Sunshine in the Pathway

In or Out

2010-09-04T21:05:00.002+08:00

It's as simple as ABC - in fact it's simpler (compared to 3 choices of alphabets, you only have two choices - in / out).

Yet it's so hard to make the decision.
In - go into it and do it wholeheartedly without thinking much of the other alternative pathway to runaway. Just Do It, as nike says. No matter how hard it is, all you need to do is to resolve all the obstables which hinder you move forward. In, in, go inside and reach the top!
Out - Be decisive and say "no". Quit it when you think the situation is not right. Just turn it OFF. Or SMASH it. Out, it's another wisdom - not to mean give up, but find something else new, start afresh.

Most of the time, we are trapped in between - in or out. In the end, we reserve our energy, feeling , effort etc. This is a waste of time because we lost. As if a zombie, days pass but when asked: what have you done? the standard answer: i don't know. Some rather fool themselves, I am patiently waiting for something to happen. Well, waiting and waiting. Repeating day after day routine. In the end, you forget what you are waiting and even the opportunity comes, you miss it.

How sad! And seriously, i am trapped..

Growing personality

2010-09-01T21:39:00.002+08:00

People do change with time flies, don't they?

I have seen a photo by contrasting both a kid and an old man - the innocent laugh of the child and the serious face of the wrinkled face. The more you grow, the more things carried upon your shoulder, forcing the creation of wrinkles. People at our age, especially those who has stepped into the working industry, who can always show the most real and innocent face to everybody?? Has you been in the midst of anger surrounding, but still curving your lips into the lovely "smile" shape which expresses courtesy and politeness. Has you been cursing somebody (normally the superior) deep inside the heart but the actual words coming out from the mouth were compliment and exciting exclaimation? How true! How real! We are taught to be polite (especially asians), hardly say no and showing the real self in front of others. It's just so "kurang ajar". For people who has been under education (ajaran), what we should behave is behave yourself!

Sometimes, a lot of the times, I really feel i wanna find my tantrums and throw it to those I was angry with. But my guilt and regret and seft pitiness are always greater than my anger. So I end up in self-blaming and in consequences lowering self-esteem. What's my value? Why I keep doing the stupid idiot mistake? Am I really the dummy?

Well, I really hope I could be more relaxed and put my nerve into the standard mode.

Resumed

2010-08-15T14:36:00.003+08:00

It has been a while since I stop posting anything on blog. No doubt there is phobia for being more careful this time, which the words could kill (any relationship).

Some updates of myself noticeable: growing, with more stable mentality and quieter personality.

I sincerely wish this growth will continue and reach a certain level where by I could say I am independent and well-rounded.

Cheers.

Touch the World

2010-05-15T20:50:00.002+08:00

It's going to be tough...but i am determined. That's my dream all the while and now i am going to realize it - the solo journey.

Slinging a light luggage, with a diary and camera...off i go to explore. It's going to my adventure, my memory.

quiz of the day

2010-04-26T07:51:00.004+08:00

What is it behind a in front of a woman but behind of a cow?

The answer is .......................

W

"W" oman
co "W"

I've got it right.
Have you?

Quiz of the Day

2010-04-25T07:54:00.003+08:00

What is the difference between the lady in the church and the lady in the bathroom?
The answer is:

Woman in the church: the soul full of hope
Woman in the bathroom: the hole full of soap

Sorry, it's just a crap joke.

A Woman's World

2010-04-21T12:04:00.002+08:00

Was spending my whole off-day in the library, poking my nose into a small simple book entitled: A Woman's World.

It's a book about the solo travels of women, their stories and experiences, very motivating and intriguing.

It's true to say that there is much difference between the creatures from Mars and Venus. From the book, i agree that a woman's journey is varied from a man's even thought some routes taken. Women are more to relationship and empathy to some little things around them. While men are more to maps, directions, picture snapping etc. Yet, generally, it takes more courage for a woman to step on a solo journey as women often to be viewed as vulnerable and needed protection.

Come on, we are not weak. We can be strong and enjoy our freedom as much as we wish to. But first and foremost, to step on own foot, you need to know carry your own baggage and weight. It's a meaningful quote from the book. Not only mean that you must be physically capable to carry your luggage on your own, you must be mentally able to carry the responsibility and risk following you.

Instead, women can enjoy a lot of privilege. That is true. But many of the times, a principle must be there so that we are not being drifted by the different cultures and trends when traveling.

Well, come out from your comfort zones and venture out!

i'm sorry

2010-04-15T10:26:00.002+08:00

i am sorry, i am still the same me. you said you wanted to train me to be the firmer person. again, my tears were still dropping. i couldn't control the shedding of it.

i am sorry. i am still too soft, too straight.

the more i hold it back, the more the tears shed. i cried, not because i was being bullied or being shouted at. i cried because of hating the weak me! i should stand straight with the firm voice, fighting back, but not like a timid snail, hiding inside its shell and self pitying.

the solf voice of comforting, "don't cry! take it easy!" made it worse. who says i am crying? yet the tears drop? do you think i really want to cry? like a crying baby? i am not! i never was and never am!

is crying making you addicted? the more you cry, the harder you stop it!

well, it's really true. heaps of laughter and cry make up my days...it's my life here, full of ups and downs...it's part and parcel, to make me stronger!

Daylight Saving Ends

2010-04-04T11:12:00.002+08:00

Happy Easter!
Today, 4th April, not only is the Easter Sunday, but it the day when daylight saving ends.

New Zealand is one of the funniest country which changes the time every year! Today, the time is going back one hour. Which means, we were all the while 5 hours ahead of Malaysian time since last September, today onwards, it would be only 4 hours ahead.

The ending of daylight saving also symbolizes the ending of summer. The length of day time is getting shorter. Winter is approaching...in two months time.

One thing interesting here is the weather. Unpredictable weather, just like my mood, swings easily. Sunny morning, windy evening. You could get sun-burned and chilling cold in the same day.

Anyway, 2 more months, i am going to say goodbye to this lovely city and back to my all-time summer beloved Malaysia! I have learnt appreciating the sun-shine.

Cheers!

Pimples

2010-03-04T03:54:00.002+08:00

Nowadays, the little dots have been hostilely invading my face! They would like to colonize it, won't they?

People says, in this nice weather in New Zealand, you would be able to keep a clean face by getting rid of those annoying acne and some skin problem! I agreeD to it when I first arrived here. But lately, this is totally different story!

Probably it is due to stress? I believe it as nowadays I would just suddenly woke up from nightmare and still depressed over the workloads every time I woke up. Probably it is due to improper diet? I believe it as I always take spicy and strong flavor food to enhance my appetite. Probably it is due to improper skin management? Probably, probably, probably...

Gosh! It brings me so much trauma each time I looked at the mirror...

It's time to really take a serious step in controlling my diet, no more curry! no more fried food...
(or try to minimize, if can't really cut off totally)

And the most important thing, relax! Be happy! Be cheerful! There is NOTHING to stress about!

Smile and laugh, as it is the music to your soul! Cheers!!

No Crown

2010-03-01T14:47:00.003+08:00

Once upon a time, there were two princess living in a castle. Princess Samantha and Princess Diana always played and studied together. The two intelligent princess were following the king and the queen to learn a lot of things, from cooking in the kitchen to hunting in the jungle.

One day, the king told the two princess, it's time for both of you to leave the castle and learn to be independent. With lots of blessings, Princess Samantha and Princess Diana left the comfort zone and moved into the unknown...

Without any direction, but with no fear, both princess played and enjoyed their journey all the while. Until, they reached another castle where people were differently dressed up and behaved. Both curious and innocent princess were amazed by the new environment. With the intention of learning something new, Princess Samantha and Princess Diana decided to stay at that castle.

In the castle, men and women were treated equally and a lot of romances were happening here and there. Princess Diana was fiercely courted by the mighty knight of the castle. Here come the love story. Both of them were having sweet time with each other. However, the knight forgot all the training and Princess Diana forgot about the initial intention to move to this castle, which is to learn as much as possible so to contribute to her own kingdom. Love is blind.

One day, a war happened in the castle where the both princess currently stayed. The enemy invaded and took all the valuable things away. People insides the castle were starving. A lot of people were starving and suffering. Seeing the poor condition, the knight and Princess Diana left the castle, there was no future to stay there any longer. Poor Princess Samantha looked at the worse situation, feeling sad...People were leaving one after one, she was getting more and more lonely...Yet, she did not forget about her first intention. She wanted to hang on...to do whatever she could to help.

The war stopped. But the damaged has been done and the re-build was taking time. A lot of people were helping in the re-building process. Some great builders from another kingdom volunteered to help out. At least, Princess Samantha was not alone.

Time's up. Princess Samantha bid goodbye to the beautiful re-built kingdom and back to her own castle. Her hands were rough, her skin was tanned, but she was still the cheerful jolly Princess Samantha. The king and queen gave her a tight welcoming hug! Both King and Queen were so sad seeing their lovely daughter's rough hand and rugged hair yet so proud of her. They passed her the crown and putting it on her cut-short hair.

Princess Samantha politely rejected, "No crown, we work as a team!"

This should be the way, everybody, no matter who you are, should pour in your efforts, togetherness, equality, co-operation. Glory is meant to be shared!

Wellington Sunday Market

2010-02-28T10:47:00.004+08:00

It's Sunday again! It's time to go pasar!
You know, due to the cheap price, there are a lot of people get their weekly groceries there! You can find the cheap heaps of fruits and vegetables! The stalls are mostly run by the Chinese and Maori community.

I like there, just like every Sunday i went to pasar with my mum! But this pasar is much bigger! I like to see the big basket of apples, apricots, peaches, bananas, plums, strawberries, nectarines, mangoes, tomatoes etc. My god, i love fruits! It's like a paradise of fruits!
See, apple season is on! 5kg of apples, a big sacks, only costs you 4 bucks!

It's a lovely morning to shop at this Sunday market (although it's really heavy to carry all the stuffs alone) !

Cheers!

Too Many Chiefs But Too Little Indians

2010-02-26T11:59:00.003+08:00

You know, I was told this morning, Too Many Chiefs But Too Little Indians. This is the problems happened here. See, so many persons with different authorities, with different sayings. Remember a saying goes as Work As A Team, definitely not like this! With so many chiefs, the direction is not fixed. With different benefits wanted, the implementation of ideas is varies.

Look at it properly, the Indians are only asking to earn a living. Once the problem is solved, then nothing to worry. However, too few Indians, yet the chiefs are arguing with different stands and opinions. The Indians are confused, who to follow? What to follow?

In the end, blood is still thicker than water. After turning a big circle, it comes to the central point which was the beginning. After so much happened, now back to the old story, old system.

How I miss my carefree laugh...When will it be ended? Or it starts to circle again...then back to the starting point...round and round and round...never ending...

Big Apple? Rotten Apple?

2010-02-25T11:44:00.002+08:00

There's come a big apple, everybody is trying so hard to get near to it. From far, it is nice to see, looked so delicious.

Sooner or later, people who get near to it discover there is something fishy about the apple, something wrong with it. Some says, it's rotten! Throw it away!

Some still blinded by it's external beauty, claiming that, no! It's still okay!

By keeping the rotten apple, other good apples infected, to a certain extent. At first, there is a crowd to approach the apples, now no more, because the news of rotten apple has spread.

No matter how unbearable, rotten apple should be thrown away.

It does not mean that rotten apple is not good, it is good in somewhere else, not certainly not for fruit consumption purpose...

Well, at last, it is thrown.

It's time for the other apples to start re-organizing and get a fresh start!

Stay or Leave

2010-02-24T08:32:00.002+08:00

This is the most frequent questions poured on me lately. Anyway, I have made up my mind, I am leaving this beautiful city in the first week of June.

Great people are met here, I am fortunate. I have been learning a lot, yet a long journey to go. This is my learning place, regardless how tiring, I told myself, "Hey! Hang on! Do your best in everything!" Yeah, I don't want any regret, that's y i put 100% effort in everything i did.

Some thought I am such a stupid idiot for working so hard yet getting so little paid. Hey, the rewards i got cannot be judged by merely look at my bank book! I must say, the experience and people I met are my greatest gift! I really appreciate it! You know, I am always so happy and enjoy to work in this kind of restaurant. Bringing the joy to the customers, and watching them so satisfied with everything gives me a lot of satisfaction. Although it's stressful to think of promotion to increase the daily sales, yet the joy when seeing the sales are getting picked up was indescribable. I love the challenge, although it sucks out my energy. I don't really mind, as long as I could see my effort paid off. As I say, I would like to see how far I could go and I will definitely put my 100% effort in whatever I am doing right now.

