I just got back from Dubai a few days ago. Dubai, the land which possesses the tallest building in the world, the only 7 star hotel in the world, the only palm jumeirah in the world, the only island of the world in the world (lol), well you get the point, all things mega and elite.
Well, I highly recommend Dubai. First, they have these amazing buildings and development (put the crisis out of the equation, it has nothing to do with going there for holiday), if you love watching Discovery on Mega Builders, I’m sure you’ll enjoy the buildings.
Second, they have nice and clean beaches, creek and toilet. I’m impressed with their cleanliness. Even the toilet at the campsite of the Desert Safari is clean (and it’s in the middle of the desert). By the way, Desert Safari is a MUST. Dune bashing (providing you have a crazy driver) was superrrr fun!
Third, if you are a souvenir hunter (or even a shopper of any kind) you’ll have plenty of choices. The souks, the malls (they have plenty of malls!) and they have this place called Global Village every winter where there are shops from all around the world (unfortunately Malaysia doesn’t represent anything Malaysian at all!*sigh*). It’s a shopping haven, especially when they have sales.
Overall, if you want a place where you are in the city, near the beach, near the desert, go to Dubai. Oh, and go during winter, it’s a very nice weather, you don’t want to burn yourself in the summer.
Beware of the drivers though. They are crazy.
Okay, back to the real world. Though I wish I can go on my next vacation soon (or maybe I will.LOL).
Desert Safari...I wish to go to the African Safari next =)
P/S: People usually dread coming back to work because of the workload but I always feel the opposite. Empty shells need to be filled before it cracks.
Who can tell me what is the remedy of being miserable? 1. Daydreaming your life is something completely different from what it is now (that includes watching movies, E (freaking) channel, series that portrays life of rich and beautiful, travel andliving channel) which eventually will depress you even more. 2. Channel that negativity into positivity with words of motivations (like you can do it! *yada yada*) 3. Watch football (Manchester United). If they win, miseries gone for a while, if they lose it’ll addup, but a risk worth taking. 4. Pray.
Miseries, go away. Maybe the best way to eliminate them is to take a bold step and walk away from the cause of miseries. I wish it is that easy. Oh yeah, watch Oprah, it’ll help (The fact Oprah will end next year is depressing). Say NO to MISERY. Lol.
I’ve watched New Moon. Yes, the movie that has been over publicized worldwide. I know it would turn out to be corny, but not to the extent I felt like all the corniest lines are being used in this movie alone. Don’t expect werewolves versus vampires actions here, it’s nearly non-existent.
I don’t get it why the movie is so famous. Maybe I don’t read the book, so the chance is the movie is so erroneously forked out from the book, or simply teenagers (or even adults) love the idea of forbidden love and find them fascinating. Yes, the idea is intriguing but the movie is filled with cheesy lines. I don’t mind love story, I love some of them, but to combine every possible love expression in one movie is too much.
There’s one thing I like though. That Jacob guy was quite hot. Tall, muscular and dark, my kind of guy. Pity he’s too young for me to have crush on. LOL. Oh yeah, maybe that’s why it’s a craze worldwide. They just find beautiful and mysterious (more like troubled, Edward Cullen looks like he’s sick) people and combine them together, voila, you got yourself a box office movies. People are still shallow anyway.
I crave for a movie I could watch over and over again (like Armageddon) and be affected by its story.
I haven’t written in AGES. As in a month plus. What if your ambition once is to become a journalist but you can’t even keep your blog updated, does that means you don’t really want to become a journalist? Maybe the idea of journalism fascinates you, but when you are really given the job, you don’t really like them? (Fact: I’m nowhere in journalism. Mind you, I’m talking between the lines here).
Anyways, the guys at the office are reading my blog (particularly ONE guy, he keeps quoting me. LOL), so I have to be careful on what I write here. But when people read my blog and praise it (or quoting it) it gives me those flowery feeling (like when people puji you pretty, you think you can become a model. But in real life, people likes to flatter just to make you feel good, or because they praise everyone. So stop daydreaming you can become a model!). But writing is different right? If more than certain amounts of people think you can write, then you should write right?
Too many questions. Too little time (or privacy even) to start writing or continue writing fiction, non-fiction etc. I have a probable title for my probable book: Diary of a Female Engineer in a (Dog eat Dog) Male Dominated World. How does that sounds? Catchy? Lame. I wish I can meet Richard Branson (out of topic).
Toodles~
P/S : Job is making me cringes. I hate being discriminated. Or being called a TRAINEE. Duh.
“Earth to Neera!” She’s snapped. “So what’s with the day dream mode? It’s only 10 am in the morning,” say the busybody colleague. “My boss gives me permission to do this all day today. It’s for my KPI,” she replied sarcastically. Quickly, she turns her back on the busybody colleague; put her headphone on before she hears any comeback remarks. Listening to Muse’s Time Is Running Out, she goes back to her dreamland mode, where people are all smiles, sun is shining all day long, the ocean is as bluerer as ever….” “NEERAAAA!!!!My office!NOW!” The echoes were ringing so loud in her ear she swears she could be deaf. Behind her, the busybody colleague, who took off her headphone was wearing the smuggest look which can beat Kanye West hands down. Walking non-hastily towards her MAJESTY office (she considers all people with higher ranks should be addressed that way because they way they act, they could give the Briton’s royalties a run for their money).
Upon entering the office, she recalled the number of times she was summoned to the office. One, for being 10 minutes late to the office for 3 days in a row (she was being called tardy and undisciplined. What about the extra 2 hours she stayed for the whole 3 months of the project? Guess Her Majesty had a memory of a golden fish, reminded her of that fish from Nemo). Two, she had a row with Her Majesty right hand man (a.k.a the world ultimate employer’s suck up) due to her action of not wanting to contribute in helping him arranging the Majesty’s sweet (more like grumpy) 40 birthday bash. When you are 40, unmarried and have a personality of a lion, you can only rely to those who worship you in order to get raise, allowances and maybe seize away the throne from you one day. But it’s a bargain to some people, who would scoop down to a level where their dignity is nearly non existent in order to get what they want. That second time she was being called rude and volatile (this came from someone whose shouts and screams could beat Mariah Carey’s six octave range). The other times were due to reasons she could not really defined but maybe due to hormonal imbalance the Majesty was experiencing during those times.
This time, she knows what she wants to say. She will say it loud and proud. She opens her mouth, after those times of being patient, as silence is virtue, she blurts it out, “I quit,” the same time she hears something impossible coming out from the Majesty shrilly voice, “I want to talk about your promotion.” “What??? What?? The ends from the two voices collide, creating the atmosphere of confusion. “You’re quitting??” “You want to promote me??” She tries to detract all her muscles back to its original location, to put on a straight face. “I was about to but not anymore of course. Andy was right. You give up too easily.” The face is as cold as the statement. Andy. The right man. The glory hunter. She should have seen that coming. Before opening up her mouth in protest, the Majesty shouts again, “Andy, darling, you’ve got the job! Reena gave up just like you say she would!”
