A brand new year!
A clean slate on which to write our hopes and dreams.
This year:
Less time and energy on things;
More time and energy on people.
All of life’s best rewards,
deepest and finest feelings,
greatest satisfactions,
Come from people--People like you.
Happy New Year!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
Shopping Fever
I think I have shopping fever, must have got the virus when I went to Taiwan(台湾) for a holiday.
In Taiwan I bought quite a number of pants, like half a dozen plus others hair-pins, bracelets and ………. I know my bag was full to the brim. I had to ask my nephew whether his bag have space or not. Luckily he has, if not I have to put it in my hand carry bag and check-in.
Back from Taiwan, my sister, her son, two nieces and I went shopping during Christmas Day. My sister, her son and I started at 9.30am leaving home to fetch our nieces. I can’t remember what time we reach One-U, I think it was around 11 am. We had lunch before starting our shopping exercise. You know get ourselves all fuel up first.
Among us I bought the most, 2 sandals, 2 singlet, 2 sweaters and one blouse. The blouse was a last minute thing, bought it on the way to the car park. Had seen it earlier thinking there could be nicer one at other shops. After walking like 4 to 5 hours did not see one that is better. Luckily on the way to the car park we pass that shop. I guess the blouse and I are fated to be together.
One of my nieces was looking and still looking for a purse that she likes, what a let down could not find one. She found a design she likes but the shop do not have the colour she wanted. I hope she finds it at other shopping mall. But she bought the shoes she was looking for. At least she did not walk away empty handed.
Our feet were aching, we had a short rest at a doughnut shop, had our drinks and doughnuts. My nieces said buy half a dozen, I find it too little, after all that exercise we needed the energy, refuel. I bought a dozen I ate the most, 4. I just ate one after another when I saw only 1 doughnut left. I started to count how many each of us ate, I was the winner. I told my niece I need to diet but later dinner went for steamboat. I told myself tomorrow I really need to diet. I was so full that day I could not sleep, I slept around 2.30am.
My sister son, my nephew got lost twice that day. Luckily we found him in less then 5 minutes. He just likes to run off on his own. I need to tell myself I had to be extra careful. My sister said of course you are not scared he’s not your son. Well! How should I react? I just keep calm and said it is not that, panic does not help. It’s good I keep calm.
I think shopping should be done without those children under 10 years, if they are there, buy only for children and go home or just enjoy the day with the child doing what is interesting for them. With them around, you don’t know to look at the clothes or the child.
The next day I went with my sister to Kepong Jusco again. There was 1 item on my shopping list that I haven’t bought. After seeing the bills, I told myself enough of buying yah enough.
The next day I went to PJ to return my P1 modem, on the way back I stop at KLCC. You guess right I went shopping again. I bought singlet, blouses and a coat. When I got home my sister was at mom’s house. She said, “wah! buy some more economic must be good for you”. It is not that, just that I always buy during year end, once a year kind of thing.
I was thinking I had bought all I wanted. Today my sister said do I want to go to the shopping mall that is near to home. I guess I just go see go see only. I end buying like 11 items. I saw the computer bag I was looking for, just RM30, where to find so cheap some more quality one lah.
I had been buying for four days non stop. I need to see the doctor for antibiotic, I need to kill the shopping virus. The antibiotic, tell myself I have all the stuffs I need and my credit card is at danger limit. Tomorrow when I wake up the virus will be gone. I am back to my old self, stingy.
In Taiwan I bought quite a number of pants, like half a dozen plus others hair-pins, bracelets and ………. I know my bag was full to the brim. I had to ask my nephew whether his bag have space or not. Luckily he has, if not I have to put it in my hand carry bag and check-in.
Back from Taiwan, my sister, her son, two nieces and I went shopping during Christmas Day. My sister, her son and I started at 9.30am leaving home to fetch our nieces. I can’t remember what time we reach One-U, I think it was around 11 am. We had lunch before starting our shopping exercise. You know get ourselves all fuel up first.
Among us I bought the most, 2 sandals, 2 singlet, 2 sweaters and one blouse. The blouse was a last minute thing, bought it on the way to the car park. Had seen it earlier thinking there could be nicer one at other shops. After walking like 4 to 5 hours did not see one that is better. Luckily on the way to the car park we pass that shop. I guess the blouse and I are fated to be together.
One of my nieces was looking and still looking for a purse that she likes, what a let down could not find one. She found a design she likes but the shop do not have the colour she wanted. I hope she finds it at other shopping mall. But she bought the shoes she was looking for. At least she did not walk away empty handed.
Our feet were aching, we had a short rest at a doughnut shop, had our drinks and doughnuts. My nieces said buy half a dozen, I find it too little, after all that exercise we needed the energy, refuel. I bought a dozen I ate the most, 4. I just ate one after another when I saw only 1 doughnut left. I started to count how many each of us ate, I was the winner. I told my niece I need to diet but later dinner went for steamboat. I told myself tomorrow I really need to diet. I was so full that day I could not sleep, I slept around 2.30am.
