FASCINATING INSIGHTS INTO LIFE

The listing of George Town as World Heritage Site

2008-07-12T13:45:00.030+01:00

As a Penangite, I'm very proud that George Town has been listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site recently. I'm confident that Penang will make further inroads into the tourism industry by tapping the uniqueness of the existing heritage sites; restoring pre-war buildings, temples and clans settlements; organising more cultural and religious activities; and easing traffic congestion especially in the inner city heritage zone. There's lots to be done …

I had successfully completed my training as a vascular physiologist : microdisecting mesenteric artery (100-200 microns) of the rat, mounting it in a vessel chamber canulated with glass micropipettes, securing it with silk ligatures, pressurizing it..... Thanks to my supervisors who have given me invaluable pointers throughout the project. The world of research is not as rosy as we perceive. It needs lots of talents, effort and alot of luck to be a renowned researcher!

Now,I'm embarking on the real stuff with data recording. In fact i have been working from 9 to 9 almost everyday. It's been really tiring... hopefully, this'll pay off at the end of the day. Indeed a very challenging task but definitely a very valuable experience.

Here are some photos which I took during my trip to Crete, Santorini

and Athens last month. Parthenon

Parthenon at nightAthens Olympic StadiumDelphi

Parthenon Delphi
On the ferry to Santorini
Oia
Tall Ship- King thira
Golden Star Hotel, Santorini
Kameni Island
Kamari Beach
Perissa Beach

Venetian walls

Arena Beach
Knossos

My long-awaited semester break

2008-05-17T15:59:00.003+01:00

At last, my final paper "Cancer Chemotheraphy and Immunopathology" two days ago marked the end of my fourth semester in UCD. Time really flies unnoticeably and I only have a semester left before continuing my clinicals in Penang. Hence, I need to optimise this semester break fruitfully.

I will be spending the early part of my semester break touring Greece - Athens, Santorini Island and Crete with Sam and Alwyn. We will be moving over to our new house at Taney Road, Dundrum after our vacation. It is a double-storey house with spacious compounds and cosy rooms. We have no complaints in terms of facilities and space.

The two setbacks are the incredibly high rental (3000 euro or RM15000) and the extra distance to the varsity. Luckily, the owner allows us to rent until mid March 2009. We are saving 3 months rents indirectly because some owners will only rent out their premises for a duration of one year instead of nine months.

I am elated for being given the golden opportunity to carry out a summer research project under the kind tutelage of Dr Ken and Dr Bund. The title of the project is "Vascular Reactivity in an Animal Model of Sleep Apnoea". I am really looking forward to learn from them.

Not forgetting to congratulate my sister, Jane for being awarded "Pelajar Terbaik SPM Negeri Pulau Pinang" recently during my hectic schedule preparing for my exams. All the best in your future endeavours, my dear!

Welcome Spring with Sakura (Cherry blossoms) in UCD

2008-04-12T21:16:00.002+01:00

I deemed myself very lucky for being able to view the blossoming of Sakura twice these two years. It was really awesome watching the warm and beautiful cherry blossoms in Spring. It is believed that the cherry blossoms are in bloom for only a week or so. That calls for reflection on the transient nature of life. Our youth will slowly propel into another stage of life unknowingly. Hence, we need to treasure the transient nature of our life by doing the best for ourselves, our family, our country, our fellow citizens and humanity as a whole.

The blooming of Sakura is very symbolic in Japan as it marks lots of new beginnings – the commencing of new school year and the starting of the new fiscal year for Japanese businesses. May the season also marks the new beginnings in your endeavour for a better life, happy future, healthy lifestyle, successful career, harmonious friendship …

My 21st Birthday

2007-12-22T02:34:00.000Z

A very special milestone in life. Some say, "It's a key to freedom." Others say, "You're able to go for voting, especially when our country's general election is approaching." As for me, "It's time to get more serious with life. On the other hand, I can only plan but God determines everything from head to toes..."

Thank buddies (Sam, Alwyn, Jien Han, Arnold, Charles, Ling) for the special birthday cake despite having to sit for the last paper "Endocrine Biology" the next morning, 18th December. Not forgetting my friends from far and near who sent birthday greetings to me, I would like to say a "Big Thank You". You all really lightened up my day...

At last, my 3rd. Semester Exams was over. I still have 2 more semesters left over here. Time flies! Do you know the thing that most working people regret is forgoing travelling when they were young? It's pretty true especially you are facing time constraints, job commitments, new family commitments and whatnot.

Hence, I will be taking the opportunity of touring Eastern Europe this semester break...

Be Irish for a day

2007-10-06T18:54:00.000+01:00

Last Saturday, 29th of September, I went for a "Farm Trip" somewhere in County Meath (north of county Dublin). It was a truly memorable trip. We left Dublin in the morning around 10.00am. It took about an hour to reach the farm. We were greeted warm heartedly by a very friendly Irish family living in a farm. We did lots of 'irish thing' from baking the butter bread to Kaylee dancing. It was all fun. Well, the highlight of the day was the final event where all of us were supposed to perform something be it singing or dancing to represent our country. Guees what ; we ended up singing 'rasa sayang' and to our utmost surprise, they seemed to enjoy it!! It was a really good exemplar of cultural tourism which we should prioritize!

… with a baa, baa here,
and a baa, baa there,
here a baa, there a baa,
everywhere a baa, baa,
Old Mac Donald had a farm,
E-I-E-I-O…

3, Clonskeagh Road

2007-09-20T17:22:00.000+01:00

Students were searching high and low for a place to stay with the commencement of the new semester 2007/2008. We were very lucky because we found our new residence during the end of the last semester.

The rental is quite expensive, i.e. 450 euro per person for a twin-sharing room. This means the rental for a twin-sharing room amounted to a whopping sums of around RM4500 per month. Luckily, the rent is inclusive of electricity and internet connection.

The main drawback to it is the distance from the varsity (2.2km to be exact). We need to resort to cycling which takes around 7-10 minutes. Although it's just a long straight road to class but going uphill is indeed a challenge for an amateur cyclist like me. One of Dublin's plus points is the 'cyclist friendly' environment. It has a rather extensive bikeway network and most importantly mutual respect between cyclists and motorists. Their efforts to ensure the safety of cyclists are to be applauded!

My bed ( i hope the vase doesn't fall on me while i am sleeping)

Staying together in a group is very healthy and full of fun. We cycle to class, cook, have dinner, go grocery shopping together. I really feel at home!!

Let It Be

2007-08-09T17:29:00.000+01:00

When I was driving the other day, I heard the radio playing the Beatles' song entitled "Let it Be". Today, it still remains one of my all time favourite songs. Out of curiosity, I began to seek the special meanings contained in this beautiful song. Let's me share what I have discovered…

This song was written by Paul MacCatney in 1969. It begins with Paul saying how he reacted and retrospected in times of trouble and "Mother Mary" comes to him. What a coincidence! Paul's mother was also named Mary, and she died when he was a young boy.

In the song, Mother Mary comes like an angel whispering to him wise phrase "Let it be". This phrase means let go (stop clinging to something), relax and don't worry unnecessarily. This phrase offers guilding hands to us. It reminds us not to keep pondering over unfortunate incidents excessively. We need to be realistic and get moving to the next agenda in life by accepting the unfortunate event as a storm in a teacup.

Then, he touched on the broken hearted people in the world who hated and fought each other at war. At that time, there were wars in Vietnam and around the world. People were fighting one another like there's no tomorrow. It is sad to say that today, the global conflicts are still escalating like wildfire.

The best part of the song is that he gives us hope of impending solutions to our worries. He strongly believe that there is still a ray of hope for a better and peaceful world tomorrow. Likewise, he still has confidence that there will be a ray of sunshine for each and every one of us.

"When the broken hearted people living in the world agree,
there will be an answer, let it be."

Hence, whenever and wherever you face any adversities in life, don't give up. Just sing loudly……

Let it be, let it be
Let it be, let it be
There will be an answer
Let it be

"How I Choose My Friends"

2007-08-02T06:03:00.000+01:00

(A Poem by an Unknown Author, Translated from Portuguese)

I choose my friends not for the colour of their skin or any other archetype, but for the pupil of the eye.

It has to have a questioning shine and a disturbing shade.

I'm neither interested in those who are of good spirit nor those that have bad habits.

I keep those that make me crazy and a saint.

Of them I don't want an answer, I want my opposite.

That they bring me doubts and anguishes, and tolerate the worst in me.

For that, only being crazy.

I want the saints, so to they don't doubt of the differences and ask forgiveness for the injustices.

I choose my friends for the washed soul and for the exposed face.

I don't want only the shoulder and the lap, I also want his largest happiness.

Friends that don't laugh together, don't know how to suffer together.

My friends are all like this: Half silly, half serious.

I don't want predictable laughs, or merciful cries.

I want serious friends,

Of those that make of his reality a learning source,

But, they still fight so the fantasy doesn't disappear.

I don't want adult friends or boring ones.

I want them to be half child and half oldies!

Children, so that they don't forget the value of the wind in the face; and oldies, so that they are never in a hurry.

I want friends to know who I am.

Because, though they seem crazy and saints, fools and serious, children and oldies, I will never forget that "normality" is a stupid and sterile illusion.

May the road rise up to meet you

2007-07-17T04:18:00.000+01:00

It was given to me by Mr. Martin Jalleh during the PFS prefects' leadership training camp 4 years ago. It contained beautiful Irish blessing quotes. Until now, it still stands on my table at home.

Life is indeed an uphill struggle. You will never know how good you are until you give yourself a try!

Nonetheless, I strongly believe that whoever we are and whatever we do, if we put our hearts and mind into it, we'll reach our goal ultimately. For certain endeavours, we might just have to take a longer route.

We just have to let life unfolds its path. Just do your best, and God will do the rest.

"Please Keep Your Seats in the Upright Position..."

2007-07-03T06:56:00.000+01:00

Part One

The in-flight "safety lecture" and pre-flight announcements on airplanes are sometimes spiced up a bit at some airlines. Here are some real examples that have been heard or reported:

On a Continental Flight with a very "senior" flight attendant crew, the pilot said, "Ladies and gentlemen, we've reached cruising altitude and will be turning down the cabin lights. This is for your comfort and to enhance the appearance of your flight attendants."

*****************************
"On landing, the stewardess said, "Please be sure to take all of your belongings. If you're going to leave anything, please make sure it's something we'd like to have."

*******************************
"There may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but there are only 4 ways out of this airplane."

****************************
"Thank you for flying Delta Business Express. We hope you enjoyed giving us the business as much as we enjoyed taking you for a ride."

*******************************
"After a particularly rough landing during thunderstorms in Memphis, a flight attendant on a Northwest flight announced, "Please take care when opening the overhead compartments because, after a landing like that, sure as heck everything has shifted."

**********************************
From a Southwest Airlines employee: "Welcome aboard Southwest Flight 245 to Tampa. To operate your seat belt, insert the metal tab into the buckle, and pull tight. It works just like every other seat belt; and, if you don't know how to operate one, you probably shouldn't be out in public unsupervised."

***************************
"In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, masks will descend from the ceiling. Stop screaming, grab the mask, and pull it over your face. If you have a small child traveling with you, secure your mask before assisting with theirs. If you are traveling with more than one small child, pick your favorite."

*****************************
Weather at our destination is 50 degrees with some broken clouds, but we'll try to have them fixed before we arrive. Thank you, and remember, nobody loves you, or your money, more than Southwest Airlines."

*********************************
"Your seat cushions can be used for flotation; and, in the event of an emergency water landing, please paddle to shore and take them with our compliments."

***********************
"As you exit the plane, make sure to gather all of your belongings. Anything left behind will be distributed evenly among the flight attendants. Please do not leave children or spouses."