There are a lot of unbearables to leave here, I am sure I will. Yet, I miss my family and friends in Malaysia. They are so sweet and so caring towards me. I love you guys! My love towards them will always bring me back...no matter how far I go.

Anyway, this is only the starting point...I have a long way to go! Keep it up!

Cheers!

New Room

2010-02-24T02:19:00.003+08:00

It has been a while since my arrival in Wellington.

In the past few weeks, i have been moving a lot, nomad life. From one place to another, traveling by bus and walking around. Yet it made me more familiar with this town. I like to keep moving, static to one place is definitely not a choice for me!

Finally I have settled down. Found my little room with the least rent, but equiped with all i want (internet accessment, kitchen, bed, tv etc). The tenants in this appartment including ppl from all over the world, chile, brazil, bangladesh, china, itali, french and so on. However, they are really nice and friendly. But i can hardly spend time in my room, since i spent almost all my time in working!

A lot of people would be wondering, what the hell you are doing lately? why i am like suddenly disappear from everyone? In fact, in the past few weeks, I have been experiencing the most hectic life in my life. A lot of new things to learn and to catch up. I appreciated the opportunity given and I am not afraid to try everything. Every task given, I would never say no until I try my best but fail. Because of this principle, yes, I learnt a lot.

Though the life is hectic and sometimes unbearable, but I am always the lucky one. Assistance is always there, no matter how hard it is. I have no fear in facing anything, I know I will be okay at last. But I truly grateful for everyone here. It is whom made me growing. Heaps of tears and laughs, which recorded my memory here.

I should say, this is an exciting and interesting place, with different stories to be told everyday, like a never ending drama series.

Planning to update my news here more often...I will see how it goes...But for time being I really do not have any clue where and how to start with...

Hangi and Prince William Visit

2010-01-19T04:46:00.002+08:00

We learnt all kinds of methods of cooking, such as boiling, stir frying, deep frying, steaming, brewing, baking...Today i leanrn something new: Hangi!

A hangi (pronounced 'hungee') is a traditional New Zealand Maori method of cooking food using heated rocks buried in a pit oven that dates back to pre-European times.

Hangi, which means 'supply of life', are normally dug by Maori ira tane (men) as the Maori Wahine (women) aren't allowed to take part in the preparation.

To 'lay a hangi' involves digging a pit in the ground, heating stones in the pit with a large fire, placing baskets of food on top of the stones, and covering everything with earth for several hours before uncovering the hangi.

Nowadays a hangi is most likely to be prepared using modern materials.

Today is the Prince William second day visit in New Zealand. I wanted to go out to get a glimpse of the dashing royal, but forgot about this idea when lots of things turn up to think and settle...It was such a welcoming for this Prince Charming! All the news are circulating about his daily activities. Of course, William could not miss the hangi food!

New Year Eve

2010-01-02T09:49:00.003+08:00

First time in my life, my new year is without my family around.

1st of January, it is my dear youngest sister's birthday. This year, I have nothing for you, dear. This year, I did not deliver the birthday song for you with my sweetest voice.

In the click of the midnight, I was still in the restaurant. In the dim light, wiping some cutleries. All the youngsters' cheers for new year are audible. We have some chips, as dinner. Toasting, greeting each other a happy new year.

On the way back home, there are a lot of merry ppl with bottles in hands, walking either in group or couples. Everyone of them, once passing by, greeting you a happy new year, some even come over to give u a hug! That's the scene in my place.

Reaching home, i was totally beat up, too exhausted. Turned to sleep after a quick bath. Goodbye 2009.

8700 kcal

2009-12-30T11:55:00.002+08:00

You know what...averagely malaysian diet is 2000kcal per day and i used to take care of my calories intake to a certain extent.

However, when i looked at the packaging of some energy bar in NZ, the average daily intake is 8700kcal! OMG! You know, ppl here are generally bigger in size compared to the petite Asians. I believe it is much related to the diet (cheese, cream, mayonnaise, alcohol, toast, chips, butter etc).

I was told not to engulf too much NZ foods to maintain my body ( i really hope i could resist the great temptation of my favorite bakeries). Anyway, i have finance restriction, so luckily i could not just buy whatever i would like to eat! lol!

Happy new year!
Cheers!

Camping

2009-12-29T05:38:00.003+08:00

It's a pretty long holidays - 4 days long.

Christmas, i thought it would be a noisy, happening celebration in Wellington. Yet, everything just turned to be opposite! Each and every shop in Wellington city is closed and guess what, the patrons on the streets were mostly Asians, or we call it as "foreigners" here! Well, well, well, only took a simple brunch at starbucks (as this is the only shop opened), then went back home...spent the rest of my christmas hours with my lappie, and some christmas songs.

Everything turned good when dear diana and lan came back from their holidays in south island! with all the pictures, brochures and stories...we chatted until the wee hours. Then it was about all the visits to some Malaysian settlers in Wellington.

It was so amazing when Affendy brought up the idea of camping in the Kaitoke Regional Park. It's the coolest stuffs i have ever seen! Built the tents, cooked in the wilderness, bathed in the icing cold river, swam in the brook, played games around the bon fire with the icing temperature, talked with the smoke coming out from mouth in the jungle, went hiking in the jungle...the most exciting was: i went to RIVENDELL! Can you imagine i have stepped my foot in the magical spot! My gosh! There was no regret!

Besides the breathtaking scenery (but i was told i only saw the tip of the iceberg), there are a lot of animals could be seen! Chasing rabbits, ducks, and even possum! Too bad I did not have a glimpse on the possum, it was chased away before I said I want to see it!!!

Anyway, it was cool!

Thank you, fendy, diana, and lan!
It was a memorable Christmas camping experience!

Boxing Day

2009-12-26T15:04:00.002+08:00

It's a public holiday in New Zealand on 26 December - Boxing Day.

During this day, most shops are having price slashing crazy sales! Today, it is the start of after-christmas bargain!

What did i buy? I was in Harvey Norman this morning, grab a nice lavender laptop bag with a crazy price - NZ$15 (actual price was NZ$79.90)! I love it! Really I love it!

Then, hanged around in the mall. It made me think of the year end sales in Mid Valley. Then, having some snacks and chattings and tv show in friend's house. That's my christmas, dear.

camouflage

2009-12-24T04:38:00.003+08:00

So the drama is going to an end, as it seems. i can finally breathe easier yet i am not really sure when exactly the full stop has to be put!

Anyway, i am good. after all of these, i think i really learnt something.

Nobody is indispensable. This is the golden sentence which i must always bear in mind. Always be humble when socialize with anyone, it's just too important. Never show off how good you are (in fact you are not as good as you thought you are). If ALL OUT at once, in this real world, who knows, you are the prey which could be easily get on!

All i see now is, this is a place of all the preys and predators. Rule number one, keep certain things to yourself and do not ever involve in people's affairs if you are not confident in handling it.

Camouflaging...lower the profile if you want to survive.

Have faith

2009-12-20T11:46:00.002+08:00

Life could be as exciting as you want it to be...

But I am holding it. I still do not dare to free each and every gear of mine. Holding it, as I am not confident whether I would be losing control. To me, in this unfamiliar place, nobody is here to hold me back. That's why I am keeping everything, to a certain limit. Timid you might call it, but let it be. I don't want to take the risk. Take it slowly, steadily...

Please, have a little faith in me. I need it.

Bank Card

2009-12-15T04:37:00.000+08:00

I have opened a bank account here, under ANZ. The main reason is to avoid bringing too much cash with me.

The service in the bank is superb! Their friendliness and helpfulness really comforted me! So, in the end, I got a card which is similar to cash card in Singapore.

What amazed me was: I can design my own card! Now the card is just a plain blue card with ANZ symbol. What I can do is to choose any picture, then send it to them online. After one week, they will mail the new card to me.
Fantastic huh?

So, now, i am selecting the picture...and perhaps, anyone wanna edit one for me?

cold weather in summer

2009-12-11T10:08:00.002+08:00

today let's talk about the weather.

now it is summer in wellington. however, to me, every morning and night, the wind is so chilling i was feeling to be blown away! it's good to wear a jacket and perhaps, something warm. it's common for ladies here wearing boots and leggings and bubble socks! yesterday i was passing by a shop (nothing more than $20), meaning all goods sold are within $20. It's a bundle shop and most of the clothes, bags, shoes, jackets etc are second handed. perhaps, get a pair of boots there.

thursday, friday and saturday nights are the most happening hours here. ppl are going to pub and clubbing! it's good to enjoy this kind of environment!

due to the cold weather (for me), my lips are dry and cracked. It is advisable to apply sort of lip balm and lotion here. however, when i go to shop for cosmetic products, suprisingly almost all the lotion has the tanning effect! gosh, i want the whitening effect lotion! it's none to be found in the pharmacy which i shop!!!

ok...will updated in the next blog! bye!

Arriving

2009-12-09T10:44:00.002+08:00

Upon arriving, the feeling was exciting and full of anticipation. There was a long distance which the plane was flying JUST above the sea. The sea looked so gelling when looking down from the plane as the speed of flying was way too fast compared to the movement of the waves. Have you ever seen the static wave? It was like a gel! Blueish gel!

After all of the amazement of the landscape of Wellington (hills, sea, houses...GREEN!), the airport was reached. There was a full check-up of my luggage in the custom, however, the officers there are so nice and very friendly!

Wandering around the airport, purchased a telephone card to call the person in-charged who was going to pick me up. And made calls to Malaysia to inform them about my safe arrival.

After one day of working, it was a familiar experience in this kind of work field. Furthermore, there are all the Malaysians here and not to mention, Malaysian foods! That is the cool stuff!

People here are amazingly nice and what I like the most: enjoy life! Despite all the hectic work schedules, they pay much attention to enjoy things in life, spice up the day!

Life is meant to be enjoyed! So, what are you waiting for?
Just do it! Create the enjoyment and simply love it!

Let it go

2009-11-06T01:23:00.002+08:00

I dunno how people take it.
This is certainly not the happily ever after ending which i've foreseen.
Some might say I deserve it.
Yes I deserve it.
Since things have been done, bear it, that's the words.
All gone wrong.
Explanation is redundant.
Bear it.
Time passed.
People tend to forget.
Let it go.
I mean it.

I can't

2009-10-23T21:55:00.003+08:00

I can't put my mind into the right thing.
I can't rest my eyes in what they supposed to look at.
I can't let my ears from turning the silence to the lowest.
I can't stop thinking.

I just, can't.

Words of Mouth

2009-10-23T19:10:00.004+08:00

What is the mega production of our course? I could only say: gossips!

Gossip girls? Is it trendy to be a part of it? You know, there are lots of fear and disgust to this kind of behavior, though in the surface, people laugh and keep talking...Faked!

I fed up of my course. Part of it because of the overwhelmed gossips and rumors. I stood aside, try to be the outsider. Once a while, eavesdropped sth, all I felt was...(shaking head).

Why? If you really involve yourselves in this environment, it is suffocating, I assure you. Some says, we are the devil. All of us are the demons! To a certain extent, I agree. In the hell, you need skill to survive.

Some collapsed. Word, with an 's' becomes SWORD. The blade bleeds you. One cut, two cut...freshly cut open your vein. Consciously, seeing the blood oozes out, suffering the pain.

I am not as holy or silent as some might think. I also have my own detest. I will voice out when the time comes. Just, to minimize the chaos which already frustrated a lot of people, I chose to stand aside.

Already, there are many victims, whom I saw, crying, sighing. Many are disappointed. Many are running. Many are just saying, there is no belongingness AT ALL.

Indeed. In the meantime hearing gossip of XYZ, you do not know when things about yours become the topic next time, from the mouth of others. In the meantime expressing some kind of feelings, you do not know what comments would be given or what you expressed has been twisted to another story...

I'm leaving the hell. Yet unbearable, kind of, still a bit lingering. The group of demons, i will still remember them. Demons could be cute and sincere, perhaps, they just do not know how to reduce the harm to others. As long as you know how to protect yourself, they are still angel-like.

Thank you. This place has armoured me.

Deepavali 09

2009-10-20T14:25:00.008+08:00

It was Deepavali, a well known celebration among our Indian friends. However, there is still a less known community, Chitty (some call them as Chetti, but according to locals, it sounds like money loaner...), they are also celebrating this festival joyously!

The Chitty are a distinctive group of Tamil people found mainly in Malacca, who are also known as the Indian Peranakans. Historical records stated that the Tamil traders from Panai in Tamil Nadu settled down in Malacca during the sovereignty of the Sultanate of Malacca. Like the Peranakans, they later freely intermingled with the local Malays and Chinese settlers. So this is their house, with Indian's colorful paintings with Chinese lantern.

Praying for both Hindu God / Goddess as well as Guan Yin! Unique!