My sister son, my nephew got lost twice that day. Luckily we found him in less then 5 minutes. He just likes to run off on his own. I need to tell myself I had to be extra careful. My sister said of course you are not scared he’s not your son. Well! How should I react? I just keep calm and said it is not that, panic does not help. It’s good I keep calm.
I think shopping should be done without those children under 10 years, if they are there, buy only for children and go home or just enjoy the day with the child doing what is interesting for them. With them around, you don’t know to look at the clothes or the child.
The next day I went with my sister to Kepong Jusco again. There was 1 item on my shopping list that I haven’t bought. After seeing the bills, I told myself enough of buying yah enough.
The next day I went to PJ to return my P1 modem, on the way back I stop at KLCC. You guess right I went shopping again. I bought singlet, blouses and a coat. When I got home my sister was at mom’s house. She said, “wah! buy some more economic must be good for you”. It is not that, just that I always buy during year end, once a year kind of thing.
I was thinking I had bought all I wanted. Today my sister said do I want to go to the shopping mall that is near to home. I guess I just go see go see only. I end buying like 11 items. I saw the computer bag I was looking for, just RM30, where to find so cheap some more quality one lah.
I had been buying for four days non stop. I need to see the doctor for antibiotic, I need to kill the shopping virus. The antibiotic, tell myself I have all the stuffs I need and my credit card is at danger limit. Tomorrow when I wake up the virus will be gone. I am back to my old self, stingy.
The Chinese Word “AI” (爱 - Love)
I am learning the simplified Chinese with HAN YU PIN YIN (汉语拼音). When I compared the traditional Chinese stroke, I noticed the “XIN” 心, heart had been removed. I guess now when anyone say or write “WO AI NI” (我爱你-I love you) is without heart but with friendship. Why because YOU (友) is in the simplified Chinese word and YOU mean friend. Will I guess you got yourself a friend but not his/her heart.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Tribute to Mother Teresa
This was send to me thru email. I find it very beautiful had save in my thumb-drive. It is too beautiful not to blog it here.
Tribute to Mother Teresa - 1910 to 1997
Tribute to Mother Teresa - 1910 to 1997
She was a Roman Catholic nun born in Macedonia (Europe) who founded The Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her humanitarian work.
Mother Teresa in her own words:- "Do not wait for leaders, do it alone, person to person."
Mother Teresa taught us by her example what it really means to 'live'.
“I think today the world is upside down, and is suffering so much because there is so very little love in the home, and in family life. We have no time for our children, we have no time for each other, there is no time to enjoy each other.”
“Love begins at home; love lives in homes, and that is why there is so much suffering and so much unhappiness in the world today...Everybody today seems to be in such a terrible rush, anxious for greater developments and greater riches and so on, so that parents have very little time for their children. Parents have very little time for each other, and in the home begins the disruption of the peace of the world.”
On Poverty:
"I see God in every human being. When I wash the leper's wounds, I feel I am nursing the Lord himself. Is it not a beautiful experience?" -- 1974 interview.
"When I see waste here, I feel angry on the inside. I don't approve of myself getting angry. But it's something you can't help after seeing Ethiopia." -- Washington 1984.
“The most terrible poverty is loneliness and the feeling of being unloved.”
“The biggest disease today is not leprosy or tuberculosis, but rather the feeling of being unwanted.”
“There is more hunger in the world for love and appreciation than for bread.”
“We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.”
On War: 
"I have never been in a war before, but I have seen famine and death. I was asking (myself), 'What do they feel when they do this?' I don't understand it. They are all children of God. Why do they do it? I don't understand." -- Beirut 1982, during fighting between the Israeli army and Palestinian guerrillas.
"Please choose the way of peace. ... In the short term there may be winners and losers in this war that we all dread. But that never can, nor never will justify the suffering, pain and loss of life your weapons will cause." -- Letter to U.S. President George Bush and Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, January 1991.
On abortion:
Abortion "is murder in the womb ... A child is a gift of God. If you do not want him, give him to me."
“The greatest destroyer of peace is abortion because if a mother can kill her own child, what is left for me to kill you and you to kill me? There is nothing between.”
“It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish.”
On her life's work:
"We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop."
"The other day I dreamed that I was at the gates of heaven. And St. Peter said, 'Go back to Earth. There are no slums up here.'" - as said to Prince Michael of Greece in 1996.
“The miracle is not that we do this work, but that we are happy to do it.”
On love:
“If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”
“I try to give to the poor people for free what the rich could get for money. No, I wouldn't touch a leper for a thousand pounds; yet I willingly cure him for the love of God.”
“I have found the answer to the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there cannot be more hurt, only more love.”
“ I am not sure exactly what heaven will be like, but I do know that when we die and it comes to time for God to judge us, he will NOT ask How many good things have you done in your life? Rather he will ask How much LOVE did you put into what you did? ”
“Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat.” "
"Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired.”
Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.
Good works are links that form a chain of love.
On serving God: 
“Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.”
“Each poor person is God in disguise.”
“I am a little pencil in the hand of God who is writing a love letter to the world.”
“I do not pray for success, I ask for faithfulness.”
“I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much.”
“Many people mistake our work for our vocation. Our vocation is the love of God.”