Funny SMS

2007-02-21T18:28:00.000Z

I received one message in Penang Hokkien. It was very funny. I apologize in advance if you feel offended after reading it. Here goes the sms ..

Learning Hokkien is as easy as ABC.

Children is kina kia.

Bird is jiao kia.

Korean car is Kia.

Give birth is she kia.

Furniture is Ikea.

Police is mata kia.

Small house is chu kia.

Handphone is Nokia.

I'm Hokkien kia.

Malay is Huanna kia.

Indian is Kit Leng kia.

Westerner is Ang Mo kia.

Chinese is Teng Lang kia.

Japanese is Jit Pun kia.

Bad guy is pai kia.

Good guy is ho kia

People who read this sms is gong kia.

If you laugh, you are siaw kia!

Haha… Gong Xi Fa Cai!

GONG HEI GONG HEI

2007-02-18T12:05:00.000Z

Wish'g all bloggers who celebrate CNY:

"Wan Ser Ru Yi
Yi Nian Bi Yi Nian Hau
Boo Boo Gow Sing
Kat Sing Gow Chew
Nin Nin Yau Yue
Man Si Yue Yee
San Tai Kin Hong
Yue Suen Moon Tong
Gong Hei Gong Hei!"

This is the first year I won't be able to spend my CNY with my beloved family, sigh… Nonetheless, we will be celebrating CNY amongst our friends here in Ireland. In fact, we feel quite at home now as our circle of friends keep expanding and getting closer and closer…

Let me share with you what we will be expecting for the year of the fire boar (extracted from http://www.astrologycom.com/firepig2.html)

Good Fortune - awaits those born under the zodiac of dragon, tiger and goat. Tiger occupies the 2 nd best in luck rating. The tiger must be humble, tolerant and maintain interpersonal harmony to reap good fortune.

Yearly Elements - 2007 is a mixed one with the year being ruled by the Fire element in Chinese and the Boar being ruled by Water element. With Fire and Water together it's going to be a struggle, as one is inimically the enemy of the other. Fire is on top this year with Water below – and Fire cannot burn without support. When Fire and Water clash, they either result in lots of scalding hot steam and explosions or they can transform whatever situation it was into something completely different.

Previous Boar Years : Previous Fire Boar years have been very dangerous, with much political to-ing and fro-ing, plus lots of upheavals. In 1947 the separation of India and Pakistan took place and, by the end of the year, the two were at war. Palestine was partitioned after a British plan. Britain recorded its most severe winter since 1894 and a fierce blizzard hit New York, where 28 inches (72 cms) of snow were recorded.

The other most interesting event of 1947 was the report of a crashed UFO near Roswell, New Mexico in the USA. Although several flying saucer crashes were reported in the literature around that time, the Roswell crash is the one that has dominated UFO research and been the most publicised.

The Economic Tests - The economy in a Fire Boar year can be very driven, as the Yin Fire aspect starts off the year well. Seasonally, when the Spring and Summer months begin (which is from March/April onwards in the Chinese calendar) then the economies of many countries will perform well. These months are favoured by the Fire element. After the summer finishes and the second half of the year comes, the Water element in the Boar year is more favoured: the Fire dies off, so the economy and stock market may slow right down in that second half. In 1997 which was also a Yin Fire year, the Asian markets collapsed in the second half of that year.

Looking at industries – those related to Fire and Water will not do so well this year with Water and Fire elements clashing. Water types of industries include communications, media, advertising, shipping, and the water bottling and soft drinks industry. The Fire industries are the stock market, finances, energy generation, electricity, technology, and entertainment. Fire and Water can contribute to sudden breakthroughs though, in technology or new energy devices, and there is great potential for new and dramatic inventions that revolutionise the way we generate power and also solve medical problems.

Weather and Politics - Fire and Water clashing says a lot about climate and weather and you can bet that the year 2007 will be one of even more unnatural climate extremes. Expect dramatic weather changes, storms, fires, droughts, volcanic eruptions, floods and even tsunamis. Other events that could be characteristic of 2007 will be chemical fires, industrial explosions and incidents related to factories or chemicals mixed in the wrong manner causing toxic poisoning and maybe even in food poisoning outbreaks.

Best of Fire Boar luck with this year and may all the most illustrious blessings and good fortune come your way.

The Interview With God

2007-02-04T17:19:00.000Z

I dreamed I had an interview with God.

"So you would like to interview me?" God asked.

"If you have the time" I said.

God smiled, "My time is eternity."

"What questions do you have in mind for me?"

"What surprises you most about humankind?"

God answered...

"That they get bored with childhood,

they rush to grow up, and then

"That they lose their health to make money...

and then lose their money to restore their health."

"That by thinking anxiously about the future,

they forget the present,
such that they live in neither
the present nor the future."

"That they live as if they will never die,

and die as though they had never lived."

God's hand took mine

and we were silent for a while.

And then I asked...

"As a parent, what are some of life's lessons
you want your children to learn?"

"To learn they cannot make anyone
love them. All they can do
is let themselves be loved."

"To learn that it is not good

to compare themselves to others."

"To learn to forgive
by practicing forgiveness."

"To learn that it only takes a few seconds

to open profound wounds in those they love,

and it can take many years to heal them."

"To learn that a rich person

is not one who has the most,

but is one who needs the least."

"To learn that there are people
who love them dearly,
but simply have not yet learned
how to express or show their feelings."

"To learn that two people can
look at the same thing
and see it differently."

"To learn that it is not enough that they
forgive one another, but they must also forgive themselves."

"Thank you for your time," I said humbly.

"Is there anything else
you would like your children to know?"

God smiled and said,
"Just know that I am here... always."

- unknown author -

The poem above is very beautiful and meaningful, regardless of your religious orientation or belief. I think the noble values expressed in the verses are insightful and invaluable to all humanity. You can access to the web site and watch video presentation of the poem – very soothing, calm and intriguing. The web site http://www.theinterviewwithgod.com/viewmovie.html .

Back in Dublin

2007-01-20T14:26:00.000Z

So, I'm back from my UK trip - a week in Edinburgh (26/12/06 – 2/1/07), 5 days in London (2/1/07 – 7/1/07), 2 days in Birmingham (7/1/07 – 8/1/07) and finally 4 days in Cork (Ireland) (8/1/07 – 11/1/07).

The trip was really fantastic. Edinburgh is a beautiful and rich city to visit. There were many cultural and historical attractions. I toured Royal Mile, Edinburgh's oldest street. It linked Edinburgh Castle with the Palace of Holyrood House. Edinburgh Castle is situated high on the remains of an extinct volcano.
Of course we did not miss celebrating the Year of James Bond (2007) here. The new year was celebrated on the mammoth scale here with concerts, funfair, street dancing, fireworks and many interesting programs which began a few days before new year day itself. Unfortunately, due to the strong wind, the hogmanay celebrations had to be cancelled. I was walking along princess street on dec 31st when my cap actually flew off. Can u imagine how strong the wind was!!! We were advised to keep our two feet firmly on the ground!! Lifting of either leg could bring serious consequences. We also took the opportunity to visit several universities while in scotland like Edinburgh University, Glasgow Uni and St Andrews Uni.

In London, we lodged at Bankside Hotel, LSE’s student hostel. We went to the Tower Bridge, Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. We also visited Royal Albert Hall where Datin Siti Norhaliza had her concert here. We did not miss Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum despite having to fork out £25.00. We then ventured back down to Picadilly Circus for a quick walk past 10 Downing Street. There was not much to see these days with tight security all over the place. Nonetheless, we still saw a protest going on!! Nonetheless, Chinatown was still the best to visit. We dined in one of the Chinese restaurants here. I had duck rice…. It was yummy and cheap for such a large portion. On our way back we managed to grab Lo mai gai (glutinous rice chicken).

We took a 3 hours bus from London to Birmingham. We did not stay here for long because we couldn't find lodgings. We visited Bull Ring shopping centre, St. Martin’s Church and Star City. We played bowling at Star City and for the first time I scored more than a hundred points. We were bored and decided to catch Apocalypto in the nearby Cinema.

Cork in Ireland has more greenery. The life here is quiet and peaceful as compared to Dublin. We went to Blarney Castle – famous for the Blarney stone. It is believed that those who kiss the stones will be blessed with eloquence. Wonder how true is it!!! Here I had chocolataires, a highly ‘chocolate’ drink with high content of cocoa and a mixture of white, dark and milk chocolate.

Finally, we took a 4 hours bus back to Dublin from Cork. It was tiring but truly an eye- opening experince. The UCD hostels here are still very quiet but most people will be flocking back by tomorrow.

Here are some shots randomly picked by me.

Edinburgh

London

Birmingham

Cork

Warren Buffet

2007-01-03T20:52:00.000Z

Warren Buffet is the second richest man who has donated $31 billion to charity. There was a one hour interview on CNBC with Warren Buffet. Here are some very interesting aspects of his life:

1)He bought his first share at age 11 and he now regrets that he started too late!

2) He bought a small farm at age 14 with savings from delivering newspapers.

3) He still lives in the same small 3 bedroom house in mid-town Omaha,that he bought after he got married 50 years ago. He says that he has everything he needs in that house. His house does not have a wall or a fence.

4) He drives his own car everywhere and does not have a driver or security people around him.

5) He never travels by private jet, although he owns the world's largest private jet company.

6) His company, Berkshire Hathaway, owns 63 companies. He writes only one letter each year to the CEOs of these companies, giving them goals for the year. He never holds meetings or calls them on a regular basis.

7) He has given his CEO's only two rules. Rule number 1: do not lose any of your share holder's money. Rule number 2: Do not forget rule number 1.

8) He does not socialize with the high society crowd. His past time after he gets home is to make himself some pop corn and watch television.

9) Bill Gates, the world's richest man met him for the first time only 5 years ago. Bill Gates did not think he had anything in common with Warren Buffet. So he had scheduled his meeting only for half hour. But when Gates met him, the meeting lasted for ten hours and Bill Gates became a devotee of Warren Buffet.

10) Warren Buffet does not carry a cell phone, nor has a computer on his desk.

11) His advice to young people: Stay away from credit cards and invest in yourself.

Goodbye to Year 2006

2006-12-31T10:42:00.000Z

As I bid a fond farewell to these past 365 days, I tend to ponder over what have I attained in Year 2006. Here are bits and pieces of what I've undergone.

Biggest Accomplishment So Far:

Studying faraway from home has indeed made me very independent in many facets of life. Hopefully, I'll strike a right chord in every endeavour I undertake!!

Best New Experience :

Travelling to UK with friends. Thanks a lot for your kind and warmth hospitality. I'm now in Edinburgh celebrating A Happy New Year 2007.

Best Lessons Learned :

I need to invest in myself as advised by Warren Buffet, a very humble n' yet a very successful man. Resolutions root in conviction.

Best Surprise:

Friends throwing a fantastic surprise 20th birthday party for me at UCD.

Some New Year Resolutions

I am going to take the next 12 months to focus on me, the things I want. I will use that focus to push myself to getting the things I want and need, inject more activities in life. learn this n' that, appreciate this n' that …..

Wishing everyone a blessed New Year'07

May God make your year a happy, healthy n' successful one.

As I See It – My 1st Semester At UCD

2006-12-23T03:50:00.000Z

Time and tide wait for no man. My 1st Semester at UCD which commenced on the 8th of September and my last exams paper just finished on the 19th December, 2006. All in all, I have been here for more than three months already (1/3 of the 1st year). I gazed at the calendar with unbelieving eyes.

In introspection, I put pen to blog my experiences here.

Academic
I took six papers for my 1st Semester, namely Clinical Science Informatics, Basic Tissue and Early Development, Musculoskeletal Biology, The Molecular Basis of Life, Cell Biology and one elective (Sports Science). In UCD, some papers are tested based on True / False MCQ questions. It sounds simple but actually they aren't really that easy. They will test you on very minor details which you may think they are not important at all. It is really agonizing when you try to contemplate the answers with precision. Undeniably, these minor details can make a vast difference especially in medical field. You really need to have a thorough understanding of many teeny-weeny details.

