped on the beef-patty covered by melted cheese and mustard. The layer at the bottom consisted of the fresh tomato and chili pepper slices, as well as pickles.

The double-stack chicken quesadillas was nice but didn't bring any surprise. The tortilla was stacked with chicken, cheese, onion and chili pepper. The floured tortilla tasted like the Indian food "Naan". However it was special in a way that it tasted much nicer than the normal Naan. We didn't like the herbal rice though.

Basked ourselves in the scrumptious food!

By the time we finished the three plates of main-course, our stomach stopped us from dessert anymore. We then had a short shopping to let our stomach digest better.

Reward and punishment are the important spices in our life.

Lookout Point Ampang

2011-03-31T00:11:00.009+08:00

I finally went to Lookout Point in Ampang. It is the place where we can enjoy the whole horizon of KL city.

vista of the hectic and bustling KL city

The place is good for us to get rid of the rat-race after a day long. You can totally fall into the embrace of gentle breeze with breathtaking scenery relaxing your eyes. Couples can have a tête-à-tête dating and dinner there. Friends can reunite and chat the heart out there.

(uploaded another one with noise smoothed out
after Sophos' suggestion)

There are a few restaurants at the peak, namely Haven, Panorama, Gasoline and Lookout Point.

We thought of sampling the supper at Gasoline as it is the largest restaurant among the four, but ended up in Lookout Point.

Barbecue chicken chop for Alvin

Crabmeat Salad for me

The cost of meal there is reasonable unlike those at The Peak Hong Kong. But to be honest, the view of The Peak Hong Kong is really incomparable. Still, it is a recommended destination for people from all walks of life.

I'm rejuvenated after being unwound by the beauty of nature.

Sg Lembing Trip

2011-03-20T22:13:00.016+08:00

Finally went to hike Panaroma Hill at Sg Lembing!

It is really a marvelous trip!

We departed at 130am on Saturday and reached there at around 5am. Without dilly-dallying, we rocketed to the bottom of the hill and started hiking. It was crowded with campers and hikers.

campers obstructing our way

Along the way, we were covered by endless shining stars, shining our way to the peak. We conquered the hill in 45 minutes and were waiting eagerly for the magnificent sunrise. But to our disappointment, it started drizzling!

We quickly opened up our umbrella to continue waiting until the rain subsided and the sky became brighter. However, by the time, the sun already rose to the sky.

sea of clouds

The air is so refreshing

A trip that enhances our friendship

After the photography session, the sky opened up and it was pelting, but we didn't care so much, running our way to the bottom to get our breakfast.

We then called up our guest house's owner to lead us to his house. We bathed, chatted, and play mahjong. Then each of us went into our room for a rest. After slumbering like a log for three hours, our stomach rolled us to awake.

We made our way to the well-known Kemaman Coffee Shop, it is a shop like Old Town.

The coffee is really delicious and unique

After chatting and joking, we went to the famous Teluk Chempedak. It is commercialized unlike the virgin Cherating (it is my favorite place). But still, the scenery is breathtaking.

crowded with picnickers and visitors

We were strolling along the beach at a time, splashing water at another time, and took all sort of pictures. I think all of us got younger 4-5 years at least at that moment. We were so free and relaxed.

And finally we filled up our empty stomach with a scrumptious dinner! It was extremely yummy and cheap! We wolfed down the food like nobody's business.

By the time we reached our guest house, it was already 11pm. We took our shower, then played card game with the penalty of drinking Chivas.

Alvin's flu was getting more serious and finally he declared he cannot join the trip to Rainnbow Waterfall! For the safety sake of everyone, I also didn't join as I afraid I would be too tired to drive after that.

Luckily after a long sleep, Alvin's flu got better and we went out to try the beancurd made by water from the hill while my friends were enjoying themselves at Rainbow Waterfall. The beancurd was ridiculously soft, smooth, silky and palatable.

Though we didn't manage to join the Rainbow Waterfall trip, we were able to catch some private time with the nature for ambling and taking pictures of the little and serene town -Sg Lembing.

the only petrol stand in the town

While waiting for my colleagues to come back from the waterfall, I stole some time to study for the exam I am taking in May. Not bad afterall isn't it? *grin*

Joy and happiness do not always need to be luxurious; things can be simple and good.

Sushi Zanmai

2011-03-15T11:53:00.004+08:00

Went to eat sushi finally after yearning for it for quite some time. This is due to the "side effect" of watching the Hong Kong drama 鱼跃在花见.

Let the pictures below do the talking.

FRIM

2011-03-12T19:29:00.013+08:00

In the effort to get rid of sedentary lifestyle, I dragged Alvin along to go hiking in FRIM with me.