Across the board, Andy, the busybody colleague and the tea lady, all having different reactions. Andy, with his devilish grin and satisfaction, the busybody colleague with I-told you-so look and the tea lady, with her sad eyes, the truly one person without the act of hypocrisy in the office. She wants to say so many things out of rage, but all she does is stomp out the room, smash the door, took some things from her desk, hug the tea lady and give a stare she hope would pierce Andy’s heart and kill him on the spot. Walking out of the building, she felt both relief and regret. What if she didn’t say anything just now? She would get the promotion she had deserved, she could prove to the world that stays true to yourself paid off eventually but it didn’t happen. Real world sucks. And cruel. Putting back her headphones on, she listens to Jason Mraz Live High in hope of escaping the predicament she’s in.
Suddenly I’m excited! I know the prospect is very so nottt bright, but who knows, God wants to endow me with Luck and Fortune so I could, maybe, have a chance of dreaming this dream.
Screw metaphore.
People, please go to the below link and enter the draw ok! And please don’t forget to put my email in one of your mates (as a courtesy I told you about the draw / competition). It’s hi_zzzz@yahoo com or zainur.azwin.mokhtar@gmail.com!
Maybe if I don’t get it, one of you might!!!! Aminnn =p (Haha, berangan giler :P).
I have graduated officially, it was an event which had its bittersweet moments, but definitely I would miss everything / everyone who impacted my life the whole 5 years I was there.
Then, sweet times relished itself with the return of someone dear to my heart. It was short, but it just made me realize how your feeling could really be defined when absence do makes heart grows fonder.
Unfortunately, life is nothing like happily ever after.
I am being tested with a HUGE test unlike the ones I took in UTP. No textbook can help me with this, but as my mom says, God opens 12 doors during this Ramadhan, so I really hope God opens the door that holds a key to my future and happiness. Before I end my serious post, here’s something to ponder upon in this Holy month.
Once Moosa (AS) asked Allah Subhaana’O’Ta’ala: You have granted me the honor and privilege of talking to YOU directly, Have YOU given this privilege to any other person? Allah Ta’ala replied, O!!Moosa, during the last period I am going to send an Ummat, who will be the Ummat of Muhammad (SAW) with dry lips, parched tongues, emaciated body with eyes sunken deep into their sockets, with livers dry and stomachs suffering the pangs of hunger will call out to ME (In dua) they will be much closer to me than you O Moosa!
While you speak to me there are 70000 veils between you and me but at the time of Iftaar there will not be a single veil between me and the fasting Ummat of Muhammad (SAW) O!! Moosa I have taken upon myself the responsibility that at the time of Iftaar I will never refuse the dua of a fasting person!
One question: what’s your passion in engineering? Answer:Errrr…….(No freaking idea. Maybe the idea of engineering fascinates me, but I’m not exactly in love with it).
What would you answer be to a question like that? Especially it comes from your boss, which by the way, the passion lays in making his own robots, real techie at heart.
So I look up the possibilities of area in engineering I could be passionate (or maybe develop an interest) about:
1) Material – This is my major back at uni, it’s not bad, not that interesting either, especially when it comes to Metallurgy (the surface where you see lines and dots. Yeah, VERY fascinating). 2) Mega structures – I like watching Mega builders in Discovery Channel because of how they look like, not their truss, static, dynamic etc. But at least they have physical appearance I can say WOW to. 3) Ships / Vessel / Cruise. It fits my industry now. And I always like imagining myself on cruise, on the ocean which I love so much. But first, I need to see one real ship to differentiate its port and starboard side.
Perhaps, I want to be passionate about the money I could make out of engineering, and then I automatically develop a passion in that money-making area. The most sensible option I could opt to.
First, let me warn you that this post is filled with over excited statements that might annoy people, but what the heck, I’m on cloud 19, and like my friend stated in my Facebook, no drugs could make me happier than this one particular event: Manchester United Asia Tour in Kuala Lumpur 2009. Here goes a diary of a stalker. Haha.
Friday: Found out they’re staying at Mandarin Oriental, which was the opposite of my office building at 4.30 pm, and found out they’re having Meet-the-Fans session! Darn, so near yet I could miss that, and they’re about to go for their training session at Bukit Jalil so my stalking day hasn’t begun yet.
Saturday: Watched the Game! Good game, surprisingly good team from Malaysia (and MU wasn’t sharp anyway). Been cheering for both teams, but excited to finally see the players in live action (although quite far) so I thought that was it. MU came, everyone was happy and they go home. The end. Boy, I was wrong!
Sunday: Found out they’re having rematch! I’m all set to go but it took me some times to find people to go with this time around. Managed to get uncle, auntie cousins and friends to go. And my uncle belanja me! Double yeay! Can’t wait for Monday rematch. 2 matches in one visit? Great news for ardent fans like me!
Monday: Took halfday off to begin my stalking day at Mandarin Oriental. Looks like there are some fanatics who have been lingering there every single day since Friday! (Looks like I can be considered medium fanatic fan). Even met my uncle there! (lol). So I’ve waited for hours till the players came out to go to the stadium. Watch the players within few feet from me and managed to get Scholesy signature on my jersey! A United Legend, besides Giggsy (which if I’ve got it, that’s the end of my stalking days). So, ran to the Stadium to give friends their tics (Tremendous apology to them) and cheered the teams for the second match. Wasn’t as good as Saturday, too easy for MU, but still, watching it live still brought joy to me.
Tuesday: Stop by at Mandarin before went to office (it’s so near I couldn’t resist) and managed to see Rooney, Fletch and Fergie at the gym! I was pleading the security for signature or picture but they didn’t allow me. Security sucks. Haha. So went to office and waited for lunch time so I could go there for last time (yeah, right). When I was there for lunch, the fans told me they’re out for golf and will be back soon. Took an emergency half day and waited with them.
While waiting, Nick Coppack, the official reporter for MU Asia Tour was hanging around in the lobby, so had conversations with him about MU and he said he would mentioned us in his blog. Wasn’t expecting he would do that for real but he did! I was mentioned on MUFC official website! How cool is that? (Maybe it’s a big deal only to me, but who cares again. Haha). Thanks Nick for being such a cool and sweet lad. Good looking reporter isn't he.Haha.
And when they arrived (like hours of waiting, again), I’ve managed to get Sir Alex Ferguson signature!!! The best manager in the universe!! (He even asked his bonzer to hold my shirt while he signed it because I didn’t put it on hard cover). He’s the sweetest of them all! Second legend to sign my jersey (still no Giggsy L). Managed to se Macheda up close and he nearly signed my jersey if it wasn’t for the stupid security people (Malaysian security mind you). Macheda was a sport too, I guess because it’s his first international fame exposure. Tomorrow they’re going back around 9 (according to Nick) so maybe I’ll stop by to see if I’m lucky to get anyone’s signature (By this day, I was already satisfied with what I’ve had). Oh yeah, my face was on Berita Harian but didn’t manage to buy it.