“Sweetest Lord, make me appreciative of the dignity of my high vocation, and its many responsibilities. Never permit me to disgrace it by giving way to coldness, unkindness, or impatience.”
“There should be less talk; a preaching point is not a meeting point. What do you do then? Take a broom and clean someone's house. That says enough.”
“In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.”
“Words which do not give the light of increase the darkness.” 
“Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money can be had, but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go.”
“We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls.”
"At the end of our lives, we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made or how many great things we have done. We will be judged by 'I was hungry and you gave me to eat. I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless and you took me in."
"If we want a love message to be heard, it has got to be sent out. To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it."
God Bless you and your family
Mother Terasa
My Trip to Vrndavana, India
How many of us have heard of Vrndavana, only those that are in Krsna Consciousness will know. Vrndavana is Krsna childhood place where he grows up, before he moved to Mathura.
Some would say it is a mythology but having been there, you can see it is not a mythology. All the ancient temple in the story book are still around, is a proof that it is not a mythology. Krsna pastime does exist.
To me Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, meaning GOD himself.
I remember when the aeroplane landed in New Delhi airport, that feeling in my heart, I am coming home. Home Sweet Home. It takes about 4 to 5 hours by taxi to reach Vrndavana.
We stayed at a rented room which is just next to gurudev’s temple, so it was very convenient. We were lucky to have an attached bathroom. This is a luxury in Vrndavana.
The first thing we did was got ourselves a stove, gas and distilled water. The market and shops were very interesting to me. All the vegetables sold there are organic. Where in Malaysia or any developed or developing country you find organic vegetable at such a cheap price, 2 rupee for 1 kg of spinach. Those vegetables that are in season are very cheap, even it is not in season it is still cheap compared to back home. We would go to the market 2 days once. Fruits from outside are very expensive only foreign will buy. Local find it too expensive. Local fruits are cheap. The interesting part is after so many years the whole place is still a vegetarian. You don’t see any shops or places selling meat.
As you walked or moved around the place, you don’t heard excused me in Hindi or Bengal. If you are blocking someone vice versa, you just said “RADHE RADHE”. I had to get used to it. I keep saying thank you, the landlord said no thank you, Radhe Radhe.
My first day at the market was quite an experience, a monkey urinated on me. The next trip a bird shit on my head. My god-sisters said it is auspicious. I guess I’ll take it as auspicious.
You have to be careful of all the monkeys there. Any shining thing they see they will just grab and run. So I will not wear my spectacle or any jewelry. If you buy fruits and vegetables make sure all are put in a bag that the monkeys cannot see. If they see, they will attack your goodies.
Ah! Yamuna River is slowly drying up. You can see all the temples that were built by her river side, have a place where you can play with her water. Now you can’t anymore as her river side is about 100 meters away now.
Went to Govardhana to see Govardhana Hill, Radha Kunda and many other temples and kund. Govardhana is quite different from Vrndavana.
I like Vrndavana it feels like home in the heart but the body especially the skin cannot take the weather there. After 2 days there my skin begins to show rashes. Tried putting lotion it did not helped. So I decided not to put any. Slowly the rashes begin to subside. After 2 weeks I had to leave the place, I know if I stayed longer, my skin will showed. I was having the same problem as my first trip to Mayapur, India.
I hope to return to Mayapur and Vrndavana again for my parikarma. Parikarma is important to me. Hope Krsna will let me fulfilled this desire.
.
I will not type much here as going there to experience is the best. Don’t have high expectation of the place like a modern city. It is not, but it is not entirely a village too. It’s like a small city. I did not take my digital camera along. The next time I’ll go I will take picture hopefully the monkeys will not grab my camera.
Some would say it is a mythology but having been there, you can see it is not a mythology. All the ancient temple in the story book are still around, is a proof that it is not a mythology. Krsna pastime does exist.
To me Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, meaning GOD himself.
I remember when the aeroplane landed in New Delhi airport, that feeling in my heart, I am coming home. Home Sweet Home. It takes about 4 to 5 hours by taxi to reach Vrndavana.
We stayed at a rented room which is just next to gurudev’s temple, so it was very convenient. We were lucky to have an attached bathroom. This is a luxury in Vrndavana.
The first thing we did was got ourselves a stove, gas and distilled water. The market and shops were very interesting to me. All the vegetables sold there are organic. Where in Malaysia or any developed or developing country you find organic vegetable at such a cheap price, 2 rupee for 1 kg of spinach. Those vegetables that are in season are very cheap, even it is not in season it is still cheap compared to back home. We would go to the market 2 days once. Fruits from outside are very expensive only foreign will buy. Local find it too expensive. Local fruits are cheap. The interesting part is after so many years the whole place is still a vegetarian. You don’t see any shops or places selling meat.
As you walked or moved around the place, you don’t heard excused me in Hindi or Bengal. If you are blocking someone vice versa, you just said “RADHE RADHE”. I had to get used to it. I keep saying thank you, the landlord said no thank you, Radhe Radhe.
My first day at the market was quite an experience, a monkey urinated on me. The next trip a bird shit on my head. My god-sisters said it is auspicious. I guess I’ll take it as auspicious.