We easily found FRIM after having a google map of the destination at home! (kudos to Google Map, it helps us a lot!) The entrance tickets of FRIM are very cheap, cost only RM1 per person, and RM4 per car.

Once we got down our car, we excitedly ran into the forest.

Started with a proper walkway.

Then we had to pass through all the slippery rocks,

and saw many kind of poisonous mushroom.

but was mesmerized by the melodious water flowing.

Little chilling waterfall

A golden lizard!

We were hiking with no confidence as we didn't know we actually needed to pass through forest at the first place, and we couldn't see any signboard telling us where to go next. I was like sort of losing direction and ~~goal~~ destination,

Two environmentalists were collecting rubbish.

Is this a mushroom?

until we finally passed thru the forest and came to a jogging track.

I was like WTH! We perspired through the forest while there is a proper jogging track.

We then followed the direction to canopy walkway. My another intention of coming to FRIM was to try the canopy walkway.

A narrow canopy walkway!

but it was closed for maintenance. *sigh*

I will surely come back again to try the canopy walkway!

We then made our way back using the jogging path. However it was like three to four times the distance of the path in the forest! I was contented as I tried both the challenging tracks.

The trunk looks fake but it is real

We reached the car park and went home happily. I really love nature! It simply gives me much space for self-reflection, for me to relax!

Ad-hoc Present

2011-03-05T10:47:00.004+08:00

~~An ad-hoc~~ A surprising and exquisite present from him.

Thought it was a box of cookies,

but, it is a watch!

Peking Roasted Duck and Hong Kong Roasted Goose

2011-02-27T14:55:00.003+08:00

Finally tried the well-known Peking roasted duck at Jalan Pasar. When we were finding a parking place, we noticed that there are many roasted duck and goose stalls at Jalan Pasar. Luckily I know which one I want to try.

Soon Fatt

Aromatic rice

Each plate costs RM5.80

The glistering duck drumstick

However roasted goose was not available so we continued roasted duck/goose galore at Chen Chen stall.

The rice was not as aromatic as Soon Fatt

The juicy roasted goose

The roasted goose and duck rice cost RM9 and RM6 respectively. The duck rice is 20cents more than the one at Soon Fatt but it is served with vegetable.

Roasted duck

For me, the roasted duck and goose from both stalls are comparable - scrumptious and reasonable in price.

How to Fix Pictures with High Noise

2011-02-26T23:39:00.003+08:00

before

after

Enlarge to see the effect. I use Lightroom to reduce high ISO noise:
1. Open the picture in development mode.
2. Under Noise Reduction section, adjust Luminance and Color.
3. Done.

Broga Hill, Semenyih

2011-02-26T22:49:00.005+08:00

As said I am in the midst of getting rid of sedentary lifestyle. At Thursday night, I invited my foundation studies friends - Kelvin, Foong Kheng and Ken Wee to climb the recently well-known Broga Hill. They agreed without any hesitation. This morning, at the wee hours, we departed.

Started our hiking journey at 510am in the total darkness, but the trail was full of panting from hikers. We stopped a few times at few peaks to enjoy the night scenery. Of course, in between, we did help each other to conquer the steep parts.

We reached the peak of the peaks before dawn but didn't manage to even catch the glimpse of the breaking of dawn as the sun was blocked by cloud and also trees.

Mystery

Tranquility

We then came down to the second peak as it was too crowded up there and took a group picture with the evidence that we conquered Broga Hill!

Looking back, it is really steep but we didn't know that when going up as it was in pitch dark. Sometimes, we can do things successfully and without fear when we don't know the danger.

Beyond words

We really have the responsibility to
preserve the beauty of nature.

Little outings not only avoid us from being couch potato but also can improve our friendship/social network!

Malaysian Service

2011-02-22T21:25:00.004+08:00

but collect RM4.30

Batu Caves

2011-02-21T13:46:00.003+08:00

Had been thinking to visit Batu Caves donkey years ago, especially on Thaipusam but was always lazy. Decided to "exercise" at Batu Caves yesterday on the spur of the moment. So after breakfast, we headed to Batu Caves to challenge the steep flight of 272 steps!

Still smiling before climbing

The staircases are steep but the 272 steps are fairly shorter compared to a small hill.

We reached the cave at the top easily.

Batu Caves contains a lot of precious metal like limestone.

Like this picture quite much
as it is hard to capture a clear pic in dimmed surrounding.

Monkeys there grab whatever food in
visitors' hands.

We stayed there for around an hour as Alvin was attracted by the monkeys there. @@

We then made our way to National Zoo!