Like the Peranakans, the Chitty speak a Malay patois, which is mixed with many Tamil loan words. Many of the Chitty are unable to communicate in Tamil fluently. The Chitty population is around 2000 and the traditional Chitty settlement is located at Kampung Tujuh along Jalan Gajah Barang, Melaka.

So, here we went. We have visited 3 chitty's open house. Their hospitality really amazed us.

I was allowed to try making Roti Jala and Thosai...nice experience!
Mr. Rajan, the chinese+chitty generation, generously provided us tonnes of information about chitty cultures (recipes, wedding ceremony, costumes...)

Happy Deepavali!

Voyage Guesthouse

2009-10-19T14:15:00.004+08:00

Voyage Guesthouse, a place shall always in my heart...

Dimly lighted, with books (mostly left by other backpackers) and fumes of nostalgia and romance in the air...With the soothing voice of Yika, laying back and relaxing...

In the guesthouse, it's all about meeting different kinds of people...experiencing things from passionate people from all over the world...

Simple bedroom, yet coziness remains...

I will certainly miss here.

Final Event: Chinese Emperor

2009-10-16T19:38:00.004+08:00

Finally it came to our last event with the theme of Chinese Emperor.

This time, I was in charged in decoration, together with YM. I like this theme, to be frank. This time, I was really interested in searching the design books and materials in order to transform the meeting room into a fine dining hall. Running here rushing there, finding materials and of course, not to forget to grab every opportunity to take a snap!

From climbing the stairs to hang the lantern to carrying the chairs, I was really spending all my energy out! I was weary. Yet at the night, still have to wear the sweetest smile and clad in the delicate cheongsam to be the server. Luckily the ambience and costum turned my exhaustion away during that night. Enjoyed it, instead.

High 5 Tour

2009-10-10T17:31:00.003+08:00

I thought it was just another stupid trip like other factory's visit, bored. Yet it turned out fun! I dunno why, perhaps it's just really a STUPID trip, like a kindergarten's trip! Really I tell you, the tour in High 5 is not really designed for tertiary students who study food...

But, I was like entering a time tunnel, like a small kid, wondering around. The 45 minutes tour was like the amazing trip when I was visiting the science centre in Singapore. Full of colours and attractive design, youthful, cheerful!!

According to history, bread was first created by Egytian. Hence, the tour was designed with the ancient Egypt theme. We love it!

HIGH 5! Wandering around...like small kid! Really enjoy it!

Special thanks to LG!

Commitment Phobe

2009-10-09T20:53:00.004+08:00

Just had my dinner with friends. A question arose, pointing to our Malay friends, "Would you prefer to give birth of a baby boy rather than a baby girl?" To them, they don't really mind the gender of the baby, in fact they prefer girl because girl brings more joys to the family!

Well, then one of us claimed she is not going to give birth, as it is rated as the most painful experience in a woman's life. Then is she going to adopt child? No no, she said she is not going to be involved in any serious relationship.

I was aghast yet agreed to her point. She pointed out, in a relationship, you need to pour in commitment. A relationship is a matter of both, some more, both family. As an adult, there is a thing which comes bigger an bigger, called "responsibility".

Well, I really think she got the point. It is sweet to be with a lover hand in hand during shopping. But it slows down your pace and you need to consider about his feeling if he is not interested in what you are looking for. And, sacrifices are made, due to a lot of compromising situation.

Those especially freedom lover, are you a commitment phobe? Take a look at the following questions:
Are you concerned about the idea of forever?
Do you fear you could make a mistake in who you choose?
Do you fear a loss of your freedom/autonomy?
Are you afraid of a bad marriage- like your parents for instance
Do you fear you would be a bad mate?

I am afraid my answers are yes for most of the questions. So, conclusion? easy, I am a commitment phobe.

Freedom, cheers!

Nostalgia of Campus Life (Food Study)

2009-10-02T05:56:00.020+08:00

Finally, I am in the count-down period of my campus life.

Looking through the photos in the folder - campus life. Indeed, there are bunch of memories. It's fate to let all of us met, guys, cherish it. Do I? Yes I do.

Sometimes, I'd complain, about my boredom in campus, about my lacking of interest in the studies...But according to my friends, "You are the one who complained the most but enjoyed the most!" Try to ponder to it, was I? Am I? Flashing back, it was wonderful.

So much nostalgia...all the way since I stepped into the gate of UPM...

Some random group picturesStill remember it? we WERE CCC14! 14 Superstar!

Remember those times, we danced a lot. lol!

At Kluang, before departing to Tioman Island

08 Chinese New Year picture at Serumpun Cafe

Boey's Birthday at Secret Recipe

Wonderful time at look-out point.

Mountain Climbing with coursemates 08

Kuantan Trip with the most friendly host, Sentien

Food Fair (Seed Power) 08

Birthday Celebratio for Gy, Chan and LG, 08

Dear coursemate Joanne's Wedding Dinner

KLIA Visit

Chinese New Year Reunion Dinner 09

Celebration of PeiNee's birthday and group gathering with dear CV

Coursenight 09

Culinary Competition 09

Japanese Chusooku 09

Course trip to Cameron Highland, 09

I only have limited photos and gatherings with coursemates, yet it was still a beautiful memory...

Mid-Autumn Festival Dinner

2009-10-01T06:23:00.017+08:00

Mid-Autumn Festival Dinner with dear coursemates.

It's more to a friends gathering rather than an eating out. The excitement fumed around...in the end, we were turned into the Jay-Customer, disturbing other people. It's totally a havoc in the restaurant.
Ordinary foods, with extraordinary people around...
Almost each and everyone of us roamed around, with the flashing of spot-light and heavenly know laughter...Imagine, we brought the youngest cheers in the Moon Palace!

From left: Shuwen, Susan and me...Miss you, seowching...i wish no matter how time flies, how the colours of photo fades, our frienship is the one remains.

Broga Hill

2009-09-28T18:28:00.007+08:00

Crack of Dawn. Started climbing at 5.10am, reaching the peak in the dark, with fume of anxiety and expectation to see the sun rise.

We could be very tiny, no matter how big we think of ourselves.

Nature teaches me how to laugh, how to appreciate the simplest joy.

unwell

2009-09-28T11:28:00.003+08:00

Another sleepless and worried morning. Awaken in the early morning of 3.39am, there was a sound keep swirling inside my mind: It's time or too late! I know, it's time to pick up my studies, after few weeks of playing around and not paying attention in the REAL academic study. What worse, it was not a nice waking up alarm, instead the tense and unwell feeling made me feel extremely guilty to go back to sleep.

However, switching on the light, sitting up, facing the computer, feeling there are lots to be done. I was lost. What to do? Where should I start? I was fidgeting around and on the table, restless. Opening books one by one, flipping the pages...But, what did I find? Where shall my eyes rest? I was MINDLESS.

I need a lullaby, to sleep me. Or another book (no textbook, of course!), to have a casual reading, to divert my focus of worriness.

Where is the compass, to show me my direction?

Friendship

2009-09-24T21:11:00.000+08:00

Back to sweet home on Monday night. After rocking to and fro in the noisiest, oldest type of bus, all the way from Kluang to Batu Pahat, stopped at each and every bus-stop, finally we reached our dearest hometown.

It's very enjoyable to have friends chatting in the journey home. We shared the talks of foods most missed, places most visited, things most done, schools which we studied etc. It was definitely not a pleasant ride, yet,no complaint, only jokes and fun!

Welcomed by family once reaching, going for a late dinner (9pm is definitely a very late time to have meal in our family). Then, after taking a buffalo bath (quick shower), off to have the 1st gathering session with friends.

Like to have friends around. We have never-ending jokes and topics, until we really cannot stand the drowsiness (more precisely, it was ME who was the only one going to wander in the lullaby in the early morning, 2-3am).

Two consecutive nights of 'morning gathering', which means until around 3am...I'm proud to say I was still able to keep myself awake during that hour. Nevertheless I hate myself always getting up at 7am no matter what time I sleep! Lacking of sleep makes me dizzy. I was having a hard time to control my temper though during the day time. Is there any syndrome of 'DTD-Day Time Depression'?

Anyway, I do really cherish every moment to have gathering with friends. They are my treasure in life. I could not predict what will happen whenever all of us going in the work field, would some of us change?

If I am allowed to make a wish now, I would say: friendship forever!

環保展后之感想

2009-09-18T18:03:00.002+08:00

最後一個學期了，我告訴自己，跟著感覺走，想做什麽就去做，以免日後回首，大學生活還留著遺憾。而我要尋找的，是心靈上的成長，是個人修養的提升。所以，當初就義不容辭的成爲環保展工作人員之一。

一直都很喜歡通過文字抒發情感，也酷愛用文字來以他人聯係。文字閒，往往帶出了人與人之間常忽略的情感，也揭發了常存心間的感動。因爲愛文字，所以成爲了文宣組的一員；因爲相信文字，所以希望成爲賦予文字生命力的其中一員，讓文字縈繞著大家，把人與人的心串起來。

環保展今年之主題—與地球共生息，宗旨無非希望更多人愛惜地球。畢竟，全球暖化與接連不斷的天災已將地球上一部分的居民陷入水深火熱之中，安逸生活中的你我，將心比心，何以不獻出一份心一份力？在籌備環保展期間，幹部們的盡心盡力真得很令人動容，同時也很慚愧無法貢獻什麽。因爲接觸了環保訊息，了解到地球真的是生病了。七月一次的文宣組開會，組長修美懇請出席者不再使用保利龍飯盒來打包。雖然之前我都有盡量避免使用保利龍，但還是偶爾會用上。值得一提的是，自從這次開會的發願之後，我到目前還真的完全沒有用保利龍來打包。如果真的是忘了帶飯盒出門，就賣麵包或其他東西來果腹，總之就是不用就對了。雖然只是短短的兩個月之久，但還是引以爲榮，希望自己可以一直持續這個堅持下去。

因爲了解到環保不是一兩天的環保展或幾個月的籌備期間才應該做的事，環保是一世人的工作，是一生的努力，爲了不讓自己對環保的熱情冷卻下來，我毅然放棄了之前想要在新加坡或家鄉做實習的打算，轉而申請一個積極投入環保工作的有機店食品公司。希望將來的我，在一群人的陪伴下，仍能很驕傲的拍拍胸口說：“我是環保的一分子”。同時，更希望能帶動和教育更多的人關於環保的訊息，讓大家都能成爲“愛地球達人”！

DaPao-ing

2009-09-17T04:56:00.003+08:00

I have participated in few activities before, lunch normally will be provided. However, this time it's different!

See, all the food are nicely packed in a lunch box which is non-disposable.
I wish this practice can be spread to as many society / association / body / club as possible.

Let's be a part in saving our environment!

Hamburger or Earth?

2009-09-17T04:30:00.003+08:00

Listen, this is very important, before everyone of us has adopted the sinful diet pattern.

Guys, before entering KFC or McD or want to have a so-called value meal, stop and please think twice. Please be aware that:

Eating one hamburger is 55 square feet of rainforest, which also means the end of half ton of trees, seedlings, seeds, insects, birds, reptiles, mammals, fungi and microorganisims.

Perhaps some will protest, life is to enjoy! We live to eat (instead of eat to live)! If limit here limit there, where is the joy? Eating habit can be changed, although it sounds hard to avoid meat to most people, but will it kill? Answer is a definitely no...I m not asking everybody to refuse meat AT ALL, just REDUCE the consumption of meat. Maybe, one week once or twice? Ok?

Imagine, 5.5kg of grains only can produce one pound (454kg) of meat which only sufficient for ONE meal. However, same 5.5kg of grains could produce 5.5kg of breads which can feed 18 meals!

Just for your information, everyday, 40000 children died of hunger in third world countries. Ironically, more and more city dwellers fork out a big quantity of money in slimming!

We can make a difference at every single meal, simply by leaving the animals off our plate. Don't end up consuming the food that is meant for our future generations!

Dearie Weekend

2009-09-15T19:00:00.001+08:00

The past weekend was just Great!

Able to see old friend, and meet new friends. SH, all the way coming from Batu Pahat, just to have a cup of bubble tea with me in the Times Square. Then, we met up with her campus friends who stayed at KL currently. It was a joyous and happy moment to see them after my last visit in Terengganu almost one year back.

Having dinner at Room Eighteen, Times Square.

It was a sudden idea to have Bak Kut Teh as breakfast at Klang in the Sunday morning. Although lack of sleep, the urge to enjoy lovely BKT made us dashing to Klang from Serdang in the early morning. Having brunch in the Sunday morning was another happiness. Able to see a lot of family, sitting in a round table, having breakfast and drinking Chinese tea for quite some long time (compared to a normal meal). I like this kind of ambience. Like staying with my dear parents in my hometown. Sunday was definitely a family day!