You have to be careful of all the monkeys there. Any shining thing they see they will just grab and run. So I will not wear my spectacle or any jewelry. If you buy fruits and vegetables make sure all are put in a bag that the monkeys cannot see. If they see, they will attack your goodies.
Ah! Yamuna River is slowly drying up. You can see all the temples that were built by her river side, have a place where you can play with her water. Now you can’t anymore as her river side is about 100 meters away now.
Went to Govardhana to see Govardhana Hill, Radha Kunda and many other temples and kund. Govardhana is quite different from Vrndavana.
I like Vrndavana it feels like home in the heart but the body especially the skin cannot take the weather there. After 2 days there my skin begins to show rashes. Tried putting lotion it did not helped. So I decided not to put any. Slowly the rashes begin to subside. After 2 weeks I had to leave the place, I know if I stayed longer, my skin will showed. I was having the same problem as my first trip to Mayapur, India.
I hope to return to Mayapur and Vrndavana again for my parikarma. Parikarma is important to me. Hope Krsna will let me fulfilled this desire.
.
I will not type much here as going there to experience is the best. Don’t have high expectation of the place like a modern city. It is not, but it is not entirely a village too. It’s like a small city. I did not take my digital camera along. The next time I’ll go I will take picture hopefully the monkeys will not grab my camera.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
My Trip to Taiwan (台湾)
Mom and I had wanted to go to Taiwan for a long time but some how we always end up going somewhere else or could not find the right time to go.
This year my brother decided to take his family to Taiwan for a holiday. Mom, 2 nephews, niece and I went along with them. Visited Taipei (台北) and other small town near Taipei.
We arrived at Taoyuan International Airport (桃园中正国际机场) around 7.30pm. I can’t remember an hour or half to reach Taipei. It was cold when we arrived at Taoyuan International Airport as it’s near the sea. I think the temperature was around 16c to 20c.
The local tour guide took us to one of their night market called Shilin (士林夜市). Since I am a vegetarian and it was late at night I did not want supper. The others tried their local food. They tried their Or Ah Mee Suah, Fish Ball, Fried Crab and a few others. They find the food quite bland. Just like when an India person eating Chinese food in Malaysia, the India friend will always said Chinese food no taste, not enough spice. There were still time we took the opportunity to shop, niece, nephew and I went into a shop that sell local brand. We find the fashion and price was okay, we bought quite a bit there, especially me, as I like trouser with lots of pocket. We bought scarf and gloves too.
We check in the Hotel in Taipei. The next day we left for Leofoo Village Theme Park (六幅村). It is divided into region, like you have the Wild Wild West, Arabian Nights and so on. All the rides in the Theme Park are free. I find our Genting Highland Theme Park and Sunway Lagoon is much better. When we watch Jacky Wu in his game show, the place looks like it is very big and the ride so scary, actually it is not that scary. We tried the boat ride where the boat falls at 90degree before you fall out the boat goes back to 0 degree again. Here the water will splash onto your face. It was a good thing my brother got us some recycle rain coat. If not……
No doubt the rain coat is from the dustbin, I appreciated it, to me better than nothing. Most of them get it from the dustbin nearby anyway. Anyway the dustbin had only thrown away rain coat.
We had lunch at the Theme Park and continue to Yilan Winery (宜兰甲子兰酒文物馆), it shows the history of traditional wine making. Did not find the wine interesting but my niece and I found some hand make handicraft.(手工艺品）The biscuit with that molasses is very good. I had yet to try it. Those that had tried said it is good. From here we moved to our next destination. That is Yilan Traditional Art Centre.
Yilan Traditional Art Centre (宜兰传统术中心), this is quite an interesting place. You get all their local tribes arts here. I had a wonderful time here, we bought bracelets, earrings and phone-chains. We bought this magic Absorbent Coaster. This coaster when you place your cup or mug on it, if there is water at the bottom of the cup or mug it will absorb the water, leaving your desks dry and clean. It had beautiful picture on it too. Mom tried spinning the top, and she did it, after so many years she still had the magic there. My brother and I were super excited over it, especially me I was jumping up and down getting the others to clap too. I guess I was proud of my mom as others could not spin the top. We were not interested in the Chinese traditional show, to us it is boring.
That night we had dinner and check in at Shangri-la Boutique Hotel, for a small town like Yilan that Hotel or resort is consider 4 stars. After dinner, some went fishing, some wanted to dip in the hot spring. All was abandon. We end up watching the 8pm movie on chocolate. It was quite entertaining.
The next day we went to Yehliu Geopark (野柳地质公园) this is where the famous queen’s head and fairy shoes. It was very windy and cold.
The tour guide took us to Danshui Oldtown and Fisherman’s Wharf( to watch the sunset. It was so cold and windy that all end up eating Ah Mah Fish Ball except me. The tour guide asked did you all saw the sunset, we said no but we saw Ah Mah Fish Ball, we had a good laugh.
Next day visit is nothing special, visited the home of Chiang Kai Shek, Miniatures Museum and Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall. I don’t find Taipei 101 Observation Deck special. We had to pay, while our Petronas Twin Tower we don’t have to. When we were at the Taipei 101 Observation Deck, the staff came to our tour guide saying there is special gift for guest that day. We were having high expectation on the gift, guess what it is. It is a bookmark, just a strip of paper with a Chinese painting on it. I guess better than nothing lah.