I think this is absolutely a great start for both of us to get rid of the sedentary lifestyle, and once again to make ourselves young and as fit as fiddle.

Filial Duty

2011-02-19T13:45:00.001+08:00

While we are in the midst of pursuing our dreams, we always take people around us for granted, especially our parents. Like borrowing money from parents to get our first house, first car, first wife/husband, child, etc for tonnes of so-called reasons.

Every year around Chinese New Year, there will be advertisement from Petronas on filial duty. We are moved. Should we be sad because we know we are doing not well enough? Or should we be happy as we still have humanity heart to understand the the scene?

Sometimes I tend to pursue my dreams blindly until I stress up myself and people around me. While I still can blog this, I feel I should be grateful and glad as at least, I do halt and think again if I should still be doing so.

Take the time to play this game from Petronas to see how we are treating our parents. :)

Gong Xi Fa Cai

2011-02-12T18:57:00.001+08:00

Wish everyone a prosperous, healthy and peaceful year ahead...

Carrot and Stick

2011-02-12T02:30:00.006+08:00

Updated... Updated...

I believe I am someone who buys the carrot-and-stick principle. So to make sure I can really reduce my weight to 52kg by July, I need to buy myself a bathroom scale tomorrow!

p/s: I will post how much I weight now and let you all drop jaw and break into laughter to laugh at how FAT I am. I think only in that way I can reduce weight!

Don't know why I am so heavy...
It was 57kg when I was back in Penang few days ago!

My dear brother's carrot-stick is really motivating! I must slim down!!!

A New Toy

2011-02-08T18:43:00.005+08:00

Finally get a desktop for higher living efficiency. (My life was bogged down by my old laptop)

CPU: Core 2 Duo E6400 (2.13GHz)
CPU cooler: Cooler master hyper TX2
Motherboard: Gigabyte 965P-DS3
RAM: 3x Kingston DDR2-667 1GB (Total 3GB)
HDD: Seagate SATA 150GB
ODD: Asus DVD-ROM and BENQ DVD-RW
Graphic card: ATI Radeon 3850 512MB
Casing: Cooler master AMMO 533
PSU: Acbel 450W (true power, active PFC)
Keyboard: logitech classic keyboard K100
Mouse: Logitech optical mouse (normal one)

The whole package cost only RM650. It is second hand though.

Brand new Philips LCD cost RM190.

Churp Today

2011-02-04T23:07:00.004+08:00

With internet, the world is getting smaller and flatter! We can now churp from our nest (spreading news from our home) and earn money by just joining ChurpChurp.

Ex-ante and Ex-post

2011-02-03T19:48:00.002+08:00

Don't know why I like CNY eve more than CNY, I like the busyness of preparation, the expectation to embrace the coming of new year.

However, don't know why I don't like days before vacation, but enjoy vacation so much.

Lunar New Year Rabbit 2011

2011-02-02T22:02:00.002+08:00

A meal we cannot miss..

Happy New Year everyone!

Embarrassing Scene

2011-01-21T22:54:00.002+08:00

World class airline does commit embarrassing mistake too. This was taken when the plane was taking off.

Vacation

2011-01-20T09:49:00.004+08:00

I hope for a vacation. I kind of like our KLIA as it is far from my house. It gives me a feeling I can throw my troubles behind whenever I leave Malaysia. I think this is emotion turbulence. *Grin*

Work and Exam

2011-01-20T07:51:00.003+08:00

"Outsource" a consultant from US based in HK to be my strategist in the coming big two exams. Get some very independent and useful view from him. Now I understand why consultants are so valuable. Hope everything will go smoothly. How I wish SOA allow us to take the two exams in one sitting. I really wish to gun both the papers down.

Started asking head hunters to match my profile with the suitable companies and job. Plan to work in Singapore. Will I make it? Should I leave after such a short period in Malaysia?

Adv: Drink Milo and Win

2011-01-17T20:57:00.002+08:00

Today news: A Malaysian maid working in Hong Kong won HKD40 million lottery.

I was once very reluctant to take part in any lucky draw as I never win any, and to ~~satisfy my ego~~ hide my disappointment, I always tell others I would rather work hard and buy it myself.

The small news today stir me up to try taking part in all the lucky draws again. Want a MacBook, iPad or iPod? Just drink Jam-Pack Milo!

The Two Bosom Friends

2011-01-16T15:05:00.003+08:00

Ewe Chin - Get to know her since primary school. Started to be close to her when I saw many people boycott her due to the very superficial ridiculous reason. Had her as my "desk-mate" since Form 3 to Form 5. Wanted to enter UTAR together but she decided to go matriculation at the end. She is someone who likes to share (perhaps only to me?). She is the one who is willing to hear my stories and whom I share my stories without any worries. She is now busy with her final year project. And it has been quite sometime we lose contact. Guess I must catch up with her this CNY!