I was always quite worried about my questionnaires. Since SH was accompanying me, I decided to 'make fully use' of her. lol! We went to Sunway Pyramid to distribute the questionnaire. Surprisingly, we managed to conquer our shyness and able to collect 36 sets of questionnaires! Clap Clap Clap!

In fact, distributing questionnaire in shopping mall made me discover few things. Almost 80% of people sitting on the bench / stool was MALE. Pity our dearie male friends, they are always the ones sufferings whenever girls are shopping! Next, don't judge the book by its cover. We might be deceived by a person's outlook. Once you have approached him/her, it's another story from what you expected!

Finally I have found "My Honeymoon" Dessert House! It was the place where my room has its poster, I have searched for it for menu items...in short, to have dessert in this outlet was my dream. Haha! My dream realized! Satisfied!

Signature item: durian pancake

Cheers.

Movies

2009-09-15T18:59:00.001+08:00

Record breaking, 3 visits of cinema box in a week!

I am a movie lover, yet normally I will visit cinema only with the casting of blockbusters. But this time, with the faith that I only left almost 1 month of campus life, I sweared to live as a university student, enjoy as a kl/selangor dweller!

Final Destination, Up, and Where Got Ghost were the 3 which I watched. With different people, different theme, different venue, different feeling.

Final Destination. Disgusting, freaky death was successfully staying me away from Spaghetti Bolognese. It was totally sick to see people dying one after one.

Up. Nice funny animation which I like to watch. But perhaps I have a very high expectation towards this movie, somehow it did disappoint me. Anyway, it was still a movie which you could be inspired. I like the part when Mr. Fredickson threw away all the belongings in the house which he used to cherished so much. Life is like this, all you need to do is letting go...Some says, one an empty bottle can be filled. So, casting away the past, looking forward is something which I would say, being inspired.

Last but not least, Where Got Ghost? It's another Jack Neo's movie. I watched his shows since I learn to say "Dad" and "Mum". I like the way they talk, so familiar. I couldn't remember how many times I laughed, until people sitting next to me also could not stand my lost of control! It was really hilarious! But it did bring some message, like never take shortcut, it does need you to pay the price! And...the great love of mother, touching part.

Great amusement. I was entertained.

Cafe-ing Ambience

2009-09-10T20:15:00.004+08:00

I love to have one or two friends, sitting down, in a nice aroma, cosy ambience...have a small chat, for few hours.

I had once, in the McD though, no bragging, only long talk. Holding the hot brewed coffee/tea, in the chilling morning, with the sore tiring body. As if it was the best shelter, from anything.

Then, other times, I love to order hot drink, instead of cold. It provides me the feeling of warm, warming down from my throat, to my heart.

Despite my allergy to caffein and unwell stomach, still I crave for a cup of hot coffee/tea when I feel lost. I would say, it is comforting, for my soul.

Collecting cups, as I wish to capture the most beautiful and warm-hearted memory...

Final Destination

2009-09-10T19:40:00.002+08:00

Vaguely remember few years back, I have made a vow not to watch this kind of movie again. Yet, in order to spice up my boring life, I decided to give it a try.

Well, it turned not very bad...(but bad enough to make me feel pain and freaky all over my body). I have been told, not to be too serious, it's just a movie. And perhaps can view it from another side. Since everybody is dying (who says no?), why not living everyday to the fullest?

Recently, due to the tiring event3 (I would say this was the most tiring event so far), I tend to blame others for not really helping. Organizing an event is a teamwork, obviously. I was touched to see some Muslim friends still carrying things and trying to make fun in the midst of carrying tables, chairs ETC. I was amazed. So, I never really dare to complaint much that I did a lot (although I really feel backpain and strained muscle esp of shoulder and thighs).

Forget and forgive. Holding grudge is really hurt to oneself, health especially. So, laugh it off. It is another brand new day, everybody is just so nice!

Everyone is moving towards final destition respectively, why not be more forgiving? Since we all are fated to know each other, just spread the love seeds around, at least, try to.

Nonsense

2009-09-10T08:44:00.001+08:00

Speechless, Mindless, Wordless...

P/S: the most nonsense written

I wanna be...(part 2)

2009-09-07T07:34:00.003+08:00

Got a few feedbacks from the previous post. Some even suggests me to take my second degree in the field which I wantED to pursue.

Well, this is not impossible. But, the critical period for me now is choosing a suitable place to do my practical. Firstly, regconize my interest and strong point. What do I like? I admit I demand a lot in the life! I do not want my life to be let go like this. I believe I always have a choice. Who knows, I like my job then found my value there? This is of course the happily-ever-after episode. But things could not be run as what you expected too. Be ready of the consequences.

If there is a 2nd chance...I believe all of us will make wiser decision, do things seriously. Every little single thing happens in life everyday, in fact, prepares you. A little move today, who knows resulting in BIG. So, do not underestimate what you have gone through, try to figure out what is the learning point of everything and relate it to your future.

I know I am kind of gibbering here, but just trying to clear my mind...
In short, keep learning passionately! And....never feel embarassing to ask, ask for what you want! If you never ask, you will never get it. Luck is something for the people who is prepared.

I wanna be...

2009-09-05T19:38:00.003+08:00

Boys and girls, today you have a write up an essay entitled "Who I Want To Be in the Future?"

Familiar title huh? I believe everyone of us has written this kind of essay, in every language we learnt. It always starts as "Everyone has dream/ambition, so as I"; "人人都有理想，我也不例外"; "Setiap orang mempunyai cita-cita, termasuklah saya". Pondering it, is it true?

Yes, we used to yell as loud as possible about our great dream when we were small. Then, the volume of the yelling gets lower and lower as days pass. Finally in the very stage to start a career, we whisper: DID we have a dream?

Instead, I will suggest we asked ourselves, "Do I remember my dream?"

In this very moment, we have to choose a place for our industrial training. After 6 months of that internship, then we shall bid goodbye to textbook and exam and assignment and the truancy games. Flashing back...

UPSR results released.
"I wanna be a doctor. Everyone says doctor is great. I wanna be someone great."

PMR results released.
"I wanna be a great professor, with a big spectacles and lots of encyclopedias held in hands."

SPM results released.
"I wanna be a pharmacist. I love playing around with chemistry formula and it looks dashing with the white lab-coat!"

STPM results released.
"I wanna be a nutritionist. Still I can wear my dream white coat and consult people."

In university, results releasing means nothing much to me. It's just an evaluation of how much you manage to memorize in the last night of exam day. Who do you wanna be? Nobody cares to ask me this question. In front of the mirror, I try to ask this question in a careful way. I see the same image as years back, but I can't read her mind.

Meander. It's what in the cloud around her head. Perhaps, it is a way to run away from facing the shattering of all the so-called ambition. Perhaps, it is a way to find another true self. Perhaps, it is where she was meant to be.

Well, every field is fertile enough to grow. Just stride, finally there would be a greener pasture.

Fire Me!

2009-09-05T07:15:00.002+08:00

Recently, there is a word to describe myself: m.e.s.s.

M=moody
E=emotional
S=slavish
S=sickening

In order to bring myself together, I try to run. Yes, R.U.N.

R=restructuring
U=upbeat
N=narcissist

Sounds funny? I know. Just doing some word-building (people nowadays are so fond of abbreviation), for self-entertainment. In fact, I really went for running. Instead of put it as run, I prefer to say it is jogging. I really need to find the old-dear-self back. The one who is active, never-afraid-of-anything, confident and full of ideas. So, I try to work on the activities which I used to do days back...Imagine, I danced, swam, jogged, played......It hard to believe I have abandoned all these stuffs after one or two years!

So, come on! Seek the old and bring new elements in life! I am really bored of the life nowadays! I need FIRE, bring me to life!

A Thousand Splendid Suns

2009-09-04T15:13:00.003+08:00

It was a book bought in India. In India, book stalls are everywhere, and you can easily spot which are the books people are reading nowadays.

I bought it, A Thousand Splendid Suns, with the author who was unknown to me, Khaled Hosseini. All I know was it was a best-selling novel with touching plots. I believe every book is worth to read and there are things to be learnt from. So, without thinking much, the book became one of my collection.

Two months passed. Finally, I have finished reading it. It was not a very pleasant process in reading it, I frowned most of the time. Yet, it's totally worth it! Take a peep at the social life of Afghanistan, you would be amazed by the system which is so intolerating!

Laila, a smart and independent girl, borned in a open-minded family. Education and freedom of going out with friends were her fortune in the young age. However, the war has destroyed everything. Her family, friends, and life! The pregnant woman, with a savage and misogynist husband, the life is still has to be carried on, for the sake of the child.

I cannot imagine how to endure everything of the women living in that kind of circumstances, in the harsh reign of Taliban. They need to cover their faces and every parts of body in black, in burqa. They stumble, they cried at home, they scream in silence. Men are in-charged of everything. The virtues of women are no more than listen, follow and keep bearing. Bear with all the beatings, all the discrimination and unfairness. Women are treated as slaves.

In the novel, there are few chapters talking about the women taking decision. They tried to run away, they tried to protest, they tried to kill...Desperation, it is the drive for human beings to do something unexpected.

I don't know what I suppose to feel, should be glad I am a Malaysian? Should be glad I am not obliged to anyone? So am I supposed to be enjoying the freedom to do whatever I want?

To many, people like us are fortunate. Many are telling us we have unlimited opportunities, as long as we dare to dream. So what? I suddenly feel, eventhough, we are bound to too many things, too many things need to be considered.

Anyway, as nike says, just do it. Whatever you want, go!

Tourist Attraction in BP

2009-09-02T07:50:00.007+08:00

Where to go if you are coming to the old little town, Batu Pahat?

Few days ago, I will still say, "Nothing la, just find some places to eat lo!"

Until the day, my aunt family was coming down from JB. They insisted to go a place whereby people can touch the fish there. I was curious. How come that place can be that attractive?One of its attraction: near the sea.

Once arriving, I was shocked! So many tourist buses! I was having a chat with the 'tourists' there. Most of them are aunties, booking a bus and coming to this HOLY temple, trying to touch the fish reared in a pond. According to them, if you manage to touch the fish from head to tail, then you will be lucky!

It's funny to see the people, try their very best...in order to sayang the fish!
All the best!!

On Departing

2009-08-31T15:27:00.003+08:00

厌倦了
欣赏沿路风景，
只希望
能走入内层，
窥探并参与其盛。
这
也是一种奢望?？

隐形的翅膀，
我没有。
隐形的存在，
历历在目。

避风港，
还原了我的形态；
又将离开，
走入残酷的茫茫

Fed up of
wandering and peeping along the border
Wish to
enter the core
Taking a real look and
becoming part of it
Isn't it only a wishful thought?

Invisible wings are not with me;
Invisible cloak clings on me.
Get away, I shout...
The cloak is still a cloak,
It says
I am always protecting you
from hurt.

H.O.M.E
returns me my contour
only for temporarily

Departing, again
I see the sneering haze
Marching towards me
Blinding me...

Same Issue Every Year

2009-08-27T08:35:00.000+08:00

So much food, so much waste

ALONG THE WATCHTOWER
By M. VEERA PANDIYAN

There is no real shortage of food in terms of global production but too much of it goes down the drain due to greed and disregard for others.

AS the month of Ramadan enters its first week, I’m thankful for the number of invitations to attend buka puasa dinners with my Muslim colleagues.

The hosts of many of these breaking-of-fast functions are companies run by non-Muslims, reflecting the real Malaysian sense of sharing that transcends religion and race.

The lavish array of mouth-watering food at Ramadan bazaars and hotel buffet spreads are indeed astounding.

But many Muslims, like my good friend Zulkefli Abdul Talib, feel that such abundance is ironic during the holy month when abating one’s appetite should be the right focus.

Ramadan, after all, is not merely about abstaining from food and drink from sunrise till sunset.

It’s more about limiting indulgences and thinking about the unfortunate people who have to struggle for their daily meals.

As he put it, the sanctity of the month is being clouded by the propensity for ostentation and overspending.

“Even when one goes to the nearby bazaar to buy food to buka puasa, the tendency is to buy a lot more than can be eaten. We usually end up with too much, when what is needed to break fast are dates, a drink, some kuih and a square meal,” he said.

But overeating during Ramadan is not something that is peculiar to Malaysians. The Gulf Times, Qatar’s top English newspaper, said in a recent editorial that the rise of food wastage during a month meant for dietary restraints rather than gluttony is a problem faced by all communities. It said the desire to be one-up over others leads to huge amounts food prepared and eaten in small gatherings.

Against such a scenario, perhaps it is pertinent to take note that there are still Malaysians who are on the verge of starvation, and also to reflect on the shocking number of people who die from hunger elsewhere in the world.