We also took the Basic First Aid Exam (comprising of bandaging and basic first aid skills) which is very useful in rendering First Aid during emergency cases. I went for home visit - one Irish woman who suffers from chronic depression and panic syndrome. It really saddened me to see the patient in such a depressive stage. Well sometimes, we just have to think positively, learn to let go and accept reality in life. "Health is wealth".

We will be moving to our new medical building at UCD Belfield campus itself when the 2nd semester begins in mid- January 2007. This certainly benefits us as we won't have to travel downtown so often– saving expenses and precious time.

On the whole, I learn a lot from such a short period of time mainly on analytical thinking, critical thinking and time management. I hope one day that I'll be able to look back and say, "I did it and I have come this far". I hope I can rise against the odds and beyond.

Social
I have the opportunity to meet people from all over the globe (Ireland, Canada, Africa, Poland, Britain, Singapore and Malaysia). They are indeed very friendly and helpful. Life in Merville is the one I cherish most. It’s like a cultural pot where we actually get to live with the Irish. They are superbly nice and understanding.

Sports
Initially, I took up fencing. I was very enthusiastic for the first 2 months. However, I began to stop attending practice when my workloads started piling up on my table. Anyway, I'll try to go for the practice next semester whenever time permits me.

Food
I mostly cook with the help of another housemate. It is much cheaper than eating outside. I usually get my groceries from Tesco Merrion, a 24-hours supermarket outlet near UCD.

Wireless Connection
I subscribe the wireless connection on my own. It helps me in many ways like chatting with friends, parents as well as seeking extra info for my group projects. Nevertheless, my apartment will be fixed with wireless connection beginning next year. Hence, I can save subscription of around 18 euro per month.

Weather
The crazy gale is sometimes frightening. At times, it might be blowing at 100-120 km per hour, unseen in Malaysia. The temperature is also erratic, end of November, there were several nights hitting freezing points but now the temperature hovers around 4 degree Celsius. Actually, it is the strong gale that gives rise to misery.

"No Pain, No Gain"

A Real Surprise 20th Birthday Party

2006-12-17T20:14:00.000Z

Thanks to all of you for a fantastic surprise 20th birthday party! Amin orchestrated the surprise party by rounding up ex-intecers (Farhan, Rebecca, Joo Ken, Anjanna, Chai Zhen, Ilyas) and UCDians (Yolanda, Ashween, Grace, Evangeline) and Nicholas Pang (Newcastle) who is in Dublin for holidays.

After MSNing my parents and sister for about an hour and receiving birthday wishes, virtual kisses and hugs from them (Malaysian Time 12.00 am), I was watching scrubs with amin thinking it’s going to be like any ordinary day. Suddenly, I heard someone knocking on my door around dinner time. I was stunned seeing a troop of people standing right at my door step. I had a feeling there was something going on. It was indeed a big surprise for me. They were here to throw a surprise birthday party for me. Oh, so kind and sweet of you all! That was pretty awesome because I wasn't expecting it at all especially when majority of UCDians still have two more papers for their 1st Semester Exams. The whole setup did not catch my suspicion at all. I was also thankful to my RCSI-Intecians friends who made all the way to UCD to hold a surprise birthday party for me. I appreciated it with all my heart. I also owed great gratitude to friends who spent so much time, money, effort, heart and soul preparing food and elaborately decorated birthday cake for the birthday party. Not forgetting thanks for your presents and kindness. I feel so blessed and deeply touched, "What a beautiful family this is! This party is so sweet, so loving and so lovely."

Thanks to Wee Loon, Adeline, Yew Mai, Esmond, Tze Huei, Khai Lip and friends far and near who take their precious time sending e-cards, testimonials and messages to me. Thanks also to all of you who wrote and called! You all make me feel loved.

Hats off to you all for making my 20th birthday so special and a memorable one.

I thank you for your good wishes specially for my 20 th birthday,

Your kind thought and loving care certainly keep my spirits up,

I feel so blessed and may your life be filled with happiness and love,

May your kindness and sweetness be reciprocated with bountiful blessings from God.

me cutting the cake

ex- Intecians

with ashween and grace

happy moment together

with nick and farhan

all the beautiful angels

Words...

2006-12-01T14:08:00.000Z

Kind words are good for the souls,
They soothe away the pain and despair,
They bring strength and comfort,
They build self-confidence.

Inspirational words are the most sought after,
They spur us into action,
They raise our hopes,
They make our dreams a reality.

Affectionate words are declared openly,
They bind two hearts together,
They develop a lasting relationship,
They establish peace and harmony.

Let's radiate true kindness in words,
Let's choose words wisely,
Let's speak in a gentle voice,
Believe me, words can do wonders!!

ryan

The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet

2006-11-17T18:30:00.000Z

Just finished sitting for Basic First Aid Exam on Tuesday (14/11/06) and Basic Tissues and Early Development Exam on Thursday (16/11/06). Now, I'm focusing attention on completing my assignments before the due date next week or so.

The semester exam is approaching. I have loads and loads of lecture notes to digest. I also need to start filtering through details from the thick medical books to have a good grasp of the subject matter taught by the professors.

Indeed the journey I chose is a pretty tough one. I always inspire myself with Aristotle's words of wisdom "the roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet."

I also keep reminding myself of a little story about a very wise man that could give the correct answer to every query that was posed to him. One day, a small boy caught a bird, clutched it in his hands, and approached the wise man. Then he began to ask: "I have a bird in my hands. Is it dead or alive?" Should the wise man reply that the bird was alive, he would squeeze it tightly with both hands and kill it. On the contrary, should the wise man say that the bird was dead, he would release it and let it fly. The boy was very confident that the wise man would not answer his query this time. Surprisingly, the wise man of wit and intelligence replied: "young man, the answer is really in your hands!" The small boy was completely dumbfounded by the answer and walked away shyly.
It's true the answer is in our hands. But, I still believe that the ultimate answer/decision lies with God.

No matter where we go, give the world the best that we have, and the best will come back to us;

No matter what we do, work joyfully and peacefully, knowing that right thoughts and right efforts will finally bring right results;

No matter what others say about us, in helping others, we will help ourselves, for whatever good we have given out completes the circle and comes back to us;

No matter what we think, success is a journey, not a destination.

Introspection

2006-10-26T20:43:00.000+01:00

At each crucial juncture of life, we pause momentarily to reflect,
Our own shortcomings we beset,
The unrealistic towering goal we hotly pursue,
The misguided life we blindly lead.

At each twist and turn of life, we strive to reach the dizzy heights of success,
We attempt to sail through uncharted waters,
We make every endeavour to overcome formidable obstacles,
We brace ourselves against stormy seas.

That is life in introspection,
Clouded with hopes and despairs,
Brimmed with joys and agonies,
Filled with senses and nonsenses,
Laden with this, that and the other…

Ryan

Merville Students Residence – a surprisingly roomy apartment

2006-10-21T20:27:00.000+01:00

It is a four-roomed apartment. I'm staying in a cosy little room. Although my room is not really large but there is still room to swing a cat! It is a single room with a view of the greenery. Nonetheless, the rental for 9 months amounted to a whopping sums of around Euro 3000++ which is equivalent to around RM15K ++.

I'm sharing the apartment with another Malaysian, Amin (my ex-PFS classmate since Form 3 and an ex-Intecian too) and two Irish undergraduates.

There are two bathrooms in the apartment. There is a kitchenette. The apartment is quite fully-furnished and well-equipped with a living hall, settee, study table, a dining hall, wall-cabinets, an electric oven and not forgetting electric heaters.

Living Hall

Dining Table

Study Table Shower cubicle and bathroom
Kitchenette
Bedroom

Kudos to Professor Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 2006

2006-10-15T15:13:00.000+01:00

I admire his selfless mission and unique revolutionary economic doctrine in giving tiny loans to millions of poor people in Bangladesh whereby no commercial bank would touch — destitute widows and abandoned wives, landless labourers and rickshaw drivers, sweepers and beggars. What an amazing pioneer spirit he possessed? No wonder, he was nicknamed as "banker to the poor".

His notable micro credit theory was well implemented. In the developing world the poor often work at home with raw materials bought with borrowed money. The finished wares have to be sold back to the moneylenders, leaving scarcely enough, after repaying the loan with interest, to feed the family. A failure to repay a debt ends up with people especially children paying by working as bonded labour. Microfinance banks break the cycle by lending to the poor to buy raw materials. This means the workers can sell at a fair price on the open market, a price which is enough to service the debt, feed the family and make a profit. To ensure that debts are paid, money is often lent to groups, particularly women, who appear to respond better to financial terms. Less than a dozen clients guarantee each other's loans and a default by one could result in the entire group being penalised. The resulting peer pressure means repayment rates exceed 95%. What an astonishing achievement? His selfless service has rendered to the poorest of the poor and bringing hope to the hopeless. This in turn will give them a cause of life. There goes a famous saying " Give me a fish, I eat for a day. Teach me to fish, I eat for a lifetime." Most of the aids given by the third world governments do not really reach the hard-core poor. On the contrary, they are siphoned to nowhere. Oh, what a pity!

This micro credit plays an important role to eliminate poverty and ultimately bring peace. It is indeed true that lasting peace cannot be achieved unless a large segment of the population breaks out of poverty. An end to poverty will create a more livable situation between the have-nots and the haves.

One of his unusual notions that I really respect is "All we are doing is telling beggars that, well, since you go house to house begging, would you like to take some merchandise with you, some cookies, some candy, something? With a typical loan of something like $12, she has a basket of merchandise she carries around and goes house to house. Today, many beggars have already quit begging completely."

The poor do not need any grant to change their life. They have this power in them. You remove the lid of the hidden power and poor people will automatically change their lives. Micro credit has proved to be an important liberating force in societies where women in particular have to struggle against repressive social and economic conditions. Professor said, "If you can make so many people so happy with such a small amount of money, why shouldn't you do more of it?" That is a dynamic move that needs to be given full recognition and due attention by the developing countries.

That simple notion has put in motion a huge range of imitators and innovators who have taken that idea and run with it, improved on it as well as expanded it. This is indeed a giant leap leading from the ridiculous to the sublime!!

A Little Bit Country, A Little Bit Urban, A Little Bit UCD……

2006-10-06T22:02:00.000+01:00

A Little Bit Country …

A strategically located lake of scenic beauty

Where have the flowers gone? They are right here! Beautiful and in blossom.

Scenically attractive bird's-eye view of the lake with unspoiled greenery.

A Little Bit Urban...

A shopping paradise with grandeur ancient architecture

The superb statue! It is clearly the work of a master craftsman

A Little Bit UCD…

I was standing at the main gate to UCD. I will be spending 2 ½ years here to get myself acquainted with the so-called highly esteemed Irish medical knowledge.
Merville Students Residence – a simple architecture at first glance. Mind you, I'm deeply surprised with the prevailing warm cosy interior of the hostel that I am lodging in.

Once Ousted, Consider Finished

2006-09-30T18:25:00.000+01:00

Thaksin Shinawatra was walking out of the United Nations building just shortly after he received news that he had been overthrown, when a New Yorker stopped him to ask:
"Sir, are you a Thai?"

The policeman turned tycoon turned politician replied:
"No sir, I am Fin-nish."

Walking off in a huff, he received a telephone call from a military officer in Bangkok,
"Thaksin here, I am still at the UN, what is this talk about a coup? Tell me what\'s happening?"

He shouted angrily,
"My ministers and generals told me they loved me, hugged me and kissed my hand. Some even cried before I left, this can't be true, right?"

The reply from the other line was:
"Sir, they want me to tell you that UN means You End."

