Last Quarter of 2010

It's been a while since my last post. Has been busy for the last few months. Nevertheless, there should be a closing for year 2010. This post will be photo telling type, some weird, some meaningful, and some funny....enjoy...

Special Design Toilet - October

This toilet is located in one of the restaurant in Sibu. When first walk into the toilet the first question pop up is , is this a hand wash place or pee place? Because the height is alang alang at waist height (maybe i'm not tall enough), and the tap is those we use for hand washing taps. Make it looks like a place for wash our hands. I decided to use the toilets as someone might think i'm peeing on the hand washing basin.

Meat Feast - October

Went back to Malacca to attend my youngest uncle wedding. When we reach grandpa's home its about lunch time. So we had an all meat lunch. We had roast port, stew pork, char siew, friend chicken and also duck stew.
What a yummy lunch but an not so healthy one. So at night dinner i compensate it by eating a little bit more of vegetables.

Please Open Below - October

Saw this sign in one of the restaurant in Seremban. After dinner would like to wash my hands and we saw this sign at the basin. The opener is broken and we have to open the main tap below the basin to enable water to flow out of the water tap. But when i first saw this sign the first few questions pop up .....要用水请开下面 -----开什么下面？那里下面？ LOL

Morning Breeze - October

One Sunday morning in Sibu, after finished breakfast we head for our car. That's the time a cool morning breeze head towards us. The feel is so relaxing and comfortable. Makes me pause for a few seconds to enjoy the moment. Life is so great!!

Secondary Bus Sekolah - November

Saw this bus one day in November. Number plate is 6269. During secondary school time, me and my sister went to school with this auntie's school bus. Didn't expect to see this school bus again. It make one of the important memories of mine. I still remember that time i always wish for the auntie to come and fetch me earlier as i will be able to sit in front ( More space more wind)...and also sometimes i ready late, auntie will have to wait for me outside.......

Tricycle ? Or What ? - December

Saw this cycle outside a shop in Rejang Park Sibu. Special ride with two handles, braking system and also gear system. I just wonder how the driver turn to left or right side......should be comfortable when riding this cycle....

Recycled Xmas Tree - December

Who says Xmas we have to go Singapore to celebrate. We have Christmas tree too in Sibu...but instead of shopping centers, we have Food Fair....Malaysian style

Dong Zhi - December

Celebrated Dong Zhi at Tua Kim's house in Kombok...have a nice dinner too with a lot's of food to eat from. It has been a long time since i will be at home during dong zhi. I think a lot of us will not be able to be at home during this time as it falls on weekdays. I'm just glad that i was at home this time in 2010....

Sitiawan Gongpia - December

Went to Pantai Remis near Setiawan to attend Lesley's wedding. Got to visit one of the shops that still makes Gongpia with traditional oven. Have to queue up to buy as there are lot of people waiting. Manage to get some and taste it. Inside is filled with Big Onions..crispy on the outside and juicy in the inside..quite nice and different from what Sibu Gongpia have....



It's time for year end resolution report:
My 2010 Resolutions:

1. At least read a book every month. (Failed - Manage to read 5 books only)
   
2. Take up Image course (Completed)
   
3. Learn to play tennis (Failed - No time)
4. Buy a car (Failed - Bought Something Else)
5. Continue hiking with ODA (Failed - Not in West most of the time)
6. Exercise at least 3 time per week. (Failed - Not Consistent)
7. Less intake on sugar, more fruits. (Failed - Not much on Fruit)
8. Try to become a yes man(positive man)every time i could. (Half - Not Everything is a Yes)
9. Deep think everything before acting and do not rush for last minute (Completed)
10. Throw away procastination (Half - Still procastinate on several things)
11. To take a full family photos (Failed - Haven't Planned)
12. To create write and maintain a blog (Completed)

Looking back 2010, it been smooth, challenging and satisfying year for me. Although did not achieve all the resolutions, i manage to get some achieved. Hope next year will be a great year for me and to all of us and friends. Last but not least...Happy New Year !!!! wish all of us good luck in 2011!! Cheerss!!

Eventfull September

Just in a nick of time, we are in the last quarter of 2010. Recall back September is quite an eventful month for me. As usual I went back to KL this month. This time a shorter trip - 3 Weeks.

First Stop is to ODA Taman Negara Expedition. It is one of the most important trip in ODA calendar. Being a trip leader for this trip let me learn and grow a lot. This trip is different from other trip. Involves logistics, planning, bargaining, many participants and other stuff. Thanks to ODA Committees that help me a lot through out the process especially during the 3 days expedition time. Without you we would not make it a successful trip. A Big THANK YOU!!. ......This trip had been testing my EQ and mental fitness. Its not easy, but it is not an impossible task. I am happy that Hock Lye, Yityin, Yinqiu, my sister ,elvin and also Siew Kee came with me to this trip.