Tuesday: Managed to arrive before the team left. Waited to see if I could have the impossible Giggsy signature (why was it so hard for you to use the marker and just sign Giggsy *sigh*). When the team finally say goodbye for the last time, I’ve managed to get 2 of Van Der Sar’s signature (Again, a legend, as he is the best keeper in the world!) and nearly got Ferdinand, he was inches away from me! Evra shook hands with the fans and the others just went straight to the bus. So that was it. 3 signatures (4 including Nick) on my jersey are enough for me to frame it and remember it for a long long time. More crazier fans than me. Lol.
Overall, was the first time I ever done something crazy like this. But it was priceless to see the faces I’ve watched during late night and early morning matches on television, thousand of miles away from home standing like inches away from me, and it were indescribable by words. Crazy or not, this is something I could treasure for the rest of my life. Glorious!
Today is Tuesday. Today, bunch of people are coming to office to go through what I had to go through last time: Interview which took the whole day.
I won’t say I love or hate interviews, but so far, I could say I’m fairly good at them, because if I’m great, I’ve already scored jobs with high paying salary (I’m getting average pay now. Money is never enough). I think the most important key to have a good interview is to have personality, not too shy or cocky, just enough dose of confidence to get picked for next round or hired straightaway. I would say interviews are the best platform to test your acting and communication skills. If you’re a natural actor / debater / speaker, even if you’re not a Dean List student, definitely you’ll ace the interviews.
#Rant I like to day dream. When I day dream, I’ll drift away from the average life I’m living to the world where I am able to be at my happiest. I’m happy now, but with dissatisfaction that keeps bothering me. My top dream lists consist of:
1. Meeting new people and learning new culture all over the world (Blame Travel & Living Channel) 2. Writing a book while lazing on an island in Greece (Blame movies and Travel & Living Channel again) 3. Watching people having their cup of tea while reading books and admiring photographs in my book café (Blame my ambition)
Which one could come true? Amin to all of the above. When it does, I will day dream about something else. for the time being, back to the real world!
Reena runs as fast as she can. The black shadows are approaching, nearer by milliseconds. She is about to give up and let the darkness seizes her away to the Unknown. Unknown is a place where nobody dares to speak about. Chill runs through her spine. This is it. This is the last day I would be living my life in the Orb. The last day I could breathe the contaminated but precious air before the Unknown choke her with its blacker than black air and surrounding, or so she heard. Then, her vision’s getting blurry, the black shadows had catch up with her, blanketing her in a complete darkness, and takes her on the journey to the Unknown…TBC
Wake up! Wake up! Wake upppp!
Hidup tanpa arah tujuan memang agak pathetic. We thought we have an aim, a mission, but suddenly the universe is against us. The cyber world produces quite a number of people expressive in term of telling the world how they feel, most of times (with Twitter, ALL the time pun possible).
I admit it I’m one of them. But I have to craft my words in the most correct forms of sentences before I publish them. My nuisance towards grammar is to be blamed. When I watch or play the ‘Are you smarter than a fifth grader’ game, 80% of grammar question would leave me with (?) moment. Like wfish is proverb, pronoun etc. I hate grammar, but I have this need to make sure my English is readable.
Plagiarism. We read other people blogs all the time, the interesting ones will leave us with the motivated feeling, to write as fascinating as theirs but we’ll end up writing the same way we’ve always write. Like mine, I think it’s quite serious, although I think I babble too many random things.
Because of that I will stop writing here. May the fulfilling life await those whose patience is its virtue.
All around the world, people are talking about Michael Jackson’s death. The same people who brought him on top of the world and brought him down with all the molest stories; surgery went bad mockeries and all those tabloids. I guess in a way, Michael had peacefully left a cruel world behind him. However, he had also left a legacy which will continue to inspire the world so it can become a better place. His songs always motivate and lift me up when I was down. I guess it’s the same with millions of people worldwide. I guess that’s the impact of music and artists to our life. Especially when we grew up, listening to them. Healer. Inspire.
Because my previous post is talking about Marriage, I would like to make an entry about someone who is about to get married later this day: my BFF! (Some of you know who this person is).
I’ve written hate memoirs before this for him, written some appraisal memoirs (ok, maybe one) but the fact I’ve stuck with him for five years so these things (Annoyance, care etc) were bound to happen right? And finally, this BFF of mine is getting married way earlier than any guys my age (and not to mention from me too) so I’m getting excited and would like to write an entry to wish him and his soon to be wife (which is one of the sweetest girl I ever met) a happily ever after.
I know he will become more mature(r) than before, hopefully wiser (especially in term of words he uses. Lol) and one heck of a dad to his future children (I mean kool. Gosh, why am I doing this? Haha). Last and definitely not least, he will be a great husband to his wife, because I know he is one loyal man and I know he loves her very much. Plus, I love the wife to be, she always back me up when he was being a jerk (sorry de, tak boleh puji all he way, it’s very hard :p).
Thus, to the most perfectly matched couple, which are my friends (and the first one to get married), Dede and Dian, I wish and pray your life together after this will always be blessed by Allah till the end of time (berbahagia sehingga ke anak cucu cicit). Oh, have fun while you’re at it! XOXO!
I’m sick today. I’ve been unwell since the weekend started. Resulted in me missing wedding and any opportunity to go out. Being sick sucks. But maybe it’ll get my body to be better immunized for weeks to come, and for me not to fall sick on times where I CAN’T be sick.
I just want to reminisce the good times that happened recently. My cousins had a double wedding, which was the first among the cousins and it went well. Then, there’s my brother in law’s wedding (to my sis that is) which was a carnival, with wayang kulit, dikir barat, silat etc. It’ll be hard to top that Abang Ngah! Not Fair! Haha.
So many weddings this year, I keep getting ‘you-are-next’ hints from people. Just because my boyfriend is a bit old (lol ;p) and we seem serious (we are) so I think I will keep getting that until the day I really am getting married. Suddenly, from being involved in all these weddings, triggered something I never bother about before: What is my dream wedding? I always joke around and say I want to get married on the beach, with only nearest and dearest (not really original, but oceans have always been my favoritest place on earth) but I doubt the family will approve. Then, I figure, just do double or triple wedding in a nice hall, without having to bekerja keras for the preparation, with that, I can save money, time and energy. But my cousin says the weeks that we’ve worked together was something fun and would make the wedding more memorable.
Thus, I can’t define what my dream wedding is. Yet. What’s yours? I could start thinking when someone actually wants to marry me. (Is this a hint? Haha)
P/S: My sis dream wedding is on a cruise, so I hope it could come true because it would be wickedly awesome :p.
Today is Friday. It’s been 2 weeks and 2 days since I’ve started working at my new engineering company. Too early to comment I guess. But, the atmosphere was calm and contented. Easy and breezy. In the heart of the metropolitan neighbourhood. My ideal location of work. The work itself is un-commendable yet because haven’t done any major work yet. Just a little bit here and there.
