What's make you happy

I don't have a lot of resolutions in 2011, but I hope I am staying happy. I want to write down the first top 10 things cross my mind that make me happy.

1. When I spent time with people I care
2. When I have clear achievable goal to work on
3. When I eat good foods
4. When I read good books
5. When I laugh at good jokes
6. When I watch a good movie
7. When I had a fulfilling conversation with someone
8. When I can explain something complicated clearly
9. When I solve something difficult
10. When I still can make a list of things that make me happy

I think I am doing not too bad =)



Happy Belated New Year.

Resignation

When we resign from a position, it takes a lot of effort to write a good resignation letter - I mean a presentable one.

Depending on your relationship and the culture of the organization, the style of the letter can be varied.

How I wish I were President of United States.

物是人非

说了再见后，昨天又看见了这个包。还是一样，里面的电脑也一样。

可是，人不一样了。

物是人非事事休，说的就是这种。

花旗国

《审死官》垒面一开洗内段：

粤语：
宾少：我阿财系花旗国买返来的狗王！
宋状师：我阿福都系从法兰西买返来的人渣！

当言，大家都鸡道，法兰西就细法国，英门France。

那末，花期国又细写莫地荒呢？

就细美国了，因妹国旗发力发洛，很花地国旗，就叫花旗国了。

不兰，你以为Citibank细写莫国家地银行啊？

Just for fun

Am using some old (still in AIG-sponsor era) and recycled stuff building up to the big match ahead.

Sure Manchester United will beat Chelsea in Stamford Bridge. Wakakaka~~

Thrilling Vietnam Trip

I assume the trip to Hong Kong will be my last. Then I realized I was wrong because am about heading to Hanoi on Sunday.

The trip has very tight schedule starting from Sunday, with several back-to-back presentations, until the last one ended 2 hours before our departure flight.

Normally I will save an extra copy powerpoint in a thumb drive just in case, but the need to use it never arise in the past 2.5 years. I am lazy and a little complacent this round, I thought this will be my last show and think the only copy in my laptop should be fine.

Murphy's Law never wrong.

I dropped the laptop bag in the airport toilet and heard a great bang. I cannot see anything from the screen again.

I tried so many times to reboot and it just didn't work. Out of desperation I hijacked the LCD from hotel business center, and I suddenly saw my desktop icons again. I transferred them to the thumb drive in no time.

There were 6 presentation sessions in all, and I'd talked to more than 80 people. Having 80 specialist doctors listen to you is a special experience.

I think the credit should go to the thumb drive.

Oh yea, the LCD monitor too.

一个半马拉松的故事

1999年，我十八岁。

我的叔叔那时迷上跑步，特地从槟城到怡保来参加马拉松。不知道是想叫人陪，还是意思意思顺便叫我一起去。我一口答应，前一天还特地买了一双超级轻盈NB跑步鞋。

当年我年轻力壮，跑一百米有十二秒，半马拉松，大概就是十二秒乘于210等于42分钟，应该很容易。加上前一天（才）买的跑步鞋，真是活该十八岁的。

前一个晚上，我还ICQ到两点，睡不到四个小时，五点半就爬起床准备。我不是很饿，没有吃东西。叔叔觉得停车会很难，于是我驾摩多载他去。我们六点半到场时已经人山人海，叔叔坚持要我吃了两条香蕉，我很应酬地依了。

赛事一开始，凉风徐徐，鸟语花香。我凌波微步，还不知道前途茫茫。和叔叔肩并肩跑了几公里，突然他转头跟我说等下见，咻一下不见人。啊，不见就不见，变成我独自一人跑，跑，跑........

跑到回家的路上，经过外面那条大路，我在想：哈，如果回家喝口水多好，的确是有一点累的说。想到这，诶，差不多快到终点了吧？于是，我往地下一看，看见喷漆标记10km。我心想：十公里，就是还有多远呢？

就在这个时候，我打了一个突，哦买嘎，还不到一半。我的前途在这里突然变得乌云密布。

我决定用走的来休息一下。那个休息的念头，突然野草一样蔓延生长，盘缠着头脑所有的空间，吞噬着我所有残余的力量。我半走半跑，开始觉得手臂很痛，腋下脱皮很痛，大腿很痛，膝盖很痛，屁股很痛，什么都痛。