Shane - Get to know him during a prize-giving ceremony rehearsal. He was in Form 3 and I was in Form 4. We get close as both of us were very enthusiastic and desperate in improving our English. Because of our learning together, our English improved by quantum leap, we both gained A1 for O-Level English (1119). We once share the dream to become someone rich but I am bogged down in my working-earning-for-others job. Will our dream converge someday?

Ewe Chin is someone who is lack of confidence while Shane is someone who is exuberant with confidence. I guess I am between, getting the chance to give and take.

These two friends are my very friends, we grew up from the naive ~~childhood~~ teenhood, split to pursue our dream in three different universities specializing in three different courses. The future is of unknown, but I am certain our friendship reigns no matter which land we step on.

p/s: I guess I am now too free, keep thinking the old days. Grateful that both Ewe Chin and Shane are still the important people in my little heart.

Time for New Toy?

2011-01-16T11:27:00.002+08:00

Has been thinking to pamper myself by getting a DSLR for the reasons below:

1. My current camera always frustrates me at night.
2. DSLR improves my memories quality.
3. Never pamper myself getting a very decent toy (my phone is lousy, my laptop is lousy).
4. I don't feel I need an iPhone as I am not into games, I don't feel I need a Blackberry as it cannot help me to convert documents for A&J business use.

Sony Alpha 580... Hmm...

2011 Resolutions Updated

2011-01-16T00:19:00.005+08:00

1. Read more books (I only read two books in 2010 but so many in 2009). Currently on shelf: Maximize Your Memory, The Power of Body Language, 80/20, Eat Pray Love.

2. Finish all the remaining 6 FAP modules by March.

3. Pass Advanced Finance and Enterprise Risk Management (my final paper if I pass Financial Economics Theory and Engineering in January) in April.

Update: I didn't pass FETE. So AFE will be my second last paper now and hopefully FETE will be my last paper in November!

4. Get associate credential by April and fellow credential end of the year (providing I pass FETE first).

Update: I can only get my fellow credential early next year (Spring). :(

5. Grow more in career.

6. Go traveling with family somewhere in the year.

7. Purchase a house end of the year for investment purpose.

8. Lose weight! I want 50 - 52kg!

Though some of the happenings delay my plan, I hope I will enjoy the process and gain more valuable hindsight in year 2011.

Chilis

2011-01-15T23:04:00.006+08:00

Went to Mid Valley for the first time since I move to KL. We always go One-Utama instead because the parking rate there is low, never know Mid Valley's is not high too. Mid Valley is much nearer to KL compared with One-Utama, think we will go Mid Valley quite often instead of One-U now since I used to like Mid Valley.

Alvin passed his last professional exam! I failed, sadly. However, we still think it is fair to give ourselves a treat as we worked hard for it, not only that, we passed a few online modules also these two months. Alvin has double joy while I have single joy (not bad).

We gave Chilis a try since there is always long queue and we perceive the food there must be beyond praise.

Waiting eagerly for the food..

But to our "horror", it was really disappointing.

The salmon was too dry.

Their description is not really appealing/vivid either

Alvin ordered a ten ounce medium done rib-eye. Guess what?! Half of the portion was raw and another half was ~~well done~~ overcooked!

So our conclusion is:

Go Italiannies for spaghetti
Go TGI Friday's for steak
Go Manhattan Fish Market for Salmon, it is cheap!

Galatians 2:20

2011-01-13T20:51:00.002+08:00

Was stirred by a post about Galatians 2:20.

It is no longer whom I live, but Christ.

Law of Attraction - Morons

2011-01-06T14:53:00.002+08:00

I have to say Law of Attraction really works. While I am sick of morons, I encounter new moron one by one. From workplace to having meal at McD.

From now on, I should think of genius genius genius, samaritan samaritan samaritan, instead!

Morons

2011-01-05T10:38:00.001+08:00

I hope my blog is not so popular that unintended readers bump into this post.

I CANNOT STAND WORKING WITH MORONS ANYMORE! IT DRIVES ME MAD!

Family Gathering

2011-01-03T09:26:00.007+08:00

Not really a whole family gathering though.

Yesterday was the first day my sis and bro went back to their campus for the new semester. My sis had to move her things out of her hostel every sem break and so she put her things in our car boot. @@ I ~~rarely~~ never met up with my bro though he has been 2 years plus in PJ because I didn't have my own transportation. *sob sob*

So I took the opportunity to meet them yesterday, fetching my bro, picking my sis then had our dinner in Subang Parade, grocery shopping at Carrefour.