What’s with the absent from writing?
Pouring your feelings sometimes can cause the less ideal outcome: the regret of telling things you should keep to yourself. The mundane stuff.
Anyway, time is a factor too. I am actually pride myself in not having to surf the internet the amount of time I’ve used to. Kudos for not having conformed to the digital world which is so tempting and easy to be lost in.
Ok. Enough of boring self statement.
Sad thing happened. Manchester United had lost the Champ League’s final without even trying to Barcelona. I guess it’s a dream final to Barca fans and the neutrals (a.k.a anti MU fans) as they watched MU being overplayed by a definite great team, which balls seem to stick to their legs most of times. I guess I shouldn’t comment more on this, the papers had done so. Whatever the neutrals want to say about MU supporters being defensive and all, I am still happy they’ve ended the season well. They’ve played some great footballs, some bad and annoying footballs, but in the end, what matters is the satisfaction of winning trophies. And they’ve had 3. They could win 5 but they didn’t, so God must be Fair to others (quote from another MU fan. Lol). Glory – glory MU, can’t wait to see them live this July! Ok. Enough of football issue. Terminator Salvation was an impressive movie. To me la at least because I was NEVER a bit interested in watching terminator movie / series before. It’s filled with actions and the script was not corny. The angles of the cameras were refreshing. Plus, the director’s name is McG. How cool is that? Haha. I think I can add new favorite actor to my existing list: Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt, Wentworth Miller, Josh Hartnett and now Christian Bale. I’ve liked him since he acted in the Prestige movie (Btw, again, I love Christopher Nolan movies).
Ok. That’s all with movie stuff.
I hope the weekend will be wickedly awesome. Hope is never a wrong thing to ask eh? Cheers!
She sits there. She stares at people walking past her. Some are speeding, either late for work, meeting, or naturally born to walk like that. Some are gliding, full with confidence, or maybe had just received some happy news. So many faces, emotions and attitude you could capture by just watching people. So, her mind wanders, speculating about people who caught her eyes. Why is she sitting there? Why isn’t she walking like them, going to their designated locations?
This is because it’s a foreign place to her. She doesn’t know where to go, what to do or who to talk to. One day, back at the familiar place, she decided she had enough. No more ridicules, no more stress, no more the need to satisfy the people Up Above. And so she quits. It’s not given up, as she likes to think, it’s simply opting the best choice there is. She’s traveled far, because she doesn’t want to face criticism from people who think she’s made a fatal error. That she left what defines life, which is Normalcy and Haven.
Screw that! She screams inside. Screw society and their orders. I don’t need that now. Or ever. I need Happiness. Impossible, maybe, so to reach at least Contented is good enough.
So as she sits there, thinking about things that can make her happy. Artistic Flair or Voyager? Those things make her happy (so does with many of them), but the helm of possibilities either excites her or frightens her. She couldn’t decide.
Which one should she choose? Should she sit down with plans and strategies? Or should she just start doing whatever crosses her mind right away?
Or maybe, just go back home. And surrender to the Opponent.
She stands, and starts walking. Joining the crowd, she blends in. She’s just one of them after all.
I am both happy and sad. Start with the sad news. I’m just torn. Like the song Torn by Natalie Imbruglia.
I’m all out of faith, this is how I feel I’m cold and I am shamed lying naked on the floor Illusion never changed into something real I’m wide awake and I can see the perfect sky is torn You’re a little late, I’m already torn.
As juxtaposition, I’m completely thrilled that MU is going to Rome! Brilliant Ronaldo, Park, everyone basically. Completely gunned down the Gooners!(Opps..pun intended.Haha) I love free flowing football. I wish they do that often. And to play Ronaldo as striker had worked for the team tonight(or morning. Wherever you are).
Sir Fergie is truly a living legend (besides Giggsy, Scholesy and numerous names in the past). Even Beckham enjoyed the match. Hehe. The only setback (ok, major one) was Fletcher (he was great) was sent off. Really unwise decision (I want to say stupid, ok, stupid) by the ref.
Bring on Barca or Chelsea, United just have the B.E.L.I.E.V.E attitude for the moment!
To unwind my sadness in the first part (personal reasons), here’s the funny depiction of the song. Oh, and yea, Glory – glory!
I enjoy intellectual conversations. I do gossip (I am no angel), I do small talks and all, but what sticks in my mind longer than usual are conversations which are insightful (I always thought I have dory-the-fish-short-term memory. Sigh).
Like example, I’ve followed my boss and colleague to meet their client, where one of them was an ex TUDM pilot. I’ve listened to so many experiences he had for the many years he spent in the armed forces, about Tun, what happened in Bosnia and Acheh, also how God’s punishment can be done in seconds to people who are lost in this temporary material world. It’s scary when you think our world is becoming to its end somehow.
Today, I happened to have another insightful conversation, ranging from the state of our country, to academics, to languages and just life experiences. I love listening to stories from other people because by envying them, you could motivate yourself to be better. I miss conversing with people because when I was working before the people there were, erm, let’s just say not in the same wavelength as I am.
It’s hard to find someone you can tell everything to. But it brings me some kind of relieved to share my thoughts with people who understand. In the end of the day, I realize that I do give a damn about the world. And I need people to know. That’s all.
It was that kind of a crazy afternoon, terrifically cold, and no sun out or anything, and you felt like you were disappearing every time you crossed a road. ~J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye, Chapter 1
I’ve been thinking, life isn’t always fair to us. People will never be contented with what they have. I’m one of those people.
I believe in ‘just go with the flow’ attitude. Ok, first I’ve worked in a telesales company, I thought that would definitely help my interpersonal skills, well, it did for few days, but the routine was very depressing, I just had to break free from the job. I did.
Next, my current job, again, diverted from my course of study (which by the way was not my first choice, or second, even third, you get what I mean). The job description was everything I have wanted to do; writing, creative thinking, filming. Who doesn’t want to be involved in something so fascinating like all those things?
Anyhoo, the reality isn’t that exciting. Yes, I did have my ‘fun’ moments, but it went downhill after. I mean, I crave for an adventure in life, so doing research on the internet and just wait for the big break to happen is quite frustrating. I know, patience is virtue, but my logical thinking override my passion. Plus, I love writing in English, so for me to write in Bahasa (bukan tidak suka, cuma tidak pakar menggunakan frasa kata dan kosa kata yang indah seperti bos saya) is a big challenge. I think learning all the technical knowledge had turned me into someone who always think of consequences of my actions.
Boring, I know. Thus, I’ll pray life will take me to my next adventure. Wherever and whatever that might be. Anyway, my dream job is something like my current job, but with actions take place, rather than writing the actions on piece of papers and they are not going anywhere, meaning I’m not going anywhere. Resulting in me writing in blog while searching for ideas. Again, boring.