而且肚子很饿，我想起那两条香蕉。更饿。

不知道半走半跑多久，我突然瞄到地上的标记，14km...？是的......我的心事，你不会懂。

一边拖着跑，一边发现自己一直被超车。再回想刚才，我根本连一个人都没有超过。我回头一望，看见后面的人跟我差不多（快完蛋了）。突然，我登时看懂了刚才叔叔说等下见的表情。我心里喊着岂有此理，一边后悔。路旁依然凉风习习，凉到一个站岗的都没有。地上一片狼藉，都是前面的人用过的海棉。我经过时，水缸里只剩下水，没有棉，我很可怜。

这时，我只能拖着脚步，连走路都难，一拐一拐的。我不知道拐到什么地方去了，不知道拐了多远，也不知道还要拐多久。感觉很孤单，有被抛弃的感觉，经过什么地方都没有电视上那样，很多路人帮你打气。一个人现在跑到对面商店买饮料然后叫的士回家，也不会有人发觉的。

我一直拐，一直拐。

不知道多久了，忽然听见体育场传来的人潮声。我心里想，快到了！于是我加快拐步，想一尝拐线的滋味。这时一辆巴士经过，在我旁边停下怂恿我拐上车，说直接载我到终点。我看见车上有很多弃权的参赛者。当时，我只要一点头，就可以跟他们一起马上到终点光荣拐下车。

我十八岁不识好歹，想在十年后写一篇blog的时候理直气壮，于是没有上车。我要报答两条香蕉的恩情，假假也要用自己的拐量拐完全程。

最后，我历经千辛万苦拐到终点。一个人都没发觉。

我驾摩多回家途中，觉得我叔叔重得象一头牛。而且无论我转弯，刹车或变速，都会让我手指或小腿要抽筋。还是很饿，不过没有力气拿筷子吃东西。

我以后再也不敢十八岁了。

Progress update 3

Jom, everyone kahwin sama-sama alamak dan cacing.

想一想

有时候我们只是懒惰，包括思想上。

生活压力那么大，连银行户口都不知道能不能应付明年农历新年，干嘛还要去想为什么或怎样？

从2004年工作开始，逻辑分析是我的工作（当然其他工作也需要）。几年下来，磨练得像呼吸一样自然。职业习惯泛滥，日常生活听见看见不make sense的东西，心里会有根刺，想要提出纠正。

偏偏什么事情都一样 - 你哪方面越强，越容易看见哪方面弱。别人的。

这件事情让人很困扰。

尤其一个怪论调出现时，你慢慢解释清楚为什么不make sense之后，会被人讲你什么都要分那么清楚。

很不幸的，你被扯进那个怪论调里面（你完了），你发现把你扯进去很不make sense（yan-wong~都唔关我事！），你慢慢解释清楚为什么把你扯在一起很不make sense之后，不但会被人讲你什么都要分那么清楚，还要被人觉得你持辩行凶。

有时候我们只是懒惰，包括思想上。

生活压力那么大，连银行户口都不知道能不能应付明年农历新年，干嘛还要去想为什么或怎样？

这件事情，真的让人很困扰。

朝圣轩尼诗道

终于又去香港，这次却有半天周六的时间，足够让我完成一件事。

我到轩尼诗道朝圣这件事，想很久了。

当然，这跟张学友完全没有关系，只不过一定没有人相信罢了。

这条街就是轩尼诗道。



所谓朝圣，就是用很虔诚的心，感受轩尼诗道的平凡和忙碌，假假是个轩尼诗人，在一个冬季的下午走在路上，转个弯，遇到汤唯。那样。

真是变态。

我一个人去，只好自己玩耍，玩《寻找轩尼诗》，一个要找七个轩尼诗的电视游戏。象这种，我找了七个。



很累。

Hong Kong

Hong Kong is one of my most visited countries in the past 2 years.

Looking back, it felt like a time capsule because things changed and I witness all of them first hand.

One very special reason is KS. I just don't feel Hong Kong was the same, and as close as it was anymore. It seems like I primarily associate places and countries with people whom I know.

My cousin was a form-6-to-be the first time I went. Her progress moved along with my visit and by now, she is an undergradute in Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. She is even going to finish her first semester.

And for once, I realized myself have never look at Hong Kong properly, from a tourist point of view. In fact, I might feel like an expatriate living in Hong Kong every time I go there. My mood never turned "tourist" altogether. I did "see", "feel" and "enjoy" Hong Kong from the eyes of a foreigner "living" there.