The next event is CIC Final Sprint. It stands for Creative International Consultancy. Went there with my boss. I attended the Officers Section. Learned some agency management and system. Really makes clear what we need to improve and what we still lack of. So after a few years in this industry, sometimes we think the talks that we usually attend are the same, but from each different event if we put our heart and listen well we will get something from it. Glad that i have the chance to attend this course. Besides technical part, i get to know Brandon and his brother. They started their career in a not so smooth way, but up until now they have some achievement. From them i saw their undying spirit to learn and improve in everything they do. With this we can overcome anything in this world. Because 世上唯一不变的真理是，世界都在不断的变。

Next up is Lausi's Lunar Birthday Party and Mooncake celebration. Last year not able to attend the celebration at CEO’s house with Fatlou Lut Lut, this year I finally meet the Fatlou lut lut at CEO' house. Apparently the boss driving the lutlut is not as fat as the name of the brand haha. We have a nice and full dinner. From the Fatlou lut lut guy, i've learned that everyday the car they will have to drive the lorry back to the HQ which is near Selayang there..then they will back home. Next day reach HQ around noon, change car and head to their locations. Till midnight, change location to nearby pub until 2-3am..then drive the lorry back to HQ. The fatlou lut lut lorry that appears in Seremban will have to drive back to HQ everyday. Really is an eye opener for me...

After that the next event is attending Great Leo Award. Its an award for first 2 years agent (that means new agent). I am grateful that I made it this year too. I realize more and more youngsters doing better and better and start their career as young as 19 years old!!!. I still wondering what am I doing when I was 19. (STPM, Girlfriend, School Activities, Tuition) It kind of give me a slap in the face, wake up!! You are not young anymore....haha... And makes me think, what am I doing now?? One thing i learn up there is - Every achievement we make is not to only celebrate our pass success, it is also a benchmark for future excellence.今天的成就不是专注在我们过去作得多好，而是成为未来迈向德标杆。Lastly is SG Final Sprint.It an annual event, it is a recharge and learn platform. Besides that , we celebrated moon-cake festival with colleagues and buddies at Teck Hong house...

As usual, this trip back going back to my house to meet mom and sister..this time able to eat mom's cookied coconut chicken!!! The taste of the coconut and the sweetness of the chicken is just so good.....attached picture are the coconut opened by me...here is no place better than home. I have a deep feeling for the song sang by Westlife. Enjoy!!

August Update

Back to Sibu in August, leaving home to hometown. There are few significant things that happened this month.

1) Venice de Sibu (Flood)
2) I notice a new Haven

First thing first, first time Sibu got flood in August. It has been raining a few days straight in Sibu (Monday- Wednesday if not mistaken). Not knowing the upper part of Rejang River is raining too. So as usual, Saturday i went to the port to take Express Boat to a place called Kapit. A small town 3 hours boat ride from Sibu. When i reach the dock i noticed the water level of the river higher because the platform to boat is flat. Normally the platform is lower than the terminal which means water lever is low. So i get on to boat and off we go. After 2 hours we pass by Song. A smaller town before Kapit. The part of the terminal was underwater. The water rose so high that we do not have to walk the staircase to the terminal.

The new haven is a place in Kapit. I realise people there are happy. Day to day routine activities. Businessman do business. After evening close shop and relax. For those who is satisfy with these type of lifestyle..its a haven for them. But not for me..hehe....since coming back to Sibu, i felt that i'm getting more and more used to the lifestyle here. Daytime work, night time rest. Still have extra time to exercise. Sure the lifestyle is not as attractive/interesting as in KL. But everything that we made decision, there is an opportunity cost. Just it depends on what we value and what we willing to give up in order to achieve what we want. Bear in mind, i mean in proper ways ya in giving up somethings to achieve somethings. Many business man here taught me, "There Is No Free Lunch in This World. You have to work for it."

Picture beside is the Roti Telur found in Kapit. They say it taste like a type of japanese pancake....crispy and nice..diffferent type of roti telur...i think we won't find it anywhere else.

Short post as busy this month. Actually this post is way due past the month of August. Will keep it up next time. :)

Busy July

On July 3rd....Touch down at KL airport....straight back to my house to meet mother. The next day i ate the mee suan promised by my mom.Nice !!!! What a good start for July.