Last week, The Star reported that people in Sarawak’s Kapit Division are facing acute food shortage, an obvious consequence of wanton destruction of forests through logging and creation of new oil palm plantations.

The remote Lusong Laku Penan settlement and surrounding hamlets, which can only be reached via timber tracks after more than 10 hours of driving, face shortages of basic foods and clean drinking water. There are some 3,000 people in the area, with young children being the hardest hit by hunger and malnutrition.

Concerned Malaysians, including those touched by lawyer Haris Ibrahim’s blog posting titled: “How many anak Bangsa Malaysia must die before you are moved?” have donated generously, but much of the stockpiled provisions have yet to be sent through because of logistical problems.

A trip by a 10-wheeler lorry from Bintulu costs RM5,000, a three-tonne lorry RM1,500 while delivery by a 4WD-vehicle can cost up to RM700. Other than the satellite phones in clinics and schools, there are no other means of quick communications.

Besides the Penans and other indigenous groups from Sarawak and Sabah, pockets of poverty are still evident among Malays in the east coast.

But our problems are trifling compared with the appalling global statistics on hunger. The stark fact is that starvation kills one person every three seconds. To see the other shocking figures moving in real time, go to: http://www.stopthehunger.com/

Yes, hunger and malnutrition kill between nine million and 10 million people each year, about half of whom are children, while an estimated five billion suffer from protein deficiency and lack of essential vitamins and minerals.

But in terms of food production, there is no tangible shortage in the world.

On the contrary, too much food grown on land created from the destruction of natural eco-systems and a lot of it is being wasted.

Tristam Stuart, a historian and “freegan” (one who subsists largely on food discarded by others), highlights this paradox well in his thought-provoking book Waste: Uncovering the Global Food Scandal.

He says food is treated as a disposable commodity in the developed world, disconnected from the social and environmental impact of its production.

“By buying more food than we are going to eat, the industrialised world devours land and resources that could otherwise be used to feed the world’s poor.

“There are nearly a billion undernourished people in the world — but all of them could be fed with just a fraction of the food which rich countries currently throw away.”

In the United States, about 50% all food is wasted and in the UK, it is a third of it, weighing up to 20 million tonnes. He estimates that the Japanese dispose of food worth about RM357.7bil yearly.

How do we ourselves fare? There are no clear monetary estimates but some 20,000 tonnes of solid waste are currently generated in peninsular Malaysia alone and 45% of this is discarded food.

So, just how much food should be enough for each one of us to prevent others from starving?

Five years ago, when the world’s population was 6.3 billion and global food production was 4.035 billion tonnes of food (cereal, fruit, vegetable, meat and seafood combined) the Food and Agriculture Organisation reckoned that a mere 1.74kg of food per day was all it that was needed for each person to evenly share all food produced in the world.

That is certainly food for thought.

> Associate Editor M. Veera Pandiyan likes this quote by Benjamin Franklin: Mankind, since the improvement of cookery, eats twice as much as nature requires.

Forever Green Party

2009-08-24T17:00:00.006+08:00

It was supposingly a fun and warm gathering of secondary close friends. Yes it ended as it was! People change, but I still insist our friendship remains. All of us, no pretending anything, be the most natural self...Laughing...

Besides, the guilt for not having a lot of time accompanying my mum always fills my heart. With this opportunity, inviting friends to my house, I can see, my mum was happy. She IS happy to have them!

Yes, I am happy! I am fortunate, to have you gals...all the way in my life!

Restaurant Assignment

2009-08-22T13:31:00.008+08:00

Assignment, done in MidValley, done in a restaurant...unbelievable? That's it!

Eating out, evaluating, criticizing, that's our job!

Let's take a sip...Cafe Mocha

Firstly, soup / appetizer / small plate:Tomato Bruschetta

Mushroom Soup

Grilled Chicken

The Turk - Pizza with Lamb Toppings

Show time - main-course:

Fettucine MarinaraSaffron Risotto

OZ Meat Pie

Last but not least, the sweet ending:Soft-centre Chocolate Cake with Fresh Cream

Hazelnut Pear Pie with Vanilla Ice-cream

Hell

2009-08-19T20:34:00.003+08:00

Supposingly a peaceful day, no need to attend to kitchen...a normal day, a normal life (lecture, assignment, test, homework...), as a normal student.

Yet, restless sleep haunted me, restless dream: somebody intrudes my room, all my pen run out of ink...life was a mess, everything goes wrong.

In this so-called normal day, I lead an abnormal time arranging...I was so un-used to nobody to really talk to, so un-used to settle my own meal, so un-used to manage my time. When there is free time, I felt sleepy. Many saw me and commented I was in a terrible exhausted look nowadays.

Where is my drive? Where is my motivation?

I was falling...to the hell again.

Early Morning

2009-08-19T06:40:00.005+08:00

Getting used to waking up in the morning, before the sun up, enjoying the quiteness of the surrounding...then a brand new day begins...

Getting up early in the morning is something i insist in my life. Maybe affected by my mum, the most diligent woman in my point of view, she's never regarded getting up late is a good practice! Early rise is her daily move, as early as 4-5am...then off she goes to exercise. I am impressed!

Some people ask me, what do you do since you are getting up so early?

"Just do whatever you all do late in the night! And...I wanna catch a glimpse of the first ray of sun light of the day!"

Cheers.

Opening Hamper

2009-08-12T21:26:00.004+08:00

Finally we have a time to sit down and opened our hamper!!

Salt, pepper, condiments for various fried rice/noodles and instant mushroom soup are what we got! Anyway, happy getting them!Looking forward to back home sharing those gift with my family: cook for them!!

Kampung girls' power : Nasi Goreng KAMPUNG!!!

Japanese Chusooku

2009-08-12T19:41:00.005+08:00

When entering the beautifully decorated dining hall, the soothing japanese music was heard, the cute japanese dolls were seen on the wall...everything was just nice!

It was a mess at first, when customers (especially VIP starts coming)...as a coordinator between the kitchen and service, I was in totally craziness when we found out Set A and Set B were DIFFERENTLY stated for service and kitchen side!! So udon noodles was over made at first but the chicken teriyaki took a very long time to be served. Also, the appetizer - especially maki really need some time to make, it's not as easy as cawan mushi or miso soup which already done before hand...so, the sequence was a problem...

Anyway, everything was fine after a while...I was really happy! Happy that everything was finished serving in the end...Happy that all of us have a great time in preparing the food for our guests...Happy that all the efforts were paid off!

I really did not know why...I found myself happier than that day of competition! I really felt very glad, especially for our kitchen leader, YM and ST. I've witnessed how hard they have prepared all the things, trying a lot of recipe, finding books, purchasing ingredients, discussing about the dishes, cutleries...On the other hand, I believe service crew also endured a hardship in decorating the hall and preparing all the cutleries! I know...all of you really lack of sleep during the preparation...seeing the success, I really DO feel glad for you! Good Job!Although I was not in group of in-charging this event, I feel all of us are in a team...there is no group 1 or group 2 any more! All of us have our part to do, have our role to play, everyone was helping each other! I love the team spirit shown!

Congratulations!

Hours in Kitchen

2009-08-11T20:06:00.004+08:00

Working in the kitchen means long hours of standing and heavy loads of works.

Those few past days I was in the kitchen, for almost everyday. And the coming days, I believe, I would not be able to run away from this routine as well.

First, there is no sitting in the kitchen, definitely. Strictly to say, no eating (although curi makan during some free session is a normal scene to be seen). Clean as you go, meaning we have to wash all the time, wash everything we have used right away. Soaking hands in the soapy water is inevitable. Carrying the heavy equipments (all sizes of pot, chinawares...) is never limited as the MALE'S WORK, since the male in OUR kitchen is so rare! Then, hurt/cut/injury is quite common happening in the kitchen. From small cut from the knife, burnt, or even fall on the floor. Kitchen is never labled as a safe place to play around...

Yet, playing around in the kitchen is what we did and do. We do seriously in performing our task. But people working in the kitchen used to be lively, vibrant, happy-go-lucky type. So, not only among our coursemates, even the staffs in the kitchen, altogether, joked, laughed...You can see people laughing while washing the plates, humming songs while cleaning the drain, showing expression of high happiness in testing the food...blah blah blah...

Belongingness is developed within me in the kitchen. I am not feeling cleaning the kitchen is a torturing task anymore. It is tough, I do not deny it. But I regard the kitchen as our studying place, like our house, we are obligated to keep it spick and span. Futhermore, after all have done the work, together, you can always taste the sweetness of co-operation! Helping each other, giving a hand...It's all essential in our future lives, isn't it?

Pictures taken on the Culinary Competition 09

2009-08-10T10:47:00.006+08:00

Judges of the day,from left: Chef Muluk, Chef Johari and Miss Cindy Chan

Appetizer: Seafood

Soup: Chicken

Main Course : Fish

Dessert: Asian

Bits on the Culinary Day

2009-08-10T07:47:00.004+08:00

So, that's the day...Practiced for 2 FULL days continuously.

Glanced at the clock in the kitchen, once a while...1.20am, 1.45am...back at room, it was 2am...kept on thinking the advices from chef, kept on remembering every step, kept on reminding things to do on THAT day. Doing menu card, printing...searching nutritional info of the dishes...lying on the bed, my mind was occupied with the scenes in the kitchen, stewing the soup, plating the dishes...run here run there, getting equipments...restless...

Hardly opened my eyes when alarm rang, when the clock strike 6.15am. Finally the day has come. Come on...you have a mission to complete, I told myself...

I was trying to relax. Yes I did and I was. All the effort, for today.

I was never comfortable when people watch over me while I was cooking. During the cooking time, I just focused what I was supposed to do. I did not take any notice of what happened around (the other groups, the shooting, the patroling judges...)

Cooking is not my strong point, but when it comes to presentation, then I would be comfortable on it. In the promotion on the dishes, I felt calm and proud of our dishes presented and felt wanna share with everyone on the floor.

Kampung Girls. That's comment from the judges on us. LOL! Anyhow, compliments were given on the dishes and our presentation. Thank you everyone for the support! Especially our dear Chef Kadir and all the coursemates (including Dr. Boo) !!!

Here we go, kampung girls with Chef Kadir!

A Competition for Learning

2009-08-09T14:28:00.006+08:00

I did learnt a lot:

Cooking skill...it was a skill that I've never really paid attention in studying...so really suffering during the training. I have no confidence in my skill AT ALL. Even my hands kept shaking whenever people watching me! I told Chef at about 2am, before the competion: I am scared. I don't have any confidence! Chef Kadir knew my limit, gave me things to remember and encouraged us. Thank you so much!

The competition has injected some passion of cooking to me. At least I will be more careful, more mindful and interested in studying the recipe. I could see thing in a quite different view from the past. I know I have so much to learn, but I would try my best. I know I can do something. Chef Johari commented: Do not have to be the Number 1, but be DIFFERENT! Confidence, is something I really lack of in cooking. I should be more trusting and be more courageos to try out, as i try the other things!

A lot of appreciations. Chef Kadir, needless to say, without him, I could never imagine how horrible the situation would be like. And our course-mates (including Dr.Boo, she was just like one of us!), helped us during the mis-en place (I finally realized how importance mis-en place is, I thought it was nonsence in the first class of Dr Mohhidin)...Their support, both mentally and physically, really touched me! I would never forget how they cheered when the MC annouced the champion!

At least, mission accomplished. At least, I have done something. At least, I did not let them down.

Appetizer, picture taken during practice..Vietnamese Black Fungus Rice Paper Roll with Plum Sauce Served with Saffron Cucumber Pickle and Pamelo Salad on Beetroot

Green Tea Mint Consomme Served with Four-Colors Crystal Dumpling

Steamed Cod Fish with Asian Ginger Sauce Served with Sweet Potato, Sauted Mushroom and Asparagus

Soymilk Konnyaku with Mango Cubes Served with Mango Puree and Yogurt

Take Care of Your Health

2009-08-07T11:59:00.001+08:00

Came back from Food Fair 09. Thanks Shuwen for inviting me going with her, or else I don't think I would be going.

The stalls, as heard, only a few. But I could see the professionalism from it. Passing every stall, from nutritional products to favourite fast foods. There are students promoting eagerly, assisting the supplier. The enthusiasm shown (at least in the one hour when I was there) was encouraging!

Few stall really occupied with knowledgable employer to give us good explaination of their products. I admit learning something from it, esp from the Miss Yakult. Lol!

Few thoughts arised after visiting. My health really worrries me. The getting frequent gastric problem really put me into pain nowadays. I have made a promise: avoid strong flavored food, try to find myself the 'healthy' food to eat. But lately, I was always working in the kitchen. The timing of eating was a mess! I really gotta take good care of it. Then, keep myself from worrying too much. Too much pressure would make the matter worse.