What's more, this is likely to be my last trip in Hong Kong before I finish serving my notice.

Maybe when I go to Hong Kong again next time, it will be a holiday. Then the water may taste nicer with fragrance as its name suggested - 香江。

Avatar

The avatars are Alamak and Cacing.

I shiok sendiri only.

Progress update 2

To "Fluorence",

if you could sent me your ....ahem, measurement / circumference (in inches), of all respective parts, I will make this a better representative.

Strengthsfinder 2.0

Many people truly believe in nasihat like "you can achieve anything if you try hard (enough)" as we grown up. Movies of underdog outperform favorite always the bestseller.

Instinctively, I just can't figure out why am I feel odd for this. I put in some thought before and also posted on my facebook status. I also wrote something like
THIS, tHiS and thIS in my old entries. Over time, my thought was swinging back and forth.



Last month I read a book called Strengthsfinder 2.0...I instantly knew that was an answer I am looking for when I read it. There is no old maxim of trying hard enough and you can be anything. Instead, it says:

You cannot be anything you want to be -- but you can be a lot more of who you already are.

It contains extra respect and recognize no one will achieve the same magnitude with the same method using the same way of measurement. If one is to say this is a successful life as a whole, it must be the way you approach your life with utter respect and dignity, live fully to the potential of life with resources and chances available, which is different to everyone.

I know there is a lot of motivation camp for sales, marketing or financial planner. But one thing I really don't like is (at least that's an impression / bias I have), they always employ one method and apply to all different individual. Trying hard and keep trying with more determination is a recipe for success. I agree they are valuable strength, however, not supposed to be misplaced.

If you are a bird, then flip your wing hard and fly high; If you are a horse, then gallop and run fast; If you are a fish, then swim fast and swim deep.

If flying is not your natural talent or strength, ie, not a bird, you don't have to feel inferior just because you can't fly. Even with the athleticism of Michael Jordan, he can't replicate his achievement in baseball, why?

The most important thing is to know who you (already) are, what you can do well and what you can't.

Then develop according to your own strengths, and be determined.

Facebook mania

There is a lot about Facebook these days. Including 2 recent movies on Facebook.

Yesterday, I saw a 400-500 pages hardcover book on Facebook at Kinokuniya, placed besides books like The Toyota Way and Googled: The End of the World As We Know It

I drown on three Facebook games before, one of it was the recent EA SPORTS FIFA Superstars....and painfully quit all of them. I am glad I didn't jump on the bandwagon when I came across Mafia War. This is one Facebook game that raised its rank and make it to the TIME magazine.

Most of these games were dumb but for some strange reason you just get addicted to it. Besides punctually log in to maintain your strength / lives / refill / training / workout etc so that you will be upgraded, there is nothing much to do. Occasionally you got one bonus like a super duper privileged item that none of your friend has, and make you proud for 2 days.

Then you found they got it for free on the 3rd day.

How far a Facebook game can bring us to? I am not too sure, but this is really funny.

腐竹白果薏米

最近好像很容易吃到令人火大的东西。

（又是）很想吃腐竹白果薏米，就跑到liang seah street的阿秋甜品去。那算是很不错的糖水铺了。因为在公司附近，偶尔会去吃。

腐竹白果薏米来了，跟左图一样。

......我以为我点的是杨枝甘露。不是应该奶白色，或清清的但有很多腐竹碎的吗？

好啦，是我山芭佬，人家白果很多，所以黄黄的，不可以咩。我第一口下去，只尝到糖的甜味，一点薏米的味道都没有。就算我不以貌取人，这..这，这叫人怎么相信它就是腐竹白果薏米呢？真是让人哑口无言。

那把火就上来了，把白果和薏米吃完（那个很难弄错），那碗“糖水”我原封不动留下来，到对面去吃他对手的腐竹白果薏米。

<记得食>的腐竹白果薏米来了，跟右图一样。

天啊，有很难咩。这才是腐竹白果薏米嘛。

沽名钓誉福南荣记

昨天好想吃怡保鸡丝河粉，听说福南荣记卖怡保河粉比我吃怡保河粉还久，就去试试看。

我吃怡保河粉快三十年，还没见过那种怡保鸡丝河粉。招牌上的河粉，我一个都不认识。好好的怡保河粉，从1955年搞到现在，一撇席。当然，餐牌上写明了IPOH HO FUN the Singapore way，还加上了自制的酱。