Basically July is a learning month for me. First stop is Producer Forum. This is the second time we attended this forum. Each talk and seminar gives different feelings and i cant take too many things in one time. So usually i get what i feel most in the event and remember it into my heart. So the thing that i learned most is from Mr Melvin Tong. The person with one leg that hike up to Mount KK this year. I admire his spirit and courage and determination. After his talk, we manage to take some photos together. And he said this to us in cantonese:"没有人比我们自己跟了解自己" . In English means "Nobody understands ourselves more than ourselves". Then he continue to say: Sometimes many people will object what we want to do, we have to thank them because they care for us as they do not want us to get hurt. Do you know yourselves? For me i know me and maybe i know you too..haha.... Just the thing that i do not know are the boundaries or limitations of what can i do and ill keep on challenging my limitations...Yeah!!..I do not know what will i have in the end, but i just know to put the best effort whenever i can.

Next stop - Maluri Family Day. Look forward for this family day as we get to know more about our colleague. Besides having fun, this time i get to become one of the conductor for a session. Learn a lot from this experience. Thanks to all of Malurian. Its been a long time since i played in a theme park.

3rd one is the opportunity to meet Mr Hui at Seremban. Manage to have a dinner with him. Later that we went to his house to have some coffee. The whole night we talk about a lot of things. The thing that i learned that night was "理清"(Make Clear) and "价值观"(Point of View). Before we do something, make sure we make clear of what is what and why is why. So that we know why we do this or that. Each individual have different point of view. It may be cause by some incidents or the environment that shape our point of view. And because of different point of view, our actions are different. In the end that is what differentiate us. So if we think it is worth it, just go ahead.

This time missed the trip with ODA. Feels like something is wrong with the body haha.....but still manage to catch up with Laosi and ODA. Looking forward to Taman Negara and Noring. Last but not least manage to catch up some time with Steph- Few movies night and dinner. Although its been a rush month for me-From KL-Seremban, then to Batu Pahat, then to JB and Singapore, i learned and improved myself.

Happy Birthday to me..

This year i will be celebrating my 24th birthday. What do we celebrate during birthday?? As each year pass by the feeling and meaning of celebrating birthday will change with our age....so this year is enjoy what i have now and appreciate what i have...

1st present for me is visiting Mount Kinabalu with ODA. This trip back to Sabah we successfully hike up Mount KK with very fine weather and every one return safely. From childhood i wished to climb Mount KK , just beofre that i do not have the chance to visit this mountain. Really thanks ODA for giving me the chance to lead and visit this mountain. Besides beautiful scenery, i learned new things, gather back together to hike..catch up with Miing Rueng and ODA.... It certainly feels good to hike with someone that we trust and know each other

Besides that this 4 days 3 nights makes me recall back a few memories....the first one is the SUSU SEGAR ...i remember when we were young, mom will buy this milk from a friend/from shop(could not remember). When the milk is available in the house, mom will heat up the milk for us to drink before we went to school...i still can remember when the milk is heated up, there will be a layer of milk fat on top of the milk...and the milk tasted so goooooddddd........really miss that time and that milk......When we have it , we do not know how lucky/blessed we are...until when we lost it only we know how nice it was......but each stages of life leaves different memories...i am sure that susu segar will be one of the nicest memories i will keep.

So i saw the milk at supermarket, i bought one small packet and drank it all up :) It was a nice sweet back memory lane.....so before departing back to Sibu, i planned to buy a packet on the way to airport...but time is short and could not buy one.
The funny things is , when i am back to Sibu, i saw the same brand of milk at a supermaket (faint)...but i am sure i wont buy any of them in here, as i think it will not be as fresh as in Sabah......

I love avocados...saw plenty of them in Sabah and the price are cheap too. During the days in Sabah, mom will make avocado milk shake for us to drink occasionally. Nice smooth milky juice......good for the skin and body(i think). This time before leaving for Sarawak, we still manage to went to a Pasar Borong for all the agriculture goods. Bought few kg of avocado back here and also some vegetable to bring back. Also we (ah pang,chian ni, bee suan and miing rueng) bought a few coconuts to drink.

Special thanks to all my friend that wished me happy birthday...for me, a sincere birthday wish from heart is all i need...thanks you again.!! Besides that sure wanna thanks my family for being there all this years for me. Received an sms for my mom early morning wishing me "Happy birthday n many return of d day. Owe u one mee sua"..... I love mee sua..:) ... my birthday is my day, but for me i take it as my mom's and dad's day. If for me to choose i will cook back a bowl of mee suan for my mom. Not her cooking for me....but still mom's cooking is the best, looking forward for it. While my dad sms me "HAPPY BIRTHDAY to u my son. Is your bussiness growth?" i reply thanks dad, yap growing now...haha.....if i can choose to celebrate my birthday, i will choose to eat a nice bowl of mee suan at home together with family members and stephanie. Sure besides parent still have my sisters blessings..thanks you and love you all too ya..:) Not forgetting stephanie, love you too.. all i need is just your wishes and blessings and a song my heart will fell warmth....love you too...