I like this nicely phrased joke although it sounds cruel to the person concerned. That is the heavy price a politician has to pay. Politics is hugely competitive, combative and dirty . There are winners and losers. Likewise, it has its very ups and very downs. Politician is a man who intimately acquainted with risk. His propensity for risk-taking is incredibly amazing. It is a rule of life that if you take no risks, you will suffer no defeats. But if you take no risks, you will win no victories. The politician's life is closely related to the extremely fragile glasses, "Once ousted, Consider finished". In short, one has to bear all the grave consequences in politics oneself. Your comrades will certainly disappear to nowhere once you are ousted!!! eik...eik... eik....politicssss......... ss.

D'Second Week at UCD

2006-09-23T14:16:00.000+01:00

Life is rather hectic here. A lot of hard facts to digest! A lot of challenging assignments to complete! In fact, there is a long list of things to do.

I finally got the green light to do "Sports Science" as my elective instead of Computer Programming. A relevant elective indeed! This elective is quite closely related to my field of studies especially for certain topics.

Last Tuesday, my friends and I joined the UCD Fencing Club. It was reallyyy fun to learn fencing!

Altogether there are 24 groups for 1st Year Medical Faculty. I'm in Group 5. Last Thursday, it was my group's turn to visit the Children Hospital downtown. We're given an overview on paediatrics for our first visit. I have been overly attracted by the set-up and uniqueness of the hospital. Such hospital is virtually unknown in Malaysia. I've just had a thought. Why not establish such hospital solely for children? This will certainly augur well for the general well-being of children. They will be able to get undivided attention, comprehensive treatment and specialized health care. This will, in turn, pave the way for prioritizing the so-called alternative approach to better health care of the 21 st Century "Prevention is better than cure" at an early age.

Fasting Month is fast approaching. I'm certainly going to miss my housemate, Amin's culinary delights. Undeniably, he is a great chef. I think I have to resort to cooking simple meal for most of the days during the fasting month. What a let-down I am???

I would like to wish Amin, Ilyas, Farhan, all my Muslim lecturers and friends "Selamat Berpuasa".

Here are some pictures I took at Malaysia Hall in London whilst on the 12-hour transit stint at Heathrow London Airport recently.

D’First Week at UCD

2006-09-15T21:45:00.000+01:00

Time and tide wait for no man. It has been a week since I left Malaysia . Wow, so fast and scary’em! Some of the highlights for the week are:-

A long-distance flights: KLIA – Heathrow – Dublin

We flew to Dublin via Heathrow using MAS Airline on Thursday’s night (7/9/06) 11.40 p.m ( Malaysia time). It was a 13-hour flight from KLIA to London Heathrow. There were altogether 30 JPA UCD-bound scholars boarding the plane. We’re very thankful to have Encik Muhamad Feros, a JPA officer who accompanied us all the way to Dublin . We reached Heathrow at 5.40 a.m. 8/9/06 ( UK time). It was indeed a long tiring journey. Luckily, I managed to doss down on my seat to prepare for the 12-hour transit stint at Heathrow. My goodness! Nonetheless, we enjoyed the short trip around London with the compliments of JPA. From Heathrow, we took a local airline to Dublin . This time, the flight took only 1 ½ hours. Finally, we reached Dublin at 8.00 p.m. on 8th September ( Dublin time). It was rather cold here with a temperature of 15˚ C. We went through the immigration without any fuss. We’re greeted by our seniors upon arrival at Dublin . Then, we headed to our apartments, Merville Student Residences / Belgrove Student Residences with a bus. The kind-hearted seniors lent us a helping hand to bring our bulky luggages up to our rooms. Thanks as we’re feeling very drowsy at that time due to the so-called run and run 24-hour marathon journey!

Lectures commenced on Monday (11/9/06)
It was quite a hectic week searching high and low for lecture theatres.
Choosing elective was a problem. I couldn’t register for Calculus 1
because it was over-subscribed. Alternatively, I might have to take up
Computer Programming. My dissection class at Ealsfort Terrace
commenced on Thursday (14/9/06). It was quite intriguing to discover the
mystery of human body. But the smell of formalin and formaldehyde was
quite unbearable.

Miscellaneous
I have to go to Glomena about 3 minutes walk from my hostel to msn my parents and friends. At present, the Sun sets at 8.00 p.m here. For hand phone usage, I paid 20 Euro for 6 months. Bus fares to and fro from hostel to town is 3.10 Euro. The cheapest meal available is sandwich , around 4 Euro. Very expensive’em…

To MALAYSIA with LOVE

2006-09-01T02:52:00.000+01:00

Our dearly beloved country, Malaysia just turned 49 yesterday.

Happy Independence Day, Malaysia!

It’s the time of the year, fellow Malaysian from all walks of life portrayed exuberant spirit of patriotism. I’m no exception! I get enchanted too by the colours of Merdeka especially the fluttering of many Jalur Gemilang and echoing of patriotic songs like “Keranamu Malaysia” and “Jalur Gemilang” from every corner of the country.

I’m truly proud to be a Malaysian. I’m caught in a Merdeka mood. I fervently wish to express my strong feelings and gratitude to Malaysia. Please accept this small token of thanks in appreciation of all Malaysia has done for me.

Malaysia
Malaysia,
a splendid country,
administered by capable and far-sighted leaders.
Equipped with well-designed development plans,
to bring progress and prosperity.

Malaysia,
a peaceful multiracial country,
resided by peace-loving people of diverse cultures.
We thrive together in harmony,
like one big happy family.

Malaysia,
a vibrant and progressive nation,
well-bestowed with natural beauty and richness.
Laden with investors and expertise,
to generate a more robust economic growth and becoming an economic powerhouse.

Fellow Malaysians,
we are indeed fortunate lots.
Let’s not complacent about what we have achieved so far,
We have come a long way,
We’ve transformed as a nation from the sleepy hollow,
The nation’s well-being is in the hands of our citizens,
Our destiny requires the commitment and aspiration of all.

Ask what you can do for Malaysia but not vice versa,
Let’s preserve harmony and multi-racial understanding among races,
Let’s cast aside our shackling sensitivities,
Let’s handle our differences with a clear mind and sound objective rationality,
Let’s study hard to become well-informed and knowledgeable citizens,
Let’s strive wholeheartedly to face new daunting challenges ahead,
Let’s continue the struggle to make Malaysia a more developed country.

Thank you Malaysia for the warmth and coziness of life we enjoy,
We’re proud to be part of you.

Anak Malaysia.

BoNE ScaRE

2006-08-27T16:16:00.000+01:00

I was shocked to read an article entitled "The Big Business of Body Parts" appeared in September issue Reader’s Digest. Human bones and tissue had been illegally removed from the deceased without the consent of their immediate family. These body parts were used in surgical transplants without furnishing the recipient with a detailed background of the dead. It was potentially hazardous to health as the dead might be suffering from chronic ailments like cancer, AIDS and other terminal diseases.

It is inhuman and degrading to mishandle indiscriminately the deceased body in our so-called civilized society. The dead need to be treated with the greatest respect.

I thought this illicit trade was carried out only in poor country like India where the dead bodies were fished out from the river, cleaned and sold as cadaver for anatomical dissection (previously, I heard…).

This lucrative business of bones and tissue culture in turn will give rise to illegal human body parts trafficking. It’s appalling!! May this horrific new crime be a real eye-opener for all. All attempts must be made to stamp out a proliferation of body stealing.

Results....results

2006-08-19T17:33:00.000+01:00

With God's blessings, i managed to breeze through the A-Level Edexcel Exam with straight 3As. Bravo! A total of 103 INTECians (ALM 5) scored straight 3As. Congratulations to all....

I owed a debt of gratitude to all my INTEC mentors especially Puan Rita, Puan Zuraida, Miss Lee...... and all my lecturers in INTEC. Their invaluable guidance and enlightening words of wisdom will provide me a solid foundation to pursue challenging and tough medicine programme at UCD.

Now, i'm en route for an even tougher life. I hope my future will be a very successful and happy one. Whenever i touch on my future, i keep recalling my childhood song...

Que Sera, Sera,
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours, to see
Que Sera, Sera
What will be, will be.........

SAve the SHarks

2006-08-15T05:52:00.000+01:00

How many sharks were there in the past?
‘Millions,’ said grandpa,
How many sharks were killed lately?
‘Thousands,’ said grandma,
How many sharks are left today?
‘Hundreds,’ said dad,
How many sharks will be left in the foreseeable future?
‘Few….None,’ said mum,
“Oh! Let start protecting them from today” shouted sis,
“Yeah! You are damned smart” exclaimed bro.

(I hope it is not too late to take the necessary actions to protect the endangered species,
sharks. Time is really running out. Do something for Mother Earth!)

Nature’s Lover

I’m in a ruminative mood!

2006-08-11T04:03:00.000+01:00

I’ve been pondering over too many issues lately most probably due to the long-break after the A-Level Exam. I’m really dismayed at the escalating crime rate all over our country. They must be out of their tiny minds! They are letting their hearts ruling their heads! It is sad that they are practicing the law of the jungle. They kill, murder, rob and act brutally like there’s no tomorrow. They are worst than some animals which will never harm their own species.

Some have become immune to reading or watching the brutalities. They are not perturbed at the daily reports of crimes in the mass media. Some even treat the everyday occurrence as a showcase for Hollywood crime-infested scenes. The big guns have the bad habit of proposing high technology approaches to combat crimes. Then, they gradually chicken out and prefer to pay more attention on other money spinning issues. By and by, they will forget the plight of the victims.

I found that the whole issue is extremely perplexing. We have to get to the root of the problem or else we will never fight a winning battle against crimes. We will continue shouting, proposing, counter proposing and making hullabaloo whenever a tragic incident happen. We are just putting on an act!

Some of the possible causes I can think of include the presence of unregistered illegal foreign workers, briberies, indifferent attitudes……..

Wake up! We need waking up to the seriousness of the situation as we might be the next victim. Aren’t we protected under ‘hak keselamatan’ as taught in Living Skills Form Three? Our lives are very precious. We can’t really depend entirely on the law enforcement officers as they are too pre-occupied with other so-called important duties like standing under a huge tree at the vicinity of the road junctions to catch the forgetful motorists who do not possess their I.C and driving licences. Shame on them!

We need to safeguard ourselves wherever we go at our own initiatives. We shouldn’t wait for the law enforcement officers to wake up from their deep slumber. It may take years or never at all based on the way I see how they react and act against crimes. Many innocent lives had been sacrificed but we still do not see light at the end of the tunnel yet. When, when, when….. (Only heaven knows!)

Habitual Moaning and Groaning

2006-07-30T05:00:00.000+01:00

Nowadays, many have acquired the ‘Me, me, me!’ syndrome. We tend to raise a hue and cry over the slightest inhibitions and displeasures.

Some of the usual moans and groans are:
· I don’t like the way you talk (very awkward and embarrassing …..!)
· I don’t like the way you dress (very poor taste…………..!)
· I don’t like the way you walk (girlish / tomboyish ………!)
· I don’t like the way you eat (greedy p……..!)

In short, we like throwing a tantrum at this and that irrationally and unconstructively. Bashing and thrashing at others’ drawbacks has become our habit. As long as we have a habit of finding fault, bitching, moaning or complaining, we will always have someone or something to criticize, bitch, moan, or complain about. Including ourselves! If it's not one thing, it's another. If it's not this person, it's that person. If it's not this job, it's that job. If it's not the weather, it's the traffic. If it's not her weight, it's her nose. Habit! Habit! Habit!

Moping over petty issues and magnifying worries won’t do us any good! Occasionally in life there are bound to be those moments of miserable, crappy and rainy lives. We need to grapple with real life positively as outlined in the lyrics of the song “I Beg Your Pardon”,

“Along with the sunshine, there’ll be a little rain sometimes”

We need to clothe ourselves with humility. Let the possession of this most beautiful grace be our habitual aspiration!