I know that...I know that...It's all about applying what I know.

A night of escape

2009-08-07T07:40:00.006+08:00

Another night of relax, after the whole day of mess!

Helped out in the kitchen, finding, carrying, arranging the chinawares. But it was fun as our leader, Ida was showing her professionalism in leading. I worked comfortably with the whole service team. Since we have agreed to be one of team, no matter how heavy the plates, we are willing to carry. However, I feel very sorry for Ida...due to the preparation of competition, I have to lack out from some work...leaving the whole team heavier work load to finish, in a situation where they already short of manpower...so sorry about that.

Then, my whole mind was occupied with the competition. The recipe, the ingredients, the method, the schedule of practicing, the theme, the way to present...people say, if you want to get rid of your worries, do something! Take action! So......

Purchasing, here we go! One major step in order to get what we want for the dish!

Jusco was a magical place! Although we have been in the whole day class and mindful of things, once entering it, we feel fresh and cheerful! Is it because of the air-con? The shopping people there? The variety of colorful products? I still couldn't figure out WHY! 3 of us were so enjoying the shopping! We argued, joked, searched, shouted, complaint...Gosh, 3 women indeed can form a pasar!!三條水

Over all, we have done over hundred ringgit shopping. I couldn't describe how satisfied and how joyful I was when I saw all this in the trolley! (something wrong in my mind...not my belongings anyway...)

I guess everyone loves to shop, loves to use money to exchange THINGS back. Just due to the constraint of finance, we tend to limit ourselves, not buying this not buying that...

A night of escape, I would say...Thanks YM and ST!

Lucky One

2009-08-04T17:44:00.000+08:00

Newspaper has published an interview of a couple of Bolllywood fans. Worth to mention, the duo are HongKong-nese! In their wedding, they even opened the Indian music and performed a jaw-dropping Bollywood ceremony in front of all the Chinese attendants! They are crazy about India, very obviously. They decided to have their honeymoon to the place where they have loved so much - India. Then.....

"Did you have fun in India?" Friends were asking when they were back after two weeks.
"India is a place for you to feel, certainly not FUN! There were noisy, dirty, polluted, messy, crowded, congestion...You will surely cherish everything here once you have been there!" It was their reply.

Exactly what I feel!

People like to ask me: "Have fun?" I was always being left in a state of speechless, awkward. "Erm...It's not really fun, but it was a good experience!" It was the most preferable reply I would give. Imagine, I did not really explore India like adventurous Kat, she just rode motorbike from Kolkata to Darjeeling. Or like ShuWen did when she was in Beijing, traveling around besides the staying state. Or like Adele eating the whole Taiwan delicacies and enjoy the beautiful scenery there.

What I have done in my traineeship? What I was quite proud were the Kolkatans. They were so nice, despite of the hostile environment. They showed the enthusiasm in lives. They sang, they danced, they read, they write, they spoke, they shouted. I was happy there, it is true. Although I did not have the FUN which you guys expect, but it was certainly an eye-opening holidays.

I must feel glad and cherish as being an undergraduate although my result was not over 90%, staying in a concrete-built house instead of mud, sitting on a mosaic cover floor instead of cement, clean and smell-less water to drink everyday, air-conditioned cars to travel around, comfortable bed to sleep, personal working/studying place, variety of food choices for breakfast lunch and dinner, got the loan of ptptn so that for temporarily I can spend on what I want for a certain extent of course.

What I have mentioned above is more on material. I should be satisfied. I should always remind myself how rich I am, how fortunate I am. As one chinese saying goes, 快樂不是你擁有的多，而是計較的少。Indeed, happiness is not judged by how much you have owned. Being contented. Get as much as possible to feed your soul, not your stomach.

Keep reminded...I am the lucky one!

A Day of Relax

2009-07-30T01:08:00.002+08:00

Today was my first day of the advanced holidays. I did not go back home immediately as usual since the announcement of mid-semester break. It was too sudden, too abrupt to leave everything and go back home to RELAX! There are various stuffs which we need to do in the coming few weeks. Besides assignments which could be done individually, we still need a lot of practical training in the lab (kitchen) and group discussion.

I was pretty much enjoying to spend my day, though there were things to do, yet forget about deadline. Just do it slowly, with no pressure, with my own limit...I went for the karaoke with ST, shopping for the ingredients (we shopped for the graduation gift as well), and show time in the kitchen! Thanks YM for willing to let us use her kitchen at home. It was a party time instead of training. 3 of us, the totally un-professional and completely in-disciplined apprentice, with no one supervising, made a mess in the kitchen! Party time = food and fun!

At least we have come out our finalized menu with recipe. I have been staying up until about 2am, which was very unusual! Why? My stomach just too heavy to let me to sleep, stuffed with LOTS of food!!! LOL!

A Night to Remember

2009-07-29T00:01:00.006+08:00

Have been staying at my room for almost the whole DAY! I have rejected the job offer, I decided not to work for time being. Be focus, as a food service student!
10 of us...fourth year food study female student.

The night was our annual course night. It was a function which we could dress up and enjoy a ballroom dinner. There were 13 of our batch attending it. It was...fun! It was indeed a relaxation for me after a whole day of worrying. I am glad I am still able to laugh, to be amused, to enjoy.
In fact, I miss those years as the newbies in UPM. During that time, everything was so new to me, I was so interested in trying almost everything. Active, it is the word which I can use to describe the first year me, without any shame. I knew a lot of friends from various activities. Then, as time passed, I became more and more reserved. I try to restrict my involvement in activity besides from studying.

She is Shi Lei, same name with me, first year food study student. Seeing the first year junior, their "freshness" really inspired me a lot...flashing back...Where is my enthusiasm gone? Where is my passion hiding?

It was a great turning point for me, as I shifted from an active person into an individualistic student. I have forgotten since when, I tend to have meal alone, go back home alone, attend classed alone. I love to be described as Miss Invisible. Some of the time, I enjoy hiding beneath the invisible cloak, observing others. Yet I really do miss those years where by I was so cheerful with bunch of friends giggling around. Therefore, I cherish every moment whenever I am with my friends, be it only sitting down and gossiping about something unimportant.

Is it a process of growing up? The process teaches me to accomodate myself to be lonely, forces me to be independent. Some says, only when you are alone, then you could learn more. I'm not sure how true is the theory, but I'm trying. Trying to be independent.

Anyway, thanks a lot! The night was a memory, for everyone of us.

Dine out

2009-07-24T22:44:00.005+08:00

Japanese food is always one of my favourites. It is even enjoyable if having few friends to dine in the restaurant!

Eating and chatting...I love it. It's time to really think of my life, it couldn't be let go without any planning...

First Try

2009-07-24T22:10:00.006+08:00

Today was another fruitful day with a lot of tryings.

Has been a long time haven't been going for outing with friends. Today, under the name of purchasing the ingredients for the competition, I've had the opportunity to go out with dear teammates!

I'm not going to say what we bought or done was successful. It was failed trying in fact. Yet I was happy. I've learnt more than that!

Previously somebody told me, we can simply learn from ANYBODY. Indeed everyone has specialty which is so unique and worth to learn from.

1. Our group leader ST. She was troubled with personal problems as well as the heavy task in this semester. Yet she was still so cool and be mindful especially in purchasing. She would make sure everything we purchased was really the ingredients we would be using. You know, girls will lose kind of mind/sense during shopping. In this time, she would remind us about the budget and again repeated the recipe we chose.

2. FS, I would call him as one of our advisor. As he was going to give some opinions on their event foods, I was listening and learning. He really knew a lot of things (or perhaps I am too ignorant about EVERYTHING...) To him, I have nothing to say but SALUTE!

3. Last but not least, my motivator, Ms Miao! All of us know she was undergoing an operation last semester break due to an accident. She is facing difficulty in walking, crippling in fact. What really impressed me was she has never given up. The white flag would never be shown on her side!! As her name, she was so determined. I seldom heard any complaints from her. She knew her limit but she was never afraid to try! She is always the happy and helpful "shui" (fellow) among us!

ME? I am not sure what is my role among them. But, I'm really glad I have such a great teammates. The result is not a real matter to us. What is the most important is, we must try our hardest to learn, and enjoy the process!

One more thing: I should have thanked dear PN, JL and MH. Thanks for their testing and opinions! Appreciate them!

Where is the saver of money?

2009-07-23T10:19:00.004+08:00

People around me sure sick of my sigh, "I have never felt as poor as now!"

A savvy like me, why reaching such a tragic stage? Isn't ptptn will be banking in around RM2000 to my account this semester? Yes, it did. Then?

1. the installment of my insurans already used up 1/3 of it.

2. my payment of the orthodontics

3. the fees, fees, and fees...(RM 50, 60, 100...)

Some might say, you deserve it. Why never consider carefully before you agree for a long term "debt"?

Debt = Investment?

Some cheer me up, " Never mind, you can always earn back!"

Earn back? How to do it in short term?

I always feel ashamed to get money from parents since they are not financially well-to-do. When I go back home, dad or mum will bring me to somewhere to eat, to enjoy. But I don't really dare to request much...I wanted to cook something special or bring them to somewhere unique, but all due to lack of $$, I gave up those ideas.

Experience needs money to realize. People will say, you can be poor financially but cannot poor in mind! How to rich the mind? Money is one of the criteria to achieve it.

Anyway, I m trying not to worry so much about it. Money can always earn back! cheers!

Classroom Decoration Competition

2009-07-20T16:44:00.006+08:00

Back to Batu Pahat, as my sis's school, Chinese High School was having its open day for the Classroom Decoration Competition.

I m always amazed by the ability and talent of the students there. Even now...

This two are the wall painting of my sis's classroom. Their theme is ILLUSION VS REALITY. Nice Theme...as the wall of the reality breaks, comes the beautiful illusion...I love it. Frankly, I m proud of her!

This is the wall painting of the famous celebrity, be it politician (very obviously, Barack Obama), scientist (Stephen Hawkings), athletes etc...

This two are among my favorites. The classroom was decorated as the old time pub...Cowboys...See the gun? It was hand-made also...

Look carefully...This is one of the oldest street in Batu Pahat Town. It brings so much memory...so real, so old...

In the open area...Various of sculptures and structures are made. The Station of Happiness. I like the cute dear train...

Audio Jungle...

Wall E?

This one...humankind is struggling in the intruding matrix world...though it's not that delicate, but the theme, attracted me!

There are even more nice paintings and sculptures. Too bad my camera was running out of battery...Anyway, I was really amazed, once again. I like the culture of the school. The students are exposed to more, other than academy...I can always feel the vibrancy of them in the school...It's indeed a cool place in nurturing the future generation!!!

The Moment

2009-07-18T11:34:00.006+08:00

I love this song, very much, since many many years ago...the moment, from Stephenie Sun.

這一刻回頭看見自己
這一路的風景百感交集的我
下一刻又將飛到哪裡
漸漸疲憊的羽翼為你披上了勇氣
放心離開我我會記得這一刻
那些還飛翔著不可思議的夢
雨後的天空會有絢爛的彩虹
像最初相信著我們終會找到自由
這一刻時間變成行李
越過生命悲喜陪伴著我前進
因為你讓我看清自己
面對未知的恐懼
腳步更加堅定
放心離開我我會記得這一刻
那些還飛翔著不可思議的夢
雨後的天空會有絢爛的彩虹
像最初相信著我會找到自由
哦……只是遠行不是逃避
告別是為延續回憶永恆的華麗
你……要照顧自己
不要忘記那些燦爛過的痕跡
放心離開我我會記得這一刻
那些還飛翔著不可思議的夢

Because of you, i know deeper about myself
No stumbles in facing the challenges ahead
But stalking, sauntering, soaring with courage, confidence
All by myself
It's a long journey...it's not a runaway
Bidding goodbye
It's all about preserving the eternity of our beautiful memory

Take care.

Where is the Justice?

2009-07-13T20:59:00.002+08:00

I was so SHOCKED! At first when I received the news she met accident, I thought of normal falling down from motorbike and minor external injury...After I called her...

My ex-roommate, just having lunch with her two days ago, have had a 2 hours long chat, updated with each other's recent life. Who knows...accident can happen anytime!

She was hit and fell down unconsciously...when she regained her consciousness, already in the Emergency Department. As a result, some fractures detected in the skull and some damage on the teeth alignment. I was told she was losing a large quantity of blood due to the injury from head to toes...OMG!

What more...she was robbed! Everything valuable, her money and handphone was gone!

I feel extremely sorry and sad for her, really! Why there are people like this? Robbing a girl who was seriously injured in an accident! WHERE IS THE JUSTICE?