I was still not impressed by food in Manhattan Fish Market, we ordered a platter and a grilled salmon to share.

The platter was really greasy.

After dropping my sis at her hostel, we continued our supper at SS2 to quench our thirst.

Shanghai "chee cheong fun" as snack

Mango "Lou"

Kiwi "Lou"

I was really happy that I could meet up with my siblings and get to know more about their recent.

2011 Resolutions

2011-01-01T10:25:00.005+08:00

2010 Reflections

2010-12-31T17:24:00.017+08:00

January

Visited Langkawi Island with my sis, Shane (my best best friend) and Alvin despite Alvin and I failed in our professional exams.

Started my final semester for bachelor's degree.

Visited Shuzhen in Setapak (yes, Setapak seemed to be far for me from PJ), and we decided to go Genting Highlands on the spur moment, in the following weekend.

Went in casino for the first time and lost RM50, will never gamble anymore.

February
Celebrated Chinese New Year with family! I really afraid I need to work during CNY in the future in overseas (though I hope I can develop my career in overseas) :( I love CNY! Didn't save pictures in my hard-drive. All are with my sister.

Finished reading The 8th Habit From Effectiveness to Greatness, was greatly motivated.

March
Got bored by the lame UTAR studies.

April
Went for interview in Singapore in an international general reinsurance company, failed it at the third interview. Singapore is clean! The journey was quite rush, so we didn't go around the small island.

after the interview, somewhere near the big fountain

Visited Hui Boon in Malacca with Alvin and Shuzhen. She is a tough girl, encountered all the hardship strongly.

May
My sister got JPA scholarship, will be doing medicine in Ireland! We are proud of her!

Sat for school exams and professional exams.

June
Hunting for job but to no avail. Very down.

July

Passed two professional exams! I cleared preliminary exams! Failed my attempt in general insurance professional exam though.

Got a job offer from one general insurer and one life insurer. Decided to put aside my passion in general insurance temporarily due to the limited opportunity in Malasysia.

August
Started my first job in AmLife Insurance Berhad as an actuarial executive. Exploring and learning.

Read Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude.

Graduation united my whole family in KL.

Each of us has different character but we love this family!

I don't really treasure this graduation, but it seems my parents were happy about it, and so I was happy too.

September
Busy working, preparing exams and sampling food!

October
Visited Hong Kong with Alvin. He was attending workshop at the day time, while I was studying and doing gym. Exploring Hong Kong at night.

November
Got our first car. Was hit by a motorcycle in a month. The tree at where Alvin parked the car during working time gave us the present in the second month.

Sat for professional exam. This was Alvin's final paper, and my second last paper. Crossed fingers!

December
Started to grow at work, asked for rotation from experience studies to reporting. Hopefully there will be more sparks with the new team!

Went to Berjaya Hill, a fantastic and fancy place!

Submitted three (3/3) FSA modules and two (2/8) FAP (Fundamental of Actuarial Practice) modules.

Had gatherings with friends and colleagues in this festive season.

All in all, 2010 is a fulfilling year! Challenges of up and down make me appreciate my family and my love one more.

Inspiring Movies

2010-12-11T14:42:00.002+08:00

Watched two inspiring movies recently - The Social Network and Three Idiots. I was at first very reluctant to watch Three Idiots as it is a Bollywood movie, I would not want to waste my 2 hours on silly movie. But as the plot developed, it caught my attention more and more. As for The Social Network, I didn't know anything about it beforehand, it was strongly recommended by Alvin's colleague, and so I just nodded to watch it last night. Not watching trailer and synopsis always brings surprises. *smile*

I am inspired by one of the "idiots" in the Bollywood movie. He is someone who thinks out of the box, who is not restricted to some stupid and silly regulations, who chases after excellence and who cares about and inspires friends to pursue their dreams instead of the society or parents' wants. In the movie, the very whole idea is to pursue our dream, chase after excellence and then success will chase after us!

As for The Social Network, it is a bibliography of the well-known and youngest billionaire in the world, Mark Zuckerberg (the founder of Facebook in case you don't know). Mark founded Facebook in a "night". When recruiting interns, he held hackathon to choose participants who were able to complete a task in a night. In reality and at current, he still practices this in hiring. "The idea is that you can build something really good in a night", said Mark during an interview.

Many times we are bolted down by what we are doing until we lose our direction in the midst. We chase after what we are not clear of, we just follow. We are scared, we start to fear this and that, and be "superstitious" to the extent that we don't have our stand, we don't know what are we doing, we are just running blindly.