The Hidden Beast Inside Us

2006-07-20T04:25:00.000+01:00

When we are down-hearted,
Feeling small and agitated,
Let’s just look at the mirror,
And take time to reflect ourselves.

It is a sad fact to see …
Our anguish face looking like terrible monster,
Our lungs getting choked and panting for breath,
Our whole body getting tensed up and becoming numb,
Our eyes bulging ferociously like a fox prowling near the chicken.

The reflections that we’re bound to see,
Certainly reveal who we really are inside,
We tend to look ‘beautiful’ superficially,
The ugliness within us can’t hide.

Foolishly, we allow the ugliness to blinker our attitude,
We let the ‘beast’ inside us to go astray blundering our life,
Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill,
Suppress our uncalled-for beastly behaviours at all costs.

---STAY COOL ALWAYS---

A NIGHT TO CHERISH ……

2006-07-16T02:44:00.000+01:00

We had our ALM (A-Level Medicine) Annual Dinner at Seri Pacific or formerly known as Pan Pacific two nights ago (14/7/06). I was glad to meet lecturers, friends, course mates, housemates and juniors (ALM6) wearing a blend of East and West outfits – the central theme of this year’s dinner. Everyone looked superbly smart, handsome, beautiful, sexy and .........

Although the food served fell short of our expectation, we enjoyed the warmth and cordial atmosphere prevailed in the dinner. That was the spirit we treasured most! Malaysia Boleh!

I got a big hamper that night for the lucky draw. What a piece of luck!

I missed some nice guys and gals for not able to attend the dinner due to distance and unforeseen circumstances. Don’t worry and be happy! Keep in touch and the best of luck with your A-Level edexcel exams (17/8/06).

All the beautiful fond memories of INTEC forever etched as one of the best times of my life. Learnt so much, experienced so much, gained so much and I’ll always look back with a smile.

I love INTEC. The spirit, the shouting, the madness and no forgetting the mamak food.

--smiles--

A Moment Please…..

2006-07-06T02:57:00.000+01:00

Bidding adieu to INTECians is rather painful and touching. We have been together through thick and thin for the past two years. In fact, “saying goodbye” is part and parcel of one’s journey through the cosmos. Come September/October, we will be heading to different universities pursuing our chosen field. May your quest for knowledge will be a successful and challenging one. Be thankful, take care and most important of all have the nation interests at your heart!

As a matter of fact, I spent several hours reflecting on what I had learnt in INTEC for the past two years. I cannot deny that I have indeed made some inroads into my life although not the major ones…

Self-determination
It is vital that we set our goal right from the very beginning and then gradually work our way to the top. We need to earn our success through sheer hard work. There is no such thing as a free lunch! At times, we have to sail through stormy sea intermittently or our towering goal might be out of reach temporarily. Don’t despair! Keep praying for guidance and strength. Believe me, God will reward you with something better than you aspire.

Self-reliant
I am glad to learn some cooking skills from my housemates and up keeping of my messy room. Not too bad! Now, I am improvising myself with a few more dishes to sustain my hungry stomach on my overseas mission soon.

Self-assertive
I also learnt to express my opinions openly without fear or favour. This is indispensable for us to get to the crux of the matter – an effective tool to explore the great depth of knowledge. One’s success depends on his/her wisdom and depth.

Self-awareness
I kept moulding my character by trial and error. I put great emphasis on dignity and self-respect. An upright personality is an invaluable asset to achieve self-fulfillment in life.

There are indeed many things to learn in life as we move from one phase to another phase. Keep reflecting, keep changing, keep improving, keep moving with time…..
All the best in your future undertakings!

Time Is Precious

2006-07-03T16:24:00.000+01:00

Just returned to Pearl of Orient at 4 o’clock this afternoon after being away for nearly three months. As usual, I start eating Penang’s hawker food and not forgetting durians. I really get bored consuming mamak food, MD chicken, KFC chicken , Ayamas chicken rice………

Why do we equate one day to 24 hours? Why do we consider 7 days as one week? Time sometimes flies. At times, it crawls. More often than not, we just ignore it. We fail to value time until we got a hard knock on our head.

To appreciate the value of a year, ask a student who resat his/her SPM/STPM exam. To realize the value of a month, ask a mother who gave birth to a premature baby. To recognize the value of a week, ask the person in dire need of a liver transplant. To know the value of an hour, ask the lovers who are waiting anxiously to meet. To fathom the value of a minute, ask an interviewee who tried to impress the interviewer with his/her capability and eloquence.
Hence, make the most of your precious time! The clock is clicking away incessantly …tick, tock, tick, tock ….

Wisdom Talk

2006-07-02T12:04:00.000+01:00

I just came back from Tatanegara Course at Rembau, Negeri Sembilan. I was feeling quite exhausted especially the course took place two days right after my last A-Level Edexcel Paper. In fact, I hardly had time to cool off mentally after a six-week exam stint! Anyway, I enjoyed the group activities. Glad, everything is over now.

While flipping through the old magazines, I came across a calendar containing invaluable quotes of wisdom. I hope the wisdom talk will spur you to greater height in life. Time waits for no one! So, change for your future success, happiness and whatnots……

Learning
Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence. (Abigail Adams)

Friendship
Don’t walk behind me, I may not lead. Don’t walk in front of me, I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend. (Albert Camus)

Pride
Pride is the recognition of the fact that you are your own highest value and, like all of man’s values, it has to be earned. (Ayn Rand)

Hope
Hold your head high. Stick your chest out. You can make it. It gets dark sometimes but morning comes …, Keep Hope alive. (Jesse Jackson)

Commitment
The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential … these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence. (Eddie Robinson)

Confidence
The height of your accomplishment will equal the depth of your conviction. (William F. Scolavino)

Wisdom
The wisest mind has something yet to learn. (George Santayama)

Courage
Keep your fears to yourself, but share your courage with others. (Robert Louis Stevenson)

Focus
Concentration is the ability to think about absolutely nothing when it is absolutely necessary. (Ray Knight)

Humility
Humility must always be the portion of any man who receives acclaim earned in the blood of his followers and the sacrifices of his friends. (Dwight David Eisenhower)

Security
Only in growth, reform and change, paradoxically enough, is true security to be found. (Unknown)

Destiny
I do not know beneath what sky nor on what seas shall be thy fate; I only know it shall be high, I only know it shall be great. (Richard Hovey)

READY, SET, GO ….. OVER

2006-06-27T15:11:00.000+01:00

My Chemistry Unit 6B paper just ended yesterday. This marked the culmination of the A-Level Edexcel Exam over a span of two years in INTEC. May all INTECians pass with flying colours with God’s blessing.

Let’s talk about life’s algorithm which I just received from my friend through email. I had a good laugh over it. Come on! Skim through it…

ROMANCE MATHEMATICS
Smart man + smart woman = romance
Smart man + dumb woman = affair
Dumb man + smart woman = marriage
Dumb man + dumb woman = pregnancy

OFFICE ARITHMETIC
Smart boss + smart employee = profit
Smart boss + dumb employee = production
Dumb boss + smart employee = working from home
Dumb boss + dumb employee = overtime

SHOPPING MATH
A man will pay RM2 for a RM1 item he needs.
A woman will pay RM1 for a RM2 item that she doesn't need.

GENERAL EQUATIONS & STATISTICS
A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.
A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.
A successful woman is one who can find such a man.

Have a meaningful Wesak

2006-05-12T07:30:00.000+01:00

Let’s pray that global peace and sanity will prevail,
Let’s cling steadfastly on mutual respect, shared values and brotherhood,
Let’s prioritize the power of love and compassion,
Let’s add value or merit to our life.

May everybody and all beings be well and happy.

Happy Wesak Day!

Stranded Starfish

2006-05-01T06:24:00.000+01:00

A guest at a beach hotel was strolling along the beach when, in the distance, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. Intrigued, he decided to investigate.

As he got closer, he saw that it was a young boy, and the young boy wasn’t dancing. Instead, he was reaching down to the shore, picking up a starfish, and very gently throwing it into the ocean.

Thousands of starfish had been washed ashore by the low tide.

“Why are you doing this?” the hotel guest asked the boy.

The boy replied: “The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them in they’ll die.”

“But there are miles and miles of beach, and tens of thousands of starfish here. You can’t possibly make a difference,” the hotel guest said.

The young boy listened politely. Then he bent down, picked up another starfish, and as he was throwing it back into the ocean, said: “It makes a difference to this one.”

Each one of us has been gifted with the ability to make a difference. If we can become aware of that gift we have the power to shape the future. So, you too can give a helping hand to save life although in a simple way!

“When I change, there is one less person to change in this world.”

Life is like a cup of water

2006-04-22T06:49:00.000+01:00

KY Wong’s Side of Story:
A group of working people got together to visit their former university lecturers and started complaining about stress at work and in life. One of the learned professors took out an assortment of cups filled with water and offered to his former students. Not surprisingly, all the nice looking and expensive cups were taken up immediately, leaving behind only the plain and cheap ones. It is normal that the source of your problems and stress is due to your crave for the best. What you all wanted was water, not the cup, but you unconsciously went for the better cup. If water represents life, then the cup is material wealth. By concentrating on the cup alone, you may miss out on what life is all about and becomes miserably fixated on possessions. To live a fulfilling life, we should desire the water and not covert the cup.

What I feel???
The perceptions of life depend on an individual’s goal. If one wants recognition, power and wealth, one definitely needs to expose to greater stress and encounter more chronic problems in the pursuit of one’s dream. Nothing is absolutely free. Success comes with hard work. At times, hard work doesn’t guarantee success! In addition, one needs a little bit of luck to attain one’s hope and dream. Success has various versions for different people. What’s your version??
Nonetheless, one needs to be realistic in life. We should take charge of our lives as the choices in life are boundless. We ought to do our best and leave the rest to the Almighty. So, look deeper into yourself and hope you will realize what life holds in store for you!

Come This September – Varsity Life at UCD

2006-04-18T12:39:00.000+01:00

I had received a letter of acceptance into UCD (University College Dublin) in Ireland last week for the coming batch Sept. 2006. I will be on the threshold of a new life i.e. campus life come this September. In the meanwhile, I need to slog my way through the A-Level Edexcel Exam (Mid May – End June 2006).
Feel free to read my humble piece at your leisure.

Erratic

I wanted to write a witty post today, but I was too preoccupied with assignment.
I wanted to be strong, but I gradually gave way to temptation.
I wanted to be optimistic, but I began dreading the uncertainties of the future.
I wanted to stay positive, but some feelings of negativity crept in.
I wanted to stay completely sober, but I finally succumbed to pangs of nostalgia.
I wanted to stay awake, but bouts of lethargy sent me straight to bed.
I wanted to be okay, but am plagued with a blizzard of unexpectedness.
I want tomorrow to be better, but it’s really hard to tell what lies beyond.

Take a walk around yourself

2006-04-08T17:05:00.000+01:00

When the cynical side of you emerges
And you feel the sharp tongue’s urges
To lash out the criticism you have for others
And strike them down like a bolt of thunder
Pause for a second and take a deep breath
Let those hurtful words sink to their death

Before you judge others with harsh words
To simply find fault with someone less absurd
Or pin down an innocent one to be the victim
Of office politics and failed negotiations as a mean
It is time for you to take that special walk
So tuck in your shirt and pull up your socks
Turn on the mode of silent stealth
For you need to take that walk around yourself

In the normal average of us all
We rise high but sometimes we fall
These are the many ups and downs in our lives
That keep us going to survive
But when you feel that you’re always better than the rest
Ready to crush down anyone in any contest
Be it belittling or squashing their dignity
It’s time you face your own reality
That is the time you ought to take the real test
To take a walk around yourself and undo the mess

Just before you judge another
Give yourself a break to ponder
Life needs an order of balance
That moment has come to your turn
Harmonise the state of your mind
Look deep inside and you shall find
Self-reflection appears on the shelves
When you take that walk around yourself.