Things are very expensive at 101 malls and those malls around it. This is what I called branded. The whole mall is so classy. Luckily there is Giordano on Christmas sales, we got some pants. Did not walked away empty handed. I bought Aska Yang Star Start DVD concert. Had watched it, for a beginner it is good.
Had been to Hong Kong, Taiwan and China, if you want to shop and eat it is better to go to Hong Kong. There is more to Malaysian taste bud. I still prefer shopping in China they have lots of their local brand which is not bad too.
This trip I learned a thing from niece, the luggage strip during check-in there is name on it. I thought only number, silly me.
This year my brother decided to take his family to Taiwan for a holiday. Mom, 2 nephews, niece and I went along with them. Visited Taipei (台北) and other small town near Taipei.
We arrived at Taoyuan International Airport (桃园中正国际机场) around 7.30pm. I can’t remember an hour or half to reach Taipei. It was cold when we arrived at Taoyuan International Airport as it’s near the sea. I think the temperature was around 16c to 20c.
The local tour guide took us to one of their night market called Shilin (士林夜市). Since I am a vegetarian and it was late at night I did not want supper. The others tried their local food. They tried their Or Ah Mee Suah, Fish Ball, Fried Crab and a few others. They find the food quite bland. Just like when an India person eating Chinese food in Malaysia, the India friend will always said Chinese food no taste, not enough spice. There were still time we took the opportunity to shop, niece, nephew and I went into a shop that sell local brand. We find the fashion and price was okay, we bought quite a bit there, especially me, as I like trouser with lots of pocket. We bought scarf and gloves too.
We check in the Hotel in Taipei. The next day we left for Leofoo Village Theme Park (六幅村). It is divided into region, like you have the Wild Wild West, Arabian Nights and so on. All the rides in the Theme Park are free. I find our Genting Highland Theme Park and Sunway Lagoon is much better. When we watch Jacky Wu in his game show, the place looks like it is very big and the ride so scary, actually it is not that scary. We tried the boat ride where the boat falls at 90degree before you fall out the boat goes back to 0 degree again. Here the water will splash onto your face. It was a good thing my brother got us some recycle rain coat. If not……
No doubt the rain coat is from the dustbin, I appreciated it, to me better than nothing. Most of them get it from the dustbin nearby anyway. Anyway the dustbin had only thrown away rain coat.
We had lunch at the Theme Park and continue to Yilan Winery (宜兰甲子兰酒文物馆), it shows the history of traditional wine making. Did not find the wine interesting but my niece and I found some hand make handicraft.(手工艺品）The biscuit with that molasses is very good. I had yet to try it. Those that had tried said it is good. From here we moved to our next destination. That is Yilan Traditional Art Centre.
Yilan Traditional Art Centre (宜兰传统术中心), this is quite an interesting place. You get all their local tribes arts here. I had a wonderful time here, we bought bracelets, earrings and phone-chains. We bought this magic Absorbent Coaster. This coaster when you place your cup or mug on it, if there is water at the bottom of the cup or mug it will absorb the water, leaving your desks dry and clean. It had beautiful picture on it too. Mom tried spinning the top, and she did it, after so many years she still had the magic there. My brother and I were super excited over it, especially me I was jumping up and down getting the others to clap too. I guess I was proud of my mom as others could not spin the top. We were not interested in the Chinese traditional show, to us it is boring.
That night we had dinner and check in at Shangri-la Boutique Hotel, for a small town like Yilan that Hotel or resort is consider 4 stars. After dinner, some went fishing, some wanted to dip in the hot spring. All was abandon. We end up watching the 8pm movie on chocolate. It was quite entertaining.
The next day we went to Yehliu Geopark (野柳地质公园) this is where the famous queen’s head and fairy shoes. It was very windy and cold.The tour guide took us to Danshui Oldtown and Fisherman’s Wharf( to watch the sunset. It was so cold and windy that all end up eating Ah Mah Fish Ball except me. The tour guide asked did you all saw the sunset, we said no but we saw Ah Mah Fish Ball, we had a good laugh.
Next day visit is nothing special, visited the home of Chiang Kai Shek, Miniatures Museum and Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall. I don’t find Taipei 101 Observation Deck special. We had to pay, while our Petronas Twin Tower we don’t have to. When we were at the Taipei 101 Observation Deck, the staff came to our tour guide saying there is special gift for guest that day. We were having high expectation on the gift, guess what it is. It is a bookmark, just a strip of paper with a Chinese painting on it. I guess better than nothing lah.
Things are very expensive at 101 malls and those malls around it. This is what I called branded. The whole mall is so classy. Luckily there is Giordano on Christmas sales, we got some pants. Did not walked away empty handed. I bought Aska Yang Star Start DVD concert. Had watched it, for a beginner it is good.Had been to Hong Kong, Taiwan and China, if you want to shop and eat it is better to go to Hong Kong. There is more to Malaysian taste bud. I still prefer shopping in China they have lots of their local brand which is not bad too.