It's no fun to be yellow. Maybe I'm not all yellow. I don't know. I think maybe I'm just partly yellow and partly the type that doesn't give much of a damn if they lose their gloves.
~J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye, Chapter 13
Mengapakah bos wujud di dunia ini? Dan, mengapakah bos kadang – kadang boleh menjadi begitu menjengkelkan sehingga kerja yang dianggap seronok dan menarik itu membuatkan diri terasa bagaikan dihempap beribu-ribu lemon? (yes, just like the advertisement minus the excitement).
Keseronokan tidak akan kekal lama.
Nothing lasts forever kata seorang ahli falsafah. (Or mungkin kata average joe. You don’t know who joe is? Just take a mirror and you’ll know).
Kepeningan itu seperti perkara yang paling senang terjadi apabila kita mahu mengelak diri daripada berfikir. You can’t run away from problem, because problem won’t magically disappear (kuota (quote?) dari Buku Corporate Communication yang saya mengakui saya memang hebat tanpa segan silu.
Jadi, apakah cara terbaik untuk menangani bos begitu?
Quit?(dipanggil loser / quitter)
Start your own business? (applicable to anak orang kaya atau seorang yang cekal kerana kemiskinan bukan penghalang)
Or endure those entire BS because you’ll end up taking his place (berangan – angan) one fine day and you can act exactly like him to your staff? It’s karma, and karma is revenge and revenge is sweet.
Satu sahaja masalah. You’ll never be without a boss. Because boss(ES) can be in so many forms. Maybe there are your parents who act like one, or your spouse, or even your cat, because they keep bugging you for food and even yourself.
Jadi, marilah kita tabah menghadapi dugaan The CEO up above.
The ultimatum of a being is being nothing (ahli falsafah pessimist in the making).
The ultimatum of a being is being everything(ahli falsafah optimist in the making).
The ultimatum of a being is being in between nothing and everything (kata-kata warga indecisive)
This song just haunts me… I love the lyrics. Because it’s insightful. Not that I don’t listen to shallow lyric songs (like hip hop or pop) But those are for FEEL GOOD moments. Where you don’t have to think too much to get what it means. But when the song has great melody and great lyrics, it would just hit you hard in the heart (or brain. Wherever you want to interepret the songs). Maybe just me. Or maybe because Adam Lambert sang it *drool* I hope he’s not GAY because it would be a TOTAL WASTE for female population. Just a random thought. Just feel like this SONG is great. Goodnight.
Btw, the song is MAD WORLD, originally by Tears for Fears, sang amazingly by Adam Lambert (*drool again*).
All around me are familiar faces Worn out places, worn out faces Bright and early for their daily races Going nowhere, going nowhere And their tears are filling up their glasses No expression, no expression Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow No tommorow, no tommorow
And I find it kind of funny I find it kind of sad The dreams in which I'm dying Are the best I've ever had I find it hard to tell you 'Cos I find it hard to take When people run in circles It's a very, very Mad World
Children waiting for the day they feel good Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday Made to feel the way that every child should Sit and listen, sit and listen Went to school and I was very nervous No one knew me, no one knew me Hello teacher tell me what's my lesson Look right through me, look right through me
Okay. So my job exposes me to facts that is always there but never bothered to Google or care about. I guess others won’t too unless it is portrayed in a way people want to watch it.
I’m going to talk about docu drama, documentary which is dramatized to make it appear more appealing to viewers. People like to see some unrealistic actions portrayed, that’s why people go and pay 8 to 10 bucks (even 40 bucks) for a good movie.
I have some pretty confusing time to absorb the theory of docu drama. Does it have to be like movie, with characters and story line, or is it still documentary with re enactment actions? I’m talking jargons here. Don’t blame me; they are all alien terms to me too. Moreover, I have to be an independent learner because the Others work in other dimension.
Wiki says, docudrama is dramatization of actual historical events. As a neologism, the term is often confused with docufiction. See? I am confused.
Docudramas tend to demonstrate some or most of the following characteristics:
1) A focus on the facts of the event being treated, as they are known; 2) The use of literary and narrative techniques to flesh out or render story-like the bare facts of an event in history;
If it’s up to me, I would dramatize the whole thing. Add some fiction, but it would be a movie la then (or is it docufiction? Oh confusion). With turbulences (i.e actions) in big scale plus scripts like V for Vendetta. Gosh, that sounds dreamy. If only money is no objection, or somehow Steven Spielberg or Christopher Nolan (I love nearly ALL his movies) miraculously want to fund my idea.
Anyhow, being able to watch you tube for work is FUN. But, I’m getting skeptical by my logical thinking…*Sigh*
The public has an appetite for anything about imagination - anything that is as far away from reality as is creatively possible.
This post is to stimulate thinking and to find that eureka moment.
Anyone who is reading is, with all my typing strength, I ask a few seconds / minutes of your time to give opinion about these issues I am going to list down. Do you want these issues to be brought up through the camera lenses? Or do you think it’s too controversial? 1. Segregation of Race The truth. I don’t have any non – Malay friend I could invite back home (oh, maybe 1) or just hang out with casually. Yes, I do have non – Malay friends and I don’t have any racism issues toward them (or I like to believe so) but why is it hard to befriend them? My reason is because I went to a boarding school where 99% are Malays. And in my university there were about 80% Malays in my course. It’s sad isn’t it thinking how near we live to each other but how far apart our relationship is. I believe everyone should be treated equally (although I admit I’m one of those who have enjoyed the privilege of being a Malay). Up till this point, words speak way louder than actions. I just need to see some or small breakthrough in breaking the races barrier we are all carrying with us all these while.
2. Kids being kidnapped, sold / murdered / never found again I am getting a bit emotional when it comes to this issue. Especially since the past two years, we’ve seen two major cases which by the way, it’s not solved yet. I’ve heard story from someone (can’t remember who) who told me about kid being kidnapped and few years later bumped into him / her in Bangkok, as a beggar. We’ve seen this being portrayed in many movies but how the reality is never really depicted. Or maybe it’s too sensitive as it questions the authority. Anyway, home was safe once. Now, it’s filled with beasts that go around terrorizing people.
3. Story of ordinary people going through extraordinary life Apart from those two mind stressing issues, we all need inspiration in life. I’m sure we have people who do inspire people in what they do, where they eventually become the public figure. But do you want to be inspired by a normal average Joe like yourself? If you know anyone worth enough to be a role model, please drop me a line.
Okay, you guys must be wondering what the purpose of this? Why so serious right? Let’s just say, a small step might be a giant leap for my dream to be materialized. I’ll greatly appreciate your help.
I’ve walked in, doesn’t know what to expect. Mixed feelings of cuakness and excitement churned down inside the stomach. Anyway, after few while, after adapting to the environment and always-have-something-to-say guy besides me, it felt like any other seminar I’ve attended. More interesting perhaps because it’s about filming a documentary. Although there were technical jargons that sound so aliens to me like recci, all the types of camera etc which most of the people there knew (especially the guy besides me). Plus, the trainer was funny. There were some pervert jokes (that was expected before hand with guys were mainly the participants) but he’s not boring, and most importantly, he’s my BOSS. Ha ha. That’s the reason I’ve joined the workshop anyway, because he wanted me to understand the idea of producing a documentary so I can do my job in the future.