I'm truly disappointed with the safety here! Anytime, something would happen. Phobia rises...I am truly scared now.

A part-timer

2009-07-12T21:50:00.000+08:00

After two days of working, now it's time back to my lovely warm room to enjoy my FREE time.
There are few benefits to work:

1. Prevent getting bored (staying alone at the hostel leads to self-destructive thinking, believe me!)

2. Meet old friends (supermarket is always a place for people to hang around during weekends, bumped into my dear old roommate, what a surprise!)

3. Meet new friends (other promoters, employees are targets to talk to while working..make friend with customers? who say it is impossible!)

4. Free testing of different products UNSTOPPABLY (when manager is not supervising, it's time for us to sneak around to curi curi makan!)

5. Get to know the current cheapest price of different products (for the thrifty me, of course i want to check which product is with the best bargain!)

6. Money! Money! (this is the MAIN reason i go to work basically...the situation is: I m broke!! I really need to raise the fund for my next trip...)

The most frequent questions people asked me:
Oh, you are doing orthodontics! How much is it? How long will it take? Is it painful?

In fact my teeth can often be the topic to chat about! LOL!

7th Semester

2009-07-09T11:44:00.002+08:00

Learning is a life long process. I have never denied it. Yet as we growing older, we tend to think we have became experienced and tend to deny the opinion of the so-called green horn's idea.

This semester, if merely look at the time-table, people must be claiming: you guys are so F..RR..EE..! Indeed, we only have to attend a full Tuesday and few hours on Wednesday and Thursday. What we are taking this semester? If merely look at the subject description, again, people must be claiming again: you guys have so much fun!

Is it true? Does the credit hour stated really states the time we need to fork out to study? Does the subject description really states the effort we need to put? NO! NO! NO!

It is true that planning an event and running a cafe are very interesting. But whenever come to group work, meaning that requires a lot of discussion and planning. I admit I do not acquire any of the skill in doing those. I am relieved to be a follower, to do whatever according to the instruction given. It is a brand new experience to me to stay quiet in discussion, stay out from giving opinion. I keep telling myself, this is the time to LEARN, to LISTEN, to FOLLOW.

But I am not happy with that. I still cannot fit in myself in the new environment (sort of), new people (kind of). It was a chocking feeling whenever the words were not coming from your mouth. It was suffocating whenever the discussion was on but you are aside from it.

I am not blaming anyone. I just want to try a new way of learning. I know my limit, my strength. These are certainly not the field which I am expertise in. Better, I remain invisible (to the others). But, I am learning. I will keep myself up, improving, to reach you guys level. Be a good follower is always the must process in order to become a leader.

Just keep an alert mind. Do not stay out from anything. Keep involving, learning.

Chicken a-la-Carte

2009-07-09T09:03:00.002+08:00

Recently receiving a forward email from my sis, a link to the winner in the Berlin Short Film: Chicken a-la-Carte.

Watch it...I believe some of us would be ashamed of ourselves...

After watching it, my desire to join the social work grows stronger. I could hardly bring myself into my course especially in this semester, planning event, planning a lot of food. I believe, food should be just enough to provide us energy. Those buffet and exclusive type of meals really are a waste. But what to do? In this world, the rich often enjoy out of the pain of the poor...

Please, anyone, click the link below:
http://www.cultureunplugged.com/play/+1081/Chicken-+a-la-Carte

Where was I during the past 2 months? Check it out!

2009-07-08T00:04:00.002+08:00

Adulthood = Freedom? Responsibiltiy?

2009-07-07T15:05:00.002+08:00

My ex-boss in India, Mr.Amitave poured me with one question once: 'Do you consider yourself as an adult?'

After few seconds of hesitation, my answer was 'Yes'.

During my stay in India, since I was the eldest in the house. Most of the time, I need to take care of the house, from cleanliness to waking up housemate. I was as if the 'mummy' of the house. The responsibility was somehow annoying. "Why it was always me?" This kind of questions sometimes drove me crazy.

From the above case, perhaps I have to admit, I am not yet an adult.

As grown ups, the responsibility of adult power can feel like the ticking bomb. Some of us do not want to hold onto it too long for the fear of what might happen. It has the familiar ring of childhood security, as we sink back into dependence upon strong adults to take care of us. This is often what we secretly wish we could go back to.

For instance, in the journey to Thailand few days ago, with my dad. Everything was being taken care. I did not have to worry what time to wake up, plan where to go, what time to meet and how much was the best bargain. Everything was arranged without my worries. It was a luxurious trip, to me.
Yet, the satisfaction was certainly greater in India comparatively. We were told not to be too hurry to grow up but to enjoy the childhood instead. However, what is there to enjoy about always being told you cannot do something, having your judgement being second guessed. As a result, we don't just learn not to chase the ball into the street, but the go-get-it impulse we had as we saw the ball go into the street. In other words, we lose our curiosity and urge to pursue something which we want. This is the sad story of people who could not or don't want to leave their childhood.

As a young adult, I tend to be indecisive and tentative. Most of the time, I look for my parents blessing instead of approval for a certain decision. I need them to side with my responsibility and independence. Fortunely, my parents are aware, I am an adult (legally). They respect my decision, only thing is I have to bear with any consequence. I enjoy the freedom, to a certain extent. Yet, sometimes I really wish to give up this power because I was afraid, I was scared to bear any bad outcome.

The time has come, for me to strive a balance between freedom and responsility.

Rest in Peace

2009-07-01T13:48:00.002+08:00

I didn't get to contact him that often, even though in the end of his life.

He used to be one of my closest coursemates. Playing badminton was our leisure activity to kill time. We used to be a team - the clown team (the team was constituted with few LAN-LEK members)... He was always the one bringing the joy and laughter to us.

As time passed, he became matured. He has never showed his weakness and pain in front of us (at least in my memory, he has not). He was always showing the strongest side even though deep in his heart, he was not.

In my memory, he is a sunny boy with the brightest smile, bringing all the sunshine and joy to people surrounding. He always is.

Rest in peace, Chean Voon. You remain in our memory, ever ever after.

Oh....the smell in Malaysia

2009-06-27T12:46:00.002+08:00

I missed the food in Malaysia.

It's the season of durian now...how could I miss it?

People said eating durian, the best way is squating while licking your fingers...yummy yummy!

I missed Festival DuanWu. However, Aunt still made some dumpling and gave some to us this morning...I love it!

I'm just loving it!

I am back

2009-06-27T10:15:00.002+08:00

Being back to the place where I have never been more familiar with...relieved...yet - sickness breakdown!

Having fever, diarrhoea...weakness was creeping all over my veins. I really need a rest.

Nice rest...though sick.

A Night of Fun

2009-06-19T18:13:00.002+08:00

Upset stomach

2009-06-18T12:42:00.001+08:00

1.26am - humid surrouding, sweating, drying throat, heart thumping unvoluntarily, suffocating...I really feel very hard to breath in this damp weather. Every inhalation brings the uncomfortable feeling of my stomach.

Honestly, I am not feeling well. In this early hour, I just taken a bath, with the fragrance of shampoo and lotion lingering around.

Another sleepless night. I thought of going out for a walk yet the main door for the flat was locked by the caretaker. I thought of sitting at the balcony to enjoy the breeze yet the mosquitoes were jealous to share the limited wind with me. I thought of calling somebody to chat yet everybody was asleep in this hour. What can I do? Luckily I have my loyal Dell, who is always there for me.

I have experienced a bad day previously, vomitting and dizziness. Now, I still have the funny feeling inside my stomach. Every thought of the food here fills me with nausea. I miss the mee soup in Malaysia. I miss my mum's bland yet delicious food.

People said, when you are sick, you miss home the most. Now I am experiencing it...I couldn't wait to go back HOME.

Good-bye Guruji

2009-06-17T00:56:00.002+08:00

Almost 2 months I was away from home, it's time to face the reality I am going home, not in my dream anymore.

Last Sunday I attended my last dancing class. I already picked up the whole folk song, Dhitang Dhitang. Nevertheless I still need a lot of practice on my own to polish my postures and movements, to make it perfect. I desperately love it. I told Guruji (Ms Nandini Sinha), every Sunday was the day I looked forward. I love to learn dancing from her. Her senior student, Kalyani, a graceful and beautiful dancer, always being there to guide me, with lots of love and patience. I enjoy the duet dancing with Kalyani, she always brought up the happiness and joy of the song!

In the end of my last session, we took pictures and video. It was such a moment which I always tried to avoid. I love them! I do not bear to say good-bye... Tears welling up in my eyes, I tried my hardest not to let it dropping.

Guruji has inpired me about the passion of dancing. There are so many possibilities out there...never give up what you love, fight for it!

Good-bye, dear Guruji and Kalyani! All the best!

As I walking out from the doorway, I could bear it no more...tears bursting out finally...out of gratefulness.

Dedicated to my beloved...

2009-06-15T18:21:00.001+08:00

I don't get to see him as frequent as others. Yet I know he is always there.

We had a puppy, named Bobby. Then it was hit by him, dead, accidently. I sobbed and cried. I was heart-broken. I did not talk, shutting myself to everyone else. I blamed him. I blamed his carelessness. But nothing I could do to unwind the situation. Until recently, he sms me about that incident, so many years has gone. In fact he was so sorry about it. He did not talk about it in those years. 15 years, he carried the guilt all the way by himself. Please, it's ok! Please do not feel sorry about it. I know it was an accident.

A big fight happened, more than one decades ago. He promised me, in the phone, "something is gonna be changed, but not our relationship. I will still call you, see you, as before, and ever, ever after." I was speachless, but the promise remains in my heart.

Sometimes I was mad at him, by not knowing what exactly happened to me in school. Everything was so hard to be explained, he was always out of the situation. But this out-of-the-situation behaviour made me feel comfortable when I wish to run away from my daily chaos. Just talk to him. Carefree. It was just casual and relax. Nothing to fake around, just be the most real ME!

Some people doubts his ability in bearing his responsibity. I do not. What I ask for is not merely the richness in physical materials. I am provided with those, to the basic level. I do not expect any fancy from him, although he would try his very best to satisfy if I make any request. I am deeply grateful. Something which really makes him so special to me is not the material things he bought me, provided me, it is the kinship he showers me all this long.

He updates himself with recent news which might get us interested with. He literates himself with the recent technological and digital stuffs. He goes online, msn, email. He is my most loyal blog follower. I counldn't be more proud of him!

Once a while, he sends me sms with heart-warming and encouraging words, keeps me going. Somehow, his protective manner did put me into some sort of quandary. He wish I could stay away from every risky (I would say, adventurous) trip / activity. I admit I am spontaneous, impulsive and keep things to myself most of the times. All I wish for is a little bit more trust and confidence on me. I know I have them, you do not know how appreciative I am.

Last month, I saw the worries and unwillingness in your eyes at the airport. Before all that, you were reluctant to let me go for this trip until you knew my determination. You knew there was no way to change my mind since I've had made up my mind, you raised the white flag. I am really sorry for being such a stubborn person to negotiate with. But thanks for your supportive manner after all. You gave me all I asked for. Although we are thousands miles apart, I don't feel alone.

Deep in my heart, I know, you are there for me, all the time.

I love you, pa! Happy Father's Day!

Chic Kut Teh in Kolkata

2009-06-15T16:05:00.003+08:00

Familiar smell...from the pressure cooker...

Smell of chic kut teh! Surprise!

Yes...I am preparing the traditional famouse Malaysian Chinese dish for all the dear staffs in the office...

I am glad they love it!

Number with Feeling

2009-06-11T12:48:00.000+08:00

35, 36, 37, 38...

As the number increasing, they get more and more excited, enthralled. Result oriented, number oriented...Each number represents one participant.

Since when, I have been becoming a number. I am not aware which number is me (it doesn't really matter, since every number is only a symbol), yet I know I am just a number, just a part of their project.

Human relationship is always complicated, with emotional nuances. Being a number, SINCERITY and TRUST and PROMISES and RESPECT are NONSENCE.

Fortunately I have self-acknowledgement, as I am a human being constituted of flesh and blood. I know where I stand, I shall not pretend to be a happy number, but I will be a happy me, in my own way!

P/S: I am blessed as there are more people here with brighter eyes, treat us as real individual with own characteristics. So, for those whose eyes being blind-folded by the handkerchief of "achievement in numbers", who cares?