This trip I learned a thing from niece, the luggage strip during check-in there is name on it. I thought only number, silly me.
Monday, December 15, 2008
December 2008 PC Fair
I had a good time today. This is the first time I went to PC Fair with my second brother’s children. I hope they had a good time too. Normally I would go with friends or my elder brother’s children or on my own.
This is the first time my niece and nephew goes to a PC Fair. We got ourselves quite a few items. They bought what they wanted, mouse, thumb-drive, ear phone and laptop fan. Myself thumb-drive, laptop fan, two one Gigabytes SD memory card and a W1Max broadband.
When I applied for the W1Max wireless broadband, they had a game where you go into a cubical and tried to get as much money as possible that was flying in the air. I got myself RM78 ringgit. I think I did a good job here but my niece and nephew had a good laugh.
We had or I had a good time bargaining. I learned quite a bit at the Fair, on the MP3, MP4 kind of thing. The Iphone is very expensive, near to RM3,000.00. The latest Desktop, that you can treat it as a laptop, just that it is slightly bigger than laptop or notebook. Laptops are getting smaller, my question is those with big hands will have a hard time at the keyboard. I know when I first used a laptop, my hands always get cramped because keyboard is small compared to a desktop’s keyboard.
The most interesting part for us or me, was not the computer merchandise but the free recycle bags that was given away. We saw people walking around with this P1 Intel recycle bag and bag comes in so many colours. After walking around and asking where they get it, we saw them distributing it. We quickly line up and get our free bags. I was very happy to have the recycle bag. It was at last we got our free recycle bag too like the others. Ha! I am so childish……..
We spend like about 5 hours at the Fair. On the way home we stopped at Starbuck to have our chocolate and mocha. Taking a taxi from KLCC will be difficult, not that there is no taxi but the taxi will not use the meter. We took the bus to Masjib Jamek and get our taxi from there. It was a first bus ride for my niece and nephew. I hope they find it interesting. I know they find it hard balancing themselves.
I am going to try my wireless broadband tomorrow. If it is good I am going to disconnect my streamyx and the fix phone line. I hope the service will be better than streamyx. Now with the competition coming in, I hope broadband will be cheap in future.
The next PC Fair I am going to get myself a MP4, would come in handy during meeting, recording Maharaj spiritual talks and during my travel. It should be cheaper than wah! Me so “Kiam Siap”(stingy) ha! Like one of my nephew said, already no money if not kiam siap lagi no money. I like what he said.
This is the first time my niece and nephew goes to a PC Fair. We got ourselves quite a few items. They bought what they wanted, mouse, thumb-drive, ear phone and laptop fan. Myself thumb-drive, laptop fan, two one Gigabytes SD memory card and a W1Max broadband.
When I applied for the W1Max wireless broadband, they had a game where you go into a cubical and tried to get as much money as possible that was flying in the air. I got myself RM78 ringgit. I think I did a good job here but my niece and nephew had a good laugh.
We had or I had a good time bargaining. I learned quite a bit at the Fair, on the MP3, MP4 kind of thing. The Iphone is very expensive, near to RM3,000.00. The latest Desktop, that you can treat it as a laptop, just that it is slightly bigger than laptop or notebook. Laptops are getting smaller, my question is those with big hands will have a hard time at the keyboard. I know when I first used a laptop, my hands always get cramped because keyboard is small compared to a desktop’s keyboard.
The most interesting part for us or me, was not the computer merchandise but the free recycle bags that was given away. We saw people walking around with this P1 Intel recycle bag and bag comes in so many colours. After walking around and asking where they get it, we saw them distributing it. We quickly line up and get our free bags. I was very happy to have the recycle bag. It was at last we got our free recycle bag too like the others. Ha! I am so childish……..
We spend like about 5 hours at the Fair. On the way home we stopped at Starbuck to have our chocolate and mocha. Taking a taxi from KLCC will be difficult, not that there is no taxi but the taxi will not use the meter. We took the bus to Masjib Jamek and get our taxi from there. It was a first bus ride for my niece and nephew. I hope they find it interesting. I know they find it hard balancing themselves.
I am going to try my wireless broadband tomorrow. If it is good I am going to disconnect my streamyx and the fix phone line. I hope the service will be better than streamyx. Now with the competition coming in, I hope broadband will be cheap in future.
The next PC Fair I am going to get myself a MP4, would come in handy during meeting, recording Maharaj spiritual talks and during my travel. It should be cheaper than wah! Me so “Kiam Siap”(stingy) ha! Like one of my nephew said, already no money if not kiam siap lagi no money. I like what he said.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
My Trips to Dad’s Birthplace, China（中国）
I have been to China 7 times including dad’s hometown. I remember about 10 years ago, I wanted to see China, my ancestor’s home country. So I booked my first trip to China, on MATTA fair.