I was expecting to be an outcast there, which it was almost right, except for the fact there was one girl who took accounting and now work in advertising (oh yeah, there goes my savior for loneliness). It’s admirable how one could work in an industry people expect you to work in and one day you took the 180 degree turn and go the other direction (I mean her, not me. Lol). Anyway, she’s hot, so no wonder she was willing to take that risk. I was expecting to be intimidated by the way people were going to be expressive and opinionated and I was almost right there too. Although not really intimidated la, just amazed how people could be so confident expressing their thoughts blatantly. There were these two most outstanding people in this workshop, just call them Mr Loud and Miss My Way.
Miss My Way: I wanted to be a producer because I hate the producer who always changed my script and everything. I always fight with them so I want to be producer, director and script writer, all at once so I don’t have to fight with them! (This later proved the reasons why it’s hard to work with her). Mr Loud: *Lecturer speaking (Trecci whatever). Yes, I KNOW THAT (and more perhaps). WE SHOULD DO THIS (My way is the best). HAHAHHA (which forced me to laugh too because he was laughing with his face tilted towards me. So it’s rude not to do so. Lol).
If you don’t get it, just ignore the re – enactment I’m trying to produce here. My point is it’s a whole new world with same type of people. The major difference is there are more people in one specific characteristic (i.e expressive) and to see how passionate they are with their jobs are something to be admired and intimidated of. The rest of the workshop
I’ve followed the two teams to shoot their documentary at Paya Indah Wetland in Dengkil with different themes and definitely different way of working. It was a sanctuary with great view. If you want to escape the hustle bustle of city life, do come to the place because serenity is its middle name. Anyway, there were some dramas and more gossips throughout the shooting and post production between the team members of both teams. It was a relieved to me not to join any group and decided to be an observer.
The People, Animals, Scenes and Moi captured using my beloved K550i (Bile la nak ade DSLR nie)
However, it was also a setback because each time I went to one group, they would ask me about what the issues the other team was having or what were they talking about them. Lol. I could say that age didn’t really give you wisdom in certain aspects. There was also an unexpected predicament in the middle of the workshop when the facilitator a.k.a my boss got the news that his father had passed away in the middle of the class. What an emotional scene of real life was depicted there. So, he had to go back and postponed the preview of the documentary next week. Moreover, the more I’ve talked to the people I’ve met there; the more envious I am with what they have achieved. There was this one guy who was at his 30’s (tapi kelihatan sangat muda), had his master of culinary (chef) in Perth, worked in New York, traveled the world and decided that he had enough experience in that area and now joined the film force. How amazing was that? It was such an inspiration to live life to the fullest like that.
All in all, this was a tiring, exciting and refreshing experience to someone who had no knowledge or idea on what really happened behind the scene of every documentary / drama / film etc. For me to join all these new / experienced directors / producers etc brought the sense of appreciation to the industry I often criticized, because I now know little by little how hard it is to work as artistic people (and limited the opportunity to venture into something new and fresh) and how the industry is under appreciated. Moreover I know that Fauziah Latif likes guy with bald head (gossip itu penting okay. LOL).
As some of you know, I had quit my old job and now working on a new job. Reading back my post on how optimistic the previous job looks like was something I have to learn from: Never expect life would always be all rainbows to you. Because in the end, rainbows do disappear and most of the times it’s just grey clouds dimmed the lights (All these metaphors are just for own artistic flair, lol, meaning life is never fair). Anyway, I can never sit at home and do nothing, so here I am, working in a production house, very diverted from my course of studies. However, the path is still of interest. Moreover, I am starting to feel the optimism up again, but not to say I am loving the job, sufficient to say it’s pretty cool for the moment. Because I am an entertainment addict, I love everything from journalism to music to movies, so to be involved in the industry itself will show me just how wonderful the industry is, OR, how ironic it would turn out to be.
I am still green, the coast is still clear, so I hope I can enjoy myself doing things that don’t stress me out. Just hope it won’t have frequent cats and dogs rain, if anyone do understand my try-to-sound-poetry-but –not-that-good metaphore. Oh, and people, if you have weird hobbies or wild hobbies, like duct tape artist, junk craftman, any extreme weird sports, or collecting Google logos (for real!haha) or know anyone who does, drop me a line here. It might be your way to stardom! (Or maybe a one day chance to be on TV. At least you can brag to your children one day).
Ok, like this. But don't worry, doesn't mean you're a weirdo. Really.
P/S: MU, please don’t sucks anymore. Work harder ok! Lol.
He picks up another pebble and throws it as far as he can. The sounds of wind and pebble dropped into the black lake bring satisfaction to him somehow. “This is for screwing up my life!!” he throws another pebble while shout the words as loud as he can. Nobody can hear him because he’s all alone there. The lake was muddy and probably an ex mine, hidden from the big road he used to cycle home from school every day. He considers the spot his sanctuary, a place he can be himself. Away from hypocrisy of the world he is forced to live in. It’s not a pretty sight, it’s gloomy and spooky, but it’s better than real world. “Am I a psychopath?” He thought to himself. He watched Oprah last night about a guy who mastermind the murder of his family because he felt he doesn’t live up to his parents’ expectations, so killing them ease the burden to be someone he’s not. But the fact he loves watching Oprah definitely makes him as normal as any kid his age. Or mature (i.e geekier) than any of the kids. He feels relieved in that sense but depressed in latter because he’s not like the people in his age group, who loves MTV and Indie bands, who think skinny jeans and box shaped shirts are the ultimate fashion statement and shuffle is the thing you have to know to appear cool and have thousands friends on MySpace. Blame the internet for deciding popularity and latest culture ones should adopt.
After absorbing his mind in the serenity of the lake, he feels at ease. “Tomorrow is a promissory note, don’t count on it. Just use the cash you have today man.” Philosophy always bring some motivation for him to face another day, especially when shit happens. And today is a shitty day. It started with the fact he woke up late, that led to he forgot to bring his wallet and had to starve the whole day at school. And to make things worse, he had to do public speaking at today’s assembly on, sardonically, Eating Disorder. To add the double dose of humiliation, his stomach grumbles with a loud sound at perfect timing when he’s saying something about not eating will give you more health problem than being skinny. One of them even shouts “Don’t worry, we’ll help you dude!” Followed by stream of laughs and he eventually forced a fake chuckle to cover his already red face. So it ended up with people shot him a mixture of pity, concern and smirk all day long. “What a great day to start your final year of high school,” he sighs. There’s only one thing he is looking forward to this year: the photography club. He has saved up money during school break and bought a DSLR. Nikon D60. The perfect camera for a beginner. One might argue between Canon and Nikon but he always think Nikon is better. Just because. If money is no objection, he would definitely buy a Leica. Classic and one of a kind, it feels like him. Besides, he has practiced taking pictures of flowers, grass and water drops (some says they are essentials in photography, or what he had observed from Flickr).