I won't forget my 2008 birthday June. That time i was working as part time at Mydin USJ as salesman..staying at my 3rd uncles place. As usual start work at 10am- 10pm. ..lunch by myself, dinner by my self..the most loneliest birthday i had..and i can tell you the feeling in not so good yea..the heart feel 酸酸 (sour) like tat...but after work returned to my uncles place, there a cake for me !!. I still can remember it is a banana cake. Bought by my auntie(Thanks Tong Gu and 3Gim). My mom is in Sarawak, i'm in KL. She call my aunt and ask her to help buy a cake for me to celebrate....i cried that night.....
The next day, 23rd june, one of my best friend, Yiiping, take bus all the way from Setapak to Usj to find me lunch. When i met him, his hand was holding a birthday cake!!!..man, i could not describe the feeling....both of us dine at KFC and ate the cake. Really good to have you. I won't forgot this moment ever....

2009 june i survived the crash, thank god for giving me a 2nd chance. The wish i had last year is thanks you for giving a chance and looking forward to life. This year, i'm in Sibu, mom is in KL. That night after celebrated with stephanie's family, my mom call her to thank her mom for celebrating my birthday with me and cooking a mee sua for me. My mom did not told me she called stephanie to thank her parents. Stephanie told me my mom called her. Before that, my mom ask me to go to coffee shop that sell mee sua and buy myself one bowl. I told her i ate at stephanie's house d. She could not cook for me here, that's why she asked me to go to coffee shop to eat. But knowing i ate d, she called and thank stephanie's parent. I cried again..

Although she is not around, she will make sure i get to eat mee sua. That's my mom !!! I am sure all of our parents are like that. Secretly wishing, caring for us. I could not say directly to both of you, because i am sure i will cry. So would like to use this space to say, I love you ma and pa. Happy Parents day today...you are the fire of my LIFE !!!

As i said before when a child leaves home for studies, he/she is consider an adult and start their own new life journey, that means time to be at home is lesser. For those who are still at home, appreciate it and enjoy it....

As chinese proverbs says, 在家靠父母，在外靠朋友。 Thanks to my friends that celebrate my birthday with me and thanks for the cakes and present too ya. Really good to have you guys....different life stages we have different friends..just sometimes we have to put in some effort to make the relationship going on..So guys see you next time out ya. Not forgetting stephanie's family members that celebrated my birthday with me too..her mom cooked a bowl of mee sua for me.. make me feel at home again....

Lastly, really appreciate what i have ( friends/collegues, family, soulmate, ODAs) without all of you, i would not become what i am as today and would not be as strong as today. We encounter different life challenges everyday...just remember appreciate and 感恩 will makes everything ok. Life is not as complicated as it seems..cheers !!! and BRING IT ON!!!!! Wish all of you have a great year ahead !!!! And see you soon !!!

Mothers Day Celebration...

For many years(3years)i have not celebrate Mother's day with mom. This year we manage to come together and have dinner with mom at a restaurant in Seremban. Yueer is back for holiday, i'm back in Seremban, Sister is not outstation....just dad is not in Seremban..... Its a simple dinner but a meaningful one.

During dinner we decided to buy 负离子 stocking,wrist band for mom. So this task is handed to yueer to buy it. One for mum , sure we have one for dad too. This picture on the left is both of them having their gifts this week...Hope they like it and hope it really works. And this picture with cake is my mom with my auntie. We bought a cake on the way back after dinner and decided to cut the cake with auntie.

Mother's days is on Sunday (9/05/10)...and the next day is Steph's birthday. So, early in the morning my mom ready cooked the soup for the 'mee sua' and when we wake up, i made her a bowl of 'mee sua soup'. Later that evening we went for present hunting, movie, dinner and last but not least a piece of cake. It has been a long time since we celebrate birthday together. Glad to be around !!...

Things that would like to let my love ones have during birthday:
1. Mee Sua + Egg
2. A Present (Anything)
3. Cake (Whatever cake as long as it is made of egg)

Celebrations are another good time for us to gather around. The theme of the celebration is not important...most important is that each of us are around together. As we grows older, chances for us to gather like this years mother's day are getting less and less. So lets us appreciate what we have now.....and looking forward for next time...