The first was The Silk Road. I did not know where to start, so I decided to start from the west. It’s started from Urumqi（乌鲁木齐） and ends in Xian（西安）. But we departed from Chengdu Sichuan’s （成都，四川）airport for home. I can’t remember how many states we went but each day was a different state. So it should be about 8 to 9 states as it was a 12 days trip. Each state you can see the influence of the Arabs traders, that is the Islam religion. Some have more and some have less influence. Thru out the trip the most exciting part is the camel ride to the dessert sand dune, where you ski the sand hills. The most difficult part or most uncomfortable was the train ride to the next city thru out the night to cross the dessert. It was so dried. I had a bleeding nose the next morning when I tried to sneeze. I think most of us had, and water was running out especially the toilet. I don’t think I will go for another Silk Road tour again. If I do I will only visit Urumqi.
When we landed in Urumqi’s airport, I noticed besides the airport’s name in Chinese characters, it was also in Jawi. The announcement thru the intercom was announced in Mandarin (华语) and Russian language. I was like what language is that. Then the tour guide said, Urumqi is near to Russia’s border. Don’t think the place is very backward, to our surprised it’s very modern and clean compared to Kuala Lumpur.
I remember in a town (can’t remember which town) it was Mahgrid, you can see the Muslim leave their duty and run to the mosque for prayer once they hear the announcement thru the loud-speaker. Once it is finished they will run back to their work place.
This trip I saw the ending or the tail of The Great Wall of China (万里长城), here the step are smaller compared to The Great Wall of China in Beijing.
Those of you that want to see China should take this trip, The Silk Road. It is very different compare with east China. This trip is not meant for the old or those with high blood pressure.
Those days, digital camera was not invented so to post is to scan the photos, maybe later when I have time. Or digital camera was too expensive for me, should be too expensive for me.
Other part of China that I had been to is Beijing(北京). Here the only thing I find very special is The Great Wall of China(万里长城), others I find it interesting but not that special.
Next was Shanghai(上海). It is not solely Shanghai, the trip takes us to the neighbor town or state. I had been to this trip twice, once with my friend then with my mom. As mom had not been so I took her there.
Been here twice, I only find the Yellow Mountain (黄山) very breath taking. On the way up the scenery is exactly like the Chinese brush painting on mountains. It is so beautiful. When you are on top of the mountain, you can feel the freshness of the mountain air. Here every thing is man carried from the foot of the mountain to the top of the mountain. Pollution is kept to the minimum, hotel’s laundry are carried to the foot of the mountain for washing. Those that go to Shanghai trip should visit the Yellow Mountain, a beautiful place. It’s good to have strong legs, lots of climbing. If you don’t want to climb you can pay to be carried around.
Hainan Island(海南岛) and Shenzhen(深圳), I find nothing special, will not visit it again.
After so many trips to different part of China, I wanted to visit my dad’s hometown and see my aunties and uncle. Just wanted to see them, see how the province looks like. In 2007 last year, my dad’s friend was going back. Mom and me tagged along, as without his help locating my aunties and uncle will be difficult. My dad’s province is in Fujian (福建), a 4 hours drive from Xiamen (厦门).
My aunties and uncle are very old already. I am glad I get the chance to see them as I won’t know when my mom will want to go again. At least I had see them and called them aunties and uncle.
Houses in the province are much bigger than what we had in Malaysia. If you meet Chinese from China, when they said they are trying to build a house in their province. You should ask how big the house is. I enjoyed my stay there, but they keep calling us Malay.
Here are some pictures I had taken at the province.
The first was The Silk Road. I did not know where to start, so I decided to start from the west. It’s started from Urumqi（乌鲁木齐） and ends in Xian（西安）. But we departed from Chengdu Sichuan’s （成都，四川）airport for home. I can’t remember how many states we went but each day was a different state. So it should be about 8 to 9 states as it was a 12 days trip. Each state you can see the influence of the Arabs traders, that is the Islam religion. Some have more and some have less influence. Thru out the trip the most exciting part is the camel ride to the dessert sand dune, where you ski the sand hills. The most difficult part or most uncomfortable was the train ride to the next city thru out the night to cross the dessert. It was so dried. I had a bleeding nose the next morning when I tried to sneeze. I think most of us had, and water was running out especially the toilet. I don’t think I will go for another Silk Road tour again. If I do I will only visit Urumqi.
When we landed in Urumqi’s airport, I noticed besides the airport’s name in Chinese characters, it was also in Jawi. The announcement thru the intercom was announced in Mandarin (华语) and Russian language. I was like what language is that. Then the tour guide said, Urumqi is near to Russia’s border. Don’t think the place is very backward, to our surprised it’s very modern and clean compared to Kuala Lumpur.
I remember in a town (can’t remember which town) it was Mahgrid, you can see the Muslim leave their duty and run to the mosque for prayer once they hear the announcement thru the loud-speaker. Once it is finished they will run back to their work place.
This trip I saw the ending or the tail of The Great Wall of China (万里长城), here the step are smaller compared to The Great Wall of China in Beijing.
Those of you that want to see China should take this trip, The Silk Road. It is very different compare with east China. This trip is not meant for the old or those with high blood pressure.
Those days, digital camera was not invented so to post is to scan the photos, maybe later when I have time. Or digital camera was too expensive for me, should be too expensive for me.
Other part of China that I had been to is Beijing(北京). Here the only thing I find very special is The Great Wall of China(万里长城), others I find it interesting but not that special.