Good movies!

Colmar Tropicale

2010-11-30T23:43:00.013+08:00

Went to Berjaya Hills last Saturday. It is truly a special tourism spot.

Berjaya Hills mainly consists of a few main parts, Colmar Tropicale, Japanese Village, paintball spot, horse riding spot, rabbit farm and golf club.

We were "welcomed" by a squad of mini-coopers once we entered the castle.

Our first stop after the castle was Japanese Village. At the first glance, I was shocked of why the ever first Japanese Village is located at Berjaya Hills, until I read the second line...

in tropical forest... I was like @@

There is a variety of striking plants inside the forest.

Alvin was perspiring hard while we were exploring the forest as it was not windy at all. Also Berjaya Hills is not a summer getaway! It is extraordinarily WARM!

There are a few spas inside the village but it was too dear, the cheapest is 400 bucks!

Also there are a few japanese restaurant selling normal japanese food at exorbitant price!

After one hour of venturing, we bumped back to Colmar Tropicale in this truck.

Colmar Tropical is really a jolly place. It is fancy.

The colorful western architeture gives us a kind of jovial and fresh feeling which cannot be experienced anywhere else in Malaysia.

There are toys which make you feel young!

There are cordial country girls selling cookies!

There is band singing "i want nobody nobody but you" when you 're enjoying your meal!

There are BLACK and white swans swimming swiftly in the ponds!

We ended our outing by playing paint balls. Both of us were able to hit the target twice out of 5 trial shots.

Berjaya Hills is indeed a fantastic getaway during weekends.

Gym

2010-11-30T23:08:00.005+08:00

It's been a month I don't visit gym. *shake head* However, I went for gym everyday when I was in Hong Kong. Ironic huh? I love the gym in the hotel. The air circulation is good.

The view is great!

Also can see how Caucasian reading while exercising!

My bro and sis have both successfully conquered Penang bridge marathon, for a few times! Feel like challenging myself for that. Treadmill can never give us me achievement sense.

Hmnn.. Conquering marathon has been sunk in my heart for quite some years. When will I be able to do that?

I AM FAT! I NEED TO SLIM DOWN!

Sick

2010-11-24T15:46:00.003+08:00

Amidst the heavy workload and hectic studies schedule, I FALL sick! Last Saturday, I was rushing for FAP Module 1 then suddenly I started to have headache, but my will defeated it, it was gnawing at me, I didn't care, I continued until I got partial of the assignment done (the spreadsheet). I went to sleep at 1am and got up at 845am the next day to have breakfast with a former colleague. I started to sneeze. However, I thought, hmm, morning chill, I should be alright. I skipped going meeting again as ~~my colleague~~ we had too much to talk. Right from the breakfast, I continued drafting the memo for the assignment. I started to get very drowsy. A bad sign. 7-hour sleep should be sufficient for me. However, I didn't have time to think so much so I forced myself to continue. Then I took a break for lunch. Thinking of resuming the assignment after the lunch, but I gave up and told my assignment partner I got to take a nap. Before napping, I took flu medicine. I had a two-hour sound nap. Then I called my assignment partner to wake up (10 calls) but couldn't avail. I gave up. Then I lay on bed to read Eat Pray Love. I fell asleep after a few pages. Woke up one hour later and called my assignment partner. 3 calls. He woke up finally. @@ I then swore I must get the assignment submitted before I went to sleep. I successfully finished the assignment but at the same time Lee Chong Wei lost his game to Lin Dan (a bit incohesive here? No.. I had been concerned about his game, especially with Lin Dan. I loathe Lin Dan for his haughtiness).

After dinner, I went to sleep. Before I slept, I took fever pill. I could feel heat from the tip top of my head to my toe. That night I couldn't really sleep well, I felt hot at one moment pulling off my blanket and pulling over the blanket the next moment finding myself trembling. The next morning when I woke up, I didn't feel well at all, but I still had to go to work as I promised my boss to have a discussion on the task I did. In addition, he had to present the thing I prepared for him that afternoon. So I roughly needed to go through once with him. That one hour in the office was my ever dreadful hour. I was so cold. I started to perspire. After that, I told my supervisor I got to leave. I couldn't resist anymore, I was so cold. I quickly flagged down a taxi to go home and consulted a doctor at the clinic nearby my house. I slept the whole day after consuming pill.s The doctor said if my fever didn't subside the next day, I might need to drop by again, as recently there are many cases of dengue fever. After dinner, I went to sleep. Though the fever had subsided a bit, but still I had to constantly wake up to drink water (I always afraid I will become stupid after a fever). When it approached wee hours, then only I started to feel better, finally I could grab a few hours of sleep. However, when I woke up, I still felt very weak. I hate myself for being so. I have tonnes of work waiting for me to finish yet I was soooo energyless. But no choice, I still had to rest. I got to get recuperated as soon as possible. Fever subsided, but flu caught me. Sneezing the whole day until dusk. Things became better. I even told my supervisor I could resume working the next day (today). However, after dinner, I started to feel something amiss, I was a bit dizzy. I quickly went to sleep. It was only nine something. I set alarm to wake up at 2am to take medicine.