Neighbourhood

2009-06-10T16:58:00.003+08:00

It was such a pleasant night. We have visited our neighbour, Banerjee's Family.
There are 4 of them. I found it was so joyful to be able to talk to the both sisters of Banerjee, Tiyana and Tithi. They are almost the same age with us. This made our conversation fun and non-stop! We met their parents, we will so welcomed. I have a warm family feeling. It was so nice!
We talked so much, from around 7pm until midnight...chatting and laughing...from India to Malaysia, from politic to economy, from studies to relationship, from food to language, from sport to dance...
Normally I will sleep at 10-11pm, but today was just not feeling glanto (tired) at all. I felt so happy to be able to stay at their house. It was a home-stay kind of feeling. Maybe I truly miss home, miss the way to be taken care as child, miss the fights and jokes with my sisters, miss the time I could simply throw my tantrum at house...Too much of missings. To me, no matter where I go, my family remains the utmost important part inside of me. I couldn't make myself stop missing them. Yet, this doesn't stop me from going away from home. Going away makes you more appreciate what you have, yourself, your family, your country...

Victoria's Memorial

2009-06-10T13:46:00.001+08:00

Finally we reached Victoria's Memorial!
I have heard of it before coming India, it was destined to be one of my MUST-SEE destination.
Few pictures taken. Breathtaking building. Unfortunately we were not allowed to take photo inside the building, it was such a QUEEN'S place!

Sleepless night scratch...

2009-06-06T14:46:00.003+08:00

10 more working days. 18 days more staying at Kolkata.
Deep in my heart, I really appreciate the kindness of Mr. Amitava to accept us as trainees. He has given us the utmost help in either logding, working, leisure and everything here. Although we are not like other interns from other countries (I have to say a Malaysian youth like me is quite different from people from other countries). Sometimes, I wonder I am too serious, too obedient, too conservative, too naive, as a youth. Perhaps I should have gone miles beyond, I should have done more.
In my daily routine, flashing back, it is always Mon-Fri class, the only leisure is onlining and swimming. Immersing in the night time movies/drama series which the characters were having fantasy besides normal life. Sounds bored, right? No wonder people here will think we are nerds, too dull to hang around with. I could not agree more. Socialize. This is the word. Are more and more youths lack of the skill in socializing? We stick with our best friends all the time, our social circle could hardly expand. Normalizing..We felt comfortable with the normal lifestyle.
Honestly I felt quite uncomfortable in mixing around with people from different background and chatting in nonsense and without knowing what is the purpose of spending the time with them (again, a confession of a nerd!). All I prefer is simple life, maybe building stronger relationship with people who I fond of. But not hanging around aimlessly, just for killing time. Socialize for the sake of socializing, is it true and practical?
Confused. Yet again, I decided to keep my confusion back safely in the Pandora's Box, remained un-opened.

China Town, Kolkata

2009-06-06T14:27:00.003+08:00

To quench the thirst for Chinese food, we've had a nice eating out at a Chinese restaurant.

Imagine, this is my first time talking to localist in Mandarin! It was a middle-age man sitting at the roadside, we were asking the direction. He mentioned, most of the Chinese (or youngsters prefer to call them Chinkies) here can speak Mandarin, they are Hakka. His mandarin is very good, with some slang of the authentic real Chinese people.

Talking about Chinese, in the coming 23 June, 4 Chinese interns from Beijing would be coming to fulfill their traineeship in Banglanatak. I wish I have the opportunity to meet them!

Talking back of the Chinese Restaurant, Kim Ling. We ordered Honey Chicken, Stir Fried Spinach and Black Pepper Crab Meat. Yun Ling and I wish to eat tofu, as stated in the menu, however tofu was not available on that particular day. Quite dissappoited...

Anyway, being able to eat the plain steam rice with the dishes was really a pleasant experience. At that moment, I think of Dad, as he is always the one bringing us to chinese restaurant during the lovely weekend evenings. I let him have a conversation with Mr.Raja, as he was the one who brought us for the lovely dining out. It's funny to know dad was conversed in English. LOl!

In the end of the meal, we were served with a small bowl of colourful mouth freshener. The taste was "exciting" to me, the dried herbs and some sort of pungent flavour really excited my palate.
Cheers!

Idyllic Retreat

2009-06-04T15:56:00.003+08:00

It was such a great experience to be able to pay a visit to the folk song (Baul Fakiri) singer's village at Krishnanagar.

Though, it was a long journey (4 hours from office to the destination). The place is no longer belonged to Kolkata, West Bengal neither. We were entering the other state, which we are told to be the very border of Bangladesh.

Inside the car, it was gorom (hot). The torrid noonday sun did not spare us. Moreover, its confederacy, the wind brought the hostile scorching air, assaulting us. However, the unbearable heat was later changed into exciting exclaims!

Greenery! The huge borderless grassy lawn was amazing!

I do appreciate to be allowed to wander into the idyllic village. Though walking under the sun, suddenly the hostile heat turned into the most welcoming fervency. I enjoy the serenity and simplicity of the village, I really do.

Amidst the greenery, there are butterflies flapping their colourful wings; seasonal birds soaring in the deep blue sky; ducks gliding through the lake effortlessly; cows are taking nap under the trees but some are just grazing the grass in the laziest manner. How I wish I could be part of it!

The best part of my trip to India is to able to escape from the daily routine. The trip to this lovely village indeniably even fulfilled my retreat.

Serenity. Tranquility. Why so worry? Life can be as simple as it was supposed to be!

Outing

2009-05-30T20:22:00.009+08:00

Have been apparently sitting at the office for half day, the boredom devoured entire me.

It's time again to go out! OUT! One more outing...

Enthralled by the old buildings (according to localists, this kind of buildings is at least 200 years old!)

Enjoying the famous local tea. I have no idea what spices have been added inside the brewed tea, it tastes just so different from our teh tarik in Malaysia! Perhaps I should consult our dear spices expert - ah-guan. Sighing, I do really miss you guys.

Entering the market. All the fruits and vegetables were arranged nicely, some even decorated with the tree leaves! Colourful!

On the road...this is how they carry the goods.

Without having an exact destination to go, we just passed the rail...cool!

Wow, we reached Millenium Park! This was one of the tourist attraction we viewed from the website.

Had some food in the park which was full of dating couples.

We made it! We saw the Howrah Bridge!!! This beautiful bridge connects Kolkata and Howrah. We spent about 2 hours in the park just to wait the bridge to be illuminated.

Nice. The waiting was worth it!

On the way back, I saw this beautiful church.

Here we back. Home sweet home, Santoshpur!

Reading Traveller

2009-05-24T15:44:00.003+08:00

Travelling alone always makes me savour my time with better, the taste is always sweet, mishti.
Today, I decided to take my own trip to Salt Lake to attend my dancing class. It is located at the centre of the city, totally different from where I stay and work.

On the way to Salt Lake, in the bus, I met a lady. It is true that Indians are collective. In the bus, even there are plenty of seats, people tend to sit beside you, do not be surprised of that. It happened. The wise lady, Mdm Chotika, after few random conversations, we talked about reading habit after I asked for places selling good books. She agreed that reading habit has been faded as time passes. Reading used to be the activity for leisure, sadly to say that today the tv and computer have been substituting the role of books.

She mentioned about parents used to give their children books as birthday gifts in those years. I agreed. I thought of dad at that moment. I appreciate it. Without reading, I won't have come so far. Without reading, I won't have the courage to pursue my pathway. Without reading, I am simply nothing.

Yet, I am still so small, so ignorant in the ocean of knowledge. The wise lady spoke wisdoms. She even read the translation of Lu Xun's literature! Amazing. Her passion of reading makes me ashamed. I told her honestly, I do still have many more to learn. She answered, everybody does! Life is just a learning process.

Reading the past makes you understand the future. The present is shaped by past, while shaping the future. That's what she told me. Inspired.

In this very short half day trip, I met few people. Had some chatting session with them. A traveller shall never get alone.

On my mystical pathway...cheers!

Public Speaking

2009-05-24T15:33:00.002+08:00

First time out for our OWN assignment - giving talk on HIV issue!

It was at a software company. Though our participants were only comprised of 5 persons, it was a good start for us as it was our FIRST time.

It was encouraging as the participants were willing to share and interect with us. There was some language problem as they used to converse in Bengali. Fortunately our dear colleague, Miss Aru was knowlegable and always be there to do the translation. Besides, she was an expertise in the awareness campaign. She knew the techniques to keep the audience intrigued.

In school, I am always looking forward to presentation as it is the 2-way communication between students and lecturer. We are given a platform to present ourselves. Yet, the thought of speaking in front of the audience raises my fear. It is common that most people have this kind of fear, I realized. Talking to a group of people draws us from the security that we tend to live in and forces us to confront an entirely foreign experience.

Anyway, after all, if the audiences are benefited from what you have presented, the joy is there! Sharing knowledge is a great joy in life! Presentation, as I mentioned, is a 2-way communication, the knowledge is not really imparted through the presenter. It is like a spark of knowledge, where by the audiences, most of the time may give unexpected surprise to the presenter himself/herself!

Public speaking, undeniably, boosts our confidence. It forces us to do more and more preparation and practice.

I deeply appreciate I am given this kind of platform to train myself. Everyday is just so different for me here! Each moment of live is a miracle! I was so tired of the routine daily lives, this trip is my gateway, my exile in searching deeper of myself. Living in the confines of comfort zone, as if you die at twenty but being buried at eighty!

Take the road less travelled...

Purpose of Life

2009-05-20T16:27:00.003+08:00

The purpose of life is to have a life of purpose (according to the Law of Dharma).

Today, another visit to the slum - Motijheel. This is a bigger and better equipment resident area if compared to the other slum we went yesterday, Trijana.

If choosing one word to describe the area, I would say: crowdy. Imagine, 1 family normally has 6-8 children, living in a space not much bigger than our bathroom. Squeeze inside a bed, some even sleep on the floor under the bed. Kids go to school because the school provides free lunch. So some parents just make sure their kids go to school during lunch time. Scolding and fighting, as some scenes I have witnessed. Healthy men linger around the place. To make ends meet, some work for factory (even children), some sell fruits in the road side, some open small stores...

A question turns up: What is their purpose of life? Do they even think of it before? Answer given: They do not mind. They grow from young until reaching the puberty, they marry. Their mission: producing more offsprings. Then, trying not to starve themselves, until the day of life ends. Simple but sad.

But as the communication tools improving, many of them are exposing to the world outside. Some are educated and knowing the importance of knowledge. Furthermore, many organizations and government sectors have trying various methods to reach this grassroot society.
I deeply wish, one day, poverty would vanish. The world is enough to feed all the people's need, not people's greed. Leading a moderate life but ceaselessly richer the mind. This is my purpose - learning more about the others by witnessing and thinking...
Children are dovelike, innocent...

Dance

2009-05-18T23:24:00.005+08:00

I decided to follow my heart, since I always want to learn something about dancing. Thus, this trip must not be excluded from dancing as well. Has been signing up for a dancing class, instructed by an experienced and wise guru.

While dancing, it as if tunnelling me to another world, another dimension, where I enjoy so much. I feel I am closer to my soul. Everytime I dance, the objects surrounded me transform, they are all beautiful.

Instead of hanging around with friends and chatting at the cafe and shopping at the malls, I prefer to be mesmerized into the music and movements.

Being objective. Set your goal and focus on your goal. Others which would distract you from the goal, reject it gracefully...Well, this is only a statement. How to honestly tell the others: Sorry I do not enjoy that, sorry I do not like it...? We are taught all the way long to appreciate everything, to be polite. Until, most of the time, we are just too polite to say NO. We are into the business we do not really like or enjoy. And then, a person full of regeret and remorse and depress and indigence in mind causing hatred and low in productivity. Everyday passing by, sun rise and set, what we have done in the midst of it?

Anyway, we need certain social life...picture with aiesecers...

Development Traineeship

2009-05-18T16:32:00.003+08:00

weeks passed...Basically I feel I am doing nothing in the office.

One of the purpose I come for this internship is to seek meaning. In our lives, we keep looking for acceptance, self-actualization, and discover more about the question: WHO AM I?

In the office for the past 2 weeks, I was exposed to the project the organization has been done. I must say those are really meaningful project, helping the unables and poor, they are really good at approaching those grassroots...Yet, I feel worthless of being here, I cannot see what can I do. So a question arised: What do you expect from us (the interns)? The answer given was they are not expecting any great contribution from us, for we only stay here 2 months. Nothing much we can do. But they expect us to grow, to see this city more, to learn something from them!

So this is the purpose. It's not what we give, but what we gain.

What have I learnt in the past 14days? From workplace, after exposing to those videos and reports, I have gained a wider perspective of this kind of organizations. Process is something more important than the result. When the product goes wrong, always check the process (according to our Banlanatak.com founder). He speaks wisdom, so do the other staffs! I find Indians are wise. They read. They think.

So after reading 2 books - The Alchemist and Who will cry when you die?, I'm really inspired to a certain extent. Do not try to be others, just be myself.

The tragedy of life is not death, but what we let die inside us while we live. So, keep seeking the meaning and looking for the real me, developing...