(By Anne Marie Warren)

Our wrongful misapprehension and misconception of others can trigger misunderstanding, bitter resentment and unhealthy relationship. Hence, it will mark a milestone in our quest for a harmonious life if we would adhere some of the wonderful thoughts propounded by her. There goes a famous Malay proverb, “Pisau senjata tiada bisa, bisa lagi mulut manusia”.

PENANGITES KUDOS TO PAK LAH –Second Link and Monorail

2006-04-02T08:03:00.000+01:00

Thanks PM, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for the April Fool’s Eve Ninth Malaysian Plan allocations – a second bridge and a monorail.

Plus points of the long-awaited second link and monorail system:-
-Penang’s chronic traffic congestions and public transportation woes will be overcome. This will lead to a more integrated and efficient public transport system on the island.

-The second bridge will link Batu Kawan and Batu Maung. This will undoubtedly spur economic development in the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia.

-The monorail will link George Town to Bayan Lepas in the south and Tanjung Tokong in the north. Hence, it will enhance accessibility in the Pearl of Orient.

-The monorail will be a much faster, safer and more comfortable way to travel for Penangites.

-The second link will alleviate traffic congestion on the present Penang Bridge. The public will have an alternative route to Penang island. This will prevent future traffic plying along the present Penang bridge from facing a complete standstill if some unforeseen natural or manmade disaster occurred on the bridge.

Words of Advice from Sayadaw U Pandita

2006-03-31T12:10:00.000+01:00

Towards Greater Success
Instead of taking pride in and being satisfied with the success of one’s work, one will become even more successful if one fills in the gaps, furnishes what is lacking and rectifies mistakes in connection with it.

In the Wake of Success
When one becomes successful at a task, there is a tendency for the mind to become elated and loose, and for one to talk big and too much. We have to be wary of these tendencies.

Solving a Problem
When medical experts and specialists rally to the aid of a patient, they have to consult and discuss with one another, and give treatment with the sole purpose of curing the patient’s ailment. When trying to solve a problem too, people have to consult, discuss and negotiate with one another with the sole purpose of coming up with a solution.

Don’t Just Follow Preferences
Sentient beings should not just follow preferences. Instead, they should follow what is suitable. One should eat nutritious food conducive to health even though one may not like it. On the other hand, one should avoid food injurious to health even though one may like it. One should do a good deed although one may not like to do it, and avoid an evil deed even though one may like to do it.

See the Good in Others
If you overlook others’ hateful, bad points, and know how, are able, or manage to spot their lovable, good points, then the heartfelt wish for others’ benefit and welfare will arise.

Small, Tender Mind
A person may be advanced in age but if his mind is still small (infantile) and tender, it is not good. Saplings and young fruits cannot withstand the Elements of Nature. Similarly, a small, tender mind cannot withstand the vicissitudes of life.

Quick Arrival
In order to reach a desired destination quickly, one who is travelling by boat has to go to the pier; one travelling by plane to the airport; one travelling by train to the railway station and one travelling by bus to the bus-stand. Then they have to board their respective vehicles and ride in them. Only then can they reach their respective destination quickly.

Fulfilling Wishes
If you wish to travel from one place to another and you just jump into a car and take off in whatever direction it is facing, you’ll probably land up anywhere else except where you wish to go. To get to your intended destination, you first have to aim the car in the direction where you wish to go. If you just aim it but don’t start the engine and drive away, you won’t get anywhere. On the other hand, if you start the engine and drive off aimlessly, you won’t get there either. So you must have an aim, start the engine and drive the car – only then will you get where you wish to go. Wishes and resolutions can be fulfilled only if there is aim and adequate performance.

Reaching the Top
If you drive your car according to traffic rules and traffic lanes, you won’t get into trouble and you can reach your destination. If you don’t neglect health, education, business, politics and social affairs, but pay attention to them, you’ll reach the top.

Steps to Peace and Happiness
The better one’s defence is, the more secure one becomes; the more secure one is, the freer one becomes; the freer one is, the more peaceful one becomes; the more peaceful one is, the happier one becomes.

Sensual Pleasure
Ants go in and come out of a jar of honey only to go in and come out again and again to drink the honey. In the process they drown in it. If they must drink it because they cannot do without it, they have to drink it carefully. Sentient beings get into trouble too as they go round and round in the pursuit of sensual pleasure. If they must enjoy it because they can’t do without it, then it should nevertheless not be excessive. Sensual pleasure is a good sort of pleasure that gets you into trouble – it is a pleasure that is not trouble-free. Beings can and should take the pleasure that is trouble-free.

(Extracted from “Raindrops in Hot Summer”)

Words of Wisdom from Tan Sri Dato’ Lim Kok Wing

2006-03-18T05:56:00.000Z

Have a deeper purpose; it makes the difference between what is average and what is great. (Life is about choices. We can choose to just complete a job or set out to do our best. It is better to attempt our best because then we test our limits. In doing this, we learn new things about ourselves and very often the work we produce will turn out to be outstanding.)

Listen, before you communicate (To be a good communicator, you must first be a good listener. If you don’t listen, you wouldn’t know what people are thinking. You wouldn’t know what they are like or what their frustrations are. How then are you going to arrive at solutions? But if you listen, you will be able to respond to their concerns, their fears, likes and dislikes. You will connect.)

A road map makes for a safe journey (It was a dark and stormy night when I went to see a friend. I did not know the way but in my haste, I forgot to take a map. I had to ask more than 20 people for directions to the place. Half of them hadn’t heard of it and the other half gave me wrong directions. After much chaos and delay, I found my friend’s house. I was three hours late. With a map, however, I could have reached there in 10 minutes.)

Good heart makes great man (The greatness of a man does not depend on his outer things. Regardless of how wealthy a man may be or how powerful he is, if his heart is not good, then he cannot be great. But if his heart is good, he remains great forever.)

Determination pays dividends (Stand determined in the face of rejection and failure. The hand of fate does not move alone. It is action that effects reaction.)

Success despite adversity (Well done is better than well said. Your adrenaline flows profusely in the face of a great challenge. Anything negative can be turned into something positive… into an opportunity.)

Dream big (It doesn’t pay to dream small. You don’t have a clue as to what your limits are. All your test scores don’t measure your potential. When people are pursuing their dreams, they’ll go far beyond what seems to be their limitations. The potential that exists within us is limitless. Never think of limits because when you think of limits, you restrict yourself. You never know how high you can fly until you try.)

Everyday inspiration (Inspiration comes to those who seek it. People who go far do so because they motivate themselves and give their best, regardless of how they feel. You can’t get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel inspired or good. To be successful, seek your inspiration and persevere till you find it.)

Nothing promises success like perseverance. Once you develop an attitude towards excellence, you have it for life. (Don’t be a spectator. Play the game of life. It’s not the strength you lack, but the will. Find that will and soar.)

Take everything in life as a challenge (One has to measure up to high expectations for his/her own good. Although it is not an easy task to meet the exceptionally high standards, but one has to try and try.)

Life is a never-ending learning process no matter how old you are (Observe people and things around you. Digest what you see and retain the good things in your head.)

Some Pointers From Dr. Ong Hean Teik

2006-03-01T09:30:00.000Z

Pointer 1 :
Rene Descartes (1596-1650), the French philosopher said, “I think, therefore I am.” By this, he means that the only way to tell that you are still alive is that your mind works and you can think. The ability to think separates man from monsters. Do not accept all you hear and read – think it over, analyze it. The key to a successful life is by thinking honestly, analyzing data and planning the response.

Pointer 2 :
The first lesson in life is to achieve competency, not complacency. Otto von Bismarck (1815-1898) was the great German statesman whose work led to the birth of modern Germany. He said, “To youth I have but three words of advice – work, work, work.” No one owes you a living – not your parents, not the government, not society. You have to work to earn your living. But more importantly, work enables a person to achieve dignity and satisfaction. Work to achieve competency, work to be a good worker – not for money, not for your boss but for yourself. The good competent worker is a respected person.

Pointer 3 :
The second guide in life is to pursue principles, not possessions or positions. The Indian philosopher, Shankaracharya (686-718) was once asked what is the aim in life. He replied, “To eat when you are hungry, to rest when you are sleepy.” Simple as this sounds, we often forget that no amount of money can buy you an appetite and no amount of power can win you a peaceful sleep at night.

Pointer 4 :
The third goal in life is to practise honesty, not hypocrisy. There is too much pretence in society. People say one thing in front of you, and say another behind your back. We must strive to speak the truth – otherwise keep quiet. We must behave behind closed doors as we would in public. As Abraham Lincoln, the famous American President said, “You can fool some of the people, all of the time and all of the people, some of the time but you cannot fool all the people all the time.” Honesty, not hypocrisy is the best policy.

Pointer 5 :
Most importantly, we must remember to be polite and humble, not pushy and haughty. People today are so preoccupied in reaching their goal that they will do anything to get there – stepping on others, pushing them away and bending rules. Much unhappiness and much unpleasantness results. We must recall the words of Lao Tzu, the Taoist sage, when comparing the highest goodness to water.

The highest goodness, water-like,
Goes to places men despise,
Nothing in this world
is as soft and yielding as water
Yet for attacking the hard and strong
none can triumph so easily
It is weak, yet none can equal it
It is soft, yet none can damage it
It is yielding, yet none can wear it away.

These words of wisdom are extracted from Penang Free School Magazine Year 1999. I could still vividly remember that these pointers did not etch on my heart at all when I was in Form 1. I was behaving exactly like what the Malay proverb says “ laksana kera dapat bunga” which means I didn’t know how to appreciate the enlightening thoughts expressed by a great man like Dr. Ong Hean Teik. It is true that our wisdom improves as we get older. I recall what my dad’s professor told him, “Now, I have reached the top of the escalator. So you all too will arrive at this pinnacle of life through the passage of time.” Relax and enjoy pondering over these soothing words of wisdom………….(pl. don’t fall asleep…hehe..)

The Sometimes Paradox

2006-02-11T05:08:00.000Z

Sometimes to love
is just to let go

Sometimes to let go
you really need to Love

Sometimes to wait
You need to move

Sometimes to move
You need to wait

Sometimes to pursue a vision
is to take a step

Sometimes to take a step
you need to have a vision

Sometimes to change
you have to be you

Sometimes to be you
you need to change

Sometimes to seek
is just to stop striving

Sometimes to stop striving
is to really seek

Sometimes to dream
is just to be real

Sometimes to be real
you just need to dream a little

Sometimes the future
is right here present with you

Sometimes the present
seems so far in the future

Sometimes...
There is a time for everything...

All in all, we need to pray to God to thank his bountiful blessings and seek forgiveness for whatever wrongs we unintentionally committed due to our ignorance and naïve ness. Remember God is merciful. Just pray and we will find ready solutions right on our doorstep. Sometimes we just feel like nuts!! hahaha.....

Going Back to Shah Alam

2006-02-04T17:57:00.000Z

I'll be leaving Penang in 8 hours time.... hopefully there won't be any massive traffic jam along the way. The hot weather in penang really makes me listless and lethargic due to the inflow of hot sea breeeze during the day. Actually, i feel very exhausted rushing through so many things in such a short span of time (4 days). The CNY holiday is just too short..... sigh

with my cousins and sis

playing with fire crackers (No way...)

Fascinating Thoughts

2006-02-04T17:33:00.000Z

Just enjoy the fascinating and enriching thoughts below:-

What made Gandhi?
Gandhi
Answer :SOUL

Failed, failed, failed
And then......
Abraham Lincoln
Answer : PERSISTENCE

Climb Everest
Blind
Answer : VISION

Quadriplegic
Harvard
Answer : DETERMINATION

When others ran out,
he rushed in.
Firemen
Answer : COURAGE

Super man
Christopher Reeves
Answer : STRENGTH

Gong Xi! Gong Xi!