7am today he came to see if I had rashes on my body as this is a obvious symptom of dengue. We were planning to work since I don't have rashes and I thought I had had enough of rest. Not long after we talked (I think around 3 minutes), my sight became gray and then darker and darker. The block of condo in front of me was swirling. I quickly held my head and closed my eyes. I was too dizzy, I was so scared I would black out. I then slowly walked back into my room with my feeble legs. At 830am, he fetched me to see doctor. (he has been overwhelmed with his work too until barely has time for me. I don't blame him, he has his stress too). The doctor said it might be because I took medicine at midnight and didn't have any intake of food until morning. She gave me another day of leave and some flu medicine, this time stronger!

I decided not to take her pills anymore as I don't feel comfortable with it.

NOW NOW.. 430pm! I think I am finally able to resume working tomorrow. Sigh. I am a new comer yet took so many days of sick leave. Hopefully my boss doesn't take this to discount my KPI.

Time to meow tomorrow and ROAR next week! Really got to get things done! Auditors are coming in. Stresses are piling up!

Working under deadline and the supervision of KPI is not something enjoying =(

A Meeting with Ex-lecturer in Hong Kong

2010-11-20T10:56:00.010+08:00

Met up with our Actuarial Expository Project lecturer, Simon in Hong Kong. I really got to pen down this meeting as we were actually looking for each other in ifc tower for nearly an hour!

We emailed him the day before to meet at the Starbucks in ifc (mind me, I use the article the).

(just to show ifc in lower case)

We reached ifc tower (it is in lower case, a special naming way) Starbucks at 7pm. But as minutes crept away, we started to feel something amiss. It was already 730pm and he still hadn't shown up. At first, we thought he was busy with his work (he is a chief actuary). But it was already 30 minutes past 7pm, we asked the Starbucks staff if there is another Starbucks in the tower. She said yes, and then we quickly headed there. But Simon was not there! We then approached the concierge for assistance (we don't have blackberry, iphone, any smartphone to actually email or call). The concierge was very helpful (again, we are lame enough not knowing how to use Hong Kong phone) to help us call Simon. We told Simon where were we and he asked us not to walk away, he would come to us. 10 minutes had passed but he still hadn't shown up. I asked Alvin if Simon was impatient (letting a chief actuary to look for us, the two trivial people for almost 40 minutes!), Alvin said he was seemingly still relaxed, perhaps it was Friday. Not long after, the concierge approached us (we were waiting not far from the concierge) telling us Simon called back. Simon still couldn't find us; the concierge saw us having difficulty explaining where were we, then offered to explain to Simon.

And.. and.. finally Simon reached!

He told us there are FIVE Starbucks in ifc tower! @@ I guess Starbucks cannot be a meet up place especially when we are not familiar with the place! *grin*

After greeting, Simon brought us to Tsim Sa Tsui to sample chinese cuisine, to be exact, Beijing, Sichuan, Hong Kong and Hangzhou cuisine.

(the ever luxurious meal we had in our Hong Kong trip)

Simon had been 2 years in Malaysia, and he said the chinese cuisine here is not that decent. Practically there is no difference between any specific cuisine. *shame*

(while waiting for our turn)

(the restaurant was crowded)

(Don't ask me the name of the dish, their description is beyond my apprehension)

the noodle tastes special, but a bit like jawa mee

mini shark fin

chicken stewed in traditional chinese wine but it is served chilly

crispy chicken but quite different taste from ours

Golden prawn (I like this very much).
Simon said Hongkongers like to eat prawns during autumn.

Bun. Alvin said it tastes like doughnuts. (@@)

Simon shared a lot of his valuable experience with us. (when actuarial people are together, we always have too many things to share and update, simply too resonant). Giving may surprisingly result in a lot gaining. Taking risk to some extent might not be a very bad thing. Impossible mission might not be that impossible, just that we perceive it is impossible. Failures always contribute a lot of hindsight to the next success.

After the 2-hour dinner, we went to Avenue of Stars to continue chatting until the staff approached us to ask us leave as it is closed at 11pm. Being amazed at the spectacular buildings across Victoria Harbour, Simon shared with us which building was the ever first tallest building in Hong Kong then which then which then now ICC (International Commerce Center).