看到这里我就气，用了自己独创的酱，换了汤，加了不同的配料，你就叫荣记河粉好了，不要再怡保什么的。怡保没有人吃干捞鸡丝河粉，而且只用白鸡，不用油鸡，只用虾壳熬过的汤头，也不跟冬菇豆腐一起吃。

联合晚报　Review　　写 “...入口即化的怡保河粉，满足味蕾的一大享受。” 写的人没吃过怡保的怡保河粉，随随便便就觉得那是传说中的入口即化，真是开玩笑。荣记河粉（我不会再叫怡保）比新加坡其他地方的河粉幼，有怡保河粉的样子，可是没有怡保河粉的滑嫩。当然这是各有所爱，可能也比较适合这里的口味，但请不要再沾怡保鸡丝河粉的光。

因为荣记河粉不是怡保鸡丝河粉。

这是怡保人我讲的。

岁月

当我们无法再熬夜到三点的时候。
当我们不再爱喝汽水的时候。
当我们的额头越来越光亮的时候。
当我们的法令纹越来越明显的时候。
当我们更努力才能维持腹肌的时候。
当我们的腰部久坐会痛的时候。
当我们的背肩站久会酸的时候。
当我们的伤口愈合缓慢的时候。
当我们打篮球转身甩不掉防守的时候。
当我们百米冲刺慢五米的时候。

那代表岁月悄悄地追上来了。

Dhaka 3

If I were to describe Dhaka, the title of incredible should not belongs to India.

This is the road in front of my hotel...yes, these were those hon and siren.



If you think Bangkok has bad traffic, at least they congested only with vehicles. Here, can you see the people walking in between fast moving car? They can judge the space and time better than anyone!!



It happened all day long, including night. As Dhaka is facing power shortage since July, most of the street were not light up. The people are invisible at night.

I didn't see any accident in 2 days. Amazing.

The amazement should extend to the public bus, which stop in the middle of the road (you see why the traffic is bad?) to drop the passenger when it is full, to prevent more passenger on board. but nothing can stop them. They chase, run, catch, trying to hold any part of the bus with their life. A moving bus cannot change their determination to board.

I saw one like a "trail" of people besides / behind a moving bus after that was already 50m away from the bus stop. That fellow was dragged on the road with his legs down, then the bus slowing down, so he was back with his foot again, eventually he jumped on it and got the ride.



There were also a lot of beggars knocking on the window asking for money. And many of them were naked or half naked, even the normal road crosser, many wear only sarung (I bet without underwear). I saw one guy scratching his buddy and witness the flash of genius. Yes. In the middle of a cross road.

I stay in a nice room, I eat in a nice restaurant, I complaint the crowded MRT and Bugis village. I will think of Dhaka the next time I complaint, for awhile, but maybe not too much. I empathize them but will not feel blessed myself just because I have a better life than them.

We live in a different world.

Dhaka 2

It is probably my own problem because living in Dhaka city alone is very stress.

The stress originated from too many nothing-better-to-do people staring at you. And too many people doing too little things or even nothing gets done.

We left the hotel at 11am, and back in hotel for dinner at 630pm. There were bloody >6 hours and actually the most productive period was that one hour in 2-3pm. We spent most of our time talking, stuck in the traffic and even more waiting for something (to happen). We even didn't have time for lunch. (?!?!)

Even during that hour when I am fully focus on my job, at least 5 people were surrounding me in that room, and a lot of people moving in and out that room. For those staying, they were either blocking my way while chit chatting, or they were not blocking my way chit chatting.

For those neither, they were blocking my way when they stared at me doing the job. They will stick out their bloody head want to see it (and block my view), or they will stick out their bloody hand to touch it (and mess up my calibration). They certainly placed their curiosity higher priority than for me to get the job done.

The best part was, I asked for a scissors they gave me a plier; I asked for a pen knife they gave me a used surgery blade without handle (I dunno what the blade cut before!! heart? brain? HIV tissue? Hep B+ liver?). And they all stared at me using 2 fingers holding the 1 inch surgery blade to cut open the tape seal on the boxes.

Now is 930pm local time, the hon and siren are simply unbearable.

I miss home already.