2006-02-02T05:53:00.000Z

Gong Xi Fatt Chai to all my friends and bloggers.
I just reached Penang at 6.00 p.m. yesterday after spending five days of my Chinese New Year holidays in Subang Jaya and USJ. We are forced to come back earlier because my sister’s school reopens today. What a joke with such an inconsiderate planning from a premier school in Penang??

Actually, I am planning to spend more time with my cousins, grandparents, uncles and aunties in KL as I won’t be around for CNY next year. Furthermore, my aunty and her whole family will be migrating to Auckland, New Zealand in the first week of March 2006. I am going to miss them immensely and pray that God will bless them with all the best things in life. May they achieve great success in whatever endeavours they indulge in. May they enjoy robust health, great prosperity and meet lots and lots of good Samaritans.

I will be quite busy when my college reopens next Monday. My trial exam will commence in late February which is roughly three weeks from now. Besides, I need to attend an interview for entrance to PMC on March 1st. Wish me luck!! :)

Chinese New Year
A year to be glad in,

And not to be sad in,

To gain in, to give in,

A Happy Chinese New Year.

A new year for trying,

And never for sighing,

A new year to live in,

Oh, hold it most dear.

This bright new year is given me

To live each day with zest …

To daily grow and try to be

My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity

Once more to right some wrongs,

To pray for peace, to plant a tree,

And sing more joyful songs!

-William Arthur Ward-

To leave the old with a burst of song,

To recall the right and forgive the wrong;

To forget the thing that blinds you fast,

To the vain regrets of the year that's past.

-Robert B. Beattie-

Optimism Versus Pessimism

2006-01-15T04:14:00.000Z

Optimism
Generally speaking, optimistic people have sunnier dispositions. They believe that good things rather than bad will happen. They possess bright outlook like “I often feel that life is full of promises” and “I still have many goals to strive for”. They are able to cope with adversity better. They are less likely to die of a heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular cause regardless of factors such as age, weight, smoking or other chronic diseases. Their immune and hormonal systems are also in better shape.

Pessimism
Pessimistic people have very negative outlook. They worry over trivial matter. They do not have strong determination to work for their goal in life. They give up easily and resort to endless squabbles over why their friends treat them unjustly or cruelly for no apparent reason. They are hard core and will continue to fight irrationally just to safeguard their ego and image. As a result, their negative emotions such as chronic depression and hopelessness can lead them to the risk of dying from a heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases. Their health too are generally poorer.

Remember to adopt optimistic outlook at all times. Try not to lose your temper on the spur of the moment without thorough investigations. Stay cool and cheerio always. Your outlook determine your health and longevity of life. No kidding…

PULAU JEREJAK???

2006-01-13T06:09:00.000Z

Opinion Poll For Pulau Jerejak
(SOURCE : The Star (9 January 2006))

28% voted for a casino
27% voted for eco-tourism
26% voted for water theme park
19% voted for a zoo and safari

Pulau Jerejak is located opposite my housing area. I am sorry that I have to contradict the majority who voted for a casino. Well, i think we need to look at the long-term repercussions of the whole issue and not merely think of the quick economic or monetary gains. The Penang government should instead set up a unique recreation centre by fully utilizing the existing untouched greenery and sea-view superb scenery offered by the island. Imagine the immense benefits one would enjoy by having a vacation with his family or friends in such an exceptionally beautiful island. Besides, it is an effective approach towards creating a loving society and foster family ties.

On the contrary, not everyone would like to try their luck on gambling. Casino is only restricted to the privilege few who are willing to risk their hard-earned savings in gambling. What will happen if the father or mother suffered heavy losses in the casino? The family might get into debt. Besides, it easily leads to immoral activities and grave social ills. Those who are keen to gamble can easily opt for Genting Highlands. Please do not tarnish the image of the Pearl of Orient!!!

2006 New Year Resolutions/Wishes

2005-12-30T03:41:00.000Z

As the curtain comes down on 2005, I can’t avoid pondering the fleeting moments of 2005! As a matter of fact, 2005 has been a wonderful year for me although I face some minor hiccups in life. This is largely due to my ignorance, plain simplicity of mind, refreshingly naive and lacking of far-sightedness. I wish that I would change those moments of utter nonsense. How nice if I could turn back the time machine?

Nonetheless, I thank God for the bountiful blessings I received for 2005. I am thankful for good health, good food, nice clothing, the love and indescribable warmth of my family, friends and housemates as well as excellent education progress.

I will face 2006 not with trepidation and fear but with high hope. I earnestly am waiting to see what life has in store for me especially during my last semester in INTEC, UiTM Shah Alam. Time really flies almost unnoticed like wings of a butterfly!

Here are some of the 2006 New Year Resolutions/ Wishes that crop up in my mind.
(i) Strive for excellent results in the forthcoming June Edexcel Exam.

(ii) Foster closer and amicable friendship with college mates, school mates and class mates before pursuing our studies in different institutions.

(iii) Pray to God that my grand parents, parents, relatives, friends and everyone enjoying robust health and joys for 2006 and beyond.

(iv) Penang will regain its shine as Pearl of Orient.

(v) Malaysians will continue enjoying unity,peace ,harmony and progress in every aspect of life.

(vi) May global peace be enjoyed by people of all races, colours and creeds.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2006

Leaving Pearl of Orient Tomorrow... I will be leaving for Kuala Lumpur tomorrow morning. I wouldn’t make it earlier because my dad has two days meeting, Thursday and Friday afternoon. Nice meeting all my college mates once again. Be cheerio and keep smiling always. Nevertheless, don’t forget to strive for the forthcoming Edexcel Exam in June! Good luck and stay healthy.

Reaping what you sow

2005-12-28T03:07:00.000Z

If you plant honesty, you will reap trust
If you plant goodness, you will reap friends
If you plant humility, you will reap greatness
If you plant perseverance, you will reap victory
If you plant consideration, you will reap harmony
If you plant hard work, you will reap success
If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation
If you plant openness, you will reap intimacy
If you plant patience, you will reap improvements
If you plant faith, you will reap miracles

But.......

If you plant dishonesty, you will reap distrust
If you plant selfishness, you will reap loneliness
If you plant pride, you will reap destruction
If you plant envy, you will reap trouble
If you plant laziness, you will reap stagnation
If you plant bitterness, you will reap isolation
If you plant greed, you will reap loss
If you plant gossip, you will reap enemies
If you plant worries, you will reap wrinkles
If you plant sin, you will reap guilt

So be careful what you plant now, it will determine what you will reap tomorrow.

Harm Reduction Programme to Fight HIV/AIDS

2005-12-26T17:41:00.000Z

Dr. Chua :
The government has initiated a “Harm Reduction Programme to Combat
HIV/AIDS” by distributing free condoms and needles to drug addicts.

Marina :
The programme should be announced only after it was proven to be
successful and that it should be quietly implemented while educating
society.

My Comments :-
There is absolutely nothing wrong in announcing the programme because I believe that everything should be transparent irrespective whether it is the right or the wrong approach. Our society is mature enough to understand the urgent move taken by the government as HIV/AIDS menace has been spreading like wildfire beyond our control. In a way, it helps the public to ponder over the issue seriously. We should not carry the project discreetly as we are running out of time! Our family, nation and world are at stake. There is nothing to hide as we really need to develop a coordinated approach to tackle the problem. All quarters should play their part, from religious groups to NGOs and the community at large to ensure that the free condoms and needles do not fall into the wrong hands. The youngsters should be made aware that they must take all reasonable precautions to protect themselves and their family from HIV/AIDS. They should not jeopardize themselves in unwarranted and unsafe sex. A brief blissful encounter brings untold sufferings for the entire life. So, always think twice before you act ……..

How old is old??

2005-12-25T10:26:00.000Z

Father :
One cannot defy the law of nature. One will surely notice certain bad signs appearing when approaching old age.

Physical deteriorations like grey hair, bald, teeth dropping, knees aching, loss of hearing, poorer eyesight, and ...
Mentally retardant like forgetfulness, grumbling, worry too much about trivial matters unnecessarily, start telling everyone what is wrong with the youths of today, refer to any music not written 20 years ago as “racket” and ...
Special needs like a cardigan (old feel the cold more than the young), wheelchairs, hearing aids, long-sighted spectacles, ole diapers and ...

Uncle :
I don’t consider myself old as I believe that life for man begins at forty… My hearts and thoughts are still young although I have grey hair and not physically attractive. But, I have lots of money to enjoy ...

My Comments:-
It is often said that being old is a state of mind. Age is not the correct yardstick of old. Some might grown old before their time. It is true that some might look older than they really are. For example, most of the Indonesian maids look like thirties although they are below age twenty. They look haggard and pale because they are malnourished and have to work under the rigours of a harsh employers. On the other hand, the rich look younger even though they are in their late sixties or seventies. They eat good food, bio-young supplements, enjoying the pleasure and luxury of life.

I think wisdom and maturity will be a good gauge of old. Some possess maturity beyond their age. Some show great maturity faster than the others due to their exposure to people of great wisdom and words of wisdom at the early stage of life. Some youngsters behave sensibly and cultivate superb philosophy beyond their age. I notice that they are the ones who achieve great success in life earlier and sustainable than those who lose their bearings. Experiences that we have undergone through life will teach us to be wiser. We need to have frequent and deep contemplation so that our future will not run astray and we will not stay miserable continuously for the rest of our life. The oldsters have nothing to blame except themselves.
All in all, age is not the real determinant of old.

PS: Merry Christmas to everybody!!

Merry Christmas

2005-12-23T04:37:00.000Z

The Yuletide season is just around the corner. I enjoy Christmas in many ways....

I enjoy listening to the Christmas carols like.......

I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus ………………………………….....

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way …………

You better watch out
You better not cry
Better not pout
I’m telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town ……

These carols cheer me up and remind me of my kid’s days. They also bring joy to world!
The cherry and colourful Christmas ambience at shopping centres and hotels arouse my interest. I simply adore the Christmas decorations like angels on Christmas trees, Santa Claus in a sleigh, gingerbread house, snowmen and not forgetting the lights blinking away merrily.

I usually do some rational thinking when Christmas or the year comes to an end. This will help to keep me in check so that I am not easily exposed to the vagaries of life and continuously behave badly out of sheer ignorance. I don’t really quite like the saying , “Ignorance is a bliss”. Instead, I am thankful or grateful in discovering my true self and my weaknesses so that I can propel myself to greater heights in life. It is true that ‘a grateful heart’ will make every mountain scaleable, every storm bearable and every trial a challenge. With a grateful heart, one is able to ride the stormy waves in triumph.

I’M THANKFUL
Each day is a new beginning given by God
I am reminded how blessed I am
I’m thankful for the robust health I enjoy
I’m thankful for the fresh air I breathe
I’m thankful for the good food I eat
I’m thankful for the considerable intellect I possess
I’m thankful for the companionship and advice I get
I’m thankful for the close-knit family bestowed upon me
I’m thankful for the peace prevailing in my country

I’m thankful for a hundred and one things ……………………

BETTER RAPPORT - MEN OR WOMEN?

2005-12-21T10:00:00.000Z

WOMEN:
A wife was not at home for a whole night. So, the very next morning, she tells her husband that she stayed at her girlfriend’s apartment over night.
The husband calls 10 of her best girlfriends, and none of them confirm that.

MEN:
A husband was not at home for a whole night. So he tells his wife the very next morning that he stayed at his friend’s apartment over night.
So the wife calls 10 of his best friends: 7 of them confirm that he stayed at their apartment that night, and the other 3 are claiming that he still is there with them!!