Next was Shanghai(上海). It is not solely Shanghai, the trip takes us to the neighbor town or state. I had been to this trip twice, once with my friend then with my mom. As mom had not been so I took her there.
Been here twice, I only find the Yellow Mountain (黄山) very breath taking. On the way up the scenery is exactly like the Chinese brush painting on mountains. It is so beautiful. When you are on top of the mountain, you can feel the freshness of the mountain air. Here every thing is man carried from the foot of the mountain to the top of the mountain. Pollution is kept to the minimum, hotel’s laundry are carried to the foot of the mountain for washing. Those that go to Shanghai trip should visit the Yellow Mountain, a beautiful place. It’s good to have strong legs, lots of climbing. If you don’t want to climb you can pay to be carried around.
Hainan Island(海南岛) and Shenzhen(深圳), I find nothing special, will not visit it again.
After so many trips to different part of China, I wanted to visit my dad’s hometown and see my aunties and uncle. Just wanted to see them, see how the province looks like. In 2007 last year, my dad’s friend was going back. Mom and me tagged along, as without his help locating my aunties and uncle will be difficult. My dad’s province is in Fujian (福建), a 4 hours drive from Xiamen (厦门).
My aunties and uncle are very old already. I am glad I get the chance to see them as I won’t know when my mom will want to go again. At least I had see them and called them aunties and uncle.
Houses in the province are much bigger than what we had in Malaysia. If you meet Chinese from China, when they said they are trying to build a house in their province. You should ask how big the house is. I enjoyed my stay there, but they keep calling us Malay.
Here are some pictures I had taken at the province.
星期一开始华语班 (Monday Starts Mandarin Class)
我 星 期 一 开 始 学 习 汉 语。老 师 会 来 家 教 我。这 会 比 较 快。我 就 得 这 几 个 月 我 的 汉 语 会 近 步。
(This Monday I am starting my Mandarin. The teacher will come to my house to teach. This will be faster to learn Mandarin. I feel these few months my Mandarin will improve)
这 是 我 的 第 一 个 华 语 blog. 我 希 望 讲 来 我 会 写 长 一 点 的 华 语 blog.
(This is my first Chinese blog. I hope in future I can write longer Chinese blog.)
(This Monday I am starting my Mandarin. The teacher will come to my house to teach. This will be faster to learn Mandarin. I feel these few months my Mandarin will improve)
这 是 我 的 第 一 个 华 语 blog. 我 希 望 讲 来 我 会 写 长 一 点 的 华 语 blog.
(This is my first Chinese blog. I hope in future I can write longer Chinese blog.)
Loss Out Because Don’t Read and Write Chinese 华语
Due to globalization, international firms that venture out of their countries, goes to China (中国) are looking for employee that know Chinese and English. So those that don’t know Chinese will loose out here.
I am bilingual, but the wrong combination, Bahasa Malaysia(马来语) and English(英语). If I choose to stay out of Chinese market then it is okay. If I want to go into Chinese market here I will loose out.
There are big giant companies looking for employees to fill the vacant positions in their project or company. So those who are bilingual the right combination will get the interview first, so wrong combination will always be second choice or no chance at all.
I loose out here as I did not get my interview straight away. My interview is about 2 month time when the interviewer comes home for his/her home trip. I was given this interview is because I showed her the confident in me.
There will be those who know Chinese but had not used it for a long time. They read but when it comes to writing or presenting it will be also a tedious task. Here the person might not want to take up the challenge.
With China emerging as an economic giant, being really good in English(英语) and Chinese(华语) is very useful. It opens up another opportunity. To tap this opportunity I must know English and Chinese. That is why I am giving myself 2 years to really pick this language up. I am getting myself a private tutor. Hopefully after 3 months I am able to raise my standard of Chinese from standard two to six. I should not give up so easily. Like I always tell my nephew when you play a computer game and not able to win the first time, tell yourself 我可以的(I can do it), give it a second try. I am telling myself the same thing我不会放弃。我可以的。(I will not give up. I can do it。)
I am bilingual, but the wrong combination, Bahasa Malaysia(马来语) and English(英语). If I choose to stay out of Chinese market then it is okay. If I want to go into Chinese market here I will loose out.
There are big giant companies looking for employees to fill the vacant positions in their project or company. So those who are bilingual the right combination will get the interview first, so wrong combination will always be second choice or no chance at all.
I loose out here as I did not get my interview straight away. My interview is about 2 month time when the interviewer comes home for his/her home trip. I was given this interview is because I showed her the confident in me.
There will be those who know Chinese but had not used it for a long time. They read but when it comes to writing or presenting it will be also a tedious task. Here the person might not want to take up the challenge.
With China emerging as an economic giant, being really good in English(英语) and Chinese(华语) is very useful. It opens up another opportunity. To tap this opportunity I must know English and Chinese. That is why I am giving myself 2 years to really pick this language up. I am getting myself a private tutor. Hopefully after 3 months I am able to raise my standard of Chinese from standard two to six. I should not give up so easily. Like I always tell my nephew when you play a computer game and not able to win the first time, tell yourself 我可以的(I can do it), give it a second try. I am telling myself the same thing我不会放弃。我可以的。(I will not give up. I can do it。)
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