After that, we made our way to the 1881 Mall (which is a former navy headquarter) next to Avenue of Stars to take some pictures.

Around 12pm, we bid farewell with Simon!

You Raise Me Up

2010-11-20T09:58:00.008+08:00

Yea, finally I have some spare time. Exam is over. Workload is lighter every final week of the month.

Another milestone reached in my institutional studying life. I am finally free of the bondage of studying in my small alma mater. Put aside the teaching quality (I still think UTAR lets me grow a lot, especially personality wise), I really appreciate the chance I had to know a lot of people throughout the foundation studies and bachelor's degree years to church brothers and sisters.

Besides, one of the most important people I can never stop giving thanks is my family. I am overwhelmed with gratitude to my parents for their unremitting support.

It's heartening that I reached another milestone in my ACADEMIC LIFE, but it is even more touching that I have my beloved family always with me to reach this milestone, and I believe their unceasing support will keep me to another milestone in my LIFE.

At this point, I am humming this song (I cannot sing, I cannot remember any lyrics besides our national anthem)

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

There is no life - no life without its hunger;
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;
But when you come and I am filled with wonder,
Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

Of Satay

2010-11-17T18:25:00.004+08:00

(the picture was saved somewhere from the internet)

Ate satay on Monday night after working with him. Satay is one of my favorite food. Eating while chatting satay at that night made me feel a pang of nostalgia of my childhood. I was really happy that night.

I like eating satay especially in a barbecue party as my mom would buy 200 strings of stay and I could eat up to 30-50 strings alone! I seldom prefer buying from hawkers as I perceive it is too expensive to buy from them!

Being nostalgic of my childhood makes me wonder why could childhood happiness be so pure. Eating satay could make me on cloud nine. Half a day shopping with family could make me exultant. Passing exam with flying colors could make me walk on the air.

But as time passes, I am not sure if I become greedy, or things are abundant, that I seldom have the true happiness anymore. It is not that the smiles hang on my face are fake, but I rarely can feel myself on the seventh heaven. The "happiness" I have is like on the surface on my heart only. Passing exams, getting a new car, buying this and that don't make me feel any extraordinary happy, but just as if I should have that.

....

Hmm...

I think not being grateful is the root of this?

HSBC with The Two Lions

2010-10-21T13:20:00.008+08:00

After reading Kennysia's blog, I got to know the story behind the two lions at the main entrance of HSBC Headquarter in Statue Square, Hong Kong.

And thus, this morning after breakfast, I went to central to visit the two lions.

The two lions are really huge and prestigious. They were named after the names of the managers in 1923, Stephen and Stitt.

Stitt
(Not able to capture the front side of Stephen
as a few men were sitting beside it)

"When the 1935 building was to be demolished in 1984 the lions were temporarily moved to Statue Square, opposite. As a mark of the respect the lions were held in, the move to Statue Square, and the move back in 1985, were accompanied by the Chairman and senior management of the Bank and the placement of the lions both temporarily and in their current locations was made only after extensive consultations with feng shui practitioners.

Their 2-year sojourn in Statue Square aside, the lions have only left their positions as guardians of the Des Voeux Road entrance of the Bank once: they were confiscated by the Japanese and sent to Japan to be melted down. Luckily the war ended before this could happen, and the lions were recognised by an American sailor in a dockyard in Osaka in 1945. They were returned a few months later and restored to their original positions in October 1946.

The Hong Kong lions are also called Stephen and Stitt, and the Hong Kong Stephen has bullet or shrapnel scars in its left hind-quarters dating from the fighting in the Battle of Hong Kong. When this pair of lions was used as the model for the pair commissioned for the new UK Headquarters of HSBC in 2002, Zambian-born New Zealand sculptor Mark Kennedy was asked not to reproduce these 'war wounds" in the copies.

They had to earn their own battle-scars" (quoted from Wikipedia)

Hong Kong Note

2010-10-17T22:11:00.004+08:00

Going to Hong Kong tomorrow, and just got to know that Hong Kong notes are printed by different banks. Alvin told me their notes are very funny, and I was wondering why it is so. I then guessed that it might be because they don't have a central bank as they are part of China, yet they have their own currencies so the merchant banks get the chances to print the notes.

I then googled about it. They do have their central bank but the central bank sold 10% share to HSBC, Standard Chartered and Bank of China to have the authority to print notes.

I really like the chinese saying that journeying thousand miles is much better than reading thousand rolls.

Detox

2010-10-10T19:21:00.004+08:00

Let's see if detox works on me and him, the two plump ones >.<