CONCLUSION:
“Men are better friends.”

Humour – Balm to the mind, medicine to the body and music to the soul

Jokes

2005-12-19T06:33:00.000Z

1. A young girl on holiday wrote to her mother …….
“Dear Mom, please send me some money to buy a new dress. I’ve been out with the same boy 5 times and I’ve worn every dress that I brought with me”.
Her mother replied ……..
“Dear June, save money. Get another boy friend and start all over again”.

2. Author : “It took me ten years to discover that I had absolutely no talent for writing history”.
Friend : “You gave up?”
Author : “Oh, no! By that time I was too famous.”

3. Anne went up a bus and jumped from seat to seat. When the bus driver came to know about it, he asked her, “Hey, you there! Do you have ants in your pants?”
When Anne heard this, she laughed and laughed because she knew he has a fly in his !

4. It was the first day at school and the little boy was crying his heart out.
“And what is wrong with you, boy?” His teacher asked sympathetically.
“I don’t like school?” he wailed, “and they said I have to stay here till I’m 17”.
“You’re lucky?” the teacher replied, “I have to stay here till I’m 56”.

5. When a shapely blonde in a tight-knitted outfit boarded the bus,all the male
passengers became suddenly alert and stared at her appraisingly. She paid her fare and started to walk to the rear of the bus, but lost her balance when the vehicle began to move. As she grabbed for a seat to hold on to, she missed and gave one unfortunate fellow a pretty stiff whack across the forehead. Feeling embarrassed, the young woman started to apologize but the young man stopped her cold when he said, “Don’t worry, honey. For what I was just thinking, I deserved it.”

Just Celebrated My Nineteenth Birthday (17th December)

2005-12-18T04:25:00.000Z

I slept rather late tonight, at around 3.00 a.m. At 12.00 a.m. sharp, my cute sister, Mae Jane rang up to wish me “Happy Birthday” as she had to stay two nights at Universiti Sains Malaysia Hostel for the ‘Projek Warga” competition at national level. My mum then kissed my cheeks and wished me happy birthday. I also received calls from my housemate / roommate Andrew and Chin Eu right after 12.00 a.m. wishing me “Many Happy Returns of the Day”. I am very fortunate to have wonderful roommate/ housemate like them. Thank you. I also appreciated ‘Happy Birthday” wishes from my friends from INTEC, PFS and also my senior buddies in Ireland. In fact, I spent nearly an hour chit-chatting with Wee Loon over MSN. He is currently studying Medicine in RCSI. Shen-Han has just returned from Cambridge for 6 weeks holidays. Nice talking and getting to know the extremely tough life as medical student.

I realized and determined to put “Study Hard” as one of my top birthday wishes. There goes a Malay Proverb, “Sesal dahulu pendapatan, sesal kemudian tiada berguna”. Studying one semester in medicine is equivalent to two years of studying in A-level. It’s true! No kidding! Seriously, I have to stop muddling my life with aimless endeavours.

LIFE
Life is a huge question mark
Everyone knows, sometimes life is weird
Maybe it’s ALWAYS weird for some people,
But hey! Not everybody thinks the same way
The word “ life “,
is a …. What should I say?
Life, is a totally…magical…word…
I REALLY CAN’T FIGURE OUT! –
When everything’s going great or fine,
you’ll be having the time of your life,
Life may suddenly get jealous of you
You just cannot imagine what it’ll do to mess things up …
And yet, while you’re crying your tears out,
Life has a funny way of
turning things around.

Life comes and goes what does it bring?
Sometimes it brings happiness and
a little bit of sadness …..
A roller coaster rides of thrill and anxiety.
Yet, it may bring us tranquility
and serenity too.
The word life will always make my mind-boggle.
Occasionally, I cannot stop myself asking why?
There are so many questions we have to ask,
But there are some questions that
provide no answers…..
No matter how much effort and endeavour
You put into finding the answer,
You can never find it.
So, if you ever come across a problem and
cannot find the solution
Even when you’ve already given all
Your heart into it,
Don’t be depressed for your problem might
belong to the “ No Answer “ category
The thing is, don’t be too callous no matter
how life treats you
On the contrary, remember that
happiness is transient
Nothing is more important than elation
So you should try to enjoy life to the fullest.

Some people might not treasure their life,
others even loathe theirs
But me, I think I’m different …..
Because I like my life more than
anything does! –
I know it resembles a trauma to some of you
But, it’s not easy to let anyone
verbalize their needs
Anyhow, just try to make an attempt to
brighten up your life
Sooner or later you will find the answer
to what Life is …..
By then success would have emerged
in front of you!

MOMENTS IN LIFE

2005-12-14T16:47:00.000Z

Life’s journey is full of trials and tribulations which none of us can escape from. But what makes a person different from the other is how the individual bears it – with pride and determination or with easy resignation. Here are some pearls of wisdom that I would like to share with you all….

MOMENTS IN LIFE
When the door of happiness closes, another opens;
But often times we look so long at the
Closed door that we don’t see the one,
Which has been opened for us.

Dream what you want to dream;
Go where you want to go;
Be what you want to be,
Because you have only one life
And one chance to do all the things
You want to do.

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet,
Enough trials to make you strong,
Enough sorrow to keep you human and
Enough hope to make you happy.

The happiest of people don’t necessarily
Have the best of everything;
They just make the most of
Everything that comes along their way.

The brightest future will always
Be based on a forgotten past;
You can’t go forward in life untilYou let go of your past failures and heartaches.

Perseverance

2005-12-13T04:31:00.000Z

We climb to success mostly on the ruins of our cherished plans, finding our failures are but friendly guide-posts that lead us onward and upward to the mountain-top of success. What most people feel to be an impossible situation often turn out that nothing is impossible for the willing heart. The most difficult situation can, step by step, be overcome.

Let the hard facts in the life-story of this man give you a graphic picture of the opening statement.
Age Record
22 Failure at business
23 Failure at election to Legislature
24 Failure at business again
25 Death of a sweetheart
27 Nervous breakdown
29 Failure at election for Speaker
34 Failure at election for Congress
39 Failure at election for Congress
46 Failure at election for the Senate
47 Failure at election for the Vice President
49 Failure at election for the Senate
51 Success at election for the President of the United States

The courage and perseverance illustrated above is that of Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), the sixteenth president of the United States of America. It is not uncommon to see unsuccessful man with talents. Man, whose genius goes unrewarded, is almost a proverb. Our country has its fair share of educated derelicts. Natural talents, great ability and a good education will not guarantee success. Two simple words, “plod on”, have solved and always will solve the problems of mankind. There is no substitute for PERSEVERANCE. Perseverance sits by the cradle of all our great men and rocks all of them to success.

The words have never failed me. I hope these words will find a place in your hearts as well.

Mommie Dearest

2005-12-10T04:49:00.000Z

Maternal Reflections

I gave you life, but I cannot live it for you,
I can give you directions, but I cannot be there to lead you,
I can tell you about lofty goals, but I can’t achieve them for you.

I can teach you to share, but I cannot make you unselfish,
I can teach you respect, but I can’t force you to show honour,
I can teach you right from wrong, but I cannot always decide for you,
I can teach you about kindness, but I can’t force you to be gracious.

I can buy you beautiful clothes, but I cannot make you beautiful inside,
I can give you love, but I cannot force it upon you.

I can advise you about friends, but I can’t chose them for you,
I can advise you about sex, but I cannot keep you pure,
I can tell you about cigarettes, alcohol and drugs, but I can’t say “NO” for you,
I can offer you advice, but I cannot accept it for you.

I can take you to church, but I cannot make you believe,
I can pray for you, but I cannot make you walk with God,
I can tell you how to live, but I cannot give you eternal life,
I can love you with unconditional love all of my life … and I will.

Mothers are always remembered for being inspirational and making personal sacrifices for her family, often at the exclusion of her own personal interest. Mothers know the needs of everyone and are the ones who soothe the troubled soul, soothe the worried brow and kiss the pain away.

Mother can only advise us on how to live and behave. It is you who dictate how you live your own life. So, remember whenever you are at the crossroads in life, ask your angel mother for guidance……… Forget about the incessant nagging that could sometimes drive you up the wall. Don’t you believe that “Mother Knows Best”??

Realize Your Full Potential

2005-12-08T03:56:00.000Z

No one knows what hidden power lie dormant within us. No one knows our capacity for achievement unless we can lay hold of our mind which awakens us to a full understanding of our hidden forces, arouses our vision and causes us to go forth with greater effort until we succeed in our chosen goal.

RISK
To laugh is to risk appearing the fool,
To weep is to risk appearing the sentimental,
To reach out for another is to risk involvement
To expose your feelings is to risk exposing you
To place your ideas, your dreams before a crowd is to risk their lives
To love is to risk not being loved in return
To live is to risk dying
To hope is to risk failure
But risks must be taken,
Because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing
Persons who risk nothing,
Do nothing, have nothing and are nothing
They may avoid suffering and sorrow
But they cannot learn, feel change and grow, love or live,
Chained by their attitudes,
They are slaves, for they have forfeited their Freedom,
ONLY THOSE WHO DARE TAKE RISKS ARE FREE.

The human mind is constantly unfolding. The degree of revelation depends on the individual’s nature and the utilization of his mind. The degree of revelation, in simple words, depends on you.

Let this inspiring poem be your awakening call of vision so that you may lay hand on your hidden forces and transform them into a powerful dynamo to drive your wheel of fortune.

Long Semester Break - Comforts Of Home

2005-12-04T14:59:00.000Z

This will be my last long semester break for my college life before I embark on serious stuff – medicine next September / October. As a result, I try to spend these holidays idly…

Now, I am behaving like a “Little Emperor” at home. My alarm clock, which usually interrupts my slumber at seven in the morning at Hostel Cemara, has been on holiday for two months. I turns it off! Without setting the alarm of that digital monster, I’ve been able to enjoy longer hours of sleep. According to my parents, noon becomes the crack of dawn for me. I skip breakfast and proceed straight to lunch. No more walking around like a zombie in the mid-afternoon! I also lounge around in pyjamas until mid-afternoon some days.

My daily schedule turns into a huge mess. I spend my afternoons in front of the TV, on outings with friends and siblings, spend extended hours zapping inter-galactic enemies on the internet, chit-chatting with friends on phone and MSN, enjoying the luxury of watching favourite movies late at night.

Don’t idle your days away like me! You have better things to do……….

Reflections of my life - Thankful

2005-12-02T12:15:00.000Z

Penang Adventist Hospital
Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6

I set my small feet on Earth.
Earth Date : Mid December 1986

Learning to crawl....

Kindergarten.... Recognise me??

Once a trishaw man...

Do i look like Albert Einstein???
Look for me...

4 musketeers.....

Form 5 Zamrud(2003),pfs

I am thankful to GOD for blessing me 19 years of happy memories with family & friends. I hold them dear to my heart and will treasure them forever.

At times when we feel down, we tend to blame others for the unhappiness we inflict upon ourselves. We blame our parents for our failures in life. We point an accusing finger at our teachers for our failures in exam.

In fact, we should be thankful for the few adversities we face in life and use them as a stepping stone to achieve greater success in life. These arbitrary moments can be treated as some huge tests GOD is putting us through. Isn't that the beauty of life??

Life: Choices

2005-12-01T16:10:00.000Z

The Road Not Taken

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler,long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I?
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

True.... Life is about choices. We can choose to lead an idle life or a rigorous life depending on our own perception of life. As for me, it's better to attempt our best because then we test our limits. We should have a deeper purpose in life. It really makes the difference between what is average and what is great. We must wage an intense lifelong battle against the constant downward pull. If we relax, the bugs and the weeds of negativity will move into the garden of life and take away everything of value. So, when u work, work. When u play, play. Don't mix the two!