While he was thinking about what would be the first assignment in the photography club this year, someone is creeping slowly through the grass, eyeing him with a devilish grin. Slowly, the person tip toed and right as he’s about to throw another pebbles, a pair of soft hands covered his eyes, “Guess Who??”A voice so familiar he smiles and the stress he felt a moment ago seem to reduce greatly. “Geez, I have no idea. Please don’t kidnap me because I’m broke and a burden to society. A total waste to you,” giggling while turning him around, the hands loosing the grip, and he can catch the glimpse of an oval shape almond eyes with that familiar smile he hasn’t seen in ages. “Ilia, what the hell are you doing here! I thought you are supposed to be in some land of the Gladiators right now?” He seems to have the urge of hugging Ilia but being a good guy, he just hold her hands and lead her into the bush where he came from to his bicycle. “Ah, why are we going out? I want to hang out here and talk to you.” “Oh, no. We’re not. I can’t risk having real kidnapper here and having your dad cut off my head for endangering the life of his favorite and only princess. I know he wants to for some times now.” Laughing at his statements, she put her hands around his shoulder. “So, BFF, what’s up? Or down, judging from your emotional let out just now? Rested against his bicycle, he sighs. “Can I just say life is a major suck up? Well, maybe with the exception of having a perfect BFF who knows when to show up at the same time I feel like a lake is my current best friend.” Laughing heartily, Ilia look simply radiant. Her hair is long and wavy, and she has gotten an inch taller than the last time he saw her.
She had moved to Italy just when they were about to enter secondary school. She was his best friend from the moment he picked her as his assistant monitor in Standard 2. He had a major crush on her during that time, but it gradually disappeared (or maybe not completely) as they became best friends until she moved to Italy. He was so upset he didn’t talk to her for about a year, but thanks to the technology, they’ve started to chat on YM, gradually see each other when she visited Malaysia and continued to do so until this very day. He knows everything that’s going on with her, from her first boyfriend, to her first kiss (yeah, they are more liberal there) and she’s been doing part time modeling there, no wonder she’s looking so good now. “Guess what?!! I’m going to finish my O Level here! Meaning we’ll see each other more often, isn’t this wonderful??” He knocks out his bicycle for the shocking news. “Er, and where are you studying?” He is really hoping for a different answer than what’s coming. “Yours, like duh! It’s an international school right? I want to go to school everyday with you, like we used to. Oh, it’s going to be so much fun!” Her excitement is what dreading him all these while. Never thought his worst predicament would come true. He likes the way it’s already is. The long term and long distance friendship he has developed with her. “Oh, Syafiq, she’s about to discover what a loser you are at school. Prepare for trouble.” Forcing a fake smile, he tries to impersonate the level of excitement she is having. “Sure Ilia, it’ll be like the good old times.” Walking back together with Ilia, he knows what little truth lays in that statement.
I felt music is truly the best stress reliever. Okay, besides praying to God that everything will turn out better.
I love people who sing from their hearts. Even more so when they put a little bit of themselves into the songs (like write their own songs, their own way of singing).
My family members LOVE to sing and I love singing with them. We have some raw talents there. Maybe because my late grandfather loved playing the harmonica and sang songs (Oh, I miss him).
Anyway, music is indeed the window of your soul. Gosh, I used to have crushes on lead singers, anyone who can pour out their emotions through singing. Although I know there are ways to express rather than singing, but singing still touches my heart every time (yes people, I am a sensitive and sentimental being. I have a pretty high empathy).
The reason for my post is because American Idol is back and they have massive talented singers there. But for the moment, I’m rooting for Adam Lambert. I wanted Anoop to do well so badly but he just messed his second (or third) chance big time. He has another chance to prove himself. Adam is one of a kind. And a rockstar. Just LOVING IT.
By the way, Anoop used to be in a group of REALLY talented people back at his university called Clef Hangers. They were brilliant! I wished there was one like this back at UTP (it’s too late anyway. Heh). Here’s one of the many videos I’ve watched of them.
Magnificent would be my adjective to sum up Jason Mraz Live in Kuala Lumpur concert last night. It was way better than listening to his songs in the album. He was such a creative and entertaining musician. He’s a super talented song writer, with looks and cool personality (he’s got it all. One fine guy he is. Hehe). Anyway, I was not an obsessed fan before I went to the concert, I listen to his songs throughout the years and liked few of them, but last night might just turned me into a big fan. I even you-tubing all the live performances from last night. Haha.
Anyway, last night was great. No complaints (other than wishing I was up front there) and the crowds were great. It was a full house (I’ve watched Muse before and it’s wasn’t as packed as Mraz) but they’re still well behaved. No pushing and those annoying actions, everyone seems to have blast. My favorite songs were geek in the pink, you and I both, beautiful mess and he did a bit of medley with the remedy with Oasis Wonderwall. He sang his songs differently from the way he sang them in the album; give us the element of astonishment. Such a genius. Moreover, he’s sooooo genuinely warm himself, so it’s really easy to enjoy the show (he’s said thank you in different languages. Heh). He even took a few pictures using a Polaroid and threw them to the crowds (lucky them). Oh, only one minor disappointment. The girl who sang Lucky with him was completely a stranger (to me la at least) and her voice just didn’t suit the Lucky song. I wished earlier it would be someone with a soothing voice, like Yuna. Anyway, just my personal opinion.
All in all, the best concert I’ve been to so far. Jason Mraz, you’ve made my day in this gloominess of time =). My wish list for next artist to come : Mika (I dig his songs like realllyy much ok), Bon Jovi, Lily Allen and N Sync Reunion Concert (Haha).
He sang, every little thing will be all right. Yes, I hope so too =)
To lazy to write? Yes, that explains ideally my condition for the past few days. Lame. I know. It’s not like this is an assignment I have to submit. But writing is self gratifying. Personally. So, today, now, I’m going to write about random things.
I’ve watched: 1) Slumdog Millionaire 2) Curious Case of Benjamin Button 3) Changeling
And I absolutely love: all of them. Not only because they are Oscar Nominated / Winner (though it was the main reason I’ve watched them) and not only because there are two of my favorite actor and actress (Oh, Brad and Angelina, you guys are too gorgeous), the movies are filled with emotion, plot and meaning. Let me reviewed briefly my opinion on these 3 movies.
Slumdog : Combination of fairy tale of a boy who wins Who Wants to Be A Millionaire, with very fascinating journey of life that leads to every right answer, portraying the reality of people in the slum of India. I’ve read so few Indian author novels like White Tiger and they are eye opener to the other side of culture and world.
Curious Case: A definite fiction, how life is filled with happiness and miseries from an eye (or more to writing) of a person born to live life in reverse. I love movies which depict writing in diaries because that showed what you wrote will be left behind and remembered. Life is not perfect, but what you made out of it that matters.