It's Good to Be Home

Its good to be home......blogging this post in my house (Seremban). Many people will ask where are you from/where is your hometown?? Sometimes i will jammed a few seconds thinking what to answer back. There are 2 version of answers: 1 is complete answer, another is short one.

Answer 1: My birthplace is Malacca(Where my fathers hometown and grandparents lives). But spend most of my time growing up in East Malaysia - 10 years in Sabah Lahad Datu, 10 years in Sarawak Sibu. Now family is staying in Seremban. So which one is my hometown? I will asked back. Malacca or East Malaysia?? haha.........

Answer 2: Malacca.

Wikipedia definition of Hometown:
Hometown is primarily used as a generic term for the city or town in which someone was born or grew up.

So basically i have 3 hometowns !!!! Cheers!!!!...haha.........but whatever my hometown is all of them gave me a lot of memories and different towns to live in.

So back to recent events...after CNY 2010, life returns to normal. Work, eat,sleep,exercise,hang out.....One day in March, me and my best friend went for a yamcha at Bandung, a place in Sibu where used to be alot of choice of food to eat. But nowadays, stalls operating is lesser. But still, we went there for supper. We ordered Fry Prawn Balls, Grill Fish, Fried Rice and Sotong plus drinks - Total RM25 (Cheap. :) ) if im not mistaken......We leave the place with full stomach.

Attended a talk/ book release seminar at Sibu Main Hall. Its a book emphasize on life, living our lifes.. the title is :放任心中的一百次流浪. He said : 用你所有的，去换取你想要的。

During Ching Ming, my secondary school organize a old students dinner at a hotel. Went there with Koon Chay....most of the people that attend is graduated more than 20 years above. Me only 7 years...haha..there is a uncle graduated from school in 1963. Graduated more than 40 years...

Barbeque at colleague's house...no bbq stove so we have a temporary bbq stove just like tat in the picture....the chicken smells nice but just lack of some salt...got to improve next time..

Before coming back to Seremban, manage to ate Chuang Hua road Kompia. Still tasty as before.
Beside just eat and eat, i do exercise too. At least 3 times a week. But these few weeks when the time is around 5pm, the weather will suddenly become windy,dark clouds above and 5pm++ rain will start to drop........that's all for now.....

Chinese New Year 2010

Chinese New Year is just over...everything is fun except din't get my hands on "playing cards" haha. Every year one of the thing i enjoy is "play card" game with relatives and friends. Just to try my luck and just for the sake of fun. If i win, extra ang pow..if i lose --输钱赢乐趣...below are the few things that i miss most during CNY:

1. The Food (Reunion Dinner)
2. Card Games
3. Ang Pows
4. Reunion with friends
5. Fire Crackers

During the past 6-7 years, we have been celebrating our CNY at my grandpa's house. Before that, we celebrate CNY at 2 places alternately, this year at Sibu, the next at Malacca. Because during the old days, flight is expensive....one year, my dad said grandparent are getting old...we celebrate our CNY at Malacca....so from then on till now we will be eating reunion dinner together.

So one of the thing that im looking forward to is the FOOD!!! Every year, my grandpa and uncle and auntie will prepare and cook reunion dinner. Don't play play..the dishes we have during reunion dinner is restaurant style. Dishes will come out one after another...just like in the pictures below:

Dong Fen - My Favourite!!! When you
start to eat, you will eat and
eat and eat until you are full.

Fried Chicken with and Mix Vegetables. I like the Fried Chicken

New Menu This Year -->Meat on Mushroom
with Yam steamed under mushroom...Nice!!!

As usual, Fish,Prawns and also

one of the best --->
Pork belly soup with
black pepper + Yu Piao

Also, Lycee drinks and beers.









The next thing is firecrackers:: When i was in my primary school time, CNY is the most looking forward events ---lots of firecrackers...it was so much fun during that days....we can play for 1 hour. With stricter laws nowadays, that means less fire power. But we still have 20 feet long cracker this year courtesy of my cousin.....

After that, Bai Tian Gong--usually Hokkiens will do the prayers on 9th day..but i think because all of us are here on the 1st day, so my grandpa will do the prayers on the 1st day. Some amount of food is involved.

Nowadays, a lot of us will be doing friends gathering during CNY as many of us will be back to hometown to celebrate. This year, my family meet up with my dad's friend family. 13 years we havent met and it is always good to meet them back.





Although CNY is changing..but one thing that stays the same is the chance to gather around, to meet up and to celebrate the bond that we have with relatives,families and friends. Looking forward to next year CNY....Cheers!!!