Changeling: True Story. A determined mother that fights for her rights, against group of arrogance men is so my type of movie. I believe in woman rights and power. This story is all about that. Also, portrays life is shitty, but you don’t give up. You have hope. We all need that in life. Angelina rocksss! (haha).
Okay. That’s all for the movie review. I’ve finished reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows for the third time and it never fails to move me. Sometimes, I wonder, what is my contribution to the world, or at the very least to my family, and myself? I am yet to be determined by these people to finally found the answer. May God help me.
Ok peeps. I am lazy to forward this on facebook, but I'm sharing this on my blog. My cousin forwarded it to me and I think it's a very interesting read (I've posted this after reading Fareez's blog so this is for you. Lol). Anyone who has articles / thoughts / opinions, please feel free to discuss them. I am no economist, but it'll be great to know these things (especially given the current turmoil we're in). And, to realize that money isn't everything. Cheers!
Leader of the Pack - Hasman on Wednesday
During the high level conference in Bank Negara two weeks ago, Morgan Stanley‘s chief economist Stephen Roach pointed out that Asia will probably will not de-couple from the US and Europe during this current crisis although we have a huge pile of reserve in the balance sheet. The main reason for this would be : “Asian countries tend to be followers, not leaders, so any recovery will depend on the recovery of the developed nations”.
As at 30 Nov 2008, the total US Treasuries have amounted to slightly over USD 3 trillion in circulation. Out of this USD 3 trillion, China and Japan, which is the largest and second largest subscriber of the US Treasuries, have a total combined holding of USD1.2 trillion (approximately 40%). To put things into perspective, this bloody country is borrowing money from the rest of the world especially Asia. We are financing their lifestyle (like Wall Street executives). We look up to them (like the Hollywood celebrities). We are not doing anything when they have murdered our brothers & sisters (like in Iraq). When they screw up, we have to bail them out (like Temasek, GIC & Abu Dhabi bought into Merrill, Citibank). When we purchase their Treasuries they use our hard earn money to maintain their high maintenance lifestyle (AIG top executives are still using taxpayers’ money for their fox hunting games). Who needs this kind of leadership? Without our money, the Americans will be poorer than the people in the slums of Asia. It is time for us to turn our backs; we live by our own rules and chart our own destiny. We should be the leader! How does one become a leader? One, we need to be innovative. When the Jewish children come back from school their mothers will not ask them how’s school today or what they have learned in school. Their mothers will ask them how many questions did they asked the teacher instead. By asking questions they will think outside of the box and be innovative. So, today when your children come back from school, ask them how many questions did they ask their teacher.
Gold Finger
Recently, I attended a talk on commodities market and outlook. The presenter showed a table on the amount of gold reserve in the world. When I studied the table, I saw US has the largest percentage amount of tonnage in gold against its reserves, which amounted to 76%. Only then I realized, “crap, this country has the highest gold percentage reserve, whereby the world is using its fake paper money for trading”. Next, I saw countries which had high foreign reserves like China, Japan & Russia. They have only less than 2% of gold tonnage against their reserves. It finally dawned to me that the whole thing is a total screw up. The world is using worthless US Dollars to trade and invest in US Treasuries as US is holding the largest amount of gold against its reserves. Let’s say if the US Dollar goes “kaput” then the global monetary system will revert to gold standard. In any way, US will still be benefiting. Nonetheless, I believe the emerging countries like China & Russia will eventually add more gold to its reserve and there seems to be a positive future for gold price. So, start buying gold.
USA Tonne: 8,133.5 Reserve 76%
Germany Tonne: 3,412.6 Reserve 64%
France Tonne: 2,508.8 Reserve 59%
Italy Tonne: 2,451.8 Reserve 62%
Switzerland Tonne: 1,040.1 Reserve 24%
Japan Tonne: 765.2 Reserve 2%
Netherlands Tonne: 621.4 Reserve 58%
China Tonne: 600.0 Reserve 1%
Russia Tonne: 495.9 Reserve 2%
Taiwan Tonne: 422.4 Reserve 4%
Portugal Tonne: 382.5 Reserve 86%
India Tonne: 357.7 Reserve 3%
(Source: IMF)
The Cube
When I graduated from college and went into the work force, I was very idealistic in achieving my goal. One of them is monetary goal. When you are trained as a capitalist in college, you work your life through as a capitalist. When I had just started working, I created a spreadsheet on compounded returns, savings inflow, expense outflow and additional bonus injection to achieve RM 1 million when I reach 40 years old. So, I charted my life out towards becoming a millionaire by 40. However, after a super stressful outing in Singapore for 5 years and burned out, I found myself wondering if this is what I really want in life? Will becoming a millionaire make me happy? Sacrificing my time with my family so I can have a million in a bank account worth it? There are so many unanswered questions.
I have many non-Muslim friends who went on pilgrimage journeys to their respective holy places like India, Tibet and Vatican. For Muslims, it is a well known fact that the pilgrimage journey is one of the pillars of Islam. A Muslim is required to go on pilgrimage to Mecca once in their life time if he or she has the means to go. Taking this notion from Ridhwan Bakar, a young author, “when you go on a pilgrimage to Mecca you will become a millionaire”. In Islam, when you pray alone, Allah will grant you 1 good deed (pahala). If you pray in jama’ah, meaning praying with other people, with an Imam leading the prayers, Allah will give you 27 good deeds. When you pray in Masjid Nabawi in Madinah, Allah will give 1000 good deeds per prayer. So, if you spend 8 days in Madinah and prayer 5 times a day in jama’ah, you will get 1,080,000 good deeds (1000 x 27 x 8x5). So, during pilgrimage usually pilgrims will spend about 8 days in Madinah before proceed to Mecca. By spending 8 days in Madinah, Allah will grant the pilgrim a millionaire status in good deeds, insyallah. Therefore, the millionaire status has become subjective to me now. It is not only monetary form; it comes in other shapes as well.
I believe there are reasons for everything that happens. I believe in karma. I believe in God. I believe in optimism. I believe that shit happens. I believe in making this one life fulfilling.
tout passe, tout lasse, tout casse(Everything passes, everything wears out, everything breaks)
Bucket List Before 30~
Go to Mecca (Amin...)
Watch MU Game in Old Trafford (DONE :D :D)
Travel Europe (DONE - Some Part :D)
Own an IPhone (Or IPOD Touch) - Finally a proud owner of Iphone 4!!:D - And Ipad,and Macbook. LOL!
Sing in Public (again?) (DONE!)
Travel to Sabah/Sarawak (or both?:p) - My mom works in Kuching now, so bring on Sabah Next!
Get my ******* licence (DONE!!)
Try Diving
Find a job I'll LOVE (HOPEFULLY DONE :))
Own something I can sell (car, house, land etc) - I own a CAR! HOUSE is next :p - DONE!
